The ReNewy Living Podcast

How a Native Plant Nursery Protects Local Biodiversity

Are you looking to create a garden that's beautiful, low-maintenance and good for the planet? We'll dig into why choosing plants from your local area makes a big difference not just for your garden, but for the natural environment too.
In this episode, I'm chatting with Emma Graham from Trees in Newcastle. They're a non-profit that's been around since 1989 and are dedicated to protecting and promoting native vegetation specific to the Hunter region.
A summary, plus the links from this episode are found here: How a Native Plant Nursery Protects Local Biodiversity
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
The ReNewy Living Podcast helps uncomplicate sustainability by connecting you with local knowledge, practices, and actions that fit your lifestyle—making it easier for everyone to contribute to lasting collective change.
Our podcast encourages an holistic understanding of what living lighter on the planet means. We'd like to see a world where communities, resources, and nature thrive together—where sustainability is a part of everyday life, to ensure fairness and care for people and place.
Each episode encourages critical thinking, inspires action, and connects you with like-minded communities to help you thrive locally.
Based in Newcastle NSW Australia, we share diverse voices and stories, starting with local issues… and the solutions towards a positive environmental impact.

15. Flipping the Concept of Supermarket Shopping

Do you ever feel frustrated that the traditional large supermarket model isn't working for you anymore? 
In this episode, I'm chatting with Jayne Travers-Drapes, founder of Box Divvy. They're flipping the concept of how we think about fruit and veg shopping by changing the way your purchasing power works. Their un-supermarketing approach is all about supporting local communities and cutting down on food waste. Let's find out about this fresh approach to eating well and doing good.
A summary, plus the links from this episode are found here: Flipping the Concept of Supermarket Shopping
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
The ReNewy Living Podcast helps uncomplicate sustainability by connecting you with local knowledge, practices, and actions that fit your lifestyle—making it easier for everyone to contribute to lasting collective change.
Our podcast encourages an holistic understanding of what living lighter on the planet means. We'd like to see a world where communities, resources, and nature thrive together—where sustainability is a part of everyday life, to ensure fairness and care for people and place.
Each episode encourages critical thinking, inspires action, and connects you with like-minded communities to help you thrive locally
Based in Newcastle NSW Australia, we share diverse voices and stories, starting with local issues… and the solutions towards a positive environmental impact.

14. What Makes Natural Deodorant Great?

In this episode, I chat with Phoebe and Aaron Breckell, the founders of Woohoo Body. Based in Newcastle, but known across the country, they’ve created a natural deodorant and skincare company that’s making a big difference to the planet, giving you a healthy deodorant that works.
A summary, plus the links from this episode are found here: What Makes Natural Deodorant Great?
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
The ReNewy Living Podcast helps uncomplicate sustainability by connecting you with local knowledge, practices, and actions that fit your lifestyle—making it easier for everyone to contribute to lasting collective change.
Our podcast encourages an holistic understanding of what living lighter on the planet means. We'd like to see a world where communities, resources, and nature thrive together—where sustainability is a part of everyday life, to ensure fairness and care for people and place.
Each episode encourages critical thinking, inspires action, and connects you with like-minded communities to help you thrive locally
Based in Newcastle NSW Australia, we share diverse voices and stories, starting with local issues… and the solutions towards a positive environmental impact.

13. Why Fair Trade Matters

In this episode, I’m joined by Yvie Scott, fashion entrepreneur and founder of Aware: The Social Design Project. Yvie launched her Fair Trade business to create meaningful change through ethical fashion and social justice. We explore what it means to run a values-driven business, why supporting communities is her passion, and how Fair Trade can inspire meaningful change.
Blogpost and links from this episode are found here: Why Fair Trade Matters
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
The ReNewy Living Podcast simplifies sustainability by helping you confidently take small, meaningful actions that suit your lifestyle - for lasting collective change.
Our podcast encourages a holistic understanding of living lighter and its impact on people and the planet. We aim to inspire action, give practical guidance, encourage critical thinking, and connect you with like-minded communities to help you thrive locally and drive collective impact. Based in Newcastle NSW Australia, we share diverse voices and stories, starting with local issues… and solutions towards positive environmental impact.

12. Balancing Collective Living with Individual Ideas

Living in an intentional eco village such as Shepherd’s Farm has an overarching common goal of living smart and simply. Based on a rural property outside of Maitland NSW it would seem that the challenges of living a lighter footprint lifestyle would be the same for everyone. However, even though there’s the common goal of living sustainably, there’s plenty of scope for residents to individualise what sustainability means to them. 
Sally Maguire, resident of Shepherd’s Farm shares her insights of what it’s like to live in an eco village, also known as a land share community.
Blogpost and links from this episode are found here: Balancing Collective Living with Individual Ideas
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
The ReNewy Living Podcast simplifies sustainability by helping you confidently take small, meaningful actions that suit your lifestyle - for lasting collective change.
Our podcast encourages a holistic understanding of living lighter and its impact on people and the planet. We aim to inspire action, give practical guidance, encourage critical thinking, and connect you with like-minded communities to help you thrive locally and drive collective impact. Based in Newcastle NSW Australia, we share diverse voices and stories, starting with local issues… and solutions towards positive environmental impact.

11. Closing the Loop on Food Waste

Unlike the availability of recycling and general rubbish collections, commercial kitchens face big challenges with their food waste.
David Sivyer is the founder of Feedback Organic, an organisation focused on reducing food waste from food-based businesses. Starting in Newcastle as a grassroots initiative, Feedback Organic aims to create community-inclusive circular food systems that scale.
Blogpost and links from this episode are found here: Closing the Loop on Food Waste
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
The ReNewy Living Podcast simplifies sustainability by helping you confidently take small, meaningful actions that suit your lifestyle - for lasting collective change.
Our podcast encourages a holistic understanding of living lighter and its impact on people and the planet. We aim to inspire action, give practical guidance, encourage critical thinking, and connect you with like-minded communities to help you thrive locally and drive collective impact. Based in Newcastle NSW Australia, we share diverse voices and stories, starting with local issues… and solutions towards positive environmental impact.

10. A Sustainable Clothing Journey: From Farm to Fibre

When you buy clothes off the rack, you're buying the final product. The care tag might tell you the basic information - what it’s made of, where it was made and even where it was designed. But decades of globalised production have left us disconnected from our clothes and the journey it takes to get to us.
Rebecca Muscat from Three Muscats Fibre Farm in Singleton, Hunter Valley is a passionate textile and fibre artist. As a first-generation small farm owner , she’s deeply connected to every step of her craft. Her family cares for the animals whose wool is the basis of her clothing creations.
Rebecca’s story reminds us that behind every piece of clothing, there’s a process, a history, and, in her case, a whole lot of heart.
Blogpost and links from this episode are found here: A Sustainable Clothing Journey: From Farm to Fibre
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living https://renewyliving.com.au/
The ReNewy Living Podcast simplifies sustainability - to help you make the best decisions for your lifestyle so you can take small, meaningful actions for positive change.
Our podcast encourages a holistic understanding of living lighter and its impact on people and the planet. We aim to inspire action, give practical guidance, encourage critical thinking, and connect you with like-minded communities to help you thrive locally and drive collective impact. Based in Newcastle NSW Australia, we share diverse voices and stories, starting with local issues… and solutions towards positive environmental impact.

9. Less Plastic Toys for More Sustainable Play

If you have young kids, do you feel your house has been overtaken by too many toys? Toys that are battery operated, have all the bells and whistles or serve only one purpose. Bringing us good news about the value of less plastic toys for more sustainable play are two highly experienced early childhood educators from Caves Beach Uniting Preschool, Michelle Ryan and Raquel Ayerst. At the heart of their preschool practice is sustainability, social justice and creativity.
Blogpost and links from this episode are found here: https://renewyliving.com.au/less-plastic-toys-for-more-sustainable-play/
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living https://renewyliving.com.au/
The ReNewy Living Podcast simplifies sustainability - to help you make the best decisions for your lifestyle so you can take small, meaningful actions for positive change.
Our podcast encourages a holistic understanding of living lighter and its impact on people and the planet. We aim to inspire action, give practical guidance, encourage critical thinking, and connect you with like-minded communities to help you thrive locally and drive collective impact. Based in Newcastle NSW Australia, we share diverse voices and stories, starting with local issues… and solutions towards positive environmental impact.

8. Repair Cafes Help to Fix, Mend & Connect

Rather than stockpiling your growing needs-to-be-repaired collection at the back of the garage, consider taking it to your local repair cafe. Repair cafes are dedicated to helping you extend the life of your belongings. Thanks to local volunteers, Sam Doove and Gabrielle Clappison, places like the Lake Mac Repair Cafe ensure your items get a second chance, lasting for many more days and years to come.
For the blogpost and links mentioned in this episode, head to https://renewyliving.com.au/repair-cafes-help-to-fix-mend-connect/
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living https://renewyliving.com.au/
ReNewy Living empowers people in local communities who want to live sustainably, to take a values-aligned approach for an abundantly good & happy lifestyle. In fact, we increase your standard of living, help to reduce your consumption, increase connections to community and help you thrive within your local area. ReNewy Living is grounded in Newcastle, Australia.

7. Natural Soap Making Inspired by Nature

Have you ever thought about how your soap is made? Soap making has been around for thousands of years, but the rise of industrialisation, globalisation, and cluey marketing means we've lost that connection with real soap ingredients and soap making. Someone who does know what's in her soap is Mel Magill from Honeybee House Skin Co. Mel's a Lake Mac soap maker who uses the cold soap making process to produce soap that's beneficial, not just for your body, but also the planet.
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living https://renewyliving.com.au/
ReNewy Living empowers people in local communities who want to live sustainably, to take a values-aligned approach for an abundantly good & happy lifestyle. In fact, we increase your standard of living, help to reduce your consumption, increase connections to community and help you thrive within your local area. ReNewy Living is grounded in Newcastle, Australia.