The disruptive power of contemporary art with john gerrard

Relating to nature as a friend with Cassandra Murphy

As an Environmental Psychologist, Cassandra Murphy is a PhD researcher and educator dedicated to understanding the profound bond between people and the natural world. Her work explores how building a relationship with nature can enhance human well-being and inspire sustainable behaviours.  Cassie advocates for recognizing personal definitions of nature and integrating simple, daily practices to enhance this relationship. She emphasizes the importance of re-establishing a relationship with nature, likening it to human friendships, and suggests that small, incremental steps can help individuals reconnect. The conversation covers the psychological benefits and harms of nature connection, the concept of solastalgia, and strategies for coping with eco-anxiety.  This episode also includes a series of vox pop with audience members of Earth Rising. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: No Home by John Hayes, Small Steps by Simon Folwar, Ocean by Corals Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

Tackling the climate crisis through education and green political economy with John Barry

John teaches Green Political Economy and co-directs the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action at Queens Belfast University. He is also the Co-Chair of the Belfast Climate Commission, which translates climate policy into on-the-ground action to achieve the UK Government’s net-zero emissions target by 2050.  In this episode, John introduces the concept of political economy, arguing that economics cannot be separated from politics and power. He dives into the impacts of capitalism on the ecological and climate crises, and advocates for bringing ethics and politics into economic discussion. Barry critiques the academic sector's response to the climate crisis, arguing for a more integrated and mandatory approach to educating students on these issues. He discusses the psychological and emotional impacts of climate change education, advocating for a combination of cognitive knowledge, practical action, and emotional engagement. The conversation also touches on Barry's criticism of current green politics, his potential political aspirations as a Councillor, and the need for a justice transformation approach to address the climate crisis comprehensively. The interview concludes with a call to action, encouraging revolutionary change and active hope to combat climate challenges. This episode also includes a vox pop with an audience member of Earth Rising. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: The Last Prophecy by Alex Besss; No Alibi by Little Planet; Dark Lake by Simon Folwar; You Didn’t Say Goodbye by Abstract Aprils Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

The disruptive power of contemporary art with john gerrard

john gerrard is a contemporary artist, whose sculptures and installations take the form of digital simulations displayed using real-time computer graphics. gerrard’s practice draws on technology originally developed for military and gaming use, which he adapts to create slow, meditative portraits of industrial landscapes and ecological change.  Often set in remote or symbolic locations, these works hold a mirror to systems of extraction, labour and environmental breakdown. His works unfold continuously, often depicting quiet, looping scenes that reflect on energy, power and the climate crisis.  This interview with the artist details his career and the evolution of his work from the early series 'Smoke Trees' to his prominent piece 'Western Flag.' john discusses how his interest in industrial and environmental themes, specifically the impact of fossil fuels, led him to explore the materiality and environmental presence in his art.  He draws a parallel between industrial agriculture and digital infrastructures, and emphasizes the theme of 'power' in his art, encompassing energy, dominance, and influence. John also reflects on the challenges and ethical considerations of using digital technology in his artwork and expresses an interest in future projects focusing on wind energy in Ireland. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: Blob by Moire; Wild West by Alex Besss; Hypnopompia and Lamento by Adrian Ehrlich; Wilderness by The Wayward Hearts. Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

Fashion revolution through care and slowness with Sarah O'Neill

Sarah O'Neill is a passionate and innovative fashion designer, and a consultant at The Zero Waster, a platform dedicated to promoting sustainable and zero-waste practices within the fashion industry. In this episode, Sarah shares about her journey and inspirations in sustainable fashion. With her extensive background in apparel design, she leverages her expertise in sustainable design and product development to create clothing that not only meets aesthetic standards but also aligns with the principles of a circular economy, for example through using reclaimed fabrics.  The discussion covers the challenges of identifying genuinely sustainable brands, the importance of local production, and the creative potential of natural dyes. Sarah also talks about the growth of Dublin Independent Fashion Week, its role in supporting Irish designers, and the need for local manufacturing to make sustainable fashion more accessible. The episode concludes with a conversation about the broader implications of sustainability in everyday life. Sarah is deeply engaged in brand awareness campaigns to educate consumers about the benefits of ethical fashion and has been recognised for her contributions, including winning the Sustainable Design Award at the IDI Awards in 2022.  Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: Cutie by Sky Gienger; Eclipse by Moire; Network by Ill Kitchen; Gigil by Ten String Story Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

Remembering our collective agency as Earth citizens with Jon Alexander

Jon is the author of ‘CITIZENS: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us’ and dedicates himself to sharing about the emergence of a Citizen Future. As a public speaker and a strategist, he supports leaders who understand the scale of the transformation we need and who are willing to play their part, and he plays a key role as a connector between institutions, community groups and social movements. In this episode, Jon first discusses his career transition from advertising to co-founding the New Citizen Project with Irenie Ekkeshis in 2014, a consultancy aimed at transforming the societal role of individuals from consumers to engaged citizens. He explores the concept of citizenship as an active practice rather than a static status, emphasizing the importance of collective intelligence and local community actions in addressing major issues like climate change and biodiversity loss.  Jon advocates for participatory democracy and deeper, more inclusive narratives that validate and platform community efforts, such as the wind energy project in Lawrence Weston, Bristol. He provides various international examples such as Taiwan’s COVID response and Norway’s crowdsourced investment strategies, where leaders embrace collective agency. The discussion also touches on the potential of small yet significant shifts in narrative and policy to mobilize public engagement and trust. Jon is also a member of the Global Advisor Network of the ⁠⁠Apolitical Foundation⁠⁠ [https://www.apolitical.foundation/democration-innovation], where he led extensive work on Democratic Innovation. He is also on the Advisory Council of ⁠⁠DemocracyNext⁠⁠ [https://demnext.org/], an organisation he helped found as one of the original Strategic Advisors, and on the Leadership Council of the ⁠⁠Democracy and Culture Foundation⁠⁠ [https://www.democracyculturefoundation.org/]. He is also a Fellow of the ⁠⁠Young Foundation⁠⁠ [https://www.youngfoundation.org/], a Visiting Fellow at the University of Manchester, and an Associate at the Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership. This episode also includes a series of vox pop with audience members of Earth Rising. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: Resurgence by Simon Folwar; Zenith by Shane Mckenna YouTube clip: ‘How we got a wind turbine’ by Ambition Lawrence Weston Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo