The Green Collar Pod

There can be oh so many roadblocks to sustainable gifting, so we wanted to address those head on and talk through some frames to apply. 

We asked some of our smart friends and colleagues for their biggest road blocks  as well as what they currently do with sustainable gifting, and have compiled those responses (and a few of our own) into this episode. We hope this helps to serve as guidelines of sorts as you step into your future giving seasons! 

Resources we mentioned: 

Happy election season Pod People! Today we have Shu Yang with us, one of the creators of electionssimplified.com, a tool that both Kiersten and Aparna used while voting in the 2026 midterms. We highly encourage use of it, and support our listeners (and all those who are able) to vote and make your voice heard! 

Resources mentioned (including from trivia): 

Send us Fan Mail

What does it look like to make sustainability the easy choice? In this episode of Green Collar, we sit down with Emily McGarvey, Director of Sustainability at Room & Board, to explore how she turned a career in retail and merchandising into a mission-driven role shaping the future of sustainable furniture.

Emily shares her journey from Target’s corporate sustainability team to entrepreneurship and ultimately leading sustainability at Room & Board, including the mentors and career moments that helped her find her path. We dive into sustainable furniture design, renewable and recycled materials, circularity, and how Room & Board’s B Co...

How do you turn a love of math, creativity, and sustainability into a career designing greener buildings? In this episode, Josephine Wendroth shares her unconventional journey into MEP engineering, what sustainable building design actually looks like day to day, and the certifications and organizations she recommends for anyone looking to break into the field.

Resources mentioned: 

Aparna and Kiersten had the opportunity to be guests on the NYAM Podcast & GrowFRWD hosted by Meteorologist Alesha Ray! 

To see more of Alesha's awesome content, check her out on instagram at:
@nyampodcast
@growfrwd
@AleshaRay_The_Meteorologist

And on LinkedIn here.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Laurie Beth Nix of the Association of Energy Engineers shares how a career in communications led her to sustainability, energy efficiency, and authentic marketing. From storytelling and greenwashing to career pivots and the power of community, Laurie Beth explores how anyone can use their skills and personal stories to help create a more sustainable future.

Here are the resources mentioned during this episode: 

Hello one and all, and happy summer! For this episode, we wanted to share some resources and news bits we found to be interesting, and encourage everyone to find ways to incorporate sustainability into their summer. 

Listen in (or should we say "keep watching" since this is our first video episode?) for a litter themed contest and please share your thoughts in the comments! We'd love to hear from you. 

Resources/articles mentioned: 

Hello listeners, and happy start to the summer! Today, we're mixing things up and sharing a conversation we had on ChipChat with Tez and Chip in April, 2026. We talk current events, dad jokes, and our edicts to create Chipchatistan. 

Let us know what you think in the comments, and please check out ChipChat wherever you get your podcasts! 

Send us Fan Mail

Looking to break into climate, sustainability, or real estate decarbonization? In this episode, Brady Mills shares the certifications, frameworks, books, newsletters, and industry organizations that shaped his two-decade career at the intersection of engineering, climate risk, and commercial real estate. 

We pulled together every resource he mentioned, from CRREM and GRESB to communication books and professional certifications, so you can keep learning long after the episode ends.

Resources (groups, certifications, terms, frameworks) mentioned: 

We are joined by Eric Corey Freed, who has a bio so extensive that we broke it down into bullets! He is: 

Sandra is the co-founder of Good On You, the platform helping millions of shoppers instantly understand the sustainability of fashion and beauty brands. Since 2015, her team has rated over 7,000 brands, making it easier for us and many others to shop with our values.

We chat about her journey from banking to building a global sustainability startup, the realities of fast (and ultra-fast) fashion, and how consumer choices can drive meaningful industry change. Sandra also shares insights on navigating overwhelm in sustainability, the power of thoughtful decision-making, and why communication is key to creating impact. We hope you...

To celebrate the upcoming Earth day and more than a year of podcasting, Green Collar presents a special episode! 

In this special role-reversal, the hosts become the hosted when a dear friend, Max Kriegsfeld, takes over the mic to interview us. What follows? A candid, occasionally chaotic, fun (and funny?) chat. The vibe is joining three pals for coffee to chat about a passion project.

We span from childhood recycling squads (global edition 🌍), career considerations that almost included actuarial science and culinary school, to our hottest takes on the public transit, reusable water bottle hierarchies, and...

Happy episode 30, Pod People! We hope you enjoy this conversation with Dr Maria Juenger. 

Dr Juenger studied and teaches about the materials that literally hold our built environment together, with an emphasis on chemical issues in cement-based materials. She's a professor at UT Austin (hook 'em!) and also the current present of the American Concrete Institute, where she helps to guide how industry uses the most common building material at a global scale. We chat about her work, how she infuses sustainability into coursework, and the importance of mentorship and organic connections. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Michael — a sustainability leader working at the intersection of construction, materials, and the built environment. Michael shares how his career evolved from an early interest in sustainable design to leading efforts that tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges: reducing embodied carbon in buildings.

We talk about why the materials we use in construction matter, how the industry is beginning to rethink waste and circularity, and where real progress is happening today. From certifications and policy to emerging tools and technologies, this conversation explores how sustainability professionals can drive meanin...

In this episode, we’re joined by Olivia Amyette, founder and CEO of Infinite Energy Advisors and the Solar Knowledge Institute. Olivia shares her remarkable journey: from launching a solar company at just 20 years old, to building Georgia’s only DOL-approved registered apprenticeship for solar construction and expanding access to affordable energy across the Southeast.

We talk workforce development, navigating solar in rural communities, mentorship, and why energy needn’t be political — it is practical. Whether you’re sustainability-curious, considering entrepreneurship, or passionate about expanding opportunity, this conversation is full of heart, honesty, and tangible ways to create imp...

In this episode, we’re joined by Christy Cannon, an energy industry expert with 25 years of experience navigating electric markets, energy management, and building technology. Christy shares her career journey: from helping guide Texas through electric deregulation to building energy programs from the ground up and now working on energy automation at Yardi.

We also talk mentorship, career pivots, and why sustainability isn’t a niche role, it’s a mindset that can show up in any job. Whether you’re deep in energy or just sustainability-curious, this conversation is full of practical insights and encouragement for building...

In this episode, we’re joined by Lindsey Machamer, Division Manager for Park Development at the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, to explore how sustainability, resilience, and equity show up in the design and delivery of public spaces. Lindsey shares her career journey from civil engineering to municipal leadership, offering an inside look at how cities like Austin use tools such as LEED, SITES, and Envision to shape parks, trails, and infrastructure. We discuss green stormwater infrastructure, nature-based play, circular economy practices like deconstruction and materials reuse, and the critical role cities can play as first adopters of sustainable pr...

In this episode, we’re joined by Annise Maguire, an environmental attorney turned sustainability and ESG strategist, to explore a career shaped by environmental justice, global impact, and bold pivots. Annise walks us through her journey from environmental litigation and transactional law to ESG advisory roles across NGOs, Fortune 500 companies, and global law firms, and ultimately to founding GLISS—the Global Incubator for Sustainability Services—after relocating to Paris. We discuss how ESG evolved from a niche concept to a politicized flashpoint, the role of private capital in driving environmental solutions, and why Annise believes connection, community, and well-being are cr...

In this episode, we’re joined by renowned entomologist, ecologist, and author Doug Tallamy to explore how everyday landscapes—from backyards to balconies—can become powerful tools for conservation. Doug shares his career journey, explains why native plants are essential to healthy ecosystems, and introduces the concept of Homegrown National Park, a grassroots effort to restore biodiversity on private land. We discuss the critical role insects play in supporting food webs, practical actions anyone can take to help reverse biodiversity loss, and why empowering individuals is key to the future of conservation. The conversation leaves listeners with both urgency and op...

In this special year-in-review episode of The Green Collar Pod, co-hosts Aparna and Kiersten reflect on their first full year of podcasting with no guest, just honest conversation, data, and highlights from 22 episodes. 

They share listener stats, favorite moments, memorable job titles, and the guest insights that challenged how they think about sustainability, careers, and balance. The episode also spotlights good sustainability news from 2025, from record-setting solar growth and methane reductions to wildlife conservation wins and cleaner city air.

Books: 

Repo...

Greg Ross is a senior climate analyst at Cheniere Energy, where he focuses on greenhouse gas measurement, mitigation, and verification across the North American natural gas supply chain. A Houston native now based in Washington, DC, Greg brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and genuine climate motivation to his work—shaped in part by his background in chemical engineering and liberal arts at the University of Texas at Austin. With experience in electricity modeling, supply-chain emissions analysis, and industry-leading methane measurement initiatives, Greg offers an insider’s perspective on how the oil and gas sector is evolving to m...

Today we’re joined by Jillian Hansen, Market Intelligence Lead at US Solar, who shares her journey from aspiring political campaigner to renewable energy expert and distributed generation advocate. Jillian walks listeners through her evolving roles in community solar development, subscriber origination, and now market expansion, while breaking down key industry concepts like distributed generation, non-wires alternatives, and the growing role of battery energy storage. 

She reflects on the mentors and peers who shaped her path, how graduate school unlocked her passion for energy markets, and how she brings sustainability into her community through St. Pau...

Today we’re joined by Laurent Canneva, co-founder and CEO of Spare It. 

Trained as a pharmacist with a business background, he spent 17 years at Sanofi leading commercial operations across France, Belgium, and the U.S. Five years ago, he made the leap from human health to planetary health, founding Spare-it, a company using data and technology to help organizations cut waste, lower carbon emissions, and drive real sustainability impact.

Connect with Laurent on LinkedIn. 

Concepts, Terms, & Certifications mentioned: 

Today we’re joined by Peyton Ridland, Business Development Lead for FuelCell Energy across the western U.S. 

Peyton has dedicated his career to driving decarbonization through clean energy technologies like fuel cells, hydrogen production, and carbon capture. His work bridges technical innovation and commercial strategy—all with a focus on helping both people and the planet thrive.

Connect with Peyton on LinkedIn. 

Books mentioned: 

Terms m...

Welcome back to the Green Color Pod! Today we’re joined by Mahesh Ramanujam, co-founder, president, and CEO of the Global Network for Zero, and former CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council—an internationally recognized leader driving health, equity, and decarbonization in the built environment and beyond.

Connect with Mahesh on LinkedIn. 

Books mentioned: 

Initiatives/Organizations mentioned: 

Terms mentioned:  

Individual...

Forester, author, and social media educator Ethan Tapper joins the podcast to share his unconventional journey into forestry, from wilderness expeditions done for love to becoming a leading voice on ecosystem stewardship. He reflects on the dualities of forestry—how cutting trees or using tools like chainsaws can be acts of regeneration and love—while stressing the importance of communication, responsibility, and hope in caring for forests. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to build more meaningful relationships with nature and how to embrace both nuance and action in environmentalism

Connect with Ethan on I...

Norwegian economist Ingrid Eileen Stevens joins us to share her journey from oil & gas to sustainable waste and water management, exploring biogas, circular economy innovations, and how Norway balances oil wealth with climate leadership.

Connect with Ingrid on LinkedIn and learn more about IVAR. 

Resources: 

 Featuring Scott Tew, founder of Trane Technologies’ Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, we talk about growing up on a small farm, translating science into action, embedding sustainability into business strategy, and leading the company’s bold Gigaton Challenge. 

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn. Learn more about Trane Technologies.

Resources: