Podcasts about eco chat

For most of us, our homes are the biggest investment we'll make in our lifetime. Decisions we make in the home design process impact not only the durability and longevity of our home but also our home's sustainability and cost to run. In this Eco Chat episode I'm joined again by Janine Strachan. Janine explains what sustainable home design is and why it's important. She also describes the main elements of sustainable home design and how they impact the sustainability of a home. If you're in the process of designing or building a home and would like it to be as sustainable and efficient as possible, this episode is a must listen!   Resources: Green Design Solutions Sustainable Design Expert Webinar Series Sustainability in the Suburbs by Laura Trotta – the book! Pre-order now!

Lola is a Year 9 student from Exeter in the Southern Highlands region of NSW. She marched as a Year 6 student in the large student climate strikes in 2019 and subsequently joined the School Strike 4 Climate movement. She now leads the School Strike 4 Climate group in her regional town and is actively meeting with her local candidates for the upcoming Federal election to ensure the voice of youth is heard loud and clear. In this episode my son Matthew will interview Lola, uncovering the information he needs to include in his school assignment on someone who is using their voice for good, but also educating himself more in how students, not too much older than him, are making a really big impact in climate change awareness. Lola will share what the School Strike 4 Climate movement is and why she decided to join, when and how it was founded, and the impact the movement is having. Resources: SchoolStrike4Climate.com

We all need a bank to help us manage our money. But what if “who” we banked with made a difference? What if your everyday banking was yet another avenue to create a better future for humanity? What if your everyday banking could create a better global environment in the future? What if your bank poured its profits into social and environmental initiatives in the community it operated, rather than paying returns to shareholders? WHO you bank with CAN make a difference. A big one! In this Eco Chat episode I'm joined by Sustainability Manager of Beyond Bank, Kate Carroll. Beyond Bank Australia is a local customer-owned and B Corporation bank. Kate works across the business to help create positive impact for people and planet whilst also delivering value for the organisation. Kate will share why she believes people should care about who they bank with, what it means for a bank to be customer-owned and a B Corporation, and what you should look out for when making the switch to a more ethical bank. Resources: B Corporation Beyond Bank Self Sufficiency in the Suburbs Disclaimer: Laura Trotta is not a financial planner. Any investment advice given by Laura Trotta (or by any other person through this Website) is based on that person's opinion and their general experience, but not your specific case. A such, you should always seek independent financial advice for your particular circumstances before acting on information that is published or recommended on this Website.

Superannuation is incredibly important to ensure you're comfortable financially in retirement. But what if superannuation had another purpose? What if superannuation was an avenue for you to create a better future for humanity? What if superannuation was an avenue for you to create a better global environment in the future? What if could easily divest your superannuation investments away from fossil fuels, guns or gambling and instead invest in renewables, micro-finance for women-run businesses and social housing? Well you can! In this Eco Chat episode I'm joined by co-founder and CEO of Verve Super, Christina Hobbs. Christina is an experienced Board Director in the superannuation industry and a former Deloitte Management Consultant. Prior to founding Verve, Christina worked for over a decade as a humanitarian and financial inclusion expert for the United Nations. She is a former Board Director of the Global Women's Project and a published author on gender equality. Christina will explain what ESG superannuation funds are, how you can make the switch to an ethical fund and why she co-founded Verve Super, Australia's first ethical superannuation fund tailored for women. Disclaimer: Laura Trotta is not a financial planner. Any investment advice given by Laura Trotta (or by any other person through this Website) is based on that person's opinion and their general experience, but not your specific case. A such, you should always seek independent financial advice for your particular circumstances before acting on information that is published or recommended on this Website. Resources: Verve Super Self Sufficiency in the Suburbs

Whether it's eating organically grown food, avoiding fast fashion or divesting your financial investments from fossil fuels, tobacco or companies with a track record of modern slavery, conscious consumers and investors have long voted with their money and changed the world in the process. Investing your money can be complex at the best of times. Investing your money ethically can be even more complicated, with social washing* and greenwashing* rife. In this Eco Chat episode I'm joined by Christopher Zinn. Christopher is a personal finance expert and consumer campaigner at Life Sherpa. He is passionate about ethical investing and believes that empowering consumers with reliable and understandable advice and information they can implement now makes life's goals more achievable. Christopher will share the difference between ethical and conventional investing, how to get started with ethical investing and what to look for in an ESG superannuation fund. *Social washing = a company making misleading claims about the social responsibility of its products or services to position itself in a better light for economic gains and public image. *Greenwashing = a company making misleading claims about the sustainability credentials of its products or services to position itself in a better light for economic gains and public image.   Resources: Follow Christopher Zinn on LinkedIn Life Sherpa

If you’re looking for educational sustainability books for the children in your life, you’re in the right place. I’m joined on Eco Chat by Patricia Newman, author of several educational books on environmental and social justice issues including Eavesdropping on Elephants; Sea Otter Heroes; Neema's Reason to Smile; Zoo Scientists to the Rescue; and Plastic, Ahoy! Translating complicated scientific research into something the average fourth grader can understand is one of Patricia’s gifts. Every Newman title includes hours of research, location travel, and authentic voices sharing the latest scientific discoveries. Patricia released her latest book, Planet Ocean with photographer Annie Crawley in early March 2021 to much acclaim. Planet Ocean is currently #1 on Amazon in Children’s Australia! In this episode Patricia will share what led her to write Planet Ocean, how we need to stop thinking of ourselves as existing separate from the ocean and how to start taking better care of this precious resource. Resources: Patricia Newman website Patricia Newman Facebook 5-day Plastic Free Challenge

In reaching the milestone of 150 episodes of Eco Chat I thought it was timely to take a look back on the past (almost) five years of podcasting and share the top ten episodes, as downloaded by you! Did your favorite make the list!?! Be sure to leave a review for Eco Chat in Apple Podcasts to show your love and help other Eco Heros get the tips and info they need to create a healthier and more sustainable home and lifestyle. 

In episode 59 of Eco Chat, Dr Kristy Goodwin shared her best tips for how to raise kids in a digital world. That was 2.5 years ago and as you'd imagine, much has changed in the world of technology since. In this episode Dr Kristy is back to share latest developments in this area, with a particular focus on how to keep our kids safe while gaming and watching YouTube. You can follow Dr Kristy Goodwin at https://drkristygoodwin.com and join her online parents portal at https://drkristygoodwin.com/switched-on-parents-portal/

Over the past two years my husband Paul and I have been building our very own sustainable home in the suburbs of Adelaide Australia. In this episode, Paul joins me on Eco Chat to share our biggest learnings from the process. From polystyrene construction materials to low VOC paints, we have it all covered in this episode. We share: - what is the most sustainable floor covering - how we tested the soil in our yard for metal contamination - what not to do with your rainwater tank (hint: don't get it delivered until the very moment you want it installed) - the no.1 choice you can make to reduce volative organic componds (VOCs) in your home - the decisions you need to make up front to ensure your home is energy efficient (hint: it doesn't include installing solar) There's been soooooooooo many learnings along the way that I thought I'd share them with you so if you're even in the position where you're building your own sustainable home, or adding sustainable features to your existing home, you can learn from some of the things that went right, and some of the things that went wrong, with our build. Resources Mentioned: Building a Sustainable Home in the Suburbs Part 1: Planning and Design Cullector Water Saving Shower Macquarie University VegeSafe Soil Metal Testing program

Gut Health, or more specifically, poor gut health has received much publicity in recent times and for very good reason. Gut bacteria and poor digestion have been linked to many diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, obesity, HIV, auto immune disorders, arthritis, mental illnesses and autism. Why Am I Talking About Gut Health on Eco Chat? Because looking after ourselves and our planet go hand in hand. We can’t perform at our optimum and care for our Earth if we’re sick or low in energy. Which is why I have one of Australia’s leading experts in gut health on Eco Chat today. Micheline Andrews is a nutritional health coach focusing on gut health. She is a bone broth advocate, speaker, and author of a brand-new cookbook ‘Bone Broth Basics’ , which we will talk about today.

When focusing on reducing the environmental impact of plastics, it pays to look at ways that will decrease the amount of plastic you use. Avoiding single-use plastics is the key here. This episode highlights three simple plastic habits you can kick to improve the environment. WANT TO WIN A SET OF HONEYBEE REUSABLE WRAPS? Review the Eco Chat podcast in iTunes before Friday 18th August for your chance to WIN. Not sure how to leave a review? Follow the steps in this 1 minute video.

The Plastic Free July movement is sweeping Australia and for very good reason. Our obsession with plastics, particularly single-use plastics, is causing devastating impacts to our oceans, our land, our wildlife and us. If you’ve ever wondered just what kind of impact, and the degree of this impact, plastics are having on our environment then today you’re in for a real treat. Actually, today may not be a treat at all, because my guest has some pretty alarming information to share with us all. Craig Leeson is an award-winning journalist, television presenter and filmmaker. His debut cinematic feature film, “A Plastic Ocean”, which he wrote, directed and executive produced, hit the coveted no.1 spot for documentaries on iTunes in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada and is listed globally on Netflix with the backing of Leo DiCaprio. What’s more, Sir David Attenborough has described A Plastic Ocean as the most important film of our time. If you haven’t yet watched A Plastic Ocean, I have a strong feeling it will be top of your “must watch” list after today. I’m chatting with Craig about what he discovered and learnt while filming A Plastic Ocean, what changes he’s since made to his own lifestyle and what he believes needs to happen at a global and local level to stem the flow of plastics into our oceans. Support Plastic Ocean Foundation Watch A Plastic Ocean   If you’re keen to learn more about the impact of plastics in our environment and how you can reduce your consumption, check out these other blog / podcast episodes: Eco Chat ep 39 - What you Need to Know About Plastics Eco Chat ep 40 - 19 ways to break up with plastics in your home  

Last week on Eco Chat we heard from Melinda Tually from Fashion Revolution who shared many of the social and environmental issues of the fashion industry with us…as well as some tips for how you can make a difference by asking your favourite fashion brands “who made my clothes?” I wanted to continue the conversation this week, in Fashion Revolution Week, by bringing the founder of an exciting new local eco-bridal label onto the show. Lenka Couture’s founder, Lenka Harvey, is on a mission to revolutionise the bridal fashion industry and give conscious brides more sustainable options, particularly when it comes to the most important day of their lives. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 113,595 couples said "I do" in 2015. Lenka Harvey, sees this as 113,595 opportunities to create a gown for the bride who is interested in making a lasting positive impact in the world, through her considered choices. Lenka Couture’s designs are intended to enhance the beauty of the woman in the dress, showcasing the individual wherever possible, and always striking an exciting balance between honouring and breaking traditions. Regardless of whether or not you’ve already tied the knot, you’re going to love hearing Lenka’s story and what the future holds for Lenka Couture.

Given that the average woman only tends to wear around 20% of what’s in her wardrobe and buys the same pieces over and over, I thought it would be a great idea to unpack sustainable style on the Eco Chat this week. And the perfect stylist to help you discover your sustainable style is the gorgeous Alma Barrero. Alma Barrero is a style coach, personal power advocate, family girl and your right hand when it comes to helping you make the impact you were born to make. Her goal is to provide you with the tools to open the door to dressing with confidence and projecting the best version of yourself. And she prides herself on her ability to help busy women wake up in the morning knowing what to wear to boost their success. Sounds too good to be true? Well it isn’t because Alma is real and she’s with me today to share her sustainable style secrets with you!  Plus, Alma has a very special offer for our listeners today - be one of the first 10 people to sign up here for her 6-week Style Power School using coupon code ECOSTYLE to save $300!  You can also find her on Facebook at Effortless Style Hub.

This month has all been about Minimalist March in my Self Sufficiency in the Suburbs membership community, and so many of us have been making an effort to get on top of clutter in our homes and lives, and learn to live with less. For some of us, it’s been a bit of a struggle moving gear on, others have been ruthless and have transformed rooms very quickly. But one thing in common has been that everyone has welcomed the challenge and said how much they needed it! Our homes have so much more clutter and stuff in them compared to homes from a generation or two ago…. and this stuff is impacting our wellbeing and the health of the environment. Toys and consumer goods are cheaper than at any time in history… and it only takes one child’s birthday party for a room to seriously be full of stuff. Of course, much of these items will be short lived in function, but will last forever in landfill. If we’re to truly embrace sustainability, we need to learn how to control our stuff before it control us … not to mention we need to get better at not accumulating so much stuff in the first place. To chat about decluttering, minimalism, and to help us all shift the physical and energetic clutter from our homes we’re joined by professional organiser and elemental space clearer, Helen Butler on Eco Chat today. Helen isn’t just a guru at decluttering, she’s a recognised expert at helping women discover who they truly are through the help of their home. 

Throughout October on Eco Chat we chatted about sustainability and our kids….  How to foster eco-conscious children, how and why we need to get our kids playing outside more, how to nurture a love of science in our children…. And even how to be a happier mama. Today I’m joined by Belinda Smith of The Root Cause to hear how we all can instil healthy eating habits in our children. Bel Smith is a health and wellness coach and a mum on a mission to transform children’s health, one lunchbox at a time.  The long-term health prospects of Australian children are a real concern. 27.4% of our children in Australian between 5 & 17 are now overweight or obese. Of these children, 80% will go onto become overweight or obese adults. This stat alone is not the only concern. Chronic illness is now on the increase. Diabetes type 2, once an adult onset illness, is now occurring in our children, and Australia has one of the highest allergy rates in the world.  Together with her husband and 2 children, Bel travels Australia in their big green bus Kaley, running fun and interactive workshops for children and parents about making better food choices.

My aims when launching this Eco Chat podcast 12 months ago (yes…we’ve just turned one!!!) were not just to share my thoughts, tips and tricks with you on how you could live more sustainably, but to bring in some guests to inspire you to go out there and create real change in the world. My guest today is a perfect example of how one man with a strong vision, big heart and a good dose of get up and go, can make a difference. At 19 years old Daniel co-founded Thankyou with a couple of friends. What began as an idea to tap into the millions and billions of dollars that consumers spend on bottled water to help tackle the World Water Crisis, has grown into 45 products that are stocked in over 4000 outlets, with 100% of the profit going to Impact. To date, Thankyou have given over $4.69million dollars to Impact, helping hundreds of thousands of people across 17 countries. If this is the first time you’ve heard of Daniel Flynn or the Thankyou story, please pay them a visit and do your best to support their work as they expand into New Zealand, and then take on the world.

Throughout October on Eco Chat we’ve been talking about how we can foster a love, respect, and curiosity of the natural world in our children, and today we’re going to take it one step further. I’m joined by Sarah Rouche of Red Cat Science to hear how we, as parents and educators, can best ignite a love of science in children. In this episode we’ll cover:  Why it’s important to foster a love and capability of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) in our kids; What are the biggest barriers to getting kids to continue learning, and choosing subjects in this area; Some simple steps we can take to engage our kids in maths and sciences. What has this got to do with sustainability you ask? Well as environmental issues of the world become more and more complex, we’ll need more smart and savvy scientists to solve them and to come up with the solutions. Our kids might be within this next generation of scientists and engineers!!! But it’s not just in sustainability, current studies have shown that at least 75% of future jobs will require science, technology, engineering, and maths skills, yet only 17% of university students are studying these subjects. It’s time to close the gap and Sarah has some great tips to help us get started in this area so we can best nurture the budding scientist within our kids…. Let’s dive in!

Laura Trotta is one of Australia's leading home sustainability experts. She has a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering, a Masters of Science (in Environmental Chemistry) and spent 11 years working as an environmental professional before creating her first online eco business, Sustainababy, in 2009. She has won numerous regional and national awards for her fresh and inspiring take on living an 'ecoceptional' life (including most recently winning the 2015 Brand South Australia Flinders University Education Award for the north-west region in SA and silver in the Sustainability category of the 2015 Ausmumpreneur Awards. With a regular segment on ABC Radio and with her work featured in publications like Nurture Parenting and My Child Magazine, Laura is an eco thought leader who's not afraid to challenge the status quo. A passionate believer in addressing the small things to achieve big change, and protecting the planet in practical ways, Laura lives with her husband and two sons in outback South Australia. Connect with Laura at http://lauratrotta.comAnd check out her awesome podcast Eco Chat in iTunes.