SustainaPod is a youth-led sustainability initiative founded in 2020. Co-founder Belinda Ng, then a university student, realised sustainability careers were diverse and multidisciplinary. Inspired to empower other youth, she launched SustainaPod with co-founder Arwen. The founding team grew with Paco Wu as Head of Operations. 

Our student-led community empowers high-school and university students to engage directly with leading sustainability change-makers. Through events, workshops, and social media, we create dialogue between young people and industry, offering skills, training, and leadership opportunities that prepare them for green careers. 

Our mission is to:

• Educate students on sustainability and provide them with opportunities to pursue meaningful and fulfilling careers

• Empower students to be curious, lifelong learners who take action for their own local communities through the power of dialogue

• Inspire students with insightful sustainability-related career advice through intergenerational dialogue.

SustainaPod is currently in an early stage. The team is in the process of fundraising and formalising as a UK Community Interest Company (CIC). Despite this early stage, the podcast and its associated activities have gained notable traction. By 2023 it ranked among the top 25% of most-listened podcasts on Spotify. We have held over 70 interviews, with guests including: 

• Her Excellency Karen-Mae C. Hill, OBE Antigua and Barbuda High Commissioner

• Dr Elizabeth Marlow, the Vice President of the Institution of Structural Engineering 

• Laurel Chor - Emmy-nominated filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer

• Anthony Dixon  - Founder and Chairman of The Alliance for Sustainable Schools (TASS)

SustainaPod has also organised offline initiatives: for example, in 2024–25 we co-hosted a nationwide student public-speaking competition called “Speaking for Tomorrow – The Health & Earth Challenge” at Imperial College London. In that event, around 18 teams of UK students presented sustainability-themed speeches. The event’s impact has been widely praised and recognised by participating schools. These milestones demonstrate growing community engagement and recognition, even before the official incorporation.

Looking ahead, SustainaPod aims to scale its youth-focused sustainability programs nationally and beyond. We aim to deepen our media and training offerings so that every interested student can gain green skills and career insights. Future plans include expanding the podcast series, organising regular panel talks and fireside chats, growing our public speaking and skills competitions, and creating a comprehensive guide to green careers on our website. The team envisions integrating these programs across campuses and youth networks, ultimately building a global network of young sustainability leaders. Through these efforts, SustainaPod seeks to have lasting societal impact by helping the next generation enter sustainability careers and drive climate action at all levels.

Looking for funding to support operations and program expansion. We are also interested in recruiting experienced advisors and new volunteer team members to strengthen content production and event coordination. Collaborations with schools, universities, and industry partners (for workshops or speaker sessions) are another priority. We'd love to work with corporations to understand what kind of talent and skillsets they're looking for, and help connect them to these aspiring professionals. Such partnerships would help provide mentorship and practical opportunities for SustainaPod’s student members.