A Life More Wild

Joycelyn Longdon on secret willow rooms and radical imagination Jun 10, 2026

Joycelyn Longdon wears many hats. She works on conservation with communities in Ghana, she speaks and writes about environmental action and she also specialises in something called bioacoustics. It keeps her pretty busy, so we caught up with her to take a break from her desk and a stroll into one of her favourite places - Paradise Nature Reserve in Cambridge. On the way, she explains how all her worlds come together and how important it is that cultural interaction creates a new way to imagine our future.

The Sounds of Spring in Eryri National Park May 21, 2026

This year, as well as walks with interesting guests, we’re doing something a little different on A Life More Wild. Working with our charity partner Campaign for National Parks, we’re creating bonus episodes with seasonal soundscapes from some of the UK’s most precious green spaces.

We start with The Sounds of Spring in Eryri National Park. You’ll follow Rhys, a shepherd from Dolgellau, as he takes his flock out into the wind and rain of a fairly typical spring day in Wales.

Barney Murray on the wibbly tightness, brutal conditions and surprisingly young demographic of drystone walling Apr 15, 2026

Barney Murray was in his late teens, studying art and hating it. He took a casual labouring job with a couple of guys who ran a drystone walling company. He never looked back. Nine years later and now a certified Master Craftsman, he loves working out in the fields, even when the weather is at its most challenging.

Join him as he works to patch a gap in the wall of a sheep field, a more technical process than you might think. As he builds “skins”, packs the centre and lays coping stones, he talks about finding himself already a veteran builder as a young wave of wallers emerges, brutal weather, wildlife habitats, and how he can read the walls like handwriting.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Jordan Stephens on fame, heartbreak, dogs and braving the weather Mar 12, 2026

At the age of 20, Jordan Stephens achieved his dream - when Rizzle Kicks’ album Stereo Typical went platinum. He’d always loved music and had seen it as a way he could transform the lives of himself and his mother. With the album’s success, he should have had it all but it’s never that simple. On a walk along the shores of the Isle of Sheppey, he talks about the problems with selling young people dreams of fame and wealth, making mistakes, walking dogs, his mixed feelings about the city and starting it all with raps that dissed his teachers.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Tim Key on maybe being a ghost and definitely being a pigeon, but not knowing why Dec 18, 2025

Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival has always been the centre of Tim Key’s professional life. For over 20 years, he’s been bringing shows to the city, honing his craft in the intensity of month-long runs. Every time he visits, he climbs Arthur’s Seat, so while he was in town for some Christmas gigs, we joined him on the ascent. He talks about the city’s place in his heart, the unfortunate year of 2002, being ignored in favour of Mark Watson and not getting any clarity on why he spent almost all his screen time in Bong Joon Ho’s film Mickey 17 dressed as a pigeon.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Quick Strolls: Challenging Nature Dec 04, 2025

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with the guests from A Life More Wild.

In episode ten, we talk to three guests who have taken on incredible challenges in nature, from a six-month trail hike and wandering the Cairngorms in period costume, to a paramotor flight from the Russian Arctic to the UK.

Quick Strolls: Natural Design Nov 20, 2025

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with the guests from A Life More Wild.

In episode nine, we examine how design and architecture have been inspired by nature, from a tiny private garden to a London landmark.

Luke Adam Hawker on etching under a poncho in the rain Nov 06, 2025

Luke Adam Hawker, once a designer and architect, is now a full-time artist, whose work is a deeply emotive exploration of nature, our relationship to it and our connections with each other. As he walks through the woods near his home, he talks about creating a book entirely of etchings, learning from his non-verbal son and the challenges of work in situ in all conditions.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Quick Strolls: Coping with Loss Oct 15, 2025

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with the guests from A Life More Wild.

In episode eight, we talk to guests who’ve leant on nature to help them through some of the most difficult times in their lives.

This episode of Quick Strolls deals with the potentially triggering issues of grief, death and suicide right from the outset.

Mark Diacono on grounding, growing and momentous soup Oct 01, 2025

Mark Diacono has always grown, cooked and written about food. But despite a life lived in and around nature, he felt disconnected. A simple weekly diary helped him get back in touch with the natural world and himself, and an even simpler soup helped him cope with being “happily heartbroken”.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Quick Strolls: A Space for Everyone Sep 17, 2025

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with the guests from A Life More Wild.

In episode seven, we look back on the responsibility that many of our guests have felt to ensure that others love and value nature, whether it’s their own family, their community or the whole of the UK.

Lia Leendertz on the joy of watching the seasons change Sep 03, 2025

Lia Leendertz has revived the tradition of the almanac, charting nature for the coming year. As she walks through Ashton Court, in Bristol, she thinks about how easy it is to shut ourselves off from nature and the joy she’s found in starting a community dedicated to noticing the passage of the year the world over.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Quick Strolls: Creativity in Nature Aug 20, 2025

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with the guests from A Life More Wild.

In episode six, we meet a musician and two writers who use nature to guide their work and lives, from a wintry metaphor to the call of the sea.

Adrienne Adhami on navigating the perilous world of wellbeing Aug 06, 2025

Adrienne Adhami was a trained dancer, with a keen understanding of physical fitness. But when a friend suffered a sudden illness, she began to rethink everything she thought she knew about health. She shares her insights on personalised medicine, nutrition, wearable tech and more, drawn from a 15-year career in the wellness industry.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Quick Strolls: Small Adventures Jul 23, 2025

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with the guests from A Life More Wild.

In episode five, we meet fearless adventurers and unstoppable hikers, all of whom say something very similar - that getting outside is about what’s right for you, not how far you go or how many mosquito bites you get.

TJ Power on rebalancing your brain and going with your gut Jul 09, 2025

As a young man, TJ Power developed an addiction to his phone that many of us would find familiar. Using his background in neuroscience, he managed to break that addiction, then go on to help thousands of others to live more connected, healthier, happier lives. Here he is with some simple advice on rebalancing your tired brain.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Quick Strolls: Slowing Down Jun 25, 2025

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with the guests from A Life More Wild.

In episode four, we stop and take a breath, as so many of our guests have done as we walked. From the man who camped on every Wainwright fell but valued a quiet sunrise as much as the extreme challenge, to a writer who takes “mind meals” and a tv presenter who writes to his pet rock.

Sophie Pavelle on symbiosis, our place in nature and confused crabs Jun 11, 2025

Sophie Pavelle spends her life travelling the British Isles, highlighting the beauty and brilliance of its wild spaces on a mission to inspire people to protect them. We walked with her in the woods near her home to find out how she feels our relationship with nature could be improved and learn a little about symbiosis through her stories of confused crabs and tricksy barnacles.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Quick Strolls: Growing Closer to Nature May 28, 2025

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with the guests from A Life More Wild.

In episode three, we talk to a few people whose passion for growing and getting their hands dirty has changed their lives, from a guerrilla gardener who looks at how soil changes our brain chemistry, to a model who became a food writer and a chef who’s leading his own vegan revolution.

Xanthe Ross on cooking, growing and connecting through food May 14, 2025

Xanthe Ross went to Wales to get out of London for a while. She pottered around in her parents’ walled garden, trying her hand at growing some herbs and vegetables. A few years later, she’s released her first cookbook on the back of hosting the most sought after supper clubs in the city.

Join Xanthe now, back in that same walled garden, as she picks up some ingredients, makes a simple bruschetta style snack and looks back on a journey that took her from barely knowing how to cook, to hosting huge food events.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Quick Strolls: Mental Health Apr 30, 2025

Welcome to Quick Strolls, shorter walks with guests from A Life More Wild. In this episode, we look at how nature has helped some of our guests through the toughest moments of their lives.

There's an enormous amount of science surrounding the psychological benefits of being in nature, so much so that at times it can feel as if the whole idea has become over complicated. But as we found from so many guests on a life more wild, it really is simple to make yourself feel a little bit better.

Nature isn't the whole of the answer, but it is a start, or at least a place to find one.

Claudia Robalino on art, architecture and the Amazon Apr 17, 2025

Artist and architect Claudia Robalino grew up in Ecuador, with volcanoes, the ocean and the Amazon giving her a powerful connection to nature. It was only when she moved to London however, that she realised how much a part of her it was.

Join Claudia now in Battersea Park, as she talks about finding new ways to create that connection and how the contrast between those two worlds has inspired her art and her work.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Quick Strolls: Access to Nature Apr 02, 2025

One thing that comes up time and again on A Life More Wild is access to nature. Something that many of us take for granted was, to a lot of our guests, a complex social and cultural issue that had shaped their lives and work. On this Quick Stroll, we hear from Mya Rose-Craig, Lira Valencia and Ollie Olanipekun of Flock Together, on the challenges they faced from the traditional culture of the outdoors and how they each went about changing it.

Dwayne Fields on becoming Chief Scout and the misunderstanding that changed his life Mar 20, 2025

Dwayne Fields moved to London from Jamaica when he was just a child. The contrast between the two places was almost too much for him to handle until a chance encounter gave him hope, a sense of belonging and eventually a purpose that would see him becoming the UK’s Chief Scout.

Join Dwayne now in Nene Park, a place that holds fond memories for him, as he looks back on an incredible journey that took him from Hackney to the North Pole, and forwards to a future inspiring the next generation to love the natural world.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Series five…coming 20th March Mar 14, 2025

It’s time to step back outside. A Life More Wild returns for season 5, when we’ll be taking a walk with more fascinating people and chatting about their connection to nature.

Episode one will be out on 20th March and we’ll be bringing you a calm stroll and a chat every month for the rest of the year.

Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera on building a global movement out of a love of birds Nov 07, 2024

Ollie Olanipekun first met Nadeem Parera on Instagram, where they bonded over a love of birds. Realising how rare it was to see people of colour engaged with nature in the UK, they formed a walking group. One terrible flyer and a few years of enormous effort later, Flock Together has branches around the world, providing people with a place to meet and common ground.

Join Ollie and Nadeem now, on the site of the very first Flock Together walk, as they discuss how their different backgrounds gave them the same mission, how mad it is to see a heron beat up a rat and whether or not they might one day get to name a new bird species.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

James Wong on the full flat, ruined movies and inspiring insight that a love of plants has brought him Oct 22, 2024

When James Wong first visited Kew Gardens, he asked his mum if this was what heaven looked like. The ethnobotanist, born and raised in Singapore, can barely remember a time when he wasn’t fascinated by plants, a love which has led him around the world, onto TV and into a flat that looks like a jungle.

Join James now, in Kew Gardens, as he talks about integrating plant life into our own lives, the leaf that inspired a generation of builders and how he ruins films for his friends.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Venetia La Manna on fighting the fashion industry and the power of community Oct 09, 2024

Venetia La Manna loves clothes, but knows more than most about the evils of fashion. For years, she’s been campaigning to change one of the most unregulated industries in the world - fighting over production and underpayment of garment workers around the world.

Join Venetia now on a walk through the Heavens, near Stroud, where a community-driven success story perfectly demonstrates her belief in the power of collective action to have a global impact.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Lise Wortley on walking in the footsteps and clothing of historic female adventurers Sep 25, 2024

When she was 16, Lise Wortley read a book by the explorer Alexandra David-Neel, who had undertaken a 14-year journey through Asia. The idea of it stayed with her until ten years later, when she was searching for a way to improve her mental health. It dawned on her that David-Neel and other female adventurers like Nan Shepherd and Henriette D’Angeville, were far less well-known than their male counterparts. She set out to change that, by the incredible method of recreating their journeys, in the clothing they wore at the time.

Join Lise now in the Cairngorms, to hear her stories of spending a month walking in the tweeds and poncho tent that Nan shepherd wore, travelling in David-Neel’s yak wool coat and preparing for an ascent of Mont Blanc in Henriette D’angeville’s tiny shoes.

Lise is an ambassador for Passenger Clothing a responsible outdoor clothing brand with a mission to inspire meaningful escapism. This summer we’ve been working with them on a few different exciting projects including a series of videos with some of this season’s podcast guests. We’ve also teamed up to create a pop-up holiday bus in the Lake District. Thank you to them for sponsoring this podcast episode.

https://www.passenger-clothing.com/

https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/england/cumbria/hinterlandes/little-firs-from-passenger

https://www.instagram.com/woman_with_altitude/

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Gaz Oakley on growing food and rediscovering his love of the land Sep 11, 2024

Gaz Oakley was an intensely energetic, sporty person, who pursued fitness by loading up on carbs and protein, and hitting the gym. He was also a chef, so it’s fair to say his life was quite intense. When health problems made him go looking for dietary solutions, he began a journey that would end with him becoming a champion of plant-based eating, rediscovering his love of the land and trying to bring the simple joy of food to as many people as possible.

Join him and the chickens on his farm in Wales, as he talks about what growing your own food can give you, how simple it is to get started and why you shouldn’t be too hasty with your naming choices.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Hiker Athena Mellor on introducing the fourth generation of her family to the Lake District Aug 28, 2024

Athena Mellor never dreamed of writing a guidebook, but the knowledge of a lifetime hiking, a passion handed down by her father and grandfather was just too extensive to stay in her head. Now a successful writer and YouTuber, she’s making sure her daughter will follow in the family footsteps.

Join her on a walk through Langdale, as she talks about taking chances, making books and how important the right gear is, especially when you’re walking with kids.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Conservationist Sacha Dench on tracking swans 7,000km across 11 countries Aug 14, 2024

When she dropped out of the sky in front of Russian hunters in the Arctic, Sasha Dench wasn't quite sure how she'd be received. She was on a mission to understand and halt the decline in the numbers of the Bewick Swan by following their epic migration route from the Arctic to the UK on a paramotor.

Join her on a walk from her favourite training field down through some woods to Fernworthy reservoir on a typically wet and wild Dartmoor day.

Julius Roberts on nature-first farming and looking his food in the eye Jul 31, 2024

Julius Roberts was exhausted and overworked, as chefs often are. He couldn’t help but compare himself to the happy, healthy-looking farmers who delivered produce to the restaurant he was working in. So, he decided to become one of them. It was a huge leap of faith that encompassed a commitment to seasonal eating, nature-first farming and the emotional impact of knowing exactly where his food had come from.

Keep track of Julius’ efforts to grow food, discover the recipes he loves and more, on his website. Follow us on Instagram to see behind the scenes footage from the podcast and our great new places.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock and our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Writer and broadcaster Emma Gannon on the regenerative value of doing nothing Jul 17, 2024

Emma Gannon had been writing books for ten years, almost solidly. She hosted podcasts, spoke at numerous events and maintained one of the most popular substacks on the internet. Having decided not to have children, she began to wonder how and when her life would significantly change. She decided to take a year for herself, to get a new perspective and refresh her ideas. We join her in Hackney Marshes, the place she now comes to when she needs a break in nature.

Keep track of all Emma’s work on her website and follow us on Instagram to see behind the scenes footage from recordings and a few extra questions we asked each guest.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Activist Mikaela Loach on finding the power to fight global corporations Jul 03, 2024

Mikaela Loach remembers the moment her grandmother told her that their local beach had disappeared. Years later, she would place that emotional conversation in the context of the wider problem - rising seas caused by climate change, in turn caused by global capitalism - and decide to dedicate herself to the fight for climate justice. We join her in Stanmer Park, the site of a protest against the mining company Glencore, as well as an inspiring community project.

Follow Mikaela on Instagram or buy her book, It’s not that Radicalto hear more about her life and work, or find behind-the-scenes footage and great places to stay on our own feed.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Lira Valencia on barriers to inclusivity, common terns and “London dolphins” Jun 19, 2024

Lira Valencia grew up in Croydon, surrounded by the kind of urban sprawl that keeps the natural world at a distance. However, thanks mostly to the snails in her grandma’s garden, she developed a passion for nature and forged a path to a career in the overwhelmingly white world of conservation. We join her for a walk around Walthamstow wetlands, where she’s a ranger who helps preserve the habitat and encourage others to enjoy it.

Follow Lira on Instagram to see what she spots outside as the seasons turn, or ourselves to see us working on the podcast and discovering great new places.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock and recorded by Marnie Woodmeade. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Alastair Humphreys on building adventure into your life wherever you live Jun 05, 2024

Alastair Humphreys spent four years cycling round the world. He’s rowed across the Atlantic, run a marathon in the Sahara and taken part in an expedition to the arctic. But we’ve caught up with him on an industrial estate on the edge of the city, to talk microadventures and the power of thinking small.

See more of what Alastair's been up to or follow us on Instagram to see us out and about working on the podcast and discovering great new places.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock and recorded by Marnie Woodmeade. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Series four... starts 6 June May 29, 2024

It’s time to get outdoors again… In season 4 of ALMW you’ll walk with more fascinating people as they take you to some of their favourite spots and talk about their connection to nature.

We'll be talking to adventurer Alastair Humphreys, activist Mikaela Loach, the lady known as The Human Swan, and many more.

Episode one will be out on 6th June and we’ll be bringing you a calm stroll and a chat every couple of weeks for the rest of the year.

Bonus Episode - Chatabix meets Canopy & Stars May 22, 2024

While we were working on series 4 of A Life More Wild, which launches in June, Joe Wilkinson and David Earl shamelessly name-dropped us on their podcast, Chatabix. We got in touch to see if they’d like to record at one of our spaces and they said they’d love to, so here they are (or at least one of them is) at Humble Bee, a giant beehive in Devon, chatting with owners Ron and Yvette.

This episode is a little different from our normal format (there’s no way we could get Joe Wilkinson to hike) but we’ll be out walking with some great guests soon.

Sarah Wilson on her favourite hike and nature as a coping mechanism Oct 11, 2023

Sarah Wilson is always on the move. Her work as an author, presenter and speaker takes her all over the world. In the course of her wandering, she’s learned a couple of things. How to ground yourself in a new place by hiking, how getting people to love something is how you get them to fight for it… and how long is too long to wear the same pair of shorts.

We’d like to thank everyone who’s taken us walking over the past few months and we hope you’ve enjoyed the company of astrophysicists, wild swimmers, activists and more. We’ll be back next year, but in the meantime you can always revisit series 1 and 2, or follow us on instagram to see what we get up to at Canopy & Stars when we’re not wandering about outside.

Thanks for listening and we’ll see you next year for series 4 of A Life More Wild.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Hamza Yassin on watching the same eagles for eight years and how Strictly changed his life Sep 27, 2023

Being a wildlife cameraman wasn’t something Hamza Yassin wanted to do. It was THE ONLY thing he wanted to do. Inspired by the attenborough documentaries he learnt english from after his parents moved to the uk from Sudan, he gave everything to make his dream a reality. What he never dreamt about though, was ending up lifting the glitterball on Strictly come dancing...

Join Hamza now, for a hilly hike to a spot from which he's watched the same pair of eagles for eight years, where the Ardnamurchan Peninsula stretches away beneath you. And the sea sparkles, a bit like a secret waistcoat.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Mike Duxbury on life as a blind farmer, pig coughs and goose cuddles Sep 13, 2023

Despite having a passion for animals and farming, Mike Duxbury received only one offer from all the agricultural colleges he applied to. The rest dismissed him instantly because he was blind. After graduating with an impressive array of qualifications, he became an accessibility consultant in London, but his heart was always with the land. He decided that rather than telling people how to run an inclusive business, he would show them instead.

Join Mike now on Inclusive Farm, the working farm in Bedfordshire that he designed and built himself, as he describes his mission to welcome students of all abilities, talks about the importance of connecting with the land, and explains the different coughs of pigs.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock and recorded by Marnie Woodmeade. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Dr Becky Smethurst on stargazing, Saturn and what nature and the night sky have in common Aug 30, 2023

You often hear people talk about how getting out into nature gives them a change of perspective. But what happens when your profession is nature on the biggest possible scale? Dr Becky Smethhurst is an astrophysicist, author and YouTuber who studies supermassive blackholes and galaxy formation, but says that rather than making her feel small, it does exactly the opposite…

Join Becky now for an evening stroll around a nature reserve near the South Downs, as she gives a few pointers on spotting planets, explains what the movies get wrong and dodges a swan…

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Author Freya Bromley on tidal pools, grief and screaming underwater Aug 17, 2023

When Freya Bromley first discovered tidal pools, she was dealing with the turmoil of grief. Those patches of calm water, surrounded by volatile seas, felt like places of refuge. From a single experience came a mission to swim every tidal pool in Britain, but while she went looking for healing, she found so much more.

Join Freya now for a dip in Margate’s two tidal pools and a discussion of connection, community and underwater screaming on the walk between the two.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Katherine May on disappearing shipwrecks, the rhythm of walking and why we should all love winter Aug 03, 2023

A few years ago, a walk on the south west coastal path opened Katharine May up to a whole new world. She began to think about reconnecting with nature, and how it was the antidote to everything from anxiety to writer’s block. She even shaped her best selling book, Wintering, around the elements.

Join Katherine now on the seafront in Whitstable, as she talks about inspiration, how much she would like to buy a beach hut, and why we should all love winter.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Sound recording by Marnie Woodmeade, production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Jack Harries on meeting Obama, seeing climate change first-hand and his second favourite place in Hackney Jul 19, 2023

On a trip to Greenland, Jack Harries saw a huge chunk of ice break off a glacier and crash into the sea. Already a keen film maker with an interest in travel, he knew then what he wanted to dedicate his life to - telling the stories of climate change. Years later, he’s been all over the world, finding the people most affected by the climate crisis and giving them a voice in his documentary series A Seat at The Table.

Join Jack now, on a warm day in London’s Victoria Park, as he discusses the power of community activism, the need for storytelling and completely fluffing his lines when he met Barack Obama.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Sound recording by Alannah Chance, production by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

The Drag Queen Gardener on allotments, break-ups and the benefits of gardening Jul 05, 2023

What’s the best thing to do when you’re going through a bad breakup? How about get an allotment, develop a love of gardening and find yourself an entirely new career? Well, it worked for Tom Leonard, who, in a matter if months went from knowing nothing about plants to professional garden design and appearing at Chelsea Flower Show as his alter ego, Daisy Desire, aka The Drag Queen Gardener.

Join Tom now for a sunny stroll round Birmingham Botanical Gardens, where they learnt their trade, saw how beneficial gardening could be for mental health… and worked out the one single thing without which, a garden isn’t really a garden at all.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. Production and sound recording by Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Liv Little on creativity, loss and grounding herself by the sea Jun 21, 2023

Liv Little often found herself asked to speak on behalf of all marginalised voices, as the only person of colour in the room… so she decided to build her own room. She founded Gal Dem magazine, a place and community where anyone could talk not just about their trauma, but about their joys and passions. It was the creation of a home that helped and inspired many people over the eight years for which it ran. She then took that search spiritual, emotional home as the theme for her debut novel, Rosewater.

Join Liv now for a walk along the kent coast, as she talks about creativity, loss, grounding herself by the sea… and trying to keep her socks dry

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Gareth Evans and Clarissa Maycock. Sound recording by Marnie Woodmeade. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Banjo Beale on drunk botanists, interior design and carrying an antique apothecary cabinet up a coast path Jun 07, 2023

Most of us probably feel pretty proud of ourselves if we manage to put up a shelf that's reasonably straight. So imagine how great it would feel to refurbish a lighthouse at the end of a narrow cliffside path on the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland. Interior designer Banjo Beale, whom you may remember as the winner of the show Interior Design Masters, or his own programme Designing the Hebrides, knows exactly how great that felt. At least once all the heavy lifting was done.

Join him on the lighthouse path on Mull, winding along past stunning views of the sea and distant misty hills. Enjoy the scenery. And remember to be thankful when the wind gets up that you're not carrying an antique apothecary cabinet.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Gareth Evans and Clarissa Maycock. Sound recording by Pennie Stuart. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Nick Hayes on the Right to Roam, silt witches and getting arrested May 24, 2023

This time we join Nick Hayes. He’s one of the most prominent voices of the campaign for the Right to Roam in England and author of The Book of Trespass. He’s also an illustrator and musician who thinks that our broken relationship with nature is bound up with the loss of our cultural heritage.

Join Nick on a stroll through the countryside from his boat on a quiet part of the Thames up to some sheltered hilltop woods, crossing two very differently managed estates and at least one forbidden fence line, as he explains how he’s going to get arrested this summer, and what success for the Right to Roam campaign would look like.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Gareth Evans and Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Charlotte Church on woodlands, waterfalls and listening to nature May 10, 2023

We're back for series 3 and for our first wander we're in a wooded Welsh valley with Charlotte Church. Famous since the age of 11, it's a wonder she doesn't just want to shut the whole world out and shut the whole world out and live in peace but actually she's doing the opposite. Driven by a desire to give something back and help people facing mental and emotional struggle, she's opened the Dreaming - a wellness retreat deep in the valleys of rural mid Wales.

In this episode we join Charlotte amongst the woodlands and waterfalls of her retreat as she explains the journey that bought her here and what she hopes others will experience when they visit.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Gareth Evans and Clarissa Maycock. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Series three... coming soon May 03, 2023

A Life More Wild is back with a whole new group of fascinating people taking you out into nature.

We'll be joining Charlotte Church at her new wellness retreat in a lush Welsh Valley, reclaiming our right to roam with author and campaigner, Nick Hayes in some forbidden parts of a Berkshire estate and heading out eagle spotting with wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin.

Join us for series three and explore from the Western Isles to the Cornish Coast in the company of inspiring people connected to those places.

Bonus episode: George Clarke on utopian towns and secret projects Oct 20, 2022

Our final episode of series 2 of A Life More wild sees us chatting to George Clarke about his humble beginnings creating treehouses as a kid, and the journey it took to building some of his more famous creations. Our very own Siri Thomas gets George chatting about nature in the city, inspiration for his recent work, and even, a little teaser for what’s to come…

As we weren't able to get out in the wild and record this one with George, it takes a slightly different format to normal but it was such a lovely chat that we just had to share. The 10th anniversary series of George Clarke's Amazing Spaces is due early in 2023.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Gareth Evans and Eliza Lomas. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Bonus episode: 24 hours in 24 minutes, a sensory nature meditation experience Oct 05, 2022

Wake to birdsong, walk in the woods, forage as you go, then dip into a stream to cool off before you head back to sit round the crackling fire. Leave feeling calm, connected and soothed by nature.

This week we're bringing you a slightly different sort of episode. Earlier this summer we hosted the Slow Down and Relax Tipi at Fearne Cotton's Happy Place festival and ran a number of sensory nature workshops. We received lots of positive feedback about the workshop and people asked if we could share it, so here it is.

Find a cosy spot, get comfortable and if you've got an eye mask feel free to pop it on.

Narrated by Rebecca Dennis (@breathing.tree) author of Let It Go and Breathe - A Practical Guide To Breathwork: www.instagram.com/breathing.tree/

Resetting, reinventing and growing - Sophie Morgan and Alice Vincent Aug 18, 2022

We took a trip around Southwark Park with TV presenter and award-winning disability advocate Sophie Morgan. We talked about growing up wild, how her relationship with nature has changed, and if she was a tree, what tree she would be. We also speak to author and passionate gardener Alice Vincent, about the single flower that inspired her to a life of growing and how to work with any size of space.

You can watch Sophie's show 'Living Wild: How To Change Your Life' on Channel 4 here, and check out her book 'Driving Forwards' here.

Alice's book is called 'Rootbound' and is out now

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Gareth Evans and Eliza Lomas. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

214 peaks and an 830km swim - Russ Moorhouse and Lisa Shaw Aug 04, 2022

We go for a walk in the Lake District with Russ Moorhouse, who points out a fraction of the 214 Wainwright Fells he wild camped on in an epic year-long adventure. We also talk to Lisa Shaw, who has taken on the impressive challenge of swimming round all the Balearic islands. Both find a calm in nature that they know nowhere else.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Gareth Evans and Eliza Lomas. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

Richie Norton and Gail Muller - Movement, calm and massive hikes Jul 20, 2022

We walk in the woods with Richie Norton and hear about the long road from losing his rugby career to finding his calm as a breathing and movement coach. We also talk to Gail Muller, who pushed through a chronic pain condition to regain her adventurous lifestyle and walk the entire Appalachian trail.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Gareth Evans, Eliza Lomas and Fiona Clampin. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/

Poppy Okotcha and Tom Hunt - Seeds, hens and seasonality Jul 06, 2022

We’re down in Poppy Okotcha’s Devon garden, helping her (by staying out of the way) as she pots some seeds and talks about finding her passion for growing and eating. Then we talk to Tom Hunt about the realistic challenges of sustainable, seasonal eating and some of the little steps we can all take.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Gareth Evans, Eliza Lomas and Fiona Clampin. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/

Fearne Cotton & Kris Hallenga - Tears, ideas and Neighbours Jun 22, 2022

We’re in Richmond Park with Fearne Cotton, to talk about how the open space and tranquillity of the waters have inspired, calmed and healed her. We also talk to Kris Hallenga about founding the breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel, stepping back from it to get closer to nature and the painful news that Neighbours is coming to an end.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars. The producers for this episode were Eliza Lomas, Alannah Chance and Gareth Evans. Our theme music is by Billie Marten.

https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/

Crystal caves, rhythm and putting down new roots - Gemma Cairney & Tom Dixon Jun 08, 2022

For episode two, we take a windy walk with radio and TV presenter Gemma Cairney, and her partner Cameron (founder of specialist coffee subscription service - MF Coffee) at the inimitable Jupiter Artland, near Edinburgh. We also talk to Tom Dixon, who runs community groups and an art gallery on his land in Devon and also just happens to be the co-founder of Canopy & Stars.

Remember to rate and follow us in your podcast app, and come and see us for outdoor inspiration from Find Your Wild and all our amazing spaces.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars.

Host & words: Christopher Wilson-Elmes

Producers: Eliza Lomas and Hamish Brown

Exec producer: Gareth Evans

Mixed by: Rowan Bishop

Theme music by Billie Marten

Planting, subverting and empowering - Ellen Miles & Amira, the Wanderlust Woman May 25, 2022

We're down in Devon to plant a sapling and hear about Ellen Miles' two campaigns - lobbying the UN to make nature a human right and encouraging planting in communities through Dream Green. We also hear from Amira Patel, who's given thousands of people a space to connect with nature, their faith and each other through her group The Wanderlust Women.

Remember to rate and follow us in your podcast app, and come and see us for outdoor inspiration from Find Your Wild and all our amazing spaces.

A Life More Wild is an 18Sixty production, brought to you by Canopy & Stars.

Host & words: Christopher Wilson-Elmes

Producers: Eliza Lomas & Fiona Clampin

Exec producer: Gareth Evans

Mixed by: Rowan Bishop

Theme music by Billie Marten

Correction note: Humans are actually 200,000 times more sensitive to giosmin than sharks are to blood, not 200 times as Ellen states

Series two...coming soon! Apr 28, 2022

We're back very soon for a second series. Just like in series one, we’ll be getting you into nature on walks with inspiring people who weave the outdoors into their lives and work.

Expect to spend time outdoors with, amongst some other wonderful guests, Fearne Cotton, George Clarke and Gemma Cairney as they share with you what inspires them most about being out in the wild.

If you don't follow already - give us a follow in podcast app and we’ll see you soon!

Stomping, reflecting & whittling - Dr. Alex & Brook House Woods Sep 23, 2021

We walk in Richmond Park with Youth Mental Health Ambassador Dr Alex George and hear about his plan for community Health Hubs, his personal tragedy and his time as a Love Island contestant. Then we talk to Will, co-owner of Brook House Woods in Herefordshire and find out how a chance meeting with a spoon carver and a vague dream turned into treehouses in the herefordshire woods.

See what Dr Alex has been up to on Instagram or stay in a treehouse (and take up carpentry!) at Brook House Woods. Follow us on instagram, buy our book, or read our outdoor lifestyle tips on Find Your Wild.

Music by Billie Marten, presented by Christopher Wilson-Elmes, produced by Tom Bonnett.

An 18Sixty Production for Canopy & Stars.

Conservation, cultivation & relocation - Megan McCubbin & Swallowtail Hill Sep 09, 2021

We visit Megan McCubbin in the New Forest, where the idea for the Self Isolating Bird Club was hatched, to talk conservation, bird calls and the amazing gardening skills of bees. Then we talk to Sarah, the owner of Swallowtail Hill in Sussex about the steep learning curve of swapping London life for sustainable farming.

Find out where Megan's latest projects are taking her and stay at the amazing Swallowtail Hill for yourself. Follow us on instagram, buy our book, or read our outdoor lifestyle tips on Find Your Wild.

Music by Billie Marten, presented by Christopher Wilson-Elmes, produced by Tom Bonnett.

Additional music: Chad Crouch - The Bridge (Instrumental)

An 18Sixty Production for Canopy & Stars.

Marshes, music & wilderness - Billie Marten & Hinterlandes Aug 26, 2021

A walk in Hackney Marshes with singer songwriter Billie Marten, who told us about finding inspiration and calm in the natural world, followed by an inspiring talk with John, the owner of Hinterlandes, on sticking a camper van to a bus in the Lake District.

Find Billie’s latest album and tour dates on instagram or her website, or stay at the incredible Hinterlandes yourself. Follow us on instagram too, buy our book, or read our outdoor lifestyle tips on Find Your Wild.

Music by Billie Marten, presented by Christopher Wilson-Elmes, produced by Tom Bonnett.

An 18Sixty Production for Canopy & Stars.

Wild swimming and restorative retreats - Sian Lewis & Kate Humble Aug 12, 2021

We head down to the river for some wild swimming with travel journalist and author Sian Lewis, who tells us the best ways to get out into nature, even if you’re short on time. We also chat with presenter Kate Humble, whose trip to the Dordogne a few years’ back resulted in her buying her very own remote lakeside cabin which has since become her personal refuge in nature.

Follow Sian Lewis’ micro-adventures on Instagram, or try out some stargazing for yourself at Poacher’s Cabin in the Dordogne. Follow us on instagram, buy our book, or read our outdoor lifestyle tips on Find Your Wild.

Music by Billie Marten, presented by Christopher Wilson-Elmes, produced by Tom Bonnett.

Additional music: Witchety-witchety-witchety (Instrumental)

An 18Sixty Production for Canopy & Stars.

Mental health, breezy walks & sea air - Ruth Allen & Wilderme Jul 29, 2021

We go for a drizzly, breezy walk around the Peak District woodland which psychotherapist Ruth Allen calls her office and discuss how people respond to the landscape. Later we talk to Natalie and Geoff, the mental health support worker and former drummer who now run glamping nature retreats for adults with autism at Wilderme, their stunning spot on the Cornish coast.

Follow Ruth Allen’s advice and adventures on Instagram, or stay in the fabulous geodomes at Wilderme. Follow us on instagram, buy our book, or read our outdoor lifestyle tips on Find Your Wild.

Music by Billie Marten, presented by Christopher Wilson-Elmes, produced by Tom Bonnett.

Additional music: Podington Bear - Brightening

An 18Sixty Production for Canopy & Stars.

Coastal foraging and lochside cuisine - Gill Meller & Monachlye Mhor Jul 15, 2021

A fascinating and delicious nature walk in the company of River Cottage’s Gill Meller, who grazes as we walk through the woods then cooks up sea kale on the beach. We also talk to Tom, the unstoppable force behind Monachyle Mhor about his beautiful lochside home, his approach to food and how nature's calming effect helped him break his phone throwing habit.

See what courses, classes and books Gill Meller has been working on, or stay (and eat) at the incredible Monachlye Mhor. Follow us on instagram, buy our book, or read our outdoor lifestyle tips on Find Your Wild.

***

Music by Billie Marten, presented by Christopher Wilson-Elmes, produced by Tom Bonnett.

Additional music: Chad Crouch - The Family Instrumental, The Island Instrumental

An 18Sixty Production for Canopy & Stars.

Birdwatching, equality & beavers - Mya-Rose Craig (Birdgirl) & The Keep Jul 01, 2021

We’re heading into the great outdoors to look for ravens and talk equal access to nature with campaigner, activist and birdwatching fanatic Mya-Rose Craig, aka Birdgirl. We also hear from the couple who have reintroduced beavers to the land where they run their glamping holidays in Cornwall and get interrupted by a nosy chicken.

Read about Mya-Rose, her charity Black2Nature and her new book on her website or follow her on Instagram. Go beaver watching at The Keep, Lizzie and Merlin’s place in Cornwall. Follow us on instagram, buy our book, or read our outdoor lifestyle tips on Find Your Wild.

***

Music by Billie Marten, presented by Christopher Wilson-Elmes, produced by Tom Bonnett.

Additional music: Chad Crouch - Cumulous

An 18Sixty Production for Canopy & Stars.

Trailer - A Life More Wild Jun 07, 2021

Introducing A Life More Wild, a podcast that will transport you into the great outdoors and help you connect with nature. In each episode we’ll be taking a walk in the wild with some fascinating people to find out how nature inspires their work and lives.

We’ll go on the trail of ravens with birdwatcher and equality campaigner Mya-Rose Craig (AKA Bird Girl), forage in the woods and cook on the beach with River Cottage’s Gill Meller and leap into some very cold water with adventurer Sian Lewis.

We’ll also be bringing you the stories of the people behind some of our most amazing places to stay, from the Cumbrian man who stuck a camper van to a bus, to the couple looking to turn back time on their land in Cornwall with an incredibly ambitious project including the reintroduction of beavers to the UK.

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