For What It’s Earth

Emma Brisdion & Sophie Pavelle

Environment, sustainability, and climate action podcast: We make big eco issues bite-sized, answer your green living questions, and explore the things that we can do to help save the planet. With Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle.

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134 episodes
Updated Nov 26, 2025

Episodes134

Newest first

Jul 2, 2025 · 54 sec
Season 5 Trailer
Do you need more hopeful climate conversations in your week? Well, you’re in luck, because we’re back with a brand new series of For What It’s Earth! 🌍 If you’ve ever wondered how to save the planet without moving to a yurt and making your own clothes, this is the podcast for you. We're diving into everything from whales, to soil, to invasive species Environment campaigner Emma Brisdion and author and science communicator Sophie Pavelle are your Wednesday companions who investigate the eco-curiosities we all share, like, can farming save species from extinction and feed us? How can I look after my pet without poisoning nature? Expect laughs, learning, and the occasional eco-cringe at our failed attempts to be more sustainable. Subscribe to For What It’s Earth Podcast, and join us on Instagram for more.
May 7, 2025 · 44 min
Bonus: To Have or To Hold, an exclusive look at Sophie Pavelle's new book
Sophie's only gone and written another brilliant book (and no, she's not writing this episode description). In To Have or To Hold, she unearths and marvells at some of nature's strangest symbioses and oddest relationships. In this bonus episode of For What It's Earth, Sophie and Emma sit down to chat about the book, dig into the story of a truly mysterious freshwater parasite, and share with you why Emma asked (politely) for a specific word to be removed from an early draft. PLUS, enjoy a sneak peak at the audiobook! Thank you to Bloomsbury for allowing us to share an extract of the book, for your listening delight. Order your hardback copy of To Have or To Hold or join Sophie on tour! Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Help us cover our running costs with a donation through Ko-fi or grab an organic cotton FWIE tee. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Apr 23, 2025 · 39 min
Bonus: Wild Cities with Chris Fitch live at Stanfords
How green is your city? And what can we learn from the international urban metropolises that are bringing inviting nature back? Last week, Wild Cities was published, and Emma was invited to join author Chris Fitch at Stanfords bookstore in Bristol to chat about the book. We chatted about fast-tracking ancient forests, gardens in skyscrapers, beavers, birdwatching and, of course, asked, 'What one good thing have you done for the planet this week?' Send us a voice note listener question (via Instagram @forwhatitsearthpodcast or email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com) for your chance to win a Wild Cities seed bomb packet! Thank you to Chris, Stanfords, and Harper Collins for putting the event on and for letting us record the evening for a bonus episode of the podcast. Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Help us cover our running costs with a donation through Ko-fi or grab an organic cotton FWIE tee. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Apr 2, 2025 · 41 min
[Listener Questions] Solar roads in the UK, water use in airports and cleaning up the North Sea oil tanker crash
We've got three absolutely corking listener questions on the show this week, including one from the wonderful Gillian Burke! We're answering: A South Korean motorway has a solar panel-covered bike lane in its central reservation - can we do this in the UK? How much water and waste accumulates at airport security, and can we reduce it? What's the env. impact of the north sea oil tanker crash, and how do we clean jet fuel/nurdles out of the ocean? Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Help us cover our running costs with a donation through Ko-fi or grab an organic cotton FWIE tee. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Mar 26, 2025 · 51 min
Moss: The quiet (but very cool) climate ally
We’re plunging our hands into the soft green bits you find in woodlands, and shining a spotlight on moss. Can the many life-giving, pollution-gobbling, and carbon-storing species of moss on earth be the quiet antidote to climate change? Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Help us cover our running costs with a donation through Ko-fi. Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Mar 19, 2025 · 29 min
[Listener Questions] Boycotts, sustainable tea and coffee, and Wild deodorant
This week we're answering your questions! First, we explore whether environmental boycotts actually work, and ask whether we should all stop buying Wild deodorant since the news that Unliver are purchasing the brand. Finally, we settle down with a steaming mug to find out whether our teas and coffees can be more sustainable. Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Help us cover our running costs with a donation through Ko-fi. Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Mar 12, 2025 · 52 min
Scrubbing up: What's the MAKE UP of make up, SPF, and personal care items?
This week we’re talking about make-up - or more specifically - the make-up of it, alongside other personal care products, and what that means for our environment. Shampoo, eye cream, and SPF, we're coming for ya. Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Mar 5, 2025 · 38 min
[Listener Questions] Book sustainability, wildflower lawns, and rats
Are wildflower lawns the best thing to do with your garden? Do rats deserve their bad rep? Can books be more sustainable, and am I still allowed to buy new ones sometimes? This week we're answering your big green listener questions, and we're introducing two new members of the For What It's Earth team! An RHS guide to making wildflower meadows: https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows Pre-order Sophie's upcoming book, To Have or To Hold: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/to-have-or-to-hold-9781399412162/ Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Feb 26, 2025 · 56 min
Wildfires: How ready are we for extreme climate events?
Things are hotting up. As global temperatures increase, so too does extreme fire risk. Parts of LA are still burning, and this week we’re exploring all things wildfire in a changing climate. As we watch fires erupt on our TV screens, we ask: In the UK, are we really as sheltered from wildfires as we might think? More info: State of Wildfires Report: https://tyndall.ac.uk/news/state-of-wildfires-report-2023-2024/ Beavers and fires Fairfax stop-motion animation: https://emilyfairfaxscience.com/research/firebeavers/ Met Office’s Fire Severity Index https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/fire-severity-index/#?tab=map Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Feb 19, 2025 · 30 min
[Listener Questions] Cruise holidays, medication in poo and greener banking
What's the environmental footprint of taking a cruise? Does medication you take end up in your composting toilet or the sewage system, and if so, what happens next? And can you bank in greener ways? All this and a bonus mini-q on this week's Listener Questions episode. Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Feb 12, 2025 · 53 min
Driving electric: Is the UK ready for EVs?
As climate change marches on, and transport is under a spotlight for significantly contributing to carbon emissions, we’re exploring electric transport. Are we ready for it, particularly in the UK when compared to other countries? What is outstanding in electrification/decarbonisation? And is it a realistic climate ambition? Show notes: Hinkley Point Petition: https://win.newmode.net/hinkley-point-nuclear-power-station-fish-protection https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/02/uk-needs-to-ban-full-hybrid-cars-by-2030-or-face-net-zero-catastrophe https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/23/do-electric-cars-really-produce-fewer-carbon-emissions-than-petrol-or-diesel-vehicles Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Feb 5, 2025 · 29 min
[Listener Questions] Long-term environmental habits, recycling, and cleaning with bleach
This week you asked us which environmental habits and green-living changes we've managed to keep up the longest, whether things actually get recycled, and whether bleach should (or shouldn't) be our go-to household cleaning product. PLUS, Sophie beefs with her neighbour over bin etiquette, and we realise that all of our listeners are called Andrew. Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Jan 29, 2025 · 54 min
Vapes: Environmental impacts & the single-use ban
The sale of single-use vapes is set to be banned in the UK in June, and the environmental impact of e-cigarette-style devices was a key lever in the campaign that fought for this legislation. So, we're following the lifecycle of a vape and exploring the many moments in which these electronic devices can cause planetary problems. Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Jan 26, 2025 · 1 min
Join the team: Could you be our Social Media Volunteer?
We’re seeking a talented and passionate volunteer with digital marketing and editing experience to join the FWIE team in 2025! This year we're taking the pod to exciting places, but working full time in the environment sector AND making the podcast ourselves means we have little time to do the whole ‘digital’ thing. We need a hand making reels, cutting down clips, making graphics for carousels, nailing the algorithm (blah blah), and we hope in return you'll gain valuable science communication experience working as part of a tiny audio team, who have heads and hearts in the right places. So if this sounds good to you - and you would like to volunteer with us at FWIE for just a few hours a week - we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with some information on your experience and any ideas for getting the podcast 'out there' this year, at forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Thanks a million, Emma, Sophie & Mark For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Jan 22, 2025 · 27 min
[Listener Questions] Eco tattoos, laundry detergent and environmental heroes
In Listener’s Questions this week, we’re sharing who in the environment sector inspires us, chatting laundry detergent choices (and recipes…) and exploring top tips for keeping green while getting tatted! Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Jan 15, 2025 · 50 min
Zoos: The good, the bad and the frozen
Zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and seed banks: Is keeping animals and wild creatures in captivity for entertainment ever ok? Or are zoos the conservation powerhouses and the biodiversity arks that we need as wildlife declines across the globe? Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi. & subscribe so you never miss an episode! For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Jan 8, 2025 · 27 min
[Listener Questions] Book recommendations, Vinted and search engines
We're back with another episode in which we answer your burning eco-living questions. Find out whether Vinted is as good for the planet as it seems, what the climate impact of search engines may be, and what we're loving reading. Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support through Ko-fi Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Jan 1, 2025 · 58 min
Climate-friendly Food Choices: Is vegan always best?
We're brushing away the crumbs of Christmas, readying to weather the month of Veganuary spam, and trying to get to the bottom of the big heavy question: What should or shouldn't I be eating, if I want to be kind to the planet? Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Dec 18, 2024 · 37 min
[Listener Questions] Sustainable Christmas gift ideas, plastic grass and road salting
Left your Christmas shopping to the last minute? We've got you. This episode is packed with environmentally friendly gift ideas, from experiences to things to look out for in charity shops before the big day. We also answer listener questions on the environmental impact of both plastic grass, and of salting our roads during icy weather this winter. We're taking a break over the Christmas week, so will be back in your feeds on January 1st. Happy holidays! Get in touch We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).
Dec 11, 2024 · 46 min
Hen & Stag Dos: How to throw a sustainable party
Like many a party, hen and stag dos (or bachelor/bachelorette parties) can come with a big carbon footprint and create a lot of waste. But they can still be special events without being polluting. We’re looking at these milestone gatherings and trying to help you throw one in ways that don’t leave the planet with a sore head too. This episode contains a toolkit, and many of our top tips can be applied to any event on your horizon. Get in touch: We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).