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

How do we recycle properly to ensure that what we toss down the recycling chute actually gets recycled, and not just be 'aspirational recyclers'? Special guest for this Bloom Tuesday, Jonathan Levy of ZeroWasteGuy.com shares his expert tips and insights with us. Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/36, and follow me on Instagram @KameaChayne where I'll be sharing more of my inspirations, tips, and learning lessons along the way. Thanks for bringing your light! x

How can we be better communicators so that our important messages actually move people and resonate with our audiences to inspire action? How can we go beyond reducing single-use plastics in our own lives to affecting greater change in actual waste infrastructures for system change? Kathryn Kellogg, creator of GoingZeroWaste.com, actor, and spokesperson for National Geographic's Planet or Plastic Campaign shares her wisdom with you. HIGHLIGHTS: [3:34] Kaméa: "Why are endocrine disruptors and toxic chemicals everywhere in our day-to-day lives, like in normal cleaning products?" [5:40] Kathryn: "You didn't have to be perfect to make a difference. That was something that really resonated with me, and I wanted to share that with others."[6:50] Kaméa: "What's something from your experience acting that supports your work in building up the zero waste community?" [7:56] Kathryn's advice for getting our stories to resonate with our audiences.[9:05] One of Kathryn's favorite (and weirdest!) eco-friendly simple swaps.[12:30] Kathryn: "When facing rejection, you have to learn how to not take it personally."[13:08] How Kathryn ended up working with National Geographic.[13:49] Kathryn: "Showing up is 90% of the battle."[15:37] Kathryn: "Not everyone has the same amount of access and we have to know that we are all working for a better future." [16:31] Kaméa: "What do you think are the roots of moral superiority within sustainability?"[20:30] What we can do as individuals to inspire policy change and help solve waste infrastructure problems. Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com, and share your #1 takeaway from the episode tagging our featured guest and me @KameaChayne to spread the light and to let us know you're tuning in!

What does it take to scale our positive impacts through business? What are millennials craving today, and how can this actually drive conversations and choices related to sustainability? Founder and CEO of United by Blue, Brian Linton, shares his wisdom with you. HIGHLIGHTS: [2:57] What made Brian want to dedicate his life to cleaning up our oceans. [11:06] Brian: "The beauty of the model is that by focusing on the fundamentals of creating a business, we're able to have a longterm, lasting impact."[12:08] What keeps Brian going personally, despite challenges.[12:53] Brian: "What's ultimately going to cure our oceans and waterways is people talking about it, educating their friends, and changing their own behaviors."[14:00] Kaméa: "What has been key to United by Blue's continuous growth and your ability to establish yourself in the sustainability space?"[16:50] Some of the most difficult products to manufacture in a more eco-friendly way. [20:54] Brian's thoughts on our biggest challenge today in fighting plastic pollution.[21:47] Kaméa: "What's the fastest way to address the issue of single-use plastic?" Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com, and share your #1 takeaway from the episode tagging our featured guest and me @KameaChayne to spread the light and to let us know you're tuning in!

We're continuing to move the needle forward towards a healthier planet to call home! Here are 2 things to celebrate this week, as well as something we should be mindful of as we continue talking about plastic straws to keep this conversation inclusive and respectful. Find the full show notes with references and links to our Green Dreamers' projects at www.GreenDreamer.com/33. Thanks for bringing your light! Catch you on Instagram @KameaChayne

What do we need to know about species extinction around the world today and how that impacts us? How can we stay positive and inspired even as we learn about more problems we need to address? Environmental journalist and Editor of Center of Biological Diversity's The Revelator, John Platt, shares his wisdom with you. HIGHLIGHTS:[3:55] John: "...it's proof that if you're really educated about something and care about it, you can make a difference." [8:50] Kaméa: "How do you handle it emotionally when you have to dig into problems all the time?"[10:30] John: "...It doesn't all suck. We can make a difference and we are making progress!"[11:25] Advice for someone who feels drained by all of the problems we face. [16:09] One major sustainability issue that isn't talked about enough and affects all of us.[16:50] John: "Wildlife issues in a lot of ways are actually issues about human society."[21:00] Kaméa: "How does biodiversity loss impact the individual living in urban or suburban areas?"[21:50] The importance of pollination for our food supply.  Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com, and share your #1 takeaway from the episode tagging our featured guest and me @KameaChayne to spread the light and to let us know you're tuning in!

What’s a common struggle specifically for us eco and socially-driven entrepreneurs and creatives that might prevent our passion projects from thriving? Why is it important for us to support large corporations that may have a history of irresponsible practices? Journalist, media strategist, podcast producer and host of Spirit of 608 podcast, Lorraine Sanders, shares her wisdom with us in this episode.  HIGHLIGHTS[4:54] Lorraine: "I really care about where things came from and the story behind them and that brings more meaning to the things in our lives."[5:59] Something Lorraine learned about sustainable fashion that shocked her.[10:21] Lorraine's greatest challenge growing her platform.[12:33] Kaméa: "What are some common mistakes that eco creatives and entrepreneurs make when trying to build out their presence?"[13:06] Lorraine: "A lot of people feel like they can't start building their relationships with the media until everything with the brand is perfect. But if you wait... it's almost too late to gather authentic attention."[15:07] Lorraine on why it's important for business owners to put themselves out there.[17:44] Lorraine: "The common thread of founders that are making it happen is this thing inside of them that tells them they are going to figure it out. It's a matter of how and when, not if."[20:30] Kaméa: "How can we tell a more powerful story about sustainability?"[21:10] Lorraine: "I think we're finally waking up and seeing how major brands who have been vilified are likely to be the ones that truly shift really fundamental, systemic change globally."[22:49] "Don't oversimplify complicated things."   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com, and share your #1 takeaway from the episode tagging our featured guest and me @KameaChayne to spread the light and to let us know you're tuning in!

Our voices and political actions matter! Here, the following 3 Green Dreamers share one policy they're currently supporting and why, and easy actions we can take today to become active citizens specifically within the United States: Phoebe Lloyd - Environmental activist, blogger, and YouTuber who advocates living an eco-friendly lifestyle on her platform, BareChange.orgAditi Mayer - Sustainable fashion blogger, photographer, and activist whose work explores the intersections of style, sustainability, and social justice at ADIMAY.comFaye Lessler - Sustainable living advocate, community organizer, and supporter of sustainable brands behind the blog Sustaining.Life Find the full show notes with references and links to our Green Dreamers' socials and projects at www.GreenDreamer.com/30. Thanks for bringing your light! x @KameaChayne

If you're interested in learning how working with a publicist can elevate your work, or what doing PR for yourself might look like, this is an episode for you. What do we need to have in place before we pitch our work to the media (or work with publicists to do so) to increase our chances of getting featured? From a PR perspective, what does sustainability need to garner more attention from the public? Founder of Orchard and Broome, the first PR agency to selectively represent sustainable and ethical brands, Stephanie Sica, shares her wisdom with us. HIGHLIGHTS[3:43] Stephanie: “I love the innovation and creativity that sustainability offers.”[7:46] What Stephanie does to create work/life balance as an entrepreneur.[8:36] One thing eco-creatives and entrepreneurs can do to increase reach and credibility.[10:11] How to know when a brand ready to work with a PR agency.[11:52] Why it’s important for brands to have of a budget and invest in long term relationships.[14:38] What it means for entrepreneurs do do PR for themselves.[16:48] What brands should look for in a publicist.[21:40] Stephanie: “I think we need to work hard to stress the inclusivity of sustainability and the idea that sustainability can be for everybody.”[28:00] Stephanie: “I don’t compare myself to others because I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t do things my way.” Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com, and share your #1 takeaway from the episode tagging our featured guest and me @KameaChayne to spread the light and to let us know you're tuning in!

How was Girlfriend Collective able to launch so powerfully to establish itself in the athletic wear space as a conscious fashion startup? What does it take to cultivate a loyal audience and customer base that's eager to support and share all that we do and create? Today, Girlfriend Collective's Co-Founder Quang Dinh shares his wisdom with us. HIGHLIGHTS:[7:31] Quang: "Now, with the rise of the internet, to be able to build a product that means something is a lot more powerful because the content to consume is a lot easier today than word of mouth in 2005."[7:59] Quang's inspiration to start Girlfriend Collective.[9:25] The team's greatest challenge in creating their product.[11:49] Kamea: "Can you walk us through the thought process behind your powerful launch strategy?"[12:52] Quang: "We felt like we had something so strong that I wanted to give this stuff away and know that [customers] were going to come back." [14:23] Kamea: "How certain were you that you were going to get this return on investment when you first launched that free leggings campaign?"[15:14] Quang: "We had a lot of skeptics..."[15:56] Quang: "All the feel-good stuff is always tertiary."[18:39] Kaméa: "What does it take to get a [conscious] brand seen in today's digitally-driven landscape?"[24:12] Kamea: "On an individual level, what do you think a single consumer can do to help improve the recycling industry in the U.S.?" Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com, and share your #1 takeaway from the episode tagging our featured guest and me @KameaChayne to spread the light and to let us know you're tuning in!

It's Plastic Free July! Share this episode with a friend, and let's continue raising awareness together about the simple steps we can take to make a difference. For more plastic-reducing guidance, check out episode 15. Find the full show notes with references linked at www.GreenDreamer.com/27, and follow me on Instagram @KameaChayne where I'll be sharing more of my inspirations, tips, and learning lessons along the way. Thanks for bringing your light! x