Ecosystem Member

Our guest for this episode is Majell Backhausen, an Australian ultra runner and all around super interesting human.

As you'll hear in the episode, I came across Majell through Patagonia's four part film series of his run across the proposed Great Forest National Park outside of Melbourne, Australia.

That nearly 300 kilometer run took just under 50 hours to complete and was the story that helped illuminate the many reasons - from protecting endangered animals to securing a critical water supply for Melbourne - that it is important to protect this ecosystem.

In the episode we talk about that run as well as running generally as a means to experience the world, the importance of bringing everyone together on our nature journey and how our lives can disconnect us from life.

In addition to his Great Forest run, Majell has an envy inducing list of running adventures on his website alongside links to films he has been in and were made of his experiences. Make to follow him on Instagram at the handle @majellb. We've also thrown some links directly to his films in the show notes.

Many thanks to Majell who joined us before taking off on another adventure to Nepal.

Links

Majell on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/majellb/

Majell's Website - http://majellbackhausen.weebly.com

Majell in Patagonia's ' End to End' Film Series - https://youtu.be/4mhOsOGWs6g?si=QTLM33y5G5r26uXM

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

I came across this episode's guest through her inclusion in the Grist 50 list of 50 climate leaders driving fresh solutions to our planet’s biggest problems for 2023.

Lylianna Allala is the first ever Climate Justice Director for the City of Seattle, Washington's Office of Sustainability and Environment. As you'll hear, her role is varied but founded on engaging a wide variety of communities including fellow policy makers around the world on issues of environmental and climate justice.

Prior to this role, Lylianna worked for Washington congresswoman Pramila Jayapal leading on climate and environmental policy and outreach, and worked directly in ecology on projects including restoring the West Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle’s largest contiguous forest.

Lylianna's diverse experience led to what I think is a really interesting conversation about her role for the City of Seattle, how her relationship with nature guides and informs her work in community engagement, and how slowing down might be the key to effectively fighting the climate crisis.

There are a handful of recommended resources at the end of the episode that are linked in the show notes. I also included a link to a podcast project Lylianna helped lead that examined the question - What would it look like, within the next 50 years, for Seattle to become a place where both trees and humans grow old? It is a fascinating listen and hope you check it out after this episode.

Links

adrienne maree brown's "Emergent Strategy" - https://adriennemareebrown.net/book/emergent-strategy/

Dr. Robert Bullard - https://drrobertbullard.com

Ross Gay - https://www.rossgay.net

Growing Old podcast - https://growingoldproject.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

Our guest this week blew me away. I've talked with a lot of interesting folks who are doing amazing work on this podcast and my other podcast - You Can't Eat Money - but I don't think I've had someone on who is as thoughtful and genuine as our guest for this episode.

John Moore, is the creative director and co-founder of environmentally responsible clothing brand Outerknown. If you haven't heard of John, you have probably heard of his co-founder Kelly Slater, widely considered to be the greatest surfer of all time. A decade or so ago - as John recounts in this episode - Kelly asked the earliest members of the Outerknown team if they had really thought about their clothes and where they come from. Despite many doubters - including one very high profile fashion industry executive - about the relevance of sustainability in clothing, Outerknown has been built on it since day one.

As you'll find out in this episode, John is the perfect person to bring this to life. With 30 years of experience in the apparel industry - including being one of GQ's menswear designers of the year in 2014 - as well as other creative projects, John was open-minded and connected enough to the natural world to unlearn some of the fashion industry's worst tendencies. And a lot of that inspiration - as you'll hear - comes from his time growing up in the valleys of Southern California and spending time in the surf lineup near his home in Venice Beach.

If you listen to this podcast and care about wild spaces and the natural world, you probably know about the worst of the fashion industry. If you want to get the dirty details, I highly recommend checking out 'Unraveled' by Maxine Bedat. But I only tell you that so you can understand just how important and impressive the work Outerknown is doing to track its entire supply chain and drive responsible innovation for people and planet as John puts it.

Huge thanks to John for taking time to chat and really sharing his deep relationship with nature and how that informs his work at Outerknown. I hope you enjoy this episode. And if you do, please leave us a positive rating on your favorite podcast platform and share the episode with anyone you know who might be keen to have a more considered closet.

