Millennials Gone Circular

In this episode of Millennials Gone Circular, we’re joined by Tomáš Slaný—a sustainability consultant and musician originally from Slovakia, now based in Berlin. Tomáš brings a super personal and reflective take on what it means to live sustainably, and is kind enough to offer us his insights drawn from both his professional background in environmental chemistry and his everyday lifestyle choices.

We explore the cultural influences that shaped his sustainability mindset, how small decisions—from taking the stairs to buying secondhand—can have a ripple effect, and why it’s okay to start where you are. Tomáš also opens up about climate anxiety, and how his creative practices like music help him process big emotions and envision a better future.

In this episode

• How upbringing and regional context shape our awareness of sustainability
• What it really means to live a “sustainable” lifestyle
• Dealing with guilt, anxiety, and internal contradictions
• Why slowing down and connecting with values is essential
• The role of creativity in navigating sustainability and hope

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Tomáš on LinkedIn
• Good On You – Ethical Fashion App
• Tomáš’s SoundCloud

Want to take action?

• Download Good On You and explore the ethical ratings of your favourite fashion brands
• Try buying secondhand this month instead of new
• Reflect on one daily habit you could adjust to align more closely with your values
• For the next week, observe yourself when making a decision on what to buy. What prompted the act of buying that item? Awareness is the first step to making positive changes!

What does sustainable living look like in your part of the world? Share your thoughts with us, we'd love to hear!

🎙️ Follow & Subscribe: @thewastenotspot

📩 Join our Millennials Gone Circular LinkedIn & Facebook Communities

In this episode, we’re joined by Tracy Sutton, Founder & Director of Root, who has spent over 24 years helping businesses reduce their environmental impact through circular economy strategies, sustainable design and packaging innovation.

We chat about the reality of circularity—what works, what doesn’t and what’s needed to move forward. Tracy shares firsthand insights from working with global brands like Diageo, Unilever and Costa, highlighting the biggest barriers to implementing circular systems and what businesses need to do to make circularity truly scalable.

📌 In This Episode:

- What sustainability and circularity really mean—and why they’re often misunderstood

- Why circular business models fail (and how to fix them)

- The role of materials, products, and business models in circularity—what should we prioritise?

- How to accelerate systemic change in businesses and policymaking

- Tracy’s biggest lessons from 24 years in the industry

🎧 Listen now:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7b99AYUkQbak6kh3stEezC?si=0d5e1dd4908a481f

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/millennials-gone-circular/id1793906665

📌 Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

- Learn more about Tracy’s work at Root

- Ellen MacArthur Foundation – Circular Economy Resources

- UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

- Circularity Gap Report 2024 – Circle Economy:

- What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?

- The Blue Planet Effect

📚 Book Recommendation: Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough & Michael Braungart

📢 Want to Take Action? Here’s How!

- Ask yourself: How circular is your lifestyle or business?

- Support businesses using circular economy principles—look for repairable, refillable, and durable products.

- Push for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)—advocate for businesses to take responsibility for their waste.

- Start the conversation! Share your thoughts on circularity and sustainability with us.

💬 What’s the biggest challenge you see in adopting circular practices? Drop us a comment!

🎙️ Follow & Subscribe: @thewastenotspot

📩 Join our LinkedIn & Facebook Communities: Millennials Gone Circular

Episode 3 of Millennials Gone Circular is here! This time, we’re getting stuck into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—where they came from, why they matter and how a circular economy plays a crucial role in helping us achieve them.

In This Episode, we'll answer:

- What are the SDGs, and how did they come to be?

- How circularity connects to key SDGs, like SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure).

- Why are we falling behind on the SDGs? (Hint: We’re only on track to achieve 15% of targets globally 😨).

- How can we accelerate action and make real progress toward a more sustainable future?

🎧 Listen now:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7b99AYUkQbak6kh3stEezC?si=0d5e1dd4908a481f

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/millennials-gone-circular/id1793906665

📌 Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

- Learn about the SDGs: UN Sustainable Development Goals

- UN’s 2023 SDG Report (Tracking progress globally)

- Circular Economy & SDGs – Ellen MacArthur Foundation:

- Planetary Boundaries & Climate Science – Stockholm Resilience Centre

- The Brundtland Report (1987): The origins of sustainable development

- The Take Action SDG Quiz: Find out which SDG resonates with you!

Want some Ideas to Take Action? Here are some you could try:

- Identify which SDG aligns most with your values and lifestyle using the [Take Action SDG Quiz].

- Try a plastic-free day if SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production) resonates with you.

- Go meat-free on Mondays if SDG 13 (Climate Action) is your thing.

- Support women-owned businesses to contribute to SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Let us know your favourite SDG and why? Let us know in the comments!

📩 Join our LinkedIn and Facebook Community: Millennials Gone Circular

Welcome back to Millennials Gone Circular! In this episode, we break down the fundamentals of sustainability and circular economy—what they mean, where they come from and how they are linked.

We also introduce our Good News segment, where we share positive sustainability wins from around the world. This week, we highlight:

• Renewable energy growth – The IEA reports a record-breaking increase in renewable energy capacity. 🌞
• The Right to a Healthy Environment – The UN is recognising environmental rights as human rights.
• AI & Circular Economy – AI is helping businesses make smarter, more sustainable decisions.

In our deep dive, we unpack:

What is sustainability? Its origins, history and how it’s more than just a buzzword.

What is circular economy? How it works, its principles and why it’s a tool we use to achieve sustainability.

Measuring progress – Earth Overshoot Day, the Circularity Gap Report and why we need to do better.

Key Takeaways:

• Sustainability has been around longer than we think—its roots go back to Indigenous communities and early civilisations.
• Circular economy is about rethinking systems, designing out waste and regenerating nature.
• We’re currently only 9% circular—but even doubling that could help keep us within the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target.

Resources Mentioned:

• 🌍 World Overshoot Day

• 📉 Circularity Gap Report 2024 (Circle Economy)

• 🎬 Go Circular Documentary

• 🔄 Ellen MacArthur Foundation

• 🌎 Global Risks Report 2025 | World Economic Forum

• ⛵ Ellen MacArthur’s Solo Sailing Journey

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook at @thewastenotspot

Join the Millennials Gone CircularLinkedInor Facebook Communities!

Your Homework:

Check out Curiosity's Go Circular Documentary (VPN may be required)! Link above.

We would appreciate it so much if you follow, rate or share this episode with a friend or colleague to help us reach people who want to learn and make a difference in their corner of the globe. Thanks for being part of the community!

Get to know your hosts! We are Angelica, Caitlyn & Said, three 'guilty-as-charged' millennials passionate about sustainability.

We share our personal journeys, career transitions and the defining moments that sparked our passions.

We chat about growing up in different parts of the world, navigating professional shifts and about how our diverse backgrounds shape the way we view circularity today.

We also introduce the mission of Millennials Gone Circular - to explore sustainability through a regional lens, breaking down complex topics and inspiring action. We also reflect on what we hope to offer the world through this podcast.

It doesn't matter if you're new to sustainability or a seasoned pro, you are welcome! Welcome to the community that is dedicated to building and spreading positive change.

Resources:

- Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" - A great example of breaking down complex topics for everyone.

Follow & Connect with us:

Have a topic or guest suggestion? Let us know! [email protected]

Millennials Gone Circular is a podcast by millennials, for millennials who are passionate about global sustainability and keen to take action in their own corner of the world.

Hosted by Angelica Barrios, Caitlyn Socwell and Said Fadyl, three millennials with super diverse global backgrounds and a shared passion for sustainability. This podcast helps millennials understand complex sustainability topics and examples from around the world and inspires you to take action at home, community or in your workplace.

Whether you're a sustainability pro or just starting on your journey, this podcast is for you. Welcome!