This week, we’re diving into one of the most rapidly evolving fields of our time: artificial intelligence. AI takes many forms and is rapidly transforming many industries and sectors - from helping to optimise international supply chains to smarting up energy grids and predicting climate patterns. But alongside the many celebrated efficiency and problem-solving benefits that AI can offer, there are also many concerns lurking around every virtual corner - including concerns about the massive...

What impact will the incoming President have on the climate? The US Election result this week has left many of us in a spin, and in this bonus episode, we take a trip to BCFM's show Love and Science to chat with the lovely Andrew Glester. We share a few of our initial thoughts on the news and explore ways to remain optimistic, look after ourselves and galvanise as a community to ensure climate action isn't forgotten.    References from the episode: Email your MP, and use this link to find...

How do we teach children about climate change without causing eco-anxiety? What supposedly environmental thing absolutely baffles you? Is biogas actually carbon neutral? Three hot topics on the table today as we sit down to answer your For What It's Earth listener questions.   References from the episode: The Adventures of Scout children's books: https://theadventuresofscout.com/    Get in touch Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content between episodes, and get in...

The 2024 Olympics in Paris aspired to be the first Games ever to be fully aligned with Paris Agreement - but can the world's biggest international sporting event ever really be considered sustainable? From incredible eco-design decisions to the energy and food choices made with the planet in mind, to the burden of private aviation and wasteful merchandise and athleisure, we're taking a metaphorical dive into the bold claims, innovative steps and downright failures associated with Paris...

Welcome to the first of our fortnightly bonus episodes, in which we answer three burning green questions sent in by you! Ever wondered whether washing your dishes by hand or in a dishwasher is more environmentally friendly, or whether it's better to charge your phone at home or in your car? Or what our humble opinions on the hit farming series Clarkson's Farm might be? Well, this episode has got you covered.   References from the episode: 10 eco-friendly laundry products to add to your...

Environmental protests. Beyond grabbing headlines and successfully irritating segments of the population, do they work as a tool to move the needle for the planet? We're starting this new season by taking to the streets (not literally) and exploring how one of history's most effective but divisive change-making methods is being used to demand action on climate change.    References from the episode: They Work For You, the website that connects you with your local political representative and...

Yes, your favourite climate, nature and sustainability podcast is back! For What It's Earth returns next Wednesday with a shiny new look, new features, and a brand new co-host. Nature writer and science communicator Sophie Pavelle now joins Emma Brisdion for a series exploring a wide range of eco topics - from discussing environmental protests and exploring the green credentials of the Olympics, to finding out how to make your upcoming hen or stag do more sustainable.   Get in touch Follow us...

We are going to take a little break from podcasting for a while, so in a bid to stop our great podcast algorithm overlords from burying For What It’s Earth, we're going to share a few oldies but goodies with you over the coming weeks. Episodes that we enjoyed making for you at some point in the last few years, which perhaps you might enjoy again or if you’re new here, you might not have heard the first time around.  So, here you go, enjoy our adventures through the problems surrounding and...

Sophie's debut book, Forget Me Not, has landed on our shelves, chronicling her low-carbon journeys around the UK searching for 10 charismatic species that are being impacted by climate change. She joins Emma for a chat about her adventures, about the role of JOY when communicating climate science and nature connection, and also a little bit about the Kardashians (it makes sense if you've read the book).   Purchase your copy of Forget Me Not:...

Nature connectedness; what is it, why is it important, and can we boost it? Researcher Sam Gandy joins us in this episode to explore the concept of nature connectedness, which is s key predictor of us taking actions that are good for the planet and is also of huge benefit for our mental health and wellbeing. His research takes us to some fascinating places, including the research looking at the role that psychedelics such as psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) have in quickly and deeply...

You might be wondering why we’ve popped an episode in your feed on a Sunday instead of a Wednesday, so I’m here to clear that up. Today is actually world bog day, a day in which we all celebrate the awesomeness of this underrated habitat, which is fantastic at quietly getting on with an immense amount of carbon sequestration as well as supporting its own army of specialist plants and animals. About a year and a half ago we recorded an episode on bogs, and today is the perfect time to...

Many of us feel an existential sense of doom and dread when we think about the state of the environment. (Record-smashing temperatures of 40oC in the UK this week, anyone?) It can wreak havoc with our mental health, and be hard to deal with. In fact, feeling eco anxiety is a perfectly normal reaction to being told that we're in a climate crisis. In this episode we explore some of the causes of eco anxiety and some of the possible solutions, or tools that might help you when you're feeling...

The White Continent (and the southern seas around it) is an incredibly important place for wildlife, for the regulation of global ocean currents, and for reflecting a huge amount of the sun's heat back out of our atmosphere (known as the Albedo effect). But Antarctica faces plenty of threats, which we'll take a dive into. You're in for a treat, too, as this week Emma is joined by Ryan Dalton from Into The Wild Podcast.   Get more from Ryan by heading over to his fab podcast, Into The Wild:...

From football and F1, to deciding which trainers to run your next half-marathon in, we're attempting something of an episode heptathlon this week as we explore whether both our big sporting events and our personal sporting ventures can be made more planet-positive.   Things we spoke about: Trainer recycling: https://www.runnersneed.com/about-us/recyclemyrun.html Allbirds sustainable trainers: https://www.allbirds.co.uk/pages/sustainable-practices#beginnings EcoYoga mat:...

Take a dive with us into one of the most exciting marine habitats on the planet - and it's often found just a few splashes away from the coast. Seagrass is thought to capture carbon 35 TIMES faster than tropical rainforests, yet it covers less than 1% of the seafloor and we're losing it globally, rapidly. They're also vital habitats for marine life and provide more ecosystem services than we can count (almost). But, In the UK, we've lost more than 90% of our seagrass habitat. What can we do...

Oh, it's a sexy subject and a half this episode. Concrete is one of the most widely-used building materials in the world, so we're exploring its environmental impact with Adam Gittins from Cemfree. The manufacture of traditional cement, a key component of concrete, accounts for up to 8% of GLOBAL carbon emissions. But, there are innovative ways to reduce this - from creating ultra low-carbon types of cement (like Cemfree) that can be used, to designing buildings that use concrete smarter and...

Far more than mysterious nighttime creatures of folklore, we dig into why macro bats and micro bats (like this brown long-eared bat here) are fascinating AND important, and what can be done to stop the loss of them from our countryside in the UK. Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected]. While you're here, make sure that you've subscribed so that you never miss...

This week Emma takes a dive into something she knows very little about; fish in UK rivers, the threats they're under and the fascinating projects working to restore their populations. Joining her to head upstream is wildlife cameraman, author, and podcaster (and almost one of the dullest men in Britain...), Jack Perks! Plus, plenty of fantastic advice for anyone keen to put a pond in their garden to support wildlife, as Emma is attempting to do. Links: Jack’s Instagram:...

Watch Nina's latest film, Unlocking The Severn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsePWhmkeK0  Listen to Beaver Trust's Podcast, The Lodge Cast: https://bit.ly/LodgeCast    Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email [email protected]. Oh, and please subscribe so that you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5- star review to help new listeners find us!

“The future is still up for grabs.” In this episode, Emma is joined by Professor Steve Simpson, marine biologist, lecturer and science communicator, to take a dive into the issues that our oceans are facing. We explore the effects of noise pollution on our coral reef communities, discuss harnessing our eco grief to fuel finding innovative solutions, and, given that Steve was part of the influential Blue Planet II series, the role that public science communication can have in helping us...

How is climate change impacting plant communities? Are there any winners among the losers? Why are plants just as cool as (if not, cooler) than animals? And how does a broken car actually HELP when you're writing a book? Emma is joined this week by botanist and author Leif Bersweden, who has just announced that he's got another book due out in 2022; Where The Wildflowers Grow.  For more from Leif: https://www.instagram.com/leifbersweden/ https://twitter.com/LeifBersweden  Pre-order...

We’re digging in to the state of nature in the UK and how the concept of rewilding - restoring land to allow nature to recover and for biodiversity to flourish - could be the key to combating the climate and ecological crisis. In the hot seat this week and bringing a wealth of knowledge with him, is Harvey Tweats, an ecologist passionate about rewinding and one of the founders of Celtic Reptile and Amphibian, a captive breeding programme looking to support the reintroduction of species to the...

🎧 ✨  Conservation in Africa! 🐘 🐆  In the first episode of 2022, Emma travels south (virtually) to find out what it's really like to live in the African bush and work as a conservationist protecting and restoring areas of land in protected national parks.   What does 'rewilding' look like in Malawi? What is the issue with neocolonialism in conservation? How does the conservation sector differ in the UK from Africa? Rosie Miles has spent the last 10 years as a bush guide and...

Why are the predators of the sky one of the coolest parts of our ecosystem? How are they being impacted by climate change, habitat loss, bird flu, and persecution? And just what can we, and conservation organisations do to help? To chat all things 'bird of prey,' we are joined by Tom Morath, bird of prey expert, Fundraising Events Manager at The Hawk Conservancy, host of Nature’s a Hoot Podcast, and all-round good egg! Find out more about Hawk Conservancy Trust:...