The ReNewy Living Podcast: A Sustainability Podcast

44. Backyard Composting on a Do-able Scale with Dr Ernie Harbott from Compost Culture

Composting at home isn’t a new trend. In fact, it’s been around for over 130 years, and is one of the most localised and best ways to keep food waste out of landfill.
In this episode, you’ll learn everything you need to know about backyard composting on a do-able scale, from starting your first pile to knowing exactly what to do with it once it’s ready. 
My guest is Dr Ernie Harbott, founder of Compost Culture and the facebook group Soil Sisters Singleton in NSW. Ernie’s hands-on compost education reaches everyone - from farmers and schools to backyard gardeners and small businesses. 
Her advocacy shows that composting is about more than just what happens in your own backyard. It’s about building a community of people who are dedicated to turning waste into something worth spreading back into the earth.
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at Backyard Composting on a Do-able Scale
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
Welcome to The ReNewy Living Podcast, the show for people who want to live sustainably without the global overwhelm. 
We’re here to lighten your environmental load. We celebrate local sustainability across Australia and connect you to the solutions and people already doing great things for a healthier planet.
Living sustainably starts with good humans like you. People who care about the natural environment, our communities and the everyday spaces we live in.
Each conversation helps you feel reassured that living lighter on the planet is achievable and genuinely feels good to be part of.
Join me, Mardi Lee, as we explore how to consume less, build stronger community connections and thrive in your neighbourhood, wherever you call home.

43. Sewing your Own Clothes: The Power of Yet with Jessie Brent from Made by Me Jessie B

Sewing your own clothes might seem a bit crazy when you can buy every type of clothing at the click of a button. 
But for home sewist, Jessie Brent, from Made by Me Jessie B, whipping out the sewing machine - whether it’s to make something new or to redesign a piece - is second nature. What started out of necessity and cultural expectations, has grown into a real passion, both for sewing and for being part of a slower-fashion community. Jessie volunteers at her local repair cafe, sews with fabrics that would otherwise go to landfill and helps others become confident with the lost skill and art of sewing.
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at Sewing your Own Clothes: The Power of Yet
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
Welcome to The ReNewy Living Podcast, the show for people who want to live sustainably without the global overwhelm. 
We’re here to lighten your environmental load. We celebrate local sustainability across Australia and connect you to the solutions and people already doing great things for a healthier planet.
Living sustainably starts with good humans like you. People who care about the natural environment, our communities and the everyday spaces we live in.
Each conversation helps you feel reassured that living lighter on the planet is achievable and genuinely feels good to be part of.
Join me, Mardi Lee, as we explore how to consume less, build stronger community connections and thrive in your neighbourhood, wherever you call home.

42. This is Not a Shoe: Giving Footwear a Reconstructed Life with Pennie Jagiello and Dr Alexandra Sherlock

Instead of throwing shoes away, one project is encouraging us to think differently about your favourite pair of shoes.
In this episode, I’m joined by two shoe-loving and curious people. Dr Alex Sherlock is a fashion design lecturer & founder of the Footwear Research Network. Together with artist and contemporary jeweller Pennie Jagiello they lead the This is not a Shoe Project. 
Our conversation is about all things shoes, their place in sustainability and fashion, and what happens to beloved shoes when they reach the end of their wearable life.
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at This is Not a Shoe: Giving Footwear a Reconstructed Life
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
Welcome to The ReNewy Living Podcast, the show for people who want to live sustainably without the global overwhelm. 
We’re here to lighten your environmental load. We celebrate local sustainability across Australia and connect you to the solutions and people already doing great things for a healthier planet.
Living sustainably starts with good humans like you. People who care about the natural environment, our communities and the everyday spaces we live in.
Each conversation helps you feel reassured that living lighter on the planet is achievable and genuinely feels good to be part of.
Join me, Mardi Lee, as we explore how to consume less, build stronger community connections and thrive in your neighbourhood, wherever you call home.

