Welcome back to Black Earth with me, Marion Atieno Osieyo. In each episode, I speak with pioneering Black women from around the world who are re-imagining our relationship with Earth and each other.

This is the first episode of our new season, Season 4, and you can watch the video version on our new YouTube channel here!!

Today, I meet Agnes Agyepong, founder of Global Child and Maternal Health, for a deep, urgent, and hopeful conversation about air pollution, pregnancy, and environmental justice in the UK.

In this episode, we explore:

🌍 Groundbreaking research on how air pollution affects the health of Black pregnant women and unborn babies in London

🌍 How Black mothers are leading change for clean air

🌍 What you can do now to reduce air pollution in your home, on your street, and across the UK

💬 “Clean air isn’t a luxury. It’s a birthright. For everyone.”

🎧 If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy our previous one: "Breathing Air, Breathing Justice with Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah" → Listen on our website or wherever you are listening to this podcast.

📲 Join the conversation! Leave a comment below and connect with us: Instagram, TikTok & LinkedIn @blackearthpodcast. We share more resources, stories, and community activities on our socials.

📲 Connect with Agnes and support her organisation, Global Child and Maternal Health: https://globalcmh.org/about-us/

💌 For partnerships, speaking requests, and media inquiries, contact us here: https://www.blackearthpodcast.com/contactus

xx B.E.

Thank you so much for tuning into Season 3 of Black Earth Podcast. In this season, we have been meeting visionary black women who are creating innovations inspired by nature.

In this season finale, Black Earth team, Marion and Anesu, reflect on their changing relationships with nature as well their key take-aways from Season 3. We also discuss what is to come for Black Earth Podcast.

Although Season 3 has completed, we have some upcoming plans that you can get involved in that we will be announcing on our social media and website. So make sure you stay connected with us:

• Connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Tiktok @blackearthpodcast.
• Visit our website with all episodes and transcripts: https://www.blackearthpodcast.com/

Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey of Earth care.

Love xx B.E.

Episode timestamps

00:00 - Intro to podcast episode

02:00 - Anesu’s relationship with nature

03:45 - Marion’s relationship with nature

13:30 - Our key take-aways from Season 3, ‘Innovation Inspired By Nature’

23:55 - What we are learning about humanity’s relationship with other living beings

35:41 - What’s coming up for Black Earth Podcast

‘How do we practice this revolution in a way that embodies the best of what we have as humans and the best of what we can observe in other species?’ - Marion

In Season 3 of Black Earth Podcast, we are meeting visionary black women who are creating innovations inspired by nature.

Today we meet Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs from North Carolina, United States. Alexis is a queer black feminist, love evangelist and an aspirational favourite cousin to all living beings.

They are also the author of numerous works including the incredible book, ‘Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals.’

In this inspiring and deeply moving episode, Alexis and I explore ways to uncolonise our humanity, our creativity and our relationships with more-than-human beings.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introducing Alexis

02:15 - Alexis’ relationship with nature

09:00 - Alexis reads the preface from their book ‘Undrowned: Black feminist lessons from marine mammals’

27:00 - Alexis shares an example of black feminist lesson they learned from witnessing the harbour seal

37:15 - What we can learn from apes about mothering and care

43:50 - Why it’s important for black people to reconcile with other living beings and how decoloniality helps us

56:55 - Alexis’ advice on how to give ourselves radical permission to create

01:06:00 - Alexis’ upcoming book on Audre Lorde

01:18:00 - How to support Alexis

01:20:00 How to support Black Earth podcast

How to support Alexis Pauline Gumbs

• Visit and contact Alexis’ through their website - https://www.alexispauline.com/
• Buy Alexis’ book: Undrowned: Black feminist lessons from marine mammals - https://www.akpress.org/undrowned.html
• Pre-order Alexis’ upcoming book: ‘Survival is a Promise: The eternal life of Audre Lorde’ - https://www.alexispauline.com/books

How to support and connect with Black Earth Podcast

• Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review wherever you listen to your favourite podcast
• Connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Tiktok @blackearthpodcast.
• For partnerships, sponsorship and media features, email us at blackearthpod@gmail.com