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

What are some key issues in the chocolate industry that we need to know about? When things get tough, how can we stay motivated and just keep pulling through? Founder of bean-to-bar chocolate company Madécasse, Tim McCollum, shares his wisdom with us here.   HIGHLIGHTS: [6:44] What inspired Tim to start Madécasse. [7:39] Kaméa: “What was your greatest learning lesson from working in the private sector that you were able to bring to your social enterprise?” [9:42] The key differences between a traditional chocolate supply chain and Madécasse’s Bean-to-Bar supply chain.  [11:19] Tim’s thoughts on what targeting the root cause of poverty through chocolate would look like. [12:49] What we as individuals can do to inspire change from large corporations like Hershey’s. [14:02] Keys to Madécasse’s success in establishing itself within grocery stores and retailers so far. [16:37] Tim: “You better believe in what you’re doing. You will go through these amazing swings of euphoria and crashing down, and what keeps you g

What’s the latest research on the health and environmental impacts of sunscreen? How was our guest today able to go from being a hesitant business owner (who didn’t even want to do business in the first place) to a thriving entrepreneur, fueling her business with her passion for wellness and the environment?   Visionary, pioneer, and founder of a leading eco sunscreen brand All Good, Caroline Duell, shares her wisdom with us on this episode.   HIGHLIGHTS:   [2:07] What first got Caroline into sustainability. [4:11] What led Caroline on the path to making botanical products. [8:04] Why Caroline was so hesitant to start a business. [8:43] Caroline: “I kept myself in check. I knew that you could have a really good impact as a company grows.” [12:14] Caroline: “The right path is not always what might seem to be the best way to go.” [13:54] Kaméa: “What has been the key to getting All Good’s products distributed and sold in so many major retailers?”  [14:47] What's led All Good to being a leading sunscreen brand. 

How do we recycle properly to ensure that what we toss down the recycling chute actually gets recycled, and not just be 'aspirational recyclers'?   Special guest for this Bloom Tuesday, Jonathan Levy of ZeroWasteGuy.com shares his expert tips and insights with us.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/36, 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 be better communicators so that our important messages actually move people and resonate with our audiences to inspire action? How can we go beyond reducing single-use plastics in our own lives to affecting greater change in actual waste infrastructures for system change? Kathryn Kellogg, creator of GoingZeroWaste.com, actor, and spokesperson for National Geographic's Planet or Plastic Campaign shares her wisdom with you.   HIGHLIGHTS:   [3:34] Kaméa: "Why are endocrine disruptors and toxic chemicals everywhere in our day-to-day lives, like in normal cleaning products?"  [5:40] Kathryn: "You didn't have to be perfect to make a difference. That was something that really resonated with me, and I wanted to share that with others." [6:50] Kaméa: "What's something from your experience acting that supports your work in building up the zero waste community?"  [7:56] Kathryn's advice for getting our stories to resonate with our audiences. [9:05] One of Kathryn's favorite (and weirdest!) eco-friendly simple

What does it take to scale our positive impacts through business? What are millennials craving today, and how can this actually drive conversations and choices related to sustainability? Founder and CEO of United by Blue, Brian Linton, shares his wisdom with you.   HIGHLIGHTS:   [2:57] What made Brian want to dedicate his life to cleaning up our oceans.  [11:06] Brian: "The beauty of the model is that by focusing on the fundamentals of creating a business, we're able to have a longterm, lasting impact." [12:08] What keeps Brian going personally, despite challenges. [12:53] Brian: "What's ultimately going to cure our oceans and waterways is people talking about it, educating their friends, and changing their own behaviors." [14:00] Kaméa: "What has been key to United by Blue's continuous growth and your ability to establish yourself in the sustainability space?" [16:50] Some of the most difficult products to manufacture in a more eco-friendly way.  [20:54] Brian's thoughts on our biggest challenge today in fig

We're continuing to move the needle forward towards a healthier planet to call home! Here are 2 things to celebrate this week, as well as something we should be mindful of as we continue talking about plastic straws to keep this conversation inclusive and respectful.   Find the full show notes with references and links to our Green Dreamers' projects at www.GreenDreamer.com/33. Thanks for bringing your light! Catch you on Instagram @KameaChayne

What do we need to know about species extinction around the world today and how that impacts us? How can we stay positive and inspired even as we learn about more problems we need to address? Environmental journalist and Editor of Center of Biological Diversity's The Revelator, John Platt, shares his wisdom with you.   HIGHLIGHTS: [3:55] John: "...it's proof that if you're really educated about something and care about it, you can make a difference."  [8:50] Kaméa: "How do you handle it emotionally when you have to dig into problems all the time?" [10:30] John: "...It doesn't all suck. We can make a difference and we are making progress!" [11:25] Advice for someone who feels drained by all of the problems we face.  [16:09] One major sustainability issue that isn't talked about enough and affects all of us. [16:50] John: "Wildlife issues in a lot of ways are actually issues about human society." [21:00] Kaméa: "How does biodiversity loss impact the individual living in urban or suburban areas?" [21:50] The imp

What’s a common struggle specifically for us eco and socially-driven entrepreneurs and creatives that might prevent our passion projects from thriving? Why is it important for us to support large corporations that may have a history of irresponsible practices? Journalist, media strategist, podcast producer and host of Spirit of 608 podcast, Lorraine Sanders, shares her wisdom with us in this episode.     HIGHLIGHTS [4:54] Lorraine: "I really care about where things came from and the story behind them and that brings more meaning to the things in our lives." [5:59] Something Lorraine learned about sustainable fashion that shocked her. [10:21] Lorraine's greatest challenge growing her platform. [12:33] Kaméa: "What are some common mistakes that eco creatives and entrepreneurs make when trying to build out their presence?" [13:06] Lorraine: "A lot of people feel like they can't start building their relationships with the media until everything with the brand is perfect. But if you wait... it's almost too late to

Our voices and political actions matter! Here, the following 3 Green Dreamers share one policy they're currently supporting and why, and easy actions we can take today to become active citizens specifically within the United States:   Phoebe Lloyd - Environmental activist, blogger, and YouTuber who advocates living an eco-friendly lifestyle on her platform, BareChange.org Aditi Mayer - Sustainable fashion blogger, photographer, and activist whose work explores the intersections of style, sustainability, and social justice at ADIMAY.com Faye Lessler - Sustainable living advocate, community organizer, and supporter of sustainable brands behind the blog Sustaining.Life   Find the full show notes with references and links to our Green Dreamers' socials and projects at www.GreenDreamer.com/30. Thanks for bringing your light! x @KameaChayne

If you're interested in learning how working with a publicist can elevate your work, or what doing PR for yourself might look like, this is an episode for you.   What do we need to have in place before we pitch our work to the media (or work with publicists to do so) to increase our chances of getting featured? From a PR perspective, what does sustainability need to garner more attention from the public? Founder of Orchard and Broome, the first PR agency to selectively represent sustainable and ethical brands, Stephanie Sica, shares her wisdom with us.   HIGHLIGHTS [3:43] Stephanie: “I love the innovation and creativity that sustainability offers.” [7:46] What Stephanie does to create work/life balance as an entrepreneur. [8:36] One thing eco-creatives and entrepreneurs can do to increase reach and credibility. [10:11] How to know when a brand ready to work with a PR agency. [11:52] Why it’s important for brands to have of a budget and invest in long term relationships. [14:38] What it means for entrepreneurs

How was Girlfriend Collective able to launch so powerfully to establish itself in the athletic wear space as a conscious fashion startup? What does it take to cultivate a loyal audience and customer base that's eager to support and share all that we do and create? Today, Girlfriend Collective's Co-Founder Quang Dinh shares his wisdom with us.   HIGHLIGHTS: [7:31] Quang: "Now, with the rise of the internet, to be able to build a product that means something is a lot more powerful because the content to consume is a lot easier today than word of mouth in 2005." [7:59] Quang's inspiration to start Girlfriend Collective. [9:25] The team's greatest challenge in creating their product. [11:49] Kamea: "Can you walk us through the thought process behind your powerful launch strategy?" [12:52] Quang: "We felt like we had something so strong that I wanted to give this stuff away and know that [customers] were going to come back."  [14:23] Kamea: "How certain were you that you were going to get this return on investment

It's Plastic Free July! Share this episode with a friend, and let's continue raising awareness together about the simple steps we can take to make a difference. For more plastic-reducing guidance, check out episode 15.   Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/27, 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 does it take to create engaging and highly shareable content for wellness and the environment? How has mindbodygreen been able to establish itself as an authority in the sustainability space? Here, Emma Loewe, Sustainability Editor of mindbodygreen shares her wisdom with us.   HIGHLIGHTS [6:44] One shocking statistic Emma recently learned about plastic. [8:23] Kaméa: "What has been the key to mindbodygreen attracting such a large audience?" [8:39] Emma: "Making [wellness] accessible to everyone is one of our biggest goals." [9:10] Emma: "It's important to meet people where they are." [10:03] How Emma overcomes creative block and stays inspired. [14:28] Emma: "Environmentalism can be a daunting and scary place." [15:11] Emma's biggest learning lesson from having written over 1,000 articles on sustainability.  [15:50] Kaméa: "What makes a piece of content really engaging and shareable?" [17:43] Kaméa: "What do you think has been slowing down the sustainability movement?" [20:10] Emma: "We make so many micr

What do we need to know about our soil health across the globe? And how can we inspire meaningful systemic change through self-development? Today, one of The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans, former Executive Director of People's Grocery and Green for All, and Founder and CEO of Soil and Shadow, Nikki Silvestri shares her wisdom with us.     HIGHLIGHTS [3:45] Kaméa: “What’s something most people don’t understand about how social inequality impacts the movement?” [6:35] How self-development can support sustainability.  [8:10] Nikki: “If you can’t make sophisticated decisions because you’re so tied to your own opinion… then we’re never going to get anywhere.” [8:45] Nikki on how we can go past self-defensiveness to work towards a greater goal. [14:15] Nikki: “Focusing on building healthy soil is an intervention that is almost impossible to get wrong if you’re doing it the right way, so you will unintentionally benefit other systems.” [15:20] Current conditions of soil health degeneration around the

Pass it on and let's create a ripple effect of good.   Find the full show notes with references and links to our Green Dreamers' projects at www.GreenDreamer.com/24. Thanks for bringing your light! x @KameaChayne

How can we leverage the power of video to share our ideas on sustainability, deepen our relationships with our audience, and grow our reach? How can we help to normalize eco-conscious living so we don't feel like the odd one out in social gatherings? Today, Erin of YouTube channel and blog My Green Closet shares her wisdom with you.   HIGHLIGHTS: [03:45] A problem about the fashion industry that made Erin feel like she wanted to be a part of positive change in the field. [07:25] Erin: "I knew nothing [about YouTube before getting started]." [14:40] Erin on the power of video in engaging and effective communication. [15:30] How Erin goes about creating engaging content.  [17:00] Erin: "I think it's important to highlight that you don't have to be perfect." [18:55] Erin: "It's about seeing all the good things you can do, rather than tallying up all the things you did wrong."  [22:45] How we can help normalize sustainable living and bring more people into the conversation in positive, inclusive ways.   Find the

How did Fashion Revolution, which has become a global movement, get started and grow to have the impact and reach it has today? What does it mean for us that people express interest in buying less and buying better, but often aren't doing so because of things like price, convenience, and style options? On this episode, Fashion Revolution's Co-Founder and Creative Director, Orsola de Castro, shares her wisdom with you.   HIGHLIGHTS:   [08:30] One of the greatest challenges the Fashion Revolution team faced when growing the movement. [09:15] Orsola: "We all have a different vision of Fashion Revolution, and yet we all mattered." [10:35] Orsola: "We kind of assumed #WhoMadeMyClothes would be a relatively easy question to answer, and yet no one could answer it at all. We realized there was a massive disconnection.  [10:35] Why being bold but inclusive, while avoiding negative protesting, victimizing, naming and shaming, has been so important to Fashion Revolution.  [13:25] Orsola: "We wanted people to be a part o

With all the awareness of plastic pollution, we've been making great, meaningful strides! Here are 2 recent events showcasing us turning the tide against plastic pollution to celebrate.   Find the full show notes with references and links to our Green Dreamers' projects at www.GreenDreamer.com/21. Thanks for bringing your light! x @KameaChayne

How can we get over perfectionism to just take action in what we want to do? How can we effectively tell the story around sustainability to keep it inclusive and engaging, so that we can grow the movement more quickly? Today, host of Conscious Chatter and Co-Founder of Left Edit, Kestrel Jenkins, shares her wisdom with us.   HIGHLIGHTS:  [07:25] Kestrel: “After a couple years, I burnt out… I had to step back and reassess how I was going to work in this space.” [08:35] Kestrel: “[I wanted my work to be about] bringing more people in… so we can all learn together. I wanted it to have an inclusive approach.” [10:55] Kestrel: “Often I won’t do things because I want them to be perfect, and it holds me back from actually getting over the hurdle of just starting things.”  [14:15] Kaméa: “Let’s say you wanted to start something new today, and a voice is telling you it’s not good enough. How would you respond?” [19:00] Kestrel’s thoughts on what we can do to keep conversations around discouraging issues engaging.  [23

Now that we know about plastic pollution, what's next? What do we need to start from scratch to building a physical eco product and bringing that to life? Today, eco smartphone case brand Pela Case's Co-Founder, Jeremy Lang, shares his wisdom with us.   HIGHLIGHTS: [06:50] How Jeremy turned his idea into an actual product. [08:55] The hardest part for the Pela Case team going from product to launching the brand. [11:40] Jeremy: "We wanted to make sure that it wasn't an eco-friendly product that didn't function well. We wanted to make sure #1 it was designed really well, protected your phone, felt really great. But also was eco-friendly." [13:40] Keys to helping Pela Case take off as a brand. [14:55] Jeremy: "It really seems like we can make a difference." [15:45] What Pela Case's team did to secure some great, viral press features. [17:00] Kaméa: "What do you think the world needs to not have any plastic issues at all? What does that world look like?" [17:45] Jeremy: "You can look at it two ways... what a big