Book of Leaves - Podcast

02/07/2025

I have three funding applications to write so naturally I procrastinated by taking hours to make these graphics 🫶 Plz read lol I need to actually make an effort to keep track of every charity shop purchase I make so I'll do that for the rest of the year 📝
There's so much I didn't include here like the skills I've learned or ways in which I spent my time that wasn't browsing 💚 are there statistics you'd like to see that aren't here? Like emissions saved or items diverted from landfill? Regardless I don't think I'll wait another 6 months for the next update! Maybe every month or two...
Challenge yourself to not buying new, between libraries, vinted, adverts, and the kindness of strangers - you'll find whatever it is you need 💝☀️

28/06/2025

Sign me up!

🇳🇱 In the Netherlands, bricks are learning to breathe.

A green-tech innovation is transforming ordinary buildings into living walls — by designing bricks that invite moss to grow directly on their surface.

These moss-friendly bricks require no soil, no maintenance — just rain and wind.
And what they offer in return is remarkable:

🌱 Purify urban air
🌡️ Cool buildings and streets by up to 7°C
🌍 Capture and store CO₂ naturally

In the city of Leiden, schools and bus stops are being cloaked in moss — turning everyday walls into air-cleaning, climate-cooling ecosystems.

This isn’t just decoration. It’s a defense against urban heat and pollution.
A quiet, green revolution is rising — brick by brick.

07/06/2025

I'm in the Irish Independent today! Huge thanks to Aisling for including me in her Climate Changemakers series 🙏
It was very fitting that while taking photos for the article in which I talk about my love for animals leading me to climate action, a grey squirrel came to see if I had any food 😅 (I didn't not). Delighted they included that in the online article though 🥰🥹
Grab a copy of the paper today or read the (paywalled) article here: https://m.independent.ie/life/climate-changemakers-eco-podcast-has-its-roots-in-hedges-pulled-up-to-make-way-for-parking-spaces/a2017397513.html

04/06/2025

22/04/2025

and shout out to the people who know we don't need to go to space to know the worth of Earth 💚 (Also happy 6th birthday to Book Of Leaves! Thank you so much for being here 💝)
Happy Earth Day 💚

Image description:
On the backdrop of a forest floor a test reads: Earth - I mean it's no wonder our ancestors assigned a plethora of gods to the wonders that happen on this planet. From sunrays to eclipses to lightning to birdsong to rainbows, we are surrounded by pure and utter magic. Earth creates it all. Everything. She gives life to us, clothes us, feeds us. Gives us a sky light to meteor showers, has just the perfect amount of gravity, sends snowflakes to carpet us or rain to fuel us. The crackle of a fire and the taste of strawberries. The likelihood of her existing in the first place was almost impossible, yet she's here carrying us. We owe her everything and yet we threaten the balance she's created. So I vow to continue to live as lightly atop her as I can until I eventually go back to whence I came

17/04/2025

🐝 The Residents of 49 🌿 the film isn't perfect, but I'm so grateful for all I've learned going forward. I had a burning desire to capture the life in this tiny garden as I felt the words alone wouldn't be believed. The birds you see are inserts as they were shy on the day but frequent the garden daily 💖
The most rewarding climate action I've found is helping biodiversity. With ongoing g3n0cide and human rights being stripped away from our trans community and beyond, it can feel hopeless. When I think my actions don't matter, I look to the pile of dead leaves I've left in the corner and see bumble bees crawl in and out of the warm mound between garden dandelion feasts. They're showing me action matters and it fuels my cup to keep going for the more overwhelming causes.
Let your gardens grow wild, and be 'messy'. Say slán to the colonial lawn. Petition your school/workplace to reduce the amount of mown grass. Create a tiny pond. Do no mow may. Boycott all pesticides. Let the dandelions grow between the cracks to feed some pollinators a while before you pull them. If you see a hairy Molly, tell them I say hello and hope to see one soon 🖤
Thank you as always to my partner in crime Kevin Handy for filming & editing this together 🙏

13/04/2025

My pack arrived in the post this week! 🥳 So excited to bring together the neighbours in my cul de sac so we can get to know each other a little bit. Anyone can sign up to get this free pack, and the team behind it has thought of everything from name tags and invites to bunting and a recipe card 🎁 In a world that's full of division, there's no better time to bring everyone together 💕 So take the leap and throw a party with the neighbours - it's Miggildy approved! 🫡

14/02/2025

Have you ever noticed that there's no ads when you listen to Book of Leaves? I don't take sponsorship or insert ad breaks for listeners to be bombarded with intense campaigns to join the military or support plastic polluting companies like Dove, in the middle of a calm conversation about all the ways we can live a bit more lightly on the planet 🙃 During the first season of the podcast I used to insert those breaks for monetization, but it just didn't sit right so I stopped. How can I be anti capitalist and yet relinquish control to unethical advertising? Thankfully I have supporters on patreon and buy me a coffee that help me cover the various podcast website & canva fees 💚 Jake's follow up email arrived as billionaires were stepping into the White House and I had it up to here 🫡 I could have been a lot harsher 🤐
I would love to see a world where there is only advertising for the arts or awareness campaigns or circular initiatives and small eco-ethical businesses 🤞 - so I'll start by being that change that I want to see and if I ever take sponsorship it will be VERY carefully considered ✨
This monetizing talk from Jake honestly gives me the ick but I know I'm in the minority 😅 so in case you needed a gentle reminder: not everything has to be, or should be, monetized Xx

21/01/2025

I am SO excited to be bringing a new sketch show on climate action to Droichead Arts Centre! It's not often I get to marry my two loves (acting and activism!) together so I can't wait for this. The rehearsal process has been so much fun.

Whether you're a seasoned activist or prefer to stick your head in the sand because it's all a bit too much, you're bound to get something from this cathartic comedic chaos.

Tickets are just €5 and the show is on January 30th at 8pm with a Q&A afterwards https://droicheadartscentre.ticketsolve.com/.../873668805

Thank you to Droichead Arts Centre for supporting this work in progress

25/12/2024

And just like that, another season of the podcast is up and out. Firstly let me just say thank you to everyone who's tuned in over the year, and an extra thank you to my guests! Without your stories and 'leaves' to share, my pool of knowledge and inspiration would be all the smaller. When I meet those who dare not hope or take action for a better world, I merely nod in your direction as (one of the many) reasons to keep going. Thank you ❤️

Between heartbreak, dark days, sick family members and financial stress I experienced this year, along with the collective grief of the climate crisis and ongoing wars, I honestly didn't think my cup would be full enough to get the podcast over the line but we got there 🙏 The social media side of it absolutely slipped through the cracks but sure look! When your cup is low, you gotta focus your energy where it matters most. There'll be no podcast until (hopefully!) April now. I'll pause the generous support on Patreon until it comes back - in the meantime, I'll be taking this *desperately* needed hibernation time to spend with family, friends, nature, some books, and maybe another travelling adventure...🤞Thank you so much for being here - I might not be posting new episodes for a while but I'll be back to socials in the new year for all things eco!

In the meantime, I hope you have a peaceful, safe Christmas and I wish you all the happiness in the new year ✨
As always, mind yourself, mind each other, mind the planet 💚

04/11/2024

20/10/2024

I really enjoyed this chat with Daithí and Darragh about podcasting for the climate. You can watch it back on YouTube if you missed it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=9q3_MeiffZ2FiMF-&fbclid=IwY2xjawGCBO9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWXtmxJkdH8gptBxegsF4DjLa70OSUuWQ0mqEXd0eeK0yGkD5rUyPC3nLw_aem_bJRb5aeW57iJZSYoTdkk2A&v=y-3gENkqqaE&feature=youtu.be

The Climate is Right to Podcast: Webinar for 2024 is now available to watch back on The Climate Ambassador's YouTube page. Link below.

The Climate is Right to Podcast
A panel discussion on communicating about climate through the medium of podcasts. Climate Action Officer, and new host of the Climate Ambassador Podcast, Daithí Brooks, is joined by Darragh Wynne from ' The Climate Alarm Clock' podcast and Ceara Carney of 'Book of Leaves' podcast. They share their experiences of interviewing guests, staying on top of research and developments related to climate, and how they manage Climate Anxiety – both for themselves and for their audiences! Plus, there are lots of practical tips about software and equipment relating to producing a podcast.

Watch back here: https://youtu.be/y-3gENkqqaE?si=9q3_MeiffZ2FiMF-