Sustainabble

Author: Oliver Hayes and Dave Powell

Manufactured by: Sustainababble

Distribution year: 2019

Language: English

Episode: #154: Eating Insects

Episode guests: Oliver Hayes and Dave Powell

Podcast description

Sustainababble is a weekly podcast in English that addresses issues such as the environment, sustainability, and the climate crisis with humor and clarity. The two British hosts comment on current environmental events, alternating between serious reflections and paradoxical moments to make an often complex debate more accessible.

Each 30-40 minute episode offers a selection of news stories and interviews with experts, aiming to inform without burdening. It is designed for those who want to better understand environmental challenges without getting lost in despondency.

From 2015 to 2022, the podcast published more than 270 episodes, covering topics such as clean energy, deforestation, plastic pollution, environmental protests, bitcoin, neoliberalism, and even wildlife trivia.

With episode #274, “The End.” released on December 24, 2022, the series came to an end. In spite of this, Sustainababble remains a valuable archive for those seeking popular, straightforward environmental content that combines information and entertainment.

Episode Description.

In this episode we address the topic ofsustainable food, focusing on one of its most innovative but also most controversial proposals: the consumption of edible insects. In a world where natural resources are under increasing pressure and the meat industry is responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions,entomophagy-that is, human consumption of insects-is being touted by many experts as one of the most promising solutions for a more sustainable food future.

Indeed, insects are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, and their production requires far fewer resources than traditional livestock farming: less water, less land, fewer emissions. But how viable-and more importantly, acceptable-is this choice in Western societies, where cultural distaste is still a strong barrier?

Investigating this question are Oliver Hayes and Dave Powell, who test themselves in the podcast by sampling fried crickets and other entomophagus specialties. Together, they offer a light but informative tone, alternating moments of self-mockery with critical insights.

One of the central moments of the episode is a quiz on entomophagy, where surprising data are addressed: for example, that about 80 percent of countries around the world routinely consume insects. The conversation then develops through personal and cultural questions: “Would you feel comfortable eating insect cake in a restaurant?” or “Would you rather eat insects than farmed animals if it was better for the environment?”

Through these insights, the podcast builds a multifaceted analysis of the pros and cons of eating insects, exploring the topic from different perspectives: environmental, economic, cultural and sensory. What emerges is an episode full of curiosity, skepticism, and awareness, prompting us to rethink our eating habits with a view to a more sustainable food future.

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