Second Nature – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram.

Episode Credits

• Listener contributions: Alexa Rivera, Cindy, Danielle Bird, Faith Winston, Liv, Obehi Ehimen, Verity 
• Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild‍
• Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

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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. 

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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 Goodchild‍
• Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

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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!

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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.

Episode credits

• Listener contributions: Amea Wadsworth, Daria Panova, Diana Holguin, Drew Crabtree, Jacqueline Elliott, Joëlle  Provost, Kellie Rana, Kimberly Foley, Lawrence Hott, Sameera Mokkarala‍
  Featuring: Isaias Hernandez and Sanchali Seth Pal‍
  Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild‍
  Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

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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. 
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On this episode, you'll hear:

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• 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.

Episode credits

• 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
  Featuring: Erez Yoeli and Sanchali Seth Pal‍
  Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild‍
  Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

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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. 
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On this episode, you'll hear:

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• 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 space
• The job numbers in the climate space
• And 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.

Episode credits

• Listener contributions: Caitlyn Luitjens, Freya Dumasia, Grace Kenworthy, Natalie Pullen, Paula Tanscheit, Willa Stoutenbeek‍
  Featuring: Kristy Drutman and Sanchali Seth Pal‍
  Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild‍
  Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

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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 situation
• Your composting questions answered by Dr. Sheridan Ross of Compton Community Garden
• The carbon impact of composting our food waste
• If 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.

Episode credits

• Listener contributions: Nicole Collins, Joëlle Provost , Lindsay Kerns, Bo Meisl, Sameera Mokkarala, Melissa Athina, Yolanda Gonzalez, Gracon Ladd, and Daniel Goh‍
• Featured guests: Dr. Sheridan Ross and Sanchali Seth Pal‍
• Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild‍
• Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

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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.

Episode credits

• 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 Stoutenbeek‍
• Featuring: Lauren Bash and Sanchali Seth Pal‍
• Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild‍
• Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

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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. 

Episode credits

• Listener contributions: Sameera Mokkarala, Lindsay Kerns, Daria Panova, Brian Stancheski, Tara Haug, Rooey
• Featuring: Nelson ZêPequéno and Sanchali Seth Pal
• Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild‍
• Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

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