Join Brianne West, environmentalist and social entrepreneur, as she wanders through the world of 'sustainability'. "Now, That's What I Call Green" busts myths, ...
Facing Climate Anxiety: Practical Tools for Hope with Dr. Susie Burke
This is a surprisingly uplifting conversation about climate change—yes, really. I spoke with psychologist Dr Susie Burke on managing climate distress (anger, sadness, anxiety) while staying hopeful, because unchecked, these feelings often lead to apathy just when we need action most.
After recent events, this episode feels especially timely. With years of experience in climate psychology, Dr. Susie offers practical insights for managing eco-anxiety and other intense emotions, reminding us that positive change is happening elsewhere and within our reach. This episode is a breath of fresh air for anyone overwhelmed by constant climate news.
In this episode, we cover:
The perception gap: why more people care about climate change than you might think
The mental health impact of climate change and why eco-anxiety is normal
Strategies to cope with climate emotions, from small practical steps to collective action
How shifting business and consumer behavior can drive more change than waiting for governments
Why we are the first generation with a real shot at creating a sustainable world
How to support children in understanding and feeling empowered about environmental issues
Key Quotes:
“Climate distress isn’t just anxiety—it’s a whole mix of emotions like guilt, anger, and sadness that are natural responses to a real crisis.”
“We have never been closer to achieving a sustainable world. For the first time, sustainability means a healthy life for all and an end to environmental destruction. We can make this happen.”
More About Dr. Susie Burke
Check out her website here
More about Hannah Ritchie
Author of Not the End of the World, check out her website and books here
More about The Conceivable Future
Written by Meghan Elizabeth Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli, their website is here
Tedx Talk: Changing the World: Why it Fails and What Works
By Winnifred Louis, watch it here
You can get involved with the podcast online:Find our full podcast via the website: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
Follow me on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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59:09
Carbon Inequality Kills: the Oxfam Report, Super-Rich, and the Climate Crisis
This is an episode that is probably going to make a lot of you angry. I know it’s making me angry right now.
A few days ago, Oxfam released their latest report called “Carbon Inequality Kills,” and we’ll be talking about that today.
This is a damning report on just how much carbon the billionaires of the world are producing and why it dwarfs any possible emissions you could be producing on your own.
In this episode I share:
The importance of personal lifestyle changes to combat climate change
The climate crisis as a collective issue, not an individual fault
How billionaires contribute disproportionately to global emissions
The luxury lifestyle items, such as private jets and superyachts, that have massive environmental impacts
Why investment emissions from the wealthy are even worse than their personal emissions
The ways that poor communities bear the brunt of climate change
How much control billionaires have over global companies
Why policy changes are necessary to regulate luxury emissions and promote transparency in investments
The power of consumer choices and how they can influence big business to change
Voting for climate-conscious leaders as crucial for systemic change
How we have more power than we think to address climate change collectively
More info
You can find the full report from Oxfam here: https://www.oxfam.org.au/2024/10/carbon-inequality-kills-report/
Key Quotes
“50 of the world’s richest billionaires emit more carbon in just 90 minutes that your average person emits over their entire lifetime.”
“If everyone began emitting at the same rate as the world’s richest 10% the world's remaining carbon budget would be depleted in 1.5 years. If we all acted like the top 1% that budget would be used up in less that 5 months.”
You can get involved with the podcast online
Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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22:03
Why the Beauty Industry Sucks: Packaging, Marketing, and Supply Chain Solutions (Part Two)
Welcome to part 2 of my mini-series on the beauty industry.
In the last episode, we discussed all the issues with the beauty industry, and I’ll be honest, it wasn’t super cheerful. So, for this episode, we're changing things up and exploring the various solutions currently available to the problems we previously mentioned.
In this episode, I share:
What circular beauty is and whether it helps reduce waste
The core problem with refillable options for beauty products
How biodegradable packaging works
The one issue that could hinder the effectiveness of biodegradable packaging
Why mono material packaging could help with waste management
Why solid beauty products are one of the best ways to solve the waste problem
How microbial fermentation could help combat the palm oil issue
The pros and cons of synthetic mica
How you can determine if a company is ethical by the availability of their supply chain information
The movement towards waterless beauty and its potential benefits
The most significant way to reduce the environmental impact of beauty products
The different types of transparency a company can offer
How to consider the life cycle of a product
Key Quotes
"Chemicals are not the enemy; you are made of chemicals… so remember that the next time someone tries to sell you something that is 'chemical-free.'"
"If you don’t see any information about a product's supply chain, that’s kind of a red flag."
"Overconsumption is the single biggest issue in the beauty industry."
You can get involved with the podcast online
Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/green
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
You can follow me on socials on the below
accounts.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more
about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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20:29
Why the Beauty Industry Sucks: The Reality of Packaging, Marketing, and Supply Chains (Part One)
In this episode, we’re kicking off a mini-series on the beauty industry, focusing on what’s wrong with it. But don’t worry—it won’t be all doom and gloom! We’ll also be looking at solutions to these problems.
I’ve spent over a decade in this industry, and to be honest, it really kind of sucks. That’s actually where Ethique came from—a desire to tackle all the waste the beauty industry creates. So join me in this episode as we take a look behind the pretty packaging and sparkly glitter to uncover what’s really going on behind the scenes.
In this episode, I share:
The biggest problem with the beauty industry
How much money the beauty industry makes
The role packaging plays in the industry’s waste issue
What it really means when a brand says they use recycled plastic
The problem of overpackaging
How marketing has influenced the beauty industry’s waste problem
How modern marketing convinces us to buy more
The darker, less beautiful side of the beauty industry
The people problem within the supply chain of the beauty industry
Key Quotes:
“There is an enormous amount of waste driven by this idea of consumption at all costs.”
“The average person uses 12 beauty products every single day.”
“It's all built on aspirational beauty. Selling you the idea that you need this stuff to look confident.”
You can get involved with the podcast online
Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
You can follow me on socials on the below
accounts.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more
about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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19:52
Modern Zoos, Orangutan Habitats, and Palm Oil Solutions with Amy Robbins
I am so excited to talk to Amy Robbins, a self-declared “jack of all trades, master of none,” but honestly, an incredibly impressive person.
Amy is the Deputy Curator of Mammals at Auckland Zoo and the founder of the Sumatran Ranger Project. She has been working with animals and finding innovative ways to help them for decades, and it is an honour to share her story with you.
In this episode, she shares:
How she got into the zoo industry
Why modern zoos are important and how they are actually helping
Her conservation efforts and work with communities
The innovative habitat design for orangutans that Auckland Zoo has developed
The Sumatran Ranger Project and how it is making a difference
Why she is leading sustainable tourism and conservation adventures
Her experiences and opinions on the palm oil industry
The app you can use to track and control your palm oil consumption
Key Quotes:
"Whatever we do, consume, and use has an impact."
"You have to work with these communities. And it can't be me as this white girl coming in saying you should do this. It's me being well-connected... But the people doing the work, the real conservation heroes, are those on the ground, working day in and day out."
"We sit there and talk about these incredible animals that live in trees and how well they're adapted for life in the trees, and yet a lot of zoos still provide environments where orangutans have to live on the ground."
More about Amy and the episode
Check out the Sumatran ranger project website, the Palm Oil Scan app.
Also check out the Eden Reforestation Project.
You can get involved with the podcast online
Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
You can follow me on socials on the below
accounts.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more
about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
Join Brianne West, environmentalist and social entrepreneur, as she wanders through the world of 'sustainability'. "Now, That's What I Call Green" busts myths, shares the science, and talks about the amazing world we live in (with lots of cute animals). Does rewilding help? But what can I do? Are electric cars better? Is it too late to do something about climate change? Why don't sharks have bones? For those curious about the environment and eager to make a difference, tune in for a non-judgmental, evidence-based approach that is all about progress over perfection.
Listen to Now, That's What I Call Green., The Resetter Podcast with Dr. Mindy Pelz and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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