Sustainability Crash Course with Environmentalist Leah Thomas

Sustainability Crash Course with Environmentalist Leah Thomas

Author: Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness April 23, 2025 Duration: 44:01
Leah Thomas, author of The Intersectional Environmentalist, stopped by Getting Better to help us get a grip on how we can be sustainable from home, understand why environmental justice IS social justice, and why joy should be at the center of all activism. Leah Thomas is an award-winning environmentalist based in Los Angeles. A passionate advocate for the often-overlooked intersection between social justice, environmentalism, and culture, her work is shaped through the lens of eco-feminism. She is the author of the bestselling The Intersectional Environmentalist, a widely taught resource in university classrooms nationwide. In 2024, Leah founded Green Girl Productions, a media company that produces cultural and community events around environmental and social issues across the country. She is the founder of Intersectional Environmentalist, a groundbreaking non-profit and resource hub, where she currently serves as a board member. Beyond her advocacy, she has also lent her expertise as a climate solutions consultant for major companies like Apple. As a leading voice in the environmental space, Leah understands how to enact tangible change on a community and societal level by making environmentalism both digestible and accessible. Recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 List and TIME100 NEXT, Leah is an established public speaker who has presented on prestigious stages including Dreamforce, TED, and Aspen Ideas. In her free time, Leah finds creative expression through crafting as an act of self-care and community-building, and to inspire her audience to embrace more sustainable, hands-on practices. Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube. You can follow Leah Thomas on Instagram @greengirlleah. Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor, engineer, & videographer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is composed by Chris McClure & Nathanael McClure Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know that feeling when you’re just trying to figure it all out, and you need a guide who’s equal parts insightful and hilarious? That’s the space where Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness lives. Hosted by the beloved Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye, this podcast turns genuine curiosity into a powerful engine for personal growth. Each episode feels like a vibrant conversation with a deeply empathetic friend who isn’t afraid to ask the big, awkward, or wonderfully silly questions. Jonathan sits down with a diverse array of experts, authors, and thinkers, weaving together discussions that are as enlightening as they are unexpectedly funny. The result is a unique blend of education, comedy, and culture that tackles everything from societal issues to the intimate details of self-improvement. You’ll find yourself laughing one moment and having a profound revelation the next, all while feeling less alone in the challenges of modern life. This isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about the ongoing, messy, and beautiful process of understanding ourselves and the world. Produced in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, the podcast delivers consistently engaging audio experiences that are both a lifeline and a joy. Tune in for a weekly dose of warmth, wit, and the kind of conversations that leave you feeling genuinely better equipped to navigate your own path.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness
Podcast Episodes
Do Beauty Standards Need A Glow Up? (ICYMI) with David Yi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:11
As we wind down for the year, we’re re-releasing one more essential beauty episode from the Getting Curious archives! Jonathan and David Yi celebrate the history of gender-inclusive beauty, and spotlight beauty influence…
Hair Variation, What’s Her Story? (ICYMI) with Dr. Tina Lasisi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:11
This holiday break, we’re re-releasing two gorgeous beauty episodes from the Getting Curious archives! First up, join Dr. Tina Lasisi—a biological anthropologist studying human hair—and Jonathan as they explore the evolu…
How Stunning Are Our Listeners? with Jonathan Van Ness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:54
For our last new episode of the year, we’re turning the mic on the Getting Curious community. Jonathan is answering your questions about all things hair—including dry shampoo, hair loss, highlights, and staying sleek whi…
Does Groundwater Go With The Flow? with Dr. Marsha K. Allen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:32
There’s a world of curiosity just below street level, and this week, we’re taking the plunge with a truly glam academic! Dr. Marsha K. Allen joins Jonathan to discuss fractured rock aquifers, sinkholes, and her groundbre…
How Can We Show Up For Mutual Aid? (ICYMI) with Dean Spade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:14
This holiday season, we’re inviting Getting Curious listeners to reflect on what it means to be in community. In that spirit, we’re re-releasing a conversation about mutual aid with the writer and activist Dean Spade. Mu…
Can You Say Cheese? with Carlos Yescas and Lee Hennessy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:46
This week we’re learning all about the culture of cheese, and literal cheese cultures, with Carlos Yescas and Lee Hennessy. They join Jonathan to discuss how cheese is made, the politics and economics of the global chees…
How Did You Become An All-Around Legend? with Jordan Chiles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:59
This week’s episode is a gymnastics EVENT! Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles joins Jonathan to discuss how she’s taking the sport to new heights at both the elite and collegiate levels, why she doesn’t take any wins…