Green Champions
Episodes
Danna Lotz - Second Graders, Cereal Boxes, and Landfill Tours
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Danna Lotz, a lifelong educator with 18 years of experience, is now the School Programs Administrator at the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SW...
Adam & Dominique - Happy Holidays from your Hosts
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Grab a warm drink and settle in for our special 2025 holiday wrap-up! After releasing an episode every single Tuesday and growing to over 90 episodes,...
RE-RELEASE: Duccio Travaglini - Breaking Climate News With Cool Data
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Duccio Travaglini, Co-founder of Greencome Media, shares his innovative approach to environmental communication and his mission to transform how we di...
Kristan Uhlenbrock – Creating a New Institute at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kristan Uhlenbrock, a scientist, writer, and communicator, leads the Institute for Science and Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, wh...
Kristan Uhlenbrock - Leading With Science in a Polarized World
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kristan Uhlenbrock, who leads the Institute for Science and Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, is a scientist, writer, and communica...
RE-RELEASE: Aryeh Alex - Creating Green Jobs from Food Scraps
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that Columbus, Ohio generates a staggering one million pounds of food waste per day?But the city taking concrete steps towards sustainabi...
Joe Tegerdine - How Reencle Unlocked 24-Hour Composting
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Tegerdine is the General Manager of North America for Reencle. He is on a mission to make composting accessible, convenient, and impactful. Joe ex...
Joe Tegerdine - From Legal Briefs to Leafy Greens
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Tegerdine is the General Manager of North America for Reencle. He shares his unconventional journey from dissecting owl pellets to navigating the ...
Jamie Richards - Inside Bansk Beauty’s Regenerative Shea Project in Uganda
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie Richards, Director of ESG for Bansk Beauty's portfolio including Amika, Eva NYC, and Ethique, explains how sustainability is not just a val...
Jamie Richards – Reconciling Style and Sustainability
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie Richards, Director of ESG at Bansk Beauty, home to iconic brands like amika, Eva NYC, and Ethique, shares her journey from a 9-year-old with a &...
Nicholas Fox - How Composting is like Baking a Cake
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nicholas Fox, is the 'Compost King' and founder of Soul and Soil, is on a mission to transform waste into a valuable resource in The Bahamas...
Nicholas Fox – Why He’s Fighting Food Waste in Paradise
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nicholas Fox, the self-proclaimed 'Compost King' and founder of Soul and Soil Composting, is a permaculture designer and passionate advocate...
Christy Cook - Inside the Largest Food Waste Prevention Plan
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Christy Cook is a seasoned sustainability consultant and entrepreneur, shares her expertise in building scalable and impactful sustainability programs...
Christy Cook - From Farm to Fortune 500
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Christy Cook is a seasoned sustainability consultant and entrepreneur. She shares her inspiring journey from a small farm in Georgia to working with g...
Bruce Bekkar - Why The Climate Crisis Is a Health Crisis
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bruce Bekkar is a former OB-GYN turned passionate climate advocate. Bruce recounts the "light bulb" moment that ignited his passion for clim...
Bruce Bekkar - From Delivering Babies to Delivering Climate Solutions
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bruce Bekkar is a former OB-GYN turned climate activist who shares his remarkable journey from delivering babies to advocating for a healthier planet....
Emily & Susan – How They Rescued One Million Pounds of Food
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Rials and Susan Swinford, co-directors of Columbus Food Rescue, are at the forefront of the fight against food waste and hunger in Central Ohio....
Emily & Susan – From Teacher and Student to Co-Directors
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Rials and Susan Swinford are co-directors of Columbus Food Rescue. They share the story of how they came to lead Columbus Food Rescue, a program...
AJ Boyce - How One Man Supports Underserved Farmers
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AJ Boyce, an agriculture conservation practitioner with The Nature Conservancy, explores his work at the intersection of environmental sustainability ...
AJ Boyce – Building Green Spaces Where They’re Needed Most
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AJ Boyce, an agriculture conservation practitioner with The Nature Conservancy, explores his work at the intersection of environmental sustainability ...
Lauren Click - Breaking Barriers to Composting, One Classroom at a Time
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Click is the founder and executive director of Let's Go Compost. She is on a mission to democratize composting across the United States. A...
