The Wise Consumer - SoundSage

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Bonjour! I wanted to share that I am taking a bit of time off from editing and sharing new podcast episodes for a few weeks while I finish working on my hormone healing cookbook (more info coming soon!). The good news is there are plenty of other episodes from previous seasons you can catch-up on (binge!) while I step away from the microphone. For instance, have you listened to my conversation with Tiila Abbit, founder of the eco-conscious and socially responsible makeup brand, ATHR Beauty? If you haven’t yet, press play now because you’re in for a treat! Happy listening!

Did you know, the average woman uses about 12 different skincare products a day!? According to the Environmental Working Group, about 150 different ingredients are being applied to our skin every day. And, unfortunately, many of us have no idea what those ingredients are or how they're being used. This matters because, oftentimes, these ingredients can actually be quite harmful to our health (think carcinogens, endocrine disruptor, allergens, etc.)

Makeup brands are no exception! Which is why I am thrilled to share that today on the podcast you'll be hearing from Tiila Abbitt, the founder of one of my favorite eco-conscious and socially responsible makeup brands, ATHR Beauty!

ATHR Beauty's products are one-of-a-kind! The color palettes are playful, the mascara is voluminous, and the lip cremes are smooth and moisturizing! Not to mention that each product works as well, if not better, than your conventional makeup brands. And, the cherry on top? This makeup brand is 100% recyclable, free of child labor, vegan, cruelty-free, and "clean."

In this episode Tiila and I explore the journey that led her here, how she became Sephora’s Senior Director of Product Development working on their sustainability initiative, what inspired her to launch her own makeup brand, how she creates her products, the motivation behind creating packaging that is 100% recyclable, greenwashing in the beauty industry, the challenges around defining the term “clean beauty”, why not all synthetic ingredients are harmful, and so much more.

I absolutely loved chatting with Tiila and learning about the inspiration behind ATHR Beauty and know you will too! Ready to get a sneak peek at what it takes to create a successful, “clean,” and environmentally-friendly make-up brand? Press play now!

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Hi friend! I am taking a bit of time off from editing and sharing new podcast episodes for a few weeks while I finish working on a new project (more info coming soon!). The good news is there are plenty of other episodes from previous seasons you can catch-up on (binge!) while I step away from the microphone during these next few weeks. For instance, have you listened to my conversation with world-renowned bra expert and founder of Bravolution, Laura Tempesta? If you haven’t yet, press play now because you’re in for a treat! More soon! :)

Did you know that 80% of women are most likely wearing the wrong bra size?! Crazy right? Weirdly enough, I never really gave much thought to bra sizing until I came across Laura Tempesta’s TedTalk “You’ll Never Look At Bras The Same Way Again!” But, after watching her TedTalk and realizing that everything I thought I knew about bra sizing was wrong, I just knew this was a topic we had to unpack and explore on the podcast. So, here to clear up some of the confusion around bra sizing and to share helpful solutions is the bra expert herself, Laura Tempesta.

Laura is a world-renowned bra expert, apparel innovator, and an inventor of multiple patented products. In fact, she is the only American with a Master’s degree in Lingerie Design, and the only person in the world with a custom-designed degree to study the engineering, design, performance and innovation of Sports Bras. Prior to founding Bravolution, a consumer advocacy group and resource providing bra reviews and education, Laura was Nike’s Sports Bra Innovation Director where she helped guide and develop sports bra innovation. She has been featured as a bra expert in Vogue, Insider, and Better Homes & Gardens and is a TEDx speaker. In short: Laura is on a mission to change the world one poorly fitting sports bra at a time!

If you’re tired of continually wasting money on bras that don’t fit and aren’t comfortable and want to learn how to finally find a bra (or sports bra) that fits and properly supports your ‘girls’ then tune-in because we chat about all this and more in today’s episode!

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/does-your-bra-fit/

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Quiz time! Can you name your four menstrual phases? Do you know when estrogen rises or how it impacts your brain? Do you know why you tend to eat more during the second half of your cycle as opposed to the first? Did you know you can sync your diet, lifestyle, and/or workouts to your menstrual cycle?

To be honest, a few years ago I would have completely failed this "quiz." I knew close to nothing about my hormones or the impact they had on my overall health. Most individuals who menstruate don't!

For me, this all changed when I came across the practice of cycle syncing. Have you ever heard of this term?

Cycle syncing was a game changer for me. Not only did it help me understand the hormonal changes that were taking place in my body each week throughout my menstrual cycle but it also gave me insight on how to use the constant ebbing and flowing of my hormones to my advantage, both on a personal and professional level.

How? Well, here to walk us through the ins and outs of cycle syncing -- how it works, what the benefits are, where to start, and more!--is the woman behind the hormone cycle syncing movement herself, Gabrielle Lichterman.

Gabrielle is a longtime women's health journalist who pioneered the cycle-syncing and hormone awareness movement in 2005 with her groundbreaking book, 28 Days: What Your Cycle Reveals About Your Moods, Health & Potential. She's also the creator of the popular website Hormonology, an online educational platform she founded, as a way to share hormone cycle education around the globe.

Are you ready to learn how to live in sync with your menstrual cycle and make the most of your amazing hormones? Press play now!

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Have you ever noticed that almost every single packaged food item sold at the grocery store contains some form of vegetable oil? I recently walked through the grocery store aisles flipping over packaged foods simply to read their ingredient labels because I was curious, how many products contained vegetable oils?

To be honest, I guess I wasn’t really shocked when I realized that almost every item I picked up contained some form of plant-based oil such as sunflower oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, or sesame oil. Even the “healthy” organic foods contained vegetable oil. Pizza? Vegetable oil. Trail mix? Vegetable oil. Ice Cream? Vegetable oil. Fruit Snacks? Pretzels? Protein bars? Vegetable oils!

Now, I am not saying that all vegetable oils, which are high in omega-6 fatty acids, are bad. Nor am I saying that we should never eat them again. In fact, our bodies need omega-6s fatty acids as they're essential fatty acids. Meaning, our bodies can’t produce them so we need to get them from an external source.

So, what's the problem?

The problem is that we are consuming too many omega-6 fatty acids and not enough of their counterpart, omega-3 fatty acids. Which in the long run can become problematic to our health for a variety of reasons.

But, as consumers, this is where things tend to get a bit confusing! I mean, aren’t vegetable oils healthy? And, what's the difference between omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids? And, is there a balanced omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio we should strive to achieve?

Luckily for us, here to help simplify and unpack all of these questions (and more!) is the one and only Ayla Barmmer, MS, RDN, LDN. Ayla is a registered dietitian nutritionist, functional medicine practitioner and the founder, and CEO, of FullWell, a fertility wellness and education brand. Her entire career focus has been to advance the health and empowerment of practitioners, patients and families through nutritional science, functional medicine and evidence-based holistic solutions.

In today’s episode Ayla shares why women should consume more omega-3 fatty acids, especially women who are struggling with period pain, have a hormonal imbalance, or pregnant or breastfeeding, the differences between omega-6’s and omega-3s, how to easily add more omega-3 rich foods to your diet, and why she developed FullWell’s Fish Oil supplement. We also go off on a tangent and talk about her passion for herbal medicine and the differences between nervines and adaptogens.

I absolutely loved chatting with Ayla and know this is a conversation that will inspire and encourage you along your own personal health journey!

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/omega-3-fatty-acids/

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So, you just had a baby! Yay, congratulations! Hope you're taking such good care of yourself and baby is doing so well! Now, let me ask you a question -- are you itching to workout again? Are you anxiously awaiting that six weeks postpartum appointment, hoping against hope that your OB will give you the "all clear" to start exercising again? I know I was. Unfortunately, I didn't get the "all clear" to exercise again at my 6-weeks postpartum exam. Rather, my OB wrote me a referral to see a pelvic floor specialist and told me to "take it easy." Bummer.

The reality is many of us aren’t ready to get back to our pre-baby exercising regimes after our six weeks postpartum exam, or eight weeks if you had a c-section. Obviously this isn’t the case for everyone but, generally speaking, most of us need to give our bodies a bit more time to heal and strengthen after delivery.

But, how much time do most of us need before we can start exercising again? How do we know if our bodies are ready? Or, what if we’re feeling discouraged by the lack of “progress” our bodies are making after pregnancy to “bounce back?” What then!?

Here to help answer these questions and more is Dr. Amanda Olson, a pelvic floor specialist, founder of Intimate Rose, and a Certified Pilates Instructor & Running Coach. (Note: I spoke with Dr. Amanda in episode 88 “4 Ways you Can Benefit from Pelvic Floor Therapy.” Make sure to give that episode a listen if you haven’t already! It’s jam-packed with helpful tips and information on all things pelvic floor health.)

In this episode Dr. Amanda shares what really happens to our bodies, anatomically speaking, when we’re pregnant, how to get back to working out safely after pregnancy, whether or not running with urinary incontinence is a problem, why some women, especially women who’ve experienced c-sections, may take longer to get back into high intensity exercise, how to use vaginal weights, the importance of nutrition, and more!

Press play now if you’re ready embrace your amazing postpartum body and to get back out there feeling encouraged and stronger than you were before!

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Do you have difficulty falling or staying asleep? Are you looking for tips to help you improve your relationship with sleep? Are you a sleep deprived mama who is struggling to function throughout the day without drinking 50+ cups of coffee?

Well, fluff up your pillows and get cozy because Dr. Jade Wu, a licensed clinical psychologist and Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist, is here to help us unpack and explore the importance of sleep and to share simple tips to help us get more of it!

Dr. Jade Wu is a licensed clinical psychologist and Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist. Her current scientific research focuses on treating sleep disorders in those with chronic illness. She is also a frequent guest on popular TV, radio, and podcast shows such as NPR and Huffington Post. In the clinic, Dr. Wu uses evidence-based non-medication treatments to help people improve their sleep (and waking life), and is especially passionate about helping women to navigate and improve their sleep during pregnancy, postpartum, and other major life transitions.

In this conversation Dr. Wu explores the importance of sleep, the difference between sleepy and tired, practical tips to help sleep deprived mama’s navigate the sleep challenges that accompany parenting, how hormones impact sleep, the importance of prioritizing your circadian rhythm, tips to help you overcome the dreaded afternoon lull, and so much more!

Dr. Wu is a wealth of knowledge and it's an honor to have her on the podcast to share her wisdom and expertise with all of you!

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/the-importance-of-sleep/

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Mini bonus episode! This is Part 2 of my conversation with feeding therapist and speech pathologist, Kayla Richardson, MS, CCC-SLP CLC.

Now, if you haven’t tuned into Part 1, Episode #93 '5 ways to identify an oral dysfunction & best ways to treat tongue-ties,' I highly recommend you start there! Kayla shares some really helpful tips and information regarding how best to manage and treat oral dysfunctions as well as how to identify tongue-ties if you suspect your child has one.

In this bonus episode, Kayla explores the difference between picky eating and oral sensory issues in children, tips on how to properly support your child while they eat and why it matters, different types of feeding utensils and how to use them, and more!

Happy listening!

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Those first few weeks of a newborns life are so challenging, whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding! But when, on top of the “expected” challenges that accompany this newborn phase, you add difficulties with feeding and latching, i.e. tongue-ties, it just takes the stress and uncertainty of the infant phase to a whole new level! Or, at least, that's how it was for me and I imagine I am not alone!

Which is why I reached out to Kayla Richardson, a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who specializes in Pediatric Feeding Disorders, Myofunctional Disorders, and early intervention. Kayla is the owner of Abeille Speech and Feeding Therapy, a therapy agency and pediatric feeding clinic in St. Louis, MO.

In today’s conversation, Kayla shares why she believes every mother should see a lactation consultant both before and after birth, what symptoms to be on the lookout for if you suspect your child may have an oral dysfunction, why a tongue-tie release shouldn’t be done in isolation from therapy, such as craniosacral therapy or feeding therapy, why she thinks labeling babies as “colicky” is often an inaccurate and unhelpful diagnosis for parents, and more!

Honestly, I wish this conversation had existed before my son was born. I feel as though it would have alleviated so many of the stressors I faced during those early days. So, if your child is struggling with an oral dysfunction of some sort, press play now as Kayla is about to drop some major wisdom that will help YOU as you maneuver throughout your own parenting journey!

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/best-ways-to-treat-tongue-ties/

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Did you know that women supported by a doula during childbirth are less likely to need pain medications or require a c-section? In fact, according to a study published by the Cochrane Review, Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth, women supported by a doula are also more likely to have a positive birth experience and endure shorter labors. While more research needs to be conducted the study concluded that "continuous doula support during labour may improve outcomes for women and infants!"

This is especially comforting news when you consider the alarming fact that the United States has one of the highest rate of maternal deaths among high-income countries! A recent study published by the Commonwealth Fund, found that in 2020, the US maternal mortality rate was 23.8 deaths per 100,000, more than triple the rate of any other country studied!

Even more alarming is the fact that Black women in the United States are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than White women! This, shares The Century Foundation, is primarily due “to systemic racism and discrimination at the individual level, Black women and birthing people face unacceptable (and mostly preventable) risk during childbirth and throughout and after pregnancy.”⁠

⁠This is unacceptable and, as my guest today, Mabel Bashorun, a certified doula (DONA), Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and a certified lactation consultant (who also currently happens to be pursuing a career in nurse-midwifery), tells me, "it's a shame, it's a disgrace, and it's a huge stain on the American healthcare system!"⁠

In 2017, Mabel launched Within Her Birth Services with the mission to support and advocate for other women throughout their pregnancy and labor experience. As a Ghanian-American, Mabel takes great pride in serving fellow Black women during pregnancy, with the personal aim to ensure they do not succumb to the maternal mortality crisis that continues to plague the Black community today. ⁠

⁠In today's episode Mabel and I chat about the benefits of hiring a doula, the differences between a doula and a midwife, why she thinks all women should have access to a doula (regardless of budget), the importance of education, how to advocate for yourself and your birth preferences, the challenges facing Black mothers in the US today, my birth story and how she supported me (because yes, Mabel also happens to have been my doula! :)), and so much more!

Press play now!

The Wise Consumer Shownotes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/benefits-of-a-doula/

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Struggling with endometriosis? You're not alone. :(

Unfortunately, about one in every ten women, if not more, is struggling with this complex and, at times, painfully debilitating inflammatory disease.

