Episode 12: Sustainability Is Not Enough in This Sustainable Life Podcast with Joshua Spodek

Living Your Values Without Sacrifice

In this raw, unscripted episode, Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva joins host Joshua Spodek for a conversation that’s anything but polished—and all the more powerful because of it. Together, they unpack the tension between personal sustainability choices and systemic transformation, explore the limits of individual action, and ask tough questions about what truly makes a difference. From corporate reinvention to emotional exhaustion, this is a dialogue between two thinkers navigating what it means to live your values—without falling apart.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll hear why Dr. Nadya believes sustainability isn’t just a corporate initiative—it’s an emotional necessity. She shares how working in mining, construction, and other “dirty” industries led her to embrace reinvention not just as strategy, but as self-preservation. Together with Joshua, they unpack the cultural traps of guilt and virtue-signaling, and explore how to build a life and career that aligns with deeper values—without becoming paralyzed by perfectionism.

Who This Is For

1. Reinvention isn’t optional—it’s your nervous system’s survival strategy

Living out of sync with your values creates cognitive and emotional dissonance. Dr. Nadya explains why this misalignment leads to burnout and how reinvention helps restore coherence in work and life.

2. Small actions are good—but systems change is better

From clean cobalt mining to circular supply chains, Nadya shares real-world stories of companies that didn’t just shift marketing language—but reinvented their business models. Systemic levers, not just personal virtue, drive lasting impact.

3. Leadership isn’t a spotlight—it’s a network

Nadya reframes leadership as a decentralized system: it’s not about the hero on stage, but the “nervous system” that connects everyone. Whether you lead teams or quietly model new behaviors, you’re part of the reinvention ecosystem.

Resources Mentioned

• This Sustainable Life Podcast
• John Elkington’s recall of the “Triple Bottom Line” concept