Happy December Definers! It is time again for our annual Holiday Hodge Podge episode. Tune in to hear the Sustainability Defined Team’s favorite podcast moments from the year and interesting sustainability articles, meet our Research & Operations Director, Taylor, and hear Scott and Jay’s professional/personal updates, and sustainable gift ideas - PLUS our holiday gift giveaway!
Have a happy holiday season!
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Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen. Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural Environment
Transportation
Business
sustainabilitydefined.com
Invasive species are known to cause harm to the environment, economies, and even human health. Managing these species has become of major concern globally, as invasive species are one of the top factors that contribute to biodiversity loss. In fact, a 2023 United Nations global assessment report estimated that invasive species have been a major factor in 60% of all recorded animal and plant extinctions!
In this episode we have a fantastic discussion with Leigh Greenwood, the Forest Pest and Pathogen Program Director at The Nature Conservancy. Leigh provides some great insight on how these species spread and what actions are being taken to manage them.
We hope you let this episode invade your headphones!
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Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen. Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural Environment
Transportation
Business
Policy
Business supply chains are complex, diverse, and have a lot of stakeholders. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 450 million people work in supply chain-related jobs. In this month’s new episode, we break down the landscape of global supply chains and the interconnectedness with human rights across the globe.
We have two expert guests sharing their expertise:
–Aruna Kashyap, Associate Director on Corporate Accountability in the Economic Justice and Rights Division at Human Rights Watch and
–Alex Silberman, International Relations Specialist at The U.S. Department of Labor.
Both provide insights and examples that help us understand human rights and supply chains and how definers can take action. Give it a listen wherever you get your podcasts!
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Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen. Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural Environment
Transportation
Business
Policy
This month we are talking all about rare earths, the role they play in today’s society and the efforts to improve their sustainability. While you may not be familiar with the 17 rare earth elements, the chances are very high that if you’re reading this right now, rare earths are actually a common part of your daily life.
This episode is #sponsored by Noveon Magnetics. Noveon is a company working to redefine and rebuild the rare earth magnet industry to be one that doesn’t just power the needs of today but can last to power every need far beyond tomorrow. During the show we have a conversation with Scott Dunn, CEO at Noveon Magnetics and learn more about how these critical elements are acquired, used, and recycled.
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Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen. Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural Environment
Transportation
Business
Policy
Social
Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree. The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.
Our July episode is all about the energy grid! We discuss how electric grids work, the conditions of grids around the world, and emerging trends and policies that can improve grid sustainability and resiliency.
We are joined in the episode by Kristina Skierka, CEO at Power for All. Power for All is an organization that envisions a world where all people benefit from the opportunities and quality of life that come from reliable, affordable, clean energy.
This episode should “illuminate” all there is to know about how grid systems work to power our lives!
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Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen. Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural Environment
Transportation
Business
Policy
Social
Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree. The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.
We are back this month with an episode on transparency. Historically, businesses have kept a lot of information guarded, but when it comes to sustainability, more companies are using transparency to make decisions, gain trust, and engage with their consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders.
After an introduction going over the basics of all things sustainability and transparency with a focus on corporate transparency, we have TWO expert guests:
Kathy Mulvey, Accountability Campaign Director, Climate & Energy Program, at the Union of Concerned Scientists
Dan Saccardi, Program Director, Company Network at Ceres
We hope this episode will “clear up” any questions you have about why transparency is an important part of sustainability at the corporate level!
We’re taking this month off, but we still have new content for you in the form of an episode of one of our favorite podcasts–STAFFER. STAFFER is a weekly podcast with former staffers sharing their stories of working on the Hill hosted by Jim Papa of Global Strategy Group. This episode features an interview with an accomplished sustainability professional, Mike Boots, Executive Vice President at Breakthrough Energy and Director of the Gates Ventures DC Office. By listening, you’ll learn a lot about Mike’s career journey and lessons learned along the way including from staffing Ted Danson (yes, of Cheers fame) and Bill Gates.
Listeners of our show know our traditional last question of asking for a party fact. Well, Jim has his own. One is called “in the vault.” He asks his interviewees for a time that you made a mistake, how you recovered, and what you learned? The other is if he could build a hall of fame to staffers on the national mall, who would you nominate to the staffer hall of fame and why? Check out the episode to hear Mike’s answers.
You can find STAFFER wherever you get your podcasts and at staffershow.com.
We’ll see you soon with new Sustainability Defined content!
This new bonus episode introduces our Definers to the Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management Program, or MS-ESM program at Georgetown University. The MS-ESM program is a full-time, 11-month interdisciplinary program held on-campus in Washington, D.C. Over the 11 month time span, students complete courses that blend science with business principles that are critical to meeting the world's sustainability goals.
In this episode we chat with a professor and a student in the program:
Vishal Agrawal, the Henry J. Blommer Family Endowed Chair in Sustainable Business and a Professor of Operations Management at the McDonough School of Business and
David Yellen, a current Georgetown MS-ESM Student and Strategic Advisor at the Clean Air Task Force.
This bonus episode is perfect for Definers looking to enhance their knowledge about sustainability while continuing their education. If you are interested in being a part of the Fall 2023 cohort, applications are currently being accepted through May 15th. Visit esm.georgetown.edu for more information.
This episode is sponsored by the McDonough School of Business, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Earth Commons at Georgetown University.
This episode is on water conservation and #sponsored by Procter & Gamble (P&G). Water is Earth’s most abundant natural resource, as more than 71% of the Earth’s surface is water. However, freshwater that can be used by humans is only a small percentage of this available water. Because of this we have to preserve, control, and manage our water resources through conservation. We hope our Definers are thirsty to learn about how we as humans use and can conserve water. The episode includes a focus on how P&G’s Home Care team is working toward a water positive future across its manufacturing facilities, its product offerings that enable people to save water, and its work protecting biodiversity and restoring water in water-stressed areas. In this episode, we have a fantastic conversation with Ashley Fill, Director of Sustainability for North America Home Care at P&G (and long-time Definer!) about the steps P&G has taken to advance water conservation as part of the company’s larger sustainability strategy. Join us for a deep dive into all things water conservation!
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Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen. Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode. We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural
Environment
Transportation
Business
Policy
Social
Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree.
The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.
www.sustainabilitydefined.com
We know Definers are always hungry for ways to maximize their impact within sustainability, so we're excited to focus today's bonus episode on Yale's Financing and Deploying Clean Energy Program. Yale’s Financing and Deploying Clean Energy (FDCE) online certificate program trains and connects rising leaders to catalyze an equitable transition to a clean economy. In the episode you will hear from Rob Klee, a Lecturer at Yale and the Managing Director of the Clean Energy Program at the Yale Center for Business and the Environment, as well as Dr. Luis Aguirre-Torres, a Senior Adviser at Rewiring America and an alum of the FDCE certificate program. If you're inspired by the episode and want to expand your skills in this area you can apply to the FDCE upcoming cohort by March 12, 2023 by visiting cbey.yale.edu/certificate.
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Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen.
Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural Environment
Transportation
Business
Policy
Social
Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree. The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.
www.sustainabilitydefined.com
Biodiversity underpins many things we rely on (think food, water, and oxygen). In fact, half of the world’s GDP is dependent on natural resources. This means that about $44 trillion of economic value across the globe relies on nature and its interconnectedness. So... something worth paying attention to! Join us as we dissect this topic with the help of Dr. Paula Ehrlich, President and CEO of the E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Enjoy!
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Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen. Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural Environment
Transportation
Business
Policy
Social
Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree. The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.
www.sustainabilitydefined.com
From the carrots you're munching on to the chocolate in your grande extra-whip double-mocha latte (no judgment), agricultural water use underpins most everything we eat on a daily basis. In fact, agriculture on average accounts for 70% of all freshwater withdrawals globally - enough to cover the entire United States in 2 feet of water each year. Join us as we unpack this critical issue with the help of Ashwin Madgavkar, founder of Ceres Imaging, an innovative spectral imaging company and 2020 Zayed Sustainability Prize recipient working to optimize agricultural water use around the world.
Learn more about the Zayed Sustainability Prize here.
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Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen.
Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural Environment
Transportation
Business
Policy
Social
Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree. The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.