Woven with stories, critical questions, and a down-to-earth approach to process, the Mindful Consuming podcast intends to encourage us all to dive deeper as we more fully recognize our impacts as consumers. Hosted by Ruth True, these conversations will feature community members and businesses of all backgrounds in hopes of shedding light on our varied journeys and the roles we can all play in building our collective mindfulness. The MC series exists to strengthen our resolve, positively nudge us in the right direction, and be a support to a growing community of conscious consumers. We look forward to engaging with you, learning together, peeling back the layers to see where we are, and identifying where we need to go next.

Currently available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts.




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Episode 15: Curiosity & Consumption feat. Martellus Bennett, Mich Stevenson & Kristen Albrecht

Curiosity & Consumption is the second panel discussion hosted by Michael and Ruth at the Seattle Design Festival.   In this conversation Martellus Bennett, Mich Stevenson, and Kristen Albrecht share about the many ways curiosity guides them on their respective paths.  Martellus explores the arenas of imaginative play and representation in both his artwork and the stories he tells, Kristen talks about her ongoing pursuits of building an independent sustainable apparel brand, and Mich reflects on a number of impactful projects he is helping lead and support — particularly his ongoing project with Houston’s historic Freedmen’s Town.  This panel’s dialogue demonstrates that it is vital that we all keep asking questions and exploring how we can make a positive impact, as we all have our parts to play in facilitating progress for our communities.

About the panel…

Martellus Bennett is the founder and Chief Creative Officer at TOMONOSH! i + d LAB.  He has a diverse background spanning film, animation, television, music, and furniture design and seamlessly blends play, design, research, art, and technology into his multi-disciplinary artistic endeavors.

Mich Stevenson is a Houston-based artist, curator and creative entrepreneur.  Stevenson’s expertise spans several fields, including sculpture, outdoor product design, manufacturing, community organizing, and art-related project management.  His creative practice utilizes public art, site-specific installations, technical drawing, design, photography, and writing.  His sculptural works were featured in Ruby City’s presentation of the 2021 Texas Biennial, Houston Airport Systems’ permanent collection of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and Project Row Houses.  Additionally, he manages the multi-year partnership with the City of Houston, Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy, Houston African American History & Research Center, Freedmen's Town Association, Rebuild Foundation and Studio KER dedicated to rebirth of Historic Houston Freedmen's Town.

Kristen Albrecht is the President and Co-Founder of Nube, a sustainable apparel brand.  She is also the Chief Sustainability Officer & Co-Founder of Ravel, a textile-to-textile recycling startup.  Kristen has an MBA in Sustainable Solutions from Presidio Graduate School and her work focuses on sustainable apparel, local manufacturing and sourcing, intentional business strategy, and the circular economy.
Episode 14: CLT, The Present & Potential feat. Susan Jones, Rico Quirindongo & Ethan Martin

CLT, The Present & Potential is the first panel discussion that Ruth and Michael hosted during the Seattle Design Festival.  Featured guests were Susan Jones, Rico Quirindongo, and Ethan Martin and the conversation includes insight into each of their design journeys.  The panel discusses the work that has been done so far around CLT, while providing some ideas about the direction we can all go for the future.  Topics included building lifespan comparisons, the medical benefits of being exposed to natural materials, the power and privilege of education, access disparities, the necessity of pursuing equity in design teaching, and more.

About the panel…

Susan Jones, FAIA, is a renowned CLT architect and national leader in the mass timber community.  Susan is the founder of architecture and urban design firm Atelier Jones, which entwines design, research, and community engagement to create projects of urban reclamation of sites, buildings, materials, waste, and ways of living.  Jones’s work has been recognized by numerous national, regional, and local design awards, including an AIA National Honor Award.

Rico Quirindongo is the Director of Seattle’s Office of Planning & Community Development and his work often closes the gap between urban development and community needs.  He is a past president of the American Institute of Architects Seattle Chapter, former mayoral appointee to the Historic Seattle Council, and founding member of the National Organization of Minority Architects Northwest Chapter.  Needless to say, Rico is a relentless advocate for empowering communities to have a positive influence through design.

Ethan Martin, PE, is an engineer with DCI Engineers, Associate Principal & Director of Sustainability & Mass Timber Portland, and co-founder of the International Mass Timber Conference with Forest Business Network in Portland (now one of the leading mass timber conferences in the world). Having helped develop CLT in the US, Ethan assists general contractors with mass timber constructibility and works with architects on construction types and acoustics to create exciting projects for clients. Ethan also collaborated with state officials in Oregon to set up the permitting process for tall mass timber buildings, which helped develop the prototype buildings creating the Type IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C construction types that allowed for mass timber up to 18 stories.
Episode 13: April Pride

An entrepreneur and a visionary as well as an advocate for women who make unorthodox choices, April Pride is making her mark for good in the cannabis world.  Her first cannabis brand, Van der Pop, published 2017’s Women & Weed survey — the industry’s first comprehensive report on the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors of 1,500 North American women.  The success of Van der Pop led to the company being acquired by Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC) in 2018.  

Upon her exit from Canopy in 2019, she created, co-founded, and served as the inaugural host of How to Do the Pot podcast. Today, April is the creator & host of The High Guide, a podcast about women changing their lives thanks to altered states. Concurrent with her work at The High Guide, she is the CEO/Founder at Of Like Minds, a portfolio of women-founded companies in which she’s invested and advises.  April is also included on the High Times Female 50 inaugural list.  Before her formal pursuits in the cannabis world, April had a career as an interior and product designer.

On this episode of Mindful Consuming, April talks to us about her journey, breaks down the power of effectively using THC and CBD together, and discusses the continually growing potential for psychedelics to positively impact our lives.  Her overall approach to openness is inspiring, encouraging us all to broaden our approach to healing and leisure.
Episode 12: Becca Stevens

Becca Stevens is a speaker, justice entrepreneur, author, priest, and founder and President of Thistle Farms.  Starting in 1997 with a single home for survivors of trafficking and addiction, Thistle Farms is now a global movement for women’s freedom. Today the Nashville flagship includes a residential program that serves as a national model for women’s recovery, and three justice social enterprises that provide jobs to survivors — amounting to $4M in earned income last year. Stevens developed the Thistle National Network to provide tools, workshops, and conferences to support young organizations wanting to follow its holistic recovery model and there are now 92 organizations providing over 500 beds to survivors in its network. She also created Thistle Farms Global Shared Trade which supports 1,400 artisan survivors through 39 partners in 21 countries.

Becca has been featured on PBS NewsHour, The Today Show, CNN, ABC World News, was named a CNN Hero and White House Champion of Change, holds five honorary doctorates, and raised over $75M in funding for justice initiatives. Drawn from 25 years of leadership in mission-driven work, Becca leads important conversations across the country with an inspiring message that love is the strongest force for change in the world.

Becca joins Mindful Consuming to talk about her passionate journey and the boundless potential for healing, especially within the supply chain — of course, with love being the anchor every step of the way.
Episode 11: Sister Love feat. Molly Van Nostrand
Most of my few podcasts start with a pretty standard bio so you can get to know my guest. This one is different. This is my sister. While she’s owned a frame shop and a printing store and worked for many large and small companies, her relevant bio here is kicking my ass growing up!  Yes, the big sister… smarter, taller, prettier, funnier… until these silly er’s meant nothing.  For most of our life, she’s been the supportive, banter-loving side kick I could not imagine living without.  Molly is also the amazing mother of my ass-kicking nieces Jenny and Hannah (although Hannah has yet to listen to one of the podcasts because it’s my voice…hmmmm).  I wanted to do a family recording to give you some insight into our impacts as family members… and have some fun while doing it with Negronis in hand.  As a bonus, my lovely niece Jenny was able to pop in to add her perspective on family dynamics and how she navigates decisions that support her values.  Cheers!
Episode 10: Matt Dillon
Matt Dillon is a farmer, timber framer, chef and former restaurant owner living with his family and working on a small island in the Puget Sound southwest of Seattle, WA.  He opened his first restaurant, Sitka & Spruce in 2006, and followed it with The Corson Building, Bar Ferdinand, Bar Sajor, The London Plane and Copal.  Matt has been nominated multiple times by the James Beard Foundation, winning for Best Chef NW in 2012.  In addition, he raises animals and vegetables on his terrestrial farm property, The Old Chaser Farm, as well as shellfish on his aquatic farm “Little Otter” on Colvos Passage, Vashon Island.
Episode 9: Seth Grizzle
Seth Grizzle is an architect turned furniture and lighting designer and conceptual artist. His award-winning conceptual design studio, graypants, creates products, architecture, and custom installations, among other things, working in various mediums as well as discarded/reclaimed materials.
Episode 8: Crystal C. Hall
Crystal C. Hall is an associate professor of public policy and governance and adjunct associate professor of psychology at the University of Washington.  Her research pursues the integration of psychology into the design and implementation of social policy.
Episode 7: Dominic Muren
Dominic Muren is founder and principal of The Humblefactory, a design laboratory in Seattle, Washington which develops tools and technologies that increase the capabilities of Makers around the world.
Episode 6: Joe Whinney
Joe Whinney, the Founder and former CEO of Theo Chocolate (North America’s first organic and fair-trade chocolate maker), joins this episode to share his story and how his passion for building ethical business began.
Episode 5: Michael Bennett
Seahawks legend, social activist, and aspiring architecture graduate Michael Bennett (@mosesbread72) graciously takes time out of his busy finals week for this episode.
Episode 4: C.J. Emmons & Jeff Miller
Los Angeles musician friends @cj_emmons and @jeffmillerla visit Vashon for an island getaway to connect and chat about their evolving views of consumption.
Episode 3: Leslie Mackie
Leslie Mackie, founder of @macrinabakery, joins to talk about her entrepreneurial journey over the last 30 years.
Episode 2: Music Consumption Feat. Lauren McShane & Dave Dederer
For this episode, Lauren McShane (Portland Cello Project) and Dave Dederer (Presidents of the United States of America) — musicians from different backgrounds and eras — join to discuss their thoughts on modern music consumption.
Episode 1 with Margo Tantau
Ruth starts her new podcast series by sitting down to chat with her friend and fellow Vashon Island resident Margo Tantau of Tantau Studio and the lovely @windowsillchats podcast.
Episode 0: Introduction to Mindful Consuming