Best FFIS Podcasts (2025)

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Greenhushing, Communication, and Stakeholder Engagement for Endowments with Lane Jost 50:06

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8d ago50:06

50:06

Greenhushing, Communication, and Stakeholder Engagement for Endowments with Lane Jost In this crossover episode of The Future of Finance and Beyond Carbon, hosts Georges Dyer and Chris Ito sit down with Lane Jost, Head of Sustainability & Governance Advisory at Edelman Smithfield, for a candid conversation about the evolving ESG and sustainable inv…

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Covering the Croft and Common 39:19

2M ago39:19

39:19

Insurance for Crofters and Common Grazings. Welcome back to Crofting Matters! In this episode, Siobhan is joined by Jonathan Hogg, a rural insurance expert from NFU Mutual’s Dingwall branch. Johnny has an agricultural background, works in a crofting area and understands the issues that crofters and grazing committees face with access, theft and wea…

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Starting up in Crofting 36:47

3M ago36:47

36:47

Welcome back to Crofting Matters. On today’s episode, Siobhan is joined by Graham Fraser (SAC Lerwick) to discuss an often asked question – how to start up a croft, smallholding or farming business. The Farm Advisory Service has an Advice Line – free to call or email for advice. Every year the team receives lots of questions about starting up a far…

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Breaking the Grass Ceiling - Women in Crofting 19:16

4M ago19:16

19:16

Please note: We recorded this episode while out at an event, therefore the audio quality varies throughout. Interviewees: Prof Sally Shorthall Karis Beattie Haley Shepherd The Grass Ceiling is an EU-funded project that helps rural women become leaders in innovation—especially in farming and sustainable rural development. It runs from 2023 to 2025 a…

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Croft Diversification - New Enterprises in Uist 49:12

5M ago49:12

49:12

Thinking of diversification projects on the croft? Hear from two entrepreneurs who have set up shops, campsites and tours in Uist, and are managing to bring in tourists and have a healthy footfall. They discuss the issues with funding on croftland, ferries, finishing animals, abattoirs, Instagram posts, Scottish Agritourism, and Enterprise agency s…

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FFIS, CAGS, WFP and Greening for Crofting 38:21

6M ago38:21

38:21

The Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) grant scheme is a new scheme in 2025, allowing crofters and farmers to invest to improve business efficiency, nature and climate friendly farming. The FFIS offers flexible capital grants to support investments with tiered levels of funding available. There are other changes affecting crofters, such as a s…

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Changes to Improve Welfare of Lambs 26:18

7M ago26:18

26:18

A game changer for sheep on hill grazings? It’s very tricky to castrate and tail lambs within 7 days unless lambs are born inbye. Could two new techniques, that allow castration and tailing up to 3 months of age, not only reduce pain levels in lambs, but allow better and easier management on commons and hills? The all-important intake of colostrum …

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Kathleen Simpson and Brad Harrison: Scaling Impact at The Russell Family Foundation 35:40

1y ago35:40

35:40

Kathleen Simpson and Brad Harrison: Scaling Impact at The Russell Family Foundation In this episode, hosts Chris Ito and Georges Dyer engage with Kathleen Simpson, CEO of The Russell Family Foundation (TRFF), and Brad Harrison of AlTi Tiedemann Global, TRFF's investment advisor, to explore the intersection of mission-driven investing, shareholder e…

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Matchmaking New and Retiring Crofters (Updated) 38:30

1y ago38:30

38:30

Many aspire to having and working a croft, however crofts are difficult to obtain, at least in the more productive and scenic areas. At the same time, retiring crofters sometimes find it hard to give up their business, their source of income and home. The Scottish Land Matching Service is designed to help aspiring new producers, whether crofters or…

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Subsidy and Support Changes for Crofting 39:35

1+ y ago39:35

39:35

Support is changing, and although not all details are clear, crofters claiming subsidy need to have specific items and plans in place by next spring. Listen in to hear the essential information you need for next year’s Basic Payment Scheme claim. We simplify one aspect of the new system, which is called the Whole Farm Plan. The WFP is actually made…

