29: I would DISCONNECT to RECONNECT: Tom Greenwood (Wholegrain Digital)

If I Ruled the World by Gillian Burke

Give us your feedback and tell us what you would do if you ruled the world!

In this episode, we delve into the seemingly shiny world of digital technology, only to discover that it may just be a facade on top of a more troubling reality. Tom Greenwood, co-founder of Wholegrain Digital, shares his insights on digital sustainability—a critical aspect of our modern life that's often overlooked. From his early disillusionment with eco-design to spearheading innovations in digital impact assessment, Tom's journey is not just about technological advancement but also a moral quest to reshape the digital landscape.

Episode Highlights

Unveiling Digital Impact: Tom discusses the lack of awareness in the digital industry about its environmental impact, comparable to the aviation industry, and the journey that led him to pioneer the first carbon calculator for websites.

Infrastructure Behind the Internet: The real structure of the internet is explained, breaking down the physical infrastructure from data centers to undersea cables that power our everyday digital interactions.

Challenges of Digital Poverty: Discussion shifts to digital poverty, addressing access issues, and the social and economic barriers that affect people globally, from the infrastructure to the skills necessary to navigate the digital world.

Myths of Digital Transactions: Tom tackles the myths and realities of digital transactions and their environmental impact compared to traditional methods, like physical cash versus digital currencies.

Systemic Changes for Sustainable Tech: The conversation turns to systemic changes needed within the digital and global economic framework to ensure technology serves humanity sustainably and ethically.

A final thank you to our wonderful sponsors Triodos Bank UK for making this podcast happen.

Mentions and Resources

• Wholegrain Digital
• About B Corp
• Digital Poverty.
• Website Carbon Calculator
• Apple TV Ad

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Connect with our guest:

• Tom Greenwood

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What would you do if you ruled the world?

If you have any insights or feedback on today’s episode or you have an idea for how the world could be a better place, drop me an email on [e-mail]

Credits:

Host: Gillian Burke

Production Company: Soundquake

Producer: Sam Hamilton-Turner

Editing: Jake-Lee Savage

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy