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

Why is it so damn difficult to change or solidify environmental policy at a national level? Here, I share what the "Iron Triangle" is in U.S. politics and what we can do as individuals to support systemic change.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/78, sign up for our Weekly Newsletter to  be automatically entered to win our monthly giveaways, and follow me on Instagram @KameaChayne where I'll be sharing more of my inspirations, tips, and learning lessons along the way. Thanks for bringing your light! x

How can we get people who are very much still seduced by fast fashion into the idea of buying less and buying better? How can we deal with perfectionism in terms of sustainable living, and be able to just enjoy this journey rather than just constantly feel bad or feel like we're not enough?   Sharing her wisdom today is Signe Hansen, content creator behind the blog and YouTube channel, Use Less, which explores minimalism, sustainable fashion, and lifestyle.   Let's dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS [8:43] How Signe deals with perfectionism and criticism from viewers. [10:54] What Signe says has been one of the keys to growing her audience. [13:55] Kaméa: "What's been the biggest life lesson you've learned since you've really cut down and embraced minimalism?". [20:40] Kaméa: "What can we do to inspire the consumers who are still very into fast fashion?" [21:54] A few benefits of minimalism that don't have to do with sustainability. [23:03] How the fear of missing out is a huge driver of over-consumption and how we can co

What if more people with great influence on popular culture were to more boldly speak up for sustainability? What would it mean for our world if we had models who were role models, who stood up for public health, social and environmental welfare, and who represent brands that actually align with their personal values?   Sharing her wisdom on this episode is Anne Therese Bengtsson, a former New York City model and Co-Founder of Role Models Management, which is on a mission to redefine what it means to be a model. She's also the podcast host of Hey Change, where she inspires people to embrace curiosity and positivity and promotes an ethical and sustainable way of life.   Let's dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS [8:28] How the modeling industry works and how Role Models Management sets itself apart. [10:09] Kaméa: "What do you think having models whose personal values align with the brands they work with (and vice versa) will make possible for our world and for consumers?" [13:22] How Anne gets past imposter syndrome. [15:49

You're reading this on an electronic device. Do you know what happens to electronics after they're disposed of? Here are 7 shocking things I learned when I dug deeper into this topic, as well as simple things we can do to help address issues around e-waste.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/75, and follow me on Instagram @KameaChayne where I'll be sharing more of my inspirations, tips, and learning lessons along the way. Thanks for bringing your light! x

What do we need to know about how our skin and hair products may be impacting our ocean's health? Given that our underwater world feels so distant, how can we inspire people to feel more connected to our oceans to want to protect them?   Alicia Ward, a professional underwater photographer and Co-Founder of See Through Sea, which is dedicated to ocean conservation and the art of underwater storytelling, shares her wisdom with us.   HIGHLIGHTS:  [6:39] Kaméa: "How did you learn to free-dive and how long did it take to master that?" [9:00] How Alicia and her husband, Jim, started See Through Sea. [10:48] Alicia discusses what it was like to be one of the very few young, female underwater photographers in an male-dominated industry. [13:34] Alicia shares a few of her most touching memories from her underwater adventures. [22:05] Alicia: "The things we put on our bodies should be safe not only for us but for the ocean as well."  [23:24] Kaméa: "What do you think is the best way for us to inspire the public to thin

What are the social and environmental impacts of travel that we should be aware of? Why do we need to redefine what it means to be a tourist so that traveling can become a more sustainable leisure activity? Evelina Utterdahl, the ethical and sustainable travel blogger behind Earth Wanderess (who decided to stop flying this year) shares her wisdom with us on this episode.   HIGHLIGHTS: [14:20] Eve discusses the privilege of having the time, money, and powerful passport to be able to travel freely. [16:32] Eve on the social and environmental costs of travel we should know. [19:56] Easy things we can do as tourists to support local economies and help address the social and environmental costs of travel. [22:21] Eve: "I think we need to change the mindset that traveling has to be far away or exotic... It can be in your own hometown." [26:36] The greatest life lesson Eve has learned through her travels.   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/73,

Given that with soil degradation, we only have 60 years of top soil left... but also that only a tiny percentage of food waste is currently being composted to help regenerate healthy soils, how can we get started in composting even if for the first time?   Special guest of our Bloom Tuesday episode, Celia Ristow of Litterless, shares her expertise with us.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/72, and follow me on Instagram @KameaChayne where I'll be sharing more of my inspirations, tips, and learning lessons along the way. Thanks for bringing your light! x

What do we need to know about the environmental impact of modern-day burials, and what are "green burials" all about? Given that our burial methods used to be eco-friendly, how did we come to accept an environmentally harmful and financially costly way of running our funeral services as the norm?   'The Green Reaper' Elizabeth Fournier, who's the Founder of Cornerstone Funeral Services in Boring, Oregon and author of The Green Burial Guidebook shares her wisdom with us on this episode.   HIGHLIGHTS: [3:16] How Elizabeth came to become a "green mortician." [8:16] Elizabeth explains what's involved in a traditional burial process versus a "green" burial process. [11:24] Kaméa: "How did we as a society come to accept an environmentally harmful and economically costly way of doing burials?" [14:11] Elizabeth: "You have the right to ask questions." [15:08] A few things Elizabeth says everyone should know about the laws and requirements around burials. [20:35] Kaméa: "What's been your biggest struggle building your

What do we need to know about impact investing and how can that help us accelerate towards a healthier, thriving planet? Why does the traditional idea of first making as much money as possible (at the cost of social and environmental welfare) and then donating to good causes to address those very problems not make sense? Ibrahim AlHusseini, the Founder of FullCycle Energy Fund, a renowned impact investor, environmentalist, and highly-regarded speaker shares his wisdom with us. Let's dive in.   HIGHLIGHTS [8:20] What led Ibrahim to become a socially and environmentally driven investor.   [11:48] Ibrahim tells us about his company, FullCycle Energy Fund, which funds companies with the goal of turning landfill waste into energy. [14:39] Ibrahim explains how we are actually able to turn trash into renewable energy. [21:55] Kaméa: "When it comes to impact investing, what do you look for in a company or project to see if it has potential to really take off, scale, and create huge positive impact?" [26:12] Kaméa: "W

With indoor air pollution often being worse than outdoor air pollution even in urban spaces, how can we reduce our exposure to toxic chemicals in our homes for our health?   Special guest of our Bloom Tuesday episode, Nimi Kelloway of Haute Coton, shares her expertise with us.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/69, and follow me on Instagram @KameaChayne where I'll be sharing more of my inspirations, tips, and learning lessons along the way. Thanks for bringing your light! x

What are some things we need to know about electric cars and the future of renewable energy? What does it take to scale our audience size into the millions, so that we can inspire and engage with more people with our work? Our guest today is Seth Leitman of Green Living Guy – an expert on electric cars and renewable energy who's worked for the state of New York on green energy and who writes about LED green lighting, indoor air quality, alternative-fueled vehicles, and more. Let's dive in.   HIGHIGHTS:  [7:52] How Seth has managed to balance creating helpful content for people while also making money. [8:59] Seth: "Just keep showing up. Find one thing in particular that you're an expert in and focus on it. And then from there, everything else becomes obvious." [9:39] Kaméa: "What's been the key to Green Living Guy really taking off and becoming a leader in this space?" [12:20] Kaméa: "What's something most people don't know about electric cars that we should know?" [16:27] What Seth thinks is our biggest road

Why is it important for us to minimize our purchasing of clothes with microplastic fibers, like virgin polyester and nylon? How can we support sustainability markets to grow when conscious consumers, by nature, are trying to buy less?   Andrea Plell is the Founder of Ecologique, a PR, communications, and event production company, the Co-Founder of Sustainable Fashion Alliance, and the West Coast Regional Director of Fashion Revolution USA. She shares her wisdom with us on this episode.   HIGHLIGHTS: [8:31] Andrea: "There wasn't a job out there for something like this at the time, so I ended up creating the role for myself." [11:04] Kaméa: "How has marketing been traditionally used, and how can we best use it for sustainability?” [13:36] Andrea explains the paradigm shift that's needed in the fashion industry. [21:04] Andrea's biggest pieces of advice for someone just starting out on an eco entrepreneurial venture. [25:20] Kaméa: "How can we support eco brands and the sustainability market when conscious consu

We're on track to losing our vital forests around the world, but we also are making huge progress towards reforestation and conserving our existing ancient forests. Here are 3 we can get excited about.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/66, and follow me on Instagram @KameaChayne where I'll be sharing more of my inspirations, tips, and learning lessons along the way. Thanks for bringing your light! x

Why does carbon offsetting sometimes have a negative reputation for just being a bandaid solution to our emissions, and how does the word itself limit our perception of what these projects are actually about? How can we pick out carbon offsetting projects actually effectively offsetting emissions, from the ones that aren't?   Marisa de Belloy, CEO of Cool Effect, shares her wisdom with you.   HIGHLIGHTS: [6:27] What Cool Effect does and how it's different than other carbon offsetting projects. [16:47] Marisa: "When you donate to Cool Effect, you know exactly how many tons of carbon you personally have reduced." [18:31] Marisa: "Carbon offsetting is the only way we currently have to get to zero." [20:50] Kaméa: "How much would an average American need to offset their emissions for the year?" [22:09] How consumers can identify which carbon offset projects that are reputable and trustworthy. [25:00] Kaméa: "What do you think it will take for emissions to get the same amount of attention as something like plastic

