Podcast - Charging Ahead Ep. 3: Accountability by Design with Richie the Jeweler

You’ve seen Richie’s work without even realising it. On award stages. On artists, actors, and icons. Custom pieces created for moments that last forever.

But this episode isn’t about shine.

In this conversation on Charging Ahead, we sit down with Richie the Jeweler to explore the part of his world most people never see: The supply chain behind fine jewelry. Where materials come from. Who bears the cost. And what responsibility really looks like when you refuse to look away.

Richie is a globally recognised custom jeweler whose craftsmanship appears on some of the world’s biggest stages. Yet what truly sets him apart is something rare in any industry: full visibility and control over his supply chain. This episode goes far beyond artistry and aesthetics and into the systems that make creation possible.

Together, we dive into mining, refineries, and the realities of corruption and environmental degradation that sit upstream of luxury. We talk about sustainability not as a slogan, but as a series of decisions that carry real consequences for land, wildlife, and human lives.

The conversation takes us deep into the Republic of Congo, Richie’s homeland. We explore why the region is so rich in natural resources, why it remains so vulnerable, and what it takes to protect both the environment and the communities who depend on it. Richie speaks candidly about how the choices he makes in London ripple across continents, and how supply-chain accountability can quite literally save lives.

True to the spirit of Charging Ahead, nothing is off the table. We discuss racial divides, power, privilege, and how decisions made far from extraction sites can devastate ecosystems and communities. We also ask harder, cross-industry questions: Do consumers truly care where the things they love come from? And what can sectors like energy and environmental consulting learn from an industry that has been forced to confront its supply chain in public view?

This is not a comfortable conversation. It is not a technical lecture either. It is a raw, honest exploration of responsibility, influence, and impact. For anyone who values craftsmanship, sustainability, and systems that don’t hide their consequences, this episode challenges you to look deeper, and stay there.