Roots To Fruits Castos https://rootstofruits.castos.com Sustainability doesn’t need to be out of reach. Packaging needs to change… Roots To Fruits is the podcast companion to Kelly's book, the Soft Power Model. We explore the world of Hydrogen bonding, the power of soft bonding, and the forces that hold people, teams, and civilization together. Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:00:00 +0000 en © 2025 https://episodes.castos.com/66ab44bde6f8f4-74986802/images/Episode-1-Spotify-And-Apple-Podcasts.png Roots To Fruits https://rootstofruits.castos.com Sustainability doesn’t need to be out of reach. Packaging needs to change… Roots To Fruits is the podcast companion to Kelly's book, the Soft Power Model. We explore the world of Hydrogen bonding, the power of soft bonding, and the forces that hold people, teams, and civilization together. Kelly Williams episodic Sustainability doesn’t need to be out of reach. Packaging needs to change… Roots To Fruits is the podcast companion to Kelly's book, the Soft Power Model. We explore the world of Hydrogen bonding, the power of soft bonding, and the forces that hold people, teams, and civilization together. Kelly Williams kellywilliams1972@icloud.com false https://feeds.castos.com/d29jm yes <![CDATA[Community Before Policy: How Change Actually Happens]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:00:00 +0000 Kelly Williams https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/65265/episode/2359743 https://rootstofruits.castos.com/episodes/community-before-policy-how-change-actually-happens In this episode of Roots to Fruits, Stacy Savage—also known as the Texas Trash Talker—shares her journey from grassroots environmental organizing to leading zero waste strategy at scale. The conversation explores how environmental progress is often slow, fragile, and easily reversed, especially within waste and recycling policy. Through real-world stories from Texas, Stacy and the host unpack the power of community organizing, the role of corporate responsibility, and why lasting change requires systems that can withstand political and economic pressure. At its core, this episode is about what it really takes to build sustainability that lasts—one community, one policy, and one hard-earned win at a time.

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - How to Start Talking About Waste Sustainability
  • (00:00:36) - Roots to Fruits: Stacy Savage and the Fight for Zero
  • (00:02:43) - Stacy Savage on The Fight for Clean Air
  • (00:10:56) - Texans for Responsible Recycling
  • (00:18:01) - Grow: The Experience of Going Door to Door
  • (00:24:11) - Local control of environmental issues in Texas
  • (00:27:57) - Why Companies Are Stuck on Waste Management
  • (00:32:51) - What is a Sustainable Business Certification Program?
  • (00:34:19) - How Fear Keeps Companies From Changing
  • (00:43:41) - Local environmental programs grow in Ohio
  • (00:44:57) - ZERO Waste: The Texas Trash Talker
  • (00:48:04) - Austin Organics Recycling Program
  • (00:53:37) - Stacy on Roots to Fruits
]]> full 8 1 false In this episode of Roots to Fruits, Stacy Savage—also known as the Texas Trash Talker—shares her journey from grassroots environmental organizing to leading zero waste strategy at scale. The conversation explores how environmental progress is often slow, fragile, and easily reversed, especially within waste and recycling policy. Through real-world stories from Texas, Stacy and the host unpack the power of community organizing, the role of corporate responsibility, and why lasting change requires systems that can withstand political and economic pressure. At its core, this episode is about what it really takes to build sustainability that lasts—one community, one policy, and one hard-earned win at a time.

]]> 00:54:39 <![CDATA[Rooted in Truth: Regeneration from the Inside Out]]> Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Kelly Williams https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/65265/episode/2289526 https://rootstofruits.castos.com/episodes/rooted-in-truth-regeneration-from-the-inside-out In this episode of the Roots to Fruits podcast, host Kelly Williams engages in a deep conversation with Stuart McDonald about the intersection of sustainability, authenticity, and leadership in the modern business landscape. They explore Stuart's journey from the Merchant Marine to the world of sustainable materials, the barriers to the adoption of bioplastics, and the importance of small and medium enterprises in driving change. The discussion also delves into the psychological barriers within the industry, the need for trust and authenticity, and the role of mindfulness practices in maintaining balance in a chaotic world.

