Sustainability Made Easier Interviews

Did you know that there are several things you can do to reduce your utility costs and save money, while at the same time reducing your impact on the environment? I am so excited to be speaking again with the Residential Energy Program Manager for Montgomery County, Maryland. Today, she is going to share information on ways people can conserve energy, save money, and make the switch to renewable sources of energy. Our guest today is Larissa Johnson.

Did you know that there are several things you can do to reduce your utility costs and save money, while at the same time reducing your impact on the environment? I am so excited to be speaking again with the Residential Energy Program Manager for Montgomery County, Maryland. Today, she is going to share information on ways people can conserve energy, save money, and make the switch to renewable sources of energy. Our guest today is Larissa Johnson.

One of the most often overlooked aspects of living an eco-friendly lifestyle is the effect that one’s wardrobe has on the environment. Our clothing choices dramatically impact the amount of waste we generate each year. The type of clothing we buy and wear often contributes to climate change and the addition of microplastics to the environment. The expectation of having access to cheap clothing has far-reaching consequences for the garment workers that produce our clothes. Our guest today has spent much of her career in the fashion industry. She is knowledgeable about fast fashion and sustainable fashion and has included important information on this in her recent book, How on Earth Can I Be Eco-friendly?. I am so happy to welcome today’s guest, Lianne Bell, back to the show.

Municipalities around the country are adding staff who work with local businesses and residents to help them reduce their negative impact on the environment. Our guest today is the Residential Energy Program Manager for Montgomery County, Maryland. It is her job to give people tips and tricks to help lower their utility costs, keep money in their pockets, and lower the community’s greenhouse gas emissions. Montgomery County has ambitious goals of 80% greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2027 and 100% by 2035. Our guest today is Larissa Johnson.

The process of moving toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle can seem overwhelming. However, small steps taken by lots of folks in their day-to-day lives can add up to big change. Our guest today has just published a book that is an engaging and quick read and is full of facts presented in a non-judgmental way. It offers easy solutions for people to begin or to step up their game in becoming more environmentally-conscious. Her book is called How on Earth Can I Be Eco-friendly? You can find it very reasonably priced on Amazon. Today, I am excited to speak with the author of How on Earth Can I Be Eco-friendly?, Lianne Bell.

One of the most tragic aspects of the environmental movement in the United States has been been the lack of representation of people of color and indigenous peoples in the upper levels of many environmental groups and organizations. To help remedy this situation, the Green Leadership Trust was founded in 2013. One of the main goals of this organization is to help diversify the boards of environmental nonprofits in the U.S. Our guest today studied biochemical engineering and bioacoustics, earning advanced degrees from Texas A & M University for his work investigating the impacts of boat noise on grey whales. He left academia and for many years has worked with environmental and non-profit groups around the world. In 2019 he joined the Green Leadership Trust as their Executive Director. Today, I feel privileged to speak with Dr. Francisco "Paco" Ollervides.

The Southeastern United States is home to the U.S.’s only native caffeinated plant, the Yaupon holly. The leaves of the Yaupon holly can be used to brew a delicious, caffeinated herbal tea. In 2012, our guest and his brother brought Yaupon holly tea to the commercial market for the first time in over 100 years. They now run Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company. I’m really excited to learn more about Yaupon tea with our guest today, Yaupon Brothers co-founder, Bryon White.

Bike riding is a great, low cost, environmentally-friendly activity that combines getting outdoors with exercising. Our show today will focus on tips and strategies for getting out and bicycling by speaking with someone who has spent his career advocating for bicycle and pedestrian-friendly policies. Our guest today began his bicycle policy career at New College of Florida in 1979. His thesis included a first in the world, a method by which public agencies could apply cost-benefit analysis to bicycle policies. In 1987, he became Florida’s first state bicycle lobbyist. Since that time, he has completed a master’s degree at Yale in Public and Private Management and founded numerous bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups. Currently, he works with his organization, Florida Walks and Bikes, to forge sound bicycle policy. Our guest today is Mike Lasché.

Have you ever dreamed of living a completely self-sufficient lifestyle? What if you were offered a living space that lent itself to that reality? How would make the transition? Our guest today has been working for almost 2 years on transforming an 8-acre parcel of land with a thatched home in Southwest England into a self-sufficient homestead. As a natural-born teacher, he has started sharing his journey toward self-sufficiency with others via his Self Sufficient Hub website, YouTube Channel, and Podcast. Our guest today is Carl Mintern.

Craft beer is a billion-dollar industry in the United States. For many consumers, supporting local businesses is a high priority. Reducing single use products is increasingly important as people become aware of negative and long-lasting effects of these products on the planet. Brū is a growler bar that has combined all of these concepts into an amazing local establishment that is routinely recognized by the local, national, and international beer community. Our guest today is the co-owner of Brū Florida Growler Bar, Jill Brugal.