The Good Smack for the Planet Podcast by Hey Social Good

Topa Topa Brewing Company, founded by Jack Dyer, distinguishes itself in the competitive craft beer market through a strong commitment to sustainability and community engagement. 

Emphasizing core values shaped by Dyer's background as a teacher, the brewery prioritizes giving back to local nonprofits and supporting environmental causes. 

They have collaborated with Patagonia provisions on regenerative agriculture, specifically working with Kernza wheatgrass, despite challenges. Using organic ingredients like Kearns, organic turo, and organic mosaic hops, Topa Topa Brewing creates a unique, high-quality beer, with their Chief Peak IPA being a best-seller.  

Despite industry challenges such as declining market trends and volatile ingredient prices, Topa Topa Brewing remains focused on producing exceptional, sustainable beers while anticipating a shift towards local products in the beverage industry. They encourage others to join the 1% for the Planet organization for a collective impact on environmental change. 

Tune in, sip along, and be part of this episode—where every beer has a story, and every story has a purpose! 

[Website Blogpost: https://heysocialgood.com/podcasts/

Highlights:

(01:03) Chief Peak IPA's Unique Theme: "Shrubland to Woodland to Highland."

(03:20) "Topatopa" Name and Its Local Tie.

(06:17) Starting Topa Brewing in a Competitive Craft Beer Market.

(08:30) Jack's Career Journey and The Value of a Good Business Partner.

(10:38) Early Challenges and Commitment to Sustainability.

(15:21) Substantial Contributions to The 1% for The Planet Network.

(22:08) Topotopa's commitment to regenerative agriculture and Kernza.

(23:59) Jack Dyer's insights into Kernza, its challenges, and Topotopa's role.

(26:27) Details on Kernza beer, recipe, and market release plans.

(28:46) Brands supporting causes, influenced by Patagonia's impact on Topotopa.

(33:03) Concerns about challenges in the craft beer industry and the impact of climate change.

(37:13) Jack Dyer on climate change's impact on brewing water supply.

(39:49) Emphasizes collaboration with hops and Kernza partners.

(41:46) Quickfire Q&A on Jack Dyer's beer preferences.

(46:50)Predicts classic beer flavors and local focus on future trends.

(47:50) Topotopa beer distribution, mainly in Southern California.

Links:

Website: topatopa.beer

LinkedIn: Topa Topa Brewing Co.

Facebook: Topa Topa Brewing Company

Instagram: topatopabrewingco

In a world where fast fashion dominates the market, there is a growing need for thoughtful brands that prioritize sustainability and positively impact the environment. Enter Kajal New York, a brand that is revolutionizing the fashion industry, focusing on sustainability and empowering women. 

In today's episode of Good Smack for the Planet Podcast, Cindy J. Lin is joined by Kajal New York Founder Kajal Goel to discuss the brand's mission and the challenges they face in sourcing natural and sustainable fabrics. Together, they explore the concept of eco-luxury and the importance of transparency in sustainable fashion brands. 

Join us as we delve into this fascinating conversation and discover how Kajil is paving the way for a more conscious and eco-friendly future in the world of fashion.

Highlights:

(00:56) Primary Core Values of Kajal NY

(02:53) Kajal's Sustainable Fashion Collection

(04:33) Challenges of Sourcing Sustainable Fabrics

(07:20) Conveying Sustainability in the Brand

(12:48) The Purpose of Sustainable Fashion

(14:15) Eco Luxury: Transparency and Challenges

(20:31) Luxury Fashion and Manufacturing Challenges

(23:33) Kajo Goal's Journey into Fashion and Sustainability

(28:32) Promoting Women's Equality in Sustainable Fashion

(32:33) Collaboration with Master G

(33:49) Future Trends in Sustainable Fashion

(40:22) Balancing Consumer Demands and Sustainability

Links:

Website: Kajal New York, Shop Sustainable Luxury Womenswear

Pink Maison – PinkMaison

LinkedIn: Kajal Goel 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kajalnewyork 

Instagram: Kajal Goel (@_kajalgoel)

https://www.instagram.com/kajalnewyork/ 

Food is an essential part of our daily lives, and it has a significant impact on our planet. More and more people are starting to realize the importance of sustainable eating habits and their contribution to a better world. 

In this episode of The Good Smack for the Planet Podcast,  your host Cindy J. Lin joined by Jessica Waite, who co-created the first zero waste restaurant in San Diego County. They share their personal journey with veganism and how it has influenced their approach to living a conscious life that minimizes waste and contributes to something more beneficial. They also discuss the importance of building relationships with local farmers, supporting them, and paying attention to where our food comes from and what it contains.

Join us on this exciting journey into the world of sustainable eating and discover how small changes can make a big impact on our planet.

Highlights:

(01:38) The Journey Towards a Zero Waste Restaurant

(04:42) Zero Waste Restaurant: Creative Ways To Use Food Byproducts

(09:04) Adapting a Restaurant to Pandemic Takeout: The Story of Plot Express

(15:13) The Power of Collective Thinking

(19:01) Sustainable Living and Finding Creative Solutions

(22:48) Very Good Food: The Journey of a Local and Regenerative Food Movement

(29:19) Building Relationships and Getting to the Source of Food

(32:18) Importance of Sourcing Local and Organic Food for Takeout

Links:

Website: https://www.pickledgingercatering.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-waite-mba-54a9324a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PickledGingerCatering/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cateringpg/

Welcome to Season 3 of Good Smack for the Planet! We are grateful to learn from fashion brands and supply chain experts making sustainability on the ground real. Discover how experts on the ground are meeting the challenges and making sustainability work!

The fashion industry has been increasingly focusing on sustainability and ethical practices, but achieving sustainability can be a complex task.

Welcome back to another episode of Good Smack for the Planet Podcast, with your host Cindy J. Lin joined by Holli Gibson, co-founder of Direct to Source, a company that specializes in sustainable and ethical apparel manufacturing located in Colorado and Guatemala. Holli shares her knowledge of the hurdles of sustainability in the fashion industry, the value of education, and the significance of responsible choices in manufacturing. 

Listen in on this illuminating conversation to discover how Direct To Source plays a part in building a more sustainable future.

Highlights:

(00:18) Transparency in the Fashion Industry

(03:07) Direct to Source's Mission

(05:10) Building a sustainable factory with brand partners

(11:05) The Disconnect Between Brand Designers and Factory Workers

(12:09) Steps of apparel manufacturing and sourcing explained

(14:57) The Complexity of Sustainability and the Importance of Education

(19:32) The Impact of Offshoring on the Manufacturing and Retail Industry

(24:50) Sustainability and the issue of greenwashing

(27:35) Shifts in Production Trends for Brands

(28:56) Challenges and Prospects in Sustainable Fashion

(33:19) The role of data in the conversation between brands, consumers, and manufacturers

(36:20) Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Business Practices

(43:06) Managing a Factory during the Pandemic: A Story of worry and Resilience

Links:

Website: Direct Source 

LinkedIn: Holli Gibson - Co-Founder - Direct To Source, LLC

Welcome to the Good Smack for the Planet podcast! Today's episode explores a topic that often goes overlooked in the fashion industry: the people and processes behind our clothes. Have you ever stopped to think about who makes your clothes and how they're made? 

Our guest, Daniel Chalem, president of Tejidos Gulfer, a textile manufacturing company in Colombia. Daniel shares his company's sustainable mission and how they're working to avoid polluting the environment by using rainwater and wastewater treatment methods. He also provides valuable insights into the process of finishing fabrics and how they minimize waste.

Tune in to hear more about the challenges and benefits of natural and synthetic fabrics, as well as the importance of balancing sustainability with product quality. 

Highlights:

(03:08) Sustainable garment production

(07:05) Fighting against environmental disregard

(10:21) Sustainable practices in fabric production

(18:43) The Challenges of Sustainable Investments

(22:54) The Hardest Part in Building a Sustainable Business

(28:02) The Pros and Cons of Synthetic and Natural Fabrics

(34:00) Recycled Polyester: Is it the Solution for the Apparel Industry?

(40:23) The Importance of Buying Quality Clothes

(45:47) NYX Shaper: A shapewear that aims to empower women

Links:

Website: https://tejidosgulfer.com/ 

LinkedIn: Daniel Chalem

Facebook: Tejidos Gulfer

Instagram: Daniel Chalem (@dchalem1)

Sustainability has become a buzzword in the fashion industry and for a good reason. With climate change threats looming over our heads, it's crucial to explore eco-friendly alternatives. One such alternative is hemp, a versatile and sustainable material that's gaining a lot of attention. 

Welcome back to another episode of Good Smack for the Planet Podcast, with your host Cindy J. Lin joined by Bernardo Duque Carreira, Co-founder of 8000 Kicks, a sustainable shoe brand made from hemp. Bernardo shares his journey of developing sustainable shoes and the brand's commitment to transparency and ethical practices. 

Join us to learn more about this game-changing material and how it's revolutionizing the fashion industry!

Highlights:

(00:39) The Origin of the Name '8000 Kicks'

(02:12) What does 8OOO Kicks trying to Achieve in the Fashion Space?

(05:28) Why was hemp banned?

(07:53) Hemp: A Versatile and Strong Plant with a Global Industry

(12:33) Co-founding '8000 Kicks' with grandmother's textile experience

(17:08) Challenges of developing hemp-based shoes

(22:19) The hardest part of building a sustainable business? 

(24:20) 8000 kicks Sustainability and its customer database

(31:58) Greenwashing in Fashion Industry

Links:

Website: 8000Kicks - The Official Website

LinkedIn: Bernardo Duque Carreira - Founder and CEO - 8000Kicks

Instagram: Bernardo Duque Carreira (@bernardo.duquecarreira)

Sustainability in fashion is a hot topic, and for good reason. As consumers become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their purchases, many fashion brands are making strides to become more sustainable. One such company is Rudholm Group USA, whose President, Dennis Lau, is leading the charge for better packaging solutions. Rudholm Group USA is at the forefront of sustainable fashion packaging, working with brands like Reformation to create recycled and biodegradable packaging materials. From labels to mailers, every aspect of branded packaging is taken into consideration to reduce environmental impact.

With the fashion industry being one of the biggest polluters on the planet, it's essential that we all do our part to reduce our impact. By choosing sustainable fashion brands, we can make a difference. And with companies like Rudholm Group USA leading the way, the future of fashion looks a little brighter.

Cause marketing extraordinaire, Amy Malin, launched a search engine, True Heart, that gives 80% of its profits for every internet search to six amazing charities. Every search reforests the Amazon, gives scholarships, alleviates hunger, saves children, and more. But, don’t just hear about True Heart and its amazing mission, you've got to hear Amy’s shocking personal account of her challenges working in the male dominating entertainment industry.

Just about everyone in the US searches up something on the web, whether to look up movie times, find a restaurant, or use Wikipedia. Amy believes this is the easiest and fastest way we can give back and make an impact. Her goal is to donate $1 billion to charities, all with the ease of a search on the web. 

We're back with Season 2! Learn what's new, same, and even better in our 2nd Season of Good Smack for the Planet. Hear Cindy J continue her journey to chatting and learning from amazing people working differently, smartly, and passionately to make impact in the world.

M’Porte founder, Brian McDonald, fills a big gap in the Take-Out industry. Our love of eating out can be guilt-free as we open up a clamshell filled with yummy, steaming food, and know that one less plastic or styrofoam container is eliminated from our planet. The M’Porte Exchange Program works with local restaurants in California and Hawai’i to offer a community sharing of pre-cleaned reusable containers. Our love for eating out and taking it to-go feels liberating because the meal is placed in stainless steel containers, and the same reusable containers are brought back to a zero waste restaurant to be reused again! Just as amazing is the knowledge that you're eating a take-out meal that hasn’t been sitting in a plastic container for an hour. Wonderfully, you might feel like your grandma just made a delicious Thai dinner because it’s housed in a beautiful stainless steel take-out container. Brian speaks honestly about his own journey of trying to help solve a very, very big problem without letting all the obstacles get in the way. Now, that’s a seriously, socially conscious entrepreneurial spirit at work!

