Jonny is an environmental social scientist, former community farmer and author whose book “Living with Lynx” tackles a major question in conservation and rewilding: could and should we learn to live with lynx, wolves and bears again in Britain and Ireland?
We speak about community coexistence, the villainising of apex predators in popular culture and how we can learn to live alongside these beautiful species.
Buy Jonny's book from your local independent bookshop today.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram
Coffee feature: Land’s End Coffee Roasters
Country: Colombia
Region: Tolimo
Process: Washed
Altitude: 1900 MASL
Tasting notes: Red grape, praline and sweet honey
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Carol is an ecologist and author whose book “The Volunteers” tells the stories of conservation, companionship and community.
We spoke about the importance of community, the mental health benefits of practical conservation groups and how a bunch of volunteers from all walks of life can come together for the shared love of nature. Check out Carol’s writing work here and ecologist work here.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram
Coffee feature: Little Fireface Project/ Kindred Forest
Country: Indonesia
Region: Cisurupan, West Java
Producer: Blessing and Waluya
Process: Natural
Altitude: 1450 masl
Tasting notes: Chocolate, grapefruit, sweet raisins
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Claire is a producer for the charity Cornwall Climate Care. We speak about Cornwall Climate Care’s latest documentary #ClimateScam? which examines the scarily fascinating roots of climate crisis denial. All the links to Cornwall Climate Care’s work are here: https://www.cornwallclimate.org/
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Help keep the podcast going by supporting our Crowdfunder.
Coffee feature: Rabbit Hole Roasters
Country: Mexico
Region: Oaxaca (Sierra Norte)
Producer: Josefina Pascual
Municipality: San Juan Juquila Vijanos
Varietals: a blend of bourbon, typica, gesha, mundo novo and mersellesa
Farm size: 1.5-hectare plot
Process: Washed
Fermentation: 48h
Drying: 5 days
Export Partner: Azahar Coffee
Tasting notes: Honey, raspberry, pineapple, almond
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Coffee with Conservationists is an irregularly published podcast where I sit down with people who’s work focusses on nature; from ecologists and educators to storytellers and activists. You can find us on Spotify (although maybe not for much longer), Instagram and if you search for George Steedman Jones, you can find us occasionally on Bluesky.
Chantal is a science communicator and author of the 2024 book “Groundbreakers, the Return of Britain’s Wild Boar”. We speak about her research on wild boar in various sites across the UK and how different people in different places are coming to coexist with this complex and fascinating animal. You can find more about her work on her website.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - george_brynmor on Instagram / Help keep the podcast going by supporting my Crowdfunder.
Coffee feature: Gold Hour Coffee from Kingfisher Coffee
Country: Brazil
Producer: DaTerra Estate
Tasting notes: Rich chocolatey taste and hints of dark fruits
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley.
This coffee and a copy of Groundbreakers were kindly #gifted to me but like all gifted items this isn’t a paid promotion, and I’m under no obligation to feature them.
Coffee with Conservationists is an irregularly published podcast where I sit down with people who’s work focusses on nature; from ecologists and educators to storytellers and activists. You can find us on Spotify, Apple podcasts and Instagram.
Jeff is a leading expert in biodiversity and a passionate educator and natural historian. Pelagic publishing kindly sent me a copy of his latest book “Birds and Flowers, an intimate fifty million year relationship”. (gifted). Me and Jeff sat down to talk about his work studying this relationship, his beginnings in natural history and why the much-loved hummingbirds are far from the only family of birds known to be pollinators.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Help keep the podcast going by supporting our Crowdfunder.
Coffee feature: Gajah Mountain from Union Coffee Roasters
Country: Sumatra
Producer: Gajah Mountain
Altitude: 1300masl
Tasting notes: Grapefruit, chocolate truffle, mollasses
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Fiona is Professor of Environmental Biology at the University of Sussex and the founding Chair of Mammal Conservation Europe. Tim is Professor of English Literature at Exeter university. Together they live in the wilds of Devon, from where they were kind enough to dial in to chat to me about their 2023 bestselling book, “Black Ops and Beaver Bombing”.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
Coffee feature from Manumit Coffee Roasters
Country: Uganda
Producer: The Zukuka Bora Coffee project
Tasting notes: Peach, red apple & raspberry
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Fay is a director and producer working in theatre and audio, with a particular focus on making work about the natural world and the climate. She most recently produced the audio installation Language Landscapes - a bilingual Welsh-English project exploring the relationship between nature and language.
We talk about language, landscape and nature in this collaborative episode.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
Coffee feature from Heartland Coffee Roasters
Country: Burundi
Region: Murambi Hill
Roaster: Murambi Hill Farmers, Migoti Coffee
Altitude: 1700 - 1900masl
Process: Natural
Tasting notes: Fruits, with a caramel finish, boozy juicy body, candied sweet cherry.
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Alastair is an adventurer and author. He spent over 4 years cycling round the world, a journey of 46,000 miles through 60 countries and 5 continents.
Despite all these wonderful achievements, I talk to him about a topic much closer to home - micro-adventures and doorstep nature.
You can find out more about Alastair here and buy his book Local here.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
Coffee feature from New Dawn Traders
Country: Colombia Roaster: Yallah Coffee Roaster Nautical Miles: 7,500 (pollution free!)
Mary is a campaigner, writer, producer and charity founder.
We talk about her charity Curlew Action, the plight of the curlew and the campaign for a Natural History GCSE.
You can find out more about Mary and Curlew Action on their website
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
Coffee feature from Cafeology
Country: Guatemala
Region: Huehuetenango
Farm: Asociación Civil Guaya'b cooperative
Altitude: 11600-1800 masl
Certification: Bird Friendly®, shade grown, fairtrade
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Rebecca is an Award-winning science communicator, director of The Marine Diaries and a strong advocate of ocean conservation and storytelling.
We talk about the ocean conservation, marine communications and the importance of impactful stories, and her future work with the Marine Diaries and Beyond. We do cover topics I’ve touched on before, but I strongly believe everyone has a unique perspective on these topics.
You can find out more about Rebecca on LinkdIn and get involved with the Marine Diaries here.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
Coffee feature from Foundation Coffee
Country: Timor Leste Region: Atsabe, Eremera Farm: Atsabe Producers & Raimutin Washing Station Variety: Hibrido de Timor, Typica, Moka Altitude: 1400-1600 masl Process: Natural Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant Jam/ Lavendaaa/ Papayaaa
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Jon is an ecological consultant specialising in reptile and amphibian advice, care and mitigation. He's also a recorder and major figurehead of his local ARG UK group. We talk about the ecosystem importance of reptiles and amphibians, why you should join your local Amphibian and Reptile UK group and the highs and lows of wildlife mitigation fieldwork.
You can find out more about Jon on LinkdIn.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
Coffee feature from Moon Roast
Country: Peru Region: San Ignacio, Chirinos Farm: San Ignacio Variety: Red & Yellow Caturra, Castillo, Typica, Bourbon Altitude: 1700 MASL Processing Method: Washed Tasting Notes: Orange Sherbet/ Maple Syrup/ Black Grape
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Lucy is a campaigner, award-winning conservationist, and founder of the campaign Ancient Woodlands UK. We talk about the many benefits of ancient woodlands, the fight for their legal protection, the many threats facing them and how you at home can get involved.
You can find out more about Lucy on Instagram and follow the campaign here.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
Coffee feature from Landmark coffee.
Country: Honduras Region: Corquin Copan Farm: Carlos Alfredo Estevez Variety: Parainema Altitude: 1450-1550 MASL. Processing Method: Natural Tasting Notes: Orange wine, toffee and a deep, dark chocolate body.
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Satish is a world-renowned peace and ecological activist, educator and former monk. We talk about reverential ecology, intersectionality and the impacts of holistic education at the Schumacher Collage.
You can find out more about Satish and find his books here.
Follow the podcast on Instagram / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
Coffee feature from Potterbeans.
Origin: Cuba
Region: Sierra Maestra Mountains, Serrano Region
Species: Arabica
Growing Altitude : 1200-1800
Harvest: September - January
Flavour: Chocolate, nuts, caramel
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Will is the Marketing And Business Development Coordinator at local Cornish chocolate company Chocolarder. We talk about how they make their chocolate as sustainable and ethical as possible; touching on subjects including deforestation, sail-shipped, indigenous grown chocolate and their impacts on the local community.
Follow the podcast on Instagram | follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram | Support me on Ko-fi here
My 'coffee' feature this episode actually a Chocolarder's House Blend Drinking Chocolate:
Origin: Kuapa Kokoo (“good cocoa farmer” in Twi) in Ghana and Seram Island in Indonesia.
Taste: Nutty cocoa melting into sweet caramel and fudge with subtle flavours of soft brown fruit
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Jessica is a wildlife biologist and road ecologist.
We talk about the field of road ecology, and the importance of providing safe passages for wildlife.
Follow the podcast on Instagram | follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram | Support me on Ko-fi here
My coffee feature this episode is Olfactory Coffee. Find out more on their website.
Farm: Aquiares Estate
Country: Costa Rica
Region: Bahia Turriaba
Variety: Esperanza
Process: Washed
Altitude: 800 - 1400 masl
Producer: Don Alfonso Robelo & his family
Certificate: Organic CO2 decaffeination
Taste: Milk chocolate, Dates, Caramel
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Ben is a wildlife filmmaker and graduate of Marine & Natural History Photography at Falmouth university.
We talk about his final year film “In Search of Owls”, some of the threats facing owls in the UK, and why he dedicated over a year of his life to these stunning animals.
Watch Ben's film here.
Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
My coffee feature this week is Plot Coffee. Find out more on their website.
Cultivar: Typica, Mundo Novo, Bourbon
Preparation: Washed
Origin: Sierra Mazateca, Oaxaca
Altitude: 1,600m – 1,800 masl
Price Paid per lot by company to farmers: £11.21/kg
Tasting Notes - pear, caramel and honey.
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Emma is a climate activist and Student Guild President at Exeter University. talk about the Shell Out! campaign, the direct action group Just Stop Oil, and the many nuances within the conversation about no new oil and gas licences.
Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
My coffee feature this week is Radical Roasters. Find out more on their website.
Producer - Multiple smallholders from Chota, Peru & Colombia
Tasting Notes - Dark Chocolate, Fudge & Hazelnuts
Process - Washed
Varietal - Variedad Colombia, Castillo & Cattura
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley
Madeleine is a masters student studying Conservation Biology and Ecology at the University of Exeter, on their Falmouth campus in Cornwall. In the third episode in a series of local walking podcast episodes, we talk about moths! The issues affecting them, their importance to their local environment, and breaking down the stigma surrounding them.
Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter / follow me - @george_brynmor on Instagram / Support me on Ko-fi here
My coffee feature this week is Counter Culture Coffee. Find out more on their website.
Origin - Honduras
Producer - Finca El Puente
Tasting Notes - Apricot, nougat, cocoa
Process - Washed
Varieties - Catuaí
Elevation - 1,500–1,680 meter
Certifications: B-Corp Certified, kosher
Music credits - "Heron Island" by Richard Bentley