Before acting on my environmental values, I felt guilty and helpless. I didn’t like those feelings. All the analyzing, raising awareness, and planning, I now look back and see that I was occupying my mind, making busy work for it, to distract…
Dave saw the problems with growth to local communities, the national economy, the global economy, and the environment. He questioned the the nearly unquestioned belief that growth is good, especially GDP and population growth. Once you question it, like a sweater unraveling,…
Lately, I’ve thought of people who say they can’t avoid plastic bags, bottles, flying. I suggest just declining, but they say they can’t. Saying no reminds me of Rosa Parks. She said no. She didn’t just act on her own as the…
People see my apartment and often describe me or my lifestyle as minimalist. I don’t like labeling people or being labeled, but if anything, a more apt label would be maximalist. You might see the lack of stuff, but my focus is…
If you haven’t started plogging, I recommend it. What’s plogging? It’s a term the Swedish created for picking up garbage when you run. I’ve picked up at least one piece of trash per day for a few years. In fact, this podcast…
A friend who treats opioid addicts told me about the squalor they live in. They don’t see it because they’re thinking about their next hit, which will bring them euphoria. They’ll steal and prostitute themselves to maintain their habit, not thinking about…
“To start, I need to build awareness.” Who hasn’t said that about polluting less? It seems the standard starting point. On the contrary, it’s the standard delay tactic. In a world where environmental issues are front page news and everyone sees the…
Jeff teaches a class in making a living through a creative life. I’ve sat in on his class for years for his interviews and the guests. I don’t need more formal education. Look at some of the people he’s interviewed Ralph Lauren,…
First, if you haven’t watched Story of Stuff, as much as I love my podcast, watch the videos from the organization Michael O’Heaney leads—the Story of Stuff. You’ll hear that simple things he could have always done are available and doing them…
First, watch the video Sandy made through Generation 180, the nonprofit he started to promote reducing consumption. His for-profit companies are already responsible for significant increases in solar, wind, and other renewable. I think you’ll find the video effective in reaching people…
If you’re like me, you’ve heard of Bulletproof coffee. Since I don’t drink coffee I didn’t think much of it, but since I heard about it, I figured the guy behind it was good at internet marketing. I’d come to hear Dave…
You’ll love how I met Ann-Marie, a friend whose perspective I value despite not having met in person yet. After the 2016 election, I posted a piece on Inc., If You Voted for Trump, Let’s Meet, because living in lower Manhattan means…
Bethany made her name as the first to report that Enron was overpriced, which meant going deep into the numbers and people, understanding them, and then facing overwhelming criticism. Turns out she was right, but can you imagine the friction and hostility…
Marion Nestle is a hero for me. Food may be the greatest interest that got me into acting on my environmental action. Avoiding packaged food emerged from avoiding fiber-removed foods, which emerged from reading Diet for a Small Planet in the 80s,…
My third conversation with Geoff covers using his research to figure out what to do. I start with a few questions on how to create a vision for the future based on his research. Can we change our growth trajectory, currently leading…
This episode is for people who detest Trump. I’ll speak to people who love him in future episodes. If you pollute and emit greenhouse emissions beyond the IPCC recommendations, which one round-trip cross country coach flight will nearly do, you personally pulled…
I talk to a lot of people who aren’t acting on their environmental values. They explain their inaction in many ways, but one of the top ones is that they claim they first have to raise their awareness or become more conscious.…
Beth personifies whom this podcast is designed to showcase: someone whose hard work, risk-taking, and personal challenge brought her to the pinnacle of her craft, which she is willing to share. That is, someone who did what leaders in the environment have…
Many people believe that technology will save many of our environmental problems. I’ve written and spoken on how making a polluting system more efficient will lead to it polluting more efficiently. My recent cross-country trip by Amtrak, which prompted me to wonder…
Evelina said she’d avoid plastic for a month before she could think twice about it. Did she complain or back out? You’ll hear in this episode, but the big picture is that instead of giving up, she worked harder. I’ve spoken to…