Sustainability is too ambiguous. Our podcast defines it.
Jay Siegel & Scott Breen started the Sustainability Defined podcast out of their shared passions for the environment, good conversation, and – of course – bad jokes. Since meeting at a DC happy hour in Spring 2016, the operation has grown from a spreadsheet of personal sustainability contacts to an acclaimed podcast that's downloaded in over 100 countries, included on course curricula at universities across the US, and regularly listed as one of GreenBiz’s top sustainability podcasts.
Currently, Nethra & Cecilia co-host the podcast - We hope you dig it!
Voices
Nethra Rajendran
Nethra is a storyteller, sustainability strategist, and self-proclaimed climate chef passionate about building community and humanizing climate conversations. She is the Co-Chair of Programming for DC Climate Week, curating immersive events that unite thousands of changemakers. Formerly Corporate Sustainability Manager at GreenBiz, she led content strategy for major conferences and founded the company’s first AAPI employee resource group.
Combining her love for sustainability and food, Nethra earned a diploma in Plant-Based Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Through her project, Lucky Three Eats, she hosts supper clubs and climate cafes that explore how food can nourish both people and planet in NYC and beyond.
Cecilia Rios
Cecilia is an Environmental Event Specialist at EMS, where she supports the Community and Environmental Compliance (CEC) programs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She holds a Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and earned her B.A. in Environmental Science from Baylor University, with minors in Earth Science and Business Administration.
Originally from Mexico, Cecilia is fluent in Spanish and brings a global perspective to her work in sustainability. Passionate about tackling the “wicked problem” of climate change, she also has a soft spot for another kind of Wicked, her favorite musical! Cecilia also enjoys cooking and exploring hiking trails, with Sedona, Arizona as a top adventure spot!
Founders
Jay Siegel
Jay is an urbanist, an environmentalist, and (occasionally) a humorist. Focusing his career on financial and environmental sustainability, Jay is driven by communicating the “big picture” of sustainability to spur action towards a more resilient future. He likes live music and the feeling of importance he gets when hearing his own voice through a podcast.
Jay received his B.A. from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and his Master's of Urban Planning from Cornell University.
Scott Breen
Scott is Vice President of Sustainability at the Can Manufacturers Institute, which represents U.S. metal can manufacturers and their suppliers. He is often described as a "funny Spock" with his combination of logic and jokes. He enjoys college hoops and bike riding everywhere, as well as jogging around Washington, D.C. picking up aluminum beverage cans to recycle as he runs.
Scott received his B.A. from Georgetown University and his J.D./M.P.A. from Indiana University.
Research
Taylor Price
Taylor (she/her) is the Senior Manager for Global Sustainability at Aptar where she works to support sustainability in all areas. Within this role, she focuses on sustainability communication, engaging stakeholders on sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) topics, and helps set company strategy. When she is not saving the world at her 9-to-5, she is listening to podcasts, eating at local restaurants, or drinking a latte. She is also, not so secretly, obsessed with sea turtles.
Taylor received her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Master of Environmental Management (MEM) degree from Duke University. (Yes, there is a lot of college basketball to watch in her house!)
Audio
Keaton Butler
Keaton is an audio engineer, musician, and unwavering advocate for pineapple on pizza. Her interest in sustainability and the environment grew out of childhood camping trips and partnering with her dad on the podcast, “How to Stop Climate Change". Keaton is also a co-founder of Audio Snack, a custom music and jingle house specializing in made-to-order music for podcasts and videos. When she's not playing cello, guitar, or fronting one of her three bands, Keaton is playing cello, guitar, or fronting one of her three bands.
Jay Siegel & Scott Breen