Eco Chic

Attempting today to tackle the classic environmentalist debate: is plastic bad? We're going through a brief history of plastic - from its accidental discovery to the WW2 utility of polythene, to how it ended up in American households (plus: Tupperware parties' influence on modern feminism). We're then reviewing how single use plastics became so prevalent in our world, and what how we as consumers should react to their negative environmental impact. We also highlight microplastics, the value of recycling plastics (or not?), and single-use plastic ban policies. Thanks to our sponsor today! JoinCrowdHealth.com, code EcoChic Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the orange haze coating NYC this week, there's been a lot of discussion about the unusual wildfires on Canada's east coast - while communities in the west worry about wildfires year-round, climate is becoming more unpredictable, so it's time to normalize these conversations from coast to coast. Today's episode is your introduction to wildfires - how the start, why they start, and how we work to prevent them from becoming too destructive. You'll leave with a great basis to discuss current events and a deeper understanding of how every natural event is clearly tied to a warming planet. Thanks to our sponsors! CarawayHome.com/ECO for 10% off HelloFresh.com/EcoChic16 and code EcoChic16 for 16 free meals + free shipping Let's connect - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friend, content creator, and eco fashionista Megan McSherry (@acteevism ig / @acteevism tt) joins us today to discuss her slow fashion journey - including her data driven approach to closet audits (and why she's tracking her outfits every day this year!). Megan also opens up about her experience being diagnosed with Lyme disease, and how living with chronic illness influenced her sustainability habits and beliefs. We close discussing fashion policy she's excited to see gaining momentum across the US. Thanks to our sponsor today! JoinCrowdHealth.com and use code ECOCHIC Let's connect - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you're in a reading rut or just trying to add some environmental themes onto your TBR, today's episode definitely has you covered. We're discussing *lots* of books - fiction, non-fiction, and my personal favorite genre, memoirs. Themes include climate change, fashion, business, and personal growth... something for everyone picking their next read. More bookish episodes for you: Book Club with Jessica Clifton: Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy Book Club with Zahra Biabani: How to Avoid A Climate Disaster by Bill Gates Book Club with Morgan Cook: Consumed by Aja Barber Book Club with Kathleen Sheppard: Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard Book Club with Sameera Polavarapu: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Influence, Book Deals + Individual Action with Ashlee Piper Thanks to our sponsor today! GreenChef.com/EcoChic60 + use code EcoChic60 for 60% off Check out Book of the Month here, first book is $5 - not an ad! Just something I mentioned and love receiving each month! Let's c

Alán Sneider is the Director of Impact for Primestor Development, a socially conscious urban real estate firm, keenly focused on equitable, sustainable, community-driven revitalization. Through the lens of Los Angeles, Alán discusses the value of public transportation - how it's currently organized, and the opportunity to massively rethink it. We learn about redlining, and how it has continued to impact communities despite no longer being formally enforced by government. We also discuss green spaces, food deserts, and successful community engagement. We close with our reflections on what it means to be a truly sustainable community. Alán Sneider earned a graduate certificate in Sustainable Cities and Communities from Harvard Extension School. He earned his M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. Alán also earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in real estate from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. Links for you: The

Sophia Toomb (@sophiaxverde) joins us to discuss all things sustainable travel, an often hush-hush activity in the world of environmentalism. Sophia gives actionable tips and reflections for planning a conscious travel experience, from where you're staying to the activities you're choosing while at your destination. We also get into some controversial topics, like voluntourism, Airbnb, and corporate give-back programs. Today's conversation is chatty, funny, and full of immediately helpful guidance on how to become a more ethical, environmentally-focused travel. Find Sophia on TikTok @sophiaxverde and Instagram @sophiaxverde. Listen to Sophia on our episode 166: Sustainable Weddings: Chic Chats. Thanks to our sponsor today! CarawayHome.com/ECO or use code ECO for 10% off Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With warmer months upon us, we're discussing a hot topic in the marine sustainability space: reef safe sunscreens. We're overviewing the 'why' behind these products, and what motivates cities to enact policies supporting these SPFs, plus what to look for when you're making a purchase. We're also discussing some of the controversy surrounding these products... spoiler alert: companies love greenwashing tactics! More on reef safe sunscreens: Your Guide to Reef Safe Sunscreens (Surf Rider Foundation) The Truth About 'Reef Safe' Sunscreens (Consumer Reports) Opinion | Is Your Sunscreen Poisoning the Ocean? (New York Times) Thanks to our sponsors today! AirDoctorPro.com/EcoChic for up to 39% off or $300 off peacecoffee.com promo code ECOCHIC40 for 40% + free shipping! Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Earth Day! We're walking through 5 tips on how to elevate your sustainable habits - if you're already living an eco-conscious lifestyle, today's episode will help you level up those hobbies and routines. Whatever your inclinations may be, this episode aims to support you in how you travel, eat, shop, learn ... and everything else. Thanks to our sponsor today! GreenChef.com/EcoChic60 and use code EcoChic60 for 60% off Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zahra Biabani joins us (again!) for a conversation around her first book, Climate Optimism: Climate Wins and Creating Systemic Change Around the World. We discuss biases around climate that lead to doomism, Global South innovations, and how individuals can influence systemic change. Zahra is a youth climate activist, entrepreneur, and influencer. She is the CEO and Founder of In the Loop AI (which she discuss on this episode of ECO CHIC!) Order Zahra's first book Climate Optimism here! Thanks to our sponsors today! CarawayHome.com/ECO or use code ECO for 10% off peacecoffee.com promo code ECOCHIC40 Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristy Drutman, founder of Brown Girl Green and Green Jobs Board, is joining us (irl!) to share perspectives on the green economy, especially through the lens on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is also sharing an incredible trove of tangible tips on navigating this rapidly changing career field - how to find allies and 'win' within traditional workplace structures; how to find a mentor; how to know what kind of green job is right for you; and so much more. Thanks to our sponsor today! peacecoffee.com promo code ECOCHIC40 Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zahra Biabani joins IRL to share the behind-the-scenes of newly launched In The Loop AI, an artificial intelligence tool making secondhand shopping more accessible to buyers and sellers. Pre-order Zahra's first book Climate Optimism here! Thanks to our sponsor today! CarawayHome.com/ECOCHIC or use code ECOCHIC for 10% Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

215: With so much public outcry this week around the Willow Project, we're zooming out to ask how these new oil and gas lines are still being funded - who's supplying the proposed $8 billion? We discuss big banks, divestment, and the Biden Administration's shaky commitment to climate goals as the world races to keep warming below 1.5C. More for you: Ep 200: Voting on Climate | The Girl & The Gov Ep 191: Divesting, Philanthropy + Value-Driven Spending | Sharon Schneider Climate advocates are rallying against the Willow Project. The White House is eyeing concessions to soften the blow (CNN) Fossil Fuel Finance Report 2022: Banking on Climate Chaos (Rainforest Alliance Network + others) Willow Fact Sheet (ConocoPhillips) Patagonia's Official Comment on the Willow Project (Patagonia) Sign the Change.org petition opposing Willow Project Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice

214: Teal Lehto (@WesternWaterGirl) is a science communicator superstar with 54K+ followers on TikTok, where she breaks down some of the most significant challenges surrounding the western water crisis. Today, we're doing our best to explore the multi-faceted problem: where is all the water actually being used, and why haven't we solved this problem yet? We discuss the weird history of water rights and aversion to conservation, plus the long-ignored needs of Indigenous communities. The Colorado River Basin consists of seven states plus the country of Mexico - how are there are millions of people cautiously waiting for the western water system to collapse? Teal also discusses social media activism, her platform, and the role of recreation in bringing environmental issues to the masses. More episodes for you: Ep 178: The Drought: Water Policy, Fires, + Solutions for the American West | Gabrielle Canon 152: Heat Waves, Mega Drought, and Wildfires, Oh My... Books recommended by Teal: The Emerald Mile by Ke

213: We're rewinding to our first ever book club: a conversation with Megan McSherry on the iconic, juicy, insider look of the luxury fashion industry as told through Dana Thomas' Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster. We discuss the “democratization” of luxury fashion, consumer psychology, celebrity product placement, “it” bags, perfumes… everything that you’ve ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes of the luxury fashion industry, this book got into. We also share some of our favorite iconic luxury fashion moments, retrospective disdain for trends, and the value of artisanship. Spoiler alert: we discuss why we don’t believe an Hermes Birkin Bag should fall into the same vague “luxury” category as a Louis Vuitton. More for you: Ep 181: The Evolution of the It Bag: Stuff for Status Thanks to our sponsor! EarthBreeze.com/ECOCHIC for 40% off Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

