Matthew Bannister: Walking around the UK for the Folk on Foot podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

James Michael Forrest, aka ‘Mountain Man’

Matthew Bannister: Walking around the UK for the Folk on Foot podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

What if you could combine your passions into your dream outdoors job?

My guest in this episode, BBC radio presenter Matthew Bannister, has done just that.

(Photo: Matthew Bannister walking with musician Nancy Kerr in Wiltshire. Credit: Folk on Foot)

Late on in his broadcasting career, Matthew has managed to merge his love for walking, the outdoors and folk music into his work. The result is his podcast, Folk on Foot.

In the podcast, Matthew goes for a walk with folk musicians in a place that’s special for them and they talk and sing along the way. Folk on Foot has gained a large, loyal audience and won several awards.

Matthew has been on walks all over the UK for the podcast, from Sandwood Bay in northwestern Scotland to Port Isaac in Cornwall and he’s had some spine-tingling encounters with wildlife during some of his recordings.

(Photo: Matthew Bannister with musician Karine Polwart on Fala Moor in Scotland. Credit: Folk on Foot)

Coronavirus put a stop to our plan to go walking together on the South Downs Way, so for our chat, I was in my flat in London and Matthew was at his home in West Sussex.

I wanted to find out why Matthew sought to move his audio work outdoors and how he did it, as well as discover how important walking has been to him throughout difficult periods of his life. 

(Photo: Matthew Bannister and musician Duncan Chisholm near Sandwood Bay in Scotland. Credit: Folk on Foot)

I hope you enjoy this episode and Matthew’s story. Listen out for his tips for getting outdoors more at the end of the podcast, as well as the relaxing minute of sounds from nature, recorded by some of you, the listeners!

You’ll find Matthew and Folk on Foot on Instagram @folkonfoot and for more information about the podcast, head to the Folk on Foot website.

If would be fantastic if you could rate, review and subscribe to The Outdoors Fix (it helps listeners find us) and please feel free to spread the word to your family and friends!

Thanks!

Liv x

Click here to listen to other episodes of The Outdoors Fix podcast.

(Photo: Matthew Bannister with musician Nancy Kerr and producer Natalie Steed on the Kennet and Avon canal in Wiltshire. Credit: Folk on Foot)