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. 3d ago

    The Reality of Murmurations

    This is the podcast where you, the listeners, send us your questions, and we, the hosts, discuss them together. We don’t see the questions until we hit record though. Clodagh, from Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland asks  - “What lessons, if any, can humans gain and learn from observing the forces that drive bird murmurations, clouds of birds like Starlings coming into roost, or wading birds on mud flats?” Stuart believes humans naturally collide and overlap, physically and in conversation. Unlike birds, which occupy distinct spaces and vocal frequencies to avoid interference, people share the same spaces and frequencies, causing constant overlap. He suggests that while birds minimize conflict through separation, humans cannot avoid these physical and metaphorical collisions.  William argues that people often create unnecessary collisions by mindlessly scrolling on their phones while walking. He believes that being distracted makes bumping into others almost inevitable and suggests that simply putting the phone away while walking would help people be more aware of their surroundings. William suggests that in busy environments, people should identify the natural flow of movement and avoid going against it.  Paul Banks, from New York, USA asks- “You often talk about reality. To me, everything is reality. Reality hits us in so many ways. It just is. And it is really our perception of it that makes everything feel a little surreal. What are your thoughts guys?” Stuart explores the idea that reality may be experienced differently by different living beings. He suggests that while there may be a universal reality, each species or individual perceives and interacts with it through their own unique perspective, raising the question of whether the reality humans experience is the true reality. Stuart reflects on how people are not always aware of how subjective and surreal their perception of reality can be.  William reflects on the idea that surreal experiences can come from the way people perceive themselves and their place in the world. He describes moments where his own voice and actions feel slightly detached, as though they are coming from somewhere else, and suggests that many people may experience this feeling but rarely express it.  Stuart questions whether surreal experiences are truly surreal or whether they are moments when people briefly encounter the vastness and apparent meaninglessness of existence. He suggests that these feelings may come from confronting deeper questions about life and our place within it. William and Stuart discuss how the inability to fully comprehend existence can create a sense of surrealism. They compare this feeling to standing at the edge of a high cliff and looking into an unknown depth, suggesting that confronting the vastness of life pushes the boundaries of human understanding. They believe this perspective can also be empowering, as it helps people recognize that many personal worries are temporary and insignificant in the context of time, with most concerns and individual struggles eventually being forgotten. 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 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

  2. Jul 26

    Agreement Is Optional

    Welcome to The People’s Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast, where we receive all kinds of listener questions. Some are challenging, some are straightforward, some are about the environment, and some are not. We never see them before we press record, but we always try to bring each conversation back to an environmental perspective. The first question for this episode comes from Paul in Lleweni, Wales - “Do we have any signs of a sustainability policy, plan, and quantifiable results forming, that crosses cultures?” Stuart believes meaningful progress will not come from a single policy or plan, but from shared thinking, common ambition, and collective action. William points to the growing collaboration between countries through international groups and climate forums. He highlights that, alongside major organisations and conferences, smaller coalitions are also coming together, working collectively on shared challenges. The second arrives from Susan in Chapel - En - Le - Frith, Derbyshire, England - “If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?” Stuart believes in destiny and therefore sees events as predetermined, suggesting he would not change anything because he considers it all part of what is meant to happen. William says he would not want that kind of power to change things, reflecting on the idea that the future is unpredictable and even wise judgment cannot see all outcomes. He suggests that people and events may play unknown roles in a larger unfolding story, so he would avoid altering things in any deliberate way. 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. Jul 19

    Why Me, Why Now?

    In this podcast, you the listeners send in questions, that we do not see before recording. We then try to connect them back to the environment in some way.  Today, we also have two listeners who are sending in questions for the first time. The first of which comes from Mary in Brassington, Derbyshire, England  - “What’s the best decision you’ve ever made in your life? Off the back of Mary’s debut question William feels that the best decisions in his life have come from choosing which relationships to hold onto and which to release. Stuart believes that the idea of destiny helps him make sense of the randomness in existence. He finds the idea intriguing, pointing to a tension in how destiny can sit alongside unpredictability. He questions how destiny could include randomness if it is fixed, and then suggests a resolution in which destiny is not fixed at all and may itself be shaped by randomness. The second of our listener question debutants is Martin in Llanasa, Wales who sets the following - “Why am I me, and why now?” From Martin’s question, Stuart asks why he is himself and why he exists at this moment, suggesting genetics as one possible explanation. He introduces the idea that some philosophies see all people as fundamentally the same consciousness, differing only through experience and decisions, while acknowledging this remains ultimately unknowable. William believes there’s little value in dwelling on why he exists or why he is here now. Rather than searching for deeper meaning, he simply accepts his existence and focuses on living in the present. 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

  4. Jul 12

    Who Shapes You While You Podcast

    Two new listeners send in this week’s questions, one from Wales, one from Derbyshire. We haven’t seen them before recording, and as always we’ll pull each one back to an environmental angle. They may be short questions, but they could take us somewhere much bigger.  Val, from Galtegfa, Wales asks - “How long does it take to grow an audience? I ask as I’m looking to set a podcast up”. Stuart and William break down what really matters when starting and sustaining a podcast to, knowing your purpose, committing to the work, and valuing a small, steady, engaged audience over quick spikes or trends. They explore why clarity, consistency, and genuine interest from the host matter far more than tools, numbers, or hype.  Tony, from Ashford-In-The-Water, Derbyshire, England then - “Who’s the most influential person in your life?” Stuart and William tackle the age‑old question of “Who actually influences your life?” and end up agreeing the answer is… mostly yourself. From shifting contexts to stubborn personal habits, they explore why the biggest force shaping your decisions might just be the person staring back in the mirror, with all your quirks, biases, and questionable choices included.  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

  5. Jul 5

    Migration Stories Reveal Our Selective Self‑Perception

    Two surprise listener questions. One take. Real talk about how it all ties back to the environment, and what you can do next.  Ray, is back from Sauk Centre, Minnesota, USA asking our first question - “How are you guys? How do you keep going as podcasters? Are you looking to make guest appearances on other podcasts etc?” Stuart and William make a podcast that runs on habit, curiosity, and whatever real life throws at them. Every couple of weeks they sit down to record two episodes, keeping things simple with a routine that just works. Listener questions keep the whole thing rolling, shaping conversations that stay flexible and never feel the same twice. They’re not chasing fame or trying to reinvent podcasting, they just enjoy talking, thinking out loud, and seeing where the questions take them. Guests only show up when there’s a real reason, and the vibe is always more conversation than interview. At the heart of it all is authenticity. Being themselves, staying a bit messy, and trusting that listeners connect most when things feel real.  Toby, from Hallatrow, Somerset, England presents our second question  - “When the war in Iran erupted, large numbers of Brits were looking to migrate back home, some expecting the state to cover it, when they could afford to charter things themselves. Do you think this experience will change people's views of forced migration in other parts of the world, and the effects of mass migration? Or will they too easily stay entrenched in their current views?” Stuart and William dig into how people think about migration, responsibility, and big environmental shifts, from the blind spots we carry when moving between countries to the balance between government help and personal initiative in a crisis. Their conversations explore why some people resist change, how imagination shapes our views on forced movement, and why clear reasoning matters more than entitlement or convenience.  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

  6. Jun 28

    Crowded Rock Reality

    In these charades we call episodes, we tackle two listener questions. We never see them, or very rarely see them, before we press record, so you hear our answers completely cold. Some subjects we know a fair bit about, and we are honest about that. Others come from our own life experience. But sometimes we are presented with a question, and simply have to go with it, seeing what emerges from the conversation, and our thoughts. Our first listener question arrives from Estefania in Jalisco, Mexico - “Do you think we’ve stopped listening to each other? We are driven by social media, which itself thrives on division. We are on this crowded rock, and we need to start getting on. I agree, we need to use words better, and maybe some words shouldn’t be used, but why not? Too many people seem to be looking to take offence and enjoying the effects of endorphins caused by arguing. All views need to be heard, within reason, but we seem to be losing the inclination to healthy debate. We're in a strange spot right now, I don’t recognize the tone of international conversation right now, its not my voice. We shouldn’t just go with the flow, we need a higher level of intelligence, compassion and empathy etc to get ourselves out of this. We have done better, we need to do better, and right now we are acting very small and narrowminded”. Prompted by Estafania’s question, William believes that humanity has a tendency to think and act in small, narrow-minded ways, arguing that this has been a consistent trait throughout human history, rather than a uniquely modern problem. Stuart argues that social media now plays a major role in driving behaviour, and often thrives on division, noting that while it originally emerged from platforms like Friends Reunited, aimed at reconnecting people, it has since evolved into something far more complex and influential. Bronwen from Atlanta, Georgia, USA, sets the second question which is as follows - "Epstein files, your former Prince Andrew, Mandelson, Trump, all must be appreciating the current affairs distraction brought about by the war in Iran? Easy to hide bad news during those times”. From Bronwen’s question William suggests that some political actions and narratives, including references to figures like Trump, can be interpreted as deliberate distractions. Arguing that the constant shift from one controversy to another, creates a reality TV style dynamic, where attention is continually redirected, rather than focused on underlying issues. Stuart just wants to leave this question hanging for you to sit with for a while. Take some time to think about how you are being distracted, and who you are being distracted by. That is all he wants to say on it.  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

  7. Jun 21

    Answering the Answers

    Thanks very much for joining us for this episode of The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast. If we had our time again, we might choose a shorter title, because it has to be one of the longest podcast titles in the world! We answer two questions in every episode, sent in by you, the listeners. We try not to see them before we press record. That is intentional. Where possible, we go in cold. Bronwen from Atlanta, Georgia, USA then asks the first question for this episode - “Is nature just becoming a nice backdrop to selfies?” Off the back of Bronwen’s question, William reflects on how nature is increasingly used as a backdrop for selfies, suggesting that many people still view it as something separate and distant, rather than something woven into everyday life all around us. Stuart argues that for some people, nature becomes so visually incidental in moments like selfies, that it effectively disappears from awareness altogether, with individuals not recognising they are even in natural environments. Stuart goes on to urge listeners to recognise that nature is not something distant out there, but something all around us, and even within us. Emphasising that we are part of the same habitat as the wildlife we observe.  William adds that this understanding is strengthened through simple, mindful engagement, encouraging people to step away from phones and distractions, and spend time in a local park, fully present in the moment, which he describes as restorative and good for the soul. Moving onto the second question for this episode which comes from Toby in Hallatrow, Somerset, England - “When dealing with sustainability in all areas of life, should we answer the questions, or answer the answers?” William suggests there is still a linear element to this process, arguing that you need questions in order to arrive at answers in the first place, and therefore, emphasises that the real starting point is ensuring we are asking the right questions. Stuart warns that an overemphasis on answering questions can lead to superficial solutions, while becoming too focused on “answering the answers” risks paralysis by analysis, where overthinking prevents meaningful action. Stuart reflects on the need for a “sweet spot” between the two approaches, suggesting that the right direction comes through self-correcting reasoning, where solutions are continually evaluated and refined by analysing what works and what doesn’t, in the same way athletes review performance to make incremental improvements, rather than treating correction as failure. 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

  8. Jun 14

    Freedom Found Somewhere Inside Life’s Limitations

    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’s a slightly confused ‘first day back after the holidays’ energy today. We’d recently got into the habit of recording four episodes in one sitting, but today we’re only doing two, which means we’ll just about remember how podcasts work… and then immediately stop again. Joy, from Branton Green, Yorkshire, England asks - “Are you both where you thought you’d be?” William and Stuart tackle destiny, free will, manifestation, and the revolutionary discovery that writing something in a diary does not technically make it fate. Along the way, they discuss life paths, bad predictions, unknowable consequences, and why trying to control the future too tightly is an excellent way to become disappointed by it.  Susan, from Clifford, Yorkshire, England asks - “Is that which is limiting, freeing at the same time?” William and Stuart discuss limitation, freedom, and the devastating realisation that having fewer choices might actually make life easier. From class barriers and career structures to recovery models and restaurant menus, they explore whether constraints hold us back, or simply stop us wasting three hours deciding what to do next.  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

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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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