In a natural environment where so many athletes spend so many hours, there is so much to know. The Athlete Climate Academy podcast, hosted by Kilian Jornet and Huw James, aims to bring science closer to athletes in an easy and friendly way. At a time when climate change is advancing unabated, we need to provide the tools and knowledge of what climate change means globally and locally. Understanding the effects of climate change on ecosystems and becoming aware of what we can do to reduce our footprint. For the transition to sustainability, knowledge is as important as a good attitude.
The podcast The Athlete Climate Academy is created by Kilian Jornet and Huw James. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
In this episode of the Athlete Climate Academy, both hosts, Huw James and Kilian Jornet, come together to reflect on an eventful 2024 and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities in 2025. They share personal stories from the mountains, discuss the impacts of climate change on outdoor sports, and highlight inspiring projects that bridge adventure and activism. Join Huw and Kilian as they dive into the power of athletes to inspire change, the importance of collaboration across industries, and what it means to adapt in a rapidly changing world. To learn more, visit www.athleteclimateacademy.com. Mentioned in the episode: https://www.kilianjornetfoundation.org/project/restore-the-trails/ Supported by UpClear Global.
In this episode of the Athlete Climate Academy, we sit down with Calum Macintyre, an environmental advocate, snowboarder, and climate activist. Calum shares his inspiring journey from the slopes to the frontlines of climate action, blending his passion for outdoor sports with a deep commitment to environmental advocacy. We dive into the intersection of activism and outdoor communities, the power of athletes as influencers, and the emotional challenges of tackling entrenched powers like the fossil fuel industry. To learn more about Calum and his work, visit www.instagram.com/calummacintyre5. And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
In this episode of the Athlete Climate Academy, we sit down with Dr. Natalie Sinclair, a marine biologist, conservationist, and National Geographic Explorer. Natalie takes us on her journey from studying humpback whale song evolution to becoming an advocate for marine conservation and climate action.
We explore the critical role of oceans as carbon sinks, the impacts of noise pollution on marine mammals, and how climate change is reshaping marine ecosystems. Natalie shares her work with Wild Bannockburn, a grassroots conservation initiative in Scotland, and offers insights on balancing passion with sustainability to create lasting impact.
Natalie’s unique perspective bridges science and storytelling, showing how we can inspire change locally and globally.
For more on Natalie and her work, visit her website nataliesinclair.com or follow her on Instagram at @NatalieWildlife.
And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Supported by UpClear Global.
In this episode of the Athlete Climate Academy, we sit down with Rob Nelson, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, biologist, and science communicator. Rob takes us on his journey from studying population ecology to becoming a global storyteller, using film and education to inspire climate action. We explore the power of storytelling in engaging diverse audiences, the challenges of climate anxiety, and the importance of focusing on positive narratives to drive change. Rob shares his strategies for tailoring messages to farmers, policymakers, and everyday people, while highlighting the balance between environmental advocacy and human well-being. For more on Rob and his work, visit his YouTube channel StoneAge Man. And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
In this episode of the Athlete Climate Academy, we sit down with Ajay Hanspal, a former Royal Marine and co-founder of the Green Runners. Ajay shares his journey from recovering from a traumatic brain injury to becoming an inspiring trail runner and climate advocate. We dive into how nature and running served as his path to healing, the mission of the Green Runners, and the powerful role athletes can play in pushing for systemic environmental change. Join us as we explore Ajay's insights on resilience, sustainability, and the future of trail running. For more on Ajay and the Green Runners visit www.thegreenrunners.com And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Giulia Mazzotti from the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research. She shares insights into how snow impacts water resources, ecosystems, and the future of our mountains as climate change accelerates. Learn how cutting-edge tech like drones and satellites helps scientists understand and protect these critical snowy landscapes. A must-watch for anyone passionate about mountains and climate action! For more on Giulia have a look at https://www.slf.ch/en/staff/mazzotti/ And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
Join us as we talk with Rob Palmer, Director of Innovation at Undo Carbon, about the revolutionary technology of enhanced rock weathering. Discover how this method not only removes CO2 from the atmosphere but also benefits agriculture. Rob explains the difference between carbon capture and carbon removal, the challenges of scaling, and the science behind this climate solution. Perfect for anyone interested in innovative ways to tackle the climate crisis. For more on UNDO visit https://un-do.com/ And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
In this conversation, Huw James speaks with Dr. Julia Guimond, an assistant scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, about her research on coastal groundwater dynamics and the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems. They discuss Julia's journey into climate science, the importance of salt marshes, the challenges of saltwater intrusion, and the differences between Arctic and subarctic ecosystems. Julia emphasizes the need for effective communication of scientific findings to influence policy and the importance of protecting existing ecosystems. For more on Julia visit https://juliaguimond.com/ and WHOI at https://www2.whoi.edu/ And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
The Last Ride project is an initiative combining adventure and environmental advocacy. Ed Salisbury and Will Tucker, along with John Moy, are climbing the highest mountain on each continent to raise awareness about climate change. They aim to use skiing and climbing as a vehicle to educate people and make them think about the climate crisis. The project focuses on telling the stories of people on the ground who are directly affected by climate change. For more on The Last Ride Project visit https://www.thelastrideproject.com And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
Lilly Woodbury, an environmental communicator and campaigner, discusses her journey into environmentalism and her work in provoking radical action for the planet. She highlights the importance of grassroots campaigns and the role of athletes in driving change. Lilly also emphasizes the need for both personal and systemic change to address environmental issues. She shares examples of successful campaigns, such as banning single-use plastics, and discusses the concept of blue carbon and the importance of Indigenous-led conservation. Lilly encourages individuals to take action and provides resources for further engagement.
Huw talks to Marc Oliva, a permafrost researcher, about the importance of studying permafrost in polar regions and mountainous areas. They discuss the impact of permafrost on climate change, the differences between permafrost in Antarctica and the Arctic, and the challenges of studying permafrost. They also explore the Perma Pyrenees project and the future of permafrost research. To learn more visit www.athleteclimateacademy.com
In this episode of Athlete Climate Academy Estelle Cheuk, an assistant producer at the BBC's Natural History Unit, discusses the impact of natural history documentaries and the power of storytelling in raising awareness about the climate crisis. She highlights the importance of balancing the realities of environmental issues with messages of hope and motivation. Estelle also addresses the challenge of reducing the carbon footprint in documentary production and the need to amplify diverse voices in the field. She emphasises the role of conversations and storytelling in creating impact and inspiring action.
To learn more visit www.athleteclimateacademy.com
In this weeks Athlete Climate Academy, Huw speaks to Francesco Puppi, a distinguished distance runner and environmental advocate, discusses how his background has shaped his approach to both athletics and environmental activism. He talks about his influence for positive environmental impact, advocating for mindfulness in travel, race selection, and engagement with eco-conscious sponsors.
For more on Francesco visit: https://www.instagram.com/francesco.puppi
And to learn more visit www.athleteclimateacademy.com
In this episode of Athlete Climate Academy, Huw speaks to The North Face athlete, Stephanie Howe, about the urge to do more and involve yourself with climate issues and the feeling of hypocrisy that might come with that.
Find out more about Steph at www.instagram.com/stephaniemariehowe
And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Supported by UpClear Global.
This podcast is French language.
Mael Besson talks about how important is the collaboration between the different players in sport (federations, local and national administrations, athletes, organizers) to make a real change on how sport is conceived to be more sustainable and adapted to the realities of today’s world. Find out more about Mael at https://twitter.com/maelbesson_sdd And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
Huw speaks to Anna Pitman, current CSR Manager at Montane. With a career in both design and sustainability, Anna is perfectly place to talk about the next steps in making outdoor apparel less impactful and edging us closer to a lower carbon future for the outdoor industry.
Find out more about Montane at https://montane.com/
And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Supported by UpClear Global.
Kilian and Andy Symonds talk about an athletes role in the climate crisis and what we can do by sharing positiveness online. They also talk about calculating your carbon footprint as an athlete and travelling to races.
For more about Andy head to https://linktr.ee/andysymonds
And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Supported by UpClear Global.
In this Athlete Climate Academy episode, Huw talks to NASA Engineer and Ultra Runner Dr. Brianna Rita Pagán about the adaptability and resilience of our communities with the climate crisis looming.
For more about Brianna's work head to https://www.briannapagan.com/
And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Supported by UpClear Global.
In this Athlete Climate Academy episode, Kilian talks to Piolets d'Or winner Christophe Ogier about his life of climbing and glacier science. Christophe believes climbers can play a vital role in talking about climate change through bringing back stories they witness in the outdoors. For more about Christophe's work head to https://vaw.ethz.ch/en/research/glaciology.html And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
In this Athlete Climate Academy episode, Huw talks with climber Sasha DiGiulian about sustainability in sports. Sasha shares insights from her journey as a climber and environmental advocate, emphasising the importance of sustainable practices in outdoor activities. She discusses her efforts in lobbying for environmental protection and the need for collective action towards climate change. Highlighting the balance between professional athleticism and environmental advocacy, Sasha inspires with her commitment to preserving natural spaces and advocating for policy changes.
For more about Sasha head to https://sashadigiulian.com/
And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Supported by UpClear Global.
Recorded in the French Alps, Huw speaks to scientist and runner Peyton Thomas about her research and how she engages people with Science Communication. And Dakota Jones who runs Footprints Running camp that engages runners and scientists with communities to take action on climate.
For more on Peyton visit https://www.peyton-thomas.com/running
And for Dakota/Footprints visit https://runfootprints.org/
And to learn more head to www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Supported by UpClear Global.
Kilian talks to Amina Maharjan and Jakob Steiner from ICIMOD, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. The Himalayan mountains are changing in their biodiversity, hydrology and more. And ICIMOD are studying this vast region to find out how.
For more on ICIMOD head to www.icimod.org
And to learn more visit www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Huw talks to Fernanda Maciel about her work. as an environmental lawyer, her speed ascents and her project White Flow. Fernanda links social justice and environmental work to her running and works both with scientists and activists in the countries she runs in.
For more about Fernanda and White Flow visit https://fernandamaciel.com/white-flow/
And learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com.
Supported by UpClear Global.
Huw is joined by Mike Seaman of Raccoon Media Group and Charlie Cotton of eCollective. They discuss the carbon footprint of outdoor events and the steps organisers, venues and attendees can take to lower their impact for many events to come. Find out more about Mike and Charlie at https://raccoonmediagroup.com/ and https://www.ecollectivecarbon.com. And learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com Supported by UpClear Global.
Huw speaks to track athlete turned endurance athlete Leanna Carriere. Leanna has turned her attention to long distance journeys with a purpose and her newest adventure, Wings of Survival, looks at migratory patterns of birds whilst cycling their path.
Follow their journey at https://leannacarriere.com/wings-of-survival
And learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Kilian speaks to athlete Andrea Sinfreu about their long distance cycling journeys from country to country, and being a young athlete in the midst of climate conversations.
Follow Andrea at https://shorturl.at/prJP2
And learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Huw talks to adventurer and filmmaker Sam Branson on how we can educate our way through the climate crisis. Sam organises multiple expeditions for people to learn more about themselves and the planet. We can't care for what we haven't experienced. So are more experiences key to more education.
Find out more about Sam at https://www.strivechallenge.org/ and https://www.big-change.org/
And learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Kilian speaks to geographer Matthias Huss about the future of our glaciers and what it means for the planet. The demise of glaciers can't be reversed but what can we do to slow it down and keep something for future generations. Follow Matthias and his excellent science communication at https://twitter.com/matthias_huss And learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Huw speaks to Environmental Health Advocate and Adventurer, Jess Clark. We might see the mountains as a haven of clean air and pristine landscapes but with log burning, transport, wild fires and more, the air we breathe in the mountains may not be as fresh as we think. Find out more about Jess and her work at https://www.instagram.com/jess.k.clark. Find about the Air Quality near you at https://waqi.info/. And learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Kilian speaks to free skier and activist Nikolai Schirmer about being an athlete and an activist and the pitfalls of the two.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
And more with the Nikolai at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy1a9TTEuEgfH9Py9sTVqdQ
Fernando Valladares nos explica que quiere decir que hayamos superado el límite planetario del agua verde, cuales son las sinergías entre los distintos cambios que se estàn produciendo a causa del cambio climàtico, la pérdida de biodiversidad o la contaminación y como estàn luchando contra ello desde el mundo científico desde movimientos como science revelion.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
And find all of Fernandos work at https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sjUP6dsAAAAJ&hl=en
Huw talks to climate change researcher Briony Latter about the best ways to engage with people in good faith conversations about the climate crisis. The language we use, the way we talk, it all makes a difference if the goal is to get people to take action. Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com And more about Briony at https://www.brionylatter.co.uk/
Kilian talks to climber and Honnold Foundation founder Alex Honnold about his journey getting to grips with being an athlete and a vocal advocate for climate action. Besides his incredible climbs, Alex been working for years in climate change advocacy, and through his foundation in implementing solar energy systems all over the world. Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com And more with the Honnold Foundation https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/ and https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/alex-honnold-book-list
Huw talks to athlete and activist Dan Yates about his journey in the white water rafting world and how he ended up at Save Our Rivers and ultimately Protect Our Winters Europe. He now works through POW to help athletes become activists.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
And more with Protect Our Winters at https://protectourwinters.eu/
Huw talks to writer and climber Natalie Berry about how the media tackles climate. And specifically how the outdoor world can start to roll climate conversations in to its daily writing.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
And more on Natalie's writing at http://www.natalie-berry.com/journalism
Huw talks to Julian Lings about how he got into Corporate Social Responsibility and how he sees the role for big outdoor brands. They look at what TNF are doing now and how they can do more. Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com More on TNF Sustainability at https://www.thenorthface.co.uk/sustainability
Kilian talks to Jasmin Paris about her journey as an ultra runner but also setting up The Green Runners who think you don’t need to be perfect, just keep improving by putting the planet first when making decisions. Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com More on the Green Runners at https://thegreenrunners.com/ And for Jasmin https://twitter.com/jasminkparis
Lena Mueller looks at Climate Change Awareness and Sustainable Outdoor Sports. A climber, a PhD Researcher and more! She joins Kilian in this COP26 special.
Find out more about Lena's work at: https://lenamueller.com/
More about COP26 at: https://ukcop26.org/
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Kilian talks to Adam Campbell. Every Athlete is an expert on the things they personally see and experience. Adam is an athlete who's seen a lot. He shares his stories of our changing climate with Kilian.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Huw talks to Chanelle Mayer-Donato about the hurdle of storing renewables when we pivot to greener energy. It's clear that a break through is coming and we're going to need to be able to store renewables somehow to make them work.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Kilian talks to Kate Trujillo of the Honnold Foundation. Solar Energy is changing the game when it comes to cheap accessible energy for all. The Honnold Foundation are using it to tackle energy poverty and push solar to the next level.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Kilian talks to two passionate young athletes about the future of trail running. Will the new athletes compete in races around the globe, will they make the same choices in brand deals and how do they feel about our changing climate?
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Kilian talks to athlete Hillary Gerardi who is Development Manager at CREA Mont-Blanc, the Research Center for Alpine Ecosystems. The mountains are changing and it's important we understand what those changes are, and how those effects will ripple through the mountains.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Huw talks to Director of Kendal Mountain Festival, Steve Scott, about the role Mountain and Film Festivals play in the impact on our environment and greenhouse gas emissions. They've commissioned a study to look at that impact on the planet and the local community.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Kilian talks to Max Romey about his journey as a filmmaker, painter and artist. His most recent projects covering the land and sea scapes of Alaska. He describes the plastic problem as a ticking time bomb.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Huw talks to Rab Outdoor CSR Manager Debbie Read about the impact the outdoor industry has on our planet and how it will need to change in the future to lessen that impact.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Kilian talks to Jim Mann about The Future Forest Company and what Trees Not Tees are doing to give athletes the option to have a tree planted instead of a race t-shirt.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.athleteclimateacademy.com
Huw talks to Nick Muller about air pollution. When we burn fossil fuels we put pollutants in to the atmosphere. But even natural disasters like wild fires will cause local air pollution that can have catastrophic effects.
Nick Muller is a Professor of Economics, Engineering, and Public Policy at Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University https://www.cmu.edu/tepper/faculty-and-research/faculty-by-area/profiles/muller-nicholas.html
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Huw talks to Alex More about how the climate crisis will effect our health. Rising temperatures are happening all over the world but more so in developing countries. Climate change is causing stresses on many countries and will have an impact on the health of our planet.
Alex More is Professor of Environmental Health SoHP | Harvard Climate Change Institute | University of Maine | LIU. https://twitter.com/natureofalex
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Huw talks to Tracy Fanara about our oceans and the role they play in climate change. How can we expect them to change going forward with their role in weather creation and moving heat around the planet.
Tracy Fanara works at NOAA and is a science communicator. Get a tiny glimpse into all her amazing work at https://www.instagram.com/inspectorplanet
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Huw talks to Tom Carroll about how we talk about climate change on social media. A lot of us make content for Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. So how do we talk to people about the damage we're doing to the planet through those mediums?
Tom Caroll is a science content creator, take a look at his content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyi06SeKkiwoAzFVmQtDtfg
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Kilian chats with Pascal Egli about the state of our glaciers. Glaciers are rapidly receding worldwide but what does that mean for people who live near to them and for the people who live far away?
Pascal is a trail runner and glaciologist from Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne: https://pascalegli.com/
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Kilian talks to Moira Hough about soil!! Our planet lives on a few inches of top soil and we need it to survive. As athletes we run across it a lot but do we ever stop to take a closer look? How we manage our soil will be important heading forward.
Moira Hough is an Ecosystem Ecologist at the University of Arizona. Find out more and follow her here: https://twitter.com/moirahough
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Huw talks to Imogen Napper about Microplastics. The clothes we create, especially in the outdoor industry, shed microfibres that end up in our waterways and oceans. What do we need to know about these microfibres and how can we stop sending them to the sea.
Imogen Napper is a visiting research fellow at the School of Biological and Marine Sciences at Plymouth University. More about her work here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/imogen-napper
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Kilian talks to Eric Maréchal of Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale in Grenoble. Snow Algae is important to understand when thinking about the health of our alpine ecosystems. Our snow is alive just like our oceans. Thinking about them in this way opens our eyes to what lives there.
More about Eric Maréchal and his science at https://scholar.google.fr/citations?user=Gm-PzC0AAAAJ&hl=fr.
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Kilian talks with Marcel Höche about the state of the Outdoor Industry and it's role in the climate problem. How will it need to change to make sure the pollution and plastic it creates stays to a minimum, and what can athletes do to help.
Marcel Höche is a trail runner and mountain lover. Find out more about Marcel by following him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macy_pacy
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Huw talks to Huw Griffiths about the entire Antarctic continent! Both Huw's love Antarctica but one of them knows more. It's seeing a lot of changes with our changing climate so how will our relationship with it change?
Find out more about Huw Griffiths by following him on social media: https://twitter.com/griffiths_huw
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
Kilian talks to Caroline Gleich about her work as a professional athlete and climate activist. Should those of us who use the mountains the most be fighting the hardest for them?
Find out more about Caroline's work at and listen to her podcast at: https://carolinegleich.com/podcast/
Learn more with The Athlete Climate Academy at www.anturus.co.uk/athleteclimateacademy
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.