My Home Planet Podcast

As a child Suzanne Rogers was fascinated by the interactions between humans and non-human animals. With a career in animal welfare, she’s had plenty of time to observe not just animal behaviour but human behaviour as well. So with a deep desire to understand human behaviour towards animals, Suzanne founded the Human Behaviour Change for Animals Initiative.In this episode of MHP, Suzanne discusses the Initiative and shares her insights into the complexities around human behaviour change not just for animals but for ourselves as well. She chats about everything from her love of TED talks, why she dislikes bad TV and the impact the film Blackfish had on audiences worldwide. And she also explains how sometimes education and awareness doesn’t always lead to behaviour change.Suzanne Rogers is an animal welfare consultant, equine behaviourist and the founder of Human Behaviour Change for Animals. A former science journalist with a degree in microbiology, Suzanne has worked for numerous animal welfare organizations

While she may have pursued a degree in Religious studies, Carolyn Mullin’s primary devotion is to animals. As the founder of the United States first Animal Museum, Carolyn works to educate the public with a living history of the animal protection movement, animal studies and humane education as a way of enriching the lives of both human and non-human animals.In this episode of MHP this remarkable woman chats about her activist roots, working with local communities and local governments to improve the welfare of animals. She explains how a picture of Farm Sanctuary founder Gene Baur helped inspire her commitment to creating the museum, shares surprising facts about the history of Humane Education and explains just why she has a tattoo of a quote from Carol J. Adams.Carolyn Merino Mullin is the founder of the incredible Animal Museum in Los Angeles. She has over 16 years experience in the non-profit sector working on critical campaigns for animal welfare and children’s education. Her writings have been publishe

From surviving a fall into an ice crevice in the South Pole to being the first amateur cyclist to complete the three Grand Tours in a single season, it’s no wonder that Keith’s last name starts with Tuff.In his day job, Keith heads up The B Team, a not-for-profit initiative created by a broad group of global business leaders, in order to catalyse a better way of doing business, for the wellbeing of humans and the planet.In this episode of MHP, Keith talks about the challenges and opportunities for businesses today, why the plan A of capitalism isn’t working, and how business can be a force for good to help drive much needed changes required for our planet’s future. He also shares his passion for the outdoors, reveals some of the epiphanies he’s had along the way and professes his profound devotion to our beautiful earth. A former investment banker Keith Tuffley is the Managing Partner & CEO of The B Team and the Founder and Chairman of NEUW Ventures SA based in Lausanne, Switzerland., Keith also sits on t

Even though Thandi Mweetwa grew up in one of the most wildlife rich countries on the planet, her first memory of that wildlife was from watching TV and hearing the stories of her mother’s childhood. Those stories had such a profound impact that Thandi worked hard to create her dream job and became an integral part of the Zambian Carnivore Program.In this episode of MHP Thandi (along with a very loud cricket), chats about Canadian anatomy classes, the reproductive life of lions, the joy of heading up the ZCP’s education program when she’s not out in the field, and her deep love of wild dogs. Thandiwe Mweetwa is a wildlife biologist, educator and senior ecologist with the Zambian Carnivore Program. She has a BSc in Animal Science from the University of British Columbia and a Masters from the University of Arizona. She was named a 2016 National Geographic Emerging Explorer. You can find out more about Thandi and the ZCP at www. http://www.zambiacarnivores.orgwww.myhomeplanet.org

Bonnie Wyper has had a busy life. With careers in fashion, radio, advertising, real estate and art, she’s found her calling as co-founder of Thinking Animals United, a powerful animal advocacy initiative.In this episode of My Home Planet, Bonnie shares her childhood love of the country and what drove her to advocate for non-human animals. She discusses why the upcoming Rethinking Animals Summit is so important, shares some surprising things she’s discovered about humans, and why we may just be the dumbest species out there.Bonnie Wyper is the Founder and President of Thinking Animals United. She has an advanced Certificate in Psychology of Animal Behavior and Conservation and  she is working with the NGO Major Group at the UN to insure the conservation, protection and welfare of animals is included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.You can learn more about Bonnie, the upcoming Rethinking Animals Summit (May 6-7th in New York City) and Thinking Animals United at www.thinkinganimalsunited.org

