Interview with podcast host Marisa from Fairquatscht  “You Can Get Inspired on Your Way to Work.”

Marisa Becker talks about her sustainability podcast, how she manages to stay positive and her biggest environmental aha moments from recent episodes.

Marisa Becker is a freelance journalist and content creator. She shares her knowledge with over 45,000 followers on her Instagram account "mysustainableme", has written two books and co-founded the environmental magazine "EKOLOGISKA MAG". She has also been hosting her podcast "Fairquatscht" for six years. We interviewed Marisa for our "Podcast Portraits" series.
 
Marisa, tell us about your podcast in two sentences.  

"Fairquatscht" gives people a good overview of environmental and climate issues that they have never heard of before. Everyone can take something away from the podcast because the topics are relevant to everyday life and not just out of the blue.

What made you start this podcast six years ago?

At the time I was working professionally with podcasts and the topics mentioned. This gave me the idea of making an interview podcast, where I would give a stage to people who had interesting stories to tell. I started by interviewing people around me. Then I expanded it step by step.  

The topic of sustainability can be very broad. Is there a particular focus that you cover more often?

There are topics that always come up because you can look at them from different angles. You can talk about current accounts, but you can also talk about shares, funds and ETFs. It's similar with fashion. Sometimes a fashion brand talks about its journey, sometimes I show the perspective of a company that awards labels and certifies clothing. But in general, I don't have a specific thematic focus.

And after six years, how do you find new topics that you haven't covered yet?

The topics are actually finding me. I get so many emails with topic suggestions that I don't even get around to looking for topics myself.  
When I do look for topics, it's usually through the usual channels: I have a lot of digital subscriptions to newspapers, and sometimes I find topics via Instagram.

You've already produced over 120 episodes ...

There might even be a few more, because I don't even count special episodes.

... That's definitely impressive. What has changed in your podcast over the years - and in you as a host?

Before Corona, I always visited my interviewees. I would talk to them beforehand and have a cup of coffee with them after the recording. Now I have two children and can't get away for a day. That's why I record the interviews digitally. It works well in itself - but I think it's a shame that the face-to-face conversation is missing. Other than that, the podcast has largely stayed the same. However, I have noticed that I am much more experienced and take much less time to edit than I did when I first started.

What was one of the biggest aha moments you learned from your interviewees?

It is hard to say. I've talked to so many different people.

Perhaps one from the recent past?

I recently spoke to mobility researcher Harry Wagner, who really changed the way I think about mobility in the future by introducing me to the topic of cable cars. I'd always associated cable cars with mountains - but he told me how cheap you can build them and how quickly you can get people to transport hubs.

I also enjoyed the interview with Markus Maute. Maute is a nature photographer who has travelled the world documenting climate tipping points. His pictures of the destruction of nature are macabre - but they are also a wake-up call. I recommend the two recent interviews to everyone.

You inform people not only through your podcast, but also through your Instagram channel and the magazine Ecologiska Mag. How do you manage not to bury your head in the sand in the face of so many environmental setbacks, such as the US pulling out of the climate agreement? 

On the one hand, I feel I can deal with the negative through my work. On the other hand, I get a lot of positive feedback. If I thought I would only read negative headlines, I would probably bury my head in the sand too. The situation is very depressing at the moment.

For people whose jobs don't allow them to spend as much time doing this, do you have any tips?

I once heard that you are the product of the five people around you. So by inspiring the people around you, you can make a big difference.
For example, when my five-year-old daughter comes up with the idea of collecting rubbish or caring for birds, my heart opens up. Or my mum: She's now researching fashion labels and showing me her new certified trousers. Even my aunt now knows what GOTS means. Little things like that, that everyone can do in their everyday lives, are very empowering.

One last question: sustainability and podcasts go well together because...

... you can get inspired on your way to work.

April 2025