Doing Hope Podcast

In today’s episode, I talk with writer and journalist Elspeth Hay, author of Feed Us With Trees, whose work invites us to rediscover a food story far older — and far more hopeful — than industrial agriculture. Speaking from her home on Cape Cod, surrounded by oak woods that quietly shaped her research journey, Elspeth shares how a single insight — that acorns are edible — opened the door to an entirely new way of seeing food, land, and our role within ecosystems.She traces how nut trees like acorn, chestnut, and hazel once formed staple diets across the Northern Hemisphere, and how Indigenous stewardship, cultural fire, and communal land care created biodiverse, abundant landscapes long before monocultures existed. What begins as curiosity becomes a powerful re-storying of what it means to feed ourselves well — in ways that heal both land and climate.Together, we explore:🌳 How tree crops challenge the myth that only industrial agriculture can “feed the world”🔥 Why low-intensity cultural fire is essential for healthy oak ecosystems🌰 What makes nut trees a climate-resilient, nutrient-rich staple food🌿 How reconnecting with local keystone species can guide us toward meaningful climate action🏡 Why shifting our focus from global doom to local community can rekindle genuine hopeElspeth’s future vision is one of re-skilled, rooted communities living in deeper relationship with their home ecosystems — landscapes filled with life, diversity, and the wisdom of trees. Her message: hope grows when we pay attention to the places we belong, and when we start small, right where we are.“I hope that I’m an ally to the trees… I learned a story when I was a kid that they didn’t need our help because they were wild and natural. And as an adult, I learned a new story — that they do need some human help to have the conditions they need on the land.” - Elspeth Hay👉 Learn more about Elspeth and order her book:* Elspeth’s website🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com

🌿 Coming in January: Doing Hope in PracticeInspired by all the hopeful conversations with my wonderful guests so far, I am creating something new: The Doing Hope in Practice Circles. Starting mid-January 2026 we will gather in small live circles around our virtual campfire - a space to turn the insights from Doing Hope into practice - in your work, your home or your community. This is for you if you are curious to explore what it means to turn hope into action. Booking opens in early December — if it speaks to you, read more here and join the interest list for early access and a special discount.In today’s episode, I talk with Cindie Christiansen, founder and Executive Director of Foodprint Nordic and initiator of the Top 50 Farmers initiative, whose mission is to re-imagine how we grow, value, and connect with food. From her home in Copenhagen — overlooking a community-made micro-forest — Cindie shares how her childhood memories of soil, food, and her grandmother’s kitchen quietly shaped her path toward leading a pan-European movement for regenerative agriculture.Cindie talks about the origins of Top 50 Farmers, an initiative highlighting diverse, next-generation farmers from across Europe and shifting the cultural narrative around farming. Instead of the familiar stories of protest, pesticides, and crisis, she wants farmers to be recognised as role models, innovators, and essential stewards of our future.Together, you explore:🌱 Why food has become undervalued — and why understanding its true cost matters🌾 How disconnection from the landscapes that feed us shapes our health, choices, and culture🌍 The role of imagination in building hopeful, actionable visions for the future🔄 What regeneration means not only for soil, but for how we work, lead, and organise our lives🪴 Why touching soil and growing even a tiny bit of food can be a powerful act of hopeCindie’s future vision is one of edible cities, abundant biodiversity, thriving rural landscapes, and communities who know the names of the farmers who feed them. Her message is clear: hope is not passive. It’s an action — often beginning with something as small as planting a seed.“If we don’t have access to clean, affordable food, I don’t see how we have life.” - Cindie Christiansen👉 Learn more about Cindie and her work:* Connect with Cindie on LinkedIn* Learn more about Foodprint Nordic* Connect with the Top 50 Farmers Initiative🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com

In this episode of Doing Hope, I walk with Leslie through Dublin’s Phoenix Park to talk about the power of engineering, patience, and community in the face of climate change. Leslie is a French engineer who specialises in water, flooding and climate resilience. After a master of engineering in France, she moved to Ireland and now works on the development of flood defences and water-related projects for an consulting engineering company. She is passionate by sustainability and undertook a second master in environmental engineering for sustainable development to further her knowledge. On the side, she is deeply involved in volunteering organisations about the protection of nature, sustainability education and climate justice.Leslie shares how her work designing flood-resilient systems connects data, biodiversity, and human lives — and how staying hopeful means embracing collaboration, curiosity, and care for our shared planet.Our conversation covers a number of interesting areas in climate adaptation:* 💧 From Data to Impact – How flood-resilience engineering protects communities from climate change while respecting nature.* 🧭 Beyond the Blueprint – What it really takes to design long-term climate adaptation projects that balance cost, biodiversity, and community needs.* 🕰️ The Patience of Change – How to stay motivated when your work’s impact might not be visible for another decade.* 🌍 Hope in Systems Thinking – Why engineers need both technical precision and social awareness to solve complex sustainability challenges.* 🤝 The Power of Community – Leslie’s vision of a future where collaboration replaces isolation in solving the climate crisis.“You can’t really design a flooding solution without thinking about the impact on biodiversity, on residents, or even the politics behind it. You have to see the whole system, not just the engineering.”Leslie on the importance of systemic awareness to climate adaptation work👉 Links with further reading and learning:* Learn more about climate mitigation vs adaptation here* Ongoing project relief schemes in Ireland 🇮🇪🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com

In this week’s episode, I speak with Franziska Mesche, founder of Tripulse, a sustainable activewear company redefining what it means to wear clothes that are good for both people and the planet.Franziska is on a mission to eliminate plastics and toxins from activewear which linger in the majority of sports clothes today. With her sustainable sports clothing lines, she is proving that it’s possible to create high-performing natural alternatives from certified wood-based fibres, while delivering both premium performance and commercial success.Together, we explore:* How Franziska ended up disrupting an industry she didn’t know much about just 5 years ago* What it took to shift a thriving career in tech and as a business consultant to become a successful impact entrepreneur* The core pillars of Tripulse and how wood-fibres are not only more sustainable and healthier, but also completely change our activewear usage and washing habits* Challenges in building a business from scratch and the role of small, consistent acts of courage and hopeDisclaimer: I want to be transparent that today’s guest is both a friend and someone whose startup I’ve invested in, and therefore, I have a financial interest in the success of her company. I’m genuinely excited to share Franziska’s story and the work she’s doing to inspire others to pursue their ideas. This conversation is about her journey and learnings, and it’s not intended as financial advice or a recommendation to invest or purchase.👉 Learn more about Franziska and her work:* Explore Tripulse activewear: Tripulse website* Explore Tripulse journal which covers key topics such as plastics & toxins in clothing and what do about it: Tripulse Journal* Follow Tripulse on LinkedIn: Tripulse LinkedIn page* Connect with Franziska on LinkedIn: Franziska's LinkedIn page🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com

In this episode of Doing Hope, I speak with the unstoppable Leslie Glustrom, a biochemist-turned-climate-activist who has spent over 20 years working to decarbonise the U.S. electricity system from the ground up. Leslie brings extraordinary persistence, deep systems knowledge, and a refreshingly long-term view to the climate movement.Based in Boulder, Colorado, Leslie walked away from a paid career in biochemistry to focus full-time on climate advocacy—without pay—when it was still a niche concern in the U.S. She’s been instrumental in helping Colorado shift from over 90% fossil fuel electricity to a projected 90% renewable energy by the end of this decade. Her approach? Deep systems change, relentless local advocacy, and growing new messengers at every turn.💡 Highlights from our conversation:* 🧪 Her background in biochemistry and how it informed her early recognition of flawed climate “solutions” like clean coal.* ⚡ The focus on electricity decarbonisation as a key leverage point for real climate progress.* 📉 A candid reflection on how this work is "99% failure, 1% success"—and why that 1% matters.* 🛠️ Practical strategies: working through all three branches of government, particularly at the state and local level, to create lasting energy policy change.* 🔥 Why creating more messengers is the most sustainable form of activism.* 💚 How to prevent burnout, find joy in the work, and stay hopeful over the long haul.* 🕯️ Hope as a verb: why hope is a moral imperative—and how we can all light candles in the darkness.Whether you’re just starting your climate journey or have been at it for years, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that change takes time, but it is possible—and worth it.“ If we're really committed, we have to be committed to the vision, whether we are gonna get to live to see it or not.”Leslie GlustromListen now and be inspired to plant your own seeds of change.What inspires you from Leslie’s story? Share with us in the comments 👇🏼👉 Learn more about Leslie and her work:* Clean Energy Action* Empower Our Future – Clean Energy. Local Power.* Colorado Renewable Energy Society* Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate – Advocating strategies for reducinggreenhouse gas emissions to a level supportive of a livable climate.* Connect with Leslie on LinkedIn🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com

