In support of this goal, we launched a podcast in 2019 focused on the themes of extractivisms and alternatives. Resource extraction impacts our daily lives and has helped push the climate to the brink, but there are people around the world living and fighting for alternative ways forward. Join hosts Christopher Chagnon and Sophia Hagolani-Albov and their guests for a discussion of the impacts of extractivisms, alternative ways forward, and stories from people living the struggle every day. Our guests are academics, artists, activists, and practioners. If you are someone interested in how our environment and societies have come to their current state or learning about transformative alternatives, this is the podcast for you. We have over 80 episodes in our back catalog and a new episode drops on the last Friday of each month.
The format is a semi-structured conversation between the hosts and the guests. A new conversation will be posted on the last Friday of every month. Listen to us on
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Hold this space 2026 episodes starting on the last Friday in January!
Christopher is a doctoral researcher in Global Development Studies at the University of Helsinki. His research focuses on data extractivism, social pollution, and emerging alternative approaches to technology, particularly in the context of Zambia. He is a core group member of the EXALT Initiative and, beyond data extractivism, is also interested in the ways different forms of extractivisms exacerbate and reinforce each other. He has lived in Finland since the autumn of 2018 and previously lived for many years in Italy, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and China. Beyond extractivisms, he has a strong background and interest in Africa-China relations and Chinese development engagement. He is really happy to get to talk with the diverse EXALT global community and share in their stories, experiences, and expertise through the podcast.
Sophia is in the final year of her doctorate in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. Her research addresses sense of place, locality, and food consumer geographic imaginaries. She has been living and working in Finland for the last 6 years. She is deeply interested in the concept of intellectual extractivism and engages with a slow scientific practice (think slow food, but science). Sophia is super excited to be involved with this podcast and looks forward to sharing our guests with the listeners.