The Building a Better World Podcast with Shawn Klassen-Koop

As Paul and I were working hard to finish our book, Building a Better World in Your Backyard, I got the idea that I really wanted to create a podcast series to celebrate the launch of the book. Unfortunately we had so much work to do on the book itself that I was unable to devote any time to this idea. But I couldn't get it out of my head. So with the book done and out in the world, I figured "better late than never!" After a bit more work than expected, I am really excited to announce that today is the day I hit the launch button!

Here are a few details about the podcast:

This is a fixed-length series of 26 episodes that are each roughly 10-15 minutes in length.

The main target audience is people who are just getting started on their eco journey.

The podcast goes into a bunch of the ideas and solutions that we present in the book.

The content is introductory. If you've listened to Paul's podcasts or been on permies for a while, this might not be advanced enough for you. BUT! Maybe it is perfect for a friend who is just starting out!

If you're interested, you can find it on most podcast networks:

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Stitcher
iHeart Radio
TuneIn
Podchaser
Deezer
Listen Notes


Or you can find it on my website at buildingabetterworldbook.com/podcast

I thought I would embed the episodes in this thread and copy and paste the episode descriptions for anyone who is interested.


Episode 01: Introduction to Building a Better World in Your Backyard



The world's problems are massive and overwhelming. Fortunately, for nearly every global problem there are solutions we can implement in our backyard that, at the same time, save us money and help provide more luxuriant lives.

In this introductory episode, Shawn Klassen-Koop discusses his preferred approaches to solving the world's problems from his book "Building a Better World in Your Backyard - Instead of Being Angry at Bad Guys." He talks about what inspired him to work on the book and shares the unique story of how he got together with Paul Wheaton, owner of permies.com, to co-write the book that Paul had been wanting to write for years.

This will be a fixed-length series of 26 short episodes that will introduce some of the ideas and solutions presented in the book.

For more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 02: The Biggest Environmental Problems... and Some Solutions



The list of global problems is huge. But a lot of them are related. This episode covers 5 problems that are holding us back from living a happy, healthy, life on a sustainable planet. And since Shawn doesn't enjoy talking about the problems, he'll also start introducing some solutions for each of them.

The five biggest environmental problems are:

1. Environmentalist vs. Environmentalist: Greenwashing and infighting are holding us back from making massive progress.

2. The Wicked Lies About Light Bulbs: Lighting is such a trivial part of our environmental impact and yet it seems to be the only thing that a lot of people want to talk about.

3. Carbon Footprint: A changing climate has significant impacts on the Earth's ecosystem, which we rely on for our food, our shelter, our air, and so much more.

4. Petroleum Footprint: Very much related to #3 but focused on separately because it's also a limited resource. We need to learn to live with way less of it eventually. Might as well start now.

5. Toxic Footprint: People are getting sick at an alarming rate. Nearly everyone seems to be taking some thing for some problem.

For each of these problems, there are things we can do at home to make a significant difference. Things that can save money and provide us a more luxuriant life!

To learn more, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 03: The Most Effective Way to Make Your Voice Heard



The most effective way to make your voice heard is not writing letters, signing petitions, or going to a protest. It's making the right choices each and every day.

Angry about the impacts of fracking? Vote with your wallet.

Want a food system that heals the planet instead of destroying it? Vote with your wallet.

Want to make big change happen? Vote with your wallet.

And remember, voting with your wallet doesn't always have to mean spending more. It can mean spending less and saving a bunch of money to put towards something else that you are passionate about.

To learn more visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 04: A Tool for Helping Us Understand the Eco Journey



Having conversations with others about environmentalism can be extremely frustrating - even with other environmentalists.

It's important to remember that life is a journey, and different people are at different places on their journey. And the things they want to talk about where they are on their journey might be much different from what we want to talk about from where we are on our journey. Being aware of this is an important first step in understanding how to help each other move forward together to increase our positive impact in building a better world.

For more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

I may be cooped up at home for the second day in a row sick, but I'm taking advantage of it to find threads like *this* on permies.  Look forward to listening as I continue exploring.

Shawn Klassen-Koop wrote:I thought I would embed the episodes in this thread and copy and paste the episode descriptions for anyone who is interested.


Episode 01: Introduction to Building a Better World in Your Backyard



The world's problems are massive and overwhelming. Fortunately, for nearly every global problem there are solutions we can implement in our backyard that, at the same time, save us money and help provide more luxuriant lives.

In this introductory episode, Shawn Klassen-Koop discusses his preferred approaches to solving the world's problems from his book "Building a Better World in Your Backyard - Instead of Being Angry at Bad Guys." He talks about what inspired him to work on the book and shares the unique story of how he got together with Paul Wheaton, owner of permies.com, to co-write the book that Paul had been wanting to write for years.

This will be a fixed-length series of 26 short episodes that will introduce some of the ideas and solutions presented in the book.

For more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Shawn, after ~11 minutes of listening...I'm very impressed!

To be honest, I had heard about your book via permies emails and such...but hadn't really looked into it beyond that.

Like I said...I'm cooped at home sick and just listened to Episode 1 in its entirety.  First and foremost, I'm looking forward to listening to more.

Moreover, I'm excited to learn more about your book and will buy it via kindle to check it out before picking up a paper version.

Great job on the podcast!  I'm into Episode 2 right now and am excited to share Episode 1 with people.  A great time frame for sharing!

More to come...

Shawn Klassen-Koop wrote:Episode 02: The Biggest Environmental Problems... and Some Solutions





5. Toxic Footprint: People are getting sick at an alarming rate. Nearly everyone seems to be taking some thing for some problem.

I'm reading this...at home, sick...again.

I scrolled through my own instagram feed today and realized I'd been sick today, 19 weeks ago, 23 weeks ago...and then some.

Generally speaking, I get sick 3-4 times a year.  I often wonder if my immune system is compromised after ~30 years of pharmaceuticals.

I've been taking anti-seizure meds since the age of 13...and lived like normal for most of my life until the last five or so...

...it's safe to say that I've been trying to make some lifestyle changes, but never really thought about the toxic footprint.

Much more thought and consideration towards life stressors and diet...but never considered this part.

Look forward to listening more, learning more, and checking out the book.  

Thanks for the feedback Rob! It's great to hear that you are enjoying it so far!

Episode 05: How to Drastically Reduce Your Home Heating Bill



Most of us heat our homes by heating all of the air in the whole house and then blowing it around in the hopes that it will eventually heat some people. Why not just heat the people instead?

By focusing on heating the person instead of heating the space, it is possible to save up to 90% of the money you spend on heat! In a cold climate this can be hundreds of dollars per year!

Each person will have their own comfort level with these techniques. Maybe some will actually save 90% while others will only save 50%. Still, 50% is a big deal! That could reduce your carbon footprint by many tons!

For more about Building a Better World in Your Backyard - Instead of Being Angry at Bad Guys, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 06: Super-Efficient Sustainable Wood Heat



In a cold climate, heat is almost 2/3 of home energy use.

Rocket mass heaters are super efficient wood-fired heaters that are pretty much smokeless and use one tenth of the wood of a conventional wood stove. They can be built for as little as a few hundred dollars and a weekend's worth of time.

Using sustainably harvested wood as fuel, or even junk mail, the burn on a well-built rocket mass heater is so clean that installing one could potentially cut 27 tons off your carbon footprint and save many hundreds of dollars per year!

buildingabetterworldbook.com

Episode 07: Eliminating Household Toxic Gick



People are getting sick at an alarming rate. The list of factors is immense, but there are things we can do at home to reduce our exposure to toxins that will also save us money at the same time.

This episode shares strategies for home care that use cleaners that are so healthy, you can eat most of them! And the cost will be much less than the conventional cleaners that come with a long list of warnings and concerns.

For more about the book visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 08: A Big Solution That Is Hard to Get Right



Living in community is one of the biggest solutions for solving our environmental problems. Unfortunately, it is also really hard to do in a way where people actually want to do it.

Oftentimes discussions on community assume that people are going to be noble. It's important to plan for a community that recognizes that people are human, with all of the flaws that come with being human.

For more about Building a Better World in Your Backyard, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 09: Vegan vs. Omnivore vs. Junk Food



The food we eat has a massive impact on our health and our planet.

Conventional methods of raising animals are terrible for everything involved, but eating food grown in a way that mimics nature can drastically reduce our footprints and help us live happier, healthier lives. In doing so, we can also restore ecosystem diversity and improve the soil.

For more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 10: The Value of Growing Your Own Food



A huge portion of our world's footprints come from the food we eat, not only because of the destructive methods of conventional agriculture, but also because of all of the many other industries that are attached to it. Growing our own food in a way that works with nature rather than against nature can dramatically reduce our footprints, while also allowing us to save money and eat healthier food.

To learn more, check out buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 11: Transplanting? That's Unnecessary Work!



This is the first in a series of episodes about strategies for growing double the food with one tenth of the effort.

Most gardeners spend a lot of time starting their plants indoors in the spring and babying them until they are ready to go in the ground. But nature doesn't really do transplants. By emulating nature, we can grow most plants just by putting the seeds in the ground, or even better, allowing plants to seed themselves year after year, auto-selecting for the best varieties for our specific plot.

To learn more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 12: Prepping the Soil to Not Need Prepping



This is the second in a series of episodes about strategies for growing double the food with one tenth of the effort.

Tilling can be a lot of work. And while the short-term benefits can be excellent, the long-term consequences are huge. Every time you till, you lose 30% of the organic matter in the soil and destroy the soil structure. There are strategies that lead to better growth and require less water and nutrients.

To learn more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 13: The Many Values of Trees



This is the third in a series of episodes about strategies for growing double the food with one tenth of the effort.

Growing more trees is one of the best things we can do for the environment. They stabilize soil, increase moisture, provide shelter, deliver free mulch, sequester carbon, and much more! In addition, there are many trees that can produce food with very little effort once established!

To learn more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 14: Two Strategies for Reducing Irrigation and Building Soil



This is the fourth in a series of episodes about strategies for growing double the food with one tenth of the effort.

This episode shares two strategies for building soil and reducing the need for irrigation. Berms block wind and introduce texture into the landscape, providing some spots that are wet, some that are dry, some that are sunny, and some that are shady. Mulch adds organic matter to the soil, discourages undesirable plants, and protects the soil from the harsh rays of the sun.

To learn more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 15: Eliminating Fertilizer and Pest Control with Polyculture



This is the last in a series of episodes about strategies for growing double the food with one tenth of the effort.

Conventional methods of controlling pests and fertilizing are time consuming, expensive, and have negative environmental consequences. By emulating nature and growing plants in a polyculture, we can eliminate the need for both while making better use of the water and sunlight falling on our plants.

To learn more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 16: Growing a Better Lawn with Less Work



Lawns are the most irrigated crop in the United States of America. If we want to have a lawn, let's explore ways to care for a lawn that require much less irrigation. While we're at it, let's find ways to eliminate the need for fertilizer and weed control at the same time.

For more info, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 17: Solving Colony Collapse Disorder '



Colony collapse disorder threatens to destroy food crops around the world. Conventional beekeepers were reporting losses of 40%! And yet treatment-free beekeepers reported near-zero losses. The solution is easy: stop stressing the bees.

To learn more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 18: Pampering Animals for Increased Plant Growth



Animals are a key component of natural ecosystems. Learning from nature, caring for animals can help us increase the amount of plants growing on a plot. But conventional methods of caring for animals are repulsive, don't help, and cause far more problems. Let's explore the idea of pampering animals instead.

For details about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 19: Breaking the Toxic Water Cycle



The toxic footprint of our wastewater is immense. Reducing the amount of water that goes into septic or sewer systems will result in a much higher concentration of toxins, which should hopefully ring more alarm bells to properly handle the material. There are many ways to reduce the amount of water going down the drain. Some are simple and cheap, while others are more complex. The further down this road you travel, the more you will start exploring all sorts of other questions about the toxic footprints in your home.

For more about Building a Better World in Your Backyard - Instead of Being Angry at Bad Guys, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 20: Safely Recycling Blackwater Nutrients Instead of Flushing Them Away



Blackwater is filled with nutrients. Flushing those nutrients away is like flushing away free fertilizer! But blackwater can also be very dangerous, so we need to deal with it safely. There are many different strategies that one can use. This podcast explores two of those strategies that can work extremely well if done right.

For more about the book, which goes further into this topic, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 21: Replacing Petroleum with People



Most people who talk about permaculture talk about small gardens, or maybe a small homestead. And a few people talk about larger homesteads. But how could permaculture work on 20,000 acres? This episode describes one possible approach. The key is that rather than pouring money into petroleum, we're investing money into people.

For more, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 22: A New Sustainable Building Design



Imagine living in something that, from the inside, looks like a log cabin with more light; doesn’t need heat or A/C; is three times faster to build; and has about one-fifth of the materials cost. Building one's own home is not for the faint of heart, but this might be a path for some that could bring great rewards.

For more about this topic, including helpful drawings, check out the book at buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 23: Natural Swimming Pools



A swimming pool is a symbol of luxury. It is entirely unnecessary. The energy and toxins involved are problematic. And yet, having a swimming pool can be a wonderful source of joy and relaxation. So rather than going without, let's build natural swimming pools that are cheaper, healthier, have a much smaller footprint, and add habitat for beneficial creatures.

Check out the book at buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 24: A Millionaire Life Without a Million Dollars



Most people spend their lives working at a job trying to get ahead, but there is another way. This episode shares the fictional story of two people and their life journeys that take radically different paths. One finds that they are living the life of a millionaire... without having a million dollars.

More about the book can be found at buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 25: Strategies for Early Retirement



There are many paths to retirement. Some are more extreme than others. This episode explores strategies for acquiring a home without a mortgage, retiring early, and much more. The culmination is "The BEER Plan", which people might like for mysterious, subliminal reasons.

To see more info about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.

Episode 26: Where Do We Go From Here?



This podcast series has been all about providing ideas and solutions for building a better world in your backyard instead of being angry at bad guys. This episode, the last episode of this podcast series, talks about where to go from here, how to decide what to do first, and how to spread the word so that together we can make a huge impact in solving the world's problems.

To learn more about the book, visit buildingabetterworldbook.com.