PROTECT

The funeral industry is one that has remained largely unchanged with many people seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional burials or cremation. Current end of life practices can have a significant effect on the environment from energy use to greenhouse gases and soil pollution. So, one of the alternatives will be introduced by my guest today who is Katrina Spade, founder and CEO of the world's first human composting company, Recompose. Founded in 2017, Recompose describes the process of human composting as natural organic reduction. Human composting has a host of environmental benefits which supports a return to nature and a reduction in carbon and energy. At the time of recording, Maine became the 12th state in the U.S. to legalise human composting however it is not yet available in Australia.  But at the heart of today's conversation it's about more than a green solution, we're exploring the opportunity for more choice with Recompose respectfully challenging the funeral industry and current practices.  I hope you enjoy the episode. You can learn more about Recompose on their website or follow them on Instagram for updates. This audio was edited by Peter Magill.

While oil and energy garner the bulk of attention for the climate crisis, there is another major culprit - the fashion industry that is responsible for 8 to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions. Impacts include water and plastic pollution and fashion is also a major human rights issue through fast fashion's unethical production. There is a lot of work to do for the industry to align with the Paris Agreements 1.5-degree pathway and in Australia, we are large fashion consumers. With a population of approximately 26 million, on average, Australian's buy 56 brand new items of clothing a year. So here to help me explore how we can all improve our fashion footprint is communication and brand specialist Tiffanie Darke. With over 30 year's experience in editorial sensibility and commercial strategy, Tiffanie is the co-founder of Ibiza's luxury sustainability fashion boutique, AGORA and the creator of Rule of Five – a global movement where participants only buy five fashion items a year. Tiffanie and I discuss what makes a garment truly sustainable from fabric and production to sale. She also offers advice on how to shop sustainably and even alter current items in our wardrobes to give our clothes longevity. We also discuss the sustainability concerns around new plant-based materials and the responsibility of designers to create fashion items with circularity. Tiffanie's transformation from luxury fashion consumer to one of sustainable fashion advocate is inspiring and achievable without costing the earth.   I hope you enjoy the episode. You can follow Tiffanie via her Instagram and read her newsletters at: Its Not Sustainable Rule of Five This audio was edited by Peter Magill.

Forget what you know about slimy seaweed washing up ashore as seaweed is now the fastest growing food in aqua culture.  Seaweed is in fact a nutritious superfood and a very clever and climate friendly plant with high carbon sequestering qualities.  Helping me explore the potential of the seaweed sector is Cam Hines, who is Owner and Co-Founder of Southern Seagreens who run regenerative commercial seaweed farms in Flinders, Victoria.  Southern Seagreens are growing sustainable seaweed for human consumption along with supporting marine ecosystems. Cam runs the daily operations at Southern Seagreens and today we discuss how he moved from an entrepreneurial journey in craft beer to seaweed. We discuss how they grow and harvest seaweed plus behind the scenes details on the business from their lab, diving for wakame and what he believes the future looks like for this power plant. You can learn more about Southern Seagreens and make a purchase via their website or connect with them via their Instagram. I hope you enjoy the episode.  This podcast is edited by Peter Magill.

Mike Coots grew up on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The lifestyle fuelled his obsession with the ocean along with an aspiration to be a professional bodyboarder. When he was 18 years old, Mike and his teammates took to the water one morning looking to catch a wave at Majors Bay where Mike was almost killed by a Tiger Shark. Mike's survival instincts helped him paddle back to shore and with the help of his friends and passersby who witnessed the attack, Mike survived but underwent emergency amputation surgery losing his leg.  But instead of turning his back on the water, Mike went from shark survivor to shark supporter. Mike began to learn about sharks – their behaviour, their quirks and their environmental challenges.  He has since spent his life advocating for their protection and has turned his hand to photography in a bid to share sharks' beauty and their critical place in the oceans ecosystem.  Today, Mike and I discuss his recovery, shark conservation and his new book, Shark Portraits. To create this captivating book, Mike travelled the globe, free diving and scuba diving, often without a cage to record sharks. Mike has turned his adversity into activism and his respect for sharks and the ocean is contagious and inspiring. I hope you enjoy his story today. You can find out more about Mike via his website or Instagram or purchase a copy of Shark Portraits here. Two documentaries are also mentioned during this podcast. One is Shark Water and the other is Envoy – Shark Cull.  This audio is edited by Peter Magill.

Today we're taking an audio visit to Volcanoes Safaris where you can trek to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the forests of Rwanda and Uganda.  This once in a lifetime wildlife experience is as magical as it sounds and Volcanoes Safaris have been at the heart of reviving gorilla and chimpanzee tourism since 1997. I'm delighted to bring you my conversation with Volcanoes Safaris COO, Kevin James as we explore what we'll find on the property and what it's like to see a gorilla for the first time. And as he defines it: “You really are connecting to something of our past.”  We discuss how Volcanoes Safaris are contributing to the protection of these incredible primates, offering respectful and educational wildlife experiences along with how the organisation is working with local community and what makes a truly sustainable operation when it comes to tourism.  You'll also love the insight Kevin offers on gorilla behaviour and their family life. It's no wonder they share 98% of our DNA.  I hope you enjoy the episode.  You can find out more about Volcanoes Safaris via their website and follow their social pages for some stunning visuals on what a visit looks like.  Facebook Instagram YouTube  I've also linked through to the Ted Talk from Praveen Moman on Saving Gorillas.  This audio was edited by Peter Magill.   

Women in wildlife conservation just make sense and continue to demonstrate that they are key to protecting nature and their communities. Patrolling the critical areas of the Greater Krueger National Park is South Africa's first all-women anti-poaching unit, The Black Mambas. The Black Mambas are women who are selected, trained and deployed rangers which avoid a gun-first approach instead working to deescalate conflict towards potential poachers protecting The Big 5 and countless other animals. Today on the podcast, I speak to the founder and director of Transfrontier Africa and founder and manager of the Black Mambas, Craig Spencer. Craig discusses his innate traits to protect nature along with the growing success of The Black Mambas since founding the team in 2013. The team have a gruelling schedule patrolling the African landscape but are also creating sustainable incomes for their families and communities including supporting, feeding and teaching children the importance of wildlife conservation through the Bush Babies Environmental Education Program. We discuss the traits that women possess to see them successfully disrupt the poaching space without the violence helping create a happy and peaceful landscape. I hope you enjoy the episode. You can support The Black Mambas here or follow them on Instagram for updates. Learn more about Transfrontier Africa here including the Bush Babies Environmental Program. This audio is edited by Peter Magill.

Many animal lovers will seek out wildlife encounters when they travel. Sometimes tourists are sold a once in a lifetime experience to pet a tiger cub, have breakfast with an orangutan or ride an elephant. But it's important to note that these experiences often have a dark side with animals in these venues subject to degrading entertainment, cruel training methods and horrendous living conditions – deprived of their right to live a full, wild life.  So how do we know this? Well, today's guest spends his days documenting these difficult stories in the hope that we can bring urgent change to wildlife tourism. In today's episode we speak to internationally-acclaimed photojournalist and film-maker, Aaron Gekoski. Aaron specialises in human-animal conflict and for more than 15 years he has travelled the globe to report on our complex relationship with wildlife. Covering issues from the illegal wildlife and pet trade, to deforestation, marine conservation and wildlife tourism. He is also a previous winner of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature Photographer of the Year, and many others. His documentary, Eyes of The Orangutan has received multiple award nomination and is a four year investigation that documents orangutans in wildlife tourism and the not so ethical experiences they are subject to. Aaron details his journey to wildlife photography and film, we talk about Eyes of the Orangutan, wildlife tourism, and how to avoid contributing to the industry. Plus, if you're an aspiring photographer or filmmaker, Aaron offers some sound advice on documenting a cause you're passionate about so the world can see it.  I hope this episode brings you learning and value ~ Angela  We've entered this state whereby we think that animals are there simply for us to exploit or to enjoy ~ Aaron Gekoski You can visit Aaron's website or follow him on Instagram for updates. You can also learn more about Orangutans through Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation. This audio is edited by Peter Magill.

Have you been to or seen photos of the Arctic? It's unparalleled beauty with magnificent blue glaciers, maybe a whiskered seal moving through its crystal waters or a polar bear trekking across the ice. But this beautiful region is being challenged with temperatures in the Arctic rising faster than anywhere on Earth. The effects of climate change are seeing the tampering of weather, melting ice, rising sea levels and threatened wildlife. To help me unpack what's happening in The Arctic is today's guest, Dr. Kimberley Miner, who is a climate scientist and program manager at the NASA  Jet  Propulsion  Lab. Her research on climate risks have taken her to the planet's  extreme  environments from the North Pole to Antarctica and Mount Everest. From rising temperatures, thawing permafrost, wildlife and a core culprit – fossil fuels, Dr. Miner details where the Arctic sits from a climate perspective and how we can help protect it. I hope you enjoy the episode. You can learn more and connect with Dr. Miner on her website. This audio is edited by Peter Magill. 

Climate change is challenging our oceans ecosystems when it comes to seafood. We've got unsustainable fishing practices such as overfishing, bycatch, unethical fish farming and even microplastics but seafood has quite the market.  The Nature Conservancy reports that fish and other seafood products provide vital nutrients for more than three billion people around the globe and supply an income for 10 to 12% of the world's population. So how do we sustainably meet a demand like that and avoid depleting our oceans? Well, in a bid to create an ocean-friendly alternative, today I speak to AQUA Cultured Foods who have created healthy, scalable fish-free seafood.  I speak to AQUA Cultured Foods CEO and Co-Founder Anne Palermo and their CGO and Co-Founder, Brittany Chibe. Anne and Brittany detail their environmental and business journeys to create AQUA with products that flawlessly resemble in both texture and taste to your favourite seafood items such as scallops, tuna and calamari.  It's a very clever system which has a climate initiative at its heart, and I hope you enjoy the episode. You can learn more about Aqua Cultured Foods through their beautiful website here or follow them on Facebook or Instagram. This audio is edited by Peter Magill. 

Following a year of animal welfare campaigns, on the ground demonstrations, fundraisers, petitions and political briefings, World Animal Protection are celebrating some significant wins for 2023.  Today, I welcome back Ben Pearson who is World Animal Protection's Country Director Australia and New Zealand. Ben manages programmes for animals on farms and animals in the wild with a key campaign on wildlife tourism. He has more than 24 years experience advocating for the environment and animals. Ben reveals some incredible wins for animal welfare here in Australia and we also get an update on what the team is working on from crocodiles to chickens in the year ahead.  It's an encouraging conversation on how much we can achieve when we advocate for the kind and ethical treatment of all animals. Whether we bring our voices, our signatures or just our kind selves, change happens.  I hope you enjoy the episode.  You can find out more, donate or get campaign updates at worldanimalprotection.org or follow their social pages. Facebook Instagram YouTube As mentioned on the episode today, if you're interested in my last conversation with ben on How To Be A Friendly Animal Traveller, you can listen here. 

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        

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 course, who to reach out to if you need support.  We are all part of an environment that needs protecting and we can start from within. I trust today's episode will bring you comfort, calm and above all - hope.  You can further explore resources on this topic through Andrew's website Climate and Mind or contact him through North Seattle Therapy & Counselling.  Alexandra can be contacted through her therapy practice. 

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 Humane Society International.

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 for the beauty industry to do more and lessen their part in plastic pollution, and even stop producing products that were never designed to be on our skin. I hope you enjoy today's episode. You can learn more on Adorn's ethos and shop through their website or connect with the team on the below social channels.  Facebook Instagram YouTube

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 calls to streaming, gaming and all the activities that require high energy demands. It's also a reminder of how we can be conscious of how we spend time online. Ways we can extend the life of our devices and our part to play in this space.  You can connect with Mike at Uppsala University or on LinkedIn Below are some further links on this topic where Mike's comment was sought via the media.  WLRN 91.3FM Miami, South Florida BBC News Metro News

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 entertainment. Today's conversation discusses some really encouraging advocacy, but also covers details on animal cruelty that some listeners may find distressing. But I hope you'll still be able to listen and be part of this critical conversation. Ben and I will explore some of the animals that are at the hand of abuse and cruelty in the travel space and how they find themselves there. We then learn how we can avoid contributing to this industry, and be part of the global goal of only encountering animals in the wild living the lives that they were meant to. I hope you enjoy the episode. You can visit World Animal Protection and learn about their work, donate or find out more on being an animal friendly traveller. You can also connect with them on the below social channels: Instagram Twitter YouTube

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 technology and just how beneficial and critical living infrastructure is to our livelihood. It's a very informative and research fuelled conversation which I hope you will enjoy.  You can visit Junglefy on their website or email them at info@junglefy.com.au for more information. Suzie is also chair of biophilic design at The Living Future Institute of Australia which you can explore. Junglefy are also on Instagram and Twitter  Some projects discussed today: One Central Park Bosco Verticale Urban Forest Beulah's Green Spine  

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 serving a beautiful community whilst responding to local food production, food insecurity, education, and of course some much needed carbon sequestering to the city. It is a pioneering project which can be implemented in smaller green areas and is a wonderful addition to cities which continue to lose critical, natural spaces. You can find out more about the The Conservation Fund, the food forest and other projects through their website or support them through Trees Atlanta. You can also reach out to them on their social channels below. Facebook Instagram YouTube I hope you enjoy the episode.

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-poaching unit who are bringing heart and empathy to this fight and are succeeding.  Damien remains hopeful and his dedication to wildlife conservation is incredibly powerful and inspiring to listen to. The work he and the team do is critical to the future of some of nature's most beautiful creatures, biodiversity, the local community and in turn, climate change. I speak to Damien today about his personal transformation from hunter and sniper to vegan and animal activist. We discuss the remarkable women of Akashinga and the promising future of the IAPF. I hope you enjoy the episode. You can learn more about the IAPF on their website or follow them on some of the below social channels for news and to witness the day-to-day work of this dedicated team of wildlife warriors. Instagram YouTube Twitter

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 

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, zero-waste materials, the environmental mindset of consumers, the circular economy and just how we got to this exciting place and will evolve from here.  On a very deep and physical level, I think there's a widespread appreciation, a realisation even that we're just a small part of a much bigger ecosystem, and that we need to live in harmony with nature ~ Victoria Redshaw, Scarlet Opus.  I hope you enjoy the episode! Learn More You can reach out to Victoria and her team for more information at Scarlet Opus or on their social platforms below. Instagram Facebook Twitter  

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 travelled to and worked with rangers in over 50 countries on six continents, where he has been ambushed, held at gunpoint, charged by elephants and avoided armed military.  Today he shares the stories of the Rangers, what really happens on the frontline and the ongoing challenges and anxiety they are subject to in order to stand by our wildlife.  Our conversation has some really inspiring stories from the frontline but there is also information on ranger livelihood and violence they've encountered that some listeners may find distressing. If this episode connects with you and you have the means to give, you can donate directly to The Thin Green Line Foundation here.  Or help us spread the word, share the stories and their fight and help us stand up and honour the people doing this dangerous yet critical work #westandwiththeworldsrangers Find Thin Green Line on the below social platforms.  Facebook Instagram YouTube

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 and that we are at the tipping point of climate change. But we are here today to share stories, to inspire and to ignite action to turn this around. Visit Melissa and Fredrick at The Mother Bear where you can find out more about expeditions or buy their book.  You can also follow Melissa and Fredrick on their Instagram pages for beautiful imagery, climate news and stories.  I hope you enjoy this episode. 

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 Sustainable or follow the team and see their work on YouTube or Instagram.  I hope you enjoy the episode! 

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 or Facebook. 

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 you for your support and I hope you enjoy the episode.   

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. 

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: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whalesanctuaryproject/ Twitter https://www.instagram.com/whalesanctuaryproject/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whalesanctuaryproject/     

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 Facebook.  Other websites and resources we discussed today are below: Upparel Ethical Clothing Australia Freedom United PayUp Fashion Labour Behind the Label Global Slavery Index

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 mining dust.  Gunter has delivered time and time again for the environment, his imagination and action continue to demonstrate what can be done and needs to be done urgently. I hope you enjoy the episode. You can learn more about Gunter Pauli here and further links of our discussion are below: ZERI https://www.gunterpauli.com/zeri.html  The Blue Economy  https://www.gunterpauli.com/books1.html 

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 playground design consultations or updates.

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 the detrimental effects they're having on marine and human life. Michelle also introduces us to the AUSMAP method and how we can all help keep microplastics out of the water. You can learn more about AUSMAP on their website or sign up to one of their local events at https://www.facebook.com/pg/ausmap.au/events/  I hope you enjoy the episode.  

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 Project for more information, to donate or receive updates on their incredible work.

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

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 of this episode I hope you will be informed and inspired to be a part of the Shark Champions community and get to signing some worthy petitions. All links mentioned in the episode are listed below. I hope you enjoy the episode. Sign up at Shark Champions https://sharkchampions.org.au/ Check the GoodFish App https://goodfish.org.au/ Reach out to Dr Leonardo Guida on Twitter

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 yet informed introduction to a vegan lifestyle and I hope you enjoy this episode. (A full transcript of today's episode is available on my website).

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] 

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.