Now, That's What I Call Green.

Brianne West

Join Brianne West, environmentalist and social entrepreneur, as she wanders through the world of 'sustainability'. "Now, That's What I Call Green" busts myths, shares the science, and talks about the amazing world we live in (with lots of cute animals). Does rewilding help? But what can I do? Are electric cars better? Is it too late to do something about climate change? Why don't sharks have bones? For those curious about the environment and eager to make a difference, tune in for a non-judgmental, evidence-based approach that is all about progress over perfection.

1 Listener

All episodes

Best episodes

Seasons

Top 10 Now, That's What I Call Green. Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Now, That's What I Call Green. episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Now, That's What I Call Green. for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Now, That's What I Call Green. episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Plastic Pollution, Sustainable Business, and Saving Our Oceans with Tim Silverwood

Now, That's What I Call Green.

09/15/24 • 38 min

By now, you probably know that I firmly believe we need to use business to change the world. So, I was very excited to chat with a leader in the environmental movement who also feels the same way, Tim Silverwood.

Tim is a trailblazer in the fight against plastic pollution, known for co-founding the powerful eco-movement Take 3 For The Sea. But that’s not all — he’s also the founder of the Ocean Impact Organisation, a group dedicated to working with innovative startups creating transformative solutions for ocean health.

In this episode he shares:

How Take 3 For The Sea started
His proudest moments with Take 3 For The Sea
Advice to those wanting to start nonprofits
What Ocean Impact Organisation does and why it’s so important
Why he believes in supporting startups and innovation to drive sustainable change
Some examples of innovative solutions for ocean health
Why he loves the change from campaigner to startup supporter
The ultimate aim of Ocean Impact Organisation
His personal heroes and inspirations

Key Quotes

“I do think strongly that business needs to be the source of solutions for a more prosperous and balanced future.”
“Sustainability just can’t keep being seen as a cost or a compromise.”
“We live on planet ocean not planet earth.”

More about Tim

Follow Tim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timsilverwood/?hl=en

The Ocean Impact Organisation website is here: https://www.ocean-impact.org/

You can get involved with the podcast online

Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/green

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/

You can follow me on socials

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

1 Listener

Miriama Kamo: The Journey and Joy of Zero Waste, Sustainability, and Te Ao Māori

Now, That's What I Call Green.

09/22/24 • 36 min

This week, we are joined by someone truly multi-talented. Miriama Kamo is an award-winning broadcaster, TV presenter, face of Sunday, author, and a hardcore environmentalist.

I was a little intimidated having another legitimate, professional journalist on the show, but Miriama is just so incredibly kind, warm, and generous. I think you’ll be fascinated by how her upbringing has shaped her environmental mindset and just how committed she is to sustainability.

In this episode, she shares:

Key Quotes:

“Just make whatever difference you can, every single little thing does matter.”

“Everything I’ve done in my sustainability journey has given me pleasure, or even great joy.”

More about Miriama

Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miriamakamo/

You can get involved with the podcast online

Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/green

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

1 Listener

This or that? What's better, shower or bath, dishwashers or hand-washing, reusable or single-use straws?!

Now, That's What I Call Green.

06/24/24 • 12 min

Big news! Now, That’s What I Call Green is going to become a weekly podcast! I have put the business podcast on hiatus and we will be going weekly podcasts here, but there is a twist.

We’ll be alternating between different styles of episode. On one week you’ll have deep dives and interviews, but on the other we’re going to be something new, and that’s what we’re doing today.

It’s time for This or That, where I analyse different options and reveal the most environmentally friendly option and for our first episode we are going to start off with some big topics, and you’ll have a chance to win free ncrediballs by listening.

In this episode I share:

An update on the direction of the podcast and a few changes

What this new bi weekly style of episode is going to be

Comparing baths and showers and which is worse

How much power it takes to heat bath water

Dishwasher vs hand washing and which is worse

Things you can do to lessen your impact if you use a dishwasher

What the worst option for all straws is

The best option for reusable straws

The problem with reusable straws

How you can win free incrediballs from listening to this episode

Key Quotes

"The dishwasher wins. Hooray! No more hand washing. Or does it?"

“I have a passionate hatred for baths. They’re like human soups.”

“You fill the sink, you wash the dishes, then you let them drip dry...or am I washing dishes wrong?”

You can get involved with the podcast online:

Find our full podcast plus our sister podcast via the website here: www.nowthatswhaticall.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallpodcasts/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/ For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

1 Listener

Why the Beauty Industry Sucks: Packaging, Marketing, and Supply Chain Solutions (Part Two)

Now, That's What I Call Green.

10/27/24 • 20 min

Welcome to part 2 of my mini-series on the beauty industry.

In the last episode, we discussed all the issues with the beauty industry, and I’ll be honest, it wasn’t super cheerful. So, for this episode, we're changing things up and exploring the various solutions currently available to the problems we previously mentioned.

In this episode, I share:

What circular beauty is and whether it helps reduce waste
The core problem with refillable options for beauty products
How biodegradable packaging works
The one issue that could hinder the effectiveness of biodegradable packaging
Why mono material packaging could help with waste management
Why solid beauty products are one of the best ways to solve the waste problem
How microbial fermentation could help combat the palm oil issue
The pros and cons of synthetic mica
How you can determine if a company is ethical by the availability of their supply chain information
The movement towards waterless beauty and its potential benefits
The most significant way to reduce the environmental impact of beauty products
The different types of transparency a company can offer
How to consider the life cycle of a product

Key Quotes

"Chemicals are not the enemy; you are made of chemicals... so remember that the next time someone tries to sell you something that is 'chemical-free.'"

"If you don’t see any information about a product's supply chain, that’s kind of a red flag."

"Overconsumption is the single biggest issue in the beauty industry."

You can get involved with the podcast online

Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/green

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

1 Listener

This or That? What’s better? E-Readers vs. Books, Hand Dryers vs. Paper Towels, and the Truth about “Eco” Laundry Detergent

Now, That's What I Call Green.

09/08/24 • 14 min

Welcome to another "This or That" episode!

This short, snappy installment investigates the sustainability of three topics you've asked me about, helping you make informed decisions.

In this episode, we’ll be covering three unusual options:

E-readers vs. physical books: Kindles versus your everyday old book.
Hand dryers vs. paper towels: I personally find hand dryers annoying.
The best type of laundry detergent: There are many options, but I've been seeing a lot of advertising for those strip things, and I have strong opinions about them.

In this episode, I share:

The pros and cons of e-readers like Kindle versus traditional books from an environmental perspective.
Why a physical book has a higher carbon footprint initially but can last decades.
The surprising third option for reading that is actually better.
Why hand dryers have a lower environmental impact.
Why laundry strips are not as eco-friendly as their marketing suggests.
How tablets are convenient but may contribute to microplastic pollution.
What the worst detergent solution is for the environment.

Key Quotes:

"If you're a heavy reader, an e-reader is the best option. But just keep that thing for as long as you possibly can."
"Paper towels may slightly reduce bacteria on hands compared to air dryers, but the difference is pretty minimal for practical purposes."
"These strips don’t dissolve as they claim to... it’s a pretty big red flag."

More Information:

I mentioned a few LCAs and information references that you can find here:

You can get involved with the podcast online:

Find our full podcast via the website here
Podcast Instagram here
Instagram: Brianne West
TikTok:
1 Listener

Carbon Inequality Kills: the Oxfam Report, Super-Rich, and the Climate Crisis

Now, That's What I Call Green.

11/05/24 • 22 min

This is an episode that is probably going to make a lot of you angry. I know it’s making me angry right now.

A few days ago, Oxfam released their latest report called “Carbon Inequality Kills,” and we’ll be talking about that today.

This is a damning report on just how much carbon the billionaires of the world are producing and why it dwarfs any possible emissions you could be producing on your own.

In this episode I share:

The importance of personal lifestyle changes to combat climate change
The climate crisis as a collective issue, not an individual fault
How billionaires contribute disproportionately to global emissions
The luxury lifestyle items, such as private jets and superyachts, that have massive environmental impacts
Why investment emissions from the wealthy are even worse than their personal emissions
The ways that poor communities bear the brunt of climate change
How much control billionaires have over global companies
Why policy changes are necessary to regulate luxury emissions and promote transparency in investments
The power of consumer choices and how they can influence big business to change
Voting for climate-conscious leaders as crucial for systemic change
How we have more power than we think to address climate change collectively

More info

You can find the full report from Oxfam here: https://www.oxfam.org.au/2024/10/carbon-inequality-kills-report/

Key Quotes

“50 of the world’s richest billionaires emit more carbon in just 90 minutes that your average person emits over their entire lifetime.”

“If everyone began emitting at the same rate as the world’s richest 10% the world's remaining carbon budget would be depleted in 1.5 years. If we all acted like the top 1% that budget would be used up in less that 5 months.”

You can get involved with the podcast online

Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

1 Listener

Our tech obsession is fueling poverty, war and human trafficking. How, and what can we do to help?

Now, That's What I Call Green.

06/16/24 • 16 min

This is going to be a very deep episode. We’re talking human rights violations, genocide and human trafficking and it all comes down to the devices you use and the batteries that power them.

While Electric Vehicles are definitively better than fossil fuel vehicles, they are not perfect and it’s important to understand why. I’m not doing this episode to induce guilt or horror, but before we can make impactful change, we often need to first understand exactly what is going on.

In this episode I share:

Why EVS are definitively better than fossil fuel vehicles

Why EVS are not perfect

The downside that comes from getting the metals we need to make EV batteries

The horrific human cost of mining Cobalt

Why the horrifying history of the congo laid the groundwork for the present day humans rights abuses

The appalling crimes happening in the congo because of the mines resources

How western companies have been funding conflicts in the congo

One of the biggest companies involved in causing these problems

Some of the companies that are doing better when it comes to congo mining

How battery technology development may help

How to recycle your tech

Why I see positive change on the horizon

Key Quotes

“You do not want to be responsible for someone else’s horrific struggles, but also what are we going to do about it?”

