The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

The People's Countryside
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This podcast's for anyone wanting to explore the big issues, stretching your thinking in relatable ways. Well known personalities, Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt and photographer William Mankelow, who aren't experts, but have opinions, authentic views and no scripts. Join them on meandering conversations about nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Sometimes joined by guests, or discussing listener questions between themselves. Always full of fun anecdotes and a bit of silliness. https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside 

  1. 2D AGO

    Exploring Conflict, Choice, Belief, and Bias

    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 fresh angles, embrace uncertainty, and see where thoughtful dialogue can take us. Kholoud, a Palestinian Refugee living in Long Eaton, England sets the initial question for discussion- “Does gun ownership lead to mass shootings and does religion cause wars?” The discussion explores how access to weapons and human decision‑making interact in acts of violence. One view suggests that widespread gun availability increases the potential for mass harm, while another emphasizes that individuals ultimately choose whether to use a weapon.  The conversation also examines religion’s role in conflict: some argue it is often used as a justification rather than a true cause, while others highlight that many faiths promote peace at their core.  Both co-hosts reflect on how cultural influences, personal responsibility, and societal conditions shape behaviour, noting that tools or beliefs become harmful only when people decide to use them in that way. Andrew, from Barrow, Alaska, USA asks the next question - “Do you think it's worthwhile engaging with that which we don’t like?” The conversation explores how personal biases shape our preferences and how engaging with unfamiliar or initially disliked ideas can deepen understanding. One perspective highlights that everyone carries assumptions, yet genuine openness can reveal unexpected appreciation. Another view emphasizes the value of examining our dislikes rather than avoiding them, noting that automatic reactions often mask the real reasons behind our judgments.  By analysing media, performances, or viewpoints he finds unappealing, one co-host discovers that his reactions often stem from perceived inauthenticity rather than disagreement alone. Examples include reassessing a music genre after giving it proper attention, or recognising why certain styles—such as highly improvised music—do not resonate personally.  The discussion concludes with the idea that exploring what we think we dislike is an important part of learning, encouraging listeners to stay curious even when something doesn’t immediately appeal to them. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.  Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

    22 min

  2. FEB 8

    Targeting Civility

    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 episode comes from the lovely village town of Charlbury, Oxfordshire, with John setting the following query:  “Can we disagree with civility?” Stuart makes the stark point off the bat:  if we choose to? Yes. End of episode. Spoiler alert: the episode doesn’t end at this point! William argues that managing anger and emotional baggage is essential, but acknowledges that antagonism can arise when someone approaches aggressively. He suggests that in some situations, people respond with aggression because it is the only language they know. The second question for today’s ramble comes from Ray in Newmilns, Scotland - “What do you think about someone having a target and announcing it all over social media, as opposed to coming off social media, focusing on the target, and then going back on social media to announce it?” Stuart observes that on social media, even getting through the day is often framed as a series of targets, with people sharing every small achievement. He suggests that when people put targets or goals out into the world, they should make them relatable and meaningful to others, otherwise it becomes unfocused self expression, rather than something people can genuinely engage with. William speaks from experience when he explains that spending too much energy on social media, worrying about what or how to post, can distract from the actual goal. He adds that new ideas often spark impulsive action, but taking a longer term approach, reflecting on the idea, and involving collaborators, can strengthen the outcome and make the project more effective. Stuart believes that focusing on a goal in private allows better concentration and avoids the need for external validation. He emphasizes the impact of reappearing with a finished project, noting that oversharing the journey can bore the audience and reduce engagement. William believes that adults still carry a child inside them seeking approval, which drives much of their social media activity. He warns that people often overinvest in social media, putting energy into things that do not need to be shared. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.  Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

    12 min

  3. FEB 1

    Aspirational Memories

    Surely you have something better to do with your life, than listening to this podcast? There must be something else you could be doing, right now? Perhaps you have some paint to watch dry? No? Then let’s dive into today’s episode of The People’s Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. We are not the go to experts. We are just two regular guys exploring big issues cold, with every conversation starting from a question sent in by a listener. The first of today’s two listener questions comes from John in the lovely village town of Charlbury, in Oxfordshire, England. He asks, “We say making memories with loved ones is what matters, but what is their meaning if they die with us?” Stuart suggests that making memories is an active process, that inevitably has consequences, and those consequences affect other people’s lives. William explains that when he spends time with people who matter deeply to him, he focuses on being fully present, rather than trying to create memories. Stuart explains that while people may make memories with those close to them, it’s the ongoing shared moments that anchor them in the present, leaving a retained emotional warmth, that motivates future connection and sustains the relationship, even though that residual feeling is intangible. William believes that being present, in meaningful moments, with close friends and loved ones, provides strength in the moment and a reservoir of memories to draw on during difficult times. Ultimately, what sustains him most is the hope of seeing those he cares about again before he dies. The second question in this episode comes from the middle of the ocean, from Kev in St George’s, Bermuda. He asks, “Are the drivers of aspiration directly connected to the drivers of reduced biodiversity?” Stuart believes that aspiring to something does not have to be unsustainable. He suggests that one could, for example, aspire to become a leading expert in biodiversity. The doyen if you please. William feels that the common idea of aspiration often involves wanting more than you currently have, which can reduce biodiversity because it increases consumption. Stuart suggests that blindness, or a lack of awareness, is a key driver of aspiration, and a factor in the reduction of biodiversity. William argues that overconsumption extends beyond material goods, to how we use land. He gives the example of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England, questioning whether such a large house and extensive grounds, for a single family are truly necessary, framing it as overconsumption of space, and resources. Stuart concludes this episode: suggesting that culture can influence both aspiration and reduced biodiversity, but the separation is complex. He explains that biodiversity can be affected indirectly. For example, damage along a bird migration route, can impact nesting sites far away. While some impacts are connected to aspiration, others are isolated, making it difficult to separate the drivers entirely. Overall, he concludes, that aspiration and reduced biodiversity are connected, but do not have to be. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.  Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities

    18 min

  4. JAN 25

    Faith Faultlines

    Listeners fling questions at us and we heroically read them cold on air. Preparation? Absolutely not. But after 600‑plus episodes, we’ve basically earned a PhD in winging it. Kholoud, Palestinian Refugee living in Long Eaton, England - “Should an individual be considered antisemitic just by disagreeing with the state of Israel?" Stuart bravely points out the shocking revelation that a government and an entire people are not, in fact, the same thing — apparently history and whoever’s currently holding the keys matter. He suggests we try focusing on everyone living safely now rather than reenacting ancient grievances, a truly radical idea. He also notes that disagreeing with the state of Israel isn’t automatically antisemitic, though some insist otherwise, as if criticism itself were a hate crime.  William reminds everyone that tone matters, because apparently that still needs saying.  Stuart then heads into the uncomfortable territory of how past horrors can be misused to justify present violence, stressing that noticing this isn’t bigotry. He highlights that post‑war actions tolerated because of the Holocaust show how thin the line can get. His wild proposal? Apply moral standards consistently.  Meanwhile, William reflects on how antisemitism is so deeply baked into history that unpicking it is like trying to convince Britain it isn’t the centre of the universe. Andrew, Bradford, England - “Why is being religious, to some, a really odd and repugnant thing for others to be?” Stuart recalls working with someone who hated religion with the fiery passion of a man arguing with his own childhood, noting that the issue wasn’t God but his personal baggage. He points out that some non‑religious folks assume every believer is two seconds away from handing them a pamphlet, when often they’re just… talking.  William reminds everyone that not every religious person is on a recruitment drive, though he admits his friend’s recent chat with a very enthusiastic Christian did feel like a one‑man sermon tour.  Stuart counters that not all faith conversations are ambush conversions, offering an example where the reverend listened while the atheist had a meltdown — suggesting the ‘repugnance’ might come from the listener, not the faith.  William adds that spiritual people aren’t automatically unbearable, and sometimes timing and context matter more than belief. He even went to a meditation retreat out of curiosity, not crisis. The grand conclusion? People could try talking like adults.  Stuart wraps up by noting that neither religion nor guns magically cause violence; humans do. Access isn’t the villain — choices are. And if someone’s mere belief in God makes your skin crawl, the problem might not be them. In fact, as Stuart delicately puts it, they may not be the **** — you might be. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.  Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

    37 min

  5. JAN 18

    Growing Up In Digital Silence

    There's a Yank invasion on the People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast, with two American listeners sending in questions for us to discuss.  We’re in the middle of January 2026, yet it feels much the same as 2025. We talked in a previous episode about time and the way calendars give us the sense of a fresh start, but in reality nothing changes unless we do. A new year does not create change on its own, you have to actively do something different rather than waiting for time to change for you. So first let's look at the question from Ray, in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, USA - “What is the difference between adults and children?” Stuart insists kids are basically tiny sages because they haven’t yet collected the full starter pack of adult neuroses. William counters with the groundbreaking revelation that people don’t actually change much—apparently his school reunion was a time‑travel experiment. Stuart then reminds us that adults are just children with bills, flailing confidently into the void. William adds that everyone rushing around pretending to be Very Important is really just their inner toddler begging for a gold star.  Finally, Stuart points out that while we’re all told to “live sustainably,” the folks running the show are too busy maintaining the unsustainable bits to take their own advice. Andrew, from Barrow, Alaska, USA sets the next question - “I saw a young girl around 9 years old, in a waiting room, sat playing a computer game for a solid hour, oblivious to everything around us. The mother stuffing a banana in the girl's mouth so she would eat. Is this a sign the next generation will have the hidden skill of focus, or a sign they will be disconnected?” Stuart wonders if you can be laser‑focused and totally checked‑out at the same time—apparently yes, just hand a child a screen and watch the magic happen. Babies now get phones like they’re upgraded pacifiers, and parents—shockingly—sometimes just want five seconds to breathe.  Stuart overthinks whether a nine‑ish‑year‑old’s screen‑trance is genius or doom, while noting that kids can become so absorbed they forget hunger, danger, and even the existence of gravity.  William adds that screen‑time rules range from “strict monastery” to “digital free‑for‑all,” with dopamine doing its thing.  Both agree extreme focus can be a superpower or a train wreck, but labels don’t explain everything, and maybe we should stop judging parents in public. Teens may be drifting into digital hermit mode, but humanity will probably drag them back eventually—preferably before they walk off a cliff while texting. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.  Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

    21 min

  6. JAN 11

    Time To Be Selfish

    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. We’re not experts, but we talk freely and honestly, as people often do when faced with important issues unexpectedly. The first listener question in this episode comes from Andrew in Bradford, England. He asks, “Are individualistic cultures intrinsically selfish?” Stuart questions whether focusing on your own health, benefit and wellbeing, is truly selfish, arguing that helping others first requires taking care of yourself. William suggests that the core of the question comes from Andrew’s lived experiences, particularly from repeatedly observing people behaving in selfish or overly individualistic ways without considering how their actions affect others. Stuart suggests that people can be individuals without being selfish, and that perceptions of selfishness often depend on the perspective and expectations of other parties. The second question comes from Clodagh in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. She asks, “Did time, as we now perceive it, start at a specific moment?” Stuart reflects on cutting-edge scientific thinking about black holes and time, suggesting that time may be a human construct and might not have a clear beginning, middle, or end. He admits uncertainty about the nature of time, noting it remains a topic of active scientific debate. William argues that time is a construct of the brain, shaped by our internal experience rather than the external world, noting that subjective perception can make events feel much closer or further away than they actually are. Stuart’s concluding action invites listeners to pause when feeling frustrated about sustainability and explore the underlying concepts and assumptions shaping their thinking. William’s concluding action encourages taking time to do something without focusing on the clock and simply allowing the experience to unfold. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.  Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

    17 min

  7. JAN 4

    Leniency In Culture

    You have found our first episode of 2026, well done! This is the podcast where there are no scripts, no prep, just two guys, Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt and William Mankelow, who are willing to approach the questions sent in by you the listener. They aren’t afraid of talking about stuff cold that they've never necessarily explored before. The first listener question for this episode comes from Clodagh in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland - “How does culture form?”  Stuart asserts  that if you leave something long enough, it will turn into something. That's a culture. Drawing on David Epstein’s Range, William notes that NASA’s rigid, procedure-bound culture before the Challenger accident, discouraged challenge and contributed to failure. The example shows that culture can be examined and, when it no longer serves its purpose, changed, or let go. The second of the two listener question for this episode comes from Zbigniew in Chorzów, Poland - ”If someone has recently relocated to a new country, should there be leniency for breaking minor laws they did not know about, or should they be prosecuted the same as their counterpart raised in that culture?” William argues that breaking a law should not depend on cultural background, since even lifelong residents often do not know every rule. He suggests that enforcement already allows for discretion, and that there is always room for leniency and judgment in how minor offences are handled. Stuart argues that while there is room for leniency, claims of ignorance must be balanced with judgment. He suggests that this balance often depends on a police officer’s experience and discretion, as well as situational factors, including the officer’s state of mind. William notes that during COVID, police often showed leniency toward people who shoplifted out of necessity, using discretion based on circumstances rather than background. He argues that the same approach can apply to people new to a country. Stuart concludes with an environmental action: that is to step back and examine the hidden motivations behind a system or process. He advises considering the broader, macro-level impacts and reflecting thoughtfully on what’s really driving production or decisions. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.  Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

    16 min

  8. JAN 1

    New Year’s Day Message 2026

    On this New Year’s Day special from The Peoples Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast we want to say how grateful we are for your support, your voices, and your commitment. What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com Sign the Petition - Improve The Oxfordshire Countryside Accessibility For All Disabilities And Abilities: change.org/ImproveTheOxfordshireCountrysideAccessibilityForAllDisabilitiesAndAbilities We like to give you an ad free experience. We also like our audience to be relatively small and engaged, we’re not after numbers. This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.  Help us to spread the impact of the podcast by sharing this link with 5 friends podfollow.com/ThePeoplesCountrysideEnvironmentalDebatePodcast , support our work through Patreon patreon.com/thepeoplescountryside⁠. Find out all about the podcast via this one simple link: linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside

    3 min
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This podcast's for anyone wanting to explore the big issues, stretching your thinking in relatable ways. Well known personalities, Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt and photographer William Mankelow, who aren't experts, but have opinions, authentic views and no scripts. Join them on meandering conversations about nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice. Sometimes joined by guests, or discussing listener questions between themselves. Always full of fun anecdotes and a bit of silliness. https://linktr.ee/thepeoplescountryside 

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