Anyone who manages to combine climate communications with Tina Turner is a hero in my book... ... so hat’s off to strategist, creative and filmmaker Matt Golding for his brilliant presentation about storytelling at #Content Rising in Wakehurst. Matt understands the power of stories. Some key takeaways from his presentation
There is currently one book I recommend to people more than any other... ... it is Citizens by Jon Alexander. Citizens is a book that sets out the roots of the systemic challenges the world is facing today, offers a way to overcome those challenges, and inspires hope through stories of
Design is an important component of how we create our future yet often overlooked in terms of its impact across the generations. Of all the talks at Content Rising, the presentation by design researcher Michael Kibedi about Human Decentred Design prompted the deepest thinking and reflection in me. How do
If we want more young people to explore, consider and get into a wildlife-focused career, simply suggest they ‘follow’ Lira Valencia – known as the “urban wildlife queen” of Instagram. Lira has overcome challenges and barriers to become an inspiration. As a Ranger with London Wildlife Trust, birder and advocate
To a visitor at Wakehurst, it might have appeared a bit strange... ... seeing a person hugging a tree, having a conversation with ducks, making chicken noises, avoiding crossing straight lines or gazing at bushes. But it was all in a good cause. The people doing those things were taking part
Is there something naïve, or even ‘bad’, about using imagination or imagining a better world? Paraphrasing, but this was one of the questions that came up during the Content Rising event at Wakehurst on 12th June. And Anthony Pearce highlighted two BIG challenges that people behind regenerative, sustainable or ‘eco’
Sometimes the BIG learning from a session is NOT what you might expect it to be. Take the Power of Imagination for Change panel session at Content Rising recently. Panellist Afreen Saulat is a Digital Anthropologist and spoke a bit about the pluses, minuses and potential of AI. (As someone
Every conference loves a powerful keynote speech – and Content Rising definitely received one. Lawyer and climate justice activist Farhana Yamin spoke about the challenges and opportunities of reframing ‘climate’. Here’s what I picked out from Farhana's vibrant address to the audience: "Think BIG, Talk BIG and
If you want creativity to happen it's no good holding your event in a boxy hotel room surrounded by four walls of grey... ... which is why Wakehurst was a great venue for Content Rising, an event all about how to communicate better and more creatively about climate change,
As Nessa in TV’s Gavin & Stacey might say... “I won’t lie to you. The disappointment hangs heavy on my heart.” I’m referring to the feeling when I read the latest marketing email from the tourism team in a lovely region of Scotland. The theme of the
I’m biased. I’m a bookworm. I love reading. If I want to know about a topic or get into a related subject in more depth, I typically turn to books. That’s certainly the case with sustainability and related themes. Sure, I’ll research online but there are
Report on the International Journalism Festival 2025 in Perugia, Italy By Gary Spinks The 5 big topics around climate and environment coverage at the 2025 International Journalism Festival were: * Climate Change in the run-up to COP 30 in Amazonian Brazil * The Role of Journalists and Content Creators in Redefining