Lauren Click is the award-winning founder and executive director of Let's Go Compost, a nonprofit making composting accessible to all. What started with a failed $500 composting device in a high-rise apartment has blossomed into a national movement, providing free resources to schools and communities across all 50 states.

Lauren shares her unexpected journey into the world of waste, which began not in a garden, but in a high-rise apartment in Scottsdale, Arizona. Fueled by frustration with a greenwashed composting gadget, she discovered the simple power of worm composting thanks to her sister in Brooklyn. This newfound hobby of building worm bins from discarded bakery buckets soon connected her with a surprising community: teachers. Realizing the immense need for accessible and affordable composting education in schools, a passion project was born.

Lauren recounts the organic growth of Let's Go Compost, from a one-woman operation funded out of pocket to a nationally recognized nonprofit. She details winning the Stanley 1913 Creator Fund and being selected for the prestigious Mercedes-Benz beVisioneers fellowship.

Episode in a glance

- From Arts and Crafts to a Passion for Waste
- The $500 Composting Device that Sparked a Movement
- From a Hobby to Connecting with Teachers at Seed Swaps
- The Shift from Passion Project to Nonprofit
- How Winning the Stanley Creator Fund Changed Everything
- The Mercedes-Benz beVisioneers Global Fellowship

About Lauren Click

Lauren Click is the founder and executive director of Let's Go Compost, a nonprofit dedicated to making composting accessible. She is a Mercedes-Benz beVisioneers fellow, a Stanley 1913 Creator Fund recipient, and was named the US Composting Council's 2025 Young Professional of the Year. Lauren's work focuses on eliminating barriers to composting by providing free bins, curriculum, and resources to empower individuals and schools across the country to make a positive environmental impact.

Connect with Lauren Click and her work

• Website → https://www.letsgocompost.org/
• LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenclick/

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Hosts Adam and Dominique kick off Season 4 of Green Champions, celebrating their 73rd episode milestone after over a year of weekly releases. They reflect on their favorite stories from Season 3's collaboration with Green Umbrella and the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit, highlighting guests like Shaila Maynard from SewValley and Zach Burns from the Cincinnati Zoo who built hydroponic systems to grow lettuce for giraffes.

They preview Season 4's upcoming diverse lineup, featuring conversations with a major beauty brand reimagining sustainable haircare, a community-led composting pioneer in The Bahamas, an OBGYN turned climate activist exploring health-climate connections, and local food rescue initiatives. They emphasize the podcast's mission to share positive sustainability stories across various industries, providing hope and motivation during challenging times while demonstrating that climate action requires participation from everyone, regardless of background or career.

Episode in a glance

- Kicking Off Season 4
- Adam's Favorite Stories from Season 3
- Reflecting on the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit
- A Look Ahead at Season 4

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The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary leaders to share ideas and solutions for a healthier, more resilient, and equitable future. The annual summit features a full day of programming, including speakers, exhibitors, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, covering a wide range of topics from climate justice and green workforce development to resilient food systems and circular economy practices. MRSS serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, inspiring action and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future in the Midwest.

Shownotes

Recorded live at the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit, leaders from Columbus, Ohio share how they’re building a more circular and equitable approach to waste diversion. Aryeh Alex, Christy Walters, and Marcus Carano dive into practical solutions—from food rescue pilots and mattress recycling to IT reuse and green job creation. Proving that sustainability isn’t just about reducing waste, but about creating opportunities. The conversation highlights how public policy, grassroots engagement, and cross-sector partnerships can align to drive real, lasting impact. Whether you're a city planner, a nonprofit leader, or just sustainability-curious, this episode offers grounded inspiration for making circular systems work in any community.

Episode in a glance

- City-Led Initiatives: Weekly Recycling and Compost Drop-Offs
- Incentivizing Change with GreenSpot
- The Role of Technology and Innovation in Waste Diversion
- Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers
- GreenSpot Spotlight Awards: Celebrating Corporate Sustainability
- Smart Columbus and Corporate Engagement
- Policy and Equity in Waste Diversion
- Diversifying Community Engagement

About The Panelists

Aryeh Alex: Sustainability Manager for the City of Columbus, leading efforts in waste diversion, organics, and circular economy initiatives.

Christy Walters: GreenSpot Coordinator, educating and engaging residents, businesses, and community groups in sustainability.

Marcus Carano: Leader of Corporate Partnerships and Sustainability at Smart Columbus, fostering innovation and collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Connect with the panelists and their work

• GreenScope Consulting → https://www.greenscopeconsulting.com/
• City of Columbus Sustainability → https://www.columbus.gov/Government/Mayors-Office/Sustainable-Columbus
• GreenSpot → https://www.columbus.gov/Government/Mayors-Office/Sustainable-Columbus/GreenSpot
• Smart Columbus → https://smartcolumbus.com/
• SWACO → https://www.swaco.org/
• Columbus Food Rescue → https://local-matters.org/columbus-food-rescue/
• Rumpke → https://www.rumpke.com/
• Green Umbrella → https://greenumbrella.org/
• Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit → https://www.midwestsustainabilitysummit.org/

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The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary leaders to share ideas and solutions for a healthier, more resilient, and equitable future. The annual summit features a full day of programming, including speakers, exhibitors, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, covering a wide range of topics from climate justice and green workforce development to resilient food systems and circular economy practices. MRSS serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, inspiring action and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future in the Midwest.

Shownotes

Shelly Douglas is the Executive Director of Green Columbus, who was recently awarded the 2025 Impact Award from the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit. Since her last appearance, Shelly has broken her tree-planting records for the second year in a row, planting 74,000 seedlings in 2024 and expanding her Columbus City Schools program from 4 to 24 schools with over 650 large trees planted. However, this success story takes a sobering turn as Shelly candidly discusses how Trump's executive orders froze $75,000 in federal grant reimbursements, forcing her small nonprofit to slash their Earth Day program from 74,000 to just 14,000 seedlings. Despite these challenges, the community rallied to support Green Columbus, demonstrating the power of local action in the face of federal policy setbacks. Shelly shares her organization's evolution from a scrappy volunteer-driven operation to a more strategic force in urban forestry, complete with their own truck, consolidated nursery operations, and her new role as a Columbus Tree Subcommissioner. The conversation highlights both the tremendous impact that dedicated individuals can have on their communities and the vulnerability of grassroots environmental work to political winds, while showcasing the resilience and innovation required to keep planting trees and building greener, more equitable communities.

Episode in a glance

- The 2025 Impact Award and Green Columbus's Mission
- Increasing Equitable Tree Canopy Coverage
- Piloting a New School Planting Program
- The Linden Tree Nursery and Community Giveaways
- A New Role as Columbus Tree Subcommissioner
- The Impact of Trump’s Executive Orders
- The Future of Green Columbus

About Shelly Douglas

Shelly Douglas is the Executive Director of Green Columbus, a passionate advocate for community engagement, and a true Green Champion. She is dedicated to building a greener, more resilient Columbus by empowering volunteers, increasing equitable tree canopy coverage, and fostering a sense of community pride.

Connect with Shelly Douglas and Green Columbus

Website → https://www.greencbus.org/

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/greencolumbus

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/green_columbus/

Send us a message!

The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary leaders to share ideas and solutions for a healthier, more resilient, and equitable future. The annual summit features a full day of programming, including speakers, exhibitors, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, covering a wide range of topics from climate justice and green workforce development to resilient food systems and circular economy practices. MRSS serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, inspiring action and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future in the Midwest.

Shownotes

Carol Kauffman is the CEO of the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC). Carol traces the OEC's mission back to its 1969 founding after the Cuyahoga River fire and shares her own path into environmental advocacy through a pivotal experience in Cambodia witnessing deforestation's devastating impact. She explains the OEC's multi-level approach to advocacy, working locally, statewide, and federally to advance environmental protection and community empowerment. The conversation covers OEC's work with Power a Clean Future Ohio, their State House advocacy, executive agency engagement, and efforts to protect Lake Erie and improve water quality. Carol discusses navigating environmental advocacy in today's political climate and emphasizes strategic planning, adaptability, and collaboration. She shares a recent major victory: significant energy policy legislation in Ohio that streamlines project approvals at the Power Siting Board and incentivizes utilities to invest in Advanced Transmission Technology.

A key focus is the Ohio Business Energy Partnership—an unlikely coalition of environmental groups and business leaders advocating for clean energy policy. Carol explains how this cross-sector alliance drives progress at the state level and offers leadership lessons on sharing credit, building authentic relationships, and taking care of your team. She previews her MRSS panel on the Ohio Business Energy Partnership, hoping to inspire similar collaborations and demonstrate the power of working across traditional divides.

Episode in a glance

- Carol’s Path to Environmental Advocacy
- OEC Initiatives
- Challenges Facing Ohio's Environment
- A Win for Energy Policy in Ohio
- The Ohio Business Energy Partnership

About Carol Kauffman

Carol Kauffman is CEO of the Ohio Environmental Council. Her background in international aid and development brings a global perspective to advocating for clean air, safe water, and climate justice in Ohio.

Connect with Carol Kauffman

Website → theoec.org

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-kauffman/

Send us a message!

The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary leaders to share ideas and solutions for a healthier, more resilient, and equitable future. The annual summit features a full day of programming, including speakers, exhibitors, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, covering a wide range of topics from climate justice and green workforce development to resilient food systems and circular economy practices. MRSS serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, inspiring action and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future in the Midwest.

Shownotes

Kristi Eberhardt is the Head of Sustainable Finance at PNC Bank. She explains how financial institutions are driving sustainable change by making green investments more attractive than traditional ones.

Kristi breaks down sustainable finance and how PNC uses financial products to reward environmentally friendly projects. She traces the field's origins to green bonds in 2016 and explains how it's expanded beyond large corporations to include smaller, family-owned, and private businesses. She shares her path into sustainable finance through economic development work and how her son's environmental passion influenced her career direction. Kristi explains PNC's Midwest strategy of tailoring solutions to specific markets and using incentives rather than penalties to drive change. Kristi details how PNC identifies sustainability opportunities by researching client goals, benchmarking against industry peers, and understanding best practices.

She discusses PNC's internal Climate Solutions Partner Program that educates employees and builds cross-department collaboration. Data analytics plays a key role in identifying clients with sustainability goals and starting targeted conversations. Kristi also talks about her work with the Greater Cleveland Partnership's Sustainability Leaders Group and the importance of cross-sector collaboration.

Episode in a glance

- What is Sustainable Finance?
- Kristi's Journey into Sustainable Finance
- PNC's Role in Midwest Sustainable Finance
- PNC's Industry-Agnostic Approach
- Data Analytics and Targeted Client Engagement
- Kristi's Role with the Greater Cleveland Partnership

About Kristi Eberhardt

Kristi Eberhardt is the Head of Sustainable Finance at PNC Bank. She combines capital markets expertise with sustainability passion to help integrate environmental and social factors into financial decisions.

Connect with Kristi Eberhardt

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-ziegler-eberhardt-a282534/

Send us a message!

The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary leaders to share ideas and solutions for a healthier, more resilient, and equitable future. The annual summit features a full day of programming, including speakers, exhibitors, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, covering a wide range of topics from climate justice and green workforce development to resilient food systems and circular economy practices. MRSS serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, inspiring action and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future in the Midwest.

Shownotes

Zack Burns is the hydroponics technician at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. He explains how a pilot hydroponics program is cutting food miles, saving water, and connecting with the community. Zack explains how the zoo's hydroponics program started and why reducing their carbon footprint from animal food was important. He covers the basics of hydroponics—growing plants without soil using nutrient-rich water. The zoo's vertical system sits in two 40-foot shipping containers located off zoo grounds.

The lettuce they grow feeds the giraffes in their visitor feeding program, giving people a direct connection to the zoo's sustainability work. Zack talks about the environmental benefits: no transportation emissions from growing food on-site and better protection against supply chain problems. The program fits into the zoo's zero-waste goals by creating compostable plant waste for their bio-digester. Zack mentions other sustainability projects at the zoo, like their large solar canopy and plans to reach net-zero emissions. He emphasizes working with other zoos, including their partnership with Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and how they help other facilities start similar programs. Zack shares his personal path into hydroponics, his love of growing plants, and how rewarding it is to support both animal care and community education.

Episode in a glance

- The Cincinnati Zoo's Hydroponics Program
- Hydroponics 101
- Benefits of Growing Food On-Site
- Data Collection and Analysis for Sustainability
- Zack’s Journey into Hydroponics
- Getting Involved in Sustainable Agriculture

About Zack Burns

Zack Burns is the hydroponics technician at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, where he combines his passion for plants with his commitment to sustainability.

Connect with Zack Burns and his work

• Cincinnati Zoo Website → https://cincinnatizoo.org/
• Zack on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-burns-b56919134/

Send us a message!

The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary leaders to share ideas and solutions for a healthier, more resilient, and equitable future. The annual summit features a full day of programming, including speakers, exhibitors, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, covering a wide range of topics from climate justice and green workforce development to resilient food systems and circular economy practices. MRSS serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, inspiring action and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future in the Midwest.

Shownotes

Susan VonderHaar is the co-director of the Cincinnati Permaculture Institute and leader of Growing Food Champions. She shares her passion for building local food systems and restoring ecosystems. Susan describes permaculture as a practice, a way of being, and a form of ecological design that marries human creativity with the wisdom of nature. With a background in science, biology, and ecological research, she shares how permaculture provided her with a solutions-oriented approach, shifting her perspective from seeing problems to recognizing opportunities for positive change. She emphasizes the permaculture principle of "the problem is the solution," an assets-based approach to finding answers within the challenges themselves.

Susan contrasts permaculture with traditional industrial farming, highlighting the importance of closed-loop systems and building self-sustaining ecosystems. She explains the concept of a food forest, describing it as a garden that mimics the structure and function of a natural forest, incorporating diverse plant species in multiple layers to create a self-maintaining, productive ecosystem. She discusses how the Growing Food Champions initiative empowers communities to reclaim their health and connection to nature through hands-on permaculture projects, planting edible, medicinal, and native plants in food forests and guilds across the Cincinnati area. Susan also shares insights into selecting appropriate plants for different locations and purposes, considering factors like harvest season, growth habits, and the needs of the local ecosystem.

Episode in a glance

- Permaculture as A Practice, a Way of Being, and a Solution
- Permaculture vs. Traditional Farming
- Food Forests and Guilds
- Growing Food Champions & Building Communities Through Permaculture
- Selecting the Right Plants for Your Food Forest

About Susan VonderHaar

Susan VonderHaar is the co-director of the Cincinnati Permaculture Institute and a passionate advocate for creating sustainable and resilient food systems. With a background in science and ecology, she brings a deep understanding of natural systems to her work in permaculture design and education. Susan's leadership in the Growing Food Champions initiative has empowered countless individuals to connect with nature, grow their own food, and build healthier communities.

Connect with Susan VonderHaar

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/permaculturecincy/

Website → https://cincinnatipermacultureinstitute.org/

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/CincinnatiPermacultureInstitute/

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