Johnathon Miller-McCall, Science communicator, conservationist and nature nerd

Johnathon Miller-McCall, Science communicator, conservationist and nature nerd

Author: Host Sandra F July 12, 2025 Duration: 33:30

Johnathon Miller-McCall grew up in South London, seemingly an unpromising location for wildlife observation and a career as a conservationist, science communicator and storyteller.


Yet, Johnathon reveals, there are more than 14,000 species in the city, and it’s one of the world’s largest urban forests – you just need to know where to look.


Now Johnathan wears three hats, working as a comms and engagement officer for Synchronicity Earth, as a presenter and content executive for Earth Minutes and creating content for his own feeds.


So how does a shy boy go from keeping his (slightly uncool) interests to himself at school to finding a course that suits his knowledge and satisfying his calling to spread a love of nature, especially when there was little guidance at school and nobody like him on television?


Johnathon explains how he forged his own career path as a nature nerd, rather than in finance, how he found a community at London Wildlife Trust (LWT) and what keeps him resilient.


Mentioned in this podcast


Synchronicity Earth


Earth Minutes


Natural History Museum Generation Hope


Mayor of London Sadiq Khan – 10 year water clean-up plan


London Wildlife Trust

Flock Together


Johnathon Miller-McCall Linktree (J Talks Nature)


Hamza Yassin Photography



You might also like to listen to:

Sarah Kessell, CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 E5

Stuart Mabbutt, Wildman environmental learning S3 E3

Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager, Earthwatch Europe S4 E4


About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.


Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell 

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Expect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Host Sandra F guides ProGRESS, a podcast built on conversations with people who have chosen to align their work with their principles. This isn't about generic career advice; it's a deep dive into the daily realities of building a life in green, ethical, and socially responsible fields. Each episode features a direct, unscripted talk with someone navigating this landscape-from sustainability consultants and environmental researchers to ethical entrepreneurs and conservationists. You'll also hear from voices shaping our world in less expected ways, including city planners, campaigners, architects, and even a philosopher or a comedian, all offering their unique perspective on what it means to work with purpose. The discussions are grounded in personal experience, covering the challenges, breakthroughs, and practical insights gained from their eclectic paths. Listening to this podcast feels like pulling up a chair to a candid coffee chat with someone who's actively building a career that matters to them, offering genuine inspiration and actionable understanding for anyone curious about where their own skills and values might intersect.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 56

ProGRESS
Podcast Episodes
Connor Cashell, Campaigns officer, Cycling UK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:27
Connor Cashell combines his socially responsible and ethical values with a push for sustainability and a job campaigning for Cycling UK.After university Connor worked in Belgium where he facilitated meetings between Euro…
Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley, Scientist, entrepreneur and Reiki Master [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:53
There's no doubt that Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley's scientific career has been one of purpose. A medical molecular microbiologist, she’s researched tuberculosis (TB), listeria and cancer, working with Glaxo Wellcome, the…
Matthew Payne, Catalyst at Healthtech-1, NHS Youth Board member [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:39
Still in his early twenties Matthew Payne parked his career plans and degree course to work for a tech start-up to try, as he puts it, to fix the National Health Service. Matthew was due to finish his final undergraduate…
Stuart Goldsmith, Climate comedian and podcaster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:16
What’s funny about climate change, you might think if you spot comedian Stuart Goldsmith’s job title.The answer is, of course, nothing, but after a long and successful career as a performer and stand-up comedian Stuart f…
Duncan Goose, CEO and founder of One Water. One year on... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:33
Duncan Goose, the founder of Global Ethics and the brand One Water, returned to ProGRESS to talk about what has happened in the 12 months since we last spoke, including why he undertook a round Britain road trip to echo…
Rae Wilkinson, Award-winning garden designer. One year on... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:58
In this wide-reaching discussion, ProGRESS's first-ever guest Rae Wilkinson rejoins the podcast to tell Sandra more about her career as an award-winning sustainable landscape and garden designer. Recording from her studi…
Maddie Booth, Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:43
Sustainability consultant and environmental educator Maddie Booth started her first enterprise while at the University of Warwick, where she was studying for a Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in global sustainable de…
Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:18
An absolute livewire, Divya Kumar is a community engagement manager for Earthwatch Europe, responsible for overseeing Tiny Forests around the UK. She aims to hit the 300 mark by the end of 2025 and now describes herself…