In this bonus episode of the Jane Goodall Hopecast, Dr. Goodall is joined by Emma Lewisham, the co-founder and CEO of her own circular, climate positive and transparent beauty line. Emma believes strongly in responsible sourcing and sustainable packaging and has a zero-tolerance policy for animal testing. In this episode, Emma shares her unique insider perspective on the important changes beginning to occur in the beauty industry and how her brand is leading the charge in regenerative business. She emphasizes that companies must be transparent about how people, other animals, and the planet are treated within their supply chain. Together, she and Jane discuss the transformative power of consumers that are pushing businesses and governments towards innovations that will create the kind of standards of sustainability and ethics we all deserve. Ultimately Emma reminds us that “you can be both commercially viable and a business with purpose” because that is what consumers are looking for today.

The Jane Goodall Hopecast

Emma Lewisham: Hope is the Beauty of Circular & Carbon Positive

In this mailbag episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Goodall is joined by Guy Kawasaki, author, speaker, entrepreneur, chief evangelist of Canva, and the creator of Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People podcast, as they hear from Hopecasters from around the world. Together, they listen to uplifting messages from people of all ages, careers, and backgrounds that are determined to make a positive impact on the world. Reilly, an undergraduate student at Arizona State University, is working hard to make a meaningful impact through her studies and volunteering. She asks Jane how she can make her big ideas and goals more manageable. A young girl from the UK tells Jane that she is learning to recycle and protect the trees because she really wants to make the world a better place. Verena, a 49-year-old from Germany, shares her inspiring journey of committing to a career change, going back to school, and getting her first job at a research institute to promote organic agriculture. Verena encourages people, no matter their age, to be like Jane, “stay hopeful and curious and to follow their hearts... and to find out how they would like to contribute with the change that our planet needs.” Hey Hopecasters! Submit your own questions and comments for a chance to be included in a future Mailbag episode here.

Mailbag: From Tanzania to Germany, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About How Anyone with Passion and Empathy Can Make a Difference

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Jane Goodall speaks with Jenna Johnson, Head of Patagonia Inc. Through her work at Patagonia, Jenna brings environmental stewardship to the company’s technical innovation. She is also an avid rock climbing and trail sports enthusiast. In this conversation, Jenna recounts how her early experiences rock climbing fostered a connection to nature that has served her throughout her life and career. Her passion for environmentalism closely aligns with Patagonia’s mission to integrate creating clothing and gear to help all people get outdoors and connect with nature, while investing in active work to protect ecosystems. Jane and Jenna discuss Patagonia’s sustainability initiatives and the work they do to support and center marginalized communities to lead on core social and environmental issues. Jane shares that she is inspired by the amount of companies that are realizing the importance of creating supply chains, practices, and frameworks that reduce negative impacts, while also advancing positive initiatives at various scales. Jenna reminds us that working to heal our relationship with the planet is not only imperative but it can also be beneficial for all - including the bottom line. She reflects that “customers are voting with their dollars today and they’re increasingly expecting companies to really contribute to problem solving for some of these greatest challenges that are ahead of us.” At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear an archival clip in which Dr. Goodall tells the story of the young chimpanzees Pom and Prof, who travel along a forest trail until they encounter a surprising hazard.

Jenna Johnson: Hope is Companies Leading Solutions and Lifting Up Voices for Change

This episode of the Hopecast features a conversation between two “one and only” icons: Dr. Jane Goodall and celebrated author, inventor, and environmentalist Margaret Atwood brought together through an interview for Harper’s Bazaar’s March issue and for Women’s History Month. Margaret has written over 50 books of various genres including The Handmaid’s Tale, a renowned dystopian novel that has been adapted into a film and award-winning TV series. She is also a dedicated climate activist and uses her platform to raise environmental awareness, which is where Jane and Margaret find tremendous joint purpose. In this episode, Margaret shares her personal stories about her upbringing, how our childhoods shape us, and the importance of legacy - building one’s own legacy, building upon the legacy of others, and the legacy we create in community. Listen in as Margaret and Jane walk the tightrope between utopian hope and dystopian doom, the challenges facing women worldwide, and the interrelated urgent need to balance environmental and social action.  At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear an archival clip of Dr. Goodall reminding each and every one of us of our individual power to make a difference for the betterment of the planet.

Margaret Atwood: Hope is The Legacy We Build Together for a Better World

This special bonus episode of the Jane Goodall Hopecast premiered at On Air Fest 2022. Join Dr. Goodall as she speaks with author, botanist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer. Dr. Kimmerer is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants and the founder of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment, at The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York. In this thoughtful conversation, Jane and Robin consider how much more there is to not only learn about plants, but to learn from them as well. They each share the ways their mothers encouraged their love of nature and their journeys through academia. They express their appreciation for science and the value of viewing the world through an analytical lens, but emphasize the totality of the “ways of knowing,” including millenia of wisdom shared from indigenous cultures. Robin reflects on how she merges her Indigenous knowledge and scientific curiosity to create a more holistic viewpoint. Jane recalls how her own imagination was sparked through stories and a desire to observe, which enabled her to push traditional scientific boundaries. The pair also focus on the urgent need to encourage a reconnection with the natural world through stories, in order to prevent the ills facing our world. As Robin succinctly puts it, “in my own evolution I have gone from scientist to storyteller because it feels like that’s what we need right now.”

Robin Wall Kimmerer: Hope is the Power of Plants and Indigenous Knowledge

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Goodall is joined by the Academy Award winning writer, director, and producer, Adam McKay. Adam McKay’s most recent feature is the Netflix comedy Don’t Look Up, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio. The film is a biting satire ultimately aimed at the capricious and tumultuous state of the world for the last several years. In this lively conversation, Jane and Adam discuss the reasons behind the creation of the film and what Adam sees as the barriers to human action on existential threats. Jane and Adam believe passionately and emphatically that storytelling can have a massive impact on society, by letting people see themselves, while also reflecting a mirror on the best and worst of us. As Jane has said in the past, we must be aware of the facts, but the facts will not induce change. We must connect our hearts with our brains through storytelling. Adam shares that a huge reason for the creation of the film is the belief that comedy is a critical component of this connection as he believes that “when we’re all laughing together, there’s community,” and that we ultimately need to “feel emotion about what we could lose.” At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear an archival clip of Dr. Goodall discussing the initial resistance she faced from the scientific community in the 1960s and how science, as a peer reviewed process, can evolve new thinking, and did - thanks to Jane. 

Adam McKay: Hope Is Found In Climate Action and the Community Created by Laughter

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Goodall is joined by her good friend Ruth Mendelson, award winning composer, author and humanitarian (Ruth helped create the music for the Hopecast!). They have worked closely throughout their decades long friendship and Jane wrote the foreword for Ruth’s book, The Water Tree Way. Together, they listen to messages from Hopecasters from around the world about the ways Dr. Goodall has inspired them to dream up projects and efforts to help in their communities - proving that sometimes simple steps can make a big, positive footprint for the planet. Isabella, a 14-year-old from Bogotá, Colombia, shares that caring about animals and the environment is her motivation to create change. Louise from the UK reflects on the importance of education and how Dr. Goodall’s tireless persistence keeps her motivated in her activism. Ruth shares her conviction to be a part of the solution and Jane reminds us “how resilient nature is. Give nature a chance, perhaps a bit of help, and nature will come back.” Hey Hopecasters! Submit your own questions and comments for a chance to be included in a future Mailbag episode here.

Mailbag: From Colombia to the UK, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About Solving Big Problems by Starting with a Small Change

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Jane Goodall speaks with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), U.S. politician, attorney, and author. Over the course of his career serving as Mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 2006 to 2013, serving as U.S. Senator from 2013 to present, and running for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2020 election, Senator Booker has developed, sponsored, collaborated on, and passed legislation supporting LGBTQ+ rights, animal rights, climate action, racial justice, women’s rights, voting rights, food justice and system reform, while also addressing the racial wealth gap and other injustices. In this conversation, Senator Booker shares his experiences living with the community he served in New Jersey, and how elders and mentors he met along the way shaped his ethos around seeing the humanity in each of us. He also shares experiences connecting with those with opposing viewpoints and how these interactions have helped him not only as a politician but as a person. This conversation is filled with stories and moments of empathy and hope from both Jane and Senator Booker that will stick with you well after you’ve finished listening. Senator Booker poignantly sums up why hope is such a critically important tenant to enacting change and ultimately, to the work he does every day: “Hope is the active conviction that despair will never have the last word.” At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to listen to a 2016 archival clip of Dr. Goodall from a series of walking interviews in Gombe. Hear her speak about why we must return to a sense of prioritizing future generations and the world we leave behind - a wisdom she feels we have lost.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ): Hope is Expanding Empathy and the Moral Imagination

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Jane Goodall speaks with Paul Polman, business leader, campaigner, and author of Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take. He is also the co-founder and chair of IMAGINE, an organization that strives to build net positive companies that combat climate change, nature loss and global inequality. A leading proponent that business should be a force for good, Paul has been described by the Financial Times as “a standout CEO of the past decade.” In this conversation, Paul shares his journey to business leadership and how growing up in the socially conscious culture of the 1960’s fostered in him a sense of global empathy. From there, Jane and Paul discuss new, environmentally conscious trends in business. Paul sees that corporations hear consumer and staff demands for ethical business practices and understand the necessity of sustainability and social justice. Paul’s work with IMAGINE is to help find ways for these companies to turn those ideas into action internally and within the supply chain. Together, they reflect on the effects of unsustainable production, and globalization, and consider the role of corrupt governments and systems of inequality as perpetuating major problems, like the climate crisis. Finally, they consider the hopeful possibilities, and how to replace environmentally and socially harmful industries while fulfilling the needs of both consumers and laborers. Ultimately, Paul believes in our collective ability to protect our planet and hopes to “bring the heart of humanity back to business.” At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear a clip of Dr. Goodall discussing the necessity of redefining corporate and governmental relationships with the natural world. 

Paul Polman: Hope is Putting the Heart Back in Companies for Net Positive Change

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Jane Goodall is joined by Dr. Lilian Pintea, Vice President of Conservation Science at the Jane Goodall Institute USA. Dr. Pintea has been with JGI for over 17 years and in his current role, he oversees all science activities and functions at JGI, supporting departments and country offices by integrating research, analysis, tools, and technological innovation to support JGI’s mission. In Jane’s words, he’s a “brilliant and innovative scientist with a deep understanding and respect for the people and wildlife he works with.” And, one of her favorite people. In this fireside conversation, Jane and Lilian talk about his journey to becoming a scientist that was shaped by his education from all over the world - from Russia to Romania to the United States to Tanzania. Together, they reminisce on the early days of the Tacare program - JGI’s community-led approach - and reflect on how by sharing technologies like Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) and maps with the communities around chimpanzee habitats, JGI is able to create a common understanding of landscapes, opportunities, and threats. Through these tools, local communities can lead better decision-making for their own lands - for sustainable development and conservation goals alike. Dr. Pintea shares with Jane about the future innovations being developed now that will further the potential of how people and technology can come together to overcome challenges. In one example, the Gombe One Health Hub project partners with Microsoft’s Project Premonition in Gombe to better track and predict zoonotic disease spillover using mosquitoes as vectors. Lilian’s focus on both the technological potentials, tools, and realities of local knowledge advances conservation in innovative ways by “connecting scientists to decision makers.” As Jane always says, “the head and heart need to work in harmony to attain our full potential,” and Dr. Lilian Pintea is proof of that. In 2022, JGI will be partnering with Esri - a leader in geographic information system software, web GIS and geodatabase management applications - to publish a book on Lilian and JGI’s work focusing on this community-led approach called, “Local Voices, Local Choices.”  At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear Jane recount the way in which Tacare - JGI’s community-led conservation approach - created a true partnership and collaboration with local communities who are the leaders of local conservation decision-making improving the lives of people, other animals, and ecosystems across the chimpanzee range. 

