·E105
Turning Poop Culture Into Pop Culture: Filmmaker Lily Zepeda on Storytelling, Sanitation, and Mr. Toilet (#105)
Episode Description
How do you make the global sanitation crisis impossible to ignore? You tell a story people can feel. In this episode of the ZuLoo Poodcast, we sit down with award-winning filmmaker Lily Zepeda, director of Mr. Toilet: The World’s Number Two Man. Lily shares how she followed curiosity all the way from a radio announcement to a five-year documentary journey alongside Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization.
This conversation explores why humor breaks taboos, how storytelling drives social change, and why sanitation is about far more than toilets. It’s about dignity, education, health, and human connection.
What You Will Learn
✅ How storytelling makes complex global issues relatable
✅ Why humor and playfulness cut through sanitation taboos
✅ How Mr. Toilet came to life over five years of filming
✅ Why sanitation access directly impacts education and gender equity
✅ How creativity fuels long-term social impact
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Timestamps
00:00 Turning Poop Culture Into Pop Culture: Filmmaker Lily Zepeda on Storytelling, Sanitation, and Mr. Toilet
01:18 Why toilets still shock people in wealthy countries
11:06 Poo News: toilets on ships and why it’s called “the head”
16:40 Introducing filmmaker Lily Zepeda
19:52 How Mr. Toilet began and meeting Jack Sim
26:08 Sanitation, girls’ education, and human dignity
33:01 Playfulness, creativity, and social change storytelling
36:45 Why humor drives global impact
45:51 Lily’s Next Chapter: The Playful Pursuit Retreat
47:01 Post-Interview Reflection: Jack Sim’s Relentless Mission
48:04 The Human Cost Behind Mr. Toilet’s Work
51:46 Squishy Poop, Listener Stories & Final Banter
Key Takeaways
🔹 Storytelling transforms sanitation from statistics into human experience
🔹 Humor opens doors where fear and shame shut them
🔹 Sanitation access shapes education, health, and opportunity
🔹 Playfulness is a serious tool for global change
Guest Bio
Lily Zepeda is an award-winning filmmaker, storyteller, and retreat facilitator. She directed Mr. Toilet: The World’s Number Two Man, following sanitation advocate Jack Sim over five years as he worked to bring global attention to the sanitation crisis. Lily’s work blends curiosity, humor, and humanity to spotlight stories that challenge norms and inspire action.
Poo-News and Show Notes:
- How did sailors of old go to the loo in the Age of Sail? ⛵️💩
- Watch Lily's full movie here! 🎥💩
- Connect with Lily on Instagram! 🙋🏻♀️
- Shop at the ZuLoo Marketplace today -- where a portion of each sale goes towards ZuLoo's global mission! 🌍🚽💚
- Donate here to help ZuLoo build toilets!
- Join our new Facebook Group: ZuLoo - Safe and Clean Toilets for All Humanity!
- Like the Pōōdcast? Click here to become a supporter of the show!
How do you ZuLoo? Connect with ZuLoo on social media!
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