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Determining the Right Message for Your Brand
  • (00:00:39) - Roots to Fruits: The Crossroads
  • (00:03:01) - Stuart McDonald on the Search for Sustainable Materials
  • (00:06:23) - What Actually Got You into Sustainable Films?
  • (00:12:42) - What's Holding the Industry Back?
  • (00:13:41) - What's Holding the Industry Back?
  • (00:18:10) - Large CPGs vs Small and Medium Businesses
  • (00:21:34) - Pepsi on the 2020 Waste Management Regulations
  • (00:26:09) - Top 10 on Non-Compete Collaboration
  • (00:29:12) - In the Elevator With Gay Executives
  • (00:30:44) - Gay Voices on Authenticity
  • (00:34:57) - Living Your Truth with Passion, Integrity
  • (00:37:09) - Gay Men and the Feminine Ideal
  • (00:43:01) - Compost and the Nature of It
  • (00:43:29) - How to Stop Being Performative in Relationships
  • (00:45:48) - A Sense of Well-Being
  • (00:47:25) - Guys Start Surfing At 40
  • (00:49:37) - How to Find Your Balance of Mindfulness
  • (00:53:02) - A Few Words for Stuart Baldwin
]]> full 7 1 false In this episode of the Roots to Fruits podcast, host Kelly Williams engages in a deep conversation with Stuart McDonald about the intersection of sustainability, authenticity, and leadership in the modern business landscape. They explore Stuart's journey from the Merchant Marine to the world of sustainable materials, the barriers to the adoption of bioplastics, and the importance of small and medium enterprises in driving change. The discussion also delves into the psychological barriers within the industry, the need for trust and authenticity, and the role of mindfulness practices in maintaining balance in a chaotic world.

]]> 00:55:20 <![CDATA[Coherent Energy in Action: How a Compost Pilot Became a Movement]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2025 21:30:00 +0000 Kelly Williams https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/65265/episode/2244837 https://rootstofruits.castos.com/episodes/coherent-energy-in-action-how-a-compost-pilot-became-a-movement In this episode of the Roots to Fruits podcast, host Kelly Williams and Dr. Evan White discuss the importance of composting and its impact on community dynamics. They explore a study funded by the Walmart Foundation that examined the effects of composting on families in Athens, Georgia. The conversation delves into the challenges and successes of implementing a composting program, the role of children in fostering environmental awareness, and the broader implications for sustainability and material science. The episode emphasizes the need for community engagement and environmental stewardship as essential components of effective composting initiatives.

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - The Athens County Compost Pilot
  • (00:00:51) - Roots to Fruits: The Power of Community
  • (00:03:17) - The quest for low-temperature compostable packaging
  • (00:13:14) - The City of Athens: Composting Pilot
  • (00:18:13) - How Did the Pilot Program Get Started?
  • (00:20:24) - The Garbage and Recycling Pilot
  • (00:27:08) - The Children of the Composting
  • (00:30:10) - The Athens Composting Pilot Program
  • (00:36:43) - Philip Morris on the future of packaging
  • (00:39:59) - Microplastics in the sea turtles
  • (00:46:58) - Evan on Environmental Stewardship
]]> full 6 1 false In this episode of the Roots to Fruits podcast, host Kelly Williams and Dr. Evan White discuss the importance of composting and its impact on community dynamics. They explore a study funded by the Walmart Foundation that examined the effects of composting on families in Athens, Georgia. The conversation delves into the challenges and successes of implementing a composting program, the role of children in fostering environmental awareness, and the broader implications for sustainability and material science. The episode emphasizes the need for community engagement and environmental stewardship as essential components of effective composting initiatives.

]]> 00:51:20 <![CDATA[Authenticity in Action: Finding Your Coherent Self]]> Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +0000 Kelly Williams https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/65265/episode/2177792 https://rootstofruits.castos.com/episodes/the-role-of-youth-in-environmental-advocacy In this episode of the Roots to Fruits podcast, host Kelly Williams engages with Daoud Saadeh, a recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati, discussing his journey in environmental advocacy and the importance of authenticity in leadership. They explore the challenges of groupthink, the role of youth in driving change, and the significance of mental health and coherence in personal and professional settings. Dald shares insights on navigating cultural identity and the power of vulnerability, emphasizing that true connection and self-awareness are essential for effective leadership and meaningful change.

