The Realisation Festival Podcast

Mark Vernon

Welcome to the podcast of the Realisation Festival, which takes place every year at St Giles House, Wimborne, Dorset (http://realisationfestival.com).The podcast is hosted by Mark Vernon, in conversation with individuals who have attended the festival. The aim is to develop a sense of the various ways in which realising is done, as people offer reflections on ideas, experiences, books and activities.

  1. Sep 21

    Realisation 2026 at Do Radio: Benedict Pollard learns from oaks and Nikki Trott from the uncertainty of profound change

    This is an episode of Do Radio Series, Where To Next?, hosted by Dan Kieran. Dan came to Realisation 2025 and, for this episode, spoke with Charles Foster, one of our speakers. Dan writes: “I’m thrilled to say that this year I attended again and went to another workshop with Benedict and this time I asked him to wear a microphone so you could listen in. He tells us about his business Mighty Fine Oaks, training to be a Samurai and gives the most astonishing explanation I have ever heard for why you sometimes find two oak trees seemingly growing from the same place. This has haunted me since hearing about it. I also had the astonishingly good fortune to meet Nikki Trott who I had not come across before the festival. I now feel like I was ‘supposed’ to meet her in the way that will be familiar to regular listeners to the show. Mark Vernon introduced us and we sat down for a conversation that begins with me explaining my journey to make sense of what it means to live before I die. The chemistry that then appears between us as Nikki recounts her own journey was a joy to behold in real time. Nikki had her own introduction into what in the series we have been describing as Carl Jung’s Second Adulthood in her late twenties and has been exploring and luxuriating in it ever since.” Find Dan's Substack, The Weirdo’s Journey, for more.

  2. Sep 21

    Realisation 2026 at Do Radio: Charles Foster and the edges of the world

    This is an episode of Do Radio Series, Where To Next?, hosted by Dan Kieran. Dan came to Realisation 2025 and, for this episode, spoke with Charles Foster, one of our speakers. Dan writes: “Charles is a very modest man and seems genuinely baffled as to why anyone would find his work illuminating, but I have found it to be astonishingly so. And it’s also utterly re-enchanting at the same time. As though the world he describes was always on the tip of your tongue and he summons it out of you while you are in his company. I hope you enjoy the discussion where, as well as these two books I just mentioned, we also talk about his latest excellent work  The Edges of The World.” Find Dan's Substack, The Weirdo’s Journey, for more.

  3. Sep 21

    Realisation 2026 at Do Radio: Indra Adnan precipitates explorations and realisations

    This is an episode of Do Radio Series, Where To Next?, hosted by Dan Kieran. Dan came to Realisation 2025 and, for this episode, spoke with Indra Adnan, festival advisor and speaker. Dan writes: “My experiences at the Realisation Festival have been life changing and profound. The RF is the real deal and I urge you to look it up if you relate to any of the episodes in the series. But even by the standards of the wonderful conversations I have had so far this one was exceptional. I think it’s because what I intended to be an interview with Indra about her life and work became an exploration of what I’m doing with these episodes and how they fit in with the changes many of us wish to see in the world as a result of the meta-crisis we all face.  Our chat then evolved into a kind of therapy session for me that ended with me having a genuinely life changing realisation about the journey I am on, if you’ll excuse the pun.” Find Dan's Substack, The Weirdo’s Journey, for more. Episode is Live Published: Sep. 21, 2026 @ 5PM Edit Automatic Transcriptions Reach more listeners on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Google Search Upgrade your plan Add a Transcript Add Chapter Markers Create a Visual Soundbite Mid-Roll Placements Share Link to Episode Direct Link to Audio Embed Audio Player What's New Platform Stats Refer a Friend About My experiences at the RF have been life changing and profound. The RF is the real deal and I urge you to look it up if you relate to any of the episodes in the series. But even by the standards of the wonderful conversations I have had so far this one was exceptional. I think it’s because what I intended to be an interview with Indra about her life and work became an exploration of what I’m doing with these episodes and how they fit in with the changes many of us wish to see in the world as a result of the meta-crisis we all face.  Our chat then evolved into a kind of therapy session for me that ended with me having a genuinely life changing realisation about the journey I am on, if you’ll excuse the pun.

  4. Sep 21

    Realisation 2026 at Do Radio: Sarah Corbett changes the world one stitch at a time

    This is an episode of Do Radio Series, Where To Next?, hosted by Dan Kieran. Dan came to Realisation 2025 and, for this episode, spoke with Sarah Corbett, one of our speakers. Dan writes: “This is such a beautiful interview. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so relaxed speaking to anyone and Sarah said afterwards it was unlike any interview she has ever done before.  Sarah’s work is changing the world. But it doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people who believe in her support her through her patreon.  Find out more about her work and support Sarah at:  www.craftivist-collective.com and join me by becoming one of her monthly patrons at www.gentleprotest.com”. Find Dan's Substack, The Weirdo’s Journey, for more.

  5. Jun 10

    Realisation 2025 at Do Radio: Roc Sandford and Sarah Wilson

    This is the fourth episode of Do Radio Series, Where To Next?, hosted by Dan Kieran. Dan came to Realisation 2025 and, for this episode, spoke with Roc Sandford and Sarah Wilson, two of our speakers. Dan writes: "This is an incredible event that takes place over three days at St Giles House, the home of the Earl of Shaftesbury. I was thrilled first to meet Roc, who lives off-grid on the island of Gometra off the coast of Mull, and then Sarah Wilson, the former editor of Cosmoplitan and presenter of Masterchef in Australia who writes the extraordinarily successful Substack, This is Precious." Find Dan's Substack, Following The Stag, for more.

  6. Jun 1

    Craftivism and gentle protest. A conversation with Sarah Corbett

    Handicrafts, including knitting, sewing, cross-stitching, as a form of activism? Speaking with Mark Vernon, Sarah explains how this quiet, multi-sensory, and mindful approach to pressing matters helps gather thoughts and process feelings.  She will be speaking and offering a workshop at the Realisation Festival 2026. Arising from her own story and activist work, Sarah also discusses the crucial important of a space for inner reflection and compassionate conversation. Craftivism offers a form that is useful tool to protest without fuelling polarisation or burnout.  What campaigns and cases has it impacted? How might it extend activism? Might this be an activism for the non-activist, as well?   For more on craftivism see https://www.craftivist-collective.com/ For more on the Realisation Festival 2026 see https://realisationfestival.com/

  7. May 25

    Local myths transform lives and how they do it. A conversation with Kim Willis

    There is another world that is also here and it can empower people in times of trouble. Kim Willis tells Mark Vernon that she stepped outside, bringing her expertise in systems thinking and the value of stories, to discover resources in England, Wales and Scotland that modern culture often overlooks.  She describes her discoveries and their impact in her new book, "No Fair Maidens", and will bring that energy to the Realisation Festival 2026. What difference can an imaginative encounter with enchantment bring? How do stories that are close to us meet us and empower us? Why do they much matter in a time when people are searching for positive ways of living? There are living myths waiting for our return to them! For more on Kim’s book and work see - https://www.kim-willis.com/ For more on the Realisation Festival, including tickets, see - https://realisationfestival.com/

  8. May 13

    How Business Can Be Sacred. And Why. Nikki Trott at Realisation 2026

    Can businesses today become a source of healing and regeneration? What shifts are required in our appreciation of money and wealth to make commercial organisations into living systems in the service of life? What inner work is required, both by leaders and society as a whole, to make this transition?  Speaker, transformation coach and thought leader, Nikki Trott, talking with Mark Vernon, explores some of the themes she will bring to Realisation 2026. Her book is Sacred Business. Find out more here - https://www.nikkitrott.com/ For more on the Realisation Festival - https://realisationfestival.com/

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About

Welcome to the podcast of the Realisation Festival, which takes place every year at St Giles House, Wimborne, Dorset (http://realisationfestival.com).The podcast is hosted by Mark Vernon, in conversation with individuals who have attended the festival. The aim is to develop a sense of the various ways in which realising is done, as people offer reflections on ideas, experiences, books and activities.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Vernon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Realisation Festival Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Realisation Festival Podcast

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