Eco Chic

We are rewinding to a conversation with Dr. Samantha Montano all about disaster management, in response to our recent episode on the concept of disaster capitalism. We get into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about living with stronger hurricanes, tornados, heatwaves… and just how we can protect our communities. Dr. Montano and I discuss her interest in disaster recovery in New Orleans immediately following Hurricane Katrina and the Levee Failure. Samantha educates of the phases of Disaster Management (and what can go right or wrong in each one!), and gaps in our current legal and political systems when it comes to actively preparing for and mitigating events that are often incorrectly referred to as ‘natural disasters.’ We also dig deeper into the mismanagement of the covid catastrophe response. This episode was originally published December 2021 under the title "Disasters Aren't Natural: Managing Catastrophes + The Climate Crisis. Dr. Montano is an assistant professor of emergency management at Massa

We've heard that the most sustainable item is the one you already own - but when you *are* acquiring something, around here, we like to shop secondhand first. Even if you're a seasoned thrifter, there are plenty of areas we don't usually think of shopping secondhand. Today's episode will hopefully help us expand our mindsets around shopping pre-loved - from your home to your hobbies, whatever you want is almost certainly already circulating in the marketplace. Mentioned resources: ECO CHIC Ep: What is Fast Furniture? Ray-Ban, Oakley, Chanel Or Prada Sunglasses? They're All Made By This Obscure $9B Company (Forbes) Thanks to our sponsor today! Babbel.com/ECOCHIC for 55% off Sign up for our biweekly newsletter here!! Sign up for our community spotlight here!! 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

As recovery efforts are underway on the island of Maui, there's been more discussions around the threat of predatory real estate practices - unfortunately, this isn't the only way the rich and powerful can profit off a disaster. We're overviewing today the topic of disaster capitalism, a term coined by Naomi Klein referring to the very real exploitation around crises. We're also zooming in a bit to better understand disaster capitalism in practice through the case study of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We acknowledge that most recovery efforts, whatever the crisis, are in good faith - it's a few powerful actors that are taking advantage of a community in chaotic times. However, knowing that natural disasters are becoming more intense under climate change, we're familiarizing ourselves with how these potentially predatory practices that can pop up in any disaster. Resources mentioned: Help Maui Families (community fund and toolkit) ECO CHIC Episode 160: Disasters Aren't Natural: Managing

Kevin Patel is a powerful, eloquent, solutions-oriented environmental youth activist based in Los Angeles. At just 12 years old, he began a peer learning program aimed at solving food injustices within his community of South Central LA. He went on to found the first Mayor's Youth Climate Council, and serves currently on the Los Angeles County Youth Climate Commission. Kevin is Founder and Executive Director for the youth-led climate movement, OneUpAction International. Today we discuss his early exposure to activism and community building, and how he has quickly scaled solutions to support climate activists around the world, accelerating climate policy and platforming young leaders. Kevin recently graduated with his Bachelor's in Political Science and Government from Loyola Marymount University. Thanks to our sponsors! CarawayHome.com/ECO FactorMeals.com/EcoChic50 Sign up for our biweekly newsletter here!! Sign up for our community spotlight here!! Let's connect - @ecochicpodcast on Instagram + @lauraedie

Lauren Bash is a sustainability content creator, storyteller, and producer. With a particular passion for advocacy around ocean conservation and plastics pollution, Lauren shares how she became involved with her local Surfrider chapter, and how she's become involved through that community in shaping legislation banning single-use plastics. Lauren shares about her family openly, and today shares a special, thoughtful tribute to her late father, whom we all loved as TikTok's Dad. Lauren shares actionable tips on finding community and being your most authentic self in your environmental advocacy. Sign up for our biweekly newsletter here!! Sign up for our community spotlight here!! 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

We all *love* getting outdoors - but sometimes you don't have the time (or desire) to take a hike or spend the weekend camping. Today we're solo chatting about ideas for how to connect with nature when you're in a city - connecting with your community, supporting local, taking little walks into new or familiar neighborhoods... you'll leave with lots of ideas for tiny ways you can incorporate the outdoors into your summer. Thanks to our sponsor today! Babbel.com/EcoChic for 55% off Sign up for our biweekly newsletter here!! Sign up for our community spotlight here!! 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

Carissa Cabrera is a marine biologist and content creator dedicated to connecting people with conservation! We sit down for a conversation on all things ocean: how she became a marine biologist, the links between the ocean and climate change, and the role of content creators in sharing solutions. Carissa also shares perspectives from her home in Hawaii on ethical conservation tourism and conservation entry points - experiences like snorkeling, or reef-safe sunscreen, or watching a sea turtle hatching that encourages *you* to care more about the environment at large. Find Carissa on TikTok @carissaandclimate + Instagram @carissaandclimate Find FutureSwell on Instagram at @FutureSwell Listen to FutureSwell's Sustainability & The Sea Podcast here on Apple Related episodes: Reef Safe Sunscreens: Are They Truly Better? Conscious Travel + EcoTourism | Sophia Toomb Thanks to our sponsors today! HelloFresh.com/EcoChic50 and use code EcoChic50 for 50% off + free shipping AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code EcoChi

Jessica Clifton is a sustainable lifestyle content creator and public lands enthusiast (like me!). On this very chatty episode, we talk about our favorite National Parks and how Jess recommends folks begin participating in more outdoor recreation - we talk about camping, involving friends and family, and her favorite parts about spending a weekend outdoors. Jess hosts Eco Retreats, where she brings a group with her to spend a week in a National Park with the goal of connecting with themselves, others, and nature. We talk all about the impact and success of these retreats - she has a few spots left for one she's leading to Zion this fall! Learn more about Jess' Eco Retreats here. Sign up for our biweekly newsletter here!! Sign up for our community spotlight here!! Thanks to our sponsor today! CarawayHome.com/ECO for 10% off 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

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