The naturethrive podcast

Jonathan Withey
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Nature
  • Weekly

The naturethrive podcast is here to inspire and connect you with nature, while exploring practical solutions to the environmental and planetary challenges we face.Through engaging conversations with expert guests, we’ll delve into the issues affecting our world in a way that’s accessible and uplifting, not overwhelming. We’ll highlight real stories and experiences that bring hope and optimism, showcasing a wide range of current and future solutions—from large-scale initiatives to everyday actions—that can help ease eco-anxiety and drive positive change.Our guests include farmers, organisations, and solution providers who are making a difference in nature restoration, sharing their journeys and the impactful work they’re doing.Each episode will also feature three recurring questions that explore the first, best, worst, and weirdest moments in nature, giving you an authentic and personal glimpse into the experiences that shape our connection with the natural world.

  1. Oct 26

    Episode 39: How Nature can Help Construct a Better Future with María Fernández, Head of Sustainability and Social Value at Multiplex

    On this episode Jonathan has a conversation with María Fernández, who leads Sustainability and Social Value at Multiplex, discussing her career path from Spain to the UK and how sustainability expectations have grown across construction teams. Maria explains Multiplex’s ESG strategy “Constructing a Better Future,” including the “Sustainable Ecosystems” pillar covering decarbonisation, waste, circularity, biodiversity and nature-positive outcomes, and the contractor’s role in delivering on-site BNG through construction. She also highlights Multiplex’s 15-year solar farm power purchase agreement in Norfolk, progress on science-based targets and supply-chain work, and closes with her personal nature experiences, including scuba diving and a multi-day trek in Costa Rica’s Corcovado. 00:00 Podcast Welcome Updates 00:45 Summerfield Homes Partnership 02:33 Meet Maria Multiplex 05:11 Career Journey Sustainability 07:56 Engagement Shift Over Time 10:15 Social Value Apprenticeships 11:20 Ecosystems ESG Pillar 14:22 Delivering Nature On Site 17:28 Biodiversity Net Gain Examples 20:26 Why Nature Matters ESG 23:54 Offsets Solar PPA Norfolk 27:57 Nature Supply Chain TNFD 30:08 First Memories In Nature 32:17 Worst Nature Experience 34:41 Best Nature Moments 37:31 Costa Rica Conservation Story 39:11 Wrap Up And Next Episodes Send us Fan Mail

    Episode 39: How Nature can Help Construct a Better Future with María Fernández, Head of Sustainability and Social Value at Multiplex

  2. Sep 28

    Episode 38: Restoring Nature's Wealth via Biodiversity Net Gain with Jim Day, Founder of Naturefy

    On this episode host Jonathan Withey speaks with Jim Day, founder of Naturefy, a BNG tech platform aimed at operationalising Biodiversity Net Gain by making the market more transparent and liquid. They discuss how Naturefy helps landowners map habitats and estimate unit potential, helps developers find available off-site units via a marketplace map, and uses data insights such as tracking BNG unit sales by local planning authorities. Jim shares his background in economics and tech, argues that nature is part of national wealth, and explains how a functioning BNG market could shift value from development land to nature restoration while reducing political risk. They also cover trust and delivery risks over 30-year obligations, bureaucratic hurdles, shifting demand due to exemptions, and end with Jim’s best and worst nature experiences. 00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup 00:38 What Naturefy Does 02:41 Nature Tech Momentum 08:36 Meet Jim Day 09:14 Jim’s Path to BNG 14:29 Nature as Wealth 18:28 Trust and Long-Term Risk 22:15 Naturefy Tools and Marketplace 30:10 Demand Mapping and AI 32:47 On-Site vs Off-Site Debate 38:49 Nature Memories Segment 39:12 First Nature Connection 40:38 Worst Nature Moment 42:57 Best Nature Experience 45:24 Closing Thoughts and Thanks 45:46 Final Wrap and Call to Action Send us Fan Mail

    Episode 38: Restoring Nature's Wealth via Biodiversity Net Gain with Jim Day, Founder of Naturefy

  3. Sep 11

    Episode 37: Making it Easy to Comply with Biodiversity Net Gain with Jack Sherborn Hoare, Founder of ReVerte

    On this episode host Jonathan Withey speaks with Jack Sherborn Hoare, founder of RevVerte, a platform where developers list biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements and habitat banks submit quotes in one place. Jack shares his farming and land management background, how he moved from regenerative agriculture into BNG, and why Revert aims to build market infrastructure rather than act as a broker, combining an online marketplace with human support and exploring an assurance scheme. The conversation covers BNG market growth and challenges, including LPA inconsistency, the mitigation hierarchy, on-site vs off-site delivery, spatial risk multipliers, and risks of double counting in voluntary nature markets. Jack also shares early pricing insights, citing an average transacted unit price of about £21,300, with variability by habitat and location. 00:00 Welcome and Episode Intro 00:34 Travel and Family Update 01:19 Shingles and Recovery 02:24 Naturethrive BNG Projects 04:10 Introducing Jack and Revert 05:37 Meeting Jack in Bedfordshire 06:39 Jack’s Farming Background 07:30 From Carbon to BNG Opportunity 10:22 Why Developers Needed Help 11:54 Building BNG Market Infrastructure 14:23 Why Nature Needs a Price 17:17 On-Site vs Off-Site Debate 20:05 LPA Inconsistency Challenges 23:50 Revert Platform Elevator Pitch 25:51 Developer Needs Posted 26:31 Internal Deal Screening 27:06 Quotes Plus Human Support 29:04 Revert Special Sauce 29:46 Assurance Scheme Vision 31:12 Voluntary Credits Register 34:07 Market Size And Pricing 36:27 Pricing Drivers And Deals 40:37 Nature Memories Segment 45:19 Final Wrap And Outro Send us Fan Mail

    Episode 37: Making it Easy to Comply with Biodiversity Net Gain with Jack Sherborn Hoare, Founder of ReVerte

  4. Aug 13

    Episode 36: Cities are Living Ecosystems with Tom Butterworth, Fellow, Director and Nature Lead at Arup

    On this episode Jonathan has a conversation with Tom Butterworth, Fellow Director and Nature Lead at Arup, at Arup’s Goodge Street office. Tom shares his career path from studying ecology and volunteering at the Natural History Museum to working on nature reserves, conservation coordination, Natural England, and consultancy, including biodiversity net gain and natural capital. The conversation focuses on cities as living ecosystems and why urban design must account for water, species movement, air and climate, highlighting urban heat island impacts, flooding risks, and the multiple benefits of green infrastructure and sustainable urban drainage. They discuss equity of access to green space, growing demand for ecology roles, the need for diversity of views, and examples of nature engagement, ending with Tom’s first, best, and worst experiences in nature. 00:00 Welcome Back and Road Trip 01:30 Meet Tom at Arup 03:43 Tom’s Career Journey 05:44 Nature Careers Then and Now 10:18 Cities as Ecosystems 15:25 Heat Islands and Cooling 16:49 Spongy Cities and Flooding 24:17 Funding and Stakeholder Buy In 31:34 First Best Worst in Nature 35:22 Awe Forests and Living Cities 39:07 Wrap Up Key Takeaways Send us Fan Mail

    Episode 36: Cities are Living Ecosystems with Tom Butterworth, Fellow, Director and Nature Lead at Arup

  5. Jun 16

    Episode 35: Why Nature Restoration is about People with Bruce Howard, Director of the Ecosystems Knowledge Network

    On this episode host Jonathan Withey takes a walk across Port Meadow in Oxford with Bruce Howard, head of the Ecosystems Knowledge Network (EKN), discussing Bruce’s shift from mining and pollution management to nature restoration and knowledge sharing. They explain EKN’s origins in the UK Government’s 2011 white paper, its transition to an independent charity in 2015, and its UK-wide membership of around 4,000 spanning environment professionals and other sectors. The conversation covers why language matters when discussing “nature” versus “environment,” how EKN facilitates collaboration through events, webinars, communications, and signposting, and why business is increasingly investing in nature recovery, including examples involving Aviva, Network Rail, and peatland finance. Bruce also shares first, best, and worst experiences in nature, including time in Australia, the Amazon, and Greenland. Jonathan announces a short pause in episodes while traveling in Canada. 00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup 03:49 Meet Bruce at Port Meadow 05:21 Bruce Career Turning Point 08:18 Nature Versus Environment 12:11 What EKN Does 15:28 Membership and Collaboration Tools 21:14 Business Steps Into Nature 26:40 Partnerships and People First 31:13 First Best Worst Nature Stories 41:39 Nature Finance and Carbon Codes 47:37 Wrap Up and Podcast Pause Send us Fan Mail

    Episode 35: Why Nature Restoration is about People with Bruce Howard, Director of the Ecosystems Knowledge Network

  6. Jun 1

    Episode 34: Nature is Critical Infrastructure with Lesley Wilson, Policy & Engagement Lead on Biodiversity and Natural Capital at ISEP

    In this episode host Jonathan Withey speaks with Lesley Wilson, policy and engagement lead at ISEP (formerly IEMA), about business, biodiversity, and natural capital. They discuss ISEP’s role as a global membership body, its biodiversity and natural capital network, and how member insights inform policy and consultations. Lesley explains IPBES as a science-policy platform similar to the IPCC, how its assessments inform the Convention on Biological Diversity, and why the Manchester plenary and side events were notable, including IPBES’s first business-and-biodiversity assessment. They explore ISEP’s paper “Nature is Critical Infrastructure,” linking natural capital to UK GDP and planning, and cover how companies can measure nature impacts using tools like TNFD and other frameworks, along with personal reflections on experiences in nature. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:32 Host Updates on BNG 02:49 Episode Topics Preview 04:32 Meet Lesley at ISEP 05:50 Lesley Career Journey 08:02 ISEP History and Growth 09:22 Why Membership Matters 12:28 Sustainability Roles Debate 13:49 What Is IPBES 19:18 How IPBES Links to CBD 20:44 Business Engagement at IPBES 22:47 Nature as Critical Infrastructure 25:55 Defining Natural Capital 26:50 Ecosystem Services Explained 27:30 Biodiversity Hidden Benefits 29:22 Climate Threats to Supply 31:08 Nature as Business Risk 32:12 Local Nature Action Wins 34:04 Measuring Biodiversity Impacts 36:03 Metrics Not Magic Numbers 38:47 Tools and Frameworks TNFD 40:52 First Best Worst Nature Stories 46:41 Closing Reflections and 30x30 Send us Fan Mail

    Episode 34: Nature is Critical Infrastructure with Lesley Wilson, Policy & Engagement Lead on Biodiversity and Natural Capital at ISEP

  7. May 7

    Episode 33: How to Integrate Nature into Decision Making that Delivers Better Outcomes for All with Ella Moseley, Director of Ecology at Pegasus Group

    Jonathan Withey welcomes listeners to episode 33 featuring a conversation with Ella Moseley, Director of Ecology at Pegasus Group. Ella describes her path into ecology through a physical geography degree in the UK and Australia, the value of gaining construction-side experience, and how Pegasus brought ecology in-house to complete a multidisciplinary offer and support clients from early land appraisals through post-consent delivery. They discuss biodiversity net gain (BNG) as a way to communicate value, guide development viability, and support placemaking, alongside ecosystem services examples such as natural flood management, hedgerows for carbon and biodiversity, and re-naturalising chalk streams. Ella shares first, worst, and best nature experiences, including childhood lizard-watching, handling habitat damage incidents, and releasing a rehabilitated tamandua in Guatemala. 00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup 01:46 Attenborough and Spring Notes 03:04 Meet Ella in Soho 03:27 Ella’s Ecology Career Path 07:13 Field Trips and Early Nature 08:50 Winning Hearts on Site 11:35 What Is a Smooth Snake 12:26 Why Pegasus Went In-House 16:09 BNG as Business Language 18:55 Ecosystem Services in Action 23:32 Delivering BNG at Pegasus 30:32 BNG for Placemaking 35:34 First Nature Memories 37:48 Worst Moments and Resilience 42:00 Best Moments in the Wild 45:31 Wrap-Up and Takeaways Send us Fan Mail

    Episode 33: How to Integrate Nature into Decision Making that Delivers Better Outcomes for All with Ella Moseley, Director of Ecology at Pegasus Group

  8. Apr 22

    Episode 32: All Roads Lead to Nature Recovery with Julia Baker, Global Submarket Lead for Biodiversity and Nature at Mott MacDonald

    Jonathan is joined in central London by Julia Baker of Mott MacDonald to discuss how nature services connect biodiversity, climate resilience, carbon, and social wellbeing, arguing that nature recovery is a solution society and the economy need. The conversation focuses on biodiversity net gain (BNG), especially for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), including the government’s announcement that mandatory BNG for NSIPs will go live on 2 November 2026 and planned interim publications such as biodiversity gain statements, an updated metric user guide, and additional guidance. They explore mitigation hierarchy, stakeholder engagement, local nature recovery strategies, on-site versus off-site delivery, funding and corporate frameworks like TNFD, and Julia shares formative childhood and UK woodland experiences in nature. 00:00 Spring Garden Update 01:42 Bird Flu Reminder 02:03 Meet Julia Baker 04:06 Nature Services Big Picture 08:56 Biodiversity as a Market 13:27 TNFD and Funding Nature 18:39 BNG and NSIPs Explained 22:53 Making BNG Work Locally 28:11 Future of BNG Policy 31:16 Onsite vs Offsite Debate 33:13 First Nature Memories 38:45 Closing Thoughts Outro Send us Fan Mail

    Episode 32: All Roads Lead to Nature Recovery with Julia Baker, Global Submarket Lead for Biodiversity and Nature at Mott MacDonald
See All (39)

About

The naturethrive podcast is here to inspire and connect you with nature, while exploring practical solutions to the environmental and planetary challenges we face.Through engaging conversations with expert guests, we’ll delve into the issues affecting our world in a way that’s accessible and uplifting, not overwhelming. We’ll highlight real stories and experiences that bring hope and optimism, showcasing a wide range of current and future solutions—from large-scale initiatives to everyday actions—that can help ease eco-anxiety and drive positive change.Our guests include farmers, organisations, and solution providers who are making a difference in nature restoration, sharing their journeys and the impactful work they’re doing.Each episode will also feature three recurring questions that explore the first, best, worst, and weirdest moments in nature, giving you an authentic and personal glimpse into the experiences that shape our connection with the natural world.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Withey
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The naturethrive podcast
  • Show Website
    The naturethrive podcast

You Might Also Like