REV On Air - Sustainable Stories by Rêve En Vert Rêve En Vert

Today we speak to Leah Thomas, also well-known as @greengirlleah on instagram. Leah is a warrior for all things green and works tirelessly to influence positive change in the world. She recently released her new book ‘The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet’. In this podcast episode we cover topics such as government intervention in climate change & discrimination matters, personal identity, climate anxiety & self care.



Leah founded and launched the non-profit Intersectional Environmentalist, a platform and resource hub that aims to advocate for environmental justice, provide educational resources surrounding intersectional environmentalism, and promote inclusivity and accessibility within environmental education and movements in 2020 - which has since become a leading resource for diverse and accessible climate education.



Merci To Our Sponsor For This Episode!

 

Grass Roots Co-op

Off the back of our collaboration with Zach Bush and Farmer’s Footprint, we have been speaking a lot about regenerative agriculture and healthy, nourishing food systems. Grass Roots co-op fits right into this theme with their incredibly thoughtful approach to farming. Grass Roots is a co-op of farmers in rural America practicing regenerative farming that’s better for the animals, the soil, the environment, and everyone’s health.

One of the ranchers in the Grass Roots co-op describes her greatest title and role as “land-steward.” She’s talking about her work to help heal the ecosystem on the ranch; to foster healthy grasslands and soil that’s alive with roots and microbes continually drawing carbon out of the atmosphere. Like all Grass Roots partners, she  manages the ranch based on principles of regenerative farming.

They have also joined Land to Market, an esteemed organization that verifies raw material production for its positive ecological impacts that is bridging the gap between regeneratively farmed land and consumers.

If you are interested in learning more and sourcing humane and climate positive meats, head to grassrootscoop.com to discover their incredible efforts and products!

In this episode we speak to Willow Defebaugh, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Atmos and author of The Overview. We love this episode as Willow brings a fresh perfective on the climate crisis and the roles we all play in our own personal lives and in the larger collective. Opening us up to ideas of; imperfection over perfection, revolutionising our own fields of work, the importance of storytelling, and the role outdated hierarchies play in preventing change that desperately needs to happen. With the mindset of openness over fear, Willow gives us the hope that we will all be enough to transform our futures for the better.



Atmos is an exploration of climate and culture, a nonprofit biannual magazine and digital platform curated by a global ecosystem of artists, activists, and writers devoted to ecological and social justice through creative storytelling.

Their mission is to re-enchant people with nature and our shared humanity. They inspire cultural transformation and illuminate solutions to heal and protect the planet–now, and for generations to come.



Merci To Our Sponsor For This Episode!

 

Toups & Co

With our skin being our largest organ and the gateway right into our body, our skincare products should be made with wholesome, clean and recognizable ingredients.

Toups & Co’s entire skincare and makeup line is 100% natural and uses only organic ingredients like 100% grass-fed tallow, cold-pressed organic olive oil, and organic essential oils. Each product has been formulated to maximize skin-nourishing benefits and your safety. They never use synthetic chemicals, GMOs, toxins, fillers, artificial colors or fragrances.

They are a husband and wife team that believes it’s not good enough for you until it’s good enough for their own family. They also support small, family owned farms who are sustainable, fair trade, transparent and ethical.

Get 10% off your first order with the discount code: ‘reve+toups10′!

 

Our co-founder, Cora Hilts, visits Camilla Marcus, founder of the regenerative, carbon-neutral provisions brand west~bourne, at her home in LA to chat all things regenerative food, farming, and finance. The chef, entrepreneur, activist, and mother of three challenges conventional ideas about our food systems and environmental stewardship.

This Podcast episode is brought to you by our friends at ⁠Obakki Skincare⁠!

Camilla brings her wisdom of a lifetime in the restaurant business and growing up in LA surrounded by sustainable living and organic eating influences. Her driven nature comes out in how she runs west~bourne as a business, and her keen understanding of what it means to finance the regenerative movement can inspire us all to consider how we can do our part. She reminds us not to forget to look into the truth of how the world is set up to favour what is easy and what has always been done and to, instead, do differently.

Named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Camilla Marcus is a chef, entrepreneur, activist, and mother of three who is challenging conventional ideas about our food systems and environmental stewardship. Drawing from her Californian roots, she started west~bourne as New York City’s first zero-waste certified restaurant and has now expanded its mission of eating well and doing better into a collection of regenerative, carbon neutral provisions for the modern home.

Committed to cross-industry innovation, Camilla’s endeavors range from championing regenerative farming to reshaping the hospitality landscape. She co-founded ROAR (Restaurants Organizing Advocating Rebuilding) and is a founding member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC). In addition, her passion extends to crafting a more equitable childcare system for working mothers. Camilla is also a member of the Fast Company Impact Council and part of the invitation-only Google Food Lab think tank.

BRAND NEW: OBAKKI SKINCARE

Obakki Skincare is simple. Our products are formulated with nature’s wisdom in mind we use the purest possible raw ingredients for the best, safest results. Obakki Skincare is highly concentrated in naturally occurring antioxidants and nutrients to optimize and protect your skin’s function-to strengthen and nourish.

We know you want the best for your skin. We trace the origin of each ingredient to ensure that every Obakki Skincare formulation is natural, plant-based and of the highest quality. And, our products will never contain palm oil, artificial fragrances, artificial colourants, parabens, sulfates or animal products.

Single-ingredient concentrations mean that you can personalize your skincare results by hand-selecting and layering a unique combination of formulations that will best nourish your skin, for a simple daily ritual. Obakki Skincare’s full range of products are created with hand-cultivated and wild-harvested ingredients.

Our co-founder Cora Hilts speaks to Reverend Yearwood, President & CEO of the incredible human rights & climate organisation, Hip Hop Caucus! The goal of Hip Hop Caucus is to build a powerful and sustainable organization for the culture’s role in the civic process and empowerment of communities impacted first and worst by injustice. As a non-profit, non-partisan, multi-issue organization, Hip Hop Caucus focuses on addressing core issues impacting underserved and vulnerable communities, with programs and campaigns that support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders. Cora and Reverend Yearwood dive deep into the interactions between climate, community and politics and how faith can lead the way in supporting positive action and influence necessary change in the world.

Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. is the President & CEO of Hip Hop Caucus, a minister, community activist, U.S. Air Force veteran, and one of the most influential people in Hip Hop political life. Rev Yearwood entered the world of Hip Hop Politics as the Political and Grassroots Director for the Hip Hop Summit Action Network in 2003 and 2004, and as a key architect of P. Diddy’s “Vote Or Die!” campaign in a run up to the 2004 Presidential Election.

To carry the energy of the efforts beyond election day, he founded Hip Hop Caucus in September of 2004. The goal of Hip Hop Caucus is to build a powerful and sustainable organization for the culture’s role in the civic process and empowerment of communities impacted first and worst by injustice. As a non-profit, non-partisan, multi-issue organization, Hip Hop Caucus focuses on addressing core issues impacting underserved and vulnerable communities, with programs and campaigns that support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

In 2008, Rev Yearwood led Hip Hop Caucus’ launch of Respect My Vote!, a campaign and coalition that works with Hip Hop artists to engage young people in the electoral process. Since its inception, numerous celebrity partners have joined the campaign during election cycles to reach their fan bases, including T.I., 2 Chainz, Amber Rose, Future, Keyshia Cole, Vic Mensa, Charlamagne tha God, Keke Palmer, Omar Epps, and more. The campaign has registered and mobilized tens of thousands of young voters to the polls and in 2008 set a world record of registering the most voters in one day (32,000 people across 16 U.S. cities). Respect My Vote! is the longest running hip hop oriented voter engagement program, having been active in United States elections for over 10 years.

As a national leader and pacemaker within the Green Movement, Rev Yearwood has been successfully bridging the gap between communities of color and environmental issue advocacy. With a diverse set of celebrity allies, he has raised awareness and action in communities that are often overlooked by traditional environmental campaigns and elected officials. His innovative stance has garnered the Hip Hop Caucus support from several environmental leaders including the Sunrise Movement, League of Conservation Voters, Earthjustice, and Zero Hour.

He has also fought on the frontlines for vulnerable communities, including at the international climate negotiations in Paris and efforts to fight new oil pipeline developments in Maryland and at Standing Rock. He has received numerous awards for his work, including being dubbed as a New Green Hero by Rolling Stone and recognized by the Obama White House as a Champion of Change.



In 2018, he helped launch Think 100%, Hip Hop Caucus’ award-winning climate communications and activism platform. Comprised of podcast, film, music, and activism opportunities, the platform challenges environmental injustices and shares just solutions to the climate crisis, including a transition to 100% renewable energy for all. More at Think 100%.

Our co-founder Cora went to LA speak to Oliver English, co-director of the new environmental documentary on the future of regenerative food and farming, Feeding Tomorrow. From growing up around food with both parents working as chefs in their family run restaurant business, to becoming a chef himself and taking on the world of the restaurant industry, in a pivotal moment, Oliver found his way into his passion for discovering the source of food and making that the key element of a good dish. Exploring this passion, Oliver made his way into filmmaking, and alongside brother and co-director Simon English, he created Feeding Tomorrow, a movie that explores the question 'How can we feed the earth’s population of 8 billion people in a just, sustainable, and environmentally responsible way?'. Oliver is also the Co-Founder & CEO of Common Table Creative, his creative agency for regenerative storytelling through film.



Food influences every part of our lives, yet our national agricultural system is going terribly wrong. From our emphasis on cattle farming and chemical fertilization to wasteful distribution, there is a direct connection between unhealthy soil and unhealthy people. Feeding Tomorrow poses one of the most important questions of our time: How can we feed the earth’s population of 8 billion people in a just, sustainable, and environmentally responsible way?

Merci To Our Sponsor For This Episode!

 

Kiki Milk

Kiki Milk was started in the founders kitchen out of necessity because there was no milk they felt comfortable giving their son. Frustration turned into curiosity, and they turned that into action. Thus Kiki Milk was born! Inspired by the abundant coconuts on the island of Kauai, Kiki Milk is a plant-based milk for kids and adults alike. Delicious, rich in plant-based protein, contains essential fatty acids for brain health, has bioavailable calcium for bone health, and is naturally sweet from organic oats and organic coconut sugar. Kiki Milk works with one of the first Certified Regenerative organic companies to source their coconut sugar for their line. Coconuts are inherently grown regeneratively with multiple other crops being able to be sustained and grown next to and among the coconut trees. Kiki Milk has three different organic and plant-based milks along with a delicious nut butter.

 

This podcast episode is a part of the REV x Farmer’s Footprint Regenerative Podcast Series!

Today in the thirteenth episode of our regenerative podcast series in collaboration with Farmer’s Footprint, we are speaking to David Leon, co-founder of Farmer’s Footprint and Biome Capital! David shines a light on the side of regenerative agriculture that we often wonder about don’t always get a full understanding of – the economics of regeneration. We are so grateful to be able to talk to David and have him help us understand the truth of how climate change and the cost of living crisis are affecting farmers and how, during these desperate and dire financial times, it is possible to take steps towards regeneration. David speaks of fascinating and debatable concepts such as placing monetary value on ecosystems and animal species in order for insurance companies and large corporations to take notice and account for them. As well as not working against but empathising with conventional farmers to turn what we already have into something positive and generative for all.

So just a little bit more about the work of Biome Capital and David’s role there. Biome invests capital in farmland equity in a model that allows growers to acquire new land or retain both an ownership interest in their land and the ability to manage their operations with relative autonomy. They meet a grower wherever she or he is along the spectrum of transition to regenerative management, and partner in a way that is supportive but not prescriptive.

Biome Capital Partners also invests additional capital outside the farm gate to benefit farmer partners (for example, in processing infrastructure or relevant AgTech). They seek to build regional regenerative ecosystems, and part of our investment mandate is to improve the economic and emotional health of their farmer partners and their community.



Merci To Our Sponsor For This Episode!

 

EcoCart

The average customer lacks access to information that could help them estimate the carbon footprint of the items they purchase, even though 4 out of 5 consumers say climate impact is a factor in who they decide to purchase with. Dane Baker and Peter Twomey recognized this missing information and created EcoCart as a solution.

EcoCart has already empowered over 2,000 brands to embark on their climate-positive journey. Their innovative carbon-offsetting tool seamlessly integrates with ecommerce brand’s checkout pages to calculate carbon emissions, and then enables either merchants or shoppers (or both!) to pay to offset those emissions, based on the brand’s budget. EcoCart firmly believes that companies should reduce carbon emissions in addition to offsetting, and also provides brands with insightful Life Cycle Analysis to further enhance their environmental impact.

Ecocart exists to lower the barrier to entry for ecommerce brands wanting to become more climate-friendly. We here at REV believe hugely in the power of reducing carbon at every step along a brand’s journey and this is a tool that can help with that whilst helping educate consumers at the same time. EcoCart helps companies transparently tell their sustainability story to align with their customers’ values.

Go to ecocart.io to book a demo and if you hop on a call with EcoCart they’ll cover the cost to offset a day’s worth of carbon emissions from your online store if you mention Rêve En Vert!