The Green Collar Pod

33 - Eric Corey Freed

We are joined by Eric Corey Freed, who has a bio so extensive that we broke it down into bullets! He is:  * An award-winning architect,  * In 2012, he was named one of the 25 "Best Green Architecture Firms" in the US, and one of the "Top 10 Most Influential Green Architects." In 2017, he was named one of Build's American Architecture Top 25. He’s one of the 2021 Environment + Energy Leaders and in 2024, he was named the Net Zero Trailblazer for Innovation. He holds a prestigious LEED Fellow award from the US Green Building Council.  * An author and global speaker * 12 books, including "Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies” and "Circular Economy for Dummies." His new book, “Frictionless: Overcoming the Drags that Shutdown Innovation” will be released in 2026. * His work has been featured in: Time, Newsweek, Metropolis, Dwell, Fast Company, Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal; and on-air in: Fox News, HGTV, The Sundance Channel and PBS.  * Current Principal and Director of Sustainability for CannonDesign * His past roles include: Founding Principal of organicARCHITECT, a visionary design leader in biophilic and regenerative design, Vice President of the International Living Future Institute, and Chief Community Officer of EcoDistricts. * He serves on the board of Design Museum Everywhere, whose mission is to “bring the transformative power of design to all.”  Eric shared: *  How mentorship shaped his career  *  Why sustainability messaging often fails  *  The future of mass timber, AI, synthetic biology, and bio-based materials  *  What keeps innovation from happening  *  Why climate change is fundamentally a public health issue  *  How humor and storytelling help change minds  The conversation also dives into affordable housing, healthcare design, systems thinking, and how to create lasting influence through speaking, teaching, writing, and design. Organizations & Events Mentioned: * International Living Future Institute (ILFI) [https://living-future.org/]  * Living Future Conference [https://living-future.org/events/lf26/] * U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) [https://www.usgbc.org/]  * Greenbuild Conference [https://informaconnect.com/greenbuild/]  * CannonDesign [https://www.cannondesign.com/] * XPRIZE [https://www.xprize.org/]  Innovative Construction + Materials Companies * Prometheus Materials [https://prometheusmaterials.com/] * BioTwin [https://biotwin.co.uk/] * Glavel [https://www.glavel.com/] Books * Green Building and Remodeling For Dummies [https://bookshop.org/a/109871/9781118051863] by Eric Corey Freed * Circular Economy For Dummies [https://bookshop.org/a/109871/9781119716389] by Eric Corey Freed, coauthor * Frictionless: Overcoming the Drags That Shut Down Innovation (forthcoming 2026) by Eric Corey Freed * Cradle to Cradle [https://bookshop.org/a/109871/9780865475878] * Ecotopia [https://bookshop.org/a/109871/9781597142939] * The Ministry for the Future [https://bookshop.org/a/109871/9780316300148] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2396797/fan_mail/new]

32 - Sandra Capponi

Sandra is the co-founder of Good On You, the platform helping millions of shoppers instantly understand the sustainability of fashion and beauty brands. Since 2015, her team has rated over 7,000 brands, making it easier for us and many others to shop with our values. We chat about her journey from banking to building a global sustainability startup, the realities of fast (and ultra-fast) fashion, and how consumer choices can drive meaningful industry change. Sandra also shares insights on navigating overwhelm in sustainability, the power of thoughtful decision-making, and why communication is key to creating impact. We hope you enjoy!  Resources and terms mentioned:  * Good On You [https://goodonyou.eco/] * ThredUp [https://www.thredup.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopkVqnKxc2ngWceTCsssAq3vrJjRdRPTvr1nLAVbxCyknmxCSnj] * Poshmark [https://poshmark.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqAjKneG6If35C8dnuoWcGVny1soDk1mhjlDYTIGe3rjbhatxvj] * Ultra-fast fashion  [https://goodonyou.eco/ultra-fast-fashion/] * Fast fashion [https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/] * Fashion Sleuth Influencer [https://www.instagram.com/sustainablefashionfriend?igsh=MW5ncGZuOGRubHhnNw==] * Buyerarchy [https://www.sarahl.com/] As podcasting goes, we had a few tech hiccups towards the end of the episode. Good thing we take notes while recording! Here are some resources Sandra mentioned that were not included on the final episode:  * The True Cost - film  [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3162938/] * Elizabeth Cline - investigative journalist  [https://www.elizabethclinebooks.com/journalism-opeds] * Over Dressed - Elizabeth Cline - book [https://bookshop.org/a/109871/9781591846543] * The Conscious Closet - Elizabeth Cline - book [https://bookshop.org/a/109871/9781524744304] * Sarah Kent - Business of Fashion  [https://www.businessoffashion.com/authors/sarah-kent/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2396797/fan_mail/new]

31 - Kiersten & Aparna

To celebrate the upcoming Earth day and more than a year of podcasting, Green Collar presents a special episode!  In this special role-reversal, the hosts become the hosted when a dear friend, Max Kriegsfeld, takes over the mic to interview us. What follows? A candid, occasionally chaotic, fun (and funny?) chat. The vibe is joining three pals for coffee to chat about a passion project. We span from childhood recycling squads (global edition 🌍), career considerations that almost included actuarial science and culinary school, to our hottest takes on the public transit, reusable water bottle hierarchies, and a few greenwashing myths that deserve to be thrown out (composted!) immediately. Resources Mentioned: 🌱 Organizations, Professional Groups, & Frameworks * Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF)  * U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)  * Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)  * American Institute of Architects (AIA)  * Architecture 2030 * American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) * Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)  🎓 Certifications & Credentials * LEED Green Associate * Certified Energy Manager * LEED Certification * WELL Certification * TRUE Certification 📱 Other things to Check Out * Climate Action Now [https://www.climateactionnow.com/] * Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)'s iconic social media [https://www.instagram.com/metroforward/] *  Plant-based plastic from Japan that dissolves in saltwater [https://www.plasticstoday.com/sustainability/plant-based-plastic-breakthrough-promises-cleaner-oceans]   *  Legislation to standardize “sell by / use by” labels to reduce food waste [https://jurislawgroup.com/new-food-labeling-law-in-california-no-more-sell-by-dates-in-california/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2396797/fan_mail/new]

30 - Maria Juenger

Happy episode 30, Pod People! We hope you enjoy this conversation with Dr Maria Juenger.  Dr Juenger studied and teaches about the materials that literally hold our built environment together, with an emphasis on chemical issues in cement-based materials. She's a professor at UT Austin (hook 'em!) and also the current present of the American Concrete Institute, where she helps to guide how industry uses the most common building material at a global scale. We chat about her work, how she infuses sustainability into coursework, and the importance of mentorship and organic connections.  Resources and organizations mentioned:  * American Concrete Institute  [https://www.concrete.org/] * Check this out for webinars, certifications (Fundamentals of Concrete), and technical documents (like ACI 323 Low Carbon Concrete code) * Students - membership is free!  * American Cement Association [https://www.cement.org/]  * Check this out for free and reliable educational content.  * This is the best starting point for beginners!  * ACI 323 - Low Carbon Concrete Code  [https://www.concrete.org/store/productdetail.aspx?ItemID=323U24&Language=English&Units=US_Units] * Carbon Leadership Forum [https://carbonleadershipforum.org/] * Check this out for free and reliable technical content. There are local chapters in most regions who host events and webinars, so see if you have a hub nearby adn get invovled here [https://carbonleadershipforum.org/regional-hubs-landing-page/].  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2396797/fan_mail/new]

29 - Michael Orbank

In this episode, we’re joined by Michael — a sustainability leader working at the intersection of construction, materials, and the built environment. Michael shares how his career evolved from an early interest in sustainable design to leading efforts that tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges: reducing embodied carbon in buildings. We talk about why the materials we use in construction matter, how the industry is beginning to rethink waste and circularity, and where real progress is happening today. From certifications and policy to emerging tools and technologies, this conversation explores how sustainability professionals can drive meaningful change in the built environment. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljorbank/].  Resources mentioned:  * MIT Energy Efficiency Newsletter * Carbon Leadership Forum case studies  * USGBC and associated certifications  * LEED GA * LEED AP  * TRUE * WELL Organizations mentioned:  * Carbon Leadership Forum  * Built Environment Plus  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2396797/fan_mail/new]