Welcome to Do Beautiful Things™, a podcast hosted by Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. This podcast will engage experts and everyday people looking for straightforward answers to questions about the science, behaviors, business solutions, and policies that can help us all create more beautiful and sustainable communities. Together we will explore fascinating topics like the life of a recycled beer can, the value of urban forests, the people who are cleaning up literal ‘tons’ of litter in their community, and so much more. Our discussions are not just interviews; they are insightful conversations that illuminate the path to a greener tomorrow!
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Recent Episodes
From Bottles to Beaches: A Small-Town Recycling Solution
In rural Franklin County, Florida, glass bottles are getting a second life as sand. Host Jenny Lawson talks with Lynn Wilder, Executive Director of Keep Franklin County Beautiful, about how volunteers, local partnerships, and a mobile glass-crushing machine diverted 30,000 pounds of glass from landfills and into shoreline and oyster reef restoration. Tune in for ideas to help your community do beautiful things, just in time for America Recycles Month.
Counting 35 Billion Pieces of Litter: Digging into the 2026 National Litter Study
In this two part conversation on Do Beautiful Things, Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, joins David Scott, PhD, SVP of Data and Research, to discuss the 2026 National Litter Study and what a 34% decline in litter means for communities nationwide. Dr. Scott offers an inside look at what it takes to count 35 billion pieces of litter across thousands of miles of roadways, waterways, and, for the first time, coastal areas—from rigorous field research conducted by trained environmental consultants to the careful methods used to ensure reliable, unbiased data.
Previous Episodes
The Columbus Way: Growing Industry and Green Communities Together
How one Ohio city is proving economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.
Making Every Mile Shine: Mayor Holt’s Vision for a More Beautiful Oklahoma City
Hear from Mayor Holt and OKC Beautiful as they work hand in hand to make Oklahoma City cleaner, greener, and more vibrant.
Trash Bags, Civic Pride, and Leading with Purpose in College Park, GA
Discover how this Georgia Mayor is inspiring residents, transforming public spaces, and proving what’s possible when a community unites.
Paterson is Picking Up: How One NJ Mayor is Tackling Litter
Hear how Mayor Andre Sayegh’s bold leadership and community partnerships drive real change in the fight against litter and illegal dumping.
Building a More Beautiful Future: Pennsylvania’s Role in America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration
Learn about America250PA and its role in honoring the United States as it approaches a historic 250th anniversary in 2026.
Planting Seeds of Service: Lucinda Robb on Family Legacy, Civic Engagement, and the Beauty That Builds Community
Lucinda Robb—granddaughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson—shares how legacy, service, and small acts can spark lasting change.
Recycling Reality Check
Series 2
Series 1
Funding in support of the “Do Beautiful Things” podcast series,
“Recycling Reality Check,” is provided by:
