PEOPLE WHO ARE CRUSHIN' IT [the ecofemmag podcast]

The definition of Moxie according to Merriam-Webster:1: ENERGY, PEP woke up full of moxie2: COURAGE, DETERMINATION it takes … moxie to pull up roots and go to a land where the culture and probably the language are totally foreign— M. J. McClary3: KNOW-HOW was impressed with his musical moxie and hired him as a soloAlexia Vernon is the author of Step into Your Moxie: Amplify Your Voice, Visibility, and Influence in the World. Dubbed a “Moxie Maven” by President Obama’s White House Office of Public Engagement for her potent approach to women’s empowerment, Alexia is a sought-after women’s speaking and leadership coach. The creator of The Spotlight Speaker Accelerator and Spotlight Speakers Collective speaker coaching programs, she has delivered transformational keynotes and corporate training for Fortune 500 companies and professional associations, spoken at the United Nations, and delivered a TEDx talk on the future of feminism. Alexia has been featured on networks including CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS and in ForbesWoman, Inc., Women's Health, and The European Business Review. Connect with Alexia at alexiavernon.com and across social media @alexiavernon.We LOVE Alexia's blog with actionable steps to step into your truth.Are you ready to step into YOUR Moxie? I am! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Meet Nixie: The Goddess ActivatorNixie Marie is a wild and passionate soul here with a mission to raise the vibration of our planet and support women in reclaiming her sacred feminine gifts. Through her many gifts as a Shamanic Artist, Goddess Activist/ Coach, Global Moon Priestess, Medium, Intuitive Healer, and Podcast Host of I AM GODDESS COLLECTIVE, she opens herself up as a channel to the divine. She is a lover of the earth, the sun, the moon, and all things metaphysical. In her early 20's she found herself through the healing arts and studying in the realms of shamanism, witchcraft, sound healing, ritual dance, moon magick, and music festivals. Today you can find her living on the land in Topanga, CA in a yurt painting mandalas and sharing her spiritual teachings. She's also our soul-sister & Sagittarius Mystic Witchy Queen!Get to know her and her AWESOME work by simply listening to this podcast episode and soaking up all the goodness and high vibes. Oh yeah!You can find Nixie here:Instagram @iamgoddesscollective@nixiemariewww.iamgoddesscollective.comwww.nixiemarie.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Christina seriously crushed this podcast interview. At the time of recording, we were about to head to the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal and Christina prepared me, Ellen, on the spot on how to network like a boss and navigate the jungle of the Summit. Christina coached me on the spot which will make you think of how you speak at networking events and to anyone you speak really.Speaking of which: are you considering attending a couple of networking events this year? I recommend to attend a handful this year to expand your network and work on your speaking skills. #2019goalsChristina Canters is a keynote speaker, communication skills expert and podcast strategist based in Melbourne, Australia. A former Architect, she started her business The C Method to help corporate professionals and business leaders dramatically increase their influence, confidence and impact at work, through learning powerful communication techniques.An engaging and high-energy speaker, she inspires and educates audiences around the world with her compelling storytelling, passion and humour.Christina has been podcasting since 2013. Her current show, Stand Out Get Noticed, is one of the top-ranked public speaking and business communication podcasts in iTunes, with over 800,000 downloads.She is also the CEO of Podcast Services Australia (PSA), which she co-founded with her fiancé Aaron Heath. PSA is an innovative podcast development and training company that helps individuals and organisations maximise their impact through podcasts. PSA won a StartUp Victoria Female Founders award in 2017.To learn more and connect with Christina, visit thecmethod.com and podcastservices.com.au. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Written by Brittany ShenkPicture this: you walk outside your house, and you’re IN a park. Plants are all around you; they line the sidewalks, climb the walls of your home, huge trees provide shade and fruit for you to snack on. They cleanse your air. They decrease your stress. You don’t have to walk to the park to be surrounded by nature, you step out your front door, and boom, nature is just there, hugging you, cleansing you, loving you.When did we decide that green spaces have to be confined within the boundaries of a park? Plants are essential to the health of the planet, so, doesn’t it make sense that we would want them EVERYWHERE?Stevie Famulari, our podcast guest this week, is my new favorite plant enthusiast. She’s on a mission to integrate more plants into our environments, like rooftops, building walls, offices spaces, etc., to address the changing climate. Stevie has handfuls of brilliant projects that use plants as a focal point. Stevie “has been a Professor of Landscape Architecture for a decade, as well as a director, a green artist, an author, and a researcher”, and has been featured in hundreds of books, magazines, television shows, papers, and newspaper articles.In our podcast episode, Ellen had the chance to chat with her about her latest projects, here’s a quick recap:EngagingGreen.com: a database for finding certain plants to uptake certain environmental toxins (cigarette smoke, formaldehyde, etc.)A rooftop garden chakra healing center for outpatient cancer patients: yep, it’s as cool as it sounds, and yep, even the crystals were approvedLiving green dresses: exactly what you’re imagining, roots and allGreen Up!: her upcoming book to help businesses and individuals learn how to ‘green up’ their spaces; keep an eye out for this baby to hit the shelvesSimply put, Stevie is a plant-loving badass.Let us know what you think of this week’s episode in the comments below, and be sure to check out all of Stevie’s impressive, green projects on her website. Stevie Famulari, Gds teaches and designs public art, phytoremediation, stormwater management, landscape architecture history, and specialty green courses. Her research in design explores the relationship, extension, and application of green designs to other professional fields. Stevie’s PhD, ABD research is at RMIT. She received her Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a concentration in Fine Arts from Syracuse University. Her Bachelors of Fine Arts is from New York University.Ms. Famulari’s works explores the relationship, extension, and application of green designs to other professional fields. Her work focuses on greening designs and practices to create healthy spaces for living and working. With the science of phytoremediation applied to the art of landscape design, her works have aesthetic beauty as well as healing properties for both people and the environment. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Written by Brittany ShenkHAPPY PODCAST THURSDAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: we are so pumped to have Emma Loewe, the sustainability editor at mindbodygreen, on our podcast this week. All of us here at ecofemmag are huge fans of her work and often pop over to mbg to skim Emma’s latest articles. Her voice is powerful, yet gentle, and we find inspiration in her ability to stay optimistic about healing the planet, which is not always an easy thing to do.Fun fact about Emma: she studied Environmental Science at Duke University to learn how to spread awareness about environmental issues through storytelling. Another fun fact? That’s exactly what she’s doing. AKA: she’s crushin’ it.One of the reasons we wanted to bring Emma onto the show - other than the fact that we’re a little #obsessed - was to chat about a book she recently co-authored, The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide To Ancient Self-Care. The title alone makes my heart vibrate. Her book is a seasonal guide to improving overall wellness using ancient rituals, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. “Our main intention with the book was to add a little bit more meaning and purpose behind self-care...we really wanted to weave in some of the history behind some more self-care practices to add a little bit more context.”We hope you can set aside 20 minutes of your day to listen to this podcast with Emma. Her passion for self-care, environmental activism, and sharing news through storytelling rings loud and clear, and we need more energy like that bouncing around in the universe.We encourage all of you to check out Emma's website, and follow her on mindbodygreen and Instagram. Thank you Emma, from the bottom of our hearts, for setting aside time to chat with us on the ecofemmag podcast. We’re thrilled to see what you do next. Emma Loewe is a NYC-based writer and editor. She is currently the Sustainability Editor at mindbodygreen. She graduated from Duke University with a degree in Environmental Science in 2015 and is fascinated by how people interact with nature. She loves being outside, taking photos, and finding creative ways to write about sustainability. She is the co-author of The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide To Ancient Self-Care, a collection of spiritual rituals pegged to the four seasons. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Written by Brittany ShenkAnyone here know what glossophobia is? It’s a fear of public speaking, and one of the most common fears human beings experience. It’s right up there with spiders, death, heights, and being stuck in small spaces.Public speaking terrifies me. You’d think after 18 years of schooling, two of which were very presentation-focused, my public speaking anxiety would’ve improved? #nope. Sweat soaks my palms. Breathing becomes more difficult, uneven and shallow. My limbs tremble. I experience a ‘presentation blackout.' I walk off stage to recover, and realize I don't remember a single moment of my speech. Oh crap, did I leave an entire part of it out? Did my words match up with the presentation slides? Who did I make eye-contact with...did I even remember to make eye contact..? What were my hands doing the whole time?? Who knows? I can't remember. These questions just bounce around like ping-pong balls in my head.PUBLIC SPEAKING: A TOOL FOR SELF-DISCOVERYRecently, the ecofemmag team has been focusing on dropping down into our heart spaces before sharing our thoughts. Speaking our truths. This takes a bit of inner work though. Speaking our truths first requires that we explore our inner truths - figuring out who we are at our core - which is what our podcast episode this week is all about.Our podcast guest, Angela Lussier, is a two-time TEDx presenter and founder of the Speaker Sisterhood. We discussed the journey that led her to her profession in public speaking, her experiences on a TED stage, and the Speaker Sisterhood business.She’s also really good at cartwheels.SPEAKER SISTERHOODSpeaker Sisterhood club is kinda like Toastmasters, but it’s exclusively for women and focuses on using public speaking as a tool for self discovery. The curriculum Angela developed is dynamic, and includes mind mapping, impromptu speaking, speech development, meditation, and yoga, among other development activities.The women in the Sisterhood are at various levels with their public speaking skills, but they’re all determined to improve. The members learn from each other, guide one another, lift each other up, and hold space for their club members to feel safe and supported. They’re also finding shifts taking place in other areas of their lives, as a result of the program, areas such as romance, work, removing toxic friendships, and speaking authentically.“If you’re thinking about public speaking, and you feel like you're not ready, you should try it anyway. You’ll never be ready. You just have to start.”CONNECT WITH ANGELA LUSSIERThough she isn’t crazy about spending time on social media, you can still find and connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. To learn about how to sign-up for the Speaker Sisterhood club, check out her website and follow her instagram and Facebook page as well.Thank you, Angela, for being on the show, we are VERY excited to join the Speaker Sisterhood and learn more about speaking with authenticity & confidence. Angela Lussier is an award-winning speaker, five-time author, two-time TEDx presenter, and CEO and founder of the Speaker Sisterhood, a network of speaking clubs that help women discover, awaken, and create their voice through the art of public speaking. Angela is the host of Claim the Stage, a public speaking podcast for women, rated #1 on the inspiring podcasts list by Forbes in 2017. She is a contributor to Huffington Post and her work has been featured on ABC, NBC, Forbes, Virgin, and Entrepreneur. Her motto: Stop waiting. Start creating. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The wild feminine lives within each one of us. It can take time to acknowledge and connect with, but it is never separate from us, or accessed externally. The soul is brilliant, and when we drop from our heads to our hearts, tap into our own source of divine power, and listen to and honor our soul’s deepest desires, this is where the magic happens.I am honored and overwhelmed, with sisterly pride, to write our podcast summary this week. Ellen interviewed my own sister, Ashley Shenk, about her self-love journey, finding the courage to embrace her wild feminine energy, and her experiences living and working in intentional communities and how that has contributed to finding contentment and voicing her innermost, authentic truth.Ashley grew up in the forests of Oregon, surrounded by nature, but has only recently developed an intimate relationship with Mother Nature. As a child, she felt separate from the natural world, an outsider looking in. Nature was something to look at, rather than connect with. Living in eco-communities shifted the way she interacted with the natural world, which then altered the relationship she had with her own inner being. The more she became connected to nature, the more she connected to her self. The more she became connected to her self, the more she became connected to nature. The two are one in the same.She now lives and works at Breitenbush Hot Springs, a holistic healing retreat in the Cascade mountain range, where she leads Nature Alter workshops for the guests and staff. Through these workshops, she provides people with opportunities to physically and symbolically connect with earth and her energies; to tell stories, create art, and take pleasure in the sacred act of doing, simply to express oneself.“We are of nature, we are not separate from it. We are born from it, we will return to it, we eat it, it gives us energy. We are it.”Witnessing my older sister transform over the past couple of years into the radiant woman that stands beside me today has been a journey in itself. As the younger sister, I often find myself watching from the shore as Ashley hops across the river, leaping from one rock to the next with unmatchable grace and shrieks of excitement. From the deepest parts of my core, I honor her and her gentle determination to finding and expressing her soul’s voice.We hope you find the inspiration and the courage you need in her words. Let us know what you think of this podcast episode by commenting below. We invite you to share your personal journeys and struggles with us here at ecofemmag. Our hearts are open to hold space for you, our dearest listeners, and always remember: we love you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As editor in chief of ecofemmag, each week, I listen to Ellen’s podcasts and write summaries of the interviews she conducts with extraordinary eco-business owners, empowered women and men, compassionate environmentalists, and fellow nature-lovers. I can honestly say every podcast of Ellen’s I’ve listened to has emotionally moved me or inspired me in one way or another.But, dear ecofeminists, this week, listening to Ellen share her journey about speaking from the heart and her personal goal to improve her ability to stay present in her heart while in the company of others moved me to tears, accompanied by continuous waves of goosebumps. I related to her on such a deep level that I had to listen to the podcast twice before I could sit down and take notes to write the summary.The raw authenticity of her voice, the gentleness in her words, the truth she reveals about herself to the world - wow - I am beyond fortunate to know and work side-by-side with this radiant, high-vibe woman.“If I, the founder of this magazine & podcast can’t fully express myself, then what message am I sending to you, our beautiful listener? I feel this fire in me, this need to express myself authentically.”I sincerely hope you take ten minutes of your day to listen to Ellen share about the struggles she has faced staying grounded in her heart center in the presence of others, and how she plans to overcome them.Is speaking from the heart something you struggle with, too? Do you have advice you’d like to share with us, your ecofemmag team, or your fellow ecofeminists? Our goal here at ecofemmag is not only to share our wisdom with you, but we crave your wisdom as well. We nothing more than to grow together, rise together, evolve together. To be raw, authentic individuals, together.Thank you, for being you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sometimes, we stumble upon companies that make our whole body melt with comfort and gratitude. Mukti Organics is one of those genuinely breath-taking companies we fell in love with from the moment we discovered them. From their values and product quality, to their purpose and color schemes, it’s clear that Mukti Organics is wholesome and honest to the core.For this week’s podcast episode, Ellen spoke with Mukti herself, and oh man, we soaked up this conversation between the two of them like little dry sponges. Mukti’s raw authenticity seeps through her microphone and into our hearts. She is bursting at the seams with compassion, loving-kindness, and a mission to protect the planet, and highlight the beauty that already exists in every single one of us.“We can’t afford NOT to be sustainable in everything we do.”Her approach to health and personal care is simple & holistic, with an emphasis on reconnecting humans to nature. Mukti has set a high standard of organic beauty on an international scale with her award-winning formulations, which are all certified organic, vegan, and cruelty-free, and feature indigenous Australian ingredients.Additionally, Mukti has written a book - no, an encyclopedia, really - called Truth in Beauty. This book will blow your mind! It covers everything you’ll ever need to know about holistic beauty and lifestye practices.“Truth in Beauty is a practical, easy to follow book that will help you make the switch to clean beauty and a healthier lifestyle without compromising on the results.”We really hope you find this podcast episode as fulfilling as we did, we’re so grateful to have had the chance to connect with Mukti. She’s a holistic beauty superhero, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share her company with you.You can stay up to date with her on her website, Facebook page, and on Instagram. And be sure to keep an eye on our Instagram page, as we have an exciting Mukti giveaway to share with you…Mukti is an eco-activist and green cosmetic chemistry pioneer. Educated in complementary medicine with a penchant for beauty, botany, and clean living, Mukti has set the benchmark for certified organic skincare in Australia.She has been actively involved in the beauty and personal care industry for over two decades. Her varied career has encompassed natural therapies and beauty therapy with a common thread focusing on health and wellness. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Green Sea Guard. Even the name of this company paints a colorful picture of a powerful team of guardians poised and ready to save the Earth. Protectors of the ocean. Defenders of the water. This eco-focused company is in active forward motion to keep harmful emissions out of our water system. These are true ocean heroes.This week, Anita Bradshaw, the woman behind the operations of the Green Sea Guard, joined us for another episode of the ecofemmag podcast. Though it took 28 years for Anita to find her way into the renewable energy scene, she’s doing remarkable work with Green Sea Guard.When most of us talk about ‘emissions’, we’re usually referring to cars, planes, and factories, but we often forget the huge carbon dioxide contribution made by ships and other watercraft. Green Sea Guard provides (and installs) equipment to evaluate the emissions released by watercraft in order to improve the overall efficiency of the fleets, but also to bring awareness to the extremely high amounts of carbon emissions this industry produces.The Green Sea Guard is a team of both paid and volunteer employees, and the majority of them have been involved from day one, around four and a half years ago. These humans are changing the world for the better, and I thank each and every one of them from the depth of my soul.“There are so many little things we can all do every day, and sometimes it's quite easy to think ‘Oh, this doesn't really matter,’ but it’s all about every single one of us going that extra mile. We can really make a difference.”Curious about how Green Sea Guard monitors ship emissions? Are you itching to learn more about Anita and how she found herself working with this sea-changing project? This episode is only 24 minutes long - so be sure to pencil us in sometime today or this weekend. Don’t have time? Listen while you wash those dishes, or on your evening walk. Turn podcast learning into a family activity, maybe swapping out that evening TV show for a podcast chat. This podcast episode is bound to provoke lots of stimulating round-the-table discussions.Want to follow the Green Sea Guard’s progress? Click here to read more about them on their website. They’re also active on Twitter and Facebook, but they spend more time actually installing and monitoring, rather than posting to social media, so be patient with their updates! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The ocean is one of the purest forms of magic I’ve ever encountered. Her depth. Her vastness. Her sparkling, glittery surface. Her playful wildlife & intelligent plant children. Her rhythmic waves, the never-ending heartbeat of Earth herself. She is soft. She is powerful. She is a home, a coach, an entity, a friend, a mother, a sister, and a goddess.She cannot be owned. She cannot be controlled. She is a being. One that must be treated with respect, love, kindness, and compassion.This week we spoke with Eve Isambourg, otherwise known as @theecoblogger, about her campaign I Speak Blue, Too. Eve has a bone-deep connection to Mother Ocean & created this movement to provide a community for all ocean lovers around the world to feel less alone in their fight to protect her.Eve spent her teenage years living on an island in the Indian Ocean with her family. This is where she developed her intimate relationship with the sea. A relationship she described as similar to that of a mother and child:“The comparison could be the same [as that between] parents and their children. They love their children, so they care about their children and want to protect their children… When you love something, then you care, and want to protect that thing.”She’s a worldwide wave-chaser, an entrepreneur, an ocean protector, a graceful writer, a yoga instructor, a student of the universe. This is a podcast episode you won’t want to miss. Her spark is absolutely contagious. Thank you, Eve, for being on the show, we’re like little kids jumping up and down with too much excitement in our little bodies waiting to see what you’ll do next to help heal the planet.Pssst. Don’t forget to check out her socials to stay up to date with her current & upcoming projects, all of which are full of love & light:Website: Share with Eve IsambourgInstagram: @theecoblogger, @ispeakbluetooHashtags: #ispeakbluetooFacebook: Eve Isambourg, I Speak Blue, TooYouTube Channel See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The TakeawaysRipplEffect is a marketing and production company that provides impact experiences which address various societal issuesRipplEffect offers hands-on volunteer opportunities to encourage people to take action on issues they find important, by becoming an active part of the community they choose to visitThe ripple effect. We’ve all heard of it. The small drop of water in the still pond; the continuous spreading of an action or idea that gathers momentum with each new liquid ring of consciousness. This is how every movement grows, how every idea becomes widespread, how we band together with our brothers and sisters to make an impact and demand change.As the ripples wander farther apart, we are brought closer together.This week’s podcast episode spotlights Lauren Biegler, the founder of RipplEffect, a marketing and production company that creates social impact experiences to spread awareness about social issues and encourages people to take action. While working in a business and development sales role for another company, she had an undeniable sense of unfulfillment in her work. Lauren decided to take action rather than continue to feel like she wasn’t accomplishing anything. And voila, RipplEffect was born.RipplEffect’s overarching goal is to inspire people, through hands-on volunteering experiences, to take responsibility for issues they care deeply about, to help create change on both a local and global scale. Lauren feels most alive when she’s volunteering or involved with charity work, and I have an overwhelming amount of respect for her for choosing to follow her heart and start an impactful, giving, world-changing business, rather than staying in a role she found unfulfilling.“You must show up, learn, and take action in your own life to see the changes you want in our world. We are here to help you make that possible.”I hope you have some time to listen to this podcast, as you may find yourself wanting to be involved in the uplifting work they’re doing. Be sure to check out RipplEffect’s website to read more about what they’re accomplishing in the world. You can stay up-to-date with their movements by following them on Instagram and Facebook.Thank you, Lauren, for being the powerful, generous, change-making advocate you are and for taking time to be on the show. I cannot wait to see what you and RipplEffect will do next.You can listen to the podcast here on our website or on iTunes. Feel free to leave us a comment or a review, we’d love to hear from you!Lauren Biegler grew up surrounded by the breathtaking natural world of Colorado, blessed by unlimited access to the mountains and outdoor recreation. She moved to Boston for university, receiving a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Marketing. She then worked for five years at Mashable, a high-growth tech start-up company, in a business and development sales role. After deciding she wanted more purpose in her career, she left Mashable and co-founded We Journey, which is an impact travel company that provides travel experiences to international and domestic destinations. We Journey was incredibly successful, but she saw another opportunity to have a bigger impact in sustainability, and two years later she created RipplEffect. This provided the same services as We Journey, but gave people more support and accessibility. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Every morning, I start my day with a warm cup of cacao & cayenne and then pull a card from my Sacred Rebels Oracle deck while I sip on my spicy morning magic. I have an energetic connection to these cards, as if they’re old friends I get to chat with at the start of each new day. It feels as if they know me, especially when I’m wavering between doing what I think I should do and what my soul actually wants to do; they give me the messages and advice I need to hear to stay aligned with my true self.I chuckle to myself when I pull a card that changes the entire focus of my day, “How is it possible that a deck of cards can swat me back into leading with my heart and soul so quickly, when I can’t even convince myself to floss everyday?”This week’s podcast guest, Alana Fairchild, is the creator of this beautiful, energetic collection of oracle wisdom (and many other decks as well), and having her on the show was nothing but pure joy. Alana is one of Australia’s most respected metaphysical teachers and self-help authors, and she “has a unique approach to her work, combining music, dance, voice, channeling, sacred ritual, and energy work to create a powerful experience of the divine.”What I love most about Alana is her honesty and authenticity and how she sees herself in the universe. She has such a genuine, playful approach to business, and I found myself relating to her in more ways than I can count. She admits to attempting a business approach that matches other current business trends, but decided to reign it back in and work in a way that resonated with her heart instead, rather than with societal norms. That’s authenticity to the core, my friends, and I have so much respect seeping outta my heart for her ability to stop and say, “Well, change of plans, ladies and gentlemen, that’s not the real me.”Her message to our listeners is to follow your instinct, the voice in your head, the feeling in your belly; to listen to the soul in your body because she IS divine, which means divine guidance is already inside of you (meaning you don’t need to look outside of yourself for guidance). You know those things that make you feel good? The things that make you feel energized rather than depleted, the things you cancel other plans to go do, the things that put the warm fuzzies in your stomach? Go do them, that’s your intuition guiding you toward alignment with the source.I hope you enjoy this podcast episode, I am grateful to have had a chance to chat with Alana’s soul. I could feel the good vibes rippling out of her as we spoke. Thank you, Alana, for sharing with us! Be sure to check out her website, follow her on Instagram & Facebook, and continue the conversation with us about this episode in the comments or on any or all of our socials.Serious amounts of love to you all

Technology is cool. I mean, it’s really cool. I get up in the morning, journal, with a cup of spicy chai, and set intentions for the day, all while wrapped up in my favorite blanket, and then I get to turn on my computer and connect with my ecofemmag team who are scattered all around the world. Technology has allowed me to ‘open my tap’, to realign with my earthly values, to find my soul mates, to feel creative and valued, and to play my part in healing Mama Earth. My ideal job would not exist without technology. And neither would the awe-inspiring, creative innovations that are popping up all over the planet to move humanity forward, preserve and protect our Earth, and minimize our impact on the planet.Technology is not necessarily the dark side, or the reason for the current state of our planet. It’s the values and souls behind the technology that matter.Light souls using technology for good = big wins for the planet.Green Tech Challenge, co-founded by Frederik van Deurs, is one of the many supernovas of the tech industry, beaming with light and hope for humanity’s future. In our podcast episode this week, Ellen spoke with Frederick about the beauty of the tech world, and how they’re using it to connect start-up companies with consultants, lawyers, accountants, strategists, anyone they feel would be a solid fit for the company to grow and expand as quickly as possible.They offer free four-day growth programmes for start-up companies to participate in. Let’s say that again, the programmes are free for start-up companies. As long as the start-up is established (and not just an idea of a company), it’s fair game. Simply go to their website and click “STARTUPS APPLY NOW”, to take your eco-business up a couple of dozen notches.There is a selection process: they pick startups based on their environmental impact, the strength of the team, the traction (revenue and funding), and the overall scalability of the business model. If you’re making more with less and have massive impact potential, they’ll see you.Frederik is one of those humans with a clear, raw vision, and he aligns his mission with every choice he makes - you can hear it in his voice. This guy is the real deal, and I promise you’ll be inspired by listening to how he sees the world, and the business he’s created to help evolve humanity in that direction. He’s got a podcast too, so be sure to check it out after you listen to our lovely chat with him.“Right now, if we don’t fix this planet situation, it doesn’t matter if we have equal rights, it doesn’t matter if we have no child mortality rates, it doesn’t matter if we have education, if we fought illiteracy or fought hunger. It doesn’t matter if we got to a certain standard of living that the royalty in the 1700s couldn't even imagine for lower middle class people. Nothing matters if we’ve destroyed the planet. And that is definitely something worth getting up in the morning for.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You’ve signed the papers, the dealer hands you the key, and you climb in behind the wheel of your new car. You take that first deep breath of “new car” smell, and the fresh, bright fragrance fills your lungs.Instead of turning on the radio and blasting your air conditioner, you may want to consider rolling down those windows, because that “new car” smell is really just the off-gassing of every chemical used to produce your new vehicle. Cars are manufactured with their windows up, so you’re essentially sitting in a chemical pod on wheels.Air quality is a silent health hazard, we’re surrounded by chemicals in our lives that go unnoticed or unregulated. Living in a new home, driving a new car, sleeping on a new non-organic mattress are all examples of areas of our lives that are often overlooked as potential health concerns, but the off-gassing of the chemicals can have negative health impacts over time.Green for a Reason, founded by Catherine O'Toole, is an educational platform “that empowers consumers to easily find environmentally safe, sustainable products, and involves experienced green professionals dedicated to building less toxic homes.”I’m incredibly grateful to have Catherine as my guest on the ECOFEMINIST podcast this week. She shared her personal journey that led her to creating Green for a Reason, and talks about the importance of avoiding environmental chemicals for optimal health, her business goals, and she left us with five easy recommendations that we can all do today to help decrease our exposure to the toxins in our environment:Have a mat outside your front door and another one immediately as you step inside - use this to wipe your shoes off to reduce the amount of chemicals your shoes drag indoors, such as grass fertilizers, flooring chemicals, etc.Take your shoes off and leave them near the front door, again, to avoid bringing those chemicals into your homeOpen your windows! Let that fresh breeze replace the stagnant air in your home or vehicleAvoid using synthetic air fresheners. Instead, use an essential oil diffuser with responsible, authentic oilsUse wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets when doing laundryWe hope you enjoy this podcast episode (we certainly did). Check out Green for a Reason’s website for more information about Catherine’s business, and be sure to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.Catherine, thank you for being on the show and bringing awareness to an issue that is often ignored. Being mindful of our air quality and our exposure to toxins is crucial in maintaining a healthy body. You inspire us all. Catherine O'Toole was born and raised in Ireland. After studying Fashion design in Ireland, winning a lottery Green Card to the United States, a successful 10 year career in the fashion industry in New York City Catherine left the United States and backpacked around the world by herself for 3 years. During her travels she met a Texan in the south of Spain and they returned to Austin Texas to live.In 2011 Catherine was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. Catherine’s first diagnoses did not scare her into doing anything different but her second diagnoses was so severe that she knew she had to do something to help herself live, live longer and in a healthier environment. Based on research Catherine realized we were slowly poisoning ourselves tucked away in the security of our homes, our sanctuaries and destroying the earth we live on, we are unknowingly bringing toxic chemicals into our homes. Catherine believes we all can live in a healthy, beautiful, less toxic environment. The toxins we breathe in everyday are preventable. Every one of our individual efforts makes a difference to clean up the toxicity that is being emitted into the air we breathe. The good news is indoor air pollution is one risk that we can do something about. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you’ve been following us here at ECOFEMMAG for a while, you may know that I spent quite a bit of time living in a van exploring the valleys, cities, and mountains of Portugal. My daughter, Sally, was born during this time, which led to re-establishing my home back in Amsterdam. I hold my van days close to my heart, which is why I immediately felt connected to this week’s podcast guest, Callee, a.k.a. A Hippie in a Van.Callee is a zero-waste activist who travels around the U.S. in her well-loved, solar-powered van, which is both her home, office, and transportation. She’s currently in Georgia and heading up the east coast in the coming months. Even with extremely limited space, Callee has developed her own self-care product line, Bestowed Essentials, with a mission that speaks directly to my soul:“We handcraft ethical and eco-friendly personal care products for badass babes who deserve to treat themselves after a long day of changing the world.”The products she creates are hand-made in the U.S. from natural ingredients, and are vegan and cruelty-free. Callee mindfully ships her products with zero-waste packaging, and gives a portion of the proceeds to charity. And yes, she makes all of her products in her van. Rockstar status, am I right?Interested in hearing more about Callee’s journey, business, and zero-waste lifestyle? Check out this week’s podcast with Callee, our favorite Hippie in a Van. Don’t forget to explore her websites, Bestowed Essentials and A Hippie in a Van, her podcast channel, Hippie Haven Podcast, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook!Could you let go of all your belongings and live, work, and travel in a van? What aspects of your life do you focus on to decrease your carbon-footprint? What could you improve? Share your thoughts with us, we love hearing from you!Callee is a vanlifer, entrepreneur, and activist who is passionate about helping people live an ethical and eco-friendly lifestyle. She is the creator of Bestowed Essentials, blogger behind AHippieInAVan.com and host of the Hippie Haven Podcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Healing with Courtney YellowWolf GrahamAccessing our sacredness can feel daunting for some, and completely natural for others. Some individuals have to walk through dark times to find the strength to be their truest selves, others were born with the ability to stand in their power from day one. The depth of connection to our souls varies from person to person, but what sets you apart from your neighbor is not necessarily your past experiences or psychic talents, but your awareness, openness, and the courage you have to be you, exactly as you are.Our podcast guest this week, Courtney Graham, is a practitioner in neuro-linguistic programming and also a spiritual practitioner. She offers emotional, mental, and spiritual guidance to help her clients stand in their power and expose their truest selves. In the darkest moments of life-threatening trauma, she found her voice, her power, and her ability to push through to the other side. With the help of her guides and angels, she began to embrace her unique connection to spirit, which she now uses to help others find peace and courage within themselves.She shared something during our interview that has clung to my heart from the moment the words left her mouth:“There’s power in being soft and gentle.”I do hope you take time to listen to this podcast episode with Courtney, which is available on our website and on iTunes. She has been through an immense amount of self-reflection, self-development, and an unwavering dedication to listening to her soul, and I know I ’ve found inspiration in her journey. If you’re looking for someone to help you step into your soul’s mission, check out her website to see if she’s a good fit (and be sure to follow her on Instagram). She provides intuitive guidance, sound healing, energy work, meditation guidance, personal, and home clearings, and a handful of other services.Courtney is a radiant, light, loving soul, and I am so fortunate to have connected with her. Thank you, Courtney. You have an extraordinary gift, and I hope I can help to spread your love as far and wide as possible.Raised on a ranch in New Mexico, Courtney wanted to work with animals and spent eight years in the veterinary field. She had a change of calling and ended up in Nashville, TN, for four years in the music and art industry. And now she resides in Seattle, Washington. After having many hardships in her life, Courtney found that western medicine was not working for her, and so nine years ago, she began to train with her Choctaw elders and started following a path of holistic therapy. After changing her life and finding ways to heal, she pursued this path to guide others to heal and find themselves. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Joey Doherty: Poetry to Ground Your Soul and Reconnect With Nature Joey Doherty is a poet, licensed professional counselor, certified wellness counselor, and meditation instructor. He is the program coordinator for wellness coaching at The Ohio State University and has given lectures about self-love, nature deficit disorder, compassion fatigue, stress management, meditation, and holistic wellness. Joey has published two books of poetry, "Wild Compass" and "Remember to Harvest." His writing has a romantic connection to nature and touches on the many ways we can learn from the natural world around us. In his free time, Joey enjoys biking, playing music, hiking, rock climbing, and painting. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio. Have you ever been immersed in nature, maybe walking deep in an old growth forest or dipping your toes in a crystal blue creek, where the soft energy swirling around you feels exactly like your favorite sweater? You feel comforted, warm, and peaceful, and a sense of home settles in your chest. You inhale the overwhelming beauty, exhale the stress you left at home, and remind yourself, “This, this is why we exist, to feel what I’m feeling in this moment.” This week’s podcast episode features Joey Doherty, an extraordinary man who has cherished his relationship with Mother Earth his entire life. Joey is a poet, among many other professions and talents, and he has this unique, authentic way of capturing the sensations we feel while connecting with the natural world. Like those quiet moments I have in nature, his poetry also reminds me, “This, this is why we exist, to feel what I’m feeling in this moment.” In this podcast episode, Joey shared with us his journey to finding poetry, the creative outlet he uses to express his thoughts and emotions about Mother Earth. He’s published two books so far, “Remember to Harvest”, and “Wild Compass,” which I will recommend to anyone, whether you enjoy poetry or not. I find myself struggling to accurately describe his work, I’m not sure if there are words beautiful enough to do him justice, but always I’m overwhelmed with a sense of home and loving kindness after reading his poems. His goal is to publish one poetry book every year, so if you’ve had the opportunity to read his books already, don’t worry, he’ll be publishing more magic every year. Joey has a way of translating the spiritual connection between the soul and nature through words, so even if you’re sitting in an office, on an airplane, or in the middle of a city, his words will help you connect to Mother Earth. I hope you take time to listen to this podcast episode (here on our website or on iTunes), and are able to find his books for your personal library. For every book he sells, four trees are planted. You can also explore his website, and be sure to follow him on Instagram and Facebook. Let’s help spread his love as far and wide as we possibly can. Thank you, Joey, for being on the show; your calm, genuine energy is contagious and I can’t wait for our listeners to witness your soul.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

GLITTEREVOLUTION: Biodegradable Glitter that Your Inner Child and Earth Warrior Spirit Will Love Oh, the joy of glitter! The inner child in me finds her way to the surface whenever I paint myself with this magical, sparkly, shimmery accessory. A playful, pastel energy bubbles up and overflows around me into the world when I’m decorated with glitter. It’s hard to not smile when your physical body reflects how you feel on the inside. But recently, glitter has become a hot topic of discussion because of its negative environmental impact. Most glitter is made of plastic, meaning it doesn’t break down after it gets washed down the drain. Glitter particles find their way into our water system, and contribute to the growing plastic pollution issue we’re facing. Are you one of the thousands of people (like me!) who love using glitter, but want to stay aligned with your environmentally-conscious values? Great news - you absolutely can, thanks to GLITTEREVOLUTION, a biodegradable glitter company. Wendy May initially created GLITTEREVOLUTION as a way to continue to use glitter and  stay connected with her inner child, without the guilt of negatively impacting our planet. What started as a small business,operated out of her backpack for her close circle of friends, has now blossomed into a tremendous, momentum-gaining company, with no end in sight. The spectrum of colors to choose from is almost overwhelming, in the most delightful way possible. Choosing between them feels like being a kid in a candy shop. She offers various color combinations and sizes with unique names like Cosmic, Neptune, Venus, Dragonfly, Atlantis, Galaxy, Unicorn, and Mermaid, to name but a few. Wendy lives a nomadic lifestyle and has her hands full with numerous activities and businesses. In addition to running GLITTEREVOLUTION, Wendy also owns and runs a women’s Life Reboot retreat in Spain, which focuses on creating community, mutual support, and accessing a deeper connection with the self, letting go of societal expectations and who we believe we’re supposed to be, opposed to who we truly are. If you’d like to learn more about GLITTEREVOLUTION or her Life Reboot Retreat, listen to our podcast on our website or on iTunes. Take some time to explore her websites, and be sure to follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Wendy, I had a lovely time speaking with you, and I’m so happy you could be on the show to tell the world about the extraordinary work you’re doing. Let us know what you think of this week’s podcast, as we always love hearing from you, Ecofeminists! Wendy May is a nomadic coach, transformational retreat creator, and eco-entrepreneur. She founded GLITTEREVOLUTION in 2016 to provide a better biodegradable alternative to conventional microplastic glitter, while raising consciousness about everything we buy, use, consume, and throw away. She also loves to serve as facilitator and guide to humans who are stepping into alignment with a higher purpose.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Good On You: The App That's Changing the Way We Shop For Ethical Clothing The Takeaways: Good On You is an app that rates brands in the fashion industry on a five-star scale based on the sustainability and ethical practices used in manufacturing the clothing Brands earn their ratings based on three components: methods of production, quality-of-life for their employees, and animal cruelty assessments The app is FREE to download! The other day I was out shopping for a new bathing suit. As I was pulling hangers off the rack, it occurred to me that I had no idea where the majority of these fabrics came from or how they were manufactured. I wondered about the quality of the material, if there was micro-plastic particles hiding behind the bold prints, and the health of the human whose hands had been sewing this suit just months before my hands found it. The fashion industry has been making serious strides toward sustainable and ethically produced products, though some brands are more dedicated to these practices than others. Curious how your favorite brands stack up against the rest? There’s an easy way to find out: use the Good On You ethical shopping app! Sandra Capponi, co-founder of Good On You, grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and found her niche in the fashion industry after focusing on social justice issues for many years. The Good On You app gives consumers the power to shift the culture in the fashion industry by rating brands based on the ethical practices used to manufacture their clothing line. The app also encourages brands to improve their rating by transitioning to sustainable and ethical methods of production, increasing quality-of-life for their employees, and eliminating animal testing. Good On You is free of charge, and provides tips and resources about the evolution of the fashion industry by highlighting the newest ethical brands in the business. Their overarching goal is to encourage both consumers and corporations to take responsibility for the health of the planet to create lasting change. "Everytime we buy, we vote for the kind of world we want to live in" Be sure to listen to this week’s podcast to learn more about Sandra and the Good On You app, you can do that here on our website or on iTunes. Your next step after that? Download the app and start learning about your favorite brands! Check out their website, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on their progress. Thank you, Sandra, for being on the show! I LOVE this app and will recommend it to everyone I know.   Sandra is the co-founder and head of business development at social impact startup, Good On You. The free Good On You app gives ethical ratings for 1000s of fashion brands so shoppers can make a difference every time they shop. With over 10 years experience in corporate social responsibility, Sandra has long been concerned with sustainability and supply chain issues in big business. Sandra left the corporate world to join the founding team at Good On You as she sees huge potential in creating a fairer, more sustainable future through the everyday purchasing decisions we all make. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week's podcast is a little different than most. I recently took a trip to Portugal, a place I hold close to my heart and feel at home upon every return. Some of my roots are still grounded there in the forest, and I'll never forget the time I lived there among the trees, off-grid, barefoot, wandering free, a curious child of mother Earth.  I'd like to share apart of myself with you, my listeners, I don't get the opportunity to connect with my fellow ecofeminists as much as I'd like to through podcast interviews. I feel the support and love flowing in from each and every one of you, and I hope that by sharing my journey that connection will continue to blossom. I hope our mission on this planet will weave together tighter, our energies will dance closer to one other, and that we'll strengthen our hand hold even tighter as we face and fight the destruction of this beautiful planet together.  I cannot thank you enough for supporting ECOFEMINIST Magazine. You, my dears, are my heroes, and expressing my gratitude through words will never surmount to the gratitude I feel in my heart.  Thank you, ecofeminists, & I sincerely hope you enjoy this episode. With love and admiration, Ellen See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Want to Give Eco-Friendly, Meaningful Gifts? GreenGiftBox Could Be the Answer The Takeaways: Giving gifts can be difficult when you want to give something with meaning, but also something the receiver will appreciate and use. GreenGiftBox is an option to help solve that problem GreenGiftBox is an online store where you can purchase environmentally-friendly gifts that benefit the giver, receiver, and the producer There are two options: The Christmas Box and the Green Gift Box, perfect for any holiday or gift-giving occassion Most cultures have long standing traditions, some of which are more eco-friendly than others. In Holland around the holiday season, employers often give their employees something called a Christmas Box, which is typically filled with food items and other small gifts. After World War II, companies wanted to give extra food to their workers during the holiday season, and this became a tradition which nestled itself into the culture and which the citizens of Holland refused to let fade. Jolanda Koedood worked in the Christmas gift promotion industry for many years, but realized the lack of environmental responsibility these companies were practicing. She, like so many others in the world, was concerned with the amount of waste and plastic circulating the globe, and decided to give back to the world, rather than continue taking from it. This week’s podcast episode features Jolanda, founder of GreenGiftBox. The purpose of her company is to shift the culture of giving during the holidays. Her focus is to encourage others to choose mindful, environmentally-friendly gifts, rather than meaningless gifts that end up at the back of the closet for years to come. With her online store, she provides eco-friendly, responsibly-made products that are good for the receiver, the giver, and the creator. What’s more, as a gift giver, you can choose one of two options: 1) the Christmas Box, or 2) the Green Gift Box. In purchasing the Christmas Box, the gift receiver is given a personal code which allows them to choose their own gifts with the intention that the gift will actually be used and appreciated. The Green Gift Box has various options of recycled, eco-friendly, ethical products, from socks to bags to beauty products, and many other sustainable products. Are you looking for a way to give a gift with meaning this upcoming holiday season? Or maybe for a birthday, graduation, or wedding celebration? Be sure to check out Jolanda’s GreenGiftBox company for inspiration, and listen to our podcast to learn more about her company. You can listen to the podcast here on our site or on iTunes. Thank you, Jolanda, for being on the show! I know where I’ll be doing some of my holiday shopping this year, and I can’t wait to purchase an GreenGiftBox. Be sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram for GreenGiftBoxv updates! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nicole F. Loeser is a Berlin-based independent curator and art manager with over fifteen years of experience in collaborating with institutions and corporations throughout Europe. Nicole founded WHITECONCEPTS in 2009 and serves as the gallery’s director. Since 2017 she has also worked for the Institute for Art and Innovation where she holds the position of Artistic Director. As an art critic, she is a regular contributor to catalogues, journals, and art publications. Her central interests lie in featuring socially reflective and environmentally focused projects that introduce diverse and forward-thinking perspectives.   The Takeaways: The Universal Sea is an initiative from Berlin that combines the power of art, science, and entrepreneurs, to fight for clean drinking water and tackle water pollution This initiative is a traveling art exhibition paired with a co-creation workshops series, that anyone can sign up to attend The Universal Sea will be traveling to eight different countries in Europe to share their art and workshops with the public – check out their website for upcoming venue locations! I never thought I’d say this – but I’m grateful every time someone shares or discusses anything related to plastic pollution. Not because I get the warm-fuzzies when I’m reminded how catastrophic this issue is, but because that means one thing: awareness is spreading. In order to make change, we have to be aware change is needed. We have to be conscious of the issue before we can create a solution. There are hundreds of thousands of people around the globe fighting this issue on a daily basis, but without exposure to these innovative solutions or worldwide efforts, it can feel as if your own efforts won’t make a difference (although, trust me; they do). This week’s podcast episode features Nicole Loeser, the co-founder of The Universal Sea. Universal Sea is an initiative out of Berlin that combines the power of art and science to gain access to clean drinking water and protect the ocean. Universal Sea is a traveling art exhibition and co-creation workshop series, which will make appearances in eight different countries this year throughout Europe. Nicole and her team have gathered artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs to help showcase the successful water-pollution efforts taking place around the world and they are inviting the public to get involved in solutions through co-creation workshops. They believe art can spark the motivation to act, and science, technology, and entrepreneurship can create platforms for long-term solutions. You won’t want to miss this podcast episode! Want to attend one of The Universal Sea’s art exhibitions and co-creation workshop series? Check out the calendar on their website to see where they’re headed next. Can’t make it to a series? Become a community member on their website to stay up-to-date, and be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast here on our website or on iTunes. If you’d rather, you can also watch the full episode here. “We show the power of art, but really it’s the power of the people.” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ramona Bajema founded Miyabi Bamboo Charcoal in 2016, after discovering how bamboo charcoal helped improve the taste of her family’s tap water. She has an academic background and has worked in program management for a non-profit organization.  After completing her doctorate in Modern Japanese History at Columbia University in 2011, Ramona joined the AmeriCares emergency response team to oversee its disaster support program, following the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown in Japan that year. The program committed $8.6 million for the rehabilitation of medical services, building facilities for people with disabilities, funding psychosocial programs, and other support projects. As a country representative, Ramona also worked as a consultant for the US Embassy in Japan, advising them on disaster area issues. Committed to environmental and social causes, Ramona has worked as a consultant on various projects including a study on organic wine, California farmworkers’ labor rights, and the economic effects of tourism in southern California. She has a Phd from Columbia University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley.   The Takeaways: Miyabi Bamboo Charcoal water filters are sustainable, zero-waste, plastic-free, AND can be tossed into a compost bin or garden when you’re ready to replace them Bamboo charcoal filters are carbonized and work by adsorbing (not absorbing) particles in your water, meaning the particles stick to the surface of the charcoal Miyabi Bamboo Charcoal filters are ready to use after boiling them for a few minutes, and each one typically lasts for 3-6 months The world is beginning to shift. I can see it; I can feel it. We’re waking up and slowly blinking our eyes into focus, as if we’ve been sleepwalking on this planet for decades. We’re realizing how mindless we’ve been, and realizing the burden of the creation of “ingenious” convenient single-use items. I’m ecstatic knowing we’re finally addressing single-use plastics as a society. However, we need to take another step back and reevaluate how we use plastic in other areas of our lives, in order to really tackle the plastic epidemic. Let’s talk about water filtration systems. I never considered that filtering water could be something other than running tap water through a filter that sits on top of a plastic pitcher, because that’s all I’d ever known. An entire system made of plastic. But guess what? There actually is another option! One that’s soft on the planet, sustainable, eco-friendly, AND compostable. And I’m obsessed with it. This week’s podcast episode features Ramona Bajema, founder of Miyabi Bamboo Charcoal, which is a zero-waste, plastic-free, compostable water filter that lasts for 3-6 months. Ramona was raised by a zero-waste momma, and although she went through a rebellious stage, she has certainly embraced her roots with this incredible start-up company. How do you use bamboo charcoal to filter your water? EASY. Boil it for a few minutes, and then plop it in your water canister or refillable water bottle. Within the first hour you’ll notice a difference in flavor. Miyabi charcoal is carbonized at 800 degrees celsius, meaning the particles in the water that you don’t want in your body will actually stick to its porous surface. I hope you take some time to listen to this week’s podcast and learn more about Miyabi Bamboo Charcoal. Ramona’s goal is to get her bamboo charcoal on the shelves of big retailers at a reasonable price so that it’s accessible to everyone in the world. Let’s help her accomplish this goal by sharing this with as many people as you can! And stay with her progress by following her on Instagram and Facebook, and make sure to check out the Miyabi website. You can listen to the podcast here on the website or on iTunes. You can also watch the full episode here. Thank you, Ramona, for being on the show with me. I absolutely LOVE your energy, your product, the way you approach running this eco-friendly, sustainable, zero-waste business, and especially the words you’ve left me and our listeners with. “What we’re all trying to do here with our products and our messages, is show it really is a way of life. We just have to make sure to make it part of our bloodstream and not a fashion or a trend. Right now is an amazing moment when people are becoming consciously aware.”   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Misa Muto was born in 1993 and grew up in the countryside of Japan. During high school, she went and studied in Canada as part of an exchange program, and in university, she majored in Corporate Strategies. Her focus was in cosmetic company sales, and she started her career in one of the biggest cosmetic and skincare companies in Japan. She worked in retail and was responsible for sales in more than 20 individual retail stores for two years. She eventually began to feel that what she was doing was not “for the people”, but “for the company”, and decided she wanted to do something bigger that would contribute to society and the world. Michel May, a co-worker, and a close friend shared Misa’s philosophy about business, and they often talked about health and other shared interests, like Michel’s passion for antique Japanese indigo-dyed textiles. Together they discovered the medicinal properties of indigo and the benefits of using it to strengthen fabrics. This, along with their passion for wellness, including getting a restful night’s sleep, and avoiding synthetic chemicals in fabrics, led to them co-found Aizome Bedding.   The Takeaways: We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, but a majority of bedding products are made with synthetic chemicals and dyes Aizome Bedding uses the traditional Japanese practice of dying organic cotton with organic indigo dye to offer safe, chemical-free products that actually improve your skin's health while you sleep! Indigo, a natural antibacterial and antifungal, has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries to address various health ailments -  high fever, child epilepsy, nosebleeds, sore throat, gum inflammation, tonsillitis, insect or snake bites, and psoriasis. The skin is the body’s largest organ, and 60-90% of what we put on our skin is directly absorbed into our bloodstream. Just like consuming organic food, free of chemicals and pesticides, is healthy for our bodies, using natural skin care products on our skin is healthy for our cells. But have you ever thought about the chemicals in the clothes you wear or the bedding you sleep in every night, as being potentially toxic for your body? We spend a third our lives sleeping - that means a third of our lives is spent in bedding of some sort. Misa Muto, and her friend Michel May, realized this after working together in product sales for the same cosmetic company in Japan. They decided to use their shared passions for holistic health, natural skin care and helping others and the planet, to create a company based on these ideals. Aizome Bedding was born in September 2017, and their new campaign, Indiegogo, was launched on April 30th, 2018. Aizome Bedding is an organic cotton, 100% authentic indigo-dyed bedding product line, with holistic health as the driving force behind the mission. When you sleep in Aizome Bedding products, your skin is soothed by the medicinal benefits of the indigo dye, a plant that has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. Indigo has been used to decrease skin irritation and has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It also helps increase the durability and strength of the cotton fabric, meaning buying bedding less often. Aizome Bedding actually helps heal your skin while you sleep. We don’t often think of our bedding as a contributor to our overall health, but Aizome Bedding is working hard to spread awareness about avoiding synthetic chemicals in the fabrics we use every day and avoiding “flash-fashion”, which often uses synthetic dyes that can be absorbed into our bodies through skin contact. I hope you have the opportunity to listen to this week’s podcast with Misa because this intriguing, inspiring company has given us access to safe, healthy bedding that our bodies will benefit from every single night. You can listen to the podcast on our website or on iTunes. You can also view the full episode here. Make sure to check out their Aizome Bedding website & Indiegogo campaign, and follow them on both Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with all of their news and progress. Thank you, Misa, for coming on the show! You were lovely to speak with and I cannot wait to order my own set of Aizome Bedding with a special pillowcase with my name embroidered on in Japanese! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Takeaways: - YONI was founded in 2014 by Mariah and Wendelien after a shocking realization that there's no legal requirement for menstruation companies to list the ingredients used in manufacturing the product - YONI only uses sustainably-sourced 100% cotton in their products. That's it. Period. - YONI is breaking taboos regarding the way we discuss the female body; they're spreading awareness about the importance of caring about "what's between your legs".  Their cheeky, authentic, honest approach is empowering and relatable. Have you thought about what's between your legs? We all have our own preferences when it comes to dealing with for our periods - tampons, pads, menstruation cups, period panties, and so on. Some of these products are inserted directly into the vagina, which is one of the most absorbent areas in the body. For a long time, I never thought to question the materials used to create the menstruation products I was using. I, like so many other women, trusted that companies were using safe materials for such intimate products. A few years ago, Mariah Mansvelt found herself in the same position:  questioning the integrity of the materials used in non-organic tampons. Her doctor had recommended switching to organic tampons, but she had difficulty finding them anywhere, apart from one shop near her home. She and her friend, Wendelien, were curious what the difference was between 100% organic tampons and the brands that dominated the market. They realized they had no way of knowing, as there were no ingredients listed on the packaging. After more digging, Mariah and Wendelien discovered that not only are there no ingredients on the packaging, but menstruation product companies are not legally required to report the materials used in production. The two of them founded their own company, YONI, which only uses 100% certified cotton, to empower women through sustainably-sourced, ethically produced menstruation products, and by educating women with a playful, authentic, and honest approach to talking about periods and other historically taboo topics related to women’s health. “We believe that every woman should know what she’s putting between her legs. We want to break the taboo, ditch the shame, and start talking about periods properly. We believe it’s time to revolutionise the feminine care industry, and we hope you’ll join us.” I had the opportunity to speak with Mariah for this week’s podcast episode. She’s a busy mom, yoga instructor, and business owner, and I felt like I could relate to her on a personal level (I was grateful to hear that other moms struggle to accomplish work tasks when their little ones are running around the house, like my little one often does). I hope you get a chance to listen to our interview and learn more about the YONI vision. Their goal is to have them on every store shelf worldwide, so that every woman has access to safe, 100% organic products, to help her experience the healthiest cycle possible. You can also view the full episode here. Check out their website for product information, their mission, and numerous articles about women’s health. Make sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook, too. Thank you, Mariah, for coming on the show and sharing YONI with our listeners! I can’t wait to see what you two create next.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr. Elizabeth Trattner has been practicing Chinese and Integrative medicine in Miami since 1991, specializing in women’s health. Elizabeth is a graduate of University of Arizona’s Center of Integrative Medicine, holds a chef certificate from the Natural Gourmet Institute and received Shamanic training and initiation. She’s a current Member of the Global Wellness’ Beauty Meets Wellness Initiative Committee and is a contributing expert for hundreds of publications and digital media. Welcome, Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, to the ECOFEMINIST magazine podcast, again! I had such an engaging interview with her the first time around, we decided to record an additional session to continue discussing the broad range of knowledge she has to share. If you didn’t have the chance to listen to our first episode with Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, you’ll definitely want to listen to this week’s podcast - and go back and listen to her first episode if you have the time. A few (of the many) facts about Dr. Trattner: She’s a doctor of Chinese Medicine She’s an Integrative Medicine Practitioner She’s a natural gourmet chef She’s a mother She’s on the Global Institute for Beauty Meets Wellness And she also has a chronic autoimmune disorder During this podcast, Dr. Trattner and I focused specifically on women’s hormonal health. As a doctor of Chinese Medicine, she looks at the entire body from a 360-degree standpoint. She looks at past events, current events, eating patterns, stress levels, physical and emotional symptoms, along with a number of other contributing factors, to help address hormonal imbalances and realign her patient's overall health. Throughout our conversation, she had a clear, empowering message for all women: if a certain activity, dietary routine, or daily lifestyle worked for you in the past or worked for your best friend, co-worker, family member, or great-aunt, that doesn’t mean it’s right for your body at this moment. As we move through our lives, our bodies change, our needs shift, and there is no one routine that works for everyone. There are times when we need to practice gentle self-care and other days when we have the energy to move with more intention. Pause, take a breath and be mindful of the messages your body is sending. Period tracking applications, avoiding harmful chemicals and hormone disruptors, using natural beauty products, and consuming wholesome, organic foods are all recommendations Dr. Trattner discusses during this podcast for addressing hormone health. She also talks about non-food focused detoxes, such as transitioning synthetic cleaning and beauty products to natural products and also consciously detoxing from technology on a regular basis. “Celebrate being a woman, celebrate being with woman, celebrate being you because only you are you.” I sincerely enjoy conversing with Dr. Trattner, and I’ll take any opportunity I can. She holds an extraordinary passion for health, wellness, and women empowerment, and in listening to her speak, that loving energy lifts my spirits. I hope you all can set aside some time today to listen to this podcast because her energy is contagious. We're still experiencing some technical issues with our podcast player on our website. So, to listen to this podcast episode, you can find it here on iTunes. Or, if you'd rather, you can watch the full episode here. Be sure to follow Dr. Elizabeth Trattner on Instagram and Facebook, and check out her website if you’d like to contact her or learn more about her background and practice. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emily J. Casey, from Melbourne Australia, is the co-founder of FEMNA, a company and movement dedicated to help women take control of their own health by incorporating herbs into their lives. Living life with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and meeting so many other women with the same or similar struggle, inspired Emily to educate herself on female hormones. What are they? How can you balance them? Why do they need to be balanced? While she lived in Iran, she was exposed to herbal medicine as a mainstream medical solution. This sparked her fascination in how women use herbs to alleviate their ailments, rather than becoming dependent on synthetic drugs. Emily met her co-founder, Maxie, and they felt a spark immediately. With the fusion of Emily’s passion for her own health and herbal medicines, and Maxie’s expertise in feminine products and her thriving Ruby Cup business, FEMNA was born. Right now, FEMNA produces teas, essential oil blends, and body oils made from all natural ingredients and organic herbs, that target hormonal balance and female well-being.   The Takeaways: Emily J. Casey co-founded FEMNA with her partner, Maxie, to provide a one-stop-shop for women facing various hormone-related ailments or symptoms across all stages of life. Hormones fluctuate day-to-day, week-to-week, and throughout the entire lifespan. FEMNA provides functional hormonal support with their handcrafted herbal products. FEMNA offers products for menstruation, PMS, fertility, pregnancy, menopause, and overall general well-being. Women’s bodies are sacred, powerful, and intelligent. Our bodies fluctuate on a daily basis, we detox each month during menstruation, and we have the ability to grow tiny humans. Our bodies are portals that guide new life into this world. But without hormones, none of these magical processes could take place. When our hormones are balanced, our body’s natural biological processes take place as they’re meant to. However, thousands of women (and men) experience hormone imbalances, which can present themselves as physical and emotional symptoms. Emily Carter, co-founder of FEMNA, was one of these thousands of individuals who suffered from severe hormone imbalances. After years of suppressing her body’s natural ability to ovulate with oral contraceptives, due to a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), she began to question the effectiveness and longevity of synthetic hormones. Her personal experiences, along with the determination to find a natural path to realigning her own body’s hormone regulation, opened her eyes to the lack of resources available for women experiencing similar conditions and symptoms. She recognized a growing need for reliable, natural solutions for hormone-related ailments at all stages of a woman’s life. Soon after, she met Maxie and, together, the two of them moved forward into the business world, and FEMNA was born. FEMNA is a unique business. The overall goal is to be a resource for women to find natural relief from symptoms related to menstruation, fertility, PMS, pregnancy, menopause, and general well-being. They work in collaboration with herbalists, doctors, midwives, and other professionals to create teas, essential oil blends, and body oils with herbs and natural ingredients that target specific hormone-related symptoms and overall wellbeing. “We create herbal products for women in every stage of their life, that targets really specific ailments or symptoms that they experience as a result of the fluctuations in the hormones that we naturally experience.” Speaking with Emily was fascinating and educational. It’s clear that her passions lie in helping women find holistic relief from hormone imbalances. Her heart is in this business, and I am personally grateful for the resources she and Maxie have developed to empower women to learn to love and guide their body’s feminine cycles. Enjoy listening to this podcast with Emily, and let us know what you think, in the comments! Be sure to check out FEMNA’s website and explore their herbal products, teas, essential oil blends, and educational information. To help support FEMNA’s efforts, you can follow them on Instagram and Facebook. Emily and Maxie also love personal contact with their customers so, if you have any questions, feedback, or ideas for them, feel free to reach out via email! You can also view the full episode here. And, again, thank you, Emily and Maxie, for reminding us that, with your love and knowledge, our bodies are truly sacred.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Anette is the founder of the podcast, «På krigsstien». She has worked for the EAT Foundation, the Norwegian Armed Forces, and The Norwegian Atlantic Committee. She has volunteered with the Norwegian Red Cross, and Women in War and International Politics (WIWIP). She holds an M.A. in War Studies from King’s College, London. Anette loves hiking, yoga, and has recently fallen for surfing. Susanne has worked for the EAT Foundation, A.T. Kearney, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). She has been involved with the CBS Model United Nations and the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad, and has volunteered at Ryes Café. Susanne holds an M.Sc. in Business and Administration from Copenhagen Business School. She likes all things related to water and photography.   Radical Broccoli: Creating Radical Change The Takeaways: Radical Broccoli was founded by two Norwegian sisters, Susanne and Anette Bastviken, three years ago with a mission to spread environmental awareness, protect Mother Earth, and heal our oceans. Anette and Susanne are helping lead the eco-friendly movement through environmental awareness, consulting, communications, and advising. Radical Broccoli provides tips, advice, and educational information about everything eco-friendly! Topics include recycling, green beauty, up-to-date research on environmentalism, and sustainability. Three years ago, two powerhouse sisters in Norway, Anette and Susanne Bastviken, founded the eco-conscious company, Radical Broccoli. These two women are dedicated to protecting Mother Earth and her children through environmental awareness, consulting, communications, and advising. They work closely with the Norwegian lifestyle magazine, Dailystory, the Nordic Ocean Watch, and are members of the Ethical Writers and Creatives coalition. Anette and Susanne are on a mission to walk-the-walk when it comes to environmental protection and education, and in my opinion, they’re definitely crushing this goal. Their website covers everything from plant-based foods and recipes, creating sustainable habits, purchasing used-clothing, eco-friendly products, green beauty and wellness, new research on environmentalism and sustainability, highlighting companies and individuals that are leading the pack in green living, recycling, and minimal waste lifestyles. During our podcast interview, Anette and Susanne discussed their business strategies, future goals for Radical Broccoli, and the obstacles they’ve had to overcome. Their company has experienced rapid growth in the past few years, and they credit their success to advice their grandmother gave them when they were young, “Always aim for the best.” It’s obvious these two women have taken this piece of advice to heart and applied it to Radical Broccoli’s business model. Anette and Susanne left with us with parting advice to motivate others who may feel hesitant to start their own green companies: “Do it, and don’t let fear stop you from doing what you love. It’s only going to inspire others to do the same.” It was a pleasure conversing with these two innovative, radiant women, and I genuinely love following them on social media. They have a unique way of bringing a light, playful energy to the world of environmentalism, which can be a disheartening topic. For that, I sincerely thank them both. I hope you take a few minutes to listen to this week’s podcast, or you can watch the full episode here. Check out Radical Broccoli’s website for tips, advice, and educational content, and make sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With her background in Economics, Marketing, and Media, Nathalie Markiefka worked for seven years in different industries around Europe before she changed her career path towards environmentalism. She gained experience working in an environmental NGO, holds a Permaculture Design Certificate, and is active in the Community Supported Agriculture movement, and supports her local CSA in Dublin as well as the International CSA Network Urgenci. Nathalie is interested in initiatives for building the solidarity economy as well as social farming/Ecotherapy for health and well-being.  Sinéad Moran is a Trinity College Dublin Natural Science graduate with a background in research and in the NGO sector. She farms organically along with her partner on whats known as HNV (High Nature Value) Farmland and has a keen interest in how farmers can farm in harmony with the landscape, how ethical livestock production can play a role in that, and the ways in which we can re-connect to each other through food and farming.  The Takeaways: Foodture, a social enterprise in Ireland, was founded by Nathalie and Sinead to address Ireland’s growing food system insecurity Foodture’s overarching goal is to reconnect people with farmers, and every action, movement, and initiative Foodture makes aligns completely with this goal The Fair Food Finder is an impressive and convenient resource for community members to research and locate local farms, producers, and eateries that source ethical, sustainable ingredients. Ireland is an extraordinary country, known for its stunning landscapes, gentle rolling hills, fields of vibrant green grass, neighborhood pubs, traditional folk music, and of course, the friendly locals. With two-thirds of Ireland’s land being dedicated to agriculture of some sort, it’s easy to assume this lush country grows exceptional sustainable produce for their residents. Despite the number of acres declared as agricultural land,  only 1% of those acres are actually used for growing produce. Two proactive women, Nathalie Markiefka and Sinead Moran, noticed the growing food security problem in Ireland and founded Foodture to bring awareness to both farmers and food citizens. In addition to the alarmingly minimal number of farms producing fruits and vegetables, they recognized that there were a handful of farmers attempting to counteract this local food gap with innovative farming practices, but awareness among community members was simply lacking. They recognized a problem, and developed a solution. “Our objective is to nurture a culture of food citizenship and help build strong community support around Fair Food farmers, producers, and more in Ireland.” Foodture is shifting the culture from “food consumerism” to “food citizenship”, meaning they want individuals to be aware of where the food they purchase comes from. They encourage people to move away from placing a lazerbeam-like focus on labels like organic, local, green, natural, whole-food, or non-GMO, and focus more on whether the food was grown in a way that’s fair to animals, people, and the land. If you’re interested in how Nathalie and Sinead are changing the structure of the food system in Ireland, take some time to listen to this week’s podcast (you can also watch the full episode here). They discuss Foodture’s Fair Food Finder, which is a database that features farms, producers, and eateries that source ethical, sustainable ingredients. Foodture is creating tangible changes in Ireland’s food system. I cannot thank them enough for recognizing a problem and taking serious action to help their community and, ultimately, help the world. Check out their website for more information, articles, tips, and up-to-date news about the farming scene in Ireland. If you want to stay up-to-date with their Foodture progress, be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook. Thank you, ladies, for being on the show! We’re all inspired by your dedication to changing the world, one community at a time. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Award-winning industrial designers and LOLIWARE co-founders Chelsea Briganti and Leigh Ann Tucker combined their concern for the environment and passion for social innovation to invent a new category of sustainable materials that they have coined, biodegr(edible). LOLIWARE launched with the world’s first biodegr(edible) cup in March 2015. The company’s mission is to transform the tableware and packaging industries by creating products that are non-toxic, fun, and delicious. The Takeaways: LOLIWARE is an innovative product line of edible cups and straws designed to biodegrade as fast as food, because it technically is food. LOLIWARE is 100% plastic-free, gluten-free, gelatin-free, BPA-free, non-GMO, all natural, non-toxic, safe, and FDA approved. These two women, Chelsea and Leigh Ann, are changing the world with their concept of "designed-to-disappear" compared to other biodegradable and plastic products that are "built-to-last" Many of us are actively fighting in the plastic war. Standing strong in our power stance, fists clenched, roundhouse kick at the ready. It’s an exhausting fight, one we must endure on a daily basis, but what if we didn’t have to fight anymore? What if there was an option that eliminated fighting plastic altogether or the constant searching for the next-best biodegradable single-use products? What if our entire mindset around disposables shifted from “built to last” to “designed to disappear”? Chelsea Briganti and Leigh Ann Tucker, business partners in New York, founded LOLIWARE on the basis of this concept. LOLIWARE is a line of biodegradable, edible cups and straws that break down as fast as food because it IS food. It started as a simple idea: using a Jell-O type substance as packaging or as single-use dishware. LOLIWARE is beyond innovative; it completely bypasses the problems presented with plastic and other biodegradable single-use products, because it has been specifically designed to disappear. You have the power to make it disappear with your own digestive system. Or if you’re not hungry enough to digest it, toss it in your compost pile, and it’ll break down as fast as that orange slice. Zero-waste. Zero time spent in a landfill. Zero chance of it ending up in our water system, harming the health of our oceans and marine life. Plastic straws will no longer be pulled from the noses of sea turtles; plastic cups will no longer sit for hundreds of years unchanged. LOLIWARE is 100% plastic-free, gluten-free, gelatin-free, BPA-free, non-GMO, all natural, non-toxic, safe, and FDA approved. It also comes in awesome flavors like matcha green tea, citrus, cherry, vanilla, and an “unflavored” option as well. “If a cup is only going to be used for an hour, why is it engineered, even for a single use plastic cup product, for centuries? We wanted to understand what would it look like if we moved beyond this way of thinking, this 1.0 thinking.” LOLIWARE is a complete game changer in the fight against single-use disposables. These two powerful, creative, intelligent women have given us the opportunity to unclench our fists, relax into child’s pose, and breath deep into our bellies, because we now have the power to bypass plastic cups and straws. We can't stop fighting the plastic war altogether, but at least now we have a realistic, biodegr(edible) solution to share with everyone we know. I, like so many others, are ecstatic about these products and the implication they have for shifting the culture regarding single-use product design. This podcast episode with Chelsea and Leigh Ann was delightful and empowering. I am blown away by the journey these two women have endured evolving LOLIWARE to where it is today and I truly cherished listening to their stories. This playful, energetic company is changing the world on a global scale, and I have nothing but gratitude for the dedication and passion driving LOLIWARE into its next phase of life. Chelsea and Leigh Ann have an extraordinary goal for LOLIWARE: They’re dedicated to replacing 1 billion plastic disposables by 2020. This means 1 billion less plastic products in our oceans, landfills, and homes; a huge win for Momma Earth.  I hope you enjoy this podcast episode as much as I did. Thank you for listening! You can also watch the full podcast episode here. Follow LOLIWARE on Instagram and Facebook, and make sure you check out their website and order your LOLIWARE for your next social gathering! Want to help choose the first flavor of LOLISTRAW? Vote here! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rachel Whittaker is the founder of Indie Beauty Delivers, a community where indie beauty entrepreneurs can hang out, relax, network, learn and share ideas. Her mission is to empower as many beautypreneurs as possible to create pioneering, disruptive and iconic beauty brands by providing them with access to the resources and support they need to thrive. Her passion is using her entrepreneurial experience and 15 years of insider beauty industry know-how to help beautypreneurs create strong businesses built on robust systems that allow them to build and grow brands that stand out and get noticed without it totally taking over their headspace and life. The Takeaways: Indie Beauty Delivers was created to help small business owners improve the logistical aspect of their brand, which is one of the most important parts of growing a small business. Rachel Whittaker has 15 years of experience in the beauty industry and offers one-to-one VIP sessions with clients to help them focus on their social media, growing their online business, and working with retailers. If you're starting a small business, find what sets your brand apart from other brands. Be authentic in creating the brand, because the passion that drives your business is what will connect and draw your customer base in. Indie Beauty Delivers was created three years ago by Rachel Whittaker, an expert in the beauty logistics industry. She started her business after recognizing a growing need to help new entrepreneurs address the not-so-glamorous logistical aspect of running a small business. She works with small brands to understand the importance of prioritizing business logistics, what to avoid when starting a business, how logistics can make or break their business and provides individual advice and support through one-on-one sessions and workshops. Her one-on-one sessions are called VIP Days, which focus on working with retailers, launching an online platform, and setting up social media outlets.  Rachel’s goal is to reach small businesses early on in their development so that they can apply the information she provides as early as possible to avoid making costly financial mistakes. A business can have an incredible product with outstanding marketing, but if the logistical side of the business slips through the cracks, it can cause serious damage to the brand. Many small businesses, especially ones that are only available for online purchase, only make physical contact with their customers through the delivery process. If the product is damaged or delivered late, this can turn customers away, which reflects poorly on the brand. There has been an explosion of small businesses, especially in the skincare world. Rachel’s advice to new entrepreneurs is to really focus on what makes your brand unique, what sets you apart from other companies. If you build a brand based on your own passions, what drives you to create the brand in the first place, that authenticity will draw customers in. Creating a small business can be scary and intimidating, but you, too, can be successful if you stand strong in what you believe and learn about the logistical side of running a small business. "Don’t be afraid of who you are and what you believe in. That’s actually probably your best selling point and that will be the point where people connect with you and don’t connect with another brand. Because they’ll see something in you that they totally understand, related to, engage with, and are passionate about, and that’s what will make your brand grow." While speaking with Rachel, our conversation revisited the importance of connection numerous times. Her favorite part of running her business is the connection she creates with her clients, the brands she works with, and her support network group she meets with on a regular basis. We as humans need connection with one another to thrive, and that applies to the world of business as well. To learn more about Rachel, her business, her journey, take some time to listen to the full podcast episode. As a small business owner myself, I am so grateful for women like Rachel who focus their energy on supporting entrepreneurs, especially those who are creating lasting, positive, tangible changes for the world. Thank you, Rachel, for all that you do. You can also watch the full episode here. Make sure to check out Indie Beauty Delivers, whether or not you’re a small business owner. You can also follow her on Instagram and Facebook! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Australian born and bread, Becky Crisp is passionate about all things natural beauty, especially certified organic plant and flower based products. Through education, her aim is to empower woman to confidently and comfortably make the transition to Eco-beauty by embracing all natural, organic, ethical and cruelty free products and practices, ensuring we live the healthiest, happiest life possible with glowing, radiant skin. The Takeaways: Wild Spirit Naturally is a holistic beauty, eco-friendly, environmentally conscious company founded by Becky Crisp, with a strong focus in women empowerment and education. Our skin is our largest organ, and unlike our other body systems, it does not have a filter to protect us from toxins. 60-90% of the products we put on our skin is directly absorbed into our bloodstream. Becky's approach to natural skin care is simple: if you wouldn't put it in your mouth, don't put it on your skin. Beck's business advice on how to grow your own green business? Be real, be bold, be genuinely authentic. Wild Spirit Naturally, a London based company, was created to provide a natural, organic-based community for women who want to learn more about holistic well-being, natural skin-care, and beauty therapy. Becky Crisp, the founder of Wild Spirit Naturally, has a background in holistic nutrition and beauty therapy, and has seven years of holistic beauty experience working alongside naturopaths, physiotherapists, holistic therapists, and health coaches. She has an overwhelming passion for sharing her knowledge about the importance of organic skin care with the world, and her positive energy is simply contagious. Becky was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome around the age of 17, and after a year of dead-ends with Western treatment plans, she discovered the world of holistic healing and finally found relief from her diagnosis. This path of natural healing led her to create Wild Spirit Naturally to continue to spread the magic to as many people as she can possibly reach. Becky’s mission is to educate, empower, and help women transition to more optimal state of health through holistic beauty therapy.  “First and foremost, Wild Spirit Naturally is all about empowering women, helping us to feel empowered, helping us to glow, and doing so using organic and natural products.” The main focus of Wild Spirit Naturally is organic, natural skin-care, but Beck also specializes in holistic coaching and education. She offers one-to-one appointments, workshops, events, and retreats as a way to connect and educate her customers. The skin is our largest organ, and 60-90% of what we put on our skin is absorbed directly into our bloodstreams (with no filter to keep the toxins out!). Her goal is to teach others about health issues we may experience when we aren’t cautious about the products we come in contact with on a daily basis. Her tips for our listeners who are interested in revamping their skin care routines are effective and simple: Know your ingredients, start learning which ones are natural and which ones aren’t Don’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your body Explore the alternatives, and as you go, replace your old products with new, ecofriendly ones Beck’s focus in growing Wild Spirit Naturally has been to be authentic in all aspects of her business, and it absolutely shows. In this episode, Beck shares her real, down-to-earth ways to increase her following, and her strategies might pleasantly surprise you. She is a high-spirited, powerful, soon-to-be momma, and I am inspired by her drive and excitement to reach as many people in the world as she possibly can. Take some time to listen to the podcast episode to learn more about her journey, her business, and her big plans for the future! You can also watch the entire episode here. Visit Wild Spirit Naturally’s website for more information. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated with her latest business news! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Takeaways Animal grooming products are categorized as cleaning products, meaning they are not required to list every ingredient, only the active ones Kikolily is a natural, eco-friendly, gentle horse grooming line founded by Nicole Anhalt to address the lack of conscious animal products on the market Nicole’s mission is to declare every ingredient used in her products, and only uses ingredients that are safe for both animals and humans Did you know that legally, cleaning products do not have to declare every ingredient used in the product, that they are only required to list the active ingredients? Did you know that animal grooming products are categorized as cleaning products, not cosmetics, and therefore are only legally bound to listing active ingredients? Animals have skin and fur, but their grooming products aren’t closely regulated, meaning companies do not need to declare every ingredient in your pet’s shampoo, only the active ones. To me, that seems unethical. So, I am very happy to announce that this week’s podcast episode spotlights Nicole Anhalt, the founder of Kikolily, whose mission is to create animal grooming products that are transparent and honest, because animals deserve gentle, natural products as much as humans do. About a year ago, Nicole noticed a gap in the market for natural, honest horse grooming products. She was concerned about using products on her horses without knowing the hidden ingredients, as well as her own skin exposure to these chemicals. Nicole took a leap and combined her lifelong passion of working with horses with her desire to create a skincare company, and Kikolily was born. Kikolily focuses mainly on horse shampoos, detanglers, and horse deodorants (insect repellent), but the products can be used on other animals as well. Humans come in contact with animal products during grooming practices, so she only adds ingredients to her products that are safe and gentle for both humans and animals. In fact, she tests her products on humans first, and then tests the products on her horses. She also sends her products to contacts around the world for testing, specifically her insect repellant, in order to determine whether it’s effective in various regions with different insect species. Nicole is dedicated to honesty, so her mission is to declare every ingredient in Kikolily products regardless of the regulations. She wants her customers to feel informed and comfortable using her products on their animals. For the past year, Kikolily has been in the research and development phase, but Nicole is excited for the year ahead. She’s focusing her efforts on sales and trade shows to get the word out about her products, mostly in the Swiss market, but she has future plans to expand worldwide. I hope you can take a few minutes to listen to this podcast episode. I was inspired by her positive energy, her drive, and passion for changing the animal grooming industry. I appreciate and support every effort to help move this planet in a more eco-friendly, environmentally-conscious direction. “I think the one most important thing is that you dare to put yourself out there. That you stop thinking about all the things you cannot do, and you start thinking about all the things you can do.” Thank you Nicole for sharing with us! Check out the Kikolily website for animal grooming products made with integrity, honesty, and love. Follow Kikolily on instagram and Facebook. Watch the episode here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Originally from Croatia, and now settled in the Netherlands by way of the UK and Australia, Marcela Rilovic is an experienced marketing and content manager with an international mindset and a proven track record in managing complex online content development projects in non-for-profit and socially responsible international organizations. With a background in non-for-profit communications and web-based development, at Better Places Travel Marcela's main focus has been to map out the best and most consistent content and marketing strategy for promoting this responsible travel start up internationally. The Takeaways: Better Places is a sustainable travel company making huge changes in the travel industry. Better Places offers unique, meaningful, tailor-made travel experiences that are individualized to each traveler's vision and needs. Sustainability is at the top of their list of priorities, and Better Places works with both parties, the traveler and the suppliers, to develop relationships and create a low-impact travel experience. Better Places definitely walks the walk, and are dedicated to calculating and compensating for CO2 emissions created during their planned trips. Having the heart of a traveler and an environmentally-conscious mind often creates a silent argument about where my next travel destination will be. Traveling is an important part of life; it brings cultures together and creates community around the globe, which is essential for existing in peace on this Earth. Travel also provides incomparable opportunities for personal growth. But traveling can also present harmful impacts on the planet, CO2 emissions and plastic waste being two of the larger problems. The good news: there is an eco-conscious travel company paving the way for providing individual travel experiences that are meaningful, authentic, and focus almost entirely on planning trips with the lowest carbon footprint possible. Better Places, a company founded in the Netherlands in 2014, is succeeding in creating positive change in the travel industry. Better Places was established to address the need for environmentally friendly travel experiences, and to connect travelers with small scale accommodation and local, authentic experiences. I had the opportunity to speak with Marcela Rilovic about Better Places, and could not be more impressed with what this company is accomplishing. “Better places to live in, and better places to visit.” Better Places prioritizes both the traveler and the local suppliers to create the best experience for both parties. They strive to create better places for their suppliers to live in, and better places for their travelers to visit. As of now, they have over 38 destinations available for travelers to choose from, and each trip is specifically tailored to meet each individual’s travel needs. Another admirable aspect of Better Places is their focus on long-term sustainability and their dedication to compensating CO2 emissions for each of their trips. They accomplish this by calculating their CO2 emissions with a Carmacal Calculator, and then create projects to help counteract those emissions. For example, they collaborated with the South Pole group and invested in a project to provide more efficient cooking stoves to community members in Ghana to offset the carbon emission from the trips they planned for their travelers. “We’ve really always thought that climate action and climate change is a big responsibility, and also for the travel industry, and we want to take that responsibility seriously. We understand the air travel is by far the most environmentally harmful component of overseas travel.” To say that Better Places has been successful would be an understatement, and they have big plans for the future, including a pilot study to dive deeper into evaluating their travel carbon footprint. Start-up companies often struggle to be successful, so I asked Marcela to share her thoughts about what factors have contributed to Better Places rapid success. She responded with only two answers, the satisfaction from both their clients (an average rating of 9.2, amazing!) and local suppliers, and their overall timing as a business. Take some time to listen to, or watch, the entire podcast to hear more about what Better Places is doing to change the current travel industry. So far, they’ve blown me away with what they’ve already accomplished in such a short amount of time. Next time you’re planning an adventure, visit their website and consider booking an authentic, tailor-made experience with them. Your support for Better Places will continue to shift this world to a more wholesome, connected, sustainable place. Follow Better Places Travel on Instagram and Facebook. Watch the entire episode here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Takeaways: Luxe Botanics is an innovative green skin care company created by Jene Roestorf, and was inspired by nature’s visibly proven botanical ingredients. The focus on the intersection between scientific evidence and nature is what sets Luxe Botanics apart from other skin care lines.  Jene created Luxe because of her love and connection to the planet and nature. She sources only the highest grade, organic, and wild harvested botanicals through fair-trade alliances to support local communities. Marula, Camu Camu, and Kigelia are the three core botanics used in Luxe’s product line because of their  scientific evidence in skin care effectiveness. Each individual Luxe product is formulated to precision with high concentrations of unique core botanicals. Collaboration with others, learning to be vulnerable, and continuing to reconnect with her “why” are three components of Jene’s success. Jene Roestorf, founder of Luxe Botanics, grew up in South Africa where she spent the majority of her childhood surrounded by the natural world. Developing such a close connection with nature at a young age left a deep imprint on her, and she carried this love and connectedness with her after leaving South Africa. After moving to Australia to work in the world of research and science, her main focus on clinical trial studies, Jene realized that her life lacked consistent connection to the Earth and she decided to shift her life path to realign with her deepest passion. Nature. This is how Luxe Botanics was born. With her passion for science and love of nature, Jene created Luxe, a green skincare company that is backed by scientific research, utilizes the incredible healing properties nature provides, and a strong mission to give back to communities involved in the process - the buy one give one charity is an integral part of her company. Luxe only uses botanics that have been scientifically tested to improve the health of the skin. Jene started with three core botanics, Marula, Camu Camu, and Kigelia. These core three were chosen because they have the strongest scientific evidence in skin care, and Jene’s connection and drive to help improve the communities they’re grown in. Jene was exposed to both Marula on a regular basis throughout her childhood in South Africa, and Luxe sources this botanic from Kenya. Marula oil was often used by women during pregnancy to reduce stretch marks, and the winter months to reduce chapped skin, or applied to burns. Kigelia, sourced from Malawi, a large fruit shaped similar to a cucumber (but much bigger, sometimes 2-3 meters long!). It is often used to treat a large range of skin conditions including eczema, acne, psoriasis, skin injuries, sunburn. Kigelia is a natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibiotic, and because of its DNA repairing abilities and scientific literature, Kigelia is in the top four ingredients in all of Luxe’s products. The final of the core three, Camu Camu berry extract, is sourced from Brazil where Jene visited during her clinical career. There are many plants in Africa that contain vitamin C, but none that compare to the Camu Camu berry, which is about 30x that of an orange. Jene has certainly created a beautiful company in less than two years, and during our interview she shared her thoughts about the obstacles she’s encountered, her inspiration and drive, her strategic plan for creating this amazing company, and the advice she’s taken to heart on her way to success. Be open, be vulnerable, find your why, and start a conversation with others in the industry, even if it’s scary or intimidating. But with all of the advice she’s picked up along the way, she shared with us some advice of her own, advice that really sits close to my own heart: “If you’ve got an idea just go for it, put all your energy into it. Get some grit and drive in those feelings, you can do it. We’re all rooting for each other, and if we just help each other we can really improve the world around us.” It was an inspiration discussing Luxe Botanics with Jene. Take some time to listen (or watch) the entire podcast episode to hear more about her journey. Visit Luxe Botanics website, or shop here. Follow Luxe Botanics on instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Karen Hoskin is a 20-year entrepreneur based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She started her first company in 1998 and recently founded her fourth company, Zoetica. Each company has had a sustainability ethos. She built a LEED-certified preschool between 2001 and 2005. Then in 2008, she built one of the USA's first green craft distilleries, Montanya Distillers. In 2017, she turned her personal commitment to zero waste into a company by launching Zoetica, which designs and makes zero waste systems. These systems are ideal for consumers, like herself, who want to refuse convenience trash. Karen's focus on sustainability affects every aspect of her personal and professional life. It determines everything from how she travels to what packaging she accepts. It even affects what clothing she wears and how her homes and offices are constructed and powered. The Take-Aways: Montanya Distillers and Zoetica are two sustainable-committed businesses that are truly making a difference in the green business world. Karen wanted to create a solution to the global plastic problem, so she launch Zoetica to help people overcome barriers to using “convenience trash” in their daily lives. The Warrior, a system made by Zoetica, has everything you need to live a plastic-free on-the-go life. We need to take this plastic issue seriously, because it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Our children, and our children’s children, will be left to deal with the plastic we’ve been generating over the past 50 years. Be conscious of your footprint. Karen Hoskin, founder of Montanya Distillers and Zoetica, is proving what it means to be sustainability-committed in the green business world. This woman has taken running eco-friendly companies to a whole new level, and is a true role-model for all of us in the green business world. Karen has owned Montanya Distillers for ten years now, which focuses solely on mountain-distilled rum located in Crested Butte, Colorado. Being one of the first women in the craft distilling field, she’s paving the way for women in the industry, as well as setting an example of how to successfully run a sustainable distillery. Montanya’s rum is gaining recognition on an international level for their high-quality spirits. What sets them apart from other rum brands is their mountain-distilled processes, rather than island-distilled, which focuses on higher elevation, first-pressed sugarcane juice, the absence of molasses, and of course, their deeply rooted commitment to sustainability. While running Montanya Distillers, Karen noticed habits in her personal life that weren’t aligned with her business’s sustainability mission. She realized she was creating “convenience trash” while traveling for her business - plastic utensils, containers, coffee cups, things that make it easy to move from place to place. “I wasn’t walking the walk,” she stated, “I’m not doing this the way I believe I should be.” After this realization, she created a new business plan and eight months later launched Zoetica in September of 2017. Zoetica is a system of reusable bags, containers, utensils, cotton napkins, among other reusable products, to address the “convenience trash” epidemic we’re facing in the world today. The goal was to create an easy way to refuse throw away items all day long, no matter where you are, or what you’re presented with. Karen’s favorite item from Zoetica is The Warrior system. This system comes in a purse-like bag that has two cup holders, and inside is a separate system (called The Nomad) which includes a reusable beverage cup, a water bottle, a market tote, a produce bag, a cotton napkin, two leak-proof stainless steel containers, a reusable straw, a fork and a spoon. Karen’s goal has been to help inform consumers of the power they have in changing the plastic problem our world is facing. Her focus has been to spread the word as far and wide was she can, with a unique focus on also educating vendors of their footprint. Karen’s parting advice to all of us was powerful; we need to be serious about the unnecessary, toxic plastic our country is producing. She, like so many of us, is extremely concerned about the amount of plastic piling up in our oceans, in landfills, in our backyards. “We need to take this seriously, and if we refuse to take it seriously, our kids will be living on a completely different planet, or living in spaceships orbiting because they won’t be able to grow anything.” Karen is on the forefront of running sustainability-committed businesses and battling the plastic epidemic. Take a listen to the podcast episode to find out more about her background, the steps she’s taken, and goals she’s working toward, to help make a difference for our planet. To learn more about Montanya Distillers visit www.montanyadistillers.com. To learn more about Zoetica visit www.zoeticalife.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marjorie Alexander lives in L.A. and created A Sustainable Mind during her graduate program two years ago. A Sustainable Mind is her podcast channel where she educates people of all levels and backgrounds on current environmental topics and eco-friendly changes people can make to help lessen their carbon footprints. Her mission is to inspire others to be greener and make the world a better place. In the past, Marjorie worked as an environmental media producer and water resources analyst. She was involved in the film industry but left this field to find a career path that was better aligned with her environmentally-supportive values. After removing herself from the film industry, she attended Green Mountain College and received her Masters of Science in Environmental Studies. The Take-Aways: Nothing is set in stone. If you’re in a career that doesn’t align with your values, take a step back and re-evaluate. There's always time to choose a new path. The focus of A Sustainable Mind, Marjorie's podcast channel, is to provide accessible information about environmental topics that everyone can understand, regardless of educational backgrounds, age, or career path. If you want to make a lifestyle change that has a large impact on the planet, cut your meat consumption! Whether that means cutting it in half, transitioning to vegetarianism, or full-vegan, decreasing meat consumption is an extremely effective way to reduce your carbon footprint Going green takes time, energy, and finances. So be patient, be committed, and be kind to yourself and others. A Sustainable Mind was created after Marjorie noticed a huge gap of environmental content in podcasts that were targeted at the general public. Most podcasts about these issues were filled with scientific jargon and were difficult to understand. So, Marjorie stepped into action and created her own podcast channel to bridge this gap. Her goal was to bring everyday people onto the show to share their stories to create content for people who wanted to transition to a greener lifestyle but feel unsure about what steps they need to take. She’s overwhelmed with the positive feedback from her listeners and is excited to have reached her business goals in such a short amount of time. Living in L.A., Marjorie discussed the challenges of living in a big city and transitioning to a green lifestyle. She stated that it’s easier to go green in L.A. if you have the finances to do so, and unfortunately, living a green lifestyle is not accessible to everyone living in such tight quarters. This was another reason for her to continue A Sustainable Mind after graduate school. She wanted her content to be accessible, understandable, and available to everyone regardless of where they live or their education level because, in order to able to apply concepts to everyday life, a person must be able to understand the general concepts first. She admitted that though she focuses on living sustainably, she feels that she could improve in some areas. She eventually wants to be driving an electric vehicle, implement a composting system at her house, but her biggest goal is to transition to a vegetarian, and someday vegan, dietary lifestyle. Her advice to others making sustainable lifestyle changes is to focus on the amount of meat consumed each day. Even just cutting meat consumption in half can have huge positive implications for the planet, and she encourages everyone who’s serious about decreasing their carbon footprint to be mindful of the energy and resources necessary to raise the meat products they're consuming. The future of the planet is in our hands, and she believes that the most important thing for all of us to focus on is being mindful. Going green takes time, preparation, commitment, and confidence to stand up for what you truly believe in. “Be kind to yourself. But be committed. It’s going to take a long time, it’s going to be uncomfortable. But at the end of the day, we can win if we embark on this journey together. To be kind to yourself and be kind to each other.” Would you rather watch the episode? Watch now on YouTube Please Review and Rate this podcast on iTunes, thanks! Visit Marjorie's website: A Sustainable Mind Follow Marjorie on Instagram See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Interview with Jennifer Gerrity, Executive Director of Operations at Mountain Rose Herbs Mountain Rose Herbs has grown to a worldwide phenomenon since its establishment in 1987. And for good reason. If you’re at all interested in high-quality herbs then there’s a big chance that you’ve heard of the company. I had the chance to visit the Mountain Rose Herbs store in Eugene, OR when I was visiting last September. The feeling when you walk into the store is as though you’re walking into an old-timey apothecary. The dark woods, minimal light pouring in through the small windows up high, even the packaging of their products looks rustic from another era. The spokesperson at Mountain Rose Herbs whom I got to interview is the wonderful, intelligent and very kind Jennifer Gerrity. Jennifer is the Executive Director of Operations. Jennifer has a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science from Rutgers University, where she specialized in plant propagation and agribusiness management. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with a bigger passion for plants than Jennifer. What a joy to get to pick her brain about plants, and to hear her describe how she has witnessed and been a part of Mountain Rose Herbs and seen the company grow over the 14 years she has been with the company. MRH gives back which has become an important aspect of what they do: the Fair for Life Gardens program which Jennifer has been a large player in. In the podcast episode, Jennifer explains what the importance is of this program and how it helps farmers and plants in various countries. “People that get turned on to working with plants in whatever capacity it ends up being changes their lives in a way because it brings so much inspiration and so many health-giving properties.” - Jennifer Gerrity, Chief Operational Officer at Mountain Rose Herbs The takeaways: Mountain Rose Herbs is a herb, health, and harmony company that works closely with farmers around the globe to source high-quality, organic herbs in regions that naturally support specific varieties The Fair for Life Gardens project is a fair trade exchange with farms in India that focus on improving working conditions, growing practices, and building relationships with farmers Jennifer’s current three favorite botanicals are Ashwangandha, American Ginseng, and Camellia Sinensis. Not sure what those are? Keep listening (or reading!) to find out. Global farming practices are making strides to help preserve scarce medicinal plants so that they can continue to be used in healing practices The Summary: Jennifer Gerrity is the Executive Director of Mountain Rose Herbs, located in Eugene, Oregon. Jennifer was born into the world surrounded by nature and plant life, and spent the majority of her youth researching and seeking out various plants in her free time. She continued this passion into her career path and received a bachelor’s degree in plant science from Rutger’s and specialized in plant propagation and agro-business management. She focused on tropical agriculture, bioremediation, and tissue culture. After her studies, she continued researching for both the university and for the EPA before claiming Eugene, Oregon as her forever home. As the Executive Director of Mountain Rose Herbs, Jennifer oversees staff and production and takes a special interest in procurement of high-quality organic herbs, spices, and teas through local, national and international travel. She is deeply committed to farm development and creating special projects at Mountain Rose. Mountain Rose Herbs is a herb, health, and harmony company that was founded in 1987 by Rosemary Gladstar, the grandmother of herbal medicine in the U.S. Mountain Rose has deep roots in the herbal industry and community in the U.S. As an importer, distributor, and manufacturer, they bring in the highest quality botanicals to their headquarters in Eugene, OR from all over the world. These botanicals pass through numerous levels of quality control tests from expert botanists and herbalists, which are then repackaged into retail sizes, and distributed from the website. Mountain Rose offers a huge selection of both raw and finished products for purchasing and has everything you need to create your own body care products. Keeping a small business feel, while growing exponentially over the years, has been a focus of Mountain Rose Herbs. What once was a family owned warehouse out in rural Pleasant Hill transitioned to a larger production in the heart of Eugene. Mountain Rose Herbs has maintained a close relationship with their customers, farmers, and their products, which has helped sustain the small-business-like feel. They’ve also focused their efforts on preserving the original principles and standards. But Jennifer stated that the root of their success has been an outcome of their very tight-knit staff. Many of the employees have been there since day one, many of which have moved from working in the warehouse to upper-level management. They are truly experts in this field and have dedicated their energy to producing incredibly high-quality products. Mountain Rose Herbs created relationships the farmers a long time ago, and have been contracting with the same people for decades. They don’t buy from unknown sources out on the marketplace, they partner with farmers to ensure that both parties have mutual success. Cultivation can be a lengthy process, sometimes it takes a full year between the time the purchase order is created and the end product is received. This is why working with the same farmers year after year is beneficial for both parties - the farmers have long-term projects and growing orders, while Mountain Rose Herbs receives herbs that are up to their high-quality standards. Quality starts from the beginning, which is why they provide their farmers with quality standards from day one. The herbs undergo both a pre-shipment and post-shipment examination that include taste, smell, freshness, and microscopic tests, and then additional ones that test water content, sulfur content, yeast, mold, pathogens, and a variety of other things. All before purchase. Rest assured that these herbs are of incredibly high-quality. In the rare case that the herbs are not up to standard, Mountain Rose Herbs continues working with the farmers to either improve the products or helps them find other sources to purchase the herbs. Because the crop is often the farmer’s entire yield for the year, Mountain Rose Herbs does what they can to help find a new home for the herbs if they can’t meet terms and specifications. They work with farmers from around the globe, from local to international farms, and care deeply for the success and well-being of their farmers. Fair for Life Gardens is a project Jennifer has been working on for seven years now. This project works collaboratively with farms in southern India to improve the working conditions, equal pay, sustainability, products, materials, and farming equipment, overall focusing on raising the standards of growing and employment practices. This project has provided an opportunity to implement fair trade, which is based on the premium per kilo Mountain Rose Herbs pays to help make lasting improvements. The extra money helps provide funds for rain catchments, composting bins, farming education, rebuilding homes in agricultural communities, upgrading farming equipment, and bolstering communities. They’ve created long-term, supportive relationships with their farmers, and in exchange, the farmers are experiencing positive impacts in their businesses and communities. A huge win-win for everyone. We asked Jennifer her three current favorite botanicals, and she didn’t disappoint. Ashwagandha was her first choice, because of the nutrient and adaptogenic properties is provides for the body, but she also discussed this plant on a global scale. The shifts she’s seen happen on farms that transition from wheat to Ashwagandha has provided farmers with a better return on their investments, and the success she’s witnessed is uplifting. Her second choice was American Ginseng because of the healing properties associated with the plant. And her third choice was Camellia sinensis, which is basically the “tea plant”. All teas come from this plant, but the variety in the tea depends on the time of harvest, post-harvesting handling techniques, and the region it’s grown. “People that get turned into working with plants in whatever capacity it ends up being changes their lives in a way because it brings so much inspiration and so many health-giving properties.” Plants can have so much to offer, scientifically and energetically. The website is an array of all facets of the botanical world. If you’re not sure where to start, she recommends that you take a look at all the raw products, which are great for cooking, making tea, creating body products, and she suggests to just get your hands working with the herbs is a great place to start. As a final note, Jennifer discussed her passion for organic farming in the U.S., and the lack of deep history growing medicinal plants here compared to other countries in the world. She wants to help spread and encourage farmers to connect with seed growers to increase yields of herbs that are scarce on the market to ensure we don’t lose those plants altogether. She’s optimistic in that she’s seen a little bit of growth and movement every year here in the U.S. regarding expanding plant variety but is on the forefront of encouraging the industry to take positive risks and keep moving forward. www.mountainroseherbs.com Instagram Facebook See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What you eat for your health is generally good for the planet. Then there are rare occurrences where certain foods are consumed in such high amounts that the crops are overproduced. Examples of this are almonds and avocados. Where I live, in the Netherlands, many grocery stores package organic produce in plastic whereas the conventional ones aren’t which seems counterintuitive. Today’s guest, Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, is an Integrative Chinese Medicine practitioner and acupuncturist. She has studied with Dr. Andrew Weil. She shares Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Woman™. Elizabeth specializes in women’s health, weight management, allergies, auto-immune diseases, and environmental illnesses. If you’re fortunate to still have your grandparents around, Elizabeth strongly encourages you to speak with them. Ask them everything about what it was like to grow up when they were young, what they ate, what their grandparents ate: ask them anything you can think of. You'll learn more from them than from any Instagram account. The takeaways: Don’t use platforms such as Instagram as the source for your health information. Seek out help in finding which diet suits your needs the best. Look at your genetics: where do you come from, what have your ancestors traditionally been eating? Those are foods that will most likely nourish your body. Instead of focusing resolutions on diet, focus them on improving your indoor air quality or detoxing your cleaning products. Remember to wind-down at night, remove the TV from your bedroom and focus on allowing your body to get ready for sleep. This has been done for centuries and is a necessary aspect of great sleep. If your grandparents are still alive: talk to them and soak up their ancient wisdom Please Rate & Review this podcast on iTunes! The summary: From the time she was a child, Dr. Elizabeth Trattner was fascinated with the human body. She spent hours memorizing and reading about anatomy and hoped someday to become a medical doctor. During her early college years, this dream faded when her own health was compromised. Because of her health status, she met a man who quickly became her doctor and mentor and led her down a path toward Chinese and integrative medicine. Not only does she currently have her own practice in Florida, she also attended the Natural Gourmet Institute in the early 90s to become a Natural Gourmet Chef, and was the first acupuncture physician to be invited to be a guest during an integrative medical rotation at the University of Arizona. In 2014, she was also in the first class of certified integrative medical practitioners that completed IHELP, a program designed specifically for non-MD practitioners. The majority of Dr. Trattner’s focus has been on women’s health, which she has been advocating for since she was 16 years old. She strongly believes that dietary lifestyles are not one-size fits all. Social media can glorify certain diets, examples being raw-vegan, paleo, and vegetarianism, which can put pressure on people to consume diets that may not be the most nourishing for their body type. Different bodies have different dietary needs based on genetics and health history, and these needs can evolve as the body moves through various life stages. There are numerous factors influencing young women to eat in certain ways or consume certain products, the main one being social media. Digital media is a double-edged sword and can have both positive and negative effects on readers. It can be used as a platform to help share and educate the population about health-promoting practices and foods, like her recent article on Functional Mushrooms. It’s also helpful in reaching people you may otherwise have very little connection to. But there is also an immense amount of incorrect information floating around, and if the information IS correct, it may not be correct or applicable to the specific person reading it. She stated that it’s more important to look at our genetics, rather than Instagram, to determine what eating patterns are the most nourishing for our bodies. Just because a raw-vegan diet solved all your friend's health issues does not mean it’s the appropriate diet for everyone. Some bodies thrive on cooked vegetables, some function better consuming meat. If meat is an integral part of your diet, focus on purchasing responsibly-sourced, local meat products to keep the carbon footprint as low as possible. Integrative and Chinese medicine look at the entire body, what genes it’s carrying, nitty-gritty health histories, the way energy flows throughout it, to help determine what type of diet is best for each patient on an individual level. She often sits down with new patients for three hours at time to gather information on their physical, emotional, and spiritual health in order to take the next step toward diagnosis. Knowing a person’s entire health history, seeing the entire picture, is essential when working toward healing. During our interview, I asked Dr. Trattner to discuss how individuals can improve their long-term health, and how to set and stick to New Year’s resolutions, which are frequently abandoned early on in the year. She said that because humans are often emotionally connected to eating patterns, focus on goals outside of dietary restrictions. Set goals to transition to green cleaning and beauty products, or goals to get out into nature more often. Clean air is crucial for overall health, and we absorb products we put directly onto our skin. Two very effective ways to improve our overall health. Another important factor in achieving optimal health relates to our sleep patterns, and how we “unfold” in the evening. Bodies were meant to rise and set with the sun, and the overwhelming amount of artificial lighting in our society has disrupted our body’s natural wind-down processes. She says to place more emphasis on the hours before we lay our bodies to rest to help improve overall mood and wellness. Dr. Trattner’s parting advice struck a chord - listen to your grandparents, for they hold valuable information about how to live in this world with a smaller impact on the planet. Tap into older generations to hear how they lived, about their gardening technique, how they gathered their food, how they moved from day to day. “My grandmothers were my muses. Learn what you can. They’re wise women and they have a lot to tell us.” Would you rather watch the episode? Go to YouTube. Dr. Elizabeth Trattner has been practicing Chinese and Integrative medicine in Miami since 1991, specializing in women’s health. Elizabeth is a graduate of University of Arizona’s Center of Integrative Medicine, holds a chef certificate from the Natural Gourmet Institute and received Shamanic training and initiation. She’s a current Member of the Global Wellness’ Beauty Meets Wellness Initiative Committee and is a contributing expert for hundreds of publications and digital media. Visit Dr. Elizabeth Trattner's website: www.elizabethtrattner.com Follow on Elizabeth on Instagram See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"What are you doing this summer?” "I’m going to glimpse." Chances are the response is something you probably haven’t heard before. In a few years ‘glimpsing’ might be a common thing. Perhaps you're like me: while traveling you’re scouring tour guides and the internet trying to find the non-touristy areas. Glimpsing is the solution to truly experience a destination as a local. Today’s guest has created just the platform for the ultimate local experience: 2 glimpse. Amber van den Putte, the founder, wanted an exchange program for adults. An exchange program just like the ones for teenagers in high school. Listen to today’s episode and learn how 2 glimpse is different than platforms you might be familiar with such as house swapping, couch surfing or AirBnB. If you’re eager to start your own 2 glimpse profile right now: head on here. The membership is free for a limited time only! Happy glimpsing! Follow 2 glimpse on Facebook and Instagram www.2glimpse.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have you ever considered the toxins in your home? Your body? The thing is... they're invisible. Which means they're not perceivable with our senses. But there are signs that you're living in a toxic environment: allergies, illnesses, fatigue, unease. In the latest episode of the podcast, Alexx Stuart of LowToxLife shares her insights into going low tox and what an impact it can make on your life and health. Alexx stands firmly with LowToxLife and "a new brand of activism" changing the way we think about these invisible poisons. But Alexx isn't judgmental; she's realistic. Alexx knows it's long process to remove many of the toxins from our lives, this is one of the reasons why her e-courses are so powerful: you can't make all of these changes in one go. It takes care, persistence, dedication and a whole lot of self-love. Low-Tox Tips from Alexx Scented fabric softeners They contain phthalates are endocrine disruptors (endocrine disruptors are chemicals that disrupt hormones) Tip: add 1/3 cup bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) with 15 drops of oil into the drier instead Single use plastics They're unnecessary and harmful for the planet. Think with the 7th generation in mind. Think of the scientists removing the plastics from whales. Bring your own bags: invest in reusable cutlery and straws: bring your own to-go cup. Food Ask yourself these questions before purchasing: Where does it come from? How was it grown/raised? Am I ok with that? The Takeaways  The vocabulary that comes along with going Low Tox can be daunting. In the e-courses on Low Tox Life Alexx will take you through the difficult names and abbreviations so that you will be empowered to avoid harmful toxins. Entrepreneurs: join an entrepreneurs association for additional support. Book tip: Scaling Up by Verne Harnish 'How to build a meaningful business & enjoy the ride' Ready to go Low-Tox? Here are some of the e-courses on lowtoxlife.com: Go Low Tox Thrive Real Food Rockstars Pre-Conception Ninja See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Happy New Years Eve!  This is the perfect day to evaluate 2017: what were some good things that happened? What could have gone better? What did you learn? It's time to think ahead: what do you want 2018 to bring? Take it a step further: what Sustainable Development Goals are you going to set for the next year? Listen to the podcast episode where I go over each of the SDGs. How you can figure out which SDGs you should focus on. And which goals I have set for my business in 2018. Why should you set SDGs? Because if you're running a purpose-driven or green business then your business is about more than just making money. It's a good way to evaluate your overarching 'why' of your business. Now: let's set course and strive to save the world in 2018! Think big. Use these resources to set your SDGs for 2018: Narrowing down SDGs: PWC Selector and PWC SDGs Research Results How to integrate SDGs: Carbon Smart See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Are you actively doing your part to help the planet? Just last week I saw a video with a thin-as-a-rake polar bear rummaging through a trash bin for food. Desperate to survive. It breaks my heart. It makes me want to do something. But what can I do? What can we do? It’s counterproductive to become upset, depressed, and to then go on to do nothing; assuming we’re doomed anyway. We need to do our part as consumers, but we need green businesses with great products that have a low-impact on the environment. The more low-impact products are made, the easier it is for us to vote with our wallet. We, the consumers, are powerful. Every exchange of money counts. Every time you refuse a plastic straw counts. Each time you bring your own mason jar to the coffeeshop counts. In this episode I interview Emily Bell who turned her website into somewhat of an activist website one year ago. Her business, Emily vs. Bear, sells ‘protest t-shirts’. The shirts all have a controversial yet beautiful image of something that needs to improve for the sake of our planet. From trash to food to saving the trees to water, and more. Emily is offering you a 10% discount! Purchase your favorite protest t-shirt before December 26th 2018. Use the offercode: POWERWOMEN10 Here’s to moving forward! IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE About Emily Bell and Emily vs Bear: Emily Bell is a creative clothing designer who started a line with the goal to encourage fashion-conscious women to be more responsible buyers. She is a woman who, with significant fervor towards the preservation of nature, founded a company that opened the eyes of her fellow American millennials and many others. Emily vs Bear is founded on courage. Courage in terms of sticking to principles, having solid, transparent values and wearing them proud. Their T-shirts are meant to draw us into making ethical decisions about the things that we purchase. They believe that fashion is one of the most effective mediums in promoting sustainable living. Emily is offering you a 10% discount! Purchase your favorite protest t-shirt before December 26th 2018. Use the offercode: POWERWOMEN10 Emily’s Advice: Stop using single-use plastic. Change your bank if you’re with the big bank. Reconsider your values and what you stand for, and really stand for them. Get ready to work really hard and don’t quit your day job yet. The Takeaways: As a consumer, you really do hold the power. So you shouldn’t get caught up in the consumerism that is drilled into our brains for years. We need to take a step back. It’s good to be able to discern on the things that we really need and not jump on those fast fashion pieces from malls. It is important to get to know the companies you’re buying from and really take a stand. If their methods are against your values, be firm in your decision to not buy from them. Emily is offering you a 10% discount! Purchase your favorite protest t-shirt before December 26th 2018. Use the offercode: POWERWOMEN10 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When a woman earns money: 80% goes back to her family and community. In comparison: a man gives 19% of his earnings to his family and community. The key to improving lives globally: EMPOWER WOMEN Every single human on the world has dreams. But not equal opportunities. I feel so strongly for this, and I want to inspire you to lend money today to someone on Kiva.org. With Kiva you can lend as little as $25 and change the life of one woman AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY. After that you can reuse the same $25 to change more lives. And on and on it goes. Brilliant, right? I’m a big believer in giving, but I also think that if it’s a loan you’re not simply giving people money, but you’re EMPOWERING her. The aspect of accountability comes with lending, which is something that doesn’t necessarily come with giving. And I think this plays a huge part in empowerment. Listen to the latest podcast episode in which Kate Bennett explains why micro-loans have such a big impact on the lives of the people receiving the loans, and why most of the loans are given to women. The next two weeks we'll be talking Female Empowerment on powerwomeningreen.com The lovely people at Kiva.org will be sharing some examples of lives changed through micro-loans. We’ll celebrate women whom inspire other women to be empowered. I’ll lead by example and head to Kiva.org film myself lending $25 On behalf of women worldwide: thank you for lending to Kiva.org. Bonus points: share this podcast episode with someone whom you think would want to lend $25 to a person with dreams on Kiva.org. IN THIS PODCAST EPISODE About Kate Bennett and Kiva Kate is the Senior Portfolio Manager of Kiva for Latin America. She plays an important role at Kiva, monitoring financial risks and making sure that the money goes where it creates the most social impact. She believes that one of the most powerful things that connects us as human beings is that we all have goals and dreams. But that because of some certain factors, realizing these dreams seems insurmountable, especially on our own. At Kiva.org you can lend money to people, mostly in rural areas or places where poverty is at its worst, so that they can put up a small business, or invest in the health or education of their families, or help other people in their respective communities. The funds come from Kiva’s field partners from all across the world. Tracking the money you lend to Kiva’s borrowers The thing is: with a micro loan you'll get your money back, you will be notified through email about it. You will be given information on the impact that your loans made and the progress that the borrowers are making with the money you've lent.  Upon repayment, you can then decide whether to take the money you loaned from the system or you can continue to make another loan (I highly recommend to keep giving!). Become a partner Simply visit the website www.kiva.org and choose from the various types of loans, including green finance. Choose what inspires you and means the most to you, or is something you would like to see changed in the world. The Takeaways: Everyone dreams, and all a dreamer really needs is an equal opportunity and access to resources that can help start a business that will change their lives. Kiva makes this a possibility by building a contract and partnership of mutual dignity between lender and borrower. Opening doors and appropriating supplies to anyone who needs them is Kiva’s main principle. They hope to be able to see every dreamer become the dream. Ok, now: go to www.kiva.org and lend as little as $25 and help make some dreams come true this Holiday season! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Get a 10% discount on ALL Jewelled Buddha products! Use offercode JBGIFT10 at the checkout. Valid through December 13th 2017. About Harjit and Jewelled Buddha: Unlike your typical globetrotter, Harjit is a woman who travels around the world, led by her heart and her vision. One of these memorable trips eventually gave birth to a lifelong career. Jewelled Buddha is the product of Harjit’s immersion in colorful cultures all over the world, particularly in developing countries, where she witnessed hard-working women turn unique textiles into beautiful clothes and accessories. Get a 10% discount on ALL Jewelled Buddha products! Use offercode JBGIFT10 at the checkout. Valid through December 13th 2017. Harjit’s Tips: Ask yourself the difficult questions like, “are you cut out for business?” Keep cost to a minimum. You have to be wise about budget when you are just starting a business. Know who your customers are. Once you know the kind of audience you want to appeal to, everything becomes clearer. Your brand becomes clearer. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Find a mentor who will guide you and inspire you until you find your own strength. Join online communities because this is the way most businesses grow in this day and age. The Takeaways: Just because you're not into ethical products doesn't mean you shouldn't buy fashionable items made the ethical way. Treasure handcrafted items that you buy because the people who made them put so much effort in making them. It may also have supported the health and education of their families. Talk to people. As your business grows, so will the number of tasks. They will be easier to accomplish through networking with the right groups or individuals. Never let fear get in the way of moving forward. Fear keeps you playing safe and you remain in the same place, which is even scarier than the fear itself. Get a 10% discount on ALL Jewelled Buddha products! Use offercode JBGIFT10 at the checkout. Valid through December 13th 2017. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fast fashion is the third largest pollutant in the world. Is there such a thing as sustainable fashion? This podcast episode is with Kasi Martin of The Peahen. About Kasi and The Peahen: Kasi wants to honestly cover fashion. Fashion journalism has been more of a marketing tool since the 80's. Kasi is on a mission to change this. The Peahen is the marrying of Kasi's two loves: fashion and sustainability. She has researched sustainable fashion extensively and is sharing her wisdom with you in the latest episode of the podcast. Kasi's tips Start with one ethic as you move towards a more sustainable wardrobe, such as the environment or humane treatment of humans, etc. this doesn’t mean you neglect the others, it’s just too overwhelming to focus on all at once. Go to marketplaces for sustainable clothing – shop and browse and get to know the brands/makers. Do your research on brands using the Project Just database. Tweet or use Instagram to get in touch with companies and ask questions. Ask about certifications that companies have. Although small independent brands may not be able to afford certifications as they are very expensive. The Takeaways Research brands that you like and find out their ethics. Don't hesitate to reach out! They should be willing to help. If not then it might not be a brand you'll want to invest in. Build a capsule wardrobe: invest in key pieces that are sustainable and high quality rather than following trends. Read as much as you can. Lift principles and integrate them into your own life. Kasi has a curated list of brands she likes on The Peahen. She has made a concerted effort to showcase brands that are sustainable, as well as create designs that are beautiful. Brands mentioned in the episode: Basics: IMBY, People Tree, SIIZU, Everlane Feminine: Amour Vert Marketplace: Bead & Reel Luxury: Maiyet, Stella McCartney, Behno Keep up with The Peahen, sign up for emails. Instagram Twitter Facebook See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lorraine Dallmeier is the director of Formula Botanica. She has grown Formula Botanica to what it is today through online marketing, but especially by being constantly visible, consistent and persistent. Are you interested in starting your own green natural skincare indie brand? Or are you interested in growing your business online?  Then this episode's for you!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

***Special Offer!*** Get a 10% discount on ALL Life Without Plastic products using offer code NOPLASTIC10. Valid through October 10th 2017. Get your discount here.  At the very least invest in getting a: - Reusable coffee mug to use at coffee shops - A spork to always carry in your purse or backpack - A lunchbox if you bring your own lunch to work - A stainless steel straw to use instead of plastic ones The time is now.  Stainless steel straws. Use these instead of plastic ones. Do you love using straws? Carry one in your bag at all times so that you don't have to use a plastic one when it's offered to you. Powdered laundry detergent. Buy powdered laundry detergent instead of liquids. Bamboo spork. Carry a bamboo spork with you at all times. You never know if you're going to stop for ice cream on a hot day. If you have it with you then you can go out and eat the ice cream. Also opt for the cone instead of the cup if possible. BYO coffee mug. Instead of using a paper cup with a plastic lid bring your own mug and let the coffee shop use it instead of their own. Most coffee shops do this. You'll also set an example to others that aren't brave enough to do ask for it themselves. Glass containers. Store your food in glass instead of in plastic. Especially if you put the foods in when they're warm to avoid the chemicals seeping into your food. Buy mayonnaise in glass jars instead of plastic tubes. It's only recently that mayonnaise has been stored in plastic VS. glass. Plastic-free dental floss. An innovative product that we discussed in the podcast. A great example of seeing a need for a plastic-free alternative. The Episode's Takeaways Chantal shares how she started Life Without Plastic. She noticed a need in the market because of her own needs for her son. Instead of hoping the plastic-free products would find their way to her she proactively sought them out and trusted that there where more people in need of plastic-free baby product alternatives and went for it. If you are in the position that you're wanting to start your own green business then Chantal advises to look around your life at all things plastic. There are more and more products being created as we speak that are 100% plastic-free. That's an immediate niche! Thank you, Chantal! ***Special Offer!*** Get a 10% discount on ALL Life Without Plastic products using offer code NOPLASTIC10. Valid through October 10th 2017. Get your discount here.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Huna Natural Apothecary Age Grace Face Serum. Click here to purchase and get a 20% discount using offer-code: POWERWOMENGREEN (valid on all Huna products through September 4th, 2017) A sneak peak into Huna Natural Apothecary's farm. The perfect combination: working together with the University of Manitoba to further deepen the natural skincare knowledge. Huna Natural Apothecary Balance and Brighten Cleansing Powder. Click here to purchase and get a 20% discount using the offer-code: POWERWOMENGREEN (valid on all Huna products through September 4th, 2017) Sea Buckthorn, one of the natural and potent ingredients used in the Huna products that are grown on Huna's farm. Avoid wheat, dairy and sugar if you want gorgeous skin like Heather Urquhart's. Another (and unexpected) secret to gorgeous skin: smile! When you smile your skin lightens up and no wrinkles are formed. You'll find me in the corner smiling. Head over to Instagram or Facebook by clicking one of these symbols: Download the episode transcript: Heather Urquhart Podcast Episode Transcript See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Listen to the episode by clicking here: 1. Reishi. This mushroom is the one that Alyssa recommends to start with if you're ready to begin adding one of these holistic herbs into your life. Alyssa lists a whole bunch of health benefits in our interview varying from stress-relief to fighting allergies. Listen to the podcast to get the whole list. 2. Stress-relief is probably the biggest reason why you need to try adding these holistic herbs into your diet. The way we live our lives has sped up immensely over the years, and our bodies are suffering because of it. Our bodies and minds simply aren't meant to process the amount of information that we're processing. Do what you can to relax, treat your body & mind well, and drink some holistic herbal tea. 3. Cordyceps. These tall mushrooms can give you a burst of energy. Drink this one in the morning, and if you're looking for a coffee alternative, then cordyceps might be your shroom. 4. Starting to get grey hair? He Shou Wu can actually reverse the greying of your hair. For real! It's also a beautifying root, so no harm in taking he shou wu. Alyssa also recommends to take it after your period since it contains iron and nourishes the blood. 5. Isn't the Root & Bones packaging stunning?! Alyssa spent years preparing for Root & Bones by finding the perfect supplier of the herbs, a lot of attention has gone into the detail of the packaging, and Alyssa has used very few funds for the marketing by working with influencers and all of it in Instagram. 6. Warm holistic herb drinks. In my life they're a staple. Alyssa has been taking these herbs in her coffee for a decade now (!). Maybe that's why she's so grounded. It might be the simplest way to incorporate them into your diet since you probably already drink a hot beverage in the morning or evening. 7. Chaga. Is the most potent antioxidant on the planet. The mushroom has scientifically proven anti-cancer benefits and inhibits tumor growth. Enter code: pwig2017 to get your 15% discount. Valid through September 17th, 2017. The Episode's Takeaways We've learned about the healing properties of these holistic herbs and in what way they can benefit our life and our health. If you're wondering whether you should start your (side) business then Alyssa recommends to just go for it. You'll always wonder "what if" if you don't go out and try. You can make time for your business if you really want it badly enough. Alyssa manages her time by working four days a week at her acupuncture practice and one day is dedicated to Root & Bones. She'll also work evenings and nights and she's usually available throughout the day via Instagram which doesn't really end. There is a lot you can accomplish by reaching out to people, Alyssa dared to ask people for help in promoting the herbs and in most cases people are more than willing to help. If you believe in your product then others will too and they'll be more inclined to help out. You'll always encounter obstacles along the way, it depends on your mentality on how you deal with them and see it as they are; an obstacle. Not a full-on road block on your way to success. Alyssa's goals for the future involve expanding Root & Bones to include more herbs in the selection, but she will always 'needle' (practice acupuncture)! Be inspired. Go out and do what you're wanting to do. The time is never right and neither are the circumstances. Alyssa proves that it's possible to do it on the side. You don't necessarily need to dive in deep and quit your job. But you do need to dive in and invest time and be consistent. No more excuses! Get your 15% discount! Click here to buy Reishi Click here to buy Chaga Click here to buy He Shou Wu Click here to buy Cordyceps See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.