Episodes

  • Dan Springer: Hope is Preserving the Earth’s Lungs

    Dan Springer: Hope is Preserving the Earth’s Lungs
    Sep 28 2021
    In the very special premiere episode of the Hopecast’s second season, Dr. Jane Goodall is joined by Dan Springer, CEO of DocuSign and sustainability thought leader extraordinaire. Dan and Jane’s discussion offers a unique perspective about what big tech companies should do in the fight to make this world a better place through investing in conservation, helping employees get engaged with volunteering, and finding tangible ways to address inequality. Docusign represents these efforts by saving millions of trees and eliminating the use of billions of sheets of paper. Their DocuSign for Forests initiative has also committed over $2.5 million to organizations doing critical work to preserve the world’s forests. During the episode, Dan and Jane discuss the importance of standing together at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and how Jane has often used this approach which reaches across industries and perspectives to make a bigger difference, together. Dan has become a tremendous partner to Jane and JGI, and also even went on to create a Roots & Shoots group, as part of Jane’s youth program Roots & Shoots, at DocuSign thanks to Jane’s “amazing persuasion skills.” Dan and Jane talk about maintaining hope through trying times and the essential increasing levels of recognition and action in the face of injustices. Listen to Dan and Jane’s incredible and illuminating conversation to learn more about the responsibility and opportunity for businesses to take action by connecting the heart and mind to drive positive environmental impact. BONUS: Check out even more from Dr. Goodall and Dan’s purposeful pairing here. At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear a clip of Jane speaking about why her philosophy to “think locally, act locally” is so crucial to making the world a better place.
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    30 mins
  • Mailbag: From Argentina to the UK, Jane Answers Hopecasters Messages About Making Space For Love And Shares Her Proudest Moment

    Mailbag: From Argentina to the UK, Jane Answers Hopecasters Messages About Making Space For Love And Shares Her Proudest Moment
    Mar 16 2021
    For this Mailbag episode, Dr. Jane Goodall is joined by honorary “Hopecaster in Chief” Shawn Sweeney, the Associate Vice President of Communications & Policy for the Jane Goodall Institute. Shawn and Dr. Goodall listen to inspiring and insightful messages from Hopecasters around the world. A young Hopecaster from Mexico thanks Dr. Jane for being her reason for hope by always making space for love and kindness. She also hears from a Hopecaster in Canada who asks Jane how she manages her mental health when the state of the world seems so negative. And at just 11 years old, Hopecaster Heidi from the UK is already taking action by designing and selling postcards to raise money for conservation, very much in line with the work of JGI’s Roots & Shoots program. Her question inspires Jane to reminisce upon one of the proudest moments of her life. Submit your own questions and comments for a chance to be included in a future Mailbag episode here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    17 mins
  • Mailbag: From Philadelphia to New Zealand, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About How They Can Use Their Voices to Create a Better Future

    Mailbag: From Philadelphia to New Zealand, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About How They Can Use Their Voices to Create a Better Future
    Dec 14 2021
    In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Goodall is joined by Ashley Sullivan, Associate Director of Communications & Policy at the Jane Goodall Institute USA, as they hear from Hopecasters from around the world. Jane and Ashley listen to energizing messages about how Jane’s lifetime of work has inspired Hopecasters to work hard for their own communities and continue in her footsteps. Nina from Philadelphia shares a tearful message of gratitude, thanking Jane for inspiring her so profoundly and motivating her to lead a life of impact. Animal nutrition and wildlife conservation student Nevan, living in Florida, writes in to ask Dr. Goodall’s advice on organizing his own conservation foundation, looking at the immense success and impact of the Jane Goodall Institute. 16-year-old Roots & Shoots member, Alicia, also writes in from New Zealand to share what brings her her greatest hope: animals. Alicia speaks to animals’ “special talent” of bringing people together and how she believes they are what’s going to get us through these dark times. This is a belief also held by Jane, who talks about how people have been connecting to other animals, especially their pets for their love and companionship, during the pandemic. Ashley points out the poignancy of how prevalent the theme of non-human animals was to this particular mailbag as it was Jane’s stories about chimpanzees and her own connection to other animals that inspires generations to take action and also, most essentially, hold onto hope. Hey Hopecasters! Submit your own questions and comments for a chance to be included in a future Mailbag episode here.
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    19 mins
  • Mailbag: From Colombia to the UK, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About Solving Big Problems by Starting with a Small Change

    Mailbag: From Colombia to the UK, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About Solving Big Problems by Starting with a Small Change
    Feb 8 2022
    In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Goodall is joined by her good friend Ruth Mendelson, award winning composer, author and humanitarian (Ruth helped create the music for the Hopecast!). They have worked closely throughout their decades long friendship and Jane wrote the foreword for Ruth’s book, The Water Tree Way. Together, they listen to messages from Hopecasters from around the world about the ways Dr. Goodall has inspired them to dream up projects and efforts to help in their communities - proving that sometimes simple steps can make a big, positive footprint for the planet. Isabella, a 14-year-old from Bogotá, Colombia, shares that caring about animals and the environment is her motivation to create change. Louise from the UK reflects on the importance of education and how Dr. Goodall’s tireless persistence keeps her motivated in her activism. Ruth shares her conviction to be a part of the solution and Jane reminds us “how resilient nature is. Give nature a chance, perhaps a bit of help, and nature will come back.” Hey Hopecasters! Submit your own questions and comments for a chance to be included in a future Mailbag episode here.
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    19 mins
  • Mailbag: From China to California, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About Perseverance and the Indomitable Human Spirit

    Mailbag: From China to California, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About Perseverance and the Indomitable Human Spirit
    Apr 27 2021
    For this Mailbag episode, Dr. Goodall is joined by Hopecaster and podcast executive producer Michelle Khouri as they hear from Hopecasters from around the world. Jane and Michelle listen to a heartwarming and encouraging call from an 8-year-old Hopecaster in China who shares her dream of being an astronaut, and whose love of animals and nature was inspired by Jane. In another message, a courageous young Hopecaster shares her difficult journey of immigration from Iran to the U.S. and her ongoing difficulties with this issue, and tells Jane that her reason for hope comes from the story of the anemone, a beautiful, delicate flower that grows in the most inhospitable areas. Jane shares with this Hopecaster that this flower is like the indomitable human spirit “that enables us to have hope, even in the darkest times.” Click here to submit your own questions and comments for a chance to be included in a future Mailbag episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    17 mins
  • Mailbag: From Sweden to India, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About Protecting the Natural World and How We Can Each Make a Difference

    Mailbag: From Sweden to India, Jane Answers Hopecaster Messages About Protecting the Natural World and How We Can Each Make a Difference
    Nov 2 2021
    In this episode of the Hopecast, Dr. Goodall is joined by her grandson, Merlin van Lawick, as they hear from Hopecasters from around the world. Jane and Merlin listen to powerful messages about Hopecasters' desire and mission to protect nature and wildlife, asking Jane how they can help, and how Jane continually inspires them. Jesica, from Colombia, now living in Sweden, reflects on how the Hopecast gives her hope in her pursuit of her PhD as she works to protect and defend the Amazon Rainforest. Jodi in Queensland, Australia, shares her efforts to move away from hierarchical thinking and embrace diversity in thought in order to solve environmental crises. Tina, living in Canada, asks Jane what she can do to make a difference as a young person. Jane and Merlin reflect on the power of sharing stories in influencing change, and the incredible momentum and drive of young change-makers, particularly in JGI’s youth program Roots & Shoots. One young Hopecaster from Indiana thanks Jane for connecting her to the natural world and igniting her passion for helping animals at just 12 years old, telling Dr. Goodall: “you showed me that animals have a voice that needs to be heard.” Hey Hopecasters! Submit your own questions and comments for a chance to be included in a future Mailbag episode here.
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    21 mins
  • Razan Al Mubarak: Hope is Empowering Individuals and Centering Community

    Razan Al Mubarak: Hope is Empowering Individuals and Centering Community
    Mar 9 2021
    Dr. Jane Goodall has an insightful and meaningful conversation with her good friend, Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, the Managing Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Razan has devoted her life to advocating for biodiversity protection solutions working both with governments all over the world and also with companies in the private sector. Jane and Razan reminisce over their eight years of friendship and collaboration, from establishing Roots & Shoots in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to traveling to the desert to learn about the conservation efforts started by the first Sheikh and Founder of the UAE, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Together, they discuss the importance of finding solutions that benefit communities and how modern society, just like nature, is most resilient when it is diverse. Razan distinguishes the crucial need to fight for action for both biodiversity and climate change and she shares a quote from one of her favorite authors, Elif Shafak, that echoes both her and Jane’s perspective on the future of this fight: “We need pessimism of the mind and optimism of the heart.” At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear a rare archival clip of Jane reflecting on our planet's two "lungs." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    37 mins
  • Janet Hayes: Hope is Fostering Curiosity and Sparking Imagination

    Janet Hayes: Hope is Fostering Curiosity and Sparking Imagination
    Feb 23 2021
    For this episode, Jane meets Janet Hayes, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings, Inc. Jane's and Janet’s conversation touches on unique, yet similar childhoods filled with exploration, as well as the practical aspect of hope, and the power of curiosity and intuition. Discussing Jane’s philosophy of partnering with companies for the greater good, Janet shares some of the ways that Crate and Barrel is championing sustainability and supporting the values of customers today, and how Jane continues to inspire her. The duo also share excitement over how that philosophy has come to life through the Jane Goodall Institute x Crate & Kids collection. The playful collection was designed to celebrate wildlife and the natural world by sparking curiosity in children and their families and providing a path to action through JGI’s youth program Roots & Shoots). The conversation’s hopeful energy stems from Jane's and Janet’s shared belief that these trying times can also foster the kinds of connection, creativity, and curiosity needed for humanity to form a better relationship with the natural world. At the End of the Rainbow: Stay to the end of the episode to hear a rare archival clip of Jane speaking with a young interviewer about her purpose and the importance of empowering every young person to be the change. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    35 mins