The Greening Show

This week's episode Join SSP host and Vertemode founder/CEO, Aalia Mauro is joined by Salome Sallehy, Founder of Sugar Sugar wax, as they delve into the art of building a sustainable brand and its profound impact on shaping a better future. Gain valuable insights into the crucial aspects of brand building, such as conscious sourcing, eco-friendly packaging, and transparent business practices. Learn how to integrate sustainability into every step of your brand's journey and make a positive impact on both the environment and society. 

In this thought-provoking episode of the Sustainable Speaking Podcast (SSP), CEO of Returnity innovations, Mike Newman joins Aalia Mauro to share his unique journey from his roots in environmental policy with the Sierra Club to his current role of combating waste in the shipping industry. Mike discusses the need for a sustainable shift in packaging materials, especially with the exponential rise of e-commerce. Highlighting the alarming growth in packaging waste, the complex landscape of consumer behavior, where the willingness to adopt sustainable practices often falls short in practice.This episode is a must-listen for those interested in sustainability, supply chain management, and environmental policy.

"Sustainably Speaking" invites you to engage in essential conversations about our environment's future, hosted by the serial entrepreneur and sustainability guru, Aalia Mauro. This podcast platform unites the thought leaders of our time - including progressive innovators, decisive policymakers, forward-thinking academics, and discerning scientists - to discuss the urgency of environmental protection and the journey towards a lower-carbon society. We'll delve into the innovative solutions that can shape a more sustainable, brighter future. Join us on "Sustainably Speaking" as we challenge the status quo and spark a global dialogue around sustainability.

Welcome to Verte Vibe. In this episode VV host Aalia chats with nature activist, photographer, and filmmaker Molly Ferrill. You will learn about Molly's journey into becoming a National Geographic Explorer dedicated to capturing and changing the relationships between people and nature, Wildlife tracking issues, solutions,,and wildlife tourism. 

Join Aalia and Emma Bottomley, CEO, and founder of Eloma Design, as they converse on supporting women weavers across Indonesia thru back strap weaving and alleviating and eliminating systemic poverty. Formerly in the fast fashion industry, Emma explains the phenomenon of fast fashion and the speed of consumption as global retailers operate under a system of exploitation and environmental damage. Highlighting unethical business practices that feed the consumer and their yearning hunger for newness. Bottomley encourages consumers to honor and love what they wear by investing in businesses that benefit humanity and the planet—expressing her compassion for ethical fashion and reiterating that people matter and the women and people making these clothes deserve humane conditions with equal rights and opportunity. She notes how these same conditions would not be suitable for the same brands enforcing such unethical practices as operating with an out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality. For over a decade, Emma has dedicated her life to creating a positive social and environmental impact, committed to respecting, celebrating, and honoring artisans and producers, especially disadvantaged women, and focused on The preservation and future growth of textiles and ancient craft forms through collaboration and partnerships. Finalizing their textiles with natural dye, its captivating nature colors are designed and co-created to highlight and honor the textiles through to the end product and hero it from the monopolization of fast fashion. Emma Bottomley is CEO and founder of ELOMA design, which is launching this year. Emma received her bachelor's in Textile and Fashion Design and Business Studies from the University of Brighton. After University, she worked as an assistant buyer for Dorothy Perkins, negotiating cost prices and delivery deadlines with a $24 million department. In May 2019, Elma Sdn Bhd arose an artisan fashion, textile, and craft for a fairer and more ethical manner. In February of 2021, Bottomley launched Eloma Consultancy, providing sourcing, product development, quality control, logistics, and production by connecting fashion and lifestyle brands with artisans and ethical partners. Fast Forward to November of 2021, Emma started her own Podcast show titled "Fashion is not all it seems," interviewing industry experts—creating a dialogue around the ethical and environmental issues faced by the fashion and textile industries. Emma's expertise has allowed her to create a footpath within the fashion industry, fine-tuning the industry's blind spots and, most importantly, amplifying the voices of garment workers. 

Join Aalia and Alia Mahmoud, CEO/Co-founder of Fouta Harissa, as they dabble on Tunisian heritage and the wonders of being a sustainable entrepreneur. Alia speaks about how her curiosity initially started during her sophomore year of college, teetering between her desire for a greater world and the unending complexities of the world's issues until she learned of the social entrepreneurship realm. Alia felt called to understand better how to one day leverage the business/profits models and use them to improve outcomes for real people actively. Alia discusses her devotion to her homeland and the uniqueness and versatility of the Fouta, wanting to build a company with a positive social impact by crafting consciously. Fouta Harissa is Artisan-made, sustainably sourced, zero emission producing,and produced in small batch orders to maintain authenticity of their values. Alia is the co-founder and CEO of Fouta Harissa, alongside Lamia Hatira. This social enterprise designs high-quality, hand-loomed textiles that preserve artisanal weaving in Tunisia and celebrate the soul of Brazilian beach culture. Based in Miami, she is also a consultant with Radical Partners, a social impact accelerator dedicated to investing in South Florida's most promising social entrepreneurs. Passionate about the intersection of business and social good, she came to Miami by way of Tunisia, where she served as the Regional Citizenship Manager for Microsoft in the Middle East and North African region. Alia has delivered multiple TedxTalks on entrepreneurship and innovation and was named one of the “10 Most Inspiring Arab-American Leaders to Watch'' by the Huffington Post. She is also the co-founder of “Le15,” a seed fund and accelerator program for innovative startups in Tunisia. She graduated from New York University with a Master of Science in International Business and Economic Development and earned her bachelor's degree in International Development from George Washington University. Alia seeks to continually help diversify the economy by utilizing artisan businesses, honoring the culture and the story that unfolds with each thread.

Join Aalia and Elizabeth Peyton-Jones, CEO and Founder of Models Trust, as they address making the modeling industry safer and more sustainable. Elizabeth touches on how to elevate workplace environments for working models. And the wide range of workplace risks that endanger not only their physical health but their emotional and financial wellbeing,  circling back to their diets which enable these same conditions. While living abroad in Hong Kong and Russia, Elizabeth was introduced to holistic medicine and began her journey to becoming a master herbalist. For over two decades, Elizabeth has been a naturopath, herbalist, and therapist starting her career with private clients in a London Clinic, which grew into a global company called EPJHealth. Her passion for changing people's perceptions of what good health really looks like, excelled in 2016, as the British Fashion Council invited Elizabeth to create a diet for models. Initially puzzled, she researched for a year. Speaking with models, casting directors, and photographers abroad, noting the problem of the industry's obsession with the size zero and the consequences of enacting these restrictive conditions at such a young and impressionable age. In the face of complacency, Elizabeth set up Models Trust. In 2017 Models Trust ran its first model workshop with Europe's leading model agency, Models 1, and a year later, a one-week induction program for new models in collaboration with the London College of Fashion. Models Trust also planned and executed the very first industry-wide conference on modeling, bringing models, model agencies, brands, photographers, casting directors, agents, and publishers, to talk about standards needed in the industry. Models Trust was the first to champion elevating workplace practices and norms for models through industry-wide standards. It signed up models, model agencies, and fashion brands to The Pledge and later was invited by James Scully to inform LVMH and Kering on their own set of standards, We Care for Models. More recently, Models Trust has campaigned to keep modern slavery and human trafficking out of modeling, which has led to Elizabeth talking about her vision to the United Nations General Assembly.  Concerned about the slow progress of improvement, in March 2020 Models Trust launched Brighter Future: a year-long, industry-wide consultation aimed at identifying the most effective solutions for making modeling safer and more sustainable. From the results of Brighter Future, Models Trust developed an anonymous feedback survey, allowing models an anonymous voice to speak up while allowing agencies to demonstrate good representation, rewarding high-performing agencies by awarding them the prestigious Models Trust Certification Mark. Elizabeth continues to work tirelessly with the fashion industry to change the perception of what it is to be a working model. 

Join Aalia and Clare Brook, CEO of the Blue Marine Foundation, as they discuss ways to dismantle the harmful effects of overfishing. Clare highlights how the ocean is our planet's livelihood, generating many resources that sustain us. And the long-standing consequences of hauling a surplus of sea life from marine water without considering how fast it can regenerate itself and the many resources that maintain us. Hailing from Denmark, Clare Brook is a marine conservationist and pioneer of environmental and sustainable investing, dedicating 30+ years to her passion for environmentalism. Brook received her B.S in History from Oxford University, grasping her first taste of activism when campaigning for the Anti Apartheid moment in the late 80s. In which gathering  for the betterment of society ignited fuel for change in Clare, skyrocketing her towards her position as CEO of the Blue Marine Foundation, acknowledged among the most impactful and influential marine conversation NGOs. Thriving to create marine protected areas and form models of sustainable fishing methods that aid both marine life and small-scale fishers. Clare is also a fluent French speaker, mother, trained Pilates instructor, and holds a diploma in photography.

Join Aalia and environmentalist Isaias Hernandez as they discuss the topics of environmental and social justice. They highlight the disparities that those of different racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds face with respect to the environment and various lived experiences. The two make it clear that we must challenge the status quo and provide education and equitable resources to those that face racism, classism, misogyny, environmental, social, and food injustice. Isaias is an environmental justice educator and activist from Los Angeles, CA. Growing up, he lived in a community that faced environmental injustice and it changed the way he saw the world. His platform @QueerBrownVegan is an environmental education page that exists to teach about environmentalism to anyone and everyone, with a focus on social justice and topics not traditionally covered in environmental spaces. He has a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and spent his college years working on a variety of diversity inclusion work in environmental spaces, academic research, and creative work. After graduating, he helped start the digital publication Alluvia Mag before becoming a full-time educator and creator. 

Join Aalia and zero waste advocate Tara McKenna as they discuss how prevalent the issue of waste is around the globe and how we can address it with our individual actions. Tara highlights that we can reduce waste in all aspects of our lives including our food, clothes, toiletries, and other home goods as well as utilizing waste management practices and speaking out when we notice things that could be more sustainable. Tara is the author of Don't Be Trashy: A Practical Guide to Living with Less Waste and More Joy and created The Zero Waste Collective lifestyle blog and community to inspire people from all walks of life to live with less waste. Tara has a master's degree in urban and regional planning and lives with her family in Guelph, Canada.

Join Aalia and environmentalist Jolyon Collier as they discuss the concept of coral protection which has enormous potential for preventing environmental damage. Jolyon highlights the importance of feeling connected to the natural world & oceans and the fact that we can preserve our environment by being mindful of our everyday actions. He had an early awareness that the natural wonders of the world would not be able to withstand the future years of human activity. By putting our best foot forward and taking action steps, he explains, we can generate innovative ideas and put them into real life practice. Some examples of helping to protect the earth include excluding plastics, chemicals, and animal product consumption from our lives as well as donating to organizations and projects directly combating climate change. Jolyon became an expert in the realm of custom craftsmanship, steel fabrication, and welding, working with highly profiled individuals and CEO's across LA and Malibu. A passion for the ocean led Jolyon to become a videographer in Fiji, connecting to the culture and reef like no other. By connecting art and conservation, Jolyon has created a way to communicate and address the human impact on our oceans and coral reef ecosystems. He developed these intricate art pieces with the help of leading scientists in coral propagation, to ensure they are highly effective and supersede all previous coral practices. 