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Livestock Disease Risks on Crofts 47:44

1+ y ago47:44

47:44

Disease risk in livestock, and biosecurity is something we perhaps don’t consider as much in crofting areas as farmers might in more intensive systems. Crofting tends to be more extensive, with lower densities of stock, but we often share bulls, and graze on common ground. In this episode I’m joined by Kythe MacKenzie, who is a vet with SRUC, and K…

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Routes to Crofting 41:13

1+ y ago41:13

41:13

This episode hears from 2 crofters with two different routes into crofting. In this episode we discuss how they gained their croft, what they found were barriers, and hints and tips for aspiring or new crofters. I’m delighted to be joined by Derek Dick, who is a relatively new crofter in Berneray, and Angus Ferguson, who is an experienced crofter i…

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Lessons from Ireland 39:48

1+ y ago39:48

39:48

In this episode we look at what we can learn from the Irish system, where farms are similar to our crofts. A group of crofters are just home from a study tour to Ireland, and we hear from Derek Jamieson who crofts in Unst, Shetland, what he took from this exchange of knowledge. We also hear from Keith Fahy, advisor with Teagasc, explaining the Iris…

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Will Attenborough and Leila Mimmack: Celebrity Activism Meets Climate Finance 43:12

1+ y ago43:12

43:12

Will Attenborough and Leila Mimmack: Celebrity Activism Meets Climate Finance In this episode, hosts Georges Dyer and Chris Ito are joined by British actors Will Attenborough and Leila Mimmack to share their journey from the world of acting to leading impactful climate campaigns, leveraging their public platforms to drive change in sustainability a…

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Crofting Commission Chief Executive 40:38

1+ y ago40:38

40:38

Gary Campbell is our guest this week. Gary is the new Chief Executive of the Crofting Commission, having just started his role in January this year. With a background working in both the public and private sectors he talks us through his previous roles, his own family crofting story, what he is planning to achieve in his new CE role and his vision …

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Heather Beatty: Avoided Emissions and Public Markets Climate Solutions 39:16

1+ y ago39:16

39:16

Heather Beatty: Avoided Emissions and Public Markets Climate Solutions Join hosts Chris Ito and Georges Dyer as they sit down with Heather Beatty, the CEO of ScopeFour Capital, for an insightful discussion on climate solutions in public equity markets. Heather Beatty shares her journey in sustainable investing, her vision for ScopeFour Capital and …

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Jeff Gitterman: Pragmatism over Polarization in Long-Term Investing 48:13

1+ y ago48:13

48:13

Jeff Gitterman: Pragmatism over Polarization in Long-Term Investing Sustainable investing veteran, Jeff Gitterman, joins hosts Chris and Georges to discuss bridging divides in ESG investing and climate change debates. Gitterman advocates pragmatism - finding common ground between proponents and skeptics. Key highlights include investment opportunit…

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Presidio Student Insights: A Winning Pitch from the Next Generation of Sustainable Investors 38:17

2y ago38:17

38:17

Presidio Student Insights: A Winning Pitch from the Next Generation of Sustainable Investors In this episode, hosts Chris Ito and Georges Dyer engage in a captivating conversation with a trio of students from Presidio Graduate School, who were members of the team that emerged victorious in the IEN's 2023 Student Corporate Engagement Challenge in th…

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Ian Fuller: Unlocking Diversity for Alpha and Impact Investing 39:05

2y ago39:05

39:05

Ian Fuller: Unlocking Diversity for Alpha and Impact Investing This episode features Ian Fuller, CEO and Co-Founder of Westfuller Advisors, a minority and women-owned investment advisory firm and Outsourced CIO dedicated to impact investing. Georges and Chris talk with Ian about his personal journey from New York’s Lower East Side to Wall Street as…

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Common Grazing Finances: Common Issues 39:47

2y ago39:47

39:47

We are at Dornie hall, talking to clerks and committee members about the issues they face when trying to run the common grazing, especially when it comes to finances. Firstly, we talk with Finlay Beaton from the Crofting Commission, about the problems that they deal with and the solutions for clerks. Finlay also has the advantage of having worked w…

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Subsidy Future & Current Schemes 31:28

2y ago31:28

31:28

Don’t miss out on the current schemes which boost income and improve animal and soil health! We discuss the PSF scheme, the future of subsidy, recent changes to the Croft House Grant and what we should all do now to prepare for the 2025 change. We cover: What the term ‘conditionality’ means PSF Animal Health & Welfare Eligibility How to carry out a…

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Succession 50:24

2+ y ago50:24

50:24

Crofting legislation is fairly complicated and its no different when it comes to succession! Brian Inkster, well-known crofting law specialist, takes us through different scenarios and highlights what to watch out for when it comes to passing on a croft. We cover: Terminology such as Executor, Testate and Intestate Wills and witness signatures Proc…

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Dr. Michael Greenstone: Decoding the social cost of carbon and the carbon offset market 35:24

2+ y ago35:24

35:24

Dr. Michael Greenstone: Decoding the social cost of carbon and the carbon offset market In this episode, Chris and Georges do a deep dive into the economic implications of carbon emissions with one of the world’s leading climate finance experts, Dr. Michael Greenstone. As a former chief economist for President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, …

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Elysabeth Alfano: Reaching Net Zero through Plant-based Innovation 43:31

2+ y ago43:31

43:31

Elysabeth Alfano: Reaching Net Zero through Plant-based Innovation In this episode, Georges and Chris delve into the world of plant-based foods and explore the potential of this burgeoning industry with Elysabeth Alfano, a renowned expert at investing in companies that innovate with plants to produce animal-free products for sustainable consumption…

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Tax & VAT for Crofters 43:56

2+ y ago43:56

43:56

It might not sound that interesting, but, especially these days, understanding what you can and should be doing with accounts and tax is important to save unnecessary expense and keep within the law. Margi Campbell, an expert in tax and vat, gives some insight into what crofters can do to improve their finances. It’s a confusing topic, but in this …

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Crofting Commission Online Applications 20:16

2+ y ago20:16

20:16

The Crofting Commission has recently started accepting online applications through their website for some of their crofting regulatory applications. In this episode, Siobhan Macdonald and Graham Fraser discuss which applications can now be completed online, how to go about completing them, what the benefits are of doing applications online over pap…

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Tom Soto: Diversity in Asset Management Meets Carbon Negative Investing 33:00

2+ y ago33:00

33:00

Tom Soto: Diversity in Asset Management Meets Carbon Negative Investing Georges and Chris talk with impact investor Tom Soto on his trajectory from civil rights activist to a leader in environmental technology and renewable energy, including his new fund strategy that enhances biomass plants using forest standing deadwood to create 24-hour dispatch…

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Spotlight on Methane: Satellite Technology and Emissions Detection with Mark Kriss 36:44

2+ y ago36:44

36:44

Spotlight on Methane: Satellite Technology and Emissions Detection with Mark Kriss Georges and Chris sit down with Geofinancial Analytics CEO Mark Kriss and take a birds eye view on detecting methane emissions from space, mapping those emissions to oil and gas asset owners and driving methane management accountability and reporting transparency. Gu…

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Obtaining a Croft 35:02

2+ y ago35:02

35:02

Getting a croft isn't easy, whether you are new to agriculture or have been working in crofting all your days. In this episode, Siobhan Macdonald and Graham Fraser discuss how to get a croft, types of tenure, what to be aware of and how to keep a croft.   We cover:  How much does a croft cost?  What is the difference between assignation of a tenanc…

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Jenna Nicholas: Climate Finance, Green 401(k)s & Community Empowerment 40:37

2+ y ago40:37

40:37

Georges and Chris have a wide-ranging discussion with impact investment trailblazer Jenna Nicholas, who takes us on her career journey through climate activism, community-informed impact investing and climate finance in 401(k) retirement plans. Guest Jenna Nicholas, CEO Impact Experience Background Jenna is a private equity investor and the CEO of …

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Brent Suter: Pitching for the Planet 31:08

3y ago31:08

31:08

Chris and Georges talk climate and curve balls with major league baseball player Brent Suter. The discussion centers around how athletes can use their platform to raise awareness of environmental issues. Guest Brent Suter, Colorado Rockies, LHP Background Brent Suter is starting his eight season in major league baseball and his first for the Colora…

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ESG and Sustainable Investing the Sun Devil Way 45:05

3y ago45:05

45:05

Chris and Georges talk with Arizona State University CIO Jeff Mindlin about the journey to align investment practices with the sustainability goals and commitments of a large public university. Guest Jeff Mindlin, Chief Investment Officer of ASU Enterprise Partners Background Arizona State University is known globally for its leadership in sustaina…

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Endowments and Investor Responsibility: UVIMCO’s Journey 26:05

3y ago26:05

26:05

Chris and George talk with UVIMCO’s Cornelia Horner for insights on how one of the largest and most well-respected endowment managers committed to and is implementing a responsible investment strategy. Guest Cornelia Horner, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Communications Lead at the University of Virginia Investment Management Company (UVIMCO…

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Taking Inventory: The State of Sustainable Investing 27:44

3y ago27:44

27:44

In their inaugural Beyond Carbon episode, Georges Dyer (Intentional Endowments Network) and Chris Ito (FFI Solutions) reflect on COP27 and discuss what makes them hopeful, and skeptical, about the future of sustainable investing. They also provide a preview of future episodes. Highlights include news and activities across the investment landscape t…

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Selling Stock 22:59

3y ago22:59

22:59

Selling livestock this autumn and winter? We have some wise words from Sarah Balfour on what to think about and how to navigate the auction mart system. This is the time of year for sales of breeding and store cattle and sheep. Sarah and Siobhan discuss the current beef and sheep markets and tips on presentation. Siobhan also speaks to John William…

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Buying Stock 27:42

3y ago27:42

27:42

If you are a new crofter, or new to buying livestock, we have some wise words from Sarah Balfour on what to think about and how to navigate the auction mart system. This is the time of year for sales of breeding cattle and sheep. Sarah and Siobhan discuss disease risk, how to bid, different terms used, buying in guineas, how the auction mart works,…

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Selecting Breeding Replacements in the Suckler Herd 13:38

3+ y ago13:38

13:38

No matter the size of your herd, choosing the correct suckler replacements is important to ensure yearly, trouble free calvings and avoid nights spent calving or coaxing calves that refuse to suckle! Or worse, pets!By Farm Advisory Service

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Crofting Regulation 24:33

3+ y ago24:33

24:33

Crofting regulation, which covers what you can do with your croft land and how, is a tricky subject, full of acronyms and references to various Acts of Parliament. For most crofters, the day-to-day croft work is unaffected by legislation. It’s often only when crofts change that attention to the legislation is needed. In this podcast, we discuss som…

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Grazing Management 29:27

3+ y ago29:27

29:27

Growing Grass How can we make the best use of our grassland?  What is the difference between rotational, mob, deferred and set stocking?  What are the benefits of liming? For many crofters, low soil pH and rushes reduce the productivity of grassland.  In this episode, Poppy Frater discusses how to control rushes, increase growth of better grasses, …

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Bull Management 18:24

3+ y ago18:24

18:24

With many Crofters across Scotland currently putting their bulls out, it is a good time to consider your current bull management practices. From pre-breeding examinations and diet, to the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme, Crofting Matters discusses key points for Crofters to be thinking about with Sarah Balfour. Sarah works out of the SAC Elgin o…