In this episode of The Project ReWild Podcast, host Molle Dorst introduces listeners to the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing) — a practice so effective that it’s been adopted into Japan’s national healthcare system. Learn how this mindful immersion in the forest reduces stress, boosts immunity, and promotes wellbeing, and discover how you can try your own forest bath this week.

You’ll Learn

• What Shinrin Yoku is and how it began in Japan.

• Why doctors prescribe forest bathing as preventative healthcare.

• The science behind its benefits: lowered cortisol, improved blood pressure, and better sleep.

• How to begin your own forest bath practice.

Action StepTake your first forest bath: spend 10 minutes outdoors without headphones or distractions, moving slowly and engaging all your senses.

👉 Join the ReWild Community and share your experience: projectrewild.com/join

Welcome to th eProject: ReWild Podcast! In this episode, we explore the fascinating story of how the Japanese government transformed an ancient spiritual practice into a modern public health policy that now serves millions worldwide. Discover the cultural roots, policy innovations, and scientific validation behind shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), and learn how this model offers a roadmap for integrating nature therapy into modern healthcare systems.

Perfect for Wellness practitioners, educators, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in evidence-based approaches to nature therapy.

Key Topics Covered:

• Ancient spiritual foundations of forest bathing in Japanese culture
• How industrialization created the need for government intervention
• The 1982 policy innovation that launched global forest bathing
• What forest bathing actually is and how it differs from hiking
• The scientific evolution and research validation
• Global adoption and cultural considerations
• Healthcare integration models and professional development
• Economic and policy implications for modern healthcare
• A guided forest bathing practice you can try today

Resources Mentioned:

- Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries shinrin-yoku initiative (1982)

- Dr. Yoshifumi Miyazaki's physiological research at Chiba University

- Dr. Qing Li's immune system studies at Nippon Medical School

- Satoyama landscape management traditions

- Shinto and Buddhist contemplative practices in nature

Free Resources:

📖 Download:

"Forest Bathing Basics: Your Complete Beginner's Guide" - Step-by-step instructions, safety guidelines, and techniques for any environment

🎥 Watch:

The Project: ReWild YouTube channel for visual demonstrations and research deep-dives

🌲 Join:

The ReWild Community - Free online space for practitioners, educators, and healthcare professionals

In this heartfelt episode of The Project ReWild Podcast, host Molle Dorst explores the powerful role of forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) in supporting people going through cancer treatments. Inspired by his own caregiving journey with his mother, Molle weaves together scientific research, practical guidance, and deeply personal reflections to show how nature can play a vital role in healing.

You’ll discover:

• Physical benefits: Reduced inflammation, improved immune function, and the role of NK cells in supporting cancer patients.

• Mental health impacts: How forest bathing lowers cortisol, eases anxiety, lifts mood, and supports cognitive function during treatment.

• Emotional and spiritual support: Finding meaning, resilience, and peace in the forest—whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional.

• Practical considerations: Tips for choosing accessible locations, adapting practices for limited mobility, coordinating with treatment schedules, and ensuring safety.

• Limitations to consider: How to adapt for immunocompromised patients, allergies, fatigue, or environmental risks.

This episode also comes with a special downloadable guide filled with resources to help patients, caregivers, and practitioners integrate forest bathing safely and meaningfully into cancer care.

If you or a loved one are navigating treatment, or if you’re a healthcare professional looking for complementary approaches, this conversation offers hope, tools, and community support.

👉 Download the free guide and join the ReWild Community for ongoing resources projectrewild.com/join

In this episode of The Project ReWild Podcast, host Molle Dorst sits down with Janet MacFarlane, Forest Therapy Guide and founder of Nature Connections LLC in Michigan, USA. Janet shares her work leading a 7-week Forest Therapy program designed for new mothers experiencing post-partum mood disorders, referred by social workers and healthcare professionals.Through guided weekly sessions in a local nature park, participants experienced reduced anxiety and a profound increase in connection—to themselves, to one another, and to the natural world around them. This conversation highlights not only the therapeutic potential of Forest Therapy but also its role as an evidence-informed intervention that can complement existing healthcare supports for maternal mental health.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🍃 How structured Forest Therapy sessions can support new mums facing post-partum mood disorders.🍃 The importance of healthcare and social work referrals in connecting patients with nature-based healing.🍃 Measurable outcomes: reductions in anxiety and increases in self-awareness, peer support, and environmental connection.🍃 Why programs like Janet’s are a vital step toward integrating Nature Therapy into preventative healthcare models.If you’re passionate about bringing nature-based healing into mainstream healthcare, this episode offers both inspiration and evidence.Check out Janet's Nature Photography:https://www.instagram.com/janetmacfarlane/Join Janet's Walks:https://connect-with-nature.com/guided-walk-schedule/👉 Join the ReWild Community to connect with others and explore resources:https://projectrewild.com/join

In this episode of The Project ReWild Podcast, host Molle Dorst explores how time outdoors can help children—and adults—develop the foundation for a lifetime of health and movement through physical literacy. Whether you’re a grandmother, parent, aunt, or caregiver, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical ideas for creating intergenerational outdoor experiences that build skills, confidence, and cherished memories.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What physical literacy really means: fundamental movement skills, motivation, and understanding the value of activity.

