Are we finally saying goodbye to foam earplugs? In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, Lauryn Menard, Co-founder and CEO of GOB, joins host Ian Peterman to reveal how her team created the world’s first home-compostable, biology-engineered earplug—made from mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms. 🍄👂 Lauryn shares her journey from working with global brands like Herman Miller and Target to building a regenerative product that’s redefining wearable wellness and creating real impact in the circular economy. If you're interested in sustainable product design, material innovation, eco-friendly alternatives, or how to scale green tech products that consumers actually understand and want to use—this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode ✅ What makes mycelium better than traditional foam ✅ How to scale a compostable product from R&D to market ✅ Why most “biodegradable” claims are misleading ✅ How GOB turns fungi into functional, high-performing earplugs ✅ The future of regenerative wellness products ✅ Sustainable marketing strategies that actually convert 🕒 Notable Moments (Click to Jump): 00:00 - Guest Intro 00:46 - Lauryn's Journey to Sustainable Design 02:30 - The Birth of Mycelium-Based Earplugs 05:12 - Material Innovation and Testing Mycelium Earplugs 12:35 - Performance and Use Cases of Mycelium Earplugs 19:18 - Compostability and Benefits of Mycelium 21:36 - Innovative, Regenerative, and User-Centered Earplug Design 25:44 - Scaling Sustainable Materials for the Masses 30:29 - Marketing Sustainable Products Effectively 33:10 - Connecting with Consumers: Removing Jargon 37:59 - Exciting Launch and Future Prospects About Lauryn Menard & GOB Lauryn Menard is an endurance junkie, material nerd, and the CEO and Co-founder of GOB Earth Inc. With a career fueled by innovation, she began in fashion and expanded into furniture, brand strategy, and product design. Throughout her journey, she has consistently pushed for a more responsible, mass-manufactured future. Previously, as Co-founder of PROWL, a design agency focused on regenerative materials, she partnered with powerhouse brands such as Herman Miller, Air Company, Lightship, Target, and more. PROWL’s work has been featured in over 90 publications, including The New York Times, Fast Company, CNN, Dezeen, and others, gaining significant global recognition. Lauryn is also an adjunct professor of Biomaterials at California College of the Arts. Her international experience has helped amplify GOB’s presence on the global stage. Now, with GOB’s game-changing mycelium-based earplugs, she is leading the charge in creating sustainable, biology-driven products that are redefining the future of wellness. GOB partners with nature to evolve your everyday life into a regenerative future. We are reinventing wearable wellness products, engineered with biology and designed with a long-term vision. As the world’s first earplug with a conscience, our product is made from lab-grown mycelium. These single-use plugs are designed by nature to tune your experiences to the right volume, without harmful materials or chemicals. They are completely home compostable and will nourish the earth wherever they land. 🔗 Connect with Lauryn & GOB: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauryn-menard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gob.earth/ Website: http://gob.earth 🌍 Join the Conscious Design MovementGET THE “CONSCIOUS DESIGN” BOOK HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KNMN9BT LEARN MORE ABOUT CONSCIOUS DESIGN HERE: https://www.consciousdesignhaus.com/ Want to turn your visionary ideas into market-ready, sustainable products? MAKE IT POSSIBLE HERE: https://www.petermanfirm.com/ 🤝 Let’s Connect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cdesignhaus/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@consciousdesign LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-designhaus/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/CDesignHaus
