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Artwork for The Clearing

The Clearing with Katherine May

Katherine May
Rest
Mental Health
Self-Care
Retreat
Writing
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes89Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationBooksArtsSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for The Clearing

Latest Episodes

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

Kate Bowler is the multiple New York Times-bestselling author, professor of divinity and stage-four cancer survivor who has mastered the art of finding small delights in the everyday. No grand gestures for her. 

In this wonderful conversation with K... more

Our first guest to choose a city for his dreamscape, the brilliant writer, BBC broadcaster and educator Jeffrey Boakye reveals he’s most at peace when walking for walking’s sake through the ever-changing textures of London’s streets.  The very essenc... more

A beautiful, bird-filled episode from the wonderful collaborative duo of writer Robert Macfarlane and illustrator Jackie Morris. Together they have created some of the best-loved books on the natural world in recent years, including The Lost Words.

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Jackie Morris
Author and illustrator known for The Lost Words and The Book of Birds
Author/illustrator
Episode: Jackie Morris & Robert Macfarlane ‘dream of nest’
Robert Macfarlane
Author known for nature writing and Bird-focused projects
Author
Episode: Jackie Morris & Robert Macfarlane ‘dream of nest’
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
Emma Gannon
An author and writer who focuses on themes of rest and recovery in her works.
Episode: Emma Gannon’s year of desert rest

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 407 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 States2 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 Kingdom4 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 Kingdom4 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
#195
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#55
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#235
Germany/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#72
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#109
Ireland/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. Bewildered
3. On Being with Krista Tippett
4. The Gathering Room Podcast
5. As the Season Turns

How many episodes of The Clearing are there?

The Clearing launched 6 years ago and published 89 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 Clearing?

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What guests have appeared on The Clearing?

Recent guests on The Clearing include:

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

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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