This Sustainable Life
Episodes
154: Why You, Famous Person, Will Like Being a Guest on this Podcast
13 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I'm sharing what value being a guest offers to influential, well-known people.I call Oprah and her peers the single-name people -- people every...
153: Sean O'Connor, part 1: From paper cups to evaluating life
12 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest, Sean, is a friend. We recorded this conversation before the podcast launched in November 2017. It took a while to get through the editi...
152: Peter Gray, part 1: Free to Learn
12 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nobody likes being coerced to do something you don't want under threat of punishment. Nor do people like being told they're wrong or ignorant by someo...
151: What Al Gore Misses
11 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I confess I haven't interacted directly with Al Gore so I don't know how he leads in person. I saw him on stage once, but the person interviewing him,...
150: Tom Murphy, part 1: Do the Math, the language of nature
08 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone thinks about the environment. Nearly everyone gets bogged down in questions.What's best?Will this or that change make a difference?What does ...
149: Ana Rocha, part 1: Cleaning Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
08 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ana works in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Executive Director for Nipe Fagio (Give Me the Broom! in Swahili), my first guest who works in Africa.This conve...
147: Ron Gonen: Closed Loop Solutions
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When I met Ron in business school, he and Recycle Bank, which he co-founded, were well regarded. He's continued to grow since.Beyond contributing into...
146: To Sam Harris: A preface following meeting at the Beacon
04 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I recorded a preface to episode 142 because I got the backstage pass, attended the meet and greet, shook Sam's hand, and asked him if he was open to a...
145: Rob Greenfield, part 1: Abundance without stuff
01 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This conversation is about joy, responsibility, community, and values you undoubtedly share.Rob Greenfield lived like an average American. He saw the ...
144: Nikole Beckwith, part 1: Education and leadership
01 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
While Nikole's being a celebrated director and writer is a great reason to feature her and listen to her, I approached her because she graduated from ...
143: Dune Ives, part 2: How Did Plastic Pollution Become Normal?
27 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Martin Luther King, Jr. talked about a negative peace, where a problem exists but people don't face it or deal with it, and a positive one, where peop...
142: To Sam Harris, whom I hope to meet backstage Friday at the Beacon Theater
25 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In End of Faith Sam Harris says "We have a choice. We have two options as human beings. We have a choice between conversation and war. That's it. Conv...
148: Dawn Riley, part 2: Minding her beeswax
23 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Right off the bat, we talk about Olympians, Americas cup winners, and a Crossfit games champion. The places Dawn brought me to were elite -- this time...
141: Dune Ives, part 1: Let's Talk Ocean Plastic
22 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you've heard about avoiding straws -- if you're actively avoiding straws -- Dune Ives and the Lonely Whale, the organization she's the Executive Di...
140: Joanne Wilson: Gotham Gal
20 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you're in entrepreneurship in New York City, you know Joanne Wilson, especially among the women entrepreneurs I talk to. She's prominent in the New...
139: Chris Voss, part 1: FBI Hostage negotiation through honesty and fun
19 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of negotiating, do you think of honesty, fun, and openness.How about hostage negotiation with terrorists?Chris Voss brings the experien...
138: A National Civilian Service Academy
16 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's post covers a dramatic proposal I see as a clear winner. It's big and bold but everyone benefits from it. Its challenges are in garnering supp...
137: Why Famous Guests
15 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast has featured some world-renowned guests, with more renown to come.Popular downloads include Dan Pink, multiple #1 bestseller, 40+ million...
136: Nataly Kogan, part 2: Happiness Comes From Skills You Can Learn
14 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Happiness comes from skills, which you can learn, which Nataly teaches.Environmental action does too. Happiness and living harmoniously with the envir...
135: Why We Want a World Without Growth
13 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
People seem to have a hard time imagining a world without growth, specifically economic growth or population growth. There's personal growth, but I'm ...
134: Tim Kopra, part 1: Viewing Earth from Space
12 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hearing an astronaut talk about space is unparalleled. I imagine anyone and everyone wants to hear about seeing Earth from space and what launch feels...
133: At Least Try
11 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When I played sports competitively, I once watched a pass go by me without trying because I thought I couldn't make a play on it. A teammate asked why...
132: Lorna Davis, part 1: C-suites and B-corps
08 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is longer, but full of inside views at a leverage point of leadership and the environment. Consulting firms and business schools wish the...
131: Dawn Riley, part 1: After winning the Americas Cup, revitalizing sailing
07 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dawn Riley has sailed in 3 Americas cups, won around the world races, and led other teams. I wish you could see the context for our conversation. We'r...
130: John Lee Dumas, part 3: One year picking up beach garbage
03 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I'm trying something new for my third conversation with John: releasing the conversation unedited. While no editing means the sound is raw, you also h...
129: Dave Gardner, part 2: "Came to relieve the burden, stayed for the joy"
01 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
David and I could have talked about growth and how many people think growth is sustainable and non-growth isn't, which seems based on a system hurtlin...
128: Sally Singer: Fashion and the Environment
31 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sally plays a big role leading an iconic brand, with her team taking it in directions no one has taken media before. She's also played ...
127: Douglas Rushkoff, part 1: Team Human
30 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You've heard that with social media, Google, and most free services, you're the product. The idea probably provoked thought when you heard it. Now it ...
126: Col. Everett Spain, part 2: West Point’s Head of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership
28 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Would you expect the army to change sooner or later than other institutions---say business, traditional education, or non-profits?Col. Spain committed...
125: Ann-Marie Heidingsfelder, part 2: Balancing priorities
27 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I learned a lot in this conversation. That's a euphemism for it being challenging for me, since her values and working style differs from mine. You'll...
124: Guilt Free
23 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Before acting on my environmental values, I felt guilty and helpless. I didn't like those feelings. All the analyzing, raising awareness, and planning...
123: Dave Gardner: Busting the Growth Myth
22 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dave saw the problems with growth to local communities, the national economy, the global economy, and the environment. He questioned the the nearly un...
122: Rosa Parks and Acting on Your Environmental Values
21 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Lately, I've thought of people who say they can't avoid plastic bags, bottles, flying. I suggest just declining, but they say they can't. Saying no re...
121: Minimalism should be called Maximalism
20 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
People see my apartment and often describe me or my lifestyle as minimalist.I don't like labeling people or being labeled, but if anything, a more apt...
120: Rules for plogging in New York City
17 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you haven't started plogging, I recommend it.What's plogging? It's a term the Swedish created for picking up garbage when you run.I've picked up at...
119: Heroin and the Environment
17 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A friend who treats opioid addicts told me about the squalor they live in. They don't see it because they're thinking about their next hit, which will...
118: Beth Comstock 2: Action creates awareness
13 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
"To start, I need to build awareness."Who hasn't said that about polluting less? It seems the standard starting point. On the contrary, it's the stand...
117: Jeffrey Madoff: Creative Careers: Making a Living With Your Ideas
10 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff teaches a class in making a living through a creative life. I've sat in on his class for years for his interviews and the guests. I don't need mo...
116: Michael O'Heaney, part 2: Less plastic, less stuff, more fun, more family
09 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
First, if you haven't watched Story of Stuff, as much as I love my podcast, watch the videos from the organization Michael O'Heaney leads---the Story ...
115: Sandy Reisky, part 2: A Superbowl Ad to reduce consumption
08 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
First, watch the video Sandy made through Generation 180, the nonprofit he started to promote reducing consumption. His for-profit companies are alrea...
114: Dave Asprey: Leading with love
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you're like me, you've heard of Bulletproof coffee. Since I don't drink coffee I didn't think much of it, but since I heard about it, I figured the...
113: Ann-Marie Heidingsfelder: A conservative voice
05 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You'll love how I met Ann-Marie, a friend whose perspective I value despite not having met in person yet.After the 2016 election, I posted a piece on ...
112: Bethany McLean, part 1: the Business and People of Fracking
01 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Bethany made her name as the first to report that Enron was overpriced, which meant going deep into the numbers and people, understanding them, and th...
111: Marion Nestle: Changing the food system
27 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Marion Nestle is a hero for me. Food may be the greatest interest that got me into acting on my environmental action. Avoiding packaged food emerged f...
110: Geoffrey West, part 3: Using science to create a vision for the future
26 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
My third conversation with Geoff covers using his research to figure out what to do.I start with a few questions on how to create a vision for the fut...
109: Flying and Polluting Helps Elect Trump
20 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is for people who detest Trump. I'll speak to people who love him in future episodes.If you pollute and emit greenhouse emissions beyond ...
108: Awareness Is A Delay Tactic, A Smokescreen
19 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to a lot of people who aren't acting on their environmental values. They explain their inaction in many ways, but one of the top ones is that t...
107: Beth Comstock, part 1: Inside the Fortune 5 C-Suite
18 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Beth personifies whom this podcast is designed to showcase: someone whose hard work, risk-taking, and personal challenge brought her to the pinnacle o...
106: Exploding the Myth that Technology Will Save Us
16 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Many people believe that technology will save many of our environmental problems. I've written and spoken on how making a polluting system more effici...
105: Evelina Utterdahl, part 2: A Month Avoiding Plastic!
29 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Evelina said she'd avoid plastic for a month before she could think twice about it. Did she complain or back out? You'll hear in this episode, but the...
104: Jared Angaza, part 2: Motherhood and Apple Pie
29 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Since appearing on his podcast, he and I have become friends. You can't hear it in this recording, but since meeting on line, I've met him in San Dieg...
103: Geoffrey West, part 2: theoretical physics and the environment
25 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In our second conversation, Geoffrey and I continue to pursue his unique approach to viewing the environment. I find it fascinating because he approac...
102: Col. Everett Spain, West Point's Head of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership
24 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Many who serve in the military become leaders in business, politics, entrepreneurship, sports, and many other places.Why?What does the military teach ...
101: Seth Godin: Work that matters for people who care
15 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I'm posting this conversation today because Seth just launched his book, This is Marketing, already a #1 bestseller. As he points out, his marketing i...
100: Michael O'Heaney: Story of Stuff
06 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Michael is the Executive Director of an organization that inspired me as much as any---The Story of Stuff. They continue to inspire me to think bigger...
099: Jethro Jones: No Excuse Stewardship
26 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Stewardship is Jethro's core message, as I heard---of his community, especially children in it, his country, and the natural world we share. This worl...
098: Would You Free Your Slaves?
24 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine you were born into a slave holding family. You didn't ask to be born into it. You didn't create the system. You didn't make slavery legal.Ever...
097: Sir Tim Smit: Changing the World with No Special Skills
23 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Smit is the co-founder and Vice Chairman of the Eden Project in Cornwall, in the southwest of England.He turned a lifeless, poisoned abandoned min...
096: Chris Bailey: Hyperfocus, The New Science of Attention
19 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Bailey shares how to focus and create intention---how to become more productive on the outside and live with more meaning and purpose on the ins...
095: How Would-be Leaders Move Us Backward
10 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I want to differentiate between telling people facts and what to do or what they should do on one side, and leading them on the other.I see a lot of p...
094: Where Reason Fails and Leadership Works
09 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Many people think if you just reason enough, you'll get to what's right and wrong in a way everyone will believe.This happens in the environment and m...
093: Want to win elections? Clean your neighborhood. Be a steward.
08 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How do we elect people, including a United States President, who act on and steward the environment?I'm going to present a plan that I believe can win...
092: Paternalism and pride: why fly to Africa to eek out minor efficiencies when we waste hundreds of times more?
06 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First world people pollute hundreds of times more than third world people yet the material prosperity doesn't translate to greater happiness.We could ...
091: What Works That We Can Build On
28 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
People ask if I think we can make it out of our environmental mess.I don't know, but I act on my values.Many examples of cultural change suggest we ca...
090: Obesity and the Environment
25 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How we treat our bodies is how we are treating our environment.How we treat the environment is how we are treating our bodies.The fat and CO2 concentr...
089: Evelina Utterdahl, part 1: Traveling the world without flying
24 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Evelina Utterdahl travels more than most. She writes travel columns. She loves travel as much as anyone, maybe more.Yet she c...
088: Bea Johnson: The Priestess of Waste-Free Living
20 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Bea has become a role model, maybe even a hero to me.People keep saying they're impressed with my waste. It's easy to allow your standards to slide.On...
087: The U.S. Constitution guides my environmental behavior
17 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why do I think about the United States Constitution when my pressure cooker finishes cooking? Or when I leave a room?The U.S. Constitution guides my e...
086: Awareness means nothing. Or less.
12 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Neither the environment nor your life responds to your awareness. They respond to your behavior.People who speak the truth say, "I'm telling the truth...
085: Daniel Bauer, part 2, Going car-free is beautiful
11 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Going car-free is beautifulDaniel got rid of a car! He chose to from Texas!And he thanks me for inspiring him.Would you think losing a car would cripp...
084: Geoffrey West, part 1: Simplicity beneath it all
10 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Geoffrey West's work beautifully and elegantly ties biology to how we interact with our environment. Amazingly, his unique views lead to the same conc...
083: Alisa Cohn, part2: Gurus are people too
08 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Alisa shares what happens behind the scenes to everyone, including world-ranked coaches and speakers.Listening to a podcast with leadership in the tit...
082: Ben Feder, Part 1, Take off your shoes
07 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Feder is a high level executive who realized he was losing the things that were important to him due to his pursuit of success -- until then defin...
081: Jonathan Haidt: The Coddling of the American Mind
04 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I met Jonathan at the World Science Festival and recorded a podcast interview of him that changed my approach to leadership—in principle a...
080: Nataly Kogan, Part 1, Influencing others to live happier
31 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Happier NowNataly starts by sharing her personal story of her family escaping Russia to America, navigating life with immigrant parents. She shares so...
079: Andrew Revkin, Part 1; Global Warming, pollution, and hope for our future
28 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I met Andrew Revkin through the World Science Festival this year, then recorded at my visited me in my New York apartment. I wish I could have brought...
078: When Did Polluting Become Normal?
23 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
People seem impressed when people don't pollute. They say, "That's so good of you!"If not polluting is good, doesn't that mean polluting is normal?I d...
077: Overcoming adversity while still finding the fire; Scott Mautz, Part 2
21 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes what looks like a hurdle activates your team.Scott details how he launched his book---last I checked at 96% 5-star reviews. He tells it from...
076: You learned leadership wrong; New England Patriot Marquis Flowers
17 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Which is more common - an athlete becoming a leading political figure, or a political figure becoming an athlete? After talking to Marquis Flowers of ...
075: Palestine and Coffee; RJ Khalaf, part 3
16 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Even leaders need to remember to check-in and communicate with their closest friends.In RJ's third conversation here, he shares what integrity, listen...
074: Scott Mautz, part 1, Finding the Fire
15 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Scott takes on a three-part challenge in this episode . . in the middle of a book launch!We discuss how Scott is bringing his experience running multi...
073: Sustainable resources on a global scale; Jared Angaza, Part 1
14 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jared and I have deep, engaging conversations, starting from before my appearances on his podcast a year before we recorded this one.You’ll hear we ...
072: Teaching leaders how to lead; Daniel Bauer, Part 1
10 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
(Spoiler alert: Daniel takes on the biggest challenge so far. You could argue his circumstances make it easier than it sounds, but he's coming from Te...
071: The importance of high-level coaching; Jordan Harbinger, Part 1
07 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jordan and I got to be friends over a decade ago before he moved to California. We'd get burritos around the corner from my place.In the meantime we t...
070: Seth Godin: a teaser
02 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This short recording is a teaser for my full interview with Seth Godin, who needs no introduction. It begins and ends with messages from Seth, sandwic...
069: Why you will follow me to fly less
01 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
2 minutes and 53 seconds to show you the trends people are following back to what used to be normal and healthy.Fight against clean and pure all you w...
068: "You've got to do what you believe in"; Tensie Whelan, part 2
27 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tensie and I talked about wine, creating and changing habits, and eating bugs, which happens when you work with the Rainforest Alliance.We also talk a...
067: Become a person of value: John Lee Dumas, part 2
25 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
John Lee Dumas took on one of the biggest and longest-term commitment of any guest. Six months in and he's only half through it.He also inspired me ba...
066: "And that is how you make progress"; Dorie Clark, part 2
23 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Dorie shares about the six-month habit she committed to---one of the longest of any guest.Wait, can you just decide one day to start or stop a habit? ...
065: Inspiring others through action; Jeff Brown, Part 4
20 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast continues to break ground.Jeff Brown returns for an unprecedented 4th time. We dive deeper into his work with his home owners association...
064: The world has become more colorful; Balint Horvath, Part 3
17 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Does sacrificing something you love mean a worse life?Balint shares his enthusiasm to experiment and find new recipes, tastes and experiences---I woul...
063: Technology won’t solve environmental issues and you know it
13 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If anything marked the beginning of the industrial revolution, it was James Watt’s steam engine. It wasn’t the first steam engine, but was more ef...
062: Business and systemic change: Michael Lenox, part 2
12 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Michael's book tour was taking him to China, up and down the U.S. east coast, and across the country, but he kept at his commitment. Tell me if you do...
060: Consistent change creates big improvements; Robbie Samuels, Part 2
10 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Right off the bat you can hear my joy to hear how composting has changed Robbie’s life. I used to see composting as an odd thing that I probably sho...
061: The Rainforest Alliance, United Nations, and NYU-Stern: Tensie Whelan
09 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tensie is helping unravel my preconceived notions of academics focusing more on facts than action.Maybe because she was President of the Rainforest Al...
059: The domino effect of creating change; Balint Horvath, part 2
06 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Balint took on one of the bigger challenges on this podcast---one that nearly everyone knows the value of, many mean to do, but few do. He cut his bee...
058: Sailing, fishing, conserving, and the snap of halyards: David Allen, part 2
04 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
David and I talked about the ocean, water, and sailing in this conversation for a couple reasons.For one thing, we find open water beautiful.For anoth...
057: The power of relationship building; Robbie Samuels, Part 1
03 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you start with your passion and what you care about?Robbie Samuels is also a podcaster who has created great relationships through h...
056: The joys of leading a movement; Jeff Brown, Part 3
29 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Can you enjoy leading a movement to change a neighborhood?In this episode we dive deeper into Jeff's experience leading the charge to bring recycling ...
055: Our first Leadership and the Environment Panel of Experts
26 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you care about the environment?Do you care about leading?The Leadership and the Environment podcastNYU’s School of Liberal Studies...