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Cities were never meant to be lifeless landscapes of concrete, steel, and heat. In this episode, we speak with the founder of Leaf Island, an award-winning urban planning initiative that’s transforming rooftops, walls, and underused spaces into thriving green ecosystems.

Drawing on decades of environmental restoration experience, our guest explains how lightweight, plant-based infrastructure can cool overheated cities, reduce air pollution, manage stormwater, extend building lifespans, and restore biodiversity—all at once. From tackling the urban heat island effect in New York City to rethinking waste materials like styrofoam as ecological assets, this conversation explores how nature-based solutions can address multiple climate challenges simultaneously.

We also discuss why cities must be treated as living systems, the social and public-health benefits of bringing plants back into daily life, and what it will take to scale green infrastructure globally. This episode offers a hopeful, practical vision of urban futures where people, plants, and buildings work together—not against each other. 

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With thanks to Diana Colleen who joins me in this episode, she is a novelist, essayist, and psychedelic facilitator whose work explores transformation, responsibility, and social change.

We discuss her latest novel, They Could Be Saviours, which brings together three challenging themes: extreme wealth, climate change, and psychedelic-assisted insight. Rather than offering easy answers, the novel functions as a kind of ethical stress test; asking readers to sit with discomfort and question what we accept as “normal” in times of urgency.

Our conversation explores how Diana’s lived experience as a psychedelic facilitator has shaped her understanding of change and connection, why she chose fiction as a vehicle for engaging with complex moral questions, and what she means by framing “billionaireism” as a psychological and systemic issue rather than a personal moral failing.

We also talk about maximum salaries, structural versus individual responsibility for climate change, the limits of behaviour-focused environmental messaging, and whether fiction can help us think more clearly about what is, and isn’t, justifiable when the stakes feel existential.

This is a wide-ranging discussion about insight, ethics, and hope, and about what it might take to imagine meaningful change without collapsing into either cynicism or simplistic solutions. 

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In this first reflective episode, I step back from the usual guest format to explain why I’m including reflection episodes in this series.

I come from a science background, and something I’ve always cared about is not just what we know, but how we know it. Even within the biological sciences, different questions require different methods, types of evidence, and levels of analysis — especially when systems are complex. That challenge becomes even more pronounced in the social sciences.

I use Diversity, Equality and Inclusion as a case study of that complexity. DEI sits at the intersection of individual psychology, group dynamics, organisational systems, and moral and political values — which helps explain why people working in this space often focus on different parts of the problem and propose very different kinds of solutions.

Drawing on conversations with Paulo Galliano, Sarah Taylor, and Katherine McCord, I explore three distinct approaches to DEI: measurement- and outcomes-focused work, experiential and practitioner-led insight, and framework- and research-informed interpretation.

I also reflect on why bias — and bias training — has become a contentious topic, where it can be most useful, and how its importance varies depending on context and stage, from hiring to life inside organisations.

Rather than deciding who is right or wrong, this episode is about unpacking what different kinds of evidence can and can’t do, and how listening more carefully to those differences can help us make better sense of complex social issues.

Next week, the podcast returns to the usual guest format.

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This is a bonus episode that sits slightly outside the usual theme of the podcast.

It’s an interview I recorded that doesn’t neatly fit with my core topics, but I’m including it because it’s genuinely useful especially at this time of year. The conversation focuses how to question and listen to connect with family stories across generations, which feels particularly relevant if you’re spending time with relatives around the Christmas dinner table.

I was originally planning to release a standalone, more personal episode with just me at this point in the year. However, with the holidays and the need to reschedule, that episode has been postponed and will now be coming early next year.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this interview as something a little different and perhaps as inspiration for deeper, more meaningful conversations with your own family over the festive period.

Thank you for listening, and happy holidays.

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In this episode, Lynn shares stories from her work with clients: moments of resilience, humour, and connection that remind us what it means to support one another through life’s challenges.

I’ll also be doing a solo episode soon to talk about what’s coming up for the podcast and a few reflections as we head towards next year. There won’t be any new guests until January 2026, but there’s plenty to look forward to in the meantime.

🎧 Thank you for listening and for being part of this journey. If you enjoy the episode, please follow or share it, it really helps more people find the podcast.

💛 Health note: The stories and discussions in this podcast are for general interest and reflection. They’re not a substitute for professional medical advice.
If you’re considering changing your health, fitness, or wellbeing routine, please consult your healthcare professional first.

If you'd like to know more about Lynn's Insta: healthwithlynn

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In this episode, Lynn shares her expertise on training older adults — why strength, balance, and mobility matter more than aesthetics, and how simple exercises can make everyday life easier and safer. From preventing falls to building confidence, you’ll hear inspiring stories and evidence-based tips.

Whether you’re thinking about your own health as you age, or you want to help your mum, dad, or granny stay strong and independent, this conversation is full of insights you won’t want to miss. We have Lynn back next week before the winter break!

Just as a side note. In the episode we discussed the distinction between muscle mass and strength. I wasn't 100% sure so here is a short defintion: 

Muscle mass and strength are closely linked; bigger muscles can produce more force, but true strength also depends on the nervous system, technique, and coordination.

It is can be a good idea to consult a medical professional when starting on a new exercise/diet plan.

To find out more about Lynn take a look at:

Instagram: healthwithlynn

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What does it really mean to live outside the system? In this episode, I sit down with Arunjay to explore capitalism, money, and how we’re conditioned to equate success with wealth. From smoking analogies to the Matrix, we unpack how corruption and government capture shape our lives — and what it looks like to make choices on your own terms.

We also talk about the role of Gen Z, and the values which should shape future generations. 

To learn more about Arunjay go to:

https://www.arunjay.com/

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What does it mean to live as a humanist day to day? In this episode, James shares his journey: from questioning at school, to rediscovering community during the pandemic, to raising children with compassion and curiosity. We talk about dialogue, tolerance, and the role humanism can play in tackling today’s global challenges. Whether you’re new to humanism or simply curious about living with more openness and purpose, this conversation offers insights, stories, and plenty to reflect on.

A website about James:

https://in-sightpublishing.com/2024/02/18/james-hodgson-on-humanism-now/

Jame's podcast:

https://humanismnow.buzzsprout.com/

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What if your yard could feed your family, your neighbors, and your community? Greg Peterson has spent more than 30 years exploring permaculture and urban farming, transforming a third of an acre in Phoenix into a thriving “food forest” with 80 fruit trees, chickens, and abundance everywhere you looked. In this episode, Greg shares his journey from that backyard experiment to inspiring thousands through the Urban Farm, his podcast, and his seed and garden chats.

We talk about:

• Why healthy soil is the foundation of everything
• How to start growing food even in small urban spaces
• The role of water harvesting, seeds, and fruit trees
• Success stories of people who’ve been inspired to change their lives through gardening
• Why growing even a little food at home matters in a broken food system

Whether you’ve got a windowsill, a small yard, or a big dream, Greg shows how anyone can become part of the solution one seed at a time.

If you'd like to learn more go to:

https://www.urbanfarm.org/

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In this episode of Wayfinders, I’m joined by Leah, founder of the Wayfinder Group, who brings her experience as a lawyer, mediator, and systemic thinker to some of the biggest challenges facing our institutions today.

We trace Leah’s journey from a childhood of instability to the law courts, and then into conflict resolution and cultural change. Along the way, Leah unpacks what it means to create healthy workplace cultures, why denial is so deeply ingrained in institutional life, and how restorative justice could transform our approach to harm and healing.

This is a powerful conversation about accountability, leadership, and the courage to imagine new ways forward: rooted in the belief that nothing is too lost a cause.

To find out more:

https://www.thewayfindersgroup.com/

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