Nurtured by Nature

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Are you feeling overwhelmed and depressed by the media's negative dialogue on the state of the natural world? Here at Nurtured by Nature we wanted to create a heart centred community where we can help restore our collective hope for the future of the natural world. Each week we will seek out and interview inspiring individuals from across the world, who will share their positive stories to help contradict the constant negativity we are bombarded with. These change makers are making a difference and having a positive impact, but equally will help remind us that we are not powerless bystanders, only here to bear witness, but that as individuals we can have a positive impact and that by coming together as a community we can amplify that impact and help create a better and brighter future for the natural world we love. 

Fiona MacKay

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    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 53m AVG DURATION
    • 65 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Nurtured by Nature podcast, hosted by Fiona, is a truly special and uplifting listening experience. In a world filled with negative news about the state of the natural world, this podcast serves as a sanctuary for those seeking solace and inspiration. Fiona's refreshing approach of seeking out and interviewing inspiring individuals from around the globe sets this podcast apart from others in the genre. The emphasis on individual agency is what truly makes this podcast shine. By showcasing the positive impact these change makers are having, Fiona effectively challenges the prevailing sense of powerlessness and highlights that as individuals, we can make a difference. The call to come together as a community to amplify our positive impact adds a sense of empowerment and optimism to each episode, making "Nurtured by Nature" a beacon of hope in a media landscape often dominated by despair.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is Fiona's soothing and calming voice. Her delivery is beautiful and easy to listen to, creating a relaxing atmosphere that allows listeners to fully immerse themselves in each episode. Additionally, her ability to curate a diverse range of experts and guests brings depth and richness to the discussions. Whether it's learning about animal communication or understanding our planet on a deeper level, each episode offers invaluable insights that leave listeners feeling more connected with nature.

    While it may be difficult to find any major flaws in such an uplifting podcast like Nurtured by Nature, one potential downside could be its narrow focus on positive narratives and stories. While it's important to highlight the positive impact individuals are making on the environment, there may still be value in exploring some of the challenges and obstacles we face when it comes to restoring our natural world. Incorporating these aspects could provide a more well-rounded view of the issues at hand.

    In conclusion, The Nurtured by Nature podcast is an absolute gem in the world of nature-centered podcasts. Fiona's ability to create a heart-centered community focused on restoring collective hope for the future of the natural world is truly commendable. With its emphasis on individual agency, inspiring guests, and soothing delivery, this podcast serves as a much-needed antidote to the overwhelming negativity surrounding discussions on the environment in mainstream media. By listening to Nurtured by Nature, you not only connect with nature but also become inspired to make small impactful changes in your own life. It's a beautiful blessing that reminds us of the importance of our connection with the Earth and leaves listeners feeling rejuvenated and hopeful for a brighter future.



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    Latest episodes from Nurtured by Nature

    Join the Garden For Wildlife Month Challenge with David Mizejewski National Wildlife Federation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 70:25


    Today I'm delighted to welcome back David Mizejewski, a Naturalist & self-confessed Nature Geek who works for the National Wildlife Federation. David joined me for an inspiring discussion about leaving the leaves & Autumn tips for nature friendly gardening in Ep. 52. This time we're embracing Garden For Wildlife month & No Mow May, with tips for encouraging wildlife to thrive in your yard in Spring & Summer as well as sharing how container gardening can ensure that even in the smallest of outdoor spaces you can help contribute to supporting & nurturing your native flora & fauna.David is celebrating 25 years with NWF so alongside sharing his wonderful gardening tips our discussion draws on his experience to explore the sometimes unexpected value that urban spaces provide to nurture wildlife, the relationship between environmental & social justice issues & the power of community led nature spaces to create lasting change. We also share the fun we both had setting up wildlife cameras to spy on the new wild neighbours that move in when we create habitats in which they can thrive.In these dark & challenging times we our reminded that nature can be our sanctuary, providing joy & hope, when we share our spaces with amazing creatures & we welcome them into our lives we are rewarded in a myriad of unexpected ways.David Mizejewski is a naturalist, author & television presenter with the National Wildlife Federation. He holds a degree in Human & Natural Ecology from Emory University & is an expert on wildlife & our environment. He is dedicated to using his knowledge & unbridled enthusiasm to help others understand & protect the natural world. David regularly appears in the media to promote wildlife conservation.Website: https://naturalist.nwf.org/May is Garden for Wildlife® Month, the perfect time to celebrate your own garden & it's amazing impact on wildlife. From small balconies to spacious yards, wildlife gardens can have a big impact no matter their size! This year we're excited to celebrate gardens of all sizes & even gardens in unlikely locations! If you have an outdoor space such as a balcony, a flight of stairs up a brownstone, or even a small greenspace around a mailbox, you can garden for wildlife. Plus, if you sign up for the NWF Garden Habitats Newsletter in May, you can even be entered to win a native plant container garden bundle! With over seven million participants and over 50 years of service, Garden for Wildlife is America's largest, longest running habitat movement dedicated to helping wildlife thrive where people live, work, play, learn, & worship. Join over 315,000 Certified Wildlife Habitats® when you get your garden certified!https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Join-the-Movement/Seasonal-Initiatives/Garden-for-Wildlife-Monthhttps://www.nwf.org/gardenSupport the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Healing The Legacy with Hilary Giovale, Becoming a Good Relative, Calling White Settlers towards truth, healing and repair

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2025 66:50


    Welcome to episode 63 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Hilary Giovale, author of Becoming A Good Relative, Calling White Settlers toward Truth, Healing & Repair.As Maya Angelou famously said: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Now is our time to do better, to step forward courageously, with open hearts, humility & perseverance to do the work to say this stops now, to play our part in healing & repairing the past to ensure a shift of path for our future. In this deeply thought provoking conversation & through her book, Hilary gently encourages us to reflect on our society & our ancestry to understand the two sided coin of white privilege & white peril, alongside the far reaching impacts of colonisation that have imprinted trauma on Indigenous societies around the world for millennia. She shares the wisdom she has gained over her decade long journey, that started with a revelation that held such guilt & shame it literally brought her sobbing to her knees in the snow. Through cultivating a way of being that shows up with a generous heart, listens & is responsive to what is asked & not what you believe is wanted, she has been blessed by an incredible diversity of people who have generously guided her journey & allowed her to offer their wisdom to us. She goes on to demonstrate the routes for repair, partly through addressing the continued systemic divide that is stubbornly resilient in our societies & is evident in the fact that only 0.04% of Philanthropic dollars in the US benefit Indigenous communities. But also through powerful private ceremonies offering us space for reflection, apology & forgiveness.My hope is that this episode sparks conversation, that you listen with kindness and compassion as I do my best to hold space for these often confronting and challenging conversations that offer us all a place of beginning. I invite you to please share this conversation and join me as we take a first step together and then a second to play our part in raising awareness and then in taking action to unravel and repair the legacy we have inherited but also remember we have the power to redirect the future trajectory of our societies evolution as we come to understand and embody the reality that we are all connected. Learn more about HilaryHILARY GIOVALE is a mother, writer, and community organizer. A ninth-generation American settler, she is descended from Celtic, Germanic, Nordic, and Indigenous peoples of Ancient Europe. As an active reparationist, her work is guided by intuition, love, and relationships. Website: goodrelative.com Instagram: @hilarygiovaleauthorGuide to Making a Personal Reparations PlanLinks to Independent BooksellersSupport the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    More Wisdom from the Animals with Kerrie Searle Animal Communicator

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 70:18


    Today I'm delighted to welcome back Kerrie Searle, an animal communicator based in Australia. Kerrie previously joined me for an inspiring introduction to Animal communication in Ep 11. Animal communication might be dismissed as a bit woo woo, but we invite you to open your mind to what the possibility of communication is when it isn't constrained by words. We are born into an energetic world that we are intrinsically connected to, but through our education system we are taught to only value verbal communication & slowly we disconnect from the rich web of life & ourselves. This conversation invites you to return to the innate wisdom the world holds, to reconnect to other living beings in the world around us, to the land, to the ancestors & most importantly to all the parts of ourselves. Disconnection & separation from ourselves & the natural world was key to establishing a society that is able to exploit & abuse both nature & other humans. Our hope is that this conversation stirs in you a remembering of the exciting potential that exists when you consider that communication with the greater world is possible, it changes the way you see the world & your place in it, through this shift the potential of a new paradigm is born. This is more than communicating with animals, this is about listening to the knowing that is stirring in all of us & stepping into our true role in healing & caring for a reconnected world.Learn more about Kerrie:After experiencing enormous trauma throughout my life, both personally & professionally (having been a police detective for 17 years), I was mentally, physically & emotionally broken when I retired from the police force. Heavily medicated & in & out of hospital for years, my life was on a constant downward spiral. I realised the medical model I was using wasn't helping me to get better & it was at this point that I chose a more holistic approach to my healing journey & also discovered the extraordinary healing power of flower essences.As I journeyed from a place of deep suppression to reconnecting with the disconnected parts of myself, I also reconnected with my ability to communicate with animals (& other beings/energies) at a very deep level.I now make my own flower essences from the indigenous plants/trees where I live & I use different combinations of flower essences to make a number of blends that I use to heal & support my journey through life. These blends are also used for my animal & human clients.I bring my life experiences & learnings to my consults & workshops & now assist other humans to reconnect to the disconnected parts of themselves so that they too can communicate with their animals more deeply. I receive feelings, words, pictures, smells & tastes from animals which allow me to communicate at a very deep level & become a voice for the animals, conveying what they need heard to their humans.Website: www.animal-communicator.com.auFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkstoanimalsSupport the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Podcasthon - Supporting Moor Trees: Restoring Native Woodland on Dartmoor

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 16:55


    Welcome to episode 61 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to bring you a special bonus episode in support of Podcasthon, a fast-growing non-profit initiative that has united over 1700 podcasters around the world to raise awareness for the charitable cause that are close to our hearts. It's an opportunity to use the podcasting community as a vehicle for social change by amplifying the voices and work of non-profits around the world, being the change we want to see. I make no secret of my love of trees and having had the opportunity to spend time with their team in person, for this special episode I choose to shine a spotlight on the amazing work of the Devon based charity Moor Trees, who are dedicated to recreating native woodland across Dartmoor. I share a brief introduction to some of their incredible work, from collecting seeds from the native trees on Dartmoor to nurturing them into healthy saplings in their community nurseries and then the meticulous planning that goes into preparation the for planting these trees to ensure they will grow into the thriving woodland habitats of tomorrow. Learn More About Moor Trees:Moor Trees is dedicated to recreating native woodland across Dartmoor and surrounding areas. Although our region seems to be well wooded, much of the forest is commercial softwoods, Victorian game plantations and shelter belts. True natural woodland, rich with native birds & butterflies, is rare, mostly found in the steep valley fringes of Dartmoor.We aim to restore native broadleaf woodland by growing trees from locally collected seed in our community tree nurseries, & planting them as new woodland on private & public land.We use the local provenance trees that we grow at our two community tree nurseries in our woodland creation schemes. Each autumn we gather thousands of seeds with the aim of germinating & growing new seedlings. We currently have more than 100,000 growing in our nurseries getting ready for a future in the woodlands of tomorrow.We are regenerating vital woodlands on Dartmoor, including Wiseman's Wood. With your support we can grow local trees and restore habitats. We are celebrating our 25th Anniversary throughout 2025, help do your bit for nature by supporting us to achieve our vision of a wilder more natural Dartmoor.Website: https://moortrees.org/DONATE: https://moortrees.org/support-us/donate/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moortrees.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moor-trees/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moortrees/Podcasthon unites podcasters globally, raising awareness for various charitable causes. If this resonates with you, learn more at  www.podcasthon.org Then, help spread the word.Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    How Herbalism helps you cultivate a supported, connected and empowering lifestyle with Meghan Rhodes, Rhodes, Roots and Remedies

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 69:10


    Welcome to episode 60 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to welcome back Meghan Rhodes, a herbalist based in Yorkshire in the UK. Megan previously joined me for an inspiring introduction to herbal medicine in episode 34. We had so much fun that we couldn't resist reconnecting to share with you all a deeper dive into how cultivating your relationship with healing plants can literally be a gateway to a completely different way of approaching life and showing up in the world. Whilst many people may initially be drawn to herbalism due to ill health and an interest in how they can use plants for healing, Megan is passionate about instilling in her students the deeper levels of fulfilment that this modality can bring. When you truly learn to work with the plants, you also become comfortable tapping into and listening to your own inner voice and wisdom. This becomes a way of life that is rich in a sense of discernment and empowerment, that ripples out in unexpected and uniquely individual ways. We actively question what has become accepted and normal in our modern societies and consider how we can step outside this paradigm and choose to live from a place that resonates with a more purposeful life-force and ensures you fully enter into the beautiful web of relationship that is naturally woven through everything in our world. We invite you to join us in considering how you become the architect of your own life and help shape a more loving and compassionate society.Learn more about MeghanMeghan Rhodes is a qualified herbalist and the founder and director of Rhodes Roots & Remedies School of Herbal Medicine, where she guides students on a unique sense-based herbalism course and journey, Awaken Herbal Wisdom, for up to three turnings of the wheel.Meghan's practice of herbalism is rooted in the belief that we must remember, reclaim and relearn our knowledge of our bodies, our autonomy and how to work with plant medicine in order to bring control of our own health back into our families and homes for a sustainable future for ourselves and the planet. Through her herbalism school, Meghan facilitates the development of confident, empowered herbalists, attuned to the messages of their bodies and the natural world. Living the deep wisdom of herbal medicine within themselves, their homes and their communities, they uplift themselves and others, creating a stronger society organically.Meghan is a member of both the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy and the Ayurvedic Professionals Association.Awaken Herbal Wisdom – Meghan's intensive herbalism course – applications open each spring - https://bit.ly/4guiHpYWebsite: https://www.rhodesrootsandremedies.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhodesrootsandremediesSupport the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Rewilding a Mountain with Paula Whyman, Bad Naturalist

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 65:56


    Today I'm delighted to be joined by Paula Whyman, author of Bad Naturalist.Inspired by Isabella Tree's Knepp estate & Douglas Tallamy's Homegrown National Park Movement, Paula set out to find a small rural escape & establish a meadow. But Mother Nature had bigger plans & Paula found herself becoming guardian to 200 acres of neglected Virginia mountaintop where invasive species were causing havoc to this important ecosystem.Despite being a self confessed terrible gardener who knew nothing about plants, Paula threw herself heart & soul into her partnership with the mountain. She has already begun to tip the balance in favour of the native plants that support the insects, birds & wildlife of the region.The lessons Paula shares remind us all, that there is no single path or categorically right option, everything requires a degree of trade-off, expecting perfection is a fools folly that leads to frustration. But if we slowly embrace nature's timelines & make peace with tackling one challenge at a time, doing the best we can with the knowledge we have, it is possible to make a difference in this world. More about PaulaPaula Whyman decided to leave her Maryland / suburban DC empty nest to find a rural getaway, maybe a small farmhouse where she could put her interest in conservation to work. With little experience in gardening or conservation, Whyman had a crazy idea to cultivate a small native meadow to provide an acre or two where wildlife could thrive & she could explore with her poodle. Then she set foot on 200 acres of old farmland atop a Virginia mountain & her dream became a reality.Paula consults with experts & gets conflicting advice on how to best restore her land. She has to fight invasive plants that expand & push toxic substances into the soil. But to her surprise, her lovely Virginia Blue Ridge mountaintop is full of life.  Native elderberries, wild bergamot & jewelweed spring up.  Lichens sprawl, bees bumble & butterflies return, songbirds call & a few plans eventually go right.BAD NATURALIST: One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop, funded by the Maryland State Arts Council, author Paula Whyman explains how she cares for her mountain-sized ecological restoration challenge with a mixture of humility & humor.  She quickly discovers it's impossible to be a “good” naturalist. This is a blend of memoir, natural history, & conservation science, a chronicle of her attempts to restore retired farmland to natural habitat.  Whyman leads us on an exploration of nature and human nature. How can we learn, adapt & find patience from one season to the next? When there's no perfect option, does that mean there's no good option? In the end, Whyman's mountain is a metaphor & an inspiration for undertaking big, tangled challenges before we can possibly know what we're getting ourselves into. What matters, is taking that first step.Website: https://paulawhyman.com/bad-naturalist/Paula's Newsletter: https://paulawhyman.com/bad-naturalist-newsletter/Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Connecting Homeopathy to Patients 24/7 with Clare Gregory, Swift Homeopathy Clinic

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 66:21


    Today I'm delighted to be joined by Clare, founder of Swift Homeopathy Clinic, an online clinic that gives people access to real homeopaths 24 hours a day when they are struggling with acute health conditions.We discuss the very real challenges facing healthcare provision in the UK, as the NHS continues to struggle & patients find access to GPs harder to come by, the way we advocate for ourselves & also learn to have responsibility for our health needs a shift in the current thinking within our society. Clare realised there was a way she could help people when they needed it most by giving them access to qualified homeopaths around the clock. Swift has brought together an amazing collective of over 20 homeopaths from around the world into a community that is able to support both the patients & also the homeopaths.Our conversation also explores the benefits of Homeopathy as a valuable resource to tackle many physical & mental health challenges & how working with homeopathy for anything from wasp stings to Menopause will have the added benefit of helping you become better equipped to support both yours & your families health as we strive to move from coping to thriving.Learn more about Clare: My journey with homeopathy began as a deeply personal one. Like many, I first turned to homeopathy for my own health & my family's well-being. The more I learned, the more I saw its incredible potential, not just as a system of medicine but as a way to empower people with natural, effective solutions. That passion led me to train professionally & dedicate my career to helping others through homeopathy. Over the years, I've seen firsthand how valuable it is to have the right support at the right time, both for patients & for homeopaths themselves. I also know how isolating this work can sometimes feel, especially when faced with urgent cases, Out of Hours calls, or the need for a break without worrying about patient care. That's why I founded SWIFT Homeopathy, a 24-hour online clinic designed to be there exactly when it's needed.SWIFT isn't just about providing quick, expert advice around the clock for first aid & minor ailments; it's also about creating a supportive place for homeopaths. So whether you're a practitioner looking for reliable backup or someone who simply wants to feel part of a supportive team, SWIFT is here to help.Homeopathy has always been about connection between practitioner & patient, between knowledge & healing. With SWIFT, I hope to bridge the gaps & ensure that no one practitioner or patient ever feels alone in their homeopathic journey.Website: https://wwwswifthomeopathyclinic.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/swift.homeopathy365/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/Swift.Homeopathy365Nurtured By Nature Podcast Episode 37 with Eugenie Kruger, Homeopathy HangoutSupport the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Inspiring Change In Conservation with Brett Jenks, RARE.org

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 51:34


    Today I'm joined in conversation by Brett Jenks, CEO of Rare, a solution orientated global conservation organisation with a distinctly human approach. Unlike our historical models of creating national parks that exclude humans to preserve nature, Rare refuses to view people as the problem, instead embracing them as partners in conservation that enables both people & nature to thrive.  Brett highlights several of Rare's established projects partnering with local communities around the world, giving them the support to become successful stewards of their own natural world. The Fish Forever project a community led approach to restore, protect & manage coastal seas across 8 countries & Lands For Life which teaches Regenerative Agriculture to farmers in Columbia.In this mindset shifting conversation Brett shares how Rare successfully utilises human behavioural insights into their groundbreaking ideas, including creating a video game that literally plants trees, the Climate Action Now App that empowers consumers & an innovative Impact Investment Fund to provide alternative financial backing for conservation.Brett left me truly inspired, imagining what is possible as we break free of traditional conservation models & embrace the unlimited potential available when humans remember their role as stewards & set our intention to work with the amazing wisdom Mother Nature has. Learn more about BrettBrett is the CEO of Rare, a nonprofit that has led environmental conservation projects for 50 years & impacted the lives of millions, helping people & nature thrive together through community-led efforts across 60 countries. Brett was a journalist and film producer before he traveled to Costa Rica in 1992 for a government-partnered English teaching program. There, he designed an award-winning local ecotourism program for Rare and rose through the ranks to become CEO in 2000.   Under Brett's leadership, Rare has grown 3,000% and expanded its budgets to $30M. He notably scaled Rare's Fish Forever program of revitalizing coastal fisheries to reach 2,000 communities across 8 countries, and launched partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and companies like Bloomberg Philanthropies, Meta, Netflix, UNDP, and Nat Geo.He has dedicated 20+ years to changing the behavioral approach to conservation. His views have featured across major publications like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In 2017, he was awarded the Rose-Walters Prize for Global Environmental Activism. Website: https://rare.org/Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Reclaiming The Heart of Hope with Megan Edge, The Heart's Journey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 70:01


    Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Megan Edge, as we dive into a beautiful diversity of topics, her background & interest in geology leads us to consider the story of Mother Earth that is written in the rocks. She also draws our awareness to the pervasive ways that our perception of the natural world is managed through a constant propaganda that is highly censored & curated by design to keep us afraid, disconnected & disempowered. Megan shares some simple steps we can take to reclaim our connection to the world & to develop a healthy cynicism towards what the media is presenting to us as fact. She encourages us to delve into earlier books & studies that are treasure troves of wisdom.Megan also explains how she found complete healing from Fibromyalgia through a gluten free diet & nature's healing plants & as a result passionately encourages people to advocate for their own health & to reconnect & have autonomy over their bodies. We must remember the change we want to see, starts with us as individuals, the world needs you to bring your heart back online, to heal your story & help co-create the healing story for the world.  Learn more about MeganMegan Edge is a Master Healer, educator, and author based in Victoria, Canada. Growing up in a family of foragers, she developed a deep connection with nature and learned the art of harvesting from the wild. Born in Vancouver, BC, she has lived across Canada and holds degrees from Dalhousie University in Women's Studies and Social Work, along with an undergraduate degree in geology.With an entrepreneurial spirit, Megan has held various managerial roles but ultimately found her passion in self-employment. She creates certification courses and workshops for health professionals, blending her extensive training with alternative healing practices. Megan is the author of "The Heart's Journey: Healing Hearts Oracle Cards and Guidebook" and the manual for her Healer's certification program, "Falling into Being Human: Intuitive Healing."As an international radio host and public speaker, she focuses on empowering individuals to access their healing abilities. Megan lives with her family and enjoys foraging for clams, oysters, and wild mushrooms in her spare time. Her mission is to facilitate lasting healing and wellness for all.Website:  http://meganedge.ca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megan_edge11/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meganedgehealing/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganedge/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MeganEdgeHealingThe Heart's Journey Oracle Cards: https://meganedgehealing.thrivecart.com/healing-hearts-oracle-cards/?coupon=HEARTSJOURNEYSupport the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Connecting to the Wild in Urban Landscapes with Christopher Brown, A Natural History of Empty Lots

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 61:21


    I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Christopher Brown, author of A Natural History of Empty Lots, field notes from Urban Edgelands, Back Alleys & other wild places. In this captivating conversation Chris' lyrical descriptions take us on a beautiful journey, as we join him in stepping off the pavement into a world where nature has adapted to thrive in the most unlikely of environments at the heart of our urbanised landscapes. He describes his ambitious plan to create a home for his family on an industrialised wasteland where he has miraculously balanced their needs in a way that also allows him to actively seek to share the space with other species. Chris reminds us that rewildling doesn't require the depopulation of humans & that there is an intrinsic link between the social & economic injustices in our world & the damaged relationship we have with the natural world & the land we live on. But he also encourages us to remember that nature has an incredible ability to respond to the opportunities we make for her & that we don't have to wait for global institutions to take the lead we ourselves can be the catalysts for change in remaking a new world.Christopher Brown is the Philip K. Dick, World Fantasy, and John W. Campbell Award-nominated author of the novels Tropic of Kansas, Rule of Capture, and Failed State. Also an accomplished lawyer, he has worked on two Supreme Court confirmation hearings, led the technology corporate practice of a major American law firm, and has been the general counsel of two public companies.A Natural History of Empty Lots by Christopher Brown is a genre-bending blend of naturalism, memoir, and social manifesto for rewilding the city, the self, and society. Through his keen examination of abandoned industrial sites, empty lots, and deserted agricultural land, Brown discovers that even in these so-called "ruined landscapes" nature's resilience shines. Inspired by its unfailing persistence to return, Brown shows us how easy it can be to bring the wilds back to these damaged places and why it is critical that we do.Over the course of twenty years, Brown documented these liminal spaces, explored them with his son, and even built his home in Austin, Texas on a brownfield site bisected by oil pipelines. Infused with Brown's deep love of nature and a constant sense of awe, A Natural History of Empty Lots combines field notes from Brown's travels with his personal story as he traverses the nexus of the city and the wilds.Offering a new lens on human disruption and wild lands, he reminds readers of the magic in nature, “the seemingly supernatural wonders produced by everyday interactions among different elements of the natural world. Things that can all be explained by science, but also understood by poets. Even in the most urbanized human terrains, those wonders can still be found—most often at the edges where the pavement ends and the wild is allowed to express.”Website: https://christopherbrown.com/Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Remember Who You Are: Empowered by Love with Rev Rose Hope, The Arc

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 67:55


    Welcome to episode 54 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Rev. Rose Hope author of the recently released book, The Arc.As we start a new year it is important to be reminded of how powerful an ally Hope is in our lives, during these challenging times it is easy to feel overwhelmed & powerless to make a difference, we find ourselves burdened by the need to do something but lost as to what, if any hope remains amongst the devastation & destruction. In this beautiful conversation Rose offers us her gentle but indispensable wisdom for times of turmoil, encouraging us to connect with the awe & wonder of the nature that surrounds us & is us, thus making space for our inner wisdom to flow as we begin the journey to remember who we truly are, raising the possibility of what we are capable of & increasing the vibration of love & compassion in our deeply divided world.We go on to discuss Rose's amazing book The Arc, a fantasy fiction inspired by the Celestine Prophecy & the Alchemist, it draws on her incredible life from her own near death experiences, her time working as an EMT, teaching health sciences, running her own holistic health company & delving into the wisdom of the Akashic records she takes us on a journey to rediscover our own power to create & raise the vibration of both ourselves & the collective consciousness to bring heaven to earth. In times like these we need to ask for help, take a breath, be prepared to listen & receive the wisdom to move forwards with love in our hearts.Learn more about RoseReverend Rose Hope is a dynamic thought leader in spiritual & business development, driven by a profound mission: to create heaven on earth. With over 20 years of expertise in health education & personal development, Rose has empowered countless individuals to unlock their potential & achieve lasting success. As the founder & CEO of Rose Hope Inc., Rose guides those on a quest for a higher purpose, teaching them to harness their intuition & master their minds. Her insights have made her a sought-after speaker at prestigious institutions like Harvard University & a recognized figure on ABC & NBC. She hosts the popular podcast When Spirit Calls & recently released her debut fantasy fiction novel, The Arc (2024).Discover your Soul Blueprint free quiz: https://rosehope.ca/rose.html7 days of creation event: https://rosehope.ca/7-days-of-creation/Website: https://rosehope.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosehopesoul/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseHopeInternationalWhen Spirit Calls podcast: https://rosehope.ca/podcast/Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    We Can All Do Something with Sarah Woodard, Spark Consciousness

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 59:20


    Welcome to episode 53 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Sarah, an award-winning author and host of the Give a F**K podcast, who guides those seeking to reconnect with their souls creativity and Mother Nature.Sarah and I had so much fun connecting, whilst we talk about important topics, it's done with a gentle hand and a lot of laughter, a true tonic for the soul. Sarah shares her deep love for nature which provided her with a sanctuary and place of safety as a child and which she has now returned to in later life having reached her own tipping point, or dark night of the soul. We talk about how we can't all do everything but we can all do something, and how with this mindset we can understand the importance of community, the need for tolerance and compassion, so we avoid falling into the groves of division that are becoming deeply ingrained into our cultures, particularly when elections fuel and fan the flames.Sarah encourages us to remember that nature isn't a place to go it is inextricably linked to us, that we need to listen to the ancient stories that Mother Earth is literally breathing into us, that are etched into our very beings. She shares the idea of considering time on a greater scale, where were we 7 generations ago, where will we be in 7 generations time, how does this shift how we view ourselves into the world and our priorities and how to move forward in respectful co-creation with the earth and each other, whilst remembering to focus on the future we want to embody rather that the fear of what we don't want to happen.. Learn more about Sarah:I'm Sarah Woodard, fellow sensitive soul and founder of Spark Consciousness. I'm an Award-winning Storykeeper & Catalyst for Healing Humanity and Mother Earth. My role, in this lifetime, is to share the ancient human stories from when we were connected to Nature, our Souls, and Communities in ways we've long forgotten. I aim to integrate Earth's energetic and physical needs and guide mindful seekers on how to foster a mutually beneficial, harmonious relationship with Nature.Website: https://www.sparkconsciousness.net Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkconsciousness/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparkconsciousnessAuthor Website: https://www.sarahwoodardauthoress.com/Give a F*k Podcast: https://www.sparkconsciousness.net/podcastSupport the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Leave The Leaves: Tips for supporting Nature in your Garden with David Mizejewski, National Wildlife Federation

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 70:18


    Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by David Mizejewski, a Naturalist & self-confessed Nature Geek working with the National Wildlife Federation. David is a regular in the media including having presented a series on Animal Planet called Backyard Habitat that showed people how to transform their yards & gardens into spaces where nature can thrive. Together we dive into how to manage our gardens in the fall & autumn, David explains why leaving the leaves is so important, from the myriad of surprising wildlife that are dependent on the leaf litter to the benefits of reducing your environmental impact & saving yourself time & money whilst ensuring a healthier garden. To avoid overwhelm David shares Pro Tips on how to keep as many leaves as possible at home, utilising them for mulch on flower beds to composting, but also importantly reminds us to be gentle with ourselves & simply do the best we can. Gardening for wildlife is an empowering solution to the multiple crisis our environment faces & the NWF have a lot of resources to help you get involved to create a paradise for nature at home.I hope will have you looking at Autumn leaves with a whole new level of wonder. Share your pictures with David & I to celebrate stewarding your patch of the earth to ensure nature, wildlife and people can thrive #leavetheleaves. Learn more about DavidDavid Mizejewski is a naturalist, author and television presenter with the National Wildlife Federation. He holds a degree in Human and Natural Ecology from Emory University and is an expert on wildlife and our environment. He is dedicated to using his knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm to help others understand and protect the natural world. David regularly appears in the media to promote wildlife conservation. Website: https://naturalist.nwf.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmizejewski Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmizejewskiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmizejewski/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidMizejewskiOctober is Leave the Leaves Month: https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Join-the-Movement/Seasonal-Initiatives/Leave-the-Leaves-MonthPro Tips: https://blog.nwf.org/2023/10/pro-tips-for-leaving-the-leavesOther Useful Resources: https://bit.ly/NBNPEpisode52Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Mapping the Emergence of A New Paradigm with Manda Scott, Any Human Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 66:44


    In this fascinating conversation Manda & I discuss the important role creatives have, at this time of emergence, to help society envision an alternative future, something we simply can't expect our current governments or systems of power to do for us. Manda has had a truly fascinating journey & beautifully weaves all the threads of these diverse influences; growing up in a raptor rescue, becoming a veterinarian, working in the computer games industry, studying for a masters in economics alongside her deep involvement in shamanism. This is a conversation that draws on lived experience & deep considered thought & offers many resources for further exploration. Through her latest Thrutopian novel Manda manages to gently introduce us to alternative ways of existing that place us firmly back into the interconnected web of existence, avoiding the trained reflex ingrained in our trauma cultures that might trigger us to reject the possibilities. This conversation is a balm to the soul of anyone who feels cast a drift from the exploitive hierarchal society that we find ourselves in, that in Manda's own words commodifies grief, destruction & death. Whilst she also reminds us to realise that Any Human Power that exists can by human agency be changed, it simply needs enough of us to to stop believing in the current paradigm. Manda and I invite you to join us as people that choose to stop believing there isn't a viable alternative, that whilst the future is unknowable it also has the capacity to be incredibly exciting.  Stepping out of line is a radical act, but what might surprise you is that you wouldn't be alone, all the ideas from Manda's book, like global guardian governance, alternative structures of accountability & economics are already in existence, they are closer to us then we realise.Learn more about MandaManda Scott is an award-winning novelist and host of the acclaimed Accidental Gods podcast. Best known for the Boudica: Dreaming series, her previous novels have been short-listed for the Orange Prize, the Edgar, Wilbur Smith and Saltire Awards and won the McIllvanney Prize. Her latest novel ANY HUMAN POWER is a Mytho-Political thriller which lays out a Thrutopian road map to a Dlourishing future we'd be proud to leave to the generations that come after us. With degrees in veterinary medicine and a Masters in Regenerative Economics, Manda's life is oriented towards creating radical new narratives that will pave the way to the total systemic change our culture – and our world – needs. Website: www.mandascott.co.uk/Facebook: www.facebook.com/MandaScottAuthorLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mandascottauthor/Accidental God's podcast: www.accidentalgods.life Instagram: www.instagram.com/accidental_gods/More Resources: https://bit.ly/NBNPEpisode51Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Maintaining Hope with Fiona MacKay

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 31:25


    Welcome to episode 50 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm excited to be celebrating this significant milestone with you all and wanted to take the time to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has joined me on the journey so far, from the incredible guests who have shared their stories and wisdom, to all of you, my beautiful listeners, this journey simply wouldn't have been what it has without your encouragement, support and interaction with the community we are building together.When considering what to share with you all on this memorable occasion I decided I wanted to come back to the central ethos that was my why for starting this journey: Maintaining Hope!! Finding the stories, people and wisdom that would provide us with ways to maintain hope as we face the current challenges in our world and seek to find opportunities to vision and create a brighter future. I take a look back over the last 20 episodes and share some of my favourite moments and stories from the incredible guests I have been able to share with you all, from Gardening for Wildlife and Holistic health to Sacred activism, Active Hope and journeying upstream to understand the Worldviews that currently dominant the way we experience the world, it has been a truly fascinating journey that has opened both my mind and my heart and left me forever changed by the stories and wisdom I have experienced alongside you all. I leave you with the reminder that we are more powerful than we imagine and encourage you to take action no matter how small it feels, everyone and everything truly mattress as together we move through this time of transition, and to know that when working in co-creation with the earth miracles truly can happen.Learn more about FionaFiona has a deep & abiding love of the natural world & mother earth, she is a propagator of trees, flowers, thoughts & ideas, an avid listener, a deep-thinker & insatiable seeker of knowledge. She spent 5 years managing a lodge in the African wilderness & many more years traveling the world photographing wildlife, attempting to captivate & inspire people, with the understanding, we only protect that which we love.Inspired by her horses, she has delved deeper into the world of holistic health. Becoming an advanced Australian Bush Flower Essence Practitioner, a Reiki Master & learning more about herbalism & somatic body work with a particular interest in trauma resolution. As the digital communications strategist for a conservation charity she noticed the anxiety inducing affect of the current conversation around the state of nature & wanted to help those who love nature find reasons for hope and opportunities to create positive change in the world.Support the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Follow what Feels Right, with Donna Wallace, House of Orion

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 66:32


    Welcome to episode 49 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the beautiful Donna from Australia. In this fascinating heart-felt conversation Donna invites us to consider the incredible power of reconnecting with our intuition, explaining how this transformed her own life and discussing the different ways we might experience our own intuition or gut-feelings and how we can embrace this instinctual knowing to guide us in life. If you've ever felt like a black-sheep in life then you'll be comforted to know you are not alone and Donna shares her love for the powerful healing potential of Family Constellation Therapy, and how by recognising and healing the patterns and experiences within our own family systems, we can find renewed freedom and open up to a deeper sense of belonging in the world.Donna is extremely passionate about encouraging and empowering people, especially women to fully embody their soul's expression, particularly at this time when we need heart-centred courageous people, balanced in their masculine and feminine to step forward to help vision a better path for humanity. Alongside her coaching and healing work she has a second business creating the most amazing jewellery that not only looks incredible but is designed to energetically support you to fully live your soul's highest expression. Whilst also creating a unique crystalline grid where the community come together regularly to offer healing and support to the world.Learn more about DonnaDonna helps people all around the world to switch on their lights. With over 25 years of energy healing experience, Donna has found the most powerful and effective techniques for you to heal and become the radiant soul that you are! From emotional and trauma healing, to creating jewellery that energetically activates you - her motto is ‘work that works'. Website: https://donnawallace.com.auInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnawallacehealer/Free strategy call with Donna: https://donnawallace.com.au/lets-chat/GIFT: Download your 5-minute Life-Changing Morning Meditation: https://donnawallace.com.au/start-here/House of Orion - Soul Jewellery: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_house_of_orion/ GIFT: Book a free 10 min energy reading to find out what your soulmate stone is: https://thehouseoforion.com.au/start_here/ Support the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    In Co-Creation with the Earth with Osprey Orielle Lake, The Story Is In Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World In Crisis.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 66:19


    Today I'm delighted to be joined by Osprey Orielle Lake, author of: The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis & Founder of the Women's Earth & Climate Action Network. As Einstein stated: “We can't solve a problem with the same mind that created it” & In this thought provoking conversation, Osprey encourages us to reflect on our society, to travel upstream to consider the dominant worldviews of our time & how they evolved to lead our society to where we now stand surrounded by multiple interlocking crisis. It is a journey that requires us to come with courage, open minds & hearts, but that is critical in ensuring we equip ourselves with a new mind, set free of the dominant worldviews of dominion over land & nature, patriarchy, colonialism & racism that have created the challenges we must now resolve. Osprey's life work supporting & advocating for the rights of Indigenous people's around the world shows that change is already happening. There are courageous people who are holding a vision for a different worldview which is already helping to create encouraging changes through powerful initiatives like Rights For Nature. Osprey shares many stories of the brave women who have stood up to large corporations & governments around the world to defend nature, their ancestral lands & sovereignty, ultimately for the benefit of us all, as 80% of all bio-diversity left on Earth is currently stewarded by Indigenous people's on Indigenous lands. To all of you, who have braved punishment & persecution, I dedicate this episode to you with my heartfelt thanks for your courage & determination in the face of adversity, I hope this message encourages others to use our voices as we remember our role as a keystone species under who's stewardship nature can thrive.Learn more about OspreyFounder & executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), Osprey Orielle Lake works internationally with grassroots, BIPOC & Indigenous leaders, policymakers, & diverse coalitions to build climate justice, resilient communities, & a just transition to a decentralized, democratized clean-energy future.She sits on the executive committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature & on the steering committee for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. She is the author of the award-winning book Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature. Osprey holds an MA in Culture & Environmental Studies from Holy Names University in Oakland & lives in the San Francisco Bay Area on Coast Miwok lands.Website: https://ospreyoriellelake.earthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ospreyoriellelake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ospreyoriellelake/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/osprey-orielle-lake-4286bb12/WECAN: Website: https://www.wecaninternational.orgSupport the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Changing The World, One Native Plant at a Time with Shubber Ali, Garden For Wildlife by National Wildlife Federation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 71:20


    Today I'm joined in conversation by Shubber Ali, CEO of Garden For Wildlife. Restoring Native Habitat is one of the greatest tools we have to help reverse the biodiversity crisis. Native plants co-evolved alongside the wildlife in your ecosystem, they are the ones that will not only attract pollinators but actually allow them to complete their lifecycles providing food for the caterpillars & adolescent forms, a vital link in the chain to a thriving world. Knowing which plants are native & being able to buy them is a challenge that quickly prevents well intentioned gardeners being part of this powerful solution. But now gardeners across most of the USA can enter their zip code to find the plants native to them & have them delivered to their door. Every plant purchased means a native plant is also planted in a community garden, & an affiliate programme allows non-profits in any sector to fundraise by having their supporters buy & plant native plants.This episode is packed full of wisdom, it encourages us to question the Orthodoxies in every aspect of our lives, & ensure we ask “What's the real problem we need to solve?” Rather than creating solutions to just the symptoms of the problem. It is a beautiful reminder that business done well can be an incredible vehicle for positive change.Learn more about ShubberShubber is a father, husband, gardener & nature lover.  He's currently CEO of Garden for Wildlife, a for-profit spinout he helped create for the National Wildlife Federation.  The mission: to help restore native habitat in yards across America in order to help our endangered pollinators & songbirds that have been declining for decades. He's worked on everything from the Space Station program to residential real estate software.  He's spent much of his time in innovation consulting, done a stint as the VP of Innovation for Salesforce, been an adjunct professor at Georgetown Exec MBA program & guest lectures at Emory Exec MBA program.  He's on numerous advisory boards, from a generative AI company to Airbus, & is co-founder of multiple startup companies.  He has planted over 100 trees & hundreds of native plants in his yard.   Website: https://gardenforwildlife.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gardenforwildlife/Wildlife gardeners group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/432123332899723/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardenforwildlife/Affiliate/fundraising platform: https://content.gardenforwildlife.com/fundraisingOther:Nature's Best Hope - Douglas W.TallamyThe Nature Fix - Florance WilliamsMerlin Bird App by Cornell Lab: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/HomeGrown National Park Challenge: https://homegrownnationalpark.org/1-plant-challenge/Support the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Reimagining Fashion: Creating Socially & Environmentally Responsible Apparel with Nicole Broesch, Fern+Daisy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 57:32


    Welcome to episode 46 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm joined in conversation by Nicole Broesch, a fashion designer & founder of Fern & Daisy, based in Appalachia, USA. Her experience within the large brand fast fashion industry, left her grappling with the disconnect between her desire for sustainability both at an environmental & social level & the detrimental impacts of the industry she loved. Determined to find a better way she launched her own ethical clothing brand, which makes some truly beautiful garments designed to last so they can be cherished for years. Whilst discussing some of the difficulties within the fashion industry including the huge amount of waste throughout the supply chain, Nicole offered some fantastic & easy steps we can all consider as consumers to help reduce the environmental impact of fashion. From explaining some of the more sustainable textiles & fibres that the clothes we buy can be made from, to some easy tips for caring for your existing clothes that can help increase their longevity.Woven through our conversation & into the DNA of her business is Nicole's deep connection to Appalachia & the hardships the communities here have faced, including the more recent impacts from opioids. She is committed to supporting her community & is a beautiful reminder to us all to lay down our judgement, step into compassion & find ways to uplift those around us. Learn more about Nicole: Nicole Riggs Broesch, founder and designer of fern+daisy, weaves her passion for ethical fashion & community upliftment into every garment. With an eight year career in apparel design as a small town girl from rural Central Appalachia America, she has merged her love for her community, the planet, fashion, & marginalized women. Fern+daisy, born in 2020, creates sustainably made pieces that empower both wearers & makers, reviving ethical practices with timeless style. Inspired by her grandmothers, Mamaw Fern & Mamaw Daisy, Nicole honors their legacy in every creation. Finally back in the mountains of Tennessee, she finds solace in slow mornings, coffee on the porch, & outdoor adventures. As an artist, mentor,  & nature enthusiast, Nicole embodies the spirit of fern+daisy—where style meets purpose.Website: https://www.fernanddaisy.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fernanddaisy/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fernanddaisySupporting Community: https://www.fernanddaisy.com/pinnacle-pledgeLinen: https://www.fernanddaisy.com/post/linen-fabricCare For Your Clothes: https://www.fernanddaisy.com/post/extend-the-life-of-your-wardrobe-the-clothing-care-handbookSupport the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Embracing the Gifts from Getting Outside Daily with Amy Bushatz, Humans Outside

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2024 48:15


    Welcome to episode 45 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm joined in conversation by Amy from the Humans Outside podcast. In this beautiful conversation Amy shares her unorthodox journey of embracing nature, & how even when you don't particularly consider yourself outdoorsy, it's still possible to head outside. We talk about how she has taught herself to cultivate a relationship with the outdoors, even when it felt uncomfortable & challenging. Whilst we are now more regularly told of the benefits to our health & mental wellbeing that being outside in nature can offer, Amy shares the benefits she has experienced personally from an increase in creativity to feeling more resilient emotionally, & having better relationships as a result, to some surprising ones like being more organised in daily life & even feeling more productive. From committing to her own daily outdoor practice, she has gone on to inspire many more people to make their own leaps into embracing a more outdoorsy lifestyle through her Humans Outside 365 challenge & her Humans Outside Podcast.This is a truly inspiring episode, as Amy offers up so much wisdom but with a full on dose of humour & humility, sharing the highs & lows of spending 20 mins outside everyday for the last 2,400 days! From finding yourself a regular sit spot, to simply being reminded that we sometimes wouldn't see things unless we are actually looking for them, like the Aurora Borealis / Northern lights, to just a gentle reminder that we need to make choices in our lives as to what we want to prioritise so that we make time for it, rather than hoping to find time for it. We both hope that our chat leaves you inspired to commit to being outside more & we would both love to hear from you, so make sure to follow us both on social media & share & tag us as you develop your own daily outdoor routines.  Learn more about AmyAmy Bushatz is the host and producer of the Humans Outside podcast. Based in Palmer, Alaska, Amy has built a lifestyle around spending time in nature every day, no matter the weather, and encourages listeners to do the same. Amy works full time in local journalism, enjoys ultra running across her local mountains in the summer, cross-country skiing in the winter and plotting new outdoor adventures.Listen to Humans Outside Podcast: https://humansoutside.com/podcasts/Join The Humans Outside Challenge: https://humansoutside.com/challenge/Website:  https://humansoutside.com/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/humansoutsideFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/humansoutsideShared Books: Local: A search for nearby nature and wilderness - Alastair HumphreysSupport the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Sacred Activism: Healing through The Gaia Mandala with Cynthia Jurs, Summoned By The Earth: Becoming A Holy Vessel for Healing Our World

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 74:19


    Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Cynthia Jurs, author of Summoned By The Earth: Becoming a Holy Vessel For Healing Our World.Like many of us, Cynthia found herself witnessing the suffering of the earth & felt the deep longing to help & the urgent question, “What can I do, how can I bring healing to the Earth?” Her incredible book, documents the unfolding of her journey.In this beautiful conversation we explore the wisdom that she has gathered from her pilgrimage, that began with a Tibetan Lama in the Himalayas and has traversed the earth, embracing & being welcomed by diverse cultures & in co-creation with many treasured Indigenous Elders, who have generously shared their own wisdom traditions. She shares the stories of some of the Earth Treasure Vases from being joined by the Whales in Mexico whilst offering healing after a Hurricane, to Mali & Liberia where people were finding their way to healing their collective trauma after a difficult civil war & the incredible experience connecting to the Nilotic Meridian in South Africa & Egypt. We dive into the often underestimated power of Intention & our need to act from a place of love. How we must learn to step outside the paradigm that created the world we currently witness & find courage to lean into the radical act to stop, set down the fear & urgency & drop into our true nature of deep caring, love & connection, allowing the space for the powerful co-creation of what will be, to rise, free of our expectation & attachment. Sacred Activism is the radical act that may just be the key to open the door within us, that we have all been searching for. The Earth is calling us all and we all have our roles to play. Make sure you stay to the end of the episode so you can join us in meditation & pour your loving intention for healing into the Gaia Mandala to become a healing force for good in our world.Learn more about CynthiaCynthia Jurs became a dharma teacher (Dharmacharya) in the Order of Interbeing of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and in 2018, was made an honorary lama in the Vajrayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in recognition of her dedication in carrying out the Earth Treasure Vase practice. Inspired by thirty years of pilgrimage into diverse communities and ecosystems, today Cynthia is forging a new path of dharma in service to Gaia—a path deeply rooted in the feminine, honoring indigenous cultures, and devoted to collective awakening. Cynthia leads meditations, retreats, courses, and pilgrimages to support the emergence of a global community of engaged and embodied sacred activists. Website:  www.GaiaMandala.netFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthtreasurevase.orgInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/cynthiajurs/Summoned By The Earth: https://www.summonedbytheearth.org/Support the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Chocolate that Tastes Good & Does Good with Mara Mennicken, The GOOD Chocolatier

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 72:49


    Welcome to episode 43 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Mara Mennicken, founder of The Good Chocolatier based in Vancouver, Canada. As a not so secret chocolate lover I was really excited to speak with Mara about her amazing craft chocolate business.Whilst there's plenty of chocolate chat, this fascinating conversation delivered so much more. Mara is an absolute inspiration & doesn't just talk the talk but is walking the walk to show that a different vision for business can & should be a reality. She is incredibly passionate about the power of social enterprises & the importance of social sustainability in business & how this is sadly often not as frequently considered as it should be. Despite being a small company she has embraced working with marginalised groups, including adapting roles & work environments to allow neurodivergent staff to thrive in her business.We talk about supply chains, human rights, changing the world closer to home, connecting to our food supply, fair prices for farmers & even some of the tools that can help us as consumers to make ethical choices for both people & the environment, including FairTrade & B-Corp.My conversation with Mara filled me with so much hope & inspiration around how business can truly be a significant force for good in our world & how as consumers we can help to shape this impact too.Learn more about MaraHi, my name is Mara. I started the GOOD Chocolatier out of a need for a true feel-good chocolate and a desire for a world where a quality product doesn't come at the cost of other people or the environment. That's why our chocolate contributes to a healthier YOU, a healthier planet, and more equity in the labour market. I hope that you feel the GOOD in every bite! :)Website:  https://thegoodchocolatier.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thegoodchocolatierLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-mennicken-24609469/Mara's TEDex Talk: https://youtu.be/PsZ50MlXCMc?si=rpYRz8pEjxgOwe1yThe Cacao Crisis: https://thegoodchocolatier.com/news/navigating-the-cacao-crisis/New Summer Flavours: https://thegoodchocolatier.com/product/60-cardamom-latte/https://thegoodchocolatier.com/product/80-thyme-basil-lime/ Other Useful Links:B-corp: https://www.bcorporation.net/Fair Trade: https://www.fairtrade.net/Support the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    The Way Our Souls Speak; Sound Healing and Singing with Lilli Badcock, Sing to Heal

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 59:25


    Welcome to episode 42 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Lilli Badcock, a singer and sound reiki master based in Salisbury in the UK.During this fascinating conversation Lilli shares her love for the incredible power of singing, which she beautifully describes as the way our soul gets to speak. Her journey through her own challenges including anxiety, grief and depression, lead her to more deeply explore sound healing, which she has now combined with her background in music and song through her company Sing to Heal. We explore how sound frequency, singing and vocalisations are an important part of our bodies ability to self-sooth and help us to regulate our nervous system allowing us to cope with Life's challenges. Utilising singing in the space of community has some added benefits for allowing us to co-regulate and process what we need to let go of. This conversation is also packed full of Lilli's beautiful heartfelt wisdom about life; she shares how we could all benefit from letting go of our expectations about how we think life should be, whilst challenging the meaning we give to events and the stories we are choosing to tell ourselves, remembering it is a choice to be empowered, to believe in yourself and to develop awareness of where you are putting your energy and focus. Life is always going to give us challenges, we need to find the ways that allow us to thrive in spite of the challenges we face.Learn more about LilliLilli is a professional Singer, Vocal Coach and Sound Reiki Master who helps to ignite more passion, joy and purpose into the lives of busy professionals and business owners with her unique fusion of traditional singing and ancient sound healing principals.Lilli is the founder of her own company Sing To Heal Ltd and host of two podcasts, The Confidence Academy and Let's Talk About Woo.She is passionate about getting spiritual and holistic practices into the lives of more people so they can learn to support and empower themselves as they navigate life's challenges.Website:  https://www.singtoheal.co.ukFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/singtohealInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sing_to_healOther Useful Links:Amanda Frances: https://amandafrances.com/Support the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    How to Live as our Hearts break for Mother Earth with Leah Rampy, Earth & Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 65:15


    Welcome to episode 41 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Leah Rampy, author of the recently released book Earth and Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos.In Leah I found a kindred spirit, someone who has a deep love, respect & friendship for Mother Earth & all the beings we share our world with. Her beautiful book, is a sign post to hope for all of us, that emerged as she herself grappled with the question: How do those of us who care about the Earth live in these times? How do we navigate our collective grief without being consumed & losing our way?   Leah provides a narrative of gentle remembering, of not turning away from our dear friend, Mother Earth during her suffering, but of coming together to bear witness with open hearts, to hold each other as we move through these difficult edge times, finding ways to keep going through the uncertainty, to take each step slowly as we pick up the threads to help weave a new vision for the Earth. We explore ways to hold our grief, during these times of unraveling, from seeking company to remembering to embrace Awe & Wonder, through practices like the Celtic 5 Stringed Harp & the mindset of the pilgrim in communion with the land. Leah encourages us to value these threshold times, finding sanctuary in the discernment of cultivating deep listening, as we remember that a different relationship with nature is possible. Learn more about LeahAfter giving numerous presentations on the dangers of impending climate change, Leah Rampy became convinced that something was missing from the conversations. With experience as a teacher, professor, corporate and nonprofit executive, and leadership consultant, she began a decades-long journey to understand what lies beneath our unwillingness to change our interactions with the natural world. Her growing commitment to reweaving soul and Earth has been informed by leading over a dozen pilgrimages and many more retreats, extensive reading and research, her contemplative practice, and the wisdom of the living world. Leah lives in a cohousing community in Shepherdstown, WV, with her husband David. They have two adult children.Website:  https://www.leahmoranrampy.com Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/leahrampy/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahrampy/Other Useful Links:Robin Wall Kimmerer - Braiding Sweetgrass - https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/Joanna Macy - https://www.joannamacy.net/Centre For Spirituality in Nature - https://www.centerforspiritualityinnature.org/Christine Valters Paintner - https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/about-christineSupport the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    A Forest Education: The Natural Advantage with Ricardo Sierra, Forest Educator Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 73:10


    Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Ricardo Sierra, who has dedicated his life to working in the wilderness skills & nature educator space.With mainstream education systems coming under increasing pressure, the systemic issues can no longer be ignored, necessity is now forcing a change of perspective, with this an awareness of the benefits for children of being part of nature and forest school education programs has been gaining momentum and credibility.  Despite our rapidly changing society and the increasing focus on technology and the skills associated with it, Ricardo strongly believes that helping children forge a foundational relationship with nature and the skills you can learn in the wilderness will always be beneficial, providing a natural advantage both during childhood and throughout our adult lives. With demands increasing on both children and educators we also touch on the rising levels of anxiety amongst children and how having these skills and a relationship with nature can be incredibly important, supporting better mental and physical health as well as providing a sense of safety and security to cope with challenging times.We discuss ways that parents and extended families can help offer these opportunities to their children, and the importance of community in sharing skills and support. In our hustle culture we are being conditioned to expect things to be easy, to find the hack, and look for the shortcut but in doing so we are focusing on outcomes without apprenticing the rewards on the path.We so often want to change the world and think that it is done in the biggest of gestures, when really it's in the small acts of kindness that the seeds of positive change can germinate. Learn more about RicardoRicardo Sierra is the host of The Forest Educator Podcast, a wilderness skills and nature educator with over 35 years of experience working with children, teens, adults, families, educators and organizations. He is a TEDx Speaker, a conference presenter and training facilitator who works with schools and organizations to train staff and incorporate nature at all levels for students of all ages.  He is the creator of The Forest Box for Kids, a monthly nature craft subscription box that helps families and children get outside and begin building an authentic relationship to the natural world.Website: https://www.foresteducator.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_forest_educator_podcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RicardohawkSierraMonthly Nature Education Activities: https://www.theforestboxforkids.com/Hawk Circle Wilderness Education: https://www.hawkcircle.com/Support the Show.Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Earth Day Special: Believing It's Possible; How Roasting Coffee is Planting Trees with Nick Scaturro, Wooden Journey

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 49:20


    On this Earth Day special I'm delighted to be joined by Nick, who founded his business Wooden Journey 5 yrs ago on Earth Day. Earth Day, is an annual celebration on the 22nd April that brings together people from around the world to celebrate the Earth & share their commitments to support the environment. My conversation with Nick was the perfect way to celebrate the intention of this day. Nick is one of those beautiful, kind, compassionate & inspiring people, who's courage, enthusiasm & passion is both infectious & impactful & I hope that hearing his story will leave you all feeling re-invigorated & empowered to know that it's a lot easier than you think to be part of the solution, to help bring to life the vision of a better future where we return to right relationship with the earth & the positive news outweighs the bad.Nick had an experience we will all relate to, feeling a sense of profound despair due to the state of the environment, that left him with the question, what can I do? He took this question & from it sprung an amazing idea, to find a way to have an impact & that allowed others to join him on the journey. Alongside his friend, working in their spare time & on a bootstrap budget, they taught themselves to roast coffee & created several speciality roasts from Organic, Fair Trade beans. With the profits from the sales of their coffee they invest in restoring the earth, supporting tree planting organisations & other wildlife initiatives, their impact is already tangible.Nick is a wonderful example of Active Hope in action & reminds us that there is power in following your dreams, not giving up even when it feels insurmountable & never doubting  that it is possible for you to make a difference.Learn more about Nick:Nick is the founder of Wooden Journey and is a coffee roaster, specializing in Fair Trade, Organic coffee with a portion of his sales going towards both reforestation and conservation movements with the organizations that he has partnered with. Nick has a humble beginning at the start of his journey. As he started learning about all of the terrible things happening globally on the planet we all call home, he had a very empty feeling he has said he'll never forget. It all started there on his journey to make it accessible to someone to stand behind his mission and cause for people that felt the same way that may know how to help. To date, he is proud to have already planted over 35,000 trees and fully conserved 200+ acres of wildlife habitat.Website:  www.woodenjourney.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodenjourney/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodenjourneyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mywoodenjourney/Other Useful Links: Earth Day: https://www.earthday.org/Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Bowen Therapy - Get Rid of the Issues in Your Tissues with Angie, Balance & Energise Bowen Therapy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 53:48


    Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the amazing Angie, a Bowen Therapist from Adelaide, Australia. If you've never heard of Bowen therapy than join us to explore how it can help you “get rid of the issues in your tissues”. This gentle yet powerful modality, is suitable for all from babies to older people & even animals, has an incredible relationship in supporting the fascia in the body. Fascia is a remarkable web-like tissue that interconnects organs, muscles & more, but it is only more recently that science is starting to understand it's importance to the functioning of our bodies & helping us to understand the true power of healing modalities like Bowen Therapy. Angie is passionate about the mind & body connection, working with the root of an issue rather than just the symptoms, she supports her practice with essential oils, understanding of meridians, muscle testing & the importance of hydration. We also explore how stress & trauma affect the nervous system & how Bowen therapy helps to give the body space to reset & feel safe, whilst also helping alleviate physical pain which can shift us back into the parasympathetic nervous system or “rest & digest”, opening up space for the releasing of stored emotions. She reminds us of the importance of caring for ourselves. She isn't here to “fix” you but to support you  to feel empowered in remembering who you are & what you are truly capable of, a gentle reminder to simply Believe in yourself. Learn more about Angie:Angie is a passionate Bowen therapist based in Adelaide, South Australia. Bowen therapy, is a gentle yet powerful technique that stimulates the body's innate healing mechanisms. At Balance and Energise Bowen Therapy, I integrate the use of essential oils to enhance the therapeutic experience, tapping into the profound link between emotions and physical well-being. My goal is to help individuals achieve holistic wellness by addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of their ailments. By incorporating Bowen therapy and essential oils into their healing journey, clients experience relief from pain and gain a deeper understanding of the emotional factors influencing their health.Website: www.balanceandenergisebowen.com.auFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BalanceAndEnergiseBowenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/balanceandenergisebowenOther Useful Links:Barbara O' Neill - Self Heal by Design - Celtic Sea Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlliAiLgTooDr Gabor Maté - When the Body Says No. https://drgabormate.com/Dr Joe Dispenza - https://drjoedispenza.com/Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Why you shouldn't dismiss Homeopathy & how this surprising medical field is a powerful Ally for people, plants & animals, with Eugenie Kruger, Homeopathy Hangout.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 54:44


    Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Eugenie Kruger, a Homeopath & host of the Homeopathy Hangout Podcast from Perth, Australia. In this inspiring episode we dive into the fascinating world of homeopathy, a medical modality that has been in existence for over 200 years & is currently utilised by over 1/2 a billion people worldwide. In this fun & informative chat Eugenie shares how homeopathy helps us approach health & wellbeing in a different more empowering way; getting curious about symptoms & what they can teach us rather than simply suppressing them. We explore how science is helping explain the power of homeopathy, including how amazing people like Vada Austin, are unlocking the secret intelligence of water & the impact this has on understanding the potency of homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy offers support to the entire family, including pregnant mothers, new born babies, animals & even plants, it helps in first aid situations & chronic long-term conditions. If you've previously dismissed Homeopathy, please listen to this conversation with an open mind & delve into some of the incredible resources in the links below & hopefully you'll consider utilising the incredible support of homeopathy going forwards. Learn more about Eugenie Kruger: Eugenie is a Homeopath on a mission – to empower families with the knowledge of using homeopathy in their home to treat various acute & first aid situations. Homeopathic medicine is a natural, safe & effective medicine that has been used for over 200 years & used by over 500 million people worldwide. Eugenie works tirelessly to promote homeopathy through her podcast – Homeopathy Hangout – which is in the top 1.5% of podcasts worldwide https://www.eugeniekruger.com/homeopathy-hangout-podcast.  Eugenie also produces beautiful homeopathic kits and single and combination remedies which her clinic posts worldwide and can be purchased online. To learn the basics of Homeopathy in 30 minutes, check our Eugenie's introduction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqBUpxO4pZQ&feature=youtu.be Eugenie has a very busy clinic in Stoneville, Perth, with 6 part time staff & 5 Homeopaths on her team. Website: www.eugeniekruger.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eugeniekrugerhomeopathyOther Links:https://justonedropfilm.com/thefilm/https://magicpillsmovie.com/https://introducinghomeopathy.com/ Homeopathy Research Institute: https://www.hri-research.org/Amma Resonance Healing Foundation: https://arhf.nl/https://homeopathyforhealthinafrica.org/Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Exploring the intersection between Trauma, the Climate Crisis and Effective Activism with Meridyth Driskill, Easy Wonderful Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 62:30


    Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Meridyth Driskill.  This is a conversation that truly everyone needs to hear, you might at first think Trauma doesn't apply to you, but think again, this may be the piece of the puzzle we've all been missing. In this thought-provoking conversation, Meredith & I discuss the fascinating topic of Trauma at the intersection of the climate crisis & eco-activism; we explore nervous system regulation & the impact of fight/flight/freeze. Learning to understand this natural reflex, your body's innate safety system, will affect not just you but also the people around you & society as a whole & has huge consequences for how effective we can be at facilitating the changes that will create a happier, healthier society where nature is truly nurtured.Meredith has so much wisdom to share, critically reminding us that what is “common” isn't automatically “normal”. She encourages us to seek new levels of tolerance & kindness towards ourselves, replacing our harsh inner judgement with curiosity & our criticism with compassion and regularly returns to the idea that whilst it may be simple it is not always easy to embody. This was such an incredible topic that Meredith & I will be sharing another conversation very soon.Learn more about Meridyth: A card-carrying member of the trauma club turned purpose-driven healer, I discovered my life's mission through the crucible of my own pain. After a radical personal transformation, I devoted 7 years to delving into the intricacies of the subconscious mind, energy dynamics, emotions, the body-mind connection, & the profound impact of trauma.Certified in Reiki, somatics, parts work, Somatic Activated Healing™, Human Design, & trauma releasing bodywork, I've cultivated a unique approach that merges ancient wisdom with modern healing modalities. My transformative journey laid the foundation for a powerful process I share with my clients, rooted in three pillars: Safety, Connection, and Fulfillment.At the core of my practice is nervous system work; an essential compass guiding individuals toward healing. Through a blend of emotional de-repression, boundary reclamation, & fostering authentic expression, my clients experience profound shifts in their lives.I truly believe that every woman on this planet has magic & medicine to share with the world, & that the world will be a better place when we can fully own our power. When powerful women heal their wounds, I believe every human on earth can be fed, clothed, & hugged. We have the power to end generational trauma & create a new reality. Website: https://www.easywonderfullife.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meridythdriskillOther Useful Links:Dr Gabor Maté - When the Body Says No.Support the showThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Daring to Hope with Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 71:04


    Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland. Having dedicated her life to exploring how eco-activism can be weaved into artistic practice in an effort to facilitate societal change. She draws on myth, indigenous wisdom & collaborations with science through a lens of current events, utilising story-telling, song & poetry to convey powerful messages that speak straight to our souls. We discuss the impact of eco-anxiety, low grade fear & complex PTSD that is affecting so many of us who are deeply connected to the environment, & how importantly we need not be blinded by the popular climate doomerism, because when we look beyond this narrative we discover millions of people around the world already doing amazing things. Elizabeth poignantly encourages us to not falter or give-up, but to remember that the story is still being written, the ending is not yet determined, that we all have the ability to engage in “Active Hope” & come together with collective strength to reframe how we vision ourselves into the world & forge new ways that nurture the earth.Learn more about ElizabethElizabeth is a writer, theatre maker & arts educator whose career over the last forty years has evolved at the intersection of arts &activism. She has long had a passion for communicating with the animate world that began in childhood high up in the arms of an old weeping willow.Fast forward sixty years. Elizabeth is offered a writing residency at the Joggins Fossil Institute, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the mighty Bay of Fundy. She jumps at the chance to connect/converse with 300 million-year-old-rock, to go to Stone as supplicant, to fully engage with sea & sand & sky & winged helpers to deepen her connection to the living world.What emerged was a narrative of the odyssey in poetic form, "Daring to Hope at the Cliff's Edge: Pangea's Dream Remembered". Music journalist, Nick Starring says of the this work: “Lyrical, bewildering, heartening, a& unsettling, this work sees an individual voice reckoning with the overwhelming complexity of our present moment.”Elizabeth lives in Hamilton, Ontario with her composer husband, Beverly Glenn-Copeland.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnlythroughartWebsite: http://www.elizabethcopeland.ca/Purchase 'Daring to Hope...': https://chapelstreeteditions.com/book-catagories/poetry/daring-to-hope-at-the-cliffs-edge/Rock Poem: https://nsadvocate.org/2021/06/26/rock-a-poem-by-elizabeth-glenn-copeland/Listen to Beverly Glenn-Copeland's music: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnwmuje1H7edkx3vK47ysrQThank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us & join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    How Herbal medicine can support modern lives with Meghan Rhodes - Rhodes Roots and Remedies

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2024 60:06


    Welcome to episode 34 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Meghan, a herbalist based in Yorkshire in the UK.In this inspiring conversation Meghan shares how her fascination with herbal medicine began when trying to find a solution for her own long term health issues. She reminds us that symptoms are simply messages from our body, an opportunity for us to listen and pay attention, and not something to be feared. Having studied both western herbal medicine and Ayurveda her nurturing approach to embracing herbal wisdom in your life, encourages us to trace the messages back, and what you will normally discover is one of just a handful of core imbalances that can then be addressed. We delve into the amazing benefits of utilising herbs and she reminds us that our relationship with herbs should be approached in a similar way to a relationship with other people, moving beyond simply what someone can do for us to understanding the intricate levels of their unique personality. Through it all Meghan offers the most important guidance that now more than ever we need to foster our skills of discernment to make healthier choices for both ourselves and are natural world, to which we are inextricably linked. Learn more about MeghanMeghan Rhodes is a qualified herbalist who has helped over 90 people start living herbalism, making healthier, safer solutions for themselves and their families a reality. As the founder of Rhodes Roots & Remedies, she has written 10 course books, authored the books Easy Herbal Remedies for Infants and Slow-Infused Self-Care, and developed a unique four season sense-based herbalism course and journey, Awaken Herbal Wisdom.Meghan's practice of herbalism is rooted in the belief that we must remember, reclaim and relearn our knowledge of our bodies, our autonomy and how to work with plant medicine in order to bring control of our own health back into our families and homes for a sustainable future for ourselves and the planet.Meghan is a member of both the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy and the Ayurvedic Professionals Association.Awaken Herbal Wisdom - Meghan's intensive herbalism course - enrolling annually - Find our more and get on the waiting list here: bit.ly/3JsKIAq or DM Meghan the word ACCESS for the link.Exploring one of the seven tastes - Exclusive access - https://bit.ly/47vdbQsWebsite: https://www.rhodesrootsandremedies.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhodesrootsandremediesThank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Cultivating a Mindful and Sustainable Lifestyle with Philomène, A touch of Creativity to Change Everything

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 64:38


    Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Phiomène. We discuss her passion for cultivating a more mindful & sustainable lifestyle. She shares how her journey has been inspired by her love of creativity & her insights on embracing the seasons to shape our lives, creating awareness for the wisdom they bring, including her love of slowing down & cozying up in winter. Our conversation meanders through a shared vision for supporting women & our communities to consider ways of growing in a new direction, redefining our current paradigm. From looking at where we source our food to the  wisdom the journey of homeschooling her children has given her, we consider the role of education & the space for co-creation that is available when we give value to everyone's voices. Philomène shares a gentle reminder that it's ok: we don't have to be perfect or do everything & in each small step we take, the seeds of the next step germinate if we have the courage to slow down & be patient with ourselves & others. Learn more about Philomène:Philomène is a passionate advocate for slow living, gracefully navigating the intricate tapestry of family, career & the pursuit of a healthy, eco-conscious lifestyle.Currently calling a quaintly renovated farm in rural Brittany home, Philomène's journey has woven through the vibrant cities of Bristol & London in the UK, the artistic landscape of Paris in France, & the eclectic charm of Berkeley in California.Drawn from profound inspiration gathered along her diverse path, Philomène is on a dedicated mission to live & consume more mindfully, actively working to minimize her environmental footprint.Committed to the philosophy of sharing knowledge & fostering support, Philomène has established a membership platform to empower women in transforming their daily lives & perspectives. Her vision is to guide members in leading lives that are not just sustainable but also joyously creative, where thriving & wholeness take center stage.When not tending her garden, doing pottery, knitting, or concocting culinary delights, Philomène dedicates her time to homeschooling her 2 children. Education, curiosity, & creativity form the core of the values she instills in her sons. She firmly believes in nurturing strong bonds with nature, hopeful that these mindful children of today will blossom into responsible nature-loving adults, committed to caring for our precious planet.Get the Beautiful Free Gift: Easy Nature-Based Activities to do with Kids Booklet: https://creativitytochangeeverything.com/easynaturebasedactivitiesWebsite: https://creativitytochangeeverything.com/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivingtogetherwomenscircleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativitytochangeeverything/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Gardening For Nature with Claire Leadbitter, Irish Forest Garden

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2024 61:15


    Welcome to episode 32 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Claire from the Irish Forest Garden. Claire is an incredible force for nature, having been friends with Mary Reynolds, the inspirational Chelsea award winning landscape designer for many years. In 2014 Claire and her family worked with Mary to bring the Forest Garden from her book the Garden Awakening to life on a small disused 1/8 acre paddock. This was the start of their incredible journey embracing their responsibility to become true guardians of the earth, no longer fighting against nature but working in harmony to nurture all creatures both rooted and un-rooted. As both Mary, Claire and her family's vision has evolved so too has their approach and most recently they have expanded beyond the forest garden to embrace ARKing and offering up even more land to nurturing the native flora and fauna.During this magical and laughter filled conversation, Claire takes us along on their journey from the challenges of starting at below zero in a nature depleted couch-grass filled landscape to the highs of seeing their hard work literally bare fruit and witnessing the myriad of creatures that have benefitted during their beautiful journey of co-creation with the earth. We share our mutual hopes as we acknowledge the changes that have occurred in our lifetime and how discussions around nature are seeping into the reality of more people. Claire imparts two profoundly simple but empowering pieces of wisdom for us all to embrace: Before doing something, always pause and ask Why? And Just Do It, no matter how small the action may feel, just make the decision at the start of this new year to just do something and take that first step to becoming part of the solution, you will surprised at how quickly nature steps into the spaces we make for her. Learn more about ClaireI'm Claire Leadbitter and I'm sharing about our Forest Garden and ARK designs here in Wexford, Ireland which were inspired by Mary Reynolds and her books The Garden Awakening and We Are the ARK.  Trying for a gentle, organic approach to living with the land under our care, to feed ourselves and creating as much habitat as possible for native flora and fauna.Website: www.irishforestgarden.ieInstagram: www.instagram.com/irishforestgardenOther Useful Links:Mary Reynolds - https://marymary.ie/We Are The Ark - https://wearetheark.org/Books The Garden Awakening: Designs to nurture our land and ourselves - Mary ReynoldsWe Are the ARK: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness - Mary ReynoldsThank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Sacred Sisterhood with Lucy Wylde, Medicine Woman Gathering

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024 43:43


    Welcome to episode 31 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Lucy, the founder of the medicine woman gathering and a musician based in East Devon in the UK. We are living in a time that is calling woman to reconnect with themselves and the natural world and come together through sisterhood, community and ceremony to re-establish the balance of reciprocity and communion with the land and each other. Having always felt a connection with the natural world and found inspiration from Mother Earth in her singing and song writing, Lucy shares what inspired her to create a gathering that honours the idea that we are all medicine woman. Based near Glastonbury the gathering is a place where the ancient Celtic wisdom of this sacred land weaves with modern ideas and creates space for us to move into right relationship with the earth and honour our calling as her protectors.The medicine woman gathering is now in it's second year and will be held in July 2024 so there is still time for you to get involved.  It is a place where woman and children come together to witness each other and open a beautiful portal of energy for transformation. From the sharing of ancient skills to a concert by the voices of the wild feminine, this years event will create a powerful container to honour the collective grief of our world and offer strength to the wild woman to gently awaken and return to their roots, reconnected to their innate wisdom.   Learn more about LucyLucy Wylde, Founder of Medicine Woman has a multitude of assets that she is bringing forth to be more in service to this world. Lucy has spent the last 3 years dedicated to sisterhood, the arts and nature. Supporting women through her work to come home to themselves, fully in their sovereignty through what she has learnt through her own life workings. Growing up in East Devon, Lucy has always felt a deep connection to nature and the beauty and reciprocity that comes when we tune into our Mother Earth. Nature and the animal kingdom were Lucy's ally's through a traumatic upbringing. Bridging a world of modern and ancient teachings, Lucy is here to guide the way that can bring us back into balance through deep connection to ourselves, each other and all that surrounds us. Website: www.medicinewomangathering.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/Medicine.woman.gatheringWant to attend the event in 2024 use the special discount code for our listeners: NURTURE20Which will gift you 20% off their full ticket price.Find Lucy's Music:Spotify: Lucy WyldeInstagram: www.Instagram.com/lucywyldemusicYoutube: youtube.com/lucywyldeOther Useful Links:Robin Wall Kimmerer - Braiding Sweetgrass Sharon Blackie - The Enchanted LifeThank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Thank you for the Journey - Remembering Gratitude, Grace and Reciprocity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2024 18:37


    Welcome to episode 30 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm taking some time to offer up my gratitude to you my beautiful community and to reflect on our amazing journey a year into our Nurtured By Nature story and to remember some of the incredible wisdom that we have shared with all the amazing guests who have offered us their stories so far.Whilst reminiscing on some of my favourite moments, I'm reminded of some of the common threads that have woven their way into many of our conversations: The importance of community and what we can achieve when we come together (of course that includes not just our human world but our non-human communities too). The fact that we aren't powerless, that as consumers we have incredible power to support those businesses that are holding nature at the centre of their business decisions, that we don't have to wait for the legislation from governments to make the change, in fact my conversation with Jessica Brennan was a wonderful example of how the legislation often follows the change rather than proceeding it. And perhaps most importantly to embrace the power of love for healing ourselves and our world, and remembering to give ourselves and those around us the benefit of grace, knowing that most people want to help and do good, but that no-one is perfect and we are all clumsily simply doing the best we can to make the world a little better, day by day.Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    The Science of Smell with Lucy, Hedgewitch Essentials Ltd

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2024 68:13


    I'm delighted to be joined by Lucy the founder of Hedgewitch Essentials.  Whilst we often think about what we put in our bodies, how often do we think about the scents & smells we are exposed to? Lucy shares her passion for the science of smell, the therapeutic properties of essential oils & how this lead to the formation of her own products for both horses & humans. We also delve into the challenges of running a small business, delivering quality essential oil based products that preserve their true therapeutic properties.  We share how embracing self-selection & the use of essential oils, empowered our horses, giving us a new way to communicate & transformed our relationships, whilst also helping them resolve both emotional & physical symptoms. Having overcome some incredible challenges, not least a severe brain injury, Lucy reminds us to have hope, look for the silver lining & the opportunities that may arise. Learn more about LucyLucy always had a strong connection with the land being a farmer's daughter. With a B.Sc. Hons in Agriculture, she began her working life as an agronomist, advising farmers on their crops & soil management. She later combined a love of writing with farming, becoming an agricultural journalist & magazine editor.Her connection with horses also began at a young age & it was the feeling of helplessness when knowing they were ‘not quite right' – that led her to alternative therapies, & in particular animal aromatherapy – which has since become known as animal pharmacognosy. After a severe traumatic brain injury in 2017, life changed considerably for Lucy but it allowed her to follow her dreams & become an equine pharmacognosy practitioner with Caroline Ingraham. The training involved learning about the pharmacology & biochemistry of essential oils & it was this that sparked the founding of Hedgewitch Essentials Ltd, with her partner Mike.Hedgewitch recognised that the therapeutic properties of species-appropriate essential oils could be enormously beneficial to the wider population of horses. It was a tough decision because the first rule when offering essential oils to horses to self-medicate is to allow them the freedom to move away – to give them a choice. With the use of essential oils growing in horse care products, Lucy wanted to create a natural range, based on the oils horses would select themselves for certain conditions. Importantly, she wanted to make sure that these were pedantically & sustainably sourced because the quality of the oils is paramount when using them therapeutically – both for the health of the horse & to be effective. Website: https://www.hedgewitchessentials.co.ukFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hedgewitchessentials/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hedgewitchessentials/Other Links:Caroline Ingraham: https://www.carolineingraham.com/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Awakening Resilience: Embracing the power of Diversity with Lucy Ní hAodhagáin / O'Hagan, Wild Awake Ireland

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2024 56:53


    Welcome to episode 28 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Lucy Ní hAodhagáin / O'Hagan the founder of Wild Awake Ireland. Lucy is quite simply one of the most kind hearted, intriguing and inspiring people I have had the pleasure to meet. During our conversation she shares her journey which is beautifully woven with her love of nature. A relationship that began from a need for sanctuary from the challenges of life and has blossomed into a life where she consciously awakens a deeper relationship with the world rooted in reciprocity, reverence and responsibility in both her own life but also the experiences of the many people she works with and guides to their own remembering. Our conversation gently meanders through her wisdom of ancestral skills, ceremonial rites of passage and wildlife tracking and the richness these threads can bring to the tapestry of life. We also hold space for the grief and pain so many of us are experiencing in this time and celebrate the importance of looking to the richness and resilience to be found in the edges, so we can move away from polarisation towards embracing the incredible diversity of voices in  our own communities and in the natural world. Lucy offers up the sacred invitation to deeply listen, and witness each others stories, to find the courage to sit with the questions and challenges of our time and dream into the new world that we believe is possible, whilst remembering to trust that most people have good intentions and truly want to do something to help. Learn more about LucyLucy Ní hAodhagáin / O'Hagan (They/She) is the founder and director of Wild Awake Ireland, a project which seeks to rekindle ancestral life ways for cultural and ecological resilience across the island of Ireland. Lucy is passionate about supporting people to re-establish connection with themselves, their communities and to nature, of which we are a part. Lucy is particularly interested in rewilding and rekindling the knowledge and skills we once knew so intimately, which connect us to place.Lucy's interests range from ethnobotany to wildlife tracking, ancestral skills to restoring rites of passage. All while leaning into the ways in which we can collectively decolonise our relationship to the land and ourselves and be in reciprocity with life. Lucy is happiest when outside, following the trails of deer across the landscape and nibbling on what nature has to offer. Website: https://www.wildawake.ie/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildawakeireland/Other Useful Links:Lynx Vilden - https://www.lynxvilden.com/John Rhyder - Wood Craft School - https://www.woodcraftschool.co.uk/Rupert Marquez - Hand On The Earth - https://www.handontheearth.org/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Discovering Nature's Frequencies with Jackie Winters, British Academy of Crystal Healing

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 66:57


    Welcome to episode 27 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the fabulous Jackie Winters of the British Academy of Crystal Healing. During this inspiring episode, Jackie shares how her own health challenges with severe Asthma, lead to her delving into the fascinating world of frequencies & how crystals are able to support the restoration of harmony in the natural frequencies of our bodies. Wisdom from a neolithic rock in the Spanish mountains leads us to consider the use of language in reconnecting with ancient wisdom & through taking in the lay of the land, we explore how lay lines, nodes & sacred sites recognised by our ancestors provide us places to reconnect to reenergise ourselves. Jackie shares surprising examples of how harnessing this energy can have profound benefits for ourselves & also in helping to heal the land, environment & our own communities.At a time when we are bombarded by negative stories about the natural world, which are inducing many heavy emotions in all of us, we discuss the importance of intention & needing awareness of the emotions we are holding & carrying into our actions, as these unintended frequencies leave their own imprint on the land & our environment. With compassion & the support of crystals we can learn to return to & hold the frequency of love in our hearts, which can allow us to be of even greater service in being the change we want to see in this world. Learn more about Jackie Winters FM BACHJackie is an FHT Accredited Course Provider and the founder of the British Academy of Crystal Healing (est. 2004). With 5-star ratings from numerous students, the academy is renowned as a leading authority in crystal healing and energy medicine. Jackie is also author of Messages from Mother Earth Divination Cards Volume 1 & 2 and has a successful free podcast that attracts regular listeners from the UK and around the world.The Academy warmly welcomes students globally, offering online tutor-led sessions. Jackie's 40 years of research into energy medicine and crystal healing are evident in her inexhaustible knowledge. As a Shaman at heart, she provides retreats and guidance on Shamanic lifestyle, with a remarkable connection to the mineral kingdom and energy wisdom.Website: https://www.britishacademyofcrystalhealing.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britishacademyofcrystalhealing/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.britishacademyofcrystalhealing.co.ukCrystal Lightworkers Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/crystal-lightworkers-podcast-to-aid-spirituality-and/id1605621976Podcast:https://www.britishacademyofcrystalhealing.com/podcast/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    The Incredible Power of ReWilding with Helen Neave, Make It Wild

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2023 61:40


    Welcome to episode 26 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the wonderful Helen Neave of Make it Wild.Large Landscape level Rewilding projects are gaining momentum across the UK & Europe, but Make It Wild are taking a slightly different approach, demonstrating Rewilding is possible & scalable for those with less land. Helen's amazing journey provides those of us that care about nature with inspiration & many reasons to be hopeful. We explore how her own concern about the biodiversity crisis, lead to her family deciding they were determined to do something to make a difference. From this humble beginning an incredible ecosystem has evolved encompassing trees, meadows, wetlands & equally importantly local communities, their army of volunteers & numerous other passionate people supporting them in a multitude of ways, that has created an explosion in biodiversity. In just over 10 years, they've demonstrated how nature can bounce back, to the extent 1 of their sites has now been designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. As a beautiful reminder that change doesn't have to be complicated, Helen offers this simple wisdom to guide us all: “Love Nature & She'll Love You Back”!Learn more about Helen & Make It WildHelen, a retired consultant surgeon, has always been passionate about nature. As she & her husband, Chris, learnt more about the challenges facing nature, they decided they must do their bit to help & in 2011 they bought 26 acres as a family project to ‘give back to nature'.  They planted thousands of trees, sowed wild flower seeds, dug ponds & installed habitat boxes. The resulting explosion in biodiversity was stunning and inspired the couple to set up their business ‘Make it Wild' in 2017. With the mission statement “It's not our aim to protect nature, it's our purpose” the business exists to support biodiversity.  Make it Wild now looks after 9 sites in North Yorkshire, UK, totalling over 400 acres, all managed entirely for nature. They've planted 60,000 trees, restored wildflower meadows & wetland, protected ancient woodland, & rewilded uplands, helped by their conservation grazing team of Belted Galloway cows & Exmoor ponies. They offer a range of nature sponsorship and dedication opportunities to businesses and individuals; carbon offsetting through tree planting; woodland wellbeing activities, and an eco-friendly holiday cottage.  In February 2023 Make it Wild were awarded the Sustainability Award in the Hambleton Business Awards, and in September 2023 Helen and Chris were proud and excited to win a BBC Make a Difference Award for their work with Make it Wild.Website: www.makeitwild.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitwildukFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeitwilderTikTok: @make.it.wildStay at Make It Wild in their eco-friendly holiday cottage: https://www.makeitwild.co.uk/heather-lThank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Earth Song - Reverence and Sacred Reciprocity with Eleja SunStar, Sanctuary of Sophia

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2023 61:26


    Welcome to episode 25 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the incredible Eleja SunStar of the Sanctuary of Sophia and a beautiful little Aminita mushroom who also had some words of wisdom to share with us all. In this inspiring episode Eleja shares her amazing journey from a workaholic in the busy world of corporate marketing and event planning, who reached a place of burnout before finally taking the leap to leave her hectic life to follow the nudges of her deep knowing that there was more to life. Since then her life has magically unfolded, through sacred pilgrimages to connect with her own ancestral roots and her shamanistic calling to connect her more deeply with her sacred relationship with nature and Mother Earth. We discuss the simple but profound experience available to all of us by finding the courage to claim what's calling your heart and how a beautiful army of beings, equipped with their ancient nurturing wisdom in the form of plants, trees and wild creatures are patiently waiting for the opportunity to be heard so that they can guide and assist us once more. We explore the indigenous wisdom of our lands and the need for reverence in our relationships with nature and a remembering of sacred reciprocity towards Gaia. But mostly we are urged by the Fae to remember the magic that connects us all and in attuning with the earth we are being asked to bring our love and the healing sound of joy and laughter to the world at this time.Learn more about ElejaEleja is a Sophianic Medicine Woman, Divine Feminine Transformation Guide and Plant Medicine Oracle devoted to empowering rising Oracles, Priestesses, Medicine Women and Divine Feminine Leaders of the New Earth.She is the Founder and Cosmic Earth Mother of Sanctuary of Sophia, A New Earth Sisterhood. She leads ascending women on transformative journeys resurrecting their medicine & soul's gifts, aligning them with their highest timeline through Ancient Sophianic Oracle Arts & transformational embodiment practices to support their divine mission.Website: https://sanctuaryofsophia.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanctuaryofsophia/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elejasunstar/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Empowering Consumers to buy products that are healthier for them and the planet, with Jessica Brennan, Clean Product Junkie

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2023 56:05


    Welcome to episode 24 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the amazing Jessica Brennan of Clean Product Junkie & the Clean Living Made Easy Podcast. In this informative & inspiring conversation Jessica shares some simple steps to help us make better choices for our own health & that of the planet when we buy beauty & household products. She shares with me her truly amazing journey from being a concerned mum making choices to help her young children overcome chronic disease, to recently becoming part of a panel advising legislators in America creating the new guidelines to improve product safety. She's incredibly passionate about how powerful consumers actually are & how it is our duty & responsibility to vote with our dollars too elicit the changes we want to see. Reminding us that we truly are more powerful than we at first imagine.With a staggering 80,000 chemicals having been introduced to the marketplace since World War II & the fairly unregulated manufacturing & labelling of both home products & those for beauty & skincare, plus numerous studies showing that many ingredients can be detrimental to our health & cause damage to our environment, we both believe that empowering consumers with the education they need to allow them to make safer, healthier choices is imperative.Learn more about JessicaJessica Brennan is committed to transforming the way you think about beauty and skincare. She is a passionate advocate for health and well-being and her mission is to empower consumers to make safer, smarter choices in beauty products. With firsthand experience navigating the often misleading 'natural' labels, Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge and personal understanding to the table.After discovering that even products labeled 'natural' could contain harmful ingredients linked to asthma, eczema, known carcinogens and hormone disrupters, Jessica took it upon herself to become an expert in the field & founded her company, Clean Product Junkie. Armed with research and a commitment to transparency, she aims to shed light on the murky, underregulated world of the beauty industry.Through workshops, consultations, and educational content, she focuses on demystifying ingredient lists, highlighting trustworthy brands, and celebrating legislative wins that make our products safer. Whether you're new to clean beauty or a seasoned enthusiast, Jess offers invaluable insights and practical tips to help you take control of your beauty regimen—without compromising your health. Website: www.cleanproductjunkie.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/cleanproductjunkie Home Detox 101 Free Workshop: www.Cleanproductjunkie.Com/homedetox101 Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    The Healing Power of Horses, with Holly Mitchell, Wild Healing Hearts

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2023 47:29


    Welcome to episode 23 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the sensational Holly Mitchell, a Transformative Coach & Equine Guided Educator based in Gloucestershire, UK. My love of horses is certainly no secret so I was delighted that in this week's inspiring episode I got to speak with Holly, who shares her amazing journey & how her calling to be around horses came to her later in life. We delve into the incredible wisdom that “Being” in the presence of horses has brought into both our lives. How sitting in a space with her herd, you slowly unwind & begin to hear the whispers of your own innate wisdom, as well as that of nature & the interconnectedness of the world around you, offering you the chance to learn to trust how you can be guided by your heart in challenging times towards what feels good, even if your logical mind might be trying to convince you that on paper it doesn't make sense.We also discuss the fascinating research from the HeartMath institute, studying the affects of heart coherence & how the resonance of being around horses in particular can be so beneficial to us. Through it all we are reminded of the importance of community, both human & non-human & how having hope is so important in how we show up & experience life & the impacts we can have. If you're looking for a new way of being & finding resilience then Equine Guided work might just be the missing piece of your puzzle.Learn more about HollySince a child, Holly loved being in nature.  Looking back, it was a place she could play and connect to herself.  There was an oak tree in her family's woodland that she spent hours around its' big grand branches, doing lord knows what.  Getting lost!  Holly was raised most of her life on a farm in the Cotswolds, where she now lives with her husband, six horses and Henry, the standard poodle.  As a creative, Holly pursued many artistic professions in her career-life.  It began early in film and theatre, and later as a freelance photographer, but it was curiosity in her own psychology of mind and that desire to ‘fix herself' that led her through various spiritual teachings.In 2015, after years of struggle trying to get it right, she stumbled across a teaching that truly awoke her to something she had not seen before.  That at our core we are never broken and always OK.  The understanding, known as the Three Principles, touches lives all over the world and it's simplicity in words was profound.  It opened up an understanding about herself that has allowed her to let go of many beliefs and be more of her humanness and ride life instead of trying to drive it.  The learning and layers to be pealed are ongoing. This is the discovery of life.Today along with her small herd, in a bubble of nature's English countryside, her desire is to help others point them back to the truth of who they are, providing a space to settle down and connect to their infinite wisdom and beautiful possibilities. Website: www.wildhealinghearts.co.ukThank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Giving A Voice To Nature In Business, with Polly Hearsey, Rewild Your Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2023 61:04


    Welcome to episode 22 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the amazing Polly Hearsey. Polly is a business mentor with a masters degree in environmental science and a background in nature conservation, together we embark on a fascinating and inspiring conversation delving into the empowering concept that Governmental Policy doesn't change culture, but rather it is culture that ultimately dictates policy. We reflect on the phase shift for humanity that is needed, and how by learning to actively listen to nature and engage her principles for eco-system health we can shape businesses capable of offering a way to heal our greatest collective wound. As Martha Beck says “Change will come from the ground up”, with this in mind we explore how small and medium size businesses will play a key role in the grass roots movement to shift our current negative environmental narrative. Polly's vision, utilising a move away from the societal predisposition towards linear thinking, to an understanding of the interconnected complex-web that creates conditions to thrive, sees Rewilded businesses incorporate ideas for diversity and collaboration over competition, allowing them to be actively engaged in nature and their communities, with their environmental and social responsibilities ingrained at every level, as a fundamental part of their core DNA. Learn more about PollyPolly Hearsey is a nature-inspired design mentor working with the energies at the heart of each enterprise to create truly conscious and forward thinking ventures. She believes businesses can be a big part of the solution to our current challenges if we shift perspective. The changes we need to make include a different relationship with nature. If we choose to stop and listen, she believes nature can help us create new ways of living and working in harmony with our natural environment and business can be rewilded.Website: https://pollyhearsey.co.ukOther Useful Links from this Episode: Knepp Estate, Rewilding Pioneers: https://knepp.co.ukMartha Beck: The Pyramid and The Pool, Why Things Are Better Than They Seem: https://youtu.be/Xz9IJMMWP4M?siThank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Finding Courage to Face Challenging Times with Anaiya Sophia - Les Contes

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 62:49


    Welcome to episode 21 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the amazing Anaiya from Les Contes in the French Pyrenees.  During our beautiful heartfelt conversation we discuss the courage we are all being called to bring forth to navigate the challenges of our times & how the wisdom held in the land & handed down through myth, fairytale & the archetype of the shepherdess can offer comfort by reminding us of the cyclic nature of the natural world. We meander through the landscapes that have inspired Anaiya's life & explore ways to navigate our fears, whilst quietly honouring those who have suffered for speaking out against the status quo & held the responsibility for lightening a path for others to follow. We give thanks to the trees, including the 300 year old Sycamore at Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall for their sacrifice & remember how little Percy & our animal companions can bring immense joy to our journey in this life.Learn more about Anaiya Sophia & Les Contes:Anaiya is a Writer, Mythologist, Somatic Movement Minister & Whisperer of Sacred Wisdom. Her highly acclaimed books, courses, transmissions & workshops focus on the development of the mythic imagination & on the relevance of myths, fairy tales & folk traditions to the personal, cultural & environmental problems we face today.Her work, springs from an irresistible intimacy with the land, which is rooted in the myths & stories of place & a detailed knowledge of the physical & historical environment. She is currently working on Mary Magdalene's Audio Guide to the South of France, an evocative and expressive partnering with the mythic imagination & the land itself. Anaiya leads workshops in Sacred Body Awakening throughout Europe & North America. Her home with her husband & mother is in the mountains of the Cathar region in Southern France, where they have taken on an almighty project – the restoration of an old Catholic summer house for children: Les Contes, a B & B at the base of Montsegur. Les Contes is a truly extraordinary place with an astonishing healing presence & is often said to be a catalyst for making important decisions.Here you will find the Notre Dame de Sophia, a chapel consecrated to the Holy Spirit and the good works of Mary Magdalene, La Source de Belisama, Le Jardin d'Eden (Permaculture Project & Food Forest), The Mary Path (a mystical trail through the land), The Red Rose Cafe, the Apothecary of Body Ritual's (Sacred Spa) & Animal Sanctuary. Website: www.lescontes.euFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lescontesBandBWebsite: www.aletheiapistissophia.comDon't Forget to tune into Season 2 of “Help! We Bought A Village” to watch more tales of Anaiya & her family's journey creating a home and sanctuary at Les Contes. https://www.facebook.com/helpweboughtavillageThank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Regenerative Systems for Farming and Business With Caroline Mason, Seeds to Thrive

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 56:23


    Welcome to episode 20 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the inspiring Caroline Mason from Seeds to Thrive.  During our beautiful conversation we delve into the concepts of regenerative farming, from the perspective of food systems and how these regenerative systems can offer resilience to the unpredictability of our current climate. Despite the challenges of a society institutionalised to think and operate in silos, Caroline is passionate about viewing businesses as functioning ecosystems and helping them to create the space for collaborative thinking, by empowering people to become curious and get involved in the co-creation of the solutions that need to be implemented.  Together we share our hope and excitement for the future by looking to the local heroes, who have quietly been part of a growing grassroots movement, that is refusing to waste time waiting for governmental directives to tackle the challenges our environment faces, but simply getting on and implementing their own positive solutions to create a brighter future where both people and nature can thrive. Learn more about CarolineCaroline Mason is a founder, advisor, coach and speaker living in the beautiful countryside of Shropshire.  Having grown up in a farming family, being surrounded and connected to nature and horses, has always been her place of calm, beauty, and peace, a balancer to the white noise of modern day living.  Having spent nearly two decades working in large corporate organisations within the food system, Caroline decided she wanted to do more, and so founded Seeds To Thrive, an advisory business specialising in working with business and people across the food system to help them accelerate their sustainability ambitions and dreams.  She believes that if we can figure out ways that will enable nature and people to thrive, prosperously in harmony with each other, it will change the course of the world for better, because thriving businesses support thriving communities.Caroline loves to take on challenges that others won't and is passionate about living her personal values through her work; fostering sustainability, effecting positive change, nurturing people's happiness, and fighting to make the world a better place. She believes in giving back as much as we get and is excited to continually share her knowledge and experience with others - whilst aware she will never stop learning herself.Website: https://www.seedstothrive.com/LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/caroline-mason-seeds-to-thriveTwitter: @Mason14CarolineEmail: hello@seestothrive.comThank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Simple Ideas for a Sustainable Lifestyle with Amy Fagan, Grounded In Maine Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2023 52:11


    Welcome to episode 19 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the fabulous Amy Fagan of the Grounded in Maine Podcast. During this inspiring episode Amy shares her journey towards homesteading. Offering us simple ideas for living a more sustainable lifestyle; from preserving homegrown foods to the community networks that reduce waste by sharing and swapping what we produce with others when they need it. We also explore how podcasting has impacted our lives and given us the opportunity to connect with some amazing everyday heroes, who are making positive changes in the world. Sharing their passion and wisdom with the beautiful communities our podcasts attract, we are able to spread and inspire hope for the future of the natural world. Learn more about Amy FaganAmy Fagan is the owner and jam maker of Amy's Garden Jam, and host of weekly sustainability podcast, Grounded in Maine Podcast. Grounded in Maine is an open conversation about how we show up for the world; learning about different ways we can practice sustainability by talking to people who are doing it.Amy lives with her husband, rescue dog, 2 cats and chickens, and works in medical records for a healthcare organization. Amy also has been a volunteer gardener for 5 years for a local farm that grows organic produce solely to donate to food pantries, loves gardening and cooking and animals.Listen to Grounded In Maine Podcast: https://www.groundedinmaine.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundedinmainepodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GroundedinmaineWebsite: https://amysgardenjam.com/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Learning to Belong. How story can connect us to an inspiring future with Erica Wheeler, Sense of Place Consulting

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 56:35


    Welcome to episode 18 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the sensational Erica Wheeler of Sense of Place Consulting.  During this inspiring episode we discuss how many of us will find ourselves feeling out of place and uprooted at some point during our lives and why connection to the world around us is so important and how by finding a way to belong we can allow the ancestry of the places we inhabit to weave their magical stories into our own unique tapestries of life. We also challenge the concept of utilising negativity to evoke responsibility and explore the power of story to build the bridges of connection in our search for meaning that help leave a lasting imprint and inspire love and the reasons to care. From my own experience I know it's very easy to feel depressed by the negative dialogues we are constantly bombarded by but Erica's wisdom is simple yet profound: “Ask yourself, does it make it better living in despair? Don't complicate it your only job is to tune into love and express this…”Learn more about EricaErica Wheeler is an award-winning singer-songwriter, a TEDx speaker, a professional development trainer and a creative mentor. As an interpretive skills trainer, she works with museums, parks, and historic sites across the US – helping staff boost their storytelling skills and hone visitor engagement techniques. She has worked extensively with the National Park and has supported 45+ sites to date. As a keynote speaker, she often talks about tourism, a sense of place, stewardship and storytelling. As a musician, she has 6 CDs to her credit. Her music has charted in the top ten on Billboard's Gavin's Americana Chart, and she has been interviewed on NPR's All Things Considered. Erica also runs creative writing workshops and retreats. Her framework centers around using a “sense of place” as the gateway to creativity, curiosity, belonging and identity. Throughout her career, she has helped people find and craft the stories they have inside them. Her work is dedicated to helping people find deep personal connections to places so that both people and places can thrive.Website: https://senseofplaceconsulting.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericawheelerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericawheelerofficial/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Listen to Your Body. You are not Crazy! with Amy Stein of Mind Body Spirit Breath

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 53:05


    Welcome to episode 17 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the amazing Amy of Mind, Body, Spirit, Breath. Amy is a herbalist, energy medicine educator & trauma-informed breathwork coach based in America.  During this inspiring episode Amy shares her powerful renegade story of how she eventually learnt to tune into her body's messages & the innate wisdom of Mother Earth to heal herself from the extreme pain that had left her bedridden. Despite a society that conditions us to give our power away, Amy explains that it is never too late to learn to trust your body & offers the powerful reminder to us all, that “You are NOT Broken”!Learn more about Amy SteinAmy's mission is to educate and empower those who are struggling with their health on how to reconnect to their bodies' innate intelligence using Mother Nature as a guide. She finds that when we awaken to our inner light and wisdom we can sync the mind with the body and spirit. Amy combines the “power of the plants” along with energy medicine techniques and breathwork to allow you to live in harmony in your body and environment as your authentic self. Website: https://www.mindbodyspiritbreath.com/Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VioletsBewitchingFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/381761643253110Free eBook for NBNP listeners: https://bit.ly/3h9pQ5QOther useful links from this episode:Bruce Lipton - The Biology of Belief: https://www.brucelipton.com/ Yasmin Boland - Moonology: https://www.yasminboland.com/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Wildlife Photography, Safaris and Conservation with Bobby-Jo Vial, Bobby-Jo Safaris

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2023 53:58


    Welcome to episode 16 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the incredible Bobby-Jo Vial. Based in Australia, Bobby-Jo is an award winning wildlife photographer and the chief Honey-Badger at Bobby-Jo Safaris. In this inspiring episode we swap stories around our shared love of Africa and Wildlife safaris. Discuss how ethical tourism and Wildlife Photography can provide hope and important support for conservation, whilst sharing some of the incredible grass roots conservation organisations that we have both had the privilege to work with first hand and see the huge contributions they are making to protecting both wildlife and wild places, including the amazing Kope Lion Project. But of course no conversation with Bobby-Jo would be complete without asking ourselves “What Would Honey Badger Do?”Learn more about Bobby-Jo and how to join her on safari.Bobby-Jo's passion is photography. Bobby-Jo's laid-back approach and bubbly personality see many people loving to travel with her and rebooking time and again on her next safari adventure and she has inspired many people to take an interest in wildlife and conservation. As a qualified zoo-keeper her extraordinary perception and insight into animal behaviour in the wild enables her clients to capture unique and endearing images. Bobby-Jo sees photography as a slice of your life, a drop of your time. Her hope is to freeze those moments that mean the most to her clients. Taking pictures is savouring life intensely, every hundredth of a second. Because you want to remember forever.Her images have featured in publications around the world including: The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Times, The New York Post, Huffington Post, Paris Match, Hello Magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Africa Geographic. Her opus ‘Reflections of Elephants' was published in August 2016 coinciding with World Elephant Day. This book features many of her favourite elephant images and raises funds for the protection of some of the last Tuskers of Africa via her work as part of The Askari Project (www.theaskariproject.org). Bobby-Jo is also a team member of the Kope Lion Conservation initiative in Ngorongoro, Tanzania (www.kopelion.org)Website: http://bobbyjosafaris.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bobbyjosafaris/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bobbyjosafarisOther useful links from this episode:Virunga National Park: https://virunga.org/The Thin Green Line: https://thingreenline.org.uk/Giraffe Conservation Foundation: https://giraffeconservation.org/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Foraged Food and Earth Wisdom with Lucy Cuzzocrea, Wild Roots Foraging

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023 48:14


    Welcome to episode 15 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the incredible Lucy Cuzzocrea. Lucy is the the force behind Wild Roots Foraging. In this inspiring episode we discuss our need to reconnect with what Lucy fondly calls “Earth wisdom”. We explore our mutual love and respect for the weeds, our native wildflowers that are beneficial not only to our own health but the intrinsic health of our desperately struggling ecosystems. She shares her incredible 10 year journey that has seen her transform her own health through foraging and how she has gone on to find ways to share this wisdom and bring community and support into the lives of countless Wild Women and Wild Men.Learn more about Lucy and find out about joining her community: I am a forager, activist, sustainable food grower, creative, mother, and wife, living in the beautiful countryside of North East England. I was raised in Middlesbrough, one of the most socially deprived areas in the whole country, and have many experiences of how poverty and trauma can effect those who live in areas like ours. As I matured into my adult years, I started to question the systems we rely on and why food didn't simply grow everywhere, for free. I studied Graphic Design at uni and learned about capitalism, consumerism and globalisation and the huge detrimental impact it is having on both people and planet. Ever since, I have been trying to do my bit to reverse that damage and change my little area of society for the better. And this is where Wild Roots Foraging was born. I feel passionately that good quality, nutritious food, is a human right and should and can be free. So, I now make it my mission to reconnect as many people as possible with this lost knowledge, in order to empower them to take charge of their own health and sustenance, as well as the health of the planet.Wild Roots Foraging is all about helping people reconnect with the earth, their community and with themselves, through the forgotten, ancient practices of our ancestors. My goal is to reclaim what has been forgotten in the hope of helping people find the healing that is needed, for both people and planet.Website: https://wildrootsforaging.co.uk/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wild_roots_foraging/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wildrootsforagingFacebook Groups: Wild Roots - Wild Women (Women Only)- https://www.facebook.com/groups/732435000825751Wild Roots Gatherings (anyone) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/289107325579340Other useful links from this episode:The Association of Foragers: https://foragers-association.org/Wild Men Circles: https://wildrootsforaging.co.uk/wild-men/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

    Forest Therapy with Lindsey Death, Dorset Forest Bathing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2023 58:51


    Welcome to episode 14 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast. Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by the lovely Lindsey Death. Lindsey is the owner of Dorset Forest Bathing and has a passion for making the natural world accessible and enjoyable for everyone. During this inspiring episode we dived into the the fascinating science-based practice of Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku), that originated in Japan, & no you don't need a swim suit to give it a try yourself. I make no secret of my love of trees but I was fascinated to learn of the myriad of benefits to our health and wellbeing that we experience when we spend time amongst these beautiful beings. With stories of her children and her own childhood Lindsey, Importantly reminds us to approach nature with a sense of Awe and childlike wonder and enthusiasm, whilst sharing some simple forest bathing techniques for us all to try. Learn more about Lindsey and find out about joining a forest bathing session with her: Lindsey runs Dorset Forest Bathing, leading mindfulness in nature and nature connection events across Dorset and beyond. She has a background in conservation, and a passion for making the natural world accessible and enjoyable to all, teaching straightforward practical tips to takeaway and improve her clients overall wellbeing on a day to day basis. She has a particular interest in perinatal mental health, and lives in north Dorset with her partner and two young childrenWebsite: www.dorsetforestbathing.co.ukInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/dorset_forest_bathing/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Dorset-Forest-Bathing-218245886179148Other useful links from this episode:Institute of Forest Bathing: https://tfb.institute/Nature and Therapy UK: https://natureandtherapy.co.uk/Awe Walks: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/well/move/an-awe-walk-might-do-wonders-for-your-well-being.htmlThousand Hours Outdoor Challenge: https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, please Subscribe to make sure you don't miss our future episodes, and share with your friends to help these messages ripple out across the world. More information about the Nurtured by Nature Podcast and our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography WebsiteConnect with us and join the conversation on social media:Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotographyFacebook @FionaMacKayPhotographyTwitter @FiMacKay

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