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    Climate Curious

    Are you Climate Curious? If you care about the world, but find the current conversation about climate change confusing, scary or boring – then this might be the podcast for you. Join TEDxLondon and co-hosts Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst as we lift the lid on the climate emergency by speaking to the world’s leading and most relatable climate pioneers. Find out why cities are key to the climate fight, why we need to tackle systemic problems (and not just plastic straws), and why we’re all a bit crap at sustainability.
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    Episodes (164)

    Why pollution hits women and girls hardest

    Why pollution hits women and girls hardest

    Understand the drivers behind why climate change is increasing the incidence of child marriage with the CEO of Girls Not Brides, Dr Faith Mwangi-Powell, on the latest Climate Curious. Climate change is increasing the incidence of child marriages, shares this week’s quickie expert Dr Faith Mwangi-Powell the CEO of Girls Not Brides. Tune in to discover how globally, every year, 12 million girls are married below the age of 18. That’s one girl every three seconds. And why crop failure, drought and extreme weather is pushing families to look for income outside their natural resources. 

    If this short interested you, you can listen to the full 30-min conversation with Faith on How the climate crisis drives child marriage.

    Check out Faith's organisation, Girls Not Brides

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate Quickie: Why a hotter planet means more malaria. Here’s the solution.

    Climate Quickie: Why a hotter planet means more malaria. Here’s the solution.

    What does malaria have to do with climate change? In short, a hotter planet means more bugs. And more extreme weather events means more flood water, which mosquitos adore. But thanks to incredible efforts, lots of solutions are in action to help right the historic injustice of malaria, which sits right at the intersection of climate and health.  United to Beat Malaria's and United Foundation's executive director Margaret McDonnell joins Climate Curious to share the progress.

    Learn more at beatmalaria.org

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate Quickie: How do you photograph air pollution?

    Climate Quickie: How do you photograph air pollution?

    Photos can convey a message in an instant. But how do you photograph something which day-to-day is invisible to see: air pollution? A new stunning collection of photography on air pollution is compelling action on climate change. From the bustling streets of Indonesia to the industrial heartlands of Poland, these photos capture the stark effects of dirty air on the communities hit hardest, as well as spotlighting solutions already making a difference to people. Climate Curious speaks to Alastair Johnstone from Climate Outreach to discuss why the ways we visualise climate issues really matters. 

    View the photos as you listen along.
    View the entire air pollution photo collection
    Learn more about the Clean Air Fund
    Learn more about Climate Visuals
    Learn more about Climate Outreach.

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate Quickie: Live, love, laugh climate change?

    Climate Quickie: Live, love, laugh climate change?

    We’re all living through climate change. So who says we can’t laugh through it, too? Humour is one of the healthiest ways to process the collective tragedy of the pollution of our planet, says the comedian-in-residence at Generation180 and co-creator of the Climate Comedy Cohort, Esteban Gast, on Climate Curious. In conversation with Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha, Esteban shares some climate jokes live from the comedy stage, plus how he’s building a climate comedy movement to get more climate plots into funny storytelling. 

    Listen to Esteban’s 5-minute Climate Quickie on Climate Curious: Can climate change be funny? 
    Listen to Esteban's 50-minute Climate Curious interview: Is there anything funny about climate change?
    Learn more about the Climate Comedy Cohort
    Check out Esteban’s Instagram
    Visit Esteban’s site

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Is there anything funny about climate change?

    Is there anything funny about climate change?

    Short answer: no. Long answer: maybe? Humour is one of the healthiest ways to process the collective tragedy of the pollution of our planet, says the comedian-in-residence at Generation180 and co-creator of the Climate Comedy Cohort, Esteban Gast, on Climate Curious. In conversation with Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha, Esteban shares how he’s building a climate comedy movement to get more humour into storytelling about what’s going on with our polluted planet. 

    Fancy a laugh? Head to the end of the episode to hear jokes performed live during Esteban’s live comedy shows!

    Listen to Esteban’s 5-minute Climate Quickie on Climate Curious: Can climate change be funny? 
    Learn more about the Climate Comedy Cohort
    Check out Esteban’s Instagram
    Visit Esteban’s site

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate Quickie: The furry creature breathing life back into London’s wetlands

    Climate Quickie: The furry creature breathing life back into London’s wetlands

    Beavers are back in London, baby! Climate Curious speaks to vet and conservationist Sean McCormack about the Ealing Beaver Project – which has seen beavers reintroduced into the wild in London after a 400 year hiatus. Tune in to learn about how these furry (but mighty!) ecosystem engineers have already made a positive climate impact in London, and around the world. 

