The Seed Pod.

In Episode 34 of The Seed Pod, Julie and I kōrero about all things conservation dogs and biosecurity in Aotearoa/New Zealand, including the rigorous training and testing required to become a conservation dog, what it's like working with a dog day-to-day, the biosecurity work they have taken part in, some great success stories, and her dreams for conservation here in Aotearoa.

In Episode 33 of The Seed Pod, Benji and I have a kōrero about the earth sciences, volcanology and geology field trips, submarine volcanoes (underwater volcanology), youth engagement, developing pro-environmental behaviours, storytelling, mātauranga māori, policy development, collaboration and more!

In Episode 32 we have collected together kōrero/stories from a range of incredible people in the community who take part in sports similar to those seen in the 2024 Paris Olympics. These sports showcase a diversity of opportunities for building mind and body connection as well as connection to the environment, places, people and identity.

Ngā mihi nui/Thank you very much to our contributors:

- Hana Tapiata (Amora ofa'ai/Tahitian Rock Lifting)

- Jaeda Ala’alatoa-Dale (Archery)

- Jess Lamb (Trail Ultramarathon Running)

- Hannah Thomas (Canoe Slalom)

- Ella Walmsley (Mountain Biking)

- Lisa Chahine (Equestrian)

- Brenda Lawson (Rowing)

- Jono Kidson (Sailing)

- Angus & Sian Crowley (Sport Climbing)

- Sian Crowley (Target Shooting)

- Alice McCullough (Surfing)

In Episode 31 of The Seed Pod, we have a kōrero with guest Anthea Ibell about her incredible scuba diving experiences including her love for sharks and her conservation work overseas with sea turtles and community education! Anthea is a sustainable business founder/owner with several businesses which tackle waste reduction and advocacy utilising plastic 'waste' to create beautiful products, and breaking into the toy industry! She talks about her experiences in business, and some of the challenges, as well as her parenting experiences through nature connection.

In Episode 30 of The Seed Pod, we feature our second guest host - Taylor Davies-Colley, and hear from guest Samuel Purdie. Taylor and Sam kōrero/chat about Aotearoa's incredibly diverse reptiles and the threats they face, adventures up in the mountains, the way that Sam has been able to capture the essence of wildlife and wild spaces through photography, science communication as an author, ways that we can work together to protect Aotearoa's critters, and so much more!

In Episode 27 of The Seed Pod. guest Holly Turner talks all things birds of prey! She has been lucky enough to work with a variety of incredible birds both overseas (including vultures, eagles, owls, hawks, and more) and right here in Aotearoa/NZ with the kārearea/NZ Falcon. We discuss how unique our falcons are here, release programmes, human-wildlife conflict, bird training, zookeeping, community projects, education, and adventures with Griffin (@gooodboygriffin) her beautiful Golden Retriever!

In Episode 26 of The Seed Pod. guest Ruud Kleinpaste a.k.a. The Bug Man takes us on a journey of connection through the fascinating would of bugs. We kōrero about his life purpose of building our network of nature-literate teachers and students, some notable bug experiences that both he and those he teaches have had, as well as the incredible things that come out at night! We talk deep connection in nature, critter intelligence, youth empowerment, myths about bugs, and so much more!