Best Robert MacFarlane Podcasts (2025)

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Robert Macfarlane: Is A River Alive? 1:13:41

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4d ago1:13:41

1:13:41

At the heart of Robert Macfarlane's Is a River Alive? is a single, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings, who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law. Around the world, rivers are dying from pollution, drought and damming. But a powerful “rights of nature” movement is underway to re-a…

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Robert Macfarlane : Is a River Alive? 2:12:14

12d ago2:12:14

2:12:14

Don’t miss today’s conversation with Robert Macfarlane. A polyvocal deep dive into the mysteries of words and rivers, of speech acts as spells, whorls as worlds, of grammars of animacy, of what it means to river, and to be rivered. From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Virginia Woolf’s wave in the mind to Ursula K. Le Guin’s fellow feeling to Leanne Betasa…

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Are Rivers Alive? Author Robert Macfarlane argues they are. 1:04:07

14d ago1:04:07

1:04:07

This week on Mongabay's podcast, celebrated author and repeat Nobel Prize in Literature candidate Robert Macfarlane discusses his fascinating new book, Is a River Alive?, which both asks and provides answers to this compelling question, in his signature flowing prose. Its absorbing narrative takes the reader to the frontlines of some of Earth's mos…

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Robert Macfarlane: The Most Beautiful Conversation About Language | How I Write 1:29:16

20d ago1:29:16

1:29:16

I interviewed Robert Macfarlane, a writer who has mastered the art of nature writing. What makes him fascinating isn’t just that he writes beautifully about landscapes, but how he thinks about language itself. We talked about why he rewrites first sentences hundreds of times, what happens when entire languages die forever, why AI makes all writing …

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Is a river alive?: Robert Macfarlane 32:16

28d ago32:16

32:16

Rivers are vanishing; not just from our landscapes, but from our imaginations. Acclaimed author and Cambridge University professor Robert Macfarlane explores the deeply moving idea at the heart of his new book, Is a River Alive? He shares stories from Ecuador, India and Canada—where rivers have been granted legal personhood and recognized as living…

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How clean is the air we breathe?: Carl Zimmer 34:36

3h ago34:36

34:36

Scientists have been studying airborne diseases for centuries but their warnings were often overlooked. Carl Zimmer is an award-winning New York TImes columnist and the author of 15 books about science. He helps us unpack the history of airborne diseases, how public health can cling to outdated beliefs and how history predicted our response to COVI…

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Coffee House Shots: can Keir defrost the 'entente glaciale'? 13:27

5h ago13:27

13:27

Zut alors! The French are in town. Emmanuel Macron is on his state visit this week, spending time today with the King and tomorrow with the Prime Minister. His itinerary includes a state dinner and an address to both Houses of Parliament this afternoon. All the pageantry, of course, is for a reason: to defrost what Tim Shipman calls the ‘entente gl…

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Kinship Time — an Emergence Magazine Practice 14:56

8h ago14:56

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What happens when we’re able to inhabit time—even if momentarily—in an entirely new way? And how could this shift the way we relate and engage with each other, with the presence of mystery, and of course, with the Earth? Over the summer we're featuring a special series of audio practices exploring Time. This first episode invites you to attune to h…

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Hurricane's Future Hangs in the Balance of the 2025 Elections 44:51

1d ago44:51

44:51

Send us a text Kevin Thomas, Hurricane City Council member, shares his journey in local politics from his early involvement with the Republican party to his current role serving the community of 26,000 residents. His unique perspective as both a home designer and elected official offers insights into the challenges of public service in a growing mu…

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Kelsea Best, Kayly Ober, Robert A. McLeman, "Migration and Displacement in a Changing Climate" (Cambridge UP, 2025) 47:18

2d ago47:18

47:18

This book provides insight into the impact of climate change on human mobility - including both migration and displacement - by synthesizing key concepts, research, methodology, policy, and emerging issues surrounding the topic. It illuminates the connections between climate change and its implications for voluntary migration, involuntary displacem…

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Americano: Victor Davis Hanson on left-wing rage, Musk’s grudge, & America’s identity crisis 47:00

3d ago47:00

47:00

Victor Davis Hanson, classicist, historian, and author of The End of Everything, joins Freddy Gray to discuss Zoran Mamdani’s shock candidacy win, the future of the Democratic Party, and rising class tensions in American politics. They also explore third-party prospects, Trump’s economic policies, and shifting global dynamics.…

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Coffee House Shots: Labour’s first year (in review) with Tim Shipman & Quentin Letts 22:00

4d ago22:00

22:00

Cast your mind back a year. Labour had just won a storming majority, promising ‘change’ to a stale Tory party that was struggling to govern. But have things got any better? In the magazine this week, Tim Shipman writes the cover piece to mark the occasion of Labour’s first year in government. He takes readers through three chapters: from Sue Gray (…

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Spectator Out Loud: John Connolly, Gavin Mortimer, Dorian Lynskey, Steve Morris and Lloyd Evans 26:03

5d ago26:03

26:03

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: John Connolly argues that Labour should look to Andy Burnham for inspiration (1:51); Gavin Mortimer asks if Britain is ready for France’s most controversial novel – Jean Raspail’s The Camp of the Saints (4:55); Dorian Lynskey looks at the race to build the first nuclear weapons, as he reviews Frank Close’s Destroy…

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Inside City Hall: Natalie Larsen on Growth, Safety, and the Future of St. George 48:01

5d ago48:01

48:01

Send us a text Join Natalie Larsen for an honest and insightful look at what it really takes to shape a thriving community. In this episode, Natalie shares her journey from the planning commission to city council, revealing the behind-the-scenes realities of local government and her vision for St. George’s future. Key Topics: - From Planning to Pol…

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The Real History of the American Gunfighter 50:30

5d ago50:30

50:30

The Wild West has been the subject of much mythologizing in American culture. But for all the fantasy, at least one figure was real: the gunfighter.

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The Edition: Claws out for Keir, Mamdani’s poisoned apple & are most wedding toasts awful? 45:36

6d ago45:36

45:36

This week: one year of Labour – the verdict In the magazine this week Tim Shipman declares his verdict on Keir Starmer’s Labour government as we approach the first anniversary of their election victory. One year on, some of Labour’s most notable policies have been completely changed – from the u-turn over winter fuel allowance to the embarrassing c…

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Alice in Podcast-land with Alice Fraser 1:08:49

6d ago1:08:49

1:08:49

In this episode, Cally talks to Alice Fraser about bad backs, babies, banjos, breastfeeding, poetry, sexism, feminism, dads, Australia, comedy, tragedy, Buddhism, music and romance novels. Instagram: @aliterative More about Alice Alice’s book A Passion for Passion Alice’s show at the Soho Theatre, London, August 2025 Order Cally's Book Get tickets …

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David Zucker: Hollywood Director Explains The 15 Rules of Comedy | How I Write 1:13:28

6d ago1:13:28

1:13:28

I interviewed David Zucker, the director behind Airplane!, Naked Gun, and some of the funniest movies ever made. What makes this conversation fascinating isn't just the behind the scenes stories, but how he breaks down comedy writing like a science. We talked about his specific rules for making people laugh, his "flywheel theory" of pacing that kee…

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Book Club: Karin Slaughter 35:43

1d ago35:43

35:43

Sam Leith's guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is one of the most popular living thriller writers. Karin Slaughter has made her native Georgia her fictional territory, and she joins Sam as she launches a new series set in a whole new county, with the book We Are All Guilty Here. They talk 'planning versus pantsing', what it means to write viole…

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How an Airline Pilot Plans to Guide St. George’s Future 43:20

6d ago43:20

43:20

Send us a text What if the skills that keep airplanes in the sky could help guide a city’s future? In this episode, St. George City Council candidate and veteran airline pilot Shane Losee reveals how his aviation expertise—rooted in data-driven decision-making, safety management, and continuous improvement—shapes his vision for tackling the challen…

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Karin Slaughter: We Are All Guilty Here 35:43

7d ago35:43

35:43

Sam Leith's guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is one of the most popular living thriller writers. Karin Slaughter has made her native Georgia her fictional territory, and she joins Sam as she launches a new series set in a whole new county, with the book We Are All Guilty Here. They talk 'planning versus pantsing', what it means to write viole…

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Joseph Smith — The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet Pt. 2 50:30

7d ago50:30

50:30

Much of the Joseph Smith story turns on this question: Did he really discover golden plates? Historian John Turner says no, but he doesn’t dismiss what came next.

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Cash for community conservation is tight, but this nonprofit unlocks it 45:44

7d ago45:44

45:44

Jean-Gaël "JG" Collomb says community-based conservation organizations know best how to tackle the complex conservation challenges unique to their ecosystems. However, they’re also among the most underserved in terms of funding of all stripes. On this week's episode of Mongabay's podcast, Collomb explains how his nonprofit, Wildlife Conservation Ne…

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Holy Smoke: it’s time for Pope Leo XIV to make some tough decisions 12:50

7d ago12:50

12:50

Nearly everyone loves Robert Prevost, the unassuming baseball fan from Chicago who unexpectedly became Pope Leo XIV this year. But as he prepares to spend his summer in Castel Gandolfo he has some difficult decisions to make. Is he prepared to clear up all the doctrinal confusion created by his predecessor Pope Francis? And will he allow liberal bi…

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Becoming Earth: An Experimental Theology – Robin Wall Kimmerer 29:54

7d ago29:54

29:54

Potawatomi botanist and author Robin Wall Kimmerer visits the Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon, where over the course of two centuries scientists will study how old-growth trees and their decomposition contribute to the biogeochemical cycles of the Earth. For the forest’s cedar trees, Robin says, death is merely a transition—a rearrangement of…

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Table Talk: Thomasina Miers, co-founder of Wahaca 17:54

5d ago17:54

17:54

Thomasina Miers is a chef, writer and restaurateur who co-founded Wahaca – the award-winning restaurant group that brought bold, sustainable Mexican street food to the UK. Her new book, Mexican Table, is out in August. On the podcast, Thomasina tells Lara about early memories of stirring onion with her mother, why she moved her family across the wo…

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Michelle Tanner on St. George’s Future: Limited Government, Growth, and Defending Community Values 38:05

7d ago38:05

38:05

Send us a text Join us for an in-depth conversation with Michelle Tanner, family nurse practitioner and current St. George City Councilwoman, as she shares her vision for re-election and the future of St. George. Michelle discusses: How emergency medicine shaped her leadership: Discover how triage and critical decision-making in healthcare translat…

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Why Hurricane's Mayor Says NO to High-Density Housing 52:28

8d ago52:28

52:28

Send us a text Southern Utah is booming—and so is the pressure on local leaders to balance growth with community values. In this episode, Hurricane Mayor Nanette Billings shares how she’s guiding one of Utah’s largest cities by area through rapid development, smart land use, and critical infrastructure upgrades—all while preserving Hurricane’s uniq…

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Coffee House Shots: does Starmer still want to be PM? 12:41

8d ago12:41

12:41

There have been a number of navel-gazing interviews with the Prime Minister over the weekend. Across thousands and thousands of words, he seems to be saying – if you read between the lines – that he doesn’t particularly enjoy being PM. In better news, Labour seems to have quelled the welfare rebellion. Liz Kendall is making a statement in the Commo…

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Property Tax Hike vs. Infrastructure Needs: Ivins Candidate's Controversial Solution 48:39

9d ago48:39

48:39

Send us a text What does it take for a small desert town to become a booming resort destination—and what challenges come with that explosive growth? In this episode, Ivins City Councilman Mike Scott, a candidate for re-election, pulls back the curtain on the dramatic transformation of Ivins, Utah, sharing his data-driven perspective on city plannin…

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"I'm Running for Opportunity": Why This 20-Year Ivins Resident is Seeking City Council 40:19

10d ago40:19

40:19

Send us a text What drives an ordinary citizen to step into the political arena? For Shad Johnsen a kitchen designer and 20-year Ivins resident, the answer lies in a genuine desire to serve his community after his wife overcame serious health challenges. "I'm not necessarily running against incumbents—I'm running for an opportunity," Johnsen explai…

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Coffee House Shots: Steve Baker on how to organise a successful rebellion 24:28

11d ago24:28

24:28

As Labour rebels appear to have forced concessions from Keir Starmer over welfare this week, former Conservative MP Steve Baker joins James Heale to reflect on his own time as a rebel, and to provide some advice to Labour MPs. Steve, an MP for 14 years and a minister under Theresa May, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, tells James about the different rebe…

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Spectator Out Loud: Peter Frankopan, Tim Shipman, Francis Pike, Hermione Eyre and George Young 42:08

11d ago42:08

42:08

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Peter Frankopan argues that Israel’s attack on Iran has been planned for years (2:00); just how bad are things for Kemi Badenoch, asks Tim Shipman (13:34); Francis Pike says there are plenty of reasons to believe in ghosts (21:49); Hermione Eyre, wife of Alex Burghart MP, reviews Sarah Vine’s book How Not To Be a …

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Bryan D. Jones, The Southern Fault Line: How Race, Class, and Region Shaped One Family's History" (Oxford UP, 2025) 56:44

11d ago56:44

56:44

The Southern Fault Line: How Race, Class, and Region Shaped One Family's History (Oxford University Press, 2025) explores the under-appreciated division in the South between the oligarchic rule of plantation owners and industrialists on the one hand, and the more democratic mindset of the mountain-dwelling small farmers on the other. These two mind…

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Stacy Horn, "Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York" (Algonquin Books, 2019) 34:22

11d ago34:22

34:22

Conceived as the most modern, humane incarceration facility the world had ever seen, New York's Blackwell's Island, site of a lunatic asylum, two prisons, an almshouse, and a number of hospitals, quickly became, in the words of a visiting Charles Dickens, "a lounging, listless madhouse." Digging through city records, newspaper articles, and archiva…

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Americano: how did Zohran Mamdani win? 23:52

12d ago23:52

23:52

Against all odds, Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assemblyman and proud 'Muslim democratic socialist' won as as the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. Aidan McLaughlin wrote about this for Spectator World. On this episode of Americano, Freddy Gray speaks to Aidan about how Mamdani defeated the favourite Andrew Cuomo, whether his succ…

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Mike Lee Wants to Sell Public Land. Some Conservatives Say No Way. 50:30

12d ago50:30

50:30

Utah Senator Mike Lee wants to sell off public lands in the West, but after fierce bipartisan opposition to his plans, he’s been forced back to the drawing board.

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The Edition: war and peace, why restaurants are going halal & the great brown furniture transfer 42:04

13d ago42:04

42:04

This week: war and peace Despite initial concerns, the ‘Complete and Total CEASEFIRE’ – according to Donald Trump – appears to be holding. Tom Gross writes this week’s cover piece and argues that a weakened Iran offers hope for the whole Middle East. But how? He joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside Gregg Carlstrom, the Economist’s Middl…

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Mad Cow with Kathy Lette 1:08:05

13d ago1:08:05

1:08:05

In this episode, Cally talks to Kathy Lette about Kylie Minogue, Barry Humphries, Joan Rivers, Germaine Greer, Spike Milligan, books, feminism, autism, sexism, ageism, sisters and second acts. Instagram: @kathylette Kathy’s new book The Revenge Club More about Kathy Order Cally's Book Get tickets for Cally’s Tour More about Cally Produced by Mike H…

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Bible Project: How Two Guys Changed Bible Education on YouTube | How I Write 1:27:56

13d ago1:27:56

1:27:56

This is not a normal episode. There's two guests, not one. Tim Mackie and Jon Collins, and they're the founders of the Bible project, a YouTube channel with more than half a billion views. It is entirely devoted to teaching people how to read just one book. I think that book happens to be the most influential book in the history of western civiliza…

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The Book Club: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe 44:03

14d ago44:03

44:03

My guest on this week’s Book Club podcast is science writer Carl Zimmer, whose new book Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe explores the invisible world of the aerobiome – the trillions of microbes and particles we inhale every day. He tells me how Louis Pasteur's glacier experiments kicked off a forgotten scientific journey; how C…