
Woke & Confused
By Woke & Confused
From plastic pollution to climate breakdown, the more you know about how f****d the planet is, the more confusing life gets. Woke and Confused hosts Jess and Livvy discuss the environmental dilemmas of our time in this amusing, engaging and accessible podcast.
Where to listen


S2E3 - Family dilemma: should we be having kids?
This is possibly our juiciest topic to date: how do you feel about bringing kids into the world in a time of climate and ecological emergency? Jess & Livvy explore their own views on the topic and speak to a couple who have joined the Birthstrike movement.
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Birthstrike https://birthstrike.tumblr.com/
Birthstrike FB group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/674131032989428/
Caroline Hickman and Climate Psychology Alliance - https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/about/who-we-are
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Tell us your eco parenting tips and let us know if you would like to be interviewed online! wokeandconfusedhq@gmail.com
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The Pope and Ecocide - https://www.stopecocide.earth/newsletter-summary/pope-calls-for-ecocide-law
Why Livvy wrote to the Pope - https://medium.com/@livvydrake/why-i-have-written-to-the-pope-about-climate-change-and-ecocide-law-dce9a8e7f250
32:29
February 14, 2020

S2E2: Australia: the new normal?
Our Aussie mates down under are experiencing the worst bushfires since records began. But how are the people on the ground responding? Jess & Livvy hear from a local resident to find out how climate breakdown is affecting day to day life and think about what lessons we can learn for the future. They also introduce a new section to the show.
Links mentioned in show
Droughts are causing cattle farming and rural communities to collapse https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7827313/Vet-reveals-toll-record-heat-drought-having-farmers-including-cows-horses-paddocks.html
Why are the bushfires so bad and is climate change to blame? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/australia-burning-bushfires-bad/
Creating an arson dialogue - blaming the Greens https://factcheck.afp.com/australian-bushfires-disinformation-spreads-about-greens-party-policy-backburning
Sorted Events https://www.facebook.com/wearesortedevents/
The Brigid Delaney Article on cognitive dissonance that Jess quotes from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/19/2019-wasnt-just-protests-and-fleabag-it-was-the-year-a-climate-truth-bomb-dropped
What you can do to help
350.org campaign https://350.org/listentothem-solidarity-vigils-for-australias-bushfire-victims/?akid=110938.2623181.bylwpK&rd=1&t=11
Full list of campaigns to support https://www.cbsnews.com/news/australia-fires-how-to-help-victims-evacuees-firefighters-animals-wildfires/
Greenwash Corner
Chevron donated $1m to help Australian fires https://heated.world/p/celebrities-are-donating-more-than
Reasons to be cheerful
Air passenger numbers in Germany fell 12% last year https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-19/german-air-travel-slump-points-to-spread-of-flight-shame
Germany has cut long distance train fares https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/02/germany-cuts-fares-for-long-distance-rail-travel-in-response-to-climate-crisis
Woke & Confused virtual shop! https://wokeandconfused.teemill.com/
41:43
January 30, 2020

S2E1: Eco-grief as fuel for action
2019 has been an extraordinary year. In this first episode of Season 2, Jess and Livvy look back at the last few months and share how leaning into their eco-grief has been a powerful fuel for acting on the climate and ecological crisis.
Show notes
Register interest in the COP26 Climate Cycle to Glasgow in 2020
https://blog.wearedonation.com/2019/12/03/introducing-the-cop26-climate-cycle/
More than 400 MPs join Extinction Rebellion reforesting action calling for billions more trees to be planted https://rebellion.earth/2019/10/10/more-than-400-mps-join-extinction-rebellion-reforesting-action-calling-for-billions-more-trees-to-be-planted/
Jess’s article on her experience at the XR October Rebellion in London https://medium.com/@jessica.ferrow/i-was-arrested-with-extinction-rebellion-heres-why-f117f0b355d5
Livvy’s online course - Tackling Single Use Plastic in the Workplace http://www.sustainablesidekicks.com/online-courses.html
Livvy’s top tips: 20 ways to green your business: tinyurl.com/sustainablesidekicks
Joanna Macy: The Work that Reconnects https://www.joannamacy.net/main
Caroline Hickman https://www.carolinehickmantherapy.com/
Climate Cafes (and how to run your own one) https://www.climateandmind.org/climate-cafe
Join us in taking the Flight Free 2020 pledge! https://flightfree.co.uk/
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Introducing the Woke & Confused merch shop!! Get your awesome t-shirts and hoodies here :) (Only if you reeeeeeally need one) https://wokeandconfused.teemill.com/
Do us a favour and leave us a review on iTunes - we’ll love you forever :)
We love hearing from you! Contact us via our website http://wokeandconfused.com/
40:38
December 20, 2019

Ep 8 - The Future of Food
The Future of Food
Our food system is described as ‘broken’ and held responsible for biodiversity loss, deforestation, desertification and high carbon emissions. So Jess and Livvy explore how it has got like this and what the future of food could look like. Be prepared for some time-travelling and interviews with India Langley from LettUsGrow.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE & FURTHER READING
Sapiens
LettUs Grow
Post War Agriculture
60 Harvests Left
Food waste issues
Solar Geoengineering
Small Robot Company
GMOs
Lab meat
Lab grown mean could be on UK Shelves within 5 years!
Cow methane
Insects for protein
Why Eat Insects?
Eat less meat campaign
Red Bull Tonic Water
The Impossible Burger
Street Goat
Pig Co-Operatives
Food Waste Apps
Too Good To Go
Olio
Community Fridges
We are offering Woke &Confused Workplace sessions - Contact us!
Send us your dilemmas, stories and episode requests!
If you like what you hear, please give us a rating and leave a review!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
If you like what you hear, please give us a rating and leave a review!
39:50
August 30, 2019

Ep 7 - Palm Oil
Palm oil has weaseled its way into almost every product in our kitchens and bathrooms, but is it as bad as everyone thinks? Jess and Livvy take a closer look this complex and slippery topic - and make some surprising discoveries.
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LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The banned Greenpeace/Iceland advert - Rang Tan
Iceland removed own label from 17 products rather than palm oil (BBC)
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil website
Friends of the Earth article: RSPO: 14 years of failure to eliminate violence and destruction from the industrial palm oil sector (Link)
Ethical Consumer Guide to Palm Oil: (Ethical Consumer)
Palm Oil Innovation Group (Link)
RSPO adopts total ban on deforestation under sweeping new standards (Mongabay)
Leashed monkeys forced to pick coconuts in Thailand (Independent)
Millions of songbirds vacuumed to death every year during Mediterranean olive harvest (Independent)
If you do one thing, sign this petition!
Greenpeace petition - Save Rang-Tan. End dirty palm oil: Sign here
And remember...
We are offering Woke &Confused Workplace sessions - Contact us! http://www.wokeandconfused.com/index.html#live
Send us your dilemmas, stories and episode requests :) https://www.wokeandconfused.com/contact.html
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
If you like what you hear, please give us a rating and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!
34:20
August 13, 2019

Ep 6 - Clothing and fashion
Jess and Livvy take a look at the issues and impacts of fashion and clothing. What do you do if you are a shopaholic? How can you dress sustainably? And, if you're taking the 'buy nothing new challenge', what on earth do you do about buying underwear?! Plus an exciting Woke & Confused announcement.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
The wastefulness of the fashion Industry: https://www.bristol247.com/lifestyle/environment/throwaway-fashion/
A case study on the demise of the Aral Sea through cotton production https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/envirobiology/chapter/7-5-case-study-the-aral-sea-going-going-gone/
Rana Plaza Collapse https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/apr/24/bangladeshi-police-target-garment-workers-union-rana-plaza-five-years-on
The £1 bikini https://thetab.com/uk/2019/06/25/missguided-one-pound-bikini-107122
UK Workers being paid £3 an hour, plus tips from Lucy Siegle at the bottom https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jun/22/cost-cheap-fast-fashion-workers-planet
Fashion Revolution's guides on understanding fashion issues and actions to take (scroll to bottom of page for resources) https://www.fashionrevolution.org/emergency-measures-resources/
Good On You – fashion brand review https://goodonyou.eco/
Hurrcollective.com and byrotation.co.uk for rental options
Depop for selling and buying https://www.depop.com/
Extinction Rebellion Buy Nothing New Challenge https://www.xrfashionboycott.com/
Tips for unwanted clothes including running a clothes swap https://www.loveyourclothes.org.uk/unwanted-clothes?cat=67&article_type[]=38&article_type[]=37&article_type[]=35&article_type[]=36
Antiform clothing label made from waste materials http://www.antiformonline.co.uk/
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The Woke & Confused Workplace Sessions
Would you like to engage your workplace with the big issues of our time? How about bringing the Woke & Confused team to your organisation? Find out more https://www.wokeandconfused.com/index.html#live
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Contact us
Tell us about your fashion tips or recent dilemmas
Contact form on our website: https://www.wokeandconfused.com/contact.html
Instagram: instagram.com/wokeandconfused
Twitter: twitter.com/wokeandconfused
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wokeandconfused/message Episode Website
LEGAL STUFF: For the avoidance of doubt, all the opinions expressed on Woke & Confused belong to Jess and Livvy and not to any organisations they may be working for, affiliated with or talking about. They're ours, all ours. These are based on our knowledge and experiences at the time of presenting and are subject to change. Please don't take it as gospel truth and do make your own decisions. We are always open to hearing and learning more as it's a confusing world we live in! Right-ho, thanks, bye :) x
37:14
July 19, 2019

Ep 5 - Coping with Eco Anxiety
It’s easy to feel powerless and anxious when you read the latest climate science. So what can we do about this? Jess and Livvy discuss coping mechanisms, and join the Time is Now mass lobby in London.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
The academic paper Jess was reading - Deep Adaptation: A map for navigating climate tragedy by Jem Bendall https://www.lifeworth.com/deepadaptation.pdf
Vice Magazine - ‘The Climate Change Paper so depressing it’s sending people to therapy’ - https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/vbwpdb/the-climate-change-paper-so-depressing-its-sending-people-to-therapy
Radio 4 Costing the Earth podcast - Eco Anxiety https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00050qr
BBC Three - ‘Eco Anxiety - how to spot it and what to do about it’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/b2e7ee32-ad28-4ec4-89aa-a8b8c98f95a5
The Time Is Now Mass Lobby - https://www.theclimatecoalition.org/thetimeisnow
The Time is Now thousands march in London for urgent climate action https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/26/time-is-now-thousands-march-in-london-for-urgent-climate-action
They Work for You - Find and contact your MP - https://www.theyworkforyou.com/
Earth Strike 20-27th September - https://www.earth-strike.com/
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Contact us
Tell us about your eco anxiety and how you’re coping with it
Contact form on our website: https://www.wokeandconfused.com/contact.html
Instagram: instagram.com/wokeandconfused
Twitter: twitter.com/wokeandconfused
22:59
July 05, 2019

Ep 4 - Festivals
Jess and Livvy discuss festivals, single-use culture and behavior change; bust some common festival myths and reveal the Woke & Confused guide to being an eco festival-goer.
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Links mentioned on this episode: Insectageddon Plummeting insect numbers 'threaten collapse of nature https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/10/plummeting-insect-numbers-threaten-collapse-of-nature What we’re excited about Luxembourg to become first country to make all public transport free https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/luxembourg-to-become-first-country-to-make-all-public-transport-free Lil Dicky Youtube video ‘Earth’ - watch this! https://youtu.be/pvuN_WvF1to Festivals Campaign by the Association of Independent Festivals to demand retailers to stop selling single use tents. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/festivals-2019-tent-ban-single-use-plastic-waste-pollution-aif-a8904216.html Gallery of images: Glastonbury 2017 clean up https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/glastonbury-festival-2017-clear-up-pictures/great-glastonbury-clear-up18/ Thousands of tents abandoned in fields because festival goers think they will go to charity https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/28/festival-goers-abandon-tents-mistaken-belief-go-charity-experts/ Shambala’s green initiatives https://www.shambalafestival.org/essential-info/sustainability/ Burning Man ‘Leave No Trace’ guide https://burningman.org/event/preparation/leaving-no-trace/ Meet N2O, the greenhouse gas 300 times worse than CO2 https://theconversation.com/meet-n2o-the-greenhouse-gas-300-times-worse-than-co2-35204 Greenwash Corner Cardboard tents https://www.standard.co.uk/futurelondon/theplasticfreeproject/reel-brands-tents-glastonburyassociation-of-independent-festivals-plasticfree-and-biodegradable-a4142911.html Dettol ‘biodegradable’ wipes https://lbbonline.com/news/dettol-commits-to-sustainability-with-the-trigger-project/ Top tips There’s only 3 things you should ever flush down the loo, pee, paper and poo: https://www.citytosea.org.uk/the-3ps/
32:02
June 25, 2019

