Episode 13: Embracing Earth's Embrace
Welcome to The Mirror Project!
Welcome back to The Mirror Project! I'm Christine, and I'm Alexandra, and we're thrilled to have you join us for a conversation that's near and dear to our hearts: our precious Mother Earth. With Earth Day just around the corner on April 22nd, it's the perfect time to turn our focus to environmentalism and sustainability. So, let's roll up our sleeves and delve into this vital discussion. Are you ready? Let's dive in!
Stay Connected
Before we delve into today's discussion, make sure to like, subscribe, or follow us on your preferred listening platform. Take a moment to do it now – we'll be waiting for you!
Our Journeys
Let's kick things off by addressing the million-dollar question: What sparked our interest in environmental causes and sustainability? It's a journey we've both embarked on, seemingly for a lifetime, and we're eager to delve deeper into our experiences. As we navigate our environmental journey, we pause to reminisce on standout moments that shaped our perspectives. From encounters with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to unforgettable memories, we share personal anecdotes that fueled our passion for sustainability.
Groups, Movements, & People
Let's shine a spotlight on the environmental movements and individuals making waves. From zero waste initiatives to the inspiring innovations that Sam Bentley (@sambentley) shares from various innovators, we explore what resonates with us. In a world rife with blame, we advocate for a shift towards solutions. What do we want to see less of in the environmental discourse, and how can we channel our energies towards constructive action? Building on our vision for a sustainable future, we envision the changes and initiatives we'd love to witness in the environmental movement. What positive developments do we hope to see more of, and how can we contribute to their realization?
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Our Individual Aims for the Next Year
As we chart our course for the year ahead, we hone in on one or two key environmental focuses. What specific goals do we each aim to prioritize in our personal sustainability journeys? Embracing change often requires sacrificing old habits or behaviors. What are we willing to give up or modify to align with our environmental values? It's a crucial step towards creating meaningful impact. Accountability is key to driving progress. We explore strategies to hold ourselves, as well as our friends and family, accountable to environmental causes. How can we foster awareness and action within our inner circles?
Closing Thoughts
As we wrap up today's conversation, it's clear that our exploration of environmentalism has only just begun. We'd love to hear from you – what topics did we miss, and who or what inspires you in the environmental movement? Share your stories and insights by commenting on this episode's post or sending us a DM. Join us next week as we embark on a journey to explore new and familiar landscapes. Until then, stay curious and environmentally conscious, friends!
Support Our Journey
If you're enjoying our discussions, consider supporting us through our Buy Us a Coffee. Every contribution helps us continue creating content we're passionate about. Find the link in our show notes or visit our Linktr.ee.
Join Us Next Time
Before we sign off, make sure to like, subscribe, or follow us on your preferred listening platform. We'll catch you next time for another engaging episode of The Mirror Project! Until then, take care and keep the conversation going!
Hello and welcome to the Mirror Project.
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:We are your hosts, Christine,
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:Alexandra: And Alexandra.
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:Christine: and we are so
glad you are joining us.
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:Today, we're diving deep into
a topic close to our hearts,
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:our beloved Mother Earth.
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:As we gear up for Earth Day, day on April
22nd, we're turning our attention to
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:environmental concerns and sustainability.
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:So buckle up because we're about
to embark on an insightful journey.
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:Let's dive into this important
discussion and unpack the issues at hand.
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:Alexandra: Before we dive in today's
topic, like, subscribe, or follow us
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:on your preferred listening platform.
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:Go ahead, pause, and do
it now before you forget.
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:Don't worry, we won't
get started without you.
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:Christine: All righty.
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:So Alexandra, why don't you kick us
off and share with us what piqued
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:your interest in this topic and these
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:Alexandra: Hmm.
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:So I kind of remember it being
always a part of my life.
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:I grew up in Southern California
where there was a lot of environmental
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:consciousness, I would say.
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:And I remember doing, if it was like a
canal cleanup with my dad and his company
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:when I was really small, but I would say
it really came to about in high school.
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:My AP World History teacher had shared
information about a group called
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:the Surfrider Foundation and I got
involved in the local chapter there
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:in Huntington Beach and I loved it
because we got to clean up some beaches
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:because there was so much So much waste.
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:I mean, cigarette butts,
needles, all the things.
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:So it was really cool
to be part of a group.
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:And they also talked about things like
collecting rainwater and rain barrels.
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:And so there was a lot of
definitely that influence on
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:my life in Southern California.
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:And in high school, there's a
huge ordinance in, I think Orange
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:County that was banned the bag.
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:So.
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:We weren't allowed to get plastic
bags at markets or anything.
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:So if you did, I think they charged
you like 10 cents or something a piece
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:until it was really almost habit.
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:And for people to bring
their reusable shopping bags.
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:So that was really cool.
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:And then I think when I was starting
to go off into college is when I heard
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:more about the zero waste movement.
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:And I, That was so cool to me.
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:I was like, this is so awesome that
people are like trying to live their
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:life without plastic because like how
dependent is our life on convenience
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:and a lot of that comes with plastic.
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:So I think that's where
I really got my start.
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:But you know, I just, I love
the planet that we live on
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:and want to take care of it.
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:So I think that's always been
near and dear to my heart.
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:What about you, Christine?
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:How did you get started?
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:Christine: well, thinking back I
think, you know, the ways in which
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:I first got involved really started.
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:I was a Girl Scout growing up.
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:I went through the whole thing.
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:I got my gold award, which
is the highest award that you
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:can receive as a Girl Scout.
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:And, you know, I think back fondly
on my time with that organization and
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:with the group, my, my troop and we
did so many fun and different things.
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:And as you were talking about your, what
you got involved with It made me remember
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:different beach initiatives we helped
with when I was a Girl Scout and one
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:in particular was protecting, it was an
initiative to protect our beaches because
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:I think about the first time I, I went
out to California with you and seeing,
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:I've never, that was my first time on the
West Coast and seeing the beaches you have
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:out there and I kid you not, I looked at
where the land ended and the, and the,
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:the ocean started and looking at that
beach and I was like, that's a mile long.
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:Because.
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:Alexandra: Can you imagine
what it was like for me to
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:go to New Jersey and go, what
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:Christine: beach?
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:Alexandra: it's the
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:Christine: I know.
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:Alexandra: then the whole thing of paying
to get onto the beach was just a wild.
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:Christine: Yeah.
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:Yeah.
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:Welcome to New Jersey.
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:There are, there are maybe two beaches
in New Jersey where you don't have
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:to pay to get on the beach, but
you, you, they get you elsewhere.
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:I think you have to pay like
a million dollars to park near
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:the beach or whatever, but yeah.
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:Alexandra: paid for parking at the beaches
in California and it was different between
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:city or state beach, but you know, Hey,
if you could park far away and walk.
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:You did.
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:Christine: and yes, a similar case
here because well, New Jersey.
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:We're a smaller state.
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:It's, it's hard to get
a prime parking spot.
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:Luckily you don't have to
park at least in the beaches.
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:I grew up going to, but the beaches here
in New Jersey are like not even, they're
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:less than half the size of the beach I
saw at, in California in Huntington beach.
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:I was like, Oh my God, I, I like my
beach because I won't be exhausted
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:by the time I get out there and,
you know, just going to the beach.
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:A little bit of a tangent going to the
beach is already such a production like
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:you got to bring all your stuff and you
got to make sure you have a lunch or
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:snacks or because you're essentially
moving out onto the beach for the day.
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:Anyway, I digress.
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:thinking About the beach initiative
we got involved in, which was
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:because our beaches are small.
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:Where we, we want to try and protect our
beaches from erosion, essentially from
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:the ocean, and I remember fondly going
out and planting seagrasses into dunes,
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:because another thing, because the beaches
are so short here in New Jersey, we build
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:up dunes to protect the land, you know.
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:They're an okay first line of defense,
but, you know, things still happen.
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:I think back to her, to her yeah,
Superstorm Sandy, which I don't know
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:why they downgraded it from a hurricane
because that's essentially what it
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:was, but we call it Superstorm Sandy.
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:So that's sort of my first one of
the first memories that came to
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:mind when we first started shooting.
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:Talking about this and a lot of what sort
of spurred my interest in environmentalism
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:and learning how we can take care of our
Earth better really did start with the
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:beach for me because I love, as I was just
talking about, I love going to the beach.
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:It's one of my favorite places to
be and I agree, I want to take care
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:of our Earth because If we take
care of her, she'll take care of us.
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:So that's where,
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:Alexandra: Can I add one more story
to you know, we, we both talked
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:to Beach about the beach, but my
grandfather used to have a house up
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:in Lake Tahoe on the California side.
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:Cause it splits Nevada and California.
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:Yeah.
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:And.
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:Until we just got talking, I
really didn't think of it as, Oh,
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:this is an environmental thing.
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:But I remember learning
Southern California.
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:Like there was, I feel like there
was constantly a drought when I, when
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:I grew up we had like El Ninos and
then there was the Santa Ana winds.
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:So it was very dry and windy.
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:And like during, I guess, for lack
of a better term, fire season,
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:like, air would get kind of ashy
and clouded and hard to breathe.
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:But going up to the mountains,
something very common, I feel
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:like in Southern California was
the idea of Smokey the Bear.
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:And he talked about fire
safety and wildfire.
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:And now that I'm thinking about
it, I'm like, oh, that's not super
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:environmental, but it kind of is, right?
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:Because it's how We as humans behave
and what we can do to not accidentally
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:cause wildfires and, you know, like
fully putting out your cigarette butts
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:and properly disposing of them or don't
leaving fires unattended and it makes
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:me think of, I don't remember when it
was, but maybe during COVID, do you,
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:do you remember seeing that couple that
was in California and doing one of those
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:gender reveal parties and it set off a
smoke thing and it ended up catching fire
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:and, um, it got picked up.
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:Yeah, it got so big.
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:I think there was a couple
like property destruction.
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:I don't know if people were
hurt, but it was, it was massive.
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:And I was like, seriously, I feel
like that was the silliest thing
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:to do in Southern California
with all of that messaging from
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:childhood, you know, drilled into us.
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:So
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:that made me think of
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:Christine: yeah.
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:Well, to your point, like I noticed now.
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:When I checked the weather every
day, especially when we get into the
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:summer and it gets drier, you know,
they're constantly telling you when
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:to not, and when to not light a fire
because of the wind or how dry it is.
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:Like brush fires are so damaging.
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:Like there, it really takes no time at
all to have a devastating fire catch.
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:to your point about education, for
me growing up, like you growing up in
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:Southern California, Smokey the Bear, I
remember growing up here in New Jersey
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:not so much when it comes to wildfires,
but at least in the school I grew up
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:going to, like, education around recycling
was really big and Learning what, what
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:recycling is and what those numbers mean
on the bottom of, of your, your plastic
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:tin or containers and things like that.
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:And, As I've gotten older, learning,
learning how misleading that all had,
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:had been at one point, and I don't know
about you, but it certainly was a little
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:discouraging for me, but it impacted, it
has impacted how I look at moving through
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:the world going forward talking about
the plastic bag initiatives that you had
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:in place when you were a kid growing up.
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:That hasn't hit New Jersey
until a year or two ago.
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:Like there are now no plastic bags here
in New Jersey, but I, you know, whenever
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:I order, order in food, I, https: otter.
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:ai
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:Alexandra: hmm.
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:Mm
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:Christine: I try not to feel super guilty
about all of the plastic containers,
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:takeout containers I, I now get and
I try and hang on to a couple of them
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:just to re, reuse them or, or recycle
them properly, but it, certainly
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:has opened my eyes a lot, diving in
more, learning more about what it
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:means to recycle, what, what lies the
government has shared about recycling.
