Green Dreamer: Seeding change towards collective healing, sustainability, regeneration

“All of these imaginings visually, as if we were in a spaceship and looking down on the Earth—whoever that we is, which is super problematic with the notion of the Anthropocene—safely above, looking at the mess we’ve created... And no. With Trans-corporeality, our bodies are already the Anthropocene.”

In this episode, we welcome Professor Stacy Alaimo, Professor of English and Core Faculty Member in Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon. She is the author of Undomesticated Ground: Recasting Nature as Feminist Space (2000); Bodily Natures: Science, Environment, and the Material Self (2010); and Exposed: Environmental Politics and Pleasures in Posthuman Times (2016).

Alaimo is currently writing a book entitled Deep Blue Ecologies: Science, Aesthetics, and the Creatures of the Abyss. Her work explores the intersections between literary, artistic, political, and philosophical approaches to environmentalism along with the practices and experiences of everyday life. She loves diving and snorkeling, hiking, paddling, and creating habitat gardens with native plants.

(The musical offering featured in this episode Eye of The Storm by Ali Dineen. The episode-inspired artwork is by Lucy Haslam.)

Green Dreamer would not be possible without direct support from our listeners. Help us keep the show alive by reciprocating a gift of any amount today! GreenDreamer.com/support

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, 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!

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 swaps.

[12:30] Kathryn: "When facing rejection, you have to learn how to not take it personally."

[13:08] How Kathryn ended up working with National Geographic.

[13:49] Kathryn: "Showing up is 90% of the battle."

[15:37] Kathryn: "Not everyone has the same amount of access and we have to know that we are all working for a better future."

[16:31] Kaméa: "What do you think are the roots of moral superiority within sustainability?"

[20:30] What we can do as individuals to inspire policy change and help solve waste infrastructure problems.

Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com, 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!

“So-called ‘development’, envisioned outside of the community, more often than not brings challenges to the community because it doesn't take into consideration the aspirations, the culture, and the way of life of the people. It disregards the right of the people to self-determination. More than anything, it destroys the ecosystem of goods and services that people are reliant on.”

In this episode, we welcome Sinegugu Zukulu, who describes himself as a champion of rural development, having worked all his life to promote development that directly benefits rural people. He works in community development in the Wild Coast, focusing on ecotourism development, agriculture and youth empowerment. It is Sinegugu’s work and life purpose to advocate for rural people living on communal land getting assistance to secure land tenure that supports their way of life without being pressured by imposed development.

Some of the topics we explore in this conversation include resisting top-down, imposed visions of development, the integrative role of heavy metals within living landscapes, the Amadiba community's land defense against industrial mining and oil drilling, and more.

(The musical offering featured in this episode is Hummingbird by Lea Thomas. The episode-inspired artwork is by Luise Hesse.)

Green Dreamer would not be possible without the direct support from our listeners. Help us keep the show alive by reciprocating a gift of any amount today: GreenDreamer.com/support

With the fashion industry today being extremely wasteful, what are some positive trends we can feel hopeful about? What can we learn from how thredUP was able to revolutionize the experience of second-hand shopping, from it being viewed as unpleasant to fun and desirable?

Erin Wallace, Brand Director of the world's largest secondhand clothing and consignment store thredUP, shares her wisdom with you today.

HIGHLIGHTS:

[3:20] Something that shocked Erin about sustainable fashion.

[6:26] Kaméa: "What was your biggest takeaway in terms of what it takes to establish a brand on a national scale?"

[7:50] What Erin says has led to the de-stigmatization of thrifting and second-hand clothing for consumers.

[10:15] Kaméa: "How do you personally stay organized with all of these different departments you oversee?"

[11:27] Erin's thoughts on the key to creating a loyal customer following.

[11:57] Kaméa: "What's been essential to thredUP starting from ground zero to establishing itself as the leading secondhand online shop?"

[12:49] A few mistakes Erin sees eco and socially-driven brands making that hold them back.

[14:22] Erin: "A lot of us care a lot about the environment and sustainability, and we also love the fun of shopping and getting dressed every day. Those don't have to be mutually exclusive."

[14:35] Erin's advice for eco-driven entrepreneurs today

[17:12] Kaméa: "What are some of the latest insights into secondhand shopping that have surprised you?"

[17:55] Erin: "We really feel like [secondhand shopping] is on the verge of becoming mainstream..."

[21:57] Kaméa: "If you were the Brand Director of the entire sustainability movement, what would you focus on to grow it from being a niche to attracting everybody?"

Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com, 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!