Sustainable Planet

Following the last episode’s general focus on pollinators, this episode zooms in on bees. From the ethics of beekeeping, why seedless watermelons make bees work overtime, and the unsettling nature of colony collapse disorder, Jorden and Kimberly consider the astonishing diversity of bees. In addition to the legislative acts that promote apiary conservation, individuals can do a lot that matters, including rewilding yards, reducing pesticides, leaving fallen wood, planting natives, supporting local honey, and even “adopting” a bee.  

Recommended Resources

Pollinators do far more than keep our gardens blooming — these tiny workers support global food systems, sustaining a third of the world’s food supply. In this episode, Jorden and Kimberly dig into what’s threatening bees, bats, butterflies, and more — and how rethinking our landscaping choices could help.

The immense ecological and economic importance of pollination is worth over $230 billion in global production. The astonishing diversity of invertebrate and vertebrate pollinators range from bats to beetles to butterflies, yet climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, and cultural habits, like manicured lawns, threaten their survival. From planting clover or violets to creating “pollinator pathways” on balconies and rooftops, Jorden and Kimberly emphasize how small changes can make a big difference. Planting attracting plants, including buckwheat, canola, and sunflowers, is as important as cultural change

Recommended Resources

Lawns are cultural icons—but they’re also ecological dead zones. In this episode, Jordan Dye and Kimberly Weir explore how native planting, edible gardens, and rewilding can save water, cut emissions, support pollinators, and make neighborhoods more livable. From Nevada’s “Cash for Grass” program to backyard biodiversity, it’s time to rethink what a beautiful yard really looks like and how the cultural, ecological, and mental health benefits of reconnecting with nature right outside your door.

Recommended Resources

What Cambridge did

What Nevada did

What California did

Colorado, Minnesota, and Maryland passed “pollinator-friendly” laws

Lawn Alternatives for Dogs

Kimberly’s Substack newsletter post

We return home after our series of travel episodes, stepping foot on the environmental money pit disguised as curb appeal. This episode of Sustainable Planet, Jorden and Kimberly explore the historical roots of lawn aesthetics, the significant water and chemical usage associated with maintaining lawns, and the broader social inequities tied to lawn culture. What has become a status symbol, whose maintenance is often mandated by law, the modern lawn needs an update to be more sustainable.

Recommended Resources

In the last of a four-part series on travel, Jorden and Kimberly finish out their journey, considering sustainable means of travel by focusing on the choices we make once we’ve arrived at our destination. They explore how supporting local businesses, opting for hostels or sleeper trains, and even simple decisions like how we handle laundry or sunscreen can make a meaningful difference for communities and ecosystems. Kimberly shares practical tips from years of international travel—like why letting locals handle your laundry may save water and support economies while Jorden emphasizes the power of spending money directly with small vendors instead of global chains.

The conversation also highlights the hidden sustainability benefits of hostels, the allure of legendary train journeys like the Orient Express, and why reef-safe sunscreen is more than just a buzzword phrase. From intentional packing, minimizing waste, and balancing convenience with long-term environmental impact, the last travel installment considers how slowing down, traveling with purpose, and prioritizing local connections can turn vacations into richer and more sustainable experiences.

Recommended Resources

World Bank tourism data

More World Bank visitor data

Hosteling in Europe

Amazing Southeast Asia and India train trips

The importance of reef-safe sunscreen and comparisons

Kimberly’s Substack newsletter post

In the third of a four-part series on travel, Jorden and Kimberly head abroad, considering the top tourist destinations, whether to visit by land, sea, or air, and just how big of an impact our choices have on the planet.

More people than ever are traveling abroad, and Americans are adding to the numbers, with 48% currently holding a valid passport, contributing to the tourist bucks that accounted for $10.9 trillion of the global GDP and 357 million jobs in 2024. From the most visited cities to the top international airport arrivals, destinations ranging from amusement parks to the world’s most popular landmarks, Jorden and Kimberly consider the impact that tourist traffic and climate change have on these destinations and how countries are coping, along with what airlines and cruise lines are doing (or not) to be more green.

Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include:

Recommended Resources

The domestic journey continues in the second of a four-part series on travel, considering the dilemmas that choosing accommodations, dining, and souvenirs raise for sustainably-minded travelers. As U.S. domestic travel rebounded to $918 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit over $1 trillion in 2027, the choices voyagers make matter even more as the climate change situation worsens. But to still have a great time, Jorden and Kimberly discuss practical ways travelers can minimize their carbon footprint while maximizing their positive impact. 

Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include:

Recommended Resources

In the first of a four-part series on travel, Jorden and Kimberly begin with what goes into planning a journey to consider how to have a great vacation that’s also more sustainable.

With the number of travelers continuing the upward trend interrupted by the pandemic, more

Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include:

Just how much domestic tourism has rebounded since the pandemic

What are the most popular cities, favorite attractions, most visited national and amusement parks, and top beach destinations

What The Ultimate Road Trip involves

How train travel is making a comeback, while air travel rates continue to soar

Why when we go matters more than we might think

How just a few considerations can make a difference

Recommended Resources

AAA 2025 projections

Top tourist cities in NA

Top US National Park Service destinations

US NP funding cuts impact

Top Canadian National Park destinations

Top amusement and theme park destinations

US domestic flight trends

US Amtrak trends

Kimberly’s Substack newsletter post

Jorden and Kimberly are taking a vacation break and will return on August 7th.

If you're new to the show, while we think all of our episodes are fantastic, we have a few favorites we recommend that you check out during our brief hiatus.

Recommendations

Before Jorden joined as co-host, Michael Baranowski was Kimberly's inaugural co-host. He has since graciously stayed on as the tech guy responsible for the amazing audio quality for SP and The Politics Guys-a podcast he started over a decade ago and well worth a listen.

Michael and Kimberly recorded over a dozen episodes. Since they set the direction for Sustainable Planet, if you're new to the podcast, even if you're listening because Jorden is your environmental hero, here are a few listener favorites you might want to check out.

Recommendations

Cocoa trees naturally promote environmental sustainability. However, without international support, farmers necessarily resort to less sustainable methods and labor exploitation. In the second segment of chocolate production, Jorden and Kimberly consider sustainability strategies and innovations for producers and, especially, for the manufacturers who have far greater means to effect change.

Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include:

Recommended Resources

Kimberly’s list of widely-available ethically-sourced chocolate producers she can vouch for and their availability