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

How do we reach people who aren't already mindful of their environmental impact, while not pushing them away by being 'too hardcore' in our approach? What should we keep in mind when we're sharing sustainability with our friends and people who are just entering the scene so that our messages can reach them in an engaging and meaningful way?   Sharing her wisdom here is eco-realist and YouTuber Shelbi of Shelbizleee. Let's dive in!    *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.*   HIGHLIGHTS  [5:39] How Shelbi first started dumpster diving. [9:06] Shelbi discusses the importance of holding stores and companies accountable for their waste. [15:16] Shelbi explains why she quit dumpster diving. [18:00] How Shelbi evolved her message to emphasize her focus on sustainability more while not pushing away subscribers initially just intrigued by dumpster diving or by the makeup products she found in dumpsters. [20:44] Shebi on the importance of making sustainability feel attainable. [23:20] Shelbi: “You cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that you can do.” [25:03] Shelbi: “Zero waste was never meant to fall completely on the consumer.”   [27:58] Shelbi: “I do think we need to make it more fun!”     Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/119, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, 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!   *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.* 

How has the media coverage of sustainability evolved over the last decade, and how can we support its presence in mainstream narratives? What was it that instilled in us this idea that living sustainably is all about sacrificing things rather than about gaining things that can truly enrich our lives?   Sharing her wisdom here is Candice Batista, an environmental journalist and the founder of The Eco Hub. Let's dive in!   *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.*   HIGHLIGHTS   [3:26] What sparked Candice's interest in environmental journalism.  [7:11] Candice talks about how she was 'very preachy' at first and why she now approaches her messaging from a more educational tone. [8:51] Kaméa: "What's your current greatest challenge in helping to inspire public engagement and action?" [12:58] Candice: "People can tell when you're doing something because you have to or when you're doing something because you're really passionate about it."  [13:53] The misconception that eco-living is all about sacrifice. [20:44] Candice: "When you have less stuff, you actually have more space in your brain and your psyche because you're not cluttered with all these things." [22:59] What Candice has changed her mind about throughout her years reporting on sustainability. [27:16] Kaméa: "How can we better inspire care and action?" [27:36] Candice: "If you have a voice and you can use it, then use it."    Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/118, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, 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!   *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.*

How do lab-grown diamonds compare in their environmental impact with conventionally mined ones? Given that some people rely on mining diamonds for their livelihoods, why do we still need to transition away from extracting these precious stones by way of mining?   Sharing his wisdom here is Alex Weindling, Founder and CEO of Clean Origin, a jewelry company which sells lab-grown diamonds. You'll hear about some of the major social and environmental issues involved in conventional diamond mining, how lab-grown diamonds are made, why this technology should render the need for mining diamonds obsolete, and more. Let's dive in!   *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.*   HIGHLIGHTS [5:04] Alex talks about what eventually led him to leave his family business in the conventional diamond industry. [10:02] Alex: "Not only can we get them without ripping craters in the earth that are literally visible from the atmosphere, but we can make them more accessible to more people." [15:39] Kaméa: "Do you think there is such a thing as sustainable mining?" [18:03] Why the diamond mining today is becoming less and less efficient, using more resources for less yield of diamonds. [19:52] How lab-grown diamonds are created. [24:33] How transitioning away from mining diamonds will impact those whose livelihoods depend on it. [28:49] Alex discusses what the best ways are to give our diamonds new life at the end of their life-cycles for us.   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/117, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, 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!   *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.*

How can we help sustainability as a topic get more attention in spaces where people already consume a lot of content online, such as on YouTube? How can we lessen the amount of in-fighting going on within environmental activism so we can join forces to inspire whatever action and change we can together?   Sharing her wisdom here is Immy Lucas, a YouTube content creator and Founder of the Low Impact Movement. You'll hear about what made her most watched videos go viral, how to be more inclusive of all types of people in our communication, why it's so important for eco-advocates to come together, and more. Let's dive in!   *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.*   HIGHLIGHTS   [7:18] Immy shares one of the most difficult parts in her transition towards a zero waste lifestyle. [10:56] Immy: "Just make the best decision you can without worrying about it too much."   [14:10] What's at stake when we communicate in ways that may exclude a certain group of people. [14:46] Kaméa: "If you had to start all over again, what would you do differently, if anything?" [15:28] Immy: "Sharing your weaknesses and mistakes can be incredibly rewarding and it can be helpful for other people."   [25:13] Immy: "What's important here is that you're trying. Even if it's a tiny step... for us, that's good enough and we want to support that."   [28:34] Kaméa: "How do you see waste reduction being related to fighting climate change?   [31:08] Immy: "We need to let go of judgment and any negative in-fighting that there might be within the movement. I think it's so important that we come together."     Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/116, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, 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!   *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.*

Why have we parted ways with some traditional but perfectly functional and natural ways of storing food in favor of plastic packaging? Given that companies aren't necessarily held liable for their negative externalities (e.g., waste, pollution, etc.), how can we get them to be voluntarily responsible for their impacts?   Sharing her wisdom here is Sarah Kaeck, Founder of Bee's Wrap. You'll hear about how plastic has made its way into all corners of our modern day lives, why sustainable beekeeping is so important, how to sustainably scale a business that makes a positive impact, and more. Let's dive in!   *Enjoying the show? Support Green Dreamer on Patreon for bonus episodes, access to our private support community, and more.*   HIGHLIGHTS [6:35] Kaméa: "Why do you think such a healthy, functional, and practical way of storing food has been lost?" [9:09] Kaméa: "How can we get companies that make things to think about the long-term impacts since they're not held liable for that?" [10:43] Sarah shares how she and her team got the idea of Bee's Wrap across to so many people. [16:31] Kaméa: "Do you think it's possible for a really large company to operate sustainably while supporting a sustainable future at the same time?" [18:05] Sarah shares the role of beekeeping for sustainability. [19:36] How can we, as consumers, ensure that the beeswax or honey in what we buy come from sustainably managed hives?   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/115, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, 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!   *Become an official Green Dreamer Patreon Supporter*

