The Indisposable Podcast®

Latest Episodes:

Indisposable Organizing: Black Leadership on the Front Lines Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

The problem of plastic pollution is not just a matter of waste – it is also a matter of justice. As Gulf Coast organizer John Beard notes, communities living in areas of petrochemical extraction are living in “sacrifice zones” and suffering the toxic consequences of our extractive economy without even receiving the benefits of industry jobs. And all across the country, these communities – all too often communities of color – are fighting back and fighting for the right for clean air, water, and a just transition to a regenerative economy where people and planet are seen as indisposable.

As we near the end of Black History Month, join us in honoring the incredible work of some of the many Black organizers in the Break Free From Plastic movement, and get to know a few of our community leaders working on petrochem-related organizing. Join John, Louisiana-based organizer Kaitlyn Joshua, and BFFP US Coordinator Melissa Aguayo for a frank and inspiring discussion of how racial, environmental, and climate justice intersect – and how intersectional organizing and solidarity can change our world.

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Tipping the Scale Toward Waste Reduction with Extended Producer Responsibility Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

This week, host Matt Prindiville chats with Miriam Gordon, Policy Director at Upstream, about the benefits of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and the exciting brink we are on for passing these policies in the United States. Learn how EPR supports corporate brand accountability, source reduction and the circular economy – and why it’s important that we leverage the waste reduction hierarchy of reduce and reuse first, before recycling.

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Environmental Justice: Past, Present and Future Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

In celebration of Black History Month, Upstream’s Policy Analyst & Coordinator, Marcel Howard, talks about the start of the environmental justice movement and its historical connection to environmental racism. Learn how Black and minority communities are still being disproportionately and unjustly impacted by climate change and pollution today – and the roles we can all play to advocate for fair, anti-racist treatment of predominantly underrepresented communities in the United States. Hint: reuse plays a big part.

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The Beer Store Vision: Reuse and Refill for the Beverage Industry Jan 27, 2022

Show notes

This week, host Matt Prindiville talks with Rachel Morier, the Director of Sustainability at The Beer Store & Brewers Distributor Ltd, one of the top beer sellers in Ontario, Canada. The Beer Store’s innovative returnable/reusable bottles undergo a comprehensive process of washing, sanitizing, refilling, labeling and reshelving – all within just 3 days. Tune in to learn how this visionary model is paving the way for waste reduction in the beverage industry.

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How Upstream and the Reuse Movement Began Jan 20, 2022

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This week, host Matt Prindiville chats with Upstream’s two founders, Dr. Bill Sheehan and Helen Spiegelman – two advocates behind what is now known as the “reuse movement”. Learn how Bill and Helen began catalyzing conversations with business, government and nonprofit leaders to redesign the systems generating single-use waste – and how that helped drive today’s biggest cities and governments to strive for zero waste.

Resources:

Get in touch with Bill Sheehan
Get in touch with Helen Spiegelman
Fungal Diversity Survey
Learn more about How Upstream and the Reuse Movement Began

New Year, New Solutioneers, New Reuse-olutions Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

This week, we’re introducing you to the four newest members of Upstream’s Board of Directors: Linda Corrado, Ashley Craig, Rose Stephens-Booker and Daniel Velez! We asked each of them to tell us something we wouldn’t know from looking at their LinkedIn profile and what inspired them to join Upstream’s Board and the reuse movement. Plus, hear their top New Year “reuse-solutions” for starting down the path to a greener, healthier, and more indisposable lifestyle in 2022.

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Craft Beer takes the Reuse Route Jan 06, 2022

Show notes

This week, host Matt Prindiville chats with a new member of Upstream’s Board of Directors, entrepreneur Daniel Velez – Co-founder and CEO of Growly, an innovative online craft beer delivery service. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Growly uses the milkman model to deliver locally made craft beer, cold brew coffee, and kombucha in returnable growlers. Tune in to hear how Daniel is pioneering craft beverage packaging with reusable growlers and innovative delivery systems.

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Reuse (and Wine) On-Tap Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

This week, host Matt Prindiville joins Charles Bieler – Founder and CEO of Bieler Wines, winemaker, and innovator – to discuss reuse in wine and wine service. At the forefront of the industry for more than 20 years, Bieler has been named by Food & Wine Magazine and the Wine Enthusiast as one of the “40 Big Food Thinkers Under 40.” From wine on-tap in restaurants to a return-to-retail reusable/refillable bottle system, hear how Charles is working to reimagine the wine industry’s role in supporting the shift to an emerging reuse economy.

Resources:

Bieler Wines website: https://www.bielerwines.com/
Bieler Wines on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bielerwines/
The Gotham Project: http://gothamproject.net/
Charles Bieler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/charlesbieler

Scaling Supply Chains with Reuse Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

Rounding out our special series for The Reusies™, Matt Prindiville talks with Garr Punnett, Chief of Staff and Circular Economist at Rheaply – the National Reuse Awards 2021 Most Innovative Reuse Company award winner. Rheaply’s online resource management and exchange platform helps businesses around the world better manage their physical assets to improve supply chain issues and minimize resource waste. Tune in to learn how Rheaply is changing the game in an era when the need for circular business operations is greater than ever.

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The Power of Community and Coalitions Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

This week, for another special episode in our series on The Reusies™, host Brooking Gatewood sits down with members of Reusable LA – the 2021 Most Impactful Community Leadership award winner at the National Reuse Awards. Alison Waliszewski with 5 Gyres, Melissa Aguayo with Break Free From Plastic, and Emily Parker with Heal the Bay share the history and victories of this powerful and inclusive coalition helping to shift the state of plastic pollution in the city of Los Angeles.

To keep up with Reusable LA’s work and get involved in upcoming actions, visit www.reusablela.org and follow the coalition on social media:

If you’re interested in joining an existing reuse coalition or starting a new one in your community, visit our Community Coalitions webpage to see how you can get involved. For more on grassroots and inclusive organizing, check out episodes 1: A giant leap toward throw-away-free living; 33: Racial Justice & Environmentalism: Together & Inseparable; and 45: Changing the narrative: Environmental justice and plastic production!

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