Now, That's What I Call Green.

• Backyard Biodiversity: How to Create a Wildlife Haven (Even in Small Spaces)

  Biodiversity is a big deal - and no, it’s not just about having a few more birds in your garden. It’s about creating ecosystems that are healthier, more resilient, and able to withstand environmental stress. The good news is you don’t need acres of land to make a difference. Even a small backyard can become a thriving habitat if you know what to do.In this episode, I’m sharing practical tips on how to transform your outdoor space into a haven for wildlife, why insects are far more important than you think, and how small changes can lead to big improvements in biodiversity.In this episode, I share:What biodiversity actually is (hint: it’s about species variety, not just animal count)Why monocultures harm ecosystems and why polycultures are much betterHow trophic interactions regulate ecosystems and keep populations in checkThe terrifying truth about insect population collapse -and why that mattersHow biodiversity supports agriculture, medicine, and even tourismWhy pollinators, decomposers, and pest regulators are the unsung heroes of our ecosystemsActionable steps to make your garden a biodiversity havenKey Quotes"Biodiversity isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the foundation of healthy ecosystems.""Insects may not be glamorous, but without them, life on Earth would grind to a halt.""Monocultures are like food deserts for insects. A diverse garden feeds life at every level.""Even small changes - like planting native flowers - can make a massive difference to biodiversity."Find our full podcast via the website here:https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

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• Recycling: One of the Greatest Environmental Myths of All Time

  Today, I want to talk about one of the greatest environmental myths ever: recycling. When I say myth, I should probably say scam. We’ve been told that if we just recycle, we can solve the plastic crisis. But is that really true, or just a greenwashed lie designed to shift blame away from those responsible? Spoiler: it’s the latter.If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you’ll know how much I despise the way recycling has been used to deceive the public - but you might not know all the details.So in this episode, we’re getting into the history and facts behind recycling.In this episode, I share:The long and complicated history of recyclingHow greenwashing and corporate blame-shifting have influenced recyclingThe introduction of the misleading arrow recycling symbolHow governments and corporations have used recycling as a smokescreenWhat actually happens to your recyclingWhy downcycling is the biggest problem with plastic recyclingWhy incineration and waste-to-energy schemes are a bad ideaReal solutions to tackle the recycling issueWhy manufacturers should be responsible for product disposal and recyclingThe truth behind biodegradable and compostable plasticsKey Quotes“Corporations are gearing up to produce 30% more plastic by 2030.”“In the USA less than 5% of plastic waste is recycled.”“At the end of the day the recycling system is fundamentally broken.”Find our full podcast via the website here:https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

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• Women Who Changed Science, Business, and Sustainability - But You’ve Never Heard of Them

  A few weeks ago, it was International Women’s Day which of course meant the usual corporate fanfare where they say how much they support women while simultaneously asking women to MC their events for free. It should go without saying that we are a long way off of closing the gender gaps in pay and investment and reaching gender equity…sadly it doesn’t and a lot of people need reminding. Last year for this episode I spent a lot of time highlighting all the issues, so I thought this year instead I’d actually highlight the amazing women who have had world changing influences both in the past and now. And then I’ll talk about what’s wrong today and how we could fix it.  In this episode I share:The women who have been at the forefront of groundbreaking discoveriesThe forgotten female scientists who shaped the worldHow the scientific world continues to exclude and overlook womenThe female business leaders who built successful companies but rarely get creditThe subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways VC funding favours men over womenThe most common (and flawed) excuses people use to justify gender inequityWhat needs to change - and how we make it happen Key Quotes“A woman is either passive or aggressive, there is no just holding her own.”“Maybe we should be asking if men are too emotional to run things.”“So, I think it’s fair to say the sun will have expanded and absorbed earth before the investment pay gap is resolved.”“Women are just as good, if not better at business, than men.”Find our full podcast via the website here:https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

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• The Invention That Feeds (and Threatens) the World: The Story of Fertiliser

  Today we’re talking about something ingrained into modern civilisation that has huge impacts on climate change and human rights, but is something you may never really think about. Synthetic fertiliser.Yep, it’s responsible for feeding billions of people but it is also driving climate change, it's poisoning waterways, and it plays a major role in global conflicts. It’s impacts are huge, so I’m going to be giving you a quick run down on everything you need to know, and this will probably also include a little bit of a history lesson. In this episode I share:A quick history of nitrogen fertiliserWhy we needed new sources of nitrogenThe human labour and ecological image of the guano tradeThe scientist Fritz Haber and his impact on nitrogenThe unintended consequence of the haber-bosch methodHow Nazi Germany is connected to companies that make nitrogenThe biggest consequences of synthetic fertiliserHow these fertilisers make significant contributions to climate changeSolutions on how to deal with the nitrogen fertiliser problem Natural processes that could fix things Scientific breakthroughs in fertiliser Key Quotes“In a lot of agricultural regions nitrate levels in drinking water exceed safe levels.”“About half of the nitrogen in your body came from a fertiliser factory.”“Today we use about 230 million tonnes of synthetic fertiliser annually.”Find our full podcast via the website here:https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

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• How Is a Gin Company Going to Change the World? With Dr. Jo Davy and Dr. Helen Gower

  What do marine biology, menopause, and gin have in common? More than you might think! In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jo Davy and Dr. Helen Gower – two marine biologists turned gin distillers and ethical entrepreneurs. They met in a university lab studying marine ecosystems and coral diseases, spent decades working in science and public health, and then went on to start a gin company – but not your typical one. Unlike the bearded, serious craft distillers that dominate the industry with glass bottles (you know how I feel about that), Jo and Helen bring something different. A science-and-ethics-first approach to creating something delicious for an underserved, often invisible group of consumers. And they’re having fun doing it. In this episode, they share: Their backgrounds in marine biology and the journey to gin-making Why glass isn’t the sustainable solution we’ve been led to believe The massive carbon footprint of traditional spirits packaging How they started distilling gin in a leaky garage between lockdowns The scientific method behind their gin formulations (yes, they have lab notebooks) The connection between gin and menopause Why their brand is reclaiming the lost history of female distillers How they navigate the male-dominated, “hairy seriousness” of the spirits industry The challenge of convincing people that two women actually make their own gin Their transition from paperboard bottles to post-consumer recycled aluminium Key Quotes“People see glass as premium, but they have no idea about the environmental cost.”“We walked into a gin festival, looked at the tiny still in the corner, and thought - we can do that.”“We’re invisible. And if you stand up for yourself, that can be annoying and irritating and people don’t like that.”“If someone swaps a gin that they might currently purchase regularly that might be actually damaging the planet… that could move the needle quite a lot.”More about Jo and Helen: follow them on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/joandhels/You can get involved with the podcast onlineFind our full podcast via the website here:https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

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