Doing Hope Podcast

In today’s episode, I talk with writer and journalist Elspeth Hay , author of Feed Us With Trees , whose work invites us to rediscover a food story far older — and far more hopeful — than industrial agriculture. Speaking from her home on Cape Cod, surrounded by oak woods that quietly shaped her research journey, Elspeth shares how a single insight — that acorns are edible — opened the door to an e...

🌿 Coming in January: Doing Hope in Practice Inspired by all the hopeful conversations with my wonderful guests so far, I am creating something new: The Doing Hope in Practice Circles. Starting mid-January 2026 we will gather in small live circles around our virtual campfire - a space to turn the insights from Doing Hope into practice - in your work, your home or your community. This is for you if...

In this episode of Doing Hope , I walk with Leslie through Dublin’s Phoenix Park to talk about the power of engineering, patience, and community in the face of climate change. Leslie is a French engineer who specialises in water, flooding and climate resilience. After a master of engineering in France, she moved to Ireland and now works on the development of flood defences and water-related projec...

In this week’s episode, I speak with Franziska Mesche , founder of Tripulse , a sustainable activewear company redefining what it means to wear clothes that are good for both people and the planet. Franziska is on a mission to eliminate plastics and toxins from activewear which linger in the majority of sports clothes today. With her sustainable sports clothing lines, she is proving that it’s poss...

In this episode of Doing Hope , I speak with the unstoppable Leslie Glustrom , a biochemist-turned-climate-activist who has spent over 20 years working to decarbonise the U.S. electricity system from the ground up. Leslie brings extraordinary persistence, deep systems knowledge, and a refreshingly long-term view to the climate movement. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Leslie walked away from a paid ca...

In this episode, I speak with Scott Bryan , community organiser and co-founder of Community Roots , an Irish enterprise helping build thriving and resilient communities by turning unused gardens into shared growing spaces that reconnect people, cultures, and generations — one carrot at a time. Community Roots run 'Soil Mates,' a garden-share program connecting garden owners with budding growers to...

In this episode of Doing Hope , I speak with New York–based climate artist Nicole Kelner , known for her playful and powerful watercolour infographics that make climate and clean energy topics accessible, memorable, and even joyful. Nicole shares how she transitioned from operations in ed-tech and climate startups to becoming a full-time artist — a shift sparked by a 100-day art challenge that cha...

What does climate action look like in one of the hottest parts of the world? In this powerful conversation, clean energy analyst and climate advocate Megna Rajagopal shares her story of growing up in Dubai, navigating the climate space with both technical insight and deep empathy. We talk about everything from solar innovation and circular economy trends to the emotional weight of working in a reg...

What can ancient rocks teach us about the climate future we're hurtling toward? In this inspiring episode, I speak with Dr. Maria Luisa Sanchez Montes , climate scientist, explorer, and creative problem-solver. Marisa takes us deep into Earth’s history through ocean sediments and plant lipids, showing how our current emissions mirror climates not seen for millions of years. But her story doesn’t s...

Welcome back to Doing Hope — the podcast where we meet everyday changemakers building brighter futures. Today, I’m talking with Mary Fleming , founder of Change Clothes , a creative reuse initiative that began as a one-week community event in Crumlin, Dublin and has since blossomed into one of Ireland’s most exciting grassroots social enterprises. Rooted in environmental values and a deep love for...

Dani is a sustainability advocate and founder of Natural Rebel . With 15+ years in the field, she brings heart and depth to conversations about our connection to the planet and ourselves. Her work creates space for reflection, emotional healing, and community through mindfulness and women’s circles. Dani’s mission is to help people trust their inner voice and build a more authentic, sustainable wo...

What if rewilding wasn’t just for landowners or scientists, but for everyone — in cities, gardens, and rented plots? This week on Doing Hope , I speak with Jon Conradi , founder of Wild Mosaic , about making rewilding radically accessible. Through his project, people become Rewilders: subscribing to a 3x3m patch of land and following its transformation into a flourishing habitat — while rediscover...

🎙 Guest: Laila JB Martins In this deeply moving conversation, I speak with Laila JB Martins — a Brazilian strategist, facilitator, and regenerative thinker based in Bonn, Germany — about what it means to live and lead in service of the planet, starting right where you are . Laila shares how her journey from corporate sustainability roles (like DHL and the UN) to local regenerative work has taught...

Today we meet Caitríona Kenny , a community officer, environmental educator and one of the co-founders of the Sustainable Energy Community Connecting Cabra in Dublin 7, Ireland. Sustainable Energy Communities are community-led initiatives to empower locals to take climate action at a local level. Cabra was one of the first to establish in Ireland and the community has since expanded their connect-...

Today, we are meeting Frederich Verstraete from Belgium, who combines his entrepreneurial spirit and decades of business expertise to build a greener future by bringing back hemp as a sustainable raw material for industries and manufacturing. But that’s not all. The real hopeful story is that he is growing hemp on contaminated land, land that is deemed unusable due to pollution with forever chemic...

Today we are hearing from Nathan, the Co-Founder of Bold Donut Games and how his fun mobile games help 1000s of people learn about actionable sustainable behaviours in a fun and playful way. Recoding location: A quiet spot among oaks and beech trees in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland. Connect with Nathan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncruzcoulson/ Bold Donut website: https://www.bolddonut.c...

I am delighted to introduce the Doing Hope podcast and bringing you Episode 0 today. In this short solo episode I share my intention for this podcast and a bit about my personal backstory of why I feel called to record inspiring stories of changemakers across the world. Recoding location: A small woodland in Hennef, Germany For comments, ideas and collaborations contact me at: email: claudia@claud...