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Episode 1: Julia Samuel MBE
It’s early spring and snowdrop season at The Newt in Somerset. Head of Programmes, Arthur Cole, is joined by therapist, podcaster, author, and Somerset local, Julia Samuel MBE, for a walk and talk around the Marl Pit. Set off on a stroll around our storytelling area surrounded by myth and Arthurian legend, to hear more about Julia’s 35-year career in psychotherapy. Suffering, grief and mental health issues will affect us all at some point in our lives and in this episode, we touch on coping mechanisms to see us through. Julia extols the virtues of keeping active, the importance of simply being outdoors, breathing and improving limbic system function as essential factors in supporting and maintaining our psychological health.
Episode 2: John Ridding
It's winter and just above freezing in the Somerset countryside. Head of Programmes, Arthur Cole, welcomes John Ridding, Chairman of The Financial Times Group, back to The Newt for a walk and talk around the frosted landscape. In this episode, John navigates a (slightly treacherous) pre-Roman bridge as he shares the story of his international journalism career. We explore the parallels between the natural and business worlds and hear about the important lessons that mother nature can teach us. With the rise of AI advancing at pace, John explains the real and present existential threat to journalism and democracy as we know it.
Episode 3: Marian Boswall
Set against a backdrop of the dawn chorus, total lunar eclipse and rising sun, this is a very special episode of The Newt Podcast. Arthur Cole is joined by award-winning landscape architect and horticulturist, Marian Boswall, for a nature ‘love-in’, as they share their mutual appreciation for the great outdoors. Tune in for a crisp spring wander across the Somerset estate to learn about the importance of talking and (crucially) listening to your plants, Roman gardening mythology and the benefits of tree hugging. Marian also gives us the lowdown on her new book, ‘The Kindest Garden: A Practical Guide to Regenerative Gardening’, released on 10 April 2025.