BAJ Podcast

Fragments of the Antarctic

Inspiration often comes from the world around us. But what if your context is the Antarctic, one of the most remote and fragile ecosystems on Earth? In this episode of the BAJ Podcast, Sofie Boons speaks with Dr Katrin Linse, marine biologist with the British Antarctic Survey and jewellery maker whose work bridges science, art, and responsibility. Katrin shares how her experiences studying ocean biodiversity informs her creative practice, and how jewellery can be a catalyst for awareness and change. Together, they explore the pressing threats to our oceans and the power of multidisciplinary approaches to tackle global challenges. Listen in to a conversation that invites reflection on our relationship with nature and shows how creativity can inspire stewardship, even from the farthest reaches of the planet.

Applied Sustainability with Anna McLoughlin

In this episode, Sofie speaks with Anna McLoughlin, a jewellery designer and maker who creates sculptural, ethical pieces from her off-grid Eco Studio.

With a background in teaching and a deep respect for traditional craftsmanship, Anna’s practice is grounded in sustainability, storytelling, and the visible mark of the maker’s hand. Her jewellery, described as miniature wearable sculptures, often incorporates heirloom materials and is crafted using low-impact, hand-powered techniques. 

As a certified B Corp, Anna is dedicated to transparency and ethical sourcing, proving that beauty and responsibility can coexist.

Together, Sofie and Anna explore the meaning of integrity in contemporary jewellery, the quiet power of making by hand, and how creativity can nurture both people and planet.

Tune in for practical tips and a thoughtful conversation with Anna, whose jewellery tells stories, honors the planet, and inspires meaningful change. 

Living Gold with Simone Van Den Broek

In this episode, Sofie speaks with Simone Van Den Broek, a lecturer and researcher whose pioneering work explores the potential of mycelium, a living organism more commonly associated with fungi, as a material for jewellery. Through her project Living Gold, Simone challenges conventional notions of luxury and permanence, inviting us to imagine a future where materials are grown.

 

Together, they discuss Simone’s interdisciplinary background, her role within the Situated Art, Design and Technology research group at Avans University of Applied Sciences, and the mindset shift required to collaborate with living materials. From the benefits of bio-based design to the importance of storytelling in sustainable practice, this conversation offers a compelling glimpse into jewellery’s regenerative potential.

Tune in to discover how Simone’s research redefines beauty through ecological harmony, and why growing our own materials might be the next radical step in sustainable adornment.

Bamboo Gems with Dr Alvi Lufiani

In this episode, Sofie Boons speaks with Dr Alvi Lufiani, jewellery lecturer and researcher at the Indonesia Institute of the Arts in Yogyakarta. Together, they discuss the potential of bamboo as a sustainable material for jewellery, its cultural significance in Southeast Asia, and the role of craft in shaping a more environmentally conscious industry. Discover how traditional practices and innovative thinking can help redefine what sustainable jewellery could look like.

Sustainable Reflections with Rebecca Maddock

In this episode of the BAJ Podcast, host Dr. Sofie Boons is joined by designer, maker, and content marketer Rebecca Maddock to explore the state of sustainability in the jewellery industry.

As a member of the Fair Luxury collective and co-organiser of the recent ‘State of Sustainability in the Jewellery Industry’ conference, Rebecca shares insights into the challenges of greenwashing, the importance of transparency, and the role of storytelling in shaping a more ethical future.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on how jewellers can contribute to meaningful change, from grassroots practices to industry-wide initiatives.

Sustainable Jewellery with Vivien Johnston

What does sustainability really mean in jewellery and why does it matter now more than ever? In this episode of the BAJ Podcast, we speak with Vivien Johnston Glass, a trailblazer in ethical sourcing and expert in responsible jewellery practices. With two decades of global experience, Vivien shares her journey from launching an ethical brand to consulting across continents, helping businesses rethink how they source precious materials.

From the challenges of greenwashing to the promise of local gold mining in the UK, Vivien offers a fresh perspective on how sustainability can drive innovation, transparency, and positive change. A conversation packed with insights, practical advice, and a powerful reminder that every choice we make can shape a better future for the industry, and the planet. Tune in to discover how you can be part of the movement toward a more sustainable jewellery world.

Diamond Stories with Rob Bates

In this episode of the BAJ Podcast, we speak to Rob Bates, award-winning journalist and News Director at JCK, to explore the ever-evolving world of jewellery—from the rise of lab-grown diamonds and the fall of De Beers’ Lightbox, to the challenges of global news reporting and the future of journalism in the age of AI.

With over 30 years of experience covering the industry, Rob shares fascinating insights into the trends shaping jewellery today and tomorrow, while also revealing how his passion for storytelling extends into the world of diamond-themed mystery novels.

Tune in for a compelling conversation at the intersection of fact, fiction, and the future of sparkle.

Neo-gemstones with Daniel Rytz

Since 2020 Sofie Boons has been collaborating with a physicist and crystal grower as part of her, recently completed, doctoral research. Her collaborator, Daniel Rytz, has been active in the field of crystals for optical, piezoelectric and other applications since 1977. In 2012, together with his partner Corinne Siegrist, he founded BREVALOR as a platform to develop crystals with novel properties for ornamental applications. One of the innovations he has been working on, are phosphorescent crystals. The materials BRG and BRB have similar properties to classical gemstones: their hardness allows them to be shaped and facetted, and they have the optical appearance of gems. This light-emitting gemstone material, capable of storing energy and generating its own light, is taking the quest to optimise light reflection in gemstones to a whole new dimension. In this episode, Sofie and Daniel discuss his career, the subject of crystal growth and his thoughts on the future of these and other novel materials for the jewellery industry.

Episode 64- Tom Chatham

Tom Chatham is currently chairman of the board at Chatham Created Gems & Diamonds, Inc. Previously, he was CEO of Chatham Created Gems & Diamonds, Inc. The firm's accomplishments include the first successful production of emerald (1935), ruby (1959) sapphires of many colors (1970's) alexandrite (1972) and Lab Grown diamond (1996). Tom Chatham has been active in the gem production area for over 55 years and has been a frequent speaker world wide on the subject of gemstone and diamond production. Tom Chatham is also an author, releasing the book "The Chatham Legacy" in 2023. Chatham Inc sells to every level of the gem business, world wide, on the wholesale level. Today, principle aim is at independent jewelry outlets numbering in the thousands of outlets

Episode 63- John Moore

Our bodily presence in the world is likely of ever greater interest to artists, designers and makers in our increasingly digitally navigated context. What it feels like to engage with the physical world and how this influences our understanding of it has been the subject of investigation in theories such as phenomenology dating back to the early 20th century. Of continued relevance today, as designers we ask ourselves what it feels like to wear jewellery, how does it respond or relate to the movements of our body, and can jewellery be in artistic dialogue with these motions, highlighting the human body and its interactions with the world? This approach can encourage us to create jewellery that resonates on a sensory and emotional level, making the experience of wearing the piece as significant as the piece itself. A jewellery artist who has been fascinated by these contemplations, and who has collaborated with choreographers, dancers, musicians, filmmakers and scientists to investigate, create and capture movement narratives, is John Moore. His work challenges traditional boundaries, positioning the wearer as an active participant in the jewellery’s expression. Join us to find out more about his work and what it means to design for movement.