REV On Air - Sustainable Stories by Rêve En Vert

We are excited to be back on air after taking a little break last year to actually spend some time travelling, meeting people in person, and getting inspired by amazing things happening out in the world. From our co-founder Cora Hilts: "I know that this feels like a difficult moment for our planet and society in many ways, but I have also been privileged to see just how many people are doing extraordinary things every day - it’s been an inspiring time for me despite the various issues we are facing as a collective humanity. The conversations I have had have nourished me deeply, and I hope they will impact you positively as well."So with all that being said we wanted to launch this new season of REV On Air today with a man who quite literally gave up his highly successful career to create something new - to create a life and business filled with a purpose highly aligned with the natural world.Sam Nana Sinkam had been working as an executive at Google, living a life most people would find incredibly aspirational, when the pandemic hit and forced him to start spending more time in his garden at home in Pennsylvania. Falling in love with gardening and all that it brought to his life in terms of well-being, he started to think of doing something a little bit different. When a farmhouse with 60 plus acres came up for sale an hour down the road, he took a leap of faith. He quit his job, invested in the property and began to dream up what would become today, Bloom Farm.As Fast Company so accurately reported: Bloom Farm is a radical experiment. It’s testing a new business model for supporting regenerative agriculture and also creates a space for people to rejuvenate. And if it works, Sam would like to open farms like this all over the country through his new company called Third Place. Sam's story is beautiful, and his bravery to take a leap and innovative thinking when it comes to respecting historical ways of doing things continues to inspire us today so we hope it will do the same for you as well.Useful links for this episode. bloomfarm.comBook a Stay at Bloom FarmInstagram, @visitbloomfarmDowningtown Food ForestThe Overstory by Richard PowersHistory of Chestnut Blight

It is currently the middle of July, or as we at REV like to celebrate, Plastic Free July, where we look for solutions and alternatives to this highly polluting material. I could not think of a better or more inspiring guest to bring on to speak to us about how we rid ourselves of fossil fuel derived plastics and into a much more beautiful, cleaner world, than Julia Marsh, co-founder of Sway, which harnesses the power of seaweed to create home compostable replacements for plastic. We cannot wait to get into this conversation that spans plastic free innovation, community and creativity with Julia who is truly one of the most articulate speakers on the subject we’ve ever been privileged to chat to, but first I want to say a quick merci to today’s sponsor - Seed. Since our collaboration with Zach Bush and Farmer’s Footprint, I have been focusing a lot on the connection of a healthy microbiome as it relates to the food we eat and time spent connecting to the earth, but for extra support in my routine I turn to Seed. Seed’s DS-01® Daily Synbiotic is a broad-spectrum probiotic and prebiotic for whole-body benefits including gut, skin, and heart health. As I am really focused on my gut health through eating as close to the source and soil as possible, Seed’s additional benefits for digestive and whole body health really complete my routine for a thriving body from the inside out. - Cora Hilts Learn more about seed’s probiotics and get 25% off your first order with the code REVE25 below: https://seed.com/daily-synbiotic?utm_source=reveenvert&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=25p&promo_code=REVE25&utm_source=Discount+Email+Feb+2020&utm_campaign=c20baa78e0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_26_01_45_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9758eff4c2-c20baa78e0-107229021&mc_cid=c20baa78e0&mc_eid=198ddb6d27 So now a bit more about our guest today, Julia Marsh of Sway. Seaweed is the foundation of all Sway products, which mimic the compelling qualities of plastic without the downsides. Utilizing the natural polymers abundant in seaweed, they are able to optimize and scale the solutions nature has already given us. While traditional plastics contribute to climate change at every step of their toxic existence, Sway materials are made with process in mind. Sway sources responsibly cultivated, ocean-farmed seaweed grown in harmony with the ocean. They use a diverse set of red and brown seaweeds from around the world as the base of their packaging technology. Sway works exclusively with suppliers who provide dignified employment to farmers, meaning fair wages and good treatment. They are hard at work to support and help scale up suppliers for whom impact is the number one priority, such as supporting the transition to climate-resilient coastal economies with indigenous communities around the world and lobster fishermen here in Maine. We actually learned of Sway through their work with Atlantic Sea Farms, an incredible female owned cooperative that is helping to mainstream kelp farming as a sustainable solution to food, packaging and beauty issues whilst preserving our oceans and drawing carbon down. More on them to come but for now, I can’t wait to get into this deep dive with Julia in honour of Plastic Free July and we hope you are all as inspired as I am to know that we do have solutions in the world, solutions that can even be regenerative in their nature, if we just believe in our own creativity and have faith in our ideas.

As we continue our Earth Month conversations, we are so pleased to bring you today’s episode on a topic that has confusion and interest in equal measures around it - that would be the EV industry. Today, Cora Hilts discusses electric cars with a man we truly admire when it comes to his approach to them - Rob Howard, founder of Kindred Motor Works. We get into all the questions we have heard around the topic, and also what makes Kindred so incredibly unique in the automotive space as they are also upcycling vintage cars. We all know that we need to change the way we drive. Cars and other forms of transportation are the biggest source of planet warming emissions generated within the United States and many other countries, and whilst there are a lot of concerns around the environmental impact of batteries and mining, which Rob and Cora discuss in-depth today, the science is quite clear that EVs are going to be our best option for now as we go into a green energy future. But this is a discussion that is about much more than just cars, however. It’s about a company that is founded on a dream and made into a reality. A company that truly values the people that work there and is creating good jobs for them. A company that sees the value of technology, but also embraces the best of the old style ways of doing things. And maybe most interesting of all to anyone in the sustainability space, a company that believes that the most ethical option is simply the best one when it comes to the product that they produce. Learn more here: https://kindredmotorworks.com Merci To Our Sponsor For This Episode! Homecourt Homecourt was created by Courtney Cox in the belief that the household products we use each day should not only look and smell beautiful, but also should be safe for people, pets, and the planet. Homecourt works with all Non-toxic formulas with skincare-grade ingredients that are always vegan and cruelty-free. They use sustainable, plant-derived, and upcycled ingredients across their collection. They develop formulas with responsibly sourced raw materials and skincare-grade ingredients that meet strict industry standards for clean beauty. We love their “absolutely not” list of chemicals and ingredients they do not work with that are listed on their site – they are all things we at REV would never work with either! And when it comes to packaging, everything from their bottles to their boxes are made with 100% post-consumer recycled materials. Learn more about this amazing line that has everything from hand creams to candles, and has just launched eco-friendly refills to boot on their site – homecourt.co!

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 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%.

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!

In the eleventh episode of our Regenerative Podcast Series in collaboration with Farmer’s Footprint, we speak to husband and wife duo, Matthew and Tia Raiford of Gilliard Farms and Strong Roots 9. Tia and Matthew share their special stories of how they came to meet along each of their journeys into regenerative farming and how regeneration brings them and everyone around them together. Tia and Matthew speak of the ancestral connection both of them have to running farms and their mission to pass on this wisdom to generations far and wide to come. Nestled in the heart of Georgia lies Gilliard Farms, a family legacy that has thrived for generations. For over a century, they've embraced regenerative farming as a way of life. The land is their heritage, and Mathew and Tia are committed to preserving it.What sets them apart is their unwavering dedication to the history of the land; its ecology, people, food, and community. They've found harmony between farming, cooking, and nature, free from toxic chemicals, with transparency as their mantra..Their sprawling estate boasts biodiversity in both crops and animals. But Gilliard Farms isn't just about farming; it's a place of cooking and learning. With a background in being esteemed chefs, Mathew and Tia offer farm tours, lectures, and cooking lessons inviting guests in to explore their world of flavor and richness rooted in Gullah Geechee culture. In this episode, we speak to husband and wife duo, Matthew and Tia Raiford of Gilliard Farms and Strong Roots 9. Tia and Matthew share their special stories of how they came to meet along each of their journeys into regenerative farming and how regeneration brings them and everyone around them together. Join us as they speak of the ancestral connection both of them have to running farms and their mission to pass on this wisdom to generations far and wide to come.Tune in via the link in our bio and discover the regenerative spirit of Gilliard Farms. Because they believe that nutritious, organic food should be accessible and affordable for everyone. It's about cultivating a healthier future for all. Brought to you by our friends at Toups & Co! 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’