Tipping Points

Peter Knapp

In this series Imperial PhD student Peter Knapp speaks with scientists from multiple disciplines who are concerned about the current state and future of the climate and life on Earth. They share their personal stories, explaining what led them to be interested in the environmental and ecological crises. They discuss their opinions on public communication, politics, divestment campaigns, having children, Greta Thunberg, travel, carbon footprints, what they hope to see in the future and much more. read less

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#24 Just Stop Oil activists Anna Holland and Louis McKechnie on taking disruptive climate action and managing eco-anxiety

#24 Just Stop Oil activists Anna Holland and Louis McKechnie on taking disruptive climate action and managing eco-anxiety

In this episode, host Pete Knapp speaks to two members of Just Stop Oil who have both faced criminal charges following their actions to raise awareness about the climate crisis. Anna Holland, who hit the headlines when she threw tomato soup at Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflower painting at the National Gallery, and Louis McKechnie, who was speaking from Peterborough Prison and whose actions include tying himself to a goalpost during a Premier League football game and invading the track during Formula One's British Grand Prix, share their stories so far, how they cope with eco-anxiety, and what motivates them to take this type of high-risk direct action.

Episodes

#24 Just Stop Oil activists Anna Holland and Louis McKechnie on taking disruptive climate action and managing eco-anxiety

#24 Just Stop Oil activists Anna Holland and Louis McKechnie on taking disruptive climate action and managing eco-anxiety

In this episode, host Pete Knapp speaks to two members of Just Stop Oil who have both faced criminal charges following their actions to raise awareness about the climate crisis. Anna Holland, who hit the headlines when she threw tomato soup at Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflower painting at the National Gallery, and Louis McKechnie, who was speaking from Peterborough Prison and whose actions include tying himself to a goalpost during a Premier League football game and invading the track during Formula One's British Grand Prix, share their stories so far, how they cope with eco-anxiety, and what motivates them to take this type of high-risk direct action.

#23 The Campbell family, members of XR Families, on the role of adults and young people in the climate crisis

#23 The Campbell family, members of XR Families, on the role of adults and young people in the climate crisis

In this episode, host Pete Knapp speaks to the Campbell family - 3-year-old Marlow, 7-year-old Drake, 13-year-old Wren, and their mother, Hester - who are members of XR Families, a branch of Extinction Rebellion. They discuss the different role of adults and young people in tackling the climate crisis, how they feel about climate anxiety, and motherhood in a rapidly changing world.

#22 Psychotherapist Caroline Hickman and youth activist Elouise Mayall on how children and young people experience the climate crisis

#22 Psychotherapist Caroline Hickman and youth activist Elouise Mayall on how children and young people experience the climate crisis

In this episode, host Pete Knapp is joined by Caroline Hickman, psychotherapist and leading researcher into eco-anxiety and climate psychology, and Elouise Mayall, a youth activist and member of the UK Youth Climate Coalition, who both conducted the famous ‘10,000 children’ study on children and young people’s emotional distress from 10 different countries in the face of the climate and ecological crises. They draw on their own experiences and discuss how adults and children can navigate eco-anxiety.

#21 Phoebe Plummer on disruptive action and how young people can make a difference - Part 2

#21 Phoebe Plummer on disruptive action and how young people can make a difference - Part 2

In the second part of a two-part interview, we hear from Phoebe Plummer, an activist made famous for throwing soup at Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers. She discusses speaking with the media, her feeling of responsibility, having her own family, the role of schools and how she sees young people making the biggest difference.

#20 Phoebe Plummer on the role of young people in the climate crisis - Part 1

#20 Phoebe Plummer on the role of young people in the climate crisis - Part 1

Phoebe Plummer, a young activist from Just Stop Oil, became famous after throwing soup at Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers painting at the National Gallery in London. Her phrase, "What's worth more, art of life?", echoed around the world's newspapers and helped to make the conversation around the climate crisis develop. But at the age of 21, she's sacrificed plenty to achieve this. In the first part of a 2-part interview, Phoebe discusses her experience in prison, why young people would work for oil companies, and how her family dynamics have been strained by her activism.

#18 Doctors Shauna Golden and Patrick Hart on public health, the climate crisis and activism

#18 Doctors Shauna Golden and Patrick Hart on public health, the climate crisis and activism

Dr Shauna Golden, who is an A&E doctor in Scotland and is studying for a Masters in global health, and Dr Patrick Hart, a GP in Bristol who has been arrested for his climate activism, discuss how the climate and ecological crisis is a health crisis, how the world might cope with the next pandemic, and why doctors may feel like they can save lives through activism.

#17 Michelin-starred chef Alexis Gauthier and former pig vet turned activist Dr Alice Brough discuss the meat and dairy industry, and the future of food

#17 Michelin-starred chef Alexis Gauthier and former pig vet turned activist Dr Alice Brough discuss the meat and dairy industry, and the future of food

Alexis Gauthier, a multi-award-winning French chef and successful London restaurateur who turned vegan in 2016, and Dr Alice Brough, a former livestock vet who has become a climate, animal and human rights activist, discuss veganism, why taste is so important to make people change their diets, the meat and dairy industry, and the risks of industrial animal farming.

Bonus episode: Lucy Hogarth on juggling art and astrophysics, climate activism and autism

Bonus episode: Lucy Hogarth on juggling art and astrophysics, climate activism and autism

Lucy Hogarth, an astrophysicist and climate activist, discusses why you don't need to be an ecologist or climate scientist to engage with climate activism, and how her late autism diagnosis has helped her to process the climate crisis and understand why others might find it hard to do so.

#16 Zoë Blackler and Steve Tooze on the power of the media, and its responsibility to cover the climate crisis

#16 Zoë Blackler and Steve Tooze on the power of the media, and its responsibility to cover the climate crisis

Zoë Blackler, investigative journalist and co-ordinator of whistleblowing platform TruthTeller, and Steve Tooze, a former tabloid journalist and climate activist, consider how much the media shapes the way we think, how coverage of the climate crisis has changed over the years, the challenges facing journalists at the beginning of their careers, and what drove them to become activists.

#15 Paul Stephens on the role of the police and why protesting is so vital

#15 Paul Stephens on the role of the police and why protesting is so vital

Paul Stephens, a retired Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant and climate crisis campaigner, discusses how policing is changing, his involvement with Extinction Rebellion as police liaison, and why protesting is a vital part of survival and our civilisation.

#14 Todd Smith and Magdalena Heuwieser on the aviation industry, carbon offsetting, sustainability, and cheap flights

#14 Todd Smith and Magdalena Heuwieser on the aviation industry, carbon offsetting, sustainability, and cheap flights

Todd Smith (former airline pilot and Co-Founder of Safe Landing) and Magdalena Heuwieser (author and Co-Founder of the Stay Grounded network) discuss life as a pilot, the aviation industry, sustainability, luxury travel, cheap flights and the issues caused by 'green solutions' in the Global South.

#13 Robert Llewellyn on the role of comedy and celebrity in the climate crisis, what Kryten would have to say about climate change, politics, the press, and transport

#13 Robert Llewellyn on the role of comedy and celebrity in the climate crisis, what Kryten would have to say about climate change, politics, the press, and transport

Actor, comedian, presenter and writer Robert Llewellyn explores whether comedy, and celebrities, can play a part in educating people about the climate crisis, and discusses the role of technology, car sharing, individual action versus legislation, what Kryten would have to say and much more.

#12 Laura Baldwin and Etienne Stott MBE on sport and climate change, athletics and plant-based diets, and the role of athletes in raising awareness of environmental and climate issues

#12 Laura Baldwin and Etienne Stott MBE on sport and climate change, athletics and plant-based diets, and the role of athletes in raising awareness of environmental and climate issues

Athletes Laura Baldwin (Olympic sailor and coach) and Etienne Stott (London 2012 canoe slalom gold medallist) discuss cruise ships and supermarkets, owning up to a high-carbon history, plant-based diets for athletes, and the role that sport can play in raising awareness of environmental and climate issues.

#11 Reverend Sue Parfitt and Reverend Tim Hewe on activism, experiencing prison, the Pope and the role of religion in the climate crisis

#11 Reverend Sue Parfitt and Reverend Tim Hewe on activism, experiencing prison, the Pope and the role of religion in the climate crisis

Reverend Tim Hewes, retired dentist and part-time priest, and Reverend Sue Parfitt, retired family therapist from Bristol, discuss their experiences of environmental activism, prison, why "oldies" should become activists, Christianity, colonialism and the climate crisis, and much more.

#10 Dr Tristram Wyatt on pheromones and animal behaviour, why diversity and inclusion matters and the role of the police

#10 Dr Tristram Wyatt on pheromones and animal behaviour, why diversity and inclusion matters and the role of the police

Evolutionary biologist and author Dr Tristram Wyatt discusses his research into the evolution of pheromones and animal behaviour, the urgency of the climate and ecological crises, the role of scientists and natural history documentaries, his work with Extinction Rebellion, his involvement with Extinction Rebellion's LGBT+ subgroup, why diversity and inclusion matters, Insulate Britain, and the role of the police.

#9 Dr Abi Perrin on climate activism, microalgae, having children, pensions, and the importance of failure

#9 Dr Abi Perrin on climate activism, microalgae, having children, pensions, and the importance of failure

Molecular biologist Dr Abi Perrin discusses climate activism, her experience of police kettling, her work with microalgae, the challenges of making lifestyle changes, having children, pensions, the joy she gets from the natural world, therapy, and the importance of failure.

#8 Dr Valeria Scagliotti on why she has changed her bank, the COVID-19 pandemic and creating climate change conversations at work.

#8 Dr Valeria Scagliotti on why she has changed her bank, the COVID-19 pandemic and creating climate change conversations at work.

Molecular biologist Dr Valeria Scagliotti discusses what motivated her to study molecular biology, her feeling on plastic waste in laboratories, creating climate change conversations at work, Italian food culture and sustainability, travel, her frustration about the lack of global action on climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

#7 Dr Alex Penson on climate activism, the Bank of England, horrifying facts and TV documentaries

#7 Dr Alex Penson on climate activism, the Bank of England, horrifying facts and TV documentaries

Cancer Genetics Research Scientist Dr Alex Penson discusses his activism experiences, Money Rebellion, the Bank of England and risk mitigation, how scaring people with 'horrifying facts' is not the right approach, and documentaries by Sir David Attenborough and Adam Curtis.

#6 Dr Scott Archer-Nicholls on inequality and carbon footprints, scientists and climate activism, and Joe Biden‘s approach to tackling the climate crisis

#6 Dr Scott Archer-Nicholls on inequality and carbon footprints, scientists and climate activism, and Joe Biden‘s approach to tackling the climate crisis

Climate scientist Dr Scott Archer-Nicholls discusses the responsibly of scientists to support messaging around climate change, the links between inequality and individual carbon footprints, American national parks and President Joe Biden's approach to tackling the climate crisis, and how he was affected by David Attenborough's programmes.

#5 Professor Jeff Waage OBE on organic food, green social prescribing, and the climate and ecological emergency bill

#5 Professor Jeff Waage OBE on organic food, green social prescribing, and the climate and ecological emergency bill

Ecologist Professor Jeff Waage, OBE, gives his opinion on the climate and ecological emergency bill, organic food and grouse shooting, and discusses the different definitions of 'wilderness' around the world, and how he is torn between avoiding flying and visiting family overseas.