Behind the Scenes: Sustainability at Music Festivals with Vivian Belzaguy Hunter

In this episode, we dive into sustainability where the stakes—and the challenges—are at their highest: music festivals and live events. Our guest is Vivian Belzaguy Hunter, a trailblazer in festival sustainability who has transformed waste diversion, environmental protection, and behavioral change across massive, temporary “pop-up cities.”From the chaos behind the scenes to the drive toward zero waste, Vivian shares how small decisions lead to big change, why recycling and composting efforts so often fall short, and how proactive planning can turn festivals into immersive classrooms for sustainability. Hear what sets truly green festivals apart from the rest, how organizers, vendors, and even artists play a pivotal role, and the innovations transforming the industry here and abroad. Whether you run a business, lead a campus, or love live music, discover what our wildest events can teach us about going zero—where change is possible, and sometimes, preferred.