For What It’s Earth

Nature connectedness; what is it, why is it important, and can we boost it? Researcher Sam Gandy joins us in this episode to explore the concept of nature connectedness, which is s key predictor of us taking actions that are good for the planet and is also of huge benefit for our mental health and wellbeing. His research takes us to some fascinating places, including the research looking at the role that psychedelics such as psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) have in quickly and deeply enhancing our feelings of connectedness with nature. Plus, we also take a splash through the role of beaver wetlands in improving feelings of nature connectedness, too.

 

Hear more from Sam: https://twitter.com/SamwiseGandy

The potential synergistic effects between psychedelic administration and nature contact for the improvement of mental health (2020) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2055102920978123 

Potential psychological benefits of nature enrichment through the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) to Britain: A narrative literature review (2021) https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sam-Gandy-4/publication/356221528_Potential_psychological_benefits_of_nature_enrichment_through_the_reintroduction_of_the_Eurasian_beaver_Castor_fiber_to_Britain_A_narrative_literature_review/links/61929b7b07be5f31b7846897/Potential-psychological-benefits-of-nature-enrichment-through-the-reintroduction-of-the-Eurasian-beaver-Castor-fiber-to-Britain-A-narrative-literature-review.pdf

 

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You might be wondering why we’ve popped an episode in your feed on a Sunday instead of a Wednesday, so I’m here to clear that up. Today is actually world bog day, a day in which we all celebrate the awesomeness of this underrated habitat, which is fantastic at quietly getting on with an immense amount of carbon sequestration as well as supporting its own army of specialist plants and animals. About a year and a half ago we recorded an episode on bogs, and today is the perfect time to resurface it and for you to find out exactly why I think bogs are super cool. So, if you missed it before, here’s For What It’s Earth, on BOGS!       

Plus, we introduce a section called 'Listener Corner' where we discuss this paper https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2020.615419/full sent to us by one of our lovely listeners. Thanks, Jack!

 

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Many of us feel an existential sense of doom and dread when we think about the state of the environment. (Record-smashing temperatures of 40oC in the UK this week, anyone?) It can wreak havoc with our mental health, and be hard to deal with. In fact, feeling eco anxiety is a perfectly normal reaction to being told that we're in a climate crisis.

In this episode we explore some of the causes of eco anxiety and some of the possible solutions, or tools that might help you when you're feeling stressed. We hope that it might help.

 

This episode also features a clip sent over by our friend Suzy from the Casual Birder Podcast. Suzy has visited Antarctica and, after listening to our episode on the White Continent, was kind enough to share her experience of responsible tourism. You can hear more from Suzy over on her podcast, The Casual Birder: https://casualbirder.com/ 

 

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The White Continent (and the southern seas around it) is an incredibly important place for wildlife, for the regulation of global ocean currents, and for reflecting a huge amount of the sun's heat back out of our atmosphere (known as the Albedo effect). But Antarctica faces plenty of threats, which we'll take a dive into. You're in for a treat, too, as this week Emma is joined by Ryan Dalton from Into The Wild Podcast.

 

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From football and F1, to deciding which trainers to run your next half-marathon in, we're attempting something of an episode heptathlon this week as we explore whether both our big sporting events and our personal sporting ventures can be made more planet-positive.

 

Things we spoke about:

Trainer recycling: https://www.runnersneed.com/about-us/recyclemyrun.html

Allbirds sustainable trainers: https://www.allbirds.co.uk/pages/sustainable-practices#beginnings

EcoYoga mat: https://www.ecoyoga.uk/ecomats 

Forest Green Rovers: https://unfccc.int/climate-action/momentum-for-change/climate-neutral-nhttps://unfccc.int/climate-action/momentum-for-change/climate-neutral-now/creating-the-greenest-football-club-in-the-world-forest-green-rovers

 

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Take a dive with us into one of the most exciting marine habitats on the planet - and it's often found just a few splashes away from the coast. Seagrass is thought to capture carbon 35 TIMES faster than tropical rainforests, yet it covers less than 1% of the seafloor and we're losing it globally, rapidly. They're also vital habitats for marine life and provide more ecosystem services than we can count (almost). But, In the UK, we've lost more than 90% of our seagrass habitat. What can we do about that, you ask? Listen to find out!

 

Seagrass restoration volunteering opportunities

Ocean Conservation Trust https://oceanconservationtrust.org/volunteers-needed-to-support-seagrass-conservation/

Recreation Remedies https://saveourseabed.co.uk/get-involved/volunteers/ 

Project Seagrass https://www.facebook.com/groups/444685045723981 

 

Some of the other things we spoke about

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/seagrass-can-work-as-a-sanitation-service-180980034/ 

https://seagrassspotter.org/ 

https://www.projectseagrass.org/

 

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Oh, it's a sexy subject and a half this episode. Concrete is one of the most widely-used building materials in the world, so we're exploring its environmental impact with Adam Gittins from Cemfree. The manufacture of traditional cement, a key component of concrete, accounts for up to 8% of GLOBAL carbon emissions. But, there are innovative ways to reduce this - from creating ultra low-carbon types of cement (like Cemfree) that can be used, to designing buildings that use concrete smarter and have much more thorough 'end-of-life' recycling plans that can re-use building materials once the structure is no longer needed in its current form. And, as Adam points out, persuading the government to make these changes mandated in projects like the construction of all new homes, would make a huge impact on a very carbon-heavy industry.

 

Extra reading:

Cemfree (DB Group): https://dbgholdings.com/cemfree/

Cement makers across world pledge large cut in emissions by 2030 (Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/12/cement-makers-across-world-pledge-large-cut-in-emissions-by-2030-co2-net-zero-2050#:~:text=The%20industry%20is%20responsible%20for,and%20concrete%20release%20CO2.

 

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Far more than mysterious nighttime creatures of folklore, we dig into why macro bats and micro bats (like this brown long-eared bat here) are fascinating AND important, and what can be done to stop the loss of them from our countryside in the UK.

 

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This week Emma takes a dive into something she knows very little about; fish in UK rivers, the threats they're under and the fascinating projects working to restore their populations. Joining her to head upstream is wildlife cameraman, author, and podcaster (and almost one of the dullest men in Britain...), Jack Perks! Plus, plenty of fantastic advice for anyone keen to put a pond in their garden to support wildlife, as Emma is attempting to do.

Links:

Jack’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fishtwitcher/ 

 Lizzy Daly’s film ‘Billion Pound Fish’ on Scottish fisheries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNypmawFLdI&ab_channel=LizzieDalyWildlifeTV 

The Bearded Tit (Jack)’s Podcast: https://beardedtit.podbean.com/ 

Emma’s episode on Jack’s Podcast: https://beardedtit.podbean.com/e/climate-crisis-engaging-with-gen-z-ft-sophie-pavelleemma-brisdon/ 

 

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Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

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Join us to chat with e-NGO filmmaking superstar, Nina Constable, who is well known and loved for her beautiful movies highlighting issues that wildlife face and the conservation efforts underway to support them. Watch Nina's latest film, Unlocking The Severn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsePWhmkeK0 

Listen to Beaver Trust's Podcast, The Lodge Cast: https://bit.ly/LodgeCast 

Get in touch

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“The future is still up for grabs.” In this episode, Emma is joined by Professor Steve Simpson, marine biologist, lecturer and science communicator, to take a dive into the issues that our oceans are facing. We explore the effects of noise pollution on our coral reef communities, discuss harnessing our eco grief to fuel finding innovative solutions, and, given that Steve was part of the influential Blue Planet II series, the role that public science communication can have in helping us improve the state of our seas. 

 

Steve’s TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/steve_simpson_how_ocean_noise_destroys_marine_ecosystems?language=en

Watch Steve on BBC’s Blue Planet II: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09jbn5f/blue-planet-ii-series-1-7-our-blue-planet 

 

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How is climate change impacting plant communities? Are there any winners among the losers? Why are plants just as cool as (if not, cooler) than animals? And how does a broken car actually HELP when you're writing a book? Emma is joined this week by botanist and author Leif Bersweden, who has just announced that he's got another book due out in 2022; Where The Wildflowers Grow. 

For more from Leif:

https://www.instagram.com/leifbersweden/

https://twitter.com/LeifBersweden 

Pre-order Leif's new book, Where The Wildflowers Grow: https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781529349535

 

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We’re digging in to the state of nature in the UK and how the concept of rewilding - restoring land to allow nature to recover and for biodiversity to flourish - could be the key to combating the climate and ecological crisis. In the hot seat this week and bringing a wealth of knowledge with him, is Harvey Tweats, an ecologist passionate about rewinding and one of the founders of Celtic Reptile and Amphibian, a captive breeding programme looking to support the reintroduction of species to the UK landscape.

 

Find out more about Harvey and Celtic Reptile and Amphibian: https://celticreptileamphibian.co.uk/  

 

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🎧 ✨  Conservation in Africa! 🐘 🐆  In the first episode of 2022, Emma travels south (virtually) to find out what it's really like to live in the African bush and work as a conservationist protecting and restoring areas of land in protected national parks.   What does 'rewilding' look like in Malawi? What is the issue with colonialism in conservation? How does the conservation sector differ in the UK from Africa? Rosie Miles has spent the last 10 years as a bush guide and conservationist, specializing in tracking and monitoring predator populations. Plus, she's just published her first book 'Girl of the Wild'!   Pick up a copy of Girl of the Wild here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Wild-Misadventures-African-Bush/dp/B099BWT2KM/ref=asc_df_B099BWT2KM/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=534971392961&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3296283785065007070&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006476&hvtargid=pla-1432881554804&psc=1&th=1&psc=1   Follow Rosie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safari_smiles/ 

 

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Why are the predators of the sky one of the coolest parts of our ecosystem? How are they being impacted by climate change, habitat loss, bird flu, and persecution? And just what can we, and conservation organisations do to help?

To chat all things 'bird of prey,' we are joined by Tom Morath, bird of prey expert, Fundraising Events Manager at The Hawk Conservancy, host of Nature’s a Hoot Podcast, and all-round good egg!

Find out more about Hawk Conservancy Trust: https://www.hawk-conservancy.org/

https://www.instagram.com/hawkconservancy/ 

Listen to Nature's a Hoot: https://www.hawk-conservancy.org/2021/11/02/natures-a-hoot-one-year-on/ 

 

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Two years ago, in a pre-pandemic world (remember that?) we sat in the same room to record a Christmas episode and explored ways that we could all make the upcoming festive season a better one for the environment. Instead of doing another episode on the same topic this year, as a bonus pressie, we're pulling this one down from the loft with the Christmas decorations and dusting it off in the hope that it is still relevant and helpful. 

 

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What was the role of climate change in the intense ‘Black Summer’ bushfires in Australia in 2019/20, and what can Australia, do to change the increasingly-unstable direction that we’re currently heading in? 

As her award-winning climate change documentary, BURNING, is released on Prime Video, Eva Orner joins Emma for a fascinating conversation about how the climate crisis is playing out in Australia.

The documentary (and this episode) explores the stories of the people on the ground fighting these fires and the communities experiencing the devastation first hand, what the warning signs were for our increasingly intense bushfire seasons, how the climate-concerned youth of Australia are shouldering a huge burden in an attempt to change policy, how frustrating the actions of Australian policymakers and media have been in laying roadblocks for mitigating the climate crisis, and what a greener future for Australia could look like. 

Watch BURNING here:

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Burning-Eva-Orner/dp/B09M4674WT/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=eva+orner&qid=1637944658&sr=8-2

USA: https://www.amazon.com/Burning-EVA-ORNER/dp/B09M48MGYT/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=burning&qid=1637944569&s=instant-video&sr=1-9

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What's up with the proposed new oil and gas field exploration off the coast of Scotland? Here's our hot take.

 

Write to your MP:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-your-mp-to-stop-cambo

Friends of the Earth letter to parliament:

https://act.friendsoftheearth.uk/petition/tell-government-reject-plans-oil-extraction-cambo-field

Joe Lycett Vs the Oil Giant:

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/joe-lycett-vs-the-oil-giant 

 

Get in touch

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PUMPKINS! Costumes! Party decorations! Trick or treat snacks! One of the scariest things about All Hallow's Eve is how wasteful the haunting holiday is, so we're diving into some of the classic components of Halloween to try and make them a bit kinder to the planet.

 

Get in touch

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We’re turning our attention today to a kind of pollution that you can’t just pick up and pop in the bin. Light pollution can occur in many forms and can, of course, have a great many impacts on all that it touches - including our plant and animal chums. Join us to find out how our artificial illuminations are impacting moths, bats, and trees, why we’re second-guessing switching street lights to energy-efficient LEDs, and why residents in California once freaked out when they saw the Milky Way.

 

Articles we mentioned:

Our nights are getting brighter, and Earth is paying the price

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/nights-are-getting-brighter-earth-paying-the-price-light-pollution-dark-skies

 

5 Ways To Reduce Light Pollution - Core Glow with the International Dark-Sky Association

https://www.coreglow.ca/news/5-ways-to-reduce-light-pollution-core-glow-with-the-international-darksky-association 

 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

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Join us this week to get down and dirty in the world of SOIL, dirtiness, earthworms, and carbon being burped from our land when we don’t look after it. Soil is important for food production, for water storage and filtering, for improving both our own and our ecosystems’ resilience to climate change, AND HEALTHY SOILS STORE HEAPS OF CARBON. What can we do to a) make soil sexy and b) save our soils? Listen now to find out…

 

Documentaries/movies recommended in this episode:

Fantastic Fungi https://fantasticfungi.com/ 

Fantastic Fungi (Netflix) https://www.netflix.com/title/81183477 

Kiss The Ground https://kissthegroundmovie.com/ 

Kiss The Ground (Netflix) https://www.netflix.com/title/81321999?s=i&trkid=13752289%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0 

Biggest Little Farm https://www.biggestlittlefarmmovie.com

Biggest Little Farm (Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Biggest-Little-Farm-John-Chester/dp/B07R4CFF3M 

 

 

Also, check out The Soil Association for more great information about the importance of our soil: https://www.soilassociation.org/ 

 

Ted Talk about soil carbon and global desertification: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpTHi7O66pI 

 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

While you're here, make sure you've subscribed so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review to help new listeners find us!

 

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

 

 

Helpful podcast about sprucing up your home while keeping the planet in mind, or therapy session for Emma and Lloyd in the middle of their own home renovation projects? You decide….

 

Some of the links that we mentioned:

https://www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk/

https://localtools.org/

https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/grants 

https://www.standard.co.uk/shopping/esbest/home-garden/best-eco-paints-environmentally-friendly-b75193.html 

 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

While you're here, make sure you've subscribed so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review to help new listeners find us!

 

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

 

Did you know that changing your pension provider is one of the biggest ways to slash your carbon footprint?

 

With over £2.6 trillion in the UK tied up in pension funds, which are often invested by banks in industries like fossil fuels or tobacco, Kenneth and Holly join us from Make Money Matter to explain the power you have by being able to switch your pension to one that invests in a sustainable future instead.

 

It’s simple. Why would you try to live a low-impact life, but, leaving your growing retirement fund invested in practices which don’t align with your own values? Your pension is supposed to protect your future, but if it’s invested in fossil fuels, it undermines it. Switch to a pension provider which invests in renewables or has pledged to go carbon-free - something that Make My Money Matter is campaigning hard to ensure that the whole industry does.

 

Find out more about MMMM and their fantastic 21X campaign: https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/21x/ 

 

Watch the Dr Bronwyn King TED Talk mentioned in this episode: https://www.ted.com/talks/bronwyn_king_you_may_be_accidentally_investing_in_cigarette_companies?language=en

 

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

Oh, and please subscribe and leave us a lovely 5-star review!

 

With billionaires blasting off to spend a few minutes on the edge of space, some of us who are destined never to leave earth are asking 'Hey, do you really need to do that? Can't we fix some of the problems down here first?'

We're exploring the environmental issues of commercial space tourism, and of scientific space travel, and looking at some of the options for making the industry slightly less bad for the planet. And for space.

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or by email [email protected].

Oh, and please subscribe and leave us a lovely 5- star review. It helps us reach new listeners and spreads the FWIE love!

What does bitcoin have to do with climate change? Can anyone mine this made-up-seeming digital money? What even IS cryptocurrency? We're tackling the big questions today after lovey listener McKenna from Ohio sent us in a request to explore the environmental impact of cryptocurrency. 

 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

While you're here, make sure you've subscribed so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review to help new listeners find us!

 

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

Can we plant our way out of trouble? What’s the best way to plant trees in our gardens or get involved in planting projects? And, more simply, why are trees COOL? Joe joins us to answer all our burning questions about trees, and about their role in the climate crisis and biodiversity crisis solutions 

 

Things we mentioned:

Emma and Joe exploring an ancient woodland and new tree plantation with Woodland Trust: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGrBBmRrx4o 

Lloyd’s One Good Thing: wonky bread products from Earth and Wheat: https://www.earthandwheat.com/ 

Find out more about Woodland Trust: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ 

 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

While you're here, make sure you've subscribed so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review to help new listeners find us!

 

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

What is it? How does it work? Can we sequester ourselves out of the climate crisis?

All this and plenty more in this episode of For What It's Earth, including a celebration of wonderful listener 'one good thing for the planet' submissions and a bit of a general life catch up with Emma and Lloyd.

 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

While you're here, make sure you've subscribed so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review to help new listeners find us!

 

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

 

How can we make sure that the 'green' energy we think we're buying isn't actually 'brown'? What the heck is a smart home? How can kids shape the future of green electricity in the UK? All this and a good deal more in this episode, where. we speak to the wonderful Juliet Davenport, CEO of Good Energy and host of Great Green Questions podcast.

 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

While you're here, make sure you've subscribed so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review to help new listeners find us!

 

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

 

Have you had a neat eco-business idea recently? We're joined by James Thirwall from Animall Tea, a speciality tea company that source all their produce from organically and sustainable growers, and who spend their profits supporting conservation charities, about starting a business which is good for the planet, not just for investor's pockets.

James has also offered YOU, our lovely, wonderful listners, 15% off your first order of Animall Tea (which, by the way, is totally delicious) if you visit www.animalltea.com and use code EARTH at checkout. You'll also get a neat little illustration of the species that your purchase is helping to protect. 

 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

While you're here, make sure you've subscribed so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review to help new listeners find us!

 

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

A few years ago, one breeding pair of beavers were released into an enclosure in Cornwall. Now an entire family of beavers thrives in a biodiverse wetland that they have created, supporting insect and birdlife, mitigating flooding and drought events, and even storing carbon! Join Emma as she tours the wetland, site of the Cornwall Beaver Project, and sits down on a fallen tree trunk with the proprietor (and beaver legend), Chris Jones.

 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected].

While you're here, make sure you've subscribed so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review to help new listeners find us!

 

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

 

Have you ever wanted to grow your own grub? Even with only a small space, growing food is a fantastic thing to do for you, and for the planet. This episode is all about getting the most out of the space you have in terms of yield, because growing your own food is a great potentially eco-friendly thing to do, AND is also about doing so in the best way for the environment that you can.

 

Oh, and paw-lease leave us a lovely 5- star review. It helps us get noticed and spreads the FWIE love!

 

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or by email [email protected].

 

Here’s your daily paws for thought... This week we’re discussing PETS. Our furry little sidekicks hold special places in our hearts, so it’s not easy to face up to their collective environmental pawprint. Don’t get your backs up though, because we’re here to offer some helpful tips to do right by the planet without making your dog eat tofu. Warning: we say the word ‘poo’ a lot.

PLUS we talk to Ryan Dalton from ‘Into the Wild Podcast’ about dog control within nature and wildlife reserves. 

 

Oh, and paw-lease leave us a lovely 5- star review. It helps us get noticed and spreads the FWIE love!

 

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or by email [email protected].

 

Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/15/dog-poop-bags-plastic-alternatives

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-be-eco-friendly-pet-owner

https://www.rspca.org.uk/-/blog-nine-ways-to-be-a-sustainable-pet-owner

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/opinion/pets-uk-ownership-cats-dogs-carbon-environmental-impact-b1249610.html

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/are-cats-causing-bird-declines/

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/11/meaty-meals-and-play-stop-cats-killing-wildlife-study-finds

 

HOT DRINKS, WE'RE COMING FOR YA! That's right, we're putting the nation's favourite beverages under our environmental impact microscope in this week's episode, 'Tea and Coffee'. Pop the kettle on, grab your eco-milk of choice and settle down with a brew to listen.

 

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or by email [email protected].

 

Don't forget to leave us a nice review on your chosen podcast platform!

HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR US? This week we're looking at the problem of anthropogenic noise, or human sound pollution, and how it creates real predicaments for our wildlife both above and below the waves. A significant problem that can be solved as simply as it started, but is there enough drive from policy makers? Can animals adapt their mating calls and find food in a human-dominated soundscape? Can fish still find their way home? What does Emma do with all of her spare onions? Only one way to find out - tune into our frequency and give us a listen.

 

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or by email [email protected].

 

Don't forget to leave us a shiny review on your chosen podcast platform!

 

Sources:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55939344 https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6529/eaba4658/tab-pdf

It's World Wetlands Day and we're chatting about BOGS; a habitat which the IUCN calls the largest natural terrestrial carbon store. So, why are these underrated habitats so gosh darn cool, and what makes them so good at storing carbon? Pop this episode in your ears to find out all about things bogs, peat, mires and permafrost.

