Coffee & Geography

In this first part of a two-part Coffee & Geography special, Kit Marie travels to GroundEd, a regenerative education gathering hosted by Meryl Batchelder at the Homestead in Northumberland. Over two days, educators came together for something deliberately different from conventional CPD: outdoor, embodied, communal, playful, reflective, and rooted in climate, nature, education and wellbeing. Part...

‘Espresso’ & Geography is a #MiniGeogs #podcast short where Kit Marie and special guests talk current geographical affairs for a maximum of 15 minutes. Except this one was so much of a hot topic, it became a full-length episode. This quadruple shot of geography-laden caffeine welcomes the wonderful Alistair Hamill back to the #CoffeeGeogPod coffeehouse. Earlier today, Alistair and I reviewed some...

In this episode, Kit Marie is joined by Dr Anjana Khatwa — award-winning earth scientist, geologist, science communicator, TV presenter, and author of The Whispers of Rock. Their conversation begins with family, migration, and identity, tracing Anjana’s story from Slough to Rajasthan, Kenya, India, Dorset, and the Jurassic Coast. She reflects on how colonial histories, family upheaval, and communi...

Kit Marie is joined by Nava Khorram Ahmad, Executive Director of the Climate Education Centre, a newly established non‑profit developing holistic, action‑orientated climate education for young people globally. Nava shares how the organisation began (co‑founded with her mum) and why their curriculum aims to go beyond climate science to include climate justice, Indigenous ways of knowing, practical...

Kit Marie is joined by Aparna Bamzai‑Dodson, Assistant Regional Administrator at the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) within the US Geological Survey (USGS). Aparna explains how the USGS functions as the science arm of the US Department of the Interior and how the CASC network supports climate adaptation across public lands and resources. The conversation focuses on what “act...

In this lively and thoughtful episode, Kit Marie is joined by Pluto Liu, a marine scientist, artist, self‑described nomad, and PhD researcher studying kelp and Antarctic ecosystems from their home in Aotearoa (colonially “New Zealand”). The conversation ranges across identity, geography, creativity, capitalism, and the slippery boundaries between disciplines. Pluto reflects on growing up in China,...

In this rich and expansive conversation, Kit Marie is joined by Dr. Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles, an Ojibwe geographer based in Victoria, British Columbia. Together, they explore identity, movement, Indigenous geographies, the meaning of place, and how our relationships with land — and sky — shape who we become. Deondre shares how his Black, Swedish, and Ojibwe heritage, together with his moves...

In this on‑location special, Kit Marie travels to the east coast of England to spend a spring morning at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, speaking with Principal Dr Catherine Richards about the intersection of community, place‑identity, and sustainability. The conversation blends human geography with practical leadership: the real challenges of Great Yarmouth, the spirit of its people, the region’...

In this joyful, wide‑ranging conversation, forest ecologist and science communicator Dr Robin Hayward joins Kit Marie for a celebration of trees, identity, science, and storytelling. Robin shares how growing up on Dartmoor shaped their love of horizons, how Malaysian rainforests revealed the long‑term impact of selective logging, and why hugging trees is both a scientific method and a source of so...

In this rich and eye‑opening conversation, Mexican paleobiologist Omar Regalado Fernández joins Kit Marie to explore how paleontology has been shaped by colonial legacies — and how the field can move toward justice. Omar shares how growing up in the Cuautitlán-Pachuca Valley (with its unexpected Cornish connections!), studying in London, and now working in Germany have shaped his identity as a glo...

In this uplifting and heartfelt episode, Kit is joined by Marvee Sambajon, a documentary producer and marine science communicator from the Philippines. What follows is a warm, generous conversation about place, respect, culture, creativity, and the small moments that reveal who we are. Marvee reflects on growing up across several Philippine provinces, moving between communities as a “blank slate”...

Season 6 opens with a rich, engaging conversation with environmental researcher and EDIA advocate Gadfly Stratton, joining Kit Marie from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Gadfly explores how their work on aquatic invasive species intersects with equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, showing why inclusive science produces better research, better engagement, and stronger community outcomes. They...

🌟 ANNOUNCING SEASON 6 OF COFFEE & GEOGRAPHY! ☕🗺️ Mark your calendars—new episodes return February 7th, 2026! After a powerful Season 5 exploring climate action with incredible #ClimateAmbassadors, we’re thrilled to continue bringing you heartfelt conversations with inspiring people who live and breathe geography in all its forms. Join me as we: ✨ Meet more diverse voices from around the globe...

A powerful culmination of our 23-episode journey with Climate Ambassadors! In this season finale, host Kit Marie Rackley weaves together profound insights from engineers, teachers, nuclear consultants, and soil scientists volunteering nationwide. Discover how these diverse experts are transforming climate anxiety into agency through six radical lessons: from starting small ("micro-wins build macro...

Join Kit Marie at the Denver Complex in the East Anglian Fens—one of the UK’s largest tidal and fluvial management systems, second only to the Thames Barrier yet hidden in plain sight. In this special field episode, Environment Agency experts Louise Wilson (Strategy Advisor, Fens 2100+) and Amy Shaw (Fens Flood Risk Manager & Fens 2100+ Programme Director), alongside Katie Teesdale-Ward (Stakehold...

On location at the UK's premier agricultural event! Kit Marie explores how Norfolk's farming heritage intersects with cutting-edge STEM innovation and youth climate action. Hosted by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) – a charity advancing food production and rural education – the STEMM Village's 2025 theme "STEMM in the Food Chain: From Field to Future" showcases vital links betwee...

A season-long special interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors across the UK! Why did they become Ambassadors? How do their unique backgrounds empower climate action? Joining Kit Marie from the Yorkshire & Humberside region is Ray Butchart, a retired RAF aircraft engineer (22 years) and industry veteran (31 years) with 58 years of scuba diving expertise. Ray shares profound insights from recovering WWII a...

‘Espresso’ & Geography is a #MiniGeogs #podcast short where Kit Marie and special guests talk current geographical affairs for a maximum of 15 minutes. This shot of geography-laden caffeine welcomes the wonderful Phil Humphries back to the #CoffeeGeogPod coffeehouse to talk about today (21st June 2025) being #ShowYourStripesDay. What are the climate/warming stripes and how do they help communicate...

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action? Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Willem Buttinger, a retired community organiser and passionate environmental advocate. Willem shares how a sudden spike in his home insurance pre...

‘Espresso’ & Geography is a #MiniGeogs #podcast short where Kit Marie and special guests talk current geographical affairs for a maximum of 15 minutes. This shot of geography-laden caffeine welcomes the fabulous Dan Raven-Ellison back to the #CoffeeGeogPod coffeehouse to talk about news that #Chattanooga, Tennessee has been designated as the third ever #NationalParkCity in the world, joining Londo...

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action? Joining Kit Marie for this episode is Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez, co-lead of the Climate Ambassadors Scheme and Head of the School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences at the...

‘Espresso’ & Geography is a #MiniGeogs #podcast short where Kit Marie and special guests talk current geographical affairs for a maximum of 15 minutes. This shot of geography-laden caffeine welcomes climate guru, harpist and stereophotographer Dave Wynn back to the #CoffeeGeogPod coffeehouse to talk about news that today, 20th May 2025, is the UK's #OvershootDay. Dave and Kit Marie discuss what th...

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action? Joining Kit Marie based in the North East region is Dr Elle Young, reflecting on her time as Regional Hub Manager and her next chapter as a postdoctoral researcher at Durham University. Elle shar...

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action? Joining Kit Marie is their London Regional Hub Manager colleague, Lochlann Atack. They discuss identity, inequality, and the unique challenges and opportunities of supporting climate action in Lo...

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action? Joining Kit Marie is their Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Hub Manager colleague, Ruth Green. They discuss the joys and challenges of nature-connected parenting, the importance of sustainabilit...