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The airport‑as‑engine of growth story is powerful, but the data tells a different story. We sit down with Denise Auclair, who leads the Travel Smart campaign at Transport & Environment, to unpack a new Europe‑wide study that tracks the real relationship between air traffic and prosperity across 274 regions. 

The headline is striking: in much of northern and western Europe, economic growth tends to drive more flying rather than flying driving growth. Once networks mature, extra frequencies deliver diminishing returns, and the old promise of expansion starts to look like a costly habit.

We explore why aviation’s emissions are so hard to tackle and we also dig into tourism balances: when cheap flights pull residents abroad, local economies can lose more than they gain, especially when a small group of frequent flyers accounts for a large share of trips.

Join us as we map a practical route to sustainable travel with Denise: clearer evidence, better choices, and systems that reward time, health, and climate, not just passenger counts. 

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In this episode we sit down with Golden’s founder and CEO, Sam Fankuchen, to explore how AI, ethics, and interoperability can transform volunteering from good intentions into measurable, scalable impact. Sam’s story begins with a near loss on 9/11, a moment that reshaped his purpose and his focus on removing friction so more people can contribute meaningfully and safely.

We look at the state of AI and how to create an ethical framework for its use, with guardrails and evals that keep outputs accountable. We also discover that if you want to stay ahead in an AI-driven world, you need to absorb the very latest innovations on a daily basis. 

Sam explains why agents are changing the resource equation for nonprofits and public agencies—automating research, fundraising, policy mapping, and programme audits while keeping humans in the loop. The result is a “shadow organisation” that scales capacity without sacrificing trust.

If you lead a team or support a cause, this conversation offers a playbook for ethical AI adoption, cross-sector collaboration, and systems thinking that actually moves the needle. Have a listen to our latest GoodGeist! 

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Direct (sort of) from the bustling floor of Ecomondo in Rimini we have a great  conversation with Filippo Nani, president of FERPI in Italy and veteran strategist in public relations. 

Together with Filippo we explore how credible communications can unlock real progress on sustainability, from major strategic decisions to building stakeholder trust, with the stories that inspire action across industries.

Filippo traces his path from journalism and government spokesperson to agency leadership, revealing how narrative craft and public accountability shape the green economy. We unpack the persistent “green vs growth” myth and examine why investors, banks, and customers increasingly reward companies that commit to measurable, transparent climate strategies. The theme is clarity over hype: no easy fixes, but real momentum where incentives, proof, and purpose align.

We also dive into the changing craft of communications. How AI, used well, gives practitioners more time for strategy and better tools for research and analysis. Anchored by FERPI’s Venice Pledge, Filippo argues for ethical AI practices, disclosure to stakeholders, and keeping humans at the centre of every decision.

Listen in to a great conversation about the future of communications - and sustainability - in Europe. 

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In this episode we chat with activist and former architect Kasper Benjamin Reimer Bjørkskov as he shares his journey from major architecture studios to founding No Objectives, a nonprofit using design, marketing, and policy interventions to turn 'minority rights into majority action'.

We dig into playbooks that move the needle: a municipal carbon budget calculator that treats emissions like money, so councils can plan within science‑based limits; Denmark’s (beautifully designed!) Reduction Roadmap, which rallied companies to demand binding caps aligned with the Paris Agreement; and a new method to quantify offsite biodiversity loss in supply chains, paired with obligations to restore the areas harmed. 

Along the way, Casper makes the cultural case for aesthetics as strategy. If the next economy looks worse, people will resist it. If it looks and feels better, the centre follows.

The heart of the conversation challenges language that has lost meaning. In a degenerative system breaching planetary boundaries, nothing is “sustainable” in isolation. Sustainability is an outcome, not a pathway. Regeneration is the work: restoring living systems while deepening democracy and shifting power over production. 

Listen in and if this episode sparked new thinking, follow the show, share it with a friend who cares about climate and culture, and leave a review to help others find us! 

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In this episode we're talking to Yunus Arıkan, Director of Global Advocacy at ICLEI, to look at how local government is at the centre of global climate action, and why the path to 1.5°C runs through streets, budgets, and everyday choices. From the Earth Summit and Local Agenda 21 in the nineties to COP30 in Belém, we connect the dots between global agreements and real change on the ground.

We explore the three essentials every city needs to deliver: skilled teams that can steer investment, deep community engagement that builds consent and momentum, and visible leadership that models that shift. 

Our conversation challenges the myth that only global capitals lead on the transition. Small and mid-sized cities often move faster, delivering zero-waste systems in Malaysia for example, or rapid fleet electrification at the scale of Guangzhou. The lesson is clear: innovation is not a postcode; it’s a mindset backed by governance.

Listen in if you care about sustainable urban planning, climate policy, and how to turn big goals into real outcomes – this conversation with Yunus offers practical insights and honest hope.

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What if money could finally measure what we truly care about—care, safety, culture, and thriving ecosystems—not just cash in the bank? We sit down with evolutionary economist Makoto Nishibe, head of the Good Money Lab, to explore how economies and the money that powers them can evolve together. 

Starting with Japan’s “lost decades,” Makoto explains why top-down policies and a single-number view of value failed regional communities, and how plural, adaptive thinking opened the door to community currencies and digital experiments that restore trust and resilience.

We unpack the idea of “good money” as a medium designed to serve the good life, not speculation. From QR payments and crypto to Japan’s 200+ digital community currencies, Makoto shows how technology lowers barriers for cities, banks, and citizens to co-create units that reward what matters: local exchange, volunteering, and ecological care. 

If you’ve ever felt that GDP and net worth don’t capture real prosperity, this conversation offers a practical, hopeful path forward—powered by digital tools, civic design, and a richer moral compass.

Listen in! 

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We sit down with Greenpeace veteran Steve Warshal to hear how bold actions, smart science, and sharp strategy turn radical ideas into real‑world results. Steve takes us inside the environment movement’s highs and lows, the cramped rooms where direct actions were weighed, and the quiet moments where patient resilience mattered more than headlines.

We talk about why legislation is the true endgame, how corporate “fear and greed” can be harnessed for climate progress, and what happened when Greenpeace launched a business‑facing newsletter that reframed sustainability as competitive advantage. Along the way, we revisit campaigns against CFCs, the Brent Spar showdown with Shell, PVC phase‑outs that centred human health, and the long road to a global oceans treaty. 

Listen in for amazing insights from someone who has been there for some of the most iconic campaign moments of the last 40 years. 

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In this episode we chat with broadcaster and property expert Kunle Barker to unpack a practical, hopeful blueprint for net zero in the real world. From the state of decarbonisation to the retrofit reality, Kunle explains why we won’t build our way to 2050 targets and how policy, funding, and design can unlock action at scale.

We explore the power of “carbon budgets” for everyday life—clear, kilo-by-kilo guidance that helps people choose high-impact steps without the guilt spiral. Then we zoom out to neighbourhood scale with “zero-bill streets,” where fabric-first upgrades, rooftop solar, and shared systems bring costs down and comfort up when delivered across entire terraces. 

Then nature takes centre stage as infrastructure, not ornament. Kunle shares how nature-based solutions cool overheated streets, manage stormwater, improve mental health, and even lift property values. We talk biophilic design plus CyanLines—a bold plan to connect Manchester’s green and blue assets into a citywide network you can actually walk. 

If you care about sustainable cities, healthier homes, and practical climate action, this conversation will give you ideas you can use today—from personal carbon choices to street-by-street transformation. 

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In this episode we're with Alessia Trabucco, Clean Mobility Coordinator at Generation Climate Europe, as she reveals how young voices are reshaping climate policy across the continent. 

Alessia explains how Generation Climate Europe brings together over 300 organisations across 46 countries to campaign for young peoples' perspectives to be recognised. Their successful campaign for a Commissioner on Intergenerational Fairness at the European Commission shows how strong and persistent advocacy can create lasting institutional change. 

Beyond policy work, Alessia highlights the emotional reality facing young Europeans—with 80% expressing worry about climate change and many experiencing eco-anxiety. She emphasises that clean mobility represents both environmental and social sustainability, affecting access to education, jobs, and overall life satisfaction. 

We also talk about her work on ASSIFERO's Climate Philanthropy Programme, and Alessia reveals how foundations worldwide are being encouraged to integrate climate considerations regardless of their primary focus.

Ready to join the climate conversation? Follow us for more discussions with sustainability leaders who are turning concern into action.

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In this episode we're talking to Sait Beyazyürek of NeedsMap, in a fascinating look at how to transform disaster relief through innovative digital solutions that connect those in need with those who can help.

NeedsMap functions as a digital marketplace for social good. Rather than commercial transactions, the platform facilitates the exchange of essential items and services using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to pinpoint exact locations of needs. This revolutionary approach proved crucial during Turkey's devastating 2023 earthquakes and also helped with Spain's 2024 floods in Valencia, where WhatsApp chatbots and real-time mapping tools helped coordinate relief efforts with unprecedented efficiency.

Beyond disaster response, NeedsMap addresses structural inequalities through data-driven decision-making, ensuring aid reaches marginalised communities including refugees and low-income families. Their work demonstrates how resilience and adaptability, forged through Turkey's experiences with multiple crises, can benefit humanitarian efforts worldwide.

Listen in to discover how we might use our technological expertise to address the pressing humanitarian challenges of our time.

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