Second Nature

What if we stopped pretending conservation is simple? What if we admitted it’s messy, political, and full of compromise? What if we told the truth — and let that be enough? That’s the book we set out to write. And it wouldn’t exist without Abbey Dudas. Abbey didn’t just edit the book — she challenged it. She made sure we didn’t smooth over the rough edges. She pushed for clarity where there was co...

What if your passion wasn’t the destination, but the starting point? Rich Stockdale is joined by Will Hayler, CEO and Co-Founder of Blue Earth — the movement-led platform, shaking up the intersection of climate, entrepreneurship, and capital. From surfboards in Cornwall to global summits in London, Will’s story is one of building not in the spotlight of passion, but in the powerful, messy peripher...

What does absence teach us about nature? And what can parasites, fungi, and strange symbiotic relationships reveal about life — and our place in it? This week, Rich Stockdale sits down with award-winning science communicator and author Sophie Pavelle to talk about curiosity, rejection, career detours, and her unique path into the world of conservation storytelling. Sophie shares the deeply persona...

What does it mean to really care for a piece of land—and the people who depend on it? Claire Whitfield has spent over two decades answering that question. As a Partner in Knight Frank’s Rural team, she’s at the heart of a changing industry—helping landowners navigate everything from carbon markets to community impact, all while keeping one eye firmly on the long game. But this isn’t a standard cha...

This week, we sit down with Tom Bloom, a drone surveyor and proclaimed “terrain detective” at Oxygen Conservation. With a background as a chartered mechanical engineer and years of experience leading large-scale data capture and digital twinning projects, Tom brings an unmatched perspective to the intersection of technology, land, and impact. From the cutting edge of LiDAR and photogrammetry to th...

What if the wildest version of your life is waiting on the other side of yes ? Sophie Storm Roberts stopped waiting to feel ready—and that single decision cracked her world wide open. From spreadsheets to summits, pub napkins to Paris, she’s swapped the comfort of tech startups for the chaos of ultramarathons, Ironmans, and Alpine epics. Now the founder of Challenge Sophie , she’s proof that you d...

What if nature had a balance sheet—and we finally learned how to read it? Can private investment be the key to restoring our planet’s most fragile ecosystems? And what does the future of biodiversity markets look like? Alicia Gibson, Director at Finance Earth, joins us to explore the cutting edge of natural capital investment and its role in driving real change for our planet. Alicia takes us on a...

John Elkington has spent over four decades shaping the global sustainability movement. Dubbed the “Godfather of Sustainability”, he has advised some of the world’s largest companies, coined influential terms like the Triple Bottom Line, and continuously pushed businesses to think beyond profit. John sits down with Rich Stockdale in our Shoot Room Sessions on tour, for a thought-provoking conversat...

Shoot Room Sessions has officially hit triple digits—and we’re celebrating in style with a very special guest. For our 100th episode, we’re joined by OC’s own Rich Stockdale, a transformative leader, environmental pioneer, and the founder of Oxygen Conservation. Rich takes us on a deeply personal journey, from his early struggles in the north of England to becoming a pioneering entrepreneur, he sh...

In this explosive episode of The Shoot Room Sessions , we tackle one of the most urgent issues of our time—how food is the key to fixing our broken health and environment. We can’t keep ignoring the fact that our food choices shape everything from our mental health to the future of the planet. Joining us to dive deep into this conversation is Harriet Bell, the Regenerative Farming Lead at Riverfor...

What happens when a troubled youth, corporate disillusionment, and a deep love for nature collide? You get James Wallace, Chief Executive of River Action—a driving force in the fight to save Britain's rivers. In this episode of The Shoot Room Sessions, James shares his powerful journey to leading a national charity dedicated to tackling the freshwater emergency. He reveals hard truths about a...

In this episode, Rich Stockdale sits down with Flora Harley, Head of ESG Research at Knight Frank, to explore how climate risk, regulation, and investment trends are reshaping real estate. The property market is shifting fast. Buildings that don’t meet modern sustainability and efficiency standards are becoming stranded assets, and investors who ignore ESG are falling behind. With over a decade of...

