GeogPod

In this episode John’s discussions with Dr Philipp Horn include ‘Urban Informality’ and they explore terms such as ‘slums’ and ‘favelas’ which are less used in geography education these days. It is worth listening to the whole episode to understand the use of the words and how many of them have been adopted and reclaimed by some people who live in informal settlements.   Resources X (formerly...

This episode of GeogPod was recorded live at the GA’s Annual Conference in April 2024. Our host John Lyon talked to our guest, Donald McClean, from the Sheffield Environmental Movement. In the session they discussed the importance of fieldwork, widening participation in the natural environment, supporting diverse Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic Refugee (BAMER) community groups/organisations around S...

In this episode our host, John Lyon, chats with John Hopkins, Katherine Baulcomb and Luke Hinchliffe - members of the GA's Assessment and Examinations Special Interest Group (AESIG). They discuss topics such as progression in geography, the progression and assessment guidance, sequencing, enquiry based learning and more. Resources: Progression and assessment in geography GCSE and A level results F...

In this episode join John Lyon and Professor James Esson from Queen Mary University of London as they discuss viewing the world through a geographical lens. They cover a wide range of topics including conspicuous margins, pedagogy and voice, inequality, social economy, and improving the future. Professor James Esson will also be our keynote speaker at the GA Conference 2024. Find out more abo...

In this episode of GeogPod John is joined by Paul Chatterton, Professor of Urban Futures at the University of Leeds. A few topics they discuss include Paul’s book How to save the city, the climate crisis, social inequalities and the breakdown of our natural world. Visit howtosavethecity.org to find out more about the book. Follow Paul on X  (Twitter): @PaulChatterton9 Connect with Paul Chatte...

Join John Lyon discussing the topic of Educake with Charley Darbishire, MD and Founder of Educake, and Claire Power, Head of Geography. John, Charley and Claire discuss retrieval practice, how Educake was founded, what it is, how it can be used and the benefits for both teachers and students. Get your first month free, try Educake here. Follow Educake on X (formerly Twitter): @educake @educakegeog

In this episode you are invited to listen in on a conversation held earlier this year as part of our Navigating EDI through geography course. Course presenters Kit Marie Rackley, Akhera Williams, Alice Hoy and Sarah Hayden sat down together to discuss their thoughts on integrating EDI into everyday geography lessons and the challenges teachers might encounter in the curriculum. More from the prese...

In this episode John Lyon discusses the Chalk Stream Challenge with Hazel Metcalfe and Sarah Smith. Hazel and Sarah created The Chalk Stream Challenge as part of the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme. They discuss how the challenge began, who the challenge is suitable for, some of the activities involved, features of a Chalk Stream and how the activities can be adapted. Fin...

In this episode John Lyon discussed the topic of place with Professor Richard Phillips from the University of Sheffield. Richard was joined in this podcast by Tariq Jazeel and Maddy Starzak in the first ever live recorded episode from our Annual Conference 2023. Richard Phillips, Professor of Human Geography at the University Sheffield, discusses some of his work on place, writing and fieldwork. H...

In this episode John is joined by Helen Mazalon, a GIS Technician at Alcis.  They discuss many topics surrounding GIS for example: Who Alcis are and what they do, the difficulties students face getting into the entry level job market, the 30 day map challenge, the accuracy of data, and more. Visit the Alcis website here Here are Helen's top 5 suggestions for GIS resources: Humanitarian Open S...

In this episode John is joined by Professor Alex Densmore, Deputy Head of Geography at Durham University.  Focusing on his research in Nepal, they talk about how investigating tectonically active landscapes can reveal chains of linked hazards, and why it is important to link international humanitarian efforts with local communities. Find information on the  post-Gorkha landslide here . V...

In the 66th episode, John Speaks to Daanish Mustafa, Professor in Critical Geography at King's College London. The episode centres on what Critical Geography is and how Daanish's thinking was shaped. They also touch on the concepts of structuralism and post-structuralism before discussing the 2022 Pakistan floods and flood management. Find Gender and Social Vulnerability to Climate Change: A Study...

