Spilling the Tī: Otago’s new sustainability podcast, hosted by Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa Ben Sommerville (pictured) and Tumuaki Head of Sustainability Ray O’Brien, can be found on Spotify.
The University of Otago Sustainability Office has launched its very own podcast, Spilling the Tī, now available on Spotify.
Hosted by Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa Ben Sommerville and Tumuaki Head of Sustainability Ray O’Brien, the podcast celebrates staff and students working on initiatives inspired by Ti Kōuka: University of Otago Sustainability Framework 2030.
Ben says the podcast was created to help bring sustainability conversations to life, and if you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ben, you already know he’s a natural storyteller.
“I’m a bit of a town crier - you could call me the modern town crier,” he says.
The podcast has launched with a seven-episode series focused on the Ti Kōuka framework, including an introductory episode followed by one episode for each pillar. Future episodes will invite guest speakers and explore a range of topics that relate to sustainability at Otago and in the community.
Opening with the framework made sense as it is the foundation of the mahi, Ben says.
“The framework comes out of the land and out of the stories of the people of the land, Ngāi Tahu.
“We wanted to give people the opportunity to understand, in 15 minutes, when we talk about ‘He oraka kai te rua tī’, what we are actually talking about and what that actually means for what we’re trying to accomplish at the University.”
Ray says the 15-minute episodes are designed to be informal and accessible, the perfect length to accompany our short Ōtepoti commutes.
“Spilling the Tī isn’t another seminar or lecture. It’s the type of chat you’d have over a cuppa in the Staff Club.”
Ben hopes the podcast will encourage staff and teams to think about how sustainability connects to their work.
“Everyone can get involved and be a part of Tī Kōuka, it’s not just something for the Sustainability Office, and we are here to help you navigate the journey of what sustainability looks like for you.”
Staff and students with ideas for future episodes or guest contributions are encouraged to reach out to Ben.
“We’re looking to bring in staff and students who are doing cool stuff. Bringing in people from around the community who have expertise or a cool story to tell that connects to sustainability or any of the parts of the framework,” he says.
The podcast was produced and edited by Tētēkura Student Lead Sofea Haizal, who is studying Law and Politics with a minor in Māori Studies.
Sofea says the experience expanded her understanding of sustainability.
“The topics discussed in the podcast open a lot of content for law and policy arguments, which has helped me think about sustainability outside of what I had already known.
“On top of that, working closely with Ben, Ray and the other Tētēkura has taken me, a natural introvert, out of my shell.”
~ Kōrero by Gess Sheridan, Communications Advisor, Operations.
Listen to Spilling the Tī
The first episodes of Spilling the Tī are now available on Spotify.
Listen here