Clean & Green Living

Today’s guest is Anna Robertson, co-founder of The Cool Down. You may be familiar with The Cool Down from Episode 85 with Nina Tooley. If not, the Cool Down provides educational content with not just the goal of raising awareness about climate change, but it's also about empowering communities and individuals to take meaningful action. 

Today, we'll explore Anna's personal journey that led her to launch The Cool Down and learn about how her personal commitment to sustainability extends beyond her professional endeavors and into her personal life, including the composting program that Anna helped to implement at her childrens’ school. 

Get ready to be inspired, informed, and motivated on how you can take individual action for a cooler, greener planet.

About Anna Robertson, Co-Founder and Head of Content & Partnerships, The Cool Down

Anna Robertson is an Emmy Award-winning executive and producer who has shaped media brands and built content that speaks to Americans. Prior to The Cool Down, she served as Vice President for Content & Partner Innovation for ABC's Owned Television Stations where she prioritized climate coverage and executive produced the special “Our America: Climate of Hope.” She was a significant contributor to the Yahoo News brand, leading Yahoo Studios and becoming Yahoo's Head of Video. Anna began her career at ABC News, first as Diane Sawyer’s producer and then as a senior producer for Good Morning America. She lives in Park City, Utah with her husband and two children and is very involved in local sustainability efforts. 

Connect with Anna

Website https://www.thecooldown.com/ 

The Cool Down Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_cool_down/ 

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-robertson-90043b9/ 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annarob/ 

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help to fund the ongoing production of the show. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a full list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson 

As you know, this month on the podcast, we are diving deep into the inspiring journeys of individuals who are making a significant impact in the world of climate change. 

Today’s guest, Kate Gaertner, is a woman of immense achievement and accolade. Kate is the Recipient of the prestigious Global 50 Women in Sustainability Award in 2022, a Circular Leader, Board Member, Keynote Speaker, and the award-winning author of the transformative book, "Planting a Seed: 3 Simple Steps to Sustainable Living. She is also the founder of TripleWin Advisory. 

Kate is the creator of an 11 week Cultivate Sustainability Course that provides an empowering level of knowledge and understanding about climate change, consumerism, and a person’s individual and collective impacts across a host of systems. And most importantly, the course provides you with ways to implement more sustainable actions into your own life and ways to model this to your friends, family and peers. 

In today's conversation, we’ll learn about Kate’s journey as a leader in circularity and sustainability. She'll help you understand what those terms mean and the significance they play in your personal and professional lives, and most importantly, you’ll walk away from this episode with some of the powerful information provided in her course that will give you ways to make more sustainable choices in your own life.

About Kate

Kate Gaertner is a leading circularity expert and corporate sustainability consultant with 25 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience. She holds a Masters of Science in Sustainable Management from the University of Wisconsin, an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, and an A.B. from Dartmouth College.

Kate serves on the board of XXcelerate, a business-accelerator and fund for women led businesses; a technical advisor to the Loopt Foundation, a non-profit that is seeking to progress zero waste goals in both pre- and post-consumer materials; and has held positions at XM Satellite Radio, Ziff Davis Media, and Time Inc., as well as worked as a strategic consultant to Fortune 500 companies developing go-to-market business cases. She founded the sustainable women’s active wear lifestyle brand, OMALA, as well as the corporate sustainability consultancy she leads today, TripleWin Advisory. Kate is the author of the book, Planting a Seed: 3 simple steps to sustainable living.

Kate is married with two great kids and calls Portland, Oregon her home.

Connect with Kate

Website https://kategaertner.com 

The Course https://kategaertner.com/sustainability-course/about 

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-gaertner-935478/ 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kategaertner/

Triple Win Advisory https://triplewinadvisory.com 

Resources Mentioned

Apple Mother Nature Status Update video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNv9PRDIhes 

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help to fund the ongoing production of the show. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a full list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson 

As many of you might know, I spend the summer living in Chamonix, France where the impacts of climate change are front and center as the glaciers around Mont Blanc are receding. As I travel back and forth across the Atlantic each Summer,  I can't help but think how my own travel is having an impact on the environment.

Here is the dilemma that I, and I’m guessing many of you, have. I love to see and experience new places, cultures and people,  but how can I do it in a way that is least impactful to people and the planet? That is what we’re tackling in today’s episode. 