Why are some gifts better than others? Which is more sustainable? Real tree or fake tree? Listen to Cindy J and Kate explain and gush over their favorite sustainable, give back and ethical brands + products perfect for the holiday season! They dive deep into Hey Social Good’s 9 Sustainable & Ethical Gift Guides, where gift giving means smiles and social impact. Visit heysocialgood.com

This is Part 2 of Lindsay LaShell, a proud woman business owner, who made it work her way, in her own purpose-driven style. In Part 2, she answers that tough question of what she would tell herself five years ago, and if she had imagined the moment she made it. She is a rare breed among the big, wide, world of marketing agencies because she won’t compromise on selling just for the sake of selling. Her motto is “say no to the wrong clients” and in doing so, she shows that building a social good business works all day long.

Listen to a proud woman business owner, Lindsay LaShell, who made it work her way, in her own purpose-driven style. She is a rare breed among the big, wide, world of marketing agencies because she won’t compromise on selling just for the sake of selling. Lindsay embodies the words, authenticity and transparency. And in the world of marketing, that in itself is a unicorn. Her motto is “say no to the wrong clients” and in doing so, she shows that building a social good business works all day long.

Solving her own personal health issues that couldn’t be explained away with conventional doctor’s visits, Dr. Paria Vaziri discovered the effectiveness of holistic medicine to optimize people’s health and the planet's wellness. More than ever, we need a doctor that is an M.D. superpowered with holistic and nontoxic approaches to wellness. Her comprehensive and sustainable approach to medicine means she’s proactively working on disease prevention, mental health, gut health, and prescribing medicine that’s better for the planet. Her honest take as a female doctor and simple tips on self-care show how easily each of us can take back control of our personal health journey...and reduce our pollution footprint at the same time.

Find her at www.doctorparia.com

From a big hearted volunteer to now Chief Operating Officer of Feeding San Diego, Alicia Saake solves puzzles everyday to get healthy and nutritious food to everyday people. She and her phenomenal organization deliver millions of meals to food insecure San Diegans every year. Saake shares how Feeding San Diego“rescues food”, talks about the negative effects of prolonged hunger and mental health, and informs how we can easily reduce food waste. Even more honestly, she tells all about the fight against hunger in one of the rockiest economic climates this country has seen.

Molly’s Suds founder, Monica Leonard, fought hard to bring a toxin free laundry detergent to market after the stillbirth of her fourth child, named Molly. She dug deep to understand the relationship between toxic chemical exposure from everyday cleaning products and health impacts, discovering the presence of these chemicals in the blood of unborn babies, debilitating allergies and other illnesses along the way. Molly’s Suds started in a basement with an assembly line of health conscious mamas determined to provide a safe alternative to home cleaning products. Today, it is a full-fledged business that’s been able to keep their manufacturing in Florida churning out the same 10+ year old affordable and effective cleaning recipe. Monica’s sharp business acumen, zero-waste goal, and commitment to her customer’s needs and health explains why her household cleaning products will beat out other cleaning brands every single day! 

An exceptional culturalist and farmer, Mia Vaughnes created Good Neighbor Garden SD from a love story. In Part 2, Mia discusses her African and Native American roots and how our American history of farming defines who we are and where we come from. She shares why asking to give away other’s extra vegetables is her giving and why maintaining a vibrant soil community in your garden or pot means creating spiritual happiness within ourselves. 

Modern farmer+entrepreneur Mia Vaughnes is determined to help transform people’s yards and balconies into edible gardens. She and her amazing farmhands help build vibrant vegetable gardens right smack in the middle of your city. It doesn’t stop there, because she also teaches seemingly secret green thumb skills, tackles food waste, and gives back to schools with part of her CSA vegetable box revenue. She imagines a San Diego City dotted with fresh vegetable gardens on every other housing lot to combat local climate change impacts!

Jenny Silbert and Stephanie Choi are two of the most innovative zero waste designers this side of the Pacific. Creating waterproof, lightweight designer backpacks from airbags set for the landfill, hang totes from used brewery burlap, and 100% durable waterproof jackets from car seat cover liners, these two are pushing the envelope on design and waste diversion with an edge. Now, they are connecting sustainable change makers with their Climate Talk Series and developing a "Stuff It Yourself" Pouf to help us reduce our waste and invite beautiful home seating. Hearing these women gab is like taking a Master Class on zero waste!