The ReNewy Living Podcast

Hello, I’m Mardi Lee, and welcome to The ReNewy Living Podcast!

Renovating your home is exciting—but it can also be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to make sustainable short and long-term choices. Is it possible to create your dream design without a massive environmental footprint? 

That’s exactly what we’re talking about with my guest Natalie Van de Merwe from On Home Ground. Natalie’s an eco architect who specialises ...

Hello, my name's Mardi Lee and Welcome to The ReNewy Living Podcast!

Retrofitting your home for energy efficiency can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s less exciting or visible than other reno upgrades. But when it comes to home comfort and savings, it’s what’s on the inside that counts!

The simplest ways to improve your home's efficiency are often best shared by someone who isn’t trying to sell you something. That’s where m...

Hello, I’m Mardi Lee, and welcome to The ReNewy Living Podcast!

Ever wondered whether community gardens are there just for veggie growing? In this episode, you’ll hear how one local community garden is evolving from a growing food-only garden to becoming a biodiversity haven.

Joining me is Katie Ryan from The Groundswell Collective. Katie’s role at The Shelley Street Community Garden is helping guide the garden from purely food pro...

Newcastle, like much of Australia’s coastline, is known for its golden sand beaches and beautiful ocean swimming. However, once you’re at the beach, you see pieces of rubbish amongst the grains of sand and seaweed. You can’t unsee the problem that you know threatens wildlife and mars the beauty of your beach.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Marina DeBris, a Lake Macquarie artist who creates visual story installations to highligh...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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. 

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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 ...

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-g...

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 sustainab...

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 me...

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, ...

You frequently hear the phrase “circular economy” from governments and businesses. But do you know what it really means from a local community perspective? Sharing their perspective are Thomas Michel and Bianca Bartlett from the Newcastle nonprofit startup, The Full Circle Collective.

For the blogpost and links mentioned in this episode, head to https://renewyliving.com.au/circular-economy-from-a-localised-perspective/

The ReNewy L...

Walking in for a waxing treatment, tinting or facial at a sustainable beauty salon has all the benefits of going to a normal beauty salon. But by far the greatest benefit is knowing that a beauty salon who cares about your skin and body also cares deeply about our planet. 

Emma Summerhayes is a local Newcastle business owner from Slow Skin Co. She is serious about looking after your body by using natural skincare, choosing local pr...

Community gardens are green spaces that serve a purpose beyond simply growing fresh food. They're about cultivating connections and are a rich solution to tackling big issues. Today we're joined by Adrian Garner from Smokva Community Garden in Wickham. Adrian shares his local knowledge and experience on how community gardens are more than just a space for plants. 

For the blogpost and links mentioned in this episode, head to https:...

Pressure washers are excellent for your big outside jobs, but after that once in a blue moon cleaning event, they're bulky to store and can seem like money down the (Karchered) drain. But it's places like The Share Shop in Newcastle that helps you rethink whether you need or actually want to own goods you rarely use.

For the blogpost and links mentioned in this episode, head to https://renewyliving.com.au/the-library-of-things-red...

Two people who know about running successful op shops are Lifeline retail employees, Dalys Harper and David Ison. They explain how op shops are better for your budget and the planet as well as how supporting preloved first has a positive impact in your community. Behind the Op Shop Donation Door When you're decluttering the house or having a clear out, donating to your local op shop is a great first choice. Donating your stuff give...