Lauren Koch, Sustainability Senior Program Manager at Mars Veterinary Health, is a passionate advocate for purpose-driven work and a champion for sustainability in the healthcare sector. She delves into her impactful work, sharing how she has successfully navigated the complexities of both human and animal healthcare to create lasting, sustainable change.

Lauren gives us an inside look at her passion for driving waste reduction responsible pharmaceutical stewardship, and more, Lauren explains the unique ways biodiversity is addressed in the veterinary world, from creating pollinator gardens at clinics to ensuring the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals to protect local ecosystems.

She provides a masterclass in advocating for sustainability within large organizations, detailing projects focused on recycling, waste prevention through reusable sterilization tins, and reducing the carbon footprint of anesthetic gases. Lauren draws fascinating parallels between her current role and her previous work at the OSU Wexner Medical Center, sharing the powerful story of a two-year project to implement reusable sharps containers, a seemingly simple change that diverted 70 tons of waste annually. Finally, Lauren reflects on what keeps her optimistic, highlighting the deep commitment to sustainability at Mars and the power of working for a purpose-driven company.

Episode in a glance

00:57 Lauren’s Role at Mars Veterinary Health
03:03 What is Biodiversity in the Veterinary World?
06:19 The Net Zero Journey in Healthcare
10:34 A Champion Story The Reusable Sharps Container Project
16:41 The Immense Scale of Healthcare Waste
21:51 What Keeps Lauren Hopeful and Optimistic

About Lauren Koch

Lauren Koch is the Sustainability Senior Program Manager at Mars Veterinary Health, where she leads initiatives to create a more sustainable future for pets, people, and the planet. With a diverse background that spans business, public policy, and environmental science, she is a passionate advocate for data-driven strategies and collaborative action. Lauren's journey is a powerful reminder that a career with impact is always within reach if you're willing to ask questions, build relationships, and never stop learning.

Connect with Lauren Koch and her work:

Lauren Koch LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-koch-oh/

Mars Veterinary Health → https://marsveterinary.com

Mars Veterinary Health Sustainability Report → https://www.marsveterinary.com/media/uploads/2025/01/Mars-Veterinary-Health-2024-Environmental-Sustainability-Report.pdf

Green Building Article → https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283624285_Energy_performance_of_campus_LeedR_buildings_Implications_for_green_building_and_energy_policy

Health Care Without Harm → https://noharm.org/

Practice Greenhealth → https://practicegreenhealth.org/

Green Columbus → https://www.greencbus.org/

FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) → https://www.olentangywatershed.org/

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Lauren Koch, Sustainability Senior Program Manager at Mars Veterinary Health, is a passionate advocate for purpose-driven work and a champion for sustainability in the healthcare sector. Lauren shares the story of how a viewing of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" during a moment of career uncertainty ignited her passion for environmental action. She recounts her decision to return to Ohio State University to pursue a dual Master's degree, where a conversation with the legendary Neil Drobny opened her eyes to the world of sustainability in business. This "aha" moment set her on a path that would combine her business acumen with her deep desire to make a positive impact.

She discusses her early work at the OSU Wexner Medical Center, where she began weaving sustainability into her role as an office manager, researching best practices, and building a case for a dedicated sustainability program. This initiative and her volunteer work with local organizations like Green Columbus and FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) paved the way for her role at Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth. Lauren offers invaluable advice for those looking to break into the sustainability field, emphasizing the power of volunteering, seeking informational interviews, and the importance of "paying it forward." She also explores the complex, and often surprising, parallels between human healthcare and veterinary health, and the universal challenges and strategies for implementing sustainability in a clinical setting.

Episode in a glance

00:59 An "Inconvenient Truth" and a New Career Path
04:09 The GEICO Program That Taught Her About Purpose
06:38 From Office Manager to Sustainability Advocate
08:41 Advice for Aspiring Sustainability Professionals
14:06 Navigating the Safety vs. Sustainability Conversation
18:13 The Surprising Similarities Between Human and Animal Healthcare

About Lauren Koch

Lauren Koch is the Sustainability Senior Program Manager at Mars Veterinary Health, where she leads initiatives to create a more sustainable future for pets, people, and the planet. With a diverse background that spans business, public policy, and environmental science, she is a passionate advocate for data-driven strategies and collaborative action. Lauren's journey is a powerful reminder that a career with impact is always within reach if you're willing to ask questions, build relationships, and never stop learning.

Connect with Lauren Koch and her work:

Lauren Koch LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-koch-oh/

Mars Veterinary Health → https://www.marsveterinary.com/

Mars Veterinary Health Sustainability Report → https://www.marsveterinary.com/media/uploads/2025/01/Mars-Veterinary-Health-2024-Environmental-Sustainability-Report.pdf

Green Building article → (PDF) Energy performance of campus Leed® buildings: Implications for green building and energy policy

Health Care Without Harm → https://noharm.org/

Practice Greenhealth → https://practicegreenhealth.org/

Green Columbus → https://www.greencbus.org/

FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) → https://www.olentangywatershed.or

Send us a message!

Brody Olson, the Sales Development Manager at Two Men and a Junk Truck, is here to prove that "junk removal" is about much more than just a trip to the dump. It's about empathy, community, and finding a second, third, or even fourth life for the items we no longer need. Brody pulls back the curtain on the often-misunderstood world of junk removal. He challenges the very notion of "junk," reframing it as "unwanted items" and revealing the treasure trove of opportunities for reuse, donation, and recycling. Brody shares the origin story of Two Men and a Truck, a humble summer gig that grew into a nationwide franchise, and explains how the demand for junk removal became a natural and necessary extension of their moving services.

He offers a window into the deeply human side of the business, discussing how his teams navigate some of life's most stressful moments: death, divorce, and moving, with empathy and grace. Brody details their robust diversion process, a multi-stream system that sends furniture to the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio, clothing to Goodwill, and electronics to partners like Columbus Micro. He shares the impressive impact of these efforts, having diverted approximately 40 tons of donatable items in just the last eight months of 2025.

Brody also recounts the overwhelming success of their World Cleanup Day event, where a simple 15-second news segment brought a flood of cars, trucks, and trailers lined up to drop off items for free, proving the immense community desire for accessible and responsible disposal options. The conversation also touches on the emotional side of letting go of possessions, from the challenges of hoarder situations to the dwindling sentimentality of modern furniture.

Episode in a glance

01:02 It's Not "Junk," It's "Unwanted Items":
04:47 The Many Paths for Unwanted Items
07:34 Partnering with the Furniture Bank
11:47 World Cleanup Day An Unexpected Success
15:19 The Human Side of Hoarding and Letting Go

About Brody Olson

Brody Olson is the Sales Development Manager at Two Men and a Junk Truck. With a diverse background in operations and a deep commitment to customer service, he has played a key role in the growth and evolution of the company. Brody's journey is a powerful reminder that a fulfilling career can be found in unexpected places, and that the most valuable lessons are often learned on the front lines.

Connect with Brody Olson and his work

Website → https://twomenandajunktruck.com/

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/TMJTColumbus/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/twomenandatruckcolumbus/?hl=en

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/brody-olson-661b48178/

Send us a message!