(re)connect

Valentine Aouad
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The next world is being built right now. This podcast is where we talk about it. Each week, Valentine, founder of Green Socials, explores what it really means to live well on this planet — because she believes the stories we tell about the future shape the future we build. Solo episodes dig into the ideas, research, and tensions she can't stop thinking about. Guest conversations bring in the founders, activists, and changemakers quietly doing the work in community, ecology, wellness, and business. The question we always end on: what does the world you want to live in actually look like? 30 minutes. Best listened to on a walk. More information about Green Socials: www.green-socials.com Follow us on Instagram to never miss an episode: @reconnect.pod

  1. Oct 13

    "Social Media Is a Mirror": Ethics, Art and Staying Curious with Claire Matz

    Claire Matz is half French, half Texan, and the founder of The Social Palm, where she manages social media for sustainable and ethical brands. She is also an artist. On the day we recorded, she had just registered her official artiste-auteur status in France. Claire and Valentine do very similar jobs, so this conversation goes behind the scenes of the work. They talk about growing up between two cultures and never fitting in one box. They get into why social media works like a mirror and an amplifier, and how a brand can show up online in a way that matches its values. Claire also shares the routines that keep her off her phone (ceramics helps), and the mindset shift that let her start selling her art after years of saying no. What we cover (01:39) Half French, half Texan: growing up in a French international school in Houston(04:20) Feeling "both, but also neither", and finding her people in international environments(06:35) What she keeps from each culture: American boldness and French creative heritage(09:33) Curiosity and connection, the two forces behind every chapter of her career(14:34) From the French government in New York to a digital think tank in Paris, then launching The Social Palm(20:37) Social media as "a mirror and an amplifier", and the shift from social networks to social media(26:11) Her advice when your community starts leaving a platform, and the "Instagram collapses tomorrow" test(27:22) How to pick one platform based on your content, your time and what you enjoy making(31:16) Transparency, intentionality and the behind-the-curtain test(34:55) What a social media manager does all day, from strategy to analytics(40:35) Slow mornings, a garden, a cat, and workshops where your hands are covered in clay(46:30) Becoming an artiste-auteur, giving 50% of her first night of art sales to organizations she loves, and unlearning "who am I to be an artist?"(51:01) The world Claire wants to live inWhat is ethical social media marketing? Ethical social media marketing means using social platforms in a way that matches the values your business stands for. The content you post and the way you interact with people are transparent and intentional. You leave out manipulative tactics like follow/unfollow strategies, bots, false scarcity and pressure-based wording. You ask your community what they want, and you adapt. Claire's test in this episode: if the people you want to reach could see what goes on behind the curtain, would they agree with it? Connect with Claire Matz Instagram (art): @clairematzartInstagram (The Social Palm): @thesocialpalmWebsite: www.thesocialpalm.comAlso mentioned Episode 04 with Audrey Barucchi, on reconnecting with your immediate spaces and communitiesConnect with (re)connect: green-socials.com | @reconnect.pod

  2. Sep 29

    Humans Are The Soil: Building a Regenerative Future with SeedTree's Rachael & Moss

    What if we organised ourselves the way a forest does? In this episode of (re)connect, I sit down with Rachael and Moss, the co-founders (co-grounders) of SeedTree, a decentralised, values-based network mapping the people, projects and organisations already building a regenerative future. Moss brings a builder's mind and a lifelong search for work with real impact. Rachel brings 25 years of relationship-building and a deep belief in giving without expectation. Together they're creating what they call a coordination layer for the regenerative movement, a mycelial network that helps good work find each other. We talk about what "regenerative" actually means, why repair cafés count, and the ecological cosmology behind SeedTree, where humans are the soil and ideas are seeds waiting for the right conditions. They share how they hosted a local node of the Global Peace Activation in the Northern Rivers, and why collaboration beats competition in the nonprofit world. We also get into tall poppy syndrome. To finish, they walk us through the morning ritual that anchors them, with meditation, breathwork and spoken gratitude. In this episode 00:00 Welcome Rachel and Moss 00:52 Their backgrounds: relationships, travel and building 03:10 What SeedTree is and why it exists 05:42 What regeneration means, in nature and in business 09:28 Repair cafés and other examples of regenerative businesses 14:35 The turning point that led to SeedTree 19:35 The SeedTree ecosystem: soil, seeds, mycelium and blooms 24:26 Hosting a node of the Global Peace Activation 29:45 The Northern Rivers and choosing collaboration over competition 35:11 What tall poppy syndrome is 36:15 Their roles inside SeedTree 40:06 Their morning ritual: meditation, breathwork and gratitude 49:33 What does the world you want to live in actually look like? What is a regenerative business? A regenerative business is designed to leave people and the planet better off than it found them. Sustainability focuses on reducing harm. Regeneration goes further: it restores ecosystems, strengthens communities and gives back more than it takes. As Moss puts it, the simplest test is whether a business is moving the needle towards more life. Connect with SeedTree Instagram: @seedtree.earth Website: seedtree.earth Connect with (re)connect green-socials.com | @reconnect.pod

  3. Sep 15

    We Got 2 Million Views. Here's What We Learned.

    On September 4th, Green Socials released a reel on the Instagram account of our client Parayma, a Switzerland-based company working with change workers worldwide. Ten days later, it had reached 2 million views, 163K likes, 22.7K reposts, 3,440 comments, and over 40,600 shares in DMs. The account grew from 700 to 4,500 followers in that window. In this episode, Valentine breaks down what actually happened: the origin of the reel (built around a voiceover by Instagram creator Bobby Opp imagining a hopeful vision of 2035), why the messaging worked, what the comment section revealed, and what it takes to be ready for a viral moment before it hits. What we cover: The reel that started it all, built from a client-shared voiceover and existing stock footageApplying Donald Miller's three levels of problems (external, internal, philosophical) from Building a StoryBrand to explain why the reel's opening line workedReading the comment section: tears, hope, skepticism, and a wave of bots and trollsWhat "being ready for virality" really means: DM automations, freebies, a clear bio, and a pinned post that actually represents the brandWhy chasing virality for its own sake is a mistake if there's no offer or resource behind itMoving from awareness to action: how to respond to a community suddenly asking "what do we do now?"Turning a one-off spike into a repeatable content format through continuous testingWhy monthly reporting matters even more in the weeks following a viral moment Links mentioned in this episode: The reel that went viral: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc3LOXXIF_f/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Parayma: https://www.parayma.co/Bobby Opp (voiceover creator): https://www.instagram.com/itsbobbyopp/Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller Connect with (re)connect:green-socials.com | @reconnect.pod

  4. Sep 2

    [KEY MOMENTS] Creative Routines, Journaling, and Nervous System Care with Charlotte Gomes

    Charlotte Gomes and Valentine Aouad discuss how to build a sustainable creative routine instead of forcing consistency that drains you. The conversation focuses on aligning work with your creative season, using journaling as a reflective tool, and incorporating nervous system and somatic practices to support mental and physical health. Key topicsCharlotte Gomes shares that consistency matters, but only when it is built into a system that fits your real life and creative season.She emphasizes that sustainable routines must account for mental health and physical health, not just productivity.Valentine Aouad asks about personal creativity rituals and grounding practices that help create consistency without burnout.Charlotte mentions her "find your path" practice as a core ritual she uses and says it can be adapted by anyone.She explains that assessing your creative season can help guide the kinds of rituals you need, and that she offers email guidance based on that assessment.Journaling comes up as a major practice for both speakers, especially for introspection, processing emotions, and understanding what shapes your work and life.Charlotte highlights the value of learning about brain energetics, nervous system work, and somatic worK.She shares that somatic experiencing has been life-changing in her own experience.Charlotte describes using a personal container ritual to avoid feeling drained online and to stay tuned into her body. The episode closes with Valentine’s signature question about the kind of world you want to live in, setting up a reflective ending. Want the full conversation? Go over to (re)connect wherever you get your podcasts. green-socials.com | @reconnect.pod

  5. Aug 27

    [KEY MOMENT] Jenny McCarty Reveals How She’s Reshaping What Sustainable Art Can Look Like

    The artist who turned eco-friendly materials into activism, and a viral sticker into $27,000 for national parks.Jenny McCarty reveals how she’s reshaping what sustainable art can look like - from choosing watercolors and gouache over harsher mediums, to building a smarter, more ethical art practice that considers materials, packaging, shipping, and even what happens after a piece hangs in your home. If you’re an artist, collector, or just trying to make better choices with the supplies you already have, this conversation gives you a clear, practical way to start.Valentine Aouad pushes Jenny to get specific about the easiest path toward greener art, and Jenny breaks down the real-world strategy: use what you already own first, look for reuse centers like Boulder’s Art Parts, and then transition toward eco-friendly brands that are changing the market with earth-based acrylics, water-based oils, and lower-toxicity pigments. She also shares the checklist she created for asking artists the right questions about sustainability. You’ll also hear the story behind the viral sticker that got over a million views after Jenny responded to a controversial national parks pass design. What started as a creative protest became a community-powered movement, with volunteers packing orders at her kitchen table and a full 100 percent of proceeds going to national parks.Jenny and Valentine also dig into the bigger question: what can art actually do? They connect the dots between creativity and activism, why artists often spot social problems early, and how expression becomes more powerful when it’s rooted in the world we’re living in right now.If you care about sustainability, public lands, or using your creative work for something bigger than yourself, this one is essential listening. It’s a grounded, hopeful reminder that small acts, made well and shared widely, can create real momentum. Jenny McCarty is an artist and activist known for her eco-conscious watercolor practice and for creating a viral sticker campaign that has raised nearly $27,000 for national parks. Her work blends sustainability, community response, and visual protest into one powerful creative message.Valentine Aouad guides the conversation with a focus on practical sustainability, community feedback, and the future of art as a force for connection and change.Want the full conversation? Go over to (re)connect wherever you get your podcasts. green-socials.com | @reconnect.pod

  6. Aug 19

    [KEY MOMENT] Improving Indoor Air Quality on a Budget with Alex Shield

    The conversation covers practical ways to improve indoor air quality and create a healthier home environment. It emphasizes the importance of small steps, awareness, and informed decision-making. Takeaways Small steps for healthier indoor airAwareness and informed decision-making Want the full conversation? Go over to (re)connect wherever you get your podcasts. green-socials.com | @reconnect.pod

  7. Aug 11

    [KEY MOMENT] Uncovering the Truth about the Climate Crisis' Capitalisation with Audrey Barucchi

    Audrey shares her 10-year journey within a company, revealing the capitalisation of the climate crisis, her interest in financialisation and engineering, her realisation and transition, and her understanding of the climate crisis. Want the full conversation? Go over to (re)connect wherever you get your podcasts. green-socials.com | @reconnect.pod

  8. Aug 5

    Why Your Marketing Should Start With Your Nervous System, Not Your KPIs with Charlotte Gomes

    Most people start with visibility. What if the work actually starts underground? In this episode of (re)connect, Valentine sits down with Charlotte Gomes, founder of Collective Roots PR, to talk about what it means to build a creative practice from the roots up instead of chasing KPIs first. Charlotte's path started young, booking over sixty live music shows across Europe at eighteen, then shifted a decade later when chronic health symptoms led her to somatic work and nervous system awareness. That thread of "invisible connection" became the foundation of Collective Roots, a practice blending storytelling design, nervous system work, and brain energetics for creatives, visionaries, and changemakers who don't want to burn themselves out to be seen. They get into: Why "well marketed" and "deeply rooted" are two different things, and what changes when you tune into a project's felt sense before you promote itCharlotte's four creative seasons (winter, spring, summer, autumn) and how they map to her five-pillar framework: root, express, embody, connect, expandA simple personal / public / sacred exercise for figuring out what's actually safe to share online before you're dysregulated by itA grounding ritual to run before you open Instagram, so you're not scrolling from a place of dissociationWhere AI fits in, and Charlotte's honest take on the line between using it as a tool and letting it swallow your own voiceThe "find your path" creative ritual for getting unstuckCharlotte's answer to the podcast's signature closing question: what does the world you want to live in actually look like A note from Charlotte: We Root Before We Rise is a seven-week self-paced journey for creatives and changemakers who want to tend to what lives beneath their work, before it is asked to be seen. Across seven reflective workbooks and ten guided audio practices, you move at your own pace, reconnecting with your creativity, your nervous system and the deeper roots of your work. Everything is gathered in one Notion space you can return to whenever you need to slow down or begin again. Early-bird pricing is open until 10 August. 🔗 collectiverootspr.com/werootbeforewerise Connect with Charlotte: Collective Roots PR → collectiverootspr.com Connect with (re)connect: green-socials.com | @reconnect.pod

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About

The next world is being built right now. This podcast is where we talk about it. Each week, Valentine, founder of Green Socials, explores what it really means to live well on this planet — because she believes the stories we tell about the future shape the future we build. Solo episodes dig into the ideas, research, and tensions she can't stop thinking about. Guest conversations bring in the founders, activists, and changemakers quietly doing the work in community, ecology, wellness, and business. The question we always end on: what does the world you want to live in actually look like? 30 minutes. Best listened to on a walk. More information about Green Socials: www.green-socials.com Follow us on Instagram to never miss an episode: @reconnect.pod

Information

  • Creator
    Valentine Aouad
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Valentine Aouad