Shaun Lee - Auckland's Hauraki Gulf

Joining us for his second appearance on the show, Dr Jack Auty is a lecturer in the Medical Sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania. Jack leads research on the intricate connections between inflammation and disease. With a diverse array of interests, ranging from the impact of microplastics on lung and gut inflammation to the potential use of common anti-inflammatories in treating Alzheimer's disease, Jack's work is at the forefront of medical research.

If this is your first introduction to Dr Auty, please take time to listen to his first podcast episode with us here, as it will give you a more detailed background on his fascinating work to date. In this episode we focus in on Jack’s work with AdriftLab, where he’s been looking at wildlife impacted by microplastic exposure and the ability of plastic to directly induce severe, organ-wide scar tissue formation.

In this episode we discuss:

• Jack’s background and previous research
• Various hypotheses which may explain the rise in allergies
• The work of AdriftLab, led by the wonderful Dr Jennifer Lavers
• ‘Plasticosis’ – evidence for a new plastic-induced fibrotic disease
• The types of plastics commonly found in seabirds and the global marine plastic load
• Plastics, microplastics and their unique inflammatory potential
• How inflammation impacts the body and how plastic can make its way into cells throughout the body
• Potential implications of these findings for both humans and other wildlife
• The need for an interdisciplinary approach when researching pollution’s impact on wildlife and human health
• Identifying laboratory sources of microplastic and nanoplastic contamination
• Top tips for reducing plastic exposure in daily life
• Plastics as a delivery mechanism for a wide range of toxic chemicals
• Future research projects for Jack and AdriftLab
  
  

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Dr Neal Haddaway is a photojournalist and environmental photographer whose work highlights the damaging impacts of capitalism and unchecked economic growth. With a PhD in environmental science and a 20-year career in environmental research and academia, Neal boldly chose to transition his career to photography fuelled by a desire to inspire others visually and reconnect with his passion for environmental conservation.

Neal makes a strong argument for the importance of storytelling in science communication. Through his work, he aims to bridge the gap between science and public perception, recognising the significance of compelling narratives in driving positive change. Here we discuss his poignant photojournalism projects and publications, and the mental health toll on those working in environmental academia, and much more.

While many of the topics we cover are quite heavy, they are important to be aware of. Neal encourages us all not to look away, but rather to keep learning, keep broadening our understandings and keep engaging in discussions with others. Knowledge is power and serves as our armour against misinformation. It provides us with the tools to challenge falsehoods and build a better society and future for both people and the planet.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Neal’s background and passion for the environment
• Neal’s motivation for pivoting to photography after 20 years in academia
• Communicating science via photography
• Persuasion and the importance of storytelling
• Mental health risks associated with climate research
• Project 'Hope?' And how to grieve for the planet
• Climate scientists and the pressure to be perfect
• Building systems of support for environmental scientists
• Climate anxiety as a Western concept
• Environmental crises due to our current economic, political and social systems
• The true cost of our food - the story of the salmon and the tomato
• Coal Scars – The long-term landscape trauma of our obsession with coal
• How we can be more effective advocates for the planet

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

And we’re back! Welcome to Season 5 of The Lentil Intervention Podcast. We are thrilled to be bringing you more insightful discussions, inspiring stories and scientific snapshots this year, and we are certainly kicking things off with a bang with our first guest, Max Romey.

Max is a phenomenal artist, filmmaker, producer, educator, trail runner and environmental advocate based in Anchorage, Alaska. Max uses his unique blend of watercolours and videography to highlight the complexities of environmental problems impacting both local and global communities.

We learn about Max’s background and inspiring outlook on life, as well as discuss his latest works which focus on the once pristine wilderness of Katmai National Park and Preserve. Unfortunately, even with its remoteness, the world’s rubbish problem has come knocking on Katmai’s shores. Even though the debris on Katmai might come from a world away, when it comes to ocean plastics we are all in the same boat, so this conversation with Max only serves to underscore the need for global action – no matter where we are located, we’ve all got a role to play.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Max’s background and love of painting
• Retracing his grandmother’s travels and artwork
• Communicating climate and environmental science through art
• Important considerations for impactful filmmaking and storytelling
• Max’s relationship with many of the world’s top trail runners
• Katmai National Park and its sizeable marine debris problem
• Max’s previous film No Lost Shoes and his upcoming release Footprints on Katmai
• The ocean’s oxygen factories (phytoplankton) and concerns with microplastics
• Inspiring behaviour change while living in an imperfect world
• Making a change by starting at home

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

We’ve reached the Season 4 finale of The Lentil Intervention podcast!
In our last episode for 2023, we sit down with podcast favourite Dr Mike Joy to recap the pressing environmental and climate concerns that have defined the past year. We also have a frank discussion about the necessary actions that can result in a better future for all. From climate change to degrowth, Dr Joy provides valuable insights and expertise that sheds light on the challenges our planet is currently facing, and he discusses concepts and principles that can help us transition towards a more sustainable future.

In a special segment, we address listener questions about effective environmental activism, where Mike lends his perspective on the actionable steps we can all take to make a meaningful impact in the fight against climate change and environmental disasters.

As we wrap up Season 4, we want to express our deepest gratitude to our incredible listeners for joining us again this year. Your support fuels our passion for environmental and health advocacy and knowledge-sharing. We look forward to coming back for Season 5, where we will continue to explore new health and environment topics and amplify the voices of those inspiring positive change. To everyone in the TLI community, we wish you a safe and happy end of year, and we’ll be back - just after a little break.

In this episode, we cover:

• Mike’s research and achievements in the past year
• The carbon cycle, our net zero delusion and the impossibilities of offsetting
• The problems with green growth
• Understanding the concept of energy return on invested (EROI)
• Our multiple crises (it’s not just climate!) as a symptom of overshoot
• Our use of energy and the inevitability of Degrowth
• A reality check on renewables
• Lack of environmental truth and reality in mainstream media
• Degrowth Aotearoa New Zealand
• An update on the nitrate levels in New Zealand’s freshwater
• Dr Mike answers Listener questions
• Taking action in 2024

Previous episodes:

• Dr Mike Joy, Freshwater Ecologist
• Dr Mike Joy, Growth, Emissions and Our Waterways
• Dr Mike Joy, Protecting Our Planet’s Life Support Networks
• Dr Mike Joy and The Rubbish Trip, Translating Science to Real-World Action

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Professor Ilan Noy is the Chair in Economics of Disasters and Climate Change - Te Āwhionukurangi, at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Ilan’s research and teaching focus on the economic aspects of natural hazards, disasters, climate change, and other related topics in environmental, development, and international economics. Ilan is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of the SpringerNature journal Economics of Disasters and Climate Change. Having previously worked at the University of Hawai’i and consulting for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank (to name a few!), Ilan brings a wealth of knowledge to this conversation.

Professor Noy recently co-authored an article, published in Nature Communications, assessing the global cost of extreme weather attributable to climate change. Their findings revealed that extreme events attributable to climate change cost the world US$143 billion per year, yet the loss and damage funding agreement arrived at from COP27 will only offer an average of US$10 billion a year – a drop in the bucket compared to what’s truly needed. Ilan unpacks the paper’s findings and much more in our conversation.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Ilan’s personal and professional background
• The diversity of topics that fall under the umbrella of the economics of disasters and climate change
• The driving force behind establishing the Journal Economics of Disasters and Climate Change
• Lack of consideration towards climate change in the field of economics
• The deficiencies of current assessment methods regarding the financial costs of climate change
• Considering the wide-ranging damage costs associated with climate change, as well as the costs associated with the loss of human life
• The need to reduce vulnerabilities and exposure to avoid increased costs associated with anthropogenic extreme weather events
• How economists attach a dollar value to human life
• Which countries and regions of the world feel the impact most
• The lack of economist engagement with the IPCC
• Changing the dialogue in future COPs
• Prioritising financial support where it’s truly needed

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Dr Luke Kelly is an Associate Professor in Quantitative Ecology at the University of Melbourne, leading teams both locally and internationally. Luke studies the dynamics of plant and animal populations, educates about biodiversity and human well-being, and collaborates with diverse stakeholders to prevent species extinction.

With expertise in ecological and evolutionary dynamics, Luke recently led a team of researchers that assessed how human activities are reshaping patterns of fire across the globe. Some of the findings were quite surprising, with our planet now burning in unexpected ways. In this conversation we talk shop on fire fundamentals, key fire changes both globally and locally, and how we can coexist with fires in the Anthropocene, by moving forward and working together to generate ideas and solutions.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Luke’s scientific background and current research work
• The work of biodynamos, the Biodiversity Dynamics Research Group
• Fire as fundamental to human civilisation and the earth's systems
• Benefits and risks of fire for biodiversity and threatened species
• Luke’s recent paper Understanding Fire Regimes for a Better Anthropocene
• Surprising findings regarding global fire activity
• Fire regime changes in Australia, including an upward trend in mega-fires
• Key anthropogenic drivers of fire regime changes
• The consequences for humans, flora, and fauna due to changing fire regimes in Australia
• How we best move forward while living with fire in the Anthropocene, including practical recommendations for people in high-risk areas
• The importance of a proactive approach, rather than a reactive response
• How fire can help us achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
  
  To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.
  
  Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Peri Zee is an urban planner and sustainable transport professional working towards more inclusive and connected communities that are supported to live good lives within planetary boundaries. Peri is head of mobility at Pollock Consulting Limited and was previously the climate action pathway lead and healthy city design lead at Hutt City Council.

