Best The Blogger Programme Podcasts (2025)

1
No nationalism here: trashing benefit claimants is a global sport 21:30

3h ago21:30

21:30

Last episode for this year! In this episode, we travel across our rising millennium seas to the home nation of New Zealand! We're having a starter look at the ways that NZ's useless government is trying to crush benefit claimants. The aim here is to start painting a picture of the way that governments are targeting vulnerable benefit claimants acro…

1
Mixing files up, losing sick notes, scanning blank pages: how the benefits system really works 17:43

2M ago17:43

17:43

In this episode, we take another look at the benefits and public sector system. It is a total circus. I talk with Michelle Cardno who is a benefits lawyer at Fightback for Justice in Bury. Michelle tells an interesting story about the DWP scanning people's medical evidence the wrong way up, so that a tribunal judge at appeal only had blank pages to…

1
ANOTHER leaked email telling professionals NOT to write rehousing support letters for desperate families 16:43

2M ago16:43

16:43

By Kate Belgrave

1
Council tells NHS to stop writing support letters for disabled children who desperately need rehousing 14:08

3M ago14:08

14:08

In this episode, we look at an extraordinary email that a senior health professional just sent to me. The email says that a Hackney council officer met with health and medical staff, and told them to stop writing supporting letters for families who need to be moved out of terrible housing - that's families with disabled children. The email was circ…

1
We've shut your benefit claim with no warning at all: How the DWP really does disability 16:59

3M ago16:59

16:59

In this episode, Niki tells us how the DWP closed her universal credit claim without any warning at all. They just shut it and that was that. Niki has a 7 year old SEND son who also has autism. Niki and I called the universal credit helpline to ask what was going on. I recorded that call. Universal credit kept saying that Niki would have to wait fo…

1
"Back to work" programmes for sick and disabled people - dodgy and unfair 24:18

5M ago24:18

24:18

In this episode, we look at Liz Kendall's proposed so-called Pathways to Work programme. Liz Kendall plans to spend £1bn to bring councils, jobcentres, voluntary groups and private back to work companies together to Get Britain Working. This means sick and disabled people and people with mental health issues will be targeted for back to work progra…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x24 Season Finale - Cultivating Climate Hope: A Tapestry of Action 23:21

4M ago23:21

23:21

A powerful culmination of our 23-episode journey with Climate Ambassadors! In this season finale, host Kit Marie Rackley weaves together profound insights from engineers, teachers, nuclear consultants, and soil scientists volunteering nationwide. Discover how these diverse experts are transforming climate anxiety into agency through six radical les…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x23 The Denver Complex and Fens 2100+ Programme (with the Environment Agency) 49:25

5M ago49:25

49:25

Join Kit Marie at the Denver Complex in the East Anglian Fens—one of the UK’s largest tidal and fluvial management systems, second only to the Thames Barrier yet hidden in plain sight. In this special field episode, Environment Agency experts Louise Wilson (Strategy Advisor, Fens 2100+) and Amy Shaw (Fens Flood Risk Manager & Fens 2100+ Programme D…

1
The benefits system actually causes mental health problems 18:02

5M ago18:02

18:02

In this episode, Megi talks about: the effects that caring for a profoundly disabled autistic child has on mental health how difficult it is to get and live on benefits and how that destroys mental health Liz Kendall and inglorious Prime Minister Keir Starmer never talk about these things, of course. Their line inevitably is that anyone who claims …

1
Coffee & Geography 5x22 Royal Norfolk Show STEMM Village and RWE Mini-COP 52:41

6M ago52:41

52:41

On location at the UK's premier agricultural event! Kit Marie explores how Norfolk's farming heritage intersects with cutting-edge STEM innovation and youth climate action.Hosted by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) – a charity advancing food production and rural education – the STEMM Village's 2025 theme "STEMM in the Food Chain: F…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x21 Ray Butchart (Yorkshire & Humber-based Climate Ambassador) 55:26

5M ago55:26

55:26

A season-long special interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors across the UK! Why did they become Ambassadors? How do their unique backgrounds empower climate action?Joining Kit Marie from the Yorkshire & Humberside region is Ray Butchart, a retired RAF aircraft engineer (22 years) and industry veteran (31 years) with 58 years of scuba diving expertise. Ra…

1
Coffee & Geography Espresso - 9 - #ShowYourStripesDay with Phil Humphries 16:47

6M ago16:47

16:47

‘Espresso’ & Geography is a #MiniGeogs #podcast short where Kit Marie and special guests talk current geographical affairs for a maximum of 15 minutes. This shot of geography-laden caffeine welcomes the wonderful Phil Humphries back to the #CoffeeGeogPod coffeehouse to talk about today (21st June 2025) being #ShowYourStripesDay. What are the climat…

1
Liz Kendall will NOT protect profoundly disabled people from benefit cuts 18:51

6M ago18:51

18:51

In this episode, we return to deeply unpleasant DWP secretary of state Liz Kendall and her plans to cut disability benefits. Liz Kendall claims that disabled people who are most in need (whatever that means) will be protected from her cuts to their support money. This claim is garbage. I'm calling it. That is because Liz Kendall has a famously poor…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x20 Willem Buttinger (East-based Climate Ambassador) 53:17

6M ago53:17

53:17

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Willem Buttinger, a retired community organiser and passionate environmental advocate. Willem sh…

1
Coffee & Geography Espresso - 8 - Chattanooga National Park City & Slow Ways with Dan Raven-Ellison 16:19

6M ago16:19

16:19

‘Espresso’ & Geography is a #MiniGeogs #podcast short where Kit Marie and special guests talk current geographical affairs for a maximum of 15 minutes. This shot of geography-laden caffeine welcomes the fabulous Dan Raven-Ellison back to the #CoffeeGeogPod coffeehouse to talk about news that #Chattanooga, Tennessee has been designated as the third …

1
The benefits heist: how sick and disabled people have paid the price for the anti-welfare craze 18:04

7M ago18:04

18:04

In this episode, we take a look at: Political attacks on sick and disabled people in the last 10 years Claims that benefit money is easy to get when it is categorically not Liz Kendall's stunning lack of imagination for devising welfare policy that brings out the best in us, rather than the absolute worse How anti-benefit claimant rhetoric runs so …

1
Season 2: Liz Kendall and the great benefits robbery 0:47

7M ago0:47

0:47

Labour minister Liz Kendall is secretary of state for the department of work and pensions. Liz is not an original thinker. Like all her Tory predecessors, Liz wants to cut benefit and support money for sick and disabled people. In this season, we're going take at look at Liz's implication that sick and disabled people are lazy, feckless and just ne…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x19 Andrew Charlton-Perez (Climate Ambassadors National Co-Lead) 58:23

6M ago58:23

58:23

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie for this episode is Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez, co-lead of the Climate Ambassadors Scheme and Head of the School of Mathema…

1
Coffee & Geography Espresso - 7 - UK Overshoot Day 2025 with Dave Wynn 17:01

7M ago17:01

17:01

‘Espresso’ & Geography is a #MiniGeogs #podcast short where Kit Marie and special guests talk current geographical affairs for a maximum of 15 minutes. This shot of geography-laden caffeine welcomes climate guru, harpist and stereophotographer Dave Wynn back to the #CoffeeGeogPod coffeehouse to talk about news that today, 20th May 2025, is the UK's…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x18 Dr Elle Young (North East Regional Hub Manager) 58:21

7M ago58:21

58:21

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the North East region is Dr Elle Young, reflecting on her time as Regional Hub Manager and her next chapter as a postdo…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x17 Lochlann Atack (London Regional Hub Manager) 1:01:03

7M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie is their London Regional Hub Manager colleague, Lochlann Atack. They discuss identity, inequality, and the unique challenges and…

1
When your council does not help you escape violence 27:47

8M ago27:47

27:47

Anna tells her story in this episode. It's the story of how Anna, her partner and their 2 sons had to leave their council flat because their neighbour, who likes to wield a knife, was threatening to kill the children. The tyres on Anna's car were slashed. The abuse and aggression escalated as time went on. Anna asked Hackney council for help for a …

1
Coffee & Geography 5x16 Ruth Green (Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Hub Manager) 55:00

8M ago55:00

55:00

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie is their Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Hub Manager colleague, Ruth Green. They discuss the joys and challenges of nature-con…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x15 Climate Action at the Geog Association Annual Conference 2025 #GAConf25 1:13:20

8M ago1:13:20

1:13:20

A special on-location episode recorded at Oxford Brookes University for the Geographical Association Annual Conference 2025 (https://geography.org.uk/events-cpd/ga-annual-conference-and-exhibition/). Part of our season-long special focusing on #ClimateAmbassadors, Kit Marie explores the multitude of talks, workshops, resources and exhibits that foc…

1
A really serious breach of very personal data 15:08

8M ago15:08

15:08

In this episode, Megi talks about Hackney council forwarding another family's very personal information to her husband's email address. Megi has an autistic daughter. She talked about the family's housing problems in episode 5. The information that the council accidentally forwarded to Megi's husband contained very sensitive details about another f…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x14 Stephanie Gilliver (East-based Climate Ambassador from Virgin Money) 58:32

9M ago58:32

58:32

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Stephanie Gilliver, discussing the beauty of Norfolk's Broads, the critical role of sustainable …

1
Coffee & Geography 5x13 Chris Churchman (London-based Climate Ambassador from cquester) 1:00:14

9M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the London region is Chris Churchman, discussing the hidden green spaces of London, the critical importance of soil hea…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x12 Adrian Ferraro (SW-based Climate Ambassador from The Bioasis) 58:59

9M ago58:59

58:59

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Adrian Ferraro, discussing his journey as a Climate Ambassador, his work with The Bioasis, and h…

1
Feels like everyone's just waiting for this kid to fall to his death 19:43

9M ago19:43

19:43

In this episode, we return to Latoya. Latoya was featured in the first episode of this podcast. She has an incredibly active 7-year-old autistic son who runs, climbs to incredible heights, barely sleeps and just about never stops. Latoya also has a 4-year-old daughter who is also very likely autistic. She has just been referred for assessment. She …

1
Coffee & Geography 5x11 Amelia Grigg (East-based Climate Ambassador from Central Beds Council) 56:42

9M ago56:42

56:42

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Amelia Grigg, discussing her journey as a Climate Ambassador, her role as a Sustainability Offic…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x10 SharedEd Sustainable Futures & Climate Citizen Science with Alistair Hamill 46:02

9M ago46:02

46:02

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?A special 'side-step' episode as Kit Marie welcomes back previous #CoffeeGeogPod guest and Espresso co-host Alistair Hamill, discussing his innova…

1
Letting agents DO NOT show properties to people who claim benefits 15:32

9M ago15:32

15:32

In this interlude episode, I ring (and record) letting agents to ask if they accept people who pay rent with benefits like universal credit. You'll hear what the letting agents say. It is actually unlawful for letting agents to say No to people who claim benefits, but that doesn't stop them keeping benefit claimants out, as you'll hear. Most lettin…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x09 Peter Livey (East-based Climate Ambassador from HMM) 54:47

9M ago54:47

54:47

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Peter Livey, discussing his journey as a Climate Ambassador, his dual roles in the shipping indu…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x08 Dr Adrian Cooper (East-based Climate Ambassador from Felixstowe) 55:18

9M ago55:18

55:18

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Dr. Adrian Cooper, discussing his journey as a Climate Ambassador, his work with the Felixstowe …

1
Coffee & Geography 5x06 Climate Ambassadors Exhibit at Norwich Science Festival 2025 59:41

10M ago59:41

59:41

Join Kit Marie on location at the vibrant Norwich Science Festival 2025 for a special episode of Coffee & Geography! This episode is packed with engaging conversations and insights from the Climate Ambassadors exhibit, featuring a diverse range of topics including adaptation, resilience, biodiversity, climate education, green careers, and decarboni…

1
Megi talks about her young daughter and her family's slow burial in Hackney council's housing bureaucracy 35:26

10M ago35:26

35:26

Megi has an 8 year old daughter with autism. Megi talks about her daughter and the family's housing issues in this episode. She also takes us on a rollercoaster ride (some cracking downhill bits) through the 5 years that she's spent getting absolutely nowhere in her attempts to get her family rehoused. Megi's daughter is non verbal, not toilet trai…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x07 Jonny Ruffell (East-based Climate Ambassador from Opery Group) 53:55

10M ago53:55

53:55

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Dr. Jonny Ruffell, discussing his journey as a Climate Ambassador, his work as an energy transit…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x03 Jonathan Allen (SW-based Climate Ambassador from Frazer-Nash) 44:20

10M ago44:20

44:20

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassdors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action? Joining Kit Marie based in the South-West region is Jonathan Allen, talking about the stereotypes and misconceptions of nuclear energy, balancing …

1
Coffee & Geography 5x05 Rachel Newell (East-based Climate Ambassador from Kier Construction) 51:27

11M ago51:27

51:27

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Rachel Newell, discussing her journey as a Climate Ambassador, the intersection of social and en…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x04 Thulsi Prabakaran (East-based Climate Ambassador from Uni of Leicester) 58:52

11M ago58:52

58:52

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassadors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action?Joining Kit Marie based in the East of England is Thulsi Prabakaran, discussing her journey as a relatively new Climate Ambassador, the importance…

1
Niki tries to get on the council housing waiting list - while the council decides her son's autism is... on the mend? 26:03

11M ago26:03

26:03

Total circus here. Niki talks about the 2.5 years it took to get on the Hackney council housing waiting list. She has a 6 year old son who is autistic. He attends a SEND school in Hackney. The family lives in a very small, one-bedroom private rental which has damp, mould and rodents. Needless to say, the family is keen to get out of there. Niki als…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x02 Meryl Batchelder (NE-based Climate Ambassador from MoEE) 1:00:06

11M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassdors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action? Joining Kit Marie based in the North-East region is Meryl Batchelder, talking about living sustainably in a small field in Northumberland, running…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x01 Michael Hardisty (London-Based Climate Ambassador from EngineeringUK) 46:38

11M ago46:38

46:38

A season-long special of the podcast interviewing #ClimateAmbassdors up and down the country! Why did they become Ambassadors? How can they help communities and education settings to take climate action? Joining Kit Marie based in the London region is Michael Hardisty, talking about engaging young people in engineering for sustainability, 'Big Bang…

1
Coffee & Geography 5x00 Kit Marie Rackley (Host Opinion: Populism & Science Denial) 33:51

11M ago33:51

33:51

Before we get cracking on an exciting new season on #CoffeeGeogPod, host Kit Marie lays their thoughts and feelings bare on current affairs. The re-election of Trump, effective concession that we'll miss 1.5C #climatechange target, increasing hostility to the science community, step-up in anti-trans actions and rhetoric... It's all seems overwhelmi…

1
Niki talks about the slog to get benefits and housing when you have an autistic child. Fiasco. 31:59

11M ago31:59

31:59

Millennium politicians like to say that getting benefits, housing and support is too easy for too many people. Au contraire. In this episode, Niki talks about the ways that trying to get that help takes over your life. Niki has a young autistic son, a tiny, rented one-bedroom flat for her family's four members (the landlord wants to raise the rent)…

1
And Hackney council refuses to talk about a serious child safety issue 17:28

1y ago17:28

17:28

The podcast heads to Hackney council to ask to speak to someone about Latoya's desperation for a swap to a home when her son won't get injured. The council shows this podcast the door - though we absolutely refuse to leave. We are staying until someone from the council or the ruling Labour group gives an interview. Also - a few lines about how outf…

1
A young son with autism and a very unhelpful council 26:00

1y ago26:00

26:00

Latoya is the mother of a 7 year old boy who has autism. The boy is heading for calamity in the family's present home, which everyone who sees him, including professionals, understands within five minutes of watching him. Will Hackney council help the family find a safer place to live? Answer at the moment is probably no, given that Hackney council…

1
Coffee & Geography 4x26 Emma Baines (Climate Ambassadors West Midlands) 57:39

1+ y ago57:39

57:39

Special #ClimateAmbassdors mini-series! Learn more about the scheme and get to know each of the England regional teams. Joining Kit Marie from the West Midlands hub is Emma Baines, talking about influences of youth progression into university, voluntourism and research in the Global South, jiu-jitsu, and more!The first 10 years of Emma’s career has…

1
Coffee & Geography 4x25 Zoe Gilbank (Climate Ambassadors Yorkshire & Humber) 56:59

1+ y ago56:59

56:59

Special #ClimateAmbassdors mini-series! Learn more about the scheme and get to know each of the England regional teams. Joining Kit Marie from the Yorkshire & Humber hub is Zoe Gilbank, talking about California’s redwoods, road tripping, access to green spaces for women, and more!Zoe was born in Leeds and has lived there ever since all through scho…

1
Coffee & Geography 4x24 Stephen Blenkinsop (Climate Ambassadors NE) 56:46

1+ y ago56:46

56:46

Special #ClimateAmbassdors mini-series! Learn more about the scheme and get to know each of the England regional teams. Joining Kit Marie from the Northeast hub is Stephen Blenkinsop, talking about culture in the Northeast, inequality in the Northeast, his love of Spain, Doctor Who and more!Stephen is Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering at…

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