Book of Leaves

Rupa Marya is a physician, musician and writer. Her work mainly centres around food as medicine and doing away with colonial captilalist practices in favour of community. She was recently fired for speaking up against the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and thus found herself moving to Ireland where she is doing phenomenal work. We are very lucky to have her! As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Blue Sky or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend. Find my depop profile @cearadc! Patreon / Buy Me A Coffee X x[03:30] Rupa introduces herself and her magical journey to the activism she does today[19:20] Examples of resistance to colonialism Rupa has seen in Ireland[21:35] Advice for people who don’t yet have a community they’ve tapped into[22:40] The food project in St James' Hospital[39:00] Ireland as ground zero - pros and cons![46:30] Speaking out despite the consequences[53:30] Imagining the futureAlso mentioned: Enflamed: Deep Medicine BookWild Awake Ireland – Lucy O’Hagan?Joanna MacyGaelic Re-existance Jimmy B O’Brían ?Manchán MaganIrish Healthcare Workers for PalestineDr. Colin DohertyThe Great OvenChris hedges Aramark researchLancet eat report (Oct 25)Talamh Beo

Malú Colorín is an artist and facilitator, specializing in natural dyeing and textiles through her business Talú. She also works for Fibreshed Ireland who are trying to re-localise the textile industry in Ireland, supporting wool, flax and hemp farmers. She organises brilliant workshops and events - you can stay up to date with her on Instagram via @talu.earth or @malu_colorin.As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Blue Sky or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend. Find my depop profile @cearadc! Patreon / Buy Me A Coffee X x [04:00] Malú introduces herself and her journey into natural dyeing & textiles[08:20] Why Malú promotes natural dyeing [10:20] Issues with the dyes used today in mainstream factories[16:10] How to naturally dye your own textiles and clothes![21:30] Issues and solutions of the synthetic fibres used in clothes[29:50] The work of FibreShed[33:50] The Archipelago Festival of Colours[37:00] What Malú’s artistic practice looks like & how we can support it[42:00] Imagining the future Also mentioned:Let them be Naked documentary Galway Wool Co-OpGuppy Bags Suggested listening:Freya, Hemp FarmingVirtue, Emerald & WaxArran, Rediscovery CentreMary, Change Clothes DublinCarrie Ann, Feshion Revolution  

Abi O'Callaghan Platt is a campaign manager and environmental researcher at VOICE Ireland. Although VOICE has loads of great initiatives on reducing waste of all kind and encouraging more thoughtful use of resources, in this chat we focus on just one of their projects, MENSY. MENSY aims to train youth leaders to empower young people with knowledge around periods and menstrutaion. In a previous episode (#34 with Augustina), we delved deep into eco alternatives for disposable period products so in this episode, we chat about the poverty and heath side of things too. If you're a youth leader of any kind, make sure to check out their training manual or get an inperson training if you can!As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Blue Sky or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend. Find my depop profile @cearadc! Patreon / Buy Me A Coffee X x[03:00] Introducing Abi![07:20] What is MENSY?[10:05] The waste issue with single use menstrual products[15:50] How Mensy was tackling this issue[24:20] Periods and gender inequality[32:30] What bottom up and top down changes Abi would like to see in regards to period products and gender equality[35:00] Tips for preventing foodwaste[43:20] Imagining the future Also mentioned:Break Free From Plastic

Gobnait Ní Néill is another legend in the community activism space. Her initiative, The Grassroots Guild, is one that empowers people to take impactful actions for biodiversity. She specialises in mini-ponds and her workshops on how to make them are just so much fun! You can stay up to date with her on Instagram @thegrassrootsguild or Facebook.As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Blue Sky or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend. Find my depop profile @cearadc! Patreon / Buy Me A Coffee X x [05:10] The interview begins with Gobnait introducing herself and The Grassroots Guild[10:30] The influence of her childhood on her relationship with nature[25:40] approaching people and asking them to stop spraying etc[27:40] How we can use marketing knowledge to make environmental messaging more impactful[42:10] pond[58:10] Final ‘leaf’ – get to know the nature around you[60:00] Success stories from Gobnait’s work[1:03:40] Imagining the future Also mentioned:The climate ambassador programmeThe Hare’s Corner ProjectBurren BeoCommon Knowledge

