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A Sustainable Mind - environment & sustainability podcast

A Sustainable Mind is a podcast created for the earth-conscious individual, ecopreneur, environmental activist, sustainability enthusiast, grassroots organizer, minimalist, conscious consumer and the eco-curious. If you are looking to get inspired, motivated and take ACTION to be the change you want to see in the world you are in the right place. Delivered to you each week, Marjorie Alexander brings you environmental changemakers whose campaigns, companies and projects have changed the planet for the better. Featured guests discuss their relationship with nature early on, their journey to a green career, light-bulb moments, sustainable habits, lessons from launching their projects, and much more. Each episode ends with ACTIONABLE advice and resources for you to hit the ground running!
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A Sustainable Mind - environment & sustainability podcast
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Now displaying: Category: Non-Profit
082: Climate Change Along the Chesapeake and the Come Together Handbook with Dana Simson 0
Mar 5, 2021

Author/illustrator/Designer Dana Simson is a life-long environmentalist and climate change activist. She and her husband live on the frontline of climate change in a 200-year-old house on an island in the Chesapeake Bay. She keeps a tide clock on the dash of her car and gives the blue crabs and fish the right of way on her commute home. She has been a sought-after speaker and visiting professor on imagination development for the last 20 years. Currently, she is using her skillset to engage and empower people to look at climate change as an opportunity for positive change. Dana has written and illustrated 14 books and worked with many companies internationally to design home decor and many products. She is also the illustrator for the upcoming Green Writers Press children’s picture book; Janey Monarch Seed.


Join us for our first live event, M.A.S.S. Eco Summit! It will be 3 days of keynotes, panels, and workshops! Receive event notifications or contact us to get involved at MASSEcoLive.com.


This episode is brought to you by Brightmark, a leader in plastics renewal technology. Learn more about how Brightmark is reimagining waste and how you can partner with them at Brightmark.com.


In this episode Marjorie and Dana discuss:

  • How illustrated books can have a greater impact on readers openness to the material versus all-text books
  • The changes that she's seen in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem over the last several decades as a result of climate change
  • Does living along the Chesapeake increase residents receptiveness to the concept of climate change and what changes has she seen in the community's mindset over the years
  • Her new book the Come Together Handbook

 

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

 
 
Connect with Dana and get a copy of the Come Together Handbook:
 
 
Connect with Marjorie Alexander:
081: Plastics Renewal and Waste to Fuel with Brightmark's Bob Powell 0
Feb 26, 2021

Bob Powell's dreams and vision about how we can leave the world a better place are being realized at Brightmark, the company he founded to change the way the world sees and manages its waste. As founder & CEO, Bob looks beyond what we are doing now to create the path for what we will realize many years in the future. Bob is passionate about solving the world’s most complex environmental problems with innovation and optimism. Prior to founding Brightmark in 2016, Bob spent the majority of his career working in the energy industry.

 

Join us for our first live event, M.A.S.S. Eco Summit! It will be 3 days of keynotes, panels, and workshops! Receive event notifications or contact us to get involved at http://MASSEcoLive.com.

 

In this episode Marjorie and Bob discuss:

  • How Brightmark uses all forms of plastic from every type of waste stream and creates circular renewed products
  • How Brightmark turns organic waste into fuel and what responses people have had over the years to this practice
  • What is the difference between methane and CO2 and their impact on the environment
  • Why banning ALL plastics isn't yet part of Bob's overall vision and why

 

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

 
 
Connect with Bob and Brightmark:
 
 
Connect with Marjorie Alexander:
080: The Texas Power Grid: Deregulation & Vulnerability with Seth Mansur of RER Energy Group 0
Feb 25, 2021
This week features an additional episode tackling the Texas power grid. I chat with Seth Mansur of RER Energy Group
to get a better understanding of what deregulation means for a power grid, why some Texans are now receiving insanely high energy bills, and what role infrastructure and politics play in the larger picture.
 
