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Straight Talking Sustainability

Straight Talking Sustainability

By: Emma Burlow
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Welcome to Straight Talking Sustainability! I'm your host, Emma Burlow. If you're feeling lost in all the sustainability talk or struggling to see real results in your business, this podcast is for you. We’ll clear up the confusion and focus on practical, straightforward actions that actually work. Join me as I talk with experts, share real-world stories, and tackle the common roadblocks that stop businesses from making progress. This is all about making sustainability easier and sharing what truly makes a difference. Let’s keep it simple, effective, and make sustainability stick!Copyright 2026 Emma Burlow Economics Management Management & Leadership Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Why Sustainability isn’t the Sustainability Director’s Problem with Joss Tantram, Terrafiniti

    Why Sustainability isn’t the Sustainability Director’s Problem with Joss Tantram, Terrafiniti
    May 24 2026
    In this episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, Emma welcomes longtime friend and experienced sustainability strategist Joss Tantram, Partner at Terrafiniti. Together, they dive into the evolution of corporate sustainability, the practical realities facing professionals in the field, and the challenges of driving real change within organizations.Joss Tantram, Partner, Terrafiniti Joss is a lifelong environmentalist and sustainability practitioner and is founding partner of Terrafiniti, a pioneering sustainability consultancy.Joss has held senior roles in both WWF-UK and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and worked to develop the theory and practice of corporate sustainability in organisations across the world.At WWF-UK in 2001, he was one of the first to propose the idea of sustainability as a strategic value creation concept and conceived and authored publications considered as source books on the business case for sustainability and sustainability and corporate strategy.From 2019 to 2022, Joss was a Director in WBCSD’s Redefining Value team, where he was lead author of WBCSD's "Future Proof Business" guide, co-author of WBCSD's "An architecture for sustainable value transition within social and planetary boundaries" and since leaving WBCSD Joss lead and co-wrote their 2025 publication “Managing uncertainty in sustainability disclosure”.He is passionate about sustainable change and retains hope in the capacity of humanity to become true stewards of this precious planet.Joss is the author of the Towards 9 Billion book series – presenting big, playful, hopeful ideas for a sustainable, equitable future.Joss consistently aspires to be a failed musician, and to that end has been writing and recording songs which very few people hear.When not trying to foment global change he enjoys family life, walking, cycling and has an eternal fascination with springtime in bluebell woods.Key Discussion PointsCareer Journey & Early Sustainability WorkEmma and Joss Tantram reminisce about their long history together, starting in the late 90s in sustainability roles (01:03).Joss Tantram shares insights from his time at WWF UK, building the Business Education Unit and pioneering work on the business case for sustainability (02:43).The seminal work "To Whose Profit? Building a Business Case for Sustainability" and its follow-up are highlighted (06:46).The Business Case & Organizational ChallengesDiscussion around how sustainability is often counter to traditional business narratives (07:40).Reflection on why embedding sustainability in strategy is still a challenge, despite years of effort (08:19).Joss Tantram talks about the tension between operational and strategic approaches in companies, and the persistence of sustainability as a "lone ranger" role (15:11).Current Trends in SustainabilityJoss Tantram explains Terrafiniti's current work: strategy, double materiality, skills development, and advising on avoiding greenwashing (10:24, 12:18).Growing customer and regulatory pressures are driving more companies to act and request sustainability information (12:34).A focus on building a “coherent narrative” to unite scattered or siloed sustainability initiatives (14:02).ESG Headwinds & MaturityThe cyclical nature of ESG focus; things go in waves, but progress is evident over the decades (21:03).Lip service to sustainability is declining—more companies appreciate the strategic importance of the function (24:42).The critical listening skills needed for sustainability professionals, and the importance of adapting to the organization's stage of maturity (26:36).Change Management, Moti vation & PeopleSustainability roles require a complex set of skills: technical knowledge, people skills, and change management (29:56).Facts alone don't drive change—motivation, narrative, and personality types matter (39:01).The significance of recognizing subcultures within organizations, and how to adapt language and approach for different teams (41:01).Practical TakeawaysFind leverage points: Identify nodal points in the organization (e.g., procurement, marketing) that can drive outsized positive impact (37:05).Coherent narrative: Develop an integrated sustainability story to avoid siloed or disjointed efforts (14:02).People & change skills: Cultivate adaptability, understand motivations, and tailor engagement to different audiences (29:56).Testing the path: Roadmaps are valuable, but stay open to opportunities for action as they arise (32:34).Resources Mentioned"To Whose Profit" reports—findable on the Terrafiniti website or by searching "Whose Profit WWF" (07:02).Terrafiniti articles, resources, and the "Towards 9 Billion" book series (43:10).The Sustainability Insights Group networking community (23:06).Learn more about Joss Tantram and Terrafiniti: terrafiniti.comBook a Power Hour with Emma https://calendly.com/emma-lighthouse/power-hourConnect with EmmaWebsiteEmailEmma Burlow | LinkedIn
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    45 mins
  • Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

    Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
    May 17 2026

    This podcast tackles the often overwhelming world of sustainable practices with straightforward advice and relatable insight.

    Key Topics Covered
    • Overwhelm and where to start with sustainability at work or at home
    • The importance of mindset: "putting your green glasses on"
    • Visible actions vs. invisible actions for sustainability
    • How small changes shift social norms and influence others
    • The underestimated impact of talking about and sharing your choices
    • Tangible & easy sustainability actions you can take right now

    Actionable Takeaways
    1. Begin with Visible Changes

    • Use a reusable coffee cup and water bottle.
    • Choose walking, cycling, or public transport over driving.
    • Reduce food waste and try more plant-based meals.
    • Visible changes subtly shift social norms (05:49).

    1. Tackle the Invisible (But High Impact) Actions

    • Switch your bank to one with ethical investment policies.
    • Review and update your pension to an ethical or low-carbon fund.
    • Change your energy provider to a green tariff.
    • These background actions move far more carbon and money than daily visible actions (08:03).

    1. Share What You’re Doing

    • Talk about your green choices with friends, family, and colleagues.
    • Don’t hide or apologize for sustainable choices; sharing normalizes these behaviors and builds momentum (12:19).
    • Community connections, whether local or at work, create a warm glow and reinforce positive changes.

    1. Mindset Shift

    • Don’t see “everything, everywhere, all at once” as pressure—it means there’s endless possibility.
    • You can’t get it wrong if you try, learn, and keep going (18:45).
    • Change happens through people, not just policies (19:49).

    Show Links

    £50 credit for Octopus Energy

    Bank Green Tool

    52 Simple Sustainability Hacks E-Book

    Book a Power Hour with Emma

    https://calendly.com/emma-lighthouse/power-hour

    Connect with Emma

    Website

    Email

    Emma Burlow | LinkedIn
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    21 mins
  • Shifting Mindsets with Charly Cox

    Shifting Mindsets with Charly Cox
    May 10 2026

    In this episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, Emma welcomes Charly Cox, Executive Director of Climate Change Coaches and a pioneer in the field of climate coaching. Together, they explore the psychological aspects of driving sustainable change in organizations, the unique challenges faced by sustainability professionals, and practical strategies for overcoming barriers to effective climate action.

    • Charlie Cox's journey from coaching in West Africa to leading a team of climate coaches 01:01
    • The psychological barriers to action in climate and sustainability work 02:00
    • Why being a good leader is often more important than having large budgets in sustainability projects 03:21
    • The "stuck" feeling experienced by many sustainability professionals, and the overwhelming scope of their roles 06:37
    • The technical vs. people/communications skills required for effectiveness in sustainability roles 07:04
    • The organizational challenges: lack of executive sponsorship and belief leadership 07:54
    • The importance of coaching skills for sustainability professionals—especially introverts 10:12
    • How climate change coaching differs from general business coaching 11:25
    • Dealing with existential dread, burnout, and organizational contempt 12:27
    • The power of using strengths-based and asset-based coaching approaches 17:31
    • Shifting the identity from “knowledge holder” to “thought partner” 19:48
    • Why self-regulation and deep listening are key for influencing others 18:06
    • Strategies for maintaining belief and hope in the face of setbacks 14:20
    • Insights into the Green Transition Coach course and its modules (building ecosystems, challenging mindsets, working with barriers, emotional regulation, and building ownership) 25:00
    • The risks of becoming subservient or stuck in "servant mode" 27:43
    • Mindset shifts, overcoming imposter syndrome, and changing organizational perspectives 31:05
    • Practical communication tactics for influencing stakeholders and navigating difficult conversations 32:24
    • Tips for making change appealing: make it familiar, reversible, and easy 47:41

    Key Takeaways
    • Sustainability is a people-centered job: Technical skills are important, but communication, influence, and psychological insight are critical for success.
    • Belief leadership matters: Executive sponsorship must translate to active participation, not merely delegating responsibility to underpowered teams.
    • Coaching skills enable action: Learning to ask powerful questions and adopting a strengths-based approach helps "stuck" professionals and organizations move forward.
    • You don't need to be the font of all knowledge: Focusing on being a “thought partner” and building organizational belief in change is more effective than relying solely on technical expertise.
    • Make change accessible: Breaking actions into small, reversible, and familiar steps can help overcome overwhelm—both for sustainability professionals and organizational decision makers.

    • Find out more about Charlie and Climate Change Coaches
    • Lighthouse Sustainability and the Beacon newsletter

    If you enjoyed this episode, please share it, rate, and review to help others find the podcast.

    For more straight-talking sustainability advice, subscribe to the show and join us next week!

    Book a Power Hour with Emma

    https://calendly.com/emma-lighthouse/power-hour

    Connect with Emma

    Website

    Email

    Emma Burlow | LinkedIn
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    50 mins
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