Grounded in Maine

There were so many great moments that it was hard to narrow them down in this conversation with Stephanie Gross, Founder of Bumby Wool! She built a sustainable fashion brand with merino wool in Canada. Stephanie is a married mom of 2, and is passionate about circular fashion, using what's already existing and her community. 

Bumby Wool started out in 2007 as cloth diaper covers, because the wool wicks moisture away from the skin; they now offer full clothing items for all sizes! Wool is like a smart technology, where if you're hot or cold, the wool will know h...

I absolutely loved talking with Rebecca Newburn, the Founder of the Seed Library Network! Past podcast guest and friend Ranya Dube connected us after a workshop that Ranya hosted and Rebecca spoke in. I remember hearing recently that I think it was Israel that destroyed Gaza's national seed library, which got my mind wanting to learn more about seed libraries, and why that mattered so much. I had heard of seed libraries, but I didn't know really anything about them. But Rebecca does, and now we will, too!

We talked about why seed libraries are important, and...

I met Lauren Lovejoy last fall in a Women in Regenerative Agriculture group and was so silly excited to learn that she was the creator of the Red Hen app that I already had on my phone. Ren Hen app is a farm finder, so wherever you are, you're able to support small farmers- you can message and set up a meeting and pay for stuff all through the app - it's kind of like a mobile farm stand!

The Red Hen app is still relatively new, so the more people using it, the more effective it...

If you're following me on Instagram, you may have noticed me sharing posts about Barterloo bartering app - community powered and community building, sharing strengths and caring for each other. I'm talking with the founder, Kelly Dempsey. I learned about her when she was a guest on another New England podcaster, Molly Amatangelo's Local Treads podcast. Barterloo is just a few weeks away from launch, and it's so exciting!

Kelly has quite a story - she ran a thrift store previously, and also was a contestant on Project Runway! This is part of her bio: "fashion designer...

I loved this conversation with Michelle Heberling, and learned so much about the gut role and how to care for it with fermentation. Michelle shares her very intense story of finding her way to fermenting foods, and she shares many more in her soon to be published book The Guts of Fermentation, along with some of her favorite recipes.

We talked a bit about the Germ Theory and the Bristol Chart, calming our gut with mindfulness, BELLY LAUGHS and gratitude. Michelle said something that I had never heard before: dopamine comes from the GUT, not the brain...

Talor Stewart has a very different way of looking at home design, and I am here for it! Conscious Home Design is Talor's business and the name of his #1 Best Selling book. 

What does a home truly need to provide? There has been research done about what makes people happy as they age; Talor has incorporated both of these studies and more with his Architecture education to offer Conscious Home Design. He offers a workbook and also a certification for Architects and Designers who are inspired by his work.

I love Talor's wording in his b...

Christa Dhimo is a New England Podcaster who I hadn't had much of a chance to get to know until I talked about my sustainability podcast in our community, and Christa, Founder of Impono - Senior Business Advisor, went full-on nerdy about DIRT. 

Christa hosts a podcast about business questions called Ask Christa, where people will write in whatever business questions they might have - from executive to employee and everything in between, because she's seen it all - and she answers them on the podcast, with sources and lots of notes to follow.

Christa s...

This conversation with Doug Katz went deeper than expected, but it was SO good! Doug is a retired Military Veteran who has used his disability as inspiration to create adaptive items. He just started selling the Nulu adaptive knife last summer - it's inspired by the Inuit ULU, but adjusted to accommodate his and others' disability. 

Talking with Doug, I learned that there are Adaptive Libraries across the country, so that someone can try an item before buying. The conversation got deep when we went into whether a disability is really a disability, which may have gone a...

Climate Storyteller barely touches on the work that Maya Lilly has been a part of in the climate change world; she's part of the Emmy Award Winning The Years Project. She's been an activist since she was 15. She's a Producer, Speaker, and Climate Storyteller. She was named to the Grist 50 for revolutionizing Hollywood's approach to Climate Storytelling. She uses storytelling as a force for justice, empathy and real climate action. "Maya's voice remains unmistakable, credible, courageous and profoundly human." - this was taken from the Grist 50 write up of her - my eyes couldn't let go of profoundly human...<...

I found Jacaranda Hemp Apparel through a podcast guest newsletter and thought that by satisfying some curiosity we can learn more about an available sustainable fabric with so many great qualities! I got my 'I grew up under a rock' questions out of the way before recording to spare you, but there's still plenty to learn.

There are so many things about Jacaranda that impress me, like their entrepreneurial spirit, and their scrappiness, but I absolutely love that these guys (there are 4 - we're meeting Billy and Harrison, but there's also Milo and Henry) have been friends...

I attended Chad Thompson's talk at the SOVA Rise Entrepreneur Summit last October about business planning, I didn't tell him this, but it wasn't a talk that I thought really pertained to me, since I didn't really have a business to market so to speak; something drew me to it- and I'm so glad I listened to that! 

Chad mentioned something about the business plan that I had never heard or even thought about before, and honestly I didn't hear much after that. I've been guilty of thinking the business plan was lame. I felt like he w...

Let me tell you a little story about my meeting Samantha Erickson... I think she reached out to me (my Instagram name is Grounded in Maine, and she's a Maine business, so I assume that's why), and the idea of used formal dresses was such a great business plan, so I was sold, and invited her to talk about it on the podcast. When I got her podcast guest form, she said "turning grief and pain into purpose," and if you know me, I'm all in for all the deep conversations, so I couldn't wait for the chance to...

Tom Schueneman has lived a fascinating life of traveling and music, and now has been an environmental journalist for several years - literally a member of the Society for Environmental Journalists. This year he started hosting his own podcast, which was called Global Warming is Real - recently rebranded to Earthbound, which is so good. Tom is very thoughtful and really cares about the earth and people, and that comes across very clearly. Reading his Podmatch bio, I learned he was born without peripheral vision, which was repaired, but that time taught him so much empathy for humans.

Julie Colombino-Billingham was working in disaster response 15 years ago, and was in Haiti after the earthquake of 2010. She never went back. She fell in love with the resilience and kindness of the people, and started a business with them called Deux Mains (two hands), making sustainable, fair trade leather bags and accessories - and also school shoes for students that they sell to churches and ministries to distribute. These beautiful bags are sold in Nordstrom! 

During the time she's been working with the people of Haiti, Julie's interviewed residents and documented her time, and launched her memoir e...

As everyone is seeing their electricity bills rise, the opportunity to speak with Our Power Maine came up. I'm speaking with the Executive Director Seth Berry, and Policy and Communications Fellow Isabelle Winstead - just days after  they succeeded in pausing what seemed to many as a huge increase in Maine's CMP (Central Maine Power) rates. It's historic to halt the monopoly of a utility like this, and they are very happy to share why they are so passionate about helping Mainers to have other options. And don't feel left out if you're not in Maine - Our Power i...

Y'all, sometimes things just fall into place, and the chance to talk with Annamarie Pluhar is definitely one of those! As I'm in the process of selling my VA house and looking for a new place to live, and knowing that to grow food for more than 1 will take more time and energy than I have, partnering with folks feels like it needs to be part of my plan (always was, but less for the financial aspect), but then enters Annamarie into my world with all her experience and wisdom...

Annamarie has been sharing housing for years...

When I was approached by Brett Aldrich's team, I wasn't quite sure how the conversation would go - if it would be something you would be interested in; but maybe this convo was more for me than you? I booked a visit with her, at least! You'll hear me fumble my way around what I thought Ayurveda was (clearly I'm wrong), but Brett's practice is absolutely fascinating to me! Did you know about Ayurveda before today?

Brett's practice is located in Maine, but she offers virtual visits as well, which is how my appointment will be the...

I was first introduced to Clara Schroeder through recent podcast guest Brittany Hansen, knowing that I would love talking with Clara - I'm super grateful to Brittany for that!

Clara is an Eco Therapist who has been working with big companies like Microsoft, Women in Cloud, Aura, and Insight Timer, and more. Clara recently published ReNature: How Nature Helps Us Feel better and Do Better, and she's here to talk about that, and about what EcoTherapy is. Her goal is to help people to deepen the connection to the natural world so they can find...

This conversation is a little heavier than most, but it's so important to talk about. I can honestly say I knew almost nothing about West Virginia before I came across these ladies, but I can't say that anymore. Julie Eisenberg and Babette Hogan are here to talk about their first documentary together that just debuted called Running for the Mountains. "This is about politics and keeping our water and air safe, requiring political action; and keeping West Virginia safe is of national importance. "Running for the Mountains" exposes some of the toxic structure that allows the polluting of our...

I hope you love this conversation with Vince Aiello as much as I do! I found Vince by chance on Instagram - or maybe he found me? I forget. But I love his business Fire and Foraging, and we struck up a conversation and I invited him to talk on the podcast, and I'm SO glad I did! 

Vince is a nature guide in Wisconsin, and is a real pro! I learned so much - he talked about fire adaptive species and fire ecology; we talked about invasive EDIBLE plants to help plants thrive, and how humans s...

I loved learning about Kimberly Haley Coleman and Globe Aware- an award winning short term volunteer abroad program available in 26 countries. I didn't know this was a thing, but I'm so glad it is! You can travel abroad to learn about a new place, help people and find purpose - this sounds like my kind of vacation! Tropical destinations, cooler weather, far away, or closerby, there's something for everyone. Kimberly says they can teach the kills; they just need kind, willing people, to offer short term support - solo, or as a group!

Kimberly previously worked in...

This conversation with CEO of Dip HairCare Kate Assaraf was so fun for me, because 1: it's Dip shampoo bars, and if you've listened to the podcast for a while, you've heard me talk about shampoo bars, and 2: we're talking about an exciting collab with Kate/Dip and GoGo Refill, my refill store back in Maine that I love. They've done a few collabs together, but this November 13, Kate is debuting GoGo Refill's very own exclusive shampoo bar scent, and they'll both be at the South Portland GoGo Refill store to celebrate!

Kate's big message is to shop...

I loved learning about Lindsey Turnbull's life in activism! I did an episode with Laura Marston of GoGo Refill way back in episode 10, I think... Anyway, it's been a while since we've talked about the cool things about refilleries. Lindsey is the owner of From Here To Home Essentials, a really cool home based refillery in Maryland and Washington DC - and she offers DELIVERY for busy folks, even! Like Laura of GoGo Refill, Lindsey is more than a shop owner - she's an educator and activist; always a "crunchy granola treehugger" are her words... 

Have you b...

I learned so much speaking with Kelsey Green about digital minimalism!  I've heard about more and more people removing themselves from social media, and the thought seems overwhelming at times, but at the same time knowing there's some addiction (where's my phone? I need my phone handy! What if someone can't reach me? Have you had any of those thoughts?), and we've probably all heard the phrase "loneliness epidemic," right? I've been very cureious about it--

In comes Kelsey L Green - she works at the intersection of community, strategy, and accountability, helping people stop stalling and s...

Y'all, I'm feeling like a million bucks sharing this conversation with you that I got to have with Amanda Leland, Executive Director of the Environmental Defense Fund... I'm still pinching myself! Amanda became a member of the EDF when she was 13, so she's been training to be Executive Director for a few years!

Amanda just published Sea Change: Unlikely Allies and a Success Story of Oceanic Proportions, with James Workman - it published September 30! It tells the story of how fishermen, scientists, and environmentalists set aside their distrust and their differences to forge an unlikely alliance to...

Y'all, in over 3 years, I can't remember doing a full episode on the OCEAN! Until now - Andrew Lewin is a total ocean geek - in the best way! He grew up far from the ocean, but watched Jacques Cousteau shows and was OBSESSED. He has a Masters in Marine Biology, and hosts the How To Protect the Ocean podcast and co hosts the Beyond Jaws podcast. How To Protect the Ocean has over 1800 episodes! He was recording 5 episodes a week for a bit; now it's only 3 a week (plus a job)... and he's hosted the podcast for 10 years...

I learned a lot about wardrobe management in this conversation with Julia Dietmar! I had a totally different idea of what Open Wardrobe was going into this convo, but she set me straight. There are so many ways to use Open Wardrobe, developed by Julia. Her goal is to cut down on overconsumption of clothes by digitizing, which is very cool! you have your entire wardrobe handy, so when you go shopping, you already know you have 4 white tops and 3 pair of black pants, etc. OR you can pull up your wardrobe if you're shopping to see how a...

Oh my goodness, this conversation with Megha Patil made me wish I had a young girl in my family! Megha describes Happy Lilliput as "Exquisite Celebration Attire" - can you just picture that? Megha said growing up in India birthdays are a BIG DEAL - like sometimes thousands of guests to celebrate you, and very fancy clothes. She was fascinated by fashion; she went to design school, and was frustrated by the waste that she saw, so she decided to design her own patterns and clothes. And boy oh boy, has she made an impact! 

I really e...

This conversation with Ali Waks Adams was soul feeding for me- I love talking to people who are passionate about helping to solve food insecurity, and Ali is on the board of Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program (MPHCC) in my hometown of Brunswick, Maine, and she's sharing some of the things that they're doing that have been working to feed the people of Maine. (I said Maine, not just Brunswick - Ali says they feed people from 14 out of the 16 counties in Maine!) We talked a little about the people who volunteer (over 500!) and the people receiving from MCHPP...

Keith Bearden is the CEO of Alter Eco, a sustainable chocolate company. Under his direction, Alter Eco isn't just delivering delicious chocolate and granola; it's doing so with a mission that aligns perfectly with people who are looking for better options. Keith's initiatives in regenerative farming and sustainable packaging are reaching a broad audience. Alter Eco does more than purchase from growers, they provide the plants and encourage regenerative practices, which has made a huge difference in the quality of product AND the region, as we just discussed last week with greening cities, the biodiversity makes such a difference...

Y'all, I hope you love this conversation with Joshua Harrison as much as I did - I was glued to what he was saying! As we talked in the middle of a hot hot summer afternoon, his plan is to cool our paved, blazing hot cities, in the simplest of ways.  He has decades of research and experience to prove it works. Joshua started asking about solar energy in the 70s (incredible story!), and never stopped! He has a center for education (the Center for Force Majeure) and is Co-Founder of a retail business (Leaf Island). He is based i...

I got to meet Patrick Kelly this past January at Podfest, and we talked about doing this episode then - timing was just weird, but I think maybe it was just meant to happen now... Pat is the host of The Produce Industry Podcast and also runs The Produce Industry Network, on the side of his actual produce business and family life... I've said so many times that we should know where our food comes from, and I've talked about my jam business, and how I picked my own berries to feel better about the fruit I was using...

MaryEllen Lundy has thought of everything, it seems, with An Eco-Organized Approach downsizing! It's inspiring to hear her talk about how circular her system is, from cleaning out to rehoming belongings, and everything in between. She shares a few stories that show just how much thought and care goes into her projects, which makes sense, considering she is entering someone's home and personal space, and helping them let go of things they've held tight to- it takes a very special personality to handle the deep emotional ties that some folks have to their belongings (I'm one of those people...

Maxx Cumby McGee has been planning the Gott Street Blues clothing brand since the 90s when she was one of a very few women in the construction world - life just delayed it. Maxx's story is both hillarious and eye opening; how she started in modeling at 19, and got into construction by making friends with the CEO of Anheuser-Busch, and showing up on her first day with a pink toolbox and men's work clothes that nearly got her injured because there were no women's work clothes. This is a longer episode, but I'll bet it goes by quicker than...

I had a great time talking with Bridget Shirvell about her new book Parenting in a Climate Crisis; A Handbook for Turning Fear into Action - I may have gotten a little excited when she was talking about the contents of the book, knowing there was a chapter about activism... 

Bridget is a freelance writer, and has done pieces for Martha Stewart and PBS, Conde Nast and New York Times, and others about food, travel and the environment. Having her own young child inspired her to write the book, to prepare young people to take on the w...

You may be thinking "what makes Kurt Avery have a heart of gold?" You'll have to listen to this conversation, because it's hard to put into words how quietly wonderful Kurt is. And if you're not wondering that, then let's get to the quiet part-

Kurt is the CEO of Sawyer Products, and if you do any outdoor activities, you're familiar with the brand; they make water filters for your water bottles, sunscreen and first aid products for hiking and camping. They are THE name for the most effective products. But did you know that Kurt and...

I was thrilled to get to talk to Jeremiah Jancik, because I've ALWAYS got questions about energy. Maybe too many? 

Jeremiah is an Energy Consultant, and we're talking about installing solar panels, heat pumps, insulation and doing energy audits - all things home efficiency - which he has decades of experience in. In his 12 year career he's performed over 4000 energy assessments! Now he's focusing on training new people and consulting, and doing virtual solar inspections. He wants to help you learn how to save energy in your home while staying comfortable, and lowering your carbon footprint at t...

Have you ever felt confused or conflicted about organic food labels? I know I've said something like if I have to choose between organic from far away and in plastic, or local, I'd choose local; and I'm sure I've had dirty looks. It's just gotten confusing. And it costs almost half as much as regular foods, so I've wondered if its really better... So this week I'm talking to Linley Dixon of The Real Organic Project, to help us (me) better understand what it all means.

Linley works for The Real Organic Project, and also is the...

I'm sneaking in an extra episode because it's summer, and this is about sunscreen, so hopefully it's not publishing too late for you--

Arielle Moody is the CEO/Founder of Mama Sol Sunscreen, and she said within 2 weeks of the launch, she was featured on Access Hollywood, which catapulted Mama Sol's sales. She has several awards and honors for best product! She says a tagline is "if sunscreen and a spa day had a baby, it would be Mama Sol." I love so much that she says her sunscreen has a light lavender scent, and Arielle tells...

Lauren Connolly is a person I relate to so much. She had me as a guest on her podcast Wildly Unplug, because we found out that we both recharge by being outside. Lauren has a very personal story about burnout, and how turning to nature brought her the fulfillment she was needing. She is an artist; she paints and is a photographer, a podcaster, and now she's added Author to the list of accomplishments! Her book is called Wildly Unplug, just like the podcast. 

She says about her book: "Wildly Unplug — A Creative Guide to Reconnecting with Nat...