Sustainable Planet

Following the last episode’s general focus on pollinators, this episode zooms in on bees. From the ethics of beekeeping, why seedless watermelons make bees work overtime, and the unsettling nature of colony collapse disorder, Jorden and Kimberly consider the astonishing diversity of bees. In addition to the legislative acts that promote apiary conservation, individuals can do a lot that matters, i...

Pollinators do far more than keep our gardens blooming — these tiny workers support global food systems, sustaining a third of the world’s food supply. In this episode, Jorden and Kimberly dig into what’s threatening bees, bats, butterflies, and more — and how rethinking our landscaping choices could help. The immense ecological and economic importance of pollination is worth over $230 billion in...

Lawns are cultural icons—but they’re also ecological dead zones. In this episode, Jordan Dye and Kimberly Weir explore how native planting, edible gardens, and rewilding can save water, cut emissions, support pollinators, and make neighborhoods more livable. From Nevada’s “Cash for Grass” program to backyard biodiversity, it’s time to rethink what a beautiful yard really looks like and how the cul...

We return home after our series of travel episodes, stepping foot on the environmental money pit disguised as curb appeal. This episode of Sustainable Planet, Jorden and Kimberly explore the historical roots of lawn aesthetics, the significant water and chemical usage associated with maintaining lawns, and the broader social inequities tied to lawn culture. What has become a status symbol, whose m...

In the last of a four-part series on travel, Jorden and Kimberly finish out their journey, considering sustainable means of travel by focusing on the choices we make once we’ve arrived at our destination. They explore how supporting local businesses, opting for hostels or sleeper trains, and even simple decisions like how we handle laundry or sunscreen can make a meaningful difference for communit...

In the third of a four-part series on travel, Jorden and Kimberly head abroad, considering the top tourist destinations, whether to visit by land, sea, or air, and just how big of an impact our choices have on the planet. More people than ever are traveling abroad, and Americans are adding to the numbers, with 48% currently holding a valid passport, contributing to the tourist bucks that accounted...

The domestic journey continues in the second of a four-part series on travel, considering the dilemmas that choosing accommodations, dining, and souvenirs raise for sustainably-minded travelers. As U.S. domestic travel rebounded to $918 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit over $1 trillion in 2027, the choices voyagers make matter even more as the climate change situation worsens. But to still...

In the first of a four-part series on travel, Jorden and Kimberly begin with what goes into planning a journey to consider how to have a great vacation that’s also more sustainable. With the number of travelers continuing the upward trend interrupted by the pandemic, more tourists are making domestic and international trips. In planning the journey, this episode focuses on domestic travel, checkin...

Jorden and Kimberly are taking a vacation break and will return on August 7th. If you're new to the show, while we think all of our episodes are fantastic, we have a few favorites we recommend that you check out during our brief hiatus. Recommendations Episode 14, From Castles to Concrete: Not All Sand is Created Equally Episode 19, The Purge Episode 26, Disposable Planet Episode 24, A Space Race...

Cocoa trees naturally promote environmental sustainability. However, without international support, farmers necessarily resort to less sustainable methods and labor exploitation. In the second segment of chocolate production, Jorden and Kimberly consider sustainability strategies and innovations for producers and, especially, for the manufacturers who have far greater means to effect change. Key T...

In celebration of July 7th, World Chocolate Day, Jorden and Kimberly consider all things chocolate. What should be a sustainable contribution to the planet’s welfare instead exploits the environment and producers. To combat labor issues and promote sustainability, the Harkin-Engel Protocol aimed to address this complex and often troubling system of cacao and chocolate production. Despite the chall...

Having laid out the fundamentals of Steady State and Degrowth, Part II of this segment explores why critics of the capitalist system advocate that these approaches are necessary both to achieve a sustainable planet and improve quality of life for people. Jorden and Kimberly consider where we see evidence of governments and communities applying Steady State and Degrowth approaches, with the hope of...

Economists and governments have long equated ‘development’ with ‘economic development’, ignoring the implications of pure economic pursuit. Now facing climate change and planetary resource exhaustion, Jorden and Kimberly consider how Steady State and Degrowth advocates strive to put ‘sustainable’ into ‘development’. Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include: Why Jorden hates Degrowth Why Kimb...