Get in touch with Seth at smansur@rerenergygroup.com or check out rerenergygroup.com.
 
This is the first episode I've done of this kind, addressing a current climate event, and I hope to be addressing more just like this as climate events occur.
 
Lastly, if you love ASM then mark your calendars for our very first live online event. M.A.S.S. Eco Live will take place April 30-May 2, 2021, and will feature 3 days of panel discussions, keynote speakers, and workshops! To attend, sponsor, apply to be a panelist, or even to give us a hand with the event please head on over to http://MassEcoLive.com. Hope to see you there.
079: Sustainable Seafood & The Healthy Oceans Cookbook with Jackie Marks of the Marine Stewardship Council 0
Feb 19, 2021

Jackie Marks is a sustainability communications professional with a passion for protecting animals and the planet. At the MSC Jackie and her team aim to drive greater consumer awareness of the MSC blue fish label and the important role certified sustainable fisheries play in protecting our ocean.

Jackie is the recipient of the Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) Emerging Leaders Award (June 2019), was a speaker at United Nations World Wildlife Day at UN HQ (February 2019), and has been quoted in Civil Eats, USA Today, and the Associated Press, among others. She holds master’s degrees in International Relations, and Natural Resources & Sustainable Development, and a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies.

 

Join us for our first live event, M.A.S.S. Eco Summit! It will be 3 days of keynotes, panels, and workshops! Receive event notifications or contact us to get involved at http://MASSEcoLive.com.

 

In this episode Marjorie and Jackie discuss:

  • The role the Marine Stewardship Council plays in making sure shoppers have access to safe, healthy, and sustainable seafood products
  • What exactly makes seafood sustainable or not
  • How a cookbook is helping the MSC with its efforts to promote sustainable seafood and healthy eating habits
  • How to take the first step in getting a job in the physical and environmental sciences

 

Are you looking to launch or grow your podcast? Sign up for a free 1-on-1 30-minute strategy session with me at https://asustainablemind.com/podcasting!

 

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

 
 
Connect with the Marine Stewardship Council:
 
 
Connect with Marjorie Alexander:
078: Ocean-Friendly Snacks to the Rescue with Pat Schnettler of 12 Tides 0
Feb 11, 2021

Pat Schnettler is an ocean activist and the founder of 12 Tides kelp snack company. Making his start in the traditional seafood industry, he was disheartened by its unsustainable practices and negative impacts, from overfishing and pollution to coastline destruction. Today, Pat is on a mission to show the world how our everyday food and lifestyle choices have the power to positively impact our oceans and the future of our planet.

 

Join us for our first live event, M.A.S.S. Eco Summit! Receive event notifications or contact us to get involved at http://MASSEcoLive.com.

 

In this episode Marjorie and Pat discuss:

  • The habitat impact of the traditional seafood industry and how it contributes to coastline destruction
  • How consumers can be sure the sources of seafood they consume are trustworthy
  • What exactly is sea kelp and how is it different from seaweed?
  • The benefits of growing sea kelp for habitat restoration and as a sustainable food product

 

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

 

Connect with 12tides:
 
 
Connect with Marjorie Alexander:
Welcome to Season 2 of A Sustainable Mind! 0
Feb 10, 2021

In this episode, I will be introducing Season 2 of ASM! We'll chat about some of my favorite and most memorable interviews from season 1, the impact the show has had over the years, upcoming featured guests, how we will be supporting the show moving forward, and I'll be making a big announcement about our first live event!

 

Episodes Mentioned

Tom Szaky of Terra Cycle: https://asustainablemind.com/027

Kathryn Kellogg of Going Zero Waste: https://asustainablemind.com/048

Bea Johnson of Zero Waste Home: https://asustainablemind.com/006

Rob Greenfield of Food Freedom: https://asustainablemind.com/061

Maya van Rossum of the Green Amendment: https://asustainablemind.com/026

Yana (Ma'ikwe) Ludwig, previously of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, co-founder of Solidarity Collective: https://asustainablemind.com/008

Izolda Trakhtenberg, aka "Earth Lady": https://asustainablemind.com/062

Jordan Figueiredo of Ugly Fruit & Veg Campaign: https://asustainablemind.com/011

 

Links Mentioned

Suggest or apply to be a guest:
https://asustainablemind.com/be-a-guest/

Suggest or apply to be a sponsor:
https://asustainablemind.com/become-a-sponsor/

Support the show: 
https://asustainablemind.com/give

 

Join us for our first live event, MASS Eco Summit! Receive event notifications or contact us to get involved at http://MASSEcoLive.com.

077: Kind Cup - Bringing Innovation to Menstrual Cups and the Feminine Hygiene Industry with Christine Brown 0
Aug 12, 2020
Kind Cup Kickstarter Campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kindcup/kind-cup-the-innovative-menstrual-cup?ref=72obwi&token=02b39bee
 
Visit our site for a full transcript of this episode at www.ASustainableMind.com/077 
 
 
Founder and designer of Kind Cup, Christine Brown, grew up in a small agricultural beach town in Southern California. A sixth-generation Carpinterian, Brown is a part-time avocado farmer, and American Sign Language teacher and advocate. Brown studied Critical Social Thought at Mount Holyoke College, and Deaf Studies: Cultural Studies for graduate school in Washington D.C. at Gallaudet University.
 
 
In this episode Marjorie and Christine Brown discuss:
  • How menstrual cups work and why they can be a much better alternative to tampons and pads.
  • How Christine came up with the idea for Kind Cup. 
  • The design elements that make Kind Cup unique.
  • Marjorie’s personal experiences with menstrual cups over the last 15 years and why she loves the Kind Cup design. 
  • What to consider when choosing a menstrual cup that works best with your body and lifestyle.
 
Resources from Christine Brown:
  • Direct Relief - Kind Cup's non-profit partner (DirectRelief.org) - Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay.
  • Intersectional Environmentalist Group (IntersectionalEnvironmentalist.com) - A platform for resources, information, and action steps to support intersectional environmentalism and dismantle systems of oppression in the environmental movement, led by environmental activists and sustainability advocates.
  • Put a Cup in It (PutACupInIt.com) - A collection of resources about reusable menstrual products overall and great general info if you are new to the conversation about menstrual cups
 
Connect with Christine Brown and Kind Cup:
 
Connect with Marjorie Alexander:
 
 
Want to help us spread the word?
 
Post a screenshot of ASM in your favorite listening app and tag us on your Instagram story!
 
Subscribe, Rate & Review ASM on Apple Podcasts: ASustainableMind.com/Apple
076: Is Bamboo the Next Big Thing? with Scott Brady of Cariloha 0
Jun 16, 2020
Scott Brady is the Vice President of Communications for Cariloha, based in Sandy, UT. He oversees all internal and external communications for the company. In 2007, at the height of economic crisis and recession, Scott was part of the team that helped develop and bring the eco-friendly and sustainable Cariloha retail brand to market. Despite the struggling economy, Cariloha flourished and continues to grow. Now the brand is the only company that features sustainable bamboo in all of its product lines.  
 
 
In this episode Marjorie and Scott discuss:
  • What makes bamboo sustainable.
  • How bamboo compares to other fabrics we typically used in bedding, bath, and apparel products.
  • The benefits of bamboo for people that use it.
  • How to quickly make a big impact on the sustainability practices of a company of any size
 
Resources from Cariloha and Scott Brady:
 
Connect with Cariloha:
 
Connect with Marjorie Alexander:
 
Want to help us spread the word?
Post a screenshot of ASM in your favorite listening app and tag us on your Instagram story!
Subscribe, Rate & Review ASM on Apple Podcasts: ASustainableMind.com/Apple
075: Eco-friendly Small Business with Moji Igun of Blue Daisi Consulting 0
Apr 13, 2020

Moji Igun is the founder of Blue Daisi Consulting. Her company serves small businesses that want to reduce their waste and implement more earth-friendly business practices. She works with individuals to use their companies as an avenue to make a more positive social and environmental impact. 

 

This episode is sponsored by Public Goods - Just one version of every essential in just one place. Get 10% off with promo code ASM at checkout. Check out PublicGoods.com.

 

In this episode Marjorie and Moji Igun discuss:

  • The benefits to small business owners of running a green operation
  • Where to start if you want to make your business more sustainable
  • What types of certifications are available for eco-friendly businesses

Resources from Moji Igun:

Connect with Moji Igun and Blue Daisi Consulting:

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Want to help us spread the word?

Post a screenshot of ASM in your favorite listening app and tag us on your Instagram story!

Subscribe, Rate & Review ASM on Apple Podcasts: ASustainableMind.com/Apple

074: Kamea Chayne of Green Dreamer Podcast on Sustainable Fashion and Mindfulness 0
Feb 7, 2020

Kamea Chayne is an author, creative, the curator of ConsciousFashion.co, and the host of Green Dreamer Podcast. Challenging our dominant views of "advancement" that equate with destruction, degradation, and disconnection from the things that matter most, she curiously explores what it takes to realize a world of ecological balance and diversity, intersectional sustainability, and true abundance and wellness for all.

 

Want to start your own cause-based podcast? Let’s get you launched!! For more details on how you can work with me 1-on-1 to get your show up and running, please visit 

http://www.ASustainableMind.com/launch

 

In this episode Marjorie and Kamea Chayne discuss:

  • How to take action and contribute to conservation efforts in your community
  • How retail therapy caused Kamea to have a huge wake up call and start ConsciousFashion.co
  • How mindfulness determines our impact on ecology
  • Easy tips on how to keep your wardrobe both fresh and sustainable

 

Resources from Kamea Chayne:

   

 

Connect with Kamea Chayne:

 

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

 

Subscribe, Rate & Review ASM on Apple Podcasts: ASustainableMind.com/Apple

073: Seabin Project’s Pete Ceglinski on Cleaning Our Oceans, Simple Solutions, and Focusing Upstream 0
Jan 13, 2020

Australian surfer, father, and clean ocean advocate Pete Ceglinski is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Seabin Project. Seabin, a device designed to reduce, and ultimately eliminate pollution in our oceans, acts as a trash can for our waters and has the ability to remove microplastics, microfibers, plastic bags, bottles, cigarette butts, and more. Along with the development of the Seabin Project as a business, Pete is heavily involved in the technical design and development of the products. Since he co-founded the invention in 2015 there have been Seabins installed in over 40 countries, resulting in a total of 1.95 tons of waste extracted from our oceans every day.

 

Want to start your own cause-based podcast? Let’s get you launched!! For more details on how you can work with me 1-on-1 to get your show up and running, please visit http://www.ASustainableMind.com/launch

 

In this episode Marjorie and Pete Ceglinski discuss:

  • How Seabin is creating strategic partnerships with municipalities and marinas to get Seabins installed all across the globe
  • How a Seabin works and how simplicity was their key to success during the creation process
  • Where Pete and the Seabin team see taking their invention in the near future 
  • How you, your company or group can get involved, even if you don’t live near the water

 

Resources from Pete:

 

Connect with Pete Ceglinski and the Seabin Project:

 

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/

Website: asustainablemind.com

 

Subscribe and Rate & Review ASM on Apple Podcasts: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1039692339

 

072: People of Color in the Outdoor Community with José González of Latino Outdoors 0
Dec 26, 2019

José G. González is the Founder of Latino Outdoors. He is an experienced educator as a K-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. He is also an illustrator and science communicator.

