Leanne Wood Podcast Leanne Wood

Ben Ferguson from Community Energy Wales explains what community energy and shared ownership is all about and how communities can benefit from locally produced renewable energy & infrastructure.

Jasmine Donahaye has written a range of non fiction and poetry, including the books ‘Whose People? Israel, Wales and Palestine’, ‘Losing Israel’, ‘The Greatest Need’ - the sort of Welsh Jewish political activist in Palestine, Lily Tobias. Her latest book is a series of essays about the natural world with a thread running through of birds & watching them. Jasmine comes out as a bird-watcher after exploring why she tried to distance herself from the stereotype of the birdwatcher.

There are plenty of political themes in the book that deserve further exploration. Misogyny, racism, colonialism, the climate crisis, manipulation of fear, and peace and reconciliation are some of those themes among many more.

A diagnosis of dementia can mean life changes, and not just for those being diagnosed.

Darren Jones, a self-employed follower of Cymru pel-droed suddenly saw his life change when his father was diagnosed with dementia.

In this episode, Darren describes what it’s like to care for someone with dementia, what the care system looks like, the frustrations of trying to navigate it to get the right care at the right time for his dad and what needs to change. He also pays tribute to the wonderful staff in the health and social care system, who are real heroes.

It’s a real injustice what people with dementia and their families are expected to go through and Darren is doing what he can to fight for change.

Izzy from Ynni Cymunedol Cymru / Community Energy Wales talks with me about the climate and nature crises, community energy, a whole systems approach, biodiversity and the intersections with other justice campaigns. How can we work towards a healthier, happier and more equitable society as we address the climate crisis? Listen to find out.

Election turn-out is diminishing and political accountability seems to be a thing of the past. This results in poor decision-making and more people turned off. Democracy is suffering.

An engaging system of citizenship and democracy education, targeted at young people with the aim that they become rounded citizens, is what theatre director Yvonne Murphy advocates. She says we can’t have democracy without informed citizens, and she talks to me on the podcast about what she is trying to do to bring about proper democracy.

With our politics in turmoil and many people in despair, now, following the centenary of his birth, is a good time to revisit the works of Raymond Williams.

Born in Pandy near Abergavenny in 1921, Raymond Williams is known in many countries throughout the world as an important socialist academic, who broke ground with his writings in the of sphere of culture.

What can we learn from Williams for today's problems? What hope can he offer us?

I talk to community development worker and Raymond Williams advocate Russell Todd about a range of subjects - what Williams had to say about football, hope and the strength in our communities, what he might have to say about covid, pubs, autonomy and a post-work future, were he still with us today.