George Monbiot: 'Farmers need stability and security... Instead, they're contending with chaos'
The writer, journalist and campaigner George Monbiot joins the Country Life podcast.

For four four decades, George Monbiot has been one of Britain's strongest voices speaking out on the environment.
After starting his career with the BBC, Monbiot is now best known for his books and his weekly column in The Guardian, winning a reputation as a tireless and passionate advocate for the natural world, as well as making plenty of enemies along the way.
Subscribe to the Country Life Podcast
He joins James Fisher on this week's episode of the Country Life Podcast to talk about farming, development, nature and neoliberalism. Covering a huge amount of ground — from developers and corporations pushing their agenda on government, to how flawed farming practices have created monoculture deserts across huge swatches of Britain — it's a fascinating listen.
You may not always agree with him, but his commitment to making the world a better place is fierce and unwavering. His passion isn't just directed towards the environment, but also society as a whole — something explored in his recent book on neoloberalism, The Invisible Doctrine, which he recently spoke about at the Cambridge Literary Festival.
You can find out more about George and his work at monbiot.com.
Episode credits
Host: James Fisher
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Guest: George Monbiot
Editor and producer: Toby Keel
Music: JuliusH via Pixabay
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country Life
An Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
-
The legacy od Dad's Army
Kate Green takes a look at Dad’s Army, the iconic BBC sitcom written by David Croft and Jimmy Perry.
-
New vision for old Dartmoor: Prince of Wales leads ambitious plans for nature recovery in Cornwall
The Vision outlines a set of guiding principles to inform the future environmental management of the Duchy’s Dartmoor estate.
-
Wakehurst: 500 years of history, 2.4 billion seeds, 500 acres of planting, and scientists who might just save us all
Charles Quest-Ritson takes a look at the amazing work that's been done to update Wakehurst, Kew's trailblazing outpost in Sussex.
-
Hannah Bourne-Taylor: Saving swifts, naked protests and the bird that nested in my hair
The campaigner and writer Hannah Bourne-Taylor joins the Country Life Podcast.
-
'I spent 84 years living in the countryside, and have just moved to a city. Here's what I've discovered.'
Charles Moseley has lived in a small village in Cambridgeshire for decades, but now he’s made the leap with his wife to the cathedral city of Ely, the subject of his latest book.
-
Goshawks: The birds of prey that came back from extinction
By the late 19th century, the goshawk was indisputably extinct, but their recent restoration to the British isles makes it worth exploring their history. Expert naturalist Mark Cocker tells more about this fascinating bird of prey.
-
'The biggest cavities are in the hearts and skulls of politicians': What hope for the swift?
Ahead of World Swift Day and Swift Awareness Week, Octavia Pollock ponders the decision not to mandate the use of swift bricks
-
'We need to make a case for more resources': What next for wild camping on Dartmoor
Jane Wheatley takes the temperature of the land after years of debate over public access to private spaces.
-
From Scotland to Greenland, Earth Photo 2025's shortlisted works showcase our amazing planet
The 203 photographs and films will tour more than 20 Forestry England sites, National Trust properties and other historic houses from next month until spring 2026.