Raising Wildlings

Send us Fan Mail How does a single mum from Australia's Sunshine Coast end up world schooling in Tuscany? Denise Georges shares her courageous leap from skepticism about homeschooling to embracing world schooling in the beautiful countryside of Italy.  After losing her job during the pandemic, Denise discovered the transformative power of alternative education systems, all while navigating pe...

Send us Fan Mail Courtney Sullivan, the founder of Wild Play Co., joins us to share her journey from academia to entrepreneurship. Inspired by her background in exercise science and concern over youth's sedentary lifestyles, she embarked on creating a nature play business, WildPlay Co, in Bendigo, Victoria. We chat about: Launching a business while parenting young children and the unique chal...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how to foster a deeper connection between children and the natural world? On this episode of Raising Wildlings, we sit down with soon-to-be Dr. Amanda England, an expert in nature play philosophy and pedagogy, currently pursuing her PhD in Australia. Amanda unpacks the essence of Forest School in Australia, highlighting how this approach encourages free play...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to create meaningful outdoor experiences for families? Join us as we sit down with Kristi Bryant, passionate outdoor and environmental educator behind Bushwalking Mama. Kristi opens up about her journey in documenting and inspiring family-friendly outdoor activities, and the innovative methods she employs to integrate play and connection into outdoor learning.  I...

Send us Fan Mail Curious about the world of Family Day Care and how it might be the perfect fit for your child? Join us as we sit down with Victoria Edmond of Big Hearted Education and Rainbow Bridge Family Daycare Service. Victoria takes us through her inspiring journey from long daycare disillusionment to creating her own nurturing Family Day Care service and debunks the myth that family daycare...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could launch a thriving nature play business without breaking the bank? Most of you listening are nature loving hands-on type people. So when you’re thinking about starting a Nature Play business of your own, you might feel really confident in the Nature Play side of things but terrified of the day-to-day running of business. The other thing that worries people is the...

Send us Fan Mail Can a name shape the way we connect with nature through education? On this episode of Raising Wildlings, we are joined by the insightful (and soon-to-be Dr) Amanda England, as we unpack the nuances behind terms such "Forest School," "Nature Play," and "Bush Kinder," and discuss how these names reflect the unique environments and philosophies they repr...

Send us Fan Mail Are you grappling with the fear of cease and desist letters or the anxiety of operating your nature play business in legal grey zones? Get ready to arm yourself with essential insights and practical advice that can help you stay compliant and successful in this challenging landscape.  We'll help you understand where your business fits within outdoor recreation, education, and...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt crushed by criticism from a parent, especially when you're pouring your heart into your business? We've been there. This week, we share our emotional journey as nature play program facilitators, discussing how initially taking negative feedback to heart, evolved into seeing it as a critical avenue for growth. By reframing criticism and using it to reaf...

Send us Fan Mail This is part one of a two part episode! You can find Part one over at The Forest School Podcast - we suggest you jump over and start there if you haven't listened to part one yet! ⁠ ⁠ And don't forget to give them a follow on their socials here: The Forest School Podcast Instagram The Forest School Podcast Facebook Children of the Forest UK Instagram What happens when ed...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the transformative journey of Jane McFadden, a former psychologist and founder of ADHD Mums, as she shares her late ADHD and autism diagnoses. Jane's candid recollection of the challenges she faced as a mother of three, and the realization of her neurodivergence when her eldest child started school, provides crucial insights into the intersection of neurodiversity an...

Send us Fan Mail Ever reminisced about the simple joys of childhood when a stick wasn't just a stick but a sword, a wand, or a companion on countless adventures?  In today's episode, Nicki and Vicci will unravel the hidden developmental treasures found in stick play and how adults can prioritise safety without dampening the spirit of creativity. Listen in as Nicki and Vicci share their e...

Send us Fan Mail It's time to gain the confidence to flex your 'uncomfortable muscles' and become an agent of positive change in your family's life – because when it comes to sex education, silence is not an option. This week we're chatting with Cath Hakanson, mother, sex educator, and founder of Sex Ed Rescue. Cath is all about helping kids and parents have better relatio...

Send us Fan Mail Rosie Ricketson is a mother and award-winning creative producer passionate about maternal well-being.  With a background in the arts, Rosie curates community-led experiences and projects with a vision for a more connected world.  In this episode, Rosie shares: 🌱Her Thoughts Investing in Community During Uncertain Times 🌱Creativity's Role in Building Community 🌱Modern Mothe...

Send us Fan Mail As we close the chapter on an incredible year of growth and connection, our latest podcast episode takes you through a heartfelt journey of our key milestones, mistakes and goals for the new year. Somehow during this time, we have hit an astonishing 420,000 downloads and cultivated conversations that have deeply resonated within the realms of parenting, alternative education, fore...

Send us Fan Mail We're back, baby! Kicking off the 2024 season of the Raising Wildlings Podcast with our friend and fellow business owner Gill Howarth from Born Wise Education. Gill always brings her wisdom to the table and it's great to have her back for an in-depth discussion on what raising "wild and free" children truly means. Listen in as Gill shares: 🌱Her experience on t...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever questioned the traditional education system and its one-size-fits-all approach? If so, this episode is a must-listen as clinical psychologist and education advocate Dr. Naomi Fisher embarks on a deep discussion about alternative pathways to learning. Dr Naomi Fisher is a clinical psychologist who specialises in autism, trauma and alternative ways to learn. She is the...

Send us Fan Mail Are you curious about how to reconnect with your inner wisdom and that of the land, seasons, and cycles?  Today we are in conversation with the wonderful Tiffany Gesler, a proud Gunggari woman passionate about connecting people to their own nature.    Tiffany is a seasoned early years and outdoor learning educator with expertise in Aboriginal health, midwifery, and women's bu...

Send us Fan Mail Stepping out of the mainstream education system and into the business world is equal parts daunting and exhilarating. In today's episode, we are talking with one of our founding Your Wild Business students Leanne Webster who has created a community and connection in Bundaberg QLD with her wonderful business Wild Gully. In this episode Leanne shares: 🌱Her personal journey fro...

Send us Fan Mail Ever thought you couldn't run a Nature Play program because your site isn't postcard-worthy?      Newsflash: Picturesque beaches, a bubbling creek, or a lush rainforest are pretty but they are not essential for your Nature Play program. We repeat they are not essential.  Today we are discussing place-based learning and how it's actually really important that childre...

Send us Fan Mail "If nature is free and play is free... Then why would I need to pay $ to insure my Nature Play session? " 😱 - Us Yes, that was our actual faces when we heard someone was running a Nature Play session WITHOUT insurance. Not only does this kind of dodgy practice risk people's livelihoods and homes... it also has the potential to completely destroy a whole industry th...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're screaming internally, "Not this!"? You're not alone. Inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's empowering post, this episode delves into Nicki's process of courageously saying ,'Not this,' and stepping away from situations that no longer served her and opting for a path of uncertainty over a lif...

Send us Fan Mail How do you define success as a mother and business owner? What does it mean to find your threshold of "enoughness"?   We are back this week with Gill Howarth, owner of Bornwise Education, as she uncovers her journey through the peaks and valleys of motherhood and entrepreneurship.  For Full Show Notes Head To 👉 https://www.raisingwildlings.com.au/blog/Balancing-Entrepre...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever wonder what it takes to start a business while wrestling with the complexities of parenting young children? Join us as we delve deep into the journey of Gill Howarth, the founder of Born Wise Education, who remarkably embarked on her entrepreneurial expedition during her maternity leave - just like we did with Wildlings Forest School! Gill invites us into her world, sh...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how to package your passion for nature into a profitable venture? This week we're uncovering the untapped potentials in the Nature Play industry and  translating your unique gifts into a viable business. We'll walk you through the diverse niches in the industry, from age-based businesses to corporate events, and even delve into the advantageous role of loca...