Green Dreamer: Seeding change towards collective healing, sustainability, regeneration

Bob Donofrio is the creator of Futura Jewelry, a brand that creates a global curation of iconic jewelry designs using only certified Fairmined Ecological Gold. (At present, it's the only brand to do so.)   After a life-changing discovery a few years ago of the threat that mercury from small-scale gold mining poses to people and our planet, he founded the brand in efforts to support a cleaner future and better social and environmental standards in the industry.   On this podcast episode, Bob sheds light on how mercury emissions has been dubbed a global crisis by the United Nations; why Fairmined Ecological Gold, specifically used in jewelry, is necessary to improve the practices in gold mining (though gold is also used for other things like computer chips); how the creation of beautiful, meaningful, and timeless designs can encourage deeper appreciation for fashion rather than drive overconsumption; and more.   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/135 Support the show: www.patreon.com/greendreamer Instagram: www.instagram.com/greendreamerpodcast

Leah Penniman is an educator, farmer, the author of Farming While Black, and food justice activist who currently serves as founding co-executive director of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York—a people-of-color led project that works to dismantle racism in our food system.   On this episode, Leah sheds light on the impact of colonialism on soil health around the world; how the oppression of Black and Indigenous people-of-color in the United States has affected farmland ownership and continued, institutionalized injustice; how we can take action to support racial justice in food production; and more.   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/134 Support the show: www.greendreamer.com/support Instagram: www.instagram.com/greendreamerpodcast

Tristram Stuart is a speaker, an international award-winning author (The Bloodless Revolution and Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal), the founder of Feedback and Toastale, and an expert on the environmental and social impacts of food.   On this episode, Tristram shares how we've come to adopt a wasteful, linear food system (and what a circular system would look like), how we can be more respectful to nature in spite of our economy undervaluing what is truly invaluable, how we can rewire our broken food system through delivery services driven by supply of what is available rather than consumer demand, and more.   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/133 Support the show: www.greendreamer.com/support Instagram: www.instagram.com/greendreamerpodcast

With a background in alternative fuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation technologies, and financial services, Brian Goldstein is the Executive Director of Energy Independence Now (founded by Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation‘s CEO, Terry Tamminen), a nonprofit on a mission to support the transition to a clean transportation system through hydrogen fuel.   On this episode, Brian shares how hydrogen fuel cells work, the environmental impact of electric vehicles compared to hydrogen-powered vehicles, the practicality and potential of fuel cells to help green the transportation sector, and more.   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/132 Support the show: www.greendreamer.com/support Instagram: @KameaChayne @GreenDreamerPodcast

J.I. Cruz is the co-founder of ACEPR, a nonprofit social enterprise and accelerator program that aims to provide Puerto Rican community leaders with the resources, financing, and know-how needed to establish renewable energy microgrid cooperatives across the island.   On this episode, J.I. shares how renewable energy relates to natural disasters like hurricanes, the role of decentralized electric grids in sustainable development, how he deals with ageism as someone who started his social venture at 21 years old, and more.   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/131 Support the show: www.greendreamer.com/support Instagram: @KameaChayne @GreenDreamerPodcast

My special message to you. Happy Earth Day and Month, Green Dreamer! Support the show and join our network: www.greendreamer.com/supportInstagram: www.instagram.com/greendreamerpodcast

Judith D. Schwartz is a journalist who focuses on nature-based solutions to global challenges and the author of Cows Save the Planet and Water in Plain Sight: Hope for a Thirsty World.     On this episode, Judith shares why fixating on reducing carbon emissions alone is a shortsighted approach to tackling climate change, how 'organic' is losing its standards and meaning, what it means that we've been managing against environmental challenges rather than managing for them, and more.   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/130 Support the show: www.greendreamer.com/support Instagram: www.instagram.com/greendreamerpodcast

Whitney Bauck is an Associate Editor at Fashionista. She got her start writing about the intersection of fashion, faith, and ethics, and now frequently explores the topics of sustainability, worker rights, and diverse representation within the fashion industry.   On this episode, Whitney shares why she thinks regenerative agriculture may be the next big thing in sustainable fashion, her thoughts on what drives fashion trends, how we can influence the industry to be more ethical and sustainable in practice, and more.   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/129 Support the show: www.greendreamer.com/support Instagram: www.instagram.com/greendreamerpodcast

How might exposures to cultures different from our own allow us to see our own blind spots when it comes to our common lifestyle habits (and those of other people's)? How has our current fashion industry come to be so wasteful, and what can we do as individuals to help the industry move in a healthier direction?   Sharing her wisdom here is Sarah-Jayne Smith, Founder of Magpies and Peacocks—the only nonprofit design house in the United States. Let's dive in!   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/127 Support the show: www.greendreamer.com/support Instagram: @KameaChayne @GreenDreamerPodcast   HIGHLIGHTS [3:01] Kaméa: "Do you think the amount of space that Americans have compared to other countries in the world has, in part, inspired this culture of disposability?"  [14:18] Sarah-Jayne talks about what she thinks it was that allowed the fashion industry to become so disposable and wasteful. [18:50] Kaméa: "What do you think acting as a nonprofit has allowed you to do that operating as a business may not have?" [20:58] Sarah-Jayne talks about the recyclability of different types of fabrics.  [23:50] Kaméa: "How can we best encourage a less disposable culture going forward?"  

At a time when we need to galvanize collective power to drive systemic change, why is it important for us to go beyond conscious consumerism to also focus on political action? What can we do besides voting to support environmental policy throughout the year? Sharing his wisdom here is Will Hackman, an activist and contributing writer on the topics of energy, environment, climate change policy. Let's dive in!   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/127 Support the show: www.greendreamer.com/support Instagram: @KameaChayne @GreenDreamerPodcast   HIGHLIGHTS [2:55] Kaméa: "Is it more effective to try and do what we can as individuals with our lifestyle choices, or is it more effective to work on environmental policy change?" [10:50] Where the U.S. stands in terms of its environmental policy in relation to other countries. [15:55] What 'decarbonizing the economy' entails, and what it would this look like in practice. [18:08] How climate change and other environmental factors are affecting our oceans, including ocean acidification. [22:03] Will talks about what we can do throughout the year to impact policy change beyond voting.