Brain on Nature Podcast

A beautifully crafted piece of sound art that makes you hear the world differently

For Allely, making a nature podcast was also about questioning who misses out in the age of climate crisis. She wanted to remind people that nature should be protected, and not just for the benefit of those who could afford it.

Brain on Nature unfolds like a well-kept secret, revealing why nature feels like medicine in the modern world.

The beauty here is that so much of the story is illustrated with audio, rather than simply retold.

Allely’s keen and lively narration makes the podcast as entertaining as it is informative. I spoke with her to learn more about how the independent podcast came together, and the long journey of her recovery.

Among the more exciting developments has been the introduction of sound designers and musicians to narrative series, taking podcasting into the realms of sound art. Brain on Nature, from the Sydney-based producer Sarah Allely, elegantly charted her own recovery from a brain injury, taking us deep inside her head through field recordings and ambient sound.

By taking listeners on a journey that often reveals intimate conversations with doctors, friends and family members in relation to her recovery process, Allely’s podcast draws the listeners into a world of raw emotion.

I’m Sarah Allely and in 2015 a bicycle accident left me unable to read, write, watch TV or listen to podcasts. I discovered my path to recovery was through nature.

This narrative documentary series follows my quest to find out why the natural environment helped me recover from a mild traumatic brain injury.

I take listeners back to the morning everything in my life changed. I bring them on my tumultuous journey of recovery, replete with twists and setbacks.

With rich sound design, this podcast recreates the intensities of my experience. Loud cafes, bars, social gatherings, my kids – all were unbearable. But the sounds of nature had the opposite effect.

What’s the science behind my experience? Many academics acknowledge nature’s health benefits, and scientists are yet to pinpoint exactly what it is that heals.

This series returns to the forests and coastlines to immerse you in the sounds of nature that improved my focus and concentration, relieved my headaches and lifted my depression and anxiety.

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