Do Beautiful Things

Why do 94% of Americans see litter as a major problem, yet many fail to notice progress even as national litter rates decline? In this episode, Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, sits down with Wendy Salomon, Head of Reputation at The Harris Poll, to explore the surprising disconnect between public perception and hard data. Together, they unpack what truly motivates people...

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things , Jenny Lawson talks with Veronica Roof, HDR’s national solid waste planning leader, about the groundbreaking 2026 Keep America Beautiful National Litter Study. Together, they explore how innovative research methods and robust data collection are uncovering the true scope of litter across the country, informing strategies to reduce waste, and inspiring action...

In part two of this two-part episode of Do Beautiful Things, host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful (KAB), talks with David Scott, PhD, KAB’s Senior Vice President of Data and Research, about the latest insights from the 2026 National Litter Study. Together, they unpack surprising litter trends across the United States—from the scale of coastal pollution to the often-overlo...

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things , Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, joins David Scott, PhD, SVP of Data and Research, to discuss the 2026 National Litter Study and what a 34% decline in litter means for communities nationwide. Dr. Scott offers an inside look at what it takes to count 35 billion pieces of litter across thousands of miles of roadways, waterways, an...

What does it take to lead a statewide movement for beauty? Join Jenny Lawson as she talks with Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser about his decades-long fight against litter. From the success of “Love the Boot Week” to the power of school education programs, this episode dives into how Louisiana is inspiring citizens to roll up their sleeves. Whether it's reporting a litterer or building busin...

In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, explores how collaborative, innovative approaches are making America’s national parks cleaner and greener for all. Special guest Ashley McAvoy, Director of Programs and Partnerships at the National Park Foundation, joins Jenny Lawson to discuss the unique challenges of managing waste in parks...

In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, dives into the complexities of recycling with a focus on leftover paint—an item found in nearly every home but often misunderstood when it comes to disposal. Joining the conversation is Brett Rodgers, Vice President of Communications at PaintCare , a nonprofit organization leading industry-...

In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, dives into the transformative world of sustainable fashion—just in time for America Recycles Month. Special guest Tanjuria Willis, founder of Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week , joins the conversation to share her inspiring journey from nuclear plant systems engineer to entrepreneur and chan...

In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, welcomes Columbus, Ohio Mayor Andrew Ginther for a powerful conversation about transforming cities through environmental leadership and community partnerships. Mayor Ginther, fresh off his term as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, shares Columbus’s ambitious journey toward becoming a...

In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, sits down with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Natalie Evans, Executive Director of OKC Beautiful , to spotlight the crucial role local leaders play in creating cleaner, greener, and more vibrant communities. Mayor Holt shares his personal journey and Oklahoma City’s renaissance—a transform...

In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, sits down with Mayor Bianca Motley Broom of College Park, Georgia—a dynamic community at the gateway of Atlanta—to discuss how local leadership and grassroots action can spark extraordinary change. Mayor Motley Broom, the very first mayor to sign the Greatest American Cleanup ™️ declaration, s...

In this podcast episode of Do Beautiful Things , host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, spotlights the extraordinary impact of local leadership and civic pride in creating cleaner, more vibrant communities. We travel to Paterson, New Jersey—a city leading by example—where Mayor Andre Sayegh shares how Paterson is transforming its approach to litter, waste management, and n...

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things , host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, highlights the incredible opportunity ahead as the United States approaches its 250th birthday in 2026. Jenny is joined by Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA, who shares her inspiring journey from one of the nation’s youngest female mayors to leading Pennsylvania’s efforts in...

In this special Mother’s Day episode of the Do Beautiful Things podcast, host Jenny Lawson—President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful—celebrates the legacy and lasting impact of strong women: mothers, grandmothers, and the generations they inspire. Jenny is joined by Lucinda Robb—writer, educator, and granddaughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson—for a heartfelt co...

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things , host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful®, welcomes renowned ecologist, author, and co-founder of Homegrown National Park , Dr. Doug Tallamy, for an inspiring conversation on the vital role native plants play in restoring our nation’s ecosystems. As planting season blooms across the country, Dr. Tallamy shares his expert advice on how...

In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, shines a spotlight on the extraordinary impact of local action and environmental stewardship along Florida’s vibrant reef-lined coast. Joining Jenny is Anna Bennett, founder of Reel it in for the Reefs , an annual underwater cleanup initiative inspired by her compassion for sea turtles like Be...

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things , Jenny Lawson talks with Missy Marshall, the Executive Director of Keep Tennessee Beautiful , a Keep America Beautiful state affiliate, to explore the impactful efforts happening across Tennessee in the fight against litter. They discuss the Greatest American Cleanup™️ campaign, innovative programs like Trashercize , and the power of education and community...

In this thrilling episode of "Do Beautiful Things," hosts Jenny Lawson and Jennifer Edmunson take listeners on a journey beyond our planet, exploring the innovative LunaRecycle Challenge spearheaded by NASA. This groundbreaking competition is set to revolutionize recycling by challenging inventors to design systems that maximize resource utilization during space missions—transforming waste into va...

In this episode of the “ Do Beautiful Things podcast,” Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful speaks with Wendy Salomon from The Harris Poll about their latest research on litter—commissioned by Keep America Beautiful. They explore key insights, including why people avoid picking up litter (hint: the ‘gross factor’ tops the list), what motivates people to join cleanup events, an...

In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson sits down with Maury Wolfe, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Social Impact at Cox Enterprises , to discuss their award-winning initiatives in corporate volunteerism and environmental sustainability. Together, they discuss Cox Enterprises' impressive achievements, including the award-winning initiatives that have driven over...

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things , host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, dives into an often-overlooked aspect of recycling: mattress recycling. Joining us is Mike O'Donnell, Chief Operating Officer of the Mattress Recycling Council , who brings over 30 years of expertise in managing solid and hazardous waste collection programs. Mike gives a compelling look into th...

In this episode of "Do Beautiful Things," host Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, dives into the critical role of recycling in sustainable living and explores the intricacies of the recycling process. Our special guest, Jeff Snyder, Senior Vice President of Recycling and Sustainability at Rumpke Waste and Recycling, brings over 30 years of industry expertise to the table...

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things, Jenny Lawson is joined by Kathleen Gibi of Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful and Michael McCall from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Together, they discuss the power of collaboration in building sustainable, healthy communities, the importance of preserving America’s river systems, and their commitment to the Greatest American Cleanup—the largest clea...

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things , host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful welcomes Dr. Aruni Bhatnagar from the University of Louisville to discuss the powerful connection between urban trees and human health. Together, they explore the groundbreaking Green Heart Louisville Project, a study that examines how increasing urban greenery can positively impact cardiovascul...

Welcome back to "Do Beautiful Things," a podcast by Keep America Beautiful dedicated to inspiring action for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable world. In this episode, we are joined by Lauren Riley, Chief Sustainability Officer at United Airlines, to discuss their innovative approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the significance of sustainable aviation fuels, and how they're engag...