New Ways

Reducing our collective carbon emissions is an important step toward mitigating the harmful effects of air pollution, environmental degradation and the worsening climate crisis. But is it enough to fully repair our planet?

Or should we shift our aim from Net Zero, to something a bit more planet-positive? After all, how can we regenerate the health of our oceans, lands and forests, if our environmental responsibility targets are focused on getting to the point of, well, simply not making things worse, instead of making things better?

Now, this may sound like a logical shift in mindset, yet like anything, actions speak louder than words. And in order to address the issue of global sustainability, we need buy-in from people, sure, but also industries on a global scale. In this episode you'll hear from a changemaker who is helping to address these challenges, providing innovative solutions and connecting industries and individuals at the intersection of positive impact.

My guest today is Dr Simon Schillebeeckx, an academic, entrepreneur, author, and former sustainability consultant. Simon also co-founded Handprint, an innovative tech company that makes planet-positive actions simple, through the company's "impact platform" and what they call “Regeneration as a Service”. This is actually Simon’s second appearance on the show, and I’m excited to once again be sharing a conversation with the Chief Vision Officer of this dynamic... and highly transformative company.

Way back in episode 4, season 1, Simon and I spoke about engineering behavioural change, the value in transparently communicating ESG goals, and the myriad benefits of shifting from addressing baseline environmental responsibility to adopting a more regenerative model of sustainability. Since then, the company has continued to grow in leaps and bounds, rolling out huge updates to its platform and continuing to effect positive change with key partners, all around the world.

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Show notes from this episode: ⁠⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com/ss18⁠

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Handprint/Dr Simon Schillebeeckx:

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.

Today’s guest is Matteo Volani, co-founder of Not So Creative, a marketing and brand strategy studio with a focus on sustainability and social impact initiatives.

Though a newcomer, the studio packs some seriously experienced talent and has already worked with some huge companies, including Seven Clean Seas, &why, The Canvas, and Zero Waste Palestine, among others.

Chances are, you may have already seen their awesome collaboration with the B Lab Team, helping to share the inspirational impact journeys that other B Corp-certified organisations have taken, and their unified vision of a more inclusive, sustainable and regenerative economic system for people and the planet.

Matteo and I cover a lot of big-picture ideas, including effective marketing and business strategies, sustainable design principles, the unique challenges that arise when collaborating with brands in the sustainability space and much more.

During the course of our interview, several deeply philosophical questions sprang up that led to a cascading line of thought, including, what does it actually mean to be a sustainable company? Where do you draw the line between pollution versus social good, and is it possible for larger companies to have values-driven messaging that fundamentally matches their operations?

This episode is an absolute goldmine for anyone who's looking for inspiration when it comes to examples of businesses and brands that are causing a ruckus, disrupting norms and making some real, positive change in the world. I strongly encourage you to check out our show notes for links to a bunch of resources we mention during our conversation.

I think you're really going to like this one.

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Show notes from this episode: ⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com/mv17

Connect with us:

• Website: ⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/company/amodernremedy⁠⁠
• Post: ⁠⁠https://post.news/@/amodernremedy⁠⁠
• Email: ⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com/contact⁠⁠

Not So Creative/Matteo Volani:

• Website: ⁠⁠https://notsocreative.studio
• Email:⁠ ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.See our Privacy Policy at ⁠⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com/privacy-policy⁠

On today's show I’m joined by John Vogel, the creative director for Talking Writing, an independent, non-profit digital publication that showcases the impactful stories that exist behind an eclectic chorus of writers, artists, musicians and creators as they navigate this new landscape of digital platforms and rapidly advancing technology.

John is also a talented multimedia artist himself, a solo musician with over twenty years of experience, having contributed to the bands Grandchildren and Rad Racket. With his most recent project, Weird Music, John has been exploring aesthetic communication and the motives behind creativity via interviews that are interwoven with music.

This episode features a wide-ranging discussion, with John and I diving into all manner of subjects, including, of course, how he got his start as an artist, the story behind his Weird Music project, and what led to him becoming the creative director of the Talking Music publication.

But, we also cover plenty of other topics, some familiar to New Ways listeners, including the impact of AI on the creative process, finding purpose through storytelling and why a solution focused approach to media is more impactful when seeking to inspire change.

Then there's some more colourful subjects, like exploring the notion of robot children as parental education devices and what the current age of AI might have in common with movies from the 1990's like Jurassic Park and Gremlins.

Yeah, this episode has a bit of everything.

But, most importantly, we spend a fair amount of time covering the role of art in society, how artists and creators can find meaning in their work, and… what all of this means in the context of our fast-paced and constantly evolving, digital world.

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Show notes from this episode: ⁠https://amodernremedy.com/nw16

Connect with us:

• Website: ⁠https://amodernremedy.com⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠https://linkedin.com/company/amodernremedy⁠
• Post: ⁠https://post.news/@/amodernremedy⁠
• Email: ⁠https://amodernremedy.com/contact⁠

Talking Writing/John Vogel:

• Website: ⁠https://talkingwriting.substack.com
• Instagram:⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jawnvogel

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.See our Privacy Policy at ⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com/privacy-policy⁠

I’m absolutely delighted to welcome our next guest for a deep dive on the circular economy. But what exactly is the circular economy?

Well… I’m glad you asked. A circular economy is a sustainable approach to consumerism that aims to extend the lifespan of the goods we buy, reducing waste and therefore our impact on the environment.

The fundamentals of this approach include recycling, sure, but also other key practices, like sustainable design, production, distribution, and post-purchase services, like reuse and repair. It’s a fresh take on the more traditional, ‘linear’ economy, which sees us take resources, make things, consume them and then throw them away once no longer needed, only to repeat the process again… and again.

Not ideal.

Today’s guest is one of the sustainability pioneers who is looking to round off that linear model, so to speak. Agnes Weber is the co-founder of MENDED, a startup that is at the forefront of this new-era of circularity, providing an innovative, fun and convenient clothing repair and resale service. It's what the company calls, “a better way to keep clothes in play”.

And, after forging partnerships with several clothing companies, MENDED is also helping to knit together a closer relationship between brands and customers by offering dedicated services for some of Europe’s favourite denim brands, including Kings of Indigo and MUD Jeans.

Beyond her business, Agnes’s commitment to sustainability runs deep. You can find her on social platforms regularly sharing circular content to her some 80 thousand followers, with videos that have been viewed over 21 million times.

And, just as her company strives to bring new life to some of your old favourites, Agnes is always seeking to find value in what previously may have been overlooked, to help make circularity, a reality.

We also talked about how her unlikely path to becoming an entrepreneur, the benefit of accessing childlike inquiry and challenging the status quo, why the business adopted playfulness as a core value, emotional connections to clothing and how her company is bringing new life to some of your old favourites.

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Show notes from this episode: https://amodernremedy.com/nw15

Connect with us:

MENDED/Agnes Weber:

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.

Much is said about the negatives of social media these days. Be it the turmoil of platform instability, mental health impacts, safeguarding our youth via age restrictions or concerns about what algorithmically driven content might be doing to undermine democracy. Yet, there are still people out there who are actively using these platforms for good, to promote positive change and inspire others to create an impact.

And my next guest just so happens to be one of those people.

Today I’m joined by John Oberg, a savvy, social media strategist and inspirational influencer who uses digital platforms to help advocate for the fair and just treatment of animals. After witnessing the reach and scale of social platforms firsthand, John transformed his approach to advocacy, incorporating digital platforms as a way to connect with and inspire people across the globe. His powerful messages of empathy and posts encouraging compassion for our fellow sentient beings have been a hit, with over one billion impressions and counting. Several years into this journey, he now also empowers individuals and organisations to master their own messaging through social media training and programs.

We talked at length about how he shifted his approach to activism and embraced digital platforms, what compelled him to use social media for good, and a deep dive on effective storytelling and finding the right demographic.

John and I also spoke about how to make algorithms work for you, why it’s especially important for those consuming content on social platforms to sustain their mental wellbeing, how he avoids burnout and much more.

There’s a lot to learn here for anyone who’s interested in creating positive impact and utilising the power of social media platforms to achieve that goal. I think you’ll find that the core of John’s approach is transferable to just about any cause.

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Show notes from this episode: https://amodernremedy.com/nw14

Connect with us:

• Website: https://amodernremedy.com
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/amodernremedy
• Post: https://post.news/@/amodernremedy
• Email: https://amodernremedy.com/contact

John Oberg:

• Website: https://johnoberg.org
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/johnsoberg
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/johnoberg
• Post: https://post.news/@/johnoberg
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/johnobergofficial
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/JohnOberg

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.
See our Privacy Policy at ⁠https://amodernremedy.com/privacy-policy⁠

The episode you’re about to hear is all about… giant robots, plastic and the sea. Now, you might be thinking, how on earth are these three things connected? And what do they have to do with innovative solutions?

Fortunately, today’s guest is here to help explain everything. In this episode you’ll hear from Ben Moody, the co-founder of Seven Clean Seas, an organisation that’s on a mission to rid our oceans of plastic waste whilst empowering coastal communities. Ben and the team have been hard at work building scalable solutions to plastic pollution in some of the most affected places on the planet, with several active projects across Thailand and Indonesia.

The natural flow of rivers in these locales makes them especially vulnerable to accumulation of plastic waste, which is why the Seven Clean Seas team have made them a top priority.

The company utilises a suite of best-fit solutions, including plastic collection efforts, recycling and even transforming plastic waste into energy. And in the process, the teams not only clean up the environment, but also foster social impact, through the creation of local jobs and education initiatives.

Ben and I took a deep dive, pardon the pun, into the ways in which Seven Clean Seas actually gets to the business of… well… achieving seven clean seas, including the launch of what the company calls a “super-mega plastic-killer robot.” We probably spent way too much time on that one.

We also talked about how a chance encounter during a random beach cleanup led to the founding of the company, how they are helping local communities, why research alone won’t solve the plastic crisis, how each of us can start making a difference right now, and much more.

Ben’s enthusiasm, authenticity and passion around the topics of environmental and social initiatives is absolutely contagious, in fact it’s one of the first things I noticed during our conversations – you can sense it immediately and can’t help but want to get on board with what the team is trying to achieve.

We actually went into that as well, exploring both the ambitious goal of removing 10 million kilos of plastic from the ocean by 2025, but also why he’s so optimistic and excited, and how that plays into the company’s messaging and communications strategy.

This is a classic episode in every sense – it’s a story of innovation, of shifting your mindset from noticing problems to seeking solutions, and finding New Ways to create positive impact, for people and the planet.

Above all else, I left this conversation with a newfound respect for the awesome power of optimism… and I hope you do as well.

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Show notes from this episode: https://amodernremedy.com/nw13  

Connect with us:

• Web: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/company/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Post: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://post.news/@/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ben Moody/Seven Clean Seas:

• Web: https://www.sevencleanseas.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seven-clean-seas 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevencleanseas
• Email: [email protected]

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.
See our Privacy Policy at ⁠https://amodernremedy.com/privacy-policy⁠

If you were to design the ultimate product or service, howwould you measure its success? The most common answers would likely be along the lines of how much money it made, or how much time people spent using it.

But there’s another important metric that is often overlooked, and that’s the feeling your audience experiences from using your product.

I know, shifting the focus from something that benefits thecompany, to something that benefits the user, sounds like a bit of a radical strategy, but that’s exactly the mindset that today’s guest built his company on.

On today’s show I’m joined by Joe Hollier, an artist, turned designer and now co-founder of Light, a tech startup that produces the Light Phone, a minimalist device designed to foster digital disconnection. And it’s that artistic lens that makes today’s conversation so special.

For those unfamiliar with the Light Phone, it’s about the size of a credit-card and features an e-ink display. But, this isn’t just a smaller, lighter version of an iPhone or Android-device. Sure, it’s a phone that does phone things, like making calls and sending text messages, pairing with Bluetooth, becoming a hotspot when you need it – all that good stuff.

