This week, we're diving into “mindful consumption”—a concept that allows us to make more intentional choices in our daily lives. By being more mindful about what we’re buying, we can foster a more sustainable lifestyle, benefitting both our bank accounts and the planet.

Climate change hasn't always been part of the curriculum at schools across the nation, but that's changing. In 2020, New Jersey became the first state to require that climate change is taught across all subjects. Then in 2022, Connecticut passed a law that required that lessons on human-caused climate change be incorporated into the science curriculum. Now, New York City has officially rolled out a climate-based curriculum, too. In this week’s episode, Vicki Sando, a Green STEM teacher at PS 41 in Manhattan, touches on the future of climate-based education, the green roof revolution, and more.

PVC or polyvinyl chloride, one of the most widely used plastics in the world, has a unique combination of properties, making it versatile and useful in the fashion industry and beyond. However, it’s also a controversial material due to its environmental impact and potential health risks. This week, Laura dives into the topic with Alden Wicker, an award-winning journalist and the author of ‘To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick.’ For more information, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/pvc-health-environment-concerns.

Hydropower is one of the world's oldest renewable energy sources. But what is it, how does it work, and how does it benefit the planet? This week, we're sharing an important past episode where Dr. Melissa Lott, the Director of Research at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, dives into all of the above. For more information, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/hydropower-guide.

Did you know not all wildfires are bad? This week, we're resharing an important past episode where Deborah Landau, the Director of Ecological Management at The Nature Conservancy, discusses the benefits of prescribed burns—aka planned wildfires that encourage ecosystem restoration and natural biodiversity. To learn more, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/controlled-burns-benefits.

There are so many benefits to going outside and getting your hands dirty. This week, we're resharing a past episode where Dominique Charles, the CEO and creator of Plots & Pans, talks gardening with purpose—from growing produce that inspires creative cooking to deepening your connection with nature. For more information, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/urban-gardening-tips.

We all know that a huge cornerstone of sustainability is reevaluating our relationship with consumerism—which means taking stock of what we have, what we need, and what we don’t. Dara Zycherman, a minimalist lifestyle coach and the owner of Less Equals More, has made a career of helping others pare down their belongings, supporting clients in reducing their “stuff” to help improve their lives. In this important past episode, learn how you can do the same sustainably and responsibly. For more information, visit https://brightly.eco/blog/minimalist-lifestyle.

Coral reefs play a vital role in protecting coastal cities from waves, storms, and floods. They're also important to biodiversity, supporting 25% of marine life. But they're in serious danger, and Jolyon Collier—the president and founder of the nonprofit Counting Coral—is working hard on changing that. This week, we're resharing an important past episode where he shares what’s putting coral reefs at risk, how he and his team of leading scientists are working to restore them, and what you can do to help. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/why-are-coral-reefs-dying.

If adopting a plant-based diet is among your strategies for bettering the planet, you’re not alone. This week, we're resharing an important past episode where Nisha Vora, the lawyer turned plant-based chef and cookbook author behind Rainbow Plant Life, shares how to cook up vegan dishes even the pickiest eaters will enjoy, ways you can develop more sustainable habits in the kitchen, and more. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/nisha-vora-interview/.

If you're feeling anxious about the current state of our planet, you're not alone. These feelings, coined as "eco-anxiety" and "climate anxiety," have been affecting all of us in different ways. This week, we're resharing an important past episode featuring Dr. Renee Lertzman—a researcher, educator, and eco-engagement strategist—about what eco-anxiety is and how we can turn these feelings into positive actions that are good for our own mental well-being and the planet. For show notes, visit https://brightly.eco/navigating-climate-anxiety/.