The ChicoBag Podcast – Redefining Sustainability, One Step at a Time

Andy Keller
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Join Andy Keller, founder of ChicoBag and a passionate advocate for sustainability, as he explores the big and small ways we can all contribute to a cleaner, greener future. Whether it’s reducing waste, protecting our oceans, or rethinking the way we consume, The ChicoBag Podcast delivers actionable solutions that inspire positive change. Through thought-provoking conversations with sustainability leaders, innovators, and changemakers, this podcast equips you with the knowledge and motivation to leave everything better than you found it. Tune in and take your next step toward a more sustainable world. Listen now and be part of the movement for a brighter, cleaner future.

  1. Jun 10

    Great Stories Need Enemies | Kevin Willard | ChicoBag Podcast Ep 31

    Most brands point the camera in the wrong place. Their best stories are buried on page 47 of an impact report no one reads. Andy Keller sits down with Kevin Willard, owner of brand storytelling studio Assembly and a copywriter who has spent two decades helping organizations like American Forest Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, Hyatt, and Jack Daniels find stories that actually move people. They get into why brands are losing ground in the attention economy, what Huckberry and North Face are doing differently, and what to do when virgin material is cheaper than recycled content and you still want to make the right product. What you'll hear: Why most brand video gets ignored, and what the top 10% does differently How Huckberry built a YouTube channel reportedly worth around $450,000 by reallocating ad spend The story arc every piece of content needs (want, obstacle, overcome) "Great stories need enemies." For ChicoBag, it's plastic waste. What's yours? Why decision by committee turns Rocky Road into vanilla Andy gets vulnerable about the virgin-versus-recycled material problem AI is sterilizing content. The brands that stay human are the ones that win. If your brand is rethinking what your promotional products actually say about you, our custom program is built for the brands who care about the answer. Start here: https://www.chicobag.com/custom-eco-friendly-promotional-products Connect with Kevin Willard Website: https://www.asmblyco.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwillardcreativedirector/ Connect with ChicoBag Website: https://www.chicobag.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChicoBag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicobag LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicobag

    1h 2m

  2. May 7

    Turn Your Posts Into Real Donations | Becca Ruiz | ChicoBag Podcast Ep 30

    What if posting your morning coffee could fund a mental health organization? Andy Keller sits down with Becca Ruiz, founder of Post on Purpose (POP), to talk about the gap between brand marketing and real-world impact — and the platform she built to close it. Every post, every tag, every verified action unlocks a real donation from a sponsoring brand. No new apps. No extra steps. Just Instagram doing something that actually matters. What you'll hear: - Why Becca left corporate sustainability to build something new - The disconnect between impact teams and marketing teams — and why it costs real results - How Post on Purpose turns an Instagram post into a verified donation - The MiMOS Coffee campaign funding mental health resources for Black women - Why participation-based content is outperforming passive scrolling - The move beyond vanity metrics — likes vs. real outcomes - How brands can prove their CSR investments actually worked - Becca's advice: small actions add up more than you think Connect with Becca Ruiz Website: postonpurpose.co Instagram: @postonpurpose.co Connect with ChicoBag Website: chicobag.com Instagram: @chicobag LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/chicobag Facebook: facebook.com/chicobag

    14 min

  3. Apr 2

    The Whole Village Approach: How Generational Change Happens With Guest Garrison Harward | ChicoBag Podcast Ep 29

    In Episode 29 of the ChicoBag Podcast, Andy Keller sits down with Garrison Harward, Executive Director of Andando, to talk about what makes real change last in rural Senegal. Andando’s “whole village” approach is built around long-term partnership and local ownership, spanning water, health, education, agriculture, literacy, and small business. Andy opens the episode with what that looks like in the real world: 41 market gardens producing over 2 million pounds of food, 16 health clinics serving more than 50,000 people, 21 schools reaching over 8,000 students, 2,700+ microloans, and 100,000+ trees planted. This conversation gets honest about the difference between short-term aid and long-term ownership, and why the hardest part is not building the project, it’s maintaining it over time. Garrison also shares a powerful story about a community that spent decades trying to access clean water, and what it takes to make solutions stick after the first investment. Learn more about Andando at https://www.andando.org More episodes and the mission behind ChicoBag: https://www.chicobag.com

    29 min

  4. Feb 17

    Plastic-Free Oyster Farming and the Truth About Microfibers | Abby Barrows Ep 28

    Microplastics are showing up everywhere, including in the food we eat. In this episode, Andy Keller talks with Abby Barrows, marine debris researcher and co founder of Deer Isle Oyster Co, about what she has learned from years of global microplastics sampling with Adventure Scientists and why plastic is such a complicated part of aquaculture and wild fisheries. Abby gets real about what the data actually shows, why “just recycle” is not a plan, and how we can reduce plastic without falling into perfectionism.   What you’ll hear: • What microplastics are, why microfibers show up in most samples, and how they move through air and water • Why the open ocean and polar regions can act like sinks for microplastics • The hidden plastic problem in oyster farming gear, and what “plastic free aquaculture” could look like • Practical ways to cut plastic that actually add up, from reusables to speaking up for policy change • Why oysters matter for clean water, coastal communities, and the future of food Connect with ChicoBag Website: https://www.chicobag.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChicoBag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicobag LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicobag   Connect with Abby Barrows and Deer Isle Oyster Company Website: https://abbybarrows.com/ Website: https://www.deerisleoysterco.com/

    48 min

  5. Jan 29

    Rebuilding After Wildfire: Resilient, Non-Toxic Homes with Marialyce Pedersen | Ep 28

    Marialyce Pedersen has spent decades in recycling and zero waste work, but wildfire changed her life in a personal way. After the Eaton Fire burned down her nearly 100-year-old home in Altadena, she began planning a rebuild focused on resiliency, health, and common sense. In this episode, Andy Keller and Marialyce dig into what “build back better” can actually look like, from straw bale buildings that survived the Thomas Fire, to the real-world friction of permitting and code adoption, to the uncomfortable truth that many rebuilds still rely on what her colleague Art Ludwig calls “kindling and toxic waste.” It’s a practical conversation about fire resilience, natural building materials, preparedness, and how communities can rebuild smarter instead of repeating the same cycle.

    42 min

  6. Jan 26

    Kurt Hoge on Purposeful Promotion, Not Waste | ChicoBag Podcast Ep 21

    Join Andy Keller as he sits down with Kurt Hoag, the founder of Renotype, to explore the world of purposeful promotion. Discover how Kurt's 30 years of experience in marketing have shaped his unique approach to advertising, focusing on meaningful connections rather than fleeting trends. Learn about the common pitfalls in promotional strategies and how to avoid them, while gaining insights into building lasting brand relationships. Whether you're a small business owner or a marketing enthusiast, this episode offers valuable lessons on making impactful promotional choices.

    31 min

  7. Jan 26

    Tabletop Games That Save Lives | Seth Ewing of Operation Tabletop | ChicoBag Podcast Ep 24

    In this episode, Andy Keller sits down with Seth Ewing, founder of Operation Tabletop, to talk about how simple, in-person game nights create real connection, restore a sense of purpose, and can help reduce suicide risk among service members and veterans. It’s an honest, practical conversation about loneliness, “earned dopamine” vs. instant gratification, showing up for each other, and why being the one who runs the game can give someone a reason to keep coming back.

    31 min

  8. Jan 26

    Tobie Spears on Be Humanitarian: Microgrants & Volunteer Travel | ChicoBag Podcast Ep 23

    Can small dollars create big change? In this episode, Andy sits down with Tobie Spears, founder of Be Humanitarian, to unpack a practical model working right now in Guatemala. From child sponsorship and English classes to tiny seed grants that launch real microbusinesses, Tobie shares what works, what to avoid, and how anyone can get involved as a sponsor, partner, or volunteer traveler. We dive into: Why Guatemala’s malnutrition crisis needs local, concrete solutions How sponsorship tiers cover school, meals, and momentum English classes as a simple unlock for opportunity What 200 dollars can do after basic business training Volunteer travel that blends service with real cultural connection How companies engage teams through purpose and partnership Nonprofit reality checks, hiring lessons, and measuring impact over overhead

    39 min
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About

Join Andy Keller, founder of ChicoBag and a passionate advocate for sustainability, as he explores the big and small ways we can all contribute to a cleaner, greener future. Whether it’s reducing waste, protecting our oceans, or rethinking the way we consume, The ChicoBag Podcast delivers actionable solutions that inspire positive change. Through thought-provoking conversations with sustainability leaders, innovators, and changemakers, this podcast equips you with the knowledge and motivation to leave everything better than you found it. Tune in and take your next step toward a more sustainable world. Listen now and be part of the movement for a brighter, cleaner future.

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