Moved By Nature (Sunsmith)
Explore every episode of Moved By Nature
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 2022 | Danny Clayton - Pioneering the women’s surfgoods industry | 01:11:15 | |
Founder of women’s sustainable surf-goods brand Salt Gypsy, Danny Clayton is a true pioneer in the women’s surf industry. Danny is as transparent as it gets when talking about challenges and how to overcome them. We unpack the nitty gritty of running a small business with limited resources, and how to achieve this without compromising on sustainable and ethical values. We delve into how social media plays a necessary yet challenging role for any business owner in a space where body image is at the forefront. It was also encouraging to hear Danny share how she is invested in helping other women get better educated to operate businesses, particularly around the topic of finances. Recently, her brand won the Break Out Brand of the Year, at the SBIA Awards in partnership with Global Surf Industries, for designing surfboards for, wait for it.. females. Her brand continues to grow, as she offers business mentoring as an adjunct to the surfwear side of the business, always keeping community at the heart of the brand. The end of our chat takes a unexpected, vulnerable turn, where Danny share’s that she lives with a life threatening illness every. damn. day. She is a force to be reckoned with, balancing healthy boundaries with the skill of tenacity, daily. Danny is intelligent, humorous and extremely dogged. A fierce role model for those of us also trying to nudge (or smash through) that formidable glass ceiling. Big thanks to Danny at Salt Gypsy for sponsoring this episode, if you’d like a Salt Gypsy discount, sign-up to our newsletter to get the code. SHOW NOTES: ECONYL Fabric - Regenerated nylon waste Calvin Coolidge - 30th president of the USA, Read quote here. Outerknown - Sustainable surfwear brand Patagonia - Sustainable outdoor brand Natasha Tonic - Hemp activewear/swimwear | |||
| 14 Mar 2022 | Darci Charli Dee - Rebel with a Yogic cause | 01:10:48 | |
Darci is a bad-ass yogi, spreading the word of yoga to the masses with gusto and grace. She runs and facilitates yoga teacher training programs across Australia (and now online for the global community), is a personal development mentor, an entrepreneur and a mother. In an industry which can sometimes be perceived as pretentious and intimidating, Darci is the opposite, she is the most authentic yogi bear you will ever come across. She has a gift. The gift of relaying this 5,000 year old ancient tradition, to people in the 21st century, making it relevant and relatable. Her candid approach draws you in and many find themselves joyously on the path with her to self actualisation, although she is sure to remind you, you will never actually get there. Our conversation flows through an array of topics, including; what the essence of yoga is, how leaning into the practice can help navigate life’s big tests, being triggered by the word ‘spirituality’, how Mother Earth holds us if we let her, letting go of expectations especially during Motherhood, Darci’s reckless youth taking drugs and partying and what an Ayahuasca experience in South America is like! I hope you are able to feel Darci’s realness during this episode and you're compelled to dabble in the practice of yoga too, as you’ll hear, it takes many forms suitable to all different types of people. Click here to access Australia Yoga Teacher Training’s full library of online classes, for free for one month. SHOW NOTES: Links: Australia Yoga Teacher Training / @australiayogateachertraining Darci Charli Dee / @darcicharlidee Books: Dr. Lisa miller - The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life T. K. V. Desikachar - The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice Research: | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | Lou Davies - The healing power of Nature for mental health therapy | 01:18:00 | |
Lou Davies chose a profession which is rooted in the concept of helping others. As an Occupational Therapist working in the mental healthcare space, she is on a mission to help women become the best versions of themselves. Paradoxically, the many years of supporting others and the stress from working in a broken system, ensued that her own mental health started to waiver. However, she recognised the warning signs and made a bold move to leave her ‘successful’ career, and took a sabbatical from professional work-life to travel the world in a van, embarking on some serious self-reflection. After spending this quality time in the wilderness, she came back with a new perspective. One which marries her vast experience as a mental healthcare clinician, with the power of nature. As a progressive, big-picture thinker and someone with a budding entrepreneurial spirit, her new business was created to help people on their road to recovery in a more effective and approachable way. Lou is also one who treads lightly, and throughout our chat we hear her insightful and somewhat hilarious tips and tricks on travelling with sustainability in mind. Her van life adventure was one of awe and wonder, and as she unpacks the journey for us, we are left with a sense of confidence to go out and embark on our own dreams of exploration. You're going to love getting to know Lou. This episode is full of laughs, insight and raw emotion. NOTE - Since recording this episode Lou has had a beautiful baby boy and put her business Rise and Refine on pause while she navigates and enjoys being a new Mum. Her social channels and website and not currently operational, however you can reach out to her via email at - lou.davies1@me.com SHOW NOTES: Links: Lou Davies / @loudavo23 /lou.davies1@me.com Books: Yuval Noah Harari - Sapiens; A Brief History of Humankind Alisa Vitta - Womancode; Perfect Your cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive, and Become a Power Source Alisa Vitti - In The Flo; Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life Dr. Libby Weaver - Rushing Woman’s Syndrome | |||
| 11 Apr 2022 | Bree Heaney - Freediving as a gateway to overcoming fear | 01:04:00 | |
Advanced certified freediver Bree Heaney has a simple yet emblematic life motto; Hunt, gather, grow and craft. This mantra is what propelled her into the daring world of freediving and other seemingly risky adventures. Many of her peers think freediving is a dangerous pastime, yet for Bree choosing an activity involving calculated risk, and a need to be entirely present and connected to herself and her environment, is effectively what saved her from living a life crippled by fear. Bree divulges that after experiencing severe anxiety as a child, then a few ‘failures’ as a teenager, adventuring in the wilderness was the catalyst that gave her the confidence she needed to move through those fears. It also gave her courage to break through society’s preconceived idea of what a successful life looks like for a female (working hard, earning money, getting married, having kids etc.), and now she lives on her own terms. Once she started spending more time in the ocean, she started to care more, and as you’ll hear, she is a fantastic role model when it comes to living a sustainable lifestyle. As a self proclaimed shark advocate, we also talk about shark encounters and what life under the big blue can offer a curious human. We learn that one must be humble and prepared, when entering into Mother Nature's underwater realm. She explains the importance and power of breathwork and letting go of the ego, as there is a huge element of surrender involved with freediving. To finesse her underwater breathing skills she trains under the watchful eye of the reputable Nam Baldwin, who has coached the likes of world surfing champions Steph Gilmore and Mick Fanning. Bree has also learnt to dive and hunt underwater from one of the most successful freediving women in the world, Kimi Werner (aka Kimi Swimmy). My chat with Bree will hopefully give you the courage to go out and try something new, and also be #MovedByNature. SHOW NOTES: Links: Bree Heaney / @breeesea Nam Baldwin - Elite Performance Coach, Innovator, Speaker / @nambaldwin Kimi Weaner - Freediving underwater huntress / @kimi_swimmy Shark Girl - @sharkgirlmadison Sponsors: Episode 04 Sponsor - KIWA Dive Weight Belts - Receive 15% off sitewide using the code SUNSMITH at check-out @kiwadive Season 01 Sponsor - SALT GYPSY - Receive 15% off sitewide using the code SUNSMITH at check-out @saltgypsy | |||
| 25 Apr 2022 | Dr. Bree Talbot - An unwavering commitment to Australian Wildlife | 01:30:00 | |
Dr. Bree Talbot dedicates her life to ensuring the survival of Australian Wildlife. As the Foundation Vet at the new Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, she is responsible for the welfare of any animal that comes through the door. Not a job for the faint hearted. Our conversation is educational and also emotive. Scientific yet humanistic. We cover it all. From sobering statistics, such as Koalas in NSW & QLD having now entered the endangered species list, to dealing with death on a daily basis. From the devastating effects of natural disasters on our beloved Aussie animals (including the 2019 / 2020 Australian bushfires and recent Northern Rivers of NSW floods), to the stark reality that Vets have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. We hear how Dr. Bree uses dark humour to combat this and keep persevering through the emotionally hard times. But it’s not all doom and gloom, Bree’s commitment and passion for Wildlife is as true as the sun rising every morning. Knowing that there are women out there like Bree has given me hope for the welfare of our nation’s animals. She throws herself into the role wholeheartedly, without holding back no matter what the challenge. How does she manage such a demanding full time role, that is soon to be a TV show (which we cover off in the chat) with three young children under the age of four?! As you’ll hear there are sacrifices she’s had to make along the way… Enjoy the inside scoop of life as a Wildlife Vet and perhaps think about how your experience on Earth as a Human, affects the life of other sentient beings we share this planet with.
Season One of the Sunsmith podcast is supported by women’s surf lifestyle brand Salt Gypsy and surfboard company Global Surf Industries. To receive 15% off all Salt Gypsy apparel and accessories head over to saltgypsy.com, and use the code SUNSMITH at check out. To receive 15% off all Salt Gypsy surfboards head to surfindustries.com, this offer is available on their Australian, New Zealand and United States websites, use the code SUNSMITH at checkout. SHOW NOTES: Dr. Bree Talbot / @drbreetalbot Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital / @byronbaywildlife WWF Report - Australia’s 2019-2020 Bushfires: The Wildlife Toll | |||
| 09 May 2022 | Marta Sanderson - The flower custodian | 01:09:00 | |
We delve into the alluring world of flowers with Marta Sanderson. Marta is the founder of La Bomba Floristry, which specialises in installations, styling, weddings, events, and is opening a retail store in Vancouver BC, as this episode goes live. By starting a business that is so aligned with her inner sense of self, you’ll hear how Marta has reached a grateful and almost peaceful point in her life. Instead of working in a corporate hierarchy as a successful producer, where often the loudest voice wins, Marta finally surrendered to the more sensitive side of her personality. She was more creative and in tune with the natural world than the advertising, music, fashion, film and TV industries would allow for. Now, with this business as the vehicle, she fully allows herself to be absorbed and held by Mother Nature’s jewels of the plant world… flowers. Her love for the flowers is intoxicating and you can hear the passion explode out of her when she describes all the facets of a flower including their lifespan, beauty, and their unique individual offerings and gestures. We unpack a lot during this chat including; the challenges with sourcing locally vs. importing flowers, sustainability within the industry, showing up for the local community with a clear point of view, why hiding behind instagram is just no longer an option for her, and how motherhood has given her this renewed strength to take risks and be brave. I found it really inspiring how instead of living on a hamster wheel of deadlines, stress and depletion, Marta now lives symbiotically with the Natural World and its seasons, which is much more nourishing and fulfilling than she could have ever imagined. SEASON SPONSOR: Season One of the Sunsmith podcast is supported by women’s surf lifestyle brand Salt Gypsy and surfboard company Global Surf Industries. To receive 15% off all Salt Gypsy apparel and accessories head over to saltgypsy.com, and use the code SUNSMITH at check out. To receive 15% off all Salt Gypsy surfboards head to surfindustries.com, this offer is available on their Australian, New Zealand and United States websites, use the code SUNSMITH at checkout. EPISODE SPONSOR: La Bomba Floristry is offering 15% off their online store labomba.ca, and new retail store in Vancouver BC. Online use the code SUNSMITH at check out, or if you're heading into the retail store mention this episode of the sunsmith podcast. This offer is available until the 1st of August 2022. SHOW NOTES: Sunsmith - www.sunsmith.co / @sunsmith_co La Bomba Floristry - www.labomba.ca / @labomba_floristy Japanese Flower Arrangements - Japanese Ikebana Sustainable floral design packaging - Arga-Wool | |||
| 15 Oct 2024 | Cait Miers - The rising swell of self acceptance | 01:34:00 | |
This episode is steeped in vulnerability. And it’s this, not her external achievements as a world class surf photographer, that has become the superpower of my guest today, Cait Miers. She is a force to be reckoned with. When talking to her I’m immediately struck by the paradox of her laid back, agreeable demeanour and yet her profound wisdom for someone her age. I’ve connected with Cait at a pivotal cross road in her life, which makes for the perfect backdrop for a deep conversation in podcast format. This act of personal reflection is a recurrent theme at moments throughout her life, and is what has allowed her to stay authentic to herself, questioning her motivation at every major junction. She shows up with compassion and curiosity, enabling her to plan her next move with intention and purpose, and it’s from this place that she’s been able to achieve great heights in her career, frequently redefining what success looks like along the way. Following the breadcrumbs of her intuition, her recent work explores the concept of radical self acceptance. This body of work speaks to her personal experiences growing up, and also sprouts from the industry that she lives and breathes; Fashion shoots on the beach, models, instagram filters, selfies. However her work within this somewhat restrictive space caught the eye of the WSL (World Surf League), and she was invited to shoot major international sporting events around the globe. Photographing professional athletes on the world stage is a high pressure environment, and a challenge that she has definitely risen to, showing just how versatile she is as a human and a photographer. Her goal is to humanise the people she shoots and capture the essence of their unique story no matter who they are. To date she has shot the cover of the surfing mag Tracks Magazine with Stephanie Gilmore and won the prestigious Monster Children Magazine photography competition. The ocean plays several fundamental roles in her life, being where she works, plays creatively and finds solace for personal reflection. She is a savvy business woman to have figured out so early on that it was possible to bring all these facets of life together with the foundation of the Ocean being the glue. Cait is an absolute breath of fresh air and it’s her spirited approach to life that has inspired me to keep evolving as a person and not meander off track. PLUS! Want to practise your surf photography? Enjoy a 5% discount off Aquatech Gear, which is the water housing Cait uses when shooting. Use code CAIT5 at checkout. Show Notes: For this new podcast to grow, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please consider any of the following meaningful gestures; Share this episode with a friend Hit ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app of choice Rate the show with 5 stars Leave a review | |||
| 29 Oct 2024 | Hikerkind - The courage to trailblaze an industry with Allison Levy & Chelsea Rizzo | 01:10:00 | |
This episode is about courage and confidence. Traits that my guests today Chelsea Rizzo and Allison Levy have an abundance of. As co-founders of the New York based, women's outdoor brand Hikerkind, these two women epitomise what it means to trailblaze an industry. They saw an opportunity, conjured up the idea, and then executed it in record time. Being hikers themselves, they experienced first-hand the frustration of not finding gear that empowered them when on trail. They lent into this signal, realising that women were an underrepresented category in the industry. They then committed to being leaders in this space, completely redefining the outdoor segment for women. They believe the only way for a woman to rise to the challenges that will undoubtedly come up when hiking outside, is for them to feel authentic and confident. And their hiking gear, including the apparel, plays a big role in this empowerment. By creating this brand they’ve officially shown the world that style and function don’t need to be mutually exclusive, in fact, a beautiful synergy can exist between the two. Both women started their careers in the fashion industry, but felt this trajectory was limited. Then came covid. They didn’t see this as a risky, scary time for business, but a time of opportunity. As brands were getting lost in a sea of mediocre products and false instagram facades, they built Hikerkind to have its feet firmly grounded in the values that we need to see more of in the world today; Community, collaboration and intentional design. It’s living this philosophy day in and out, that has meant their entire lives have changed as a result of starting the brand. They didn’t expect to feel such joy working in a value-led business where Nature is at the heart of literally everything they do and that was a beautiful surprise for them. Their goal is to show people that Nature is accessible to everyone, and isn’t some elusive mountain we need to climb. Everyone is equal on trail, reminding me of Gloria Steinem’s beautiful quote where she wishes for a world ‘where we are linked not ranked’. This chat is jam-packed with entrepreneurial business insights, tales of personal growth and has an uplifting, seize-the-day type energy. These two New Yorkers will show you that a vision is always worth pursuing, as long as it's one you truly care about. PLUS! Head over to the Hikerkind website to enjoy 10% off your purchase, use SUNSMITH10 at checkout. Show Notes: Book reference - Signals: How Everyday Signs Can Help Us Navigate the World's Turbulent Economy, by Dr Philippa Malmgren For this new podcast to grow, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please consider any of the following meaningful gestures; Share this episode with a friend Hit ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app of choice Rate the show with 5 stars Leave a review | |||
| 06 Nov 2024 | Heather Hillier - Throwing caution to the wind on horseback & motorbike | 01:30:00 | |
This episode is about following the call of the heart and my guest today Heather Hillier, is a woman who did this with grace and ease. A humble yet tenacious Canadian who embarked on an incredible journey of the heart and spirit back in 2015. Upon meeting her Aussie love interest filmmaker Matty Hannon, she joined his ambitious surf adventure of travelling from Alaska to Patagonia on motorbike and documented the whole journey in the hopes to make a film. Heather joined the trip starting in Puerto Escondido, Mexico and headed South riding a motorcycle for 9 months. Then, they had an urge to connect deeper to the environment and switched to horseback for the remainder of the trip, with Heather travelling for another 6 months, finishing in Pucon, Chile, while Matty continued on to the southernmost accessible point of the Americas. Their film ‘Road to Patagonia’ has now been released and screened across Australia and overseas, winning copious accolades and awards. It is a breath-taking exploration of humanity’s current connection to the natural world, told with the intimacy of their blossoming romance and hardships and joys on the road. Heather’s background in regenerative farming and permaculture, ensured that the prospect of such an epic adventure was too tantalising to pass up. Not having any motorbike experience might have deterred many people but no obstacle was too hard for her and she made it her reality. She talks frankly about romanticising the idea of riding both motorbikes and horses, and how this idealised view crumbled with the actual reality, forcing her to readjust her mindset and approach to the whole experience. Once the couple were on horseback, their responsibilities grew tremendously, as having to find food and water for the horses everyday was challenging. But this shift of connecting more to the natural world, also ensured they showed respect for the locals and indigenous communities. They also had to remain humble as they were being guided by the weather patterns and terrain instead of their predetermined plans. I was struck by Heather’s sense of openness when it comes to making bold decisions about one's life. Her take is that all women are capable of doing a trip like this, if only we weren’t warned of the dangers before even setting foot. Coupled with Heather’s stoic approach to doing hard things, there is a beautiful softness and appreciation for other people, creatures, and energies that exist outside of her own, making the trip undeniably formative in shaping who she is. We also unpack the trials and tribulations of motherhood, the frustrations that arise when travelling and working with your partner and lover, and of course about the film which they made together while travelling. We recorded this episode before the film was released so admittedly it was some time ago, but Heather’s insights are timeless and I thought the episode was still relevant to share. The film (Garage Entertainment, Madman) is currently screening and is a must-see. I myself was absolutely blown off my feet when I saw it, I laughed, cried, and felt completely inspired to learn from this incredible couple. PLUS DISCOUNTS!! If you like the headwear that Heather was wearing on her trip, they were made by sustainable Aussie hat brand Will and Bear, who have generously offered this community a 20% discount off their products. Head to their website and use the code SUNSMITH20 at checkout. Show Notes: Now screening at these cinemas Will & Bear - Sustainable Hats
Also, for this new podcast to grow, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please consider any of the following meaningful gestures; Share this episode with a friend Hit ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app of choice Rate the show with 5 stars Leave a review Thank you so much for listening and joining the journey of uncovering these tales of inspiring women. | |||