The Forest Educator with Ricardo Sierra | A Podcast for Revolutionary Conversations about Nature-Based Education

8
Wilderness #221

Welcome to the Forest Educator Podcast hosted by Ricardo Sierra. Join Ricardo as he engages in enlightening conversations with educators from across the globe who are revolutionizing nature-based education. Drawing on his 35 years of experience in wilderness education, Ricardo shares practical insights, tools, and best practices to inspire and support forest educators and camp staff worldwide. Tune in twice a week for interviews with passionate educators and skill spotlights that delve into the challenges and triumphs of the field.

Recent Episodes
  • Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: The Forest Educator's Secret Sauce
    Mar 6, 2025 – 44:10
  • Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: Working with Middle Schoolers
    Feb 27, 2025 – 36:12
  • Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: The Bonding Paradox
    Feb 20, 2025 – 54:58
  • Forest Educator Spotlight REPLAY: Finding Your Lane as a Forest Educator
    Jan 16, 2025 – 38:05
  • Episode 158 (REPLAY) - Forest Educator Spotlight: Doing Hard Things with Ricardo Sierra
    Jan 9, 2025 – 57:13
  • Episode 157 (REPLAY) - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Problem with Intangible Results
    Jan 2, 2025 – 01:04:37
  • Episode 156 - The Power of Science and Nature with Danny Rosenstein
    Dec 26, 2024 – 01:21:05
  • Episode 155 (REPLAY) - The Forest Educator Spotlight: Cold Training
    Dec 19, 2024 – 01:02:42
  • Episode 154 - The Gift of Magical Encounters with Animals with John Stokes
    Dec 12, 2024 – 01:05:56
  • Episode 153 - Awakening Imagination and Exploration at Trackers Earth: An Interview with Molly & Tony Deis
    Dec 5, 2024 – 01:15:04
  • Episode 152 - Adaptation, Strategic Changes and the Forest Education Endgame
    Nov 25, 2024 – 29:42
  • Episode 151 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Holding Space for Healing in Nature
    Nov 20, 2024 – 59:38
  • Episode 150 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Forest Educator Initiative
    Nov 14, 2024 – 01:00:33
  • Episode 149 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Strategies and Guidelines for Working with Adults in Nature
    Nov 11, 2024 – 01:02:38
  • Episode 148 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Navigating the Hard Days
    Nov 8, 2024 – 53:30
  • Episode 147 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Can Nature Education be Scaled to Reach 60 Million Children?
    Nov 4, 2024 – 51:00
  • Episode 146 - Forest Educator Spotlight: So You're Thinking of Becoming a Forest Educator...
    Oct 31, 2024 – 37:24
  • Deep Earth Initiations and Nature-Based Parenthood with Trista Haggerty
    Oct 28, 2024 – 58:46
  • Episode 145 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Essential Art of "Winging It"
    Oct 24, 2024 – 44:19
  • Episode 144 - Forest Entrepreneur Spotlight: "Should I use 'Fear' in my Nature Program Messaging?"
    Oct 21, 2024 – 39:40
  • Episode 143 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Why Modern Educators Struggle with Nature & Skills Content
    Oct 17, 2024 – 36:24
  • Episode 142 - Damage Report: The Impact of Hurricane Helene with Grant Adkisson
    Oct 14, 2024 – 01:12:06
  • Episode 141 - Adventures in PaleoEthnobotany and Evolution with Max Gordon
    Oct 10, 2024 – 44:15
  • Episode 140 - Lessons from Bears and Jaguars with John Stokes (Part Two)
    Oct 7, 2024 – 49:08
  • Episode 139 - Lessons from Bears and Jaguars with John Stokes (Part One)
    Oct 3, 2024 – 38:47
  • Episode 138 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Initiatory Power of Hurricane Helene
    Sep 30, 2024 – 55:34
  • Episode 137 - Forest Education Without a Forest with David Fisher
    Sep 26, 2024 – 01:05:36
  • Episode 136 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Ancestral Lessons in Nature Program Design
    Sep 23, 2024 – 45:57
  • Episode 135 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Invitation to Dream Bigger
    Sep 19, 2024 – 51:30
  • Episode 134 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Surprising Benefits of Hard Work
    Sep 16, 2024 – 47:37
  • Episode 133 - Tracking with Aboriginal Elders, Healing the World with John Stokes
    Sep 12, 2024 – 01:07:35
  • Episode 132 - Is the Recent Guardian Opinion-Article a 'Hit Piece' on Forest Schools? Understanding the Nature Media Narratives with Asa Hardy-Brownlie
    Sep 9, 2024 – 59:28
  • Episode 131 - Holistic Marketing Strategies with Elizabeth Clyde
    Sep 5, 2024 – 01:09:14
  • Episode 130 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Experiences of the Sacred and the Profane in Nature Education
    Sep 2, 2024 – 01:02:08
  • Episode 129 - Enhanced Mental Health and Healing through Ecopsychology with Linda Buzzell, MA, LMFT
    Aug 29, 2024 – 01:11:10
  • Episode 128 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Why Nature Education is Expensive (And What We Can Do About It).
    Aug 26, 2024 – 01:10:03
  • Episode 127 - Coming Home to the Earth in South Africa with Reuben Piet
    Aug 22, 2024 – 55:46
  • Episode 126 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Life, Passion and Legacy of Tom Brown, Jr.
    Aug 19, 2024 – 51:37
  • Episode 125 - The Power of Wild Medicinal Plants with Liz Neves
    Aug 15, 2024 – 42:31
  • Episode 124 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Leaning In To Your Bioregion
    Aug 15, 2024 – 36:13
  • Episode 123 - The Discovery Process at the Walden Project with Andy Webster
    Aug 8, 2024 – 01:03:16
  • Episode 122 - Forest Educator Spotlight: When Things Go Sideways
    Aug 5, 2024 – 49:46
  • Episode 121 - Adventures in Ethnobotany with Zak Baker
    Aug 1, 2024 – 01:10:56
  • Episode 120 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Power of Slowing Down
    Jul 29, 2024 – 51:21
  • Episode 119 - The Value of Soft Skills and Deep Land Connection in the Canadian Shield with Chris Gilmour
    Jul 25, 2024 – 55:40
  • Episode 118 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Survival Trek, 1986
    Jul 22, 2024 – 01:04:10
  • Episode 117 - Forest Educator Spotlight: The Value of Goals, Metrics and Evaluating Your Outcomes
    Jul 18, 2024 – 42:07
  • Episode 116 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Navigating the Inner Barriers of Visionary Work
    Jul 15, 2024 – 53:41
  • Episode 115 - The Visionary Work of with Monica Eastway, Eco-Geriontologist
    Jul 11, 2024 – 01:16:54
  • Episode 114 - Forest Educator Spotlight: Harnessing the Nature of Time
    Jul 8, 2024 – 50:45
Recent Reviews
  • eldog23
    A Much Needed Voice in Nature Education and All Connections
    Informative and entertaining! Ricardo does a phenomenal job with interviewing key people in the nature education industry. He encourages excellent dialogue that gives keen insight into what it’s like to be a part of this. He also shares stories from his personal experiences that will move you to laughs, tears, or inspirational self-reflection. Whether you’re a parent, participant, or actively working in Forest Education, you’ll appreciate the why Ricardo brings in this podcast.
  • dancingwiththeearth
    Love! Love! Love!
    I am not a forest educator, but a nature enthusiast and I absolutely love this podcast. It’s so upbeat, positive, thoughtful and informative. Ricardo comes off as such a kind, considerate person and I enjoy hearing his thoughts and opinions on the topics he shares. It’s my favorite podcast at the moment, cheers!
  • Amybeth1126
    I love Ricardo's shared stories-
    I'm a big fan of Ricardo and his podcast- it's refreshing to hear the authentic connection with nature that he has, and his desire to share that with each listener. Thank you for being you, Ricardo!
  • Tim in ME
    Great Advice From A Long-Time Industry Veteran
    Ricardo’s podcast is full of great advice for those in the outdoor industry, as well as for those considering a leap into it. He has decades of experience teaching and mentoring in the forest. Definitely worth a listen. I look forward to each episode.
  • Foxwalk Adventures
    Captivating and thought provoking!
    Ricardo is a captivating storyteller. I often feel like I’m sitting around the campfire while listening to this podcast. Given his decades of experience in the field of outdoor education, he brings a wealth of clearly articulated value, entertainment and thought provoking ideas. Keep up the good work Ric!
  • E Q-Dub
    I'm not a "forest educator" review - love this pod!!
    I’m not a “forest educator” but I enjoy engaging with the natural world. I know a little about tracking and bird language, I may nibble on a ‘wild’ edible while on a hike, and I’ll start a fire with a bow drill when camping, etc. - I don’t expect I’ll ever run an outdoor school but I will share what I know with family and friends. The interviews and Spotlight episodes on The Forest Educator Podcast help me to better appreciate what I know, help me identify what I don’t know, and offer guidance as to what I might need to learn or do a little differently to feel more at 'home' and a little safer whether I’m out on a hike or in my own backyard. Additionally, I found some of the lessons provided by Ricardo in his Spotlight episodes - such as “The Many Gifts of Rain,” “The Forest Entrepreneur,” or “The Contradictory Nuances of Nature Awareness” (to name just a few) - translate into my ‘everyday life.’ Guests interviewed on the pod generously share their passion and wisdom - I've gained 'life lessons' and other insights from pod guests too (as I write this, there are 40 episodes(!) up)! Best of all, the podcast may have even offered me a gentle nudge a few times to go outside. Ricardo is positive, uplifting, and smart – while also “keeping it real.” So much food for thought, so much to learn! Thank you for this podcast, Ricardo!
  • Bookmaven033
    Wonderful discussions!
    I’ve been so impressed with Ricardo and all the speakers. Great content and practical resources and steps that translate to working with students or ourselves. I look forward to the new episodes each week. Highly recommend.
  • Peter Kindfield
    Love the Broad Definition of Forest Educator
    I’ve only listened to the first episode and I’m already hooked. I love Ricardo’s presentation style and the inclusiveness of his definition of a forest educator!
  • sarah.heeter
    Love the stories!
    Ricardo is an incredible storyteller and such an awesome resource for outdoor educators. I’m a Girl Scout troop leader and have been a big fan of learning from him since we found each other last year. I only wish I had found him sooner! The Forest Educator initiative is such a cool project and I can’t wait to hear from so many more voices in this field through this podcast, too.
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