Greening Up My Act

Traveling is great, but in this economy?! As anti-tourist sentiments heat up abroad, finding ways to enjoy your local area as a tourist destination is a better idea than ever. Get ideas and tips from Tiff and Kat on how to play tourist in your town to increase your local pride and hey, be a more conscientious tourist wherever you go!

Sources:

• NY Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/arts/design/louvre-staff-strikes...

Trying to buy less shite from Amazon but feel a little... intimidated by mom-and-pops (like, do you have to talk to people)? Tiff and Kat are here to teach you the basics, like what does shop local mean. Buying local is one way to get the stuff you need — and build community along the way. Learn how they managed to cut through the awkwardness, so you can get started in your hometown. 

Sources

• LatinoFreeze: https://www.latinofreez...

People around the world are obsessed with coffee. But with climate change threatening coffee-growing ecosystems, will mushroom coffee soon be our only option? Pour yourself a cup of Joe and settle in for a cozy chat about why we love coffee, why it's (probably) good for us, and how to choose your brew a little more sustainably. 

Sources

• Drive Research - Coffee Statistics -  https://www.driveresearch.com/market-research-compa...

Thrifting is on trend again, which is mostly awesome in terms of sustainability. But before you Google "thrift stores near me" to go pop some tags, listen as hosts Tiff and Kat chat about how to thrift responsibly — mostly by avoiding those dang ole thrift hauls. Whether you're headed to a Salvation Army thrift store or a more local second hand store, you'll also want their top tips on how to nab the best finds.

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Take a stroll with us — or a fart walk, if you will — to learn more about why walking is so great. Can walking actually improve your digestion (the fart walk question)? Is running better for you than walking? And is it better to walk in nature or on city streets? We highly recommend listening to this on an actual walk, so grab your headphones and get moving (just be safe). 

Sources:

• Harvard - Five Surprising Benefits of Walking -...

What makes a plant invasive? Join as hosts Tiff and Kat take you through the strange, un-wonderful world of invasive plants. Learn how to tell if a plant is invasive — and how to get rid of them, or at the very least stop them from spreading in your neighborhood (and farther). Start demolishing with your favorite sustainability podcast!

As Amazon affiliates, the hosts may get a small commission from some of these links.

• Maryland ...

When was the last time you burrowed into a really great book? Kat and Tiff burrow deep into why reading books (not screens) is good for you and how to get back into it without breaking the bank or destroying the environment. 

Sources:

• ELA Brave and True - High School Students Can’t Focus and Here’s Why - https://elabraveandtrue.com/2022/12/08/why-students-cant-focus-to-read-books
• Education from Seattle PI - The Advantages of Susta...

Atomic Habits not quite click with you? Same. In this episode, Tiff and Kat analyze the James Clear book, Atomic Habits -- and figure out a few reasons why the advice seems so unrelatable. In a brief step away from sustainability topics, the two hosts explore embracing your sloppiness and taking the pressure off yourself, away from this need to constantly achieve, strive, and produce. 

As Amazon affiliates, the podcast hosts may get...

In this episode, Tiffany and Kat discuss the joy of birdwatching. They explore the benefits and concerns of bird feeding, like potential health risks for birds and the sustainability of feeding practices. Some questions include: Should we feed birds? Can we feed them all year? How much of my paycheck do I have to spend on bird food? and more in this upbeat sustainability podcast.

Sources

• https://www.audubon.org/news/to-feed-or-no...

Welcome back to Season 7 -- JOY! This season, we're focusing on what brings us joy with a little sprinkle of GUMA research plus tips on how to green it all up.

This week: DOGS. Get a little history about why they are the way they are, science on why we love them, and ideas on being a better guardian for your good boy or girl today. 

Sources:

• Earth.org - The Environmental Impact of Pets: Working Towards Sustainable Pet Ownersh...

Did you know educating kids about climate change can have a serious impact on carbon output? This week, Tiffany and Kat explore the role of climate education in U.S. schools, discussing the barriers to effective teaching and how certain (ahem) industries (ahem) influence educational materials. Dig deeper into how to empower teachers and students, the impact of youth activism, and the need for parental involvement in climate educati...

Times are tough and the economy is uncertain, which is why we've decided to diversify by offering you, our listeners, a new all-natural, green, eco-friendly, organic, sustainable product:

Cleaning Up My Yard by Greening Up My Act: Cat Poo Flavored Dog Treats!

For only $15.99/month you can get these locally-sourced treats delivered to your door. Check out our Patreon to subscribe!

www.patreon.com/GreeningUpMyAct

Patreon: patreon.co...

This week we look at the green policies and protections President Trump has already or is working to dismantle in his second term. Stay informed and maybe feel a little better about buying an electric vehicle or getting solar panels. 

Sources

• Washington Post - Trump Has Rolled Back 125 Environmental Safeguards - https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/climate-environment/trump-climate-environment-protections/
• Climat...

Need tips for talking climate change with your Trump-supporting uncle? Tiff and Kat chat about climate polarization  — and how we need to rebrand these initiatives to reach across the political aisle. The two hosts use their marketing experience in this sustainability podcast to figure out exactly how we can get more people to fight for change.

Sources

• https://www.theclimatechangereview.com/post/the-polarization-of-climate-change...

We've talked at length about how large corporations influence federal policy and how you can try to do the same. Let's take a look at how YOU can influence large corporations, especially the ones doing the most damage to the environment.

Sources:

• UMass Amherst Political Economy Research Institute - Greenhouse 100 Polluters, 2024 - https://peri.umass.edu/greenhouse-100-polluters-index-current
• McCune Law Group - Corporate ...

"Climate denial and Citizens United are two sides of the same coin." That was U.S. Senator Whitehouse basically summing up this episode. Discover why the fight against climate change practically stopped in its tracks following the 2010 Citizens United ruling -- and why it feels so infuriating -- and what we can do about it today.

Sources

• https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/speeches/how-citizens-united-altered-the-cli...

In this two-part episode, hosts Tiff and Kat break down Citizens United, the Supreme Court case that unleashed unlimited corporate spending in politics — and how that money fuels climate inaction. With fossil fuel giants pouring millions into elections and lobbying, we explore how this decision came about in the first place. Join us as we uncover the link between big money, political gridlock, and the fight for a sustainable future...

Federal government got you down? Explore how to lobby your state government and influence local climate policy to help get your feelings in a better place. 

Sources

• Network for Business Sustainability: How Business Leaders Can Lobby for Climate Action - https://nbs.net/how-business-leaders-can-lobby-for-climate-action/
• Inside Climate News: What to Expect from State Governments on Renewable Energy Policy in 2025 - https://insidecli...