The Green Tea Podcast: A Conversation on Conservation and Sustainability

By Marina Herriges, Editor of Reframing Conservation Through Sustainability

News in Conservation, April-May 2025, Issue 107, p. 40-43

Roxy Sperber and Lindsey Williams, both professionals in the field of conservation, have come together to create Green Tea, a podcast dedicated to discussing sustainability in conservation. Their journey began through their involvement with the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Sustainability Committee, where they look for new ways to engage with professionals in the field. I had the pleasure of talking with both creators.

Roxy, a paintings conservator at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, has been in the field for over a decade. Her term as chair of the AIC Sustainability Committee from 2020 to 2023 played a significant role in shaping the direction of sustainability efforts within the podcast. Lindsey works as a book and paper conservation technician at a Midwestern University Library. With a background in material culture and archaeology from the University of Edinburgh, she found her way into conservation after initially exploring other career paths.

The idea for Green Tea came from discussions within the Sustainability Committee about how to reach a wider audience. Initially, the committee had launched a webinar series called “Change Makers” during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a platform for professionals to share insights and strategies for addressing sustainability challenges. Today the on-going series is run by other members. However, as the world shifted back to in-person work, there was a growing demand for more accessible, audio-based content.

The name Green Tea originated from the phrase "spill the tea," which is often associated with gossip or hot topics. The hosts knew that much of what they would bring to the podcast would not always be easy to hear and could sometimes be considered "bad news." At the same time, spilling the tea evokes a sense of community and casual conversation, reflecting the open and honest dialogue they aimed to foster.

Visually, they opted for a green, matcha-inspired look—avoiding a tea bag, which felt wasteful—to preserve the tea imagery while aligning with sustainability. The podcast’s logo, designed in collaboration with Lindsey’s partner, features a teacup inspired by Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, symbolizing restoration and resilience. The blue and gold elements in the design further evoke the image of Earth, reinforcing the podcast’s global perspective.

What sets Green Tea apart, as a podcast, is its flexibility. Rather than following a rigid format, each episode is shaped by the guest’s expertise and experiences. This approach fosters authentic, engaging conversations, making sustainability in conservation feel more approachable and actionable.

The ties between conservation and sustainability are an essential part in the podcast. Lindsey highlighted that conservation and sustainability are inherently interconnected, particularly in heritage. Environmental factors play a significant role in heritage conservation, from microclimates affecting artifacts to broader climatic changes impacting entire structures. Lindsey sees this as an integral paradigm shift where the aims of sustainability should be integrated into conservation practices.

In our conversation Roxy further expanded on this perspective, noting that sustainability should not be confined solely to environmental concerns; it must also encompass economic and social sustainability, which are deeply intertwined.

There is still a need to reimagine conservation beyond environmental concerns, and Roxy welcomes the growing discourse on this issue.  Roxy reiterated that cultural heritage professionals exercise significant influence, and we must recognize our role in addressing sustainability challenges. Without this shift, the profession risks losing its relevance in the future. Roxy mentioned the importance of a shift towards community-driven conservation, where individuals are empowered to care for their own collections. Traditionally, conservation has been a highly specialized and somewhat exclusive field. However, addressing sustainability challenges requires a more inclusive approach that fosters collaboration between professionals and local communities.

The conversation then shifted to identifying key themes emerging in conservation. Lindsey noted that many podcast episodes have focused on waste mitigation, reuse, and recycling. Upcoming episodes will address composting and other sustainable practices in conservation. Lindsey also highlighted community outreach and organizing efforts, including initiatives like repair cafes and sustainability networks.

The podcast’s future direction includes expanding its reach to voices from the global majority* and exploring how conservation education integrates sustainability principles. Lindsey noted that upcoming episodes will feature professionals who have worked in different cultural contexts, offering insights into how conservation approaches vary worldwide. Additionally, they plan to investigate whether sustainability is being incorporated into university curricula and research projects. This exploration aims to encourage emerging professionals to understand the relevance of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in conservation.

Roxy and Lindsey spoke about the impact of their podcast on their professional work and personal perspectives. Lindsey, who primarily works behind the scenes in the podcast’s production, has been able to connect with the local communities, helping individuals preserve treasured family items such as well-worn and annotated cookbooks. This hands-on experience, influenced by podcast episode three with Netanya Schiff, allows her to bridge professional conservation with public engagement. Roxy highlighted the inspiration she gains from hearing how professionals navigate challenges in the field. The podcast fosters a sense of belonging, reinforcing that individuals passionate about conservation are not alone in their efforts. The shared experiences of guests showcase the practical struggles behind implementing sustainability  initiatives, making the process more relatable and achievable for listeners.

Roxy shared her experience implementing TerraCycleTM recycling boxes as a test initiative at her institution. While the effort faced challenges, particularly concerning budget constraints, it brought together stakeholders from different departments and sparked meaningful conversations about sustainability. The initiative gained traction partly due to a podcast episode she had recorded, where a guest emphasized the power of finding like-minded individuals within an institution as well as outside of the conservation lab to drive change. Though the long-term success of the programme remains uncertain, Roxy acknowledges that persistence and open discussions are key to fostering institutional change.

Still, certain sustainability challenges in conservation remain underexplored. Lindsey noted that while the podcast has covered economic and social sustainability, broader discussions on field-wide shifts are less common. Many conservation efforts focus on granular actions—like recycling mylar or composting wheat starch paste—but there is a need to also examine large-scale, systemic changes. Lindsey highlights how other platforms, such as the Changemakers webinar series, offer valuable perspectives on industry-wide transformations.

Lindsey also shared how listener engagement has shaped podcast content. Through Spotify polls, they gathered interest in exploring museum responses to climate activism, leading to an episode with the Leopold Museum. Additionally, outreach efforts have revealed that people across the field are already engaging with the podcast, even if they are not formal subscribers. By creating a space where professionals can share their stories, challenges, and solutions, Green Tea encourages listeners to see that every individual can contribute to sustainability efforts in their own way. Whether through small changes in daily practices or larger systemic initiatives, the podcast reminds us of the power of dialogue and collective action in driving progress.

The experiences Lindsey and Roxy shared highlight how knowledge sharing—whether through teaching, podcasting, or community engagement—has a tangible impact. Co-creation, open discussions, and collectively embracing challenges foster innovation and drive change in conservation practices. I highly encourage you to listen to the episodes and look forward to the upcoming season. If you are interested in participating, do not hesitate to reach out to them and share your knowledge and experience—they would love to hear from you!

You can access episodes of the Green Tea podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3b5jkqeiZEVasHKHZNlMf1

Author bio

Marina Herriges is a textile and objects conservator based in Glasgow and serves as Regional Programme Manager at the International Institute for Conservation (IIC). Marina is currently a doctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow’s School of Education, focusing on integrating anti-colonial practices and climate action into cultural heritage conservation. Marina is also a visiting lecturer for the MPhil in Textile Conservation at the University of Glasgow and has worked in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, and the UK.

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