Sustainability Defined

Farm to Table — sounds obvious, right? But how did something so seemingly simple become such a radical act? In this week's episode, Nethra and Cecilia unpack the history, philosophy, and misconceptions surrounding the farm-to-table movement — from its roots in counterculture to its current role in shaping sustainable food systems. They explore how industrial agriculture and globalized supply chains have created a deep disconnect between eaters and the land, and why “local” isn’t just a buzzword, but a call to reimagine what food can be. This episode also features a special interview with Ariane Daguin, a trailblazer in ethical sourcing and sustainable farming. As the founder of D’Artagnan, Ariane revolutionized the U.S. food industry by introducing organic, free-range, and humanely raised meats to the mainstream market. Her influence laid critical groundwork for today’s farm-to-table movement. Now, through her latest venture AOOA Farm, she’s championing regenerative agriculture and mentoring the next generation of farmers and chefs with the same passion and purpose. Whether you’re a foodie, a farmer, or just curious about where your dinner really comes from, this episode is a must-listen.

Sunscreen usage has risen exponentially over the last decade - and with summer finally here, Cecilia and Nethra are exploring the impacts of sunscreen on our bodies and marine life. How does sunscreen break down in our ecosystems? What is "Reef-Safe"? What are the solutions to the accumulation of sunscreens in our coral reefs and marine habitats? What is the difference between SPF 30 and 50? Definers, tune into this month's episode as we explore these topics and hear from our expert guest Katie Day, Senior Manager of Science and Policy at the The Surfrider Foundation. Special guests include Mike Malterre from Stream2Sea - a sunscreen company that is completely changing the industry and innovated a product to nourish reef ecosystems!

Join Alyssa Pace, Communications Lead at Sway, a cleantech startup revolutionizing packaging with seaweed-based alternatives. She shares the hidden environmental costs of online shopping, detailing the shocking plastic footprint from deliveries. Alyssa also highlights Sway's innovative solutions that aim to combat plastic pollution with compostable packaging. Tune in to learn how seaweed can reshape sustainable shipping and meet eco-conscious consumer demands, all while promoting environmental health and local communities.

Wetlands are the unsung heroes of climate resilience. From flood protection to water filtration, these ecosystems are biodiversity hot spots and are critical for the health of our planet.  In this episode, learn more about what exactly a wetland is and how they are vital. Learn about the world's largest restoration project taking place in the Florida Everglades as we sit down with Dr. Steve Davis, the Chief Science Officer at The Everglades Foundation. The Everglades Foundation has been the driving force behind the biggest environmental restoration project in the world. The project aims to “lubricate” the Everglades with much-needed fresh water to save an ecosystem unlike any other on the planet, ensure continued access to drinking water for more than 9 million Floridians, and prevent yearly outbreaks of blue-green algae that clog Florida waterways with a guacamole-like substance. 

Did you know that airplanes can run on waste cooking oil, municipal solid waste, forestry waste, and even algae in the form of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs)? Well, they can.  Biomimicry, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), and aircrafts inspired by GEESE? Learn about some of the innovations happening right now in the aviation industry and where it's headed in the coming decades. The industry has some ambitious goals of reaching net zero by 2050, running aircrafts on mainly SAFs, using newer lightweight materials to reduce fuel consumption, and even getting aircrafts to fly in the same v-pattern as flocks of geese to lower their carbon footprints. Hosts, Cecilia & Nethra, took field trip to Toulouse, France and attended the Airbus Summit 2025. Learn about their insights from the summit and hear some lightning interviews from a few of the leading experts at Airbus such as: Julie Kitcher, Chief Sustainability Officer Jonathan Beck, Flight Operations R&T IPT Leader Sue Partridge, Head of Wing of Tomorrow Programme Antjie Bulmann, Direct Air Capture Expert      

Join agricultural economist William Guyton, former World Cacao President, as he navigates the complex world of chocolate and sustainability. Discover the pressing issues within the cacao supply chain, including deforestation, child labor, and climate change. Guyton and the hosts explore the struggles smallholder farmers face against corporate giants and the vital role women play in cacao production. Learn about innovative solutions like agroforestry and the importance of fair trade, while uncovering how ethical consumer choices can transform the industry for the better.

👋 Big news, Definers! We're thrilled to introduce your NEW podcast hosts, Cecilia Rios & Nethra Rajendran! We are excited to be passing the mic to two incredible voices. In this episode, Jay and Scott join Cecilia and Nethra for a warm welcome and a sneak peek at what's to come with Sustainability Defined.  We are confident they will bring fresh perspectives and a wealth of passion to the table. Get to know them in this special introductory episode as they share their backgrounds, sustainability interests, and the future direction of the show.  Ready to meet your new hosts? Listen now! ----- Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen.  Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.    We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:  Energy  Cities  Natural Environment  Transportation  Business  Policy  Social  Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree.  The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.   www.sustainabilitydefined.com

Explore the contentious battle between fishermen and energy executives, as locals challenge the narrative that gas is the solution to climate change. Discover how the Biden administration's halt on new LNG project approvals impacts the booming industry on the Gulf Coast. Personal stories highlight the environmental risks and community health issues linked to liquefied natural gas expansion. As the landscape transforms, hear perspectives on the tension between economic advancement and ecological preservation in this rapidly changing region.

Happy New Year, Definers! This month we are continuing our break and sharing a podcast episode from an Uproot Project member, independent podcast producer and investigative journalist - Jordan Gass-Poore'.  “Hazard NJ” is an NJ Spotlight News podcast that examines serious pollution issues. Season 2 dives deep into the crisis of toxic pollution caused by PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” around New Jersey and beyond. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more. We hope you enjoy it!  As a reminder, we are still doubling donations to the Uproot Project up to the first $500. Email your donation receipt to hosts@sustainabilitydefined.com, and we will double it! — Episode Description:  Hazard NJ: S2, E1: First a Miracle, Then a Curse It was 1938 at a DuPont laboratory in far South Jersey when scientists stumbled upon the chemical that would become known as Teflon. The accidental discovery became a scientific miracle, laying the groundwork for an entirely new class of incredibly durable chemicals that would be used for all sorts of purposes. But that progress came with a toxic hidden cost that has only recently become fully understood. Now, the small town where it all started is on the front lines of a global pollution crisis. Credits:  HAZARD N-J IS AN N-J SPOTLIGHT NEWS PRODUCTION… YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR REPORTING BY HEADING TO N-J SPOTLIGHT NEWS DOT ORG SLASH DONATE.   THE SHOW IS WRITTEN… EDITED… AND HOSTED BY ME… JORDAN GASS-POORE.   MICHAEL SOL WARREN CONTRIBUTED REPORTING. HE ALSO CO WROTE AND PRODUCED ALL EPISODES.   JAMES KRAFT IS THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER WITH N-J SPOTLIGHT NEWS. OUR EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF PRODUCTION IS JOE LEE. CHLOE MOTISI IS OUR PRODUCTION MANAGER. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH WAS DONE BY JUDAH DUKE. OUR SOUND DESIGNER AND ENGINEER IS MARK BUSH. MUSIC FOR HAZARD N-J WAS COMPOSED BY NICK PENNINGTON. ARTWORK BY MATTHEW FLEMING. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE IN PHILADELPHIA FOR PROVIDING THE ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW OF DUPONT SCIENTIST ROY PLUNKETT… …ARROW FILMS FOR THE USE OF THE CRAZIES TRAILER… AND THE HAGLEY LIBRARY FOR THE TEFLON RELATED AUDIO CLIPS.

The end of the year is near! It’s time for our annual Holiday Hodge Podge episode. This year we summarize some of our favorite podcast and sustainability moments from the year and of all time, Jay and Scott provide personal updates and their favorite sustainability articles of the year, and we give some sustainable holiday gift ideas. We also discuss what’s next for the podcast. We hope you all have a great holiday season! ----------------- Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen.  Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.    We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:  Energy  Cities  Natural Environment  Transportation  Business  Policy  Social  Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree.  The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.   www.sustainabilitydefined.com