Share

Blue Earth Podcast
Sir Tim Smit on how ‘muscular localism’ could save our planet
“Despite its bonkersness, I believed other people would want it to come true. That’s how the Eden Project was built. And that’s how we can change the world.”
Our guest on the Blue Earth podcast this week is Sir Tim Smit, the co-founder of the Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. We’re delighted to welcome Tim as a keynote speaker at this year’s summit and in this episode he teases us with what he’ll be talking about when he joins us in October.
He also tells host Laura Nesbitt why he believes muscular localism is the way forward when it comes to creating a healthy, happy planet. He touches on the future of agriculture - plus, why he believes 3D printing could put an end to supply chains.
Follow Tim’s work at the Eden Project on Twitter
Find out more at www.blueearthsummit.com
Follow Blue Earth Summit on Twitter
Follow Blue Earth Summit on Instagram
Follow Laura on Instagram
What is the Blue Earth Summit?
Blue Earth Summit is a movement. A dynamic mix of communities, redefining how we work and driven by a love for the outdoors. A new way to connect and regenerate our connection to our blue earth.
With our eclectic Bristol venue partners the Marble Factory and The Wave, October 2022 will see an extended programme over three days. Two days of inspirational content in central Bristol followed by a final day of activity-led networking at one of Europe’s premier sporting venues.
More episodes
View all episodes

45. Powering the Net Zero Workforce
30:47||Season 2, Ep. 45In this episode of the Blue Earth Podcast, Guy Hayler sits down with Mat Ilic, Founder and CEO of Greenworkx, the workforce platform enabling the net zero transition.They explore why the shift to low-carbon homes, transport and energy systems is fundamentally a people challenge; how Greenworkx is tackling the skills and talent bottleneck facing the transition; and what it takes to retrain and upskill the workforce at speed and scale.Mat also shares Greenworkx’s journey so far, the size of the opportunity ahead, and how the company is building a capital-efficient, technology-driven platform to power millions into green jobs.If you want a shorter Spotify blurb, a more investor-led version, or one optimised for Apple Podcasts, I can adapt this quickly.
44. The Power of Seeing the World Differently with James Arbib
21:21||Season 2, Ep. 44In this episode of the Blue Earth Podcast, we sit down with James Arbib, co-founder of RethinkX and co-author of Stellar. James shares a bold vision for a “Stellar World”, one of abundance, human flourishing and self-sustaining systems, and explains why today’s biggest challenges can’t be solved by fixing a broken system, but by rethinking it entirely. A hopeful, challenging conversation about technology, civilisation, and the power of seeing the world differently.
43. Hydro EV: Building Off-Grid EV Charging Where the Grid Can’t Reach
30:22||Season 2, Ep. 43In this episode, Guy Hayler sits down with Jack Curtis-Grange, founder of Hydro EV, to explore a radically different approach to EV charging infrastructure. From grid congestion and missed roadside opportunities to off-grid microgrids powered by gas, batteries and hydrogen-ready tech, Jack explains how Hydro EV is unlocking sites other charge point operators can’t reach, and why the business is now raising £500k to scale its first flagship locations.
42. If You’re Not at the Table, You’re on the Menu
21:48||Season 2, Ep. 42In this episode of the Blue Earth Podcast, Will Hayler is joined by climate activist Ines and guerrilla gardener and technologist Kalpana Arias to explore what it really means to be heard in a world built on extraction. From getting off the “menu” and onto the table, to reimagining cities, community power and the role of business in driving regeneration, this is a conversation about voice, reciprocity and designing a fairer future, starting exactly where you are.
41. Building the Operating System for Ocean Regeneration
21:24||Season 2, Ep. 41In this episode of the Blue Earth Podcast, Guy Hayler speaks with Sorina Uleia, Founder and CEO of Recycllux, a 2025 BE100 company and Blue Earth Ventures member. They explore how a personal moment in the sea led to a platform using AI, satellite data and blockchain to detect, trace and orchestrate marine plastic clean-ups. Sorina shares Recycllux’s journey from grants to commercial scale, its £1m seed raise via Blue Earth, and the ambition to build an operating system for ocean regeneration.
40. From Exmouth to Offshore Wind
47:58||Season 2, Ep. 40When you meet Gareth Bradford, it becomes clear this isn’t just a conversation about planning, property or policy, it’s about places, and how we design them to work for people, nature and long-term prosperity.In this episode of the Blue Earth Podcast, Will Hayler sits down with Gareth Bradford, Director of Strategic Business Development at The Crown Estate, to explore a journey that spans lifeguarding in Exmouth, shaping national policy in Downing Street, and now helping steward some of the UK’s most important land, seabed and urban spaces.Together, they discuss:How early connections to nature shape lifelong purposeWhy planning is a force for good, when driven by vision, not processOffshore wind as a lever for jobs, skills and nature recoveryA place-based approach to regeneration, from the Humber to Regent Street to CambridgeThe economic case for nature, wellbeing and urban greeningLeadership, emotional intelligence and the future of public-private partnershipIt’s a wide-ranging conversation about energy, nature, innovation and inequality, and what it really means to design a future that works for everyone.Listen now to hear how one of the UK’s most influential institutions is thinking long-term about people, planet and prosperity.
39. The Grid-First Rethink That Could Fix the EV Charging Experience
36:43||Season 2, Ep. 39In this episode of the Blue Earth Podcast, Guy Hayler sits down with Ross Waddington (Founder & CEO) and Mark Jukes (Head of Investor Relations) from Fastr Charging to explore a grid-first rethink of EV infrastructure. They unpack why today’s charging networks are already out of date, how OptiFast delivers consistent ultra-fast charging at every bay, and why Fastr is raising £250m with Blue Earth Ventures to roll out 100 sites across the UK.
38. The Motorcycle Revolution Transforming Africa
34:21||Season 2, Ep. 38Roam Electric is transforming transport across Africa with electric motorbikes that double riders’ daily income. In this episode, Filip Lövström shares how Roam scaled to 4,000+ bikes, achieved unit-level profitability, and is now raising a £20m Series B through Blue Earth Ventures to meet soaring demand.
37. The FinTech Turning Ownership on Its Head
41:20||Season 2, Ep. 37In this episode of the Blue Earth Podcast, Guy Hayler sits down with James Hole (CEO) and Matthew Ridd (COO), co-founders of Wuva and new Blue Earth Ventures members. Starting with Christmas trees and a mountain of post-holiday waste, James and Matt share how they arrived at a simple but powerful insight: most products are used for a fraction of their lifespan, and ownership hasn’t kept up with how we really live.They explain how Wuva is becoming the “Klarna for renting”, helping brands offer rentals and subscriptions directly from their own sites while Wuva handles the complexity behind the scenes, from risk and regulation to payments and returns. We explore the shift from linear to circular, why economics have to work before sustainability can scale, and Wuva’s ambition to run over £1bn of circular transactions in the UK within five years.