Alien Places

Welcome to Alien Places!

For the Alien Places podcast, click the Spotify icon or scroll to the end of this page. 

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BOOK

Alien Places cover_ebook

The book, Alien Places: An Imagined World Tour with an Alien Visitor, is now available in paperback and eBook!

Alien Places paperback – Amazon

Alien Places eBook – Amazon

Listen to an independent review of the book here (minutes 1-9) or in this sound file:

 

ALIEN MUSIC PLAYLISTS

Please see the Music page of this website. 

ECO FASHION

Click the t-shirt to see the full Alien clothing range. All items are made from organic cotton, in factories powered by renewable energy:

www.atulsearth.teemill.com

Alien - White

 

ALIEN ACTIONS

Please see the Alien Actions page of this website.

 

VIDEOS

The four videos below explain more about why I use a hypothetical alien to help communicate environmental solutions:

 

 

 

 

APPLYING THE CONCEPT

We can apply the concept of thinking from an alien perspective to any environmental issue. For example, on 29 December 2019 I asked Chris Packham what an alien might think of HS2. Thinking in this way helps us to achieve clarity about solutions.

Atul and Chris - an Alien view of HS2

 

See the Alien Actions page of this website for more about practical applications of the alien perspective.

 

Q&A with Atul & Alien

This Q&A was filmed on 11 April 2020, replying to questions sent in from Year 5 at Stoborough Primary School in Dorset.

 

PODCAST

The Alien Places podcast is where I ask guests which three places they would show an alien visiting Earth, to give it a sense of the key issues facing human society.

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Any three places, any reasons.

The podcast interviews tend to be a blend of environment discussion, travel and biography of the guest. 

Which are your three Alien Places?

From 2020 Alien Places podcast guests can also choose three songs, three films and receive or make an alien head as part of Alien Actions. 

 

Alien Places 16: Steve Allain’s Alien

Published: 9 May 2020

The ‘Pop Punk Herpetologist’, Steve Allain, also a PhD student, tells me about his three Alien Places, his Alien Playlist and his Alien Film Nights:

  • Cambridge, UK. Song: Hey You. Film: The Theory of Everything.
  • Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. Song: Mountains. Film: Tropic Thunder.
  • Natural History Museum, UK. Song: Moonlight Sonata. Film: Night at the Museum.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Steve Allain

You can also watch the interview on Youtube:

Click here to listen to Steve’s Alien Playlist on Spotify!

 

Alien Places 15: Bella Lack’s Alien

Published: 12 April 2020

Youth conservationist and biodiversity campaigner, Bella Lack, also the Youth Director of Reserva, tells me about her three Alien Places, her Alien Playlist and her Alien Film Nights:

  • Paradise Lake, Kenya. Song: What A Wonderful World. Films: Tomorrow, 2040.
  • Kiribati. Song: In The Anthropocene. Film: Anote’s Ark.
  • Wet Market, Wuhan, China. Song: Society. Film: The Ghosts In Our Machine.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Bella Lack

You can also watch the interview on Youtube:

Click here to listen to Bella’s Alien Playlist on Spotify!

 

Alien Places 14: Lucy Lapwing’s Alien

Published: 12 April 2020

Wildlife and nature communicator, Lucy Hodson, known on social media as Lucy Lapwing, tells me about her three Alien Places, her Alien Playlist and her Alien Film Nights:

  • British natural habitat. Song: Let Nature Sing. Film: Into The Wild.
  • Average British garden. Song: Colours Of The Wind. Film: Captain Fantastic.
  • New build housing estate. Song: Big Yellow Taxi. Film: FernGully.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Lucy

You can also watch the interview on Youtube:

Click here to listen to Lucy’s Alien Playlist on Spotify!

 

Alien Places 13: Megan McCubbin’s Alien

Published: 12 April 2020

Zoologist, presenter and campaigner Megan McCubbin, co-founder of Wildlife Rebellion tells me about her three Alien Places, her Alien Playlist and her Alien Film Nights:

  • Natural History Museum, London. Song: Circle of Life. Film: Racing Extinction.
  • Refugee Camp, Calais. Song: For Someone. Film: Human Flow.
  • Home, Southampton. Song: Friday I’m In Love. Film: E.T.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Megan

You can also watch the interview on Youtube:

Click here to listen to Megan’s Alien Playlist on Spotify!

 

Alien Places 12: Nick Crane’s Alien

Published: 10 February 2019

Geographer, author and broadcaster Nicholas Crane, presenter of BBC television series such as Coast, Map Man and Town, tells me about his Alien Places:

  • European Mountain Range: Physical Geography, Alien Passport Control.
  • Norfolk Broads: Alien Kayaking, Alien Deal, Tranquillity.
  • Hindu Kush Mountains: Natural Beauty, War, United Nations.

A short introduction to the guest, appropriately filmed at the coast:

Please click the sound file below to hear the full podcast:

Nick with Alien

 

Alien Places 11: Dan Sansom’s Alien

Published 22 April 2018

Second year Wildlife, Education and Media student at Cornwall College, Dan Sansom, tells me about his Alien Places:

  • Shark Fin Rock, Cornwall: Childhood, Fun, Danger.
  • Striding Edge, Lake District: Challenge, Risk, Safety.
  • Kruger National Park, South Africa: Nature, Rhinos, Ivory Trade.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Dan Sansom Photo

 

Alien Places 10: Patrick Kendrew’s Alien

Published: 21 April 2018

Second year Wildlife, Education and Media student at Cornwall College, Patrick Kendrew, tells me about his Alien Places:

  • New York, USA: Alien Photo Tour! Concrete, Interaction.
  • North Devon, England: Woodland, Pace, Biodiversity.
  • Iceland: Earth in Action, Geysers, Magma.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Patrick Kendrew Photo

 

Alien Places 9: Sammy Brisden and Lucy Tadman-Troup’s Alien

Published: 2 April 2018

Second year Wildlife, Education and Media students at Cornwall College, Sammy Brisden and Lucy Tadman-Troup, tell me about their Alien Places:

  • Ghandruk, Nepal: Butterflies, Leopards, Solar, Alien Time!
  • Naankuse, Namibia: Open Spaces, Harmony with Nature, Speaking in Baboon!
  • Newquay, England: Surfing, Ocean, Deep Sea Exploration.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Sammy and Lucy

 

Alien Places 8: Jason Birt’s Alien

Published: 1 April 2018

Programme Manager of the Wildlife, Education and Media course at the Centre for Applied Zoology at Cornwall College, Jason Birt, tells me about his Alien Places:

  • Apo Island, Philippines: Set-Aside, Vested Interests.
  • Otago Peninsula, Southern New Zealand: Penguins! Charismatic Species.
  • Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall: Alien Canoeing! Childhood, Education, Exploration.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Jason Birt

 

 

Alien Places 7: Abigail Maiden’s Alien

Published: 31 March 2018

Final year Applied Zoology and Conservation student Abigail Maiden tells me about her Alien Places:

  • Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland: Humans and Nature in Balance.
  • Algonquin Park, Ontario, Eastern Canada: Elements for Life, Champagne Rain!
  • Serengeti, Tanzania: Endangered Animals, Hunting, Owls.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Abigail Maiden

 

Alien Places 6: Nicola Morris’ Alien

Published: 31 March 2018

Co-ordinator of the Student Invasive Non-Native Group (SINNG) Nicola Morris tells me about her Alien Places:

  • Eastern Poland: Disruptive Technology, Happiness, Social Media.
  • South East Cornwall: Invasive Species, Stephen Hawking, Chocolate Aliens!
  • Bodmin Moor: Valuing Nature, Beast of Bodmin Moor! Wallabies.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Nicola Morris

 

 

Alien Places 5: Lizzie Daly’s Alien

Published: 11 January 2018

Wildlife biologist and broadcaster Lizzie Daly tells me about her Alien Places:

  • Patagonia, Argentina: Wildlife and Hunting.
  • Wales, UK: Snowdon Lily, Niche Adaptations, Progression of Human Knowledge.
  • Ocean: Perceptions of Food Chains, Anglerfish,  Invention of Plastic.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Lizzie Photo 1

 

 

Alien Places 4: Adam Clark’s Alien

Published: 6 November 2017

Adam Clark from Clean Energy UK tells me about his Alien Places:

  • New Forest, Southern England: Howling Wolves!
  • Hengistbury Head Beach, Bournemouth: Planet Naming Error! Beach Cleaning.
  • Paris, France: Pros and Cons of Cities.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Adam's Alien 2

 

 

Alien Places 3: Abi Thommes’ Alien

Published: 31 October 2017

Abi Thommes from Arts2Educate tells me about her Alien Places:

  • Piccadilly Circus, London: Population, Connection, Anonymity.
  • Lulworth Cove, Dorset: Human Decision Making.
  • Primary School, Year 4 (8-9 year olds):  Interaction, Music, Teaching Basics.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Abi's Alien - Photo with Begu

 

 

Alien Places 2: James Fair’s Alien

Published: 18 June 2017

James Fair, Programme Leader for the BA Film Programme at Bournemouth University, tells me about his Alien Places:

  • Birmingham, England: Transport Hubs, Evolution of Cities, Non-Places!
  • Chamonix, French Alps: Climate Change, Fake Snow, Self-Harm.
  • Ubari Lakes, Libya: Moving Dunes, Oases, Water Wars.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

James - Ubari Lakes

 

 

Alien Places 1: Amy Williams’ Alien

Published: 18 June 2017

Amy Williams from Eyes on Environment tells me about her Alien Places:

  • New Delhi, India: Inequality, Population Conundrum, Air Pollution.
  • Arctic: Plastic Pollution, Bioaccumulation and Human Health, Climate Change.
  • Costa Rica: Renewables, Biodiversity, Eco-Tourism.

Please click the sound file below to hear the podcast:

Amy Williams

 

Where would you show your Alien?

Email me at: alien@atulsearth.co.uk

Twitter: @atulsearth

Instagram: @atulsearth_

 

 

Atul with Alien