Conscious Design Podcast™

He literally built schools from trash, and it works. 👀Meet Matt Paneitz, founder of Long Way Home, who turned 550 tons of waste and 35,000 used tires into sustainable classrooms in rural Guatemala. Discover how his team built the Hero School, where sustainability, community, and education collide, proving that you can build schools from trash that last for generations.

If you believe in green innovation, conscious design, the c...

Meet the world’s first plantable pencil. A pencil you can grow into a plant. 🌱 In this Conscious Design Podcast episode, SproutWorld founder & CEO Michael Stausholm reveals how this simple idea became a global eco brand, selling over 80 million pencils worldwide and expanding into plantable makeup.

Michael shares the full journey: from discovering the idea at MIT, to building a certified B-Corp, to redefining what sustainab...

What if the wood we throw away could build the cities of tomorrow?

🌍Every year, millions of tons of “waste wood” from storms, demolition, and urban trees are trashed. But companies like Cambium are turning salvaged lumber into carbon-smart building materials. From mass timber buildings to sustainable furniture, this shift could change the future of construction forever.

In this Conscious Design Podcast, Cambium co-founder T...

What’s really in your tap water?

This episode breaks down PFAS, lead, and microplastics and why tap water safety is a growing concern. Then FloWater CEO Rich “Raz” Razgaitis explains the science of 7-stage purification: RO at 0.0001 microns, advanced carbon, and remineralization for taste and hydration. If you’re evaluating a PFAS water filter for schools, an office water dispenser, or a gym refill station, here is a practical fiel...

Can an eco-friendly beauty brand compete with mainstream makeup brands? Corinne Lefebvre, founder of River Organics, shares how she built a vegan, zero-waste beauty brand that challenges big cosmetics while staying true to sustainable values.

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, host Ian Peterman uncovers the journey behind River Organics, from paper packaging innovations to creating high-performance makeup without c...

Emma Rose Cohen, founder of FinalStraw, turned a simple idea into a $2M Kickstarter and a movement against single-use plastics. In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, she shares how small changes spark massive environmental impact.

Emma Rose Cohen is the CEO and founder of Final, the company behind FinalStraw and other sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. What started as an idea during college parties turne...

Fashion is one of the world’s most polluting industries 🌍 Can labeling & AI make it sustainable?

Host Ian Peterman sits down with designer Vicky Tsiachri to explore her A–E clothing labeling system, how transparency fights greenwashing, and why conscious design is key to reshaping fashion.

💬 Do you believe fashion labels can really change how people shop, or will fast fashion always win? Let us know below!

💡 What You’l...

How are AI and fractional leadership reshaping the future of work? 🚀 Host Ian Peterman sits down with Execnow founders Kahlil Dumas & Colin Smith to explore how they’re disrupting executive search, solving culture challenges in startups, and redefining leadership in 2025.

💬 Do you believe AI will actually fix hiring, or just make the problems worse? Let us know below!

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why traditional executive s...

From Hollywood TV sets to replacing 656M plastics — Host Ian Peterman sits down with Repurpose Co-Founder & CEO Lauren Gropper to reveal how she built the nation’s leading compostable tableware brand, disrupted single-use plastics, and made eco-friendly living affordable and easy for millions.

💬 Question for you: What’s the single-use plastic item you’d most like to replace in your home? Comment below — we’d love to hear your i...

She walked away from two decades of luxury bag design to build carbon-negative, vegan bags that actually make a difference. Meet Alona Komsky, co-founder of AKKONIQ, the minimalist bag brand that’s reshaping sustainable fashion with innovation, function, and style.

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, host Ian Peterman explores how Alona turned her frustration with fast fashion and greenwashing into a mission: design...

What happens when used crayons become tools for healing? The Crayon Initiative has transformed over 500,000 pounds of wax into hospital-safe art supplies, bringing creativity, comfort, and color to children in medical care across the U.S.

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, host Ian Peterman speaks with Bryan Ware, the founder behind this purpose-driven nonprofit. What began as a simple question at a restaurant beca...

Discover how Modern Mill is transforming the future of building materials with ACRE, a stunning, low-maintenance, sustainable alternative to wood.

CEO Chris Guimond joins host Ian Peterman on the Conscious Design Podcast to reveal how upcycled rice hulls are helping create hurricane- and fire-resistant materials that outperform traditional wood in durability, ease of use, and sustainability.

If you're a homeowner, builder, architect,...

Your Makeup Might Be Hurting the Planet. Here’s How One Brand Is Fixing It.The beauty industry creates billions of pieces of waste every year, most of which never get recycled. But what if your makeup could be completely zero waste, refillable, and designed to last for decades?

In this episode, host Ian Peterman sits down with Chris Tarling, founder of Izzy Zero Waste Beauty, to reveal how his brand is building the world’s first...

Couldn’t find a safe sunscreen during pregnancy? That’s how Mama Sol was born, an award-winning, sustainable skincare brand changing the way people think about SPF. Discover how Arielle Moody, a beauty industry veteran, co-founded Mama Sol to create pregnancy-safe, non-toxic, luxurious sunscreen that people actually love to wear.

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, Arielle joins host Ian Peterman to share how Mama S...

🚀 Want to SKYROCKET your career and leadership skills even without a STEM degree?

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, Ian Peterman sits down with Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation and global expert in space technology and inclusive innovation.Discover how lessons from the space industry can inspire your personal growth, career success, and leadership — no matter your background!

🔥 Here’s what you’ll le...

Are we finally saying goodbye to foam earplugs? 

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, Lauryn Menard, Co-founder and CEO of GOB, joins host Ian Peterman to reveal how her team created the world’s first home-compostable, biology-engineered earplug—made from mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms. 🍄👂

Lauryn shares her journey from working with global brands like Herman Miller and Target to building a regenerativ...

Expanding to the Middle East or North Africa? One legal misstep could cost your entire business.

Watch before making your move,  this could save you millions.

In this must-watch episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, host Ian Peterman sits down with Haidy Hazem, senior legal consultant at One World Intellectual Property (OWIP) — one of the most respected IP law firms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

If you'...

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, host Ian Peterman sits down with internationally renowned architect Kevin Kennon to explore how architecture must evolve—merging sustainable design, AI-driven innovation, and emotional impact to shape a better world.

Kevin shares powerful stories, fresh insights, and bold ideas that challenge how we think about design—from how natural disasters influenced his early life to pioneering ...

How much food is your family wasting—and how much money with it?The average household throws out hundreds of pounds of food and over $4,000 every year. Why? Poor planning. Overbuying. Forgotten leftovers.

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, Ian Peterman sits down with Janet Irizarry, founder of My Mindful Kitchen and creator of the MMK Method, to talk about real-world solutions to food waste, saving money, and raisi...