Podcasts about livelihoods

What a week. What a heartbreaking, devastating week across the North Island. The weather raged. Homes ruined. Livelihoods swept away. Communities cut off. And most tragically - lives lost. The power of Mother Nature was on show in full force, reminding us that life can change in a moment. I don't think there is a New Zealander who hasn't spent time over the last 3 days thinking of the grieving families and friends of those lost or missing in the weather related tragedies this week. As the weather began to settle on Thursday, we thought the worst was behind us - and then came the almost unthinkable. A group of campers were swept up in a deadly landslide. As the rescue operation at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park and Mount Hot Pools moved into a recovery phase yesterday, our hope of finding people alive switched to the hope that all the victims will be found and returned to their families. Once the initial shock slowly subsided, there has been, as you'd expect, heightened emotional responses to the tragedy. Questions have been raised about the speed of the rescue mission, whether the camp ground and pool area should have been evaluated and evacuated earlier and who is responsible for that, whether campers should have left on their own accord before the bad weather arrived, and whether we take the frequent weather warnings seriously enough. These are all valid questions. But is it really helpful to launch into the blame game in the midst of a rescue mission? Is this really the time for outrage? Shouldn't our energy go into making sure the families involved have all the support they could possibly need, and that those responsible for the rescue /recovery operation have all the resources and support they need? I would prefer to put the outrage and inquisition to the side - just for now. Once families have been reunited, and the recovery mission is complete, then yes, bring on the questions about accountability, and how we handle weather related disasters. Given the scale and seriousness of the event, the Tauranga City Council's announcement of an independent review of all aspects leading up to the landslide was the right call. This will be just one of many opportunity for these questions to be asked and answered. In the meantime, our thoughts are with all the families of those waiting for their loved ones to be found and returned to them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, cooler conditions and lighter winds helped firefighters gain control of the blazes as Victoria's bushfire emergency entered its sixth day. Homes, farms and critical infrastructure have been damaged across regional communities, while authorities warn the impact on native wildlife could be severe.

In rural India, energy poverty keeps many smallholder farmers from reaching their full potential—limiting irrigation, crop processing, and storage. But change is on the horizon. Oorja Development Solutions is using solar-powered irrigation and milling to transform agriculture, boosting incomes by 27%, and preventing nearly 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. On The Right Business, Nadiah Koh speaks with Audrey Fillon, COO of Oorja Development Solutions as she shares how sustainable energy solutions are reshaping livelihoods, empowering farmers, and protecting the environment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak with Kate Porterfield (MPH '22), an NYU double-graduate in Global Liberal Studies and Environmental Public Health Sciences, who has navigated a unique career from teaching fifth grade to leading international research. Kate shares powerful stories from her work with Pure Earth, including an investigation into lead poisoning in Ghana, where she details the toxic reality of the Agbogbloshie e-waste dumping ground. This experience, she explains, was the pivotal moment that drove her from desk research to pursuing a Master's of Social Work in clinical practice. She argues that Public Health and Social Work are deeply intertwined. The conversation closes on her core philosophy: that education can be used as a tool for public health by teaching the foundational skill of empathy to achieve meaningful behavioral change. This perspective ensures that every person is seen not as a statistic, but as an individual that matters. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit http://www.publichealth.nyu.edu.

For Palestinian-Australian winemaker Sari Kassis, the reality of farming in the West Bank is one of constant physical and psychological danger. With settler violence surging in the West Bank, this year's harvest has seen a record number of Israeli attacks on farms and properties.

This episode originally aired on March 15, 2021: In the management and conservation of resources, what does it mean to coexist? This week on Terra Informa we are joined by PhD student Krista Tremblett to bring you a story on Indigenous-led approaches to fisheries management in Atlantic Canada. We explore the historical precedence and Treaty commitments that guarantee Indigenous rights to fish for a moderate livelihood. And we investigate the recent conflict that erupted between non-Indigenous commercial fishers and Indigenous fishers following the self-regulated moderate livelihood fishery launched by Sipekne'katik First Nation. Many thanks to our guest Krista Tremblett for contributing her knowledge to this episode. You can learn more about the Sipekne'katik moderate livelihood fishery and how you can support their ongoing efforts here.To learn more about Indigenous fishing livelihoods in a different context, the Mi'gmaq of Listuguj, Quebec, check out the new documentary series Gespe'gewa'gi - the Last Land, directed by Chisasibi filmmaker Ernie Webb.Program log. ★ Support this podcast ★

How can carbon finance do more to strengthen rural livelihoods and empower the communities on the frontlines of climate change? Social Impact Pioneers - Anna Kilpatrick, from PUR, Ann Vaughan & Lilian Gwazayo of CARE, and Olaf Westermann, from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) explore this critical question. The conversation, in turn, hears from people implementing carbon finance programmes with a focus on deepening livelihood benefits in countries from around the world, including Mr. Matola Sigele in Malawi; Karimi in Cambodia; Emmanuel and Joshua in Uganda. Together, they unpack how nature-based solutions, carbon markets, and community-led restoration can deliver climate impact rooted in equity and sustainability. The conversation dives into payment for ecosystem services, carbon equity, and the importance of long-term investment in communities that steward forests and farmlands. You will hear how carbon projects are reshaping livelihoods—improving food security, empowering women, and restoring degraded landscapes. And also some of the challenges - in making these programmes work - whether land rights, short-term rewards, or understandable skepticism. This episode offers practical insights for businesses, investors, and NGOs seeking to align carbon finance integrity with inclusive development. Listen now to explore how climate finance can be a cornerstone of sustainable livelihoods—not just a co-benefit. This conversation is hosted by Yvette Torres-Rahman, co-founder of Business Fights Poverty. Social Impact Pioneers: - Anna Kilpatrick, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at PUR, whose agroforestry projects help global companies decarbonize agricultural supply chains while improving smallholder incomes. - Ann Vaughan, Associate Vice President for Resilient Futures at CARE, leading work to unlock climate finance that reaches 25 million people, especially women and girls. - Olaf Westermann, Senior Technical Advisor on Climate Change and Agriculture at CRS, connecting conservation, livelihoods, and equity in nature-based carbon projects worldwide. - Lilian Gwazayo, Field Advisor, & Environmental Scientist, CARE, Malawi. Links: Redd+ Projects: https://unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/redd/what-is-redd PUR: https://www.pur.co/ Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crs.org/ Care: Malawi We Staan Nog Steeds: https://www.carenederland.org/verhaal/malawi-we-staan-nog-steeds Care: Malawi: Herstel van groene vegetatie draagt bij aan duurzame toekomst https://www.carenederland.org/nieuws/malawi-het-herstellen-van-groene-vegetatie CARE Malawi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-international-in-malawi/posts/?feedView=all CARE Nederland: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-nederland/posts/?feedView=all Restore Africa: https://www.evergreening.org/restoreafrica/

Dom talks with Jim Aitken, owner of Mahurangi Oysters, about its ongoing battle with Watercare to stop sewage overflow contaminating its oyster crops in the Mahurangi River, how many oyster farmers are struggling to stay in business and what is being done to address the situation. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Over the last several decades, sources of income derived away from farms have come to play a much bigger role in rural Indonesian households. How do rural people in Indonesia engage with farming and social and economic spheres beyond their villages? What do their changing forms of engagement mean for land relations, sustainability, and the future of agrarian communities? Jeff Neilson's Fortress Farming: Agrarian Transitions, Livelihoods, and Coffee Value Chains in Indonesia (Cornell UP, 2025) offers an explanation that centers on a defensive livelihood strategy observed among, in particular, coffee producing smallholders. This livelihood strategy, understood as “fortress farming”, is undertaken by smallholder households that are reluctant to maximize production despite their engagement with major coffee roasting companies. Instead, they maintain their small farms to defend themselves from insecurity while pursuing sources of wealth off farm. The book considers the implications of fortress farming for broader structural reforms and illuminates how social institutions shape forms of capitalist agriculture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Over the last several decades, sources of income derived away from farms have come to play a much bigger role in rural Indonesian households. How do rural people in Indonesia engage with farming and social and economic spheres beyond their villages? What do their changing forms of engagement mean for land relations, sustainability, and the future of agrarian communities? Jeff Neilson's Fortress Farming: Agrarian Transitions, Livelihoods, and Coffee Value Chains in Indonesia (Cornell UP, 2025) offers an explanation that centers on a defensive livelihood strategy observed among, in particular, coffee producing smallholders. This livelihood strategy, understood as “fortress farming”, is undertaken by smallholder households that are reluctant to maximize production despite their engagement with major coffee roasting companies. Instead, they maintain their small farms to defend themselves from insecurity while pursuing sources of wealth off farm. The book considers the implications of fortress farming for broader structural reforms and illuminates how social institutions shape forms of capitalist agriculture. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies

Over the last several decades, sources of income derived away from farms have come to play a much bigger role in rural Indonesian households. How do rural people in Indonesia engage with farming and social and economic spheres beyond their villages? What do their changing forms of engagement mean for land relations, sustainability, and the future of agrarian communities? Jeff Neilson's Fortress Farming: Agrarian Transitions, Livelihoods, and Coffee Value Chains in Indonesia (Cornell UP, 2025) offers an explanation that centers on a defensive livelihood strategy observed among, in particular, coffee producing smallholders. This livelihood strategy, understood as “fortress farming”, is undertaken by smallholder households that are reluctant to maximize production despite their engagement with major coffee roasting companies. Instead, they maintain their small farms to defend themselves from insecurity while pursuing sources of wealth off farm. The book considers the implications of fortress farming for broader structural reforms and illuminates how social institutions shape forms of capitalist agriculture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics

Over the last several decades, sources of income derived away from farms have come to play a much bigger role in rural Indonesian households. How do rural people in Indonesia engage with farming and social and economic spheres beyond their villages? What do their changing forms of engagement mean for land relations, sustainability, and the future of agrarian communities? Jeff Neilson's Fortress Farming: Agrarian Transitions, Livelihoods, and Coffee Value Chains in Indonesia (Cornell UP, 2025) offers an explanation that centers on a defensive livelihood strategy observed among, in particular, coffee producing smallholders. This livelihood strategy, understood as “fortress farming”, is undertaken by smallholder households that are reluctant to maximize production despite their engagement with major coffee roasting companies. Instead, they maintain their small farms to defend themselves from insecurity while pursuing sources of wealth off farm. The book considers the implications of fortress farming for broader structural reforms and illuminates how social institutions shape forms of capitalist agriculture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has branded Nigel Farage's agenda the “single greatest threat” to British people's livelihoods at her Labour Party Conference speech in Liverpool. She vowed to stand by Labour's manifesto pledge not to raise taxes on working people - but has left the door open to changing VAT rules. The Standard's Chief Political Correspondent Rachael Burford is here with the latest. And in part two, author and podcast host Jack Guinness reflects on his family history after watching Netflix's House of Guinness, which tells the story of Sir Benjamin Guinness and his four children, to whom he leaves a vast empire in nineteenth century Dublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The majority of the world's refugees live in countries with fragile economies, where opportunities for employment and self-reliance are often limited. With displacement lasting more than a decade on average, the question of how refugees can build sustainable livelihoods has become increasingly urgent. In this fifth episode of Refugees at work – What are their Prospects?, Professor Alexander Betts and Bisimwa Mulemangabo discuss how refugees navigate labour markets, the barriers they face, and the innovative ways they create livelihoods. The conversation explores the diversity of refugee economies, from small-scale entrepreneurship to professional employment, and highlights how policies, host community dynamics, and private sector engagement can shape outcomes. Crucially, the discussion emphasizes the role of refugee agency — refugees' own voices, choices, and aspirations — in designing effective and lasting solutions. By centring refugees as economic actors rather than passive recipients of aid, the episode points to pathways that can foster dignity, inclusion, and shared prosperity for both refugees and host communities.

Gugs Mhlungu speaks with Luyanda Hlatshwayo, Youth Climate activist and African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) Spokesperson, about growing concerns over landfill closures and their impact on reclaimers' income and livelihoods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks with GroundUp journalist Daniel Steyn about the top stories on their news website, including the Joburg landfill closure threatening 140 jobs, activists protesting Shell’s oil exploration, and a controversial letter from a PRASA board member alleging tender rigging. 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often talk about the global food crisis as if it's just about climate change, conflicts, or market disruptions. But beneath it all lies a silent, often overlooked driver—gender inequality.From who grows the food, who gets paid for it, who eats first at the dinner table, to who makes decisions about land—gender roles shape every layer of our food systems. And when women and marginalized groups are excluded, the impact ripples far beyond individuals. It weakens food security for entire families, communities, and regions.In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ranjitha Puskur, Principal Scientist in the Gender and Livelihoods program at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). With years of on-the-ground research and policy experience, Dr. Puskur helps us understand why tackling gender inequality is central to solving food insecurity.We explore:• What gender inequality in food systems really looks like in everyday life• Why women—despite producing much of the world's food—are still among the hungriest• How food is distributed within households, and why “who eats first” matters• Local, community-driven actions that can shift entrenched gender roles• Real-world examples where empowering women has strengthened nutrition and food security outcomesIf you're curious about how addressing gender inequality can transform not just households but entire food systems, this conversation will give you fresh, grounded insights.About Nutrition Every Day: A special podcast series by The Good Sight and Rise Against Hunger India, bringing sharp, grounded perspectives on health and nutrition.CreditsHost: Shreya MGuest: Dr. Ranjitha PuskurResearch: Alisha CArtwork: Rajnikant SProduced by: The Good SightConcept: The Good Sight & Rise Against Hunger IndiaFor feedback or to participate, write to us at ⁠⁠contact@thegoodsight.org⁠⁠#NutritionEveryDay #GenderEquality #FoodSecurity #SustainableNutrition #TheGoodSight #RiseAgainstHungerIndia #IRRI

This week: Nicole Cramer from the Rainforest Alliance talks with Ian Welsh about how data collection can actually help farmers instead of burdening them. They discuss building farmer-centred data systems, translating information into practical improvements on the farm, and aligning long-standing agricultural programmes with emerging global regulations.   Plus: Innovation Forum's Anamya Anurag talks with Ian Welsh about the emerging challenges in soft commodities, from climate shocks to geopolitical disruptions. They explore latest corporate innovations in creating supply chains that are both adaptive and sustainable.   Host: Ian Welsh

Audible's new "Audible+" program will destroy the livelihoods of narrators and authors. How will it do that? The DRS Crew discusses, and V brings cats to help explain things. For background, please watch:    • Audible Is Broken   Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site:  https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter, and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast free and receive exclusive content. More information at https://patreon.com/drspodcast  and https://buymeacoffee.com/drspodcast. #writing #fiction #podcast #chat #live #novel #story #narrative #publishing #author #writer #discussion #podcast #talkshow #audible #audiobooks  

The fact that all ecological research is usually done with the guidance of a tribal person or what we call indigenous Adivasi person because they are the ones who know the forest and they know where what is flowering, what is fruiting, where is the horn bill nesting and what not. I hope you all carry a bit of the forest in your in your hearts.

"Nobody's heard of it." That's Donald Trump's dismissive claim about Lesotho – a small country in southern Africa where lives are being devastated by the US president's decision. But what are the real-world consequences of Mr Trump's trade war? Trump's cuts to US foreign aid means people can't get access to HIV medication and costly tariffs is causing havoc to the economy – both of which are costing lives.  Sky News' Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir has been to Lesotho to find out how decisions in Washington are hitting a country thousands of miles away.  Click here to hear more from Yousra, including how the deadly drug Kush is wreaking havoc in West Africa... and why it links to the UK: https://news.sky.com/story/kush-the-deadly-drug-wreaking-havoc-in-west-africa-13391966 

#366 In this episode, the host welcomes Peter Panagore for the third time on the podcast to delve into deep discussions on spirituality, mysticism, and the challenges of modern life. The conversation kicks off with Peter's insights on the suppression of internal salvation within Western religious frameworks, advocating for spiritual awakening from within rather than relying on external saviors. They discuss key themes such as the light breaking through worldly illusions, the mystical experiences Peter had during his near-death experience, and the importance of the heart in spiritual practice. Peter shares his extensive knowledge on ancient texts like the Gospels of Mary and Thomas, highlighting their significance in understanding Christ's teachings on oneness. They also explore the potential impact of AI and societal shifts on spirituality, emphasizing the role of love and compassion in shaping a benevolent future. The episode encourages listeners to embrace mystical experiences and integrate spiritual practices into their daily lives, fostering a sense of unity and compassion. About Peter: Reverend Peter Panagore, M. Div., Yale, is the author of two best-sellers, “Two Minutes for God,” a 7/365 collection of inspirational devotions that aired daily for fifteen years on two NBC News stations in Maine and New Hampshire, and ‘Heaven Is Beautiful: How Dying Taught Me That Death Is Just the Beginning”, an audible best seller that is available globally. His upcoming third book tells true tales of modern mystics in the classical tradition, in the high hopes that he can inspire more people to come out and share their own mystical experiences.  – He previously served as a United Church of Christ minister and pastor in Maine and Connecticut. He now speaks from pulpits, stages, and on national and international media about Near Death Experience, the Reality of God, Christian mysticism, meditation, and prayer.  – Reverend Peter Panagore, M.Div (Yale) has had two near-death experiences, the first while ice climbing in 1980 and the second in 2015 due to a heart attack. In this episode, he recalls his near death experience in March 1980 when he went ice climbing along the Ice Fields Parkway in Alberta Canada with an experienced ice climber. He shares their countless misfortunes on their descent, how he was overcome by exhaustion and hypothermia. He recalls being in a proverbial tunnel and in those minutes, he has experience hell, forgiveness, and unconditional love. He also has encountered God. Key Points Discussed:  (00:00) - Unlocking the SECRETS of the Ancient Mystics (00:56) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest (01:19) - Key Themes and Insights from the Podcast (03:34) - Peter's Near-Death Experience and Mystical Insights (07:28) - The Nature of Mystical Experiences (11:30) - The Role of Meditation and Surrender (23:07) - Historical Repression of Mysticism (29:27) - Modern Challenges and Spiritual Awakening (31:47) - The Great Awakening and AI's Role (34:06) - Climate Change and Its Impact on Livelihoods (34:44) - The Rise of Near-Death Experiences (36:08) - Healing Emotional Trauma (39:09) - The Concept of Ripening in Spirituality (43:42) - Exploring Mystical Texts and Gospels (48:19) - The Repression of Women in Early Christianity (54:23) - The Potential Impact of UFOs on Religion (57:44) - Manifestation and Living in the Flow (01:02:53) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts How to Contact Peter Panagore:www.peterpanagore.love   About me:My Instagram: www.instagram.com/guyhlawrence/?hl=en Guy's websites:www.guylawrence.com.au www.liveinflow.co

In this episode we meet 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner Charlie Fraser, founder of TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network).  Since 2016, TERN has been supporting people in the UK to launch businesses. We learn about some of the challenges facing those who have fled their countries to escape violence, persecution and natural disasters, and need to rebuild their lives from scratch. Charlie explains how entrepreneurship can benefit refugees and their communities.Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

From the BBC World Service: England's biggest agricultural show has started, but away from the sheep shearing competitions and livestock judging, farmers are talking about international trade — and they're adamant about not giving ground in any future negotiations. Plus, the U.K. government is capping tax relief on farmland passed down through generations. And, we hear from a Scottish sheep farmer with more than 400,000 followers on YouTube about how merchandise tie-ins are supporting his business.

From the BBC World Service: England's biggest agricultural show has started, but away from the sheep shearing competitions and livestock judging, farmers are talking about international trade — and they're adamant about not giving ground in any future negotiations. Plus, the U.K. government is capping tax relief on farmland passed down through generations. And, we hear from a Scottish sheep farmer with more than 400,000 followers on YouTube about how merchandise tie-ins are supporting his business.

This week on VoxDev talks we have two special episodes recorded at the 5th annual STEG conference. STEG is a research initiative that aims to provide a better understanding of structural change, productivity, and growth in low- and middle-income countries.  For many economies in the Global South, fossil fuel extraction has been both a blessing and a curse. Nowhere more so than Nigeria, where oil production generates huge revenues, but also creates an environmental and social burden for the people who live in oil producing regions. Arinze Nwokolo of Lagos Business School has investigated one aspect of this burden: how gas flaring that occurs as part of the oil production process affects local agriculture. He talks to Tim Phillips about the dramatic impact it has on agricultural productivity, and how the policy alternatives can change those outcomes. Read the full show notes on VoxDev: https://voxdev.org/topic/energy-environment/gas-flaring-threatens-agriculture-and-livelihoods-nigeria Find out more about STEG at https://steg.cepr.org

Today we're talking with health and nutrition expert Dr. Stuart Gillespie, author of a new book entitled Food Fight: from Plunder and Profit to People and Planet. Using decades of research and insight gathered from around the world, Dr. Gillespie wants to reimagine our global food system and plot a way forward to a sustainable, equitable, and healthy food future - one where our food system isn't making us sick. Certainly not the case now. Over the course of his career, Dr. Gillespie has worked with the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition in Geneva with UNICEF in India and with the International Food Policy Research Institute, known as IFPRI, where he's led initiatives tackling the double burden of malnutrition and agriculture and health research. He holds a PhD in human nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Interview Summary So, you've really had a global view of the agriculture system, and this is captured in your book. And to give some context to our listeners, in your book, you describe the history of the global food system, how it's evolved into this system, sort of warped, if you will, into a mechanism that creates harm and it destroys more than it produces. That's a pretty bold statement. That it destroys more than it produces, given how much the agriculture around the world does produce. Tell us a bit more if you would. Yes, that statement actually emerged from recent work by the Food Systems Economic Commission. And they costed out the damage or the downstream harms generated by the global food system at around $15 trillion per year, which is 12% of GDP. And that manifests in various ways. Health harms or chronic disease. It also manifests in terms of climate crisis and risks and environmental harms, but also. Poverty of food system workers at the front line, if you like. And it's largely because we have a system that's anachronistic. It's a system that was built in a different time, in a different century for a different purpose. It was really started to come together after the second World War. To mass produce cheap calories to prevent famine, but also through the Green Revolution, as that was picking up with the overproduction of staples to use that strategically through food aid to buffer the West to certain extent from the spread of communism. And over time and over the last 50 years of neoliberal policies we've got a situation where food is less and less viewed as a human right, or a basic need. It's seen as a commodity and the system has become increasingly financialized. And there's a lot of evidence captured by a handful of transnationals, different ones at different points in the system from production to consumption. But in each case, they wield huge amounts of power. And that manifests in various ways. We have, I think a system that's anachronistic The point about it, and the problem we have, is that it's a system revolves around maximizing profit and the most profitable foods and products of those, which are actually the least healthy for us as individuals. And it's not a system that's designed to nourish us. It's a system designed to maximize profit. And we don't have a system that really aims to produce whole foods for people. We have a system that produces raw ingredients for industrial formulations to end up as ultra processed foods. We have a system that produces cattle feed and, and biofuels, and some whole foods. But it, you know, that it's so skewed now, and we see the evidence all around us that it manifests in all sorts of different ways. One in three people on the planet in some way malnourished. We have around 12 million adult deaths a year due to diet related chronic disease. And I followed that from colonial times that, that evolution and the way it operates and the way it moves across the world. And what is especially frightening, I think, is the speed at which this so-called nutrition transition or dietary transition is happening in lower income or middle income countries. We saw this happening over in the US and we saw it happening in the UK where I am. And then in Latin America, and then more Southeast Asia, then South Asia. Now, very much so in Sub-Saharan Africa where there is no regulation really, apart from perhaps South Africa. So that's long answer to your intro question. Let's dive into a couple of things that you brought up. First, the Green Revolution. So that's a term that many of our listeners will know and they'll understand what the Green Revolution is, but not everybody. Would you explain what that was and how it's had these effects throughout the food systems around the world? Yes, I mean around the, let's see, about 1950s, Norman Borlag, who was a crop breeder and his colleagues in Mexico discovered through crop breeding trials, a high yielding dwarf variety. But over time and working with different partners, including well in India as well, with the Swaminathan Foundation. And Swaminathan, for example, managed to perfect these new strains. High yielding varieties that doubled yields for a given acreage of land in terms of staples. And over time, this started to work with rice, with wheat, maize and corn. Very dependent on fertilizers, very dependent on pesticides, herbicides, which we now realize had significant downstream effects in terms of environmental harms. But also, diminishing returns in as much as, you know, that went through its trajectory in terms of maximizing productivity. So, all the Malthusian predictions of population growth out running our ability to feed the planet were shown to not to be true. But it also generated inequity that the richest farmers got very rich, very quickly, the poorer farmers got slightly richer, but that there was this large gap. So, inequity was never really properly dealt with through the Green Revolution in its early days. And that overproduction and the various institutions that were set in place, the manner in which governments backed off any form of regulation for overproduction. They continued to subsidize over production with these very large subsidies upstream, meant that we are in the situation we are now with regard to different products are being used to deal with that excess over production. So, that idea of using petroleum-based inputs to create the foods in the first place. And the large production of single crops has a lot to do with that Green Revolution that goes way back to the 1950s. It's interesting to see what it's become today. It's sort of that original vision multiplied by a billion. And boy, it really does continue to have impacts. You know, it probably was the forerunner to genetically modified foods as well, which I'd like to ask you about in a little bit. But before I do that, you said that much of the world's food supply is governed by a pretty small number of players. So who are these players? If you look at the downstream retail side, you have Nestle, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Unilever. Collectively around 70% of retail is governed by those companies. If you look upstream in terms of agricultural and agribusiness, you have Cargill, ADM, Louis Dreyfus, and Bunge. These change to a certain extent. What doesn't change very much are the numbers involved that are very, very small and that the size of these corporations is so large that they have immense power. And, so those are the companies that we could talk about what that power looks like and why it's problematic. But the other side of it's here where I am in the UK, we have a similar thing playing out with regard to store bought. Food or products, supermarkets that control 80% as Tesco in the UK, Asta, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons just control. You have Walmart, you have others, and that gives them immense power to drive down the costs that they will pay to producers and also potentially increase the cost that they charge as prices of the products that are sold in these supermarkets. So that profit markup, profit margins are in increased in their favor. They can also move around their tax liabilities around the world because they're transnational. And that's just the economic market and financial side on top of that. And as you know, there's a whole raft of political ways in which they use this power to infiltrate policy, influence policy through what I've called in Chapter 13, the Dark Arts of Policy Interference. Your previous speaker, Murray Carpenter, talked about that with regard to Coca-Cola and that was a very, yeah, great example. But there are many others. In many ways these companies have been brilliant at adapting to the regulatory landscape, to the financial incentives, to the way the agriculture system has become warped. I mean, in some ways they've done the warping, but in a lot of ways, they're adapting to the conditions that allow warping to occur. And because they've invested so heavily, like in manufacturing plants to make high fructose corn syrup or to make biofuels or things like that. It'd be pretty hard for them to undo things, and that's why they lobby so strongly in favor of keeping the status quo. Let me ask you about the issue of power because you write about this in a very compelling way. And you talk about power imbalances in the food system. What does that look like in your mind, and why is it such a big part of the problem? Well, yes. And power manifests in different ways. It operates sometimes covertly, sometimes overtly. It manifests at different levels from, you know, grassroots level, right up to national and international in terms of international trade. But what I've described is the way markets are captured or hyper concentrated. That power that comes with these companies operating almost like a cartel, can be used to affect political or to dampen down, block governments from regulating them through what I call a five deadly Ds: dispute or dispute or doubt, distort, distract, disguise, and dodge. And you've written very well Kelly, with I think Kenneth Warner about the links between big food and big tobacco and the playbook and the realization on the part of Big Tobacco back in the '50s, I think, that they couldn't compete with the emerging evidence of the harms of smoking. They had to secure the science. And that involved effectively buying research or paying for researchers to generate a raft of study shown that smoking wasn't a big deal or problem. And also, public relations committees, et cetera, et cetera. And we see the same happening with big food. Conflicts of interest is a big deal. It needs to be avoided. It can't be managed. And I think a lot of people think it is just a question of disclosure. Disclosure is never enough of conflict of interest, almost never enough. We have, in the UK, we have nine regulatory bodies. Every one of them has been significantly infiltrated by big food, including the most recent one, which has just been designated to help develop a national food stretch in the UK. We've had a new government here and we thought things were changing, beginning to wonder now because big food is on that board or on that committee. And it shouldn't be, you know. It shouldn't be anywhere near the policy table anyway. That's so it's one side is conflict of interest. Distraction: I talk about corporate social responsibility initiatives and the way that they're designed to distract. On the one hand, if you think of a person on a left hand is doing these wonderful small-scale projects, which are high visibility and they're doing good. In and off themselves they're doing good. But they're small scale. Whereas the right hand is a core business, which is generating harm at a much larger scale. And the left hand is designed to distract you from the right hand. So that distraction, those sort of corporate CSR initiatives are a big part of the problem. And then 'Disguise' is, as you know, with the various trade associations and front groups, which acted almost like Trojan horses, in many ways. Because the big food companies are paying up as members of these committees, but they don't get on the program of these international conferences. But the front groups do and the front groups act on in their interests. So that's former disguise or camouflage. The World Business Council on Sustainable Development is in the last few years, has been very active in the space. And they have Philip Morris on there as members, McDonald's and Nestle, Coke, everybody, you know. And they deliberately actually say It's all fine. That we have an open door, which I, I just can't. I don't buy it. And there are others. So, you know, I think these can be really problematic. The other thing I should mention about power and as what we've learned more about, if you go even upstream from the big food companies, and you look at the hedge funds and the asset management firms like Vanguard, state Capital, BlackRock, and the way they've been buying up shares of big food companies and blocking any moves in annual general meetings to increase or improve the healthiness of portfolios. Because they're so powerful in terms of the number of shares they hold to maximize profit for pension funds. So, we started to see the pressure that is being put on big food upstream by the nature of the system, that being financialized, even beyond the companies themselves, you know? You were mentioning that these companies, either directly themselves or through their front organizations or the trade association block important things that might be done in agriculture. Can you think of an example of that? Yes, well actually I did, with some colleagues here in the UK, the Food Foundation, an investigation into corporate lobbying during the previous conservative government. And basically, in the five years after the pandemic, we logged around 1,400 meetings between government ministers and big food. Then we looked at the public interest NGOs and the number of meetings they had over that same period, and it was 35, so it was a 40-fold difference. Oh goodness. Which I was actually surprised because I thought they didn't have to do much because the Tory government was never going to really regulate them anyway. And you look in the register, there is meant to be transparency. There are rules about disclosure of what these lobbying meetings were meant to be for, with whom, for what purpose, what outcome. That's just simply not followed. You get these crazy things being written into the those logs like, 'oh, we had a meeting to discuss business, and that's it.' And we know that at least what happened in the UK, which I'm more familiar with. We had a situation where constantly any small piecemeal attempt to regulate, for example, having a watershed at 9:00 PM so that kids could not see junk food advertised on their screens before 9:00 PM. That simple regulation was delayed, delayed. So, delay is actually another D you know. It is part of it. And that's an example of that. That's a really good example. And you've reminded me of an example where Marian Nestle and I wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Times, many years ago, on an effort by the WHO, the World Health Organization to establish a quite reasonable guideline for how much added sugar people should have in their diet. And the sugar industry stepped in in the biggest way possible. And there was a congressional caucus on sugar or something like that in our US Congress and the sugar industry and the other players in the food industry started interacting with them. They put big pressure on the highest levels of the US government to pressure the WHO away from this really quite moderate reasonable sugar standard. And the US ultimately threatened the World Health Organization with taking away its funding just on one thing - sugar. Now, thankfully the WHO didn't back down and ultimately came out with some pretty good guidelines on sugar that have been even stronger over the years. But it was pretty disgraceful. That's in the book that, that story is in the book. I think it was 2004 with the strategy on diet, physical activity. And Tommy Thompson was a health secretary and there were all sorts of shenanigans and stories around that. Yes, that is a very powerful example. It was a crazy power play and disgraceful how our government acted and how the companies acted and all the sort of deceitful ways they did things. And of course, that's happened a million times. And you gave the example of all the discussions in the UK between the food industry and the government people. So, let's get on to something more positive. What can be done? You can see these massive corporate influences, revolving doors in government, a lot of things that would argue for keeping the status quo. So how in the world do you turn things around? Yeah, good question. I really believe, I've talked about a lot of people. I've looked a lot of the evidence. I really believe that we need a systemic sort of structural change and understanding that's not going to happen overnight. But ultimately, I think there's a role for a government, citizens civil society, media, academics, food industry, obviously. And again, it's different between the UK and US and elsewhere in terms of the ability and the potential for change. But governments have to step in and govern. They have to set the guardrails and the parameters. And I talk in the book about four key INs. So, the first one is institutions in which, for example, there's a power to procure healthy food for schools, for hospitals, clinics that is being underutilized. And there's some great stories of individuals. One woman from Kenya who did this on her own and managed to get the government to back it and to scale it up, which is an incredible story. That's institutions. The second IN is incentives, and that's whereby sugar taxes, or even potentially junk food taxes as they have in Columbia now. And reforming the upstream subsidies on production is basically downregulating the harmful side, if you like, of the food system, but also using the potential tax dividend from that side to upregulate benefits via subsidies for low-income families. Rebalancing the system. That's the incentive side. The other side is information, and that involves labeling, maybe following the examples from Latin America with regard to black octagons in Chile and Mexico and Brazil. And dietary guidelines not being conflicted, in terms of conflicts of interest. And actually, that's the fourth IN: interests. So ridding government advisory bodies, guideline committees, of conflicts of interests. Cleaning up lobbying. Great examples in a way that can be done are from Canada and Ireland that we found. That's government. Citizens, and civil society, they can be involved in various ways exposing, opposing malpractice if you like, or harmful action on the part of industry or whoever else, or the non-action on the part of the government. Informing, advocating, building social movements. Lots I think can be learned through activist group in other domains or in other disciplines like HIV, climate. I think we need to make those connections much more. Media. I mean, the other thought is that the media have great, I mean in this country at least, you know, politicians tend to follow the media, or they're frightened of the media. And if the media turned and started doing deep dive stories of corporate shenanigans and you know, stuff that is under the radar, that would make a difference, I think. And then ultimately, I think then our industry starts to respond to different signals or should do or would do. So that in innovation is not just purely technological aimed at maximizing profit. It may be actually social. We need social innovation as well. There's a handful of things. But ultimately, I actually don't think the food system is broken because it is doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason. I think we need to change the system, and I'll say that will take time. It needs a real transformation. One, one last thing to say about that word transformation. Where in meetings I've been in over the last 10 years, so many people invoke food system transformation when they're not really talking about it. They're just talking about tweaking the margins or small, piecemeal ad hoc changes or interventions when we need to kind of press all the buttons or pull all the levers to get the kind of change that we need. And again, as I say, it was going to take some time, but we have to start moving that direction. Do you think there's reason to be hopeful and are there success stories you can point to, to make us feel a little bit better? Yeah, and I like that word, hope. I've just been reading a lot of essays from, actually, Rebecca Solnit has been writing a lot about hope as a warrior emotion. Radical hope, which it's different to optimism. Optimism went, oh, you know, things probably will be okay, but hope you make it. It's like a springboard for action. So I, yes, I'm hopeful and I think there are plenty of examples. Actually, a lot of examples from Latin America of things changing, and I think that's because they've been hit so fast, so hard. And I write in the book about what's happened in the US and UK it's happened over a period of, I don't know, 50, 60 years. But what's happened and is happening in Latin America has happened in just like 15 years. You know, it's so rapid that they've had to respond fast or get their act together quickly. And that's an interesting breed of activist scholars. You know, I think there's an interesting group, and again, if we connect across national boundaries across the world, we can learn a lot from that. There are great success stories coming out Chile from the past that we've seen what's happening in Mexico. Mexico was in a terrible situation after Vicente Fox came in, in the early 2000s when he brought all his Coca-Cola pals in, you know, the classic revolving door. And Mexico's obesity and diabetes went off to scale very quickly. But they're the first country with the sugar tax in 2014. And you see the pressure that was used to build the momentum behind that. Chile, Guido Girardi and the Black Octagon labels with other interventions. Rarely is it just one thing. It has to be a comprehensive across the board as far as possible. So, in Brazil, I think we will see things happening more in, in Thailand and Southeast Asia. We see things beginning to happen in India, South Africa. The obesity in Ghana, for example, changed so rapidly. There are some good people working in Ghana. So, you know, I think a good part of this is actually documenting those kind of stories as, and when they happen and publicizing them, you know. The way you portrayed the concept of hope, I think is a really good one. And when I asked you for some examples of success, what I was expecting you, you might say, well, there was this program and this part of a one country in Africa where they did something. But you're talking about entire countries making changes like Chile and Brazil and Mexico. That makes me very hopeful about the future when you get governments casting aside the influence of industry. At least long enough to enact some of these things that are definitely not in the best interest of industry, these traditional food companies. And that's all, I think, a very positive sign about big scale change. And hopefully what happens in these countries will become contagious in other countries will adopt them and then, you know, eventually they'll find their way to countries like yours and mine. Yes, I agree. That's how I see it. I used to do a lot of work on single, small interventions and do their work do they not work in this small environment. The problem we have is large scale, so we have to be large scale as well. BIO Dr. Stuart Gillespie has been fighting to transform our broken food system for the past 40 years. Stuart is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow in Nutrition, Diets and Health at theInternational Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). He has been at the helm of the IFPRI's Regional Network on AIDs, Livelihoods and Food Security, has led the flagship Agriculture for Nutrition and Health research program, was director of the Transform Nutrition program, and founded the Stories of Change initiative, amongst a host of other interventions into public food policy. His work – the ‘food fight' he has been waging – has driven change across all frontiers, from the grassroots (mothers in markets, village revolutionaries) to the political (corporate behemoths, governance). He holds a PhD in Human Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 

The years between 1865 and 1870 would bring a tangle of new challenges for the people of the south. Drought gripped the land with merciless fingers in 1865 and 1866, only to return with cruel insistence between 1868 and 1869. Livelihoods withered, landscapes turned brittle. And yet, amid the dust and desolation, there was a glint of promise on the horizon, a hint of glitter in the forecast. British Kaffraria — that volatile strip of land east of the Kei — had been the stage for repeated wars between the British Empire and the amaXhosa. By 1866, the inevitable had come to pass: the territory was formally annexed to the Cape. This was not a popular move in the Cape Parliament. Most members balked at the idea, not out of principle, but pocket — British Kaffraria was a drain on the Treasury, propped up entirely by funds from London. The Cape, in its self-conscious autonomy, wanted no part in the bill. But Attorney General William Porter reminded his fellow parliamentarians that their indignation was selective. The Cape itself, he said, could not “talk big and look big” when its own house was being kept warm with British money. Independence in name meant little, he warned, if the machinery of government still ticked by the grace of Empire coin. But before the ink was dry on the annexation, another, more immediate matter took precedence — the fate of the amaMfengu, along with the amaNgqika and amaGqunukhwebe. The structures of amaXhosa political authority had already been dismantled within British Kaffraria. Now, as the imperial tide rolled further inland, it was the amaMfengu who found themselves repositioned — this time as subjects to be moved, their loyalty rewarded not with land, but with a fresh dislocation. Soon, the area around Butterworth became an amaMfengu stronghold. Many local amaXhosa were absorbed into their ambit — politically subdued or socially assimilated. For the British, this migration had a twofold effect. It removed thousands of Black residents from British Kaffraria, freeing up land under Crown control. And it advanced a broader goal: clearing the way for the Cape Parliament to annex the territory, albeit reluctantly and under pressure from Westminster. Just to flick the future switch for a moment — Back to the Future, in 2003, a constellation of dignitaries descended on Phokeng for the coronation of Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi of the Bafokeng. That's near Rustenberg just for clarity. Among them were Nelson Mandela, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, First Lady Zanele Mbeki, and the Queen Mother of Lesotho. A drought pressed down on the land in 2003, dry and unforgiving, but the dusty heat did little to mute the occasion's quiet grandeur. For a small nation to command such presence — to draw the gaze of the region's most prominent figures — spoke to something more than mere ceremonial gravity. It hinted at a deeper, long-cultivated influence. This is the story of how the Bafokeng came to be recognised as one of South Africa's most quietly successful peoples — not by avoiding the tides of history, but by learning, early on, how to navigate them. From their dealings with the Boers and Paul Kruger, to their survival under apartheid's grip, the Bafokeng carved a path few expected — and fewer still understood. There's an almost whispered history here, a counterpoint to the dominant narrative of dispossession and defeat. The Bafokeng lived on land of consequence long before that significance was measured in ounces of platinum. It wasn't until the metal was prised from the earth beneath their feet that the rest of the country — and eventually, the world — began to pay attention. But the roots of their agency run deeper, older. They reach back to a time when Paul Kruger was still cobbling together unity among the Voortrekkers, long before his epic confrontations with the British had begun.

South Korea has elected a new president after months of political chaos triggered by the former president's brief declaration of martial law.

Food is life but our food system isn't helping. Designed in a different century for a different purpose—to mass-produce cheap calories to prevent famine—it's now generating obesity, ill health, and premature death. We need to transform it into one that can nourish all eight billion of us and the planet we live on. That is the story learned in Food Fight by Stuart Gillespie. Dr. Gillespie has been fighting to transform our broken food system for the past 40 years. Stuart has been at the helm of the IFPRI's Regional Network on AIDs, Livelihoods, and Food Security, has led the flagship Agriculture for Nutrition and Health research program, was director of the Transform Nutrition program, and founded the Stories of Change initiative, amongst a host of other interventions into public food policy. His work has driven change across all frontiers, from the grassroots to the political.FOOD FIGHT shines a light inside the black box of politics and power and, crucially, maps a way toward a new system that gives us hope for a future of global health and justice. Farmhand supports CSA farmers and this podcast: farmhand.partners/farmtotabletalk

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Fisheries & Ocean Resources, Republic of Maldives, on IsDB's Lives and Livelihoods Fund, its main objectives and how it is structured as a development initiative

Senator Patty Murray has blinders on when it comes to business. Amazon denies report it considered listing tariff prices for consumers. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's most cringeworthy moment to date. Head of state reparations program offers word soup response to questions. 

Just when tourism season was picking up, the terror strike left hundreds of families in uncertainty. Many locals concede that recovery is unlikely this year.  

Africa's oceans are vital for economic growth, supporting fisheries, tourism, and coastal livelihoods. But the costs of plastic pollution in our seas are mounting.The World Bank puts the cost of the damage caused by marine plastic pollution at up to US$33,000 per tonne of plastic waste, in West Africa alone. As pollution worsens, researchers say stronger policies, community engagement, and scientific collaboration can protect marine ecosystems in the region.In this episode of Africa Science Focus, reporter Michael Kaloki hears from researchers about the diverse ways to conserve the region's oceans and their ecosystemsDespite existing policies to protect Africa's oceans, implementation remains weak. Juliet Koudonu, a marine biologist at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, says there is lack of enforcement and stresses that policies alone won't drive change without government investment and accountability. For conservation efforts to succeed, policies must align with the needs of coastal communities, says marine social scientist Danai Tembo, a researcher in ocean governance at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. She warns that laws failing to reflect local identities and livelihoods can backfire. Effective conservation requires scientists and local communities to work together. Shehu Akintola, professor of fisheries at the Lagos State University, Nigeria, believes it is important to integrate traditional knowledge with scientific research. The researchers say the continent can protect its marine resources for future generations by enforcing policies, empowering communities, and fostering scientific collaboration.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This podcast was supported by the Science Granting Councils Initiative which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of 18 public science funding agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Africa Science Focus is produced by SciDev.Net and distributed in association with your local radio station. Do you have any comments, questions or feedback about our podcast episodes? Let us know at podcast@scidev.net

Drones are set to be used this climbing season to ferry heavy equipment and supplies on Mount Everest. The drones are capable of carrying up to 15kg, offering a low risk alternative. This seems like a positive development, but how will this affect the livelihoods of sherpas, who usually carry the heavy loads themselves? Travel blogger Johnny Ward joins us to discuss.

The Trump administration's decision to terminate 90% of USAID's foreign aid contracts slammed humanitarian projects worldwide, from a new hospital in troubled Haiti to the biggest HIV program on the planet in South Africa. Cuts have also cost student loan forgiveness, and national security. Anthony Davis reports. But even those who feared the worst were stunned by the extent of the permanent cuts announced Wednesday, barely a month into the review. Join this channel for exclusive access and bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g/join Five Minute News with Anthony Davis is an Evergreen Podcast, covering politics, inequality, health and climate - delivering independent, unbiased and essential news for the US and across the world. Visit us online at http://www.fiveminute.news Follow us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fiveminutenews.bsky.social Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/fiveminnews Support us on Patreon http://www.patreon.com/fiveminutenews You can subscribe to Five Minute News with your preferred podcast app, ask your smart speaker, or enable Five Minute News as your Amazon Alexa Flash Briefing skill. Please subscribe HERE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g?sub_confirmation=1 CONTENT DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed on this channel are those of the guests and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Anthony Davis or Five Minute News LLC. Any content provided by our hosts, guests or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything, in line with the 1st Amendment right to free speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Sebastian, founder of Sunlight Yoga and host of the Working in Yoga Podcast, talks with J about recent shifts and long standing debates within the yoga profession. They discuss the history of trade organizations and teacher trainings, nonprofit spaces and fundraising, Yoga Therapy classification, the credentialing shift at the IAYT and The Future of Yoga Facebook Group, elitism and community, marketing and business, pricing and criteria for hiring, clap ins for new teachers, and letting the weight of ones work speak for itself.   To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM.   Check out J's other podcast… J. BROWN YOGA THOUGHTS.    

A 21-year-old girl looking to become a Chinese interpreter and a former pediatric anesthesiologist may not seem like they'd end up on the same career path. However, after watching their beloved home country be torn apart by war, everything changed for Diana Obzhelian and Mykyta Kryzhanovsky.   Diana and Mykyta join Benjamin to discuss how their love for Ukraine led them to the non-profit organization The Halo Trust, where they've dedicated their lives to "demining": clearing landmines and other explosives from former war zones.   Follow Benjamin on X: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  Throughout 2024, Democrats and many Republicans warned that if Donald Trump got back in the White House, he would debase the presidency by seeking personal vengeance on enemies, empowering unqualified toadies to lead important public agencies, and issuing half-baked edicts that ignored established law and common sense. Now, after less than two weeks since […]

Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township (St. Clair County). House advances Rep. DeBoyer plan protecting livelihoods, local economies across Michigan

In this week's bonus episode, David Billstrom and Matt Raker, two business leaders who have played important roles in Western North Carolina's attempt to recover from Hurricane Helene, talk about what we're still figuring out about disaster recovery. The world tends to move on pretty quickly after an event, but the economic recovery can drag on for years. And it can be especially devastating for smaller businesses. The data from other catastrophic storms, David tells us, suggest that more than half of the small businesses in the area could be gone within a year. And of course those odds are not improved when insurance companies find ways not to pay claims and when government takes too long to respond. As you'll hear, at the time we recorded the conversation in mid-December, the U.S. Congress still had not appropriated funds to help. That did finally happen at the end of December, but it's still tempting to ask: Shouldn't we be getting better at this? 

Ass'n to Preserve and Protect Local Livelihoods v. Town of Bar Harbor

Ella Gudwin, CEO of VisionSpring, offers an exploration of how access to affordable eyeglasses is not merely a matter of health but a transformative lever for economic development, productivity, and individual well-being. VisionSpring's innovative hybrid model exemplifies the intersection of philanthropy and social enterprise, as it tackles one of the most pervasive yet solvable challenges in global health: the lack of access to eyeglasses for over one billion people worldwide. Gudwin emphasises the cascading effects of impaired vision in low-income settings, where individuals struggle to perform basic tasks, pursue education, and sustain livelihoods. She describes how VisionSpring reframes eyeglasses not only as a health intervention but also as a vital tool for economic empowerment. The organisation's efforts focus on overcoming both supply- and demand-side barriers, ensuring glasses are accessible, affordable, and desirable.   Central to this mission are the findings from groundbreaking studies. For instance, a 2018 randomised control trial with tea pickers demonstrated a 22% increase in productivity (and 32% for those over 50) after receiving basic near-vision spectacles. More recently, the Thrive Study in Bangladesh revealed a 33% rise in median monthly income for first-time eyeglasses wearers across diverse occupations. These results highlight the immense return on investment in vision correction, with life-changing impacts achieved at minimal cost.   Gudwin underscores the importance of scaling solutions through partnerships, task-sharing frameworks, and global strategies like SPECS 2030 — a coordinated effort launched by the World Health Organization to close the clear vision gap. She outlines VisionSpring's role in training over 25,000 community health workers and embedding vision services into primary care systems, demonstrating that solutions need not rely exclusively on optometrists, who are in short supply globally.   Beyond accessibility, Gudwin stresses the critical task of generating demand. Misconceptions and stigma often deter people from using eyeglasses, especially in communities where glasses are seen as elitist or unnecessary. Addressing these cultural and psychological barriers, VisionSpring is working to normalise eyeglasses as essential tools, akin to sewing machines for tailors or seeds for farmers. The organisation's commitment to “no more poor glasses for poor people” is manifest in its recent launch of stylish, affordable frames that respect individual dignity and preferences.   Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 300 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.  

Suresh Shenoy is a Senior business executive and philanthropist. He is a Founder Director and current Vice Chairman of WHEELS Global Foundation that provides technology driven solutions for potable Water, affordable Healthcare, renewable Energy, Education, Livelihoods and Sustainability. He served as Chairman of the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region, was inducted as a Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Bombay, and into the new Science Museum Board of advisors that is under construction in Virginia. Here are some key insights from this week's show: Constantly staying relevant is a key motivator to keep one going. When we give time and talent, we make a huge difference. Apply technology for transformation to accelerate the scaling of philanthropy. For any philanthropy to sustain its success, the recipient must have an economic interest in the success of that project. When you ask for the time, you don't want to know how the watch is made. Learn to be content without losing your ambition. Impact every part of a community, as the whole world is wide canvas.

Host Alyson Stanfield delves into the necessity of creating demand for your artwork in order to achieve a certain level of success. She discusses the balance between ambition and practicality in the art market and offers five essential tips to assess and cultivate demand effectively. Alyson stresses the importance of setting realistic expectations, refining your unique artistic voice, and nurturing genuine relationships. Through examples from past episodes and insightful advice, she aims to help artists understand and thrive in their respective markets. 00:29 Understanding the Art Market 01:46 Being Unrealistic in Your Art Marketing Strategies 02:48 Defining “Demand” in the Art World 05:20 Challenges and Realities of High Demand 08:22 Benefits of Being an In-Demand Artist 10:12 Two Key Steps to Take 14:32 Five Practical Tips for Artists to Assess Demand 17:00 Resource: How to Ask for More Money for Your Art

A deep discussion about the significant impact of the internet on the arts economy and the evolving role of artists in today's market that is ruled by the internet. Host Alyson Stanfield talks with William Deresiewicz, author of The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech. Bill discuss the challenges of discoverability and financial instability while emphasizing the importance of community support as artists navigate this changing landscape. Bill offers valuable insights on adapting to new opportunities in the digital era, helping artists feel less alone in their journeys. 00:54 The Reality of Being an Artist Today  03:43 The Economics of Art in the Digital Age  07:04 The Challenges of Self-Promotion 18:33 The Evolution of the Artist's Role23:49 The Fourth Paradigm: Producer  25:05 The Professional vs. The Bohemian  26:19 Financial Realities and Transparency in the Arts 27:39 The Cost of Being an Artist 31:25 Community and Collaboration Among Artists 33:55 The Role of Cities in Supporting Artists 38:07 Defining What It Means to Be an Artist 42:43 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts

2024 has already been a difficult year for extreme weather. The hurricane season on the eastern seaboard of North America is already one of the earliest active seasons on record. Meanwhile, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US, as of August 8th, this year has already seen 19 weather events cause damage upwards of a billion dollars, with 149 people left dead. That's in the US alone.So, how are supercomputing and high performance computing helping to mitigate the effects of such extreme weather? Joining us to discuss is Ilene Carpenter, Earth Sciences segment manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. This is Technology Now, a weekly show from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Every week we look at a story that's been making headlines, take a look at the technology behind it, and explain why it matters to organizations and what we can learn from it. Do you have a question for the expert? Ask it here using this Google form: https://forms.gle/8vzFNnPa94awARHMA About this week's guest, Ilene Carpenter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilene-carpenter-9a15511/ Sources cited in this week's episode:The first computer weather predictions: https://web.archive.org/web/20200626175559/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/101943.pdfUS National Weather Service computing power: https://www.weather.gov/about/supercomputers#:~:text=NWS%20super%20computers%20hold%20numerical,buoys%2C%20radar%2C%20and%20moreUK Met Office computing power: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are/innovation/supercomputerStatistics on US extreme weather damage in 2024: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/Atom interferometry breakthrough: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ade4454

As protesting farmers surround the EU commission in Brussels, their livelihoods are being traded to reach a net zero goal with questionable benefits for humanity. We take a deeper look at the ‘equitable' future governments are seeking.

In this episode, Karol and Carol Roth discuss societal expectations, financial changes, and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. Karol explores the fascination with Taylor Swift's dating life and the societal misconceptions about traditional gender roles. Roth discusses her book on the upcoming financial world order and the potential challenges it poses. She also explains the concept of social credit systems and their implications. Karol & Carol emphasize the importance of choosing happiness, owning valuable assets, and using humor as a coping mechanism. The Karol Markowicz Show is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network - new episodes debut every Monday & Thursday.Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer, unrelenting heat waves have taken a devastating toll in many parts of the world, putting this year on track to be the hottest ever recorded.Coral Davenport, who covers energy and environmental policy for The Times, and Dana Smith, a reporter for the Well section, discuss what it means to live in this new normal, an era in which extreme heat threatens our way of life.Guest: Coral Davenport, an energy and environmental policy correspondent for The New York Times.Dana G. Smith, a reporter for the Well section of The New York Times.Background reading: Heat is costing the U.S. economy billions in lost productivity.Here's what extreme heat does to your body.For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.