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Artwork for The Clearing

The Clearing with Katherine May

Katherine May
Rest
Mental Health
Self-Care
Writing
Retreat
Living Resistance
Indigenous Identity
Creativity
Motherhood
Grief
Soil
Anxiety and Mental Health
Colonization
Nature
Burnout
Katherine May
Storytelling
ADHD
Neurodivergence
Community Care

Where would you go to rest and retreat, in good times and bad?

Katherine May, author of Wintering and Enchantment, asks her guests to share their idea of a perfect sanctuary. Drawing on memory, inspiration and imagination, she explores the things we seek out when we need to restore our joy, hope and energy.

It begins with a forest clearing. What will we find there? A log cabin or a grand hotel? W... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes96Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for The Clearing

Latest Episodes

Not too warm, not too cool, the kind of evening where you’re still in shorts but have pulled on a sweater, is where we find ourselves this week with the wonderful writer and papercut artist Anna Brones. 

It’s the Pacific North-West but imbued with A... more

‘Revel’ is the recurring theme of this episode as writer Alice Vincent brings visceral, carnival-esque Glastonbury vibes to The Clearing this week. 

A self-confessed extrovert, her dream retreat includes bundling up all the sounds and experiences of... more

Trees as ancestors, blurring the boundary between our bodies and the living world and constructing your sense of ‘self’ through art; these are just some of the beautiful areas of discussion between our guest Joycelyn Longdon and Katherine this week. ... more

Warm waters, humid, verdant jungle and the nighttime hum of insects are where we find ourselves this week as our guest, Yasmin Khan, transports us on a much-needed break to the tropics. 

Yasmin is the bestselling author of travel cookbooks exploring... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Yasmin Khan
Journalist, campaigner and food writer
Sabzi ( cookbook author)
Episode: Yasmin Khan’s warm seas and verdant greens
Kate Bowler
Author and professor known for Joyful, Everything Happens
Everything Happens Empire
Episode: Kate Bowler’s Bridge of Absurdity
Jeffrey Boakye
Broadcaster and author
BBC/Radio/Author
Episode: Jeffrey Boakye’s city path to peace
Robert Macfarlane
Writer and essayist, known for collaboration with Jackie Morris
Episode: Season Two Trailer
Jackie Morris
Illustrator, collaborator with Robert Macfarlane
Episode: Season Two Trailer
Carissa Potter
Artist, writer, podcaster
Instagram artist, author of multiple books and founder of People I Love
Episode: Carissa Potter’s hot springs artist retreat
Elissa Altman
Author of Poor Man's Feast, Motherland, and Permission
Episode: Elissa Altman on the beauty of impermanence
Daisy Buchanan
Author known for her engaging and witty writing.
Episode: Daisy Buchanan’s Swiss mountain glamour
Poorna Bell
Journalist and author, focusing on topics like grief and wellness.
Episode: Poorna Bell’s New Zealand vista

Host

Katherine May
Host of The Clearing, author and facilitator of reflective conversations about rest, sanctuary, and personal renewal.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 410 ratings
  • Pure joy

    I loved your book, Wintering, and a friend gave me a gift subscription to your Substack. This was the first podcast I’ve listened to and what a joy it was. I loved hearing your voice and your tone. Comfort in a podcast. ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    S_Shug
    United States3 months ago
  • Lovely and well timed

    Always a fan of your work Katherine, and I love this iteration of your podcast. I love the permission to imagine ideal rest and the invitation to find big and small ways to integrate rest into our lives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CatInVirginia
    United States3 months ago
  • A beacon of light

    This podcast makes me feel so hopeful for the future. Katherine’s takes are so very thoughtful and her guests are wonderful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lizzyloula
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Joyful and important – a rare combination

    Katherine’s introductions to each episode brings in the listener so you feel like you’re with her in the conversation from the very start. It’s fascinating to hear what her different guests think and feel about rest, what rest ideally looks like for them and their challenges around finding and creating a sense of rest. What I love most about The Clearing is that it’s the most real, honest and relatable conversation about rest I’ve found, to date, which is why I think it’s an important as well th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GabrielleCT
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Lovely podcast about a very important topic - rest

    This podcast feels like a real antidote to our fast paced, overwhelming world, I love it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dex&Mosscap
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners describe the show as hopeful, comforting, and deeply thoughtful.
Many praise the host's warmth and the guests' insightful perspectives on rest and renewal.
Some find the conversations soothing and relatable, a counterbalance to fast-paced life.
A few listeners note occasional tonal shifts or pacing, but still value the depth of discussion.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#43
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#119
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#236
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#118
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#68
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#93
Saudi Arabia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Poorna Bell’s New Zealand vista
Q: What does rest look like to you?
Rest means having a day with no set appointments, allowing myself to move at my own pace.
Poorna Bell’s New Zealand vista
Q: Is there a distinct point for you when you think I'm done now, I want to leave?
I always miss my home when I'm leaving it to go to the airport. I just knew when it was time to go home.
Andy J. Pizza’s magical, moving ADHD landscape
Q: Tell me where we find ourselves, where you might go, what sort of landscape, what sort of place you might go for your kind of rest.
I like the idea that this could be partially fictional. I want to go to Howl's Moving Castle as a kind of bed and breakfast.
Cariad Lloyd’s mossy, mythical retreat
Q: What do you bring with you into your retreat?
I think I'd need a good blanket and some trinkets to make me feel settled.
Cariad Lloyd’s mossy, mythical retreat
Q: What brings you to the need for a retreat?
I've been living in strange times for quite a while, and it's easy to forget that we have been under a continuous level of global worry.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Clearing

What is The Clearing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtfully oriented show that curates intimate conversations about rest, sanctuary, and personal renewal. Across episodes, guests range from authors and journalists to thinkers and creatives who share how they seek restoration, creativity, and meaning through retreat, reading, and everyday rituals. The format emphasizes honesty, empathy, and practical insights for living well, even during difficult times. A notable strength is the host's gentle, curious approach that makes complex topics feel accessible and soothing; occasional episodes lean into creative or philosophical explorations, blending personal anecdotes with broader cultural questions.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Clearing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Clearing:

1. The Shift with Sam Baker
2. As the Season Turns
3. Small Ways To Live Well from The Simple Things
4. Bewildered
5. Homing

How many episodes of The Clearing are there?

The Clearing launched 6 years ago and published 96 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Clearing?

Recent guests on The Clearing include:

1. Yasmin Khan
2. Kate Bowler
3. Jeffrey Boakye
4. Robert Macfarlane
5. Jackie Morris
6. Carissa Potter
7. Elissa Altman
8. Daisy Buchanan

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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