Planet VIP Podcast

In this conversation, acclaimed artist and award-winning filmmaker Deborah Anderson shares how her gifts as a channel and spirit weaver shape her creative work, from Women of the White Buffalo, which gives voice to Lakota women and their resilience, to her upcoming project The Lost Language of Her, a journey listening deeply to Mother Earth and the wisdom of elders across the Americas. We also explore her ORA Pathway method, the vital role of women in global healing, and the importance of reconnecting with ancestral guidance and the unseen at a time of profound change.

Architect Joe MacDonald — founder of Urban A&O, former Harvard professor, and early pioneer of regenerative design — shares how innovations from net-zero data centers to smart cities and eco-resorts are redefining sustainable architecture worldwide.

Drawing on his journey from working with Zaha Hadid to leading a firm that embeds SDGs into every project, he shows how transformative, low-carbon, and climate-resilient design is already reshaping the built environment for a more sustainable 2050.

In this episode, Explorer and Founder of Global Warrior, Jim McNeill, shares his journeys from frontline polar expeditions to the depths of the ocean and his ambitions to explore deserts, mountains, and jungles, revealing how the planet's five extreme environments expose the real impacts of climate change and inspire action.

Through his Ice Warrior and Ocean Warrior projects, Jim reveals how ordinary people can contribute to vital scientific research, the power of purpose-driven exploration, and why storytelling is key to motivating change for our planet.

Ava Lee of Global Witness discusses the alarming scale of online abuse targeting land and environmental defenders worldwide. Drawing on insights from a 2025 global survey, she highlights the urgent need for platform accountability and better protection for those fighting for people and planet.

In this episode, Dr. Jacqueline Kerr, behavioral scientist and systems change expert, unpacks the complexity of Scope 3 emissions — the often-overlooked category that accounts for up to 90% of a company’s total emissions.Jacqueline brings crystal-clear insight into why Scope 3 matters more than ever, and how leaders across all functions — not just sustainability — can take meaningful, collaborative action to reduce emissions, avoid greenwashing, and build long-term resilience.

Ecosystems Revivalist & CEO of One Billion Tress for Africa, Tabi Joda brings the Great Green Wall of Africa to life — not just as a reforestation project, but as a movement of hope, agency, and climate resilience. Through powerful storytelling, he shows how restoring land can restore dignity, livelihoods, and the future of an entire continent.

What if a new outfit and one conversation could change a woman’s future?

That’s the reality at Smart Works, a UK charity helping unemployed women find the confidence, clothing, and coaching they need to succeed in job interviews and transform their lives.

Karishma Navsaria, Philanthropy Manager at Smart Works and former J.P. Morgan wealth advisor, shares how the charity is unlocking economic opportunity through trust, inclusion, and community — one woman at a time.

What does climate change look like through the eyes of those living it? In this moving episode of the Shades of Life Impact Podcast, Ingrid Lung speaks with award-winning filmmaker Deej Phillips about The Weight of Water, his documentary on water scarcity and cultural resilience in Southeast Asia. Deej shares how storytelling rooted in human experience can spark empathy, action, and a deeper understanding of the climate crisis — reminding us that adaptation alone isn’t enough without urgent climate action.

In 2024, over half the world voted in an unprecedented global election year — shaping the future amid climate, conflict, and economic uncertainty. Richard Mudariki, a Zimbabwean artist and founder of ArtHARARE, tell us about his bold exhibition inspired by it “The 2025 Artist General Election.” As the world watched Trump’s inauguration, Richard posed a radical question: What if artists ran the world instead of politicians? We explore how art, long a driver of political discourse, can inspire change, challenge power, and reimagine democracy.

Benjamin R. Nathan, an award-winning filmmaker and founder of "ALL OF US FILMS," shares how to harness the power of storytelling to inspire transformative action for individuals and the planet. He now offers mentorship to impact-driven entrepreneurs and creatives eager to use their talents for positive change.