Wildheart

The Wild Academy
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated twice weekly

A podcast for those who seek the wild within, hosted by Maddy Winterbrook and Eleanor Cheetham, founders of The Wild Academy and authors of The Rewilding Yearbook. Slightly feral around the edges, each conversation is guided by a seasonally-inspired word, and explores how rewilding language can help us rewild ourselves. Episodes released weekly on Wednesdays, with accompanying journal prompts for paid Substack subscribers. thewildacademy.substack.com

  1. 3 days ago

    Easing into autumn

    The podcast is back! In this first episode of Season 15, we welcome you back to The Wild Academy, share a bit about upcoming changes and offerings, and reflect on how it feels to ease into autumn after such a fiery and intense summer. What do we talk about in this episode? * Why we took a break, and why summer has been such a lot! * The shift from the fire element to the water element, and why this transition is so needed right now * September’s fresh start energy * What to expect from this season of the podcast * What’s coming up at The Wild Academy this autumn (and beyond) Get full access to The Seed at thewildacademy.substack.com/subscribe

    Easing into autumn

  2. 15 Apr

    Leap

    In this week’s episode of Wildheart we chat about the word ‘roam’ - and just like the word itself, we meander through topics and thoughts to explore how and why roaming is so connected to wildness and self exploration. Why have we chosen to talk about the word ‘roam’? * It aligns with the expansiveness of spring * Last week walked about imagination, and ‘roam’ continues this theme in the sense of thinking about freedom and possibility * We’ve just bid farewell to March, which in our Rewilding Wheel framework is a month guided by the archetype of the Wayfarer - a pilgrim, traveller, adventurer - and in this early part of April the Wayfarer’s curious and explorative energy is still lingering What do we talk about? * The implicit link between roaming and similar interpretations of the concept of wildness / being untamed. * Adopting a broad or wide perspective - considering the big picture, interconnection, holistic and ecosystemic thinking. * Why the idea of ‘being lost’ is treated as something so unwanted and uncomfortable by our society. * What roaming might mean in practical terms for you this spring. Get full access to The Seed at thewildacademy.substack.com/subscribe

    Leap

  3. 8 Apr

    Roam

    In this week’s episode of Wildheart we chat about the word ‘roam’ - and just like the word itself, we meander through topics and thoughts to explore how and why roaming is so connected to wildness and self exploration. We’d love to know after you’ve listened, what might it mean for you to roam right now? Let us know in the comments! Why have we chosen to talk about the word ‘roam’? * It aligns with the expansiveness of spring * Last week walked about imagination, and ‘roam’ continues this theme in the sense of thinking about freedom and possibility * We’ve just bid farewell to March, which in our Rewilding Wheel framework is a month guided by the archetype of the Wayfarer - a pilgrim, traveller, adventurer - and in this early part of April the Wayfarer’s curious and explorative energy is still lingering What do we talk about? * The implicit link between roaming and similar interpretations of the concept of wildness / being untamed. * Adopting a broad or wide perspective - considering the big picture, interconnection, holistic and ecosystemic thinking. * Why the idea of ‘being lost’ is treated as something so unwanted and uncomfortable by our society. * What roaming might mean in practical terms for you this spring. Get full access to The Seed at thewildacademy.substack.com/subscribe

    Roam

  4. 25 Mar

    Imagine

    In this week’s episode of Wildheart we chat about the word ‘imagine’ - what it means for us, what the word conjures up, and how we might connect with our imaginations as spring continues to unfurl. We’d love to know after you’ve listened, do you allow yourself to imagine? How do you connect to your imagination? Let us know in the comments! Why have we chosen to talk about the word ‘imagine’? * Imagination relates to the key qualities and themes of spring that we’ve been exploring this season - expansiveness, hope, potential and growth * To imagine may often mean to dream, or to picture / create an alternative reality in our minds, which very much connects to the untethered energy of the air element which corresponds to the season of spring What do we talk about? * How imagination is wound up with belief, hope, faith and trust * Why imagination helps us lean into expansive possibility, rather than staying contained in ‘shoulds’ * Why we believe that imagination = human potential and ‘magic’ * The connections between imagination, realism and creativity Get full access to The Seed at thewildacademy.substack.com/subscribe

    Imagine

  5. 18 Mar

    Balance

    In this week’s episode of Wildheart we chat about the elusive concept of balance - why it feels like something we should be seeking, why it’s actually so complex, and different approaches that might feel gentler and more fluid. It’s a great listen for this week especially, as the Spring Equinox - a moment of balance in the wild world - is coming up on Friday (20th). Why have we chosen to talk about the word ‘balance’? * It’s a key theme of the Spring Equinox, when night and day are balanced (equal in length) * Balance is also relevant to the opposition between seasonal (solar) and lunar energy at the moment * Chatting about balance feels like an important continuation of the themes we’ve been discussing so far this season. In this process of emerging and starting to take more action, how do we stay balanced and avoid burning out? What do we talk about? * What balance can mean in relation to growth in the wild world, and in ourselves * Why we might choose to ‘tilt’ rather than strive for perfect balance * How actively cultivating imbalance might lead to a greater sense of wellbeing * What balance looks and feels like in our lives right now Get full access to The Seed at thewildacademy.substack.com/subscribe

    Balance

  6. 11 Mar

    Breathe

    In this week’s episode of Wildheart we chat about the expansive qualities of breath, exploring how the act of breathing connects to many themes of spring: expansion, air, space, freedom and more. We also consider how it can feel when these are restricted or constricted, and what that means in relation to the process of rewilding the self. We’d love to know after you’ve listened, what does breath / breathing symbolise for you this season? Let us know in the comments! Why have we chosen to talk about the word ‘breathe’? * The element of spring is air, obviously very connected to the breath! * The tree of March on our Rewilding Wheel is the alder, which traditionally connects with the breath, music, voice etc. * Last week we talked about resistance and how emerging/re-emerging into the world after winter (or any kind of inward phase) can feel hard - or even how just being in the world right now can feel hard - so we thought that coming to the idea of breath next might be helpful in navigating this What do we talk about? * How breathing connects to themes of aliveness, spirit, energy, movement, space, expansion, freedom - but also themes of peace, stillness, rest, ease and groundedness * Being in the present, coming back to self - breath allowing us to hear the wild within (and feel it, quite literally - an element moving through us) * Breathing as a reminder that we’re living beings and need certain things to survive (just like plants!) * The history of why humans have been ‘holding our breath’ for centuries Get full access to The Seed at thewildacademy.substack.com/subscribe

    Breathe

  7. 4 Mar

    Resist

    In this week’s episode of Wildheart we explore the complexities of resistance: what it means for us, and how and what we might choose to resist. We also explore how resistance connects to beliefs, values and conditioning - the internal narratives we all hold that shape what we think and how we act. Why have we chosen to talk about the word ‘resist’? * So far this season we’ve talked about awakening and revealing - so as a continuation of that process of gradual emergence, we thought it would make sense to talk about how and why it can feel hard. * In recent conversations we’ve also been touching a little on the state of the world at the moment and how disheartening and overwhelming it can feel - so we also thought it might be helpful to consider the flip side of resistance (as a positive thing rather than a negative) in the sense of pushing back and standing our ground in the face of it all. What do we talk about? * What it means to go against the grain and walk a wilder pathway * Why pushing or fighting back is deeply connected to the process of rewilding * The need for courage when faced with choices that do not align with what we truly want * How we can often resist something that might actually be a good thing but feels hard, scary or overwhelming Get full access to The Seed at thewildacademy.substack.com/subscribe

    Resist

  8. 25 Feb

    Reveal

    In this week’s episode of Wildheart we explore what it means to reveal, both in a literal and a symbolic sense. Our conversation touches on the complexities of truth, trust and vulnerability in the process of revealing oneself, emphasising the cyclical nature of self-discovery and the importance of creating a safe space for sharing. We also discuss the idea of rewilding the self, digging deeper to uncover hidden truths, and the ongoing journey of personal growth and authenticity. We’d love to know after you’ve listened, what does revealing something mean or feel like for you? Let us know in the comments! Why have we chosen to talk about the word ‘reveal’? * Last time we talked about awakening, which we described as the process of something stirring beneath the surface. * It feels fitting to follow this by exploring what happens when things move from beneath the surface out into the open / into the light. * This early spring period is a time of powerful (and multiple) new beginnings - Imbolc, lunar new year, meteorological spring - all building up to the Spring Equinox in mid-March. It’s a time that invites curiosity, learning, exploration, creativity - all things that involve ‘revelation’ in the sense of uncovering fresh perspectives or inspiration, or seeking new ideas or experiences. What do we talk about? * The process of moving from hiding or secrecy to openness and clarity * Why visibility feels vulnerable, and how the process of revealing involves stripping away protective layers * Why trust and truth both impact how, why and when things are revealed * How rewilding and revealing are intertwined: stripping away layers of social conditioning / all the rules and ‘shoulds’ to get to the truth of who you really are Get full access to The Seed at thewildacademy.substack.com/subscribe

    Reveal
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A podcast for those who seek the wild within, hosted by Maddy Winterbrook and Eleanor Cheetham, founders of The Wild Academy and authors of The Rewilding Yearbook. Slightly feral around the edges, each conversation is guided by a seasonally-inspired word, and explores how rewilding language can help us rewild ourselves. Episodes released weekly on Wednesdays, with accompanying journal prompts for paid Substack subscribers. thewildacademy.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Wild Academy
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Wild Academy
  • Show Website
    Wildheart