Episode nine

During our last episode of the season, we slightly regret the commitment to festive stories only, (stocking) fill the rest of the episode with Christmas cracker jokes and Abbie asks if it's possible to eat a cardboard gingerbread house. We really end the season on a high, as you can tell. Enjoy! Christmas office cubeGiving vending machines Rudolph the red phone box reindeer honours delivery driversRestaurant chefs are reinventing school dinnersEdited and produced by Charlotte TrickMusic Birds of Paradise by Ennio Mańo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the penultimate episode of season two, Lottie raves about Glasgow on her return from COP26, they both make their feelings about shopping on Boxing Day very clear and Abbie tries to sell us on Netflix for dogs.Expedia stop flights to SeaWorldUNESCO design the world’s first biosphereTV for dogsMissing teddy bearSharks, seals and seahorses were found in the ThamesHealthy diet against dementiaInjustice advent calendarEdited and produced by Charlotte TrickMusic Birds of Paradise by Ennio Mańo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Abbie is joined by guest host Jess, during which they get confused over what a Twitch community is, discuss an inclusive cafe and hairdresser concept and Jess tries to describe a new way to collect plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Find details on all the stories below:Sands United PatronForest forms a smiley faceZ EventMan who made a million mealsUniversity for InmatesOcean Clean upHaircuts for allInclusive CafeEdited and produced by Charlotte TrickMusic Birds of Paradise by Ennio Mańo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Abbie reveals her new obsession with Norway and Lottie tells tales of her town crier role on a bus replacement service. We learn about Columbia's innovative approach to the nation's staggering domestic abuse statistics, the UK's new low carbon, low price train routes and cover New Zealand new law to force finance companies to act on climate risks. Learn about all of this week's stories below: The UK gets low-cost railNew Zealand becomes the first country to force finance companies to act on climate risksEngland tweaked blood donor rules to tackle discriminationWhy this teen set up a prize-winning fake cosmetics shopNorway to hit 100 per cent electric vehicle sales early next yearThe Free Hotline That’s Saving Women’s Lives by Disarming Dangerous MenEdited and produced by Charlotte Trick Music Birds of Paradise by Ennio Mańo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we cover Switzerland's legalisation of same-sex marriage, a groundbreaking experiment that could have a major impact on those suffering from debilitating depression, discuss how Wales is making Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic histories part of its national syllabus, Lottie talks about a tree planting initiative (again) and we can't decide if domestic bees are a thing...Woman successfully treated for depression with an electrical brain implantBee Population growingSwitzerland says resounding ‘yes’ to same-sex marriageWales make Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic history in schools mandatory UK jobseekers are offered six months of free broadbandWorld’s first malaria vaccine given out to all The plan to create a 50 million-tree forest in the north of EnglandShort story stationsEdited and produced by Charlotte TrickMusic by Music Birds of Paradise by Ennio Mańo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are thrilled to be joined this week by Sara Cox, who made history last week as the first woman to referee a men's Premiership rugby match. We learn how she got into the profession, why this is such a big deal and the nuances between reffing 15s and 7s games. We cover a few other positive stories including China's commitment to stop funding coal power projects abroad and we discuss if animal Tinder is all it is cracked up to be.Animal TinderChina stopping coal power abroadHomes for the homeless100 portraits of Hackney Edited and produced by Charlotte Trick Music Birds of Paradise by Ennio Mańo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are joined by guest host Jess Trick who is covering for Abbie whilst she leads team GB in Canada- but don't worry she'll be back. During this episode, we cover everything from a whimsical story of a girl and a bee, a bicycle library, realise we don't know enough about the Pope and throw in a really rogue reference to the Mindy Project- which will only land with a very small proportion of the world's population let alone the listenership of this podcast...We hope you enjoy it!GameZeroBicycle libraryEdible cupsSalonga National Park removed from danger listBumblee palIce creams for allMap of dreamsMusic Birds of Paradise by Ennio MańoProduced and edited by Charlotte Trick Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Annddddddd we're back. Abigail has returned from the Olympic games and Lottie has, well, survived a British "summer" - a feat in itself. We catch up on the latest travel woes and get the inside scoop on the way Tokyo Olympic volunteers waved to the athletes- groundbreaking stuff. Of course, we top it all off with a scattering of some of the most recent positive news stories from across the globe. Music Birds of Paradise by Ennio Mańo Produced and edited by Charlotte Trick Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the last episode of the season, we talk artificial diamonds, national Bee-lines and go off on a tangent about helicopters. Also included in this episode, if you make it to the end, is a gift for Abbie in the form of a short (clean, which was a challenge in itself) blooper reel. Enjoy!Airbnb for gardens Patients find solace in dancing Great grandmother gets degreeB-lines around the UKConversion therapy banArtificial diamondsPlastic waste innovation SA big cat hunting banMusic Birds of Paradies by Ennio MańoProduced by Charlotte Trick Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hot off the press, Abbie has finally purchased and sold something on Deopop- her blue tick is pending. We cover a novel way that PPE is being recycled in Cornwall, go off on a bit of a tangent about archaic marriage traditions and Lottie finally gets to channel her inner 65-year-old as she tries to convince us that train travel isn't just for visiting our parents at Christmas. Malaria breakthrough3D home inhabitantsTrain travel is backEdible plasticMothers officially recognisedHouse plant happinessPPE to litterpickerThe magic of musicShould we shower less?Produced by Charlotte TrickMusic Birds of Paradise by Ennio Manó Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.