An Irish podcast where I interview business owners, activists and other everyday people, to learn how they contribute to living sustainably. By educating ourselves, we can then take a leaf from their book to add to our own way of eco-friendly living! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 40:40
Louise Lalor is a circular champion in Clonmel, Tipperary. She has set up a permanent Toy Swap Library in a hub called The Circular Square, where there's also regualr repair…
Sep 14, 2026 · 55:46
Ray Ó Foghlú is the Engagement and Education officer with the charity Hometree . He runs the farmer engagement side of the Illaun Farm-Forest Alliance so we delved into ways in…
Aug 31, 2026 · 45:13
Seán Ó Sullivan is the creator of the well known eco Irish notebook business, Badly Made Books, which has morphed into a new venture called Agus Arís . While a portion of this…
Aug 17, 2026 · 47:05
Jeffrey Roe is the CEO of TOG which have been leading the way in cultivating skill sharing around making and repairing. They have been hosting repair cafés since 2014, so before…
Aug 3, 2026 · 57:30
Cornucopia is Dublin's most well known plant based restaurant - no surprise when you learn they've been in business for 40 years this year! I got to chat to co-founer Deirdre…
Jul 20, 2026 · 38:58
Jayne has been making jewellery for years but recently retired and set up Serendipity by Jayne where she focuses on making statement pieces from used coffee pods. You can find…
Jul 6, 2026 · 59:14
Simon Berrow is the CEO and founder of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group . This charity does phenomenal work researching the abundant marine life we have in our coastal waters.…
Jun 15, 2026 · 59:56
Lorna Anne is an activist, environmentalist and fellow vegan. The projects she set up along her journey of activism like @earthy_cailini made her a brilliant business networker,…
Jun 1, 2026 · 49:42
Anne Fennell recently set up a new business called Kindred Sorting , where she specialises in compassionately clearing out the homes of loved ones who passed away, and making…
May 18, 2026 · 49:22
Along the Wild Atlantic Way, nestled in the Kerry countryside, Billy Jo works year round growing organic vegetables on her small patch of land. Leagh Farms is 100% certified…
May 4, 2026 · 1:03:52
Welcome back to Book of Leaves! I'm kicking off season 7 and episode 136 with renowned wildlife rescuer Pearse Stokes . He volunteers with Kildare Wildlife Rescue who I've had on…
Dec 22, 2025 · 46:49
Peter Gregory is the founder of Green Bubble , a business that saves bubble wrap and other packaging waste from going straight to the bin after use. He's now branched out other…
Dec 8, 2025 · 53:02
Suzanne Martin is an animal rights activist and vegan who set up SAFRI, a group campaigning to end animal testing in Ireland. She is also a member of NARA so we decided to have a…
Nov 24, 2025 · 1:02:22
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…
Nov 10, 2025 · 49:39
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…
Oct 27, 2025 · 48:31
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…
Oct 13, 2025 · 1:13:03
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.…
Sep 29, 2025 · 44:17
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…
Sep 15, 2025 · 55:11
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…
Sep 1, 2025 · 55:50
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…
Aug 18, 2025 · 1:00:35
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…
Jul 28, 2025 · 1:00:59
Eoghan Connaughton is the founder of The Gaelic Woodland Project, a people-powered wildlife restoration project. They're not only focused on fundraising to buy land to return to…
Jul 14, 2025 · 47:05
Nicola Connolly is the founder of Nunaia , an eco skincare brand that's made from plants grown by families in Equador. She's thought about the impact of the brand at every…
Jun 30, 2025 · 36:59
David Lawlor is an entrepeuner who has found the perfect way to incorporate his busniess with his love of the sea. He and his wife Marguerite run Green Ocean Coffiee which helps…
Jun 16, 2025 · 53:41
Ciarán Hughes is the CEO of Ethico , Ireland's only ethical finance advising company. Irish pensions are worth billions of euro, a chunk of which is used to invest in fossil…
Jun 2, 2025 · 1:06:25
Hannah Gallagher is one volunteer behind the Save Lough Neagh campaign. Lough Neagh is the largest body of water in Ireland and provides drinking water for 40% of the population…
May 19, 2025 · 50:53
Colin Baker is a tech specialist who often frequents morning TV shows giving gadget advice, but I found him when I went into his shop Back From The Future in need of a…
May 5, 2025 · 42:50
Niall Collins is the CEO of the Institue of Sustainability Studies, a centre that provides self-paced courses for staff on all aspects of being green to from waste to energy to…
Apr 21, 2025 · 54:31
Sadhbh O'Sullivan , or better known by her stage name Sive, is a musician, singer, writer and activist. Her work has a lot of environmentalism and social justice woven through…
Dec 23, 2024 · 47:10
I think there's no better way to end season 6, before I hibernate for 3 months, than with an interview all about caring for the planet in death. The Western way of grandiose…
Dec 9, 2024 · 47:05
Alice Bassie is the co-founder of Circular Costume Ireland , a not-for-profit organisation that's working to tackle the stream of waste created by the costume department on film…
Nov 25, 2024 · 57:38
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin is an eco-socialist, a community activist and a musician. While I met him through climate protests, he has also been a campaigner on housing, workers'…
Nov 11, 2024 · 49:30
Giorgia Anile is the founder of The Toy Library , a wonderful peer to peer lending platform that not only saves on resources needed for new toys, but creates a sense of value in…
Oct 28, 2024 · 26:44
Keith McDonagh is a member of the Galway Traveller Movement and manager of the social enterprise Bounce Back Recycling which specialises in recycling old mattress. They send the…
Oct 14, 2024 · 35:35
Virtue is the maker behind sustainable fashion brand Emerald and Wax . She is passionate about creating quality clothes that can become heirloom pieces, while also incorporating…
Sep 30, 2024 · 50:36
John Carrig is one of the many volunteers behind The Barn Owl project . He's been vital in spreading awareness of what people can do to help the red-listed species, and we delve…
Sep 16, 2024 · 50:36
Arran Murphy is a fashion designer who channels her skills into empowering people to have a circular mindset with their clothes, through her work at the Rediscovery Centre. The…
Sep 2, 2024 · 40:54
Shauna Harris is an actor, poet, and global citizen education officer. She also has a keen interest in researching Black studies and having an intersectional approach to her…
Aug 19, 2024 · 43:50
Merschon and Craig own the beautiful reduced waste store that is Flourish Minimal Waste Grocery. Have a listen to hear how they came to be small business owners and tips they…
Aug 5, 2024 · 57:42
Welcome to the first live podcast recording of Book of Leaves! When I asked around as to who a good guest would be to interview as part of the Stoneybatter Festival, Kaethe's…
Jul 22, 2024 · 57:48
Vanessa Conroy works for The National Women’s Council of Ireland in addition to being a member of Community Work Ireland and a lecturer in Maynooth. Today she'll be talking about…
Jul 8, 2024 · 53:44
Aidan Ring is an artist and activist I’ve come to know through attending various climate action events together. He’s a great example of the multiple ways we can take part in…
Jun 24, 2024 · 55:34
Scott Bryan is the co-founder of the volunteer organisation Community Roots. He also works in graphic design and has a passion for music. We'll be chatting about all the ways in…
Jun 10, 2024 · 47:27
Change Clothes Crumlin (CCC) exploded on to the Dublin fashion scene in 2022. Set up by Mary & Oileán, they aim to make sure pre-loved clothing is affordable, fashionable and fun…
May 27, 2024 · 39:46
Aoibhínn Nevin Ginnetty is currently an intern at Plan International Ireland which focuses on empowering children's rights across the globe, with a focus on gender equality. Have…
May 13, 2024 · 44:22
Sam Bishop is the CEO of Neighbourhood Network which runs the wonderful Street Feast event due to take place this 25th & 26th of May. We’ll delve into the importance of bringing…
Apr 29, 2024 · 57:08
I am so lucky to be able to create this podcast and I'm beyond grateful to you, the listener, not to mention all the wonderful guests who have taught us all so much. Thank you,…
Apr 15, 2024 · 1:08:46
** WhatsApp me a voice-note , or e-mail a message to bookofleavespodcast@gmail.com for episode 100 before April 25th!** Welcome back to Book of Leaves! I'm delighted to be coming…
Jan 1, 2024 · 58:22
Tom Butler, together with his wife Pam, run an organisation called Astræa, through which they inspire people to think, act, and live in harmony with the planet and each other.…
Dec 18, 2023 · 36:28
Bohemian Football Club (BFC) is the first football club in the world to set up a climate action committee and they’ve been doing a stellar job of it. I interviewed two of the…
Dec 4, 2023 · 1:10:08
**Note from March 1st 2024 - we recorded this interview in November 2023. If you are wondering why Naomi doesn't refer to what's happening in Gaza as a g3noc!de, it's because…
Nov 20, 2023 · 56:48
It was such an honour to chat to Anja Murray who many of you may know from being the presenter of Eco Eye . She also is a writer ( Wild Embrace & a weekly column with the Irish…
Nov 6, 2023 · 34:31
I've heard of skip diving and second hand shopping, but salvage yards were not something I knew even existed in Ireland until Harry got in touch about the work he does. Euro…
Oct 23, 2023 · 39:40
Sophia McConnon is a youth activist I saw speaking at a climate conference over the summer. She was raising awareness of the detrimental effects mining has had on her community,…
Oct 9, 2023 · 45:14
If you’ve ever attended a protest for human or animal rights, chances are Laura has been in the crowd every single time. An activist since her teens, they have a wealth of…
Sep 25, 2023 · 50:48
I've been wanting to cover Doughnut Economics (DE) since I heard of Kate Raworth who coined the theory. Economics is NOT my strong point, so I was delighted to meet Roisin…
Sep 11, 2023 · 44:40
Darragh Wynne is a climate activist and host of the Climate Alarm Clock podcast , which you would have heard me chat about before. It’s a wonderful climate news podcast, based in…
Aug 21, 2023 · 43:10
Light pollution can often be overlooked as harmful to the environment as it’s taught to result in aesthetic consequences. Thankfully there are people like Georgia from Friends of…
Aug 7, 2023 · 48:10
Jessica Dunne is an activist I met at the recent Mary Robinson Climate Conference. She has put thousands of hours into campaigning for a just future across various groups such as…
Jul 24, 2023 · 43:41
Eddie Mitchell has been a prominent activist in Ireland, contributing to the ban on fracking here and now devoting a lot of his time to extractivism in the country. He'll also be…
Jul 10, 2023 · 55:32
Joanna O'Dowd has one of those shining accounts on Instagram that's not only full of practical sustainable tips, but lots of positivity, needed now more than ever! The runs…
Jun 26, 2023 · 58:49
Whether or not you have participated in gardening (community or otherwise), this episode is bound to be inspirational for you. If you're in Cork, check out the various…
Jun 12, 2023 · 33:18
With 62% of people in Ireland being regular drinkers of coffee, a bean we can't grow in Ireland, how can we make our consumption more sustainable? Alejandro, the man behind…
May 29, 2023 · 49:38
@tryingtobegreensince2016 is an Instagram account run by teacher Ide. She constantly shares the most thoughtful eco alternatives for absolutely everything. Like me, she's no…
May 15, 2023 · 49:42
‘Save the paper!’ is something we hear so often, but every email, every website loaded and attachment sent, has a carbon footprint. This waste is often tucked away in data…
May 1, 2023 · 56:04
I only came across the amazing work of Sea Shepherd Ireland recently, despite them being around for years and doing absolutely amazing work! I hope you enjoy hearing country…
Apr 17, 2023 · 44:57
Book of Leaves is baaaack! How I've missed ye. Have a listen to episode 80 to hear about what I'm up to, and some travel diaries for you. Having visited Asia for the first time a…
Jan 2, 2023 · 55:24
If you haven't heard of forest bathing before, well you're in for a treat! And no, you can keep your kit on and leave the bathrobe at home. Forest bathing is about bathing your…
Dec 19, 2022 · 40:40
When I put the call out for suggestions of who I should interview on the podcast, Laragh McCann recommended interviewing her old school friend Fiona Byrne Ryan, who packed up her…
Dec 5, 2022 · 42:48
Just when I think I know all the essential information around Ireland’s woodlands, I learn that we have rainforests! Eoghan Daltun is on a mission to re-wild a neglected farm and…
Nov 21, 2022 · 51:11
The wellness industry can be very hypocritical. On one hand it encourages it to be good to ourselves, while on the other it perpetuates harmful beauty standards or uses materials…
Nov 7, 2022 · 59:24
Only this year did I get to meet and work with Maeve for the first time, on a youth led climate project called Rising Tide (which is definitely worth checking out). Having known…
Oct 24, 2022 · 48:21
I came to know Caitríona through Extinction Rebellion. She has been showing up to protests since she was a child, and organising them since she was in her teens! She is an…
Oct 10, 2022 · 51:31
Common Knowledge is a new non-profit community based in County Clare, whose goal is to facilitate the sharing of skills we have almost lost over the years. From building a home…
Sep 26, 2022 · 52:09
A film student turned gardener, Connor Howlett is now based in Inchicore where he works as a gardener for Stillgarden Distillery . Why and how would a distillery use various…
Sep 12, 2022 · 48:57
This interview is with website designer and ethical activist JR Doyle of Kindly JR . Not only is she a wonderful person to work with, but I have learned so much from her since we…
Aug 29, 2022 · 1:05:54
Evelyn Suttle joins me for episode 70 to chat veganism, civil resistance, food security in Ireland, and Eco Feminism. With ties to so many groups that are striving to make the…
Jul 25, 2022 · 1:03:51
You may have come across Orla Murphy’s story if you follow Irish climate activist groups, as they spent 5 weeks in prison last year for a direct action at Iveagh House that…
Jun 27, 2022 · 36:24
Diane is a wonderful beacon of joy in the climate movement in Ireland. She weaves activism into all aspects of her life from parenting & running The Sustainable Life School to…
Jun 13, 2022 · 47:44
Rachel Dempsey has been clued into the environmental crisis since way before it was ‘cool’. She has a fascinating wealth of knowledge she has picked up and shared all across the…
May 30, 2022 · 36:17
Patrick began an initiative with VOICE Ireland called Picker Pals that started with an unfortunate incident that turned into magic... Make sure to check out…
May 16, 2022 · 43:08
For episode 65 I chatted to Amy O'Brien whom you may know from The Sustainable Sleepover Podcast (which I definitely recommend checking out if you haven't already!) about her…
May 2, 2022 · 45:03
There’s no better time to give as much help to our pollinators than now. Úna is a wealth of knowledge and the work of the National Biodiversity Data Centre , including the All…
Apr 18, 2022 · 50:41
For the longest time I've wanted to learn about the hemp industry in Ireland, so I reached out to the Hemp Cooperative who suggested I chat to Freya Bartels, a hemp farmer based…
Apr 4, 2022 · 57:33
For the first episode after the break, I want to introduce you to a secondary school teacher, Patrick Kirwan (thank you Codie for the recommendation!). His story is such an…
Mar 27, 2022 · 33:04
Hello and welcome back to Book of Leaves! I am coming out of my annual podcast hibernation and I cannot wait to see where the year takes us. Who knows who I'll get chatting to or…
Jan 3, 2022 · 1:12:05
For episode 61 and the last in season 3 of the podcast, I interviewed Jane Killingbeck about The Work That Reconnects . Developed by Joanna Macy, in her own words "The Work that…
Dec 13, 2021 · 33:44
For episode 60, I chatted to Ahmad Mu'azzam, one of the creators behind Evocco , a food impact tracking app. I reached out to him for an interview after finding the app and their…
Nov 29, 2021 · 42:24
You can hear how much I enjoyed this chat with Flossie Donnelly on all things beach cleaning! The name Jeremy will forever have a new meaning… Stay up to date with her ventures…
Nov 15, 2021 · 44:23
Episode 58 has me chat to Laragh McCann, a former model turned activist, film maker, and fellow jack of all trades! She is also the force behind 100% ReLoved and the founder of…
Nov 1, 2021 · 49:46
Past interviewee & marine biologist Ruth Leeney, has made herself quite busy since speaking to her last in June 2020. Have a listen to that episode, 32, here! Now we're here to…
Oct 18, 2021 · 42:05
Episode 56 is with Wicklow-based ecologist Alex Konieczka. One of her many ventures is Understory, a truly zerowaste business where she sells upcycled terrariums among other…
Oct 4, 2021 · 44:00
Gary Tyrrell works for An Taisce's educational unit as part of the Climate Ambassador Programme . You'll have heard me chat about this programme over the past year as it's one I…
Sep 20, 2021 · 47:24
Episode 54 is coming from the vaults as I interviewed fellow activist Paul McCormack Cooney a few months ago. Paul is another absolutely wonderful human I got to know through…
Sep 6, 2021 · 46:41
For episode 53 I go back to the basics of environmental issues and talk about the infamous single use polluter: disposable coffee cups. For this, there's none other to talk to…
Aug 24, 2021 · 49:26
I can't believe it's taken me until episode 52 to dedicate an interview to trees! Shocking behaviour, but this lovely chat with Orla makes up for it. You can follow Orla on…
Aug 9, 2021 · 38:13
In episode 51 I chatted to artists Eva O'Connor and Hildegard Ryan about using the world of theatre to spark discussion and inspire change. Their theatre company, Sunday's Child…
Jul 26, 2021 · 49:57
Tess is a 17 year old activist with many projects up her sleeve! I got to talk to her about these as well as how the climate crisis is impacting India & what we can, and should,…
Jul 12, 2021 · 59:38
For episode 49 I chatted to Sarah Fogarty from Community Power about community-led renewable energy sources. The work this group has done has laid the groundwork to make it…
Jun 28, 2021 · 50:13
Saoirse Exton is a 16 year old climate activist from Limerick who is part of many groups, all trying to make the world a better place, from the Friday's For Future movement to…
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