All Episodes
Episodes
Ep 19 | Schema Play Explained: Why Scooping, Dumping, and Mess-Making Matter with Heather Bernt-Santy
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...
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Ep 18 | Climb the Slide: Kisha Reid on How Risk, Play, and Wonder Shape Authentic Childhoods
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...
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Ep 17 | Everything is Broken (and That’s Okay!) with Teacher Tom Hobson
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...
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Ep 16 | Building a Junkyard Playground with Teacher Tom Hobson
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...
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Ep 15 | Seasons of Play with Rusty: Tips for FALL Outdoor Fun
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...
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Ep 14 | Why Children Need Nature Play More Than Ever with Angela Hanscom, OT, TimberNook Founder
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...
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Ep 13 | What’s Really Hurting Our Kids: Peter Gray on Why Phones Aren’t the Problem
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...
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Ep 12 | The Power of Toddler Play: Trusting Little Ones to Lead and Learn with Deb Curtis
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...
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Ep 11 | Why Children Play—and What Adults Have Forgotten: Peter Gray on the Instinct to Play
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...
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Ep 10 | Seasons of Play with Rusty: 5 Tips for SUMMER Outdoor Fun
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...
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Ep 9 | Field of Dreams: Building Wild Childhoods in Scotland with Cameron Sprague
“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...
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Ep 8 | Be the Loose Part: Phoebe Wyllyamz on Showing Up for Kids
“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...
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