Planet Pulse Pacific

• Joseph Boctor - Micro- And Nanoplastics In Agricultural Soils

  Joseph Boctor is a PhD researcher at Murdoch University’s Bioplastics Innovation Hub and a passionate advocate for sustainable environmental solutions. Originally from Egypt, Joseph’s work is driven by a personal mission to address the growing plastic pollution crisis in the Nile River and other regions where waste management and recycling systems are underdeveloped or ineffective.At the Bioplastics Innovation Hub — a collaborative initiative between Murdoch University, CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and industry partners — Joseph’s research focuses on developing innovative ways to break down plastics in environments where traditional approaches fall short. With expertise in chemical sciences and biotechnology, he’s helping pioneer next-generation strategies for plastic degradation and sustainable materials.Together with the team at the Hub, Joseph is contributing to Australia’s efforts to rethink the plastic lifecycle, to create a cleaner, more resilient future for ecosystems around the world.In this episode, we discuss:Joseph’s background and what sparked his passion for tackling plastic pollutionThe shocking scale of plastic waste in the Nile River and its broader implicationsThe two sides to the plastic problem—beginning and end of life strategiesHis lead authorship on the paper “Microplastics and nanoplastics: fate, transport, and governance from agricultural soil to food webs and humans”Why micro- and nanoplastics are so concerning, and how their size makes them nearly impossible to escapeFrom soil to salad: How micro and nanoplastics enter agricultural soils and what that could mean for our healthThe urgent need for regulation and standardised risk assessments of plastics in food websPackaging solutions that don’t leave a legacy: The groundbreaking work of the Bioplastics Innovation HubAustralia’s love affair with plastic, and the alarming statistics behind our consumptionJoseph’s lead authorship on the review “Nature’s Plastic Predators: A Comprehensive and Bibliometric Review of Plastivore Insects”The intriguing insects that can feed on plastics—and how they could revolutionise waste managementThe Hub’s Smart Sprays Project and its potential to transform the agricultural industryPractical steps we can take as consumers to reduce our plastic footprint and avoid contaminationTo 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, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.

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• Gareth Hughes - Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa

  Gareth Hughes is a former Member of Parliament, political commentator, author, and passionate advocate for economic transformation. With a decade of experience in Parliament representing the Green Party, Gareth held key roles including Party Whip, strategist, and Chair of the Social Services and Community Select Committee. Before his time in politics, Gareth led climate campaigns with Greenpeace, helping to drive awareness and action on critical environmental issues.Gareth now serves as Director of WEAll Aotearoa Wellbeing Economy Alliance, a Te Tiriti-led, non-partisan ‘think and do’ tank focused on reimagining Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy to prioritise the wellbeing of people and te taiao (the natural world). Through research, advocacy, and coalition-building, the WEAll Aotearoa team are helping to shape a future where thriving communities and ecosystems are at the heart of economic decision-making.In this episode, we discuss:Gareth’s journey from climate activism to Parliament to economic systems changeHow his personal and political experiences shaped a deep commitment to systemic economic changeWhy the current economic model is failing—and why change is urgentWhat a well-being economy really means (and what it’s not)Challenging common myths about economic growth and prosperityWhy Aotearoa needs an economy that works for everyone, within planetary boundariesThe mission and work of WEAll Aotearoa—empowering communities, policymakers, and businesses to co-create changeThe Wellbeing Economy Alliance—a global movement, now in 19 countriesTools and frameworks for action, including the Wellbeing Economy Policy Design GuideBusiness as a force for goodGareth’s nationwide listening tour—hearing how everyday New Zealanders want the economy to workBarriers to shifting the system, and how we can overcome themWhat success could look like, and Gareth’s message of hope and actionHow you can support WEAll Aotearoa and get involved in the movementGareth offers a hopeful, grounded, and inspiring conversation about how we can reimagine the economy to truly serve both people and the planet.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, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.

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• Dr Catherine Knight - An Uncommon Land

  Dr Catherine Knight is an award-winning author, environmental historian, and policy expert with extensive experience in both strategic and operational environmental governance. Currently working in strategic policy in the government sector, Catherine is also an Honorary Research Associate at Massey University’s School of People, Environment and Planning. Her writing on wellbeing, post-growth economics, and environmental policy frequently appears on platforms such as Newsroom, The Spinoff, and Substack.Catherine has authored several acclaimed books exploring the relationships between people, nature, and politics, including Nature and Wellbeing in Aotearoa, which we explored with her in a previous podcast episode. Her latest work, An Uncommon Land, is her most personal to date, tracing Aotearoa’s environmental and social history through the lens of her own ancestors. It explores powerful themes like enclosure, colonisation, and the gradual denaturing of landscapes.In this episode:Her background in policy and current work beyond authorshipAuckland’s lost tram network and the role of holistic city designRethinking the economy to serve both people and planetWhat inspired Catherine to write An Uncommon LandThe personal journey of understanding her ancestors to shape present-day insightsThe vulnerability of writing a deeply personal bookThe concept of The Commons—its historical significance and near-erasure in modern AotearoaDebunking the myth of the "tragedy of the commons"How the shift to enclosure and private property continues to shape society todayThe enduring systems of war, colonisation, and environmental degradation—and their modern parallelsOur complicity in an economy driven by exploitation and consumptionHow New Zealand’s celebrated progress has often depended on the extraction of resources and environmental destructionEnvisioning alternative futures: post-growth models, food security, and land as a shared inheritanceWhy we must redirect public investment toward collective wellbeingWhat Catherine and her daughter learned from travelling together in the process of researching this book.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, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.

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• Sheena Chhabra - Plant Based Treaty

  We are joined by Sheena Chhabra, campaigner for the Plant Based Treaty—a groundbreaking global initiative tackling the climate and ecological crises by putting food systems at the heart of the solution.The Plant Based Treaty is calling for a shift toward a just, plant-based food system that respects planetary boundaries, protects biodiversity, reforests the Earth, and creates a more resilient and equitable future. Recently, Sheena and the Plant Based Treaty team celebrated a major milestone: helping Darebin City Council become the first local government in Australia to endorse the Treaty, joining the ranks of progressive cities like Los Angeles and Amsterdam.With a vision to see a global Plant Based Treaty adopted alongside the Paris Agreement, the organisation is driving policy change, strengthening networks, and supporting communities to transition to healthier, climate-friendly food systems.In this episode, we discuss:Sheena’s journey into plant-based advocacy and environmental campaigningHow the Plant Based Treaty came to be and what it aims to achieveThe critical connection between food systems, climate change, and biodiversity lossWhy reducing reliance on animal agriculture is key to cutting methane emissionsHow and why Australia is one of the world’s worst hotspots for land clearing and species extinctionThe vulnerabilities in our current food systems and how to build resilience with a plant-based shiftThe links between animal agriculture, antibiotic resistance, and zoonotic disease risksAn introduction to The Safe and Trust report: The Plant Based Treaty’s Vegan Donut Economics Approach to the Food SystemThe Treaty’s five core programs and what they’re doing to drive real changeHow individuals and institutions can support the movementWhat’s ahead for the Plant Based Treaty in 2025 and beyondTo 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, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.

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• Gerard Wedderburn-Bisshop - Agriculture & Climate Change

  Gerard Wedderburn-Bisshop is a former Principal Scientist with the Queensland Government Natural Resources, where he spent three decades using satellite data to monitor vegetation cover and deforestation. Since leaving that position, he has co-authored the Beyond Zero Emissions’ Land Use Plan, worked with the NGO World Preservation Foundation, and serves as Director of Replant Byron. We had the privilege of closing out our last season with a chat with this incredible human, and we’re thrilled to welcome Gerard back for an update on his latest groundbreaking research!In this episode, we explore Gerard’s latest paper, Increased Transparency in Accounting Conventions Could Benefit Climate Policy. He breaks down three major shifts in climate science and emissions accounting that challenge conventional thinking about what drives climate change—revealing that agriculture, particularly animal agriculture, is the leading cause of present-day warming.This is a paradigm-shifting conversation, so grab your pen and notepaper (you’ll want to take notes, trust us!), and check out Gerard’s brief explainer video here.In this episode, we discuss:A recap of Gerard’s previous research on the need for consistent carbon accountingContentious gases and how we measure them – Global Warming Potential vs Effective Radiative ForcingThe impact of cooling aerosols from fossil fuel emissions and why they complicate climate calculations.How we have undervalued the impact of deforestation, underestimated methane’s impact, and failed to account for cooling emissions.A game-changing revelation: updated metrics show agriculture is responsible for 60% of today’s global warming—with animal agriculture alone accounting for 53%.The overlooked power of natural drawdown—how nature has looked after us right from the startWhy these improved methodologies haven’t been widely applied before, and what’s been standing in the wayThe expected response from the animal agriculture industry and how to navigate the greenwashing.The bigger picture: what role does animal agriculture play in humanity’s future?Join us as we unpack the science, the solutions, and why a major shift in climate policy is needed—now more than ever!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, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.

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