The Wild Minds Podcast
What if wild, not domesticated, should be our normal instead of factory-farmed lives? What if you could cultivate fulfilling lives and contribute to a healthy natural world? The Wild Minds podcast is brought to you by me, Marina Robb, an author, entrepreneur, Forest School and Nature-based Trainer and Consultant, and pioneer in developing Green programmes for the Mental Health service in the UK. I am the founder of Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC and The Outdoor Teacher and creator of practical online Forest School and nature-based training for people working in mental health, education and business. Tune in for interviews...
Deep Ecology & the Healing of Separation with John Seed
In this episode of Wild Minds, Iâm honoured to be in conversation with John Seed â a true elder of the environmental movement and one of the most influential voices in deep ecology.
He influenced my own journey into environmental education in the late 1980âs so it was a real privilege of sharing this conversation with him.
Show Notes:
https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/episode-61-john-seed-podcast/
Music by Geoff Robb:Â www.geoffrobb.comÂ
Please Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If you have enjoyed today's episode, please consider rating and re...
The Sacred Attributes of Connection
In todayâs episode, Marina is exploring the 7 Sacred Attributes â also known as the Attributes of Connection. These teachings, rooted in Lakota tradition and carried into the Deep Nature Connection movement by Jon Young, offer a powerful framework for individual and community healing.
In this episode, Marina explores:
The 7 attributes and share how they relate to connection and the regeneration of healthy culture.Sacred = Connection.The 7 Sacred Attributes, or Attributes of Connection, originate from the Lakota Woptura lineage. These teachings were preserved and shared by Gilbert Walking Bull, a respected Lakota medicine man and grandson of Move...Deep Nature Connection & The Sacred Attributes with Jon Young
Today, I have the honour of speaking with Jon Young - a pioneering researcher, mentor, naturalist, wildlife tracker, author, storyteller, and leader in deep nature and people connection.
In this episode we discuss:
How gratitude supports us to âgo up the spiral and not down â it elevates us and is dependableJake and Judy swamp â the thanksgiving addressNature connection verses deep nature connectionThe uniqueness of Jonâs work â the 4 key categories of relationships with natureThe generation of the âLast child in the woodsâ â before and after TelevisionGilbert Walking Bull and the 7 sacred attributesThe power of wilderness & naturalist skillsThe creati...The Ecological Self
A rich and soulful exploration of the season of spring, and our deepening connection to self, others, and the natural world. Marina invites us to slow down, listen more deeply, and reconnect with the cycles that shape our inner and outer lives.
In this episode, Marina:
Explores the relationship between our social self and wider ecological self.Looks at how communication goes beyond words and into our bodies, our subtle cues, the looks we might get and our imagination.Dives deeper into the Spring and our own inner cycles of renewal â with reference to the Tree Ca...Singing with Nightingales: Folk Songs & The Wild with Sam Lee
Welcome to Season 8 of The Wild Minds Podcast!
My guest today is Sam Lee, a renowned folk singer, a Mercury Prize-nominated and BBC Folk Award-winning singer, a passionate conservationist, activist, author of the novel, The Nightingale, and a guardian of traditional songs with his latest album, Songdreaming.Â
Sam has spent years weaving music with the natural world. In this episode, we dive into his journey, the role of music in rewilding our hearts, and, of course, the captivating song of the nightingale.
In this episode we discuss:
What is a folk song?Sa...What Really Matters
This is our final episode of the season, and today, Iâm asking: What really matters?
As we approach the Spring Equinox, a time of balance, renewal, and reflection, I Â dive into the different dimensions of health - physical, mental, social, environmental, and spiritual, and ask: Are the values we live by truly our own?
Do we give ourselves time to reflect, to listen, and to follow what truly matters?
In this episode, Marina:
Reflects personally on how the natural seasonal cycles represent our own opportunity to re-parent.Considers how Nature acts as...Reimagining Learning: Creativity, Attunement, and Slow Pedagogy with Debi Keyte-Hartland
Today I am speaking with Debi Keyte-Hartland, a passionate Early Childhood Consultant, trainer, author and speaker, whoâs experienced in developing creative environments that invite rich learning and complex thinking.Â
I so enjoyed the depth of thinking and permission to re-evaluate the image of the child and development of pedagogies of observation, listening and reflection!
In this episode, Debi pulls together so much of her own creative thinking to enable us to really bring new possibilities to our teaching practice as well as enabling us to value childrenâs capacity to learn and think for thems...
