Water scarcity is already one of the world’s biggest risks, so why do we treat long showers as inconsequential?

In the UK alone, we send more than two billion litres of shower water down the drain every day. Water scarcity is already one of the world’s top systemic risks, yet most solutions still focus on infrastructure and regulation. This week on Shaken Not Burned, we explore a different lever: human behaviour.

Felicia talks to Carly Hunt, head of strategic partnerships at Showerkap, about why everyday habits matter for water resilience, and how small, well-designed nudges can add up to real, system-level impact.

Showerkap combines smart engineering with behavioural science to gently prompt shorter showers. Instead of shaming or forcing change, the technology fades the temperature when a pre-set time is reached, mirroring the natural signal we already understand when hot water runs out. Behind the scenes, sensors track water, energy, and carbon use in real time.

Early pilots are striking. In a 20-room hotel trial near London, Showerkap helped cut guest water use by up to 58%, saving more than 200,000 litres in just three months, with no guest opting out. Similar trials are now underway at universities, where the focus is on empowering users rather than policing them.

Behavioural change isn’t trivial, especially when it’s designed to feel voluntary, visible, and meaningful. Carly explains how awareness in one context can “spill over” into others, shifting habits at home, at work, and beyond.

The episode also tackles some uncomfortable truths: most people dramatically underestimate how much water they use, showers often consume more water than baths, and water, energy, and carbon are inseparable – wasting one means wasting all three.

At a time when droughts, rising bills, and aging infrastructure are colliding, this conversation asks a quieter but powerful question: what if resilience starts with better design, rather than sacrifice?

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We are a podcast, but we have to admit: images can speak more than words. A powerful visual can tell a story, evoke sensations, and even inspire action. And isn’t that an essential tool in communicating about climate and sustainability?

Yet, for one reason or another, we resort to cliches: a polar bear on melting ice, a blue marble image, hands joining together over some greenery. Sure, they are cliches for a reason – but which are the alternatives, and how can they capture the attention of our audience?

In this week’s episode, Felicia interviews Dr. Rebecca Swift, SVP creative at Getty Images, to explore the fascinating world of visual communication. They discuss how iconic visuals shape public perception, the emotional connections brands can create through imagery, and the importance of authenticity and transparency in messaging.

Rebecca talks about how the advent of artificial intelligence risks eroding trust, how humour resonates across all ages, and provides tips on how to create imagery that is honest and free of cliches for corporates.

Imagery depicts reality, while simultaneously shaping our view of the world. For sustainability, this means providing an example of how change can look like, making us believe it will be possible.

Getty Images' "Visualizing Sustainability" report: http://reports.gettyimages.com/VisualGPS-Visualizing-Sustainability-Report.pdf

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PFAS, or forever chemicals, are one of the most urgent but misunderstood issues in environmental health.

This group of nearly 15,000 man-made substances are used to make many products more durable or waterproof, but they don’t break down. Instead, they accumulate in our water, our soil and even our bodies.

While we don’t yet have a full picture of their impacts, we know that they have been linked to health issues, such as increased risk of cancer and immune disorders. So, how do we deal with them?

This week, Felicia speaks to Anoosheh Oskouian, president, CEO and co-founder of Ship & Shore Environmental, a company that produces systems for industrial air pollution control.

They talk about the historical context of PFAS, how they end up being released in the atmosphere at the manufacturing level, and, most importantly, how this can be prevented. The conversation highlights the challenges in enforcing prevention measures, the need for global standards, and the future of PFAS management and awareness.

Awareness and education about the forever chemicals are essential for public health and safety. We need policymakers to tighten regulations because prevention is crucial, and also more cost-effective than remediation when it comes to our health.

Note: the inventor of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerant who added lead to gasoline, mentioned by Felicia, is Thomas Midgley Jr.

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