Coffee & Geography

Kit Rackley (Geogramblings)
  • 4.8 (16)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

== About the 'Coffee & Geography' podcast == The aim of ‘Coffee & Geography’ is to get to know, explore and celebrate the diverse & intersectional range of people and their love for the world. We’ll have fun exploring all the myriad of ways that connects your life to geography. Wait – you don’t think you’re a ‘geographer’? Well, that’s ok! If you have a love and passion for the world then you probably are more than you know. If you're interested in being a guest or want to find out more, then visit https://geogramblings.com/coffee-geography-podcast/. There you will also find an interactive map to explore the locations of guests and the brews that they drink! Follow us on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/CoffeeGeogPod. The Coffee & Geography Podcast is a 'Geogramblings' production, hosted and produced by Kit Rackley (they/them). The podcast is supported by generous donations via https://ko-fi.com/kitrackley and takes advice from an advisory board of volunteers. Theme music: "Spark of Inspiration" by Shane Ivers (silvermansound.com) == About Geogramblings == Kit Rackley (Geogramblings) spent 13 years as a Geography high-school teacher, and is now freelancing as an educational blogger, author, speaker & trainer. They are a consultant to the Geographical Association & NASBTT (UK) and currently works in supporting schools across England to safeguard their children through climate action. Kit's projects include the Geogramblings.com educational blog, communicating issues through performing arts, the Coffee & Geography podcast and many community-based initiatives.

  1. Coffee & Geography 6x06 Deondre Smiles (Ojibwe - USA/Canada) Indigenous geographies, culture in the stars and more

    22 HR AGO

    Coffee & Geography 6x06 Deondre Smiles (Ojibwe - USA/Canada) Indigenous geographies, culture in the stars and more

    In this rich and expansive conversation, Kit Marie is joined by Dr. Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles, an Ojibwe geographer based in Victoria, British Columbia. Together, they explore identity, movement, Indigenous geographies, the meaning of place, and how our relationships with land — and sky — shape who we become. Deondre shares how his Black, Swedish, and Ojibwe heritage, together with his moves across Minneapolis, Ohio, and now Canada, have influenced his sense of self. He discusses the migration history of Ojibwe peoples and explains how Western cartographic boundaries differ deeply from Indigenous understandings of territory, kinship, and relational land connections. The conversation journeys through NativeLand.ca, the role of stars and constellations in Ojibwe governance, the creation story of Turtle Island, and the responsibilities humans carry as “the least important part of the ecosystem.” Kit Marie and Deondre also bond over the cold of Minnesota versus the wet cold of Victoria, Brexit, decolonisation, nationalism, and the Prime Directive in Star Trek, and discussions about music, memories, and joy — from viola to percussion to the household’s many tarantulas. A thoughtful, gentle, humorous episode that blends Indigenous knowledge, personal geography, and cosmic belonging. Weblinks for Listeners: 🔗 Dr. Deondre Smiles – personal website: https://deondresmiles.com/ 🔗 Native Land Digital / Native-Land.ca: https://native-land.ca/ 🔗 Anishinaabe Astronomy and Identity: https://ojibwe.net/anishinaabe-astronomy-and-identity/ 🔗 Star Stories: Ojibwe Indigenous Star Map - An Artist's Rendition: https://www.zhaawanart.com/post/star-stories-part-9-ojibwe-star-map 🔗 Ojibwe People’s Dictionary: https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/ 🔗 Star Trek's "Prime Directive": https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Prime_Directive #CoffeeGeogPod #IndigenousGeographies #Ojibwe #DecolonisingGeography #HumanGeography #PlaceIdentity #TurtleIsland #NativeLand #GeographyEducation #IndigenousKnowledges #Cosmology #StarStories #CulturalGeography #environmentaljustice Theme music: 'Sparks of Inspiration' by Silvermansound.com

    55 min
  2. Coffee & Geography 6x05 Sustainability at East Norfolk Sixth Form with Dr Catherine Richards (UK)

    4 APR

    Coffee & Geography 6x05 Sustainability at East Norfolk Sixth Form with Dr Catherine Richards (UK)

    In this on‑location special, Kit Marie travels to the east coast of England to spend a spring morning at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, speaking with Principal Dr Catherine Richards about the intersection of community, place‑identity, and sustainability. The conversation blends human geography with practical leadership: the real challenges of Great Yarmouth, the spirit of its people, the region’s shift towards renewable offshore wind, and the ways education can anchor a community in hope rather than decline. Catherine shares how ENSF has become a model for college‑level sustainability — from solar‑panel investment and curriculum change, to innovative food‑chain choices, water‑awareness projects, student‑driven ideas, reprographics reform, composting strategies, and the upcoming near‑net‑zero new building. But the heart of the episode lies in community pride. In the belief that young people in coastal towns deserve world‑class futures. And in the idea that climate education is not separate from subject teaching — it’s woven into each discipline’s responsibility to the future. This episode is a love‑letter to Great Yarmouth, a celebration of local leadership, and a blueprint for what educational institutions can be. Interesting links: 🔗 East Norfolk Sixth Form College: To explore EN’s programmes, ethos, and sustainability work. https://www.eastnorfolk.ac.uk 🔗 Virtual Campus Tour: https://www.eastnorfolk.ac.uk/Applicants-Students-Parents/Virtual-Campus-Tour 🔗 Water Resources East (WRE): Referenced in Catherine’s discussion of water security and the region’s future challenges. https://wre.org.uk 🔗 Peel Ports – Port of East Anglia (Great Yarmouth): Relevant to Catherine’s comments about port redevelopment and regional economic strategy. https://www.peelports.com/marine/our-ports/port-of-east-anglia/ 🔗 Scroby Sands offshore wind farm https://uk.rwe.com/locations/scroby-sands-offshore-wind-farm/ 🔗 Norfolk FWAG (Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group): Referenced regarding sustainable food choices, deer management, and local ecology. https://www.norfolkfwag.co.uk #CoffeeGeogPod #Sustainability #EducationLeadership #FurtherEducation #ClimateEducation #GreatYarmouth #RenewableEnergy #OffshoreWind #CommunityEmpowerment #PlaceBasedGeography #NetZeroColleges #ukcoast Theme music: "Spark of Inspiration" by Shane Ivers (silvermansound.com)

    37 min
  3. Coffee & Geography 6x03 Dr Robin Hayward (UK) Rainforests, trees, identity, sci-comm

    7 MAR

    Coffee & Geography 6x03 Dr Robin Hayward (UK) Rainforests, trees, identity, sci-comm

    In this joyful, wide‑ranging conversation, forest ecologist and science communicator Dr Robin Hayward joins Kit Marie for a celebration of trees, identity, science, and storytelling. Robin shares how growing up on Dartmoor shaped their love of horizons, how Malaysian rainforests revealed the long‑term impact of selective logging, and why hugging trees is both a scientific method and a source of soul‑level joy. Other themes include: • Measuring rainforests, from canopy lizards to multi‑decade seedling studies • How restoration succeeds (or doesn’t) across generations • Whether tropical or boreal forests should be prioritised — a playful debate • Star Trek, Thunderbirds, and the magic of weaving sci‑fi into teaching • The social camouflage queer scientists navigate in fieldwork • Creative science communication: live shows, art, code, and cake • Building inclusive fieldwork environments and resources for LGBTQ+ geographers Find Robin everywhere online via https://canopyrobin.com/links, including Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, Mastodon and LinkedIn. 🔗 Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere & Forest (LEAF) Centre: https://leaf.leeds.ac.uk/gairwood 🔗 Inclusive Fieldwork at University of Leeds: https://inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk 🔗 ESC (Ecological Site Classification) for UK Tree Suitability GIS tool: http://www.forestdss.org.uk/geoforestdss/ 🔗 South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP): https://www.searrp.org/ 🔗 SAFE Project, Malaysia: https://atlas.smartforests.net/en/logbooks/safe-project/ Theme music: "Spark of Inspiration" by Shane Ivers (silvermansound.com)

    56 min
  4. Coffee & Geography 6x02 Omar Regalado Fernandez (Mexico) Decolonising Paleobiology, Citizen Science

    21 FEB

    Coffee & Geography 6x02 Omar Regalado Fernandez (Mexico) Decolonising Paleobiology, Citizen Science

    In this rich and eye‑opening conversation, Mexican paleobiologist Omar Regalado Fernández joins Kit Marie to explore how paleontology has been shaped by colonial legacies — and how the field can move toward justice. Omar shares how growing up in the Cuautitlán-Pachuca Valley (with its unexpected Cornish connections!), studying in London, and now working in Germany have shaped his identity as a global citizen. They discuss the difference between paleontology and paleobiology, the mythologised history of the Bone Wars, and how scientific institutions often retell “great man” narratives that hide violence and exclude other ways of knowing. The episode also explores: • Why renaming species (like poinsettia) is more than cosmetic • Why Western science treats Indigenous knowledge as “folklore” • How colonialism functions like an “eldritch horror” • The shift toward qualitative and community‑rooted science • Routes into paleontology for neurodivergent young people • Museums, citizen science, and making science accessible Connect with Omar via Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathchaos.bsky.social and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-rafael-regalado-fernandez/ Links for further exploration: 🔗 Natural History Museum (UK) – Citizen Science Projects: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/citizen-science.html 🔗 Senckenberg Natural History Museum (Frankfurt): https://museumfrankfurt.senckenberg.de/en/ 🔗 The Bone Wars: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_Wars 🔗 Our past creates our present: a brief overview of racism and colonialism in Western paleontology: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/paleobiology/article/our-past-creates-our-present-a-brief-overview-of-racism-and-colonialism-in-western-paleontology/79248D87425C01E9D388DA2EFED92866 🔗 Poinsettia/Cuetlaxōchitl: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poinsettia 🔗 UNAM – National Autonomous University of Mexico: https://www.unam.mx 🔗 500 Queer Scientists: https://500queerscientists.com/ #CoffeeGeogPod #Paleobiology #DecolonisingScience #STEM #ColonialHistory #Taxonomy #IndigenousKnowledge #CitizenScience #GeographyPodcast #Mexico #Germany #UKScience #GlobalIdentity Theme music: "Spark of Inspiration" by Shane Ivers (silvermansound.com)

    1 hr
  5. Coffee & Geography 6x04 Marvee Sambajon (Philippines) documentary producer, marine sci-comm, crochet

    13 FEB

    Coffee & Geography 6x04 Marvee Sambajon (Philippines) documentary producer, marine sci-comm, crochet

    In this uplifting and heartfelt episode, Kit is joined by Marvee Sambajon, a documentary producer and marine science communicator from the Philippines. What follows is a warm, generous conversation about place, respect, culture, creativity, and the small moments that reveal who we are. Marvee reflects on growing up across several Philippine provinces, moving between communities as a “blank slate” ready to listen. She shares the profound experience of being welcomed by Ifugao Indigenous peoples in the famed rice terraces — a moment of deep humility and gratitude that still resonates years later. The episode travels through her remarkable years documenting marine scientific expeditions: three summers at sea aboard military ships, navigating storms, isolation, hunger, exhaustion — and even the occasional shark. These raw, vivid stories show the human side of science: the patience, courage, improvisation and humour that research crews rarely talk about. Marvee also explains why marine science communication is crucial in an archipelagic nation. From algal blooms to plastic pollution, she highlights the gap between public perception and ecological reality — and why awareness, respect and context‑specific solutions matter. Finally, she shares the comfort she finds in crochet: the counting, the repetition, the making and remaking of garments as both creative outlet and sustainable practice. Connect with Marvee over on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/marveeambi.bsky.social Links to explore further: 🔗 Ifugao Rice Terraces (UNESCO World Heritage Site): https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/722/ 🔗 Philippine Marine Science Institute (UP MSI): https://msi.upd.edu.ph/ 🔗 Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) Expedition: https://ph.oceana.org/expeditions/benham-expedition/ 🔗 Plastic Pollution in Philippine Coastal Waters: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1251582 🔗 Treasures from the Deep: West Philippine Sea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3timSPMtWYY 🔗 Treasures from the Deep: Verde Island Passage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp6CArgEWOk #CoffeeGeogPod #Philippines #MarineScience #PlasticPollution #IndigenousKnowledge #HumanGeography #NarrativeGeography #ScienceCommunication #RiceTerraces #DocumentaryStorytelling Theme music: "Spark of Inspiration" by Shane Ivers (silvermansound.com)

    58 min
  6. Coffee & Geography 6x01 Gadfly Stratton (Canada) Invasive species, EDIA, Warhammer

    7 FEB

    Coffee & Geography 6x01 Gadfly Stratton (Canada) Invasive species, EDIA, Warhammer

    Season 6 opens with a rich, engaging conversation with environmental researcher and EDIA advocate Gadfly Stratton, joining Kit Marie from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Gadfly explores how their work on aquatic invasive species intersects with equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, showing why inclusive science produces better research, better engagement, and stronger community outcomes. They explain how invasive species management relies on trust, representation, and public participation — and why the Great Lakes are a fascinating case study in ecology, policy, and human behaviour. The conversation also dives into: 🌎 Place identity (Toronto, Halifax, Northern Ontario) 🌊 Sea lamprey, goldfish invasions, and citizen science ♿ Why accessibility must be part of EDI 🧠 Science denialism & the dangers of exclusion 🐶 Boots & Muffin 🎮 1200+ hours of Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader ✨ And the joy of learning from different lived experiences Find Gadfly at inclusivescience.ca and on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/inclusivescience.ca Links for further exploration: 🔗 Great Lakes Fishery Commission – Sea Lamprey Control: https://www.glfc.org 🔗 USGS Non‑Native Aquatic Species (NAS) Database: https://nas.er.usgs.gov 🔗 Environment & Climate Change Canada – Aquatic Invasive Species: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/ais-eae/index-eng.html 🔗 Inclusive Science (Gadfly’s website): https://inclusivescience.ca 🔗 Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader: https://roguetrader.owlcat.games Theme music: "Spark of Inspiration" by Shane Ivers (silvermansound.com)

    55 min

  7. 10 JAN

    Coffee & Geography Season 6 (COMING SOON): New Schedule and Features

    🌟 ANNOUNCING SEASON 6 OF COFFEE & GEOGRAPHY! ☕🗺️ Mark your calendars—new episodes return February 7th, 2026! After a powerful Season 5 exploring climate action with incredible #ClimateAmbassadors, we’re thrilled to continue bringing you heartfelt conversations with inspiring people who live and breathe geography in all its forms. Join me as we: ✨ Meet more diverse voices from around the globe ✨ Explore new stories of place, identity, and stewardship ✨ Sip delicious brews and share meaningful connections Whether you're an educator, a geography enthusiast, or just curious about the world and the people in it—this season is for you. Check out the promo video for the news about Season 6. Want to be a guest or know someone who should? Explore our interactive guest map and learn more at: 👉 https://geogramblings.com/coffee-geography-podcast/ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and let’s keep celebrating the world—one conversation at a time. #CoffeeGeogPod #GeographyPodcast #PodcastLaunch #HumanGeography #Storytelling #NewSeason #GeographyTeachers #ListenAndLearn

    2 min
  8. Coffee & Geography 5x24 Season Finale - Cultivating Climate Hope: A Tapestry of Action

    26/07/2025

    Coffee & Geography 5x24 Season Finale - Cultivating Climate Hope: A Tapestry of Action

    A powerful culmination of our 23-episode journey with Climate Ambassadors! In this season finale, host Kit Marie Rackley weaves together profound insights from engineers, teachers, nuclear consultants, and soil scientists volunteering nationwide. Discover how these diverse experts are transforming climate anxiety into agency through six radical lessons: from starting small ("micro-wins build macro-change") to reframing clean energy as an "upgrade," and why soil health could resolve 30% of emissions. Hear directly from voices like nuclear safety engineer Jonathan Allen dismantling energy myths, marine biologist Ray Butchart's "small cog theory," and Environment Agency expert Amy Shaw's urgent Fens warning: "Compounding impacts at 2°C will hit by 2040-2050... We need to start thinking now." This episode proves climate action isn't a curriculum unit – it's a culture of pragmatic hope. If you enjoyed these snippets, then check out all the previous episodes of the incredible full discussions with Climate Ambassadors all over the country: https://soundcloud.com/geogramblings/sets/climate-ambassadors-england (audio) and https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQO6y3KEGHinU1hSKBpNiYZq8zpycNn39 (video). Learn about the Climate Ambassadors Scheme and how you can become one of the 'small cogs' making a difference: https://climateambassadors.org.uk #ClimateEducation #ClimateAction #Sustainability #EcoAnxiety #GreenCareers #NatureBasedSolutions #SoilHealth #ClimateHope #GeographyTeacher #Podcast #ClimateAmbassadors #CleanEnergy #CommunityAction #PragmaticHope #EducationForSustainability ### About Coffee & Geography The aim of ‘Coffee & Geography’ is to get to know, explore and celebrate the diverse & intersectional range of people and their love for the world. If you're interested in being a guest or want to find out more, then visit https://geogramblings.com/coffee-geography-podcast. There you will also find an interactive map to explore the locations of guests and the brews that they drink! Music: 'Spark of Inspiration' by Shane Ivers (www.silvermansound.com/) ### How you can support the podcast and continue the conversation - Follow us on Bluesky at bsky.app/profile/geogramblings.com and the hashtag #CoffeeGeogPod - Post a listener question for guests using #GeogQOverABrew - Rate, review (ratethispodcast.com/coffeegeogpod) and subscribe to the podcast via your preferred platform. - Support Geogramblings education efforts by donating at https://ko-fi.com/kitrackley - Switch your energy provider to Octopus Energy via this link: https://share.octopus.energy/reed-foal-15. Any referral rewards will go towards Geogramblings education efforts.

    23 min
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4.8
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

== About the 'Coffee & Geography' podcast == The aim of ‘Coffee & Geography’ is to get to know, explore and celebrate the diverse & intersectional range of people and their love for the world. We’ll have fun exploring all the myriad of ways that connects your life to geography. Wait – you don’t think you’re a ‘geographer’? Well, that’s ok! If you have a love and passion for the world then you probably are more than you know. If you're interested in being a guest or want to find out more, then visit https://geogramblings.com/coffee-geography-podcast/. There you will also find an interactive map to explore the locations of guests and the brews that they drink! Follow us on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/CoffeeGeogPod. The Coffee & Geography Podcast is a 'Geogramblings' production, hosted and produced by Kit Rackley (they/them). The podcast is supported by generous donations via https://ko-fi.com/kitrackley and takes advice from an advisory board of volunteers. Theme music: "Spark of Inspiration" by Shane Ivers (silvermansound.com) == About Geogramblings == Kit Rackley (Geogramblings) spent 13 years as a Geography high-school teacher, and is now freelancing as an educational blogger, author, speaker & trainer. They are a consultant to the Geographical Association & NASBTT (UK) and currently works in supporting schools across England to safeguard their children through climate action. Kit's projects include the Geogramblings.com educational blog, communicating issues through performing arts, the Coffee & Geography podcast and many community-based initiatives.

Information

  • Creator
    Kit Rackley (Geogramblings)
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    149
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Coffee & Geography