Impact India

“It takes a collective mindset to fix it.” - Anjana Aravind We all feel the weight of climate change from time to time (or daily!) as we try to take in the size of the problem and how to solve it. Now imagine being in it, everyday, as a climate researcher and seeing first hand what’s really going on with our planet. In this episode, Anjana Aravind joins the Curated Consciously podcast to break down the misconceptions about climate change, and how our systems, consumer choices, and the media play vital roles in the health of our planet. Anjana works as a climate researcher for a wind energy consultancy where she studies how large-scale climate phenomena affect client sites, which are mostly focused on the global tropics, and wind farm performance and associated risks. She has previously worked on Antarctic ice shelf modelling at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, worked within the Climate Change Research Center in Germany, and studied the effects of southern ocean warming on global rising sea levels in Sydney, Australia. Anjana’s love for the oceans has led her to work at the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa. Last year, she was the only person of Indian nationality who was selected for a marine research expedition across the Atlantic Ocean organized by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany. Aside from her corporate job, she is a columnist for Law & Order, an online academic publication where she posts articles on the relation between socio-economic systems and climate change. In this episode, Anjana and Jazz dive into: * Three common misconceptions about climate change. * Identifying the many diverse and systemic issues that impact the future of our planet. * How we, as individuals, can do our part in tackling climate change. Connect with Anjana on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjana-aravind/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/greener_picture/], and read her work on Law & Order [https://www.law-order.org/anjana-aravind-expert-columnist]. Continue the conversation with us on the Conscious Bad Asses [http://facebook.com/groups/consciousbadasses] Facebook group and follow along at @curatedconsciously [http://instagram.com/curatedconsciously]. Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here. [https://www.causeartist.com/podcasts/]

In episode 31 of the Impact India podcast, I chat with Jitendra and Shivani Sinha, co-founders of SAI Sustainable Agro. SAI Sustainable Agro is a social venture working to improve the livelihoods of tribal and marginalized farmers in Odisha, India, using agroforestry to redevelop degraded land. The goal: to develop a truly inclusive and sustainable business model that uplifts marginalized people and farmers worldwide. Jitendra is a veteran of the agricultural industry in India and a passionate social entrepreneur. His diverse career has included serving as International Chief Technical Advisor to UNDP/GEF and Ministry of Agriculture to the Government of Iran. In 2019, he co-founded SAI-Social Purpose Corporation (SAI-SPC) in America, and has been replicating his agroforestry model across Africa in Uganda, Ghana and South Africa. In his spare time, he mentors entrepreneurs in resilient agriculture supply chain development across Asia and Africa. Shivani has been working passionately on women and children issues since 1999. She initially worked as Vice Principal of an educational institution before moving working in the NGO sector to focus on healthcare for women and children. She currently leads SAI Sustainable Agro’s initiatives to improve healthcare and education for the tribal communities they work with in Odisha. Prepare for a fully packed episode as Jitendra helps simplify how SAI’s agroforestry model operates, and how their framework continues to support marginalised farmers and be self-sustainable (even during COVID-19). In this episode, Jitendra, Shivani and I dive into: * The disconnect between levels of government, nonprofits, and NGOs working with marginalized communities. * The need to create sustainable jobs in tribal and marginalized communities that foster localization. * Reconnecting city dwellers to where their food comes from and the people who fuel our agriculture system. Connect with Jitendra and Shivani, and learn more about SAI Sustainable Agro, at sai-agro.org [http://sai-agro.org] and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCA8XqJT5eESOehApJPZ_Q] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SaiSustainable/].

In episode 30 of the Impact India podcast, I welcome back Kriti Tula, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Doodlage [https://doodlage.in/]. Doodlage is a fashion brand based in New Delhi working with post-production and post-consumer textile waste to curate womens, mens, and accessory collections. During the pandemic, Doodlage has been working to partner with homegrown brands aligned with their upcycling and zero waste values. Their most recent collection Indigo Chronicles was curated with Iro Iro, a zero waste B2B textile brand based in Jaipur. Together, these two leading conscious fashion brands have come together to deepen their efforts to reinvent the fashion supply chain. In this episode, Kriti and I dive into: * How Doodlage was able to support their artisans during this uncertain time * Pivoting your marketing to connect more meaningfully with your audience when operational priorities are constantly changing * What to expect from the Indigo Chronicles collection and future collaborations from Doodlage To shop the Indigo Chronicles collection, click here [https://doodlage.in/collections/iro]. Be sure to follow their journey on Instagram as well @doodlageofficial [http://www.instagram.com/doodlageofficial]. A little about the collection: Indigo chronicles tells the story of the vast textile industry of Jaipur through its waste. Indigo is a commonly used natural dye with a distinctive blue hue. No where it is as visible as it is in the lanes of the Pink City: running through the drains, blotted on walls, widely used in fabrics, sarees and tunics flaunted by not just the people in the city but across the country, in rugs, Jaipuri blankets, and Rajasthani turbans. They all narrate the story of arguably the oldest known natural dye. Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here. [https://www.causeartist.com/podcasts/] CauseartistPRO - We’re building a global community of impact founders, impact investors, and impact professionals. Apply Here [https://www.causeartist.com/membership/] We are powered by: Impact Recipe [https://www.impactrecipe.com/] – Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises Podcast Made with Transistor [https://transistor.fm/?via=grant] Podcast cover design Made with Canva [https://canva.pxf.io/c/1211587/647168/10068?adcampaigngroup=Pro_LP]

In episode 29, I sit down with fellow co-founder of Sustainable Travel Network, Kelsey White. Sustainable Travel Network is a community of sustainable travel leaders breaking the silos of the industry and fostering collaboration across the sector. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on India have been devastating, especially as we have watched our beloved tourism industry crumble before us. ​ However, as travel begins to open up in India and around the world, this is our opportunity as leaders in travel to create the new normal and a sustainable base for the tourism industry to thrive. As we prepare to open registration for our 2020 Tourism Shala, we wanted to come together again to discuss the current challenges India’s tourism industry is facing, and how STN is focused on collaboration for creating sustainable solutions to rebuild the industry post-pandemic. Listen in as Kelsey and I dive into: * The need for diverse voices to be heard during a time of rebuilding * The advantage we have right now to build a sustainable industry * What to expect from the 2020 Tourism Shala for domestic and international organizations working in India’s tourism industry To learn more about the 2020 Tourism Shala on September 26 & 27, visit www.sustainabletravelnetwork.com/tourismshala [https://www.sustainabletravelnetwork.com/tourismshala] or follow along on Instagram @stn.india [http://www.instagram.com/stn.india]. Sustainable Travel Network’s Manifesto Tourism is a powerful platform for experiential learning and sustainable development. In India, it is also a catalyst for opportunities that can eradicate poverty and preserve culture and heritage, while instilling a need to nurture our earth by connecting its diverse landscapes with citizens, both domestic and global. Tackling injustices and carving new paths of discovery starts with leveraging diverse voices and levels of experience and knowledge from leaders in both rural and urban communities. Ultimately, travel is a learning platform and through Sustainable Travel Network, we are building a community of lifelong learners who are consistently striving to do better. Through virtual and in-person educational experiences, policy creation, and community building, help create the future of travel, where people and the planet are placed first, helping the industry scale sustainably. Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here. [https://www.causeartist.com/podcasts/] CauseartistPRO - We’re building a global community of impact founders, impact investors, and impact professionals. Apply Here [https://www.causeartist.com/membership/] We are powered by: Impact Recipe [https://www.impactrecipe.com/] – Affordable Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises Podcast Made with Transistor [https://transistor.fm/?via=grant] Podcast cover design Made with Canva [https://canva.pxf.io/c/1211587/647168/10068?adcampaigngroup=Pro_LP]

In episode 28 of the Impact India podcast, I chat with Pallavi Yadav and Mehak Tariq Beigh of WeAreLabeless, an eco-conscious brand aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals led by the United Nations. Working closely with craftspeople across India, with a focus on employing women, their goal is to help achieve SDG 5: Gender Equality, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production. Pallavi has always been passionate about incorporating sustainability into the fashion industry. She has worked with organizations such as Upasana in Auroville, Doodlage in New Delhi, and also participated in the The Copenhagen Fashion Summit in 2018 as a student candidate from India. Mehak’s main focus is cultivating the human aspect of business. She has worked with INTACH Srinagar and women-led projects in Kashmir, and had the opportunity to showcase her Phirkath collection at Vancouver Fashion Week in September 2018. Through WeAreLabeless, the power duo create womenswear, menswear, and accessories from upcycled and handloom fabrics including handwoven cotton, chanderi, silk and linen. Since COVID-19, WeAreLabeless has focused their production on creating masks from upcycled textiles. So far, they have donated over 500 masks to vulnerable communities across several states in India. In this episode, Pallavi, Mehak, and I dive into: * The story behind their brand name. * Zero waste production and sourcing handloom fabric from Bihar. * The current challenges Indian weavers are facing in connecting with designers. * The challenges of sourcing sustainable packaging as a start-up. Connect with WeAreLabeless at wearelabeless.com [https://www.wearelabeless.com/] and on Instagram @wearelabeless [https://www.instagram.com/wearelabeless/]. “We need to do more than just make clothing. We need a solution towards the problem.” Listen to more Causeartist podcast here. [https://www.causeartist.com/podcasts/] We are powered by: Impact Recipe [https://www.impactrecipe.com/] – Affordable Software Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises