Moved

Gary Watts

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The podcast of 289 people inspiring change. Conversations with people driven to make an impact whether related to the UN Global Goals, other frameworks for impact, or simply their own vision to improve society and the planet. We speak with the people doing the great work, leaders and changemakers, and learn what shaped them, along with what advice they have for listeners. The project is to speak with 289 people - will you be one of them?

3 MAR

#12 Moved by Divya

It’s easy to assume most people have a washing machine. But half of the world’s population don’t, which means hand washing. That might sound innocuous – until you realise it can equate to 20 hours a week of manual labour. Which falls mainly on women and girls. There’s the physical toll – hands, wrists, backs. And then there’s the opportunity cost. Because while they’re spending those 20 hours washing clothes, they’re not reading, not studying, not doing paid work, not resting. Not doing the things many of us do while our washing machine quietly whirs in the background. That’s why the story of Dr Navjot Sawhney and The Washing Machine Project is so powerful. In 2017, while volunteering in India after leaving a role at Dyson, Nav met a woman called Divya. She was hand washing clothes for up to 20 hours a week. “I’ll get you an electric washing machine,” he said. But there was no point. They had no running water. No reliable electricity. The manual work had to continue. But Nav couldn’t ignore what he’d seen. As he left the village, he made her a promise: “I will come back one day and bring you a washing machine you can use.” He returned in 2019 to show her how her story had already inspired something bigger. And in 2024 – seven years after that original promise – he came back again. This time with the machine itself. A machine that reduced Divya’s laundry time from 20 hours to around 5 hours a week. Fifteen hours regained. What would you do with 15 extra hours every single week? That moment brought tears to my eyes. But it didn’t end there. That promise became a mission – refining the design, manufacturing challenges, distribution – with the ambition of reaching millions. Dr Navjot Sawhney (“Nav”) is Guest #12 of 289 people making an impact on society and the planet. "A woman would spend up to 20 hours a week for her family hand washing clothes." Listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon or via the Captivate link in the comments. Dr Navjot Sawhney is a London‑born, Indian‑origin engineer and social entrepreneur who received the UK Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award in February 2023 for his humanitarian innovation through The Washing Machine Project, which designs and distributes energy‑efficient, hand‑cranked washing machines to communities without reliable electricity. At the time he was awarded, the Prime Minister invited Dr Nav for lunch at 10 Downing Street, and of course he brought his mum with him. She had recently retired after a 40-year career in HMRC for the government after coming to the UK with £5 in her pocket. What a wonderful point in the story that's unfolding. Further Information The Washing Machine Project – https://www.thewashingmachineproject.org/divya-washing-machine Engineers Without Borders UK – https://www.ewb-uk.org Points of Light Award – https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk

51 min
10 FEB

#11 Moved by Tech For Good

“You can ruthlessly optimise to produce social good.”The next of my 289 featured people is Edward Hibbert. Founder and CTO of Freegle, one of the UK’s largest platforms for getting and giving things away for free, and an important voice in the Tech for Good movement. Gary Watts speaks with Edward not just about reuse, but about how systems shape behaviour, why the bin is the competitor, and what happens when you apply tech thinking to human generosity. We explore how tech for good needs the same rigour as commercial tech, how design choices can increase altruism, the value in reuse (not just money), and how volunteering increases the amount of kindness in the world. Edward Hibbert | Guest #11 of 289, moved by Tech for Good Connect & Learn More https://www.ilovefreegle.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/freegle https://www.instagram.com/thisisfreegle/ https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/freegle/id970045029 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ilovefreegle.direct&hl=en-US https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_piff_does_money_make_you_mean

1h 6m
27 JAN

#10 Moved by Climate + Comedy | Stuart Goldsmith

“I’ve been throwing myself into the mouth of the wolf for decades.” — Stuart Goldsmith Are you having a laugh? Laughter is the best medicine and a powerful way of making people look at things differently – but have you thought about what it's like for comedians on stage, looking into the mouth of the wolf? Gary Watts speaks with Stuart Goldsmith — host of The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast, as seen on Live at the Apollo, and one of the UK’s leading climate comedians — not just about making people laugh and the power of that, but what comedian's go through, and the resilience it takes. We explore: ➡️ Why comedy is a powerful vehicle for the climate conversation ➡️ What it means to “walk into mouth of the wolf” again and again ➡️ How humour disarms opens dialogue ➡️ The difference between preaching and provoking thought This is a conversation about courage disguised as comedy — and why laughter might be one of our most underused tools for change. Stuart Goldsmith | Guest 10 of 289, MOVED by Climate + Comedy #MovedPod #289Conversations #ComediansComedian #LiveAtTheApollo #ClimateComedy #ComedyForChange Connect & Learn More https://www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate https://www.instagram.com/stuartgoldsmithcomedy/ https://www.instagram.com/comcompod/

49 min
13 JAN

#9 | Moved by Interdependence | Tamma Carel

In this episode, Gary Watts speaks with Tamma Carel about her early years in the South African bush, the disorientation culturally and environmentally when she moved to the UK to find the lack of predators and biodiversity, and her career helping organisations change by connecting nature to risk. “Businesses are.... nature dependent.”She also does the wonderful job of fostering hedgehogs which is crucial in the UK now. Connect & Learn More (196) A simple guide to everyday climate action | Tamma Carel | TEDxTeessideWomen - YouTube Tamma Carel | LinkedIn Tamma Carel (@imvelogardenproject) • Instagram photos and videos A Message from Tamma | Imvelo

1h 18m
5 JAN

#8 | Moved by Single Use Plastic | Mishal Noor

In this episode, Gary Watts speaks with Mishal Noor about how change becomes real when it's tangible, mental models, and how policies and reporting matter, but lasting sustainability happens when organisations change how they think. “Changing mental models is difficult, but it's not impossible.”

39 min
17/12/2025

#7 | Moved by Nature’s Blueprint | James Ehrlich

In this episode, Gary Watts speaks with James Ehrlich about redesigning how we live through regenerative systems, data, and deep listening to the land. James shares how soil health, mycelial networks and edge AI come together in VillageOS™, and why giving the land a “voice” through generative AI could change how we understand natural resource flows, climate potential and what a place can sustain. James Ehrlich is Director of Compassionate Sustainability at the Stanford University School of Medicine at the Center for Compassion Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), is also appointed affiliate to the Stanford Woods Institute for Human and Planetary Health, a Sr. Fellow and NASA Ames Research Center, and Founder of ReGen Villages, a Stanford spin-off company applying AI and machine learning software for the design and operation of resilient and self-sustainable housing developments around the world. “How do we give the land a voice?” Connect & Learn More ReGen Villages: https://www.regenvillages.com/ https://www.instagram.com/regenvillages/ VillageOS™: https://www.villageos.ai/ James Ehrlich (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ehrlich-regen/ Dr Rudolph Steiner (1861-1925) https://www.biodynamics.com/biodynamic-principles-and-practices R. Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/visionaries-of-regenerative-design-iii-r-buckminster-fuller-1895-1983-51ada798f11 Bill Mollison (1928-2016) https://permaculturedesign.org/bill-mollison-the-permaculture-founder/ Doeer School of Sustainability https://sustainability.stanford.edu/ Professor Martin Fischer https://gpc.stanford.edu/people/martin-fischer NASA Ames Research Center https://www.nasa.gov/ames/

1h 13m
09/12/2025

#6 | Moved by Climate Incubator | Carly Leung

In this episode, Gary Watts speaks with climate youth leader Carly LEUNG about the moment that changed everything: witnessing children walk over an hour to collect polluted water. Carly shares what it’s like stepping into global climate negotiations at COP, why lived experience is reshaping policy conversations, and how she’s empowering young people across APAC through Climate Incubator. Carly was a delegate at COP27, COP28 and COP29, is a member of the UN Asia-Pacific Youth Advisory Group on Environmental and Climate Justice, and part of the Regional Youth Parliament on Climate Action (RYPCA) under the UNDP Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP). “I wasn't there to lead with inexperience. I was there to lead with urgency and lived experience.”Connect & Learn More Climate Incubator: https://www.climateincubator.org/ https://www.instagram.com/climateincubator/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/climate-incubator-hk/ UNDP YECAP: https://www.yecap-apac.org/ Carly Leung: https://www.instagram.com/carlyleung00/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-leung

49 min
25/11/2025

#5 | Moved by Made in Britain | John Pearce

Gary Watts sits down with John Pearce from Made in Britain and the UN Global Compact Network UK Advisory Panel to explore the current landscape of British manufacturing. We cover: The challenges and opportunities facing UK manufacturersThe significance of the Made in Britain trademarkSustainability, circular economy innovations and water management in manufacturingCommunity engagement, factory visits and encouraging young people into the sectorThe importance of telling authentic manufacturing stories and industry’s role in societyGlobal frameworks like the UN Global Compact shaping industrial practices "I knew there was a business case for making things locally." - John Pearce Connect & Learn More Made in Britain: https://www.madeinbritain.org/ UN Global Compact Network UK: https://www.unglobalcompact.org.uk/John Pearce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pearce-31222553

47 min

The podcast of 289 people inspiring change. Conversations with people driven to make an impact whether related to the UN Global Goals, other frameworks for impact, or simply their own vision to improve society and the planet. We speak with the people doing the great work, leaders and changemakers, and learn what shaped them, along with what advice they have for listeners. The project is to speak with 289 people - will you be one of them?

Creator

Gary Watts
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

13
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Copyright 2026 Gary Watts
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Moved