The Sustainable Planet Podcast

We are so excited to be back! Just as we took a break from the podcast, in this episode we decided to take a break from environmentalism and dive into the expansive topic of social media. As teenage girls, we discussed the impact of social media on both body image and politics. Our own experiences with our generation and the Internet shaped this discussion, with topics covered such as Instagram activism, the addictiveness of TikTok, and the body positivity movement. Listen in for a nuanced discussion on self confidence in a world obsessed with online presence, reflections on the harsh expectations placed on young bodies, and our perspective on the value of social media. 

We are joined in this episode by Ava, founder of Fearther Magazine, an environmental magazine with a focus on intersectionality within the environmental movement. We kick off this episode discussing Ava’s history as an environmentalist and how it led to the magazine’s founding. However, the main focus of today’s podcast is intersectional environmentalism. If you are curious about the definition and development of this movement or how business owners and individuals can contribute, make sure to listen in. We also bring up our podcasts’ favorite discussion: which form of environmental action is most effective? Ava gives us her own opinion on this issue. She also gives us tips about building our own TikTok empire, and gives her opinion on what it takes to be an environmentalist. This episode was filmed about a year ago, but the discussion is still very relevant in the movement to equitably transition to a more sustainable future. 

Welcome to our first episode in quite a while, and Anna’s first solo episode on the podcast! To ease back into our podcasting, we’re starting off discussing one of Anna’s favorite subjects: music. In this episode, she explores the many environmental references hidden in modern music. Songs with gentle romance, upbeat indie, or full-on rage all weave themes of environmental justice and climate activism into their lyrics. Anna dissects these lyrics, discussing them alongside her own experience with uncertainty for a future plagued by environmental catastrophe. She discusses the power of music to raise awareness, create change, and build hope for the future of our planet. 

We are joined by Sasha Zhang, a local coordinator for the Sunrise Movement. Sunrise is a policy-focused youth-led environmental organization, with hubs all over the United States. Sasha tells us all about her environmental journey, from a casual supporter to change-maker. We discuss climate justice, youth activism, and how to navigate a world of adults hesitant to take action. Sasha shares insight on the importance of community, and we discuss the future of climate policy under a new president. While climate change is scary, the power of youth voices brings hope. 

No matter if you are listening on February 14th or not, we hope this podcast will offer a new perspective on some of the underlying expectations and environmental impacts of this holiday, while also celebrating all of its good parts! We discuss Valentine’s Day’s gender and consumerist expectations, and the environmental impacts of the classic gifts: chocolate, roses, and diamonds. We also discuss some of our favorite memories from Valentine’s Day, and offer ideas for less impactful gifts to give. 

In this episode, Anna and Anya discuss the sustainability of veganism, considering the less-than-perfect meat alternatives as well as the many obstacles to following a vegan lifestyle. We share our own experiences with vegetarianism and veganism and talk about the dietary expectations of environmentalists. We consider the rich histories of vegan diets around the world and how a shift to veganism can be attainable to many consumers through small daily changes. Delving into the classism surrounding the veganism movement, we challenge the judgemental mindsets of many vegans. If you are thinking about going vegan or simply reducing your meat consumption, this podcast will hopefully be a helpful resource. 

Anya and Anna are joined by Nadine Gibson, a local Tacoma activist, to discuss all things Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and consumerist. The discussion was sparked by an essay Nadine wrote about Thanksgiving, though we also discussed the manipulation and wastefulness of Black Friday, and the connection between possessions and social status. We consider the commodification of environmentalism itself, within the “VSCO girl” trope aiming at selling more goods and upholding wasteful systems, and the sexism within the consumer market.  

Anya and Anna debate artificial vs. real Christmas trees, discuss sustainable holiday gifts, share their thoughts on wrapping paper as well as many other topics on this episode of The Sustainable Planet Podcast.

A welcome to the Sustainable Planet Podcast and a discussion on the many facets of the minimalist movement.