CarbonSessions

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Jen and Leekei explore the mindset of climate change deniers alongside the fatalistic views of those convinced that mitigating climate change is beyond our control, uncovering surprising similarities and discussing potential pathways forward.     For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac (one of Amazon best-se...

Episode Summary:  This episode is a segment of a past episode in which Deborah Drummond, co-creator of ‘They Did It Tour’, shares with our hosts the joy and the many benefits of working while walking. Deborah does most of her work while being active, whether walking, hiking or swimming. This practice is a great way to exercise, save money and time, and be more productive. In this segment, Deb...

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Kristina, Jen, and Leekei, discuss the tradition of Easter chocolate eggs, its various origins, and how it has been commercialized today.  Why do we eat chocolate for Easter around the world? At a time when the price of chocolate is increasing, it's intriguing to explore where this tradition comes from and how we can maintain the celebratory spirit with...

Episode Summary : This episode episode is a segment from a previous episode in which Leekei and Jenn talk about insects and lab-grown meat, their value as a source of protein. Jenn and Leekei talked about how insects are being used as a food source to reduce our carbon footprint. Different forms have already been used, including Cochineal in shakes and powdered forms in pet foods. T...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Jen interviews Gwen Kenneally about her new plant-based cookbook.   Gwen shares her lifelong love for food and its role in her family dynamics. Growing up, she was exposed to diverse cuisines, sparking her culinary passion.   Her latest book, The Plantastic Cookbook , inspired by a dream her publisher had, quickly transformed from an e-book to a com...

Episode Summary:  This episode is a segment of a longer conversation in which Olanbanji and Inma talk about the relationship between the environment and health  According to a UN study, the direct damage cost to health incurred by climate change is estimated to be between 2 to 4 billion per year in 2030. Olabanji shared how the community successfully campaigned when black soot was all ov...

----- Featuring Carbon Almanac Contributors Jenn Swanson and Leekei Tang From Langley in British Columbia, Canada, Jenn is a Minister, Coach, Writer and Community Connector, helping people help themselves. Leekei is a fashion business founder, a business coach, an international development expert and podcaster from Paris, France. ----- The CarbonSessions Podcast is produced and edited by Leekei Ta...

Episode Summary:  This segment is from an episode with Jason Angell who has created his personal and professional life centred around ecological living. They discuss how Jason and his wife Jocelyn came about launching the  Long Haul Farm , a community-supported agriculture farm which serves food to the community and trains new farmers.  Jason and his wife also started  The Ecol...

The episode nurtures two birds with one shrub of millet! There is the climate story and there are the foibles of Chat GPT, the end is just a real gem and of course, one of the demonstrable foibles! Want to find out more?  For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac (one of Amazon best-selling books of the year!), visit  thecarbonalmanac.org     W...

Episode Summary: This segment is from a longer episode in which Jenn, Olanbanji and Leekei took turns sharing wildlife facts and stories Jenn read that students in the Philippines must have planted 10 trees before graduating from high school To listen to the full episode For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac, visit thecarbonalmanac.org Want to join in the...

Episode Summary: Discover the thrilling journey of the Mangarahara cichlid, also known as the Joba Mena, from near extinction to a beacon of hope in conservation efforts.  In this conversation Leekei shares with Kristina the story of how Brian Zimmerman, alongside other experts, embarked on a mission that led to the rediscovery of this critically endangered species in Madagascar, fostering su...

Episode Summary:  This segment is from a longer episode in which Kristina shares with Jenn, Leekei and Brian some insights about how lights influence our circadian rhythm and nature in general Lights are everywhere, yet we don’t often discuss their impact on humans, society, and both the natural and built environments. In the full conversation , we discuss: The differences between natural and...

Episode Summary: This episode started as an exploration on the dichotomy between celebrity activism and personal lifestyle choices, particularly focusing on key influencers’ environmental efforts versus their use of private jets.   It debates whether such actions make celebrities hypocrites or if their broader impact justifies these choices. The discussion also touches on the effectivene...

Episode Summary:   This segment is from a longer episode in which Brian, Leekei and Jenn all shared recent conversations on climate that made them regain hope   The conversation underlines the value of unified, non-confrontational discussions to inspire collective and positive change towards a more sustainable future. The dialogue highlights the significance of recognizing and modif...

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Kristina, Jen and Leekei, delve into the concept of the Planetary Boundaries  The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is one of the nine metrics monitored in the framework of the Planetary Boundaries as climate change is not the only process that might jeopardize human life on planet Earth.  In this conversation, we discussed the importance of a...

Episode Summary:   This segment is from a longer episode in which Olabanji and Leekei discuss the trap of plastic recycling and look for ways to take action   Only 9% of plastics ever produced has actually been recycled knowing that the world has been producing plastic for over 70 years…  The entire lifecycle of plastic is bad for the environment, from production to its disposa...

Episode Summary: In today’s episode of CarbonSessions, Jeremy and Rob talk to Alex Hallatt. Alex is a cartoonist and the creator of Arctic Circle, a syndicated comic strip about three penguins who have emigrated to the Arctic. Jeremy, Rob, and Alex discuss the intersection of sustainability, environment, and art, emphasizing the power of comics in conveying complex ideas through simple panels.&nbs...

Episode Summary: This segment is from a longer episode featuring Kate Field, a regenerative farmer from Tasmania, Australia. In this episode, we explore sustainable farming practices focusing on low-input systems to avoid overgrazing and carbon leakage. Emphasizing the importance of resting pastures and maintaining continuous plant growth, we discuss methods like holistic grazing to enhance soil h...

Episode Summary: In this compelling episode, Leekei and Jenn welcomed Osprey Orielle Lake, an advocate for climate justice and the Founder of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network.  Osprey's work with underrepresented communities, policymakers, and coalitions aims to foster climate justice and a sustainable, equitable future. Highlights of our conversation include: The power of worldvi...

Episode Summary: This conversation is a rerun of an episode we initially published in July 2022. We talked about how taking care of our teeth can impact the environment and how we can do better Jenn, Leekei and Rob discussed the environmental impact of taking care of our teeth as well as plastics contained in toothpaste, dental floss and toothbrushes and alternative solutions to reduce the daily r...

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Kristina, Jen, Olabanji, and Leekei, delve into the joys of sustainable eating and the challenge of food preservation in different settings. The discussion starts with sustainable food practices, highlighting the benefits of farm-to-fridge initiatives and the importance of supporting small, local businesses for fresh produce. Challenges like the lack of pres...

Episode Summary:  This episode is an excerpt from a previous conversation with Leekei, Jenn and Olabanji discussing Yvon Chouinard donating his clothing brand Patagonia to a charity. Hopefully, this gift to Nature will inspire other organisations to do the same. For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac, visit  thecarbonalmanac.org Want to join in t...

Episode Summary: Welcome to the first conversation recorded in 2024 where Jenn and Leekei usher in 2024 with optimism and kick off the year with positivity and hope for the future. In this episode, Jenn and Leekei discuss the importance of maintaining a balance between awareness of environmental challenges and a proactive, optimistic approach to solutions.  Highlights include Portugal's succe...

Episode Summary: This episode is an excerpt from a previous conversation on consumer goods and possible greenwashing tactics used by brands. We talked about our recent shopping experiences and how brands can develop more sustainable products that customers would want to buy. Jenn shared her experience of purchasing distilled water in a shop and raised concerns about a growing trend of greenwashing...

Episode Summary: Olabanji and Jeremy are joined by Hannah Ritchie, a Data Scientist and the Deputy Editor and Lead Researcher from Our World in Data, a non-profit focused on uncovering facts about the world's most pressing issues. Hannah is also a TED speaker and a writer. In this episode, we delve into Hannah’s book, "Not the End of the World - How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustai...