Edible Empire

Dr Kate Wylie is an Adelaide-based GP, the founder of Climate Medicine , and the Executive Director of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), a not-for-profit advocacy organisation that recognises human health depends on a healthy environment. Dr Wylie is a master communicator who has emerged as a leading voice in Australia for highlighting the health implications of climate change while cha...

Andre Borell is not just a filmmaker and investor, he’s a catalyst for change and a maker of good trouble! We first chatted with Andre in season two of the podcast, hot on the heels of the release of Envoy: Shark Cull , a documentary that sheds light on the long-running ‘shark safety’ programs in place in QLD and NSW. In this episode, we catch up with Andre and delve into his work since the film’s...

Dr Sally Gillespie is an author, lecturer, workshop facilitator, and trainer for Psychology for a Safe Climate . We first spoke with Sally in season 2, episode 27 about her book Climate Crisis and Consciousness: Re-imagining Our World and Ourselves and how to deal with eco-anxiety. Since speaking with Sally in 2021, the changing climate continues to impact our communities and our mental health. Ma...

Esther Gathambo , originally hailing from Kenya and now calling New Zealand home, is a social entrepreneur and businesswoman driven by a powerful mission. In 2020 Esther founded Sawubona , a social enterprise dedicated to empowering African artisans, promoting fair trade and sustainability practices, and nurturing a sense of community and shared experiences. In this conversation, we delve into Est...

Joining us for his second appearance on the show, Dr Jack Auty is a lecturer in the Medical Sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania . Jack leads research on the intricate connections between inflammation and disease. With a diverse array of interests, ranging from the impact of microplastics on lung and gut inflammation to the potential use of common anti-inflammatories in...

Dr Neal Haddaway is a photojournalist and environmental photographer whose work highlights the damaging impacts of capitalism and unchecked economic growth. With a PhD in environmental science and a 20-year career in environmental research and academia, Neal boldly chose to transition his career to photography fuelled by a desire to inspire others visually and reconnect with his passion for enviro...

And we’re back! Welcome to Season 5 of The Lentil Intervention Podcast. We are thrilled to be bringing you more insightful discussions, inspiring stories and scientific snapshots this year, and we are certainly kicking things off with a bang with our first guest, Max Romey . Max is a phenomenal artist, filmmaker, producer, educator, trail runner and environmental advocate based in Anchorage, Alask...

We’ve reached the Season 4 finale of The Lentil Intervention podcast! In our last episode for 2023, we sit down with podcast favourite Dr Mike Joy to recap the pressing environmental and climate concerns that have defined the past year. We also had a frank discussion about the necessary actions that could result in a better future for all. From climate change to degrowth, Dr Joy provides valuable...

Professor Ilan Noy is the Chair in Economics of Disasters and Climate Change - Te Āwhionukurangi, at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Ilan’s research and teaching focus on the economic aspects of natural hazards, disasters, climate change, and other related topics in environmental, development, and international economics. Ilan is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Spring...

Dr Luke Kelly is an Associate Professor in Quantitative Ecology at the University of Melbourne, leading teams both locally and internationally. Luke studies the dynamics of plant and animal populations, educates about biodiversity and human well-being, and collaborates with diverse stakeholders to prevent species extinction. With expertise in ecological and evolutionary dynamics, Luke recently led...

In this episode, we chat with running legend Damian Hall , a record-breaking ultramarathon runner and athletics coach who has represented Great Britain and continues to achieve competitive results in some of the world’s toughest and gruelling races. Damian is an experienced journalist and author of several books, including the award-nominated We Can’t Run Away From This , which examines the impact...

In this episode, we discuss alternative protein with Dr Simon Eassom , Executive Director at Food Frontier , Australia and New Zealand’s independent think tank on alternative proteins. Simon is an experienced leader, business executive, and strategic thinker and has had a distinguished career as a university professor with a Ph. D. in applied ethics and a background in health and nutrition as Head...

Emma Wingrove is a reuse specialist, passionate about bringing New Zealand to the forefront of sustainability and climate change solutions. In 2014, while undertaking her university degree, Emma established The Clean Up Crew Aotearoa , after identifying the hideously overlooked problem of litter and neglected beaches of the beautiful North Shore of Auckland. Thinking that someone should really add...

Dr Kate Sievert is a Research Fellow at GLOBE at Deakin University with a special interest in power and politics with regard to food systems and their relationship with population and planetary health. Kate is also a co-founder of Healthy Food Systems Australia , an advocacy group dedicated to bettering food systems for all Australians and the land. Dr Sievert was responsible for leading The World...

Deirdre Kent is a long-time environmental activist with a background in teaching, campaigning, and lobbying and is also a prolific author, having written six books. Deirdre has been involved in numerous research and political campaigning efforts and has established various organisations such as Transition Town Ōtaki , the Ōtaki Timebank and The New Economics Party . Being involved in green economi...

Dr Jennifer Lavers is an Indigenous scientist and seabirds and plastic pollution expert, working as a Healthy Country Plan Coordinator for the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (ETNTAC) and as the coordinator of Adrift Lab . Jennell Reynolds is a community engagement officer and previous Tjaltjraak Ranger, also with ETNTAC. Kepa Kurl Wudjari Peoples' ancestral lands spa...

Sahra Kress is a committee member of Degrowth Aotearoa NZ and comes to this conversation about degrowth drawing passionately from her position as a midwife, deeply concerned about the future of the children she delivers. Sahra has spent years working at the interface of social, cultural, and environmental complexity. Her work includes 18 years of Lead Maternity Practice, regular emergency skills t...

Nathan Surendran is a Transition Engineer and principal consultant at Schema Consulting Limited , bringing with him an extensive knowledge of macro-scale systems and risks, and synthesising economic, energetic, and environmental factors. Nathan is an active member of Degrowth Aotearoa New Zealand and passionately advocates for realistic, fact-based strategic decisions on issues of resilience and s...

Sarah Bekessy is a Professor in Sustainability at RMIT University and a Lead Councillor of The Biodiversity Council. Sarah leads the ICON science research group, working to understand better and manage the interactions between society and our natural environment. A leading expert in biodiversity-sensitive urban design, Professor Bekessy co-developed the Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design protocol...

John Berry is Co-Founder, CEO and Resident Wayfinder at Pathfinder Asset Management. John also serves as a Trustee for Men’s Health Trust New Zealand and an advisory board member of The Mind Lab . John is committed to making ethical investment accessible to all NZ investors. But dive a little deeper into the subjective world of ethical investing and you can soon find yourself trying to navigate a...

Shaun Lee is an Auckland-based designer, illustrator and photographer. Shaun started his career as a web designer and then co-founded Auckland’s foremost business-to-business design studio. Shaun now only works on environmental initiatives and has dedicated his life to improving the state of the planet. A true eco-warrior in every sense. His environmental advocacy work is extensive and varied, inc...

Chloe Price is a freshwater ecologist and environmental scientist based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Chloe has an interdisciplinary academic and professional background in freshwater and terrestrial ecology and is passionate about ecological restoration and regeneration, catchment enhancement, and fostering collaboration within and between communities. Outside of her day job Chloe is also a membe...

Dr Emily Flies is an award-winning science communicator and researcher in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Tasmania .  Emily has co-founded two successful Science in the Pub non-profit organisations (in Adelaide and Hobart ), is the founder and director of Tasmania's Inspiring Women in STEMM Fellowship Program and co-leads the Healthy Landscapes research group at UTAS. A...

Harrison Talarico is a Field Ranger with the New Zealand Department of Conservation, working as a member of the Southern New Zealand Dotterel/Tūturiwhatu Recovery Team on Rakiura. For long-term listeners however, Harrison will be a familiar name, as he first joined us in season 2 episode 43 – at that time as an honours student with Adrift Lab , where he studied acoustic indices and their usefulnes...

Lauren Sandeman is a dedicated ocean campaigner, whose current work focuses on transforming Australia's shark culling programs into scientifically-supported non-lethal mitigation programs as the campaign head of Sea Shepherd's Shark Defence Campaign . Lauren is also a TEDx speaker and co-founder of Cosplay Clean Up Global , inspiring people to embrace their inner superheroes to combat ma...