The Eco Enthusiast

Dr Elizabeth Cripps is a writer, philosopher, mother, and activist. She’s a former journalist and currently a senior lecturer in political theory at the University of Edinburgh. As well as publishing extensively on climate justice and parenting ethics for an academic audience, she is the author of two ‘popular philosophy’ books: What Climate Justice Means and Why We Should Care (Bloomsbury, 2022) and Parenting on Earth: A Philosopher’s Guide to Doing Right by Your Kids – and Everyone Else (MIT Press, 2023). Elizabeth has written opinion pieces for the Guardian and the Big Issue and done various radio and podcast interviews, including for the BBC. Today we discuss what it means to be a "good" responsible parent during an ecological emergency. I hope you enjoy this episode with Dr Elizabeth Cripps. MUSIC: Emma Davis & Aidan Roberts PROSE: Jill Brown www.theecoenthusiastpodcast.com

Have you ever visited Bali, enjoyed the gorgeous landscape and the energy of the beautiful people, and thought...I'll just pretend not to see the huge plastic waste problem? I'll just crop this section out of my Instagram photos. Happy days! Many people travel to countries like Indonesia and ignore and/or contribute to this epic issue. That's what makes today's guest so exceptional... Kelly Bencheghib, co-founder of Sungai Watch has dedicated the last 14 years of her life to solving this overwhelming problem. With her two brothers, these French-born siblings have organized over 550 community cleans ups and have installed 180 river barriers collecting over 1000 tons of plastic from Balinese rivers and are now turning that plastic into furniture. They have cleaned up mangroves, are seeing animals now coming back to their native habitats, and recently transformed an illegal dumping ground into a bed of 1600 toxin-sucking sunflowers that will clean up the soil.  In 2021 Kelly was selected as one of Grazia magazine's most influential women in the category of HOPE and her tranquil energy and persistence shine through this conversation. Sungai Watch's work is a testament to the power of running with her young idealistic visions and energy. It shows what can happen when you let your adult self take your idealism seriously.   MUSIC: Emma Davis & Aidan Roberts

Joining us today is regenerative farmer Amy O'Brien. Amy's journey began in November 2019 when her family’s conventional farm was ravaged by the Black Summer Fires. Rather than being defeated by this tragedy, Amy and her partner embarked on an inspiring quest for change. Going against the advice of conventional farmers, they have embraced regenerative practices to bring this farm back to life in the short space of a few years.  Amy's story is a testament to resilience and innovation. Recognizing the challenges brought on by climate change, her dream is for the farmland to be altered from a monoculture of beef cattle to an abundant ecosystem that will sustain their family and the community. What sets Amy apart from other regenerative farmers is her passion and expertise in the area of food science. It was wonderful to get her insights on why regenerative agriculture is important to creating a thriving and vibrant world. You can find more information about Amy's farm here. Poetry: Beth Spencer 'The Angel of the Forest Has a Migraine' from The Age of Fibs. Forest Angel: Allana Beltran http://www.allanabeltran.com/weld-angel.html Music: Emma Davis & Aidan Roberts 'Meetings'.

Today we are speaking with a mother and women's health specialist Giselle Rouvier. Giselle specializes in fertility, prenatal, postnatal, and menopause coaching. Giselle's personal experience with getting pregnant naturally at the age of 37 led her to discover the importance of feeling connected to your body during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum phase. She now has a deep interest and enthusiasm for everything related to the magic and mystery of the female body. She believes it's never too late to find this work and that both men and women getting in tune with their natural cycles and energy flow can bring a profound shift to the world's current unbalanced state. Today's conversation, I believe, touches on the root of our ecological crisis...how we think about ourselves, each other, women, and women's bodies.Could a more compassionate and sustainable treatment of our own energy cycle lead to better treatment of Mother Earth and its citizens? BOOK: Wild Power by Alexandra Pope, Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer POETRY: Magdalena Ball: ‘Blue Gum’ -  http://www.magdalenaball.com MUSIC: Aidan Roberts & Emma Davis www.theecoenthusiastpodcast.com Join our Facebook group here

Karen Mustin is a conservation scientist and mother. Karen's career in conservation has taken her to various parts of the world, each providing unique experiences and insights. She started her journey by studying the impacts of climate change on bird populations using theoretical models and empirical studies of birds at the University of Aberdeen. She then worked at the James Hutton Institute in Scotland, researching the economic and biodiversity impacts of hunting in the Scottish Highlands. In January 2011, Karen moved to Brisbane, Australia, just four days after catastrophic flooding hit the area, to take up a post-doc at the University of Queensland. While in Australia, she worked on various conservation projects such as connectivity restoration in fragmented habitats, monitoring of birds, climate change, and conservation of migratory shorebirds. She was then lucky enough to get a post-doc position in the state of Amapá, in the far north of Brazil, where she spent two years working on varied projects, often relating to the sustainable use of non-timber forest products. While there she fell head over heels in love with the region, Brazil, Brazilians (one in particular!), and Latin America in general." More recently, between January 2017 and January 2018, Karen was a Marie Curie Research Fellow in the Conservation Conflicts Research Group. She studied the links between governance, equity, and biodiversity outcomes in protected areas, and she continues to maintain strong links with the group while working on her projects in collaboration with other team members. Karen is currently a Visiting Lecturer in the Post-Graduate Program in Animal Biology at the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil. Her extensive experience and expertise in conservation science have made a significant impact in the field, and her work continues to inspire others to protect the natural world. We chatted to Karen about her journey to becoming a conservation scientist, how it feels to be a scientist and a mother during ecological collapse, and what all of us can do to help protect the lungs of our home. MUSIC: Aidan Roberts & Emma Davis ⁠www.theecoenthusiastpodcast.com ⁠ Join our Facebook group ⁠here⁠

