In her Somerset home in Wiveliscombe, Nicky Saunter chats about her life as author, poet, mask maker and activist. On the table is a large mask of Frog, and in the kitchen are masks of Octopus, Beaver and Ant. She says, “You wear a mask at an outdoor event, and it frees you up. You become a more extreme version of yourself.” People also instantly smile, put on a mask, become a frog. Everyone’s immediately laughing.

What can go wrong? Nothing. They’re bomb proof.

Such street art closes gaps between humans and animals. Masks and tricksters are closely related. They cause agency. She tells of filming new river rituals with masks, becoming animals, and changing the world. “After all, transgressions are now needed.”

Nicky talks of beavers, having helped form the Beaver Trust: “People love beavers.”

Here hero is Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan pioneer of tree planting. And Peter Gabriel, for championing world music through WOMAD.

She recommends any book by Margaret Attwood.

And says, “Become a magpie. Choose things that are already working, and copy them.”

Especially, go for the joy!

My new book will be supporting this podcast, and will be published in March 2027 by Unbreaking/5m. It’s called "Bamboo and Butterfly: Transformation and Story for Climate and Nature Recovery."