Sneaker Impact News: Designing Sustainability with Particle Play Co-Founders In Episode 44 of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan welcomes Krissy Harbert and Amanda Rawlings, co-founders of Particle Play. The discussion covers their backgrounds, the creation, and mission of Particle Play—transforming post-consumer and industrial waste into innovative b…

Upcycling Sneakers with Noor Hachem: A Family Passion Project In this episode, we chat with Noor Hachem, a 21-year-old university student with a strong passion for sneakers. Noor discusses her involvement in Sneaker Impact, a family business focusing on upcycling sneakers. She shares her personal connection to the project, her family's deep roots i…

Building Community Through Running: The Nameless Run Club Story In this episode, host Bryan the Botanist sits down with Drew Tegui and Stefan Finke, the passionate co-founders of Nameless Run Club. They discuss their motivations, origin stories, and the unique approach that sets their organization apart. From introducing cold plunges to curated wel…

Sneaker Impact News: Joao Alcolea and the Inspiring Story Behind Pushing4New In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, we welcome Joao Alcolea, founder of Pushing4New, a community-driven fitness initiative focused on motivating people to live healthier lifestyles. Joao shares his inspiring journey from being self-conscious in high school due to gynec…

Building Community Through Running: Joe Robinson & WeRun313's Inspiring Journey | Episode 2 Join us in this special interview featuring Joe Robinson, co-founder of WeRun313, one of Detroit's largest running clubs. In this follow-up episode, Joe reflects on the humble beginnings of WeRun313, how they grew from a small group to a community movement, …

Transforming Miami: Andrew Otazo on Mangrove Cleanups, Policy, and Community Impact Join us on Sneaker Impact News Episode 39 as we sit down with Andrew Otazo, an award-winning Cuban American author, environmental activist, and communication expert from Miami. In this episode, Andrew shares his inspiring journey from working at global agencies and …

Healing the Earth and Ourselves: An Interview with Ludovica Martella, AKA Sustainably Lu Welcome to Sneaker Impact News! In this episode, host Bryan welcomes special guest Ludovica Martella, better known as Sustainably Lu. Ludovica is an Integrative Somatic Fitness Coach and climate justice advocate committed to empowering individuals to achieve ho…

Unlocking Healing Through Ecstatic Dance with Jennifer Mirambeau | Sneaker Impact News In this episode host Bryan the Botanist sits down with Jennifer Mirambeau, aka Jenergy, a visionary movement artist and the founder of Ecstatic Flow. Jennifer shares her journey into the world of ecstatic dance and how it has transformed her life. She explains th…

In late November, 2024, we finally recorded an episode featuring Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram's Garden and many of the voices of the farmers there. This podcast in many ways is an extension of their work to "Go Back and Bring Forward What You Left Behind" - which is a take on the meaning of the Twi word "Sankofa". Its corresponding Akan prover…

Episode 35 of Sneaker Impact News features Bobbi Gio, the founder of Shatter the Stigma 5K, a race aimed at raising awareness about the therapeutic uses of psychedelics for mental health. Bobbi, a student at Florida International University (FIU) and President of the Society of Psychedelic Science, shares his journey into psychology and psychedelic…

Episode 34 of Sneaker Impact News features Aaron Jordan, the visionary tech founder and community organizer behind HIPHOUSE Music Festival. Aaron shares his journey from Louisville, Kentucky, to Miami, and the inspiration behind his new festival that merges hip hop and house music with sustainability and climate action. Drawing from his experiences…

Join host Bryan on Sneaker Impact News as he welcomes Taryn Hipwell, a renowned healthy fashion consultant, founder, author, and educator. In this episode, Taryn discusses her journey in sustainable fashion, highlighting her initiatives like 'How to Shop for Shi(f)t' and Beyond the Label. They delve into the importance of healthy fashion, transpare…

In Episode 32 of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist welcomes Natasha and Adriana from Pilathon, a renowned Pilates studio in Miami. They discuss the studio's history, celebrating their third anniversary at the Little River location, and the upcoming Members’ Appreciation Day on March 8th which includes a Pilates mat class and meditation s…

Host Bryan the Botanist speaks with Kelly Leviker from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). Kelly, PIRG's Beyond Plastic advocate, discusses her efforts in combating plastic pellet pollution through organizing citizen science initiatives and pushing for state and federal legislation. She highlights the severity of plastic pellet loss in vario…

In Episode 30 of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist welcomes Marissa Feinberg, the founder of Psychedel*cs for Climate Action (PSYCA). They discuss the Miami launch of PSYCA, with insights into Marissa's journey from environmental social impact to the psychedel*c space, her co-founding of Green Spaces New York, and founding the Triple Bot…

Teddy Lhoutellier is the current Sustainability Director for the University of Miami. Renewable Energy, Sustainability and Environmental Science are his passion. He started at the U in 2014, implementing the University's first comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan, after receiving a Silver ranking through the Sustainabiilty Tracking and Assessme…

It wouldn't be a Monday in Miami without Los Antonio firing up the troops at the No Sleeping Running Club which meets at 7pm every Monday night in front of American Social in Brickell. Los shares what makes him tick, what keeps him fired up, why community and health matter, and what the future holds for his vision of an active Miami. Stay Connected…

In Episode 27 of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist sits down with local Miami environmental leaders, Maddie Kaufman and Amanda Di Perna of Debris Free Oceans (DFO). Many topics are discussed on how they are working with local and national government agencies, non-profits, businesses, and citizens to reduce waste, improve global health, f…

In late October, 2024, we (Chris and Owen) walked down our Germantown, Philadelphia street to interview our friend and neighbor Ms. Valerie Erwin on her porch. We talked about traditional (and less traditional) Gullah Geechee foodways with a focus on rice, field peas, okra, cornbread, shrimp and grits, thyme, hog jowls, Nan-e berenji (a Persian ric…

In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, we welcome Mike Fernandez, Vice President of Post Collections at Waste Pro. Host Bryan the Botanist introduces Mike, highlighting their friendship and professional connections. Mike delves into his background, detailing his journey from aspiring firefighter to a top executive at one of the largest waste manag…

Join Sneaker Impact News as we sit down with Pedro Amos, a renowned visual artist and public arts ambassador from Miami, to explore his remarkable journey from starting as a graffiti artist in 1994 to becoming an influential figure in Miami's vibrant art scene. Discover Pedro's unique approach to blending creativity with business, his entrepreneuri…

In this enlightening episode of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist sits down with Esteban Martinez, a distinguished architect and co-founder of Green Loop. Esteban shares his remarkable journey from studying at the University de los Andes to becoming a LEED Fellow and leading sustainable practices across Latin America and the U.S. Discove…

This episode, recorded in late September 2024, features the voices and wisdom of East New York Farms youth leaders Jemel Thomas, Gaby, and Hope, as well as staff member Alexx Caceres as they talk about their community food work and seed keeping in particular. We were chatting moments before I (Owen) led a seed keeping workshop for an awesome group …

This episode features a conversation in early July 2024 with Mohegan tribal members Sharon Maynard and Rachel Sayet about traditional Mohegan food. Sharon Maynard is a Mohegan elder and a Tribal Nonner. Retired after serving 12 years on the Council of Elders, Sharon’s interests include food sovereignty, seed saving, and decolonizing our diets. She …

In this special episode of Sneaker Impact News, hosted by Bryan the Botanist, we have the honor of interviewing Ted Metellus, the Race Director of the TCS New York City Marathon and Senior Vice President of Event Development and Production at the New York Road Runners (NYRR). Joining the conversation is Frankie Ruiz, the Race Director of the Lifeti…

In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist converses with Yadira Diaz, founder and chief impact officer of Gradible, about pioneering sustainable solutions for companies. Yadira shares her motivation from a young age, inspired by environmental changes and a pivotal documentary on waste. She details how Gradible helps businesses…

Join host Bryan the Botanist as he sits down with Terrence Diggs, the visionary founder of D17 Clothing and ASICS ambassador, in this exciting episode of Sneaker Impact News. Terrence opens up about his journey from a tech and arts-influenced upbringing in Baltimore to becoming a successful designer and entrepreneur. Learn about his inspiration fro…

Join host Bryan the Botanist on Sneaker Impact News as he sits down with Ricky Hughes from STL Run Crew. Ricky shares his inspiring journey of founding STL Run Crew during the pandemic as a means to tackle depression and promote community health in St. Louis. Discover Ricky's vision for a diverse and welcoming running community that moves across th…

In this Sneaker Impact News clip, Sophie Ringel, founder and executive director of Clean Miami Beach, shares her journey from Germany to Miami, the formation of Clean Miami Beach, and her experiences growing into a non-profit powerhouse. Sophie and Bryan discuss the importance of community involvement in environmental cleanup, overcoming challenges…

In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, Bryan the Botanist sits down with Sophie Ringel, founder and executive director of Clean Miami Beach. Sophie shares her journey from Germany to Miami, the formation of Clean Miami Beach, and her experiences growing into a non-profit powerhouse. Sophie and Bryan discuss the importance of community involvement …

Sneaker Impact News Presents: An In-Depth Interview with Fashion Expert Martu Freeman Parker In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist sits down with Martu Freeman Parker, a renowned figure in the fashion industry. Known for her extensive experience with top brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Victoria's Secret, and Calvin Klein, M…

In this special multi-guest episode, we're joined by the phenomenal Sonia Chavez, founder of Soy Corredora, and Maria Suarez, COO of RunAdic. Dive into the inspirational journeys of these remarkable women as they discuss the expansion of Soy Corredora to the U.S., the upcoming 'Run to Be Happy' summer series in Miami, and their respective personal …

In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, Bryan the Botanist interviews Joe Robinson, a community leader, entrepreneur and running influencer from Detroit, Michigan. Joe shares his journey from growing up on the east side of Detroit to creating a successful music label APX and co-founding the We Run 313 run club. They discuss Joe's background, his in…

🎙 We had an amazing chat with Joe Robinson from We Run 313 about his journey from music label boss to running influencer and community leader. But most importantly, how he's helping to transform Detroit into a healthier and happier community through running. Check out the full interview on YouTube HERE! 🎧🏃🏿‍♂️⭐️ #JoeRobinsonAPX #WeRun313 #DetroitRu…

Ray Guzman @PR_Sneaks23 on Miami's sneaker community, sustainability, valuing what you have, and the difference between a sneakerhead and sneaker enthusiast. This is a video clip about Ray Guzman aka @PR_Sneaks23 from Sneaker Impact News. Watch the full podcast at https://youtu.be/VXohKPUdK7ABy Ray Guzman, Bryan The Botanist

Join host Bryan the Botanist on Sneaker Impact News as he interviews Ray Guzman, aka PR_Sneaks23, a renowned digital creator and Miami’s OG sneakerhead. Discover Ray's journey within the sneaker enthusiast community, influenced by his Puerto Rican roots and upbringing in Miami. Explore his role as a brand ambassador, and his lessons on sustainabili…

In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist welcomes Arthur Alexander, captain of the Late Night Menu Crew and Nike Run Club pacer in Miami for the Baptist Health South Beach and Brickell Run Clubs. Arthur delves into his transformation from a Nike employee to a key figure in Miami's running scene, highlighting his involvement i…

Catching up with one of our favorite store partners, Rochester Running Company, at the annual Run Summit conference in St. Louis!By Bryan The Botanist,

In Episode 12 of Sneaker Impact News, Bryan the Botanist interviews Kiera Smalls, the first Executive Director of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC). Based in Philadelphia, Kiera discusses her journey from a non-runner to a marathon finisher, despite her asthma. She highlights her work with the RIDC, focusing on improving inclusion, vi…

Join us and 15 of Karen Washington's dear friends, family, mentees, and collaborators in wishing her a very happy 70th birthday with this episode featuring food and plant stories about our Farmy Godmother. Karen has been instrumental in the creation and guidance of neighborhood organizations such as Garden of Happiness, La Familia Verde Coalition a…

In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist interviews Harry Chandler, a prominent figure in the running industry co-owner of the Charlotte Running Company, vice president of the Running Industry Association, and chair of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition. The discussion covers Harry's personal journey from Michigan to be…

In Episode 10 of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist interviews Valeria Rodriguez, an inspiring figure with a multifaceted life as a runner, mom, illustrator, teacher, and survivor. Valeria shares her journey from a physically challenging childhood to becoming a state-champion runner and securing a college scholarship. Despite pressure and…

Meet Lucien Boulet aka Hot Chocolate aka the Peoples Champ! OooooWeeeee! In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist welcomes Lucien Boulet, also known as Hot Chocolate, in their brand new studio, marking Lucien as the first in-person guest. Lucien, an ultra runner, entrepreneur, and father, shares his inspiring journey from sta…

This episode is a compilation of recordings by seed geographer Chris Keeve and Truelove Seeds' business manager (and Owen's sister) Sara Taylor at our annual growers gathering at our Truelove Seeds farm in November 2023. They recruited party goers to their table where they mapped seed stories with strings and notes on a world map, and where they as…

In this heart-warming episode of Sneaker Impact News, we dive into an inspiring conversation with Nadia Ruiz, also known as Iron Girl Nadia. Raised in Los Angeles by Ecuadorian immigrant parents, Nadia shares her rich background in running, which spans 26 years and includes over 650 races. From struggling with team sports to discovering her talent …

Sneaker Impact News Episode 8 features an extensive interview with Charles Van Schaik, a professional with over 30 years of experience in the retail and footwear industry, who collaborated with Sneaker Impact, a social enterprise focused on sneaker recycling for the European market. Charles highlights his experiences working with international bran…

This episode features an interview with Zee Lilani at Kula Nursery in West Oakland, California in January 2024. Zee grows Doodhi (Lauki/Bottle Gourd) and Kalonji (Black Seed/Nigella) seeds for our Truelove Seeds catalog as well as many varieties for Second Generation Seeds at her farm in Petaluma, California. In this episode, we hear how Zee left h…

In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, host Bryan the Botanist interviews Terry Schalow, the Executive Director of the Running Industry Association (RIA). Schalow shares his career journey, from his start at ASICS to his current role at RIA. He discusses the organization's mission, highlighting its focus on supporting brick-and-mortar retail runni…

In this episode of Sneaker Impact News, Bryan the Botanist interviews Elliott Mason, the founder of RunAdic, a creative app solution aimed at building communities and promoting health through technology and support. Elliott shares his motivation behind creating RunAdic, a tool that geo-localizes running clubs and runners. This feature allows users …

In this interview, Bryan the Botanist, host of Sneaker Impact News, talks to David Kilgore, a successful ultra-endurance athlete and the global head of trail and ultra athletes at On Running. They discuss David's successful running career—highlighting his exceptional record and achievements—including winning the World Marathon Challenge and setting…