Humor makes us human, it simplifies complex ideas and makes just about anything relatable.  That is why I’m delighted to host scientist and comedian, a man after Jon Oliver’s own heart, Ethan Brown of the Climate Change Podcast The Sweaty Penguin.  We are talking about some of the deep ironies of the eco fashion world, and getting into Biden’s congressional win for Climate Policy. Ethan Brown is a recent graduate of Boston University, where he studied Environmental Analysis & Policy and Film & Television. Ethan was never outdoorsy growing up, but after studying climate change, he felt compelled to use his years of comedy writing experience as Editor-in-Chief of his high school and college satire publications—The Gorilla and The Bunion—to communicate environmental issues in an entertaining way. With some free time during early quarantine, Ethan launched The Sweaty Penguin Podcast. Since then, the podcast has released over 100 episodes, amassed over 19,000 downloads, showcased the work of professors from eleven countries, won six grants, became a PBS partner, and was honored at the 2022 Webby Awards. Through The Sweaty Penguin, Ethan aims to make climate change less overwhelming, less politicized, and more fun. Ethan has also served as Managing Editor of BU’s student-run earth & environment magazine The Emerald Review and currently serves as a Production Assistant for PBS/WNET’s climate initiative Peril and Promise. His favorite TV show is “The Good Place,” and he is passionately opposed to pineapple on Pizza.

Mickaela Grace, Founder of the Graceline Institute, discusses healing ourselves before healing the planet. Topics include fusing ancient teachings with modern technology, choosing love over fear, resetting the nervous system, the power of flow state and curiosity, the relationship between mind, body, and spirit in fashion and sustainability, taking responsibility, and sustainable brands.

On this episode of E.S.Now, I am with Scott Fletcher, sustainability activist and creator of Econus App.  Scott Fletcher, Founder & CEO of Econus, is a social impact entrepreneur on a mission to make consumption more sustainable!There’s a theory in economics called the Theory of Externalities. This theory states that if companies pay for all the costs involved with their production of their products, the issues we’re seeing today would be nearly non-existent. When they don’t pay for these costs, we see the results, like air pollution and waste, these are the externalities. From this theory The Active Consumer philosophy was born. The Active Consumer recognized that us normal folk may not be able to force producers to include all costs, but we could support organizations that can, and with enough of us, real change could be made. From that concept our mobile app, Econus, was born. Econus links your purchases to the unintended consequences of the purchase (like air pollution from a tank of gas), and donates your spare change to an organization reducing the consequences to our environment and society (like the Climate & Clean Air Coalition).www.econusapp.com

Today I am with Courtney Moran, chief legislative strategist for Agricultural Hemp Solutions and legal champion for hemp agricultural development.  Hemp is one of the most useful plants on the planet, it is a carbon capturing monster, and easy to grow, but legal redtape has put the damper on it’s popularity among farmers in the US.  Hear how Courtney is leading the charge to change that. Courtney N. Moran, LL.M. founding principal of EARTH Law, LLC and chief legislative strategist for Agricultural Hemp Solutions, LLC expertly champions legal policy for hemp agribusiness development.  Courtney’s passion and her forward-thinking leadership have carved pathways making hemp an accessible agricultural commodity. She litigated the landmark case KaB, LLC v USPIS, MLB 18-39 (2018) establishing precedent for the shipment of hemp through the US Postal Service. Courtney played a key role in drafting and negotiating the language included in the 2018 Farm Bill federally legalizing hemp. Her extensive knowledge of Hemp Law continues to position her clients at an advantage in the marketplace.https://www.earthlawllc.com

On this episode of E.S.Now, today I am with Ryalnd Englehart, Co-founder and Executive director of Kiss the Ground, here to share with you the exciting possibilities of regenerative farming, and what you can do to help forward this groundbreaking movement to sequester carbon in the most natural way possible. Ryland Engelhart co-founded Kiss the Ground in 2013 and leads the organization as Executive Director, producer of the Kiss the Groundfilm, and host of the Kiss the Ground Podcast. As a 15-year entrepreneur, he is also the co-owner and prior Mission Fulfilment Officer of the nationally recognized plant-based restaurants, Cafe Gratitude and Gracias Madre, located in Southern California, and co-creator of the documentary film, May I Be Frank. When he’s not on the road speaking on behalf of sacred commerce and regenerative agriculture, Ryland is also a dedicated husband and father and lives on a 17-acre regenerative organic farm in Fillmore, CA where he learns to practice what he preaches.kisstheground.com

This is one to put an ear to!  Today we are with Karyn Bischoff, Director of Analytical Toxicology in the Vet Population Medicine and Diagnostic Services Department in the College of Veterinarian Medicine at Cornell University.  Her research is in clinical toxicology and wants to share what she has learned about how house hold apparel can harm your pets. 

In this episode of E.S.Now, we sit with Manpreet Kalra to find out why we need to decolonize storytelling in the ethical marketing landscape.  Manpreet is the founder of Art of Citizenry, where she works with clients globally in impact consulting through a marketing lens. She focuses on incorporating cultural humility in brand narratives and is particularly interested in how businesses in the Global North communicate impact about their work with producer groups in the Global South.www.artofcitizenry.com

On this episode of E.S.Now, today I am with Emma Riley of Lonely Whale - here to discuss sustainable strategies in ocean conservation. Today we are with Emma Riley is the director of strategic partnerships of award-winning Lonely Whale, an incubator for courageous ideas that drive impactful, market-based change on behalf of our ocean. In her role, Emma serves as a brand strategist focused on building cross-industry and cross-culture partnerships and spearheading radically collaborative efforts that strengthen Lonely Whale’s global presence and impact.    

On this episode of E.S.Now, our special guest is Wilson Rumbeiha, Professor of Veterinary Toxicology at UC Davis, here to tell us his thoughts about the link between animals and fast fashion pollution.  Born and raised in Western Uganda. He obtained his PhD in Biomedical Sciences with a focus on Toxicology at Ontario Veterinary College, then moved to the US where he finished his Residency/Post Doc across the country.  He is a Fellow in the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and he is here to tell us his insight into how fast fashion pollution effects animals. 

On this Episode of E.S.Now, we have guest Lotte Shuurman, Marketing and Communications Director at Fair Wear: an organization that looks over the welfare of garment workers globally, by partnering with over 140 brands who have agreed to let Fair Wear oversee factory floors, connect with NGOs, and governments to ensure a safe workplace and living wage.