Emanuele ‘Ema’ Biggi would not take offence if you'd called him a nerdy bug collector as a child, in fact he’d take it as a compliment. From the minute he could shake the hedge by his kindergarten and wonder at how insects would magically appear, he was hooked on all things creepy crawly.In this episode of MHP this naturalist, photographer and Italian TV presenter shares his love for the underrated and sometimes under loved creatures we share the planet with.  He chats about his tools of the trade, acting as a ‘perspective motion control system’, why less charismatic species deserve respect and his surprising second career in heavy metal.Emanuele Biggi has a PhD in Marine Sciences. When not working as a TV presenter on the very popular show: GEO, Ema can be found out in the field, writing and photographing for various international publications, with a focus on microcosm animals and their conservation. He is an advisor for Italian Parks, curates scientific exhibitions all over Italy and lectures in Naturalist

To listen to Zoe Weil speak about the need for Humane Education is to be in the presence of total common sense and infectious inspiration. In this episode of MHP, Zoe shares story, from her almost accidental path to becoming a humane educator, to co-founding the Institute for Humane Education in order to create generations of ‘solutionaries’. She answers the question, “how can we create a just, healthy and humane world?”, explains what the MOGO principle is, why Humane Education should be in every school across the planet, and what Star Trek has taught her about how the world can be. Zoe Weil is an author, educational pioneer and President of the Institute for Humane Education. Amongst her numerous acclaimed books, her latest book is The World Becomes What We Teach; Educating a Generation of Solutionaries. You can find out more about the incredible Zoe Weil and Humane Education at www.humaneeducation.org http://www.zoeweil.comwww.myhomeplanet.org

Between emergency rescues and his undercover poaching investigations, it’s difficult to connect with Wildlife SOS co-founder Kartick Satyanarayan. Fortunately for MHP he made time while on the road in India to chat about his life and the brilliant work of Wildlife SOS. From a childhood spent observing tigers up on a tree branch, to picking the wrong course at university, Kartick talks about the career he loves, including helping to eradicate the illegal dancing bear trade in India.He has dressed as a holy man to investigate the poaching of pangolins, tackled the complexities of elephant rescues and turned to Gandhi for inspiration. In this episode, Kartick shares some remarkable stories and tells us why he feels such a great responsibility to be a voice for animals. Kartick Satyanarayan is the Co-founder and Chairman of Wildlife SOS, India. He sits on numerous boards including the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, is a member of the IUCN Bear Specialist Group, a TED international Fellow, the recipient of several

She was born a nomad and her mother declares that she was raised by wolves, which might explain why artist and creative conservationist Asher Jay is as comfortable on the plains of the Serengeti as she in the middle of Manhattan. In this episode of MHP, this dynamic, infectious personality chats about her drive to create such prolific and life changing art,  why poaching is not just about wildlife, and what we can learn from sparrows.She confesses to losing her way for a time and betraying the largest part of herself, discusses the philosophical and spiritual aspects of where we are now in terms of the environment, and why we all need to trust in the universe and learn to let go.Asher Jay is a designer, artist, creative conservationist, globetrotter, National Geographic emerging explorer and a UN Design Star. Through her powerful artistic work, she is able to connect to and with people everywhere in highlighting key issues affecting us all in this age of the Anthropocene.  Her work has been exhibited and been

With 40 million + news feed views a week, you’d think that Rodney Habib was a household name. Yet while many of us might not be familiar with him, for his 1.5 million Facebook subscribers he is the rock star of pet parents.In this week's episode you learn that far from letting these startling statistics go to his head, Rodney not only remains humble, but feels even more responsible for bringing the most researched and in some cases controversial information on companion animal health to the world.From a childhood without pets to now traveling the world sharing his research with his adoring fans, Rodney speaks of the tragedies behind his almost obsessive drive to keep our best friends healthy. He chats about the issues around food and cancer, why a dog called Molly lived to 30, and why he wants to launch a rocket ship of healthy information into the future.Rodney Habib is and award-winning blogger, writer, lecturer and founder of Planet Paws. Through his entertaining and informational social media videos he ac

