S4 E1 Uncaged - Stephanie Downs

Ashley Grealish is the co-founder of Windfall Energy, creating plug in home batteries for renters and flat dwellers to help close the energy equity gap.Ashley talks to Raakhee about creating something he wish existed for himself and his peers, how a test and learn changed their entire product, and how he registered the company after unexpectedly being accepted into an accelerator program, subsequently receiving funding.With the UK govt paying approx. £1.6bn in gdp per year to switch off wind turbines and switch on gas, this founder created a compact, thoughtful and semi portable device to address the injustice of 2 tier energy costs, allowing small homes to also benefit from the clean energy transition and bill reduction, instead of it being a middle class benefit, and importantly keep those wind turbines on.Discussing how their battery and software saves money, and if they have an exit plan before delivering their first order this episode is about win win win in energy. This episode covers the topics of batteries, leadership, pre-orders and funding. https://www.windfallenergy.com/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/sustainable_founders_podcasthttps://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcastShould you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned 

Carry Somers co-founded one the worlds most recognised fashion movement Fashion Revolution. She is the founder of Panama hat brand Pachacuti, a non-profit community called League of Artisans, and has released a book called The Nature of Fashion. Carry talks to Raakhee about being a serial entrepreneur with 30+ years in the field. Carry speaks about soaking in the bathtub and thinking up the concept and name Fashion Revolution, yet her story began years earlier; when she was the only student in her masters class, when she walked away from a fully funded Phd to focus on creating change, after seeing profits and power drained from rural artisans in South America. Wanting to give them back wealth and recognition, by probably being the first person to bring Fair Trade into the fashion industry in 1992, she embedding social justice into knitwear. Discussing how the fashion transparency index to empowers trade unions and steers fashion brands for better transparency from their garment factories, yet what if fashions problems are not even about the factories but something else? In her new book, The Nature of Fashion, Carry explore explores how blue, black, and lilac native cotton colours actually exist in nature, and how agricultural by-products like grape skins can provide natural waterproofing for clothing.  Does the future of fashion lie in solutions from the past? You can purchase Carry's book here:⁠https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-nature-of-fashion-a-botanical-story-of-our-material-lives-carry-somers/dd5157e75120d2bc?ean=9781915294791⁠https://panamas.co.uk/https://www.fashionrevolution.org/https://leagueofartisans.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrysomers/https://www.instagram.com/carrysomers/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcasthttps://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcastShould you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned

Will Attenborough is an actor and co-founder of Green Rider, a not-for-profit supporting actors, writers and directors to leverage their influence to negotiate sustainable initiatives into their contracts. Will talks to Raakhee about what green requests look like, and asking whether an actor can use a private jet and still make sustainable demands on a set with integrity.Discussing how script writing and collaboration can change culture more than legal contracts, with the BBC and Sky shows supporting trials of the ‘Green Handshake’, we discuss the power of tv and film in normalising sustainable behaviours. https://www.green-rider.org/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcasthttps://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcastShould you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned

Use code SUSTAIN26 for a 20% discount on the She Grows Veg website. Valid until 31st Dec2026Kate Cotterill is the co-founder of She Grows Veg, an heirloom seed company empowering people to grow some of their own food. Kate talks to Raakhee about why heirloom seeds are special, how they trial their seeds in the UK to ensure they are suitable for the climate, and bringing back native species that have disappeared, whilst also sourcing unusual varieties from overseas.Discussing how cash in king when you are growing 300% yoy, and how they won multiple gold medals at Chelsea Flower show for displays that resemble pieces of artwork, they make growing fun, accessible and exciting, whilst adding nutrition and joy into meal times. Ps. He can grow veg too https://shegrowsveg.com/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcast⁠https://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcast⁠Should you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned 

Rishi Jain is the Director of Impact at Liverpool Football Club in this leadership episode, recognised as having ‘The best sustainability program in world football’ called The Red Way. Rishi talks to Raakhee about robotic mowers, how they recycle their football pitch and turn it into benches, their orchard, allotments and their 240,000 bee’s. Using the UN SDG frameworks and ISO's to propel their sustainable work forward, optimising their food menu and sharing how they increased recycling rates from 25% to a staggering 96%, this episode showcases the power of sports. https://www.liverpoolfc.com/theredwayhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rishikjain/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcasthttps://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcastShould you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned

Ally Booker and Gemma Broad are the founders of We Are Repairs, a digital directory bringing repairers and repair lovers together. Individually they both also have their own repair businesses.Ally & Gem talk to Raakhee about how Repair is an immediate form of climate action accessible to everyone. We discuss planned obsolescence, 3d printing, slow living, the right to repair and the circular economy. Bringing craftsmanship back to the UK high streets, and creating connection in communities via repairers and repair cafes. What you believe will affect how you behave, and if we believe we are stewards of this planet and not its consumers, then we must look at new behaviours. With 22 million small furniture items thrown away in the UK each year, we should definitely think repair before recycling or landfill. If all nations in the world consumed at the same rate as the UK, we would need 2.6 planets to sustain our demands, so is this a UK throw away cultural and convenience issue.        https://wearerepairs.com/https://www.embracebespoke.co.uk/https://www.restorationhut.com/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcasthttps://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcastShould you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned

Stephanie Downs is the co-founder and CEO of UNCAGED Innovations, a biomaterials company with a difference. Using grain byproducts to create a leather alternative, engineered to mimic the collagen of leather, creating a soft texture to rival its animal counterpart.Serial entrepreneur Stephanie talks to Raakhee about raising $7m in funding, with investors including Jaguar LandRover and Natalie Portman. Having worked with Tesla to have a vegan based leather interior, Stephanie also highlights the benefits of contract and localised manufacturing, and the impact of tariffs. Discussing how leather is a co-product not a byproduct of the food industry and how people are more likely to switch to vegan leather then vegan food and her personal journey in this field, this discussion is showcases what is possible. https://uncagedinnovations.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniedowns/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcasthttps://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcastShould you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned

Joanna Jensen is the exit founder of Childs Farm, a sensitive skincare brand, and the author of ‘Making Business Child’s Play’.Joanna talks to Raakhee with unfiltered honesty about the personal inspiration and drive behind the products and brand, whilst navigating some of the hardest chapters of her personal life. Proudly British, with strong ethics at its heart, she discusses finding a value aligned exit partner, feeling bereft after its sale, how she moved on, and now being an author and angel investor. https://www.joannajensen.co.uk/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcasthttps://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcastShould you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned

Robert Cobbold is a co-founder of Native Squared, a company selling environmental rights, allowing us to protect nature one square at a time. Rob talks to Raakhee about why nature and biodiversity are as important as carbon credits. With each square costing the same as a cup of coffee, this is still more than what a logging company would pay. Discussing the left brain bias that western society is built around, have we lost ourselves in metrics which should be indicators, and not the thing itself. There is something deeply profound in this episode.https://www.nativesquared.com/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/nativesquareshttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/robert-cobbold-b75b7b41https://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcasthttps://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcastBelow are link to references in this episode:https://www.consciousevolution.co.uk/podcasthttps://www.joannamacy.net/mainhttps://stellarworld.com/https://blueearthsummit.com/Should you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned

A special episode looking back at 2025 and exploring concerns and the opportunities for 2026. Key themes include how tariffs and uncertainty make planning difficult, yet how the underlying belief in sustainability remains unchanged.  Discussing the challenges in investment funding, the investment drops in first of a kind projects, ai for climate versus ai for defense, the growing importance of community, the importance of following our curiosity, and how sustainability is no longer confined to a department and is filtering into most, if not all departments. Hosted by Gaby JessonGuest Speakers: Kate Williams, CEO at 1% for the Planethttps://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/katewilliams87Elizabeth Corse, Founder at Discomhttps://www.discom.me/https://uk.linkedin.com/in/elizabethcorseBelow are the link and recommendations raised in this episode:https://netzeroinsights.com/https://www.coldchainfederation.org.uk/https://www.wrap.ngo/ukhttps://www.lloyds.com/lloydslabhttps://small99.co.uk/people-planet-pint-meetup/ https://www.wholegraindigital.com/https://good-loop.com/https://chestnut.bio/https://www.29acacia.com/https://www.measurable.energy/https://olioapp.com/en/https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-founders-podcast https://wildsaint.co.uk/pages/sustainable-founders-podcastShould you wish to participate on future episodes or discuss any part of this podcast please email us at [email protected] information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment only and is not intended as professional advice. We encourage listeners to do their own research and consult with a professional before making any decisions related to sustainable fashion or any other topic discussed on this podcast. Additionally, the opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host(s) and guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company mentioned