This podcast explores the role of brands as a force for positive change in a world of climate crisis, careless consumerism and growing social inequality. Podcast host Christian Budtz speaks to brand innovators and thought-leaders who are at the forefront shaping new ideas, behaviours and business models for a sustainable future.
Saving Lives at the Intersection of Sports and Fashion
Suzanne McKenzie is a creative entrepreneur and changemaker. After a life-changing event — tragically losing her husband to sudden cardiac arrest on the soccer field — Suzanne created a youth soccer foundation in his honor, using the power of sports to teach urban youth about health. To support her non-profit foundation, she founded ABLE MADE — a fashion brand for original off-pitch soccer style. Suzanne shares her personal insight into leading with positivity and collaboration at the interse...
30 Jun 2024
Are You A Solutionist?
Solitaire Townsend, 'Ethical Entrepreneur of the Year' in the UK and award-winning author of 'The Solutionists', shares her infectious enthusiasm and insight into how we can all be part of the solutions that will help save the planet. Solitaire also talks about the urgent need for more joy, fun and desirable stories to inspire sustainable human behavior change. Host: Christian BudtzShort cuts: 5:15 What's a Solutionist?9:30 The making of Love Bug, an insect-based...
30 Jun 2023
Can Vodka Help Curb the Climate Crisis?
Suvi Reinikkala, Marketing Director, led the global launch of Koskenkorva Vodka 'Climate Action' - the World's first vodka made entirely with regeneratively farmed barley. Suvi shares the fascinating story of how a small Finnish village is fighting the climate crisis by making vodka. Host: Christian BudtzShort cuts: 04:15 The cultural connection between Finland and vodka06:00 The story of Koskenkorva Vodka12:00 The 'Drink Sustainably' brand platform 17:30 ...
16 Apr 2023
GANNI's Quest to Change Fashion for the Better
Lauren Bartley, Sustainability and CSR Director at the Danish B Corp fashion brand GANNI, shares her insights into how being scrappy can make a smaller brand punch above its weight in the quest to change a global industry for the better. Lauren also discusses transparency, circularity and the power of fashion to change culture. Host: Christian Budtz Short cuts: 02:25 Lauren's journey in fashion 08:30 The state of the fashion industry 15:00 How GANN...
3 Dec 2022
How Doconomy is Rewiring Capitalism for Low Carbon Consumption
Johan Pihl, Co-founder of Doconomy, shares the inspiring story behind the Swedish climate tech, which was named one of The World's Most Innovative Companies of 2022 by Fast Company. Johan talks about creativity, the deep urge to change the world and why testing ideas that aren't allowed is critical to tackle the climate crisis. Host: Christian BudtzShort cuts:02:30 Johan's view on creativity, advertising and innovation06:45 The story of how Doconomy started 12:00 J...
11 Sept 2022
Why We Need to Re-Design Everything to Save the Planet
Mark Curtis, co-founder of design agency Fjord, now Head of Innovation and Thought Leadership at Accenture Song, explains why brands must design better human experiences to enable the real behaviour change needed to combat the environmental crisis. Host: Christian BudtzShort-cuts:03:00 The story of why Mark co-founded Fjord /08:40 The three catalysts for innovation /12:30 Designing sustainable experiences / 18:20 Circularity as a business model / 24:30 Mark's key take-aways fro...
9 Jun 2022
How Unilever Is Using Its Scale to Drive Sustainable Change
Thomas Lingard, Global Sustainability Director at Unilever, provides a unique insight into how global companies can drive positive change. Thomas also talks about the power of brands, repairing capitalism, and the need for big hairy audacious goals in messy transformations.Host: Christian BudtzShort cuts:05:00 Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan / 10:00 How Dove & Hellmann's put purpose at the core / 13:00 Thomas' learnings from working with sustainability /17:00 Unilever's new s...
19 May 2022
How Food Tech Startups Are Making Our Diets More Sustainable
Jasmin Hume, CEO & Founder at food tech startup Shiru, is on a mission to change our global food system. Working at the intersection of tech, science, biology and creativity, Jasmin shares her fascinating vision of how we can fight the environmental crisis by redesigning foods.Host: Christian BudtzShort-cuts: 3:00 Jasmin's journey into food tech / 6:00 The idea behind Jasmin's startup, Shiru / 10:00 What's wrong with our food system today / 15:00 Jasmin talks about cli...
29 Mar 2022
How Extinction Rebellion Inspired a Global Movement for Climate Activism
Tamsin Omond, climate activist and founding member of Extinction Rebellion, shares the inside story of how the activist group Extinction Rebellion became a global phenomenon. Tamsin also talks about meeting with Greta Thunberg, the power of mind bombs and the need for non-violent civil disobedience to fight the climate emergency. Host: Christian Budtz/ Short cuts :02:30 Tamsin's journey into grassroots activism / 07:00 How Tamsin became the face of the environmental move...
27 Feb 2022
Why Brands Must Fuel People's Creativity to Drive Positive Change
Thomas Kolster aka Mr. Goodvertising talks about why brands need to transform and how the advertising industry needs to shift from fast ideas to entrepreneurial ideas. Host: Christian Budtz Shortcuts:03:10 How the Copenhagen Climate Summit triggered Thomas to take action / 06:00 Thomas' mission behind his first book "Goodvertising" / 08.00 The influence from Oliviero Toscani / 12:00 How P&G CMO Mark Pritchard championed the company's sustainability agenda...
31 Dec 2021
What Tesla and Impossible Foods Tell Us About the Future of Eco-Capitalism
Rachel Konrad, former Executive at Impossible Foods and Tesla, offers a powerful perspective on how to exploit capitalism to save the planet. Rachel shares unique insights from working with Elon Musk and on how to disrupt incumbent industries to drive positive change. Host: Christian BudtzShortcuts 05:30 What Rachel learned from working with Elon Musk09:20 Elon Musk's strategy to make Tesla culturally cool 16:30 Rachel's first meeting with Pat Brown, Founder of Impossible Foods...
20 Sept 2021
Why CMOs Should Be Brand Activists
Former Patagonia marketing chief, Joy Howard, tells her inspiring story of how she turned brand activism into a success strategy for both business growth and social & environmental impact. Joy shares a wealth of insights from her career as a CMO and marketing leader working for brands such as Converse, Sonos, Lyft and – of course – Patagonia. In 2020, Joy made the Forbes "World's Most Influential CMO" list and in 2021 she founded her own company, Early Majority. Host: Christian Budtz
22 Jul 2021
How Ocean Plastic Waste Changed Adidas For Good
James Carnes, former adidas VP of Global Brand Strategy and Sustainability, shares the unique stories and insights behind adidas' most game-changing sustainability projects: The adidas x Parley partnership that turned ocean plastic waste into sports shoes and the recent collab with Allbirds that turned competitors into partners in the quest for a carbon-free sneaker. Host: Christian Budtz
23 May 2021
Can Marketing Help Save the World?
John Grant, brand strategy guru, talks about his latest book, "Greener Marketing". John shares a wealth of case stories and insights from working with brands such as Unilever, Nike and IKEA in driving the sustainability agenda.
13 Apr 2021
How OATLY Is Changing the Way We Think About Milk
John Schoolcraft, Global Creative Director at OATLY, shares his incredible story of how the Swedish rebel brand made oat milk cool. We also talk to John about being fearless, killing the marketing department and using creativity as a force for good.
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