Eco-holidays, climate policy and greener shopping lists
Na'ilah Dawkins hosts Greener Thoughts, which moves between climate policy, world environmental headlines and practical guides to plant-based leathers, vegan nail polish and environmental film festivals. Many episodes open with the month's environmental holidays, and they close on the same request: take care of yourselves, and take care of the planet.
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Greener Thoughts, hosted by Na'ilah Dawkins, gives federal climate science and the contents of a makeup bag equal time. One episode looks at what is happening to U.S. climate research. Another compares vegan nail polishes by price. Both fit. Many episodes begin with announcements and then a packed list of the month's environmental holidays and observances. An April edition runs through Earth Month, Children and Nature Month, National Park Week, Fashion Revolution Week and International Dark Sky Week, and notes that April 3rd is Jane Goodall's birthday. A May edition starts with American Wetlands Month, Clean Air Month and Gardening for Wildlife Month. Dawkins is most direct when she talks about policy. Discussing the National Climate Assessment, she says U.S. scientists' research will not feed into the next IPCC report, and she criticizes the Trump administration for rolling back EPA programs and giving leases to oil and gas companies. In 'The Needs of Net Zero', she reads through national emissions targets and investments, setting China's large share of global pollution against small emitters such as Burundi. That episode also includes a segment called 'Headlines from the Hemispheres', a quick briefing on environmental news from different countries. One item, taken from Science Daily, is about using human urine as fertilizer for urban agriculture. The consumer guides are the most detailed part of the show. Dawkins reads brand websites aloud, converts euro prices into dollars and notes how prices have crept up. One example is the German brand ozn, whose polishes she describes as plant-based and vegan, sold in recycled-glass bottles with compostable lids. A list of plant-based leathers, spread over more than one part, covers corn and cactus leather, and she argues that a durable, well-made purse is worth its upfront cost. Another episode goes through a numbered list of environmental film festivals at Yale, Princeton, Martha's Vineyard and elsewhere, giving each one's web address. Not everything is policy or products. In 'Planting Seeds of Safety: Protecting Your Mental Health, Remote Work & Rural Ghana', she discusses coverage of rural working women in Ghana. She wishes it had said more about what was behind their depression and anxiety, and wonders whether earlier access to remote work could have helped. The talk is loose and friendly, with asides about work, side projects and tax season. The sign-off asks listeners to take care of themselves and to take care of the planet. For a first listen, 'What is the National Climate Assessment (NCA)?' shows the policy side and 'Color Me Pink: 5 Sustainable Nail Polishes Brands To Try Today' shows the practical one.
Made for: Suits a listener who wants environmental news and climate policy alongside specific, named recommendations for sustainable products and events, delivered in a relaxed, conversational style.
What sets it apart: It puts blunt climate-policy commentary next to very detailed consumer guides that include brand websites and price conversions. Many episodes are built around a calendar of environmental holidays and observances.
Welcome to Greener Thoughts. I help you understand the environment today, so you can experience a greener life.My name is Na'ilah Dawkins. I have been an Environmentalist since age 12 and knew I'd be a scientist growing up so I became a Sociologist!🎁Be an entrant in my 3 special annual giveaways!🎁 Featured in:🌟 January 2020 Podblade.com article '43 Expert Tips to Creating a Successful Podcast'🌟 June 2019 Guest Blog post of the Sierra Club - Maryland Chapter's blog🌟 3-time Guest Podcaster and over 23-times Guest Co-host✔️Cover Art by Greener Thoughts, Creator and Host - Na'ilah
The conditioner bar gets a price check before it earns a spot in your shower.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A varied episode linking March environmental observances with mental-health reflection and workplace support.
Greener Thoughts starts with March's environmental observances, then shifts into a more personal thread on mental health, workplace support, and rural working women in Ghana.
A practical, personal look at June environmental observances and plant-based bag materials made to be used, not just admired.
Greener Thoughts returns with a wide-ranging single episode that begins with June's environmental observances, from Great Outdoors Month and National Pollinator Month to Oceans Week, National Oceans Month, and World Reef Awareness Month.
A wide environmental calendar leads into a concerned case for protecting climate research and easier access to journals.
Greener Thoughts uses a crowded run of May environmental observances as its entry point, moving from wetlands, clean air, wildlife gardening, monarchs, koalas, permaculture, Great Lakes awareness, plant health, and fair trade into a broader worry about the future influence and…
A practical look at lower-impact nail polish, where recycled glass and bamboo caps count alongside the shade.
Greener Thoughts uses a manicure as a tidy way into lower-impact nail polish, weighing OZN, Nails Inc, and ZAO by ingredients, packaging, production notes, and price.
A practical environmental film festival roundup rooted in April but useful beyond it.
Greener Thoughts frames April's environmental calendar as a useful entry point for finding environmental film festivals. Nyla begins with Earth Month, National Park Week, and other seasonal observances, then turns that setup into a guided festival roundup, moving through the…
Greener Thoughts host Nyla compares seven sustainable safety razors, including the $29 Mercure, $84 Leaf, $132 Well Kept kit, and $299 OneBlade Genesis.
Greener Thoughts examines mountain lion prevention through Kyle Burgess's six-minute encounter with a female mountain lion in Utah's Slate Canyon.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla presents ten Soil Association tips for buying organic food on a budget, including precision buying, seasonal eating, freezer use, and Sunday meal preparation.
Nyla's Greener Thoughts episode examines 12 foods and food categories she says carry environmental costs, including rice, sugar, meat, fast food, palm oil, packaged foods, seafood, and non-local food.
Nyla’s Greener Thoughts episode presents seven ways to reduce waste in beauty routines, including packaging standards, waterless bars, reusable tools, capsule routines, product use-up challenges, and conversations with brands or family.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla examines a Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study led by Joel Bloom, which found methylmercury signatures in organisms from the Mariana and Kermadec trenches, including samples collected at 33,630 feet.
Greener Thoughts examines University of California San Diego research into flip-flop midsoles and footbeds made from algae-oil polyurethane foam.
Nyla’s Greener Thoughts episode combines environmental headlines about Brazil’s proposed mining access on Indigenous land, EU shipping emissions, and a parasitic “vampire plant” found in a U.K.
Greener Thoughts covers a South Pacific coral near the Solomon Islands measuring roughly 34 meters wide, 32 meters long, and six meters tall.
Nyla’s Greener Thoughts episode compares eight reusable menstrual-cup options from Treehugger, including Flex at $34.99, Salt at about $29, and Moon Cup at £20.95.
Greener Thoughts episode “11 Eco-friendly Wrappings for Every Occasion!” covers reusable gift presentation, including fabric, old maps, newspapers, jars, tins, produce bags, baskets, boxes, clay flower pots, and unwrapped gifts.
The host welcomes listeners to the new year and discusses environmental holidays and green resolutions.
On Greener Thoughts, Nyla reviews seven reusable mask options, including United by Blue’s $20 hemp blend three-pack, Buck Mason’s five-pack, and Ravella’s $48 silk mask.
Nyla's Greener Thoughts episode examines soil erosion through an international study covering 255 locations in almost 40 countries across six continents.
Greener Thoughts examines five U.K.
Greener Thoughts examines a new University of California, San Francisco center intended to study links between corporate practices, chronic disease, and products such as plastics, fossil fuels, chemicals, tobacco, and ultra-processed foods.
Greener Thoughts examines bamboo-and-sugarcane tableware described in the journal Matter, including claims that it begins decomposing within 30 to 45 days and breaks down in soil in about 60 days.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla examines why glacier melt matters now, linking roughly 275,000 high-mountain glaciers and their 70% share of global freshwater resources to flooding and sea-level rise.
Greener Thoughts examines African and Asian elephant conservation, citing estimates of 350,000 African elephants and fewer than 40,000 Asian elephants remaining in the wild.
Greener Thoughts examines U.S.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla examines global e-waste, reporting 54 million tons generated in 2019, growth three times faster than the world's population, and a 17 percent recycling rate.
Greener Thoughts with Nyla Dawkins, CID, opens with March environmental dates, including World Wildlife Day, Arbor Day, World Water Day, Earth Hour, and the Three Mile Island anniversary on March 28, 2026.
Greener Thoughts spends its opening on June and July environmental calendars, naming dates such as World Environment Day on June 5, World Oceans Day on June 8, and World Ranger Day on July 31.
Greener Thoughts centers on the National Climate Assessment, linking the Global Change Research Act of 1990, Reuters reporting on Trump, and the episode's claim that federal climate research is being blocked.
Greener Thoughts devotes this episode to color-me-pink sustainable nail polish brands and the criteria behind cleaner beauty buying.
Greener Thoughts uses an Earth Month episode to map April observances, climate news, and a long directory of environmental film festivals, from Earth Day on April 22 to International Dark Sky Week and John Muir's birthday on April 21.
Greener Thoughts examines net zero through the Paris Climate Agreement, natural emissions from forest fires and volcanic eruptions, and human emissions from transportation, agriculture, and food production.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla lists March environmental observances before covering a 2025 Arctic sea-ice winter maximum of about 14.33 million square kilometers.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla reviews five sustainability-focused apps: Too Good To Go, Ecosia, Good On You, A World, and Commons.
Greener Thoughts examines biologging, a method using sensors and cameras on wild animals to study behavior, habitats, and environmental conditions.
Greener Thoughts covers March environmental observances before examining Grist’s map of roughly $300 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
Greener Thoughts distinguishes global warming from climate change by defining global warming through the IPCC’s 30-year average of combined surface air and sea temperatures.
Greener Thoughts’ “What is a Green Influencer?” examines how social-media personalities can connect environmental causes with tourism marketing, waste reduction, and consumer behavior.
Greener Thoughts examines 3D-printed plant-based food through Nova Meat’s shredded-beef product, Barcelona demonstration, proprietary MicroForce technology, and approximately $19 million Series A funding.
Greener Thoughts examines Caribbean food culture, plant knowledge, farming traditions, and environmental conservation through the host’s Afro-Caribbean family background.
Greener Thoughts examines the European Commission’s clean industrial deal, including faster renewable-energy permits, higher subsidies, and reduced fossil-fuel investment.
Greener Thoughts covers February environmental observances before reporting on Germany’s three-year, five-million-dollar partnership with WWF Germany and Interpol to target fisheries crime, forestry crime, illegal mining, pollution crime, and related environmental offenses.
Greener Thoughts examines coffee-ground and reishi-mushroom materials developed by Dan Lee Lowell and Nadia Peek at the University of Washington for compostable 3-D printed objects.
Greener Thoughts examines the host’s claim that phthalates may appear in essential oils, cosmetics, food packaging, toys, medical devices, and household plastics.
Greener Thoughts examines deforestation, conflict, forced relocation, and women’s empowerment through a story involving Zara Adam Comus and a safe space for women and girls in Chad.
Greener Thoughts examines research by Dr.
Greener Thoughts examines a Cyprus school program that collects household cooking oil, filters it into biodiesel, and lets participating schools direct proceeds toward gardens, water fountains, and solar panels.
Greener Thoughts examines an Australian study estimating $15.6 billion annually for 30 years to prevent extinction among nearly 100 priority species.
Greener Thoughts examines electronic waste through a Cornell University method that captured 99.9% of gold from discarded circuit boards using vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks.
Greener Thoughts’ “Survey Says: From Food Insecurity to Love Thy Neighbor” covers electric-vehicle longevity, particulate air pollution in India, Sami land rights in Finland, and Baltimore survey data.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla reports on COP30 in Brazil, Germany’s plan to convert a mining pit into an artificial lake, and the European Union’s proposed phaseout of new heavy-duty diesel-truck sales by 2040.
Greener Thoughts examines Coca-Cola’s environmental promises after the company removed a target for 25% reusable or refillable packaging by 2030 during 2024 plastics negotiations.
Greener Thoughts examines U.S.
Greener Thoughts examines the Vietnam War's environmental and intergenerational health effects, centering on Agent Blue and Agent Orange.
Greener Thoughts focuses on pesticides and prostate cancer, citing a study that associated 22 pesticides with prostate cancer and four with prostate cancer deaths.
Greener Thoughts examines modern-day slavery through global estimates, supply-chain examples, workplace warning signs, and consumer due diligence.
Greener Thoughts surveys environmental headlines before focusing on a reported NIH study of 6,651 U.S.
Greener Thoughts examines whether international action can reduce new plastic pollution after a November 2024 meeting in Busan, South Korea, involving 66 countries and the European Union.
Greener Thoughts examines axolotls through their origin at Lake Xochimilco near Mexico City, regenerative abilities, research use, and endangered status, with fewer than 2,000 reported in the wild.
Greener Thoughts examines a Tokyo University of Science study led by assistant professor Mamoru Tanaka that analyzed plastic recovery across 109 Japanese river points from 2016 to 2020.
Episode 232 of Greener Thoughts covers environmental holidays, a Scottish donation of 500 bicycles refused for shipment to Sudan, and research involving musk ambrette, menstruation ages, and kimchi.
Greener Thoughts examines a new molecule called tetraunsaturated alkanine, or C37:4, found in ancient Arctic sea ice and linked to ice-dwelling algae.
Nyla’s Greener Thoughts episode presents seven ways to reduce waste in beauty routines, including packaging standards, waterless products, reusables, and buying fewer trusted items.
Greener Thoughts examines 20 European circular-economy startups nominated for the Green Alley Award, including Chemicl's dairy-waste plastic, Marinatex's fish-waste packaging, and Betteries' repurposed EV fuel cells.
Nyla’s Greener Thoughts episode evaluates winter coats and jackets using price, recycled materials, durability, repair policies, and sustainability certifications.
Nyla’s Greener Thoughts episode examines why piped water should not be treated as a luxury, focusing on research from rural Zambia and broader water-access concerns.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla evaluates Feelgrounds, Bedrock Sandals, Luna Sandals, Belenka, Groundies, and ZAQQ using materials, certifications, prices, audiences, and purchasing options.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla examines barefoot and minimalist shoes through brand comparisons, design features, sustainability claims, health arguments, and buying criteria.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla presents ten palm-tree facts, including more than 2,500 species, 197-foot Quindio wax palms, and Coco de Mer seeds weighing up to 66 pounds.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla examines polyolefinic plastics, heterogeneous catalysts, and research reporting a 92% yield from waste plastics, including 77% liquid fuel and 15% wax.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla covers microplastics near Okinawa, Norway's Arctic oil-drilling ruling, and groundwater work in Rajasthan and Gujarat before reviewing 19 clothing brands.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla reviews 12 reusable travel cups and bottles, including Stanley, Klean Kanteen, OXO, LO Jane, Joco, Yeti, MiiR, Hydro Flask, Stojo, Cupo, Friendly Cup, and Pleasant Tree.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla reviews nine vegan boots while comparing prices, materials, certifications, retailers, and intended uses.
Nyla's Greener Thoughts episode combines environmental headlines with an eight-product Treehugger comparison of reusable menstrual cups.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla presents nine highly rated conditioner bars organized by hair type, price, ingredients, packaging, and claimed uses.
Greener Thoughts host Nyla ranks eight shampoo bars for dry, fine, itchy, dandruff-prone, color-treated, and curly hair.