# 50 Shades of Planning A podcast by Samuel Stafford. 50 Shades of Planning is Sam Stafford’s attempt to explore the foibles of the English planning system and its aim is to cover the breadth of the sector both in terms of topics of conversation and in terms of guests with different experiences and perspectives. 50 Shades episodes include 'Hitting The High Notes', which are a series of conversations with leading planning and property figures. The conversations take in the six milestone planning permissions or projects within a contributor’s career and for every project guests are invited to choose a piece of music that they were listening to at that time. Think Desert Island Discs, but for planners. 50 Shades episode also include the 'All Around the World' series, which is being led by friend of the podcast, Paul Smith. Paul put it to Sam that debates about the planning system in England tend, for the most part, to focus solely on the planning system in England. Planners here very seldom look to other countries for inspiration and ideas. Paul wanted to remedy that and so in this series he chats with planning professionals and academics from a number of countries to find out what works well there, what works less well, and what… Feed: https://feed.pod.co/50-shades-of-planning ## Latest episodes - [Hail To The Chief](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/cd4fa90e29b3) (2026-10-24, 67 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/2ef344ca-83ec-46b4-ac64-54263373bac0.mp3 - [Neutral Impact IV](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/a7609d6597f2) (2026-10-17, 81 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/0e961ef5-7dd1-49e4-9592-e41b3b44e28f.mp3 - [The New Local Plan-Making System](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/6dcee04be1df) (2026-10-10, 56 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/17962efc-2c7f-4268-a74b-8baedb22ff15.mp3 - [A Framework-Led Conversation](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/017204d23ce6) (2026-09-26, 66 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/5dee34b1-f411-4780-aaa4-75cf2d5c2e53.mp3 - [Meet a MP and an AM - Reform UK](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/dbc94f01fb55) (2026-09-19, 70 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/ac75109c-2be1-4f15-b38f-8c28740814f0.mp3 - [We Can't Stop Planning](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/0db5f8fc5763) (2026-09-05, 60 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/f45b187b-dddd-43a5-b61b-6c40a7a7e81c.mp3 - [Viable Options](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/a7dae8782309) (2026-08-22, 64 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/3fe01876-754e-4397-860f-d6f3dc0ef849.mp3 - [Why do places look the way they do?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/a9a30f274c99) (2026-08-08, 72 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/5f84c1d2-d6e4-490f-b542-6182dcfa10ce.mp3 - [Vibes and Stuff](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/0701f92ef65c) (2026-08-01, 57 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/344a4af5-6676-42a3-9228-c92fab539470.mp3 - [Hitting the High Notes - Richard Schofield](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/79f13062d1d5) (2026-07-25, 67 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/20938d14-ffb3-4a44-bd28-490049c94e19.mp3 - [Emerging Planners](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/40679a78f197) (2026-07-18, 77 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/512e30e1-467f-4963-bfe0-571f1df3ab9a.mp3 - [Meet the MPs - Lib Dems](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/882ead4ffcbb) (2026-07-11, 64 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/917cb4dc-11ee-484f-9475-dfe0b1ca44af.mp3 - [Red Hot Planning Chat](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/b78bcd493178) (2026-07-04, 64 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/bad7dd48-15b0-4960-8572-c04ca2302f0c.mp3 - [All Around the World - New Zealand](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/97fe7005b2bb) (2026-06-27, 70 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/b50f8f3b-6f2b-431c-a886-ebb383dd7b61.mp3 - [Hitting the High Notes - Peter Soulsby](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/d9d268b55f64) (2026-06-20, 64 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/bc80dd17-0315-4bd7-ab81-e46f575ce5fa.mp3 - [The Shard Inquiry](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/d4a7af57ced7) (2026-06-13, 83 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/53b3db35-9b29-410a-959d-a64478a19220.mp3 - [The Tip of the AIceberg](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/2eb95ac3c081) (2026-06-06, 56 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/3f2604c4-1dcd-4d16-bc9c-05f7459cbdff.mp3 - [Meet the MPs - Labour](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/2cd678a70cc0) (2026-05-30, 66 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/f2b8142e-e3bd-4b30-87a7-8c4e764ed2f9.mp3 - [Reform, reform and more Reform](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/bda16d6888e4) (2026-05-23, 58 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/d2abdbe1-1892-478e-8d71-7590f88dbdd6.mp3 - [LGR](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/b1e08d454277) (2026-05-16, 60 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/8df13352-dacb-4da0-8e74-f308e24eee36.mp3 - [The West Midlands Problem (plus Grey Belt and some other stuff)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/953c26e1664a) (2026-05-02, 57 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/d5c49172-6be4-4f76-8fa1-ba82bf1f9ebe.mp3 - [What is really wrong with the Habitats Regulations?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/8d1a96dcdf57) (2026-04-18, 69 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/510ebbd7-50cb-42c6-a2d6-d4dbb050bb57.mp3 - [Some Things Just Take Time](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/db5ee0189a36) (2026-04-04, 61 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/0d09f53e-973a-4723-becb-63cf81d69b54.mp3 - [New Towns: Practicalities & Placemaking](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/912e22258348) (2026-03-28, 49 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/f9e86c30-f70d-4e19-916d-ae7987432a86.mp3 - [All Around the World - The Netherlands](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/f8cece587af0) (2026-03-21, 50 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/e2a7b6eb-e0ea-486f-bc7d-06f043398626.mp3 - [Appeal Ready](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/cf84974195ca) (2026-03-07, 42 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/54c0a75c-4230-47ef-ab36-c0092acd20a8.mp3 - [Hitting the High Notes - Catriona Riddell](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/83c4aee42d36) (2026-02-21, 83 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/7459fb26-9c97-41a9-9494-8ba487b57a53.mp3 - [We❤️Planning](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/21e01ffdc8e2) (2026-02-07, 61 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/69b92ef4-5e37-49c5-abbf-a0cfc5158a92.mp3 - [How Does Bad Policy Get Made?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/d4d3c4bc2959) (2026-01-24, 68 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/201fcbe2-fe8e-432e-8317-5e0a4edf8aa8.mp3 - [The Return of Strategic Planning](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/77d403027291) (2026-01-10, 59 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/deb2e085-d808-43df-a8e3-a9f36a0818c9.mp3 - [🏆The #Planoraks Awards 2025🏆](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/0e6fed477d75) (2025-12-27, 83 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/6f53cf46-bd87-4b2e-9a33-511554401c88.mp3 - [🎅🏻The 50 Shades of Planning Festive Christmas Quiz🎄](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/e1cde081cfb5) (2025-12-20, 94 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/53af3714-ea8b-4316-83e0-f600aeca8976.mp3 - [Discretion Advised](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/d23424633dea) (2025-12-06, 61 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/d0985194-d929-47f0-b379-a6901e8b1844.mp3 - [The Snagging List II](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/ac84099ba74a) (2025-11-22, 64 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/c1223034-607e-4421-9917-80615321fa88.mp3 - [All Around the World - Australia](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/cb0d25b66bd0) (2025-11-08, 49 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/8043b8c5-773f-41e0-987d-b5cfdf1ebe1f.mp3 - [Planorama](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/f1001f7ea1a5) (2025-10-25, 65 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/40a8e0ea-3070-44a5-b121-f7afcaf7a669.mp3 - [The Amazing Technicolour Green Belt](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/161e79edf458) (2025-10-11, 89 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/edc06c97-573c-4c37-b967-e04fa0c09e51.mp3 - [Who's In Control?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/66f2fdcdcde3) (2025-09-27, 63 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/32561ac6-59d9-49f6-b7f8-d9db45625b5a.mp3 - [Hitting the High Notes - Alice Lester](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/1d8869d441ba) (2025-09-13, 61 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/1dafb2de-7871-4fd8-b941-6d27714074aa.mp3 - [What's Going On?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/f6df96f51691) (2025-08-30, 65 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/01438550-1d6b-48e8-b78f-b1d28eb550d1.mp3 - [All Around the World - USA](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/d46703bab7ab) (2025-08-16, 55 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/f7653179-7014-4990-99b0-36d713938296.mp3 - [New Politics, New Towns and New Books](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/e8326587ca53) (2025-08-02, 64 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/742a225c-223b-4517-8722-528a92c8bc27.mp3 - [Hitting the High Notes - Tim Waring](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/17ec2d3b1c02) (2025-07-19, 54 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/b0e8db9a-dfe5-4844-a17f-dd7f8f906afe.mp3 - [The Snagging List](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/c4767cb19566) (2025-07-05, 75 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/0a649a7c-4be2-4cfd-8101-572edbb39b83.mp3 - [All Builders Big and Small](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/d47b55a8ebac) (2025-06-21, 66 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/4c6cbabb-e48b-4a09-ac3e-2b9e51bc187b.mp3 - [Grey Belt: Policy Guidance and Appeals](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/9675e442b251) (2025-06-07, 95 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/a5b1ec5a-288d-48cc-abe1-b475a100c68d.mp3 - [A Conversation with Michael Gove](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/a08bf964501c) (2025-05-24, 49 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/1e68eec2-1030-4be8-a0e2-ef1180f4882e.mp3 - [Pre-Apps, Puddles and NDMPs](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/85e419414190) (2025-05-10, 53 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/00641f43-0385-4214-8700-e616a690f94b.mp3 - [The BNG](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/0111b3e6ec47) (2025-04-26, 63 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/71ac21b9-3012-4853-8875-f0a37df8f9d4.mp3 - [If I Ruled the World](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1459864425/666cfe3c13f2) (2025-04-12, 60 min): audio https://downloads.pod.co/b6f9f0f9-d7fe-4a5a-836c-563849ec1a3e/c825cc7b-208c-413b-9320-018c9656b013.mp3 Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.