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.

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/

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.

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.

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  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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