212: De-influencing is the TikTok trend we've been waiting for! Conscious consumption is finally getting its mainstream moment - or is it here to stay? We're breaking down the two major benefits of being de-influenced - why is it actually amazing we're spending less money and acquiring less stuff? We're also brainstorming how content creators may "capitalize" on this moment to actually create more impactful, authentic relationships. Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

211: When did we start thinking of furniture as disposable? Today we're discussing the under-exaggerated problem of fast furniture: cheap, low quality, and mass-produced pieces designed to be dumped. We're breaking down (ha) two iconic fast furniture items, and exploring tips for your next point-of-purchase furniture decision. Thanks to our sponsor today! Use code ECOCHIC at CarawayHome.com for 10% off. More for you: Ep 196: Creating Thoughtful Spaces | Amanda Gunawan, OWIU Designs ‘Fast Furniture’ Is Cheap. And Americans Are Throwing It in the Trash. (NY Times) Fast furniture: what’s wrong with it and 7 ways to make better choices (for you and the planet) (Heidi Bischoff, 2019) Ikea keeps price of popular Billy Bookcase the cheapest in Euro zone (Independent UK) Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

210: The news of a major nuclear fusion breakthrough seemed to break the internet last month - we've all got questions, and we're all so excited about this new potential renewable energy source. I'm deeply honored to be joined by Dr. Tammy Ma, Lead Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility, to discuss this scientific milestone. Dr. Ma explains the significance of this ignition reaction for the scientific and energy communities, challenges to scale, and the incredible potential benefits of energy access worldwide. Dr. Tammy Ma earned her bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Caltech in 2005, then received her master's degree in 2008, and Ph.D. in 2010, both from the University of California, San Diego. Following graduate school, she completed a postdoc at LLNL before becoming a staff scientist in 2012. Ma was recently awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on early-care

209: Emma Hakansson is the Founding Director of Collective Fashion Justice, a not-for-profit working for a fashion system that upholds total ethics: prioritizing justice for animals, people and the planet. Emma and I discuss leather, exotic animal skins, and the shifting role of both fashion houses and consumers in accelerating a more just fashion industry. We also discuss Emma's viral TikTok protesting outside an Hermes store for the #DropCroc campaign, and how to eloquently encourage those around you to consider more ethical fashion choices. Collective Fashion Justice is actively releasing reports in a four-part series called Under Their Skin. The latest new report, ‘Leather’s Impact on the Planet’ is a fabulous collection of data and research surrounding the destruction linked to cattle skin and leather production, tanning, and product manufacturing. Thanks to our sponsor! EarthBreeze.com/ECOCHIC to save 40% Last call! Fill out the survey ECO CHIC end-of-year survey here - should take you only a minute

208: Tis the season to set our New Years Resolutions! I'll admit I love setting these goals for the year - I am sharing tips + frameworks for how to actually achieve your goals (whatever time of year it is), and sharing some examples of where you can zoom in on your much broader commitment to "be more sustainable." Fill out the quickie end of the year survey here!!! Help us make (and keep) ECO CHIC your favorite podcast. Thanks to our sponsor! TryBite.com/ECOCHIC for 20% off Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

207: Carinne Chambers-Saini is the founder and CEO of Diva (formerly DivaCup). She is an iconic trailblazer in the menstrual health space, with an industry disruptive brand that has mainstreamed menstrual cups worldwide. Carinne is a passionate advocate for period equity, and has made menstrual care eco-friendly, clean, and comfortable to talk about. We speak intimately today about menstrual education, how she has created a company culture of care, and the early days of entrepreneurship with such an innovative new product to the sanitary care aisle. You can watch Pandora’s Box: Lifting the Lid on Menstruation here on YouTube. Thanks to our sponsor today! Use code ECOCHIC for 20% off at Everlywell.com Meet me online - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraediez on Tiktok. Email me at laura@lauraediez.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices