Switch
Ashna and Lydia
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Top 10 Switch Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Switch episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Switch for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Switch episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
09/16/19 • 35 min
On this episode we address working out. Both of us love to sport and staying fit - it’s part of our weekly routine. So we wanted to explore whether there are ways we could apply our sustainability minds to it.
We know that exercising (in moderation) is good for your longterm health and wellbeing, but we wanted to continue on the path of understanding and exploring what doing good for you and the planet looks like. How is the health of the planet and our own health intertwined?
What are some simple tips and tricks on how we can be more sustainable in our existing workouts? And can you do good and exercise and at the same time?
09/09/19 • 44 min
This week we talk transport. Whether it’s our daily commute, a weekend trip, or travelling abroad, we all depend on transport to get us from A to B. According to WWF’s carbon footprint calculator, travel makes up a whopping 35% of the average person’s environmental footprint. So what can we do to minimise our impact?
On today’s episode we want to dive into three things:
- The issue (with multiple different modes of transport) and relative impact on the environment
- What industries and governments are doing about it
- What we can do about it
Listen in for our top practical tips.
03/22/21 • 52 min
We've talked on the show about spending power and the impact that buying more sustainable products can have on the planet and society. However, what about the impact of our 'wealth', i.e. the money we hold in bank accounts, investments, pensions, etc?
Our wealth has a significant impact on carbon emissions, for example. You can create 27 times more impact on carbon emissions/climate change through your savings/investments than you can by cutting out meat from your diet and stopping flying COMBINED!!!?
And since 68% of UK savers want their investments to consider people and planet alongside profit, in this episode we break down how wealth can have a negative impact, why it matters and how to switch it up and use your wealth for social good as much as possible.
Check out https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/ - a movement to ensure the money invested in UK pensions is used to build a better world.
If you’re looking to change who you bank with, I recommend using the UK Government’s Current Account Switch Service.
Bronwyn King TED talk - Oncologist talks about pension: https://www.ted.com/talks/bronwyn_king_you_may_be_accidentally_investing_in_cigarette_companies#t-35173
ShareAction: A charity working towards an investment system that truly serves savers and communities, and protects our environment for the long term. https://shareaction.org/
A great blog outlining comparisons between different banks, with our former podcast guest Besma Whayeb: https://www.curiouslyconscious.com/2020/02/best-ethical-banks-current-accounts-uk.html/
PLEASE NOTE: Ashna and Lydia are not financial advisors. They do not have any professional or academic training in finance or investments. All of the content of the episode is based on their own amateur research, opinion and personal experience.
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What is Switch?
The reason we started Switch is because we want sustainable living to be mainstream. The podcast acts as a small piece in the puzzle towards this goal by opening up the conversation on sustainability, helping people to feel more positive, empowered and effective in how they can improve the planet and society.
Say hello at www.podcastswitch.com or follow us on social media @podcastswitch.
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04/20/20 • 42 min
This week we’re joined by Sarah Divall from Hubbub, a foundation helping provide inspiration and practical actions that are good for you and the environment. They believe that to create positive environmental change at the scale and speed needed, we need to get everyone on board. So they design campaigns that inspire ways of living that are good for the environment. They disrupt the status quo to raise awareness, nudge behaviours and shape systems. We do this with knowledge and playfulness, and won’t make you feel bad.
That really resonates with us here at Switch! Like us, they address things we’re all passionate about and are relevant day-to-day, like fashion, food, the homes we live in and the spaces around us. They offer practical and realistic solutions that help cut waste, make clothes last longer, save money and create cleaner spaces to live and work in, and more often than not bring people together.
Today we want to talk about ‘change’.
- Change that we are forced to face during COVID-19- but understanding how we can sustain these changes
- There are some interesting comparisons to make between change in our current situation and change when things are ‘normal’. What motivates it? Can we change without being forced to by a lockdown?
As experts in change, what can we learn from Hubbub about what generates positive and sustained change? And how do we deal with change when it’s thrust upon us?
FUN FACTS:
- A new survey by YouGov found that 42% of Brits said they valued food more than they did before the crisis, with one in 10 sharing activities such as shopping with a neighbour for the first time
- A third of people are now throwing away less food and 38% say they are cooking more from scratch. A smaller proportion (6%) said they had tried a vegetable box or ordered food from an online service for the very first time
- As the lockdown brings less air pollution, more wildlife, quieter streets and a slower pace of life, one of the poll’s most startling findings is that 85% of people want to see at least some of the personal or social changes continue. Just 9% want a complete return to normal after the crisis
03/02/20 • 45 min
We are joined by wonderful guests Tash and Laura today, founders of Gather. Gather is a zero waste store and ‘refillery’, here to make it easy for you to live a life of less waste. They work to help the world know that living sustainably can be easy (and even fun - we can attest to this!).
Gather is one of an increasing number of ‘refilleries’ starting up in the UK (and the world) - a place to ‘gather’ your necessities, from food to cleaning products to toiletries. It’s genius! And a fun experience. Gather is also a sustainability hub - a place to gather together, learn and help each other to live more sustainably. Again, genius.
But why? Why reduce and reuse? And why build a community? Well, making small, everyday changes really can make a difference. A family of four switching to reusable water bottles would save 27 gallons of oil per year . Refilling your own containers at a bulk food store means less single-use packaging in the supply chain. And it’ll save you money!
Also, we love the concept of building a ‘hub’ because sometimes we need support, shared learning, tips and encouragement to keep trying, and to know other people are in it with us, too. Together we can send a message to governments and big businesses, who in turn can nudge entire communities into doing things differently.
Learn about Gather at: https://www.wearegather.uk/our-story
Or go visit their shop in Peckham
121 Bellenden Road
Peckham
SE15 4QY
07/15/19 • 48 min
On this week’s episode we speak with Alec Mills, co-founder of the world’s first reusable tampon applicator and biodegradable, chemical-free tampons.
100 billion period products are thrown away every year. Most contain plastic but cannot be reused or recycled. Instead they break into tiny pieces and enter our food chain.
Most tampons also contain synthetics treated with chemicals and cotton sprayed with pesticides. Women use 12,000 tampons in a lifetime and the vagina is highly absorbent. You do the maths!
Women have been menstruating since time began, yet the industry uses the language of discretion. DAME thinks it’s time to bring periods into the 21st Century and ensure young girls become confident women.
12/02/19 • 37 min
We are super excited to do a holiday special, because it is one of our favourite times of year, but similar to our summer and vacation episodes: Christmas and the holiday season is a time people’s habits change all of their great sustainable practices get left at the door.
This episode we want to talk about our weakness’ over Christmas, those areas where we can not be our greenest selves- and talk about some easy wins to help be a little bit more friendly to the planet.
Did you know that each year a shocking 74 million minced pies are thrown away and 4.2 million plates of turkey and the trimmings. That is just looking at food waste.
We also reflect on some of our lessons learnt this year and highlights from our wonderful guests.
Featured brands & companies we discussed on this episode:
Atlas & Ortus
Dame
Our Good Brands
Too Good To Go
Gung Ho
Fair Trade
11/18/19 • 48 min
This week we’re joined by very special guest Mahdi Nazar, who is also Lydia’s boyfriend, to discuss coffee.
From the bean, to the milk, to its packaging, the environmental impact of our daily caffeine hit is real. This episode we unpick some of the issues around coffee, telling you what’s what. But have no fear! There are lots of ways to make your fave brew more sustainable. We offer some advice on what to look out for.
11/11/19 • 35 min
Today we have special guest Chloë with us. Chloë is founder of nibs etc, probably the most sustainable granola company in the world. They are fighting food waste, have plastic-free packaging, it’s refined sugar-free, high in fibre... the list is a long one!
They make their products from juice pulp, which is usually thrown away, but still very tasty and nutritious.
The brand is not only tackling food and plastic waste, it is also redefining how we think about ingredients and well-known products. It fully embraces the fact that brands can be the tool consumers need to reduce their waste and carbon footprint.
01/13/20 • 44 min
Today we are back together and joined by Jamie from Social Supermarket. Social Supermarket was created to connect every-day consumers with social enterprises who sell high quality products that tackle important social and environmental challenges. From handbags made from decommissioned fire hoses, soap made by people with visual impairments to relishes made with wonky fruit and veg, there’s something for everyone.
They are on a journey to become the most comprehensive marketplace for social enterprise products in the UK. To be the first place that people look for products that change the world for the better.
We all want to be conscious about how our day to day purchases have an impact on these issues. Social Supermarket has created a growing marketplace of products that help tackle these issues without compromising on quality.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Switch have?
Switch currently has 55 episodes available.
What topics does Switch cover?
The podcast is about Social, Entertaining, People, Society & Culture, Lifestyle, Environment, Entertainment, Nature, Podcasts, Science, Business, Innovation and Sustainability.
What is the most popular episode on Switch?
The episode title 'S3 E5: Physical Activity: How Your Movement Could Support A Movement' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Switch?
The average episode length on Switch is 44 minutes.
How often are episodes of Switch released?
Episodes of Switch are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Switch?
The first episode of Switch was released on Apr 17, 2019.
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