Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Play Nature Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 1 | Welcome to the Play Nature Podcast | 04 Mar 2025 | 00:25:42 | |
In the first episode of the Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler shares his mission of connecting children with nature through outdoor play and natural playscapes.
In a world where children are indoors and on screens more than ever, Rusty’s encouraging words that “it doesn’t take huge things to make a huge difference” make creating meaningful outdoor experiences feel attainable. As a seasoned playscape designer, Rusty discusses the importance of free play, risky play, and natural experiences in fostering creativity and resilience in children. This episode lays the foundation for future conversations about practical design ideas, inspiring stories, and the philosophy of play. Join Rusty as he invites parents, educators, and designers to rethink childhood and prioritize nature in kids' lives. Get ready to be inspired and start transforming play—one outdoor play experience at a time! Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Play Nature Podcast Trailer | 08 Jan 2025 | 00:02:58 | |
Welcome to the Play Nature Podcast! Hosted by Rusty Keeler, this is your guide for supporting outdoor play, protecting childhood, and letting kids be kids. Join Rusty to uncover the wonders of outdoor play and learn what tools you already have to create joyful, natural play experiences for all seasons, all weather, and all children. Let’s make the world a better place by saying “Yes!” to play. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 2 | Who the Heck is Rusty Keeler?! | 18 Mar 2025 | 00:26:09 | |
Get ready to get to know the one and only Rusty Keeler—podcast host, playground designer, and lover of all things play and nature! Rusty’s not just about swings and slides; he’s on a mission to bring kids closer to the great outdoors. From his early days in industrial design to becoming a champion for natural play spaces, Rusty’s journey is packed with passion, creativity, and a whole lot of dirt (the good kind!). As you get to know Rusty in this episode, he takes listeners on a whirlwind tour of playgrounds around the world! He’s seen it all—lush green spaces, buzzing bees, and kids laughing their way through nature-filled fun. He shares why play is universal, why nature is the best playground of all, and how we can make outdoor spaces both safe and adventurous. Feeling inspired? That’s exactly what Rusty hopes for! He’s here to encourage YOU: parents, educators, and communities to rethink play spaces and embrace the beauty of natural environments. So grab a cup of coffee (or step outside for a breath of fresh air!), and let’s dive into the magic of outdoor play! **Stick around to the end of the episode to hear Rusty answer listener questions! He’s covering bees (Spoiler alert: Kids and bees can totally coexist!), grass vs. turf, and tools for your mud kitchen. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 5 | Risky Play | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:31:53 | |
Get ready to tumble, climb, and maybe even take a little leap! In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty talks all about risky play. What is it? Why does it matter? And how can a scraped knee actually be a win? Rusty introduces the six types of risky play and explores our role as adults in letting it happen organically and free of hazards. He leads us to balance freedom with safety and find the line between letting go and stepping in. Rusty includes real-life examples and thoughtful insights to help us see how risky play builds resilience, sharpens decision-making, and boosts confidence—without tossing caution completely to the wind. Stay tuned through the end to hear listener questions centered around Risky Play. Rusty tackles the tricky topic of setting boundaries, knowing when to say no. And he answers a question about how to chat with licensing bodies who might raise an eyebrow at all this free-range fun. Bottom line? Kids need room to roam, and it’s up to us grownups to create that space—safely, smartly, and with a whole lot of heart. Resources Mentioned: 10 Ways to Support Risky Play FREE Download Risky Play Roundtable Online Course 10% off Discount Code for Play Nature Podcast Listeners! [Use code: PLAYNATUREPOD]
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 4 | What is Play? | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:40:53 | |
Play is serious business! In this episode, Rusty Keeler takes us on a delightful stroll to explore why play matters so much for kids. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty explains the ultimate question, what is play? He talks all about how play should be wild, wonderful, and a little muddy. No instructions needed—just curiosity, imagination, and maybe a hot bowl of “soup” from the mud kitchen. Rusty shares thoughts on how play is freely chosen, personally directed, and fueled by that irresistible spark of joy. He talks about why it’s crucial for kids of all ages to experience both unstructured play and a little bit of chaos. Forget the rigid academic expectations—turns out, digging in the dirt and building forts might just be what lays the groundwork for future learning. Stay tuned to the end to hear listener questions answered. Today’s questions cover hill slides and tree cookies. This episode is your gentle reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do for kids is stand back and let them play. Listen, share, and play on! Are you enjoying the Play Nature Podcast with Rusty Keeler? Help others find the simple answer of play by rating, reviewing, and sharing an episode with a fellow parent, educator, or lover of mud puddles. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 3 | Natural Playscapes | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:38:02 | |
Want to ditch the plastic jungle gyms and bring a little wild back to playtime? Good news--it’s easier than you think! In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler shares his passion for natural playscapes — think trees to climb, logs to balance on, and mud to squish. It’s all about giving kids the freedom to explore, take risks, and spark their imaginations. Rusty describes the magic of nature play, risky play, and loose parts play. He’s got tips on how to design spaces that celebrate your local environment, whether that’s a backyard adventure zone or a school playground makeover. He even gives tips for safety concerns and licensing hurdles. Ready to roll up your sleeves? Rusty’s got easy projects to try, from planting a tree to building a garden bed. So, grab the kiddos, head outside, and start creating a space where nature and play go hand in hand. Why? Because the best playgrounds are the ones Mother Nature designed. Rusty’s motto is Dream big. Start small. Never stop. Share this episode with someone else that has a backyard waiting to be adventure-fied. At the end of this episode Rusty answers questions about making natural playscapes in the desert, how to store all those loose parts, and what you could say a licensor about pea gravel. Don’t miss it! Links: 20 Ways to Create Outdoor Play Environments for the Soul Rusty’s Nature Play Design Masterclass 10% off Discount Code for Play Nature Podcast Listeners! [Use code: PLAYNATUREPOD] Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 9 | Field of Dreams: Building Wild Childhoods in Scotland with Cameron Sprague | 24 Jun 2025 | 00:59:38 | |
“We have really strong relationships with our children and our families, and that's what allows the adventures to come.” --Cameron Sprauge, Head of Nurseries-Stramash Social Enterprise What if the secret to raising resilient, creative, confident kids was… play? Real play. Outdoors. With sticks, mud, and a whole lot of autonomy. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast host Rusty Keeler and his guest get curious about how wild play spaces help children build skills for life—and why a scraped knee might just be part of the plan. Meet Cameron Sprague: nature play champion, outdoor educator, and all-around muddy-booted legend. From the forests of Scotland to the joyful chaos of Stramash Outdoor Nurseries, Cameron shares stories from his journey into nature-based education. Together they Rusty and Cameron talk about planting trees, trusting children, building with pallets, embracing risk, and growing outdoor play from the ground up. They share visions for a world where children belong outside—rain or shine. Top 3 muddy gems from Episode 9:
Catch the conversation where Cameron and I look at some pictures of his original "field of dreams" on my YouTube channel @rustykeeler: youtube.com/watch?v=n0UFbz8Or-4
Links and Resources: Balance and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom Follow Cameron @cameronsprague on Facebook & X | @Cameronsprague02 on IG Puddle Patter with Stramash Outdoor Nurseries on Spotify ISO 4980:2023(en) Benefit-risk assessment for sports and recreational facilities, activities and equipment
20 Ways to Create Outdoor Play Environments for the Soul Rusty’s Nature Play Design Masterclass
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
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| Ep 8 | Be the Loose Part: Phoebe Wyllyamz on Showing Up for Kids | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:46:32 | |
“Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is step back and trust that children know exactly what they’re doing.” --Phoebe Wyllyamz, Playworker What if someone told you the best way to build life skills isn’t through flashcards or structured schedules—but through play? Real, messy, child-led, joyful play. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler introduces us to Phoebe Wyllyamz––a play work advocate, early childhood educator, and all-around childhood champion from the Catskills of New York. Together they explore playwork, risky play, children’s rights, farts, freedom, and why the best grownups in play spaces don’t manage––they listen. It’s time to trust kids with autonomy and a little bit of risk to help them grow into confident, resilient humans. Doesn’t that sound magical? It kind of is. Phoebe brings years of experience from Woodland Playhouse and shares insights from her upcoming book, An Invitation to Play. She’s here to remind us that kids don’t need us to micromanage their play. They need us to trust them. Top 3 Takeaways from Episode 8:
Resources Mentioned: Sword battle at Phoebe’s Play Pod video Follow Phoebe @playphoebe
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 7 | Dream Big, Start Small, Never Stop! | 27 May 2025 | 00:24:17 | |
This episode of Play Nature Podcast is bringing Rusty’s motto “Dream Big, Start Small, Never Stop” to life. Rusty is once again out in nature––with birds chirping and leaves crunching, we dive into how his mantra can guide not just life choices, but the design of amazing outdoor play spaces too. You’ll hear stories from the field—both personal and professional—as we explore what it really means to start small. Think: tiny hills, cozy sand pits, and simple additions that spark BIG joy. It's all about planning with heart, taking the first (sometimes muddy) step, and sticking with it—even when the weeds grow faster than the dreams. If your dreams involve plotting a backyard makeover or dreaming of a community wonderland, you’ll find tools, tips, and a whole lot of encouragement to get started. Let’s play! Resources Mentioned: 20 Ways to Create Outdoor Play Environments for the Soul FREE Download Nature Play Design Masterclass 10% off Discount Code for Play Nature Podcast Listeners! [Use code: PLAYNATUREPOD]
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 6 | Outdoor Loose Parts | 13 May 2025 | 00:27:31 | |
Get ready to dive into the wild and wonderful world of loose parts! Loose parts include the simplest stuff––think hula hoops to plastic dinos, boards to bottle caps. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler takes us outside and into the magic of child-led creativity. Rusty shows us how all the stuff thats just laying around can spark the biggest adventures. Rusty includes his “a-ha” moment about loose parts and explains how loose parts boost everything from wiggly muscles to big imaginations. We're talking brain growth, body movement, teamwork, and feelings—all powered by a pile of "junk" (aka treasure). It’s development disguised as fun! What will it cost to incorporate loose parts? Almost nothing! Rusty shares smart, budget-friendly tips to gather loose parts without spending a dime. Plus, stay tuned to the end to hear answers to real listener questions like “Where do I start?” and “Is this gonna break the bank?” Resources Mentioned:FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide 10% off Discount Code for Play Nature Podcast Listeners! [Use code: PLAYNATUREPOD] Theory of Loose Parts by Simon Nicholson Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 12 | The Power of Toddler Play: Trusting Little Ones to Lead and Learn with Deb Curtis | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:38:03 | |
Play is serious stuff. It’s how kids make sense of the world, grow their brains, build friendships, and show us their natural brilliance. When we step back and let play lead, magic happens. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, we’re celebrating the joy, wisdom, and wildness of children’s play, just as it is. Host Rusty Keeler sits down with Deb Curtis, a longtime champion of childhood and co-author of The Art of Awareness. With stories straight from the classroom and a heart full of curiosity, Deb reminds us that children are already wired for empathy, fairness, and deep learning—no adult scripts required. Here are three big takeaways from the conversation with Deb:
Make sure to check out the YouTube video where Deb and Rusty discuss pictures of toddler play and playscapes from Deb's program over the years: youtube.com/watch?v=O2BG239oqYs Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 11 | Why Children Play—and What Adults Have Forgotten: Peter Gray on the Instinct to Play | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:47:10 | |
Play is not just fun—it’s essential. It’s how children explore, create, stumble, and soar. It’s how they learn to be brave, solve problems, and build their world. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, we dig into the deep roots of play and why letting kids run wild (in a good way!) may be the most important thing we do for their growing brains. Rusty is joined by Dr. Peter Gray—play researcher, freedom fighter, and author of Free to Learn. Peter is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College, but he speaks fluent playground. He talks about what real play looks like, why it’s fading from childhood, and how that’s affecting kids everywhere. Spoiler: play isn’t optional. It’s nature’s secret weapon. Top three takeaways from part one with Peter Gray:
Come back for part 2 with Peter Gray on an upcoming episode of the Play Nature Podcast! Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 10 | Seasons of Play with Rusty: 5 Tips for SUMMER Outdoor Fun | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:19:41 | |
Ready to splash, dig, and grow your way through summer? What if a simple water fight could bring more joy than screen time? And who says adults don’t need nature-play too? In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler with his feet in the creek, shares five favorite ways to get outside and feel the season. Think water play, plant love, melting ice, and loose parts. These aren't just kids' ideas—they’re for the whole family (yes, grown-ups included). There’s even a surprise bonus tip for the truly wild-hearted. So gather your buckets, your sticks, and your curiosity. Whether you're growing basil or just growing memories, this episode will inspire you to turn off the screens and turn up the wonder. Dirt optional, joy guaranteed. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 13 | What’s Really Hurting Our Kids: Peter Gray on Why Phones Aren’t the Problem | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:35:10 | |
Play isn’t just the giggles and games—it’s a protective shield for growing hearts and minds. When kids lose play, they lose more than fun. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler goes deeper into why children are more anxious and less joyful, and what we can do to turn the tide. Rusty welcomes back Dr. Peter Gray, our favorite play professor and champion of childhood freedom. This time, they dig into what’s really behind the rise in kids’ anxiety and depression—and no, it’s not just the phones. Peter points to the pressure cooker of modern education, where rigid standards and endless testing are crowding out curiosity, movement, and joy. Top three takeaways for part 2 with Peter Gray
Watch Rusty and Peter talk about the playfulness of a Sudbury School on Rusty's Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrtiVT1JDMQ Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 17 | Everything is Broken (and That’s Okay!) with Teacher Tom Hobson | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:26:39 | |
Even if everything’s broken, that doesn’t mean the play is over! And that’s the beauty of it. It’s not destruction, it’s deep learning. When we let kids take things apart, we’re helping them put the world together in their own way. This episode of the Play Nature Podcast is the second half of Rusty’s conversation with Teacher Tom Hobson. Listeners will get immersed into the world of junkyard playgrounds, loose parts, and freedom-filled learning. Together Rusty and Tom explore how children learn by taking things apart, testing limits, and transforming “trash” into treasure. It’s a celebration of curiosity, connection, and creativity, the kind that grows from hands-on discovery and messy, marvelous play. Tom shares stories from his playground, a place full of wood scraps, traffic cones, trophies, and treasures. This is where kids explore, build, break, and begin again. He reminds us that every stick was once a branch, every rock once part of a mountain, and every loose part is an invitation to create. Top 3 Takeaways from part 2 with Teacher Tom:
So, say yes to the broken, the wobbly, the weathered, and the wild. Gather your scraps and start your own version of a junkyard playground. Let the children move, stack, glue, and build their dreams. Because when we trust them with freedom, they find wonder in every why, and see beauty in the broken toys. Links: Teacher's Tom's FREE Resource for Play-Based Settings Connect with Tom @theteachertom on Facebook | on Instagram | on X | @thomsas-hobson on LinkedIn
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 16 | Building a Junkyard Playground with Teacher Tom Hobson | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:36:24 | |
Remember the feeling of running outside barefoot, pockets full of Band-Aids, heart full of imagination? That’s where this episode begins. Rusty sits down with the legendary “Teacher Tom” - Tom Hobson to talk about the golden age of play, when kids roamed free, built their own worlds, and learned through scraped knees, laughter, and discovery. Together they ask: What happens when adults step back? What do kids gain when they’re trusted to lead? How do we bring back the magic of self-directed play? In this first part of their joyful two-part conversation, Teacher Tom shares how he built a “junk playground”. It’s a wonderland of wood chips, sand hills, and hammers. It is where where children create, experiment, and cooperate. You’ll hear stories of turning asphalt into a woodland, adding workbenches and saws for preschoolers, and transforming a church yard into a living classroom full of freedom, risk, and delight. Top 3 Takeaways from part 1 with Teacher Tom:
Thanks for joining Rusty & Tom for this peek inside a co-op school where parents become play allies, not play police. This is part one of a two-episode journey into play, purpose, and the power of saying yes. Make sure to come back for part two! Links: Teacher's Tom's FREE Resource for Play-Based Settings Connect with Tom @theteachertom on Facebook | on Instagram | on X | @thomsas-hobson on LinkedIn
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
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| Ep 15 | Seasons of Play with Rusty: Tips for FALL Outdoor Fun | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:30:23 | |
The leaves are turning. The ducks are splashing. The creek runs low. Fall is here! Do you feel it in the air? Can you see it in the trees? Can you smell it in the crisp breeze? This episode of the Play Nature Podcast invites you to pause, marvel, and jump right into the season with joy and curiosity. Host Rusty Keeler takes us creek-side to share top tips for fall nature play: sit spots that slow us down, planting trees and bulbs for seasonal surprise, straw bales for forts and circles, and leaf piles that spark instant delight. Rusty is also inviting you all to participate in by National Play Day coming up on September 20th. He has a quick interview with Pat Rumbaugh who shares how her Play Day is a great example of Dreaming Big, but Starting Small. It’s a playful celebration of autumn’s abundance and a reminder to dream big, start small, and never stop. Links:
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Share this episode, rate and review the show, and email Rusty! playnaturepodcast@gmail.com | |||
| Ep 14 | Why Children Need Nature Play More Than Ever with Angela Hanscom, OT, TimberNook Founder | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:49:35 | |
We’re here to let you in on a little secret. Strong, confident kids don’t come from a classroom. They are created outdoors! Play is the work of childhood, the language of imagination, and the foundation for lifelong skills. Yet too many children spend their days sitting still. Why does this matter? Because movement, messy play, and nature aren’t just fun—they’re essential for healthy development. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty chats with Angela Hanscom—pediatric occupational therapist, founder of TimberNook, and author of Balanced and Barefoot. Angela is on a mission to restore real, unstructured play to kids’ lives. She shares why outdoor play is more than recreation—it’s therapy in disguise—and how TimberNook grew from a simple idea to a global movement. Top Takeaways from Angela Hanscom as she developed TimberNook:
Links: @timbernook_global on Instagram Barefoot and Balanced by Angela J. Hanscom The Real Reason Why Kids Fidget by Angela Hanscom (HuffPost article)
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 19 | Schema Play Explained: Why Scooping, Dumping, and Mess-Making Matter with Heather Bernt-Santy | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:48:30 | |
Have you ever watched a child scoop birdseed, roll in grass, or wrap Play-Doh around tiny toys and think, “What on earth are they doing?” In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler is chatting and laughing with Heather Bernt-Santy, THE Early Childhood Nerd, to find out why those moments are more than just mess and motion. They really are the heart of learning. They talk about curiosity, connection, and the magic of letting kids be wonderfully, gloriously human. Heather shares her journey from podcaster to author and dives into the world of schema play. Those fascinating patterns children repeat as they explore how the world works. From enclosing and enveloping to transporting and transforming, she shows how every scoop, splash, and spin builds brains, confidence, and joy. Adults just need to step back, trust, and watch the wonder unfold. In this conversation, you’ll hear about risky play and right-to-play advocacy, how teachers can shift from “doing” to “wondering,” and why grown-ups should trade control for curiosity. Top 3 Takeaways from The Early Childhood Nerd: Heather Bernt-Santy
Links: Facebook @thatearlychildhoodnerd Instagram @thatearlychildhoodnerd
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
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| Ep 18 | Climb the Slide: Kisha Reid on How Risk, Play, and Wonder Shape Authentic Childhoods | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:40:46 | |
The magic of an authentic childhood comes from the wonder of the experiences, not the walls they take place in. The best classrooms are fields, forests, and slides climbed from the “wrong” side. In this joyful chat on Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler and Kisha Reid are talking all about the spirit of authentic play. Where children lead, adults listen, and the magic of discovery unfolds in every muddy footprint. Kisha, founder of Discovery Natural Learning Center and Play, has spent 30 years helping children grow through connection, curiosity, and courage. From her home base on a 300-acre retreat center, she invites kids, and the adults watching them, to rediscover what childhood can be: full of risk, laughter, and endless “what ifs.” Together, she and Rusty explore how educators can nurture real play anywhere, whether on acres of open land or in a small patch of yard. Listeners will hear how Kisha builds trust through observation and relationship, how she works with licensing to defend risky play, and how true learning happens when we stop hovering and start believing. Top 3 Takeaways from Episode 18 with Kisha Reid:
Links: @discoverynaturallearningcenter on Facebook
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 20 | Free-Range Kids and the Magic of a Dirt Pile with Lenore Skenazy | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:46:57 | |
It’s time to trust kids more. Let them walk those four houses home, climb that tree, and spend an afternoon conquering a pile of dirt. Freedom, not fear, shapes childhood the childhood we hope to give our kids. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler is chatting with Free-Range Kids author and Let Grow president Lenore Skenazy to explore how we, as parents, got so anxious about safety, and what happens when we let kids reclaim their independence. Together, Rusty and Lenore laugh, reflect, and get fired up about what it means to be a “free-range kid” in today’s world. They are sharing why playtime has shrunk, how fear has grown, and the beauty of a child’s self-directed adventure. From bus stop debates to AirTag sneakers, this conversation takes on the cultural shift from trust to tracking, and how we can turn it around. You’ll hear about the Let Grow Experience (a simple way for schools and parents to nurture independence), the joy of multi-age play, and why every child deserves the chance to say, “I did it myself.” Top 3 Takeaways with Lenore Skenazy
Links: Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow by Lenore Skenazy letgrow.org/free-chapter (FREE chapter for Educators from Free-Range Kids) letgrow.org/resource/more-lenore-skenazy (connect with Lenore for speaking engagements)
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 22 | Place-Based Learning: Environment, Culture, and Food with Gemma Nicholl Medina | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:46:24 | |
Some conversations feel like sunshine. This one? Pure magic. Imagine laughter blowing through the trees, college students climbing branches, children splashing in streams, and stories woven into the wind. That’s the vibe of this episode of the Play Nature Podcast. Host Rusty Keeler is joined by the wonderful Gemma Nicholl Medina to explore the wild wonder of place-based learning and how nature, culture, and play connect like old friends. Big ideas. Small moments. Muddy hands. Happy hearts. Gemma shares how her college students discover something ancient and familiar when they play outside, observe children deeply, and reconnect with trees, soil, stories, and place. Gemma reminds us that nature play doesn't require a perfect forest, perfect tools, or perfect plans. All you need is curiosity, connection, and courage to say, “Let’s begin right here.” Top 3 Takeaways with Gemma:
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 21 | Building Deep Connections with Children: Robin Christie on Play, Failure, Curiosity, and Wonder | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:53:32 | |
Welcome to a world where play speaks louder than words. Where adults climb trees dressed as toucans, worms magically become two worms, and curiosity crackles like fairy lights in a cozy home-like space flooded with plants and laughter. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler and guest Robin Christie take us by the hand, skipping barefoot through ideas about playfulness, risk, resilience, and the joyful role of goofy, loving adults in children’s lives. Their conversation touches on early childhood teaching in New Zealand, playful adult culture, humor as a first connection, the power of failure, and the soulful art of building truly soft, warm, homey learning spaces. Top 3 Takeaways from Robin Christie:
Children need to see that adults are still learning too. That they are still curious, still surprised, still full of questions. That is how trust forms. That is how humans grow. That is how joy lives in learning… and in life Links:
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
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| Ep 37 | Nature-Based Learning Doesn’t Need a Forest with Dr. Rachel Larimore | 28 Jul 2026 | 01:02:15 | |
Nature is everywhere. In the trees. In the rain. In the crack in the sidewalk where one determined little plant is doing its thing. In the tree that looks like a butt. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty talks with Dr. Rachel Larimore about helping children build real relationships with the natural world, even when a school does not have a forest, a fancy outdoor classroom, or a flock of woodland creatures waiting at the gate. Rachel shares simple ways educators can bring more nature into the school day. Start inside with books, pictures, and materials that reflect the actual plants, animals, weather, and seasons outside the classroom window. Then step outdoors. Stay a little longer. Add loose parts. Eat snack outside. Notice the wind. Follow the puddles. Nature-based learning does not have to arrive all at once wearing expensive rain pants. Rachel and Rusty talk about slowing down, letting play stretch, making room for uncertainty, and trusting children to form their own relationships with the birds, bugs, trees, rainstorms, and wonderfully named “butt trees” in their lives. Top three takeaways from Rachel Larimore, PhD:
Links: Rachel's 90 second quiz: samarael.com/quiz
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 36 | Outdoor Learning, Risky Play, and Food Education with Louise Licznerski | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:44:23 | |
A school that smells like mud, woodsmoke, porridge, and possibility? Well…that sounds perfect! In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty chats with Louise Licznerski about outdoor learning in Scotland, where children run, wander, forage, climb, get muddy, and settle into the slow, steady rhythms of the earth. This conversation is all about what happens when children are trusted with space, time, nature, and real play. Louise shares how outdoor nurseries and school-age nature programs can help children feel calm, curious, capable, and connected. They talk about child-led play, mixed-age learning, emotional regulation, seasonal rhythms, muddy immune systems, and why the forest can sometimes teach better than fluorescent lights ever could. There are sticks as wands. Puddles as science labs. Chickens as bedtime teachers. And children finding their way back to themselves outside. Louise reminds us that children everywhere need to play, but each place has its own gifts. Start with the land around you. Work with nature, not against it. Dream big. Start small. And maybe, just maybe, go big or go home. Top three takeaways from Louise:
Links: httscottishoutdoorlearning.co.uk @littlebugsoutdoors on Facebook
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide Sign up for the Nature Play Academy updates: | |||
| Ep 27 | Getting Licensing and Risky Play to Fit Together | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:37:18 | |
Licensing. Not the most exciting topic. Not mud pies or tree climbing. But if you work in schools, parks, or early childhood programs, licensing is part of the landscape. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty is answering the question many educators ask: How do we keep nature play, loose parts, and risky play alive when licensing rules feel like a wall? The good news? The wall might actually be a doorway. Rusty explores the relationship between educators and licensors. At first it can feel tense. Someone arrives with a clipboard. They inspect logs, spoons, mud kitchens, and climbing trees. But licensors are there for a reason. Their job is to protect children. When we slow down and communicate the why behind nature play, we often discover we’re on the same team. The key is speaking their language. Know the rules. Show your thinking. Share the research. When educators confidently explain the benefits of loose parts and outdoor play, licensors begin to see the bigger picture. Top 3 Takeaways from Rusty
Buy Rusty’s Book: Adventures in Risky Play by Rusty Keeler Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 26 | How a Playworker Thinks About Play with Marc Armitage | 24 Feb 2026 | 01:16:15 | |
Play is everywhere. It slips through sidewalks and across continents. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler welcomes playworker, play advocate, and “friend of play” Marc Armitage. Marc is joining from Australia with stories that stretch from Yorkshire to the far corners of playgrounds and city streets. Together they wander through big questions. What is play? Who gets to decide? And what happens when we simply give children space and time to be? Marc invites us into the mindset of playwork which is less about outcomes, more about conditions. He shares how playwork is both a profession and an attitude, rooted in history yet alive in every moment a child drifts into flow. From adventure playgrounds to city design, from the “three frees” to the quiet power of standing back and observing, the conversation reminds us that children don’t need us to script play. They need us to notice it. This episode reminds us to trust the process, widen the lens, and remember that the spirit of play is already alive in every child, just waiting for room to roam. Play is universal. Play is ancient. Play is the thing children just do. Links: @marc.armitage.at.play on Facebook
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 25 | Junk Becomes Genius with Erik Herman, Founder of the Free Science Workshop | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:53:07 | |
What happens when kids are given time, space, and stuff? Real stuff. Junk. Tools. Magnets. Hot glue guns. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler is talking to Erik Herman to explore what play, tinkering, and science can look like when curiosity leads the way. Erik is a former classroom teacher who followed his passion out of formal education and into the wild, wonderful world of informal learning. He’s the force behind the Free Science Workshop and the Physics Bus. Both places where kids choose what to explore, how long to explore it, and who to explore it with. Rusty draws connections between Erik’s work and adventure playgrounds, community tinkering spaces, and our deeply human need to make things—together. This conversation wanders (in the best way) through barns full of junk. And through the difference between explaining and experiencing. Freedom matters, messes are meaningful, and innovation needs room to breathe. Erik and Rusty agree on letting physics speak for itself, and remembering that we are three-dimensional beings in a very hands-on world Links: www.communityscienceworkshops.org Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 24 | Let the Universe Teach: A Schema Play Aha Moment | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:35:05 | |
Winter. Ice cracking at the creek. Water freezing in buckets and balloons. Rusty is back outside, thinking out loud, when an aha arrives. One of those deep ones. The kind that doesn’t land all at once. The kind you keep unpacking for a lifetime. This episode of the Play Nature Podcast is all about that moment, a shift in how play is seen, felt, and trusted. Rusty reflects on being a lifelong believer in play. Free play. Messy play. Nature play. Loose parts. Mud kitchens. Risky moments. The real stuff. Yes, research helps. Yes, play checks the boxes for STEM, literacy, social-emotional growth. But those labels only skim the surface. Rusty reminds us that our role isn’t to interrupt or translate every moment, but to create the conditions, protect the space, and advocate fiercely for play in the adult world. You are not alone. We are believers in play. And we are in this together. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 23 | Seasons of Play with Rusty: Tips for WINTER Outdoor Fun | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:36:05 | |
Welcome to Season 2 of the Play Nature Podcast! A full circle around the sun. A new season of listening begins. Winter has arrived (at least in Ithaca, NY). Cold. Snow. Gray skies. And…PLAY. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler bundles up and steps into winter to give us the next installment of his Seasons of Play series, reminding us that this final season matters just as much as the others. From ice sculptures and colored snow to fairy huts, fires, and winter wandering, Rusty invites us to slow down and notice what winter offers. The angle of the sun. The crunch of snow. The quiet. The light we carry inside when the world feels gray. With simple stories and practical ideas, this episode reframes winter not as something to endure, but something to experience. Season 2 is just getting started and Rusty would love to hear from you! Email playnaturepodcast@gmail.com to share pictures of winter play and colorful snow, your favorite moment from Season 1, or a question you would like answered in an upcoming episode. Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 35 | Let’s Go Far…Together | 29 Jun 2026 | 00:46:56 | |
Rusty is back by the creek. The water is moving. The bugs are buzzing. A bald eagle flies by because apparently even the birds know when a podcast needs a dramatic moment. In this solo episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty reflects on his spring speaking tour where he brought the fire for nature play, risky play, loose parts, and the slow, sparkly magic of childhood. This episode is part road trip recap, part manifesto, part invitation. Rusty digs into the power of starting small, listening deeply, and building community with other play people who believe mud kitchens, willow huts, risky play, and outdoor adventures can change the world. He also gives a peek at the upcoming Nature Play Academy, a new community for folks who want to dream big, start small, and never stop. Woo woo woo woo. Top Three Takeaways:
Links: Sign up for Nature Play Academy updates: rusty-keeler.mykajabi.com/nature-play-academy-waitlist Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 34 | Adventure Walkers: Why Kids Need Creeks, Logs, Frogs, and Freedom | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:48:01 | |
What happens when a chemist wanders out of the lab and into the woods with children? Adventure, of course. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast Rusty talks with Jim McCullough, founder of Adventure Walkers about forest kindergarten, playwork, risky play, and the wild magic that happens when adults stop steering so much and start saying yes. Jim shares his story of how working in a preschool turned into taking walks with kids. Soon Jim was on a journey to start a forest kindergarten pilot in the woods behind a preschool, and later building Adventure Walkers, a roaming, creek-splashing, log-balancing, frog-finding laboratory for childhood. Jim and Rusty talk about risk, trust, reflection, and why “safe enough” may be better than trying to make childhood perfectly safe. Listeners will come away with a big invitation: start small, try a pilot, follow the children, and let the woods do some of the teaching. Top Three Takeaways from Jim McCullough:
Links: Instagram @adventurewalkersrva
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 33 | Mud, Microbes, and the Magic of Nature with Alex Barrable | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:49:19 | |
Nature is not just pretty. It is medicine. It is our teacher. It is mud, microbes, moss, noise-softening, nervous-system-settling magic. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler talks with researcher Alex Barrable about the deep and delightful ways humans connect with the natural world. Alex shares how becoming a parent brought her back to nature, how children help adults slow down to “Earth speed,” and why our bodies and brains are still wired for green, wild, living places. Alex and Rusty also explore our invisible microbial friends, the microbiome. Alex explains the benefits of what nature offers us, just by bein nature Children need time. Space. Soil. Loose parts. Wonder. They need to smell it, touch it, climb it, taste it, and know they belong to it. Because when children feel connected to the Earth, they are more likely to care for it too. Top Three Takeaways from Alex Barrable:
Links: Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 32 | Adam Bienenstock on School Forests, Soil Health, and the Future of Nature Play | 19 May 2026 | 01:04:09 | |
The best playgrounds are alive. Dirt is medicine. And schoolyards can, and should, grow a little forest where kids can climb, hide, breathe, wonder, and come back to themselves. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler talks with Adam Bienenstock about nature play, living soil, school forests, and why children need more than a break from screens. They need roots. Bugs. Trees. Mud. The good stuff. Adam and Rusty dig into the big, beautiful, messy connections between child development, gut microbiome, mental health, outdoor education, risky play, and regenerative landscapes. This conversation wanders from schoolyards to soil microbes to forests inside the fence. Adam shares why a single tree is nice, but a living forest system is better. More shade. More sensory play. More life. More chances for kids to build empathy, resilience, attention, and joy. The time is now to rebuild children’s connection to land. The time is now to start giving kids a daily dose of nature, not just an occasional field trip. So plant the trees. Add the shrubs. Feed the soil. Let the weeds do a little work. Dream big. Start small. Never stop. Top Three Takeaways from Adam Bienenstock
Links: @renaturefoundation Instagram | Facebook @bienenstocknaturalplaygrounds Instagram LinkedIn @bienenstock-playgrounds Facebook @BienenstockPlaygrounds
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
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| Ep 31 | My New Play Manifesto! Slowing Down in a Speeding Up World | 05 May 2026 | 00:39:12 | |
In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler takes us creekside on a warm spring day to think big. Big like gorges. Small like bugs. Slow like trees. This episode is a call to remember the mission. The mission to give children what they need most: time, freedom, nature, community, and real life under their feet. Rusty reflects on the strange, speedy blip of modern childhood. More screens. More stress. Less recess. Less mud. But instead of getting stuck in doom and gloom, he asks a better question: What if we are already building something new? Something rooted in play, place, seasons, risk, mess, imagination, and the deep human skills children grow through free play. Rusty’s NEW Play Manifesto is the mission to slow down and go deeper. He explores how nature play, place-based learning, community, and child-led exploration can help shape the future, even in a world racing toward more technology and AI. This is your hopeful reminder to stand strong in what we know in our bones: play matters, nature matters, and children find themselves when they have the space to play. Top three takeaways from Rusty’s time by the creek:
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 30 | Claude Stephens’ Nature Play Revolution | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:57:37 | |
Step outside. Feel the mud. Hear the birds. In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler sits down with Playcologist Claude Stephens to explore a simple but powerful idea: children are meant to play in nature. Not on perfectly polished playgrounds. Not inside neat boundaries. But in messy, wild, living places. The kind with sticks. And puddles. And possibility. Claude and Rusty imagine playgrounds that feel like ecosystems. Spaces where kids build, explore, get a little lost, and have a lot of freedom. Children truly don’t need more equipment. They need as much freedom as we can give them. Claude’s message is a hopeful path forward. Start small. One log. One stump. One muddy hole. Build connections between people. Between places. Between kids and the land beneath their feet. In small shifts, something beautiful grows: joy, confidence, and a deep love for the natural world. Top Takeaways from Claude Stephens:
Links: Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 29 | A Bus Tour Through Scotland: What Can We Learn from Stramash’s Outdoor Preschools? | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:48:35 | |
Spring rain. Mud everywhere. Kids smiling anyway. Let’s follow the weather! In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler invites us into a world where children climb, splash, wander, and belong. Short answer? It’s messy. And it’s magic. A bus. The Highlands. Outdoor preschools tucked into hills, meadows, and even swamps. Educators from around the world, LA to Lithuania. Everyone bundled up. Everyone is curious. We’re talking about Rusty’s Scotland Bus Tour! Rusty takes listeners through places where kids spend all day outside. We hear about willow tunnels. Climbing trees. Risky towers. Compost toilets. Yes, really. And underneath it all? A shared belief: nature is not extra. It’s essential. This episode is a reminder. Slow down. Step outside. Let kids get a little wild. Let them belong to a place. Let them test limits. Because the good stuff? It’s not perfect. It’s muddy. It’s real. And it sticks. You’ll leave thinking about your own space. Your own students. Your own next small step toward more nature, more play, more yes. Top Takeaways from Rusty’s recap of Scotland:
Links: Waitlist for 2027 Scotland Trip: bit.ly/BusTour2027Waitlist Play Nature Podcast Episode 9 with Cameron Sprauge balticstreetadventureplay.co.uk/home playscotland.org/schools-childcare/schools/opal Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||
| Ep 28 | Kristy DeGraaf on Nature Play, Outdoor Learning, and Advocacy | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:51:40 | |
This episode of the Play Nature Podcast feels like stepping into a backyard where something magical is always unfolding. Mud. Water. Sand. Stories. Host Rusty Keeler welcomes Kristy DeGraff to explore what happens when we trust children, follow curiosity, and let nature lead the way. It’s about more than play. It’s about belonging. It’s about building spaces where kids can dig deep, take risks, and feel at home in the world. Kristy brings a powerful blend of experience. Social worker. Educator. Mother. Advocate. She shares how her journey, from supporting families in crisis to designing a nature-rich childcare program, shaped the way she sees children and community. This conversation stretches beyond the backyard. Into systems. Into advocacy. Into the work of speaking up for children and families. Kristy reminds us that change doesn’t have to be big to matter. A phone call. A small shift. A single idea put into motion. It all counts. Just like in play, we start where we are. And we keep going. Top Takeaways from Kristy DeGraaf:
Links: Instagram: @kristy.degraaf Facebook: Kristy DeGraaf TikTok: @kristykae.childcarepro Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs | |||