Live. Well. Green.

Do you live in an urban area but love the idea of creating natural habitat to support native and migrating species? Or do you simply wish to see more birds and butterflies or want to do your part for conservation? Whatever your motivation, creating a naturalized yard or balcony has a myriad of advantages—not only for the plants and animals but also for you! Today on the podcast, I share everything you need to know about naturalizing your direct outdoor environment for the benefit of all life. I discuss the three principles of how to naturalize your yard or balcony, the pitfalls to avoid, and what to expect with a naturalized space. Joining in the conversation, listeners will also learn how to create a natural habitat, what they can do to promote the survival of the monarch butterfly, the difference between invasive and a non-native plant species, how pet owners can prevent their fur babies from hunting wildlife, why you want insects to stick around, and more! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•    The impact that naturalizing your yard or balcony has on our native species and biodiversity. 

•    Consider the enjoyment we humans gain from seeing more wildlife around our homes. 

•    Preserving natural species by creating and protecting habitat.  

•    Ensuring that your naturalized garden or balcony is congruent with your ecoregion. 

•    Evaluating the microclimate of your garden in terms of exposure to the sun, rain, wind, etc.  

•    The relevance of the milkweed plant for the survival of the monarch butterfly. 

•    Choosing native plants that support other species and are viable in the long-term. 

•    Suggestions for providing water and why running or circulating water is particularly useful. 

•    Reducing hazards to all life forms by avoiding the use of chemicals and plastics.  

•    What pet owners can do to prevent their animals from preying on wildlife around the home.

Key Messages:

1.     Create a favorable habitat that will attract and accommodate wildlife. 

2.     Reduce hazards on your property. 

3.     Avoid planting or maintaining invasive species.  

4.     Go with the flow and enjoy the natural changes in your naturalized space. 

5.     Use these spaces to educate others.  

Quotables: 

“When we naturalize our yards and balconies, we can actually make a significant positive impact on native species.” — Kristina Hunter [0:01:49]

“The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.” — Michael Pollan [0:02:31] 

“Not only do domestic cats have an impact on native birds, keeping your cats inside and contained is healthier for them and they live longer. We want people to enjoy both our diverse and wonderful wildlife as well as their pet companions.” — Holly Parsons in The Guardian [0:28:43] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing 

The Guardian Article on Domestic Cats

Why Birds Hit Windows and How You Can Prevent It

IUCN Invasive Species Database 

Have you ever heard someone say that they don’t recycle because it doesn’t make a difference or that the material doesn’t get recycled anyway? Have you wondered whether it is really worth the hassle? In this episode, I explore the seven biggest myths about the recycling industry and why the practice matters. I talk specifically about household recycling—paper, plastic, metal, and glass. Today’s episode covers the familiar blue bins that are used in homes, offices, on the street, and in other public spaces. I talk about the complexity of the recycling industry, how we know that recycling is taking place on the municipal level, how recycling saves energy and resources, and the value and limitations of recycling, and more! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•    Learn about the complex nature of the recycling industry, the processes, and materials. 

•    The categories of plastic and the widespread use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 

•    Polypropylene (PP) and the kind of products it is used in—including banknotes! 

•    The durability of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and why polyvinyl chloride (PVS) needs to be recycled separately. 

•    Why extended polystyrene (EPS) presents such a big threat in terms of litter and waste. 

•    The complexities involved in recyclable commodities each having their own pricing, markets, and the constraints of collection systems. 

•    Evidence against the myth that municipalities and cities do nothing with recyclables.  

•    Hear about the recycling problems associated with China’s ban on importing waste. 

•    Learn how you can avoid contaminating the recycling stream. 

•    Why it is not true that recycling is expensive from a materials and energy perspective. 

Key Messages:

1.     Recycling is a complicated business. 

2.     There is plenty of evidence that recycling is happening. 

3.     Do not put non-recyclables into the recycling bins. 

4.     Recycling saves energy and natural resources.

5.     Recycling makes a difference. 

6.     The benefits and limitations of recycling. 

7.     Not everything can be perpetually recycled. 

Quotables:

“PET, which stands for polyethylene terephthalate, is a form of polyester, just like clothing fabric. It is extruded or molded into plastic bottles and containers for packaging food and beverages, personal care products, and many other consumer products.” — PET Resin Association [0:05:38]

“What we need to keep in mind is that all of these commodities have their own pricing and their own markets and industries behind it, which makes this a very complex system.” — Kristina Hunter [0:09:56] 

“Although its raw material and energy come from fossil fuels, approximately 40% of that energy is trapped within the PET polymer for recapture and reuse every time PET is recycled.” — PET Resin Association [0:17:39] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing 

Yale E360 Article

The New York Times Article

Thomas Berry

Today’s episode is the second in a two-part mini-series on air quality and health, and today we are going to look at indoor air. We spend so much time in our homes and other buildings and therefore we have to be aware of the indoor pollutants that can have serious implications for our health. Not only will I uncover where these harmful pollutants come from but also what we can do about them, highlighting those small actions we can take to improve the air quality of our indoor environments. You might be surprised to learn just how much you can do (and how easy it is) to reduce pollutants in your home, from letting your new furniture off-gas outside and maintaining your gas appliances to testing your home for radon gas and choosing products with no or little VOCs. Let’s dive in! 

Key Points From This Episode: 

•    Where indoor pollutants come from and how we contribute to the problem. 

•    How cooking and heating processes can pose a threat to people in low-income countries.  

•    The factors that contribute to air quality problems in middle and higher-income countries. 

•    Sources of formaldehyde and why it is advisable to limit exposure as much as possible. 

•    Advice for reducing formaldehyde pollutants in your home.  

•    Learn about carbon monoxide and how it hinders the transportation of oxygen in our bodies.  

•    How you can prevent your fossil fuel burning appliances from leaking carbon monoxide. 

•    Why mold grows in the indoor environment and why this is a hazard to our health. 

•    Getting rid of the source of moisture—the first action to eliminate mold from the home. 

•    Find out about the naturally radioactive gas called radon and the diseases it is associated with.

Key Messages:

1.     Avoid smoking indoors. 

2.     Allow your furniture to off-gas outdoors. 

3.     Don’t idle your vehicle in your garage. 

4.     Maintain and have your gas appliances inspected. 

5.     Install a carbon monoxide detector.  

6.     Don’t use outdoor cooking appliances indoors. 

7.     Test your home for radon gas.

8.     Deal with mold by tackling the moisture problem. 

9.     Use a fan over top of your gas burning stove. 

10.  Avoid burning candles and incense. 

11.  Choose products that are low or no VOC-emitting. 

12.  Clean pollen and dust off surfaces regularly. 

Quotables: 

“The World Health Organization states that 3 billion people around the world are cooking with solid fuels or kerosene over open fires or very inefficient stoves and that is causing 3.8 million people to die prematurely each year because of poor indoor air quality.” — Kristina Hunter [0:03:23] 

“Seek home for rest, for home is best.” — Thomas Tusser [0:34:41] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Kristina Hunter Flourishing 

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

World Health Organization

Australian Government Department of Health

Health Canada

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Clean Cooking Alliance 

Nine percent of all deaths around the globe are attributed to poor air quality. In today’s episode, I unpack this disturbing statistic, discussing the relationship between air quality and human health. This is the first half of a two-part miniseries on this topic, starting with outdoor air quality. I explain what exactly is meant by the term “air quality”, how it is measured, and the gasses and particles that adversely affect human health. Air pollution is not only harmful to the environment but it also threatens our physical health and overall wellbeing. In addition to a host of respiratory problems, air pollution also disrupts the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems in the body. The good news is that you and I can do a great deal to improve the quality of the air, both in a personal and collective capacity, so that we can all enjoy a healthier body and planet. 

Key Points From This Episode:

•    The gasses that naturally comprise our air and how its quality is compromised. 

•    Hear about natural sources of pollution as well as man-made pollution.

•    Where the most pervasive and harmful man-made pollutants come from. 

•    Learn about the prevalence of fatalities and disease related to poor air quality. 

•    Particles and gasses: the two categories of air pollutants.  

•    How air pollution affects our respiratory system and passes into our bloodstream. 

•    Learn about the gasses or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are most problematic. 

•    How our bodies protect us from larger particles and why smaller ones are more dangerous. 

•    The long and short-term health effects associated with particulate matter (PM) in the air. 

•    Find out what sustained exposure to PM 2.5 means for your health. 

•    Multiple organs and systems in our bodies are negatively affected by air pollution.

•    The environment is also affected by air pollution. 

Key Messages:

1.     An explanation of the term “air quality”. 

2.     Two components to consider: particles and gasses. 

3.     Four major gasses for concern: Ozone, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrous Oxides and Carbon Monoxide. 

4.     Particulate matter in two size categories: PM 10 and PM 2.5.

5.     The diseases caused by and aggravated by air pollution. 

6.     The collective and personal actions that we can take.  

Quotables:

“The burning of fossil fuels is a major issue when we think about air quality. It’s not just liked to climate change; it has real consequences for human health.” — Kristina Hunter [0:03:52]

“Air quality accounts for about five million deaths per year. That is 9% of all deaths around the globe are attributed to poor air quality.” — Kristina Hunter [0:05:12]

“We know that air pollution is linked directly to the respiratory system. Now we also know it is linked to the cardiovascular system and emerging evidence is showing it is linked to obesity.” — Kristina Hunter [0:29:30] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing 

World Air Quality Index Real Time Interactive Map 

 Outdoor Air Pollution - Our World in Data

“Particulate Matter Air Pollution: Effects on the Cardiovascular system”

The Hudson Bay area of Northeastern Canada is rich with natural and cultural heritage, home to Indigenous people, polar bears, historical sites and grand geological events. In today’s episode, I bring you snapshots of experiences of learning from the land and the people in and around Churchill, Manitoba, also known as “The polar bear capital of the world”. Listen in on the fascinating journeys of discovery, awe, and mourning for a wild and beautiful but threatened landscape. I will bring you into the remote research station, Nester One in Canada’s Wapusk National Park, where we observe polar bears, foxes, caribou, and wolves, all in their natural habitat. Join me on a long hike where we encounter wild berries, great inland beach ridges, and polar bears too, remembering our own vulnerability in the process. Hear the tales of local Indigenous elders and the lessons they taught me and my students and how it connected us to the land and place. Partake in experiencing the awe and wonder of the wilderness that, if we let it, can become part of each one of us.

Key Points From This Episode:

•    Churchill’s characteristics: no road access, polar bears, and a rich history.

•    The history of Churchill, Indigenous people, European contact and the HBC settlement.

•    Why the climate in Churchill is so extreme compared to other places of its latitude.

•    Hear about the world-class northern research station, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre.

•    Landscape characteristics and local wildlife in the Wapusk National Park district.

•    The experiences of doing science out on the harsh tundra.

•    Visit with me the rustic and remote research field station.

•    Glimpse at camp life in the remote north.

•    Different encounters with bears, wolves, and caribou punctuating daily life at the camp.

•    A polar bear population threatened by climate change.

•    The town of Churchill and their methods to reduce human-bear conflict.

•    Inland beach ridges with shells and sand and rocks kilometers from the shore.

•    Indications of past generations of people in the area. 

•    Remembering that humans are not the top of the food chain in this ecosystem.

•    An elder’s perspective on repeated motions that help you know the land. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter

Dr. Ryan Brook

Wapusk National Park

Caroline Bjorklund

Myrtle deMeulles

Churchill Northern Studies Centre

Night Spirits

Churchill, Hudson Bay: A Guide to Natural and Cultural Heritage

Oil On Ice

Have you ever thought about how your cooking practices impact the environment? I bet not many of you have considered this, but in today’s episode, I will show you how cooking your dinner at home is, in fact, an act of sustainability. There is no doubt that eating at a restaurant or getting takeout is great, but unfortunately, there are several environmental issues associated with those institutions, including the carbon emissions of picking up and delivering these meals and the damage caused by the packaging they come in, which often consists of styrofoam or plastic. The heavy burden that the fast-food industry places on agriculture also has dire implications for animal welfare and contributes to the unmanageable volumes of waste that farming these animals produces. Conversely, there are many benefits to cooking at home, such as reducing carbon emissions and waste; inspiring people to eat healthier; and allowing us to connect with our bodies, the people around us, the source of the food we consume, and the earth. While there is a place for environmentally conscious restaurants, it is important to know how you can live more sustainably by cooking from home. Let’s explore! 

Key Points From This Episode: 

•    Choose restaurants that serve small portions and source local and sustainable foods. 

•    The problem with big portion sizes, from our expanding waistlines to large-scale wastage.

•    Styrofoam and plastic: the containers that restaurants often store leftovers in. 

•    How fast-food packaging can disrupt our endocrines and aggravate the landfill dilemma. 

•    How the fast-food industry affects animal welfare and the production of greenhouse gases. 

•    The problems with the mass production of animals and the waste associated.  

•    Considering the carbon emissions that result from picking up food or getting it delivered. 

•    Cooking at home allows us to slow down, come together, and savor what we eat. 

•    How sharing food is a way of showing that we love and care for someone else. 

•    Taking the opportunity to source locally, choose seasonable produce, and harvest from your own garden.  

•    Stack up on nutrients and cut costs by choosing your own food over takeout. 

•    Save time and energy and reduce waste by keeping your leftovers for the next meal. 

Quotables:

“In a recent Canadian study, it showed that 58% of all of the food produced in Canada is either lost or wasted somewhere along the way.” —  Kristina Hunter [0:03:01]

“I’m not saying restaurants are bad at all, but certainly there are a lot of environmental issues that we need to be considerate of in regards to food waste, the packaging with takeout and delivery containers, and the carbon emissions of those delivery trips.” — Kristina Hunter [0:19:56]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 Kristina Hunter

Guy Fieri

Virginia Woolf

PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic appeared in my province in Canada, so I do make reference to being at a restaurant for a meal with friends, the night before the recording. Rest assured that this was not during the physical distancing period, even though this episode is going to air during a time when we are required to remain at home and be physically distanced from others and restaurants are closed. Be well, and follow the advice of your local health authority.

In this episode of Live. Well. Green., we explore the concept of Cradle to Cradle, which is a great solution for preserving the finite planet we live on. The two remarkable sustainability thinkers who popularized this idea are Michael Braungart and William McDonough, through their book of the same title, which was published in 2002. You will learn how we can apply their principles to various industries, developments, and to the economy as a whole; how it relates to lifecycle assessment; and to the bigger picture circular economy concepts of upsizing. Considering that nature produces no waste, it should be possible for us to copy that model by developing products and processes that can be reintegrated back into the system, causing no or limited harm to the environment. However, this requires a mindset shift concerning the importance of the economy versus of the planet. What we should always keep in mind is that the earth has finite resources and we know that we are already exploiting it to its capacity. Stay tuned to learn how it can be implemented! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•    Popular understandings about the importance of the environment versus the economy.

•    Why the environment is the priority framework of which the economy forms part. 

•    Learn about the American architect who was an early adopter of sustainability in design.  

•    Michael Braungart and William McDonough’s Waste = Food documentary. 

•    A series of subsequent collaborative projects, including the book Cradle to Cradle. 

•    Closing the loop of the cradle-to-grave model of the lifecycle of products and processes. 

•    The idea behind Cradle to Cradle – the need for us to operate with a model of zero waste. 

•    Learn how the practice of biomimicry can preserve the environment for the next generation. 

•    An overview of the foundations of Cradle to Cradle, including fair labor practices. 

•    A quote from the book about rethinking our systems and processes. 

•    Examples of products that have been designed in alignment with Cradle to Cradle values. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Kristina Hunter

Cradle to Cradle 

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

Michael Braungart

William McDonough

Waste = Food

The Upcycle

Biomimicry Institute 

Nike 

Steelcase 

ISO 9000

Upsizing 

Gunter Pauli 

Today I will be sharing with you ten ways you can live greener for the planet. Since you are listening to this podcast, I know that you are interested in sustainable wellbeing and green living,   and that’s why I’m giving you ten practical tips to living a more environmentally friendly, happy, and healthy life. What is good for us as human beings is also good for the planet, so we need to understand that we are integrally part of nature and nature is part of us. 

We can start living lighter in our homes by reusing things, supporting local businesses, and choosing energy-efficient appliances for example. We can also benefit the environment by being intentional about which organizations and charities we support financially, the kind of gifts we give, the food we consume, and the packaging and containers we use. While recycling is a helpful strategy, its impact is still marginal in the context of the planet’s consumption rates. Choosing greener means of transportation, helping the next generation to develop a love for the environment, and unplugging from your digital devices are also ways to foster a global mindset of conservation. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Understanding that we are beings of nature who rely on nature in physical ways. 
• How we can live lighter and have a less severe impact on the earth and its resources. 
• Check out my free Green Home Guide for practical solutions around the home!
• Make your money matter by leveraging your purchasing power for environmental change. 
• Giving the gift of time, experiences, and consumables rather than the gift of physical things.  
• Hear how you can eat in ways that reflect your connection to and respect for the earth. 
• Avoid plastic like the plague – plastic simply breaks down into smaller bits of plastic! 
• Why recycling is not the complete answer to preserving the environment. 
• Effective ways to reduce greenhouse gasses by choosing greener means of transportation. 
• How we can help our children connect with nature and develop a love of it. 
• Reestablishing connection with yourself and other people by unplugging from digital devices.
• Showing yourself the same kindness that you need to show the planet.  

Quotables:

“We are beings of nature. We rely on the planet for our existence. We rely on the air to breathe, the water to drink, and the food for our very sustenance.” — Kristina Hunter [0:01:22]

“Green investing is a real thing and it is paying really good dividends.” — Kristina Hunter [0:07:36]

“When plastic breaks down, it doesn’t break down into anything other than microplastics: these plastics become smaller bits of plastic.” — Kristina Hunter [0:14:21] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter

There is something special about exploring new places and getting around on foot. In this episode, I talk all about walkable cities: the many physical, mental and social benefits of this form of outdoor exercise, and how we can create more walkable cities and communities. Not only are there a host of benefits at the individual level, but communities with a walking and cycling culture have reduced air pollution, fewer traffic accidents and fatalities, are more punctual, and generally report being happier and healthier. For us to incorporate walking into our daily schedules most sustainably, we need to make it a necessary part of each day, whether that involves including some walking in your commute or arranging walking meetings with colleagues. Instead of driving to a far-off location, why not support your local grocery store, hairdresser, or dentist, and walk there instead of driving or using public transport? There are several things we as individuals can do to promote walking, yet we also require interventions at the municipal and governmental levels. The infrastructure of a city needs to support walking by providing citizens with safe sidewalks and roads, and the environment should be interesting to those who go on foot. For all of this and more on walkable cities, be sure to tune in!  

Key Points from This Episode:

•    The research on the range of health benefits – even on a genetic level — of walking.  

•    A study about lowering the risk of breast cancer by walking for at least one hour a day. 

•    Hear how arthritis-related pain can be relieved and immunity boosted by this form of exercise. 

•    The different ways in which we can incorporate walking into our daily lives. 

•    The need for infrastructure like sidewalks and paths to support a culture of walking. 

•    How an increase in walking trips impacts the environment and safety of citizens. 

•    Why cities that embrace walking and biking have residents that are happier overall.  

•    An overview of Jeff Speck’s theory about walkability and its four main aspects. 

•    Why walking needs to be purpose-driven such as forming part of our commute. 

•    How the structures of American cities typically fail to encourage a lifestyle of walking. 

•    Find out why we might want to return to a more traditional town planning design.  

Quotables: 

“We do have evidence that walking will lower your blood pressure, it helps to fight heart disease, it reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, it helps to relieve mild to moderate depression, it improves memory, and can even add healthy years to your life.” — Kristina Hunter [0:01:21]

 “We know that all physical activity is great for reducing cancer risks in general.” — Kristina Hunter [0:02:31]

“It shows that with designers, policymakers, appropriate technology, and partnerships, we can actually make a difference in reducing pedestrian fatalities.” — Kristina Hunter [0:23:54]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Kristina Hunter

Harvard Health Publishing 

American Cancer Society

People Powered Movement

Jeff Speck

Walkable City

Jane Jacobs

Vision Zero  

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are facing unprecedented circumstances that are putting enormous strain on healthcare systems, governments, businesses, and individuals. Even though there are strict restrictions around our movements and physical contact with others, there is still a great deal we can do to find means of sustainable wellbeing that address the needs we have in the present and future. With high levels of panic and uncertainty going around, it is imperative for us to take care of our physical and mental wellbeing, and to keep reaching out to others and staying socially connected. In this episode, I give you advice around taking care of yourself, your loved ones, and the community at large, and remind you that we always have a choice about how we think, feel, and act. There are so many ways we can use this opportunity to send out positivity into the world, but it begins with yourself and then circles out to those around you. Be sure to tune in to hear how you can be a source of positivity and calm in the chaos!

Key Points From This Episode:

•    A shoutout to the healthcare providers and scientists who are at the forefront of the fight.

•    We give special thanks to farmers, transporters, and all who provide essential services.

•    The high levels of stress and turmoil we face as a global community. 

•    Examples of good that has come from the bad, including the reduced pollution levels.

•    A reminder that we are biological creatures who are interconnected with our environment.

•    The importance of adhering to the guidelines provided by our healthcare authorities. 

•    A study that shows how the stress of the pandemic is manifested in our bodies and minds. 

•    The social and economic cost of interrupting the transmission of COVID-19. 

•    Why we have to acknowledge our fears and anxieties and develop emotional agility. 

•    Remember that you have the power to choose how you think, feel, and act. 

•    While we are asked to physically isolate, there are many ways of keeping socially connected.

•    Suggestions for using this time to foster closer relationships with people and our pets. 

•    Creative ideas and daily practices for taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing.

Quotables:

“We know that New York City has been experiencing a 50% reduction in its air pollution levels. China had a 25% reduction in air pollution at the beginning of 2020 compared to the end of 2019. In six major power plants, the coal use was down by 40% in China.” — Kristina Hunter  [0:04:44]

“Can we use this opportunity of disrupted schedules and patterns to connect more deeply with those who are in our household, our friends, our family, and relatives?” — Kristina Hunter [0:15:57] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter

World Health Organization

Susan David TED Talk

Man’s Search for Meaning

Headspace

Calm 

Greater Good In Action, University of California, Berkeley 

Free to Focus

Deepak Chopra