Join Aalia and Marion Van Horn, Ph.D. as they discuss the concept of neuroplasticity and the impact of our early life experiences on brain development. Marion obtained her Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from McGill University and is currently a postdoc researcher at the Montreal Neurological Institute, where she studies mechanisms underlying developmental neuroplasticity. She studies how external factors, like experiences and environment, can influence how neurons explore and is trying to better understand the nitty gritty signaling pathways underlying how neurons make strong synaptic connections with other neurons to make functional neural circuits in the brain. In addition to her research, Marion is actively involved in science communication and knowledge translation. Marion leans on the research that tells us that early life experiences are important for shaping the brain and uses this as an excuse to slow down and appreciate the time she has with her children. And while parenting is not easy, she reminds us that the books we read our children, the conversations we have and the banana bread we make are all experiences that will help build a better brain in the long run. She is the producer and co-host of the Curious Neuron Podcast, which provides zero-cost, evidence-backed information for parents and caregivers. 

Join Aalia and Dr. Uma Naidoo as they discuss the vital role that food plays on your body. Their conversation highlights the importance of being mindful of the things we put into our bodies and how our decisions can lead to a highly conscious, healthy life. Dr. Naidoo is a Harvard-trained Psychiatrist, Professional Chef and Nutrition Specialist. Her niche work is in nutritional psychiatry and she is regarded both nationally and internationally as a medical pioneer in this more newly recognized field. Featured in the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, Harvard Health Press, Goop, and many other platforms, Dr. Naidoo has a special interest on the impact of food on mood and other mental health conditions. In her role as a Clinical Scientist, Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based clinical service in nutritional psychiatry in the USA. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. In addition to this, Dr. Naidoo is the author of This Is Your Brain On Food, released in 2020. In her book, she shows the cutting-edge science explaining the ways in which food contributes to our mental health and how a sound diet can help treat and prevent a wide range of psychological and cognitive health issues, including but not limited to ADHD, anxiety, depression, and OCD.

Join Aalia and Oak & Acorn Founder and Designer Miko Underwood as they discuss the history of American denim and manufacturing and explore the journey of the first sustainable brand in Harlem, New York. Oak & Acorn ~ Only for the Rebelles includes genderless, luxury denim that pays homage to the untold history of the Indigenous American & the enslaved African's contributions that have shaped American manufacturing & American denim. Oak & Acorn was one of six brands featured in Nordstrom NYC's Black Founders x Center Stage Pop-Up and made history in Nordstrom as the first Black Designer Brand on the Designer 4th Floor in their New York City Flagship. Miko was recently listed by RIVET 50 as one of the “Most Influential People” in the global denim industry and her brand has been listed as “Label to Watch” by The Spinoff & Highsnobiety.

Join Aalia and Kiss the Ground Co-Founder Finian Makepeace as they discuss the concept and importance of regenerative agriculture. Finian is the Co-Founder, Policy Director & Lead Educator of Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit that sheds light on regenerative agriculture, a “new, old approach” to farming, that has the potential to balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world. In addition to their media, farmland, and stewardship programs, KTG's efforts have also resulted in a book and a full length documentary with the tagline “The Solution is Right Under Our Feet.” Finian is a renowned presenter, media creator, and thought leader in the field of regenerative agriculture and soil health. His dedication to KTG's mission of “awakening people to the possibilities of regeneration” has motivated him to develop training programs, workshops, and talks designed to empower people around the world to become confident advocates for this growing movement. 

Join Aalia and sustainable artist Katrina Rodabaugh as they discuss mending, the use of natural dyes and textiles, and sustainable design. Katrina is an artist and author working to explore environmental and social issues through craft techniques. Currently, she focuses on sustainable fashion through her work with mending, plant dyes, and sustainable design in her ongoing art project, Make Thrift Mend. Katrina is the author of three books: Make Thrift Mend (2021), Mending Matters (2018), and The Paper Playhouse (2015). In addition to writing books, she teaches classes and designs sustainable products for her online shop. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing and her BA in Environmental Studies having spent many years working in nonprofit arts organizations.

Join Aalia and vegan triathlete Jason Fonger as they discuss food systems, education, and conscious decision making regarding the shift away from consuming animal products. In addition to creating social media content, Jason started the Vegan Champion Podcast in 2018 where he interviews industry experts. He helps high school teachers bring plant-based eating to their classrooms and for over 15 years, he's taught private music lessons and ESL to high school students. He offers virtual events which help high school students understand what plant-based eating is, why it's becoming so popular, and how it might affect the future of food. He is an elite 4x triathlon champion, 13x triathlon age group champion, public speaker, and has been 100% powered by plants since 2009. He believes that the best possible time to answer the question “where do you get your protein?” is when you have just won a race!

Join Aalia and Graham Hill, face of the Carbonauts and TreeHugger, as they discuss carbon emission mitigation and self sufficiency. 20 years in the making, The Carbonauts is the culmination of Graham's environmental career. One of Fast Co.'s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Hill is sought after to speak about how we can create a wealthier, greener and happier planet. He has presented at many prestigious conferences including twice on the TED main stage that have reached over 10M viewers. Hill founded one of the earliest Internet consultancies in ‘95, the groundbreaking website TreeHugger.com in ‘04 and LifeEdited, a small living consultancy in ‘10. TreeHugger was the most trafficked green site for years, sold to Discovery Channel and has served billions of pageviews. 

Join Aalia and Lauren Gropper as they discuss the importance of producing and using repurposed and biodegradable materials to improve the planet's health and longevity. Lauren is the founder and CEO of Repurpose, the leader in plant-based tableware. An eco-entrepreneur and green architecture pioneer, Lauren began her career in sustainable design. Her early success led to a surprising career in Hollywood, working as a consultant to the industry with customers like Discovery Networks. Confronted with the waste generated by craft services, Lauren had an aha moment on-set. She founded Repurpose to extend the disposable lifespan of single use products and reduce waste. Today, Lauren leads Repurpose on its quest to change the world one low-impact cup, plate, and fork at a time.

Join Aalia and environmental writer Emma Loewe as they discuss the importance of wellness & self care and how that relates to being tuned into nature. Having received her BA in Environmental Science & Policy from Duke, Emma Loewe is an editor and author based in New York City. She is the senior sustainability editor at mindbodygreen and the co-author of The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide To Ancient Self Care. During her time writing about the environment, she has traveled the world to cover topics such as the water crisis in California, sustainable fish farms in Norway, and the latest innovations from IKEA's design lab in Sweden. In addition to penning over 1,000 articles on mbg, her work has appeared on Bloomberg News, Marie Claire, Bustle, and Forbes. She is currently writing her second book on the intersection of nature, human health, and climate activism.

Join Aalia and zero waste chef Anne-Marie Bonneau as they discuss the importance of eating healthier, nutritious foods while reducing the amount of food and materials that we waste. As a cookbook author, blogger, fermenter and sourdough baker, Bonneau has lived plastic-free since 2011. She shows others how reducing their trash not only benefits the planet but also satisfies their taste buds, improves their well-being and boosts their bank accounts. Her book, The Zero-Waste Chef: Plant-Forward Recipes for a Sustainable Kitchen and Planet is now out.

Join Aalia and the brilliantly outspoken Uju Asika as they delve into conversations surrounding parenting and race. Born in Nigeria, Uju grew up in the UK and has lived and worked in London, New York and Lagos. She is a multi award-nominated blogger, screenwriter and creative consultant. A former journalist, she's written for numerous publications and select literary anthologies. She is the author of “Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World” and her book has been deemed “a must-read for parents, educators, and anyone looking to raise kinder children.”

Join Aalia and Marta Zaraska, a French-Polish-Canadian science journalist, as they discuss practical approaches to improving your well being, specifically health and longevity. Having graduated from law school while invested in journalism, Marta has become a world-renowned, bestselling author. Her first book, “Meathooked: The History and Science of Our 2.5-Million Year Obsession with Meat,” was published in 2016. Her second book, published in 2020, is titled “Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism, and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100.” Her book is a research-driven case for why optimism, kindness, and strong social networks will keep us living longer than any fitness tracker or superfood and has been named by The Wall Street Journal one of the best books of 2020 on longevity and aging. 

Join Aalia and Joey Pringle, Founder and Co-owner of Veshin Factory, as they discuss the importance of conscious living, veganism, and sustainable production. After his first break in fashion as an accessories designer, Joey obtained his BA Honors in furniture and product design and re-entered the industry working as a technical bags developer for MEC & then most recently the accessories lead for tentree. A business trip taking him to China birthed the idea for Veshin, and a green factory model developed. Today, Veshin is successfully & ethically producing fashion products and accessories. The five pillars they live by: Sustainability, Transparency, Plant-Based Culture, Giving Back, and Meditation & Wellness.

Join Aalia and the co-founders of Kind Community, Caner and Isabella Veli, as they discuss tangible ways of living a more compassionate and sustainable life. Launched in 2019, the climate-positive startup Kind Community is a hub of inclusive sustainability content, events and conversations for everyone, no matter where you are in your sustainability journey. With 17+ years of combined experience in startups and the corporate world, this dynamic duo has dedicated their work to amplify the voices of people doing great things for the planet. 

Join Aalia and SUSTAIN the Mag founder Reza Cristián as they discuss lifestyle and the importance of sharing sustainable ideals. SUSTAIN is a WOC-founded independent sustainable media site that is shifting the environmental narrative in media. It brings forward educational content around the amazing change-makers in the industry through interviews, digital covers and more, covering the many lenses of sustainability and making it inclusive for all.

Join Aalia and zero waste advocate Laura Young as they delve into the concepts of being mindful and wasting less in order to more efficiently care for our bodies and our planet. Environmentalist and public speaker “Less Waste Laura” advocates for environmental education, obtained her Masters Degree in Environmental Protection and Management, and currently works for the international development charity, Tearfund, as their Scotland COP26 Advocacy and Campaigns Coordinator. Come along and listen to Laura's professional and personal journey as an environmentalist and to obtain some tips on how to lead a more sustainable life.

Join Aalia and serial ecopreneur Marci Zaroff as they delve into the importance of sustainable living which includes many aspects of our lives spanning from nutrition to fashion to business. Marci coined the term “eco-fashion” and is an internationally recognized eco-lifestyle expert, educator, innovator, and author. Having founded several companies including MetaWear and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Marci has been instrumental in driving authenticity, environmental leadership, and social justice worldwide for nearly three decades.

Join Aalia and environmental media host Kristy Drutman as they discuss the topic of intersectional environmentalism and its connection to media, society, and politics. “Intersectional” is an inclusive term used to include the planet and all people when advocating for environmental protection. Having grown up in a culturally mixed household, Kristy founded the Brown Girl Green show & is passionate about creating conscious, culturally relevant content to engage audiences about proactive solution-building to the climate crisis. 

Join Aalia and the LA-based slow fashion artist Selina Sanders as they delve into the concept of slow fashion. Having worked professionally in the industry for 15 years, Selina came to the realization that fashion, on a large scale, was more about cutting corners than beauty and creativity. After losing her job during the pandemic, she turned to Instagram's ethical fashion community to share her sustainable clothing line that features carefully sourced vintage materials. Her brand ethos: “Maximum style, minimal carbon footprint.”

Join Aalia and the upcycle queen Orsola de Castro as they delve into the concept of sustainable fashion. Orsola launched her upcycling label From Somewhere in 1997 and, in 2013, co-founded Fashion Revolution, a global campaign with participation in over 100 countries. Having observed the harmful and unethical practices behind garment making and the fashion industry, Orsola provides detailed insight into why and how we can support ethical companies while extending our wardrobe lifetime and individually reducing our carbon footprints at home.