On a Mission to Protect the Planet — Changemaker Justin Sather
On This Episode of Spark to Empower
Connie Maday from Spark to Empower interviews Justin Sather, an 11-year-old working to ensure that “the planet is healthy for future generations.” What started with the spark and love for frogs, has turned into a movement of change to protect our planet. Justin has shown that one idea can change the world if you learn to be brave, have a growth mindset, and stay determined!
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Justin Sather is a young changemaker working to protect our planet with a goal to Conserve 30% of the Planet by 2030. What started with a love for frogs has blossomed into a dedicated effort to find climate solutions in hopes to clean up our planet. Justin helped raise over $30,000 for rainforest preservation and helped create the world’s first youth funded reserve with his Reserva Youth Council. He founded The Parallel Project and is working with world leaders and businesses to create laws protecting our planet with his JFP Stamp of Approval. He has also created a step by step guide to support other changemakers who are looking for the way to get started.
About the Guest
Justin Sather
changemaker working to protect our planet
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Connie Maday (01:12):
Welcome to Spark to Empower. I'm Connie Maday, educator, mother, entrepreneur. This podcast is about igniting the power within ourselves to bring about positive change for the world. This is the place for inspiration and celebrating change makers.
(01:27)
Today I'm joined by Justin Sather, an 11 year old who's working to ensure that the planet is healthy for future generations. What started with a spark and love for frogs has turned into a movement of change to protect our planet. Some of Justin's awards include the President's Environmental Youth Award, Grades of Green International Changemaker Award, and he was named as one of the 100 GoFundMe Kid Heroes.
(01:54)
Justin was also honored as the Young Hero of the Year at the Aquarium of the Pacific's Dazzling and Disappearing Frogs Exhibit. In addition, he's been featured in numerous publications, including Bravery Magazine, in connection with influential role models such as conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall and the Ocean Cleanups Founder and Engineer, Boyan Slat. Justin was recently honored as a Kid Activist of 2022 for Crate & Kids, for his conservation on changing the world and proving you don't need to be an adult to make a difference.
(02:26)
His story and passion has been featured in various publications and books, including Big Life Journal, who has also made a cartoon about his love for frogs and cleaning up the environment. Check it out. Perhaps you've seen him in the Ranger Rick Magazine, or on ABC News or other news stations. Justin's message is one of hope, dedication and passion.
(02:50)
Justin's idea to help the frogs started out in his local wetlands in Los Angeles and has now expanded to protecting over 30 acres of rainforest in Ecuador. He also started picking up trash near his local creek and has now helped to remove over 600 pounds of plastic trash from some of the dirtiest rivers in the world with the Ocean Cleanup interceptor boat. Last but not least, Justin developed his own JFP certifications to promote and inspire businesses to create products and packaging that would not harm the planet.
(03:28)
Justin has shown that one idea can change the world if you learn to be brave, have a growth mindset and stay determined. I'm honored to sit down with Justin today and ask him a few questions and hopes to share with others how it all starts with an idea, a passion and the purpose to make a difference in the world, because we all have the power to make a change. What started with a love for frogs has blossomed into a dedicated effort to find climate solutions in hopes to clean up our planet.
(04:11)
Justin, I'm so happy to have you. Welcome to Spark Change. Thank you for all that you're doing for the planet, and thanks for being here with me today.
Justin Sather (04:18):
Yeah, well, thank you for having me.
Connie Maday (04:22):
I'm so happy to meet you. And I noticed that you're in your special space, the Crate & Kids room makeover. That was completed recently, right?
Justin Sather (04:31):
Yeah, it was completed recently.
Connie Maday (04:33):
What an incredible space. Well, listeners, you're definitely going to have to check out some pictures of Justin's room makeover and see the pieces that were picked out with eco-friendly design in mind. It's definitely got me thinking about some spaces and what I want to do. It turned out beautiful. So Justin, do you love it? What's your favorite thing about it?
