Feeding Us With Trees: Rethinking Food, Fire, and Our Role on the Land with Elspeth Hay

Feeding Us With Trees: Rethinking Food, Fire, and Our Role on the Land with Elspeth Hay

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 hope Elspeth’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 [http://www.ElspethHay.com] 🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback? * Email: claudia@claudiageratz.com * Website: claudiageratz.com [https://claudiageratz.com/] * LinkedIn: @claudiageratz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiageratz/] 📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here [https://forms.gle/BzHSz7dNYcKDK8VLA] 🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/albertogariglio.77] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@albertogarigliomypianomusi1392] 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 [https://positiveclimatecareers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Turning Europe's Farmers into Rockstars: Reimagining Food and Farming with Cindie Christiansen

🌿 Coming in January: Doing Hope in Practice Inspired 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 [https://positiveclimatecareers.substack.com/p/doing-hope-in-practice-6-week-regeneration-circle] and join the interest list [https://forms.gle/PJTaZRocgqxmcGxq6] 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 hope Cindie’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 [http://www.linkedin.com/in/cindie-ch] * Learn more about Foodprint Nordic [http://foodprintnordic.org/] * Connect with the Top 50 Farmers Initiative [https://www.top50farmers.org/] 🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback? * Email: claudia@claudiageratz.com * Website: claudiageratz.com [https://claudiageratz.com/] * LinkedIn: @claudiageratz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiageratz/] 📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here [https://forms.gle/BzHSz7dNYcKDK8VLA] 🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/albertogariglio.77] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@albertogarigliomypianomusi1392] 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 [https://positiveclimatecareers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Engineering Hope: Designing Flood-Resilient Futures with Leslie

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 [https://www.epa.ie/take-action/in-the-home/climate-change/adaptation--mitigation/] * Ongoing project relief schemes in Ireland [https://www.floodinfo.ie/scheme-info/] 🇮🇪 🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback? * Email: claudia@claudiageratz.com * Website: claudiageratz.com [https://claudiageratz.com/] * LinkedIn: @claudiageratz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiageratz/] 📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here [https://forms.gle/BzHSz7dNYcKDK8VLA] 🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/albertogariglio.77] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@albertogarigliomypianomusi1392] 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 [https://positiveclimatecareers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Reimagining Activewear: From Wood Fibres to Sustainable Sportswear with Franziska Mesche

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 hope Disclaimer: 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 [https://tripulse.co/] * Explore Tripulse journal which covers key topics such as plastics & toxins in clothing and what do about it: Tripulse Journal [https://tripulse.co/blogs/news] * Follow Tripulse on LinkedIn: Tripulse LinkedIn page [https://www.linkedin.com/company/tripulse/] * Connect with Franziska on LinkedIn: Franziska's LinkedIn page [https://www.linkedin.com/in/franziskamesche/] 🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback? * Email: claudia@claudiageratz.com * Website: claudiageratz.com [https://claudiageratz.com/] * LinkedIn: @claudiageratz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiageratz/] 📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here [https://forms.gle/BzHSz7dNYcKDK8VLA] 🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/albertogariglio.77] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@albertogarigliomypianomusi1392] 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 [https://positiveclimatecareers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Turning the Grid Green: What It Takes to Shift a State to Renewable Energy

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 Glustrom Listen 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 [https://www.cleanenergyaction.org/] * Empower Our Future – Clean Energy. Local Power. [https://empowerourfuture.org/] * Colorado Renewable Energy Society [https://www.cres-energy.org/] * Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate [https://colivableclimate.org/]– Advocating strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to a level supportive of a livable climate. * Connect with Leslie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-glustrom-7532632b/] 🙋 Want to connect with me or share feedback? * Email: claudia@claudiageratz.com * Website: claudiageratz.com [https://claudiageratz.com/] * LinkedIn: @claudiageratz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiageratz/] 📍 Nominate a guest for the podcast: Submit your idea here [https://forms.gle/BzHSz7dNYcKDK8VLA] 🎵 Music by Alberto Gariglio Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/albertogariglio.77] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@albertogarigliomypianomusi1392] 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 [https://positiveclimatecareers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]