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Museum Of English Rural Life
Jane Austen
Queer Rural History
University Of Reading
Rural Life
Agricultural Revolution
Radical Rural
Museum Collections
Farming
Dartmoor
Cultural Heritage
Poetry
Community Engagement
LGBTQ+ Histories
Folklore
Inheritance
Mansfield Park
Emma
Persuasion
Colonialism

Lo-fi clip-clops and bleats to relax/study to. Welcome to the official podcast of The Museum of English Rural Life. Based at the University of Reading, we explore the past, present and future of the English countryside. Hosted by Joe Vaughan and Dr Ollie Douglas. Chaotic Good.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes38Founded2 years ago
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Latest Episodes

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What will farming look like in 100 years time? That's the question asked by a group of University of Reading PhD students, managed by Rosy Scholes and Ellen Knight, as part of the University of Reading's centenary celebrations.

In ... more

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How do you lead a rural history museum in 2026? What does that look like in practice? And how does our contemporary work vary to the vision of our founders back in 1951?

In this second of two conversations with Kate Arnold-Forster,... more

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So far we've spoken a lot about The Museum of English Rural Life's earliest years. Yet so much of what we are today results from a radical rethinking of what The MERL can be, which has happened under the brilliant stewardship of Kat... more

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What have we been up to lately? What's coming up? And what's the rural significance of Bad Bunny's performance at the Superbowl?

In this episode, Joe and Ollie have a general chat about a bunch of different topics, which each conne... more

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Recent Guests

Anahita Harding
Artist; Curating Visibility Fellow at the Food Museum
Food Museum; Curating Visibility Fellowship
Episode: The art of accessible spaces (with Anahita Harding)
Guy Shrubsole
Author and environmentalist, central figure in Right to Roam movement
Author/Environmentalist
Episode: 50 Million Pheasants Later (with Guy Shrubsole)
Adrian Lawson
Environmentalist and author
Environmental activism and ecological projects in Reading
Episode: Life on Marsh (with Adrian Lawson)
Ruth Webb
Giant maker and designer.
The Lost Giants
Episode: Old Crockern Awakes (with Ruth Webb and Lisa Schneidau)
Lisa Schneidau
Storyteller.
Episode: Old Crockern Awakes (with Ruth Webb and Lisa Schneidau)
Paddy Bullard
Professor from the University of Reading
University of Reading
Episode: Jane Austen: Verdure, Culture, and Comfort (with Paddy Bullard and Isabel Hughes)
Isabel Hughes
Associate Director at MERL
The Museum of English Rural Life
Episode: Jane Austen: Verdure, Culture, and Comfort (with Paddy Bullard and Isabel Hughes)
George Monbiot
Guardian journalist and author known for his work on environmental issues.
The Guardian
Episode: Contested Countryside (with George Monbiot), pt. 1
Mark Norman
Folklorist, former council member of the Folklore Society
Folklore Society
Episode: Death, Rebirth, and Scooby Doo (with Mark Norman)

Hosts

Joe Vaughan
Host with MERL background; long-running presenter with museum-focused perspective.
Dr Ollie Douglas
Co-host; curator of collections with MERL background.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 89 ratings
  • Absolute Favorite

    I’m neither English nor Rural but this is the only podcast I listen to. Funny, fascinating, intelligent, highly recommend to anyone of any background.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pookie624
    United States4 months ago
  • Really enjoy this podcast!

    I’ve really enjoyed listening to this podcast. I’m not a farmer and don’t live in the country, I actually live in one of the biggest cities in America but I’ve found this podcast so enjoyable to learn about rural life in England. I enjoy that they cover new and old topics related to rural life. I can’t wait to visit the MERL in the future!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AMH1776
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great museum chat!

    Loved hearing from Adam Kozary about ‘that’ tweet and the context of redeveloping the MERL collections

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CsgRdg
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Absolutely Delightful Unit

    Longtime social media follower and so excited for this podcast. Lovely insight into how the museum operates and what it means to do this work in our digital and physical age.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Keith456321
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fantastic!

    I studied at MERL back, very much, in “the day”. I haven’t returned since and this podcast has encouraged me to do so. Look forward to hearing what comes next.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HuntingdonHawk
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans value behind-the-scenes transparency about production hiccups.
Listeners praise accessible discussions of rural history and heritage.
Strong appreciation for guest diversity and museum-centered storytelling.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Celebrating 1 year of Absolute Units + listener questions
Q: Raystonian asks, What was the impact of the Enclosure Acts on class relations and ruling class wealth in rural England?
They hint at a major historical shift with long-term social and economic impacts, promising deeper discussion with experts in future episodes.
Celebrating 1 year of Absolute Units + listener questions
Q: Piers Cooper asks, What is the spookiest or scariest item in the collection and what would you learn from interviewing the haunt?
They discuss items tied to death and mortality, like the wainscot mattress and the funerary beer, and reflect on haunting as a link to past lives and life courses rather than mere fright.
Celebrating 1 year of Absolute Units + listener questions
Q: Samwise asks, what doesn't the museum currently cover or touch on that you would like to include given the choice?
They highlight gaps around nature and intangible culture, noting the museum's focus on agriculture and culture while trying to broaden to living practices, ecosystems, and collaborative, cross-institution storytelling.
Celebrating 1 year of Absolute Units + listener questions
Q: Space Lawyer asks, what are the biggest misconceptions about your subject area that you see or are asked about?
They describe expectations of a rural museum as a box of old farming objects and emphasize that the collection connects to contemporary life and broader global networks, not just the past.
Jane Austen: Verdure, Culture, and Comfort (with Paddy Bullard and Isabel Hughes)
Q: Where does she move and when does she move?
She moved to Bath in 1801 after her father's death, then later returned to the countryside in Choughton.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Absolute Units

What is Absolute Units about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, issue-driven show that blends rural history, museum work, and environmental activism. Episodes frequently center on land access, conservation, and the social history of England's countryside, often featuring guest experts from museums, universities, or activist circles. The format mixes behind-the-scenes production insights, rigorous historical context, and accessible storytelling, making complex topics like land rights, sustainable farming, and rural heritage engaging for a broad audience. Notable strengths include a strong museum-backed perspective, use of local case studies, and a willingness to tackle controversial topics with nuance. This combination is likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy cultural history, environment... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Absolute Units?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Absolute Units:

1. In Our Time
2. The LRB Podcast
3. The Book Club
4. Instant Classics
5. The English Heritage Podcast

How many episodes of Absolute Units are there?

Absolute Units launched 2 years ago and published 38 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Absolute Units?

Recent guests on Absolute Units include:

1. Anahita Harding
2. Guy Shrubsole
3. Adrian Lawson
4. Ruth Webb
5. Lisa Schneidau
6. Paddy Bullard
7. Isabel Hughes
8. George Monbiot

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