Second Nature

What if sustainable tourism wasn’t a niche — but the future of land management?

Archie Barnes, Estate Custodian at Mornacott, isn’t just managing land — he’s rewriting the rules on how we connect with it. From a background in marine biology to running one of the UK’s most forward-thinking estates, Archie has turned “unreasonable hospitality” into a tool for conservation, creating experiences so wildly thoughtful they make guests stop in their tracks.

Archie shares how persistence, creativity, and a bit of audacity helped him build a career that blends science, hospitality, and land stewardship. This is a masterclass in sustainable tourism, purpose-driven work, and the kind of hospitality that could change how we treat the land — and each other.

Want to stay at the incredible Mornacott Estate, book your holiday now: https://www.mornacott-cottages.co.uk/

With thanks to Will Guidara who inspires us to be unreasonable in everything we do https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/

Asher Clark, co-founder of Vivobarefoot, is dismantling the myths we’ve built around footwear. In a world obsessed with more padding, more support, more stuff, he’s asking a radical question: what if less is the way forward?

From seventh-generation cobbler roots to creating a global brand on a mission, Asher’s journey is proof that purpose and profit can walk the same path. We talk about the realities of building a mission-led business, the sacrifices it demands, and the deep connection between human health, sustainability, and how we move through the world.

This is about more than shoes — it’s about the imprint we choose to leave.

What if the future of Scotch isn’t in its past — but in tearing up the playbook entirely?

Rich sits down with Annabel Thomas, founder of Nc’Nean, the whisky distillery that’s not just rewriting the rules — it’s ignoring them altogether.

No dusty traditions. No legacy pretence. Just a radical vision for what whisky could be: organic, elegant, sustainable, and built from the ground up by someone who never cared about doing it the “proper” way.

They dive into the uncomfortable truths the industry won’t talk about — gender bias, greenwashing, legacy worship — and what it really takes to build a business that lives its values, not just markets them.

This isn’t just a whisky story. It’s a blueprint for how to start something bold — and stay brave when the world tells you not to.

Can you build a climate start-up that actually works?

Rob Godfrey, co-founder of Treeconomy, sits down in the Shoot Room to challenge the broken logic of carbon markets — and offer something better.

They dive into what it means to measure nature like it matters, how remote sensing and rewilding can work hand-in-hand, and why biodiversity has been left behind in the rush to hit Net Zero.

This isn’t theory. This is about how two people started a company now moving capital across continents — from the Global North to the forests that actually hold the carbon. From polite climate ambition to something far more radical: results.

If you’ve ever wondered how we really fix this — this is where the conversation starts.

What does it really take to stay at the top for nearly four decades?

And what do you lose along the way?

Rich Stockdale sits down with Paddy Dring, joint head of Knight Frank’s Private Office. With 36 years in the ultra-prime property market, Paddy shares candid insights on balancing relentless client demands with personal sacrifice, the secret to earning trust in a world of billionaires, and how a legacy brand stays relevant by adapting — without losing its soul. If you want to understand what high performance truly costs, and how to navigate it with integrity, this conversation is a must-listen.

This is the EV movement for nature — invest early or miss out.

The Oxygen Conservation Carbon Curve 2025 is here — and in this special episode, Chris Winter and Rich Stockdale take you inside the forecast that's already sending shockwaves through the carbon market.

They reveal how a £125-per-tonne deal is shaking up the UK market and rewriting the rules on impact and integrity.

They unpack the new Oxygen Conservation 2025 Curve and confront a hard truth: much of what’s called climate action today might be nothing more than greenwashing.

What does it take for a carbon credit to be truly premium? Why is the UK leading the charge, and can it avoid the pitfalls of hype and overpromise?

Beyond the numbers, they dig into the deeper question of how personal transformation — like becoming a parent — changes the way you fight for the planet’s future. This is raw, honest, and essential listening for anyone serious about the real economics of saving the natural world.

📥 Download the full report → https://www.oxygenconservation.com/?p=4306&preview=true

What if the future of luxury… was refillable?

Can a bottle still feel premium when it’s been reused — again and again?

Howard Davies, co-founder of Salcombe Distilling Co., shares a journey that’s as much about place and purpose as it is about crafting perfect spirits. From the spark of a barbecue conversation to scaling a distillery on the water’s edge, Howard pulls back the curtain on the challenges, risks, and breakthroughs of building a luxury brand with heart. If you think sustainability and premium spirits don’t mix, think again. This episode dives deep into how passion, quality, and ethical choices shape every bottle — and why the refill revolution might just be the future of luxury.

Are you ready to rethink what it means to be truly sustainable? To question the status quo? This conversation is for anyone curious about the real craft behind the craft spirit.

Born above the Arctic Circle, Elena Doms saw climate collapse before most of us believed it was real. Now she’s leading a not so quiet revolution — not with protests or politics, but with hemp and soil.

Rich sits down with the founder of Earth Plus to talk about leaving the corporate world behind, witnessing the Arctic melt in real time, and the urgent fight to restore our most overlooked resource: the ground beneath our feet.

They dig into radical regeneration, invisible pollution, carbon sinks turning into emitters, and how a forgotten plant could help heal the planet — fast.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to actually do something about climate change… this is it.

Andrew Hicks, CEO of Biodiversity Exchange (bngx) and former NatWest banker, joins Rich Stockdale PhD for a no-nonsense conversation about leadership, ambition, and the real cost of high performance.

Andrew shares his journey from global finance to building a digital marketplace aimed at making biodiversity net gain (BNG) policy work in practice — potentially reversing decades of environmental decline.

This episode cuts through the greenwash to ask: can markets really save nature? And what happens when leadership means standing apart from the herd?

Esme Evans returns to the Shoot Room—ecologist, estate manager, and now a vital part of the Oxygen Conservation Natural Capital team. With a background in marine biology and ecology, Esme’s journey has taken her from discovering new species in Madagascar to managing nearly 1,000 acres of complex estate land in Cornwall.

But what does it really take to balance biodiversity goals with community relationships and bureaucracy? How do you lead when conservation meets local skepticism? What challenges come with pioneering blue carbon projects in the Firth of Tay? And is the UK’s biodiversity net gain policy truly delivering on its promises—or just creating more paperwork?

Esme shares candid insights into the learning curve she’s faced, the mistakes made, and the bold plans for restoration and natural capital projects in 2025. She opens up about the realities of managing estates at scale and the passion it takes to fight biodiversity loss on the ground.

If you want to understand what natural capital looks like beyond the buzzwords—how it’s built, managed, and defended—this episode is a must-listen.

Are we ready to rethink conservation? What does success really mean in today’s world? Tune in and join the conversation.