The Circle Up Podcast

In this episode of Circle Up , we take a closer look at the electronics that shape our daily lives and the strange journey they take once we’re done with them. Phones, laptops, tablets, earbuds, chargers, monitors, even solar panels… they’re everywhere, and they move through our hands faster than almost any other product category. But unlike cars, which come with a built‑in culture of maintenance...

On this episode of The Circle Up Podcast, hosts Sam Wittchen and Candice Lawton explore how repair is becoming a key strategy for a modern circular economy. They examine why repair has become harder than it should be, how the right to repair movement is growing, and what it will take to rebuild a strong repair economy that reduces waste, keeps materials in use, and supports local jobs. For decades...

From rowhouse renovations to large-scale development, construction activity reshapes Philadelphia every day. But what happens to the materials left behind after a building project? Construction and demolition debris, from wood and drywall to metal and concrete, is one of the city’s largest waste streams and one of its most powerful opportunities to build circular systems. How these materials are h...

Before a vintage lamp shows up at a thrift store or a theater flat gets reused in a new production, somebody had to get it there. That's the part of the circular economy people don't always see: the physical work of salvage. Someone has to be willing to walk into an estate that needs to be cleared in two weeks, a building scheduled for demo, or a theater where sets are about to be trashed. Someone...

On any given weekend in Philly, you’ll spot it: racks rolling out onto sidewalks, thrift pop-ups in cafés, people digging for treasures in vintage bins. What looks like a trend is actually something bigger – thousands of Philadelphians taking part in the circular economy without even realizing it. This episode, hosts Candice Lawton and Sam Wittchen explore what really happens to our clothes once w...

What if that box in your closet is worth more than you think – and someone nearby is searching for exactly what's inside? Look around your home for a second. Art supplies you swore you'd use, leftover building materials from that one project, clothes that don't quite fit anymore, books you loved but know you won't reread. Most of us aren't holding onto this stuff because we need it – we just don't...

What would your trash say about how you eat? For most of us, it’s a mix of takeout containers, cans, and plastic packaging. In Philadelphia, that adds up fast – and our food system is a major driver of single-use waste. This time, hosts Candice Lawton and Sam Wittchen explore what it takes to redesign how food gets to our plates. Building on earlier conversations about recycling, reuse, and compos...

What if the banana peel on your counter, last night’s coffee grounds or the leaves piling up outside could reduce waste, build healthier soil and strengthen local communities? In Philadelphia, organic materials like these hold enormous untapped potential. In this episode of Circle Up, hosts Candice Lawton and Sam Wittchen dig into composting as one of the most powerful and practical circular solut...

We all know recycling is important – but is it enough to fix our waste problem? In the last episode, hosts Candice Lawton, Executive Director of Circular Philadelphia, and co-founder Samantha Wittchen introduced listeners to the circular economy and explained why smarter systems like recycling are key to keeping materials in use. In today’s episode, they turn to another core principle of the circu...

Have you heard of the circular economy? Most people haven’t, but you likely participate every day through recycling, reuse and other sustainable choices. In this episode of Circle Up , Circular Philadelphia explains what the circular economy is, why Philadelphia is ready for change and how everyday actions fit into a larger system. We take a deep dive into recycling in Philadelphia, including comm...