Peri covers some essential topics in this episode, discussing the concepts of planetary boundaries and degrowth, and the importance of public transport in connecting our communities while providing a pathway to a more sustainable future. Peri leaves us with some inspiring words about becoming our own changemakers – the more people that see the big picture and act on it, the greater the transformation will be, and there is a role for everyone.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Peri’s background and passion for a sustainable future
• The important concept of planetary boundaries
• How a degrowth approach could help us live within safe planetary boundaries
• The fallacy of green growth
• Acknowledging the importance of technology while adhering to degrowth principles
• Achieving an equitable transition to degrowth
• New Zealand’s public transport crisis
• Building community trust to ensure more successful public transport projects in future
• The importance of bike and footpaths, and public transport access in urban areas
• The sprawling cities of Australia and New Zealand vs the 15-minute city concept
•  ‘Keep cup smugness’ vs advocating for effective change individually and as a community

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, we chat with running legend Damian Hall, a record-breaking ultramarathon runner and athletics coach who has represented Great Britain and continues to achieve competitive results in some of the world’s toughest and gruelling races.

Damian is an experienced journalist and author of several books, including the award-nominated We Can’t Run Away From This, which examines the impact of running on our climate and ecological emergency. Damian is also a passionate (and very busy!) climate activist, a member of several environmental organisations and initiatives, and co-founder of The Green Runners.

Damian inspires any climate-conscious runner and prompts us to seriously consider our kit, food, and travel. Moreover, Damian helps us all identify - whether we are athletes or not - simple changes we can make to our behaviour for a cleaner, greener world and future.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Damian’s background and achievements in ultramarathon running
• What sparked Damian’s environmental activism
• Damian’s latest book We Can’t Run Away From This
• The surprising ecological impact of running
• Positive environmental initiatives within the trail-running space
• The Game Changer Sponsorship Pledge and walking your climate talk as an athlete
• Embracing imperfect climate advocacy and the inevitability of being a climate hypocrite
• The sustainability of large-scale sporting events
• The power of sports and athletes to influence and change society
• The Green Runners; A running community making changes for a fitter planet
• Establishing Into Ultra to reduce the barriers to participation in ultrarunning
• The importance of partaking in climate action for outdoor enthusiasts

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, we discuss alternative protein with Dr Simon Eassom, Executive Director at Food Frontier, Australia and New Zealand’s independent think tank on alternative proteins.

Simon is an experienced leader, business executive, and strategic thinker and has had a distinguished career as a university professor with a Ph.D. in applied ethics and a background in health and nutrition as Head of a large university School of Physical Education and Sport Science. As a freelance investigative journalist, Simon was a regular media commentator on numerous issues, including the political economy of food and the public presentation of information and advice on diet and health. He has been an in-demand public speaker on technology and change and currently serves on the Board of the Australian Council of Professions as its Chief Futurist.

In this conversation, Simon brings his passion and knowledge to help us understand alternative proteins and their role in delivering a sustainable protein supply that supports people and the planet.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Simon’s fascinating background and his work as Executive Director at Food Frontier
• Receptivity to alternative proteins in heavy meat-eating countries such as Australia and New Zealand and the target markets of the plant-based meat sector
• Alternative protein options, technological innovations, and challenges in meeting consumer demands
• Alternative proteins and health considerations – potential pros, cons, and misconceptions
• The current environmental impact of our global food system and the expected benefits of reducing meat consumption
• Animal welfare concerns associated with modern-day animal farming
• Feeding the world’s population; alternative proteins as a food security solution
• Alternative Proteins and Asia - market insights for Australian and New Zealand companies looking to Asia
• Food labelling for plant-based products
• Driving market change and shifting eating behaviours; Food Frontier’s Theory of Change
• Food Frontier’s upcoming AltProteins 23 Conference

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Emma Wingrove is a reuse specialist, passionate about bringing New Zealand to the forefront of sustainability and climate change solutions. In 2014, while undertaking her university degree, Emma established The Clean Up Crew Aotearoa, after identifying the hideously overlooked problem of litter and neglected beaches of the beautiful North Shore of Auckland. Thinking that someone should really address the problem, she realised that someone could be her.

From humble beginnings, the Clean up Crew continues to grow. Emma inspires hope for a better future by proving that one person can make a difference. Anybody can see a problem and start working towards fixing it - solutions don’t need vast acts of grandeur, just passion and determination!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Emma’s background from environmental science to zero waste
• Localised NZ and Auckland’s Zero Waste Hubs
• The scale of the plastic waste problem in New Zealand
• The source of beach rubbish found on New Zealand beaches
• Emma’s establishment of The Clean Up Crew Aotearoa
• Commonly found rubbish items littering Auckland’s shorelines, and how it gets there
• Advocacy and education work of The Clean Up Crew
• How to support The Clean Up Crew and get involved in their regular clean-ups
• Top tips for minimising personal waste

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.