Planet Pulse Pacific

In this episode, we’re joined by Richard Neville, NZILA Registered Landscape Architect and Director of Neville Design Studio. Richard’s work is grounded in regenerative design and a deep respect for the relationship between people and land. Driven by a belief that landscapes can reconnect us, both with nature and with each other, Richard creates spaces that are both meaningful and enduring.
An award-winning landscape architect, his work spans residential, rural, community, and commercial projects, and has been featured in several magazines, including Landscape Architecture Aotearoa. Alongside his practice, Richard is an active voice in the industry, most recently delivering the keynote at the 2025 New Zealand Gardens Trust Conference, sharing his perspective on how our cultural relationship with land and gardens is evolving.
In this episode, we explore:
Richard’s background and passion for nature
What led him to landscape architecture
Landscape architecture as an interconnected system of ecology, people, and place
The evolution of the discipline: from controlling nature to embracing wildness, beauty, and ecological complexity
Rewilding gardens—why less paving, fewer lawns, and more plants create healthier, more resilient spaces
How small, everyday moments in nature can have a lasting impact
The ecological and human benefits of thoughtful landscape design, and how it fosters a deeper connection
Richard’s work in schools and the importance of openness, curiosity, and unstructured interaction with nature
Our relationship with Papatūānuku, and why biodiversity is essential for life
The power of positive storytelling in reconnecting people with the environment
Practical ways to bring nature into daily life, even in small or urban spaces
To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Andre Borell, an impact filmmaker, investor, and co-founder and director of the Envoy Foundation. A self-described maker of good trouble (and one of our all-time favourites here at the podcast), Andre is driven by a deep love of marine life and a determination to leave the world better than he found it. He builds businesses, brands and films that challenge the status quo and create meaningful, measurable impact.
After witnessing the devastating effects of shark nets in Australia, Andre turned conviction into action with his powerful documentary Envoy: Shark Cull. His work shines a spotlight on Australia’s outdated and brutal shark control methods, exposing their ecological consequences and challenging the policies that allow them to persist.
In this episode, we explore:
An update on Andre’s work, global adventures, and relocation to Aotearoa
Practical strategies to bring Australia’s shark control programs out of the dark ages
Innovations in shark safety—from deterrent wetsuits to AI drone surveillance on our beaches
Current narratives around sharks and shark bites—separating fact from fiction
The importance of shark education and understanding the conditions that increase risk
Andre’s upcoming book projects, including Great White Lies
The UN’s recently adopted High Seas Treaty and what it means for marine protection
Policy-driven change and the influence of business in accelerating reform
Progress on the Nordic Whale Reserve
How to support the ongoing work of the Envoy Foundation
To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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Jessica Lamb is the Christchurch Hub Leader for Athletes for Nature and the Sustainability Coordinator at Without Waste. Jess holds a strong connection to te taiao and is passionate about caring for both people and planet. With a background in environmental science and geography, she works to support a shift towards a circular economy and the rewilding of cities through thriving urban ngahere.
A committed nature and zero-waste advocate, Jess combines big-picture thinking with practical, community-led action. Outside of her professional roles, she is a plant-powered trail runner, avid hiker, and enthusiastic ‘compost queen’, using her love of the outdoors to inspire others to reconnect with and protect the environments they move through.
In this episode, we discuss:
Jess’s background and what sparked her passion for nature and sustainability
Her studies in environmental science and geography
New Zealand’s waste problem and why it matters
Jess’s journey into trail running and how it shapes her environmental advocacy
Her extensive volunteering background, including Forest & Bird Youth
Stepping into the role of Christchurch Hub Leader for Athletes for Nature, and why she got involved
How composting can be a practical, change-making solution at the local level
Her work as Sustainability Coordinator at Without Waste
The role of athletes as advocates for climate action and conservation
Jess’s goals for Athletes for Nature in 2026, including plans for the Christchurch hub
How trail runners (and outdoor athletes more broadly) can reduce their environmental footprint
Personal ambitions over the next few years—both athletic and sustainability-focused
To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.
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Abby Patterson is an aspiring climate storyteller and science communicator, and our brand-new co-host on the Planet Pulse Pacific podcast!
Over the past two years, Abby has grown her Instagram platform Outdoors with Abby, where she breaks down the often tough (and sometimes overwhelming) realities of climate change and environmental science into content that’s engaging, relatable, and easy to understand.
Her postgraduate research focused on how climate science and emerging innovations can be communicated in ways that not only inform people but help them feel empowered to support meaningful change. Deeply passionate about sustainability and science communication, Abby hopes to build a career at the intersection of research, storytelling, and environmental advocacy.
She dreams of a future where endangered species are thriving, human impacts on ecosystems are minimised, and she’s proud to be part of the movement working towards that future.
Given all that, we’re absolutely pumped to welcome Abby on board as our new co-host! 
In this episode, we discuss:
A season 7 check-in and what’s ahead for 2026
Welcoming our new podcast presenter, Abby Patterson
Abby’s background and studies in environmental communication
Why translating science for the wider community really matters
Outdoors with Abby and her work in environmental advocacy on social media
Battling climate doom to prevent disengagement
Her volunteering with Forest & Bird Youth and Athletes for Nature
Why solutions already exist—and how we often focus on the wrong things
Abby’s personal goals as a podcast host
The impact of positive interactions that reach the right people and spark meaningful conversations
Navigating the role of AI in communication and the power of parody when used in the right context
To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.
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Amy Steel is a climate adaptation expert and PhD candidate with Adrift Lab at Curtin University, Western Australia. With over a decade of experience advising on decarbonisation and climate resilience, Amy is now focused on a vital question: should humans intervene to help ecosystems on the verge of collapse—and if so, how, where, and when?

Amy's research centres on the Yowli (otherwise known as Flesh-footed Shearwaters) breeding on islands in the Recherche Archipelago off Kepa Kurl, Esperance. These seabirds face increasing and worsening threats from lightning-ignited wildfires during their peak breeding season, impacted by climate change. Working with the Esperance Tjaltjraak Rangers, Amy is exploring how Wudjari cultural burning can protect these fragile habitats. Amy also reflects on moving from high-level strategy to hands-on fieldwork, the importance of Indigenous knowledge, and what it means to protect ecosystems in a rapidly changing climate.

In this episode, we discuss:
Amy’s diverse background and what led her from leadership roles in climate strategy to research
The long-term impacts of heat stroke that ended her competitive netball career and influenced her path
Joining the Adrift Lab team and what inspired her to undertake a PhD
Why islands and seabirds like the Yowli are critical indicators of ecosystem health
The increasing severity of wildfires and extreme weather, and their impacts on vulnerable species
Whether seabirds and other wildlife can adapt to human-driven climate change, and if natural checks and balances are breaking down
The ethical and ecological questions around human intervention in collapsing ecosystems
Working closely with the Esperance Tjaltjraak Rangers, and the role of Wudjari cultural burning in ecosystem resilience
The importance of place-based policy and honouring Indigenous knowledge in climate responses
How to communicate climate and conservation issues effectively, and create lasting change within communities
Staying motivated in advocacy through collaboration and community action
The role of athletes in climate conversations, and how to stay safe while being active in a changing climate
What gives Amy hope as an environmental researcher
To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.