Let’s Reboot the Future
This podcast is for anyone who has been called naïve for believing we can create a kinder, more equitable and beautiful world. It shares inspiring, relatable stories of people leading with kindness, caring for the planet, and thriving. These human stories show how individuals are navigating challenges and acting with courage. The podcast aims to build momentum towards a better way of being and encourages listeners to find their own role in rebooting the future.
Episodes
Rivers' Worth: Aimee Felus
This week’s guest is Aimee Felus, CEO of the Western Sussex Rivers Trust. Aimee loves working for Rivers Trusts, drawn to the reciprocity and energy she finds there. She and her team know the value of the work they do, for rivers and for people, particularly through the ecosystem services that help mitigate environmental issues like flooding and biodiversity loss.She finds it challenging when othe
Living an Inspired Life: Hitendra Wadhwa
Hitendra Wadhwa has spent his career exploring what it really takes to live and lead well, work he now leads at Columbia Business School and through the Mentora Institute, which he founded. In this episode, he talks about the years he spent pulling back from the world (leaving strategy consulting and a Silicon Valley startup behind) to go deeper into his own inner life, and what that inner work ev
Belly Bugs to the Rescue: David Bell
David Bell, creator of Belly Bugs, has found a way to get children genuinely excited about eating well. After thirty years in advertising, David turned his skills to a new challenge: gamifying the science of gut health for kids. He introduces children to the “gang of little helpers" living inside them, turning gut microbes into characters they want to feed with colourful fruit and vegetables,
Wilder: Jon Conradi
This week we're joined by Jon Conradi, founder of Wild Mosaic, who is getting people rewilding without needing to own acres of land or live beside a nature reserve. Rewilders choose a three-metre by three-metre tile to follow, and Jon sends personal updates on their patch, the wildlife spotted there, and the progress of the land.It began with a nature club he set up at primary school, sparked
Project: Kindness - Filippa Brundish
Filippa Brundish, founder of The Kindness Cooporation, learned early just how much listening matters. A quiet child raised with little money but plenty of love, she spent her early years absorbing the world rather than speaking up in it, taking it all in like a sponge.In time, she wanted to put that attentiveness to work. A project manager who loves getting things done, she took the brave, some mi
Design, from the Ground Up: Oliver Lloyd
Oliver Lloyd is a designer and systems thinker, with sustainability as the starting point of his work. He was once advised to "meet people where they are, but don't leave them there," and you get a strong sense of his enthusiasm for collaborating on projects where our connection to and care for nature is front and centre.Oliver shares how he's used this approach with a brand th
Real Solidarity: Mary Ann Clements
Mary Ann Clements, Co-CEO of ADD International, has spent her whole life refusing to accept that "this is just the way the world is." As a child in a small Oxfordshire village, she felt every injustice keenly and couldn't fathom why the grown-ups had all given up.That refusal became her work. At ADD, a participatory grant maker for disability justice across Africa and Asia, she led
The Case for Idealism: Satish Kumar
Photo by Carles Rodriguez MarinPeace pilgrim, lifelong activist, former monk and founder of The Resurgence Trust, Satish Kumar has been inspiring global change for over 50 years, and at 90 he is still choosing to be, in his own words, a naïve idealist. At nine he renounced the world to become a Jain monk, against the wishes of his businessmen brothers, who thought him too idealistic. He decided th
An Eye For Nature: Xander Beks
This week we're joined by Xander Beks, founder of Eye For Nature, whose whole way of working began with a simple willingness to step up. As a teenager, when others met a good idea with "that will never happen," his instinct was different: nothing is impossible until we have tried. More often than not, it became a success.He puts it down to an open, generous approach, one he traces t
Adventures in Understanding: Alice Morrison
Explorer, TV presenter and author Alice Morrison joins us this week, fresh from a world first: becoming the first recorded person to cross Saudi Arabia from north to south on foot.For Alice, the heart of adventure is understanding, and not only of the people next door. Through the stories she gathers and shares from her journeys, she helps us get to know other people, countries, religions and plac
