The Seed Pod.

In Episode 25 of The Seed Pod. guest Charlie Thomas returns to tell us all about their recent expedition to South Georgia Island, Antarctica! We kōrero/chat about wild, remote places, the incredible young expedition crew, the powerful landscapes, and the abundance of animals that Charlie is capturing through their art and written word, officially getting to name a leopard seal, their incredible nature tattoo collection, and so much more!

In Episode 23 of The Seed Pod. guest Rose Todd and I kōrero/chat about bringing nature inside through indoor plants, the art and practice of caring for houseplants, the power of plant propagation, landscape architectures' role in urban development, climate resilient landscapes and gorilla planting, as well as the downfalls of the plant industry.

In Episode 22 of The Seed Pod. guest Sam Gibson and I kōrero/chat about living as part of nature, and being inherently connected to the whenua/land. We discuss the deep knowledge that 'bush people' including hunters, fishers and foragers have. Sam talks about the importance of mahinga kai/food gathering sites for identity, connection and culture and how he and a group of hunting friends started the Eastern Whio Link Project to protect crucial habitat and mahinga kai areas. We talk conservation tools, the catastrophic impacts of wild cats and dogs, raising kids in the bush, and mokopuna decision making - decisions with future generations in mind.

In Episode 21 of The Seed Pod. guest Oscar Thomas and I kōrero about some of the unique manu/birds found here in Aotearoa/NZ. Oscar shares captivating tales of his encounters with rare bird species, including the majestic Tokoraki/King penguin, and his thrilling adventures with Kōkako, Kākāpō, and seabirds. He also offers insights into his journey as an author, with his latest work, "A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of New Zealand 2nd edition," now available. Oscar takes us on a virtual tour of some incredible wildlife hotspots... and he unveils his bird of choice for the Bird of the Century competition!

In Episode 20 of The Seed Pod. guest Amber Sisaričh and I share in the fascinating world of fungi, the symbiotic mycorrhizal networks underneath our feet that form the 'wood-wide web', treating bush walks as "fungi treasure hunts", science communication through illustrations and murals, the Kiwi Conservation Club magazine, life on Rakiura/Stewart Island, working with kiwi and tuatara and the opportunities which have opened doors for her career in conservation.

In Episode 19 of The Seed Pod. guest Noah Fenwick and I nerd-out about invertebrates, in particular the largest and the smallest of Aotearoa's moth species. We talk invertebrate surveys, light-trapping, photography, host-plant dependence, mimicry, an expedition to the Sub-Antarctic Islands, beautiful rare manu/flying creatures, and why we need our wonderful repo/wetlands!

In Episode 18 of The Seed Pod. guest George Hobson and I kōrero/chat about the role law and policy can have in environmental protection, as well as the systems change needed to ensure laws/policies are improved from what we currently have. We discuss the disappointment we have felt in the inadequate policy brought forward by all parties leading up to this year's general election, a 10-step plan for progress in climate change reduction, adaptation and mitigation, as well as the role of sanctuaries and zoos in nature connection, conservation and advocacy.

In Episode 17 of The Seed Pod. guest Charlie Thomas and I talk about conservation in very remote locations; including Kure Atoll, processing the grief of natural selection as well as conservation work through art communication, the impact of rubbish on the moana/sea, burnout and imperfect environmentalism, an upcoming expedition to South Georgia in Antarctica, Sooty Terns, Albatross, and finding the owner of a stolen umbilical cord?!

In Episode 16 of The Seed Pod. guest Connor Wallace and I talk about making a difference through setting up successful restoration projects, biodiversity monitoring, extreme weeding, working with native bats and kākāriki (parakeets), youth leadership and wellbeing, fossil hunting, computer science, storytelling for funding projects, and the impact and dedication of community volunteers.