Now, That's What I Call Green.

I wanted to talk about politics and combating polarising opinions… but I didn’t want to get dark about it. So, to help, I’ve called in my friend and optimism security blanket, Dave Richards. He’s one of those people who has realistic but optimistic insight into the world. He’s lived all over the world, has a deep cultural understanding, and just makes me feel better about the state of things. So I thought I’d have him join me for a bit of a wide-ranging, mostly optimistic chat about the state of the world. In this episode we talk about: * The importance of maintaining optimism amid global and local challenges * Why politics often seems theatrical, but politicians may genuinely care about making change * The fact that environmental progress over decades shows improvement, even if it’s hard to see in the short term * The significance of media literacy, critical thinking, and recognising manufactured divides and misinformation * The potential of podcasts and open dialogue to foster understanding across political and ideological lines * Why we should meet people where they are, find common ground, and avoid polarisation * The myth of political and societal "us vs them" divides * The importance of science-based policies and genuine conversations, even with those holding opposing views * How media, algorithms, and social platforms influence polarisation and radicalisation If you want to check out Dave’s incredible photography head along to his Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/davemrichards/]. Giveaway! This week, I'm giving away copies of Talking Across the Divide, by Justin Lee. [https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/talking-across-the-divide-9780525504634] It’s a brilliant read on how to actually talk to people you disagree with - something we all probably need a bit more of. Join me over on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/] to enter. Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/ You can follow me on socials on the below accounts. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/ For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

About half of the oxygen that you are breathing right now is made in the ocean. And last year, scientists found that some of it is made three kilometres down in total darkness by microbes that live on the seabed. We had no idea about any of this before then, and now, next month, the United Nations International Seabed Authority is deciding whether they will let industrial rigs strip minerals out of the seabed. But is that a good idea when it turns out we know so little about it? Surely there are smarter options, right? And what do we even need those minerals for anyway? Well, that’s what we’ll be discussing in this episode. In this episode let's talk about: * What Dark Oxygen is and why we should be worried * What is found in the deep sea * What deep sea mining actually is and why we do it * The dangers of deep sea mining * Why there is a need for the metals gained from deep sea mining * Why everyone is panicking about it * Who wants to deep sea mine and who doesn't * Trump’s executive order that is allowing fast-tracking of deep sea mining applications * Other countries’ responses to deep sea mining * What you can do about it Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/ You can follow me on socials on the below accounts. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/ For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the last few episodes have been somewhat… bleak. There’s been a lot to discuss around climate change, governments, and corruption, but I realised if we kept focusing only on that, it was going to get all-consuming. So this week, I’m welcoming back Kate to help me share some good news stories instead! In this episode, we cover: * What are drop bears? * Some fun community topics * What happened at the UN Ocean Conference * Reasons why Kate was put off getting solar and myths about solar * How knowledge and access to information about the environment have changed * Comparing emissions per person in China and India vs. Australia and Aotearoa * Breaking down environmental stereotypes about other countries When I talked about “marine saviour pirates,” I was thinking of Captain Paul Watson - he founded Sea Shepherd [https://seashepherd.org/] and now runs the Captain Paul Watson Foundation [https://www.paulwatsonfoundation.org/]. Giveaway! This week, I'm giving away copies of Rewilding the Sea by Charles Clover [https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/rewilding-the-sea-how-to-save-our-oceans-9781529144161]- a fascinating look at how rewilding our oceans can restore ecosystems, protect marine life, and even help tackle climate change. Join me over on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/] to enter. Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/ You can follow me on socials on the below accounts. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/ For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

You reckon you’re immune to propaganda and disinformation, right? A critical thinker who sees through the rubbish. I thought the same - until I realised I’m way more likely to believe something if it backs up what I already think. That’s not a personal flaw. It’s how we’re all wired. But we need to get better at spotting it, because it’s fuelling polarisation and making it harder to have real conversations with people we disagree with. And with AI making it even harder to tell what’s real, it’s only going to get trickier. If we want to tackle big issues together, we’ve got to become more sceptical, more media literate, and better at asking: Where’s the evidence? What’s the source? Is there consensus? This episode is designed to help you do exactly that - understand and analyse the information out there. In this episode I talk about: * What confirmation bias actually is * A proper breakdown of propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation * How extremist disinformation groups take hold * Real examples of how disinformation can (and does) cost lives * How it delays action on the things that matter most * What to look for when spotting disinformation * The six main tactics companies and governments use to spread it * And how we can start pushing back Giveaway! This week, we're giving away copies of Six Conversations We’re Scared to Have by Deborah Francis White - a practical guide to having honest and respectful discussions on tough topics like politics, climate, and social issues. Join me over on Instagram to enter. Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/ You can follow me on socials on the below accounts. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/ For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/

Well, we are officially halfway through the election cycle. The coalition government has been in place for about 18 months now. David Seymour is our Deputy Prime Minister. So, how are things going? I did my first ever political roundup episode - I think it was episode three - and it ended up being one of our most popular ever. Interestingly, you lot seem to care about what's going on out there, which is nice. So I thought we’d do a check-in, because it's been a year, right? Just to set some guardrails: I'm very much talking about environmental and social issues. I'm not really diving into the economy (though it might get a mention), or the cost of living, or anything else like that. All big problems, all important topics - but I'm absolutely not educated enough to speak on them. Much like the first time I did this, I'm going to try to be unbiased. I will probably fail, because I’m human, I’m violently sarcastic, and I’m obviously quite left-leaning. Everything in here is factual. It’s been fact-checked. But as my mother would say: I might have a tone. Please forgive me. In the episode let's talk about: * Budget 2025 - the "no BS budget" * What was cut in this budget? * What were some budget additions that impact the environment? * Some of the new legislation we should know about * The Fast Track Approvals Act and what it means * The shifting of the government's climate policy * The agricultural legislation and how it impacts the environment * Other changes including waste management, bottled water, and live animal exporting * The impact of these changes on NZ's reputation and credibility * The nonsense political narrative * Some of the good things the government has done The University of Canterbury submission's on Gene Technology Regulation: https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/0e1aa118-5e68-4b43-b395-2a4487d90aa4/content https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/fb5002ba-2e21-4a45-be4e-56d6259b4571/content https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/05dd6485-82e0-4f54-844b-8860e8548b68/content Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/ You can follow me on socials on the below accounts. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/ For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/