Imagine If... a Bluedot Living Podcast

The Chef Who Won't Waste an Ounce: Cooking Close to the Land at B Bar Ranch

Imagine if the most important ingredient in your kitchen is the one you're about to throw away? In this episode of Imagine If, Victoria Riskin visits B Bar Ranch in Montana to talk with chef George Pierce about what it really means to cook close to the land. George breaks down why not all grass-fed beef is created equal, how B Bar traces every cut of beef back to the specific cow it came from, and how he turns corn cobs, lobster shells, and vegetable scraps into stocks instead of garbage. George also shares how he left the restaurant world during COVID to run the Livingston Food Resource Center, a food pantry stocked with local beef, fresh produce, and bread made from Montana wheat — built to feel like a grocery store, not a relief line.  What you'll hear in this episode: * Why not all grass-fed beef is the same, and how B Bar traces every cut to its source * George's core kitchen philosophy: make an ingredient taste like itself, nothing more * Turning kitchen scraps — corn cobs, lobster shells, vegetable trim — into stock instead of garbage * The scale of food waste in America, from restaurant kitchens to Yellowstone National Park * George's pivot to running the Livingston Food Resource Center, a food pantry built on dignity * The 10-day sourdough starter that turned into a decade-long obsession with fermentation * Imagine if we all got back in touch with our local food systems Be part of the Bluedot Living community At Bluedot Living, we imagine if people were actually making progress on climate change—because they actually are. Each episode of Bluedot Living Podcast shares stories of people, policies, and projects that prove your choices matter, from micro decisions at home to macro shifts in law and industry. If you want to explore our recipes, products for your home and lifestyle, and read interesting stories, you can find us BluedotLiving.com For daily inspiration you can follow us @Bluedotliving on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluedotliving/ [https://www.instagram.com/bluedotliving/]

Why Soap Might Be the Problem: Eli Halliwell on Rethinking Clean

Imagine if "squeaky clean" was actually a sign your skin is in distress, not a sign of health. In this episode of Imagine If, host Janet Kraus sits down with Eli Halliwell, co-founder of Hairstory and founder of Sans Savon, to question one of the most basic assumptions in personal care: that soap is good for us. Eli explains how the same detergents used to clean dishes and laundry ended up in shampoo and body wash, stripping away the skin's natural oils and microbiome and triggering a cycle of dryness, irritation, and overuse of moisturizers and styling products to compensate. He breaks down the simple chemistry of amphiphilic molecules (the "oil-loving, water-loving" compounds behind every cleanser) and explains why foam is usually a red flag for over-stripping, not effective cleaning. It's a fascinating look at how questioning a 100-year-old assumption about hygiene can lead to a more sustainable, less wasteful approach to everyday self-care. In this episode: Why modern soap and shampoo may be over-cleaning your skin and hair The science of amphiphilic molecules and why foam isn't a sign of effective cleaning What the skin microbiome is and why stripping it causes irritation, dandruff, and eczema flare-ups How Sans Savon developed soap-free, non-foaming cleansers using micellar technology The role of upcycled ingredients (avocados, grapeseed oil, Christmas tree clippings) in sustainable formulation Why Sans Savon became a Public Benefit Corporation and partners with 1% for the Planet Eli's personal sustainability habits, from composting in Canada to letting go of fitness tracking Be part of the Bluedot Living community At Bluedot Living, we imagine if people were actually making progress on climate change—because they actually are. Each episode of Bluedot Living Podcast shares stories of people, policies, and projects that prove your choices matter, from micro decisions at home to macro shifts in law and industry. If you want to explore our recipes, products for your home and lifestyle, and read interesting stories, you can find us BluedotLiving.com For daily inspiration you can follow us @Bluedotliving on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluedotliving/

Why Your Sheets Matter: Clean Bamboo, Better Sleep, and Plant-Based Fabrics with Phoebe Yu

