In this final episode of season three, we speak with Shuhei Tashiro, co-founder of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance Japan Hub, and Kokoro Watanabe, an integral member of the Hub with the title of Investigator. Shuhei is a masters student studying Anthropology at Heidelberg University in Germany, whilst Kokoro is a Biotechnology in Japan with a strong interest in marine biology, but they both have a deep passion for all things ocean! Together we talk about their journey in founding and working...

This week we speak with Josphat Nguu, a marine ecologist working on the conservation of blue carbon ecosystems. His work with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute Wildlife Conservation Society establishes blue carbon offset schemes for the conservation and restoration of mangrove forests. Josphat's SOA project focused on returning mangroves to the denuded shoreline of Gazi Bay on the southeast coast of Kenya using enhanced restoration techniques. Working with Mikoko Pamoja, a...

This week we speak with Catarina Abril, an MSc Marine Biology and Conservation graduate from Portugal with studies focused on sharks and rays. Her passion for ocean literacy shines through as we discuss her role as Science and Conservation Manager of the Ocean Hub Portugal. In 2020 the Hub was given two microgrants. The first grant went towards a series of courses teaching ocean literacy and entrepreneurial skills for implementing ocean solutions and the second grant went towards support for...

This week we speak with Iryna Ponedelnik, a master’s student in Science Communication and founder of the Youth for Sustainable Development in Belarus. The initiative promotes SDGs and tries to encourage young people to actively participate in SDG implementation in Belarus. With the help of an SOA microgrant, Iryna is rolling out a youth engagement program for ocean literacy. We chat with Iryna about her upcoming program and what it's like to be an ocean activist in a landlocked country....

In this weeks episode, we speak with Komal Narayan, the Pacific Island Representative for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Komal was integral to the founding of the SOA Pacific Hub based in Fiji, and with the help of an SOA grant, she organised the Youth Ocean Leadership Conference. The two-day conference centred around 4 areas of ocean health - coral restoration and conservation, plastics in the ocean, activism through art and seabed mining. Diving briefly into each of these issues, we have a...

This week we speak with Fabio Cresto, a climate scientist focused on elaborating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, with a particular focus on Nature-based Solutions. We speak with the help of SOA and in collaboration with his partners Ana Giró from Healthy Reefs and Ángela Mojica from Pixan'ja, Fabio is studying the impact of extreme weather events on a newly discovered reef off the coast of Guatemala - The Cayman Crown. Fabio's knowledge and passion shine through in our...

This week we speak to Marian Pau, Project Manager at Mare Nostrum, a Romanian NGO that serves to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity of the Black Sea. As an expert on Cetaceans, Marian's depth of knowledge on the Black Sea and the effects that plastic pollution has on the animals within it is eye-opening and touching. With the help of an SOA Grant, Mare Nostrum has expanded their science-based beach clean-ups in which they not only collect trash with the help of trained volunteers but also...

This week we speak with Magda Cebrian, the Co-founder and CMO of Go Zero Waste, an app promoting zero waste and circular economy living. We speak with Magda about her and her team's inspiration for the app, which provides tips for a zero waste lifestyle and a map of zero waste businesses worldwide. Their SOA microgrant is helping them build more robust community features and create a stronger network for people at all stages of their zero waste journey. The app is now available in more than...

This week we speak to Innandya Irawan, Chief Growth Officer and Co-founder at Carbon Ethics. Carbon Ethics is a not-for-profit organization that aims to decelerate the climate crisis through climate education and blue carbon ecosystem conservation. Innandya tells us her personal story of starting and growing her organisation and inspires us with the entrepreneurial work ethic she applies to everything she does. Innandya and her team received an SOA Microgrant to support the work of Carbon...

For our first episode of this special edition season, we are featuring Brandon Levy, Chief Program Officer of Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Brandon is a community builder, systems thinker, and mission-driven professional with experience working with leading sustainable enterprises. He is passionate about equipping young leaders with frameworks for strategic thinking and conscious leadership, which he believes are the necessary skill sets to achieve maximum social impact and personal fulfilment....

This week for our final episode of season 2 we chat with Desmond Alugnoa about the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO). Co-founded by Desmond in 2014, GAYO is leading a Sustainable Community Project employing women in low-income communities to collect and process domestic waste for profit. In a country facing severe issues with public waste dumping and mismanagement, Desmond's organisation is leading the way to a sustainable future. Tune in for some inspiration and to hear Desmond's call...

This week we speak with Diane Bahati a member of the Rwanda Youth Alliance for Climate Action (RYACA). Her organisation raises awareness of environmental and social issues within Rwanda by organising community events and campaigns around issues like renewable energy, reforestation and infrastructure development. Diane and RYACA specifically target young people of all background to collaborate in activities aligned with the SDGs. We really enjoy Diane's insight into the state of environmental...

This week we speak with Ahmed Moumine, an environmental science student in Cameroon and the founder of Think Green. Ahmed’s organisation gathers hundreds of young people to collect and repurpose plastic waste from communities without a reliable waste management system. Ahmed describes Think Green as more than just an organisation, but as an ideology pushing for a paradigm shift across Cameroon. https://linktr.ee/PTApod Find out more about Ahmed and his work: Think Green Personal...

This week we speak with Benjamin Von Wong, a viral creative focused on telling epic stories through photography and videography experiences. Benjamin builds beautiful, hyper-real installations showcasing major environmental issues and captures the moment using his photography skills. Starting from the meaning behind his work, we dive deep into a chat with our guest about the framework for positive impact and success that he has developed through his own experiences as an artist and an...

In this episode, we chat with Marie about her journey to becoming the leader of the global youth constituency for the UN - YOUNGO. Starting from her personal story as a Swiss youth climate advocate, all the way to her international recognition as a leading climate champion, Marie inspires us with her advice for any young people out there wanting to make a difference. Our down-to-earth discussion leaves quite an impression. https://linktr.ee/PTApod Find out more about Marie and her...

In this weeks episode, we speak with Juanjo Martinb, co-founder and President of Cverde - a Chilean NGO that professionalises environmental activism through community-based projects and leadership training for young activists. Juanjo speaks with us in detail about Operaciones Cverde, a project close to his heart that also won the National Environmental Award of Chile. Our chat takes us from on-the-ground projects to Juanjo's role in negotiating the environmental policy of Chile at COP25, and...

This week we chat with Silvia Cantu, an activist who uses wildlife and underwater photography to raise awareness about environmental issues. Silvia tells us about her experience sailing the world aboard the Peace Boat and she shares her knowledge of Mexico's coastal environment. Drawing on her vast experience in interdisciplinary academic research, cross-cultural communication, and inclusive youth teaching, Silvia inspires us to take action for environmental...

This week we speak with Jeff Rotmeyer, the Founder and CEO of two charities based in Hong Kong. Love 21 empowers the Down syndrome and autistic community to reach their full potential through sport and nutrition programmes, whilst Impact HK seeks to provide a stepping stone for homeless individuals that is filled with love, kindness and opportunity. We speak with Jeff primarily about Impact HK and the work his team does to rehabilitate and support homeless people through counselling,...

Kasha Slavner is inspiring action by sharing real stories of young peace and climate changemakers. The Sunrise Storyteller, her award-winning documentary, highlights stories of resilience in the face of adversity around the world. In our chat with Kasha, we dig into the journey that made it all possible and we ask about her next big project - 1.5 Degrees of Peace. Join us for an uplifting discussion about all the inspiring stories there are out there, and what Kasha is doing to document the...

Kimberly Worsham is the founder of FLUSH, a consulting and edutainment organisation based in New York that works with businesses and the public alike to not only teach best-practice principles for sanitation and hygiene but also raise awareness around a topic that is so often stigmatised. Kim chats with us about the deep-seated issues facing the WASH sector and how she is creating change for the better. Our down-to-earth and detailed discussion is sure to inspire you, and maybe even think...

Ndéye Marie Aïda Ndiéguène is the founder and CEO if 'Ecobuilders Made in Senegal', a social enterprise that constructs crop storage space using recycled and natural materials. Ecobuilders crop storage solution drastically reduces the loss of crops due to unsafe storage conditions and improves the wellbeing of rural communities. In this final episode of season one, Marie shares her relentless drive for impacting her community. Listen-in for a relaxing and inspiring...

Liyana Yamin is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Institute of Marine Affairs and Resource Management in Taiwan, researching potential adaptations of small fishing communities in Eastern Malaysia to sea level rises. She is a dedicated climate advocate, working with the International Climate Development Institute and founding U-Inspire Malaysia, a network dedicated to disaster risk reduction. Liyana joins us this week for a very relaxed discussion touching on her work and taking a deeper dive into the...

Alexa Goodman is the Project Coordinator for Coastal Action’s Coastal and Marine Team in Atlantic Canada. Their work into understanding the difficult problem that lost and discarded fishing gear, known as ‘Ghost Gear’, poses for marine life and fisherman alike has been fundamental in Canada’s efforts to reduce such pollution. They are also the founder of the ‘Stop Trashing It’ network for people wishing to commit to a low-waste future. Alexa’s expert knowledge and passion for stopping marine...

Muhammad Sarim Raza is a serial entrepreneur who loves analyzing social problems and designing community-centric solutions for them. His most recent startup, Retex, is a sustainable textile sourcing platform which allows users to source local, sustainably produced textiles online from a selection of thoroughly vetted producers. In this episode, we talk with Muhammad about overcoming the fast fashion industry and how both Retex and his more socially-focused startup, Riayat, help change the...