Best BBC Media Action Podcasts (2024)

1
A Guide to Eco-Friendly Celebrations 35:43

5h ago35:43

35:43

In this episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema dives into the world of sustainable weddings with insights from sustainability expert Swati Singh Sambyal and green event planner Ashwin Malwade. Together, they explore how to celebrate love responsibly while minimizing environmental impact. Swati highlights the environmental challenges of Indian weddings,…

1
Narratives to Inspire Climate Action 43:28

9h ago43:28

43:28

In this episode of Cool It Down, we delve into the power of storytelling and education in addressing climate change. Featuring insightful conversations with Radharani Mitra and Sonali Khan, RJ Sayema explores how narratives and playful learning can inspire action and foster climate consciousness. Radharani Mitra highlights the role of strategic com…

1
Rethinking Food for a Greener Future 31:25

7d ago31:25

31:25

In this episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema explores the future of sustainable food with Chef Radhika Khandelwal and Dr. Jessica Fanzo. Chef Radhika shares her journey in sustainable cooking, offering practical tips to reduce kitchen waste and highlighting innovative ways to repurpose food scraps. Dr. Fanzo discusses the global challenges of food se…

1
Bridging Traditions: Indigenous Knowledge for Environmental Stewardship 34:09

11d ago34:09

34:09

In this episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema engages with Pranab Ranjan, an expert on natural resource management from the Center from Land Governance and Dimgong Rongmei, Executive Director, Realm of Nature Based Actions to explore the intricate connection between indigenous communities and nature. Together, they delve into the role of traditional k…

1
Solar Energy and Sustainable Living 45:55

21d ago45:55

45:55

In this special episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema brings together three powerful voices shaping the conversation on climate action and sustainability with a focus on solar energy. Speaking to Sayema, Simarpreet Singh shares his journey as an entrepreneur, offering insights into embracing execution, imperfection, and humility while cultivating habi…

1
Art for Change: Creativity, Culture, and Climate Action 39:04

25d ago39:04

39:04

In this episode of Cool It Down, discover how art and popular culture are driving climate action. RJ Sayema dives into the intersection of creativity, culture, and environmental advocacy with actor-filmmaker and social advocate Nandita Das, artist Atul Bhalla, and musician Kelsey Rae. Nandita Das highlights the power of art and storytelling in shap…

1
Sustainable Packaging 40:00

29d ago40:00

40:00

In this episode of Cool It Down, Rishika Reddy and Dr. Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad delve into the urgent need for sustainable packaging and its role in combating environmental challenges. Rishika shares the story behind the creation of The Mend, a sustainable packaging venture born during the pandemic, and discusses the hurdles of shifting consumer and bus…

1
Threads of Change: Sustainable Fashion 41:48

1M ago41:48

41:48

In this episode of Cool It Down, Aditi Mayer, Gigi Mathews, and Professor Parikshit Goswami come together to discuss the pressing issue of textile waste and sustainable fashion from diverse perspectives. Aditi shares her journey as a sustainable fashion advocate, touching on the influence of the Rana Plaza tragedy on her career, and underscores the…

1
Foundations to Future: Sustainable Architecture 33:03

1M ago33:03

33:03

In this episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema chats with architects Marion Weiss, Michael Manfredi, and resilience expert Dr. Anshu Sharma about the powerful link between architecture, resilience, and climate action. They uncover how the building sector shapes global greenhouse gas emissions and the untapped potential of embodied energy and sustainabl…

1
Trash to Treasure: Innovating with E-waste 29:14

1M ago29:14

29:14

In this episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema delves into the pressing issue of electronic waste (e-waste) with Veena Sahajwalla, a recycling and green manufacturing expert, and Mandeep Manocha, the co-founder of Cashify. Together, they explore the environmental and health impacts of improper e-waste disposal, the risks tied to informal recycling, and…

1
Social Enterprises in Solving Water Crisis 39:48

2M ago39:48

39:48

In this episode of Cool It Down, RJ Sayema engages with Professor V. Srinivas Chary, Director of the Centre for Environment, Urban Governance, and Infrastructure Development, Administrative Staff College of India to explore the urgent challenges surrounding water management and climate change. They delve into critical topics such as non-revenue wat…

1
Bees, Biodiversity, and Beyond: Collective Action for Sustainability 33:28

2M ago33:28

33:28

In this episode of Cool It Down, Pratim Roy and Supriya Sahu explore the intricate relationship between development, climate change, and community involvement. Pratim highlights the critical role of bees in ecosystems and their connection to climate change. He shares insights on entrepreneurship that empowers local communities and reflects on the j…

1
Road to Sustainability: Public Transport and Climate Solutions 29:32

2M ago29:32

29:32

In this episode of Cool It Down, host RJ Sayema is joined by two experts, Rupa Nandy and Girish, for an insightful discussion on the future of public transport and its role in combating climate change. Rupa delves into the impact of rapid urbanization on transportation, stressing the need to prioritize public transport over private vehicles, while …

1
Cooling the Planet: Biodiversity and Sustainability 49:36

2M ago49:36

49:36

In this episode of Cool It Down, we explore the deep connections between overconsumption, waste, and climate change. In conversation with RJ Sayema, Vimlendu Jha discusses the urgent need for a cultural shift towards personal responsibility in reducing consumption, while highlighting entrepreneurial opportunities in the circular economy and upcycli…

1
Rethinking Plastic and Waste Management 38:49

2M ago38:49

38:49

In this episode of Cool it Down, we dive deep into the critical connection between plastic and climate change, exploring the long-lasting impact of plastic on the environment, particularly the dangers of single-use plastics. We discuss strategies like reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic, while examining the role of governments, consumers, and …

1
Tackling Food Waste: Optimism, Innovation, and Tradition 25:57

2M ago25:57

25:57

In this episode of Cool it Down, we speak with climate optimist and sustainability champion Aakash Ranison, alongside Saket Dave, Founder and CEO of Forplanet Ingredients (formerly Wastelink), and Dr. Kalpana Sastry, an agricultural scientist. Aakash shares his journey, highlighting his beliefs about climate change and the urgent need for action. D…

1
Fast Fashion, Upcycling, and Climate Change 37:12

2M ago37:12

37:12

In this episode of Cool It Down, we dive into the intersection of fashion and climate change, highlighting the roles that manufacturers and consumers play in making sustainable choices. Shruti Singh from Fashion Revolution shares insights into Fashion Revolution’s efforts to drive systemic change within the industry and the growing role of social m…

1
Powering the Future: Energy Efficiency and Green Energy 35:11

3M ago35:11

35:11

In this episode of Cool it Down, we explore the entrepreneurship opportunities that the energy efficiency sector offers, including livelihoods in the space and energy-efficient behaviors. We discuss green financing, green consulting, and training options to support entrepreneurs on their journey. Additionally, we examine the connection between ener…

1
Fresh ideas, clean air 40:00

3M ago40:00

40:00

In this episode of Cool it Down, we confront one of the most urgent threats to our health and planet: air pollution. Hosted by RJ Sayema, we’re joined by two powerhouse voices – U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, and Professor Richard Peltier from the Aerosol Lab at UMass Amherst – to dive deep into the challenges of air pollution at scale. B…

1
Journey with purpose: Climate-Friendly tourism 38:20

3M ago38:20

38:20

In this episode of Cool it Down, RJ Sayema explores the intricate relationship between climate change and tourism with Dr. Jayshree Vencatasan, a renowned ecologist, and Dr. V. Shubhalaxmi, an entomologist. Episode also features Vani Murthy, a well-known Instagram influencer and urban farmer who practices sustainable travel. They discuss how eco-to…

1
What it takes to be a climatepreneur? 1:03

3M ago1:03

1:03

What does it take to build a climate-positive business? Are climatepreneurs driven by passion or business acumen? What sparked the idea of creating a climate-conscious enterprise? Cool it Down is here to answer these questions, exploring a range of subjects and themes related to our warming planet, and what it takes to Cool it Down! Tune in startin…

1
Learn about Cool it Down 1:00

3M ago1:00

1:00

Releasing soon! From simple steps individuals can take to ideas for climate-conscious businesses, Cool it Down podcast offers practical insights and inspiration. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for sustainable business ideas or someone ready to make a difference in daily life, this podcast is for everyone working to shape a greener future. T…

1
Looking Up 32:35

3y ago32:35

32:35

Prepping for 2022: We’ve been through a year of climate emergencies. It's been terrifying to witness the Earth’s reaction to the destruction we have wrought upon her. We’re often ill prepared to cope with the resulting chaos and dislocation. When a storm takes out the power lines, or an earthquake ruptures the water pipes, or a mudslide blocks the …

1
Alex 35:06

3y ago35:06

35:06

Art is fundamental to understanding who we are in context to the world. Artists translate and blend physical worlds with emotional landscapes, threading magic into our lives. No one embodies this journey more than Alex Nichols. She works with explosive vision and unparalleled focus to express her artistic voice. Alex's art focuses on translating th…

1
Nalleli 32:08

3y ago32:08

32:08

Nalleli Cobo grew up in South Central Los Angeles just 30 feet away from a polluting oil well. When Nalleli was nine she and her community started getting nose bleeds, nausea, headaches and asthma. Nalleli began a crusade to shutdown oil drilling in her neighborhood by focusing on the power of storytelling - shining a bright light on what was happe…

1
Heterodox 35:59

3y ago35:59

35:59

As world leaders descended on Glasgow to agree on a plan to curb climate pollution, most of the obstacles to inking a deal centered on who pays for what. Not being discussed is the underlying financial framework of capitalism which has played an outsized role in getting us into this mess. Because capitalism focuses nearly exclusively on maximizing …

1
Weather 33:27

3y ago33:27

33:27

Talking about the rain, wind, sun, humidity, snow, hail, storms, heat, flooding and everything in between is one of our favorite topics of conversation. That’s now being amped up to a whole new level because of climate change. Today’s extreme weather is causing droughts, wildfires, mega hurricanes, atmospheric rivers and temperatures both so cold a…

1
Latino Outdoors 34:04

3y ago34:04

34:04

Our nation is becoming more diverse thanks to growth among Latinx, Asian and multiracial Americans. Diversity is our nation’s single greatest strength. Nowhere is this more true than in California where the Latinx community is now the largest racial or ethnic group in the Golden State - representing 39% of the population. And yet, if you go to a na…

1
Insulate 31:47

3y ago31:47

31:47

In England, climate protesters walked onto the M25 - the country’s busiest motorway - sat down and glued themselves to the asphalt. Traffic ground to a halt while the police unstuck them. Their demands: insulate all of Britain's public housing to stop more than 8,000 people from dying each year from the cold. The insulation would also help reduce c…

1
Denny and Torm 39:36

3+ y ago39:36

39:36

We embark on an environmental justice tour of Richmond, CA with two Laotian community organizers. Before Torm Nompraseurt managed to escape Laos, 13 members of his family had been killed, the U.S. had dropped 50 million tons of bombs on his country, defoliated the forests with agent orange, and he had been displaced 6 times. Torm moved to Richmond,…

1
Castaway Mountain 37:11

3+ y ago37:11

37:11

Saumya Roy is a journalist and activist from Mumbai India who spent eight years writing: Castaway Mountain: Love and Loss Among the Waste Pickers of Mumbai. The book is so beautifully written, weaving together stories of how we can create something out of nothing with an examination of what it means to be human. The story centers on a family that l…

1
Grantchester 34:11

3+ y ago34:11

34:11

I grew up in this English village just outside the university town of Cambridge. Grantchester is surrounded by flat farmland. Along the narrow river Camb which connects Cambridge to Grantchester are the Meadows which for 800 years have been home to herds of cows and crowds of revelers. Just like the rest of the world Grantchester has changed. The v…

1
Earthseed 32:59

3+ y ago32:59

32:59

Earthseed - is a religion created by Octavia Butler in Parable of the Sower, a sci-fi novel about a California ravaged by climate change and social dislocation in 2024.Last year, with the pandemic raging, the pain of George Floyd’s murder boiling, Pandora Thomas founded her own Earthseed commuity. With the help of many, Pandora purchased Gabriel fa…

1
Shirley & Will 37:37

3+ y ago37:37

37:37

In the 1900’s, there were one million Black farmers in America and former slaves and their descendants had amassed 14 million acres of land. In the last 100 years, 90 percent of that land has been lost. Today only 45,000 of the nation’s 3.4 million farmers are Black. Jared Blumenfeld travels to the Central Valley to meet with Will Scott Jr who is t…

1
Captain Jo 31:42

3+ y ago31:42

31:42

Salty captain and environmental champion Jo Royle grew up sailing, raced boats between continents, skippered the Plastiki - a boat made from 12,500 plastic bottles and then founded the groundbreaking organization Common Seas to rid the oceans of plastic. The race to save the oceans and prevent big oil from investing $2.3 trillion into new plastic p…

1
Emotional First Aid 39:13

3+ y ago39:13

39:13

After a year we’ve all lived through it's clear we’re emotionally spent. Our collective exhaustion is real and the truth is we can only create a healthy planet if we ourselves are healthy. Luckily help is here! Marianna Sousa is a mental health first aid responder who works to heal leaders, activists and artists who are seeking to create lasting so…

1
Living on Earth 28:19

3+ y ago28:19

28:19

A long time ago, when very few people had heard the words “climate change,” Steve Curwood, a Pulitzer prize winning journalist began his first broadcast of Living on Earth - a groundbreaking, inspiring and information-packed environmental radio show. That was in 1991. Through more than 1500 episodes, Steve has been our collective environmental chro…

1
Fenton 41:20

3+ y ago41:20

41:20

Climate Communications Now! If we are to have a chance of combating climate change it won’t be through publishing more reports or having yet another meeting - what we need is clear actionable mass communications that galvanizes the public and compels bold systemic climate action. If there is one person who can help us create an impactful national c…

1
Hanalei 39:49

3+ y ago39:49

39:49

Kaua’i is the oldest Hawaiian island, has the most endemic species and is the wettest place in the US. At this island’s northern edge is Hanalei Bay, where Barbara “Maka‘ala” Ka‘aumoana has run the Hanalei River Hui for the past three decades. We talk about indegenous views of nature’s magic, cesspools, how navigating beyond the horizon requires be…

1
Wild City 33:27

3+ y ago33:27

33:27

Our definitions of nature help define us. Lisa Wayne has been on the cutting edge of mediating differing views about nature. Lisa supports a network of natural areas within one of the most urban cities in America. These protected areas represent an incredible success story from bringing back species from the brink of extinction, to educating kids, …

1
Uganda Air 31:07

3+ y ago31:07

31:07

In Uganda air pollution is a big problem. Luckily, Michael Wanyama isn’t taking this fight sitting down. When Michael’s 6 year old son came down with asthma, he wanted it to go away. Little did Mr Wanyama realize the journey it would bring him on. Michael adopted an innovative approach: work with mechanics to give them the training needed to reduce…

1
Lamar 37:26

3+ y ago37:26

37:26

Lamar Thorpe was born in prison. Days later he was adopted into a Mexican family and christened Martin Hernandez. It was only when joining the Navy that he acknowledged his black identity. Last November, Lamar became Antioch’s mayor. Soon afterwards Angelo Quinto died while in Antioch police custody. Lamar has been at the center of reforming both t…

1
Reuse 39:38

4y ago39:38

39:38

What happens when one person no longer has use for an object, and yet that product still has a lot of life left in it? The possibilities are endless: from building materials, to amazing furniture, to a used Hello Kitty clock, to second hand vinyl. We go to Urban Ore, a reuse mecca in Berkeley to meet Ida Belisle and Max Wechsle, then travel to Buil…

1
Crossing 36:35

4y ago36:35

36:35

We talk with “Jesús Garcia” who at 19 left his home and family to escape violence in Mexico. He crossed into the U.S. by swimming at night into the Pacific ocean for eight hours - first west, then north - with just a wetsuit and change of clothes. Jesús is now three years into his life in California, showing both the challenges and the power of mak…

1
Beyond Words 30:38

4y ago30:38

30:38

Carl Safina explores non-human feelings. Dr. Safina an ecologist and author of many best selling books. Safina’s Book, Beyond Words; What Animals Think and Feel, has according to the New York Times Review of Books, “the potential to change our relationship with the natural world.” As Carl so eloquently says, only through achieving dignity for all l…

1
Chocolate 29:29

4y ago29:29

29:29

I meet up with Amelia Gonzalez to find out where our love of chocolate comes from? After a career in radio, Amelia took her savings and founded Casa de Chocolates in Berkeley. By infusing her chocolates with love and culture and the flavors and history of the Americas, taking one small bite becomes a transformative experience. See Privacy Policy at…

1
Birding 35:07

4y ago35:07

35:07

Our human relationship to birds is complex. They’re wellbeing is our wellbeing. Since 1970, US bird populations have plummeted by 3 Billion birds - that’s an insane 30% of all birds - gone forever! Luckily, the 60 million birdwatchers in the US alone are ready to help. Dr. Meredith Williams takes me on my maiden birdwatching adventure. Connecting t…

1
Lisa 38:27

4y ago38:27

38:27

Lisa Jackson grew up in New Orleans, trained and worked as an environmental engineer and was chosen by President Obama to lead EPA from 2009 to 2013. Lisa is now the Vice President for Environmental, policy and social initiatives at Apple. We talk about the influence of Parliament-Funkadelic, the power of faith, the importance of rebuilding EPA aft…

1
Erwin 1:21:09

4y ago1:21:09

1:21:09

At 18, my Grandfather was drafted into the German Army, and served as an ambulance driver in World War One. He wrote down the entire truly bizarre story with a great deal of irony and dark humor. Erwin attempts to escape from military service (to meet his Dutch sweetheart), serves as an accountant in a military-sanctioned Red Cross brothel, was awa…

1
Native Knowledge 32:51

4y ago32:51

32:51

Thousands of years of tribal ecological practice is the key to reconnecting us to the planet. We talk with Matthew Teutimez, tribal biologist with the Kizh-Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians, the aboriginal tribe of the Los Angeles basin, about plants, health and spirituality. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy N…

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BBC Media Action Podcasts

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