We're over halfway through this State Election miniseries with Act on Climate, and we're bringing you something different. Due to a change in schedule last week, the normal AoC meeting wasn't recorded, so instead we bring you an extended interview with Kate Wattchow, long-time activist and campaigner with Friends of the Earth Melbourne, both at Yes 2 Renewables and Act on Climate. We get into the daily realities of campaigner life, what propelled Kate down this path, missed opportunities to beco...
Nov 03, 2018•44 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast This week is part two of a two-part interview with Brett Hedger, aka Zero Waste man. Find part one [here]( www.climactic.fm/28 ). Brett is a normal enough guy by day, a Sustainability Officer at council, but on special occasions Zero Waste Man comes out to drop reality bombs, and show a way forward. We are actively looking for more interviewers, in the capital cities, and regional areas. We're eager to train, assist, and work with the right people. Radio or interviewing experience not required, ...
Oct 31, 2018•36 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast With a few new people joining the campaign, Leigh takes the chance to give an overview of the goals of the campaign. Great short listen this week. Special Guest: Leigh Ewbank. Support Climactic See /privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 27, 2018•7 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast This week is the first of a two-part interview with Brett Hedger, aka Zero Waste man. Brett is a normal enough guy by day, a Sustainability Officer at council, but on special occasions Zero Waste Man comes out to drop reality bombs, and show a way forward. We are actively looking for more interviewers, in the capital cities, and regional areas. We're eager to train, assist, and work with the right people. Radio or interviewing not required, just a desire to converse with the everyday people work...
Oct 24, 2018•34 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast After an absolutely full-on week for the Act On Climate team, we kick back and talk about the week's events in a more laid-back style. Halfway through the series, and the election run-up, and the nature of the campaign is starting to change. We wrap up the big events and actions AoC had planned, and executed, and note that the action now pivots to a more nimble, reactive role. Stay tuned for a lot of updates, but now, they'll be surprises! Special Guest: Leigh Ewbank. Support Climactic See /priv...
Oct 20, 2018•12 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast Part 2 of Maxine's interview with Damien Cole. Part 1 is here . In this episode, Max talks to Damien Cole, independent candidate in the November 24th Victorian state election, about running a climate aware campaign. Damien has a refreshing, common sense approach to climate change, development of a fast-growing region, and putting the environment at the top of the list of electoral priorities. Credits: Caleb Fidecaro — Producer Rich Bowden — Co-Founder Mark Spencer — Co-Founder Abigail Hawkins — ...
Oct 17, 2018•34 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast This week it was unseasonably hot in the Friends of the Earth building in Collingwood, so this episode comes to you from the mezzanine above the cafe. You'll hear the hustle and bustle of trams and traffic from Smith Street just outside, and hear a great update from Leigh on the campaign, a double pass giveaway to the Environmental Film Festival from Mark, and an explainer on just transition for LaTrobe Valley from Kate. Special Guest: Leigh Ewbank. Support Climactic Links: Act on Climate Vic - ...
Oct 13, 2018•22 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast Climactic is happy to welcome aboard Maxine Bazeley for her inaugural interview. Max will be bringing us stories from the Surf Coast of Victoria, the Greater Geelong region, about how the area is confronting massive changes in the face of the climate crisis. In this episode, Max talks to Damien Cole, independent candidate in the November 24th Victorian state election, about running a climate aware campaign. Damien has a refreshing, common sense approach to climate change, development of a fast-g...
Oct 10, 2018•37 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast This week hear from Kate Wattchow, Act on Climate member, outlining their goals for the election, and why it's so important to her. And get an update from Leigh on what the group has been up to this week. Special Guest: Leigh Ewbank. Support Climactic See /privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 06, 2018•9 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast This is quite possibly one of the most relatable and urgent episodes of Climactic yet. Heidi Taylor is, to people who know of her, inspirational, almost to the point of folk hero status. But when Heidi sits down with Mark, she shows she's much more than an inspiring figure, she's a living, breathing, inspiring human. Heidi founded Tangaroa Blue because of personal concern for the seas, where she practised her career as a dive instructor. But she's a powerful example of how to take a personal pas...
Oct 03, 2018•27 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast Climactic goes behind the scenes with Act on Climate, Friends of the Earth's premiere political action group, as they gear up to fight a pivotal state election. This one's for you if you've ever wondered what political/climate activism is really like. And, spoiler alert, they're a bunch of relatable, earnest, caring people. This is the first miniseries from Climactic made in collaboration with an environmental group, and we couldn't have a better partner in this than Act on Climate. For the next...
Sep 29, 2018•8 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast This week Climactic is happy to have the founders of ShareWaste, an amazing app that's connecting and creating communities through the simple act of sharing organic waste. We all produce it, it's our kitchen scraps, our yard clippings, our garden waste. And, in proving that "one's trash is another's treasure" what may be waste to us, may be gold to others. Australia, just like many other countries, but especially on our arid continent, has a serious organic material shortage, especially in our s...
Sep 26, 2018•32 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast Chan and Lap are the two founders of Effect the Change, a YouTube channel that spreads useful information about sustainability, in a fun and easy way. This episode is a lot more light-hearted than previous interviews. It's obvious that Chan and Lap enjoy what they're doing, and it's quite refreshing. If we can find ways to do good while having this much fun, well, that makes it all the more personally sustainable. Credits: Caleb Fidecaro — Producer Rich Bowden — Co-Founder Mark Spencer — Co-Foun...
Sep 19, 2018•27 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast We've noticed a theme emerging from our first twenty or so episodes, and we're taking an episode to break it down. We all want to do our part, and live sustainable lives, but is that enough? Or would our efforts be better spent pressuring lawmakers, companies, and communities to change their practices? Should we instead be focussed on altering the systems we live in, rather than the way we live within those systems? Please join us as we attempt to bring some clarity to the biggest question: How ...
Sep 12, 2018•25 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast Phil is a leader in the HVAC&R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Regfrigeration) industry, the largely invisible sector that powers our modern world. Without heating, cooling, and refrigeration, Australia would a very different place. But HVAC&R has done more than just allow progress, it also consumes a huge amount of electricity, and handles and is responsible for some of the most powerful greenhouse gases in the world. Phil, in his work at the industry advocate AIRAH, is hu...
Sep 05, 2018•54 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast Leigh has been a very important member of the Climactic community since Mark met her at an event in Melbourne. Her focus on scaleable solutions, and the way she keeps her finger on the pulse of the promising developments happening around the world, are a big inspiration to the Climactic team. It was Leigh that introduced us to Project Drawdown, the most comprehensive plan to reverse global warming, which has really opened our eyes to where we should be focusing our efforts. Leigh is an absolute ...
Aug 29, 2018•41 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast What do food waste, a smartphone app, and discounted meals have in common? That's the formulae for a great new start-up from Melbourne. Mark sat down with Jane Kou, founder of Bring Me Home, a mission focused tech start-up that's set it sights on one of the biggest causes of greenhouse gas emissions, and one we can all easily make a dent in, food waste. You'll hear the origin story of the company, the passion Jane has for the mission, and the grand plans they have for the future. Also, Mark trie...
Aug 27, 2018•17 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast AYCC, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, is an environmental advocacy group famous in Australia for it's laser focus on youth. All AYCC staff and volunteers are under 30. In this episode Mark sits down with one of AYCC's organizers, Nick Carter, who is working to expand the organization to Northern Queensland, home to both the Great Barrier Reef, world-class institute of reef study James Cook University, and the headquarters of the Adani mine corporation, behind Australia's most objectionab...
Aug 22, 2018•59 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast This episode our two hosts will be heard only briefly, before we dive into a live conversation from the beautiful Australian Galleries in Fitzroy, Melbourne. This is a very on-topic conversation about living in the time of climate change, meaningful action, and mental health, all in the context of amazing artwork. You can see this artwork yourself and follow along with the discussion! Simply look at your podcast app while you're listening to see the art that's being discussed, or check out the a...
Aug 15, 2018•58 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast Mark sat down with two of his personal heroes, Liz O'Dwyer, hospitality consultant, author, and sustainability leader, and Madeline Clarke, individual sustainability consultant, who runs workshops, does waste talks on Trash Bags on Tour, and much more. Liz and Madeline are both fonts of wisdom, and Mark largely just got to sit back and listen. There's a lot of great advice in this episode, and definitely gives you a good idea of what you can expect in Liz's book, Switch on Sustainability, or at ...
Aug 08, 2018•36 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast Filmmaker, writer, academic, journalist and activist Tracy Sorensen is a woman of many talents. She touches on, and in some cases dives deeply into many of these areas in her chat with Rich. Her personal experience in learning about and coping with climate change is insightful and relatable and her gift for communication is obvious. Hear her perspective on the power of arts in talking to people on the importance of climate change, a view shared by the Climactic hosts and one we think you'll enjo...
Aug 01, 2018•42 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast This is a great chat with one of those quietly inspiring people that surround us everyday. Gabby generously tells us about her life story, to really set the scene before getting into her experience of going totally waste-free for six weeks. Gabby is a volunteer facilitator at Climate for Change, a great group that's now expanded into Queensland from Victoria, and I think she represents well the skills and mindset you'd need to be a successful facilitator. If this has inspired you to give that a ...
Jul 24, 2018•35 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast This week Rich talks to second generation biodynamic farmer Mark Rathbone about biodynamics, replenishment of the soil, creating a closed system (circular economy) and the relevance of biodynamics in helping farmers mitigate against the effects of climate change. We also have a little chat about the upcoming climate change storytelling competition Climactic is running for University of Melbourne students. Check out the competition at http://www.climactic.fm/competition We've got a new Facebook g...
Jul 17, 2018•36 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode Mark does a panel interview with members of the Climate Reality Project, the group formed by Al Gore just after the release of An Inconvenient Truth, to train others to give his powerful presentation on climate change facts. In the panel are the two interns that together with Linh Do make up the Australian chapter of the group. Katy and Chris are just finishing their post-graduate studies, and they give great insight into what it's like to be a student at a time of rapid change a...
Jul 11, 2018•46 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast This week is an exciting first for Climactic, with two Kiwis in the studio. Mark talks to Laura Wilson of Big Little Brush, a social enterprise in Melbourne using bamboo toothbrushes to do much, much more. Laura's story before getting involved with Big Little Brush is extremely relatable, and we talk landfills, minimalism, and backpacking through Europe. Then we dig into Big Little Brush, their mission to stop plastic toothbrushes pouring into tips, and how they support oral healthcare projects ...
Jul 04, 2018•53 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast This week Rich talks to Fiona Rossiter, cafe owner, business woman, author, registered nurse, mother of eight and former councillor in the Central West city of Orange, NSW. Fiona tells her own history in running Orange’s iconic Bissy’s Cafe with husband Paul; how they “discovered” permaculture and how they now apply it their businesses, family life and even mode of thinking. A wonderful chat at a superb venue (the cafe), Fiona generously gives her time to talk of her amazing dreams for the futur...
Jun 27, 2018•45 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast This week Mark does a solo flight, and by that we mean he takes a bus tour. But this is no normal tour — this is a beach clean-up and environmental outing put on by two tour groups employees looking to do something positive. And they pulled it off. Listen along with Mark as he gets up terribly early, heads out on a bus, makes new friends, and learns about what a beach clean really is. Credits: Caleb Fidecaro — Producer Rich Bowden — Co-Founder Mark Spencer — Co-Founder Abigail Hawkins — Designer...
Jun 20, 2018•32 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Rich talks to John Fry, Environmental Projects Manager at Skillset, former Landcare co-ordinator, experienced land manager and now Greens councillor on Bathurst Regional Council. What John doesn’t know about sustainability in the Central West isn’t worth knowing! John was born and bred in the Central West and knows the land — and the effects of climate change on it — like the proverbial back of his hand. His insight, and warning that we can’t continue on a “business-as-usual” approach, serve as ...
Jun 12, 2018•42 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode Mark talks to Oli Moraes, a facilitator trainer for Climate for Change, an environmental group that's combining climate change conversations with a powerful model, one perfected decades ago by Tupperware. You'll learn what made a driven university student change paths, give away his car, and dive into a passion for climate change communication and volunteering. Oli's story is powerful, and great for any young person or university student in your life. Credits: Caleb Fidecaro — Pr...
Jun 06, 2018•47 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast The first in a two-part series, this episode frames the new and concerning waste recycling problem in Australia. The situation has grown critical since China’s “National Sword” decision earlier this year, not to take our recycling. Changing the ground rules on what they will — and won’t — accept has closed the door, leaving our councils effectively buried under a pile of waste. We talk to Councillors and Council staff to find out the very real stress the decision has placed them under to make ch...
May 30, 2018•56 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast 