Niamh Roche works for Bat Conservation Ireland so naturally, we delved into the 9 species of bats that call Ireland home. These winged neighbours of ours are so important for our ecosystem, but also for our sanity as they consume thousands of midges and mosquitos per night! Check out the conservation's website for loads of resources on helping bats, or stay up to date with them in Instagram @batconservationireland.As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Blue Sky or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend. Find my depop profile @cearadc! Patreon / Buy Me A Coffee X x[04:50] The interview begins with an introduction from Niamh[07:45] A bit about the bats in Ireland[11:20] How they search for food[15:20] How they like to sleep and the lesser horseshoe bat[19:40] their habitats[23:00] What to do if you find bats roosting in your property[25:20] How light pollution and pesticide use affect bats[30:55] Niamh’s advice for people who do want to help bats, and how we can support/help Bat Conservation Ireland[33:30] Niamh’s last leaf suggestions[35:50] Imagining the future Also mentioned:NPWSEpisode on Light PollutionGardening for Bats

Tom Popple is the founder of the independent advisory comapny for nature and climate - Be Impactful. He also volunteers his time organising frequent Climate Cocktail Clubs and the upcoming Climate Cocktail Carnival! Stay up to date with them on instagram at @climatecocktailclub. [02:30] Tom introduces himself and his love of geography![06:30] How Be Impactful works and the benefit of looking at bigger picture impact [13:00] Advice for people to convince colleagues/bosses to take positive action[15:10] How the Climate Cocktail Club started and what it’s about[22:15]  The birth of the Climate Carnival[42:10] Hometree[37:20] The challenge of so many groups in Ireland with similar goals[40:45] GIY - Grow It Yourself Also mentioned:Project Dandelion

Rachel Loughrey is a fellow climate activist (and friend!) and founder of Architects Climate Action Network / ACAN. She also shares some of her journey as an ecological architect on the Instagram account @eco_hun_. You can reach out to her on rachel.loughrey@gmail.com with all your cuilding queries too! As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Blue Sky or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend. Find my depop profile @cearadc! Patreon / Buy Me A Coffee X x [03:00] An introduction from Rachel[09:30] How Rachel became an ecological architect[15:00] What the problems with today’s architecture and construction are for our health and the environment     [21:45] Can nature based building work in urban areas?[24:55] The power of building together, and the climate impact on Fiji[30:20] Different sustainable builds Rachel has worked on[39:10] What can listeners do to ensure safer building practices[45:40] Imagining the future Also mentioned:Common KnowledgeThe Art of Natural Building bookThe Barefoot Architect BookThe Hollies building course

Feljin Jose is a Councillor for Phibsborough, Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Cabra & Ashtown in Dublin and a member of the Green Party. He has a special interest in all things public transport but is also passionate about tackling the housing crisis. Stay up to date with him on Instagram @feljin_jose or LinkedIn.As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Blue Sky or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend. Find my depop profile @cearadc! Patreon / Buy Me A Coffee X x [02:25] Feljin introduces himself and his journey[05:25] The benefits of public transport[11:35] Bus connects[13:55] Airport Metrolink[16:55] All Ireland Rail Review[19:55] The purpose of local council[28:50] Feljin’s advice for affecting local change through council[33:05] Housing & dereliction[41:15] Being a member of a political party[50:25] Final 'leaves' and imagining the future Also mentioned:Dublin Commuter NetworkPlayful streetsAll Ireland Rail ReviewEmail derelictsites@dublincity.ieConnecting Cabra