Coaching Outdoors – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

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Coaching Outdoors Episode 86 - Frank Bolaji Irawo

Season 9 · Episode 7

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 • Duration 01:15:13

"Poetry isn't about perfection, it's about presence, allowing words to flow from the heart without judgment or restriction." Frank Bolaji Irawo – The TransFLOWmation Coach, Poet, and Nature Connector

Frank Bolaji Irawo is a transformational coach, poet, and advocate for reconnecting with nature. With a rich blend of Nigerian and British cultural influences, Frank’s journey has shaped his unique approach to coaching, one that integrates deep self-reflection, creative expression, and an appreciation for the natural world.

Growing up in Nigeria, Frank experienced nature as an inseparable part of daily life. However, after moving to the UK, the structured urban landscape created a disconnect, one that went unnoticed until the pandemic forced him to slow down. This realisation deeply influenced his coaching philosophy, leading him to explore how presence and mindfulness can transform our relationship with ourselves and the world around us.

Through coaching and poetry, Frank helps individuals create space between themselves and their thoughts, enabling them to observe without judgment and reconnect with their inner wisdom. His unique approach blends coaching with poetry, using verse as a tool to bypass logic, spark emotional clarity, and create transformational insights.

Frank’s work has led him to various collaborations, including being Poet-in-Residence for Nature’s Blueprint, and an Expert Speaker at Coaching Outdoors Live at Henley Business School (June 19th – 20th, 2025), where he explores coaching in and with nature, using poetry to enhance awareness and presence. More recently Frank is working on a new collaboration with artist Hazel Thompson which they hope to reveal soon.

At the heart of Frank’s philosophy is the belief that we are enough as we are. His coaching, poetry, and nature-inspired wisdom invite people to slow down, observe, and reconnect helping them cultivate a deeper sense of fulfilment and purpose.

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Coaching Outdoors Episode 77 - Paola Fabbri

Season 8 · Episode 8

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 • Duration 58:14

"Eco-somatic painting is a way to create a dialogue between the body-nature outside and bringing everything on the canvas, and is really based on deep listening" Paola Fabbri, Eco-somatic Coach & Artist

Coach, facilitator, artist and former humanitarian and development consultant Paola invites her clients to rediscover their inner creative flare and express their authentic selves on canvas.

Paola shares her own artistic re-connection story after a gap since primary school, when in 2007 she awoke with a visceral urge to draw blue lines whilst working in Uganda. The impulse purchase of ‘Watercolours for Dummies’ whilst on holiday grew into a daily physical and embodied practice that brings freedom into her life. Fast forward to 2025 Paola brings an artistic flare to her 1-to-1 and group coaching that integrates eco-somatic and nature-based practices.

Our conversation flows from childhood memories in Italy with her grandmother; her creative gap from primary school to 2007 with rediscovery that grew into a physical and embodied connection with the canvas. She studied eco-somatic coaching through The Nature Academy under our former podcast guest Diana Tedoldi (check out episode 9). Her work illustrates the diversity and creative possibilities within the outdoor and nature-connected coaching world and how it’s possible to align your authentic self and interests.

Listen in to this episode to banish your childhood ‘art scars’; discover the freedom art can bring into your life and the power of metaphor with a butterfly, cow and Cedar tree. Paola shares the powerful balance between the process and product of art as her clients connect and create a meaningful anchor to take away; plus we touch on the practicalities of painting outdoors and professional influencers who’ve shaped her practice from beyond the coaching world.

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Alex

Coaching Outdoors Episode 76 - George Warren

Season 8 · Episode 7

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 • Duration 01:08:59

“We cannot rely just on scientists. We cannot rely on politicians to help with this climate crisis. The most valuable thing is spending time in nature, and finding a connection to mother nature, to the natural world, to the ecological and to the spiritual”

Coach, coach supervisor, podcaster, writer, runner, swimmer, husband and father George places the climate at the heart of his work and life. He places the climate crisis at the centre of his coaching, influenced by ‘dark nights of the soul’, based on the future trajectory that when his daughter reaches her eighties large swathes of humanity won’t exist. His coaching practice strays beyond neat process models to work with the unconscious and explore shadow emotions in depth. He invites his clients within the NGO, charity and scientific sectors to think BIG about their future with a pragmatic twist.

He shares insights on the emotional and evocative nature of ‘climate change’, touches on eco-anxiety where our relationship to climate change manifests within ourselves & the importance of reflective practice to seek answers within. George’s urgent call to action invites you to see through the pervasive socially constructed silence around climate change where it is a taboo to discuss openly; to express any grief, over-whelm, or anger that emerges and educate yourself.

This episode is resource-rich and signposts a plethora of ideas to satisfy your brain. Feel free to reach out to George to continue the conversation, follow his musings or learn about future learning opportunities…

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Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/

Coaching Outdoors Episode 75 - Phil Banfield

Season 8 · Episode 6

Tuesday, November 26, 2024 • Duration 01:08:09

“I would like everybody in their lives if they can, to enter the venture field. And the venture field is positive. It's expansive. It's very green. It's nature. It's probably where your potential can be unleashed, where it can be elevated”

Meet Phil Banfield; who founded VentureField® in 2008. Self-described worldwide roamer, thinker, reflector and deliverer of wisdom Phil steps back in time to share stories from his childhood in south-east London suburbia, his life-changing trip to Zimbabwe as a geology student, and early career in FMCG organisations.

From the summit of Snowdon and North Downs, Phil Banfield tells tales from the trails of his outdoor coaching work through the experiential programmes; ‘always outside’ coaching, ‘the journey’, ‘the mountain’ and ‘my mountain’ each with an unique approach.

Listen in to discover his life-long deep affinity for trees, the essential skill of navigation to locate oneself in the landscape and foster neurological connections, and gain an insight into his clients experiences – plus a library of useful resources!

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Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/

Coaching Outdoors Episode 74 - Jackee Holder

Season 8 · Episode 5

Tuesday, November 12, 2024 • Duration 01:01:34

“I think it is that thing for me about being in nature is. It's often where I feel I get really present with myself. It's where I can hear myself, where I can listen to myself, where I feel like I I put bits of myself back together again”

Jackee Holder joins us from the outskirts of London to share her passion for trees, tree mythology, nature, outdoor coaching and journalling.

Jackee is a coach, supervisor, prolific writer, inter-faith minister and podcaster.

Jackee shares insights into her outdoor coaching practice and finding nature in amongst the urban spaces of London. As well as her love for trees and how this profound connection has shaped her journey.

She has created a “Green Prescriptions Manifesto”, inviting people to think about where are the places in nature that energise them. Then take what they're noticing and what they're observing into journal writing, to explore their inner world, thoughts and feelings.

She has also created a number of very useful tools for outdoor coaching and shares her inspiration for designing these tools.

For example, “The inner and outer self-discovery card deck” with 49 questions, and around 8 different themes from seed to wisdom, to root, to growth, to nature, to bloom, which offer a different entry point into looking at a question or challenge.

And the “Writing with Fabulous Trees: Writing Map for Parks, Gardens and Green Spaces” which provides creative writing prompts to help deepen our connection with trees.

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Paul

Coaching Outdoors Episode 73 - Clemens Froelich

Season 8 · Episode 4

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 • Duration 53:48

“Being outdoors, simply allows me to be myself”

Clemens shares his early years of nature connection right through to memories of family connection to brothers, father, and of course the mountains and the small farms, sometimes drinking cow’s milk and playing in the hay.

Clemens shares his thoughts that while in the outdoors, either on his own or with others, somehow our normal set of rules are changing in a way, they are much more authentic and natural, it allows you to be there without filters, and that's what makes it so special.

This is an honest, authentic story about how difficult it can be to step away from the corporate world, which, yes, has its own challenges and yet Clemens experiments and tries things that 2 years ago he would have never considered. And suddenly, these things begin to evolve, and confidence grows and a new life identity begins.

Clemens brought his adventuring aspect from his early days into his outdoor coaching by taking people and groups on night hikes around Brussels. Weaving his coaching, facilitation and adventure into an identity that is only now recently starting to work its magic. Seeing what he wanted, what clients wanted and what skills he had and bringing it all together is a very interesting journey.

His book "Misogi Mindset: transforming lives, one adventure at a time" is a result of one of Clemens 160 kilometres hikes last year in Belgium. He wanted to write something which is quick and easy to digest, and ultimately inspires others to go out and do their own Misogi adventures - based on Japanese Samurai rituals from ancient times, which involve purification under icy waterfalls to sharpen the mind and strengthen the whole body for the difficulties ahead. Clemens goes on to explain how he has weaved the Misogi mindset into his coaching work and helps others to develop their own Misogi mindset.

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Alex

Coaching Outdoors Podcast Episode 72 - Giles Hutchins

Season 8 · Episode 3

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 • Duration 58:03

“I actually help them gain an experience of the interconnectedness of how nature works by working with trees and living systems around, explaining how electromagnetism, how forest bathing, aromatic compounds, how connection through sound, how the wood wide web works with Mycelia! All of that, it just opens them up” ~ Giles Hutchins, Coach & Author

Pioneering practitioner, executive coach, thought leader, author, keynote speaker and land guardian Giles joins us from sixty acres of ancient forest known as Springwood in Sussex. He tells tales from his formative years as a child through to his coaching client work that blends rigorous academic research with his search for his soul-craft. Time and time again the power of serendipity and trust emerge in our conversation from his transition within the mainstream corporate world to his current coaching career. His six published books on business, regeneration, nature, separation and leadership track this journey and offer an insight into the depths of his contemplation and self-reflection across the years.

This episode is packed with a multitude of theories and resources from regeneration, Theory ‘U’, adult development, identity, systems thinking, biomimicry, ego soul dynamic vertical development and more. Giles offers insights into his transformational work through client stories with organisations such as Vivobarefoot and beyond.

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Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/

Coaching Outdoors Episode 71 - Lisa Partridge

Season 8 · Episode 2

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 • Duration 01:00:09

“I was going to these networking events…I was turning up in rooms and it was all very structured, and I just hated it. I was getting really tired of it”

Lisa Partridge, founder of SIXCOMMS, joins us from the sunny island of Singapore where she has lived and worked for the last 15 years.

Lisa runs a regular walk and talk networking group, encouraging people to get outside, take a walk, have a chat and get creative discussing challenges and exchanging ideas.

Lisa explains the positive impact and benefits the walk and talk networking groups have on the people who attend. For example, how impending torrential rain formed a beautiful rainbow right at the end of a walk to perfectly frame a photograph. Or when one group member who arrived with a migraine felt so much better by the end of the walk.

Lisa also shares some insightful practical tips about running outdoor networking events, such as being aware of the weather, keeping hydrated, focusing on pace, being familiar with the route and knowing where the toilets are.

Lisa host her own podcast, the SIXCOMMS podcast, and she very willingly discusses what she has learnt and tips for starting your own podcast.

This episode has a real variety of insights and stories, hints and tips.

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Paul https://pebbleassociates.co.uk/team-member/paul-jefferies/

Coaching Outdoors Episode 70 - Tabi Jayne

Season 8 · Episode 1

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 • Duration 57:14

“What is your own nature practice? Because if you don't have your own relationship with nature and earth - how on earth are you even going to think about integrating into any aspects of your life?” ~ Tabi Jayne, Nature Trainer and Coach

Founding Director of Earthself, a community interest company Tabi Jayne joins Alex and Anna-Marie from her shed office on her allotment in Scotland for the first Coaching Outdoors Podcast conversation in series eight. Set against the back-drop of the local hills that influence her relationship with nature and Scotland she shares her stories and wisdom.

Our conversation is influenced by her encyclopaedic knowledge amassed over the last decade. She has tirelessly studied how to harness Earth’s intelligence to transform organisations and improve employee wellbeing, performance and productivity as well as enhance organisational sustainability and innovation. From biomimicry to the circular economy; systems thinking to transformation and beyond.

She dives into how she’s tweaked the International Coach Federation (ICF) definition of coaching to include Earth and nature, introduces a systemic lens on sustainable and resilient organisations, and openly discusses how her recent autism diagnosis has created a more authentic relationship with herself and how coaches need to understand neurodiversity within their coaching. She also raises some hard hitting questions for organisations (and us all!) to face up to about our relationship with nature.

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