How can awareness of sustainability—even if just among a minority group of people—eventually reach a tipping point when it can then create a ripple effect and break into the mainstream? What does it take to create stories and documentaries that leave people feeling deeply inspired, empowered, and moved to action?   Sharing his wisdom here is Jordan Osmond, documentary filmmaker and Co-Founder of Happen Films. You'll hear about why fear may not an effective motivator for sustainable behavioral change, how we can learn from localized and indigenous knowledge, how to inspire and activate people through film, and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS   [6:46] The difference between using cold facts versus using stories when sharing information and motivating others to take action. [18:37] Jordan: "There's still time to heal the damage that has been done." [19:45] Why leading by example may be more effective than trying to force change upon others. [22:46] What first got Jordan interested in regenerative agriculture.  [27:06] Jordan: "There is so much knowledge from indigenous cultures... that is sadly being lost but is also being relearned. And that's all permaculture is really. It's nothing new."   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/114, subscribe to our newsletter to win monthly giveaways, 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!

In the middle of this global awareness to use less single-use plastic bottled water, why is the bottled water market still on the rise? Why is aluminum superior to plastic as a material used for single-use packaging?   Sharing her wisdom here is Nicole Doucet, the CEO and Co-founder of Open Water. You'll hear about all the reasons why aluminum is a more environmentally friendly packaging material when compared to plastic, the pervasive problem with microplastics, why recycling plastic isn't a sustainable solution, and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS  [4:57] Nicole's thoughts on why it seems we have just recently gained more awareness as a society on single-use plastic even though it's been a problem for a long time. [9:01] Why aluminum is a more environmentally material than plastic for packaging. [9:44] Kaméa: "Why are there incentives to support the recycling of aluminum in particular and not other materials?" [16:22] What was the challenge you wanted to overcome with your rebranding from Green Sheep Water to Open Water? [21:01] The problem with the pervasiveness of microplastics. [23:13] Kaméa: "How can we most effectively tackle plastic pollution as soon as possible?"   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/113, subscribe to our newsletter to win monthly giveaways, 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!

Given that many young people today are already so passionate about helping to solve our global issues, how can we better engage them and empower them to contribute their unique perspectives and talents? How does engineering tie into this picture of sustainability, and how can engineers best apply their backgrounds and skillset to help further advance our progress towards a healthier future?   Sharing her wisdom here is Brittany Bennett, Executive Director of Engineers for a Sustainable World. You'll hear about the role of engineers in tackling environmental issues, the importance of having young people in leadership positions, the need for policy change and collective action, and more. Let's dive in!   HIGHLIGHTS [4:28] How engineers are uniquely positioned to solve environmental problems. [13:40] Brittany: "One of the greatest things we can do is to combine our power together to create collective action." [16:51] What Brittany does to stay encouraged when others don't believe in her. [17:00] Kaméa: "What is the importance of having ideas in leadership from young people and minorities in today's world?" [19:04] Brittany: "I wish we were more open about our failures as a society."  [20:52] How we can continue to encourage and motivate young people toward action.   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/112, subscribe to our newsletter to win monthly giveaways, 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 are some environmental impacts from the beauty and skincare industry that we should be mindful of? In the midst of our fast-paced, often stressful lives, what can we keep in mind that can help us to immediately shift our outlooks to one of gratitude?   Sharing his wisdom here is Andy Hnilo, Founder and CEO of Alitura Naturals. You'll hear about the serious injury that led to him starting Alitura Naturals, some of the most concerning problems with the skincare and beauty industry right now, how to keep a perspective of appreciation in life, and more. Let's dive in!    HIGHLIGHTS [3:18] The serious accident that eventually led to Andy's founding of Alitura. [7:52] Why the ingredients we put onto our skin matter. [12:23] Andy discusses the research and development process he used to develop his innovative, natural skincare. [17:02] Why Andy decided to source unique, wild-harvested ingredients and how this set his products apart from other popular natural skincare brands. [25:17] Some of the biggest environmental and health issues that exist within the beauty industry. [28:02] The availability of unisex and men's eco-skincare and beauty products. [29:47] How word-of-mouth marketing is the most powerful tool Alitura has used to gain exposure.   Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/111, subscribe to our newsletter to win monthly giveaways, 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!

Why can we feel confident and hopeful about our ability to address climate change in this time of need? Even though this topic can often feel complex, overwhelming, and sometimes controversial, what are the three basic things we need to know about the science of climate change that are just undeniable and simple realities?   Sharing his wisdom here is Dr. Jeffrey Bennett, an astronomer, teacher, and author. You'll hear about the relationship between astronomy and our climate; how the solutions to tackling climate change have multi-faceted benefits for our society; how to speak intelligently and with clarity about climate change science; and more.   HIGHLIGHTS [3:03] The relationship between astronomy and climate change. [6:06] The difference between saving the earth and saving civilization. [7:19] Jeffrey explains the simple science behind global warming in three steps. [9:12] Jeffrey: "There's plenty of hope still out there; we just have to do what we know needs to be done." [10:44] How a carbon tax could greatly impact our transition away from fossil fuels, and how this could actually strengthen our overall economy. [18:56] How we can speak more effectively to the general public about climate change. [22:27] Why climate change is not a partisan concern and how leaders with conservative views were actually first to highlight the issue.     Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/110, subscribe to our newsletter to win monthly giveaways, 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!