A Life More Wild

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 Radical to 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 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 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.

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.

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 Joe Wilkinson to hike) but we’ll be out walking with some great guests soon.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.