Let’s Reboot the Future

Gemma Lannon has created a wonderful gathering space in London for people channelling their work towards sustainability and climate solutions - it's called Treo House.In this episode, Gemma shares how the sudden loss of her father at 15 reshaped her understanding of the world, teaching her to hold two things at once: the uncertainty of outcomes, and the courage to act anyway. She reflects on why "naive" might not be the negative label we think it is, how optimism and joy are not just nice-to-haves but essential fuel for this work, and why acting from instinct and conviction, even without all the answers, might be exactly what our collective challenges demand right now.More about Gemma: Gemma Lannon is the founding director of Treo House, a collective for people working in sustainability in London. The organisation facilitates our ability to learn from and look after each other, through in-person events hosted at its home in Vauxhall. Gemma previously worked in the sustainability team at Unilever and on grassroot sustainability projects in Cornwall, Portugal and New Zealand. Link to Treo HouseSubscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Michael Macy may describe himself as having a minor role, but a front row seat in establishing peace across some of the world's most complex conflict zones - but the lessons he carries from those experiences are anything but minor.At the heart of this conversation is a deceptively simple but profound insight: "Too often people think you have to resolve all the conflicts before you can have peace. No, peace, in my experience, peace creates the space to resolve the conflict."Michael brings this to life through his experience of the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast, offering a rare and intimate perspective on how peace, when enacted, can do what negotiation alone cannot.He also shares what he's doing about it today. Through Enacting Peace, an international effort he co-founded, Michael invites people everywhere to mark each equinox and solstice with a conscious act of peace, however small. The invitation is simple but radical: to recognise your own capacity to contribute, to celebrate it, and to act on it.Michael mentions his friend Joe, he is referring to Joe Miller. You can find out more about Joe here.A little more about Michael: Michael Macy is currently working to encourage peace. He is on the board of the Abrahamic Reunion, working for peace in Israel and Palestine and a founder of Enacting Peace, an international effort to invite people to act for peace. It has no dogma, no dues and no politics, just a request and a hope that you will do something for peace. He initially worked as a therapist, became a trial lawyer and hosted a radio talk show. He then spent nearly 30 years as a U.S. diplomat developing mutual understanding between the U.S. the UK, Mali, Malta, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, India, Haiti and Tunisia among others. In order to build those bridges, he worked with dancers, writers, artists, academics, journalists, religious community leaders and comedians.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Felicity Aston MBE is a climate scientist, polar explorer, expedition leader and record-breaker. She was the first woman to ski across Antarctica alone. Most recently, she led the B.I.G. (Before It’s Gone) Arctic Research Expedition, gathering vital material for Arctic sea ice research.In this episode, Felicity shares the importance of using what you’re good at to address the issues facing our world. For her, that means using her expertise in leading expeditions to tackle inequality for women, including bringing together women from across the Commonwealth to ski to the South Pole.She also speaks to something deeper: the responsibility of those in senior positions to champion those coming through. Felicity reflects on how painful it can be to be dismissed as naive, and the difference it makes when experience and wisdom are used to lift others instead.Check out this link to find out more about Felicity and her polar explorations. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

In this episode, we’re joined by Gaynor Morrison, a midwife, lecturer and photographer, and the creator of You Were Held.Drawing on her role as a midwife safeguarding lead, Gaynor shares how she supports some of the most complex moments in care, when babies are removed from their mothers following court decisions. Through You Were Held, she offers a simple but profound gift: professional photographs taken at birth, created with care and dignity, to honour the bond, love and connection between mother and baby, even in separation.A powerful reflection on compassion in practice.More information about Gaynor: Gaynor has worked in the NHS and in education over the past 30 years with her speciality and focus on Safeguarding vulnerable families. After leaving the front line of the NHS nearly 3 years ago, she was able to start the 'You were held' compassion project with her safeguarding manager Sharon Bunford, who arranges the governance, data protection and formalities. As a volunteer she is able to go back to the Trust and offer photography to mothers and birthing people who are being separated from their babies due to complex safeguarding situations, with a hope of capturing those first moments when the baby is held by their birth mother so that they will both have forever memories. This project recognises the mother's role prior to separation and will be a small gesture towards acknowledging their disenfranchised grief.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Rich Good has spent over 40 years exploring the human condition, drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions.At the heart of his episode is a black and white photograph of Rich as a young boy, beaming outside a wigwam in his grandmother’s garden in Aberdeen. A child full of love and ready for adventure.He takes us through the journey of that boy’s life, the challenges he faced, the people who supported and shaped him, and how it became an apprenticeship in the human condition. Shared with honesty and care, in the hope that whoever needs to hear it might feel less alone, and see the possibility held within life’s challenges.Rich also reflects on a wide-ranging career rooted in a profound love of nature, and inspired by Earth Wisdom Teachings. From time with First Nations teachers to his work at the Eden Project, designing and delivering leadership programmes for HotHouse.At the heart of it all is a belief that many of us are seeking a different way of being with each other, one rooted in humility, kindness and love, now central to his work with the charity Humility, Kindness and Love (HKL)Having worked holistically with individuals and organisations for nearly 40 years and as  co-founder of the Imaginal Collective and One Good Life , Rich invites people to create a life where there is PEACE in the Mind, HOPE in the Heart and JOY in the Soul. He is also a board member of the international charity,  HKL which  fosters humility, kindness and love across the globe to create a more beautiful world.Link here to learn more about the HKL Global MovementSubscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Daryl Davis is an American musician, lecturer, activist and author whose life’s work has been shaped by a simple question: why would you hate me when you don’t even know me?He has spent decades studying, seeking out and speaking with members of hate groups, including the Ku Klux Klan. Through Daryl’s calm, human conversations, many have chosen to leave these organisations and encourage others to do the same.Daryl believes we learn to hate, and that what is learned can be unlearned. At the heart of this is our ability to listen and to speak with each other.He shares five things he believes we all crave in life, and that when we recognise these needs in each other, it becomes easier to connect and value one another: to be loved, respected and heard, to be treated truthfully and fairly, and to want for our families what others want for theirs.Daryl shares more of his experiences and insights in his book The Klan Whisperer. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Jennifer Nadel shares what it means to trust what you know is right, even when others dismiss it as naive.From protesting as a young girl in the countryside to drafting a law to make it an offence for politicians to deliberately deceive the public, she reflects on how taking action, even when it does not succeed, moves us out of despair and into something more hopeful and generative.Years on, that once dismissed idea is now being taken forward in Wales and considered in Westminster. A conversation about truth, persistence and the quiet courage it takes to keep going.Jennifer Nadel is co-director of Compassion in Politics, a UK cross-party think tank bringing politicians together across divides. She is also Director of  Compassionate Politics at Stanford University’s Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Rachel (Rai) Lewis is the director and co-founder of Plant One, a Cornish woodland creation CIC restoring habitats and connecting communities with nature across the South West.Rai is also autistic, and in this conversation she speaks candidly about what it’s like to move through a world that often perceives her as naïve. She shares some of the traits many autistic people experience - struggling to detect lies quickly, finding it difficult to lie convincingly, and navigating social contexts that neurotypical people often take for granted.For Rai, this has often meant being judged as lacking “street smarts” -  including when she decided to launch Plant One with her business partner without startup funding. But what others might see as naïve, she understands as something else entirely: honesty, passion, and a deep commitment to what matters.That passion is woodland creation. Today, Rai and the Plant One community are planting trees across Cornwall, restoring habitats and bringing wildlife back to the landscape.This episode is a conversation about honesty, perception, and the power of caring deeply enough to act.Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the experiences and opinions of one autistic individual and do not necessarily reflect the wide array of difficulties and experiences of all autistic individuals. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Mark Winters is a Texan acoustic rock singer-songwriter with an unexpected past in aerospace engineering. Now a regular touring artist, he blends analytical thinking, creativity, and a hopeful spirit in songs that celebrate reinvention and science-fuelled joy. When Mark says “think like a proton,” he is encouraging his audiences to approach the world with positivity and possibility.Coming to music later in life helped Mark answer a question he had wrestled with for years. How can I make the world a better place? Through his music he has found a way. Using concerts as a convening force, he has raised money to tackle food poverty while connecting with others who share the same desire to help.Mark’s mission is simple. To use music to spark optimism and connection wherever he travels. Whether exploring positivity in song or using scientific metaphors to navigate complex feelings, he invites listeners to break boundaries, both scientific and personal.Mark heads back out on tour this month.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Ben Solanky, Co-Founder and Director of Empathy Action, speaks up for not allowing your enthusiasm to be dampened.From a young age, Ben was encouraged to bring his enthusiasm and energy to any task he put his hand to. A sliding door event brought him into the world of development, where he learned that championing a cause is not optional, it is a powerful skill, especially when funding and resources are scarce.Empathy Action works through immersive experiences that help people try to understand complex issues from the perspective of “What if it were me?”They are now taking on British poverty through their new immersive experience, Broke. It invites participants to stop. To take a moment to feel. To listen. To reflect. To interrupt our stride as we walk past these issues every day.You can find out more about Broke hereSubscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Sarah Howard, Managing Director of the Global Philanthropy Forum, speaks up against allowing others to judge our ideals as naïve.Growing up in the Bay Area, at the heart of Silicon Valley, shaped Sarah’s cultural context; where ideas that might be labelled naïve elsewhere are re-framed as bold, innovative, and novel. She deeply resonates with this energy and brings a willingness to push at the edges of what is considered possible into every space she works in.Sarah describes this bold action through making her film The Way Back to Yarasquin, hitchhiking across the borders of Honduras and El Salvador after meeting one woman, Myra, who captured her imagination. Sarah had a strong feeling that Myra could, and would, change the trajectory of an entire community, and set out to learn how Myra would  create the conditions needed for them to thrive.Sarah also reflects on curiosity as a powerful tool and asset, a key that opens up the world. She encourages us to nurture it, invest in it, and allow ourselves to have fun with imagination as a force for change.A little more about Sarah...Sarah has developed and spearheaded the Global Philanthropy Forum's recent 2.0 strategic vision, the first post-founder strategic transition. A social innovator, entrepreneur, and storyteller, Sarah’s passion for understanding systems has led her across the globe to witness and document complex human and systems stories. She uses narrative development, strategic thinking, and community-building tools to map new structures for society and stories for how to get there. Sarah is particularly passionate about applying her skills to address pressing global issues such as climate change, digital futures, and global governance. Along the way, she has built several initiatives and organizations from these experiences. Her latest documentary Climate Blueprint is currently on a global tour, and her social cohesion project, Listening Lab, is growing alongside her podcast, Track Two, which explores the question ‘What is a good society?’. Sarah grew up in Berkeley and now lives on Ohlone land in Oakland, CA.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

This week we’re joined by Minnie Moll, CEO of the Design Council, who shares stories that shaped her belief in pushing beyond what many think is possible.From growing up on a boat in the English countryside, Minnie’s deep love of nature and animals fuelled a childhood full of adventure and curiosity, always bringing other children along for the ride.She speaks with real pride about creating the Design Council’s Design for Planet mission, launched at COP26 in Glasgow. Built on faith that it was the right thing to do, even without all the answers in place. What some might have seen as naïve, Minnie sees as building in flight, with early implementers shaping something bigger. A powerful example of cathedral thinking in action.We also talk about staying the course, even as climate commitments slip around the world. For Minnie, this isn’t just strategy. It’s a moral imperative and a huge opportunity for growth.As both CEO and coach, Minnie reframes naivety as limitless belief in what’s possible. A refusal to be constrained by barriers. A trust that transformation and a better world can be created.Minnie Moll, Chief Executive, Design Council Minnie spearheads the Design for Planet mission to help address the climate crisis.    She was previously Chief Executive of Jarrold Retail in Norwich, Joint Chief Executive of the East of England Co-op and held senior leadership roles at Notcutts Garden Centres,?What If!, and HHCL.  She was Vistage Business Leader of the Year in 2020 and an Ambassador for Responsible Business in the East of England in 2016. She is currently an Ambassador for the charity Fresh Start and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Westminster in 2024 for her contributions to design and innovation. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Seasoned creative, entrepreneur, and advocate for a regenerative future, Gareth Jenkins joins Let’s Reboot the Future to share how life experiences, from encounters with racism to time spent at Plum Village, gently chipped away at his childhood naivety and led him back to something deeper: a belief that the future doesn’t have to be a continuation of the way things are today, and that we can remake it with kindness, fairness, and love at its centre.Gareth reflects on how waking up to the harshness of the world can create both emptiness and a longing to learn new ways of living and seeing, ways that move beyond fear, protection, and the masks we build, and instead reconnect us to what it means to be human.He shares why he believes emotional intelligence, time in nature, and immersive experiences offer powerful guidance for shaping a better future, not through data and models alone, but through emotions, connection, and the stories that remind us what truly matters.This is a hopeful story about responsibility, creativity, and the courage to believe that a kinder world is possible.Gareth Jenkins is currently Global Head of Storytelling at EY, working with the firm’s senior leadership to craft human-centric narratives across sustainability, technology and geopolitics. His work aims to inspire EY’s people and clients that a better tomorrow is possible, and that those of us in business have a role and responsibility to make it a reality. Here he speaks to us in his personal capacity as a storyteller and creative.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

American author John Perkins joins Let’s Reboot the Future to reflect on what it really means to follow your heart, and the courage it takes to keep listening to that inner voice even when it disrupts expectations, security and status.John shares how dropping out of college to become a journalist in Boston set him on an unexpected path that allowed him to build skills in both writing and business. Over time, these came together in his bold attempt to tackle the problem of acid rain caused by waste coal, transforming it into a positive energy source.He reflects on the challenges of turning vision into reality, from financial strain to disappointing others, and the deep uncertainty that often accompanies meaningful change. Yet this work ultimately contributed to the success of an energy plant and to legislation that prevented new coal plants from being built that would produce acid rain.For John, following the heart is rarely easy, but it is always necessary. He reminds us that lasting change begins by listening closely to ourselves, trusting that inner guidance, and being willing to walk a more difficult but more truthful path.You can find out more about books authored by John here.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Writer, theatre maker and producer specialising in immersive and site specific performance, Marie Klimis joins Let’s Reboot the Future to share her stories and reflect on how she has learned, and helped others, to think about the world in a different way.Marie reflects on learning early in life that rules need to be questioned, and that being kind, being a good person, and not betraying anyone’s trust sit powerfully at the heart of how we should live, even when this runs against what we are told.Moving from a background in business into socially engaged, political immersive theatre and site specific performance, Marie describes creating environments outside of traditional theatre spaces. Spaces centred on empathy, and on building together a more inclusive and more multicultural view of the world.She shares why using play and fiction to get people to think about important things is so powerful, and reflects on her first family show, Checkpoint Universe, created as a way to spark better narratives around migration. This episode is rooted in imagination, empathy, and a belief that small actions can be just as life changing as large ones.Marie is the Artistic Director of Koro, a charity dedicated to immersive theatre that celebrates urgent contemporary stories and marginalised voices, also a founding member and director of 27 degrees, a migrant-led collective creating socially engaged immersive theatre.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Augustus Hoff, conservationist and storyteller, shows how passion can bridge divides and inspire care for the environment beyond our own backyard.He reflects on how growing up in a small Florida town taught him the importance of connecting across differences and inspiring care for the natural world. Now pursuing a master’s in environmental science and policy at CU Boulder, he shares his insights on science communication and environmental policy, translating the importance of ocean health to people who may never have seen the sea. Augustus encourages us to approach even polarised differences with curiosity and empathy, and to lead with passion in connecting with others and the world around us.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Artist and Creative Producer Becky Burchell joins Let’s Reboot the Future to reflect on the power of story and how the arts can create spaces that feel exploratory, creative and safe. Spaces where people can lean in, sit with difficult emotions, and imagine different futures.Growing up in an activist household, Becky was surrounded by conversations about nuclear weapons, peace, and the very real fear of global destruction. Alongside this, fiction played a formative role in helping her understand both the consequences of our actions and the futures we might choose instead. This early combination of activism, fear and imagination continues to shape her work today.Becky reflects on her play The World We Made as a space where audiences could explore their feelings about the climate crisis, question the systems around them, and think ambitiously about solutions, because without space to imagine differently, we risk continuing on the same course.Reading and storytelling have influenced Becky throughout her life and work across the arts, environmentalism and community, helping her hold both fear and hope at the same time. A vital practice when facing complex challenges and imagining the futures we want to create.📻 Tune in to this inspiring story on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Reboot the Future podcast.rebootthefuture.org Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Shazam Co-Founder and Tech for Good investor, Dhiraj Mukherjee, speaks this week about the extraordinary things we can achieve if we give people a chance. The desire to contribute and give back has always been part of Dhiraj’s story. From earnest days as a Boy Scout to what looked, from the outside, like a surprising right-angle turn away from Shazam, he chose to take his business knowledge into the charity sector, working with Save the Children to help raise more money for children around the world.Dhiraj took from Save the Children a belief that the young can achieve extraordinary things if given the chance. He believes we need the optimism, enthusiasm and willingness to make a change that they bring. To Dhiraj this is a team game. Engaging with others, who can show even baby steps towards a goal, creates the kind of infectious enthusiasm that makes change possible. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

This week, for Christmas, we are turning Let’s Reboot the Future upside down.Where we usually ask our adult guests what advice they would give to inspire their younger and more naive selves to stay courageous, to hold on to kindness and fairness in their actions, this week we asked children to advise the adults.Sandy from Reboot the Future visited Churchill Church of England Primary School in Westerham to talk with a group of Year 6s about their thoughts on kindness and fairness in our world.All of them wanted a stop to violence, to war, gun crime and bullying, especially online. They wanted us to embrace and celebrate differences, to champion each other’s wins, and to make each other feel seen and cared for, particularly when we notice that someone is hurting.We learn so many important and courageous lessons as children from our parents, schools and communities about how we treat each other and our planet. Treating each other and the planet as you would wish to be treated is one of them.We hope this episode reminds you of the acts of care and kindness you have shown and been shown throughout your life, and that it brings back happy memories of moments that shaped you.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

In this episode, we hear from Anuradha Chugh, a leader whose life and work have been shaped by something many people dismiss as naïve: trust. From childhood roots in a secure and loving home, to boardrooms, redundancy processes, and uprooting her life across continents, Anuradha has carried a steadfast belief that the world - and people - are fundamentally worthy of trust.Yet her story isn’t one of blind optimism. Anuradha shares how this trusting worldview was tested: being undervalued early in her career and facing the raw human complexities of leading an organisation through redundancies. In those painful moments, she discovered that trust isn’t something you hope for - it’s something you take responsibility to create. She also reflects on the Trust Equation, a framework that helped her understand how trust is built and maintained. You can learn more about the Trust Equation here. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Emilio Garcia Padron, Imperial College London alumni and founder of NEA Tech Studios, invites us to explore natural systems as a way to solve problems in our academic and everyday lives.He shares his work in the gardens at Imperial College and Lancaster University, where students experiment with tools and the living world to imagine new solutions to their questions and challenges.Emilio encourages us to be dynamic and resourceful,  to use 150% of what is available to us and to keep building strong connections with others as we learn, grow, and create together.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

In this episode, John O’Brien MBE, Founder of Anthropy, invites us to let curiosity be the fuel that drives us to act, create, and contribute.John reflects on how his concern for the future of the UK coming out of Covid, inspired him to establish Anthropy, an annual national gathering that brings together responsible leaders and organisations to imagine a positive future for the UK and its role in the world. He speaks about the power of motivation and will, and why sometimes not knowing how hard something will be is exactly what allows you to begin.John also shares a message for young people: listen to the wisdom around you, but also trust what your own heart is calling you to do. He encourages meeting people from different backgrounds, travelling, and expanding your view of the world to help you shape your own unique path.You can find out more about Anthropy here. Bursaries for 18-30s are availableSubscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Wild storyteller Sophie Austin invites us to stay open to what life can bring, with a stance that is playful and rooted in kindness and love.Her stories remind us of the importance of getting up close to the experience and perspective of others. In her recent work creating a film and leading conversation forums with the public and convicted Just Stop Oil activists, Sophie shares her own shift from fear and judgement into something deeper. Through conversation she discovers that love is the most complex and detailed expression of life.Sophie encourages us to step away from a closed or cynical view of what is possible in our world. Through play, and through bravely hearing other people’s concerns and passions, she helps us find a truth in humanity by noticing what people love, what they see and what inspires them.You can watch her film about the Just Stop Oil activists ‘Climate Criminals?’ here.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Tsitsi Chirikure, Cultural Curator and current Associate at Reboot the Future, asks us to consider how changing the way we relate to nature might also change the way we relate to each other.She shares her work on Himalayan Balsam and invasion ecology, and reflects on how the language used to describe so-called ‘invasive species’ in the UK often mirrors the language used about people with an immigration background.Tsitsi invites us to notice how feeling ourselves in relationship with all forms of life can help us have more nuanced, compassionate conversations about belonging, immigration, and our changing society.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Paul Lindley OBE, Founder of Ella's Kitchen, author of Raising the Nation and Little Wins, Chancellor University of Reading and Founder of Just IMAGINE if, reminds us that taking the first step matters more than worrying about what we can’t control. He shares how drawing on your life experience and investing in your relationships can help bring to life your ideals and the ideas you create to solve a problem.Paul wants people to value and build relationships as they give us purpose and belonging, and help you to change the world. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Sir Tim Smit KBE says, “People won’t get in your way if you do something so big that nobody has any belief that it’s possible.” He wants people to realise it’s never too late to become the person they once dreamed they could be. Sir Tim shares how dreaming big, developing your own voice, and telling stories that excite can make us come alive, like water to parched flowers. Further inspirationSir Tim suggests Dwell, a poetry collection by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, inspired by The Lost Gardens of Heligan. He said the language felt so fresh it made him see an old friend, the gardens, as if for the very first time.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Run through walls to make it happen. “Writing people off as naïve for thinking they can solve a problem is to underestimate the power of spirit, human innovation, and human resilience.” Will Hayler, CEO & Co-Founder of Blue Earth, shares how he developed his adventurous spirit for tackling society’s toughest challenges through business - from equality to wellbeing - and the practical lessons his entrepreneurial journey has taught him. He wants to encourage big, bold thinkers: the people who, when a problem no one else will touch appears, jump into the moment and get to work. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

We have to keep resisting! Kim Polman won’t be complacent. In this episode she shares why she speaks up in uncomfortable spaces knowing that the ancient, universal principle she champions - treat others and the planet as we wish to be treated - is essential to us creating goodness in our world. Just the thing to keep you going if your ideas have ever been called naïve.  With Kim Polman - Co-Founder & Chair of Reboot the Future - shares personal stories and advice for speaking up with courage and care. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Listen to Ian McDermott share his insights into how forming a relationship with MP Rachel Blake through PACTS has instilled confidence and political empowerment within his sixth-form students. As a chemistry teacher at Harris Westminster Sixth Form in London, Ian’s students are faced with environmental issues unique to cities and Ian offers strategies into how his school has created ways for students to step away from polluted air and into nature within London. Ian views climate education and advocacy by teachers as a form of safeguarding needed within schools and shares his top tips on how PACTS can be implemented within schools where students are already passionate about creating a greener planet.How can students hold politicians accountable for climate action?Through PACTS (Politicians Accountable for Climate to Students), a groundbreaking schools initiative empowering students to influence their MPs and engage meaningfully in the political process.Here’s what makes PACTS unique:It’s more than just writing letters—it’s an ongoing dialogue, with students following up and questioning commitments over time.It transforms how students understand and participate in the political cycle, fostering confidence and real-world impact.Teachers have a bold vision for the future of education—one where values, well-being, and sustainability are at the core of every classroom. It’s a future that puts students first and builds a better world through education. In each episode, we sit down with inspiring teachers who are bringing PACTS to life in their classrooms. They share:Why they signed up for PACTS.How they’re making it happen, from classroom discussions to meeting MPs.The incredible impact it’s having on their students and schools.Their top tips to encourage other teachers to take action.Ready to join the movement?Listen in to hear how PACTS is changing lives—and download the resources to bring PACTS to your school today!Sign up nowSubscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Emma Vyvyan, Head Teacher at Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery in Cornwall has overseen the school’s efforts to remove single-use plastics from school lunches and advocate for the recycling of soft plastics. Emma’s students’ passion for recycling is a key topic within their PACTS relationship. Their previous MP Steve Double, advocated on the student’s behalf in parliament and now  MP Noah Law is taking up the mantle. Emma shares her top tips for instilling resilience within students as they work to make the changes they wish to see in their community.  How can students hold politicians accountable for climate action?Through PACTS (Politicians Accountable for Climate to Students), a groundbreaking schools initiative empowering students to influence their MPs and engage meaningfully in the political process.Here’s what makes PACTS unique:It’s more than just writing letters—it’s an ongoing dialogue, with students following up and questioning commitments over time.It transforms how students understand and participate in the political cycle, fostering confidence and real-world impact.Teachers have a bold vision for the future of education—one where values, well-being, and sustainability are at the core of every classroom. It’s a future that puts students first and builds a better world through education. In each episode, we sit down with inspiring teachers who are bringing PACTS to life in their classrooms. They share:Why they signed up for PACTS.How they’re making it happen, from classroom discussions to meeting MPs.The incredible impact it’s having on their students and schools.Their top tips to encourage other teachers to take action.Ready to join the movement?Listen in to hear how PACTS is changing lives—and download the resources to bring PACTS to your school today!Sign up nowSubscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Listen to Patrick Gordon share his story of how his secondary school students shaped discussions at COP16 through their relationship with MP Pippa Halings. Patrick’s dual roles as a maths teacher and Environmental and Sustainable Education Lead at Comberton Village College in Cambridge have allowed him to integrate climate issues into the school’s curriculum, equipping students with the skills needed to advocate for action against the climate emergency and hear their voices represented by politicians. Patrick shares his top tips for how PACTS can fit into all aspects of the school curriculum and promote student political advocacy.How can students hold politicians accountable for climate action? Through PACTS (Politicians Accountable for Climate to Students), a groundbreaking schools initiative empowering students to influence their MPs and engage meaningfully in the political process.Here’s what makes PACTS unique:It’s more than just writing letters—it’s an ongoing dialogue, with students following up and questioning commitments over time.It transforms how students understand and participate in the political cycle, fostering confidence and real-world impact.Teachers have a bold vision for the future of education—one where values, well-being, and sustainability are at the core of every classroom. It’s a future that puts students first and builds a better world through education. In each episode, we sit down with inspiring teachers who are bringing PACTS to life in their classrooms. They share:Why they signed up for PACTS.How they’re making it happen, from classroom discussions to meeting MPs.The incredible impact it’s having on their students and schools.Their top tips to encourage other teachers to take action.Ready to join the movement?Listen in to hear how PACTS is changing lives—and download the resources to bring PACTS to your school today!Sign up nowSubscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Listen to insights from Stephanie Heath, a leadership team member at Lutterworth & Villages Foodbank, as she responds to this month's question: Who is your ally, and why?Join us as Stephanie delves into the importance of allies in the fight against poverty and the qualities that make a true ally. Explore how building relationships grounded in respect, trust, and compassion can drive positive change in our communities and ensure that nobody needs to use a foodbank. Discover the power of unity and collaboration in creating a more compassionate and supportive world.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Every month, we dive deep into a topic that resonates with our mission. This month's question: When have you felt different? How did others make you feel like you belong?Listen to insights from Anthony Bennett, CEO of Reboot the Future, as he responds to this month's question.Reboot the Future's mission is to foster a new world where we treat others and the planet as we’d wish to be treated. If followed, this simple guiding principle, known as the Golden Rule, has the power to transform our world into a more compassionate and sustainable one.Now that you've heard from our CEO, it's your turn to explore May's question. Use it to spark conversations with others or to reflect within yourself about kindness and empathy. Every discussion and thought can lead to actions that embody the Golden Rule, fostering a more understanding and inclusive world. Let's make it happen together!Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Explore the essence of 'gumption' and courageous leadership in this enlightening article by Sandy Glanfield from Reboot the Future. Dive into the stories of five exceptional leaders who exemplify the 'get-up-and-go' attitude in tackling global challenges.Featuring exclusive interviews with Kim Paykel, Richard Dunne, Frieda Gormley, Cecilia Manosa Nyblon, and Rich Good. From transformative epiphanies to impactful actions, learn how they use their unique gifts and passions to address critical issues, inviting readers to embrace their own 'gumption' to create a better world.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Listen to insights from Kim Polman, Co-Founder & Chair of Reboot the Future, as she responds to this month's question: If someone you know described how you treat people, what would you hope they say?Let’s explore together the universal significance of treating others and the planet as you would like to be treated (the Golden Rule) and its potential to drive positive change worldwide. Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Welcome to the Imaginal Audio Journey, a captivating series designed to offer naturalistic meditation practices. This pilot  is tailor-made for participants at Anthropy 2023, held at the breathtaking Eden Project. In this episode, you'll hear from Kim Polman and Tim Smit as they share a profound narrative, encouraging you to reflect on the core theme of connection. As you walk and engage with the world around you, this meditation is crafted to help you delve further into your thoughts and surroundings.Join us in this immersive experience as we invite you to pause, reflect, and take steps towards creating a brighter future.Subscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Heighten your awareness of your connection to the natural world - noticing what is around you, imagining and learning about mycorrhizal networks below the ground, and discovering lessons from nature.This audio piece is an intimate journey; a blend of wise reflection, guided questioning and noticing the world around us. We recommend you listen walking or sitting in a favourite place in nature.Kim Polman is Co-Founder & Chair of Reboot the Future, whose purpose is to remind us that a better future is possible if we treat others and the planet as we’d wish to be treated; a modern version of the Golden Rule. Kim shares  her wisdom to help give fresh eyes, to heighten awareness of our connection to the natural world and to consider what it means to live in reciprocity.Living the Golden Rule is not just a human principle.  It is found throughout nature.Why is it so important for us to take the time to imagine and learn this?...What is important for us in knowing about  mycorrhizal networks?...In short, even if we are motivated mostly by our own selfish desires, we actually receive more in return if we care for others.That’s one of the powerful things about this way of living. When we treat others and the planet as we wish to be treated - living by the Golden Rule - we realise we’re not alone. Our words and actions affect others, and this effect is passed on and on, growing and strengthening with every person, life-form and landform who comes into contact with us and carries our actions forward with them.It is the ripple effect.We’re all connected and affected by the ripples.And the more we connect, the stronger we become, and the more we can create change. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT REBOOT THE FUTURE & SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER  HEREKim refers to these texts in the audio:Carl Safina (2020) Becoming Wild. How Animals Learn to be Animals. Oneworld Publications.Peter Wohlleben (2016) The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate-Discoveries from a Secret World: 1 (The Mysteries of Nature, 1). Greystone KidsSubscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org

Join Shivi on a 10 minute meditative escape to Antarctica. Explore the icy expanse of Antarctica as you cross the dangerous Drake Passage, speed across the water’s surface, step onto the ice, and get up close with whales, seals, and penguins. Immerse yourself in Antarctica and come away with an understanding of why this precious ecosystem needs protecting, and how you are more connected than you might first think.We Are Antarctica is a campaign developed by Reboot the Future and Earthrise Studio which inspires new relationships with Antarctica and the wider natural world; creating connection to inspire action. Visit the Campaign Hub to find out more. Building on the campaign, this immersive audio experience was created in collaboration with Twenty Twenty Studios and layers in sounds recorded onsite in Antarctica by Anna Palmer. Shivi Dwivedi (Youth Engagement Lead for the Climate Champions Team for COP26 and COP27) narrates her journey to Antarctica in March 2022 as part of a 2041 Foundation expedition.Shivi is deeply passionate about driving sustainable and ethical change. She currently leads the youth engagement strategy for the U.N. Climate Change High-Level Champions for COP26 and COP27. In this role, she focuses on the delivery of a mandate to enhance ambition and strengthen the engagement of non state actors — especially youth — in supporting parties and working with the Marrakech Partnership to deliver the goals of the Paris Agreement. In March 2022 Shivi undertook an expedition to Antarctica as part of her personal climate journey.In addition to seeing herself as a lifelong dreamer, and a struggling pianist, Shivi loves travelling, reading, exploring underwater life, and animals. She dreams of opening an animal shelter with her partner one day! FIND OUT MORE ABOUT REBOOT THE FUTURE & SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER  HERESubscribe for more stories and practical tools from Reboot the Future.www.rebootthefuture.org