Politics, Ecology and Everything Else In Between Rajeev Nedumaran and friends

"The basic idea of what a locavore is, as someone who wants to keep the money local and resources are local because local self-reliance means that, um, you are better prepared as a community for change. You're better, um, prepared for a disaster, and you're also reducing your reliance on an extractive global economy." - Megan Hobza


Locavore Action, Local Economies and Creative Reuse: An Insightful Conversation with Megan Hobza


In Episode 4 of 'Politics, Environment and Everything In Between', host Rajeev speaks with guest Megan Hobza, a grant writer, community activist, and a strong advocate of Locavore Action, which promotes local self-reliance. Their discussion touches upon important issues like supporting local businesses, the impacts of political decisions on local habitats, and the concept of 'Locavore'. Megan also describes her transformative experiments with discarded clothing to counter fast fashion and relating the principles of locavore and self-reliance to various facets of life. The conversation evolves into considerations about the changing tech landscape, digitization in India, and the concept of a solidarity economy


00:00 Introduction to Locavore Lifestyle

00:27 Podcast Introduction and Previous Topics

00:52 Guest Introduction: Megan Hobza

01:14 Reminiscing Past Experiences

01:40 Discussion on Microfunding and Rural Development

02:40 Digital Transformation in Local Trade

04:53 Understanding Locavore Action

06:45 Megan's Role in Locavore Action

08:48 Megan's Creative Approach to Locavore

08:51 History and Global Presence of Locavore Movement

09:43 Locavore Practices and Local Economies

12:00 Challenges in Urbanization and Locavore

12:09 Addressing Food Waste and Local Economies

16:05 Affordable Housing and Local Economies

16:53 Importance of Local Activism

22:53 Creative Reuse in Fashion

28:05 Addressing Fast Fashion and Waste Diversion

31:03 Solidarity Economy and Local Activism

32:21 Conclusion: Embrace Joy and Act for Climate


You can contact Megan at meganhobza@gmail.com 


Thanks for listening to this episode. I would love your feedback on this podcast. Feel free to drop us a line on rajeev.nedumaran@gmail.com

Welcome to another episode of politics, ecology, and everything in between. Hey, this is Rajeev. We are back after a long hiatus, DJ, and I. For this discussion, we picked a very interesting topic. Who is a tribal. A tribal is a very interesting term. Was Tarzan a tribal. The very image of a noble Savage. Or is it an invented term? And how is it relevant today? To answer all these questions, we have my good friend DJ.


Thanks for supporting this podcast. Do send feedback to rajeev.nedumaran@gmail.com about this episode. 

Understand the Geopolitics of Water with Peter Mayer


In episode 2 of Politics, Ecology, and Everything Else in Between, host Rajeev discusses the crucial issues related to water supply, management, scarcity, contamination, and its importance in geopolitics, diplomacy and conflict, with Peter Mayer, a professional engineer and water management expert from Boulder, Colorado. The discussion dives deep into topics such as the correlation between water supply and climate change, and the potential influence on geopolitics and diplomacy. Peter shares about his work in water utilities across the US and Canada, and how a unique water budget system may be a future solution for water management. They also address the implications of climate change on water resources, options for water conservation, and efficient management and storage of groundwater. The discussion further highlights potential changes in agricultural practices, lifestyle adjustments needed for better water conservation, and the future possibilities of water desalination.


00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview

00:26 Guest Introduction: Peter Mayer

01:09 Peter's Journey into Water Management

04:39 Water and Geopolitics: A James Bond Analogy

05:27 Water Scarcity and Climate Change

11:51 Water Management and Conservation Strategies

23:27 The Future of Water: Desalination and Policy Influence

25:15 Individual Responsibility in Water Conservation

28:06 Conclusion and Closing Remarks


Water is essential for all life forms and human development. Our lives depend on it. Sometimes our livelihoods depend on it. With climate change, the supply of water has the potential to influence geopolitics, diplomacy and even conflict. To discuss this very topic I am talking to Peter Mayer from Boulder, Colorado. Long time friend of Madurai my hometown and an expert in the science of water management.- Peter Mayer, Principal and Founder of WaterDM, is a professional engineer and urban water expert who has dedicated his career to advancing the science of water management. To know more about Peter and his work, head over to his website - www.waterdm.com 

The Manas Incident: 


Introducing a brand new podcast featuring Rajeev & DJ. 


DJ (Dhananjay Katju) is a Political Ecologist from Houston, Texas, will help breakdown complex issues that affect our times and Rajeev is the curious layman picking DJ's brains.


In this opening episode, they discuss their brush with insurgency in the forests of Assam and the complicated history behind it.