The Rural Affairs Podcast is a new podcast series from English Rural, exploring the ideas, challenges and people shaping rural England today.
Hosted by Martin Collett, Chief Executive of English Rural, the podcast offers thoughtful, accessible conversations on topics that matter to rural communities — from planning and housing to conservation, enterprise and representation.
The aim is simple: to open up informed discussion on often complex rural issues, cutting through jargon and bringing together voices from across the rural and countryside sector in a way that’s engaging, relevant and easy to follow.
Each episode of The Rural Affairs Podcast takes a deeper dive into the forces shaping rural life in England—the policies, pressures and opportunities that influence how rural communities develop, thrive and adapt.
Discussions span a wide range of themes, including:
The podcast brings together leading thinkers, practitioners and advocates from across the sector to explore these themes from multiple perspectives, grounded in evidence, lived experience and practical insight.
The debut episode asks a provocative question: Is Planning Sexy? taking a fresh look at England’s planning system, a topic often viewed as technical and remote, but one that fundamentally shapes rural communities, landscapes and livelihoods.
Hosted by Martin Collett, the episode features:
Together, they explore how planning influences both the look and feel of rural places, why public engagement with planning can feel so disconnected, and how planning can be reframed as a positive and creative force for rural communities.
Speaking of the launch of the podcast, Martin Collett said:
“We know there’s an appetite for deeper dives into the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities, and until now that space hasn’t really been filled. The launch of the Rural Affairs Podcast is a genuinely exciting moment, offering a fresh platform to bring together voices from across the sector in an engaging and accessible way.”
The podcast is designed to reach beyond traditional sector audiences, helping to widen engagement with rural issues and add meaningfully to wider conversations about the future of rural England.
Episodes of The Rural Affairs Podcast are available to watch and listen on:
New episodes will be added to this page as they are released.
To keep up to date with new episodes, clips, behind‑the‑scenes content and upcoming discussions, follow The Rural Affairs Podcast on social media:
X / Twitter: @ruralaffairspod
Instagram: @ruralaffairspod
TikTok: @ruralaffairspod
For enquiries or more information about The Rural Affairs Podcast, please contact:
James Crawford-Smith, Communications & Administrative Officer –
james.crawford-smith@englishrural.org.uk
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