Styled Clean: From Toxins to Truth One Thread at at Time

The Hidden Story in What You Wear

The Hidden Story in What You Wear is a podcast about style, sustainability, identity, and the deeper meaning behind the clothes we choose every day. Hosted by Kathleen Ardette, each episode explores how fashion can become more than trends or consumption — it can become a reflection of our values, beliefs, memories, and sense of self. Through thoughtful solo episodes and meaningful conversations, Kathleen unpacks the connection between personal style, ethical fashion, storytelling, and intentional living. If you’ve ever felt like getting dressed is about more than just looking good, this podcast will help you discover the hidden story your wardrobe is already telling.

The Dirt Beneath Your Clothes - with Joel Salatin

What if your wardrobe and your dinner plate are telling the same story? This week Kathleen sits down with Joel Salatin — farmer, author, provocateur, and co-owner of Polyface Farm in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley — to ask a question the fashion industry hasn't thought to ask a regenerative farmer: what does soil health have to do with what we wear? The answer turns out to be everything. Joel and Kathleen cover a lot of ground in this conversation (pun intended) — from the philosophy of minimalism to the theology of dualism, from Australian merino microns to the cobbler who could make shoes that last a lifetime. But underneath all of it runs a single conviction: there is no part of life outside the interests of God, including what hangs in your closet. In this episode: * Why Joel asks people to "look through their plate" — and why the same question applies to your wardrobe * The Western dualism problem: how St. Augustine's body/spirit split quietly shaped how we think (and don't think) about consumption * Why the faith community threw the baby out with the bathwater on environmental stewardship * The difference between worrying about clothes and thinking about them — and why it matters * How fast fashion got its start on the runway in the 1860s and where it ends up today (hint: Uganda) * Australian wool, merino microns, and why quality fiber is worth every penny * What true wealth looks like on a farm — and why it might apply to your closet too This week's thread to follow: Pick three pieces from your closet and read the fiber labels. Ask yourself what those fibers required — what soil, what chemicals, what labor. Stewardship starts with attention. About Joel Salatin: Joel is the co-owner of Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia, and the author of 16 books on regenerative agriculture. He's been featured in Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and the documentary Food, Inc.Learn more at polyfacefarms.com [https://www.polyfacefarms.com/].

From Worms to Wardrobes: Creation Care with Forrest Inslee

What does it mean to truly belong to the earth — and how does that change the way we live, consume, and create? In this episode of Style Clean, Kathleen sits down with Forrest Inslee, longtime leader at Circlewood, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to helping churches and communities develop greener faith practices and a theology that puts creation care at the center. Forrest hosts the Earth Keepers Podcast and teaches at the Seminary of the Wild Earth. Together, they explore how a "rewilded heart" can transform our daily choices — including the clothes we buy — and why reconnecting to the land isn't just good environmentalism, it's a spiritual practice. Guest: Forrest Inslee — leader at Circlewood [https://circlewood.org/], host of the Earth Keepers Podcast, and professor of community development with a focus on creation care and faith. In This Episode: * How Circlewood serves diverse church communities in developing creation care practices and a holistic theology * Rachel's story: rescuing earthworms as a profound spiritual practice — and what it reveals about our disconnection from the natural world * The concept of "paying attention to story" — learning the human, ecological, Indigenous, and cultural history of the place you live * Why lasting change starts with your why — rooting practical eco-decisions in a clear internal value system * The "rewilded heart": letting your inner transformation guide sustainable choices rather than trying to do everything at once * Resistance to creation care — both cultural and internal — and why community is the key to moving through it * The evangelical church's history of anthropocentrism and how Forrest worked his way toward a more creation-centered spirituality * The Celtic Christian tradition's "two books of revelation": scripture and nature * How the legacy of missions-focused community development often ignores environmental impact — and why that needs to change * Indigenous wisdom, decolonization of worldview, and learning from communities with more grace for slow, steady change * Practical first steps: go outside, plant a tomato, form a relationship with a spring — and let that be the bridge Resources Mentioned: * Earth Keepers Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/earthkeepers-a-circlewood-podcast-on-creation-care/id1503271817] — * Ecological Disciple [https://www.ecodisciple.com/] — Circlewood's online journal * Christine Sine's Substack: Walking in Wonder [https://christinesine.substack.com/?utm_source=sidestack.io&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=directory] * Randy Woodley's books and Substack [https://rwoodley7.substack.com/?utm_source=sidestack.io&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=directory] * Arocha USA [https://arocha.org/en/] — Churches of Restoration program * People Plant with Purpose — TEN curriculum [https://plantwithpurpose.org/?s=TEN+curriculum] (free for churches) * The Wild Church movement [https://www.victorialoorz.com/](co-founded by Victoria Lourdes) * Eileen Fisher [https://www.eileenfisher.com/a-sustainable-life/first-life.html] — sustainable fashion design Themes: Creation care • Faith & sustainability • Rewilded heart • Slow living • Ethical consumption • Spiritual practice • Indigenous wisdom • Fashion & the earth

The Hidden Cost of Clothing + How Creation Care Changes Everything (with Avery Davis Lamb)

What if what you wear could either harm or heal the world? In this episode of Styled Clean: From Toxins to Truth, One Thread at a Time, I sit down with Avery Davis Lamb, Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries for a thoughtful and eye-opening conversation about creation care and the clothes we wear every single day. What does our faith have to do with our closets? And how can small, intentional choices in what we buy and wear reflect a deeper care for people and the planet? Avery brings both wisdom and practicality to this conversation, helping us rethink fast fashion, stewardship, and the impact of our everyday habits. We talk about what creation care really means, how clothing connects to bigger global and ethical issues, and simple shifts you can make without overwhelm. If you’ve ever wondered how to align your values with your wardrobe—or how to take a more mindful approach to consumption—this episode will leave you inspired and equipped to take your next step.

Faith, Fashion, and the Ocean: Bridging the Gap with Marine Biologist Rachel G. Jordan

What happens when science and faith feel like they’re telling two different stories? In this episode, I’m joined by marine biologist and author Rachel G. Jordan to explore the intersection of faith, science, and the natural world. Rachel shares her journey of growing up in a Christian home, pursuing science, and wrestling with big questions about creation, evolution, and truth. If you’ve ever felt tension between what you believe and what you’re learning, this conversation will encourage you to lean into curiosity without fear. Rachel brings both scientific insight and deep faith to the table, reminding us that truth doesn’t have to be divided—it can be discovered. We also dive into her work with coral reefs, her passion for marine life, and how it all connects in ways you might not expect—even to fashion.