Thrivable Scotland

Osbert Lancaster
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Join me, Osbert Lancaster, as I explore how we can create the conditions where people and the rest of nature can thrive right now – and whatever the polycrisis brings next. I talk with people across Scotland who are building resilience, regenerating natural systems and cultivating collective wellbeing. I want to understand what’s working and why it’s working. With co-host Morag Watson and expert guests we discuss what’s working and draw out insights and practical lessons to help you in your work.

Episodes

  1. 12 Aug

    Critical Mess to Critical Mass: democratic innovation for collective climate action

    Critical Mess to Critical Mass: democratic innovation for collective climate action“The climate crisis and the crisis of democracy are two sides of the same coin. You cannot imagine any kind of vision of a desirable future that doesn't entail both environmental and democratic repair going together.” “The main problem is that politicians and institutions are not trusting people. [So we are] missing the collective intelligence, the capacity that could be unlocked, [by] mobilising, larger networks and groups of people for collective action.” Join me as I interview Professor Oliver Escobar, Professor of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation, at the University of Edinburgh as he talks about his experience as a deeply engaged academic and how we can all work together to shift from being in a critical mess to creating a critical mass for meaningful change. You will discover: How good people inside dysfunctional institutions are keen to change things;Why climate assemblies are unexpectedly radical;How politicians will get more done when they share power; and much more. I’m joined later in the episode by co-host Morag Watson and Dr Marian Bruce of Bioregioning Tayside to reflect on Oliver’s ideas and insights, and draw out practical lessons that could help changemakers in our work for people and nature in the polycrisis, including: The absolute importance of building trust in and across communities, organisations and institutions;The power of starting ongoing processes, instead of time limited projects;The power of working at scales where people know each other and can work together collectively. Thrivable Scotland is the podcast for, by and about changemakers working for people and nature. We ask how can we build resilience, regenerate natural systems and cultivate collective wellbeing, so people and the rest of nature can thrive, right now and whatever the polycrisis brings next. We explore what’s working, why it’s working and how it could help you in your work. Connect: Guest: Prof Oliver EscobarGuest Listener: Dr Marian BruceCo-host: Morag WatsonHost, me, Osbert Lancaster (LinkedIn, Bluesky) Find organisations and resources mentioned in this episode, plus further links to explore, in our collection on Semble.

    Critical Mess to Critical Mass: democratic innovation for collective climate action

  2. 3 Jul

    Cultivate wellbeing while transforming the food system

    I was expecting a great community growing project. It was a bonus to discover such an inspiring, and credible, ambition to transform the food system. My conversation with Lisa Houston, co-founder of Lauriston Agroecology Farm on the edge of Edinburgh, was a revelation. Join me as I walk and talk with Lisa to discover: How a 100 acre urban farm is enabling people and nature to thrive right now, while also working to create a resilient urban food system fit for the polycrisis.How “community engagement” isn’t a challenge if you create the opportunities people are hungry for.Why Lauriston Farm is a workers co-operative and is strategically building organisational resilience and avoiding the risks of a personality driven organisation. In the second segment of the show, co-host Morag Watson, guest listener Anthony Morrow and I discuss insights and lessons changemakers might take from Lisa’s story. These include: The simplicity and the power of creating opportunities for people to connect with each and nature.How thoughtful rules and structures make it easier for community to flourish.The benefits of being really clear where you have agency, and what opportunities you have to change things. Thrivable Scotland is the podcast for, by, and about, changemakers working for people and nature. We investigate building resilience, regenerating natural systems and cultivating collective wellbeing, so people and the rest of nature can thrive, right now and whatever the polycrisis brings next. We explore what’s working, why it’s working and how it could help you in your work. Connect: Guest: Lisa Houston, Lauriston Agroecology FarmGuest Listener: Anthony MorrowCo-host: Morag WatsonHost, me Osbert Lancaster Learn More: Lauriston Agroecology FarmSociocracy for All (international)Sociocracy at the Scottish Community Climate Action Network Check out ThrivableScotland.com, for netwalks, workshops and facilitation – and to subscribe to the newsletter. Email me with questions or comments: pod@thrivablescotland.com Produced by Osbert Lancaster and Rachel Freeman

    Cultivate wellbeing while transforming the food system

  3. 11 Jun

    How citizen science can help tackle the climate and nature crises

    I’m Osbert Lancaster, and at Thrivable Scotland I’m asking how can we build resilience, regenerate natural systems and heal society, so people and the rest of nature can thrive, whatever the polycrisis brings next. If we’re going to regenerate nature, we need to know what state nature’s in right now and whether it’s getting better or not. While remote sensing is really powerful in many situations, sometimes you need to be hands on, on the ground or even in the water. So I met up with Rebecca Lewis who has built up a citizen science network that is generating open access data about the health of rivers across Scotland and heard how this data is starting to improve water quality and biodiversity at scale. From my conversation with Rebecca Lewis you will: Hear how Rebecca started volunteering in her local river and went on to leading a network of trained, volunteer citizen scientists who monitor the health of rivers at sites across Scotland.Learn how the data is collected, and how the project engages with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and is helping form catchment partnerships.Gain practical advice from Rebecca’s experience if you’re considering developing a citizen science project. In the second segment of the show, I’m joined by co-host Morag Watson, climate and energy policy specialist, and guest listener Nadine Andrews, systems thinking and nature connection practitioner, to discuss my conversation with Rebecca. Our reflections include: The power of making the hidden world visible for engaging people with nature.How becoming more aware of the state of nature can lead to a sense of powerlessness.The importance of such projects offering a genuine sense of agency, where people can see that their actions are having a meaningful effect. Connect: Guest: Rebecca Lewis, Scotland & Northern Ireland Manager, BuglifeGuest Listener: Nadine AndrewsCo-host: Morag WatsonHost, me Osbert Lancaster Learn More: BuglifeGuardians of Our Rivers ProjectScottish Environment Protection AgencyClimate Psychology Alliance From the Thrivable Scotland Bookshop: Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac (source of the "world of wounds" quote) Be part of the Thrivable Scotland community: Subscribe to my Notes for a Thrivable ScotlandJoin our upcoming eventsEmail me with questions or comments: pod@thrivablescotland.com

    How citizen science can help tackle the climate and nature crises

  4. 14 May

    Focus on what’s strong, not what’s wrong – if you want people to thrive

    When we want to make social and environmental change, our culture, institutions and education encourage us to assume people need more information, skills, resources etc before they can act. Anthony Morrow and his team at one of Scotland’s largest housing associations take the opposite approach. They support tenants and local communities by believing that people are already capable, recognising and focusing on their existing strengths. From my conversation with Anthony Morrow you will: Learn about Asset Based Community Development and how using this approach Anthony and his team have prevented homelessness and transformed lives, while saving money for Sanctuary Group and for society.Hear why housing is fundamental to sustainability, not just because people need stable homes to thrive, but also because of the connections between housing, health, climate and more. In the second segment of the show, I’m joined by co-host Morag Watson and guest listener Ruchir Shah to draw out key insights from my conversation with Anthony, including: How this strength based approach can be applied in other contexts.The importance of upstream prevention and the difficulty of attributing results to specific projects and funders.The relationship between stories and data when trying to engage people and get support from managers, colleagues – and politicians. I’m Osbert Lancaster, specialist facilitator and host of the Thrivable Scotland podcast. Connect: Main Guest: Anthony MorrowGuest Listener: Ruchir ShahCo-host: Morag WatsonHost: Osbert Lancaster Learn More: Sanctuary ScotlandABCD Training and Resources - Cormac Russell and Nurture DevelopmentScottish Violence Reduction UnitShumela Ahmed - Resilience Learning PartnershipGary Stevenson: Refugee Riots – Salience and Storytelling From the Thrivable Scotland Bookshop: The Power of Mattering by Zach Mercurio Be part of the Thrivable Scotland community: Subscribe to my Notes for a Thrivable ScotlandJoin our upcoming eventsShare your feedback pod@thrivablescotland.com

    Focus on what’s strong, not what’s wrong – if you want people to thrive

  5. 12 May

    Discover Thrivable Scotland

    If you're working to make the world a better place, I think you'll find my new Thrivable Scotland podcast inspiring and useful. I'm Osbert Lancaster and after working in sustainability for 30 years I've decided we need to try a fresh approach. In this short trailer I'll tell you how Thrivable Scotland came about and what you can expect, including: 👉 The three key elements of this new approach: focus on thriving, not survival; focus on the present, not the future; focus on what's working, not what's wrong. 👉 How I'll be interviewing people across Scotland who are building resilience, regenerating natural systems and healing society. 👉 How with my co-host Morag Watson and guest listeners, I'll be discussing how lessons from successful projects can be shared, scaled and applied in different contexts. Listen to this trailer to find out more!

Trailer

About

Join me, Osbert Lancaster, as I explore how we can create the conditions where people and the rest of nature can thrive right now – and whatever the polycrisis brings next. I talk with people across Scotland who are building resilience, regenerating natural systems and cultivating collective wellbeing. I want to understand what’s working and why it’s working. With co-host Morag Watson and expert guests we discuss what’s working and draw out insights and practical lessons to help you in your work.

Information

  • Creator
    Osbert Lancaster
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Osbert Lancaster
  • Show Website
    Thrivable Scotland