This week I am chatting with Nabeeha and Yumna, two incredibly inspiring high school students who are on a mission to make healthy food accessible to all children in the UK through their engagement with Bite Back 2030. Founded by Jamie Oliver but fully youth-led, Bite Back 2030’s mission is to enable better access to healthy food for everyone and to create more sustainable food systems. Yumna and Nabeeha are on the youth board and in this episode we hear their inspiring stories of youth leading change.We chat about:How Yumna and Nabeeha started campaigning for healthier food for young people while still in schoolHow their own lived experience and personal stories motivated them to stand up and demand changeBite Back’s most recent campaign to end junk food advertising in the UKHow fast food restaurants actively targeting young consumersHow Yumna and Nabeeha feel about the praise but lack of support from adults in their efforts to lead changeImportant leadership skills they have learned from each other on their journeyThe problems in the food system from a young person’s perspectiveThey action they want their government representatives to takeHow they both navigate the overwhelm from juggling campaigning while they’re still at school“Our government needs to do more to make sure that young people’s voice and their concerns are not being taken as tick-boxes but are directly embedded within decision-making. And, you know, we aren’t necessarily asking for seats at the table any longer - we’re building our own tables, we’re building our own chairs and we’re making spaces where young people’s voices truly matter.” YumnaFurther information:Find out more about Bite Back 2030 here: https://www.biteback2030.com/Need support on your leadership journey to create sustainable change? Join the next cohort of the Be The Change group coaching and leadership training program starting in Sept 2022: www.thegreatfull.com/bethechangeIf you are interested in food and sustainability and what you can do to create change, you might like The Great Full cookbook: www.thegreatfull.com/bookFollow The Great Full on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatfull/Don’t want to miss an episode of The Great Full podcast? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

My guest this episode is Jerusha Klemperer, the Director of FoodPrint.org, a media platform dedicated to helping people understand the impact of what they eat on animals, planet and people. Prior to leading FoodPrint, Jerusha was a Co-Founder of FoodCorps, an organization that works with local communities around the US to serve healthy food in schools, and before that led campaigns at Slow Food USA. She has a 15+ year career working for places with “food” in the title, to support a food system that is better for the planet, more just, more humane and more delicious.We chat about the lessons Jerusha has learned in her various food roles,  how everyone can contribute towards a more sustainable food system, and how she sees the role of anger, storytelling and inspiration in communicating important issues.The topics we cover are:How Jerusha started working with food after starting her career as an actorThe one book that made her (and me!) aware of the problems in the food systemWhat she learned while working on improving school lunches with Slow Food USA and  FoodCorpsHow to work out what your Foodprint is, and what to do to reduce itHow you can start eating more sustainably todayThe role of anger in advocating for sustainability and changeWhat inspires and motivates Jerusha to stay positive in challenging timesThe hype around plant-based meat alternatives, its consequences for people and the planet and the critical questions we should be askingLeadership practices that have inspired Jerusha though her workStorytelling and its role in creating changeResources mentioned in the episode:The book “Fast Food Nation” by Eric SchlosserGuides by FoodPrint on how to start eating more sustainably: https://foodprint.org/eating-sustainably/The “What You’re Eating” Podcast: https://foodprint.org/what-youre-eating/Further information:Learn more about Food Print on their website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (all @FoodPrintOrg).Connect with Jerusha Klemperer on Twitter and LinkedIn.Need support on your leadership journey? Join the next cohort of women in the Be The Change group coaching and leadership training program starting in September 2022 - get on the waitlist here: www.thegreatfull.com/bethechangeIf you are interested in food and sustainability and what you can do to create change, you might like The Great Full cookbook: www.thegreatfull.com/bookFollow The Great Full on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatfull/Don’t want to miss an episode of The Great Full podcast? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

My guest this week is Dr. Jessica Hernandez (Maya Ch’orti’ & Binnizá), the author of the new book “Fresh Banana Leaves - Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science”. Jessica is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Washington Bothell, a Climate Justice Policy Strategist at the International Mayan League and the Environmental Justice Representative of the City of Seattle Commission of Urban Forestry.In this episode, Jessica helps us understand how indigenous and western science can be complementary, and what we need to know about colonialism, eco-colonialism and ecological grief if we want to tackle climate change. Jessica shares the wisdom she has gathered on her leadership journey, particularly around framing and tackling imposter syndrome. The topics we cover in our conversation are:The fascinating story behind the title of her book “Fresh Banana Leaves”What it means to be an indigenous scientistHow settler colonialism impacts indigenous communitiesWhat eco-colonialism means and why it is importantWhat people working in the field of sustainability need to understand about indigenous scienceHow Jessica is integrating her experiences as an indigenous and western scientist and how both approaches can complement each otherThe concept of ecological griefThe restorative agricultural practice of MilpasSpirituality and our relationship to natureHow Jessica found the courage to pursue her path integrating indigenous and western scienceHow Jessica frames and navigates imposter syndromeWhat it means to her to be good ancestorWhat we can learn from leadership in matriarchal pueblos of the Zapotec nationIndigenous-led movements that inspire JessicaWhat the food system would look like if it were returned to indigenous peoplesHow Jessica stays grounded and manages her time and energyFind more information about Jessica Hernandez on her website and twitter.Order your copy of Fresh Banana Leaves - Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science here.Find the book trailer here.Need support on your sustainable leadership journey? Join the next cohort of women in the Be The Change group coaching and leadership training program starting in September 2022 - get on the waitlist here: www.thegreatfull.com/bethechangeIf you are interested in food and sustainability and what you can do to create change, you might like The Great Full cookbook: www.thegreatfull.com/bookFollow The Great Full on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatfull/Don’t want to miss an episode of The Great Full podcast? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

This episode is a special / unusual one. Instead of sharing the inspiring story of a human being leading sustainable change, I am sharing some wisdom for a little puppy named Polly!This last year we were foster parents or “puppy raisers” for a guide dog puppy. That meant volunteering our home, time and energy to socialise a little Labrador puppy before she goes off to school where she is trained as a guide dog for the blind or as an assistant dog for people who use wheelchairs.This adorable little ball of fluff turned our lives upside down and to my surprise taught me an awful lot about life and leadership along the way. So, I decided to summarise my top 10 lessons from Polly the puppy to share with you here. This episode also includes some reflections and food for thought that I hope offer you some new insights into how you live and lead!Here are the lessons Polly wants to share with you on this episode:Learning is play and play is learningResolve to begin againLearn to face your fearsThis too shall passDon’t miss the joy in the small thingsFace things when they are little or they will grow big and bite youDon’t always hold leash so tightStop and smell the roses, and the poop. Be willing to experience it all.Slow down, you’re moving too fastBark when your needs not metAnd a bonus 11th if you listen to the end!Further information:For more adorable puppy pictures of Polly check out: https://www.thegreatfull.com/podcast/ep20-life-leadership-lessons-polly-the-puppy Need support on your leadership journey? Get on the waitlist to join the next cohort of women in the Be The Change group coaching and leadership training program starting in Sep 2022: www.thegreatfull.com/bethechangeSign up for The Great Full newsletter, your monthly inspiration for how to eat, live and lead for a sustainable world: https://www.thegreatfull.com/contactFollow The Great Full on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatfull/If you want to learn more about being a puppy raiser for the Foundation Swiss School for Guide Dogs for the Blind you can learn more here: https://www.blindenhundeschule.ch/unterstuetzung/patenhundeDon’t want to miss an episode of The Great Full podcast? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

My guest in this episode is the inspiring Jacquie McGlade, a professor of sustainability and resilience at University College London and Strathmore University in Kenya. She was formerly the Chief Scientist at the United Nations Environment Program and the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency for 10 years. Though originally from the UK, Jacquie now lives in the Masai Mara with her husband and their community.In the episode, Jacquie shares meaningful insights into her life and career, as well as her views on how effective leadership, courage and community will shape the transition towards a more sustainable world.The topics we cover are:The story of how Jacquie came to live in the Masai Mara in KenyaHow food insecurity and climate change are affecting their livesHow they’re adapting to these challengesThe biggest changes we need to make as humanity for sustainabilityThe circular bio economy of wellbeingWhat kind of leadership we need to transition towards a circular bio economy of wellbeingWhat personal development future leaders need to engage withWhat meditation taught Jacquie about communication and conflict resolutionWhere she found courage in difficult or dangerous situationsPeople and books that have inspired Jacquie on her pathTwo projects that Jacquie is inspired by working with communities in the Masai Mara on regenerative forestry and porous alpha water purificationHow the world and especially in the area of science and academia was different for a woman when she started her careerFurther information:To watch further talks from Jacquie on the topics discussed here check out: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/professorships/environment-professorship/Find more information about Jacquie on LinkedinNeed support on your leadership journey? Join the next cohort of women in the Be The Change group coaching and leadership training program starting in September 2022 - get on the waitlist here: www.thegreatfull.com/bethechangeIf you are interested in food and sustainability and what you can do to create change, you might like The Great Full cookbook: www.thegreatfull.com/bookFollow The Great Full on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatfull/Don’t want to miss an episode of The Great Full podcast? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

This episode I chat with Beccie D’Cunha, founder of the Courage Lab. Beccie has extensive experience in leadership roles in the not for profit sector and as a professional facilitator and conflict mediator. At Courage Lab, Beccie offers coaching to enable courageous conversations, strengthen relationships and create the leadership we need for a positive change in our organizations and in the world around us.In this conversation we explore the role of courage in leading change, how it connects to confidence and some practical tips on how to build your own courage.The topics we cover are:What motivated Beccie to set up the Courage LabThe role of courage in the transformation towards a more sustainable worldThe main connections between courage and leadershipThe difference between courage and confidenceHow vulnerability and courage are connectedArtificial harmony and avoiding difficult conversationsBeccie’s take on armored vs. daring leadershipCourage building practices you can engage withThe negotiation techniques BATNA, WATNA and MLATNABeccie’s advice for aspiring women leadersFurther information:Find more information about The Courage Lab on https://www.couragelab.co/For more information about other offerings at The Great Full to help you eat, live and lead for a more sustainable world, check out: www.thegreatfull.comIf you are interested in exploring your role in leading sustainable change, and how to build the calm, clarity and courage to step into your potential check out the Be The Change program: www.thegreatfull.com/bethechange Follow The Great Full on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatfull/Don’t want to miss an episode of The Great Full podcast? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

My guest this week is Louise Mabulo - chef, farmer, and founder of the Cacao project, a social venture and agroforestry project working with farmers in the Philippines. At just 23 years old, she’s a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list maker, a  UN Environment Program Young Champion of the Earth,  and Outstanding Farmer of the Year 2018 in the Philippines. As a chef, Louise won the Best Dessert in Asia Award at the Disciples des Escoffier Young Talent Trophy and was a finalist in the TV cooking show Junior MasterChef.In our conversation, Louise shares her story on how she entered the world of food at a very young age, how her upbringing influenced her career from the kitchen to the field and how she founded the Cacao project after a typhoon devastated the region where she grew up. We explore the intersections of traditional and modern knowledge, and how generations can learn from each other when it comes to food systems and leading change. The topics we cover are:Louise’s story and how she got connected with food from a very young ageHow an extreme weather event motivated her work with the Cacao ProjectThe goals of the Cacao Project - from sustainable agriculture to local value adding Challenges for farmers in the Philippines and how the food system can be transformed to be more resilient How being homeschooled influenced her attitude towards taking initiative and solving problems What different generations can learn from each other when they collaborate The opportunities at the intersection of traditional and modern knowledge How social stigmas about farming are engrained in society and the school system in the Philippines How they are using Farmer-Field-Schools to tackle this stigma and offer innovative education How Louise juggles the different roles she has as a chef, farmer, entrepreneur and activistHow Louise uses storytelling and public speaking in her workThe way that Louise’s understanding of leadership has changed along the way The topic of gender in the food system and women Louise looks up toFurther information: Find more information about Louise on her website: https://louisemabulo.com/   Read all about the Cacao Project here: https://louisemabulo.com/the-cacao-project  You can follow her on Instagram @louisedgmabulo If you are interested in food and sustainability and what you can do to create change, you might want to: >Join the next round of Be The Change, a leadership training and coaching program for aspiring women leaders. Applications closing soon: https://www.thegreatfull.com/bethechange >Read The Great Full - Sustainable Eating with Purpose and Joy (including 70 vegetarian and plant based recipes along with inspiring stories of changing our food system!): https://www.thegreatfull.com/book Follow The Great Full on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatfull/ Don’t want to miss an episode of The Great Full podcast? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!  

In this episode we explore Imposter Syndrome - understanding better what it actually is, the myths surrounding it, the systemic issues that can lead to it and what we can do individually, and collectively, to manage it.At the moment, Imposter Syndrome holds back the very people we need to be leading change. It stands in the way of us shifting the status quo so that we can build a more sustainable, just and joyful world. So in this episode we tackle:What Imposter Syndrome actually isWho suffers from it, and the myths around thisThe systemic issues and environments that feed Imposter SyndromeWhy Imposter Syndrome is a phenomenon and not an illnessThe research that shows you are far from alone if you experience itThe impacts of Imposter Syndrome on us as individuals and on societyHow Imposter Syndrome gets in the way of us leading change, sharing our gifts and experience and shifting the status quoWhy we need to work at both the systemic and individual level to actually tackle imposter syndromeConcrete tips for how to manage imposter thoughts when they arise for youWays that we can collectively tackle the issue in our organizations and communitiesFurther Information:Learn more about Be The Change and how to apply at http://www.thegreatfull.com/bethechangeHBR Article “Stop telling women they have imposter syndrome” by Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey: https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome and the follow up article “End Imposter Syndrome in your workplace” https://hbr.org/2021/07/end-imposter-syndrome-in-your-workplaceDare to Lead podcast episode with the HBR article authors: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/imposter-syndrome/Book by Valerie Young ‘Secret Thoughts of Successful Women’: https://impostorsyndrome.com/book/overview/Hidden Brain podcast episode on self-doubt featuring an interview with imposter phenomenon researcher Dr. Kevin Cokley https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-psychology-of-self-doubt/

My guest on this episode is Jehane Akiki, a Lebanese social entrepreneur and systems designer.  She’s the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Farms not Arms, a collective bringing Lebanese people and refugees together to build food security and social cohesion. Jehane is also the Co-Founder of ioi Strategic Design and Learning Blocks. All of these efforts have seen her acknowledged as one of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers.Jehane and I talk about the philosophy and vision behind Farms Not Arms and her personal leadership journey to work at the interface of food systems, social justice and sustainable development. The topics we cover are:·       The catalyst for Jehane’s work in food and agriculture·       What her work has taught her about about social integration and the refugee crisis ·       How she worked with a collective from around the world to create Farms Not Arms using a  collaborative systemic design process·       The idea, philosophy, and principles behind Farms Not Arms·       How this internationally co-designed project was able to be locally embedded·       The biggest challenges they faced when implementing the project·       Gender issues that emerged during her work·       Personal challenges Jehane has overcome on her leadership journey·       How to manage the self-doubt that can arise when we tackle complex challenges·       Moments that have personally touched her while working with Farms not Arms·       How Jehane creates space for feminine leadership values ·       What living a great and full life mean for her  Further information: Need support on your leadership journey? Join the next cohort of women in the Be The Change group coaching and leadership training program starting in Feb 2022: www.thegreatfull.com/bethechange Follow The Great Full on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatfull/Find more information about Farms Not Arms on https://www.designfarmsnotarms.org/You can follow them on Instagram and Facebook @farmsnotarms Find out more about Jehane at https://www.jehaneakiki.com/  Don’t want to miss an episode of The Great Full podcast? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Season 2 of The Great Full will include solo episodes like this one, where we dive into challenges you might face in your work to create change in the world. One of the most common questions I hear from my coachees and students is: What to do when you face an inner resistance to being visible, using your voice and taking up space to make the contribution you want to? It is a topic I am all too familiar with, and over the years have found a lot of useful tools that can help. That is exactly what we will explore in this episode.This episode is for you if you are called to create something, to put something out into the world that you think can be of service or impact others, but you feel held back by a lot of doubts about your own value or the value of the idea that you had. It's for you if you're stepping into a new leadership role and you feel held back by a lot of questions about how to do that and how to really take up your space there. It's also for you if you're hovering in the background, like you have a lot of potential, a lot of things that you would like to share but you feel a lot of fear or procrastination holding you back from actually doing what you're called to do. To help you move forward, this episode explores:Common situations where you might have trouble using your voice, sharing things with the world or taking up your spaceThe real reasons we procrastinate, resist or get stuck in these situations Why not having enough time is never the reasonThe mindset we need if we want to create change and lead ourselvesThe underlying fears that may be coming into play and holding us backThe influence of culture, socialisation and your individual lived experienceThe multiple costs of not using your voice, including your own happinessFour practical tools and methods you can use to help yourself move forward; including how to manage your inner critic.For more information about career and leadership coaching and trainings for women working in sustainability, check out: www.thegreatfull.com Follow The Great Full on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatfull/Don’t want to miss an episode of The Great Full podcast? Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!