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In this episode Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of Polis Network, takes us on a journey through the evolving landscape of sustainable urban mobility. With over 21 years of experience working with European cities on transport innovation, Karen shares powerful insights on how municipalities are navigating the transition to more sustainable, equitable mobility systems. 

En route she powerfully debunks the false dichotomy between economy and ecology, explaining how green growth is not just environmentally necessary but economically essential: "If we don't invest now, the bill will be much bigger later," she says. 

We also cover the importance of innovation in policy responses, as well as in technology, and our conversation touches on how cities can overcome polarisation and resistance to change. Karen shares practical strategies for winning hearts and minds, including the power of temporary interventions that let citizens experience car-free spaces before making permanent decisions. 

Listen in to hear how cities are reclaiming their streets, reshaping transport systems, and creating more liveable urban environments for all.

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How do we create cities where people and not cars take centre stage? Mobility expert Gerwin de Boer takes us on a journey through the compellingly logical world of sustainable transportation planning.

De Boer approaches sustainable mobility not as an ideological crusade but as the only sensible solution for creating liveable urban spaces. Working with Goudappel, the Netherlands' premier mobility consultancy, he's helped transform Dutch cities through practical planning that prioritises people over vehicles, a blueprint for more functional, vibrant communities that Goudappel have exported across the world.

Our conversation explores how increasing urbanisation actually creates the perfect conditions for sustainable transportation. When cities are compact and well-designed, the need for extensive travel diminishes naturally. We discover how cultural contexts shape mobility choices—from extreme temperatures affecting cycling adoption to varying levels of government regulation influencing implementation strategies.

Ready to reimagine how we move through our cities? Listen now and join the conversation about creating urban spaces where sustainable mobility becomes the obvious choice.

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In this episode we talk to Tamsyn Hyatt, Director of Evidence at Frameworks UK, and talk about how strategic communications can drive meaningful social change. With a rich background spanning history, law, science, and activism, Tamsyn has dedicated her career to making complex social issues understandable through the power of framing and narrative.

The conversation unlocks what framing actually means in practice—making deliberate choices about how we communicate ideas to tap into different ways of thinking that already exist within all of us. Tamsyn introduces us to "cognitive polyphagia," our ability to hold contradictory understandings of the world and toggle between them depending on context. Through concrete examples like reframing justice in England and Wales, she demonstrates how positioning the rule of law as an enabler rather than merely preventative builds stronger public support.

At the heart of this episode is Frameworks UK's groundbreaking "Moving Mindsets" project, which maps the deep patterns of thinking people use to reason about health, wealth, and government. Their research reveals we're at an inflection point where individualism remains dominant but is being challenged by more systemic mindsets. Most excitingly, they've discovered that mindsets cluster together, with certain "linchpin mindsets" activating others within the same cluster. 

Listen now to discover how understanding and shifting mindsets could be the key to building a more just and sustainable world.

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What drives someone to dedicate their life to tackling the climate crisis? For Simon Stiell, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change , it's deeply personal. His tiny Caribbean island home was devastated by Hurricane Beryl just one year ago—a stark reminder of climate change's human toll that fuels his work on the global stage. In this episode we talk to Stiell alongside Mert Fırat the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador of UNDP Turkey.

This powerful conversation takes us from Stiell's hurricane-ravaged community to Turkey's promising renewable energy landscape. While acknowledging we're at a climate tipping point with accelerating impacts worldwide, Stiell highlights some remarkable progress that offers hope: renewable energy costs dropping below fossil fuels, technological advances, and encouraging leadership from various nations. The green transition offers substantial economic rewards—potentially saving $3 billion annually by reducing fossil fuel dependency while creating jobs, enhancing energy security, and improving export competitiveness.

We get the powerful reminder from Stiell that "Climate change does not respect borders... It is marching forward and humankind is directly impacted by it, and it's humankind to actually address it."

Listen to this great conversation on GoodGeist with someone at the very leading edge of climate action. 

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Sustainability and positive social change don't just happen by accident – they require strategic communication that cuts through the noise and inspires action. In this episode we're talking to Adeela Warley, Chief Executive of Charity Comms, as we explore the vital role communications plays in driving meaningful impact for charitable causes.

Adeela reveals how her passion for purpose has evolved into a powerful career dedicated to positive change. With over 20 years of experience and an OBE for services to charity communications, she offers unique insights into what makes campaigns truly resonate.

From the groundbreaking Big Ask climate campaign that led to the UK's world-first Climate Change Act to innovative approaches like Breast Cancer Now's AI-powered Gallery of Hope and Bite Back's cheeky "Commercial Break" campaign against junk food advertising, Adeela unpacks the DNA of successful initiatives that drive change.

And looking toward the future, Adeela identifies key trends reshaping charity communications: the ethical challenges of AI and evolving social media landscapes, the rising influence of Generation Alpha with their hunger for activism, and the charity sector's shift from doom narratives to solution-focused messaging that empowers people with agency.

Have a listen! 

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This week we're talking to Georgia Yexley, founder of Loud Mobility, who joins us to challenge everything you thought you knew about how we move around, including feeling joyful about sustainable journeys! 

Georgia's journey tracks from a Beijing-based bike-share pioneer to founding her fourth micromobility startup and reveals someone who understands that meaningful change happens when we focus on removing barriers rather than lecturing people about their choices. Her refreshingly human-centred approach rejects what she calls "toxic paternalism" in favour of creating experiences people actually want.

The She's Electric campaign exemplifies this philosophy perfectly – free, fun e-cycle events in local parks with music, refreshments, and space for children to play. The results speak volumes: 60% of participants identify as women or non-binary, and a similar percentage are taking their first-ever e-cycle ride. As Georgia puts it: "We don't tell people what's best for them. We ask, then we co-create."

Beyond specific initiatives, Georgia makes a compelling case for reconceptualising transport as a universal public good – similar to how we view education or healthcare. Perhaps most provocatively, Georgia challenges our societal discomfort with the concept of "fun" in transportation. In a world facing mental health crises and disconnection, shouldn't we be intentionally creating more joyful experiences? 

We kind of agree! Listen in to this episode to hear Georgia's take on inclusive, loud and sustainable mobility.

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In this episode we talk to Dr. Victoria Harvey as she takes us deep into the conflicted heart of the advertising industry, where creative professionals increasingly find themselves torn between profit-driven briefs and our shared and planetary future. 

Our conversation with Viki comes just two weeks after she published an expert briefing as part of a UK parliamentary debate on banning fossil fuel advertising. The debate was sparked by a petition led by Chris Packham that generated over 110,000 signatures. 

Viki talks about how her disillusionment with advertising's climate inaction led her to pursue groundbreaking research at the University of East Anglia and then onto becoming active in influencing the entire sector. And she doesn't mince her words about the industry's moral responsibilities, delivering the powerful challenge: "If your brand is contributing to the climate crisis, change it. If you can't change it, ditch it." 

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What happens when we stop viewing clean energy projects in Africa as charity and start seeing them as critical infrastructure investments? In this thought-provoking conversation, Isona Shibata, Head of International Programmes at Ashden, the climate solutions charity, challenges our fundamental understanding of sustainability finance.

Drawing from her fascinating journey from architecture in the Niger Delta to leading international programmes, Isona reveals how unreliable energy access fundamentally undermines all other sustainability efforts. Her lightbulb moment came when she realised that "the energy efficiency of a building was kind of irrelevant if you didn't have reliable access to energy in the first place."

We find out about Ashden's Powering Clean Energy Investment programme and the recognition that small-scale renewable energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa deserve the same long-term investment horizon as traditional infrastructure. For thousands of communities across Africa, decentralised off-grid solutions will be the primary route to electricity for generations – making these investments no less significant despite their smaller scale.

Have a listen to this fascinating set of insights into how to make sustainable energy progress happen in Africa. 

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Meet Jodie Wu, a pioneering clean tech entrepreneur in Africa who reveals for us the transformative power of sustainable innovation.

When Jodie graduated from MIT and packed her bags for Africa, she thought she'd be gone for six months. Sixteen years later, she's still there, having built multiple successful social enterprises that are revolutionizing access to clean energy and water in remote communities. As CEO of OffGridBox, she's developed a containerised solution that can be rapidly deployed to bring solar power and clean water to areas conventional infrastructure can't reach.

While global investment in renewable energy has surpassed $1.3 trillion, a mere fraction of that reaches healthcare facilities—despite 60% of health  centres in sub-Saharan Africa functioning without reliable electricity. Off-Grid Box bridges this gap by providing 24/7 solar power to rural health facilities, enabling life-saving equipment to function consistently rather than relying on expensive, unreliable diesel generators.

Also via W Power, Jodie's creating pathways for female engineers to gain technical experience and leadership roles in energy projects across the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond.

Listen in to discover how a simple solar-powered box is saving lives, empowering communities, and proving that climate solutions can be delivered today—even in the most challenging contexts.

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In this episode we talk to two remarkable women who are helping to revolutionise transportation across Africa, proving that climate solutions can be powerful economic engines when communities are put at the centre of innovation.

Claire Bakhita from GoGo Electric is transforming Uganda's massive motorcycle taxi industry, where 1.5 million riders form the backbone of daily mobility. By replacing conventional motorcycles with electric alternatives, riders save a staggering 40% on operating costs – money that goes directly to supporting families and building futures. "We're creating local jobs in battery swapping, vehicle assembly, maintenance and customer support," Claire explains.

Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, Lisa Mare and Mobility for Africa have developed  a solar-powered electric tricycle specifically designed for rural women who have been overlooked by traditional transportation systems. With a remarkable 400kg carrying capacity and 100km range, these vehicles are doing far more than moving people and goods. "It's doubling and tripling incomes," Lisa reveals, pointing to concrete evidence that sustainable mobility directly translates to economic empowerment.

Ready to support Africa's clean mobility revolution? These proven, scalable solutions deliver both measurable climate benefits and transformative social impact. As Claire aptly puts it: "When we focus on the people, when it's about getting more money in their pockets, meeting their basic needs – that makes our business model even more sustainable."

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