Edible Empire

This is episode 1 of a six-part series on food imperialism. Welcome to Edible Empire, a podcast by Planet Pulse Pacific about the hidden cost of our food.

We celebrate flavours, but rarely the people behind them. This podcast uncovers how food—once shaped by empire and now by corporate power—has long been used to control land, labour, and cultures.

This episode explores how global food systems are shaped by historical power structures and capitalist mechanisms that prioritise corporate profit and "cheap food" over the health of ecosystems and human communities.

Where does our food come from? Who works in the fields that produce our fruit and vegetables? Who is making a profit from the food we eat? This episode sets the scene for the series, introducing the concept of food supply chains—the intricate trade routes that keep supermarket shelves stocked with produce all year round. But how did these global networks come to be? Tracing the history of our globalised food systems, we uncover why our food systems look the way they do today. Featuring Professors Harriet Friedmann and Raj Patel.

Professor Harriet Friedmann begins by tracing how global power shifted from a British-led system to one dominated by the US dollar. She explains that this change transformed how the world eats, replacing diverse, sustainable local farming with industrial monocultures like wheat and palm oil. This shift prioritised international profit over local cultures and environmental health.

Building on this history, Professor Raj Patel exposes the deception of "cheap" food. He argues that low prices are only possible by pushing the true costs onto the planet and underpaid workers. According to Patel, the global food system isn't broken; it is designed to make hunger profitable. He concludes with a call for food sovereignty, demanding we return power to the people who actually grow and harvest our food.

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Resources from this episode:

• https://harrietfriedmann.ca 
• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Harriet-Friedmann 
• https://www.sociology.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/harriet-friedmann
• https://rajpatel.org/
• https://www.antsandgrasshopper.org/
• https://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/stuffed-and-starved/

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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Welcome to Edible Empire - hosted by Planet Pulse Pacific, this is a podcast series about the hidden cost of our food. We’re your co-hosts, Neal Haddaway, Benjamin Eitelberg, and Emma Strutt, with Kelly Allum on editing.

When we talk about food, we tend to focus on recipes, flavours and dinner times. But what we rarely discuss is where our food comes from. And we don’t mean which supermarket - we mean the ingredients that make up our food: where did they come from, who grew the vegetables, picked the fruit and processed the oils? What’s life like for them, and what does their environment look like as a result of what they’re exporting for us to eat?

From the plantations of the British Empire to the smart agriculture within ultra-modern greenhouses, food has always been a tool of power and of profit. This is a story of how some cultures were dismantled to feed others, and how those empires live on through corporate control - this is a podcast about Food Imperialism. This series explores the complex, often uncomfortable intersection of appetite and authority. We are looking at food imperialism: how the quest for calories and commodities reshaped the map, redefined our identities, and continues to influence who gets to eat, and what, in the twenty-first century.

In this introductory episode, we introduce the concept of food imperialism and the inspiration for this species series. We discuss some of the upcoming content we’ll be publishing in the coming weeks, along with our exciting, world-leading expert guests. 

Join us for an appetiser!

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Resources from this episode:

• https://www.thesalmonandthetomato.org 

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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Kal Glanznig is one of Australia’s leading youth ocean and climate champions, a true powerhouse inspiring a new generation of hopeful, action-driven environmental leaders. In the past year alone, he has reached more than 20,000 people through keynote talks, school programs, and Q&A screenings of his documentary Rising Up. Elected in 2024 as the youngest independent Councillor in the Sutherland Shire, he is now driving local climate action through practical and forward-thinking sustainability initiatives.

Kal first made headlines in high school after delivering a $100,000 solar project that inspired more than 20 schools to follow suit. He went on to co-found Plastic Free Cronulla, contributing to New South Wales’ ban on single-use plastics, and Blue Minds, a national program supporting young Australians with eco-anxiety and environmental leadership. An award-winning speaker, he has also represented Australia in water polo at the Youth World Championships. Kal reminds us that while no one person can change the world alone, the future is still unwritten—and every action we take creates a ripple. Take a listen and feel inspired to be part of that change.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Kal’s background in high-level sport and how it sparked his passion for the environment
• Why meaningful change starts at home, no matter how wicked the problem
• His documentary Rising Up, including its screening at COP30 in Brazil and its role in sharing Pacific stories
• Driving change through the ballot box and his journey into local council
• The importance of genuinely engaging young people, and the powerful perspectives they bring
• The role of athletes in activism and advocacy
• Eco-anxiety and its impact on young people, and how Blue Minds is helping build resilience and leadership
• Key lessons Kal has learned from young people, and his advice for those wanting to make a difference in their communities
• Why we don’t have to do everything, but we can all do something, starting in our own backyard
• What’s next for Blue Minds and his upcoming documentary, The Plastic Country

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Kate Wylie, GP and Executive Director of Doctors for the Environment Australia, and a long-time friend of the show. One of Australia’s leading voices on climate and health, Kate helps us unpack the United Nations’ Global Water Bankruptcy report and what it means for all of us.

Put simply: we are running out of water. We’re using more than we have in supply, so much that in many places we’re pushing past the point of recovery and can’t repay our debts. Driven by climate change, over-extraction, and pollution, this growing ‘water bankruptcy’ is fuelling food and water insecurity, disease, and deepening global inequities.

Closer to home, we explore what this looks like in Australia, from the declining Murray-Darling to pressures on the Great Artesian Basin, and why this crisis is as much about public health as it is about the environment.

A sharp, urgent conversation about one of the defining challenges of our time and the role we all must play in protecting the resource that underpins life itself.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Kate’s background and her work at the intersection of human and planetary health
• The UN’s Global Water Bankruptcy report and Kate’s recent InSight+ article outlining what this means for us in Australia
• Our unsustainable water use and the industries driving the greatest extraction
• The deep inequities of water insecurity, with the Global South bearing the greatest burden
• Key health concerns, including unsafe drinking water, food insecurity, and the mental health effects of drought
• Rising risks of vector-borne diseases like Malaria, Dengue Fever, and Ross River Virus
• The dual extremes of drought and flooding, and their impact on food systems and livelihoods
• Australia’s unique challenges as the driest inhabited continent, and the need for more sustainable agriculture
• Growing strain on critical systems, from the Murray-Darling Basin to the Great Artesian Basin, and flow-on effects like South Australia’s algal bloom
• The hidden water and energy costs of modern technology, including AI and cloud computing, and why we can’t ‘tech’ our way out of this
• The critical role of health professionals in advocating for climate and water security
• Why climate and environmental health must be embedded in medical education
• The vital work of Doctors for the Environment Australia and their latest advocacy efforts, including an open letter to Australian governments calling for an end to our dependence on global oil—add your name to the submission here

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Clancy Lester (AKA Bee Man), a passionate environmental educator, documentary director, and native bee advocate, whose work is dedicated to protecting pollinators and rewilding the places we live. 

Specialising in native bee conservation, native plants, and science communication, Clancy combines hands-on ecological research with a gift for making complex ideas accessible and engaging. Through his social enterprise Bees and Blossoms, Clancy creates native bee habitats, delivers workshops, and champions nature-based climate solutions across urban and regional Australia.

Driven by a deep commitment to restoring biodiversity, he shares practical, hopeful insights into how Australia’s native bees are faring, and what we can all do to support pollinators and wildlife, no matter where we live.

In this episode, we explore:

• Clancy’s background, his connection to the natural world, and how his fascination with native bees began
• His experience in the Wattle Fellowship at the University of Melbourne and working with remote Aboriginal communities in north-east Arnhem Land
• Bee Hotels 101: What they are and why they matter
• The challenges pollinators face in urban environments, and how cities can better support them through habitat and native planting
• Clancy’s workshops, what gives him hope for the future, and how he inspires people to connect with nature
• His role as Director of 7 Seasons, and key moments from making the documentary that reshaped his thinking
• The importance of genuine collaboration and two-way learning with Indigenous communities
• Why honouring thousands of years of on-Country knowledge is essential for climate adaptation
• Staying connected to Country in urban environments
• Using social media for climate advocacy
• A fun breakdown of Bee Movie—what it got right (and wrong) about pollinators

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.
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In this episode, we’re joined by Richard Neville, NZILA Registered Landscape Architect and Director of Neville Design Studio. Richard’s work is grounded in regenerative design and a deep respect for the relationship between people and land. Driven by a belief that landscapes can reconnect us, both with nature and with each other, Richard creates spaces that are both meaningful and enduring.

An award-winning landscape architect, his work spans residential, rural, community, and commercial projects, and has been featured in several magazines, including Landscape Architecture Aotearoa. Alongside his practice, Richard is an active voice in the industry, most recently delivering the keynote at the 2025 New Zealand Gardens Trust Conference, sharing his perspective on how our cultural relationship with land and gardens is evolving.

In this episode, we explore:

• Richard’s background and passion for nature
• What led him to landscape architecture
• Landscape architecture as an interconnected system of ecology, people, and place
• The evolution of the discipline: from controlling nature to embracing wildness, beauty, and ecological complexity
• Rewilding gardens—why less paving, fewer lawns, and more plants create healthier, more resilient spaces
• How small, everyday moments in nature can have a lasting impact
• The ecological and human benefits of thoughtful landscape design, and how it fosters a deeper connection
• Richard’s work in schools and the importance of openness, curiosity, and unstructured interaction with nature
• Our relationship with Papatūānuku, and why biodiversity is essential for life
• The power of positive storytelling in reconnecting people with the environment
• Practical ways to bring nature into daily life, even in small or urban spaces

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Andre Borell, an impact filmmaker, investor, and co-founder and director of the Envoy Foundation. A self-described maker of good trouble (and one of our all-time favourites here at the podcast), Andre is driven by a deep love of marine life and a determination to leave the world better than he found it. He builds businesses, brands and films that challenge the status quo and create meaningful, measurable impact.

After witnessing the devastating effects of shark nets in Australia, Andre turned conviction into action with his powerful documentary Envoy: Shark Cull. His work shines a spotlight on Australia’s outdated and brutal shark control methods, exposing their ecological consequences and challenging the policies that allow them to persist.

In this episode, we explore:

• An update on Andre’s work, global adventures, and relocation to Aotearoa
• Practical strategies to bring Australia’s shark control programs out of the dark ages
• Innovations in shark safety—from deterrent wetsuits to AI drone surveillance on our beaches
• Current narratives around sharks and shark bites—separating fact from fiction
• The importance of shark education and understanding the conditions that increase risk
• Andre’s upcoming book projects, including Great White Lies
• The UN’s recently adopted High Seas Treaty and what it means for marine protection
• Policy-driven change and the influence of business in accelerating reform
• Progress on the Nordic Whale Reserve
• How to support the ongoing work of the Envoy Foundation

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.
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Jessica Lamb is the Christchurch Hub Leader for Athletes for Nature and the Sustainability Coordinator at Without Waste. Jess holds a strong connection to te taiao and is passionate about caring for both people and planet. With a background in environmental science and geography, she works to support a shift towards a circular economy and the rewilding of cities through thriving urban ngahere.

