A Little Bit of Lagom: Recent Episodes
Marla King
A Little Bit of Lagom is a weekly podcast about how to find a more balanced, sustainable and mindful approach to living. Taking inspiration from the Swedish concept of Lagom, loosely translating to “a little bit and not too much”, the podcast explores how this philosophy can be applied to all aspects of your life, to help the planet, help others, and improve your own well-being. A Little Bit of Lagom goes into environmentalism, veganism, work-life balance, health, wellness, cruelty free practices, sustainability, and how we can make small, practical changes in our lives to support positive change in a way that feels possible and achievable. Marla, host of the podcast, is a freelance dance artist, sports massage therapist and coach/mentor in training who has a multitude of passions, especially for the natural world, and felt a need to share and connect with others who want to find ways to live more sustainably with more balance in their lives.
In this episode, I spoke with Rex Molapo, the co-founder of Conservation Music Lesotho, an organisation using the media of music to raise awareness about the climate crisis and as an educational tool to share knowledge with communities on environmental issues.
Rex also shares wonderful advice on raising awareness and sharing information in a way that inspires action as opposed to apathy, and why the arts has such power in awareness raising, education and cultivating meaningful action. We also discuss her experiences attending the Youth Pre-cop back in September, and analysing in more depth the outcomes of these events as perceived on personal and more global scales.
I hope that you enjoy this episode, and stick around until the end of the episode for some extra suggestions on ways to take climate action and bring about some positive changes this week.
@alittlebitoflagom
Episode transcript/additional notes:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-39-sharing-music-to-educate-and-empower-with-rex-from-conservation-music-lesotho/
Music: Martyn King
In today's episode with Eirini Sakellari, we discuss the inseparable nature of biodiversity from the climate crisis, and how this connection is not being communicated strongly enough and reflecting the complexity within it. Eirini talks about the need to centre a rights-based approach in conservation and restoration. There is an incredible need to connect biodiversity, conservation and human rights which historically has not been the case with the roots of conservation very much tied within colonialism.
We delve into conversations around whether there can be any such thing as ‘ethical’ money in a capitalist system, and the complexities existing in funding environmental projects, be it on a grass roots or NGO level. Eirini outlines the role that environmental policy can play, as well as its limitations, and why the term ‘intersectional environmentalism’ is an ideology that needs to be much more widely embraced.
Eirini works within area-based conservation and is originally from Greece, specifically the Island of Crete. For her bachelors degree, she studied Chemistry and then went on to study environmental sciences for her masters degree, focusing a lot on environmental policy and sustainable development diplomacy. Eirini is one of the co-coordinators for GYBN Europe, which is how I came to meet her, and she’s also the youth assistant coordinator of the global landscapes forum – youth in landscapes initiative.
I found this such an interesting and thought provoking conversation - it made me realise how much more I have to learn in this area, and I hope it sparks your interest to delve deeper into these topics.
Episode transcript and additional resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-38-the-connected-complexities-of-biodiversity-human-rights-and-the-climate-crisis-with-eirini-sakellari/
Music: Martyn King
In today’s episode, I had a wonderful conversation with Gigi, an Indigenous Earth Defender, self-proclaimed eco-punk/eco-goth, and she also runs the online platform Gente del Maiz – an educational platform focusing on environmental education in bitesize pieces, fostering collective unlearning and relearning with her community.
In this conversation, we delve into subjects of identity, the power embedded in the language we use, the ways in which the environmental movement needs to become a more inclusive space, and the current prominent narratives of environmentalism that are in many ways damaging and exclusive.
Gigi shares her personal experiences of feeling for a long time that she did environmentalism ‘backwards’ and how she has now come to honour the way she learned about environmentalism. We also discuss connections with nature, the importance of compassion and calling in, as well as her thoughts and approaches to managing eco-grief and eco-anxiety
Gigi also shares her beautiful intentions that she set at the beginning of this year, and how they have guided and shaped her decisions moving forward, and of course what a little bit of Lagom means to her.
Episode notes/transcript:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-37-the-power-held-in-language-identity-and-unlearning-with-gigi-from-gente-del-maiz/
Music: Martyn King
In this episode, I talk with Nele Vanhoyweghen who is a former Belgian UN youth delegate for sustainable development, and currently studies sociology at Gent University where she is a student representative trying to focus on sustainability, climate and inclusivity.
We discuss many things from the importance of generational equity, critiquing party politics, the need for inclusivity and a prioritisation of wellbeing, along with the hopeful possibilities of a just transition.
Nele also shares her own personal experiences with mental health, and how she made the decision to be more open about the fact that she has a depression, anxiety and has autism. We discuss the incredibly damaging implications of stigmatisation, stereotypes and the taboos that still exist around mental health, the ways they manifest and the huge need for this to be dismantled.
Nele also highlights the immense rise in burn out, and how implementing rest is so crucial to support wellbeing, and again having the space to communicate more openly about mental health without fears of judgement or experiencing stigmatisation is so essential.
This is such a thought-provoking episode, with immense honesty, consideration of the visions to create a better future, and many beautiful words of wisdom that I hope they resonate with you too.
Episode Transcript/Additional Notes:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-36-activism-stigmatism-and-infuriating-party-politics-with-nele-van-hoyweghen/
Music: Martyn King
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom - Your support is so important and greatly appreciated for the continuation and sustainability of the podcast, thank you
In this episode, I had such a lovely and informative conversation with Renata Koch Alvarenga, a youth gender and climate justice advocate from Porto Alegre, Brazil. She is the Founder and Director of EmpoderaClima, an educational initiative about gender equality and climate action focused on youth in the Global South. EmpoderaClima produces informative content on climate justice in Portuguese, Spanish, English and French, and engages in multiple advocacy platforms, such as the UN Girls' Education Initiative and the UNFCCC.
Renata has presented her work in 7 countries and is involved in many global initiatives, including the Youth Constituency of the UN Climate Change Convention, where she is Co-Lead of the Gender working group, and UN Women, where she is a National Youth Gender Activist representing Brazil. Renata is also a G(irls)20 Ambassador, and currently works with politics and diplomacy in Rio de Janeiro.
In this conversation, we discuss topics surrounding climate and gender justice, which Renata shares so much valuable insight into, and how achieving gender balance in positions of leadership is essential in building a more just, sustainable and equitable society. Renata shares about her youth activism, rooted in intersectional feminist action for climate justice, including her activities as founder and director of EmpoderaClima. She also explains and unpicks a lot of climate policy lingo which can often be very inaccessible and quite overwhelming.
We talk about the important qualities of empathy, listening and optimism within positions of leadership, as it is only from a place of hope that we are able to create a vision for a more positive and beautiful future.
Episode Transcript/Extra resources can be found here:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-35-climate-and-gender-justice-with-renata-koch-alvarenga/
Music: Martyn King
If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to support its continuation, please check out the Ko-fi account: https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
In this episode, I talk with Boris and Viktor from Etika Mondo, an eco-village located in France.
In this conversation, there were many ideas and visions that really stuck with me and I hope you connect with these beautiful moments too. They share such interesting perspectives on how we have come to define low tech and high tech, individualism and community, the idea of luxury and also the incredibly complex nature of collective intelligence. I really enjoyed talking with Boris and Viktor, I learned so much and gained lots of inspiration from their perspectives, and I hope you enjoy this episode too!!
I do have to apologise in advance, there are a few audio issues in this episode. Boris and Viktor chatted with me from outside which was so lovely but also meant the sound quality isn’t as clear.
Also, a huge thanks to Esmeralda who joined this chat to help out with any translations, so greatly appreciated!!!
Episode transcript/summary:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-34-eco-village-insights-with-boris-and-viktor-from-etika-mondo/
Music: Martyn King
This podcast relies on support from the wonderful community of listeners. If you are finding the content valuable, and are in a financial position to support the podcast, please check out the Ko-Fi account where you can make a one off donation for as little as £3 - https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
Thank you for your support!
In today’s episode, I had such a wonderful conversation with Heizal Nagginda. Heizal is the founder of Climate Operation, a youth led organisation based in Uganda, which focuses on educating young people and the community about climate change and its intersection between various social issues. They prioritise making climate education accessible and digestible, run workshops for schools and organise activities such as tree planting, which you’ll learn much more about throughout this conversation.
Heizal shares the motivations behind Climate Operation, the importance of accessible information to educate children about the climate crisis in Uganda, and the need to focus on the human impact of the climate crisis, including the health and social impacts. We delve into discussing the damages surrounding the way the climate crisis is portrayed within mainstream media and how the narrative and lens through which it is seen needs to shift and drastically expand. Heizal shares such important insights and was absolute joy to talk with. I hope you enjoy!
Episode Notes/Transcript:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-33-climate-operation-educating-and-connecting-with-heizal-nagginda/
Music: Martyn King
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
Valentina Prada Flórez (she/her) is a Literature student at the University of Los Andes in Colombia. She is interested in gender issues and human rights regarding the climate crisis, which she aspires to relate with her career once she graduates. She is part of Fridays for Future Bogotá, Viernes por el Futuro Colombia (FFF Colombia), her university's climate committee (MAUA Uniandes) and co-founded Latinas for Climate. She's currently coordinating the Escazú Agreement campaign for FFF Bogotá and starting her way through photojournalism.
In this conversation, Valentina shares her path into climate activism, including her involvement with many youth-led organisations and how her studies in literature shape the perspective she offers into climate conversation. We discuss the importance of accessible information which can empower people to engage in climate action which links to the incredible work Latinas for Climate is doing in creating such resources. Valentina also talks about the creation of Latinas for climate, the aims of the organisation and her work on campaigns surrounding the Escazú agreement, along with what this agreement would come to mean.
I hope you enjoy this episode!
Show notes/Extra resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-32-youth-activism-and-self-reflection-with-valentina-prada/
Music: Martyn King
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Farah Ahmed, who works for Julie’s Bicycle - a London based charity that supports the creative community to act on climate change and environmental sustainability. Farah’s interests lie in exploring connections between environmental, racial and social justice, creative activism and how art can reshape climate narratives. Farah is a co-founder and facilitator of Diaspora Dialogues for Our Futures, a reflective space for people of colour to centre collective care in the face of the climate crisis.
In this conversation, Farah shares her journey into her work at Julie’s Bicycle and how this influenced the way she connected to the environmental movement as well as the important role art has to contribute to this space. We discuss the need for systemic change to tackle social injustices and the damaging impact of an individualistic focus within the environmental movement.
Farah shares crucial messages surrounding the need to be centering marginalised voices and opening up spaces to listen to those on the front lines of the climate crisis, as well as looking beyond the symptoms to target and address the root causes of the climate crisis. She also highlights the importance dismantling gate keeping and all oppressive systems, and she shares such beautiful messages of what she is hopeful about for the future.
Episode Notes/Resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-31-climate-justice-advocacy-in-the-arts-with-farah-ahmed/
Music: Martyn King
In this episode, I was in conversation with Antonio, Pamela and Joi 'Junebug', the board members of the Unity Among Nations Youth Council, a youth-led organisation working to address issues affecting their sovereignty, liberty, and way of life as Indigenous Peoples. Their purpose also includes dismantling systems of oppression, healing themselves and the land through tradition, culture and action to liberate their people from the bondage of colonialism.
I can’t thank Antonio, Pamela and Junebug enough for all that you shared. These very real and current lived experiences need to be heard, and I hope that through listening to the rawness, humanity and honesty, we can do deep reflecting and dedicating ourselves to becoming better allies, working to dismantle white supremacy and the insidiousness of systems of oppression.
You can find Unity Among Nations Youth Council at unityamongnations.org or email them - admin@unityamongnations.org
Episode notes/resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-30-the-uncensored-truths-from-indigenous-youth-with-unity-among-nations-youth-council/
Music: Martyn King
In today’s episode, I’m sharing with you a conversation with Shirleen Chin, who is a part of the legal and diplomatic team of the Stop Ecocide Campaign!
The Stop Ecocide Foundation is doing incredibly important work in pushing for ecocide to become recognised as an international law. This would be a crucial step in the fight to hold individuals accountable for the horrific destruction caused to the environment disproportionately impacting marginalised communities.
Shirleen shares much more about the Stop Ecocide campaign, examples of what would be considered ecocide, the process involved in getting ecocide recognised as an international crime, why this process is so important along with how you can support the campaign.
Lots to learn from this one and I hope you enjoy!!
Instagram: @ecocidelaw
Episode Notes/Resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-29-supporting-the-stop-ecocide-campaign-with-shirleen-chin/
Music: Martyn King
In this episode, I’m sharing with you a conversation with someone I find really awesome, and she’s called Esmeralda.
I first got in touch with Esmeralda as I saw she was living in a tiny house which I thought was absolutely fascinating and I had so many questions I wanted to ask. I then learned about all the incredible work she is doing!
In this chat, we talk about the climate action groups she’s a part of – Global Youth Biodiversity Network, The Green Youth, she was a Belgian Youth Delegate at the UN climate conference, and is involved in organising Weekends for Future. She is also the founder of and a part of a few local action groups too!
We talk about how Esmeralda came to living in a tiny house, the importance of community action, and looking after your well-being in the face of eco-anxiety.
This was our first back and forth conversation after a while of voice noting getting to know each other, which was such a lovely experience. I hope you enjoy the conversation!!
Episode notes and extra resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-28-tiny-house-talks-and-beyond-with-esmeralda-wirtz/
Music: Martyn King
In this episode, I’m sharing with you a conversation I had with Francisca Rockey (@franrockey), a geographer, campaigner, influencer, advocate and activist who is regularly involved in social campaigns, and charity fundraising. She is also a blogger, writer and public speaker featured in mainstream and online media.
She founded Black Geographers (@blackgeographers), a community interest company working to tackle black people’s erasure in geography by creating a platform for black geographers to connect. The platform has a global audience of over 10,000 members.
Francisca is studying geography as an undergraduate, and in this chat, we talk about what led her to study geography, how she started the Black Geographers platform, the work they are doing and the goals she hopes to achieve through the platform.
We also discuss her work as a writer, specifically some recent articles published by Euronews which I definitely recommend you read.
After diving into her work, Francisca then shares incredibly important perspectives surrounding looking after your mental health, especially when engaging in such crucial work, and the importance of setting boundaries.
Definitely a lot to learn from this conversation, and lots of useful advice to take away.
Episode Notes/Resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-27-self-preservation-geographical-perspectives-and-diversifying-the-narrative-with-francisca-rockey/
Music: Martyn King
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
In this episode I’m sharing with you a conversation with the wonderful Joyce Najm Mendez (@multiculturalsustainable).
Joyce expresses how worrying it is that many of us under this capitalist society have become so disconnected from nature, and highlights the importance of a paradigm shift away from financial growth towards prioritising quality and human connections.
She shares so openly and honestly about personal sacrifices, experiences in and advice on finding sustainability in your own life to support your health when engaging in such crucial work.
It’s hard to know where to start when summarising all the incredible work Joyce doing within the sustainability sector; from working as a social entrepreneur on the water-energy-food nexus, to co-founding several organisations across Latin America, centering youth engagement and trans-boundary cooperation.
Joyce was one of only 30 Young people selected to be part of the Abu Dhabi Climate Action Meeting, supporting the organisation of the first ever United Nations Youth Climate Summit in 2019. She is also TEDx lecturer, has been invited to join the group of leaders ‘Women Rise for All’ and is Involved in many youth networks – World Youth Parliament for Water, Youth Group CJBP3, Paraguayan Youth Network for water, currently working as fundraising chair of the Young Climate Ambassadors of CUNCR.
Joyce is currently a Masters of Science candidate in Sustainability and Adaptation Planning at the Centre of Alternative Technology, Wales, UK.
I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to speak with Joyce and hear her pathway into this incredible work, I find her so inspiring.
I hope you enjoy!
Episode Notes/Extra Resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-26-cooperating-and-connecting-with-nature-in-building-a-sustainable-world-with-joyce-mendez/
Music: Martyn King
This is the final episode in the All Things Vegan series!
I’m so excited to share this episode with you, as I had the absolute pleasure of talking with Momoko Hill (@oh_momoko), someone who I have admired and been inspired by for a while now, and it felt so special to have the opportunity to chat with her, she’s such a wonderful human being.
We cover so many topics - Momoko’s vegan story, how veganism is ultimately about compassion and that this must be extended to all human and non-human animals. We discuss the damaging connotations surrounding the vegan movement, the importance of stripping away deep-rooted white supremacist ideologies, and the crucial practice of a good apology and owning up to mistakes.
Momoko shares aspects of her spiritual journey, her favourite vegan foods and an insight into the awesome work she is doing. This includes being a co-host on the Chickpeeps podcast and working for Wicked Foods, and we also talk about the wonderful values behind her lovely supportive Facebook group GLO Vegan.
I can’t thank Momo enough, it was so lovely talking with her and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I loved chatting with her.
Episode notes and extra resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-25-all-things-vegan-4-4-with-momoko-hill/
Music: Martyn King
If this is the first January episode you’re listening to, I’ve dedicated these January episodes to talking about veganism, as it’s something I’m hugely passionate about and it was a huge step in helping me recognise the contradictions that exist in many situations between our actions and our values.
This episode feels very special to me as in this conversation I’m having a chat with my sister, Chlöe.
This conversation is filled with honesty, rationality, emotion and a few tangents which somehow still feel rather related, to me anyway.
I hope you connect with the values and perspectives we discuss, and allow yourself to be open to feeling and thinking perhaps a little differently.
Episode Notes/Resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-24-all-things-vegan-3-4-with-chloe-king/
Ko-fi Account:
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
Music: Martyn King
Here we have episode 2/4 of the 'All Things Vegan' episodes!
For those of you who have been following the podcast or @alittlebitoflagom on Instagram, you will likely know that I am vegan and it is something I am very passionate about. So, in the spirit of Veganuary, I have decided to dedicate the episodes to focusing on veganism, talking with some awesome human beings who are passionate about veganism too.
In this episode, I am talking with Ida Hesselmark, who I met when I moved to Malmö back in September. Ida is also a dance artist, and a part time barista, and since we are both vegan, we often have conversations about vegan things, so I thought it could be nice to record one of these chats in the hope it could be useful to you in some way.
Ida shares her journey into veganism, some responses to anti-vegan arguments, advice and responses to some things that may hold you back from becoming vegan, along with many other things.
I hope you enjoy the episode!
Extra notes/resources:
https://www.alittlebitoflagom.org/ep-23-all-things-vegan-2-4-with-ida-hesselmark/
Music: Martyn King
Happy New Year! And…. Happy Veganuary!!
Due to an overwhelmingly positive response to my proposition of dedicating the podcast episodes of January to vegan talks, in the spirit of Veganuary, that is what is happening this month 😊
For those of you who have been following the podcast or @alittlebitoflagom on Instagram, you will know that I am vegan and it is something I am very passionate about.
So, to kick of the first of 4 'All Things Vegan' episodes, I’m speaking with the awesome Jackie Hunter @_plantfriends on Instagram, who is a vegan food content blogger from Detroit, Michigan.
Get ready for some wonderful advice, recipe inspiration and other vegan chit chat. Thanks so much again to Jackie 😊
Extra Resources/Episode notes:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-22-all-things-vegan-1-4-with-jackie-hunter
Ko-fi Account:
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
Music: Martyn King
A huge thank you to all of the wonderful guests who have come on the podcast, shared such interesting perspectives and experiences, I'm so incredibly grateful!
As this chaotic year draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on things I’ve learned, mistakes I’ve made, nuggets of wisdom that have really stuck with me, and looking forward to how all these experiences inform what I’m trying and planning to do moving forward.
If you'd like to get in touch, you can email me: alittlebitoflagom@gmail.com
Or find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alittlebitoflagom/
I'd love to hear what you've been learning and changing!
Extra Resources/Episode Notes:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-21-reflecting-and-projecting
Special thanks to:
Kathleen Varendia: https://www.instagram.com/kathandtheplanet/
Randie Cimino: https://www.instagram.com/theknowwastestore/
Alysha: https://www.instagram.com/the.sustainable.scientist/
Martha Powell: https://www.instagram.com/marthainthestars/
Matilda Bjarum: https://www.instagram.com/matildabjarum/
Scott Thomson: https://www.instagram.com/sustainabilityscott/
Crap Activist: https://www.instagram.com/thecrapactivist/
Jasmine Harrison: https://www.instagram.com/themodernboheme/
Jam Jar Gill: https://www.instagram.com/jamjargill/
Xenia: https://www.instagram.com/sustainaxenia/
Music: Martyn King
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom - Your support is so greatly appreciated, thank you! In this episode I had a chat with Xenia, a sustainability blogger with a masters in sustainable development.
Xenia shares her experiences living a zero waste and more minimalist life, along with discussing impacts of privilege making this more attainable, and barriers surrounding sustainability.
She explains the ways in which capitalism is the root of many problems the world is facing, shares advice on managing eco-anxiety, and of course how she finds her little bit of Lagom. I hope you enjoy the episode! Episode blog post with extra resources: https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-20-sustainability-economics-and-the-privileged-power-of-knowledge-with-xenia Music: Martyn King
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
Hello, I hope you are doing well wherever you are!
In this episode, I chatted with Gill, also known as Jam Jar Gill, a mother of two 3 year old twin boys (who turn 4 on the release date of this episode - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!). She runs a blog discussing sustainability, holistic well-being and also loves to support local, eco-friendly businesses who openly support sustainability and the green economy.
I was so touched when Gill got in contact expressing her desire to come on the podcast and chat with me. She offers interesting perspectives on sustainability, consumerism and well-being, along with some useful advice, including tips for parents trying to live in a more eco-friendly way.
Instagram @jamjargill
Website: https://jamjargill.com/
Extra notes/resources:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-19-holistic-health-and-eco-friendly-family-life-with-jam-jar-gill
I hope you enjoy the episode! :)
If you'd like to get in touch, you can find me @alittlebitoflagom on Instagram, or drop me an email - alittlebitoflagom@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you!
I can't believe it's already episode 18!
In this episode, I had such an awesome conversation with Jasmine Harrison. Jasmine works as a project manager for non for profit environmental organisations, a career change she made after working within the fashion industry.
In this conversation, we talked about the work she does, the aims for her website, and the value in bringing a sense of community. We discuss the importance of creativity beyond artistic fields, and why taking an intersectional approach is so crucial in finding just and sustainable solutions. And, or course, she shares how she finds her little bit of Lagom.
I hope this episode brings you as much food for thought, education and inspiration as it did for me.
Extra Notes/Resources from the Episode: https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-18-community-creativity-and-intersectionality-for-sustainable-solutions-with-jasmine-harrison
To find out more about Jasmine and her work: On Instagram: @themodernbohemen Her Website : https://jasminemharrison.com/blog
Thank you to those of you listening and supporting the podcast, it really means so much.
Please share with family/friends and encourage conversations around these all important topics!
Ko-fi Account:
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
Music: Martyn King
In this episode, I thought I would share some (hopefully) helpful tips on how to have a more eco-friendly Christmas this year, from sustainable, DIY gift ideas, vegan Christmas advice, and some little eco-friendly swaps, so hopefully there's something for everyone to try this Christmas.
If you celebrate Christmas, it can be a wonderful time to spend with family, and attend festive events, which will likely be very different this year, perhaps with digital, zooming alternatives we are sadly having to get to grips with...
With Christmas, and many other festivals we celebrate, also comes a lot of excess – buying of food, presents, and often unnecessary things that can lead to a LOT of waste…
I know we still have some time before Christmas, although I'm sure many people have already been thinking about/planning for it, but I wanted to share some tips that may be helpful to think about in the lead up to Christmas, so you can still enjoy a lovely festive season but in a more eco-friendly way.
Extra Resources/Episode Notes:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-17-plan-yourself-a-merry-eco-christmas
Music: Martyn King
Instagram: @alittlebitoflagom
Ko-fi Account: https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
Thank you for your support!
In this episode, I talk with a truly wonderful woman who goes by the alter ego of the Crap Activist.
She remains anonymous, so I can’t reveal her true identity, but she is a Mum of two teenagers, and she and her family made an awesome resolution for this year, to make one change for the better every day.
She shares some wonderful messages and sources of inspiration to take away, and was an absolute joy speaking with The Crap Activist. I hope you enjoy this episode!
If you want to follow what she's getting up to, you can find her on Instagram @thecrapactivist
Extra notes/resources:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-16-what-a-difference-a-day-makes-with-the-crap-activist
Music: Martyn King
If you would like to support the podcast further, please check out the Ko-fi account:
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
The podcast is non-for-profit, so all donations go towards the production of the podcast, and any contribution is so greatly appreciated.
In this episode, I’m talking with Scott Thomson (@sustainabilityscott), who works within the sustainability sector, specifically within education in Scotland.
We discuss how/why governments should be held more accountable, and have more responsibility to place tighter regulations and laws to support climate action, and also what large companies/corporations should be doing to help towards solutions to the climate crisis, rather than drastically contributing to the problem in many cases.
He shares so many interesting perspectives, and expresses how we, as individuals, shouldn’t feel as if we have to tackle everything alone. There’s so much companies and governments should be held accountable for, and we can’t blame ourselves for the poor systems currently in place.
I learned so much from this conversation and I hope that you will also.
Extra Notes/Resources
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-15-the-climate-crisis-and-taking-responsibility-with-scott-thomson
Ko-fi Account:
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
Thank you so much for your support!
I wanted to open up a conversation around tech waste, as it’s actually a huge problem I don’t think is being talked about enough.
I’m very new to looking in to this, so I definitely don’t have many answers, but I wanted to raise some awareness, hopefully learn more, and encourage you to learn more about this topic too. And, more importantly, consider how we can make less damaging choices when purchasing and disposing of electrical items.
If you are enjoying the podcast, and are in a position to support the podcast further, please check out the Ko-fi account, your support really helps by covering production costs to keep the podcast going.
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
If you have any info on this episode topic, or know anyone who does, I’d love to hear from you. And if you have any comments on the episodes or would like to get in touch you can find me on Instagram @alittlebitoflagom or send an email to alittlebitoflagom@gmail.com.
Episode Notes/Resources: https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-14-the-terrors-of-tech-waste
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Matilda is a freelance dance artist, we trained together at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, and as she grew up in Sweden, I thought it would be interesting to talk with her about how the concept of Lagom has become embedded in her values and approaches to living.
We cover so much in this conversation - how Lagom is integrated into the Swedish way of life, the differences she felt when moving to the UK, we discuss appreciation for nature, our views around capitalism and advertisement in shaping the disposable culture we live in, concerns surrounding tribalism with social media, and considering individual and collective responsibilities when approaching environmental and social injustices.
The conversation journeys down many avenues and stresses the importance of opening up dialogues in the pursuit of positive change.
I hope this conversation will spark your own interests in opening up conversations and continue to challenge your perspectives.
Extra Resources/Episode Notes:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-13-living-in-the-land-of-lagom-with-matilda-bj%C3%A4rum
If you would like to, and are in a position to support the podcast further, please check out the Ko-fi account:
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom Your support really means so much!
In this episode, I am talking about clutter, how to de-clutter, and how to actually differentiate your clutter from your belongings – things with a purpose and a place.
Clutter is something that definitely causes me some stress, and ironically, more clutter seems to be present the more stressed I’m feeling.
What is the Lagom outlook on this? And how can we apply this in our own lives in a way that resonates with us?
Extra notes and resources:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-12-belongings-vs-clutterings
In today’s episode, I am talking to Martha Powell, who is a professional Harpist, an incredible musician in a multitude of instruments, along with a music teacher in the Cardiff/Penarth area.
We discuss her career, and how she’s been finding a balance with social media from a personal and professional perspective, and how actually fusing these together has made her feel like she can relate to others in a way that feels more authentic for her.
We also talk about ways she’s been trying to live more sustainably, as well as discussing our thoughts on veganism, and the ethics surrounding the use of animal products, along with her appreciation for animals.
You can follow Martha on Instagram @marthapowellharpist
If you're enjoying the podcast, and want to support it's continuation, please check out my Ko-fi account:
https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom
Your support means so much, thank you!
Extra Notes/Resources from the episode:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-11-thoughts-journeying-from-social-media-to-animal-appreciation-with-martha-powell
In this episode, I’m chatting with Alysha (Now updated to @the.sustainable.scientist on Instagram), a 30 year-old from Auckland New Zealand, who lives in an apartment with her partner and their cat - Slippers.
We talk about Alysha’s zero waste journey, the challenges she’s faced, veganism, supporting well-being and the importance of not being too hard on ourselves.
I had such a lovely conversation with Alysha, and a really enjoyable chat, I hope you find it enjoyable and useful too! If you are enjoying the podcast and would like to support its production, please check out the Ko-fi page to help keep the podcast going: https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom Extra notes/resources from the episode: https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-10-a-journey-towards-zero-waste-living-with-environmental-alysha
In this interview, I had the pleasure of talking with Randie Cimino, who started her zero waste business - Greener, Kinder, Smarter, The 'Know' Waste Store. We discuss her journey towards zero waste living, and the start up of her store, along with why she’s so passionate about living a more zero waste life, and practical tips we can take away to try live more sustainably. I hope you enjoy the episode! Extra Notes/Resources: https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-9-greener-kinder-smarter-the-know-waste-store-interview-episode If you wish to support the podcast further, please check out A Little Bit of Lagom's Ko-fi account to help cover production costs. Any contribution is so greatly appreciated: https://ko-fi.com/alittlebitoflagom For more updates, you can find me on Instagram: @alittlebitoflagom
In this episode, I focus on the sustainable swaps we can make in our homes to help the planet. These are swaps I've made, am starting to make and some I hope to make in the future, and I hope they can be useful tips for you too! Extra notes/resources:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-8-sustainable-swaps
In this first interview episode, I'm talking with Kathleen (@kathandtheplanet) about fast fashion, sustainable fashion, great tips on living more sustainably and so much more.
She shares the importance of not being too hard on ourselves, and how sustainability doesn't have to be 'beautiful' to be useful.
Extra notes/resources:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-7-first-interview-episode-with-kathleen-varendia
This episode is a heavy one...
Observing the realities surrounding the production and consumption of our food is incredibly shocking and upsetting, but avoiding it doesn't make it go away.
In this episode, I am shining a light on some of the areas of exploitation that occur within food production.
Extra notes/resources:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-6-food-ethics
Taking time to check in with ourselves, and look after our mental health is something we should all do more often, and not only something to think about when it starts to deteriorate. So let's take time to check in, and find ways we can help look after our well-being.
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-5-well-being-and-checking-in-with-ourselves
We can sometimes forget about all the energy and resource intensive processes involved in food production. Current demand for resources exceeds what is sustainable on earth, so it’s crucial we protect these finite resources by making better choices about the food we are consuming.
Extra resources and notes from the episode:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-4-food-footprint
In this episode, we delve into the excessive food waste problem! This, along with many other problems, is at the cross roads between climate action and social justice. Get ready for some shocking facts and practical tips to help prevent food waste.
Extra resources and notes from the episode can be found here:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep3-food-waste-facts-and-hacks
Music: Martyn King
In this episode, the focus is all things PLASTIC! Extreme, horrifying, overwhelming; thoughts that spring to mind when I think of plastic pollution. We need to be aware of the extent of this problem, but also, more importantly, find practical ways to be part of the solution.
Extra resources and notes from the episode can be found here:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom/post/ep-2-plastics
Music: Martyn King
Welcome to A Little Bit of Lagom! In this first episode, I will be talking to you about why I’m starting this podcast, what the term Lagom actually means, how I stumbled upon the concept, as well as what I want to focus on within this podcast, and what I hope it can bring to the listeners.
You can find extra resources and notes from the episode on my website:
https://alittlebitoflagom.wixsite.com/lagom
Music: Martyn King