Edible Empire

Planet Pulse Pacific

Planet Pulse Pacific—your go-to podcast for conversations about people and planet—is proud to host a special series: Edible Empire.

As the climate and global health crises intensify, the need for meaningful change has never been more urgent. This six-episode series brings together leading voices from around the world to explore the concept of food imperialism, uncover the hidden social and environmental costs of what we eat, and examine how we can build a more just and sustainable food system.

Join your hosts, Ben Eitelberg and Emma Strutt, alongside special series co-host Dr Neal Haddaway, as they dive into the complex and often unseen world of food—how it is produced, traded, and consumed across the globe. Kelly Allum edits the series.

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S7 · E18
Today · 35 min
Professor Phil Howard - Corporate power in the food system
This episode is a supplementary full interview with Professor Phil Howard from Episode 2 of the Edible Empire podcast series. Here, we explore how an increasingly monopolised system of multinational corporations operates as de facto states within the global food system, exercising power over land, labour, trade, and policy in ways that rival or exceed nation-states. If empires once flew flags, today they file annual reports. This episode examines how large agrifood corporations increasingly function as sovereign actors within global food systems. From controlling vast transnational supply chains and shaping trade rules, to influencing national policy and disciplining labour across borders, corporations now wield powers historically associated with states. Focusing on agribusiness, food traders, and retailers, the episode asks how corporate concentration has reconfigured food imperialism, turning companies into the new “nations” of food empires, and what this means for accountability, democracy, and food sovereignty. Professor Phil Howard unpacks how intense corporate concentration has transformed global agriculture into a system dominated by a few powerful transnational firms that operate much like sovereign states. Using the analogy of an hourglass, Phil illustrates how millions of farmers and billions of consumers are squeezed through a dangerously narrow bottleneck controlled by these massive agribusinesses, which deploy specific power plays to manipulate trade rules, capture government subsidies, and avoid accountability for environmental and labour exploitation. Despite the immense political and economic inertia behind this consolidation, we close with a message of hope, emphasising that because this extractive system was constructed by humans, it can be dismantled through active political engagement and collective action. Resources from this interview: https://philhoward.net/ https://ipes-food.org/people/phil-howard/ To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E17
Tuesday · 29 min
Professor Harriet Friedmann - What is food imperialism?
This episode is a supplementary full interview with Professor Harriet Friedmann from Episode 1 of the Edible Empire podcast series. Here, we explore how global food systems are shaped by historical power structures and capitalist mechanisms that prioritise corporate profit and "cheap food" over the health of ecosystems and human communities. Where does our food come from? Who works in the fields that produce our fruit and vegetables? Who is making profit from the food we eat? This episode sets the scene for the series, introducing the concept of food supply chains—the intricate trade routes that keep supermarket shelves stocked with produce all year round. But how did these global networks come to be? Tracing the history of our globalised food systems, we uncover why our food systems look the way they do today. Professor Harriet Friedmann begins by tracing how global power shifted from a British-led system to one dominated by the US dollar. She explains that this change transformed how the world eats, replacing diverse, sustainable local farming with industrial monocultures like wheat and palm oil. This shift prioritised international profit over local cultures and environmental health. Resources from this interview: https://harrietfriedmann.ca https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Harriet-Friedmann https://www.sociology.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/harriet-friedmann To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E16
August 23 · 33 min
Professor Raj Patel - What is food imperialism?
This episode is a supplementary full interview with Professor Raj Patel from Episode 1 of the Edible Empire podcast series. Here, we explore how global food systems are shaped by historical power structures and capitalist mechanisms that prioritise corporate profit and "cheap food" over the health of ecosystems and human communities. Where does our food come from? Who works in the fields that produce our fruit and vegetables? Who is making profit from the food we eat? This episode sets the scene for the series, introducing the concept of food supply chains—the intricate trade routes that keep supermarket shelves stocked with produce all year round. But how did these global networks come to be? Tracing the history of our globalised food systems, we uncover why our food systems look the way they do today. Professor Raj Patel exposes the deception of "cheap" food. He argues that low prices are only possible by pushing the true costs onto the planet and underpaid workers. According to Patel, the global food system isn't broken; it is designed to make hunger profitable. He concludes with a call for food sovereignty, demanding we return power to the people who actually grow and harvest our food. Resources from this interview: https://rajpatel.org/ https://www.antsandgrasshopper.org/ https://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/stuffed-and-starved/ To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E15
August 16 · 52 min
Edible Empire: Epilogue
This is the epilogue of a six-part series on food imperialism. Welcome to Edible Empire, a podcast by Planet Pulse Pacific about the hidden cost of our food. This episode explores the systemic hidden costs of the global food system by reflecting on the core themes of the Edible Empire series, examining how modern corporate power and historical food imperialism drive global resource extraction and labour exploitation. Hosts Ben, Neal, and Emma look back across the series to dismantle the complex mechanisms that keep consumers blind to the true human and environmental price of the food on their plates. Welcome to the epilogue episode of our podcast series. As we bring this journey to a close, we return to the questions that started it all: what are the true costs of our food, and who pays them? Can we imagine a fairer world where the food on our plates doesn’t cost the Earth? This podcast series has traced the hidden links of food imperialism from New Zealand dairy backed by Western Saharan "blood phosphate" to West African palm oil on modern supermarket shelves. Today's food empire is driven by corporate power and annual reports rather than national flags, relying on a playbook of resource extraction and labour exploitation. A few massive multinational corporations dominate the global supply chain, creating an "hourglass squeeze" that exploits both producers and consumers whilst masking the true ecological and human costs of cheap, intensively produced food. A fairer future demands that we challenge these corporate middlemen and rebuild transparency through concepts like food sovereignty, degrowth, and stronger protections for small-scale farmers and workers. This journey requires reclaiming our relationship with food, moving away from a system that treats the consumer as just another commodity. As several of our wonderful guests noted, our current food system was constructed by humans, meaning that we can be the ones who change it! Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on the full interviews, starting next week! Resources from this episode: https://www.thesalmonandthetomato.org To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E14
August 9 · 55 min
Edible Empire: What does a fair food system look like?
This is episode 6 of a six-part series on food imperialism. Welcome to Edible Empire, a podcast by Planet Pulse Pacific about the hidden cost of our food. Food isn’t just taste—it’s power. This podcast explores how empires and corporations built control through agriculture, reshaping cultures and feeding some at the expense of others. This episode explores visions for a fairer food system that support producers, ensure diverse food choices, and challenge the intensive nature of current supply chains. Having heard about the deep history of extraction and exploitation inherent in globalised food supply chains, what does a fair food system look like? How could we ensure sufficient, diverse food choices for all whilst supporting those who produce it? This episode dives into proposed futures that challenge the intensive nature of traditional agrifood systems and the supply chains that deliver it, eventually, to our homes. Our final episode shifts focus toward practical frameworks, hopeful visions, and grassroots models for establishing a more equitable, localised, and sustainable global food system. Here, the discussion moves from macro-level economic theory to community-led action. Degrowth scholar Professor Anitra Nelson details how dismantling profit-driven corporate commodity markets can create needs-based local economies that respect ecological boundaries. Dr Million Belay, General Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, explains how reclaiming community control over seeds, land, and traditional knowledge allows populations to resist corporate dependency and build resilient agricultural systems. Turning to localised solutions within the United Kingdom, Shrewsbury Food Hub co-founder Ali Thomas demonstrates the power of volunteer-led redistribution networks that intercept supermarket surplus to foster social solidarity and tackle the systemic absurdity of food waste. Finally, author and smallholder Chris Smaje makes a compelling case for a decentralised network of diverse smallholdings, arguing that a return to small-scale agroecological farming is a modern necessity capable of restoring degraded landscapes, revitalising rural economies, and breaking the entrenched grip of transnational agribusiness. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on the next episode! Resources from this episode: https://anitranelson.info/food-for-degrowth/ https://www.routledge.com/Food-for-Degrowth-Perspectives-and-Practices/Nelson-Edwards/p/book/9780367436469 https://ipes-food.org/people/million-belay/ https://afsafrica.org/meet-the-team/ https://www.agroecologyconference.eoai-africa.org/Dr_million.html https://afsafrica.org/14083/ https://www.shrewsburyfoodhub.org.uk/ https://chrissmaje.com To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E13
August 2 · 45 min
Edible Empire: New Zealand dairy and Western Saharan phosphate
This is episode 5 of a six-part series on food imperialism. Welcome to Edible Empire, a podcast by Planet Pulse Pacific about the hidden cost of our food. Beyond recipes lies a story of power. From colonial plantations to modern agribusiness, this podcast reveals how the pursuit of food has redrawn maps, exploited people, and still shapes who holds control today. This episode explores how New Zealand’s dairy industry links local landscapes to global extraction, ecological harm, and the wider machinery of food imperialism. New Zealand’s image of clean, green pastures hides one of the world’s most intensive dairy industries. Behind each glass of milk there is a hidden web of global extraction: phosphate mined from occupied Western Sahara, palm kernel imported from deforested Southeast Asia, and polluted rivers flowing through Māori ancestral lands. This episode traces how New Zealand’s dairy boom reshapes both local ecosystems and distant economies, from illegally occupied territories in West Africa to political power in New Zealand. Through the story of “white gold”, we uncover how even the purest landscapes are bound into the machinery of food imperialism. Here, we discuss the environmentally destructive and geopolitically fraught supply chains connecting intensive dairy production in Aotearoa New Zealand with phosphate mining in the illegally occupied territory of Western Sahara. Our three expert guests detail how New Zealand’s export-driven commodity model creates intense global market pressures for corporate profit and high-yield volume. Freshwater ecologist Dr Mike Joy exposes the catastrophic local consequences of this system, explaining how excessive synthetic nitrogen and fertiliser inputs poison rivers, disrupt aquatic ecosystems, and contaminate drinking water. Geographer Dr Milena Bojovic unpacks the structural traps forcing farmers into continual intensification, which in turn fuels a dependency on rare, internationally contested mineral resources. Finally, researcher and artist Dr Crystall Bennes traces the physical journey of this phosphate rock, revealing how Western agricultural high yields rely heavily on wealth extracted under colonial conditions from the Boo Cra mine, highlighting the profound human and environmental costs borne by displaced Sahrawi populations. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on the next episode! Resources from this episode: https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/pq/article/view/9629/8507 https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/mike.joy https://www.gofundme.com/f/almasar-library-education-centre-for-children-and-women https://wsrw.org/en https://www.crystalbennes.com/ To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E12
July 26 · 50 min
Edible Empire: The Salmon and the Tomato
This is episode 4 of a six-part series on food imperialism. Welcome to Edible Empire, a podcast by Planet Pulse Pacific about the hidden cost of our food. We celebrate flavours, but rarely the people behind them. This podcast uncovers how food—once shaped by empire and now by corporate power—has long been used to control land, labour, and cultures. This episode explores the hidden links between salmon farming in northern Europe and tomato production in southern Spain, revealing the human and environmental costs behind cheap, year-round food. What connects salmon farming in northern Europe with tomato farming in southern Spain? These two, seemingly distinct food supply chains ensure that our supermarket shelves are stocked with cheap, year-round food. What we don’t see, however, are the hidden links - the overfishing along the coast of West Africa that destroys local communities’ livelihoods and drives migration to Europe; the dangerous journeys by small boat where 1 in 5 people die; the entrapment of migrants arriving in exploitative agricultural labour in Spain’s intensive greenhouses. This episode examines the story of salmon farming and tomato greenhouses - and highlights the hidden costs of commodified food. This episode uncovers the destructive and interconnected global supply chains linking northern European salmon aquaculture to southern Spanish greenhouse agriculture. Through interviews with four expert guests, the episode traces how the booming Norwegian salmon farming industry relies heavily on wild-caught ocean feed extracted from West Africa. Investigative journalists Simen Sætre, Hazel Healy, and Brigitte Wear expose the ecological crises, corporate opacity, and false sustainability narratives surrounding aquaculture, whilst Dr Aliou Ba of Greenpeace Africa details how this industrial plundering has collapsed local artisanal fisheries and triggered a profound food security crisis in Senegal. This environmental degradation ultimately forces thousands of displaced West Africans to undertake a perilous sea voyage to Spain, where researcher María Alonso Martínez reveals they are heavily exploited as undocumented migrant labourers, working under inhumane conditions within Almería’s vast "Sea of Plastic" to harvest the cheap winter vegetables that stock European supermarket shelves. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on the next episode! Resources from this episode: https://norla.no/en/books/1286-the-new-fish-the-global-history-of-salmon-farming https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735421/the-new-fish-by-simen-saetre-and-kjetil-ostli/ To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E11
July 19 · 59 min
Edible Empire: Deep roots—a history of oil palm
This is episode 3 of a six-part series on food imperialism. Welcome to Edible Empire, a podcast by Planet Pulse Pacific about the hidden cost of our food. Food isn’t just about taste—it’s power. This podcast explores how empires and corporations built control through agriculture, reshaping cultures and feeding some at the expense of others. This episode traces the global impact of the palm oil industry from its indigenous roots to modern supply chains through three expert interviews. Dr Jonathan Robins opens by detailing the pre-colonial history of oil palm in West Africa and explaining how European empires weaponised the crop to fuel the Industrial Revolution, establishing structural patterns that mirror today’s agribusiness models. Dr Helena Varkkey then unpacks the political economy of Malaysian production, exposing how entrenched relationships between political elites and conglomerates shield the industry from regulation. Farwiza Farhan brings a frontline conservation perspective from Indonesia, documenting how government-incentivised monoculture plantations drive deforestation, threaten endangered species, and violate Indigenous land rights. Together, the experts critique the effectiveness of voluntary sustainability certification schemes like the RSPO, debate whether palm oil can ever be truly sustainable at scale, and highlight the efforts of local communities fighting back against corporate food imperialism. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on the next episode! Resources from this episode: https://www.mtu.edu/social-sciences/department/faculty/robins/ https://commoditiesofempire.org.uk/about/jonathan-robins/ https://theconversation.com/profiles/jonathan-e-robins-1227071 https://seapeat.wixsite.com/home https://cgsea.org/ https://umexpert.um.edu.my/helenav To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E10
July 12 · 35 min
Edible Empire: Corporate power in the food system
This is episode 2 of a six-part series on food imperialism. Welcome to Edible Empire, a podcast by Planet Pulse Pacific about the hidden cost of our food. Beyond recipes lies a story of power. From colonial plantations to modern agribusiness, this podcast reveals how the pursuit of food has redrawn maps, exploited people, and continues to shape who holds control today. This episode explores how an increasingly monopolised system of multinational corporations operates as de facto states within the global food system, exercising power over land, labour, trade, and policy in ways that rival or exceed nation-states. If empires once flew flags, today they file annual reports. This episode examines how large agrifood corporations increasingly function as sovereign actors within global food systems. From controlling vast transnational supply chains and shaping trade rules, to influencing national policy and disciplining labour across borders, corporations now wield powers historically associated with states. Focusing on agribusiness, food traders, and retailers, the episode asks how corporate concentration has reconfigured food imperialism, turning companies into the new “nations” of food empires, and what this means for accountability, democracy, and food sovereignty. In this episode of Edible Empire, Professors Phil Howard and Jennifer Clapp unpack how intense corporate concentration has transformed global agriculture into a system dominated by a few powerful transnational firms that operate much like sovereign states. Using the analogy of an hourglass, Professor Phil Howard illustrates how millions of farmers and billions of consumers are squeezed through a dangerously narrow bottleneck controlled by these massive agribusinesses, which deploy specific power plays to manipulate trade rules, capture government subsidies, and avoid accountability for environmental and labour exploitation. Meanwhile, Professor Jennifer Clapp highlights how mega-mergers in the agricultural inputs sector allow a small cartel to exercise immense structural power, locking in an industrial model that dictates what society views as "normal" food practices, while trapping countries in the Global South in dependency loops that prioritise luxury exports over local food security. Despite the immense political and economic inertia behind this consolidation, both experts close with a message of hope, emphasising that because this extractive system was constructed by humans, it can be dismantled through active political engagement and collective action. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on the next episode! Resources from this episode: https://philhoward.net/ https://ipes-food.org/people/phil-howard/ https://uwaterloo.ca/scholar/jclapp/home https://ipes-food.org/people/jennifer-clapp/ https://uwaterloo.ca/environment-resources-and-sustainability/profiles/jennifer-clapp To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E9
July 5 · 37 min
Edible Empire: What is food imperialism?
This is episode 1 of a six-part series on food imperialism. Welcome to Edible Empire, a podcast by Planet Pulse Pacific about the hidden cost of our food. We celebrate flavours, but rarely the people behind them. This podcast uncovers how food—once shaped by empire and now by corporate power—has long been used to control land, labour, and cultures. This episode explores how global food systems are shaped by historical power structures and capitalist mechanisms that prioritise corporate profit and "cheap food" over the health of ecosystems and human communities. Where does our food come from? Who works in the fields that produce our fruit and vegetables? Who is making a profit from the food we eat? This episode sets the scene for the series, introducing the concept of food supply chains—the intricate trade routes that keep supermarket shelves stocked with produce all year round. But how did these global networks come to be? Tracing the history of our globalised food systems, we uncover why our food systems look the way they do today. Featuring Professors Harriet Friedmann and Raj Patel. Professor Harriet Friedmann begins by tracing how global power shifted from a British-led system to one dominated by the US dollar. She explains that this change transformed how the world eats, replacing diverse, sustainable local farming with industrial monocultures like wheat and palm oil. This shift prioritised international profit over local cultures and environmental health. Building on this history, Professor Raj Patel exposes the deception of "cheap" food. He argues that low prices are only possible by pushing the true costs onto the planet and underpaid workers. According to Patel, the global food system isn't broken; it is designed to make hunger profitable. He concludes with a call for food sovereignty, demanding we return power to the people who actually grow and harvest our food. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on the next episode! Resources from this episode: https://harrietfriedmann.ca https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Harriet-Friedmann https://www.sociology.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/harriet-friedmann https://rajpatel.org/ https://www.antsandgrasshopper.org/ https://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/stuffed-and-starved/ To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E8
June 28 · 38 min
Edible Empire: Prologue
Welcome to Edible Empire - hosted by Planet Pulse Pacific, this is a podcast series about the hidden cost of our food. We’re your co-hosts, Neal Haddaway, Benjamin Eitelberg, and Emma Strutt, with Kelly Allum on editing. When we talk about food, we tend to focus on recipes, flavours and dinner times. But what we rarely discuss is where our food comes from. And we don’t mean which supermarket - we mean the ingredients that make up our food: where did they come from, who grew the vegetables, picked the fruit and processed the oils? What’s life like for them, and what does their environment look like as a result of what they’re exporting for us to eat? From the plantations of the British Empire to the smart agriculture within ultra-modern greenhouses, food has always been a tool of power and of profit. This is a story of how some cultures were dismantled to feed others, and how those empires live on through corporate control - this is a podcast about Food Imperialism. This series explores the complex, often uncomfortable intersection of appetite and authority. We are looking at food imperialism: how the quest for calories and commodities reshaped the map, redefined our identities, and continues to influence who gets to eat, and what, in the twenty-first century. In this introductory episode, we introduce the concept of food imperialism and the inspiration for this species series. We discuss some of the upcoming content we’ll be publishing in the coming weeks, along with our exciting, world-leading expert guests. Join us for an appetiser! Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on the next episode! Resources from this episode: https://www.thesalmonandthetomato.org To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E7
May 3 · 39 min
Kal Glanznig - Blue Minds Youth Ocean Leadership
Kal Glanznig is one of Australia’s leading youth ocean and climate champions, a true powerhouse inspiring a new generation of hopeful, action-driven environmental leaders. In the past year alone, he has reached more than 20,000 people through keynote talks, school programs, and Q&A screenings of his documentary Rising Up. Elected in 2024 as the youngest independent Councillor in the Sutherland Shire, he is now driving local climate action through practical and forward-thinking sustainability initiatives. Kal first made headlines in high school after delivering a $100,000 solar project that inspired more than 20 schools to follow suit. He went on to co-found Plastic Free Cronulla, contributing to New South Wales’ ban on single-use plastics, and Blue Minds, a national program supporting young Australians with eco-anxiety and environmental leadership. An award-winning speaker, he has also represented Australia in water polo at the Youth World Championships. Kal reminds us that while no one person can change the world alone, the future is still unwritten—and every action we take creates a ripple. Take a listen and feel inspired to be part of that change. In this episode, we discuss: Kal’s background in high-level sport and how it sparked his passion for the environment Why meaningful change starts at home, no matter how wicked the problem His documentary Rising Up, including its screening at COP30 in Brazil and its role in sharing Pacific stories Driving change through the ballot box and his journey into local council The importance of genuinely engaging young people, and the powerful perspectives they bring The role of athletes in activism and advocacy Eco-anxiety and its impact on young people, and how Blue Minds is helping build resilience and leadership Key lessons Kal has learned from young people, and his advice for those wanting to make a difference in their communities Why we don’t have to do everything, but we can all do something, starting in our own backyard What’s next for Blue Minds and his upcoming documentary, The Plastic Country To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E6
April 19 · 43 min
Dr Kate Wylie - The Health Hazards of Water Bankruptcy
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Kate Wylie, GP and Executive Director of Doctors for the Environment Australia, and a long-time friend of the show. One of Australia’s leading voices on climate and health, Kate helps us unpack the United Nations’ Global Water Bankruptcy report and what it means for all of us. Put simply: we are running out of water. We’re using more than we have in supply, so much that in many places we’re pushing past the point of recovery and can’t repay our debts. Driven by climate change, over-extraction, and pollution, this growing ‘water bankruptcy’ is fuelling food and water insecurity, disease, and deepening global inequities. Closer to home, we explore what this looks like in Australia, from the declining Murray-Darling to pressures on the Great Artesian Basin, and why this crisis is as much about public health as it is about the environment. A sharp, urgent conversation about one of the defining challenges of our time and the role we all must play in protecting the resource that underpins life itself. In this episode, we discuss: Kate’s background and her work at the intersection of human and planetary health The UN’s Global Water Bankruptcy report and Kate’s recent InSight+ article outlining what this means for us in Australia Our unsustainable water use and the industries driving the greatest extraction The deep inequities of water insecurity, with the Global South bearing the greatest burden Key health concerns, including unsafe drinking water, food insecurity, and the mental health effects of drought Rising risks of vector-borne diseases like Malaria, Dengue Fever, and Ross River Virus The dual extremes of drought and flooding, and their impact on food systems and livelihoods Australia’s unique challenges as the driest inhabited continent, and the need for more sustainable agriculture Growing strain on critical systems, from the Murray-Darling Basin to the Great Artesian Basin, and flow-on effects like South Australia’s algal bloom The hidden water and energy costs of modern technology, including AI and cloud computing, and why we can’t ‘tech’ our way out of this The critical role of health professionals in advocating for climate and water security Why climate and environmental health must be embedded in medical education The vital work of Doctors for the Environment Australia and their latest advocacy efforts, including an open letter to Australian governments calling for an end to our dependence on global oil—add your name to the submission here To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E5
April 12 · 32 min
Clancy Lester - Native Bee Conservation
In this episode, we’re joined by Clancy Lester (AKA Bee Man), a passionate environmental educator, documentary director, and native bee advocate, whose work is dedicated to protecting pollinators and rewilding the places we live. Specialising in native bee conservation, native plants, and science communication, Clancy combines hands-on ecological research with a gift for making complex ideas accessible and engaging. Through his social enterprise Bees and Blossoms, Clancy creates native bee habitats, delivers workshops, and champions nature-based climate solutions across urban and regional Australia. Driven by a deep commitment to restoring biodiversity, he shares practical, hopeful insights into how Australia’s native bees are faring, and what we can all do to support pollinators and wildlife, no matter where we live. In this episode, we explore: Clancy’s background, his connection to the natural world, and how his fascination with native bees began His experience in the Wattle Fellowship at the University of Melbourne and working with remote Aboriginal communities in north-east Arnhem Land Bee Hotels 101: What they are and why they matter The challenges pollinators face in urban environments, and how cities can better support them through habitat and native planting Clancy’s workshops, what gives him hope for the future, and how he inspires people to connect with nature His role as Director of 7 Seasons, and key moments from making the documentary that reshaped his thinking The importance of genuine collaboration and two-way learning with Indigenous communities Why honouring thousands of years of on-Country knowledge is essential for climate adaptation Staying connected to Country in urban environments Using social media for climate advocacy A fun breakdown of Bee Movie—what it got right (and wrong) about pollinators To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E4
April 6 · 28 min
Richard Neville - Regenerative Design Through Landscape Architecture
In this episode, we’re joined by Richard Neville, NZILA Registered Landscape Architect and Director of Neville Design Studio. Richard’s work is grounded in regenerative design and a deep respect for the relationship between people and land. Driven by a belief that landscapes can reconnect us, both with nature and with each other, Richard creates spaces that are both meaningful and enduring. An award-winning landscape architect, his work spans residential, rural, community, and commercial projects, and has been featured in several magazines, including Landscape Architecture Aotearoa. Alongside his practice, Richard is an active voice in the industry, most recently delivering the keynote at the 2025 New Zealand Gardens Trust Conference, sharing his perspective on how our cultural relationship with land and gardens is evolving. In this episode, we explore: Richard’s background and passion for nature What led him to landscape architecture Landscape architecture as an interconnected system of ecology, people, and place The evolution of the discipline: from controlling nature to embracing wildness, beauty, and ecological complexity Rewilding gardens—why less paving, fewer lawns, and more plants create healthier, more resilient spaces How small, everyday moments in nature can have a lasting impact The ecological and human benefits of thoughtful landscape design, and how it fosters a deeper connection Richard’s work in schools and the importance of openness, curiosity, and unstructured interaction with nature Our relationship with Papatūānuku, and why biodiversity is essential for life The power of positive storytelling in reconnecting people with the environment Practical ways to bring nature into daily life, even in small or urban spaces To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E3
March 1 · 1 hr 5 min
Andre Borell - The Future of Shark Protection
In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Andre Borell, an impact filmmaker, investor, and co-founder and director of the Envoy Foundation. A self-described maker of good trouble (and one of our all-time favourites here at the podcast), Andre is driven by a deep love of marine life and a determination to leave the world better than he found it. He builds businesses, brands and films that challenge the status quo and create meaningful, measurable impact. After witnessing the devastating effects of shark nets in Australia, Andre turned conviction into action with his powerful documentary Envoy: Shark Cull. His work shines a spotlight on Australia’s outdated and brutal shark control methods, exposing their ecological consequences and challenging the policies that allow them to persist. In this episode, we explore: An update on Andre’s work, global adventures, and relocation to Aotearoa Practical strategies to bring Australia’s shark control programs out of the dark ages Innovations in shark safety—from deterrent wetsuits to AI drone surveillance on our beaches Current narratives around sharks and shark bites—separating fact from fiction The importance of shark education and understanding the conditions that increase risk Andre’s upcoming book projects, including Great White Lies The UN’s recently adopted High Seas Treaty and what it means for marine protection Policy-driven change and the influence of business in accelerating reform Progress on the Nordic Whale Reserve How to support the ongoing work of the Envoy Foundation To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E2
February 15 · 24 min
Jess Lamb - Waste Minimisation As An Athlete
Jessica Lamb is the Christchurch Hub Leader for Athletes for Nature and the Sustainability Coordinator at Without Waste. Jess holds a strong connection to te taiao and is passionate about caring for both people and planet. With a background in environmental science and geography, she works to support a shift towards a circular economy and the rewilding of cities through thriving urban ngahere. A committed nature and zero-waste advocate, Jess combines big-picture thinking with practical, community-led action. Outside of her professional roles, she is a plant-powered trail runner, avid hiker, and enthusiastic ‘compost queen’, using her love of the outdoors to inspire others to reconnect with and protect the environments they move through. In this episode, we discuss: Jess’s background and what sparked her passion for nature and sustainability Her studies in environmental science and geography New Zealand’s waste problem and why it matters Jess’s journey into trail running and how it shapes her environmental advocacy Her extensive volunteering background, including Forest & Bird Youth Stepping into the role of Christchurch Hub Leader for Athletes for Nature, and why she got involved How composting can be a practical, change-making solution at the local level Her work as Sustainability Coordinator at Without Waste The role of athletes as advocates for climate action and conservation Jess’s goals for Athletes for Nature in 2026, including plans for the Christchurch hub How trail runners (and outdoor athletes more broadly) can reduce their environmental footprint Personal ambitions over the next few years—both athletic and sustainability-focused To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S7 · E1
February 1 · 30 min
Abby Patterson - The Future of Science Communication
Abby Patterson is an aspiring climate storyteller and science communicator, and our brand-new co-host on the Planet Pulse Pacific podcast! Over the past two years, Abby has grown her Instagram platform Outdoors with Abby, where she breaks down the often tough (and sometimes overwhelming) realities of climate change and environmental science into content that’s engaging, relatable, and easy to understand. Her postgraduate research focused on how climate science and emerging innovations can be communicated in ways that not only inform people but help them feel empowered to support meaningful change. Deeply passionate about sustainability and science communication, Abby hopes to build a career at the intersection of research, storytelling, and environmental advocacy. She dreams of a future where endangered species are thriving, human impacts on ecosystems are minimised, and she’s proud to be part of the movement working towards that future. Given all that, we’re absolutely pumped to welcome Abby on board as our new co-host! In this episode, we discuss: A season 7 check-in and what’s ahead for 2026 Welcoming our new podcast presenter, Abby Patterson Abby’s background and studies in environmental communication Why translating science for the wider community really matters Outdoors with Abby and her work in environmental advocacy on social media Battling climate doom to prevent disengagement Her volunteering with Forest & Bird Youth and Athletes for Nature Why solutions already exist—and how we often focus on the wrong things Abby’s personal goals as a podcast host The impact of positive interactions that reach the right people and spark meaningful conversations Navigating the role of AI in communication and the power of parody when used in the right context To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S6 · E9
Aug 3, 2025 · 58 min
Amy Steel - Wildfires And Interventions on Ecosystems
Amy Steel is a climate adaptation expert and PhD candidate with Adrift Lab at Curtin University, Western Australia. With over a decade of experience advising on decarbonisation and climate resilience, Amy is now focused on a vital question: should humans intervene to help ecosystems on the verge of collapse—and if so, how, where, and when? Amy's research centres on the Yowli (otherwise known as Flesh-footed Shearwaters) breeding on islands in the Recherche Archipelago off Kepa Kurl, Esperance. These seabirds face increasing and worsening threats from lightning-ignited wildfires during their peak breeding season, impacted by climate change. Working with the Esperance Tjaltjraak Rangers, Amy is exploring how Wudjari cultural burning can protect these fragile habitats. Amy also reflects on moving from high-level strategy to hands-on fieldwork, the importance of Indigenous knowledge, and what it means to protect ecosystems in a rapidly changing climate. In this episode, we discuss: Amy’s diverse background and what led her from leadership roles in climate strategy to research The long-term impacts of heat stroke that ended her competitive netball career and influenced her path Joining the Adrift Lab team and what inspired her to undertake a PhD Why islands and seabirds like the Yowli are critical indicators of ecosystem health The increasing severity of wildfires and extreme weather, and their impacts on vulnerable species Whether seabirds and other wildlife can adapt to human-driven climate change, and if natural checks and balances are breaking down The ethical and ecological questions around human intervention in collapsing ecosystems Working closely with the Esperance Tjaltjraak Rangers, and the role of Wudjari cultural burning in ecosystem resilience The importance of place-based policy and honouring Indigenous knowledge in climate responses How to communicate climate and conservation issues effectively, and create lasting change within communities Staying motivated in advocacy through collaboration and community action The role of athletes in climate conversations, and how to stay safe while being active in a changing climate What gives Amy hope as an environmental researcher To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.
S6 · E8
Jul 13, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Christelle Bakhache - Ecological Impact of Nature Recreation
Christelle Bakhache is a climber, conservationist, Lagoped ambassador, and Nature Sports Project Manager at Asters, the Conservatory of Natural Spaces in Haute-Savoie, France. With a background in environmental science and fieldwork that includes time with global organisations like WWF, Christelle brings a deep, practical understanding of conservation to her current work protecting some of France’s most fragile alpine environments. Christelle works where outdoor adventure and environmental protection meet. She focuses on making sure that people can still enjoy the mountains without causing lasting harm to the ecosystems that make these places so special. Whether it’s shaping policy, supporting grassroots projects, or helping athletes think differently about their impact, she’s passionate about finding practical ways to balance human presence in these special and unique environments. In this conversation, Christelle shares how her love for wild spaces fuels her mission, what she’s witnessing firsthand in the face of climate change, and how outdoor athletes and everyday adventurers alike can reduce their impact. She also reflects on her personal journey—blending exploration, advocacy, and a commitment to low-impact living to pursue a more sustainable future. In this episode, we discuss: Christelle’s path into conservation and her drive to protect the natural world Life and work in Haute-Savoie, and how the region shapes her environmental outlook Her role at Asters and their mission to safeguard mountain biodiversity The rapid and visible impacts of climate change in the European Alps Conservation wins, persistent challenges, and reasons for hope The hidden environmental toll of large-scale sporting events What genuinely low-impact outdoor events could look like Sustainable training and travel tips for athletes and adventurers Practical ways we can all reduce our footprint in nature The influence of individual athletes and institutions advocating for change Christelle’s year of travelling simply and living with intention Steps toward becoming a more thoughtful, respectful presence in the outdoors To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.

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