Make Climate Cool Again

Steven is a Sustainability Manager at Consigli Construction Co., Inc., an 1000+ person construction firm based in Massachusetts. He has guided the sustainability process on tens of millions of square feet of projects across many different building types and sizes, including but not limited to: k-12 schools, higher education facilities, mid-rise and high-rise residential, commercial interiors, retail interiors, and commercial office buildings.

He has a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, and he blends business and science to specialize in sustainability, resiliency, and health and wellness strategies for the built environment.

What Are Sustainability Retrofits

The Rise of Sustainability degree Programs

How construction is becoming less wasteful

How is Construction Evolving To Be More Efficient?

Recycling Challenges in the US 28:00

What does WELL/LEED and other building certifications really do for the industry and professionals? 31:00

LEED fun fact 34:50

What Is Material Transparency? 38:15

Sustainability Pet Peeve: Recycling Inconsistency - When in Doubt Throw it Out 45:45

What Makes You Feel Like A Sustainability Hypocrite: Eating at his desk 48:55

The guest on this episode of the podcast is President Obama! I have a clip of Obama’s talk at Greenbuild in Atlanta on some of his thoughts on the environment, how his daughters are teaching him about greening his habits and what he thinks about hotels.

10:16 Obama on how America likes BIG

16:00 Obama on Greta Thunberg

20:00 On Gen Z Consumers

26:00 On How Values Matter

There are no sponsorships or ads for this episode due to the nature of the speaker.

Citation:

Magnan, S. 2017. Social Determinants of Health 101 for Health Care: Five Plus Five. NAM Perspectives. Discussion Paper, National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC. doi: 10.31478/201710c

Article on Superfunds:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/superfund-toxic-sites-cleanup-future

ecoText is a startup looking to provide digital textbooks to college students at semester subscription built into tuition. This episode features Joel Nkounkou, Dylan Wheeler and Nelson Thomas, the executive team that was featured at the Forbes Under 30 Startup Hub in Detroit. Joel, CEO of ecoText, graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in electrical engineering while mingling in the business sector with relationships from UNH-IOL to Silicons Valley’s Intel. Dylan Wheeler, CTO, is currently a senior at UNH in the Honor Program studying Information Technology and Philosophy. Nelson Thomas, CMO, also a senior and a D1 Football player, is studying communications major and business administration minor.

We talk about why they wanted to disrupt the textbook industry, how they found each other and how they juggle being business leaders and students. Any new entrepreneur would be interested in hearing about how they deal with fear and why college is worth the investment.

8:20 What is ecoText??

17:30 B2B v B2C

21:00 Why ecoText is better than regular books

26:00 How build a solid team

32:30 Moving across the country to work with an accelerator

36:40 How to deal with burnout and failure

48:00 Why college environments are so important to build your toolbox

50:00 Environmental Entrepreneurship

Check them out at https://www.ecotext.co/ or @ecotext.co on instagram.

Last week, I had the privilege to attend the 2019 Forbes Under 30 Summit. It's more an immersive experience than a static conference: a private music festival, A-list speakers, investor speed-pitching, industry-focused field trips, a legendary pub crawl, a world-famous food festival and a powerful day of community service. I"m bringing you the lessons that I learned from some of the top business leaders on how to get started and be an entrepreneur. 

8:20 - Find Your Purpose:  Sophia Bush and Nia Batts (Detroit Blows/Detroit Grows)

12:30 - Expectations of Entrepreneurs: Jeni Baur (Jeni's Ice Cream), Tara Reid (Apps without Code) and Kaitlyn Sadtler (Nat'l Institute of Health). 

16:16 - Fight Against Fitting In: Yael Aflalo (Reformation)

19:08 - Overcome Fear: Danielle Bernstein (WeWoreWhat) and Mary Ellis Bunn (Museum of Ice Cream)

23:11 - Know Your Market: Manish Chandra (Poshmark) and Greg Schwartz (StockX)

26:30 - How to Find the Right Investor: Laura Chau (Canaan Partners), Dan Ngyugen-Hu (Battery Ventures) and Blake Robbins (Ludlow Ventures)

31:12 - How To Be A Good Boss: Matt Rooda (Swinetech), Chris Rim (Command Education) and Cory Levy (First Text).

Finally, by listening to this podcast you are doing so much good. We are making a special announcement today on the podcast but you have to listen to find out!

Fall is pumpkin spice and everything nice, but winter is coming. Are you prepared for it? This episode talks ALL about extreme weather. It's the sparknotes for the science of how and why it happens, as well as how it impacts our economy and your day to day life. Also, this podcast with suggest ideas for how to prepare for extreme weather events as well as discuss how modern technology is only good for best case scenarios.

