Sustainable Squad
43 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsInterviews about stuff we all know and love, with a side helping of sustainability. Let's celebrate the brands and people on a mission to waste less, buy better and inspire change.
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Episodes
S7: Ep 4 How to power up and get making stuff with Salvage Sister
June 30, 2023 17:11 - 37 minutes - 86.8 MBToday I’m talking to Charis Williams, AKA Salvage Sister, and she gets creative and makes stuff out of old metal and wood and teaches people how to do the same Over 60% of our landfill waste comes from construction, demolition and excavation - so what Charis does is mega important for all this waste we produce. And there’s loads of material to choose from, you just need the energy to do it - and she does. Me and my sister in law did one of her workshops where we used some hard core powe...
S7: Ep 3 Why we should be buying local cut flowers with Betty Blooming
June 08, 2023 17:28 - 31 minutes - 71.8 MB86% of all UK bought flowers have been imported, so just like food and drink, buying local flowers helps us support our businesses on our front door and reduces our impact on the planet. For this episode, I'm sat with the lovely Liz from Betty Blooming talking about seasonal flower growing and allotment life. I wish I'd spoken ti Liz before I got married, I would have 100% commissed her to grow a colourful and wild bunch of beautiful flowers for the big day. You can follow her gorgeo...
S7: Ep2 Sustainable hen party planning with Hens with Heart
June 01, 2023 16:24 - 36 minutes - 82.8 MBA large group of women at a hen party can be carnage, but also presents an opportunity to make a real difference and do some good without skipping the fun parts. Amy Sillince had an idea at a hen party. She paid attention to how much people were spending, how much time they had spare, what food was wasted and what items were bought for single use. The idea? Hens with Heart. Amy came to visit me in Brighton, one of the top cities for hen parties in the UK, and completed opened my mind to ...
S7: Ep 1 Paddle boarding, swimming and dogs on the beach with The Sea Safety Project
May 24, 2023 16:37 - 47 minutes - 108 MBMy home town of Brighton and Hove is a magnet for beach lovers, even with the pebbles. It's extra busy during May to September, but knowing what to do if you get in trouble in the sea applies all year round. Becky Knights from The Sea Safety Project gives us a flavour of what she teaches kids in schools, what dangers and signs to watch out for when visiting the beach, what to do if our dogs get in trouble and how she has become a better swimmer. Since recording this podcast we both compl...
S6: Ep 7 Why we should be obsessed with beans with Bold Bean Co
January 12, 2023 20:37 - 34 minutes - 78.9 MBBeans have come a long way since being drenched in tomato sauce and poured on toast. Amelia Christie-Miller, founder of Bold Bean Co, joins me for this weeks episode to share their start up story, all the delicious things you can do with beans and why they're so good for our health, food poverty and our soil. We should all be absolutely obsessed with beans. Their brand and content is fun and useful and I'd urge you to take a look and have a try. The best thing is, they want people to sta...
S6: Ep6 Taking tech back and the circular economy with Dr David Greenfield
January 05, 2023 15:36 - 31 minutes - 71.7 MBIt's very likely that you will have recently bought, upgraded or replaced some sort of tech or electrical appliance in the last month. Unsuprisingly, tech is one of the top 5 things we buy at Christmas - but what do we do with all our old stuff? It feels a little more complicated than giving away clothes due to pack testing and how things are put together. Dr David Greenfield from Tech Take Back in Brighton joins me this week. I visited their new hub and got a full guided tour of the victo...
S6: Ep5 Cocktails, paper bottles and biodiversity with Avallen
December 22, 2022 07:34 - 33 minutes - 77 MBDescribed as an accidental Calvados, Avallen, in it's beautiful paper bottle, is flying off the shelves at the moment and I wanted to find out more. This week, I'm joined by founders Tim Etherington Judge and Steph Jordan Balmforth who have spent their whole careers in the drinks and hospitality industry and are really passionate about having a positive impact on the planet. They share the incredible benefits of using apples to make their spirit (a type of french brandy), all the delicio...
S6: Ep 4 Bread, beer and bar stool activism with Toast Ale
December 15, 2022 07:57 - 39 minutes - 90.4 MB44% of all bread is wasted in the UK. This was one of many food waste stats that got the attention of the founders of Toast Ale, so they decided to do something about it. Chief Toaster and co-founder, Rob Wilson invited me up to their new premises in London for a chat. We opened a couple of cans, had a good laugh and I heard all about how they brew with surplus bread, which beers pair with what foods, being the first uk beer company to get a B Corp and all the cool things they do as a soci...
S6: Ep3 Creative play and avoiding plastic with Timeless Toys
December 08, 2022 06:21 - 44 minutes - 101 MBThe most organised homes can still turn to complete chaos when kids toys are thrown into the mix. Most of my friends have kids and now my own brother has just become a Dad. So what toys do I buy for kids, or have they got too much already? A child can lose interest in a toy within just 36 days, according to a recent study. This week, I'm stood in the beautiful Timeless Toys shop talking to owner Susan Luxford. Susan helped introduce me to choosing toys based on a kids playing style, what ...
S6: Ep2 Vintage fashion and the crisis of stuff with Beyond Retro
December 01, 2022 06:00 - 39 minutes - 44.7 MBCharity shops typically sell about 25% of what they get donated, so what happens to the rest of it? Steven Bethell is the co-founder of Bank and Vogue. Their purpose is to find innovative and relevant solutions to the crisis of stuff, working across the world to give used products a second life. Beyond Retro is their shop front, I first walked into the Brighton store over 10 years ago and immediately fell in love with the lay out, the treasures and the fun you can have shopping in a vinta...
S6: Ep 1 Clothing that's made to be remade with Teemill
November 24, 2022 07:44 - 36 minutes - 83.1 MB"3 out of 5 T-shirts will end up in the bin. It’s wasteful and doesn’t financially make sense" I hopped on a Ferry and headed over to the Isle of Wight to make my very own branded t-shirt for this episode (see Sustainable Squad on social channels to see my experience). Sofia Voudouroglou, who looks after marketing and comms, walked me through their clever but very simple process of setting up your own website, creating your own clothing brand and then printing your own design on a t-shirt ...
S5: Ep10 Beer, brewing and the sober curious with Freestar
October 19, 2022 21:11 - 42 minutes - 96.5 MBAlcohol is everywhere, it's almost impossible to get away from and it can cause some real scenes if you're the one NOT drinking at a party. However, younger generations are drinking less, the health implications of booze is better known and finally there are brands making tasty alcohol free options - like Freestar. For this bonus episiode, I'm joined by one of the co-founders of Freestar, Eddy. It was super interesting to hear how their beer's brewed, why it tastes so good, the sober curious...
S5:Ep9 Zero waste dining - a balanced system with Silo London
September 22, 2022 17:59 - 54 minutes - 125 MBI travelled to Hackney Wick to meet the brilliant Douglas McMaster for this week's podcast. Chef, author, presenter and founder of Silo London, an inspiring zero waste restaurant that started in Brighton. We cover the interior design, menu inspiration and Doug shares a quick beginners guide to help a fermenting novice like me. We also cover what inspired the opening of Silo, how hard the first 6 years in Brighton were, learnings from that experience, and what to expect from the Zero Waste C...
S5: Ep8 Eating pastries and talking B Corp with Higgidy
September 08, 2022 05:27 - 31 minutes - 71.4 MBI'm never one to turn down food, especially when it's muffins, pies, rolls and pastries from Higgidy. If you've not heard of them before, Higgidy are manufacturers of feel good food and they're based in Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex. Earlier this year, I spoke to sustainability manager Meg Welch and concept development manager Chelsea Gumbrell about their new range of veggie and vegan products and what it takes to become, and remain, a B Corp. I loved talking to the girls at Higgidy, their ...
S5: Ep7 Tide clocks and protecting our seas with Tidey
September 01, 2022 06:43 - 28 minutes - 66.1 MBA tide clock that shows the tide at your favourite beach? I love it, in fact, I have one and it's taken pride of place in my living room. Gareth is the founder and inventor of this very clever piece of smart tech called Tidey. He's been able to share it with the world thanks to a successful kick starter and a lot of hard work. Gareth tells his start up story, but first we touch on his connection with the sea, his volunteering work with Surfers Against Sewage and what is going on with all thi...
S5: Ep6 Repairing your clothes with Sew Fabulous
August 25, 2022 05:00 - 29 minutes - 68.4 MBWhether you want to repair your clothes yourself or pay someone else to do it, there's no doubt this skill will save us all a lot of money and waste - the most ecofriendly thing we can all do is keep what we already have. Susie from Sew Fabulous shares how she became a mature student in Brighton, why she started this sewing studio and how they work hard to make sewing accessible to all. There's some great tutorials on their website and social channels, you can visit them here https://sew...
