<![CDATA[Thrivable Scotland]]>a429935c-3681-534b-b1ed-6ca86044a1d9Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:45:18 +0000Captivate.fmOsbert Lancasterhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/1992597b-5545-44ea-af93-b13d91e7bb0e/Thrivable-Scotland-podcast-cover-OL-001.jpegThrivable ScotlandOsbert LancasterOsbert LancasterThrivable Scotland is for people building a better world in the face of the climate, nature and political crises. I believe the path to genuine hope and meaningful action isn’t to focus on survival, but to aim higher – to create the conditions where people and the rest of nature can thrive right now and into the future, whatever the polycrisis brings. Join me, Osbert Lancaster, as I meet people across Scotland who are working to build resilience, regenerate natural systems and heal society. I walk with them and learn what they’re doing, why it matters and what’s working. Back in the studio, with co-host Morag Watson and guest listeners, we reflect on the interview and how that approach could be replicated, adapted and scaled in different contexts. We draw out key insights and practical lessons that we hope will inspire you and inform your work. https://thrivablescotland.comfalseepisodicnopodcastScotlandCultivate wellbeing while transforming the food systemCultivate wellbeing while transforming the food systemI was expecting a great community growing project. It was a bonus to discover such an inspiring, and credible, ambition to transform the food system.

My conversation with Lisa Houston, co-founder of Lauriston Agroecology Farm on the edge of Edinburgh, was a revelation.

Join me as I walk and talk with Lisa to discover:

  • How a 100 acre urban farm is enabling people and nature to thrive right now, while also working to create a resilient urban food system fit for the polycrisis.
  • How “community engagement” isn’t a challenge if you create the opportunities people are hungry for.
  • Why Lauriston Farm is a workers co-operative and is strategically building organisational resilience and avoiding the risks of a personality driven organisation.

In the second segment of the show, co-host Morag Watson, guest listener Anthony Morrow and I discuss insights and lessons changemakers might take from Lisa’s story. These include:

  • The simplicity and the power of creating opportunities for people to connect with each and nature.
  • How thoughtful rules and structures make it easier for community to flourish.
  • The benefits of being really clear where you have agency, and what opportunities you have to change things.

Thrivable Scotland is the podcast for, by, and about, changemakers working for people and nature.

We investigate building resilience, regenerating natural systems and cultivating collective wellbeing, so people and the rest of nature can thrive, right now and whatever the polycrisis brings next.

We explore what’s working, why it’s working and how it could help you in your work.

Connect:


Learn More:


Check out ThrivableScotland.com, for netwalks, workshops and facilitation – and to subscribe to the newsletter.

Email me with questions or comments: pod@thrivablescotland.com

Produced by Osbert Lancaster and Rachel Freeman

]]>I was expecting a great community growing project. It was a bonus to discover such an inspiring, and credible, ambition to transform the food system.

My conversation with Lisa Houston, co-founder of Lauriston Agroecology Farm on the edge of Edinburgh, was a revelation.

Join me as I walk and talk with Lisa to discover:

  • How a 100 acre urban farm is enabling people and nature to thrive right now, while also working to create a resilient urban food system fit for the polycrisis.
  • How “community engagement” isn’t a challenge if you create the opportunities people are hungry for.
  • Why Lauriston Farm is a workers co-operative and is strategically building organisational resilience and avoiding the risks of a personality driven organisation.

In the second segment of the show, co-host Morag Watson, guest listener Anthony Morrow and I discuss insights and lessons changemakers might take from Lisa’s story. These include:

  • The simplicity and the power of creating opportunities for people to connect with each and nature.
  • How thoughtful rules and structures make it easier for community to flourish.
  • The benefits of being really clear where you have agency, and what opportunities you have to change things.

Thrivable Scotland is the podcast for, by, and about, changemakers working for people and nature.

We investigate building resilience, regenerating natural systems and cultivating collective wellbeing, so people and the rest of nature can thrive, right now and whatever the polycrisis brings next.

We explore what’s working, why it’s working and how it could help you in your work.

Connect:


Learn More:


Check out ThrivableScotland.com, for netwalks, workshops and facilitation – and to subscribe to the newsletter.

Email me with questions or comments: pod@thrivablescotland.com

Produced by Osbert Lancaster and Rachel Freeman

]]>df234b0c-7507-4df1-ad41-940aa307f43cFri, 03 Jul 2026 09:45:00 +010054:01falsefull33How citizen science can help tackle the climate and nature crisesHow citizen science can help tackle the climate and nature crisesI’m Osbert Lancaster, and at Thrivable Scotland I’m asking how can we build resilience, regenerate natural systems and heal society, so people and the rest of nature can thrive, whatever the polycrisis brings next.

If we’re going to regenerate nature, we need to know what state nature’s in right now and whether it’s getting better or not. While remote sensing is really powerful in many situations, sometimes you need to be hands on, on the ground or even in the water.

So I met up with Rebecca Lewis who has built up a citizen science network that is generating open access data about the health of rivers across Scotland and heard how this data is starting to improve water quality and biodiversity at scale.

From my conversation with Rebecca Lewis you will:

  • Hear how Rebecca started volunteering in her local river and went on to leading a network of trained, volunteer citizen scientists who monitor the health of rivers at sites across Scotland.
  • Learn how the data is collected, and how the project engages with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and is helping form catchment partnerships.
  • Gain practical advice from Rebecca’s experience if you’re considering developing a citizen science project.

In the second segment of the show, I’m joined by co-host Morag Watson, climate and energy policy specialist, and guest listener Nadine Andrews, systems thinking and nature connection practitioner, to discuss my conversation with Rebecca. Our reflections include:

  • The power of making the hidden world visible for engaging people with nature.
  • How becoming more aware of the state of nature can lead to a sense of powerlessness.
  • The importance of such projects offering a genuine sense of agency, where people can see that their actions are having a meaningful effect.

Connect:


Learn More:


From the Thrivable Scotland Bookshop:


Be part of the Thrivable Scotland community:


]]>I’m Osbert Lancaster, and at Thrivable Scotland I’m asking how can we build resilience, regenerate natural systems and heal society, so people and the rest of nature can thrive, whatever the polycrisis brings next.

If we’re going to regenerate nature, we need to know what state nature’s in right now and whether it’s getting better or not. While remote sensing is really powerful in many situations, sometimes you need to be hands on, on the ground or even in the water.

So I met up with Rebecca Lewis who has built up a citizen science network that is generating open access data about the health of rivers across Scotland and heard how this data is starting to improve water quality and biodiversity at scale.

From my conversation with Rebecca Lewis you will:

  • Hear how Rebecca started volunteering in her local river and went on to leading a network of trained, volunteer citizen scientists who monitor the health of rivers at sites across Scotland.
  • Learn how the data is collected, and how the project engages with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and is helping form catchment partnerships.
  • Gain practical advice from Rebecca’s experience if you’re considering developing a citizen science project.

In the second segment of the show, I’m joined by co-host Morag Watson, climate and energy policy specialist, and guest listener Nadine Andrews, systems thinking and nature connection practitioner, to discuss my conversation with Rebecca. Our reflections include:

  • The power of making the hidden world visible for engaging people with nature.
  • How becoming more aware of the state of nature can lead to a sense of powerlessness.
  • The importance of such projects offering a genuine sense of agency, where people can see that their actions are having a meaningful effect.

Connect:


Learn More:


From the Thrivable Scotland Bookshop:


Be part of the Thrivable Scotland community:


]]>d9f99030-52b2-473c-bfab-8f6be8a56f6aThu, 11 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +010057:22falsefull22Focus on what’s strong, not what’s wrong – if you want people to thriveFocus on what’s strong, not what’s wrong – if you want people to thriveWhen we want to make social and environmental change, our culture, institutions and education encourage us to assume people need more information, skills, resources etc before they can act.

Anthony Morrow and his team at one of Scotland’s largest housing associations take the opposite approach. They support tenants and local communities by believing that people are already capable, recognising and focusing on their existing strengths.

From my conversation with Anthony Morrow you will:

  • Learn about Asset Based Community Development and how using this approach Anthony and his team have prevented homelessness and transformed lives, while saving money for Sanctuary Group and for society.
  • Hear why housing is fundamental to sustainability, not just because people need stable homes to thrive, but also because of the connections between housing, health, climate and more.

In the second segment of the show, I’m joined by co-host Morag Watson and guest listener Ruchir Shah to draw out key insights from my conversation with Anthony, including:

  • How this strength based approach can be applied in other contexts.
  • The importance of upstream prevention and the difficulty of attributing results to specific projects and funders.
  • The relationship between stories and data when trying to engage people and get support from managers, colleagues – and politicians.

I’m Osbert Lancaster, specialist facilitator and host of the Thrivable Scotland podcast.

Connect:


Learn More:


From the Thrivable Scotland Bookshop:


Be part of the Thrivable Scotland community:


]]>When we want to make social and environmental change, our culture, institutions and education encourage us to assume people need more information, skills, resources etc before they can act.

Anthony Morrow and his team at one of Scotland’s largest housing associations take the opposite approach. They support tenants and local communities by believing that people are already capable, recognising and focusing on their existing strengths.

From my conversation with Anthony Morrow you will:

  • Learn about Asset Based Community Development and how using this approach Anthony and his team have prevented homelessness and transformed lives, while saving money for Sanctuary Group and for society.
  • Hear why housing is fundamental to sustainability, not just because people need stable homes to thrive, but also because of the connections between housing, health, climate and more.

In the second segment of the show, I’m joined by co-host Morag Watson and guest listener Ruchir Shah to draw out key insights from my conversation with Anthony, including:

  • How this strength based approach can be applied in other contexts.
  • The importance of upstream prevention and the difficulty of attributing results to specific projects and funders.
  • The relationship between stories and data when trying to engage people and get support from managers, colleagues – and politicians.

I’m Osbert Lancaster, specialist facilitator and host of the Thrivable Scotland podcast.

Connect:


Learn More:


From the Thrivable Scotland Bookshop:


Be part of the Thrivable Scotland community:


]]>89057594-e4eb-46e6-9e89-86d069e60422Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +010001:10:12falsefull11Discover Thrivable ScotlandDiscover Thrivable ScotlandIf you're working to make the world a better place, I think you'll find my new Thrivable Scotland podcast inspiring and useful.

I'm Osbert Lancaster and after working in sustainability for 30 years I've decided we need to try a fresh approach.

In this short trailer I'll tell you how Thrivable Scotland came about and what you can expect, including:

👉 The three key elements of this new approach: focus on thriving, not survival; focus on the present, not the future; focus on what's working, not what's wrong.

👉 How I'll be interviewing people across Scotland who are building resilience, regenerating natural systems and healing society.

👉 How with my co-host Morag Watson and guest listeners, I'll be discussing how lessons from successful projects can be shared, scaled and applied in different contexts.

Listen to this trailer to find out more!

]]>If you're working to make the world a better place, I think you'll find my new Thrivable Scotland podcast inspiring and useful.

I'm Osbert Lancaster and after working in sustainability for 30 years I've decided we need to try a fresh approach.

In this short trailer I'll tell you how Thrivable Scotland came about and what you can expect, including:

👉 The three key elements of this new approach: focus on thriving, not survival; focus on the present, not the future; focus on what's working, not what's wrong.

👉 How I'll be interviewing people across Scotland who are building resilience, regenerating natural systems and healing society.

👉 How with my co-host Morag Watson and guest listeners, I'll be discussing how lessons from successful projects can be shared, scaled and applied in different contexts.

Listen to this trailer to find out more!

]]>d8cd0001-2497-4e07-9ab2-bd25c2c3faecTue, 12 May 2026 16:00:00 +010004:56falsetrailer