Second Nature

In this episode, Andrew shares his journey from school holiday's on his uncle's farm igniting his passion for the food and farming industry to recently founding his own editorial consultancy.  After discovering his deep love of writing, he the Business and Property Editor at Farmers Weekly and led the Rural Research team at Knight Frank, where he developed significant thought leadership...

Please note: This episode was recorded 12th April 2024 when Selaine Saxby was MP for North Devon. Selaine Saxby the Conservative Candidate for North Devon for the 2024 General Election was elected as the Member of Parliament for North Devon back in 2019 with a 14,813 majority. Previously, she was an entrepreneurial business owner and a secondary school maths teacher at Bideford College. Selaine ha...

In this episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Natalie Bennett, from her roots in journalism and activism to becoming a prominent figure in British politics. Born in Sydney, Australia, Natalie's passion for environmental sustainability and social justice led her to the forefront of the Green Party in the UK. Now a Green Party member of the House of Lords, Natalie continues to advoca...

Natalia Dorfman is the CEO and co-founder of Kita, the carbon insurance specialist. Kita’s purpose is accelerating investment in high quality carbon sequestration projects with insurance products that reduce transaction risk and safeguard the performance of carbon credit investments. Prior to founding Kita, Natalia spent 15 years as a business development and strategy specialist within the legal s...

Cain Blythe is a pioneering leader in the field of nature restoration, with a mission to accelerate global rewilding and rewild half the planet by 2050. As a dynamic speaker, author, business owner, and fintech start-up founder, Cain has dedicated his career to making this ambitious goal a reality. In 2022, he founded CreditNature to bridge the gap between the natural asset value of land and inves...

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Georgia Dent, the dynamic CEO of Somerset Wildlife Trust, as she shares her incredible journey and the impactful work she leads in promoting education, landscape improvement, and nature connectivity for the people of Somerset. Georgia's deep-rooted connection with nature began during her childhood in Somerset, fostering a lifelong passion for the env...

Rob March is the founder and Managing Director of Beard, an independent creative agency with a focus on brands through core offerings of design, development and illustration. With a steadfast dedication to excellence, Rob has propelled Beard from humble beginnings to collaborating with a wide variety of clients, from local barbershops and law firms to large multinational brands such as Microsoft a...

Bex is a dedicated trustee of the Wildlife Trust and a seasoned freelance social media manager. Born in Blackpool and primarily raised in Leicestershire, Bex developed a profound appreciation for the outdoors from a young age. Her childhood, characterised by adventures in nature, inspired her passion for environmental conservation. This led to her involvement with the Wildlife Trust, driven by a d...

Merlin Carnegie, the Business Development Manager at Low Carbon, is a force driving sustainable change in the energy sector. With a degree in Civil Engineering and Architecture, Merlin's journey to his current role wasn't straightforward. Despite realising that traditional civil engineering wasn't his true passion, he remained steadfast in his commitment to renewable energy, pivotin...

Crawford Mackay, a partner at Galbraith, is deeply entrenched in the world of Land and Rural property. Born and raised in the picturesque west coast of Scotland, his love for rural landscapes has been a lifelong affair.  Crawfords journey began with a scholarship in Rugby that took him to a boarding school in Edinburgh, an experience that opened his eyes to the vast possibilities beyond the rugby...

As Head of Impact and Advocacy at Oxygen House, Amy ensures that people and the planet take precedence in every business decision, encompassing both operational functions and the services Oxygen House offers.  Amy's journey is as diverse as it is inspiring. Raised in a musical household, she initially anticipated following a similar path, but her adventurous spirit led her on a different traj...

At the time of recording Izzie was working with Real Wild Estates, a startup dedicated to helping UK landowners make nature restoration financially viable through generation of natural capital. As a mentor for SHE Changes Climate, she champions the upskilling and supporting of young women to get into and progress careers in the environment sector.   Starting as operations and comms manager at The...

Dr Bevis Watts, the Chief Executive Officer of Triodos Bank UK, brings to the table a remarkable journey marked by passion, purpose, and a relentless commitment to sustainability. His story is a tapestry woven from childhood dreams, educational pursuits, and impactful roles in the recycling sector, wildlife conservation, and ethical finance. Bevis's experience in recycling honed his commercia...

Naomi Conway, the Director of National Park Partnerships, brings a wealth of diverse experience to the podcast. With a background in the National Portrait Gallery and the charity sector, Naomi's journey to her current role has been anything but conventional. In this episode Naomi shares the bridge between her previous experience and the skills she has brought forward to be successful in her r...

Duncan Grossart, the visionary behind Journeys With Purpose, brings a wealth of experience and passion to the realm of conservation. From his early adventures traversing Africa and India during his teenage years to his academic pursuits in zoology, Duncan's journey has been fuelled by a deep connection to the natural world. After heading to London and setting up his own media company Duncan r...

Evelyn Channing is the Rural Agency Director at Savills, where she oversees operations spanning the entirety of Scotland's rural land and estates from her base in Edinburgh. Ev's journey through life's chapters has shaped her into the passionate professional she is today. Growing up on a family farm, she fondly recalls her childhood memories. Her time at boarding school instilled in...

Rob Gardner is the CEO and co-founder of Rebalance Earth. With a background steeped in pensions and insurance, Rob's journey has been guided by a mission to empower individuals financially. However, his focus has shifted towards a greater cause – creating a world worth living in. Born in Holland, raised in Argentina, and having traversed much of South America, Rob's upbringing instilled...

Sarah Felfel, the dynamic Director of Human Resources at Oxygen House Group, brings her joy, humour, and candidness to this captivating episode of the Shoot Room Sessions. In this incredibly engaging episode, Sarah shares how she started her career in Human Resources and how her unique approach diverges from the standard policy-driven norms of the industry.   Driven by her profound empathy and gen...

As the Head of Legal at Oxygen Conservation, George Pawley stands at the intersection of law and environmental preservation. His career has taken a fascinating path that led him to become not only a legal expert but also a crucial player in the conservation world. At Oxygen Conservation, George has harnessed his unique skills and determination to support the team's efforts in scaling conserva...

Laurence Couldrick is the Chief Executive Officer of the Westcountry Rivers Trust an amazing organisation dedicated to the protection and restoration of rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries.  In this episode, Laurence delves into his remarkable journey leading to the Rivers Trust, tracing back to his innate curiosity as a child about how the environment and nature worked and his academi...

Lisa Pinney is the Chief Executive of the Coal Authority, a pivotal organisation addressing the environmental and public safety legacy of mining. In an enlightening episode, Lisa invites listeners into her life's journey, revealing the layers of challenges she's faced—from confronting ageism, sexism and homophobia in the workplace to overcoming personal adversity and simply embracing her...

In this episode, we sit down with Lance Bradley, whose career trajectory has taken him from the fast-paced world of automotive engineering and management with industry giants like Ford and Mitsubishi, to the fiercely competitive arena of professional rugby. This episode was recorded in December 2023. As of January 2024, Lance has embarked on a new challenge as the CEO of Osprey Rugby Club, after a...

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Mark Birks, a Principal at Avison Young, who brings his personal journey from rural roots to a leading role in land and development. Based in the Midlands, Mark provides an expert perspective on the interdependence of urban and rural residential markets. He emphasises the necessity of a strong rural sector to support urban development, offering insight...

Emma is a distinguished sustainability expert and the Director of Sustainability & Growth at Coreus Group. With a first-class honours in BSc Environmental Science and a Merit MSc Environmental Consultancy, Emma's journey from academia to leading sustainability in the construction sector is both inspiring and impactful. At Coreus Group, she spearheads initiatives in ESG strategy, carbon ac...

In this episode Ed takes us on a rather un conventional route to how he founded Bird Eyewear. From working in a kitchen, charity sector, education and drummer of a band, Ed has found a way to combine his design, business and charity experiences into a purpose driven company. Together with his brothers, Ed is dedicated to crafting eyewear that not only sets trends but also serves a greater purpose....