    Join a beaver safaris 
    Learn more about Citizen Zoo 
    Learn more about the Ealing Beaver Project

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    BOSS Series: How solar distillation farms are improving Pacific Islanders’ water security

    BOSS Series: How solar distillation farms are improving Pacific Islanders’ water security

    Reliable, clean water is an essential part of life. But what would you do if your community was hit by a storm, damaging essential infrastructure? Or shifting rainfall patterns or longer droughts meant water was more scarce? That’s why Pacific Islanders in Tuvalu are trialling solar distillation farms that can produce 75 litres of drinking water per day, as well as tackling water storage at the household level. Climate Curious speaks with Engineers Without Borders New Zealand’s Emma Coombe in Tuvalu. The learning? The more storage, the better!

    Check out their work at Engineers Without Borders New Zealand: EWBNZ

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    BOSS Series: How super corals have potential to revive coral reefs

    BOSS Series: How super corals have potential to revive coral reefs

    Surprisingly hardy corals called “super corals” show great promise in helping communities in the Pacific Islands rebuild coral reefs, says Dr. Austin Bowden-Kerby, a Fijian marine biologist. Super corals are able to withstand much hotter water temperatures, and some can even survive in water up to 35 degrees celsius! Meaning they are much more resilient to the effects of climate change and a warming planet than corals on regular reefs. Climate Curious speaks to Austin to hear about how Pacific Island communities are uniting to save local coral habitats by planting bleaching resistant corals, as part of a highly promising, super coral gardening program! 

    Watch the "Reefs of Hope" film on coral restoration:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG0lqKciXAA  

    Austin's TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PRLJ8zDm0U

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    How to play for a better world

    How to play for a better world

    Who says you can’t have fun whilst solving the world’s problems? Playing video games can increase climate action, says Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, the founder of Games for Good on TEDxLondon’s Climate Curious. With more than 3 billion gamers on the planet, plus a tonne of green themed content, tune in to explore the ways in which people are playing for the planet, and how games can help us change the world for the better, together. 


    Resources: 
    Follow Deborah on Twitter 
    Follow Deborah on LinkedIn
    Watch Deborah’s TEDx Talk – Why video games aren’t a waste of time
    Check out Games for Good
    Check out Playing for the Planet
    Check out Green Game Jam
    Read the Green Game Jam Player Research
    Check out the IGDA Climate SIG 

    Deborah’s recommended green video games: 
    Terra Nil
    The Wandering Village
    Riders Republic

    Listen to more Climate Curious episodes on creativity: 

    Esteban Gast, Can climate change be funny?
    Xavier Cortada, What is an eco-artist? 
    Kumi Naidoo, What is artivism?
    Katharine Hayhoe, Why talking is the most important thing you can do to fight climate change

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    New year, new climate positivity?

    New year, new climate positivity?

    New year, new climate positivity? Climate can feel dull, depressing and doomsdayish at the best of times. But since it's January, let's revisit one of our favourite episodes that might inject a little positivity... Enter Jessica Kleczka, the climate psychologist, activist and educator behind ‘Positive Climate News’ – a weekly online series highlighting climate wins from around the world. Tune in to learn how focussing on the climate positives can help us hack our psychological hardwiring. 

    Follow Jessica’s Positive Climate News update on: 
    Instagram
    LinkedIn 
    Twitter
    Website


    Listen to more climate positive episodes on Climate Curious: 

    Dominique Palmer – How to find your climate joy
    Daze Aghaji – How to act from a place of climate love, not climate fear 
    Mary Anne Hitt – How a grassroots rebellion shut down big coal 
    Justin Locke – How storm-proof solar farms can help Hurricane Alley 
    Josephine Latu-Sanft – Why the way we talk about climate vulnerable nations needs to change

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    BOSS series: Tuvalu’s climate superpower

    BOSS series: Tuvalu’s climate superpower

    Saving Tuvalu is the first step in saving the world, says Grace Malie, a 24-year-old Tuvaluan climate activist who volunteers with the Rising Nations Initiative. Climate Curious speaks to Grace in her home country of Tuvalu to learn how interconnectedness is their climate superpower – explored through dance, culture, food and the ocean – and ultimately keeping them energised in the face of rising sea levels. 

    Check out the Rising Nations Initiative.

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Lights, camera, eco-action! Climate TV watch list

    Lights, camera, eco-action! Climate TV watch list

    We’re all partial to a bit of Netflix and chill, but what if maxing and relaxing could also save the world? Back to share some more green TV recommendations is Emma Stewart, Netflix’s Sustainability Officer. Tune in to discover the latest climate shows to enjoy now. 


    THE WATCH LIST 
    Next In Fashion
    Unstable with Rob Lowe
    Magician's Elephant
    My Octopus Teacher 
    Elephant Whispers
    Partner Track 
    Secrets of the Blue Zones
    Represent 
    White Noise 

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate mixtape: COP28 takeaways

    Climate mixtape: COP28 takeaways

    What really happened at COP28? We spoke to five climate curious experts to compile you a mixtape of their reactions and analysis on what went down at the Dubai COP. Tune in to our COP28 wrap-up mixtape and hear expert hot takes to soothe your soul, raise your spirits, and understand what the hits and misses were at this year’s 2023 COP28. 

