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188: We're walking through one of the trickest parts of building a more sustainable, ethical wardrobe: cleaning out the closet you already have! I've got five easy tips on how to critically assess what you already own, plus a handful of questions to ask yourself as you make new purchases to help stay true to your own values. Thanks to today's sponsor: OregonState. ECampus.edu/ECOCHIC Find me on: I...

187: Poisoned Water: How The Citizens of Flint, Michigan, Fought For Their Lives and Warned the Nation is a powerful, personable reflection on one of the biggest public health failures in modern American history. We're reading this month with N'Dea Irvin-Choy of @bmekween - she is a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering, a superstar content creator, and an avid reader. We discuss the series of u...

186: How can the EPA actually tackle climate change? West Virginia vs EPA ruled that the agency doesn't have authority to regulate emissions reductions - so now what do we do about greenhouse gases? We're breaking down the case today, better understanding the Clean Air Act amendments, and learning more about what solutions are still available to reach our ambitious, necessary climate goals. Thanks...

185: Today's episode is emotional - we are discussing the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v Wade, effectively retracting the constitutional right to abortion. We review what this decision means for women living in poverty, BIPOC women, women threatened by extreme weather events... and ultimately the challenges that continue to mount for these individuals in the face of climate change. Soundbites:...

184: We're chatting with Emily Pelland of @hikingwithheels all things outdoor recreation. Emily shares her story of building up an online presence as a hiker-influencer, and the challenges that ultimately encouraged her to step away from the space. We discuss the behind-the-scenes of creating her beautiful images, community in the online space, and the positives/negatives of publicizing trails (th...

183: Taking a juicy, investigative look into one of the most controversial sustainability topics: bottled water. We are diving deep into the controversies surrounding big brands like Nestle (and the 51 brands they own) and Fiji - what the players in this multibillion-dollar industry legally have claim to, how they interact with governments, and how communities are speaking out. Next book club pick...

182: We are rewinding to one of my favorite guests ever! We’re joined by Wanjiku “Wawa” Gatheru, a brilliant environmental justice scholar passionate about empowering BIPOC communities! Wawa is a recent alumnus of the University of Connecticut, and a Rhodes scholar attending Oxford continuing her intersectional environmental studies. She has had two recently published pieces shake the Internet: he...

181: What makes an "it bag"? I'm breaking down my thesis on "stuff for status," high-price overconsumption, through the lens of designer handbags. We go through the stories behind iconic designer handbags - Hermes Kelly and Birkin, the Gucci Jackie, and the Lady Dior - and spiral into the influence of pop culture on designer handbag purchases - how did Carrie Bradshaw effectively create a market f...

180: Brook Harvey-Taylor is the Founder + President of Pacifica Beauty, a 100% vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand dedicated to accessibility, sustainability, and above all else, compassion of people, animals, and the planet. Brook and I discuss the industry landscape in the mid-1990s, when Pacifica was launched, and how the brand has continued to evolve. Brook shares insights on packaging, reflec...

179: We read Aja Barber's debut book, Consumed, this month, + Morgan (@mostlyecomorgan) and I could wait to discuss it! Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism pushed us to reassess our frameworks on sustainability and fashion. We discuss major themes such as the international 'secondhand' market (read: >80% of donated clothes in the Global South are...

178: We're speaking with California-based reporter Gabrielle Canon about all things mega-drought: how droughts impact wildfires (and the prep we can do for those), how early water policy was crafted in the West, and superstar city solutions to mitigate and adapt to the water-climate crisis. Find me on: Instagram @ecochicpodcast + @lauraediez, on Facebook, Twitter, and now TikTok. Audio Player Than...

177: Actress Torrey DeVitto joins us to talk all things sustainability - we chat about how she maintains her vegan makeup and fashion values on film sets, and I get all the details on the 8 acre farm she is renovating to become an animal rescue! We also discuss Torrey's spiritual wellness practices, astrology, and her favorite DIY beauty routines at home. Thanks to today's sponsors! HiyaHealth.com...

176: We welcome on our Earth Day episode Dr. Kim Nicholas, Associate Professor of Sustainability Science at Lund and author of UNDER THE SKY WE MAKE: How to be Human in a Warming World. We discuss the emotional side of the climate crisis – coping with feelings of fear, and nurturing your passions in becoming the best climate citizen you can be. Kim walks us through the the stages of Climate Accept...

175: The episode all about pollinators! We’re joined by Dr. Gail Langellotto, professor of Horticulture, Entomology, and Master Gardener Program at Oregon State University. We learn about healthy gardens, the value of native plants, and what we really mean when we say “save the bees!”. This conversation is friendly and value-packed for the novice (read: me, nervous to grow herbs on my patio) and t...

This episode is a new style I’m excited about! We are listening to and expanding upon five soundbites from news media this week from experts on the latest IPCC Working Group III report, focused on Mitigation. Topics include public health, extreme weather, climate solutions, and how much time we truly have left to combat the climate crisis. If you’d like to follow along with referenced charts, I ma...

Earth Month campaigns are upon us! Let’s break down some examples of buzzwords, like “clean,” “eco-friendly,” “earth conscious”… things that mean basically nothing without clear, measurable definitions! We use Girlfriend Collective as an example of brand that is backing up claims of environmental commitments and ethicality (and what we’re looking for in other brands). We also deep dive into standa...

The current crisis in Ukraine is an unfortunate lesson in the dangers of fossil fuel dependency. We’re joined by renowned behavioral scientist Dr. Sweta Chakraborty to better understand how Russia’s invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine is clearly, inexplicably linked to the global oil market, and how we as everyday consumers are both feeling it (hint: gas prices) and contributing to the cri...

Let’s better understand a term that *a lot* of our conversations here are founded on: environmental racism. We better understand what injustices upon BIPOC communities look like, how they may be legally combatted, and the adjacent valuable concept of intersectionality. More for you: Ep 111 with Leah Thomas on Intersectional Environmentalism; How Race and Culture Impact Your Identity as an Environm...

We’re breaking down the golden standard manual of ethical entrepreneurship: Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. We read this month with Kathleen Sheppard, founder of sustainable swimwear and activewear line Tiller. We discuss fundraising (her two super successful Kickstarter campaigns!) and what we learned from the handbook on kno...

The latest global climate report was released this Monday! The IPCC’s AR6 Working Group 2 report summarizes the current climate science around adaptation, and the socio-economic and governance impacts of climate change. I’m excited to be joined by lead authors Dr. Libby Jewett, founding Director of the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, and Dr. Kirstin Holsman, NOAA Research Fishery Biologist and c...

When you plug in to an outlet or flip a switch, I bet you don’t think twice about if power will actually come from that action. One of our favorite things to talk about over here is science that influences our everyday lives – which happens to be science we just don’t know about when we should. We’re talking today about power grids, energy reliability, and how America manages the supply and demand...

We’re rewinding to a fabulous conversation on sustainable red carpet fashion, the future of textiles, and fashion houses’ environmental commitments. We’re joined by Suzy Amis Cameron, founder, and Samata, CEO, of Red Carpet Green Dress. We unpack issues around blanket sustainability statements, and discuss how both celebrities and the fashion industry can move towards a more inclusive eco-consciou...

Here comes the susty bride! We’re hearing from three new brides on how they considered their eco-conscious values throughout the wedding planning process. Sophia shares her tips for shopping secondand and DIY’ing decor; Katharine shares her experience are a covid bride, making simple swaps that allowed her to stay true to herself; Lisa sheds light on the financial benefits (and drawbacks) to organ...

We’re discussing likely our most requested book club pick … the iconic Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer! Braiding Sweetgrass is a beautiful collection of essays through which author Kimmerer, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, blends her Indigenous knowledge and appreciation of the natural world with her scientific lens. “Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, a mother,...

We’re joined by scientist, author, and activist Dr. Jessica Hernandez on the release week of her new book, Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes Through Indigenous Science. I am beyond excited to share with you this intellectual, emotional, holistic conversation – we discuss ecofeminism, intergenerational environmental trauma, and why indigenous science should not be labeled a special...