Links

John Moore and Kelly Slater Chat Sustainability - https://youtu.be/N8MCNfYOiZY?si=j0ZIk5z5d15suvU7

Outerknown Econyl Factory Visit - https://youtu.be/Xsxn8tQAonk?si=xVoRxV5eosTJk_aU

Outerknown Website - https://www.outerknown.com

'Unraveled' by Maxine Bedat - https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9780593085974

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

The latest episode of the podcast is with a guest who inspired the core idea for the podcast.

Dr. Easkey Britton is an Irish scientist, surfer and writer who specializes in blue health and our relationship with water.

She is the author of two amazing books - Saltwater in the Blood and Ebb & Flow, the latter of which was my introduction to Easkey and her work, and how I got to meet Easkey earlier this year at an event at the Finisterre - an amazing water-centric brand if you aren't familiar with it - store in London.

In addition to her research on the connection between oceans and human health, Easkey is the co-founder of the Wavemaker Collective, a social impact leadership retreat and has worked on several projects to support women in surfing. And her big wave surfing exploits have been featured in many films including Waveriders.

In the episode we focus on our relationship with water. From how the oceans leave a fingerprint on us to kinesthetic empathy and how we can shift from an egocentric point of view to an ecocentric one. We end with a couple of practices to help you create or deepen your relationship with water.

Many thanks to Easkey for taking time to chat. She's a true hero of mine and if you haven't heard of her work before I am sure you'll leave this episode feeling the same way. Make sure to pick up a copy of Easkey's book Ebb & Flow, we've got a link to it in the book recommendations at ecosystemmember.com.

Links

Saltwater in the Blood - https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9781786785558

Ebb & Flow - https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9781786786463

Easkey's website - https://easkeybritton.com

Easkey's Instagram - https://instagram.com/easkeysurf?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

Our guest on the latest episode of the Ecosystem Member podcast is Eva Karlsson, CEO of Houdini.

If you aren't familiar with Houdini, it is a Swedish sportswear company that is one of the most forward thinking and environmentally responsible companies on the planet. And a lot of that is down to Eva's progressive leadership.

In this episode we talk about Eva's connection to nature, how Scandinavian culture influences Houdini, and the design principles it uses to build its products. We also talk about how Houdini is focused on creating a relational, rather than transactional, business with its customers.

Huge thanks to Eva for being on the podcast and make sure to check out the company's latest initiative, Houdini Circle.

Links

Houdini - https://houdinisportswear.com/en-eu

Houdini Circle - https://houdinisportswear.com/en-eu/journal/houdini-circle-rent-reuse-repair-buy-try-or-subscribe

Eva's panel from Climate Week - https://youtu.be/c_5kNXWyYMA?si=LkD_RXFNigV7i3iC

Robert Strand's "Sustainable Vikings" course - https://www.coursera.org/learn/sustainability-csr-scandinavia

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

Vincent Stanley is the Director of Philosophy at Patagonia having worked there since the very start of the company, holding various roles in sales and marketing, and over the last decade, operating as the Director of Philosophy. He's informally known as the chief storyteller of the iconic company.

The occasion for our conversation is the publication of Vincent's latest book with Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, "The Future of the Responsible Company", which is a must read.

We start out discussing Vincent's connection with nature and then dig a bit deeper on some of the key topics in the book like the importance of community and having a sense of place, how we can connect industry leaders with nature, and changing the pace and language of business.

Massive thanks to Stephanie and Gin from Vincent's team and Patagonia for making this happen. And to Vincent for not just taking the time to chat but being an incredible leader and example for the business world.

Order 'The Future of the Responsible Company' -
https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9781952338113

Patagonia's Chairman on Why Milton Friedman's Shareholder Focus is Wrong - https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Patagonia+Chairman+Explains+His+Company%27s+View+of+Capitalism%3A...-a0756931850

Aldo Leopold's Land Ethic - https://www.aldoleopold.org/about/the-land-ethic/

Follow Ecosystem Member on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ecosystemmember/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com