For Episode 16 I welcome Bella Collins to the breakfast table.  Bella heads up a company called Flexi-Hex, which is an industry leader in sustainable packaging based in Porthleven in West Cornwall. 

Flexi-Hex evolved when founders Will and Sam Boex – who are both surfers - were looking for a way to transport their boards without using plastic, or running the risk of damage.  They created the first Flexi-Hex product – a surfboard sleeve that fits like a wetsuit, uses zero plastic, and protects both their boards and the planet.

Fast forward four years and Flexi-Hex is a small but fast-growing business that has developed a range of beautifully designed packaging products made from paper, using their unique concertina-like glove that fits snuggly around fragile items from bottles to electronics, cosmetics, surf boards and more. By creating a paper product that’s recyclable, biodegradable and natural, they’re removing unnecessary plastic from the ocean, and as a company they state “Our love of the sea runs deep through our team. It’s why we take care in everything we do, from the way we run our business to the way our product is made.”

Although ‘packaging’ may not seem like a topic that’s likely to hold your attention, definitely tune in for this conversation – Bella not only shares how Flexi-Hex are making a positive impact for people (worth noting that they’ve recently become a B Corp), but there are also lots of useful take-aways for anyone involved with setting up a business that values human and environmental resources alongside the bottom line.

Bella also discusses her world-record-breaking rowing endeavours, and I found it fascinating hearing how she links the skills and mindset that she cultivated when rowing for weeks on end across oceans in often extremely challenging conditions, back to the workplace. 

Bella is engaging – she was listed by Forbes this year as one of their European 30 under 30; her story and that of Flexi-Hex is truly uplifting, and I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation just as much as I did.

For breakfast with Bella I prepared Blueberry and Lemon Overnight Oats followed by Tostada con Tomate (Tomatoes on Toast) which is a fantastic recipe for using locally grown tomatoes during high summer when we can often have a glut.  You can find the recipes along with more information about the themes we discuss via the Episode 16 web page.
 
Thank you for listening, I’d love to know your thoughts on today’s episode.  Do join the conversation, you can email me tia@botelet.com or message via Instagram @breakfast_and_beyond 

Please do subscribe to the podcast, and I’d be so grateful if you could rate and review this episode, then share it with people in your network who you know would enjoy listening.  Thank you so much, welcome to the breakfast table …

** Please note – this episode includes discussions on suicide that might be upsetting to some people ** 

For Episode 15 I was joined by two guests, Catherine Collin and Dean Harvey, both experts in the field of mental health in Cornwall.

You may be wondering, why an episode on mental health, in a podcast focused on sustainable living? 

‘Sustainability’ is often broken down into four interlinked areas: environmental, social, economic and political.  Mental health is a strand of ‘social sustainability’, pertaining to our health and wellbeing, our ability to lead happy, prosperous lives .. which in turn affects our economic prospects, our ability to play an active part in our communities, and it potentially affects our capacity to contribute to the environmental sustainability agenda.

The World Health Organisation states “there can be no health or sustainable development without mental health”.  Yet mental health – and illness – is a major issue that impacts all of us – whether directly, or through supporting someone within our social circle.  It’s estimated that 1 in every 8 people in the world live with a mental disorder (WHO).

This felt to me, therefore, like a topic that needs to be front and centre in any discussion of sustainable living, not least as it’s a theme that historically has stigma and shame attached to it, which only serves to heighten the problem.

Our conversation covers themes ranging from how we define mental health and mental illness, to the specific context within Cornwall; the extent to which stigma is still prevalent; how our mental health is affected by social inequalities and our unique life circumstances; and we also talk about suicide – an area in which both Dean and Catherine specialise – so I wanted to let you know that this episode includes discussions on suicide that might be upsetting to some people.

The insights that Catherine and Dean share are thoughtful, considered and compassionate, and given that all of us are, have been, or are likely to be, affected by mental health issues at some point in our lives, I hope that this conversation proves to be as valuable for you as it was for me.

Breakfast was Cornish-style continental, including an oat and buckwheat granola and gooseberry and pineapple weed muffins.  You can find the recipes along with more information about the themes we discuss via the Episode 15 web page.

