“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.

On The Responsible Edge podcast, Veronica Heaven, founder of The Heaven Company, issued a direct challenge to corporate leaders: sustainability must be driven from the top, or it will never be more than a box-ticking exercise.

Sustainability is often perceived as slow-moving, requiring long-term strategies and systemic change. But what if it could be approached with the same urgency and precision as high-performance engineering?

On The Responsible Edge, Jamie Shaw shares his experience embedding sustainability into industries that thrive on speed—Formula One, automotive manufacturing, and now, luxury flooring. His insights reveal how industries focused on performance and efficiency can accelerate sustainability without compromising their core business objectives.

In this episode of The Responsible Edge, host Charlie Martin sits down with Nicky O’Malley, a leader in nature-positive business strategy. With a career spanning conservation, corporate responsibility, and high-impact campaigns, Nicky has a clear message: businesses must move beyond sustainability and towards regeneration.

The Responsible Edge podcast, hosted by Charlie Martin, recently featured Julien Lancha, co-founder of Advizzo, a purpose-driven SaaS platform helping water and energy utilities drive efficiency and sustainability through data. From Julien’s corporate tech career to his entrepreneurial pivot, his journey offers hard-won lessons for sustainability startups trying to carve out market space and create lasting impact.

In a recent episode of The Responsible Edge, Peter Mitchell shared invaluable insights into the evolving role of landowners, estate managers, and sustainability leaders in shaping the future of UK land use. With a career spanning military ambitions, rural estate management, and now sustainability leadership, Peter’s journey offers a unique perspective on the challenges — and opportunities — facing landowners in a climate-conscious era.

On a recent episode of The Responsible Edge, host Charlie Martin sat down with Lauren Wilkinson, a sustainability professional with experience at a leading global drinks brand and a recently completed master’s in Energy, Society and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh.

Through her experience, Lauren uncovered a hidden weakness in corporate sustainability strategies — the environmental blind spot created by marketing supply chains. From branded bar mats to pop-up displays and giveaway merchandise, these materials often escape sustainability oversight, despite being produced at scale.

On a recent episode of The Responsible Edge, Matt Hocking, founder of Leap, a certified B Corp design agency, shared his philosophy on enoughism—the idea that businesses should redefine success not by relentless expansion, but by understanding what is truly enough.

As businesses worldwide scramble to prove their sustainability credentials, Matt challenges the assumption that scaling up is always the goal. Instead, he advocates for a model where impact, purpose, and resilience outweigh unchecked growth.

“For any ecosystem to thrive, it has to have balance. Growth for growth’s sake leads to collapse. We’ve seen it in nature, and we’re seeing it in business.”

This conversation explored the risks of overgrowth, the integrity of sustainability certifications, and why businesses must redefine their purpose beyond profit.