Making Waves with Randi Ramdeen and Dom P-C Part I
Jordan 0:01
There was a moment in the How to Save a Planet podcast series hosted by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Alex Blumberg, during an episode titled Black Lives Matter and [the] Climate that has always strongly resonated with us here at Imperfect Eco-Hero. In that episode, they talked about why the fight for racial justice is critical to saving the planet, and more importantly, what the broader climate movement can learn from the Black Lives Matter movement. And their guest on this episode, Colette Pichon-Battle, a climate activism lawyer from Louisiana who played a crucial part in the movement for Black Lives had said that the...there are four aspects of their movement that has been missing from the climate movement. And they were roots (or community), creativity, strategy and fire. That magical combination to make a difference and spark real long-lasting change. And many don't realize how important that first piece is, of connecting community. Building communities is a process that not only fosters connection amongst people, but it offers a collective space for experience sharing. Community spaces, when designed through systems of safety, openness, allow people to share their experiences and learn from one another. The act of collective learning and sharing becomes a very empowering practice that can turn into a source of motivation, inspiration, learning and support for the people in the community. Dialogues, community activities, open conversations, mutual support, knowledge sharing, and even experience sharing, often translates into a process of collective learning and collective growth. We believe that community makes us stronger as individuals. And so do the folks over at a nonprofit organization we're interviewing today. They’ve created this community and movement made up of a diversity of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that have come together to make massive waves of positive change all around the globe.
[intro music]
Jordan 2:01
Hey, this is Jordan.
Mimi 2:02
And this is Mimi.
Jordan 2:03
And welcome to the Imperfect Eco-Hero podcast.
Mimi 2:06
The series that connects community, normalizes imperfections and empowers heroes.
[end of intro music]
Jordan 2:16
In part one of this two-part interview on making waves of positive change, we sat down with two incredibly inspiring individuals that are a big reason why this Imperfect Eco-Hero podcast series is even a real thing. Dom Provost-Chalkley is a British-Canadian activist, environmentalist, philanthropist, musician, and an actor best known for their role as Waverly Earp on the critically acclaimed television series Wynonna Earp. They are also the founder of Start the Wave, a nonprofit organization that funds, empowers and connects positive wave-makers worldwide. Randi Ramdeen is a Canadian advocate and activist for human rights, animal rights and environmental rights. She was the regional officer for the Green Party of Canada, election organizer for the Green Party of Ontario and campaign manager for the 2019 federal election for the Green Party of Canada leader. Currently, she is the research and project manager for Start the Wave. Start the Wave focuses on amplifying change and empowering growth by funding action. They focus on redistributing wealth to grassroots initiatives, and weaving a web of wave-makers worldwide to build a community that focuses on creating positive and impactful change to bring in a new world. Fun little fact, Imperfect Eco-Hero was actually selected by these two wonderful individuals and the rest of the Start the Wave team as part of their first round of funded projects. If it wasn't for their belief in this project in the first place, we might not...not have ever started this series. So we have nothing but immense gratitude for their love and support and helping build this imperfect community. So sit back, relax and get ready to laugh a lot, because our guests today are a hoot. And even come with their own ship name.
Dom 4:07
I just love the whole...I mean, obviously, love you guys, but the whole, like, premise of not having to be perfect is just, it's so relieving. And I just, so I love what you guys [inaudible]. It’s a sign! And I get to do it with Randi!! Hi, friend!! [excited]
Randi 4:24
Hey, friend! [laughs] #RanDom
Mimi 4:30
I foresee that there's gonna be, like, a lot of really in-depth conversations, but there's gonna be a lot of laughter in this episode. [laughs]
Dom 4:37
Yeah, #RanDom [sing-songy]
Randi 4:38
Yeah, that's what Dom...Dom and I, #RanDom.
[laughs]
Dom 4:42
Yeah, yeah, that’s our...
Jordan 4:44
Ooh...Oh, I thought when you said random, you were random and I was like, “No!—
Randi 4:48
No
Jordan 4:48
—You're like so perfect for this!”. Ran—...Ran Dom. Okay, getting a ship—...
Mimi 4:52
RanDom
Dom 4:52
But isn't it the best ship name ever? [laughs]
Jordan 4:55
Guys, we'll use this in our...in our title. We’ll use this...
Randi 4:55
RanDom
Dom 4:56
So RanDom!
Randi 4:57
So RanDom!
Jordan 4:57
“Conversations with #RanDom” and we'll give no context!
Mimi 5:01
Yeah!
[general laughter]
Jordan 5:03
That’ll just be the title of...of it.
Mimi 5:05
I love thaat!
[general laughter]
Randi 5:07
Just the #RanDomConversation.
Jordan 5:09
And on that note, let's start this #RanDom conversation.
Mimi 5:13
Thank you so much, both Randi and Dom, for being here today. I know, I always start off with saying that I'm really excited to have you on, and it's true! Every guest that we have, I'm super pumped to have them and to chat with them. Um, so, we met you both through Start the Wave, which played a huge part in getting Imperfect Eco-Hero off the ground and...and running. And I just want to start with asking, what is Start the Wave?
Dom 5:38
Thank you! [laughs] So! Firstly, very, very glad that we were introduced through Start the Wave and thank you so much for having us on today, for this great conversation! I...so Start the Wave is a movement and nonprofit organization that supports, funds and connects wave-makers worldwide. And I have just coined the term wave-maker this weekend! [laughs]
Jordan 6:12
Love it! This is so good!
Mimi 6:13
Yeah! I was gonna say, that's such a beautiful term!
Dom 6:16
So, a wave-maker is somebody that takes an action to create positive change in the world. And so, we redistribute funds to individuals, projects, grassroots initiatives that are committed to bringing in a new world, through taking action to create positive change.
Jordan 6:41
Love that. I love “wave-makers”, it's great. It could totally be, like, on a shirt, labeled somewhere.
Dom 6:47
Well, we...we kept…yeah!
Mimi 6:47
Yeah, that's my favorite...my favorite word that I've heard this year, like “wave-maker”. I love it!
Dom 6:52
I’m just like, I'm not sure whether it's super cheesy or if it’s...if it’s okay,—
Mimi 6:56
Noo!
Dom 6:57
—there was a part of me that was like, hm, it’s a little…potentially a little cheesy, but it just feels really like it describes what we're doing and “change-makers” is used all the time. And I just thought, let’s be that unique about it and...and coin a term, eh?
Mimi 7:16
That’s cool!
Randi 7:16
It feels like it's on a bigger scale, too! That’s what it feels like, you know?
Jordan 7:21
I was gonna say, it...it...I think it alleviates also the pressure too. I think with most activists, they feel like they need to make a change, but what's so great about wave-makers is that you're just kind of starting a ripple effect that...Like, it's not very solution focused, it's more like idea focused, which is what I think makes wave-maker, I think, uh...I think...better.
Mimi 7:40
Yeah, yeah, definitely. And it's just like, you have this, like, visual component to a wave-maker as well, right? And I love that.
Dom 7:46
Hm Mmm! The ripples that are created when we choose to take an action. Yeah.
Mimi 7:52
That’s awesome. So, how did you decide to start the wave and why did you name it Start the Wave?
Dom 8:00
So, Start the Wave came about, hm, in a quite an interesting way really. I was, for those who may not know, I am also an actor, and was...played a character in Wynonna Earp, a sci-fi TV show, for four years, four seasons. And through that journey, I went on a huge transformation of self. And during that time, I traveled to India, well, Southeast Asia, and then India. And when I was in India, I really...it...it felt like quite a pivotal moment in my journey. Because I really felt the effects of climate change and our disposable lifestyles for...hm...not the first time, because I've always had an awareness of it, but it was...it was the defining moment where I realized that I had to do something, and that I needed to take action in my life. And I came back to Wynonna, season three, and I was like, “What can I do? What can I do to make a difference or just to take an action? Like it doesn't have to be huge, but what, in my situation...What is it that I can actually do?” and so, I was like, “Well, I'll just buy everyone in the cast and crew a reusable water bottle as a way to eliminate plastic use...usage on set”. And I contacted my producer and he said “Actually, we go through north of 12,000 water bottles per season. So yeah, this is great!”
Jordan 9:49
That didn’t seem...Per season? That’s a whole...
Mimi 9:52
That’s crazy!
Dom 9:52
I know! A lot of plastic. And so of course when I got that information, I was like, “Yep, okay, this is something that I can do. I have the money. Like, I c—...this is...this is something that feels...feels really right”. And so I did that, and did a very small call to action on Instagram. And within, you know, a couple of weeks, the response was so fantastic that people had actually gone out and bought water bottles themselves and it really...it created this sort of like mini movements that the fans of the TV show jumped on board with and...and it, that really planted the seed of Start the Wave, just the notion that, you know, if you...if you take an action, it has a ripple effect and it can influence others. And I just kept thinking about all of the plastic water bottles that were gonna be saved. And you know, all of it, the plastic that will be eliminated and then taking it to their, you know, work stations and having a conversation around it and...I just got really excited by that. So that planted the seed and then over time it has developed and, I just kept listening to what Start...what it was calling for and...and after sort of various people joining forces, it has now developed into this awesome community of wave-makers that are really committed to making, you know, big scale change and helping other people on their journeys to creating change too.
Jordan 11:38
I love that! I love that story too... Do you know if, like, anyone on the cast kept those water bottles ‘cause it's great, ‘cause they could have, like, taken into other sets as well and maybe that would spark a conversation. Do you know if, like, that happened?
Dom 11:50
Totally! I think it...it definitely... it definitely started something and it... and it was...It wasn't always easy. I was in Alberta — Calgary, Alberta — trying to persuade cowboys to go and [laughs] refill their water bottle and so, it...you know, there were challenges in that. But I rea—...like the, you know, over the course of the seasons, there were people that would come back and “Still got...still got your water bottle Dom!” and, you know, that's just so reassuring that it felt like they...it, um...shifted some things in people's minds about how they were thinking about the waste.
Mimi 12:37
I love how simple that idea is, but how impactful it is! Like, it's just...I love that, like, sometimes I get so caught up in this, like, notion that my ideas have to be very complicated in order for them to be good, but yeah, like that clearly had so much positive influence on your cast and crew and...and even the surrounding community around that.
Dom 13:00
Yeah, and I think, like, because I was so overwhelmed, I — we will probably get into this in a bit and Randi, I'm curious to know, like, a little bit more about the...the waves, the waves of our journeys to get to this point, um... But, I certainly felt very overwhelmed by climate change and the climate movement for such a long time that I felt like I was paralyzed into inaction. And just not really sure how I'm supposed to show up, what it is that I can do. And like you say, Mimi, just the... like, just kind of quiet— quietening those voices and just going “What can I do? What is something that I, right now, am able to do that is in integrity and in alignment and I have access to and...you know?” And so for me, it was just like, “Okay, I can actually do this!”. And it's just...it's just...it may have felt very small and simple at the beginning, but, like you say, the...the ripple effects that have come from that have been enormous, so...I think it was just like a really good lesson in, yeah, simplifying and then listening to that.
Jordan 14:30
Mm hmm. It’s like that idea between individual and collective action. People think that they...that the things that they do on their own won’t make an impact but they don't realize that sometimes you just need to inspire one person and it literally creates a domino effect of...everyone and so yeah, I love that.
Dom 14:46
Mm hmm.
Jordan 14:47
Yeah we’ll definitely get more into, yeah, your stories and journeys with that too, but something that I really love about Start the Wave is that you guys have...and like work on... How do I frame this? So you guys have seven pillars. And each pillar, there's a selected set of actions and...and resources to help people. And I've never seen that done too much with other nonprofits, where you've actually tailored each pillar to its own set of actions, and you can actually, like, work in between, but also having a social media strategy with hashtags too. For each hashtag...there's like a hashtag for every pillar and there are hashtag for pillars in different cities. And it's like...Sorry, I'm, like, trying to explain it. It's like...[Dom laughs] Sorry, maybe I'll leave that to you guys, to explain. But I found it, like, quite revolutionary and I wanted to know, like, where are you guys got and developed that communication approach.
Dom 15:41
Mm hmm. Thanks, Jordan, I appreciate it. Randi, feel free to jump in!
Randi 15:45
No, no, no! This is your...this is your baby here! [laughs]
Dom 15:45
I feel like this… [laughs] Okay, cool. We’ll...We’ll...We'll get to...lifting beautiful Randi up in a second, but hm... Yes, the social media strategy is quite complex, I would agree. And it...as with a lot of the ideas around Start the Wave, I sort of get these downloads? Where it feels like an opening up to listen to...to what direction Start the Wave wants to go and...and for ideas to come through. And then, when [laughs] they often come, like, when I'm in bed at, like, one o'clock in the morning or something like that. In fact, last night, I had a whole bunch of stuff come out, and I had to get my notepad out, in the middle of the night and just start writing down these ideas. And it really does feel like...like it….like a channel. And so the social media...the social media stuff came through one evening in a similar way, I think after a meditation or something, it was just, like, flooded in and I was like “Ookay!”. And what I liked about it...and what I like about it, is that I have always struggled a little bit with social media, because of its, like, inherent performative nature. The fact that we're always just putting things out, and of course, there is connection that is made through it, which is awesome, but I wanted to use the tool, that is so incredible, to connect us and to empower the individ...like, people that are part of the community, to actually be generating content and taking action. And so, it just felt like a really great way of doing that, where we can start to try and showcase the community rather than it being about the, like, almighty Start the Wave that is like sending messages out. Like, it just helped bridge that gap and bring that sense of community in and show everybody that we are a collective and that we are all in this together and inspire one another in that journey.
Jordan 18:13
I've actually used it, like, ‘cause I'm trying to go into veganism and it's a very difficult process right now.
Dom 18:20
Yaaay!
Jordan 18:21
I’m trying. Slowly but surely. And I've actually used the...the Start the Wave vegan hashtag to, like, find all the resources that other people have used.
Dom 18:29
Nice!
Jordan 18:29
And I found it's a great way of consolidating that info. ‘Cause I find that's what’s sometimes so difficult with social media, it’s...while it's so easy to get information, it's also easy to get a lot of information and it's really hard to sift through, like—
Dom 18:41
Totally!
Jordan 18:41
—the things that work... And so it's always...what I love about your...like, these hashtags, is it's not only your content, but like you said it's...it's, like, regular people's content. It's, like, people trying to also make a difference in all these different aspects and it's great to, like, one, feel like you're part of something bigger than you, but two, also to get like realistic...not real... like...like, more attainable actions to do, which is what I love so much about those....those hashtags so much.
Dom 19:09
Mm hmm. Thank you. That is EXACTLY it and [excited high pitch voice] I'm so glad that you—...Thank you for sharing that!!!! That’s so cool because that's my... [back to normal tone] hopes and dreams around it! It was just, like, you know…Then people can connect with other people that are on sim—...at similar parts of their journey and be inspired by that rather than always coming from um...yeah, a bigger platform and um, and as you say it just feels more attainable in some way.
Jordan 19:38
Mm hmm. And I've actually started following a lot of people in Toronto using the Start the Wave Toronto hashtag as well.
Dom 19:44
Oh cooool!
Jordan 19:45
Just like, just in case when COVID’s over, it would be really cool to go to, like, protest together or like just make more friends. Yeah, so I, I...That's why I’ve loved it... Yeah.
Dom 19:50
YEEEES!! Aw... [excited squeal]
Thanks for sharing, Jordan, I appreciate that.
Mimi 19:58
Randi, I would love to know a little bit more about how you got involved in Start the Wave, and also just how you got involved in, like, the environmental community and field in general.
Randi 20:09
Sure! So how I got involved in the environmental fields... I'll start with that, ‘cause that came before Start the Wave. So it actually all started for me…[laughs] with a trip to the health food store. And I was...I was dating someone at the time who was very into health and wellness and natural products and I actually didn't know there was a different way of life, than what I was conditioned to. And so that was kind of eye opening for me and...and I was like and I started to ask more questions of, you know, why is this necessary and my partner...we had conversations around, you know, harmful chemicals and all that stuff. And so I started to — [clears her throat] excuse me — slowly transition into a...a better life, a more sustainable life. And then, I told this story before but, the real kicker for me for really wanting to do...to make change personally, was after reading a book called The Politics of Pollution, where they explain how chemicals from our detergents cause the algae and stuff to grow at such a quick speed such a such a fast pace that it actually deprives sea life of oxygen and basically suffocates them. And that just broke my heart and so I had....I made a decision to start buying only biodegradable products and being more mindful of my decisions that way. And then I...I started to become more of an activist and get more involved in protests and whatnot. And the reason that happened is because I was watching a debate on...one of our federal debates, and Elizabeth May, who is the leader of the Green Party of Canada — who I had never heard of, because I didn't really follow politics that much — she just spoke so eloquently and she was so fact-driven, that I was just really inspired. And I w...search...I sought out, you know, information on more on the Green Party and I realized that my values fell in line with the values of the Green Party. And so I was like, “Hm, how can I get involved more?”. And so I started volunteering with my local um...they're called the EDAs, which is uh... Electoral District Association — federally, they're called that — and just, you know, bringing movement to the...the community, the green community. And then I decided to run as a politician for the Green Party and that was a great experience, I've run a couple of times. And then I started working for the party. [laughs] And I was like, you know, like “how...how best can I make change?” and it's...it's, you know, for getting involved with progressive policies, you know, and so that's what I really wanted to be a part of, and so that's how I got involved. That's how I kind of went forward on the environmental movement. And so I had followed Dom on Start the Wave. And like, I followed Dom on Instagram and subsequently on Start the Wave because of their post on the Moon cup, the Diva Cup. I just thought it was, like, I used it as well, but I was like, this is great. Like, they're getting so much you know, visibility on this amazing, incredible product. And so I was like, I've got a...you know, I want to...I want to follow it Start the Wave more and then they started posting more and Black Lives Matter. And I was like, “Yeah, this is...this is something that I fall in line with”, so like all of the pillars just touched my heart. And so I...you know, I connected and I was like I got to be involved and you know, downward research or writing or whatever you want me to do and so we connected and here I am, and I’m super grateful for the experience.
Dom 24:53
Hmm.. you just stole my words, and we have...I’m just suuuuper grateful—...and a little...little piece of the story, that magic piece but it's just kind of awesome is that actually Randi and I did cross paths in real life and met during Pride in very sort of...yeah, like in a very how...what would you...how would you call it Ran? ‘s like a...was a...like a...one of those moments in life where it's like... Randi was, like, running through and, and it was like, “oh!” and then we had this really lovely interaction and...And then of course later down the line, we were just talking about that the other day, of like, had we...had we not had that interaction, would Randi have actually reached out and wanted to be part of Start the Wave? Maybe, maybe not? But...
Randi 25:43
Maybe, maybe not! Honestly! Because...because if I hadn't met you that day... Dom fails to tell the rest of the story, which is, she doesn't remember meeting me! [laughs]
Mimi 25:54
[laughs]
Dom 25:55
I dooo! It’s just there's two! There’s two that I got confused with, because it was...I meet quite a lot of peo—...I have met quite a lot of people at Pride, as you can imagine. But anyway, no, I...continue, Rands!
Randi 26:08
Yes! [laughs]
Mimi 26:09
I would love to hear Randi's version of that story, to see like... [laughs]
Jordan 26:12
Yeah, me too!
Randi 26:14
Okay, so I'll tell the..the sto—... the version is exactly that! it was...I was running through...I just wan—...marched with the Green Party 2016...I just marched with the Green Party. I was feeling really excited because my mother surprised me and...and she had never come to a Pride before, and so she surprised me. My friends set up this big, like, uh moment for me and recorded it...It was really, really special. And so I was on a high! And I was, like, running through the crowd and Dom passed me and I was like, “I think I know that person”.
[general laughter]
Randi 26:50
And I...so the story is I almost didn't say hello. I was…’cause I was running to my mom and if the meeting wasn't so nice, I might not have followed her on Instagram. I might not have followed Start the Wave. I might not have reached out. You know what I mean? So...I think it was a very, I guess, serendipitous...
Dom 27:12
Serendipitous, yeah!
Randi 27:14
Yeah...serendipitous moment, for sure.
Dom 27:12
Mm Hmm
Mimi 27:17
That’s so beautiful.
Jordan 27:18
And it's such a beautiful story.
Randi 27:21
And now we’re frieeends! Eeeeee!
Dom 27:21
Yeah! Look at us heeeere! #RanDom! [laughs]
Randi 27:24
#RanDom! [laughs]
Mimi 27:29
I love that! I would, yeah, I would love to get to know a little bit more about how...how you understand nature and how kind of...how that understanding kind of grew? Like, did...did you form that in your childhood or did that come later— and this is to both of you— did it come later when you started to get more aware of environmentalism and...and engaged in the environmental movement?
Randi 27:54
I'll go f—...I'll go.
Mimi 27:56
Okay!
Randi 27:57
[Laughs]
Dom 27:58
I was like, who's gonna go first, oooh?
Randi 27:59
Like uuuuh? [laughs] So I actually grew up...I didn't grow up in Toronto. I grew up in a small town where I had access to the river and lots of greenery. It was pretty much a farm town. And I...didn't appreciate it the way I should have. And it wasn't until I started to...I got older and I redeveloped, um...that connection with nature, and I did it... I'm just trying to think of some big moments that I can… ‘cause I don't know, I don't know if there's any specific I just... yeah, I just think that I...I redeveloped it or I developed an appreciation for...for the access to nature when I didn't have it! Actually, that's what it was. When I didn't have that access to the nature the way I had it when I was younger. I really.. I really missed it. And so, I began to appreciate it much more. And you know, I started to notice how things were shifting in the environment. And I knew that I needed to somehow make steps to protect what...what I realized now, was so beautiful and so in need of protecting.
Mimi 29:22
Hmm, beautiful...
Dom 29:24
Yeah, and for me... Similarly, I have to say I didn't have a particularly strong relationship to nature, as I was growing up. I was...I think I was quite intimidated by nature. I was quite scared of it in some ways. I was a very shy, young child.
Jordan 29:42
What were you scared of? Just out of curiosity.
Dom 29:45
Um, its vastness?
Mimi 29:50
Bears...? [laughs]
Dom 29:52
Bears…[laughs] I mean, no.
Jordan 29:54
Maybe—
Mimi 29:55
That’s fair!
Randi 29:56
[laughs]
Dom 29:56
I guess, like, my...my main passion was dancing and I could have stayed in the studio and danced all day, every day, to tell you the truth. And I think that there was also a piece of it that, as a very shy child, I was quite scared of a lot of things, really. I used to be...like the...the kid behind my mum's legs. And so, oh, actually! Funnily enough when I cam..., when I would come to Canada for the summer holidays — so I was living in England and then I would...we would fly to Canada and see all my French Canadian family. Then, suddenly I had all, like, my French Canadian cousins out on the ski-doo and like, going out in like...I mean it...in like....the SNOW!! Like, snow was a thing!! And going into, like, such extremes with my experience to nature, I think, was...it was quite scary and overwhelming. I remember there was, like, some friends that would go with...what’s it ca..., a wakeboard, or whatever, and you'd, like, get thrown off the back of the wake...but, kinda like the surfing on the back of the boat thing. And, these were all like completely new experiences for me and as a young...being, I think I was a little bit, kind of...I was put into um...thrown into the unknown and a little bit out of my depth. And I think there was a...there was this fear that came...with that. And yeah, a part of me was just like, “I’m safe inside. I'll just stay...I'll just stay here and [laughs]...just keep dancing!”. And, yet now, it has...my relationship to nature has evolved so much over the years, and continues to evolve, honestly. Um, I...yeah, I was just reflecting on this, this weekend of how much more of a relationship I have to the outside world and the way I think about it has shifted, like, 360, you know? So, yeah, I...I think for me, when I started traveling, and seeing the world and going to these unbelievable places and...just being totally amazed by the magnificence of our planet. I...yeah, I started falling in love with...with the Earth and then, going to places like...I remember when I was in Brazil...traveling in Brazil, went to this beautiful beach and it was just coooovered in...an old toothbrush, and a pair of flip-flops, and a this, and a that, and I...that's when...and same thing when I went to India, just really, like, see how much waste there was everywhere, and just really f—...feeling that, you know, and going “okay, the more appreciation I have for the land, the more I want to care for it and what does that actually look like? How can I...how can I do that?”
Jordan 33:12
Building on that, like, have you guys noticed that as your relationship with nature has evolved and gotten...you've gotten closer with it has it affected, like, your habits and...and your choices? Like, I know Randi, you’ve spoken about how you try to get...try to not get single use plastics or single use materials. I know you both are vegan, like, I'm just...just curious, like, how all of your choices have been changing throughout this journey?
Randi 33:38
Yeah, I mean, it's...it's been an evolution for sure. And the more I learn, the more I want to do better. And it's...it is a lifelong journey, because you are constantly going to be finding new...finding out new...finding out ways that we're harming the environment that we may not know of. So um...yeah, I um...It's funny, Jordan, you talk about veganism because I didn't become vegan originally for the environment. Like—
Jordan 34:03
Oh, I did not know that!
Randi 34:05
Yeah, I originally became vegan because I didn't like meat all that much. So I...not no, I became...I stopped eating red meat, pork and fish because I didn't like the taste of meat. And then for eight years, I ate chicken. And then I was like, “Hmm, I don't really want to eat chicken anymore...Just don’t really like it”. [laughs] Um, and then I stopped eating chicken, but the moment I stopped eating chicken — so that was all meat — I started to learn more about the environmental impacts of it...and actually hand in hand with animal rights! So I learned about animal agriculture and its impact on the planet, and then it took me a little bit longer. So I was like, "Okay, I'm making a good decision here." But then I learned more about the dairy industry. And I was like, "Oh...right...okay" [laughs]
Dom 35:08
Now once you've s—...once you know, and you've seen it, ...
Randi 35:11
Yeah! Yeah..
Jordan 35:12
It's hard to go back.
Randi 35:13
It is really, really hard to go back. And yeah, I mean, it's...it's second nature for me and I'm very, very privileged in that I have the means to be able to be...to live a vegan lifestyle um...and... and practice the philosophy regularly so...but yeah!
Dom 35:34
Beautiful! So inspiring! I um...yeah, definitely...The more you learn, the more you uncover and realize that there's a complete shift that needs to take place [laughs] in order for us to change the course of our future, you know? And...and but like you say, Jordan, like for me, the more I am in relationship with the land and with nature, the more I feel... yeah! Just I see it reflected in my actions, all the time. So like, just constan—...like, constantly reminding me that we are in relationship, like and how to...how can we be in right relationship? What does it actually look like? And the more I...the more I sort of lean into that and, like, listen, the more that feels like it guiding me. But in terms of like practical actions and things that I have done over the past few years, I mean, veganism was, of course, huge for me and unlike Randi, for me, it was very much instigated by the...my awareness of um...the benefits, I suppose, of becoming vegan and what the impact that would have on the environment. And...and then yeah, it just continued unfolding. It's like, once you’ve just...once you start that, then you're like, “Oh! Now I have to ask myself this question!”. And have a good—
Randi 37:18
Yeah, that’s exactly how it goes!
Dom 37:20
—deeper inquiry around this and “Hang on, if I'm doing that, that's kind of not really in integrity, if I'm—”... and then you just start listening to um...and getting really clear on your morals and your values, and then can keep coming back to that sort of, like, guiding compass, just like “Okay, with the amount of knowledge that I have in this moment, what is it...is this action that I'm taking in alignment with that or...or am I actually being out of integrity and by the passing it because, um...it's easier or I don't want to see the truth?” And then when you start making those changes, and I admire Randi so much in this because um...Randi is, you probably know, very much in integrity in all aspects of life. And it's really cool when you are surrounded by people like that, that, like, hold you accountable and are holding themselves accountable and how inspiring is to live in that place? So yeah, “this isn't this isn't working. This doesn't feel...this doesn't feel right. With the moun—...the amount of knowledge I have right now, I think I do need to make that change.” And once you make the change or whatever it might be, it feels [higher pitch voice] freaking great!!! [back to normal voice] And you’re like, Oh! I have—
Mimi 38:40
It feels really good!
Dom 38:42
Yeaah!
Randi 38:43
And you want to keep making changes too! You want to keep making those changes, like, you know I...you know, it's...it goes to...it started you know, with dishwashing detergent and then I'm like,...
Dom 38:55
Yeah, exactly!
Randi 38:55
Well, I'm also...you know, there's also chemicals in the Windex, of course there is! Time to start making my own stuff. And not everyone can do that! I just happened to be privileged enough to be able to do that. But you know, and then you start thinking about your toothpaste and you know, like, your toothbrush. You know, like...[laughs] So I've actually, I don't know if I told Dom this, but I actually bought the whole team a bunch of uh...toothbrushes.
Dom 39:19
Did yoouu?
Randi 39:20
Yeah! [laughs]
Dom 39:21
Oh...Raaan, you’re so cuute!
Mimi 39:23
It’s so, so sweet!
Randi 39:26
So they're wheat...they’re wheat stock toothbrushes. biodegradable. And so yeah, there's just, there's little things that you're like, oh, this can shift too, and this can shift and it doesn't have to be scary or daunting. It can...it can be slow, and that's okay.
Mimi 39:44
Dom, one of the things you said that really resonated with me and it was actually about Randi, is that Randi's really good at keeping everyone, including yourself, accountable. Randi, I would love to know, how do you keep yourself accountable? And I'm sure Dom, you're also very good at that accountability because I think that can be...you can go on this journey of learning and it can become very overwhelming and also very empowering and they want to do stuff but then that accountability piece isn't always there. So I'd love to hear your reflections on that.
Randi 40:15
Yeah, I um...for me specifically, I always go back to the philosophy of veganism, which is the least amount of harm to the planet we live in. And I...just with every decision that I make, I want to make sure that I am causing the least amount of harm. And that’s...that’s the way I live my life, like, I’ve...But I’ve adjusted into that mindset… like it’s t—...it took me...you know.. twenty… how long did I say, 24 years, Dom? It took me 24 years to reach this point, but I'm still also...still also growing and moving and so... Whenever I have any tidbits of information that I think will benefit other people, I like to share it. But I like to share it in a way that’s palatable as well, that people don't feel afraid that it doesn't feel overwhelming to them. So, that’s how I keep myself accountable, is really knowing what my purpose is, like, why am I doing the things that I’m doing um...and to c—..continue practicing that way.
Dom 41:20
Hm! Yes! Beautiful! Yeah...And honestly Randi’s been such a big inspiration to me, and continues to be and, and I... At this point in my life, I'm very much...like keep zooming out. Like, that’s the way that I hold myself accountable is, like, in a m—...if there's a decision that needs to be made, I’m like “wait a second, zoom out for a...a hot second just see, like, what is the mission”. [laughs] You know, like you’re saying Randi, like, what is the...what is your why? What is the reason behind it? And whether you define it as veganism, that cause the least amount of harm, or whatever. Coming back to that...that core foundational why, really helps me to, then, inform my decisions, um, to make sure that it's in alignment with that. And you know, sometimes you slip up! You slip up all the time!
Randi 42:29
Yep!
Dom 42:30
All the time! And...but it's just...I really like what you said there Randi, about, like, that...that if you just keep coming back to that, “Okay, I just want to make the least amount of harm!”. It's like, “Okay! Well, you know, didn't do it that time, but next time I will! Or I’ll try my best and maybe I’ll forget again next time! And then I’ll…”. You know, the third time maybe you’ll come through and it’s just about, like, heading in that direction and um...really living from that place as much as possible. And like Start—...if I’m honest, Start the Wave has been a huuuuge...Start the Wave has held me accountable, you know? In such a big way, because it, like, came about and then you know there's like “Okay, I’m gonna speak through these things that I'm really passionate about” and then it's like “well, you have to practice what you...”. I di—...I want to live it from a place of being able to...to truly say that I am practicing the things that I’m talking about and the things that matter to me. So, that has often been a great reminder, for me, to come back to things that I’m talking about and...yeah..and then of course, like...like, Randi coming along and all...people that have joined forces. Like, they are...they are your guide posts and...bring you back home.
Jordan 44:01
And that is the end of part one of this fascinating and inspiring interview with Randi Ramdeen and Dom Provost-Chalkley from Start the Wave. Listen out for part 2 of this interview, as we dive in deeper into conversations about the stigma of perfectionism in activism, the importance of community and the focus on empowering individuals to be their own changemakers and who have been the biggest sources of inspiration for them, in their own environmental journeys.
[outro]
Mimi 44:30
Thanks for listening to this episode of Imperfect Eco-Hero. Stay connected with us through our instagram @Imperfect_ecohero or email us at imperfectecohero@gmail.com. If you want to learn more about our podcast or see resources related to this episode, visit our website imperfectecohero.com.
