The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

"Each generation perceives the state of nature, when they were a child, as good and normal. We might notice loss in our lifetime, but do we understand, or even notice the depleting baseline of the living world, that our life is set in?" Stuart and William once more embark on a roaming, natural style of conversation. They're not experts, they will however explore this question, in a relatable way,...

"Is the council not mowing the grassed areas in Oxford, a genuine attempt at rewilding, or a consequence of labour and funding shortages?" It says in the title of this podcast, that its a debate, but this is more a conversational style podcast. What we guarantee you is, real discussions, real opinions, real views, no scripts. Join hosts Stuart and William, as they examine a question from long time...

"Humans contribute 3% to co2 emissions and 97% is produced by nature. Are we being sold the great green agenda? Is it all a big con?" Join Stuart and William on another roaming and insightful discussion. They're not experts, they will however explore this question, in a relatable way for you the listener. Today they embark on discussing a question from listener Carida from Jamaica. Often, the...

"Is mass tree planting really the holy grail we perceive it to be?" Join hosts Stuart and William, in their usual far reaching discussion style podcast, as they mull over a question from Bushra, in India. Their aim, generally, is to divide all the issues into bite sized chunks, and along the way, challenge and contest their own and your mindsets, habits, and beliefs. Often, the underlying themes o...

"Our failure to comprehend the ecology that inhabits the darkness, limits humanities true understanding of the living world around us. There’s lots of unseen life out there. Can you share your thoughts around this?" Once again, join Stuart and William on another wandering and insightful discussion. Often serious, often silly, in fact this episode is both, in equal measure. Today they embark on dis...

"The government in the UK, has declared a climate emergency, yet has still to formally address the nation. Wouldn’t you have thought this would happen as standard in some form or other, if it were a genuine declaration?" An unscripted real exploration, with genuine opinions, as hosts Stuart and William examine a listener question from Victor in North London, England. They're not experts, they will...

"We hardly ever see any reports in UK of African disasters. Is this a cover up, a left over attitude from colonial days, or are these far off events just not relevant? European disasters don’t always get news time either, so is this void on African news nothing to really worry about?" With authentic views, unscripted, unrehearsed, unplanned opinions, hosts Stuart ( who is the mainstay of this podc...

"Climate protestors are too often dismissed as people who should go back to work, or comments are made that the benefits system is paying too well, allowing people to protest. Protesters are either privileged white middle class, or stinking, soap dodging, drop outs. Why don’t people engage with the person in front of them, and see why they’ve really been moved to protest? Does this mean the critic...

"Protesters are protesting for system change, but the system, whatever it is, doesn't want to change. The system is taking away the right and ability to protest bit by bit here in the UK. Protest can often be the last option for people, take that away, and what have we left? This is designed to make people arrestable, so they can be removed, but is it provoking violence, freedom fighters, gorilla...

"Citizen journalism, by the people for the people, is that the future?" Two men, one in his 40s, the other tipping into his 50's, recording face to face, for the final time for a while. Stuart and William take on a question sent in by listener Ebba from Västra Götaland, Sweden, which they approach in their usual open, and honest way. This is Ebba's first question and it's hoped she sends a fo...

Hosts Stuart and William mark World Vegan Day in this bonus episode for you of The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. The event takes place every November 1st, which has been chosen as it is an international day of action for animals rights! The commemoration of this event began in 1994 by a UK celebrity, Louise Wallis, who was at the time the chair of The Vegan Society, as they ce...

"White man see’s land and resources as something to own, indigenous cultures don’t have the same focus on ownership, whose right and whose wrong?" Once again, Stuart and William were able to record face to face, which lead to the usual roaming style of conversation you've likely become accustomed to after over 225 episodes. This time they explore a question from Ahana in Assam, India. These conver...

"Is time spent in nature a luxury or a necessity?" Stuart and William recorded face to face again, which brings a different dynamic to the show, don't you think? As always they launch themselves off on a meandering conversation as they discuss this time a question from listener Amishi, in Uttar Pradesh, India. Often the underlying themes of nature, philosophy, climate, the human conditio...

"Regarding the climate crisis and life in general, are small steps better than big?" Once again, join Stuart and William on another roaming and insightful discussion. This time they recorded face to face in Stuart's living room, marking the first they'd recorded in this manner since March 2020. They're not experts, they will however explore this question, in a relatable way for you the listener. T...

"Many people claim protesters and activists are obviously rich to be able to take time out to protest. I don’t see this myself, I see ordinary people, some rich, some poor, making sacrifices to protest. I see wealthier people, using their savings, making themselves poor, to fund protesting. I see poor people, with nothing, sacrificing the little they have to protest. The wealthier are called entit...

"Is there a difference between thinking and feeling?" This question was sent in by someone who routinely listens, Alan in Northway, Oxford, England. It's  a very different style of question he's directed at the podcast this time, very different to the ones he's sent in before.   As always though, Stuart and William embark on another roaming and insightful discussion. Their...

"Humanity faces big planetary changes in many ways, not just regarding climate. To embrace true change though in things like social justice, we need navigable paths, and a vision of a positive quality of life. I think exploring pathways to sustainable optimism is the core for all challenges we face as individuals, and as a society, whatever the issue. The power of a vision of optimism generates it...

"If the climate crisis was front page news, every day, the public would demand we do something about it, and those with vested interests, and billionaires that own the media, would lose their short term cash cow". Stuart and William once again embark on a roaming natural style of conversation. Making what could be a deep academic debate, into a relatable and accessible exploration for everyone. Th...

"John Kerry, part of Joe Biden’s team, has I’m told said that you don’t need to give up meat or anything and uninvented things will save us. I’m not sure he actually said this? What do you guys think of anyone who says that?" Another unscripted, searching, insightful laypersons chat, between hosts Stuart and William, as discuss a question sent in from long time listener Vandana, in India. Do you h...

"Alternative fuels and energy may be in some ways renewable, but doesn’t it still need mineral extraction in part?" Another spontaneous, improvised, insightful chat, from a laymen's standpoint, between hosts Stuart and William. A very real deliberation, as they examine another listener question, this time from Adwin in South Africa. Do you have a question you'd like Stuart and William to examine,...

Hosts Stuart and William mark World Vegetarian Day in this bonus episode of The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. World Vegetarian Day is observed annually around the planet on October 1st. It is a day of celebration, established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978, "To promote the joy, compassion and life-enh...

A bit of fun for you, a bonus episode from a recent outing Stuart and William had at the East Oxford Farmers' and Community Market where they had a stall. This out and about recording includes a question from listener Jules in Oxford. He asked; "Our landlord and come and stripped out everything in our front garden because we'd let it get overgrown. What sort of plants would you suggest to put in t...

"Do the public suffer with climate emergency fatigue?" Join Stuart and William for another wide ranging conversation, that really could go anywhere, as they discuss and explore, from an laymen's perspective, a question this time from listener Anzu in Japan. ANNOUNCEMENT! Stuart and William will be leading an alphabet walk around the Turrill Sculpture Garden in Summertown, Oxford. What makes t...

"Does direct action from protests get anyone, anywhere? " Using their nomadic and roaming, unscripted conversational style, your hosts and well known personalities Stuart and William, offer up a very real discussion with authentic views, as they take a deep dive and explore another listener question, this time from Adriana in the Netherlands. As always, with every episode of the podcast, they...

Hopefully this podcast will help persuade you, entertain you, inspire you, and inform you. Stretch your thinking at the very least! Stuart and William, once again head off on another roaming, meandering discussion, exploring and examining a listener question, this time from Adel in Christchurch, New Zealand.  The question, is simply, "Who’s in charge?". ANNOUNCEMENT! The podcast format, for t...