Straight Talking Sustainability

This week, Emma Burlow is joined by Heather Davies to discuss why repair is quickly becoming the new recycling, especially in the context of sustainability and community impact. Heather Davies shares the inspiring story behind the Re-Action Collective, a growing network aimed at amplifying local repair, upcycling, and community reuse of outdoor gear.
They explore how repair initiatives started at a grassroots level in ski resorts, evolved into a collective model, and now connect around 70 organizations internationally. They discuss the importance of "finding the others" — bringing together people with shared purpose to build momentum for community-led repair and circular economy practices.
Key Topics
Origins and Growth of the Reaction Collective: From a local community event to an international network supporting 70 organizations 01:29–05:00
Importance of Community in Repair: Tackling loneliness, sharing skills, and the power of collective agency 06:34–09:24
Skills Loss & Consumer Habits: The shift from repair to replacement explains the decline in repair knowledge and capacity 10:25–11:24
Brand Initiatives: How companies like Patagonia, RAB, and Alpkit are changing the landscape of repair and where gaps remain 12:33–14:31
The Case for Decentralized Repair: Heather Davis's white paper explores barriers, solutions, and the value of supporting local repairers 15:45–17:19
Making Repair More Accessible: Comparing centralized brand repair vs. community/local repair shops 18:44–23:35
Policy & International Perspectives: Insights from France’s right to repair policy and bonus scheme; discussion on VAT and government incentives 25:02–29:38
Challenges of Scaling Repair: The current role of the third sector and the need for more support to reach greater scale 30:35–31:08
Action Steps for Listeners: How to engage with local repairers or support the movement 32:32–34:37

Notable Quotes
"We only really have true agency when we act collectively." — Heather Davies 05:18
"If you send something off for repair and it comes back, it's very transactional. Whereas, when you build a relationship with your repairer, you value the repair more." — Heather Davies 22:27
"Once you've repaired something, you're more likely to repair it again." — Heather Davies 22:47
"Our goal has always been to support the people and to help them support their communities." — Heather Davies 36:56

Take Action
Find something in your home that needs repairing, and take it to a local repairer 32:32
Read Heather Davies' white paper on decentralized textile repair—contact her via LinkedIn to get a copy34:35
Support community repair initiatives—offer opportunities, funding, or simply help spread the word 34:37

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Instead of a linear model (buy, use, discard)—which results in unnecessary waste, avoidable carbon emissions and rising costs for customers—Re-Action supports circular alternatives already working locally. These alternatives focus on repair and maintenance; collection, resale and redistribution; rental and sharing; upcycling and reuse; skills and knowledge exchange. By connecting and supporting the people already providing these services, Re-Action builds more visible and robust circular systems.
Through her work with Re-Action, Heather has developed a particular interest in repair, identifying what she calls "the repair gap". She's finalising a white paper arguing for more decentralised repair solutions that are more resilient and benefit customers, communities and the repairers themselves. The white paper will be out soon.
LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-davies-communicating-sustainability/
Re-Action website: https://re-action-collective.org/
Re-Action LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/re-action-collective/
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In this episode, Emma tackles the “unspeakable C word”—climate—and explores why, even amid extreme weather and record-breaking heatwaves, there’s a widespread reluctance to talk about climate change directly. Instead, conversation often pivots to coping strategies and adaptation, neglecting the root causes and mitigation.
Talking About Heat, Not Its Cause
Society focuses on the discomfort and practicalities of extreme heat, rarely acknowledging climate change as the driver 03:00.
Surrendering to Adaptation
Communities and individuals are quick to find ways to adapt—air conditioning, altered routines—while skipping over discussions about how to prevent or stop escalating temperatures 07:03.
Softening of Language in Business
Businesses are increasingly using vague terms like “responsible growth” or “sustainability” in place of “climate emergency,” often as a form of avoidance 09:32.

Key Takeaways
Socially Organized Denial:
Referencing sociologist Kari Norgaard, Emma Berlow describes how society keeps climate conversations abstract and disconnected from daily life and action 06:13.

The Adaptation Leap:
There’s been a jump to adaptation solutions at the expense of mitigation efforts. This risks making climate impacts seem inevitable and unchangeable 08:53.

The Challenge for Sustainability Professionals:
Emma Berlow calls on listeners to recognize avoidance—both in themselves and their organizations—and push for honest, direct conversation about climate causes and action 10:46. She urges listeners to perform a “counter move”: naming the climate issue and advocating for action where appropriate.

Ripples of Change:
Even small acts—like discussing climate more openly in community groups—can create positive ripples, slowly shifting what is considered normal conversation and action 17:07.

Personal Challenge
Spot softened language or avoidance in conversations around heat and climate.
When safe and strategic, respond with honesty about climate causes and the need for mitigation—don’t just nod along or join in the avoidance 15:31.

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This special compilation episode is a celebration of midsummer and a chance to reflect on the journeys of impact-driven professionals working in sustainability. Hayley takes the helm, curating clips from three standout past guests whose insights, honesty, and approaches have inspired the podcast community. Whether on holiday, commuting, or simply in need of motivation, listeners are invited to revisit (or discover) invaluable guidance on building impactful careers, overcoming personal barriers, and fostering supportive communities.
Featured Episodes
1. Katy Carey – The Power of Data and Business Case (Episode 21)
Career journey: From chef and TV production to FMCG operations and big corporates, Katy’s path underscores the value of creative, data-led strategy in sustainability.
Key messages:
Tiny operational changes can drive large-scale impact and are foundational to any sustainability strategy 05:45.
Always start with the business case—define clearly what value your sustainability actions will add, from cost savings to customer value and risk reduction 09:11.
Storytelling and transparency are growing in importance, especially as consumer demand for sustainable products rises 11:44.
Top myth: Sustainability is not good for business. Data increasingly shows sustainable practices benefit the bottom line 13:08.
Creativity is born out of constraints—focus on what’s possible with what you have and let those wins pave the way for greater change 14:40.

2. Tamsin Aitchison – Breakthroughs in Leadership and Self-Promotion (Episode 46)
Role: Leadership coach, champion of cutting through personal barriers.
Key messages:
Fear of arrogance often holds people back from claiming their expertise—they equate authority with bragging, especially those from modest backgrounds 19:29.
Self-promotion can feel cringeworthy, but reframing it as an act of service helps—it’s not about ego but about letting others benefit from your knowledge 21:39.
Elevator pitches are about sparking interest, not relaying your full life story 23:53.
Cultivating accountability and community is essential to breaking through imposter syndrome and building a sense of belonging in the field 18:44.

3. Claire Osborne – Navigating Career Change and Burnout (Episode 69)
Role: Coach helping professionals untangle decisions and find clarity.
Key messages:
Many struggle with feeling stuck or unsure about their impact and legacy 28:05.
Career transitions are not solved in one leap—breaking down questions, seeking out case studies, and building a supportive, honest team is critical for success 27:18.
A supportive social accountability system—where you can share openly and receive compassion—helps people move past “icky” moments and make meaningful progress 28:36.
True legacy is about empowering others, not just achieving for oneself 33:10.

Practical Takeaways
Start with small, strategic changes—track their impact and build from there.
Make your business case for sustainability with clear data and customer focus.
Practice reframing self-promotion as service and remember that authenticity builds trust.
Tackle burnout and stagnation by building a network for accountability and mutual support, not just knowledge sharing.
Your legacy is not just what you achieve, but how you help others to grow and amplify impact.

Thanks for listening! Stay tuned for more straight-talking, practical insights into building a lasting impact through sustainability.
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R – Regulate
E – Empathise
S- Stay Curious
E – Explore
T – Take Boundaries
In this episode, Emma shares hands-on advice for handling conversations with climate change deniers, especially in professional settings. Drawing on a real-life training experience with a group of engineers, she introduces her “RESET” model—a practical framework for navigating challenging interactions without losing your composure or confidence.
Key Topics
Why conversations about climate are difficult and often avoided 02:22
Emotional triggers and the importance of self-regulation 04:22
The “RESET” approach for managing climate denial:
R: Regulate yourself – Pause, breathe, slow down, and control your body language to prevent being triggered 04:22
E: Empathize first – Acknowledge good questions and the other person's perspective without jumping to correct or lecture 06:21
S: Stay curious – Ask clarifying questions and explore which aspects the other person is unsure about, rather than reacting defensively 08:32
E: Explore their thinking – Use your expertise when relevant and clarify uncertainties for the benefit of the whole group 12:22
T: Take boundaries – Set clear limits and keep the space constructive without agreeing to falsehoods 15:46
Why expertise is not required to respond effectively; your role is to facilitate safe and respectful discussion 19:52
The goal: Diffuse defensiveness, stay respectful, and make everyone else in the room feel safe and heard 21:01

Takeaways
You don’t need all the answers; regulate yourself, stay curious and respectful 22:40
The RESET model helps you stay grounded in difficult conversations and maintain a constructive environment for all 23:13
Most important: Holding the space and lowering defensiveness is more valuable than “winning” the argument 21:01

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When trolls explain science to scientists
How to Respond to Climate Change Deniers | Rainforest Alliance
How to Talk to a Climate Denier Part 1 EP22
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In this episode, Emma sits down with Adam Bastock, founder of Small 99 and the grassroots movement People Planet Pint. The conversation dives into Adam Bastock's journey from digital marketing to sustainability, the origins and evolution of People Planet Pint, and the critical role of community-led action in making real, lasting change.
Key Topics
Adam Bastock's Background & Motivation
Started in digital marketing, specializing in SEO for SMEs (01:25).
Noticed sustainability advice, like digital marketing, was often aimed at big companies and hard for small businesses to implement (01:41).
Frustration with lack of SME-focused sustainability guidance inspired the creation of Small99 (02:55).

Small99 & People Planet Pint (PPP)
Small99: Aims to empower small businesses to decarbonize rapidly thanks to their nimble decision-making (03:07).
People Planet Pint: Born from the realization that business owners are more likely to gather in pubs than formal training rooms—turning the traditional networking and learning model on its head (06:38).
Lessons from experimentation: Tech tools like to-do lists and online calculators weren’t as effective for SMEs as community and peer support (06:07).

Community, Behaviour Change, & The Magic of the Pub
Real, lasting behavior change happens in informal, social spaces—over a pint, not in a classroom (09:08).
Events like PPP remove the threat and formality of standard sustainability events, providing a "safe space" for networking and support (18:35).
Mini games and monthly themes have proven a powerful way to spark conversations and learning (10:48, 30:07).

Failures and Learnings: People Planet Pastry
Attempted morning meetups ("pastry"), but found them less accessible, often attracting a more privileged, professional crowd (10:29).
Realized morning networking isn't for everyone—validated the pub as the most inclusive, accessible space (11:16).

The Role of Technology & AI
Tech (including AI) can now generate carbon reduction plans for free, making human-to-human connection the true unique value PPP offers (13:51).
Nothing yet replaces the spark of real conversation and shared experience in the pub (14:15).

Working With the National Emergency Briefing
PPP complements the National Emergency Briefing: watch the hard-hitting film, then come to the pub to share, vent, and act (18:28).
Emphasis on being welcoming and non-threatening for those who might feel out of place at activist-run events (20:14).

Impact & Growth
Since 2021, PPP runs about 80 events monthly, with more than 35,000 registrants (22:54).
Dream: To become the "Parkrun of sustainability"—consistent, safe, locally run events driving exponential growth and deeper community (24:09).

Expanding the Movement
Looking to break out from the sustainability sector regulars to engage the "quietly concerned"—people who care about climate but don’t feel part of the movement yet (28:19).
Open to partnerships, sponsorships, and new chapter (location) hosts—especially brands and influencers with wide reach (29:55).

How To Get Involved
Attend your local People Planet Pint event—bring a friend for the most impact (36:48).
Interested in hosting or partnering? Connect with Adam Bastock via LinkedIn or at small99.co.uk (40:11).
Help PPP reach 200,000: listeners, partners, and sponsors wanted!

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate, share, and subscribe so more people can find ways to take practical, community-driven climate action.
Send in your guest suggestions for the upcoming 100th episode!
LINKS
https://small99.co.uk/find-people-planet-pint-near-you/
https://small99.co.uk/action-box/
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