Best Alastair Cooke Podcasts (2025)

1
Xanthe Ross on cooking, growing and connecting through food 23:19

5d ago23:19

23:19

Xanthe Ross went to Wales to get out of London for a while. She pottered around in her parents’ walled garden, trying her hand at growing some herbs and vegetables. A few years later, she’s released her first cookbook on the back of hosting the most sought after supper clubs in the city. Join Xanthe now, back in that same walled garden, as she pick…

1
interpolation calculator casio fx991ex 5:43

16d ago5:43

5:43

In this episode of Tech Talk Tools, Mark and Colin walk you through the powerful — yet often overlooked interpolation calculator casio fx991ex scientific calculator. Learn how to estimate values between two known data points using STAT and TABLE modes, perfect for students, engineers, and anyone working with charts or lab data. From step-by-step in…

1
Quick Strolls: Mental Health 8:56

20d ago8:56

8:56

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with guests from A Life More Wild. In this episode, we look at how nature has helped some of our guests through the toughest moments of their lives. There's an enormous amount of science surrounding the psychological benefits of being in nature, so much so that at times it can feel as if the whole idea has be…

1
Claudia Robalino on art, architecture and the Amazon 21:48

1M ago21:48

21:48

Artist and architect Claudia Robalino grew up in Ecuador, with volcanoes, the ocean and the Amazon giving her a powerful connection to nature. It was only when she moved to London however, that she realised how much a part of her it was. Join Claudia now in Battersea Park, as she talks about finding new ways to create that connection and how the co…

1
Quick Strolls: Access to Nature 8:00

2M ago8:00

8:00

One thing that comes up time and again on A Life More Wild is access to nature. Something that many of us take for granted was, to a lot of our guests, a complex social and cultural issue that had shaped their lives and work. On this Quick Stroll, we hear from Mya Rose-Craig, Lira Valencia and Ollie Olanipekun of Flock Together, on the challenges t…

1
Dwayne Fields on becoming Chief Scout and the misunderstanding that changed his life 22:54

2M ago22:54

22:54

Dwayne Fields moved to London from Jamaica when he was just a child. The contrast between the two places was almost too much for him to handle until a chance encounter gave him hope, a sense of belonging and eventually a purpose that would see him becoming the UK’s Chief Scout. Join Dwayne now in Nene Park, a place that holds fond memories for him,…

1
Series five…coming 20th March 0:59

2M ago0:59

0:59

It’s time to step back outside. A Life More Wild returns for season 5, when we’ll be taking a walk with more fascinating people and chatting about their connection to nature. Episode one will be out on 20th March and we’ll be bringing you a calm stroll and a chat every month for the rest of the year.…

1
Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera on building a global movement out of a love of birds 24:15

7M ago24:15

24:15

Ollie Olanipekun first met Nadeem Parera on Instagram, where they bonded over a love of birds. Realising how rare it was to see people of colour engaged with nature in the UK, they formed a walking group. One terrible flyer and a few years of enormous effort later, Flock Together has branches around the world, providing people with a place to meet …

1
James Wong on the full flat, ruined movies and inspiring insight that a love of plants has brought him 22:38

7M ago22:38

22:38

When James Wong first visited Kew Gardens, he asked his mum if this was what heaven looked like. The ethnobotanist, born and raised in Singapore, can barely remember a time when he wasn’t fascinated by plants, a love which has led him around the world, onto TV and into a flat that looks like a jungle. Join James now, in Kew Gardens, as he talks abo…

1
Venetia La Manna on fighting the fashion industry and the power of community 20:35

7M ago20:35

20:35

Venetia La Manna loves clothes, but knows more than most about the evils of fashion. For years, she’s been campaigning to change one of the most unregulated industries in the world - fighting over production and underpayment of garment workers around the world. Join Venetia now on a walk through the Heavens, near Stroud, where a community-driven su…

1
Lise Wortley on walking in the footsteps and clothing of historic female adventurers 22:40

8M ago22:40

22:40

When she was 16, Lise Wortley read a book by the explorer Alexandra David-Neel, who had undertaken a 14-year journey through Asia. The idea of it stayed with her until ten years later, when she was searching for a way to improve her mental health. It dawned on her that David-Neel and other female adventurers like Nan Shepherd and Henriette D’Angevi…

1
Gaz Oakley on growing food and rediscovering his love of the land 23:32

8M ago23:32

23:32

Gaz Oakley was an intensely energetic, sporty person, who pursued fitness by loading up on carbs and protein, and hitting the gym. He was also a chef, so it’s fair to say his life was quite intense. When health problems made him go looking for dietary solutions, he began a journey that would end with him becoming a champion of plant-based eating, r…

1
The Boisterous Broadcaster: Alan Brazil 54:01

9M ago54:01

54:01

"Hello, my dear old things!" Legendary broadcaster, Henry Blofeld chews the fat with the wickedly charismatic, silver-tongued sports broadcaster and former footballer, Alan Brazil in this episode of his brand-new podcast, 'Blowers & Friends'. From his days on the football pitch for the likes of Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and…

1
Hiker Athena Mellor on introducing the fourth generation of her family to the Lake District 24:01

9M ago24:01

24:01

Athena Mellor never dreamed of writing a guidebook, but the knowledge of a lifetime hiking, a passion handed down by her father and grandfather was just too extensive to stay in her head. Now a successful writer and YouTuber, she’s making sure her daughter will follow in the family footsteps. Join her on a walk through Langdale, as she talks about …

1
Musical Maestro: Sir Tim Rice 1:01:44

9M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

"Hello, my dear old things!" Legendary broadcaster, Henry Blofeld talks with the remarkable and prolific lyricist, Sir Tim Rice, in this episode of his brand-new podcast, 'Blowers & Friends'. From Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elton John to ABBA's Björn and Benny, he's collaborated with the greats and is one himself! Hear all new behind-the-scenes storie…

1
Chuckle Chappie: Paul 'Chuckle' Elliott 51:09

9M ago51:09

51:09

"Hello, my dear old things!" Legendary broadcaster, Henry Blofeld has a natter with the wonderful and iconic entertainer, Paul 'Chuckle' Elliott, in this episode of his brand-new podcast, 'Blowers & Friends'. Known for his work with his late brother, Barry in the iconic duo The Chuckle Brothers, Paul takes us on a journey through the laughter and c…

1
Conservationist Sacha Dench on tracking swans 7,000km across 11 countries 20:48

9M ago20:48

20:48

When she dropped out of the sky in front of Russian hunters in the Arctic, Sasha Dench wasn't quite sure how she'd be received. She was on a mission to understand and halt the decline in the numbers of the Bewick Swan by following their epic migration route from the Arctic to the UK on a paramotor. Join her on a walk from her favourite training fie…

1
Soap Opera Queen: Amanda Barrie 53:41

9M ago53:41

53:41

"Hello, my dear old things!" Legendary broadcaster, Henry Blofeld has a chinwag with beloved actress, Amanda Barrie, in this episode of his brand-new podcast, 'Blowers & Friends'. From her early days treading boards as a child star, to her unforgettable and iconic roles as the titular Cleopatra in 'Carry On Cleo' and Alma Halliwell in 'Coronation S…

1
The Gentleman Batsman: Sir Alastair Cook 1:01:40

10M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

"Hello, my dear old things!" Legendary broadcaster, Henry Blofeld sits down to chat with one of the finest opening batsmen test cricket has ever seen and the leading run scorer for England, Sir Alastair Cooke, in this episode of his brand-new podcast, 'Blowers & Friends'. From his early days scoring centuries for England, to his highest test score,…

1
Julius Roberts on nature-first farming and looking his food in the eye 23:46

10M ago23:46

23:46

Julius Roberts was exhausted and overworked, as chefs often are. He couldn’t help but compare himself to the happy, healthy-looking farmers who delivered produce to the restaurant he was working in. So, he decided to become one of them. It was a huge leap of faith that encompassed a commitment to seasonal eating, nature-first farming and the emotio…

1
Pink Punk Princess: Dame Zandra Rhodes 51:54

10M ago51:54

51:54

"Hello, my dear old things!" Legendary broadcaster, Henry Blofeld catches up with the fabulously eccentric and iconic fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes in the debut episode of his brand-new podcast, 'Blowers & Friends'. From Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana, to Debbie Harry and David Bowie, she's worked with them all. Hear all new behind the sc…

1
Teaser Trailer 2:15

10M ago2:15

2:15

"Hello, my dear old things!" 🏏 Grab yourself a brew and pull up a comfy chair to listen to the brand-new podcast 'Blowers & Friends', a series hosted by, you guessed it, legendary cricket commentator and unmistakable broadcast voice, Henry Blofeld - a charming, eccentric and larger than life personality with a lifetime's worth of funny stories and …

1
Writer and broadcaster Emma Gannon on the regenerative value of doing nothing 21:03

10M ago21:03

21:03

Emma Gannon had been writing books for ten years, almost solidly. She hosted podcasts, spoke at numerous events and maintained one of the most popular substacks on the internet. Having decided not to have children, she began to wonder how and when her life would significantly change. She decided to take a year for herself, to get a new perspective …

1
Activist Mikaela Loach on finding the power to fight global corporations 22:10

11M ago22:10

22:10

Mikaela Loach remembers the moment her grandmother told her that their local beach had disappeared. Years later, she would place that emotional conversation in the context of the wider problem - rising seas caused by climate change, in turn caused by global capitalism - and decide to dedicate herself to the fight for climate justice. We join her in…

1
Lira Valencia on barriers to inclusivity, common terns and “London dolphins” 22:00

11M ago22:00

22:00

Lira Valencia grew up in Croydon, surrounded by the kind of urban sprawl that keeps the natural world at a distance. However, thanks mostly to the snails in her grandma’s garden, she developed a passion for nature and forged a path to a career in the overwhelmingly white world of conservation. We join her for a walk around Walthamstow wetlands, whe…

1
Alastair Humphreys on building adventure into your life wherever you live 22:47

12M ago22:47

22:47

Alastair Humphreys spent four years cycling round the world. He’s rowed across the Atlantic, run a marathon in the Sahara and taken part in an expedition to the arctic. But we’ve caught up with him on an industrial estate on the edge of the city, to talk microadventures and the power of thinking small. See more of what Alastair's been up to or foll…

1
Series four... starts 6 June 1:50

12M ago1:50

1:50

It’s time to get outdoors again… In season 4 of ALMW you’ll walk with more fascinating people as they take you to some of their favourite spots and talk about their connection to nature. We'll be talking to adventurer Alastair Humphreys, activist Mikaela Loach, the lady known as The Human Swan, and many more. Episode one will be out on 6th June and…

1
Bonus Episode - Chatabix meets Canopy & Stars 46:37

12M ago46:37

46:37

While we were working on series 4 of A Life More Wild, which launches in June, Joe Wilkinson and David Earl shamelessly name-dropped us on their podcast, Chatabix. We got in touch to see if they’d like to record at one of our spaces and they said they’d love to, so here they are (or at least one of them is) at Humble Bee, a giant beehive in Devon, …

1
Sarah Wilson on her favourite hike and nature as a coping mechanism 20:44

1+ y ago20:44

20:44

Sarah Wilson is always on the move. Her work as an author, presenter and speaker takes her all over the world. In the course of her wandering, she’s learned a couple of things. How to ground yourself in a new place by hiking, how getting people to love something is how you get them to fight for it… and how long is too long to wear the same pair of …

1
Hamza Yassin on watching the same eagles for eight years and how Strictly changed his life 22:21

1+ y ago22:21

22:21

Being a wildlife cameraman wasn’t something Hamza Yassin wanted to do. It was THE ONLY thing he wanted to do. Inspired by the attenborough documentaries he learnt english from after his parents moved to the uk from Sudan, he gave everything to make his dream a reality. What he never dreamt about though, was ending up lifting the glitterball on Stri…

1
Mike Duxbury on life as a blind farmer, pig coughs and goose cuddles 19:52

1+ y ago19:52

19:52

Despite having a passion for animals and farming, Mike Duxbury received only one offer from all the agricultural colleges he applied to. The rest dismissed him instantly because he was blind. After graduating with an impressive array of qualifications, he became an accessibility consultant in London, but his heart was always with the land. He decid…

1
Dr Becky Smethurst on stargazing, Saturn and what nature and the night sky have in common 19:33

1+ y ago19:33

19:33

You often hear people talk about how getting out into nature gives them a change of perspective. But what happens when your profession is nature on the biggest possible scale? Dr Becky Smethhurst is an astrophysicist, author and YouTuber who studies supermassive blackholes and galaxy formation, but says that rather than making her feel small, it do…

1
Author Freya Bromley on tidal pools, grief and screaming underwater 19:30

2y ago19:30

19:30

When Freya Bromley first discovered tidal pools, she was dealing with the turmoil of grief. Those patches of calm water, surrounded by volatile seas, felt like places of refuge. From a single experience came a mission to swim every tidal pool in Britain, but while she went looking for healing, she found so much more. Join Freya now for a dip in Mar…

1
Katherine May on disappearing shipwrecks, the rhythm of walking and why we should all love winter 20:02

2y ago20:02

20:02

A few years ago, a walk on the south west coastal path opened Katharine May up to a whole new world. She began to think about reconnecting with nature, and how it was the antidote to everything from anxiety to writer’s block. She even shaped her best selling book, Wintering, around the elements. Join Katherine now on the seafront in Whitstable, as …

1
Jack Harries on meeting Obama, seeing climate change first-hand and his second favourite place in Hackney 19:34

2y ago19:34

19:34

On a trip to Greenland, Jack Harries saw a huge chunk of ice break off a glacier and crash into the sea. Already a keen film maker with an interest in travel, he knew then what he wanted to dedicate his life to - telling the stories of climate change. Years later, he’s been all over the world, finding the people most affected by the climate crisis …

1
The Drag Queen Gardener on allotments, break-ups and the benefits of gardening 18:47

2y ago18:47

18:47

What’s the best thing to do when you’re going through a bad breakup? How about get an allotment, develop a love of gardening and find yourself an entirely new career? Well, it worked for Tom Leonard, who, in a matter if months went from knowing nothing about plants to professional garden design and appearing at Chelsea Flower Show as his alter ego,…

1
Liv Little on creativity, loss and grounding herself by the sea 20:48

2y ago20:48

20:48

Liv Little often found herself asked to speak on behalf of all marginalised voices, as the only person of colour in the room… so she decided to build her own room. She founded Gal Dem magazine, a place and community where anyone could talk not just about their trauma, but about their joys and passions. It was the creation of a home that helped and …

1
Banjo Beale on drunk botanists, interior design and carrying an antique apothecary cabinet up a coast path 18:52

2y ago18:52

18:52

Most of us probably feel pretty proud of ourselves if we manage to put up a shelf that's reasonably straight. So imagine how great it would feel to refurbish a lighthouse at the end of a narrow cliffside path on the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland. Interior designer Banjo Beale, whom you may remember as the winner of the show Interior D…

1
Nick Hayes on the Right to Roam, silt witches and getting arrested 16:58

2y ago16:58

16:58

This time we join Nick Hayes. He’s one of the most prominent voices of the campaign for the Right to Roam in England and author of The Book of Trespass. He’s also an illustrator and musician who thinks that our broken relationship with nature is bound up with the loss of our cultural heritage. Join Nick on a stroll through the countryside from his …

1
Charlotte Church on woodlands, waterfalls and listening to nature 17:54

2y ago17:54

17:54

We're back for series 3 and for our first wander we're in a wooded Welsh valley with Charlotte Church. Famous since the age of 11, it's a wonder she doesn't just want to shut the whole world out and shut the whole world out and live in peace but actually she's doing the opposite. Driven by a desire to give something back and help people facing ment…

1
Series three... coming soon 1:47

2y ago1:47

1:47

A Life More Wild is back with a whole new group of fascinating people taking you out into nature. We'll be joining Charlotte Church at her new wellness retreat in a lush Welsh Valley, reclaiming our right to roam with author and campaigner, Nick Hayes in some forbidden parts of a Berkshire estate and heading out eagle spotting with wildlife cameram…

1
Bonus episode: George Clarke on utopian towns and secret projects 27:11

2+ y ago27:11

27:11

Our final episode of series 2 of A Life More wild sees us chatting to George Clarke about his humble beginnings creating treehouses as a kid, and the journey it took to building some of his more famous creations. Our very own Siri Thomas gets George chatting about nature in the city, inspiration for his recent work, and even, a little teaser for wh…

1
Bonus episode: 24 hours in 24 minutes, a sensory nature meditation experience 24:05

2+ y ago24:05

24:05

Wake to birdsong, walk in the woods, forage as you go, then dip into a stream to cool off before you head back to sit round the crackling fire. Leave feeling calm, connected and soothed by nature. This week we're bringing you a slightly different sort of episode. Earlier this summer we hosted the Slow Down and Relax Tipi at Fearne Cotton's Happy Pl…

1
Resetting, reinventing and growing - Sophie Morgan and Alice Vincent 28:15

3y ago28:15

28:15

We took a trip around Southwark Park with TV presenter and award-winning disability advocate Sophie Morgan. We talked about growing up wild, how her relationship with nature has changed, and if she was a tree, what tree she would be. We also speak to author and passionate gardener Alice Vincent, about the single flower that inspired her to a life o…

1
214 peaks and an 830km swim - Russ Moorhouse and Lisa Shaw 29:38

3y ago29:38

29:38

We go for a walk in the Lake District with Russ Moorhouse, who points out a fraction of the 214 Wainwright Fells he wild camped on in an epic year-long adventure. We also talk to Lisa Shaw, who has taken on the impressive challenge of swimming round all the Balearic islands. Both find a calm in nature that they know nowhere else. A Life More Wild i…

1
Richie Norton and Gail Muller - Movement, calm and massive hikes 29:27

3y ago29:27

29:27

We walk in the woods with Richie Norton and hear about the long road from losing his rugby career to finding his calm as a breathing and movement coach. We also talk to Gail Muller, who pushed through a chronic pain condition to regain her adventurous lifestyle and walk the entire Appalachian trail. A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brough…

1
Poppy Okotcha and Tom Hunt - Seeds, hens and seasonality 27:10

3y ago27:10

27:10

We’re down in Poppy Okotcha’s Devon garden, helping her (by staying out of the way) as she pots some seeds and talks about finding her passion for growing and eating. Then we talk to Tom Hunt about the realistic challenges of sustainable, seasonal eating and some of the little steps we can all take. A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brough…

1
Fearne Cotton & Kris Hallenga - Tears, ideas and Neighbours 30:30

3y ago30:30

30:30

We’re in Richmond Park with Fearne Cotton, to talk about how the open space and tranquillity of the waters have inspired, calmed and healed her. We also talk to Kris Hallenga about founding the breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel, stepping back from it to get closer to nature and the painful news that Neighbours is coming to an end. A Life Mo…

1
Crystal caves, rhythm and putting down new roots - Gemma Cairney & Tom Dixon 29:09

3y ago29:09

29:09

For episode two, we take a windy walk with radio and TV presenter Gemma Cairney, and her partner Cameron (founder of specialist coffee subscription service - MF Coffee) at the inimitable Jupiter Artland, near Edinburgh. We also talk to Tom Dixon, who runs community groups and an art gallery on his land in Devon and also just happens to be the co-fo…

1
Planting, subverting and empowering - Ellen Miles & Amira, the Wanderlust Woman 31:22

3y ago31:22

31:22

We're down in Devon to plant a sapling and hear about Ellen Miles' two campaigns - lobbying the UN to make nature a human right and encouraging planting in communities through Dream Green. We also hear from Amira Patel, who's given thousands of people a space to connect with nature, their faith and each other through her group The Wanderlust Women.…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Alastair Cooke Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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