Yes, we are well aware that the temperatures are rising in Kuwait. With every passing year, we find ourselves speaking more about how extreme the dust storms have become, questioning the severity of the summer heat, and witnessing the sheer violence of the flash floods that have become far more frequent. While we are no experts on climate change and how it is strictly affecting Kuwait and the region, we can still raise our voices to ask ‘why’, and in turn become more informed citizens to make more sustainable choices that will benefit generations to come. This is what Senior Environmental Specialist, Samia Alduaij of Sustainable Living Kuwait aims to tackle with a roster of talented locals in the new podcast, It’s Getting Hot In Here (@IGHH_kw). IGGH is hosted by Samia Alduaij, with the support of Brett Lyons of CEFAS, Creative Producer Krysia Derecki, and Technical Director Anees Baker.
In collaboration with the office of CEFAS at The British Embassy, the IGGH podcast is part of a greater initiative to shed light on how climate change is affecting Kuwait and the greater Gulf region. It has been almost five years since the first Paris Climate Change Agreement, and with the Climate Change Conference (COP26) coming up in November and set to take place in the UK, this podcast will also showcase what the Gulf region is doing to make a change for the better. Samia said, “As part of a great climate change outreach program, the podcast is timely because we are set to see what countries are going to present in terms of increased commitments to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. We are hoping to mobilize NGOs, policy makers and the public to make these changes happen with the IGGH podcast.” Brett Lyons added, “This project originated from a program of work I was involved in which I was looking at the environmental challenges climate change will pose to the Gulf, its environment and the people who live in this region. Scientists often struggle to make some of the more complicated information on this issue accessible to the general public and so developing this podcast really offered me the chance to do just this – make the facts accessible to everyone.”
With the IGGH podcast, Samia will take the listener on a journey around Kuwait to see how climate change is affecting the country and to discover what the Gulf region is doing to a make a change for the better. Interviews with guests on IGGH will include environmentalists, business owners, politicians and policy makers from all over the world. Brett further commented on why it is important to consider climate change through a local perspective, and with Samia’s knowledge, he believes that the podcast will allow listeners to “Meet a whole range of inspirational characters based here in Kuwait who are attempting to find solutions to address these issues.”
Series 1 of the IGHH podcast will consist of six episodes that will be released monthly starting from April, and each episode will run at around 20-25 minutes. Episode topics will tackle climate change from a general perspective, perfect for listeners who don’t necessarily possess the scientific background or knowledge about how waste systems are currently managed, water issues, consumer behavior, energy efficiency and climate conclusions. Samia is very attuned and accustomed to tackling these topics, as her expertise spans working with Kuwait’s Environmental Public Authority as part of the UNDP, and as an environmental consultant, she has tackled many projects in Kuwait and the region.
It is Samia’s deep passion for protecting the environment which enables her to speak on science-heavy topics with such ease. She confidently stated that it is doable, “Simplifying the message as much as possible and connecting it to something people care about is key. For instance, in Kuwait, people care about the marine environment because fishing is an important part of our food security. I can sit and lecture people about how plastic doesn’t break down in the sea, but impactful and usually upsetting images will do the trick. Another great relatable example is the recent popularity of Kashtas last winter and littering. I have never seen the media more focused on littering, which is great, as we need more attention drawn to these issues.”
She has been a long fan of podcasts herself, so when she was approached for IGHH, Samia jumped on the opportunity. She said, “I have a list of shows that I listen to regularly, both locally and internationally. So, when the idea for IGHH came I just jumped on the opportunity to host a podcast on a subject matter close to my heart with a really cool team. I’m an environmental specialist by profession and normally deal with more technical aspects but this is a great opportunity to get the message across in a more informal and fun way about the importance of climate change and what we can all do to reduce our impact on the planet.
We talked to experts, activists and entrepreneurs who are all doing their bit to steer Kuwait towards a more sustainable future. Listeners will get to hear about some great local initiatives and solutions out there which will remind them of the pioneering spirit of Kuwait!”
We asked the avid environmentalist what amused her the most about the entire podcasting process, and she laughingly told us about the trials and tribulations of intonations, and how this translates across. She also loves the process of interviewing people for a change, as she is the one who is usually approached to speak on climate change by the media.
Given the technical difficulties posed by the pandemic, the team behind IGHH are being flexible, producing episodes on the move and aim to bring an authentic approach to listeners. No stranger to the podcasting world is the talented creative producer Krysia Derecki, who had previously successfully produced and launched At My Kuwaiti Table, which featured vivid conversations with myriad local women from Kuwait around Krysia’s dinner table. She is delighted to leverage her experience for the IGHH podcast, “I am really enjoying working on this new podcast IGHH with Brett and Samia, it is great to be back recording and getting the opportunity to make a show about the importance of the environment and how we can all bring about meaningful change, and I am reuniting with sound recordist and editor Anees again – we previously worked together on At My Kuwaiti Table podcast.” Krysia also cited Samia’s podcasting abilities as extremely natural, “She really carries the message of the show and makes it accessible to all.”
With his expertise as technical director for Radio Kuwait International Station, Anees Baker was also excited to test his creative boundaries with the IGHH podcast. He said, “We go to different locations and I get to record our host interviewing prominent people and at the same time learning much more things about the environment in Kuwait. I am really enjoying working with the new team Brett and Samia and so happy to be back working with Krysia after our first podcast together.” Krysia further added, “We are exploring new techniques for this podcast to enhance the audio experience for the listener. We record the majority of interviews on location and therefore pick up the real-time noises as they occur and thus produce a more authentic podcast.”
We can’t wait to tune in, and check out the IGHH’s team latest episodes! For more information, make sure you follow @Ighh_kw on Instagram. Look out for episode one that will be released this April.
