Is organic food a scam? Americans (especially parents!) are pressured to buy organic groceries for supposed health benefits, fear of pesticides, or because they think organic farming practices are better for the environment. But are these claims true? Dig deeper into organic fruits and vegetables, including whether there's any proof to the supposed benefits of organic food. Sources Mayo Clinic - Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious? - https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/n...
Your favorite green living podcast is back with a preview of our sixth (!!!) season. It's been a rough couple of months for a number of reasons (check out our Patreon for a full run-through) but we are coming back in January 2025 with Season 6: Political Action! We'll be talking about: how voting affects green policies how to lobby your U.S. government from the city to the state to the fedswhat green plans the U.S. government has in place (or what they'll be tearing down)h...
Airplanes and passenger jets get a lot of flak for emissions and pollution. But just how much does your flight overseas affect climate change? And what are scientists and the government doing to try and fix it? Find out in this week's episode of your favorite green living podcast. Sources: Kat’s rocket scientist sisterOur World in Data - Sector by sector: where do global greenhouse emissions come from? - https://ourworldindata.org/ghg-emissions-by-sectorThe Commons - How to Fly Sustainably: ...
15-minute cities are a bit of a head-scratcher. On the one hand, hosts Tiff and Kat talk through beautiful examples of real cities becoming more walkable and bikeable. But on the other hand, there are some truly wild 15-minute city conspiracy theories around the topic. Let's get into it! Sources Deloitte: https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/Industries/government-public/perspectives/urban-future-with-a-purpose/15-minute-city.htmlFast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/91119919/how-paris-beca...
This week on your favorite sustainability podcast, Tiffany teaches Kat about bee hotels and whether they're really saving the right bees. Watch out for tarantula hawks and the Wasp Surprise! Sources: UC Davis on ‘beewashing’: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=30929Scientific journal PLOS One study on bee hotels: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122126 Xerces Society: We should focus on habitat, not honey bees: https://www.xerces.or...
Join two marketing writers as they dig deep into our trash piles, look past the marketing fluff, and discover the truth behind our current solutions to waste. In season 2 of Greening Up My Act, learn answers to questions like: Did I get swindled into buying a reusable Ziploc bag? Does my trash actually get recycled or is that arrow symbol a bunch of green hooey?What's up with this newfangled home composting device called Mill?What the eff is Swedish death cleaning?Hosts Kat and Tiff can...
Say "artificial food dyes" and someone will inevitably start screaming about Red 40 (or FD&C Red 40 if they're really obsessive). Are these dyes really poisoning our children? Is natural food coloring better, or might there be unintended environmental consequences? Join us as we look at everything from MAHA to McGill University to get to the bottom of artificial colors. Sources The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/08/white-food-dye-titanium-dioxide-maha/683806/?...
The average American is spending 25% more on groceries than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, so folks are looking for ways to save money. Growing your own vegetables is rewarding, but is it worth the cost? What's the cheapest vegetable to grow? Get tips on deciding what to plant and whether growing your own veg will save you some dough in your favorite sustainability podcast. NOTE: Some of the links below contain affiliate links, which we make a little cash from. Sources: LA F...
Feeling isolated? You're not alone (ironically). Community is probably the solution, but how do you find it or build it today? Let's talk about what community means, how to build it, and why it's not your fault if you feel like it's harder today than it should be. Plus: can community be dangerous? Find out this week on your favorite sustainability and joy podcast! Sources Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-the-wild-things-are/202307/the-importance-of-communityIked...
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-tourism.htmlABC News - https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/us-travelers-am...
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.latinofreeze.com/Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dougmelville/202...
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-company-blog/coffee-survey/Daily Coffee News - https://dailycoff...
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. Sources Martha Stewart: https://www.marthastewart.com/shopping-tips-thrift-stores...
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 - https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/5-surprisin...
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 DNR: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/documents/invasive_plants...
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-booksEducation from Seattle PI - The Advantages of Sustained Silent Reading - https://education.seattlepi.com/advan...
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 a small commission on some of the links below. Sources ...
It's spring cleaning time! Explore eco-friendly ways to clean out your closets and really get into those crevices based on Tiff & Kat's favorite methods. Sources: www.ridwell.comPatreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: greeningupmyact@gmail.com YouTube: Greening Up My Act
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-not-feed\https://www.audubon.org/magazine/11-tips-feeding-backyard...
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 Ownership - https://earth.org/environmental-impact-of-pets/CNN – Pets ...