The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

“Seems a bit strange that some countries want to leave the Commonwealth, but still have the Queen as head of state, and that some countries like Mozambique want to join this group of nations, without really being part of the old British empire”. This discussion as a whole is mainly framed around whether or not the Commonwealth is still relevant, and what both the pros and cons of membership are. S...

“Was the pollution caused, and costs incurred by staging a four day Platinum Jubilee celebration, justified, due to it being a special occasion?” Stuart and William take a deep dive into the above question, sent in by listener Trevor in Wood Farm, Oxford, England. During this discussion they set out some strong challenges for you the listener to consider. Was this public celebration event really t...

“My fourth and final question, for the time being lads, and as a fellow potential podcaster I’m interested in what you have to say on this. I see you’ve been podcasting since around 2018 I think? So, looking right back to when you started, has there been any material recorded that you wished you used? I see you had loads of guests when you first launched, and I presume you edited these to retain t...

Hosts Stuart and William, mark World Thrift Day, in this bonus episode of The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. World Thrift Day is celebrated annually on 31st October worldwide, though in India the day is celebrated on 30th October. The day was established with the intent of raising awareness among people all around the world about the idea of saving their money in a bank rather...

“Hi, me again, my third question for you, as a potential podcaster myself. So, do you ever film your podcast episodes? I see you make films that relate to your output and behind the scenes films, but do you see yourselves becoming a ‘visual’ podcast? Stuart and William discuss another follow up question about podcasting from listener Toby in Leicestershire, England. During this deliberation they t...

“Hi chaps, it's me again, Toby. Listened to a number of your exceptional podcasts and want to pick your brains again. I see you guys have online Q&A’s with your audience and other podcasters. Great idea, by the way. As a potential podcaster myself, I thought about joining one, but prefer to ask my questions within a podcast so more people can hear your views. My second question is, how do you...

“As someone whose looking at starting a podcast myself, can I ask, do you guys use consent forms for guests or anyone else appearing on your podcast? Have you ever had anyone dispute their contents if you use them, and has anyone refused to sign?” Stuart and William discuss this question from Toby in Leicestershire, England, and during this chat, using their considerable podcasting experience, the...

“Now the Low Traffic Neighbourhood Schemes (LTNs) are being rolled out even more across the city of Oxford, how do you guys feel its gone so far? How is this latest phase going, and being received, as the County Council attempts to reduce motor vehicles in local neighborhoods? A future phase will see some of the arterial routes closed off, moving traffic onto the Ring Road, is this a good vision?"...

“Stuart, you say you don’t travel. Are you missing out? Is your opinion less valid if you don’t travel, and have less experience of other cultures?” Another great question from one of our listeners, this time coming from Ignacio in Peru. Stuart and William discuss and investigate their own very different experiences of travel and life. Stuart states that he gets enough cultural exposure by the fac...

In a bonus episode of the podcast, we find Stuart and William at the East Oxford Farmers' and Community Market, where they request your ideas for where they can promote this podcast. Do you know any markets where they can have a stall, or anywhere that they can come and talk about this podcast? You can email your ideas at thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com Find out all about the podcast via this one...

“Is some people’s reticence to sit in silence, and a preference for busyness, an indication they are fearful of being confronted by their own true self?” Stuart and William chew over the above question, which was sent in by listener Austin in Bogota, Columbia. This lead them ask some quite difficult questions. Are we at times scared of confronting ourselves, and is this one of the reasons why...

“Is maths something we humans constructed or is it something we discovered? Is looking at the reality perceived around us mathematically an accurate representation of how things work?” Another broad ranging conversation between your co-hosts Stuart 'The Wildman' Mabbutt and William Mankelow as they discuss the above question from Steve in Bredbury, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. They...

Trigger Warning : The topic of male suicide is discussed in this episode. If this is a subject that you find difficult to listen to, then this might not be the episode for you right now. We tell the story of Leon, who was a listener of this podcast, a friend of Stuart's (co-host of this podcast) exploring Leon as a person, and breaking down the barriers, and stereotypes around mental health, and a...

“Is anything truly a waste of time?” Stuart and William commence with a short discussion this time, around the question above, sent in by Russ in Harcourt Hill, Oxford, England. During their conversation they ask the question, is anything really a waste of time? Plus, they examine the theory that maybe life doesn't actually have a meaning, though that doesn't always make life meaningless, yet...

“Who sets the agenda in social justice issues?” Stuart and William are not shy of tackling the big questions, and they don't come bigger than the type of question above, which was sent in by Heather in Ablington, Wiltshire, England. This question sparked a discussion around having a lot of privilege, particularly if you're unaware of that privilege. They talk about how admitting you're wrong...

“Heard your episode recently about the impact war has on wildlife. In Cambodia, years of war meant some parts of the jungle there were left undisturbed so nature flourished. Cambodia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world now, and man is plundering the jungles resources to fuel that growth. Some say nothing good can come from war, but it seems in this instance, in some ways nature wa...

In February 2022, Stuart and William, co-hosts of the well-established The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast, launched the new mini-series 'Indigenous Voices'. For this next instalment, they were joined by Chase Iron Eyes for an interesting conversation, when they revisited a listener question from Adriana in The Netherlands, which was originally discussed in this podcast episode D...

“Who do you wish you’d never met?” The above is very direct question, set by listener Brian in Longnor, Staffordshire, England, which provoked an interesting discussion between co-hosts Stuart and William. They discuss how everyone you meet has some impact on your life in some way, they explore regret and how anybody can distance themselves from it. How if you know how it feels when something is w...

To contribute to the discussion hosts Stuart and William, mark International Day of Peace, in this bonus episode of The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on the 21st of September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-vi...

“Do you ever imagine you’ll be a daily podcast?” In a very short episode of this podcast, Stuart and William discuss the above question, which was sent in by Alison in Driffield, Gloucestershire, England. During this conversation they go into depth about the podcast, and how they currently see its future, in particular how we'd need more of a structure around us to expand it beyond twice a we...

"Stuart, you say you dye your hair to prompt conversations about the climate crisis. Does the fact you are causing pollution doing that make you a hypocrite?” Stuart and William undertake quite a philosophical meandering chat around the above question, from Robin in Furness Vale, Derbyshire, England (Sorry Robin, William called you Rob near the start of this episode). As always, they expand a...

“What hinders you guys as people?” Co-hosts, Stuart and William, discuss the above question, from Ash in Icomb, Gloucestershire, England. During this instalment, of this well established podcast, they talk about what hinders and impedes them personally, how we can easily curb ourselves by our own stubbornness, the hinderance of your childhood, and ask the question, do we too willingly blame someon...

“It's been asked before, and you’ve spoken around this I know, but can I ask again, what's the future of this podcast?” In this very short episode, Stuart and William reflect on how they see the future of this podcast. They talk about the various new mini series, for example Beyond Stereotypes and Indigenous Voices that have been launched, how they want another live show this year, and the fact th...

“Are truly inspirational people, who tangibly effect change and progress in others, those that talk, grab headlines and chase buzz words and phrases? Or are they those who show the way, and broaden inclusivity and opportunities etc by showing what and how it can be done by their actions, and through their own lived lives? To me inspirational words resonate far far far less than inspirational actio...

“What positives can be drawn from apathetic individuals, and what roles do morals and ethics play in leadership, that may inspire them in the various aspects of life?” Stuart and William, co-hosts of this podcast, once again delve into a question sent in by a listener of the show, which this time comes from Ken in Leek, Staffordshire, England. They discuss whether apathy really is a dreadful thing...