Lessons from the Natural World
In this episode, I explore the deep connections between nature, energy, and the way we live and learn. Although navigating the hidden costs of our modern lives often weighs heavily.
I reflect on how we can develop greater awareness and resilience together and here are some of the areas I discuss:
How our daily lives are built on fossil fuels, from transportation to everyday products, making us deeply reliant on resource extraction.While electric vehicles seem like a solution, their production still depends on intensive mining, impacting both communities and ecosystems.Different perspectives, such as those...Unleashing the Power of Imagination with Rob Hopkins
My guest today is Rob Hopkins, cofounder of Transition Town Totnes and Transition Network, and the author of The Transition Handbook, The Transition Companion, The Power of Just Doing Stuff, 21 Stories of Transition and most recently, From What Is to What If: unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want.
In 2012, he was voted one of the Independentâs top 100 environmentalists and was on Nesta and the Observerâs list of Britainâs 50 New Radicals.
In this episode we discuss:
The power of mass movements (e.g., Civil Rights Movement, COVID-19 respon...The Advanced Certificate in Forest School and Outdoor Learning
Welcome to Episode 52!
In this episode Marina talks about her online course 'The Advanced Certificate in Forest School and Outdoor Learning'.
Why Forest School and Outdoor Learning is a game changer for educatorsInsights from masterclasses on sensory integration, mental health and deep nature connectionThe support from the UK Health & Safety Executive for well-managed riskHow access to the outdoors brings so many physical, cognitive and emotional benefits as well as developing a healthy psychological 'attachment' to nature.Our online training that packs sessions underpinned by research across the seasons - the one stop place.Topics included in...Nature Based Revolution with Amie Andrews
My guest today is Amie Andrews, and in this episode, we dive into the transformative potential of nature-based solutions for health, wellbeing, and community resilience.
In this episode we discuss:
The role of Small Woods National Charity, including their history and mission to connect people with woodlands.What social forestry is and how it supports both woodland health and human wellbeing.The growing appetite for nature-based activities and the evolving partnership between people and the environment.Insights on balancing human benefits from woodlands with the need to enhance biodiversity and sustainability.Tackling funding challenges in social...Reclaiming Values Beyond Capitalism
Welcome to Episode 50! In this episode Marina talks about minimizing harm, critiquing neoliberalism, and exploring land ownership, indigenous perspectives, and sustainable practices.
In this episode, Marina struggles with many topics that include:
Visioning in the new year as a physical expression of intention and future aspirations.Conversations on creating mindsets that minimize harm to others, oneself, and the natural world.Critique of neoliberalism's disconnection from a respectful land ethic.Reflections on the right to roam and land ownership paradigms.Insights from indigenous perspectives on land ownership and the The Law of Discovery and Terra Nullious (see...Right to Roam, Right to Learn with Lewis Winks
In this episode, I explore themes of environmental education, behaviour change, and empowerment with researcher, writer, and campaigner Lewis Winks.
In this episode we discuss:
Rewilding, nature connection, and why advocacy is essential for creating meaningful change. The interplay between individual actions and systemic mandates, such as public health or environmental regulations. How models like "nudging" or educational approaches influence societal transformation. Insights from the Education at a Time of Emergency project, including the role of imagination, storytelling, and values in fostering young people's agency.Consider thematic curriculums inspired by local landscapes (e.g. the River...The Wild Minds Podcast Trailer
What if wild, not domesticated, should be our normal instead of factory-farmed lives?
What if you could cultivate fulfilling lives and contribute to a healthy natural world?Â
The Wild Minds podcast is brought to you by me, Marina Robb, an author, entrepreneur, Forest School and Nature-based Trainer and Consultant, and pioneer in developing Green programmes for the Health service in the UK.
I'm also the founder of The Outdoor Teacher and creator of practical online Forest School and nature-based training for people working in mental health, education and business.
Tune in f...
Remember We Are Wild
Welcome to Episode 48, the final episode of Season 6.
I began by thinking about what it would be like to be an animal, a human animal, being force fed in a container of sorts. Trying to imagine the limitations of this lived experience compared to one where I am free to exercise my full-bodied animal life.
In this episode Marina:
Imagines what it would be like if we were confined and raised to be eaten!Explores what is taken from us when we are caged.Reminds us that everything has agency and is participating.Reviews...Land Ownership, Traditional Conservation and Declining Biodiversity with Nadia Shaik
This was a powerful interview with Nadia Shaik, who is a naturalist, conservationist and land justice activist working with Right to Roam.
