Robin Greenfield

Thank you for having me on, Michael.

Yes, I've just returned from a three-month speaking tour in Florida and the southern United States, and I've just returned to my home of Wisconsin.

Well, that's one of the hardest things for me is to try to succinctly describe what I do.

Because what I am trying to do is question everything about our societal norms and structures, everything that is considered the status quo, but in truth is, you know, the reality is that we live in a very extreme society.

We have 5% of the world's population in the United States, but we consume 25% of the world's resources.

So this by definition is extreme.

And basically what I do is I go to the other end of this extreme to point this out, to bring attention to it, but also just because in order to live a life of harmony, it actually requires to go to a deep extreme.

So I've basically dedicated my life to living simply, sustainably, uh,

trying to do no unnecessary harm to people, to the planet, to the plants and animals, and to use my life as a message to help others on this journey as well.

I'm not here to convince anyone or there's no have tos or shoulds, goods or bads.

There's no guilt or anything like that.

It's just, hey, here's another way from what you see in the mainstream.

And if you're into this other way, then I'm here to support you on that journey.

Well, okay, first thing is I can't say that I necessarily disapprove of anything because who am I to get to approve or disapprove of things?

Yes, but it's not in alignment with my values and the way that I want to live my life.

So I used to live a very sort of consumeristic life and I was very focused on material possessions and financial wealth.

And I made a goal of being a millionaire by the time I was 30.

And I was very much on this pursuit.

I had a new car that I spent every Sunday shining.

The three-bedroom apartment three blocks from the beach was a big deal to me.