Eco Chic

We’re joined by four friends of the pod today to discuss experiences within the queer community and environmental spaces!! Our LGBTQ+ -focused episode is value-packed with arguably the most vast range of topics + perspectives of any call-in episode yet. We’re speaking with Isaias of @QueerBrownVegan, who breaks down the framework behind queer sustainability. Emerald discusses the value in safe queer communities, from climbing to hiking and other recreational experiences. Izzy shares the ethical concerns around pride merch, following her article with Fashion Revolution, ‘Who Made My Pride Merch.’ Lastly, Jackson discusses his experience whole-heartedly accepting his queer identity while establishing boundaries to prevent tokenism; he also shares excellent insight on how to respond when someone comes out to you. Special thank you to our speakers today for their transparency, empathy, + willingness to share their stories! I really loved putting this episode together because it was deeply personal while b

We are discussing the sustainable fashion favorite, The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline, with Moji Igun. The Conscious Closet is a highly recommended, holistic guide to building a more mindful wardrobe – from closet audits, living wages, truly sustainable garments, and everything in between surrounding the fashion revolution. This conversation gets into the environmental, ethical, and emotional sides of clothing: how can we do good *and* look good? Moji is a zero-waste expert and founder of Blue Daisi Consulting, zero-waste consulting and eco-conscious solutions for supporting more mindful businesses. Other episodes + resources mentioned: * 140: How Luxury Lost Its Luster | Book Club with Megan McSherry* Megan McSherry’s ebook, Make The Most of What’s In Your Closet* 143: The Case For Appointing A Fashion Czar | Elizabeth Segran* Dr. Liz Segran’s article, President Biden, Appoint A Fashion Czar on Fast Company* A Brief Guide To Fabrics (by me!) on instagram* NYTimes expanding on the mentioned et

Today we are continuing our Climate 101 education with a timely summer topic: the current heat waves, wildfires, and massive droughts being experienced in the American West. We’ll figure out what a heat waves actually is, plus learn about the nuances contributing to our 20+ year megadrought. Spoiler alert: climate change is worsening natural occurances. We also better understand wildfires: how they start and what is making them so severe and frequent. Fun, educational, and full of reminders (and my personal soapbox) about water subsidizes and camping responsibly. Mentioned + additional articles: * The Western Drought Is Bad. Here’s What You Should Know About It. (New York Times)* Why the intense U.S. drought is now a megadrought by Mark Kaufman* ‘Megadrought’ persists in western U.S., as another extremely dry year develops (National Geographic) Thank you to Aspiration for sponsoring today’s episode – learn more about how you can earn up to $200 by opening an account at aspiration.com/eco.

We read Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy in May… and we LOVED it. Jessica Clifton shares how she strategically crafted her career as a sustainability influencer, we chat about our reading habits, and then thoroughly unpack what has been named one of the best novels of 2020. Migrations centers around Franny Stone, a women who seems constantly on the run, as she follows what is believed to be the final migration of the Arctic terns. The novel has been discussed as ‘climate fiction,’ and both Jessica and I found that label totally believable as we unpack themes of mass extinction, overfishing, conservationism… so nicely packed into big stories of love, loss, and personal evolution. We discuss the book’s so-well-picked, intentional symbols, timeline hopping, and of course the wild ending!! Our episode has spoilers (there was just so much to discuss!) and glowing reviews. Next month we are reading The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline with Moji Igun. Set the scene for yourself with my latest, Episod

The Arctic is warming almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet… yikes! There are more headlines each day about the rapidly rising average temperatures – as of this month, early June, almost all of the Arctic is at or above freezing. This isn’t the only issue though (dare I say it’s just the tip of the iceberg??) … we’re going to better understand how warmer winters make way for more problematic, otherwise typically warm summers. We’re defining the albedo effect, or polar amplification, and the feedback loop that keeps this Arctic warming constant. Another shocking news bit is big ice sheets breaking off – how does glacial calving happen? We’ll get clear on the difference between icebergs and glaciers (and why the Titanic hit one and not the other)…. and wrap up with some fun facts that will hopefully win you a point or two at trivia night: why skiiers always seem to be sunburned, and how Antartica is actually the world’s biggest desert. Thank you to Aspiration for sponsoring today’s episode – learn

We’re sharing one of our most personal, coming-of-age episodes yet – we’re speaking beauty standards, acne and skin “flaws”, and coming-of-age realizations of body dismorphia (tw). Carolyn Yachanin is the creator of Copina Co, plant-based collagen boosts. Collagen is often touted as the wellness additive you just need in your beauty routine – but if your beauty supplements are coming from animals, that’s a whole other can of worms to come to terms with with an ethical, healthy lifestyle. Carolyn discusses her journey to creating a product, one of the firsts of its kind, and how she has hustled Copina Co into shops like Erewhon, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters. We also discuss the need for a revamp of our collective definition of “beauty” – instead, let’s focus on treating ourselves well, feeling our bests, and staying happy and confident in our own skin. This episode is jam-packed with business tips plus some deeply vulnerable conversations on beauty and self-love. If you’d like to check out Copina Co

In April we read Bill Gates’ latest: a manual on climate change for the general public, How To Avoid A Climate Disaster, with environmental justice advocate + influencer (and my friend!) Zahra Biabani of @Soulful_Seeds. The nonfiction work has received lots of press and praises from mainstream outlets, so we were intrigued – but the climate and sustainability community online was largely outspoken in its distaste for a billionaire-authored book on the climate crisis. Zahra shares a bit of insight on the influencer controversy with the book, and we share similar sentiments of ickiness. We critically break down what we liked and didn’t like; we discuss energy poverty, agriculture, environmental justice, geoengineering… all of it. We finish with our out-of-5 ratings and review of the book. Next month we will be reading Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy – our first fiction book club pick! Migrations is a novel about a researcher in Greenland following the migration of Arctic terns (birds – I’m already obs

We’re joined by one of my very first guests and very favorite people in the sustainability space – Ashlee Piper!! Ashlee is a TV personality, sustainability consultant, and author of Give A Shit: Do Good. Live Better. Save The Planet – which has become quite the golden ticket, go-to guidebook for both aspiring and seasoned sustainability advocates. We talk all about influence, and how to communicate with audiences both online and IRL, and what it means to be an ‘influential’ person online in this special, relatively new world of eco-activism. We speak about greenwashing and misconceptions in the movement. I ask the burning question: how did you write a book? Ashlee, the realest woman around, gives us all the details from conception to publishing, and how the reception of her book has continued to evolve over time. Lastly, we speak about the individual action in sustainable living, versus collective, policy-driven action – should it be one or the other? Thank you to Aspiration for sponsoring today’s episod

We are speaking to the thoughtful, empowering, badass woman behind the most fabulous, transparent, ethical beauty brand I’ve known yet – Abena Boamah-Achempong, founder of Hanahana Beauty! Hanahana began as a line of whipped shea butter, created through Abena’s own desire for a moisturizer that both reflected her cultural roots and wasn’t full of weird filler ingredients. Abena shares with us her childhood in a Ghanian household, her impactful travels to Ghana, and how she continues to support her community through her business. Her time as a public school teacher influenced Abena’s understanding of ethics and access, and she’s since ensured that Hanahana holds itself to high standards: fair wages, ethical sourcing, and holistic sustainability. We learn how shea butter is made (honestly, wow!) and how the beauty industry has watered down such a cultural precious ingredient. Plus, we chat about how Abena practices self-care and boundary setting as an innovator and industry leader. This conversation was seirous

Our Earth Week episode has me fired up about the topic that first brought many of us into sustainable living: the plastic crisis! We’re joined today by Emma Rose Cohen, the CEO and founder of Final, creators of FinalStraw—the world’s first reusable, collapsible straw that raised nearly $2 million on Kickstarter. We’re talking all about the product idea that that totally took the internet by storm: resourcefulness, building community, and of course, everything about fighting single-use. We also chat about our collective qualms with the recycling economy, greenwashing, corporate sustainability, and innovative plastic alternatives. Prior to launching Final, Emma earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from University of California, Santa Barbara and received a Master’s Degree from Harvard in Environmental Management and Sustainability. She then spent four years working in the Waste Minimization Department at Los Alamos National Laboratory. In the last decade, Emma’s passion for sustainability motivat

We are gossiping today about environmental scandals! We’ll start off breaking down last week’s events at Piney Point, a resovoir in Florida holding toxic phosphate mining byproducts that began leaking. We then discuss America’s first Superfund site, Love Canal, NY – and why Superfund sites must be discussed through the lens of environmental racism. Then, we’ll detail water contamination in Hinkley, CA, the largest class action lawsuit in American history and the sceanario that inspired the film Erin Brockovich. Lastly, we discuss oil spills: the 2010 Deepwater Horizon, the largest oil spill in history, and the Exxon Valdez. We wrap up discussing the ‘value’ in scandals, regulation, advocacy, and what we’re still waiting on. Listen to our episode with Erin Brockovich here: 123: Water, Public Health, + A Julia Roberts Film Let’s chat!! I’m on Instagram @ecochicpodcast + @lauraediez, on Facebook, Twitter. I’m also on clubhouse as @lauradiez ! Sign up for my weekly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/f9

We are speaking today with Elizabeth Segran, senior staff writer at Fast Company, about her February article, “President Biden, Appoint A Fashion Czar!“. The article gained wild amounts of attention and support from fashion advocates online, and we’re discussing today why this concept makes so much sense given the lack of transparency between brands and consumers. We discuss garment workers, sweat shops, pollution, emissions, global coordination… all the nuances to solving the fashion crisis. We also dive deep into what policy mechanisms may be used to support such government regulation and oversight to the industry. Elizabeth Segran is senior staff writer at Fast Company, whose work has appeared in a range of publications including The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, and more. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in the field of South and Southeast Asian Studies with a Designated Emphasis in Women, Gender and Sexuality. She is a global nomad who grew up in Brussel

We talk about ethical, ‘clean’ beauty, but today we’re taking it one step further and learning about the tools on our vanities: brushes. We’re learning about fibers (did you know brushes were historically animal fibers?!), self-love, sustainable supply chains, and more with beauty pioneer Anisa Telwar Kaicker of ANISA International. As the #1 global manufacturer of your favorite make-up tools since the 1990’s (think Estée Lauder, NARS, Tom Ford, Shiseido, TooFaced and more), Anisa has been a pioneer in clean beauty and fair trade in both her products and factories. She spearheaded initiatives like using synthetic fibers instead of animal hair in make-up brushes, and reducing her company’s landfill waste by 20% each year – we’re discussing innovation and the value in owning both of her manufacturing facilities! We also explore the necessity efficient, ethical supply and chain processes, any always ensuring employees and brush artisans (a 90% female workforce) are paid fairly and well taken care of.    U

We’re joined by five brilliant, trailblazing, superstar listeners to learn about their careers in climate and sustainability! I also share some insight on my career in local government and podcasting. We chat with: Julia, a clean tech journalist turned communication professional in renewable financing; Corinne, a park ranger and conservationist; Jaiko, a sustainability analyst focused on the built environment; Victoria, a retail/education professional for a sustainable lifestyle brad; Meagan, an ESG professional for a large tech company. The central message of today’s episode is that there is room for everyone in the climate fight – whatever your career, background, calling in life, there is some opportunity for sustainability advocacy. It’s an exciting time to get into sustainability, but it’s also an exciting time to get into *anything* and make sure your values of climate action are incorporated in your day-to-day. Next CHIC CHATS will be focused on sustainability in communal living spaces (roommate

Welcome to book club!! This month we read Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas with supply chain professional and fashion blogger Megan McSherry of @Acteevism. 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. Just kidding – there are no true spoilers in this episode as we are reading a nonfiction, research-based account. While you will get more out of our chatty conversation if you read Deluxe, you certainly do not have to read with us to participate and get value out of Book Club episodes. We will be reading Hood Feminism: Notes from the Wom

We are joined by eco educator extraordinaire (and my friend!) Isaias Hernandez, creator of Queer Brown Vegan. @QueerBrownVegan is a space where Isaias creates introductory forms of environmentalism through colorful graphics, illustrations, and videos. He seeks to provide a safe space for like-minded environmentalists to advance the discourse around the climate crisis. We discuss his environmental, nature-facing background, education, academia, and current career as a content creator focused on topics like zero waste, environmental justice, veganism, and intersectionality. Find me online: I’m on Instagram @ecochicpodcast + @lauraediez, on Facebook, Twitter. I’m also on clubhouse as @lauradiez ! Sign up for my weekly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/f9324e3609e4/eco-chic Thank you to our sponsor, Ettitude! Use code ECO15 for 15% off their breathable, silky, sustainable bedding

Dr. Mamina Turegano is a triple board certified dermatologist, internist, and dermatopathologist. Dr Mamina’s content has in recently months completely taken the internet by storm, because she provides bite-sized educational moments, focusing on the science of skincare and research backed answers to rituals or products. She also shares content featuring her mom, which I love and we discuss, the natural, more anecdotal, cultural skincare practices that have been passed down, in conjunction with her medical background. Dr. Mamina has a unique interest in connecting how things beyond medicine influence skin health, and her practice and teachings evaluate how nutrition, lifestyle, sleep and environmental factors can play a significant role in inflammation, aging, chronic disease… She takes us through her whole medical journey, and how she came into this complex multifaceted niche. And we also talk about skincare topics like acne and anti-aging – ingredients, mistakes, and when you really should see a professional

We are celebrating Inauguration Day 2021 with Dr. Gretchen Goldman! Today, Gretchen and I speak about what happened to environmental protection during the Trump Administration, and then start to set the scene for what we can expect from the incoming Biden Administation. We discuss Cabinet appointments and the specific qualifications of a few notable positions, and we also talk about barriers by Congress and the Courts to certain priorities. We also talk about environmental policy and climate action check points, looking at the Biden Administration’s clear commitments already to climate and environmental justice.  Dr. Gretchen Goldman is the research director for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. For nearly a decade, Dr. Goldman has led research efforts at the nexus of science and policy on topics ranging from federal scientific integrity to fossil energy production, climate change, and environmental justice. Dr. Goldman has testified before Congress and currently se

We are opening up our year by acknowledging what must come before we can reasonably expect people to care about the environment: social sustainability. At its core, social sustainability looks at the societal structures in place that allow people to live healthy, happy lives: equity, culture, job opportunities, safety, wages, and all the other things we believe to be indicators of a “good” community. We also touch today on economic sustainability and go through a handful of case-study thought exercises: why do people buy fast food? what conditions may support crime? how are we organizing our communities? Caring about climate change is a privilege, and until we create more just, stable societies, we can’t expect everyone to be enthusiastically on board with supporting eco-conscious activities. Find me online: I’m on Instagram @ecochicpodcast + @lauraediez, on Facebook, Twitter. Sign up for my weekly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/f9324e3609e4/eco-chic

Aja Barber is a celebrated writer and stylist focused on the intersection of fashion and equity issues. We touch on two of her recent conversations: #IQuitFastFashionBecause, and the myth of fast fashion existing “for poor people,” when it is actually fueled by the middle class. We also touch on consumerism during the pandemic, marketing tactics, and holiday shopping pressures. What are we telling ourselves to justify supporting this exploitive, oppressive industry? Aja is one of the strongest, most insightful voices on ethical fashion and intersectional feminism, and I am thrilled to share this conversation with you – let me know your thoughts via social media! Find me online: I’m on Instagram @ecochicpodcast + @lauraediez, on Facebook, Twitter. Sign up for my weekly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/f9324e3609e4/eco-chic