Podcast
Once Upon a Planet
Hosted by Jon Strassner · EN
Sustainability can be heavy. Design can be precious. Climate storytelling can feel like a lecture. Once Upon a Planet is here to change that. Hosted by Jon Strassner—co-creator of Break Some Dishes and longtime challenger of the status quo—this podcast explores the intersection of interesting and climate change. That tiny 2-stop intersection is vitally important if we want to grow our understanding and awareness of global climate change.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Funeral Homes and Furniture--Caution, the contents of this episode are HOT!!
2w ago00:43:54Tap to summarizeDianne Murata joins Jon on today's episode, where we talk about making that unexpected pivot in our work. Dianne hit the crossroad where she could ignore her customers and stay in her lane, or figure things out. She chose to roll up her sleeves and figure things out. This is an insightful conversation around ignoring the voices in your head that tell you you're not the expert and forging ahead to make change. Dianne Murata is a change maker we need to start listening to.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Good Design is a Healthy Diet!
Apr 1100:45:49Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Jon dives into the design world of Carl Gustav Magnusson. Carl is a design icon, a thinker and truly someone who's work has changed our planet. We talk about some of his work and discover that good design, by its definition, is good for the planet. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Eric Cory Freed Me From the Boredom!
Mar 2700:41:26Tap to summarizeArchitect Eric Cory Freed joins Jon Strassner in an episode dedicated to communication and the art of re-framing the conversation around climate so that people don't run away from it. Reading a room, understanding your audiance and delivering information and entertainment in a language your audiance can understand. Eric and Jon actually have fun talking about our planet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →The Messy Middle
Mar 2700:47:31Tap to summarizeIn the season's first episode, Jon Strassner talks with industrial designer Brian Graham. We talk about doing the best we can and learning how to operate in the messy middle, where our expectations of perfection are often left unmet. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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More than Checking a Box: Designing for people and the planet
Jan 2101:05:53Tap to summarizeDesigners and architects face a complex matrix of requirements to meet modern requirements for building performance, appearance and overall impact on people and the planet. On this episode, key team members from Rockfon and ROCKWOOL, part of ROCKWOOL Group, discuss strategies and trends to meet these needs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Breaking More Dishes with Friends at Greenbuild 2025! Episode 2
Jan 1401:27:21Tap to summarizeIn this continued episode of Break Some Dishes, Jon ventures to Los Angeles to podcast from the floor of Greenbuild 2025. For a second day, a bunch of different guests stepped into Jon’s podcast booth during the conference to talk about everything from the gender gap in raising capital to bringing better storytelling to climate activism. Great sponsors and wonderful guests made this Greenbuild episode a very special one!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Breaking Dishes with Friends at Greenbuild 2025! Episode 1
Jan 701:00:35Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Break Some Dishes, Jon ventures to Los Angeles to podcast from the floor of Greenbuild 2025. Eight different guests slipped into Jon’s podcast booth during the conference to talk about everything from the gender gap in raising capital to bringing better story telling to climate activism. Great sponsors and wonderful guests made this Greenbuild episode a very special one!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Final Smash: Women, Design, and the Future We Want
Nov 1900:33:29Tap to summarizeFor the season finale of Break Some Dishes, Jon and Verda wrap up a challenging but rewarding season about women; women in design, in leadership, and in the climate movement. Why do women still hold far fewer leadership positions, even as they are earning more college degrees than men? What happens when we define the world through the rigid binaries of masculine versus feminine, and does that framing ultimately limit everyone? In this episode, Jon and Verda revisit some of the season’s most thought-provoking conversations to examine what true equity could look like in design and beyond.Referenced Work:Mismeasure of Woman: Why Women are not the Better Sex, the Inferior Sex, or the Opposite Sex by Carol TavrisAnd for the last time, the book Jon and Verda have mentioned in almost every episode: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado PerezSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Climate Activism and Gender Justice: A Conversation with Ayshka Najib
Oct 1501:01:57Tap to summarizeIn the penultimate episode of season six, Jon and Verda have a conversation with Ayshka Najib, who shares her journey from being inspired by the Chipko movement in India to becoming a fervent champion for both climate justice and gender equality. The discussion covers the intersection of climate change and gender issues, the influence of grassroots movements, and recent advancements in global climate policies. Insights on the role of women in environmental activism, the complexities of greening the economy, and the power of individual and collective efforts in driving meaningful change all happen in this jam-packed interview.This season of Break Some Dishes is presented by Humanscale.References and ResourcesMineral scarcity and the green transitionFossil Fuel Non-Proliferation TreatyInstagram: @fossilfueltreatyJust Transition – Women and Gender ConstituencyYouth Climate Justice Fund (YCJF): Explore grant recipients, apply for funding & sign up for the newsletterFor Self Care: Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia HerseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Less Friction, More Flow — Evolving Design Materials Evaluation & Communication
Sep 2400:37:49Tap to summarizeLive from the NeoCon show floor in Chicago, Verda and Jon sit down with Kathleen Egan and Paul Shahriari, co-founders of Ecomedes. If you’ve ever struggled to specify sustainable materials, this episode is a must-listen. Ecomedes is changing the game for the architecture and design industry by streamlining product data, certifications, and comparisons into one comprehensive and easy-to-use platform. We explore why the process has been so hard for both designers and manufacturers, challenge ideas about product data, and explore how Ecomedes is making the path to sustainable design more efficient and impactful.This episode was produced in partnership with Ecomedes and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf.References & ResourcesEcomedes Platform: ecomedes.comSummit at Neocon mentioned: metropolismag.com/viewpoints/insights-metropolis-leadership-summit-neocon/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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