California is leading the United States into the solar panel revolution. And spoilers: it’s actually quite boring. Or at least, that's what an OG environmentalist would say.  This episode, Nature N8 walks us through the process of installing solar panels on his parents’ roof, in the Californian suburbs. He explains the financial magic of solar, compares it to industrial scale installments, and finds hope in how the once-radical technology has now become ordinary. Ghost Island Media is proud to be a Media Partner of RESHAPE SUMMIT! Sign up for this new leadership summit here: https://bit.ly/3kh88gh Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waste Not Why Not

44. Nature N8 installs solar panels

N8's visiting home in San Diego!  Don't worry though, the show's not ending, and he promised he will write us regularly.  For other environmental podcasts, check out the Climactic Collective and the signatories of Podcasters Declare.   For our sister shows in our network, search Ghost Island Media. Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod.  Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

N8 goes away (for a while)

This week, we bring back Emily Cardinali on the show! She was our very first editor, and she had really wanted to report on sustainable menstrual products. So, after our interview with Isabel Aagard last episode, we reached out to Emily about her own experiences with green tampons.  N8 and Emily discuss the guilt on half of our human population, tips on identifying sustainable products, and the pros and cons of every sort of menstrual product sold on the market.  Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | Music licensing MB01WR8IJHWPCOG | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

43. N8 and Emily review sustainable menstrual products

We don’t all have to be sustainability consultants in order to save the environment. You can keep doing what you’re good at - and apply your expertise to environmental problems. That’s how Isabel stepped into circular design.  Isabel Aagaard is an entrepreneur and product designer. She founded LastObject two years ago in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a mission to eliminate single-use items by creating their reusable alternatives. Her very first product raised 1.2M USD on Kickstarter.  Today, Nature N8 chats with Isabel about how companies measure sustainability, her own successful business model, and toilet paper.    Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

42. Green Entrepreneur: Isabel Aagaard (LastObject)

Today’s show is done in collaboration with The Taiwan Take. Taiwan’s next referendum will soon vote on activating the nation’s fourth nuclear plant, as well as constructing a natural gas plant on an algal reef that's critical for Taiwan’s biodiversity. These decisions come as governments around the world are scrambling to meet the demands of the Paris Agreement, and as environmental activists fight for a more sustainable planet.  Green Parties propose an alternative voice in politics to tackle our environmental ruin. All over the world, there are 91 Green Parties that believe in committing our governments to environmental stewardship, through electing green movement leaders into office. In Asia, Taiwan is home to the region’s oldest Green Party, which won a National Assembly seat in 1996 - their very first election campaign.  Our guest today is Professor Dafydd Fell, a political scientist at SOAS University of London, and Director of the Centre of Taiwan Studies. Dafydd Fell is author of the new book: “Taiwan’s Green Parties: Alternative Politics in Taiwan”, published in March 2021 by Routledge. Subscribe to The Taiwan Take for more Taiwanese perspectives on global issues.   Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8MAY), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | Assistance from Elise Chan | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

41. Taiwan’s Green Parties: Dafydd Fell (SOAS University of London)

Do you enjoy gaming? Do you enjoy surviving our climate apocalypse? Well, good news! You can enjoy both at the same time!  Last fall, Nature N8 went to a World Climate Simulation event, called En-ROADS, where participants roleplay as different sectors to negotiate for better climate policies. N8 finds out what goes on throughout the simulation, and why this game was created in the first place.   Thank you to Omplexity, TWYCC, and the Hive Taipei for organizing this En-ROADS session. And special shoutout to our Patreon patron Brian for inviting us to the event!  You can play En-ROADS yourself on the Climate Interactive website.  Finally, a quote on hope:  “Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency. Hope should shove you out the door, because it will take everything you have to steer the future away from endless war, from the annihilation of the earth's treasures and the grinding down of the poor and marginal... To hope is to give yourself to the future - and that commitment to the future is what makes the present inhabitable.” ― Rebecca Solnit, Hope in the Dark Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | Angela Chao, production assistant | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

40. N8 goes to a climate simulation (En-ROADS)

Nature N8 is too old and tired to debunk any more bad environmental hogwash baloney. So he’s definitely not debunking Seaspiracy, the new 2021 Netflix documentary that's trending all over social media and press coverages. Nope. Not doing it.  What we WILL do is share an open letter: Podcasters Declare. A group of Climate Podcasters is calling Apple Podcast to add a new category: Climate! This would help podcast listeners like you find more thoughtful discussions on climate change!  Go to PodcastersDECLARE.com to sign the letter, and tell your favorite podcasts to join us today!    Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | Music licensing MB01WR8IJHWPCOG | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

39. The N8 Take: Is Seaspiracy worth Seaing? (Not Debunking)

N8’s noticing some viral trends on Twitter, again. This time, media pieces are comparing COVID-19 to Climate Change. (Spoilers: they’re not comparable.) We also want to share an open letter that our friend Mark from the Climactic podcast is helping organize: Podcasters Declare. A group of Climate Podcasters is calling Apple Podcast to add a new category: Climate! This would greatly help listeners like you find more thoughtful discussions on climate change in other podcasts!  Go to PodcastersDECLARE.com to sign the letter, and tell your favorite podcasts to join us today!  Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

