
Insights from recent episode analysis
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Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 5 chart positions in 5 markets.
By chart position
- 🇨🇦CA · Parenting#1505K to 30K
- 🇨🇴CO · Parenting#136500 to 3K
- 🇳🇬NG · Parenting#142500 to 3K
- 🇨🇱CL · Parenting#145500 to 3K
- 🇹🇭TH · Parenting#184500 to 3K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
3.5K to 21K🎙 ~2x weekly·30 episodes·Last published 4d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
7K to 42K🇨🇦71%🇨🇴7%🇳🇬7%+2 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
2.8K to 17K
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
Recent episodes
Ep 33 | Mud, Microbes, and the Magic of Nature with Alex Barrable
Jun 2, 2026
49m 19s
Ep 32 | Adam Bienenstock on School Forests, Soil Health, and the Future of Nature Play
May 19, 2026
1h 04m 09s
Ep 31 | My New Play Manifesto! Slowing Down in a Speeding Up World
May 5, 2026
39m 12s
Ep 30 | Claude Stephens’ Nature Play Revolution
Apr 21, 2026
57m 37s
Ep 29 | A Bus Tour Through Scotland: What Can We Learn from Stramash’s Outdoor Preschools?
Apr 7, 2026
48m 35s
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/2/26 | ![]() Ep 33 | Mud, Microbes, and the Magic of Nature with Alex Barrable | Nature is not just pretty. It is medicine. It is our teacher. It is mud, microbes, moss, noise-softening, nervous-system-settling magic. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler talks with researcher Alex Barrable about the deep and delightful ways humans connect with the natural world. Alex shares how becoming a parent brought her back to nature, how children help adults slow down to “Earth speed,” and why our bodies and brains are still wired for green, wild, living places. Alex and Rusty also explore our invisible microbial friends, the microbiome. Alex explains the benefits of what nature offers us, just by bein nature Children need time. Space. Soil. Loose parts. Wonder. They need to smell it, touch it, climb it, taste it, and know they belong to it. Because when children feel connected to the Earth, they are more likely to care for it too. Top Three Takeaways from Alex Barrable: Nature helps bodies calm down, brains wake up, and kids settle into that magical “rest, digest, and learn” place. Dirty play is not just mess. Soil, microbes, plants, and biodiverse spaces may support children’s health, immune systems, and wellbeing. Green schoolyards are not a bonus. They are a big, leafy, non-negotiable step toward healthier kids, healthier communities, and a healthier planet. Links:dirtyplay.org Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 49m 19s | ||||||
| 5/19/26 | ![]() Ep 32 | Adam Bienenstock on School Forests, Soil Health, and the Future of Nature Play | The best playgrounds are alive. Dirt is medicine. And schoolyards can, and should, grow a little forest where kids can climb, hide, breathe, wonder, and come back to themselves. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler talks with Adam Bienenstock about nature play, living soil, school forests, and why children need more than a break from screens. They need roots. Bugs. Trees. Mud. The good stuff. Adam and Rusty dig into the big, beautiful, messy connections between child development, gut microbiome, mental health, outdoor education, risky play, and regenerative landscapes. This conversation wanders from schoolyards to soil microbes to forests inside the fence. Adam shares why a single tree is nice, but a living forest system is better. More shade. More sensory play. More life. More chances for kids to build empathy, resilience, attention, and joy. The time is now to rebuild children’s connection to land. The time is now to start giving kids a daily dose of nature, not just an occasional field trip. So plant the trees. Add the shrubs. Feed the soil. Let the weeds do a little work. Dream big. Start small. Never stop. Top Three Takeaways from Adam Bienenstock Kids do not just need less screen time. They need more full-body, full-sensory nature time. A school forest is more than trees. It is soil, shade, microbes, loose parts, play, and wonder all working together. Start with a corner. Plant in communities. Add organic material. Build a tiny forest world kids can touch, smell, climb into, and love. Links: renature.org @renaturefoundation Instagram | Facebook LinkedIn @renature-fnd @bienenstocknaturalplaygrounds Instagram LinkedIn @bienenstock-playgrounds Facebook @BienenstockPlaygrounds Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 1h 04m 09s | ||||||
| 5/5/26 | ![]() Ep 31 | My New Play Manifesto! Slowing Down in a Speeding Up World | In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler takes us creekside on a warm spring day to think big. Big like gorges. Small like bugs. Slow like trees. This episode is a call to remember the mission. The mission to give children what they need most: time, freedom, nature, community, and real life under their feet. Rusty reflects on the strange, speedy blip of modern childhood. More screens. More stress. Less recess. Less mud. But instead of getting stuck in doom and gloom, he asks a better question: What if we are already building something new? Something rooted in play, place, seasons, risk, mess, imagination, and the deep human skills children grow through free play. Rusty’s NEW Play Manifesto is the mission to slow down and go deeper. He explores how nature play, place-based learning, community, and child-led exploration can help shape the future, even in a world racing toward more technology and AI. This is your hopeful reminder to stand strong in what we know in our bones: play matters, nature matters, and children find themselves when they have the space to play. Top three takeaways from Rusty’s time by the creek: Slow down to “earth speed.” Free play helps children grow the deeply human skills they need: creativity, communication, collaboration, compassion, curiosity, and self-knowledge. The future of childhood is not fixed. We can help build it through nature, community, advocacy, and a big playful yes to real life. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 39m 12s | ||||||
| 4/21/26 | ![]() Ep 30 | Claude Stephens’ Nature Play Revolution | Step outside. Feel the mud. Hear the birds. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler sits down with Playcologist Claude Stephens to explore a simple but powerful idea: children are meant to play in nature. Not on perfectly polished playgrounds. Not inside neat boundaries. But in messy, wild, living places. The kind with sticks. And puddles. And possibility. Claude and Rusty imagine playgrounds that feel like ecosystems. Spaces where kids build, explore, get a little lost, and have a lot of freedom. Children truly don’t need more equipment. They need as much freedom as we can give them. Claude’s message is a hopeful path forward. Start small. One log. One stump. One muddy hole. Build connections between people. Between places. Between kids and the land beneath their feet. In small shifts, something beautiful grows: joy, confidence, and a deep love for the natural world. Top Takeaways from Claude Stephens: Children are natural players. Give them space, not structure, and they will create magic Nature play doesn’t require big budgets. Small, simple changes can transform any space Real impact happens slowly in tiny shifts. Add a log or patch of dirt and it can change everything over time Links: childrenatplaynetwork.com IG @childrenatplaynetwork Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 57m 37s | ||||||
| 4/7/26 | Ep 29 | A Bus Tour Through Scotland: What Can We Learn from Stramash’s Outdoor Preschools? | Spring rain. Mud everywhere. Kids smiling anyway. Let’s follow the weather! In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler invites us into a world where children climb, splash, wander, and belong. Short answer? It’s messy. And it’s magic. A bus. The Highlands. Outdoor preschools tucked into hills, meadows, and even swamps. Educators from around the world, LA to Lithuania. Everyone bundled up. Everyone is curious. We’re talking about Rusty’s Scotland Bus Tour! Rusty takes listeners through places where kids spend all day outside. We hear about willow tunnels. Climbing trees. Risky towers. Compost toilets. Yes, really. And underneath it all? A shared belief: nature is not extra. It’s essential. This episode is a reminder. Slow down. Step outside. Let kids get a little wild. Let them belong to a place. Let them test limits. Because the good stuff? It’s not perfect. It’s muddy. It’s real. And it sticks. You’ll leave thinking about your own space. Your own students. Your own next small step toward more nature, more play, more yes. Top Takeaways from Rusty’s recap of Scotland: No bad weather. Just better gear. Nature happens in all seasons—and that’s the point. Belonging grows outdoors. Kids thrive when spaces feel like theirs to explore and shape. Risk builds humans. Graduated challenges help kids grow confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills. Links: stramash.org.uk Waitlist for 2027 Scotland Trip: bit.ly/BusTour2027Waitlist Play Nature Podcast Episode 9 with Cameron Sprauge fossoplay.org balticstreetadventureplay.co.uk/home playscotland.org/schools-childcare/schools/opal Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 48m 35s | ||||||
| 3/24/26 | Ep 28 | Kristy DeGraaf on Nature Play, Outdoor Learning, and Advocacy | This episode of the Play Nature Podcast feels like stepping into a backyard where something magical is always unfolding. Mud. Water. Sand. Stories. Host Rusty Keeler welcomes Kristy DeGraff to explore what happens when we trust children, follow curiosity, and let nature lead the way. It’s about more than play. It’s about belonging. It’s about building spaces where kids can dig deep, take risks, and feel at home in the world. Kristy brings a powerful blend of experience. Social worker. Educator. Mother. Advocate. She shares how her journey, from supporting families in crisis to designing a nature-rich childcare program, shaped the way she sees children and community. This conversation stretches beyond the backyard. Into systems. Into advocacy. Into the work of speaking up for children and families. Kristy reminds us that change doesn’t have to be big to matter. A phone call. A small shift. A single idea put into motion. It all counts. Just like in play, we start where we are. And we keep going. Top Takeaways from Kristy DeGraaf: Dream big. Start small. Never stop. Whether you’re building a play space or creating change Children thrive in environments that invite risk, creativity, and real-world exploration Advocacy doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Small actions, done consistently, make a difference Links: kristydegraaf.com Instagram: @kristy.degraaf Facebook: Kristy DeGraaf TikTok: @kristykae.childcarepro Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 51m 40s | ||||||
| 3/10/26 | Ep 27 | Getting Licensing and Risky Play to Fit Together | Licensing. Not the most exciting topic. Not mud pies or tree climbing. But if you work in schools, parks, or early childhood programs, licensing is part of the landscape. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty is answering the question many educators ask: How do we keep nature play, loose parts, and risky play alive when licensing rules feel like a wall? The good news? The wall might actually be a doorway. Rusty explores the relationship between educators and licensors. At first it can feel tense. Someone arrives with a clipboard. They inspect logs, spoons, mud kitchens, and climbing trees. But licensors are there for a reason. Their job is to protect children. When we slow down and communicate the why behind nature play, we often discover we’re on the same team. The key is speaking their language. Know the rules. Show your thinking. Share the research. When educators confidently explain the benefits of loose parts and outdoor play, licensors begin to see the bigger picture. Top 3 Takeaways from Rusty Know the rules. Read them carefully. When you understand them, you can design nature play spaces that follow them and still invite adventure. Explain the “why.” Share the research and developmental benefits behind logs, mud kitchens, loose parts, and risky play. Build trust. When licensors see thoughtful planning and strong supervision, they are more likely to support creative outdoor play environments. Buy Rusty’s Book: Adventures in Risky Play by Rusty Keeler Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 37m 18s | ||||||
| 2/24/26 | Ep 26 | How a Playworker Thinks About Play with Marc Armitage | Play is everywhere. It slips through sidewalks and across continents. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler welcomes playworker, play advocate, and “friend of play” Marc Armitage. Marc is joining from Australia with stories that stretch from Yorkshire to the far corners of playgrounds and city streets. Together they wander through big questions. What is play? Who gets to decide? And what happens when we simply give children space and time to be? Marc invites us into the mindset of playwork which is less about outcomes, more about conditions. He shares how playwork is both a profession and an attitude, rooted in history yet alive in every moment a child drifts into flow. From adventure playgrounds to city design, from the “three frees” to the quiet power of standing back and observing, the conversation reminds us that children don’t need us to script play. They need us to notice it. This episode reminds us to trust the process, widen the lens, and remember that the spirit of play is already alive in every child, just waiting for room to roam. Play is universal. Play is ancient. Play is the thing children just do. Links: marc-armitage.com @marc.armitage.at.play on Facebook Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 1h 16m 15s | ||||||
| 2/10/26 | Ep 25 | Junk Becomes Genius with Erik Herman, Founder of the Free Science Workshop | What happens when kids are given time, space, and stuff? Real stuff. Junk. Tools. Magnets. Hot glue guns. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler is talking to Erik Herman to explore what play, tinkering, and science can look like when curiosity leads the way. Erik is a former classroom teacher who followed his passion out of formal education and into the wild, wonderful world of informal learning. He’s the force behind the Free Science Workshop and the Physics Bus. Both places where kids choose what to explore, how long to explore it, and who to explore it with. Rusty draws connections between Erik’s work and adventure playgrounds, community tinkering spaces, and our deeply human need to make things—together. This conversation wanders (in the best way) through barns full of junk. And through the difference between explaining and experiencing. Freedom matters, messes are meaningful, and innovation needs room to breathe. Erik and Rusty agree on letting physics speak for itself, and remembering that we are three-dimensional beings in a very hands-on world Links: www.freescienceworkshop.org www.communityscienceworkshops.org Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 53m 07s | ||||||
| 1/27/26 | Ep 24 | Let the Universe Teach: A Schema Play Aha Moment | Winter. Ice cracking at the creek. Water freezing in buckets and balloons. Rusty is back outside, thinking out loud, when an aha arrives. One of those deep ones. The kind that doesn’t land all at once. The kind you keep unpacking for a lifetime. This episode of the Play Nature Podcast is all about that moment, a shift in how play is seen, felt, and trusted. Rusty reflects on being a lifelong believer in play. Free play. Messy play. Nature play. Loose parts. Mud kitchens. Risky moments. The real stuff. Yes, research helps. Yes, play checks the boxes for STEM, literacy, social-emotional growth. But those labels only skim the surface. Rusty reminds us that our role isn’t to interrupt or translate every moment, but to create the conditions, protect the space, and advocate fiercely for play in the adult world. You are not alone. We are believers in play. And we are in this together. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 35m 05s | ||||||
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| 1/13/26 | Ep 23 | Seasons of Play with Rusty: Tips for WINTER Outdoor Fun | Welcome to Season 2 of the Play Nature Podcast! A full circle around the sun. A new season of listening begins. Winter has arrived (at least in Ithaca, NY). Cold. Snow. Gray skies. And…PLAY. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler bundles up and steps into winter to give us the next installment of his Seasons of Play series, reminding us that this final season matters just as much as the others. From ice sculptures and colored snow to fairy huts, fires, and winter wandering, Rusty invites us to slow down and notice what winter offers. The angle of the sun. The crunch of snow. The quiet. The light we carry inside when the world feels gray. With simple stories and practical ideas, this episode reframes winter not as something to endure, but something to experience. Season 2 is just getting started and Rusty would love to hear from you! Email playnaturepodcast@gmail.com to share pictures of winter play and colorful snow, your favorite moment from Season 1, or a question you would like answered in an upcoming episode. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 36m 05s | ||||||
| 12/23/25 | Ep 22 | Place-Based Learning: Environment, Culture, and Food with Gemma Nicholl Medina | Some conversations feel like sunshine. This one? Pure magic. Imagine laughter blowing through the trees, college students climbing branches, children splashing in streams, and stories woven into the wind. That’s the vibe of this episode of the Play Nature Podcast. Host Rusty Keeler is joined by the wonderful Gemma Nicholl Medina to explore the wild wonder of place-based learning and how nature, culture, and play connect like old friends. Big ideas. Small moments. Muddy hands. Happy hearts. Gemma shares how her college students discover something ancient and familiar when they play outside, observe children deeply, and reconnect with trees, soil, stories, and place. Gemma reminds us that nature play doesn't require a perfect forest, perfect tools, or perfect plans. All you need is curiosity, connection, and courage to say, “Let’s begin right here.” Top 3 Takeaways with Gemma: Start where you are. Nature play doesn’t require a forest — a tree, a park, a garden pot, or a single seed is enough to spark curiosity and connection. Place matters. When children learn the stories, plants, language, and history of where they live, they build a relationship with the land — and care grows from that relationship. Play is powerful. Whether college students climbing trees or preschoolers exploring mud, joyful, hands-on experiences unlock learning, belonging, and a sense of wonder. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 46m 24s | ||||||
| 12/9/25 | Ep 21 | Building Deep Connections with Children: Robin Christie on Play, Failure, Curiosity, and Wonder | Welcome to a world where play speaks louder than words. Where adults climb trees dressed as toucans, worms magically become two worms, and curiosity crackles like fairy lights in a cozy home-like space flooded with plants and laughter. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler and guest Robin Christie take us by the hand, skipping barefoot through ideas about playfulness, risk, resilience, and the joyful role of goofy, loving adults in children’s lives. Their conversation touches on early childhood teaching in New Zealand, playful adult culture, humor as a first connection, the power of failure, and the soulful art of building truly soft, warm, homey learning spaces. Top 3 Takeaways from Robin Christie: Play is a universal language and adults must become playful participants, not observers, to truly connect with children. Curiosity and wonder work together with curiosity filling knowledge gaps and wonder creating emotional engagement that drives deeper learning. Failure is essential and modeling our own mistakes in front of children teaches resilience, courage, and authentic learning behavior. Children need to see that adults are still learning too. That they are still curious, still surprised, still full of questions. That is how trust forms. That is how humans grow. That is how joy lives in learning… and in life Links: childspace.nz @childspaceNZ on Facebook @childspacenz on Instagram Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 53m 32s | ||||||
| 11/25/25 | Ep 20 | Free-Range Kids and the Magic of a Dirt Pile with Lenore Skenazy | It’s time to trust kids more. Let them walk those four houses home, climb that tree, and spend an afternoon conquering a pile of dirt. Freedom, not fear, shapes childhood the childhood we hope to give our kids. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler is chatting with Free-Range Kids author and Let Grow president Lenore Skenazy to explore how we, as parents, got so anxious about safety, and what happens when we let kids reclaim their independence. Together, Rusty and Lenore laugh, reflect, and get fired up about what it means to be a “free-range kid” in today’s world. They are sharing why playtime has shrunk, how fear has grown, and the beauty of a child’s self-directed adventure. From bus stop debates to AirTag sneakers, this conversation takes on the cultural shift from trust to tracking, and how we can turn it around. You’ll hear about the Let Grow Experience (a simple way for schools and parents to nurture independence), the joy of multi-age play, and why every child deserves the chance to say, “I did it myself.” Top 3 Takeaways with Lenore Skenazy Freedom Feeds Growth: Kids don’t need a perfect plan; they need space, time, and trust. A pile of dirt or a short walk home can spark hours of imagination, confidence, and joy. Fear Shrinks Play: “Worst-first thinking” keeps kids indoors and anxious. Loosen the grip and help them (and ourselves) build the trust muscle that keeps anxiety in check. Communities Can Drive Change: Through Let Grow programs and open-ended play clubs, parents and schools can make independence normal again. Links: letgrow.org/blog Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow by Lenore Skenazy letgrow.org/free-chapter (FREE chapter for Educators from Free-Range Kids) letgrow.org/resource/more-lenore-skenazy (connect with Lenore for speaking engagements) Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 46m 57s | ||||||
| 11/11/25 | Ep 19 | Schema Play Explained: Why Scooping, Dumping, and Mess-Making Matter with Heather Bernt-Santy | Have you ever watched a child scoop birdseed, roll in grass, or wrap Play-Doh around tiny toys and think, “What on earth are they doing?” In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler is chatting and laughing with Heather Bernt-Santy, THE Early Childhood Nerd, to find out why those moments are more than just mess and motion. They really are the heart of learning. They talk about curiosity, connection, and the magic of letting kids be wonderfully, gloriously human. Heather shares her journey from podcaster to author and dives into the world of schema play. Those fascinating patterns children repeat as they explore how the world works. From enclosing and enveloping to transporting and transforming, she shows how every scoop, splash, and spin builds brains, confidence, and joy. Adults just need to step back, trust, and watch the wonder unfold. In this conversation, you’ll hear about risky play and right-to-play advocacy, how teachers can shift from “doing” to “wondering,” and why grown-ups should trade control for curiosity. Top 3 Takeaways from The Early Childhood Nerd: Heather Bernt-Santy Play is how children make sense of the world. Schema play shows that children aren’t being “aimless, ”they’re testing patterns, discovering physics, and learning about themselves through joyful repetition. Our job isn’t to control play. It’s to wonder about it. Trust the process, not the product. Children have a right to play—freely and fully. Links: thatearlychildhoodnerd.com Facebook @thatearlychildhoodnerd Instagram @thatearlychildhoodnerd TikTok @that_early_childh BlueSky @ece-nerd.bsky.social LinkedIn @@heatherbernt-santy Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 48m 30s | ||||||
| 10/28/25 | Ep 18 | Climb the Slide: Kisha Reid on How Risk, Play, and Wonder Shape Authentic Childhoods | The magic of an authentic childhood comes from the wonder of the experiences, not the walls they take place in. The best classrooms are fields, forests, and slides climbed from the “wrong” side. In this joyful chat on Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler and Kisha Reid are talking all about the spirit of authentic play. Where children lead, adults listen, and the magic of discovery unfolds in every muddy footprint. Kisha, founder of Discovery Natural Learning Center and Play, has spent 30 years helping children grow through connection, curiosity, and courage. From her home base on a 300-acre retreat center, she invites kids, and the adults watching them, to rediscover what childhood can be: full of risk, laughter, and endless “what ifs.” Together, she and Rusty explore how educators can nurture real play anywhere, whether on acres of open land or in a small patch of yard. Listeners will hear how Kisha builds trust through observation and relationship, how she works with licensing to defend risky play, and how true learning happens when we stop hovering and start believing. Top 3 Takeaways from Episode 18 with Kisha Reid: Authentic play starts with trust. True learning happens when adults step back, observe, and let children lead their own discoveries—even when it looks messy or risky. It’s not about the space—it’s about the mindset. Any environment, from a church basement to a forest clearing, can nurture authentic childhoods when educators believe in play and possibility. Advocacy begins with intention. When teachers understand the “why” behind play and communicate it clearly, even licensing inspectors can become allies in supporting joyful, nature-based learning. Links: discoverynaturallearning.com @discoverynaturallearningcenter on Facebook Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 40m 46s | ||||||
| 10/14/25 | Ep 17 | Everything is Broken (and That’s Okay!) with Teacher Tom Hobson | Even if everything’s broken, that doesn’t mean the play is over! And that’s the beauty of it. It’s not destruction, it’s deep learning. When we let kids take things apart, we’re helping them put the world together in their own way. This episode of the Play Nature Podcast is the second half of Rusty’s conversation with Teacher Tom Hobson. Listeners will get immersed into the world of junkyard playgrounds, loose parts, and freedom-filled learning. Together Rusty and Tom explore how children learn by taking things apart, testing limits, and transforming “trash” into treasure. It’s a celebration of curiosity, connection, and creativity, the kind that grows from hands-on discovery and messy, marvelous play. Tom shares stories from his playground, a place full of wood scraps, traffic cones, trophies, and treasures. This is where kids explore, build, break, and begin again. He reminds us that every stick was once a branch, every rock once part of a mountain, and every loose part is an invitation to create. Top 3 Takeaways from part 2 with Teacher Tom: Broken things are great teachers! Junkyard playground inspire freedom and imagination Loose parts=loose minds (in the best way!) So, say yes to the broken, the wobbly, the weathered, and the wild. Gather your scraps and start your own version of a junkyard playground. Let the children move, stack, glue, and build their dreams. Because when we trust them with freedom, they find wonder in every why, and see beauty in the broken toys. Links: teachertomsworld.com Teacher's Tom's FREE Resource for Play-Based Settings Connect with Tom @theteachertom on Facebook | on Instagram | on X | @thomsas-hobson on LinkedIn Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 26m 39s | ||||||
| 9/30/25 | Ep 16 | Building a Junkyard Playground with Teacher Tom Hobson | Remember the feeling of running outside barefoot, pockets full of Band-Aids, heart full of imagination? That’s where this episode begins. Rusty sits down with the legendary “Teacher Tom” - Tom Hobson to talk about the golden age of play, when kids roamed free, built their own worlds, and learned through scraped knees, laughter, and discovery. Together they ask: What happens when adults step back? What do kids gain when they’re trusted to lead? How do we bring back the magic of self-directed play? In this first part of their joyful two-part conversation, Teacher Tom shares how he built a “junk playground”. It’s a wonderland of wood chips, sand hills, and hammers. It is where where children create, experiment, and cooperate. You’ll hear stories of turning asphalt into a woodland, adding workbenches and saws for preschoolers, and transforming a church yard into a living classroom full of freedom, risk, and delight. Top 3 Takeaways from part 1 with Teacher Tom: Freedom is the foundation of play Create environments that invite exploration Play builds more than skills, it build people. Thanks for joining Rusty & Tom for this peek inside a co-op school where parents become play allies, not play police. This is part one of a two-episode journey into play, purpose, and the power of saying yes. Make sure to come back for part two! Links: teachertomsworld.com Teacher's Tom's FREE Resource for Play-Based Settings Connect with Tom @theteachertom on Facebook | on Instagram | on X | @thomsas-hobson on LinkedIn Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 36m 24s | ||||||
| 9/16/25 | Ep 15 | Seasons of Play with Rusty: Tips for FALL Outdoor Fun | The leaves are turning. The ducks are splashing. The creek runs low. Fall is here! Do you feel it in the air? Can you see it in the trees? Can you smell it in the crisp breeze? This episode of the Play Nature Podcast invites you to pause, marvel, and jump right into the season with joy and curiosity. Host Rusty Keeler takes us creek-side to share top tips for fall nature play: sit spots that slow us down, planting trees and bulbs for seasonal surprise, straw bales for forts and circles, and leaf piles that spark instant delight. Rusty is also inviting you all to participate in by National Play Day coming up on September 20th. He has a quick interview with Pat Rumbaugh who shares how her Play Day is a great example of Dreaming Big, but Starting Small. It’s a playful celebration of autumn’s abundance and a reminder to dream big, start small, and never stop. Links: letsplayamerica.org ipausa.org Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Share this episode, rate and review the show, and email Rusty! playnaturepodcast@gmail.com Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 30m 23s | ||||||
| 9/2/25 | Ep 14 | Why Children Need Nature Play More Than Ever with Angela Hanscom, OT, TimberNook Founder | We’re here to let you in on a little secret. Strong, confident kids don’t come from a classroom. They are created outdoors! Play is the work of childhood, the language of imagination, and the foundation for lifelong skills. Yet too many children spend their days sitting still. Why does this matter? Because movement, messy play, and nature aren’t just fun—they’re essential for healthy development. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty chats with Angela Hanscom—pediatric occupational therapist, founder of TimberNook, and author of Balanced and Barefoot. Angela is on a mission to restore real, unstructured play to kids’ lives. She shares why outdoor play is more than recreation—it’s therapy in disguise—and how TimberNook grew from a simple idea to a global movement. Top Takeaways from Angela Hanscom as she developed TimberNook: Play builds brains. Kids need big, bold movement—rolling, spinning, climbing—to develop critical sensory systems like balance and body awareness. Nature is the ultimate therapy gym. No weighted vests or spinning boards needed when the woods provide everything kids crave for healthy development. Step back to let kids step up. When adults give space, children create, problem-solve, and discover their own sense of self through adventurous, meaningful play. Links: timbernook.com @timbernook_global on Instagram @TimberNook.Camps on Facebook Barefoot and Balanced by Angela J. Hanscom The Real Reason Why Kids Fidget by Angela Hanscom (HuffPost article) Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 49m 35s | ||||||
| 8/19/25 | Ep 13 | What’s Really Hurting Our Kids: Peter Gray on Why Phones Aren’t the Problem | Play isn’t just the giggles and games—it’s a protective shield for growing hearts and minds. When kids lose play, they lose more than fun. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler goes deeper into why children are more anxious and less joyful, and what we can do to turn the tide. Rusty welcomes back Dr. Peter Gray, our favorite play professor and champion of childhood freedom. This time, they dig into what’s really behind the rise in kids’ anxiety and depression—and no, it’s not just the phones. Peter points to the pressure cooker of modern education, where rigid standards and endless testing are crowding out curiosity, movement, and joy. Top three takeaways for part 2 with Peter Gray It’s not just screens—school stress is a major player in kids’ declining mental health. The loss of autonomy and play in schools is leaving kids overwhelmed and underpowered. There are brighter paths—like Sudbury schools—where kids are trusted, free, and thriving. Watch Rusty and Peter talk about the playfulness of a Sudbury School on Rusty's Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrtiVT1JDMQ Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 35m 10s | ||||||
| 8/5/25 | Ep 12 | The Power of Toddler Play: Trusting Little Ones to Lead and Learn with Deb Curtis | Play is serious stuff. It’s how kids make sense of the world, grow their brains, build friendships, and show us their natural brilliance. When we step back and let play lead, magic happens. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, we’re celebrating the joy, wisdom, and wildness of children’s play, just as it is. Host Rusty Keeler sits down with Deb Curtis, a longtime champion of childhood and co-author of The Art of Awareness. With stories straight from the classroom and a heart full of curiosity, Deb reminds us that children are already wired for empathy, fairness, and deep learning—no adult scripts required. Here are three big takeaways from the conversation with Deb: Kids don’t need us to structure everything. Play is their superpower. Trust what you see: fairness, compassion, and problem-solving are already there. Want to support play? Slow down, observe, and be amazed. Make sure to check out the YouTube video where Deb and Rusty discuss pictures of toddler play and playscapes from Deb's program over the years: youtube.com/watch?v=O2BG239oqYs Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 38m 03s | ||||||
| 7/22/25 | Ep 11 | Why Children Play—and What Adults Have Forgotten: Peter Gray on the Instinct to Play | Play is not just fun—it’s essential. It’s how children explore, create, stumble, and soar. It’s how they learn to be brave, solve problems, and build their world. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, we dig into the deep roots of play and why letting kids run wild (in a good way!) may be the most important thing we do for their growing brains. Rusty is joined by Dr. Peter Gray—play researcher, freedom fighter, and author of Free to Learn. Peter is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College, but he speaks fluent playground. He talks about what real play looks like, why it’s fading from childhood, and how that’s affecting kids everywhere. Spoiler: play isn’t optional. It’s nature’s secret weapon. Top three takeaways from part one with Peter Gray: True play is self-directed, open-ended, and full of joy—no adult agendas allowed. Kids need independent play more than ever, especially in our over-scheduled, screen-heavy world. Want happier, more resilient kids? Let them climb, dig, imagine, and roam—play is the path to well-being. Come back for part 2 with Peter Gray on an upcoming episode of the Play Nature Podcast! Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 47m 10s | ||||||
| 7/8/25 | Ep 10 | Seasons of Play with Rusty: 5 Tips for SUMMER Outdoor Fun | Ready to splash, dig, and grow your way through summer? What if a simple water fight could bring more joy than screen time? And who says adults don’t need nature-play too? In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler with his feet in the creek, shares five favorite ways to get outside and feel the season. Think water play, plant love, melting ice, and loose parts. These aren't just kids' ideas—they’re for the whole family (yes, grown-ups included). There’s even a surprise bonus tip for the truly wild-hearted. So gather your buckets, your sticks, and your curiosity. Whether you're growing basil or just growing memories, this episode will inspire you to turn off the screens and turn up the wonder. Dirt optional, joy guaranteed. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 19m 41s | ||||||
| 6/24/25 | Ep 9 | Field of Dreams: Building Wild Childhoods in Scotland with Cameron Sprague | “We have really strong relationships with our children and our families, and that's what allows the adventures to come.” --Cameron Sprauge, Head of Nurseries-Stramash Social Enterprise What if the secret to raising resilient, creative, confident kids was… play? Real play. Outdoors. With sticks, mud, and a whole lot of autonomy. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast host Rusty Keeler and his guest get curious about how wild play spaces help children build skills for life—and why a scraped knee might just be part of the plan. Meet Cameron Sprague: nature play champion, outdoor educator, and all-around muddy-booted legend. From the forests of Scotland to the joyful chaos of Stramash Outdoor Nurseries, Cameron shares stories from his journey into nature-based education. Together they Rusty and Cameron talk about planting trees, trusting children, building with pallets, embracing risk, and growing outdoor play from the ground up. They share visions for a world where children belong outside—rain or shine. Top 3 muddy gems from Episode 9: Risk is not the enemy—it's a teacher. Trees are more than shade—they’re scaffolding for imagination. Start small, think big—even a log and a dream can spark a movement. Catch the conversation where Cameron and I look at some pictures of his original "field of dreams" on my YouTube channel @rustykeeler: youtube.com/watch?v=n0UFbz8Or-4 Links and Resources: Balance and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom Follow Cameron @cameronsprague on Facebook & X | @Cameronsprague02 on IG Puddle Patter with Stramash Outdoor Nurseries on Spotify vimeo.com/stramashoutdoor ISO 4980:2023(en) Benefit-risk assessment for sports and recreational facilities, activities and equipment 20 Ways to Create Outdoor Play Environments for the Soul Rusty’s Nature Play Design Masterclass Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide | 59m 38s | ||||||
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