Shaping Places

The Storyteller’s Path to Climate Justice | Daze Aghaji

In this episode, Dave Erasmus and Matt Mason speak with Daze Aghaji - activist, storyteller, and Impact Champion at The Conduit, whose work spans climate justice, community healing, and regenerative culture.  Daze reflects on how her formative experiences in Tottenham and at a state boarding school in Skegness shaped her understanding of place, identity, and the deep links between environmental and social justice. They explore Daze’s political awakening as a teenager in North London, when chronic health issues led her to confront the environmental inequalities affecting her community - from air pollution and waste incineration to the broader impacts of poverty and neglected infrastructure.  Along the way, Daze discusses how nature became a refuge during moments of displacement, and why caring for the environment cannot be separated from caring for the people who live within it. Together, they reflect on the role of lived experience in shaping activism, the importance of community resilience, and how storytelling can help people reconnect with both their environments and each other. To follow Daze’s work in impact and environmental regeneration: https://www.instagram.com/dazeaghaji [https://www.instagram.com/dazeaghaji/?hl=en]

Power to the People: Community Energy in Action | Afsheen Rashid

In this episode, Dave and Matt speak with Afsheen Rashid, CEO of Repowering London and a leader in the UK's community energy movement. Afsheen shares how her early experiences in India and Saudi Arabia shaped her commitment to social justice, sustainability, and community-led solutions. They explore the journey of Brixton Energy Solar, the UK’s first community-owned solar power station on a social housing estate, and how it became a blueprint for empowering residents to take control of local energy. Along the way, Afsheen discusses the challenges of engaging communities, creating equitable governance, and making clean energy tangible and accessible to all. Together, they reflect on the ripple effects of community energy projects - how local investment and collective ownership strengthen neighbourhoods, foster skills and volunteering, and give people agency over the places they live.  To find out more about the great work happening at Repowering London, visit: https://www.repowering.org.uk/ [https://www.repowering.org.uk/] And visit https://brixtonenergy.co.uk/ [https://brixtonenergy.co.uk/] to find out more about Afsheen’s work with Brixton Energy Solar.

Growing Together: Healing People and Places | Sal Chebbah

In this episode, Dave and Matt meet Sal Chebbah - known locally as the Mushroom Queen of Lancaster West Estate in West London. In the shadow of Grenfell Tower, Sal has turned gardening and mushroom growing into tools for healing and connection. Her journey takes us from her childhood in Lyon, surrounded by greenery and art, to her corporate career in London - and ultimately to founding Elysian Roots, an educational mushrooming initiative that’s helping communities reconnect with food, nature, and each other. Together, they talk about how mushrooms became a metaphor for resilience, the role of nature in recovery, and how urban greening can transform not just landscapes but lives. Sal also shares her vision for a future where every school grows food - and every city reconnects with the natural world around it. To find out more about Sal’s work, visit: https://sals.world/ [https://sals.world/] And to discover more about Elysian Roots, visit: https://elysianroots.com/ [https://elysianroots.com/]

Rethinking Our Seas: Community and Conservation | Eric & Catrine

In this episode, Dave and Matt meet Eric and Catrine, the father-and-daughter team behind Sussex Underwater, a community initiative dedicated to restoring kelp forests and marine life along the Sussex coast. They explore the journey of this project - from witnessing decades of ecological damage caused by trawling, to campaigning for a trawling ban, and supporting the natural recovery of one of the UK’s most important coastal ecosystems. Along the way, Eric shares memories of first exploring the sea as an 11-year-old, experiences that helped spark a lifelong connection to marine life. Together, they discuss the importance of community engagement in protecting the marine environment, the challenges of restoring complex ecosystems, and how local action can make a lasting impact.  Discover more about Sussex Underwater Social at https://sussexunderwater.uk/ [https://sussexunderwater.uk/]  For more information on Eric and Catrine’s work, see https://sussexkelp.org.uk/ [https://sussexkelp.org.uk/]

Restoring Roots: Breathing Life into a Living Estate | Sammy Leslie

In this episode, Dave and Matt meet Sammy Leslie, custodian of Castle Leslie Estate in County Monaghan, Ireland - a place where history, heritage and hospitality intertwine. For over three decades, Sammy has led the restoration of the 1,000-acre estate, transforming it from near ruin into a thriving rural business rooted in sustainability and community. They explore Sammy’s journey from growing up surrounded by generations of family stories to taking on the challenge of keeping a historic estate relevant in the modern world. From rewilding and regenerative farming to local employment and tourism, she shares how the estate has become a living ecosystem that sustains both people and place. Together, they discuss the balance between preservation and progress, the importance of storytelling in shaping identity, and how caring for land can reconnect us with our past while building a more sustainable future.