Meliora: a podcast from the Sustainability & Resilience Institute

In this student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast we discuss the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12, which concerns responsible consumption and production. 

We begin with an overview of what SDG 12 is and the critical global issues of unsustainable production and consumption which led to its creation. Discussing the goal itself highlighted the requirements and obligations for countries to implement to achieve this goal. This allowed us to consider and analyse how well countries and global companies are achieving the requirements of the goal in practice. The podcast centred on countries exemplifying both successful and unsuccessful progress towards the goal, including South Korea, Rwanda, Indonesia, Japan, The United States and India. Finally, upon consideration of the countries struggling with achieving the goal, we provide recommendations for how this goal could be improved to increase country achievement and address the global issues of unsustainable consumption and production. 

Episode Host: Aymen Fatima 

Episode guests: Oleksandra Fedorenko, Maisie Cook 

Episode editor: Maisie Cook 

Episode researchers and script-writers: Katie Dixon, Bilquis Tijani 

This episode is part of the Student Takeover Season on the Meliora Podcast and is a group project from the University of Southampton UOSM2043 Global Sustainability Challenges module.

In this student takeover episode of the Meliora podcast, we explore the sustainability issues surrounding the rising trend in weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, to assess the extent to which they align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Framed through SDG 3 (Good health and wellbeing), SDG 5 (Gender equality), and SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production), we discuss the disparities between medical benefit, social pressure, and environmental cost. From the growing use of single-use injection pens and emerging concerns about drugs entering water systems, to gendered expectations around body image.

With research in this area still developing, we ask: are these drugs a breakthrough for solving the obesity crisis, or a new sustainability challenge we’re not prepared for?

 Episode Host – Maya Whyte

Episode Guests – Bethany Mackay, Coumba Sarr, Marie Campion

Episode Editor – Ellie Howell

This episode is part of the Student Takeover Season on the Meliora Podcast and is a group project from the University of Southampton UOSM2043 Global Sustainability Challenges module.

This student takeover episode of the Meliora podcast explores the effectiveness of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and attempts to answer the following question: “COP: Cop It or Drop It.” ?

This is achieved through an investigation into the 2 main COP legislations, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. We discuss the efficacy of these legislations to then evaluate their overall success in today’s world. 

We explore the limitations, growing concerns around weak enforcement, insufficient national commitments and lastly highlight the key successes of these legislations. To illustrate these challenges, we also discuss concepts like carbon leakage and economic trade-offs.  

Ultimately, this episode asks: is COP still fit for purpose, or is it in urgent need of reform to meet the global sustainability goals?

Roles and names of group members:

o   Episode Host- Savana Mroue

o   Episode Guests- Leilah O’Connell, William Taylor

o   Episode Editor- Ethan Ward

o   Episode researcher and main script writer- Carmen West

This episode is part of the Student Takeover Season on the Meliora Podcast and is a group project from the University of Southampton UOSM2043 Global Sustainability Challenges module.

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Takeover Season, Jess and Eden discuss whether plant-based diets are the key to a sustainable future and, if so, whether this change starts with the individual. From climate change to biodiversity loss, to public health and food security, they unpack the evidence linking our food system to growing global environmental and sustainability pressures. 

The conversation goes beyond emissions alone, examining how meat production places such a heavy demand on land, water and natural ecosystems, while also considering the health benefits associated with more plant-rich diets. Rather than presenting sustainability as an all-or-nothing choice, this episode highlights the power of realistic, collective progress. Through the lens of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the discussion shows how governments, industries and individuals all have a role to play in creating a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable food system.

Episode Co-Hosts/Guests: Eden and Jess 

Episode Editor: Srilekha 

Episode Researchers and Script Writers: Rowan, Erin and Rebekah

This episode is part of the Student Takeover Season on the Meliora Podcast and is a group project from the University of Southampton UOSM2043 Global Sustainability Challenges module.

In this student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast from the Sustainability & Resilience Institute at the University of Southampton, we investigate a highly important yet easily overlooked resource - sand. What happens when something we assume is limitless turns out to be one of the most exploited materials on Earth, sitting at the heart of a global sustainability crisis?

Drawing on global, regional and local examples, we explore how sand underpins modern life, from infrastructure and technology to urban mega-expansion. Through real-world investigation, our discussion highlights the way in which communities and natural environments are affected by the consequences of sand mining, questioning who holds responsibility for change. With urban expansion growing so rapidly, can we truly balance the global infrastructural demand for sand with sustainability? This discussion aims to highlight the most detrimental impacts of the sand mining industry whilst also presenting potential solutions, allowing listeners to rethink the hidden impact of one of the world's most important resources.  

This episode is part of the Student Takeover Season on the Meliora Podcast and is a group project from the University of Southampton UOSM2043 Global Sustainability Challenges module.

