What Bothers You Most Is Where You Begin | Arundhati Kumar

Making Sustainability a Sunday Habit with Anjali Lakra

In this conversation, I speak with Anjali, the founder of Sustainable Sundays, about her journey in sustainability and the community initiative she started. We discuss the challenges and successes of organizing events that promote sustainability in a fun and accessible way. Anjali shares insights on community engagement, collaboration with local government bodies, and the importance of making sustainability approachable for everyone.  Takeaways - Sustainable Sundays aims to make sustainability easy and fun for everyone. - Community initiatives can have a significant impact on local sustainability efforts. - People often lack the knowledge and tools to engage in sustainable practices. - Mixing hobbies with sustainability can attract a wider audience. - Plogging events help raise awareness about waste management. - Collaboration with local government is essential for community initiatives. - Volunteers play a crucial role in the success of community events. - Sustainable habits can start with small, manageable changes. - Community engagement fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. - Every small effort towards sustainability contributes to a larger impact. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sustainable Sundays 03:03 Anjali's Journey into Sustainability 05:41 The Birth of Sustainable Sundays 08:26 Activities and Impact of Sustainable Sundays 11:02 Challenges in Promoting Sustainability 13:40 Event Planning and Community Engagement 16:42 Collaborations and Government Interaction 19:20 Feedback and Community Response 21:57 Volunteer Opportunities and Future Plans 24:33 Sustainable Practices and Personal Insights 27:12 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events

Climate Action, From Home to City | Navdha Malhotra

In this episode of Sustainably Curious, Dhanashree and I engage with Navdha Malhotra to discuss her experience in the climate space, focusing on pollution, community engagement, and personal sustainable habits. We explore the challenges of climate campaigning, particularly in Delhi, and share insights on how individuals can contribute to sustainability. The conversation also delves into the Museum of Material Memory, a project aimed at preserving personal histories through objects, and the therapeutic benefits of creative expression through clay. Takeaways - Navdha has been working in the climate space since 2013. - Air pollution is often viewed as a health crisis rather than a climate issue. - Community engagement is essential for driving change in pollution awareness. - Individual actions, while important, need to be supported by systemic changes. - The culture of recycling is deeply rooted in Indian society. - Personal habits can significantly impact environmental sustainability. - The Museum of Material Memory aims to document personal histories through objects. - Creativity and hands-on activities can provide therapeutic benefits. - Engaging with local governance can lead to meaningful change. - Awareness and education are key to fostering a culture of sustainability. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sustainably Curious and Guests 03:37 Backgrounds of the Guests and Their Climate Journey 06:11 Campaigns and Lessons Learned in Climate Action 11:08 Challenges in Addressing Air Pollution 18:17 Personal Philosophy and Sustainable Living Practices 31:26 Engaging with Government for Sustainable Solutions 34:36 Museum of Material Memory: A Cultural Initiative 40:11 The Power of Personal Objects in Storytelling 44:29 Finding Optimism in Everyday Actions 48:25 The Impact of Pets on Daily Routines 53:10 Reflections on Minimalism and Life Lessons

A Home Where Nothing Goes to Waste with Kashika Madaan

In this episode of Sustainably Curious, I sit down with sustainability manager Kashika Madaan for an inspiring conversation over Brewing SustainabiliTea. We talk about what it means to live in a home where almost nothing is considered waste, where even a screw is saved, shirts last decades, and plastic boxes are reborn as planters and art. Kashika shares how growing up with field visits in CSR, getting married into a low-waste household, and her own love for plants and resin art have shaped the small, conscious choices she makes every day. This episode is full of delightful hacks and a gentle reminder that living mindfully and sustainably is possible if we start noticing the value in what we already have. We talk about: * A blind-led NGO in Latur that turns old sarees into woven mats * Family heirlooms that include screws, irons, and 1980s shirts, still in use * How quick-commerce spending went from ₹25,000 to ₹3,000/month * Reusing cardboard boxes, ice cream tubs, wedding invites, and beer bottles * Homemade composting using 5-liter water bottles and tea leaves * Making resin art from Jai mala, beach sand, and old packaging * Using glass bottles instead of plastic * The quiet joy of growing avocado plants and talking to money plants 🌱 If you’ve ever wondered what reusability can actually look like at home, this episode will leave you smiling, and maybe even composting. 📍Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:44 A Home With No Waste 01:51 Upcycled Mats and Field Learnings 06:22 The Shirt From 1988 08:56 Creative Reuse and Resin Art 13:59 Composting in Plastic Bottles 15:01 Reducing Quick Commerce Spend 20:31 Conscious Ordering and Takeaway Tricks 22:04 Wine Bottles, Avocados & Plant Joy 25:16 Easy Composting Tips for Beginners 27:53 Milk in Glass Bottles & Local Dairies 29:22 Growing Plants in Small Spaces 30:31 Talking to Plants and Cooling the Balcony

What Bothers You Most Is Where You Begin | Arundhati Kumar

In this episode of Sustainably Curious, I sit down with Arundhati Kumar, former corporate leader, founder of Beej, and someone who’s spent the last few years rethinking what sustainability really means. We talk about what it’s like to walk away from something you built not because it failed, but because it no longer felt aligned. About the dissonance of selling “sustainable” products in a world that needs less consumption. And the quiet courage it takes to begin again. From composting in a Mumbai flat to choosing when to speak up (and when not to) in climate conversations, Arundhati shares honest reflections on how habits form, why action is hard, and what makes it stick. We talk about: * Why she shut down a thriving sustainable brand at its peak * The myth of perfection and why “doing everything” can be a trap * Finding your personal starting point — whether it’s food, fashion, or parenting * How climate change is rewiring our brains and relationships * Awkward dinner table moments and what they say about our collective silence * The power of just coming back to it, again and again 🌱 If you’ve ever felt like you care but don’t know where to begin, this episode offers permission to start small, stay honest, and go at your own pace.

You Can’t Escape Plastic, But You Can Choose What You Do With It | Priya Regmi

In this episode of Sustainably Curious, Dhanashree and I sit down with Priya Regmi, climate professional and lifelong learner, for a (virtual) chai-time conversation on what sustainability really looks like in everyday life. We talk about growing up with gardens, learning from dogs, and getting creative with cardboard boxes. From volunteering to clean rivers in Nepal to reusing toothpaste tubes and carton boxes in Bangalore, Priya’s story reminds us that sustainability isn’t about perfection, it’s about paying attention, starting small, and staying curious. This episode is full of thoughtful, honest reflections on the kind of habits that quietly shape our lives and how to keep going even when things don’t go to plan. We talk about: - Cleaning the Bagmati River as a child and realizing “this could be our waste” - Composting, classifying waste, and trying to follow where the garbage truck goes - Learning minimalism from dogs that chewed up unused stuff - The small joys of reusing toothpaste, repairing shoes, and sharing clothes - What worked, what didn’t (looking at you, bamboo toothbrush), and why trying still matters - Carrying plates, bottles, and spoons to street food stalls and why that adds up 🌱 If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by sustainability advice — this episode offers a gentler way in. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:57 Personal Journeys into Sustainability 09:05 Sustainable Habits and Practices 17:55 Traveling Sustainably 21:18 Transportation and Mobility Choices 25:34 Reducing Plastic Use 26:28 Embracing Natural Living 28:24 Creative Reuse of Everyday Items 30:35 Conscious Clothing Choices 33:40 Health and Sustainability 35:32 Repairing Instead of Replacing 36:29 Mindful Consumption 37:55 Challenges in Sustainable Practices