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GeogPod is the Geographical Association’s podcast. The views and opinions expressed in the GeogPod discussions are those of the interviewees and are not necessarily those held by the Geographical Association.
Episodes
Friday May 02, 2025
Friday May 02, 2025
Laura Young, Scottish Influencer of the Year 2022/2024 joins John in this week's episode to talk about all aspects of her 'portfolio career' focusing on climate through research, social media and making an impact in our day to day lives.
She talks about how her academic career began with everyday geographies, taking her on to experience worldwide perspectives of place, space and communities and how this has affected her approach to climate activism, reaching out to students, adults and governments alike through the power of social and digital media.
Find out more about her work here: https://lesswastelaura.com/
Instagram: @lesswastelaura
Friday Apr 04, 2025
Friday Apr 04, 2025
In this episode, John Lyon is joined by Parvati Raghuram, Manu Lekunze and Melis Cin who are part of the team that developed the Global Inequalities and the Climate Crisis Lessons.
They discuss how the project came to be, how we have now moved from a climate crisis to a climate emergency and how teachers can effectively educate their students without creating fear or anxiety.
They also talk about how Cameroon posed as a near perfect field to study the relationships between global inequality and the climate crisis.
The resource was produced in partnership with the Decolonising Education for Peace in Africa (DEPA) project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council’s Global Challenges Research Fund as well as Impact Accelerator Account funding from the University of Lancaster.
You can find the free resource here: Global Inequalities and the Climate Crisis - Geographical Association
Friday Mar 28, 2025
Friday Mar 28, 2025
In this episode of GeogPod John talks to Robert Swan, who walked to both the North and South Pole, and Jenny Cooke, Founder of Oddizzi.
John asks what inspired Robert to become a polar pioneer and climate change ambassador. They discuss his Antarctic journey’s difficulties, the beauty, the clear evidence of climate change and the dangers. In 2022 Robert invited Jenny on an expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula where they hosted a webinar for 40,000 children. Find out about this project, the 2041 treaty, and how important it is to inspire students and make them fall in love with Antarctica so they are passionate about saving it in future.
Resources
Friday Mar 07, 2025
Friday Mar 07, 2025
In this episode, John talks to Anthony Barlow, Principal Lecturer and the subject leader for Geography Education at the University of Roehampton.
Primary education is a precious time for children to spend time with each other, time in their locality and time with their teacher guiding them and letting them explore. That's the crucial point - from 'sustained shared thinking', to focused, framed and facilitated enquiries (Garner, Pickford and Jackson, 2013) as they get older, spending time outside, there is value and power in the repeated visit.
Get your children outside, don't be scared by fieldwork - you might be surprised by how much looking through the window, circling the school buildings and walking your local perimeter can actually tell you about what they see, hear and think about your local geographies. Coaches are not always needed!
Friday Nov 22, 2024
Friday Nov 22, 2024
In this episode John Lyon talks to Karen Corfield, Education Development Consultant and Safeguarding Lead at Discover the World Education. A few topics discussed in this episode are: Iceland and Icelandic guides, GA Annual Conference, mentoring and inspirational teachers, fieldwork, connections and memories to place, and what your third place is.
Resources
Discover the World Education
Costa Rica trip information
Free CPD Workshops
Series 14 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by Discover the World Education.
'As the only tour operator who is a strategic partner of the GA, we're big believers in supporting teachers both in and outside the classroom. From our unforgettable geography trips to our award-winning resources and accredited CPD sessions, for us there’s nothing more rewarding than creating shared experiences that bring learning to life.'
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
John Lyon chats with Alice Gadney in this episode of GeogPod. Alice is a cartographer and also known as Captain Alice, founder of Mini Map-Makers. They discuss many topics, including: her PGCE; William Smith; Steve Backshall; ‘The Hobbit’; Mini Map-Makers; inspiring children with maps from primary age; and of course, their favourite maps.
Resources
Series 14 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by Discover the World Education.
'As the only tour operator who is a strategic partner of the GA, we're big believers in supporting teachers both in and outside the classroom. From our unforgettable geography trips to our award-winning resources and accredited CPD sessions, for us there’s nothing more rewarding than creating shared experiences that bring learning to life.'
Friday Nov 08, 2024
Friday Nov 08, 2024
In this episode of GeogPod, John is joined by Jess Hill, Deputy Head at Alwoodley Primary School in Leeds.
They talk about how the geography curriculum at the school has grown and changed over time, to reflect the children and families at the school as well as empower the staff teaching the subject.
The episode also discusses the Primary Geography Quality Mark, the school's Gold Hub status and how to promote whole-school approaches to geography through effective CPD.
Finally they look into practical ideas for fieldwork, building a geography club and how to get children learning 'through the soles of their feet.'
Resources
Find Alwoodley Primary School on X: Alwoodley Primary School
Series 14 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by Discover the World Education.
'As the only tour operator who is a strategic partner of the GA, we're big believers in supporting teachers both in and outside the classroom. From our unforgettable geography trips to our award-winning resources and accredited CPD sessions, for us there’s nothing more rewarding than creating shared experiences that bring learning to life.'
Friday Nov 01, 2024
Friday Nov 01, 2024
In this episode John talks to Catherine Walker, Newcastle University Academic Track Fellow in Human Geography. They discuss her background and a wide range of topics including: how you can become a geographer in different ways; travel; cultures and landscapes; geography through stories; social science; climate change and climate justice.
Resources:
- Opportunities, complexities, and challenges in collaboration between school and university geography, GA Blog.
- Coffee and geography, episode 407 with Kit Rackley and Catherine Walker.
- Geogramblings website
- Young People at a Crossroads resources including the free book, teacher guide and more.
- Young People at a Crossroads — illustrations by Maisy Summer
- What role for geography in justice-focused climate change education? Geography, Volume 109, Issue 3 (2024)
Series 14 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by Discover the World Education.
'As the only tour operator who is a strategic partner of the GA, we're big believers in supporting teachers both in and outside the classroom. From our unforgettable geography trips to our award-winning resources and accredited CPD sessions, for us there’s nothing more rewarding than creating shared experiences that bring learning to life.'
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Monday Oct 21, 2024
This episode, John is joined by GA Chief Executive Steve Brace to discuss: what inspired him to pursue geography; a brief overview of the GA; the different routes into geography; the independent review of Curriculum and Assessment; and his top 4 priority areas of interest for the future.
Here are a few resources mentioned in this episode:
Curriculum and Assessment Review – Department for Education
The GA’s review responses summary
Geographers in the House of Commons – careers poster
Geographers in media – careers poster
GA Subject Knowledge Scholar Programme
Sustainability and climate change strategy – Department for Education
Defra Risk of Flooding from Surface Water Data
ARCGIS - UK Rivers Atlas - ESRI
Series 14 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by Discover the World Education
'As the only tour operator who is a strategic partner of the GA, we're big believers in supporting teachers both in and outside the classroom. From our unforgettable geography trips to our award-winning resources and accredited CPD sessions, for us there’s nothing more rewarding than creating shared experiences that bring learning to life.'
Friday Oct 11, 2024
Friday Oct 11, 2024
In a special episode to celebrate Black History Month we join Professor Pat Noxolo from the University of Birmingham, Professor James Esson from Queen Mary University of London and Francisca Rockey, founding member of Black Geographers.
They discuss the intersections between race, gender and class that affect young people today. Topics include how to navigate complex ideas in a complex world, the importance of recognising different narratives, and the possibilities for change, revealed by the amazing work done by geography teachers.
Anti-racist work has been a means of support, comradeship and helping keep hold of talented people. Here are a few of the groups and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Black Geographers
- Salaam Geographia
- Geography Workshop
- Race, Culture and Equality Working Group
- American Association of Geographer
- Black Geographies
- Decolonising geography website & X (formerly Twitter)
- FI WI ROAD
- Black History Month
Series 14 of GeogPod is kindly sponsored by Discover the World Education
'As the only tour operator who is a strategic partner of the GA, we're big believers in supporting teachers both in and outside the classroom. From our unforgettable geography trips to our award-winning resources and accredited CPD sessions, for us there’s nothing more rewarding than creating shared experiences that bring learning to life.'