41. It Takes a Village to Build a Sustainable Home, with Rita Ordónez and James Le Compte from Shepherd's Ground Eco Village

In this episode, we’re stepping outside the traditional building box to explore how it really can take a village to build a sustainable home.
My guests are Rita Ordóez and James Le Compte from Shepherd’s Ground, an eco village and farm in Butterwick NSW. Inspired by Rita’s upbringing and a shared desire to tread lightly on the planet, they’re aim was to build a healthy, eco-friendly family home. 
Their journey - featured on ABC’s Grand Designs Australia - revealed the grit and challenges that come with DIY building. Now settled into their finished home, Rita and James share their experiences of building an intentional and sustainable home.
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at It Takes a Village to Build a Sustainable Home
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
Welcome to The ReNewy Living Podcast, the show for people who want to live sustainably without the global overwhelm. 
We’re here to lighten your environmental load. We celebrate local sustainability across Australia and connect you to the solutions and people already doing great things for a healthier planet.
Living sustainably starts with good humans like you. People who care about the natural environment, our communities and the everyday spaces we live in.
Each conversation helps you feel reassured that living lighter on the planet is achievable and genuinely feels good to be part of.
Join me, Mardi Lee, as we explore how to consume less, build stronger community connections and thrive in your neighbourhood, wherever you call home.

40. Working Together to Shop Local, Support Local with Ash Watt from Why Leave Town

In rural and regional towns across Australia, it’s easier than ever to spend money with big corporations. Especially when gift cards are sold in the local post office or supermarket. But that convenience comes at a cost, because it means local businesses miss out on the support they need, to keep their community thriving.
In this episode, I’m chatting with Ash Watt, co-founder of Why Leave Town, a business that started when Ash moved back to his hometown of Narrabri, NSW. Seeing how much money was leaving the local economy, Ashley came up with a simple idea. A community gift card program, designed to help keep spending local and the money circulating in the region.
This conversation is about what shopping locally really means in a modern, digital world, and why small businesses remain the backbone of strong, connected and sustainable communities. 
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at Working Together to Shop Local, Support Local
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
If global environmental problems feel overwhelming, you’re in the right place! The ReNewy Living Podcast is an Australian environmental sustainability podcast for eco-minded people who care about the planet and want relatable ways to make a meaningful difference in their homes and communities.
We believe living sustainably is easier when you start where you live. Each episode shares positive stories about people, places and projects leading the way in communities across Australia. 
Discover localised ways to live sustainably, with practical ideas to reduce consumption, care for local places and feel connected to a sustainably-minded community for healthier people and a healthier planet.
This podcast exists to make sustainability feel human, hopeful and community-focused. It’s our way of connecting you with a network of people and ideas through authentic stories and local solutions that are achievable and genuinely good to be part of.
Tune in weekly for around 30 minutes of thoughtful, conversational and inspiring episodes that bring you closer to a more intentional, “together we can” approach to sustainable living.

39. Looking after the Ocean to Look after the Earth with Rhi Mitchell from Saltwater Sistas

In this episode, I’d love you to meet Rhi Mitchell, a proud Mununjali woman, marine scientist, and founder of Saltwater Sistas, and based in Coffs Harbour along coastal NSW. Rhi combines wellbeing, leadership and science to inspire change and protect our oceans and environment for future generations.
In our chat, we talk about how caring for Country starts with understanding our connection to the land and water…and how that connection influences our wellbeing. We’ll also explore the rhythms of nature and how they guide us to treading a little lighter on the planet.
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at Looking after the Ocean to Look after the Earth.
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
If global environmental problems feel overwhelming, you’re in the right place! The ReNewy Living Podcast is an Australian environmental sustainability podcast for eco-minded people who care about the planet and want practical, relatable ways to make a meaningful difference in their homes and communities.
We believe living sustainably is easier when you start where you live. Each episode shares positive stories about people, places and projects leading the way in communities across Australia. 
Discover localised ways to live sustainably, with practical ideas to reduce consumption, care for local places and feel connected to a sustainably-minded community for healthier people and a healthier planet.
This podcast exists to make sustainability feel human, hopeful and community-focused. It’s our way of connecting you with a network of people and ideas through authentic stories and local solutions that are achievable and genuinely good to be part of.
Tune in weekly for around 30 minutes of thoughtful, conversational and inspiring episodes that bring you closer to a more intentional, “together we can” approach to sustainable living.

