The Lentil Intervention Podcast Ben and Emma

In this episode, we bring you a recording of Dr Mike Joy’s presentation as part of the recent 2024 Athletes for Nature Webinar Series. This was the first of a 3-part online webinar series for outdoor enthusiasts about the current climate emergency and the actions we can take to protect our playground.

Mike is a leading freshwater ecologist, researcher, and award-winning science communicator, fearlessly championing awareness and action to tackle our planet’s urgent environmental concerns. Mike’s upcoming memoir The Fight for Freshwater provides a first-hand look at the pressures and challenges faced by those who dare to raise their voices, especially when debating issues as critical as the health of Aotearoa’s waterways. Dr Joy is a regular guest of the podcast, most recently appearing in our season 4 finale here.

In this presentation Mike discusses our current ecological and climate crises, providing valuable insights about the challenges confronting our planet. Dr Joy also outlines the essential steps needed for transitioning to a more sustainable future.

In this episode, Mike covers:
• De-escalating economic growth to stay within ecological limits
• Agriculture’s contribution to our overstep of planetary boundaries
• New Zealand’s poor environmental performance
• Intensive agriculture and nitric oxide
• Water pollution in New Zealand
• Realities of renewable energy
• The energy density of fossil fuels vs renewables
• Understanding energy return on investment (EROI)
• The dangerous illusion of net zero

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Dr Kate Wylie is an Adelaide-based GP, the founder of Climate Medicine, and the Executive Director of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), a not-for-profit advocacy organisation that recognises human health depends on a healthy environment. Dr Wylie is a master communicator who has emerged as a leading voice in Australia for highlighting the health implications of climate change while championing change and actionable solutions.

This is Kate’s second full episode and third appearance on the podcast, first chatting with us in season 1 episode 22 and contributing to our end-of-year wrap-up in 2021. With significant developments in planetary health and Dr Wylie’s professional journey since our last conversation, catching up was long overdue!

In this episode, we had the opportunity to delve into DEA's recent endeavours and discuss our climate's current state. Kate shares insights into the profound effects of climate change on the health of Australians while highlighting the importance of proactive measures.

Despite the multitude of challenges posed by climate change, Dr Wylie’s message remains resolute: Our planet is worth saving, and so are we. It’s not game over, it’s game on.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Kate’s shift from general practice to becoming Executive Director of DEA
• Hiking the Larapinta Trail to raise money for DEA
• The recent 2024 iDEA conference
• Fossil Fuels as a health hazard
• DEA’s lobbying work and recent submissions
• The Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity Bill and Senate Inquiry
• Why we should consider the health impacts of proposed fossil fuel projects
• Health impacts of vehicle emissions
• The increase in allergens due to climate change
• The carbon footprint of various asthma inhalers
• Climate change and health hazards: Heatwaves, extreme heat, flooding and storms, bushfires
• Key messages from the 2023 MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change
• Healthcare sustainability – transitioning to an environmentally sustainable healthcare sector in Australia
• Kate’s suggestions on how we can all advocate for change

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Andre Borell is not just a filmmaker and investor, he’s a catalyst for change and a maker of good trouble! We first chatted with Andre in season two of the podcast, hot on the heels of the release of Envoy: Shark Cull, a documentary that sheds light on the long-running ‘shark safety’ programs in place in QLD and NSW. In this episode, we catch up with Andre and delve into his work since the film’s debut, including the establishment of the Envoy Foundation and their recent annual reports. We revisit the critical importance of protecting sharks as a keystone species in our oceans, highlighting the shortcomings and environmental consequences of current shark control methods while exploring more sustainable solutions.

But that’s not all! In addition to his work with Envoy Foundation, Andre has taken on a new role as a board member of the Norwegian Whale Reserve. (Does he ever sleep? We’re not sure…) This visionary conservation initiative is to be an open sea sanctuary nestled in the pristine fjords of Norway, dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing captive whales. We dive into the details of this project and their vision for the future.

Prepare to be inspired by this insightful conversation with an extraordinary human being!

In this episode, we discuss:
Andre’s work since the release of Envoy: Shark CullHis relocation to SingaporeThe imperative of safeguarding sharks for ocean healthShark control (culling) methods still used in Australia and more appropriate alternativesGovernment reluctance to change their culling programsEthical considerations of current programs, including huge concerns regarding bycatchThe fantastic work of the Envoy Foundation – it is conservation reimagined!Recent Envoy Foundation reports including the NSW Shark Meshing Program and the QLD Shark Control Program reviewsAndre’s involvement in the Norwegian Whale Reserve and the project’s missionWays to support the Norwegian Whale Reserve and Envoy FoundationAndre's upcoming projects - watch this space! To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Dr Sally Gillespie is an author, lecturer, workshop facilitator, and trainer for Psychology for a Safe Climate. We first spoke with Sally in season 2, episode 27 about her book Climate Crisis and Consciousness: Re-imagining Our World and Ourselves and how to deal with eco-anxiety. Since speaking with Sally in 2021, the changing climate continues to impact our communities and our mental health. Many communities have endured bushfires, floods, storms, coastal erosions and heatwaves, yet important community resilience-building actions are still lacking in many areas.

Sally’s recent article in Explorations in Climate Psychology Journal explores the significant mental health impacts associated with the escalating climate disasters in Australia - often overlooked when discussing climate change. So, in this episode, we unpack her article in more detail as Sally highlights the need for trauma-informed care and community-based practices to address this worsening crisis.

In the face of such uncertainty, holistic, resilience-building approaches, that integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern psychological insights are now more important than ever, when it comes to supporting individual and community health.

In this episode, we discuss:
Sally’s recent work and involvement in the Climate Psychology movementThe generational shift occurring within the climate psychology spaceThe high percentage of Australians impacted by climate disastersMental health impacts for disaster survivorsThe huge burdens on local agencies providing mental health support servicesSystemic causes that have driven the climate and environmental crisesA need to honour Indigenous knowledge for a truly inclusive community approachLooking to grassroots community movements to help foster a sense of empowermentCreating safe spaces for sharing stories and trauma, including the importance of ceremonyDealing with eco grief, doomerism and burnoutUtilising grounded narratives when initiating climate conversations
If this story has raised concerns for you or someone you know, you can contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636 in Australia or Lifeline at 0800 LIFELINE (0800 54 33 54) or free text HELP (4357) in New Zealand.

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Esther Gathambo, originally hailing from Kenya and now calling New Zealand home, is a social entrepreneur and businesswoman driven by a powerful mission. In 2020 Esther founded Sawubona, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering African artisans, promoting fair trade and sustainability practices, and nurturing a sense of community and shared experiences.

In this conversation, we delve into Esther’s upbringing in Kenya, exploring the enduring impacts of colonialism and her insights into the transformative potential of business. We learn the inspiring story behind Sawubona and how Esther’s venture is actively improving the lives of artisans and communities while forging meaningful connections between Africa and New Zealand.

In this episode, we discuss:
Esther’s background and experience growing up in KenyaThe power of education, and being the first in her family to attend universityThe colonisation of Kenya and consequent impacts on communitiesLoss of cultural and community identity and intergenerational traumaThe exploitative nature of capitalismEthical and sustainability issues in business supply chainsThe story of SawubonaThe benefits of supporting social enterprisesEthical considerations as a consumerThe importance of protecting cultural art To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Joining us for his second appearance on the show, Dr Jack Auty is a lecturer in the Medical Sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania. Jack leads research on the intricate connections between inflammation and disease. With a diverse array of interests, ranging from the impact of microplastics on lung and gut inflammation to the potential use of common anti-inflammatories in treating Alzheimer's disease, Jack's work is at the forefront of medical research.

If this is your first introduction to Dr Auty, please take time to listen to his first podcast episode with us here, as it will give you a more detailed background on his fascinating work to date. In this episode we focus in on Jack’s work with AdriftLab, where he’s been looking at wildlife impacted by microplastic exposure and the ability of plastic to directly induce severe, organ-wide scar tissue formation.

In this episode we discuss:
Jack’s background and previous researchVarious hypotheses which may explain the rise in allergiesThe work of AdriftLab, led by the wonderful Dr Jennifer Lavers‘Plasticosis’ – evidence for a new plastic-induced fibrotic diseaseThe types of plastics commonly found in seabirds and the global marine plastic loadPlastics, microplastics and their unique inflammatory potentialHow inflammation impacts the body and how plastic can make its way into cells throughout the bodyPotential implications of these findings for both humans and other wildlifeThe need for an interdisciplinary approach when researching pollution’s impact on wildlife and human healthIdentifying laboratory sources of microplastic and nanoplastic contaminationTop tips for reducing plastic exposure in daily lifePlastics as a delivery mechanism for a wide range of toxic chemicalsFuture research projects for Jack and AdriftLab

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave us a review and share this episode with your friends and family.

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