Living on the doorstep of Auckland's Waitakere Ranges, I am spoiled with an abundance of bush trails and natural sounds nearby.The health benefits of being around nature are well-known and a…
Brain on Nature shines brightest when revealing how injury can completely change family dynamics and self-image, prompting blank pages in a previously jam-packed social schedule - and now the kids…
We're honoured to have a beautiful piece of music composed and performed especially for Brain on Nature, by the multi-talented Jonathan Zenti from the Meat podcast. We met Jonathan at…
There’s an abundance of introspective shows that explore identity and emotions, but not a whole lot about the host actually immersing themselves in learning a task or conducting a personal…
Podcasting is, by nature, an intimate medium. We’re often listening to podcasts on our headphones, locked deep into a world of sound that is only limited by our imagination. But building trust with your audience and creating a level of intimacy that keeps listeners coming back requires particular skill. In 2015 journalist Sarah Allely had a bike accident that left her unable to read, write, watch TV or listen to podcasts. Going into nature helped her recover from a mild traumatic brain injury and she’s since created the narrative documentary podcast Brain on Nature, a very personal portrayal about her recovery process.
"There’s a rare intimacy to Allely’s narration, which shifts between an audio diary format (her inability to process new information meant she habitually recorded conversations after the accident) and academic…
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…
Beginning of an immersive series about the influence nature has on our brains. Host Sarah Allely had a serious bicycle accident that seemed to fundamental change what was going on…
The doctors are saying they want me to go back to work…gradually. But I’m not sure. I’ve lost my confidence. My rehab specialist says we won’t know until we try. He means I won’t actually recover properly until I go back to work. The neurons that fire together, wire together – he keeps saying. [audio src="https://media.acast.com/brain-on-nature/backonthebike/media.mp3"][/audio]
I’m depressed and anxious and the headaches are back. I have to dose myself up on nature again. I wouldn’t have considered heading into the bush alone before the accident. But now I’m known for turning up to school pick-ups in shorts and hiking boots. But why has no doctor told me to use nature? Or even encouraged me really? [audio src="https://media.acast.com/brain-on-nature/theressciencetothis/media.mp3"][/audio]
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