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Date
Titre
Durée
08 May 2022
Ep 93 - Become a creature of the planet with INDIRA NAIDOO
00:46:34
Following the shocking & heartbreaking death of her younger sister Indira leant into grief with the help of the natural world. She formed a deep friendship with a tree, learnt the power of self trust & became conscious of death in a way that led her to see puddles as portals into another world. Despite the genesis, this conversation is joyful & powerful.
Show Notes
Forced to be present - the pressure is off
Living the now is how the body and mind forces you to be in grief
"The ‘now’ is not muddied by the past or the expectation of the future"
Tackling the big topics and being prepared to sit with loss, grief and unexplained emotions
Discovering that the answers to all the questions sit within you if you're prepared to lean into the discomfort
Discovering it's possible to feel closer to people in death than in life
The forgiveness that comes with death
Deliberately seeking the wondrous memories to overcome the sadness
Becoming much more contented and grateful in the face of grief
Live while you are alive and don’t die until you are dead - suck the marrow out of life
Why the fuzziness has been taken out of life - she is rarely not sure anymore
Learning to listen to herself
Learning to make your backyard your world
Why her tree is her favourite place on earth
Waiting for a generation before we see the impact of our actions
By being still you realise you're not separate from nature but part of it.
Why she no longer sees where her skin ends and the bark on the tree begins
Let’s go fly a kite together
Reminding people to seek healing capacity through nature
Finding ways to create a sense of boundless space
Understanding the impact of the colour green
Allow yourself to be where you are
Trust how you’re feeling, what makes you feel better
The varied faces of grief
Why acceptance wasn’t enough - seeking meaning is the next phase
Learning we are in ‘the line’
Becoming livened by the idea that death won’t elude any of us
Discovering how much knowledge is already in your DNA - but learning how to unlock it
Unlearning ‘being the one with all the answers’
Spending time with people who are “experts in life”
Stepping away from manufacturing experiences
Discovering intoxication by being aware of the nature around me rather than the addition of stimulants
The power of observation
Becoming conscious of the subtle nuances in life
Being drawn to the force of a tree
Baby steps to bring change NOW to open a crack of light in life
Ep 94 Woodstock Flour on 'grain' the last frontier of the local food system
00:57:30
Do you know where your grain comes from... the farmers name... how they grow it? Woodstock flour are doing their level best to change the last frontier via the power of building relationships and connecting. Join Jade and Courtenay as they get gritty on grains and hear why we need to value its diversity and regionality just like we do wine or cheese.
Show Notes
Why food production is the avenue to create the most significant environmental change
Finding a way to fit into the family farm as the 2nd generation via a stone mill & farmers markets
Getting people to think about their grain consumption as they do their veggies or fruit
Venturing onto their own farm in Rutherglen
Diversifying & de-risking as part of the succession plan
Maintaining identity in the succession process
Building a farm business that is totally collaborative & openly shares knowledge
The importance of transparency in building a movement
The power of open minded, interactive relationships
Building a business via the lens of socio-political factors
Land ownership & its connection to class & race - privilege
Facing the confronting reality of land ownership on unceded land
CSA model for grains
Covid experiences of customer demands
Open Road Project
Education about true cost of food & reconciling the inaccessibility of this reality
The journey of creating a path to market from scratch
The value of putting yourself into things regardless of financial return in the short time
Holistic management
Collaborating with community is often an opportunity to connect with land, find joy through connection to others & learn from all that’s around us
Acknowledging the slow pace of us as humans
How do we get the next generation interested in food production?
The beauty of rural communities being accepting of each others ways & thinking
Finding solidarity in the wine growing community
Rising early to paint - no excuses, no interruptions
Defining business roles in a small family business
Being deliberate about the daily decisions to ensure balance
Ep 95 Claire Dunn - Rewilding our soul with the Natures Apprentice
01:00:06
What would it be like to rely solely on yourself, lean into ecological literacy, to really notice the changing patterns of the season & offer yourself the time it genuinely takes to live intimately with the earth . Claire tells of her pathway to following a calling to initiation - a need to let her social identity rot away on the forest floor & go into a place of deep introspection. Spurred by a primal knowledge that we are living in a world with a deficit in: nature, elders, community, ritual & skills, Claire is rewriting her story & rebuilding the culture around her to become one of eco awakening - it starts with something as basic as an intentional 'wander' or journaling & accepting awkwardness as we relearn the art of village building using pan cultural tools like rhythm, percussion, scent, song, body movement, repetition, nature noticing,
Show Notes Spending a year off grid, alone, connecting to her human identity To do what I could to be a voice for the voiceless Her psyche turned towards a deep interconnectedness which heals the rift between the human soul & nature The constant flow of the forest sees an intruding human as a benign presence Rewriting her patterns of productivity, structure, Growing from a solo wolf into a community being Why she never felt lonely when in the bush Learning the art of community generated & self designed ceremony which links nature & culture Vision quests - multiple days along in a wild place. A way to mark a transition that's already happening. A strong ceremony with an element of ordeal which humbles us & marks us porous to some of the quieter conversations. Deep adaptation is what we’re needing. How can I live well on the land, in community with a thriving culture with wisdom around the journey of adolescence to adulthood. Reclaiming what we've lost, what we've buried but reclaiming culture in a contemporary setting. Hunter gatherers challenge - eating only what you grow, forage or bartered Feasting on community through intention, dedication, time, conflict, conversations Grief as a community builder Sparking ourselves through rewilding - a full expression of our animus being - creativity, love, vision, vitality, quiet, deep attuned listening, Removing abstractions from our ability to connect to our life support systems - our embeddedness with the web of life “Don't ask what the world needs of us, ask what makes you come alive and go do that because what the world needs most right now is a population of people who are alive”
Ep 96 Kristine Harper - Seeking & designing a sensorial existence
00:56:49
Sustainability is not just what you consume. It's a deeply fulfilling way to be in the world. We ask why we can’t just build arks & sail away with a few privileged like minded people & instead define value in seeking a sensorial life w a connection to place & community. Since moving to Indonesia Kristine has learnt that you can’t count in minutes & hours the value of what you produce, she has watched her little boy learn to read nature & that when you unlearn some things it gives you space to learn new things.
Author of Anti Trend. Kristine is a Dane now living in Bali, with a long and celebrated career in Design Tech. Her research focuses on sustainable product design, philosophical aesthetics, aesthetic nourishment and above all else the social and ecological responsibility of the design world.
Show Notes
Throwing it all in & moving to Bali for a new family life
Recalibrating from a design first approach to a minimalist existence
So many discarded things in our world - deems things valueless
Focussing on permanence rather than short termism
Starting by understanding your aesthetic & pleasure preferences
Avoiding dogma and rules for evolution towards regeneration
Looking to designers to take responsibility for what they put into the world
How life altering it is to be outside all the time in her tropical life
How going barefoot & being out-of-doors connects you to your surroundings
Convenience is the biggest sinner in the face of a sustainable existence
As the host of the the 'regen-narration podcast, listening, learning and storytelling is this mans lens. Join us in getting comfortable sitting in silence while we wait for the insights With an intent for working collaboratively and creating a community of care, this conversation is flowing and abstract, reflecting on our life of fat, comfort and ease while we need to to embrace the discomforts of our future - learning new skills to navigate a world without rose coloured glasses while maintaining action and hope that is meaningful and uplifting.
Show Notes
Why his podcast is its own entity
Why he is as curious and hopeful as all heck
Meta narratives of the regeneration movement
How communities are used as political pawns and divided when actually we are stronger when united
What he imagines life will be in 50 years
Why he believes our future is not yet written
Elite structures are the abstractions blocking all of us from connection to country
What he is doing to get around the colonial abstractions
Finding what it is you can bring to others and offering it with generosity
How can we all implement the things we are learning to the way we live our lives
Building a community of people
Navigating the complexities of human-ness in our efforts to rebuild our communities
Creating a Community of care
Prioritising the living systems - not just supplanting the current paradigm solutions
Owning and claiming your own storytelling narrative - be in it, share it, connect with it
Removing binary thinking
Revelling in the space of head/heart truth
Our mind (the way we think) is based in biological reality and so is the way we feel - how can we chart a holistic, intuitive, experiential way forward
More of us are going to feel the sharp edges of climate impact
The power of the in-between
While we’re nothing on our own we are magnificent as a sum of the parts
Minimising intellectual explanation and leaving room for a felt experience
It’s time to come together across cultures, across words, across knowledge barriers
Our divisions are usually accentuated by the powers that be
Ep 98 Sandra Henri - Making that ONE DAY define the rest of your life
01:03:58
Summary
What can weddings teach us? To be intentional, to build ritual, to connect with our community, to co-create celebration, to build co-relational practices. Weddings are the perfect ‘on ramp’ for people to consider their long term shift for the way they live their life - its feel good activism that's fun, love filled and purposeful.
Show Notes
Creating a wedding carbon calculator
Her aha moment on the ground in Malawi
The average western wedding costs $35k
Incorporating more giving into our weddings
Using weddings as a chance to give back
The fundamental lack of sustainability mindsets in the wedding sphere
Creating a day that represents peoples truth
Rewriting wedding culture
Covid weddings - smaller, simpler and more meaningful
Reverse the wedding plan design to build from the basics up
A midday nap = success
Enough is living a life where I can look after myself, my family and my mental health
Learning to be satisfied with who we are within ourselves
The more grateful you are the more generous you are
Building your community through your wedding
Wedding rituals
Coregulating by placing a hand on each others heart and breathing together
Cocreating the wedding with your community
Slowing down and honouring the ceremony
Repeating the wedding rituals with a small group of special people
Weddings are one of our very last traditions and this means it carries much weighty expectation
The smaller weddings are more intimate and allow more room for open emotional vulnerability
Weddings that don’t follow the rules but create their own patterns
Ensuring that you are awake and heard by each other not just on your wedding day but for a lifetime
The way you celebrate your wedding day is the foundation for the way you will spend your life together
If the wedding planning is all driven by the bride does this set the tone for the relationship
Having the hard questions about values alignment before you get to the altar
Reframing value and reconnecting multi generations - yearning to recreate traditional connections
Shared stories across generations
Using our privilege to share knowledge and action resilience
Reducing travel and guest size is the single greatest way to reduce a wedding footprint
Avoid imported flowers opt instead for ‘slow flowers’
Not letting pinterest be the guide but the seasons
Think about every decision you make as something that can regenerate, sustain or degenerate something or someone
Small weddings are more relaxed
Defining a united vision and purpose of something thats greater than yourself
Ep 99 Gabrielle Chan - Why we should give a f*$#% about farming!
00:51:52
Recorded just days after the Federal election, Gabrielle Chan doesn't mince words - even when bone tired. A celebrated journalist with the Guardian, outspoken advocate for rural Australia and encourager of individual agency. "Our system has been made up buy people and it can be rewritten by people". Lets not wait for Government to bring change but get active and organised now during times of abundance.
Show Notes Connecting the grass roots regen ag movements with top down politics The need for change in our food, water, land management policies “We export a lot of sausage sandwiches - beef and wheat” Why it’s time to change the narrative around Australia's ag sector Why ‘level playing fields’ are a farce The fragility of financial deregulations, long global supply chains increasing disease, increased drought - how do we as a sovereign nation reassure ourselves of continued prosperity The potential for rural policy to create the framework that allows smaller scale and regen practices to thrive The power of the colonial squatacracy How do we bring policy reform to ag so it has relevance for smaller scale 7 regen practices to thrive The potential of utilising the “voices for” movement as a model for local food to grow Why we need to re-engage with politics The thing that only Govt does is set the ground rules for how we conduct our business. People need to be involved in politics to influence its direction The need for strategic water policy to better support us on the driest continent on earth Talking about water, food and skills while we are in times of abundance Where does the role of govt need to stop and allow room for community to pick up The ongoing debate about why we do not yet have drought policy or food policy Refine what you want to change - get organised and get active in the arena from bottom up The big secret - we are ALL MAKING IT UP Her slow, gradual, accidental path to being a communicator. Her writing approach - just keep writing, push through the creative barriers The process of sitting down and ordering your thoughts results in a unique Connecting the systemic dots through political reporting The history of farming and nature control The Connectivity of farming to EVERYTHING ELSE Ag and environment are different political portfolios - WTF We cannot have an economy without an environment The need for the economy the environment + the desires of the humans involved in farming to be interacting The need to account for ecological resources
Questions the fundamental systems Finding optimism in the work done by others Having faith in humanity Connecting people to spark change
We have lost a giant! Dan Palmers death has left many of us feeling not only shocked and deeply saddened but dismayed and destabilised. He was an individual who embraced his role as a 'challenger' of the accepted, he leaned into the hard questions and held the hand of a movement which was all the better for his efforts to make it stronger through open and honest conversation. He pushed his comrades to seek more, made us comfortable in the uncomfortable, offered us tools to navigate this and was beating the drum for all of us to transition our paradigm as quickly as we could manage. His trademark wit, disarming knack of bringing the personal into the professional and forever returning to the 'human' was a talent.
I've no words to reconcile our collective reality in having lost such a beautiful man and important voice - its hardly believable. But mustering your people, genuinely checking in on each others mental health and remembering we are mere humans who are fundamentally collective beings is an important place to begin. Go gently, be kind and love openly.
In honour of an incredible individual - enjoy his wise words. x
Ep 101 Jodi Wilson - Learning to see the world with your body not just with your eyes
00:56:28
Author of Practicing Simplicity, Jodi Wilson faced a fear of complacently which grew bigger than her fear of change and it prompted her to pack her 4 young chillins into a caravan for a life on the road and the building of a whole new rhythm. Over the coming years, they got comfortable in the discomfort of change, uncertainty and discovered that the ritual of stirring porridge shouldn’t be underestimated, nor should the remarkability of the ordinary. She encourages us all to take small steps and make brave choices. We need to step outside our front doors, go for a walk and chat to our neighbours.
*Recorded pre federal election
Deciding, on a whim to take her 4 children around Australia in a caravan
Letting her intuition dominate her decisions towards a leap of faith
Consciously close mental tabs
Unravelling the sense of obligation to time frames and social norms
If we are privileged enough to make choice, we have a responsibility to make change
Why it’s important we don't get stuck in our bell jar
How a life on the road in a caravan with 6 people helped refine what we really need in our life.
Making conscious decisions
Sustainability as humans - constantly running,
Creating a life she believed in not one she was wedged into
Intuition led - heart and gut. If it doesn't feel right it can’t be continued
Why she cant access her intuition or gut instinct if she is anxious
Spending time in nature, barefoot on sand, in deserts,
Finding a sense of belonging and connection in ancestral landscapes
Making major decisions via a woven path of experiences
The romance of a roadtrip was appealing but the reality was that I had to get dirty
You carry the dirt of your travels are carried in the crevices of your skin
Reminiscent stories of they’re 2.5 years on the road
Settling in Tassie in a 1950’s bungalow
Defining what it is you DO WANT
Creating ritual and time for self while on the road
Looking at the stars and basking in the silence of the night
Creating more time in your life because of the choices we’ve made
Simplicity starts where you are with what you have - simplicity is an attitude and a mindset
Simplicity ebbs and flows with the demands of our lives
Collective heartache and collective exhaustion
We haven't evolved from the primal beings we are but we have been distracted.
Nothing gets done unless you take small steps towards it
Replacing the perfectionist hurdles of ‘shoulda’ with the compassionate reality of “I will when I can”
Feeling like a local when the neighbours stop for a chat and the shop owners know your name
Living with little and raising her kids to see this gives her hope
Ep 102 Harriet Goodall - Weaving a connection to landscape without ownership
01:03:39
Discovering the value of craft in her early 20's led Harriet towards the natural dye revolution, forming her pathway into weaving. “I took a one day class in basketry & haven't had another job since ” As a talented weaver, Harriet now believes everyone can & should be creative. She shares the joys & challenges of delineating between a job and a creative passion and talks of our primal attraction to hand made things because of the energy &^ essence the otherwise inanimate object has. Join us in this conversation of 'communal remembering of weavery' and perhaps you too will make "can you pull over" your most said phrase.
Show notes Her first heartbreak when they had to leave her childhood home Rebuilding her identity Building a ‘good life’ as renters Contemplation of life on the trading cycle rather than a money oriented one Falling in love with fabrics and traditional village life Buying beanies as their first enterprise Her early adult years running an ethical trade business Iconography stories in weavings Weaving - a really easy way to be connected to nature Foraging, connecting to seasons, learning the way of the land and getting her hands in it “It’s a long relationship you have with your creativity, it ebbs and flows, it comes with you, sometimes it’s working but sometimes it's incredibly challenging” Mastering something is a fraught concept - there are always more angles to be explored. Honoring her Dad by using materials from a fallen tree on his property to create a table for her family. Passing objects of meaning from one generation to the next along with knowledge Why her ‘voice’ is defined by her creativity A drive towards beauty for beauty's sake gives her hope. Her Dads curiosity - “can this beauty be an accident or is there something more powerful than all of us. Why art is a disciplined practice The practice of weaving is an ancient memory - before agriculture even. It had a functional purpose Her ache to sit at the feet of those who are willing to teach the scholarship of basketry The communal remembering of basket weavery The double edged sword of using technology to share traditional skills The magic of weaving to crack open emotional connectedness and vulnerability Workshop junkies who adore the emotional release of the art Exploring the potential of a new material; hairy panic is her latest material The tactility of weaving - you can’t imagine it into being you have to get your hands in It opens your eyes to the seasons and the changes in the landscape Planting a weaving garden or a dye garden The hypocrisy of travelling Rewriting factory production by buying direct from fair trade craftsman There's no machine to make a basket - if its cheap, what were the conditions of the person who made it. Every decision you make requires us to be awake to the impact that decision has. Try not to buy things just because they are cheap Mutual reciprocity and obligation Hosting a street party in rural communities
Ep 103 Ronnie Khan - How a single Salmon showed this powerhouse how to take on the world one teaspoon at a time
00:45:14
Beginning with gratitude, listening to her desire to be of service, seeking challenges and not seeing obstacles is the approach Ronnie Khan takes to keep her work nourishing. Her advice...do something, little things, every day. Even though the fire is so big, each and every one of us can use a teaspoon , if millions of us use a teaspoon , we can put the fire out through everyday actions that make a difference.
Her calling was in food relief, what's yours?
SHOW NOTES
How her destiny has led her to a purposeful life The influence of a childhood in an apartheid South Africa When you see inequality visibly before your eyes, it’s very hard not to feel defensive of it The whiplash of moving from apartheid to a socialism centric kibbutz - You work according to your ability & get what you need. Why moving to Australia allowed her to find her destiny in the last 20 years of her life She felt Australia was home the moment she arrived. She would hate for someone to feel that you cannot find your destiny unless you have a deep connection to place. Why finding your calling is not LUCK - gratitude is the key Being 50 before discovering her calling Creating solutions not problems Empowering people to be food literate and nourish themselves with food Nurturing volunteers in the way they ought to be Why not everybody needs to start a charity but to find their empowerment to be themselves Her reasons to write a book - an ordinary person who ended up doing something that is extraordinary, a practical lesson for others to learn from. Mixing family and business Our options to address calamity - teaspoons are one way of putting the fire out. Why she gifts a teaspoon with each of her books Why there's nothing prescriptive on the path to change. Look in the mirror and you will see the joy & your purpose - you can’t buy purpose What brought you the most joy Her purpose does not waver because it is way bigger than her - her purpose is to serve. 4000 volunteers and still onboarding. People love their energy and love that they listen and value their most previous commodity (time) Free supermarket - take what you need and give if you can Oz Harvest cannot operate without magnificent people Finding ways to build volunteer retention Community is the new Immunity - we need connection and more value for more people Covid has lifted a veil - removed a mask for the potential for who we could be We had become human doings and not human beings - how do we be, on this planet, honor nature and stop destroying the things that keep us alive. The more you can see you can do Being able to use your voice Don’t ever underestimate the power of you as an individual and the actions you can take.
Ep 104 Luke Larson - Listening & learning from the stories in our walls
00:59:58
Nestled in a multi hundred year old barn in Vermont, USA, is Luke Larson, his wife & children. Creating art with 600 year old timber is no mean feat, especially when it’s the wood which leads the way with a language that takes a lifetime to learn. As an analogy to the way we could all interact with the natural world, Luke's love affair with this way of life is absolute and pretty darned compelling when you hear him explain how he discovered it, why he continues it and what his community looks like within it.
Show Notes Walking a mile through the woods to his grandfather's woodshop Gratitude for his team who are as committed to ancient skills and community as he is. Marvelling at the walls of the barns which housed people, animals and creatures of all kinds Discovering 1870’s account ledgers - a window into a past way of existence One of 8 children with thoughtful, open, practical parents who sowed the seeds The onsite processing facility his parents built on their family owned, community scale dairy farm Hand tools offer an opportunity to learn the nature of individual trees and working WITH nature Right from the get go timber framing is about understanding how the timber will evolve over the coming 200 hundred years Woodworking teaches him to understand his place in the ecosystem - listening Accepting you are forever a student of the wood not the other way around Riving - the Scandinavian process of reading the timber to build boats by listening to the song that its singing What made him say yes to being on a television series Keeping Vermont's built culture alive and shared The plus’s and minus’s of having a modern day datasystem available to us. Ensuring this doesn’t replace face to face and generation to generation interactions His intentional approach to how he lives his life as students who are intentionally pursuing a lifestyle that he is in love with. His community encyclopedia of knowledge which becomes more available as trust is built and relationships are forged Raising his own barn with his community around him Translating the lessons he learns from trees to other spheres of the natural world. Rituals of barn raising Timber frames cannot be made alone - they require a team and this is part of its magic Ritualising the teams safety - taking the mundane and bringing reverence to it. Using the dark, quiet moments to maintain his hand tools and honour them Marvelling at the aesthetic touches of days gone by - why did they value these small touches when life was easily as busy as our modern day. Gratitude for his grandfather who allowed him to lean on his workbench Staying intentionally small Balancing business with the need to give back to community Why teaching 60 school kids in using hand tools and listening to the nature of wood has been the highlight of his career How centring it can be to hold and listen to wood. Learn from the tree.
Ep 105 Tanya Massy - Can love create unison of head, hands & heart?
00:45:25
Spending time in wild places has taught this 5th generation farmer to quietly find ways to listen to others, those who often don't have a voice but have so much to teach the rest of us. The challenge is in finding ways to give them their own way of being deeply heard.
Engaging in relationships with local traditional owners is the beginning of her journey of uncovering history and rebuilding the path forward. To make this possible, Tanya leans on love, not the 'sugarised' popular culture version, but the kind that asks us to step into harder, more complicated challenges where climate is creating environments which are anti life. Tanyas 'tomorrow' is focussed on growing her heart big enough to lean into the challenges we all need to confront. "Despite it feeling vulnerable - we need big love to stay committed to our people, place and the challenges faced by humanity.
Show Notes
Navigating succession planning on the family farm Why she farms Her love of music took her to Tenant Creek and taught her how to listen Wilderness School in the USA Success = love for and from others, love for place, love for land Reckoning with the truth of farming land that was colonised by her family and never ceded Love for the visceral raw beauty of the country she calls home Doing the work required to repair the damage done. Using ‘invisibility’ to navigate a male dominated farming sector Her dads support to be what she wanted to be despite being female Identifying with women who were not ‘visible’ but were still offering valuable contribution Finding maturity and strength in your own way and time Being part of a team on family farms Deeply listening Exploring solo, observing the outside world until the connection with self is seamless Letting the outside wash over questions you are wrestling with The formative experience of living with indigenous Australians on country Experiencing what it feels like to be a white minority - a necessary unsettling experience to gain profound perspective and humility Diversifying her farming to incorporate horticulture as well as livestock Actively seeking time in community where collective efforts were her salve to city life Using community dance to release unspoken tensions Her love of music and dance since very early childhood - fluid, joyful, embodied wonder that gets us out of our heads - she now dances in the paddock with her sheep Breaking into song with her gran in her last week of life The power of community to dissipate grief Leaning into grief with open emotion and active presence while we celebrate and harvest memories Grieving collectively Being reassured by the sense of their being a collective effort Her freelance for Wonderground Being apprenticed to country as a way of caring
Ep 106 Rosemary Morrow - A life of global service through the sharing of knowledge
00:47:16
Summary Akin to a cuppa while flicking through photo albums, this conversation is rich with stories of her lived experiences across every continent & through many decades. This wisdom holder has offered her life in service by knowledge sharing. A much respected permaculture educator, her foundation is science based, heart felt & relational in every way. Her practical generosity has contributed to refugee camps in war torn countries and her commitment to empowering communities without becoming a guru is refreshing.
Show Notes
Adaptation principles - Observe carefully, backup functions, seeing solutions, being prepared to make change & noticing Is water more destructive than drought? Creating a culture where people are comfortable to listen to their intuition The critical value of eco literacy - taught in childhood but forgotten in adulthood Building confidence in ourselves to enact change Operating as a community rather than individuals who are side by side Looking for change outside of ‘lobby groups’ The power of the collective rather than individual leaders Intuition is when you know something from a prior sensory input but haven't made it conscious yet - this relies on eco literacy and enables us to come up with solutions Her Vietnamese experience - connecting traditional knowledge with permaculture principles using the pyramid approach of community teaching Removing guru’ism by teaching locally and inbuilding principles that ensure the original teacher is no longer needed because the knowledge is in the community Her scientific background has ensured she is less inclined towards whims, rather its focussed on critical thought Making people eco literate by starting with a focus on the fundamentals Why permaculture is not western middle class - it is adaptable to traditional knowledge? The role of traditional ritual and custom in building community - the Songs of Community Singing to recognise climate, topography, people, direction, acknowledging the power and might of the natural over humans - keeps us small and in a sense of wonder Reading plants as secular or sacred Ritual is acknowledge of our small scope, observation and awe Seeing permaculture as a jigsaw where we can take the pieces we need for the places we are in Permaculture is not an armchair discipline - it’s a discipline of service through knowledge sharing We are all as poor as the poorest person The power of permaculture in giving individuals agency and the ability to bring change Why waving $500 each week and a vibrant garden is enough
Ep 107 Claire O'Rourke - Together we can... building solidarity in climate grief
00:52:00
When was your moment of realisation that life, including our own, is finite & that the climate will impact our way of life. How are you processing this? Claire asks, ‘how are you using your skills, networks & privilege to add your weight to the climate movement & shares the value of processing our individual climate grief & collective efforts.
Processing climate grief
Catalysing change within your own community
You can’t work on any part of nature without understanding and working on climate
Cognitive dissonance of our every day existence
Becoming clear & present in the reality of what life will be for her later years & her children lives
Climate grief results in exhaustion, sadness, overwhelm,
Its ok to feel frustrated, distressed, anxious - things are NOT normal, we are collectively experiencing trauma
There are rising levels of pre traumatic distress due to the climate realities
It’s emcombant on me as a person in a position of privilege to share my skills and knowledge with those who have less agency
Coming to terms with the fact that life is finite
Stepping outside the western paradigm of endless productivity
Learning from first nations people
Using acceptance and commitment therapy as a way to move forward
Minimising ebbs and flows of grief with the agency that comes from action
Shunning a Pollyanna view of the world - there’s no hero coming to save us. We all have a role to contribute to our collective efforts and leverage existing relationships
We can all make a choice about fighting or flighting - being consructuve or active or distructive and dismissive is our choice alone
Acceptance of the inevitability that fossil fuels are on the way out
We are in the middle of an epidemic of loneliness - especially 19-25 years olds, this can spiral our community connection and collective
The value of participating without having to be the expert
Creating ancestral totems
Building gratitude practice into your every day via living creatures that connect us all to our ancestors
The way behaviour change flows through networks via those on the edge of multiple networks - this is often ‘everyday’ folks
Climate deniers are a very small percentage of Australians
Reframing success to celebrate the spirit of co-operation
Showing politicians that we want to be connected and interrelated will be transformational for politicians to see
Taking kids on this journey
Go where your interest is strongest and the need is greatest
We have to enjoy the world we are in otherwise whats the point in fighting for it
Imperfection is the beauty of human nature and imperfect is most liely to be the journey we go on as we decarbonise
Action on climete means more of the things we love (like the sun comig up) but less of the things we actually cant maintain (consumables)
Ep 108 Diette Hochuli - Falling in love with nearby nature
00:40:51
From your balcony to the nature strip, citizen science to observing recolionising birds - however you interact with the outside world, there are so many reasons and so many opportunities to do so every, single day!
As the co-author of the recently published book "A guide to the creatures in your neighbourhood" Diette encourages us in this conversation to reignite our childhood curiosity of the natural world by working harder to find the extraordinary in the ordinary - not just looking and seeing but asking WHY and taking the leap to contribute in some small way.
SUMMARY Getting interested in ‘nearby nature’ Not just telling people about nature but offering ideas for action and activities Working collaboratively and managing dynamics, Being intrigued by the combative nature of nature The role of creativity in science It's not so much about the facts but the way this knowledge is shared Learning to have public conversations about science to allow difficult conversations to unfold Amusing ourselves at ‘A’ rather than endlessly going from A to B The value of learning through codesign and collaboration The value of citizen science as a gateway to connecting with nature Storytelling as part of our intuitive human condition Wellbeing benefits of nature and all the reasons to get involved Accepting the way the younger generation learn We know so little about so much Reinstating rituals in urban environments for our young people Genuinely listening to the kids to understand their perspective and their needs Kids capacity to be resilient is being impacted by over connection Giving kids agency of their journey The adolescence dip in their connection with nature in whatever path interests them Practicing what he preaches - learning new things every day - relax, watch and observe Not just looking and seeing but asking WHY Did you know worker ants and bees are all females The pros and cons of personification of natural world elements Creating mindful moments in nature without the need to be an ‘expert’ What the the parts of the everyday that we should be talking more about? Our dependency on pollinators for our food security
Ep 109 Alex Elliot - Cornersmith Cracker! A celebration of imperfect perfection
00:46:57
Bugger off dogmatic rules - who wrote those anyway. Push off unfaltering sustainable existence - you're leave us feeling guilty. Shhhh up incessant Instagram perfection - its not real! Tune in to this fire cracker of fresh air to recalibrate your judgment beacon and give yourself a break while you learn to a make a difference in a way that works for you. Could that be quiet food related activism or perhaps sharing practical skills in your community, or waking up to the plastic explosion in our lives and actively curbing your contribution. Perhaps its pickling...everything in sight! What ever your path, Alex is unwaveringly supportive of anyone having a go at even the smallest of things & her final word of advice ' slow down, don't peak too soon...its a long path & its not getting any easier'
Growing up in a share house that loved to cook in her formative years Creating community around the share plate Being ok with fish fingers and frozen peas Letting judgement go to make a difference while being accepting Education to build hope & practical skills during this climate emergency The exhausting weight of being sustainable 24/7 Wanting to help people fall in love with their kitchens again without ideology Beginning a business with her husband despite limited experience Discovering pickling when her kids were tiny & she was losing her mind Pickling as an onramp to a simpler sustainable life Lying awake thinking about wasting cumquats Putting community abundance to good use in a pickling jar Crossing language barriers to learn food preservation methods from her neighbourhood Taking twists & turns in business Why now is the time to stand up & shout really loudly No person can avoid having to make regenerative choices Getting bolder with age Trading with locals who swap backyard produce for coffee Navigating a food business through covid Avoiding being black and white Making spaces where its simple for people to make a contribution Choosing her favourite pickle You don’t have to make mega batches of food to make a contribution Eating and using what you’ve got to reduce food waste Choose one thing, while you build your habits and reframe your practices Do we all need to be a little uncomfortable in order to make us all think and create other solutions, Wake up and stop being passive, owning your decisions or solutions Using scraps from the bin to create magic If it can be used - use it Saving money by using every single part of every single thing Lucky dip cupboard - food without labels The process of writing a cook book Replacing the guilt with creativity in the kitchen The disservice of instagram perpetuating perfection Pearl of wisdom - going slower in our change journey to ensure longevity
Ep 110 Artists As Family. How brave are you? - Summer days throwback 2023
01:15:37
This family of four live a largely non-monetary existence on a quarter-acre permaculture plot on Djaara peoples' country/Daylesford. They describe themselves as neopeasants, defined by the gardens & forests they tend, the resources they glean & grow, the community they're part of and the technologies they both use & refuse.
They practice permapoesis, which simply means permanent making or regenerative living -an antidote to disposable culture - & show us what's possible when creativity, reverence & reciprocity is placed at the heart of human existence.
SHOW NOTES
A frugal background + time on a kibbutz
Early skills in propagation and a deep desire to grow things
An attraction to counter culture & eternal questioning of injustices
Finding peace by the Mittagong creek
Working as a couple to overcome grief over the dominant culture
Growing a new story out of the old story -- about community, not just one idea
The holistic awakening of permaculture
Moving from clock time to ecological time
Daily connection to the natural world; chanting, observing, meditating
Creating an art practice that is not separate from everyday life
Avoiding monotonous and tedious work through neopeasantry
Why Covid has helped us register our collective exhaustion
Giving up cars and moving at an ecological pace
Being cash poor yet time rich in frugal abundance
Time offline allows a songful, interconnected, wildness that is about observation and interaction
The importance of rites of passage -- how do we bring them back?
Recognising the value of the child-to-adult process and parent/child separation
Grief circles -- “for crying out loud”. Sharing, howling, laughing, storytelling and bearing witness to each other.
Giving back to the forest via humanure, menstrual blood, tears
How fire has held our stories since the beginning of time
Daily gratitude ritual of naming the inputs needed for each meal
Growing layers and building gifts to share with our community by accepting ourselves
Getting the dance right between consciousness and overwhelm
Why being aware of ideology is important
Why activism and politics need complexity
A brief history of patriarchal dominance, removing feminine power in the popular culture
If you don't know this marvellous lass, that's probably because she keeps a pretty low profile online, preferring to spend her days in a state of sensuous connection with the world, pursuing everything money can't buy. And she has some excellent tips for helping you do the same.
Annie and Catie cover a lot of ground in this convo, from hitchhiking adventures and weed foraging to chronic conditions, choosing life over career and controversial acts in the face of climate change. We know we say this every time... but this one's a goodie!
SHOW NOTES
Single parent family taught her to be independent, responsible, frugal.
Epic hitchhiking journeys around Australia.
Discovering different ways of having fun that don’t cost money.
When hitchhiking becomes a form of talk therapy.
Attention as a practise.
What to do when Monkey Mind takes over and you stop seeing the beauty in the everyday.
Humans as story-addicted creatures.
Solistalgia — when you’re nostalgic for where you are.
The rate of change in modern society and how that disrupts a sense of place, belonging.
How to plant yourself in new places.
The sensory pleasure of the weather.
Weather makes landscape and landscape makes culture.
The origins of her love of weeds.
Plant-filtering laser eyeballs that seek out food.
There’s food you can eat that has zero environmental impact, beyond homegrown veggies.
Writing a novel in celebration of non-utilitarian, fruity, hyper-abundant language.
How a cancelled hike led to a quirky storyline.
How to orchestrate a life in which time and adventures are plentiful.
The beauty of turning down requests (even when they’re super impressive).
The conscious choice not to have children.
Giving work the flick in favour of life.
How a chronic health condition has affirmed her choices and priorities.
"I’d rather not eat out, not buy new clothes, and spend lots of my time at the beach (which is what I’m currently doing)."
Dealing with guilt about working less.
Why keep trying to accrue more money more once you have enough?
Protestant work ethic upbringing needs to be questioned right now.
The ‘work’ of being a low-consumer is valid too.
“I believe in the pattern of a society that these frugal habits are part of… and I want to perpetuate that.”
Controversial tips for changing the world.
Amazement as a tool for appreciating ordinary objects; being less wasteful.
It’s a novel time. The rules are now different. Having children being the norm can no longer be part of the status quo.
Drive less! Use your car if you would hire a car to do that thing, otherwise, find a different way.
Good times with human beings is not something to be lazy about.
Ep 112 Damon Gameau - Are you part of the 'Re generation'. Summer days throwback 2023
00:53:36
Damon Gameau - A call to arms for storytellers!
It's time to shine the spotlight on our story tellers; the creatives, film makers, artists, poets, chefs, writers and musicians. "If our storytellers cannot find a way then the way cannot be found". Join Jade & Damon in this conversation about defying the attention economy, ways to avoid being numbed but the inertia of the system (which is not actually our friend - despite it being dressed up that way) and why rites of passage could be the answer to rebuilding our culture . Finally, we ask the big question - how do you define ENOUGH. If you've loved Damon's films 2040 & That Sugar Film you're in for one exceptionally powerful convo with this captivating & clever creative.
Episode Summary
People are seeking leadership that doesn’t use language without humanisation So much of the story we are told now is dictated by extraction, competition, rivalry, The shift from humans with animus beliefs to industrialised beliefs Defining our collective stories through the feedback from our creative & soul stirring storytellers Defying the attention economy by stepping away from the barraging information torrent to allow for conscious decisions Finding your place in action Choosing to understand rather than polarising Slowing our judgement despite the push for pace - let a slowly defined opinion be yours Acknowledging we agree on a desire for community, healthy children, access to food….and we are not actually divided Taking responsibility of our own individual actions and teach our children to listen & to understand Why its NOT human nature to be greedy & selfish, because we've evolved through a deeply cooperative, symbiotic spirit. Rewrite our culture away from competitive nature & highlight our dependency on each other Finding your path of individualism within the collective Deradicalising the truth of what we need to do Considering context when storytelling to shift the needle Building a less fragile system Why it’s not a nationalist sentiment if you want sovereignty of independence Shifting from being a consumer to being a citizen Building wings that will allow us to fly high and thrive with our culture providing the wind Manifesting creativity and ingenuity by working with our kids Shaping, creating and changing culture through coexistence, lateral thinking and practical skills - starting with the education of our children The dance between peril and possibility Turning emerging science into magical stories to captivate kids imaginations Prison inmates in the States spend more time outdoors than our children The ongoing process of unlearning as flawed humans Deciding what’s enough. Do you keep working beyond your enough to go slower or do you keep going to give to others. Rites of passage as a pathway to regeneration Ayahuasca ceremonies, breath work Taking a glimpse into the “other” to fill the gap left by a crises of meaning
Ep 113 Brooke McAlary - going slow & the farce of multitasking Summer Days Throwback 2023
01:02:14
Brooke McAlary has built a life and brand around slow. She's the author of three books, the co-host of The Slow Home podcast and the voice of a movement that says, "Dear Joneses, I'm opting out of the rat race."
But hey, that doesn't mean she's exempt from overwhelm. This convo opens with Brooke and Jade swapping stories of exhaustion. File that under honesty.
So join us on the couch as we define our zone zero, get our inner turmoil sorted before facing the outer chaos, and discuss a potential inner care deficit.
We talk packaged up versions of “balance” “slow” and “simple” and why “tilting” may be more useful; leaning into the most pressing issue of the moment.
Why multi tasking is a farce but barefoot bushwalking creates a heady sense of lightness, wonder and awe that just might hold the answers.
Say no to fast and yes to slow living with Brooke McAlary.
SHOW NOTES
Why her books and pod are basically talking to herself to maintain a slower pace
Being diagnosed with severe postnatal depression
Googling in search of solutions
Letting go of the relentless ‘keep up’ approach to life
Stabilising mental health and finding a deeper sense of contentment
Living life with no buffer
Operating at 70% capacity to ensure there’s room for unplanned
Defining and protecting zone zero
Getting the inner turmoil sorted before facing the outer chaos
Avoiding an inner care deficit
The intrinsic link between inward care and capacity to give
Why the words 'balance', 'simple' and 'slow' are all fraught
The endless wrestle of living counter culturally
Learning to “tilt” rather than “balance”
The fraudulence of multi tasking
Experiencing a loss of connection, celebration and grieving as a result of covid
Facing into the need for ‘unlearning’ to build a brave new non-consumerist world
Building your tribe without preaching
Equating simple with ‘ease’ not ‘easy’
Why simplicity lives in the process of finding ease
Noticing = gratitude
Family rituals that offer hope
Barefoot bushwalking on a bliss wave
A designated slow room
Reconciling the footprint of travel by embracing her local area
Vision Quests
Why small actions of care, purpose and values are creating powerful ripples
Rebuilding rites of passage for our youth to test and expand resilience and tap into the wisdom from older generations
Ep 114 Tammi Jonas - Degrowth for perpetuity. Summer days throwback 2023.
01:02:32
Sharing her evolution from academic keyboard warrior to her current reality of being an agroecological pork and beef farmer who's pretty darned handy with the butchers knife and equally as sharp of mind in her contributions to the UN small scale farming policy initiatives.
Tammi Jonas is indeed a force of the natural world, never backwards in coming forwards but mellowing with every decade and sharing her successes and failures for the sake of thousands who are following in her footsteps towards a life of farming democracy.
Episode Summary
We dive right into how she fits it all in
Leadership - her style of leading from the front with doggedness and squared soldiers
Research and UN food systems mobilisation
Credibility that comes out of the dirt
Her commitment to food sovereignty across aaaalllllll the tiers of the movement
The brain breaking need to relate local practices to global policy
Linking good global initiatives to local practices
Applying food sovereignty thinking to general consumption issues
Taking power back one skill at a time
We can’t buy ourselves out of this mess - we literally need to joyfully work competently through the upskilling and sharing of
The illusion of choice when you see thousands of items for sale in a supermarket is not a place to genuinely begin
Why she considers herself an “agroecological” farmer (political, social, Agroecological theory of change is considered a science, social movement and practical - dedicated to circular bio economies rather than a purchasing of inputs. Agroecology rejects capitalism but values labour over yield.
‘Benefaction’ - enabling the farm to do their tasks joyfully
The rich reality of running internship programs - who are welcomed with the knowledge that they are becoming food sovereignty warriors
AFSA - first-peoples-first initiative
Solidarity - garnering unexplained wholeness but remembering we are all here for each other
Why there's value in building a new system rather than creating one from the ashes of the old one.
Why the rise and fall of farms and community orgs is part and parcel of the movement and should be encouraged
Being comfortable to share the successes AND the failures as a gift for the greater good
Building a de-growth mentality to avoid the ruthless capitalist system
Creating small scale farming businesses that are FUN rather than slaves to growth
Keeping her eye on the end game dilutes her need to be binary and rage filled
Why the States are not actually similar to the Australian culture - they are wedded to a growth mentality that we don't have so we have an opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
Why it’s ok to scale back from the initial vision
Framing ‘enough’ as being disentangled from the capitalist system - seeing the sky, feeding her community and others and being ok to go slow when needed.
Ep 115 Paul West - his real life River Cottage. Summer Days Throwback 2023
00:57:54
Strap in for a fast paced chat with this natural born story teller. From the heady heights of top restaurants, starring in his own reality tv program and radio shows to his definition of “enough” - which begins with rude health and healthy kids before settling with sovereignty of time and community belonging.
As practical and grounded as he is charismatic with a touch of aussie larrikin, ‘Westy’ is whip cracking fast making it easy to listen and laugh at his tales - like serving uncooked rice as his first attempt at cooking.
This high energy human wraps up the season for us with insights and stories that are endearing and inspiring in equal measure.
Episode notes
Choosing your island foods
Are you an eater or a foodie ?- Westie grew up as an eater until he was 17 before becoming a foodie
Embalmed cats above the fresh food aisles at the local supermarket
Moving from his first out-of-home cooked meal: Raw rice, frozen peas, ham and soy sauce to cheffing in lofty places
His first wwoofing experience that sowed the seeds for his ‘NOW’ life:
Witnessing the loftiest ideal for human life as life on the land growing food, connecting to community, physical work
His winding but whip fast hospitality adventure
Using the age good food guide as a way to get a job and crash landing into Vu De Monde to cut his teeth
Turning his back on fine dining cuisine to return to the roots of growing food.
A yearning desire to really understand the rhythms of food
How fatherhood changed him, from self to selfless. Why he never wanted to be a ‘phone in’ dad
Reframing his expectations of fatherhood for him, his kids and his wife.
Creating patterns to set up our kids for the rest of their lives and using food as the central guide for this
The virtues of tapping into the primal human nature.
Transitioning from kitchen to farm grew his understanding of long standing ecological needs.
River Cottage - the inside scoop on the steep learning curves and truth behind producing a reality TV program. The juggle of actually living a 365 day farm life but needing to fit in the production of a stage production alongside.
The hard work of farming! Far from white clothed lunches under a tree
The repetition needed for growing
Now living a life that's the amalgamation of his previous lives
Creating a life of belonging in a village across generations
The perfect combo of small-house big block.
Building ritual around food markers, what the gardens providing, when the crayfish and oysters are harvesting,
Making an effort to observe the natural spectacles and building ritual around it
Ep 116 Kate Ulman - Fox's Lane Encourager of Creativity. Summer days throwback 2023
01:00:15
This heart led Mumma of three has been luring us with images of a dreamy, bloom filled life on her Daylesford apple orchard & words of equal romance via her craft blog for over a decade. She laughs easily, has found balance in being real & makes the simplest of thoughts feel like genuine aha moments. Kate Ulman is wrenchingly honest about the reality of farm life with young children, turning inwards when self care is needed & whether her babies will return to life on the land. Although not at her kitchen table, the intimacy of this conversation feels very personal & will leave your cup full & your heart nourished.
Episode notes
Seeing your home the way others do
Realising she is driven by making, creating & beauty
Taking an ugly foundation & making it ‘beautiful’ slowly & sure
The essence of a creative soul raising more creative beings
Evolving with our children who are becoming the people they are going to be
Creating a ‘place’ for our children
The impact of an early childhood experience on a kibbutz
Learning to farm at 30 & retrospectively being amazed they could do it
Growing things organically was our religion but we actually didn’t know how
Life before social media - 10 years of ‘ugliness’ because we could afford the beautiful
Sharing the raw truth of life on the land with a small family
Expectation vs reality
Seasonal appreciation
“Every season is another chance to get last years mistakes better”
The annual pre Winter crises & assessment of reality
Pre farming life as a crafter & blogger
Acknowledging there's a time & place for everything
Filing your soul with the small &simple things but being realistic about doing whats possible
Being kind about expectations
“Being a martyr & running yourself ragged is NOT the solution but being aware & keeping it joyful means you can do it forever”
Saying “I don't know” comfortably
When we take our actions so seriously that it puts other people including the next generation off ever wanting to participate in something worth doing
Letting go of the little things like baking bread for the sake of the bigger picture
Actively engaging with community wherever a snippet can be garnered
Putting her energies into writing a book
Taking back her families story so it wasn’t available to the world online
Rediscovering herself post early childhood mother-dom
Being the complete opposite of organised
Creating a plan for ‘older life’ so the love of the farming life continues
Why bigger is not better. The active vision to make things simpler
Why her mum is her greatest inspiration for her approach to motherhood
How she became the encourager of creativity
Daily exclamation marks of ritual elude her because she follows inspiration instead
Why her good intentions for ritual get forgotten
Why deep diving quickly into real conversations is important to her
Her definition of success as living her truth & being filled with honesty, creativity, availability to the things she cares about
Ep 117 Mitch Tambo - A Gamilaraay Voice for Change. Summer Days Throwback 2023
00:51:29
If you're yet to hear Mitch perform 'You're the voice", I beg you to head to the link at the bottom and listen. Carrying the message of unification, love and kindness. Culture is not foreign to Mitch who imbeds a celebration of it into every facet of life as tools to build identity and a strong sense of place. For him living and breathing culture is the start middle and end of it. An articulate, straight talker he sheds light on why everyone deserves a chance to not only survive but to thrive. His super-power-story-telling ability notches up a few ranks when on stage and over the last few years he has found a platform for passing on knowledge through song and dance.
Nerves and awe aside, Jade manages to dig a little into the psyche of this incredible individual, who without question shows us why the first nations people of this country were not hunters and gatherers but the most purposeful people to have ever walked.
Show Notes
Ma-wollagoolabah - self, family, community
Falling in love with his identity and eagerly celebrating this in a respectful and authentic way
The value of being raised by a strong single mother
Publicly honoring women to the point of reverence
Being relentless in our desire to keep talking to convey a message of transparency
Circle people - we are connected to everything and everything is connected to us
Can song and dance as mediums take their place as a much needed storytelling tools
Emojis are an ancient format
Humans disconnection from spirit, soul and heart
Being the most connected and the most disconnected simultaneously
Holidays = connection to the natural world. Do we love holidays or do we love the opportunity to unconsciously connect to our evolutionary place
Building an understanding of the spirit in the land
Opening yourself up to ‘feel’
Honoring our ancestors, offering a rightful seat at the decision table and acknowledging the knowledge held by indigenous people
"We're not hunters and gatherers, we’re the most purposeful people to have ever walked
There are so many conversations to be had - we need to keep talking
His mob cared for the land to co-exist not to be captured or controlled
Walking together and healing so we can get to where we need to get to
The first people of a land MUST be heard first
If your hearts in the right place you can only do the best you can with what you've got to ‘level’ up’
Stradling the reality of living an urban life with intent and purpose while knowing how powerful a childhood on country can be
Self perception vs how others perceive you
Instilling identity, belonging and connection through ritual
Living and breathing culture as part of every day life
Avoiding the traps of fame by staying focussed on his purpose
Staying grounded by knowing that he is just a vessel with a message who is part of something so much bigger than him
Starting with self love - heal, educate
Conditioning that has bred fear of difference
Coming together with an intent to heal, love and listen.
Having real conversations which are birthed out of truth
Ep 118 Joost Bakker - The darling of waste free living
00:29:46
Summary
We know that Western culture lives excessively, endlessly seeking the newest and shiniest new thing. Its shocking that 40% of our food goes to waste, one third of our building materials are never even used. But this way of life will be short lived and thankfully being wasteful is now on the nose and cool cats like Joost are making waves by making junk UBER COOL. What can we do to create a new way forward in what he describes as the most exciting time in human history?
Show notes
Keeping family as number one Keeping it real with family to ensure they are present His journey through waste which began using other peoples junk Spending his spare time in junkyards collecting and using other peoples waste Even the poster boy doesn't get everything right - examples of things that haven't worked For every project that gets up there are 3 or 4 which didn't - that’s having a go! And through the Process we discover a new way forward Attracting like minded people to build a community and deliver amazing projects Showcasing the innovation and vast knowledge that exists in this country Creating binless hospitality businesses Curating the message for living waste free so that people understand it. Considering materials based on their ability to be recycled Living in the most exciting time in human history Getting creative to find solutions that allow us to continue our existing lives with minimal compromise There's something mentally wrong with us when we endlessly chase the next, new, shiny, big thing. Being properly nourished and connected to the outdoors satiated our desires and replace our desire for STUFF. Using plants to support our sleep Reverting to primitive practices to reconnect to ourselves Starting our day with simple, natural world practices If we’ve got 3 hours to be on social media, surely we’ve got time to make our everyday actions more intentional. We feel great after gardening not just because its sensorially beautiful but because you are breathing in microbiomes Observation is a lost trait we need to rebuild His fascination with the perfect sized branch for birds All his buildings are covered in 8 mil rio mesh because it's perfect for the birds If you really want to understand why he makes the decisions he does then check out his instagram pages
Ep 119 Ginny 1000 hours outside - Replacing Screen time with Green Time
00:50:27
What if all the memories you made as a kid had been replaced by screens? When an aha moment makes you realise that its time to reframe childhood and embrace an analogue life - one that stimulates creativity, imagination and experiences that instill a need to fight for the natural world over technification. With a biological need for at least 3 hours outside every day...the time to replace screen time with green time is now.
Show notes
Feeling like she was failing as a mum Breaking the cycle of raising children on full schedules “Kids are supposed to be outside for 4-6 hours a day when the weather is good” - Charlotte Mason Her first good day as a mum was spent outside as part of a challenge in order to make friends. How outdoor play enhances every development for children which gives lifelong benefits Setting our kids up for success simply by spending time outside Busting screen time statistics On average kids are on screens for 7 hours a day but only outside for 7 minutes 1200 hours a year outside creating rather than on screen 3 hours of outdoor play for kids of all ages Keeping children balanced Rescheduling early childhood Raising kids who were ruddy, tough, sleeping better Outdoor play enhances childhood developing in every sense = cognitive, sensorial, emotional Laying the groundwork so they keep it up Play that stretches their body and teaches them to trust their bodies and builds endurance, stamina, alertness Filling our life with the important things first and push out the time that's left over for screens It’s never easy to make this your committed approach but it’s worth it Creating rituals that are intentional The benefits of being uncomfortable Why time slows down when you are doing something new and your senses wake up Building identity via time in the outdoors If they don’t love an analogue life, they won’t fight for it Building a foundation in kids that they can resist the tech pull Success is living a fulfilling life that is balanced, connected, maintained ground on values and illusions but grounded and taken day by day If we live well today then tomorrow will take care of itself Clothes for the season: Wonders of wool to enable the kids to play for so much longer Passing down the things = less stuff Imagination over screens Nature is enough - it meets us all at the stage we are at Start right now and be happy to bloom at your own pace which follows your instinct Trust your kids to create their own path
Ep 120 Sarah Wilson - Feeling through humanity's dissonance, humans hunger for hard work & avoiding the diet version of life
00:53:48
Described as 'all striving no arriving…' Sarah thrives in the early stages of a movement - feeling her way into the zeitgeist of now & unpacks in ways that resonate with reality. Ultimately driven by curiosity & shunning growth, she talks about Wild Activism as a responsibility of the current age with agency in tact.
Having less fucks to give about speaking her mind & with a bipolar superpower, she shares how she is unlearning & returning to humanity to navigate out of a spiritual PTSD, simulteneously saving but living the fuck out of life’, and why she is off to Paris
Show notes
Taking her cue from International women of strength
Owning her intensity
Has the lucky country become more racist and bigoted?
Why laid back Aussies don’t want their comfort boat rocked by the reality of the less wealthy.
Why Aussie’s are aching to not be the anti intellectual country down South
Feeling into where the pain points are for the humans around her
The story behind donating 100% of the I Quit Sugar profit
Her conscious decision to live rather than take her life by stepping into the option of shedding everything and letting go of ALL the things she was attached to.
Setting a 5 year goal to be content w not being beholden to the endless desire for more.
Trodding her ego into the ground & the outcome thrusting her into growth
Every time she releases her grip & lets the flow of life back in - growth prevails.
Learning to get engaged & enraged about the climate crisis
Turn anxiety into action
We live in a culture where discomfort & inconvenience thrive yet we feel alive when we are on the edge & pushed out of our comfort zone.
Lighting the way back to love
Defining her Dharma
Fostering indigenous children as a respite carer
The responsibility of steadying yourself when living with anxiety
Anxiety can be a super power - hyper vigilant, hyper sensitive
Ep 121 Just Collapse - The illusion of techno-solutions “We can’t swallow horses to solve this problem”
00:57:43
This conversation is difficult to process but important to hear. It asks: "How does Socioecological justice prevail in the face of an irreversible collapse"?
Its time to accept that infinite growth on a finite planet will be short lived and that those who have agency & privilege have much to do - in big or small ways It’s hard to really accept collapse when we have a comfortable lifestyle but let's consider preparing while we still have abundance in our system.
Show notes
A new form of activism - possibilities to make the world a better place Why climate activism is the most important issue of focus The shift in activism following covid Introducing disruption to activism Socioecological justice Justice can only be relative Creating a collapse community to help relieve anxieties of reality & locate ourselves Putting differences aside to open the door to building localised communities Acknowledging how difficult it can be to create community in the individualised society of the affluent west. As we ratchet back, our community will be where we physically are. Having faith that we can rely on each other Consciously connecting is inevitably in train and we will be pushed together Relearning to connect, compromise and communicate Its unhelpful to create utopian or romanticised ideals Insurgent planning - actively creating a plan of readiness to this inevitable collapse Being led by the greater group with place based solutions Why there is no prescription to future solutions - we need to figure that out for ourselves based on our understanding of the soil, water, culture we are working within Breaking down individualisation & risks: outrageous debts & our reliance on fossil fuels #talkcollapse - linking people to plant the seeds of a different and just future Planting seeds physically and metaphorically for a socioecological collapse Talking collapse is not about converting those who don't want to hear it The emotional reality of procesing climate grief - face it, expereince it and let is sit behind you with echoes Depression goes with the territory but its not a reason to avoid reality Ecological awareness as the foundation to discovering more Understanding the fragility of the world while also being a ‘doer’ What a cyclical grief process looks like and feels like Cognitive dissonance of having endless choice and capacity to purchase while simultaneously being aware that collapse is inevitable The myth of progress being perpetuated by every message around us The need to decomplexify Building solidarity via social media Being sure to remind yourself of how wondrous the world actually is Supporting mental wellbeing with various tools It’s so important in this point in history to embrace life in whatever form
Ep 123 Hayley Morris - Leading the investment world away from extraction & into their hearts
00:58:11
SUMMARY We need an economic system based on values and trust to see genuine change in this critical decade. This intuition led powerhouse is collaboratively leading the thinking for philanthropy & impact investment to shift away from reductionist outcomes to a 'relationship first' approach where she believes the place to begin is with inner work to determine 'who you are', 'what makes you brave' and 'where your voice strongest'
We’ve got the solutions but the human capacity to make this change is what needs to begin first.
SUMMARY Why its harder to give money away with meaning than you might think Wanting to be more than not just a cheque book Asking where humans fit into ecosystems Her awakening to disconnection Finding people who were also asking questions Moving into sustainable ag and food security Connecting the environmental crisis & what we eat Her appetite to move beyond greenwashing to transformation The value of slowing down Wanting people to think of her as a broke NGO leader not a rich philanthropist Getting her ego out of the way Embracing the world she was trying to push away What is philanthropy - the skill of giving money away Moving assets away from the extractive economic system How investment can change systems Understanding systems & the levers that need to be pulled to expedite change The importance of mass decentralisation & taking a place based approach to bring change Starting a relationship with open, honest transparency & an opportunity to co-create solutions Relationship requires a number Moving at the speed of trust Looking for replication not endless growth Using compassionate debt as a solution to building relationships that can enable change Creating opportunity for replication over scale Building models that allow relationships to be at the core Rich relationships are paramount Understanding connection to country - bringing gentleness from the land into her everyday Daily spiritual practice to set the days intentions Whatever you resist persists Daily practice of staying mindful and present - maintenance The danger of defining yourself as “resilient” which doesn’t allow you to be fragile Developing a hardiness by sitting in your discomfort Keeping the ego in check Gleaning joy from rich conversations Cocreating a new language that releases our stuckness in the current paradigm Discovering how we all contribute in a way that meets our super power If its too easy then it must be in the current paradigm and we need to ask, is there another way to do this? Stepping around colonialism by being present & really listening Being uncomfortable with the new to serve a changed world in the future Self sustainability is the piece that often gets left behind How can philanthropists play their part Finding strength & bravery when you have your people by your side
This homeschooling mum of three spends her days foraging, growing, swapping & upskilling all in the name of continuing to live her version of normal in an abnormal world where we've lost touch with our food, medicine & the natural world. After taking her time with her families transition to this way of life, her newfound confidence & conviction ensures she won't be told what to do by big business or have her opinions changed by corporations. Although not all plain sailing-she shares valuable insights into the bumpy but ultimately rewarding path she's been on. "Living in a cushioned culture is limiting in our ability to share skills & share knowledge"
SHOW NOTES Eating meat that you’ve met - being responsible for the whole life cycle Stepping stones to this way of life - starting small, with what you’ve got Learning from failure as you scale The fallacy of being self sufficient Foraging, bartering & selling excess of what you do grow to access the things you don’t grow Why being dogmatic isn't always the answer to the long game Homeschooling - learning happens everywhere, everyday Being led by kids & their natural interest areas Building a family rhythm around the personal needs of everyone in the family Rebuilding normal Why it’s difficult to be a people pleaser but stay true to yourself Learning to trust your honesty will be supported & not knocked It’s hard to live your normal in an abnormal world - the way we eat, shop treat people Education of self is the first step in shifting towards taking agency Why food was her on-ramp to understanding how to make her own decisions Accepting that a shift in our lives will take time - we each need to take it as we are ready Transitioning via new skills & a new mindset Letting this way of living be a lifetime of work Learning one skill and mastering it each year Using herbs to heal now and in the future Learning to get used to people not agreeing with how she lives her life Making mistakes in safe places while you learn Learning how to manage microclimates Building an annual seasonal rhythm to ensure balance 450sq m of intensive growing space for a family of five 300 sq metres managed by the kids Water bath canning, dehydration Collecting food waste every week by salvaging food from mainstream supermarkets to supplement her families food Why she is opting for a house cow not a house goat There’s always next year….. Learning to forgive your short comings Connecting without belonging How not going to a school was a disadvantage While she feels at home she doesn't feel like she belongs Defying the odds of ‘surviving this life’ & thriving Finding ways to connect with people who have different ideals The value of relying on your neighbours - creating a sense of place by calling on your neighbours Things only move at the speed of trust & a willingness to push through the awkward. Start where you are with what you’ve got Relying on the building blocks of experience
Ep 124 Megan Grant - Futuresteading artist following her gut + noticing the weeds at the service station
00:49:45
The talented Megan Grant bought the futuresteading book to life with her vibrant depictions of a seasonal, intentional and ritual rich life. After a year of being asked, this introvert who dreams and thinks in colours and pictures finally said yes to being interviewed. We chat about her intuitive approach to creativity, her deep need to keep trying despite making plenty of work that doesn't make her happy and how a magnificent collaboration with clothing brand Gormon came about - but why she rarely wears the pieces herself.
Show notes
Making art her life by intuition She thinks and dreams in pictures Why picture making is her language to connect to other people Developing her style via lots of work that doesn’t make her happy until the ones that make her happy appear Her love of children's art more than anything - tapping back into the innocence of children art - her main goal when she paints she has two brains that are in conflict which each other Finding the balance between art that is intellectualised and art that is intuitive Letting accidents happen and feeling her way through them In art it’s important to make terrible work over and over again The value of sleeping on things to clarify perspective Being reflective to ensure evolution Being happy for her work to represent her The story of her involvement in the futuresteading book Collborating with Gormon clothing Being the kids of creative parents Art becoming part of your DNA when you’re the child of an artist Being prolific in your creativity The balance of being an artist that needs to fit ‘normal’ life into it The financial compromise of being a full time artist. Part by design and part by necessity The life long sacrifice of being an artist despite the reward of being able to create freely Creating commission pieces Setting out with blind faith and hope Despite a 20 year career, she is ‘only just getting started’ The breathtaking discovery that you could ‘paint for a living’ Tapping into art for arts sake Why art is an important part of simply being alive Art brings peace, purpose and the bleeding obvious through interpretation Why artists are the provocateurs of our community Feeling fortunate to have an endless source of hope and optimism because she has art in her life Painting for mental health Self containment that comes from her creativity Grappling with the need to use art as a statement maker Beauty is its own reason for being Why art is culturally soothing Noticing the weeds at the service station Advice for her daughter We have to go and make the inspiration happen by doing Finding a drive, style and direction in your own time “You can’t wait for the inspiration to come”
Ep 125 Tammy White - The one woman farmer from Wing & a Prayer creating community wherever she goes
00:47:59
"Apple pie without cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze" and what's the point in that. Life as a shepherd in Vermont USA can be lonely but farm time provides opportunity for reflection & cup filling so there's more energy to give to community. "Although I don’t say no to help - I don’t let no help stop me" is the can-do attitude Tammy exudes not only for her sheep breeding but also her natural yarn dying & her intentional life which is deeply committed to her place in Southern Vermont where she likes to beat to her own drum at a scale that works for her. Listen in as she speaks of a life that's lived with purpose, unrushed, in collaboration and in deep trust that the natural world will teach the skills needed at the right time.
Big thoughts to save the world began as a child Seeking more colour beyond numbers Learning to smell, feel and hear the seasons on her walk to school Her winding path to becoming a single woman farmer Learning to natural dye Not feeling able to beat the drum until she walks the talk herself She never thinks that her farming scale minimises her importance Her accidental ownership of black nose valais sheep Letting time and nature do much of the work passively I’m not in a rush - I’m being responsible so if that’s slower then so be it. Its also a teaching opportunity The teaching message is so much greater than just the product. Being in a deficit of living with intention Discovering the limitless appetite for homesteading skills She might be an intense teacher Apple Pies served with cheese…it’s a thing Sour Pickle, maple syrup and doughnuts - Vermont traditions Shepherding can be lonely but it provides time to reset and regroup and fill her tank Her desire to see others as happy as she is Lift up rather than commiserate Planning to run the bingo games when she's in a nursing home You learn so much when you're in community Becoming accustomed to letting it be not picture perfect You cannot go inwards when bad things happen on the farm or you will always be inwards Never turn your back on your ideals and trust your heart - really listen to what matters for you Sincerely imagining what you are committed to and go with that
Ep 126 Jane Hilliard - "Enough-ness" do you have it?
00:52:09
When did having twin basins and three toilets become the norm? As an architect who bucks the idea of bigger-is-better Jane Hilliard uses the principle of “Enoughness” as a design principle for the built environment. Its better for both the natural environment and the people around us. It allows us to be rich in ways that matter instead of buying into the idea that grandeur will make us happy. For her 'enough' looks like going out into her backyard supermarket garden picking something and cooking it. Its also having outdoor space & quiet, unstructured time to think. Guided by the principle of “enoughness,” she manages her work load to keep her energy output within her own capacity while meeting her modest need for resources to sustain her family and business.
Show notes
Bringing her love of arts and social justice together Sidestepping stress and money in the architecture design world. Ensuring sustainability isn't just an add-on rather than core to design Why the endless pursuit of “more” and better is relentless and pointless Asking “what is enough?” starts with your values and how you want to feel.
“I ask myself: What is enough work to sustain me, my creativity, my staff and the financial resources we need to sustain my practice.”
What "enough" looks like for her high-school age children.
“I enjoy causing a bit of a stir…not in a way that’s shaming anyone…but by pushing back on the system, not individuals.” Working a 9 day fortnight Small rituals like, morning coffee, starting the day outside, growing food, being present with her children. Normalising messy, lived in homes which change with the seasons and as its occupants get older. Why central heating has loosened family ties Living in a smaller space with less resources helps us develop negotiation skills and foster connections. Simplify life by starting with one thing. How much are you packing into your week, or your year?
“The more work I take on, the less time and energy I have for all the other projects we have already, and I’ll enjoy them a little less too.”
"We have everything we need to go forward into the future. It's not about gaining new knowledge or new skills or new technology or new tools. It's about stripping things back and getting rid of a lot of stuff." We need to be grateful for how much the earth gives us and not to take too much. Our culture is dominated by growth and seeking opportunity. The desire for more can be part of our status and identity. People are trying to meet their needs with things instead of meaning. A mentality that “I’ve worked hard and I deserve it” is a strong focus for Jane's clients. Just because "you've worked hard and deserve it" doesn’t mean you should aim for the biggest and shiniest. "We stay in tents and shacks when we go away, why can’t we bring this spirit into our own house? How about an outdoor kitchen…why not?"
Ep 127 Ella Noah Bancroft - Dispossession, living an ancestrally connected life & finding your feminine power
01:01:27
Summary "We’ve never been sicker as a species, we've never experienced such high levels of extinction and its time to look past the ‘machine that’s working’ and actively choose not to contribute to it. Instead, its time to share ancestral knowledge, naturopathy, movement & earth based skills with each other & the next generation and nod to our ancestors by learning the ways, diets and nutritional needs of our bodies. Let us experience deep sorrow ahead of rejecting the mainstream colonised and capitalistic system and lets walk away from being a machine centred society so that it supports humans first"
Show notes Life in a commune which is 60% indigenous and 60% queer Sharing her ancestorial voice given to her by her mother and her family lineage Building on generations prior to build fierceness yet peace in her Birthing an event called ‘the gathering’ to fulfil her own need to create a space that was not dominated by whiteness or privilege The biggest and greatest job we have on this planet is to raise well and connected children Focussing her efforts on marginalised communities We cannot be strong female leaders unless we are bringing everyone along with us Stepping into a woman centred world Why the current system is failing all of us to live long, strong, healthy existences Living in deep loving connection with each other & the natural world People have never seen intuitive spirituality as fact but its a feminine and necessary path Feminine cycle of 28 days, men cycling on 28 hour cycles Creating a feminine vision quest Women are the wisdom keepers, communicators, Shifting away from operating up and out from our body and actively coming back into our bodies which creates a down regulation of our nervous system Coming into ONE conscious moment each week Growing up with fragmented culture because of colonisation Rewriting new paradigms with indigenous culture at the heart Actively desiring a small but mighty charitable organisation - without desire for becoming national or global The power of localisation Coming to “rest” on country Rest in the knowing that she is walking on the same country that her blood has walked on in her ancestral linage Encouragement to take a pilgrimage to the “homeland” of your ancestors Once upon a time there was a well and connected ancestor living and thriving Finding our own indiginaity Lore created by country and culture We are but a minuscule piece of a puzzle made up by the thousands of ancestors who came before us Allowing feminine power breathe by openly accepting pain and working through trauma Rather than changing the way we work, live, and be in the world we are now relying on abstractions to be the catchall Let us return to a religion where water is our god again
Ep 128 Catie Payne - Bookending 8 seasons of Futuresteading w her trademark wit, charm & oddball intellect
01:13:14
Remember this beautiful human? She spent some time in your ears way back in series one & two before heading off for a life of adventure & learning in the intellectual home of permaculture. Catie Payne is a courageous one-of-a-kind character full of love and laughter who challenges 'normal' and beats to her own drum. Join us for this joyful, 'been-too-long-catchup between Jade & Catie & delve into the last two years of Catie's artistic, rewilding, permaculture filled days.
Show notes
Catie now lives at Melliodora permaculture working in exchange for food and accommodation - what is this really like?
Completed a re-wilding leadership course with Claire Dunne taught her so much about herself and our culture. Why storytelling has been an important learning for her and what she now plans to do with this.
Hiking on a sacred songline in Nitmiluk National Park near Katherine NT, led by the Jaywoyn traditional owners.
Connecting to nature through sit-spots and wandering in the bush.
To guide our kids she suggests “rights of passage” rewildling programs that give a reference point to a more grounded, wild and connected life.
Current reads for Jade and Catie
Reactivating her love of medicinal weeds through a monthly community herb circle
Building a vision for women to reclaim the role of natural healers in their communities.
As the Futuresteading podcast takes an extended break. Catie and Jade relish the many characters and conversations they have shared through the pod. Learning that just asking a question unfolds a whole conversation and opportunity to see things from a different perspective.
Thank you to everyone who has popped Futuresteading in your ears, all of the comments, the tears, the shared knowledge and camaraderie.
References
“Plants - Past Present and Future” by Zena Cumpston, Michael Fletcher, Lesley Head
Ep 129 Kirsten Bradley Brings us back for season 9 - 'HUDDLE'
00:51:13
Kirsten Bradley is one half of permacultures favourite educators MILKWOOD and she joins us as our opening night (very early morning actually) star in the spectacular line up of season nine guests.
We delve into how she has built her Huddle in the southern most state and how she contributes to the mycelium of community that will form what is ultimately needed in the coming 100 years of skilled up, earth connected, community first folk who just keep showing up - which is easier said than done.
She talks about our duty of care to the commons and why we need to be comfortable as the receiver and giver in your local soup kitchen.
Show Notes: Building a new life in Tasmania - here we are! The forest school that runs along democratic lines with kiddos making decisions (but still have to do maths) Teenagers marinating in different ideas and different thinking Being confident to let your small human build their own vision and values Upskilling FAST: Growing food, making bread, sewing, community connections Rebooting our civic duty to be relational with each other Changing the world, one habit at a time with her latest book: the Milkwood Permaculture Living Handbook Engaging in the commons - taking responsibility for the things which are held in common-wealth (beaches, waters, parks) scraps of land that are worth taking care of and starting a relationship with. Using your privilege for purpose - even if limited - use them to help those who don’t have them Start by identifying your privileges and call out those who behave in a way that limits rather than supports others The value of clever, open, respectful communication with those who don't align with your values “No one is in anybody else's shoes so we don’t have the knowledge or the right to make judgments” “Whether you’re the soup giver or the soup taker - in times of need, we all need each other and finding the common ground to be on either side of the table is a pillar of how we’ll live in the next 100 years” Building partnerships in coalitions of the unlikely Mutual aid in her backyard, not just in times of crises but a community way of being Making sure you’ve got some really big pots in your pantry to fire up a huge pot of soup if needed The million ways to contribute to the community care systems we all need Sharing your skills far and wide How she’s made online learning as practical and useful as possible Do one thing, make it a habit then choose one more thing Threading the various communities together to create a dynamic non 9-5 existence Compassion speaks to creating futures with other people despite the overlapping crises Holding peoples hopes, fears and making sense of that as a huddle.
Ep 130 What shade of green are you? with Dr Kate Luckins
00:52:41
Dr Kate Luckins asks what shade of green are you? The answer is of little consequence and will most certainly ebb with the hokey poke of life - finding your own shade, in your own way is the secret…along with an audit or two of your cupboards, sheds, fridge and mind.
With a doctorate in sustainability, this Dr knows a thing or two about how we can climb aboard the bandwagon and STAY ON, ultimately resulting in us living "More with Less (which is the name of her new new book) - as our own shade of green.
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Show Notes Even when you mean well - life is very busy so its really hard to bring this way of life to the front line Crisis fatigue - why the looming Armageddon can cripple us. Empathy for our parents managing teenagers who want to create the landfill of tomorrow Experimenting with a clothing exchange Awakening the consumer in her with the birth of her baby Bring unapologetically medium green Not doing all the things at once A medium, life friendly shade of green which maintains momentum Building new habits that are awkward and unfamiliar slowly becoming part of your flow. Smug stock stash being built in the freezer 1 in every 5 bags of shopping is incidentally wasted Getting sucked into every foodie, fashion and fun fad Life audits - fridge, wardrobe, third drawer down, Filling the gap between our concerns and our reality. Our cultural issue isn’t what to do its about how we make decisions in the weeds - what should our self expectation be. Keeping the paralysis of eco fear at bay Finding the times in your life that are well suited to bringing in more change Treat yourself like you would a friend who is doing their best Its not the people in govt who feel the most powerful its the every day eco heroes who feel enthusiastic and the actions they are taking. Unofficial authorities in their own communities Leading by example is the most powerful way to bring systems change Diagnosing our reality and changing our language because of it. Why the sustainability movement needs a theme song More connection, more time, more community, less, consumption, less waste, Finding your on ramp to get into this way of being Start where your interests lie and don't worry about it being perfect or big” The value of the imperfect We often buy because we are compensating or obliged to buy… Seeding the idea of ‘buying less and valuing it well’ Why its so bloody hard to raise kids today to be mini ecowarriors Buy less and live more in a society that is structurally designed to create waste and Find your door in - start with the things that interest you and your energy will be infectious - don't underestimate the ripple effect of Rewrite the normal - to include lifestyle upgrades like showering in dams
Ep 131 Hannah Maloney - Love, small potato fame and putting yourself in the way of opportunities
00:46:05
Join Jade and the tall, smiling pink haired gem as she ponders the many right ways of doing things - when care, intellect & heart goes into the building of skills, earth care & people care we need to honour the effort which is more important than the approach taken. Learn why she actively puts herself in front of opportunities & why she uses her platform as an extension to her duty of care - "Its not about me its about the issue”
"While I have sadness in me about the heartbreaks happening across the world I choose to actively come back to radical hope. If you care for each other and the world we live in there’s no other option but to weave love and joy into life and weave hope into every single day"
The juggle is real - relying on friends to help us Not doing all the things all the time Why it’s harder to ask than it is to help Take time to build deep relationships. Communities hold us through good & not so good Finding people with common interests as the starting place to build a huddle Building people care into property design - human behaviours & human nature Good permaculture design based on the individuals who are living & stewarding the landscape Dan Palmer transformative for the Australian Permaculture community. He challenged & elevated it. Bringing people along in challenging conversations at challenging times Conversations which build community - “I don’t see the difference between hardened farmers and inner city hipsters” all I see is people who are enthusiastically food growing The elusive ‘balance’ - “its doesn’t exist but she is getting better at scheduling so actively builds slots of quiet time to counter balance the external The power of a routine Putting yourself in the way of opportunities so you can deepen your impact Every type of activism is needed but Hannah is best suited to solution orientated activism. Don't underestimate the feeling inside you as your accurate guide Ikigai formula Creating a goat share We don’t have to be self sufficient but doing things with intention & love - living towards your values Seed saving magnificence - I’ve got the power Energetically connecting to people Life in front of the camera for ABC gardening Australia Ulitising the tools & opportunities available to us in our modern world Sometimes it’s about doing the things that are unnecessary (like dying your hair pink) to nurture our psyche Learning in public - transparency about openly making mistakes to avoid being pigeonholed I hope that in a decade I can publicly admit that I've been wrong about things. She is happiest when she is IN the work - not about her but about the shining of light on things that matter to her…it’s just a tool to open a door to talk to people Her singular word - LOVE and ACTION
Maria Konecsky refers often to her ancestral memory. For her the way back to those who came before her has been through food. She says “Our food lines, hold our story, no matter what it is, whether its pretty or ugly, grand or humble it holds richness and grit and love and loss” It’s such a beautiful way to unpack our heritage - through food, in her case it’s sometimes ugly food made with love by her OMA who instilled equal part ritual and boredom into her childhood in just the right doses.
Wherever you are right now, I encourage you to find the thread that links you to your own heritage and give it a tug - dive deeply to understand how the patterns of the past are influencing the behaviours of today to form our own individual stories as part of the collective.
Referenced in our chat Kindred - the book she wrote with her sister Gewuzhaus - their shared spice store
Show Notes Food is an alternative language to the written or spoken word. Care love and power flows through our hands and into our creation Food as opposed to ingredients are special We have to keep showing up to cook - especially as mothers - even when its hard The magnificence of sharing a business with family - always a process, it takes To the nurturers, mothers, keepers of ritual Her one word: HOME - connects her to her grandmothers. Her kin: why writing a book was an opportunity to delve deeper into her ancestral lines, from all over Europe to ultimately coalesce in Germany The importance of ritual, rhythm and routine in a life with young families - ritual helps to ground us and find commonality that we all understand. The rituals of her childhood (Christmas in Germany) Out of boredom came an ingrained and repetitious focus and love on food. Embedded in their DNA A 12 layered Dobosh - spectacular creation to mark special times across the year “more than just making a cake, it was a channelling of my ancestors into the cake to be there for those who need them” Mushrooming in Autumn, Winter citrus - balls of colour during the wet grey months, Rituals remind us that life is full of cycles Opening Gewurzhaus as a nod to her love of food How a can do attitude has been foundational to their willingness to get stuck in and have a go at things that might fill others with fear Letting your taste and senses take over to lead you on your next adventure Spending 6 months cooking to really learn how spices work Kraut holds her story - a much loved ritual that she only does alone - grounds and connects her to her food lines Getting her 3 year old to drink kraut juice Embracing ugly meat - frugal, hardworking, industrious individuals, Chicken broth as an analogy How grandmas habits which used to gross her out as a child now form tha backbone of her adult rituals. Coming back to getting squeamish and getting past the complex to better understand each other, our food and how we eat it. Overcoming the disconnect of where our food comes from - the value of tending life and then taking life. Nurturing a shrooming culture via an annual mushroom hunt for mothers day
Ep 133 Jamie Loveday - Sowing seeds for food deserts in the city
00:51:43
The majority of us are living in cities, and the sad truth is that these highly inhabited hubs are food deserts. Places where food certainty is uncertain and what we do have available is a rapidly homogenising food landscape. The Food Lab is a program based in Sydney and designed to find ways to bring people closer to the soil that grows our food. Creating networks that cross disciplinary boundaries and support the birthing of language and connection points for the influx of migrants unable to translate our food culture.
We chat about ways of introducing people from communities who have different cultural backgrounds. Finding catalysts to move outside of their communities to share knowledge, culture and business capability.
At the foundation of all of this food culture building is TRUST. Jamie says 'You can’t go and eat at someone’s table without trust". TRUST is at the centre of everything. When someone cooks a meal for you, you build trust. You can’t love someone without trust first.
"I have the faith that my brother loves me when he cooks for me"
Finally, his key advice is 'If you aren’t blessed with enough resources to travel, consider connecting to the cultural pockets in your own city".
Show NOTES A lotta rockiness along the way but it grew & evolved with the participants needs Particularly focussed on female, migrant communities Marginalised communities using food to connect with one another Building the diversity of the food landscape in Sydney Food is something that can be offered even when life is filled with utter newness Eliminating the potential of putting too much debt at the outset of a business “Assets are power in hospitality” The food scene is in danger of becoming homogenised due to the cost of establishment The power of mentorship to avoid the loneliness of business The chicken and egg of being small and not well resourced but being flooded with applications for support Providing a strong stepping stone to graduate people to their own kitchens Impact multipliers - equipping people to support others 100% of the people will employ 4-7 people in the next 3 years Why our urban centres are food deserts Pomegranate molasses as a way to connect cultural groups Normalising enough and not needing to be ‘excessive’ The power of sharing a meaningful recipe There’s something in recipes that lead people back to independence - Food speaks to our identities, holds our stories, this cant be taken away from someone As soon as you remove language you remove culture. When food is a language, it can’t be taken from you. Everyone has a recipe they just want to share What does it look like to belong to a huddle in a city - You don't realise how rich culture is until you bust out of your safety zone and look in as an outsider He feels shame for growing up in such a place of privilege which buffered him from the realities of other pockets in exactly the same city but with much less privilege. “I grew up with a lack of multiculturalism but food can bridge that and connect you to communities you mightn't have had access to”
Ep 134 Billa - The Woman at the Wild School shares her earth wisdom
00:58:56
SHOW SUMMARY Join Billa, co founder of the Wild School, as we navigate back into our custodial selves. Where we use head, hands & heart to rebuild the connective processes that help us become deeply connected people to place & each other. This process requires us to not only think but to really feel, 'It needs to be remembered in the body at a cellular level. “In our bones as women we have generations of wisdom & the sisterhood brings this to life” 'We are designed to live in tribal sized groups & to take care of country but we lack the skills so it's time to unlearn & relearn.' The right environment will trigger the hard wired settings to make us what we are designed to be & the process of relearning how to live together will be more than just building houses & spaces or owning land. Billa & her husband Chief have been doing this earth connection & village making work their entire lives & she is measuring her experiences against something in her bones. She is doing this via 5 sacred pathways - these being food as medicine, nature connection, ceremony & ritual, village making & art is medicine. A pedagogy you cannot be schooled on, you need to embody them through experience. The most potent experience of all she says is to have gratitude for the mother. Us two-legged humans form a story - “we are merely the current fruiting mushroom of the ancestral mycelium”. its time to be reminded of this in our modern day story. Things we chatted about Wildschool Gaia University 8 shields movement - Jon Young Tyson Yinkaporta - right story, wrong story
Show Notes: Moving towards a life that moves in circles rather than being square & rigid - finding the sisterhood, herbal medicine, permaculture. Women need women but we specifically need sisterhood where we share wisdom & DO together - craft, learn, share, DIY-ing her own home at 24 Intentional communities - are they a study in failure or can we really do this? Permaculture has been foundational alongside womens wisdom Being alive ‘in village’ Finding our way back through the cultural repair journey via the 8 shields movement & the 64 cultural elements Connecting to country to continue as a species Reconciling our history is foundational to rebuilding culture You can’t ground community without the land but you can’t just buy land & assume the community will come - the truth of the land needs to be reconciled. What we eat is our relationship to the earth mother - it plugs us back in Rebuilding deep connection requires all five sacred pathways to be present Are we existing in captivity Decolonising our body through food Building next level connection with our ancestors We’ve stopped knowing our bodies What else comes with your DNA? More than height or eyes colour The humble shall inherit the earth Check in with what your ‘baseline’ is - very high in western culture Taking care of the baseline & being able to appreciate it is freeing because you can let go of the noisy material things which takes up all the space & consume you. White privilege blinkers - question what was taken in order for us to have this
Ep 135 Brenna Quinlan - Celebrities at funerals, shared mulberry trees & dried fruit for Halloween
00:49:54
Illustrator extraordinaire is back to chat! Brenna's talent lies in taking hairy, complex systemic issues and distilling them into bite-sized, actionable messages using just her pencil (& of course her magnificent capacity for critical thought). We check in with her latest updates from life on the road with her partner Charlie McGee touring with his band and they're latest project, building a strawbale small home in Denmark Western Australia. We unpack why being a purpose-led creative who's her own boss can be tough but shine a light on the delight of living a life that is cobbled together with many small magic opportunities. We get the low down on what life is like in an intentional community - “By being consistently kind and loving, the soul of my community is full of gifting, generosity and a vibrant sharing economy”
We lamented the state of deep division we're all experiencing and talked frankly about how she's breaking down these divisions in her own world by finding a higher goal to focus on which allows you to set aside your ideological and ethical differences, focusing on the overlap areas instead. There is often truth on both sides of peoples belief coins - deep valid beliefs that justify both sides of the coin. It's a winding conversation - join us!
Show Notes: Being on the road gives energy and fresh ideas but 1.5 years was too long Home to build a straw bale tiny home Learning to switch off as a freelancer - a unique occupational hazard in the gig economy Triple edged sword of being a freelancer, a creative and purpose driven Having some structure in an unstructured life has meant life feels happier Leaning on her community to carry her through the grief of her Dad Covid fractured the global permaculture movement but the permaculture convergence was a magnificent opportunity to heal the Australian contingent of the permaculture movement. It was about inclusivity. Respectful, inclusive and joyful interaction allows for permaculture to be the peoples movement I’m not the permaculture police but she has been able to maintain relationships with people who have different beliefs to her in the interest of maintaining conversation so everybody has the ability to reach out to somebody The Left in general has been fractured by extremism and also by an inability for us to accept a belief that differs Its ok to feel comfortable with someone’s belief that differs to you Communities can teach us how to ask for help If you have a profile - go to a funeral - it perks the grieving up no end - Three cheers for costa who showed up for her dads funeral Her word - Warmth - like an energetic blanket being worn around during the dark days, their love can be felt
Ep 136 Casper Ter Kuile - (rhymes with smile) - Ritual, relationship covenants & why we can practice sacred reading with any book
00:58:44
Summary: In a world of consumption & content this chat ponders which containers for connection are going to hold us in relationships that are strong enough to navigate sickness &health, vitality & misery & how we build bridges to thread our significant worlds into one place so we can be ‘whole’. Over & above the individual, we ask ‘how do we build cultures where ‘welcome’ is the default & division is not normalised.
Casper TerKuile is an articulate, poetic communicator who believes that ritual holds the key for much of this transition work. Where we buck the system, going beyond the prioritising of comfort at the expense of belonging. Casper lyrically leads us through making everyday things deeply intentional, shared moments of magic that change our attitude to the mundane & bring magic to the small threads of potential delight.
In a desire to move beyond the morass of 'MEH' we consider that whatever the problem - community is the answer & how we might build bridges to connect everyone's efforts to create the necessary structures. What ever they are - you can’t treat community like a shopping centre - waiting to serve your every whim but with nothing offered in return.
In an unexpected twist we ask: How would someone farm humans? - a lot more singing & dancing & a lot less sitting behind a desk
Show Notes: How are community & spirituality changing Less than half the population now consider themselves religious - lowest in history How can we connect more deeply with the people who matter Exploring spirituality Creating pathways to build deeper relationships & bonds Creating collaborative covenants - Professional relationships as defined by the way ‘we want to be together’. Sacred reading - one of the most profound reading practices - as much about how you are reading as what you are reading “I may not be guilty but we are all responsible” Potluck dinners to build communities of warmth Is your “place” where the trees look like they should? Does placeless-ness contribute to a sense of cosmic loneliness? Seeing the best of people in tough times - it calls for the best in people We were once born into a ‘role’ and way of being Making our day to day decisions through the framework of regeneration that results in life. Anti elite vitriol in rural USA emphasised and polarised by social media companies Relational cohesion Nose to tail eating…meat eaten with reverence. Honouring the beast that gave its life The value of policy makers in our period of transition I went to graduate school on divinity and public politics Why change makers need to find homes at all tiers of system change
Ep 137 Sarah Andrews - Huddling by design + doing what it says on the box
00:46:36
Sarah Andrews has this way of stripping back the noise & replacing hustle with humility. A gentle woman, who describes herself as '90% introvert', she has crated beautiful spaces by considering them her palette to tell stories & then inviting in a global community of folk to share her special space.
The key, she says, to creating spaces that are warm, nurturing and supportive of the community they are designed to hold, is to be sure that “beautiful is not the ‘budget”. “My plan was to teach a few what I knew and then go sailing but it didn't happen like that because what was being taught was so special & it really did what it said on the box” Today the futuresteading pod invites you to open the box and learn ways to create spaces that nurture togetherness.
