Naked Sustainability

Is AI the climate solution we've been waiting for — or the most energy-hungry thing we've ever built? In this solo episode of The Naked Sustainability Podcast, Ginny dives into the AI paradox: the genuinely powerful ways artificial intelligence is accelerating biodiversity research, democratizing climate risk data, and helping everyday people connect with the natural world — and the jaw-dropping environmental cost hiding behind every query, recommendation, and AI-generated image.We'll dig into: 🌿 The AI tools that are actually doing good (iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID, and more) 💧 Why U.S. data centers consumed 17 billion gallons of water in 2023 — and why that number is about to explode 🌾 The uncomfortable truth about precision agriculture and who's really benefiting 📵 Why 74% of AI's environmental benefit claims can't be backed up ✅ How to apply the EcoMindful Method to your own relationship with AIThis one isn't about rejecting technology — it's about asking the same hard questions about your tech that you already ask about your food, your fashion, and your energy use.Share this with a friend who uses AI every day, or leave a review if this episode made you think twice about your next ChatGPT query. 👉 Explore more resources at nakedsustainability.com

Everyone's talking about buying a new home or relocating away from climate risk. But what about the 37 million homes that are already standing — in wildfire zones, flood plains, and hurricane corridors — that aren't going anywhere anytime soon?In this episode, I sit down with Ben Gilland, a multi-career entrepreneur who built a fireproof, earthquake-resistant house on the side of an active volcano — and accidentally created a solution to America's home insurance crisis. Ben is the founder of Future Proof Property Intelligence, a public benefit company using AI and IBM climate data to help everyday homeowners understand their disaster risk and actually do something about it before their insurance gets canceled.👉 Check out ⁠Future Proof⁠ | ⁠TPHA | Magic Window AppIn this conversation, you'll learn:Why 37 million U.S. homes are at extreme climate risk — and why that number is growingHow a free app can show you exactly what's coming for your property by 2100Why insurance companies are canceling entire zip codes, and what you can do about itHow fixing your home now can mean 2–8% appreciation instead of steady declineWhy the housing crisis, the insurance crisis, and the climate crisis are actually one problemIf you've ever wondered whether your home is really as safe as you think — and what you can actually do about it — this is your episode. Head to https://nakedsustainability.com for more resources, episodes, and community support.

Everyone's talking about electric vehicles and hydrogen. But what about the millions of diesel engines running RIGHT NOW - in trucks, mines, ships, and power plants - that aren't going anywhere anytime soon?In this episode, I sit down with Brian Livingston, a 40-year chemical engineer who spent nearly two decades at Caterpillar's diesel engine division. Brian is the founder of Zelkam, where he helps diesel-intensive industries reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions by 5-7% using proven catalyst technology - with 100 to 400% ROI.👉 Check out Zelkam | Decarbonize5.comIn this conversation, you'll learn:Why "wait for the perfect solution" is the most dangerous thing we can say about decarbonizationHow a catalyst actually changes the chemistry of diesel combustionWhy the biggest sustainability wins are happening in industries most people never think aboutHow cutting emissions and saving money can be the same move.If you've ever wondered what practical, profitable decarbonization actually looks like, this is your episode. Head to https://nakedsustainability.com for more resources, episodes, and community support.

Electric vehicles are often positioned as the solution to decarbonizing transportation. But what does it actually take to transition an entire society from petroleum to electricity?In this episode, Ginny sits down with Mats Larsson, founder of the Global Energy Transformation Institute, to unpack the large-scale infrastructure, grid capacity, and long-term planning required for widespread EV adoption.Together, they explore:Whether our current power grids can handle mass EV chargingWhy some countries may need to dramatically increase power generationThe real environmental break-even point for EVsRange anxiety, consumer behavior, and the used EV marketVehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and EVs as backup powerThe idea of electric road systemsThis isn’t an anti-EV conversation — it’s a systems-level one; which I'm realizing applies to more and more things in our life. . Because real sustainability isn’t just about switching products. It’s about transforming infrastructure, policy, and behavior in ways that actually last.Find out more about Mats Larsson and the GET Institute: https://www.getinstitute.com or check out his YouTube which has a ton of EV knowledge on it: www.youtube.com/@matslarsson1115.

What if the most impactful sustainable habits are also the ones people laugh at?In this episode of The Naked Sustainability Podcast, Ginny talks about the everyday eco-friendly choices that don’t photograph well — the ones that earn eye rolls at family dinners, jokes from friends, or quiet self-doubt.From hanging laundry and reusing jars to keeping furniture a little longer than feels acceptable, this conversation explores the cultural side of sustainability: why “normal” has shifted toward convenience and consumption, and how choosing reuse, repair, and mindfulness is quietly pushing back.This isn’t an episode about being perfect — or buying better things.It’s about:🌱 Why sustainability doesn’t need to match an aesthetic🌱 The difference between eco-friendly consumption and mindful living🌱 When not replacing something is the most sustainable choice🌱 How teasing and discomfort often signal meaningful change🌱 Letting go of perfection and embracing persistence insteadIf your sustainable habits feel a little messy, mismatched, or misunderstood — you’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing something that actually lasts.🎧 Share this episode with someone who’s ever been called “weird” for trying to live more intentionally.✨ Explore resources and tools for real-life sustainability at nakedsustainability.com

What if sustainable living wasn’t aesthetic, curated, or perfectly color-coordinated—but honest, practical, and beautifully imperfect?In this week’s episode, Ginny pulls back the curtain on what sustainable living actually looks like inside a real home (hint: it’s not beige linens, matching jars, or zero-waste “Pinterest perfection”). Instead, it’s messy, resourceful, creative, and deeply human.From compost bins that sometimes go sideways, to mismatched jars, sagging clotheslines, re-glued kitchen chairs, and couches that are definitely past their prime—Ginny shares the behind-the-scenes habits that don’t make the highlight reel but absolutely make an impact.She also dives into:🌿 Why “good enough” is often more sustainable than “perfect”♻️ How repairing, reusing, and rethinking everyday items reduces waste💸 The surprising ways frugality and sustainability go hand in hand🏷️ How to really apply the EcoMindful Method—in real life, not the curated version📦 What to do with all that packaging companies send (and how to make it work for you)🧵 Why embracing imperfections is actually the heart of sustainable livingThis episode is an invitation to let go of the pressure, ditch the aesthetics, and celebrate the small, unglamorous choices that add up to big impact.Share this with a friend who’s tired of the “perfect sustainability” myth.⭐ Leave a review if embracing the messy parts of eco-living feels like a breath of fresh air.For more resources, guides, and community support, visit nakedsustainability.com.

This week, Ginny sits down with mindfulness teacher and author Melanie Pensak to explore how reconnecting with nature can transform our emotional well-being and our sustainability journey. Melanie shares wisdom and insights from her new book Love for the Land, including simple month-long practices that help us slow down, ground ourselves, and rediscover awe in the natural world around us.Together, we explore how reconnecting with nature supports our emotional well-being, our sense of belonging, and even the way we approach sustainability in our daily lives. Melanie walks us through simple practices — like sensory check-ins, mindful walking, and tuning into the cycles of the seasons — that invite us to deepen our relationship with the land in a way that feels nourishing rather than overwhelming.If you’ve been craving some spaciousness, or if you want to bring more presence, intention, and ease into your sustainability journey, this episode will feel like a quiet exhale. Melanie’s perspective is a reminder that healing ourselves and healing our planet aren’t separate paths — they’re intertwined, and available to all of us.✨ Connect with Melanie: ⁠MelaniePensak.com | ⁠Instagram⁠ 📖 Grab a copy of her new book: Love for the LandPaperback (Amazon)eBook (Melanie's Website)

What happens when innovation meets necessity on the frontlines of climate change?In this episode of The Naked Sustainability Podcast, Ginny sits down with David Sellers, founder of Hawaii Off Grid, to explore how one island community is redefining resilience, rebuilding after disaster, and proving that sustainable design can be both practical and profoundly hopeful.✨ Connect with David: Hawaii Off Grid⁠ | Instagram 🎥 Find the Documentary Journey Beyond the GridEugene Environmental Film Festival (through 07Nov2025)Sustainable Stories Film Festival (through 21Nov2025)David shares his journey from commercial fishing boats in Alaska to designing net-zero, off-grid, disaster-resilient homes in Hawaii. He opens up about how the Lahaina wildfires reshaped his mission, what “living beyond the grid” truly means, and why Hawaii has become a global case study in adapting to a changing climate.We also dive into:🌿 How off-grid design empowers energy independence🏡 What makes a home fire- and storm-resilient🔋 The intersection of renewable energy, electric vehicles, and architecture💚 How Hawaii’s unique challenges inspire solutions the world can learn fromShare this episode with a friend who loves stories of innovation, sustainability, and hope. Leave a review if this conversation inspires you to rethink what’s possible. For more resources and community support, visit nakedsustainability.com.

Ever looked in your trash can and thought… wow, where did all this come from? This week, I’m sharing my honest debrief from our Trash Audit Challenge — what I discovered, what I didn’t expect, and the easy changes that actually make a difference. No guilt, no perfection, just practical ways to shrink your trash footprint and live a little lighter on the planet.💚 Share this episode with a friend who cares about the planet.⭐ Leave a review if this conversation helped you see sustainability in a new light.📬 Explore more tips and community resources at nakedsustainability.com.

What does voting have to do with sustainability? More than you might think.In this episode of The Naked Sustainability Podcast, Ginny takes us on a journey through history — from the smog-filled skies of 1940s Los Angeles to the first Earth Day — to show how civic action and environmental progress have always gone hand in hand.She explores how policies like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Energy Independence and Security Act were born from public demand and voter action, and how every ballot cast today still shapes our air, water, and future.We also dive into:🌿 The real-world impacts of environmental laws we often take for granted⚖️ How voting determines what sustainability looks like in your city, state, and nation💬 Why voting isn’t separate from sustainability — it is sustainability🌍 Practical ways to stay informed and use your voice for changeThis isn’t a political episode — it’s an empowering reminder that every sustainable action, from reusing to recycling to voting, adds up to something bigger.💚 Share this episode with a friend who cares about the planet — and don’t forget to vote.⭐ Leave a review if this conversation helped you see sustainability in a new light.📬 Explore more tips and community resources at nakedsustainability.com.