I had an engaging and thought-provoking conversation with Prof. Frédéric Leroy, a leading scholar in food science and biotechnology, about the future of sustainable food systems and the pivotal role livestock still plays.
We explored the tensions between aggressive climate and food policies, the push for plant-based diets, and the narratives promoted by groups such as the World Economic Forum and some environmentalist movements that envision a future without animals on the land.
Prof. Leroy shared insights into the promises and pitfalls of lab-based meat and precision fermentation, emphasising the nuanced realities and limitations that are often glossed over by high-level idealism.
Our discussion also touched on how these agendas intersect with predatory capitalism, the erosion of essential rights and freedoms, and what practical steps we can take to protect food sovereignty.
We delved into the Dublin Declaration, which highlights the irreplaceable value of livestock in global food systems, both nutritionally and culturally.This was not only an interview about science and policy, but also about values, freedom, and the future we want to shape together.
🔗 Links & Profiles
🕊️ X (Twitter): @fleroy1974
- Academic Profile (VUB – Research Portal): https://researchportal.vub.be/en/persons/frederic-leroy
- Academic Profile (IMDO Faculty Page): https://imdo.research.vub.be/en/prof-dr-ir-frederic-leroy
- ALEPH 2020 – Expert Profile: https://www.aleph2020.org/experts/leroy-frederic
- EAAP Leroy Award 2022: https://eaap.org/eaap-leroy-award-2022-to-prof-frederic-leroy/
- AMSA International Lectureship Award 2025: https://meatscience.org/press/article/2025/03/14/renowned-food-scientist-fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric-leroy-announced-as-the-amsa-2025-international-lectureship-award-winner
- The Conversation – Author Page: https://theconversation.com/profiles/frederic-leroy-659117Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tGuav7wAAAAJ
- ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frederic-Leroy
****
🌍 Welcome! I’m on a mission to explore real-world solutions to global sustainability—with honesty, hope, curiosity, and a bit of dark humour. 😅🎙️ Interviews with FARMERS, SCIENTISTS, AUTHORS & ACTIVISTS—plus original content showing what sustainable living can look like. No preaching. No perfection. Just real talk. Sustainability for the many, not the few.🍽️ From HEALTHY FOOD to CLEAN WATER and DETOXING YOUR LIFE —this channel breaks it all down so you can live healthier, happier, and smarter. There's something for everyone here on the channel!✌️😎💡This is sustainability WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. I'm certainly no saint, and I don’t expect you to be either!💥🍀🇮🇪Based in Ireland. Thinking globally.🌎MY LIFE: Former SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT 🌍⚡🏠Former INVESTMENT MANAGER 💵📈💸MSc. in SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS 🌿🌲♻️🚮Hons BSc. Degree in REAL ESTATE 🏘️🏠FARMING (helping my uncle) 👨🌾🐮🥩Former VEGETARIAN (20 yrs) 🥩🥦🍳🔔 Subscribe & join the wild journey!😆🤪 LINKS📸 Instagram: [@sustainabilityforsinners] (https://www.instagram.com/sustainabilityforsinners) 🎵 TikTok: [@sustainabilityforsinners](https://www.tiktok.com/@sustainabilityforsinners) 🎧 Spotify: [sustainabilityforsinners](https://open.spotify.com/show/sustainabilityforsinners) 🍏 Apple Podcasts: [sustainabilityforsinners](https://podcasts.apple.com/sustainabilityforsinners) 👤 About Me: [sustainabilityforsinners](https://about.me/sustainabilityforsinners)🕊️ X (Twitter): [@sustain4sinners](https://x.com/@sustain4sinners)
Elze van Hamelen is a Dutch investigative journalist whose work examines the power structures shaping agriculture, energy, and society. With a background in corporate sustainability consulting (MA, MBA), she shifted into independent research and writing to focus on how financial, political, and technological systems intersect with food, farming, and freedom.Her investigations explore topics such as the rise of “pharma food” and cellular agriculture, the impacts of industrial wind energy, UN and EU land-use policy, and the pressures facing Dutch farmers and fishermen. Through her reporting, she highlights the often unseen connections between global governance and everyday life — always drawing from documents, funding flows, and institutional analysis.Elze publishes in outlets including De Andere Krant and on her own Substack, where she shares articles, essays, and in-depth interviews. She is widely recognised for her ability to connect high-level policy to its real-world consequences for communities on the ground.📌 Selected Works / Focus AreasPharma Food — critical reporting on lab-grown meat and cellular agriculture.The Wind Energy Racket — investigations into the externalities and hidden costs of industrial wind energy.Land & Food Policy — analyses of UN and EU strategies that affect farmland, fisheries, and local communities.Dutch Farmers & Fishermen — documentation of protests, policy impacts, and the broader battle over food sovereignty.Lawfare & Free Expression — reporting on legal and institutional pressures against journalists, writers, and dissidents.🔗 Connect with Elze -🌐 Website: vanhamelen.eu 🌐 Substack: Elze’s Investigations📱 Twitter: @ElzevH****🌍 Welcome! I’m on a mission to explore real-world solutions to global sustainability—with honesty, hope, curiosity, and a bit of dark humour. 😅🎙️ Interviews with FARMERS, SCIENTISTS, AUTHORS & ACTIVISTS—plus original content showing what sustainable living can look like. No preaching. No perfection. Just real talk. Sustainability for the many, not the few.🍽️ From HEALTHY FOOD to CLEAN WATER and DETOXING YOUR LIFE —this channel breaks it all down so you can live healthier, happier, and smarter. There's something for everyone here on the channel!✌️😎💡This is sustainability WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. I'm certainly no saint, and I don’t expect you to be either!💥🍀🇮🇪Based in Ireland. Thinking globally.🌎MY LIFE: Former SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT 🌍⚡🏠Former INVESTMENT MANAGER 💵📈💸MSc. in SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS 🌿🌲♻️🚮Hons BSc. Degree in REAL ESTATE 🏘️🏠FARMING (helping my uncle) 👨🌾🐮🥩Former VEGETARIAN (20 yrs) 🥩🥦🍳🔔 Subscribe & join the wild journey!😆🤪 LINKS📸 Instagram: [@sustainabilityforsinners] (https://www.instagram.com/sustainabilityforsinners) 🎵 TikTok: [@sustainabilityforsinners](https://www.tiktok.com/@sustainabilityforsinners) 🎧 Spotify: [sustainabilityforsinners](https://open.spotify.com/show/sustainabilityforsinners) 🍏 Apple Podcasts: [sustainabilityforsinners](https://podcasts.apple.com/sustainabilityforsinners) 👤 About Me: [sustainabilityforsinners](https://about.me/sustainabilityforsinners)🕊️ X (Twitter): [@sustain4sinners](https://x.com/@sustain4sinners)
I am THRILLED to speak to Jayne Buxton, author of 'The Great Plant Based Con - Why a Plant Based Diet Won't Improve Your Health or Save the Planet'.
It is one of the bravest and best books I've ever read.
It is well intentioned, well balanced, thoughtful about animal welfare issues and highlights the bigger picture of what is really going with the global plant based movement (which is impacting us all).
If you want to learn about well balanced nutrition that sustains you and makes you thrive - then this interview and book are for you!
If you want to learn about how we can create sustainable food systems that benefit us, increase animal welfare and protect and regenerate the natural environment - then this interview and book are for you!
🔗 Connect with Jayne -
📘 Book: The Great Plant‑Based Con: Why eating a plants‑only diet won’t improve your health or save the planet (audiobook versions on Audible, Spotify and elsewhere also)🌐 Website: thegreatplantbasedcon.com  
📱 Twitter: @JayneReesBuxton
🔗 Connect with me -
Instagram / Facebook / TikTok: @SustainabilityforSinnersYouTube/Spotify/Apple
Music/Amazon: @SustainabilityforSinners
Mission Statement: https://about.me/sustainabilityforsin...
X/Twitter: @Sustain4sinners
🌍 Welcome!
I’m on a mission to explore real-world solutions to global sustainability—with honesty, hope, curiosity, and a bit of dark humour. 😅
🎙️ Interviews with FARMERS, SCIENTISTS, AUTHORS & ACTIVISTS—plus original content showing what sustainable living can look like.
No preaching. No perfection. Just real talk. Sustainability for the many, not the few.🍽️
From HEALTHY FOOD to CLEAN WATER and DETOXING YOUR LIFE — this channel breaks it all down so you can live healthier, happier, and smarter. There's something for everyone here on the channel!✌️😎💡
This is sustainability without judgment. I certainly ain't no saint, and I don’t expect you to be either!
🇮🇪Based in Ireland. Thinking globally.🌎
MY LIFE:
FARMING (helping my uncle) 👨🌾🐮
MSc. in SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS 🌿
EX- SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT
EX- INVESTMENT MANAGER 💰
Hons. Degree in REAL ESTATE 🏘️
20 year VEGETARIAN, now I eat a healthy mix of ALL FOODS 🥩🥦🍳
Subscribe & join the wild journey!😆🤪
So excited to have Brendan Guinan of Fhíorbhia farm on for an interview!Brendan is an award winning regenerative farmer based in Ireland — his farm is a converted commercial forest with a whole pile going on!! Well worth a visit!! Brendan is also behind the powerful new documentary 'Malin to Misenhead'. The film is being shown at various venues across Ireland in the coming months — so keep an eye out for screenings! Brendan has an MSc. in Ag. Science. He provides workshops and consultations for all types of farming enterprises.
🔗 Connect with Brendan –
Instagram: @fiorbhia_farm
TikTok: fiorbhiafarmWebsite: fiorbhiafarm.ie (get your orders in for some great food! or a consultation if you're looking advice on what you could do with your farm!)
Email: info@fhiorbhia.ie
For updates on the 'Malin to Misenhead' documentary and upcoming events, check his website or follow along on Instagram.
***
🌍 Welcome! I’m on a mission to explore real-world solutions to global sustainability—with honesty, hope, curiosity, and a bit of dark humour. 😅
🎙️ Interviews with FARMERS, SCIENTISTS, AUTHORS & ACTIVISTS—plus original content showing what sustainable living can look like.
No preaching. No perfection. Just real talk. Sustainability for the many, not the few.🍽️
From HEALTHY FOOD to CLEAN WATER and DETOXING YOUR LIFE —this channel breaks it all down so you can live healthier, happier, and smarter. There's something for everyone here on the channel!✌️😎💡
This is sustainability without judgment. I certainly ain't no saint, and I don’t expect you to be either!
🇮🇪Based in Ireland. Thinking globally.🌎
MY LIFE: FARMING (helping my uncle) 👨🌾🐮
20 year VEGETARIAN, now I eat a healthy mix of ALL FOODS 🥩🥦🍳
MSc. in SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS 🌿
EX- SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT
EX- INVESTMENT MANAGER 💰
Hon. Degree in REAL ESTATE 🏘️GERMAN/IRISH ☘️🔔 Subscribe & join the wild journey!
😆🤪 LINKS
📸 Instagram: [@sustainabilityforsinners] (https://www.instagram.com/sustainabilityforsinners)
🎵 TikTok: [@sustainabilityforsinners](https://www.tiktok.com/@sustainabilityforsinners)
🎧 Spotify: [sustainabilityforsinners](https://open.spotify.com/show/sustainabilityforsinners)
🍏 Apple Podcasts: [sustainabilityforsinners](https://podcasts.apple.com/sustainabilityforsinners)
👤 About Me: [sustainabilityforsinners](https://about.me/sustainabilityforsinners)🕊️
X (Twitter): [@sustain4sinners](https://x.com/@sustain4sinners)
So so excited to welcome Dairy Girl Diaries to the podcast! Even though we talked about a whole pile of serious issues, it was so much fun! :)
If you’re not already familiar with Stephanie and her story, she’s a fifth-generation dairy farmer who’s currently facing major pressure from three environmental NGOs attempting to shut down 12 farms in her area. (some are already gone)
This isn’t just a local issue — it’s part of a broader pattern happening in farming communities across the globe, and it’s more important than ever that we raise awareness and show support.
🔗 Connect with Stephanie!
Instagram & TikTok: @dairygirldiaries
Facebook: @dairy.girl.diaries
X/Twitter: @dairygirldiary
Website: dairygirldiaries.com
------
🔗 Connect with me!
Instagram / Facebook / TikTok: @SustainabilityforSinners
YouTube/Spotify/Apple Music/Amazon: @SustainabilityforSinners
Mission Statement: https://about.me/sustainabilityforsinners
X/Twitter: @Sustain4sinners
An absolutely wonderful conversation with Helen Fisher, host of the 'We Are Carbon' podcast. Helen, being the very unique human being she is, brings a fresh and energising perspective to the world. A very exciting listen!
Find her here -
The 'We Are Carbon' podcast (Spotify, Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts)
Website - wearecarbon.earthInstagram - @wearecarbon-earth
In this episode, I speak with my friend Katie Delimon—a somatic coach, yoga and meditation teacher, Reiki practitioner, and author of the memoir Trust the Flames: My Wild Ride from Mindlessness to Mindfulness.
Our conversation delves into mindfulness and how it intersects with environmental concerns and activism. We even go into the critique of mindfulness, how it can and is misused by companies to make us endure more stress, become more efficient and at the same time - encourages passivity in the workplace and focuses on individualism at a time where we need to come together (more than ever) in order to tackle the wider systemic issues.
We also explore the concept of the shadow self and discuss how we can integrate it into our daily lives, emphasising its relevance to personal growth and sustainability efforts.
Connect with Katie:
Website: katiedelimon.com
Instagram: @katiedelimon
Book: Trust the Flames
*Apologies, this is a repost. The old file uploaded was doubled during editing.
Stacy is pretty much what I'd describe as a personal hero of mine.
The battle to 'Make America Healthy Again has long been going on before it became a popular mainstream movement, with Stacy Malkan being one of the bravest souls leading the way.
Now I don't mean to say that you and I are ungrateful or anything, but we all actually probably owe her a great deal of gratitude for continuously fighting the battles behind the scenes to keep our FOOD, our WATER, our AIR, our COSMETICS and all our HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS clean & healthy.
Her work as an investigative journalist, writer and organiser is nothing but outstanding, and she's been doing this for decades. She stood up to (and stopped!) the biggest baddest companies you can think of from misbehaving - all in the name of PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH.
I say the following with strong conviction - The work she and her team do, at 'The US Right to Know', is at the forefront of investigative journalism. What we read in our daily newspapers or see on the news and in documentaries is actually what trickles down from investigative platforms like this one.
They work tirelessly to stop unsuspecting citizens from being preyed upon. So when calling out and tackling the bad behaviour of corporations and corrupt governments, it is Stacy and her colleague's efforts that very often form the backbone and strength needed to see these cases through successfully. (Do you see why I think we kind of owe them a debt of gratitude??!)
Anyways, I'm delighted this worked out and I wish her and her colleagues all the very best in their investigative work and top quality journalism.
Also, from a self-interest perspective - If they win, we win. So we should all be rooting for them!
***
Below is her bio.
Stacy Malkan is a prominent figure in environmental health and transparency advocacy. She co-founded U.S. Right to Know (USRTK), a nonprofit dedicated to investigating the food and agricultural industries, focusing on public health impacts, corporate influence, and transparency.
Her investigative work at USRTK has exposed corporate lobbying and PR efforts, particularly in the pesticide and GMO sectors, and she has addressed critical issues like pesticide-linked health risks and corporate influence over scientific research. Additionally, Stacy co-authored Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry (2007), a book examining toxic ingredients in cosmetics and advocating for consumer health and safety. This work complements her role as a co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, where she pushed for safer standards across beauty products. She has also contributed articles on related topics in major outlets like The New York Times and Washington Post and appeared in documentaries such as The Human Experiment, highlighting environmental health issues.Throughout her career, Malkan has sought accountability from major corporations and supported legislative efforts like California’s Right to Know GMO-labeling initiative, underscoring her commitment to health, environmental integrity, and transparency. Her recent publications at USRTK continue to investigate influential entities in global agriculture and food policy, including the Gates Foundation’s impact on African agriculture and pesticide risks in the U.S.For more on her work, see her recent investigations and publications at U.S. Right to Know and Food Revolution Network.
- US Right To Know -
https://usrtk.org
- Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry (2007) -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Not-Just-Pretty-Face-Industry/dp/0865715742
In this episode, I speak with Suzanne Boothby, co-author of Superman’s Not Coming with Erin Brockovich, about how chemical contamination in water is impacting our health—and what you can actually do about it.
We cover:
🏡 What to consider about water quality when buying a home
🚰 How to build a water emergency plan for your family
🧪 The health impacts of toxic chemicals like PFAS
🛡️ Why home water filters are a must—and which ones to look for
📢 How to get organised and push for change in your community
Suzanne also shares insight from The Brockovich Report, a must-read newsletter on environmental and public health issues—including their Water Crisis Plan for households.
🎧 Resources from this episode:
📕 Superman’s Not Coming:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622678/supermans-not-coming-by-erin-brockovich-with-suzanne-boothby/
📰 The Brockovich Report & Water Crisis Plan:
https://www.thebrockovichreport.com
Another great conversation with author Nadaline Webster about many different issues - adult bullying, hitting tough times in life, our attention being stolen by technology, failing climate policy that's hurting farmers and misleading the public, the long-term damage done to the reputation of traditional farming.
Her recent book (link below), examines the shortcomings of current methane emission calculations for livestock, highlighting how these flawed metrics unfairly penalise farmers. She believes in a fair, scientifically accurate approach to environmental responsibility-one that supports farmers rather than punishing them.
***WHERE YOU CAN BUY HER BOOK: AMAZON (Germany)https:// www.amazon.de/dp/BOCQDH5JRWTitle - Flawed Figures & Fragile Futures: Why science, not politics, should be driving climate policy (Nadaline Webster)
Holistic Health Expert & Author - Simone Gisondi
After following her content on instagram and listening to her podcasts for the longest time, I was so happy to finally speak to Simone!
She's a wealth of knowledge and dished out lots of great advice (*AHEM* - the type of expert holistic health advice people pay a lot of money for in to hear in private!! There's a saying in Germany "Ein guter Rat ist teuer", which basically translates into "Good advice is expensive" . They say it all the time. This here, this is that kind of expensive advice, and you get it for free! :)
It was absolutely every bit as fun and educational as I had hoped it would be. So I really hope you get something out of it too.
Find Simone here! Go check her stuff out, totally worth it! :)
Podcast:The Health Confidential with Simone Gisondi on Spotify (Tune in for inspiring conversations and expert knowledge on healing and health *** In particular, check out the podcast she did on organic foods - 'The True Cost of Health: Understanding the Value of Organic Eating' ***
Instagram:@simone.gisondi (Behind-the-scenes content, daily wellness tips, and insights into living a healthier life.)
YouTube:Health Confidential (Explore in-depth videos on holistic health, natural remedies, and expert interviews.)
Consultation: Booking Page for 30 min Appointment
Website: simonegisondi.com (where you can sign up to her newsletter)
Find Chris here! Instagram - @sustainabilityforsinners
Podcast (Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music) - sustainabilityforsinners
Youtube - sustainabilityforsinnersLINKTREE - (to understand my background and the objective of my work)about.me/sustainabilityforsinners
*** Even though we speak about Ireland a lot, the SAME THING is happening all across the world. ***
This was a great conversation with author Nadaline Webster about small farmers, climate emissions and how they are measured.
Her recent book (LINK BELOW), examines the shortcomings of current methane emission calculations for livestock, highlighting how these flawed metrics unfairly penalise farmers. She believes in a fair, scientifically accurate approach to environmental responsibility—one that supports farmers rather than punishing them.***WHERE YOU CAN BUY HER BOOK: AMAZON (Germany)https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0CQDH5JRWTitle - Flawed Figures & Fragile Futures: Why science, not politics, should be driving climate policy (Nadaline Webster)
Mel and I have worked together on a couple of projects relating to energy efficiency and carbon reductions.
His thoughts and insights on ourattempts at transitioning to a low carbon economy and to a more sustainable world are invaluable. Why? Because he literally has on the ground experience with so many different types of projects and can see the good and bad in how they are all progressing, quite unlike the classic 'armchair intellectual' in a university (no offence) or the government bureaucrat who only ever sits behind his or her desk (take some offence). He's different, because he is ON THE GROUND and really understands what's going on.
I value his opinion and hope we can do this again some day.
***Mel Gavin, RD&I Coordinator, IT SligoMel is a Civil & Structural Engineer and Certified Energy Manager with experience in design and project management on a wide range of private and public projects including, sustainable buildings, wind farms, energy efficiency, product and process design, waste and resource efficiency. Mel currently manages the Contract Research Unit at IT Sligo providing outreach external engagement in research, development and innovation support to regional enterprises, communities and individuals.
Colin Nunan is a Policy and Science Manager for the Save Our Antibiotics Alliance. We discuss the urgent global crisis of antibiotic resistance.
Colin shares insights on how overuse of antibiotics in farming and healthcare is fuelling the rise of superbugs and endangering public health worldwide.We explore the environmental and societal impacts of antibiotic misuse, potential solutions for sustainable agriculture, and what individuals, policymakers, and industries can do to combat this growing threat.
Want to hear more from Colin?
Check out his powerful TED Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/coilin_nunan_change_farming_and_save_our_antibiotics?subtitle=en🔗
Learn more about Save Our Antibiotics Alliance: https://www.saveourantibiotics.org📢