His commentary on diversity and environmental/outdoor equity has been featured by High Country News, Outside Magazine, Earth Island Journal, and Latino USA, among others. He engaged in collaborations with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Park Service during the Obama Administration. He also represented Latino Outdoors in several coalitions including the Latino Conservation Alliance, the Next 100 Coalition, and California Parks Now. He has been recognized with several honors, including the National Wildlife Federation Environmental Educator Award, Grist Magazine “Grist 50”, and The Murie Center Spirit of the Muries, among others. You may have also seen him in various outdoor spaces or read his poetic musings.

He received his B.A at the University of California, Davis, and his M.S at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment.



Want to start your own cause-based podcast? Let’s get you launched!! For more details on how you can work with me 1-on-1 to get your show up and running, please visit http://www.ASustainableMind.com/launch



In this episode Marjorie and José González discuss:

  • The importance of having minorities represented in the outdoor community - as participants and as leadership
  • The challenges that some communities encounter regarding outdoor access and how to overcome those challenges
  • How strategic partnerships play into building a more racially diverse outdoor community and why not just commitment, but alignment, plays a key role in success partnership success
  • How to support youth in building healthy relationships with nature



Resources from Jose:



Connect with José González & Latino Outdoors:

José González:

Latino Outdoors: latinooutdoors.org

 

 

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/

Website: asustainablemind.com

Subscribe, Rate & Review ASM on Apple Podcasts: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1039692339

071: Emotional Sustainability and Self-care with JJ Flizanes 0
Nov 22, 2019

JJ Flizanes is an Empowerment Strategist and the host of several podcast including People’s Choice Awards nominee Spirit, Purpose & Energy. She is the Director of Invisible Fitness, a best-selling author of Fit 2 Love: How to Get Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually Fit to Attract the Love of Your Life and The Invisible Fitness Formula: 5 Secrets to Release Weight and End Body Shame. Named Best Personal Trainer in Los Angeles for 2007 by Elite Traveler Magazine, JJ has been featured in many national magazines, including Shape, Fitness, and Women’s Health as well as appeared on NBC, CBS, Fox, the CW and KTLA. Grab a free copy of the Invisible Fitness Formula at http://jjflizanes.com/book

 

If you want to work with JJ she is offering special pricing on her 1-on-1 sessions just for ASM listeners. Learn more at www.ASustainableMind.com/JJ!

 

In this episode, Marjorie and JJ discuss:   

  • What role victim mentality plays in how we advocate for environmental sustainability
  • Frequency and how it causes us to attract different people and situations
  • Resources available for individuals to step into a more empowered position in their lives

 

Interested in starting your own cause-based podcast? I want to help you launch and grow your show! For more details visit www.ASustainableMind.com/DIY  

 

Connect with JJ:

JJ@JJFlizanes.com

JJFlizanes.com

Fit2Love.tv (where you can find ALL of JJ’s podcasts)

Spirit, Purpose & Energy Podcast

Men, Women & Relationship Podcast

 

Resources from JJ: 

Center for Non-Violent Communication

Imago Therapy

Episode 118 of Fit to Love Podcast

Non-violent Communication the Book

Karpman drama triangle

Dr. Christiane Northrup

Dr. Eben Alexander

070: Purpose & Cause-based Podcasting 0
Nov 19, 2019

Have a passion for a worthy cause? Want to start a podcast? Let’s team up!

I am bringing you 30 days of 1-on-1 coaching with me and a DIY podcasting course to get your cause-based podcast launched.

This is perfect for anyone that feels they have a message to share that can change the world for the better. Let’s educate, inspire and promote action in your community!

Learn more at http://asustainablemind.com/diy/

069: Angel's Envy Whiskey Toasts The Trees with Ashley Erwin 0
Sep 26, 2019

Ashley Erwin grew up in rural, northern Georgia. In her words it was the “Type of place where fertilizer goes to greeting ya soon as the front door went to close, where cow tipping and horse jacking and bonfire-truck-meet-ups with blue label sodas stacked heavy in ice chests were the norm, and where ‘mams and sirs were added on to ever’thing less a slap upside the head were what ya’s hankering after.”

 

In this episode, Ashley Erwin and Marjorie Alexander cover:

  • Why Angel's Envy is teaming up with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees and how you can get involved
  • What makes bourbon…BOURBON? Why, the trees of course!
  • The family history of Angel's Envy, including Lincoln Henderson, the creator of Woodford Reserve, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel as well as JD’s “Gentleman Jack” 
  • What techniques go into making Angel's Envy bourbons and ryes so unique

 

*** Use the hashtag #ToastTheTrees along with images of Angel’s Envy cocktails, neat pours and bottles. Let's give Ashley lots of trees to plant next year in Kentucky! ***

  

Connect with Angel’s Envy, Ashley Erwin and the rest of the Whiskey Guardians:

 

Suggested Resources from Ashley:

068: Clean Energy in our Communities with Ted Bardacke of Clean Power Alliance 0
Sep 20, 2019

In this episode, Ted Bardacke and Marjorie Alexander cover:

  • What is clean energy and how does it get to us?
  • What is the future of renewable and carbon-free energy? Will we ever succeed from the grid?
  • How can residents get access to clean energy in their area?
  • What if there are no local utilities offering clean energy in my area?

 

About our Ted Bardacke:

Ted Bardacke, Executive Director of the Clean Power Alliance, has forged a unique career focusing on sustainable urbanism and economic development that spans three continents, including major stints in local government, non-profit organizations, journalism and academia.

Ted comes to the Alliance from the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, where he was Director of Infrastructure and Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Sustainability Office. In those positions he was instrumental in both crafting and then implementing the city’s first-ever Sustainability Plan, with a particular emphasis on pursuing distributed systems in the electricity and water sectors, and utilizing mobility infrastructure to pursue low-carbon and ecologically beneficial outcomes.

From 2003 to 2013, Ted worked in the Green Urbanism Program at Global Green USA and during the 1990s was a foreign correspondent for the Financial Times of London, based in Mexico City and Bangkok. A graduate of Wesleyan University and the Graduate School of Architecture at Columbia University, Ted has been a Visiting Fellow at Mexico City’s Centro de Transporte Sustentable and is a permanent Lecturer in the Urban Planning Program at UCLA.

 

Connect with Ted Bardacke and Clean Power Alliance:

 

Suggested Resources from Ted:

Online:

Books:

067: Sustainable & Ethical Fashion with Aspen Murray of Ethigirl 0
Aug 17, 2019

In this episode, Aspen Murray and Marjorie Alexander cover:

  • The reality of working conditions at some of the sweatshops that make our clothing
  • Companies who are creating ethically and sustainably produced clothing
  • How to spot sustainable clothing while shopping at traditional stores

About our guest:

Aspen Murray is a young activist who is dedicating her life to the pursuit of making ethical + sustainable fashion the norm. She firmly believes that we all have the power to vote with our dollars, but that we need to reform how we look at conscious consumerism: it shouldn't be difficult, it shouldn't be inaccessible to certain people, and it's okay if we mess up − because the onus should never fall entirely on the consumer

Connect with Aspen Murray and Ethigirl Online:

Suggested Resources from Aspen:

Online:

Books:

065: Dirty Gourmet: The Best Camping Food for Your Adventures with Emily Nielson 0
Jun 27, 2019

Dirty Gourmet is a women-owned outdoor company dedicated to empowering outdoorists to make food a part of their soul-nourishing outdoor experience. The founders of Dirty Gourmet, Mai-Yan Kwan, Emily Nielson, and Aimee Trudeau together after a bike tour across Canada and years of camp life took it upon themselves to rethink the idea of food in the outdoors. Whether you're a car camper getting started with a picky family to feed, or a lightweight backpacker looking for inspiration to get you to your destination, they have plenty of tips and recipes for you on our website and in their cookbook, Dirty Gourmet: Food for your Outdoor Adventures.

In this episode we cover:

  • How splitting up your trip types into 3 categories is important to enjoying cooking and eating awesome food in the great outdoors
  • Two must-follow rules for enjoying cooking during your outdoor adventures
  • A super easy homemade granola recipe!

Emily Nielson and Dirty Gourmet Online:

Suggested Resources from Emily:

Suggested online resource:

Books:

064: Samir Lakhani of Project EcoSoap - Recycled soap and hygiene education around the world 0
May 11, 2019

Samir Lakhani, 26, is a social entrepreneur dedicated to restoring health and dignity to developing countries through environmental initiatives. Prior to founding Eco-Soap Bank in 2014, Samir was deeply involved in climate-resilient aquaculture and nutrition projects in northern Cambodian villages. He has also developed solar lighting social enterprise projects in Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Currently, he serves as the Founder & Executive Director of Eco-Soap Bank—a global soap-recycling organization—which operates in 10 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. To date, Eco-Soap Bank has reached over 1.1 million people with recycled soap and free hygiene education. In 2017, Samir received a CNN Hero Award for his work with global hygiene.

In this episode we cover:

  • How do you recycle soap in a sanitary way?
  • How is soap that is not recycled impacting our environment?
  • Where do you get the soap and who receives the recycled soap?
  • How do you change the everyday habits of a community that is respectful of their history and traditions?

Key Takeaways:

  • 5 million bars of soap are thrown away EACH DAY! And it's not biodegradable!
  • Recruiting hygiene ambassadors that are of the local culture helps spread the message more effectively.
  • When you have big ideas, don't wait for it to be perfect, launch it now! But also consider longevity.
  • Get involved with Project EcoSoap - donate to the Kickstarter and help spread the word!

Samir Lakhani and Project Ecosoap Online:

Suggested Resources from Samir:

Suggested online resource:

  • YouTube! You can learn anything from how to build wind turbines to how to drive stick shift!

Books:

062: Environmental Education at Any Age with The Earth Lady Izolda Trakhtenberg 0
Feb 27, 2019

Born in Moldova, Izolda Trakhtenberg learned how to communicate in multiple languages through a year-long immigration process. Today, Izolda facilitates workshops that inspire people to tap into and master their leadership, creativity, and communication skills. She worked as an educator for the National Geographic Society. Later, she traveled the world as a NASA environmental education trainer. Additionally, she is the author of five books, including Speak From Within: Engage, Inspire and Motivate Any Audience. She is also the host of the Tell Your Story Better and The Creative Kind podcasts. Izolda, her husband, and their two cats live in Maryland.

In this episode we cover:

  • Is there a difference between educating children and adults?
  • Why is NASA interested in studying Earth?
  • The most effective way to educate those around you about earth-friendly habits
  • A great free resource for teachers and everyday people that want to study Earth's ecology and atmosphere

Izolda Trakhtenberg Online:

Suggestions & Resource from Izolda:

Books:

 

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Did you know that ASM is now a 501(c)3 charitable organization? Become one of our donors with a tax-deductible donation on https://ASustainableMind.WeDid.it

061: Experiments in Earth-Conscious Living with Rob Greenfield 0
Feb 14, 2019

Rob Greenfield is a world-renowned adventurer and activist and is embarking on his next big project, Food Freedom. Through Rob's extreme projects from cycling across the USA on a bamboo bicycle for sustainability (three times), to dumpster diving in thousands of grocery store dumpsters to raise awareness about food waste and hunger, to wearing 30 days worth of trash to create a visual of how much trash just one American creates, he has inspired countless people to positively change. Rob has been featured on thousands of media outlets around the world, hosted shows on Discovery Channel and has given two TEDx talks. You can see his media page here.

In this episode we cover:

  • Rob's journey from nature-loving kid, to materialistic teen, to environmental changemaker
  • Some of Rob's favorite adventures and experiments
  • How his choice to give up his computer caused him to question his impact in the world
  • Rob's best advice for those just getting started in eco-conscious living

Rob Greenfield Online:

Suggestions & Green Resource from Rob:

  • Take 12 hours off from devices each day if you can and go tech-free for 1 full day each week.
  • Learn about Winona LaDuke and other inspiring people at RobGreenfield.tv/people
  • Learn about educational and moving films at RobGreenfield.tv/films
  • Check out the project, film and books from the Story of Stuff

Books:

060: Love and The Clean Money Revolution with Joel Solomon 0
Jan 19, 2019

Joel Solomon is Co-Author of The Clean Money Revolution: Reinventing Power, Purpose, and Capitalism. As a Founding Partner of Renewal Funds, a $98 million mission venture capital firm, he has invested in over 100 early growth-stage companies in North America, delivering above market returns while catalyzing positive social and environmental change. Joel is a founding member of Social Venture Network, Businesses for Social Responsibility, Chair of Hollyhock, Co-Producer of RSF's “Integrated Capital Institute”, and serves on the University of British Columbia Board of Governors.

In this episode we cover:

  • How Joel's experiences with cancer, working with Jimmy Carter and becoming the caretaker of an orca research lab led him to have a deep appreciation for nature
  • What venture capital is and why is it important to our economy
  • How Renewal Funds and other companies are giving back to the environment in a big way
  • The connection between love and money

Joel Solomon Online:

Suggestions from Joel:

"Political engagement," spend more time reading "sources of political thinking, interviews, and analysis that meet enough of our values and to stay informed and to care,"

"Read more books from people and voices who have been left out of the equation"

 

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059: Everyone has a 1% with Kate Williams, CEO of One Percent for the Planet 0
Jan 6, 2019

Kate Williams is CEO of 1% for the Planet, a global movement inspiring businesses and individuals to support environmental nonprofit solutions, through annual membership and everyday actions. Kate stepped into her role at 1% for the Planet in May 2015 bringing a strong track record as a leader, including roles as Board Chair of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), as Executive Director of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, as founder and owner of a farm business enterprise, and as an elected political leader in her community. Kate earned a BA at Princeton University where she majored in history, and an MS at the MIT Sloan School of Management where she focused on organizational systems. Kate is a master’s distance runner, kitchen gardener, and always wants more time to read and write. Kate lives in Vermont with her husband and two children.

In this episode we cover:

  • How companies that are not yet walking the walk can still help the environmental movement
  • How perfection can be the enemy of progress to any worth-while cause
  • Some of the benefits and challenges of environmental philanthropy
  • How 1%FTP makes it easy for anyone (not just companies and non-profits) to give back and help the planet

1% for the Planet Online:

 

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Do you like A Sustainable Mind? Don't forget to subscribe, share, and rate & review. 

Did you know that ASM is now a 501(c)3 charitable organization? Become one of our donors with a tax-deductible donation on WeDidIt.com.

056: Climate Adaptation, what it is and why it matters, with Doug Parsons 0
Oct 15, 2018

Doug Parsons first learned about adaptation in Queensland, Australia, while focusing on the impacts of climate change on the agriculture sector. Upon returning to the United States, he worked with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the National Park Service and the Society for Conservation Biology. His work has been modeled by state and federal agencies and he continues to work on climate change adaptation and conservation issues today.

 

In this episode we cover:

  • How Doug got started in podcasting
  • What exactly adaptation is and how it differs from sustainability
  • The vocabulary and semantics of climate solutions: mitigation, resiliency, sustainability, adaptation...what do they all mean?
  • Why adaptation is an important consideration alongside traditional environmental sustainability
  • Lots of fantastic resources!

 

Visit Doug Parsons at AmericaAdapts.org

Get resources from this episode at ASustainableMind.com/056

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