Ecosystem Member – Details, episodes & analysis

The latest episode of the Ecosystem Member podcast is marine scientist turned environmental artist Ethan Estess.

I am sure many of you have seen Ethan’s art before at the Outerknown store in Marin, at the U.S. Open of Surfing, the Instagram of musician Jack Johnson or maybe it was the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Wherever you saw it, I am sure it stuck with you.

Ethan uses reclaimed materials like fishing nets and golf balls collected from coastal areas to make amazing art with a meaningful story to tell. His often immersive installations and super clean wave-inspired wall pieces are created to tell a story, in addition to beeing aesthetically pleasing.

In this episode, we talk about the responsibility Ethan feels being part of planet Earth and how art can be a disarming element to an often tense conversation. As is clear in the episode, Ethan is a really genuine dude who loves our oceans and wants to share that love with the world. I think you’ll really enjoy our chat.

A little bit of a bummer is that this episode - despite its epicness - is audio only. I actually recorded it before our previous video episode with Bodhi Patil and I made some mistakes in the setup to get optimal video, but we should be back with another full video episode shortly.

Links

Ethan’s Website

Ethan’s Instagram

Ethan and his piece ‘Fore the Waves’ on CNBC

Ethan chatting with Fellow Surfer and Scientist Cliff Kapono

To check out more Ecosystem Member podcast episodes or our newsletter, please visit ecosystemmember.com. And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five star review of your favorite podcast platform, it really helps boost the visibility of our podcast.

After an international move, the Ecosystem Member podcast is back and I am stoked to bring you a better than ever version.

For as many episodes as possible from now on, we’re going to bring you both an audio and video version of the podcast. And the podcast is now coming to you via Substack, where I’ll also be writing the occasional newsletter. So make sure to not only subscribe via your favorite podcast platform, but email as well at ecosystemember.com or through the Substack app.

Our guest for our inaugural video episode is ocean climate solutionist, Bodhi Patil.

The vast majority of you probably already know who Bodhi is, but for those of you who don’t, Bodhi is a a UN-recognized and award-winning Gen Z ocean climate solutionist dedicated to enhancing the interconnection between Ocean Health and Human Health, which makes him a perfect guest for Ecosystem Member, where we explore the relationship between humans and nature or the more-than-human world.

Bodhi works to increase ocean justice, policy, investment, and action with a global community of young ocean leaders as part of Ocean Uprise, which he founded. This work has earned him an audience with global leaders as a speaker at more than a dozen conferences. His ocean advocacy and consulting work has also helped to shape global marine policy, influence large planet-positive investment portfolios, and educate millions to protect the environment.

In this episode, we cover a lot of amazing work Bodhi has done around ocean justice, combating climate anxiety and as he says, making money moves for the ocean. It was a total privilege to have Bodhi on the podcast and we thank him for his time. Make sure to look him up and follow him across social media, we have URLs for all of his profiles below.

Links

Bodhi Patil on Instagram

Bodhi Patil on LinkedIn

Bodhi Patil on YouTube

Bodhi Patil’s Website

Bodhi Patil TEDx Talk

Ocean Uprise on Instagram

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

This episode’s guest is the incredible Keme Nzerem, a journalist, presenter and all around awesome guy here in the UK who I came across when he emceed a Patagonia Oceans event in 2023. His energy is infectious and his wisdom plentiful, so I was really excited when he agreed to record an episode.

Not only is Keme an award-winning journalist, he also is the co-founder of a really important organization called Opening up the Outdoors, which is a not-for-profit initiative that focuses on the continued inclusion, education, and enjoyment of outdoor spaces by people of the global majority.

In this episode, we talk about Keme's work as a journalist, with Opening Up the Outdoors and as a father helping instill a positive relationship with the outdoors and nature in his children. We also find out that Keme actually learned to ski in South East London, and for those listeners who like me have lived in South East London, you might be scratching your head as to what stop on the tubes the slopes are, so make sure to keep listening for the full story.

As a reminder, if this episode connects with you, please share it. And if you're really enjoying the podcast, please leave us a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform. This helps people find the show, and it helps me great the most interesting guests possible by boosting the credibility of the show.

On to the latest episode of the ecosystem member podcast with Keme Nzerem.

Follow Ecosystem Member on Instagram - @ecosystem member

Keep up with Keme's adventures on Instagram - @nzerem

Check out Opening Up the Outdoors at https://openinguptheoutdoors.com

Audio Credits
White Crown Sparrow (Creative Commons 0) - Zott820 on Freesound.org
Merced River in Yosemite Valley (Creative Commons 0) - cbmontes on Freesound.org
Great Horned Owl (Creative Commons 0) - Sclolex on Freesound.org

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

Hello folks, thanks for tuning in to the latest episode of the Ecosystem Member podcast. You may have noticed that the run time is a little longer than normal, and that's because I simply couldn't cut a minute of the amazing chat with today's guest, Melanie Challenger.

I found Melanie through her book "How to Be Animal" and then read her other incredible book, "On Extinction". In addition to being an amazing writer, Melanie edited a new book called "Animal Dignity", and is the Vice President of the RSPCA, UK.

Links

Melanie Challenger - https://www.melaniechallenger.com

'How to Be Animal' - https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9780143134350

'On Extinction' - https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9781640094635

'Animal Dignity' - https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9781350331679

Melanie on The Ezra Klein Show - https://youtu.be/M3Wxyec3FjY?si=bkRIfc8ravPk54g_

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

Today on the Ecosystem Member podcast, we have Guy Singh Watson, the founder of Riverford Organic Farmers.

For our non-UK listeners who maybe haven't heard of Guy, he's a bit of a business and farming legend in the UK. After growing up on his family's dairy farm and then becoming a management consultant, Guy returned to the farm and created Riverford Organic Farmers, which in two stages, he actually completely sold to employees - probably for less than he could have gotten from outside buyers - so the company could stay true to its values.

I've been a subscriber to Riverford's veg boxes since I got to England a few years ago. Riverford is in no way paying for or sponsoring this episode, Guy just created a company with full respect for nature and I really admire his leadership on key issues related to healthy food production for people and planet.

Links

Riverford Organic Farmers - https://www.riverford.co.uk

The Guardian on Guy's Sale of Riverford - https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/may/19/veg-box-riverford-staff-owned-founder-sells-stake-guy-singh-watson

Guy on Industrial Agriculture - https://youtu.be/96_CyHSNLXo?si=C5Z4b1WSJWUhHfmA

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

Our guest for this episode is Majell Backhausen, an Australian ultra runner and all around super interesting human.

As you'll hear in the episode, I came across Majell through Patagonia's four part film series of his run across the proposed Great Forest National Park outside of Melbourne, Australia.

That nearly 300 kilometer run took just under 50 hours to complete and was the story that helped illuminate the many reasons - from protecting endangered animals to securing a critical water supply for Melbourne - that it is important to protect this ecosystem.

In the episode we talk about that run as well as running generally as a means to experience the world, the importance of bringing everyone together on our nature journey and how our lives can disconnect us from life.

In addition to his Great Forest run, Majell has an envy inducing list of running adventures on his website alongside links to films he has been in and were made of his experiences. Make to follow him on Instagram at the handle @majellb. We've also thrown some links directly to his films in the show notes.

Many thanks to Majell who joined us before taking off on another adventure to Nepal.

Links

Majell on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/majellb/

Majell's Website - http://majellbackhausen.weebly.com

Majell in Patagonia's ' End to End' Film Series - https://youtu.be/4mhOsOGWs6g?si=QTLM33y5G5r26uXM

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

I came across this episode's guest through her inclusion in the Grist 50 list of 50 climate leaders driving fresh solutions to our planet’s biggest problems for 2023.

Lylianna Allala is the first ever Climate Justice Director for the City of Seattle, Washington's Office of Sustainability and Environment. As you'll hear, her role is varied but founded on engaging a wide variety of communities including fellow policy makers around the world on issues of environmental and climate justice.

Prior to this role, Lylianna worked for Washington congresswoman Pramila Jayapal leading on climate and environmental policy and outreach, and worked directly in ecology on projects including restoring the West Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle’s largest contiguous forest.

Lylianna's diverse experience led to what I think is a really interesting conversation about her role for the City of Seattle, how her relationship with nature guides and informs her work in community engagement, and how slowing down might be the key to effectively fighting the climate crisis.

There are a handful of recommended resources at the end of the episode that are linked in the show notes. I also included a link to a podcast project Lylianna helped lead that examined the question - What would it look like, within the next 50 years, for Seattle to become a place where both trees and humans grow old? It is a fascinating listen and hope you check it out after this episode.

Links

adrienne maree brown's "Emergent Strategy" - https://adriennemareebrown.net/book/emergent-strategy/

Dr. Robert Bullard - https://drrobertbullard.com

Ross Gay - https://www.rossgay.net

Growing Old podcast - https://growingoldproject.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

Our guest this week blew me away. I've talked with a lot of interesting folks who are doing amazing work on this podcast and my other podcast - You Can't Eat Money - but I don't think I've had someone on who is as thoughtful and genuine as our guest for this episode.

John Moore, is the creative director and co-founder of environmentally responsible clothing brand Outerknown. If you haven't heard of John, you have probably heard of his co-founder Kelly Slater, widely considered to be the greatest surfer of all time. A decade or so ago - as John recounts in this episode - Kelly asked the earliest members of the Outerknown team if they had really thought about their clothes and where they come from. Despite many doubters - including one very high profile fashion industry executive - about the relevance of sustainability in clothing, Outerknown has been built on it since day one.

As you'll find out in this episode, John is the perfect person to bring this to life. With 30 years of experience in the apparel industry - including being one of GQ's menswear designers of the year in 2014 - as well as other creative projects, John was open-minded and connected enough to the natural world to unlearn some of the fashion industry's worst tendencies. And a lot of that inspiration - as you'll hear - comes from his time growing up in the valleys of Southern California and spending time in the surf lineup near his home in Venice Beach.

If you listen to this podcast and care about wild spaces and the natural world, you probably know about the worst of the fashion industry. If you want to get the dirty details, I highly recommend checking out 'Unraveled' by Maxine Bedat. But I only tell you that so you can understand just how important and impressive the work Outerknown is doing to track its entire supply chain and drive responsible innovation for people and planet as John puts it.

Huge thanks to John for taking time to chat and really sharing his deep relationship with nature and how that informs his work at Outerknown. I hope you enjoy this episode. And if you do, please leave us a positive rating on your favorite podcast platform and share the episode with anyone you know who might be keen to have a more considered closet.

Links

John Moore and Kelly Slater Chat Sustainability - https://youtu.be/N8MCNfYOiZY?si=j0ZIk5z5d15suvU7

Outerknown Econyl Factory Visit - https://youtu.be/Xsxn8tQAonk?si=xVoRxV5eosTJk_aU

Outerknown Website - https://www.outerknown.com

'Unraveled' by Maxine Bedat - https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9780593085974

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

The latest episode of the podcast is with a guest who inspired the core idea for the podcast.

Dr. Easkey Britton is an Irish scientist, surfer and writer who specializes in blue health and our relationship with water.

She is the author of two amazing books - Saltwater in the Blood and Ebb & Flow, the latter of which was my introduction to Easkey and her work, and how I got to meet Easkey earlier this year at an event at the Finisterre - an amazing water-centric brand if you aren't familiar with it - store in London.

In addition to her research on the connection between oceans and human health, Easkey is the co-founder of the Wavemaker Collective, a social impact leadership retreat and has worked on several projects to support women in surfing. And her big wave surfing exploits have been featured in many films including Waveriders.

In the episode we focus on our relationship with water. From how the oceans leave a fingerprint on us to kinesthetic empathy and how we can shift from an egocentric point of view to an ecocentric one. We end with a couple of practices to help you create or deepen your relationship with water.

Many thanks to Easkey for taking time to chat. She's a true hero of mine and if you haven't heard of her work before I am sure you'll leave this episode feeling the same way. Make sure to pick up a copy of Easkey's book Ebb & Flow, we've got a link to it in the book recommendations at ecosystemmember.com.

Links

Saltwater in the Blood - https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9781786785558

Ebb & Flow - https://bookshop.org/a/96865/9781786786463

Easkey's website - https://easkeybritton.com

Easkey's Instagram - https://instagram.com/easkeysurf?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com

Our guest on the latest episode of the Ecosystem Member podcast is Eva Karlsson, CEO of Houdini.

If you aren't familiar with Houdini, it is a Swedish sportswear company that is one of the most forward thinking and environmentally responsible companies on the planet. And a lot of that is down to Eva's progressive leadership.

In this episode we talk about Eva's connection to nature, how Scandinavian culture influences Houdini, and the design principles it uses to build its products. We also talk about how Houdini is focused on creating a relational, rather than transactional, business with its customers.

Huge thanks to Eva for being on the podcast and make sure to check out the company's latest initiative, Houdini Circle.

Links

Houdini - https://houdinisportswear.com/en-eu

Houdini Circle - https://houdinisportswear.com/en-eu/journal/houdini-circle-rent-reuse-repair-buy-try-or-subscribe

Eva's panel from Climate Week - https://youtu.be/c_5kNXWyYMA?si=LkD_RXFNigV7i3iC

Robert Strand's "Sustainable Vikings" course - https://www.coursera.org/learn/sustainability-csr-scandinavia

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ecosystemmember.com