42 Comments
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Adam's avatar

This podcast is an amazing way to reconnect with the world and I find myself more in tune with the seasons, the months, and the world around me. It's an essential piece of escapism that positively frames the month ahead.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Thank you!

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Harun's avatar

I just discovered this podcast beautiful beautiful I listen to while I take care of my indoor greenhouse in my humble apartment my new seedlings ready to go out in the balcony 🍄🍃🌱🪴

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Ah so glad you like it!

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Cathryn Thompson's avatar

I love the focus on a particular ‘thing’ - like the bee hive or the pond, I feel very connected to nature through the year. I love the soundscapes and the folk songs, a lovely addition. I save it to listen to when I am on my own, its my special treat to look forward to.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Gorgeous to hear, thank you!

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Tracey-Leigh Coughlan's avatar

Your beautiful voice Lia. It’s incredibly calming. An absolute treat which really enhances the content. Thank you

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Aw thank you... 😊 x

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Su's avatar

I particularly like the evocation of the month on the plants and sowing patterns with the moon and sun and their state of play as you read re the turning of the seasons - I think the Wheel of the Year appeals to our love of nature and sense of place wherever we live so this speaks to me //

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

That’s so helpful, thank you

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Clued Up On Food's avatar

I loved it and make a page of notes each month in my journal! I really enjoy the pond and garden round up, both of which we have and encourages me to look and plan a use for rhubarb pickings!

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Ha, wonderful x

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Laura Oldfield's avatar

whilst I love your voice and you it's the evocative sound world that's created on this podcast - it's the most extraordinary treat for the senses x

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

That’s lovely

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Laura's avatar

I’ve been really enjoying Gwilym’s folk songs. It’d be lovely to hear some Scottish, Irish and English ones too.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Aren’t they wonderful

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Ella Bragonier's avatar

My favourite bit is undoubtedly when you pick a theme and carry it on - like last year (was it? Or the year before?) it was migrations which I absolutely adored and this year it’s islands which is giving the migrations a run for its money. It’s my favourite part of the podcast for sure. I like the folk songs too but I think that I liked the podcast best when it was just you (controversial I know 😌). I enjoy the soundscapes and herbarium but I think your voice is the calmest - hope that’s okay to say!

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Amber's avatar

I feel the same! The new segments are nice, but I loved the simplicity of the previous year’s podcast. I particularly enjoy the various names of the month, folklore, and history of time and the calendar. My favorite bits were when you give us tasks to mark the month, like standing barefoot in the winter garden. Delicious marking of time.

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Ella Bragonier's avatar

Agreed. Lia’s sections are the most soothing and the garden mediations and ritual from the last few years were very special. I especially loved the little ones at the end of the podcasts last year that often involved candles

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Thank you!

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Terrible of me, fishing like that…thank you x

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

No I’m quite glad, I was starting to worry I was redundant there! x

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Ella Bragonier's avatar

Absolutely not. I miss from last year when you used to read out longs lists of what was in season from the kitchen garden and shipping imports. My dad used to laugh at me and say it was like I was an old timer who finds listening to shipping forecasts soothing but I can’t help it! I love a list!

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Paul Satchwill's avatar

I love the calming tone and educational variety that the podcast offers. I also love this year's evolution of increased audio features like found sounds :)

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Fantastic, thank you!

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Sarah A's avatar

I absolutely love this podcast and look forward to a new episode each month. I particularly enjoy notes on new birds visiting and also the monthly rituals to celebrate the season.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Gorgeous, thanks

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Anne's avatar

What do I like about this podcast? Where to start? In no particular order... It’s the perfect length - not too long, but covers a lot of ground. I love the content - it really does immerse me in the season and reinforces the way I see the world. Rather like a meditation, it relaxes and refreshes, a break from the everyday. There’s just the right amount of detail - I’m hooked into what I’m hearing and learning, but everything is done gently. Feels like a light touch, but is actually very knowledgeable and informative. I love your communication style, Lia. Obviously your voice, but also the fact that you’re not overly earnest or reverent. There’s room for a bit of gentle humour and a grounding in real life. The subject matter could easily generate some cringey coverage, but here it feels natural and genuine. I found additional contributors jarring at first, but am enjoying them all. I would still want it to be mainly you, though. Finally, it is for everyone, whether you live in the countryside or in the middle of a large city.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Oh wow Anne thank you, this is really special x

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Imogen's avatar

I adore the found sound elements and find this so relaxing.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Fabulous

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Sue's avatar

I like all of the podcast but particularly enjoy the bird of the month, the folk songs, folklore and stories as well as soundscapes. I like the tasks for the month too and most of all your voice is so calming and soft to listen to

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Lovely to hear that, thank you

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Kelly Joanne Allen's avatar

I love the soothing tones and the new addition of the songs and soundscapes are lovely. I listen alone as a way of honouring the seasons and getting in touch with nature. The focus on a theme is fab. My particular favourites were the oak tree and the bee hive as I am obsessed with both.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Gorgeous, thank you x

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Philippa Gardens's avatar

I have listened for a few years and I love the 2023 refresh. I’m enjoying the new contributors, and the updates on the pond.

I have adore the previous years podcasts, but as I also listened to and loved the audiobook version of the Almanac (still utterly bereft that there isn’t an audiobook version of the 2023 Almanac) they were very similar, both complimentary, but similar. This years As the Season Turns, feels fresh and different, and if there was an audiobook version of the 2023 Almanac it wouldn’t be a repetition.

It is the highlight of my month and I look forward to it so very much. I am an avid podcast listener and so far I haven’t found anything similar, which is both something to celebrate as what you are doing is so special, but saddening too because a month is a long time to wait and I’d like more!

Also, I’d like to celebrate it’s accessibility, I’m ADHD and Dyslexic and find reading exhausting, the podcast is like listening to my very favourite wonderful magazine, something which I struggle to do ordinarily. So thank you.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

That’s really great to hear. Sorry there isn’t more! And there is an almanac 2023 audiobook. It’s going to be the last one but it is there. Do go and have another look.

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