Hopefully Sustainable

We have come to the last episode of Season 2! Throughout this past season, Hopefully Sustainable has covered topics ranging from renewable energy to religion to food and agriculture. While Jaiko has spoken to a variety of guests, hope has remained at the center of every conversation. For the last episode of Season 2, hear what all of the past guests are hopeful about! Stay tuned for Season 3 coming Fall 2021! Until next time, stay hopeful and stay sustainable! Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com.

Today we are welcoming Vasser Seydel to Hopefully Sustainable! Vasser currently serves as the Deep Seabed Mining campaign manager for The Oxygen Project which was founded to raise awareness and defend the ecosystems that produce our oxygen. Our oceans face many different threats but currently, one of the greatest potential threats is deep seabed mining. As some background, the deep sea is the largest and least explored of Earth’s biomes and it is currently threatened by the possibility of corporations coming in and mining which could lead to irreversible ecosystem loss amongst many other horrible consequences. Vasser is going to provide background on the issue at hand and talk about how The Oxygen Project is working to raise awareness and pass a 10-year moratorium on deep seabed mining. This episode is being released leading up to World Ocean Day which is June 8! The Oxygen Project will have a lot of exciting campaigns and activities over the next two weeks so check them out online at https://www.theoxygenproject.com/ and on Instagram @theoxygenproj. Sign the official letter to the United Nations and International Seabed Authority representatives calling for a 10-year moratorium to stop deep seabed mining at https://www.theoxygenproject.com/deepseamining/. Check out the Deep Blue playlist that Vasser mentions on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/70WBGGYdi3zOXp2mbZAgRt?si=0cea880d9df84bc0. Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com.

Sandra Henri is the founder of Less Stuff - More Meaning, New Zealand and Australia’s hub for eco-ethical weddings! Through her time in the industry as a wedding photographer, Sandra has witnessed a trend towards consumerism and extravagance that she feels has detracted from what’s truly important – both in marriage and the world at large. In today’s episode, Sandra brings attention to ways that couples can reduce the environmental impact of their weddings. Whether it’s by having a smaller wedding, buying a dress secondhand, or using a local florist, Sandra believes that anyone can be a wedding activist. Find more information about eco-ethical weddings and purchase the Mindfully Wed e-guide online at https://lessstuffmoremeaning.org and on Instagram @less_stuff_more_meaning. Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com.

In 2019, Jaiko had the opportunity to attend the Climate Reality Training in Atlanta, Georgia. The training is hosted by The Climate Reality Project which is a non-profit organization involved in education and advocacy related to climate change. The nonprofit was founded by former Vice President, Al Gore. Jaiko and her other group members were mentored by John Alexander. Since volunteering as a mentor at the 2019 training, John has graduated from Tulane University with his major in Environmental Studies and minors in Business and Social Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship. He now works as the Distribution and Operations Associate at Wholesome Meats, a San Antonio-based beef brand dedicated to accelerating the consumer adoption of regenerative agriculture. In today’s episode, John discusses his experience with The Climate Reality Project, recalls his time as the Director of Sustainability while at Tulane University, educates listeners about his new role and the importance of regenerative agriculture. Learn more about The Climate Reality Project and find an upcoming training online at https://www.climaterealityproject.org/. Check out Wholesome Meats online at https://getwholesome.com/. Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com.

Inspired by Project Drawdown, Drawdown Georgia is building a movement to accelerate progress toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Ollie Chapman is currently a student at Georgia Tech studying Public Policy with an emphasis on energy and the environment. For the past year, he has been working with Dr. Marilyn Brown on Drawdown Georgia, developing ways to reduce Georgia's carbon footprint beneficially and equitably. During his time at Georgia Tech, he co-authored an article with Dr. Brown, "Demand Response as a Carbon Reduction Policy: Evidence from the Southeastern U.S. State of Georgia." In today’s episode, Ollie is going to talk about the mission of Drawdown Georgia, discuss which solutions are the most beneficial when it comes to Georgia’s role in the fight against climate change, and provide advice for other college students on participating in research and working with professors. Find more information about Drawdown Georgia and how to get involved online at https://www.drawdownga.org/. Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com.

Today’s episode is diving into the intersection of sustainability and religion, specifically sustainability and Christianity. We are joined by Dr. Jason Roberts, professor in the Department of Religion at the University of Georgia. He earned a B.A. in Religion from Ashland University in 2004, an M.A. in Systematic Theology from Marquette University in 2008, and his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Marquette in 2013 with an emphasis in Theological Ethics. Dr. Roberts draws from thinkers in a number of Christian traditions to investigate the relationship between theology and the natural sciences. Jaiko met Dr. Jason Roberts during her senior year at UGA where she enrolled in his course, Christianity and Sustainability. Throughout the episode, Dr. Roberts discusses the structure of his course, makes direct connections between Biblical teachings and sustainability, provides advice on how ministries can incorporate sustainability, and leaves listeners feeling hopeful about people from various religious backgrounds coming together to save this gift we have been given, the earth and all its beauty. Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com.

Cauliflower and oatmeal might not be the first food combination you think of but Jacqueline and Taylor believe their cauliflower oats have the nutritional value and uniqueness to break into the breakfast food industry! While in college at the University of Michigan, Taylor began to “hide” riced cauliflower in her oatmeal and the recipe became very popular amongst family and friends. Sensing she had an interesting idea, she joined forces with Jacqueline and created Brassi, a company on a mission to provide you with good food that makes you feel great! Both women tell their story of starting a business while attending undergrad, discuss the challenges and successes of incorporating sustainability into a business, and encourage other aspiring entrepreneurs to take the chance and go after your dreams! Order your cauliflower oats online at https://www.eatbrassi.com/ and follow along on Instagram @eatbrassi. Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com. Register for the Earth Day Youth Panel here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/earth-day-environmental-climate-change-panel-tickets-149420333239. 

Meet Ann Kent, a farm-girl-turned-dietitian who helps busy families get dinner on the table! In today’s conversation, Ann is connecting the three silos of agriculture, food, and nutrition. She explains the dichotomy that exists within the USDA, discusses the hurdles that exist when it comes to feeding a busy family, and provides practical solutions to overcome those hurdles such as meal planning and utilizing leftovers. Find Ann on Instagram and Facebook, @peasandhoppiness, and online at https://peasandhoppiness.com/. Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com.

Meet father-daughter climate change fighting duo, Ken & Hanka Kirby! Both are members of Citizens’ Climate Lobby with Ken serving as the CCL Forsyth County Group Co-Leader and Hanka serving as the Georgia Tech CCL Chapter leader. Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change solutions. In this episode, Ken and Hanka are going to explain the lobbying process, the Bipartisan Climate Change Solution that the group is currently working to gather endorsements from members of Congress on, and the value of bringing everyone on the political spectrum together in the fight against climate change. As a father and daughter who are both passionate about sustainability, Ken and Hanka are the perfect example of how families can come together, share their passions, and create change. Find more information online at https://citizensclimatelobby.org/ and on Instagram @citizensclimate. Check out these Anti-Asian Violence Resources: https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/?mc_cid=03a857bbfc&mc_eid=7ecc4ddace. Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com.

This week, we are talking about the intersection of relationships and sustainability! Jaiko is speaking with four couples who are navigating how sustainability fits into their everyday lives and decisions! First, meet Carolyn & Yair who met during an internship in Savannah, Georgia. They are going to discuss how sustainability impacts their decision making as a couple in addition to honoring cultural differences. Then, Jaiko is speaking with Julia Campbell who has been with her partner, Connor, for ten years! As Julia and Connor recently moved in together, she is going to give advice on how to compromise and lovingly convince a partner to be more sustainable. Next, meet Mackenzie and Ethan who have been together for eight years and are located in Atlanta, Georgia! While Mackenzie and Ethan find different ways to incorporate sustainability into their lives, they ensure that they have fun along the way. Finally, Jaiko speaks with Kat Schaich who is married to her partner, Noah. Both Kat and Noah work in the sustainability field and bring sustainability into their personal lives as well whether it’s biking to church or composting. Whether you are in a relationship, live with roommates, or live with your family, each couple provides great advice on how sustainability can fit into a variety of lifestyles. Also, if you are trying to convince a partner, roommate, or family member to be more sustainable, each couples shares examples from their own lives of how to navigate those conversations. Look for more information about today’s episode on Instagram @hopefullysustainablepod. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com.