Nadia has worked in Land Policy for the RSPB for over 10 years and is now addressing addressing issues of decolonising the sector.
In this episode we discuss:
The importance of valuing and protecting nature with the same passion we have for our National Health System.The Right to Roam and the disheartening truth that merely 8% of England's land is available to the public.How limited access to nature contributes to decreasing biodiversity...Growing up: Core Principles and Needs
In this episode I take a look at the four guiding principles that underpin the early years foundation stage in the UK and consider how these principles could also underpin wellbeing.
Sometimes it appears that nature-based experiences and learning is alternative or radical, but these very same principles exist underneath our practice we are all unique in the ways we learn and develop. We all need positive relationships to thrive, and have time to follow our own interests and needs.Â
When we develop practices that enliven these principles then children can grow up to feel go...
Children as Beings and Children as Becomings with Sam Williams
In this episode, I'm speaking with Sam Williams, headteacher of Redcliffe Nursery School, a state-maintained nursery school in the centre of Bristol.
I particularly enjoyed the thoughtful exploration of his value of democracy and how this begins for nursery aged children. Really thinking about how a childsâs own agency, as well as being valued for what they think and say and do, links to this value of democracy.
Alongside this, the skills and care that is encouraged and needed in understanding and supporting what is meaningful for young people. We also discussed that when chi...
The Essentials of Healthy Nature-Based Practice
October has arrived and the days are growing shorter and colder, yet at this time of year, we also experience a last rush of some of the edible plants before the winter. For example you can find nettle, plantain, ground ivy and even cleavers, as well as all of the berries, and if you know what you are doing, its also mushroom season!
Though this cycle of growth is coming to a close and death is all around us, thankfully this part of the cycle creates the ground for the next one to come, and soil and...
Relationships Rooted in Consent with Sophie Christophy
My guest today is Sophie Christophy, co-founder of the Cabin and the Lodge, both self-directed learning communities for home educated young people.
In 2016 Sophie established the philosophy and concept of consent-based education, which is the theme of todayâs podcast. We start the conversation about our dominant culture, and how we find ourselves within a patriarchal world view, regardless of our gender, and that we can all behave, mostly unconsciously in a patriarchal way by normalizing power structures.
In this episode, we dive into:
What is consent-based education? Key ingredients of consent.What does ou...Embodied Practice in our Special Education Needs-World
Itâs good to be back for a new season and notice autumn arriving! Isnât it incredibly difficult to get away from screens and allow time for play, reflection, rest and social connection.Â
On a recent walk, I saw swallows, who will soon be leaving us for southern Africa, and I did some research on Atlantic Mackerel as I saw all these people fishing â turn out they are leaving too and going north â life is always on the move!Â
In this episode I highlight the increase in special educational needs and disabilities in schools as well as...
Special Education Needs & Vocational Learning with David Cowell
Welcome back to Season 6! My guest today is David Cowell, Managing Director of ALP Schools, which runs special educational needs independent schools, funded by the local authority.
These five schools are for young people between the ages of 6-19 and 25 who have diagnosed special educational needs.
In this episode, we dive into:
The potential link between criminal behavior and the kind of educational opportunities we provide for young people.What the purpose of education is.Providing other learning opportunities for young people who find traditional education challenging.How and why, David opened ALP The...Wild Hearts, Wise Bodies
This is the final episode of Season 5 until we meet again on September 23rd around the Autumn Equinox!
I find myself once again in July, re-committing to taking time to slow down and make sure I spend time in natural spaces. I think in order to walk my talk, particularly with regard to listening deeply to the natural world and the wisdom that might arise from this encounter, I know itâs necessary to slow down, to facilitate for deep body-based listening.
This episode pulls together some of the threads from this season, I discuss sp...
Listening to the Wild World with Rebecca Wildbear
Iâm thrilled to introduce my guest, Rebecca Wildbear. Rebecca is the author of Wild Yoga, a book that guides us to inhabit our bodies and listen to the animate natural world. She tracks dreams, invites us to embrace vulnerability, listening deeply to nature, and to be open to what arises.
Rebecca holds an M.S. in Counseling from Johns Hopkins University and spent fifteen years working as a Wilderness Therapist. Sheâs also a professional river guide, having captained boats through pristine, fish-filled rivers.
With over 20 years of experience working with dreams, Rebecca has been...
Transforming Education and Health Through Nature
Welcome to Episode 38! Today, I'm delving into the transformative power of nature in education and health. I'll be sharing the backstory of Circle of Life Rediscovery, my community interest company, and our journey in offering nature-based programmes and green interventions with the National Health Service and various teams over the past 20 years.
In this Episode Marina discusses:
Celebrating the nettle seeds from the female nettle plant (Urtica dioica). They have separate female and male plants, full of nutrients, proteins, omega 3 oils. How we can begin to apply our imagination and vision, reflecting on the role of...Rewilding our imagination with Dylan Walker
In this episode, Iâm so excited to speak with Dylan Walker, who describes himself as part entrepreneur, part ecologist, and part educator.
Dylan uses innovative techniques to spark our imaginations, inspiring visions of a wilder world where humans play a central and positive role. He passionately believes that cultivating a deep cultural connection with nature is the only way to safeguard our precious wildlife for the future. This enlightening conversation left me feeling optimistic and deeply contemplative about the urgent need to revolutionize how we teach and learn about our climate and our vital role as a...
Beyond Net-Zero: Transforming Learning Through Nature's Patterns
Today, I'm beginning to delve into the fascinating world of biomimicry and nature's patterns, exploring how these principles can help us become net contributors in our communities and beyond and of course other interesting ideas!
I'll talk about how we could develop these natural blueprints to foster participation, learning, and positive change.
I believe it's crucial for everyone to feel empowered in their learning and community engagement, realizing that we can make a positive impact together.
In this Episode Marina discusses:
Whatâs happening in the land in July?What does net-positive ra...Humans as Net-Contributors: Learning from Biomimicry and Living Principles with Dr Deborah Benham
My guest today is Dr Deborah Benham. In addition to her academic career as a biologist, Deborah is a biomimicry educator, a Gaia Education and Transition Towns trainer, and has huge experience in how we can draw on living systems to support solutions to societal challenges.Â
I am very inspired to share this episode with you! We can actually be net-contributors as humans rather than always extracting and taking. Itâs so easy to speak about all the problems and seemingly hard to find solutions to planetary and personal health, but today we get to glimpse into an e...
The What and Why of Outdoor Learning
In episode 34, Marina defines outdoor learning and shares practical examples of its implementation in schools. Additionally, she explores the broader social and economic context we live in and questions if our education system should provide more opportunities for young people to understand political and economic processes, especially with the backdrop of the upcoming UK General elections.
It seems remiss to spend 14-16 years in education without grasping basic democracy and economics, and giving young people a platform to voice their ideas. As we develop a practical climate curriculum, addressing these wider systems is crucial.
In...
Bringing the Outdoors into Mainstream Education with Linda Dupret
We're kicking off Season 5 with an inspiring interview featuring Linda Dupret, a former headteacher with extensive experience leading an urban-based primary school.
Linda's passion for the outdoors drove her to integrate nature into mainstream education. I believe itâs crucial to provide young people with as many opportunities as possible to connect with nature. Outdoor learning, including approaches like Forest School, not only boosts wellbeing but also creates engaging educational experiences.
In this episode, Linda shares how she incorporates elements like fire and tools into teaching and normalizes outdoor learning in everyday curriculum.
Th...
Wrapping up Season 4: Love, Grief, and the Call for Ecocide Law
Episode 32 is the last episode in Season 4! Marina is pulling together some of her thoughts about the last few weeks, and Season 5 will begin on 17th June.
In this Episode Marina discusses:
What's Ecocide and Why Does It Matter? (https://www.stopecocide.earth/become)How may our hidden School curriculum shape environmental connection? The educational value of stones, leaves, mud and sticks for the early years.The introduction of Ecocide Bill in the UK in November 2023.How do we educate children for a sustainable culture?The scope for using freely available natural resources to teach. Revising...Exploring Education & Unschooling with Clare Caro
In Episode 31, My guest Clare Caro and I get to explore if the ârecipe of schoolâ is synonymous with education. Clare works as a co-director of the social enterprise Root-and-Branch Out, and with the local home-educating community.Â
We dive into:
What is home education and Unschooling (coined by John Holt)?·        Is it legal to home school, âeducating otherwiseâ in the United Kingdom?·        Is the âschool recipeâ synonymous with education?How we adults also need to âde-schoolâ ourselves.·        What are our values and what about going to university? The use of manipulation techniques like punishment, rewards & growling!·        The hidden curriculum â how adults treat children.·  ...There Is Nothing Irrational About Emotions!
In Episode 30, Marina is exploring how we exile certain feelings to our unconscious, and how much we need them back, when we are ready, to be able to feel our grief and to avoid looking for relief in distractions, buying things, blaming others, so that we donât abandon our own wild dreams and values.Â
Humans are certainly very complex, and I am very interested in how our suppression of feelings is connected to the suppression of our wild ânaturalâ nature, which includes expression of emotions.Â
In this Episode Marina discusses:
Emotions are very rational...The Radical Act of Warmth in an Avoidant-Attachment Culture with Sarah Peyton
My guest today is neuroscience educator, Sarah Peyton, who is an author, an international constellations facilitator, Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication, and someone who has spent many years integrating constellations, brain science and the use of resonant language to heal trauma.
In this episode we dive into:
Flight and fight and a less known distress response âalarmed alonenessâ â or separation distress.We linked loneliness as a killer and the stressor of aloneness â the modern culture of âgrow upâ, âdonât cryâ, âyou can do it on our ownâ messages.Re-affirming that our biology says we are not supposed to be alo...Developing Our Inner Compass Through Relationships With The Non-Human World
In Episode 28, Marina is feeling more reflective as she revisits some of the themes from her conversation with Peter Owen Jones last week.
In this Episode Marina contemplates:
A sense of sanctuary and intimacy with the non-human world, and âplaceâ.The celebration of springtime and how the greening of our land informs our practice.The inner compass that pulls us home and helps us navigate the journey.Themes of love and punishment and how we exile parts that we find difficult to âownâ as part of ourselves. How do we bring them home? My curiosity about the teach...The Seduction of Order with Peter Owen Jones
My guest today is Peter Owen Jones, who is an ecological thinker and activist, as well as a celebrated BBC TV presenter.
In this episode we dive into:
Are your dancing days ever done?What gets sacrificed for order?Melancholia as a teacherPlug into love as our main human job.The call of the religions of love and similarities rather than differences â are our hearts different?Jesus as a radical teacher of love!Life is not meant to be easy, and we need to love in the face of painA rewording of the âLordâs PrayerâThe toug...Behaviour is Communication
In Episode 26, Marina looks at:
The importance of knowing that our behaviour does not really reflect what is going on internally and that most of the time we are not aware of our how our unmet needs are fuelling the behaviour that we need support for, not punishment.
Behaviour is an outward expressions of feelings, thoughts, needs and intentions (see Alfie Kohnâs work).How do we want our children to turn out?Whatâs the cost of a punitive and controlling approach?What does punishment really teach us?Healthy relationships are fundamental to well-being.Sh...
Why Love Matters with Jon Cree
To kick off Season 4, Marina is speaking with Jon Cree, who is the co-author of their book, âThe Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogyâ.Â
They dive into:
What underpins a healthy model of education?How love really is an essential ingredient.A new model of partnership rather than dominationDiscovering wholehearted learningThe role of love and understanding our needsNeurobiology & our nervous systemsHow we do this in our practiceShow Notes:
https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/episode-25-why-love-matters-with-jon-cree/
Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com
Please Rate, Review, & Follow on Ap...
Why is Experiential Learning Needed in Education
In Episode 24, Marina looks at:
Our mind's potentialWhat is your Ecological Niche?Embracing the Nature-Centric Model.Choosing where to direct your attention.Fostering a quieter mind.Action as an antidote to anxiety.Humans as net contributors.What is the next moment of experience?Show Notes:
ï»żhttps://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/episode-24-why-is-experiential-learning-needed-in-education/
Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com
Please Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If you have enjoyed today's episode, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This really helps me to spread the word to more peo...
Beyond Modernity Eco-Systemic and Tentacular Thinking with Roger Duncan
Season 3, Episode 23:
In this week's podcast, I'm chatting to Roger Duncan, an eco-systemic psychotherapist within the NHS.
For over 30 years, he worked within the nature therapy world, was one of the pioneer tutors of the Ruskin Mill Education Trust, is a wilderness passage guide and developed a UK based Eco-psychotherapy course called 'Reclaiming our Indigenous Relationship with Nature'.
We dive into:
What is an eco-systemic psychotherapist?How our world is made up of systems and how we think about systems.The impact of modernity and colonization.Tentacular thinking and re-imagining what it...