Thank you for listening, I’d love to know your thoughts on today’s episode.  Do join the conversation, you can email me tia@botelet.com or message via Instagram @breakfast_and_beyond

Please do subscribe to the podcast, and I’d be so grateful if you could rate and review this episode, then share it with people in your network who you know would enjoy listening.  Thank you so much, welcome to the breakfast table …

Avril Greenaway is my guest for Episode 14 of Breakfast & Beyond. Avril is a designer, community activist and entrepreneur, working within the ocean advocacy space.  Based in Bude in North Cornwall, Avril’s design work, combined with a love for being in, on and by the sea, has taken her on a fascinating journey focused on raising awareness of, and finding solutions for, the microplastic pollution that is having such a devastating impact on our waterways and ecosystems.

Avril has been involved with the Cleaner Seas Project (a Bude-based community group) for 10 years, initially getting involved to create engaging campaigns to raise awareness of microplastic pollution but as you will hear, subsequently getting involved with everything from beach cleans to working with local businesses and hosting conferences.  More recently Avril has become a founding member of the Cleaner Seas Group, which was established with the intention of finding practical, scalable solutions for tackling microplastic pollution.  They are in the early and exciting stage of rolling out a microfibre filter for washing machines; did you know that approximately 91 million microfibres are released into our waterways through washing clothes by each household in the UK, each year? I didn’t until talking with Avril, and I hope you find this conversation as informative and engaging as I did.

For breakfast with Avril we began with Roasted Rhubarb Overnight Oats and our second course was Asparagus & Lemon Filo Parcels.  Both of these recipes along with the producers and growers whose delicious food I cooked with, and more information about the themes we discuss, can be found via the Episode 14 web page.

Thank you for listening, I’d love to know your thoughts on today’s episode.  Do join the conversation, you can email me tia@botelet.com or message via Instagram @breakfast_and_beyond

Please do subscribe to the podcast, and I’d be so grateful if you could rate and review this episode, then share it with people in your network who you know would enjoy listening.  Thank you so much, welcome to the breakfast table …

Today I welcome Jeffrey Robinson of The New Yard Restaurant and Pantry, based at beautiful Trelowarren Estate in West Cornwall.  Jeff and his wife Caroline took on management of The New Yard Restaurant just over two years ago, seeking to create an exceptional dining experience founded on principles of sustainability.  In 2021, they were awarded a Michelin Green Star; a coveted accolade that recognises gastronomy and sustainability within the restaurant industry.

So .. when planning for this conversation with Jeff, I was expecting to delve into all things green cooking and eating, exploring the principles and practices that underlie the way they operate.  But what I wasn’t expecting, was the emphasis that they give to social considerations alongside this – namely their staff and team of people who bring the restaurant to life – which, as you’ll hear, is absolutely front and centre, alongside their eco credentials.  This is a conversation about people and planet .. and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

For breakfast with Jeff I prepared a Cornish continental-style spread, the cooked dish was ‘Smashed Purple Sprouting & Wild Garlic on Sourdough’ - inspired by veg garden and foraged ingredients that are available during the ‘hungry gap’. The table was also laid with locally baked bread, preserves and cheeses.  You can find the recipe along with details of local growers and suppliers whose produce I used, and more information about the themes we discuss, via the Episode 13 web page.

Thank you for listening, I’d love to know your thoughts on today’s episode.  Do join the conversation, you can email me tia@botelet.com or message via Instagram @breakfast_and_beyond

Please do subscribe to the podcast, and I’d be so grateful if you could rate and review this episode, then share it with friends and family who you know would enjoy listening - thank you so much! 

For Episode 12, I welcome to the breakfast table Marcus Alleyne, co-founder and Director of Communications for the charity Black Voices Cornwall.

Black Voices Cornwall was established in 2020 following the global rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and the charity exists to enable Cornwall to become an actively anti-racist County.  During our conversation we discuss why an anti-racist organisation is needed within a Cornish context; we deconstruct what being ‘anti-racist’ means in practice; how Black Voices Cornwall work to achieve their aims; along with Marcus sharing some of his own lived experiences and personal reflections.

This conversation felt so important, to shine a spotlight on the racism that exists within ourselves, our communities, our county, country and globally, which we need to confront – in ways that can feel uncomfortable – if we are to dismantle the racist scaffolding of our culture.

I prepared a Cornish continental style breakfast for Marcus, including a zingy Rhubarb, Beetroot and Lemon compote to top granola bowls; you can find the recipes along with details of producers and growers, and more information about the themes and resources we discuss, via the Episode 12 web page.

Thank you for listening, I’d love to know your thoughts on today’s episode.  Do join the conversation, you can email me tia@botelet.com or message via Instagram @breakfast_and_beyond

Please do subscribe to the podcast, and I’d be so grateful if you could rate and review this episode, then share it with friends and family who you know would enjoy listening - thank you so much!