THE SPACESHIP EARTH PODCAST Episode 111: We Are Avon | Listening to the River
Dec 7, 2025
Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, a scientist and conservationist from the Peruvian Amazon, discusses the vital role of rivers in biodiversity and indigenous culture. Meg Avon, a creative activist, highlights her relationship with urban rivers and the political act of swimming. Sound artist Louise Romain shares her exploration of ecosystems through audio, emphasizing the impact of listening on marine life. Together, they stress the importance of local stewardship and innovative ways to connect communities with their rivers.
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Episode notes
Bioregion Is Life, Not A Line
- Bioregions are living containers shaped by geology, hydrology, ecology and culture rather than political lines.
- Dan Burgess argues local participation is essential because nature doesn't commute or scale exponentially.
Bioregioning Is A Way Of Walking
- Bioregioning is a practice of relationship and belonging rather than a fixed destination.
- Tijin Tjoelkler frames it as 'life coming home to place' through porous, living boundaries.
Amazon Roots Shape Scientific Practice
- Rosa Vásquez Espinoza grew up between the Andes and Amazon and now leads indigenous-led science across the Peruvian Amazon.
- Her work ties biodiversity and community wellbeing back to water as the central life source.