When greeted by the radiant smile and gentle laugh lines around photojournalist JoAnne McArthur’s eyes, it’s difficult to imagine the horrors that those eyes have born witness to in bringing the world images of  ‘the invisibles’. In this episode of MHP Jo chats about what drives her to photograph and document the plight of captive, farmed and abused animals all over the world, her techniques for making those remarkable images-which serve as both a window and a mirror into human behaviour, and the benefits of viewing things from a wide angle.She talks about her upcoming book Captive, coping with PTSD, why women in advocacy should and are be celebrated in her Unbound project, her idea of happiness and why she’ll continue to do what she does until she dies.Jo Anne McArthur is a photojournalist and educator. She travels the globe documenting the use, abuse and issues faced by our non-human kin. She is the subject of the award-winning Canadian Documentary The Ghosts in Our Machine and is the author of WeAnimals a

When Hob Osterlund dreamt of her deceased relative Martha Warren Beckwith, little did she know that it would change the course of her life and lead her to fall in love with some of the most mystical and spectacular birds on earth.In this episode of MHP, Hob talks about her simply beautiful book Holy Mōlī: Albatross and Other Ancestors. She shares her heartbreak over the death of her mother as a young child, her work as a nurse, problems facing albatrosses today, and how she was finally able to forgive herself and become an incredible advocate for these beautiful birds.Hob Osterlund is an award winning writer and photographer. Her work has appeared in such publications as Nature and the New York Times, and she is the founder of the Kaua’I Albatross Network.You can find out more about Hob and the great work she is doing on behalf of the Albatross at http://www.albatrosskauai.org/wp/Listen to the podcast at www.myhomeplanet.org or on iTunes, on Soundcloud or Stitcher

What do you get when an earth-loving sister drives into a tree in an apparent accident? TreeSisters of course. Meet Clare Dubois, change-maker, social entrepreneur, and inspirational speaker who was delivered a life changing message the moment she crashed into that tree.In this episode of MHP, we get to hear her remarkable story- from a tricky childhood to playing mother earth while hating ritual theatre. Clare shares her belief that women are the key to the climate change crisis, and how that car crash literally drove her to mobilize women from all over the world to manifest a crowd-funding campaign to direct the brilliance, creativity and generosity of all women towards the reforestation of the tropics. As earth loving social entrepreneur Clare worked for 18 years creating change processes within the personal growth sector before becoming the UK co-ordinator for Project Green Hands (PGH), a massive agro-forestry initiative in southern India., she is the founder and director of TreeSisters, designed to not j

Frans Schepers grew up in a small town in the Netherlands, but that didn’t stop him from traveling to the farthest corners of the earth, carving out a wonderful career in conservation. He now strives to make Europe a shining example to the rest of the world of how Rewilding can work.An avid bird watcher, in this episode of MHP Frans shares his story-the memory of seeing an owl for the first time, traveling the world only to discover the beauty in his own back yard, his vision of Rewilding Europe and leaving a part of his heart in Southern Africa.Frans Schepers is the Managing Director of Rewilding Europe, an impressive initiative to rewild 1 million hectares of Europe by 2020. He has worked for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and specializes in conservation, ecological and rewilding strategies.You can find out more about Frans at www.rewildingeurope.org

From a young girl camping in the wilderness of Ontario to becoming a life long tree hugger, it’s clear that Debora Souter loves nature.This former silviculture specialist now spends her time at The Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in British Columbia, Canada. In this episode of MHP, Debora shares her talent for patterning, her travels on the Trans Siberian Railway, why she thinks that familiarity breeds fondness and her belief each day that she’s died and gone to heaven.As a Blue Heron Reserve volunteer and educator, Debora teaches students and the public how to identify birds, care for other critters, hug buildings and the importance of looking up sometimes.Debora Souter is a retired forester in British Columbia, Canada. She spends much of her time at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve helping to protect its pristine beauty and share her knowledge with othersYou can find out more about the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve at www.chilliwackblueheron.com

From a childhood spent in Johannesburg miles away from any Ocean to now heading up Ocean Unite, Karen Sack has made it her passion and her mission to fight for our beautiful big blue planet.In this episode of MHP, Karen chats about growing up in South Africa during apartheid and working tirelessly to help create the Ross Sea Reserve.. She explains why, (beyond the fact that every second breath we take comes from them), our oceans are critical to our survival, what issues they face in this age of the Anthropocene and why she feels a little bit guilty for being Richard Branson’s support crew.Karen Sack is the Managing Director of Ocean Unite. She has worked for numerous conservation organisations including Greenpeace, the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, and is the former Senior Director for International Oceans at the Pew Charitable Trusts.You can find out more about Karen and her great work at www.oceanunite.organd learn more about other great planet heroes at www.myhomeplanet.org

As a young woman growing up in Trenton New Jersey, Peggy Shepard dream job was to be an editor at a magazine in New York. While her path ultimately lead her to Manhattan, her ultimate dream job ended up by her becoming one of the most highly respected environmental advocates in The United States today.In this episode of MHP, Peggy shares her journey and how she came to co-found The West Harlem Environmental Action, and environmental justice movement. She shares some startling statistics on the cumulative effects of pollution on a community, and  explains why only .5% of all environmental funding goes into environmental justice. Peggy describes what a healthy community should look like, the critical importance of the younger generations involvement in environmental justice.Peggy Shepard is the co-founder of WEACT,  and one of the most important environmental justice advocates. She is the recipient of  numerous awards, including the Heinz award for the Environment and The Rachel Carson award from Audubon. She i

For Sharyn Munro city life is a jail sentence. When she returned to life in the bush, this author soon became an unlikely voice for people across Australia battling for their land and their livelihoods.In this episode of MHP, Sharyn shares why she’d much prefer a wallaby world to a wally world. She talks about what it’s like to live surrounded by wildlife ( including deadly snakes), building a house literally by hand, witnessing the devastating impacts of forest fires and how she as a nature writer, came to write the seminal work about the dirty tactics used by fossil fuel companies and the impacts on those individuals and communities who are in the firing line.Sharyn Munro is the author of three books, The Woman on the Mountain, Mountain Tales and Rich, Waste Land. As a grandmother, concern about the future for her grandchildren pushes her to continue to speak to audiences beyond the converted around Australia with, for and of those directly affected by coal mining and it’s hazardous impacts.You can find out

As a child in Brooklyn, Marc Bekoff grew up with, love, compassion, empathy and a goldfish.Marc kept his compassion and become a compassionate conservationist. In this episode of MHP, Marc talks about his life; from a childhood spent asking what animals were thinking, to a career as a renowned leader in the field of animal behavior and an acclaimed author of many books and scientific papers.Marc chats about the importance of naming animals in science; why animal welfare just doesn’t cut it; taking Temple Grandin to task for her ‘Stairways to Heaven’, and why ‘the human age’ should be called the ‘rage of inhumanity’. Every Friday you’ll find him at the Boulder County jail and when he’s not writing prolifically or off on a marathon bike ride, he’ll be picking up a crappy novel from his bedside table. Marc Bekoff is professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology a the University of Colorado. Amongst his many achievements he is a Guggenheim Fellow and co-founder with Jane Goodall of the Ethologists for Et

With her husband Ron, she went from being a spearfishing champion to one of the worlds biggest champions for ocean conservation.At eighty-one Valerie has had a remarkable life so far. In this episode of MHP she talks about some of her incredible experiences, like being knighted by the Dutch Royal family, her wonderful career as an underwater photographer, the backlash the film Jaws had on sharks, how eels make great friends and why tiger sharks are pussycats. She shares her admiration for fellow ocean advocate Sylvia Earle, and some of her fights for conservation-why one person sitting on the steps of parliament is all it takes sometimes to see the right thing done and why most environmental groups are going about it all wrong.Valerie Taylor along with her late husband Ron pioneered underwater photography and are considered Australia’s first marine conservationists.Their numerous conservation efforts to protect marine areas and marine animals fill volumes, and Valerie's work on behalf of sharks is unmatched.