Links to articles:

Book Excerpt from Green Think by Rick Fedrizzi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_of_March_3,_2019

https://www.wsj.com/articles/pg-e-ceo-says-it-could-impose-blackouts-in-california-for-a-decade-11571438206

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/06/natural-disasters-cost-91-billion-in-2018-federal-report.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/07/14/bp-deepwater-horizon-costs/87087056/

I am really excited to introduce you to Megan Chen, a 16 year old from Delaware who has not only written a children's book but also runs her own non-profit, The Urban Garden Initiative. Urban areas account for between 60 and 80 percent of the world’s energy consumption and generate as much as 70 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. Cities are also prone to an increased number of climate events, food sustainability issues, and much more. TUGI's mission is to inspire and empower youth to achieve urban sustainability though a gardening-based educational program. Megan is inspiring and a perfect example of how one person can make a big difference!

Get involved, organize an event or donate here :https://www.theurbangardeninitiative.org/

On becoming a self-published author: (5:00)

The hard part of having a non-profit/Differences of having a business (10:15)

Urban Garden Options (25:00)

Megan’s sustainability pet peeve (31:53)

Tips on how to get started on a business (39:49)

Find Megan’s book here: https://amzn.to/31Zi6Hb

Articles about NYC’s new urban green roof policy:

https://www.dwell.com/article/new-york-city-requires-green-roofs-on-new-buildings-ede4deb8

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/style/rooftop-gardens-urban-shopping-scene-green.html

https://inhabitat.com/red-hook-housing-projects-new-urban-farm-grows-fresh-produce-and-jobs-for-the-community/

Kaylin Marcotte is a media and marketing genius. As the first employee of the theSkimm (from a cold email!), she now is the founder of a New York-based consultancy specializing in marketing and content strategy. She recently started Project PlastICK with her sister, a 30 day challenge to cut plastic out of your life. Project PlastICK works with companies and schools all over the country and was recently awarded an Honorable Mention in Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Awards. Those who sign up for the challenge can expect an email every day for 30 days about adjusting to green habits and how to set yourself up for success. Share your challenge on social media using #projectplastick!

Transitioning from working at theSkimm and starting Project PlastICK (7:52)

Saving plastic can actually save you money (21:30)

5 tips for people looking to consume less plastick (29:27)

What is your biggest sustainability pet peeve? (41:38)

What makes you feel like a hypocrite? (44:53)

Sign up for the 30 day Challenge starting Oct 1 at www.projectplastick.com

Climate Anxiety: (n) A fight or flight response upon continuously receiving information on climate change, eliciting a signal of danger or a threat to our physical and emotional well-being. ie. Becoming extremely vocal or paralyzed with fear.

You might experience climate anxiety. Or anxiety in general. This interview with Ingrid Helander, LFMP about how to be mindful about our emotions to better manage anxiety. Ingrid is family and marriage therapist in CT but has spent years studying polyvagal theory and how anxiety affects relationships. Also discussed is her new book , Calm Your Worries, which includes a workbook about anxiety and worry.

Find access to her book here: www.calmyourworries.com

10:30 Does social media create emotions of fight or flight?

16:25 How hope itself means a million possibilities.

23:00 How we can have more connected conversations?

37:15 Can we blame the media for our climate anxiety?

47:00 Tools you can use for managing anxiety

This week on Make Climate Cool, we talk briefly about the DNC Climate Change Debate on CNN, how compostable bowls used by the likes of Sweetgreen, Dig Inn and Chipotle are actually made with toxic chemicals and finally how California is kicking butt in creating policy to support BYOC - Bring Your Own Container Culture. 

Follow all the behind the scenes action on Instagram @makeclimatecool and don’t forget to rate, review subscribe so you don’t miss out on new episodes.

Article 1: https://newfoodeconomy.org/pfas-forever-chemicals-sweetgreen-chipotle-compostable-biodegradable-bowls/?fbclid=IwAR0LLag7j8NZgQRabkqCU2e5hdG7LXTvZoW_xg0JOqyuIyWyhSXhp1AJ7mE

Article 2: https://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/new-california-law-helps-diners-bring-their-own-containers.html

Article 3: https://thetakeout.com/california-law-bring-own-containers-restaurant-customer-1836528963

Article 4: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-24/haagen-dazs-tropicana-hellmann-s-want-their-packaging-back-now

Skylar Saba started @happyearthhabits to show people how easy it is to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Through her tips, tricks and conscious outfit of the day, she hopes to teach people how small changes can lead to a big impact. This episode is all about fast fashion and the Marie Kondo effect, how to recycle and reuse clothing, the sharing economy and voting with your dollar. Towards the end of the episode, Sara and Skylar talk about some habits they have that reduce plastic consumption and food waste. 

Follow all the behind the scenes action on Instagram @makeclimatecool and don’t forget to rate, review subscribe so you don’t miss out on new episodes.