IIED launches podcast

IIED has launched a new podcast that will examine the steps being taken towards a more secure future for people and planet. 

The Make Change Happen podcast – a series of audio recordings that can be listened to online or downloaded direct to your mobile phone – will feature IIED experts and guests focusing on key sustainable development issues and how we will play our part to make change happen.

The podcast title, ‘Make Change Happen’, refers to IIED’s new 2019-2024 strategy, which sets out IIED's response to the critical challenges of our time, from climate crisis to biodiversity loss and increasing inequality. Each episode will provide informal insights into IIED’s work to create positive change and make the complex issues we face more accessible to wider audiences.

Episode 1: Protecting our ocean 

The first episode, launched today, focuses on IIED’s work to protect the ocean and marine environments. It introduces Essam Yassin Mohammed, who leads IIED’s action research on the blue economy. 

The podcast includes a focus on the international negotiations on how to secure the biodiversity of the world’s ocean. Mohammed’s work includes supporting the least developed countries to participate effectively in the talks about a new international treaty on the high seas.

During the 30-minute episode, Mohammed and the director of IIED’s Shaping Sustainable Markets research group, Laura Kelly, also look at international attempts to improve marine governance and efforts to develop an ocean-based economy that successfully balances economic gain with social and environmental concerns. 

Reaching new audiences 

The Make Change Happen podcast is hosted by IIED’s head of communications Liz Carlile, who says the podcast will give listeners the opportunity to hear direct from researchers about their current work.

“We see the podcast as an exciting new way to connect with our audiences: we can introduce our researchers and let them tell the story of their work. In our busy, fast-paced world, we are bringing you insights that are portable and convenient to listen to,” she says.

Podcasts are gaining huge popularity. Recent estimates suggest that a quarter of the US population listens to at least one podcast each month. They are especially popular among the U35s and commuters.

A main driver of podcast listener numbers is their convenience: listeners can access episodes online or download them to their mobile phone (or other digital audio device) and choose when they want to listen. Listeners can also subscribe to ensure they receive alerts when a new episode is available.

How to subscribe

The IIED podcast has been recorded by IIED’s communications team. It is hosted on the institute’s Soundcloud channel, and you can subscribe to the podcast on your favourite podcast app as follows:

The podcast is also available on IIED's YouTube channel.

You can follow the panellists on Twitter: @EYMohammed, @LauraKellyIIED and @LizCarlile. Follow the podcast on @IIED_Voices for all the latest updates.