The ReNewy Living Podcast: A Sustainability Podcast

Mass-produced chipboard and MDF are basically designed to end up in a skip bin once it’s damaged. But real timber is different. It’s resilient to those minor dents. With a simple sand and a fresh coat of oil, those years of wear add to the timber’s story of life.  Joining the podcast episode conversation are Luke Mitchell and Pete, co-founders of Among the Trees, a Sydney-based timber reuse busine...

In this episode, we delve into the personal, social, and cultural history of a modern problem, which is getting rid of household waste.  Joining me to share their perspectives across the generations are my own family - my Mum, Leonie Grimshaw, and my sister, Tara Wells. As family, they share a history of their formative or family-raising years in Sydney. Together, they recall stories of household...

Composting at home isn’t a new trend. In fact, it’s been around for over 130 years, and is one of the most localised and best ways to keep food waste out of landfill. In this episode, you’ll learn everything you need to know about backyard composting on a do-able scale, from starting your first pile to knowing exactly what to do with it once it’s ready.  My guest is Dr Ernie Harbott, founder of Co...

Sewing your own clothes might seem a bit crazy when you can buy every type of clothing at the click of a button.  But for home sewist, Jessie Brent, from Made by Me Jessie B, whipping out the sewing machine - whether it’s to make something new or to redesign a piece - is second nature. What started out of necessity and cultural expectations, has grown into a real passion, both for sewing and for b...

Instead of throwing shoes away, one project is encouraging us to think differently about your favourite pair of shoes. In this episode, I’m joined by two shoe-loving and curious people. Dr Alex Sherlock is a fashion design lecturer & founder of the Footwear Research Network. Together with artist and contemporary jeweller Pennie Jagiello they lead the This is not a Shoe Project.  Our conversati...

In this episode, we’re stepping outside the traditional building box to explore how it really can take a village to build a sustainable home. My guests are Rita Ordóez and James Le Compte from Shepherd’s Ground, an eco village and farm in Butterwick NSW. Inspired by Rita’s upbringing and a shared desire to tread lightly on the planet, they’re aim was to build a healthy, eco-friendly family home. ...

In rural and regional towns across Australia, it’s easier than ever to spend money with big corporations. Especially when gift cards are sold in the local post office or supermarket. But that convenience comes at a cost, because it means local businesses miss out on the support they need, to keep their community thriving. In this episode, I’m chatting with Ash Watt, co-founder of Why Leave Town, a...

In this episode, I’d love you to meet Rhi Mitchell, a proud Mununjali woman, marine scientist, and founder of Saltwater Sistas, and based in Coffs Harbour along coastal NSW. Rhi combines wellbeing, leadership and science to inspire change and protect our oceans and environment for future generations. In our chat, we talk about how caring for Country starts with understanding our connection to the...

We’ve become so used to having flowers available year-round, that we rarely stop to think about where they come from, or what happens to the packaging and the presentation waste. In this episode, I’d love you to meet Bec Humphris, florist and founder of Sydney-based florist Not Just a Pretty Flower. Her business exists to inspire and nurture reconnection to nature. She’s a proud member of the Sust...

The building and construction industry takes up a huge chunk of the total waste generated in NSW and across Australia, far more than what comes from our everyday household rubbish bins. When a building comes down, so many materials are left behind. But where do they all go? The good news, there are great solutions for recycling in construction and in this episode, we’re delving a little deeper int...

When most people think of arborists…they think of chainsaws, wood chippers, and tree removals for “safety reasons” or “potential fire hazard.” In this episode, I’d love you to meet Sam Hardingham, founder of Newcastle-based business Everyday Arbor. An experienced arborist, Sam is challenging that narrow view of what it means to be an arborist. His goal is to keep as many trees standing in our loca...

Choosing to knock down and rebuild a house is a big decision. But instead of a standard project home, what happens when you choose a passive house - a design built for comfort, efficiency, and sustainability? In this episode, I’d love you to meet ReNewy Living community member Jess Bollinger from Lake Macquarie, NSW. Jess works in environmental sustainability for her day job, yet finds most meanin...

