• S2 EP6: Is climate activism good for the activist?
    Apr 1 2026

    What's it like to be a climate activist and can it be good for you? Protest and civil disobedience have won many of the benefits and freedoms we enjoy today, but what about the activists themselves? Is it all about hardship, risk and stress, or can activists benefit too? Paul interviews research Robyn Gulliver (University of Queensland, Australia) about her research on the wellbeing of activists, and hears again from climate activist Rosie about her first-hand experience of getting involved, organised and arrested. Armed with Robyn's advice, Paul steps out with his local Extinction Rebellion group.

    More info on mindbrainplanet.com

    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • S2 EP5: Why do people become climate activists?
    Mar 2 2026

    Why invest all that time, energy and emotions – even risk your personal freedom – when the impact of your efforts on the earth’s temperature will be, at best, invisibly small? Paul interviews climate protester Rosie about her motivation to take action - and asks researcher Ans Verkammen (Curtain University, Perth) about the emotions that drive us to speak out and act up for the environment. Paul signs up to protest with Extinction Rebellion.

    More info on mindbrainplanet.com

    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • S2 EP4: Eco-anxiety - how should we respond?
    Feb 2 2026

    After a brief update on Episode 6 from Season 1 "Flying, climate change and the bystander effect", we continue exploring eco-anxiety. Expert Panu Pihkala explains how eco-anxiety can be viewed as a process involving emotional engagement, self-care and action. Paul considers the educational implications of the link to action, and meets climate activist Rosie, who explains how she has experienced climate anxiety and responded to it.


    More info on mindbrainplanet.com

    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • S2 EP3: Eco-anxiety - what is it?
    Jan 2 2026

    Do you lie awake at night thinking about food shortages, conflicts over vanishing resources, nature loss and mass migrations? If so, you may be suffering from eco-anxiety. But how prevalent is eco-anxiety, who is most at risk and is it a disorder? Paul meets experts Ans Vercammen and Panu Pihkala, and talks to Fenella Lloyd about her experience of eco-anxiety amongst young people at Black Mountains College.

    More info on mindbrainplanet.com

    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • S2 EP2: Can Last Chance Tourism help us think more about the environment?
    Dec 1 2025

    Quick, book a trip to see polar bears, glaciers, rainforests before they disappear forever! Can "last chance tourism" help sensitise us to environmental issues or is it just about self-gratification at any cost? Paul interviews geographer Dr Salim Emmanuel and tries to find out what last chance tourism is really all about.

    More info on mindbrainplanet.com

    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • S2 EP1: Melting glaciers and our aversion to ambiguity
    Oct 31 2025

    Climate change is melting our glaciers at an alarming rate, dramatically changing landscapes. That might suggest visitors to popular glacier sites would leave with better environmental intentions. Paul visits the Rhône Glacier in Switzerland and discovers not everyone is making the connection. Does our adversity to ambiguity help us avoid connecting glacial melting with our personal lifestyle?



    More info on mindbrainplanet.com

    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • S1 EP6: Flying, climate change and the "bystander effect"
    Aug 22 2025

    Why do we carry on producing large carbon emissions when we know these are damaging the lives of others? Paul explores this question in the context of the university student community – where mobile young people whose flights contribute to climate change are studying alongside those experiencing its devastating effects. Can this paradox be explained by the so-called “bystander” effect?

    More info on mindbrainplanet.com

    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • S1 EP5: Alien Species - the climate change invaders in your garden
    Jun 22 2025

    As our planet warms, species are migrating to new regions where they can cause damage to the local ecology. How we respond to the arrival of these non-native species may shape our future ecology, with implications for food supplies and human health. In this episode, Paul meets Dr Tanja Straka who has been studying differences in how people react to these new arrivals and revealed some intriguing biases with implications for our future. He also goes "balsam bashing" with local volunteers who are taking matters into their own hands.

    More info on mindbrainplanet.com

    Show More Show Less
    23 mins