A committed nature and zero-waste advocate, Jess combines big-picture thinking with practical, community-led action. Outside of her professional roles, she is a plant-powered trail runner, avid hiker, and enthusiastic ‘compost queen’, using her love of the outdoors to inspire others to reconnect with and protect the environments they move through.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Jess’s background and what sparked her passion for nature and sustainability
• Her studies in environmental science and geography
• New Zealand’s waste problem and why it matters
• Jess’s journey into trail running and how it shapes her environmental advocacy
• Her extensive volunteering background, including Forest & Bird Youth
• Stepping into the role of Christchurch Hub Leader for Athletes for Nature, and why she got involved
• How composting can be a practical, change-making solution at the local level
• Her work as Sustainability Coordinator at Without Waste
• The role of athletes as advocates for climate action and conservation
• Jess’s goals for Athletes for Nature in 2026, including plans for the Christchurch hub
• How trail runners (and outdoor athletes more broadly) can reduce their environmental footprint
• Personal ambitions over the next few years—both athletic and sustainability-focused

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.
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Abby Patterson is an aspiring climate storyteller and science communicator, and our brand-new co-host on the Planet Pulse Pacific podcast!

Over the past two years, Abby has grown her Instagram platform Outdoors with Abby, where she breaks down the often tough (and sometimes overwhelming) realities of climate change and environmental science into content that’s engaging, relatable, and easy to understand.

Her postgraduate research focused on how climate science and emerging innovations can be communicated in ways that not only inform people but help them feel empowered to support meaningful change. Deeply passionate about sustainability and science communication, Abby hopes to build a career at the intersection of research, storytelling, and environmental advocacy.

She dreams of a future where endangered species are thriving, human impacts on ecosystems are minimised, and she’s proud to be part of the movement working towards that future.

Given all that, we’re absolutely pumped to welcome Abby on board as our new co-host! 

In this episode, we discuss:

• A season 7 check-in and what’s ahead for 2026
• Welcoming our new podcast presenter, Abby Patterson
• Abby’s background and studies in environmental communication
• Why translating science for the wider community really matters
• Outdoors with Abby and her work in environmental advocacy on social media
• Battling climate doom to prevent disengagement
• Her volunteering with Forest & Bird Youth and Athletes for Nature
• Why solutions already exist—and how we often focus on the wrong things
• Abby’s personal goals as a podcast host
• The impact of positive interactions that reach the right people and spark meaningful conversations
• Navigating the role of AI in communication and the power of parody when used in the right context

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.
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Amy Steel is a climate adaptation expert and PhD candidate with Adrift Lab at Curtin University, Western Australia. With over a decade of experience advising on decarbonisation and climate resilience, Amy is now focused on a vital question: should humans intervene to help ecosystems on the verge of collapse—and if so, how, where, and when?

Amy's research centres on the Yowli (otherwise known as Flesh-footed Shearwaters) breeding on islands in the Recherche Archipelago off Kepa Kurl, Esperance. These seabirds face increasing and worsening threats from lightning-ignited wildfires during their peak breeding season, impacted by climate change. Working with the Esperance Tjaltjraak Rangers, Amy is exploring how Wudjari cultural burning can protect these fragile habitats. Amy also reflects on moving from high-level strategy to hands-on fieldwork, the importance of Indigenous knowledge, and what it means to protect ecosystems in a rapidly changing climate.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Amy’s diverse background and what led her from leadership roles in climate strategy to research
• The long-term impacts of heat stroke that ended her competitive netball career and influenced her path
• Joining the Adrift Lab team and what inspired her to undertake a PhD
• Why islands and seabirds like the Yowli are critical indicators of ecosystem health
• The increasing severity of wildfires and extreme weather, and their impacts on vulnerable species
• Whether seabirds and other wildlife can adapt to human-driven climate change, and if natural checks and balances are breaking down
• The ethical and ecological questions around human intervention in collapsing ecosystems
• Working closely with the Esperance Tjaltjraak Rangers, and the role of Wudjari cultural burning in ecosystem resilience
• The importance of place-based policy and honouring Indigenous knowledge in climate responses
• How to communicate climate and conservation issues effectively, and create lasting change within communities
• Staying motivated in advocacy through collaboration and community action
• The role of athletes in climate conversations, and how to stay safe while being active in a changing climate
• What gives Amy hope as an environmental researcher

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.
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