Tony Rinaudo is a world-renowned expert on sustainable land management and restoration, and his innovative work, patience, and passion, have led to the restoration of over 6 million hectares of degraded land in Niger alone without planting a single tree. To put that in perspective ….6 million hectares is about the size of Ireland.  His pioneering work on developing the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) technique has transformed the lives of millions of farmers across Africa, Asia, and Australia. Tony’s incredible work has seen him nominated for the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize,". Tony now serves as the climate advisor for World Vision where he helps develop strategies for addressing the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities around the world. I first learned about Tony through his incredible book "The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis," which chronicles his journey in Africa where after years of trying and failing to plant trees…he stumbled upon The Forest Underground, tree stumps with strong roots that if encouraged and allowed to grow instead of being burnt and slashed in traditional farming practices, could flourish in harsh climates and create healthy soil on croplands.  He and his wife Liz dedicated 20 years of their lives to this service in Africa, living through and supporting citizens through the devastating 1984 famine. The dedication faith, perseverance, and empathy of these two humans over this time were what led to this worldwide farming revolution.    In today's episode, I learned how Tony persevered through the harshest of conditions, desperate to change the mindset of the local farmers who weren’t interested in his “crazy white farmer” technique of strengthening crops - trees! I also learned how his faith helped strengthen his resolve, and we delved into Christian scriptures that highlight the request for Christian followers to care for earth.  So sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired by Tony Rinaudo on The Eco Enthusiast. Music by Aidan Roberts & Emma Davis www.theecoenthusiastpodcast.com THE ECO ENTHUSIAST FACEBOOK GROUP

Dr Gretchen Miller is an internationally recognised media professional with over 20+ years of experience as a presenter, interviewer, and documentary producer on Australia's 'ideas' network ABC RN. Gretchen chooses to focus her work towards the public good: climate, environment, science, and social justice storytelling, and has recently completed a PhD in this arena. In this chat with Gretchen, we learn about her accidental career as an environmental journalist, her major work Homeland, what drove her to document the everyday women who changed the face of Australian politics, and why she believes embracing the art of listening could save the world. MUSIC: Aidan Roberts & Emma Davis ⁠www.theecoenthusiastpodcast.com ⁠ Join our Facebook group ⁠here⁠

Rebecca Wynn is a mother and climate activist who is making waves in the UK with her work in two incredible organizations: Mother's Rise Up and Our Kids' Climate. Through their work, Mother's Rise Up has been targeting Lloyds of London Insurance with a unique and powerful tactic: Love. In 2022, they created a joyful Mary Poppins flash mob spectacle out the front of Lloyd's of London complete with stunning costumes and professional dancers, encouraging fossil fuel enablers to stop and think about what they're doing to their children's future, and maybe even go fly a kite. Check out this fantastic eco-action here We had the opportunity to chat with this mother about her journey to becoming a climate activist, her work with these organizations, and the importance of using creative and unexpected tactics in the fight against climate change. During our conversation, we delved into the urgency of ending fossil fuel use not just to address the pressing issue of climate change, but also to reduce the deadly air pollution levels in our cities. The work of organizations like Mother's Rise Up and Our Kids' Climate is vital in driving awareness and action on these critical issues, and we hope that our conversation will inspire listeners to join the fight for a better, more sustainable future for all. www.theecoenthusiastpodcast.com Music by Emma Davis & Aidan Roberts

Author, nature lover, mother, and businesswoman Sarah Spencer turned her passion for regenerative design into a mission to help people design their lives and businesses sustainably. Sarah's journey began when she discovered permaculture and transformed her smallholding into a thriving food forest using patterns and principles from nature. In 2015 a severe illness forced her to re-evaluate her life, and she used her expertise to design her way back to health. Now, Sarah has created THINK LIKE A TREE, a course and book that shares nature-inspired solutions. Sarah shares her inspiring story and the wisdom she's gained on how to use nature-inspired design to create a healthy, resilient life and a better world. Music: Emma Davis & Aidan Roberts  www.theecoenthusiastpodcast.com

James Forbes is the CEO of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia. With over twenty years of experience in the charity sector, James has dedicated his career to promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development. After spending years in the corporate world, he made the courageous decision to follow his passion and align his career with his values. James took a significant pay cut to join the non-profit sector, but his decision led to a fulfilling and impactful career. He was shortlisted as not-for-profit executive of the year in 2022. Through his leadership, the Jane Goodall Institute has been at the forefront of innovative and impactful initiatives to protect endangered species, empower local communities, and inspire the next generation of conservationists. Music: Emma Davis & Aidan Roberts www.theecoenthusiastpodcast.com