Dr. Lilian Pintea: Hope Is Unlocking the Potential of Science, Tech, & Tools to Create a Brighter Future for People, Animals, & the Planet

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Goodall is joined by Ashley Sullivan, Associate Director of Communications & Policy at the Jane Goodall Institute USA, as they hear from Hopecasters from around the world. Jane and Ashley listen to energizing messages about how Jane’s lifetime of work has inspired Hopecasters to work hard for their own communities and continue in her footsteps. Nina from Philadelphia shares a tearful message of gratitude, thanking Jane for inspiring her so profoundly and motivating her to lead a life of impact. Animal nutrition and wildlife conservation student Nevan, living in Florida, writes in to ask Dr. Goodall’s advice on organizing his own conservation foundation, looking at the immense success and impact of the Jane Goodall Institute. 16-year-old Roots & Shoots member, Alicia, also writes in from New Zealand to share what brings her her greatest hope: animals. Alicia speaks to animals’ “special talent” of bringing people together and how she believes they are what’s going to get us through these dark times. This is a belief also held by Jane, who talks about how people have been connecting to other animals, especially their pets for their love and companionship, during the pandemic. Ashley points out the poignancy of how prevalent the theme of non-human animals was to this particular mailbag as it was Jane’s stories about chimpanzees and her own connection to other animals that inspires generations to take action and also, most essentially, hold onto hope. Hey Hopecasters! Submit your own questions and comments for a chance to be included in a future Mailbag episode here.

Mailbag: From Philadelphia to New Zealand, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About How They Can Use Their Voices to Create a Better Future

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Jane Goodall speaks with Alice Macharia, the vice president of JGI USA’s Africa Programs. Alice joined the Jane Goodall Institute in 2004 as a project coordinator for East Africa Programs, and has since served as both JGI USA’s Africa Programs Director and now Vice President. Alice’s investment in supporting and working with people to increase beneficial conservation and sustainable development outcomes has created generations of positive growth for people, wildlife, and ecosystems across vital program areas. In this conversation, Jane and Alice talk about the evolution and success they’ve both seen through the use of JGI’s innovative ‘Tacare’ community-led conservation approach. Though this is something now “buzzy” in the NGO landscape, Jane began this effort nearly 30 years ago when she realized that protection of endangered chimpanzees around Gombe would fail without the partnership of local people who were struggling with poverty and inequities. The resulting approach tackles conservation threats by using advanced science, training, and funding to collaborate with communities and understand their needs. These efforts facilitate solutions like land-use planning, forest restoration and protection, sustainable livelihoods, healthcare, education, and more. This adaptive and unique approach is now being scaled in new and wonderful ways in countries across the chimpanzee range including Uganda, DRC, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Mali, Burundi, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, and Tanzania - where it all began. Alice also discusses her passion for empowering young women and girls - central to JGI’s work - and how it’s delivering on making their aspirations more attainable every day through scholarships, training, and more. Jane and Alice explain that the interconnectedness of individuals, communities, and ecosystems must be considered and addressed in order to create a harmonious path forward for all. As they share, this holistic mindfulness of community-led conservation, “enables people to take control of their environment, of their lives.” At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear an archival clip of Dr. Goodall speak about the urgency of acting together to fight climate change and how JGI’s community-led Tacare program has strengthened the resilience of both the environment and the indomitable human spirit.

