POPULARITY
In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Jean Oelwang, the Founding CEO of Virgin Unite and Planetary Guardians, highlights the importance of life transitions, cultural insights gained from diverse experiences, and the impact of partnerships in creating social change. Jean shares her journey from telecom to founding Virgin Unite with Richard Branson, emphasizing the need for business practices centered around People and Planet. She also highlights lessons learned from Richard Branson, her boss and mentor, around leadership, risk-taking, and the importance of kindness, as well as the significance of building bridges across divides and forging successful partnerships. How can we forge deep connections and build partnerships for greater impact for People and Planet? TUNE IN to this conversation & find out. For detailed transcript and show notes, please visit TheFounderSpirit.com.Also follow us on: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TheFounderSpirit- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheFounderSpirit- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderSpirit- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFounderSpirit- X: https://twitter.com/founder_spiritIf this podcast has been beneficial or valuable to you, feel free to become a patron and support us on Patreon.com, that is P-A-T-R-E-O-N.com/TheFounderSpirit.As always, you can find us on Apple, YouTube and Spotify, as well as social media and our website at TheFounderSpirit.com.The Founder Spirit podcast is proud to be a partner of the Villars Institute, a non-profit foundation focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy and restoring planetary health.About This Podcast:Whether you are an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional or someone who's just starting out in life, The Founder Spirit podcast is for you!In this podcast series, we'll be interviewing exceptional individuals from all over the world with the founder spirit, ranging from social entrepreneurs, tech founders, to philanthropists, elite athletes, and more. Together, we'll uncover not only how they manage to succeed in face of multiple challenges, but also who they are as people and their human story.So TUNE IN & be inspired by stories from their life journey!
Subscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcastsWhat if the collapse of human health is not a medical issue, but an ecological one?In this groundbreaking conversation, Dr. Zach Bush unpacks the deeply interconnected crisis between human biology, chronic illness, the collapse of fertility, and our disconnection from nature. From mitochondria to microbiomes, infertility to identity, Dr. Bush explains how our soil, food system, and chemical agriculture have silently dismantled the metabolic foundation of life.You'll learn:- Why antibiotics and glyphosate are silently destroying our health- How the soil microbiome mirrors the human gut microbiome- What's behind the rise of depression, infertility, and chronic disease- Why carbon dioxide isn't the villain we've been told it is- The shocking truth about gender expression and fetal development- How to regenerate our health and planet through connection and soilThis episode is a call to action—not just for your health, but for humanity's future. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this conversation will challenge everything you've been told about medicine, disease, and what it means to be alive.Thank you to our sponsor: OneSkinGet 15% off your first order with the code DRTAZ at oneskin.co/drtazConnect further to Hol+ at https://holplus.co/- Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of hol+.About Dr. Zach Bush:Zach Bush, MD is a renowned, multi-disciplinary physician of internal medicine, endocrinology, hospice care and internationally recognized educator on the microbiome as it relates to human health, soil health, food systems, and a regenerative future.Try ION Intelligence of Nature today at https://intelligenceofnature.com and get 10% off your order with the code TAZ10Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the audio podcast: https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribeSubscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcastsFollow Dr. Taz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/Join the conversation on X: https://x.com/@drtazmdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drtazmdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtazmd/Follow Dr. Zach Bush on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/zachbushmd/Host & Production TeamHost: Dr. Taz; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Lead Producer: Lauren Feighan; Editors: Jeremiah Schultz and Patrick Edwards)Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of hol+00:00 Dr. Zach Bush Intro: Planetary Health & Human Wellness 02:00 From ICU Medicine to Regenerative Health 06:35 What Are Mitochondria and Why They Matter 10:30 Carbon Dioxide, Climate Change, and Soil Truths 15:00 The Global Extinction Crisis and Soil Depletion 23:30 The Root Cause of Obesity, Diabetes, and Autoimmune Disease 34:00 The Infertility Epidemic and Gender Identity Shifts 44:00 How Glyphosate Destroys Health & How to Repair It 52:00 Solutions: Regenerative Farming, Community, and Healing
Dr Catherine Knight is an award-winning author, environmental historian, and policy expert with extensive experience in both strategic and operational environmental governance. Currently working in strategic policy in the government sector, Catherine is also an Honorary Research Associate at Massey University's School of People, Environment and Planning. Her writing on wellbeing, post-growth economics, and environmental policy frequently appears on platforms such as Newsroom, The Spinoff, and Substack.Catherine has authored several acclaimed books exploring the relationships between people, nature, and politics, including Nature and Wellbeing in Aotearoa, which we explored with her in a previous podcast episode. Her latest work, An Uncommon Land, is her most personal to date, tracing Aotearoa's environmental and social history through the lens of her own ancestors. It explores powerful themes like enclosure, colonisation, and the gradual denaturing of landscapes.In this episode:Her background in policy and current work beyond authorshipAuckland's lost tram network and the role of holistic city designRethinking the economy to serve both people and planetWhat inspired Catherine to write An Uncommon LandThe personal journey of understanding her ancestors to shape present-day insightsThe vulnerability of writing a deeply personal bookThe concept of The Commons—its historical significance and near-erasure in modern AotearoaDebunking the myth of the "tragedy of the commons"How the shift to enclosure and private property continues to shape society todayThe enduring systems of war, colonisation, and environmental degradation—and their modern parallelsOur complicity in an economy driven by exploitation and consumptionHow New Zealand's celebrated progress has often depended on the extraction of resources and environmental destructionEnvisioning alternative futures: post-growth models, food security, and land as a shared inheritanceWhy we must redirect public investment toward collective wellbeingWhat Catherine and her daughter learned from travelling together in the process of researching this book.To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
Erstmals wird das Gewicht der Wälder unserer Erde vermessen - bis unters Blätterdach; das blühende Leben war einmal - junge Erwachsene sind nicht mehr so glücklich, wie die Jungen vor ihnen; Mensch und Erde gedeihen gemeinsam - das Konzept der "Planetary Health" untersucht die Zusammenhänge. (00:00) Schlagzeilen (00:49) Waldvermessung aus dem All: Die ESA hat diese Woche ihren Biomass-Satelliten in den Orbit geschossen. Erstmals soll das Gewicht der Wälder unserer Erde vermessen werden. Mit einer neuen Methode - einem Radar, das tief unter das Blätterdach blickt und Äste und Baumstämme bis zum Boden erfasst. Das hilft die Rolle der Wälder im globalen Kohlenstoffkreislauf besser zu verstehen und damit eins der letzten grossen Probleme der Klimaforschung zu verstehen (Angelika Kren) (07:30) Meldungen (Katharina Bochsler) Das blühende Leben: Jung und Alt geht's am besten. Im mittleren Alter dagegen happerts mit dem Glück. Das war einmal. Die U-Kurve des Wohlbefindens flacht nämlich ab. Neue Daten zeigen: Die jungen Erwachsenen sind längst nicht mehr so glücklich, wie sie's mal waren. Stress und die Schlaflosigkeit auf dem Land: Das Wohlergehen von Schweizer Bäuerinnen und Bauern ist schlechter als das der Allgemeinbevölkerung. Vom Löwen gebissen: Anthopologen entdecken zum ersten Mal Spuren eines Löwenbisses an einem Gladiatorenskelett. (14:09) Mensch und Erde gedeihen gemeinsam: Mit dem systemischen Konzept «Planetary Health» fassen Forschende den Zusammenhang von Gesundheit des Menschen und Zustand des Planeten zusammen. Der Klimawandel, Biodiversitätsverlust, neue Infektionskrankheiten oder Kriege treffen die Umwelt genauso wie die Menschen. Immer mehr Menschen ohne Vorbelastung erkranken beispielsweise an einem chronischen Nierenleiden: Zuckerrohr-Erntehelfer in El Salvador, Reisbauern und Salzarbeiter in Thailand, nepalesische Wanderarbeiter im Nahen Osten und Erntehelfer von Ägypten bis Kamerun. Schuld ist die Hitze, der sie bei ihrer Arbeit ausgesetzt sind. Über diese und andere Planetary Health-Phänomene haben Fachleute aus aller Welt im indischen Bangalore diskutiert. (Irène Dietschi) Links: Biomass-Satellit: Die Waldmission der ESA esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Biomass Globale Wohlbefindensstudie (Nature Mental Health) nature.com/articles/s44220-025-00423-5 Der Fragebogen zur weltweiten Wohlbefindensstudie (BMC Global and Public Health) link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s44263-025-00139-9 Das Wohlbefinden der Schweizer Bäuerinnen und Bauern (Swiss Medical Weekly) smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/4135 Löwe beisst römischen Galdiator in die Hüfte (PLOS One) journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0319847
Tweetable quote from Zach“There's no such thing as free will. But the human being is gifted with the infinite free will to decide how it's going to experience its reality.”SummaryIn this powerful conversation, Dr Espen is joined by Zach Bush, MD, an internationally recognised educator and thought leader. They discuss the profound connections between gut health, the microbiome, and our relationship with Mother Earth. Zach emphasizes the importance of holistic medicine, emotional aspects of health, how unresolved emotions can manifest as physical ailments and the importance of reconnecting with nature for healing.About our guest:Zach Bush, MD is a physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care. He is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Zach Bush, MD founded *Seraphic Group and the non-profit Farmer's Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health. His passion for education reaches across many disciplines, including topics such as the role of soil and water ecosystems in human genomics, immunity, and gut/brain health. His education has highlighted the need for a radical departure from chemical farming and pharmacy, and his ongoing efforts are providing a path for consumers, farmers, and mega-industries to work together for a healthy future for people and the planet. His work in for-profit and nonprofit arenas is creating avenues for collaborative action for all stakeholders in our global community for a regenerative future of health for the planet and our children.
About this episode: In honor of Earth Day, we bring you a special episode of Public Health On Call: an essay read by Sam Myers, director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health. In his essay, he explores the incredible human evolution and technological innovation that has brought us to a moment in time where our own ascendance is threatening our future well-being on this planet. It's time to face a crucial question: Can we change? Guest: Sam Myers is the founding director of the Planetary Health Alliance and the faculty director at the brand new Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health. Show links and related content: The Case for Planetary Health (essay)—Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine The Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. Follow us: @PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @JohnsHopkinsSPH on Instagram @JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.
Hello out there, this is the Finding Nature podcast and my name is Nathan Robertson-Ball. I started this show with the intent of creating the types of conversations that I knew I needed but also thought people that work in the broad tent of sustainability wanted to hear too - combining discussions on the issues and problems our civilisation and planet face with the optimism of what has and could be done but also getting into the mindsets and philosophies of the people who have been on the frontlines of attempting and succeeding in this work. I wanted to have conversations that blend cognitive stimulation with emotional nourishment and spiritual enlightenment with the intent of helping me and hopefully you grow and evolve as a person and support our shared aspirations to contribute to a safer, more just and equitable future.Today's guest is Michael Bones, and when I invited him onto the show I thought maybe we'd have a chance of hitting those dimensions and the overlap between them, and it didn't disappoint. I absolutely loved speaking with Michael, as I have every time I have over the last couple years when we've connected over our shared love/hate of trying to work out how financial services entities and government can be far more proactive and take actually meaningful action on the dark shadow a changed and changing climate means for everything everywhere. Under Michael's cognition is an awakened spirit and loving human. We get through much on the climate risk and adaptation side, policy and the risks of capital flight in addition to the physical degradation of a stable climate. We chat about Michael's own grief and challenges when confronted with the breadth and depth of a changed climate, his own journey to reclaiming his own sanity and health, and he also manages to get a lot of me and my own despair and life meltdowns.April is about unity at the finding nature substack this month. Nick Lowles founded Hope not Hate in 2004 as an anti racist and anti fascist movement and this quote from him resonates after learning from Michael “It is in unity that we find strength; in unity we find hope, and in unity we can stand firm as the darkness approaches. Land us stand together - and stand firm - against many faces of hate”I absolutely adored this conversation. Michael is a special person, a gift to all of us as we navigate our own journeys. I hope you enjoy it and find your own story in parts of his. Til next time, thanks for listening. Events are live and more are coming - follow on Humanitix.Follow on LinkedIn, Substack and Instagram. Today's show is delivered with Altiorem. Use the code FindingNature25 to get your 25% off an annual subscription. Today's show is delivered with Climasens. Mentions Finding Nature when you contact them for 50% off your first asset heat risk assessment. Send me a messageThanks for listening. Follow Finding Nature on Instagram
Bukit Kiara is one of the Klang Valley's last remaining green lungs, a beloved patch of forest that offers a daily dose of nature to thousands of urban dwellers. But beyond its walking trails and morning joggers lies an ecosystem teeming with life — that is also under threat. We speak with Professor Darryl Jones, an urban ecologist and bird expert from the Centre for Planetary Health & Food Security, at the School of Environment & Science, Griffith University, and Dr. Kriban G. Naidu, the immediate past president of Friends of Bukit Kiara, to hear the story of how a shared love for this urban forest sparked a powerful collaboration — and why the time to protect Bukit Kiara is now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Real Truth About Health Free 17 Day Live Online Conference Podcast
Dr. Gidon Eshel discusses the dietary choices that promote optimal health for both the body and the planet. Learn what to eat and avoid for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. #SustainableEating #PlanetaryHealth #OptimalDiet
We are joined by Sheena Chhabra, campaigner for the Plant Based Treaty—a groundbreaking global initiative tackling the climate and ecological crises by putting food systems at the heart of the solution.The Plant Based Treaty is calling for a shift toward a just, plant-based food system that respects planetary boundaries, protects biodiversity, reforests the Earth, and creates a more resilient and equitable future. Recently, Sheena and the Plant Based Treaty team celebrated a major milestone: helping Darebin City Council become the first local government in Australia to endorse the Treaty, joining the ranks of progressive cities like Los Angeles and Amsterdam.With a vision to see a global Plant Based Treaty adopted alongside the Paris Agreement, the organisation is driving policy change, strengthening networks, and supporting communities to transition to healthier, climate-friendly food systems.In this episode, we discuss:Sheena's journey into plant-based advocacy and environmental campaigningHow the Plant Based Treaty came to be and what it aims to achieveThe critical connection between food systems, climate change, and biodiversity lossWhy reducing reliance on animal agriculture is key to cutting methane emissionsHow and why Australia is one of the world's worst hotspots for land clearing and species extinctionThe vulnerabilities in our current food systems and how to build resilience with a plant-based shiftThe links between animal agriculture, antibiotic resistance, and zoonotic disease risksAn introduction to The Safe and Trust report: The Plant Based Treaty's Vegan Donut Economics Approach to the Food SystemThe Treaty's five core programs and what they're doing to drive real changeHow individuals and institutions can support the movementWhat's ahead for the Plant Based Treaty in 2025 and beyondTo view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
Most of the world has dirty air, with just 17% of cities globally meeting air pollution guidelines, a report found. Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir analyzed data from 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries and found that Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India had the dirtiest air. India had six of the nine most polluted cities, with the industrial town of Byrnihat in northeastern India the worst. Experts said the real amount of air pollution might be far greater, as many parts of the world lack the monitoring needed for more accurate data. In Africa, for example, there is only one monitoring station for every 3.7 million people. More air quality monitors are being set up to counter the issue, the report said. This year, report authors were able to incorporate data from 8,954 new locations and around a thousand new monitors as a result of efforts to better monitor air pollution. But a few weeks ago, data monitoring for air pollution was dealt a blow when the U.S. State Department announced it would no longer make public its data from its embassies and consulates around the world. Breathing in polluted air over a long period can cause respiratory illnesses, Alzheimer's disease and cancer, said Fatimah Ahamad, chief scientist and air pollution expert at Malaysia-based Sunway Centre for Planetary Health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution kills around 7 million people each year. Ahamad said much more needs to be done to cut air pollution levels. The WHO had earlier found that 99% of the world's population lives in places that do not meet recommended air quality levels. "If you have bad water, no water, you can tell people to wait for half an hour a day, the water will come. But if you have bad air, you cannot tell people to pause breathing," she said. Several cities like Beijing; Seoul, South Korea; and Rybnik in Poland have successfully improved their air quality through stricter regulations on pollution from vehicles, power plants and industry. They've also promoted cleaner energy and invested in public transportation. This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Mit dabei: News u.a. zum Stand der Koalitionsverhandlungen, jede Menge Kurznews und im Interview Maren Janella - Projektleitung des Kongresses Armut und Gesundheit über ihre Eindrücke vom diesjährigen Kongress und warum Demokratieförderung und Gesundheitsförderung gemeinsam gedacht werden (sollten). Auch sprechen wir mit Hannah Otto und Marischa Fast über ihren neuen Podcast "Zukunft gestalten - der Podcast über Planetary Health ". Im Murks: "Sex bias in pain management decisions
Gerard Wedderburn-Bisshop is a former Principal Scientist with the Queensland Government Natural Resources, where he spent three decades using satellite data to monitor vegetation cover and deforestation. Since leaving that position, he has co-authored the Beyond Zero Emissions' Land Use Plan, worked with the NGO World Preservation Foundation, and serves as Director of Replant Byron. We had the privilege of closing out our last season with a chat with this incredible human, and we're thrilled to welcome Gerard back for an update on his latest groundbreaking research!In this episode, we explore Gerard's latest paper, Increased Transparency in Accounting Conventions Could Benefit Climate Policy. He breaks down three major shifts in climate science and emissions accounting that challenge conventional thinking about what drives climate change—revealing that agriculture, particularly animal agriculture, is the leading cause of present-day warming.This is a paradigm-shifting conversation, so grab your pen and notepaper (you'll want to take notes, trust us!), and check out Gerard's brief explainer video here.In this episode, we discuss:A recap of Gerard's previous research on the need for consistent carbon accountingContentious gases and how we measure them – Global Warming Potential vs Effective Radiative ForcingThe impact of cooling aerosols from fossil fuel emissions and why they complicate climate calculations.How we have undervalued the impact of deforestation, underestimated methane's impact, and failed to account for cooling emissions.A game-changing revelation: updated metrics show agriculture is responsible for 60% of today's global warming—with animal agriculture alone accounting for 53%.The overlooked power of natural drawdown—how nature has looked after us right from the startWhy these improved methodologies haven't been widely applied before, and what's been standing in the wayThe expected response from the animal agriculture industry and how to navigate the greenwashing.The bigger picture: what role does animal agriculture play in humanity's future?Join us as we unpack the science, the solutions, and why a major shift in climate policy is needed—now more than ever!To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
Send us a textDr. Peter Ballerstedt is a returning guest on our show! Check out his first appearances on episodes 62 and 630 of Boundless Body Radio!Dr. Peter Ballerstedt, aka Don Pedro, The Sodfather, The leader of the Ruminati, a group for those who understand the vital role of ruminant animals in humanity's past, present & future.Dr. Ballerstedt received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Master of Science in 1983 from the University of Georgia. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in 1986, specializing in forage management and utilization, minoring in ruminant nutrition, and worked in the forage seed industry from 2011 until 2023.Peter is a member of several national and international scientific societies, participates in related global initiatives, and is the former President of the American Forage and Grassland Council.Peter's personal experience has led him to re-examine human diet and health. What he has learned doesn't agree with the advice given for the past several decades.Peter is an advocate for ruminant animal agriculture and the essential role of animal source foods in the human diet. He strives to build bridges between producers, consumers, and researchers across a wide variety of scientific disciplines – increasing awareness of metabolic health and ruminant animal agriculture's essential role in social, economic, and ecological sustainability.Peter has spoken at many different events in the US and internationally. Many of his presentations are available on YouTube. Peter and Nancy live in western Oregon with their three dogs, Conor, Noni, and Iris.Find Dr. Peter Ballerstedt at-FB- @GrassBasedHealthIG- @grassbasedTW- @GrassBasedMeet Your Herdmates Podcast- https://herdmates.podbean.com/http://grassbasedhealth.blogspot.com/https://ruminati.substack.com/YT- @Peter BallerstedtBONUS! Ruminati Reading List -https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2UN2RVG85W2FN?ref_=wl_shareFind Boundless Body at- myboundlessbody.com Book a session with us here!
Send us a textNoel Heiks and Kevin Key are the authors of The Cow Is How: To Fix Food, Farming, and Pharma.The book is a saga inspired by fighting a family's diabetes, Parkinson's, and mental health issues induced by a Standard American Diet.The authors travel on a journey through Industrial Agriculture in America, where the food we grow destroys not only the health of our people, but that of our heartland. Engineer-turned-cattle-enthusiast Noel Heiks and cowboy-commando Kevin Key dive into the impacts of Big Food, Farming, and Pharma.The authors embark on an adventure of food and diet, away from standard insulin-heavy fare and toward better ways of beef, keto, and carnivore. The book encourages us to break the shackles of the modern medical system that is keeping us fat and sick, and turn to the thriving doctors embracing beef, butter, and bacon. The story rides through the ranches to meet the producers who are key to an animal-based future filled with cows. Through their book, the authors share the secret of restoring our country to vitality and prosperity. The Cow Is How!Find Noel and Kevin at-Amazon- The Cow Is How: To Fix Food, Farming, and Pharma.FB- @The Cow Is HowIG- @thecowishowLK- @Noel HeiksIG- @thekeybrandThis looks AMAZING!!! https://www.cosmiktiki.com/https://azultera.com/Find Boundless Body at- myboundlessbody.com Book a session with us here!
Send us a textAlison Morgan holds a degree in agriculture from the University of Reading and a postgraduate degree in global development. She has enjoyed 40 years working with arable and livestock farmers, in agricultural research, farm advisory work, and farming, food and environment policy roles. She has also worked overseas with farmers and pastoral herders in Central Asia and the Middle East.Anita Tagore has a degree in medicine from the University of Cambridge. She is a former GP and recently completed a master's degree in food and human nutrition. Anita has spent the last five years researching and writing about the benefits of animal-based foods.David Ellis graduated in Earth Sciences from the University of Cambridge. He spent 35 years in the oil industry as a geophysicist searching for oil and gas. He is now appreciating the ways farming can aggravate or alleviate climate change.They are the authors of the recent book Why Vegans Have Smaller Brains: And How Cows Reverse Climate Change This groundbreaking book reveals why plant-based eating is not only harming human health, it is also harming the planet.Find Alison, Anita, and Dave at-Amazon- Why Vegans Have Smaller Brains: And How Cows Reverse Climate Changehttps://www.whyveganshavesmallerbrains.com/IG- @whyveganshavesmallerbrainsTW- @vegansmallbrainFB- @Why Vegans Have Small BrainsHow It's Made- Canola Oil- SO INSANELY GROSS, DO NOT EAT THIS.Find Boundless Body at- myboundlessbody.com Book a session with us here!
Climate impacts and study since our ecosystem allows our existence. Thanks for the snap of the panel, credit to Hillary Eastmure.
The Real Truth About Health Free 17 Day Live Online Conference Podcast
Dr. Gidon Eshel discusses the dietary choices that promote optimal health for both the body and the planet. Learn what to eat and avoid for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. #SustainableEating #PlanetaryHealth #OptimalDiet
Nina Trinquet is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and PhD candidate based in Melbourne. Take a listen as Nina shares her wisdom on how a whole food plant-based diet can prevent and manage chronic disease. Nina works with individuals aiming to improve their health through diet, with a particular focus on cardiovascular health.She is also an avid endurance runner with a passion for sports nutrition, making this a must-listen episode for athletes and health-conscious individuals alike.Nina packs this episode full of evidence-based insights, practical nutrition tips, and inspiring discussions on creating a healthier, more sustainable future through food.In this episode, we discuss:Nina's background in prosthetics and orthotics, and how this led to plant-based dieteticsHer love for endurance running and marathon goals for 2025The importance of strength training & nutrition in running performanceNina's crucial work in transforming food systems in youth justiceWhy young men are obsessed with protein & what they're missingWhole food plant-based vs. standard vegan diets—what's the difference?How diet can prevent, manage & even reverse chronic diseaseMaximising iron & protein intake on a plant-based dietThe importance of calorie density for plant-based athletesCommon myths & misconceptions about plant-based eatingCarbohydrates, saturated fat and insulin resistance in Type 2 DiabetesNina's PhD research at Monash University and how you can volunteer to support her workHer personal goals for 2025 & beyondTo view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
Dr. Philip J. Landrigan is a pediatrician and a public health doctor. He is Professor of Biology, Director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good, and Director of the Global Observatory on Planetary Health at the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society at Boston College. He is also Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In his work, Phil's goal is to better understand how toxic exposures in the environment harm human health. As a pediatrician, he focuses primarily on the impacts on children's health. On the public health side, he aims to harness science to prevent toxic exposures to keep kids healthy and prevent disease. His research has spanned many areas, including the health impacts of lead poisoning, air pollution, pesticides, plastic pollution, and chemical pollution. When he's not working, Phil loves to spend his time outdoors, particularly hiking and kayaking. He is also an avid reader and enjoys spending the evenings sitting down with a good book. Phil completed his undergraduate studies in biology at Boston College and earned his MD from Harvard Medical School. After an internship at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, he completed his residency at Boston Children's Hospital. Phil also earned a MS degree with distinction in Occupational Medicine from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the University of London. Phil worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai before joining the faculty at Boston College. He also spent a sabbatical working at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Phil has earned numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service to Humanity from the National Institute of Social Sciences, Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council for Science and the Environment, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Healthy Child Healthy World, the Child Health Champion Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Meritorious Service Medal of the U.S. Public Health Service, multiple Commendation Medals from the Navy and Marine Corps, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the National Defense Service Medal, and many others. He is also an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Epidemiological Society. In addition, he is an elected Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine, New York Academy of Medicine, New York Academy of Sciences, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American College of Epidemiology, Royal Society of Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dakota Jones is more than just a world-class trail runner—he's a passionate environmental advocate on a mission to drive meaningful climate action. As a professional athlete for NNormal and the Founder and Executive Director of Footprints, an environmental nonprofit, Dakota is dedicated to empowering individuals to create tangible change in their local communities.Footprints provide mentorship, networks, and self-development opportunities. It uses shared outdoor experiences to foster environmental awareness and cultivate confident, value-driven changemakers. Founded by trail runners, the organisation also works to make the outdoors more accessible and inclusive, reinforcing the powerful link between environmental stewardship and sport.This year, Dakota is taking on some of his biggest challenges yet—including an attempt at the 100-mile American record at the upcoming Jackpot Ultras in Las Vegas, all while raising critical funds to support Footprints' mission of building a more sustainable, climate-resilient future.In this episode, we discuss:Dakota's journey into ultrarunning and rise as one of the sport's top competitors.His experiences racing some of the world's toughest trail events.Competing in Australia, winning the Buffalo Stampede, and earning the King of the Mountain title!What sparked his passion for environmental activism.First-hand experiences witnessing climate change and his responsibility for protecting wild places.The origins of Footprints and how it empowers grassroots climate action.The impact of Footprints Camps and the inspiring projects launched by some of the camp's graduates.Personal lessons learned from leading Footprints Camps and supporting emerging changemakers.Footprints fundraising efforts for 2025, including Dakota's upcoming 100-mile record attempt.His upcoming personal and professional plans for 2025—both in racing and environmental advocacy.To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
(Conversation recorded on December 11th, 2024) The past century has been marked by the rise of globalization in every sense of the word - through production, culture, agriculture, consumption and more. This trend has brought great wealth and opportunities to many people - but what have we lost and forgotten through this process? In this Reality Roundtable, Nate is joined by members of the bioregioning movement, Daniel Christian Wahl, Samantha Power, and Isabel Carlisle, to discuss the necessity of reconnecting to our local places for the sake of addressing our ecological, social, and economic challenges. In this fascinating exchange, Nate and his guests emphasize the need for decentralized governance and institutions, as well as communities organized around resilience and regeneration. How deep are the historical and indigenous ties of humanity to the bioregional way of life? In what ways can individuals begin to engage with their local bioregions and contribute to a regenerative future? Finally, how can more humans who are connected and in relationship with the land influence future societies and cultures to be more aligned to the well-being of all life? About Daniel Christian Wahl: Daniel Christian Wahl is one of the catalysts of the rising reGeneration and the author of ‘Designing Regenerative Cultures' - so far translated into seven languages. He works as a consultant, educator and activist with NGOs, businesses, governments and global change agents. With degrees in biology and holistic science and a PhD in Design for Human and Planetary Health, his work has influenced the emerging fields of regenerative design and salutogenic design. Daniel is winner of the 2021 RSA Bicentenary Medal for applying design in service to society and was awarded a two year Volans-Fellowship in 2022. About Samantha Power: Samantha Power is a Co-Founder and the Director of the BioFi Project and the Founder and Principal Consultant of Finance for Gaia. She is a Regenerative Economist, Futurist, and Bioregionalist based in Oakland, CA on the ancestral land of the Ohlone people. Samantha channeled her 15 years of experience learning and working in this space into a new book: 'Bioregional Financing Facilities: Reimagining Finance to Regenerate Our Planet'. The book makes the case for and explains how to build institutions to shift capital to place-based regenerators to achieve global climate and nature-related goals, while enabling the transition to regenerative economies. To turn this vision into a global movement, Samantha co-founded the BioFi Project — a collective of experts supporting bioregions around the world to design, build, and implement BFFs inspired by the templates laid out in the book. About Isabel Carlisle: Isabel Carlisle is a communicator, educator and large-scale project organiser. Her experience in the London art world (where her work included writing as an art critic for The Times and curating exhibitions at the Royal Academy) led her to set up and direct the Festival of Muslim Cultures that took place across Britain throughout 2006. Over 120 events in almost every conceivable art form brought audiences into contact with the Muslim world in order to build bridges of understanding between cultures. Isabel moved to South Devon in 2010 and created and led learning programmes for children and young adults with Transition Network. Since 2012 she has trained in Regenerative Development and Design with Regenesis. Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on YouTube --- Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners
The Real Truth About Health Free 17 Day Live Online Conference Podcast
Dr. Gidon Eshel discusses the dietary choices that promote optimal health for both the body and the planet. Learn what to eat and avoid for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. #SustainableEating #PlanetaryHealth #OptimalDiet
Why Dairy Is Hiding in So Many Foods - Part 2 In the 2nd half of this episode learn how government support of the dairy industry went from an historical accident to entrenched policy, and the damage it's causing. Written by Seth Millstein at @sentientmediaorg #vegan #plantbased #plantbasedbriefing #dairy #nationalschoollunchprogram #USDA #historyofdairy #dairycheckoff #dietaryracism ========================== Original Post: https://sentientmedia.org/dairy-hiding-in-so-many-foods/ Related Episodes/Resources: BONUS 2: Juneteenth: Dairy and Dietary Racism https://plantbasedbriefing.libsyn.com/bonus-juneteenth-dairy-and-dietary-racism-by-switch-4-good-at-switch4goodorg 307: The Twisted History of Milk in America https://plantbasedbriefing.libsyn.com/307-the-twisted-history-of-milk-in-america-by-switch4goodorg 345: Why Wasting Milk In Schools Is A Bigger Problem Than You Think https://plantbasedbriefing.libsyn.com/345-why-wasting-milk-in-schools-is-a-bigger-problem-than-you-think-by-switch4goodorg 539: Student Sues School District for Free Speech Violation for Silencing Her Criticism of Cow's Milk https://plantbasedbriefing.libsyn.com/539-student-sues-school-district-for-free-speech-violation-for-silencing-her-criticism-of-cows-milk-by-pcrmorg 776: Taking Down Dairy is Key to Planetary Health https://plantbasedbriefing.libsyn.com/776-taking-down-dairy-is-key-to-planetary-health-by-sailesh-rao-at-climatehealersorg 769: Why Do Milk Drinkers Live Shorter Lives on Average? https://plantbasedbriefing.libsyn.com/769-why-do-milk-drinkers-live-shorter-lives-on-average-by-dr-michael-greger-at-nutritionfactsorg ========================= Sentient Media is a nonprofit news organization that is changing the conversation around animal agriculture across the globe. They seek to create and sustain a sense of global urgency about the agriculture industry's impact on the climate crisis, extraction of natural resources and systematic exploitation of the fringes of society. They're doing this through critical commentary, investigative journalism, creating resources, strengthening the journalist and advocate community, partnering with publishers and holding the media accountable when it fails to report on the most pressing issues of our time. ========================== FOLLOW THE SHOW ON: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@plantbasedbriefing Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GONW0q2EDJMzqhuwuxdCF?si=2a20c247461d4ad7 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-based-briefing/id1562925866 Your podcast app of choice: https://pod.link/1562925866 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlantBasedBriefing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plant-based-briefing/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedbriefing/ #vegan #plantbased #plantbasedbriefing #dairy #nationalschoollunchprogram #USDA #historyofdairy #dairycheckoff #dietaryracism
The Real Truth About Health Free 17 Day Live Online Conference Podcast
In this final episode of Season 4 of Cities 1.5, David has conversations with two formidable and inspiring women who are fighting to protect the health of people and the planet from Lima, Peru and New Orleans, USA. As the impacts of the climate crisis hit harder and more frequently, the effects this has on human health also multiply. It is key that urban areas plan and adapt to meet the growing challenges of temperature rise, food insecurity, migration, and more. Of course, extreme weather events often have the most catastrophic consequences for humanity, leading to mass displacement, injury, disease and death. But if the worst happens, it is possible for cities and their residents to unite and rebuild to create a more resilient future…and other communities can learn lessons from their leadership. Image Credit: Persnickety Prints @ UnsplashFeatured guests:Professor Stella Hartinger Peña is the Regional Director of Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change for Latin America, and Associate Professor at Cayetano Heredia University in Peru. Mayor LaToya Cantrell is the Mayor of New Orleans, a position which she has held since 2018.Links: Solved: How the World's Great Cities Are Fixing the Climate Crisis - David MillerThe Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Annual ReportThe Impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans - Big Easy MagazineAddressing the Health Care Impact of Hurricane Katrina - The Kaiser CommissionWhat happened at the U20 Summit in Rio? - C40 COP29: Is the Loss and Damage Fund Becoming an Empty Promise? - Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Broadmoor Lives On: How a Community Saved Their New Orleans Neighborhood - The Clinton FoundationNew Orleans, Reinvented - The AtlanticThis is how New Orleans is rebuilding to be more resilient - Global Center on AdaptationSolar and energy efficiency for all - NOLAIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy. Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/
Gerard Wedderburn-Bisshop worked as a Principal Scientist with Queensland Government Natural Resources, using satellite data to monitor three decades of vegetation cover and broadscale deforestation. He left the government in 2010 to co-author the Beyond Zero Emissions' Land Use Plan, a plan to take Australia's land use and agriculture emissions beyond zero.He now works pro bono with the NGO World Preservation Foundation, focusing on deforestation, land degradation and biodiversity loss. Gerard is also on the Zero Emissions Byron Land Use Advisory Panel and a Director of Replant Byron. Recently he co-authored a book for the Eating Our Way To Extinction documentary and has produced a series of explanatory videos on the climate impact of animal agriculture. Recent research includes carbon emissions from deforestation, with explanatory video.In this episode, we dive into Gerard's latest scientific article, "Deforestation—a Call for Consistent Carbon Accounting." The article shakes up how we think about carbon emissions, arguing that the current system for measuring deforestation's impact doesn't tell the full story. Gerard makes a strong case for a gross accounting approach across all industries, to provide us with a clearer picture of the damage and solutions. This discussion highlights the urgent need to totally revalue the environmental harms of agriculture – in a nutshell, Gerard urges us all to eat plants and plant trees!In this episode, we discuss:Gerard's work with the Queensland Government monitoring deforestationShocking stats on Australia's clearing ratesHis involvement with the Eating Our Way to Extinction documentary and associated resourcesThe work of Plant-Based TreatyA deep dive into Gerard's latest paper on consistent carbon accountingGross vs. net carbon accounting explainedHow the carbon cycle really worksThe overlooked value of forest drawdown potentialThe true environmental toll of animal agricultureRethinking climate policy with Gerard's insightsA sneak peek at his upcoming researchTranslating the numbers into meaningful actionTo view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
Neil Vora MD is a former epidemic intelligence service officer with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with experience combating outbreaks of the deadly Ebola virus and running the New York City contact tracing program for COVID-19. He advocates supporting public health infrastructure to respond to diseases. He much prefers preventing outbreaks before they occur instead of rushing to respond to them, though, and the best way to do this, he says, is by investing in nature. On this episode of the Mongabay Newscast, Vora shares his knowledge of why the “spillover” of zoonotic diseases — when a pathogen jumps from wildlife to humans — is increasingly occurring due to deforestation and land-use change. He also says that despite science's importance in studying and combating viruses, art and philosophy are necessary tools to drive the global change needed to prevent further outbreaks. “If we want to see societal transformation, we're going to need people feeling inspired, and that's where art and philosophy come in,” Vora says. Listen to Mongabay's previous Newscast episode covering the recent outbreak of avian influenza here. Like this podcast? Share it with a friend, and please leave a review. Subscribe to or follow the Mongabay Newscast wherever you listen to podcasts, from Apple to Spotify, and you can also listen to all episodes here on the Mongabay website, or download our free app for Apple and Android devices to gain instant access to our latest episodes and all of our previous ones. Image Credit: Rainbow over Jambi, Indonesia. Photo credit: Rhett Ayers Butler / Mongabay ----- Timecodes (00:00) Introduction (01:06) Medical doctor and conservationist: Neil Vora (04:27) The link between deforestation and disease (07:33) The 'One Health' movement (09:41) How disease 'spillover' happens (13:06) What's happening with marburg and 'bird flu'? (23:10) Why we need art & philosophy to protect nature (26:31) Apocalyptic horror films as scenario explorations (30:04) Solutions and 'radical listening' (35:09) A rejection of nihilism
John Jurko II is the lead director and producer of RHINO MAN, a powerful documentary that highlights the courage and dedication of field rangers who risk their lives to protect South Africa's rhinos from poaching. More than just a conservation film, RHINO MAN tells a universal story of resilience, bravery, and the human spirit—a heroic tale of individuals striving to leave the world a better place.Since 2018, John has been at the helm of RHINO MAN, guiding its completion with passion and purpose. A graduate with a BA in Film Production and Philosophy, John began his career in Los Angeles, working in the camera department on numerous indie films. He later moved to Atlanta, where he was drawn to the compelling story of RHINO MAN and its potential as a catalyst for social impact.In addition to the film, John launched The Rhino Man Podcast, expanding the conversation around the vital role of rangers, the rhino poaching crisis, and the importance of connecting local communities to protected areas. His advocacy has reached esteemed audiences, including His Royal Highness Prince William, government officials, international financial crime delegates, law enforcement agencies, and conservation NGOs.Through his work, John continues to raise awareness and inspire action for one of the most critical conservation issues of our time. Join us in this episode for a thought-provoking conversation about conservation, courage, and the power of storytelling to drive change.In this episode, we discuss:John's background in film, philosophy, and storytelling—and his path to joining RHINO MANStartling statistics on rhino populations and the poaching crisis in AfricaMisconceptions and myths about rhino horn, including its unsubstantiated health claimsThe inspiration behind RHINO MAN—sharing the powerful stories of South African field rangersChallenges and lessons from the demanding filmmaking processThe evolving and perilous role of field rangers in South AfricaThe gruelling recruitment and training process for becoming a field rangerThe work of Global Conservation Corps and the importance of connecting children with natureTackling the wicked problem that is wildlife poaching John's personal reflections from filming the documentaryThe story of Anton Mzimba—a heroic field ranger whose legacy continues to inspireHonouring Anton Mzimba and supporting his family through the Anton Mzimba Education TrustJohn's ongoing fight for justice in Anton's unsolved murder investigation and how we can support his effortsWhy wildlife conservation matters to everyone and how we can support rangers and protect rhinosFuture projects for JohnTo view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
Relaunching one of our favourite episodes as the Pod-fam takes some time to plan upcoming episodes, edit, and prepare our merch for upcoming holiday markets!We began the conversation with DR. NICOLE REDVERS (Deninu Kųę́ First Nation) with defining both "science" and "healing," which lead to a conversation about how "everyday can be a healing experience," berries changing genetics, Indigenous Medicine Science as a reawakening, Land as healing and the effects of amplifying these connections through consciousness, differences between spirit and soul, what is a gut feeling?, and decolonizing and recolonizing our microbiome. Remember, any support from the "Ancestral Podcast MERCH" helps pay Elders, Knowledge Keepers, to follow protocols and keep this podcast going, and keeping the pod going.Dr. Redvers graciously donated her honoraria to: Arctic Indigenous Wellness FoundationSHOWNOTES: here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Note: this is the audio version of my 'listen and co-create' posting on 'a calm presence'. On September 23, 2024, while driving in Victoria BC to record a conversation with educator and musician Azul Carolina Duque for conscient season 6 (to be released in 2025), I was listening to Nate Hagens' The Great Simplification episode 139 : Bioregional Futures: Reconnecting to Place for Planetary Health with regenerative living activist Daniel Christian Wahl. As I listened to the 36th minute of this engaging podcast, I felt a wave of relief ripple through my body, as if a burden had been lifted…I stopped the car to listen to that 36th minute again : It makes a difference how we go out and, bizarrely, if enough of us - all of humanity - reaches the point of maturity of caring more about life and less about individual lifespan or our species survival and we find our peace with maybe living the end day of a relatively young species, then I think exactly in that point, we will find the maturity to develop the patterns that will take us into not dying an early death as a species.‘That's it', I said out loud. ‘This is the horizon I have been looking for: ‘patterns that will take us into not dying an early death as a species'.Which patterns?I was also touched by the notion of dying with dignity (how we go out), which is on my mind and in my spirit lately. Azul and I in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC, September 23, 2024Wahl's notion of ‘finding peace as a relatively young species' came up during my conversation with Azul who kindly shared the 3rd type of hope in an upcoming publication by the Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures Collective of which she is a member: The hope in composting harm represents the idea of acknowledging that we are past several critical tipping points, and that substantial consensus is unlikely to happen and that we will inevitably have to confront the consequences of our harmful actions and the harmful actions of those who came before us, too. So this hope says that new possibilities will emerge only after we have been taught by the partial or general collapse of our current systems, which is what this person, Daniel was saying in the interview. So it's about visualizing a process in which we are left with no other choice but to transform our relationships with the planet, with other species and with each other, to metabolize and repair the harm we have caused, and collectively learn to coexist differently through the awareness that we are part of a wider metabolism that is bio intelligent.Later that day I mentioned this insightful 36th minute in the Wahl interview during my conscient podcast conversation with composer Kenneth Newby (e207 kenneth newby - living with grace) who said: The planet's not dying. Our place and our version of it may be dying. So how do we deal with that? How do we accept and live with the knowledge that our version of it is dying. It's not something to panic about in the sense that the whole thing's going away, hopefully. We don't know, but I think that notion of living with grace, living without fear, trying to live without anxiety, because those are just places where we flounder, shut off and develop toxic escapes. People will drink themselves and take whatever drugs they want to take to escape. My conversation with Kenneth reminded me of this quote from Adam Urban's ‘10 Reasons Our Civilization Will Soon Collapse' that I used in my first a calm presence posting, called why? : my rationale for creating 'a calm presence' newsletter. I go back to it often:People have asked me, "If we're all doomed anyway, then what's the point of scaring people? Why not just let them live their lives?" It's a fair question. My answer is that the more people know about our predicament and start preparing for what's coming, the greater chance humanity has of surviving this century and creating sustainable societies in the distant future. I don't know if that's even possible. Perhaps we will pass so many climate tipping points that temperatures will rise high enough to snuff out life across the entire planet. Or perhaps after the population declines and the planet warms, new societies will spring up in places like Greenland and Antarctica. They won't be societies that use fossil fuels, so they will likely be much simpler and more connected to the Earth. Maybe these societies will learn from our mistakes and take better care of nature—and each other. If there's any chance that a future like that is possible, then we should do everything we can to make it happen. The first step is to inform people about what's happening, and the second step is to help them prepare.Why does any of this matter? Reality.why? https://acalmpresence.substack.com/p/whyMy experiences on September 23rd reminded of advice dharma teacher Catherine Ingram offered me in July 2023 that inspired the creation of a calm presence:Yes, there's a point in going on. It is to be here for others who are not as strong or clear as you and who will be frightened and in need of a calm presence.But how does one achieve and maintain ‘a calm presence'?I found some answers in this except from Yin Paradies' September 25, 2024 Facebook posting drawn from the Intercultural Communication Handbook.Sensing, attending and being patient requires slowing down, pausing, and taking time to listen, look, feel and learn. Seeking to activate and use all our senses to relate as part of the world. This involves learning through relationships, through actions and through careful attention, not just through asking questions and talking a lot. Being patient and humble enables recognition of the myriad of messages that humans and non-human beings are always sending out.Note: for more on Yin's work see e193 yin paradies - interweaving everything with everything else or on Yin's YouTube channel.I was struck by this sentence in particular : Learning through relationships, through actions and through careful attention, not just through asking questions and talking a lot.There's a lot to consider in his words for a podcaster who spends a lot of time and effort talking and asking questions!The timing of this is good because I'm taking a break now from both conscient podcast and a calm presence for a few months as I prepare season 6 - which I think is necessary - exploring arts and culture in times of crisis and collapse. I'll be doing that collaboratively and co-creatively with those who are interested in joining me. To summarize, I feel privileged to have received a generous offering through the above quotes that I have presented to you today. For me, all of this comes down to: listening and co-creating. To listen and co-create. I would like to thank those I have quoted and their kin. *END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES Hey conscient listeners, Thanks for your presence. Season 5 of this podcast is now completed. I'll be back with season 6 on art and culture in times of crisis and collapse (see trailer for details) sometime in 2025. Background on the conscient podcast I've been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). It's my way to give back and be present.In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and it's francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I publish a Substack newsletter called ‘a calm presence' which are 'short, practical essays about collapse acceptance, adaptation, response and art'. To subscribe (free of charge) see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. You'll also find a podcast version of each a calm presence posting on Substack or one your favorite podcast player.Also, please note that a complete transcript of most conscient podcast and balado conscient episodes from season 1 to 5 is available on the web version of this site (not available on podcast apps) here: https://conscient-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes.Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on conscient podcast social media: Facebook, X, Instagram or Linkedin. I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. Claude SchryerLatest update on November 6, 2024
Leading two groundbreaking ventures, Wild Orchard and RePure, my journey in the wellness industry is marked by innovation and a commitment to health and regeneration which goes beyond sustainability. At Wild Orchard, we've successfully introduced the world's first Regenerative Organic Certified teas, a testament to our dedication to exceptional quality, beyond sustainable farming practices, and farmworker fairness. Wild Orchard teas have earned 24 medals at the most prestigious global tea competitions, and can be found in top organic retailers like Whole Foods, Wegmans, and many others. Our award-winning teas are also featured in Michelin-rated restaurants, where they are celebrated for their purity and exceptional quality. With RePure, we've turned our focus to the home environment, providing families with top-tier wellness technology that prioritizes indoor air and water quality. Our healthy home operating system has earned accolades such as the 2023 CTA Wellness Product of the Year, and Health & Wellness Project of the Year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, reflecting our impact on creating smarter, healthier living spaces. By merging my expertise in regenerative organic products and wellness technology, I'm steering both companies toward a future where we regenerate our soil, bring more nature into our lives and use a bit of technology to fill in the gaps for a longer healthspan for all. Show Highlights Michael's Dual Roles: Michael shares insights from his work optimizing indoor environments through his company, RePure, and his regenerative organic tea brand. Cross-Industry Innovation: Both businesses are interconnected, allowing for the innovative application of health and wellness principles across different industries. Healthier Living Spaces: Focus on optimizing indoor air and water quality for improved health in residential and commercial environments. Regenerative Organic Tea: The tea company emphasizes regenerative practices, is regenerative organic certified, and promotes health benefits while supporting environmental sustainability. Career Advice: Michael reflects on overcoming growing up as an introvert and how traveling when young broadens perspectives and fosters personal growth. Consumer Demand: Growing interest in healthier living spaces is driving innovation and investment in wellness real estate. Wellness Real Estate Growth: As the fastest-growing sector in the wellness industry, it presents lucrative opportunities for architects, builders, designers, and developers. Design Impact on Health: Michael highlights that architecture and design are never neutral—they either contribute to or degrade health. Community Engagement: Emphasizing the importance of volunteering and mentoring, Michael discusses the value of engaging with communities and supporting emerging entrepreneurs. "The demand for wellness solutions in real estate is rapidly growing. Whether you are a builder, architect, designer, integrator or developer, I encourage you to explore offering wellness-focused products and services. Doing so will not only elevate your business but also bring significant value to the clients you serve." —Michael Don Ham Show Resource and Information Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community! If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on . We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the ! Copyright © 2024 GBES
Professor Niki Harré, Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland, and author of Psychology for a Better World: Working with People to Save the Planet and The Infinite Game: How to Live Well Together, shares her vision of resilient, compassionate, and creative communities as the foundation for sustainability. As discussed in her recent TEDx talk, Niki is particularly interested in promoting deep dialogue, constructive decision-making, and collective action for human and ecological flourishing. In this episode, she underscores how psychology—often overlooked in environmental work—is vital for fostering a people-focused approach and driving meaningful systems change.Niki emphasises the power of stories and behaviours to inspire action, advocating for narratives of hope and compassion rather than focusing solely on crisis. To combat negativity amid the constant messages of environmental doom and gloom, Dr Harré discusses the importance of working with others and sharing positive values, to build resilient communities. We also explore how common identity points can strengthen communication on sustainability issues, fostering understanding and commitment.At the heart of her philosophy is an “infinite game” mindset, where the goal is to keep what we most value in play, while inviting others to join – for it is together that we can create resilient social movements, sustain hope, and work toward a more generous, equitable world, with a flourishing environment and compassionate communities.In this episode, Niki discusses:What initially drew her to psychology and her passion for community well-being and sustainabilityThe shift away from community-based approaches as society moves more onlineHer two books, Psychology for a Better World: Working with People to Save the Planet and The Infinite Game: How to Live Well TogetherConcerns with “problem-focused” approaches in sustainability circlesThe concept of “copying” behaviours to foster a more sustainable futureThe impact of positive and negative emotions on facilitating change and transformationTips for staying emotionally buoyant in the face of apocalyptic narrativesThe critical importance of self-identity and living in accordance with one's valuesBeing a ‘tidy person', practising mindfulness, and taking extreme care with material resourcesMoving away from “us vs. them” mentalities and instead asking what kind of world we want to live inThe importance of engaging with young people in sustainability effortsHer “Secular Priest” experiment and what it taught her about communityHer parting thoughts for advocates and communities on building resilience and maintaining hopeTo view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
Du bist, was du isst: Und: Du beeinflusst damit deine Umwelt! Wie wirkt sich unser Essverhalten auf unseren Planeten aus? Und werden wir auch noch Zukunft alle satt werden? Biologin Parima Parsi-Pour und Wissenschaftskommunikator Dr. Konstantin S. Kiprijanov haben gemeinsam mit Besuchenden im Museum gekocht und wissen: Schon kleine Veränderungen bewirken Großes. Aber wie erzeugt man Engagement für so ein wichtiges Thema? Ihre Erfahrungen und welche Rolle dabei der Berliner Weltacker spielt, erzählen sie Host Lukas Klaschinski. Guten Appetit! Dieser Podcast entsteht in freundlicher Produktionsunterstützung der Auf die Ohren GmbH und wurde 2021 als Bester Podcast mit dem Deutschen Hörbuchpreis ausgezeichnet. Den Link zum Spendenaufruf sowie zu News rund um den Weltacker findet ihr hier: [www.2000m2.eu/de/blog/2024/10/12/brand-auf-dem-berliner-weltacker/](https://www.2000m2.eu/de/blog/2024/10/12/brand-auf-dem-berliner-weltacker/) Zum Greenpeace Haltbarkeitstest geht es hier: [www.greenpeace-magazin.de/leseecke/das-haelt-sich-ja-ewig](https://www.greenpeace-magazin.de/leseecke/das-haelt-sich-ja-ewig) Und das Anti-Foodwaste-Poster: [i.utopia.de/redaktion/utopia-anti-foodwaste-poster.pdf](https://i.utopia.de/redaktion/utopia-anti-foodwaste-poster.pdf)
Send us a textUp to 30% of all healthcare offers no clinical value to patients. Reducing this care has the co-benefit of decreasing healthcare's carbon footprint. In this special CSIM episode, host Dr. Zahra Merali sits down with guests Dr. Billy Silverstein @WKSilverstein (General Internist, University of Toronto) and Dr. Owen Luo @OwenLuo5 (Internal Medicine Resident, McGill University) to discuss 4 of the Choosing Wisely Canada's climate-conscious recommendations (https://choosingwiselycanada.org/climate/). They were integral in creating these recommendations, and have a wealth of practical tips about how we can implement them into our own practice! Infographic by Julia Simone (medical student). If you have not heard Part 1- make sure to go back and listen to other Canada-wide experts in this area.Support the show
(Conversation recorded on September 25th, 2024) There has been much discussion lately of Planetary Boundaries – the 9 biophysical systems and processes that regulate the functioning of life support systems on Earth, and ultimately the stability and resilience of the Earth system as a whole. But how close are we, today, to pushing these systems past their ability to function and recover? In this special release episode, Nate is joined by Kari Stoever, Chief of Strategic Partnerships & Policy at the Planetary Boundary Initiative, to explore the answer to this difficult but vital question. They delve into the Planetary Health Check, an annual analysis of Earth's nine Planetary Boundaries, exploring the science behind the metrics as well as aspirations for the project's future in guiding us back toward a safe operating space for Earth. How could a real-time assessment of the health of our planetary home help us prioritize taking care of it? What are we able to measure, and what do we still need to learn to best inform our policies and actions for the future? What would it take for each of us to act as Planetary Guardians to safeguard our planetary home before it's too late? About Kari Stoever: Kari Stoever is a seasoned social entrepreneur and strategist with extensive experience in global health, development, international relations, and planetary health. She has led pivotal global initiatives, including contributions to four U.S. Presidential programs. Her work focuses on strategy, policy advocacy, resource mobilization, and systems change, with a passion for building partnerships that drive global improvements for the common good. Currently, Kari collaborates with Johan Rockström and the Planetary Guardians on the Planetary Health Check (PHC), an innovative system that uses satellite data and AI to monitor Earth's health. As a doctorate student at Georgetown University, she is focused on studying interconnectedness and systems change in the context of the polycrisis—the systemic interrelationships among global challenges—drawing from Ubuntu philosophy, deep ecology, and evolutionary consciousness. Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on Youtube --- Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners
In Season 8, Episode 2, host Sarah Thorne and Jeff King, National Lead of the Engineering With Nature (EWN) Program, USACE, welcome back Dr. Christopher Lemon, a physician and Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine; Faculty Codirector of Clinical Programs with the Institute for Planetary Health; and Fellow with the Bloomberg American Health Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In Episode 1, we talked with Chris about his journey to becoming a medical doctor and an expert and thought leader in the emerging field of planetary health. In this episode, we focus on Chris's association with the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) and how he and PHA are helping people understand and adapt to the changing conditions posed by climate change and encouraging people to take action.As an emergency physician, Chris is attuned to the need to take action. Noting the impacts of climate change—extreme heat, weather, drought, flooding, and disease—Chris contends that all these complicated situations boil down to the fact that Humanity is a part of this planet and that we will all be affected, “If you care about yourself, if you care about the health of your family and your loved ones, you need to act now because there is no question everyone is going to be impacted by climate change.”Citing The 2023 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, he describes troubling trends such as heat-related deaths of adults over 65 rising by over 80% percent since the 1990s; increased frequency of heat waves and droughts in recent decades, associated with roughly 127 million more people experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity; and new locations now suitable for the transmission of deadly infections. “These impacts could be an early sign of the future that we have in store. I think we're facing a scenario where things could be potentially catastrophic, and that also means to our health.”Much of Chris's efforts in this area is through his association with the PHA, a consortium of more than 450 universities, nongovernment organizations, research institutes, and government entities from more than 75 countries around the world. Launched in 2015, Chris defines Planetary health as “a solutions-oriented transdisciplinary field and social movement focused on analyzing and addressing the impacts of human disruptions on Earth's natural systems and how that will eventually impact human health, as well as all life on Earth.” Essential to planetary health is the understanding that it's not just climate change, it's ‘everything change,' encompassing the other ways our natural systems are destabilizing due to human influence, such as biodiversity loss, pollution, land use change, water scarcity, nutrient overloading, and marine degradation.Looking to the future, Chris is excited about the growing movement toward planetary health. His call to action is for listeners go to the PHA website and become a part of the growing community. “This is not a website where you join and it's just an email that comes out every so often. This alliance is a decentralized community for all stakeholders. We would love to interact and engage with you where you stand. I bet you have a superpower and an expertise that we need in the global community right now.”For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Jeff King at LinkedInChristopher Lemon at LinkedIn
Send us a textThere are everyday practices we can stop or reduce that don't add value to patient care and harm the environment.In this special CSIM episode, host Dr. Zahra Merali sits down with guests Dr. Mathilde Gaudreau @MathildeGSimard (General Internist, University of Ottawa), Dr. Nabha Shetty (General Internist, Dalhousie University) and Dr. Valeria Stoynova (General Internist, Island Health/UBC Island Medical Program) to discuss 4 of the Choosing Wisely Canada's climate-conscious recommendations (https://choosingwiselycanada.org/climate/). They were integral in creating these recommendations, and have a wealth of practical tips about how we can implement them into our own practice!Infographic by Julia Simone (medical student). Keep tuning in to hear the rest of our CSIM special episodes and join us & the Planetary Health team as they present at CSIM! @CSIMSCMISupport the show
After another summer of sweltering heat, extreme flooding, and in several places, unprecedented forest fires, we're thinking even more about climate change and about the nexus of climate change and health. In S8 E1, host Sarah Thorne and Jeff King, National Lead of the Engineering With Nature (EWN) Program, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), are joined by Dr. Christopher Lemon, a physician and Asst. Professor, Dept. of Emergency Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine; Faculty Co-Director of Clinical Programs with the JH Institute for Planetary Health; and Fellow with the Bloomberg American Health Initiative at the JH Bloomberg School of Public Health. Experts project that over 3 billion people are already vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Chris is using what he calls his “superpowers” to assess how climate change is affecting people's health around the world and take action. He's passionate about making a difference in his community and across the planet.Chris and Jeff met at a conference at the US Fish and Wildlife Service's National Conservation Training Center where Chris gave a presentation on Climate Change and Global Health. For Chris, the conference was an opportunity to get in front of an audience with different backgrounds but a common interest. “We started to pick up on the mental or physical health implications of some of the EWN projects at military installations. Pretty quickly it became this great synergy of how I bring certain things to the table as part of these complex solutions.” Jeff agrees and notes the magnitude of the opportunity. “These military installations are a wonderful opportunity – across 25 million acres of land – to do something positive for the employees at the installations, the military personnel, and the communities adjacent to military installations. They all can benefit from this interaction with nature.”Chris compares his experiences in healthcare, particularly with COVID, to the coming challenges he sees with climate change and discusses the alignment of healthcare with EWN. In both, the “traditional” approach has often been to try to control nature to an ever-increasing degree. “Right now, US healthcare contributes roughly 8.5 percent of US emissions. So, we are ‘doing no harm' with the goal of making people healthy; and yet, ironically, because we're not working within the constructs of nature anymore, we're actually making people unhealthy.” It is this more macro view of climate change and public health that Chris is trying to address at the Institute for Planetary Health. “It focuses on analyzing and addressing the impacts of human disruptions on Earth's natural systems. But importantly, those disruptions have impacts on human health and all life on Earth. We are bringing that into the center of the conversation.Chris's story resonates with Jeff and what he is seeing and striving for in the EWN community: “Chris, I admire the energy and enthusiasm with which you approach the challenge of planetary health. It's quite evident that you have so much knowledge to share, as well as the energy to make change a reality.” Jeff and Sarah invited Chris back to talk more about the important work being done by the Planetary Health Alliance, a growing consortium of over 450 universities, NGOs, research institutes, and government entities who are committed to understanding and addressing the impacts of global environmental change on human health and wellbeing. Our conversation with Chris continues in Episode 2 on October 9. We hope you enjoy these special episodes!For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Jeff King at LinkedInChristopher Lemon at LinkedIn
Mrasek, Volker www.deutschlandfunk.de, Forschung aktuell
Introducing the ‘Startup to Standout' mini-series, brought to you in partnership with Lloyds Bank. In this episode, Jake connects with business experts at Notpla to dig into the realities of entrepreneurship. Notpla is a cutting-edge company known for creating sustainable packaging solutions using seaweed, aiming to reduce environmental impact.Notpla co-founder Pierre-Yves Paslier discusses with Jake the inspiration behind their seaweed-based products, showing how they benefit the environment. He shares insights into the challenges of the early years of building the business and what it was like during the initial phases. Jake also chats with Karlijn Sibbel about Notpla's innovative approach and their next big goal: tackling packaging problems with new water barrier technologies. Karlijn also offers valuable advice on fostering innovation in business and prioritising creative thinking.Lloyds Bank's purpose is to empower businesses with comprehensive support and guidance for starting, growing, and building a successful business. With their extensive expertise, Lloyds Bank is well-equipped to guide you on your business journey.
André Leu is co-founder and International Director of Regeneration International, an organization that promotes food, farming, and land use systems that regenerate and stabilize climate systems. He's author of the books, Myths of Safe Pesticides and Poisoning our Children, and is co-author with Dr. Vandana Shiva of Biodiversity, Agroecology, and Regenerative Agriculture. He has a Doctorate of Science in agricultural and environmental systems and teaches at universities and speaks at numerous conferences and United Nations events. His new book is The Regenerative Agriculture Solution: A Revolutionary Approach to Building Soil, Creating Climate Resilience, and Supporting Human and Planetary Health, published by Chelsea Green Press. Leu is also a regenerative tropical fruit and cattle farmer in Australia, where he's been farming since the 1970s.
As summer wanes and we celebrate back-to-school time with our friends in academia, students, and parents, we're pleased to launch Season 8 of the Engineering With Nature® Podcast! Host Sarah Thorne recently caught up with Jeff King, National Lead of the Engineering With Nature (EWN) Program, to discuss what the EWN Team has been up to over the summer, share some highlights from Season 7, and offer a glimpse of what's ahead in Season 8.As Jeff describes, the EWN Team has had a busy summer extending the reach of EWN by collaborating with engineering and landscape architect colleagues, and working with the EWN Proving Grounds leads on larger, more ambitious projects. “We've started to envision really large EWN projects that will be pursued at a systems level so that we can maximize the function and benefits that can be derived from these projects. I'm really excited about having an opportunity to publish these as ‘EWN Playbooks' and have them available soon.” The EWN Team is also growing. Steven Bailey, a landscape architect, recently joined the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). His hire reflects the growing importance of landscape architecture in EWN. And continuing EWN's tradition of training the next generation of EWN practitioners, Claire Middendorf, an Environmental & Ecological Engineering student at Purdue University, completed a summer internship working with Burton Suedel, one of our frequent EWN Podcast hosts.Jeff is encouraged, and excited about the progress of EWN more broadly within the USACE on the contribution EWN and NBS are making to the navigation, flood risk management, and ecosystem restoration missions. “Many elements within the USACE are now focused on NBS and wanting to have NBS be prioritized across all of our business lines. The conversations we're having are focused on what can we do as an organization to accelerate implementation of NBS.”Jeff and the EWN Team continued outreach to external partners to expand opportunities for integration of NBS. They have been reaching out to colleagues in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US, and internationally, to colleagues with the Environmental Agency in the United Kingdom, and the Rijkswaterstaat, which is responsible for the design, construction, management and maintenance of the Netherlands' primary infrastructure facilities. The theme for Season 8 is Channeling the Energy. That Jeff explains is inspired by the energy and excitement in the conversations that he has with all the EWN and NBS practitioners, collaborators and educators that he meets. “It's that energy and it's very contagious. So, that's our theme – channeling the energy.” Listeners can expect another great lineup of episodes in Season 8, including topics such as the nexus of climate change and health, climate policy initiatives being driven by NOAA; how the Navy is incorporating NBS into their plans and projects; and some of the groundbreaking work being done by our EWN colleagues in both the policy and program areas.Mark your calendar for the launch of Season 8 on September 25! In Season 8, Episode 1, we're speaking with Dr. Chris Lemon, Johns Hopkins Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health, and Fellow of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative. We focus on Chris's journey into climate change and global health challenges. We hope you'll tune in.For more information and resource links, please visit the EWN Podcast page on the EWN website at https://www.engineeringwithnature.org/ Jeff King at LinkedInSarah Thorne at LinkedInDave Trafford at LinkedIn
When you hear university dining, you likely have images in your mind of college students with trays and hand waiting in a line for a meal in a dining hall. You may even think of a food court or a trendy food hall in the cool part of town. But there is so much more happening behind the scenes. Today we will learn about Menus of Change University Research Collaborative, MCURC for short, which is a nationwide network of colleges and universities using campus dining halls as living laboratories for behavior change. The Collaborative's goals are to move people towards healthier, more sustainable and delicious foods using evidence-based research, education and innovation. Our guest today is the Collaborative's co-founder and co-director, Stanford University's Sophie Egan. Interview Summary I'd like you to tell our listeners a little bit more about the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative. What is it and how does it actually work? The Menus of Change University Research Collaborative was co-founded by the Culinary Institute of America and Stanford University, two divisions there, the Stanford Prevention Research Center and the School of Medicine, and Residential and Dining Enterprises. And that should tell you something is different in our vision, which is that first and foremost, we wanted to break down silos that exist on campuses between experts in food who work in academic realms. So, researchers, faculty who may be studying food, either from one certain discipline or ideally some cases transdisciplinarily, and those who actually feed students, the experts in the dining programs on campus. And Stanford was a good place to co-found this because of this great partnership that already existed between the dining program and between Dr. Christopher Gardner at the School of Medicine. But that model has actually now been replicated. We are at 70 plus institutions, not only across the U.S., but actually increasingly internationally. In addition to fostering that collaboration and breaking down those silos on a given campus, we really wanted to foster collaboration between universities to take what we consider kind of a plug-and-play research protocol. You know, a given design of a study that, as you said, uses campus dining halls as living laboratories and actually replicate research. So that's what we've done. It's been incredibly fun to be part of it from the beginning, and it's been incredibly exciting and impactful because of the approach that we take. We really democratize even what it means to be a researcher, to be involved in research. We have involvement in the collaborative and in research projects from students, faculty, of course, who are critical in their expertise, but also executive chefs, nutrition and sustainability experts. And many other research collaborators who are mission aligned organizations like EAT and REFED and Food for Climate League, who bring their own kind of comparable expertise. And we all work together to shape these living lab studies and then to test those at multiple sites to see if this a more generalizable effect? Or is that something just those west coast schools work for? Or is this only something that, you know, more elite schools where students of a certain demographic really respond? But that's also the beauty is the diversity of the institutions that we have. Geographically, public private, small and large. And we're really brought together by the kind of common language of what's also in our name, Menus of Change. And these are these principles of optimizing both human and planetary health through the food on our plates. And for us really, especially through students, changing that trajectory and cultivating the long term wellbeing of all people in the planet, one student, one meal at a time. Wow. This sounds like a really amazing program. And I love the fact that you're working across different types of universities across the U.S. and even outside. And it does make me believe that the findings that you have are applicable in a broader setting than if one institution does it. I can appreciate the power of the Collaborative. I want to know a little bit more about the impact of the collaborative. What has it been up to this point and in what ways have you seen this collaborative generate new ideas or new research findings? Yes. So, we've got about six peer reviewed publications under our belt with more on the way. Our latest is called the University Procurement and Planetary Health Study led by Dr. Jackie Bertoldo, who was at the Johns Hopkins University and also Stanford Food Institute. But we have a number of academic publications also in the works. And then importantly, we actually have produced 13 operational publications and reports. So, what that illustrates is that we've come to realize that those that are collaborating have different currencies. Publishing in a peer reviewed journal, that's what motivates academic researchers, right? That's what's going to enable them to invest time and resources. Fundamentally, this is primarily something that people do, in their free time, right? It's a volunteer-based network of over 300 members. But if they're going to work on a project, it has to have some value to their own work. But what has value to those in dining operations is implementable, real, tangible strategies, recommendations, and guidelines that translate 'these are the findings of a certain study into what do you want me to do about it? How do you want me to change my menu, sourcing, the design of the dining hall, the choice architecture, right? The food environment itself. How do you want me to change something in the operational setup?' Maybe, if it has to do with food waste. All of these resources are on our website. We also have three really exciting new projects in the pipeline. So that's our research and publication impact to date. But I should say that importantly, it's much more meaningful to us who take those resources and acts upon them. We know that universities are unique places to conduct research, but our research is not aimed only at the campus dining sector. It's actually offered open source to inform and shape the entire food service industry. We have been thrilled, for example, one of our kind of flagship publications called the Edgy Veggies Toolkit has been implemented and adopted by some of the largest food service companies in the world. Think of Sodexo, Aramark, Compass, who are phenomenal members of the collaborative. Think of corporate dining programs, hospitals, hotels, elsewhere. K 12 environments. And that's, to us, the most important kind of reach is to know that those toolkits, those resources. Edgy Veggies was about how you could simply change the way you describe vegetable-based dishes on a menu, to use more taste focused language, to increase the appeal. We actually demonstrated you can measurably increase selection and consumption of vegetables. So, you can imagine that has applications in public health in countless settings. Even those of us trying to feed our kids. Hey, if I call tonight's broccoli, you know, zesty orange broccoli versus just broccoli, maybe my kid will eat more of it, right? So, it has applications in countless different contexts. Another really big area for us is our collective purchasing power. So, we learned at some point that it's not only that these organizations, the institutions that are part of the collaborative are brought together by a desire to co create research, but it's really that alignment on healthy, sustainable, plant forward future for the food service industry. And so we've actually created this collective impact initiative where it's our combined purchasing power. We've now measurably reduced our combined food-related greenhouse gas emissions. By 24 percent just between 2019 and 2022, and that's across 30 institutions, 90 million pounds of food. I mean, this is a huge outcome for us, and we're not stopping there. We had a goal to reduce by 25 percent by 2030, and now reaching that, we're A, enhancing the target to a 40 percent reduction by 2030. But importantly, we're actually measuring now the uptick in diet quality. So, because human health is equally important to that sustainability part, that University Procurement for Planetary Health study that I mentioned, we're actually able to see that if we are aligning our procurement, meaning what do we buy in the total pounds of an institution and then in the aggregate, right? How plant forward, how healthy and sustainable is that kind of portfolio, that total mix of foods that we're purchasing? And we can actually really increase the diet quality and that kind of average health profile at the same time. So, getting that data layer is really key. And it's the kind of area of impact that has so much momentum and will only continue into the future. Also, lastly, just to say our student engagement numbers have really grown, and that's critically important because educating and cultivating the next generation of food systems leaders. is also core to our work. We have our MCRC Fellows program and that has really grown to have about 30 fellows from a number of institutions all around the country. That's another great way that anyone interested can get involved in. Students are a reason for being. So, it's key that they see these ways to make an impact through their work as well. I am really impressed with the improvements in lowering greenhouse gas emissions or improving sustainability of the dining facilities. How actually did you all do that? I mean, it sounds like you're asking people to report and through that reporting, you see reduction? Can you explain? Coming soon is our 2.0 learnings report that will answer that exact question, but we do have a 2020 version. We call it the early learnings report that shares what it sounds, you know, the early learnings of what works, what doesn't. But what I can tell you can have been kind of the big keys to that success. First, collective target setting. We have been able to welcome institutions that really don't necessarily have the political support, the kind of stakeholder buy in, to make a big public commitment. Some schools do, some institutions do, and that's great. And others, they can sort of take cover, so to speak, in contributing to something where, you know. Their pace of change may be different. And so, it's really kind of contributing to something larger than only their institution, but also having the comfort that it's going to be fits and starts. It may not be linear. It may not be all forward. It might be a little bit backward in terms of the progress trajectory. So that's been really key to having a real diversity of schools where it's not only those that are at the very leading edge. And it's in again, places that aren't as comfortable coming out with a big splashy public wedge. The other big thing that's been key is that we have created a very streamlined framework for data collection. Instead of kind of saying you must submit your data for every single item you've ever purchased, we've on a smaller subset of food categories, where it's easier for them to track, we've created a streamlined and standardized template for them to submit the data, and we also provide individualized reports back to that university. It's confidential. They are the only one who gets it. And that's very motivating because a lot of institutions don't have that resource or that expertise to conduct that analysis to track their emissions year over year. It's almost like getting kind of a free consultancy. But it's what creates that reciprocity where we need their data. We need their collective contribution to the collective effort. And they're getting something out of it because they do have to take the time to find the data and to submit it to us. And then the other thing I think has really been key is, and this was kind of the core concept of collective impact, is continuously iterating. Every year we're listening to those involved in tweaking, you know, how we're asking for the data, how frequently we used to ask for it twice a year, and now it's annually, for example. So always kind of iterating, testing and iterating to make the processes mutually beneficial as possible. And then also keeping the door open for those other institutions to join. It's kind of a cohort effect where we have some institutions that have been part of it from the beginning and others that have only been submitting data for a year and everyone is playing a role. Great. Thank you for sharing that. I want to ask you a little bit more about your other work that you're doing because you're the co-director of the collaborative. You're also the co-director of the Stanford Food Institute. Can you tell our listeners more about that institute and what you're working on there? The Stanford Food Institute was founded by our visionary leader, Dr. Shirley Everett, who's Senior Vice Provost for Residential Dining Enterprises at Stanford. And she really had this vision to bring together an entire community of people to shape a better future of food for the benefit of all humanity and, and really embracing how much food is happening on the Stanford campus. To have the Stanford Food Institute be really this hub and this home for what belovedly we say at Stanford, it's a very decentralized place. There's a ton of entrepreneurial spirit and that's fantastic and should be, but often we don't know what everyone else is doing. So, it's a great opportunity for the Stanford Food Institute to be that magnet and say, come one, come all, whatever student led group, research project, course, event, you know, we want to work with you. So, in practice, what we really do is we work across research, education and innovation to bring together that community and work on this better future. We have a really strong focus on racial equity in the food system, as well as bold climate action. Those are kind of some cross-cutting themes. Our R&DE (research, development, education) core values that have to do with excellence and students first, sustainability, health, deliciousness. All of those things are kind of foundational at the same time. So we actually collaborate with faculty in all seven schools, which is for me super fun because I get to learn about the business dimensions of food and the psychology and social sciences. We have the new Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability that is a very active partner. We have phenomenal partners in the School of Medicine. And when possible, of course, we bring them all together. One really phenomenal culmination of all of those different research efforts is we host something called the Stanford Food Institute Food Systems Symposium, where every year, I like to explain it as a food systems science fair. It's a kind of exhibition style showcase. Researchers get really creative with how they show their work. We had over a hundred researchers at our latest symposium. And it demonstrates that real diversity of disciplines and topics that, that touch food because that's what's so exciting about food. It touches all parts of society. That's one big example. And then we have a number of community partnerships in the Bay Area. One is with the nonprofit Farms to Grow and we're really committed long term to helping support black farmers, not only in California, but sharing our model for increasing supplier diversity and equitable supply chains with other institutions. So those are just two examples, but it's really such a pleasure and an honor to lead the Stanford Food Institute. And as you can likely gather, it's really quite complimentary to the menus of change university research collaborative as well. I am really excited to learn about this symposium. And I got to say, I've worked in land grant institutions before, and I studied at land grant institutions. And so it's interesting to hear of a school like Stanford that is not a land grant. That doesn't have a tradition of agriculture in a narrowly defined sense engaging in this work. I mean, how is it that you're able to find that many people? You said a hundred folks were working on different projects related to the food system. Is it just happening, and people don't necessarily know that it's happening and you're able to bring them together? What's going on there? That's a good question. I don't have a scientific answer. I have a hunch. Anecdotal evidence. We're talking about research here. So, I've got to be clear on my methods for answering. I'll tell you, Norbert, so before I was in this role, one of the things I did was I taught a class at Stanford in the School of Design that was all about food systems careers. And it was essentially a stopgap because there was so much interest from undergraduate students in careers in food systems. But they didn't know what on earth they were going to do to make money, to make a living. How were they going to tell their parents I'm going to use all this money you spent on my degree to do what exactly? There also was just not a clear sense of even what the role types were. What's out there? What's possible? How can I make a difference? And so that class that we co-taught for several years. And I say that because that was just an interesting signal of how many students were interested, sort of, you know, poking at the edges. But a lot of them, to be honest, I call it off ramping. They didn't see the path. They just went the path that was more clear cut. They went to law school or they went to med school. And then they said, ‘well, I'll just like cook at home as a side hobby instead. Because maybe my passion for food doesn't need to be my career.' And so I think what we're really doing with the Food Institute, and there's a number of other kind of similar initiatives, is trying to say, let's try to, you know, address this in a more root cause kind of way. We have something now called the Stanford Food Systems Community, which is just a list serve. And in the fall, we host an event right at the beginning of the year where it's, it's kind of a, again, a come one, come all. We come to the farm, the actual farm at Stanford and have a pizza party and get to know all the different events and things on campus. I think to me, it's, it's a groundswell that's happening nationwide. So, I'm also an author and I've spoken for my books at a lot of universities. And I will often get asked to speak to the career services department. They'll ask me, can you talk about careers in food systems? I've seen this groundswell of interest from students. And then I think a lot of faculty also are really seeing how maybe they study law or a certain dimension. But its kind of either like backs into food or stumbles upon food, maybe. You know, we don't have, like you're saying, we don't have a department in nutrition. I mean, we don't have a specifically food kind of academic framework. But it's more those inherent intersectionalities with food where it's almost in, I think, inescapable to faculty. And then it's really kind of bolstered by how many students are expressing interest. It's something I'm really excited to see where we're in conversations with faculty to do even more to just make students aware of how many classes there are. Because I think sometimes that is the challenge that it's there, but they just don't know how to access it. Right. Thank you for sharing that. And I got to say, I've been taking notes, so I may follow up with you some more later. You've been working with campus food leaders for over a decade now. And you talked about that even in, I guess, in referencing the class as well. What is it about colleges and universities that excite you when it comes to making positive changes in the food system? And you've given me a little bit about that. I'm intrigued to see what else are you seeing? You know, it's surprising. It's the longest I've done something, like a certain one specific role is, is co leading this collaborative. Because I actually co-founded it when I was with the Culinary Institute of America on the other side of the partnership. And I think I have just a deep appreciation, and maybe I like to describe myself as an I realist, idealist mixed with a realist. A realistic view of the potential for universities to be change agents in society. Does it mean they always use that potential? No, but it's there. It's everything from the incubators of new knowledge. They're where new ideas emerge, right? I remember when I first went to the University of Bologna, and it's been there for a thousand years. That's just incredible, right? But it's also a place of growth and expanding your mind for students. Many of these higher education institutions are what's been referred to as anchor institutions. They are huge employers in a region. They are huge thought leaders in a region. They're places of opportunity for all kinds of different things. Whether it's collaborations with private sector and industry, whether it's international kind of tourism and exposure, I mean, so many different possibilities there. And I think the other big thing is that, and I should just say on the anchor institution point, it's the, all that purchasing power too, that I mentioned right there. Very streamlined, fairly agile decision making. I'm sure someone on the podcast is going to say, you think Higher Ed is agile, you know. There's bureaucracy, I know, but I just mean compared to some other food service companies or industries where it's really hard to make changes within campus dining, in particular, you do have a fairly sizable, you know, amount of purchasing power that can have fairly quick, they can be early adopters and they're known as early adopters. The food service industry really looks at what's campus dining doing. That's the tip of the spear. That's a signal of the trends to come. That's a signal of what are going to be the new norms. And the last thing is that we really embrace the fact that students in college, this is this unique period of identity formation. They're figuring out their relationships to food. What is the role that food is going to play in their lives? What do they value? How does that get reflected through food? How does that make them feel? How do they perform academically, physically, et cetera? And of course, for community and belonging, coming together, breaking bread, et cetera. We really love this stat where we've seen that in a given year, we have 4 million meals across the collaborative. But it's not just the meals that these students eat when they're on our campuses. It's the billions of meals they will go on to consume in their collective lifetimes, and when they go on to be decision makers and parents and in the other future realms. And again, that shaping formative opportunity. There are many reasons, I guess, that I've been motivated and I think the potential is still just tremendous. I'm excited for all that's ahead. This is great. And I love the idea and the recognition that this is this formative time for students. That their taste, which may have been shaped, of course, from home, but are being transformed in the dining halls. The place where they're learning to step out and make decisions about food in a way that they couldn't even in high school. I really appreciate this idea and this opportunity. And I appreciate the sort of seriousness that you take at approaching this issue. I have to say, as someone who's related to or connected to a policy center, I am intrigued to think about what kind of policy initiatives, federal, state, even university, do you see coming out of the work of the collaborative? Well, you know, it's really exciting when there is, again, I mentioned that our schools are both public and private, right? So, policy has so many opportunities to kind of shape, again, that social or political will that the decision makers administrators, dining directors may have to pursue something. So, you know, the University of California has been part of the collaborative, most of their campuses have been part for a very long time. And it just is a good example, I think to me, where in that state, there is so much support from the governor's office for farm to fork, local procurement, direct procurement, supplier diversity, regenerative agriculture, climate friendly and plant forward meals in public schools, in K 12. It's that sort of enabling environment, I think, that policy can create and also learn from. So, if it sees constellation of institutions, making a bold move or all aligning on the same kind of, you know, targets or metrics, that can give them the wind at their backs to pass something that maybe applies to all publicly run institutions. Or all food vendors in their state. For example, I would love to see more policy efforts on data and reporting. As I shared with you about collective impact, we're really proud of what we've done, but this is all voluntary, right? We're just choosing to measure this and hold ourselves accountable and keep striving. But I think at some point if it becomes required, you could have more resources in these institutions being brought to do that hard work that is required. I mean, it's not only, you know, sharing with us, but then it's analyzing your menu. What were the strategies that led to that biggest reduction? How did the student feedback go? Working with suppliers is a huge area that Stanford's really excited to have begun, but it takes time. It's, and we need more support, more capacity to do that. I could envision that if there were more requirements kind of coming from policy for some of that tracking and disclosing. And an example that gives me reason to think that's possible is again in California. Something called SB 1383 requires Institutions like ours and all others to disclose their food donation amounts. And I think that's a really interesting example again of measuring something. Bring a measurement requirement from policy to something that maybe everyone's already been doing because it was just best practice, or something that they wanted to know for themselves again that more voluntary. I think there's a lot of opportunities to do more of that. And I would love to see more of those state and regional policies, but also some of these kind of best practices emerge from some of these states and counties that become perhaps nationwide. You know the old saying, if you don't measure it, you can't change it because you don't know. And I love the fact that the collaborative sees itself as a place to prototype, to figure out how do we collect these data. How do we make it less burdensome? Because if you can figure those things out, then I can imagine allowing others to replicate that. This is a great test bed for what policies could look like by the work that you all are doing, it sounds like. And I think that's a really important point because I think the fear would be that policies get created in a vacuum, right? Where you just say, we're going to require you to disclose XYZ crazy detailed things that either an entity doesn't know how to get, can't get, or it costs them thousands and thousands of dollars to collect, or something along those lines. And so, really marrying feasibility, sort of what measurement tools exist how is the kind of dynamic between humans in your environments and those technology tools? I mean, food waste measurement right now is an area that we're really focusing on that because AI and there's a huge opportunity to kind of reduce the burden on staff. But so far, it's been difficult for pretty much every food service operation, including campuses, to get really high-quality food waste data. Even though they may have these tools. And it often has to do with how difficult, how much time it requires staff. I think it's really key that policymakers really, yeah, work with institutions like ours. We love to be, as you said, that kind of prototyping place to find the right balance of rigor and frequency and volume of data with, again, kind of labor and financial constraints and operational realities. And for us, it's also critically important to keep in mind the student experience. How do we not do so many research projects in a four walled space so that we forget this is their home. This is where students eat and live every day. It can't only be about us getting as much data as possible, of course. It's just really accounting for all those variables in the equation. I appreciate this. And I swear, Sophie, we could talk forever. Let me ask you one last question. And I think this is a good place for us to come to an end. What are the different ways people can get involved in the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative? Excellent. Well, please do. So first, the easiest thing is just check out our website. Everything that we create is open source. As I mentioned, it for sure can be applied in university settings, but it pretty much across the board can be applied in a number of other settings. Food service, for sure, but also there's a lot of, whether it's prepared foods at retails, other settings in general. Check out moccollaborative. org in particular, our resources and research. The other way is if you're affiliated with an institution, if you're an academic researcher, and you can get in touch with us to find out about. Or you can become what we call a member institution where dining services and at least one academic researcher are involved. Then you're actually part of all that data collection kind of effort. I think the other biggest area is if you have students who are interested, if once you become a member institution, as I mentioned, there's tons of opportunities to get involved in shaping research. But also in the educational side, which is through our MCRC student fellows program. So those would be some of the big ones, and we always love feedback, too. Tell us how you're utilizing the resources and how we can continue to identify gaps in the research agenda that we are uniquely positioned to help fill. BIO Sophie Egan, MPH is the Director of the Stanford Food Institute and Sustainable Food Systems at R&DE Stanford Dining, Hospitality & Auxiliaries, where she is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative. She is also the author of How to Be a Conscious Eater (Workman, 2020)—named one of Bon Appétit's “Favorite New Books for Climate-Friendly Cooking and Life”—and the founder of Full Table Solutions, a consulting practice that's a catalyst for food systems transformation. An internationally recognized leader at the intersection of food, health, and climate, Sophie is also a contributor to The New York Times Health section and Director of Strategy for Food for Climate League. Previously, Sophie served as the Director of Health and Sustainability Leadership/Editorial Director for The Culinary Institute of America's Strategic Initiatives Group. Sophie's writing has been featured in The Washington Post, TIME, Parents, The Wall Street Journal, Bon Appétit, WIRED, EatingWell, Edible San Francisco, FoodTank, and Sunset. She is a member of the Food System 6 Advisory Board, James Beard Foundation Sustainability Advisory Council, and the Food Tank Academic Working Group. She holds a BA with honors in history from Stanford University; an MPH with a focus on health and social behavior from UC Berkeley; and a certificate from the Harvard Executive Education in Sustainability Leadership program.
(Conversation recorded on July 24th, 2024) In the past century of abundant energy surplus, humanity's globalized, large-scale approach to problem-solving has yielded remarkable benefits and innovations. However, as we face a future with reduced energy resources, mounting waste, and a biosphere in danger, the negative impacts of this approach are increasingly overshadowing its gains. How should we evaluate and change these tactics as we look to build future societies that can better attune with their environments and the health of the planet? This week, Nate is joined by Daniel Christian Wahl, a leader and activist in regenerative living, for an exploration into what our lifestyles and communities could look like if we aligned human systems—like agriculture, economy, and community planning—with the natural ecosystems of a specific bioregion to create more sustainable and harmonious ways of living. How can small, incremental improvements made at the local ecological level create emergent benefits for the entire planet? What do we need to unlearn from past centuries of living in order to find balance with nature in the habitats and regions that we call home? How can individuals incorporate regenerative principles into their own lives today, regardless of their surrounding systems? About Daniel Christian Wahl: Daniel Christian Wahl is one of the catalysts of the rising reGeneration movement and the author of Designing Regenerative Cultures - so far translated into seven languages. He works as a consultant, educator and activist with NGOs, businesses, governments and global change agents. With degrees in biology and holistic science, and a PhD in Design for Human and Planetary Health, his work has influenced the emerging fields of regenerative design and salutogenic design. He is the winner of the 2021 RSA Bicentenary Medal for applying design in service to society and was awarded a two year Volans-Fellowship in 2022. Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on Youtube --- Support Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners
How might cultivating local relationships with humans and the more-than-human contribute to overall planetary health?In this episode, I speak with Pim Martens. Pim has a PhD in applied mathematics and biological sciences. He is a professor of Planetary Health and dean of Maastricht University College Venlo. Pim has been a professor of Sustainable Development for 18 years and is currently the project leader and principal investigator of several projects related to planetary health, sustainability science and education, and human-animal-nature relationships. Pim Martens is a scientist and founder of AnimalWise, a “think and do tank” integrating scientific knowledge and animal advocacy to bring about sustainable change in our relationship with animals. Furthermore, he was the founding Director of the Maastricht University Graduate School of Sustainability Science (MUST) and initiated the M.Sc. program in Sustainability Science and Policy. We discuss:
Thursday, June 13th. In this episode we talk about: Weather report: McDonald's UK testing vegan ice creams, animal rights activists vandalize King Charles portrait Planetary Health Diet May Help Lower Your Risk of Early Death by 30% ( The Planetary Health Diet (https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet-commission/the-planetary-health-diet-and-you/) Tune in live every weekday at 11am to watch on or on Instagram (and ), or watch on Twitter or Twitch! Follow , , and for more.
The planetary health crisis can't be ignored in hospitals where patients are sick from climate-driven things like asthma from air quality emergencies, COVID-19 from a zoonotic spillover event, and cardiovascular complications from heat waves. Chris Lemon, an ER doctor and Bloomberg Health Initiative fellow who focuses on the intersection of climate change and health, talks with Stephanie Desmon about his work bringing planetary health dialogue to hospital staff while also looking at ways health systems can lower their massive carbon footprints.
Humans are transforming, degrading, and altering Earth's natural life support systems so profoundly that our actions have created an existential crisis. For Earth Day, Sam Myers, founding director of the Planetary Health Alliance and director of the brand new Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the concept of planetary health, an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how the state of the earth affects the health of us all. Learn more: http://Planetaryhealthalliance.org https://planetaryhealth.jhu.edu/