Today's episode is all about beach cleanups, sharing the story of the coastal and marine management expert and founder Daniel Angelis, who got started during the refugee crisis. Daniel shares his journey of how the refugee boats impacted his home island Lesbos in Greece, and how they dealt with the trash.

He's opening up about leading ocean cleanups and tackling plastic pollution along some of the world’s most beautiful yet fragile coastlines. In Lesbos, environmental conservation met humanitarian aid as more than one refugee boat arrived on the shores. His efforts transformed coastal cleanups into missions of social responsibility, providing listeners with a unique look at how travel, environmental action, and human compassion intersect.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Coastal trash due to the refugee crisis on Lesbos: What happened to the stranded refugee boats, how to recycle all the ocean waste after this humanitarian crisis
• Microplastic and beach cleanup efforts: The growing issue of plastic pollution on coastlines and how it affects marine life.
• Coastal cleanup do's and don'ts: What to keep in mind before going on a beach cleanup, what to avoid
• Ocean cleanup: How to clean the ocean with a team of free divers and ships, how to manage waste found in the ocean
• "One Beach at a Time" NGO: Daniel’s mission and how his organization combines ocean conservation with social responsibility.

Whether you’re passionate about ocean cleanup, curious about the intersection of travel and sustainability, or interested in the refugee crisis, this episode offers powerful stories and insights that will inspire you to make a difference.

Connect with Angelis;
onebeachatatime.org
instagram.com/angelis.daniel

Where is your trash traveling (plastic tracker)?
theoceancleanup.com/plastic-tracker

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How can we visit Portugal in a more sustainable way? Today's guest is the portages Marta Domingues, a founder of eco-projects and a biodiversity activist.

Marta explains the problems she faces on a daily basis living in Portugal. Over tourism caused her not to visit Lisbon anymore, taking the bus can take a long time, visiting beautiful beaches with her kids became a 3-hour-queue experience by car... But all of those negatives make room for positive solutions.

How can we do eco travel in Portugal? Take the bicycle, visit locals, support communities, find small businesses to do your activities.. Marta shares very valuable information on how to find these activities and inspires you thanks to a great amount of examples.

You'll get inspired, listen to stories and get lots of useful tips!

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Background of Marta Domingues
• Public transport in Portugal
• Portuguese intercity busses vs trains
• Impact of over tourism on housing prices in Portugal
• How to find sustainable travel alternatives
• How to find great activities via Facebook, TripAdvisor and Google Maps
• What's the impact of expats on Portugal
• ...

Connect with Marta?
Instagram: @florestadaslebres

Complaints / Suggestions about Portugal:
visitportugal.com/en/contact
livroamarelo.gov.pt/en/

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Many tourists prefer fun facts and experiences over the heavy truths of wildlife conservation, leading to a tourism model that often neglects the needs of the animals and the environment.

What are green flags and red flags of wildlife safaris? Where is a volunteer's money actually going? ...

Margarita Samsonova, an unconventional GREENfluencer and the founder of Behind The Greens media, explains the big differences between fancy safaris and real conservation efforts. She shares how luxury safaris often care more about tourists than animals, leading to poor treatment of wildlife. Margarita's love for animals and nature pushes her to support eco-friendly travel and reveal the true impact of these trips on the environment and local people.

We discuss the importance of transparency in where your money goes and the red flags to watch out for, such as companies promoting selfies with animals or overemphasizing the "big five" sightings. Learn about the green flags that indicate a positive impact, like eco-friendly practices and community involvement.

You'll get inspired, listen to stories about wildlife conservation camps, stories of beautiful interactions and of bad examples of safaris, laugh and get chills.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Greenfluencing and its role in promoting eco-friendly travel
• Differentiating between wildlife experiences and safaris
• The impact of safari tourism on wildlife and ecosystems
• Challenges faced by local communities and wildlife due to safari tourism
• The difficulty in balancing conservation efforts with the desire for entertainment and profit.
• The impact of social media on travel and environmental awareness
• The importance of authenticity and transparency in travel content creation
• The challenges of balancing tourism with wildlife conservation
• Criteria for choosing responsible and ethical wildlife tourism experiences.
• How different types of tourism (safaris, conservation parks) operate and generate revenue.
• The illegal trade of wildlife parts and its devastating effects on animal populations.
• The rise of voluntourism and its impact on wildlife tourism.
• The impact of the covid pandemic on travel trends
• The importance of research and education in responsible tourism
• The concept of the "Big Five" and its implications
• The role of local communities in wildlife conservation

Connect with Margarita Samsonova?
Instagram: @margreen_s
Website: www.behindthegreens.co

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Suggestions for future guests? Dm me on @clarafrancken
Want to watch my videos? Go to YouTube.com/clarafrancken