Lauren Click - How a Small Apartment Launched a National Nonprofit
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Click is the award-winning founder and executive director of Let's Go Compost, a nonprofit making composting accessible to all. What start...
Season 4 Intro - A Look Back and What’s Ahead
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Adam and Dominique kick off Season 4 of Green Champions, celebrating their 73rd episode milestone after over a year of weekly releases. They ref...
Live Recording - How Columbus is Moving the Needle on Waste Diversion
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Impact Award Winner - Non-Profit Breaking Tree-Planting Records Despite Federal Cuts [Shelly Douglas]
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Carol Kauffman - Turning Advocacy into Action for Ohio’s Air, Water, and Climate
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Kristi Eberhardt - The Data and Dollars inside PNC's Climate Strategy
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Zack Burns - How Hydroponics Feeds Giraffes and Cuts Emissions at the Zoo
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Susan VonderHaar - Permaculture and its Potential in Your Lawn
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Sarah Pottle - Clothing the Midwest Through Community and Craft
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Nathan McKee - Unpacking the Complexities of Sustainable Packaging
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Jessica Glorius-Dangelo - Sustainable Architecture Begins at the Drafting Table
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Shailah Maynard - Sew Much More Than Fashion
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary lea...
Mini Series Intro - We’re going to the Midwest!
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our mini-series covering the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit. MRSS is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing...
Tania Vanzolini - Hands on with NanoPiçule Connecting Kids with Climate
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, professors, professional...
Duccio Travaglini - Breaking Climate News With Cool Data
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, professors, professional...
Lorenzo Cercelletta - Quietly Designing a Regenerative Future
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, professors, professional...
Annamaria Tartaglia - Investing in Sustainable Style
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, professors, professional...
Francesca Cercelletta - Using iPhone Storytelling to Frame the Change
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, professors, professional...
Nihat Akin Ercan - What If You Could Drink Florida’s Humidity?
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, professors, professional...
Paolo Licata - StartUp Contest Winner Turned Workshop Leader
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, professors, professional...
Stefano Cercelletta - International Innovation Contest Climbs from the Alps to the UN
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, professors, professional...
Sara Molinari - Think Global, Act Local
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, professors, professional...
Francesca Milocco - A Week at NanoValbruna
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About This Mini SeriesThis is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, pr...
Mini Series Intro - We’re going to Italy?!?
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
About This Mini SeriesThis is our mini series about NanoValbruna. We are highlighting an international forum that brings scientists, entrepreneurs, pr...
Hemanth Setty - A Straight Line to Green Financing with Zero Circle
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hemanth Setty, founder of Zero Circle, takes us behind the scenes of his innovative B2B green finance marketplace. He discusses the challenges small a...
Hemanth Setty - Product Manager Connecting Profit and Planet
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hemanth Setty, founder of Zero Circle, a green finance marketplace, shares his unique journey from product management and supply chain analysis to bec...
Mary Leciejewski - Transforming Ohio State into a Zero Waste University
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Leciejewski, Associate Director of Environmental Sustainability at Ohio State University, shares how she and her team are tackling the enormous t...
Mary Leciejewski - Digging Into Data to Divert Waste
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Leciejewski, Associate Director of Environmental Sustainability at Ohio State University, shares her journey into the world of zero waste. From a...
Graham Oberly - A Regenerative Farming Model (Oaks and Sprouts)
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Graham Oberly, co-owner of Oaks and Sprouts farm, delves into the world of regenerative agriculture, sharing his passion for creating a farming system...
Graham Oberly - From Football Fields to Farm Fields
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to "love your neighbor" through regenerative farming?Graham Oberly, co-owner of Oaks and Sprouts farm, shares his inspirin...
Happy Holidays from Your Hosts
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dominique and Adam take a look back at a year of insightful conversations with Green Champions: celebrating reaching over 40 episodes, highlighting ke...
Nora Gerber - Diverting 10,000 Pounds with the Help of Can Fairies
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nora Gerber, Executive Director of the University District Organization, dives into the details of the innovative Can Fairy Curbside Recycling Program...
Nora Gerber - How Hometown Pride Built an Impactful Local Leader
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nora Gerber, Executive Director of the University District Organization, shares her journey from growing up in Columbus to leading hyper-local initiat...
Tyler Bonner - Pioneering Zero Waste at Outdoor Events
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tyler Bonner, founder and CEO of Zero Waste Event Productions, takes us behind the scenes of his innovative social enterprise, which is transforming t...
Tyler Bonner - From Ecotourism in the Bahamas to AmeriCorps in Appalachia
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did a degree in ecotourism adventure travel lead Tyler to a career in zero-waste event production?Tyler Bonner, founder and CEO of Zero Waste Even...
Joya Elmore - Teaching Students with Environment Based Learning, Hydroponics and Honey
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How is Joya Elmore turning her school into a zero-waste haven, one compostable pumpkin at a time?Episode in a glance- The Growers Program: Growing Foo...
Joya Elmore - How a Childhood in a Geodesic Dome Led to the Classroom
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does an environment-based classroom look like?Joya Elmore, Director of Environment-based Learning at the Wellington School, shares her inspiring ...
Neil Drobny - Crafting Curricula on Sustainability (EEDS Program)
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can we equip the next generation to tackle the complex challenges of sustainability?Neil Drobny shares his experience building academic programs t...
Neil Drobny - How a Patent in the Antarctic led to a Career in Sustainability
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can a childhood spent in nature spark a lifelong passion for sustainability? For Neil Drobny, it certainly did.Neil Drobny is the program director of ...
Erin Shaffer - Spearheading Sustainability Services within Rockwell Automation
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Erin Shaffer, a manager at Kalypso (a Rockwell Automation company), building a thriving sustainability service line within a consulting firm. Starting...
Erin Shaffer - Seeing Consulting Through a Social Impact Lens
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Erin Shaffer is a Green Champion who co-leads the sustainability and energy management service line at Kalypso, a consulting firm acquired by Rockwell...
Joe Campbell - Building Social Capital 101 [Bonus Episode]
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are the three types of social capital, and how can understanding them help you become a better advocate for sustainability?Joe Campbell, senior l...
Joe Campbell - When Life Gives You Soil, Make Carbon Credits
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2Joe Campbell shares his journey from a study abroad program in Ghana to establishing his own consulting company, Development Consulting International...
Joe Campbell - Why Asking Yourself “What Can I Do?” Is the Wrong Question
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Campbell is more than just a professor at Ohio State University. He's a passionate advocate for community building and a firm believer in the...
Brittanie Dabney - Filtering out the Facts on Forever Chemicals (PFAS and Microplastics)
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brittanie Dabney, an environmental scientist and PhD candidate shares her passion for studying harmful chemicals in our environment, focusing on micro...
Brittanie Dabney - The Environmental Scientist Diving into Contaminated Waters
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how the chemicals in our environment impact our health and ecosystems? Meet Brittanie Dabney, an environmental scientist dedica...
Zagrous Kawarizadeh - Why Recycling Old Tech Isn't as Simple as It Seems
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Columbus Micro Systems, a Columbus-based company with a 36-year history, is more than just an IT hardware and services provider. They've carved a...
Zagrous Kawarizadeh - From Building PCs to Recycling TVs
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zagrous Kawarizadeh is the president of Columbus Micro Systems, a family business with a unique perspective on sustainability. Founded in 1988, the co...
Jane Boehm - Food Waste Action Plan, 5 Years in the Making
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
SWACO, the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio led by Jane Boehm, is leading the charge to reduce food waste in the region. Through the Central Ohio...
Jane Boehm - From Agroecology Roots to Better Food Systems
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jane Boehm is a passionate advocate for reducing food waste in Central Ohio. As the Food Waste Programs Administrator at SWACO, she leads the Central ...
Kevin Butt - Toyota’s Roadmap Doesn’t Stop at Carbon Neutrality
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How is Toyota, a global automotive giant, tackling water scarcity, championing biodiversity, and redefining sustainability in manufacturing?Toyota&apo...
Kevin Butt - Three Decades of Driving Sustainability at Toyota
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Butt is the Regional Environmental Sustainability Director at Toyota North America. Kevin shares his remarkable journey from a curious young min...
Zachary Walls - The Story of a Zero Waste Cafe (Florin Coffee)
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zach Walls, the Cafe Manager at Florin Coffee, isn't just brewing delicious coffee; he's crafting a sustainable future for the coffee indust...
Joseph Klatt - Marble Plastics and the Art of Recycled Goods
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know what happens to those bread tags or misprinted 3D models? What if they could be transformed into beautiful, functional furniture?Joseph Kl...
Joseph Klatt - Closing the Loop on Plastic Waste
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that plastics are as different from each other as paper is from metal? Joseph Klatt, founder of Marble Plastics, dives into the complex w...
Aryeh Alex - Creating Green Jobs from Food Scraps
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that Columbus, Ohio generates a staggering one million pounds of food waste per day?But the city taking concrete steps towards sustainabi...
Aryeh Alex - Leveling up from Console to Conservation
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can a childhood of playing video games lead to a passion for protecting the planet?Aryeh Alex, the Executive Director of Keep Columbus Beautiful and S...
Mryia Williams - $300M Funding Solar for All
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you curious about how electric vehicle owners overcome range anxiety and embark on cross-country adventures?Mryia Williams, the Ohio Program Assoc...
Mryia Williams - Your Guide to Solar and EVs
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that you can power your electric vehicle with solar energy?Mryia Williams, Ohio Program Associate for Solar United Neighbors (SUN) and Ex...
Ray Leard - Turning Compost Into Cash
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can going the extra mile for your customers lead to a million-pound impact?Ray Leard, the "Compost King" of Central Ohio, talks about th...
Ray Leard - The Recipe for Community Around Compost
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ray Leard is dubbed as the "Compost King" for his pioneering efforts in bringing large-scale composting to Central Ohio. As the founder of t...
Dana Watts - Tying the Knot without Tying up Resources
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Picture your dream wedding. Does it include overflowing trash cans and wilting flowers? Probably not.But weddings are often surprisingly wasteful. How...
Dana Watts - Getting Hitched on Sustainability
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever stopped to think about the amount of waste generated at a typical wedding? From leftover food to floral arrangements and decor items, th...
John McNamara - The Power to Create Equity with Solar
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you imagine a future where clean energy access is the norm, creating thriving communities and a healthier planet? John McNamara is making this vis...
John McNamara - Bringing the Energy Back to the Green Team
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you imagine starting every day knowing you're making a tangible impact on climate change through renewable energy solutions? That's the ...
Lisa Goldsand - The Hyperlocal Advantage for Thrifting
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can a neighborhood thrifting initiative make a dent in the massive problem of fashion waste?Lisa Goldsand, the founder of Circular Thrift, shares her ...
Lisa Goldsand - Steering the Fashion Industry towards Sustainability
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What motivates someone to leave a 20-year corporate career in fashion to spearhead a sustainability revolution?Lisa Goldsand, founder of the hyperloca...
Grant Behnke - Building A Private Hotel Investor’s First ESG Report
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can sustainability and profit-maximization co-exist in the hotel industry?Grant Behnke, Director at Rockbridge private equity real estate firm discuss...
Grant Behnke - Intersection of Hospitality, Sustainability, and Service
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did a fascination with hotels from a young age evolve into a career championing sustainability in the hospitality industry?Grant Behnke, Director ...
Shelly Douglas - The Nation’s Largest Earth Day Service Event
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you mobilize an entire city to take action for the environment? Shelly Douglas of Green Columbus shows us how a small but mighty nonprofit can ...
Shelly Douglas - Conquer Imposter Syndrome One Tree at a Time
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that planting trees can reduce crime, lower rates of asthma, and even cool our cities? Hear the amazing story of how Shelly Douglas is le...
Adam Morris - Find Your Agency to Create Change
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam is the co-host of Green Champions and founder behind People Helping People. This dual venture offers a rich tapestry of inspiration, practical to...
Dominique Hadad - Sustainability as a Moving Target
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dominique is the co-host of Green Champions and founder of Green Scope Consulting, a company transforming organizations into zero waste operations. Wh...
Trailer - Green Champions
25 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Green Champions is a podcast by Dominique Hadad and Adam Morris, focusing on environmental change through conversations with individuals making a diff...