The Selling Circular Podcast

Todd Wilson spent ten years trying to convince someone to fund a machine that smacks food out of its packaging. Banks passed. He built it anyway in Michigan, a state with one of the lowest landfill surcharges in the country and no organics mandate to lean on. In this conversation with Garr Punnett and Sabira Lakhani, Todd walks through the economics of pre-consumer food waste: where sealed, unsold product actually comes from, who takes it once it's separated, and why the machine was never the hard part. It's an unusually candid look at the capital, the partnerships, and the smell involved in standing between a grocer and a landfill.

Vojta Vosecký became LinkedIn's most-followed green creator not by sharing better data, but by abandoning it. In this conversation, the environmental engineer and founder of The Circular Economist explains how he learned — the hard way, in front of deflating workshop rooms — that fear and charts lose people, and story wins them. He and Garr dig into how to actually sell the circular economy: the 30-second analogy that won over a global CEO, why "recycling is the worst of your good options," where the real B2B opportunity hides, and why authenticity has become a competitive advantage in the age of AI slop. It's a masterclass in communication for anyone who knows their cause matters but can't get the room to care.

In this conversation, Joe Macleod discusses the importance of consumer off-boarding experiences and the emotional connections we have with products. He explores the historical context of consumption, the emotional grip of consumerism, and the responsibilities of both consumers and providers at the end of a product's life cycle. The discussion also touches on the role of brand equity, the future of consumer relationships, and the impact of AI on consumption. Macleod emphasizes the need for brands to create meaningful endings for their products and to bridge the gap between marketing and sustainability efforts.

Join us for an exclusive conversation with Jocelyn Quarrell, Co-Founder of Bold Reuse, as she unveils how her company is transforming the $200B food service industry—one reusable cup at a time. Discover how Bold Reuse pivoted from B2C to B2B, partnered with giants like Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Starbucks, and convinced NFL stadiums to adopt closed-loop systems that save $10,000+ annually. Learn the gritty logistics of sanitizing millions of cups, the secret to their 95% return rates, and their audacious plan to launch 30+ hubs nationwide. Whether you’re a sustainability skeptic or a circular economy devotee, this episode will change how you see waste—and the bold solutions rewriting its future.Bold Reuse Website: https://www.boldreuse.comModa Center Case Study: How the Trail Blazers Eliminated 500K Single-Use CupsKeurig Dr. Pepper Partnership: Behind the Bears Stadium Reusable Cup InitiativeFollow Bold Reuse: LinkedIn | InstagramMentioned Organizations: Levy Restaurants | Aramark | Eco-Products

Tessa from the Chicago Tool Library shares how this grassroots organization empowers communities through tool-sharing, fosters resilience, and redefines sustainability. Learn how they’ve grown from a small space to a 7,000 sq/ft hub offering everything from camping gear to disaster-response tools, while tackling climate challenges and building connections. Discover their innovative pay-what-you-can model, DIY repair fairs, and vision for tool libraries as community resilience hubs