Show Notes How a tumultuous life has lead her to creating spaces that make her feel safe Spaces that make you feel the way you want to feel & be the best we can Finding your medium to create stories - art, verbal words, design, written words, Walking the line of being a hermit that is alone but not wanting to be alone Understanding her ratio for a happy life - for her its 90% introverted Attracting people together but without the obligation of having to hold them all. “I’d found an internal happiness as a host and wanted to gift that to others” “Hosting & creating spaces is a science which can be broken down into a process? Frustration with the creative world using words that don't have meaningful measure. Building tools that could be taught to people who don't think they're creative. It’s easy to copy something if you've got a big budget but if you’re creating something that’s creative & individual then the real beauty is uncovered “For many reasons captains rest should not have been a success but when it was I was inundated with people asking me to help them do the same for them” Humility in creating a global network of minded individuals "I don’t have the energy for it to be all about me so it’s lovely to see a community of people connecting from the comfort of my couch" Every year I just do what I can - which is different every year - there’s no strategy but it feels good & works for me. Enough is not about doing more, having more, seeing more, it’s about how much you can give to the world. Building a meaningful community of people she loves & trusts I’m a three friend type of person - they’ve seen me through every part of my life Being part of a community that is protective of one another & generous Inner huddles & outer huddles Our community is a success because it’s genuine - it’s not a side hustle or a business venture - I’d be doing it anyway. The thing that always links to success is ‘realness’ - when it lights up people’s eyes you know it's true. It’s those who have the bravery to follow that A better way of being a community of people interacting with one another is when we sidestep division. Being led by kindness - one of the hardest but most rewarding things about being alive.
Ep 138 Jane Stevens - By the grace of Gaia goes she!
00:47:22
Jane Stevens is passing on the knowledge from her lifelong poly passions of gardening, herbalism, astrology and moon cycles as a gift to the world in the from of a book (one that carries a Chelsea green publishers mark on the spine & a Rosemary Gladstar forward no less). This Wisconsin based wealth of other-worldly wisdom shares why writing a book in her mid 60s is the perfect time of pass such earthly wisdoms. She speaks of planting seeds according to the moon cycles - are you familiar with the moon cycles? Creating gardens according to the 7 body chakras, the pattern of herbalists always being shunted to the side & why she quit watching the news to focus instead on the plants in her garden which leaves her feeling more empowered & less fearful.
Grandmotherly inspiration to become a herbalist at five that set a feeling of awe in her heart - “I just knew that I needed to be with the plants A Wisconsin tradition of planting a Peony from your mothers farm on your own farm Gardening by the moon to create a practical rhythm Letting nature be more in control and being more of a partner Start by following the quarters of the 28 day moon cycle Week one: The new moon rises at dawn & sets at dusk (the time to be starting projects including seeds which have their seeds outside the fruit - lettuce, broccoli) Week Two: The first quarter rises at midday & sets at midnight (plant seeds that hold their seeds inside the fruit such as cucumbers and tomatoes) Week Three: The full moon rises at dusk & sets at dawn (the soil moisture is pulling down so its the perfect time to plant root vegetables) Week Four: The last quarter rises at midnight and sets at noon (time of rest, planning, setting traps, weeding) Being multi disciplinary has meant she chartered her own path Her astrology points to brave leadership Teaching is a gentle role Turning their farm into a ‘public garden’ - a childhood dream Planting a garden based on the 7 chakra system to build mental and bodily strength Plants are seductive Herbalists in history have forever been dogged by the system - pushed out by design Seduction begins by teaching children to be engaged in nature - they get excited and teach their parents The need for us to build our own skills and herbal medical kits in order to side step the system that shuts it down Access to deep knowledge of Chinese, ayurvedic and native herbalism - now is the time to act Participate in herb walks in your local area Integration - layering meditation, astrology, herbalism Being brave enough to use the space and skills of our young people. What does enough look like - Health, loving relationships, all your bills being paid, gratitude, humility. One word - Gratitude - for a seed that was planted in me to work with plants, that I was educated, have a career outdoors, finding the love of my life - these gifts have kept me humble.
Ep 139 Osprey Oriel Lake - The Story Is In Our Bones, Together We Will Rewrite It!
00:47:12
How do we become a life enhancing species? How do we remember in our bones our earth lineage? Osprey asks us to consider 'How are we each ‘efforting’ towards a different way of being? If you said Together...SNAP. While acknowledging that we're each complicit in living & swimming in an extractive economy & extractive world - its about the way we navigate it. In dismantling old oppressive systems that harm life instead of nurture it, we first need to acknowledge our diluted collective understanding that we're living relative and connected to the web of life and that we are not separate or orphaned from it. That being on the land, in our body and away from intellectual focus provides the more dominant societies to become humbled and more engaged with our hearts and minds. When operating in this way, we change our story and ultimately change our way of being in a world that is gasping for us to interact differently. As a female leader, she beats to a different drum but we all might learn a thing or two from her approach.
We talked about Her role asfounder of the Women's Earth & Climate Action Network WECAN Leading an organisation with heart led decision making - feminine leadership differs to mainstream narrative Divesting away from destructive projects is a powerful act The power of storytelling in creating change Heart to heart human connection has resulted in banks divesting millions of dollars Bringing our whole selves to show up and talk to people we don't agree with, share stories & work on moving hearts and minds Talking to people in positions of wealth and influence to enact change We need an ecosystem with projects and campaigns at all tiers - the challenge is when we don't work together Knitting ecosystems together- Collective power comes from together-ness Organisations who have money need to be bridgebuilders for those who don't Mentorship from indigenous leaders woven throughout her life experiences Its time to compost the modern day ideologies and create new soils….its is going to stop as nature will make us stop We need to connect with the earth and each other to reconfirm our identities in relationship with the land Building our community We can't rely on soundbites to make a decision Why she doesn't travel for vacations - only for work How are we utilising our privilege to lift up others, and make choices Being willing to be in uncomfortable situations and then being quiet enough to listen to others especially not white wealthy people so we can keep creating more equity and balance We are in a time where we are unpacking racism patriarchy and colonisation - observations Sidestepping division How worldviews and climate justice can reframe our climate crisis We are dealing with crises about identify and trauma which leads to violence, division and an inability to look inwards How do you live in a system which you are trying to transform Her one word - RELATIVES with each other, the air, water, trees, we are all in relationship.
E140 Sadie Chrestman - Farm schools, sharing white goods & building bloody great partnerships
00:47:43
This episode is akin to being a fly on the wall as you overhear a convo… a warm, convivial, personal conversation to round out season nine. Listening back, while editing - with the Sunday roast cooking - it felt intimate to be part of this natter between Sadie and Jade which was recorded in late Spring art the end of their respective days. They poured themselves a glass of wine and hit the recording button. Neither were in the mood to touch on doom-dom so they intentionally avoided consumerism, capitalism and colonialism, but unpacked many a worthwhile morsel to help us in our huddles - why do we all have our own white goods? Join the chat for a little snapshot capture of two farming women who've created public facing businesses while they share what this experience has been like and where it might go to next...perhaps a school, perhaps a space for the community to activate, perhaps a collaboration of good folk bringing their best selves, hopes n dreams to the table to create a homegrown hundreds and thousands solution to land management.
Show Notes Checking in on our promise to invite a complete stranger for a cuppa Being ballsy enough to open yourself to strangers & invite them in The weight of creating an experience that people become very familiar with & in time take a place of personal connection. The pressure of having to deliver when you are someone's bucket list The pressure of being part of someone's integral nostalgia & memory Moving away from being a restaurateur & stepping into full time farming & parenting The importance of the person that holds all the pieces of a community, to drive, listen & manage cohesion Are the answers going to be found in the weeds Could they run a high school stream on fat pig farm covering everything from science to economics? Collecting people & bringing them in to her place of nurturing Why she isn’t the power behind the throne but a partner in crime to live her best life Removing gender from the way we define our best selves Walking in step with many, even when those many aren’t necessarily the ones you would select if given a choice The long hard process of defining your no-go zones Our greatest capability is to find solutions from within our community Creating bioregional strengths that creates a culture How do we get people off social media where the sound bite lives and the complexity gets lost Complexity needs to be celebrated and continued - keep it alive and be ok with that
SAFE and HELD - is her one word that reflects HUDDLES
E143 Charlie McGee from Formidable Vegetable - Winter Windbacks 2024
01:02:23
Charlie Mgee -- permaculture troubadour and Formidable Vegetable frontman -- composes swingin' tunes on a ukulele that address climate change, food security and regenerative sustainable living.
From 'energy-descent electroswing' to 'post-apocalypso', his unforgettable music provides permaculture earworms that entertain and educate. Maybe you're humming one right now?
In this energetic convo, we quiz Charlie about the role of art and creativity in changemaking; how music has a knack for bridging gaps and delivering powerful messages through melody. Charlie talks about his childhood in the bush, his wandering spirit, what it's like living in a tiny house at Melliodora with Brenna Quinlan, and his vision for a more beautiful world.
E146 Winter Windbacks 2024 Anthony James - Powerful Regen-narration w words
01:03:09
As the host of the the 'regen-narration podcast, listening, learning and storytelling is this mans lens. Join us in getting comfortable sitting in silence while we wait for the insights With an intent for working collaboratively and creating a community of care, this conversation is flowing and abstract, reflecting on our life of fat, comfort and ease while we need to embrace the discomforts of our future - learning new skills to navigate a world without rose coloured glasses while maintaining action and hope that is meaningful and uplifting.
Show Notes
Why his podcast is its own entity
Why he is as curious and hopeful as all heck
Meta narratives of the regeneration movement
How communities are used as political pawns and divided when actually we are stronger when united
What he imagines life will be in 50 years
Why he believes our future is not yet written
Elite structures are the abstractions blocking all of us from connection to country
What he is doing to get around the colonial abstractions
Finding what it is you can bring to others and offering it with generosity
How can we all implement the things we are learning to the way we live our lives
Building a community of people
Navigating the complexities of human-ness in our efforts to rebuild our communities
Creating a Community of care
Prioritising the living systems - not just supplanting the current paradigm solutions
Owning and claiming your own storytelling narrative - be in it, share it, connect with it
Removing binary thinking
Revelling in the space of head/heart truth
Our mind (the way we think) is based in biological reality and so is the way we feel - how can we chart a holistic, intuitive, experiential way forward
More of us are going to feel the sharp edges of climate impact
The power of the in-between
While we’re nothing on our own we are magnificent as a sum of the parts
Minimising intellectual explanation and leaving room for a felt experience
It’s time to come together across cultures, across words, across knowledge barriers
Our divisions are usually accentuated by the powers that be
E145 Winter Windbacks 2024 Alex Elliot the firecracker from Cornersmith defying perfection
00:46:57
Bugger off dogmatic rules - who wrote those anyway. Push off unfaltering sustainable existence - you're leave us feeling guilty. Shhhh up incessant Instagram perfection - it's not real! Tune in to this fire cracker of fresh air to recalibrate your judgment beacon and give yourself a break while you learn to a make a difference in a way that works for you. Could that be quiet food related activism or perhaps sharing practical skills in your community, or waking up to the plastic explosion in our lives and actively curbing your contribution. Perhaps its pickling...everything in sight! What ever your path, Alex is unwaveringly supportive of anyone having a go at even the smallest of things & her final word of advice ' slow down, don't peak too soon...its a long path & its not getting any easier'
Show Notes Growing up in a share house that loved to cook in her formative years Creating community around the share plate Being ok with fish fingers and frozen peas Letting judgement go to make a difference while being accepting Education to build hope & practical skills during this climate emergency The exhausting weight of being sustainable 24/7 Wanting to help people fall in love with their kitchens again without ideology Beginning a business with her husband despite limited experience Discovering pickling when her kids were tiny & she was losing her mind Pickling as an onramp to a simpler sustainable life Lying awake thinking about wasting cumquats Putting community abundance to good use in a pickling jar Crossing language barriers to learn food preservation methods from her neighbourhood Taking twists & turns in business Why now is the time to stand up & shout really loudly No person can avoid having to make regenerative choices Getting bolder with age Trading with locals who swap backyard produce for coffee Navigating a food business through covid Avoiding being black and white Making spaces where its simple for people to make a contribution Choosing her favourite pickle You don’t have to make mega batches of food to make a contribution Eating and using what you’ve got to reduce food waste Choose one thing, while you build your habits and reframe your practices Do we all need to be a little uncomfortable in order to make us all think and create other solutions, Wake up and stop being passive, owning your decisions or solutions Using scraps from the bin to create magic If it can be used - use it Saving money by using every single part of every single thing Lucky dip cupboard - food without labels The process of writing a cook book Replacing the guilt with creativity in the kitchen The disservice of instagram perpetuating perfection Pearl of wisdom - going slower in our change journey to ensure longevity
E41 Winter Windbacks Mara from Orto Farm - creating a village life of circularity and love
00:58:25
Today Jade sits down with one of those luminous beings who’s living like tomorrow matters with deep intention and integrity.
Mara of Village Dreaming and ORTO Farm near Daylesford shares stories from her slow food life and lyrical observations (to the tune of ‘riding a bike to work in the city is like experiencing a musical’) that’ll linger long after this convo wraps up.
Mara describes her Italian roots and being a waste renegade, the magic of WWOOFing and running a cooking school, wildlife corridors and messages to her 20 year old self.
It’s better than a big bowl of Bolognese with hot-buttered garlic bread and it's yours for the devouring.
E144 Winter Windbacks 2024 - Beaudy Miles an odd storyteller
00:51:20
Our most downloaded backyard adventurer is chatting with us again but this time with better sound and more sleep under his belt so we are witness to a more true version of this humorous, odd character. A self titled 'polyjobist; a generalist at many things, he shares the challenge of writing a book after a decade in academia, worrying about breaking the law to make films and shares why he took up his granddads wood chopping axes despite his mediochre capability. Our conversation is all 'Miles' - it follows tangents, is really personal and stays true to his advice giving allergy.
Fear of being sued - breaking the law to film documentaries
Reframing your view of the world from your child-like baseline
“Bad River” - soon to be released film series
‘I don’t like being a negative storyteller but the time for me to have an opinion is here
I suppose I love attention but I’ve got hermit written all over me
A really quiet kid that began to bust out into his physicality which helped define him
Was he an undiagnosed dyslexic kid? Is that formative in creating who he is?
Learning maths by building things
Why he took up grandads ax’s to become a wood chopper
Being the mouth piece for those who you surround yourself with
Storytelling via various mediums: Film, book
Being Beau - thinking in tangents, following abstract thoughts, speaking in first person, finding your voice
My greatest skill in life is being a hard worker
Why recording his book as an audio book taught him where his writing faults are
Phenomonology - crating definition and essences out of subjectivity
The challenges of being a story teller
Our life is about defining our essences
While being attracted to individualism - life is simply just better when lived with others
Being watered down as an individual by becoming a parent
Why community is defined by doing the dishes
Reducing moving parts - from film making to doing dishes
Island foods - planning a trip with Paul West, Jade Miles and Beau Miles and three basic foods
Describing himself in three words: Hardy, Resilient, Odd
I think we are all odd but I'm just willing to say it
His allergy to advice giving
If a story teller is doing their job, there will be a million outcomes as others interpret the insights. This is desirable rather than a singular outcome
Living like tomorrow matters MUST look different for every single one of us -that's where the magic sits
Living life with an intentional unknowingness
As a film maker he doesn’t want to know what the outcomes will be, he wants a surprise and that raw, honest reality of one day at a time.
E142 Winter Windbacks 2024 Claire Dunn - Rewilding our souls
01:00:06
What would it be like to rely solely on yourself, lean into ecological literacy, to really notice the changing patterns of the season & offer yourself the time it genuinely takes to live intimately with the earth . Claire tells of her pathway to following a calling to initiation - a need to let her social identity rot away on the forest floor & go into a place of deep introspection. Spurred by a primal knowledge that we are living in a world with a deficit in: nature, elders, community, ritual & skills, Claire is rewriting her story & rebuilding the culture around her to become one of eco awakening - it starts with something as basic as an intentional 'wander' or journaling & accepting awkwardness as we relearn the art of village building using pan cultural tools like rhythm, percussion, scent, song, body movement, repetition, nature noticing,
Show Notes Spending a year off grid, alone, connecting to her human identity To do what I could to be a voice for the voiceless Her psyche turned towards a deep interconnectedness which heals the rift between the human soul & nature The constant flow of the forest sees an intruding human as a benign presence Rewriting her patterns of productivity, structure, Growing from a solo wolf into a community being Why she never felt lonely when in the bush Learning the art of community generated & self designed ceremony which links nature & culture Vision quests - multiple days along in a wild place. A way to mark a transition that's already happening. A strong ceremony with an element of ordeal which humbles us & marks us porous to some of the quieter conversations. Deep adaptation is what we’re needing. How can I live well on the land, in community with a thriving culture with wisdom around the journey of adolescence to adulthood. Reclaiming what we've lost, what we've buried but reclaiming culture in a contemporary setting. Hunter gatherers challenge - eating only what you grow, forage or bartered Feasting on community through intention, dedication, time, conflict, conversations Grief as a community builder Sparking ourselves through rewilding - a full expression of our animus being - creativity, love, vision, vitality, quiet, deep attuned listening, Removing abstractions from our ability to connect to our life support systems - our embeddedness with the web of life “Don't ask what the world needs of us, ask what makes you come alive and go do that because what the world needs most right now is a population of people who are alive”
E147 Leah Rampy - The trees teach resilience - Beginning & ending in silence
01:07:07
"When did we start othering earth to be overused & under-respected"? We humans are the younger brother & sister of other beings who have been here for longer than us & have more experience. Now it's time for humans to have humility, unlearn & relearn from those who haven't been so lured by the lux. Storytelling stepping stones will help us move to that place but a good storyteller also requires a good listener & it can be hard to hear the trees over the noise. Words can also fail us when the emotion of what we are losing is greater than words alone can capture - so seeking many forms of adaptation will require all the grit we've got! Leah isn't 'doing career' any more, she is simply doing what she loves & seeking the nexus of all that she loves - "that's where the power comes from in each of us...perhaps it's as simple as seeing the beauty in a cut cabbage"
Show Notes: Rebuilding a new life via tomatoes The inside word on her cohousing community of small homes Beginning her local movements “save our soil” & “lawns for life”, "We have two journeys - one is heart & soul: what is mine to do, the outward journey is how do I connect with all the living world around me. Of course the trick is connecting the two. Leading pilgrimages throughout America “the places really lead the pilgrimage” Transition can be painful because we think we need to know where we're going "How do we live more fully alive, deeply connected, balanced on the edge and in a way that is together? This is the conversation we could be in for the rest of our lives" Building trust by telling the truth about our reality. We keep trying to figure it out by using our head - we gotta have a heart journey Avoiding solutions that are wrapped up in a bow. "We are living in a time on a threshold - we cannot go back to the world we knew and while the story is not clear, our role is to plant the trees for future generations"
E148 Hannah Churton - The Worm Monger, creating community over kitchen scraps
00:45:10
How do you create community and influence people? Hannah Churton made friends over bucketloads of kitchen scraps and believes that compost can salve climate anxiety? It’s not simply the creation of black gold that returns the goods - it’s the strength and power in the community that has been built around it. Much like a warm cuddle - just like this convo!
Living in a zoom world - building communities from both ‘unreal worlds’ and those in your own literal backyard. Beginning a community compost hub during a pandemic “Of course the people came - it was a beautiful surprise that so many people were interested in engaging - was it a product of the time where people were seeking interaction or were they genuinely interested in composting and food waste" The courage it takes to set something like this up - nothing to lose was her reason to do it. Inviting people to participate by creating an easy-to-engage-in process that anyone could access The importance of making change as simple as possible so there was not a single barrier to participating. Weighing everything that comes through to incentivise participants - documented on a blackboard so people can see how much they have recovered from landfill. Building pride in the collective effort The street now knows each other really well Using community compost to build verge gardens that community members can use. Rewarding the community with a bucket of Evolving from composting, to verge gardens to food swaps. Creating a passive “Hub” that invites everyone but doesn’t require hand holding. So everyone can be an active participant. Foundational educational opportunity with open days and tours so they can see what actually happens I didn’t know I had a deep need to thrive with connection and community until I put systems in place genuinely access people. Reflecting on the difference between altitudes and where transition can take hold. Compost has salved climate anxiety Collectivising efforts ‘Success’ - changed immeasurably in the last few years since having children. Doing away with her old version of success. Reinventing herself: Success is broadening her impact, and that can be as simple as others observing different ways of living, a softer footprint on the planet From a career in community development on a global scale compared to her street scale success. “Look what can be achieved on such a small scale” Creating hundreds and thousands of same-same but different versions of simple, local replicable projects Shifting our value towards things that are small, localised, practical and do-able Teaching your kids to tell the story of your ways to look after the planet Building communities with a collective knowledge level Learning names over compost and thinking communally “We think about ourselves as ‘the street’ over the individual households” She’s gone full nerd on her food waste with a PHD All the things that can be made from food that’s hasn’t been eaten
“Just get your hands dirty and you'll be rewarded - starting will lead you down a beautiful path whatever it is”. “Fear really is what stops people from starting. You will fail so learn to accept that its the pathway to success. "Composting is a meditation on regeneration"
MILK…despite the fact that 6 billion people on the planet drink it and we have been for 10,00 years, most of us rarely give it a moments thought. Todays conversation with Matthew Evans takes us swimming in vats of the stuff.
Milk looms large in our culture and it's complex, layered, nutritionally interesting and culturally rich. Milk doesn't just feed us - it affects the very way our DNA behaves, feeds your microbiome, speaks to brain health, beneficial to heart health. Fascinatingly, there's a two way communication between a mother and her baby which is passed through the milk.
Far from innocuous milk is in fact an extraordinarily complex social, political, ethical, environmental, scientific and fashionable elixir. So make yourself a milky coffee and settle in with Matthew while he unpacks all of this with his trademark capability to weave a story while teaching us fascinating things.
Mammals giving birth is wonderful but traumatic and fraught The intimate relationship you have with your milking cow - you’re the midwife, boss, trusted friend, child We began to milk animals about the same time as we started planting grain 10,000 years worth of accumulated knowledge and reciprocity from an animal Milking animals take the things a human can’t eat and turn it into high quality protein that we CAN use = the original alchemy Humans have thrived quite well with dairy in our life. Why milk ended up at the end of a political and public beating stick When we expect to buy one of the most complex lipid fat substances at less than bottled water - we’ve lost our way. It’s fashionable to put the boot into milk but 98% of Australians have cow dairy in their fridge The Whitlam years of 300ml milk bottles at playlunch ruined a generation of potential milk drinkers There’s not actually much to say about plant milks - they are ultra processed, nutritionally minimal and our bodies have not evolved to recognise any nutritional benefits. A fan of the tim-tam - but this is how you should think about MYLK - it’s a sometimes food that offers little value. Homogenisation and pasteurised processing and the impact it has on how we digest it - faster and earlier in the gut’ despite knowing that this is not beneficial to humans The disservice the dairy industry has done to itself with the introduction of skim milk - deconstructing the amazing product that it actually is. Losing quality Hippie nirvana of reintroducing us back to our local dairies - its incomparable with anything you can buy in the shops 1 in four farmers in the world have a dairy cow Raw Milk - forbidden in Australia, it requires licenced dairy processor permits. When you kill the bad bacteria you also kill the good bacteria. Cheesmakers will always choose unpasteurised milk Raw milk is the new moonshine Think of raw milk as a living thing Raw milk swaps in a McDonalds carpark for baristas Transformation of dairy into everything it becomes Whey makes a great antifungal and puts ALL the resources to use. He now looks at a bottle of fresh milk diff
E150 Digby Hall - The power sits in the many so it's time to collect your huddle
01:02:34
No-one else is coming in to solve the human induced problems & it's not about us anymore - we all have a responsibility to do something for the generations still to come Digby Hall reckons that if joined together we have wisdom, integrity & immense power to bring change but we must learn how to self manage the whiplash of constantly changing environments because its a forever 'whole' game, so this is our new normal and we have to be able to sustain our role in it. Fundamentally climate change & climate action is a human issue but we don't have much living memory about how to work deeply in community & this leads us to divided & siloed communities. Todays conversation asks "how do we 'humanly solve these challenges by the way we make our daily decisions"
We talked about What’s the decision making process for a regular family to make plans for a life that is climate resilient? Giving people tools they can use to make their own decisions rather than providing the answers Nothing is linear - planning for a climate impacted future really depends on your future of choice When planning for 7 generations it changes the first step you will take today. First Nations thinking and caring for country is becoming a critical part of the way we design for climate i.e the way we manage water Which water catchment are you in, how does your water get to the tap, how do you interact with your water, who manages your water Functioning on the edge of our system - constantly challenging how we are doing our work A “huddle” is the difference between light and dark, life & death. "There are so many more of us in this change tribe than there are in the opposing camp of climate change disbelievers but it’s critical that we find where we all are and how we transcend our ever so slightly different lenses which might not overly 100%" The importance of being in relationships with people who might be slightly different but ultimately want the same thing 2 ways to be an activist 1 is to do things actively and 2, where do you spend your money i.e superannuation funds hold immense power yet most of us are apathetic about it. He looks for the levers that trigger the flow of everything else A design rule he always puts in place - "if we did nothing else but made sure that every occupant using this building is within 8 metres of the outside world. This then solves lots of other things" We have to have both art & science to solve problems of the magnitude we are facing Why he chose Tassie; grassroots initiatives, community of life long learners The power of the yarn in local communities His food decision making tree Thinking about where you shop - Shorten the supply chain at every opportunity Reconnecting with place & the environment through the food we eat. We know how to do what must be done but we’ve been distracted by the lure of convenience The risks of self sufficiency & the vibrancy of community sufficiency "You don't have the right to do things now that will ultimately harm the greater good. We have a responsibility & we each need to do the best we can to make a difference"
E151 Dani Wolff - Mashing together earth wisdom + mama wisdom
00:51:25
Dani Wolff is a roll-your-sleeves-up-&-get-shit-done kinda girl who oozes earth wisdom and mama wisdom but most of all she personifies what it means to be collaborative.From her years in an intentional community to her globe trotting earth building projects and now her multi fingered prongs in collaborations that take her from veggie gardens to matriessence mentoring she shares a bagful of insights into how we can bring some of the ideological ideas to life in a way that can work for each of us wherever we live.
We talked about: Natural rhythms of each year Earth building design is not about the building, its about the people & the relationships Being drawn to communities & their dynamics - people care Her trip to Scotland for a the Gaia led course in organisational design Creating an intentional community with 25 other people using gut led decisions Holding shame when reflecting on previous experiences Teaching social permaculture The complexity of ownership & agency Living without comforts &with so many people took its toll & resulted in emotional exhaustion Communities work when there are different types of people Reflection is a really important part of the cycle Her earth building experiences Falling pregnant changed how she lives - pulling back from constant travel & constantly being in community Reframing who you are as part of matriessesnce - it was really hard to let go of her preconceived ideas of who she was and how she would live The new rhythm that motherhood brings 300sq metres is the perfect size for 6 families (23 people altogether). Using everything they grow & swapping the value added goodies with each other Being collaborative is in our DNA but that doesn’t make it easy It takes a lot to make the leap into working collaboratively & requires conversation & check ins to be sure everyone still feels valued & recompensed There’s an inner knowing that we feel better when we work with others How a greater driver can be the reason to connect The importance of sharing our parenting challenges honestly Being mothers & women who can share, assures us that we are good parent Wanting to breastfeed forever Do people carry the weight of their babies early birthing trauma What can we do differently to encourage others to build their own tools & not just rely on organisers to make things happen - create independent groups for themselves Seek mothers groups or activities & be brave enough to put yourself out there Consistently showing up is so important for community groups to build momentum Persistence is required to get things off the ground Ask "What's your why - do you want to learn skills, do you want support, where are your vulnerabilities Mind mapping & getting clear on what your wants/hopes are to fill a void Her huddle word is NOURISHMENT
E152 Charlie Showers - Regenerative farming as his laboratory for life + initiating boys into manhood
01:14:06
Meet Jades husband - Charlie Showers. Perched at the kitchen table, this conversation is steered by questions received from listeners. For an oft reserved gent, Charlie emotionally opens the doors about why he leans into the 'uncomfortable' to realise his humanity, to the grief of facing his own mortality, taking his boys through rites of passage & why regenerative farming has been the perfect laboratory to spur his curiosity about systems, our connection to biological processes & being brave enough to do the opposite of what the mainstream insist on when fighting for a life of perpetuity for humanity. Learn what 'exudate' means & how it could be the chance for all of us to leave life instead of destruction behind us + what he want's done with his teeth when he dies.
We chatted about: Sharing a common vision but not always sharing the same timing ambitions Movement has power - just start & collectively the energies come together The value of being a curious poly-jobist Why bringing a dream to fruition is impatience filled when the vision is so clear His experience of taking his boys through rites of passage Where he wants to be buried Numbing yourself with the anaesthetic of netflix Relishing the chance to build deeper ritual in his life Embracing discomfort Being a morning person through & through His enough: a daily reflection - what's enough for him spiritually & to be who he truly is Also asking - what will I strip away but what do I need more of: cultural depth, His desire to explore an extremely simple existence - stripping back his farming 'needs' Moving away from the word 'farming' - becoming hyper experimental in the way he produces food on country Moving away from the loaded word of 'farming' Exploring the edges of the system we are all ensconced in What the landscape he stewards evokes in him & being a proud contributor to the Alpine Valleys of North East Victoria. "I'm yearning to be surrounded by people who are connected to place not just for the sake of it but because its important to living in a deep The intimate beauty of hosting on farm Wwoofers (volunteers) Composting op shop shirts when they literally fall off his back Being a banjo playing hack, brewing moonshine, anti authoritarian Collecting Teeth Storytelling: An important part of sharing culture. The complexity of being the partner of someone who has such a strong calling Cultural anaesthetics The journeys he has left in him - entwined in an exploration of self & elderhood Inner work for the benefit of then serving his community around him Modifying Black Barn Farm so it becomes a much more community space where the sum of the parts are greater than the whole. Exudate: providing things for the benefit of other things. You can go through life & the exhaust that comes out of the back of you does not have to be waste, rather a product that contributes to the building of more life.
E153 Satyajit Das - Is Modern Humanity just Neanderthals' living with smart phones?
00:58:53
This gent who goes by the name of Das is eccentric, passionate, articulate & intelligent so strap in for this fast paced, heady conversation framed through the lens of equal rights for species other than humans to the very resources we are destroying. His voice grins, setting a positive tone & his true love of the natural world is just a tad intoxicating.
We leap from the truth that adaptability trumps strength for resilience. We quip about how the finance sector is filled with animals, we both agree that animals are more sensible than human beings - they don’t go about destroying the landscape that keeps them alive & we ponder how we came to be a culture that thinks we can click our way out of the quandary we find ourselves in. We ask if you're suffering from 'Prognostic Miopia' where you are so focussed on the near term things you don’t connect with the real long term consequences of our actions. We suspect the very culture we all swim in, means we all suffer & rather than feeling the weight of this, taking the approach of finding our own, individual ways to swim out of it. It covers a lots and its a cracker!
Show Notes Defining what it means to be human through studying animals Coming face to face with a grizzly bear in Alaska Failing our natural world as its guardian Our need for 1.7 earths "Human eyes need more pixels than there are in the universe to capture the beauty of some animals" Going to the root cause of the problems rather than bandaid-ing Human beings as mere hosts for bacteria & viruses The danger of our reliance on tech "Humans address every problem with Paleolithic emotions, medievil institutions & godlike technology - a dangerous recipe Reading your landscape Entering the phase of populism for answers Moving our problems into the future "Ultimately the worth of our species will be measured by our acceptance of our true role within the complex web that is life"
E154 Paulette Whitney - For the love of flowers, food & spring loaded seeds!
00:50:29
As a food grower, lover of the natural world, cook and wizened plant expert, todays conversation meanders between the veggie patch & the kitchen, the garden shed & the pickling shelf. A reverence for the food we eat was planted deep inside Paulette's young mind by a mother who shared her skills and passion which then carried her onto this trajectory of life where she experiences the world through her garden. As founder and owner of Provenance Growers and now author she tells the story of where our food comes from, how it was grown and what nutrients it might share with us in our interwoven way of existence with the natural world.
Loved this? Try these: Similar themes but of course wonderfully different stories. Ep 134 Jane Stevens who is a herbalist & astrologer in the US Ep 121 Nat Wilmott who shares her story of homesteading, homeschooling & living simply in the West Gippsland Hills Ep 53 Simeon Ash from Spoke and Spade market garden.
We talked about: Learning lessons outside with her Mum Seeing a process evolve from environmental impact to food Tapping back into her childhood skills to step away from the pressure to sell things Changing careers in her mid 20’s & landing in horticulture Making people feel happy & safe with what we do with our hands The many uses of flowers for culinary, health & horticulture Her addiction to seeds - especially spring loaded ones Tips for managing cross pollination for seed saving Her caffeine supported daily routine The cycle of paddock/soil management Her love of perennial edibles for ease of management & health of soil Creating plants that are hardy & weather beaten that thrive when planted Kids pulling away from their parents Being a reluctant elder Market gardening as an ideal job for a human low in confidence & introverted Her ADHD diagnosis Her husband is the doer & she is the wanderer Storytelling as a tool for knowledge sharing Following the rhythm of her brain as a pattern to writing her book The freedom of knowing you can hold more than one idea at once The beautiful cyclical nature of observing & interacting Lean model of market gardening Managing failure - easier to do when you are safe & have your basics met Avoiding waste from the outset
E155 Anisa Rogers & Michaela from the Degrowth Network - Downsizing for perpetuity in a new world!
00:59:10
Summary In a world dominated by a striving for endless growth, it can be hard to see that while a drive towards money and individualism is great for the economy, it is fundamentally destructive for humanity, community & ecology. This conversation tackles us relearning our ability to grow our environment with each other & to meet our own needs rather than outsourcing to those who will make the divisions based on profit. It asks us to opt for less transactions & more relationships, it addresses the epidemic of loneliness and it settles on the idea that a little bit of debt is a good thing - relational debt that is. The time to navigate difficult & complex divisions to make us anti fragile is now but it requires us to heal our hurt hearts so we can do the work we need to do in our current system. Degrowth is the salve, held by love that is the container for our path forward as humanity. Links You'll Love Tools for Conviviality - Ivan Illich National Degrowth Network The Overstory - Richard Powers
We talked about: Poverty is political Building action into your everyday existence Seeking inspiration from socialist countries Building an obsession with nature Composting as a gateway drug Evolving from being individuals to being change making huddles Making academic theories approachable & practical Finding collective inspiration for criticising growth Creating coalitions of the unlikely by side stepping black & white Creating containers for people who are looking to connect despite the inevitable conflicts that will arise We need more spaces to hold respected disagreements Despite relationships being thorny, we are going to have to work this out. The hardest skills of all are the soft skills of really working wth humans - meeting people with what they need to unpack the complexity Being part of groups where the hard stuff can be held Building the ‘neighbourhood’ - learning the name of the person next door, even when they are different to you Being materially dependent on one another is a good thing Our mobility has meant we are avoiding our ability to learn to manage conflict. Why cleverness is disarming The role of grief & gratitude in this journey Slow is smooth & smooth is fast Instead of air conditioners - lets have an afternoon nap Returning us to our natural cycles & building our life around it Side stepping linear, capitalist striving. Connection to the earth is not lost on us - it’s in our ancestral knowledge, but we need to sit still, reskill & really want to relearn Learning to be comfortable with a lack of control
E156 Shane Simonsen - Taming the apocalypse, exploring a post industrial world & maize making people mad
01:11:50
Summary The age of short termism now dominates - Todays guest however takes long termism the way we all take breakfast (those not on a fasting regime anyway) Apparently he was born this way.
In his recently released book Taming the Apocalypse he states that the only remaining sustainable resources after industrialisation runs its course will be biology & culture. To prepare for this time, Shane Simonsen has an exceptionally original approach to zero input, large scale farming & has committed his life's plan of living long enough to connect varieties of crops that have been separated by 60 million years of evolution by creating plant hybridisation at scale - his seed collection rivals Svalbard the Global Seed Vault.
His thesis so far: -The shortcoming of science is that it wants all organisms to behave like machines. -If we have 1000 farmers over 1000 years doing this, we would see a miracle - not a machine. - Now is the moment for sacrificial offerings of research & time for the sake of learning for future generations - Putting seeds in the dirt NOT a seed bank is the best path to build genetic diversity
Changing career direction away from complex & fragile systems
From hunter gatherer culture to industrial ag with nothing in between
Culture gaps and skills gaps
Biological systems are complicated, networked & chaotic
Why Bunya nuts were his starting place
Humans have the capacity to recognise the uniqueness & value of something in the eco system & support it to become an ongoing part of our food future.
Why biology is the unexpected miracle.
Rebuilding culture so we can accept slow, magical outcomes
You don't need many people like Shane to create real change - seed sharing, experimentation, desire to create new things
The defense chemicals of our food
Why humans are really bad at imagining things that gradually change our base line
Opting out from resource intensive lives - creeping off into the margins to exist
Spending months of hand farming to grow $20 worth of grain
Rebuilding trust & re-forming collectivism
Beginning your own hybridisation program with vegetables
Almost all the vegetable seed you buy originated in hot houses in Holland
Australia is on the end of supply lines so it’s likely we will experience a supply shock - this might be just the wake up call to realise the vulnerable state we are in.
Can we get our politicians to fly the permaculture flag?
E157 Cynthia Jurs - Sacred Activism, Earth Treasure Vases & Combatting Atomic Bombs in your own backyard
00:46:03
Summary Life is impermanent. Precious but not entitled to length. The past is behind us, the future is unknown & all we have is this moment. Our role is to meet the moment. Being overwhelmed with the assignment of bringing healing & protection to the earth, todays guest looked to Gaia as the source of guidance towards effortless harmony. Easier said than done but she found that our cultural inclination to constant self referencing & focussing on I, Me, Mine was the limitation. Looking beyond the veil into another dimension & awakening her relationship to the earth allowed her to thread humility into all her actions & remembering that we are part of & conspiring with gaia in every living moment gave her the space to take a breath before acting. She meditated She took the radical act of pausing to gain clarity She had the courage to step out of the old patterns She undertook pilgrimages She built global networks of healing & peace She honoured those who are maintaining the ceremonies, prayers & connections that keep us all in balance. She filled Earth Treasure vases and built a global mandala as her offering of 'sacred activism'. This is her story.
We talked about: Buddhism tradition of earth treasure vases - holy vessels with purpose Being prepared within yourself before succumbing to a summoning Bringing the earth back into balance Filling small clay pots with prayers, offerings, traditions & intentions as a symbolic measure for healing & balance Clay pots are kind of like living beings - they come alive in your hands The clay includes many sacred substances linking them to ancestral lineages Allowing ancient practices to become relevant to the world today & to the people that are participating in the offering process The capacity for different cultures, communities & lands to accept without assumption Making offerings to the earth & the unseen-beings-without-a-voice that we know we need to keep in balance Becoming a vessel but not imposing your own ideas & self importance on what you think is best for the world. Getting down on her knees and opening her heart and asking for support from the unseen energy. Our own true nature is so much a part of the nature of Gaia
“ When I learned how to get myself out of the way, form an intention, but allow that intention to unfold on its own without trying so hard to make it happen, things started to unfold in a very different way - in ways I never could have predicted"
E158 Matilda Brown - When hard things fill your heart w joy & husbands make the best business partners
00:58:48
This is a pour-a-cuppa kinda convo - Matilda Brown is a rare kind-of open book where nothing is off limits and despite not actually being her friend you get the distinct feeling that you must be.
Flipping a childhood acting career for a regnerative food business wasn’t part of her plan - actually nothing really is, this breath of fresh air claims to be “bumbling around with life, filling in time until she dies.” But her bumble is joyful & hopeful in the best way possible.
She & her husband Scott Gooding are the brains & brawn behind the Good Farm pre prepared meals range & they’ve just released a cook book with the same name - its as delightful as she is - This is her story!
Being an oversharer & wanting to know the details without any shame Going through the world giving more than taking Boobs peaking at 14 Fad diets of her teenage years without an understanding of nutrition From actor to foodie Life epiphanies via parenthood Believing that the universe has your back & the lessons you are being served are necessary Stumbling into a regenerative path Creating Cow shares until they realised there was a hole in their bucket The challenge of building a business around the true cost of a whole animal outside of the industrial food system Creating a regenerative food business nuancing as they went. Combining a regen story with convenience Sharing more than just the business news in this nosey world…navigating sharing of personal stories Avoiding a thick skin so you keep ‘feeling’ I have so much to learn as a spiritual being in a humans body, on a ride in a world that can’t be controlled or predicted. Magic sits in the bumbling, rats & mice & problem children Appreciating the things that money can’t buy The value of being relational - shunning the online solution The need to squeeze your closest folk How many ‘no’s’ do you need before you get to the YES Even when things are hard they can still be heart filling and they can make you FEEL so alive! This is living, side stepping numbness is when you feel your most alive.
E159 Alice Zaslavski - Serving your 'A 'game with salad + learning English with Big Ted
00:51:16
Hungry? How bout a salad…trust me, after todays convo, you’re going to want to eat salad for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Not just the limp lettuce & store bought dressing kind of salad but one that tickles all your gastronomic senses. Once you've been satiated the convo settle into really chewing on the realities of this high energy lass' day to day existence: her rituals, her challenge to find the gaps to do the quiet things, learning to really be in the moment & finding her path to enoughness.
Alice Zaslavski has chatted with us on the pod before but since then her OTT love for food, food education & food appreciation has exploded into the stratosphere with another 3 cookbooks, her own radio segment on Saturday mornings & now her own cooking show on the ABC, you’ll still find her exuberance filling the pages of papers & magazines nationwide & for today you’ll her convincing you to serve salad for your every meal.
The pace of this human is dizzy-ing so its a strap in & hang tight kind of episode.
We talked about: Being a talker on paper Her latest adventures in gastronomic pleasures Listening to your body to understand what you need at the time. Food as medicine deserves to be understood by all Her ‘vegetable-forward’ food, centric Georgian heritage Sharing a common vision but not always sharing the same timing ambitions Movement has power - just start & collectively the energies come together Breaking our daily fast with vegetables Be ready & willing to adapt the recipes to suit yourself The real life day to day juggle of such a busy busy life Having a ‘wife’ in her ‘husband’ Learning to say a hard NO Prioritising her health as the most important part of her job Being lit up by all that you do so it doesn't feel like working a day of your life Time to update the vision board The soma response to birthing a new project Building an enabling network to get into flow Enabling others to be their most magic version of themselves Being an extroverted extrovert - learning how to absorb human energy via a screen Learning to speak English with Big Ted on Playschool Wishing for more time with community Making time for reading Saying yes to the opportunities that ground you.
E160 Manda Scott - Pondering how we became accidental gods of this land & seeking connection to it with humility not control
01:12:19
Summary If we are going to lay the foundations of a world we are proud to leave as a legacy we need to be comfortable to move into elderhood - for Manda Scott this is about getting comfortable with emergence and asking the living web “what is mine to do”. We’ve created a world where separation, anxiety & powerlessness have become the underlying defaults instead of a world of security, belonging & agency. We are addicted to dopamine &exist in a world of trauma rather than initiation so how are we to rewrite these patterns? By listening to the heart-mind - its very shy & quiet but the head mind will whisper if it needs you to really listen.
We talked about: Learning to live as functioning members of the earth community Why she writes fiction not non fiction Receiving shamanic instruction How to be in connection with the web of life in all its complexity Being born into a trauma culture rather than an initiation culture Why seeing truth without self projection is hard. Her decades of shamanic teaching - still learning to discern the difference between what her ego is saying and what the energy is saying Returning to a sit spot to receive instructions to write a book “Skin Listening” - an ability to be felt with all your senses without pre conceived ideas Sit spots - what can I see, what can I feel, what does my heart say Why some languages say “I am other” and some say “I am intrinsically part of what is happening. Initiation culture is capable of holding contained encounters with death We live in a dopamine culture - addicted to turning oil into adrenaline Yearning for a serotonin mesh of connection of meaning & purpose The four stages of Adulthood Undoing our head mind dominance Offering yourself in service and waiting for your path. The chaos of our culture is that we think we can plan ahead We live in an insane world & ourselves its sane One of the key measures of adulthood is being prepared to walk against the tide
E161 Carolyn Parker - Living Her Daydream, Waking up to the Sunshine & Pushing Past Deep Shyness
00:58:52
Summary As a super quiet, observing kid, Carolyn often had her head in a book or went adventuring on her own. As an adult this lead to naturally hermitty behaviour before she actively decided to show others that shy characters can do bold & hard things too - especially if they take tea wherever they go. Now, woven into a well connected community she is more or less living her daydream of tea caravans, herbal gardens, her very own herbal medicine book & a throng of good folks around her. She reveals that growing herbs was her gateway to herbalism & that we can all know their potency by incorporating them into every day life & not just turning to them when we're sick. But to do this we must get to know them. The best way to become intimate is to grow them, dry them, taste them, smell them, feel how they moves through your body. Join us on a magical herbal love-affair!
We talked about: Her seasonal daily rhythm “It was a daydream of mine not to wake up to an alarm but to wake up with the sunshine” Being a poly-jobist: business woman, gardener, herbalist "I’m an evolved that-way sort of person - I straddle between being a list maker & a meanderer". Being the kid who wasn’t ultra conversational & actively moving through the discomfort of it & learning to have conversations & a little false bravado I want to show other reserved/shy people that you can o scary things “I think we are hard wired for comfort but this doesn't allow us to reach our potential” Taking herself off to a boxing gym to learn how to be assertive & confident Drawing daydream gardens Discovering you can be a herbalist later in life Being a naturopath is so much more than a job - enabling the patient to undertake holistic change is really where the opportunity to change is. Viewing it more as a lifestyle is part of the solution Teaching her patients skills rather than selling them potions Leading patients to veggie gardens, kimchi pots, community & settled adrenals Wearing fun clothes & sporting dirty fingernails at the same time Picking outfits like her dinner, according to colour Award winning tea blends - making tea since big enough to be trusted with a kettle Starting her tea caravan Not being nostalgic The importance of being connected to people Stop moving the goal posts without appreciating what you've achieved
E162 Helen Rebanks - In Honour of the Farmers Wife!
00:42:23
What started as a throw away title while supporting her husband James Rebanks on his book tours, Helen Rebanks now proudly refers to herself as the farmers wife - a title that has very much become her identity & set in her a burning desire to write her own book about invisible women who’s stories are not told. As a mother of four & the backbone for their farming ventures in the Lakes District in the UK, Helen declares that the only people who work harder than farmers are farmers wives. I reckon she's right! She is a small in stature, large in capability kind of woman who truly loves her daily reason to get out of bed & nurture her family. hold the many threads of keeping a family going, setting the pace and rhythm. She speaks of honouring our capability to be in service with love, empathy compassion & a regular roast on the dinner table not just on Sundays. Through this lens she is bringing her own kind of approach to combatting corporate greed, multi national farmland ownership & returning us to localised food systems.
Food that’s made with love & care says “I’m nourished & looked after” - imagine being the person in the house that provides this service” This story is about speaking up for those who hold families together, hold communities together. We need small farm futures with local food systems. Knowing where our food comes from & being able to ask the questions.
We talked about: Speaking up for the women who sit behind the regenerative family farmers life. Thinking holistically about life on the land - It's WHOLE! The farmers table as a gathering place Reasons for transitioning into regenerative practices. Sharing her farming stories to help others transition their on earth practices "If I’ve ever felt minimised in the work I do its not been by me or my family" Living small & living local rather than chasing a celebrity culture is what she strives for. Our deep disconnection to our food. The power of a meal around the table Tomatoes on toast or scrambled eggs IS DINNER The role of motherhood taught her to become a voice for the process of becoming a mother. We can suffer in silence or talk to each other & learn. Sharing very vulnerable things in the hope it helps others.
E163 Yarning w Mindy Woods from Karkalla on Sisterhood, Eldership + Native foods
01:00:58
Sign out of 2024 with this lively mastermind who suggests we take country into our body ! How? Build routine around food, Go barefoot to boost immunity, Stop seeing food as an inconvenience Cook & eat with family often Connect to the seasons of your life & the landscape Create & share ceremony Use food as a reconciliation tool
Belonging to a matriarchal community has unlocked knowledge handed down by oral stories, dance & art where kinship is more than human to human. Knowing your spirit belongs here is a gift we can all tap but with belonging comes responsibility - one to mother earth, but also to sisterhood, eldership and to being part of the greater whole.
Living by 6 local seasons "Being part of the greater whole - we are one of the parts of many, it’s not us & them but all of us as one contributing to our country in some way we can maintain balance" Caring for her totems goanna, echidna & wollomi pine via broader care of her environment Societal lack of connection & belonging Imperfect allyship - ok to make mistakes but important to maintain connection Mob love a yarn - connect, be quiet, shut your mouth, open your listening & be there in respectful observation. Get curious about native food landscapes, Knowledge is the sacred part, the fundamental core of culture & treated with great reverence despite it not being written down, its taken seriously when its shared on It’s not transactional, it’s about relationships & allows us all to slow down to a pace that humans should actually move at. Childhood memories on country with family - eating oysters out of jam jars Being a proud cook - not a chef Having friends apply for masterchef on her behalf Debunking the myth of Australian food being meat pies & sausage rolls Asking what is Australia's cuisine & exploring culture through food Eating foods from our landscape, they belong here, are highly nutritious & are abundant Moving into eldership as wisdom holders - not an age but a readiness When you’re taking care of country you're taking care of mob & community too The privilege of taking on responsibility for cultural teachings When women are in charge it creates a great balance - women's wishes are always community based & they are thinking about country community & culture". You can’t be what you can’t see - be the one to lead the way Standing loud & proud in sisterhood - uniting. "The privilege to eat food that you’ve grown & understand the value of: local, seasonal, country gives you what you need at the right times in abundance - feeding the old people & the young people before feeding the well ones"
E164 - Gabrielle Chan "We're all making it up" - Summer Days Throwback 2025
00:51:52
Recorded just days after the Federal election, Gabrielle Chan doesn't mince words - even when bone tired. A celebrated journalist with the Guardian, outspoken advocate for rural Australia and encourager of individual agency. "Our system has been made up by people and it can be rewritten by people". Lets not wait for Government to bring change but get active and organised now during times of abundance.
Show Notes Connecting the grass roots regen ag movements with top down politics The need for change in our food, water, land management policies “We export a lot of sausage sandwiches - beef and wheat” Why it’s time to change the narrative around Australia's ag sector Why ‘level playing fields’ are a farce The fragility of financial deregulations, long global supply chains increasing disease, increased drought - how do we as a sovereign nation reassure ourselves of continued prosperity The potential for rural policy to create the framework that allows smaller scale and regen practices to thrive The power of the colonial squatacracy How do we bring policy reform to ag so it has relevance for smaller scale 7 regen practices to thrive The potential of utilising the “voices for” movement as a model for local food to grow Why we need to re-engage with politics The thing that only Govt does is set the ground rules for how we conduct our business. People need to be involved in politics to influence its direction The need for strategic water policy to better support us on the driest continent on earth Talking about water, food and skills while we are in times of abundance Where does the role of govt need to stop and allow room for community to pick up The ongoing debate about why we do not yet have drought policy or food policy Refine what you want to change - get organised and get active in the arena from bottom up The big secret - we are ALL MAKING IT UP Her slow, gradual, accidental path to being a communicator. Her writing approach - just keep writing, push through the creative barriers The process of sitting down and ordering your thoughts results in a unique Connecting the systemic dots through political reporting The history of farming and nature control The Connectivity of farming to EVERYTHING ELSE Ag and environment are different political portfolios - WTF We cannot have an economy without an environment The need for the economy the environment + the desires of the humans involved in farming to be interacting The need to account for ecological resources
Questions the fundamental systems Finding optimism in the work done by others Having faith in humanity Connecting people to spark change
E165 - Courtney Young - Changing the last local food frontier: Grain - Summer Days Thowbacks 2025
00:57:30
Do you know where your grain comes from... the farmers name... how they grow it? Woodstock flour are doing their level best to change the last frontier via the power of building relationships and connecting. Join Jade and Courtenay as they get gritty on grains and hear why we need to value its diversity and regionality just like we do wine or cheese.
E166 Flora Fauna & Fungi w Dr Saphire McMullen-Fisher - Summer Days Throwback 2025
00:59:19
Catie chats with Dr. Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, an ecologist with a special interest in biodiversity conservation, particularly macrofungi and mosses.
Sapphire is a renowned scientific researcher, speaker, teacher and author with a knack for communicating fungi’s vital ecological roles — and why we should all pay a lot more attention to these remarkable, all-connecting entities.
She's is also a pretty radical member of the community here in Naarm/Melbourne, who last year let Catie + George transform her suburban backyard into a market garden through the Growing Farmers program.
Wise, lively and friend of the fungi, enjoy this cracking convo with Sapphire McMullan-Fisher.
SHOW NOTES
Being a Gondwanan
Growing up in a mining town in the Pilbara.
From saving African animals to fungi fascination.
A fire and fungi pHD in Tasmania.
Overcoming dyslexia in academia.
Ecosystems need fungi!
Decomposition + partners of plants.
Why to leave the tree debris be.
Journey back to the Carboniferous period when all the coal and oil was formed.
E167 Meg Berryman, regenerative wisdom birthed on the bathroom floor - Summer Days throwbacks 2025
00:56:17
If climate reports and dystopian vibes are getting you down, this conversation with Meg Berryman might just lift you (gently) from the tiles.
Meg is the host of the Regenerative Life podcast, where she holds activating and catalysing conversations about social change, sustainable business, holistic wellbeing, personal development and regeneration, creating ripples of change from the inside out.
She’s not only a brilliant interviewer, meeting mighty minds like Tyson Yunkaporta and Claire Dunn for the kinds of intellectual-yet-accessible chats that leave listeners awestruck, but a formidable thinker herself.
We’re stoked to welcome Meg for a wide-ranging convo that covers nervous system care, sitting in the magic dark, tending survival energy and watering the seeds of discontent. We discuss the perils of trying to make a positive impact out there if it’s having a negative impact on you and your people. And how to go about satisfying that deep primal yearning to reconnect with self, earth and other beings.
Right now, in this time of grief, confusion + frustration, Meg Berryman is pure medicine. Listen in.
SHOW NOTES
The inspiration behind the Regenerative Life podcast
An unlearning journey of dropping the postures and dropping into true self.
Finding the balance between the unknown + the five year plan.
Challenging domesticity with wildness
Regeneration is an embodied experience; but it’s not as easy as we’ve been sold.
The things we’ve sold as making us happy aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. The agitation and restlessness we’re feeling as feedback is not anything wrong with us! The lie of capitalism is that it’s your problem, you need to buy something to fix you.
The seeds of discontent are also the seeds of regeneration
Homeostatic flux: ecosystems are constantly recalibrating according to feedback.
How to reconsider + reevaluate what a good life is.
We have a deep primal yearning to reconnect with ourselves, the earth, other being. That urge is continually being overidden because on some level, we assume there’s something wrong with us.
"It’s not that I’m allergic to life, I’m allergic to the ways we’ve organised society and systems that are so removed from those basic primal instincts of being connected and belonging."
Wisdom birthed from the bathroom floor.
Epic burnout led to total breakdown led to epic recalibration.
Is sheer willpower the only way to get shit done?
Reframing breakdown as a period of magic dark.
We’ve had a health and wellness paradigm for 20 years that’s focussed on DOING things. But that keeps us in survival mode; it’s not sustainable or regenerative.
We need a whole lot of people to be regulated enough, for long enough, to make life giving decisions and make a dent in these systems.
Being in conversation with questions.
How do we come back to ourselves, and is that enough?
Getting out of hustle culture in business.
Everyone is saying, "we can’t slow down because x, y, z….” It’s the courageous soul chooses to interrogate that.
If you’re making impact out there, but that work is having a negative effect on your people in here, it’s a net zero. It’s not regenerative.
The best gift you can give other beings is the gift of a settled system.
E168 Becoming creatures of the planet w Indira Naidoo - Summer Days Throwbacks 2025
00:46:34
Following the shocking & heartbreaking death of her younger sister Indira leant into grief with the help of the natural world. She formed a deep friendship with a tree, learnt the power of self trust & became conscious of death in a way that led her to see puddles as portals into another world. Despite the genesis, this conversation is joyful & powerful.
Show Notes
Forced to be present - the pressure is off
Living the now is how the body and mind forces you to be in grief
"The ‘now’ is not muddied by the past or the expectation of the future"
Tackling the big topics and being prepared to sit with loss, grief and unexplained emotions
Discovering that the answers to all the questions sit within you if you're prepared to lean into the discomfort
Discovering it's possible to feel closer to people in death than in life
The forgiveness that comes with death
Deliberately seeking the wondrous memories to overcome the sadness
Becoming much more contented and grateful in the face of grief
Live while you are alive and don’t die until you are dead - suck the marrow out of life
Why the fuzziness has been taken out of life - she is rarely not sure anymore
Learning to listen to herself
Learning to make your backyard your world
Why her tree is her favourite place on earth
Waiting for a generation before we see the impact of our actions
By being still you realise you're not separate from nature but part of it.
Why she no longer sees where her skin ends and the bark on the tree begins
Let’s go fly a kite together
Reminding people to seek healing capacity through nature
Finding ways to create a sense of boundless space
Understanding the impact of the colour green
Allow yourself to be where you are
Trust how you’re feeling, what makes you feel better
The varied faces of grief
Why acceptance wasn’t enough - seeking meaning is the next phase
Learning we are in ‘the line’
Becoming livened by the idea that death won’t elude any of us
Discovering how much knowledge is already in your DNA - but learning how to unlock it
Unlearning ‘being the one with all the answers’
Spending time with people who are “experts in life”
Stepping away from manufacturing experiences
Discovering intoxication by being aware of the nature around me rather than the addition of stimulants
The power of observation
Becoming conscious of the subtle nuances in life
Being drawn to the force of a tree
Baby steps to bring change NOW to open a crack of light in life
E169 Tyson Yunkaporta - The real economy of mutual aid & LORE - Summer Days Throwbacks 2025
00:59:16
Tyson Yunkaporta is an Apalech man who is an academic, researcher arts critic & father. He is also the author of Sand Talk, an extraordinary reading experience. Like many of Australia’s First Peoples, he has a complex identity and history but it's this that gives him authority to write and speak in a way which connects the wisdom of the past to the needs of the future.
The way he thinks demands a longer term perspective. He is both philosophical and practical, compassionate yet realistic. He is filled with an other-worldly understanding of humanity. In this conversation he urges us to consider the non linear complexity of the world.
He challenges our expectations, points out cultural shortcomings and invites us to recognise indigenous concepts and their history. Importantly he shows how these patterns have the potential to be incorporated into our non indigenous thinking which builds hope and possibility to benefit us all.
“I don’t have answers but I know that stories connect us to country. Country knows the answers. Notice it and be a custodian".
Episode Summary Minimising abstractions between lore and land The illusion of the environment which is hidden by siloed systems Let’s look like dickheads for a minute while we work out the path forward Looking for seasonal signs and responding to them Lore carries recipes for how to live our lives with story and pattern Coming back into rhythm with the natural world Running out of time - the time to reconnect with country is now The dominating authoritarianism in the western world demands people are disconnected from the landscape Mutual aid activism - not about throwing bombs but making sure everyone is fed. Self determination being thwarted by authoritarianism Stop looking at things and look at structures, systems and patterns instead Quietly getting on with it - syndicate your neighbourhood with the next neighbourhood The bullshit of nation building is key in the decimation of connection to country. Activism is an industry Positive and negative feedback loops to understand how symbioses interlock with others Story, ceremony and ritual for real thinking and real meaning making Until art became capital it was something that every human did every day to understand their place in the world How do we find a way of storytelling without reducing it to words "Image, dance, song - can all portray story but they have no depth of meaning if they don't have place" The lore is in the land "Leave those who are pecking over the carcass of the earth to their dying beliefs and the rest of us can get on with rebuilding relationships, stories, knowledge and place. Quietly and with people" Why we need to stop self flagellating acknowledgments of country and start building relationships
E170 Hayley Jessup - Stories From The Heart to Kickstart Season 11
00:52:00
Meet Hayley - the whizz who usually sits in the editing suite of the Futuresteading pod is in the hot seat today...and a few other days actually...todays episode is the chance to get to know the voice behind a mini series within this season of the futuresteading pod we are calling Stories from the heart. Hayley has been the producer on the pod for the last 6 seasons and now we are introducing her to this side of mic. You'll love her!
From remote Alaskan cottages to inner city haunts, Hayley Jessup has been learning to live from the heart. Her journey has been visceral, gut led and has tapped a curiosity from deep inside her that she unpacks in todays conversation. It’s not just about earth shattering love, it’s about sliding into a comfortable place that stays true to you, your reason to be here and being sure of the work that is yours to do. Because you can and its right.
E71 Jason Fox - Casting Wizardry Spells On a Path For Humanity
01:07:51
Its not every day you talk with a flaming locked, beard faced wizard. This one sees through the illusions of modernity & revels in an oscillating state of making progress through decay while genuinely attuning to the living systems in order to see our dire reality.
He attempts to embody our meta crises & seeks insights outside of mere numbers by going into the woods to 'just be'...and perhaps along the way he will experience a physiological quickening that offers hope.
He sees an undercurrent of people returning to ambiguity - warm provocations with room for textured, life filling conversation & he is building a relationship with dusk where in the liminal, he opens himself up to other intelligences & wisdoms, animacy & more than the human world.
He laments our loss of seasonal attunement & encourages us all to re-member (become a member of the earth) to reignite our presence & acuity to notice the small, more than the rational.
This wizard is indeed a wise orator & his words dance through the conversation like twinkling lights, sprinkling provocation that you may need to hear more than once.
Megan has made it her life work to bring the voice of the feminine into our stories, workplaces, communities & ultimately our culture. Ensuring they are heard & have agency to do what we do so well - be women with feminine traits which are celebrated & valued. You'll be delighted to hear its not about minimising the power of men but allowing women to meet them in a place that they have long relished and together they can create a world no longer dominated by the patriachy.
Navigating a hard fought journey of finding her purpose & then having the courage to lean into it, Megan, now in her early 50s is committed to a life that enables women to rise. Author, single mum, business owner & now completing her PHD in women's spirituality - she is taking her leadership role to new heights.
In this conversation she talks about the seasons of life & places the idea that 'what is for you will never pass you'. She shares why change comes from the ground up in democratic environments, she offers tools for male allyship and insights into how & why women are rising. For such a powerhouse, it's reassuring to hear that her 'Enough' is what it is - and having peace in that.
E173 Valerie Ringland - Healing Through Indigenous Wisdom
00:59:18
"The deepest trauma is disconnection from country."
What does it truly mean to heal? How can we reclaim our ancestral wisdom and break free from patterns of diseased thinking?
In this episode, we sit down with Valerie Ringland, a powerful voice in the world of Indigenous healing and restorative justice. Born on traditional Shawnee land in the U.S. and now living on Yuin Country in far southern NSW, Valerie brings a unique blend of Indigenous knowledge, and Western healing practices to her work. She’s the author of the transformative book "Healing Through Indigenous Wisdom," which offers 52 weeks of profound exercises designed to help us reconnect with ourselves, our land, and our lineage.
Valerie challenges us to reimagine cultural expression, confront our wounds head on, and see trauma not as a life sentence but as a spiritual calling. She invites us to explore shame, grief, and belonging as essential parts of our journey toward wholeness.
In this episode you will learn:
- The role of rituals, ceremonies, and ancestral connection in emotional well-being - How Indigenous wisdom offers powerful tools for self-discovery and community healing - And why "never enoughness" is a modern disease—and how to break free from it
Get ready for a thought-provoking conversation that will challenge your perspectives, touch the deepest parts of your heart, and inspire you to reconnect with your true essence.
E174 Fleur Chambers - Riding the Waves of Life w the Essence of Presence
00:58:11
"Creativity is a life force - the universe is inherently creative - once we realise it's not ours - it takes the ego out of it & encourages all of us to utilise it as a gift for the greater good"
Fleur Chambers is a best selling author, mama, philanthropist & of course a master meditator. Actually she is the creator of the free meditation app: The Happy Habit.
Her post partum experience was the catalyst for seeking another way of being in the world & now she positions meditation as something much larger than just supporting the individuals need as a circuit breaker & asks us to get curious about leaning into an emergent way of being & exploring our intentions without a sense of control and striving. We unpack the deep wisdoms of the inner voice - the voice of nature, of the earth, of our body.
We chat about the potency of parenting as an endless source of learning -importantly the value of dropping the expectation on everyone and replacing it with the essence of presence, learning to trust our own inner voice, opening the door on our potential & realising that growth is not about adding on but about peeling back & letting go.
She shares her theory that Creativity is an energy that doesn’t belong to us and is simply a gift to the world at that moment in time
In this conversation she encourages us to unlearn & relearn towards a new story...
"Its time for a new story - where self esteem & confidence is no longer a patriarchal, corporate, growth dominated paradigm…instead the ease comes from learning to listen, acknowledging traumas, shared humanity, cherish, protect & preserve"'
E175 Claire Taylor - The Scotttish Nuffield scholar connecting farmers
00:58:37
Claire is a multi generational Scottish beef farmer who says 'Ag has potency and potential to be a catalyst on the front line of climate catastrophe'.
As a Nuffield scholar 'exploring the scrutiny being placed on agriculture and how perceptions are changing', she embarked on a world research tour. While travelling, she fell in love with an Australian lad & now finds herself living in rural NSW. So after establishing a strong journalism career steeped in trust & long held relationships on home turf, she now finds herself on this wide brown land in the heat of summer without her networks & a need to rebuild a new life with people who she tells us are more laid back, more inclined to use humour dripping in sarcasm to navigate hard things & are exceptionally resilient.
“Leave judgements at the door & come without bias in order to communicate which is both talking but equally listening, we’ve all got to be prepared to change our mindsets”
“First gen farmers are more daring to have hard conversations & to really listen - they can be brave."
"For progress we need to think outside ag - and not just speak to ourselves."
"When will people other than farmers step into the food system & support the much needed potential for farming to be the potent ecological change making piece it is . Farmers cannot be all the things, they are best to be the land stewards but others need to take up the roles of advocating, supply chain development, consumer education, policy change & story telling"
The politics of agriculture - overshadowed by a growing disconnect between politicians in the cities & farmers in the country
Echo chambers are one of the biggest challenges in Ag. Its so important to look up & out to glean perspective on what's happening
We need more patience and understanding in ag because there are deep cultural beliefs & values that will need to shift before practice change can occur
Why its time for farmers to build trust for those who are telling their stories & playing other roles in the food system so we can broaden the scope for support
Ripping the bandaid off & beginning a new life in another country.
Settling her body into a new landscape]
Learning how to say yes to invitations
Learning to be vulnerable with new families and friends
Asking a new friend on a date - you’ll have different friendships at differnt times
The things we do for love - taken in by the boss’s girlfriend
E176 Andrew Skeoch: Nature’s Symphony, A Journey Towards Deep Listening
01:10:23
"We need to cultivate a culture of listening in society." But what does it truly mean to listen?
In this episode, we delve into the profound impact that sound can have on our lives as we speak with renowned sound recordist Andrew Skeoch. With his expertise in capturing the essence of nature through sound, Andrew shares his journey of deep listening, the importance of empathetic listening, and how it connects us to the natural world and one another.
Andrew, the author of Deep Listening, records breathtaking natural habitats from across the globe which have gained worldwide attention, with albums that attract tens of thousands of weekly streams on Spotify. His work has also featured in major films like Rabbit Proof Fence, The Jungle Book (2016), and the upcoming Force of Nature starring Eric Bana.
Our conversation delves into the evolution of a heart-centered society that values cooperation over unhealthy competition. Andrew highlights the importance of understanding nature as an ongoing process and discusses how human sensitivity plays a crucial role in shaping our societal values.
E177 Finding Presence in the Woods w Alice Irene Whittaker
00:48:54
"I could live a lifetime here and still be learning - it’s a relationship - the greatest relationship of my life"
Alice Irene Whitaker lives in a small cabin in the woods, is a mother of three, an author of the book “Homing" and host of the 'Reseed podcast, which is about rebuilding our relationship with nature.
Surrounded by creek, meadow, and forest, Alice Irene began a new lifelong journey of repairing her fractured relationship with both herself and the natural world. Dismantling a history of anorexia, obsessiveness, and workaholism, she decided to stop taking and start caretaking.
She shares how taking the leap to a life in a small cabin in the woods where seasons are apparent, repetition is a daily mantra and a shedding of her previous identity onto the forest floor has given her an opportunity to live a lifetime in her new landscape and still be learning from the outside world every day - she sees her surrounds as a relationship-the greatest relationship of her life.
E178 Dan Kittredge - Redefining wealth from cash to culture
01:03:48
“How we raise our children is facilitating a denaturing of our human-ness. The opportunity is to be centred within & rebuild our culture”
Dan Kittridge is the bare footed gent who coined the term Nutrient density off the back of his dao-ist strategy to create a life that afforded him the time & space to be at home with his young family, living simply with just 10k per year on the land.
Over the next 20 years he became clear that his role was simply to serve & that it's not his job to know what he's doing or attempt to implement a plan rather to be sensitive to what's shown to him & respond in a way that was lead by love enabling him to get out of his head, get out of the ‘shoulds’ & get into the heart, asking instead, what flows.
The result has been the creation of the bionutrient institute, a global speaking profile & a life long commitment to renaturing which he says sits at the centre of solving the poly-crises we face.
“Having the right to land to provide adequate housing & food for every family should be a foundational right. The land cannot be sold but you have access to it sufficient for a simple life.”
"As long as we engage with a colonised mind of separation/fear/division, we will not be able to engage with an indigenous mind of love/flow & unity"
“As long as the structure of our lives require us to work jobs for money that are separating us from nature, we are paddling upstream. It becomes difficult to tune into the flow of nature.”
“We are not the body we are carrying around we are effectively individual consciousness that has physical attributes. Accepting this changes the way we interact with each other.”
What is a soul - is it ecological? Or is it transcendent love?
Getting ourselves into right relationship requires a serious restructure of our way of being
Beginning to decolonise starts during early childhood
The money vs time equation
The rule of law is a paradox of control that can be equally exasperating & supportive
Understanding that there is a greater order & you don't have to control everything - you just have to be receptive to what is shown to you.
Using nature to model ourselves- symbiosis. Be your own brilliant unique system & then add mycelium to connect others brilliance
The role that feelings have in the way we make decisions
We dont need to KNOW anything - we are already wired with the knowledge we need
If we just work with nature - we will remember who we are and what we are supposed to do.
EP 179 Hilary Giovale - Moving away from “whats in it for me” to “how can I serve country - it’s aways country.
00:55:58
“Those who have descended from the colonisers, we carry privilege but we also suffer the need to apologise”
Landscapes can etch into your very being & create a remembering. Making us feel whole & reminding us that we are just a thread in the complex web of the natural world. While somewhat insignificant your thread has a role to play as a relative to the threads it lies next too. The way we all interact with each other - both human and other than human, will be our making or our undoing.
Hilary Giovale, author of “becoming a good relative” is based in the ponderosa pine forests of Arizona, opposite a reservation & lives next to the sacred mountain of kinship which she now considers to be her most important teacher. This feels like an important conversation to have had - as two white women without indigenous heritage - it feels uncomfortable to have, and we will forever be learning, but Hilary (a 9th generation settler in the United States) begins the process of unpacking what it means to be in right relationship with the people & place that we each call home - pushing past the burden of white fragility to build pathways of robust healing & reconnection to our landscapes - to reconciliation with first peoples.
She shares what it means to create ancestral alters & how to connect with these elders who’s stories she tells us, are still unfolding.
She reminds us that while the work we have to do is exceptionally confronting, grief won’t kill us & that the time to heal in the bosom of natural landscapes is now.
"Elders are always identified by the community, never by the individual - they are usually unwilling but always shows up for the community, is wise, is generous, is funny, is humble, Our communities can guide us to where the elders are."
Ep 2 Sadie Chrestman from Fat Pig Farm shares a cup of tea with a stranger
00:57:08
It’s never too late to start farming.
This week, Sadie Chrestman from Fat Pig Farm shares her story of moving to Tassie with partner Matthew Evans to start a new, rural life - in her forties.
We ask her what it’s like being ‘that famous treechanger’, why she’s obsessed with the soil, about her pledge to drink tea with strangers, and how she discovered her dream job aged 50.
Her humble, level-headed wisdom is the antidote to overwhelm and an inspiration for anyone wanting to radically change their life - one pig at a time.
SHOW NOTES
Sadie’s unconventional childhood in India and Indonesia.
How do we acknowledge and act on our privilege?
The impacts of COVID-19 on Fat Pig Farm’s long table lunches.
Pros and cons of homesteading (in the time of COVD-19).
Why you can’t isolate yourself from your community (even if you’re pursuing self-sufficiency).
Has the concept of community evolved in the last 20 years? What is Sadie’s experience of community in Tasmania?
Why it’s OK not to get along with all of your neighbours.
Why to knock on your neighbour’s door and say hello - even if you live in the city.
How to stop worrying so much about what people think.
Social media as a tool for business and advocacy, rather than a bare-all window into life.
The beauty of finding something in common with a complete stranger.
Sadie’s pledge to connect at the school bus stop.
Simple moments of joy on the farm.
Why she revels in her role as head gardener (without a degree in horticulture!).
Why growing food and replenishing the soil helps reassure her in a time of climate emergency.
How the Powers That Be have shifted the blame onto the individual - rather than acknowledging the bigger picture.
Sadie’s moments of hypocrisy.
Sadie’s op-shop gardening attire.
How you can generate your own sense of place - even if you’re a long way from home.
Words of encouragement for first generation or “older” farmers.
How they started small and grew organically - rather than diving in headfirst.
The simple ways we can all begin a transitional path to a better tomorrow.
Has Sadie ever doubted the path she’s on?
How cooking someone a meal constitutes profound human kindness.
The beauty (and phases) of vulnerability.
Sadie’s one piece of advice for a better tomorrow.
Grab a hot brew and sit down with hosts Jade and Catie for a short, sweet and personal conversation.
We share who we are, what we believe in, what the heck “Futuresteading” means - as well as some juicy series spoilers.
Pleased to meet you!
SHOW NOTES
Who are Jade & Catie?
What is Futuresteading?
What perspectives will we each bring to the podcast series?
Key emerging themes of the Futuresteading podcast series one, like community, upbringing, living with less, redefining success, cultural shift, what it is to be human, how to just do something, how to bring change by showing - not badgering.
This fast-paced conversation delves into Rebecca's commitment to local food systems, regenerative agriculture and Warndu, the Indigenous food farm and educational business she concocted with her hubby in South Australia's North West.
With a son on the way, Rebecca shares how she plans to help him - and all youngsters - avoid eco-anxiety: listen, ask questions, act without fear and always be kind - to yourself, to others, to mother earth.
We reckon you’ll love this mama-to-be, regen farmer and food educator’s sound advice, vast experience, incredible life story and infinite warmth just as much as we did.
If you’re looking for reasons to be hopeful, this conversation with Brenna Quinlan will provide a lifetime’s worth.
You probably know her as “that permaculture illustrator” - and boy, can she communicate complex environmental and social ideas with a few deft flicks of her paintbrush!
But did you know that Brenna is also a brilliant thinker, permaculture educator and tiny-hut-dwelling resident of Melliodora?
Yep. Brenna is a breath of fresh air and optimism, with oodles (of positive stuff!) to share about where humanity’s headed - and how we can make the transition altogether more joyful.
Listen in. Smile big. Draw a (hopeful) picture.
SHOW NOTES
Brenna’s early love of art and “crashing” adult art classes.
Her story of riding across the Americans in her early 20s, learning about farming and community.
How she was “the right sized piece of the puzzle” when she fell into illustrating Retrosuburbia... and making creativity her career.
Why she didn't stress about "using her uni degrees" and instead let creativity and opportunities germinate where they may.
How and why to be part of a greater movement, rather than going it alone.
The importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people.
Her simple daily rituals and joyful pleasures featuring: goats, uphill bike rides, library books.
Why cycles of day and night, the seasons and and end-of-day gratitude practice are essential parts of her existence.
Why ‘alternative living’ is an opportunity to connect more with others, rather than persisting with unfettered individualism (the death of community?).
How her life at Mellidora works: rent for work exchange, living alongside others, zero waste, a permie bubble.
Why taking a leap of faith into a different life = nothing to lose.
How she channels her environmental grief into positive forward motion.
How to find what makes you come alive - and go for it!
E6 Futuresteading Shortie : Moments of joy + Placemaking
00:17:57
What are your moments of joy? What makes you feel at home? Where's the "best" place to live with respect for the future?
Join Jade and Catie for a Futuresteading Shortie: a bite-sized convo where we share our everyday moments of joy, why to put roots down, what makes us guffaw and where the "best" place to live really is.
This wee episode is the perfect accompaniment to pulling weeds, shelling walnuts, wandering up the street or sunning your legs on the verandah.
Ep 7 The Perma Pixie : Reciprocity, Relationships & Plants
00:54:20
If you've never met a Perma Pixie, prepare to be delighted.
Taj, aka. The Perma Pixie, is bringing a little old school witchcraft and spades of permaculture wisdom to Melbourne - and now, to you.
This chick beats to a drum of ‘reciprocity’, a philosophy that acknowledges that we’re part of a cycle that should give as much as it takes.
She’s been delivering permaculture education courses for over a decade (not bad for a young sprout!) and has recently started clinical work as a qualified herbalist. Social patterns and interactions are her greatest love, equal to her fascination with plants and their healing capacity.
This conversation is a must for anyone interested in natural medicine, staying grounded in the fray, the freedoms - and struggles - of running a small business, how to balance impassioned action with self care, and how to be regenerative within a culture programmed to run us dry.
Her deeply felt connection to the seasons, and life steeped in reciprocity and relationship, will either resonate deeply or sow seeds in the garden of your mind.
Enjoy!
SHOW NOTES
How her early ADHD diagnosis encouraged her to seek calm in the natural world.
Taking a circular approach to living in reciprocity with nature.
The power of seasonal acknowledgement; combining the ‘doing’ with the ‘sensing’.
Having the courage to trust your instincts to follow the path of the heart.
Finding balance in the juxtaposition of being an anti-capitalist while running a small business.
Reframing financial stability.
How being an extrovert has enabled her to build a network of nourishers.
Ways to create nurturing community hubs and nodes, which in turn create valid community connection.
Why it's worth summoning the gumption to talk to total strangers and be open to spontaneous interactions.
The fundamental need to have a relationship with our own bodies to take ownership and responsibility of our most important asset - and avoid being a ‘baseline’ human.
Actively avoiding a sedentary body and mind.
Her permaculture and herbal medicine journey - and how it led her to the plants which nourish her.
Why a world filled with sharing is better than a life lived alone.
How she calms the voice urging her to "do more".
Finding balance as a one-woman show when her greatest desire is to be outside - not behind a screen.
Why to do a "needs analysis": What are your needs and what can you offer?
Why relationships are what fundamentally give her hope.
This week, we plate up an assortment of our favourite books, films and thinkers.
In the spirit of sharing life-changing and mind-altering resources (books > drugs), we chat about our bibles of regenerative living, homesteading, futuresteading, farming and thinking - that we reckon you'll love, too.
Oh, and having a buddy to read along with is a powerful way to absorb and discuss the merits of new knowledge, solidify it, and develop a shared mental library.
The audio is a little scratchy in parts thanks to recording in two separate locations, but we know you'll understand! Social distancing and all that.
And one book we didn't mention - which was totally remiss but rectifiable right here, right now - is “The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction To Natural Farming" by Masanobu Fukuoka. It's a foundational must-read for anyone wanting to live like tomorrow matters. It teaches you to think. Not what to think but to think in the first place, and that's a bloody grand spot to begin.
Find links below to everything mentioned. We’d love to hear your favourite resources over on Insta or Facebook.
Ep 9 Erin Rhoads - The Rogue Ginger leads us up the on ramp of change
00:56:16
Maybe you’ve done this before: typed into Google, “Where can I buy glass bottle milk?” or “What local butchers will accept my battered tupperware?”. If you have, it’s likely you’ve stumbled upon The Rogue Ginger.
Erin Rhoads is a proud red head whose simple question, “Why is the world filled with plastic?”, changed the course of her life.
Since 2013, this down-to-earth mum from Melbourne has been blogging about how to reduce plastic and waste, and live a more eco-friendly existence. On her website you’ll find years worth of zero-waste resources, amazingly curated lists on where to shop waste-free and wildly practical information about making the change - with a notable absence of dogma.
Our conversation with Erin goes beyond waste reduction to encompass the psychology of change, on-boarding friends and family with your belief system (or not), localism vs. globalism and what true wealth looks like.
It’s a laid back, tea-with-a-friend style chat that’ll leave you with a warm sense of solidarity - and renewed enthusiasm for making positive change.
SHOW NOTES
Erin highlights the importance of sharing our stories of joy and contradictions while we embark on change - so it doesn't feel impossible for others to follow.
Finding ways to create uplifting and engaging challenges for individuals (rather than dutiful misery).
As consumers, our voices are loud. Erin gives us ideas for sharing our thoughts about how companies can do better (in ways that are actually effective).
Practical ideas for actioning your beliefs.
The merits of Localism vs. Globalism.
Why it’s worth developing a sense of obligation within our communities to bring about lasting change.
How giving people tools (particularly kids) is a great way to engender hope and positive action: food growing, seed saving, fire lighting and cooking are as important as maths.
Connecting with your local council is a great starting point for blossoming changemakers.
Why it’s time for communities to lead rather than waiting for governments to fill the gap.
Have Australians ever faced real challenges collectively? This might impact our understanding (and appreciation) of community initiatives.
The power of third parties like films, music, books and docos when trying to influence change in friends.
How life as a new mother opened up a can of worms on her plastic-free mission.
Ideas for overcoming the cyclical phases of new initiatives that sees initial traction followed by a dip in interest and engagement.
‘Gamification’ as a possible way to incentivise community engagement.
The value of initiatives that are easy to set up and participate in - but have far-reaching outcomes such as nature strip gardens and free food pantries.
E10 Futuresteading Shortie : Right-now-easy Ways To Make Change
00:40:52
Together, we’ve got this.
But we’ve also gotta make it happen, grabbing the moment by the short n curlys and becoming everyday changemakers.
This week we break our own rules of sticking to 20 minutes and blow out to 40. But we think it’s worth it, and hope there are ideas within that pique your curiosity and propel you to action.
We yak about a stack of ways to make change that each and every one of us can bring to fruition pretty much immediately. All simple, doable, impactful.
Again, we apologise for the odd audio crackle. This pod-via-distance thing isn’t ideal but we’ll get the band back together as soon as we can! Thanks for understanding.
SHOW NOTES
What can you change? Here are 20 easy-as ideas (for people who like lists)
1. Divest your superannuation away from coal industry supportive funds.
2. Join your local food co op & continue to actively participate (being willing to roll with the inconvenience of things sometimes being unavailable).
3. Stop using single use plastic.
4. Grow your own food and swap what you can't grow.
5. Make your own presents.
6. Buy less shit.
7. Drive less (“do I really need to go into town?”)
8. Always think local: holidays, presents, food.
9. Reframe 'luxury' as drinking fresh milk not visiting a spa.
10. Go slow: play with your kids, grow from seed, swim in rivers, make from scratch, draw, nana nap, write letters not emails, cloud watch, picnic, hand water.
11. Write to leaders demanding change: local, state & federal.
12. Teach your kids to be practical not digital: build, grow, create, learn.
13. Really live in the season: food, activities, clothing,
14. Connect more deeply with the natural world: seasonality, camping, bushwalking, river swims, bare feet.
15. Support the second hand economy .
16. Celebrate simple: actively seek simplicity over complexity
17. Share your knowledge: seek skills from the elderly and teach children your skills.
18. Redesign your house renovation to be smaller: less is more
19. Veto your work: actively seek projects that align with your beliefs
“Adventure doesn’t require new places. It can be cultivated by exploring our immediate lives with greater curiosity.”
Should we try to lead virtuous, principled lives… or do what feels good?
Beau Miles makes a strong case for taking ourselves a little less seriously and having a lot more local fun.
This backyard adventurer and wildly popular filmmaker (most often found up a tree, running a midnight marathon or eating his bodyweight in beans) reckons he doesn’t know much about anything.
But beneath the self-deprecation, Beau is a wealth of ecological wisdom and a master storyteller, taking us right to the heart of what really matters in life.
Get into this philosophical, tangential, slightly mad and marvellously contrarian conversation - then get out there.
SHOW NOTES
The beauty of honing your powers of observation and the necessity of coffee.
Building a seasonal map.
Why it's important to have a personal relationship with the landscape.
The value of seeking knowledge from places outside your comfort zone.
Autoethnography as a valuable avenue for knowledge seeking and sharing.
The liberation of going back to basics.
The importance of knowing our own strengths, and respecting the strengths of others.
How to reconnect to our latent understanding of the land.
The art of reigning in intensity to maintain sustainability.
Why to push boundaries and be comfortable in your own skin.
Ep 12 Kirsten Bradley of Milkwood with big ideas in bite sized morsels
00:52:38
Kirsten Bradley has dedicated the last 13 years (in cahoots with partner Nick Ritar and a host of thinkers and doers) to helping people learn permaculture skills for living like it matters.
We’re referring to Milkwood, of course. And today we get a backstage pass to the brain of its co-creator; a joyous conversation indeed.
Kirsten has a knack for distilling big ideas into bite size words of wisdom, bringing decades of lived experience to our cuppa-tea-with-a-mate interview that will leave you feeling affirmed and hopeful.
She shares her trajectory from inner-city artist to iconic permaculture educator, author and champion of back-to-basics living. Her thoughts on long-term renting, community sufficiency, ways of stewarding land (that don’t necessarily involve buying a massive property), how to bypass hypocrisy and why to get comfy with shades of grey.
Post-episode, you’ll probably want to knock on your neighbour’s door and offer them surplus garden greens - because, according to Kirsten, community connection is the bedrock of a better life (and planet). Listen, absorb, enjoy.
SHOW NOTES
Living in Tassie - autonomy and community sufficiency.
Insights from their trials of different ways of living (including family farming, community living, homesteading, share houses).
Where and how their shift from inner city artists to sharers of skills came about
Alternative ways to steward land (other than ownership)
Actions to consider now foro a better future: 1. Growing food, anywhere/anyhow. 2. Community involvement - get enmeshed, get involved. 3. Figure out your greatest skills and what you can contribute to and learn from your community.
Reframing life towards what matters
Why helping people reclaim lost skills is the most incredible life path she could have chosen.
Bypassing the guilt of hypocrisy and embracing good habits.
The value of seeking out ‘wild spaces’.
Why getting to know your ecosystem is fundamental to living a good life (your watershed, the First Nations title for the land you reside on, your climate, your seasons)
The evolution of thought and practical outcomes which has come from living in different environments and communities.
Accepting shades of grey over black and white.
Stepping past the one family/one house concept.
The tension between tenancy, tenure, community values, land use/management and ownership.
E13 Futuresteading Shortie : The wonderful world of WWOOFing
00:20:33
If you've ever dreamed of trying your hand at farming (or other earthy project), programs like WWOOF could be for you.
In return for your time and energy, WWOOFing hosts offer accomodation, vittles and wisdom - sidestepping cash and capitalising on pure human exchange.
Like a smorgasbord of life’s options, WWOOF (or HelpX or Workaway) represent the perfect way to meet new folks, test drive a vast array of lifestyles and get enmeshed in the lives of others quickly and meaningfully. You'll make friends, learn new skills, live like a local, broaden your worldview and travel at very low cost.
As you can guess, Jade and Catie are both big fans of this exchange and bring you 20 minutes of lived experience, from both the host's and helper's perspective.
We hope that if you haven't already, you'll place a farm exchange on your to-do list: young or old, with or without a family, you can gain so much for stepping boldly into the agricultural unknown, getting front row seats to our food system and first hand-experience in the soil.
SHOW NOTES
Catie's volunteering rite-of-passage.
WWOOFing as a wonderful way to cram diversity into your life.
Avoiding tourist traps and getting a VIP pass to real life.
Why to relish the experience - even it's a little uncomfortable. It's about the story.
How it works as a host: the day in/day out routine.
How it encourages cultural sharing, illuminating how humans and communities are shaped.
How it creates a mini-village, with many hands participating in daily life.
The importance of vetting - for both volunteers and hosts.
Why having an open mind and acceptance of the unknown is critical.
E14 Sallie Jones talks milk, mental health, and gut-led decision-making.
00:48:29
Do we need a little more faith in agriculture?
This week we chat to Sallie Jones, cofounder of farmer-owned Gippsland Jersey, about how her faith helps her do good stuff in the world - without a crippling fear of failure.
And we reckon there's something in that, considering her immense achievements.
You'll learn so much from this champion for dairy farmers, cheerleader for responsible land management, extraordinary businesswoman and mother of three; not least of which, how to live a little more hopefully.
Sallie shares her gut-wrenching story of family loss, why we need to talk about mental health on farms (and everywhere for that matter), and offers wise advice for a simpler, more spiritual life; essential listening for anyone who feels a little isolated in striving for a better future (regardless of your belief system).
Note: This was recorded at the beginning of April 2020.
SHOW NOTES
Why not starting school until Grade Six offered her an unconventional - and rather free - way of thinking.
Why and how to side-step helicopter parenting.
The value of relying on a wide network of people with varying skills.
How story telling and her Dad's reputation have been core to Gippsland Jersey's success.
The importance of keeping it real!
Her experience of the raw milk movement.
How families experience grief in unique ways.
Her fundamental trust in her faith.
Why leaps of faith require immense courage.
Why the gut never lies (and can be relied upon as the right needle for all situations).
Why she's a fan of paths-of-less-resistance rather than being relentless.
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