The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

We explore a question from one of our listeners during this episode. This came from Jaryd in Ireland, "What are our top 5 stupid moments making the podcast?"

This is part 3 of a 3 part series where William looks back at classic installments of the podcast. William listened back to this past episode to see how his point of view have maybe altered since the recording. For this episode we’re travelling back to Christmas of last year  (2019), and and a discussion about David Attenborough’s series, Seven Worlds, One Planet. This selected classic episode was originally released on the 26th December, Boxing Day (2019). William chose this episode as it has been overall one of most listened to shows. We talk about the potential impact of Attenborough's series, comparing it his previous Blue Planet program which had such a big effect on the public psyche. We both felt at the time that we didn’t need to watch it to understand the impact we are all having on the natural world. We invite you to enjoy this classic episode, and do you think we're right in not watching it? Let us know, we like to be challenged in our own assumptions.

This is part 2 of a 3 part series where William looks back at classic installments of the podcast. William listened back to this past episode to see how his point of view have maybe altered since the recording. The second in this mini series takes us back to March this year, and an episode that marked the last time Stuart and William recorded together in the same room. It has also been one of our best performing episodes in recent times, which is why William singled it out. The episode we released on the 27th March 2020, however the more important date was when we recorded it, which was the 16th March 2020, a week before the UK went into full lock down due to the Corona Virus. We invite you to enjoy this classic episode, and would particularly like to hear what you think about what we discussed, and how we can make sure we don’t get entrenched in our own opinions.

This marks the dawn of a 3 part series where William looks back at classic installments of the podcast. William listened back to this past episode to see how his point of view have maybe altered since the recording. This first in this mini series takes us back to our very first edition of the podcast, which is why William singled it out. It's when we welcomed journalist Pete Hughes of the Oxford Mail, and originally released on this platform on the 21st July 2019. We explored three tough environmental questions; How much effect do humans have on other animals survival? Are we causing more extinction than before? AND Is human existence always at a cost to nature? This was very much the starting point of this podcast's concept and format, and was originally recorded in 2018. This will in fact be the 3rd time this episode has been publicly released, as this podcast was originally only released through Soundcloud before we found Anchor. Who now host and distribute our material. We were very much finding our feet with the format, though from the outset we were not afraid to tackle big questions. It’s great to listen back to this episode as it shows the strength of the format. Also listening with fresh ears William picked up on different details, and also feels that his personal opinion has changed since then. We invite you to enjoy this classic episode, and while you’re listening, we’d like you to think how you would have answered the questions we posed, and do you think we covered the topic and themes we discussed thoroughly enough? Would you like us to maybe return to one of these questions in the future?

Part 12 - Progress : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 11 - Planning : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 10 - Development : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 9 - Adaptation : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 8 - Finding New Structure : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 7 - Taking Stock : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 6 - Shock : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 5 - Fear : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 4 - Disbelief : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 3 : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 2 : Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

Part 1: Stuart and William share insights, tips and ideas on how they're adapting to the current situation, and give you the listener actions to occupy some of your time.

 In this episode we welcomed Oxford University scientist, Dr Alexandra Moral. The three questions, which once again inspired an interesting debate, are; - How would we be acting differently if we recognised nature as a separate/sovereign nation?" Not that we should necessarily, but I would be interested to explore how different or not society might be? - People are working behind the scenes on things like locking away carbon within algal blooms that sink and form rock, and also drilling into rock and storing it there within Limestone etc. Should we be focusing our efforts in these mitigation measures or the processes we as individuals are given to live and work by? Or both? - Is there such a creature as an urban animal?

If you want the go to experts, that's not us, you've come to the wrong podcast. This is however the podcast where co-hosts Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt and William Mankelow, discuss questions sent in by you the listeners.The first of the two listener questions for today’s episode comes in the form of this epic enquiry from Bronwen, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA - “Does hardship make our species stronger?”William tentatively starts out by saying that hardship does make our species stronger.Stuart feels it does too, but it's not necessarily what makes us stronger. Instead, it’s the whole package of experience that helps us along.Stuart explains that hardship depends on mindset; for him, it’s simply something to endure, and move through, rather than dwell on as good or bad.William notes that people often dwell too much on such things; he feels tired after two days of physical work, but views it not as a hardship, rather as a natural consequence of effort.Off the back of Bronwen’s question Stuart comes up with the following action:  drill down into the words you use in your daily vocabulary.William, not wanting to feel left out, comes up with this action: He reflects on how people in the UK often label weather as good or bad, though he believes it is simply a matter of mindset. He tries to view weather neutrally, whether wet, hot, or dry, and focuses instead on preparing for it. He suggests this perspective can be applied more broadly to life.The second question for this episode, which really got Stuart and William thinking, comes from Paul, in Queensland, Australia - “Is it more important to help yourself, help your family, help your society, or help the world?”Stuart emphasizes that change begins with one's self; one cannot change anything else without first changing themselves. He likens the self to an umbrella, with various aspects extending in different directions, none more important than the others.William agrees with the umbrella metaphor, noting that if you can manage yourself, you can help others. He also believes that small, thoughtful actions in everyday life can make a significant difference.What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.comWe like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers.This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountrysideSign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities

This is the podcast where  listeners send questions for us to conversate around, and although not always to do with the environment, we always try to bring an action back to the that in some way.  We're not the go-to experts. We're the go-to guys who are willing to explore things cold, and change our minds as we go through.The first listener question comes from Unity, in Paddock Wood, Kent, England - “Do you guys feel overwhelmed by the mass migration into and across Europe? Many react when cultures collide in these situations. We don’t think about the countries these migrants are leaving behind, as often it can be the brightest and the best that are leaving out of desperation, heading for beacons of better lives. Though there may also be darker reasons too. Those left behind can include the weak, who have no support. We need to support these countries as they rebuild and manage the drivers that lead to others leaving. This is just the start of modern mass migration”.William sees it as Unity states in her question, that it is only the start of a mass migration.Stuart reflects on how migration often involves the most capable individuals, leaving their countries out of desperation, sometimes leaving behind those with fewer resources or who need support.William observes that society is increasingly building metaphorical walls between cultures, fostering unnecessary division and misunderstanding.Stuart feels we are millennia away from being anything but the tribal animal we are.William’s environmental action: he encourages taking practical, manageable steps toward addressing the climate crisis. When feeling overwhelmed by its scale, he believes it’s important to break the challenge into smaller, achievable actions.Stuart highlights the importance of empathy ,and self-awareness in everyday interactions. He suggests that when someone feels irritated by another person—say, on a bus—it’s worth remembering that the other person is human too and not necessarily a total c***!The second question comes from Estefania, in Jalisco, Mexico - “Does talking about death, speak it into existence? Is that why some cultures don’t discuss it?”Stuart believes that talking about death doesn’t bring it into existence—it’s a reality that already exists.William argues that avoiding talk of death stems from superstition and taboo rather than reason. He compares it to the idea of “tempting fate” by mentioning the weather—pointing out that words don’t influence these events in his opinion. Stuart feels that many cultures have just got into the habit of not talking about death, and this has turned into a taboo.William believes it’s important to talk openly about death from an early age. He feels that understanding death as a natural part of life helps people accept it, regardless of their personal beliefs.William’s action is to remember that everything eventually ends. He sees this not as morbid, but as a reminder to appreciate the present.Stuart’s action: to  filter out the stuff that doesn't matter and you'll begin to realize very little does matter. It's all a distraction.What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.comThis podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountrysideSign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities

An episode where there's no one in the Listeners Chair as Alex has returned to university to study Microsoft Paint so the remaining panel records blind. Listeners submit questions in advance; the hosts open them only when the red light goes on, responding cold and unrehearsed. The podcast welcomes teasing and detours, but the conversation always returns to the core question. This episode is candid, focused, and unsparing — real-time thinking, no script.Tracey, from Oxford, England sets William and Stuart the first question to explore - “Badgers are undermining my house but I can’t relocate them. They should be in the countryside, not urban areas”.William argues badgers don’t distinguish countryside from towns; animals simply follow suitable habitats. Stuart recounts badgers collapsing a road and the Highways Agency relocating them, and he sympathizes with homeowners denied the same protection. Both call for consistent rules and balanced action: protect property foundations, manage habitat to reduce encroachment, and minimise harm to badgers while recognising their ecological role.Sally, from Mildura, Australia offers up the next question - “Knowledge drives everything, some say. How do we live well without making the planet unlivable for ourselves then?”Stuart and William debate humanity’s role in the world: Stuart argues knowledge isn’t the sole driver of events and that unseen forces shape the universe, while William warns that human comforts often come at the expense of other species as people reshape the planet for their own benefit. They challenge the idea that humans are simply parasites, presenting instead a nuanced view of our adaptability and resilience. Both contend that “living well” can mean comfort or ecological responsibility and that most choices sit in shades of gray. William closes with a practical action: listen twice as much as you speak to learn from diverse perspectives and find more balanced solutions.What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.comWe like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers.This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountrysideSign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities