Finding Your Right Mind — with Vanessa Potter (Vanessa Potter)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Finding Your Right Mind — with Vanessa Potter
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Feb 2022 | ParkBathe Bonus: Delights of Crystal Palace Park | 00:10:21 | |
We have some treats for you in this week’s ParkBathe bonus. check out Sage's favourite walk from Go Jauntly, the walking App - guess where it is ! And I promised some instructions from Jules Howard, allround zoologist and pond nerd on how to create your own water wonderland in your back garden that will be full of jiggling, wriggling cool critters for you to seek out. Plus you’ll be supporting your local wildlife by creating a new watery habitat for frogs - so that makes you an environmentalist too! Lil Stevens from the National history museum gave me a few top tips of plants to look out for around the lake. That way you enjoy much more than just the fab dinosaurs and of course, a great day out. If you do make a bucket pond in your garden send us a picture ! we love hearing from you on social media and share this bonus with anyone who might like it. | |||
| 05 Feb 2022 | Blue Health: Watery delights and Secrets of Crystal Palace Park | 01:00:29 | |
Welcome to this week’s episode which dives into blue Health and Crystal Palace Park ! We have so much to share in this packed-out episode. Meet the amazing Crystal Palace dinosaur team, hear from the lovely paleo-botanist Lil as she explains the planting around the lake. We celebrate the unsung female heroines of the'dino world' and give a shoutout to some of the amazing groups operating in the park. We’ve talked a lot about green health - so Kirsten explains how water can help our wellbeing too - from walking by lakes or canoeing down the Thames. We hear about the history of Crystal Palace park and some of the hidden delights it has to offer locals and those who visit on the train ! @StonesSpeaking https://www.speakingstones.org/ @CritMoment https://www.crystalpalaceparktrust.org/park-people/ https://www.facebook.com/friendsofcrystalpalacepark/ https://crystalpalacefestival.org/?doing_wp_cron=1644056438.5092930793762207031250 http://www.crystalpalacemuseum.org.uk https://invisiblepalace.org.uk Written and presented by Vanessa Potter, audio edit by Melissa Green. | |||
| 19 Feb 2022 | Conservation BONUS: Ways to improve your life AND the planet | 00:17:20 | |
Conservation, re-wilding and environmentalism are such huge topics that we have spilled out into our bonus episode with more though-provoking ways to think differently about helping ourselves and our planet. | |||
| 19 Feb 2022 | ParkBathe: Rewilding, conservation and thinking like an Environmentalist. | 00:55:10 | |
Welcome to the episode 7 of our ParkBathe podcast, getting our hands dirty as we dig into conservation, environmentalism and giving back to nature. We promise you'll discover something new and you might find you understand the nuances of the conservation battle a little bit more too - and even feel inspired to take action. We have tips on where to start green volunteering locally. There are TONS of links in today's show notes too and check out the BONUS. https://www.tcv.org.uk/greengym/ find a green gym https://earthwatch.org.uk/get-involved/naturehood Naturehood offers weekly tips on Facebook to help wildlife https://hughwebsterauthor.wordpress.com/blog/ Hugh Webster Conservationist https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/geography/staff/1013/dr-steve-carver Dr Steven Carver, Senior Lecturer, University of Leeds | |||
| 12 Mar 2022 | Stefan Batorijs: The language of nature and a cathedral made of trees. | 01:04:57 | |
Welcome to series 4! | |||
| 27 Mar 2022 | Louise Montgomery: Digging into our relationship with nature | 00:53:15 | |
I really wanted to share this interview. Although it was recorded just after the last lockdown, so much of what Louise talks about is relevant today. | |||
| 12 Apr 2022 | Emily Finch: Using Art to see the Wood from the Trees | 00:38:33 | |
Today I’m sharing a poignant and at times, emotive interview with Emily Finch as she describes her deeply personal and intense relationship to trees. London-based artist, Emily has always had an affinity to the natural world, but this took on a new meaning when she experienced an unexpected tragedy. Here at ParkBathe, we know that trees are amazing (check out our dedicated TREE EPISODE in series 3 called Geeking out on Trees) but we can all gain an additional layer of insight when we listen to other people's stories of how nature - and trees - can heal us. Its another interview that mentions lockdowns which feels so old now -but you'll hear how Emily's story is just as relevant now as ever. Remember to SUBSCRIBE and drop us a line at parkbathe@gmail.com or tag us on social media. | |||
| 25 Apr 2022 | Joanna Bristow-Watkins: The inside scoop on Forest Bathing | 00:46:35 | |
This week I am sharing a fascinating chat with Joanna Bristow-Watkins, a forest bathing guide based in Surrey. We talk about what it's like to be a guide and what benefits there are to be gained from forest bathing in an ancient woodland - from evoking childhood memories via the limbic system to why rain is just SO awesome. | |||
| 07 May 2022 | Lil Stevens: Casting light on fossils, ferns and the prehistoric legacy of Dino Island. | 00:47:06 | |
Welcome to another ParkBathe conversation where we dig down (literally) into nature and conservation. This episode features Dinosaur island and a fascinating area of research, namely, paleo planting. I talk to Dr Lil Stevens from the National History Museum about the ancient-looking ferns found on "Dino island" inside Crystal Palace park. Dino Island got its name because it is found in the middle of the lake and is surrounded by famous (and super cool) dinosaur monuments. It's pretty hard to visit Crystal Palace and not be steered in the direction of these famous concrete beasts. Lil is the Collections Task Force Manager at the National History museum and is a paleo botanist who volunteers with the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. That means Lil has lots to say about fossils, plants and "palaeoenvironments". She starts by telling me the story of a rare fossil tree she found near her home. Presented by Vanessa Potter, Edited by Melissa Green. | |||
| 21 May 2022 | Street Wisdom: Take the first step... | 00:55:12 | |
This episode is a real treat. I had an inspiring chat with Rachel Crowther from Street Wisdom, the social movement, that gets people from all around the world walking, looking at and experiencing their local streets in a whole new way. | |||
| 12 Jun 2022 | Go Jauntly: Walking a different path... | 00:46:11 | |
In this interview I talk to Sage from Go Jauntly (which is a walking App) about the different ways we can walk - whether it's alone or with friends or family. Go Jauntly is a start up, providing tons of digital mapped walks via their App. We found huge crossover with what we do at ParkBathe - their members experience some of the clarity and calming nature of forest bathing too. Check out their nature notes and Green Care Code, which are really great ways to discover and bring nature into your life. You may already do something like this. If you do, let us know ! If you like the episode and found it useful do leave us a review and share it with friends and family. Maybe there is someone you know who is sceptical of 'walking for wellbeing', but who would enjoy a street art tour or a pub walk? | |||
| 02 Dec 2020 | Trailer | 00:00:56 | |
Find out how an off-the-wall 3-year meditation experiment with Cambridge neuroscientists might help you understand yourself just a little bit better. | |||
| 02 Dec 2020 | The backstory... | 00:14:28 | |
So...you don't just don a portable EEG headset that records your brain activity, flop on your sofa and bat away your kids saying 'I'm just gonna meditate now for 600 hours or so...' That doesn't just happen — right? There has to be a reason — a driver to do something like that — to put your life on hold and invite scientists to observe and measure your inner, most intimate thoughts and feelings. Of course, there is a reason and it may not be the one you're expecting it to be... | |||
| 16 Dec 2020 | 50 Shades of Meditation — How "meditation" is not one-size-fits-all. | 00:46:34 | |
Today I talk to Karin Matko, a meditation researcher who has investigated over 300 different meditation styles as part of a study that asked meditators: "what do you do when you meditate?" in an attempt to re-categorise "meditation techniques". We talk about body-centred methods, movement meditations, Sufi whirling and meditating on death. If you thought mindfulness was the only way to meditate — we have news for you! | |||
| 16 Dec 2020 | Smartphone and Santa — How to Avoid Social Media Gorging This Christmas | 01:02:13 | |
Christmas is nearly here! The tree is up, presents are hidden, ready to wrap and the kids are counting the hours until school is out. Yet, underneath the excitement I'm feeling a simmering fear of what endless free time and a lack of socialising is going to do to my children's tech habits. This year I have taken Christmas by its ' jingly antlers' and put some Tech Survival Tactics in place with the help of Dr Fintan Nagle, a cognitive scientist who studies adult and teen use of social media. | |||
| 10 Feb 2021 | Trailer for Series 1: Self Care | 01:02:13 | |
It's not really surprising that the phrase "self care" was a Google trend in 2020. So, I have decided to tackle "self care" in all of its many guises and look at how we can view our wellbeing holistically — in other words, how we can view it in a joined-up, intimately connected way. We don't just own a body OR a brain, so why compartmentalise ourselves? Episodes coming up every fortnight on nutrition, exercise, sleep, movement, touch/massage, yoga, compassion and more ! | |||
| 13 Feb 2021 | Karen Jones knows her sh*t: How our gut health is connected to our mental health. | 00:44:59 | |
Welcome to series 1: “Self care” was one of the most searched phrases on Google last year, along with “how to make a face mask” and “when are schools reopening?” I start the series with this fact-packed, myth-busting episode on nutrition, featuring our mysterious, yet vitally important microbiome, our hormones, our vagus nerve and the weird but inspiring science of FMT (Fecal Microbiota Transplantation) Karen Jones (www.karenjonesnutrition.com) and I delve into the links between our gut health and our brains and how our mood can be impacted by the foods we eat. If you meditate to lower stress — or as a respite for illness or as a means to balance your nervous system and improve immunity, consider how improving your nutritional health might compliment that. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the mind-body connection. It’s too easy to compartmentalise ourselves and forget how much the mind and the gut are connected. Karen takes a holistic approach to the microbiome as we discuss how everything we do — from sleeping, exercising, being outdoors and eating is interwoven. Listen out for Karen’s 5 life hacks that you can do today to improve your gut (and brain!) health. LINKS: FMT (Fecal Microbiota Transplantation) - what is it? https://www.openbiome.org/about-fmt GUEST: Karen Jones is a Registered Nutritional Therapist practising in London and specialising in gut health. After completing her diploma at CNM in 2018, she studied the research on the microbiome in a study group under the guidance of Adam Greer (senior lecturer at CNM) for nine months. Karen has also completed a degree in Ayurvedic studies, which included working in a clinic in India. Karen also provides practitioner support for Microbiome Labs UK and is helping to compile a database of evidence for natural therapies with the British Society of Ecological Medicine (BSEM). Karen Jones BSc, BA, DipCNM, CNHC, mBANT. @karenjonesnutrition | |||
| 27 Feb 2021 | Have we lost touch? The art and science behind body work and massage therapy. | 00:49:28 | |
Continuing my self care series I talk to Louise Enticknap about touch, prescriptive hugs and why you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about taking your clothes off! Louise is an advanced clinical massage therapist who treats the body as a holistic whole. We discuss how trauma, PTSD and unprocessed emotions can be stored within the body and how massage can offer release. We talk about how our views towards intimacy and physical contact have changed as a result of the pandemic and Louise offers a calming mind-body technique you can use at home. Further links: The Body keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk Touch research by Dr Tiffany Field and her colleagues. About Us | Touch Research Institute at Miller School of Medicine (miami.edu) https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research http://www.mzellner.com/page4/files/2005-light.pdf https://drchatterjee.com/touch-forgotten-sense-professor-francis-mcglone/ | |||
| 13 Mar 2021 | Awaken your mind with Kundalini Yoga: How to regulate your nervous system | 00:48:16 | |
Episode 3 in my self care series has me talking to Prakashjot Kaur about Kundalini Yoga. This is a modality that took me by surprise when I tried it, in particular I loved the all encompassing approach to health and wellbeing. This is a practice that allows the mind and body to talk to each other using kriyas (asanas or postures) mudras (hand poses) pranayama (breathing techniques) and mudras (hand poses) along with meditations. | |||
| 27 Mar 2021 | Why a Loving Kindness practice is good for you and won't make you a doormat. | 01:04:19 | |
Show Notes: This week’s self care episode centres around kindness. I talk to Julieta Galante, a healthcare researcher about how kindness towards oneself and others is the foundation of a meditation practice called loving kindness (LKM). But even recording this episode taught me something very important. As a relative newcomer to podcasting I swapped recording platform recently and made a rookie mistake. My immediate default was to criticise myself, to be really cross that things didn’t go to plan. Ironically, it was only as I was listening to what Julieta has to say that I realised I had to apply kindness — to myself. Once I had stopped laughing at the irony, I saw how it illustrates just how easy it is so talk about this stuff, to offer solutions about self care (which lets face it, is being kind to ourselves) and yet there I was being more hard on myself than I would be on any other ‘newbie’ podcaster. My own perfectionista was out of control. A loving kindness practice is a really, really good way to stop beating yourself up. This episode goes way beyond the theory and breaks down this practice into its component parts and explains all of the barriers many of us come up against. It’s easy to find instructions for this practice, but not the ‘inside story’ of what happens when you try and it how to deal with some of the resistance we can feel. Kindness is what we need NOW. Studies suggest that kindness and compassion are innate - even if that might not feel like its the case - we were born with this skill and we can train ourselves to get better at it. Research on toddlers suggests they will instinctively offer up a toy before the social conditioning of what ‘kindness’ is has been taught. Toddlers also seem to be happier if they help another and don’t expect rewards. This seems a little sad that society might ‘unteach’ this innate kindness. But rest assured that kindness is there within all of us — if we want to find it. If you think generating kindness is a luxury or a waste of your time. This interview might change your mind. Links: Here are two loving kindness guided meditations: https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/loving_kindness_meditation Toddler research, but there is loads more ! https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/being_kind_makes_kids_happy Julieta’s research on LKM: Trial publication https://iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/aphw.12074 (full text freely available here, not the friendliest format: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/270517) Review on kindness-based meditation: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-26574-001 (full text freely available here http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4739/74de2ee3da90084decb37e80e87e0f2efbdd.pdf ) | |||
| 10 Apr 2021 | Why Compassion Might Just Save Your Life | 00:51:01 | |
More self-care this week with an information-packed chat with Kirsten McEwan, a senior researcher at Derby University. Did you know you have an ‘old’ brain and a ‘new’, updated nozzle? We also have three innate systems that make us utterly brilliant problem solvers — but also make us feel utterly rubbish, stressed out and unhappy. Kirsten simplifies and demystifies these complex systems so we can understand why we sometimes behave in the ways we do — and how that’s not our fault. This ‘neuro-knowledge’ is really important if you’re considering taking up a compassion practice as it helps us understand why we need a healthy dose of compassion in our lives. Kirsten and I talk Zebras, perfectionism, inner critics and what “being a friend to ourselves” really means — and how to do it. If you’d like to understand your mind and why you sometimes beat yourself up, why you feel panic-stricken or anxious, this insightful interview will reveal the inner mechanics of your mind and how you can work with our innate humanness, rather than spend our day fighting it. An episode for women — and men. | |||
| 24 Apr 2021 | The Art of Relationships | 00:46:59 | |
Self-care episode 6: Have we become disconnected? Has the pandemic splintered relationships, impacted loneliness and if so, how can we find love and forge deep relationships when the rules around human contact have changed so much? https://medium.com/@rachelnew/dating-apps-could-do-more-to-combat-racism-c9d6ed66326e https://rachelnewdatingcoach.co.uk/2020/10/07/can-dating-change-the-world/ https://rachelnewdatingcoach.co.uk/2020/10/28/why-you-should-talk-to-your-white-partner-about-race/ John Gottman: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work Explaining Humans by Dr Camilla Pang The Course of Love by Alain de Botton How to choose a partner by Susan Quilliam https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/How-to-Choose-a-Partner-by-Susan-Quilliam-School-of-Life-Business-enterprise-associated-with-work/9781447293293
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| 08 May 2021 | Breathe: YOU are your own medicine | 00:47:13 | |
Self care: The final episode of series 1! | |||
| 15 May 2021 | TRAILER for Series 2 — 440 Years of Female Wisdom | 00:04:46 | |
I will be kicking off Series 2 very soon and do I have a treat in store for you ! '440 years of female wisdom' is a series of 8 interviews (plus some cool bonus episodes!) that chart the lives of 8 women who have all had a decade birthday this year. The 440 is their combined ages. The idea came about because I am turning 50 in a few months and I found myself reflecting my life. We do that on 'big birthdays' don't we? We audit our lives. We think critically about what we’ve achieved, our families relationships, careers…and I was curious as to why a decade birthday seemed to be so different from other birthdays. How would a woman turning 80 view her life ? So I decided to find out ! The idea mushroomed and before I knew it I had found incredible women from all walks of life aged from 20 to 90 willing to speak to me. Then there was the problem of what questions do I ask? I decided to consult other women to gather what questions they’d like to ask - what wisdom were they seeking? What they told me was unexpected and fascinating and created the scaffolding for these interviews. Delving into other women’s lives has brought up some incredibly honest, forthright , sometimes emotional and inspiring stories. Some of these women are the last generation to remember war time, ration books and a very different world. The interviews are gripping - because these women are us - they’re you and me. They mirror our lives in a way we don’t often allow — we don’t ask ourselves these probing questions and we rarely provide the space and time for what these important reflections — for the wisdom to shine through. In episode one you’ll meet Misgana Araya a 20 year old Eritrean graduate who turned 20 in the midst of the pandemic. Subscribe NOW so you don’t miss out on what she had to tell me! | |||
| 22 May 2021 | Why women audit their lives on decade birthdays: Misgana Araya age 20. | 00:50:00 | |
I am as excited as a child in a sweetshop as I introduce a brand new series featuring 8 awesome women! Get ready for something different. I have interviewed women who have hit a decade birthday during the pandemic - that’s women aged from 20 through to 90. | |||
| 05 Jun 2021 | Why women audit their lives on decade birthdays: Ashleigh Frater — age 30. | 00:50:35 | |
Coming up is the second interview in series 2 and here I talk to Ashleigh Frater who recently turned 30. God, I remember 30, I was in a precarious relationship, had mostly single friends and was headlong full into my career. 30 felt like a step up, like I had reached a higher bar. I was still having fun, but there seemed to be a new set of rules, ones that suggested I needed to look more towards the future — whatever that was! These interviews are not your average conversation. The questions I ask were designed to be uncomfortable, a little challenging even and to bring to the fore the outpouring of all of the auditing we tend to do naturally around a decade birthday. The questions I ask each woman are the same and many focus on how we really feel about ourselves deep down, where we fit into society and the expectations others have of us. I ask questions that made these women think about things that they hadn’t thought about in years and for some it brought up memories they had spoken to a soul about before. | |||
| 18 Jun 2021 | Why women audit their lives on decade birthdays: Nerys James age 40 | 00:51:31 | |
The third interview of this series, this time with Nerys James, a teacher, who's turning 40 this year. 40 is definitely a milestone birthday, but what has Nerys found herself reflecting upon? I hope you’re enjoying this series exploring the inside stories of other women’s lives. Personally I’ve been fascinated to hear what these women have learnt about themselves over the years, what changes they’ve seen and how experience has moulded their lives in so many different (and sometimes) similar ways. If you enjoy what you’re hearing please do subscribe so you don’t miss out on the rest of these awesome women ! | |||
| 27 Jun 2021 | Why Women Audit Their Lives on Decade Birthdays - Natalie age 50. | 01:15:22 | |
So, here is episode 4 of my female wisdom series where we eavesdrop on other women’s lives. Today we meet 50 year old Natalie, an awesome woman who offers raw honesty and humour - and who calls her car Vera. We discover the moments in Natalie's life that made her proud, the moments that defined her - and the moments that didn’t define her. Talking to Natalie I realised how confident or grounded we feel is directly related to how silly or irreverent we can be. So listen up folks; sometimes we just need space and time and someone else to ask these questions, but when the right ingredients come together, we get an interview like this. Bonus episodes to come PLUS a fantastic research project that has come on the back of these interviews. Subscribe so you don't miss out ! And - drop me a note to tell me how you're enjoying the series :) | |||
| 11 Jul 2021 | Why Women Audit their lives on Decade Birthdays - Lynn Age 60. | 00:46:49 | |
Meet Lynn age 60. I learnt so much about myself while I was talking to Lynn — she felt like a very wise woman and I could imagine the stunning salt lake view out of her window. We talk about what it's been like for her being on the autism spectrum, dyslexia, coming out later in life, daughters and a recurring theme — in that how one throwaway comment can change everything. Lynn talks about how, for her, life begins just beyond her comfort zone. This is so true. How many triumphs that mean something to you happened because you put yourself out there? Everyone's comfort zones are different, but I know when I challenge myself — I grow and when I grow — I learn and I get a huge kick out of that. That’s when fear transforms into something else — like wisdom. Take opportunities when they come — they are the light in the dark — if you want to feel alive and to create the memories that one day someone might ask you about. We rarely regret what we do (of course sometimes we) but what I mean is that it's rare to get a multiple opportunities put in front of us, so certainly I owe it to myself to take any opportunity when it appears — even if it's just the hint of one. There’s something immensely powerful about women passing on wisdom to daughters and Lynn talks a lot about this — but not just the things that she got right, but the things she got wrong, which can be just as important. | |||
| 23 Jul 2021 | Why Women Audit their Lives on Decade Birthdays - Elaine Chua age 70 | 00:52:44 | |
Welcome to my female wisdom series - I'm think of rebranding it 'Decade Dames' after it was called that ! A much better description? I’d also like to share some exciting news! A researcher at Derby University (who studies female agency) will be taking these interviews and analysing them as part of a fascinating research project looking at how women’s lives have changed over the years, female identity, roles, definitions of independence and agency. The researcher, Sarah, also wants to interview me as another '50' year old - so you’ll get to hear my decade interview too, along with Sarah and I talking about some of the common themes that have come up and what Sarah thinks these interviews might reveal about how women from diverse backgrounds have experienced living and working in Britain since 1930. So, please do review this episode if you like it and share far and wide ! Email me on patienth69@live.com with any feedback. Over to Elaine…. | |||
| 07 Aug 2021 | Why Women Audit Their Lives on Decade Birthdays: Brenda Triffitt age 80. | 00:42:59 | |
Oh my goodness — we are marching through my 'Decade Dames' series where I interview women on a 'big' decade birthday from ages 20 to 90. This week we meet Brenda who turned 80 during the pandemic. This series has now heard from women from three continents from different socio economic backgrounds. Women who all had different opportunities and choices open to them, and it's fascinating to see the crossovers, but also how those upbringings shape us as people — as women. Brenda is reflective but also grateful, however one comment about not waking up at 60 to find you are 60 was a little shocking for me. Don’t let your own life creep up on you or it might be a surprise you don’t welcome. Having turned 50 myself just last week this sentiment sits somewhat awkwardly for me. Ten years. I have much to do. So listen up folks and I have no doubt you will learn something useful to apply in your own life. Please do subscribe, share and send me feedback! I'd LOVE a review too. | |||
| 27 Aug 2021 | Why Women Audit their Lives on Decade Birthdays: Joyce age 90 | 01:04:03 | |
A belated hello ! I am living, "better late than never" this week ! What with school holidays, domestic distastes and illness this last Decade Dames episode is a bit late ! But, I hope it is worth the wait. I think it will be as most of my interviewees said they wanted to hear 90 yr old Joyce cook’s answers to the questions I have asked all of them. So, this time you're getting an unabridged interview with more of the chat than normal. By her own admission, Joyce likes to talk ! So this interview takes me almost to the end of this series (unless I do manage to find a 100 yr old woman that is !) but fear not, there are some added bonuses to come. But before that I have exciting news about series 3 ! In March this year I interviewed Kirstin McEwan about compassion practices and healthcare (check it out !) And that conversation led to a lot more talking and resulted in a citizen science wellbeing project called ParkBathe. Check out the Trailer all about Series 3 coming up. But that’s not all ! Those bonus episodes from Decade Dames will also be coming later on this year with an extra interview with Liza (a lovely 80 year old woman) and ME ! This whole project took off and has turned into a research study. Sarah Crooks, who is the researcher taking this on, will analyse all of the interviews and look for patterns and connections that link the women, particularly with a view to women’s agency from 1930 to the modern day. In time, Sarah and I will have a chat about what she has found and will interview me. It seems the right way to end this series. So I am taking a short hiatus to get on with all of that! Keep updated via my website www.vanessapotter.come and join the ParkBathe Facebook group to either get involved and participate in a free mindful walk in crystal palace park or listen to the series when it comes out. Links below. Over to Joyce for the last word... | |||
| 02 Sep 2021 | Series 3 - ParkBathe | 00:06:08 | |
Series 3 is a whole new adventure! | |||
| 04 Nov 2021 | Forest Bathing Audio Guide | 00:22:37 | |
In anticipation of the soon-to-arrive ParkBathe podcast series, here is an audio guide so you can try out your own forest bathing session. If you've recently experienced one of our ParkBathe sessions in Crystal Palace park, then these instructions will be familiar. If you haven't yet experienced a forest bathing session with us in person, then this guide offers you the opportunity to experiment with forest bathing in your own local urban park. | |||
| 10 Dec 2021 | ParkBathe: Nature's de-stress revolution | 00:36:35 | |
Series 3 has arrived with a super exciting new citizen science health project called ParkBathe ! What is ParkBathe? Earlier this year I created a new health intervention based on Forest Bathing with Kirsten McEwan, a researcher at Derby University. Kirsten researches Forest Bathing (which is simply mindful walking in nature while absorbing the atmosphere) We combined Kirsten's knowledge of this Eastern social prescription with my own production and meditation advocacy work and created an urban park-based model that is accessible and easy for anyone to learn. We especially wanted to appeal to people who were sceptical of anything that appeared woo-woo or new age. In this first episode we get into exactly what Forest bathing is — because just saying it's ‘mindful walking in nature’ doesn’t cut the mustard. I explain how losing my sight in 2012 led me to develop to a new relationship with the natural world and how walking in nature was an integral part of my recovery. It was that knowledge that informed this project. Nature benefits us in so many weird and wonderful ways — and we plan to reveal how it does that with the help of nature and forest bathing experts. I was delighted that world renowned scientists such Dr Qing Li and Dr Yoshifumi Miyazaki agreed to share both their research and wisdom on Forest Medicine with me. You'll also hear from some of the ‘ParkBathers’ who came on the walks Kirsten and I ran in Crystal Palace Park this autumn so you'll hear for yourself if 1 hour of slow, mindful walking did anything to alleviate their stress and anxiety... Useful links: Kirsten’s paper on UK Forest Bathing What is Shinrin Yoku? Dr Qing Li’s book Dr Yasu Kotera’s paper on Forest Bathing Written and produced by Vanessa Potter. SFX by Zapsplat. | |||
| 10 Dec 2021 | ParkBathe: The Science of Forest Bathing. Why it’s Not New-Age Nonsense. | 00:54:01 | |
In episode 2 of the ParkBathe series we provide a comprehensive low-down of the mind-boggling science of forest bathing. Here we dive into why forest bathing (which is simply walking mindfully in nature while absorbing the woodland atmosphere) is really, really good for us. We offer practical and easy ways to bring nature’s benefits into your home — so check out the bonus episode ! Kirsten McEwan and I started ParkBathe in March this year and have provided 1 hour guided forest bathing sessions in Crystal Palace Park to over 175 people as part of a citizen science initiative funded by the National Lottery. Today I talk to world renowned researchers in the field of forest medicine, Dr Qing Li from Tokyo's Nippon Medical School and Dr Yoshifumi Miyazaki from Chiba University. We look at how our bodies cope with modern-day stresses like work pressures or worries at home. We hear from Joanna Bristow-Watkins, a forest bathing guide, on how our nervous system regulates chronic stress and how forest bathing can decrease the amount of cortisol (the stress hormone) that our bodies secrete. We even get into the weird and wonderful world of natural killer cells and what these strange-sounding white blood cells do to combat cancer. Useful links: Kirsten’s paper on UK Forest Bathing What is Shinrin Yoku? Dr Qing Li’s book Dr Yasu Kotera’s paper on Forest Bathing LINK to ParkBathe FILM LINKEDIN | |||
| 10 Dec 2021 | ParkBathe BONUS: Make your own Reed Diffuser ! | 00:05:08 | |
If you'd like to bring the benefits of trees into your own home — ParkBathe can help ! This track provides instructions on how to make your own reed diffuser which you can place in rooms around your home — or give away as a present ! | |||
| 10 Dec 2021 | Tree BONUS: Fun ways to learn about and engage with trees! | 00:13:47 | |
This bonus track is jam-packed full of tree tips ! It's got great advice from both Ellen Devine from Forestry England and Karen Prices from the Westonbirt National Arboretum on how to start tree-spotting, but also fun, interactive exercises to try out when you're out in your local park. | |||
| 11 Dec 2021 | ParkBathe: Geeking out on Trees. Why forests are SO good for us. | 00:37:28 | |
Today on the ParkBathe podcast Kirsten and I are indulging in our tree-nerd alter-egos! I’ve always liked trees, but learning about forest bathing has given me a new respect for our tall friends. Forest Bathing is all about trees – as you walk mindfully in nature absorbing the atmosphere – it’s the trees that provide that atmosphere. Trees have a therapeutic and regenerative effect upon us humans - but it’s more than that, they are part of our ancestral heritage. Trees and plants provide shelter and food for wildlife, absorb carbon dioxide, give us breathable air, moderate temperatures, and lock-up water — reducing flooding. Themassive oaks in the Great North Wood in Crystal Palace Park look pretty cool too. Yet, while weknow nature is central to human life, we often disregard it — and somehow see it as secondary.. So, check out our weird and wonderful tree facts and hear about the groovy science from our expert interviewees on what trees do for us. We’ll hear how being in nature influences artist Emz Finch and boosts her creativity and the curious way in which trees communicate with each other. If you didn’t know trees talk to each other – we’re going to fill you in on how they do that — and some of the things they say! We'd love to hear what you think of this episode and if you tried out any of the 'tree tips' in the bonus episode (they're fun to do with kids and big kids!) There are lots of links below, along with helpful organisations as today we cover the topic of PTSD and miscarriage. Links Wood Wide Web film Peter Wohlleben’s book the hidden life of trees Rachel Massey, Other Ways to Walk Find Forestry England here: · YouTube · Blog | |||
| 08 Jan 2022 | ParkBathe: Coming to our Senses | 00:48:25 | |
Happy new year and welcome to this new episode investigating everything you need to know about our sensory system and how we see, hear and feel when we're out in nature... Humans have five basic senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste and so we take a whistle top tour of each giving you fun facts, science and interviews. Did you know we can detect trillions of different scents and that scientist have found that leaves can tell us when they're dehydrated? But we often overlook our sensory system, which is why we're going to talk about how our attention gets hijacked, auto pilot, attentional fatigue and the science of attention restoration (which is the amazing way nature restores our senses) We also look at why stress affects vision, how hearing in a certain way can be a game-changer for some - and lots more ! LINKS: | |||
| 08 Jan 2022 | Senses BONUS: tips and ideas to stimulate your senses. | 00:10:57 | |
To accompany our episode on our sensory system here are some activities that you might like to try in your local green space, garden or in the streets where you live. We've talked a lot about fractals, these are the repeated geometric patterns which we find in nature, such as the veins on a leaf, the fronds of a fern, even snowflake on windows. Go out into nature and see if you can hunt down some of these patterns. You could make it a game with friends or family. http://natural-inclusion.org | |||
| 22 Jan 2022 | Mother Nature: Connecting Children to Nature. | 00:36:26 | |
Welcome to this episode examining the relationship between children and nature. Today we eavesdrop on some of our younger ParkBathers as they experience forest bathing in Crystal Palace park. We're also exploring our own experiences of nature from childhood – and how that relationship influences us and changes over time. We delve into the inevitable subject of how little children spend in nature and while we're not going to demonise screens and technology, we take a stark look at how damaging overuse of screens can be for children’s mental health, their sleep, mood and general wellbeing. (if you want some tips on managing your kid's tech time look up my interview with Dr Fintan Nagal from Series 1) | |||
| 22 Jan 2022 | ParkBathe Bonus: Engaging Children with Nature | 00:06:27 | |
Here are some fun nature activities to do with friends and family in your local park. These activities can be done at any time of year and with pretty much any age group too - so big kids are catered for ! Stephanie Thorlby, one of our guest guides, brought some of her Forest School experience to our ParkBathe sessions. Learn how to make a 'leaf rose' in this bonus (which is a really simple to do but looks amazing) Why don't you share pictures of your own leaf rose on our social media channels? We also have an activity inspired by Andy Goldsworthy to help you create stunning pieces of art by using only natural elements. Check out his work on our FB group. Let your imagination go wild as you use twigs, leaves, stones, bark, petals or grasses to make your own art in the park - and leave it there for someone else to discover on their walk. Finally, we share the amazing work that Go Jauntly do. This is a walking App that has hundreds of FREE walks available for on their App. The really good thing is that you can not only choose the location and distance of your walk but see which ones are family friendly, dog friendly, rural or city based plus there are fun activities and games you can do along the way. Check our their 'Nature Notes' feature and the 'Green Care Code'. https://www.gojauntly.com | |||