Best Fiona MacKay Podcasts (2025)

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Forrest Gander, Laurie Bolger, SJ Fowler, Rachel Segal Hamilton 41:44

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9d ago41:44

41:44

Pulitzer prize-winning poet Forrest Gander discusses the Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships. An initiative which awards $50,000 to poets of literary merit appointed to serve in civic positions to enable them to create projects that enrich the lives of their neighbours, through responsive and interactive poetry activities. In awarding La…

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Harriet Walter, Jason Singh, Gillian Allnutt, Glacier Poetry 41:51

16d ago41:51

41:51

Ian McMillan is joined by actor and writer Harriet Walter, sound artist Jason Singh, poet Gillian Allnutt - and hears ritual language for glaciers - from writers Andri Snaer Magnason and Manjushree Thapa. Dame Harriet Walter is one of our best loved actresses. She's absorbed the rhythms of Shakespeare's writing over decades of her award-winning wor…

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Boo Hewerdine, Fiona Benson, Alison Binney, Yvonne Lyon, Eartoon 42:04

23d ago42:04

42:04

Ian McMillan welcomes poetry about fathers, songs celebrating the things that fall out of books, and a poetic investigation into the women who were labelled witches, with guests Alison Binney, Boo Hewerdine, Yvonne Lyon, and Fiona Benson. Ian also presents a new Eartoon (our cartoon for the ear ) which celebrates the quirks of phrasal Verbs written…

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Finding Nature in the City with Ryan Mandelbaum, Wild NYC: Experiencing the amazing nature in & around New York City 58:27

25d ago58:27

58:27

Today I'm joined by Ryan Mandelbaum, author of Wild NYC: Experiencing the amazing nature in & around New York City. When we think of immersing ourselves in nature most of us are likely guilty of imagining far off wilderness locations but Ryan is passionate about exploring the incredible diversity of nature that can be found in the urban environment…

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Lessons From The Forest with Beth Norcross & Leah Rampy, Discovering The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees 1:03:15

30d ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Today I'm delighted to welcome back Leah Rampy, from Episode 41, but this time we’re also joined by Beth Norcross to discuss their new book Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees. Having worked together for several years guiding groups into the forest to seek wisdom from the trees, they created a 6 week online video course & wrote their new book…

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Poetry and performance with Ian McMillan 42:05

1M ago42:05

42:05

On this week’s edition of The Verb: Ian McMillan basks in the glow of a Neon Line explained by the celebrated Faroese poet and novelist Carl Jóhan Jensen; Karen Downs-Barton shares poems from her debut collection, Minx, which reflects on her Romani childhood; Cristóbal Bianchi, cofounder of the Casagrande Collective, on their Bombing Of Poems proje…

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Hedges and poetry 41:46

1M ago41:46

41:46

Ian McMillan's guests celebrate hedges, with poetry from Alison Brackenbury and Testament, singing from Sam Lee, Michael Symmons Roberts explores a poem with a nightingale at its centre, and hedgelayer Paul Lamb records himself walking a hedgerow that's rich in wildlife. This hedge-themed special features a haunted hedge from poet Alison Brackenbur…

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Join the Garden For Wildlife Month Challenge with David Mizejewski National Wildlife Federation 1:10:25

1M ago1:10:25

1:10:25

Today I'm delighted to welcome back David Mizejewski, a Naturalist & self-confessed Nature Geek who works for the National Wildlife Federation. David joined me for an inspiring discussion about leaving the leaves & Autumn tips for nature friendly gardening in Ep. 52. This time we’re embracing Garden For Wildlife month & No Mow May, with tips for en…

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Peter Mackay, Tishani Doshi, Scanner, Lorna Goodison 42:09

1M ago42:09

42:09

Ian McMillan's guests are the Scottish Makar Peter Mackay, Jamaican poet Lorna Goodison, as well as Indian dancer and poet Tishani Doshi, and the musician Scanner. Scanner lets us into the baffling and mysterious 'poetry' of album titles by Autechre, Aphex Twin and other electronic music artists. Scanner has worked with Laurie Anderson, and Pauline…

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Healing The Legacy with Hilary Giovale, Becoming a Good Relative, Calling White Settlers towards truth, healing and repair 1:06:50

2M ago1:06:50

1:06:50

Welcome to episode 63 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Hilary Giovale, author of Becoming A Good Relative, Calling White Settlers toward Truth, Healing & Repair. As Maya Angelou famously said: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Now is our time to d…

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More Wisdom from the Animals with Kerrie Searle Animal Communicator 1:10:18

3M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

Today I'm delighted to welcome back Kerrie Searle, an animal communicator based in Australia. Kerrie previously joined me for an inspiring introduction to Animal communication in Ep 11. Animal communication might be dismissed as a bit woo woo, but we invite you to open your mind to what the possibility of communication is when it isn’t constrained …

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Podcasthon - Supporting Moor Trees: Restoring Native Woodland on Dartmoor 16:55

4M ago16:55

16:55

Welcome to episode 61 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to bring you a special bonus episode in support of Podcasthon, a fast-growing non-profit initiative that has united over 1700 podcasters around the world to raise awareness for the charitable cause that are close to our hearts. It’s an opportunity to use the podcasting com…

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How Herbalism helps you cultivate a supported, connected and empowering lifestyle with Meghan Rhodes, Heritage School of Herbal Medicine 1:09:10

4M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

Welcome to episode 60 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to welcome back Meghan Rhodes, a herbalist based in Yorkshire in the UK. Megan previously joined me for an inspiring introduction to herbal medicine in episode 34. We had so much fun that we couldn’t resist reconnecting to share with you all a deeper dive into how cultivat…

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Rewilding a Mountain with Paula Whyman, Bad Naturalist 1:05:56

4M ago1:05:56

1:05:56

Today I'm delighted to be joined by Paula Whyman, author of Bad Naturalist. Inspired by Isabella Tree’s Knepp estate & Douglas Tallamy’s Homegrown National Park Movement, Paula set out to find a small rural escape & establish a meadow. But Mother Nature had bigger plans & Paula found herself becoming guardian to 200 acres of neglected Virginia moun…

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Rebecca Watts, Brian Bilston, Cristina Rivera Garza, Deryn Rees-Jones 41:27

5M ago41:27

41:27

Rebecca Watts has just published her third poetry collection - The Face In The Well. She discusses writing poems that engage with the work of an earlier generation of poets, turning a cherished childhood memory into poetry, and Emily Brontë's love of ironing. Poet and writer Brian Bilston is as much a fan of the American writer, artist, and designe…

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Connecting Homeopathy to Patients 24/7 with Clare Gregory, Swift Homeopathy Clinic 1:06:21

5M ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Today I'm delighted to be joined by Clare, founder of Swift Homeopathy Clinic, an online clinic that gives people access to real homeopaths 24 hours a day when they are struggling with acute health conditions. We discuss the very real challenges facing healthcare provision in the UK, as the NHS continues to struggle & patients find access to GPs ha…

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Inspiring Change In Conservation with Brett Jenks, RARE.org 51:34

5M ago51:34

51:34

Today I'm joined in conversation by Brett Jenks, CEO of Rare, a solution orientated global conservation organisation with a distinctly human approach. Unlike our historical models of creating national parks that exclude humans to preserve nature, Rare refuses to view people as the problem, instead embracing them as partners in conservation that ena…

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Reeta Chakrabarti, Fred D'Aguiar, Ella Frears, Edward Wilson-Lee 41:57

5M ago41:57

41:57

Flames and poetry - what poetry tell us about the Los Angeles fires, the pleasure the poet John Keats took in reading - a poem-letter to an imaginary estate agent, and magical language. To explore all this McMillan is joined by poetry writers and poetry lovers. Ian's guests: BBC newsreader and journalist Reeta Chakrabarti is a trustee of the Keats-…

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Reclaiming The Heart of Hope with Megan Edge, The Heart's Journey 1:10:01

5M ago1:10:01

1:10:01

Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Megan Edge, as we dive into a beautiful diversity of topics, her background & interest in geology leads us to consider the story of Mother Earth that is written in the rocks. She also draws our awareness to the pervasive ways that our perception of the natural world is managed through a constant p…

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Connecting to the Wild in Urban Landscapes with Christopher Brown, A Natural History of Empty Lots 1:01:21

5M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Christopher Brown, author of A Natural History of Empty Lots, field notes from Urban Edgelands, Back Alleys & other wild places. In this captivating conversation Chris’ lyrical descriptions take us on a beautiful journey, as we join him in stepping off the pavement into a world where nature has adapted …

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Joelle Taylor, Anthony Joseph, Luke Wright, Accents 41:57

5M ago41:57

41:57

How does it feel to be adopted? How does naming things affect experience? Why does a mysterious sound make Ian want to get out of the studio in Salford? Is it ever a good idea to pretend to have a particular accent? Poems, questions and much more - on this week's Verb. Ian McMillan is joined by poets Joelle Taylor, Anthony Joseph, Luke Wright, and …

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TS Eliot Prize Readings - highlights of a year in poetry 41:23

6M ago41:23

41:23

Ian McMillan presents highlights from the TS Eliot Prize Readings - extraordinary poetry from 2024. Poetry books featured : Raymond Antrobus 'Signs, Music' (Picador Poetry)Hannah Copley 'Lapwing' (Pavilion Poetry)Helen Farish 'The Penny Dropping' (Bloodaxe Books)Peter Gizzi 'Fierce Elegy' (Penguin Poetry)Gustav Parker Hibbett 'High Jump as Icarus S…

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Remember Who You Are: Empowered by Love with Rev Rose Hope, The Arc 1:07:55

6M ago1:07:55

1:07:55

Welcome to episode 54 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Rev. Rose Hope author of the recently released book, The Arc. As we start a new year it is important to be reminded of how powerful an ally Hope is in our lives, during these challenging times it is easy to feel overwhelmed & powerless to ma…

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Richard Dawkins, Gwyneth Lewis, Kate Fox, Eartoon 41:59

6M ago41:59

41:59

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins tells Ian McMillan about the influence of poetry on his writing, and shares poems written by his own mother. Ian also explores the influence of a very competitive mother on the life and poetry of former National Poet of Wales Gwyneth Lewis. And as it's the first Verb of the year, stand-up poet Kate Fox suggest…

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The Morecambe Poetry Festival 57:00

6M ago57:00

57:00

The Morecambe Poetry festival hosts Ian McMillan and the Verb at the Morecambe Winter Gardens, for a special recording with poets Pam Ayres, Raymond Antrobus and Henry Normal, three performers much- loved by audiences. Pam Ayres takes us back to the beginning of her career with the first poem she ever performed live whilst working for the Royal Air…

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A special recording of The AdVerb at The Hackney Empire 1:02:00

6M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

A special recording of The AdVerb at The Hackney Empire . Ian McMillan introduces six unique collaborations - new commissions between poets composers and musicians in collaboration with BBC Contains Strong Language and the BBC Symphony Orchestra Poets from the East End of London team up with composers to make new pieces that tell stories of this pa…

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Isy Suttie, Pascale Petit, Deryn Rees Jones, Alan Connor 42:07

8M ago42:07

42:07

Ian McMillan is joined by four guests for more poetry and performance . After a year characterised by wet weather, Alan Connor constructs a poem from 188 Words for Rain collected on travels around the country for his new book with that title. Comedian and writer Isy Suttie treats us to a new song written with the approaching Bonfire Night in mind, …

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We Can All Do Something with Sarah Woodard, Spark Consciousness 59:20

8M ago59:20

59:20

Welcome to episode 53 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Sarah, an award-winning author and host of the Give a F**K podcast, who guides those seeking to reconnect with their souls creativity and Mother Nature. Sarah and I had so much fun connecting, whilst we talk about important topics, it’s done…

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Wendy Cope, Theresa Lola , Susie Dent, Ira Lightman 42:08

8M ago42:08

42:08

On this week's edition of The Verb, Ian McMillan gathers together - Wendy Cope - the poet whose 1986 debut collection "Making Cocoa For Kingsley Amis" became that rare thing - a poetry best seller. As her first collected poems are published she reflects on poetry forms and why some of her old poems are making their first public appearance in her ne…

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Leave The Leaves: Tips for supporting Nature in your Garden with David Mizejewski, National Wildlife Federation 1:10:18

9M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by David Mizejewski, a Naturalist & self-confessed Nature Geek working with the National Wildlife Federation. David is a regular in the media including having presented a series on Animal Planet called Backyard Habitat that showed people how to transform their yards & gardens into spaces where nature…

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Paul Farley, Malika Booker, Rob Drummond, Kate Fox 42:02

9M ago42:02

42:02

This week on The Verb Ian McMillan is joined by Paul Farley, author of the bird-centred 2019 poetry collection 'The Mizzy'. Especially for The Verb he's written us a brand new poem that considers birds on our workplace, inspired by new 'Nature Postive' building regulations. Malika Booker is tackling this week's 'Neon Line' poem. Booker won the Forw…

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Mapping the Emergence of A New Paradigm with Manda Scott, Any Human Power 1:06:44

9M ago1:06:44

1:06:44

In this fascinating conversation Manda & I discuss the important role creatives have, at this time of emergence, to help society envision an alternative future, something we simply can’t expect our current governments or systems of power to do for us. Manda has had a truly fascinating journey & beautifully weaves all the threads of these diverse in…

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Margaret Atwood and Alice Oswald 42:13

9M ago42:13

42:13

Ian McMillan talks to Margaret Atwood and Alice Oswald about how we write poetry, and their own process, the natural world, time, and the possibilities of myth.By BBC Radio 4

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The Verb in Australia 51:36

9M ago51:36

51:36

BBC Contains Strong Language 2024 took place in Sydney Australia in partnership with Red Room Poetry and ABC Australia . This special edition of The Verb was recorded in State Library of New South Wales n front of a audience as part of the festival. With guests Eileen Chong the first Asian Australian poet to be on the school syllabus, who came to A…

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29/09/2024 42:20

9M ago42:20

42:20

Gardens, balloons, parties and whales feature in this week's cabaret of the word. Ian's guests include Toby Litt, Roger Robinson, Hannah Silva and Caleb Femi. Novelist, poet and librettist Toby Litt has wrestled Ian, written stories backwards, and been limited to a single verb, in previous Verb commissions. This week he has to write something surre…

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22/09/2024 42:01

10M ago42:01

42:01

Ian McMillan presents a cabaret of the word - the best poetry and performance - with guests Daljit Nagra, Karen McCarthy Woolf, Brian Bilston and the voice of Stagedoor Johnny. Brian Bilston, internet poetry sensation - and the poet behind 'Days like there' and 'Alexa, what is there to know about love?' shares poems in both human and animal languag…

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The Adverb in Australia 57:12

10M ago57:12

57:12

Bringing you the best in Australian spoken word poetry . A special edition of Adverb, recorded at the Riverside Theatres in Parramatta the creative edgy hub of West Sydney. Featuring the founder of the exciting Bankstown series of poetry slams Sara Mansour along with many of the poets who have performed there in slams that attract huge audiences to…

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Maintaining Hope with Fiona MacKay 31:25

10M ago31:25

31:25

Welcome to episode 50 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm excited to be celebrating this significant milestone with you all and wanted to take the time to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has joined me on the journey so far, from the incredible guests who have shared their stories and wisdom, to all of you, my beautiful liste…

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The Adverb at Outspoken 56:34

10M ago56:34

56:34

Inspiring words that connect us in difficult times; three outstanding poets take to the stage at Outspoken, one of the most exciting and innovative poetry nights in the world. Imtiaz Dharker, poet, film-maker and national treasure is on first. She is a recipient of the Queen's Gold Medal and reads new poems from her collection 'Shadow Reader' - som…

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The Adverb at Hay 56:22

11M ago56:22

56:22

Ian McMillan presents poets in performance from the Hay Festival for The Verb's performance wing - The Adverb. This week's guests include the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, the National Poet of Wales Hanan Issa, former Children’s Poet Laureate Joseph Coelho, Professor of Creativity Owen Sheers - and Jazz Money, an Australian poet of Wiradjuri herita…

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Follow what Feels Right, with Donna Wallace, House of Orion 1:06:32

11M ago1:06:32

1:06:32

Welcome to episode 49 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the beautiful Donna from Australia. In this fascinating heart-felt conversation Donna invites us to consider the incredible power of reconnecting with our intuition, explaining how this transformed her own life and discussing the different w…

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The Adverb at Latitude 56:24

11M ago56:24

56:24

Recorded live at the sunny Latitude Festival Ian McMillan has gathered three top poets for The Adverb - The Verb's showcase of the best live poetry and readings. Dr John Cooper Clarke is a legend of the punk poetry scene and gets us into gear with a poem about the thrilling allure of the hire car. The best art can come out of limitations and Luke W…

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28/07/2024 41:54

12M ago41:54

41:54

Why does 'mean' have so many meanings? Why do poets take metaphor so seriously? Why do objects like pink ghetto blasters make poems live? And why are the filaments of our eyes in the edges of the snow? To answer these surreal, and not so surreal questions - Ian McMillan is joined by Alistair McGowan, Caroline Bird, and Toria Garbutt, and presents a…

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21/07/2024 41:49

12M ago41:49

41:49

Crocodile-like men, fireflies, a soul hitching a ride on a bee, the coolness of Switzerland, anagrams, and a mysterious rhyming poem - all this and more fromIan McMillan's guests this week - as they explore the way a poetic image can change the way we see things, Arji Manuelpillai is a poet and creative facilitator. His poetry collection 'Improvise…

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14/07/2024 42:05

12M ago42:05

42:05

Frogs who love rain, the poem that came from a magpie, the poetry of the peleton, and the everyday language of dating apps. Ian McMillan's guests this week (Hollie McNish, Testament, Ira Lightman and Liz Berry) bring all of this to the studio table and much, much more. Hollie McNish's latest book is 'Lobster and other things I'm learning to love' -…

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In Co-Creation with the Earth with Osprey Orielle Lake, The Story Is In Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World In Crisis. 1:06:19

12M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

Today I'm delighted to be joined by Osprey Orielle Lake, author of: The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis & Founder of the Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network. As Einstein stated: “We can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it” & In this thought provoking conversation, Osprey enc…

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07/07/2024 42:02

1y ago42:02

42:02

Ian McMillan is joined by poets and poetry lovers for this celebration of language recorded at this year's Hay Festival. The actor, Harry Potter star, Dickens virtuoso and national treasure Miriam Margolyes shares one of her favourite poems, the 19th century poet Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess'. Miriam invites listeners to imagine the Duke, who…

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30/06/2024 41:26

1y ago41:26

41:26

The appeal of 'the road less travelled by', Emily Brontë as self-help guru, a new way to look at Little Red Riding Hood and the 'little miracles' we might notice when we care for the elderly; Ian McMillan celebrates poems that explore all of these ideas with his guests, the poets Len Pennie, Malika Booker, Kate Fox, and Michael Symmons Roberts. Mic…

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23/06/2024 40:06

1y ago40:06

40:06

What's it like being awake at 4am? How do we feel about toads? Where does the word chortle come from, and when is an anthem truly personal? Ian McMillan gets to the heart of these questions through brand new poetry commissions, exploring the poems and poets we love, and through celebrating language's delights and quirks - all in the company of his …

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The Garden Revolution: Planting Native Plants with Shubber Ali, Garden For Wildlife by National Wildlife Federation 1:11:20

1y ago1:11:20

1:11:20

Today I'm joined in conversation by Shubber Ali, CEO of Garden For Wildlife. Restoring Native Habitat is one of the greatest tools we have to help reverse the biodiversity crisis. Native plants co-evolved alongside the wildlife in your ecosystem, they are the ones that will not only attract pollinators but actually allow them to complete their life…