Green Queens Podcast

Heidi Klum’s severed hand, a freezing cottage and Robert Irwin in his pants. The sustainability conversation contains multitudes.This week, Imogen and Abbie ask: can you afford to save money?The UK’s Warm Homes Loan Scheme offers low- and no-interest borrowing for solar panels, batteries and heat pumps. We love the ambition of warmer homes and lower energy bills but question who can access the savings, what a long repayment period means if you move, and whether households are being asked to shoulder too much responsibility.Before that: Maya Jama as Sir Mo Farah, Halloween’s plastic problem, dressing-up-box nostalgia and the joy of a costume that didn’t arrive yesterday in a plastic packet.Plus, we attempt to explain electricity pricing with chocolate oranges, then turn our attention to Robert Irwin’s appearance on The Graham Norton Show. For conservation reasons, obviously. 🐍CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome: Halloween costumes and heating bills00:40 Sofa season versus handstand season02:39 Halloween’s waste problem06:13 Heidi Klum and Maya Jama’s costumes10:58 Costume waste and panic buying14:08 Dressing-up boxes and nostalgic costumes21:21 Slower celebrations, more creativity22:22 Cold homes and Warm Homes loans26:08 Solar, batteries and heat pumps27:25 Loan repayments and Budget contradictions29:00 What if you move house?30:44 Individual responsibility versus system change32:43 Why gas affects electricity prices35:43 Fuel poverty and access to lower bills38:41 Our verdict—and reasons for hope39:44 Robert Irwin and conservation43:26 Goodbye!🤓 Noteworthy mentions:Warm Homes Loan Scheme: government factsheet : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/warm-homes-loan-scheme-factsheetCarbon Brief: Budget climate and energy announcements: https://www.carbonbrief.org/uk-budget-2026-key-climate-and-energy-announcementsGuardian: Warm Homes loans: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/27/homes-across-uk-to-get-low--or-no-interest-loans-to-fund-solar-panels-and-heat-pumpsSew Spooky: https://hubbub.org.uk/sew-spookyYouGov: Halloween shopping research, October 2025: https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/53067-uk-halloween-spending-shopping-trends-2025Kensa: Ground Source Heat Pumps for Social Housing: https://kensa.co.uk/social-housing/case-study/central-london-retrofitRobert Irwin: https://earthshotprize.org/people-partners/ambassadors/robert-irwin/Robert Irwin x Snakes: https://www.instagram.com/robertirwinphotography/?hl=en💚 What’s your best homemade costume? And would a low-interest loan persuade you to upgrade your home? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A North Sea gas field, an Abercrombie & Fitch jumper and some very tiny frogs. Welcome to Green Queens, where the connections are occasionally tenuous but the opinions are plentiful.🎙️ This week, Imogen and Abbie unpack the approval of the Jackdaw gas field. Will more domestic gas lower UK energy bills? How many jobs will it create? And could saying yes to Jackdaw make it easier—or harder—to say no to the much larger Rosebank oil field?Then it’s over to Abercrombie & Fitch, where a viral comparison of men’s and women’s knitwear has sparked questions about fabric quality, fashion marketing and whether women are paying the same for less.Plus: a conservation win involving critically endangered puddle frogs. Or, as we prefer to call them, froglets. 🐸🤓 A few corrections from us:In 2025, around 58% of the UK’s gross gas supply was imported. Of those imports, 69% came from Norway, mainly by pipeline, and 23% from the US, as LNG by ship. The remainder came from other sources, including Qatar. Gross supply includes some gas that is subsequently exported.When discussing the electricity mix, we should have said the 47% figure referred to electricity generation, not all the energy we use.And if we’re being super pedantic: no, you don’t store gas in a barrel. But you can express its energy content in barrels of oil equivalent. 👀 Noteworthy mentions:Cody Dahler’s 10/10 Jackdaw summary: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DezNlJptS4s/?vrfl=MXMxeW0yYnhpd25ueA==Write to your MP about Rosebank: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-oxfam/no-more-north-sea-drilling/The viral video that kicked off sweatergate: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeXn0XsgkZ5/?vrfl=MXFpNjg0YnNzN2VvYg==In this episode:00:00 Welcome, charity shops and the VW ID. Polo02:59 What is the Jackdaw gas field?05:00 The numbers: gas supply, jobs and emissions08:09 Why are people upset?12:00 North Sea jobs and the political gamble14:32 What about Rosebank?19:07 The Jackdaw announcement and social media21:59 Can you understand a decision without agreeing with it?24:34 Abercrombie & Fitch and the jumper debate29:26 Abercrombie nostalgia and teenage aspirations34:12 Shopping habits, quality and charity shops39:09 And finally… froglets! 🐸💚✨ Join the greenest girl gang around: follow Green Queens, leave us a rating and share the episode with a friend!📆 New episodes every Wednesday🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenQueensPod🫶🏼 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/green.queens.pod🎵 TikTok: Green.queens.podd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a little break, Green Queens is back (for a bit...!)In this catch-up episode, Imogen and Abbie explain where they've been, why life got in the way, and what the future of the podcast looks like. Imogen opens up about leaving her role at Everything Electric after years of presenting and leading content and what it feels like to finally slow down.Along the way, the conversation wanders (as Green Queens conversations often do!) through holidays, books, careers, nervous systems, and some genuinely exciting sustainability news—including the rise of plug-in balcony solar, why Germany is leading the way, and why these tiny solar panels could transform clean energy for renters.00:00 Welcome back to Green Queens02:41 Where have we been?03:49 Imogen leaves Everything Electric08:55 Looking back on the clean energy journey12:00 Burnout, rest and finding balance14:45 Holiday highlights and travel chat17:07 Sustainability news catch-up18:38 Balcony solar explained22:18 Why Germany is embracing plug-in solar22:58 EV updates after leaving the industry26:27 Why the future of transport still excites us30:22 How we stay informed without doomscrolling32:29 What's next for Green Queens💚✨ Join the greenest girl gang around—hit subscribe, give us a like, and share with a friend!📆 Join us for new episodes every Friday🎥 Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenQueensPod🫶🏼 Follow us on instagram: @green.queens.pod - https://www.instagram.com/green.queens.pod🎵 Find us on tiktok - Green.queens.podd#GreenQueens #Sustainability #Climate #ClimateAction #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #BalconySolar #PlugInSolar #EnergyTransition #ElectricVehicles #EV #SustainableLiving #EcoLiving #ClimatePositive #EnvironmentalPodcast #GreenPodcast #CleanTech #NetZero #ClimateNews #EnergyNews #EverythingElectric #BurnoutRecovery #CareerChange #WomenInSustainability #WomenInClimate #Podcast #SustainabilityPodcast #GreenLiving #Renewables Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Abbie heads into the world of wildlife conservation with one of the people helping to protect some of Africa's most extraordinary ecosystems.This week we're joined by conservationist and safari lodge owner Pamela Kertland Wright to explore Uganda's incredible conservation journey, how tourism can support wildlife, and why local communities are at the heart of successful environmental projects.In this conversation:🌿 Uganda's conservation success story🦏 Wildlife recovery after conflict🌍 Sustainable tourism done properly🏡 Building low-impact safari lodges❤️ Why community-led conservation worksFind out more: https://wildplacesafrica.com/00:00 Welcome & World Conservation Day02:00 Meet Pam Kertland Wright04:30 Falling in love with conservation09:15 Uganda's wildlife recovery story14:00 Conservation after conflict19:15 Tourism as a force for good24:00 Why local communities matter29:00 Building a sustainable safari lodge33:30 Creating low-impact tourism38:30 Intentional sustainability42:45 Reasons to feel hopeful47:45 Everyday sustainability habits52:45 Final thoughts💚✨ Join the greenest girl gang around—hit subscribe, give us a like, and share with a friend!📆 Join us for new episodes every Friday🎥 Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenQueensPod🫶🏼 Follow us on instagram: @green.queens.pod - https://www.instagram.com/green.queens.pod🎵 Find us on tiktok - Green.queens.poddwildlife conservation, sustainable tourism, Uganda safari, eco tourism, responsible travel, biodiversity, community conservation, wildlife recovery, sustainable travel, conservation success stories, climate podcast, sustainability podcast, eco lodge, renewable energy, solar powered safari lodge, protecting wildlife, nature conservation, green living, environmental podcast, Green Queens podcast#Conservation #WildlifeConservation #Sustainability #SustainableTravel #EcoTourism #ResponsibleTravel #Nature #Wildlife #Environment #Climate #ClimateAction #Biodiversity #Rewilding #Safari #Uganda #Africa #NationalParks #CommunityConservation #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #EcoLodge #GreenLiving #SustainableLiving #ConsciousTravel #Travel #NatureLovers #WildlifePhotography #Hope #Podcast #GreenQueens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've been hanging out with us for a while, you know we did an amazing Interrail trip last year and haven’t stopped talking about it since. Well, the travel itch is officially back, and it is entirely Cat Jones’s fault.In this episode, we sit down with Cat, the absolute powerhouse founder of Byway; a brilliant travel tech company rewriting the rules of holidays. Think flight-free, multi-stop, gorgeous journeys over land and sea that prove the journey itself can be the absolute best part of the trip. (Goodbye airport chaos, hello dining cars and mountain views! 🏔️🍰)Cat shares how Byway is using smart tech to fix the massive headache of planning flight-free travel, combining dynamic routing with independent, locally owned hotels, and (our personal favourite) an in-trip WhatsApp group that feels like texting your mates when things go a bit sideways.Join us to chat about:Cat’s Top 3 Magical Routes: From waking up to deer on Rannoch Moor to paddling in Lake Bled by breakfast.Traveling with children: How to survive (and actually enjoy!) long train journeys with kidsThe "Package Holiday" Rethink: Why Byway reclaimed the term to protect green travelers.The Real Impact: Ditching short-haul flights and the frustrating politics behind jet fuel tax breaks.Sustainable Travel Leave: The ready-made policy that gets you extra holiday days just for choosing the train. (Yes, really. Go pitch it to your boss immediately!)👉 Check out Byway: https://www.byway.travel/00:00 - Introduction & The Joy of Slow Travel02:47 - Introducing Cat Jones & The Concept of Byway06:38 - The Tech Challenge: Solving Overland Travel Chaos10:56 - The Hybrid Model: Package Protection & WhatsApp Support15:33 - Are Flight Cancellations Shifting the Industry?18:01 - Cat's Top 3 Magical Train Journeys (Slovenia, Swiss Alps, & Scotland)23:58 - Train Travel Pro-Tips for Parents with Kids26:34 - Hard Data: The Climate & Community Impact of Ditching Flights30:15 - What is "Sustainable Travel Leave"?31:13 - The Behind-The-Scenes Startup Story of Byway39:14 - Magic Wand: Fighting Jet Fuel Tax Breaks & Media Bias46:12 - Seed Swapping!#GreenQueens #GreenQueensPodcast #SlowTravel #FlightFree #TrainTravel #SustainableTravel #EcoTravel #TravelByTrain #RailTravel #OverlandTravel #FlightFreeTravel #EuropeanTravel #SleeperTrain #Interrail #ClimateAction #ConsciousTravel #SustainableLiving #GreenTravel #EcoFriendlyTravel #FutureOfTravel #TravelPodcast #PodcastEpisode #ClimatePodcast #TravelTips #AdventureTravel #TravelEurope #TrainJourney #DigitalNomad #SustainableTourism #LowCarbonTravel #TravelInspiration #TravelTok #Byway #GreenQueens #TravelLessFlyLess #ClimateConscious #TravelHacks #FamilyTravel #NatureTravel #MindfulTravel #AlternativeTravel #TravelTechnology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the problem isn’t climate inaction, but rather the way we are telling the story? 🌍In this live episode of Green Queens, we sit down with Emily Renshaw-Smith, the Managing Director of Open Planet to go behind the scenes of her team's incredible productions, including the David Attenborough-narrated documentary Ocean, to unpack how storytelling serves as a vital tool for real-world climate impact.From her professional journey through Channel 4 and Comic Relief to her current role leading one of today's most ambitious environmental media initiatives, Emily explains why data alone is insufficient to inspire change. She shares how powerful narratives can shift perspectives, influence global policy, and transform climate anxiety into meaningful action.We also explore Open Planet’s groundbreaking open-source footage library. This platform is designed to provide creators everywhere with access to world-class natural history content, effectively democratising the ability to tell stories that truly matter.Find out more:https://www.openplanetstudios.uk/https://openplanet.org/https://otherhouse.com/south-kensington/00:00 – Welcome to The Other House: Live with the Green Queens02:00 – Reusing & Sourcing03:10 – Introducing Emily Renshaw-Smith: From Comic Relief to Open Planet05:00 – The "Golden Thread": A career in purposeful media07:15 – Data vs. Storytelling: Why we are hardwired for narrative08:45 – The Mission of Open Planet11:20 – Ocean: Baking impact into David Attenborough’s latest film15:30 – Open Source Revolution: Giving away world-class footage17:40 – Individual Acts vs. Systemic Change: The tuna sandwich dilemma19:50 – Fighting the "Slop": Authenticity in the age of AI22:00 – Hopeful Storytelling: Imaging a better future24:30 – The Next Generation: Finding new trusted voices26:40 – Community Narratives: Why local stories cut through30:00 – Short Form Power: Nature doesn't have a bin34:10 – Advice for Creators: Know your audience & entertain first39:30 – The Yogurt Pot: Small acts and final thoughts💚✨ Join the greenest girl gang around—hit subscribe, give us a like, and share with a friend!📆 Join us for new episodes every Friday🎥 Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenQueensPod🫶🏼 Follow us on instagram: @green.queens.pod - https://www.instagram.com/green.queens.pod🎵 Find us on tiktok - Green.queens.podd#GreenQueens #GreenQueensPodcast #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ClimateStorytelling #Sustainability #Environmentalism #ClimateSolutions #Storytelling #ImpactFilmmaking #EnvironmentalDocumentary #DocumentaryFilmmaking #OceanConservation #MarineConservation #DavidAttenborough #OpenPlanet #HopefulStorytelling #ClimateCommunication #SustainableFuture #MediaForChange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you organise a marathon for 60,000 people… without wrecking the planet? 🏃‍♀️🌱In this episode of Green Queens, we go behind the scenes of the London Marathon with Kate Chapman, Head of Sustainability at London Marathon Group, just days before race day. Kate takes us through how one of the world’s biggest sporting events is designed with the planet in mind, and the role sport can play in creating positive impact. From carbon levies to behavioural science, Kate reveals how the marathon achieved “Evergreen” status, the highest global standard for sustainable sport, and what it really takes to get there.Inside this episode:🌍 The marathon’s carbon footprint💡 How “Team Green” nudges runners into better choices, with real perks 👀♻️ Why carbon removal is replacing traditional offsets🚿 The surprisingly powerful role of toilets, queues, and incentives🌆 How sustainability also includes inclusion, accessibility, and communityWhether you are a runner, an event organiser, or simply in need of some positivity, this episode shows how small design choices can drive massive impact.00:00 – Race Week!02:45 – Meet Kate Chapman06:50 – How the London Marathon Evolved10:40 – What Is “Team Green”? (And Why It Works)14:50 – “Evergreen” Status19:10 – Competing (and Collaborating) Globally22:50 – The Biggest Carbon Problem: Travel24:40 – The Mile 11 Forest Experiment 🌳29:10 – Future Tech: Edible Packaging & Refill Systems31:40 – Climate Change vs Race Day Reality35:20 – Carbon Removal vs Offsetting39:30 – Why Sport Changes Behaviour Faster44:50 – Advice for Smaller Events51:30 – Round Up💚✨ Join the greenest girl gang around—hit subscribe, give us a like, and share with a friend!📆 Join us for new episodes every Friday🎥 Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenQueensPod🫶🏼 Follow us on instagram: @green.queens.pod - https://www.instagram.com/green.queens.pod🎵 Find us on tiktok - Green.queens.podd #GreenQueens #GreenQueensPodcast #Podcast #LondonMarathon #SustainableSport #ClimateAction #EcoInnovation #GreenEvents #CarbonRemoval #NetZero #Marathon #RunningCommunity #SustainabilityPodcast #BehaviourChange #EventSustainability Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Green Queens, Imogen and Abbie sit down with Dr. Ravina, a GP and women’s health specialist, to unpack the science behind microplastics and what it actually means for your body.After the buzz around  @Netflix  's The Plastic Detox, we wanted answers beyond the headlines. Dr. Ravina breaks down how chemicals like BPA and phthalates can mimic hormones in the body, why fertility conversations need to include men too, and how small, realistic changes can make a meaningful difference.💚 To find out more:https://theonelabs.co/pages/the-labhttps://www.instagram.com/doctor.ravina/0:00 – Welcome to Green Queens!2:45 – Introducing Dr. Ravina4:50 – What are microplastics and where are they hiding?9:30 – The "Plastic Detox" experiment: Science vs. Fiction12:30 – How "Fake Oestrogen" affects your body18:00 – Gut health, Endometriosis, and environmental factors24:00 – The One Fertility supplement story30:45 – Period products: Should we be worried about toxins?34:00 – Male fertility: The 3-month regeneration window39:30 – 3 Achievable swaps you can make TODAY45:00 – One final question!💚✨ Join the greenest girl gang around—hit subscribe, give us a like, and share with a friend!📆 Join us for new episodes every Friday🎥 Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenQueensPod🫶🏼 Follow us on instagram: @green.queens.pod - https://www.instagram.com/green.queens.pod🎵 Find us on tiktok - Green.queens.podd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secondhand is reshaping the fashion industry.This week, Abbie and Imogen are joined by a very special (and returning) guest, Olivia May. She joins us to delve into the data behind the fashion industry's resale boom. Why are over a third of us hooked on platforms like Vinted and eBay? Is the “French way” of shopping actually better for the planet? And what happens when luxury brands start embracing resale, digital passports, and circular design?In this episode, we cover:👗 The £50B Shift: How secondhand is reshaping the future of retail👗The “Vinted Credit” Effect: Why selling has to be seamless👗 Can AI and tech actually fix fashion?👗 Fast Fashion Fallout in France📝 Check out the full research report here: https://www.occstrategy.com/en/article/fashion-reincarnated/00:00 – The Smoothest Intro Ever & Special Guest Olivia May02:50 – The Resale Boom: 35% of the UK is Now Shopping Secondhand05:12 – Beyond Vinted07:58 – How Brands are adapting09:20 – Higher Liquidity: Is Secondhand Speeding Up Our Consumption?12:40 – Designing for Three Kids: Circularity and Longevity in Luxury20:30 – Digital Product Passports: Scanning Your Clothes for the Future22:45 – Removing Friction: How AI and Image Recognition will Change Selling25:20 – The "Birkin" Effect: Why Secondhand Can Sometimes Cost More28:45 – The French Way: Anti-Fast Fashion Laws and Capsule Wardrobes31:50 – Searching with AI: Using ChatGPT to Find Your Next Blue Linen Shirt35:30 – The Struggle of Stock Images38:40 – Democratising Fashion: Is it Snobbish to Criticise Fast Fashion?43:10 – The Supermarket Shift & The Klarna Conundrum47:00 – Future Forecast: Reaching a $50 Billion Market by 203050:50 – Who are the Losers? The Challenge for Value Price Point Brands54:30 – The Last Thing for the Planet & Final Thoughts💚✨ Join the greenest girl gang around—hit subscribe, give us a like, and share with a friend!📆 Join us for new episodes every Friday🎥 Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenQueensPod🫶🏼 Follow us on instagram: @green.queens.pod - https://www.instagram.com/green.queens.pod🎵 Find us on tiktok - Green.queens.podd#GreenQueensPodcast #SustainableFashion #SecondhandStyle #ResaleRevolution #CircularFashion #VintedFinds #SlowFashion #EcoLiving #FashionIndustry #PreLovedStyle #UKPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Abbie and Imogen investigate a very specific life event: Why does turning 30 make you suddenly interested in birds?!A biological clock but for binoculars? We’re joined by wildlife photographer Georgia Barker (@NatureWithGeorgia), who went from “typical Essex girl in Ironappa” (her words..!) to fully-fledged birder, and is now on a mission to rebrand birdwatching.In this episode we discuss:🦅 The “Nigel Thornberry” stereotype vs the Vogue-approved birding glow-up📸 How to start wildlife photography on a budget🌿 Why birdwatching is meditation for people who hate meditating🇬🇧 Why the UK is wildly underrated (yes, even compared to New Zealand)🦆 The “Adult Pokémon” thrill of spotting rare species✨ Why being bad at a hobby is actually the pointFollow Georgia:Instagram & TikTok: @NatureWithGeorgia00:00 – The 30s Survival Guide: From Saggy boobs to Bird Obsession03:45 – The Rebrand of Birding: Moving Past the "Nigel Thornberry" Stigma07:20 – Nature With Georgia: How a "Typical Essex Girl" Found the Wilderness15:10 – The UK is Elite: Why You Don't Need to Travel for Stunning Nature21:00 – Monetising Your Passion: Balancing a 9-5 with Content Creation27:15 – Adult Pokémon: Why Birdwatching is the New Mindful Hiking32:00 – The Beginner’s Toolkit: Apps, Budget Gear, and the Power of Being "Bad"38:45 – Join the Green Group Chat: Final Thoughts and Romania Adventures💚✨ Join the greenest girl gang around—hit subscribe, give us a like, and share with a friend!📆 Join us for new episodes every Friday🎥 Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenQueensPod🫶🏼 Follow us on instagram: @green.queens.pod - https://www.instagram.com/green.queens.pod🎵 Find us on tiktok - Green.queens.podd#GreenQueensPodcast #Birdwatching #Birding #WildlifePhotography #NatureWithGeorgia #Turning30 #MillennialWomen #UKNature #BritishWildlife #RSPB #OutdoorHobbies #Mindfulness #MentalHealthOutdoors #SlowLiving #EcoPodcast #SustainableLiving #NatureLovers #HotGirlWalk #AdultPokemon #WomenWhoBird Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.