To be more sustainable, we often strive to reduce the amount of waste that we are creating and bringing into our homes. In this episode, we’re talking with The Afrominimalist about how minimalism relates to sustainability, how to get rid of things that no longer serve you, and  how African American history and how that has shaped our beliefs with consumerism.  

Today's featured sustainable Brown Girl is Christine Platt, author of The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less, a radical re-envisioning of minimalism that focuses on authenticity over aesthetics. Christine's book is a resource anyone seeking to discover the truth behind their overconsumption as well as how to let go of what no longer serves them. 

 I would highly recommend that you read Christine's book. If you're an audiobook person, check out Libro.fm - a platform that allows you to buy audiobooks from local bookstores in the US and Canada. Click the link below to sign up and use code SBG for a free audiobook with a new membership (*affiliate link).  

Sign up for Libro.fm: https://tidd.ly/35m6CnA 

Buy from Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/82297/9781982168049  

Follow Christine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afrominimalist/ 

Visit Christine's website: https://www.afrominimalist.com/

Watch this video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/i0H8OcPU6D0

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

The youth are truly leading the climate discussion. From Fridays for Future, that’s led by Greta Thunberg to The Sunrise Movement, a youth-led political action organization focused on stopping climate change. It’s no doubt that Gen Z is fully invested in taking action in the fight against climate change. As a tired millennial, it’s truly inspiring to see such vigor in today’s youth as they challenge politicians and corporations, holding them accountable for the harm that they’ve done to the planet. And in addition to that, Gen Z has also made great strides in bringing awareness to environmental and social injustices that have been tolerated for way too long. In this episode, we’re chatting with a college student who is inspiring her generation to get involved in climate action.

Today's featured sustainable brown girl is Anya Sastry, a climate activist, filmmaker, and student. She produced a documentary titled Frontliners that highlights environmental injustice from the perspective of the less privileged. Anya is also the National Outreach Director for the US Youth Climate Strike and a contributor to the book  United We Are Unstoppable: 60 Inspiring Young People Saving Our World by Akshat Rathi.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Anya's role as National Outreach Director for the US Youth Climate Strike

- How young people can get involved with climate justice work

- Anya's film, Frontliners. and its exploration of the impacts of environmental injustice on marginalized communities

Watch Frontliners: http://anyasastry.com/frontliners/

Follow Anya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anyasastry/

Watch this video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P_EwuyNxwaE

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

It’s wedding season! Apparently 80% of weddings take place between May and October. I’ve actually already been to two weddings this year, and I just celebrated my own 10 year wedding anniversary on Earth Day. So I’ve got love bugs in my eyes.   

But seriously, it’s been a long time since I got married but I know that weddings can get expensive and they can also be wasteful. In today’s episode, we’re talking about a MAJOR way to save money on a wedding dress while reducing your impact on the planet.   

Today’s featured sustainable brown girl, Lundyn Carter, the co-founder and CEO of Laine London, a first-of-it’s kind rental bridal shop in Atlanta. Lundyn and co-founder Tiffany have created a more cost-efficient and eco-friendly solution that allows brides to feel beautiful in the dress of their dreams on their big day.

Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Gaia by Blush, a line of sustainable vibrators. Enter the giveaway for a Gaia of your choice by following Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram and commenting on our latest post about Gaia. For a bonus entry, leave a review for the podcast on Apple Podcasts and DM a screenshot to @sustainablebrowngirl on Instagram. Entry for the giveaway closes at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday May 4, and winner will be announced on Instagram on Thursday May 5.

Learn more about the Gaia collection here: https://blushlove.com/collections/gaia/

Support Laine London:

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laine_london/

Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lainelondon

Visit the website: https://www.lainelondon.com/

Watch this video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7-INH68fPWk

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

This time of year during Earth Day/Week/Month, it's a great time to give thanks to Mother Earth. Rather than worrying about all of the negative Earth news, now is the perfect time to celebrate her beauty and all she does for us. Staying positive isn't always easy, but our guest today helps keep us inspired.

Today's featured Sustainable Brown Girl is Zahra Biabani, also known as Soulful Seeds on Instagram where she shares Weekly Earth Wins to highlight environmental good news around the world. Zahra is a recent Vanderbilt University graduate and founder of In the Loop, a clothing rental platform that makes sustainable fashion more accessible.

We talk about: 

- How Zahra started Weekly Earth Wins and how she stays motivated as climate optimist

- Her sustainable clothing rental brand, Rent in the Loop

- Greenwashing in the fashion industry

- How to make our wardrobes more sustainable

Support Zahra: 

Blog: https://soulfulseedsblog.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/soulful_seeds

Rent in the Loop: https://rentintheloop.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rentintheloop/

Special thanks to WLDOHO for sponsoring this episode. Make the switch to plastic free shaving with a WLDOHO safety razor.

https://wldoho.com/

Use code ARIEL10 for 10% off

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lFtxD5Jg4Gg

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

There’s no denying that Native people and Black people were traditionally stewards of the land in North America, and fed it’s inhabitants for hundreds of years.. In 1920, the number of Black Farmers peaked at nearly 1 million people, however a mere 100 years later, there are fewer than 50,000 Black farmers.

Systematic racism within government programs has caused BIPOC farmers to lose land funding over the years, resulting in food insecurity, a heap of health and financial disadvantages, not to mention a disconnection from the earth.

In today’s episode, I’m talking to an incredible woman who is working to uplift communities of color by providing access to farming resources, community fridges, and educational courses to help improve lives for generations to come.

Today's featured sustainable brown girl is Amyrose Foll, an Indigenous and Eastern European farmer, activist and food justice warrior. Amyrose is the founder of Virginia Free Farm, which works to provide free nutrient dense food assistance to those in need.

Support Virginia Free Farm:https://virginiafreefarm.org/

Follow VFF on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiafreefarm/

Follow Amyrose on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamamaize/

Special thanks to WLDOHO for sponsoring this episode. Make the switch to plastic free shaving with a WLDOHO safety razor. 

https://wldoho.com/

Use code ARIEL10 for 10% off.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XdmgOREglPk

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

When it’s time for businesses to remodel their offices, what happens to all of the old furniture and textiles? Usually they’re sent to a landfill to rot or be incinerated. Of course that’s not good for the planet. The goal is to create a circular economy where things that are no longer needed can be reused or recycled to be used in a new way or by a different person. That’s exactly what our guest today is facilitating with her business.

Today's featured sustainable brown girl is May Al-Karooni a Middle-Eastern woman living in the UK, and founder of Globechain, the biggest ESG reuse marketplace worldwide. On a mission to divert 100 million tonnes of waste from landfill by 2025, Globechain is helping businesses become leaders in circular economy through reuse.

In this episode we talk about:

- How Globechain is helping businesses divert waste

- Why a circular economy is important 

- How businesses can be more conscious about their waste

Support Globechain:

www.globechain.com

https://www.instagram.com/weareglobechain/

https://www.instagram.com/globechain/

https://twitter.com/globechain

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/o8EbdHmCzHY

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Today's featured sustainable brown girl is Julietta Gamboa, the owner of Gaea Solutions Inc, a company with the mission to reduce the output of waste generated by the restaurant industry. To achieve this, Julietta works with restaurants to develop efficient strategies and habits within establishments to ensure sustainable growth for years to come. 

In this episode we talk about: 

- sustainable options for food packaging 

- the most wasteful practices in the restaurant industry 

- how restaurants can divert waste 

- how food industry waste impacts its immediate environment and community 

- how consumers can encourage restaurants to be more sustainable 

Support Gaea Solutions: 

https://gaeasustainable.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/gaeasolutions/

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

When we transition to a low waste lifestyle, we often look around our homes and see several areas that could use improvement; such as replacing disposable paper towels with reusables, trading disposables razors for a metal one, or trying beauty products with better ingredients and packaging. It can be overwhelming but it helps to remember that using and reusing what we have is the most sustainable option. When it's time to make the switch, do your research, take your time, and try to support small or woman of color owned businesses. 

Today's featured Sustainable Brown Girl is Alex Gamboa Grand, the co-founder of Way of Being, a low waste shop located in Portland, Oregon and online. By offering a variety of low waste products and guides, Way of Being is helping us be more intentional on our sustainable journeys.

We talk about:

Website: https://wayofbeing.co/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofbeing.co/

Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iZJP3euvu1E

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

It's Global Recycling Day! I'm not sure how popular this "holiday" is, but I want to take this opportunity to share a conversation that I had on my local radio show with the director of Keep Newnan Beautiful - a local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful in my hometown of Newnan, GA. In this episode, I share a portion of the interview where we talk about recycling myths and local recycling tips. As you're listening to this, keep in mind that recycling protocol varies from city to city and state to state, so please research your local recycling guidelines. 

Big thanks to Wren for sponsoring this episode. Go to Wren.co to calculate your carbon footprint and offset it by funding climate-positive projects.

If you're interested in running for local office, here are some resources to help!

Run for Something - Supporting candidates under 40: https://runforsomething.net/run/

Elevate: Campaign Training for People with Disabilities: https://ncil.org/elevate/

Get Her Elected: https://www.getherelected.com/

Vote Mama: https://www.votemama.org/

Keep Newnan Beautiful: https://www.keepnewnanbeautiful.org/

Keep America Beautiful: https://kab.org/

Watch the video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hMPl3_t-wZM

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Today's featured sustainable brown girl is Ushma Pandya, co-founder of Think Zero LLC, a consultancy offering waste reduction and diversion services to businesses and homes. Before the term "zero waste" was trendy, Ushma was raising awareness about consumption and waste with her schoolmates and work colleagues.  

Before we get into the interview with Ushma, let's discuss the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.

Here's a great reference article breaking down the IPCC report: https://www.wri.org/insights/ipcc-report-2022-climate-impacts-adaptation-vulnerability

Big thanks to Wren for sponsoring this episode. Go to Wren.co to calculate your carbon footprint and offset it by funding climate-positive projects.

Visit Think Zero website: https://www.thinkzerollc.com/

Follow Think Zero on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkzerollc/

Follow Think Zero Home on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkzerohome/

Follow Ushma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ditchthewaste/

Watch the video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nZNFDvol0Zk

Donate to Sustainable Brown Girl on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sustainablebrowngirl

Visit the Sustainable Brown Girl Website: https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/

Follow Sustainable Brown Girl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebrowngirl/

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!