Climate Curious

Stingless bees have been around since the dinosaurs, but until recently ignored by mainstream scientific studies From her lab in the heart of the Amazon, scientist Rosa Vásquez Espinoza has been busy proving that these insects are medicinal and agricultural superbugs that require respect – both socially and legally! In conversation with Climate Curious’ Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha, Rosa breaks down how these ancient pollinators protect 80% of the Amazon’s flora (including your coffee and chocolate!), the historic win to protect these tiny bees’ legal rights, and why her grandmother inspired her to get into chemistry.Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondon Website: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/ All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Nigeria’s Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, a rare short-tailed roundleaf bat whose global population is less than 1500, is trying to survive – and their biggest threat is wildfire. Nigerian tropical ecologist, conservationist and 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa winner Iroro Tanshi joins Climate Curious to share how farmers are transforming into frontline fire brigades, what community-led climate resilience looks like on the ground in Nigeria, and how she got passionate about bats in the first place! The result? A new model for protecting both nature and livelihoods.Check out Iroro’s work: https://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/iroro-tanshi/ Support Iroro’s team at the Small Mammal Conservation Organization: https://www.smacon-africa.org/ Check out the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners: https://www.goldmanprize.org/current-winners/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The “Finch ruling” case started small – with £20 donations from people that cared – but the eventual wins were big. What’s less well known, is the legal rollercoaster Sarah Finch and the Weald Action Group faced. After a failed High Court case and a failed Court of Appeal case, Sarah faced a major crossroads: keep going or call it a day? Sarah joins Climate Curious’s Ben Hurst to share why she took the risky last ditch attempt to gain justice for Horse Hill in Surrey, and describes what it felt like to stand in the Supreme Court, not knowing if years of effort were about to unravel.Enjoyed this short episode? Listen to the full interview with Sarah Finch, exclusively on Climate Curious: https://tedxlondon.com/podcasts/how-a-local-petition-became-a-national-climate-victory-with-sarah-finch-of-the-finch-ruling/Check out the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners: https://www.goldmanprize.org/current-winners/ Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondonWebsite: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to challenge the UK government on climate – and win? Enter climate winner – Sarah Finch of the legendary UK “Finch ruling”. From Surrey oil well to the Supreme Court, Sarah Finch and the Weald Action Group took the government to task – forcing it to rewrite how it assesses the environmental impact of new oil and gas projects, forever! And now she’s sharing the story. Sarah Finch of the “Finch ruling” herself joins Climate Curious’s Ben Hurst to share how a grassroots campaign grew into one of the most consequential climate legal victories in recent UK history. Tune in to explore what this landmark win looks and feels like from the inside, why Sarah believes that ordinary people can drive extraordinary change, and celebrating the recent news of her 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize win in Europe, alongside five other women.Check out the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners: https://www.goldmanprize.org/current-winners/ Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondonWebsite: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This conservation will be televised! “Live streaming meant the animals could reach way more people without having to meet any of them,” says YouTube and Twitch conservationist streamer Maya Higa. Since her rise to over a million livestream followers, Maya has used her platform to fund the creation of the Alveus Sanctuary. A purpose built virtual conservation centre raising funds to fuel even more conservation, all through 24/7 live cameras of the animals like ‘Stompy’, ‘Winnie The Moo’, and ‘Push Pop’. Tune in to Climate Curious to hear how it all started with an injured bird called ‘Bean’, why she shaved her head, and “hiding the broccoli” of conservation work inside of a lifestyle aesthetic. Recorded live at TED 2026 with executive producer Josie Colter.Alveus Sanctuary's Twitch live stream: https://www.twitch.tv/alveussanctuaryAlveus Sanctuary’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AlveusSanctuary Maya Higa’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayahiga Check out Alveus Sanctuary’s animals: https://www.alveussanctuary.org/ambassadors Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondon Website: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/ All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.