Ep 3 - Flying
There’s no getting away from it, when it comes to seriously addressing the climate crisis, plane travel is the elephant in the room.
Jess and Livvy look at the issues and the solutions and talk to writer and environmental campaigner Anna Hughes about the no-fly movement.
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Links mentioned in this episode
Data sources:
Source for 0.6 tonne carbon budget: https://www.myclimate.org/information/faq/faq-detail/detail/News/what-is-a-co2-budget/
Carbon footprints by country: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/datablog/2009/sep/02/carbon-emissions-per-person-capita
Ethical consumer article on offsetting: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/energy/short-guide-carbon-offsets
Jess & Livvy’s offsets:
ClimateCare offset calculator: https://climatecare.org/calculator/
Wetlands International: https://www.wetlands.org/
Slow travel resources:
Loco2: https://loco2.com/en-gb
The man in seat 61: https://www.seat61.com/
Rome to Rio: https://www.rome2rio.com/
Flygskam: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/06/sweden-has-invented-a-word-to-encourage-people-not-to-fly-and-it-s-working
Climate Perks: https://www.climateperks.com
Campaigns you can support:
Flight Free 2020 pledge: https://www.flightfree.co.uk/
A free ride - campaign to introduce a levy for frequent flyers: http://afreeride.org/
EU petition to start taxing kerosene (jet fuel): https://eci.ec.europa.eu/008/public/#/initiative
Greenwash corner:
Etihad Airways to Operate Single-Use Plastic Free Flight: https://www.etihad.com/en-us/about-us/etihad-news/archive/2019/etihad-airways-to-operate-single-use-plastic-free-flight-on-earth-day-as-part-of-its-commitment-to-sustainability/
Evian Flip it for Good: https://flipitforgood.evian.com/en_gb/
LEGAL STUFF: For the avoidance of doubt, all the opinions expressed on Woke & Confused belong to Jess and Livvy and not to any organisations they may be working for, affiliated with or talking about. They're ours, all ours. These are based on our knowledge and experiences at the time of presenting and are subject to change. Please don't take it as gospel truth and do make your own decisions. We are always open to hearing and learning more as it's a confusing world we live in! Right-ho, thanks, bye :) x
35:34
June 25, 2019

Ep 2 - Extinction Rebellion: what's it all about?
Jess and Livvy reveal their latest environmental dilemmas, hear from people on the ground at XR's London demonstration, discuss the UK's climate emergency and put some more items in Greenwash Corner!
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Links mentioned in this episode:
- Extinction Rebellion (XR) website: https://rebellion.earth/
- UK Parliament declares climate change emergency
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48126677
- Extinction Rebellion told prison is not a 'yoga retreat'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-48147915
- Letter from XR - Mistaken Identity: XR Business is No More
https://rebellion.earth/act-now/resources/communities/mistaken-identity-xr-business-is-no-more/
- Clipper to launch plastic-free tea bag made from bananas
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/tea-bag-plastic-free-clipper-banana-plant-based-fairtrade-abaca-environment-a8611951.html
- Polly Higgins obituary https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/25/polly-higgins-obituary
Actions you can take today to make a difference
1. Sign up to support the law of ecocide: www.iamanearthprotector.org (Livvy said Earth Defender but she meant Protector, soz!)
2. Find your local XR meetup: https://rebellion.earth/act-now/local-groups/
Come and be friends with us online!
Website: www.wokeandconfused.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wokeandconfused
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wokeandconfused/
LEGAL STUFF: For the avoidance of doubt, all the opinions expressed on Woke & Confused belong to Jess and Livvy and not to any organisations they may be working for, affiliated with or talking about. They're ours, all ours. These are based on our knowledge and experiences at the time of presenting and are subject to change. Please don't take it as gospel truth and do make your own decisions. We are always open to hearing and learning more as it's a confusing world we live in! Right-ho, thanks, bye :) xx
39:16
May 20, 2019

Ep 1 - Plastics: reuse not single use
From plastic pollution to climate breakdown, the more you know about how f****d the planet is, the more confusing life gets.
In this episode Jess and Livvy introduce themselves, discuss their current environmental dilemmas and open up Greenwash Corner - with a special focus on single-use plastics.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
- Coffee cup ban: Boston Tea Party's sales fall by £250k https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-47629820
- Starbucks is getting rid of plastic straws and replacing them with sippy cups https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/starbucks-plastic-straws-strawless-lids
- These Plastic-Free Water Bottles Disappear 3 Weeks After You Throw Them Away
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/single-use-non-plastic-water-bottle/
Actions you can take today
1. Check out Long Live the Lunchbox
https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/young-people-business/long-live-the-lunchbox
2. Find tap water on the go with the Refill app
https://refill.org.uk/
3. Look up clothing brands using Good on You, the ethical fashion directory https://directory.goodonyou.eco/
Come and be friends with us online!
Website: www.wokeandconfused.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wokeandconfused
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wokeandconfused/
LEGAL STUFF: For the avoidance of doubt, all the opinions expressed on Woke & Confused belong to Jess and Livvy and not to any organisations they may be working for, affiliated with or talking about. They're ours, all ours. These are based on our knowledge and experiences at the time of presenting and are subject to change. Please don't take it as gospel truth and do make your own decisions. We are always open to hearing and learning more as it's a confusing world we live in! Right-ho, thanks, bye :) xx
20:57
May 17, 2019