Constructive Voices

“We have a solution that is already here. It’s already doing the work that needs to be done. And all we have to do is let them complete the job.”  Paul Koberstein He has spent forty years reporting on the forests of the Pacific Northwest — and he is convinced they may be the most powerful climate technology on Earth. Environmental journalist Paul Koberstein, co-author of  Canopy of Titans: The Lif...

“I grew up with my parents telling me stories about the ancient Persian civilisation… and I created this huge passion for ancient civilisations.” Moein Nodehi Moein Nodehi  Constructive Voices   Podcast  Cover He was born in the middle of war. As conflict tore through Iran, Moein Nodehi’s family fled in search of safety, eventually ending up in an immigration camp in  Sweden . But even in those un...

What if “healthy ageing” isn’t just about genes, diet, or healthcare — but also about the streets you navigate, the air you breathe, the noise you sleep through, and the buildings you spend 90% of your life inside? “This conversation makes the case for a shift: from  sustainability  as a materials-and-energy conversation, to  neurosustainability  —  designing  environments that protect sleep, redu...

Neuro-Sustainability: Designing Places Where Brains Can Thrive What if  sustainability  wasn’t only about carbon, materials, and energy — but also about the human brain? In this second episode of the mini-series about neuro-sustainability, neuroscience and  architecture  meet in a conversation that feels both urgent and surprisingly practical. We investigate the work of  Cambridge scholarship stud...

Welcome to the Constructive Voices’ mini-series that dives into neuro-sustainability and the built environment. “The brain is not concrete… it is always changing.”  Mohamed Hesham Khalil We investigate the work of  Cambridge scholarship student, Mohamed Hesham Khalil,  which we believe should be integrated into planning and  architecture  around the world. Mohamed also brings other top global  exp...

Rebuilding Ukraine through circularity, community with British and Dutch support, is a good news podcast episode. This positive news story has been inspired by one of the world’s most tragic situations: the war in Ukraine. “We in Ukraine are becoming a pilot site for diverse sustainable pilots, experiments and innovations. We have to leapfrog and build a society,  buildings  and processes that are...

In this episode, Ciara sits down with Jessica Gill and Aoibhínn Nevin-Ginnetty, two passionate youth advocates from  Plan International  Ireland’s Youth Advisory Panel who took their COP28 experience and turned it into local action. Fresh from representing youth voices at COP28 in Dubai, Jessica and Aoibhínn came home determined not to let the momentum fade. Together, they designed and delivered “...

In this episode of  Constructive Voices , Jackie is joined again by  Tim Christophersen , Vice President of  Climate Action  at Salesforce and  author  of  Generation Restoration . Fresh back from COP30 in Belém, Tim shares why – out of roughly 15 COPs he has attended – this one felt like a genuine turning point for climate,  nature , and the emerging bioeconomy. "The Blue Zone in Belem: A long wa...

Public transport  advocate and  Dublin   City  Councillor  Feljin Jose  joins interviewer Ciara to unpack how streets, housing and rail policy shape daily life—and  climate action . We connect DART+, MetroLink and better buses to the  built environment : denser  homes  near stations, safer walking and cycling, revived main streets, and  public spaces  that welcome everyone. Feljin also reflects on...

The  built environment  and of course, the  environment  in general, are inextricably linked to our  health  and  well-being . With so much media coverage on  climate change  and  biodiversity  loss, it is hard to ignore these facts. Places and people are also connected in various ways. The people who live in nature-blessed places have a higher chance of good health than those whose  homes  are in...

In this Youth Month special, Plan International’s Chief Programme Officer Damien Queally joins youth host  Ciara O’Brien  to unpack what truly locally led, gender-responsive programming looks like—especially where climate shocks meet the  built environment . “If you’re not bringing young voices in, you’re making decisions with your eyes closed.” From safe, climate-resilient schools and  health  ce...

"Generation Restoration wonderfully weaves together the most important ingredients of how we can heal ourselves and the planet. The book is the culmination of Tim’s last twenty-nine years of work and life experience. Experience that has included leading parts of the United Nations’  Environment  Programmes to his current role as VP of  Climate Action  at Salesforce. It is hard to imagine anyone be...

Unpacking how nature credits could reshape the way we value biodiversity and fund its restoration with Dr. Brian MacSharry of the European Environment Agency In this episode of  Constructive Voices ,  Jackie De Burca  interviews Dr.  Brian MacSharry  from the  European Environment Agency  to discuss the concept of  nature  credits, their  significance  in the context of  biodiversity , and how the...

How  Ireland  is making  homes  warmer, cheaper to run, and lower-carbon—at real scale—and what you should actually do first. Ireland’s Retrofit Race Ireland set out to decarbonise its housing by upgrading existing homes—insulation first, fossil heating out,  heat pumps  and other renewables in. Dr. Ciarán Byrne from the  Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland  explains what “retrofit” really mea...

Safety isn’t a box-tick—it’s a living culture. David Picton shares hard-won lessons from military logistics to boardrooms and major infrastructure projects. We dig into why lone workers are growing fast, how extreme weather is reshaping site risks, and how connecting culture with smart tech turns “compliance” into prevention. You’ll hear real examples—from JLL to Costain—and a pragmatic playbook a...

A short, sharp burst of optimism from the  built environment . This episode: how floating neighbourhoods can power and protect themselves; why the EU wants to put  nature  on the balance sheet; and a hopeful update from  Burkina Faso  where smart water-harvesting is helping 29,000+ new  trees  thrive. LISTEN IN LESS THAN 6 MINUTES HERE What This Under 6 Minute Episode Covers  Floating neighbourhoo...

At  Constructive Voices , we’re not only about the place and the things that happen within the  built environment , we’re also about how the places are directly connected with us as people. Along with the creatures around us and how that actually plays out in various ways within our lives. Today we’re with David Picton. Now David will also be visiting you again in another episode, but in this part...

In this uplifting edition of the Constructive Voices Good News podcast in less than six minutes, we bring you a short, sharp burst of positive stories from the built environment — with a dash of conservation inspiration. A New Way To Look at Sustainability: Neurosustainability We open with a fascinating concept that’s as much about protecting our minds as it is about protecting the planet — neuros...

Whether you’re a construction professional, a leader in a male-dominated field, or simply passionate about driving meaningful change, this episode offers practical strategies and an abundance of inspiration. In this energising and deeply insightful episode of  Constructive Voices , Jackie De Burca sits down with Dr. Gretchen Gagel — a trailblazing leader who has spent over 40 years shaping the glo...

Is Europe on the cusp of a green building revolution? Find out in this podcast episode. In this episode of Constructive Voices, we’re joined by  Stephen Barrett , the driving force behind Ireland’s transition to whole-life carbon assessment in construction. (Bookmark this page for the release date of 29th July) As Programme Manager at the  Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) , Stephen is at the he...

Welcome to the very first edition of the  Constructive Voices News  — a short, sharp burst of uplifting stories from the built environment, with a side of conservation. Hosted by  Jackie De Burca , this six minute episode showcases inspiring developments in construction, sustainability, and social integration. Here’s what’s in the spotlight: Refugee Training: Empowering Refugees Through Constructi...

Where better than your own home country to start exploring something that is very close to one’s heart? And I believe to lots of people’s hearts when they start to think about it. At Constructive Voices, we’re not only exploring the obvious parts of the built environment . “In fact, we’re digging a bit deeper. And connecting the people and their places together, because this is what it’s all about...

“We are past the point of return for trying to save traditional methods of building. We need to focus on what is performing now and deliver with confidence.” — Will Frost “We don’t just need to build faster — we need to build better. And that means solutions that are lighter, lower carbon, and actually deliver for people on the ground.” Will Frost Optimised Construction With Will Frost of Saint Go...

When you think of the future, do you picture space—or water? In this eye-opening episode, Jackie De Burca speaks with Peter Robbins, one of the world’s leading voices on the floating economy. From delivering fresh meals via jet skis to developing mega-scale coastal innovation projects in Korea and the US, Peter is building a blueprint for what he calls the next “mega-trend”: the floating economy....

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Catherine Cleary, author, journalist, and the CEO & Co-founder of Pocket Forests. Having authored and co-authored 4 books and been a Restaurant Critic for the Irish Times for more than 10 years, Catherine has now turned her attention to nature, climate action and greening Ireland. In 2020, Catherine embarked on two projects: one, to establish a soc...