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:
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
In this episode of The Project ReWild Podcast, host Molle Dorst takes listeners on a deep dive into the foundations of nature therapy, blending research, theory, and real-world applications. This is Nature Therapy 101—a comprehensive introduction to the science and philosophy behind why time in nature is so profoundly healing.
Drawing on decades of research, Molle explores key frameworks including:
Biophilia Hypothesis — our innate human affinity for the natural world.
Attention Restoration Theory (ART) — how nature replenishes cognitive focus and reduces mental fatigue.
Stress Reduction Theory (SRT) — why natural settings lower stress hormones, blood pressure, and heart rate.
Eco-psychology & Environmental Psychology — the intersection of ecology, psychology, and wellbeing.
Mindfulness & Nature Connection — how presence in natural spaces regulates emotions and supports resilience.
Evolutionary Psychology — the role of ancestral environments in shaping our health today.
Along the way, Molle shares stories of students, caregivers, and his own experiences—illustrating how scientific principles play out in everyday life. From university study sessions in the forest to hospital recovery rooms with window views, this episode highlights the evidence-backed benefits of nature therapy for mental, emotional, and physical health.
This is Part 1 of a multi-episode series unpacking the science and soul of nature therapy—perfect for practitioners, healthcare professionals, and anyone curious about the research supporting this healing practice.
👉 Join the ReWild Community and continue the conversation: projectrewild.com/join
In this episode of The Project ReWild Podcast, host Molle Dorst opens up about his personal path into the world of nature therapy—blending childhood wonder, professional milestones, and deeply personal challenges into a story of resilience and connection.
From his early days as “Junior Trail Leader” exploring forests and canoeing around the Toronto Islands, to transformative experiences hiking around the world, Molle shares how nature has always been both a playground and a teacher. But his journey took on new meaning when he faced Long Covid and later became a caregiver for his mother during her battle with stage 4 melanoma. Through these challenges, nature became more than adventure—it became healing.
Listeners will hear about:
The life-changing impact of a solo canoe trip at age 10 and lessons in self-reliance.
How Long Covid reshaped Molle’s relationship with mindfulness and forest therapy.
The role of nature therapy in supporting caregivers and patients facing serious illness.
Unforgettable professional experiences: from leading court diversion wilderness programs to mentoring future outdoor leaders and even delivering a baby in the forest.
Why values like “Challenge by Choice”, ethics, and accessibility are central to his philosophy as a therapist and guide.
A pivotal time living in France, where natural remedies and “prescriptions” of fresh air and movement revealed how healthcare systems could embrace nature-based healing.
This episode lays the foundation for Molle’s mission: to destigmatize natural therapies, advocate for their integration into mainstream healthcare, and inspire listeners to find balance, resilience, and peace through daily connection with the natural world.
👉 Ready to begin your own journey? Join the ReWild Community and explore resources at projectrewild.com/join
In the very first episode of The Project ReWild Podcast, host Molle Dorst—Nature & Adventure Therapist and Forest Therapy Guide—introduces the heart of this new show: exploring how nature therapy can transform health, healing, and happiness.
Molle shares his personal story of discovering the healing power of nature while balancing his own health journey and caring for his mum during stage 4 cancer treatment. This powerful experience revealed not only the restorative benefits of time outdoors, but also the urgent need to integrate nature-based and mindfulness therapies into mainstream healthcare.
This episode lays the foundation for what’s ahead:
Why nature therapy is inclusive and accessible, not just for adventurers but for everyone.
How it serves as a complementary practice alongside traditional treatments.
The role of self-determination, autonomy, and holistic healing in recovery and wellbeing.
A commitment to scientific curiosity—exploring evidence-based practices while debunking myths.
The mission to destigmatize natural therapies and broaden the conversation in North America’s healthcare system.
Listeners can expect a blend of personal stories, expert interviews, long-form educational deep-dives, and scientific insights in future episodes—each designed to spark curiosity and inspire action.
👉 Join the ReWild Community to connect, share, and explore resources:
