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The Forest School Podcast

Lewis Ames and Wem Southerden
Forest School
Nature Connection
Outdoor Education
Child Development
Education
Community Building
Pedagogy
Ecology
Childhood Development
Failure
Community
Transparency In Education
Play Cycle
Nature Saturation
Owls
Outdoor Learning
Safety In Education
Clean Language
Urban Forest School
Re-Naturing Urban Spaces

Wem Southerden & Lewis Ames have run Forest School and training centre Children of the Forest since 2017. The Forest School Podcast was born when they wondered if their daily wafflechats and reflections about pedagogy, play and nature connection might be of interest to others. The podcast aims to inform and support educators, parents, outdoor and play practitioners and anyone interested in nature ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes259Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for The Forest School Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week Wem and I dig into Brian Sutton-Smith's The Ambiguity of Play, a book Wem has been quietly highlighting half to death for the best part of a year.

Sutton-Smith's approach isn't to tell us what play is. It's a literature review of how diffe... more

Generous Authority: The Art of Gathering at Forest School

This episode, I’ve read a book and Wem’s job is to poke holes in it. The book is Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, and parts of it had me nodding along whil... more

Declarative language and empathy sit at the heart of how we support behaviour at Children of the Forest. Rather than issuing commands, we describe what we notice and help people see the effect their actions have on those around them. Most of the time... more

Wem and I get into a concept neither of us had a name for until this week: inessential weirdness. It comes from a video by organisational psychologist Pippi Kessler, and once you've got the term you start seeing it everywhere.

We open with my Ofsted... more

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Recent Guests

Ellie J
ClownDaddy, performer and educator
ClownDaddy Presents
Episode: Ep 249 - Clowning & Forest School w/ Ellie J A.K.A ClownDaddy
Dr. Wendy Russell
Play researcher and independent researcher; senior research fellow at University of Gloucestershire
University of Gloucestershire
Episode: Ep 246 - Relational Capability Approach w/ Dr Wendy Russell
Nick Elvy
Artist, outdoor educator, researcher; writer on Substack; social commentator on folklore and outdoor education
Episode: Ep 245 - Folklore and Neo-Enclosure w/ Nik Elvy
Ellen Fay
Founder/Director, Sustainable Soils Alliance
Sustainable Soils Alliance
Episode: Ep 244 - Sustainable Soil Alliance
Susan Barker
Works for Avon Needs Trees and specializes in community tree planting and engagement
Avon Needs Trees
Episode: Ep 239 - Community Woods with Susan Barker from Avon Needs Trees
Dr. Shelley Newstead
Expert in playwork with a PhD focus on its history and current practices
PARS Playwork
Episode: Ep 235 - PARS Playworking with Dr Shelley Newstead
Mell Harrison
A nature-based educator with over 30 years of experience, co-founder of Kinda Education.
Kinda Education
Episode: Ep 229 - Save Ringsfield Hall with Mell Harrison of Kinda Education
Max Alexander
A play worker, artist, consultant, and author of 'The Joys and Shapes of Autistic Play.'
Play Radical
Episode: 228 - Creating Play Taxonomies with Max Alexander
Nicole DeRushie
Author and speaker focused on ancient fashion and crafts
Episode: Ep 226 - Bog Fashion at Forest School with Nicole DeRushie

Hosts

Wem Southerden
Co-host of The Forest School Podcast; often guides conversations and interview guests.
Lewis Ames
Host of The Forest School Podcast; leads discussions and shares practical experience.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 135 ratings
  • A Playful Approach to a Playful Topic

    Such an informative Podcast! Lewis, Wem, and guests take a playful approach to Forest Schooling, which matches Forest School’s playful approach to education!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Peter Kindfield
    United Statesa year ago
  • Story time

    Really enjoyed the last podcast around shared community stories. Echoes many things I am interested in at the moment, but also just a good broader listen. And addition, not easy to post a post on your own, so kudos to Lewis for that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BertGrieves
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Truths Be Told!

    Thank you for sharing the Truths of the joy, humour and humbling experiences of being in nature with children. The Bush Pods ~ Nature School in South Australia loves your podcast. I love legs 🐸!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SVadventures
    Australia2 years ago
  • A must for current or potential forest school leaders

    Varied, honest, insightful, funny and challenging- brilliant!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pondie61
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Perfect for Forest school leaders

    As a fairly new forest school leader I love this podcast. So informative and the wealth of experience shared gives me so much food for thought on so many areas of this practice. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Biddy Runs
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are often high-caliber, with a mix of academics and field practitioners.
Many appreciate the balance of humor and in-depth discussion, making complex topics accessible.
Listeners praise the approachable, friendly style and practical CPD value.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 245 - Folklore and Neo-Enclosure w/ Nik Elvy
Q: How did the meeting with the Secretary of State influence the discussion on SEND and poverty?
The meeting was intense and emotionally charged but constructive; the Secretary of State listened and there was genuine hope for schooling changes. However, the speakers remained concerned about real-world implementation, noting persistent challenges in mainstreaming SEND provisions, training for TAs, and potential erosion of parental rights under reforms.
Ep 245 - Folklore and Neo-Enclosure w/ Nik Elvy
Q: What is Neo-Enclosure and how does it manifest in everyday spaces?
Neo-Enclosure refers to modern practices that restrict access to green spaces and public areas through things like parking cameras, privatization of previously open lands, and design choices that steer use toward specific groups, effectively closing off space for others. This can be as overt as a parking machine or as subtle as planning decisions that change who can safely use a space, with long-term impacts on children and the vulnerable.
Ep 239 - Community Woods with Susan Barker from Avon Needs Trees
Q: Could you just tell us a little bit about yourself personally and your career path that led you to work with Avon Needs Trees?
Susan describes a transition from a previous career in academia to horticulture, driven by a desire to work outdoors and engage with nature.
Ep 235 - PARS Playworking with Dr Shelley Newstead
Q: How do you see the relationship between forest school and playwork?
Forest school can be seen as playwork in the woods, where both emphasize children's competency and curiosity; however, forest school also ties into educational outcomes.
Ep 235 - PARS Playworking with Dr Shelley Newstead
Q: Can you, for those listeners who maybe don't know that much about playwork at the moment, how would you define a playwork perspective?
A playwork perspective focuses on the needs of children and childhood, arguing for allowing children the freedom to engage in play without adult interference.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Forest School Podcast

What is The Forest School Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two veteran educators run a nature- and play-focused show that centers Forest School pedagogy, outdoor education, and child-led learning. Episodes routinely explore practical training, risk, playwork, community engagement, and policy context, often featuring guests who bridge academic theory with on-the-ground practice. Noteworthy is the blend of personal storytelling, humor, and rigorous discussion, plus a willingness to tackle timely topics like climate impacts, boundaries, and inclusion in outdoor spaces. The format frequently serves as CPD for leaders and educators, while remaining accessible to parents and practitioners curious about nature-connected education and public engagement with green spaces.

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How many listeners does The Forest School Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Forest School Podcast?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Forest School Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Forest School Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Forest School Podcast:

1. Outsiding
2. The Louis Theroux Podcast
3. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
4. How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
5. The Wild Minds Podcast

How many episodes of The Forest School Podcast are there?

The Forest School Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 259 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Forest School Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Forest School Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Forest School Podcast?

Recent guests on The Forest School Podcast include:

1. Ellie J
2. Dr. Wendy Russell
3. Nick Elvy
4. Ellen Fay
5. Susan Barker
6. Dr. Shelley Newstead
7. Mell Harrison
8. Max Alexander

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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