A Conversation with Cass Marketos, Compost Creative and Author of "Compost This Book"

Just over two weeks after the final Southern California wildfires of January 2025 were brought under control, Cassandra Marketos sat down with Daniel to talk about her evolving projects around soil restoration, bioremediation, and public engagement. She reflects on the impact of everyday choices, the necessity of reconnecting with nature on a personal level, and how composting can serve as both a practical solution and a form of creative expression that redefines how we view waste.

Below is a shortened transcript of their conversation. The full episode will be available in podcast format soon.

Weather, Restlessness, and a Changing Climate

Daniel: What up, Cass? Thanks for doing this. How are you doing today?

Cass: No problem. It's pouring outside. I'm restless. My dog is restless. The world is crazy, but I'm good.

Daniel: Is the pouring feeling like a good thing or a bad thing?

Cass: It's both. Los Angeles is in a special circumstance—burn scars, heavy rainfall, potential mudslides. It’s climate change: we’re getting too much of everything, all at once.

From Kickstarter to Compost: Cass’s Unexpected Path

Daniel: Your background is unique—Kickstarter, the White House, and now compost. How did you get here?

Cass: Like many young people, I moved around, said yes to opportunities, and ended up in wild situations—including being Kickstarter’s first employee and eventually I was recruited to Obama’s White House. But I realized I was getting further away from what really mattered to me.

I didn’t want to be behind a desk all day. I cared deeply about the planet. So I moved back to L.A., hoping to reset. I volunteered, went back to school, and eventually started composting in my front yard. Neighbors joined in, and suddenly, it became something people needed—and I loved doing it.

Composting Roots and Environmental Influence

Daniel: Your first compost pile was in your front yard?

Cass: Not my first. I grew up with one—my mom maintained a big compost pile in our backyard. I didn’t understand its value back then. It wasn’t until I had space in L.A. again that I could explore it on my own.

Daniel: Was your mom a gardener?

Cass: She’d say she’s an “attempted gardener,” always saying she’ll quit, but never does. I think her composting came from an environmental drive—she hates waste. We’d take road trips to recycling centers with the car packed full. Her passion even inspired some of my friends to go into environmental work.

Small Acts Matter

Daniel: I love that. I listened to a podcast where you talked about how small actions matter. Picking up plastic at the beach—it adds up.

Cass: I believe that. Pick your one small thing and be dedicated. It’s not about being a hero, Marvel-style. That’s just capitalism selling another narrative. Your small thing is medicine—for yourself, your community, and the planet.

What Cass Is Working On Now

Daniel: So what does your month look like right now?

Cass: It changed after the fires. I’m working on a community soil testing and bioremediation project in Altadena. The city isn’t testing soil post-fire, so we’re stepping in.

I also volunteer weekly at a community compost site. I just finished editing my book (coming out next year), and I’m part of a few upcoming art shows. One is a collaborative compost pile for Printed Matter at PST, and another is a compost-themed exhibit in Eagle Rock.

Blending Art, Science, and Compost

Daniel: You’re a compost super-communicator! I love how you’ve brought compost into art and elevated it from its “dirty” reputation.

Cass: People pitch me wild ideas, and I usually just say yes. The Cactus Store asked me to compost shirts just enough to look cool. The result was cosmic tie-dye patterns made by microbial action. Now a scientist at Stanford wants to analyze the microbes involved. I never saw that coming.

Failure, Curiosity, and Microbial Dance Parties

Daniel: I love your embrace of failure—it’s very tech bro in the best way.

Cass: In compost, the dead end is the point. It’s where transformation happens.

Daniel: What is compost, anyway?

Cass: We don’t really know. It’s the breakdown of organic matter. Scientists haven’t nailed down its molecular structure. It’s mysterious and inevitable.

Getting Started With Composting

Daniel: So what does a composter actually do?

Cass: They’re stewards of decomposition—creating the perfect buffet for microbes to break things down. 

Daniel: For compost-curious folks, what’s your first tip?

Cass: Most people are scared of rats, bugs, or smells. I reassure them and then encourage them to start a pile and look at it daily—just observe. Once they witness change, they get hooked.

The Tumbler Trap

Daniel: I had a plastic tumbler once—it was a nightmare. Sludge, stink, and bugs.

Cass: Tumblers often cause the problems they claim to prevent. They hide the pile, promote neglect, and create bug-breeding grounds. Open piles are better—more air, light, and natural balance.

Compost as a Mindset Shift

Daniel: What does composting mean to you?

Cass: For me, community composting is symbolic. It’s not about volume—it’s about changing people’s minds. When people interact with compost, they think differently about waste and consumption. That’s the real impact.

Turning Local Care Into Global Change

Daniel: What do you want for the world right now?

Cass: I want people to divest from the 24/7 toxic news cycle—not to ignore reality, but to ground themselves locally. I want everyone to lean into their power, help their communities, and feel that hope and connection.

On Houseplants and Grief

Daniel: Last question. What's your relationship with plants?

Cass: I’m inappropriately emotional about them. Most of my plants were rescued from friends. Some didn’t make it, and I cried. I even use my cold coffee and hair as fertilizer. I care deeply—even feel bad they’re isolated in pots instead of in soil communities.

Wrap Up

Daniel: When’s your book out?

Cass: Winter 2026 from Timberbooks. In the meantime, you can get Compost This Book from Apogee Graphics. It teaches you the basics—and the last page is instructions to compost the book itself.