Episode 01: Sustainability Always Starts Somewhere

What do a Pandemic and Sustainability have in common? Join two friends, Libby and Renée, to find out how this unprecedented pause is stretching and mobilising us - from toilet paper and stockpiles, to missions, emotions, and connections we may never have known existed. We think sustainability isn’t just a dream, but a realistic opportunity moving forward from Covid-19. Peek into our minds and cupboards and find out what we're doing to make sustainable life fun and rewarding. 

In a somewhat unconventional 12-episode podcast series, a Novelist and an ex-Googler – Libby and Renée, based in Switzerland – draw on science and data as well as humanity's creativity and flawed beauty to come to terms with – and find actions to address! – our global, local and personal sustainability challenges. 

Reach us anytime at sustainablemailbag@gmail.com

Shownotes

Mentioned in this episode

The “self-sustainability” class Renée taught at Google is based on the work of The Energy Project https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time 

Thich Nhat Hanh’s book The Other Shore (a new translation of The Heart Sutra) 

Eric Carle’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

Our favorite Carbon Footprint (Emissions) Calculators

SwissInfo on why (and what!) Switzerland stockpiles for possible emergencies (from April 24 2019) https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/mandatory-reserves_why-switzerland-stockpiles-for-possible-emergencies/44917424

Is CO2 falling during a global lockdown? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-co2-isnt-falling-more-during-a-global-lockdown/ 

And https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-coronavirus-set-to-cause-largest-ever-annual-fall-in-co2-emissions

Home-made Face Mask tutorial https://youtu.be/AhGUBjK10DI

Food ideas

Chickpeas galore on Libby’s website!

Libby's Instagram 'Snacks' Story Highlights also has a quick hummus-making how-to https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17918455708180593/

Renée links

Libby links

The music!

’Optimistic Life' performed by The Smithereens, used under license from Shutterstock

Renée LaPlante