The sustainably.eco Podcast

In this episode of the Sustainably.eco podcast, host Ben Skene speaks with Kim Sutherland-Mills, a Master Gardener in Training with the 1000 Islands Master Gardeners, about one of North America's most familiar landscapes: the lawn. Together, they explore the surprising history of turfgrass lawns, from their roots in French aristocracy to their widespread adoption across suburban communities,...

In this episode of the Sustainably.eco podcast, host Ben Skene speaks with Jessica Jennings , Production Consultant, Environmental Services at the Ontario Film Commission / Ontario Creates, and lead of the Ontario Green Screen program. With over two decades of experience across film, television, and sustainability, Jessica shares how the industry is evolving to reduce its environmental footprint....

In this episode of the Sustainably.eco podcast, host Ben Skene speaks with Morgan Lehtinen , the executive director of Reaction Hub (RXN Hub), about the intersection of chemistry and sustainability in Kingston. They discuss the role of Reaction Hub in supporting the commercialization of sustainable technologies, the importance of water treatment innovations, and the historical significance of thei...

In this episode of the Sustainably.eco podcast, host Julia Stroud speaks with Bernardo Pereira, a mobility specialist from Lisbon's Energy and Environment Agency. They discuss the advancements and challenges in sustainability and climate action in Portugal, particularly focusing on mobility as a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. The conversation highlights the differences between Canad...

In this episode of the sustainably.eco podcast, host Julia Stroud discusses the importance of landscape architecture and nature-based solutions in creating sustainable cities, particularly focusing on Kingston. Guests Chris Canning, Jonathan Loschmann, and Chris Landau share insights on the role of technology, community engagement, and the economic and social benefits of green spaces. They explore...

We're back after a long break. Queen's University students Brooke McAdam and Ambrose Wong took the reins on this episode about Food Waste. They spoke with Milton Calderon Donefer, founder of MealCare and  Sarah Soteroff, Sr. PR Manager of Too Good To Go . Thanks to Abrose and Brooke for writing, researching, hosting and producing this episode.  This episode is sponsored by sustainably.ec...

This month, we spoke with Aaron Markel, Founder of Hammond Hill , the first eco-experience and wilderness retreat of its kind in Canada. We talked about sustainable building practices, tiny homes and eco-tourism. I also spoke with Russell Horne , Acting Manager, Energy & Asset Management Facilities Management and Construction Services at the City of Kingston, about the upcoming Kingston Climat...

Episode 36 is all about Sustainable Transportation. We spoke with Amanda Mesluk , Senior Sustainability Manager at Flair Airlines , about sustainable aviation and some of the lesser-known strategies for lowering emissions in the industry. We also spoke with youth transit guru Dan Hendry, who returns to the podcast to discuss his Get on the Bus initiative and all things transit.  This month's...

This month, we spoke with Jill Heinerth , an acclaimed polar explorer, cave diver, author, speaker, filmmaker, and climate advocate. Jill is the first Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society . She’ll be speaking at Earth Day at the Spire on April 21st. We also spoke to Helen Mills , gardener, citizen geographer, eco-landscape designer, educator, and social entrepreneur. Sh...

We were off for a few months but are back with an exciting new episode about the home retrofit space. This month’s episode is also unique because we’ve added new voices to the team. Liliana Chow and Noel Tesfalem Gebre are students at Queen’s University working through the Experience Ventures program. Liliana and Noel helped co-produce this episode and took the wheel in the interview with Carson P...

This month, we spoke with director Chris Salter and playwright Kate Story about “Animate, a climate-themed extended reality theatre production featured at the International Festival of Electronic Music and the Digital Arts in Montreal . We also spoke with Bonnie Ruddock , Executive Director of RTO9 , a regional tourism organization, about sustainable tourism and the challenges and opportunities fa...

We recently spoke to Adam Molson from the Daniels Corporation about the launch of their Circular Economy Hub: a dedicated space for residents to donate, repair or exchange unwanted or damaged items to reduce the waste in our landfills. We also spoke with Tim Weber, a co-founder of Diverso Energy a company that offers Geothermal Solutions for multi-family, office, retail and institutional buildings...

We recently spoke to Dr. Patricia Collins , Nico Koenig and Roger Healy about School Streets : a project that closes streets adjacent to schools to through traffic. The program is the product of a university-community partnership that seeks to promote children’s health and well-being and is part of a project funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research called Levelling the Playing Fields ....

 This month we're sharing an edited version of our EV Q+A event. This was an online presentation from Sustainable Kingston featuring Cara Clairman, CEO of Plug N Drive and François Lefèvre, Senior Manager of Market Intelligence and Corporate Planning at Nissan Canada .  Answering questions from participants and moderator Geoff Hendry, Cara, and Francois provide invaluable insight into what&ap...

This month is all about Sustainable Fashion.  We recently spoke with Jesse Whale , stylist, wardrobe consultant, and owner of ClosettCandyy a consignment store in Kingston, Ontario. We also chatted with Stephanie Sarka , owner of 1 Atelier ,  an independent luxury brand born in New York City that uses regenerative agriculture, vegetable tanning, and on-demand production to produce sustainable hand...

This month we spoke to Carissa MacLennan of the Toy Exchange Club , a premium wooden toy rental subscription service for children aged 0-3 years that reduce waste and clutter.   We also spoke with Dr. Bertrand Malsch of the Smith School of Business at Queen's University about environmental, social, and governance reporting and the practice of tying these metrics to executive compensation. Thi...

This month we spoke with actor, author, and comedian Ali Hassan (CBC's Canada Reads) about his role as returning host of the 2023 Kingston Climate Change Symposium , his new book (" Is There Bacon in Heaven? "), and his upcoming live tour (" Does This Taste Funny? ").  We also had a great conversation with Jackie Ryan, founder of Planting Seeds of Hope . We discussed the u...

This month we spoke to director, writer, and producer Victoria Lean about her new documentary " The Climate Baby Dilemma ." The program, which airs on CBC on November 25th at 9:00 pm and on CBC Gem , explores the difficult questions that surround having and raising children during the climate crisis. We also spoke with author Conor Kerr whose first novel " Avenue of Champions "...

This month we speak with Cheryl Ng from the University of British Columbia's Cool Hood Champs program and Julie Salter-Keane from the City of Kingston about their Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions initiative.  We also spoke with Janette Haase, author of From Seed to Table: A Practical Guide to Eating and Growing Green , about improving access to local food. This episode is sponsored by S...

This month's episode features two great conversations including interviews with Clarke Mackey and Emma Reid . We spoke with Clarke Makey who has written and directed the Makers and Shakers Society a new scripted audio drama in six parts that centred on the climate crisis. We also spoke with Emma Reid , Head of Sustainability and ESG at Simba Sleep about getting the message right in corporate...

In this month's episode,  we speak to Lukas Duchaine, Technical Specialist at Defence Construction Canada , about the massive energy conservation project at Canadian Forces Base Kingston. We also chat with Professor Barry Cross at the Smith School of Business at (Queen’s University) about the plastic straw’s last hurrah: how the single-use plastic ban can be an innovation catalyst for busines...

In this month's episode,  we speak with Sue Lyon ( Green Burials Kingston ) and Sarah Reid ( James Reid Funeral Home ) about Green Burials: the sustainable alternative to the traditional burial. We also have a recording of an online panel featuring Paige Agnew (City of Kingston) and Dr. Ajay Agarwal (Queen's University) about urban planning and sustainable commuting. This episode is spon...

This month we spoke with green marketing expert, Dr. Jacob Brower from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University about why guilt is no longer working as a tool to encourage more sustainable consumer choices. We also chatted with Kathryn Winkler, Founder and Executive Director of the Sustainable Alberta Association about Commuter Challenge , the annual campaign to encourage commuters to le...

This month we spoke with Dr. Sofia Bonilla and Kasey Dunn from HOPE Pet Food about the benefits of insect protein in pet food and how products like Berry Buglicious are helping to mitigate the climate crisis. We also spoke with Kristin Mullin from Earth Day Canada about the history of Earth Day, this year's Earth Day theme, and why she's optimistic for the future.  This episode is sponso...

Episode 19 of the sustainably.eco podcast features an interview with Rena Upitis and Danielle Picard from Wintergreen Studios about their great online Electric Vehicle resource, “To EV or Not to EV.” We also spoke with François Lefèvre from Nissan Canada to get the perspective of an automaker. We had a great chat about supply chains and a future in which one of three cars is electric. As a special...