Clinically Sustainable Podcast

Cassandra L Thiel
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As a sustainability researcher and advocate, its been hard to reconcile the things I love in life (traveling, children, meat) with what those things do to our planet. We can't give up yet, so I'm exploring what we can do to be fulfilled and sustainable. clinicallysustainable.substack.com

  1. Oct 23

    Ep. 21: How Do You Get Health Systems to Actually Change?

    Episode Summary: One year ago, 30 strangers met in a stone cellar in Boulder, Colorado with a bold goal: figure out how to actually drive decarbonization across complex health systems. In this episode, host [Name] reflects on the inaugural year of the Sustainable Healthcare Leadership Institute—from Flatiron mountain hikes to peer-led breakthroughs—and addresses the hidden hurdles holding healthcare sustainability back. Plus, an exciting announcement: applications for Cohort 2 are officially open for health system and industry leaders!Resources & Links Mentioned: Apply for Cohort 2: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research/programs/global-consortium-climate-health-education/courses-trainings/sustainable-healthcare-leadership-institute Cohort 2 Application Details: Who Should Apply: US-based health system leaders and healthcare industry leaders working on sustainability. Kickoff Retreat: May 4–7, 2027 | Santa Fe, New Mexico Application Deadline: January 1, 2027 How to Apply: Visit GCCHE to submit your application. Get full access to Clinically Sustainable at clinicallysustainable.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep. 21: How Do You Get Health Systems to Actually Change?

  2. Oct 13

    Addressing a Bad Actor

    Episode Summary When attending an industry health conference, you expect sales pitches—not blatant science denialism. In this episode, we unpack a firsthand experience witnessing a plastic industry mouthpiece attempt to dismiss the growing health concerns surrounding microplastics, PFAS, and endocrine disruptors. From outrageous false equivalencies to red-flag funding claims, we break down how corporate misinformation campaigns operate in real time and, most importantly, how health professionals and advocates can spot bad science and push back. Resources & Citations Mentioned Literature Reviews on Microplastics, Endocrine Disruptors, and Upstream Emissions American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards on Compostability Information on PFAS and Environmental Health Risks See the blog post with the same name for links to these. Connect & Share If you’ve encountered similar bad actors or propaganda at industry events, leave a comment or share this episode with a colleague. Subscribe to Clinically Sustainable for more updates on healthcare sustainability and evidence-based practice. Get full access to Clinically Sustainable at clinicallysustainable.substack.com/subscribe

    Addressing a Bad Actor

  3. Sep 15

    Ep. 19: ACLCA Day -1: Our Workshop on Drugs and MedTech

    Get full access to Clinically Sustainable at clinicallysustainable.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep. 19: ACLCA Day -1: Our Workshop on Drugs and MedTech

  4. Aug 27

    Episode 18: Conservation in the Crossfire

    Get full access to Clinically Sustainable at clinicallysustainable.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode 18: Conservation in the Crossfire

  5. Aug 13

    Ep 17: Why I Intentionally Melt Healthcare Workers’ Brains

    Here are your podcast show notes, organized and formatted to make your episode clear, engaging, and easy to navigate for your listeners. Episode Overview In this episode, we dive into the world of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in healthcare and why this deep-systems modeling tool is critical for genuine decarbonization in the medical world. Plus, a quick update on the podcast branding! Welcome to Clinically Sustainable, featuring two distinct tracks: Sustainable Healthcare (data-driven strategy, LCAs, and pharma/med-tech decarbonization) and So Climatic (personal essays, memoir, climate anxiety, and resilient community building). Key Takeaways & Topics Covered What is an LCA? Beyond GHG Reporting: Moving from macro-level entity accounting (entire hospitals) to micro-level product/process deep dives (laryngoscopes, cataract surgeries). Scope: Capturing environmental impacts beyond carbon, including eutrophication and resource depletion. The Mechanics of Life Cycle Thinking Estimating emissions from raw material extraction, manufacturing, and transport down to disposal or reprocessing. Why LCAs are rarely "quick and easy"—they are an invitation to deep systems thinking. The "Functional Unit" Dilemma How defining a unit of function (e.g., "helping a patient see") becomes a deeply philosophical and necessary exercise for fair comparison. Why Healthcare Needs LCA Magic Healthcare contributes more to climate change than the entire aviation or shipping sectors. In an era of administrative cuts, burnout, and supply chain strain, LCAs help health systems spend limited time and capital on interventions that deliver maximum environmental return. Memorable Quotes "An LCA is an invitation to deeply understand a system." "If health systems are going to spend precious time, money, and political capital reducing their carbon footprint... they need to put that effort into changes that actually move the needle." Quick Links & Substack Settings Manage Subscriptions: Remember to update your Substack settings if you'd like to customize whether you receive Sustainable Healthcare, So Climatic, or both directly to your inbox! Join the Conversation: Leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions on functional units and healthcare decarbonization. Get full access to Clinically Sustainable at clinicallysustainable.substack.com/subscribe

  6. Jul 24

    Ep. 16: Burying the Lede (and other interruptions)

    In this episode: What happens when you try to write compelling narrative nonfiction, market a consultancy on LinkedIn, and draft an academic paper—all while a sick child chops up fabric with your sewing scissors? Today, I’m opening up about the narrative "cognitive whiplash" of juggling different writing styles, dealing with climate work burnout, and why we need to offer ourselves (and each other) a little more grace.Links & Resources Mentioned: Emi's Blog Post: https://open.substack.com/pub/eminietfeld/p/writing-about-gen-z-ambition-gave?r=2nz276&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Get full access to Clinically Sustainable at clinicallysustainable.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep. 16: Burying the Lede (and other interruptions)

  7. Apr 2

    Ep 15: Human Innovation

    Get full access to Clinically Sustainable at clinicallysustainable.substack.com/subscribe

  8. 12/18/2025

    Ep 14: Normal Does not Apply Today

    Just reading from the blog: https://open.substack.com/pub/clinicallysustainable/p/normal-does-not-apply-today?r=2nz276&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Get full access to Clinically Sustainable at clinicallysustainable.substack.com/subscribe

    Ep 14: Normal Does not Apply Today
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As a sustainability researcher and advocate, its been hard to reconcile the things I love in life (traveling, children, meat) with what those things do to our planet. We can't give up yet, so I'm exploring what we can do to be fulfilled and sustainable. clinicallysustainable.substack.com

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