Part II of Circular Economy focuses on the ‘lifecycle’ of products, with the intention of minimizing resource use and waste. From major industry sectors to small companies, Jorden and Kimberly consider businesses serving as role models, along with a variety of ways governments, IGOs, NGOs, and MNCs can strive to implement circular economy production. Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include:...

Following up on landfills, planned obsolescence, and the right to repair, a circular economy offers a world where thoughtfully designed goods and their packaging result in practically no waste. Requiring a system overhaul unlikely to happen, in Part I of this segment on regenerative economy, Jorden and Kimberly focus on what we can take away from the challenges of shifting to a circular economy.  ...

The first segment of our episode focused on how and why manufacturers intentionally design products into obsolescence. From hobbyists to environmentalists, a rising movement fights for the right to repair and modify their purchases, extending the life of their belongings. In Part II, Jorden and Kimberly consider how, despite corporate resistance, RTR advocates persist with community initiatives an...

Ever wondered why your grandparents' furniture is still standing while your furniture barely makes it through one move? In the capitalist competition to grow, corporations prioritize profits over durability. Following their episodes on landfills, Jorden and Kimberly consider why so much stuff ends up in the waste management stream. Part I begins the story in the 1920s, when lightbulb companies rea...

Out of sight, out of mind is the way developed countries deal with the mountains of waste produced daily. But what happens after the trash can is emptied at the curb? In Part II of Landfills, Jorden and Kimberly dig into the many layers of landfill management and what happens when the site is filled to capacity. Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include: What invisible environmental threats l...

The statistics are shocking: Humans produce over 2 billion tons of waste annually, with a projected 45% increase in municipal waste over the next 25 years. Yet surprisingly, only 13% of urban waste is converted into energy, while 80% of landfill contents could potentially be recycled or composted. In Part 1 of Landfills, Jorden and Kimberly consider the sophisticated management of modern landfills...

Explore where government, corporate, and organization interests clash and align over fish production. And don’t forget the little people: Millions of consumers depend on small-scale fisheries for jobs and food. Wade into Part II of aquaculture with Jorden and Kimberly to consider the challenges of sustainably producing seafood, whether it’s farmed or wild-caught. Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly dis...

Not long after agriculture was domesticated, aquaculture emerged. This multi-billion-dollar industry is expanding to meet growing demand. Dominated by Asian countries, aquaculture production threatens Blue Carbon Zones from Chile to Egypt, Australia to Mexico. In Part I of this episode, Jorden and Kimberly consider how aquaculture is a threat to the planet, but can be the key to sustainable freshw...

The first segment on Mangroves focused on the vital role of mangroves, why they’re often overlooked, and the main contributing factors jeopardizing this ecosystem. In Part II, Jorden and Kimberly discuss who’s working to protect—and in some cases revitalize mangroves, by delving into the challenges that abound in protecting Blue Carbon zones. To succeed, corporate and grassroots sustainability ini...

Celebrating the One Year Anniversary of the podcast, Jorden and Kimberly turn their attention to the amazing, yet underappreciated mangroves forests.  Remarkable coastal ecosystems that can capture 5 times more CO2 than rainforests, mangroves provide a powerful defense against climate change and coastal erosion in over 120 countries. Changing up the format, Sustainable Planet will drop weekly, cov...

Some people have to think about it on a daily basis. The more fortune only think about it when a pipe bursts, there’s a drought warning, during a natural disaster, or if a contamination story hits the news. The reality is that freshwater supplies are dwindling, affecting everyone regardless of their personal situation. Jorden and Kimberly discuss the biggest threats, types of freshwater, the viabi...

The 5-Year Anniversary of the Coronavirus lockdown prompted consideration of the single-use disposable packaging situation. Convenience for the consumer and lower costs for the manufacturer backed us into an ecological hole. Focusing on the food industry, Jorden and Kimberly discuss the shift from a much more sustainable system of reuse to one of discard. From Kraft Singles and Lunchables, fast fo...