Second Nature

Why Don't We Fix Things Anymore?

We're one week out from a new season of Second Nature! Before our season 4 launch, we wanted to bring it back to one of the community's favorite episodes from last season: Why Don't We Fix Things Anymore? Planned obsolescence and perceived obsolescence have us in a disposable consumption cycle. But it hasn't always been this way. When and why did we stop thinking things were worth fixing? In this episode, we get a history lesson in planned obsolescence, visit Adrienne Ferre, who is helping run a Makers Hub in LA, complete with a tool library and repair cafes. And we catch up on Right to Repair legislation with Commons' founder and CEO Sanchali Seth Pal.  🌎 See photos of our contributors and find further reading in the full show notes [http://www.thecommons.earth/episode/www.thecommons.earth/episode/10-skip-the-greenwashing-what-to-look-for-in-sustainable-fashion]. 📞 We'd love to hear from you! Season 3 submissions coming soon! 📱 To join the Commons community, download the app [https://j09c5.app.link/xTi0EyclcKb]. 📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram [https://j09c5.app.link/wgjHhp3kcKb]. Episode Credits * Listener contributions: Holly Kane, Katrina Rodabaugh, Maya Roman, Sare, Taylor Barkley, Verity * Episode expert: Adrienne Ferre * Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild‍ * Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham * (00:00) - Intro * (04:29) - History of planned obsolescence * (09:10) - From clothes to toys, our community shares what they're repairing * (15:26) - Interview with Adrianne Ferree, executive director of the Maker's Hub in Compton * (30:42) - Looking at the latest strides in Right to Repair * (38:02) - Outro

Call for Submissions: Contribute to Season 4!

Season 4 is underway! We’re hard at work on the new season and we can’t wait to hear your contributions. For the best shot at getting on season 4, please send in your submissions before November. But feel free to continue submitting through November as well.  Submitting to the show is easy! 1. Fill out this form to start your submission to Second Nature. [https://airtable.com/appkCg7CqBEzE18sW/pagDfOX8gvCtBYoHW/form] 2. After you fill out the form, you'll receive questions based on the topics you chose, with details about how to submit your audio. 3. Record your audio and send it our way!Call for Submissions: Contribute to Season 4!

Are the Kids Alright? Raising a Sustainable Generation

‍ [https://action.everylibrary.org/callimlseo2025]-> Short Survey: Tell us what you think of Second Nature [https://airtable.com/appkCg7CqBEzE18sW/paggvFtYtWJMTDPdJ/form] ‍ [https://airtable.com/appkCg7CqBEzE18sW/paggvFtYtWJMTDPdJ/form] Whether you're a parent, an auntie, a coach, a godfather — there's a lot to think about when it comes to raising a more sustainable generation. How can we raise young people to take better care of the planet than the generations before them?  ‍ ‍ [https://airtable.com/appkCg7CqBEzE18sW/paggvFtYtWJMTDPdJ/form]For our last episode of season 3, we're looking into the future to see how younger generations are thinking about climate change. From plant-based eating to civic engagement, we’re talking to our community, Moms Clean Air Force [https://www.momscleanairforce.org/], and Commons founder Sanchali Seth Pal to find out how folks are raising kids to take action. 🌎 See photos of our contributors and find further reading an citations in the full show. [http://www.thecommons.earth/episode/www.thecommons.earth/episode/10-skip-the-greenwashing-what-to-look-for-in-sustainable-fashion] 📱 To join the Commons community, download the app [https://j09c5.app.link/xTi0EyclcKb]. 📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram [https://j09c5.app.link/wgjHhp3kcKb]. 🐣 Here's Sanchali's list [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vRD9K1o9OAl48bU2UGP4NzbUvCkMX-M1VEyC7LltCLlaNajYKYdJS3HWOgSnc4ULT9DHqqIr2QaTxls/pubhtml] of sustainable baby stuff! Episode Credits * Listener contributions: Amea Wadsworth, Brian Stancheski, Elisabeth, Federica, Jacqueline  Elliott, Liv, Sara Rego, Sare, Tiffany, Willa Stoutenbeek, Paloma, Stevia, Ezra, Ace, Aza, Stella, Emmett * Episode expert: Alexandra Zissu [https://www.momscleanairforce.org/team/alexandra-zissu/] * Editing and engineering: Evan Goodchild‍ * Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

Your Local Library is Fighting Climate Change

-> 🚨 Tell your U.S. reps not to cut federal funding for public libraries. [https://action.everylibrary.org/callimlseo2025] -> Short Survey: Tell us what you think of Second Nature [https://airtable.com/appkCg7CqBEzE18sW/paggvFtYtWJMTDPdJ/form] Libraries are icons of the sharing economy. When we borrow books, media, and tools from the library, we save ourselves from needing to buy new stuff. But did you know that libraries are also community hubs for climate resilience? From heatwaves to hurricanes, thousands of people have used libraries as free spaces to escape the elements and find respite.  In this community episode, we're everything that our listeners get from their local libraries.  🌎 See photos of our contributors and find further reading in the full show notes and citations [http://www.thecommons.earth/episode/www.thecommons.earth/episode/10-skip-the-greenwashing-what-to-look-for-in-sustainable-fashion].  📱 To join the Commons community, download the app [https://j09c5.app.link/xTi0EyclcKb]. 📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram [https://j09c5.app.link/wgjHhp3kcKb]. Episode Credits * Listener contributions: Kelly Kandra Hughes, PhD, Alexa Rivera, Sare, Shaila, Taylor Barkley, Evan Goodchild * Editing and engineering: Evan Goodchild‍ * Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham

Microplastics: How Do They Get Into Our Bodies? And What We Can Do About It?

Microplastics seem to be everywhere, inside and outside our bodies. These micro and nano particles are shedding from our clothes, our tires, food packaging — basically anywhere there's plastic. People, animals, and plants are consuming these microplastics, thereby complicating the issue and contributing to health problems. But what health issues? And how do we avoid them?  The science is still a work in progress, but today, we're finding out what we know so far. We’re going to find out from an actual scientist what we know and don’t know about the health implications of microplastics and what we can do about it. And we’re going to try our best to find our way to a place of understanding without complete overwhelm.  🌎 See photos of our contributors and find further reading in the full show notes and citations [http://www.thecommons.earth/episode/www.thecommons.earth/episode/10-skip-the-greenwashing-what-to-look-for-in-sustainable-fashion]. Here's the MPI paper [https://publications.tno.nl/publication/34641315/ghLt6d/boersma-2023-microplastic.pdf] Barbro shared! 📱 To join the Commons community, download the app [https://j09c5.app.link/xTi0EyclcKb]. 📷 Follow Second Nature on Instagram [https://j09c5.app.link/wgjHhp3kcKb]. Episode Credits * Listener contributions: Kylie Kovatch, Artie Sadahiro, Nicole Collins, Parisa Golchoubian, Brian Stancheski * Episode expert: Prof. Dr. Barbro Melgert [https://www.rug.nl/staff/b.n.melgert/?lang=en] * Editing and engineer: Evan Goodchild‍ * Hosting and production: Katelan Cunningham