In this episode, I speak with Scott Bryan, community organiser and co-founder of Community Roots, an Irish enterprise helping build thriving and resilient communities by turning unused gardens into shared growing spaces that reconnect people, cultures, and generations — one carrot at a time. Community Roots run 'Soil Mates,' a garden-share program connecting garden owners with budding growers to grow food and community. They invite people to reimagine how they typically use private space and perceive 'strangers' living in their community, all so we can reignite a sense of 'Meitheal' in communities everywhere!'Meitheal' (pronounced Meh-hal) is an old Irish term and tradition from a bygone era. It’s a uniquely Irish version of community, the tradition of neighbours coming together to share skills and resources, and help each other out in times of need.From front garden veggie patches to intergenerational friendships, Scott shares how food growing is quietly transforming Dublin neighbourhoods and offers a powerful reminder: the seeds of hope are often planted in the soil beneath our feet.🥕 In this episode, Scott shares with us:* How Community Roots grew from a local garden-share pilot into a fast-growing social enterprise.* His biggest learning: not being an expert could actually be your superpower!* What happens when migrants, retirees, and school kids all grow food together in shared spaces.* The challenges of building a sustainable social enterprise in Ireland — and where future funding might come from.“The food is the Trojan horse — it brings people together for something much bigger.”Impressions from the community gardens around Cabra, Ireland:💭 Question for You, the Listener:Is there unused space — in your garden, your workplace, or your community — that could grow something more than food?👉 Connect with Scott* Community Roots Website* Connect with Scott on LinkedIn* Connect on Instagram @coroots_ie🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com

In this episode of Doing Hope, I speak with New York–based climate artist Nicole Kelner, known for her playful and powerful watercolour infographics that make climate and clean energy topics accessible, memorable, and even joyful. Nicole shares how she transitioned from operations in ed-tech and climate startups to becoming a full-time artist — a shift sparked by a 100-day art challenge that changed her life.Nicole’s story is a compelling blend of creativity, purpose, and quiet courage — showing how art can be a Trojan horse for truth and a tool for climate action.🎨 In this episode, Nicole shares with us:* How a 100-day watercolour challenge led her from climate ops to full-time climate art.* Why keeping things simple and playful can make climate facts easier to absorb — and act on.* The surprising ripple effects of her art, like inspiring someone to start composting from a single illustration.* How her Climate Art 101 course has sparked hundreds of new artworks — and a global creative community.* A treasure trove of resources she built to help others find their place in the climate space — no art degree required."I always told myself: even if just one person learns something or takes action, that’s worth it."👉🏼 Connect with Nicole* 🎨 Join her next Climate Art 101 cohort* Nicole’s website* Crowdsourced database: So You Want To Work On Climate* More of her crowdsourced sheets🌿 More resources to inspire your climate journey:The Climate Action Venn Diagram by Dr Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a great way to help you create ideas how to work on climate. Download here.I regularly support people in completing this diagram for their unique strengths, skills and life circumstances. If you could benefit from identifying your strengths and what needs doing in the world, reach out anytime to explore how a powerful career coaching session can support you.💭 Question for You, the Listener:What’s one creative way you could help someone understand a complex problem — and maybe even inspire action? Could it be a doodle, a story, a quiet conversation?Let us know how you are doing hope. 💚🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com

What does climate action look like in one of the hottest parts of the world?In this powerful conversation, clean energy analyst and climate advocate Megna Rajagopal shares her story of growing up in Dubai, navigating the climate space with both technical insight and deep empathy. We talk about everything from solar innovation and circular economy trends to the emotional weight of working in a region already experiencing 50°C summers.* 📊 How Megna translates solar data into policy-shaping insights across the MENA region.* 🌺 The emotional side of climate work—and why it’s important to recognise the power of small shifts in behaviour and attitudes* ♻️ Why sustainability must centre empathy, not just innovation or tech* 🚀 Her advice for anyone curious about shifting into a climate career—starting small and staying curiousYou’ll hear how Megna combines market research, public advocacy, and grassroots community events to build awareness and inspire policy change across the MENA region.💡 Whether you’re curious about breaking into climate careers or wondering how to stay hopeful in difficult times, this episode offers a generous mix of realism, strategy, and inspiration."Sustainability is not just about innovation and policy—it's about empathy. It's about designing systems that actually work for people." – Megna Rajagopal🎧 Listen in, then tell us:What small step are you taking towards a better future?👇 Comment below, share with a friend, or tag us on socials to keep the conversation going.👉 Connect with Megna on LinkedInGlobal Online Climate Communities to join:* Work on Climate* InClimate* Women and Climate* Terra.do I am an alumnus of their Climate for Action course. It was one of the first formalised learning courses I completed in my journey, and it gave me the knowledge and confidence to shift my work to climate, while connecting me to a global community of changemakers. Use my referral link and get 20% off any course: https://r.terra.do/referral/Claudia341Feel free to reach out if you have questions about the course.🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com

What can ancient rocks teach us about the climate future we're hurtling toward?In this inspiring episode, I speak with Dr. Maria Luisa Sanchez Montes, climate scientist, explorer, and creative problem-solver. Marisa takes us deep into Earth’s history through ocean sediments and plant lipids, showing how our current emissions mirror climates not seen for millions of years.But her story doesn’t stop in the lab. With a career that spans academic excellence, IPCC contributions, and innovative microbial research, Marisa has now turned her focus toward tangible, people-powered solutions to reimagining sustainable clothing. She shares a rich and emotional journey of scientific discovery, disillusionment, courage, and a hopeful pivot toward creativity and impact.Together, we explore:* What plant molecules in rocks reveal about Earth's deep past* How her climate research informed the latest IPCC report* The emotional toll of working on the climate crisis* Why Marisa left academia to create real-world solutions* Her vision of a more loving, just, and sustainable future in 2075In this episode, we talk about stones, microbes, fashion, and what it means to shape a career guided by wonder—and impact.“Rocks and trees are like books, and I wanted to read them all to understand this earth I am living on.”💬 Marisa is with us for a live Q&A hour here on the chat! Send your question in before or login live to pick her brain on anything about the life of a climate scientist, oceans, lipids to how to come up with your own startup idea.Chat with Marisa on the 4th of August at 10 am CEST 👇🏼What do you want to ask Marisa?👉 Connect with Marisa* Marisa’s impressive climate research on Google Scholar* Her sustainable fashion startup* Connect with Marisa on LinkedIn* Connect via email: [email protected]🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com

Welcome back to Doing Hope — the podcast where we meet everyday changemakers building brighter futures.Today, I’m talking with Mary Fleming, founder of Change Clothes, a creative reuse initiative that began as a one-week community event in Crumlin, Dublin and has since blossomed into one of Ireland’s most exciting grassroots social enterprises.Rooted in environmental values and a deep love for textiles, Mary’s work tackles textile waste while creating inclusive, joyful spaces where people — and garments — get a second chance. From Ireland’s first permanent weekly swap shop to repair workshops, circular fashion markets, and job creation through upcycling, Change Clothes is transforming how communities think about clothing.In this conversation, Mary shares:* How she built Change Clothes from scratch — and why community made it possible* What it really takes to run a social enterprise (the money, the mental health, and the messiness)* Her vision for clothing reuse centres as welcoming social spaces — and the future of fashion as local, circular, and human* The underestimated power of just showing up, asking for help, and doing what you can* Her practical advice for anyone dreaming of starting something similarMary’s story is a beautiful reminder that hope is something we grow — together, and sometimes, stitch by stitch."My vision is for every community to have welcoming reuse spaces — where everyone belongs, and nothing goes to waste."— Mary imagining 2075, 50 years into a circular futureKnow someone who would love to listen to Mary’s circular fashion story? Let’s spread Doing Hope:Learn more about Change Clothes and contact Mary via changeclothes.orgWant to connect with me or share feedback?* Email: [email protected]* Website: claudiageratz.com* LinkedIn: @claudiageratz📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit positiveclimatecareers.substack.com