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with Caroline Hopper, lead consultant at Quietroom and a leading voice in responsible investment. From her early career in publishing and marketing to shaping how the financial world talks about pensions, Caroline shares how communication—and a clearer understanding of our money—can drive real change. We dive deep into the £5 trillion power of UK...

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with Kevin Cox, former Chair of the RSPB and a lifelong advocate for nature conservation. From his early days fishing in West London to leading one of the UK’s most influential conservation organizations, Kevin shares how his personal experiences shaped his career in publishing, governance, and land management. We dive deep into the state of UK c...

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with Peter Harker, partner at Saffery and head of their Natural Capital team. From his early days exploring the wild landscapes of Northumberland to his passion for kayaking and his unexpected journey into accounting, Peter shares how his personal experiences have shaped his career in natural capital. We dive deep into the evolving landscape of n...

What does it take to drive real change for nature? In this episode, Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, shares his journey from a bird-watching childhood in Birmingham to shaping some of the UK’s most important environmental policies.   Richard dives into the highs and challenges of securing legally binding targets for nature, why public money must be used for public good, and h...

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with Matt Walpole, Chief Executive of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, to explore his extraordinary career in conservation. From growing up on a smallholding in Cornwall to traveling the world and working in over 70 countries, Matt shares insights from his journey, including his PhD on nature-based tourism in Komodo National Park and his work address...

This week, we sit down with Sylvain, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Mozaic Earth, to explore how technology, community, and a deep respect for nature are converging to fix the human-nature relationship. By combining cutting-edge tech with large-scale community engagement, Mozaic Earth delivers highly accessible and low-cost ‘ground-truth’ nature data to the companies that need it most. With o...

In this engaging episode of The Shoot Room Sessions, we sit down with James Farrell, Partner at Knight Frank and Head of Rural, to celebrate Knight Frank becoming official sponsor of the Shoot Room Sessions Podcast. We delve into the transformative potential of the natural capital market, exploring how it can create sustainable income streams, jobs, and thriving rural communities. James offers ins...

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions, we explore Ed’s journey to founding Great Yellow. Before launching his venture, Ed spent five impactful years at Grosvenor, where he led asset financing and sustainable debt initiatives, eventually helping to manage their carbon credit procurement program. His work there reflects a deep commitment to sustainability and the evolving carbon markets. Ed’s caree...

George Eustice was a Minister in DEFRA for nine years including almost three years in Cabinet.  He brought into law the Agriculture Act 2020, the Environment Act 2021 and the Fisheries Act 2020 which together established the main policy frameworks for the post EU era.  He also developed most of the policies under the Future Agriculture Programme including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Land...

In this episode of Shoot Room Sessions , Rich sits down with George Pawley, General Counsel at Oxygen Conservation, to discuss the exciting acquisition of the 15,000-acre Dorback Estate in the Cairngorms. This landmark purchase connects half a million acres for nature, marking a significant achievement for the team. George shares behind-the-scenes insights into the 9-month acquisition process, inv...

Grant Moir has served as Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority since March 2013. A graduate of Aberdeen University, Grant previously spent seven years at the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, where he held the role of Director of Conservation and Visitor Experience. Earlier in his career, he worked with the Rural Affairs Department of the Scottish Executive...

Roxanne is Head of Responsible Business at UK independent law firm Burges Salmon. The firm has been rated as one of the leading ESG focused law firms across the UK, US and Canada and is in the top 10% of businesses globally in terms of sustainability performance. Roxy is responsible for framing and driving the firm’s responsible business agenda and contributing to the firm’s work on ESG, net-zero...

As Burges Salmon’s Managing Partner, Roger works with the Senior Partner, Strategic Board and wider partnership to set the firm’s direction and ensure its successful implementation. Roger is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment that drives the firm’s growth and success.   Roger’s leadership is pivotal to delivering Burges Salmon’s purpose, which is to help its people,...