• How nature provides the perfect environment to build balance, coordination, creativity, and resilience.

• The health benefits for both kids and older adults when generations play and explore outdoors together.

• Inspiring stories of families who’ve passed down outdoor traditions across generations.

• Age-appropriate activities you can try right away:

  • 🌱 Toddlers/Preschoolers: nature scavenger hunts & obstacle courses.

  • 🌳 Elementary Kids: tree climbing & creek exploration.

  • 📱 Tweens/Teens: geocaching adventures or paddling sports like canoeing/kayaking.

Key Takeaway:
Outdoor play isn’t just fun—it’s a vital part of building confidence, skills, and a love for movement that lasts a lifetime. By engaging together across generations, we strengthen our bodies, deepen our bonds, and create traditions that endure.

👉 Bonus Resource: Download the Grandparent’s Guide to Outdoor Activities.
👉 Join the ReWild Community to connect and share your experiences: projectrewild.com/join

What makes ReWild different from other forest bathing practices? In this episode of The Project ReWild Podcast, host Molle Dorst introduces listeners to the five core components of the ReWild Way—a unique framework that blends neuroscience, ritual, and nature connection into a holistic lifestyle practice.

Rooted in the standard sequence developed by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides, ReWild goes further by weaving in journaling, grounding practices, neuroscience insights, and daily rituals of gratitude. Molle explains how these elements work together to create experiences that don’t just stay in the forest but flow into everyday life.

Listeners will discover:

• How the standard sequence of forest therapy (threshold of connection, liminality, and incorporation) lays the foundation.

• Why neuroscience and journaling are central to deepening reflection and rewiring the brain for healing and growth.

• The role of grounding practices in reconnecting body and earth.

• How daily rituals of gratitude anchor presence, balance, and perspective.

• Why ReWild is more than a session—it’s a lifestyle practice designed to build resilience, joy, and connection.

Whether you’re a forest therapy guide, a healthcare professional, or someone seeking a richer connection to nature, this episode offers a clear, inspiring roadmap for integrating the ReWild Way into your own life.

👉 Download the free companion resource and join the ReWild Community at projectrewild.com/join

In this episode of The Project ReWild Podcast, host Molle Dorst explores how to create a nature-centered lifestyle—with a special focus on women over 55 seeking vitality, resilience, and deeper connection.

Through science, storytelling, and practical guidance, Molle highlights how daily interactions with nature can transform physical health, mental clarity, emotional balance, and social connection. From lowering stress and blood pressure to boosting immunity and mood, the benefits are profound—and accessible at any stage of life.

Listeners will discover:

• The science behind why humans are wired to thrive in natural environments.

• How nature supports hormonal balance, cardiovascular health, and immune strength.

• Simple daily rituals like morning walks, gardening, and stargazing that invite calm and clarity.

• Indoor practices—plants, creativity, birdwatching—that bring the outdoors in.

• Real-life stories of women who’ve found healing, joy, and purpose through nature-centered living.

• Practical tips for overcoming barriers such as mobility, weather, or urban environments.

This episode is a gentle invitation to align your lifestyle with the rhythms of the natural world—proving that you don’t need grand adventures to experience the healing power of nature. Even small, intentional steps can create lasting transformation.

📚 Recommended resources: The Nature Fix by Florence Williams, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, iNaturalist, and AllTrails.

👉 Join the ReWild Community and continue your journey: projectrewild.com/join

In Part 2 of this special series, host Molle Dorst shifts from the theories and research of nature therapy to its real-world practices—and how they can nurture every dimension of our wellbeing.

Building on the foundations explored in Episode 3, this conversation explores how specific nature therapy practices impact:

• Physical health: Boosting immune function, lowering blood pressure, and supporting cardiovascular health through forest bathing, gardening, hiking, and outdoor play.

• Mental wellbeing: Improving focus, memory, and emotional regulation through mindful moments in natural spaces.

• Emotional resilience: Building confidence and self-trust through adventure therapy, challenge courses, and outdoor experiential learning.

• Social connection: Strengthening bonds in families, communities, and even workplaces through shared time in nature.

• Spiritual growth: Cultivating presence, mindfulness, and a deeper sense of connection to the cycles of life.

Molle weaves together research, personal stories, and decades of guiding experience to show how accessible practices—from a walk in a local park to community gardening or forest bathing—can profoundly shift how we live, work, and heal.

If you’ve ever wondered how to bring nature therapy into your daily routine—or how it can complement healthcare, family life, and community wellbeing—this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration.

👉 Join the ReWild Community and continue the journey: projectrewild.com/join