38. The N8 Take: Covid-19 is NOT Climate Change

We’re back at the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) for a second year! This time, Nature N8 chats with Representative Dr. Jasmine Clark of Georgia. Dr. Clark is a microbiologist who organized the March for Science in Atlanta and was part of the following wave of scientists that ran for office in the United States. N8 and Dr. Clark discuss Georgia’s challenges in diversifying its energy portfolio, public transportation and infrastructure, and what it actually means to bring scientific expertise into law-making. Find us on the AAAS 2021 podcast library here: + https://virtual.aaas.org/category/waste-not-why-notCheck out Dr. Clark's virtual panel at AAAS here: + https://virtual.aaas.org/legislators-in-lab-coats-how-to-run-for-office-and-change-the-worldSupport “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack.EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | Music licensing | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

37. Scientists in government: Dr. Jasmine Clark (GA State Representative)

We’re back at the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) for a second year! This time, Nature N8 chats with Representative Dr. Jasmine Clark of Georgia.  Dr. Clark is a microbiologist who organized the March for Science in Atlanta and was part of the following wave of scientists that ran for office in the United States.  N8 and Dr. Clark discuss Georgia’s challenges in diversifying its energy portfolio, public transportation and infrastructure, and what it actually means to bring scientific expertise into law-making.  Find us on the AAAS 2021 podcast library here: + https://virtual.aaas.org/category/waste-not-why-not Check out Dr. Clark's virtual panel at AAAS here: + https://virtual.aaas.org/legislators-in-lab-coats-how-to-run-for-office-and-change-the-world Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | Music licensing | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surprise! Nature N8 embarks on yet another field trip—this time to a waste recycling facility. Specifically, an electronic waste facility. If you’re reading this, you’re creating e-waste right now! What are you gonna do with it?!Corporate eWaste Solutions is a company that disassembles, recycles, and reuses e-waste for other businesses. N8 goes to their facility in Brea to talk with John (Environmental Health & Safety specialist) and Raymond (Business development marketing) about how you should get rid of your old TV, how the poison in your laptop is cleaned before it pollutes our world, and how companies can turn e-waste into e-treasure. Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack.EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

36. N8 goes waste recycling (Corporate eWaste Solutions)

Surprise! Nature N8 embarks on yet another field trip—this time to a waste recycling facility. Specifically, an electronic waste facility. If you’re reading this, you’re creating e-waste right now! What are you gonna do with it?! Corporate eWaste Solutions is a company that disassembles, recycles, and reuses e-waste for other businesses. N8 goes to their facility in Brea to talk with John (Environmental Health & Safety specialist) and Raymond (Business development marketing) about how you should get rid of your old TV, how the poison in your laptop is cleaned before it pollutes our world, and how companies can turn e-waste into e-treasure.  Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

36. N8 goes e-waste recycling (Corporate eWaste Solutions)

*in some cases. Here’s another short(er) episode where N8 talks about whatever’s in the news! The International Energy Agency’s annual report just came out, and it finally recognizes the growing trend of solar energy. Solar is now the cheapest source of energy in certain areas of the world! These are incredible developments in spite of the pandemic that disrupted so many renewable plans. N8 dives into the IEA report to look at the numbers, figure out how solar became so cheap, and share some other interesting findings.  Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send questions to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

35. The N8 Take: Solar energy is finally the cheapest in history*

Do you ever wish you were smarter? Well, turns out you need a smart window first. This episode, Nature N8 looks into a smart windows company: View, to chat with Piers MacNaughton. Piers is the Director of Health Strategy at View, a Research Associate at the Harvard School of Public Health, and an expert on how our living space changes our daily performance. He sheds light on how smart windows conserve energy, save money, and also, improve our brains! Aren’t these windows so insightful? Can we offer you a View in these uncurtain times? (And a shoutout to PicCollage for letting us stay in their apartment in Silicon Valley!) Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send your voice memos to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack.EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media

34. Smart Windows, Happy Brains: Piers MacNaughton (View, Inc.)

Do you ever wish you were smarter? Well, turns out you need a smart window first.  This episode, Nature N8 looks into a smart windows company: View, to chat with Piers MacNaughton. Piers is the Director of Health Strategy at View, a Research Associate at the Harvard School of Public Health, and an expert on how our living space changes our daily performance. He sheds light on how smart windows conserve energy, save money, and also, improve our brains!  Aren’t these windows so insightful? Can we offer you a View in these uncurtain times? (And a shoutout to PicCollage for letting us stay in their apartment in Silicon Valley!)  Support “Waste Not Why Not” on Patreon. Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod. Send your voice memos to ask@wastenotwhynot.com. Subscribe to “Waste Not a Newsletter" on Substack. EPISODE CREDIT | Nate Maynard (@N8May), host | Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji), producer | Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu), executive producer | a Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme) | www.ghostisland.media Support the show: https://patreon.com/wastenotwhynot See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a podcast about how NOT to save the environment. In every episode, we look at some of the misinformed ways people try to protect the planet, and what we should be doing instead. Hosted by Nature N8 (Nate Maynard), an environmental researcher working on energy, ocean, and waste issues.

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Waste Not Why Not

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