Green Dreamer: Sustainability From Ideas To Life With Eco Pioneers, Revolutionary Thinkers, Leading Creatives

Why have we parted ways with some traditional but perfectly functional and natural ways of storing food in favor of plastic packaging? Given that companies aren't necessarily held liable for their negative externalities (e.g., waste, pollution, etc.), how can we get them to be voluntarily responsible for their impacts?   Sharing her wisdom here is Sarah Kaeck, Founder of Bee's Wrap. You'll hear about how plastic has made its way into all corners of our modern day lives, why sustainable beekeeping is so important, how to sustainably scale a business that makes a positive impact, and more. Let's dive in!   *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.*   HIGHLIGHTS [6:35] Kaméa: "Why do you think such a healthy, functional, and practical way of storing food has been lost?" [9:09] Kaméa: "How can we get companies that make things to think about the long-term impacts since they're not held liable for that?" [10:43] Sarah shares how she

How can awareness of sustainability—even if just among a minority group of people—eventually reach a tipping point when it can then create a ripple effect and break into the mainstream? What does it take to create stories and documentaries that leave people feeling deeply inspired, empowered, and moved to action?   Sharing his wisdom here is Jordan Osmond, documentary filmmaker and Co-Founder of Happen Films. You'll hear about why fear may not an effective motivator for sustainable behavioral change, how we can learn from localized and indigenous knowledge, how to inspire and activate people through film, and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS   [6:46] The difference between using cold facts versus using stories when sharing information and motivating others to take action. [18:37] Jordan: "There's still time to heal the damage that has been done." [19:45] Why leading by example may be more effective than trying to force change upon others. [22:46] What first got Jordan interested in regenerative agriculture. 

In the middle of this global awareness to use less single-use plastic bottled water, why is the bottled water market still on the rise? Why is aluminum superior to plastic as a material used for single-use packaging?   Sharing her wisdom here is Nicole Doucet, the CEO and Co-founder of Open Water. You'll hear about all the reasons why aluminum is a more environmentally friendly packaging material when compared to plastic, the pervasive problem with microplastics, why recycling plastic isn't a sustainable solution, and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS  [4:57] Nicole's thoughts on why it seems we have just recently gained more awareness as a society on single-use plastic even though it's been a problem for a long time. [9:01] Why aluminum is a more environmentally material than plastic for packaging. [9:44] Kaméa: "Why are there incentives to support the recycling of aluminum in particular and not other materials?" [16:22] What was the challenge you wanted to overcome with your rebranding from Green Sheep Wate

Given that many young people today are already so passionate about helping to solve our global issues, how can we better engage them and empower them to contribute their unique perspectives and talents? How does engineering tie into this picture of sustainability, and how can engineers best apply their backgrounds and skillset to help further advance our progress towards a healthier future?   Sharing her wisdom here is Brittany Bennett, Executive Director of Engineers for a Sustainable World. You'll hear about the role of engineers in tackling environmental issues, the importance of having young people in leadership positions, the need for policy change and collective action, and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS [4:28] How engineers are uniquely positioned to solve environmental problems. [13:40] Brittany: "One of the greatest things we can do is to combine our power together to create collective action." [16:51] What Brittany does to stay encouraged when others don't believe in her. [17:00] Kaméa: "What is

What are some environmental impacts from the beauty and skincare industry that we should be mindful of? In the midst of our fast-paced, often stressful lives, what can we keep in mind that can help us to immediately shift our outlooks to one of gratitude?   Sharing his wisdom here is Andy Hnilo, Founder and CEO of Alitura Naturals. You'll hear about the serious injury that led to him starting Alitura Naturals, some of the most concerning problems with the skincare and beauty industry right now, how to keep a perspective of appreciation in life, and more. Let's dive in!    HIGHLIGHTS [3:18] The serious accident that eventually led to Andy's founding of Alitura. [7:52] Why the ingredients we put onto our skin matter. [12:23] Andy discusses the research and development process he used to develop his innovative, natural skincare. [17:02] Why Andy decided to source unique, wild-harvested ingredients and how this set his products apart from other popular natural skincare brands. [25:17] Some of the biggest environm

Why can we feel confident and hopeful about our ability to address climate change in this time of need? Even though this topic can often feel complex, overwhelming, and sometimes controversial, what are the three basic things we need to know about the science of climate change that are just undeniable and simple realities?   Sharing his wisdom here is Dr. Jeffrey Bennett, an astronomer, teacher, and author. You'll hear about the relationship between astronomy and our climate; how the solutions to tackling climate change have multi-faceted benefits for our society; how to speak intelligently and with clarity about climate change science; and more.   HIGHLIGHTS [3:03] The relationship between astronomy and climate change. [6:06] The difference between saving the earth and saving civilization. [7:19] Jeffrey explains the simple science behind global warming in three steps. [9:12] Jeffrey: "There's plenty of hope still out there; we just have to do what we know needs to be done." [10:44] How a carbon tax could gr

How will a deeper understanding of our microbiome health encourage us to take better care of ourselves and our planet? How has human activity been impacting our earth's world of microbes, and what's at stake if our microbial diversity and richness continue to decrease?   Sharing her wisdom here is Ara Katz, the Co-Founder of Seed, which is pioneering the application of microbiome science for both human and planetary health. You'll hear about what exactly our microbiome is and does for us; how our personal ecosystems relate to our earth's microbes; how microbiome science will shift our entire approaches to self-care and earth stewardship; and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS [7:21] Ara shares how her experience breastfeeding led her to connect the dots between personal and environmental health. [18:01] Ara explains what our microbiome is and what it does for us. [25:51] Kaméa: "How does our individual microbiome relate to our planet's health?" [26:04] Ara: "We're not in this environment or on this environment

What can we learn from the modeling and fashion industries to help us accelerate our progress towards a healthier future? How does the role of privilege tie into conversations around sustainable living, and how can we be more mindful of this so that we're not just improving our own lives independently, but also helping to improve the system to make it easier and more accessible for everyone to live better as well?   Sharing her wisdom here is Renee Elizabeth Peters, a model-activist, the content creator at Model4GreenLiving, a social media expert, and an environmental advocate. You'll hear about the role of modeling in social impact; how to combat burnout as an activist; how we can use our privilege to make a more positive impact; and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS [11:03] Renee's greatest personal struggle working within the modeling industry while championing mind, body, and earth positivity. [14:43] How the media's mainstream narratives impact our mental health and beliefs about what we 'need' to be hap

When money is often associated with corruption and greed, how can we shift our money mindset to be more confident and unafraid to work with it (given that this is how our world operates), so that we can better use it as a means to help improve our world? What can we do to begin meaningfully addressing the issues of disease, poverty, and climate change altogether?   Sharing his wisdom here is Devin Thorpe, author, speaker, and founder of the Your Mark on the World Center. You'll hear about why having the right money mindset is important for making a positive impact; why corporations aren't going away and what we can do to better hold them accountable for their work; the interconnected relationship between poverty, disease, and climate change; and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS [7:20] Devin: "I think all of us in the sustainability world on some level resent the influence of money. But the fact is–money is what makes the world go round." [11:47] Why corporations are a necessity in our world today and what we

What do we need to know about food waste, and what can we do as individuals to help our communities waste less food? Even though sometimes we may feel, as individuals, like just one person in this massive world, why is our sheer existence so important in helping to shape trends and society?   Sharing his wisdom here is Max La Manna of Eating With Max. You'll hear about how we can inspire those around us to take positive actions for our planet; how we can create a less wasteful food industry; what to know about plant-based foods that can help us feel more connected to our earth; and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS  [6:45] What inspired Max to become a pioneer as a chef focused on not wasting any food, tackling plastic waste from the food industry, and making plant-based recipes. [8:53] Max: "I think that's where a lot of creativity lives – in that space of the unknown and in that space of fear." [9:25] Max's advice on getting over the roadblock of fearing the unknown or fearing what other people think. [13:2

In addition to supporting the most established national or international environmental nonprofits, why do we also need to simultaneously support local, small, and community-based organizations? What's the importance of making sure that key decisions, policies, and solutions are made in the presence of people from a diversity of backgrounds?   Sharing her wisdom with us here is Peggy Shepard, Co-founder and Executive Director of WE ACT For Environmental Justice. You'll hear about how grassroots initiatives can lead to meaningful change for citizens; how large environmental organizations differ in their measures of success and focus compared to community-based organizations; how we can support environmental justice as individuals; and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS [8:18] Peggy: "The environmental justice movement really coalesced around the fact that low-income communities and communities of color were being targeted for polluting facilities, but not receiving environmental benefits like parks and alternati

How do aquaponics work and how can this be used to support a more sustainable future in agriculture? What are some environmental issues from the medical cannabis industry that we should know, and how can we best support it to move in a healthier direction?   Sharing his wisdom here is Warren Bravo, the co-founder and CEO of Green Relief. You'll hear about how he pivoted from leading his family business to become the largest cement contracting company in Canada to co-establishing his licensed medical cannabis company; how he developed their aquaponic system to be able to scale sustainable production of the plant; how sterile systems like hydroponics compare to aquaponics and soil-based growth; and more. Let's dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS: [7:00] How Warren got involved with the medical cannabis industry and sustainable agriculture. [11:55] Warren: "I learned a long time ago not to sweat over things I can't control." [12:41] What aquaponics are and how they work. [15:35] Kamea: "What do we know about the difference be

Why are plastic pieces so problematic when they end up in our oceans? How can focusing on preventative solutions to tackling plastic and micro-plastic pollution help us to more effectively address this global issue?   Sharing his wisdom here is Dr. Marcus Eriksen, Co-founder and Research Director of 5 Gyres Institute. In this episode, you’ll hear about his research on microplastic pollution leading to the passing of our federal Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015; why he thinks we need to focus more on stopping plastic from entering our waterways in the first place instead of on cleaning up plastics already in our oceans; and more. Let’s dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS [4:21] Marcus discusses his active deployment in the Gulf War and how seeing the ecological impact of war affected him. [5:30] Marcus: "I've got to preserve and conserve the world around me. That's my duty; that's what's worth fighting for." [8:16] How the 5 Gyres Institute fought for (and won) the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015.  [14:07] Marcus speaks

How can we better convey the science behind sustainability to the general public so that people will be more interested and motivated to take action? How do insects tie into this picture of sustainability, and why is their presence so vital to our sustainable future?   Sharing his wisdom here is Phil Torres, a biologist with an appetite for adventure. Known for his fieldwork in the Amazon rainforest, he documents his research on his YouTube channel, The Jungle Diaries, and is also the host of United Airlines' Big Metal Bird, and The CW's Ready Set Pet. He's also appeared on Animal Planet and Discovery Channel, and has published in Wired, BBC, National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, and more. Let's dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS [8:40] Phil explains how the decisions we make locally have global effects. [12:58] Kaméa: "What led you to become a science communicator?" [19:14] Why it's important to take the time to notice and acknowledge the nature and living creatures around us. [20:26] Kaméa: "What do you think is the

What are some ways in which non-profits can really shine and accomplish things that even purpose-driven businesses may not be able to? Why is it so important for sustainability to be inclusive of everybody, no matter our backgrounds, abilities, differences in beliefs, or accessibility?   Sharing her wisdom here is Kate Williams, CEO of 1% For the Planet, which is a global movement inspiring businesses and individuals to support environmental nonprofit solutions through annual membership and everyday actions. In addition to bringing experiences from her past leadership along, she believes strongly in the power of collective action. Let's dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS [4:55] Kate: "It's about protecting places, but it's also about engaging a broad group of people all over the world—and how do we most effectively do that?" [17:27] Kaméa: "What do you think has been key to getting so many companies and people on board?" [19:46] Kate discusses the importance of inclusivity and accessibility within the sustainability movem

We're currently taking a 2-week holidays break in celebration of reaching our 100th episode, and will resume with 2 episodes per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning the second week of January. Be sure to hit SUBSCRIBE if you haven't yet to stay posted, and in the mean time, feel welcome to dive right into our 100 inspiring episodes already waiting for you.   SUPPORT GREEN DREAMER: If you've been enjoying Green Dreamer Podcast and would like to support its continued production, please check out our 2019 Green Dreamer Planners (GreenDreamer.com/Planners), share the show or our planners with friends, or leave a review of what you're enjoying in this podcast app, also including your social username or business name and what you're working on so we can check out what you're up to as well!   Thank you for bringing your light. x @KameaChayne

What does it mean that a lot of our current efforts to 'go green' could just be facades or short term solutions that might create another set of unintended problems? How do we deal with the loneliness and rage that might come from having woken up to a lot of our systemic issues which a lot of people around us might still not see?   Our guest on this episode is Ayana Young, a lover and protector of wild nature and the host of For the Wild podcast. Today, she teaches empowered earth stewardship, leads biodiversity enhancement workshops, and facilitates panels across North America with her team. Let's dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS [5:12] Ayana: "I think the word 'sustainability' is thrown around way too much. It's become a marketing tool." [8:30] Ayana: "When you think about 9 billion people all with iPhones, cars, being able to fly airplanes anytime... it really doesn't matter if you plug that into a solar panel or not." [13:30] Kaméa: "Is this a matter of questioning what progress really means? Because we're headed in

As we're wrapping up 2018, I wanted to take this opportunity to have Abigail Davidson, Green Dreamer's Creative Partnerships Manager and the one who's been creating all of our show notes, lead us in reflecting upon our first 100 episodes.   Abigail is also a holistic wellness blogger and coach at The School of Wellbeing who helps individuals learn to listen to their bodies and minds and develop a thriving lifestyle specific to them.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/99, subscribe to our weekly newsletter to win monthly giveaways, and share your biggest takeaways with me on Instagram @KameaChayne to let me know you're tuning in. Thanks for bringing your light! x

Even when we may not feel so hopeful about our ability to turn things around for a sustainable future, what can we hold onto to inspire us to keep going? How does our global industrialized food system aggravate social and environmental issues, and how can we begin to tackle this?   Sharing his expertise here is Rob Greenfield, a world-renowned adventurer and activist who just embarked on his big project called Food Freedom, where he'll be growing and foraging 100 percent of his own food for an entire year in Orlando, Florida. Some of his other past projects include cycling three times across the United States on a bamboo bike for sustainability, dumpster diving in thousands of grocery store dumpsters to raise awareness about food waste and hunger, and wearing 30 days worth of trash out in public to create a visual of just how much trash one average American creates.  Let's dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS [6:32] Rob on how we may be able to break free from "mono-cropped" perspectives from being in places surrounded by p

We've been talking so much about plastic pollution, but how exactly is plastic even made to begin with, and what can we learn from that process to better understand its impact on our health? How can we deal with having friends or family members who may not personally support the work we do or believe it can really make a difference?   Sharing her wisdom with us here is Christine Liu, author of the blog and YouTube channel on living more simply and sustainably, Snapshots of Simplicity. She has a degree in industrial and packaging technology from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and currently works at Cisco as a sustainable packaging program manager, where she also co-founded its internal employee organization called the Green Team Network. Let's dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS   [6:32] Christina explains how plastic is actually made. [10:53] Christina's advice for someone working for a company that's not focused on sustainability but wants to be an "intrapraneur" and work as a change maker from wi