Alice Macharia: Hope Is Communities Leading Conservation for the Good of All

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Jane Goodall is joined by Dr. Evan Antin, an exotic animal and wildlife veterinarian at Conejo Valley Vet Hospital and animal advocate. His passion for animals and educational posts have amassed him over 1 million followers on Instagram. He also works with the Jane Goodall Institute to raise awareness around the need to stop harmful animal selfies on social media, through JGI’s ForeverWild campaign. Growing up in Kansas, he was always fascinated with wildlife and the local ecosystems that existed in the creek in his backyard. Jane and Evan discuss how their inexplicable immediate love for animals as children impacted their chosen paths in life and their dedication to educating people to protect them, as individuals and as species. Dr. Antin speaks about how inspired he is by Dr. Goodall’s new book, The Book of Hope, and how the messages in the book are exactly what the world needs right now. Evan asks Jane about what she has learned from spending so much time alone in nature and Jane shares her spiritual belief that there is “intelligence behind the universe.” Together, they discuss what they’ve learned from their time spent with wild and domesticated animals and how it has changed their outlook on the world. Jane describes how she sees her role in life and in her lifelong career, a sentiment shared by Dr. Antin: “A naturalist is driven by awe and wonder and a deep desire to find out the truth.” At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear an archival clip of Dr. Jane Goodall speaking about how much the scientific community can learn from observing the interactions, emotions, and resourcefulness of chimpanzees in the wild.

Dr. Evan Antin: Hope is Following Your Heart and Giving Back to Animals

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Jane Goodall is joined by Christiana Figueres, a globally recognized leader on international climate action. She was Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010-2016, and played a major role in the formation of the landmark climate agreement known as the Paris Accord in 2015. Today, she is the co-founder of Global Optimism, co-host of the podcast “Outrage & Optimism” and is the co-author of the recently published book, “The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis." As the world has its eyes on COP26, Christiana and Jane’s conversation offers a look at how individual action, such as small acts of kindness toward one animal species, blossoms into the collective action we need. When Christiana was 10 years old, she took a trip with her parents to the beautiful Monteverde Rainforest in her home country, Costa Rica. There, she encountered a magnificent golden toad that forever tethered her to the natural world. Once she became a mother, Christiana felt it was critical for her daughter’s to develop that same connection. When she took her daughters to that same rainforest, she was pained to discover that the golden toad that was endemic to that rainforest and was the catalyst to her deep love of nature had gone extinct likely due to the Climate Crisis. This experience, among many others, influenced Christiana’s decision to dedicate her life to addressing this existential issue. Christiana and Jane discuss how cultivating a connection to the natural world at a young age is critically important so that once folks become young adults and older adults, they remember the beauty and magic that we must systematically fight to protect every day. Listen to this hopeful conversation about how to turn awe and inspiration from nature into local and impactful action. At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear a clip of Jane speaking as the UN Messenger of Peace at the Earth to Paris summit in Paris, France in 2015 about how making small, individual changes can have a big, collective impact.

Christiana Figueres: Hope Is Changing Systems and Protecting Our Connection to Nature

In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Goodall is joined by her grandson, Merlin van Lawick, as they hear from Hopecasters from around the world. Jane and Merlin listen to powerful messages about Hopecasters' desire and mission to protect nature and wildlife, asking Jane how they can help, and how Jane continually inspires them. Jesica, from Colombia, now living in Sweden, reflects on how the Hopecast gives her hope in her pursuit of her PhD as she works to protect and defend the Amazon Rainforest. Jodi in Queensland, Australia, shares her efforts to move away from hierarchical thinking and embrace diversity in thought in order to solve environmental crises. Tina, living in Canada, asks Jane what she can do to make a difference as a young person. Jane and Merlin reflect on the power of sharing stories in influencing change, and the incredible momentum and drive of young change-makers, particularly in JGI’s youth program Roots & Shoots. One young Hopecaster from Indiana thanks Jane for connecting her to the natural world and igniting her passion for helping animals at just 12 years old, telling Dr. Goodall: “you showed me that animals have a voice that needs to be heard.” Hey Hopecasters! Submit your own questions and comments for a chance to be included in a future Mailbag episode here.

Mailbag: From Sweden to India, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About Protecting the Natural World and How We Can Each Make a Difference

Scientist. Activist. Storyteller. Icon. Jane Goodall blazed the trail and changed the world. Now, she's studying new subjects – humans! This brand-new podcast will take listeners on a one-of –a-kind journey as they learn from Dr. Goodall's extraordinary life, hear from changemaking guests from every arena, and become awed by a growing movement sparked by Jane and fueled by hope. Join us as we get curious, grow compassion and take action to build a better world for all.

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The Jane Goodall Hopecast

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