Plus, we introduce a section called 'Listener Corner' where we discuss this paper https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2020.615419/full sent to us by one of our lovely listeners. Thanks, Jack!

 

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or by email [email protected].

 

Don't forget to leave us a shiny review on your chosen podcast platform!

What's going on with the air that we breathe? Well, quite a lot, it seems. We're chatting today about the causes of air pollution, the problems it can cause for our own health and things like farming and our food supply, and we explore some of the possible solutions.

 

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or by email [email protected].

 

Don't forget to leave us a shiny review on your chosen podcast platform. We'd super appreciate it.

Science and Tech YouTuber & Content Creator Tom Carroll joins the podcast to chat about using TikTok to save the rainforest, why wind farms are moving further offshore and what’s so exciting about 3D printing coral reefs (and also to catch up with us, as we're also old uni chums).

 

Find Tom on YouTube and Instagram.

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected].

 

Don't forget to leave us a shiny review on your chosen podcast platform. We'd super appreciate it.

This week, literally moments after the big covid-bans-holiday-fun announcement, we recorded a festive episode answering your questions! We can't promise you Pulitzer Prize-winning green journalism, but you can unwrap 40 bonus minutes of our voices, as we meander through some serious eco q's and some not-so-serious silly inquiries, which you sent in this week!

PLUS... The long-awaited return of Lloyd's Christmas singing.

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected].

 

Don't forget to leave us a shiny review on your chosen podcast platform. We'd super appreciate it.

Pandemic, what? 2020 has been the year of THE BEAVER. One native rodent with the natural ability to engineer wetland landscapes that support an incredible diversity of life, and which can even help us combat the effects of climate change. What's not to love? 

Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop from Beaver Trust join Emma to chat all things Castor fiber from orange teeth and second lips to beaver boobs and rewilding parachute attempts.

 

For more from Beaver Trust, head to https://beavertrust.org/ 

 

While you’re here, why not give us a review on your podcast platform of choice? 

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected].

Why are fungi cool? What happens to British birds in the winter? We sit down for a natter with Nature Nerd Lucy Hodson (AKA Lucy Lapwing) to find out what it is about wildlife in Britain that has driven her life-long love affair with nature.

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected].

 

Don't forget to leave us a shiny review on your chosen podcast platform. We'd super appreciate it.

 

And for more from Lucy, find her on Instagram and Twitter.

It's been a record-breaking (-ly bad) year for sea ice. So why does that matter? The changing of the seasons is pretty reliable … or it used to be. Arctic ice loss has been in the news constantly for at least a decade, but just last month it was confirmed that 2020 is the second-worst year on record for it. If you thought it was problem that didn’t affect you, well, you’d be wrong about that. So, why is this happening? Why this year in particular? And what about the antarctic?

 

Take a listen and find out. Oh, and if you were to leave us a little review on your platform of choice, that would be n-ice!

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected].

 

A few of the discussed sources:

https://theconversation.com/wheres-the-sea-ice-3-reasons-the-arctic-freeze-is-unseasonably-late-and-why-it-matters-148918

https://research.noaa.gov/article/ArtMID/587/ArticleID/2660/Arctic-melt-season-puts-focus-on-sea-ice-forecasts

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2259556-rivers-of-air-in-the-sky-are-melting-huge-patches-of-antarctic-sea-ice/

https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/climate-change-evidence-causes/question-12/

 

It’s fair to say that, since its announcement nearly a decade ago, the ‘High Speed Rail 2’ project has been in the UK news A LOT. With construction starting on the massive infrastructure project recently, we took a look at the likely environmental impact of this highly-contentious undertaking. Could projects like this ever have a positive environmental swing? Does simply uprooting and moving a whole forest actually work? 

 

A few of the discussed sources:

https://www.hs2.org.uk/what-is-hs2/

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/hs2

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54628840

 

While you’re here, why not give us a lovely review on your podcast platform of choice? 

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected].

What happens when you take a scorpion into a hotel? What’s the best material to make a puffin from? This week we sat down with Wildlife Television presenter and Biologist Lizzie Daly to discuss human-wildlife ‘conflict’ (or more optimistically, coexistence) and her own research with Kenyan elephants, as well as explore her frankly ridiculously cool career. This is a fun one - plug in, get a cup of tea and laugh along with us.

 

Why you’re here, why not give us a lovely review on your podcast platform of choice? 

 

Find Lizzie on Instagram:  @lizziedalywild  or Facebook: @LizzieDalyWildlife

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected].

 

A good source on human-wildlife conflict/co-existence: https://bit.ly/2T9zxC9

 

Our Gorongosa film: https://gorongosa.org/our-gorongosa-film/

 

Save Water Save Money - Free tools to reduce your water use in the home, delivered to your door: https://www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk/

 

Wild deodorant: https://www.wearewild.com/

 

After our rivers episode earlier in the season, we realised that we’d barely gone beneath the surface of this vast topic. Enter: Stephanie, a specialist in aquatic ecosystems and research fellow at Swansea University! Not only do we unpick some key environmental issues in the form of freshwater obstructions (culverts are, perhaps, the unsung villain of our riverine world), but also look at Steph’s work exploring how people and communities the world over interact with, and think of, freshwater. Ponds and poetry, billabongs and balladry, we’ve got it all! 

 

Oh, and why not give us a little, itt-bitty reviewy on your platform of choice? It really, really, helps us be found! 

 

Find the AWESOME Stephanie on Twitter: @ConnectedWaters

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected].

We're talking about the UK's most iconic monochrome, stripy nocturnal creatures and the threats they face: roads, pesticides, and the 'C' word - culling.

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected]. Oh, and please do leave us a cute little five-star review so we can achieve our dream of world dominance (and actually stand a chance at being found by new listeners).

 

Episode links:

 

https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/07/badger-cull-extended-england-60000-animals-in-line-of-fire 

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/saving-species/badgers 

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/coronavirus-lockdown-badger-cull_uk_5f64dc51c5b6de79b6742fbf? 

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/badger-cull-licences-bovine-tb-natural-england-derbyshire-george-eustice-b405048.html 

With untreated sewage, fertiliser nutrients, agriculture chemicals and ALL SORTS ending up in our rivers in the UK through a variety of ways, we turn our attention to some of our beautiful freshwater habitats.

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected]. Oh, and please do leave us a cute little five-star review so we can achieve our dream of world dominance (and actually stand a chance at being found by new listeners).

Episode links:

https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/citizen-science-water-quality-monitoring/

Yussef Rafik, host of BUG FACE on BBC Earth, joins us to share his love for insects, and to chat about insect decline and the things we can do to save the planet's most important but underrated creatures.

The Wildlife Trusts' Action for Insects campaign and advice booklets: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/take-action-insects

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected]. Oh, and please do leave us a cute little review so we can achieve our dream of world dominance.

Emerging from lockdown, eyes blinking in the sunlight and masks firmly on, Emma and Lloyd ARE BACK! In this episode, we talk about COVID and the environment. We’ve all seen the amazing stories of dolphins in Venetian canals, goats wandering the streets of Llandudno (Emma can’t pronounce this) and clear skies over our busiest of megacities, but has the perceived environmental benefit been as significant as hoped? And, perhaps more importantly, can it last? STATISTICS. PERSPECTIVE. POOR BANTER. FWIE is back!

 

Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and by email [email protected]. Oh, and please do leave us a cute little review so we can achieve our dream of world dominance.

 

 

Getting sloshed, sustainably… This week we’re raising a glass and toasting the end of series 2 of For What It’s Earth, by taking a look at the environmental footprint of the alcohol industry.

From the packaging used and the carbon footprint associated with your bottle or can’s transport around the globe, to the amount of water or energy used in the crop growing or distilling process, it turns out, there’s rather a lot to think about.

Find out what we recommend you consider when deciding on your next tipple of choice, and explore some of the companies that we’ve found that use waste products, partner with environmental organisations or use closed-loop systems to brew beverages that are good for the planet, as well as the consumer.

Always drink responsibly.

 

Find For What It's Earth on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to leave us a review on your podcast platform - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

 

In this episode, we find out why butterflies (and moths!) are an essential part of our ecosystems, learn about why they're under threat and in decline, and explore ways in which we can protect these beautiful pollinators from our own homes. As we're also recording separately and practising social distancing, we're also sharing some top tips for making sure you still get your nature fix while in lockdown - whether you've got a garden, window boxes or just the internet to help!

 

Our Google Doc of things to do to connect with nature while we're in lockdown: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fdocument%2Fd%2F1_h8LaUrQFzkLJ-_Bkh8-a8bKFeQhFGGi1eTolZMWOHo%2Fedit%3Fusp%3Dsharing%26fbclid%3DIwAR0wfwhMfk3Ogfzn0GbW9cvbzm-K1xBpeofsugo0Bu6HjyC0Kb5VKXxIS9w&h=AT27U9HoKKTX9HkXyldY2j_uu9N4iAGnyo96kpKGGOJYOm5oazCwecDs_56JPe6s9SPMj7yIOXYQvoNXHZ2QllpQfugAvmxcbzvYF9AWlvb2vLA4-o4DqLtCQEBR0AXLo1hCBfrh 

This list is full of podcast, YouTube, app and reading ideas to keep family members of all ages (and the environment) happy at this time. Got anything to add to the list? Let us know and we'll include it!

 

Find For What It's Earth on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to leave us a review on your podcast platform - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

 

Sources: Butterfly Conservation: https://butterfly-conservation.org/

 

A guide to the best plants for nectar for different butterfly species: https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/butterflynectardownload.pdf

 

Make a butterfly banquet: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/makeabutterflybanquet/

 

Make fat balls for birds: https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/make-a-speedy-bird-cake/

 

How to make a hedgehog feeder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY6-1rQb294

 

Inside the Petri Dish Podcast on Coronaviris: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/working-on-a-coronavirus-ward-dr-harry-ferguson/id1317403844?i=1000468655506 

 

We have tees! Get yourself a sustainable FWIE teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Wonderful theme music by Mark Skinner

As our population grows and so too does our consumption of resources, this week Emma and Lloyd are exploring why one of life’s most essential resources is becoming more and more scarce around the world.

We look at the causes of water scarcity, explore big ideas for dealing with it and find out what easy changes we can make in our daily lives that can reduce our personal water usage.

 

Sources:

Ted Talk: We need to track water like we track the weather:

https://www.ted.com/talks/sonaar_luthra_we_need_to_track_the_world_s_water_like_we_track_the_weather/transcript?language=en

Countryfile: Saving water in the UK https://www.countryfile.com/news/water-shortage-in-the-uk-whats-the-problem-and-how-to-save-water/

WWF: Water Scarcity https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity

Reclaim Your Sh*t book: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/why-do-we-use-drinking-water-in

UN Water: https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/scarcity/

Experts on water scarcity: https://www.resilience.org/stories/2020-02-04/vital-implications-on-water-scarcity-according-to-14-experts/

BBC: Water shortages in England: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47620228

Nestle being generally terrible for the planet: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/29/the-fight-over-water-how-nestle-dries-up-us-creeks-to-sell-water-in-plastic-bottles

 

Find For What It's Earth on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to leave us a review on your podcast platform - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

Dave Gardner, host of GrowthBusters Podcast and The Overpopulation Podcast joins Emma this week to talk about climate change’s uncomfortable truth: We’re struggling with overpopulation. We need to do something about our population size and our rate of consumption. How do you deal with that without telling women what to do with their bodies? Download the episode to find out!

We even got Dave to answer YOUR listener questions!

Find For What It's Earth on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to leave us a review on your podcast platform - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

 

Things we spoke about in the episode:

One Planet One Child campaign and fundraiser: https://fundrazr.com/oneplanetonechild

Thailand’s cops and rubbers campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l4loplFtYg

8 Billion Angels: https://8billionangels.org/

Growthbusters Podcast: https://www.growthbusters.org/podcast/

With the UK still recovering from the flooding caused by Storm Dennis and Storm Ciara, we’re looking at the news this week. We're exploring the links between flooding, intense weather events and climate change, and whether there's much we can do about it. And that means, of course, we're also taking BEAVERS. Emma gets pretty enthusiastic about nature’s natural flood management squad, which are currently being trialled in Devon and Cornwall... #morebeaverforbritain 

Find For What It's Earth on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to leave us a review on your podcast platform - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

 

Things we spoke about:

Beavers in Britain & the Devon Wildlife Trust: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/saving-species/beavers

Is flooding in our future? https://www.carbonbrief.org/how-much-flooding-is-in-the-uks-future-a-look-at-the-ipcc-report 

Building houses on flood plains: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-51584946

Beavers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51575650

The passionate and fantastic climate activist Tori Tsui joins Emma this week! After a 3-month sail across the Atlantic which helped to raise awareness about the need for thinking about how we travel and making lower-carbon alternatives feasible, Tori is dialling in from Colombia where she's helping run the fantastic Sail for Climate Action project, taking Latin American and Caribbean youths across the Atlantic to take part in climate talks in Europe in April.

We talk about tackling the carbon footprint of, and the growth of the aviation industry, the role social media can play in combating climate change, she’s become one of the beautiful faces of Stella McCartney’s recent campaigns, and how the obsession for perfection can get in the way of climate activism and public change.

Find out more about Sail To The Cop: https://www.sailtothecop.com/

Read up on Sail For Climate Action: https://www.sailforclimateaction.com/ 

See Tori's work and thoughts on Instagram @ToriTsui_

 

And don't forget to find For What It's Earth on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Do leave us a review on your podcast platform - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

 

Renewable energy! What is it, how does it work, and how can you switch supplier? Some of the most common renewable energy questions are answered in this episode as we explore on-shore and off-shore wind, solar, biomass and nuclear energy.

Find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

 

Things we spoke about:

Which? Understanding solar panels: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/solar-panels/article/solar-panels/how-does-solar-pv-work

Which? How green is your energy tariff: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/09/how-green-is-your-energy-tariff/

Solar panel smart export guarantee: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/solar-panels/article/smart-export-guarantee-explained 

Biomass: https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-sources/bio-fuels.html

USwitch green energy supplier comparison: hhttps://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/green-energy/

 

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

 

AKA Roxy the Zoologist, this lovely activist and wildlife filmmaker joins Emma this week to chat about all things vegan, how social media and activism can come hand in hand, and teaches us how to make oat milk. 

 

Follow Roxy on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/roxythezoologist/

Check out her sustainable supermarket, Zephy EcoMarket: https://www.zephyrecomarket.co.uk/

Organic underwear company which donate pants each time you purchase: https://www.youunderwear.com/

 

Find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and please do leave us a review - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

We have FWIE podcast tees! Treat yourself to a wonderfully sustainable, organic cotton and low-waste teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Wonderful theme music by Mark Skinner Sound.

It’s a fun one this week as we explore some of the most interesting and unusual sustainability solutions and environment-saving action plans the internet has to offer! We’re talking about robot-bees, plastics made from fish waste, bicycles and towers which suck smog out from the air, toilets which convert urine into electricity, shower curtains which grow spikes to kick you out and save water… aaannd all kinds of other things!

If you’ve heard of any cool climate or sustainability solutions recently, let us know! We LOVE hearing about them. Find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

 

Things we spoke about:

- Marinatex plastic made from organic fish waste: https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/2019/project/marinatex/

- Spiky shower curtain: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/spiky-shower-curtain-gets-you-out-of-hot-water-to-help-save-the-environment_n_55b65012e4b0224d8832caeb?ri18n=true

- Tokyo Electricity Forecast: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/forecast/html/index-e.html

- Smog-free bicycles:https://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/smog-free-bicycle

- Beijing smog-sucking tower: https://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/smog-free-tower

https://www.fastcompany.com/40421177/this-giant-smog-vacuum-cleaner-in-china-actually-works

- Building underneath glaciers and ice sheets: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/20/build-walls-on-seafloor-to-stop-glaciers-melting-scientists-say

- Harvard's Robo-Bees:https://wyss.harvard.edu/technology/robobees-autonomous-flying-microrobots/

- Nigeria Plastic Bottle Houses:

https://www.dw.com/en/doing-your-bit-nigerias-houses-made-from-plastic-bottles/av-48013059

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14722179

 

We have tees! Get yourself a sustainable FWIE teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Wonderful theme music by Mark Skinner Sound 

This week we're exploring the topic of wildfires. As immense wildfires currently blaze across huge areas of Australia and both California and Siberia have also experienced vast fires in recent years, we look at the causes of wildfires, the impact they can have on biodiversity and the natural environment, how fires fit into nature's usual cycles and the role that climate change is having on the increased frequency and severity of wildfires.

We also speak to Professor Stefan Doerr from the University of Swansea about understanding how climatic conditions have influenced the severity of the fires, and the best ways to handle living in fire-prone natural environments.

 

Some of the things we've spoken about:

8 things everyone should know about Australia’s wildfire disaster: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/1/8/21055228/australia-fires-map-animals-koalas-wildlife-smoke-donate

Australia Wildfires: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/01/world/australia/fires.html

How wildfires work: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/wildfire3.htm

Biodiversity at risk in Australia: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/04/ecologists-warn-silent-death-australia-bushfires-endangered-species-extinction

Australia Wildfires: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/01/australia/australia-fires-explainer-intl-hnk-scli/index.html

California wildfires: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/us/fires-california.html

California wildfire causes: https://www.wired.com/story/californias-wildfires-are-the-doom-of-our-own-making/

Prof Stefan Doerr:https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/science/geography/s.doerr/

Donate to the Australian Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate

Registered Bushfire Charities: https://www.pmc.gov.au/registered-bushfire-charities

 

Don't forget to subscribe, find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

We have merch! Get yourself a sustainable FWIE teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Wonderful theme music by Mark Skinner Sound 

With lots of information about overfishing and depleted wild fish stocks in the news, it can be hard to know what fish or seafood we should and shouldn't be eating. This week Emma joins Charlotte Coombes from the Marine Conservation Society to talk about their Good Fish Guide, a handy tool for finding out which species and which fishing styles are 'red-listed' and to be avoided, and which species or sustainable practices we can choose to buy and support!

MCS' Good Fish Guide: https://www.mcsuk.org/goodfishguide/search

Thanks to Charlotte for joining us this week, and to the Marine Conservation Society, who you can also find on Instagram and Twitter.

Don't forget to subscribe, find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

We have merch! Get yourself a sustainable FWIE teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Wonderful theme music by Mark Skinner Sound.

This week we're talking about that time of the month. Half of the world menstruates at some point during their lives and often the sanitary products used are single-use and contain significant quantities of plastic. City to Sea estimates that a regular pack of pads contains as much plastic as five plastic bags and that 2.5 million tampons are flushed in the UK every year, and the Marine Conservation Society have seen huge numbers of sanitary products wash up on our beaches every year. The things we use for just a matter of hours can outlive even us when discarded, causing huge issues in the environment. We're exploring the issues with conventional pads, tampons and applicators, and sharing some of the best solutions currently available to make periods friendly on the environment as well as you, from organic and plastic-free pads and tampons to reusable pads and absorbent period pads!

Things we spoke about:

Modibodi re-usable period underwear: https://www.modibodi.co.uk/

Mondays organic period product subscription: https://organicmondays.com/

City to Sea plastic-free periods campaign: https://www.citytosea.org.uk/plasticfreeperiods-2/

Freedom 4 Girls charity tackling period poverty: https://www.freedom4girls.co.uk/

10 of the best menstrual cups: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/health/g23117116/menstrual-cups/

 

Don't forget to subscribe, find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review - it helps new listeners find the podcast!

We have merch! Get yourself a sustainable FWIE teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Wonderful theme music by Mark Skinner Sound.

A few months ago, a year 6 class at Mendip Green Primary School sat down to do a writing exercise; they wrote us letters on the topic of plastic pollution! Today we're sharing a few of these fantastic letters, which range from issues they've researched in-depth to some fantastic creative writing exercises. What happens to Rodrigo The Eager Sea Hampster, and why did Alfred clamber onto the oak table to stamp his foot, you ask? Listen to probably our most heart-warming episode so far to find out!

Don't forget to subscribe, find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review on whichever platform you're using - it really helps new listeners find the podcast!

Get yourself a sustainable FWIE teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Wonderful theme music by Mark Skinner Sound.

This week Emma's chatting to Dr Nancy Grimm @DrNitrogen from Arizona State University about sustainable architecture, and her research and role in designing our cities to better prepare them (and us) to handle climate change, which is bringing more frequent and extreme weather events.

Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review and keep in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

Get yourself an organic cotton, sustainable FWIE teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com The very tiny proceeds of which go towards helping us keep producing this podcast for free and allow us to travel to speak to brilliant individuals.

Thanks also to Mark Skinner for our intro and outro music.

Happy Christmas! This week we're kicking off the festive season by sharing some of our favourite ideas for making this Christmas a real hoot without it being hard on the environment.

Links we mentioned:

Recycle Now's local Christmas tree recycling finder: https://www.recyclenow.com/local-recycling?rlw-initial-path=places/all%3Fmaterials%3D97

Furoshiki Japanese Fabric Wrapping: https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/how-furoshiki-japanese-fabric-wrapping/

Seedboms: https://kabloom.co.uk/ (Head over to our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for your chance to win two!)

Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review and keep in touch with us on social media.

Get yourself an organic cotton, sustainable FWIE teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com The very tiny proceeds of which go towards helping us keep producing this podcast for free and allow us to travel to speak to brilliant individuals.

Thanks also to Mark Skinner for our intro and outro music.

Every year, millions of items of litter wash up on our shores, from crisp packets and plastic bottles to cigarette stubs and microplastics, and every year hundreds of volunteers join the Marine Conservation Society's Great British Beach Clean weekend. Volunteers get to be citizen scientists, picking up all the litter found on a 100m stretch of their local beach, recording what they find and sending the data off to MCS, who use the results to inform policy and ask for government change. Today, MCS is releasing the results of their 2019 clean up, so this week Emma has had a chat with Lizzie Prior, the Beachwatch Officer at MCS, to find out more about the scheme, why it's important and how we can get involved! 

Thanks to Lizzie for joining us this week, and to the Marine Conservation Society, who you can also find on Instagram and Twitter. Read the full report here.

Don't forget to subscribe, find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review!

Get your organic cotton FWIE podcast tee here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Thanks also to Mark Skinner for our intro and outro music.

This week we're wandering through the topics of rewilding and reforestation! We find out how many trees we would need to help the UK become 'carbon neutral', learn about some of the amazing projects in Scotland, Yosemite and Mauritius in which fantastic teams of conservationists are restoring whole ecosystems and reintroducing species, and explore the ways in which taking inspiration from Mother Nature herself could help us save the world. Oh, and did you know that planting trees can sometimes be a bad thing? You'll have to listen to find out why!

If you'd like to support the podcast, you can get a sustainable FWIE teeshirt here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Don't forget to subscribe, find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review!

Thanks to Mark Skinner Sound for our brilliant intro and outro music.

This week Lloyd speaks to the completely lovely Dan Rouse, ornithologist and wildlife presenter! Find out more about how to look after our birdlife, how to make your garden super wildlife-friendly, how to get the best from bird boxes, and how fulmars use vomiting to protect their chicks. This is the first in our efforts this series to sprinkle more interviews and interesting chats with brilliant people. This one was recorded in the park earlier this summer, so you can hear more birdsong than you would in our usual studio.

Get your organic cotton FWIE podcast tee here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

Don't forget to subscribe, find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review!

Thanks to Mark Skinner for our intro and outro music.

 

Emma and Lloyd are back for season two of For What It's Earth! To kick off our next batch of sustainability podcasts, we're celebrating Greta Thunberg's sail across the Atlantic to raise awareness the need for us to reduce our carbon emissions, and, because trans-Atlantic boat journeys aren't always feasible, we're exploring other ways that we can make our travels more sustainable.

We're also dead chuffed to now be working with Teemill to produce some snazzy, organic cotton sustainable teeshirts, the very tiny proceeds of which go towards helping us keep producing this podcast for free. Get yours here: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com

 

Don't forget to subscribe, find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and leave us a review!

 

Thanks to Mark Skinner for our intro and outro music.

Hello from the Arctic! In this cheeky bonus episode, we're sharing an episode of one of the podcasts that Emma has been working on in northern Sweden this summer, for the Climate Impacts Research Centre.

She's joining Ryan and Lottie from Imperial College London for a day out on the mountain, catching and recording Arctic bumblebees! 

Click here for more episodes of Field Notes on Climate Change, and here for more information on the Climate Impacts Research Centre.

 

Keep in touch and let us know what you want to hear in season two:

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

 

Theme music by Mark Skinner.

And that’s a wrap for season one of For What It’s Earth! This week, to celebrate making it this far, we’ve been answering your questions, from finding the most impactful environmentally-friendly actions we can make from our own home and exploring whether we can travel the world sustainably, to finding environmentally-friendly earplugs and wondering whether the series has changed our own attitudes towards sustainability.

Thanks for listening this far, we’ll be back bigger and better than ever in the autumn with season two!

 

Things we chatted about:

 

Offset your flights and choose routes with lower-impact airlines and more sustainable fuel mixes: https://flygrn.com/

Cambridge Centre for Climate Science: https://www.climatescience.cam.ac.uk/

 

100% renewable energy providers in the UK:

Bulb: https://bulb.co.uk/

Octopus: https://octopus.energy/

Good Energy: https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/

 

Zao Organic Makeup: https://www.zaoorganicmakeup.com/

 

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

 

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

Children have gone on strike from schools, Extinction Rebellion has occupied our headlines and our cities, and now the UK has declared a Climate Emergency, as have many individual towns, cities and communities - Universities, even! 

But what has the Greta-effect actually had on the UK, and what does declaring a very official sounding (but not actually very officially-binding) Climate Emergency even mean?

Things we chatted about:

WWF Climate Emergency Demand Action Petition: https://www.wwf.org.uk/fight-climate-change

Friend's of the Earth's to-do list for the UK Government to address climate change: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate-change/climate-emergency-plan?gclid=Cj0KCQjwz6PnBRCPARIsANOtCw1k4RA1FFWRIuMw9O-PIw07hXL4QRiu90QFsUuWWXPsU-0l78IzG-YaAnbyEALw_wcB

The Guardian, 'We must mobilise for the climate emergency like we do in wartime. Where is the climate minister?': https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2019/jun/03/we-must-mobilise-for-the-climate-emergency-like-we-do-in-war-time-where-is-the-climate-minister

 

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

 

Sound mixed by Mark Skinner

Marine conservationist and educator, Libby Bowles, joins us to chat about her journey across New Zealand on a bamboo bicycle, discussed why she's dedicated her time to educating kids about plastic pollution and shared her wisdom on how to live a more sustainable life in a genuinely helpful, less 'I'm doing this for Instagram' kind of a way!

We featured a few minutes of her interview on our 'Plastics - What Can We Do?' episode, but as all of her stories are packed full of inspiration and advice, this bonus episode consists of the whole chat.

You can find out more from Libby on Instagram (@treadlighterlib) or on her website www.treadlighter.org.

 

Get in touch:

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

 

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

Joined by the Rosie Maple from the Avon Wildlife Trust, we explore the reasons why we need urban wildlife and to understand why conservation movements such as The Wildlife Trusts believe cities rely on their green spaces.

Find out why we need to keep our cities little bit wild, how careful planning and tree management can help urban environments cope with climate change, and what each of us can do to help our cities thrive.

 

Find out more about the Avon Wildlife Trust: https://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/

The Wildlife Trusts: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/

 

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

 

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

Chocks away! From life-cycle emissions and the environmental issues surrounding the lithium-ion batteries to finding charging points and looking at how EVs (electric vehicles) can help rather than hinder the National Grid, buckle up your seatbelt because this week we’re racing through the topic of electric cars.

We’ve also got a quick chat with Robert Lewellyn (of Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge and Fully Charged fame) about his Tesla and Hyundai Kona, all thanks to Andrew from the wonderful Cosmic Shed podcast.

Listen, subscribe and if you enjoy it, leave us a review!

 

Stuff that we spoke about:

Find your nearest charging station: https://chargemap.com/

How eco-friendly are electric cars? https://www.dw.com/cda/en/how-eco-friendly-are-electric-cars/a-19441437

Best electric cars 2019: https://www.drivingelectric.com/best-cars/584/best-electric-cars-2019

Fully Charged, with Robert Lewellyn: https://www.fullychargedshow.co.uk/

The Cosmic Shed podcast: https://thecosmicshed.podbean.com/

 

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

Confused about palm oil? We’re heading deep into the former rainforests of South East Asia to explore the huge palm oil plantations that fuel far more of the food industry in the west than we realise (and also chop down quite a lot of the lush forest greenery).

 

Things we chatted about:

WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard: http://palmoilscorecard.panda.org/

Buycott app to scan your produce and find out whether it contains palm oil or ties to any other unsustainable practices: https://www.buycott.com/

RSPO certification to identify sustainable sources of palm oil: https://rspo.org/certification

 

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

Emma is joined by conservationist and all-round nature legend, Sophie Pavelle for this episode on cosmetics and toiletries. Dead chuffed to be wondering how we can make our bathroom routines a little greener, Sophie has taken a break from generally saving all of the UK's wildlife to chat cosmetics, talk about toiletries and suss out some sustainable solutions. 

 

Listen, subscribe and, if you enjoy it, leave us a review! 

 

Stuff that we spoke about:

Neal’s Yard Remedies organic bee range: https://www.nealsyardremedies.com/bee-lovely-timeline.html

Send your contact lenses to Acuve for recycling: https://www.acuvue.co.uk/recycle

‘Naked’ shampoo from Lush: https://uk.lush.com/article/naked-revolution

Deodorant and volatile organic compounds (air pollution):https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/climate/perfume-pollution-smog.html

 

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

It's time to chat about PLASTICS. This here is part two and we're looking at some of the things that we can do to reduce our plastic footprint. Plus, we'll be chatting to Libby Bowles, who cycled around the world on a bamboo bicycle to teach kids about plastics.

If you haven't listened to the first part, we suggest you head back and download that one first. In part one, we explored the issues with plastics in marine environments, trie to figure out what's going on with microplastics and even dive into a bit of chemistry to look at the links that scientists have recently discovered between plastics and our health.

 

Get in touch and keep up to date by following us on Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast, liking us on Facebook @ForWhatItsEarth or by shooting us a message on Twitter @WhatEarthPod.

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

In part one, we're exploring the issues with plastics in marine environments, trying to figure out what's going on with microplastics and even diving into a little chemistry when we look at the new links that scientists have uncovered between plastics and our health. 

Once you've finished this episode, head over to enjoy part two. We'll be looking at some of the things that we can do to reduce our plastic footprint. Plus, we'll be chatting to Libby Bowles, who cycled around the world on a bamboo bicycle to teach kids about plastics.

Get in touch and keep up to date by following us on Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast, liking us on Facebook @ForWhatItsEarth or by shooting us a message on Twitter @WhatEarthPod.

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

We are diving deep into our green bins and following the things we throw away on their journey through the recycling process (or not). Find out why we're fascinated by 'Air Knives' in Brighton & Hove, and join us as we discover just why the UK has SO much green glass in its recycling bins...

Download, subscribe, leave us a review and lend us your ears. 

 

Stuff that we spoke about:

'Air Knives' and other extraordinary elements of Brighton & Hove's fascinating (genuinely!) recycling system: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/environment/recycling-rubbish-and-street-cleaning/how-your-recycling-sorted

Recycling glass: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/3313930/Is-it-worth-it-Recycling-glass.html 

Let's all just send our recycling abroad: 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/recycling-waste-uk-overseas-landfill-pollution-nao-environment-defra-a8458991.html

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/23/uks-plastic-waste-may-be-dumped-overseas-instead-of-recycled 

  

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

What are you wearing and do you know the hidden costs associated with your clothes? Trawling through the world of Fast Fashion this week, we're exploring the complicated and not very environmentally-friendly textile dying processes, asking whether organic cotton is really all that and finding out why we all should be hunting down our nearest charity shops and fabric recycling banks. 

 

Download, subscribe and lend us your ears. Let us know what you think! 

 

Stuff that we spoke about:

Patagonia clothing: https://www.patagonia.com/sustainability.html 

Rapanui clothing: https://rapanuiclothing.com/

H&M recycling scheme: https://rapanuiclothing.com/ 

Water pollution with dyes: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/environment-costs-fast-fashion-pollution-waste-sustainability-a8139386.html

Guppyfriends micro-fibre 'catching' laundry bags: http://guppyfriend.com/en/

 

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

 

Put down your hamburgers! This week we are tucking into the topic of sustainable diets, looking at the many, many environmental impacts of the food industry and finding out why many of us are moving to vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian diets.

We’re looking at the future of food security in a growing world, the carbon emissions and water demands of different food-producing practices, nifty new farming and agriculture technologies, and whether or not that all means we all have to turn 100% vegan.

Download, subscribe and let us know what you think!

 

Things we chat about:

The Water Calculator: https://www.watercalculator.org/

Pineapples: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46070037

Vertical farming: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/14/world-largest-vertical-farm-newark-green-revolution

BBC calculator/comparison tool for food and drink: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46459714

What to eat more/less of/consider: https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/five-foods-that-could-save-the-planet-and-five-more-that-definitely-wont/

The Conspiracy documentary: http://www.cowspiracy.com/

Fiber and our immune systems: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1038/cti.2016.29

Lancet Planetary Health paper: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(18)30174-8/fulltext

The Green Roasting Tin cookbook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Green-Roasting-Tin-Vegetarian-Dinners/dp/1910931896

 

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Theme music and sound mixed by Mark Skinner.

 

Why do we need bees in our gardens (and everywhere else)? To kick off the first series, we're sitting down to talk about honey bees, solitary bees (yes, they’re a thing), pollination, trying to figure out how to feed the world’s growing population without these stripy characters, and exploring the ways that we can make our cities, our farmlands and our own gardens or windowsills beautifully bee-friendly. All the while trying not to headbutt their microphones.

Download, subscribe and tune in, let us know what you think!

 

Things we've mentioned in the episode: 

Friends of the Earth Bee Saver Kit: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/bees/donate-save-britains-bees-get-your-bee-saver-kit-today

Four Ways to Help The Bees: https://sustainableamerica.org/blog/four-ways-to-help-bees/

Bee-Friendly Plants for Your Garden: https://www.thompson-morgan.com/save-the-bees-with-bee-friendly-plants

Silence of the Bees: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/silence-of-the-bees-how-can-you-help-the-bees/36/

Urban Bee-Keeping: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/01/25/urban-beekeeping-harming-wild-bees-says-cambridge-university/

 

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod

Theme music and sound mix by Mark Skinner.

Hello and welcome to For What It's Earth! Your brand new environment and sustainability podcast explaining the science behind what’s going on in the world, and exploring the things that we can do to make a little bit of a big difference.

Each week we sit down and look at a different topic, from plastics to palm oil and from conservation to cosmetics, sharing good ideas in a world of bad news. Join us for a new episode every Wednesday.

Hosted by Emma Brisdion and Lloyd Hopkins.

 

Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast

Facebook /ForWhatItsEarth

Twitter @WhatEarthPod