Rob Greenfield has put the fun and friendly into environmental activism. Known for his eye-catching and media-worthy campaigns and adventures to wake people up to the destruction we're causing to our planet, Rob brings a positivity and sense of humor and humility to what is too often a dreary scold-fest.
Rob was originally on track to live an opulent American dream, complete with nice stuff, fast car, big house, and enough money to do whatever he wanted. A life in which he never had to think about the downstream consequences of his actions, choices, and consumption.
Then, somehow, he woke up. It dawned upon him that there was a direct link between his individual choices and the faraway and hypothetical poisoning of our ecosystem. That his convenient, comfortable existence was being underwritten by factory farms, oil spills, and trash heaps that wouldn't decompose for 500 years.
“I'm destroying the very things that I love,” he realized.
And he changed everything about how he was living.
My buddy Steven Sashen of XeroShoes.com (PYP #151) told me about Rob, and put us in touch.
Rob's journeys and campaigns have inspired and delighted me; I hope they do the same for you. Listen in as we discuss:
- why it's important to avoid “doom and gloom” environmentalism
- how to stay positive in the face of environmental destruction
- why patience is the chief virtue of would-be change agents
- on minimizing hypocrisy
- the environmental imperative of plant-based eating
- the tension and synergy between individual action and systemic change
- Rob's rides across America
- wearing trash in New York City for a month
- owning just 111 things
- traveling from Brazil to Panama with no money
- leaning on the kindness of humanity
- participating in and opting out of capitalism
- why rich people can't solve poverty
- living in a tiny house
- why he doesn't want to earn or save money
- having a net worth of less than $15,000, on purpose
- the joys of dumpster diving
- Rob's non-monetized media empire
- and much more…
Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.
Links
Rob on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook
Dude Making a Difference – Rob's book
Rob's TEDx talk

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Gratitudes
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Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
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