In this episode of The Most Good Podcast, hosted by Samira from Dakota and Rowan, a secondhand shop in Pasadena, California, the focus is on public transit and mobility sharing as sustainable transportation options. The episode features special guest, Nina Dinh, from California Department of Transportation on the California Integrated Travel Project. They discuss the significant potential of public transit to reduce carbon emissions, the challenges and perceptions around safety and efficiency in Los Angeles, and the comparison of public transit with private car rides and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. The conversation also covers the importance of making public transit a more attractive and feasible option for everyday travel, through improving technology and increasing the frequency and accessibility of services. Samira and Nina emphasize the role of individual action in choosing more sustainable transportation options, encouraging listeners to try incorporating public transportation into their lives.

In this episode of 'The Most Good Podcast,' host Samira shares her personal journey towards sustainability, reflecting on the origins of her secondhand shop Dakota and Rowan and her commitment to living a more sustainable life despite the challenges. She discusses the impact of transportation on carbon emissions, her own habits and struggles with sustainability, including the temptation of instant gratification, the habit of idling, and the balance between indulging in personal preferences and maintaining a responsible carbon footprint. Samira also touches on the concept of survival mode and how it affects one's ability to prioritize environmental concerns. The episode concludes with actionable advice for listeners to reduce their carbon footprint, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and intentionality in everyday decisions.

00:00 00:00 A Personal Journey to Sustainability

00:44 Welcome to The Most Good Podcast

01:12 Becoming a Conscious Consumer

01:54 The Impact of Our Transportation Habits

04:02 Instant Gratification and Its Environmental Cost

05:39 The Unconscious Habit of Idling

08:24 Using Cars as an Escape Mechanism

10:36 Leaning into Preferences While Being Mindful

16:24 Survival Mode and Sustainable Choices

17:51 Homework and Next Steps

Welcome to The Most Good - the podcast where sustainability meets reality. I’m your host Samira and am the owner of Dakota + Rowan, a secondhand shop in Pasadena, CA.  I’m also a mom-lennial that’s a mom and a millennial, who along with all of you inherited a world on the brink...join me on an imperfect journey to doing the most good.