The Responsible Edge Podcast

Laura Hunter grew up in the shadow of deindustrialisation. Raised in a coal mining village in South Yorkshire, she witnessed first-hand how progress for some meant devastation for many. That early understanding of inequality and its deep social consequences shaped the trajectory of her career—and the powerful insights she shares today.

In the latest episode of The Responsible Edge, Laura joined us to explore how the structures underpinning business are holding back progress on sustainability—and why redesigning them is now urgent.

In an era where digital health solutions are booming, Amber Vodegel is proving that innovation doesn’t have to come at the cost of ethics. Speaking to The Responsible Edge podcast, Amber shared the remarkable story behind her new venture, 28X—a revolutionary period tracking app aiming to transform women’s health by putting data ownership, accessibility, and integrity at its core.

🎙️ “We need to give women the power back over their own data,” Amber explained, detailing a blueprint for business that challenges the profit-first model dominating today’s tech landscape.

In this episode of The Responsible Edge, we welcomed Robin Stopford, CEO of British clean tech innovator PowerVault. With a career that began at Rolls-Royce developing large-scale coal power stations, Robin's journey has taken a decisive and deliberate turn—from heavy industry to household-level sustainability. His story isn’t just a reflection of professional evolution, but a window into how decentralised energy, behavioural nudges, and pragmatic system thinking can drive systemic change.

PowerVault is pioneering affordable residential battery storage, helping consumers harness solar energy and store it for use when the grid is under pressure. But behind that simple idea lies something much bigger: a model for reducing grid strain, supporting renewable adoption, and giving consumers more agency without demanding lifestyle sacrifice.

“Waste is money.” It’s a simple phrase—but in the hands of South African sustainability leader Tozama Kulati Siwisa, it becomes a blueprint for transforming lives, rethinking business, and tackling climate change from the ground up.

In this episode of The Responsible Edge, Tozama joins host Charlie Martin to share her deeply personal and professional journey—from becoming a mother at 15 and putting herself through university, to leading sustainability for some of South Africa’s biggest companies. But this isn’t just a story of corporate ESG frameworks—it’s about how self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship can be taught, lived, and scaled to create true change.

On this episode of The Responsible Edge, host Charlie is joined by Kian Bakhtiari—founder of The People, a purpose-driven creative consultancy working with some of the world’s most recognisable brands. Kian also sits on the advisory board for the British Fashion Council and was formerly part of UNLEASH, a global innovation lab for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This conversation explores the uncomfortable space between progressive messaging and commercial interest—shedding light on why well-meaning marketing campaigns often backfire, and how a deeper understanding of cultural intelligence might be the missing link between purpose and authenticity.

On The Responsible Edge, we’re constantly exploring how ethics, responsibility, and sustainability can shape the future of business. This week’s episode was no exception, as host Charlie Martin sat down with interior designers Chloe Bullock and Matthew Freeman, two of the UK’s most thoughtful advocates for sustainable interior design.

Their journey through design—spanning from childhood memories of carefully curated living rooms to pioneering work with The Body Shop and British standards committees—showcases a vital transition in the sector. At the core of the conversation? The need to redefine luxury, rethink material value, and resist the fast-paced consumerism that dominates the interiors industry.

But this wasn’t just a nostalgic stroll. Chloe and Matt laid out a tangible, exciting framework for the future—one that makes sustainability accessible, desirable, and even profitable.

On The Responsible Edge podcast, host Charlie Martin sat down with Sophia Haywood, Director of UK & EU Government Affairs, Policy & Sustainability at LanzaJet, to explore how sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is poised to transform the aviation industry—and what’s holding it back. In a wide-ranging but focused conversation, Sophia unpacks the policy and investment gaps that threaten to stall an industry critical to net zero.

From aviation mandates to ethanol conversion tech, she makes a compelling case for immediate action—and smarter policy—to drive both demand and production of SAF in the UK and Europe.

“Until people have reliable electricity, you can’t ask them to prioritise the environment.” That’s the reality, according to David Drew – former Coca-Cola sustainability lead for Africa – who joined The Responsible Edge podcast to share his unique perspective on the sustainability paradox facing the Global South.

Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, David grew up catching snakes in the garden and birdwatching in the tropics. His love for nature was sparked early, but his career took him deep into the world of plastics, business growth, and complex trade-offs. It’s this blend of personal connection with the environment and real-world commercial experience that makes his perspective on the current ESG landscape so sharply grounded.

In a recent episode of The Responsible Edge, Charlie sat down with Marissa Rosen, founder of US-based consultancy Climate Social, to explore the changing role of digital communication in sustainable business—and the unsettling blurring of truth and influence across our feeds.

It was a conversation grounded not only in strategy, but in lived experience. Marissa, who has spent over a decade supporting sustainable organisations in their use of digital platforms, offered a unique perspective on how platforms like Meta are shaping (and warping) public discourse, what brands can do to communicate responsibly, and why we might need a ‘licence to publish’ in the future.

On this episode of The Responsible Edge, Charlie is joined by marketing and hospitality professional Kieran Corbitt — a self-confessed advertising obsessive whose passion for brand storytelling started as a child and has evolved into a mission to bring ethics, diversity and meaning into an industry not always known for its progressive roots.

In a wide-ranging and personal conversation, Kieran reflects on the formative power of advertising, the significance of authentic representation, and how his work at The Alchemist and KG Hospitality shows that purpose-driven marketing is not just relevant for hospitality — it’s urgently needed. But this isn’t another ‘do good, feel good’ piece. It’s a case study in what happens when marketing gets personal, brands listen, and meaningful change follows.