"Their cup of coffee, that delightful delicious cup that's helping them start their day and fuel these wonderful moments with their friends and family, almost certainly has either slavery, child labor, and deforestation in it. How has this industry gotten away with the plastic, with the cups, the milk, the human rights abuses, the deforestation? Scientists tell us this is the 11th hour. We are running out of time."

What would drive someone to take on some of the most powerful industries on Earth? This episode dives deep with Etelle Higonnet, a lawyer turned fearless activist who has dedicated her life to exposing the hidden abuses behind the products we use every day. From cocoa and palm oil to rubber and now coffee, she has fought to rebuild broken systems from the inside out.

As the founder of Coffee Watch, Etelle is leading a global effort to transform one of humanity's favorite and most destructive commodities into a model of sustainability and fairness.

We explore how she has held corporations accountable, what it takes to create real impact, and why every purchase and every choice matters more than we realize.

What we discuss in this episode:

The hidden truth behind your daily cup of coffee: what's really going into it and who pays the price.
What it would actually cost per cup to ensure your coffee is ethical and environmentally sound.
How to find coffee that's sustainably sourced and free of toxic chemicals.
The primary drivers of global deforestation.
Dark secrets behind chocolate production.
What agroforestry is and why it's critical to the planet's future.
How climate change affects coffee production.
Practical steps you can take to make a real difference.