Planet Pulse Pacific

In this episode, we bring you a recording of Emma Strutt's presentation as part of the recent 2024 Athletes for Nature Webinar Series.

Emma is Ben's partner in crime here at The Lentil Intervention, but for anyone not familiar with her professional background, she is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, a Fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine and the founder of Greenstuff Nutrition. Emma also holds a certificate in plant-based nutrition, a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training qualification, a Diploma in Sustainable Living and a Grad Cert in Climate Change Adaptation.

In this presentation, Emma explores how athletes can reduce their ecological footprint through their food choices. She provides the ins and outs of transitioning to and thriving with a plant-powered eating pattern while avoiding the more common pitfalls.
You can watch the video presentation of this episode here.

In this episode, Emma covers:
• An overview of the current ecological crisis
• Greenhouse gas emissions of our food system and why methane matters so much
• Ecological impact of our food choices
• Solutions to feed the world within planetary boundaries
• Safety and efficacy of plant-based diets for athletes
• Meeting carbohydrate and protein needs with plants
• Key micronutrient considerations
• Meal planning tips and tricks
• Common pitfalls to avoid
• Plants, fibre and gut health

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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In this episode, we bring you a recording of Damian Hall’s appearance as part of the recent 2024 Athletes for Nature Webinar Series.

Damian is a renowned ultramarathon runner and athletics coach who has represented Great Britain, consistently achieving remarkable results in some of the world’s most challenging races. He is also a seasoned journalist and the author of several acclaimed books, including the award-nominated We Can’t Run Away From This, which delves into the effects of running on our climate and ecological crisis. Beyond his athletic and literacy achievements, Damian is a dedicated climate activist, participating in multiple environmental organisations and initiatives, and co-founding The Green Runners.

If you love what you hear and want to listen to more of Damian’s wisdom, he first appeared on the podcast last year in season 4, episode 19.

In this presentation, Damian chats with our co-host Ben about the surprising ecological impacts and considerations of sports, and prompts us to identify changes for a lighter footprint.
You can watch the video presentation of this episode here.

In this chat, Damian covers:
• His background, foray into ultrarunning and passion for the environment
• The inspiration behind Damian’s latest book, We Can’t Run Away From This
• Ecological impact of sports shoes and clothing, and travel for sporting events
• Ethical considerations regarding sports sponsorship
• Progressive environmental action within the trail running space
• Damian’s experience in the Barkley Marathon
• Embracing imperfect climate advocacy and being a climate hypocrite
• The influence of athletes and how we can use that power for good!
• The mission of The Green Runners and their four key pillars

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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In this episode, we bring you a recording of Dr Mike Joy’s presentation as part of the recent 2024 Athletes for Nature Webinar Series. This was the first of a 3-part online webinar series for outdoor enthusiasts about the current climate emergency and the actions we can take to protect our playground.

Mike is a leading freshwater ecologist, researcher, and award-winning science communicator, fearlessly championing awareness and action to tackle our planet’s urgent environmental concerns. Mike’s upcoming memoir The Fight for Freshwater provides a first-hand look at the pressures and challenges faced by those who dare to raise their voices, especially when debating issues as critical as the health of Aotearoa’s waterways. Dr Joy is a regular guest of the podcast, most recently appearing in our season 4 finale here.

In this presentation Mike discusses our current ecological and climate crises, providing valuable insights about the challenges confronting our planet. Dr Joy also outlines the essential steps needed for transitioning to a more sustainable future.
You can watch the video presentation of this episode here.

In this episode, Mike covers:
• De-escalating economic growth to stay within ecological limits
• Agriculture’s contribution to our overstep of planetary boundaries
• New Zealand’s poor environmental performance
• Intensive agriculture and nitric oxide
• Water pollution in New Zealand
• Realities of renewable energy
• The energy density of fossil fuels vs renewables
• Understanding energy return on investment (EROI)
• The dangerous illusion of net zero

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Dr Kate Wylie is an Adelaide-based GP, the founder of Climate Medicine, and the Executive Director of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), a not-for-profit advocacy organisation that recognises human health depends on a healthy environment. Dr Wylie is a master communicator who has emerged as a leading voice in Australia for highlighting the health implications of climate change while championing change and actionable solutions.

This is Kate’s second full episode and third appearance on the podcast, first chatting with us in season 1 episode 22 and contributing to our end-of-year wrap-up in 2021. With significant developments in planetary health and Dr Wylie’s professional journey since our last conversation, catching up was long overdue!

In this episode, we had the opportunity to delve into DEA's recent endeavours and discuss our climate's current state. Kate shares insights into the profound effects of climate change on the health of Australians while highlighting the importance of proactive measures.