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Genome 5: The Challenge of Groupthink
  • (00:01:09) - Roots to Fruits: Dal Sada
  • (00:06:26) - You were the undergraduate director of sustainability at the University of Cincinnati
  • (00:12:30) - Grounding grounded in the issues of your generation
  • (00:18:18) - In the Elevator With Hillary Clinton
  • (00:18:53) - In the Elevator With Me
  • (00:25:51) - "Maybe I Should Try Yoga?"
  • (00:26:31) - Being Authentic in Your Worklife
  • (00:32:25) - Be Yourself: Living Your Truth
  • (00:37:41) - Bradley on Giving Advice
  • (00:41:51) - In the Land of Advice
  • (00:43:19) - Ohioans on Being Born in the States
  • (00:46:44) - Why Are You Here?
  • (00:47:32) - How to Balance Your Hobby With Time
  • (00:49:52) - Growing up in Washington
  • (00:52:28) - Reading From Your Own Book
]]> full 6 1 false In this episode of the Roots to Fruits podcast, host Kelly Williams engages with Daoud Saadeh, a recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati, discussing his journey in environmental advocacy and the importance of authenticity in leadership. They explore the challenges of groupthink, the role of youth in driving change, and the significance of mental health and coherence in personal and professional settings. Dald shares insights on navigating cultural identity and the power of vulnerability, emphasizing that true connection and self-awareness are essential for effective leadership and meaningful change.

]]> 00:54:45 <![CDATA[One Nervous System Can Rehydrate the Room]]> Thu, 14 Aug 2025 21:02:32 +0000 Kelly Williams https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/65265/episode/2112189 https://rootstofruits.castos.com/episodes/one-nervous-system-can-rehydrate-the-room In Episode 4 of Roots to Fruits, Kelly Williams explains the heartbeat of his debut book, Tiny Hands: The Soft Power Model.

This isn’t a conversation about strategy. It’s about systems that feel.
It’s about fascia, trust, resonance, and why one coherent nervous system can rehydrate the room.

Together, we walk through the Hydration Ladder—a biological and organizational model that maps how flow is lost and restored in teams, companies, and bodies.

We unpack core dichotomies like:
Enzymatic leadership vs. control from fear
Co-regulation vs. co-isolation
Composting grief vs. accumulating residue
Reverberance vs. performance
Mass vs. energy

This episode is for regenerative designers, sustainability leaders, nervous system nerds, and anyone trying to build something alive in a brittle world.

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Roots to Fruits
  • (00:01:08) - Chris Schaefer on Becoming More Unflappable
  • (00:02:53) - Tiny Hands: A Soft Power Model
  • (00:07:41) - Riffing on the Voids
  • (00:08:41) - The Hydration Valves
  • (00:09:36) - The Hydration Ladder
  • (00:14:14) - Meeting the Enzyme and the Real
  • (00:19:14) - Co-Regulation vs CO isolation
  • (00:23:05) - Vulnerability vs Fear in Business
  • (00:27:32) - Composting Grief
  • (00:30:44) - Reverberant vs Performative Optics
  • (00:34:42) - On the Performative Side
  • (00:37:24) - Hard Power vs Soft Power
  • (00:41:58) - A Lesson on Mass vs. Energy
]]> full 4 1 false In Episode 4 of Roots to Fruits, Kelly Williams explains the heartbeat of his debut book, Tiny Hands: The Soft Power Model.

This isn’t a conversation about strategy. It’s about systems that feel.
It’s about fascia, trust, resonance, and why one coherent nervous system can rehydrate the room.

Together, we walk through the Hydration Ladder—a biological and organizational model that maps how flow is lost and restored in teams, companies, and bodies.

We unpack core dichotomies like:
Enzymatic leadership vs. control from fear
Co-regulation vs. co-isolation
Composting grief vs. accumulating residue
Reverberance vs. performance
Mass vs. energy

This episode is for regenerative designers, sustainability leaders, nervous system nerds, and anyone trying to build something alive in a brittle world.

]]> 00:45:22 <![CDATA[What Comes After Systematic Collapse]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:57:50 +0000 Kelly Williams https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/65265/episode/2091922 https://rootstofruits.castos.com/episodes/what-comes-after-systematic-collapse In this episode of the Roots to Fruits Podcast by Kelly Williams, we explore a regenerative, cellular blueprint for building resilient systems rooted in connection, hydration, and trust. Soft power and local action create lasting change, and community-led solutions like the Dayton Food Bank offer inspiring examples of what’s possible.

If you want to understand how to build stronger teams, healthier communities, and a sustainable future, this conversation is for you.

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - What does sustainable agriculture look like?
  • (00:01:11) - Roots to Fruits: The Collapse Blueprint
  • (00:05:18) - How to Compost Our Grief
  • (00:07:59) - Grief and the Psychology of It
  • (00:10:28) - Chemical Leadership: Hydrate vs. Distress
  • (00:17:00) - Kelly on the Boundary
  • (00:24:41) - Local programs to help with waste diversion
  • (00:31:16) - Generation X on Connecting the Planet
  • (00:34:04) - Roots to Fruits: Build a Strong Relationship
]]> full 3 1 false In this episode of the Roots to Fruits Podcast by Kelly Williams, we explore a regenerative, cellular blueprint for building resilient systems rooted in connection, hydration, and trust. Soft power and local action create lasting change, and community-led solutions like the Dayton Food Bank offer inspiring examples of what’s possible.

If you want to understand how to build stronger teams, healthier communities, and a sustainable future, this conversation is for you.

]]> 00:34:44 <![CDATA[Regeneration Starts When Spreadsheets Stop]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2025 21:06:02 +0000 Kelly Williams https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/65265/episode/2075035 https://rootstofruits.castos.com/episodes/regeneration-starts-when-spreadsheets-stop In this episode of the Roots to Fruits podcast, Kelly Williams and Chris Schaefer explore the importance of hydration in individuals, teams, and organizations. They discuss how dehydration affects team dynamics and organizational culture, the role of leadership in fostering a hydrated environment, and the challenges faced by industries in transitioning to regenerative practices. The conversation highlights the need for material honesty in sustainable packaging and offers insights for companies looking to navigate this complex landscape.

Chapters

  • (00:00:01) - Have We Reached a Hydration Crisis at Companies?
  • (00:01:22) - Roots to Fruits: Soft Power
  • (00:06:19) - Base Building: The Hydration Loop
  • (00:10:10) - Understanding the Individual's Chakra
  • (00:11:44) - How to Hydrate Your Team
  • (00:16:15) - The Organization's Need for a Secretary
  • (00:17:30) - In the Elevator With Elon Musk
  • (00:18:31) - Hooverization of a Company
  • (00:24:19) - The State of the Packaging Industry
  • (00:29:11) - The Supply Chain echo chamber
  • (00:31:40) - Sustainable Materials: The Design Norms
  • (00:36:02) - How to Hydrate Your Company's Growth
  • (00:40:38) - What Would an Enzyme-Based Leader Look Like?
  • (00:42:31) - The Hydration of Your Company
  • (00:44:21) - Roots to Fruits: Episode 3
]]> full 2 1 false In this episode of the Roots to Fruits podcast, Kelly Williams and Chris Schaefer explore the importance of hydration in individuals, teams, and organizations. They discuss how dehydration affects team dynamics and organizational culture, the role of leadership in fostering a hydrated environment, and the challenges faced by industries in transitioning to regenerative practices. The conversation highlights the need for material honesty in sustainable packaging and offers insights for companies looking to navigate this complex landscape.

]]> 00:45:43 <![CDATA[You're Not Broken, You're Dehydrated | Episode 1 of Roots To Fruits]]> Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:03:44 +0000 Kelly Williams https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/65265/episode/2057991 https://rootstofruits.castos.com/episodes/youre-not-broken-youre-dehydrated-episode-1-of-roots-to-fruits What if the systems we rely on, in business, life, and even packaging, are failing because they’re brittle, not because they're broken?

In this foundational episode, I unpack the idea of soft power: a force that connects rather than controls. From hydrogen bonds in nature to the hidden dynamics inside teams, this conversation explores how regeneration starts not with data, but with hydration — personal, organizational, and ecological.

Chapters

  • (00:00:00) - Roots to Fruits: The Soft Power Model
  • (00:01:17) - The Ultimate Human Desire: Soft Power
  • (00:08:35) - In the Elevator With Kelly
  • (00:12:14) - What Is Soft Power?
  • (00:18:33) - In the Elevator With Bioplastics
  • (00:21:22) - What would be your best near term recommendation for regenerative packaging?
  • (00:23:54) - Kelly, in the book
  • (00:30:41) - Bond Soft and Build Strong
]]> full 1 1 false What if the systems we rely on, in business, life, and even packaging, are failing because they’re brittle, not because they're broken?

In this foundational episode, I unpack the idea of soft power: a force that connects rather than controls. From hydrogen bonds in nature to the hidden dynamics inside teams, this conversation explores how regeneration starts not with data, but with hydration — personal, organizational, and ecological.

]]> 00:31:40