The Conch Podcast features interviews
with the most inspiring people in the world of seafood.
Join Julie Kuchepatov,
founder of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE),
as she interviews people striving
to succeed in the sector, as well as those already making an impact,
and the challenges they face -
all while working to improve
the environmental and social responsibility
of the planet’s most incredible food source - seafood!
Did you know fish skin can be transformed into incredibly strong, eco-friendly leather boots?
On episode 3 of The Conch podcast, Julie is joined by Tasha Nathanson, founder of Seven Leagues, a circular economy fish leather tannery and fish boot social enterprise based in the Pacific Northwest. They explore the process of tanning fish skin for leather, the challenges of launching a socially conscious startup, whole fish utilization, and operating at the intersection of three industries dominated by men: fishery, forestry, and leather.
Episode Guide
:00 Intro
01:09 A chance encounter leads to the creation of Seven Leagues, a circular economy fish leather tannery and fish leather boot social enterprise.
3:25 Neither a tanner nor a cobbler, Tasha sets out to learn these trades for market research.
6:24 Seven Leagues –a name holding many important meanings.
8:30 Tasha walks us through the intricate process of turning fish skins into leather.
16:17 Traditional leather production–a harmful and polluting process.
19:42 Whole fish utilization— creating more opportunities to use all parts of a fish increases its value and decreases waste.
26:11 Seven Leagues wins the Ocean Startup Challenge!
28:07 Tasha is building a social enterprise designed to support social hiring and local production.
33:50 Solving problems and creating positive impact through systems thinking, not symptom thinking.
35:15 Operating at the intersections of three industries dominated by men—leather, forestry, and fishing—Tasha’s entrepreneurial ethos is to build a “camel,” not a “unicorn”
39:19 For those looking to start a career in the seafood sector, follow the wise advice of television icon Mr. Rogers.
42:31 Uplifting others to be solution-oriented rather than complaint-oriented.
43:41 When will salmon skin boots hit the shelves?
Resources:
Read all about 7 Leagues Leather and Tasha’s vision of sustainable leather production.
Learn more about the importance of reducing fish waste and the utilization of the whole fish here.
Recommend this episode to one person who is curious about sustainable fashion!
The Conch Podcast is a program of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE).
Audio production, engineering, editing, mixing, and sound design by Crystal Sanders-Alvarado for Seaworthy.
Theme music: “Dilation” by Satan's Pilgrims
Funding generously provided by
