Nature Calling: The Guide for Aspiring Changemakers to Forge Sustainability & Climate Change Careers

Scott Poynton
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Biweekly

Do you feel the urgency of climate change but can’t find your way into meaningful work that matches your passion? Nature Calling is the guide for aspiring changemakers to forge sustainability and climate change careers guided by their unique values. Listen to discover: • Why feeling so lost in the world of climate change anxiety is actually pointing you toward your ideal career path • My top lessons you need to know about finding your way in sustainability careers, so you can make your unique impact in the world • What 40 years of frontline sustainability work teaches you about finding your way and staying found Scott Poynton has spent 40 years in the field across more than 35 countries, pioneering sustainability breakthroughs and protecting millions of hectares of forest and the livelihoods of millions. Scott has created this podcast because the next generation of changemakers needs what he’s learned, and the world needs them. Nature Calling is released twice weekly, with new episodes every Tuesday & Thursday. Tune in to discover how to find your sustainability career path - hit play and listen now.

  1. 11h ago

    #86. Why Now Is the Worst Time to Abandon Your Sustainability Career

    What if the world feels like it’s moving backwards on climate change—but your nature calling is still telling you to make a difference? With sustainability roles being cut, climate commitments being rolled back, and climate disasters becoming harder to ignore, it’s understandable to wonder whether there’s still a place for you in climate change work. But this episode takes a longer view. Looking back over four decades of sustainability and climate change action, this episode explores how the field has evolved—from a time when sustainability teams barely existed to today’s rapidly changing landscape of corporate sustainability, regenerative approaches, circular economy thinking, technology, community action, and climate-focused work. You’ll discover: Why today’s setbacks don’t mean the end of climate change action — and what the history of the sustainability movement can teach you about periods of backlash and transformation.Where new opportunities are emerging — from corporate roles and technology to community initiatives, regeneration, and creating opportunities for yourself.Why your nature calling still matters — and how staying connected to your values can help you keep moving toward a career where you can make an impact. If you’ve been questioning whether there’s still a place for you in climate change work, listen to this episode for the perspective and encouragement you need to keep pursuing your nature calling and find your path forward.

  2. 11h ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Enjoy: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing MIKAYLA NOGUEIRA EXCLUSIVE: The Story She’s Finally Ready to Tell from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Jay sits down with beauty creator Mikayla Nogueira to go beyond the online persona and share the real story behind her rise. Mikayla opens up about the struggles that shaped her before finding success, the viral moment that changed her life overnight, and the painful reality of a marriage impacted by addiction and divorce. She also shares how she found her way forward, reconnected with her high school first love, and launched her own beauty brand with Sephora. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Built-in protections for teens. JAY'S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Why Share Your Story Now? 01:31 Beyond The Influencer Persona 02:46 Childhood Memories That Shaped Her 03:45 Bullying & Discovering Makeup At Age 10 05:24 The Insecurities Behind the Confidence 06:48 Expressing Her True Self Online 08:55 The Origin Of Her Passion For Makeup 11:18 Work Ethic And Thinking Big 12:37 Creating Her Very First YouTube Video 13:58 Presenting A 50-Page Business Plan 16:30 Returning To Her Hometown & Donating Makeup 18:00 Getting Hired At Ulta Beauty 23:52 Letting Go of the Future She Planned 28:10 Losing Her Job and Finding a New Path 31:34 The First Viral Video 37:08 Manifesting Success & Building A Content Engine 41:53 Experiencing Her First Cancellation 45:25 Reflecting on Past Controversies 48:56 The Mental Health Toll of Rapid Growth 52:54 The Boston Accent 56:48 Meeting Her Ex-Husband Cody 59:41 Navigating Addiction In A Relationship 01:04:08 Dating An Influencer & Dating An Addict 01:05:56 Marriage Through Addiction and Relapse 01:13:00 A Harrowing Late-Night Emergency 01:18:11 Making the Decision to Divorce 01:33:53 The Path To Divorce 01:40:46 Finally A Fresh Start 01:46:45 Reconnecting With High School First Love, Zach 01:52:21 Building Her Beauty Brand (POV) 01:57:30 Looking Back 01:59:34 Mikayla On Final Five Episode Resources: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/share/1C43BCLCFi/?mibextid=wwXIfr TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@mikaylanogueira Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mikaylajmakeup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Enjoy: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

  3. Apr 29

    #85. What a Winter's Morning Walk in a Swiss Forest Can Do for Your Soul and Your Sustainability Career Clarity

    What if the clarity you have been searching for in your sustainability career is not found at a desk or on a screen, but somewhere much quieter? This episode is an invitation to slow down. Scott Poynton takes you on his morning walk through the frost covered forests above his village in the Swiss Jura Mountains, as the sun rises over Mont Blanc and the Alps, woodpeckers drum overhead and snowdrops emerge from the forest floor after a week of rain. You will discover: How a simple morning walk in nature can quiet the noise of anxiety and uncertainty and bring a deep sense of calm and connectionWhy spending time in nature without headphones or distractions is one of the most powerful tools an aspiring changemaker has for finding clarity on their pathHow climate change is already reshaping the forests of Europe, and what that means for the world we are working to protect If you've been feeling overwhelmed by your sustainability career search, press play, put your headphones in, and walk with Scott for a while.

    #85. What a Winter's Morning Walk in a Swiss Forest Can Do for Your Soul and Your Sustainability Career Clarity

  4. Jan 14

    #84. Humans Are Ecosystem Engineers. So What Happened to Our Sense of Responsibility?

    What if restoring nature isn’t just about saving the planet but about restoring our own future? What would happen if we stopped seeing nature as something separate from us and started recognizing ourselves as part of it- and as responsible stewards of the ecosystems that sustain us? In this episode, Scott Poynton speaks with Tim Christophersen, author of Generation Restoration: How to Fix Our Relationship Crisis with Mother Nature. Drawing on decades of work with the UN, conservation organizations, and now the private sector, Tim shares why he believes ecological literacy is something everyone needs- and why the growing restoration movement offers genuine reasons for hope. You’ll discover: How a childhood pond restoration project shaped Tim’s lifelong relationship with nature—and taught him how quickly ecosystems can respond when humans work with them.Why understanding how much nature we have already lost is essential to recognizing what restoration can make possible.How changing our perception of humans as separate from nature could transform the way we approach conservation, agriculture, business, and economic development. Press play to discover how restoring our relationship with nature can create practical opportunities for healthier ecosystems, stronger communities, and a more hopeful future.

    #84. Humans Are Ecosystem Engineers. So What Happened to Our Sense of Responsibility?

  5. Jan 11

    #83. Can a Law Designed to Protect Forests Actually Make Deforestation Worse?

    Can a law designed to stop deforestation actually make deforestation worse? The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was created with a clear goal: prevent commodities linked to deforestation from entering the European market. But what happens when a regulation designed in Europe meets the realities of smallholder farmers in tropical countries? In this episode, Scott Poynton draws on decades of experience working on forest protection and responsible sourcing to examine the EUDR from the perspective of the people at the far end of global commodity supply chains. He explores the regulation's potential unintended consequences, including the risk that farmers excluded from European markets could turn to other markets—or clear more forest to compensate for lost income. Scott also reflects on lessons from the early no-deforestation commitments involving companies such as Nestlé, Golden Agri-Resources, Asia Pulp & Paper, and Wilmar, and asks whether the collaborative approach that emerged from those processes could offer a better path forward. Listeners will gain: A clearer understanding of why implementing the EUDR is proving so difficult - and why traceability and land-use rules create particular challenges.Insight into how the regulation could affect smallholder farmers whose livelihoods depend on expanding or improving agricultural production.Lessons from previous company-NGO negotiations that demonstrate how farmers, businesses, governments, and environmental organizations might work together rather than treating forest protection as a simple black-and-white problem. Play the episode to explore the complex reality behind the EUDR and discover why protecting forests may require listening more closely to the farmers who depend on them.

    #83. Can a Law Designed to Protect Forests Actually Make Deforestation Worse?

  6. 10/09/2025

    #82. What Happens When a Village in Northern Ghana Tries Biochar for the First Time?

    What can farmers discover when they put biochar to the test in their own fields - and could this simple agricultural waste product help build more resilient soils? In the small village community of Nakpatua in northern Ghana, farmers are facing degraded soils, changing rainfall patterns, and the ongoing challenge of improving their livelihoods. Biochar offers a potential way forward by helping soil hold water and nutrients while giving farmers a material they can produce themselves from agricultural waste. In this episode, Scott Poynton takes you directly into the community, where farmers share their own questions, experiences, and expectations as they begin experimenting with biochar on their crops. Rather than simply explaining the science, this conversation captures what happens when farmers get the opportunity to test a new approach in their own fields. By listening, you’ll discover: How farmers in Nakpatua are planning to use biochar alongside manure on crops such as maize and okra.Why the farmers are interested in biochar’s potential to improve water retention, nutrient availability, and crop productivity.What their early questions and observations reveal about building practical, farmer-led approaches to improving soil health and resilience. Play the episode to hear directly from farmers in northern Ghana as they begin their biochar journey and explore what this simple material could mean for their fields and livelihoods.

    #82. What Happens When a Village in Northern Ghana Tries Biochar for the First Time?

  7. 09/09/2025

    #81. Why 39% of Children Under Five in Northern Ghana Are Stunted and What It Has to Do with Climate Change

    Nearly 40% of children under five in parts of northern Ghana are mentally and physically stunted, and climate change is making it worse. This short episode comes straight from a yam field in northern Ghana, where farmers are working incredibly hard to feed their families through months of dry season when there is no other food. You will discover: Why farming families in northern Ghana spend months living off cassava and yams, and why that creates a hidden nutrition crisis that is stunting children's developmentHow climate change is making an already fragile agricultural system even more unpredictable as rains arrive later and less reliably each yearHow biochar work on the ground is trying to help farmers improve their yields, their soils and ultimately their lives This is what climate change looks like at the frontline, with real people, in a real field, right now.

    #81. Why 39% of Children Under Five in Northern Ghana Are Stunted and What It Has to Do with Climate Change

  8. 08/30/2025

    #80. Why Making the Business Case for Nature Has Failed Us and What We Need to Do Instead

    What if the way the sustainability world has been trying to save the planet is actually part of the problem? For 25 years, Katie Crichlow has worked at the frontline of sustainability, from pioneering responsible sourcing at Marks and Spencer to leading Nature Metrics, a company using DNA sampling to measure biodiversity across more than 100 countries. Along the way she has become increasingly convinced that the obsession with data, reporting and making the business case for nature has distracted us from the real work. In this episode you will discover: Why Katie believes we have spent 30 years documenting extinction rather than stopping it, and what needs to changeHow the impact investment model is failing sustainability, and what a genuinely regenerative business actually looks likeWhy bringing your humanity and your values into the boardroom is the most important thing a sustainability professional can do right now If you have ever felt that the sustainability world is going around in circles while the planet gets worse, this conversation will put words to that feeling and point toward a different way forward.

    #80. Why Making the Business Case for Nature Has Failed Us and What We Need to Do Instead
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About

Do you feel the urgency of climate change but can’t find your way into meaningful work that matches your passion? Nature Calling is the guide for aspiring changemakers to forge sustainability and climate change careers guided by their unique values. Listen to discover: • Why feeling so lost in the world of climate change anxiety is actually pointing you toward your ideal career path • My top lessons you need to know about finding your way in sustainability careers, so you can make your unique impact in the world • What 40 years of frontline sustainability work teaches you about finding your way and staying found Scott Poynton has spent 40 years in the field across more than 35 countries, pioneering sustainability breakthroughs and protecting millions of hectares of forest and the livelihoods of millions. Scott has created this podcast because the next generation of changemakers needs what he’s learned, and the world needs them. Nature Calling is released twice weekly, with new episodes every Tuesday & Thursday. Tune in to discover how to find your sustainability career path - hit play and listen now.

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