Justin Sather (04:52):
I like it because I have a place to rest and I can also have time to work on my things in the space.
Connie Maday (05:02):
Oh, definitely. I mean, what an amazing creative space for you to relax and inspire new ideas. I love it.
(05:08)
Okay, so Justin, I think I mentioned to you briefly that we have a special book in common, something that I've used for many years in classes. I'm a teacher and it's a book that got me started on my journey, and it got you started, What Do You Do With an Idea by Kobi Yamada. So, will you share with us, how did this book get you inspired to take action?
Justin Sather (05:33):
Well, I read the book when I was in kindergarten with my mom, and after the book I said that I wanted to start my own idea, because in the book, the kid had an idea and it got bigger and bigger until it changed the world. So I really wanted to change the world. So I asked my mom, "Help me start a project", and I started selling toy frogs. And now my idea has gotten bigger and bigger, and now I'm saving the planet.
Connie Maday (06:04):
Yes, so amazing how you really took your idea and it's really expanded into something magnificent. I can't wait to share more. So part of that book, and, well, I know part of what you really were brought along with, your mom really supported you along this journey as well with having a growth mindset. Will you tell our listeners, what does it mean to have a growth mindset?
Justin Sather (06:27):
A growth mindset is a mindset where it means that you're going to try again when you fail, and you can't do it yet. Instead of, there's another one which is stone or rock mindset, which, it means when you fail, you just give up and you're never going to try again. You want to have a growth mindset, that you keep on trying.
Connie Maday (06:52):
Yeah, I love it. You keep on trying, even when you don't have the answers yet, you keep on trying and you know, you have confidence in yourself, you're going to figure it out. I love that. You've definitely done that along your journey.
(07:04)
And it started for you back in kindergarten with your love for frogs. Will you tell us some interesting things you learned about frogs that we all should know?
Justin Sather (07:13):
I learned that frogs could breathe and drink through their skin, which means that they were really sensitive to the environment and people polluting the air and the water. I learned that if people were a frog, your tongue would go all the way to your belly button.
Connie Maday (07:32):
Oh, my goodness, really?
Justin Sather (07:33):
Yeah. And then I also learned that there's over 5,000 different types of frogs in the world. Frogs live everywhere except Antarctica, and that frogs are indicator species, which means that they're telling us the planet needs our help.
Connie Maday (07:51):
That's really important, isn't it?
Justin Sather (07:53):
Yeah.
Connie Maday (07:55):
And so, that's really what kind of got you going with this project, right? You wanted to help protect the frogs, you wanted to help support the land of frogs. And so, will you tell us some of your first project ideas that you had to help the frogs and the planet? How did it start for you?
Justin Sather (08:10):
Well, like I said, I was selling toy frogs and I was donating the money to different organizations and foundations at first. And then, since I grew up in Los Angeles, I had this wetlands nearby my house called the Ballona Wetland. So I started helping those wetlands, buying them equipment, having my birthday party there to pick weeds and clean up trash. And then I kept on saving the Ballona wetlands.
Connie Maday (08:47):
That's so neat. And then that led you to also expand your idea to help the rainforest. So, can you talk about that? What inspired you to take your efforts from local support to a larger scale?
Justin Sather (09:01):
Well, that's where the second book comes in, What Do You Do With a Chance, which is the same author as What Do You Do With an Idea. I got a chance to join Reserva, which they are helping save rainforests. And then I started helping the rainforest.
(09:19)
And then I also got to meet Dr. Jane Goodall, which, she told me that I should also do plastic pollution. So that's how I started my plastic pollution and rainforest project. I also learned that almost half of the rainforest has already been destroyed and the rainforest could disappear in 100 years.
Connie Maday (09:40):
Gosh, and that really inspired a little more action, didn't it? We need to make a change. A hundred years is not that long away. Wow, Justin. And it sounds like ... So getting rid of plastic is really what's important. We all need to work together on it.