Plus, there’s some fundamental utilities, like a calculator, directions, music and an alarm clock. But it’s actually the purposeful absence of things that is the real story here.

Joe and I spoke at length about the motivation behind creating a product that was designed to be used intentionally, or as he puts it, ‘as little as possible’, and how the most valuable feature of the Light Phone, now on its second generation, was actually not on the device at all.

And that’s a theme that we kept returning to, value, and howinterrogating things in life that seem static, could actually lead to creative and value-filled opportunities. From the early days where Joe questioned the role of design and why it wasn’t given more importance when founding companies and conceptualising products, through to the development of the Light Phoneitself, questioning consumer behaviour and the role of technology in his own life.

We spoke about the importance of user privacy, the company’splans for the future, how they are tackling e-waste and sustainability, and why they, unlike many of their contemporaries, decided to shun planned obsolescence and instead embrace what I like to call, planned appreciation, by continuing to push out new features to the phone so many years after launch.

And we also got into the companies super creative marketingcampaign to try and recruit Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. But more on that a bit later.

This is a conversation for anyone who’s interested in re-thinking their relationship with technology, who’s curious about designingsolutions that are human-centric, or looking to re-gain more time in their day.

Because, in our hyper connected, always on world, where every app and service is vying for your attention, it can be difficult to seteffective boundaries that empower us to disconnect and get back to living life.

I hope today’s episode can help you start thinking aboutthose boundaries and reclaim more of your time.

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Show notes from this episode: https://amodernremedy.com/nw12

Connect with us:

• Web: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/company/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Post: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://post.news/@/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Light:

• Web: https://www.thelightphone.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/light-phone
• Medium: https://medium.com/the-light-phone
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/thelightphone   

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.
See our Privacy Policy at ⁠https://amodernremedy.com/privacy-policy⁠

A Modern Remedy may earn a commission from products or services listed on our site.

For our first episode of season 2, I’m super excited to share a very special conversation with Becca Chambers, an award-winning brand and communications executive, a trusted cyber security advisor and seasoned business strategist for tech companies around the world.

When she isn’t spearheading high-functioning teams or skilfully executing key initiatives, you’ll find her contributing to thought leadership pieces featured in publications like Forbes, The New York Post, Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal and many others.

But… that’s just half of the story. At her core, Becca is someone who *thinks different*. In fact, she’s built a stellar reputation on the back of her dynamic and out-of-the-box thinking, leading teams to success with an inclusive and results-orientated approach.

And it’s an approach that delivers, earning Becca and her colleagues the moniker of #TeamGSD – because they Get… Shit... Done.

So, what do I mean by thinking differently? Well, quite literally, I’m talking about Neurodiversity. For those unfamiliar, Neurodiversity is a framework for mental health, a perspective that views variations in the way people think and interact with the world as just that – differences. Think of it like the natural variations that occur between different types of people, like height, eye colour, skin type or other biological characteristics, only, these variations have to do with our brains.

Neuro – meaning mind, and diversity, to diverge or be different from the “norm”.

As you’ll hear in this episode, apart from the obvious social benefits that can come from a more inclusive environment,organisations are potentially leaving real-world dollars on the table by not tapping into the massive neurodiverse talent pool. It’s been recognised that neurodiverse individuals can offer novel perspectives, attention to detail, creativity, innovation, advanced pattern recognition, astute observations, fierce loyalty and strong leadership.

We also talk about Becca’s journey and personal experience with neurodiversity, the little adjustments that can help organisations be more neuro-inclusive, strengths and stereotypes, the impact ofremote working, the importance of being outcome-orientated, how she’s creating awareness for the neurodiverse community and much more.

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Show notes from this episode: https://amodernremedy.com/nw11

Connect with us:

• Web: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/company/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Post: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://post.news/@/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Becca Chambers:

• Website: https://www.beccahasadhd.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beccapchambers
• Post: https://post.news/@/becca
• Email: [email protected]

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.
See our Privacy Policy at ⁠https://amodernremedy.com/privacy-policy⁠

This week, we say goodbye to season 1, share an update on the future of New Ways, and go looking for a modern remedy. 

Sit back and enjoy this special episode that’s packed with insightful highlights from our debut season, where you’ll hear from ten amazing guests: Founders, creators, CEO’s and thought leaders who share their perspective on solutions for the modern age.  

We talk about creativity, sustainability, health, technology and much more. 

Special thanks to Dr Megan Lee, Paolo Garde, Neva Talladen, Dr Simon Schillebeeckx, Sam Hart, Jack Taylor, Noam Bardin, Bernardo Carreira, Leslee Udwin and Lina Benete. 

And of course, all of our wonderful listeners who joined us for this first season. Thank you for your support!

Hopefully this episode left you feeling inspired, optimistic and energised.  

Who did you connect with? Which message resonated the most?

Let us know: [email protected]

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Transcript: ⁠https://amodernremedy.com/nwe10⁠

For the latest insights and analysis on health, tech and sustainability, visit ⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com⁠⁠

Connect with us:

• Post: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://post.news/@/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/company/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Web: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com⁠⁠

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.

This episode was produced by Russell Baker, with music by Simon Zinzovski.

See our Privacy Policy at ⁠https://amodernremedy.com/privacy-policy⁠

Imagine a world in which children are not only taught reading, writing and arithmetic, but also to value other human beings, the importance of kindness, to recognise their emotions and develop pro-social abilities at an early age. Why do we focus on wrote learning, and less on helping children build resilience, empathy and critical thinking skills. Because, it’s during our earliest years that we learn our most important lessons in life – lessons that will shape our values, how we engage with society, and lay the foundation for who we will become in our later years.

This is the ninth and final interview-style episode of our debut season, and we are going out with a bang, a double feature in fact. Today I’m talking with not one, but two of the leaders behind Think Equal, an evidence-based, early-years educational program designed to help foster socio-emotional learning, critical thinking and key interpersonal skills in young people.

In the first half I talk with Leslee Udwin, the founder and Executive Chair of Think Equal. We spoke about her groundbreaking human-rights film, India’s Daughter, and the discoveries she made through the journey of making the film, how culture could make people lose their humanity, and the realisation that early education was needed to help build toward a future where gender-based crimes were no longerrationalised or normalised in society.

At times our talk does touch upon some unsettling experiences Leslee witnessed whilst researching and producing the film, including discussion of violence against women. Whilst they have ultimately acted as a catalyst for social good, some listeners may find the early part of episode unsettling – in which case feel free to skip forward.

The second half of this episode is with Lina Benete, the new CEO of Think Equal. And whilst Leslee provided the history and ongoing positive impact of the organisation, Lina and I take a forward-looking focus, discussing the future of education, the role of digital technology in the classroom, AI and much more.

The duo you are about to hear from compliment each other perfectly. Leslee is one of the most spirited, impassioned and articulate individuals I’ve ever spoken with. Her conviction and dedication toward helping people, especially young people, is unmistakable, as is her relentless energy and commitment to positive change. Lina brings a remarkable list of achievements, worldly knowledge and an appreciation for both historical, modern and emerging educational methods, all of which inform her strategic vision for Think Equal.

Along the way, my guests and I talk about the impact of the program, both in terms individual and societal benefits, the importance of empathy, the values that make us uniquely human and why we should strive for balance in our lives.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, learner or someone who’d appreciate living in a safer and healthier society, this is an episode that hits on so many levels…

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Transcript: https://amodernremedy.com/thinkequal

For the latest insights and analysis on health, tech and sustainability, visit ⁠https://amodernremedy.com⁠

Connect with us:

• Post: ⁠⁠⁠https://post.news/@/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/company/amodernremedy⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Web: ⁠⁠⁠https://amodernremedy.com⁠

Think Equal:

• Web: https://thinkequal.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-equal
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkequal

Credits:

New Ways is a production of A Modern Remedy.

This episode was produced by Russell Baker, with music by Simon Zinzovski.

See our Privacy Policy at https://amodernremedy.com/privacy-policy⁠