Up To Some Good Podcast by Claudia Lee

In Episode 14, I interview Kayla Wong, Founder of sustainable fashion brand 'Basics for Basics' and soon-to-be launched concept 'Casa of Love'. I’ve always been inspired by how Kayla uses her voice and platform to amplify important topics such as LGBTQ rights and inclusive beauty standards.

We had a very authentic conversation on the steps of Sheung Wan (HK), where we talked about everything from the representation of women in media, her recent digital cover with her partner Elaine Chen-Fernandez, her new concept @casaof.love and much more.

I hope that this conversation will remind you to always stay true to yourself, and in Kayla’s words, "that you can choose to love whoever you want to love."

Here is a summary of our conversation:

Follow Kayla on instagram @kaylaiw! Also, remember to checkout her brands @basicsforbasics and @casaof.love!

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My guest in Episode 13 is Scilla Andreen, a Director, Producer, Emmy nominated costume designer, Founder of IndieFlix and a mother of five. Despite constantly changing gears throughout the day, she inspires me by the way she approaches every task with absolute passion and joy.

Recording the podcast at her Seattle-based home, Scilla also played me her singing bowl right before we ended. Our conversation left me feeling very empowered and excited, and I hope that you will feel the same too!

Scilla experienced first-hand the difficulty distributing films as an indie filmmaker in Hollywood. This motivated her to launch IndieFlix, a streaming platform  that pays filmmakers by the number of minutes their films are viewed.

As director and producer, Scilla’s documentaries cover topical and controversial issues from mental health to cyberbullying. Deeply believing in the transformative power of film, her goal is to “affect change within one minute of viewing.” Currently, she’s working on her latest documentary ‘Race’.

Here is a summary of our conversation:

-  From Emmy nominated Costume Designer to launching IndieFlix

-  IndieFlix’s revenue per minute business model

-   Overcoming personal challenges through film and art

-  The importance of seeking joy in every task

-  Being open to receive and letting the Universe act as your guide

-  Being propositioned in Hollywood

-  Scaling the impact of a documentary

-  Empowering underserved communities through film

Follow @indieflixfoundation or start streaming some of their documentaries on https://www.indieflix.com/foundation!

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In Episode 12, I speak to Oxford based James Talbot and Jake Jones about how and why they launched their baking venture during lockdown. Pobi Bakery is an Oxfordshire (UK) based bakery launched by the couple during lockdown last year. With more time during lockdown, the couple started baking from home and within a few months, decided to launch ‘Pobi Bakery, where they sell everything from traditional bakes to artisan loaves. Coming across their story in an article, I reached out and was lucky enough to be able to podcast with them amidst their busy baking schedule.

James and Jake share their experience launching a business during lockdown, the importance of constantly moving out of your comfort zone and how they use Pobi to support causes they believe in. They also discuss their signature goods and reveal new products they are trying out.

Here is a summary of our conversation: 

*Balancing business strategy and staying true to your values

*Selling baked goods at an accessible price range

*Running a bakery that minimizes waste and supports local causes

*Difficulty of finding raw material during COVID

*How change and challenge keeps you creative

*Ensuring the same quality of deliciousness while scaling

*What’s next for Pobi Bakery?

Although unfortunately most of us cannot try their goods yet, you can still give your eyes a treat by browsing through their baked goods on their instagram @pobi_bakery or their website https://www.pobibakery.com/

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In Episode 11, I interview the founders of Hong Kong Shifts, Cynthia Cheng and Maxime Vanhollebeke. One morning, Maxime walked past his security guard and realized he knew nothing about her life, he invited her for a coffee and asked Cynthia to join. This was the beginning of Hong Kong Shifts, a social impact storytelling project the pair initiated in 2017. The project put the spotlight on shift workers, those helping us discreetly in the background and which we tend to sometimes overlook or take for granted.  Cynthia interviews the subjects and writes their stories while Maxime photographs them. As of January 2021, they have featured the stories of over 60 shift workers and their work can be seen around shops and cafes in Hong Kong.

Listen to our podcast to hear about some of their most memorable interactions with shift workers, and the magic of connecting with strangers.

·      The eureka moment that led to HK Shifts

·      The organic process of interviewing their subjects

·      Moving out of your comfort zone to get to know people around you

·      How HK shifts collaborates with local NGOs

·      Growing together as Founders

·      The encounter with a food delivery shift worker

Check out their beautiful photos and stories @hongkongshifts or go on their website to find out more about their projects: https://www.hongkongshifts.com/

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In this episode I talk to Founder of Good Days activewear Libby Perry about how she navigated launching a sustainable and affordable activewear label during the height of COVID. Libby launched Good Days with a goal to make a high quality, comfortable activewear more accessible, “with the sustainability, almost being the ‘added bonus’”.

We talk about everything from creating ‘tech-packs’, finding a healthy way to move, setting an accessible price point for her activewear to how she balances living a sustainable lifestyle with building a sustainable brand. Here is a summary of our discussion:

- What inspired her to launch Good Days

- The lengthy and exciting process of launching a fashion label – from ideation to product launch

- How a to embody sustainability in all forms, from products to lifestyle

- Finding a type of movement that benefits mind and body

- Conscious consumption & the gap in the market for sustainable ‘basics’

- Setting an accessible price point

- Being transparent & honest about sustainability

Follow @gooddays.activewear or check out their amazing pieces on https://gooddaysactivewear.com/

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As the co-founder of two conscious brands @my_lacess and @happybaton and a mother of two boys, Natalie shares her journey navigating motherhood and entrepreneurship. During our conversation, we discuss her motivation to build socially conscious brands, being a female entrepreneur in Hong Kong and much more!

Here is a summary of our conversation

- How Lacess began

- The problem of modern slavery

- Motherhood and entrepreneurship

- Playing in a sustainable way with toy subscription services

- Importance of handling criticism as an entrepreneur

- Improved conditions of Chinese manufacturing factories

- Being a female entrepreneur in Hong Kong

For more information, checkout:

@my_lacess, or find out more on: https://mylacess.com/

@happybatonhk, or find out more on: www.happybaton.com.hk

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In this Episode, I interview Brian Reilly, Founder of MUUSE, a rent and return system of reusable containers launched to minimize single-use plastic waste. During the podcast, we discuss everything from the future of reusable containers, how to start reducing waste in your daily life to the composting system in San Francisco.

Here is a summary of our conversation:

- Launching of MUUSE

- Brian’s background in the renewable energy industry

- MUUSE’s rent and return process

- Future of Reusable containers

- How to start reducing waste in your day-to-day

Follow @MUUSE.IO or @MUUSE.HK, you can also find out more on their website: https://muuse.io

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In this episode, I interview Raphael De Ry, Founder of @edgar, a zero-waste and bulk grocery store in Hong Kong. We had a great conversation about the rise of bulk grocery shopping in Hong Kong and how COVID has actually benefitted zero-waste stores like Edgar due to demands for more product traceability. Learn more Edgar’s products and find tips to live more sustainably on their website: www.edgar.hk

Here is a summary of our conversation:

- Beginnings of Edgar – from popup to a bulk grocery store

Follow @edgar.hk on Instagram, or find out more on their on https://www.edgar.hk/ | Also, remember to follow us @upto_somegood for regular updates!

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In this UTSG episode, I interview Chris Brown, Founder of @rethink_event, a 2 day B2B event in Hong Kong designed to help businesses accelerate change towards a more sustainable future. We had a fascinating discussion about HK specific problems related to implementing sustainability to reverse vending machines and of course, what ReThink aims to achieve

Here is a summary of our conversation:

- How ReThink aims to accelerate sustainable change in HK businesses

Follow ReThink on Instagram @rethink_event or head to their website to find out about ReThink 2021: https://www.rethinkevents.com/

In this Episode, I interview Sonja Debus and Timo Juritsch, founders of @ImpactBerry Coffee, a local coffee brand on a mission to give back, one coffee berry at a time. We discuss how shared value is created in every part of the supply chain, from harvesting to roasting; we also chat about fair trade, how permaculture affects coffee flavour and much more!

Here is a summary of our conversation:

- How a gift of two bags of coffee led to Impact Berry

Follow Impact Berry on Instagram @impactberry or head to their website to find out more: https://impactberry.com.hk/

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