It’s In the Experience
Join Sherry Bagley, executive director of the Association for Experiential Education, as she chats with various guests using experiential education principles and methods. Each 30-minute podcast offers an engaging and often humorous journey to learn about experiential education and its many forms and uses.
Join Sherry Bagley, executive director of the Association for Experiential Education, as she chats with various guests using experiential education principles and methods. Each 30-minute podcast offers an engaging and often humorous journey to learn about experiential education and its many forms and uses.
Episodes

Feb 13, 2024
Feb 13, 2024
44 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Chris Ortiz, the associate director for the leadership development team and the program director for team development at Shavers Creek Environmental Center, and Steve Smith, founder of Experiential Consulting LLC. The three share their unique journeys into experiential education, delve into their passionate pursuits within the field, discuss the evolving needs of the industry, and reminisce about some enlightening 'ah-ha' moments.
Feb 13, 2024
44 min

Jan 9, 2024
Jan 9, 2024
40 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Aaron Leonard, a retired U.S. Army officer with over 35 years of leadership experience and focuses on developing therapeutic outdoor adventure programs for the well-being of our guardians military service members, veterans and first responders, and Fred Borroel, a licensed professional counselor, supervisor in Texas and founder of RelateAbility, PLLC. The three talk about their path in experiential education, helping the helpers, current struggles, finding clients and marketing efforts, and advice for the next generation of experiential educators.
Jan 9, 2024
40 min

Dec 12, 2023
Dec 12, 2023
43 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Stephanie Speicher, an associate professor and the digital fluency faculty in residence at Weber State University, and Antonio Galván, founder, CEO, and senior trainer at Galika. The three talk about experiential training and development for organizations, creating community and a sense of belonging in a digital landscape, facilitating experiential education for adults, creating spaces for experiential ed, and geographic differences in the industry.
Dec 12, 2023
43 min

Nov 14, 2023
Nov 14, 2023
44 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Joanna Bettmann Schaefer, a professor at the University of Utah College of Social Work, and W. Thomas Means, an assistant professor at University of Wisconsin La Crosse and director of Camp Brosius. The three talk about their career journeys in academia and doctoral work; the difference between wilderness, recreation and adventure therapy; finding research projects and associated researchers; and the importance of being connected in the experiential education community.
It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.
Nov 14, 2023
44 min

Oct 10, 2023
Oct 10, 2023
38 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Dr. Amy Climer, founder and CEO of Climer Consulting, and Mo Kappes, Assistant Director of Experiential Education at University of Wisconsin-Madison. The three talk about the AEE International Conference and what keeps them coming back year after year, what to look forward to at this year’s conference, challenges they’re facing in experiential education, and what they have learned from each other.
Oct 10, 2023
38 min

Sep 12, 2023
Sep 12, 2023
39 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Bryn Lottig, co-founder of Kikori, and Christy Brock, executive director and founder of New Adventures Counseling. The three talk about business ownership, the importance of work-life balance, being involved with AEE’s Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group, their favorite reflection prompts, and their vision for experiential education.
Sep 12, 2023
39 min

Aug 8, 2023
Aug 8, 2023
38 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Esther Ayers, a dedicated researcher and advocate for mental health in Latinx communities, and Shoshanna Sumka, executive director of the Independent Schools Experiential Education Network. The three talk about their experience with experiential education and personal journeys in the field, the intersection of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and experiential education, and the differences between researchers and practitioners.
Aug 8, 2023
38 min

Jul 11, 2023
Jul 11, 2023
46 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Dr. Anita Tucker, a professor at the New Hampshire and associate director of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center, and Tony Alvarez, owner of Alvarez Consulting LLC, formerly Adventures In Training Inc.. The three talk about their career journeys in social work and experiential, the definition of adventure therapy and how it fits into experiential education, the importance of shared experiences, collaboratively writing books, and the answer the question, “what is the weirdest thing you’ve used as a prop during an initiative.”
This episode is produced by Association Briefings.
Jul 11, 2023
46 min

Jun 13, 2023
Jun 13, 2023
31 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Jane Panicucci, owner and principal of the Active Learning Group, and Jay Zarr, co-owner of Story Tellers Travels and Imagine If a Mind, Body and Spirit Connections Company in Colorado. The three talk about getting involved in experiential education, career journeys, equipping leaders through experiential education, the importance of volunteering, industry challenges, and creating relationships. Oh, and we have a commonality discussion on whether or not ice cream should be considered a food group!
This episode is produced by Association Briefings.
Jun 13, 2023
31 min

May 9, 2023
May 9, 2023
36 min
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley, sits down with Callie Auman, Assistant Director for Challenge Course and Team Building at UNC Charlotte's Venture Outdoor Leadership, and Brad Daniel, co-founder and executive director of 2nd Nature TREC in Black Mountain, NC. The three talk about the evolution of experiential education, career journeys, freedoms of owning a business, the benefits of working for a university, and the differences between environmental and experiential education. All of this AND a heated discussion over the best kind of cookies!
May 9, 2023
36 min

Meet Your Host
Sherry Bagley is the Executive Director of the Association for Experiential Education. In this role, she gets to assist in the elevation and expansion of experiential education by building an inclusive and accessible community; supporting research and programs; and presenting resources to public audiences. Her career path has taken some hard turns from driving tug boats in the Marshall Islands to catering weddings on the beach. She found her true calling when she began working in the experiential education field over 13 years ago. She can often be found out on or in the water swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, and scalloping. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida in a 100-year-old house with her amazing husband, 2 great kids, 2 polite dogs, and 2 ridiculous cats.






