Two Bays Podcast

Get Ready! It’s time to walk through the Transforming Youth #EcoAnxiety2Action Handbook together.   In this final episode of the series, we’ll unpack the highlights and outline key recommendations, which we’ve already shared with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, our Climate Minister Chris Bowen and our Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.   Two Bays host Matt Sykes is joined by Vasil...

Just like Kung Fu Panda movies, there comes a time when a Master passes the baton to an Apprentice. A similar intergenerational process is happening in Australia. Let’s find out how it’s going!   Jess Vize is the State Coordinator for Roots & Shoots Victoria, an initiative of the Jane Goodall Institute. She’s currently studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science at Deakin University.   Emily...

Let’s talk about investing in Australia’s future leaders. When government funding and philanthropy meet aspiring young leaders and bold ideas, new opportunities are unlocked.  Aru Narayan is a super passionate and proactive young tourism professional. She was a 2022 graduate of the Launchpad program offered by Youth Tourism Network and Regeneration Projects, and is now a Team Lead at Reeho Study T...

Getting the narrative right is critical to addressing youth eco-anxiety … We’re about to deep dive into inspiring organisational change and ways of closing intergenerational relationship gaps. Janet Connor is the Nursing Laboratory Manager in the Diploma and Bachelor of Nursing at Holmesglen Tafe.  Craig Hyde-Smith is a Provisional Psychologist at Blokes Psychology having completed his Master of P...

We’re still navigating the legacy of COVID-19. Schools, Universities, Tafe’s and other Education institutions have found themselves at the frontline of youth mental health. Let’s go behind the scenes! - Mark Ashmore is the Principal at Salesian College Chadstone, and his school has become an early adopter of Regeneration Projects’ ecological literacy, leadership and entrepreneurship programs. - Dr...

When you’re facing a mammoth challenge, like climate change, you want your strongest allies by your side. For young Australians, there’s so much to learn & share with our friends across the Tasman. Pok Wei-Heng also lives in the Land of the Long White Cloud - Aotearoa New Zealand. He’s the Curator of the WEF Global Shapers Community Auckland Hub and a Sustainability Consultant at Edge Impact....

Heads Up! When you hear the statistics, this is going to hit home. But don’t worry … there’s good people doing good things to transform #EcoAnxiety2Action. You’re in safe hands in Episode 2! This week’s sensational  line up includes: Maureen Pillon is the Co-Chair of the Young Tourism Network and works as a City Economy Coordinator at the City of Melbourne. Dora Marinova is a Professor at Curtin U...

In this first episode of the new Two Bays Podcast series ‘Transforming Youth #EcoAnxiety2Action’, we’re setting the scene on the connection between youth mental health and climate change.  Our incredible special guests include: Vasil Samarjiev was born in Bulgaria and now calls tarntanya / Adelaide home, he’s the Chief Youth Representation Officer at UN Youth Australia. Charlotte Gallace lives on...

Are you ready to hear about local political leaders transforming climate anxiety into action?!  The international Swimmable Cities Charter has now launched! Inspired by the example of Paris cleaning up the River Seine for the Olympic Games, civic leaders around the world are starting new conversations about climate resilience with their local communities.  Our final episode for the ’10 Steps towar...

During your childhood, did you get to play in Nature? You know, along creek lines, in gardens or even on farms. Well, if you did, you were super lucky. But not everyone gets this opportunity. Episode #9 of this series focuses on the power of education in growing the next generation of civic-minded leaders. We talk about ‘ecological literacy’ and spotlight the example of one school community that w...

Haven’t we all had to learn about resilience these few past years?! As the City of Paris’ leadership in cleaning up the River Seine before the 2024 Olympics shows, restoring urban waterways and building urban swimming culture takes decades. So, could adopting the practices of endurance athletes give us the resilience we need to achieve a swimmable Birrarung? Listen now! As far as we know, Karin Tr...

Sometimes, you need to go upstream to find the true causes of environmental issues. We’re about to meet three grassroots leaders who educate Melbournians on what makes healthy urban waterways. April Seymore is incredibly passionate about the Planet! She’s a responsible dog walker and the Executive Officer of Port Phillip Eco Centre. Liam Higgins represents a new generation of environmental leaders...

Time to dial up the community vibes! Join us on the Two Bays Podcast, where we dive into skills, knowledge and practices to improve Melbourne’s liveability and sense of connectedness and belonging. In this episode, our special guests talk about how they and their organisations’ are chipping in and how you can too!  We will meet a quiet advocate for the Birrarung who draws on her experiences as a f...

It’s time to go global folks! In this episode, we’re guiding Two Bays listeners on a virtual tour through Copenhagen, London and Vienna to get our finger on the pulse on the very latest from the urban swimming movement. Melbourne may sit on a remote island ‘Down Under’ but that doesn’t stop Regeneration Projects from collaborating with international pioneers, people like: Ana Mumladze Detering , C...

Why have one swimming spot in the lower Yarra, when you could have a whole corridor of swimming experiences?! That’s the vision for a Birrarung / Yarra River Swimming Trail between Deep Rock, Dights Falls and the Bay. In this episode, you’re going to meet three talent professionals who know how to transform urban design visions into clear, deliverable masterplans. Skye Haldane is the Principal of...

Recognising the rights of Nature is an idea that many people find really challenging, but today’s special guest is a Pro at explaining why giving rights to the Yarra River is just common sense.  Dr Erin O’Donnell tirelessly works with waterways worldwide, from communities in Aotearoa New Zealand to the United States. This is all part of her role as a Senior Lecturer and ARC Research Fellow at Melb...

Join us on the Two Bays Podcast, where we dive into water and wellbeing! In this episode, we meet another two amazing ambassadors for Melbourne’s beloved Birrarung / Yarra River, who hold a wealth of community leadership experience. Amanda Donohoe fearlessly plunges into the Birrarung all year round! She’s a member of the Yarra Yabbies swimming group and also the CEO of Servants Community Housing,...

In the first episode of our "10 Steps towards a Swimmable Birrarung" series, we meet two pioneers of Melbourne's urban bathing culture, who developed some incredible wellbeing skills during COVID-19.  Meg Elkins started swimming in the Yarra River during Lockdown! She’s a member of the Yarra Yabbies swimming group, she’s also a Behavioural and Cultural Economist at RMIT University.  James Mugavin...

Before we dive into our NEW "10 Steps towards a swimmable Birrarung" series, let’s set the scene by exploring the story of Melbourne's iconic Yarra River, known as the Birrarung to the Kulin First Peoples. Are you ready to discover how a growing social movement aims to renegotiate and reconcile our relationship with the Birrarung, by drawing inspiration from Indigenous wisdom – Burndap Birrarung,...

In the finale of Two Bays Podcast Series #1, Cam Hines (Co-Founder of Southern Sea Greens, and Co-Founder of Mountain Goat brewery) shares the incredible story of how he’s helped make seaweed a successful business that is good for people and the Planet. He talks Matt and Claire through the growth of climate action and sustainability on the Mornington Peninsula and explains how Southern Sea Greens...

Join us as we sit down with Greg Holland (Owner of Carranya Farm and President of Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network) and Chantal Morton (Landcare Facilitator for the MP Shire) to explore the vital connections between climate action and landholders. In this immersive conversation, Matt and Claire learn why raising awareness of the Landcare movement and encouraging more people to get involved is...

In this episode, Matt interviews Nic Cooper, the Founder of Wild Adventures Melbourne (WAM), an ecotourism and adventure tourism company on the Mornington Peninsula. They discuss the vulnerability of the Peninsula to climate change and the importance of businesses taking climate action. Nic openly shares his journey of starting WAM and the initiatives he has put into place to reduce negative envir...

Sun, sand...climate change? Our beloved Mornington Peninsula deserves a bright future!  In this episode, we chat about the Shire's bold Climate Emergency Plan (think zero carbon emissions by 2040!) and how electric vehicles (EVs) are changing how locals and visitors move around.  Matt joins Anthony Broese van Groenou (co-CEO at Good Car Company) and Mornington Peninsula Shire climate team members...

Explore the vital role of the education sector in climate leadership! Gab Espenschied (Principal at St Joseph’s Crib Point & St Marys Hastings) and Jane Byrne (Sustainability Leader at St Joseph’s Sorrento) explain how schools are shaping the next generation of environmental stewards. They share insights into promoting sustainability within schools and empowering students to take meaningful ac...

Discover the secrets of nature, biodiversity, and climate action in your own backyard! Join hosts Matt Sykes and Claire Wild as they sit down with Ben Cullen from Trust for Nature for an eye-opening conversation. In this episode, they dive into the importance of preserving our local bushland, wetland and coastal habitats and how Trust for Nature is leading the charge. From conservation to collabor...