My guest is JoAnna Haugen. An award-winning writer, speaker, consultant, and solutions advocate, 

JoAnna is the founder of Rooted, a platform that weaves together sustainable tourism, social impact, and storytelling. Through Rooted, she's been instrumental in reshaping the travel landscape, helping professionals embrace sustainable practices while using the transformative power of storytelling.

Today we’re talking about how the tourism industry has both a positive and negative impact on our world and what you can do to be a more responsible and respectful traveler. 

About JoAnna

JoAnna Haugen is an award-winning writer, speaker, consultant, and solutions advocate who has worked in communications-related positions in the travel and tourism industry her entire career. 

She is also founder of Rooted, a solutions platform at the intersection of sustainable tourism, social impact, and storytelling. Through Rooted, JoAnna helps tourism professionals decolonize travel experiences and support sustainability using strategic storytelling. 

An international election observer, intrepid traveler, and American expat JoAnna currently resides in Carthage, Tunisia. 

Connect with JoAnna

Website https://rootedstorytelling.com 

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahaugen/ 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/RootedStorytelling/ 

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help to fund the ongoing production of the show. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a full list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson 

Earlier this year, I attended an event hosted by the Kilian Jornet Foundation and the outdoor brand, Normal where world-known mountain athletes shared the ways they are reducing their environmental impact and the impacts of climate change.

The event's MC and today’s guest was Huw James; an adventurer, filmmaker, and science communicator. Huw has dedicated his life to inspiring positive actions in the fight against climate change. Huw believes that one of the answers to tackling the climate crisis is to educate children from a young age so that they develop a love for the natural world. 

Huw’s latest project, The "Athlete Climate Academy Podcast." brings together athletes from all corners of the globe, uniting them in the mission to tackle climate change head-on.

Today, Huw is giving us a quick lesson in Climate Change 101 and then we’ll dive deeper into the importance of climate education in young people and the connection between the athletes who spend their days adventuring in the mountains and their efforts to save those most treasured spaces. 

About Huw

Huw James is a Science Presenter, Adventurer and Content Creator from Wales, UK. 

Huw has done talks and shows on 6 continents around the world about science, adventure and more. Working with translators on stage, or by himself, Huw has had audiences of over 750,000 in his public speaking career. He holds a distinction in public speaking from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and has written and performed many shows for the public.

His work with online channels such as HeadSqueeze and VideoJug have seen his videos viewed by over 2 million people. Huw has presented for YouTube for many years as well as for the small screen. He regularly appears on local radio as science advisor but also for national radio like BBC Wales, having done several pieces including a mini-series on Welsh adventurers.

Huw’s mix of outdoor training, climbing and mountaineering place him in the perfect locations to grab those night time starry sky shots or day time extreme mountaineering shots. He is an experienced mountain leader with seasons in Wales, Scotland and the Alps. A trained climbing instructor and mountain leader, he is 100% efficient in the field.

Connect with Huw

Website https://www.huwjames.com 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/huwmjames/ 

Athlete Climate Academy Podcast https://www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy 

Athlete Climate Academy Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athleteclimateacademy/ 

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help to fund the ongoing production of the show. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a full list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson 

In this episode, I am joined by three remarkable teenagers who will be sharing their experiences, insights, and aspirations as they navigate  the most pressing issue of their time, climate change.

We'll be talking about their motivations for entering the world of climate activism, the specific impacts of climate change on their lives and those of future generations, and, it wouldn’t be an episode of This or Something Better without you walking away with small actions you can take to make more climate conscious choices in your own life. 

Let's dive into the minds of these extraordinary young climate advocates and learn how they're shaping the narrative for a greener, more sustainable future.

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help to fund the ongoing production of the show. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a full list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson 

Welcome to the 100th episode of This or Something Better! I started this show 6 months into the global pandemic. My goal was to share stories of hope; to introduce you to inspiring people doing things to help make people and the planet safer, healthier and happier, and as I look back at the guests I have talked with over these 100 episodes, I am in awe. Despite all the bad things happening in the world, there are positive changemakers among us, and when we stop to tell their stories, when we take time to focus on the good, or shall I say, the “something better” that is where we find the hope. 

As promised back in episode number 1, my very first guest on the show, Robyn Conley Downs, is back for episode 100. If you didn’t listen to that episode already, I encourage you to go back. 

Robyn is the Founder & Editor in Chief of Real Food Whole Life, author of The Feel Good Effect, host of The Feel Good Effect Podcast, and founder & director of The Feel Good Effect Coaching Certification. Her mission is to help people create happy, healthy habits with ease. Her motto: gentle is the new perfect.

Today Robyn and I are talking about feeling good and how our feelings are tied to our habits and our goals, and as Robyn will share, this is not something we have been taught to do. I can’t think of a better topic for episode 100. 

About Robyn

Robyn Conley Downs, MEd is on a mission to help people create happy, healthy habits with ease. Founder & Editor in Chief of Real Food Whole Life, author of The Feel Good Effect, host of The Feel Good Effect Podcast, and founder & director of The Feel Good Effect Coaching Certification, she believes in filling her cup before emptying her to-do list, and lives by the motto: gentle is the new perfect.

Resources Mentioned

The Four Tendencies https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-four-tendencies/ 

Connect with Robyn

Website https://realfoodwholelife.com

Podcast https://realfoodwholelife.com/feelgoodeffect/ 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/realfoodwholelife/ 

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help to fund the ongoing production of the show. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a full list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson 

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This week we are digging deeper into Beauty and endocrine disputing chemcais. For anyone who follows the podcast, you know this is a topic I have addressed here multiple times. Other episodes include my conversations with Lindsay Dahl, Mia Davis and Drs. Shana Swan, Leonardo Trasande and Lora Shahine. 

In each of these episodes, I try to provide more insights into the science and data behind the claims, not to invoke fear but to empower you with knowledge. In this week’s episode I am talking with Dr. Lariah Edwards,  a Multi-disciplinary environmental health researcher. 

I first was introduced to Dr. Edwards at Beautycounter’s leadership conference back in September where she sat on a panel with podcast guest Dr. Lora Shahine. Dr. Edward’s research focuses on understanding the health effects of endocrine disrupting chemials in consumer and personal care products, and she is particularly interested in environmental beauty justice, looking at the exposure disparities in women of color. 

About Lariah

Dr. Lariah Edwards is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. She is also an Assistant Director of the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice Fellowship. Dr. Edwards’ research focuses on understanding the health effects of and addressing exposure disparities to hormone-altering chemicals commonly found in consumer and personal care products. In her work, she draws on her experience in the areas of chemical policy and regulatory applications and science communication as she feels addressing exposure disparities requires a multidisciplinary approach. 

Resources Mentioned

We Act Beauty Inside Out Campaign https://www.weact.org/campaigns/beauty-inside-out/ 

Campin for Safe Cosmetics https://www.safecosmetics.org 

Beauty and Justice Podcast https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/james-toddlab/beauty-justice-podcast-0 

Connect with Lariah

Twitter https://twitter.com/lariah_e?lang=en 

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lariah-edwards-2a602098 

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help to fund the ongoing production of the show. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a full list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson

It's hard to believe it, but it has been over two years since Dr. Annie Fenn's debut here on the podcast in episode 13. Let me introduce you to Annie if you haven't listened to that conversation. She is the founder of Brain Health Kitchen, an evidence-based online resource for how and what to eat to resist cognitive decline. Annie's mission is to help people care for their brains while still eating delicious food. 

She just recently launched her new book, Brain Health Kitchen. Not only is it a cookbook filled with 100 easy and delicious recipes, but it is also a guide to taking care of your brain. Today, we are talking about the science and research on Alzheimer's, the relationship between food and brain health, what foods you should focus on, the ones you should limit or avoid, and so much more. 

About Annie

Annie Fenn is a physician, author, culinary instructor, mom, and daughter of a person living with Alzheimer's. Her mission is to help you take care of your brain while still eating delicious food After practicing obstetrics and gynecology for more than 20 years, Dr. Fenn traded her stethoscope for a whisk and went back to school to study culinary arts in Mexico, Italy, and at the Culinary Institute of  America.

She founded the Brain Health Kitchen in 2015 as a way to bring people together to fight Alzheimer's. It all started in her home kitchen with a handful of students motivated to learn how to nourish and protect their brains. Dr. Fenn's family had just joined this fight after her mother was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, which turned out to be an early stage of the disease.

Dr. Fenn has taught more than a thousand students in hands-on classes (and many more online) to cook using the Brain Health Kitchen method. Her first book—The Brain Health Kitchen: Preventing Alzheimer's Through Food (Artisan Books, January 2023)—is now available here and wherever books are sold. She packed all 400 pages with as much science and practical wisdom as possible, along with 100 easy, delicious recipes.

Resources Mentioned

https://www.wearehfc.org 

https://thewomensalzheimersmovement.org 

https://thewomensalzheimersmovement.org  

Connect With Annie

Website https://www.brainhealthkitchen.com 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brainhealthkitchen/ 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/brainhealthkitchen/ 

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help fund the show's ongoing production. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a complete list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson 

Today we are diving into the very important topic of sustainability in the fashion industry. There are all sorts of statistics thrown around about sustainable fashion, many of which aren’t actually true. Bad information can be shared in greenwashing campaigns trying to sell you something, or it may even be shared, unintentionally, through channels like this. 

The goal of today’s guest is to dispel myths, share reliable, honest and science based information on how to make more sustainable choices when it comes to your closet. Alden Wicker is an award-winning independent journalist and expert who investigates the fashion industry’s global impact on the planet and people. She is the founder of EcoCult.com where her goal is to bring you the most trustworthy and helpful information about sustainable fashion on the internet, and her book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick comes out in June 2023. 

About Alden

Alden Wicker is an award-winning independent journalist and expert who investigates the fashion industry’s global impact on the planet and people. She splits her time between managing her internationally recognized website EcoCult.com and contributing to publications like The New York Times, Vox, Wired, The Cut, and more. Her book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick comes out in June 2023 and is available for preorder wherever you buy books. 

Connect with Alden

• Personal website http://www.aldenwicker.com 
• EcoCult https://ecocult.com 
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ecocultcom/ 
• Pre-order the book https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705645/to-dye-for-by-alden-wicker/ 

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help to fund the ongoing production of the show. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a full list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson 

Nearly everyone owns at least one pair of jeans, if not multiple. There is so much to love about denim: its range of shades, faded appearance, it’s versatility. We all love denim so much that it’s estimated that billions of jeans, and with that 70,000 tons of indigo, are produced each year.

What you may not know is that synthetic indigo and most dyes are made from fossil fuels and are processed using toxic chemicals. Indigo, along with many other dyes used in the textile industry pollutes waterways, damages local ecosystems, and impacts the health of the people working in the mills and factories.

Michelle Zhu and Tammy Tsu are on a mission to change that. They are the founders of Huue, a biotech company that is using genetically engineered microbes to create the natural indigo dye. While they are starting with indigo, Michelle and Tammy’s larger vision is to create the next generation of sustainable dyes that are better for people and the planet. 

I’m grateful to Diana Kapp who shared their story in her book, “Girls Who Green the World”. You can listen to my conversation with Diana in Episode 74 (listen here). 

About Michelle Zhu

Michelle Zhu is CEO & Co-founder of Huue, a biotechnology company creating the world's most sustainable dyes for the industries that are shaping the future of the Earth, starting with the indigo in your jeans. Its mission is to minimize the number of toxic chemicals used in the dye production and application process. With a family background in fashion and a career in business operations and strategy, Michelle currently manages all aspects of Huue's operations, fundraising, and sales efforts. She has been recognized as a 2021 Inc Female Founder, a 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30, and a 2022 Entrepreneur Woman of Influence. Michelle received her BSBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

About Tammy Hsu 

Dr. Tammy Hsu is a scientist working at the intersection of biology and sustainable fashion. She is the Chief Scientific Officer of Huue, a Berkley-based startup working to revolutionize the dyes and colorants industry, starting with indigo for denim. Their bio-based solution removes the need for toxic chemicals in the indigo production and dyeing processes. Tammy completed her Ph.D. in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley at John Dueber's prestigious synbio lab, where her doctoral research laid the foundation for Huue’s technology. Prior to that, she earned a BS at Stanford University. She is Inc Female Founder 100, one of Newsweek's America's 50 Greatest Disruptors, an MIT 35 Under 35, and a 2022 Entrepreneur Woman of Influence.

Connect with Huue

Website https://www.huue.bio 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/huuebio/ 

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/huue/ 

Support the Podcast

Support the podcast by shopping with my affiliate partners. By shopping using my links and promo codes, you help to fund the ongoing production of the show. These companies align with my mission to help make people and the planet safer, healthier, and happier. View a full list of my affiliate partners and the discount codes here. 

https://linktr.ee/thisorsomethingbetter

Shop Beautycounter: You can also support the podcast by supporting my business with Beautycounter.

Use the promo code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first purchase. www.beautycounter.com/regannelson