Despite the multitude of challenges posed by climate change, Dr Wylie’s message remains resolute: Our planet is worth saving, and so are we. It’s not game over, it’s game on.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Kate’s shift from general practice to becoming Executive Director of DEA
• Hiking the Larapinta Trail to raise money for DEA
• The recent 2024 iDEA conference
• Fossil Fuels as a health hazard
• DEA’s lobbying work and recent submissions
• The Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity Bill and Senate Inquiry
• Why we should consider the health impacts of proposed fossil fuel projects
• Health impacts of vehicle emissions
• The increase in allergens due to climate change
• The carbon footprint of various asthma inhalers
• Climate change and health hazards: Heatwaves, extreme heat, flooding and storms, bushfires
• Key messages from the 2023 MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change
• Healthcare sustainability – transitioning to an environmentally sustainable healthcare sector in Australia
• Kate’s suggestions on how we can all advocate for change

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Andre Borell is not just a filmmaker and investor, he’s a catalyst for change and a maker of good trouble! We first chatted with Andre in season two of the podcast, hot on the heels of the release of Envoy: Shark Cull, a documentary that sheds light on the long-running ‘shark safety’ programs in place in QLD and NSW. In this episode, we catch up with Andre and delve into his work since the film’s debut, including the establishment of the Envoy Foundation and their recent annual reports. We revisit the critical importance of protecting sharks as a keystone species in our oceans, highlighting the shortcomings and environmental consequences of current shark control methods while exploring more sustainable solutions.

But that’s not all! In addition to his work with Envoy Foundation, Andre has taken on a new role as a board member of the Norwegian Whale Reserve. (Does he ever sleep? We’re not sure…) This visionary conservation initiative is to be an open sea sanctuary nestled in the pristine fjords of Norway, dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing captive whales. We dive into the details of this project and their vision for the future.

Prepare to be inspired by this insightful conversation with an extraordinary human being!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Andre’s work since the release of Envoy: Shark Cull
• His relocation to Singapore
• The imperative of safeguarding sharks for ocean health
• Shark control (culling) methods still used in Australia and more appropriate alternatives
• Government reluctance to change their culling programs
• Ethical considerations of current programs, including huge concerns regarding bycatch
• The fantastic work of the Envoy Foundation – it is conservation reimagined!
• Recent Envoy Foundation reports including the NSW Shark Meshing Program and the QLD Shark Control Program reviews
• Andre’s involvement in the Norwegian Whale Reserve and the project’s mission
• Ways to support the Norwegian Whale Reserve and Envoy Foundation
• Andre's upcoming projects - watch this space! 

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Dr Sally Gillespie is an author, lecturer, workshop facilitator, and trainer for Psychology for a Safe Climate. We first spoke with Sally in season 2, episode 27 about her book Climate Crisis and Consciousness: Re-imagining Our World and Ourselves and how to deal with eco-anxiety. Since speaking with Sally in 2021, the changing climate continues to impact our communities and our mental health. Many communities have endured bushfires, floods, storms, coastal erosions and heatwaves, yet important community resilience-building actions are still lacking in many areas.

Sally’s recent article in Explorations in Climate Psychology Journal explores the significant mental health impacts associated with the escalating climate disasters in Australia - often overlooked when discussing climate change. So, in this episode, we unpack her article in more detail as Sally highlights the need for trauma-informed care and community-based practices to address this worsening crisis.

In the face of such uncertainty, holistic, resilience-building approaches, that integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern psychological insights are now more important than ever, when it comes to supporting individual and community health.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Sally’s recent work and involvement in the Climate Psychology movement
• The generational shift occurring within the climate psychology space
• The high percentage of Australians impacted by climate disasters
• Mental health impacts for disaster survivors
• The huge burdens on local agencies providing mental health support services
• Systemic causes that have driven the climate and environmental crises
• A need to honour Indigenous knowledge for a truly inclusive community approach
• Looking to grassroots community movements to help foster a sense of empowerment
• Creating safe spaces for sharing stories and trauma, including the importance of ceremony
• Dealing with eco grief, doomerism and burnout
• Utilising grounded narratives when initiating climate conversations

If this story has raised concerns for you or someone you know, you can contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636 in Australia or Lifeline at 0800 LIFELINE (0800 54 33 54) or free text HELP (4357) in New Zealand.

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Esther Gathambo, originally hailing from Kenya and now calling New Zealand home, is a social entrepreneur and businesswoman driven by a powerful mission. In 2020 Esther founded Sawubona, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering African artisans, promoting fair trade and sustainability practices, and nurturing a sense of community and shared experiences.

