Geography Expert

Ritchie Cunningham

My podcasts on Geography Expert will cover a range of geographical topics which might be of interest to teachers and students of geography. I've also included some podcasts on Leadership, Health and Fitness as well as some Funny Stories. Music intro and ending -We Are One by Vexento https://soundcloud.com/vexentohttps://www.youtube.com/user/VexentoFree Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/2PaIKcRMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/Ssvu2yncgWU

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73 episodes
Updated July 27

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Episodes73

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July 27 · 18 min
Landscapes Built From Below
Send us Fan Mail External weathering and erosion processes gradually become the dominant factors in the development of the landscape as tectonic activity ceases or becomes very slow. The influence of geology remains important but passes to a more detailed level in which’ rock type (lithology) and structure may strongly influence local relief features. In all landscapes, the critical factor is not so much the absolute resistance of a rock as its resistance relative to the rocks around it. It is this which creates the pattern of high and low relief. For instance, in south-east England, chalk is a relatively resistant rock in relation to adjacent strata, but in Northern Ireland, it is soft compared to surrounding basalts. The granite, clays and limestones that form the landscapes are found in entirely different environments today from those in which they originated. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
July 20 · 20 min
Banda's Burning Crisis
Send us Fan Mail In May 2026, the district of Banda in northern India experienced temperatures of 47–48°C, making it one of the hottest places in the country. At these temperatures, daily life changes dramatically. By early morning, conditions already feel like midday, and even at night, temperatures remain around 30°C. As a result, people say that “mornings and nights no longer exist.” Banda is located near the Tropic of Cancer, a region that naturally experiences intense solar heating. However, recent heatwaves have become more extreme and longer-lasting, raising concerns about climate change and environmental degradation. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
July 18 · 17 min
China's Road to the Top
Send us Fan Mail In 2000, almost every one of the world’s ten biggest carmakers came from Japan, Europe or North America. By 2025, China had become the world’s largest car market, the world’s largest exporter of cars and home to some of the fastest-growing manufacturers on Earth. For most of the twentieth century, the global car industry was dominated by a handful of famous names. Companies such as Ford, General Motors (GM), Volkswagen and Toyota built millions of vehicles every year and became symbols of industrial success. But over the last 25 years, the industry has undergone one of the biggest transformations in its history. New technologies, changing consumer tastes, environmental concerns and the rapid rise of China have reshaped the global automotive landscape. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
July 17 · 18 min
Why Hurricanes Went Quiet
Send us Fan Mail If you’ve been half-listening to the news this summer, you might have noticed something odd: hurricane season is underway, but the Atlantic has been almost silent. For anyone studying geography, this is actually a brilliant real-world case study — it shows how weather systems on opposite sides of the planet are secretly wired together, and how “quiet” doesn’t always mean “safe.” Let’s unpack it. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
July 13 · 17 min
Mountains Are Breaking Down
Send us Fan Mail Climate change, landslides, and the science of predicting disasters Imagine standing beside a beautiful glacier lake in Alaska. Tour boats move across the water. Mountains rise high above the valley. Everything looks calm. But hidden inside the mountains, the ground is slowly moving. In some places, entire sections of rock are creeping downhill by several feet every year. Scientists fear that one day these slopes could suddenly collapse, creating enormous landslides and giant tsunami waves. And climate change is making the danger worse. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
July 6 · 22 min
A Deep Earthquake Beneath Italy
Send us Fan Mail Just after midnight on 2 June 2026, a magnitude 6.26.2 earthquake struck deep beneath the sea off southern Italy. Although this sounds serious—and it is—the effects at the surface were surprisingly mild. Most people only felt light shaking, and there was no major damage. Why? The answer lies in how deep the earthquake occurred. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
June 29 · 18 min
Why Your Electricity Bill Lies
Send us Fan Mail If Germany is such a leader in renewable energy, why are electricity bills still so high there? And why do France and Spain often have cheaper power? That’s the big geography question today. The answer is not just about how much renewable energy a country uses. It’s about the whole energy system — what kind of electricity is produced, how it gets to homes, and how governments set prices. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
June 24 · 18 min
The EV transition
Send us Fan Mail Electric cars are becoming a big part of the global shift away from fossil fuels. In 2025, about one in four new cars sold worldwide was electric, up from one in five the year before. That is a major change in transport geography because it shows how quickly technology can spread from one country to another. China is leading the way, with electric cars making up more than half of new car sales. In Norway, nearly all new cars are now electric, and Denmark has also made very rapid progress. By contrast, the United States has seen much slower growth, with electric cars stuck at around 10% of new sales for several years. These differences show that transport change is not happening evenly across the world. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
June 22 · 13 min
Why Cities Need Trees
Send us Fan Mail Picture two places on a hot summer day. One is a city full of roads, rooftops, and concrete. The other is full of trees, grass, and shade. Which one feels cooler? Most of us would say the green place — and that’s exactly what geography tells us. Cities are often much hotter than the countryside, especially during heatwaves. But trees and parks can make a huge difference. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
June 10 · 6 min
Ebola in Central Africa
Send us Fan Mail When you hear the word Ebola, you probably think of a deadly disease — and that’s because it is. But Ebola is also a geography story. It’s about where the disease starts, how it spreads, and why some places are much harder to protect than others. In 2026, Central Africa was dealing with a fast-growing Ebola outbreak, with most cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and some spreading into Uganda. Within weeks, the number of cases rose sharply. So what makes Ebola so dangerous, and why is geography such a big part of the story? Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
June 10 · 5 min
Rivers: Erosion, Transport and Deposition
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
June 10 · 5 min
Aerosols, Climate Change, and Marine Cloud Brightening
Send us Fan Mail When people talk about climate change, they usually focus on carbon dioxide. And that makes sense — CO₂ traps heat and drives global warming. But there’s another player in the climate system that doesn’t get as much attention: aerosols. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
May 15 · 9 min
The Numbers That Shape the World
Send us Fan Mail What matters more is where those people live… how populations grow… and why some places are booming while others are shrinking. Because population geography quietly shapes almost everything. Cities. Migration. Housing. Food supply. Climate pressure. Economic growth. Political power. Even the future of entire countries. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
May 13 · 5 min
Glacial Deposition
Send us Fan Mail Imagine a glacier the size of a city… slowly bulldozing its way across the landscape. What kind of mess does it leave behind? Because here’s the thing—glaciers don’t just carve mountains. They completely redesign entire regions. Valleys, plains, even farmland today—all shaped by ice that disappeared thousands of years ago. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
May 13 · 7 min
Rethinking Urban Infrastructure
Send us Fan Mail You flush a toilet, turn on a tap, or throw something in the bin… and then you stop thinking about it completely. For many people, infrastructure is invisible. Water disappears down pipes. Waste gets taken away. Electricity arrives with the flick of a switch. Cities are designed to make all of this feel effortless. om Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
May 12 · 8 min
Understanding Earthquakes
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
May 3 · 5 min
Glacial Erosion
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
April 27 · 7 min
Mass Movement and Slopes
Send us Fan Mail Imagine standing on a hillside after heavy rain. The ground looks stable enough at first glance, but deep inside the slope, things are changing. Water is seeping in, particles are loosening, and gravity is waiting. Eventually, the slope gives way. That is mass movement: the downslope transfer of weathered material under gravity. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
April 27 · 4 min
Glaciation an Introduction
Send us Fan Mail Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening
April 6 · 11 min
Is fertility collapse changing the world?
Send us Fan Mail From Baby Boom to Baby Bust For most of the 20th century, population debates focused on rapid growth, “overpopulation” and pressure on resources. Today, the story is shifting. Global total fertility has more than halved since around 1950, falling from about 5 children per woman to roughly 2.2 in 2021. According to recent UN and Lancet‑linked analyses, over half of all countries already have fertility below the “replacement” level of about 2.1 children per woman needed to keep populations stable without immigration. Support the show Check out my website, Facebook groups and other social media. www.ritchiecunningham.com Geography Expert Substack | Ritchie Cunningham | Substack Geography Expert - Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3514097965371452 UK Geography teachers | Facebook Twitter - @RRitchieC YouTube Geography Expert@geographyexpert BlueSky @geographyexpert.bsky.social Threads cunninghamritchie LinkedIn (7) Ritchie Cunningham | LinkedIn Thank you for listening