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:And then too, also thinking, you know,
there's many around the, around the
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:world, but in the last, I'd want to
say, five years learning about the
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:great the great Pacific garbage patch
off the coast of California and just
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:Alexandra: Mm hmm.
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:Christine: how at times that has
made me feel a little hopeless.
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:But then I read about these wonderful
organizations like the ocean cleanup
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:initiative who are like pushing every
day to clean up the mess we have made.
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:And that just makes me want to
focus on like, okay, how do I not
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:keep contributing to this issue?
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:How do I make the small changes?
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:Alexandra: Definitely.
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:Christine: think that's where
I sort of find myself today.
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:And I, I love that we're talking
about this because I think we
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:need to talk about it more.
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:Alexandra: Yeah.
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:I
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:say, I definitely think that this is
something that should be a recurring
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:topic here in this space, because I
would love to hear from our listeners,
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:like what they're interested in.
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:And, or, or if today we miss something
that they want to hear about, that we
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:can kind of connect with other people.
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:And as you, as you said earlier,
start to make the changes.
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:With ourselves to start with, you
know, it's like a, it's a step forward.
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:But yeah, so Christy, where are you
in your journey today with this?
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:Like, what are, what's up with you?
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:What are you doing?
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:Christine: well, I think, you know,
I'm going to make this disclaimer.
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:I know, I don't know nearly enough
about this issue, so I want to
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:continue to learn more about it.
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:I certainly try to make
those small changes.
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:I have my reusable bags with me
whenever I go to the grocery store.
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:I've tried to eliminate plastic as
much as I can from my day to day.
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:Like, even when I'm like in the kitchen
cooking, storing things, I'd rather have
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:like glass containers things that'll,
you know, have a longer life And like
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:carrying around my, my water bottle rather
I think about, you know, every time I
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:go, every time I go out to eat, I'm happy
that people have made the swift, the
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:switch from plastic straws to a different,
more environmentally conscious one.
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:I hate the paper ones, but
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:Alexandra: fact, those are
actually not super environmentally
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:Christine: is it because
they're covered in like a their
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:Alexandra: So they are not recyclable.
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:Yeah.
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:And they're not great.
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:So,
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:you know, metal or
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:silicone or
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:Christine: No,
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:not
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:Alexandra: think the paper part might,
but the, the coating is the problem.
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:So I think like things
like glass or metal,
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:I think I've seen bamboo straws, silicone.
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:Christine: and then I think even
like straws that you can straws
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:that you can now get at Starbucks I
could be mistaken, but they might be
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:made with biodegradable materials.
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:Like it's not, it's not a paper one.
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:But you know those are
small little changes.
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:And then sometimes I even just opt out.
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:I don't need a straw at all.
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:Anyway, so those are some, those
are some little changes I focus on.
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:That's where I find myself today.
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:But what about you, Alexandra?
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:Alexandra: Oh, wow.
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:Okay.
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:So like, Christine, I don't know
nearly as much as I would love to know.
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:And I am not a hundred percent
perfect at any of this.
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:And I think I kind of get into that
guilt cycle of like, Oh, I didn't
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:do this one thing this one time.
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:So I ended up with a plastic cup from
Starbucks and straw and like, Oh shoot.
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:You know, so kind of
going, Hey, you know what?
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:Once in a while, not the biggest
deal in the world, just every day.
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:And I think part of it too is feeling
comfortable being the person that people
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:will kind of like give a weird look to
when you come up with your own cup, which
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:is getting more and more common now.
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:But I still feel like There's
times where people like, what?
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:And, and like, I'd love to feel confident
and comfortable bringing my own containers
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:into the grocery store to, to pick out
like deli meats instead of getting it in
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:the plastic bag, kind of just doing that.
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:So that is something I want to
work on and where I'm currently at
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:is that I really want to do this
and I'm dedicated to doing it.
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:But Not feeling comfortable or confident
doing it because it's so weird It's so
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:out of the thing and that has more to do
with my own, you know, my own shit but One
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:thing I do love is I hate plastic utensils
and stuff Like I just dislike them, but
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:I I think I want to get another set.
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:I have a set of reusable silverware
So I have one in my lunch bag that I
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:bring to and from work and it's got
a set of chopsticks, two different
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:straws, like a straight and a angled
one fork, spoon, and oh, straw cleaner.
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:So I'd love to get another
one and it comes in this nice
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:handy dandy pouch that zips.
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:And so sometimes when I don't have
my reusable coffee cup with me, if
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:I go across the street from work to
pick up a coffee and it's an iced
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:drink, I'll get the plastic because
I believe those are typically more
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:recyclable than the, you can't recycle
the paper cups from hot coffee.
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:And I'll, I'll come back to work and
they're like, Oh, do you want a straw?
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:I'm like, no, no, I've
I've got one at work.
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:I'm good.
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:I'll use my middle straw there.
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:And I'm the weird person that I don't
actually, I don't want to say I'm weird.
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:I'm I'm the person who thinks.
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:And when I finished a drink or something,
I try to rinse out the paper cups.
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:Either the paper cup part and the
plastic lid or all the plastic and
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:actually properly separate like
the plastic lids into the recycling
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:and the paper into the trash.
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:But yeah, it's, it's really, I
think part of it is realizing
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:that it's not going to be easy.
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:And that's where I've been for a while.
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:Like I think I'm like, Oh,
let me make the switch.
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:It'll be easy, but like, no, it
takes forethought and planning.
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:And so.
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:Really trying to think about
that for thought and planning,
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:I think is where I'm at.
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:So trying to have stuff in my car, like
I've got all my reusable bags, but maybe I
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:should build up a car travel kit for like
a collapsible coffee mug that's silicone.
