In this powerful episode, host Sid Bensalah is joined by Joshua Harrison, co-founder of Leaf Island and co-director of the Center for the Study of the Force Majeure. Together, they unpack how cities around the world can use nature—not just to survive climate stress—but to regenerate and thrive.
This isn’t theory. It’s about real solutions already in play.
We explore:
- Turning recycled Styrofoam into high-performance green roof soil (GaiaSoil™)
- Rethinking urban metabolism using modular plant systems
- Confronting the empty promises of COP climate summits
- And how clean progress can start on your rooftop—not in a faraway boardroom
Joshua shares real-world stories from New York’s leaf recycling challenges, why COP30 has become more theater than action, and how climate conversations often exclude the voices of those living closest to the land—particularly Indigenous communities in places like the Amazon, now threatened by road development tied to global events.
This episode asks uncomfortable questions:
-
Why are global climate summits still powered by diesel cruise ships while demanding carbon cuts from citizens?
-
Can green roofs and modular soil systems scale fast enough to cool cities under siege from heat and drought?
-
And where is the youth-led leadership that brings clarity, accountability, and hope?
Timestamps
00:00 How Cities Can Cool Themselves: Climate Design with Joshua Harrison
00:32 Composting and Recycling in Cities
02:20 UN Climate Conference and Environmental Irony
02:54 Indigenous Protests and Global Climate Events
04:04 Challenges of Hosting Global Conferences
07:05 Introduction to Joshua Harrison
07:36 The Role of Nature in Urban Regeneration
09:24 Cultural Development in the Caribbean
19:22 Climate Migration and Global Inequality
30:03 The Importance of Storytelling in Climate Systems
35:22 Innovative Green Roof Solutions
38:54 Introduction to Bioactive Soil
39:21 Hydroponics vs. Traditional Soil
39:53 Benefits of GaiaSoil™
41:09 Urban Greening and Climate Impact
44:33 Economic and Community Benefits
48:40 Challenges and Solutions for Green Cities
52:06 Leadership and Climate Action
56:01 Youth Activism and Global Climate Efforts
58:51 Reflections on Climate Leadership
01:06:50 Hope for the Future
01:10:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
🎧 Listen now and walk away with insight, not just opinion. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who values leadership, purpose, or creative risk.
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Deezer, TuneIn, Podchaser, & more.
📲 Watch the full interview on YouTube + Spotify