In this warm, reflective episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma unravel the porous boundary between work and rest for outdoor educators. From woodland weightlifting and YouTube speedruns to cold water swimming and secret tree friendships, the conversation explores how play, ritual, and recharge intersect across personal and professional lives. They discuss the struggle to truly "switch off" when passion and profession align, the hidden emotional labour of supporting children through social challenges, and the search for mindful escapes that aren’t just “more Forest School.”
The episode also explores neurodivergent perspectives on sensory overload and work-life balance, the power of immersive music in finding flow, and why crafting, camping, and solitude aren’t just hobbies—they’re essential tools for long-term sustainability in this field.
⏱ Chapter Timings:
00:00 – Stiff from the gym and thankful for handpan buyers
01:25 – Frequencies, resonance, and hugging trees
03:32 – Queen beech trees, boundaries, and deep empathy in play
08:37 – Beltane rituals and forest friendships
09:25 – Work-life bleed: when your hobbies become job content
10:01 – Gym strength as classroom metaphor
14:40 – YouTube speedrunning as mindful detachment
17:38 – Pond swimming, cold exposure, and somatic resets
20:38 – Ear defenders, music, and blocking out the world
26:52 – Forest School emotional labour and carrying “beef”
33:33 – Modern childhood vs. messy learning: honest reflections on success
🌲 Keywords: Forest School burnout, educator self-care, sensory overload, emotional labour, favourite trees, handpans, Beltane, resonance, cold water swimming, music for focus, neurodivergence, woodland play, flow state, speedrunning, work-life balance in outdoor education
🔖 Hashtags:
#ForestSchool #OutdoorLearning #WorkLifeBalance #EducatorBurnout #NatureConnection #TreeFriendship #ColdWaterSwimming #FlowState #ReflectivePractice #ForestSchoolPodcast #EmotionalLabour #MusicForFocus #SensoryReset #MindfulTeaching #NatureBasedCPD
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