For today’s episode I talk with singer song-writers Amy Woodburn and Lizzie Freeborn of ISYLA. Not only is ISYLA’s delicate groove spellbindingly lovely, but this is music with purpose, created to engage listeners with the climate crisis.

My conversation with Lizzie and Amy is wide-ranging: you’ll hear the sweetest story of how they formed ISYLA, along with their reflections on why their differing generational standpoints create a very special alchemy; we hear about the process of writing and arranging songs, and learning to deal with anxiety around live performance.  Amy and Lizzie also share thoughts on why music can be such a powerful tool for engaging with issues of climate, in which we have to connect with humanness that surrounds the issues, as well as the science and facts.

“We are trying to spread the message of climate change and engage with the emotions around it. [We need to] engage people with compassion, connection and love … that is at the heart of the problem”

Visit the Episode 19 web page for more information about the topics we discuss, breakfast recipes and behind the scenes photos from our recording.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

For today’s episode I spent a fantastic morning sharing breakfast with chocolatiers Sara Castañeda and Andres Altamirano of Rio Nuevo, and we recorded this conversation at the fabulous Origin Coffee Warehouse Café in Penryn.

Sara and Andres set up Rio Nuevo after learning the art of chocolate making in the Ecuadorian rainforest back in 2014.  During this time, they became aware of the devastating impacts that the cacao trade can have on rural communities and environments.  Rio Nuevo was established to support rural cacao-growing farmers and their communities by trading with them directly, and in so doing, shortening the supply chain, and empowering the people who grow the beans.

Sara and Andres’s story is one of creativity, compassion and hope for a different future – for the chocolate industry and beyond.  They are motivated by the goal of having a positive impact for people and planet, and they have worked tirelessly to create a direct trade model for Rio Nuevo that supports the farmers and their families that they work with, as well as taking an holistic view on what creating ethical chocolate means in practice. 

 “When farmers lose out, our environment loses out because they are not able to protect their habitat,
their biodiversity, their wildlife.”

Visit the Episode 18 web page for more information about the topics we discuss and behind the scenes photos from our breakfast.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

Today’s episode was one of my favourites to record – for the first time, we took Breakfast & Beyond on location, and I was lucky enough to spend a blissful morning walking, listening, learning, swimming and sharing breakfast at the rugged Cornish coast with seaweed artist Julia Bird.

Julia co-founded Molesworth & Bird with fellow artist and friend Melanie Molesworth back in 2018, translating their mutual love for art and the ocean into a business, hand-pressing seaweed that they forage from the shores of their local beaches. From the original pressings, Molesworth & Bird now create a range of seaweed-inspired homewares along with hosting seaweed pressing workshops. 

Sustainability is etched into each element of Julia’s work – from the choice she made to step away from a busy London career, to the gentle rhythm of foraging, collecting and pressing seaweed, always with a deep consideration and respect for the natural environment.

So for this episode, allow me to take you on a journey to the quiet corner of the Cornish coastline that is Julia’s world, and I hope you enjoy - and learn - just as much from her story as I did.

Visit the Episode 17 web page for links to listen, recipes, more information about the topics we discuss and beautiful images taken by friend and photographer John Hersey.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

Bella Collins is my guest for Episode 16.  Bella heads up Flexi-Hex which is an industry leader in sustainable packaging, based in Porthleven in West Cornwall. 

Flexi-Hex evolved when founders and surfers Will and Sam Boex were looking for a way to transport their boards without using plastic, or running the risk of damage.  They created the first Flexi-Hex product – a surfboard sleeve that fits like a wetsuit, uses zero plastic, and protects both their boards and the planet. Fast forward four years and Flexi-Hex is a small but fast-growing business that has developed a range of beautifully designed packaging options made from paper, using their unique concertina-like glove that fits snuggly around fragile products from bottles to electronics, cosmetics, surf boards and more.

By creating a paper product that’s recyclable, biodegradable and natural, they’re removing unnecessary plastic from the ocean, and as a company they state “Our love of the sea runs deep through our team. It’s why we take care in everything we do, from the way we run our business to the way our product is made.”

Bella also discusses her world-record-breaking rowing endeavours, and links the skills and mindset that she cultivated when rowing for weeks on end across oceans in often extremely challenging conditions back to the workplace.  Bella is engaging – she was listed by Forbes this year as one of their European 30 under 30; her story and that of Flexi-Hex is truly uplifting, and I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation just as much as I did.

Check out the Episode 16 web page for links to listen, recipes, and more information about the topics we discuss.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

Episode 15 of Breakfast & Beyond is out today, featuring a conversation with Catherine Collin and Dean Harvey, both experts within the field of mental health within Cornwall. 

Mental health is a strand of ‘social sustainability’, pertaining to our wellbeing and opportunity to lead happy, prosperous lives - which in turn affects our economic prospects, our capacity to play an active part in our communities, and to contribute to the environmental agenda.  The World Health Organisation states “there can be no health or sustainable development without mental health”.

The insights that Catherine and Dean share are thoughtful, considered and compassionate, and given that all of us are likely to be affected by mental health issues at some point in our lives, I hope that this conversation proves to be as valuable for you as it was for me.

Check out the Episode 15 web page for links to listen, recipes, and more information about the topics we discuss.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

Avril Greenaway is my guest for Episode 14. Based in Bude in North Cornwall, Avril is a designer, community activist and entrepreneur, working within the ocean advocacy space. Avril’s design work, combined with a love for being in, on and by the sea, has taken her on a fascinating journey focused on raising awareness of, and finding solutions for, the microplastic pollution that is having such a devastating impact on our waterways and ecosystems.

Avril has been involved with the Cleaner Seas Project for 10 years, initially to create engaging campaigns to raise awareness of microplastic pollution, but as you will hear subsequently getting stuck in with everything from beach cleans to working with local businesses and hosting conferences. More recently Avril has become a founding member of the Cleaner Seas Group which was established with the intention of finding practical, scalable solutions for tackling microplastic pollution. They are in the early and exciting stage of rolling out a microfibre filter for washing machines … did you know that approximately 91 million microfibres are released into our waterways by each household in the UK, each year, as a consequence of washing clothes?  I didn’t until talking with Avril …

Check out the Episode 14 web page for links to listen, for the breakfast recipe, and more information about the topics we discuss.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

Becca’s work is shaped by the seasons; growing her own flowers and foliage she creates art with nature through her floral designs for weddings and events here in Cornwall, along with teaching a global community of florists through her courses. Texture, colour and a desire to authentically reflect the seasons define Becca’s approach, along with using natural materials and embracing opportunities to celebrate other local artisans. In this episode Becca discusses the joys of gardening, the journey of The Garden Gate Flower Company, and the shifts she has made through the C-19 era to ensure her business remains sustainable - which have led to fresh opportunities. Oh, and growing cabbages in your flower bed. Do join us …

“My work is about creating art with flowers, embracing seasonality and the ingredients that can be found outside. The seasonal food movement happened early, the transition to flowers has taken a lot longer.”

Visit the Episode 1 web page which includes recipes from the breakfast table.

Breakfast & Beyond is available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Tune-In.

In Episode 2 I share breakfast with Alistair Frost (Frosty), founder of Pentire, a non-alcoholic botanical drinks company based in North Cornwall.  We discuss the journey of Pentire from the early days of distilling foraged coastal plants on the habour-side in Port Isaac, to the growth they have seen as a company since they were established, mirroring the burgeoning interest in alternatives to alcoholic drinks that fit alongside a healthy active lifestyle, and consumer interest in purchasing products whose values and modes of working are transparent and sustainable.

Visit the Episode 2 web page for more information including recipes from the breakfast table.  

Breakfast & Beyond is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Tune-In & Stitcher

Join me as I share breakfast with Katie and Jamie Sawday of Fruutbox – a plastic-free fruit and veg box delivery service based in Cornwall.  

Katie set up Fruutbox to create the product that she was struggling to find for their family: fresh, seasonal, plant-based produce, plastic free, delivered at a fair price with a user-friendly online ordering system. Our conversation covers the challenges as well as joys of setting up a business as a young family, how promoting plastic-free fruit and veg can have ripple effects through other areas of our lives, along with sharing a lot of love for purple sprouting broccoli…

“We want to connect people with the food they are eating …
sharing the story behind where and how it’s grown”

Visit the Episode 3 web page for more information about Fruutbox, the issue of single use plastic, and recipes from the breakfast table.

Listen via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Tune-In & Stitcher

In conversation with Vicki Jones – clothes designer, surfer and founder of sustainable swimwear brand Sand & Palm – we discuss Vicki’s journey setting up an eco clothing brand, how attitudes to fast fashion are starting to shift, the considered choices she has made in creating a ‘sustainable’ business, and why ‘slow’ fashion might just begin with reflecting on the pace of our own lives.

“It’s really important we take the time to do our own research around what we buy, take back a bit of control over our lives. We’ve become so used to doing everything quick, fast, easy, but that’s not sustainable.”

Do join us for Episode 4 of Breakfast & Beyond, and for more information about Sand & Palm, the themes we discuss along with recipes from the breakfast table, visit the episode web page.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

For Episode 5, I share the discussion I hosted at the G7 Fringe on the theme of sustainable futures. In conversation with four fantastic panellists we discussed the role of individual vs large-scale actions in creating a fairer, greener future for people and planet.

Our conversation includes a critique of the concept of ‘net zero’ emissions, how we should frame messaging around action, whether climate and social justice can be achieved within the current system, whether we need to move from a concept of living ‘sustainably’ to living ‘regeneratively’ .. and much, much more.

I was lucky enough to be joined by four panellists with a broad range of experience within different sectors:

In Episode 6 I share breakfast with Amanda Winwood, Managing Director of Cornwall-based skincare company Made for Life Organics. Amanda has worked relentlessly to create a sustainable brand - for people and for planet - and our conversation covers the belief Amanda holds in the power of plants to support our bodies naturally, the journey of becoming a B Corp, the motivation behind setting up the Made for Life Foundation and much more .. including Amanda’s own belief in the importance of taking time to sustain ourselves.

“Everything we do within the business is about people, but also about planet and health,
they have to be joined up”

Join us in conversation for Episode 6 of Breakfast & Beyond, and for more information about Made for Life Organics along with recipes from the breakfast table, visit the Episode 6 web page.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

Join me in conversation with chef, author, photographer and TV presenter James Strawbridge as we discuss the journey of James’s work and what cooking and eating ‘sustainably’ means for him. We also dig a little deeper into James’s belief that the way to create lasting behaviour change is to lead by example and inspire, and that small steps such as adopting zero waste principles in the way we eat, can make a big difference.

“My day-to-day job is trying to represent and capture a plate of tasty food to then share the recipe and inspire people to cook more at home with good ingredients. My secret mission is driven by a desire to help people live more sustainably"

Visit the Episode 7 web page for links to listen along with recipes from the breakfast table, including the Zero Waste Courgette Pancakes that we cooked together.

 Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

For Episode 8 I welcome Alice Collyer to the breakfast table as we discuss the remarkable evolution of her business Alice in Scandiland. Six years ago, while parenting two young children, Alice began updating and re-styling her home on a budget, to make it work better as a family space. Alice’s enjoyment of DIY and hunting out vintage treasures led to the creation of the Alice in Scandiland blog, which in turn progressed into an award-winning brand that now includes shops both online, and in the market town of Lostwithiel.

For me, Alice’s business is the antithesis of ‘greenwashing’ - where there’s a lot of talk of environmental credentials but little action to back it up. Instead, during our conversation Alice discusses why she feels cautious about locating her work within the ‘sustainability’ space, and we also cover everything from setting up a business with no formal training to the positives and perils of social media, parenting feral children and much more …

Visit the Episode 8 web page for links to listen along with the Pumpkin Porridge recipe, and behind-the-scenes photos from our recording.

 Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

For episode 9 I welcome Alex Geldenhuys, founder of sail-powered cargo company New Dawn Traders. Alex is led by a radical, optimistic belief in the power of people to collectively do good by each other and the planet, and this transfers into an amazing network that encompasses growers, producers and makers, boats and their crew members, and customers – from traders to individuals - based around the world.  

This conversation is about climate action and cutting carbon within the global shipping trade.  But it’s also about putting people first, supporting small-scale growers, challenging the whole system - or business model - of the global shipping trade, and creating connections between people and the environment to generate empathy and awareness, which in turn galvanises action.

Frejya Hanstein, founder of wellbeing app Wholesome World, is my guest for Episode 10. Wholesome World  contains an ever-growing library of recipes along with medical and nutritional information, with the aim of informing and motivating people to improve their health.

Behind the app is an incredibly moving, powerful and positive story of how Freyja navigated the loss of her husband Lars in 2014 due to abdominal synovial sarcoma cancer, and the grief that surrounded this immense loss, which was followed by Freyja being diagnosed with a grade III/IV brain tumour the following year.  Through her recovery and the rebuilding of her life, Freyja has directed her energy into creating a platform to share all that she has learnt along the way, and support the wellbeing of others.

For Episode 11 I welcome my good friend Joey Hulin - author, meditation teacher and retreat host - to the breakfast table as we discuss the launch of her latest book Mind & Bowl: A Guide to Mindful Eating and Cooking. As well as discussing what ‘mindful eating’ means and the background to the book - which offers a beautiful and accessible discourse on the art of mindful living along with delicious, simple, bowl-based recipes - we explore the link between sustainability and mindfulness:

“Mindful eating .. is about being concerned with and interested in where food has come from, understanding the journey of food to our plate, who’s involved with the production, what’s involved with the production, and making conscious choices to eat with love”

As we begin our second course, we flip things over and Joey interviews me about the evolution of the Breakfast & Beyond podcast - today’s episode representing a year since the first season launched.

Visit the Episode 11 web page for links to listen along with recipe details, and more information about the topics we discuss.

 Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

Marcus Alleyne, co-founder and Director of Communications for the charity Black Voices Cornwall, is my guest for Episode 12. Black Voices Cornwall was established in 2020 following the global rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.  The charity exists to enable Cornwall to become an actively anti-racist County .. and during our conversation we discuss why an anti-racist organisation is needed within a Cornish context; we deconstruct what being ‘anti-racist’ means in practice; how Black Voices Cornwall work to achieve their aims; along with Marcus so kindly sharing some of his own lived experiences and personal reflections.

This conversation felt so important, to shine a spotlight on the racism that exists within ourselves, our communities, our county, country and globally, which we need to confront – in ways that can feel uncomfortable – if we are to dismantle the racist scaffolding of our culture.

Visit the Episode 12 web page for links to listen and more information about the topics we discuss.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher

Jeffrey Robinson of The New Yard Restaurant and Pantry is my guest for Episode 13. Jeff and his wife Caroline took on management of The New Yard Restaurant just over two years ago, seeking to create an exceptional dining experience founded on principles of sustainability.  In 2021, they were awarded a Michelin Green Star; a coveted accolade that recognises gastronomy and sustainability within the restaurant industry.

So .. when planning for this conversation with Jeff, I was expecting to delve into all things green cooking and eating.  But what I wasn’t necessarily expecting, was the emphasis that they give to social considerations alongside this – namely their staff and team of people who bring the restaurant to life – which, as you’ll hear, is absolutely front and centre, alongside their eco credentials.  This is a conversation about people and planet .. and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. 

Check out the Episode 13 web page for links to listen, for the breakfast recipe, and more information about the topics we discuss.

Listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Tune-In & Stitcher