Podcasts about Welsh Government

Childcare returns to the political spotlight in Wales this week. James is joined by Political Editor Gareth Lewis to unpack the Welsh Government's commitment to the policy, after surviving an important vote in the Senedd. They're also joined by Steffan Evans from the Bevan Foundation to explore the real-world impact of getting childcare policy right (or wrong). Plus, James takes a closer look at a Welsh Affairs Committee report into prisons, probation and rehabilitation and the ''serious concerns'' it raises. Ella Rabaiotti from the Welsh Centre for Crime and Social Justice breaks down the findings and what it all means for Wales.

Watch the Q&A session: https://youtu.be/gj4d75_ClggIn this lecture, we look at proposals to limit AI powers and impacts, so bad outcomes are outweighed by social benefits from the technology. I'll explain design processes (such as Human-Centred AI and Responsible AI) and technological approaches for AI system qualities like trustworthiness, explainability and “human in the loop”.  We will explore how we, as individuals, can use AI based systems in discerning ways; and look at what governments can do to help their citizens thrive in an AI-future.This lecture was recorded by Professor Matt Jones on the 21st of April 2026 at Barnard's Inna Hall, LondonMatt Jones is a computer scientist at Swansea University - and a Fellow of the British Computer Society - who works alongside colleagues from many other disciplines and directly with everyday folk across the world to explore the future of digital technologies. Over the last 30-plus years, this human-centred approach has led to novel approaches for, amongst other things,  mobile phone-based information searching and browsing, pedestrian navigation, voice assistants and deformable displays.  Much of his work has been driven by intense and sustained engagements with “low resource” communities from informal settlements in India, South Africa, and Kenya. Through their generous and gracious participation, these extra-ordinary users with the fresh and diverse perspectives have stimulated insights into the future of digital technologies for everyone, globally. In all this work, Matt works as part of a long-standing collaborative team with Jen Pearson, Simon Robinson and Thomas Reitmaier (from Swansea) and colleagues in India (including Dani Raju) and South Africa (including Minah Radebe). His work has been supported by the UK's science funders (EPSRC and UKRI). Currently, this funding includes a Fellowship to explore the future of interactive AI and leadership roles in responsible AI and inclusive digital technologies. This funding has led to a series of impactful publications, talks and influences on people, policies, and practices. Matt has collaborated with private, public and third sector organisations, including Microsoft, the NHS, Google, IIT-B, the BBC and IBM. He is a member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office's Research Advisory Group and Welsh Government's AI reviews.The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/ai-tamingGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukTwitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeSupport the show

Once violently defended from extinction, Welsh is still a part of daily life. By learning my family's language, I hoped to join their conversation By Dan Fox. Read by Matt Addis. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

Welcome to the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast! In today's episode, we're talking about how to avoid being overwhelmed with the power of creative thinking. Dr. André Walton is a successful entrepreneur having taken two of his inventions to become global leaders in their field. He is also a social psychologist and coach with a PhD focused on organizational creativity. He has spent over two decades researching how individuals and communities can harness creativity and resilience to overcome burnout and lead to positive change through creating environments conducive to creative thinking. Andre is a TEDx Speaker, International Best-Selling author (of Creative Thinking: A coach's perspective) and keynote speaker (including at the 2,000 attendee Marconi Institute of Creativity Conference – which was televised). His concept of Spherical Thinking™ relates to the imbalance between the creative thinking that we all had as young children and the more analytical cognitive style developed as adults. This imbalance can exacerbate anxiety and burnout, for which creative thinking provides a swift resolution while increasing resilience, emotional intelligence and happiness!As Visiting Professor of Creativity and Entrepreneurship at Newport Business School, he created executive programs and workshops for leading organizations including The Smithsonian, Virgin Group, Lloyds Bank, and the Welsh Government.His unconventional journey includes building concrete boats in Greece, teaching scuba diving, and developing a boutique resort and Michelin-star-nominated restaurant in Portugal.Connect with Andre Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/plan4change/www.plan4change.orgGrab the freebie here: https://theburnoutfoundation.co/free-resource-the-2-night-sleep-recovery-plan===================================If you enjoyed this episode, remember to hit the like button and subscribe. Then share this episode with your friends.Thanks for watching the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast. This podcast is part of the Digital Trailblazer family of podcasts. To learn more about Digital Trailblazer and what we do to help entrepreneurs, go to DigitalTrailblazer.com.Are you a coach, consultant, expert, or online course creator? Then we'd love to invite you to our FREE Facebook Group where you can learn the best strategies to land more high-ticket clients and customers. QUICK LINKS: APPLY TO BE FEATURED: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/podcast-guest-applicationDIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: https://digitaltrailblazer.com/

Timestamps: (0:06) Introductions (1:57) Health's place in the Welsh Government's budget (5:48) Performance of the Welsh NHS (10:51) Productivity challenges (15:31) The challenges of moving to a prevention model  

In this episode of The Mic Drop Club, Douglas Hamandishe sits down with Dr Sabarna Mukhopadhyay PhD, CEng for a deeply insightful conversation on leadership, entrepreneurship, women in engineering, NHS transformation and the real challenges facing healthcare innovation. Dr Sabarna reflects on her journey from physics and microelectronics into healthcare technology, sharing how her work with the NHS, Welsh Government, clinicians, patients and digital systems shaped her mission to improve communication, reduce waste and align services around people rather than processes. This conversation goes beyond technology. It explores trust, humility, listening, cultural identity, the courage to answer a calling, and why transformation cannot survive on pilots alone. Together, Douglas and Dr Sabarna unpack why many brilliant SME innovations struggle to scale in the NHS, how procurement and fragmented decision-making can hold back progress, and why true leadership is about bringing people together around a shared purpose. A powerful episode for entrepreneurs, NHS leaders, clinicians, digital transformation teams, women in STEM, and anyone who believes innovation must serve humanity first. Connect with Dr Sabarna Mukhopadhyay PhD, CEng: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabarna-mukhopadhyay/      

Kristan Stoddart's Russia's Hybrid Warfare Offensive Against the West (de Gruyter, 2025) is a timely and systematic analysis of Russian hybrid warfare with a particular focus on Russian cyberespionage and cyberwarfare. It especially analyzes Russian policy from the election of President Vladmir Putin in 2000 to date. It takes a long term, long lens, view of Russian policies and actions internationally and domestically, fundamentally questioning the relationship and boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. The most up-to-date and systematic analysis of Russia's hybrid warfare. Draws on a wide range of multi-disciplinary literature. Questions the boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. Dr. Kristan Stoddart is an Associate Professor at Swansea University where he is director of the Geopolitical Challenges Research Institute. Previously he was a Reader in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University. From 2014 to 2017, Kristan was part of a £1.2 million project examining Cyber Security Lifecycles funded by Airbus Group and the Welsh Government. He also was a member of the UK's Independent Digital Ethics in Policing Panel for around four years through to 2018. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is the author of eight books and many articles and book chapters.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. He is currently the Book Review Editor for Comparative Civilizations Review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Kristan Stoddart's Russia's Hybrid Warfare Offensive Against the West (de Gruyter, 2025) is a timely and systematic analysis of Russian hybrid warfare with a particular focus on Russian cyberespionage and cyberwarfare. It especially analyzes Russian policy from the election of President Vladmir Putin in 2000 to date. It takes a long term, long lens, view of Russian policies and actions internationally and domestically, fundamentally questioning the relationship and boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. The most up-to-date and systematic analysis of Russia's hybrid warfare. Draws on a wide range of multi-disciplinary literature. Questions the boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. Dr. Kristan Stoddart is an Associate Professor at Swansea University where he is director of the Geopolitical Challenges Research Institute. Previously he was a Reader in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University. From 2014 to 2017, Kristan was part of a £1.2 million project examining Cyber Security Lifecycles funded by Airbus Group and the Welsh Government. He also was a member of the UK's Independent Digital Ethics in Policing Panel for around four years through to 2018. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is the author of eight books and many articles and book chapters.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. He is currently the Book Review Editor for Comparative Civilizations Review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Kristan Stoddart's Russia's Hybrid Warfare Offensive Against the West (de Gruyter, 2025) is a timely and systematic analysis of Russian hybrid warfare with a particular focus on Russian cyberespionage and cyberwarfare. It especially analyzes Russian policy from the election of President Vladmir Putin in 2000 to date. It takes a long term, long lens, view of Russian policies and actions internationally and domestically, fundamentally questioning the relationship and boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. The most up-to-date and systematic analysis of Russia's hybrid warfare. Draws on a wide range of multi-disciplinary literature. Questions the boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. Dr. Kristan Stoddart is an Associate Professor at Swansea University where he is director of the Geopolitical Challenges Research Institute. Previously he was a Reader in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University. From 2014 to 2017, Kristan was part of a £1.2 million project examining Cyber Security Lifecycles funded by Airbus Group and the Welsh Government. He also was a member of the UK's Independent Digital Ethics in Policing Panel for around four years through to 2018. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is the author of eight books and many articles and book chapters.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. He is currently the Book Review Editor for Comparative Civilizations Review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Kristan Stoddart's Russia's Hybrid Warfare Offensive Against the West (de Gruyter, 2025) is a timely and systematic analysis of Russian hybrid warfare with a particular focus on Russian cyberespionage and cyberwarfare. It especially analyzes Russian policy from the election of President Vladmir Putin in 2000 to date. It takes a long term, long lens, view of Russian policies and actions internationally and domestically, fundamentally questioning the relationship and boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. The most up-to-date and systematic analysis of Russia's hybrid warfare. Draws on a wide range of multi-disciplinary literature. Questions the boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. Dr. Kristan Stoddart is an Associate Professor at Swansea University where he is director of the Geopolitical Challenges Research Institute. Previously he was a Reader in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University. From 2014 to 2017, Kristan was part of a £1.2 million project examining Cyber Security Lifecycles funded by Airbus Group and the Welsh Government. He also was a member of the UK's Independent Digital Ethics in Policing Panel for around four years through to 2018. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is the author of eight books and many articles and book chapters.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. He is currently the Book Review Editor for Comparative Civilizations Review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

Kristan Stoddart's Russia's Hybrid Warfare Offensive Against the West (de Gruyter, 2025) is a timely and systematic analysis of Russian hybrid warfare with a particular focus on Russian cyberespionage and cyberwarfare. It especially analyzes Russian policy from the election of President Vladmir Putin in 2000 to date. It takes a long term, long lens, view of Russian policies and actions internationally and domestically, fundamentally questioning the relationship and boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. The most up-to-date and systematic analysis of Russia's hybrid warfare. Draws on a wide range of multi-disciplinary literature. Questions the boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. Dr. Kristan Stoddart is an Associate Professor at Swansea University where he is director of the Geopolitical Challenges Research Institute. Previously he was a Reader in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University. From 2014 to 2017, Kristan was part of a £1.2 million project examining Cyber Security Lifecycles funded by Airbus Group and the Welsh Government. He also was a member of the UK's Independent Digital Ethics in Policing Panel for around four years through to 2018. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is the author of eight books and many articles and book chapters.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. He is currently the Book Review Editor for Comparative Civilizations Review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

Kristan Stoddart's Russia's Hybrid Warfare Offensive Against the West (de Gruyter, 2025) is a timely and systematic analysis of Russian hybrid warfare with a particular focus on Russian cyberespionage and cyberwarfare. It especially analyzes Russian policy from the election of President Vladmir Putin in 2000 to date. It takes a long term, long lens, view of Russian policies and actions internationally and domestically, fundamentally questioning the relationship and boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. The most up-to-date and systematic analysis of Russia's hybrid warfare. Draws on a wide range of multi-disciplinary literature. Questions the boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. Dr. Kristan Stoddart is an Associate Professor at Swansea University where he is director of the Geopolitical Challenges Research Institute. Previously he was a Reader in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University. From 2014 to 2017, Kristan was part of a £1.2 million project examining Cyber Security Lifecycles funded by Airbus Group and the Welsh Government. He also was a member of the UK's Independent Digital Ethics in Policing Panel for around four years through to 2018. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is the author of eight books and many articles and book chapters.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. He is currently the Book Review Editor for Comparative Civilizations Review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

Kristan Stoddart's Russia's Hybrid Warfare Offensive Against the West (de Gruyter, 2025) is a timely and systematic analysis of Russian hybrid warfare with a particular focus on Russian cyberespionage and cyberwarfare. It especially analyzes Russian policy from the election of President Vladmir Putin in 2000 to date. It takes a long term, long lens, view of Russian policies and actions internationally and domestically, fundamentally questioning the relationship and boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. The most up-to-date and systematic analysis of Russia's hybrid warfare. Draws on a wide range of multi-disciplinary literature. Questions the boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. Dr. Kristan Stoddart is an Associate Professor at Swansea University where he is director of the Geopolitical Challenges Research Institute. Previously he was a Reader in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University. From 2014 to 2017, Kristan was part of a £1.2 million project examining Cyber Security Lifecycles funded by Airbus Group and the Welsh Government. He also was a member of the UK's Independent Digital Ethics in Policing Panel for around four years through to 2018. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is the author of eight books and many articles and book chapters.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. He is currently the Book Review Editor for Comparative Civilizations Review.

Kristan Stoddart's Russia's Hybrid Warfare Offensive Against the West (de Gruyter, 2025) is a timely and systematic analysis of Russian hybrid warfare with a particular focus on Russian cyberespionage and cyberwarfare. It especially analyzes Russian policy from the election of President Vladmir Putin in 2000 to date. It takes a long term, long lens, view of Russian policies and actions internationally and domestically, fundamentally questioning the relationship and boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. The most up-to-date and systematic analysis of Russia's hybrid warfare. Draws on a wide range of multi-disciplinary literature. Questions the boundaries between active measures, espionage, cyberespionage, and hybrid warfare. Dr. Kristan Stoddart is an Associate Professor at Swansea University where he is director of the Geopolitical Challenges Research Institute. Previously he was a Reader in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University. From 2014 to 2017, Kristan was part of a £1.2 million project examining Cyber Security Lifecycles funded by Airbus Group and the Welsh Government. He also was a member of the UK's Independent Digital Ethics in Policing Panel for around four years through to 2018. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is the author of eight books and many articles and book chapters.Stephen Satkiewicz is an independent scholar with research areas spanning Civilizational Sciences, Social Complexity, Big History, Historical Sociology, Military History, War Studies, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Russian and East European history. He is currently the Book Review Editor for Comparative Civilizations Review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a few weeks, voters in Wales will choose the next Welsh Government in what could be a historic election. With Labour's long dominance under pressure, this episode examines the fiscal backdrop to the campaign and the difficult choices facing whoever takes power.Helen is joined by Joe Rossiter, Co-Director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, and IFS economist David Phillips, to discuss how Wales is funded, how the block grant from Westminster has changed over time, and how devolved tax powers have — and have not — been used. They assess the state of Welsh public services, ask whether Wales should have more powers over tax, spending and borrowing, and explore the constraints facing the next Senedd.They also look at what the parties are promising, where the main dividing lines lie, and why many of the biggest trade-offs are still not being clearly spelled out.Become a member: https://ifs.org.uk/individual-membershipFind out more: https://ifs.org.uk/podcasts-explainers-and-calculators/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timestamps: (0:05) Introductions (1:00) The Welsh Government's funding landscape in the last few years and the Barnett formula. (5:31) Claims about the "largest ever settlement" and how meaningful those are (12:09) Differences in funding between Wales and England

No guest this week. Just Tom and Chloe with a drink, a lot to catch up on, and roughly an hour to get through it all.It's been 18 months since the last proper project update and quite a lot has happened. 4,000 trees planted. A tiny forest that nearly died twice and is now over six feet tall. A market garden. A distillery in the barn. A charity. Four schools through the gate in one week. And an otter, which felt significant.This is the third update episode - episode 9 was the start, episode 29 was one year in. This one's the most honest of the three.What We CoverRestoring More NatureThe trees, the dragon's nests, and what happens when you prepare the ground properlyWhy the tiny forest survived a drought, deer, and voles - and is now extraordinaryThe wood meadow: a rare habitat, hand-scythed by the community, and why it mattersThe pond that failed, then gave us house martins, a kestrel, and an otterThe pig situation (it got complicated)The cow debate: October, says Chloe. Tom is less sureBreeding birds: double the species recorded between 2024 and 2025Naturfa Pathway: one of four sites selected across Wales by the Welsh GovernmentProducing More FoodFrom silage grassland to 50-100+ varieties of fruit and veg - and why that matters for food securityThe cathedral polytunnel, the duck pond, the new orchard, and chickens planned for under the treesCourses launching this summer: market gardening, agroforestry, mushroom growing, seed saving and moreWhat it actually means when the food you grew feeds the people who came to help grow itContributing to the Local EconomyFrom two tractor drivers twenty days a year to six people working on siteWilder Spirits: pre-orders open 2 April. The first spirit distilled on a rewilding site in Wales, in a paper bottlePlatform Nature: 20 founding partners from Wildlife Trusts to a koala sanctuary in AustraliaThe Grange Hub, Wilder Away Days, and why Tom talks about money on a nature podcastRevenue transparency: what the first six months actually generatedConnecting More People to Wilder NatureWilder Connections charity: Chloe's co-design phase with schools across MonmouthshireWhat happened when a group of teenagers asked if they could hug a treeMonthly open days: selling out a month in advanceHopes for the rest of 2026 - and why Tom wants everyone to slow down a littleTimestamps00:00 - Tom's opening confession 01:31 - What we said on episode 29, and how much has changed 05:44 - The four pillars explained 07:04 - 28,000 listeners, 125 countries, and someone in Cape Town saving for their own rewilding site 07:53 - PILLAR 1: Restoring More Nature 08:12 - 4,000+ trees, dragon's nests, and the saplings finally breaking through 10:43 - Tiny Forest: 98% survival, over six feet tall, future outdoor classroom 13:59 - Hedgerows: planted, lost to drought, replanted 15:36 - Wood Meadow: what it is, why it's rare, and a lot of hand-scything 18:44 - Deer: why culling became unavoidable, and the experiment with over-planting 22:24 - The pond that collapsed - and then gave us house martins, a kestrel and an otter 26:39 - Voles everywhere, and what doubling bird species in one year actually means 27:13 - Pigs: what went wrong, what's coming next, and the ecological case for them 31:21 - The cow debate 33:54 - Welsh Rewilding Alliance: founding members 34:02 - Naturfa Pathway: recognised by the Welsh Government 35:05 - PILLAR 2: Producing More Food 35:37 - How a market garden ended up being run by the people who said they wouldn't run it 37:47 - Ducks, chickens, and the orchard 41:54 - 50-100+ varieties: why growing diversity is also food security 43:29 - From least to most efficient food production on the same land 44:33 - PILLAR 3: Contributing to the Local Economy 44:33 - Wilder Spirits: the distillery, the story, the paper bottle, 2 April 47:13 - Mark, Sandy, and why six people working on site matters 48:18 - Platform Nature: what it is, who's using it, and where it's going 52:31 - The Grange Hub: opened by the Future Generations Commissioner 53:13 - Wilder Away Days: NHS to corporate 55:23 - Why talking about money is part of the project 56:38 - Cabins: off Airbnb, direct only, and why that was the right call 57:34 - Revenue transparency: the real numbers from the first six months 58:39 - PILLAR 4: Connecting More People to Wilder Nature 58:58 - Wilder Connections: what the charity is, and why Chloe built it 01:01:11 - Four schools in one week 01:02:01 - Teenagers, sticks, and what co-design actually looks like 01:04:10 - The oak tree moment 01:05:38 - Open days: what they are, and why April sold out a month early 01:06:35 - Hopes for the rest of 2026Links and ResourcesThe Grange Project grangeproject.co.ukWilder Spirits - pre-orders open 2 April 2026 wilderspirits.co.ukWilder Connections - Chloe's charity for nature connection in young people wilderconnections.charityWilder Away Days - nature-centred corporate experiences wilderawaydays.co.ukPlatform Nature - tools for nature restoration projects platformnature.comLeave Curious - Rob's rewilding YouTube channel (120,000 subscribers) https://www.youtube.com/@CuriousLeaveDayhike Magazine - the magazine Tom said had him turning every page dayhike.co.ukBook an open day or open morning at the Grange Project grangeproject.co.ukPrevious Update EpisodesEpisode 9 - Building the Ultimate Mosaic: A Grange Project Update https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-009-building-the-ultimate-mosaic-a-grange-projectnbspupdateEpisode 29 - Failure and Success: 12 Months of Rewilding at the Grange Project https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-029-failure-and-success-12-months-of-rewilding-at-the-grange-project

In this episode, we're joined by Barbara Davies-Quy, deputy director of Size of Wales and Deborah Nabulobi, a Gender Champion and Community leader from Bumaena village, Mbale in Uganda. Size of Wales work with indigenous and local people worldwide to grow trees and protect at least 2 million hectares of tropical forests – an area the size of Wales. In this episode, we talk about the partnership between Wales and Uganda, the Welsh Government's tree planting programme, the successes in reforestation and women's empowerment, the upcoming Senedd election and marking International Women's Day. ••• Presenter: Peter Frederick Gilbey Guests: Barbara Davies-Quy Deborah Nabulobi ••• Important links: Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise Global Forest Watch Welsh Government's Wales and Africa Programme ••• Hub Cymru Africa is Wales' leading international development and global solidarity organisation. We support organisations across Wales in building sustainable links and projects in partnership with organisations in Africa and beyond. Find out more about us and access support via our website: hubcymruafrica.wales. Hub Cymru Africa is a partnership bringing together Fair Trade Wales, Welsh Centre for International Affairs, Sub-Sahara Advisory Panel and Global Health Partnerships. We are members of the UK Alliance of International Development Network Organisations and a founding member of Citizens Initiatives for Global Solidarity in Europe. Read more about our partners and funders here: hubcymruafrica.wales/partners-funders.

In this lecture, we glimpse our best selves and compare that to a world where we lose everything of ourselves to AI. We are glorious creations that revel in agency, freedom and creativity. What do innovations such as cars that don't need us to drive and creative AIs that remove the effort of, say, writing or music making mean in this context? Further, with a future being forged by limited perspectives, how can human diversity inform better AI for all?  This lecture was recorded by Professor Matt Jones on the 17th of March 2026 at Barnard's Inna Hall, LondonMatt Jones is a computer scientist at Swansea University - and a Fellow of the British Computer Society - who works alongside colleagues from many other disciplines and directly with everyday folk across the world to explore the future of digital technologies. Over the last 30-plus years, this human-centred approach has led to novel approaches for, amongst other things,  mobile phone-based information searching and browsing, pedestrian navigation, voice assistants and deformable displays.  Much of his work has been driven by intense and sustained engagements with “low resource” communities from informal settlements in India, South Africa, and Kenya. Through their generous and gracious participation, these extra-ordinary users with the fresh and diverse perspectives have stimulated insights into the future of digital technologies for everyone, globally. In all this work, Matt works as part of a long-standing collaborative team with Jen Pearson, Simon Robinson and Thomas Reitmaier (from Swansea) and colleagues in India (including Dani Raju) and South Africa (including Minah Radebe). His work has been supported by the UK's science funders (EPSRC and UKRI). Currently, this funding includes a Fellowship to explore the future of interactive AI and leadership roles in responsible AI and inclusive digital technologies. This funding has led to a series of impactful publications, talks and influences on people, policies, and practices. Matt has collaborated with private, public and third sector organisations, including Microsoft, the NHS, Google, IIT-B, the BBC and IBM. He is a member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office's Research Advisory Group and Welsh Government's AI reviews.The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/ai-humanityGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukTwitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeSupport the show

Each month RNIB Connect Radio speaks to the Policy and Campaigns Team from RNIB Cymru. This month, how the Welsh Government has turned down a proposal that could impact the way blind and partially sighted people cast their vote in the upcoming Senedd elections.For more information on the work of RNIB Cymru's Policy and Campaigns Team, visit the website - Policy - Wales - RNIB Cymru campaigns I RNIB | RNIB

Local news from Chester, including 1. 1. Inquest into death of schoolboy utside Kings school suspended. 2. Rhyl man who shoplifted in Chester in danger of going to prison. 3. Case of man who caused death by careless driving sent to Crown Court for plea. 4. Shoplifter who stole gods worth £600 from Chester store to be sentenced. 5. The Lord Mayor's cycle challenge. 6. A Neston woman stole £517 from a man she cared for. 7. New 'Tarvin Traveller' bus ticket. 8. Wirral man's driving ban after being over the limit. 9. Police appeal after city walls sprayed wuth graffti. 10. Legal challenge forces Flintshire Council to delay five school closure decisions. 11. Help Me Quit: New app to support smokers in Wales quit for good. 12. Easter gift mission launched by Buckley fundraise. 13. The Flintshire occupational therapy team's project that could change how the NHS supports people. 14. More Flintshire families will qualify for £40-a-week student allowance after Welsh Government threshold rise. (Duration: 2:51:39)

What if burnout isn't just about working too hard—but about thinking the wrong way? That's the argument Dr. André Walton makes through two decades of research and work with organizations like NASA, Virgin Group, and The Smithsonian. A social psychologist and creator of the Banish Burnout™ framework, Dr. André reveals that the modern world trains us to think deductively and analytically, starving the creative neural pathways that fuel emotional intelligence and resilience. In this conversation, he explains the early signs that creative thinking is being compromised, what divergent and convergent thinking actually mean, and how restoring balance can rewire stress into sustainable flow. Join host Khudania Ajay (KAJ) to discover why creativity isn't a luxury—it's a core human drive essential to your well-being. Explore banish burnout at https://kajmasterclass.com.=========================================*KAJ Masterclass*A video-first, live-first global conversation platform — editorially independent and depth-driven. In-depth, unscripted conversations with thinkers, leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, and experts — exploring ideas, lived experience, and real-world wisdom. Hosted by Khudania Ajay (KAJ), independent journalist.

In this conversation, we update you on two big milestones for the Grange Project, the launch of the Welsh Rewilding Alliance and our OECM recognition, before sitting down with Professor Mike Berners‑Lee. We ask Mike to explain the polycrisis: how climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, food insecurity and geopolitical instability are all interlinked. Mike helps us see why recycling alone won't cut it: plastics are produced almost entirely from fossil fuels, their emissions could eat up a large chunk of the remaining carbon budget and their additives disrupt hormones. We also talk about why technology by itself isn't enough, how misinformation slows progress and what practical steps we can all take-like switching to trustworthy media and supporting a national information campaign to wake up and act.Episode journey:[00:05] Introduction and mission. We open the show by explaining why we started the Wilder Podcast: to share our learning about rewilding and the wider forces shaping our world. We remind listeners that we created the Grange Project two and a half years ago to restore nature, grow food, support eco‑businesses and reconnect people with land.[02:24] Two big updates. We proudly announce the launch of the Welsh Rewilding Alliance and its report A Welsh Way to Wild. We also share that the Grange Project has been recognised by the Welsh Government as an OECM, a big step in confirming that our land management has rigorous governance and real biodiversity benefits.[07:08] Introducing Professor Mike Berners‑Lee. We explain how we first encountered Mike's work-reading There Is No Planet B inspired us to buy the farm and start the Grange Project. Mike introduces himself as a professor, consultant and author.[11:09] What is the polycrisis? Mike explains that the polycrisis is a tangle of interconnected challenges driven by humanity's unprecedented power. He emphasises that disasters like pandemics and wars no longer happen in isolation; their severity comes from the cascading effects they unleash. For us, it was eye‑opening to see how our economic and political systems amplify these stresses.[16:58] Examples of cascading crises. We discuss real‑world examples: the COVID‑19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine amplifying food and energy crises. Mike highlights that plastic production has boomed since the 1950s and plastics are a major source of emissions and endocrine disruption. It reinforced for us how everything is connected.[20:43] Wake‑up call and the National Emergency Briefing. Mike tells us about the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster, where experts covered nine dimensions of the crisis from health and food to national security and no one thought the situation was exaggerated. We both feel this shows how widely the severity of the crisis is recognised and why we need national action.[23:05] Misinformation and media ownership. We explore how misinformation is blocking progress. Mike challenges the narratives that climate action will leave us poorer and colder, and explains how social‑media algorithms spread disinformation. We urge you to choose trustworthy news sources and recognise manipulation.[29:14] Techno‑optimism vs. systemic change. Mike says that simply scaling up renewables isn't enough. He points out that although renewable capacity has grown massively, fossil energy use has also climbed, so overall emissions keep rising. That's why systemic measures like carbon pricing and fossil‑fuel constraints are critical.[33:35] Human psychology and leadership. Together we discuss why people aren't inherently selfish. Neuroscience and social history suggest we can cultivate cooperation and empathy. Mike encourages us to seek leaders who are kind and honest, and we talk about the courage it takes to speak up and push for change.[47:19] Calls to action. We finish by encouraging you to sign the letter at nebriefing.org, host local screenings of the briefing film and start conversations in your community. Mike notes that facing these issues head‑on feels liberating, we felt it too.[49:05] Host reflections. After the interview, we reflect on our own nerves and gratitude for Mike's clarity. We discuss doing a mini‑series on the individual crises and debate whether information alone prompts action. We conclude that people need both facts and relatable stories of hopeful change.About the guest:We were honoured to speak with Mike Berners‑Lee, a professor at Lancaster University and founder of Small World Consulting. He advises organisations on sustainability and wrote There Is No Planet B and A Climate of Truth. Mike is known for making complex issues accessible and for advocating systemic solutions to interlinked crises.Resources and links:National Emergency Briefing – A national information briefing on the climate and nature crisis with expert videos, action guides and community‑screening resources. Learn more at https://nebriefing.org.The Welsh Way to Wild report – The Welsh Rewilding Alliance's report sets out a practical vision for rewilding in Wales. Download the report at https://rewildingalliance.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Welsh-Rewilding-Alliance-Report-2026.pdf.Small World Consulting – Mike Berners‑Lee's consultancy helps organisations understand sustainability challenges and thrive in a volatile world. Visit https://www.sw-consulting.co.uk.There Is No Planet B – Mike Berners‑Lee's handbook on climate, biodiversity and practical solutions. Learn more and find retailers at https://theresnoplanetb.net .A Climate of Truth – Mike's latest book explores honesty in politics, media and business as a critical lever for tackling the polycrisis. Details and purchase links are at https://climateoftruth.co.uk.National Emergency Briefing open letter – Add your name to the open letter calling for a televised national emergency briefing at https://nebriefing.org/open-letter-keir.Screw This, Let's Try Something Else – A hopeful podcast featuring community-led projects that are changing food, energy and housing systems. Listen on Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/screw-this-lets-try-something-else/id1863391095.The Grange Project – Our own rewilding project in Monmouthshire, where we experiment with nature restoration, food growing and eco‑business. Learn more at https://grangeproject.co.uk.Why this episode mattersAs rewilders, we see how climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, public health and social instability are woven together. This episode shows that tackling one issue in isolation isn't enough we need to change the systems that drive multiple crises and challenge misinformation. By combining big‑picture analysis with concrete steps, from signing a letter to choosing better media, we hope to inspire you to join us in building a more hopeful, resilient future.

As the Welsh Government publishes 'Today, Tomorrow, Together - A vision for rail across Wales and Borders', Christian speaks exclusively to Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport & North Wales, about how train services are being envisioned as well as covering Welsh bus reform and the controversial 20mph speed limit policy for local roads [2:36].  Christian discusses with broadcaster and former minister Michael Portillo his love of railways, finding a surprising twist on his current political outlook [29:43].  In his final thought from the departure lounge, Christian examines progress in the pedestrianisation of London's Oxford Street [39:38]. Find 'Calling All Stations - the transport podcast' on social media channels here: X (formerly Twitter) - https://x.com/AllStationsPod  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Calling_all_Stations_podcast/  Threads - https://www.threads.net/@calling_all_stations_podcast  Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/p/Calling-All-Stations-The-Transport-Podcast-61551736964201/ Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/callingallstations.bsky.social

Fliss and James discuss this week's Senedd vote on assisted dying and they're joined by David Phillips from the Institute for Fiscal Studies to explore the challenges facing future Welsh Government funding.

James and Fliss are joined by Chris Birt from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to discuss poverty in Wales and what the charity believes the next Welsh Government need to do to tackle it.

Watch the Q&A session here: https://youtu.be/fuk6LYeOCDQI have two pet dogs; they are happy, wagging their tails and reacting well when I come home from work. They are well fed; have good healthcare; get daily exercise; and have times of play; they do no work or chores. But their long-gone ancestors were wolves, howling at the moon, hunting, creating their packs, taking risks. In this lecture, we will consider a similar domestication of humans by AI, pondering benefits as well as being clear about the costs.This lecture was recorded by Professor Matt Jones on the 3rd Feb 2026 at Barnard's Inn Hall, London.Matt Jones is a computer scientist at Swansea University - and a Fellow of the British Computer Society - who works alongside colleagues from many other disciplines and directly with everyday folk across the world to explore the future of digital technologies. Over the last 30-plus years, this human-centred approach has led to novel approaches for, amongst other things,  mobile phone-based information searching and browsing, pedestrian navigation, voice assistants and deformable displays.  Much of his work has been driven by intense and sustained engagements with “low resource” communities from informal settlements in India, South Africa, and Kenya. Through their generous and gracious participation, these extra-ordinary users with the fresh and diverse perspectives have stimulated insights into the future of digital technologies for everyone, globally. In all this work, Matt works as part of a long-standing collaborative team with Jen Pearson, Simon Robinson and Thomas Reitmaier (from Swansea) and colleagues in India (including Dani Raju) and South Africa (including Minah Radebe). His work has been supported by the UK's science funders (EPSRC and UKRI). Currently, this funding includes a Fellowship to explore the future of interactive AI and leadership roles in responsible AI and inclusive digital technologies. This funding has led to a series of impactful publications, talks and influences on people, policies, and practices. Matt has collaborated with private, public and third sector organisations, including Microsoft, the NHS, Google, IIT-B, the BBC and IBM. He is a member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office's Research Advisory Group and Welsh Government's AI reviews.The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/ai-petGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukTwitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeSupport the show

Wales is a country in which two languages (English and Welsh) have equal status in law. So parents can choose whether their children are educated through the medium of English or Welsh. There are lots of interesting issues that arise when pupils educated in Welsh come from homes where English is mainly spoken, and these issues are interesting to teachers anywhere in the world who work with pupils where a different language is spoken at home to the one being used in the classroom. We welcome Dr Mirain Rhys and Dr Katharine Young to the studio to discuss their research into language immersion, which is where pupils receive an immersive intervention in the language to help them make progress in the classroom. They've got plenty of advice about what teachers and parents can do to support pupils whose home language is different from that which they experience in school. You can find the Welsh Government page about this topic (with plenty of Mirain and Katharine's work featured!) here. -----------------------------------Recorded in Studio B2.15 at Cardiff Metropolitan University's Cyncoed Campus on 25th June 2025.

In a week where:UK PM Kier Starmer visits China.More Epstein Files drop.The Rafah border reopens.The Grammys came & went.The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics begin this week.In Geopolitics: (8:11) As the world continues to fluctuate wildly, we all sit and wait to see how the Colonialism will move from oil to rare earth minerals. (Article By Lexy Reid)In the 1st of two Environment segments: (25:12) The future of some British homes are in jeopardy. In this case, it's flooding and the Climate Crisis is sure to make things worse. (Article By Damian Carrington & Steven Morris)In the 2nd Environment segment: (41:15) The Winter Olympics begin this week! But will it be the last not visibly affected by the Climate Crisis? Thought must be put into the future of the Winter Olympics. (Article By Kiley Price)Lastly, in Life: (51:57) A few years ago, I talked about the Welsh Government creating a role that focused on looking into the future. It's been 10 years since that role began, so how is it going? (Article By Derek Walker)Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "What's Good?"Rate & ReviewE-Mail: the5thelelmentpub@gmail.comTwitter & IG: @The5thElementUKWebsite: https://the5thelement.co.ukPhotography: https://www.crt.photographyIntro Music - "Too Much" By VanillaInterlude - "Charismatic" By NappyHighChillHop MusicOther Podcasts Under The 5EPN:Diggin' In The Digits5EPN RadioBlack Women Watch...In Search of SauceThe Beauty Of Independence

The Welsh Government's Sustainable Farming Scheme has come into force. It replaces the Basic Payment Scheme which has been phased out since the UK left the EU. What will it mean for Welsh farmers? We speak to a farmer near Brecon to find out.Environmental groups in Scotland are leaving the advisory boards on the country's new agriculture schemes in protest at what they say is a failure to address climate change and nature depletion. RSPB Scotland, Scottish Environment Link and other groups say they no longer have confidence in what they say was supposed to be to co-design of the post-Brexit schemes but in fact has ignored their views and failed to deliver meaningful reform. The Scottish Government says it is creating new policies that will deliver for both nature and the climate.Thousands of farmers, environmentalists and policy makers converge on Oxford this week for the annual Oxford Farming Conference and Oxford Real Farming Conference. This year, the Oxford Farming Conference theme is growing resilience, concentrating on how farmers can create the conditions on their land, and in their businesses, to weather future challenges. Climate change is just one of those. We visit a farmer in Herefordshire whose land has been repeatedly flooded. He's working with other farmers to make their businesses more resilient on a landscape scale.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

In CI News this week: Retired pastor Clive Johnston gives evidence at his trial for preaching on John 3:16 in an abortion censorship zone, the Welsh Government's smacking ban review finds increased pressure on police and social services, and award-winning Christian songwriter Keith Getty encourages churches to sing theologically rich songs. You can download the video via this link. Featured stories Breaking: Decision deferred in Pastor Clive case Exclusive: Pastor Clive Johnston on being prosecuted for preaching in an abortion buffer zone Welsh smacking ban review identifies increased pressure on social services Dáil shuts down extreme pro-abortion agenda ‘Christians need to sing theologically rich songs in their churches': Keith Getty

The Welsh Government's budget was on a rocky road, with Labour staring down the possibility of defeat when their spending plans went to a vote in January. Behind closed doors, negotiations went on — and now, a deal has been done. Plaid Cymru has stepped in to help pass the budget, securing extra funding for the NHS and local councils in return. But how will it land with voters? James and Fliss unpack the details with Political Reporter David Deans and Wales Online's Ruth Mosalski, who were both at the Senedd when the news broke.

Budgets are on the minds of politicians on both ends of the M4 this week. Whether the Welsh Government can pass theirs will come down to striking a deal with opposition members. But what are the offers on the table? James and Fliss are joined by Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, Sam Rowlands MS and Cllr Anthony Hunt to talk through the details. They also get expert analysis from Wales Governance Centre's Guto Ifan and Political Correspondent Elliw Gwawr on what it all means for Wales.

We're back for Season 6! In this reflective episode, James and David catch up after the summer and explore the “big idea” that's been emerging across recent blogs and conversations: there is more to human development than learning about subjects. They discuss the need for schools to make space for personal growth, wellbeing, and learner effectiveness alongside subject learning – and why our current focus on a purely knowledge-rich curriculum isn't enough to prepare young people for life beyond school. Along the way, they talk about theatre, conferences, politics, art, and the Everybody Thriving unconference in Manchester. ⏱️ Highlights Catching up after summer: Edinburgh Fringe, Fringe Review, and the Lost Lear play at the Traverse Theatre (00:01:00) James's trip to the EARLI Conference in Austria and the international focus on learner effectiveness (00:07:00) Hundertwasser's art and architecture in Vienna (00:09:00) Reflections on feedback from recent Rethinking Education episodes (00:11:00) The Supervision in Education Conference at St Mary's University, Twickenham (00:12:00) The Everybody Thriving unconference in Manchester (00:19:00) Audrey Tang, the Taiwanese civic hacker and politician, and her ideas on digital democracy (Plurality, GovZero, Pol.is, and presidential hackathons) (00:24:00) The Education Policy Alliance and “slice politics” – bridging the gap between grassroots innovation and executive power (00:28:00) The “big idea”: more to human development than subjects – learner effectiveness, self-knowledge, wellbeing, and systems thinking (00:36:00) Why subject knowledge alone isn't working: phones, attention, and the post-literate world (00:44:00) The Learning Skills Curriculum and Who Am I? project (00:47:00) The Welsh Government's Learner Effectiveness Programme (00:49:00) The purpose of education: human development vs. transactional outcomes (00:57:00) Future guests: Dave Whitaker and Rupert Wegerith (01:05:00) DON'T BE A STRANGER The Rethinking Education podcast is brought to you by Crown House Publishing. It is hosted by Dr James Mannion and David Cameron, and produced by Sophie Dean. Drop us a line at https://www.rethinking-ed.org/contact. SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/repod Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/repod

RNIB Cymru have set out four priorities for the Welsh Government ahead of the 2026 Senedd Elections. Hywel Davies has been finding out more. You can read a pdf document of the full manifesto 'A Fairer Wales: Equality in Sight', by visiting this link - RNIB_Cymru_manifesto.pdf

20 tonnes of illegal meat and animal products have been intercepted at Dover in September alone. Dover's Head of Port Health and Public Protection tells us the amount of illegal meat her staff are seizing is 'escalating'. Last month MPs warned that illegal meat imports were at a crisis level, increasing the risk of diseases like Foot and Mouth and African Swine Fever entering the country and threatening public health.Wales' new Sustainable Farming Scheme was revamped following farmer protests, at projected cuts to livestock numbers and jobs. Now an economic impact assessment into the revised version of the scheme has been published by the Welsh Government. BBC Wales' Environment Correspondent Steffan Messenger has been gauging the farming unions' reaction.What will inflationary pressures mean for farm workers wages? We hear wages may need to rise to compete with other sectors.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling

In this episode, we bring you the live recording of the keynote speech given at the IWA's 2025 Annual General Meeting held on the 25th of September. This wide-ranging and high level speech was given by Mick Antoniw MS, long-standing Senedd Member for Pontypridd and former Counsel General for Wales. His speech is entitled: Democracy at a precipice: the challenges facing our democracy and devolution. In it, Mick discusses his experience in Welsh Government and his arguments on the need for comprehensive reform to Wales' constitutional settlement.

In episode 65, we sit down with local parents Lou and Russ to have a raw, honest conversation about one of the biggest challenges facing families today—children and smartphones. Together, as four worried parents, we discuss the minefield of social media, the pressure on when to give kids a smartphone, and the disturbing content they're being exposed to—from pornography to violent videos.We share hard-hitting facts on how smartphones are affecting children's attention spans, mental health, and development. We also question why the Welsh Government and schools aren't doing more to ban smartphones in classrooms and give children back their childhood.⚠️ Highlights Include:Why smartphones are harming children's mental healthThe dangers of social media during formative yearsParent pacts: standing together against smartphone pressureHard truths: explicit and violent content onlineShould smartphones be banned from schools in Wales?

Towards the end of last year, the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales made a recommendation to Welsh Government: nature should have a voice in decisions about flood policy and infrastructure.Today we ask, why? How? And what difference would it make - if nature had a voice?ffinlo Costain is joined by Dr David Clubb, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales, and Eurig Salisbury, a poet and lecturer at Aberystwyth University.

Farming Today joins the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells - the week after the Welsh Government announced its new system of payments: the sustainable farming scheme. This annual celebration of farming, food and rural Wales attracts around 200,000 visitors but this year the number of cattle on show is down by a third because of bluetongue disease. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Has the National Food Strategy for England been watered down? We hear reports that a Food White Paper expected in the spring has been dropped. The Welsh Government announces its new Sustainable Farming Scheme. Some environmental groups are calling it a missed opportunity. We hear from the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs on what's being described as a 'once in a generation' event.And plant breeders in Scotland have unveiled a UK-bred blueberry. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

In this episode of Hearts of Oak, hosts Peter and Richard Taylor discuss Conservative MP Danny Kruger's speech on the Church of England's connection to democracy and the decline of Christian values in politics. They explore the new political party Advance UK, Richard's involvement, and the challenges in Wales under Labour. The episode also covers the Together Declaration's campaign against digital IDs, national security concerns, skepticism about voting rights for 16-year-olds, and Rupert Lowe MP's petition on child sexual offenders. Richard emphasizes the need for accountability and fairness in the justice system, alongside a call for increased public engagement in political discourse.   Follow and support Richard on social media  Richard Taylor (@RWTaylors) / X https://www.facebook.com/RichPolitics/  https://gettr.com/user/rwtaylors  https://twitter.com/RichPoliticscom   https://instagram.com/richpoliticsuk   https://www.youtube.com/c/RichPolitics   Interview Recorded 18.07.25 Connect with Hearts of Oak...

It's the last week of the Senedd term and Fliss and Political Correspondent Dan Davies dive into the debate about devolution of justice and whether Westminster will pass over more powers. They are then joined by BBC Wales' Environment Correspondent to discuss the new Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals and whether the Welsh Government has done enough to get farmers and environmentalists both on board.

It's been a year since the UK General Election and James and Fliss look back at what's been a busy year in politics. They also talk about the challenges faced by UK Labour over the past week and the impact on the Welsh Government and Senedd election hopes with the latest U-turn on welfare reform. BBC Wales' Political Editor and Westminster Correspondent join the pod to report back on their very busy week.

Livestock moving into Wales from England will have to be tested for the disease bluetongue from the first of July, after the Welsh Government decided not to join England in a nationwide restriction zone. Wales and Scotland have no cases of bluetongue so far this year and hope testing and vaccination will keep it out. But livestock organisations say it'll cause chaos at the borders with huge delays and financial losses for farmers. This week the Chancellor unveiled her spending review, which resulted in relief among some farmers, who'd feared big cuts in budgets for environmental projects. In the event, while there is a cut, it's not as big as many had feared - £2.7b will go to sustainable farming and nature recovery in England; there's also investment in flood defences. Defra though is facing cuts to its own budget of 2.7%, which some worry will land on arms length organisations like Natural England and the Environment Agency. All this week we've followed the journey of a loaf of bread from seed to milling into flour. We find out what challenges seed breeders and farmers face in producing the perfect grain of wheat. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

Livestock moving from England to Wales will have to be tested from next month. The Welsh Government says that once the whole of England becomes a restricted zone for the bluetongue disease on the first of July, animals will have to test negative for the disease before they can go into Wales. There have been no cases of bluetongue in Wales, or in Scotland this year. There the government also decided earlier this month that animals should be tested if they're coming from a restricted zone. Earlier this week the Livestock Auctioneers Association warned on this programme that limiting the movement of animals across the boarders would be 'catastrophic'. As the UN Oceans summit in Nice draws to a close, it's hoped that more countries will ratify a High Seas Treaty and so bring it into force. This agreement was made two years ago to put 30% of international waters into marine protected areas by 2030. However even within those areas, bottom trawling is allowed. Bottom trawling is already banned in some English waters and the government is consulting on plans to extend that ban. We speak to Michael Kaiser professor of fisheries conservation at the Lyell centre at Heriot Watt University. All week we've been following the journey from field to bread bin - and today we're at the millers. 85% percent of the wheat used for our bread is grown and milled in the UK. We import about 15 percent of bread wheat from Canada and Germany. We visit a miller in Essex who can trace his milling roots right back to the Domesday book. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Impulse Space has raised $300 million in a Series C funding round. Redwire's advanced lunar and Martian manufacturing technology, Mason, has passed Critical Design Review (CDR). Astroscale UK has successfully completed the Critical Design Review for the ELSA-M In-Orbit Demonstration spacecraft, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Selected Reading Impulse Space Secures $300 Million Series C to Accelerate the Future of In-Space Mobility Redwire Receives NASA Approval to Advance Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Technology for Building Infrastructure on Moon and Mars Astroscale's ELSA-M spacecraft completes Critical Design Review Maxar and Saab Agree Strategic Partnership to Develop Multi-Domain Battlespace Solutions and Advance Europe's Space-Based Capabilities DIU selects new companies for the Hybrid Space Architecture project. (Maxar Interview) Planet Expands Business with Welsh Government for Land and Natural Resource Management Rocket Lab Schedules Third Electron Launch in 24 Days to Deploy Next Mission for iQPS Reflect Orbital Selected for SBIR Phase II Contract by AFWERX to Advance Satellite-Based Sunlight Redirection Technology IonQ Completes Acquisition of Lightsynq, Accelerating Quantum Computing and Networking Roadmap America's First Spacewalk - NASA Two space vets added to Astronaut Hall of Fame as one awaits launch- collectSPACE T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new law which is intended to protect nature and reverse the loss of wildlife has been introduced by the Welsh Government. The Environment Bill aims to allow members of the public to challenge organisations in Wales, including councils, on environmental issues such as water pollution. If passed, it will set up a new Office of Environmental Governance, to enforce environmental law, and Ministers in the Senedd will have to set targets to reduce pollution and manage ecosystems.We visit Down Land Traditional Meats in West Sussex, where the owner says increasing financial strain and red tape is putting the future of small abattoirs at risk. The closure of abattoirs has been a long standing trend - in the 1970s the UK had 2 and half thousand abattoirs...but that had dropped to just 203 by 2023.And we find out about a high-tech cattle handling crate that incorporates software to monitor animals. It can minimise manual handling by drafting animals - where a herd is separated into smaller groups - by itself. Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

Veterinary medicine is not part of the agri-trade agreement sketched out between the EU and the UK earlier this week. It's left vets increasingly concerned that some veterinary medicines won't be available in Northern Ireland after the end of this year when a ‘grace period' under the Windsor Framework allowing medication from Great Britain to cross the Irish sea and be sold there runs out.The warming of coastal waters means a change in the species that can thrive in them. Fishermen in the South West of England are reporting an invasion of octopuses turning up in lobster and crab pots. It's good news for some fishermen who are catching and selling the octopuses, but disastrous for others.And getting bovine TB on a farm can be a huge financial blow and the emotional impact on farmers can be devastating. We visit one dairy farmer in Pembrokeshire who's been working with the Welsh Government to improve their policies on dealing with the disease, and the emotional impact it can have.Presented by Caz Graham Produced by Heather Simons

On today's episode: Manscaped: Get 20% off + free shipping with the code HARDFACTOR at manscaped.com. That's 20% off + free shipping with the code HARDFACTOR at manscaped.com. It's smooth sack summer boys, get on board or get left behind.  My Morning Kick - Go to mymorningkick.com/hardfactor and watch Chuck Norris's video on how you can see incredible changes to your health. (00:00:00) - On the agenda for today's episode