Book of Leaves

For episode 65 I chatted to Amy O'Brien whom you may know from The Sustainable Sleepover Podcast (which I definitely recommend checking out if you haven't already!) about her experience as an activism campaigning for social justice from climate issues to women's rights. You can keep up to date with her on Instagram @b_amyo or find her other socials and projects here .  [03.35] Who Amy is! [06...

There’s no better time  to give as much help to our pollinators than now. Úna is a wealth of knowledge and the work of the  National Biodiversity Data Centre , including the  All Ireland Pollinator Plan , is crucial. Stay up to date with their work by signing up to their newsletter or following them on Twitter  @BioDataCentre   @PollinatorPlan  , Instagram  @biod...

For the longest time I've wanted to learn about the hemp industry in Ireland, so I reached out to the Hemp Cooperative who suggested I chat to Freya Bartels, a hemp farmer based in Mayo. This is an area I know nothing  about so I hope you'll enjoy learning with me! If you're interested in staying up to date with all things hemp farming, you can follow the co-op on Twitter @hempcooperative , F...

For the first episode after the break, I want to introduce you to a secondary school teacher, Patrick Kirwan (thank you Codie for the recommendation!). His story is such an inspirational one that I hope you'll be as encouraged as I am by him and share this with as many students and teachers as possible! You can follow Patrick on Twitter @GrowGardener s or the Irish Schools Sustainability Network a...

Hello and welcome back to Book of Leaves! I am coming out of my annual podcast hibernation and I cannot wait to see where the year takes us. Who knows who I'll get chatting to or what I'll learn by the end of the year and I'm so excited to have you on this journey with me. Before I release episode 62, the opening act, I wanted to share an update as to what I've been doing since January and announc...

For episode 61  and the last in season 3 of the podcast, I interviewed  Jane Killingbeck  about  The Work That Reconnects . Developed by Joanna Macy, in her own words "The Work that Reconnects helps people discover and experience their innate connections with each other and the self-healing powers of the web of life, transforming despair and overwhelm into inspired, collaborati...

For episode 60, I chatted to Ahmad Mu'azzam, one of the creators behind  Evocco , a food impact tracking app. I reached out to him for an interview after finding the app and their newsletter so helpful and full of solution based tips. This episode is encompasses simple practices we can take on board systemically and individually. [06:10] Ahmad's introduction. [09:15] How and when  Evocco...

You can hear how much I enjoyed this chat with Flossie Donnelly on all things beach cleaning! The name Jeremy will forever have a new meaning… Stay up to date with her ventures on Instagram  @Flossieandthebeachcleaners ! and you can find out more about their workshops on their website at  www.flossieandthebeachcleaners.com . Don't forget to rate, review, share, and if you can, please sup...

Episode 58 has me chat to Laragh McCann, a former model turned activist, film maker, and fellow jack of all trades! She is also the force behind 100% ReLoved and the founder of Climate Love Ireland . You can follow them on Facebook or @climateloveireland and @100percentreloved_ on Instagram. Some of the topics we covered are: [07:30] An introduction from Laragh, and her journey from modelling to e...

Past interviewee  & marine biologist Ruth Leeney, has made herself quite busy since speaking to her last in June 2020. Have a listen to that episode, 32,  here!  Now we're here to chat about her upcoming book campaigns, bottom trawling and some of the animals she is working so hard to conserve. You can follow her on Instagram  @ruleeney. [05:30] An intro to Ruth & what...

Episode 56 is with Wicklow-based ecologist Alex Konieczka. One of her many ventures is Understory, a truly zerowaste business where she sells upcycled terrariums among other things. You can follow her on Instagram  @understory_ie  to keep up to date with the pieces she creates and foraging excursions she plans, or reach out to her via e-mail on alex@understory.ie. [03:45] An intro from A...

Gary Tyrrell works for An Taisce's educational unit as part of the Climate Ambassador Programme . You'll have heard me chat about this programme over the past year as it's one I was accepted onto myself, plus I interviewed a few ambassadors from it! They open applications for the following year usually every September so make sure to check out their website if you're interested in taking part ( cl...

Episode 54 is coming from the vaults as I interviewed fellow activist Paul McCormack Cooney a few months ago. Paul is another absolutely wonderful human I got to know through Extinction Rebellion. He recently started a blog called Climate Dad which despite being a work in progress, I definitely recommend checking out! And you can follow Paul on Twitter @PaulMcCC or Instagram @climatedad.ie. We cov...

For episode 53 I go back to the basics of environmental issues and talk about the infamous single use polluter: disposable coffee cups. For this, there's none other to talk to other than Sorcha Kavanagh from The Conscious Cup Campaign . This is a programme not just encouraging individuals to bring a reuseable cup, but encouraging cafés and businesses to drive the change forward and lead by example...

I can't believe it's taken me until episode 52 to dedicate an interview to trees! Shocking behaviour, but this lovely chat with Orla makes up for it. You can follow Orla on Twitter @NaturallyOrla & don't forget to listen to her podcast The Broad Leaf! You can find out more about The Native Woodland Trust on their website and stay up to date with them on Twitter @NativeWoodTrust . Stay tuned be...

In episode 51 I chatted to artists Eva O'Connor and Hildegard Ryan  about using the world of theatre to spark discussion and inspire change. Their theatre company,  Sunday's Child , has a play called Afloat,  streaming all this month  (August 2021) as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I'd advise you to support it and hopefully this discussion will inspire you to make more...

Tess is a 17 year old activist with many projects up her sleeve! I got to talk to her about these as well as how the climate crisis is impacting India & what we can, and should, do to help. She is also a fellow Climate Ambassador ! You can follow her on Instagram @tessie.ie.hungry . Don't forget to rate, review, share, and if you can, please support this podcast on Patreon (  https://www....

For episode 49 I chatted to Sarah Fogarty  from  Community Power  about community-led renewable energy sources. The work this group has done has laid the groundwork to make it easier for communities across Ireland to build and set up their own own grids. It's stellar! I hope you enjoy this solution-based chat. Don't forget to rate, review, share, and if you can, please support this...

Saoirse Exton is a 16 year old climate activist from Limerick who is part of many groups, all trying to make the world a better place, from the Friday's For Future movement to the Irish Second-Level Student's Union . She is a remarkable soul and I can't wait for you to listen to this chat with her, which as you'll hear from the laughs, I thoroughly enjoyed having! You can follow Saoirse on Twitter...

I stumbled across Niamh's story via Earthy Cáilíní on Instagram. Niamh is now working as a vet and began her studies as a meat loving omnivore, to finish them as a vegan, influenced to change by what she saw during her placement. I asked her to come and chat about her story and as animal welfare is something very close to her heart, she was more than happy to come on. It's a heavy episode, but an...

Eoin McGuinness is behind Crann , an Irish company that sells watches and sunglasses, made from what others would consider to be waste. I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I enjoyed having it! Give them a follow to on Instagram @crann.co . Don't forget to rate, review, share, and if you can, please support this podcast on Patreon (  https://www.patreon.com/bookofleaves  ). More on:&nbs...

For episode 45 I interviewed Elaine O'Riordan , the woman behind the Irish Hedgehog survey to chat about, you guessed it, hedgehogs! Have a listen, and don't forget to check out  www.irishhedgehogsurvey.com  to get involved. Don't forget to rate, review, share, and if you can, please support this podcast on Patreon (  https://www.patreon.com/bookofleaves  ). More on:  http...

Zac is an activist with a number of climate action groups . Most recently, he and another activist, Orla Murphy, were arrested and imprisoned for a protest at Iveagh House in Dublin . As Orla was still in prison at the time of this recording, I interviewed Zac to hear his story and the place of civil disobedience in the climate justice movement. Orla has since been released on the 22nd of April af...

Season 3 is starting as I mean to go on - with a revolution!  We hear Carrie Ann's story and take a moment to shine a light on the social issues behind the clothes we wear, and the power in numbers. Not to forget, Fashion Revolution week is one week a year, but the fashion revolution exists every time you get dressed or walk into a clothing store. Don't forget to rate, review, share, and if y...

Holy moly it's April already?! It's time for season 3 of Book of Leaves. Here I share a bit about what I've been up to and a taste of what's to come. Are you ready to fill your book with more leaves?? I've missed this loads. Get in touch with any news or stories, requests or suggestions by emailing me at ceara@bookofleavespodcast.com. Stay up to date by following me on Instagram , Twitter , Facebo...