February 7, 2025 • 8 mins
Living a sustainable lifestyle can often put you at odds with the mainstream perspective, as Kate Hall knows well. So how do you navigate disagreements and deal with other people’s opinions when trying to live up to your values? Here are a few tips from Kate:
Lead with Positivity
Don’t instigate or engage in conversations about sustainability unless they were started or consented by the other person - otherwise you'll end up sounding like you're 'preaching'. Most likely more change and cohesion will come when you simply go about your life and others observe you.
Focus on What You Can Control
Put your energy into the changes you can make, rather than getting caught up in others’ opinions.
Grace for Yourself & Others
Give yourself and those around you room to learn and grow without judgment.
Build a Supportive Circle
Surround yourself with people who support or share your values (what my current tour is all about!) but avoid echo-chambers where everyone thinks the same. Keep a balance of diverse perspectives.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Teams podcast
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be time to catch up with our sustainability commentator, Kate
Hall aka ethically Kate.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Game.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Yeah very well, thanks. You're about to embark on a
nationwide tour and are you still going to be all
like all over the place over the next couple of months.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Yes, yeah, literally from Auckland, tod Topa, Wellington, Nelson, down
to Duneda and Queenstown everywhere.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Really fantastic. What are you doing?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
So we're going on the South Fifth Tour. I do
a lot of work online, but I really am in
person person. So we are hosting many kind of community
focused free events that people can come along meet us,
play some picnic games, do a permaculture farm, visit with us,
you know, get stuck in a local community gardens. Yeah,
(01:02):
a real variety of event can come along Tom and
bring in one they want to.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That's awesome. Oh very good. Okay, Well, I look forward
to hearing about the tour as that continues. But this
morning we wanted to talk about navigating kind of differences
of philosophy or opinion when it comes to sustainability, because
I think a lot of like a lot of couples
often have one person who might be a bit more
like sustainably minded than another one, right, and it can
(01:29):
lead to a little bit of conflict from time to time.
Is it your experience, Yes, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I mean I'm very lucky I kind of my immediate
family and to my husband on board with a lot
of things I do. But you know, I still engage
with you know, friends or people we meet at parties
or you know, distant relatives at barbecues where you know,
even if you're not the person who's standing there preaching
(01:54):
over a barbecue about you know, how we should look
after the planet more just by kind of existing with
those values, can we really tiresome and kind of take
that that social energy and text I get asked a
lot from people who you know, have watched a documentary
and they're really stoked to live to their to their values,
(02:18):
but they just come up against hard conversations which you know,
full of conflicts. No one wants that. Yeah, or just
have partners who it just drives a wedge between them. Yeah,
you know, I've had moments where, yeah, I've sometimes got
it right, sometimes got it wrong about how I navigate
different situations. Yeah, and you know, it's been eight years
(02:41):
of me kind of living as exul kate and sharing
about this. But I'm always trying. But I'd like to
think that I've kind of come up with some ways
that when people say, oh my gosh, you know, how
do I navigate this with my partner or my friends
or you know, like, yeah, what do I do that,
I've kind of got a bit of a handle on it.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, right, Okay, So run us through some of those
tips and the start off with lead with positivity.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yes, So one thing I find is to not point
fingers or start in a negative space, so that, for example,
is wait for the positive conversation conversation to come to you. So,
for example, instead of saying, oh my gosh, is that
shirt from Glassons? Didn't you know that is the main
(03:26):
fashion polluters to wait for a moment where someone says, oh,
I really like your top, and then you can talk
about you know, the ethical story behind it or the
fact that it's secondhand or you know your friends made
it for you something.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Like that, as opposed to preachy.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Totally totally, and you're you're actually waiting for other people
to kind of condone and consent to that conversation rather
than being the instigator of it, because I think that
is really tiresome. If someone has a different opinion and
they're constantly trying to push their own agenda on you,
no one wants that, Like immediately the conversation is shut down,
(04:05):
there's no room for talking back and forth. So lead
with a positive angle about like what good stuff is happening,
and make sure the conversation is consented by the other persons.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, I think if I've learned anything from from working
as a political journalist, it's that you can't kind of
shame people into nothing, you know, into lifestyle changes and
you know it changes in society more broadly, Like you
you really want to you know, you kind of you
want to bring people with you, as opposed to as
(04:38):
opposed to barking at them. So I think that's a
really good one. Focusing on what you control.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
You can't control so exactly. You know, I can't control
the fact that my husband Tim loves Vogels Sammige bread
for his breakfast, like and sure it's in a plast bag. Absolutely,
I would have loved to have gone down to the
bakery and use my own cotton bag and you know,
for him to get bred that way, but that's something
(05:03):
that's his choice. I'm not. I'm not you know, reflecting
my values in his life. So again, yeah, yeah, you
have plastic got on your toast? How could you know?
So that's something that's out of my control and that's
not up to me, not up to me to change.
So I can focus on, you know, what I eat
(05:24):
for atfist instead, I can focus on uh, you know,
what sustainable toidet trees I have in use. I can
focus on other things that are within my control, which
I think is a really important one for people who
live with others. You know a lot of people have
flatmates or family members can get really quite frustrated at
observing unsustainable behavior every day. But that is someone else's
(05:48):
life and it's not up to you to judge or
control it. And I can actually guarantee if you're just
trying to control what you can and doing that in
a really positive way, people are going to see what
you're doing and probably ask you questions about it and
potentially switch to that change anywhere. So yeah, focus on
those things and that will make you feel more I guess, yeah,
(06:11):
less kind of anxious or upset too by the stuff
that you can't.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Then that kind of leads you to the next one.
Showing a bit of grace for others.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Totally, absolutely, and I you know, I preach this whole
don't judge, don't look at other people's supermarket shopping trolley
and things like that. But obviously, you know, when I
have learned and known so much over the last eight
years of researching and being in this space, I can't
help sometimes, you know, have a little thoughts cross my
mind around that person could just easily you know, learn
(06:44):
how to you know what, then go on and recycling.
Then like that's actually given grace to everyone and to yourself,
and knowing that we can only do what we can do.
It's actually not up to you know, just individuals to
make these changes. There are big corporates and government that
all need to kind of come to the party as well.
(07:06):
So knowing that, yeah, just because you need to buy
a plastic drink bottle of water because you forgot your
reusable bottle and you really just need water otherwise you're
going to get dehydrated. Yeah, just actually giving yourself grace,
giving the other people in your life.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
That as well in your final tip I suppose relates
to your nation wide tour at the moment, Yes, build
a supportive circle exactly.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
So I think this is a tough one because some
people build such a support of circle that they find
themselves in a little kind of echo chamber of the
thoughts that they want to hear. I guess that's the
same you probably find a lot with politics and things
like that. Right, we can, here's just what we want
to But I think there's a great balance between having
people in your life who share your value, support your values,
(07:53):
live similar to you. But also obviously keeping conversation open
with other people who disagree is really really helpful, just
for any topic really. But that's heard of. Yeah, why
we're doing the tour in these events because I think
sometimes it can feel overwhelming like you're always kind of
(08:14):
going against the grain, and when you come together and
just you know, share a picnic and spend time with
people who share your values, that can just be you know,
the little moment in cupful and kind of Yeah, I
can still do this, I can still try my best
in terms of sustainable living. Yeah, it's important.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Very good. Hey, Thanks, Okay, good luck with a tour. Obviously,
you'll keep us up to speed is that continues. You
can find Kate on all the social media platforms by
searching ethically Kate.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News talks ' b from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Teams podcast
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be time to catch up with our sustainability commentator, Kate
Hall aka ethically Kate.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Game.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Yeah very well, thanks. You're about to embark on a
nationwide tour and are you still going to be all
like all over the place over the next couple of months.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Yes, yeah, literally from Auckland, tod Topa, Wellington, Nelson, down
to Duneda and Queenstown everywhere.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Really fantastic. What are you doing?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
So we're going on the South Fifth Tour. I do
a lot of work online, but I really am in
person person. So we are hosting many kind of community
focused free events that people can come along meet us,
play some picnic games, do a permaculture farm, visit with us,
you know, get stuck in a local community gardens. Yeah,
(01:02):
a real variety of event can come along Tom and
bring in one they want to.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That's awesome. Oh very good. Okay, Well, I look forward
to hearing about the tour as that continues. But this
morning we wanted to talk about navigating kind of differences
of philosophy or opinion when it comes to sustainability, because
I think a lot of like a lot of couples
often have one person who might be a bit more
like sustainably minded than another one, right, and it can
(01:29):
lead to a little bit of conflict from time to time.
Is it your experience, Yes, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I mean I'm very lucky I kind of my immediate
family and to my husband on board with a lot
of things I do. But you know, I still engage
with you know, friends or people we meet at parties
or you know, distant relatives at barbecues where you know,
even if you're not the person who's standing there preaching
(01:54):
over a barbecue about you know, how we should look
after the planet more just by kind of existing with
those values, can we really tiresome and kind of take
that that social energy and text I get asked a
lot from people who you know, have watched a documentary
and they're really stoked to live to their to their values,
(02:18):
but they just come up against hard conversations which you know,
full of conflicts. No one wants that. Yeah, or just
have partners who it just drives a wedge between them. Yeah,
you know, I've had moments where, yeah, I've sometimes got
it right, sometimes got it wrong about how I navigate
different situations. Yeah, and you know, it's been eight years
(02:41):
of me kind of living as exul kate and sharing
about this. But I'm always trying. But I'd like to
think that I've kind of come up with some ways
that when people say, oh my gosh, you know, how
do I navigate this with my partner or my friends
or you know, like, yeah, what do I do that,
I've kind of got a bit of a handle on it.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, right, Okay, So run us through some of those
tips and the start off with lead with positivity.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yes, So one thing I find is to not point
fingers or start in a negative space, so that, for example,
is wait for the positive conversation conversation to come to you. So,
for example, instead of saying, oh my gosh, is that
shirt from Glassons? Didn't you know that is the main
(03:26):
fashion polluters to wait for a moment where someone says, oh,
I really like your top, and then you can talk
about you know, the ethical story behind it or the
fact that it's secondhand or you know your friends made
it for you something.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Like that, as opposed to preachy.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Totally totally, and you're you're actually waiting for other people
to kind of condone and consent to that conversation rather
than being the instigator of it, because I think that
is really tiresome. If someone has a different opinion and
they're constantly trying to push their own agenda on you,
no one wants that, Like immediately the conversation is shut down,
(04:05):
there's no room for talking back and forth. So lead
with a positive angle about like what good stuff is happening,
and make sure the conversation is consented by the other persons.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, I think if I've learned anything from from working
as a political journalist, it's that you can't kind of
shame people into nothing, you know, into lifestyle changes and
you know it changes in society more broadly, Like you
you really want to you know, you kind of you
want to bring people with you, as opposed to as
(04:38):
opposed to barking at them. So I think that's a
really good one. Focusing on what you control.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
You can't control so exactly. You know, I can't control
the fact that my husband Tim loves Vogels Sammige bread
for his breakfast, like and sure it's in a plast bag. Absolutely,
I would have loved to have gone down to the
bakery and use my own cotton bag and you know,
for him to get bred that way, but that's something
(05:03):
that's his choice. I'm not. I'm not you know, reflecting
my values in his life. So again, yeah, yeah, you
have plastic got on your toast? How could you know?
So that's something that's out of my control and that's
not up to me, not up to me to change.
So I can focus on, you know, what I eat
(05:24):
for atfist instead, I can focus on uh, you know,
what sustainable toidet trees I have in use. I can
focus on other things that are within my control, which
I think is a really important one for people who
live with others. You know a lot of people have
flatmates or family members can get really quite frustrated at
observing unsustainable behavior every day. But that is someone else's
(05:48):
life and it's not up to you to judge or
control it. And I can actually guarantee if you're just
trying to control what you can and doing that in
a really positive way, people are going to see what
you're doing and probably ask you questions about it and
potentially switch to that change anywhere. So yeah, focus on
those things and that will make you feel more I guess, yeah,
(06:11):
less kind of anxious or upset too by the stuff
that you can't.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Then that kind of leads you to the next one.
Showing a bit of grace for others.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Totally, absolutely, and I you know, I preach this whole
don't judge, don't look at other people's supermarket shopping trolley
and things like that. But obviously, you know, when I
have learned and known so much over the last eight
years of researching and being in this space, I can't
help sometimes, you know, have a little thoughts cross my
mind around that person could just easily you know, learn
(06:44):
how to you know what, then go on and recycling.
Then like that's actually given grace to everyone and to yourself,
and knowing that we can only do what we can do.
It's actually not up to you know, just individuals to
make these changes. There are big corporates and government that
all need to kind of come to the party as well.
(07:06):
So knowing that, yeah, just because you need to buy
a plastic drink bottle of water because you forgot your
reusable bottle and you really just need water otherwise you're
going to get dehydrated. Yeah, just actually giving yourself grace,
giving the other people in your life.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
That as well in your final tip I suppose relates
to your nation wide tour at the moment, Yes, build
a supportive circle exactly.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
So I think this is a tough one because some
people build such a support of circle that they find
themselves in a little kind of echo chamber of the
thoughts that they want to hear. I guess that's the
same you probably find a lot with politics and things
like that. Right, we can, here's just what we want
to But I think there's a great balance between having
people in your life who share your value, support your values,
(07:53):
live similar to you. But also obviously keeping conversation open
with other people who disagree is really really helpful, just
for any topic really. But that's heard of. Yeah, why
we're doing the tour in these events because I think
sometimes it can feel overwhelming like you're always kind of
(08:14):
going against the grain, and when you come together and
just you know, share a picnic and spend time with
people who share your values, that can just be you know,
the little moment in cupful and kind of Yeah, I
can still do this, I can still try my best
in terms of sustainable living. Yeah, it's important.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Very good. Hey, Thanks, Okay, good luck with a tour. Obviously,
you'll keep us up to speed is that continues. You
can find Kate on all the social media platforms by
searching ethically Kate.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News talks ' b from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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