How was our guest today able to create a technology to be able to close the loop in our production and disposal of clothing? What does it take to come up with a disruptive idea for sustainability and bring that to life?   Patricia Ermecheo, CEO and Founder of Osom Brand and OSOMTEX, shares her wisdom with us on this episode.    HIGHLIGHTS: [9:50] Kaméa: "What is OSOMTEX doing differently than other textile recycling programs?" [13:24] Kaméa: "Can this be recycled an indefinite number of times?" [22:17] What it meant to Patricia when Osom Brand was featured as one of the most disruptive technologies in the fashion industry. [23:35] Kaméa: "What's your best advice for someone who has a disruptive idea that they're just getting started with?" [26:39] Patricia: "People need to choose their sacrifices wisely in order to achieve their dreams."   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/64, and share your #1 takeaway from the episode tagging our featur

With climate change being a topic that often repels and divides people, how can we talk about it in a way to engage more people and inspire more action?   Special guest of our Bloom Tuesday episode, Meghann Percy of Kiss That World Podcast, shares her biggest learning lessons from attending Al Gore's recent Climate Reality Project Leader Training in Los Angeles.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/63, and follow me on Instagram @KameaChayne where I'll be sharing more of my inspirations, tips, and learning lessons along the way. Thanks for bringing your light! x

What do we know about how the chemicals and dyes used to treat our clothing impact our health? How can we pick apart brands that may be greenwashing from the brands that are actually trying to do what they can to improve?   Jamie Bainbridge, VP of Product Development at Bolt Threads shares her wisdom with you.   HIGHLIGHTS [5:23] Jamie on what Bolt Threads' scientists and engineers do for fashion. [7:29] What is spider silk and how is it made? [13:20] Kaméa: "What are some of the health impacts of the common chemicals used in clothing manufacturing?" [15:27] What Jamie says we can do as consumers to buy clothes without harmful chemicals. [9:23] How we can identify brands that are greenwashing versus brands that are actually doing the work.   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/62, and share your #1 takeaway from the episode tagging our featured guest and me @KameaChayne to spread the light and to let us know you're tuning in!

What is the soil-to-soil concept of circularity, and how can this sequester our carbon, enrich our soil, and promote healthier ecosystems? Why is that we have to look past the numbers and findings from our environmental impact assessments in order to really understand sustainability?   Rebecca Burgess, Founder and Executive Director of Fibershed and author of Harvesting Color, shares her wisdom with us on this episode.   HIGHLIGHTS:   [11:03] Rebecca: "If we don't practice by doing, we'll never really understand complexity in the deeper ways that we need to." [11:35] Rebecca explains what the term "soil-to-soil" means. [15:44] Kaméa: "What do we know about what happens when toxic fabrics go back into the soil?" [16:24] Rebecca explains what a 'bio-solid' is. [17:55] Rebecca discusses the rise of environmental disease and death in humans, including the problem of boys being exposed to too much estrogen in utero because of plastics.  [21:16] Kaméa: "How do you think we can move forward to shift society's mindse

With so many global issues looming over our heads, and with social media platforms like Instagram found to be detrimental to our mental wellbeing, how can we tackle chronic anxiety to stay motivated and activated?   Special guest for this Bloom Tuesday, Ashley James of Learn True Health Podcast (our guest from EPS58), shares her expert tips and insights with us.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/60, and follow me on Instagram @KameaChayne where I'll be sharing more of my inspirations, tips, and learning lessons along the way. Thanks for bringing your light! x

How can we use the analogy of pasta and pasta sauce to better understand plastics and their health impacts? Why is it that we urgently need more research and development to find alternatives to plastic, especially for food packaging?   Chantal Plamondon, Co-Founder and CEO of Life Without Plastic, a pioneering one-stop-shop for all things non-plastic, shares her wisdom with us.   HIGHLIGHTS: [8:14] Chantal: "It started when I was just addressing my need, but I knew there were probably other parents who had the same need." [9:55] Chantal on the health impacts of plastics. [10:46] A few factors that increase the chances chemicals will leach from plastics. [15:54] What keeps Chantal going, even when she experiences discouraging moments. [17:31] Kaméa: "You do so many things for your business! How do you stay organized to get everything done?" [21:09] Chantal discusses her book, Life Without Plastic.   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com, and s