Earthfire Radio

Whether we live on a farm, an animal sanctuary, or an apartment in the city, permaculture teaches us to live in right relation with the Earth. In this episode, Kareen and Susan discuss the many opportunities that open up when we incorporate permaculture principles into our daily living. Read a transcript of this episode at https://efinst.org/kareen,

In this episode of Earthfire Radio, Susan and psychologist Renée Lertzman discuss three psychological concepts that are of great use when exploring what makes humans more or less likely to participate in taking action for the planet. This conversation is a follow up to Renee's groundbreaking TED Talk, How to Turn Climate Anxiety into Action. A transcript of this episode is available at https://efinst.org/renee.

Dr. Matthew Zylstra is a conservation ecologist with over 15 years of international experience in research, education and facilitation of collaborative social-ecological change processes. Matt has co-founded several organisations, including EarthCollective and Living Lands. He currently serves as founding director for the Organisation for Noetic Ecology, research associate with the Sea Change Project, and lead instructor for Wildlands Studies academic (undergrad) field programs. Matt has a passion for novel approaches to experiential learning, motivated by his transdisciplinary PhD research (2014) which explored how meaningful experience and nature connectedness supports transformative education for sustainability. In this conversation, Matt shares what he has learned from his research on meaningful nature experiences and how that can shape our willingness to protect natural spaces.  A transcript of this podcast, as well as a list of resources mentioned, is available at https://efinst.org/mattzylstra.

Penelope Smith is a revered founding pioneer in the field of interspecies telepathic communication since the 1970s. Her visionary work has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles, in numerous books, and on radio and television. Her training program has guided the unfolding of generations of professional animal communicators. She wrote the popular classic books Animal Talk, When Animals Speak, and Animals and Spirit. Penelope believes that everyone is born with the power to communicate with other species, and that although that is long lost for many of us, it can be regained - for the benefit of all beings on earth. For more information, visit animaltalk.net. In this conversation, Penelope shares her thoughts on what makes Earthfire unique, and what that's so important.  Visit https://efinst.org/penelope for a transcript of this episode.

The conversation at the heart of our latest Earthfire Radio episode was too long to fit in a single episode, but we felt that Stan's wisdom was too important to not share. Please enjoy this bonus discussion about healing our past, present, and future. A transcript, as well as the main episode, are both available at https://efinst.org/stanrushworth.

Whether we're addressing our traumatic histories in search of personal and societal healing or working to avoid climate disaster, Native American author and academic Stan Rushworth teaches that we must recognize the interconnectedness of all facets of Life. Only then can we make true progress toward a better world for all. A transcript of this conversation is available at https://efinst.org/stanrushworth. This conversation with Stan was extremely rich and thought-provoking, but ultimately too long to include in a single episode. If you would like to hear more, please visit the link above for a bonus discussion about healing for our past, present, and future.

Deena Metzger is a multi award winning poet, novelist, essayist, storyteller, teacher, healer and medicine woman, she has taught and counseled for over fifty years. She conducts training programs on the spiritual, creative, political, and ethical aspects of healing and peacemaking, both individually and globally, drawing deeply on alliance with spirit, indigenous teachings, and the many wisdom traditions. She is also the founder of ReVersing Extinction and teaches the 19 Ways, a collection of principles to help govern a life in harmony with all beings. A transcript of this podcast and a list of supporting resources are available on our website at https://efinst.org/deena.

After speaking at the Sun Valley Forum earlier this year, Susan invited Aimée Christensen to discuss how we can influence decision-making in a capitalist society to better protect the Earth and its ecosystems. Aimée Christensen is Founder and Executive Director of the Sun Valley Institute and CEO of Christensen Global Services. She has 25 years’ experience in policy, law, investment, and philanthropy including with Google, the World Bank, Baker & McKenzie, the United Nations, the U.S. Department of Energy, where she negotiated the first bilateral and regional climate change agreements (Costa Rica 1994, et. al.) and the Virgin Group where she helped shape several of Sir Richard’s major initiatives. She serves on several boards such as the National Forest Foundation, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute on Sustainability, and the Andrus Center for Public Policy. A transcript of this program is available at earthfireinstitute.org/aimeec

In a bit of a departure from our usual format of interviewing thought leaders and changemakers around the globe, this month’s Earthfire Radio has Dr. Eirich as the interviewee. Earlier this year, Dr. Eirich was invited to speak at the Animal Wisdom World Summit. Host Dr. Cara Gubbins has generously allowed us to share the interview with our own listeners. Listen in as these two passionate scientists delve into the mysteries, intricacies, and implications of intelligence in the natural world.

Dr. Susan Eirich of the Earthfire Institute talks with wildlife artist Anne London about the connective nature of art and why it's so important in a world of increasing isolation.

While we are busy working on new content, we have re-released a podcast from our archives. In this conversation, Dr. Susan Eirich discuses the importance of art and conservation with incredible wildlife artist, Anne London. This is a timely podcast to share with you all as Anne is currently visiting the property again, getting more material for her paintings, and we will be recording the long-awaited Part 2. We hope you enjoy this powerful conversation and tune in with us for Part 2 next month.

Seeing and hearing Debbi Walker’s remarkable stories of healing animals with sound therapy at the Animal Energy World Conference in England this past May, my immediate reaction was: Earthfire animals! It wasn’t only the stories, but Debbi’s medical training and her extensive research into the nature of sound healing, combined with deeply intuitive skills, that impressed me. Her analysis went from research on the vagus nerve to the beautiful statement that with sound healing, ancient memories are switched on. And so I invited her to Earthfire, and two months later, Debbi arrived here from England to spend seven days working with our animals (and humans - necessary!). She is so committed to helping animals that she came at her own expense. While she was here, we had the unique opportunity to record this episode of Earthfire Radio in person. To learn more about Debbi's experience at Earthfire, visit earthfireinstitute.org/debbiwalker

"If we wish to stop the atrocities, we need merely to step away from the isolation. There is a whole world waiting for us, ready to welcome us home." Dr. Susan Eirich of Earthfire Institute talks with author and activist Derrick Jensen about the need to come together to enact radical change for the planet.

Dr. Susan Eirich sits down with award winning journalist and author Dahr Jamail to discuss his new book, The End of Ice, and how we can find meaning in our life as we face the increasing challenges associated with climate change.

In a fascinating, passionate wide-ranging podcast, mystical scholar Andrew Harvey and Dr. Susan Eirich of the Earthfire Institute explore the nature of the human/animal/nature relationship. They discuss the dangers of projecting our own human emotions and motivations onto animals, the value of learning to appreciate the animal self, and the joy and pain we experience as we form lasting, meaningful relationships with the animals in our lives.  Andrew Harvey is an internationally acclaimed poet, novelist, translator, mystical scholar, and spiritual teacher. He has written and edited more than 30 books—including the best-selling titles ‘The Hope’ and ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.’ He has won the Christmas Humphries Prize (‘A Journey in Ladakh’), the Nautilus Prize twice (‘The Hope’, ‘Light the Flame’), and appeared in two recent films (‘Dancing in the Flames,’ and Ethan Hawke’s ‘Seymour: An Introduction’). He has taught at Oxford University, Cornell University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, The California Institute of Integral Studies, and the University of Creation Spirituality as well as at various spiritual centers throughout the United States. He is the founder and director of the Institute of Sacred Activism.

From being a disciplined, traditionally-trained scientist, to listening to plants give her directions, to then combining her research with the direction they gave her and turning it into hard-core scientific experimentation, Dr. Monica Gagliano has helped change how we understand plants.

Dr. Susan Eirich of Earthfire Institute and wildlife filmmaker Jeff Hogan discuss how even those of us with the best intentions don't always realize the impact human activity has on the ability of wildlife to make a living. Cinematographer Jeff Hogan has been filming and photographing wildlife around the world for over 30 years, earning numerous awards for his work, including several Emmy nominations for cinematography. Being a naturalist at heart, Jeff's passion is to witness wildlife behavior and to provide us a privileged view in to the secret lives of wildlife, capturing intimate imaging that illustrates just what it takes for our wildlife to make a living and highlighting the unique stories that abound throughout the natural world. Jeff resides in the heart of the Yellowstone ecosystem with his wife Karen and son Finn, with homes in Jackson Hole, WY, and Silver Gate, MT. Living at the doorstep of both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Jeff often captures behavioral sequences rarely witnessed in the wild. Bringing these images and stories to the screen is Jeff's goal, with the understanding and hope that society will respond with a desire to conserve and protect all life and treasure our incredible natural world. Jeff can be reached at hoganfilms.com. After our conversation, Jeff generously shared footage of F16, a female cougar he has been following for many years. To see this footage, visit earthfireinstitute.org/jeffhogan.

Dr. Susan Eirich of Earthfire Institute talks with Buddhist Scholar David Loy about the connection between spirituality and ecology. Our current ecological crisis is, at its core, a spiritual crisis. Therefore, spirituality is where we have to go to solve it. As with all the great religions, Buddhism offers very useful insight on how we can solve our personal and environmental ones: our personal suffering and our collective crises are the same because there is no separation between us and the rest of Life.

The basic idea behind Compassionate Conservation is that the life of every individual matters. Susan Eirich sits down with Marc Bekoff to discuss how each life has intrinsic value.

Carolyn Baker Interviews Dr. Susan Eirich by Earthfire Institute

Dr. Susan Eirich talks with Linda Bender, DVM by Earthfire Institute

Dr. Susan Eirich of Earthfire Institute talks with Deena Metzger, an American writer, healer, and teacher whose work spans multiple genres including the novel, poetry, non-fiction, and plays. Deena Metzger is a poet, novelist, essayist, storyteller, teacher, healer and medicine woman who has taught and counseled for over fifty years, in the process of which she has developed therapies (Healing Stories) which creatively address life threatening diseases, spiritual and emotional crises, as well as community, political and environmental disintegration. Deena has spent a lifetime investigating Story as a form of knowing and healing. As a writer, she asks: Who do we have to become to find the forms and sacred language with which to meet these times? She conducts training groups on the spiritual, creative, political and ethical aspects of healing and peacemaking, individual, community and global, drawing deeply on alliance with spirit, indigenous teachings and the many wisdom traditions. One focus is on uniting Western medical ways with indigenous medicine traditions. www.deenametzger.net

Earthfire Institute Founder and Executive Direction Dr. Susan B. Eirich talks with Darlene Lee of Earth Law Center. Do Trees have standing? Does a River have rights? Despite decades of environmental laws, Earth’s health continues to decline. Is this any surprise if the environment has no voice in decision-making and cannot bring issues to court? This is changing.

Speaking with Jill Robinson of the Animals Asia Foundation makes me want to sell everything I own, give her all my money, and live naked in a hut eating beans so she can continue with her work.  She is a beacon of hope and inspiration for what humans can be, and can do. This is the story of the incredible power of one bear, reaching out and asking for help; and a human who heard and responded to the call.

Earthfire Executive Director, Dr. Susan B. Eirich, talks to mystic scholar Andrew Harvey.

Interview with Anne London, Part I by Earthfire Institute

On October 18th Dr. Susan Eirich and members of the Earthfire Community joined for a special online video discussion on a topic at the heart of Earthfire’s mission: the art of listening. Hearing is something we do involuntarily, but listening requires that we bring our complete attention to the subject at hand: ourselves, another being, Nature, all Life. To learn to speak the language of Life, we must first learn the ways that Life speaks to us. When we learn to listen deeply, we can begin to include the voices of all living beings in our considerations about how we live.

This second half of an interview with Penelope Smith begins by exploring the question,  “Do animals grow spiritually as they age?”

Listen as Dr. Susan Eirich and the Earthfire community have a heartfelt discussion on the ways animals support us and how we can receive those messages. For more information and future Conservation Conversations, visit: http://bit.ly/2fdyvRI

Behind our words are thoughts and feelings - we are not oriented to the fact that animals are thinking and feeling too even though they don't have words.  When we listen to an animal's perspective we listen to a different kind of life. It is like going to a whole encyclopedia of knowledge......

Episode 4 - A Wolf Named Apricot by Earthfire Institute

Espisode 9 - Susan Interview With Jon by Earthfire Institute

Episode 8 - Arctic Mist (Susan Alone) by Earthfire Institute

Episode 7 - A Cougar Named Wind Walker by Earthfire Institute

Episode 6 - A Grizzle Bear Named Teton Totem by Earthfire Institute

Episode 5 - A Bear Named Humble Bumble by Earthfire Institute

Episode 3 - A Deer Named Runs Like The Wind by Earthfire Institute

Episode 1 - A Wolf Named Thunder Intro To Earthfire, Part 1 by Earthfire Institute

Episode 2 - A Wolf Named Thunder Intro To Earthfire, Part 2 by Earthfire Institute

Essence Of Earthfire (8 Minute Version) by Earthfire Institute

The Mission Of Earthfire Institute Wildlife Sanctuary & Retreat Center by Earthfire Institute