Climate Activism and Gender Justice: A Conversation with Ayshka Najib

In the penultimate episode of season six, Jon and Verda have a conversation with Ayshka Najib, who shares her journey from being inspired by the Chipko movement in India to becoming a fervent champion for both climate justice and gender equality. The discussion covers the intersection of climate change and gender issues, the influence of grassroots movements, and recent advancements in global climate policies. Insights on the role of women in environmental activism, the complexities of greening the economy, and the power of individual and collective efforts in driving meaningful change all happen in this jam-packed interview.This season of Break Some Dishes is presented by Humanscale.References and ResourcesMineral scarcity and the green transitionFossil Fuel Non-Proliferation TreatyInstagram: @fossilfueltreatyJust Transition – Women and Gender ConstituencyYouth Climate Justice Fund (YCJF): Explore grant recipients, apply for funding & sign up for the newsletterFor Self Care: Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia HerseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Live from the NeoCon show floor in Chicago, Verda and Jon sit down with Kathleen Egan and Paul Shahriari, co-founders of Ecomedes. If you’ve ever struggled to specify sustainable materials, this episode is a must-listen. Ecomedes is changing the game for the architecture and design industry by streamlining product data, certifications, and comparisons into one comprehensive and easy-to-use platform. We explore why the process has been so hard for both designers and manufacturers, challenge ideas about product data, and explore how Ecomedes is making the path to sustainable design more efficient and impactful.This episode was produced in partnership with Ecomedes and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf.References & ResourcesEcomedes Platform:  ecomedes.comSummit at Neocon mentioned: metropolismag.com/viewpoints/insights-metropolis-leadership-summit-neocon/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Jon and Verda sit down with Osprey Orielle Lake, founder of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), to explore the connections between women’s rights, climate justice, and the rights of nature. From ecofeminism to alternative worldviews, from frontline defenders to global policy, Osprey shares how women, especially in the Global South are driving climate solutions.This season of Break Some Dishes is presented by Humanscale.References & ResourcesWomen’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) www.wecaninternational.orgThe Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis by Osprey Orielle Lake  https://ospreyoriellelake.earth/Inside Climate News: “The Ecofeminist Movement Is Surging. Here’s What Its Advocates Want.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Jon and Verda go live from Chicago, at the Gensler Principal's Retreat to unpack some of the issues shaping the design industry. Amanda Schneider, of ThinkLab, is back and joins us on stage for a three-part conversation on how unspoken norms around gender and power influence who leads, whose needs are prioritized in design, and how inclusive leadership can drive climate resilience. Amanda shares her research in how generational shifts, and specifically the perspective of Generation Z, are reshaping the way we think about work. Together, we reflect on how expectations placed on women at work, at home, and in leadership are evolving, and how letting go of rigid labels may open the door to a more inclusive, sustainable future.Referenced Work:Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado PerezThe book Jon and Verda have been reading this season about how male-default bias shapes everything we design from transit systems to disaster responseA deep dive into how corporate structures reinforce gendered powerThis Changes EverythingA Documentary film that looks at gender disparity in HollywoodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we sit down with product designer and creative thinker Ayse Birsel. She is the co-founder of Birsel + Seck, the award-winning design and innovation studio and is known for her work with manufacturers like Herman Miller as well as her bestselling book Design the Life You Love. Ayse has spent her career helping people design with intention: whether it’s a chair, a company, or their own life. We explore her tools to help people tap their creativity and she even guides Jon live on air through her Heroes Exercise that prompts reflection on those who inspire us most. Ayse shares her latest project: The Deck of Women Heroes. This is a creative tool to help us rethink who we honor, who we remember, and who we look to as role models for the future. Together, we unpack why it’s so difficult, and so necessary to name women heroes.This season of Break Some Dishes is presented by Humanscale.Referenced Work:New York Times article on women in leadership: Picture a Leader. Is She a Woman? https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/health/women-leadership-workplace.html Books by Ayse Birsel:Design the Life You Love (2015)Design the Long Life You Love (2022) Ayse’s website: aysebirsel.comSubscribe to Ayse’s newsletter: https://www.aysebirsel.com/newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Jon travels to the University of Texas School of Architecture at Arlington to talk with professors and students about learning, teaching and mentoring. Does what we teach, and how we teach, truly open doors for everyone in the design profession? Listen in on these multi-perspective conversations that touch on bias, opportunity, and what happens when expectations meet up with reality. Jon also asks: Are we placing different expectations on male and female students — or are we projecting assumptions that don’t hold up? UT Arlington has some answers!This episode of Break Some Dishes is presented by Garden on the Wall. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we sit down with Kyle Bergman, founder of the Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF), to explore House by the Sea — a dreamy new film that revisits Eileen Gray’s iconic E1027 house and the notorious murals by Le Corbusier. We look at how the film uncovers what design history often hides: the stories of women like Gray, Charlotte Perriand, Lily Reich, and Denise Scott Brown — visionaries whose work shaped modern architecture but whose names too often went uncredited. We unpack why these stories matter and what they say about whose voices shape our built environment. Kyle shares what drew him to the film, what keeps him inspired to spotlight untold stories through ADFF, and why these hidden histories are more relevant than ever.This season of Break Some Dishes is presented by Humanscale.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Rottet — the only woman ever elevated to Fellow status by both the AIA and IIDA — to explore her remarkable journey from architect to interior and product designer. As Founding Principal of Rottet Studio, Lauren has led award-winning projects around the world and launched a celebrated furniture line, all while challenging the status quo. We talk mentorship, leadership, and what it takes for women to not only enter the design professions, but to lead them. Plus, Lauren shares the story behind one hotel inspired by a trailblazing woman — and the quote that guides her: “Well-behaved women seldom make history.”This season of Break Some Dishes is presented by Humanscale.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Break Some Dishes, Jon and Verda talk with Jane Abernethy, Chief Sustainability Officer at Humanscale about everything from sustainable products to gender equity in industrial design. Jane shares her journey from industrial designer to sustainability leader, why women’s voices are essential in shaping our built environment, and how bias in design can have lasting consequences. We also dig into circularity, regenerative futures, and how young designers can lead us toward a more inclusive, sustainable world.This season of Break Some Dishes is presented by Humanscale.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jon and Verda dive into the intersection of gender, sustainability, and regenerative futures in industrial design. We’re joined by two powerhouse designers, Baillie Mischler, Founder at PROWL, and Lauryn Menard, CEO of GOB. Together, we explore the challenges and opportunities for women in industrial design, the systemic gender biases embedded in everyday products, and the urgent need for diverse voices in shaping the future of design. We also discuss what a ‘regenerative future’ means and how companies like PROWL and GOB are pushing the boundaries of sustainability.RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING·  Women in Design: Building Diversity in Industrial Design (IDSA)·  “Shrink It and Pink It”: Gender Bias in Product Design (Harvard  Advanced Leadership)·  PROWL – A Female-Founded Industrial Design Studio·  GOB EARTH – Regenerative Material Innovation· The book Jon and Verda are reading:  Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado PerezSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.