Spare a Thought

In this episode of Spare a Thought, Tom is taken in a time machine to 2030 by author, activist and environmentalist Rob Hopkins to show us how we averted the climate crisis and reshaped our relationship with nature and the planet.

During their conversation Rob tells Tom about working in a Tibetan monastery in Tuscany Italy, what he learned from a maverick teacher in Ireland about permaculture and he describes what the future tastes, smells and looks like. 

You can follow Rob on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robhopkins5085/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yoodooright1968 

Visit Rob’s website and sign up to his newsletter the Time Traveller’s Gazette: https://www.robhopkins.net/ 

You can purchase Rob’s book How to Fall in Love with the Future here: https://www.robhopkins.net/the-book/ 

Rob and Mr Kit have made an immersive music and video experience called Field Recordings from the Future: https://www.fieldrecordingsfromthefuture.co.uk/home 

Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan: http://www.transitiontownkinsale.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/kinsaleenergydescentactionplan.pdf 

Follow Tom’s work via his Substack: https://tomspare.substack.com/

Keep up to date with Spare a Thought via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spareathoughtmedia/

You can listen to all previous episodes of the show wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://spareathought.podbean.com/.

Spare a Thought is a Be the change. Media Network production. 

In this episode Tom interviews Charlie Edmonds from Civic Square, an organisation demonstrating neighbourhood-scale civic infrastructure for social, ecological, economic, and climate transition.

Together Tom and Charlie discuss the gap between the idealistic vision of architecture students are taught at university vs the profit driven private practice they work in. Charlie outlines his own journey from architect to Mission Co-Lead for Neighbourhood transitions.

Charlie outlines the three demonstrators Civic Square are building:

The conversation across this episode tells a really important story: neighbourhood buy-in and co-design are essential for navigating climate change. 

Head to Civic Square’s website to see what projects they are working on: https://civicsquare.cc/

Attend free events hosted by Civic Square: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/civic-square-30350377814 

Read Civic Square and Dark Matter Lab’s report into the impact that rising temperatures will have on urban settings in the UK over the next 100 years: https://medium.com/neighbourhood-public-square/3%C2%BAc-neighbourhood-582903b050b2

Read Civic Square and Dark Matter Lab’s chapter on Endowing the Future: https://medium.com/neighbourhood-public-square/endowing-the-future-65041b0f88cd 

Civic Square’s work is based around Dan Hill’s Designing Missions: https://shorturl.at/uFcSO 

Civic Square’s Doughnut Demonstrator is based off Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics: https://www.waterstones.com/book/doughnut-economics/kate-raworth/9781847941398 

The Danish project Doughnut for Economic Development: https://www.effekt.dk/doughnut-for-urban-development 

You can follow Tom’s work via his Substack: https://tomspare.substack.com/

Keep up to date with Spare a Thought via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spareathoughtmedia/

You can listen to all previous episodes of the show wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://spareathought.podbean.com/.

Spare a Thought is a Be the change. Media Network production. 

This episode marks a special milestone: Spare a Thought’s 1st Birthday! A huge thank you to every listener, guest, and supporter who has helped us reach 33 episodes and nearly 2,000 downloads! 

Your host, Tom Spare, takes a moment to reflect on the show's journey - from its beginnings with The Political Dispatch to becoming a standalone show - and gives a special shout-out to the Founding Director of Be the Change. Media Network, Lily Mott, on her recent shortlist nomination for Cardiff University’s 30(ish) Awards.

In honour of Black History Month and as part of our 'Educating for the Future' series, Tom is joined by Clarice Rodney, the Operations Manager of the Black British Book Festival .

Clarice shares her career path and tells the story of how the festival began and how it has grown into a vital space for writers and readers. Together, Tom and Clarice discuss the powerful role of reading and storytelling in understanding our world, referencing the words of James Baldwin, and how the festival acts as an essential voice in a complex and often divisive media landscape. Clarice also shares invaluable advice for emerging writers, particularly those from Black and other marginalised communities, on getting their work published and seen.

The conversation looks ahead to the Black British Book Festival, which takes place on October 19th at the Barbican Centre in London.

You can book your tickets to the Black British Book Festival via the Barbican’s website: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/black-british-book-festival-2025

Listen to Keyari Page’s Shadow and Light: https://shadowandlightpod.podbean.com/

Listen to the previous episode of Spare a Thought with Sinnead Ali: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/a-matricentric-future/

Listen to the most recent episode of The Political Dispatch - Trouble in France and Britain's Far Right March: https://thepoliticaldispatch.podbean.com/e/trouble-in-france-and-britains-far-right-march/ 

And Olivia Dean’s latest album The Art of Loving is available to buy and stream wherever you get your music from. Head to Olivia’s website for more information about her music and upcoming tour: https://www.oliviadeano.com/ 

Spare a Thought is a Be the Change. Media Network production. 

Follow Spare a Thought on Instagram: @spareathoughtmedia. 

You can listen to all previous episodes of the show wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://spareathought.podbean.com/.

Tom interviews friend and founder of Womb CIC, Sinnead Ali who has recently opened a new studio space in Cardiff. The conversation covers Sinnead's journey from working at Cardiff Students' Union with Tom to traveling and becoming a yoga teacher. They discuss the inspiration behind Womb CIC, including Sinnead's personal experience with health issues, her work in Singapore hosting women's circles, and her training in pre-and post-natal yoga.

Sinnead explains the term "matricentric" and how it influences the studio's holistic approach to wellness. Together Tom and Sinnead talk about how a matricentric future would centre the needs of mothers, leading to a ripple effect that benefits all of society. The conversation also highlights the Womb Festival, which focused on "bringing back the village" and supporting people during the fourth trimester. Sinnead shares how the festival's location in Grangetown, the most ethnically diverse ward in Cardiff, was chosen to be a welcoming and safe space for the community.

Tom and Sinnead also discuss the challenges of the asylum system in the UK, the work of charities like Asylum Justice, and the importance of community-based services to support parents.

To follow the latest news and events from Womb CIC head over to https://www.instagram.com/womb.sanctuary/ 

You can book sessions at the studio via https://www.wombcic.co.uk/ 

Sinnead’s yoga studio Womb on 99 Woodville Road, Cathays, CF24 4DY

Spare a Thought is a Be the Change. Media Network production. 

Follow Spare a Thought on Instagram: @spareathoughtmedia. 

You can listen to all previous episodes of the show wherever you get your podcasts or head to https://spareathought.podbean.com/.

Tom interviews Jay Chard, a PhD student from the University of South Wales who is researching the role universities play in a just climate transition. 

Together Tom and Jay discuss the terminology used by climate scientists, they explore the meaning behind climate justice and debate the role universities play in helping to adapt during ecological, environmental, social and economic change.

Are universities complicit in climate breakdown? What is their role in fighting climate change? And are universities preparing their students to deal with the challenges climate change brings?

Spare a Thought is a Be the Change. Media Network production.

Follow Spare a Thought on Instagram: @spareathoughtmedia

You can listen to all the previous episodes of the show wherever you get your podcasts from or head to: https://spareathought.podbean.com/ to listen now.

Join Tom as he interviews Sam Cullis London Breeze Film Festival founder and Executive Director. Amongst other roles, Sam is Tom’s former Film studies teacher. Together they discuss Sam’s career path into the film world, the influence of former teacher Ray Wilkinson on both their lives, how new filmmakers can break into the industry, as well as discussing the timeline of the London Breeze Film Festival and look ahead to the Festival, which takes place in October. 

The London Breeze Film Festival takes place between 22nd and 26th October. You can find out more about the festival via their Instagram and check their website: https://londonbreezefilmfestival.com/

Spare a Thought is a Be the Change. Media Network production.

Follow Spare a Thought on Instagram: @spareathoughtmedia

You can listen to all the previous episodes of the show wherever you get your podcasts from or head to: https://spareathought.podbean.com/ to listen now.

In this episode, Tom speaks with Chris Thorpe, an apprenticeship coordinator and project manager at a photonics company. Chris discusses the importance of getting kids into STEM fields, his own non-linear career path, and how technology will shape the world of work for the school leavers of today. 

Spare a Thought is a Be the Change Media Network production.

Follow Spare a Thought on Instagram: @spareathoughtmedia

For exclusive insights and reflections, subscribe to Tom's Substack: tomspare.substack.com 

Tom hears from five members of Generation Covid, a cohort of young people whose education and lives were completely changed by the pandemic. This episode shares the stories of Will, Izzy, Emily, Eden and Emma as they recall navigating the early days of lockdowns. A sudden end to childhood, few formal goodbyes, and a jarring start to adulthood.

In Season 2, Tom also collated the accounts of 12 people who have lived with Long Covid, and in a follow-up episode, explored how society can better support them. You can listen to those episodes below:

Living with Long Covid: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/living-with-long-covid/

Supporting those living with Long Covid: https://spareathought.podbean.com/e/supporting-those-living-with-long-covid/

Subscribe to Spare a Thought and follow us on Instagram: @spareathoughtmedia. For exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and extended reflections, subscribe to Tom’s Substack: tomspare.substack.com

Spare a Thought is a Be the Change. Media Network production.

In the final episode of Going Spare in the USA, Tom flies to Washington, D.C., on the eve of the US Presidential Election polling day. He finds a city holding its breath and watches a tense election night unfold from a crowded pub in the shadow of Capitol Hill. In the days that follow, Tom visits the Capitol Building and a museum dedicated to the Palestinian people, and finds a moment of peace at the Lincoln Memorial. The series concludes with a final reflection on his journey and the state of a nation as a new era of politics begins.

Subscribe to Spare a Thought and follow us on Instagram: @spareathoughtmedia.

For exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and extended reflections on the US, subscribe to Tom’s Substack: tomspare.substack.com.

Spare a Thought is a Be the change. Media Network production.

Tom takes an epic Amtrak train journey, crossing four states to get from New Orleans to Atlanta. Onboard he meets a couple travelling to New York, talks voodoo and paranormal activities with an Amtrak worker and stays in a sketchy motel once he reaches Atlanta. 

Join Tom as he explores the lives of two Georgia’s greatest sons: Martin Luther King Jr, and former President Jimmy Carter. 

Subscribe to Spare a Thought and follow us on Instagram: @spareathoughtmedia.

For exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and extended reflections on the US, subscribe to Tom’s Substack: tomspare.substack.com.

Spare a Thought is a Be the change. Media Network production.