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sophievanicat.bsky.social

@sophievanicat.bsky.social
375 followers 447 following 275 posts

Mum, tennis player, occasionally runner/cyclist/French. Learning about modelling/mapping/rivers. For an economy where people and the environment matter.

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Reposted by @sophievanicat.bsky.social
Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 05/10/2026
I often see people argue that clean energy is not reducing emissions, because it just adds to rather than replaces fossil fuels. This argument is deeply misguided – clean energy built since 2005 has displaced 23 billion tons. I dive in over at The Climate Brink:
theclimatebrink.com
What if the world hadn't built wind and solar?
Clean energy does not simply “add to” global energy use; it displaces fossil sources that would otherwise get built.
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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Is there a 'war on the countryside'? Yes - but it's the one being waged by the landowners who unleash 50 million pheasants each year... Step forward 'Lord' Christian Brighty to explain, in this devastating (and hilarious) video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFi8...
youtube.com
The Real Threat to Britain’s Countryside
YouTube video by Christian Brighty
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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
New Environment Secretary @angelaeagle1.bsky.social has an opportunity to radically rethink how we prepare for climate impacts, by restoring nature. Her recent Guardian article praising rewilding & pushing back on moorland burning lobbyists was a great start: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
A Britain of wildfires and flood risks: be sure, the climate crisis is real, and we will deal with it | Angela Eagle
Reform and the Conservatives are willing to mislead the public, but as environment secretary, I believe we must be honest – and act boldly, says Angela Eagle
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Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Take action and email your MP asking them to support the Nature's Rights Bill EDM. Template email available: nataliebennett.org/.../template... Find your MP: www.theyworkforyou.com #NaturesRights
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
When climate scientists say things are going to be horrendous, people find out many years later that we’re right. With this El Niño, the “find out” part will come in months.
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Eoghan Daltun 🌍 @irishrainforest.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Why must it always be about planting trees, when they managed just fine for 100s of millions of years before people came along? Just let them seed out. Yes, planting does have a role, but so often the underlying subtext is continued human domination of nature. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Half a million trees to be planted in England in three years, says government
Exclusive: Environment secretary Angela Eagle to make pledge as part of efforts to protect against extreme weather
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Curlew Curlew @curlewcurlew.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
We're only just beginning to understand this miraculous living world we inhabit. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Insects play critical role in ecosystems beyond just providing food, new research shows
Insects provide protection, sanitation and even shelter to vertebrates, making them a priority for conservation efforts
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Bradford District Climate Culture @bd25climatefacts.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The petition for tbe government to hold a #UK wide briefing on the #climate and #nature emergencies has now passed 125,000 signatures. A debate is due in parliament. We need still more signatures to push more MPs to attend the debate. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Hold a UK-wide briefing on climate and nature risks
The UK faces growing risks from climate and nature breakdown - from extreme weather to economic disruption and national security threats. Yet the public has never been given a clear national briefing ...
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Bradford District Climate Culture @bd25climatefacts.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The next People’s Emergency Briefing community screening in #Bradford is tomorrow Wednesday 30th September at City Hall. Come and find out about the #climate and #nature emergencies and how we could tackle these together. Get your tickets at www.tickettailor.com/events/green...
tickettailor.com
Select tickets – People's Emergency Briefing – City Hall, Centenary Square, Bradford
People's Emergency Briefing – City Hall, Centenary Square, Bradford, Wed 30 Sep 2026 - 📢 A special screening: The People’s Emergency Briefing What’s happening with climate and nature, and what does it...
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Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Sadly there was a climate & nature shaped hole at the heart of Burnham’s speech. Nothing on the benefits of nature restoration & same old words on a “pragmatic” approach to N Sea drilling. There’s nothing pragmatic about pouring fuel on a scorching earth - he should rule out Rosebank & Jackdaw now
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Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 28/09/2026
More and more people are concerned about the affordability of climate action. Are they right to be worried? Ellen Halliday breaks down how expensive net zero actually is, debunking the belief that achieving it is too costly
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Laura @laurajerramp.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
bsky.app/profile/laur...
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Trees for Life @treesforlife.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Let rivers be wild 🌊 Rivers should have space to wind, wander and flow naturally. By #restoring habitats, and bringing back natural ecosystem engineers like beavers, we can help more life thrive. This #WorldRiversDay, let’s give our rivers the freedom to flourish. 💦
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Vivienne @viviennesoton.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Strengthening powers for councils needs to come with increased budget for councils if they’re going to have to go for compulsory purchase. That’s why councils haven’t been using the powers they already have!
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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The major platforms—Facebook, YouTube, and X—are all refusing to show the trailer for the upcoming documentary that eviscerates the ridiculous pest Elon Musk. So I guess we have to do our part to make sure it is seen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY_8...
youtube.com
Musk | Official Trailer | Bleecker Street
YouTube video by Musk
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Patriotic Millionaires UK @patmillsuk.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Good morning, Liverpool! 👋 Spotted our billboard yet? Join us and @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social at our Labour Conference fringe event today, 5–6pm at the Novotel Liverpool Centre. Full details in the conference app. Design by prodbyselase
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Only 10% of the richest 0.01% of the population paid close to the top 47% (45% income tax marginal rate + 2% NIC) rate on earnings. A quarter of that group paid an effective average tax rate of 20% or less. The tax system appears to be progressive for some but is frequently not so at the very top
bmmagazine.co.uk
Only one in ten top UK earners pay close to top tax rate, says CenTax
CenTax says equalising capital gains tax with income tax could raise £19.7bn by 2030, as HMRC data shows few top earners pay the 47 per cent top rate.
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Caroline Russell @carolinerussell.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I ask these questions constantly. We have decent goals, targets and strategies in London but there’s no real consequences when we expose they’re not being met. Everyone seems stuck in a soup of business as usual, budget restraint and fear that challenging car first culture will worsen division.
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sophievanicat.bsky.social @sophievanicat.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Anthropeum.com · Sep 25 2026 🟨🟩🟦🟩🟦🟨🟨🟨🟩🟨 63,504 · top 31% of players today! First play so not bad
anthropeum.com
Anthropeum
A daily game that challenges our understanding of human cultures. Ten objects. 5,000 years of human history. Guess where and when each artifact was made. See how you rank.
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Bertha Mason @thornfieldhall.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Are there absolutely no political voices out there any more who believe that asylum seekers should be treated fairly & given refuge where it is warranted? Can no politician stand up & say immigration has benefits, nowadays? Are we only allowed to hear that migrants are bad? Does nobody want my vote?
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MaggsLondonGirl @maggslondongirl.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The Flower Carpet display in Bradford by Shiraaz Ali, who took Victorian patterns made in the Bradford mills & use them to create this beautiful masterpiece made up of over 300,000 Dahlia heads. All hand laid by volunteers who started at 8am & finished at 3:30pm 24 -27 Sept 🌼🌺 #flowercarpet
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Dr Ellie Chowns MP @elliechowns.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The fact that the entire funding pot for the SFI was allocated within mere hours of applications opening demonstrates the huge ambition of our farmers to invest in sustainable practices - but without proper support from the govt to do so, countless farmers will be left unable to take on this work.
I am writing about the closure of Window 2 of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) 
and the farmers who have been left without an agreement - despite making genuine efforts to 
apply. The window opened yesterday morning, 22nd September, and closed at 15:48, after the 
£233 million budget had been committed. The fact that the entire fund was allocated within hours 
is striking evidence of the level of demand from farmers for support to adopt and maintain 
sustainable, nature- and river-friendly farming practices.  
Farmers have contacted me directly. One told me they pressed the application button at around 
16:00, only to find the budget had already been exhausted. Another, whose SFI23 agreement 
expires in November, encountered a Rural Payments Agency (RPA) functionality problem, 
followed RPA advice to re-apply, and ultimately found SFI26 closed before they could secure the 
support they had been trying to obtain. A further farmer described confusion over the status of 
their different applications within the RPA system. These cases raise immediate questions about 
how farmers who made every reasonable effort to apply will be treated. But they also point to a 
wider issue - the speed at which the funding was taken up suggests that the problem is not a lack 
of willingness among farmers to deliver environmental outcomes, but a lack of sufficient, reliable 
public investment to enable them to do so.  
I therefore ask that your Department urgently:  
1. Provides a remedy for farmers who made genuine and timely attempts to apply but were 
unable to secure an agreement - particularly those whose existing environmental 
agreements are expiring before the next SFI opportunity.  
2. Reviews cases involving technical or administrative problems, including farmers who 
followed RPA advice to withdraw, reject, or reapply - and ensure that farmers who lost 
access to funding because of such problems have a route to redress.  
3. Publishes a clear account of Window 2,…4. Sets out what support is available to farmers with expiring agreements who have been left 
without a new agreement - rather than simply asking them to wait for SFI27. Your 
Department specifically created an early application mechanism for farmers with eligible 
agreements, so I hope you will agree that continuity for these farmers needs to be 
addressed quickly.  
5. Uses the evidence from SFI26 to set a significantly more ambitious level of funding for 
future environmental farming support. The fact that £233 million was committed in less 
than six hours should be treated as evidence of substantial unmet demand. I would be 
grateful if you could set out how the Government will ensure that farmers who want to 
improve soil, protect nature and rivers, build resilience and produce food sustainably have 
the resources to do so.  
In July, you said that you remain committed to bringing greater stability and predictability to the 
SFI, and that your Department will keep the core offer largely stable for the remainder of this 
Parliament to help farmers plan ahead - but that stability will only be meaningful if farmers can 
also have confidence that sufficient funding will be available to participate.  
In North Herefordshire and across the nation, farmers are stepping up to deliver environmental 
outcomes for the public, and the response to yesterday’s window shows clearly that many are 
willing to do so. As Government policy should meet that ambition, rather than creating a system in 
which the available support disappears within hours, I would be grateful for a response on (1) 
what urgent action you will take for those affected by Window 2, and (2) what assessment your 
Department has made of the level of investment required to meet the evident demand for 
sustainable, nature- and river-friendly farming.
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Angela Francis @angelaisfranc.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative for Climate, just on the Today Programme talking about the food and national security risks from climate change and nature loss, said "this goverment..is very much thinking about how to engage the public in a conversation abour our safety and security". Yes!
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This chart published by the Economics Laboratory, shows that the UK social spending is 23% of GDP, covers NHS, social security and support services. It is a useful rebutal to neoliberals calling for cuts to the NHS, state pension and other benefits. www.linkedin.com/posts/charto...
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Tom Fitton @tomfitton.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
After more than two decades of conservation work, Kent Wildlife Trust has removed the beaver enclosure barrier at Ham Fen Nature Reserve, allowing beavers to move freely in the wild and play their role as ‘ecosystem engineers’ across the wider landscape. www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/beavers...
kentwildlifetrust.org.uk
Beavers take a major step back into the wild at Ham Fen as Kent Wildlife Trust removes enclosure barrier
After more than two decades of conservation work, Kent Wildlife Trust has removed the beaver enclosure barrier at Ham Fen Nature Reserve, allowing beavers to move freely in the wild and play their rol...
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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Ed Miliband will appoint a new special representative for climate security, as well as a new ministerial taskforce on “the national security and resilience risks of a changing climate and nature loss” - excellent to see Now release the full JIC report publicly! www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
UK shares findings of damning climate crisis national security report suppressed under Starmer
El Niño poses critical threat to nations’ defences, says Ed Miliband in presentation to global foreign ministers
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Dr Charlie Gardner @charliejgardner.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This year has been brutal, and like most people you probably want to do more about climate change. But what, and how? Great news – I’ve written just the book for you! It’s called What One Person Can Do and it’s a clear and simple how-to guide, a roadmap to help you make influential changes...
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The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Yes, there are technical, formal legal reasons why terrorism law is applied to protesters carrying placards, but not to political activists slashing boats. But stepping back, there is something wrong with a legal regime which criminalises one more than the other. A triumph of form over function.
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❤️Katie❤️ @katielikescake.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
What a strange woman, so how many people in this country are English? If the criteria is that you can trace all your ancestors back to people living in 10th century England with no DNA from Ireland, Scotland, Wales or any other country then the total number of English people in England is zero.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Why does the UK press continue to treat Trump like a normal politician when he is demonstrably wicked and insane inews.co.uk/opinion/trum...
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Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Aalborg now has 241,000 m³ of hot water storage, the largest in Denmark, plus 150 MW of electric boilers and a 177 MW seawater heat pump. That's 217 MW of flexible demand, holding one to three winter days of heat. District heating in Denmark is becoming a critical flexibility resource.
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Vicki Hird MSc FRES @vickihird.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
BBC News - Farmers' fury at online scramble for £233m funding. With quote from me www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Farmers' race for £233m funding like 'scramble for Oasis tickets'
Farmers fear they may not be able to carry out environmental work because they lost out on funding.
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
There is a lot of misinformation about the UK social security spending. The chart below shows Total UK social security spending as a percentage of GDP, 2013/14 to 2030/31 (spending & forecast) 55% goes to pensioners, the remainder covers everything else. lordslibrary.parliament.uk/welfare-refo...
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mandascott.bsky.social @mandascott.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
How do we free ourselves from being in thrall to the vigilante bond markets? #HostageNation from @jamiedriscoll.bsky.social has elegant, workable answers we could implement *now*. accidentalgods.life/how-not-to-b... #AccidentalGods #Podcast
accidentalgods.life
How not to be a hostage to the vigilante Bond Markets: with Jamie Driscoll of Majority
What are the actual, practical shifts in our political economy that we could do tomorrow, that would not require extra legislation and could transform our society?  While there are many economists loo...
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Bradford District Climate Culture @bd25climatefacts.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
We can do sustainable / regenerative #farming. It’s good for #nature and to get better quality #food. But we need to be serious about it and invest properly.
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James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Think of all the issues people should really have ‘legitimate concerns’ about Biodiversity loss Ecosystem degradation Extreme heat Droughts Intense wildfires Water shortages Dirty water Polluted air Sea level rise Crop failures Floods New pandemics Food shortages Plastics in our bodies & env’t…
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UK Government Petitions @petitions.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Government has responded to the petition "Set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform to review the electoral system" #PetitionGovResponse
petition.parliament.uk
Government response: Set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform to review the electoral system
The Prime Minister has been clear about his commitment to electoral reform and welcomes a national debate about how our democratic system can best serve voters across the United Kingdom.
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Bus Users UK @bususersuk.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It’s #WorldCarFreeDay and with #CatchTheBusMonth in full swing, it's the perfect time to ditch the car and get on board! 💚 Less carbon 😌 Less stress 💷 Less cost 🚍 More time to sit back and enjoy the ride So give your car the day off and give the bus a go. #LoveTheBus❤️
Graphic with a smiling couple and the words - Myth busting, buses are only for people who can't drive. Reality, buses are a smart, green, affordable and convenient travel choice for everyone
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sophievanicat.bsky.social @sophievanicat.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
www.maptap.gg September 21 100🎯 98🔥 89🎉 100🎯 97🔥 Final score: 967
maptap.gg
🎯MapTap Daily Geography Game
Play MapTap - the daily geography game! Find 5 world locations on a 3D globe with historical stories. Free browser-based daily game for geography lovers.
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Please enjoy this photo of two climate solutions.
A folding bike next to a heat pump
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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 21/09/2026
This year's El Niño event is moving into record territory, with the daily Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) tying the record previously set during the 2015/2016 super-El Niño. My latest over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
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Joel Morris @gralefrit.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Progressive taxation constantly portrayed as an insane fringe idea. “The wealthy pay over 60% of the tax burden…” YES. THAT’S THE FUCKING IDEA.
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Joel Morris @gralefrit.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Yeah. Deeply enervating to watch the debate over wealth taxation to be focused entirely on something tediously predictable that an expat bigot billionaire said, while one of your panelists has an actual survey of millionaires where they said “tax us more.” Repeatedly turning the conversation away.
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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
It does say a lot about the current and previous government that they have been less willing to clearly state this than Sunak. Quite why is a mystery for the ages.
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Steve Bullock @guitarmoog.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I see more billionaires are perpetuating the myth that the UK is high-tax, high-govt spending. It just isn’t true. At 44% the UK’s public spending as a %of GDP is lower than most of its European peers (France 57%, Germany 49.5%, Sweden 49.3%, Italy 50.5%, Spain 45.3%) www.imf.org/external/dat...
imf.org
© 2021 International Monetary Fund. All rights reserved.
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Bradford District Climate Culture @bd25climatefacts.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76... Brighton leads the way 1% of constituents have signed. For #Bradford 1.Keighley and Ilkley 412 0.414% 2.Skipton and Ripon 354 0.363% 3.Shipley 336 0.345% 4.Leeds North West 296 0.319% 5.Bradford West 81 0.067% 6.Bradford South 51 0.47% 7.Bradford East 37 0.03%
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Hold a UK-wide briefing on climate and nature risks
The UK faces growing risks from climate and nature breakdown - from extreme weather to economic disruption and national security threats. Yet the public has never been given a clear national briefing ...
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Bradford District Climate Culture @bd25climatefacts.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
On the #nature crisis, the government must be transparent and help us prepare.
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sophievanicat.bsky.social @sophievanicat.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Excellent podcast about hydrogen fuel cell cars and a better way of doing business Imagine if this business was handed £72m instead of dodgy crypto billionaires giving that amount to garage and his horrible crew! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
podcasts.apple.com
Cars of the future (NOT EVs!) - Transforming transport and business with Hugo Spowers of Riversimple Movement
Podcast Episode · Accidental Gods - The Thrutopian Podcast · 29 November 2023 · 1hr 30min
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