“We talk a lot about fast fashion, we don’t talk about our obsession with tech. And it’s actually a very similar premise and arguably just as destructive.”

“We all need a phone, we often need a laptop, so don’t feel guilty that you need these things. But you can do better with what you buy and how long you keep it.”

More Information

Some places you can learn more and donate to help the situation in the congo:

https://friendsofthecongo.org/children/

https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/democratic-republic-congo-emergency

https://www.wfp.org/countries/Congo

https://goodweave.org/the-issue/child-and-forced-labor-in-artisanal-cobalt-mining-in-the-congo/

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/02/01/1152893248/red-cobalt-congo-drc-mining-siddharth-kara

https://www.theclimateclub.co/environmental-healthblogs/347zlomifb9x9jsyogvi4kymlynxfb

More information about Fair Phone: https://www.fairphone.com/nl

You can get involved with the podcast online

Find our full podcast plus our sister podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallpodcasts/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/ For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

1 Listener

World Oceans Day is coming up... And they need our help! Here's why, and what to do about it!

Now, That's What I Call Green.

06/03/24 • 15 min

Today it is all about World Oceans Day (8th June).

They are the life blood of our planet, but they are under incredibly serious threat.

For this episode I’m going to be blunt and maybe a little bit depressing, at least to start with.

Our oceans face multiple threats and there is already catastrophic damage being done to them. Don’t worry, in this episode I’ll also offer some hope and some options on how to help, but to start I’m really going to reveal how dire things are.

In this episode I share:

Why less than 10% of coral reefs are going to survive global warming

Why coral reefs are so important for our continued survival

The horrifying mass bleaching event we are experiencing right now

What ocean acidification is and why it is life threatening for a lot of ocean life

Why plastics in the oceans are actually getting worse

What dead zones are and why it's horrifying

The 30 by 30 campaign and why it's important

The disappointing amount of oceans that Aotearoa is protecting

The ways we can make change to help our oceans

Key Quotes

“At the end of the day if the ocean fails, we do too, end of story.”

“Climate change is not something that is going to happen, it is happening now.”

“You may like them, but our oceans cannot cope with people liking fish.”

“They cannot do studies on how microplastics are affecting humans, because they cannot find a control population. Which means they cannot find any human that has not been affected by microplastics.”

“We're doing a bloody poor job of looking after our oceans.”

You can get involved with the podcast online

Find our full podcast plus our sister podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallpodcasts/

You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/

For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

1 Listener

Fast beauty sucks! What is it, why is it and how can you be a better beauty consumer (and still look fab!).

Now, That's What I Call Green.

11/29/23 • 18 min

This time, we're tackling the rubbish (literally) world of fast beauty. You know, the kind that's all over your TikTok and Instagram feeds with the weirdest trends and obsession with buying the next greatest foundation. Fast beauty may look pretty on the surface, but there is a massive catch; the real cost of keeping up with these ever-changing trends, to people and planet. I'm having a chat about the not-so-pretty side of fast beauty – from the piles of plastic packaging to the pressure on our planet. I've got some stats that might just make you rethink that next 'must-have' beauty buy. But don't worry I do get it, and there are ways to buy beauty products you love, without so much impact. It's all about finding that sweet spot between staying trendy and being a true kaitiaki.

Find me online: Brianne: ⁠www.briannewest.com⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠TikTok⁠

⁠YouTube⁠

Incrediballs: ⁠incrediballs.com⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠TikTok⁠

Business, but Better (the FREE education hub for founders & entrepreneurs): ⁠www.businessbutbetter.co⁠

⁠TikTok⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

Our sister podcast is called 'Now, That's What I Call Business'.

Embracing Sustainable Living with Ethically Kate - Having Difficult Conversations and Remaining Optimistic.

Now, That's What I Call Green.

10/11/23 • 39 min

It's a special episode of "Now, That's What I Call Green," because my first guest is one of the superstars of the sustainability world in Aotearoa - Kate Hall (you'll probably know her as Ethically Kate). Join me as we explore Kate's personal journey toward sustainable living, the motivations that fuel her dedication, and the beacon of hope she finds in the midst of environmental crises. We chat how to navigate ethical dilemmas (ethics are subjective after all), and discuss the strange attitude that some people have about perfection being a requirement before they take action (and the judgement that comes with trying to be more sustainable). Whether you’re a seasoned eco-warrior or taking your first steps into sustainability, this episode is a genuine pleasure to listen to, which just might give you a different perspective on hope and people's actions in the face of doom and gloom.

Find us online:

Kate:

https://www.instagram.com/ethicallykate/

https://ethicallykate.com/

Brianne:

www.briannewest.com

https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/

https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest

https://www.youtube.com/@briannemwest

Incrediballs:

incrediballs.com

https://www.instagram.com/incrediballsdrinks/