Justin Sather (09:55):
Yeah.
Connie Maday (09:57):
And that you really shifted your efforts to really focus on that. And recently, you got to meet Boyan Slat. So, can you tell everyone who he is and what he's doing in the world to support the work around getting rid of plastic and how you guys are working together?
Justin Sather (10:11):
Yeah. Like I said, I got to meet Dr. Jane Goodall, which, she started pointing me in the direction by telling me that if people don't stop polluting, by 2050 there's going to be more plastic in the ocean than fish. So I started on plastic pollution.
(10:29)
And I really like the Ballona wetlands. And Boyan Slat and the Interceptor, they said that they were going to put one in the Ballona wetlands. And I thought Boyan Slat was really cool because he started this whole project because he went scuba diving and saw more plastic than sea animals. And he reached out to 300 businesses; only one responded and said it was a bad idea, but he had a growth mindset and kept on trying. And now he's cleaning up trash in the ocean by building boats and has a huge organization.
(11:06)
I've been helping, trying to get the boat accepted for the past year and months, and it got accepted into Los Angeles but then someone sued it. Then that finally passed and they just had a ceremony, which had Holly Mitchell and Boyan Slat there. Boyan Slat was the one who made the whole Interceptor, and I got to meet him. It was really cool to meet him. Then I also got to meet Holly Mitchell, which, she is one of the lead people in Los Angeles, so.
Connie Maday (11:43):
How exciting. The Ocean Cleanup, so Boyan Slat, he's the inventor who founded the Ocean Cleanup at the age of 18, right? I love how this story that you cling to is really one that got him started. And now he has this huge team, 120 engineers, researchers, scientists, and they're working all over the world to get rid of the plastic. And the Interceptor, it's an engineering masterpiece, it's so amazing. So you got to see it in action.
Justin Sather (12:11):
Not really in action, but maybe almost in action. That same night, it was also raining on the day right when they got it in. So if we stayed there a little bit longer, we could have saw it in action. Because when the rain comes, it floods, it kind of makes the river go higher and it drifts into the river.
Connie Maday (12:36):
Wow, how exciting. That sounds amazing, Justin. So you've shifted a little bit, also, some of your work now that you're doing, besides helping with the plastics, with the cleanup. You're actually working with businesses to help the planet. Can you tell us specifically how you are working with businesses to help the planet?
Justin Sather (12:56):
So right now my idea is to work with businesses and world leaders, which I've already had met two world leaders, Boyan Slat and Jane Goodall. So now I have to do my business part.
(13:09)
So, I'm working with different businesses like, there's one cereal brand called EnviroKidz, which is a cereal that doesn't use palm oil. Palm oil is a big thing in different types of foods, and they cut down all the rainforest just to plant palm oil so they can make it in different foods. And EnviroKidz, they don't use palm oil, which is good. And every cereal bought is one animal saved from whatever animal cereal you buy.
(13:43)
And then I also partnered with ECOS. ECOS is a business that they are switching from plastic pollution to sheets of soap or something. So basically, the green chemist there, I got to meet her, and they told me about ... So, people have laundry detergent in a plastic bottle because it's more gel. But what they did was they just took the water out of it and made it paper sheets of laundry detergent. So they just put it in a box, and they're no longer using plastic. And they're also trying to do it with their other products, like they created dish soap also.
Connie Maday (14:27):
That sounds really neat, that sounds like something to look into. What about your stamp of approval? Is that part of this as well?
Justin Sather (14:36):
I'm getting my stamp of approval and I'm making it where every single thing that is good for an environment, I'll approve, out of a business and a product. There's Crate & Barrel, ECOS and EnviroKidz, and then other businesses. So I'm probably going to be having to choose which businesses are, like their whole business is approved, and then some that only have a few products approved.
Connie Maday (15:05):
Justin, that's amazing. So you're doing the research, you're doing the work so that the rest of us can figure out how we can make better choices. We can purchase products that have been approved by you that fit the bill, that are eco-friendly. I love that. I've been wanting that actually for a long time. Thank you for doing that work for me! There's a lot of different products out there that sometimes are misleading, and so I think it's really important for us to make really smart choices in what we're buying these days, thank you, and what we're doing.
(15:35)
So you have this goal, and I think it's absolutely incredible. You want to protect 30% of the planet by 2030. And you've already talked about a lot of different things that you're doing, but you're also wanting to help inspire other kids to turn their ideas into reality too. So can you tell us, how are you doing that?
Justin Sather (15:58):
I am trying to inspire other kids at different schools, so sometimes I present my project to schools, or I'm doing something, I'm going to help some people start their own idea. And I think it's really fun to see other people have their own idea and watch it grow bigger.
(16:26)
So I want to help everyone start their own idea, because if only adults have their own projects, it's not going to clean up everything. Because the kids are there for the next generation, so when they grow older they're going to be the people that have to deal with it. So if you start at a younger age, you're going to learn more about how to clean it up, so when you become older you can become a world leader and stop plastic pollution.
Connie Maday (16:57):
I love it, yes. And I hear you also have a step-by-step plan that people can access to help get kids excited and inspired to keep moving with their idea. That is remarkable. I'm just so inspired.
(17:10)
There are so many incredible people out there making a change, and I love how you've really paved the way for others to see that it's possible and what it looks like to be brave. Justin, will you tell us about being brave? Why is it so important?
Justin Sather (17:27):
Well, if you're not brave, then you probably can't have a project because, at first, I wasn't brave because I would not want to go on TV and all of that. So the first time they asked me to, I said I didn't want to. But luckily I had a second chance and I got to be on TV in ABC News and Spectrum News.
Connie Maday (17:55):
Yeah. And sometimes being brave is kind of scary, but when you push yourself out of that comfort zone of doing the things that you are used to doing, that's when you grow and you learn. And you're doing all these amazing things and you realize, "Wow, this idea is actually connecting me to this other idea, and this bigger idea." And getting back to this book that we both love, one idea really can change the world, when you believe in yourself and you are brave.
(18:22)
Wow, Justin, so awesome. Well, if you could give advice to people that are listening here, young people, and let's say somebody wants to do something to help protect the planet. What are three simple things that they can do?
Justin Sather (18:38):
Be brave, stay determined, never give up. And keep on trying until you save the world.
Connie Maday (18:45):
Amazing. Great advice. Now you touched on Reserva earlier, but I know there's a little bit more there that you can tell us. So, will you tell us about the Reserva Youth Council Million Letters Campaign and what we should know about that? How can we help with the rainforest support?
Justin Sather (19:01):
Well, you can help with the rainforest by donating or writing a letter, but you have to be under 26 to write a letter. So, every letter you write is $3 for the rainforest. And it doesn't sound like a lot, but it is a classroom size of land in Ecuador, and an acre is $273. So you can either donate, or you can write a letter and send it to me or Reserva and raise money for the rainforest.
Connie Maday (19:37):
That's right. So one letter is $3, and so 93 letters would be like an acre of land. And then people can donate money or they can send letters to you, or letters directly to Reserva. So, more information on your website.
(19:51)
Okay. So, to learn more about Justin's stamp of approval, his steps for helping take your ideas to action and how his journey started and where it is now, head to fortheloveoffrogs.com.
(20:08)
Okay, Justin, just a few final questions for our change maker fast favorites. Doesn't have to be long, but I just want to ask you a couple more. So, what are your favorite things to do outside of school and the important work of saving the planet? What do you enjoy?
Justin Sather (20:23):
I like to play sports. I play soccer and baseball, which I had a baseball game today and a soccer game yesterday.
Connie Maday (20:33):
Awesome. And you guys won today, didn't you?
Justin Sather (20:35):
I won my soccer game and baseball game. Both games we were down a player. Baseball, we had one less outfielder, and soccer we had two less players.
Connie Maday (20:48):
Wow, so you guys really worked together for that one, didn't you?
Justin Sather (20:51):
Yeah.
Connie Maday (20:52):
Way to go. Okay. And question two, who inspires you the most? Who's your hero? And if you could meet anyone or interview anyone, could be alive or deceased, who would you meet and why?
Justin Sather (21:05):
I don't really know who, because I've met Jane Goodall and I've met Boyan Slat.
Connie Maday (21:13):
What about your hero? Who is your hero?
Justin Sather (21:15):
I know that Jane Goodall is kind of my hero because she started my whole plastic pollution side. And if I didn't get to meet Jane Goodall, I wouldn't get to meet Boyan Slat and have my whole plastic pollution.
Connie Maday (21:28):
Yeah, pretty incredible. And I think you have her on the wall too in your beautiful new room, don't you?
Justin Sather (21:34):
Yes.
Connie Maday (21:34):
Beautiful, yes.
Justin Sather (21:35):
Well, I think maybe someone I probably would want to meet is Bill Gates. For one, he did make Microsoft, but with all of his spare money, he's created a thing where he's helping people in Africa. And I have pen pals in Africa that I'm trying to help them get clean water and reusable water bottles so they don't have trash there, because trash comes from everywhere. Because if only your continent or country, if they only clean up, you're not going to have trash-free because the trash from other places could flow across the ocean and get to you. So, you need to help everyone.
Connie Maday (22:23):
Well, I hope that conversation happens sometime, because I'm sure you'd have a lot to share with Mr. Gates, and I'm sure he'd be interested to hear what you're working on. There's so much there, so much opportunity. Okay, question three, Justin, what's your favorite way to start the day?
Justin Sather (22:39):
Well, I really like to have breakfast in the morning.
Connie Maday (22:44):
Do you have a favorite breakfast?
Justin Sather (22:45):
I think eggs and bacon, maybe hash browns.
Connie Maday (22:50):
That sounds like a good well-rounded breakfast. Okay, question four. This one might sound kind of funny but it's one I used to say all the time in my classroom. We'd have a little birthday celebration and this was our traditional question. So, if you could have a magical fountain, so think like a water fountain but anything could come out. And it would work on your command and it's magical, so anything could happen. What would you want to have pouring out of it whenever you want?
Justin Sather (23:17):
I would probably have clean water for the frogs, so I could have lily pads and plants and water in the fountain, so I just could have a big fountain full of frogs that can live in harmony together.
Connie Maday (23:33):
Aww, I love that. Amazing. Okay, Justin, last question for our listeners. What is something that you wish everyone in the world knew?
Justin Sather (23:42):
I wish everyone in the world knew that you have to get other people to work together, instead of if you don't work together, then not everything could get things done.
Connie Maday (23:56):
Yeah. So working together is really important, isn't it? Yeah. I love that. That's such an important message.
(24:02)
Justin, thank you for sharing your journey with us, and thank you for offering such inspiration and continuing to work so hard to protect our planet. I celebrate you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for inspiring others. Really, it is up to us to work together for our future, and you're a change maker who's inspired others to do that part too, to play their role, to turn their ideas into reality so that we can take care of our world. So, thank you.
(24:33)
Well, that was amazing. I hope you enjoyed hearing Justin's journey as much as I did. And after all, it's really up to all of us to work together for our future. Make sure to check out fortheloveoffrogs.com. You'll find loads of resources and ways to help support this important mission of protecting our planet.
(24:51)
To find out more about my story, go to sparktoempower.com. And to celebrate other change makers and get inspired by thought leadership, make sure to check out and listen to Spark to Empower. Remember, be kind, be bold, be you. Until next time, I'm Connie Maday. Make it a great day, every day.