Most of us have thought carefully about what goes on our skin — our skincare, our cleaning products, even our food. But what about what we sleep in for eight hours every night? This week, Jeanette sits down with Phoebe Yu, founder of Ettitude and PLNTMatter, who started out as a frustrated consumer searching for sheets that were soft, breathable, affordable, and better for the planet — and ended up becoming a materials innovator. In this episode: * Why bedding has historically been marketed as décor rather than a health decision — and how that's starting to change * The real connection between your sheets and your sleep quality, skin health, and exposure to toxins * Why not all bamboo fabric is created equal — and the difference between the conventional viscose/rayon process (think: industrial drain cleaner) and the cleaner Lyocell closed-loop process Phoebe developed * How polyester — which makes up 60% of all clothing — disrupts hormones and sheds microfibers into our oceans and food chain * What PLNTMatter is building: plant-based alternatives to polyester, silk, wool, and cashmere that match (and sometimes outperform) the originals * Three high-leverage changes Phoebe has made in her own life Learn more about Ettitude: https://bluedotliving.com/marketplace/products/ettitude-bedding-and-home/ [https://bluedotliving.com/marketplace/products/ettitude-bedding-and-home/] Be part of the Bluedot Living community At Bluedot Living, we imagine if people were actually making progress on climate change—because they actually are. Each episode of Bluedot Living Podcast shares stories of people, policies, and projects that prove your choices matter, from micro decisions at home to macro shifts in law and industry. If you want to explore our recipes, products for your home and lifestyle, and read interesting stories, you can find us BluedotLiving.com [http://bluedotliving.com/] For daily inspiration you can follow us @Bluedotliving on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluedotliving/ [https://www.instagram.com/bluedotliving/]

Pantry to Dinner: The Climate-Friendly Grains You’ve Probably Never Tried

What if some of the most climate-friendly foods in your pantry are the ones you've never heard of? In this episode of Pantry to Dinner, Victoria sits down with Bluedot Living contributor Caroline Saunders to explore a few remarkable grains and seeds that deserve more attention. From the ancient grain-like seed amaranth to fiber-packed chia and the innovative perennial grain Kernza, this conversation uncovers how simple pantry staples can support healthier meals, reduce environmental impact, and introduce new flavors into your kitchen. Along the way, Caroline shares practical ways to cook with these ingredients, why some crops are naturally drought-resistant, and how one emerging grain could help restore soil health across America's farmland. Whether you're looking to expand your pantry, reduce food waste, or simply discover something new to cook, this episode offers plenty of inspiration. Explore more recipes and sustainable living inspiration at https://bluedotliving.com/sustainable-recipes/ [https://bluedotliving.com/sustainable-recipes/] Get your copy of Bluedot Living’s Magazine: https://bluedotliving.com/magazine-subscriptions/ [https://bluedotliving.com/magazine-subscriptions/]

What Most People Don’t Understand About Water Scarcity with James Salzman

Water impacts everything: our food, our health, our cities, and our future. Yet most of us rarely think about where it comes from or who controls it. In this episode of Imagine If, Victoria Riskin sits down with environmental law professor James Salzman to unpack the hidden realities of water in America — from groundwater depletion and bottled water myths to outdated water laws and the future of the Colorado River. They discuss: * Why only a small percentage of Earth’s freshwater is easily accessible * How agriculture uses roughly 80% of water in the U.S. * The truth about bottled water vs. tap water * Why almonds became the “bad nut” in water conversations * How climate change is reshaping water scarcity * The surprising history behind Western water rights * Why we should think like “water citizens,” not just water consumers James also shares insights from his book Mine! and the fascinating psychology behind ownership, scarcity, and human behavior. Be part of the Bluedot Living community At Bluedot Living, we imagine if people were actually making progress on climate change—because they actually are. Each episode of Bluedot Living Podcast shares stories of people, policies, and projects that prove your choices matter, from micro decisions at home to macro shifts in law and industry. If you want to explore our recipes, products for your home and lifestyle, and read interesting stories, you can find us BluedotLiving.com [http://bluedotliving.com/] For daily inspiration you can follow us @Bluedotliving on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluedotliving/ [https://www.instagram.com/bluedotliving/]