Shaping Places

In this episode, Dave Erasmus and Matt Mason speak with Daze Aghaji - activist, storyteller, and Impact Champion at The Conduit, whose work spans climate justice, community healing, and regenerative culture.  Daze reflects on how her formative experiences in Tottenham and at a state boarding school in Skegness shaped her understanding of place, identity, and the deep links between environmental an...

In this episode, Dave and Matt speak with Afsheen Rashid , CEO of Repowering London and a leader in the UK's community energy movement. Afsheen shares how her early experiences in India and Saudi Arabia shaped her commitment to social justice, sustainability, and community-led solutions. They explore the journey of Brixton Energy Solar, the UK’s first community-owned solar power station on a socia...

In this episode, Dave and Matt meet Sal Chebbah - known locally as the Mushroom Queen of Lancaster West Estate in West London. In the shadow of Grenfell Tower, Sal has turned gardening and mushroom growing into tools for healing and connection. Her journey takes us from her childhood in Lyon, surrounded by greenery and art, to her corporate career in London - and ultimately to founding Elysian Roo...

In this episode, Dave and Matt meet Eric and Catrine, the father-and-daughter team behind Sussex Underwater, a community initiative dedicated to restoring kelp forests and marine life along the Sussex coast. They explore the journey of this project - from witnessing decades of ecological damage caused by trawling, to campaigning for a trawling ban, and supporting the natural recovery of one of the...

In this episode, Dave and Matt meet Sammy Leslie, custodian of Castle Leslie Estate in County Monaghan, Ireland - a place where history, heritage and hospitality intertwine. For over three decades, Sammy has led the restoration of the 1,000-acre estate, transforming it from near ruin into a thriving rural business rooted in sustainability and community. They explore Sammy’s journey from growing up...

Bex Trevalyan is a social entrepreneur and co-founder of Library of Things — a UK-wide network that lets people borrow useful items instead of buying them — and Platform Places , a movement unlocking empty high-street buildings for community use. In this episode, Bex joins Dave Erasmus to discuss how sharing can build stronger, more connected communities — and why the future of place might lie in...

Rosanna Vitiello is an urban strategist, cultural researcher and co-founder of The Place Bureau — a research, strategy and design studio connecting people with the stories of their environments. In this episode, she joins Dave and Matt to explore what really makes a place — and how cities speak to us if we learn to listen. From the chaotic charm of Naples to the breezy theatricality of Bournemouth...

In this first episode of Shaping Places , Dave Erasmus and Matt Mason meet Sean McCormack — the vet-turned-conservationist helping to rewild London. As founder of the Ealing Wildlife Group, he’s leading efforts to bring beavers back to the capital for the first time in 400 years, and showing how the places that shaped him now shape his work. A self-confessed nature nerd and qualified vet, Sean sha...