Mastering Sustainability

In this episode of Mastering Sustainability, we’re joined by Ebenezer Wikina—a sustainability entrepreneur, policy advocate, and founder of Policy Shapers—to explore how waste can be reimagined as a driver of economic opportunity and environmental restoration. From building community-led recycling systems to advancing his Vision 2050 for the river, Ebenezer shares how local action can unlock global impact. Tune in for a conversation on circular solutions, shifting mindsets, and what it takes to turn sustainability ambition into real-world change.

Ebenezar's Links:

Rivers 2050 Vision

Connect with Ebenezar on LinkedIn

Listen to Ebenezar's TED Talk

In this episode of Mastering Sustainability, Madeline & Ray sit down with Shawn Wilborne to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the recycling industry; from improving material sorting and reducing contamination to enabling data-driven systems that boost efficiency and accountability. 

Shawn shares insights on the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into existing infrastructure, the role technology plays in advancing the circular economy, and what it will take for innovation to move the needle on global sustainability goals truly. Whether you’re a sustainability professional or simply curious about the future of waste, this conversation offers a compelling look at how AI can help build a smarter, more sustainable world.

Shawn's Links:

Lidvizion

The Launch Pad, University of Miami

In this episode of Mastering Sustainability, we're turning to an expert of our own. Estefania Xuclà, Government Affairs Director at Okeanos®, breaks down the rapidly evolving world of EPR and PCR legislation, the ongoing challenges of securing high-quality recyclate, and why upstream material reduction is becoming essential for brands worldwide. She also unpacks the crucial difference between good politics and good policy, offering clear, practical insight into how regulations are shaped, how industry can respond, and what it will take to build smarter, science-driven systems for a lower-impact future.

Estefi's Links:

Linkedin

Packaging Europe

In this episode of Mastering Sustainability, Madeline & Ray sit down with UN photographer and visual storyteller Kiara Worth, whose lens has captured some of the most defining moments in global climate negotiations. From COP conferences to communities on the frontlines of environmental change, Kiara shares what it means to bear witness to both the urgency and the humanity behind sustainability. Together, they explore how images can move policy, inspire action, and remind us of the shared responsibility we hold for the planet’s future—one frame at a time.

Kiara's Links:  Linkedin & Instagram

Kiara's Reads:

al Jazeera

UN News Network

The Energy Mix

Monga Bay

Greenpeace

On this episode of Mastering Sustainability, we sit down with Kelvin Okamoto, Ph.D., CEO of Green Bottom Line, Inc., to unpack the complex and often misunderstood world of biodegradability.

Kelvin takes us inside the role of ASTM standards in separating science from marketing claims—sharing why rigorous testing is essential to cut through greenwashing and ensure real environmental impact. From clarifying what “biodegradable” truly means to exploring how standards shape policy, industry adoption, and consumer trust, his perspective highlights both the challenges and opportunities in creating accountability in sustainable materials.

Kelvin’s Links:

LinkedIn 

Green Bottom Line 

Environmental Science & Technology 

Plastics News  

Packaging News 

On this episode of Mastering Sustainability, we sit down with Caroline DeLoach, Director of Sustainability at Atlantic Packaging, to explore how a legacy packaging company is rethinking its role in the fight against plastic pollution.

Caroline takes us inside her journey of driving change from within a 75-year-old family-owned business—sharing what it means to push for bold innovation in an industry often defined by tradition. From partnering with global brands to scale sustainable packaging solutions, to navigating evolving ESG regulations and reimagining supply chains, her perspective reveals both the challenges and the opportunities of leading corporate sustainability from the inside out.

Caroline’s Links:

Linkedin

Atlantic Packaging's A New Earth Project

Trellis (formerly Greenbiz)

Packaging Dive 

Waste Dive

Resource Recycling

On the Season Finale of Mastering Sustainability, we’re thrilled to welcome Nathalie Flores - a powerhouse voice for climate action from the Dominican Republic. In this episode, Nathalie shares her inspiring career journey from public service to the private sector, highlighting what it means to lead with purpose and create lasting environmental impact across borders. From shaping sustainability policy in Latin America to engaging in the critical work of global climate legislation, her perspective is both timely and deeply insightful. Tune in to hear how transitioning to the private sector unlocked new opportunities for climate leadership and some behind-the-scenes stories from international climate negotiations. 

Nathalie's Links:

LinkedIn

StoneX

Nathalie's Take on Whether Carbon Markets Will Deliver Real Climate Action

In this episode of Mastering Sustainability, Maddie & Ray sit down with Martin Wolf, founder of Wolf Sustainability and former Director of Sustainability & Authenticity for Seventh Generation. With over three decades of experience challenging the status quo, Martin shares insights on what it really means to embed sustainability into every business layer, from product formulation to policy advocacy. We discuss the power (and limits) of green chemistry, the importance of transparency, and how companies can move beyond marketing claims to real systems change.

Contact Martin:

[email protected] 

Martin's Linkedin

Martin's Links:

Wolf Sustainability 

Environmental Health Network - Above The Fold

B-Corp

Center for Biological Diversity 

National Environmental Defense Council 

In Episode 8 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Todd Pooser, founder of the Virtual Commonwealth, a sustainability and social equity investment platform where members agree to self-tax on their sustainable purchases. That money is then used to crowdfund companies with strong sustainability and social equity profiles in which all members become equity partners. In this episode, Todd discusses the ethos behind the platform, the ways that sustainability and social equity are inextricably linked, and lays out a plan for a brighter, collectively funded future for all of us.  

Todd's Links:

Connect with Todd on Linkedin or visit his website

The Virtual Commonwealth

Scientific American

The London Review of Books

Learn About Todd's Book, A System's Approach to Public Administration & Social Equity 

In Episode 7 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Margarita Quihuis, a behavioral psychologist and Executive Director of the Peace Innovation Lab at Stanford University. Throughout a fascinating hour, Margarita dissects the psychology behind how we react to the world around us, how your favorite brands motivate you to make unconscious decisions, and the best way to prompt action. 

Margarita's Links:

WTF Is Behavioral Design 

Margarita's Linkedin & Medium

Rory Sutherland's Linkedin

Subscribe to The Behavioral Scientist Newsletter

Books: 

Robert Chaldini's Influence

Buy BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits