PROTECT
Angela Fedele
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PROTECT is an environmental podcast that explores encouraging stories of sustainability, ocean and animal protection. The show will feature regular guest interviews with climate change advocates, organisations and concerned citizens who are creating authentic and accountable change.
Hosted by writer, Angela Fedele who is attempting to reframe the generally distressing way environmental challenges are communicated across media and social platforms in a bid to leave you informed and inspired. She ventures globally for stories and looks forward to building a positive community in solidarity of a clean and protected planet.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
May 17, 2022
Building For Climate Resilience: Australia's 2022 Flood Disaster
Earlier this year, Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales in Australia received more than a year's worth of rainfall in a week. One town, Gympie had its highest flood in over a century with over 1,000 properties completely submerged in water.
The Insurance Council has reported that the actual claims costs from 197,000 claims across both states is estimated to have cost $3.35 billion in insured losses.
It is a devastating time for these communities and unfortunately we're dealing with this natural disaster as we always have.
Little to no government support and like for like building replacements which are costly, unsafe and ineffective for changing weather patterns.
So what else can we do?
Well I'm delighted to invite Brett Mckenzie, CEO of Sustainable back to the podcast with a very insightful look into what it takes to build and rebuild for resilience.
Brett and his team are renowned for building with nature rather than against using a 25-year lifecycle model. Sustainable constructed a property during the 2020 pandemic called the "Hidden Gem" in Fingal Head, whose tailored build survived four floods. It stands as an example of what's possible but Brett delves a little deeper today into the opportunity for a restructure of local government, incentives for rebuilding for the future and redesigning and moving entire communities from disaster prone areas - it's certainly possible.
I hope you find value in today's episode.
Brett and I spoke last year on Building Sustainable Communities. You can listen to that episode here.
You can also visit Sustainable's website or connect with Brett on LinkedIn to learn more about their work.
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May 3, 2022
Close The Cove: Ending The Hellish Hunt of Dolphins
In 2009, a documentary called The Cove was released to expose the not so secret annual capture and slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan.
Today, 13 years on, animal activist groups continue to fight to close The Cove and its hellish hunt practice including Hannah Tait, CEO of Action for Dolphins who joins me on the podcast today.
Hannah and I discuss the controversial drive hunt method of dolphins that sees them cruelly slaughtered in what is excused as cultural tradition. For the dolphins that do survive after the traumatic event, they will find themselves separated from their families and transported to marine parks across the globe - alone, confined and subject to entertaining humans daily until their death.
Sound horrific? It is...and while animal welfare is discussed today along with what actually happens over on the shores of Taiji, Hannah also reveals all of the incredible activism in progress to stop the hunt and how we can help.
Dolphins live rich, social lives in the wild - let’s keep them there.
To learn more about Action for Dolphins please visit their website here and you can also sign the petition
You can watch The Cove documentary on Stan in Australia or see other platforms for streaming in your country. https://watchdocumentaries.com/the-cove/
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Apr 19, 2022
Fossil Fuels: The Fight of Our Lives with 350.org
As the destruction of natural resources and the carbon emissions generated from the fossil fuel industry continue to accelerate climate change, we are all at risk of losing our lives and our land with our indigenous and frontline communities at the most vulnerable.
Air pollution, temperature and sea level rise are wreaking havoc globally and in Australia, we unfortunately are moving at a poor pace to renewable energy despite being a country rich in natural resources to do so.
Today, my guest Jacynta Fa'amau is a Samoan Artivist based in Melbourne, Australia and is the Pacific Region Campaign Specialist with 350.org. She had been a part of the Pacific Climate Warriors network since the 2014 Canoe Blockade in Newcastle, NSW. In 2018 she joined the 350 Australia team as the National Organiser and Lead Trainer, and served as a member of the Council of Elders for the Pacific Climate Warriors Diaspora region.
Jacynta and I delve into the damaging industry that is fossil fuels and the sometimes-frustrating inaction of those accountable but also find refuge in the communities and countries who are responding to the fight with inspiring projects of climate resilience and ethical energy solutions.
Jacynta also reminds us of the power of storytelling in the fight against climate change and it’s never been so critical. I hope you enjoy and find value in today’s episode.
You can learn more at 350.org
Other useful sources Jacynta mentions are Marketforces and you can read about the Pacific’s Tokelau Nation that that runs 100% on renewable energy.
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Nov 16, 2021
Restoring Australia's Forest Cover with Maximo Bottaro, ReForest Now
Losing rainforests continues to wreak havoc on our climate and world leaders (yet again) have pledged to end deforestation. But waiting for policy makers is never the solution and today I sought to speak to someone who is doing ground work on reforestation.
I came across a brilliant charity, ReForest Now and am delighted to bring you my conversation with their CEO and Co-Founder, Maximo Bottaro.
ReForest Now is a young and fast-growing charity in Byron Bay and as their name suggests, they are working tirelessly to rewild bare paddocks to much needed rainforest cover in Australia.
Since 2018, the team has grown to 29 employees and they are on their way to achieve planting 250,000 trees by the end of 2021. The organisation is diversified into several categories of environmental work including rainforest nursery tree planting, bush regeneration, maintenance and partnership teams.
Like many people, I knew the basics around rainforests - they absorb carbon, produce oxygen, cool the planet, house animals but today, Maximo delves into the fascinating science behind rainforests and their ability to truly stabilise the climate.
Today Maximo takes us behind the scenes of ReForest Now and hot to design and protect a rainforest. We discuss the charity's incredible achievements in such a small amount of time and how they remain accountable to their donors. Maximo has a refreshing take on climate change activism as we discuss how we are all responsible to be of service to our environment.
I hope you enjoy today's episode with Maximo. He brings so much value to the climate conversation today and I hope it might encourage a new respect and desire to protect our much needed rainforests.
You can find out more about ReForest Now through their website and even get involved with tree planting.
You'll can also connect with them on Facebook or Instagram.
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Nov 9, 2021
Adventures with Purpose: Holly Budge on How Many Elephants and World Female Ranger Day
Aligning your your passion with meaningful change in the world is not an easy feat but it is definitely achievable as demonstrated by today’s guest, Holly Budge.
Holly is a working adventurer, an Everest summiteer (the first woman to skydive Everest) along with the founder and leader of international non profit, How Many Elephants and World Female Ranger Day to support female rangers in wildlife conservation.
Holly has raised over £400,000 for environmental projects with her charity working to educate a worldwide audience about the devastating impacts of the African elephant ivory trade.
Today on the podcast, we discuss some confronting statistics around elephant poaching plus Holly’s on the ground experiences with all female ranger teams, Akashinga and The Black Mambas in Africa.
Holly’s intuition, patience and drive has helped her to create a life where her work and her passion align with purpose and she hopes to encourage all of to think big and dream bigger.
You can contact or invite Holly to speak at your event at hollybudge.com
You can learn more or support her charity at How Many Elephants and find out how to get involved in World Female Ranger Day 2022.
All social handles are below:
How Many Elephants
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
World Female Ranger Day
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
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Nov 7, 2021
The Problem With Shark Nets (Spoiler: They Don't Work) Part Two
Today I am delighted to invite back Dr Leonardo Guida, Marine Biologist and Senior Shark Campaigner at Australian Marine Conservation Society.
Leo discusses outdated culling technology and the recent whale net entanglements that have seen mainstream media provide coverage of this cruel and outdated "protection" system.
He also reveals the physical distress and sometimes death that a shark will endure when caught at no fault of their own - by just being a wild animal. We also discuss the likelihood of our interaction with a shark and what measures are out there to help.
We also get an update from Leo on current campaign success, discuss his contribution to documentary, Envoy - Shark Cull and we do a little dreaming about what ocean policies he would change tomorrow if he could.
I hope you enjoy the episode.
You can connect with Leo on Twitter and learn more and put your support behind sharks through Australian Marine Conservation Society and Shark Champions.
If you haven't already, watch Envoy-Shark Cull and hear and see the research for yourself.
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Nov 7, 2021
The Problem With Shark Nets (Spoiler: They Don't Work) Part One
Today I am delighted to invite back Lawrence Chlebeck, Marine Biologist and Senior Shark Campaigner at Humane Society International.
Lawrence reveals the reasons why shark nets are so ineffective as we discuss recent life-endangering net entanglements involving migrating whales and other marine life. He breaks down the outdated technology currently used in Australian waters and what we can do instead.
We also get an update from Lawrence on current campaign success, discuss his contribution to documentary, Envoy - Shark Cull and we do a little dreaming about what ocean policies he would change tomorrow if he could.
I hope you enjoy the episode.
You can connect with Lawrence on Twitter and learn more and put your support behind sharks through Humane Society International and Shark Champions.
If you haven't already, watch Envoy-Shark Cull and hear and see the research for yourself.
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Nov 2, 2021
Travelling with an Environmental Mindset with Intrepid
As travel borders begin to open across the globe, many of us have a new mindset post-pandemic - an environmental mindset as we couldn't deny that the slowing of transport and production industries and human activity during lockdowns saw the earth recover some of our damage.
So when it comes to travel, how can we more more considerate of the environment when choosing our destinations, our method of transport or the activities we participate in on the ground?
Well, I'm delighted to introduce you to today's guest who will reveal if there is truly a way to reduce our carbon footprint and travel lighter and travel better.
Dr. Susanne Etti is the Environmental Impact Specialist at Intrepid Travel. Susanne leads Intrepid's climate action work including carbon performance, reporting and transitioning the business to the low carbon economy.
So if you're feeling a little eco guilt about your next flight, or you want to find out how you can offset your trip or take the steps to travel more responsibly, and give back, today's episode is for you.
You can visit Intrepid Travel and book your next carbon neutral trip on their website or learn more about their Climate Change commitments here.
You can also follow Susanne on Twitter to stay updated.
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Oct 26, 2021
Circular Design and The Reusable Pizza Box: PIZZycle
Our planet depends on a future where sustainable design is prioritised. A single use economy has never made sense with human consumption of the earth’s natural resources at an all-time high. So, every industry, including design has a responsibility to consider how they create: from material to production and ensuring high quality products with the longest, most sustainable life cycle.
So I’m delighted to bring you today’s guest, Marlene Bruch who is the Co-Founder and Designer of PIZZycle and she is also the curator of the sustainable design news page, Green Designs.
Marlene studied at HfG Offenbach in Germany where PIZZycle, a reusable and recyclable pizza box was developed through her own observations of the rise of single use takeaway containers during the pandemic. Marlene and the team are currently exhibiting PIZZycle at trade shows and it has recently relaunched with a new design ready for production.
As a design student, Marlene’s passion for promoting and creating purposeful climate conscious designs is so encouraging as we discuss the current status of the industry, ethical materials, the circular economy, and of course behind the scenes of PIZZycle.
I hope you enjoy the episode.
You can visit PIZZycle on their website to learn more and follow Green Designs to stay updated on sustainable projects across the globe.
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Oct 19, 2021
The Lion Recovery Fund with Peter Lindsey
Lions. Commonly referenced as strong, powerful, and magnificent creatures are under threat. Alone, they cannot continue to roam through the African Savannah populating and living as they are entitled to.
Numbers are dwindling with lions targeted by the bushmeat trade, loss of habitat and human encroachment. According to today’s guest, lion numbers half halved in the last quarter century with an estimated 20,000 left in the wild.
So today, we’re off to Africa and I’m honoured to host Peter Lindsey, life-long wildlife conservationist and Director of The Lion Recovery Fund.
The Lion Recovery Fund’s goal is to double the number of lions by 2050 through their science-based structure which invests in protecting landscapes designed to grow lion populations and other African wildlife by providing resources and education for coexistence between wildlife and the local community.
In four short years, Peter and his team have had incredible success, funding a host of population and habitat projects across their rescue, recover and retain structure. And what they've set up is very transparent with every dollar accounted for and invested in conservation.
I hope you enjoy the episode.
You can donate or learn more about The Lion Recovery Fund through their website or connect with them on social media below:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
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Oct 12, 2021
Climate Anxiety & Ways To Cope in an Ecological Crisis
Eco-anxiety, climate fear or climate grief are common terms used to define how as humans, many of us are responding to the ecological crisis.
It is well documented that climate change is having a negative effect on our health and mental well-being. It is important to recognise how we are feeling about the future of our planet and normalise these feelings.
Today, I’m welcoming climate therapists, Andrew Bryant and Alexandra Woollacott to the podcast. Andrew is a clinical social worker, psychotherapist and co-director of North Seattle Therapy and Counselling and Alexandra originally from Australia is a practising psychotherapist and training psychoanalyst based in Seattle.
Andrew and Alexandra bring so much value in today’s episode on their experiences in the climate change space. They offer solid strategies on ways to cope if you are feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. We look at ways to be creative with small daily behaviours that are good for the planet and yourself and of…
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Oct 11, 2021
Envoy -Shark Cull: A film on Australia's Outdated and Ineffective Shark Protection Program
Today, a compelling film which documents Australia's outdated and ineffective shark protection program is out on Stan.
Directed and produced by Andre Borell, Envoy - Shark Cull explores the history of shark nets and drumlines (baited hooks) in Queensland and NSW. Through these so called "protection" means, sharks and other marine life are being unnecessarily and cruelly caught and culled through the outdated use of nets in the water in a misguided attempt to promote human safety at beaches.
Envoy provides a lineup of marine conservation experts, shark divers, shark bite survivors, activists and through solid research and evidence caught on film will show you exactly what is happening beneath the water surface in a system that doesn't put people or sharks first. I hope you enjoy the episode.
You can watch Envoy - Shark Cull on Stan from today - October 12.
Stand up for sharks: https://www.envoyfilm.com.au/actnow
Learn more at the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Human…
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Jul 13, 2021
Sustainable Beauty with Adorn Cosmetics
The global cosmetics industry alone produces over 120 billion units of packaging almost every year, which is non recyclable. Add to that animal testing, toxic ingredients, shipping, overproduction, and as a consumer, you can feel overwhelmed about making a positive purchase in this space.
But you definitely can.
Today, my guest brings encouragement and possibility on how her small beauty company grew by putting people and the planet first and is now the producer of one of Australia's most natural, ethical and globally accredited product lines. Briony Kennedy is the founder of Adorn Cosmetics - a guilt free natural and organic makeup and skincare company. They're proudly vegan, cruelty free, Australian made and free from toxins and allergens.
On today's episode, Briony and I go behind the scenes on how to create ethical products from the onset discussing the earth's resources, natural ingredients, refillable packaging and more.
The message is loud that there is a huge opportunity fo…
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Jul 6, 2021
The Climate Impact of Digital Technology
We are in the thick of a digital movement.
Our screens are a core part of our daily lives and have served us well during the pandemic where the world was forced home and we sought to connect with loved ones, work colleagues, and even leaned on digital entertainment to help those lockdown days go a little faster.
And there is no doubt that online activity will continue to rise. But at what cost to the environment?
Today, I explore this question with my guest, Dr Mike Hazas who is a Professor in Human-Computer Interaction at Uppsala University, Sweden.
Mike's research is concerned with everyday practices and digital technologies, and how they can be related to sustainability in particular energy demand and carbon emissions. Much of his recent work has focused on the proliferation of online services such as streaming social networking, gaming, and their invisible impacts due to the internet and data centres.
We discuss the environmental impacts of our digital footprint from zoom call…
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Jun 22, 2021
How to be an Animal Friendly Traveller
As travel borders begin to open post pandemic, some of us might be planning our first holiday in quite a while. On that itinerary might be a wild animal attraction and today we discuss how to ensure we are travelling responsibly when it comes to animal livelihood.
Animals globally are suffering at the hand of the tourism industry through degrading entertaining, living conditions, cruel training methods and trauma from their captivity. It’s important to remember that not all wild animal attractions are as pleasant as they may seem and to help me explore this topic today is World Animal Protection’s season campaigner and spokesperson, Ben Pearson.
Ben has more than 24 years of experience advocating for their environment and one of his key campaigns is exposing the hidden cruelties of wildlife tourism, educating Australia and Kiwi travellers and working with tour operators to reduce captive wildlife encounters with the goal of ensuring that wild animals aren't exploited for enterta…
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Jun 8, 2021
Rewilding our Cities & The Power of Plants: A Conversation with Junglefy
It can be hard to find a green retreat in a concrete-laden city but never before has it been so critical to invite nature back in.
Urban temperatures are rising at an alarming rate, air pollution continues to wreak havoc on our health and our biodiversity is dying.
Our built environment is actually a very suitable foundation to rewild our cities by implementing green walls, rooftop gardens, tree canopy and carbon sequestering green highway corridors. If we do this on scale - as my guest describes it as today - we may just have a chance at reversing some of the damage we've done in building cities that have long worked against nature.
Today I speak to Suzie Barnett who is the General Manager of Junglefy who research, grow, design install and maintain living infrastructure.
Suzie is passionate about restorative, resilient cities and innovative ways to reconnect people to nature to create greater health and wellbeing.
We discuss the power of plants, projects in the works, green techn…
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Jun 1, 2021
Atlanta's Food Forest: A Sustainable Solution to a Food Secure Community
Food Forests are responding to food security and local food production in cities across the globe.
Today, I’ve reached out to The Conservation Fund and one of their community projects which is the Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill, Atlanta.
It is currently one of the largest food forests in the US spanning 7.1 acres and is only a few kilometres from the city centre.
This wonderful project is described by the fund as “Agriforestry” which uses agriculture that integrates trees and shrubs with food production to create healthy and ecologically resilient landscapes.
Introducing us to the food forest and its success in the community is Kelsi Eccles. Kelsi is the fund's Urban Conservation Communications Manager, and primarily focuses on building capacity for community groups and expanding green space through equitable Park development under the Parks with Purpose program.
Today she is taking us into the edible food forest to detail this project, how it's come together and is servin…
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May 11, 2021
Fighting for Nature's Future with Damien Mander, IAPF
What would you sacrifice to stand up for nature?
Imagine liquidating everything you owned, leaving where you live, the people you know and love to respond to nature’s desperate call in the African wilderness.
This is the story of Damien Mander, the Founder and CEO of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation. Damien was born in Australia and is now based in Zimbabwe, and is an Iraq War Veteran who served as a naval clearance diver and Special Operations sniper for the Australian Defence Force.
Following a few catalyst moments on an African adventure trip where he witnessed poacher violence to an ivory-stripped elephant and a pregnant buffalo, Damien knew he was about to embark on a fight bigger than one he’d ever fought at war and what today has become his life’s work.
Thirteen years later, the IAPF formed in 2009, have over 240 employees protecting over 20 million acres of African wilderness. He also formed Akashinga, “The Brave Ones” - an all female, plant-based anti-p…
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May 4, 2021
The Art of Daily Activism
Today on the podcast Angela is flying solo and discussing ways you can be a daily activist for the environment.
She details her own routine and things she's learned and adopted from guests on PROTECT during its last three seasons.
From animal activism, veganism, zero waste and treading lightly and resourcefully every day.
Activism looks different for everyone and it's important to remember when it comes to the environment is that it's not a trend or a phase. It's an ongoing commitment to Mother Nature, to people and to animals.
I hope you enjoy the episode and let me know what you think over on Twitter or Instagram ~ Angela
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Apr 27, 2021
RESET: A new, natural way of living in a post pandemic world with Victoria Redshaw
When COVID-19 forced the world to stop, our natural world breathed a sigh of relief. Cities were quiet, air pollution dropped and birdsong could be heard outside an apartment window. Bodies of water tarnished by human activity returned to their beautiful blue hues.
However, it was also the change in people during the pandemic who found a new respect for Mother Nature and the climate crisis was as clear as ever.
Today's guest, global futurist Victoria Redshaw brings us a thoughtful and inspiring conversation where she details these societal changes and how consumers, designers, creators and retailers are moving forward and have been redirected by a pandemic into a future where nature is truly at the forefront.
Victoria is the Lead Futurist at trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus, who are dedicated to providing trend forecasting services to the interiors sector internationally, and are headquartered in the UK.
Victoria and I move into a larger conversation on a return to naturalness…
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Mar 30, 2021
The Rangers, The Fight and The Resilience on Nature's Frontline with The Thin Green Line Foundation
Wildlife conservation, protecting forests, fighting off poachers and armed militia is just a day in the life for a wildlife ranger.
Except many of them don't have the training, the equipment, the remuneration or the protection to do their job safely and successfully.
From homicides, to animal conflict to natural disasters, some of the rangers die on the frontline protecting the animals and spaces we love.
Over 1,000 rangers have been killed in the line of duty in the past 10 years and standing behind these fallen rangers and their families is The Thin Green Line Foundation.
A foundation that Protects Nature’s Protectors by providing vital support to Park Rangers and their communities who are the front-line of conservation. They work predominantly in developing nations and conflict zones, and with Indigenous Park Rangers within Australia and abroad.
Today I speak to The Thin Green Line Foundation's Founder and Director, Sean Willmore, also a former Australian park ranger who has…
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Mar 23, 2021
Arctic Adventures, Climate Change and The Plight of the Polar Bear with Melissa Schäfer and Fredrik Granath
NASA recently recorded low Arctic sea ice, which is declining at a rate of 13.1% per decade. And today's guests aptly describe the Arctic as the ground zero of global warming, as three quarters of our planet's freshwater is frozen, and it is melting fast.
So I'm honoured to introduce you to the Arctic's two biggest activists, Melissa Schäfer and Fredrick Granath, who are photographer and producer partners in life and work. They are based in Stockholm, Sweden, which is a Norwegian Arctic town in Svalbard region and the world.
They are also the authors of a new book called Polar Tales. A book that brings their fieldwork, Arctic documentation, and the fascinating story of the polar bear to beautiful life.
Melissa and Fredrick have seen first hand the detrimental effects of climate change on the ice with polar bear populations and other wildlife in decline.
Today is a message from Melissa and Fredrick direct from the polar bear, that we are all connected wherever we are in the world a…
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Mar 18, 2021
Building Sustainable Communities
Sustainable communities can help slow the effects of climate change while lowering your carbon footprint.
A sustainable community is an area made up of healthy buildings, active green spaces, local engagement and a sharing economy.
Sounds like a nice place to live, right?
Well, unfortunately in Australia we're severely lacking in them as we continue to build homes that perform poorly and public spaces that are uninspiring.
But today, we have a guest who has been building and advocating for sustainable communities for 35+ years and is confident we can turn things around.
Brett McKenzie, a Master Builder and CEO of Sustainable is passionate about creating sustainable homes and communities that reflect and respond to their environment.
Today we delve deep and discuss the elements that make up a sustainable home, community, recycling and how these healthy spaces will benefit everyone from the occupants to the environment - we're all in this together.
You can contact Brett at Sustai…
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Mar 16, 2021
Healthy, Climate Conscious Homes: Introducing Passive House
From high energy use to poor indoor air quality, many of us are living in homes that don't perform very well to our health or the external environment.
Imagine instead, living in an airy, light-filled space with mild temperatures all-year-round.
Well, Architect Jane Cameron Finlay is here today to introduce us to the world of passive house - a voluntary ultra-low building standard developed in Europe and now seeing high-uptake in Australia.
Jane is a certified Passive House designer and runs her own practice. Over the last 10 years she has delivered high performance, ultra-low energy, comfortable and healthy residential new builds, alterations, renovations and extensions in Melbourne and regional areas.
Jane delves into the design considerations that make up passive house including its affordability, suitability, and how we can start designing and advocating for energy efficient and healthier spaces.
You visit Jane at Jane Cameron Architects (JCA) or connect with her on Instagram…
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Mar 9, 2021
Let's End Bear Bile Farming with Jill Robinson from Animals Asia
A story that is so inspiring, so actionable and so kind - Animals Asia is an organisation that is devoted to ending bear bile farming and improving the welfare of animals across Asia.
Today, I speak to the founder and CEO of Animals Asia, Jill Robinson, who has been a pioneer of animal welfare in Asia since 1985 and she founded the organisation in 1998 five years after an encounter with a cage bear on a farm in southern China changed her life forever. And she talks about this today.
Jill and I delve deep into the cruel and unfathomable world of bear bile farming. We cover the inception of Animals Asia, memorable bear saves, government news and why it's crucial this captive practice comes to an end and how we can all help.
Animals Asia is also working hard to build a third bear sanctuary by the end of this year so if you're able to help, you can donate or shop on their website.
Also join Animals Asia on their social pages for news and updates.
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Thank…
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Feb 23, 2021
Living a Zero Waste Life with Anita Vandyke
Plastic is mother nature's non-renewable resource, time is ours. Let's not waste either one ~ Anita Vandyke
Today's guest is Anita Vandyke aka @rocket_science who is passionate about living a zero waste lifestyle. She is an advocate for making simple switches to reduce plastic consumption and being an environmentalist in everyday life.
From stopping plastic pollution to stripping the climate of non-renewable resources, we discuss Anita's journey to advocate for a cleaner, healthier planet and how zero waste moves beyond our consumption of "things" to ensuring we're not wasting our lives as well. I hope you enjoy our chat!
You can follow Anita for sustainable living tips on Instagram and you can purchase her new book, A Zero Waste Family in 30 Days here.
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Jan 26, 2021
A Captive Life is No Life - The Whale Sanctuary with Lori Marino
Life for captive whales and dolphins is nothing like the ocean. In artificial captivity, these highly intelligent animals battle with mental and physical health, social isolation, aggression and much shorter lives.
Today I have a fascinating conversation with a lifetime advocate for the protection of these beautiful animals, Lori Marino who is a world renowned neuroscientist and expert in animal behaviour and intelligence and she's also the Founder and President of The Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia.
Lori and I discuss the innate attributes of whales and dolphins, what life is really like for them in captivity and how The Whale Sanctuary is preparing to protect and rehabilitate these animals in a natural, seaside environment.
Visit The Whale Sanctuary Project where you can receive updates, read stories on whales across the globe or donate to this exciting initiative.
The Whale Sanctuary Project also provides updates across social media so can you follow them below:
Instagr…
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Jan 19, 2021
Eco Styling and Modern Slavery in Fashion with Nina Gbor
As the climate crisis continues to deepen, today's podcast will look into one of the world's largest industries for overconsumption- fashion.
From draining water sources to fossil fuels and the exploitation of workers, the fashion industry and its loyal consumers are accountable for some disastrous environmental statistics including sending 85% of clothing to landfill.
Today I speak to one of Australia's strongest advocates for ethical fashion, Nina Gbor. Nina is the founder of Eco Styles and also Clothes Swap & Style and is an award-winning sustainability advocate, ethical fashion speaker, climate activist and educator.
Nina brings her exceptional knowledge of the industry's environmental accountabilities to our conversation today whilst also celebrating style and providing actionable advice so we can continue to enjoy fashion with a lighter footprint.
I hope you enjoy the episode.
You can find Nina's articles and services at Eco Styles and connect with her on Instagram or Facebo…
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Dec 8, 2020
Environmental Possibility and The Blue Economy with Gunter Pauli
In our final episode for Season 1, we are talking about what the world urgently needs for positive environmental progress and happy human health. The future of entrepreneurship, the need for common good and encouraging creativity in an economic world that is sometimes cautious to change.
To help me with this topic is the wonderful Gunter Pauli, the entrepreneur, global speaker and author of The Blue Economy whose activities span business, culture, science, politics and the environment.
Gunter is also the founder of ZERI, the Zeri Emissions Research and Initiatives at the United Nations University in Tokyo and also established the global ZERI network as a foundation where they redesign production and consumption into clusters of industries inspired by natural systems which are designed to be zero waste.
In today’s episode, Gunter reminds us of possibility and we discuss the current climate and some of his projects including full circle coffee production to removing and repurposing…
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Dec 1, 2020
Sensory Landscape Design and the 7 Senses with Tobias Volbert
The sharing economy is in full swing but you may not know just how good it is for the environment and for our physical and mental health.
There is so much opportunity in getting the design right in our public parks, community squares, gardens and our neighbourhood streets. And we’re now moving from a place of accessibility to inclusivity ensuring everyone from a toddler to an elderly person can find enjoyment and comfort in these spaces.
Today, to help me explore this thoughtful topic is Tobias Volbert, who is a landscape architect and co-founder and spokesperson of the 7 Senses Foundation.
Tobias details the 7 Senses and why sensory design is crucial to our spaces. We look at the benefits of engaging with our community and mother nature and how we can all be a part of the design process from our backyard to our neighbourhood skatepark.
I hope you enjoy the episode.
You can stay updated with Tobias and his team at 7 Senses Foundation by signing up here or visit Urban Play for pl…
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Nov 24, 2020
Microplastics and Ocean Pollution with Dr Michelle Blewitt
Our oceans are in a severe state with the Australian Marine Conservation Society reporting that 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year.
Today I speak to Dr Michelle Blewitt on microplastics (defined as plastics less than 20mm in length) and the damage they're creating in our oceans and beyond.
Dr Blewitt is the Program Director of AUSMAP (Australian Microplastic Assessment Project) and a Marine Scientist with over 30 years’ experience, with a passion for education, research and conservation.
With a PhD in marine mammal bioacoustics and the effect of human disturbance, her main focus now is marine debris, particularly microplastics. She is a passionate Environmental Scientist, involved in research as well as extensive community service activities, public speaking and implementing marine education programs, particularly about the impact of litter in the aquatic environment.
Today we discuss the primary forms of microplastics found in Australian waters and…
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Nov 17, 2020
Orangutan & Rainforest Protection with Leif Cocks
Orangutans are highly intelligent creatures that share 97% of human DNA. But these beloved primates are also critically endangered and so are the habitats they live in.
Today’s episode is a conversation with world-renowned orangutan expert Leif Cocks who is also the founder and president of The Orangutan Project and has 30 plus years experience working with orangutans and advocating for rainforest protection and building sustainable local communities.
We take a deep look into what it takes to protect orangutans in the wild which is crucial to their saving. We also explore climate change initiatives which include avoiding deforestation, investing in improved agriculture practices in indigenous and local communities and why a sustainable economy is the way forward.
This episode has a lot of heart and it will explore the collective opportunity that is present to protect people, animals and the planet and the urgency to do so.
Following the episode, you can reach out to The Orangutan…
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Nov 10, 2020
Going Zero Waste with Erin Rhoads
Zero-waste is a goal for so many of us who want to lower our carbon footprint as we rethink consumption, single-use plastics and developing more eco-friendly habits.
Today, I speak to Zero-waste advocate Erin Rhoads who is sought-after speaker and community activist, on a mission to engage with individuals, business, and government to redefine what waste is and how we can create less of it. She is the author of two books, Waste Not and Waste Not Everyday, runs a blog called The Rogue Ginger, and has co-founded impactful environmental groups.
Today, Erin provides some wonderful insight on the environmental benefits of a zero-waste lifestyle, how to start, appreciation of the makers of our things and dealing with eco-guilt.
You can find Erin at The Rogue Ginger and below are the educational and app resources she mentions in the episode.
A Plastic Ocean
Fort Negrita the Co-op
Responsible Cafes
The Clean Bin Project
War On Waste
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Nov 3, 2020
Protecting our Sharks with Lawrence Chlebeck Dr Leonardo Guida
Sharks and rays are critical to healthy oceans and protecting them is key as they are under threat due to shark finning, fisheries, outdated culling programs and ocean pollution.
So let's learn how we can help.
In today’s extended episode, we talk all things sharks and rays with Lawrence Chlebeck, a marine biologist and science communicator with Humane Society International and Dr Leonardo Guida, a shark scientist and campaigner at the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
We explore the biology of sharks, current threats and campaigns these organisations are working on to protect them.
Worried about shark attacks? Don’t be, they’re rare despite what you hear in the media and mostly a case of mistaken identity according to Lawrence who also provides insight on outdated culling programs and staying safe in the water.
Dr Guida then talks to us about shark behaviours, threats, keeping the community balance and why you should reconsider your fish n’ chip order.
At the end o…
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Oct 27, 2020
Vegan Living with Ondine Sherman
From a meatless Monday, to a pescatarian or a full vegan diet, any reduction of animal products can positively help the environment. Today I speak to Ondine Sherman who is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Voiceless, the animal protection institute.
She is a life-long animal advocate, passionate about promoting respect and compassion for all creatures. Ondine is a director of conservation NGO, This is My Earth (TiME) and a director of the MCT8-AHDS Foundation and Sherman Foundation.
Ondine Sherman is the author of a memoir, The Miracle of Love, several YA fiction books and the recent Vegan Living - an easy guide to a cruelty-free, vegan, plant-based life.
I speak to Ondine about her new book and we explore the environmental benefits of veganism, animal agriculture and also some of the challenges people may face when removing animal products from the diet from a health or societal point of view.
No, you don’t have to be a vegan to listen to this one. Ondine offers a warm…
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Oct 20, 2020
Building with Mass Timber with Nick Hewson
Concrete and steel have a rising competitor warming up the built environment - mass timber. I speak to Nick Hewson who is a chartered structural engineer specialising in the field of mass timber construction and is currently the Head of Design for XLam.
Nick lends his expertise to discuss the environmental, health and structural benefits of building with timber.
I've also created a transcript of Nick's notes for your reference on my website. I hope you find this episode valuable.
[Audio Disclaimer: Nick and I recorded this remotely during a Melbourne COVID-19 lockdown so the audio quality is a little patchy but still very listenable. I hope you enjoy the episode]
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Oct 19, 2020
Coping with Climate Anxiety with Dr Susie Burke
Ever feel helpless or depressed by the current state of the climate? Dr Susie Burke is here to normalise those feelings and provide you with some strategies to help you navigate this anxiety. She is a psychologist, climate activist and parent who has developed resources on coping with climate change, raising children for a climate altered world, and disaster preparedness and recovery.
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