    Featuring contributions from: 
    Tessa Khan
    Anand Gopal 
    Isaias Hernandez 
    Stephanie Epner 
    Dana Gunders

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Protecting ancient forests from becoming pizza boxes

    Protecting ancient forests from becoming pizza boxes

    Did you know – we’re still mowing down 400 year old trees to make pizza boxes, t-shirts, and paper packaging? Yea, us neither. Shocking, right? Luckily Nicole Rycroft and her circular solutions non-profit, Canopy, have found a fix. Tune into Climate Curious to learn how she’s protecting Ancient and Endangered Forests from becoming your next throw away container.

    Learn more about Canopy. 
    Follow Canopy on Instagram.
     

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate Quickie: Protecting ancient forests from becoming pizza boxes

    Climate Quickie: Protecting ancient forests from becoming pizza boxes

    Did you know – we’re still mowing down 400 year old trees to make pizza boxes, t-shirts, and paper packaging? Yea, us neither. Shocking, right? Luckily Nicole Rycroft and her non-profit, Canopy, have found a fix. Tune into Climate Curious to learn how she’s protecting Ancient and Endangered Forests from becoming your next throw away container.

    Learn more about Canopy. 
    Follow Canopy on Instagram

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    BOSS series: Why low-lying Pacific nation Tuvalu is a boss

    BOSS series: Why low-lying Pacific nation Tuvalu is a boss

    Low-lying Pacific Nation Tuvalu is not taking the prospect of going underwater lightly. In fact – they’ve already digitised their land, archived their culture, and moved their government online. The man behind the digital nation campaign and Tuvaluan politician, Simon Kofe MP, joins Climate Curious to share what Tuvalu’s resilience and wisdom teach the rest of the world, asks what happens to a country without land, and encourages us to think of ourselves as a global community, not individual nations. 

    Watch the film and email your government: https://www.tuvalu.tv/

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate mixtape: A COP28 out?

    Climate mixtape: A COP28 out?

    COP28 starts today in Dubai. And you’re going to be hearing a lot about it over the next two weeks. To help you get an on-the-ground picture of what goes on at a COP, we spoke to seven experts to compile you a climate mixtape! A mashup of expert hot takes designed to soothe your soul, raise your spirits, and understand what the priorities are for this year’s 2023 COP.

    Featuring contributions from:
    Maryam Pasha
    Ben Hurst 
    Tzeporah Berman 
    Isaias Hernandez 
    Josephine Latu-Sanft 
    Anand Gopal 
    Margaret McDonnell
    Henry Preston 
    Sacha Wright 

    Listen to our past episodes on COP: 
    What is COP? With Rt. Hon David Lammy  MP
    What's the deal with COP? With Helen Clarkson
    Why fossil fuels were a dirty word at COP. With Tzeporah Berman

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate Quickie: Meet the invisible climate villain

    Climate Quickie: Meet the invisible climate villain

    It’s smelly, it lasts roughly 12 years in the atmosphere and has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide. Methane is an underestimated greenhouse gas produced in large part by food systems, organic waste and weirdly, cow burps. Biochemical engineer and CEO of Global Methane Hub, Marcelo Mena, joins Climate Curious to break down how we tackle this invisible climate villain. Recorded live at Climate Week NYC.

    Watch Marcelo Mena’s TED Talk.

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate Quickie: How to market climate, from the 3 billion ad man

    Climate Quickie: How to market climate, from the 3 billion ad man

    Three ways to talk about climate in a way that people care about? Focus on simplicity, humanity, and accountability. Make it real, make it regular, and always accompany it with a consequence. Says the climate marketing professor who’s delivered 3 billion ads on the topic, the founder and CEO of Potential Energy, John Marshall, all on this week’s Climate Curious.
    If you enjoyed this Climate Quickie, listen to the full interview with John – Climate marketing professor: love is the most effective message.
    Learn more about Potential Energy.
    Watch John’s TED Talk, 3 strategies for effectively talking about climate change.

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst 

     

    Climate marketing professor: love is the most effective message

    Climate marketing professor: love is the most effective message

    “No-one wakes up in the morning and says it's a great day for decarbonization,” says climate marketer who’s delivered 3 billion ads on the topic, the founder and CEO of Potential Energy, John Marshall. Climate Curious co-hosts Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst chat to John about how we can really make climate “pop”: from using real and regular messengers (not politicians) to talking more about “stopping the top 100 polluters” rather than “stopping climate change” (too vague and conceptual), John shares the effective strategies that will get people engaged and fired up to take action. And, he reveals the number one message that is most effective across all demographics. Recorded live at Climate Week NYC at TED.  

    Learn more about Potential Energy.
    Watch John’s TED Talk, 3 strategies for effectively talking about climate change.

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    Created by TEDxLondon
    Produced by Josie Colter
    Edit, mix, master by Ben Beheshty
    Curated by Maryam Pasha 
    Hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst