Inspiring Sustainability - Podcast
34 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 5 years ago -This podcast will highlight the stories from the front line of inspiring sustainability. Host, Adam Woodhall, is an advisor, activator and author for sustainability: "I'm passionate about celebrating the flourishing society we live in; supporting individuals and organisations to abundantly connect with their own values, each other and our shared home; and expressing my values by working with people to generate transformative action." Find out more here: www.inspiring-sustainability.com
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Episodes
#034: From Rock n Roll to Renewable Fintech - Phillip Bruner of Enian
February 06, 2019 08:00 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBPhillip Bruner is the CEO of Enian, a platform that makes investment in renewable energy projects easy for investors large and small. In a fascinating podcast with Adam Woodhall (left-side in the show picture), Phil shares both his journey and the challenges and opportunities that renewables is facing. In addition, he gives insightful advice on how to get involved in renewable energy. Phil (right-side in the show picture) is a serial entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience workin...
#033: Why Some Clean Technologies Fail While Others Succeed - Clive Hall of Rushlight Events
January 24, 2019 07:45 - 42 minutes - 59.3 MBClive Hall, founder of Rushlight Events and London Cleantech Cluster, chairman London Community Resource Network, and a Fellow of the RSA discusses the keys to building successful sustainability solutions and clean technologies start-ups, why he is inspired by the circular economy and the evolution of the Rushlight events. He talks passionately about why he has carried the torch for the cleantech sector as different buzzwords come and go. The conversation shares some powerful entrepreneuria...
#032: Cleantech + #ClimateAction motivations, frustrations, challenges and opportunities – Hugh Parnell of Cambridge Cleantech
December 17, 2018 07:58 - 36 minutes - 50.9 MBThe passionate brainchild behind Cambridge Cleantech, Hugh Parnell gives a broad and deep insight into this critical industry as it is today including; the market failings it faces and how to overcome them, the relevance of his own acronym, EECO, the three S’s for start-up success, why we need inspiration from successful cleantech heroes and the collective approach needed to resolve global environmental issues. Recorded at the start of COP24, the global climate talks, in Adam Woodhall’s #G...
#031: Game Changers squared: mainstreaming 1000 sustainability solutions – Willem van Hasselt of Solar Impulse Foundation
December 04, 2018 08:44 - 32 minutes - 44.4 MBThe Solar Impulse Foundation both celebrates and promotes game changing solutions and is a game changing organisation itself. In Adam Woodhall’s Inspiring Sustainability interview with Willem van Hasselt we learn where they are on this exciting, and necessary, journey. In 2003 global adventurer Betrand Picard decided to prove that you could fly around the world without use of fossil fuel. A 16-year-old Willem saw Betrand speak about his ambitions and was inspired to follow him in delivering...
#030: Science fiction to renewable reality: nuclear fusion energy - Dr Melanie Windridge of Tokamak Energy
October 09, 2018 09:37 - 43 minutes - 59.8 MBFusing the energy of the sun and start-ups is the topic of this podcast, where we find out how Tokamak Energy is planning to recreate the power of the sun... on a business park in Oxfordshire, and thus deliver almost limitless renewable energy. Physicist and communications consultant at Tokamak Energy, and polar explorer and conqueror of Everest, Dr Melanie Windridge, explains how nuclear fusion is not science fiction, but an energy source that will be clean, green and safe. Fusion energy ...
#029: From disrupting mobility to cleantech investing - Charlotte Morton of Cleantech Innovate
September 26, 2018 10:03 - 32 minutes - 44 MBSerial entrepreneur Charlotte Morton of Cleantech Innovate shares her experience founding, advising and investing in game changing sustainable startups. In this episode, Charlotte talks about her inspiration switching from being a lawyer to founding car rental company Whizzgo which was acquired by City Car Club. Charlotte currently runs We Are Orchard where they manage the trade association ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association) and Cleantech Innovate events that showcases ...
#028: Unshackling ourselves from fossil fuels - Richard Barker at Iona Capital
September 06, 2018 06:30 - 40 minutes - 56.3 MBRichard Barker of Iona Capital talks about what the abolition of slavery in Britain tells us about climate change. The historic moral movement that preceded the industrial revolution is a poorly understood era of Britain but could hold the key to how finance and political campaigning need to change. This episode follows Richard Barker’s thought provoking TEDTalk and shines a light on possible radical solutions that can unlock the trillions of dollars tied in pension funds for long term sust...
#027: Leading a revolution with a life less throwaway - Tara Button, Founder of BuyMeOnce
August 07, 2018 12:30 - 46 minutes - 85.6 MBBuyMeOnce is an online curator of beautiful products that last. Tara Button, CEO of buymeonce.com and author of “A Life Less Throwaway” shares her journey from working at a global advertising agency to manifesting her dream of a global platform for durable goods and leading a movement for sustainable living. First inspired by a Le Creuset cast iron pot, she was constantly looking for products that last and thought that someone else must have created a website with such a collection. Tara w...
#026: Turning mangroves into money: cryptocurrencies for good - Alan Laubsch, Director of Lykke’s Natural Capital Markets group
July 11, 2018 07:59 - 44 minutes - 82.2 MBThe risk of crossing a tipping point leading to ecosystem collapse is clear to Alan Laubsch of Lykke, and having spent years mapping climate risk he came to conclude that it is his life commitment to take systemic climate action. Alan is a connector and ecosystems builder. His mission is to protect earth’s most vital ecosystems by democratizing impact investment with the blockchain. He has over two decades of risk management experience with leading financial institutions. As he says in the ...
#025: Using crypto to reimagine a fairer financial system - Scott Nelson, Chairman & CEO of Sweetbridge
June 19, 2018 12:00 - 42 minutes - 77.1 MBScott Nelson explains this once in a lifetime opportunity of how this blockchain future will create a level playing field for everyone by reducing the cost of capital. Scott was on a beach in Hawaii after selling his logistic payment platform company and was concerned that the blockchain pioneers might not know how to develop a good financial system of the future. Sweetbridge is a blockchain operating system and they will be releasing a wallet and a loan product alongside their cryptocurren...
#024: How Blockchain Can Disrupt The Energy Supply Chain - Erwin Smole, Cofounder of Grid Singularity and Energy Web Foundation
May 22, 2018 20:51 - 31 minutes - 58.4 MBRapid innovation using blockchain technology is becoming a major game changer, surfing the renewables revolution and shift to prosumers*. We interviewed Erwin Smole at the EventHorizon conference in Berlin on how blockchain has the potential to disrupt every part of the energy market. Erwin is a busy man, having co-founded both Grid Singularity, which runs a blockchain peer-to-peer energy platform and the Energy Web Foundation, an open sourced platform designed to create a unified standard ...
#023: Blockchain Crowdfunding for a Solar Powered Africa - Abraham Cambridge, Founder of The Sun Exchange
May 03, 2018 10:14 - 25 minutes - 47.6 MBThe Sun Exchange’s vision is enable Africa to leapfrog into a new clean energy future using a blockchain enabled crowdfunding platform. Their solution enables anyone, anywhere in the world, to buy and lease solar assets to power villages starting in South Africa. In this episode, I talk to Abraham Cambridge, CEO and Founder of The Sun Exchange. Abe explains how they are bypassing the disinterest of governments and banks in solar energy, while combining the best decentralised technology and ...
#022: Getting circular in the office: remanufacturing beautiful furniture - Dr Greg Lavery, Founder of Rype Office
April 09, 2018 09:52 - 32 minutes - 59.5 MBAccording to a 2012 study by WRAP, 300 tons of office furniture is going to waste every day. Serial entrepreneur, Dr Greg Lavery enlightens us on why he sees remanufacturing office furniture as the big opportunity for a more circular building industry. In this episode, Greg shares his personal journey from running a solar company in Australia to founding Rype Office and how they are able to supply beautifully designed, sustainable and low cost furniture. Greg talks about their game changing...
#021: Signs of Circular Economy Tipping Points - Ken Webster, Head of Innovation at Ellen MacArthur Foundation
March 14, 2018 16:33 - 36 minutesThis fascinating episode features Ken Webster the Head of Innovation at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose aim is to accelerate the transition to the circular economy. We are now moving towards an economy where utilisation of assets rather than selling of products becomes important. Ken explains how we are shifting from products to services and cites Philip’s offering of lighting-as-a-service and Bundle's washing machine and MudJean’s clothing rentals as examples of moving away from se...
#020: Achieving culture change with a global business - Frank Krikhaar, Global CSR Director of Dentsu Aegis Network
March 07, 2018 18:56 - 31 minutesFrank Krikhaar leads the Global CSR team in Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), a global corporation with 65 offices and 35000 people. DAN has worked on creating marketing campaigns to create mass awareness for the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as working with local partners to achieve behavior change at a community level. In this episode, Frank talks about his 6 years in DAN and how he achieved the culture change in this large global marketing agency and why people are now knocking on ...
#019: The Sage of Sustainability - John Elkington, Founder of Volans
February 20, 2018 11:39 - 25 minutesBusiness Week described John Elkington as "a dean of the corporate responsibility movement", a poll placed him in the top 5 of global CSR leaders and he created the concept of the Triple Bottom Line: he truly is the sage of sustainability. In this episode, John talks about his personal journey over the decades pushing for sustainable development. He discusses his work bridging the gap between activist NGO campaigners and those mainstream businesses looking to be responsible. During the...
#018: Circular Feathers: Rethinking Waste - Ryan Robinson, Cofounder of Aeropowder
February 07, 2018 07:39 - 29 minutesMayor of London Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2016 Winner and Echoing Green Fellow, Ryan Robinson is the cofounder of Aeropowder which is turning waste feathers from the poultry industry into a high value circular economy product. In this episode, Ryan explains how biomimicry inspired Aeropowder is exploiting the unique insulation properties of feathers for last mile food delivery and getting rid of synthetic insulation. Ryan shares the interesting background behind meeting cofounder Elena Dieck...
#017: Tackling Extreme Poverty - Kennedy Odede, Founder of SHOFCO
January 31, 2018 07:51 - 34 minutesMulti award winning African entrepreneur, Kennedy Odede shares is journey tackling extreme poverty and bringing education, healthcare and clean energy to local communities. In this episode, Kennedy Odede inspires us with his story as a homeless kid facing daily challenges of violence on the street to how he started SHOFCO, the largest grassroot movement transforming urban slums in Nairobi, Kenya. Kennedy Odede is the founder of SHOFCO Shining Hope for Communities that is addressing the dee...
#016: From Bamboo to Loo - Chris Forbes, Cofounder of The Cheeky Panda
January 23, 2018 17:00 - 29 minutesIn this episode, Chris Forbes the cofounder of award winning The Cheeky Panda talks about why bamboo is an obvious solution to disrupt a mainstream product that is such a core part of everyday life. Chris explains how The Cheeky Panda business has moved from concept in 2016 to launching in mainstream retailers such as Wholefoods and Ocado and big wholesale distributors Bunzl by 2017, and with even bigger plans for 2018. Chris explains how he is driving this potential #GameChanger business ...
#015: Single Organizing Idea - Neil Gaught, Author of "CORE"
January 09, 2018 12:05 - 27 minutesNeil Gaught is a strategy advisor, author and speaker who helps businesses define and implement sustainable positioning strategies. He is the author of “CORE: How a Single Organizing Idea Can Change Business for Good.” In this episode, Neil talks about; his journey, both recent and over his career, how he is using the Single Organising Idea (SOI) framework to get clarity on business positioning, the power of brand, and how to humanise businesses. “CORE” draws on Neil Gaught’s personal ex...
#014: The Power of Purpose - John O'Brien, Partner at One Hundred
December 19, 2017 12:22 - 35 minutesEthical purpose champion, author and philanthropist, John spent over a decade with Business in the Community before managing several of the Prince of Wales' charity programmes. More recently John wears several hats within Omnicom, where his passion for purpose led positions is evident. He brought all his learning from the last decades together in his book "The Power of Purpose", which has the tempting sub-title: "Inspire teams, engage customers, transform business" and has got into the Top ...
#013: Happy Hero & #ClimateOptimist - Solitaire Townsend, Co-founder of Futerra
December 11, 2017 15:33 - 26 minutesSolitaire Townsend’s Twitter profile succinctly reads: “Author of www.thehappyhero.org . Co-founder of @Futerra. #ClimateOptimist” In this equally succinct interview we dive into an exploration of what inspired Solitaire to become a green entrepreneur as a teenager, how that has influenced her to investigate the connection between happiness and heroism and the evidence of its impact. We discuss how she is passionate about communicating that whilst we must take climate change seriously,...
#012: Cleantech Horizon Scanning - Bernie Bulkin, Executive Chairman of K3Solar
December 04, 2017 12:07 - 28 minutesBernie Bulkin is currently Executive Chairman of K3Solar. In this podcast we share his #GameChanger ideas which include the need and future of Solar energy and its role in supporting health and education in developing economies. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities also seen in other sectors, including the clean-tech application of 5G in water monitoring and waste-reuse - it's not just for making phone-calls! Bernie is a former Chemist Lecturer and was the Chief Scientist for ...
#011: Zero Carbon Economy - John Corr, MD of Smart Ledger
November 23, 2017 16:20 - 29 minutesJohn Corr founded Smart Ledger in April 2016, since then it has gone on to become one of the global Top 40 Blockchain businesses. In this #GameChangers conversation we discuss the rapid rise in electric vehicle (EV) use, with the potential that in 10 years 95% of all journeys will be electric. We also explore how ordinary citizens are set to go from being just energy users to also being energy producers (AKA prosumers), storers and traders on the wider market, driven by blockchain technolo...
#010: Business on a Mission - Andy Last, Co-founder MullenLowe salt
October 03, 2017 19:14 - 26 minutesAndy Last co-founded MullenLowe salt in 2000 and in 2016 published the award winning 'Business on a Mission: how to build a sustainable brand'. In this conversation we have a fascinating chat about his career, his clients and the power of business to do good and grow profitably. Andy advises brands and corporates on social purpose and sustainability communications and is a regular speaker and commentator on the power of business to lead positive change. His consultancy was one of the f...
#009: 'Culture trumps compliance' - Pat Harned, Ethics & Compliance Initiative
July 31, 2017 18:59 - 30 minutesPat Harned leads the Ethics and Compliance Initiative (ECI), regularly engaging with leaders of global corporations and the US Department of Justice as well as testifying before Congress. She was named one of the ‘100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics’ in 2014. In this conversation, she shares how culture trumps compliance, the key to reducing corporate risk and her volunteer role as a baby cuddler. About your host: Adam Woodhall He’s advisor, activator and author whose aim ...
#008: Future Generations - Dr. Jane Davidson, Director of INSPIRE @ Uni of Wales
June 28, 2017 16:55 - 41 minutesDr Jane Davidson has achieved many things in her time and this conversation takes us from her childhood in Africa to her current role as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sustainability and Engagement and Director of INSPIRE at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David which is on a journey to embed sustainability throughout the university’s culture, campus and curriculum. Jane has won a number of UK wide awards for this work. A highlight of Jane’s career is her work, from 2007- 2011, as Minister ...
#007: Record-breaking Renewables - Christine Lins, Executive Secretary of REN21
June 12, 2017 11:22 - 25 minutesJust prior to the launch of their Renewables 2017 Global Status Report, which found there was a record of 161 GW added to global power capacity, for 23% less investment, I talked with the Executive Secretary of REN21, Christine Lins. In this fascinating conversation, Christine and I discussed Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement, and why it may aid global action on climate change, baseload myths, fossil fuel divestment and how policy makers and innovative small businesses ca...
#006: Renewable Switching - Karl Walker & Tom Old, Directors at Clean Energy UK
June 01, 2017 14:44 - 29 minutesOn this podcast I’m joined by Tom Old and Karl Walker who are both directors of Clean Energy UK, which is a leading light in the renewables revolution, helping businesses switch to 100% clean supply. They share their adventures in sustainability, with Al Gore being their matchmaker, and then taking us through their visit to COP21 and onto founding Clean Energy UK together in addition to being involved with The Big Clean Switch and the Carbon Free Group. On the way we discuss the learnings...
#005: Making Fishing Brighter - Dan Watson & Nadia Labbs of SafetyNet Technologies
May 19, 2017 17:12 - 26 minutesOver-fishing and bycatch are massive global issues with few clear solutions. In this edition of we talk to Dan Watson, the founder and CEO of SafetyNet Technologies, which has developed the innovative Pisces, and has the potential to provide a solution to this massive problem (27 million tons of bycatch!) and revolutionise fishing. Using light to attract the right fish into nets, they could reduce wasted catch by up to 90%. Also joining us on the podcast is Nadia Labbs who guides their bu...
#004: Modern Slavery Leadership - Paul Gerrard, Group Policy & Campaigns Director Co-op Group
May 11, 2017 21:32 - 32 minutesIn this fascinating and inspiring conversation Paul Gerrard, Group Policy and Campaigns Director for The Co-op tells us about why this grand-daddy of the co-operative movement was one of the leading businesses to campaign for the introduction of the UK Modern Slavery Act (MSA). The interview also covers how the Co-op first started to address slavery over 150 years ago and how they have now developed a range of partnerships to help people in slavery to break free. I was also delighted to...
#003: Building a Hydrogen Car - Hugo Spowers, founder Riversimple
March 20, 2017 22:49 - 33 minutesHugo Spowers founder of Riversimple talks about multiple innovations that are being applied to developing a cutting edge eco-auto. A passion for racing cars and sustainability aren't usual bedfellows. Hugo Spowers is not an usual entrepreneur though, and the business he has created, Riversimple, isn't a business-as-usual company, as represented by its purpose: “To pursue, systematically, the elimination of the environmental impact of personal transport”. The headline innovation of Riversim...
#002: Generating Good Governance - Ian Joseph, CEO of Trustees Unlimited
March 05, 2017 21:25 - 22 minutesIan Joesph, the CEO of Trustees Unlimited, a leading resource of trustees and board roles for not-for-profits, had a fascinating conversation with Adam Woodhall about the benefits of good governance, avoiding Napoleon’s and finding where the magic happens. Beginning life as a church minister, Ian Joseph has had an eclectic career. He moved from being a pastor to working with those experiencing homelessness and drug addiction, and then took an interesting step into being a head hunter. H...
#001: Making Sustainability Happen - Tim Haywood, MD of Interserve PLC
January 29, 2017 13:00 - 30 minutesInterview with Tim Haywood, Finance Director and Head of Sustainability at Interserve PLC. Interserve is one of the world’s foremost support services and construction companies of 80,000 people. They are in the FTSE250, with revenues of £3.6billion. After a career in finance, Tim joined the business six years ago as FD, and five years ago, took on the sustainability portfolio. In a stimulating and engaging conversation, we talked about what inspired his interest in sustainability, favou...