Group member roles

Researchers: Bailey Reeves, Daisy Powell, Jack Durrans, Barnaby Williams and Neha Vijayakumar

Podcast hosts: Bailey Reeves, Neha Vijayakumar

Podcast guests: Daisy Powell, Jack Durrans

Editor: Barnaby Williams

In this student takeover episode of the Meliora Podcast from the Sustainability & Resilience Institute (SRI) at the University of Southampton, we are discussing the sustainability impacts of veganism and the barriers that prevent individuals from adopting a vegan diet. 

Veganism has been shown to produce the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of dietary styles; however, a mere 1-2% of the UK population are vegans. There are many barriers that prevent individuals from becoming vegan, from culture and psychology to cost and lack of education. In this episode, we dive deeper into why these barriers exist and what needs to be done to overcome them, with education as the main method. 

To learn more about how to have a nutritionally complete diet as a vegan, we recommend visiting the NHS website: 

·      https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/the-vegan-diet/

And if you want to read more about veganism and the barriers faced, we recommend the following papers:

·      Meat‐related cognitive dissonance: The social psychology of eating animals. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12592

·      Dissociating meat from its animal origins: A systematic literature review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2019.104554

·      Indian Animal Ethics https://doi.org/10.1017/S1477175622000227.  

·      The nutritional composition and impact on UK dietary intakes of meat and plant-based meat alternatives https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00577-7

 Episode host: Helenya Baker

Episode guests: Athanasia Hagios, Nick Chen, Alice Houlden, Kate Waller

Episode editor: Kate Waller

Episode researcher and script writer: Ollie Thompson

This episode is part of the Student Takeover Season on the Meliora Podcast and is a group project from the University of Southampton UOSM2043 Global Sustainability Challenges module.

In this episode of the Meliora Podcast Student Takeover Season we address student consumer awareness gaps across the sustainability topics of food, sport, music and travel. Analysing the results sent to 34 fellow University of Southampton students, alongside the Knowledge-Attitude-Behaviour Model we explore knowledge-behaviour gaps and possible reasons affecting our choices across these topics. By the end, we hope this allows you to reflect on your own personal sustainability challenges and increase your awareness on some of the sustainability impacts addressed, so that we can all aim to make more sustainable choices.  

Episode host: Alice 

Episode guests: Jayne, Ryan, Aurora 

Episode editor: Charlie 

Episode researchers and scriptwriters: Nicola, Alice, Jayne, Ryan, Aurora, Charlie

This episode is part of the Student Takeover Season on the Meliora Podcast and is a group project from the University of Southampton UOSM2043 Global Sustainability Challenges module.

In this episode of the Meliora podcast Student Takeover Season we discuss the complex sustainability challenges hidden within the multi-billion dollar chocolate industry. From widespread deforestation and climate impacts to the stark pay inequalities and human rights issues facing West African farmers, we explore the true cost of chocolate production and who is responsible for driving change towards a sustainable industry. Does the power lie in you, the consumer, or must systemic change be enforced by large corporations and governments?

• Kathy Gladman – Researcher (Environment) & Writer (Deforestation)

• Lucy Doble – Researcher (Culture), Writer (Overconsumption), & Speaker

• Poppy Cannon – Researcher (Society), Writer (Inequality), & Speaker

• Samuel Dexter – Researcher (Economics), Writer (Debate), & Host

• Thomas Barnes – Researcher (Policy), Writer (Intro/Outro), & Editor

This episode is part of the Student Takeover Season on the Meliora Podcast and is a group project from the University of Southampton UOSM2043 Global Sustainability Challenges module.

We are absolutely thrilled to be joined by the most impactful Sustainability Leader in the Higher Education sector, the hugely inspirational Jamie Agombar, CEO of Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS) UK!

Jamie chats about his career transforming sustainability across the HE sector, his work leading sustainability at NUS and forming SOS-UK, his journey as a neurodivergent person, how working with young people continues to inspire him, and how being sold a dream and also being sold a lie changed his life and the sustainability sector forever!

Guest: Jamie Agombar

Host: Prof Simon Kemp

Editor: Mya Harvey

Welcome to Part 2 of our double episode asking ‘if there’s a Zombie Apocalypse, how on Earth will we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?’. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, we suggest you listen to that first. 

The brilliant Jack Dinham (UG, Meliora producer & editor) and I continue to discuss our nerdy love for zombie books, movies, and tv shows, exploring the sustainability metaphors surrounding zombie culture, and using our scoring system to determine whether a zombie apocalypse would be net positive or negative for the SDGs. Jack’s research and clarity of explanation for this double episode is amazing!

We hope you enjoy this second part of our light-hearted, popular-culture focused, off-beat and alternative entry point for addressing the SDGs. All for the greater good! 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️

Episode zombies: Jack Dinham and Simon Kemp

Producer & Editor: Jack Dinham

These episodes are for Lily Killner and Sophie Green