Personally, I have had so many questions when it comes to this enigmatic disease. What is endometriosis? How is it diagnosed? Is there a specific diet you should follow? Are there options other than birth control to help manage it?

If you're struggling with endometriosis and searching for answers you’re in the right place!

Today on the podcast, I have the pleasure of chatting with The Endometriosis Dietitian, Cindy Dabrowska, RD. Cindy is a registered dietitian, master of applied nutrition, and an endowarrior herself. Her mission is to support other women who, like herself, are looking to manage and improve their endometriosis symptoms.

I invited Cindy onto the podcast to help us unpack some of the myths around endometriosis and to shed light on how dietary and lifestyle changes can benefit someone struggling with this disease.

In this episode we talk about whether or not birth control is the best way to manage endometriosis, how diet and lifestyle can help to improve and manage endo symptoms, tips on how endowarriors can support their gut microbiome and why it matters, the importance of insulin, how to metabolize estrogen and why that matters, and so much more!

If you or someone you know is struggling with endometriosis, I truly hope you find this conversation helpful and empowering!

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/struggling-with-endometriosis/

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As a first time mom and - let's be honest - an over thinker, I wanted a step-by-step guide to help me understand how to introduce solid foods to my baby. What foods should I start with, how many servings, could I add spices, what about allergens, should I spoon feed, etc.?

Anyone else?

Well, if you’re raising your hand yes, you’re in luck! Today on the podcast I have the honor of chatting with one of the nation’s premier childhood nutrition experts, Jill Castle, MS, RDN, CDN.

Jill is the founder and CEO of The Nourished Child®, a parent nutrition education website and podcast. She also serves as an expert reviewer for Parents.com, and has been featured as a guest expert in CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Forbes, Newsweek, Time, and many other outlets. She is also the author of numerous books, including, “The Smart Mom’s Guide To starting Solids – How to introduce, advance, and nourish your baby with first foods (and avoid the most common mistakes)," amongst others.

In this episode we cover a lot of ground – best practices when it comes to introducing solids, baby led weaning vs spoon feeding, when and how to expose your child to allergens, the pros and cons of baby pouches, the importance of flavor, and so much more!

If you’re a parent, new or seasoned (no pun intended), this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/introduce-solid-foods-to-your-baby/

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Ok, I know what you're thinking: "Ugh! Balance...Here we go again." Me too friend, me too! I've never believed in this idea of finding 'balance.' What does it even mean? The idea that we can and must "find balance" makes no sense to me. First of all, it implies that we ‘lost’ balance and second, it sets us up for failure, especially as women. For many of us, this concept of "finding balance" amidst the chaos of motherhood, is often inconceivable.

So, why are we talking about balance? Because, as parents, especially as mothers, I think it's about high time we reclaim the word 'balance,' redefine what balance actually means to us.

Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Amber Thorton, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Motherhood Wellness Consultant and the Founder of Balanced Working Mama. Dr. Amber is on a mission to redefine balance in motherhood, to redefine this notion that burnout and overwhelm go hand in hand with motherhood. She's on a mission to change the narrative of what is possible for working mothers by helping them to better balance work, motherhood, and wellness.

In this episode Dr. Amber shares why she initially hesitated to become a mother herself, why redefining balance in motherhood is so important to her, how she defines balance in her own mothering journey, the importance of setting boundaries (i.e. learning to say "No!") and how to set them, why self care isn’t selfish, how to ask for help, and the power of community.

Mama, if you are seeking to find more peace and less overwhelm in your life, then press play now!

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/redefining-balance-in-motherhood/

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Are you peeing your pants when you sneeze? Is intercourse painful? Do you suffer from constipation? If you've answered yes to any or all of these symptoms, you could be suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction.

To be completely transparent, I knew close to nothing about my pelvic floor till after having a baby. Like most, I’d heard about kegels but...that was about it! I had no real concept of how our pelvic floor muscles functioned, the benefits of pelvic floor therapy, or how to strengthen or release muscles deep within the pelvic floor, let alone that you could strengthen or release tension in that part of your body.

If you're someone who struggles with pelvic floor issues or you're just looking to gain a better awareness of how your pelvic floor muscles function, you're in the right place!

Today on the podcast I have the honor of chatting with Dr. Amanda Olson, a pelvic floor specialist and president and chief clinical officer of Intimate Rose.

In this episode we talk about the importance of our pelvic floor muscles and how they function, how pelvic floor therapy can help with incontinence and constipation as well as improve your sex life, the difference between hypertonic and hypotonic pelvic floor muscles, what a dilator is and how to use it, how she went about designing the pelvic wand and how to use it, why going to the bathroom “just in case” can be problematic, and so much more!

Trust me, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Happy listening!

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/pelvic-floor-therapy/

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How do you get a "picky" eater to try and explore new foods? What is food neophobia? Why is structured eating so beneficial? And is it OK to use food as a parenting tool?

Here to help explore and answer some of these questions with us today is Maryann Jacobsen, MS RD.

Maryann is a registered dietician and family nutrition expert who empowers families to create a healthy relationship with food for optimal health and well being. She is the author of multiple books including, "How to Raise a Mindful Eater," "The Family Dinner Solution," and the co-author of "Fearless Feeding: how to raise healthy eaters from high chair to High School."

In this conversation we explore:

The difference between picky eating and problem feeding
What food neophobia is and how it can impact children
The difference between grazing and structured eating
How to introduce new foods to your toddler
How to end meal time battles
Why we shouldn't be using food as a parenting tool
And so much more!

Connect with Maryann online, Instagram, and Facebook.

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/tips-to-help-you-raise-a-healthy-eater/

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After her mother and sister were both diagnosed with breast cancer, Gabriela Navejas, the co-founder of Madame Gabriela lipsticks, made the commitment to reduce her exposure to potentially harmful chemicals — including those that might be lurking in her cosmetic products.

While she was able to relatively easily replace her skincare products, finding a “clean” luxury lipstick brand that effectively performed was, unfortunately, not as simple.

Frustrated by the lack of options for "clean" luxury lip care that exceeded her standards of quality, efficacy, and sustainability, Gabriela, along with her co-founder Geoffrey Christiansen, decided to create her own brand of eco-friendly, luxury lipsticks.

After two challenging years of trial and error the team’s female chemist finally achieved a "clean" beauty coup d'etat: Mānuka honey rich goodness synthesized with a tsunami of non-toxic and sustainably-sourced ingredients.

Today, Madame Gabriela is an award-winning, fully transparent, "clean" luxury lipstick brand that is both high performing and planet-friendly.

In this episode, Gabriela and I chat about:

The journey that led her to launching a low-waste, "clean" luxury lipstick brand
Why using non-toxic ingredients was, and still is, so important to her
The health benefits of Mānuka Honey, one of the key ingredients in Madame Gabriela’s lipsticks
The entrepreneurial challenges she faced while launching a new brand during a global pandemic
How she defines beauty, and so much more!

I am so eager for Gabriela to share her journey, mission, and story with you today. Press play to tune-in now!

Connect with Madame Gabriela online, Instagram, and Facebook.

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/madame-gabriela-luxury-lipstick/

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Do you ever look at your trash at the end of the week and feel a bit guilty because of all the plastic packaging and food waste you created (if you do, please don't!)? Looking for simple tricks, tips, and ideas on how you might be able to reduce your food waste and single-use packaging without feeling overwhelmed or like a total failure?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you'll absolutely want to tune-in to my conversation with cookbook author, blogger, fermenter and sourdough baker Anne-Marie Bonneau, The Zero-Waste Chef.

Anne-Marie went plastic-free in 2011 after learning about plastic's devastating impacts on our oceans and their inhabitants. But, as can be expected, this new lifestyle change wasn’t an easy one and certainly didn’t happen overnight. In fact, Anne-Marie shares, in the beginning, it felt nearly impossible! But, “step-by-step, swap-by-swap, we implemented the necessary changes to eliminate the plastic waste.”

I’ve been a fan of Anne-Marie’s work since the beginning of my "zero-waste" journey. And, seeing that I am extremely passionate about all things nutrition and reducing food waste, I thought chatting with the Zero-Waste Chef would be a great way to explore new and alternative ways to help us all reduce food waste.

In our conversation today, Anne-Marie and I chat about:

The challenges she faced at the beginning of her “zero-waste” living journey
Why zero-waste living isn’t an all or nothing proposition + how she defines the term “zero-waste”
Simple tips on how reduce food waste in the kitchen (which believe it or not is not all about bulk food shopping)
How to cook à la “zero-waste”
The benefits of cutting down on food and packaging waste in the kitchen
The importance of supporting your local farmers
Her thoughts on the climate crisis and how we can all get involved to make a positive difference
Her new cookbook
And so much more!

This is such a fun and insightful conversation packed with simple tips, tricks, and encouragement for anyone looking to reduce food waste from their lives and to live, as Anne-Marie puts it, “a little bit zero-waste.”

Connect with Anne-Marie Bonneau on Instagram, Facebook, and online.

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/5-simple-ways-to-reduce-food-waste/

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Here’s a question for you -- How often do you stop to think about your brain? I mean really stop to think about it!?

I know over the years I’ve, unfortunately, taken my brain for granted. Rarely, do I ever think about how amazing this 3lb organ actually is or how much I depend on it. But, your brain controls everything -- your thoughts, memories, emotions, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger…basically, every process that regulates your body and helps to keep you alive!

If you’re curious about how best to nourish, fuel, and support your brain and/or want to better understand why it really matters then you’re absolutely going to love this conversation with Dr. Annie Fenn, the founder of The Brain Health Kitchen.

Dr. Annie Fenn is a physician, chef, and founder of the Brain Health Kitchen, the only culinary school of its kind focused specifically on fending off age-related cognitive decline.

Her mission? To help you take better care of your brain all whilst eating delicious food.

In this conversation Annie and I explore: * why brain health matters * the importance and benefits of sleep and exercise for your brain * how what we eat can help protect and delay our brains from developing Alzheimers * which foods are most neuroprotective and why * the pros and cons of drinking alcohol * brain-friendly cooking techniques, and * why it’s never too early to start making lifestyle and nutrition changes to support our brains.

It was such an honor and pleasure chatting with Annie and I am really eager for you to tune in as this is a conversation that I know you'll not only enjoy but also benefit from!

Connect with Annie on Instagram, Facebook, and online.

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/brain-health-101/

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According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the calories that children and adolescents consumed from ultra processed foods, i.e. foods the study defines as ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat dishes which often contain more sugar and salt, and less fiber than unprocessed and minimally processed foods, jumped from 61% to 67% of total caloric intake from 1999 to 2018. In other words, two-thirds of calories consumed by children and adolescents today are coming from ultra-processed foods!

Why is this?

As I started exploring this complex issue in more depth — because yes, this is a very complex, multi-layered issue with no simple solution — I came across a fascinating book by children’s food advocate and nationally recognized writer, Bettina Siegel, called Kid Food: The Challenges of Feeding Children in a Highly Processed World. You guys…I was hooked!

This book, for me, was a page turner and opened my eyes to just how broken and, I hate saying this, but manipulative the food industry is when it comes to advertising to our children.

If you’re a parent or soon-to-be parent looking for tools, insight, and tips on how to feed your kids more healthfully in this highly processed world or simply interested in food policy and nutrition, then you’re going to love this conversation with Bettina Siegel.

We’re digging into the difference between highly processed vs. minimally processed foods and why this matters, the history of kid food, the complexities of the food advertising industry, how immersive and aggressive kid food marketing is impacting our children’s nutritional choices (and, ultimately, their health), how brands depend on the “pester power” of children to wear down their parents, greenwashing, food insecurity, and so much more!

I have been following Bettina’s work for quite some time now and am so eager to dive into all of this with you today.

Connect with Bettina on Instagram, Facebook, and online.

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/bettina-siegel-kid-food/

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Jenn Harper woke up in the middle of the night in 2015 after having, as she shares, a “crazy dream.” A dream where Native girls were playing with lip gloss, making a mess but, above all else, filled with JOY!

She jumped out of bed, reached for pen and paper and proceeded to write down everything she had witnessed throughout her dream.

Little did she know that this vision, this dream, this calling, however you want to define it, would be the beginnings of a healing journey that would change not only Jenn’s life but countless others as well.

Meet Jenn Harper, an Anishinaabe-Canadian and the founder of Cheekbone Beauty, a socially conscious cosmetic brand that empowers and brings hope to Indigenous youth.

In this episode Jenn and I chat about:

Jenn’s battle with alcoholism and how learning about her family's past helped her overcome her addiction
Her grandmother's traumatic experience in the Residential School System and the impact this trauma has had on her family throughout generations
The importance of healing and creating new pathways
Jenn's mission to use Cheekbone Beauty as a tool to help empower and bring hope to the next generation of Indigenous youth
How Jenn overcame the entrepreneurial challenges of launching a business with only $500 in her bank account
Why creating an eco-friendly and socially conscious brand is so important to Jenn
The importance of showing up and never giving up
Shannen’s Dream + other organizations Cheekbone Beauty donates to in order to support Indigenous youth
And more!

I am honored to share Jenn's personal and entrepreneurial journey with all of you today. She truly is a beacon of light for so many and leading a movement that we can all fully support and get behind.

Connect with Cheekbone Beauty on Instagram, Facebook, and online at www.cheekbonebeauy.com

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/cheekbone_beauty/

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My journey into conscious living began due to a misdiagnosed auto-immune condition that affected my skin. One, that if not resolved I was told, could lead to cancer—words no one ever wants to hear their doctor repeat!

But, it was this diagnosis (which is primarily attributed to endocrine disrupting chemicals, etc.) that led me to explore, research, and want to gain a better understanding of the ingredients and chemicals being used in my products.

One of the class of chemicals I kept coming across were per-and polyfluoro-alkyl substances, aka PFAS.

I was curious: what are PFAS? Are they actually harmful? And, if so, how and what actions can we take to reduce our exposure to theses “forever” chemicals?

Here to answer some of these questions is Mike Schade, the Campaign Director for Mind the Store.

Mind the store, a program of Toxic-Free Future, challenges the nation's leading retailers to transform the marketplace away from hazardous chemicals, such as PFAS, toxic flame retardants, phthalates, and others, towards safer alternatives.

In this episode we’re also chatting about Mind The Store’s “Retailer Report Card,” a report that recently evaluated more than fifty major companies on how well they were reducing toxic chemicals or plastics or improving their chemical policies. And, good news! It’s not all doom and gloom!

Curious to find out which brands are failing the ‘Retailer Report Card’, how brands are evaluated, and how to reduce your exposure to PFAS? Click the play button now! Happy listening!

Connect with Mind The Store on Instagram, Facebook, and online.

The Wise Consumer Shownotes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/what-are-pfas/

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Over the last few years I’ve learned more about hormone health than I have in my entire life. Truth be told, I wish I knew then what I know now about my hormones and menstrual cycle! Many of the unpleasant hormonal symptoms I experienced, i.e. painful periods, mood swings, fatigue, etc. could have been avoided, or at least managed with more ease had I been more aware of how my hormones impacted my overall health.

Here to help us break down a few things and to explore the ins and out of hormone health is The Period Guru herself, Jenna Longoria. Jenna is a board certified functional nutrition practitioner who specializes in women's hormones. Having herself experienced severe hormonal imbalances throughout most of her life, today Jenna is on a mission to help other women reclaim their hormone and digestive health.

If you’ve ever wondered what your period blood color means or why it matters, how to cycle sync, the importance of ovulation, or struggle with hormonal imbalances such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), then this is an episode you don’t want to miss. I should also share that while Jenna and I, of course, chat about all things hormones, we also take time to explore the winding journey that led her here and the unfortunate hardships she faced over the last year after the tragic passing of her husband.

Jenna is truly an inspiration. It's an honor for me to share her work, story, and knowledge with you. Happy listening!

Connect with Jenna Longoria on Instagram, Facebook, and online at www.jennalongoria.com

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/how-to-optimize-hormone-health-period-blood-color/

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Kathryn Kellogg’s career began on the stage. As a child she shares, she knew she wanted to be an actress. She loved storytelling, performing, singing, it was just a part of who she was. Today, although she’s no longer performing full-time on the stage, her passion for storytelling and creativity are still at the forefront of everything she does. But, these days rather than performing Shakespeare, Kathryn uses her talents and passions in her work as an environmentalist and zero-waste activist.

Kathryn is the founder of Going Zero-Waste, a lifestyle website dedicated to helping others live a healthier and more sustainable life. She’s also a spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, the Chief Sustainability Officer at the One Movement, and author of the book 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste. She is a creative and inspiring voice in the zero-waste living movement who has not only influenced my life but countless others as well.

I am so excited and honored to share her story, mission, and work with you today. More importantly, I know you’re going to walk away from this conversation feeling uplifted, inspired, and ready to make simple guilt-free zero-waste changes in your own life as well.

In this episode we explore:

Kathryn’s journey from acting to becoming an environmentalist
How living an eco-friendly lifestyle benefits both the planet and our health
Defining “zero-waste” + debunking zero-waste lifestyle myths
The importance of reframing our mindset and attitude around zero-waste living + why striving for perfection isn't necessary
Simple and practical zero-waste living tips from pet care to menstrual hygiene, and more!

Connect with Kathryn on Instagram, Facebook, and online at www.goingzerowaste.com

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/zero-waste-living-tips-with-kathryn-kellogg/

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Do you ever feel as though nutrition is confusing? I know I do. I feel like we're constantly being bombarded with new diets and trends -- keto, intermittent fasting, macro diet, paleo diet, carnivore diet...who can keep up?! Between that, and everything else we've got going on in our lives, it's no surprise that most of us end up feeling a bit perplexed. How much daily protein do we actually need? Should we be avoiding carbs? Is there such a thing as "bad" carbs? Here to help clear up some of the confusion is Kathleen Robins, MS, RDN, CSSD, CSOWM.

Kathleen is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, board certified in overweight and obesity, and a certified specialist in Sports Dietetics with more than 11 years of experience. Prior to launching Kathleen Robins Nutrition, Kathleen worked for the US Army where she ran nutrition and medical administrative clinics and worked alongside fellow military dieticians to help heal wounded warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. She's also helped patients lose weight, fight cancer, and heal from transplants or heart attacks and has published research on the caloric needs of wounded warriors.

So, needless to say, when it comes to breaking down nutrition in a simple and practical way, Kathleen is a pro! I absolutely loved chatting with Kathleen about all things protein and carbs and know you'll absolutely love this conversation. Press play to tune-in and learn why your body needs protein and carbs now.

In this episode you'll learn: * How protein impacts your body and why you need it * The difference between essential and non-essential amino acids * How much daily protein you should include in your diet * What to eat pre and post workouts * The importance of including carbs to your diet * The difference between "good" and "bad" carbs * And more!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/protein-and-carbs/

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Creating an environmentally sustainable business can be really daunting! Oftentimes leading to questions such as: Can I afford to purchase sustainable materials? Do I need to get certified by third party organizations? What if I am just starting out, where do I start? And so on!

To help answer some of these questions I invited Shannon Kenny, a Sustainable Business Consultant and founder of Mama Eco, a business dedicated to helping eco-conscious people make better decisions for the environment, onto the podcast to chat with us!

Shannon's mission? To help businesses become environmentally sustainable without sacrificing profit. If you run a business, or are thinking of launching a business, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

In this episode you'll learn:

How to make your website eco-friendly + why it matters
How your business can reduce its carbon footprint
Low-waste packaging options for product-based brands
The benefits of implementing a sustainable business model
Where to purchase eco-friendly office supplies
The importance of transparency over perfection
And so much more!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/make-your-business-sustainable/

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I’ve been fascinated by gut health for a few years now. And, while still a relatively new field of research, the current findings on how the microorganisms found in our gut, also known as gut microbiota, can influence and affect our immune system, metabolism, digestion, mood, and even possibly our heart, just amazes me!

But, what I didn’t know until recently was just how important our gut health was when it came to supporting our hormones and fertility! My guess is, this isn’t something you're super familiar with either! So, here to explore this topic in more detail with us is Brooke Boskovich, MS, RD, LD, a.k.a. The Fertility Dietician.

Brooke is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Functional & Integrative Practitioner who is passionate about women's health & fertility and who over the years has helped dozens of women with irregular cycles, PCOS, unexplained infertility, endometriosis & other fertility struggles, regulate their cycles and take home healthy babies!

In this episode we cover the journey that led Brooke to becoming an RDN and Functional & Integrative Practitioner, the importance of tracking your cervical mucus, the pros and cons of caffeine, and, of course how gut health is linked to hormones and fertility. Press play to listen now!

In this episode you'll learn: * How gut health is linked to our hormones and impacts fertility * How to support gut health through diet and lifestyle + how to test gut health * Why women should track their cervical mucus * Brooke's number one tip for improving cervical mucus * The myth of the “detox” cleanse * Her three favorite health tips * And more!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/gut-health-and-hormones/

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Did you know that 80% of women are most likely wearing the wrong bra size?! Crazy right? Weirdly enough, I never really gave much thought to bra sizing until I came across Laura Tempesta’s TedTalk “You’ll Never Look At Bras The Same Way Again!” But, after watching her TedTalk and realizing that everything I thought I knew about bra sizing was wrong, I just knew we had to explore and unpack this topic in more detail on the podcast. So, here to help us clear up some of the confusion around bra sizing and to provide us with some helpful solutions is the bra expert herself, Laura Tempesta.

So, if you’re tired of continually wasting money on bras that don’t fit and aren’t comfortable and want to learn how to finally find a bra (or sports bra) that fits and properly supports your 'girls' then tune-in because we chat about all this and more in today’s episode!

In this episode we cover: * The myths and facts around everyday bras and underwire bras. * Why so many women are wearing the wrong size bra * How to find a bra that properly fits and supports + what to be on the lookout for * The difference between stretch and non-stretch bras * How to extend the life cycle of your bra + the challenges around sustainability in the bra manufacturing industry * The importance of wearing fitted and supportive sports bra * Sister sizing, and more!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/does-your-bra-fit/

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Do you have a morning routine? Do you know what your chronotype is? Have you ever thought about syncing your morning routine to your menstrual cycle? For the longest time I believed that in order to have a “successful” morning routine I had to get up at 5am every morning, do an intense workout, take a cold shower, and mediate for 30 minutes. While there are definitely mornings where I still follow this structure, over the course of my hormone healing journey I’ve come to learn the importance of syncing my morning routine to my infradian and circadian rhythm, and honoring my chronotype. So, what are the benefits of syncing my morning routine to my internal biological clocks? Well, that’s exactly what we’ll be exploring in this episode.

In this episode you’ll learn the benefits of establishing a morning routine (regardless of the time you wake up -- shoutout to all my night owls!), what your chronotype is and why it matters, and how and why syncing your morning routine to your menstrual cycle can help support your hormones. I’ll also be sharing simple tips and strategies you can implement to help you establish a morning routine that will help you win the day, feel more energized, and in sync with your body. And, most importantly, that will work for you!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/create-a-morning-routine/

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Making time for yourself to rest and recharge is a must for your overall health and mental wellbeing, especially these days when we’re all juggling so much both professionally and personally. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it's that Flight Attendants may actually be onto something when they instruct us at the beginning of a flight to “put on our own oxygen masks before assisting others!” When you think about it, this is a lesson we should all be implementing in our day-to-day lives. And yet, for some reason, most of us really struggle with making rest and self-care a priority. As a result, many of us experience burnout -- something my guest today, Allison Callaway, the founder of Activist Skincare, an eco-friendly, natural, and socially conscious driven skincare line, is all too familiar with.

In fact, avoiding burnout and making self-care a priority was one of the reasons why Allison launched Activist Skincare. She wanted to create a skincare line that would support all you change makers, activists, and beautiful humans as you continue making a difference in our world; a skincare line that would give you a guilt-free, indulgent self-care ritual to help you start and end your days by taking care of yourself so you can continue actively taking care our our world and its people.

In this conversation Allison is not only super candid about her own personal experience with burnout and how it inspired her to launch Activist Skincare but she also shares how her struggles with acne over the years taught her to love and heal her skin from the inside out. We also explore how she went about creating a refillable packaging option to help reduce waste, tips to help you keep your skin healthy, and the importance of truly believing in yourself.

This was such a great chat and one I know you're absolutely going to enjoy! Happy listening!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/the-importance-of-avoiding-burnout/

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Question: Do you track your period? I am embarrassed to share this but I didn’t start tracking my period until just a few years ago. And truth be told, I wish I had started tracking my period ages ago. I’ve learned so much about my body simply by tracking Aunt Flo. In fact, it wasn’t until I started tracking my menstrual cycle that I started noticing irregularities in my period and began to suspect that I might actually have a hormonal imbalance. What I’ve come to learn throughout my health and hormone healing journey is that our menstrual cycle can tell us so much about our health.

And who better to explore this topic with us than Valerie Agyeman, RD, LD!? Valerie is a Women's Health Dietitian and Founder of Flourish Heights -- an online platform dedicated to empowering women in their health and wellness journey through education. And educate she does in this episode!

I loved chatting with Valerie and can’t wait for you to learn from her. In this conversation Valerie shares why so many of us struggle with poor body image and why we should be celebrating our bodies, how stress can impact your period, why you might get food cravings the week before your period, why you should track your menstrual cycle, the importance of self-care and listening to your body and so much more!

Ok, friend are you ready? Press play now.

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/why-you-should-be-tracking-your-period/

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What if I told you that spending less than 35 min a day in nature could help boost your immunity? Or, what if I told you that the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, also known as forest bathing, could help reduce stress and improve your overall health? Have I peaked your interest?!

If so, then you’re going to want to tune-in to today’s podcast episode with Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller, an OB-Gyn, Integrative Medicine physician, certified forest therapy guide, and a medical advisor for AllTrails. Suzanne also happens to be the award-winning author of “The Outdoor Adventurer’s Guide to Forest Bathing” and “A Friend Like John, Understanding Autism” and speaks nationally and internationally about autism, integrative medicine, and nature therapy.

I’ve been wanting to learn more about the practice of forest therapy and its health benefits for quite some time now, so when I came across Suzanne’s work and book I just knew I had to invite her to share her expertise with us on the podcast.

In this conversation, Suzanne shares how the practice of forest bathing helped her cope with grief after the loss of her husband, what forest bathing is, how forest bathing can improve our immunity and overall health, how to 'forest bathe', and why children should spend more time in nature. If you’re struggling with stress, feeling overwhelmed, and/or looking for a budget-friendly way to add a bit of self-care to your daily routine, then press play because this episode is packed with practical tips and tricks to help you implement the practice of forest bathing into your own life.

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/how-forest-bathing-can-improve-immunity/

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What is wildcrafted skincare? What are the benefits of wildcrafted skincare? And, what is this new magical “natural” anti-aging alternative to retinol everyone’s been talking about?! (hint: it's Bakuchiol). If these are questions you want answers to then you’ll absolutely want to tune in to this podcast episode with Kendra Kolb Butler, the founder of Alpyn Beauty.

Kendra is a wild plant beauty enthusiast, former Manhattanite and 20-year beauty industry veteran who spent the majority of her career leading sales, marketing and public relations initiatives at leading luxury beauty companies from Givenchy and Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare to Clarins and Coty.

But, in 2015, everything shifted in Kendra’s life when she swapped out her high-heels for hiking shoes and moved out west with her family in search of open spaces, fresh mountain air, and serenity. As you’ll hear in our conversation, this was a scary decision for Kendra, but one that opened so many new doors for her. In fact, it was this move that led Kendra to launching her own wildcrafted skincare line, Alpyn Beauty -- a sustainably sourced natural skin care line formulated with, wildcrafted and hand-cultivated alpine botanicals grown in the mountains surrounding Jackson Hole, WY.

In this conversation Kendra shares all about the journey that led her to launching Alpyn Beauty, how climate affects your skin, the environmental and skincare benefits of using sustainably sourced wildcrafted botanicals, what wildcrafted skincare is, the importance of ingredient transparency when it comes to skincare products, how she defines "clean beauty” in an industry where there is no FDA legal definition for such terms, and so much more! Hit play to tune-in now!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/wildcrafted-skincare/

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A few months ago I found myself once again parked in the middle of the supplement aisle at the grocery store reading the back labels of various prenatal supplements. I was pretty confused. What minerals and vitamins should my prenatal include? Should it include folic acid or folate? Is the brand third party certified and sustainably created? I had so many questions. So I went home and did what I do best...research.

A few hours later I came across Full Circle Prenatal, a comprehensive, evidence-based prenatal multivitamin designed to deliver optimal forms and amounts of nutrients for women before, during, and after pregnancy developed by Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner, Ayla Barmmer, MS, RDN, LDN. I reached out to Ayla to chat with us to help clear up some of the confusion I know so many individuals face when it comes to selecting a prenatal and to help us better understand which nutrients we should be including in our diet when TTC and/or pregnant.

In this episode Ayla will walk us through the nutrients women should include in their diet before, during, and after pregnancy, the difference between folate and folic acid, why iron isn’t included in Full Circle Prenatal, why so many of us are Vitamin D deficient and how we can remedy that, the difference between plant-based prenatals and synthetic prenatals, the challenges she faced and overcame to develop Full Circle Prenatal, and so much more!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/nutrients-to-include-in-your-diet-during-pregnancy/

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Today you’ll be hearing from Dr. Aly Cohen, a board certified rheumatologist and integrative medicine specialist, as well as an environmental health expert from Princeton, NJ. Over the years she has collaborated with the Environmental Working Group, Cancer Schmancer, and other disease- prevention organizations. She is also the co-editor of the textbook, Integrative Environmental Medicine, part of the Oxford University Press/Weil Integrative Medicine, Academic Series as well as the co-author of the book "Non-Toxic: Guide to living in a chemical world.”

I reached out to Dr. Cohen after coming across her book “Non-Toxic” because I was just blown away by the content, research, and resources she compiled to help consumers live healthier, more eco-friendly, and conscious lifestyles, which as you know, is something I am super passionate about! Now, while I absolutely love her book, and highly recommend it, I felt like there were a few topics from the book that I wanted to explore in further detail with her on the podcast. So, I invited Dr. Cohen to speak with us and friend, I am thrilled to share our conversation with you because it’s truly packed with so much useful, practical, budget-friendly, and actionable steps we can all implement to help us live healthier, less toxic lives today.

In this episode you'll learn how to reduce your exposure to flame retardants and why it matters, how wifi technology might be impacting our health, what the precautionary principle in environmental science is, how to improve indoor air quality within your home, and how to live a less toxic life without feeling super overwhelmed. If you’re curious about any of these topics or simply looking for simpler ways to reduce your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, then this is a conversation I know you’re going to appreciate.

So, what are you waiting for? Press play and learn how you can live a healthier, less toxic life today.

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/how-to-improve-indoor-air-quality-live-a-healthier-less-toxic-life/

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As a Franco-American woman there aren’t many things in this world that I love more than a glass of dark dry oaky red wine. I’ve been drinking wine since I was about 4 years old actually. My French grandfather, my Bon Papa, used to fill up my little glass at the lunch table with a mix of water and wine. And I remember feeling so grown up that he would include me in this ritual, because that’s what wine was, and still is, in my family today. Wine is part of our dining ritual. We spend hours at the dinner table eating cheese, drinking wine, talking, laughing...and these are some of my absolute favorite moments.

But, throughout my hormone healing and health journey, one of the things I couldn’t help but be curious about was the impact alcohol may be having on my hormones, and overall health. So, I did a bit of digging and came up with some pretty interesting findings all of which we’ll be talking about today. In this episode we’ll be exploring how alcohol impacts your hormones, why you should eat before you drink, whether or not red wine is actually healthy, the connection between alcohol and weight gain, and more!

Note: Special thanks to registered dietician Kathleen Robins, the founder and CEO of Kathleen Robins Nutrition, for reviewing this episode for accuracy.

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/how-alcohol-impacts-your-hormones/

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Do you wear hair extensions? Do you suffer from rashes, acne, or severe discomfort because of your hair extensions? Are you tired of dealing with a painful itchy scalp? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions then I know you’re going to become a fan of my guest today, Ciara Imani May. Ciara is the founder of Rebundle, a plant-based, biodegradable, itch-free, toxic free hair extensions brand. As the first beauty brand to address the health and environmental disparities in the hair extensions industry, Rebundle is not only creating non-toxic and eco-friendly hair extensions but is also taking action to help eliminate the waste created by conventional synthetic hair extensions.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what chemicals are found in your hair extensions, how these chemicals may impact your health, how to reduce synthetic hair waste, the challenges Ciara and her team have had to overcome to create the first US plant-based non-toxic and biodegradable hair extensions, then you’ll want to keep listening because Ciara answers all these questions and more in today’s episode! This is such a fun conversation and I know you’re going to learn so much! Happy listening!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise ConsumerShow Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/rebundle-hair-extensions/

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Being a consumer can sometimes be confusing, right? Sigh. Especially when it comes to selecting our skincare and cosmetic products. You’d think it’d be an easy decision but, to be honest, there’s a lot of contradictory information being thrown at us making it harder for us to know who to “trust.”

On one hand you have reputable organizations and reports citing that conventional cosmetic products are packed with harmful ingredients, ingredients that are often untested and unregulated by the FDA. Scientific research claiming that fragrance is just another word for “hidden toxic ingredients.” Yet, on the other hand, you’ll also find organizations and research citing that the “clean” beauty industry is a hoax, a bunch of anti-science bullsh based on fear mongering! And that the FDA does regulate cosmetic products!

So which is it? Does the FDA regulate cosmetics? Is fragrance something to be concerned about? Is clean-beauty “anti-science”? Are you confused yet? I am. So, to help clear up some of the confusion and to answer some of these questions, I invited cosmetic chemist and marketing expert Melissa Christenson to speak with us on the podcast.

Trust me, if you’re confused, you’ll want to listen to today’s episode as Melissa answers all these questions and more. I learned so much from Melissa and I know you will too!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

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If you’re an individual who menstruates today, count your blessings. Seriously. Do you have any idea what women went through before the invention of disposable feminine hygiene products?! Most likely this isn't a topic you've thought about a lot. Neither did I, to be honest. But, as I started exploring zero-waste period alternatives and plastic pollution, it got me thinking...how did women cope with their periods back in the day?

In today's episode I'll guide you through my favorite zero-waste period options, share my personal struggles with the menstrual cup (let’s just say things didn’t go as planned), explore the history of menstruation (will make you grateful to be a menstruating individual in the 21st Century!), the environmental impact of disposable period products, and more!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/how-to-have-a-zero-waste-period/

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Over the past year I have been researching, taking courses, and reading as much as I can about women’s hormone health. My husband thinks I am obsessed. And, you know what!? He is right. I am learning more about my body and how it functions today than ever before. Uncovering information about my period that I wish I’d learned ages ago. I had no idea for instance that my hormones were outta whack until I started understanding the science behind my menstrual cycle. Turns out symptoms that I thought were normal....actually weren’t.

Which is why I am so excited to introduce you to today’s guest, Krista King, MS, RDN, LDN-- a holistic health expert, certified dietician and Integrative and Functional Nutrition Practitioner. Krista helps women get to the root causes of their hormonal and/or gut related imbalances by integrating intuitive eating philosophies, evidence-based nutrition practices, and spiritual and emotional tools. Over the past few years Krista has made it her mission to not only help women get to the root cause of their health issues but to help women heal their hormones more naturally.

If you’re someone who menstruates, has painful periods, who’s curious about the role nutrition plays in supporting your hormones, and wants to learn more about the four phases of your menstrual cycle, then you’ll want to tune into today’s episode.

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes: https://thewiseconsumer.com/4_phases_of_menstrual_cycle/

Brand Promo: Aether Beauty. If you’re looking for a makeup brand that has gone above and beyond to be sustainable and ethical, free of questionable ingredients, and that actually works, check out aetherbeautyco.com and receive 20% off any one purchase using code WISELOVE. (Affiliate Link Disclaimer: If you use this link to buy something I may earn a commission.)

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Do you use lube? Have you ever wondered why your sex life may benefit from lube? Curious about whether or not “natural” brands actually work and/or if you can use coconut oil as lube? Trust me, you’re not alone. I can’t tell you how many times women have timidly asked me these questions. Questions, I had been asking myself to be honest.

So, I decided to dedicate an entire podcast episode to the topic of lubrication, lube for short.

In today’s episode I explore, the benefits of using lube, the difference between oil, water, and silicone-based lubes, which ingredients you might consider avoiding and why, 3 of my favorite eco and natural lube brands, whether or not it’s OK to use coconut oil as lube and more!

The Wise Consumer "Feel Good-Do Good" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelgooddogoodclub/

The Wise Consumer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewiseconsumer/

The Wise Consumer Show Notes:
https://thewiseconsumer.com/why-your-sex-life-may-benefit-from-natural-lube/

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Welcome to The Wise Consumer podcast! The show that answers and explores all your eco-friendly and healthy lifestyle questions -- how to select safe cosmetic products, whether or not it’s normal to have a painful period, how to cycle sync, how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle on a budget, and more!

With the help of the experts -- I am talking scientists, toxicologists, endocrinologists, cosmetic chemists -- you’ll get knowledge and know-how to your most pressing health concerns and sustainability questions, straight from the source.

This is a space where I do the heavy lifting so you don’t have to - a space where you can incrementally evolve, live a more mindful life and do good for yourself, your family and the planet in the process.

So, come on in, pour yourself a cup of tea (or glass of wine!) and join me every Monday and Wednesday as we explore mindful and healthy living tips, tricks and takeaways to create the kind of slower, sustainable life you’ve been craving.

This is our space, our corner of the world where we feel good to do good. Together.

Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcast and make sure to connect with me at www.thewiseconsumer.com and on Instagram @thewiseconsumer

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This is the final episode of Season 2 and I couldn't be more thrilled to close out this season than with today’s guest, Rebecca Ballard, the founder of the ethical and sustainable fashion brand Maven Women. A clothing label created by women for women that honors people and planet along every step of the way.

In today’s episode we chat about:

The important role her faith plays in everything she does
Her passion for human rights
What inspired her to shift gears from working as a lawyer in the federal government to launching an ethical fashion brand for women
The challenges women face around always striving to achieve “effortless perfection” and the toll it plays on us
The importance of embracing all shapes and sizes
Her entrepreneurial challenges over the years and lessons she’s learned
The difference between her American eco-innovation collection and her global artisan collection
The importance of resiliency and prioritizing your mental health and wellbeing
And so much more!

Happy listening!

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Meet Kristi Knowles, the CEO of Mother Raw, a brand that truly believes in the importance of making healthy and nutritious food accessible and appealing to all. Mother Raw creates delicious plant-based products, ranging from salad dressings to condiments, using only nutrient-rich, sustainably sourced, organic ingredients in their purest form. All of Mother Raw's products are free from preservatives, fillers and artificial ingredients. And let me tell you, you can absolutely taste the difference!

In today's episode Kristi and I chat about:
- The journey that led her to work in the food industry
- The unfortunate and tragic passing of RawFoodz, now Mother Raw’s, founder Michelle Kopman in 2018 and what inspired Kristi to carry on her mission.
- The importance of eating pure and natural foods that are minimally processed.
- How Mother Raw develops and creates it’s dressings, dips, and condiments, and who gets to taste test them
- The difference between cold-blended and heated products.
- How you can eat healthy even when you're on a budget
- How she manages work life balance
- How to overcome fear of failure
- And so much more!

Happy listening!

Connect with Mother Raw:
Instagram
Facebook

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Meet Dan Demsky, the co-founder of Unbound Merino, an ethical and sustainable men’s clothing line that utilizes “nature’s miracle fiber" -- merino wool.

In today’s episode Dan and I chat about:

How someone who had absolutely no passion or interest in fashion launched a clothing label.
The importance of understanding and living out your core values.
Why less is sometimes better.
The hidden cost of fast fashion.
The pros and cons (but mostly pros) of working with your best friends.
What mulesing-free merino wool means and why it’s controversial.
Where and how Unbound’s products are sourced and manufactured.
Our love of fresh tomatoes
And so much more!

Happy listening!

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Meet Devan Gregori, the founder of the ethical and sustainable fashion label, Devan Gregori--a brand that creates beautiful timeless pieces that are functional, effortless and meaningful.

In today’s episode Devan and I chat about:

What inspired her to move to France after college and return to school to study fashion
the importance of developing an ethical brand and creating a personal relationship with her manufacturer
Why women should support and raise each other up.
her creative design process.
Where her textiles are sourced and how they’re made.
The challenges she’s faced launching a business in the midst of a global pandemic.
Why she believes there’s no such thing as a clean slate + the importance of learning from our “mistakes” , and so much more!

Happy listening!

Connect with Devan Gregori:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

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Meet Lin Chen, the founder of Pink Moon, an online market space that not only promotes wellness and self-care but that partners with and curates amazing natural skincare brands — skincare brands that value sustainability, philanthropy, and holistic wellness.

In today’s episode Lin and I chat about:

Her journey into the natural skincare space.
The challenges around the stereotypes of asian women, especially in the skincare industry.
Her mission to inspire more Asian women to enter the entrepreneurial space (even if it means possibly going against their parents wishes).
How she selects the brands she partners with.
Why supporting women-owned businesses is so important to her.
The importance of self-care.
What a Gua Sha tool is and how to use.
How to implement a natural skincare routine even when you're on a budget.
And so much more!

Happy listening!

Connect with Pink Moon:
Pink Moon
Instagram
Facebook

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Did you know that Bluefin Tuna can live up to 40 years, weigh about 1500 lbs, and measure anywhere from 6 to 10 feet? What is the importance of studying tuna larvae and how do you even study larvae?

In today’s episode with scientist, PhD candidate, and founder of the blog Science & Sustainability, Alanna Mnich, we cover all these questions and more! Plus, Alanna shares what inspired her to transition to living a more eco-friendly lifestyle, her favorite sustainable living tips, and why she’s OK being an imperfect “zero-waster.”

This was truly such a fun and interesting conversation and one I think you’ll really enjoy and gain a lot from. Happy listening!

Resources:
Monterrey Bay Aquarium "Seafood Watch"

Connect with Alanna:Instagram
Blog: Science & Sustainability
LinkedIn

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Meet Scéona Poroli-Chauveau, the founder of Scéona, a sustainable and ethical jewelry brand that designs, produces and sells jewelry using only two materials: 18kt solid recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds.

In today’s episode Scéona and I discuss:

The journey that led her to launching a sustainable/ethical jewelry brand.
Why she decided to use 18kt solid recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds for all her pieces.
How gold and diamonds are mined + the harmful environmental and social impact of mining.
Whether or not there’s a difference between lab grown vs mined diamonds.
What to look for and how to buy ethical and sustainable jewelry.
Greenwashing in the jewelry industry.
Where and how her pieces are made.
The impact of COVID-19 on her business.
And so much more!

This was truly such an insightful and eye-opening conversation!

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Meet Tiila Abbitt, the founder of Āether Beauty, a zero-waste, vegan, cruelty free, non-toxic, and ethically created makeup brand! From the harmful ingredients found in most commercial cosmetic products to the challenges of running a clean and responsibly sourced makeup brand, Tiila and I cover it all! This is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

In today’s episode Tiila and I chat about:

The journey that led her to launching a clean beauty brand.
How she became Sephora’s Senior Director of Product Development (she was the head of head of the sustainability department for a few years).
Her passion for color/color forecasting + how she creates her products (this was super interesting!)
Greenwashing in the beauty industry and the overwhelming list of harmful ingredients used throughout the industry.
The challenges around defining the term “clean beauty” and why it’s so confusing for consumers to find “clean” products.
Her motivation to create a completely recyclable product + the challenges with the recycling industry.
What mica is + the heartbreaking reality of child labor used in mica mines.
Why not all synthetic ingredients are harmful (i.e. just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s better for you).
Her love of Beauty Heroes + defining the term “blue beauty,” a term I had never heard of before.
Her entrepreneurial challenges as the sole employee of her business.
And so much more!

This was such a wonderful, insightful, and inspiring conversation! Happy listening.

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Could you imagine launching a footwear business with absolutely having no background experience in fashion design, manufacturing, or textiles? Not only that but imagine that the vision you have for your "dream shoe brand" consists of working solely with African businesses and artisans. In this perfect world where you’re imagining this perfect shoe you will, of course, only source the highest quality handmade wax fabrics, work with local charities that support women artisans, create close collaborations and partnerships with fair-trade manufacturers, use only eco-friendly materials, and oh, who knows, maybe at some point, you’ll want to create a circular fashion program!?!

For most of us, this “vision” may seem impossible. Where would one even begin? But for Hugues Didier and Vulfran de Richoufftz, the co-founders of PANAFRICA, and Hélène Lucas, their Communications Director, and today’s podcast guest, this “impossible vision” is exactly what they set out to create. Was it easy? Absolutely not. Did they make it happen? Yes, and I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Hélène to hear all about the journey that led this amazing trio to turn their vision into a reality.

In today’s episode Hélène and I cover:

Her Franco-African upbringing and how it influenced her career.
How she came to join PANAFRICA’s founding team.
What inspired Vulfran and Hugues to launch an ethical footwear company working with African businesses and artisans.
The various textiles used + how and where they’re sourced.
The history of traditional wax fabric.
Their collaboration with Afrika Tiss (a Franco-Burkinabe organization which sets up initiatives aimed at promoting craftsmanship as a lever for economic and social development)
Their close partnerships with artisans and manufactures throughout Africa.
The importance of creating a transparent and ethical fashion brand.
The entrepreneurial challenges they’ve faced.
Their collaboration with the fashion brand agnes b.
And so much more!

This was such a wonderful conversation and one I think you’ll really enjoy! Happy listening!

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Meet Kim Walls, the co-founder of Furtuna Skin, a wild foraged, sustainably created, all-natural skincare brand made in the heart Sicily. Kim is a clean beauty pioneer, master formulator, award-winning natural products innovator, mentor and mother who cares about social change and advocates for safe beauty, family health, and human rights. Needless to say, I was honored to have her on the podcast.

In today’s episode Kim and I chat about:

The journey that led her to co-founding Furtuna Skin with Agatha Relota Luczo.
Her previous entrepreneurial ventures.
The importance of touch and creating natural skincare products for premature babies. (Kim also founded BEB Organics a few years back, a brand I absolutely love and which we talked about in today's episode.)
The various wild foraged and regenerative ingredients used in Furtuna’s skincare products + their benefits.
Furtuna’s innovative usage of the Soundbath™ Extraction Method to maximize the potency of ingredients and how it works.
How Furtuna is supporting the local economy and its farmers.
Regenerative agriculture
Her favorite skincare tips + the importance of taking care of your skin.
And so much more!

Such a wonderful conversation. Happy listening!

Connect with Furtuna Skin
- Instagram
- Facebook

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“Life is always a fashion show.” — Isoke Salaam

Meet Isoke Salaam, a PR fashion consultant and the founder of Noir Vintage, an online vintage store, based out of Washington D.C.

In today's episode we cover:
- What inspired Isoke to quit her 9-5 job and move to Paris!
- Her work as a fashion PR consultant for high-end luxury brands
- Her passion for fashion, thrift shopping, and art
- The importance of secondhand shopping + tips on how to successfully thrift shop
- How to sustainably style your wardrobe
- Why she launched Noir Vintage
- And so much more!

This was such a fun and insightful conversation! Happy listening!

Connect with Isoke:
- Noir Vintage (her online vintage store)
- Instagram
- Isoke Salaam PR

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Meet Lauren Engelke and Kaitlynn Gee, the co-hosts of the "Sustainable Lifestyle" podcast, fashion stylists, and fellow sustainable fashion enthusiasts. This episode was so fun to record! Lauren and Kaitlyn are not only hilarious but full of great sustainable fashion tips. Think you'll find this episode to be super informative!

In this episode we cover:

How + why Lauren and Kaitlynn got into sustainable fashion and conscious living
How to responsibly dispose of your lightly worn pieces
How to be sustainable and stylish + questions to ask yourself while developing your wardrobe
Tips on how to accurately measure your chest, waist, and hips
The challenges they’ve faced while transitioning to a more conscious lifestyle
Getting your partner on board with sustainable living when he/she doesn’t really get it! (this was too funny!)
Whether or not The Wise Consumer should dye her wedding dress?
Upcycling and loving the pieces you already own
How to reduce your carbon footprint
Quarantine life + their love for the hit show, Love Island.

I truly think you’ll not only learn a lot from these two but laugh along the way. Happy listening!

Connect with Lauren and Kaitlynn
@thesustainablestylepodcast

Listen to The Sustainable Lifestyle podcast:
Spotify
iTunes
Stitcher

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Meet Deanna Cook, the founder of LIYA Collective, a slow fashion brand making minimalist accessories for the modern woman. Most recently, the creator of the beautiful, versatile, and ethically created silk scarf.

In today’s episode Deanna and I chat about:

The journey that led her to launch LIYA collective (she had planned on becoming a lawyer but her path led her down a different route.)
Why donating our lightly used clothes isn’t always the most sustainable option + where they end up.
Why she decided to launch a sustainable/ethical accessories brand and her vision for the future.
All about the silk making process and the benefits of using a textile such as silk.
The difference between traditional silk and peace silk
The challenges she overcame to create a sustainable/ethical supply chain
The importance of conscious consumerism.
And more!

This was such a great conversation! Happy listening!

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“I just remember I was walking down the street with a friend and I was like, “I think I am going to sell plantain chips!” and she was like “OK!? Uh, I don’t know what that means but OK!” and I was like, “I don’t know what that means either." But I got a plane ticket to Uganda and told myself I’d give myself that time to more or less do a viability study and see what came out of it and take it from there!” — Renee Dunn, Founder of Amäzi Foods

Meet Renee Dunn, the founder of Amäzi Foods, a delicious, ethically made and sustainably sourced food company that works with farmers and manufacturers in Uganda.

In today’s episode Renee and I chat about:

What led her to launch a sustainable food brand in Uganda.
The journey she underwent to find local Ugandan farmers, manufacturers, etc.to help her build Amäzi Foods
The challenges she faced in creating the perfect plantain chip + how she went about creating the flavors for her plantain chips and jackfuit chews. #delicious
Her biggest entrepreneurial challenges and lessons learned (pre-COVID-19).
Her biggest "fake it till you make it" moment of her career (this was hilarious, btw!)
Challenges and joys around working with the local Ugandan farmers and manufacturers.
The importance of conscious consumerism & creating fair trade products.
The importance of trusting and following your intuition.

This was such a wonderful conversation. Truly hope you enjoy it! Happy listening!

Connect with Amäzi Foods:
Instagram
Facebook
Shop

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In today’s episode Madeleine, of The Wise Consumer, and Maxime, of Our Good Brands, will explore the do’s, don’ts, tips, tricks, and challenges around planning an eco-friendly wedding.

These two are about to get REAL real with each other/you about how they went about planning their special days on a budget. From picking the perfect wedding dress to their biggest regrets, if planning an eco-friendly wedding is something you’re curious about/want to try for yourself, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Topics covered:

How to select a venue that’s right for you
Planning a eco wedding on a budget
Questions to ask your vendors
Eco-friendly wedding invitations
Ethical/Fair-Trade wedding rings
How to select a sustainable wedding dress?
How to create an eco-friendly food menu
Being “OK” if things don’t go as planned on your wedding day
How to create a sustainable wedding registry and other gifting options.
And so much more!

Such a fun conversation. Happy listening!

“Mad & Max (Try) To Save The World,” is a mini-podcast series where Madeleine and Maxime chat about eco-friendly living: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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Meet Colin McIntosh, the founder of the sustainable (and ethical) eucalyptus sheets company based out of Denver Colorado, Sheets & Giggles.

“Americans produce ten million tons of textile waste every single year…For better or for worse, we [Americans] are trained from a very early age to consume. This makes us great consumers and it makes us a great marketplace for businesses. But when you walk down that aisle at Target you have no idea where the potato chips came from, you have no idea how that toothpaste was produced, you have zero idea who built that tv, or where it was built or how, it’s like magic….It’s frustrating for me because I think it’s wonderful in some ways but in other ways people have no idea where the products they’re buying are coming from or who is making them and why. … It’s so systemic—buy, buy, buy—it’s never about thinking critically about where these things come from and how they get here.” -- Colin McIntosh, Founder of Sheets & Giggles

In today's episode Colin and I chat about:

The journey that led him to founding Sheets & Giggles (FYI, he never thought he'd be the founder of a sustainable bedding company).
How and why he was fired from his first job out of college and how it changed the course of his career.
The process he underwent to develop a super successful business model and how he selected the name, Sheets & Giggles (Colin loves puns!)
The importance of conscious consumerism and why it matters.
Why developing a sustainable business was important to him.
The challenges around sustainable manufacturing and why ethical/sustainable products are often more expensive than "commercial" products.
The difference between bamboo viscose and eucalyptus lyocell fabrics.
His passion for politics.
The entrepreneurial challenges he's overcome throughout the years.
And so much more!

Such a wonderful conversation! Happy listening.

Connect with Sheets & Giggles:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

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Mad & Max (try) to save the world! A mini-podcast series where Madeleine and Maxime chat about eco-friendly living: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

In today’s episode Madeleine, of The Wise Consumer, and Maxime, of OurGoodBrands, will share not only the challenges they’ve faced when it comes to living a sustainable lifestyle but will also chat about their own personal eco-friendly goals for 2020.

This is one of the first conversations between Madeleine Wisecup and Maxime Ducker, in which they explore all things related to living a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. While both Madeleine and Maxime have come a long way in their eco-friendly journey and are passionate about sharing their lessons learned, tips, and favorite planet-friendly brands with their communities, the truth is they too face some personal eco challenges. But, that’s life, isn't it?

Madeleine and Maxime are about to get REAL real with each other/you about a variety of topics ranging from zero-waste periods to how to live a more conscious and eco-friendly lifestyle when you’ve got a million other things you’re trying to tackle in your busy days. Being human is hard and they’ll be the first to admit they’re zero-waste journey hasn’t been perfect

Such a fun conversation. Happy listening!

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Katie Patrick is an amazing woman. While she humbly describes herself as an environmental engineer, author, and "Fitbit for the Planet" designer, I would call her a jack of all trades -- a renaissance woman on a mission to save the world.

Katie is the founder of Urban Canopy, Hello World Labs, and most recently the author of one of my new favorite books, "How To Save The World!"

In this episode we chat about:

Why Katie decided to close down Australia's largest VC-funded environmental media company, Green Pages (a business she founded and had been running for 7 years) to launch Hello World Labs, a creative technology lab.
The Value Action Gap (one the biggest mistake social entrepreneurs make when they’re launching a new environmental or social project/business).
The role and importance of social comparison and behavior change in regards to sustainable living.
How to make REAL and measurable changes when it comes to saving our planet.
The importance of utilizing technology when it comes to solving complex environmental issues.
How to find your creative genius zone and why it matters.
Her entrepreneurial challenges over the years.
The challenges she’s faced as a single parent while following her dream to make a difference in our world.
And so much more!

Truly this was such an amazing conversation and one I know you'll really enjoy. Happy listening!

Connect with Katie Patrick:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube

How to Save the World: How to Make Changing The World The Greatest Game We've Ever Played

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I had the amazing opportunity to sit down and chat with the founder of Mongolia’s first ever organic and low-waste skincare line the other day, Khulan Davaadorj. And guys, what a great conversation, I seriously learned so much. Not only did Khulan and I chat about what it was like launching a business (and living) in Mongolia but we also explored the cultural nomadic traditions behind the ingredients used in her skincare line, along with their benefits + how/where she sources her ingredients. Ever use yak milk or jamts salt on your skin?! Yeah, me neither.

Furthermore, Khulan was so open and transparent about the challenges she’s overcome over the years (from the robbery that left her with nothing but her own determination to start over again to the flooding of her first store).

This was such a great conversation and one I know you're going to love! Happy listening!

FYI, you can purchase Lhamour products online at any of the following:

Lilly's Bathcarry (Anyone who uses the promo code THEWISECONSUMER will receive a Healing Salve with their order. No minimum order required and while supplies last. This promo will run for a month.)
Flora Marketplace
Safe & Chic
Amazon

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Meet Nicole McGrew, a former White House attorney and the owner of Threadleaf, a sustainable and ethical fashion store located in Alexandria Va. Her goal? To make it easier for women in the DC and Northern Virginia area to shop more sustainably and consciously!

In this episode we chat about:

Nicole's passion for fashion (she was into fashion at a very early age)
Why she left the Fashion Institute of Technology to pursue a law degree at Georgetown University.
Her desire to make a lasting impact and difference in people’s lives.
The work she did throughout her career as a lawyer prior to founding Threadleaf and the emotional toll it had on her (FYI, Nicole was Deputy General Counsel for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy during the Obama administration).
Why she decided to open her own ethical and sustainable fashion store.
The challenges she's faced over the last few years running an ethical fashion store.
And so much more!

This was such a fun conversation and one I think you'll really enjoy! Happy listening!

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What if we could collect solar energy from outer space and beam it down to earth? I mean, if we could do this, this would mean we could have access to clean energy 24/7/365 a year regardless of weather, time of day, location, etc. And while I know this may sound impossible, maybe even a bit sci-fi(ish), this is exactly the technology my guest today, spacecraft engineer Dr. Paul Jaffe, is working to develop at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC. In fact, Dr. Jaffe, along with his team at NRL, has successfully built and tested a module that would make it possible to capture and transmit solar power. But how does this technology work? What are the challenges? And why aren’t more people talking about space-based solar power?

This and more on today’s episode of The Wise Consumer.

In today’s episode we chat about:

What led Dr. Jaffe to pursue a career in aerospace engineering (his interest for space technology and energy started at a very young age).
The difference between geosynchronous and geostationary orbits.
What power beaming is and how it works.
The social and environmental benefits that capturing, converting, and transmitting solar energy from space could have on a global level.
Why he believes it’s important to investigate diverse forms of alternative energy technologies (basically, we shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket).
Why he believes we should be hopeful about the future.
And so much more.

Happy listening!

Connect with Dr. Paul Jaffe:
LinkedIn
Twitter

For more info, check out -- Dr. Jaffe's TEDx Talk "Common Ground From Space"; Solar Power When It's Raining: NRL Builds Space Satellite Module to Try; Researchers transmit energy with laser in ‘historic’ power-beaming demonstration

US Naval Research Laboratory:
Website
Instagram

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"My longterm vision for Eco-Stylist is really to put myself out of business. I really want to get to a point where every brand is sustainable and ethical, where we can trust all brands…I think it would be amazing if there wasn’t a need for this [an ethical and sustainable marketplace].” Garik Himebaugh

Meet Garik Himebaugh, the founder of Eco-Stylist, an online marketplace for ethically and sustainably made men’s clothing. His mission? To help men look dapper while simultaneously supporting sustainable and ethical brands. Or as he puts it, to encourage men to “dress like they give a damn!”

In this episode we chat about:

How his relationship with his brother led him to pursue a degree in conflict resolution.
What inspired him to launch Eco-Stylist.
His passion for entrepreneurship and fashion.
How his chance encounter with Peter Sacco, the co-founder of Adelante Shoe Company inspired him to promote ethical and sustainable brands.
His biggest entrepreneurial challenge.
Challenges of conscious consumerism.
Why he decided to partner with Remake and the importance of brand transparency.
And so much more!

This was a great conversation so without further ado, let’s get started.

Connect with Eco-Stylist:
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest

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Meet Anne Whiting, the eco-conscious fashion designer and founder of Anne James New York, a sustainable fashion brand located in NYC that creates unique made-to-measure, custom-fit garments using primarily recycled and remnant fabrics.

In this episode we chat about:

Anne's love for fashion and the journey that led her into the fashion industry.
What inspired her + why she decided to become a sustainable/ethical fashion designer.
The challenges and frustrations Anne has encountered over the years as an eco-conscious fashion designer.
Why she uses deadstock material.
Why ethical/sustainable fashion brands tend to be more expensive than generic fast-fashion commercial brands.
The importance and challenges around conscious consumerism and sustainable living.
And so much more!

Happy listening!

Connect with Anne James New York:
- Website
- Instagram
- Twitter

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“I feel this deep responsibility as someone who is feeding people to be feeding them real food and to be really transparent about what we’re feeding them... We want to prove that you don’t have to compromise your products and you don’t have to compromise the health of your consumers to be a successful business.” — Brooke Harris, Founder of Goodmylk Co.

In this episode Brooke and I chat about:

The health and wellness journey (and struggles) that led her to launch Goodmylk Co.
Growing up on a dairy farm in upstate New York.
The importance of creating a product with pure, organic and real food ingredients and being completely transparent about the ingredients being used.
The difference between raw and pasteurized almonds (and what pasteurized means).
The confusion around food labels and the lack of transparency in the food industry.
The controversy around the sustainability of almond milk and why she believes hemp milk will be the future of nut milk.
Her entrepreneurial challenges and her “one” true talent in life.
Sustainable packaging and so much more!

This was such a wonderful conversation. Happy listening!

Connect with Goodmylk Co.

Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

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“Keep it real, Eat the peel.” — Matt Weiss, RIND Snacks Founder

Meet Matt Weiss, the founder, and creator of RIND Snacks, a line of dried fruit snacks that allow you to snack better and do better for the planet by eating the fruit, the whole fruit and nothing but the fruit.

In this episode we chat about:

How Matt’s great-grandmother, Helen, played a large role in the inspiration behind RIND.
The health benefits of eating the peel of fruits and vegetables.
Why and how including the peel is a great way to help reduce food waste.
The challenges of solo entrepreneurship.
The trials and tribulations of creating the perfect dehydrated fruit.
The benefits of creating an all-natural product, with no added sugars or preservatives (which isn’t the case for most dried fruits on the market today).
Advice for anyone thinking about starting their own project or venture.
And so much more!

This was such a wonderful conversation. Happy listening!

Connect with RIND Snacks:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

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Meet Ronna Welsh, chef, author, and founder of Purple Kale Kitchenworks, a cooking school based in Brooklyn NY where she teaches practical cooking strategies to help individuals become more confident, efficient, and nimble cooks.

"After all, a "scrap" is just food you haven’t figured out how to use. When you save a scrap, you bank a possibility. The more you save, the more possibilities you accumulate." -- Ronna Welsh

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“I think it's a mindset shift around a lot of things...Like, what does abundance actually mean? Does it mean we need a lot of things to be happy or does it mean that you’re abundantly happy even if you don’t have a lot of things?” Lacey Burbage, founder of Naturally Modern Life

Meet Lacey Burbage, the founder, and editor of Naturally Modern Life, a blog that shares DIY tips, recipes, zero-waste ideas, and focuses on living a more holistic, mindful and low-impact lifestyle.

In this episode, we chat about:
- What inspired Lacey to shift towards living a more sustainable lifestyle + the first zero-waste swaps she ever made.
- Why it’s OK to embrace the fact that you’re not going to be a perfect parent (especially when it comes to low-waste living)
- Lacey's biggest challenges when it comes to sustainable living
- Simple eco-friendly tips and tricks we can all implement
- The myths around composting
- Why DIYing doesn't work for everyone
- Mindfulness + the importance of becoming a more conscious and intentional consumer
- And so much more!

Happy listening!

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"Fatou: Crazy ideas are the best ideas! The Wax project was one crazy idea, we had no idea where it would take us. You just need to believe in your ideas, you might be surprised where it takes you.

Mai: Yeah, don't underestimate the power of not knowing where you're going! The beauty of our story is that we didn't know where we were going (or what we were doing) but we had an idea and this idea gave us so much more." -- Mai & Fatou, Co-Founders of The Wax Project

Meet Maimouna & Fatou Ndiaye, the co-founders of The Wax Project, a fashion line handmade in Senegal that uses African prints, “wax” as material. Not only do Mai and Fatou collaborate and support local Senegalese tailors but for every product sold they donate a % to associations and schools in Senegal.

In this episode we chat about:
- What it was like growing up as a Senagalese in Bangladesh.
- What inspired them to launch The Wax Project.
- The importance of education (this is something they truly value).
- The challenges they've faced and overcome throughout their entrepreneurial journey. 
- How they overcame the naysayers
- Why it was so important for them to support local Senegalese tailors and to give back to their community.
- The importance of following your dreams and taking a leap of faith to pursue your "crazy" ideas (you'll never know where it will lead you and what impact it might make in someone else's life!)

This was such a great conversation! I think you'll really enjoy this episode! Happy listening.

Connect with The Wax Project:
@Instagram
@Facebook

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"It’s difficult because this is human-caused damage. These animals aren’t dying of starvation or natural disease, plastic entanglement is all human inflicted harm. And the seals aren’t going to help themselves so, it’s up to us to help them…. I just feel it's our responsibility to try to do something about it.” — Naude Dreyer

Today, it is estimated that between 640,000 and 800,000 tons of fishing nets are dumped or lost at sea every year. These discarded nets, also known as “ghost nets” drift through the ocean entangling whales, seals, and turtles. In fact, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, an estimated 100,000 marine animals are “strangled, suffocated, or injured by plastics every year.” Obviously, Naude and his team are not going to single-handedly solve this global issue, but they are making a difference in the lives of marine wildlife in their corner of the world. Over the course of the past few years, Naude and his team have personally rescued more than 600 sea lions from plastic entanglement, 300 of which were in the past two years alone.

In this episode we chat about:

What it’s like living in Namibia (Fun Fact: Naude was born in the Etosha National Park).
How Naude first got involved in rescuing sea lions + why it matters.
The challenges he faces when catching and disentangling sea lions from marine debris.
The impact our international maritime industry (i.e. human impact) is having on marine wildlife.
Why it’s so important to educate the next generation about how best to prevent plastic pollution.
The importance of slowing down and not stressing about the things in life we can’t control.
How his daughter's battle with cancer helped his family realize what is truly important and meaningful in life.
His entrepreneurial challenges.
And so much more!

This was such a wonderful and insightful conversation! Happy listening.

Connect with Naude
Instagram
Facebook
Pelican Point Kayaking Website

Note: If you’re feeling at all inspired by the end of this episode and you would like to financially support the work Naude and his team are doing, feel free to check out their GoGetFunding page.

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“We should try to live better (more consciously) where we can. But, if we want to truly achieve sustainability together, we need to be looking at the context and addressing the globalized system that we’ve set up.” Kamea Chayne

Meet Kamea Chayne, the host and founder of the Green Dreamer podcast, author of the book Thrive, and curator of Conscious Fashion Co., a directory featuring brands using fashion for social and ecological good. Her goal over the past few years, as she puts it, “has been to inquisitively explore our paths towards ecological regeneration, intersectional sustainability, and true abundance and wellness for all."

Kamea was actually one of the first individuals I started following on social media when I first started my journey with The Wise Consumer. Her work, insight, and approach towards living a more intentional and environmentally friendly lifestyle has always been of inspiration and of value to me. But I was curious, how does an American who grew up in Taiwan, moved to St. Louis, Missouri to study psychology end up becoming an eco-podcaster/eco-creative? So, I reached out to Kamea and invited her onto the podcast to share her story with all of us.

In this episode we chat about:

Her experience growing up as a third culture kid in Tapei, Taiwan.
How her exposure to different cultures from an early age influenced her worldview.
How her passion for fashion and environmental conservation came together during her freshman year of college (she read a book called the “Ecologist Guide to Fashion” which greatly inspired the trajectory of both her personal and professional journey).
The challenges around defining the term “sustainable” + why providing context when we talk about “sustainable living” is so important.
Why the Standard American Diet (SAD) is unsustainable + how personal wellness and environmental conservation actually go hand in hand.
Her biggest entrepreneurial challenge to date.
What inspires her to keep on going even when things get tough.
And so much more!

Happy listening!

Connect with Kamea:
- Instagram: @Kameachayne // @greendreamerpodcast // @consciousfashion
- Twitter: @KameaChayne

Thrive: An environmentally conscious lifestyle guide to better health and true wealth

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Meet Dr. Vanessa Pirotta, a marine biologist and science communicator, from Sydney Australia, whose most recent research focuses on whale snot -- more specifically, collecting and analyzing the bacteria in whale snot!

In this episode we chat about:

Her passion for whales and how it inspired the direction of her career (the movie Free Willy may have played a role in all of this)
Why she decided to research whale snot using drones + the technological challenges she and her team had to overcome to capture whale snot.
What scientists can learn about a whale's overall health from whale snot (note: whale snot contains biological information such as bacteria, hormones, and DNA).
The challenges humans pose to marine wildlife (ex: fishing entanglement, ship strikes, acoustic and chemical pollution) and what we are doing to help mitigate some of these issues.
Her love of educating and inspiring the next generation
The importance of following your passion
And so much more!

This was such a great conversation and I think you’ll really enjoy it! Happy listening!

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Meet Diane van Zwanenberg, the founder of Coconut Matter, an ethically made, all-natural, socially driven skincare brand based out of Hong Kong on a mission to reduce plastic waste from the global cosmetics industry, simply put, to reduce plastic waste from our bathrooms.

“My business is about enabling sustainable living. And, I can’t enable sustainable living if a product doesn’t work or if I am asking people to be inconvenienced by the product -- inconvenienced as in, you have to put your arms up for ten seconds while your deodorant dries, or accept that it drags on your skin and it hurts, or that it causes rashes, etc. That’s not enabling sustainable living. So you have to produce a product that really works and that’s a pleasure to use and then sustainable living just becomes the icing on top. It’s a no brainer.” -- Diane van Zwanenberg

In this episode we chat about:

The journey that led Diane to founding Coconut Matter (even though as a kid she swore she would never run her own business)
Why creating a business that made both a social and environmental impact was so important to her
The challenges she's had to overcome to formulate, package, and market her plastic-free plant-based products (it’s not been an easy journey)
Why creating a zero-waste cosmetic product was so important to her + the importance of using plant-based and non-toxic ingredients
How she developed a relationship with Kokonut Pacific, an organization that works with rural populations in tropical countries to help better their lives by improving their utilization of coconuts
And so much more!

Happy listening!

Connect with Coconut Matter:
@instagram
@facebook
@pinteret

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"The work that we do is about giving back. The more we feed our soils, and care for the land the more abundant the trees. When we can work in unison with the land we form a harmony that extends to the food and products we share. One of the goals of Pure Mana Hawaii is to give back to the farmers that produce our food and botanicals and help them to succeed. Pure Mana Hawaii makes eco-conscious decisions every step of the way. From the ingredients we use to the packaging, all is done as a gift “from our soil to your soul”. One world, one mission. We should all do our part to preserve the pure natural resources that are still available.” — Kollette Stith

Meet Sue Mandini & Kollette Stith, the co-founders of Pure Mana Hawaii, an organic and eco-luxe skincare line of oils and botanical blends made entirely from locally sourced, farm-grown, or wild-crafted ingredients. Pure Mana is literally food for your skin. They grow, harvest, process, and hand-press the purest, organic Macadamia Nuts, Kona Green Coffee and Vanilla oils on their farm on the Big Island of Hawaii.

In this episode we chat about:

How Sue and Kollette met + the journey that led them to launch Pure Mana.
The skin benefits of using macadamia nut oils and green coffee oil.
The ingredients they use in their products + where they're sourced
The two-year-long process they underwent to fine-tune their formulas.
The pros and cons of living as a modern-day homesteader (this is truly a way of life I admire).
The importance of sustainable farming, the symbiotic relationship between plants, and the challenges of organic farming.
The ups and downs of their entrepreneurial journey.
Pure Mana’s sustainable packaging program (customers can return their used glass bottles and in return receive a$25 gift code for online purchases #zerowaste).
And so much more!

This was such a great conversation! Happy listening!

Connect with Pure Mana:
- Instagram @puremanahawaii
- Facebook @puremanahawaii

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"Our skin is the first thing to show us if there’s something going on inside. It shows us if we’re happy, blushing, if we’re in love, if we’re sick, pregnant, sad…our skin shows it all.” -- Lisa Brill, Founder of Qēt Botanicals

Meet Lisa Brill, the founder of Qēt Botanicals, an EWG verified, plant-based, wild-harvested, and hand-crafted skincare brand committed to using nothing but the cleanest and safest ingredients.

In this episode we cover:

How Lisa’s deteriorating health was drastically improved once she started changing her diet and skincare routine.
Why it matters to our overall wellbeing that we use nontoxic and all-natural skincare products.
What it means to be EWG verified + why it matters
How to research ingredients on EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database
Greenwashing in the beauty industry + the challenges it poses to us as consumers.
Lisa’s top three skincare tips.
The importance of using eco-friendly and low-waste packaging alternatives.
Carrie Hammer’s TedTalk on redefining beauty: “Role Models Not Runway Models” @carriehammer
And so much more!

This was truly such a fun and insightful conversation. I know you’re going to love it. Happy listening!

Connect with Qēt Botanicals; Instagram

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Meet Jennifer Johnson and Carl Hickerson, the co-founders of Trestle, a Portland-based technology company aiming to make conscious consumerism convenient!

“It’s worth taking into consideration the historical perspective of the movement of business into this [sustainable and ethical] space. And for us, we like to celebrate the ones that are doing incredible work to reduce their waste or their energy consumption or clean up their supply chains. Those who are starting to ask the questions themselves: “Oh, what is our impact? Where are we actually causing more harm than good?” The ones that are asking those questions and starting to address them are the ones we like to celebrate.” — Jennifer Johnson

In this episode we cover:

The challenges consumers face (especially when it comes to trying to support ethical and sustainable brands).
What it means to be a conscious consumer, i.e. can we actually define ethics seeing that personal values are likely to differ from one person to the next?
How Trestle analyzes and aggregates brands + how the "myTrestle" button works.
Why Trestle is being coined the "Match.com" of e-commerce.
The challenges around "greenwashing" and why it matters that brands be transparent with their customers.
Why Jennifer and Carl decided to create a company to help consumers discover the values of their favorite brands.
How Jennifer and Carl met, the challenges of their entrepreneurial journey, and so much more!

This was such a fun and insightful conversation. I know you're going to love it! Happy listening!

PS: myTrestle Button is a free Chrome extension/add-on that shows you instantly the ethical practices of a company when you land on their website (or a product they sell on Amazon). Not sure if a brand is cruelty-free, fair-trade, sustainable, etc.? Just #trestleit

Here's how it works:
1. Download the myTrestle Button Chrome extension (Go to www.mytrestle.com and click on the “Add myTrestle Button” must be done on a desktop!).⁣

⁣⁣2. Make a Trestle profile and update your most important values.⁣⁣

⁣⁣3. Shop as you normally would! As you land on the websites of companies we’ve analyzed, you’ll be notified of their ethical practices.⁣⁣

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Meet Mike and Martha Robinson, the co-founders and husband and wife team behind Cleaning Essentials, a zero-waste cleaning company dedicated to helping families replace store-bought household chemicals with safe, non-toxic homemade cleaning solutions in beautiful glass bottles.

“For us, it all started when we started having kids. I just became very aware of all the chemicals and the products that we were keeping under the kitchen sink -- products we were trying to keep away from our children. We just kind of started thinking, why do we even need to have these in the house if they’re that dangerous and toxic? It was during that time that we started making our own cleaning products and getting rid of the more toxic ones. We wanted to minimize the exposure that we (primarily our kids) were having to these chemicals.” -- Martha Robinson (quote slightly edited for clarity)

In this episode we cover:

How Mike and Martha met (they were 13 when they met, btw! )
The journey that led Mike and Martha down the road to creating their own cleaning company.
Their goal to help make non-toxic and plastic-free cleaning products accessible to all.
The trial and error process they first underwent to develop the most effective non-toxic cleaning formula.
Why it was important to them to support and partner with 1% for the Planet and the Plastic Pollution Coalition
The harmful impact of toxic chemicals on our health.
The challenges of the startup life while raising a family.
And so much more.

This was such a great conversation! Happy listening.

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“If we are serious about development what we should fundamentally do is strategic...for the government for the institutions to take over because they are responsible for their people. And the locals to also roll up their sleeves and not just treat them like subjects of aid but treat them like an active participants in the development imminent in their landscape. That’s the way we need to think if we’re really serious about development. And you know, it’s all about investing in the people not investing in ourselves and doing projects that just make us feel good. There are a lot of tough decisions involved in making this happen it’s the road less traveled but that’s what we need to explore.” -- Abbey Wemimo

Meet Abbey Wemimo, the founder of Clean Water for Everyone, a social venture that aims to provide access to clean and affordable water supply in underdeveloped nations by working with locals to achieve positive social, economic and environmental impacts.

In this episode we cover:
- Abbey's experiences as a child growing up in the slums of Lagos Nigeria.
- Why he launched Clean Water for Everyone (he almost died of Typhoid fever as a kid due to a lack of access to clean water).
- His early start to entrepreneurship (he used to sell snickers bars to his classmates during school breaks).
- The importance of empowering local communities to run their businesses, institutions, organizations, etc. themselves rather than creating a system of dependency, or as Abbey puts it, “treating local individuals like subjects of aid” (something I’ve personally been thinking about a lot and which Abbey and I talk about at great length during this episode).
- The importance of collaboration and working together to solve some of the world's most complex issues.
- Africa's economic boom (this is an exciting time for Africa!)
- What inspires him to persevere through the entrepreneurial challenges he faces.
- And so much more!

This was truly such an amazing conversation. Happy listening!

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"We have trained bee's to do a lot of crazy things. They've been trained to do addition and subtraction and to recognize different artists. For example, they trained bee's to identify Aboriginal art from Picasso! They've also trained them to smell bombs and...to smell cancer. There's just so many different crazy experiments that have been done where they've taught bee's all these different things! And, not only are the bee's able to learn but they're able to communicate to us that they learned. To me, that's nuts!" - Hilary Kearney

Meet Hilary Kearney, the founder of Girl Next Door Honey, a beekeeping business that focuses on bee-centric programs such as natural beekeeping classes, apiary management (which is basically backyard beekpeeing), classroom presentations, beehive tours, live bee removal and more!

In this episode we cover:

The entrepreneurial journey that led Hilary to founding a beekeeping business (let's just say beekeeping was never on the agenda)
The intelligence of bee's & how they communicate with each other
The difference between honeybee's and bumblebee's
How climate change and pesticides are killing bee's
What we, as individuals, can do to help protect bee's and what to do in case we come across a swarm of bee's
Her struggle to find a manageable work/life balance
Her love/hate relationship to technology
And so much more!

This was such a great conversation! Happy listening.

Connect with Girl Next Door Honey:
Instagram
Facebook

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I am thrilled to finally be able to share this episode with you all! This is the first episode in a series of 4 where Ill be chatting with women from different walks of life, cultures, and countries about their personal experiences, struggles, thoughts, lessons learned, tips, etc. when it comes to living sustainably while raising children. Because y’all I realize it’s not always easy to be eco-friendly, shop ethically/sustainably, reduce our waste, etc., let alone for one person, but then when you add a tiny human to the mix it seems as though things seem to get a bit more complicated. So my question is: Does living sustainably get more complicated once you have children? Well, in a way it does. Does that mean it's impossible? Absolutely not. Will you do it perfectly, probably not and is that OK! Which is why we are having this conversation.

To help me explore this question, I invited Natalie Kay, founder of Sustainably Chic, Olivia Gossett Cooper, founder of Today We Will, Verena Erin founder of My Green Closet, and Ashley Ayala from Sisterhouse Collective, and guys, this was such a great conversation! We chatted about the pros and cons of reusable vs disposable diapers, toys (plastic vs eco-friendly….this is an issue a lot of women approach me with), secondhand shopping, breastfeeding, the challenges of time management, mom guilt, social media and so much more.

This was a super fun and insightful conversation and I think you’ll get a lot out of it! Happy listening!

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“My wish is that people would buy less but buy better, as is heard more and more often, but also, have a moment every time you decide to purchase something. Every time you pick a product up and think “I am going to buy this!” hold it in your hand and ask yourself: "Where did its come from? Who made this? How did this turn into yarn and into clothes?" It touched so many hands...you’re responsible for the entire timeline of that piece of clothing, as with any product.” — Janeane Marie

Meet Janeane Marie, founder of Manta, a minimalist USA made swimwear line made from sustainably sourced materials.

In this episode we cover:
- Her journey from being an "anti-fashionista" to becoming one of Kat Von D's head fashion designers.
- How and why she developed a sustainable/ethical swimwear line (her experience in the fast fashion industry & traveling to Asia greatly impacted her).
- The inspiration and creative process behind Manta.
- Why she selected ECONYL®, a regenerated nylon made from plastic waste and abandoned fishing nets, as her fabric of choice.
- The complex relationship women have with their bodies.
- The importance of being more mindful & conscious consumers and why it matters.
- And so much more!

This was such a great conversation! Happy listening.

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"Everything in life, especially when you’re starting something new, has ups and downs. So do not get demotivated by the first obstacle you come across. Keep going, learn as much as you can and as quickly as you can, and then move forward." -- Ibrahim Shams

Meet Ibrahim Shams, the Co-Founder and CEO of Kiliim, an Egyptian social enterprise and a lifestyle brand that aims to revive and sustain the local craft of handmade kilim making in Egypt by introducing modern designs to a time-honored technique.

In this episode we cover:

The history and culture around the ancient craft of kilim weaving in Egypt (dates back to a time when Pharaoh's still ruled Egypt!)
The importance of reviving and maintaining the craft of kilim weaving.
The inspiration and journey that led Ibrahim to Co-Founding Kiliim with his wife Noha, who also happens to be Ibrahim's Co-Founder and Kiliim's Chief Designer.
Why paying fair wages and working with local artisans in Fowwa, a small village situated along the lush Nile Delta, was so important to both Ibrahim and Noha.
How and where they source their materials (sustainably sourced cotton and wool).
The pros and cons of working with your significant other and the challenges of establishing a healthy work/life balance.
And so much more!

This was such a GREAT conversation. I know you're going to love it! Ibrahim has such an amazing story to share and he and Noha are truly doing some amazing work! Happy listening!

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“It has always been important to me to do good in this world, and Dounia Home allows me to do what I love, which is design, while helping others along the way. I find a great deal of fulfillment in being able to create beautiful products while positively impacting the artisan community behind them.” - Dounia Tamri-Loeper

Meet Dounia Tamri-Loeper, the founder of the contemporary lighting and home decor brand, Dounia Home.

In this episode we cover:
- How growing up in the small artistic town of Safi, Morocco, shaped Dounia’s creative career path
- Her entrepreneurial journey. #thestruggleisreal
- Her passion for working with, and giving back to, local artisans, and why it matters. #ethicallymade
- How her Moroccan heritage/culture inspire all her designs. #heritage
- The importance of becoming more mindful and conscious consumers. And so much more!

This was truly such an amazing conversation! Happy listening.

Connect with Dounia Home
Instagram
Facebook

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"My ultimate dream is to be able to use language and to work with artisans, support traditional art forms, preserve culture, and share their stories, particularly in the US. I think products are an amazing way to connect with people and to connect with cultures worldwide. They can bring beauty and meaning into our lives, help us to see the world in a different way." — Cayley Pater

Meet Cayley Pater, the founder of Made Trade, an online destination for exceptionally designed ethically made goods. Think of it as the ethical alternative to anthropology that puts people and our planet first.

In this episode we cover:

Cayley's passion for languages and cultures and how it ultimately influenced the direction of her career.
The importance of developing personal connections & relationships with artisans and designers from all over the world.
How Made Trade selects the ethical and sustainable brands they partner with.
The impact we can make as conscious consumers.
The challenges of her entrepreneurial journey.

This was truly such a wonderful chat. Hope you enjoy it. Happy listening!

Connect with Made Trade:
Facebook
Instagram

Find me on Instagram @thewiseconsumer or on Facebook

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"My why? I understand that I have the ability to change lives, and I see it in so many ways. While I see a world full of problems I also see solutions...I think we can actually make impact, I honestly believe that." — Navyn Salem

Meet Navyn Salem, the founder of Edesia, a nonprofit based out of Providence RI whose mission it is to help treat and prevent malnutrition in the world's most vulnerable populations. To date, Edesia has reached over 8 million malnourished children in over 55 countries.

In this episode we cover:

The journey that led her to founding Edesia & her newest social enterprise MeWe, a delicious and nutritious nut butter on a mission to make peanut allergies a thing of the past. (100% of MeWe profits go toward Edesia's humanitarian mission).
The importance of using business to solve problems #socialentrepreneurship
The entrepreneurial challenges she's faced over the years and how we should never take "No!" for an answer.
The difference between severe and acute malnutrition.
How a little packet of fortified peanut butter can change a child's life.
Her thoughts on the documentary Poverty, Inc., a documentary which really made me think about the business of doing "good" in developing countries (I highly encourage you all to watch this film).

This was such a wonderful and insightful conversation. Navyn and her team are doing some truly amazing work. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Happy listening.

Connect with Edesia:
Facebook
Instgram

Connect with MeWe:
Facebook
Instgram

PS: You can donate to Edesia by clicking here.

$50 = one box of Plumpy’Nut = one life saved

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“I wasn’t one of those kids that had a lemonade stand, you know, those entrepreneurial kids that love business!?! I had a rock collection. Like, I was one of those super nerdy science kids and it wasn’t until later, like waaay late, like a couple years ago, that I realized business could be a part of problem solving.” - Kate Jakubas

Meet Kate Jakubas and Mike Meyer, Co-Founders of Meliora Cleaning Products, a company based out Chicago, Illinois that creates all-natural laundry and home cleaning products that are both good for the planet & people.

In this episode we cover:

Kate and Mike's journey from career engineers to full-time entrepreneurs.
The importance of using natural and nontoxic ingredients in cleaning and laundry products.
Why complete transparency about the ingredients they're using, and where they're sourced, is so important to Mike and Kate.
Tips on how we can become wiser and more conscious consumers.
The challenges of the work/life balance when you're co-founder is also your life partner.
The power of the consumer and why it matters.

This was such a great conversation! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy listening!

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"I want to be part of something bigger than myself.” - Caleigh Hernandez

Meet Caleigh Hernandez, the founder of RoHo, an ethical fashion company working with local artisans in Nairobi Kenya to bring beautifully handcrafted beaded sandals, scarves and jewelry to an international market. #ethicalfashion

In this episode we cover:

Caleigh's prior work experience in the nonprofit world and how it ultimately led her down the path to social entrepreneurship
The adventure she went on to find Lydia, the talented artisan running the sandal workshops in Kenya
The challenges of running an ethical fashion start-up in Kenya
The importance providing fair wages, and support, to local artisans
Tips on how to become a wiser and more conscious consumer

Had such a wonderful time chatting with Caleigh! Enjoy.

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"The world is shaped by people, the world is shaped by you.” - Okan McAllister

Meet Okan McAllister, the founder of Prime Movers, a youth-led social enterprise, based out of Vienna Austria, that creates social businesses and educates the next generation of impact leaders.

In this episode we cover:

The journey that led Okan to founding Prime Movers.
The culture shock he experienced when he first arrived to Europe from Istanbul, Turkey at age 15.
The importance of systems thinking and systems entrepreneurship and how it works.
The various programs offered by Prime Movers to help encourage youth to bring about social and environmental change in the future.
Prime Movers most recent social enterprise, Kindby -- an online store that allows you to buy and rent ethically made baby clothing and accessories.
The zero-waste movement in Austria #sustainableliving.
Tips for individuals contemplating to start their own businesses.

I had such a wonderful time chatting with Okan. He is a wealth of knowledge and working on some really amazing social and environmental projects. Truly hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed recording it.

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“I believe knowledge is definitely power when it comes to the skincare industry. I feel that the more you know about the industry, the more aware you are as to what ingredients are being used in each product, the better off you’ll be.” — Ashlee Assadi

In this episode we cover:

The journey that led Ashlee to founding Santosha Co.
Her struggle with infertility and PCOS & the lifestyle changes it encouraged her to make
The health benefits of using all-natural and fresh ingredients in skincare products
How she and her family grow and sustainably forage 50% of the ingredients used in all her products
How her brother Luke, Santosha's Director of Product Development, manages the manufacturing process from plant to bottle (it's a pretty amazing process!)
3 things every consumer should know before making their next skincare purchase
The challenges of the start-up life #thestruggleisreal

This was a SUCH a great conversation and truly hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy listening!

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“I think there is still a lot of hope in the ocean — it’s very powerful, it’s very resilient and it definitely has an ability to come back in unexpected ways. “ - Emily Hazlewood, Co-Founder Blue Latitudes

Meet Amber Jackson and Emily Hazelwood, the Co-Founders of the marine environmental consulting firm Blue Latitudes, a business they co-founded together about 3 years ago, that focuses on developing sustainable, creative, and cost-effective solutions for the environmental issues that surround the offshore energy industry i.e., converting decommissioned oil rigs into artificial reefs, also known as the Rigs-to-reefs.

In this episode we cover:

The journey that led Emily and Amber to co-founding Blue Latitudes
The pros and cons of converting decommissioned oil rigs into artificial reefs
The challenges they face as women working in a predominantly male industry
The struggles of the work-life balance
Their love for the ocean and WHY they’re working so hard to protect it.

This was a such a great conversation and truly hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy listening!

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“I want to spend my life working on a hard problem, not a small one." -- Rose Wang, Co-Founder of Chirps

My guest today is Rose Wang, Co-Founder of the delicious insect-based snacks, Chirps.

In this episode we cover:

The journey that led her to co-founding Chirps
Why and how eating insects could help reduce GHG emissions
Overcoming our fears around eating insects
The health benefits of adding insects to our diets
Her life changing experience on Shark Tank
And how she and her team have persevered through the daily challenges of the start-up life.

This was a such a great conversation and truly hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy listening!

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"We use reusable bags so fish don’t eat the plastic bags. That means there’s less plastic in the sea." - Anabelle, 5 years old

Meet Anabelle! One of the smartest 5-year old girls I know (I was her nanny for a few months before officially launching The Wise Consumer).

In this episode we talk about:
- The importance of using reusable bags and water bottles.
- Why eating clean and using non-toxic skincare products is important. - The challenges of being a military kid.
- Life-lessons Anabelle has learned over the course of her life.

This was a priceless conversation — Anabelle is hilarious and full of insight and ideas. I think you'll really enjoy hearing what she has to say. Happy listening!

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"It’s an adventure. I think the challenges always turn into opportunities and so I’ve just learned to have this mindset of “it’s just ups and downs and it's OK." And, I’ve really settled into that and I am just really happy with it. So, I am enjoying the journey but yeah, it’s an adventure and I am just going to keep at it." -- Shannon Mann

Meet Shannon Mann, Founder of Ripe Skin, an all-natural, raw, and vegan skincare company based out of Los Angeles Ca.

In this episode we cover:

The journey that led her to launching RIPE Skin
The importance of using natural and raw ingredients in skincare products
How her minimalist & waste-free lifestyle inspired her to shape and pivot her vision for RIPE
Why she decided to live a nomadic lifestyle and how it benefited RIPE
Challenges of the start-up

Think you’ll enjoy this episode! Happy listening.

PS: Use the discount code WISE1 at checkout and receive $10 off any single product.

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"Shopping ethically and sustainably is not always the easiest, nor the most accessible or affordable option…but, you know, no one is expecting anyone to be perfect, we’re all learning here. The brands are learning, the consumers are learning. Anyone who says they’re perfect is obviously lying. There’s no way in our current economy and society you could be perfect." - Elizabeth Joy

Meet Elizabeth Joy, the face and voice behind Conscious Life and Style blog based out of Chicago, Illinois.

In this episode we cover:
- The journey that led Elizabeth to launching Conscious Life and Style blog.
- The learning curve she faced as she transitioned into living a more sustainable lifestyle.
- Tips on how to become a more informed and conscious consumer.
- Some of her favorite ethical brands and resources
- How she selects which brands to collaborate with and promote.

Had a great time chatting with Elizabeth and think you'll enjoy this episode. Happy listening!

PS: Links to articles I mentioned during this interview.
Forbes: The Problem With The Term "Ethical Fashion"

Eluxe Magazine: Why I think ethical fashion is a privileged white girl thing

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“Growing up, I used to sell chocolates…I would sell them “illegally” in school. I wasn’t allowed, the principal would always catch me and give me a hard time but I would always go back and sell more. I used to say “I have to go to the bathroom,” then I would take my little bag and I would actually go meet the other kids at their breaks so they could buy my chocolates. I was actually very well known for my chocolates… So, it was really funny when we started our own chocolate company!” — Sandra Bedoya

Meet Sandra Bedoya, Co-Founder of Nibble Chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolate company based out of San Diego California.

In this episode we cover:

The trials and errors of creating the perfect bean-to-bar chocolate
Why it was important for Sandra and her husband & co-founder, David, to source their cocoa beans from high quality and fair-trade farms
The challenges of becoming a new mother while simultaneously running a business
The health benefits of cocoa

This was such a fun episode to record and edit. I hope you enjoy it! Happy listening!

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"The best time to start was yesterday, the second best time to start is today. Whatever your dream is, whether it’s launching a business or it’s to get super fit, or travel the world, etc., start today. There’s no better time. I think people are always waiting for the right time but, life never gets less complicated. In ten years don’t tell me your life is going to be easier for you. So, if you really want it, there’s no point in waiting." - Samir Goel

My guest today is Samir Goel, Co-Founder of Esusu, a mobile platform designed to empower users to better save their income, access larger sums of capital, and build credit and financial identity through rotational savings.

In this episode we cover:
- The journey that led Samir, and his co-founder Abbey Wemimo, to founding Esusu
- The entrepreneurial challenges they’ve had to overcome to get to where they are today
- How Esusu is building a pathway to financial access and opportunity for typically marginalized communities.
- The history & culture around the financial system of rotational savings (what and how it works)
- The importance of a healthy work-life balance
- Samir's passion for hip-hop

Had a wonderful time chatting with Samir and I think you'll find this episode to be really interesting and fun.

Happy listening!

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My guest today is Gayatri Datar, Co-Founder of EarthEnable located in Nyamata, Rwanda.

In this episode we cover:

The journey that led her to co-founding EarthEnable
Why earthen floors + how they're created
Her passion for international development work
What it's like to run and manage a social enterprise in Rwanda
The positive social and environmental impact she and her team are making

"My parents raised us to be really grateful for what we had and really aware of what other people did not have. I learned at a very early age to not take anything I had for granted. Every time I tried to waste food I remember my mother saying something along the lines of “remember all those kids you saw in India!” and I remember feeling guilt about that. I think a really important value throughout my whole life has been to try to do everything we can to level out the opportunities. Because at the end of the day so much is driven by luck. And obviously that’s not fair. There’s no version in the world where that’s fair. And sure some people can work harder, some people can work less hard, but I really believe that the initial deck you’re handed at the beginning of your life influences almost everything." -- Gayatri Datar

Had a great time chatting with Gaya and think you’ll really enjoy this episode.

Happy listening.

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"We will be a kilometer back in the cave and the walls will have those little thank you bags. You know the ones you get at the grocery stores, those little white ones? They’ll be stuck to the walls floating in the current. It looks like there are ghosts lining the walls…they end up in these sink holes and they make our way into our ground water. But, that’s not the only thing we see back there. You also see tires, you see 55 gallon drums of who knows what, etc. And as you’re swimming past this stuff you’ll see someones water pipe coming down through the ceiling of this cave going directly to their well, directly to their house in fact, and that’s what really brings home how connected we really are to our ecosystem in ways we really don’t realize." - Kenny Broad, National Geographic Explorer and Chief Exploration Officer Virtual Wonders

Meet Kenny Broad! Deep sea cave diver, 2011 National Geographic explorer of the Year and Chief Exploration Officer for the 3D imaging company Virtual Wonders.

In this episode we cover:

The journey that led him to where he is today

-The environmental changes he’s seen over the course of his career

The lessons he's learned from deep sea cave diving and how we can apply them to our everyday lives

-The power of visual storytelling when it comes to conservation and preservation of our planet

-The challenges of his first entrepreneurial venture with Virtual Wonders

Had a great time chatting with Kenny. I think you’ll really enjoy this episode.

Happy listening.

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“Social entrepreneurship isn’t a fad, I think it’s here to stay. I hope if we are successful it will just become business as usual and companies that aren’t doing the right thing will suffer in the marketplace because of it...because as consumers, we give a shit and that’s great.” - Daniel Kurzrock

My guest today is Daniel Kurzrock, co-founder of Regrained a company based out of San Francisco, CA.

In this episode we cover:

The journeys that led Daniel, and his co-founder Jordan Schwartz, to launch Regrained.
The trials and tribulations they overcame to develop the product we know and love today.
What edible upcycling means.
How social entrepreneurship is changing the way business is done today.
And, how his experiences at summer camp shaped the life he leads today.

Had a great time chatting with Daniel and think you’ll really enjoy hearing his story. Happy listening!

Discount code: THEWISECONSUMER is good for 15% off at regrained.com

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“My mom played a huge role in my life. she passed away when i was 22. I get choked up talking about it. She was the light in the room. She was a connector, more than anything she loved to connect people … everyone wanted to be around her." -- Ben Kander

In this episode we talk about:

His grieving process and the importance of finding gratitude, even during the toughest of times.
The hardships of the startup grind.
Why collaborating with Charity Water, a nonprofit that provides clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries, was so important to Ben’s overall mission.

Discount Code: WISECONSUMER15

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“Part of the reason I love Pakistan so much is because of my grandmother’s house. It’s like a museum for old things -- she keeps everything. Which is both concerning and fascinating ... but everything in her house has a purpose. She believes you can’t trash things you don’t have a use for." -- Hannah Dehradunwala

In this episode we cover:

How her pakistani upbringing shaped the way she views waste
The challenges faced in building a start-up with a social impact
Art battles (who knew that was even a thing?!)
How she overcame her fear of stuttering

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"I remember our very first sale was to this woman -- she just had no idea how exciting it was for us to be selling in-person to a random person who wasn’t family or friend. We wanted to take a picture with her. I mean, just imagine if you went to Gap or Trader Joe’s and they got so excited they wanted to take a picture of you? You’d be like, "um can you just relax please!”" recalls Grant LeBeau, co-founder of Rickaroons.

My guest in today's episode is Grant LeBeau, co-founder of Rickaroons, the delicious energy bar founded in San Diego, Ca.

In this episode we cover:

What it’s like to co-found and run a business with your dad.
How the love of a woman with MS inspired Rick, Grant’s dad/co-founder, to create a delicious, healthy, and gluten-free energy bar that became a favorite for many.
The importance and challenges when it comes to scaling your business.
Conscious consumerism vs. conspicuous consumerism.
Why ingredients should be sustainably and ethically sourced.

The Wise Consumer discount code:
WISECONSUMER20 is good for 20% off on rickaroons.com

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Thought I should introduce why I decided to start this podcast in the first place and what this show is really about.

And, rest assured, this is not a show about the doom and gloom of the world we live in today and it’s certainly not a show where we judge those who aren’t living that “perfect" sustainable lifestyle.

The Wise Consumer podcast is a show where you get to hear directly from social entrepreneurs. People who have made the issues that often seem insurmountable to most of us - their life’s work. These are the stories of those who are doing well by doing good.

It's going to be a great first season!

The Wise Consumer: Recent Episodes

Madeleine Wisecup