38. When Sustainable Floristry Means a Return to Simplicity with Bec Humpris from Not Just a Pretty Flower

We’ve become so used to having flowers available year-round, that we rarely stop to think about where they come from, or what happens to the packaging and the presentation waste.
In this episode, I’d love you to meet Bec Humphris, florist and founder of Sydney-based florist Not Just a Pretty Flower. Her business exists to inspire and nurture reconnection to nature. She’s a proud member of the Sustainable Floristry Network and applies sustainable floristry design and principles in her work. 
This conversation is about the importance of collaboration and good communication across every part of a business. And how that shared care, passion and collaboration… positively impacts the joy that flowers bring to all of your senses. We’ll also explore what choosing better, more sustainable flowers really means. You’ll find out that there’s so much more to floristry than a pretty flower on the table.
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at When Sustainable Floristry Means a Return to Simplicity
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
If global environmental problems feel overwhelming, you’re in the right place! The ReNewy Living Podcast is an Australian environmental sustainability podcast for eco-minded people who care about the planet and want practical, relatable ways to make a meaningful difference in their homes and communities.
We believe living sustainably is easier when you start where you live. Each episode shares positive stories about people, places and projects leading the way in communities across Australia. 
Discover localised ways to live sustainably, with practical ideas to reduce consumption, care for local places and feel connected to a sustainably-minded community for healthier people and a healthier planet.
This podcast exists to make sustainability feel human, hopeful and community-focused. It’s our way of connecting you with a network of people and ideas through authentic stories and local solutions that are achievable and genuinely good to be part of.
Tune in weekly for around 30 minutes of thoughtful, conversational and inspiring episodes that bring you closer to a more intentional, “together we can” approach to sustainable living.

37. When a Recycled Timber Yard is Built with Kindness with Shaun Oldfield from Coastal Recycled Building

The building and construction industry takes up a huge chunk of the total waste generated in NSW and across Australia, far more than what comes from our everyday household rubbish bins. When a building comes down, so many materials are left behind. But where do they all go?
The good news, there are great solutions for recycling in construction and in this episode, we’re delving a little deeper into one solution.
I’d love you to meet Shaun Oldfield from Coastal Recycled Building on the Central Coast of NSW. After an unexpected career shift from hotel management to recycled building supplies, Shaun loves being part of a team that’s passionate about showing the value in giving building and construction materials a second life. 
In our conversation, we chat about the community who uses recycled materials, how sustainable living can begin with something as simple as a personal hobby, and why there’s so much potential in looking at waste differently.
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at When a Recycled Timber Yard is Built with Kindness.
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
The ReNewy Living Podcast celebrates local sustainability by connecting you with the stories of people, places and projects from communities across Australia. 
Our sustainability podcast encourages a wholistic understanding of what living lighter on the planet means. We'd like to see a world where communities, resources, and nature thrive together—where sustainable living 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 social and environmental impact.

36. Is There Such a Thing as an Ethical Tree Arborist? with Sam Hardingham from Everyday Arbor

When most people think of arborists…they think of chainsaws, wood chippers, and tree removals for “safety reasons” or “potential fire hazard.”
In this episode, I’d love you to meet Sam Hardingham, founder of Newcastle-based business Everyday Arbor. An experienced arborist, Sam is challenging that narrow view of what it means to be an arborist. His goal is to keep as many trees standing in our local environment as possible.
Rather than chasing profit by saying yes to every tree removal request, Sam is putting trees first. We talk about the role trees play in our neighbourhoods, the risks versus the benefits they bring, and how their presence connects us to the bigger picture of balancing urbanisation with environmental sustainability.
This episode is a reminder that trees come with issues and risks in suburbia, but should these risks outweigh the benefits of trees?
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at Is there such a thing as an ethical tree arborist?
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
The ReNewy Living Podcast celebrates local sustainability by connecting you with the stories of people, places and projects from communities across Australia. 
Our sustainability podcast encourages a wholistic understanding of what living lighter on the planet means. We'd like to see a world where communities, resources, and nature thrive together—where sustainable living 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 social and environmental impact.

35. Choosing to Build a Passive House Standard Home with ReNewy Living Community Member Jess Bollinger

Choosing to knock down and rebuild a house is a big decision. But instead of a standard project home, what happens when you choose a passive house - a design built for comfort, efficiency, and sustainability?
In this episode, I’d love you to meet ReNewy Living community member Jess Bollinger from Lake Macquarie, NSW. Jess works in environmental sustainability for her day job, yet finds most meaning in making everyday choices that matter—for her family, her place, and her community.
We talk about her family’s journey to live lighter on the planet, what sustainable housing in a temperate climate means to her, and how her decision to build a passive house offers ideas and inspiration for your own lasting impact.
A summary, plus the links and photos of the pieces discussed in this episode are found here at Choosing to Build a Passive House Standard Home
The ReNewy Living Podcast is hosted by Mardi Lee, founder of ReNewy Living...
The ReNewy Living Podcast celebrates local sustainability by connecting you with the stories of people, places and projects from communities across Australia. 
Our sustainability podcast encourages a wholistic understanding of what living lighter on the planet means. We'd like to see a world where communities, resources, and nature thrive together—where sustainable living 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 social and environmental impact.