The Nature Between Us

Plastic pollution in our oceans is a well known and widespread problem, but because plastic never actually goes away, it just gets smaller and smaller, we are now fighting a new dilemma - micro/nano plastics.... and with recent studies suggesting seafood eaters consume around a credit card's worth of plastic each year, it's cause for concern.

In this episode Tessa speaks with conservationist and marine biologist Alice Forrest, who has spent the past decade traveling the world, researching plastic pollution and marine conservation, freediving with whales and teaching people about the importance of treading lightly. We discuss everything you need to know about microplastics, helpful habits you can adopt to avoid em/stop em, her experiences teaching in Antarctica, her self built tiny home, and lots of other interesting enviro saving stuff - like virtual reality !

Oh, and if you haven't already, you can download Al's recent e-book 'Micro Plastics / Massive Problem' here...

https://mailchi.mp/9f2bbc600638/microplastic

Listening and learning from First Nations Peoples is crucial to a healthy environment. In this episode Tessa speaks with Christian Hampson, a proud Woiwurrung and Maneroo Aboriginal man who is interweaving Indigenous knowledge and collaborative design thinking to walk a new path - away from conventional approaches.

In 2019 Christian co-founded Yerrabingin, a commercial design organisation that creates environmentally conscious native landscapes enriched with Indigenous narratives. One such project was the world's first Indigenous rooftop farm, that hosts over 2,500 Australian native edible plants, and is located on top of Yerrabingin House in South Eveleigh, Sydney. Prior to Yerrabingin, Christian had 20 Years experience as a Senior Cultural Heritage Manager with NSW National Parks where he conserved, shared and celebrated Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

This episodes centers around Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, what it means to care for and acknowledge Country, and Indigenous land management both in rural and urban settings. Christian also touches on the importance of oral knowledge and community kinship, the new Yerrabingin farm currently underway in Bargo, native edible plants, and what we can keep an eye out for when foraging in Sydney!

Follow Christian at @yerrabingin & @heathen_black and stay up to date with TNBU by subscribing and following @thenaturebetweenuspodcast

Cyrus Sutton is a professional surfer, documentary filmmaker, permaculturalist and DIY king. He's also a friend of Tessa's and in this episode the pair get chatting about small scale agriculture, surf adventures in Russia, life in a van, the commodification of nature and power of storytelling and mythology. Cyrus is a deep thinker with a clear understanding of the connectedness of our planet - from ecology to sustainability, to surfing and the way in which humans can have a more meaningful and rewarding existence within nature. He grew up in the OC in California, and has spent the majority of his life on the road, creating his own curriculum but since the covid shut down, he planted roots outside of Portland and put the decades of his regenerative farming and permaculture knowledge to good use.

Follow him @cyrussutton and keep up to date with future episodes @thenaturebetweenuspodcast

Talking about climate change can be riddled with pitfalls...and as it turns out - the scientific facts aren't necessarily the best place to start. In this episode Tessa speaks with one of Australia's best known social researchers and author - Rebecca Huntley. Along with degrees in Law and film studies, and a PHD in gender studies, Rebecca has written numerous books and essays, and is a regular commentator on radio and television. Having delved into some of our most complex social issues Rebecca recently turned her focus to helping the climate crisis and produced her latest book How To Talk About Climate Change In A Way That Makes A Difference. A remarkable study into which emotions are useful and which are not when it comes to climate change communication. In this episode we dig deep into the psychology of the human brain and explore how Australians really feel about climate change, why it's sometimes hard to engage, the perils of politicization and how best to tackle tricky and scary conversations.

The past 20 years has seen a staggering increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The cause? Scientific consensus says a warming climate is the culprit....but when you break it down, how exactly does that work? And how can futuristic technology and immersive storytelling help us to adapt? In this episode Tessa speaks with two weather obsessed guests. Nate Byrne - a meteorologist, oceanographer, Navy Lieutenant and ABC News Breakfast weatherman, and Emma Morris - an award winning documentary producer/director, immersive technology geek, and the brains behind a new augmented reality experience - Mt Resilience. We discuss our craziest weather experiences, the power of technology for science communication, how Mt Resilience came about and heaps of weather stuff like cyclones, sand sculptures, warming atmospheres, and the el nino and la nina effect.

Check out Mt Resilience at www.mtresilience.com.au

Stay up to date by subscribing and following TNBU on socials @thenaturbetweenuspodcast

In Australia, 71% of the population live in a major city - but how sustainable is this? And what exactly makes a city liveable? In this episode Tessa chats with Sydney City Councillor Jess Miller to find out. If you're a sydney local you might already know Jess. She was first elected to Council in 2016, and served as Deputy Lord Mayor from 2017-2018. She is currently the Deputy Chair of the Environment Committee, sits on the Cycling Advisory Committee, and is a big advocate for sustainable urban design and a diverse night time economy. Jess is also an Impact Strategist at the socially conscious Republic of Everyone. She breaks down what makes a city liveable, how Sydney City transitioned to 100% renewable energy, the power of trees and the importance of human connection to people and place. You can keep up to date with all her amazing projects on instagram @jessmillersydney, and stay up to date with TNBU by subscribing and following @thenaturebetweenuspodcast

Environmental law has existed since around the 1960s, however only recently have litigations pivoted to address the concerns of growing emission levels and a warming climate. In this episode Tessa speaks with David Barnden, the founder and principal lawyer of Equity Generation Lawyers - a law firm that specialises in Australian climate change law.

They discuss the history of environmental regulation in australia, the recent EPBC Act review, how covid is affecting the legal system, the economic impact of climate change inaction on investments and our global reputation, and of course the three high profile and progressive cases he's currently working on.

Before starting up Equity Generation David was also a principal lawyer at Environmental Justice Australia, and an associate at social justice law firm Maurice Blackburn. Beyond this David also has a background in applied sciences and coastal management, plus we heard he was a fellow surfer....so knew he'd be good egg!

Stay up to date by subscribing, and following on TNBU socials @thenaturebetweenuspodcast

Australia has over 600 national parks, taking up over 28 million hectares of land. Much of which was destroyed in the 2019-20 fire season. In this episode Tessa speaks with Peta Norris, a NSW National Parks veteran, who's worked in wildlife conservation, land management, fire prevention, and as a park ranger and professional firefighter. She breaks down what caused the catastrophic fire events earlier this year and why the tried and tested techniques failed to contain the blazes. We also discuss the recent Bushfire Inquiry Report, why wildlife conservation is key, and the importance of listening to First Nations People. Peta's clued up on environmental law too, so we touch on the recent Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 review, and discuss whos got the most 'clout' when it comes to environmental law in Australia.

And in true national park style....there's a symphony of birds singing in the background. Chirp chirp!

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Every day, Indonesia generates around 175,000 tons of waste, and is believed to be the second largest contributor of ocean plastics, behind China. But it's not all their fault. In this episode Tessa speaks with waste management strategist Joi Danielson about what makes Indonesia's waste problem unique, why waste management systems are so complex, and her experience living and working on the frontline with Project STOP - a program solving plastic leakage and creating change by proving that a circular economy IS possible.

Check out ProjectSTOP here: https://www.stopoceanplastics.com/en_gb/about/ and download Joi's e-book "Leave No Trace" here: https://www.vitalocean.org/

And stay up to date by subscribing, and following on TNBU socials @thenaturebetweenuspodcast

The Nature Between Us is a new podcast demystifying environmental issues in a bid to find solutions and positivity. Join host Tessa de Josselin in conversation with a variety of people working towards a healthier planet. These discussions are as much about unpacking climate change and sustainability issues, as it is about reigniting an appreciation for the natural world and how much we depend on it - as individuals, and humanity.

This podcast is recorded and produced on unceded Gadigal and Bidjigal country of the Eora Nation, it acknowledges they are the traditional owners of this land, and pays respects to their elders past present and emerging.

Stay up to date by subscribing, and following on socials @thenaturebetweenuspodcast