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:So like, hey, if I'm on the road,
I can use that instead of, you
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:know, having to take a paper cup.
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:Christine: Yeah, I think
that's, I think that's great.
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:And to your point that you made
about trying to not feel guilty
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:and like that it's okay every once
in a while, you're not perfect.
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:I think that's a great point because
it, when that does happen, it's just
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:a reminder for you, but it shows,
that you're conscious of it, right?
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:I think a lot of people just existing
today, not really thinking about
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:how they're, how they're impacting
the world around them in a myriad of
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:ways, but especially our environment.
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:And I think that's, you and I are
aligned there because every time.
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:I too, you know, end up with a
takeout container or the plastic
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:cup from Starbucks or whatever.
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:I think about it and I think
that's, that right there is a big
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:first step because I don't think
a lot of people think about this.
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:Alexandra: no, and it's almost like I'm
to the point where I would rather have
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:the plastic cup or container from takeaway
food than the, the paper ones or the,
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:the theoretically more environmental,
because at least if the plastic gets to
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:a recycling plant, like I know it will
be, can be recycled versus the ones
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:with the, the paper with the lining,
the coating that can't be recycled.
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:Or so it is, it's very
interesting to see that shift.
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:It's like, okay, if there's
going to be plastic.
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:What kind of plastic kind of stuff so
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:Christine: We didn't
even touch on styrofoam.
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:Alexandra: God styrofoam needs to go
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:Christine: Yeah.
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:Alexandra: But like you said sometimes it
is so big and it feels kind of hopeless
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:But then you know read stories and hear
things and go, okay, I can do this one
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:small piece or there is big There are
people thinking and innovating new ways
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:to use that trash in different ways.
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:Christine: Yeah, exactly.
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:Alexandra: I feel like that's a perfect
segue into our next section where we
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:want to kind of delve into the groups
and movements and people that we've
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:seen in the sphere that we like.
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:So Christine, is there anything,
you know, movement wise or people
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:that you follow like, and love to
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:Christine: Yeah.
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:So I think you, you're going
to bring it up in a moment.
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:So I won't, I won't bring that
up because you, you shared a lot
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:of his, his content with me.
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:But anyway, I'll leave it
for Alexandra to share.
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:But I mentioned it a little while
ago, the ocean cleanup organization.
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:I when I started first diving
into learning more about the issue
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:of the plastic in our oceans and
the great Pacific garbage patch
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:and microplastics and just, ooh,
went down a rabbit hole there.
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:But the organization that I really
Learned a lot about and came to really
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:have a lot of respect for and have
been following over the last couple of
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:years is the ocean cleanup and seeing
the work that they do and the, and
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:the inventions they've come up with
to capture, not just the big pieces of
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:plastic that are floating out in our
oceans and in rivers that end up dumping
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:in the ocean, but the microplastic.
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:And.
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:Alexandra: And I think there's even
a smaller category now, nanoplastics.
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:And yeah, in that wild
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:Christine: That is so wild.
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:I mean, there's plastic
in our bodies right now.
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:It's in our drinking water.
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:It's on the tops of mountains
because it's so small that it
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:evaporates and then comes down.
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:Like, it's, it's a, it's a lot.
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:try
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:Alexandra: could, I could audibly and
visually see Christine hold, hold it back.
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:Christine: Oh my gosh.
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:So that's, that's one
I, I have come to mind.
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:But how about, how about you, Alexandra?
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:What are some?
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:Organizations are people.
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:Alexandra: okay, so.
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:Before I talk about the one that
Christine had hinted at I think one of
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:the things that I really was excited
about was the zero waste movement
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:that I learned about kind of before
I went into college around:
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:And I remember, cannot remember the
woman's name, but she had the I think
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:her handle is Trashes for Tossers and I
remember seeing a late night interview
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:with her on the television and, and
it kind of opened my world to the
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:idea of like all of her garbage for a
year fit in a mason jar kind of thing.
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:And I thought that was really cool
and I started delving more into
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:zero waste products like toothpaste
and deodorant and that kind of
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:led me to more of like thinking
about how I live my life with more
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:natural for lack of a better
word, but things that come
369
:more directly from the earth.
370
:In terms of products, skincare, and
by the way, I am by no means perfect.
371
:I was a major Sephora aholic in
college, as Christine can attest to.
372
:We both love to spend
time in the makeup aisle.
373
:Christine: we
374
:Alexandra: And I think I got distracted
by the, the asceticism that seemed to
375
:come with people who were zero waste
minded, and realizing, That that is
376
:a very specific group of people who
can do that and if you can do that
377
:that's awesome and like have that very
like all your trash in a single jar.
378
:And I recently, I would say more within
the past year or two, have started
379
:following people on Instagram who
have a different view of zero waste.
380
:It's still like zero
waste, but really reusing.
381
:So like, Christine, you mentioned
like the takeaway food containers,
382
:like they keep them and reuse them
and reuse them and reuse them.
383
:So that kind of provided a more balanced,
less extreme view of zero waste.
384
:And, and something that is more
approachable for most people.
385
:And, and people in that space
have talked about like the
386
:ideal zero waste is very hard.
387
:And.
388
:In the sense that it is off
putting to people feeling like,
389
:I'll never be that, so why try?
390
:So, making it more approachable.
391
:And then since both Kristi and I live
in the States I don't know where I
392
:heard this, but there's a, a grocer
in Canada, I want to say in Ottawa or
393
:something called Bulk Barn, and it is,
Like you could bring your own containers
394
:and they will tear it and you can buy
stuff in bulk and It's supposed to be
395
:like a zero waste type grocery store.
396
:So there's not really any plastic or
waste created I was like this needs
397
:to come to the States so that got
me super excited and as as Christine
398
:hinted earlier the person that I started
following I think it just came up on
399
:my for you feed Once was Sam Bentley
and his page is called Sam and then
400
:kind of a space in sustainable living.
401
:I think he's based out of the UK and he
talks about all these people who come
402
:up with different inventions on how
to, you know, deal with plastic waste
403
:problems or circumvent even using plastic
or just more environmental initiatives.
404
:Like I thought one that was really cool
was a Kind of a porous sidewalk material,
405
:and so it was supposed to help with
drainage for water instead of flooding
406
:streets, but you know, there's some
limitations with that technology right
407
:now like cars can't necessarily drive
on it or a lot of cars, so I was like,
408
:I'd love to see a lot more of this kind
of, you know, Go into the different
409
:parts of the world and be adopted
and so stuff like that gives me hope.
410
:But yeah, that Oh, and with, as
we've talked about before, I'm
411
:doing an MBA and both of the
classes, this term that I'm taking.
412
:Have kind of strategic management
has touched on the concept of
413
:shared creating shared value.
414
:And then innovations has talked
about the circular economy, which I
415
:think is something that definitely
businesses need to shift more into to
416
:create things that 1 use less plastic
or create less environmental waste.
417
:And really think consciously about.
418
:Not just creating a product, but how that
product will be recycled, how it will be
419
:reused, and what portion of it will end
up as waste and really thinking through,
420
:through the longevity of the product.
421
:And I think a shift towards that
mentality will really help overall.
422
:Christine: Absolutely.
423
:Alexandra: Those are the
things that get me jazzed.
424
:Christine: Yeah, , I'll just bring
up a one thing that you actually
425
:introduced me to back in college.
426
:The video you shared with me was funny,
but it was talking about solar roadways.
427
:Alexandra: Oh yeah, solar fricking
428
:Christine: Yeah, but it was so, it
was, it was one of the things in,
429
:I don't know, that one of the first
things I saw in terms of like an an
430
:invention that was turning something.
431
:That people use every day.
432
:They drive on them every day.
433
:And using that to create Energy for
us rather than focusing on rather than
434
:relying on gas or, or things like that.
435
:So that's just one thing that popped
into my head that I wanted to share.
436
:So if anybody else out, if anybody out
there hasn't heard about solar roadways I
437
:don't know if it'll ever become a thing,
but it's certainly a, a fascinating one.
438
:And honestly, with the rise of LED
screens, LED, like watching like the
439
:Superbowl or something and stages
and people using that technology.
440
:I don't see why we, why we would, would
not make the investment to shift our
441
:roadways because living here in New
Jersey, we're coming out of winter
442
:and the potholes are pretty bad.
443
:They're not holes, they're chasms.
444
:My poor car.
445
:The suspension always
gets, gets banged around.
446
:But anyway why don't we talk a little
bit about what we want to see more of and
447
:what we want to see a little bit less of.
448
:Alexandra, you want to kick us off?
449
:Alexandra: Oh, sure.
450
:Okay.
451
:I feel like there's so
much that I want to see
452
:Christine: Yeah, and, and just to
clarify, that's in terms of like
453
:and our environmental changes
going forward and harmful ones.
454
:Alexandra: so the biggest thing I would
like to see is less blame going around.
455
:I think it's so easy for us to fall
into the, the trap, the human way of
456
:blaming somebody else for the problem.
457
:Like, Oh, I don't have to worry about it.
458
:I don't have to fix it.
459
:You're like, Oh, it's government.
460
:Oh, no, it's business.
461
:Oh, no, it's individuals.
462
:Okay.
463
:Can we just take the blame off the table
and figure out a different way forward?
464
:Because honestly, what is figuring out
who is to blame going to do for us?
465
:Not, not a whole lot.
466
:I don't think, I think
it's just distracting.
467
:Christine: think that
is 100 percent right.
468
:It's distracting.
469
:I think, I think perhaps our government
is using that to distract us and
470
:from keeping things moving forward.
471
:But, what do I know?
472
:I'm just a little Little Christine
living here in New Jersey.
473
:But anyway, sorry to interrupt you.
474
:Alexandra: No, it's okay.
475
:And I think with that, I'd love
to see more innovation of really
476
:reusing how to recycle some of
the harder to recycle things.
477
:What are ways that can be and innovation.
478
:in value chains, in creating shared
values between companies and local
479
:clusters of groups that can benefit
economically and socially from things.
480
:So I think it's really about changing
how we think about business as
481
:operating will be a major step forward.
482
:And part of this comes up with as I
mentioned, this term kind of Circled
483
:around some of that stuff like strategic
management and choices that we make.
484
:Christine: your, this is your, your
your current term for your MBA, right?
485
:That's what we're.
486
:Alexandra: Yes.
487
:Yeah.
488
:Yeah, like deep in the trenches of this
489
:term.
490
:Christine: I'm certainly
learning a lot by proxy, but.
491
:Alexandra: And it's kind of funny that we
were talking about this because from my
492
:innovations class my team and I, we had
to do this human flourishing innovation
493
:process around a wicked problem.
494
:And the problem that our professor set for
us was develop an innovation to address
495
:the single use plastics in a company.
496
:And so we, we picked a company
and we were looking at the.
497
:plastic stretch wrap that they use in
logistics and transportation because
498
:plastic stretch wrap is one, one use only.
499
:Like you put it on, you
cut it off and that's it.
500
:Can't use it again.
501
:And so much of it is used in this
company that we're working with.
502
:To develop an innovation for, they're
like, we really work to recycle it.
503
:They pick it up and they'll bail it.
504
:And the recycling
company will come get it.
505
:Once it's bailed, he said, but that's only
about, I think he, the person we spoke to
506
:was said 40 to 50 percent was recycled.
507
:So that means 50 to 60 percent is.
508
:thrown into a trash, maybe
caught into a recycling bin when
509
:the drivers are on the road.
510
:So we, there's so much to this process,
right, to do this innovation thing.
511
:And part of it was secondary research.
512
:So I was looking up like EU has so
in Europe they have more, Legislation
513
:around removing plastics from
business and being responsible.
514
:But there's a lot of, yeah,
great, get rid of plastics.
515
:But there's very little directive
on is it the consumer who's
516
:responsible, is it the producer?
517
:And so kind of, and figuring
out what is recyclable.
518
:Apparently plastic stretch
wrap is recyclable, but it has
519
:to get there kind of thing.
520
:So all this stuff around.
521
:You know, macro, micro and
anaplastics know it's bad.
522
:So what can we do to do it?
523
:And we kind of came up with a
cool invention that meets the
524
:needs of what this company needs.
525
:The plastic stretch wrap to do and
coming to material, we had a whole
526
:long conversation and I think we've
kind of settled on a level two plastic.
527
:So it would be the, the two and the
recycling, the two or three because
528
:there's concerns of hygiene and Hygiene,
you know, plastic can be very hygienic.
529
:You can clean it, you can sanitize
it but we were like, okay, if we do
530
:plastic, because we're trying to get
rid of single use plastic, what is
531
:the one that can be recycled very
easily, and how can we think about the
532
:product, not just what it needs to be
right now, but through its life cycle.
533
:So, It was a really interesting
way to look at stuff.
534
:So I'd love to see more companies thinking
about their product, their packaging
535
:in that way of not just like, what
is it right now, but what will it be?
536
:I think, who is it?
537
:Patagonia is a great company.
538
:If you want to learn more about circular
economy kind of stuff, they, they really
539
:work to say, we take only what we need.
540
:They try to work with more sustainable
cotton growing and materials and
541
:Because they're an outdoor company,
they found out some of the coating that
542
:they would apply to fabric to make it
waterproof was toxic to the environment.
543
:So changing, you know, what is, what
would a different formula, how can
544
:we accomplish that and differently?
545
:So I think I'd love to see more of
that, just kind of thinking outside the
546
:box of what we think is possible and
coming up with new ways to do stuff.
547
:But yeah, that's kind of what
I'd love to see more and less of.
548
:What about you, Christine?
549
:Anything top of mind?
550
:Christine: Oh boy.
551
:I mean, I, I really agree with
everything you were bringing up and,
552
:I think the big thing I want to see
less of is the blame but I think it
553
:is used as a tool to distract the
larger conversation unfortunately.
554
:I, thinking like globally I was watching,
I think it was, did you ever watch
555
:that Netflix docuseries with Zac Efron?
556
:I
557
:Alexandra: I didn't watch it, but
I remember seeing the, the trailer
558
:Christine: Okay, yeah, each episode
focused on a different thing and there
559
:was one episode around water and it
was so fascinating because there are
560
:like how there's sommeliers for wine,
there's like that equivalent for
561
:Water which is so fascinating and like,
you don't really think about the taste of
562
:water, but water can be very flavorful.
563
:Alexandra: Did you know, Christine, that
there is such a thing as designer water?
564
:Christine: I did.
565
:Yes.
566
:Alexandra: Yeah, there are some companies
that will charge outrageous amounts of
567
:water.
568
:Christine: think the, the, the one
I've known the longest, I haven't
569
:really dived too, too far into
it, but Evian, like, I feel like,
570
:I know
571
:Alexandra: no, Christine, even a class
572
:Christine: I know, I'm sure.
573
:But I just think like, You know,
at the, at the convenience store,
574
:just seeing all the different
575
:kinds of water and the different pricing.
576
:But anyway, my point is it was
bringing up the show is I think
577
:they ended up in France and it
was talking about how, I think.
578
:I need to learn more about what France
has done, but on a environmental and
579
:sustainability level, I think they've
made some really interesting changes for
580
:a city in providing clean water to anybody
on the street with, with fountains.
581
:And even and people carry around
their reusable bottles and
582
:they're able to get clean water.
583
:Water for free.
584
:I think it's just such a great
example, one that I would love
585
:to see here in the States more,
especially in in major cities.
586
:So those.
587
:Those were just some, some quick
things that came to my mind.
588
:But before we started our episode
today, Alexandra and I were, were
589
:diving in a bit more and on different
things she was learning this semester.
590
:And I'd love for her to
continue sharing things.
591
:But one of the things she had brought
up was the, like Nespresso, Nestle,
592
:right?
593
:I think this leans back into the circular
economy point a little bit, but just,
594
:Alexandra: Creating shared value as
595
:Christine: yeah, I think, you
know, one thing I want to see more
596
:of is, is these major companies.
597
:Really putting it, putting, putting
these issues first and foremost,
598
:and, and not thinking of it so much
as an afterthought as like when it
599
:comes to corporate responsibility.
600
:And I think
601
:really instilling that into their, you
know, core values as an organization
602
:and a company and making it just as
much of a priority as Profit is, is,
603
:is something I want to see more of.
604
:And I think those changes are being made
because of the pressure that they're
605
:receiving, but I really wish it wasn't
because they're receiving pressure.
606
:Alexandra: Well, and I think
that's really something.
607
:I read an article from the
Harvard business review for this
608
:class for strategic management
about creating shared value.
609
:And Nestle was brought up and I think.
610
:It brought up a good point, whether
people agree with it, it was these two
611
:authors opinions, that corporate social
responsibility is the first step, and it
612
:kind of backfires in some ways because
it is reliant on external pressures.
613
:Where the change ought to occur, and I
would probably agree with this, is Making,
614
:like Christine said, first and foremost,
the thinking about the environment,
615
:thinking about social, you know, groups
and peoples and, and how to having that
616
:be the core of how you think about your
value chain or your supply chain as well.
617
:So instead of having it,
Oh, if we have profits.
618
:We'll, we'll do something, but
really actually making it a core.
619
:And I think there's this also concept
that we've kind of gotten to that it is
620
:either, you know, capitalism is terrible.
621
:It's awful.
622
:It's all those things.
623
:I'm like, have people exploited it?
624
:Hell yes.
625
:Is it essentially bad?
626
:I don't, I don't think so.
627
:My opinion is no, but how do we shift and
say, this is not all a company can be.
628
:Company can be a major driving
force without government.
629
:And then, You know, what if, what
if they had the responsibility
630
:and took part of, for their whole
value chain of what they do?
631
:So anyway, there's, there's so much to go
and because I don't know that government
632
:and NGOs are as good as they are.
633
:They probably think they are, you
know, it's, it's very disjointed.
634
:And I think a more collaborative approach
going forward is definitely going
635
:to be needed, but to that end what I
want to see more of is people making
636
:small steps in their everyday life.
637
:And I know we'll probably talk about
that in a, in a little bit because
638
:I think the small stuff does matter.
639
:And it's so easy to go, well, you
know, Me and my take away containers,
640
:if I just throw it in the trash
and it's plastic, no big deal.
641
:It's not, it's just, it's just me.
642
:But it's a lot of people, so I
think all the little stuff matters.
643
:And that you don't have to be this perfect
member of a zero waste community kind of
644
:thing with the aestheticism and this is oh
what it looks like and it's like sometimes
645
:what it means to be more environmentally
conscious is completely finishing
646
:your products and then rinsing out the
containers and properly disposing them.
647
:So I'd love to see more of that people,
you know, taking the extra few minutes
648
:to, you know, scrape out the peanut
butter jar and rinse it out before
649
:putting in the recycling kind of thing.
650
:So yeah, those were the couple
things I wanted to mention.
651
:Christine: Yeah.
652
:That's a great
653
:Alexandra: But yeah, there's So
much in business and, you know,
654
:government, we could totally go
655
:down the
656
:Christine: This, this can honestly
become like a mini series that we, we,
657
:we come back to time and time again.
658
:And I think, you know, one of the big
things I'm looking forward after this
659
:episode goes live is that I want to see
the conversation with those who listen.
660
:What are their thoughts?
661
:What have they learned?
662
:I certainly, you know, I'm a sponge.
663
:I want to learn all the things.
664
:So I, I certainly will do my
part, but please share with us.
665
:What you've learned what you, what
small changes you have made, what,
666
:Alexandra: any cool
inventions address something.
667
:Christine: absolutely.
668
:absolutely.
669
:But, yeah, so, , I think, going forward
I'd love to hear from you, Alexandra,
670
:what sort of things you have, On
your mind this year do you have one
671
:or two things that you want to focus
on for:
672
:this?
673
:Alexandra: yeah.
674
:I, I think The biggest things
is I used to subscribe to As we
675
:talked about I was a little bit
of a make a pollock for a while.
676
:I subscribe to a lot of the Subscription
things and so trying to finish up
677
:products that I currently have or finding
a way to Recycle, reuse kind of stuff.
678
:A mentor of mine said like, Oh,
if you have old eye shadow, you
679
:could always use it as painting.
680
:And but I think there's some like
women's shelters who will take, and
681
:you can, I was reading that you can
actually donate makeup as long as you've
682
:cleaned it, like you can spray it with
rubbing alcohol and sanitize and stuff.
683
:So really kind of going through
the products that I have.
684
:And as I said earlier, finishing
up what I like and you know,
685
:what I don't like, okay.
686
:And so both and think consciously
about before I buy something
687
:because I can get into the habit of
like, Oh, pretty, it's new, shiny.
688
:And going, maybe not the best.
689
:So yeah, so finishing up, I have being
more conscious about my purchases.
690
:What else?
691
:I think I'd love to get involved with some
group, but just this year is crazy busy.
692
:So I think that will be maybe a next
year, a:
693
:a better products for my, my skin,
my body, my hair, that maybe look at
694
:companies that do think about the impact
on the environment and the quality of
695
:ingredients that they put in their stuff.
696
:So kind of making using.
697
:my individual purchasing power
to, to make choices like that.
698
:And I know briefly forgot to mention
earlier that I had moved again still
699
:in North Carolina, but it's the second
time in about less than two years.
700
:And something we did was we knew we
were going to move again and that the,
701
:the place the last place was temporary.
702
:So instead of just getting the
the boxes and chucking them.
703
:We actually put them in storage
with a lot of this stuff that we
704
:had and reused it for this move.
705
:So, I mean, I think things as small
as that are important to think about.
706
:I remember the other thing, getting
more confident, just bringing my
707
:reusable containers into the market and
saying, can you put my, you know, deli
708
:meats and cheeses in here, or even to
restaurants for takeaway or leftovers.
709
:So I think that's,
that's really important.
710
:Those are the really two to three
things I want to focus on for the
711
:rest of 2024 and get very comfortable
and have that become habit.
712
:What about you, Christine?
713
:Christine: Yeah, I think like you were
saying Alexandra, the the small changes
714
:really do add up and They're the easiest
changes we can make, so just keeping
715
:that top of mind each day I think is
something I continue to focus on and want
716
:to, you know, like, like with anything,
people, people observe what others are
717
:doing, so that idea reusable container
to have to eat or to the grocery store.
718
:Yeah, you might get a little bit
of like, oh, what's she doing?
719
:But that's going to stick with
them and they're going to think
720
:like, oh, why is she doing that?
721
:And maybe it'll spark them to research
into like, why someone might be doing
722
:that or, or whatever the case may be.
723
:That's sort of like something I, I
want to, To keep, keep forward and not
724
:only, not only changing how I, how I do
things, but may impact others around me.
725
:Alexandra: Well, and to that
point, I wonder if, you know, more
726
:people doing things like that.
727
:And I'm thinking of company, maybe
like Starbucks or big coffee chains.
728
:If more people brought their reusable
cups in for hot and cold drinks, maybe
729
:they would redesign how they do service to
institute more of that sustainable thing.
730
:So, you know, and what you said, like,
It may look weird to people, but it
731
:would probably stick in their head
going, Oh, hey, maybe I should do
732
:Christine: yeah, yeah, exactly.
733
:Alexandra: I didn't mean to cut you
off, Christine, but I got so excited.
734
:I was like, Ooh.
735
:Christine: no, I think that,
that, that was my main point
736
:of what I want to focus on.
737
:I also, one of the, one of the things
I want to focus on this year going
738
:forward, just always sort of keep it.
739
:In the back of my mind is thinking
about ways to hold myself and my
740
:friends and family accountable
or aware of, of, of environmental
741
:causes or things that need attention.
742
:Because.
743
:That's the easiest way to, to
move a movement forward, right?
744
:Is to talk about it, to educate yourself
on it, to share that education with
745
:those that you know, and, and care about.
746
:So I, like I mentioned before the
ocean cleanup organization, I want
747
:to keep diving into learning more
about their, their work and initiative
748
:and their initiatives that they're
enacting around the world and sharing
749
:that with, with friends and family
and Perhaps even getting involved
750
:in, in, in my local community because
751
:Alexandra: hmm.
752
:Christine: that's, you know, day to day
something I, we all encounter is, is
753
:what's going on in our local communities.
754
:So I think sometimes people
might get caught up in like
755
:the grand scheme of, of it all.
756
:But I think, you know, you really just
got to focus locally and, and seeing
757
:how you can help your own community.
758
:Alexandra: Yeah, I like that.
759
:And I definitely know that Christine is
One of my accountability partners for,
760
:for many things that we have talked about
on this, this podcast made me think that
761
:maybe at the end of 2024, we should do
a, like a post or a recap of all the
762
:things that we said we'd keep track
763
:Christine: know
764
:You guys will keep us honest, right?
765
:Those listening.
766
:Yeah.
767
:Alexandra: going, Hey, what
about that thing you mentioned
768
:back on episode X, Y, Z.
769
:So, Yeah and then kind of maybe shifting
how I do things in my home when it comes
770
:to really, I think it's going to be,
if I can do something, then maybe it'll
771
:show somebody how, how they can do it
and kind of living by example and I think
772
:that too, but also to share ideas, like
whether it's an Instagram story that
773
:we saw that was really exciting or a
magazine article or something with people.
774
:And I love to hear about stuff.
775
:And so, you know, somebody says
something offhand, I'm like,
776
:Oh, tell me more about that.
777
:Just being really curious about
things I think will be helpful.
778
:And a behavior that I want to change
is, is I said being more confident
779
:about bringing my reasonable stuff
is I want to, I want to get more.
780
:Assertive, saying no to plastic,
like no to plastic bags.
781
:Great example was yesterday
when I did not say no.
782
:I was in the market, only had one
reusable bag with me because I
783
:thought that's all I would need.
784
:Of course I needed more.
785
:And they're like, okay, paper or plastic.
786
:And I was like, oh, okay, just back.
787
:I just was like trying
to pay at the same time.
788
:And I wish I had said, Neither
just put it in the cart.
789
:I will take care of it because I
had more bags in the car So that's a
790
:perfect example of like a behavior.
791
:I want to change with myself It's not
only being more confident bringing stuff
792
:but assertive saying no, no plastic forks
for takeaway food like no to the plastic
793
:bag no to XYZ and just You know, and I'm
hoping that it'll become habitual, that
794
:at some point, like, it'll be different
to change my patterns and behaviors and,
795
:you know, hard to constantly keep making
those choices until it becomes habitual,
796
:so I think that's, that's something.
797
:But and I think doing that will maybe
show, you know, friends and family
798
:around me that, hey, it is possible.
799
:It's not as hard as it may seem.
800
:Christine: Yeah.
801
:All right.
802
:Is there one thing you're willing to give
up or change that you haven't already?
803
:I don't know if I have an
answer to this question.
804
:Alexandra: put me on the
805
:Christine: I know.
806
:I'm sorry.
807
:It
808
:It just came to my mind.
809
:Alexandra: okay.
810
:Here's one thing.
811
:I'm a bit of a coffee addict as well.
812
:So I think one thing I would like
to change and give up is if I do
813
:not have a reusable coffee cup with
me for iced or hot, I cannot buy
814
:Christine: Mmm.
815
:Alexandra: I think that might
be a really good like economic
816
:tie to something as well.
817
:Christine: That's a good, that's a good
goal to hold yourself accountable to.
818
:Alexandra: yeah, and it's
something small because I do
819
:drink and consume a lot of coffee.
820
:So I think that's a good
place for me to start.
821
:Christine: All right.
822
:Awesome.
823
:Alexandra: Okay.
824
:So we have only begun to delve into this
monumental topic and I'm certainly looking
825
:forward to the next time we discuss it.
826
:Did we miss something in today's talk
that you wanted to hear more about?
827
:Let us know.
828
:And for the next time we discuss about
caring for our planet, perhaps maybe
829
:we'll even have a guest on next time.
830
:I know, but there's a couple of
people I would like to invite into
831
:this chat for those listening.
832
:Do you have any movement or
individuals that you like to hear
833
:from or draw inspiration from?
834
:We would love to hear it.
835
:What are some of the environmental
conscious goals for you this year?
836
:Share with us your stories and the
innovations you have seen by commenting
837
:on this episode's post or DMing us.
838
:And don't forget to join us next
week as we pack our bags to travel
839
:lands explored and unexplored.
840
:Talk then!
841
:Christine: Enjoying the
conversations we're having and
842
:the topics we're discussing?
843
:Consider supporting us through
our Buy Us a Coffee page.
844
:We greatly appreciate any help in
creating this podcast we love so much.
845
:Link in our show notes and link tree.
846
:Before we end, don't forget to
like, subscribe, or follow us on
847
:your preferred listening platform.
848
:And we'll catch you next time.