The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

Welcome to The People’s Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast, now apparently featuring an unexpected Yorkshire spin-off series judging by last time.

Each episode, we answer two listener questions that we have not seen beforehand, because preparation is for people with structure and emotional stability.

It’s also our first recording session in about a month, after quite a lot of life happening in the meantime, so there...

Welcome back to the podcast, episode… honestly, we’ve lost count at this point. Somewhere between ‘quite a few’ and ‘deeply concerning.’

William and Stuart begin by debating exactly how many episodes they’ve recorded, before immediately deciding the numbers don’t matter anyway. Which, of course, leads naturally into the observation that some people suddenly become extremely interested...

As of this episode, we’ve only six listener questions left, so do send one in today. Though now we’ve mentioned it we’re braced for a tsunami of filth, or at least a tsunami of questions, we’re happy to discuss anything you care, or dare, to throw our way.

The first of two listener questions for today’s episode comes from Ray in Newmilns, Scotland - “I’ve been thinking about human evolution ...

In this podcast, you, the listeners, send in the questions for us to discuss. We don’t see them before we press record, and we don't prepare. We encounter them cold, much like most of the big issues in life which arrive without warning. 

There are plenty of experts out there. What interests us is the freedom to explore our first thoughts openly and honestly in the moment.

The questions are only read once that big red recor...

A city soundscape drifts through the open window of Stuart’s lounge as we hit record, sirens, engines, and all the usual urban visitors. We never see the questions to be discussed beforehand, we dive in completely cold. That way, when you press play, you’re discovering the conversation at the exact same moment we are. 

Anders, from Kent, England set today’s first listener question - “South East Water hav...

A podcast built on pure curiosity. You send the questions, and we tackle them cold, no prep, no peeking. Every episode starts with a blank slate and an honest reaction. And if a guest wants the questions in advance, we kindly suggest they try a different podcast, because the magic here is in the surprise. 

Paul, from Stithians, Cornwall, England ask today's initial question - "What's your favourite way to spend the weekend?&rdq...

In this podcast, you, the listeners send in questions, two per episode, for us to conversate around and explore.

We always try to bring the conversation back to the environment in some way, and sometimes overtly come up with an action. When an obvious action doesn’t arise, you will often find one buried deep in the conversation we have. There's always plenty to think about in what we discuss.

Our first listener question for tod...

You the listener send in the questions. We do not see a single one before we press record. If our off the cuff answers ruffle you, then wander elsewhere, questioning why the answers ruffled you. The answers may be uncomfortable, but out of that comes enlightenment. 

Better still. If you appreciate our willingness to be tossed into the bare pit, then settle in and enjoy the chaos.

Our first listener question comes from Robin in S...

Welcome back to the People’s Countryside Environment Debate Podcast,  the podcast that bravely asks, “What even counts as environmental anymore?” 

Ever since the COVID lockdowns, you lovely people have been sending us two questions per episode, and in true professional fashion, we still refuse to look at them before hitting record. Sometimes your questions have absolutely nothing to do with the environmen...

Welcome back, dear listeners, to yet another episode of the show that refuses to evolve. William insists we’re living in a perpetual Groundhog Day loop, because, brace yourselves, the introduction is exactly the same every single time lately. Consistency or creative stagnation? Who can say.

As always, you send in two questions per episode, and in our ongoing commitment to professionalism, we don’t look at them until the ...

No, we don’t prepare for the questions you the listener send in, we don’t even read them before recording. Our only real prep has been the well over 600 episodes in our back catalogue.

We’re not experts, but we talk freely and honestly, as people often do when faced with important issues unexpectedly.

The first listener question for today’s episode comes from Kev, St George’s, Bermuda - “Can we eve...

When we first started The People's Countryside Project, it was all about people working in the countryside. We made films, took photographs, wrote articles, and eventually developed this podcast.

Then COVID hit and you, the listeners, started sending in questions. That’s really when the format stuck. 

Since COVID we’ve answered two listener questions an episode. 

We don't see the questions before we press record,...

Listeners send in questions we don’t see until we hit record. We’re not experts, just curious people willing to dive into topics cold, something we rarely make time for.

James from Ecclefechan, Scotland set us the first question today - “Why do we age?”

William argues we age because our cells replicate poorly, while Stuart sees aging as damage from external forces rather than time itself. 

William thinks m...

We’re back with Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt and William Mankelow, the latter who, to be clear, absolutely was not ready for the recording to start, but the big red button was pressed and now he has to pretend he was.

As always, we’ve got two listener questions you lot send in. We don’t see them before we hit record, because apparently we enjoy chaos. We do try to drag every question back to the environ...

If you’re looking for the experts, you may be in the wrong place.

This week, Stuart “The Wildman” Mabbutt and William Mankelow dive headfirst into two BIG listener questions’ that ask whether we are putting too much faith in the systems around us.

First up, Paula from Norfolk, England asks: “I’m seeing companies are being advised to keep hard copies of records and not just digital. We’re bein...

Thanks very much for joining us for this episode of the People’s Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. We answer listener questions that we’ve not seen before we press record, approaching each one cold. 

Well that is usually what happens! The recording of this episode was somehow lost. William is wondering if it is down the back of the sofa, but in any case we’ve had to record it again. 

We’re no...

Welcome back to the podcast where you supply the questions, and we bravely refuse to look at them before hitting record. Truly, we like to live on the edge.

Each episode, we attempt, with varying degrees of success, to bring an environmental twist to whatever you throw at us. Sometimes it fits beautifully, sometimes it’s like trying to compost a bowling ball.

And when the stars align, we even suggest actions you can take. Other...

Welcome to our learning‑led discussion series, where William Mankelow, Stuart “The Wildman” Mabbutt, and you—the audience—shape the conversation together.

Your questions arrive unopened, and we explore them in real time, discovering the topic at the same moment you do.

We don’t present ourselves as definitive authorities. Instead, we approach each question as curious learners, ready to examine ideas from...

We’re recording this episode at the very beginning of January, our first session after the New Year, and yet it does not feel new at all.

In this podcast, listeners send in questions that we do not see before we press record, and we answer them cold, with no preparation. Hopefully that makes us relatable, because life often presents us with difficult questions at unexpected moments. 

Our first listener question for this ep...