A Strong Sense of Fairness: Ben Rawlence
Award-winning author and co-founder and director of the pioneering Black Mountains College, Ben Rawlence joins us this week. He shares how his life has been guided by a need for fairness for all and a deep commitment to morally important campaigns.That work in policy and human rights has taken him to the USA, to his beloved Tanzania, and across Africa, a career that someone recently described to h
A Mission to Spread Kindness: Joshua Ford
This week we're joined by Joshua Ford, an award-winning actor and filmmaker whose work explores kindness, vulnerability, human connection and the belief that creativity can change lives. In 2024 he made a film called Hey You, Yes You, Open Me, dropping a hundred handwritten notes of kindness across London's tubes and buses, each one a message of hope and an invitation to connect. It went
Shamelessly Idealistic Creativity: Ben Peers
Ben Peers, Creative Director, Designer and Videographer, believes that nothing ever really changes for the better without a little bit of shameless, idealistic creativity. He also believes that our fixation on metrics and the bottom line can stifle our ability to challenge the status quo and shame idealism out of us. He recalls the same trajectory in his own life: creativity that flourished in pri
Building Bridges in the Food System: Dr Lucy Wallace
What happens when you stop trying to fit in and start trusting your own way of seeing the world? Dr Lucy Wallace, a convenor and peacebuilder in food systems, has spent her career bringing people together in rooms thick with conflict, holding to one quiet belief: everyone deserves a seat at the table.In this conversation she takes us from a childhood spent hunting out small pockets of nature in th
The Right Thing To Do : Samantha Ward OBE
What happens when you refuse to accept that nothing can be done? In this episode, we hear from Samantha Ward OBE, Deputy CEO of Royal Voluntary Service, whose lifelong conviction that the world can be changed for the better has shaped an extraordinary career in service and volunteering.From childhood, Sam had a powerful sense of right and wrong and the grit to go with it, always asking not just &q
What does good look like?: David Butcher
Before he made it to the boardroom, David Butcher managed the stage at a Jimi Hendrix concert. What he learned backstage on a Baltic island about motivation, leadership and getting the best out of people stayed with him through three CEO roles and a lifetime in business.In this episode, David makes the case that the most effective leaders are not the loudest ones. Kindness, compassion and the cour
Purpose, People, Trust: Edwin Booth CBE
What does it look like to build a business where people truly matter?Edwin Booth CBE, Executive Chairman at E.H.Booth & Co ltd, shares his journey from arriving as an 18 year old into his family's business, shaped immediately by the sheer kindness of the people around him, to becoming a leader who puts people at the heart of everything.Edwin reflects on how culture is built from the insid
Gathering for Good: Gemma Lannon
Gemma Lannon has created a wonderful gathering space in London for people channelling their work towards sustainability and climate solutions - it's called Treo House.In this episode, Gemma shares how the sudden loss of her father at 15 reshaped her understanding of the world, teaching her to hold two things at once: the uncertainty of outcomes, and the courage to act anyway. She reflects on
Start with Peace: Michael Macy
Michael Macy may describe himself as having a minor role, but a front row seat in establishing peace across some of the world's most complex conflict zones - but the lessons he carries from those experiences are anything but minor.At the heart of this conversation is a deceptively simple but profound insight: "Too often people think you have to resolve all the conflicts before you can ha
Never Discourage: Felicity Aston MBE
Felicity Aston MBE is a climate scientist, polar explorer, expedition leader and record-breaker. She was the first woman to ski across Antarctica alone. Most recently, she led the B.I.G. (Before It’s Gone) Arctic Research Expedition, gathering vital material for Arctic sea ice research.In this episode, Felicity shares the importance of using what you’re good at to address the issues facing our wor
You Were Held: Love, Loss and Compassion at Birth - Gaynor Morrison
In this episode, we’re joined by Gaynor Morrison, a midwife, lecturer and photographer, and the creator of You Were Held.Drawing on her role as a midwife safeguarding lead, Gaynor shares how she supports some of the most complex moments in care, when babies are removed from their mothers following court decisions. Through You Were Held, she offers a simple but profound gift: professional photograp
The world needs humility, kindness & love: Rich Good
Rich Good has spent over 40 years exploring the human condition, drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions.At the heart of his episode is a black and white photograph of Rich as a young boy, beaming outside a wigwam in his grandmother’s garden in Aberdeen. A child full of love and ready for adventure.He takes us through the journey of that boy’s life, the challenges he faced, the pe
Get Curious, Not Furious: Daryl Davis
Daryl Davis is an American musician, lecturer, activist and author whose life’s work has been shaped by a simple question: why would you hate me when you don’t even know me?He has spent decades studying, seeking out and speaking with members of hate groups, including the Ku Klux Klan. Through Daryl’s calm, human conversations, many have chosen to leave these organisations and encourage others to d
Trusting what you know is right: Jennifer Nadel
Jennifer Nadel shares what it means to trust what you know is right, even when others dismiss it as naive.From protesting as a young girl in the countryside to drafting a law to make it an offence for politicians to deliberately deceive the public, she reflects on how taking action, even when it does not succeed, moves us out of despair and into something more hopeful and generative.Years on, that
Honest by Nature : Rai Lewis
Rachel (Rai) Lewis is the director and co-founder of Plant One, a Cornish woodland creation CIC restoring habitats and connecting communities with nature across the South West.Rai is also autistic, and in this conversation she speaks candidly about what it’s like to move through a world that often perceives her as naïve. She shares some of the traits many autistic people experience - struggling to
Think Like a Proton: Positivity and Possibility with Mark Winters
Mark Winters is a Texan acoustic rock singer-songwriter with an unexpected past in aerospace engineering. Now a regular touring artist, he blends analytical thinking, creativity, and a hopeful spirit in songs that celebrate reinvention and science-fuelled joy. When Mark says “think like a proton,” he is encouraging his audiences to approach the world with positivity and possibility.Coming to music
Bring Your Enthusiasm: Ben Solanky
Ben Solanky, Co-Founder and Director of Empathy Action, speaks up for not allowing your enthusiasm to be dampened.From a young age, Ben was encouraged to bring his enthusiasm and energy to any task he put his hand to. A sliding door event brought him into the world of development, where he learned that championing a cause is not optional, it is a powerful skill, especially when funding and resourc
One Person Can Uplift Thousands: Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard, Managing Director of the Global Philanthropy Forum, speaks up against allowing others to judge our ideals as naïve.Growing up in the Bay Area, at the heart of Silicon Valley, shaped Sarah’s cultural context; where ideas that might be labelled naïve elsewhere are re-framed as bold, innovative, and novel. She deeply resonates with this energy and brings a willingness to push at the edg
Limitless Belief: Minnie Moll
This week we’re joined by Minnie Moll, CEO of the Design Council, who shares stories that shaped her belief in pushing beyond what many think is possible.From growing up on a boat in the English countryside, Minnie’s deep love of nature and animals fuelled a childhood full of adventure and curiosity, always bringing other children along for the ride.She speaks with real pride about creating the De
Love at the Centre: Gareth Jenkins
Seasoned creative, entrepreneur, and advocate for a regenerative future, Gareth Jenkins joins Let’s Reboot the Future to share how life experiences, from encounters with racism to time spent at Plum Village, gently chipped away at his childhood naivety and led him back to something deeper: a belief that the future doesn’t have to be a continuation of the way things are today, and that we can remak
Follow Your Heart: John Perkins
American author John Perkins joins Let’s Reboot the Future to reflect on what it really means to follow your heart, and the courage it takes to keep listening to that inner voice even when it disrupts expectations, security and status.John shares how dropping out of college to become a journalist in Boston set him on an unexpected path that allowed him to build skills in both writing and business.
Think about the world in a different way: Marie Klimis
Writer, theatre maker and producer specialising in immersive and site specific performance, Marie Klimis joins Let’s Reboot the Future to share her stories and reflect on how she has learned, and helped others, to think about the world in a different way.Marie reflects on learning early in life that rules need to be questioned, and that being kind, being a good person, and not betraying anyone’s t
Lead with passion: Augustus Hoff
Augustus Hoff, conservationist and storyteller, shows how passion can bridge divides and inspire care for the environment beyond our own backyard.He reflects on how growing up in a small Florida town taught him the importance of connecting across differences and inspiring care for the natural world. Now pursuing a master’s in environmental science and policy at CU Boulder, he shares his insights o
Story Matters: Becky Burchell
Artist and Creative Producer Becky Burchell joins Let’s Reboot the Future to reflect on the power of story and how the arts can create spaces that feel exploratory, creative and safe. Spaces where people can lean in, sit with difficult emotions, and imagine different futures.Growing up in an activist household, Becky was surrounded by conversations about nuclear weapons, peace, and the very real f
Enthusiasm is infectious: Dhiraj Mukherjee
Shazam Co-Founder and Tech for Good investor, Dhiraj Mukherjee, speaks this week about the extraordinary things we can achieve if we give people a chance. The desire to contribute and give back has always been part of Dhiraj’s story. From earnest days as a Boy Scout to what looked, from the outside, like a surprising right-angle turn away from Shazam, he chose to take his business knowledge into t
A Kinder World, According to Year 6: Churchill CE Primary School
This week, for Christmas, we are turning Let’s Reboot the Future upside down.Where we usually ask our adult guests what advice they would give to inspire their younger and more naive selves to stay courageous, to hold on to kindness and fairness in their actions, this week we asked children to advise the adults.Sandy from Reboot the Future visited Churchill Church of England Primary School in West
Create Trusting Environments: Anuradha Chugh
In this episode, we hear from Anuradha Chugh, a leader whose life and work have been shaped by something many people dismiss as naïve: trust. From childhood roots in a secure and loving home, to boardrooms, redundancy processes, and uprooting her life across continents, Anuradha has carried a steadfast belief that the world - and people - are fundamentally worthy of trust.Yet her story isn’t one o
‘Be creative with your environment’: Emilio Garcia Padron
Emilio Garcia Padron, Imperial College London alumni and founder of NEA Tech Studios, invites us to explore natural systems as a way to solve problems in our academic and everyday lives.He shares his work in the gardens at Imperial College and Lancaster University, where students experiment with tools and the living world to imagine new solutions to their questions and challenges.Emilio encourages
“Be Curious”: John O’Brien MBE
In this episode, John O’Brien MBE, Founder of Anthropy, invites us to let curiosity be the fuel that drives us to act, create, and contribute.John reflects on how his concern for the future of the UK coming out of Covid, inspired him to establish Anthropy, an annual national gathering that brings together responsible leaders and organisations to imagine a positive future for the UK and its role in
Keep playing: Sophie Austin
Wild storyteller Sophie Austin invites us to stay open to what life can bring, with a stance that is playful and rooted in kindness and love.Her stories remind us of the importance of getting up close to the experience and perspective of others. In her recent work creating a film and leading conversation forums with the public and convicted Just Stop Oil activists, Sophie shares her own shift from
Stand up for another living being: Tsitsi Chirikure
Tsitsi Chirikure, Cultural Curator and current Associate at Reboot the Future, asks us to consider how changing the way we relate to nature might also change the way we relate to each other.She shares her work on Himalayan Balsam and invasion ecology, and reflects on how the language used to describe so-called ‘invasive species’ in the UK often mirrors the language used about people with an immigr
Have a straightforward and sincere approach to life: Paul Lindley OBE
Paul Lindley OBE, Founder of Ella's Kitchen, author of Raising the Nation and Little Wins, Chancellor University of Reading and Founder of Just IMAGINE if, reminds us that taking the first step matters more than worrying about what we can’t control. He shares how drawing on your life experience and investing in your relationships can help bring to life your ideals and the ideas you create to
You don’t need permission to dream: Sir Tim Smit KBE on why you should dream big
Sir Tim Smit KBE says, “People won’t get in your way if you do something so big that nobody has any belief that it’s possible.” He wants people to realise it’s never too late to become the person they once dreamed they could be. Sir Tim shares how dreaming big, developing your own voice, and telling stories that excite can make us come alive, like water to parched flowers. Further inspirationSir T
Run through walls to make it happen: Will Hayler on why ‘naïve’ ideas spark real change
Run through walls to make it happen. “Writing people off as naïve for thinking they can solve a problem is to underestimate the power of spirit, human innovation, and human resilience.” Will Hayler, CEO & Co-Founder of Blue Earth, shares how he developed his adventurous spirit for tackling society’s toughest challenges through business - from equality to wellbeing - and the practical lessons h
We have to keep resisting: Kim Polman on why speaking up, even when it’s uncomfortable, matters
We have to keep resisting! Kim Polman won’t be complacent. In this episode she shares why she speaks up in uncomfortable spaces knowing that the ancient, universal principle she champions - treat others and the planet as we wish to be treated - is essential to us creating goodness in our world. Just the thing to keep you going if your ideas have ever been called naïve. With Kim Polman - Co-Founde
Show & Tell with Teachers: Stories of Climate Action - Ian McDermott
Listen to Ian McDermott share his insights into how forming a relationship with MP Rachel Blake through PACTS has instilled confidence and political empowerment within his sixth-form students. As a chemistry teacher at Harris Westminster Sixth Form in London, Ian’s students are faced with environmental issues unique to cities and Ian offers strategies into how his school has created ways for stude
Show & Tell with Teachers: Stories of Climate Action - Emma Vyvyan
Emma Vyvyan, Head Teacher at Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery in Cornwall has overseen the school’s efforts to remove single-use plastics from school lunches and advocate for the recycling of soft plastics. Emma’s students’ passion for recycling is a key topic within their PACTS relationship. Their previous MP Steve Double, advocated on the student’s behalf in parliament and now MP Noah Law i
Show & Tell with Teachers: Stories of Climate Action - Patrick Gordon
Listen to Patrick Gordon share his story of how his secondary school students shaped discussions at COP16 through their relationship with MP Pippa Halings. Patrick’s dual roles as a maths teacher and Environmental and Sustainable Education Lead at Comberton Village College in Cambridge have allowed him to integrate climate issues into the school’s curriculum, equipping students with the skills nee
Who is your ally, and why?
Listen to insights from Stephanie Heath, a leadership team member at Lutterworth & Villages Foodbank, as she responds to this month's question: Who is your ally, and why?Join us as Stephanie delves into the importance of allies in the fight against poverty and the qualities that make a true ally. Explore how building relationships grounded in respect, trust, and compassion can drive posit
When have you felt different? Listen to Anthony Bennett's response | May's Answer
Every month, we dive deep into a topic that resonates with our mission. This month's question: When have you felt different? How did others make you feel like you belong?Listen to insights from Anthony Bennett, CEO of Reboot the Future, as he responds to this month's question.Reboot the Future's mission is to foster a new world where we treat others and the planet as we’d wish to be
Gumption and Golden Leadership Examples
Explore the essence of 'gumption' and courageous leadership in this enlightening article by Sandy Glanfield from Reboot the Future. Dive into the stories of five exceptional leaders who exemplify the 'get-up-and-go' attitude in tackling global challenges.Featuring exclusive interviews with Kim Paykel, Richard Dunne, Frieda Gormley, Cecilia Manosa Nyblon, and Rich Good. From tra
April's Answer | Listen to Kim Polman
Listen to insights from Kim Polman, Co-Founder & Chair of Reboot the Future, as she responds to this month's question: If someone you know described how you treat people, what would you hope they say?Let’s explore together the universal significance of treating others and the planet as you would like to be treated (the Golden Rule) and its potential to drive positive change worldwide. Sub
Imaginal Journey with Kim Polman and Tim Smit
Welcome to the Imaginal Audio Journey, a captivating series designed to offer naturalistic meditation practices. This pilot is tailor-made for participants at Anthropy 2023, held at the breathtaking Eden Project. In this episode, you'll hear from Kim Polman and Tim Smit as they share a profound narrative, encouraging you to reflect on the core theme of connection. As you walk and engage with
Learning from Nature: Reciprocity. Guided Reflections with Kim Polman
Heighten your awareness of your connection to the natural world - noticing what is around you, imagining and learning about mycorrhizal networks below the ground, and discovering lessons from nature.This audio piece is an intimate journey; a blend of wise reflection, guided questioning and noticing the world around us. We recommend you listen walking or sitting in a favourite place in nature.Kim P
We Are Antarctica: An Audio Journey
Join Shivi on a 10 minute meditative escape to Antarctica. Explore the icy expanse of Antarctica as you cross the dangerous Drake Passage, speed across the water’s surface, step onto the ice, and get up close with whales, seals, and penguins. Immerse yourself in Antarctica and come away with an understanding of why this precious ecosystem needs protecting, and how you are more connected than you m
