AK Compass Podcast

Ágnes Gárdonyi and Karolina Czako
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Discover new horizons with the AK Compass! Hosted by sustainability expert Karolina Czako and journalist Ágnes Gárdonyi, this podcast brings you inspiring journeys, global stories and lively conversations about travel and sustainability. Tune in for interviews with experts, travelers and changemakers sharing their experiences from all around the world. Whether you love exploring or want to learn about living sustainably, the AK Compass is your guide to a more connected, mindful journey. Photo:esztevien © 2025 Karolina Czako & Ágnes Gárdonyi. All rights reserved for AK Compass Podcast content.

  1. 3d ago

    What Climate Events Can – and Can’t – Achieve?

    Do climate change and sustainability events and courses really help create change? In this episode of the AK Compass Podcast, Karolina Czako and Ágnes Gárdonyi look at what these gatherings can achieve—and where their impact often falls short. Climate and sustainability events and short courses can bring together like-minded people across generations and interest groups, from scientific and religious communities to feminist and environmental movements. They can help participants understand sustainability principles, connect different perspectives, and work toward transdisciplinary solutions. They can also help people prepare for a changing world, especially when topics like mental health and biodiversity are still often overlooked in favor of trending corporate reporting. The conversation also explores what these events make us question: what we value, what “home” means, and how rising temperatures could make some places less livable within our lifetimes. Karolina and Ágnes discuss energy return on investment over human history, as well as deep adaptation and collapsology. These approaches  focus on understanding human impact on Earth rather than only on regulation, reporting, and paperwork. Finally, they ask whether climate events themselves practice what they preach. Can they reduce energy use and food waste, choose hybrid formats where travel would add unnecessary emissions, and pursue credible green certifications? In a time of geopolitical and climate challenges, heat domes, and rising food and energy prices, the real question is not only what we learn at these events, but what we do afterwards.

    What Climate Events Can – and Can’t – Achieve?

  2. Sep 29

    Who Is Responsible for Sustainability: Individual vs. Industry

    Have you ever wondered whether your everyday choices really matter when it comes to sustainability? In this episode of the AK Compass Podcast, Karolina Czako and Ágnes Gárdonyi look at individual and industrial responsibility and discuss how the two should be treated in a balanced way. They start with the choices we can make in daily life: bringing our own containers, choosing locally sourced food and cosmetics where possible, and finding realistic ways to create less waste. Talking with family and friends can help us see what works in our own daily lives. The aim isn’t to just stay in our comfort zones, but it isn’t to demand perfection either. Companies also have a great role. They have far more power to change how products and services are designed, how supply chains work, and where investment goes. Karolina and Ágnes discuss why polluter-pays rules need to be enforced, why businesses should consider long-term value alongside short-term profit, and why the right technology should serve people and the environment, but not dictate what change is possible.  They also explore greenwashing and the EmpCo anti-greenwashing directive. What’s the difference between plastic described as “ocean-bound” and plastic actually recovered from the ocean or a river? And why is a specific claim, such as the number of bottles saved, more useful than a vague promise to be “eco-friendly”? At its heart, this is a conversation about making an impact at the scale available to us: through our choices, the companies we support, and the decisions businesses make about their environmental and social future.

    Who Is Responsible for Sustainability: Individual vs. Industry

  3. Sep 15

    Madrid & Toledo: Community, Siesta and Spain’s Hidden History

    In this episode, Karolina Czakó and Ágnes Gárdonyi look back on Karolina’s time as a guest student in Madrid. They talk about the everyday atmosphere of the city: families spending time together in public squares with children playing outside, and a daily rhythm shaped by the siesta. Around midday, life slows down; work and conversations continue in the afternoon after the siesta, which is unknown in many other cultures.  They also share what it’s like to move around Madrid and beyond: the simple use of the metro system, the high-speed trains, and the quiet beauty of Atocha station with its indoor garden. Karolian also shares a funny and cautionary story about thinking you’re on time and still somehow missing the train. Toledo is a calm escape from the city. As the former capital of Spain, it carries layers of history: Various cultural and historical influences are still visible in the streets and on the buildings. The episode also reféect on why the capital moved to Madrid, and how Spain tends to honor its past instead of erasing it, including the Moorish times.

    Madrid & Toledo: Community, Siesta and Spain’s Hidden History

  4. Sep 1

    Climate Change: How It's Already Affecting Us and What's Coming

    Climate change isn't a distant threat. It's reshaping our lives right now. In this raw and relatable episode, Karolina Czako and Ágnes Gárdonyi drop the dry statistics we often hear about and get personal about how a warming world has already changed their daily routines, health choices, and future plans.From Japan-inspired water reuse systems to reducing PET packaging, Ágnes and Karolina share what actually works when you're trying to live sustainably. They talk about reusable diapers, chemical-free cosmetics, food containers that cut waste. They also address the real cost of climate change on human health and wallets. No preachy lectures, just two people figuring it out as they go.They also tackle the big questions: What's one realistic thing you've already started doing to adapt? What are you still thinking about but haven't done yet? And if things get worse, would you actually move somewhere cooler, like the Great Lakes region, Northern Europe, or Scandinavia?This episode is for anyone who's done with doom-and-gloom and ready for honest conversations about adaptation, practical changes, and what the future might really look like. You'll walk away with actionable tips, fresh perspective, and maybe a bit more clarity on your own climate journey.

    Climate Change: How It's Already Affecting Us and What's Coming

  5. Aug 18

    Summer Miniseries: Zero Waste Fun – Tips For Festivals And Visiting Nature

    Welcome to the Summer Miniseries of the AK Compass Podcast! During the summer season, we’ll share short, to-the-point episodes on various travel and sustainability topics.In this episode, Ágnes Gárdonyi and Karolina Czako discuss what to pack for festivals and hiking trips, and how to spend time outdoors with less waste. They talk about practical ways to stay hydrated, including why a reusable bottle or thermos can sometimes be more useful than a reusable cup, and why disposable bottles should not be reused because they may release microplastics into drinks.They also explore the challenges of waste at festivals, where people need better alternatives to single-use products. They discuss the current bottle-return system, including people collecting bottles for money and the social problems that can arise when and why they search through bins. Ágnes shares a possible solutions, although these had not yet been successful.It is important to carry your trash with you whenever possible because, plastic waste can harm wildlife and remain in the environment as a pollutant for a long time. Karolina shares waste management examples from Japan. She also gives practical packing advice on choosing certified, nature-friendly cosmetics, using solid shampoo, conditioner and soap, and taking only the amount of product you need in refillable containers instead of buying miniature versions.

    Summer Miniseries: Zero Waste Fun – Tips For Festivals And Visiting Nature

  6. Aug 4

    Summer Miniseries: Coolcation: Heading North for Vacation

    Welcome to the Summer Miniseries of the AK Compass Podcast! During the summer season, we’ll share short, to-the-point episodes on various travel and sustainability topics. In this episode, Karolina Czako and Ágnes Gárdonyi talk about coolcation, meaning traveling to cold places like Tromsø, Norway, Stockholm, Sweden, and Iceland. Sometimes the best summer trip is to skip the hot locations. They share personal experiences from the Nordics, from building a snowman in summer to reading by the midsummer skylight at night, and reflect on how refreshing it can be to choose cooler places instead of the usual more traditional beach destinations. Yet, if you are going to Iceland you shouldn't leave your swimsuit at home. The Blue Lagoon and hot springs await visitors. Karolina also describes Iceland’s moon-like landscapes, imported trees and points out why the cold should be taken seriously. Ágnes shares her own summer snowman story in Tromsø. Karolina talks about her experiences about Stockholm and Iceland as less summer touristy alternatives. They also touch on overtourism, how expensive the Nordics can be, and why Iceland’s tax-refund shopping makes it a smart place to buy really warm, high-quality clothes. If you’re looking for a coolcation that feels different from the usual summer break, this episode is for you. Enjoy this cool episode during the European heat wave!

    Summer Miniseries: Coolcation: Heading North for Vacation

  7. Jul 21

    Summer Miniseries: Healthy In The Heat: Hydration Tips For Summer

    Welcome to the Summer Miniseries of the AK Compass Podcast! During the summer season, we’ll share short, to-the-point episodes on various travel and sustainability topics. In this episode, Karolina Czakó and Ágnes Gárdonyi explore how to stay healthy and well-hydrated during the summer months. They share practical ideas for light, refreshing foods, including cold soups like salmorejo and gazpacho, as well as lighter warm soup options.They highlight smart hydration choices, from herbal teas and infused waters to homemade lemonades, and emphasizes reducing waste by avoiding bottled beverages. Karolina shares her personal method for preparing a perfect matcha, while Ágnes brings a touch of indulgence with her favorite iced coffee with vanilla ice cream.They also dive into the debate around hot versus cold drinks in the heat, offering different perspectives. The key takeaway: keeping your body cool – both internally and externally – is essential for staying hydrated and feeling well in summer.

    Summer Miniseries: Healthy In The Heat: Hydration Tips For Summer

  8. Jul 7

    Summer Miniseries: Packing Tips for Smart Travel

    Welcome to the Summer Miniseries of the AK Compass Podcast! During the summer season, we’ll share short, to-the-point episodes on various travel and sustainability topics. On this episode of the AK Compass Podcast, Karolina Czako and Ágnes Gárdonyi discuss smart packing. Karolina shares her tips on packing and to be careful with social media trends on packing light, as they may be misleading. She also explains how to prepare for different weather conditions in one trip, with real examples,like when she visited a cold cave in the summer, or when the weather cooled down suddenly at a festival.Karolina emphasizes packing a bit under the bag weight limit, since airport scales might not show the same weight as your travel luggage scale. She also discusses multi-purpose and practical items such as a Turkish hammam towel, a sarong, as well as a special carabiner that can serve as an “extra hand.” The episode covers transporting toiletries, cables, and other useful things on the road. Packing cubes are very trendy, but there are pros and cons to using them, so it’s important to be smart about whether and how to use them.Most importantly, research is essential to know what is accepted and what can be illegal in another country.We hope you enjoy this episode and find these tips useful!If you like this short miniseries format, please subscribe and leave a like or comment!

    Summer Miniseries: Packing Tips for Smart Travel
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About

Discover new horizons with the AK Compass! Hosted by sustainability expert Karolina Czako and journalist Ágnes Gárdonyi, this podcast brings you inspiring journeys, global stories and lively conversations about travel and sustainability. Tune in for interviews with experts, travelers and changemakers sharing their experiences from all around the world. Whether you love exploring or want to learn about living sustainably, the AK Compass is your guide to a more connected, mindful journey. Photo:esztevien © 2025 Karolina Czako & Ágnes Gárdonyi. All rights reserved for AK Compass Podcast content.

Information

  • Creator
    Ágnes Gárdonyi and Karolina Czako
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ágnes Gárdonyi and Karolina Czako
  • Show Website
    AK Compass Podcast