In this conversation, we delve into Esther’s upbringing in Kenya, exploring the enduring impacts of colonialism and her insights into the transformative potential of business. We learn the inspiring story behind Sawubona and how Esther’s venture is actively improving the lives of artisans and communities while forging meaningful connections between Africa and New Zealand.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Esther’s background and experience growing up in Kenya
• The power of education, and being the first in her family to attend university
• The colonisation of Kenya and consequent impacts on communities
• Loss of cultural and community identity and intergenerational trauma
• The exploitative nature of capitalism
• Ethical and sustainability issues in business supply chains
• The story of Sawubona
• The benefits of supporting social enterprises
• Ethical considerations as a consumer
• The importance of protecting cultural art 

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Joining us for his second appearance on the show, Dr Jack Auty is a lecturer in the Medical Sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania. Jack leads research on the intricate connections between inflammation and disease. With a diverse array of interests, ranging from the impact of microplastics on lung and gut inflammation to the potential use of common anti-inflammatories in treating Alzheimer's disease, Jack's work is at the forefront of medical research.

If this is your first introduction to Dr Auty, please take time to listen to his first podcast episode with us here, as it will give you a more detailed background on his fascinating work to date. In this episode we focus in on Jack’s work with AdriftLab, where he’s been looking at wildlife impacted by microplastic exposure and the ability of plastic to directly induce severe, organ-wide scar tissue formation.

In this episode we discuss:

• Jack’s background and previous research
• Various hypotheses which may explain the rise in allergies
• The work of AdriftLab, led by the wonderful Dr Jennifer Lavers
• ‘Plasticosis’ – evidence for a new plastic-induced fibrotic disease
• The types of plastics commonly found in seabirds and the global marine plastic load
• Plastics, microplastics and their unique inflammatory potential
• How inflammation impacts the body and how plastic can make its way into cells throughout the body
• Potential implications of these findings for both humans and other wildlife
• The need for an interdisciplinary approach when researching pollution’s impact on wildlife and human health
• Identifying laboratory sources of microplastic and nanoplastic contamination
• Top tips for reducing plastic exposure in daily life
• Plastics as a delivery mechanism for a wide range of toxic chemicals
• Future research projects for Jack and AdriftLab
  
  

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Dr Neal Haddaway is a photojournalist and environmental photographer whose work highlights the damaging impacts of capitalism and unchecked economic growth. With a PhD in environmental science and a 20-year career in environmental research and academia, Neal boldly chose to transition his career to photography fuelled by a desire to inspire others visually and reconnect with his passion for environmental conservation.

Neal makes a strong argument for the importance of storytelling in science communication. Through his work, he aims to bridge the gap between science and public perception, recognising the significance of compelling narratives in driving positive change. Here we discuss his poignant photojournalism projects and publications, and the mental health toll on those working in environmental academia, and much more.

While many of the topics we cover are quite heavy, they are important to be aware of. Neal encourages us all not to look away, but rather to keep learning, keep broadening our understandings and keep engaging in discussions with others. Knowledge is power and serves as our armour against misinformation. It provides us with the tools to challenge falsehoods and build a better society and future for both people and the planet.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Neal’s background and passion for the environment
• Neal’s motivation for pivoting to photography after 20 years in academia
• Communicating science via photography
• Persuasion and the importance of storytelling
• Mental health risks associated with climate research
• Project 'Hope?' And how to grieve for the planet
• Climate scientists and the pressure to be perfect
• Building systems of support for environmental scientists
• Climate anxiety as a Western concept
• Environmental crises due to our current economic, political and social systems
• The true cost of our food - the story of the salmon and the tomato
• Coal Scars – The long-term landscape trauma of our obsession with coal
• How we can be more effective advocates for the planet

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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And we’re back! Welcome to Season 5 of The Lentil Intervention Podcast. We are thrilled to be bringing you more insightful discussions, inspiring stories and scientific snapshots this year, and we are certainly kicking things off with a bang with our first guest, Max Romey.

Max is a phenomenal artist, filmmaker, producer, educator, trail runner and environmental advocate based in Anchorage, Alaska. Max uses his unique blend of watercolours and videography to highlight the complexities of environmental problems impacting both local and global communities.

We learn about Max’s background and inspiring outlook on life, as well as discuss his latest works which focus on the once pristine wilderness of Katmai National Park and Preserve. Unfortunately, even with its remoteness, the world’s rubbish problem has come knocking on Katmai’s shores. Even though the debris on Katmai might come from a world away, when it comes to ocean plastics we are all in the same boat, so this conversation with Max only serves to underscore the need for global action – no matter where we are located, we’ve all got a role to play.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Max’s background and love of painting
• Retracing his grandmother’s travels and artwork
• Communicating climate and environmental science through art
• Important considerations for impactful filmmaking and storytelling
• Max’s relationship with many of the world’s top trail runners
• Katmai National Park and its sizeable marine debris problem
• Max’s previous film No Lost Shoes and his upcoming release Footprints on Katmai
• The ocean’s oxygen factories (phytoplankton) and concerns with microplastics
• Inspiring behaviour change while living in an imperfect world
• Making a change by starting at home

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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