In this episode, we’re at the closing of the 2024/ 2025 Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhoods Waste to Art exhibition. It’s a free, annual event that brings together thought-provoking artworks made entirely from waste by people across the community. Some of the pieces are so refined, it’s hard to believe they began as waste. For many households, waste is what goes in the rubbish or recycling b...

In this episode, I’d love you to meet James Felton-Taylor and Annabelle Kater, who run Australian Sustainable Timbers in Dungog NSW.  As native forest managers and timber processors, they’re passionate about showing there’s a better way to work with the bush by rethinking timber production. This conversation is a great reminder that when you lead with intention and work with the natural lifecycle...

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say the word “activist”? It’s a word that can stir up a lot of feelings — but at its heart, it’s simply about standing up for what you believe in…and doing something about it.  In this episode, I’d love you to meet Michelle Dado-Millynn, a Dungog-based film producer whose work shines a light on people doing what they believe in most. This conversati...

A community food co-op in the main street of a small regional town can have a massive impact, not just on the reduced environmental impact of locally grown food, but also the value of having access to healthy food, support for local growers and really strong community connections. I'm having a conversation with Anna Crane from the Dungog Wholefood Co-op. It's an amazing conversation about communit...

Let’s talk about plastic. We see it everywhere, even in places it probably shouldn't be. And while we all want to do the right thing by tossing it in the recycling bin, the truth is, plastic recycling is a lot more complex than it seems. To help untangle that complexity, I’m joined by Jess Hodge co-founder of Resourceful Living.  Jess and her team are tackling the plastic problem head on, by turni...

In this episode, I’d love you to meet Anna Scobie and Kelly Lees from Newcastle-based business Urban Hum. We’re exploring the role of bees in our local environment and how understanding them connects us with the bigger picture of environmental sustainability. From permaculture principles to planting a tiny forest, and even facing the challenges of varroa mite, we’ll talk about what it means to res...

"Everyday Voices" is where I take the mic into public spaces, striking up real conversations with everyday people about how they live, care for, and tread lighter on the planet. In this episode I’m talking to Sophie, a high school student who’s showing interest in sustainability and environmental change in government. She shares her early advocacy journey, which will become the building blocks for...

While most shopping centres are filled with cloned chain stores, it’s easy to forget that independent grocery shops are out there doing things differently—helping us live more sustainably, eat more mindfully and feel more connected. In this episode, we sit down with Brent Fairns, owner of Organic Feast in Maitland. More than just a shop, Organic Feast is a vibrant local place that shows what’s pos...

When you hear the word decluttering, what comes to mind? For me, my brain jumps straight to the opposite….minimalism, with clean lines, empty shelves and limited colour & texture. But actually, decluttering isn’t really about that. It’s about living with less and feeling lighter, thinking clearer and living easier. In this episode, I’d love you to meet Rachel Louise from Raid my Wardrobe. Rach...

In this episode, I’d love you to meet Bec Bowie, former owner of the much loved Newcastle cafe, Estabar.  We’re talking about how values influence the way we shape both our lifestyles and our work to feel more purposeful. This conversation is a great reminder that when you lead with your values, then everything flows with more meaning — and more impact. A summary, plus the links from this episode...

Have you heard about the Slow Food Movement? It’s a global movement that believes everyone has the right to good, clean and fair food.  Helping us understand the movement from a localised perspective, I'd like to introduce you to Amorelle Dempster from Slow Food Hunter Valley. The volunteer-led grassroots organisation helps connect their community with the local farming community, plus make availa...

Using healthy and sustainable materials in your interior design is an overlooked, yet important element in your daily living. In this episode, I'm chatting with Nadine Samwell from Eco Edition. She helps homeowners with better choices for healthy and sustainable materials for new builds and renovations. And it's all with the aim of making it simpler and easier for you. She helps you understand wha...

Hello, I’m Mardi Lee and Welcome to The ReNewy Living Podcast! Did you know that right here in Lake Macquarie our local sea turtles are at risk. It's not just something that's happening as part of climate change that you see on the Great Barrier Reef but also here. There are at least three reasons why our sea turtles are being impacted so badly. So what's happening and what can we do about it? I'm...