Climate Curious

Wild rivers in Europe are vanishing fast—but not on Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika’s watch. In this episode of Climate Curious, the Albanian conservation activists share how over a ten year period they overcame big business, government pressure, and plenty of red tape to protect the Vjosa River in The Balkans—one of the last truly wild rivers in Europe. Their win earned them the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize, but they stress that the work doesn’t end here. Tune in to hear the story of their momentous climate win!Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey GladstonInstagramTikTokYouTubeLinkedInWebsite Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medical professionals are powerful voices in the climate conversation, says doctor turned climate advocate Dr. Bruce Bekkar on Climate Curious. From noticing the effects of pollution on his patients to taking his first steps into climate action, Bruce shares why protecting our environment is also about protecting our health. Recorded live at TED 2025. Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey GladstonInstagramTikTokYouTubeLinkedInWebsite Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feeling wobbly about your place in the climate movement? You’re not alone. Writer, activist, and All We Can Save co-founder Katharine Wilkinson joins Climate Curious to share how even the tiniest action—whether in your job, your community, or your conversations—can ground you and spark bigger change. As she tells us at TED 2025, sometimes you just need to “squeak a toe in” to find your next step.Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crop failure, drought and extreme weather is pushing families to look for income outside of their normal routes, shares Dr. Mark Ofua, a wildlife veterinarian and the founder of the Pangolin Nigeria Trust. Tune in to understand the unsettling drivers behind climate, wildlife conservation and economics–and how this is impacting the rare and magical Pangolins.Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With 25% of marine biodiversity found on coral reefs, it’s vital they are kept healthy! On Climate Curious today we hear from marine biologist, data scientist, and TEDxLondon speaker, Ben Williams, on how he’s utilising AI models to scan through years of underwater audio. His work focuses on measuring the health of coral reefs in an effort to help keep them ship-shape, as well as keeping an ear out for illegal bomb-fishing!Listen to Ben’s TEDxLondon talk hereCalling in our coralBuilding coralCreated by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patricia Ayma Maldonado, a 2025 TED Fellow and co-founder of Vinvira Techch, dives into the fascinating world of bioplastics crafted from trained bacteria. She discusses how these eco-friendly materials can transform organic waste into biodegradable plastics, tackling the issue of plastic pollution head-on. Patricia sheds light on the rapid production processes and innovative business models driving sustainability. With potential applications in luxury and medical sectors, bioplastics could reshape our future while reducing landfill waste and methane emissions.

Happy Earth Day! This year, we’re celebrating climate progress. We spoke to our Climate Curious experts about what keeps them going during challenging times. Tune in to receive six chunks of wisdom on how to keep positive when progress might feel hopeless. Recorded live at TED 2025 in Vancouver.Featuring: Vijay Karia Kelsey LeonardJacquelyn FrancisTasso AzevedoTheresa FyffeBruce BekkarCreated by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Environmentalism isn't a one dimensional thing, says environmental justice technologist and author Joycelyn Longdon on the Climate Curious podcast. In conversation with co-host Ben Hurst, Joycelyn shares the thinking behind her new book, ‘Natural Connection’, and breaks down how anyone can step into their inner environmentalist by tapping into rage, imagination, innovation, theory, healing, and care. Tune in to learn why climate action isn’t about achieving a checklist of individualistic traits, and instead, maybe it's about being… you! Buy Joycelyn’s book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/454481/natural-connection-by-longdon-joycelyn/9781529902662Watch Joycelyn’s TEDxLondon Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBXiWON-LDUCreated by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey GladstonJoycelyn's reading listArmstrong, Karen. 2022. Sacred Nature: How We Can Recover Our Bond with the Natural World.Brown, Adrienne Maree. 2017. Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change,Changing Worlds.Brown, Adrienne Maree. 2019. Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good.Butler, Octavia E. 1993. Parable of the Sower.Care Collective, The. 2020. The Care Manifesto: The Politics of Interdependence.Jones, Lucy. 2020. Losing Eden: Our Fundamental Need for the Natural World and Its Ability to Heal Body and Soul.Kelley, Robin D. G. 2002. Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination.Kimmerer, Robin Wall. 2013. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.Krawec, Patty. 2022. Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future.Page, Cara and Woodland, Erica. 2023. Healing Justice Lineages: Dreaming at the Crossroads of Liberation, Collective Care, and Safety. Piepzna-Samarasinha, Leah Lakshmi. 2018. Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice.Powers, Richard. 2018. The Overstory.Sheldrake, Merlin. 2020. Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures.Shiva, Vandana. 1993. Monocultures of the Mind: Perspectives on Biodiversity and Biotechnology.Solnit, Rebecca. 2004. Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities.Solnit, Rebecca. 2023. Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility.Tori Tsui - It's Not just YouMikaela Loach - It's Not That RadicalLeah Thomas - The Intersectional Environmentalist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sea otters are helping to capture carbon, says Alister Scott, the co-director of the Global Rewilding Alliance, on Climate Curious. By reintroducing sea otters back to their habitat in San Francisco, scientists have seen a growth in sea grass, which is a massive carbon sink. Tune in to learn more about this otterly wonderful natural climate solution – rewilding!Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From conveniently hiding key climate science to flat out running misinformation campaigns, Climate Curious takes a look at the far right’s influence on climate. We’re joined by journalist and ‘Alt Reich’ author Dr. Nafeez Ahmed to connect the dots between techno-authoritarian power players, right wing politics, and attempts to stall climate action. Nafeez’s take? We shouldn't give up on climate progress.Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.