SPILL THE (GREEN) TEA: How to talk about sustainability without getting called out

In this episode, Katie & Malin speak with Sangeeta Waldron, an author and award-winning communications specialist to explore how to confidently communicate imperfect progress towards genuine sustainability, why perfection is a myth, why trust is the new currency, and how honesty, storytelling, and diverse voices can rebuild credibility in an increasingly sceptical world.

In this episode, Katie and Malin explore the growing tension between greenwashing and greenhushing, starting with clear definitions of both and why the distinction matters.

Katie Treggiden is joined by Malin Cunningham, founder of B Corp-certified B2B thought leadership consultancy Hattrick, to launch Spill the Green Tea – a podcast exploring how brands can communicate their environmental efforts without tipping into greenwashing… or disappearing into greenhushing.

In this episode, Katie speaks with Bernadette Russell, a storyteller, author and passionate tree planter whose work invites us to pay closer attention to the quiet magic of everyday life. Bernadette weaves together stories, community action and environmental care into a body of work that is both deeply hopeful and fiercely grounded.“Hope isn’t passive – it requires action. It’s a practice.” - Bernadette RussellWe cover:- What inspired her to do a daily act of kindness for 366 days – and how it changed everything- The role of hope in dark times, and how it coexists with grief, rage and despair- Why kindness is more powerful than we think – and often quietly everywhere- Stories from her tree planting, storytelling, and community projects- The media response to the 2011 London riots – and why it fuelled her mission- The difference between performative and meaningful action – and why small matters- The tension between anger and hope, and how we hold both- What it means to notice goodness, and how it can change how we feel in the world“It provided me with an opportunity to look at the same garden, but from a different window.” - Bernadette RussellThis conversation is a gentle, powerful reminder that hope doesn’t require perfect circumstances, and kindness doesn’t need to be grand to be meaningful.More from Bernadette:Website: www.bernadetterussell.comInstagram: @bernadetterussellBooks: Conversations of Kindness & How to Be Hopeful (these are affiliate links)More from Katie:Instagram: @katietreggiden.1Website: https://katietreggiden.com/Nature-inspired poetry: https://brackishbykatietreggiden.substack.com/t/poetryResources mentioned:BBC Ideas Documentary on 366 Days of KindnessTrees for Cities and Street Trees for LivingThe Spiritual Poems of Rumi (this is an affiliate link)Check out my full Bookshop.org podcast reading list to find links to all the books mentioned throughout Season 6 of Brackish.What next?If all this talk of defiant hope has got you wondering where you can find some, I have something for you. Cultivating Hope is my three-part mini-course and it’s the three steps I move through whenever I start to feel despair tugging at my edges.You will move out of ‘fight, flight or freeze’ mode and into a calm and connected state, reconnect with nature, and find aligned actions that you can take now to keep you to remind you that you can make a difference.In the current climate, hope is an act of defiance, and it’s one I hope you’ll take with me.Click here to find out more here This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brackishbykatietreggiden.substack.com/subscribe

Trigger Warning: We discuss the sudden loss of a loved one. If this is something you are experiencing right now or have a sensitivity towards, please listen with caution. In this episode, Katie speaks with Stefanie Cheong, an artist jeweller and educator based in Scotland, whose work sits at the intersection of geology, anthropology, and environmentalism.Stefanie explores the deep time stories of our planet through jewellery, objects, and collaborations — from cutting Scottish rocks to creating new materials from waste. Together, they discuss the GeoAnthropology Project, the emotional resilience of making, and how creativity, community, and connection can forge defiant hope even in the face of grief and crisis.“When everything else felt out of control, making gave me something I could do, something I could control.” - Stefanie CheongWe cover:- How Stefanie’s dyslexia shaped her creative process and love of making- The alchemy of metal and her discovery that it can be infinitely recycled- Why she chose to create her own ethical supply chain by finding and even making her own rocks- The GeoAnthropology Project — exploring human evolution through rock, from Stone Age flint to future fossils- What it feels like to work with rocks that are three billion years old- Her collaboration with architect Andy Campbell on Sitting Pretty — a bench that embodies deep time and material storytelling- How grief and creativity can coexist, and how making became a form of grounding and healing- The ritual of her Moon Rocks practice — working with one rock for each lunar cycle- Reclaiming hope through connection, action, and community — from People Planet Pint to Making Design Circular“Crisis can be a turning point — it means things can only get better.” - Stefanie CheongThis episode is a beautiful exploration of how creativity, geology, and grief intertwine. Stefanie reminds us that making is not only a way of storytelling through materials, but also a path back to ourselves. Through deep time, connection, and collaboration, she shows that even in crisis, there’s space for renewal and for hope forged in stone.More from Stefanie:Website: https://www.stefaniecheong.co.uk/Follow Stef: @stefaniecheong and @stefanieyinglincheongMore from Katie:Instagram: @katietreggiden.1Website: https://katietreggiden.com/Nature-inspired poetry: https://brackishbykatietreggiden.substack.com/t/poetryResources mentioned:People Planet Pint / People Planet Pastry – global sustainability meetupsMaking Design Circular Podcast, with Katie & Lauren ChangBrackish, Season 6 Ep 12 with Helen BowkettResearch into the physiological effects of sewingCheck out my full Bookshop.org podcast reading list to find links to all the books mentioned throughout Season 6 of Brackish.What next?If all this talk of defiant hope has got you wondering where you can find some, I have something for you. Cultivating Hope is my three-part mini-course and it’s the three steps I move through whenever I start to feel despair tugging at my edges.You will move out of ‘fight, flight or freeze’ mode and into a calm and connected state, reconnect with nature, and find aligned actions that you can take now to keep you to remind you that you can make a difference.In the current climate, hope is an act of defiance, and it’s one I hope you’ll take with me.Click here to find out more here This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brackishbykatietreggiden.substack.com/subscribe