S5:Ep5 Re-wilding kelp with Sussex Seabed Restoration Project
August 18, 2022 09:55 - 32 minutes - 73.6 MBThis week I'm talking to the free diver and founder of the Sussex Seabed Restoration Project, Steve Allnut. Over the last 28 years or so, the forests of sea kelp Steve was used to diving into, and all of the amazing marine life that depends on it to survive, has almost vanished from the Sussex coastline. Steve is crowdfunding and needs help to get this rewilding project in full swing, any help with funds and business planning will be very very welcome. You can find out more here https://www....
S5:Ep4 Eco rapper in New York with Hila the Killa
August 11, 2022 07:04 - 43 minutes - 98.7 MBI first came across Hila on TikTok, my thumb stopped scrolling when I saw her dressed as planet earth and rapping on the streets about "our wet ass planet". Hila's energy and lyrics are fun, positive and packed with earth science - I've included some clips in this recording to give you a flavour. We talk about her performances in cool places, her taste in music, life in Brooklyn, NYC and a bit about science, composting and plants - we packed a lot into 40 minutes. You can find Hila the Killa...
S5: Ep3 Jackets, adventures and the nomad life with Labo Mono
August 04, 2022 06:15 - 32 minutes - 75.2 MBAli Namdari, the founder of Labo Mono, told me how he went from web designer to jacket designer in a matter of a few short years. It was the hottest day in France and Ali sat in his converted van telling me about life on the road and how he came to design and produce these awesome rain and adventure jackets from recycled plastic bottles. I love his sense of adventure and ambition and he is a thoroughly lovely person. You can check out the gorgeous and clever jacket designs here https://labom...
S5:Ep2 Owning your period with Mooncup
July 28, 2022 12:55 - 38 minutes - 88.5 MBMooncup menstrual cups is a Brighton based business and they've saved over 3 billion plastic period products from entering our oceans and landfill over the last 20 years. I'm talking to Senior Marketing Manager Lena Koskela about periods, culture, women's sport, how to use a Mooncup and top tips as well as what Mooncup is doing to waste less and buy better. It was a pleasure to chat about our personal experiences and I have no doubt you'll enjoy this interview. Find out more about Mooncup on...
S5:Ep1 A better way to takeaway with Majahma
July 21, 2022 09:32 - 30 minutes - 41.9 MBThis mother and son team, Nish and Ru, invited me in their home to cook and eat with them for this humbling episode. Majahma is based in Brighton and they deliver authentic and incredible veggie and vegan Indian thalis in stainless steel tiffins - an Indian style stacked lunchbox. Made to order to reduce food waste, delivered in a reusable and returnable tiffin to reduce plastic waste. Simply sign up, see whats on the menu this week, order, eat and return your tiffin with your next order. We...
S4:Ep5 Food waste philosophy with Shane Jordan
March 20, 2022 19:26 - 23 minutes - 31.6 MBShane Jordan is a food waste chef from Bristol who cooks plant based meals using every edible part of his ingredients. Shane shares how he got into cooking through the charity Food Cycle and how he came to write and publish his book, Food Waste Philosophy. You can take more inspiration on plant based eating and recipe ideas from his Instagram account.
S4:Ep4 Disrupting food waste with Lagom Chef
March 09, 2022 14:57 - 48 minutes - 66.2 MBThis was a fun chat with Martyn Odell aka Lagom Chef. Martyn has recently been on the new Jamie Oliver TV show - The Great Cookbook Challenge, where he cooked a tasty looking meal while pitching his cookbook idea to a panel of judges including Penguin books. We find out how he became a chef and what inspired him to focus on food waste. We go slightly off piste talking about ultra running and his time as a very niche performer - which was hilarious. And of course we cover some really ...
S4:Ep3 Sustainable Squad Social: Reducing food waste (live)
March 07, 2022 11:30 - 1 hour - 100 MBFor the first time ever, I recorded my podcast infront of a live audience and it was so much fun. For this episode, I had 3 guest speakers sharing information and ideas and answering live questions on how to tackle food waste. My guest speakers were Kelly Dibbert from Fare Share Sussex - Fighting Hunger, Tackling Food Waste. Paul Loman from The Real Junkfood Project in Brighton - Feeding bellies, not bins. Michael Kennard from Compost Club - Healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy humans...
S4:Ep2 Natural wine with sommelier Ania Smelskaya
December 24, 2021 11:21 - 28 minutes - 32.4 MBLearning about natural wine while drinking it? I'm IN! This week I'm joined by sommelier and wine consultant Ania at a great little venue in Brighton called Vine Street Tap. Ania loves natural wine and has a big appreciation for the process and the individual style of each wine maker. We tried 3 different natural wines during our chat and I learnt so much about why it's natural, sustainable and the psychology around trying new things.
S4:Ep1 Kusaki - Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar
December 05, 2021 10:00 - 32 minutes - 37.5 MBI'm delighted to be launching series 4 with one of the newest restaurants in Brighton, Kusaki. Serving plant based Japanese food and drinks in the Preston Circus area. Kusaki is the latest venue to be opened by owner Fabio Lauro who also owns Wolfox, Six, Food for Friends and Botanique. I'm joined by Michelin trained executive chef Reuben Waller and operation manager India De Silva at the end of their first week being open. I'm very grateful for their time. We talk about the food, the d...
S3:Ep5 Allotments, fermenting and chilli sauce with Mileshky's Beets & Beats
March 23, 2021 20:16 - 35 minutes - 20.2 MBWith so many more people growing vegetables and plants over the last 12 months, it's my pleasure to be talking to Miles from Mileshky's Beets & Beats about his allotment plot, battles with greenhouses, chilli sauces, fermenting veg and doing his first 'no dig' this Spring. He loves his music and my favourite saying of his is Plants Love Trance. His chilli sauce is available to buy and it's delicious! I'm sure you'll enjoy this episode.
S3.Ep4 Rental clothes for baby and toddler's with Super Looper
March 10, 2021 18:26 - 32 minutes - 18.3 MBWe have enough clothing on the planet right now to cloth the next 6 generations of the human race. This is why a business like Super Looper, a rental service for baby and toddler clothing, is the future. I'm joined by founder Jenny to find out more about the service, the clothes and the support you get as a new mum. You can find this amazing business on social @superlooperlife and online superlooperlife.com
S3Ep3: Rewarded for shopping sustainably
February 23, 2021 21:13 - 47 minutes - 27.2 MBI'm joined by Matt, Ryan and Charlie who founded Ethicul - a reward platform to help us make positive purchases by shopping local and supporting businesses that are looking after people and planet. They have partnered up with over 40+ businesses from around Brighton and Hove. We find out more about these partnerships and what it was like to launch during a pandemic, ending on a light-hearted quiz to get to know them a little better. Visit ethicul.co.uk to sign up and find out more.
S3:Ep2 How on earth can I be eco-friendly? with Lianne Bell
February 09, 2021 20:46 - 36 minutes - 41.7 MBIf you want to be more eco-friendly but don't know where to begin, then Lianne Bell's book is a great starting point. We open this episode talking about writing and self-publishing a book and then move onto fashion, food waste and beauty. Lianne's approach to sustainability is to start somewhere and not beat yourself up over things you're not doing - which I love. You can find Lianne Bell on Instagram and her book 'How on earth can I be eco-frinedly?' is out now!
S3:Ep1 Restyling your wardrobe and sustainable fashion with Fine Tuned Wardrobe
January 26, 2021 09:04 - 33 minutes - 19.4 MBWe've all experienced wardrobe fatigue, you look at your clothes and claim you have nothing to wear. Often, you just need a fresh pair of creative eyes to help. This week, Sophia from Fine Tuned Wardrobe is a personal stylist and talks to us about fashion, her tips on shopping second hand and the emotional pull of consumerism. You can find Sophia on Instagram and online at FineTuneWardrobe.com
S2:Ep4 Event waste and the circular economy with The Textile Review
March 05, 2020 07:23 - 24 minutes - 28.4 MBWe're becoming more and more aware of the damage fast fashion is doing to our planet, but what about other textiles? I speak to Katie Briggs from The Textile Review about why she started a business to tackle the tonnes of fabric that's wasted in the events industry. A true advocate of the circular economy, Katie is on an exciting mission to help businesses change their mindset and take responsibility for the waste they produce. To contact Katie, visit TheTextileReview.com.
S2 Ep3: Eating plants to save the planet with Lizzie and Mark
January 24, 2020 06:47 - 40 minutes - 46.1 MBThere's evidence to suggest that 18% of green house gases come from farming meat. In this episode, I'm talking to Lizzie and Mark about living a vegan lifestyle. They're two lovely people who like to keep fit and healthy, but like most of us, they have bad food days too. We discuss the benefits of and reasons for cutting out meat and dairy, adapting to a new diet, touch on how crap their cooking skills are and finish on a celebrity quiz!
S2 Ep2: Sustainable beer with Franklins Brewery
December 03, 2019 22:05 - 31 minutes - 35.9 MBThis episode takes drinking responsibly to a whole new level. Not only was it fascinating to learn how beer is made, but it was really encouraging to hear what Franklins Brewery are doing to create less waste and have less of an impact on the environment. These guys make delicious beer in Sussex and they're a couple of sustainable legends in my eyes. You can buy their beer nationwide! Follow them on social to find out more @franksbrewco
S2 Ep1: Zero Waste in Thailand with My Best Life CNX
October 28, 2019 20:01 - 41 minutes - 47 MBI'm launching series 2 with help from my friend Sabrina, who has represented Sustainable Squad in Thailand!!! Sabrina interviews Lisa from My Best Life CNX - the first zero waste shop in Chiang Mai. Lisa tells us how she came to Thailand as a volunteer and now donates 100% of profits from her shop and vegan cafe to support refugees at her education centre, Thai Freedom House. Huge thanks to Sabrina (instagram @organic_eye) and Lisa (instagram @mybestlife_cnx) for this amazing interview. The...
S1 Ep7: Reducing Waste at Weddings with Two Woods Estate
July 15, 2019 13:29 - 24 minutes - 37.4 MBWe all love a wedding, they're the best days of our lives! But when you add up the number of single use items purchased for just one epic day, they can often be the most wasteful days too. Jade from Two Woods Estate talks to us about how a few simple swaps can make a huge difference to the environment and to our bank balance. We discuss caterers, plates and glasses, alcohol, decorations and wedding dresses. Jade also talks about being more green at wedding fairs and how they maintai...
S1 Ep6: Rescuing and re-using waste timber with The Wood Store
June 28, 2019 10:14 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MBAround 60% of all landfill waste in the UK comes from construction and demolition. The Wood Store rescues surplus timber from contractors across Sussex to restore, re-use and sell on at their fabulous shop in Brighton. They're an award winning not-for-profit organisation and the National Community Wood Recycling Project was modelled on these guys! Steve tells us about all the great work they do, we discuss the problem with pallets, he shares tips on how we can choose our materials and cont...
S1 Ep5: Avoiding Fast Fashion with Slow Re Purpose
June 07, 2019 07:49 - 27 minutes - 28.4 MBThe Fast Fashion industry produces 1 billion new garments every year and is responsible for producing 20% of global waste water. It's an enormous problem and this is why it's so important to have businesses like Slow Re Purpose, because they teach us how to fall back in love with the clothes we already own by turning them into something new. Sara tells us about projects she's worked on, future collaborations and her journey to where she is now. If you would love Sara to take a look at your w...
S1 Ep4: Sustainable bags, sustainable business with M-24
May 30, 2019 06:58 - 32 minutes - 49.5 MBIn the UK alone, we produced 52.3 million tonnes of landfill waste waste in 2016 and I have no doubt the figure has grown considerably since. This is why businesses like M-24 are crucial to tackling this enormous problem. Mat, the founder, tells us how he transforms lorry tarpaulin into super tough and super sustainable bags. We talk about his inspiring journey from turning an idea into a successful business, the highs and lows that come with it and what advice he would give to someone at ...
S1 Ep3: Food Waste with Fare Share Sussex
May 23, 2019 10:14 - 33 minutes - 46.2 MBFood waste is a major problem and a big contributor to climate change. 1.9 million tons of food gets wasted by the food industry every year in the UK alone! Not to mention the food we throw in our own bins. Fare Share Sussex are trying to reduce this problem and feed the hungry in the process. Sabrina talks about all the amazing work they do, who they work with and tips on how we can all help reduce food waste in the home. We also talk to one of their volunteers Kieran.
S1 Ep2: Plastic Free Shopping with Harriets of Hove
April 26, 2019 07:09 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MBIt's no secret that single use plastic is everywhere and suffocating our planet. But with inspiring people like Harriet and Mhiran in our lives, there's still hope. In this interview we talk about the concept of plastic free shops, their products and customers, tips on how to reduce single use plastic, what it's like working together as a couple and a cheeky game of Mr and Mrs at the end. You can check our their fabulous shop here... http://harrietsofhove.com
S1 Ep1: Help Us Help You to Change the World with Circle Squared
April 16, 2019 12:23 - 20 minutes - 31.9 MBIt's really frustrating when you find out the brand you love is not ticking the ethical, social and sustainable boxes. We're then faced with a choice, do we ignore this information and carry on as normal? Do we take a stand and stop buying the product or service altogether? OR do we try and influence the business and encourage them to make positive changes? Mark from Circle Squared is trying to do the latter. He is in the process of developing a brand new app that gives consumers a voice a...
Sustainable Squad teaser
March 22, 2019 19:00 - 31 seconds - 1.31 MBA series of interviews with people doing something extraordinary about sustainability.