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Artwork for YIMBY Pod – formerly The Abundance Agenda

YIMBY Pod – formerly The Abundance Agenda

James O'Malley and Martin Robbins
HS2
Housing Supply
Deprivation Of Planning Applications
Climate Change
Planning Permission Delays
Housing Crisis
Local Plans
Public Perception Of Yimbyism
Nuclear Energy
London Mayoral Powers
Wendover
UK Defence Innovation
Planning Departments Funding Cuts
Housing
Economic Growth
Labour's Planning and Infrastructure Bill
Lower Thames Crossing
Luton Airport
Sizewell C
UK Energy Security

A podcast about growth and progress. www.abundancepod.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes59Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for YIMBY Pod – formerly The Abundance Agenda

Latest Episodes

Why it’s patriotic duty to switch on our air conditioners this summer. The NIMBY battle against a cancer hospital. And we speak to Maxwell Marlow from TYI Strategy about why phone signal in Britain is so crap – and how we can fix it.

James’s newslet... more

On YIMBY Pod this week:

* James and Martin get unusually mad about the latest developments in the West Yorkshire team saga. We just want a tram!

* Then James speaks to Andrew Greenway, a partner at Public Digital about his fantastic essay on fixing... more

On YIMBY Pod this week:

* James talks about Tory plans for a ‘National Pothole Patrol’, and explains how AI can be used to detect potholes.

* Martin tells the story of a big NIMBY campaign to save… a car park.

* And we speak to Asif Ghafoor, CEO o... more

James gets annoyed his new build was saddled with old technology. Martin tells the story of the surprisingly futuristic British wine industry. And we speak to Thomas Ableman about his proposal for Mini-Switzerland, a plan that could make rural trains... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Andrew Greenway
Co-founder of Public Digital and a thinker on government reform
Public Digital
Episode: I'm mad as hell about a tram
Asif Ghafoor
CEO of Be.Ev, EV charging company
Be.Ev
Episode: Save the Car Parks!
Thomas Ableman
Transport consultant, former head of strategy and innovation at Transport for London
Independent transport consultant
Episode: British robo-wine and fixing rural transport
Simon Kaye
Director of Policy and Research at the Restate Think Tank
Restate Think Tank
Episode: Let Mayors Cook
Laurel Boxall
From Public First, discussing text and data mining and AI copyright
Public First
Episode: Reform has a point (about this one, very specific thing)
Neil Ross
From Public First, discussing text and data mining and AI copyright
Public First
Episode: Reform has a point (about this one, very specific thing)
Adam Bell
Director of Policy at Stonehaven; former head of Energy Strategy at BEIS
Stonehaven
Episode: The NHS Data Goldmine
Chris Lintott
Professor of Astronomy at Oxford University; Presenter of The Sky at Night
Oxford University
Episode: Some actual good news for once!
Phil Tinline
Author and thinker, wrote a new paper for the Future Governance Forum about theories of power
Future Governance Forum
Episode: HS2's gravel nightmare

Hosts

James O'Malley
Host of YIMBY Pod; frequently discusses infrastructure, housing, and governance with a focus on UK policy.
Martin Robbins
Co-host of YIMBY Pod; co-leads discussions on energy policy, planning, and public-private governance with humor and rigor.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 133 ratings
  • I like the podcast but

    I’m afraid I can’t stomach any more of Martin’s constant slagging-off of anywhere he doesn’t live. I’m out

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    JimmyTheWheels
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Outstanding if infuriating

    A great pod that describes in painful detail the pathetic vested interested that want to keep the UK poor. From Natural England to the NIMBY Tory set - it’s really a tragedy. Listen and weep. Well done fellas - keep it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gageueheuege hi geeheyeh
    United States5 months ago
  • Vital information presented with self deprecating humour

    The central theme is that humans - in particular those who live in Britain - need to have abundant clean energy with affordable housing and excellent public transport in order to make the best of their lives.

    Oh, and save the planet as a bonus.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JKarStrae
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • This has become my essential Monday morning listen

    Really great podcast that takes you through the insanity of current planning laws in the UK that are hindering growth and development, from bat tunnels, to NIMBY local councillors imposing ridiculous restrictions on access roads, to councils refusing to engage in fixing a private road that featured in the local plans. Absolute must listen to understand why many think Britain is broken planning wise, but also how to fix it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amfbkk
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Best British podcast about building stuff

    My new favourite podcast - topics judged perfectly, interviewees chosen well and great level of detail on everything discussed. A must listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    duderowls
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the rigorous critique of UK planning and infrastructure, with a candid humorous tone.
Guests are generally well-credentialed, bringing expert insights to complex policy conversations.
The show is valued for deep dives into energy policy and governance, though opinions can be polarizing.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#116
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#71
Finland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#224
Finland/News
Apple Podcasts
#238
South Africa/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

I'm mad as hell about a tram
Q: So in your essay, what do we mean by state capacity and how do we describe a permanence crisis?
State capacity is the government's ability to translate political aims into tangible progress for the public; a permanence crisis refers to enduring structural issues in how the Civil Service is organized and incentivized, which hinder delivery.
Save the Car Parks!
Q: what are the bottlenecks that slow the charger rollout?
The main issues are an uneven grid connection process across DNOs and complex local authority permissions, including pavement closures, which cause months-long delays even when power is available and budgets are in place.
Save the Car Parks!
Q: what's it like trying to build EV chargers in the UK as things stand? Is it straightforward?
Asif explains there are two land types (public and private), that some councils (like GM area) are efficient, but central Levi funding slows rollout and creates misaligned incentives; overall the process is slow and fragmented due to grid and planning hurdles, requiring clearer policy and better public-private coordination.
Let Mayors Cook
Q: What powers could the mayor of London realistically take on, and how would fiscal devolution work in practice?
Simon Kaye outlines a two-pronged approach: push for sustained fiscal devolution (starting with income tax) and move toward a reserved powers model so the mayor can act across domains unless explicitly restricted.
Let Mayors Cook
Q: This week, is a bit more Local Democracy actually a good idea?
The hosts discuss how Local Democracy Reporting and dedicated funding mechanisms could improve accountability and inform better decision-making, while acknowledging the challenges of nimby bias and media framing.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show focuses on growth, progress, and practical policy in the UK, with a steady stream of discussions around infrastructure, housing, energy security, and governance. Episodes frequently pair hosts' candid, humorous banter with expert guests and reporters to dissect planning battles, energy transitions (including nuclear and renewables), and large-scale projects like HS2, Crossrail, and regional development. A notable pattern is a willingness to challenge established narratives on planning limits, data centers, and public investment, while highlighting how policy design and local governance shape national outcomes. The mix of policy analysis, infrastructure case studies, and occasional science-policy moments makes it a strong fit for l... more

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1. Origin Story
2. The Bunker – News without the nonsense
3. Quiet Riot
4. Oh God, What Now?
5. Politics from the New Statesman

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this podcast launched a year ago and published 59 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Andrew Greenway
2. Asif Ghafoor
3. Thomas Ableman
4. Simon Kaye
5. Laurel Boxall
6. Neil Ross
7. Adam Bell
8. Chris Lintott

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