Episodes
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When you’re trying to live more sustainably, fashion can be hard to navigate. The industry is ripe with greenwashing that masks exploitative practices for people and planet. But sustainable fashion is an expansive, exciting world of circularity, repair, and trustworthy, responsible brands.
On this episode (our season 2 finale!), we’re coming face-to-face with the cost conversation when it comes to sustainable fashion, getting real about overconsumption, envisioning a practical future for the industry with fashion expert Samata Pattinson, and finding out what sustainable fashion means to you. Plus, we’re talking to Commons’ Carbon Strategy Manager Sophie Janaskie about what to look for in a sustainable brand.
➡️ If you’re struggling to find sustainable fashion brands that you can trust, we got you. The Commons team has researched and rated hundreds of fashion brands so you can skip the greenwashing. Check it out here: thecommons.earth
🌎 For photos of our contributors and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Season 3 submissions coming soon!
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
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Episode Credits
Listener contributions: Alexa Rivera, Cindy, Danielle Bird, Faith Winston, Liv, Obehi Ehimen, Verity Editing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0(00:00) - Marker 1 -
A third of the food we produce goes to waste, and a shocking amount of that waste happens in our own homes. The good news is that fighting food waste is easy with a few life hacks up your sleeve. And even better, it'll save you money too.
In this episode, we hear what types of food our community struggles with and get their tips to curb the waste. We're asking plastic-free, low-waste chef Anne-Marie Bonneau about her recipes and tips to eat our food before it becomes waste. We're also reckoning with the amount of money we're tossing out with our food waste and finding out some surprising upsides to food delivery.
🌎 For photos of our contributors and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Episode Credits
Listener contributions: Amea Wadsworth, Anandi Yadav, Cindy, Jessica Tucker, Jordan Webb, Nick Blocha, Shayda Soleiman, Sierra Editing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0(00:00) - Marker 1 -
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We’re eating way too much meat. An unsustainable, unhealthy amount of meat. If you’re looking for one way to drastically improve your health and carbon footprint — plant-based eating is it. But even if you’re not going fully plant-based, reducing your meat intake is a huge step in the right direction.
In this episode, we hear how our community has noticed a difference in their health since eating more plant-based, how much of an emissions impact we can make by eating fewer hamburgers, and we’re talking to Professor and Nutrition Scientist Christopher Gardner about exactly how meat impacts our bodies.
🌎 For photos of our contributors and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Episode Credits
Listener contributions: Diana Holguin, Drew Crabtree, Elisabeth, Miriam Jornet, Will, Willa Stoutenbeek, Brian StancheskiEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0 -
When we need or want something, our first thought is often, "Where can I buy it?" But what if our first thought was: "I wonder if my neighbors have it?" Buy Nothing groups and free groups are community-rooted solutions for overconsumption and how much overconsumption costs us and the planet.
Whether you're looking for empty plastic containers for a craft or you want to give away an old Kindle you don't use, these groups are a great way to realize the resources and generosity of our neighbors.
On this Community Voices episode of Second Nature, we're diving into the generous, thrifty, free world of free groups and Buy Nothing groups to discover new opportunities to connect with community and find new value in our stuff.
🌎 For photos of our contributors and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Episode Credits
Listener contributions: Taylor Barkley, Morgan Gallagher, Diana Holguin, Madeline Streilein, Nick BlochaEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0 -
Government seems to move slower than the pace of climate change, so do our votes for climate candidates and policies actually make a difference?
In this episode, we're connecting the dots between climate and policy and hearing from people around the world about how their governments’ policies are affecting their lives and their regions. We're also catching up with HEATED editor-in-chief Emily Atkin to hear how climate reporting has changed over the past couple of presidential terms and how she keeps her head above water after a decade of reporting on climate. We'll also talk to Commons founder Sanchali Seth Pal about climate policies around the world that have actually worked.
If you're looking for resources to help you vote for the planet in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, or any upcoming U.S. election, here are some resources that could help: Vote Climate U.S. PAC's Voter Guide, Climate Cabinet's Climate Scorecard, League of Conservation Voter Scorecard.
🌎 For photos of our contributors and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Episode Credits
Listener contributions: Anandi Yadav, Clara, Danielle Bird, Lindsay Kerns, Michael Chase, Nick Blocha, ShaiEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0(06:12) - space(07:04) - Marker 2(09:03) - Marker 3(14:31) - Marker 4 -
Plant-based cheese is better than ever, but can we expand our expectations of cheese to ease our reliance on Big Dairy?
Cheese is delicious. Even aspiring vegans find cheese hard to quit. But making dairy cheese is not only rough on the planet — the dairy cows’ lives aren’t great either. In this episode, we’re getting the full picture of the impact of dairy cheese, including the United States’ decades-long surplus cycle with the cheese industry and how it’s connected to Pizza Hut’s Summer of Cheese.
We’re chatting with famed vegan chef and cheese icon, Miyoko Schinner about how far plant-based cheese has come and her favorite plant-based cheese bases. We’re learning practical tips to learn to love plant-based cheese, and having our very own cheese taste test.
🌎 For photos of our contributors and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Episode Credits
Listener contributions: Amea Wadsworth, Diana Holguin, Drew Crabtree, Kenzie Rattray, Melissa Athina, Miriam JornetEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0 -
Gifting isn't easy for everyone, and it certainly isn't cheap. On top of that, unwanted gifts can be wasteful and lead to piles of returns or trash. But becoming a more sustainable, low-waste gifter will make you a better gifter and save you money!
In this episode, we give you dozens of great gift ideas from our community, and all of them are backed by the research of leading Dr. Julian Givi. We'll also talk about the carbon (and waste impact) of big holidays like Christmas.
If you want more gift ideas, we've got you covered! The Commons team curated gift guides for everyone on your list with over 300 unique, memorable gift ideas, including vintage items, experiences, and DIYs.
🌎 For photos of our contributors and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Read the episode Click here to view the episode transcript.
Listener contributions: Adyasha, Alyssa Barber, Amea Wadsworth, Anandi Yadav, Cara Haberman, Deb Hansen, Ezra Chaviv, Kelly Kandra Hughes, PhD, Morgan Gallagher, Rachel Orenstein, Timmin VooijsEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0(00:00) - Marker 1
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Whether it's from a catastrophic storm, a brutal heat wave, or dying coral reefs, we're all dealing with the effects of climate change. All that stress and sadness can lead to climate anxiety (aka eco-anxiety).
If you've felt anxious about the state of our climate, you're not alone. In our first-ever Community Voices episode of Second Nature, we're focusing all on you, our listeners, to hear various ways to cope with climate anxiety through nature, community, and gratitude.
If you're looking for more resources to help with climate anxiety, we highly recommend this list from the team at All We Can Save.
🌎 For photos of our contributors and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Episode Credits
Listener contributions: Adyasha, Artie Sadahiro, Camille, Liv, Natalie Pullen, Nick Blocha, Savannah VizeEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0(00:00) - Marker 1 -
Can you convince others to take climate action without being a nag? When you do what you can live sustainably, there inevitably comes a time when you want to spread the gospel and share your practice with others. It's a fantastic way to expand your low-carbon impact, but how do you communicate with people in a way that they'll actually be receptive to?
On this episode, you’ll hear:
Unique ways that our listeners are sharing their climate practices with people in their lives. A way to invoke action for anyone who cares about climate. Alyssa Barber shares techniques and tips she's used to build a community of hundreds of thousands of people who care about climate.How solar panel installation is a lesson in community climate action.🌎 For resources, photos of our contributors, citations, and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Listener contributions: Nicole Collins, Natalie Pullen, Laura Oldanie, Artie Sadahiro, Kellie RanaFeaturing: Alyssa Barber and Sanchali Seth PalEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan CunninghamWith footage from Democracy Now! Monday, March 3, 2014 and Montgomery Bus Boycott revised by gdortchjr via the Internet Archive.(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0
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There are a lot of factors that go into the decision to have kids. Creeping up on that list is climate change. In the first episode of season 2, we’re diving into this tough topic with the help of community stories, data, and professional research from Dr. Jade Sasser.
On this episode, you’ll hear:
How the climate crisis has impacted our community’s choice to have (or not have) kids. How population growth affects the climate crisis. The emissions of babies.How to talk to your family about how the climate crisis is affecting your decision. Dr. Jade Sasser’s research perspective on how people have answered the kid question over time. The overpopulation debunked.Resources to navigate the decision to have kids in a climate crisis.🌎 For resources, photos of our contributors, citations, and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Listener contributions: Amea Wadsworth, Elisabeth, Federica, Liv, Roxana Martínez Arrambide, Sare, TiffanyFeaturing: Dr. Jade Sasser and Sanchali Seth PalEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0
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Trying to live more sustainably? Looking for motivation to keep at it? If you’re looking for personal stories, practical tips for sustainable living, a weekly dose of climate optimism, or you just want to feel in community with others, this is the show for you.
Every Wednesday, hear how listeners around the world take action every to combat climate change and create the kind of world they want to live in. We'll get expert answers to your burning climate questions and calculate the potential carbon impact of collective action.
Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!
(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0 -
Thanks so much for being part of the Second Nature community. We can’t wait to hear from you! Fill out this form to start your submission to Second Nature: https://j09c5.app.link/kOYGSJD7XLb
After you fill out the form, you'll receive questions based on the topics you chose, with details about how to submit your audio.
At the end of this call for submissions, you heard the voices of listeners Mac Hansen, Rozalia, Rachel Sirwatka, Jonathan Cheng, Amea Wadsworth, and Larisa Jitaru.
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We heard from listeners that one of the top barriers to eating plant-based is who we eat with. So much of our food is rooted in culture and tradition, and breaking from the norms of our social circles may create some dinner table friction. But we’re here to help!
On this episode, you’ll hear:
Listeners share how they’re family reacted when they started eating plant-based. Tried and true advice on how to eat in harmony with meat eaters. How Isaias Hernandez’s family reacted when he became vegan and what his vision of a more equitable plant-based future looks like. Data-backed responses to the most common questions you mat get as a first-time plant-based eater.
🌎 For resources, photos of our contributors, citations, and further reading, check the full show notes.📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Listener contributions: Amea Wadsworth, Daria Panova, Diana Holguin, Drew Crabtree, Jacqueline Elliott, Joëlle Provost, Kellie Rana, Kimberly Foley, Lawrence Hott, Sameera Mokkarala
Episode credits
Featuring: Isaias Hernandez and Sanchali Seth Pal
Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild
Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0 -
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our use of Amazon has skyrockted, making the company the second biggest U.S. parcel carrier after the US Postal Service.
Amazon has become the poster child for convenience culture, but the time we save for the sake of convenience is putting us in financial and carbon debt. In this episode, we're grappling with our fraught relationship with our Amazon Prime subscriptions and getting practical tips to break free from convenience culture and start shopping more sustainably.
On this episode, you'll hear:
Listeners share their complex, conflicted feelings about using Amazon. MIT research scientist Erez Yoeli shares how we can have a more sustainable relationship with Amazon and how to close the action vs intent gap.How Amazon gets you to buy so much stuff and how its fast-paced shipping comes at the cost of workers' health and pay.
🌎 For resources, photos of our contributors citations, and further reading, check the full show notes.📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Listener contributions: Daria Panova, Diana Holguin, Freya Dumasia, Karen Jean and Rachel Martinson, Katee Hui, Kimberly Foley, Lawrence Hott, Miriam Jornet, Nicole Collins, Rozalia Agioutanti
Episode credits
Featuring: Erez Yoeli and Sanchali Seth Pal
Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild
Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0 -
Tired of working 9-5 at a job or a company that's not focused on sustainability? We've got good news. You don't need a sustainability degree to get a green job. There are green jobs out there for any skillset, and in this episode, we're going to help you find them.
On this episode, you'll hear:
How listeners are adapting their job into a green job, or starting fresh in a new industry. Kristy Drutman (aka browngirlgreen), the co-founder of the Green Jobs Board talk about hiring, representation, and resources in the green jobs spaceThe job numbers in the climate spaceAnd how a green jobs are a crucial part of a more sustainable economy
🌎 For resources, photos of our contributors citations, and further reading, check the full show notes.📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Listener contributions: Caitlyn Luitjens, Freya Dumasia, Grace Kenworthy, Natalie Pullen, Paula Tanscheit, Willa Stoutenbeek
Episode credits
Featuring: Kristy Drutman and Sanchali Seth Pal
Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild
Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0 -
Composting is one of the easiest climate actions and there are so many ways to do it! On this episode, you'll get a straightforward explanation of how composting works and all the inspiration and guidance you need to start composting — no matter where you live. Listen in to hear:
Listeners' firsthand advice for composting in any living situationYour composting questions answered by Dr. Sheridan Ross of Compton Community GardenThe carbon impact of composting our food wasteIf you want to get personalized recommendations for composting in your area, try the Composting action in the Commons app.
🌎 To see photos of our contributors as well as citations, and further reading, check the full show notes.📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Listener contributions: Nicole Collins, Joëlle Provost , Lindsay Kerns, Bo Meisl, Sameera Mokkarala, Melissa Athina, Yolanda Gonzalez, Gracon Ladd, and Daniel GohFeatured guests: Dr. Sheridan Ross and Sanchali Seth PalEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0
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Becoming more conscious consumers is a pivotal step in building a more sustainable economy, but how do we deconsume in a consumerist world? When we buy less, we save money, cut down on clutter, and lower our emissions. This collective shift has another big impact — helping us to steer the economy away from disposable products, unsustainable resource use, and dangerous supply chains.
On this episode of Second Nature, we hear listeners' take on overconsumption and their tips for deconsumption. We also chat with climate activist and educator Lauren Bash about Buy Nothing groups, Repair Cafes, and her own deconsumption journey. Plus, we find out who's doing all this overconsuming and the impact it's having on the rest of the world.
🌎 To see photos of our contributors as well as citations, and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
A great way to cut down on overconsumption is to get a handle on what you’re consuming. If you want a sustainable spending buddy to help you track the emissions of every purchase and gives you personalized tips, try the Commons app.
Listener contributions: Alyssa Barber, Amea Wadsworth, Andrea Reno, Caitlyn Luitjens, Daria Panova, Jonas Schäfer, Mac Hansen, Madeline Streilein, Nicole Collins, Rachel Orenstein, Timmin Vooijs, Willa StoutenbeekFeaturing: Lauren Bash and Sanchali Seth PalEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0
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Stoops, balconies, and windowsills are ripe for growing food. Today, we're riding out the ripple effect that urban gardening can have on our lives and the planet.
Second Nature is your community for practical, sustainable living. On this episode, we're getting inspiration and practical tips to start small, fruitful home gardens in urban spaces. We're also talking about the carbon footprint of home gardens and realizing the ripple effect that growing our own food can have on our lives and the environment.🌎 To see photos of our contributors and their gardens as well as citations, and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Second Nature is a podcast by Commons, the sustainable spending app that tens of thousands of people use to track their footprint. Earn rewards for climate-friendly purchases and find new, action-based content in the app every week. Download the app and join our June Collective Challenge: Sustainable Transit.
Listener contributions: Sameera Mokkarala, Lindsay Kerns, Daria Panova, Brian Stancheski, Tara Haug, RooeyFeaturing: Nelson ZêPequéno and Sanchali Seth PalEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0
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Fast fashion is cheap, but the low cost to customers comes at a high cost to garment workers, communities, and the environment. So, how do we break free from the fast fashion cycle?
Second Nature is your community for practical, sustainable living. On this episode, we're commiserating with listeners over the allure of fast fashion and getting real tips to break free from it. Plus, we're doing the math on the impact of buying less fast fashion and talking to Kestrel Jenkins (journalist and host of Conscious Chatter) about the human cost of fast fashion.
On this episode, you'll hear:
Practical guidance from real-life, former fast fashion shopaholics. An interview with journalist and Conscious Chatter host Kestrel Jenkins about the human cost of fast fashion and how to recenter the supply chain in our buying habits. What happens when get this right? Commons CEO and founder Sanchali Seth Pal does the math on how ditching fast fashion can make a real carbon impact.🌎 To see photos of our contributors, citations, and further reading, check the full show notes.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.
Second Nature is a podcast by Commons, the sustainable spending app that tens of thousands of people use to track their footprint. Earn rewards for climate-friendly purchases like plant-based restaurants, and join collective challenges. Download the app and join May's collective challenge, Secondhand Shopping.Episode credits
Listener contributions: Alyssa Barber, Drew Crabtree, Freya Dumasia, Hattie Webb, Kellie Rana, Lawrence Hott, Madeline Streilein, Miriam Jornet, Romina Román, Rozalia Agioutanti, Tavia Anon, Willa Stoutenbeek Featuring: Kestrel Jenkins and Sanchali Sate PalEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildFact checking: Sophie JanaskieHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Tempo: 120.0 -
Plant-based eating is one of the most impactful climate actions we can take, but changing our diets can be overwhelming. How can we get started and stick with it?
Second Nature is your community for practical, sustainable living. On this episode, we're hearing from listeners about how they've started adding more plants to their plates, finding inspiration in delicious recipes, and getting motivated by the carbon impact of collective action.
On this episode, you'll hear:
Motivation and practical tips from listeners across the plant-forward spectrum: flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans.An interview with food writer Alicia Kennedy about how the food industry needs to reckon with the environmental impact of meat, plus delicious plant-based recipes to try.How our collective shift to more plant-based meals can impact the meat industry.
📞 We'd love to hear from you! Submit to the show.
📱 To join the Commons community, download the app.🌎 For citations and further reading, check the full show notes.
📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.Second Nature is a podcast by Commons, the sustainable spending app that tens of thousands of people use to track their footprint. Earn rewards for climate-friendly purchases like plant-based restaurants, and join collective challenges. Download the app and join this month's collective challenge, Secondhand Shopping.
Episode credits
Listener contributions: Amea Wadsworth, Caitlyn Luitjens, Daria Panova, Drew Crabtree, Jacqueline Elliott , Joëlle Provost , Kimberly Foley, Lawrence Hott, Melissa Athina, Timmin Vooijs, Willa Stoutenbeek Featuring: Alicia Kennedy and Sanchali Sate PalEditing and engineer: Evan GoodchildFact checking: Sophie JanaskieHosting and production: Katelan Cunningham(00:00) - Intro(03:36) - Listener's motivations for eating less meat(05:47) - Listeners' advice for eating more plants(09:15) - Interview with food writer, Alicia Kennedy(23:33) - What Happens if we Get This Right With Sanchali Seth Pal(26:11) - Outro - Show more
