We Grow

19: Water Quality and Why What We Do on the Land Matters

In this episode, host Aleisha Keating discusses a disturbing trend of declining water quality in one of her local river catchments. You'll learn about the vital role catchments play in water quality as Aleisha chats about: * What a catchment is * The contribution of different landuses to water quality * The positive impacts from increasing native vegetation cover around waterways * Reasons you might care about water quality * How you can support waterways in your local area Discover how everything we do in a catchment is connected, from the mountains and hills, to rural and urban areas and ultimately to the sea. Flowing water connects these areas, linking landuse with downstream and coastal water quality. Read about the Healthy Land and Water report card for the Maroochy and Mooloolah Rivers: https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/2026/04/09/condition-of-water-catchment-sinks-to-record-low/ [https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/2026/04/09/condition-of-water-catchment-sinks-to-record-low/]

18: Dr. Chris Johnson - Road Ecology - Impacts on Wildlife and Landscape Connectivity

In this episode, host Aleisha Keating chats to Dr. Chris Johnson, a transport ecologist. Chris shares is experiences from working in the industry, research and being involved in community projects. With over fifteen years in community-based environmental leadership, Chris works at the nexus of ecological restoration, infrastructure planning and environmental management. You'll hear about: 🦅Chris's journey from volunteering in landcare as a youngster to being inspired to study ecology and zoology through to taking an active role in community leadership.      🦅 The sobering stats of how many wildlife are killed on roads each year and the positive impact that well-designed roads can have on the ecology around roads  🦅 How Chris is helping to bridge the gap between research and practitioners, ensuring that decision makers are informed about the latest research outcomes 🦅 His involvement in Intrepid Landcare and other community groups Articles Illaweena Overpass Case Study [https://transportecology.info/case-studies/illaweena-overpass] Compton Road Wildlife Overpass Summary [https://transportecology.info/case-studies/compton-road-fauna-array] How well do wildlife crossing structures help animals across roads? [https://transportecology.info/research/effectivness-wildlifecrossingstructures?rq=soanes] (summary of research by Kylie Sloans) Do wildlife crossing structures mitigate the barrier effect of roads on animal movement? A global assessment [https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14582] (original article by Kylie Sloans) Connect with Chris Instagram - @thetransportecologist [https://www.instagram.com/thetransportecologist/] Linkedin - Dr. Chris Johnson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-chris-johnson-1160a198/] Intrepid Landcare [https://intrepidlandcare.org/]

17: Why Private Properties are Critical to Landscape Connectivity

In Episode 17, host Aleisha Keating discusses why private properties are so important to enhancing connectivity across the landscape. You'll hear about: * What wildlife corridors are * How animals and birds use corridors to move across the landscape. * Some of the reasons why corridors are fragmented * Why privately owned and managed properties are important to help restore ecosystems in these corridors Tune in to discover why this matters, why private landholders are so critical to help support many threatened species to thrive. Read more about private properties here [https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2022/02/national-parks-are-not-enough--we-need-landholders-to-protect-th].

16: Angelica Choppin - Businesses & Sustainability: A Leadership Opportunity

Host Aleisha Keating chats with Angelica Choppin, a sustainability and systems strategist who works at the intersection of finance, business operations and circular economy thinking. She is talented at bringing a commercially balanced perspective to sustainability, helping businesses understand how environmental outcomes connect to cashflow, efficiency and long-term resilience. In this episode you'll learn about some simple cost-effective strategies to make your business more sustainable and resilient in the long term, saving you not only money, but also time and resources. Angelica shares about how she supports businesses through her business Resona Verde to optimise processes and systems through streamlining operations and making smarter decisions that align with your business goals. We also discuss what it means to be living and doing business in the Sunshine Coast Biosphere and how you can get involved in local community and environmental initiatives. 👉 Connect with Angelica: Resona Verde: www.resonaverde.au [https://www.resonaverde.au/] Linkedin: @angelica-choppin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelica-choppin/] Blog: resonaverde.au/blog [https://resonaverde.au/blog] Email: hello@resonaverde.au [hello@resonaverde.au] 👉 Learn about the Sunshine Coast Biosphere: Website: www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/council/planning-and-projects/major-regional-projects/sunshine-coast-biosphere [https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/council/planning-and-projects/major-regional-projects/sunshine-coast-biosphere] Projects and Initiatives: current-projects-and-initiatives [https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/council/planning-and-projects/major-regional-projects/sunshine-coast-biosphere/current-projects-and-initiatives]

15: Weeding - Lessons for Organisational Success

In this episode, Aleisha chats about tackling invasive weeds and how this process offers surprising lessons for organisational success. Drawing from her hands on experience working on managing a 55-hectare property in Queensland, Aleisha shares how clearing invasive species like lantana mirror common organisational challenges. Just as weeds overwhelm native plants, outdated systems and processes and misaligned resources can reduce an organisation's effectiveness and growth. Aleisha shares practical strategies for overcoming these challenges, emphasising the power of small, consistent actions. Drawing several parallels between the act of weeding to promote healthy, resilient native ecosystems and addressing 'weeds' from your organisation, she explores several ways to nurture thriving ecosystems and organisations. Whether you're leading a not for profit, running a business or managing a community project, this episode provides essential insights into creating healthier, more resilient systems by inviting you to see weeds not just as nuisances, but as catalysts for growth. 👉 Share your experience with landscape restoration and optimising organisational impact in the comments below. 👉 Share this episode with someone in your community.