In this episode, we’re joined by Clancy Lester (AKA Bee Man), a passionate environmental educator, documentary director, and native bee advocate, whose work is dedicated to protecting pollinators and rewilding the places we live.

Specialising in native bee conservation, native plants, and science communication, Clancy combines hands-on ecological research with a gift for making complex ideas accessible and engaging. Through his social enterprise Bees and Blossoms, Clancy creates native bee habitats, delivers workshops, and champions nature-based climate solutions across urban and regional Australia.

Driven by a deep commitment to restoring biodiversity, he shares practical, hopeful insights into how Australia’s native bees are faring, and what we can all do to support pollinators and wildlife, no matter where we live.

In this episode, we explore:

• Clancy’s background, his connection to the natural world, and how his fascination with native bees began
• His experience in the Wattle Fellowship at the University of Melbourne and working with remote Aboriginal communities in north-east Arnhem Land
• Bee Hotels 101: What they are and why they matter
• The challenges pollinators face in urban environments, and how cities can better support them through habitat and native planting
• Clancy’s workshops, what gives him hope for the future, and how he inspires people to connect with nature
• His role as Director of 7 Seasons, and key moments from making the documentary that reshaped his thinking
• The importance of genuine collaboration and two-way learning with Indigenous communities
• Why honouring thousands of years of on-Country knowledge is essential for climate adaptation
• Staying connected to Country in urban environments
• Using social media for climate advocacy
• A fun breakdown of Bee Movie—what it got right (and wrong) about pollinators

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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Christelle Bakhache is a climber, conservationist, Lagoped ambassador, and Nature Sports Project Manager at Asters, the Conservatory of Natural Spaces in Haute-Savoie, France. With a background in environmental science and fieldwork that includes time with global organisations like WWF, Christelle brings a deep, practical understanding of conservation to her current work protecting some of France’s most fragile alpine environments.

Christelle works where outdoor adventure and environmental protection meet. She focuses on making sure that people can still enjoy the mountains without causing lasting harm to the ecosystems that make these places so special. Whether it’s shaping policy, supporting grassroots projects, or helping athletes think differently about their impact, she’s passionate about finding practical ways to balance human presence in these special and unique environments.

In this conversation, Christelle shares how her love for wild spaces fuels her mission, what she’s witnessing firsthand in the face of climate change, and how outdoor athletes and everyday adventurers alike can reduce their impact. She also reflects on her personal journey—blending exploration, advocacy, and a commitment to low-impact living to pursue a more sustainable future.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Christelle’s path into conservation and her drive to protect the natural world
• Life and work in Haute-Savoie, and how the region shapes her environmental outlook
• Her role at Asters and their mission to safeguard mountain biodiversity
• The rapid and visible impacts of climate change in the European Alps
• Conservation wins, persistent challenges, and reasons for hope
• The hidden environmental toll of large-scale sporting events
• What genuinely low-impact outdoor events could look like
• Sustainable training and travel tips for athletes and adventurers
• Practical ways we can all reduce our footprint in nature
• The influence of individual athletes and institutions advocating for change
• Christelle’s year of travelling simply and living with intention
• Steps toward becoming a more thoughtful, respectful presence in the outdoors

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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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 pollution
• The shocking scale of plastic waste in the Nile River and its broader implications
• The two sides to the plastic problem—beginning and end of life strategies
• His 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 escape
• From soil to salad: How micro and nanoplastics enter agricultural soils and what that could mean for our health
• The urgent need for regulation and standardised risk assessments of plastics in food webs
• Packaging solutions that don’t leave a legacy: The groundbreaking work of the Bioplastics Innovation Hub
• Australia’s love affair with plastic, and the alarming statistics behind our consumption
• Joseph’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 management
• The Hub’s Smart Sprays Project and its potential to transform the agricultural industry
• Practical steps we can take as consumers to reduce our plastic footprint and avoid contamination

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.