The Climate Ambassador Podcast

Season 4 Trailer

This Season, Daithí will be chatting to a diverse and fascinating range of guests, who are taking brave and impactful climate action in their communities. We will feature thinkers and innovators from the fields of Irish Folklore, building and upcycling, transport, digital carbon, rewilding, sustainable finance, and nature connection, as well as the inspiring stories of some of our very own Climate Ambassadors!

A strong theme throughout this season is connection. Connection to the natural world, to our heritage and practices, and to our communities.

The first episode will be available to listen on Monday the 17th of June!

Catch up on previous episodes here.

S4Ep1: Irish Language, Mythology & Connection to the Land

Daithí kicks off season four of the Climate Ambassador podcast with none other than Manchán Magan, author and documentary maker. Listen and discover how easy it is to plant a forest in Ireland. Learn about the ancient practice of having to prove your ability to nurture pastureland before being permitted to start a family! Find answers in our landscape and feel the land rising as you connect with us.

We examine Irish folklore and old Irish words for the environment, and what they tell us about the way that people on this Island related to the natural world around them going back thousands of years. We also talked about mistakes that have often been made in communicating about climate change, and Manchán gave some wonderful insights as to how we can have more constructive and inclusive conversations.

Manchán writes for the Irish Times and has made dozens of documentaries for TG4 and RTÉ, including Crainn na hÉireann (The trees of Ireland) and An Fód Deireanach (The Last Sod). He is the author of the award-winning, best-selling ‘Thirty-Two Words for Field’ and ‘Listen to the Land Speak’. He was brought up through Irish for the first few years of his life, and now lives in an Oak wood with bees and hens, in a grass-rooved house near Lough Lene, County Westmeath.

Lisa O’Neill sings ‘Old Note’ from her 2023 album ‘All of this is Chance’.

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S4Ep2: Social Enterprise in a Circular Economy

Dr. Sarah Miller is CEO of the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s national hub for circular economy innovation. Sarah has been with the centre since the early days of 2004, playing a key role in its growth and success.

Tune in for a fantastic and engaging conversation about Sarah’s lifelong dedication to circularity, from growing up influenced by an “army of strong women” as she described, her passion for nature-based solutions, and the Rediscovery Centre’s mission to drive public awareness and citizen engagement in the circular economy.

Sarah gives us a 360° tour of various projects at the centre, including research partnerships, impactful social enterprises, and the transformation of their Ballymun headquarters, The Boiler House, into an iconic, fully circular building.

Sarah also shares exciting plans and addresses the challenges of promoting reuse and repair, envisioning a movement that grows in every corner of the country. Join us for an inspiring episode filled with innovative ideas and practical solutions to create a more resourceful and sustainable society.

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Listen to Season 3 Episode 3, with Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for the Circular Economy.
The Rediscovery Centre
Paint Reuse Network
Circular Economy Academy
Global Action Plan
Big Toy Swap
Jiminy Eco Toys
Caoimhín Ó’ Raghallaigh

The content for this episode was researched by Alex Neuroth.

S4Ep3: Skills for a Resourceful Future

Daithí chats to Harrison Gardner, of Common Knowledge, which delivers practical courses in upskilling and self-sufficiency in the Burren, County Clare. We covered a lot in this conversation, from reconnecting to the value of the objects we use every day, to the huge demand for their courses from people who want to be more handy around the house.

Common Knowledge is socially engaged, providing access courses to some participants who couldn’t afford to attend, as well as looking to marginalised communities like LGBTQ+ groups to find new solutions to the climate crisis. At the end of the conversation we feature a reflection on climate action and a song from musical artist, Sive. She is a former Climate Ambassador – as well as an amazing songwriter and musician!

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