S01:E18 Lucky or Good? Understanding Risk and the Science of Safety with Steve Smith

What would it take to move outdoor learning from an occasional experience to something every young person can access - regularly, progressively and with purpose? In this episode, Rob Carmichael sits down with Jo Barnett, CEO of the Institute for Outdoor Learning, to explore the people, structures and policies that make high-quality outdoor learning possible. Jo traces her journey from a free-range childhood in Norfolk and early climbing trips to twelve years leading High Borrans Outdoor Educa...

In this episode of The Outdoor Education Podcast, Rob is joined by Jeannette Stawski, founder of Leading Valiantly and author of The Outdoor Leader, Resilience, Integrity and Adventure. Jeannette brings a rich perspective shaped by guiding, teaching, wilderness medicine, university outdoor programmes, executive coaching, association leadership, and fifteen years as Executive Director of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education. Together, Rob and Jeannette explore what it really mea...

In this episode of The Outdoor Education Podcast, Rob sits down with Calum Wright, primary teacher, outdoor learning specialist, and founder of Fresh Air Teacher, for a thoughtful conversation about student agency, inclusion, and knowing learners well. At the heart of the episode is a key question, when does challenge help a student grow, and when does pushing beyond a comfort zone become unhelpful? Rob and Callum explore how good outdoor practice depends on relationships, trust, and careful ...

What if nature could help us better understand diversity, belonging, and human relationships? In this episode of the Outdoor Education Podcast, Rob is joined by Dan Kreisberg and Camille Simone Edwards, co-creators of Diversity Education in Nature (DEIN). Together, they explore how the natural world can serve as a powerful lens for teaching equity, empathy, and community. Dan and Camille share how simple outdoor experiences, can open the door to deeper conversations about identity, inclusion,...

What does real safety leadership look like in outdoor education and why can it sometimes feel like such an isolating role? In this episode of The Outdoor Education Podcast, Rob sits down with Stuart Slay, founder of Slay Risk, a safety leadership and risk advisory practice that works with schools, experiential programs, and outdoor organizations around the world. Stuart shares his journey from climbing gyms, ski patrol, and avalanche forecasting to becoming a leading voice in safety science a...