miranda bennett

Last week, I presented the keynote address and a workshop at @austintexasgov’s annual Resource Recovery Connect + Share Conference. This ask was really different for me, I usually participate in panels or fireside chats, but preparing a speech and leading a workshop is such a different assignment and honestly, one that was well outside of my comfort zone. The organizer at @austinrecycles invited me based on my work with Creativity in the Time of Capitalism, which was incredibly meaningful to me, and encouraged me to move through my nerves and discomfort. Even more meaningful was that my mom came, as did my dear friend @austinmorton (who isn’t photographed because she took all of these pictures), and tucked in a bag was my childhood doll Kirsten—a bridge to 9 year old Mindy to show her I can do hard things. There were even some fans of the podcast in the audience 🥲 Thanks to Kat for inviting me, @amberhodgsonhair who let me do a run through whilst working magic on my hair the day before my presentation, and @justindavidcox who is always in my corner and listened through many many drafts of this project.

My talk was about giving equal weight to all of the meanings of sustainability in business—environmental, economic, and cultural—a lesson I learned the hard way. It was also a chance for the business leaders in the room to realize that they were not alone in many of the struggles that they faced. I hope that they left with more permission to hold their wellness with equal measure to their ideals.

If you are a business in Austin and deploy any kind of circularity in your business model—Austin Resource Recovery @austinrecycles is doing incredible work and is available to you ♻️💚