Things You Can't Live Without

In this special extended episode, journalist, author and economics expert Ed Conway joins Dr Anna to explore the future of sustainability. Alongside Rio Tinto’s Chief Scientist, Nigel Steward, and Froydis Cameron-Johansson, Rio Tinto's Global Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Security, they discuss the challenges and solutions of responsible sourcing and manufacturing, taking a deep dive int...

Chef and food writer Sabrina Ghayour’s knife is an indispensable partner in her kitchen. Sabrina tells Dr Anna about her journey toward finding her favourite type of knives and how to look for the right knife for you. She is joined by Rio Tinto’s Chief Scientist, Nigel Steward, who delves into the material science behind how our knives are made. They discuss collaboration in the world of food and...

Globa​l bestselling author Cornelia Funke (Dragon Rider, Inkheart) says she has hungry hands and that she cannot live without her pen to conjure up her magical worlds. Cornelia tells Dr Anna about the importance of the physical process of writing and illustrating, before committing her work to a computer. She also shares her deep passion for the protection of nature and our knowledge of it. They a...

Beatrice Galilee, founder of architecture and design platform The World Around is dedicated to inspiring and supporting the next generation of architects. She introduces Dr Anna to 'Botanica', a nature-inspired vase, which exists to prompt conversations around the future of sustainable design and architectural practices. They are joined by Brett Capper, General Manager APAC, Studies and Proje...

Oscar-winning sound designer Mark Mangini uses highly specialised microphones to capture the sounds we know and love in some of Hollywood’s most successful films. In an episode focusing on reuse and recycling, Mark tells Dr Anna about the unlikely, everyday sources behind some very famous film sounds. They’re joined by Didier Arseguel, Vice President of Technology at Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium,...

Comedian, author and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax OBE is addicted to her laptop - and here she explains to Dr Anna about the positive and negative impacts it has on her mental health. They are joined by Rio Tinto’s Chief Scientist, Nigel Steward, who explains the material science behind creating computers and introducing sustainable innovations in how they are being made. Listen to hear why t...

Revered photographic artist Edward Burtynsky shares how his carbon-fibre camera tripod has become indispensable in his documentation of human impacts on the planet. He tells Dr Anna about his artistic approach to industrial landscapes, especially those affected by fuel production. They are joined by Rio Tinto’s Chief Decarbonisation Officer, Jonathon McCarthy, who shares progress on the mining ind...

Renowned trumpeter Jon Lampley performs on national TV in the Stephen Colbert house band, to stadiums of people, and alone in his small home studio - but which does he prefer? Jon tells Dr Anna about the significance of his custom-built trumpet, his unique sound and his most memorable performances. They are also joined by Shawn Lyndon, Chief Digital Officer at Rio Tinto, to explore the balance bet...

Geneticist Dr Adam Rutherford relies on refrigeration to preserve the unique DNA samples that underpin his lab work. Furthermore, as he explains to Dr Anna, fridges are good for keeping his beer cold! In an episode all about research and development, Adam and Anna are joined by Marie-Pierre Paquin, Head of Science and Partnerships at Rio Tinto, to explore how a mix of curiosity, diligence and data...

Series 2 of Things You Can’t Live Without is coming soon. Here’s Dr Anna Ploszajski with a preview of what you can expect. Make sure you follow the show to hear new episodes as they launch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hod Lipson - Columbia University professor and award-winning robotics researcher - shares with Dr. Anna the one item he can’t live without - his Graphics Processing Unit (GPU).  The conversation reveals how much GPUs underpin our electronic world, and how one somewhat unsung element - boron - is at the heart of making them work. Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive, Minerals, Sinead Kaufman, unpicks w...

Spacecraft engineer Dr. Leah Alconcel joins Dr. Anna to tell her about the one item she can’t live without - her lasers From sending spacecraft to Saturn to the possibility of being able to watch TikTok in outer space, Dr. Leah shares the critical role that lasers have in her life. We are joined again by Rio’s Chief Scientist, Nigel Steward, who reveals how lasers are in fact a fundamental pa...

Chemical biologist and explorer Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza shares with Dr. Anna the one item she can’t live without - her field microscope.  Dr. Rosa takes us on an expedition to the Amazon as we understand how integral her microscope is to her day-to-day work searching for the tiniest creatures, from heat-loving microbes that exist in boiling rivers to the stingless bee native to Peru. Anothe...

Cooking sensation and two-time Top Chef winner Buddha Lo joins Dr. Anna to share the one item he can’t live without - salt. Buddha takes us to his kitchen in New York where he explains its critical role in food not just today, but throughout history. Rio Tinto’s Chief Advisor Process Development, Amy Lamb, joins the discussion to explain salt’s journey from the sea to the table and why you can’t e...

Daytime Emmy Award-winning science communicator, podcaster, TV presenter, writer and food buff Alie Ward joins Dr. Anna to share her unquenchable love for the item she can’t live without - her insulated flask.  As a self-confessed ice fiend, Alie shares the daily amazement her flask provides, which she tells Dr. Anna is akin to magic. To help unravel some of the mystery, chemist and broadcast...

Singer, songwriter, author and broadcaster Cerys Matthews joins Dr. Anna this week to share the items she can’t live without - her climbing equipment.  Mark Davies, Chief Technical Officer at Rio Tinto, and climbing curator Nigel Buckley also join Cerys and Dr. Anna to discuss the days of climbing with wooden axes, conquering summits and current breakthroughs in achieving low-carbon aluminium...

Award-winning Foley artist Shelley Roden joins Dr. Anna on the podcast to explain why she can’t live without trash. As a Foley artist, Shelley spends her days using trash to make the sound effects for live action and animated films. She’s worked on over two hundred titles such as Black Panther and Disney’s Encanto and she challenges Dr. Anna and Rio Tinto’s Metallurgical Engineer Saskia Duyvesteyn...

BBC broadcaster and cycling obsessive OJ Borg joins Dr. Anna to share the item he can’t live without - his e-bike.   Alongside bike historian Tony Hadland and Rio Tinto’s General Manager of Technical Development, Jared Osborne, they unearth the explosion in the popularity of the e-bike, investigate how you turn rocks into batteries and discuss the impact to the planet of keeping the worl...

Paralympic gold medallist and ambassador for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Rudy Garcia-Tolson joins Dr. Anna to share the one item he can’t live without - his prosthetic legs. Rio Tinto’s Chief Advisor of Discovery, Marie-Pierre Paquin also joins the conversation. As they track the evolution in prosthetic limbs, Rudy shares memories of search parties being sent out to find parts of his legs...

World-renowned lexicographer and viral tweeter Susie Dent joins Dr. Anna to wax lyrical about her favourite thing - her dictionary.  Joined by Chief Scientist Nigel Steward, they mine into the components of Susie’s electronic dictionary, explore the etymology of ‘electricity’ and investigate the real-life challenges of electrifying the world in order to create a greener future. Hosted on Acas...

Follow the show to be the first to hear episode one on the 28th February. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.