logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
1h 8m

Ep 84: Sustainable Jewelry with Anna-Mie...

Nethra Rajendran and Cecilia Rios
About this episode

Fine jewelry is made from precious metals, think gold and silver, and stones, like diamonds or other gemstones. Traditionally these raw materials are mined from deep in the earth’s mantle and produced with extensive human labor to create the rings, necklaces, and other jewelry pieces we love to wear. As an industry, this component of our style can create negative effects on both the environment and people. In this episode, we explore the world of sustainable jewelry and how the industry is addressing environmental and ethical challenges. 

This episode is sponsored by MiaDonna, an innovative, ethical fine jewelry company. It specializes in designer-style, affordably priced, conflict-free engagement rings and fine jewelry made exclusively from lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold and platinum. MiaDonna is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, USA, and sells to more than 40 countries worldwide. Our expert interview is with Anna-Mieke Anderson, Founder and CEO of MiaDonna, as well as its charitable foundation, The Greener Diamond. She is an internationally recognized environmental and humanitarian activist and a pioneering visionary in the lab-grown diamond industry.

www.miadonna.com

------

Sustainability Defined is the podcast that defines sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen.  Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.   

We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors: 

Energy 

Cities 

Natural Environment 

Transportation 

Business 

Policy 

Social 

Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree.  The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.  

www.sustainabilitydefined.com

 

Up next
Oct 3
Ep 92: Hot Commodities: Matcha & Sustainability (ft. Wild Orchard Tea)
Matcha, it’s everywhere, from your morning latte to the latest wellness trend. But what does it really take to bring this vibrant green powder from farm to cup, and what can its journey teach us about sustainability? In this week’s episode, Nethra and Cecilia peel back the layers ... Show More
58m 8s
Sep 12
Episode from Source of Good Podcast: "From Farm to Closet: The Icon Coat by Eileen Fisher"
This week, we’re doing a podcast swap with our friends over at Source of Good! Source of Good is a podcast that goes beyond the label of your favorite products, uncovering all the ingenious ways they’re being made better for the planet, people, and our future. In each episode, br ... Show More
15m 13s
Sep 5
Ep. 91: Navigating NYC Climate Week (ft. Climate Film Fest)
In this episode of Sustainability Defined, we’re taking you inside NYC Climate Week 2025, one of the biggest sustainability events of the year. We’ll share tips on how to navigate the overwhelming mix of panels, networking sessions, and activations, and give you a sneak peek into ... Show More
58m 27s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
S3E10. Beading Tatreez into Jewelry with Zeina
ZEINA IS A JEWELRY DESIGNER AND FOUNDER OF ASHERAH JEWELLERY, DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING, PRESERVING, AND RAISING AWARENESS OF PALESTINIAN TATREEZ THROUGH HANDMADE BEADED JEWELRY (@ asherahjewelleryuk). Together, we hear about her journey as a half-Palestinian, half-Iraqi artist, g ... Show More
46m 47s
Aug 19
Nadine Ghosn: Owner of Nadine Ghosn Fine Jewelry - Pencil Bracelets, Burger Rings, Entrepreneurship, Balance, Anxiety, & Romance.
In this episode, The Gstaad Guy chats with jewelery designer and business owner Nadine Ghosn of Nadine Ghosn Fine Jewelry, to discuss building a brand from the ground up, why not fitting-in can be a strength, and how to stay creative in an industry that often plays it safe. Nadin ... Show More
57m 18s
Nov 2024
The enduring allure of jewellery
Jewellery can enthral us in many ways: it can delight, inspire and uplift us or it can transport us to the place where we acquired it. It can also make us avaricious or jealous. But why? What explains our enduring fascination with shiny metal and colourful stones?Iszi Lawrence is ... Show More
49m 27s
Oct 2024
Bonus episode: on culture
What does culture mean to you? Is it the art we create, the traditions we carry, or the values we hold dear? In this mini episode of Our World, Connected, Christine Wilson, Director of Research and Insight at the British Council, delves deeper into the multifaceted nature of cult ... Show More
17m 25s
Mar 2025
110) "Sustainability is Not Just a Buzzword" | LIVE Panel Recording
I'm so excited to be bringing you this special edition episode featuring the recording of our LIVE panel discussion in Chicago with Chicago Fair Trade and 3 of their business members. This was such a fun event to uncover the powerful stories behind these purpose-driven founders i ... Show More
53m 42s
Apr 2025
Tatreez on Stone I Naqsh Collective
With each stitch and surface, Naqsh Collective reimagines the boundaries between craft, architecture, and memory. In this episode, we sit with Nisreen, Nermeen and Shireen Abu Dail, the sisters behind the collective, to reflect on what it means to carry Palestinian identity throu ... Show More
38m 58s
Sep 10
How the diamond industry lost its sparkle
The natural diamond industry is facing an existential threat: lab-grown diamonds. They’re chemically and physically identical to natural stones, and they're just a fraction of the price. Eleanor Olcott, the FT’s China technology correspondent, travelled to the epicentre of lab-gr ... Show More
23m 32s
Apr 2025
S09E03 - Art Deco⏐Josephine Baker’s secret bracelet
Can jewelry be used as an instrument in liberation or a tool in the struggle for freedom? It is the early 20th century. The world is abuzz with countless battles: those that tear nations apart, but also those for women’s rights.It is in this tumultuous context that the Art Deco m ... Show More
15m 13s
Dec 2024
S07E04 - Literature⏐Tolkien and the power of the ring
Some jewels have only ever existed in books, and this is probably why they are so famous. Tolkien’s rings are amongst those mythical jewels found only in fiction, created thanks to their talented author. However, Tolkien did in fact, attempt to anchor his iconic rings to a true s ... Show More
13m 35s
Sep 2024
Discover the Secrets of Talisman Jewelry
There’s something enchanting about jewelry. Some pieces more than others… Imagine a bracelet with the power to win the favor of the gods, an amulet that makes someone fall in love, and a ring that brings eternal life! Down through the centuries, some of history’s greatest men and ... Show More
43s