ProGRESS

Johnathon Miller-McCall grew up in South London, seemingly an unpromising location for wildlife observation and a career as a conservationist, science communicator and storyteller.Yet, Johnathon reveals, there are more than 14,000 species in the city, and it’s one of the world’s largest urban forests – you just need to know where to look.Now Johnathan wears three hats, working as a comms and engagement officer for Synchronicity Earth, as a presenter and content executive for Earth Minutes and creating content for his own feeds.So how does a shy boy go from keeping his (slightly uncool) interests to himself at school to finding a course that suits his knowledge and satisfying his calling to spread a love of nature, especially when there was little guidance at school and nobody like him on television? Johnathon explains how he forged his own career path as a nature nerd, rather than in finance, how he found a community at London Wildlife Trust (LWT) and what keeps him resilient.Mentioned in this podcastSynchronicity EarthEarth MinutesNatural History Museum Generation HopeMayor of London Sadiq Khan – 10 year water clean-up planLondon Wildlife TrustFlock TogetherJohnathon Miller-McCall Linktree (J Talks Nature)Hamza Yassin PhotographyYou might also like to listen to:Sarah Kessell, CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 E5Stuart Mabbutt, Wildman environmental learning S3 E3Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager, Earthwatch Europe S4 E4About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastOriginal content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellEmail: hello@mypro-gress.co.ukExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's no doubt that Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley's scientific career has been one of purpose. A medical molecular microbiologist, she’s researched tuberculosis (TB), listeria and cancer, working with Glaxo Wellcome, then enabled other researchers as an account manager for Roche Diagnostics. Delve a little deeper and there’s a tale of a thwarted career however – she’d have liked to be an archaeologist but her father wanted her to go into medicine, so she compromised and studied sciences.Alongside her career path, Fernanda has embraced many different experiences and roles, from Reiki Master and reconnective healing practitioner, to orienteer and photographic model.The inspiration behind Fernanda’s business actually started in the 1980s and was parked.Find out what took Fernanda so long to follow her dream, and why.Listen out for Fernanda’s insights into managing parental expectations, changing career and why freeing your mind can open up a wealth of possibilities and opportunities.Read more:Mentioned in this podcastLinksAzurlis Anita Roddick (Wikipedia entry)University of Otago, New ZealandUniversity of Cape Town, South AfricaYou might also like to listen to:Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer at University of Manchester S1 E11Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator S4 E2Duncan Goose, Founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10Maddie Booth, Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker S4 E6About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastOriginal content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellEmail: hello@mypro-gress.co.ukExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s funny about climate change, you might think if you spot comedian Stuart Goldsmith’s job title.The answer is, of course, nothing, but after a long and successful career as a performer and stand-up comedian Stuart found himself wanting to talk about just one thing - climate change.So how does that pan out when you need to be paid for laughs? And who is in the audience when Stuart is delivering his message?How do you even start a career like Stuart’s? And if you’re young, how do you sell the idea to your parents and teachers, who might think you should go out and get a ‘proper’ job? Stuart answers all these questions and more, plus he explains why he started his podcast interviewing comedians and what to do if you want to have a values-led career.Mentioned in this podcastStuart Goldsmith's websiteStuart Goldsmith on InstagramThe Comedian's Comedian podcastGlastonbury 2025 InstagramBBC News: The lack of working class actorsAtomic Habits - James ClearYou might also enjoy listening to:Shaheer Hafeez, Director of ESG and climate risk at KPMG S3 E2Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager, Earthwatch Europe S4 E4Jo Faulkner-Harvey, Head of charity fundraising S3 E5Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology S1 E7Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10 and S4 E8About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastOriginal content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellEmail: hello@mypro-gress.co.ukExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duncan Goose, the founder of Global Ethics and the brand One Water, returned to ProGRESS to talk about what has happened in the 12 months since we last spoke, including why he undertook a round Britain road trip to echo the world tour he was on more than 20 years ago that changed his career direction. Duncan also speaks about tracking down the girl (now woman) who sparked his mission to bring water projects to communities living in extreme poverty around the world, and you can see the story of that in the link below. One Water gives away its profits to projects that provide clean drinking water to communities. With 5 million lives changed and more standpipes planned for the future, it is definitely a success story. Read about One Water here and watch the story of 'the girl at the standpipe' here (link to YouTube). Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page hereListen to the first episode with Duncan in 2024 here.Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10You might also like to listen to: James Adeleke, Generation Success founder, equality champion, social entrepreneur S4 E5Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe S4 E4About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESS on LinkedInInstagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.ukExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sustainability consultant and environmental educator Maddie Booth started her first enterprise while at the University of Warwick, where she was studying for a Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in global sustainable development and politics.  In the spirit of no experience is wasted, Maddie says being an entrepreneur has been the biggest talking point in every job interview she’s had since exiting her business. Having worked in several jobs since graduating, Maddie has just taken up a newly created role as digital learning and development specialist at the Science Based Targets Initiative.Despite all the success and progress she’s made following her degree, Maddie says if she were 15 now she would consider further education and apprenticeships rather than university. In fact, she is helping her younger brother as he makes course choices.She urges older generations not to overburden Gen Z with the woes of the world, but is optimistic about their determination to find greener, more ethical, sustainable and socially responsible jobs.You might also like to listen to:Shaheer Hafeez , ACA, director of ESG and climate risk at KPMG S3 E2Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe S4 E4Beccy Dickson, Co-founder of Branded Bio and eco-entrepreneur S3 E12Sarah Daly, Sustainability consultant and climate champion S3 E 1About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESS onLinkedIn Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.ukExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An absolute livewire, Divya Kumar is a community engagement manager for Earthwatch Europe, responsible for overseeing Tiny Forests around the UK. She aims to hit the 300 mark by the end of 2025 and now describes herself as a socio-environmentalist. But when Divya was younger, though she had dreams of becoming a veterinarian or an animator, her parents encouraged her towards a corporate career. Divya describes how and why she stepped off her parents' ideal career path and how life changed again when, supporting her husband's career, Divya moved to the UK. You'll also hear how Divya's parents feel now about her career.Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes here…Also mentioned in the podcastNot The End of the World by Hannah RitchieUniversity of OxfordYou might also enjoy listening to:Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator S4 E2Helen Walsh, designer, writer and conservation sector communicator S3 E11Jo Faulkner-Harvey, head of charity fundraising S3 E5Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology S1 E7About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESSOn LinkedInInstagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.ukExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoologist, microbiologist and science champion Dr Bushra Schuitemaker has carved out a career in research and is determined to ensure young people from disadvantaged backgrounds know that science is for them too. Bushra’s stella science career is all the more remarkable because her local secondary school offered pupils no opportunities at all to take science A level courses. Now the school has full physics, chemistry and biology classes. Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here You might like to listen to:Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer at University of Manchester S1 E11Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology, The Tyndall Centre UEA S1 E7Matthew Halteman, Philosophy professor and animal and food ethicist, S3 E10Lydia Carrington, Sustainability manager Edgbaston Stadium S2 E1About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESS on LinkedInInstagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.ukExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Business leader Justin Kelly stepped away from his C-suite role at the international engineering and technology company Siemens in 2022 and is now chief executive at Glass Futures, a not-for-profit tech membership organisation.Glass Futures researches more sustainable glass manufacture across the globe, so this role fits well with Justin’s other recent appointment, chair of Sustainable Ventures North, a hub for climate tech business start-ups and entrepreneurs, building on the success of its London beginnings.In this episode, Justin explains how he secured a university place, sponsored by Siemens, and how he rose to the top of the organisation.As a business leader with a valued voice, particularly in England’s North-West region, Justin also discusses using his experience and knowledge to influence, guide and support organisations and programmes in manufacturing, technology, transport, skills and education…Read more and find additional links on the ProGRESS website show notes page hereYou might also like to listen to:Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer, University of Manchester S1 E 11Don Weatherbee, CEO of RegenX Tech S3 E7Shaheer Hafeez ACA, Director ESG and climate risk KPMG S3 E2About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.Original content © Sandra Kessell Original music © Lyze KessellFollow ProGRESS on LinkedInInstagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastEmail us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.ukExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.