In this episode, John speaks to Chris Winter and Dan Whittall, both Research Engagement Leads at the GA. Their conversation centres on the projects in which they are currently involved and their hopes for the future of research within geography education. They also touch on areas such as Diversity & Inclusion and de-colonising the curriculum. Find the GA's Developing Classroom Research and Wri...

In this episode, John speaks to Professor Dave Petley, the new Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull. Their conversation centres of Dave's work on landslides, their relationship to earthquakes, the evolution of slopes and how they can be better taught in the classroom. Dave has a wealth of knowledge, recounting his work in Taiwan as well as discussing events like the Sichuan Earthquake in 2008...

In the first episode of Series 11, John speaks with Clarry Simpson, a geography teacher and ECT Induction Lead in Brinsworth.   Their discussion centres on the NQT & ECT programs, the problems affecting new teachers, how the programs have changed and the importance of subject and curriculum knowledge.   Follow Clarry on Twitter.   Series 11 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by Hodd...

This week, John speaks to Richard Bustin, Alice Matthews & Charlotte Milner to discuss getting involved with Teaching Geography and how to write your first article for Teaching Geography.   Find out more about writing for the GA at https://www.geography.org.uk/Write-for-GA     Series 10 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by  AQA . Everyone has the potential to achieve, so we ma...

This week John speaks with Ilan Kelman, to discuss why disasters aren't natural, and why it is up to us to make the positive changes so that diplomacy can work for everyone.  Links from the pod:  Follow Ilan on Twitter or Instagram Read Disaster by Choice Read his papers:  Axioms and actions for preventing disasters and Does Nature Play Disaster Games? See Ilan's talks on: What make...

In this special, 60th episode of GeogPod, we hand over the guest seat to our stalwart presenter, John Lyon.  As a longstanding member of the GA community, he answers questions sent in by staff and members about his experiences, and about what makes him passionate about geography.   Follow John at https://twitter.com/GAGeogger   Series 10 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by  AQA ....

The guest for this week's podcast is Gemma Sou, Vice Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow at RMIT University in Australia. Gemma and John talk about the human geography of the climate crisis, and how she uses graphic novels to represent her research into human-environment relationships and the gendered impacts of climate change. They look into the value of using different media for representi...

In this episode, John chats with Narinder Mann: lecturer of Geography and Humanities Education at the University of Manchester. Their conversation centres on what makes a good geography teacher and what a good geography curriculum looks like. Series 10 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by AQA . Everyone has the potential to achieve, so we make sure that our qualifications give all students the opport...

In the first episode of Series 10, John catches up with David Lambert, Honorary Professor of Geography Education at the UCL Institute of Education and former GA Chief Executive. They look back together at the recent history of the GA, and key concepts which helped to build its manifesto for geography: A Different View. Their discussion looks closely at what it means to "think geographically" and w...

Listen in to the final episode of Series 9 to hear Ryan Ing, current GA postgraduate intern, talk to us about what geography means to him and how he progressed from A levels in physics and geography to a research career in glaciology. John and Ryan discuss the transition from A level to University and beyond, the future of glaciers in Greenland and why it's important to connect with the environmen...

Joe Usher is Assistant Professor in Primary Geography Education and Social, Environmental and Scientific Education at Dublin City University. He joins John this week to talk about how to get teachers and pupils to recognise the threads of geography running through everyday spaces and places, and how to implement tools like Minecraft to get them to consider issues such as sustainability and accessi...

In this episode, John chats with Dawn Gessey-Jones: teacher and geography co-ordinator at Two Rivers School, a special school providing for pupils and students with a wide range of educational needs and recipient of the Gold Primary Geography Quality Mark from 2009-2021. They talk about the school's approaches to making the subject relevant and inclusive, and how to give it meaning for individual...

In this week's podcast, John speaks with Alan Parkinson, President of the Geographical Association 2021-22, and Paula Richardson, of the GA Fieldwork and Outdoor Learning Special Interest Group, as we head into National Fieldwork Week .  They look at all aspects of fieldwork: why it is necessary, what teachers can do to get pupils and students involved, and the benefits of engaging with field...