The Bracken Outdoors Podcast

In this video, I discuss how tricky it can be to find a woodland that you can use to run sessions and give you some tips on how to find your perfect woodland. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodlan...

In this extra episode, I reflect on the last year as well as the future of Bracken Outdoors.  The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor...

In this instalment of Wednesday Wonderings, I give you three steps to help you build a network of leaders and customers. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advic...

How much risk is acceptable? Are injuries inevitable as part of the learning process? What happens when you eliminate risk entirely? In this episode, I answer these questions and more as I dive into managing risk as a Forest School Leader and Bushcraft Instructor.  The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you b...

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational p...

Economies of scale don't just apply to big companies but can also be relevant to small businesses and even freelance instructors. Are you working with or against economies of scale in your work? The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on a...

It's not always all raindrops and marketing, in this episode I talk a bit about what I love about being a woodland leader.  The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips a...

Join me as I talk about how I recovered from burnout while working as a woodland leader.  The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor educ...

In this episode, I interview Chris Grice of Wilderness Tribe. We cover, men's mental health, building long-term therapeutic programmes, training as a therapeutic bushcraft practitioner and much more. Resources  Wilderness Tribe Website Nature Therapy UK Podcast The Nature Therapy UK Conference The Certificate in Advanced Wilderness Therapeutic Approaches The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is design...

Join me as I discuss the four core markets we have for our services as a Forest School leader and the advantages and disadvantages of each.  The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from bus...

In this episode, I interview Luschka from Wild Therapy Isle of Wight and Woodlearn Forest School. We discuss working with home-ed families, Beach School, involving men in the raising of kids, being a guide rather than a leader, the power of mud and much more.  Resources: Wild Therapy Isle of Wight Facebook Page Woodlearn Forest School Men with Kids Sessions The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed...

What makes us leave our modern conveniences behind, pack a rucksack and go live like a (well-equipped) homeless person in the woods? What is the unique value behind the teaching and learning of traditional skills? How do we market ourselves effectively as woodland leaders? I answer all of these questions and more as I unravel my thoughts on what the actual point of bushcraft is.  The Bracken Outdo...

In this episode, Mark Cox returns to the show to talk about his experiences in training for his Summer Mountain Leading qualification in the mountains of North Wales. Join us as we discuss: How to prepare yourself for the ML training course. Getting in Quality Mountain Days. What to expect during the ML training. and much more... Resources mentioned in this episode: Llanberis Mountain Rescue Mount...

Finding the time and motivation to keep learning new skills is difficult, but there are ways to stay motivated and improve faster. In this episode, I talk about the 5 practices I use to build and improve my bushcraft skills.  Resources So Good They Can't Ignore You    Cal Newport Atomic Habits James Clear Urban Wild Play (not Urban Bushcraft!) The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Wood...

In this episode, I talk about my new group the Oak Tree Network and the philosophy and motivations behind establishing a support network for men.  Resources The Oak Tree Network webpage The Oak Tree Facebook Group (for non-locals) What is a Men's Group article Contact me Recommended reading Fire in the Belly - Sam Keen In the Company of Men  - Marvin Allen A Circle of Men - Bill Kauth Manhood...

In this solo episode, I give you my thoughts on the current challenges and benefits of Forest School and how we may need to start thinking about how to move beyond Forest School.  The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life a...

Join me on a shorter solo episode where I give you my perspective on the difference between bushcraft and survival skills.  The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and ad...

In this episode, I interview James Kendall of Woodland Classroom. James provides a range of bushcraft, Forest School and foraging activities and information through his company Woodland Classroom, seeking to help people rebuild their connection to the outdoor world. In this interview we talk about transitioning from Forest School to Bushcraft, nature connection vs preservation, getting started wit...

In this episode, I interview Emma Nock. Along with previous podcast guest Liz Benstead, Emma runs Liberty Farm CIC, a not for profit that seeks to help people to live happy and fulfilled lives through nature based therapies and experiences. In this interview we talk about Emma's specialisation in Equine therapy including what equine therapy is, how it is helpful for wellbeing, how to build th...

In this epsidode interview Lymarie Rodriquez. Lymarie is a lecturer in psychology and an advocate for not just using the natural world as a tool but truly developing a deep and holistic connection to our environment.  We talk about valuing outdoor space, the role of outdoor practitioners in mental health, deepening our connection to nature and much more. Resources Lymarie's Twitter feed WHO a...

Today in episode 10 I interview my friend and colleague Alan Bale. A former tree surgeon, butcher and university lecturer, Alan now leads community projects and bushcraft courses for Sustainable Life ; an organisation he co-founded several years ago. Alan brings a down-to-earth perspective to everything and is not afraid to challenge people's views, which is why I wanted to bring some of our...

A first solo episode, with just the mic and I, in which I discuss how to reduce your packweight and get lighter to go further. Giving you my top 5 strategies on how to decide what to take and what to leave and what to do if your pack is still feeling like a sack of bricks. Resources mentioned: Defining the Journey Paul Kirtley on Lightening the Load MSR Trailshot Water Filter Sea to Summit Compres...

In this episode, I interview Liz Benstead of Liberty Farm CIC. Liz is a Bushcraft Practitioner with a specialisation in working with disadvantaged people and mental health, which she is now looking to combine into a bushcraft mental health practitioner course.  Join us as we discuss the benefits of being outdoors, strategies for improving mental health and how to build confidence, mental resilienc...

In this episode, I interview Peter Morton of Red Oak Bushcrafts . Peter is a freelance outdoor instructor with a massive skillset and experience across a lot of outdoor pursuits and a genuine desire to see people achieve and grow. Join us as we discuss, making the transition from a mainstream job to full-time outdoor instruction, the importance of being prepared for UK hill and mountain walking, b...

In this episode, I interview one of the longest-running bushcraft and outdoor instructors in the UK. Dave Watson has amassed a wealth of knowledge and practical teaching skills over the years, join us as we talk about the bushcraft mindset, the importance of a deep understanding of skills and how to manage expectations while teaching practical skills. Resources mentioned Woodland Survival Crafts E...