The Mason Taylor Show

In this special interview Mason shares a deep conversation with one of his greatest inspirations in work and in life, Stephen Harrod Buhner. Stephen's work in herbalism, heart perception, plant medicine, earth poetry, Lyme's disease, bacterial intelligence and more, has reignited the journey's of many into the indescribable "imaginal" realm that plant enthusiasts, artists and adventures throughout time have known well. In this chat Stephen invites us to reach beyond a reductionistic mental approach to life that our Western culture insists upon and "trains" us for, to discover and dance with the wild non linear spaces that lay within. Mason and Stephen touch on many beautiful topics ranging from wild terrain medicine, herbal antibiotics and the effect of pharmaceuticals on the planet. Delving into the mystical and empowering realm that is driven by feeling, the place where we can start to develop a deep relationship with the planet and the plants that help us to heal. Stephen's books and work are transformational, and we cannot recommend them highly enough! Among Mason's favourites are:    Plant Intelligence And The Imaginal Realms The Lost Language Of Plants The Secret Teachings Of Plants Sacred And Herbal Healing Beers.   Who is Stephen Harrod Buhner ? Stephen Harrod Buhner is a interdisciplinary, independent scholar, polymath, Fellow of Schumacher College UK and head researcher for the Foundation for Gaian Studies. Stephen is an extraordinary human who, like many (if not all), cannot be summed up in a simple paragraph, to read more about the universe that is Stephen Harrod Buhner, please see his extensive bio here.   Resources: Stephen's Website Stephen's Books Stephen's Articles The Foundation For Gaian Studies

In today's episode. Mason and George go deep into what is happening in the world right now.   Who is George Kavassilas? George Kavassilas is an author, mentor, and public speaker. George has had a lifetime of experiences beyond the ordinary, encountering a wide spectrum of expressions of life both Inter-Dimensional and Extra-Terrestrial in nature. As a consequence, he went through a process of reconciling the knowledge and wisdom gained from these experiences and came to realise a natural responsibility to share what he has learned with our global community. George now embodies a limitless passion in addressing life’s primordial questions: “Who are we? Where do we come from? and What are we doing here?” George knows his life path includes a focus to expose all levels of deception, no matter how far they go. He carries a deep-seated sense of responsibility to help liberate our Humanity from all forms of imposing doctrine and dogma, without exception - be they Earthly or even Cosmic in nature.   Resources: George's website To contact George Superwoo Radio (George's Podcast) Our Universal Journey (George's Book) Transcending The God Matrix with George Kavassilas (EP#119)

In today's podcast the terrific trio, Mason, Dan and Sage, come together to talk all things adrenal health. The boys address the concept of adrenal fatigue and what that term has come to embody in today's society.   The gents discuss: -Adrenal fatigue and deficiency. -The role of adrenal health in day to day function. -The concept of Jing essence and how that effects our adrenal health. -Just how important adrenal health is in keeping the rest of the body in harmony and balance. -The role of the 'fight or flight' response and how that has changed from primitive times to now. -Stress and fatigue related disorders. -The hormone interplay that occurs when the adrenals are taxed. -Indicators of 'adrenal fatigue', tissue cortisol vs salivary cortisol. -HPA (hypothalamic pituitary adrenal) disfunction. -Adrenal health and lifestyle design. -The importance of cortisol in keeping inflammation in check. -The power of 'walk about' in healing. -Reprogramming the nervous system and the significance of sleep. -Switching from 'active' to 'passive' exercise to aid adrenal health. -A take away quote from this epic chat: "The sage would adopt any life imposed on him without recrimination or remorse, without losing his good humour and contentment because his intimate being possesses the means to communicate with the organisation of the world in such a way that wealth, honour, leisure or their opposites are incapable of affecting the power of his soul."  -huainanzi   Resources: SuperFeast Podcast: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/tagged/podcast  

Today Mason and Dr. Nat Kringoudis discuss the missing link in reproductive health - the fact that our youngsters are not being appropriately educated in this field. Dr. Nat is extremely passionate about empowering the young and educating our children, rather than letting them find their way in the big, bad online world. They explore the skills that a care giver can incorporate into their repertoire to hold space for these conversations around fertility, reproductive health, sex and everything in between. Dr. Nat raises the point that, from a young age, we are told narratives around most sexual, reproductive and gender-specific body functions. But why? For example, why do we tell our youngsters that babies are delivered by a stork? Tune in to today's episode to explore how we can begin to redefine the sexual education of our teens, for healthier generations to come.    You will hear about: -How normalising sexual / reproductive facts with kid's is a really proactive preventative measure to educate the future generations -30% of teens are googling reproductive health; let's shift their first experience from the online forum, to a face to face age-appropriate conversation -The stress around infertility tends to overtake any structural or physiological fertility issues -Synthetic hormonal birth control (like the pill) mask any underlying symptoms -Kids observe and absorb; we need to make sure we are educated and empowered to lead by example -If you suffer from PCOS, intermittent fasting can be a game changer -The biggest hormonal issues stem from stress -Try aligning to the feeling you want, rather than the goal -How synthetic birth control may encourage infertility -STD's can have devastating long-term fertility effects -Hormonal issues are normal until around age 18 for females -How condoms and barrier methods should be non-negotiable for teens   Resources: SuperFeast Podcast: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/tagged/podcast  

In today's podcast the boys come together to discuss candida overgrowth, its frequency within the population, the varied symptomatology associated with this common yeast-like infection and the strategies you can use to bring the body back into balance. Mason, Dan and Sage draw on their superior knowledge of this condition from personal experience, sharing their wisdom from a traditional Taoist tonic herbal perspective and a functional naturopathic approach.   The gents discuss: The fact that Candida albicans is a naturally occurring organism within the body and only becomes problematic when imbalance occurs. How chronic use of antibiotics can contribute to the condition. How diet and lifestyle practices can help to bring things back into harmony. The common symptoms that candida overgrowth is present, e.g. chronic fatigue, brain fog, digestive disturbances, weakened immunity, oral thrush, fungal infections within the the skin and nails etc. The particular clinical tests you can use to investigate and diagnose candida within your body. How you can use your symptoms and health history to identify whether candida is a problem for you. Foods that aggravate the immune system and exacerbate candida overgrowth. The importance of food combining in regards to candida. Candida from a naturopathic perspective and the clinical markers used to identify the condition. The importance of normalising the body's circadian rhythms and adrenal response is in regards to healing. Candida from a Taoist perspective and what's happening within the organ systems, particularly the spleen. How candida leads to Jing depletion and exhaustion within the system as a whole. The correlation between candida and leaky gut. The Jing herbs you can use to rebuild your foundational energy stores, these include he shou wu, cordyceps, rehmannia, morinda etc. The importance of lifestyle factors such as sleep, rest, breathing practices, nature time and reduced caffeine and sugar intake to bring combat candida overgrowth. The lifestyle tweaks you can use to bring the body back into its parasympathetic mode so you can heal. Reishi and Ashwagandha are game changers here. How cutting carbs and sugar can help manage candida symptoms Using fats (ketones) as fuel. How herbs such as pau d'arco, chaga and reishi can assist healing. The benefits of probiotics and fermented foods such as sauerkraut and coconut kefir. The Body Ecology Diet. The importance of sunshine and vitamin D, sweat and movement. The herbs and nutraceuticals you can use to break up stubborn biofilms. The importance of supporting the liver with herbs such as schizandra / schisandra, burdock and dandelion root and st mary's thistle.  The importance of full body detoxification in healing from candida overgrowth The three phases of liver detoxification and the nutrients your body needs to successfully complete them. The immune boosting powers of medicinal mushrooms when healing from candida, particularly chaga, reishi, turkey tail, maitake, Mason's Mushrooms The difference between ground dwelling mushrooms and those that grow on trees e.g medicinal mushrooms. Bringing awareness around the glycemic load of gluten free products when working to heal candida overgrowth. The tests you can use to distinguish candida from other bacterial loads within the body, particularly the OAT (organic acids test).   Resources: SuperFeast Podcast: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/tagged/podcast  

Today Tahnee chats to Susun Weed (often misspelt Susan Weed), the grandmother of herbs. Susun is a true wise, wild elder, a wonderful story-teller and exposes women to ideas outside of the mainstream. Susun attended the School of Life, and is passionate about everything to do with women, health and herbs. Tahnee and Susun discuss standing in your power regarding your reproductive rights, feminism versus being female and how there are no guarantees in life - we just have to do the best that we can. The ladies chat about empowering women to get back to their intuitive wisdom, via the ancient botanical system. You guys are going to love this one!   You will hear about: -Susun's view on lying to your health care practitioner about your last moon cycle, to ensure your unborn baby is not induced! -The true history of blue for boys, pink for girls (who knew?!) -How Susun makes herbal infusions -How potent nettle can be for women -How all minerals are not created equal -How comfrey can help prevent pregnancy stretch marks -Mammograms and how they may not be the best measure for breast cancer -Phytoestrogens versus phytosterols -How standardisation of herbs is detrimental to the botanicals properties -Bio-individuality means herbs can have different effects on us   Resources: SuperFeast Podcast: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/tagged/podcast SuperFeast Stance on Standardisation

Today, Sage Dammers (tonic herbalist and master chocolatier) and Mason cover everything you need to know about the newest addition to the SuperFeast apothecary, ashwagandha! The guys dive deep into the lore and traditions behind this Ayurvedic herb. The countless benefits of this calming adaptogen range from dialling down the stress response, nourishing the nervous system, balancing hormones and providing reproductive system support. And plenty more. A botanical which is an aphrodisiac, that's not overly stimulating, that is also a nervine?! What! A! Herb!   "Ashwagandha really is the herb for modern times" - Sage Dammers     In today's episode, you will hear about: -Up to 15 clinical applications have been thoroughly researched for ashwagandha -Traditionally a 'muscle, marrow and semen' builder and supporter -Regrows damaged synapses in the brain from heavy metal toxicity -Provides the sexual energy and vigour of a horse  -The ultimate rejuvenating herb for the elderly, kids and everyone in between -Small doses are incredibly effective, more is not always better -Stimulates blood production in the body, may be good for vegetarians / vegans who need blood building support -Need to build blood? Try SuperFeast Deer Antler and SuperFeast Ashwagandha  -When starting with ashwagandha, if you are in a rebuilding stage, give it time to rebuild. Then the rejuvenating effect will kick in -Slightly heating and drying herb and helps to move water Qi by supporting spleen function -Positive effect on male fertility via the decrease in stress and increase in adaptability (results in healthier sperm and hormone levels) -A cortisol-dependant state can be positively balanced by ashwagandha  -Helps to balance blood sugar -Also a powerful fertility enhancer for women via balancing of hormones Resources: SuperFeast Podcast: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/tagged/podcast BUY Ashwagandha Root Extract Powder

In today's Women Series episode, Tahnee chats with Dr. Lara Briden who is on a mission to empower women to reclaim their menstrual cycles. Dr. Lara refers to women's monthly cycles as their monthly report card and how ovulation is a vital sign of health. The ladies discuss how ovulation is so much more than just making a baby. Even though PMS and infertility are normalised in the Western world, Dr. Lara breaks it down that these symptoms are not healthy nor necessary. Hormonal birth control options are discussed and the ladies dive into the difference between PCOS and hypothalamic amenorrhea. To help empower women gaining confidence and knowledge about their cycles Dr. Lara shares methods to track ovulation and tips on dietary lifestyles to feel vital and healthy as a woman.   The Ladies Discuss: -Without ovulation, there is technically no cycle -PCOS sufferers often experience anovulatory cycles (a bleed, without ovulation) -Did you know a regular cycle occurs every 21-35 days? -Tips to track ovulation include cervical mucous and basal body temperatures -Fertile mucous looks like raw egg-white and is a sign of estrogen -When you are on the Pill, you will not produce fertile mucous -A blood test looking at progesterone is risky as progesterone fluctuates throughout the cycle -The idea that the Pill supports fertility is a myth; it shrinks the ovaries and may bring on menopause earlier -Hormonal birth control essentially induces a menopausal state -It takes 12 years (TWELVE!) for a female's hormonal systems to fully mature -Younger girls can often successfully treat period issues with anti-inflammatory foods and being dairy-free -How a vegan diet can pose severe challenges for women's hormone health Resources: SuperFeast Podcast: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/tagged/podcast  

Part 2 to the epic first pregnancy preparation episode. If you haven't listened yet to Part 1, check it out here. This mammoth episode sees Mason and Tahnee diving deep into the practices, philosophy, diet and herbalism that went into creating the year in which Tahnee was childbearing little Aiya. This podcast was recorded during the first week of bubba's life, so the sharing experience of the birth is fresh; something Tahnee was wishing to be able to infuse into this intimate sharing of how she chose to approach nourishing her body during pregnancy. We have received such amazing feedback from these two episodes and with such amazing sharings, we had to revisit them! Here’s what Mason and Tahnee dive into (with much more extensive notes shared below): -Pregnancy and home birth plans -How did Tahnee know? -We found out at four weeks, basically I was very aware that something was different in my body!! We’d both felt the baby come in November, and exactly three months later we were pregnant, and I’ve heard that’s common -Pregnancy diet -we don’t follow a dietary plan, more intuitive -generally vegetarian, though we do include meat in our diet, probably once or twice a week: fish, buffalo, occasionally organic chicken and beef, other wild meats (rabbit, goat, boar), broths/stocks -more mindful of eating a variety of foods and definitely eat more quantity, smaller meals, regularly -organic and local as much as possible - farmers market and Santos/Source keep us fed -fridge/freezer is stocked -wild foods, high mineral content -fermented foods -Best supplements during pregnancy -I didn’t take a lot of vitamins or anything like that, apart from lipsomal vitamin C -lots of herbs, mostly tonics, plus raspberry leaf and nettle, slippery elm occasionally, yellow dock, dandelion, milk thistle, ginger -lots of probiotics -iodine until I saturated -silica -personally most concerned about losing minerals as bubbas drain mamas (for every baby a tooth, is an old saying!) so been keeping up the minerals -megahydrate -estroblock when we had it, just one cap per day of the pro -clays and charcoal (you might’ve heard of pica - desire to eat clays - common in pregnant women) -DHA, EFA: fish oil, also raw seafood, fish and oysters -sea minerals -The best tonic herbs and medicinal mushrooms during pregnancy -best suggestion is reishi, but I took everything in the SuperFeast range at various stages, kidney jing herbs lately (postpartum) to heal and boost recovery -Best herbs during pregnancy -avoid steroidal herbs, emmenagogues -check out Susun Weed’s book and Aviva Romm -Symptoms of pregnancy -been lucky, apart from tiredness and needing to eat a lot more, I’ve had very little to complain about. Have felt body change, but that’s been fine, I’ve enjoyed being pregnant. Heartburn when my uterus got really big (apparently babies with lots of hair give their mamas heartburn…), but that stopped when baby dropped, ‘growing pains’ around my ribs (like when I was a kid), car sickness if I had an empty belly -Pregnancy cravings / changes -started eating meat again, pretty mindfully -needed lots of simple carbs in the first trimester, regularly. Like, every two hours. Bilbo Baggins style - breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoons I wasn’t a hungry, but at least one snack and then dinner. And often needed to eat in the middle of the night. So I did 😃 -waking up starving - that’s new for me! -generally more calories -haven’t put on much weight, I don’t think, except for boobs and belly and in third trimester around my bum and hips. I haven’t weighed myself -Exercise during pregnancy -yoga - only consideration, IMO, is how the mother feels and to listen to her body - if you’re a regular yogi, you will be less flexible in certain areas, this is OK, it’s not about extreme ROM it’s about being mindful about what needs support during the transitions — for me, pecs (chest - boobs!!) and lower traps, rhomboids, hip flexors, quads, glutes and lateral body (QL and thoracolumbar fascia) - I have avoided a lot of ‘hip openers, they made my pelvis feel unstable (deep hip flexion, ext rotation, e.g. pigeon), though I’ve loved square… -Used a lot of props, have not gone deep but have stayed in poses for a long time. Early pregnancy I wanted to be very active, so preferred more active, mobile classes, teaching ashtanga etc lots of Embodied Flow with Tara Judelle on YogaGlo. -WALK! I think this is the best thing you can do - I TRY and walk daily (an hour, in nature, but that’s changed as I’ve gotten bigger) - most ‘traditional’ women walk on average 5 kms per during their pregnancies, so I tried to do about an hour a day…that’s dropped off lately, as I get crazy contractions when I walk -swimming - though mostly just a dip -stay active - most important, I think -Vitamin D on boobs, belly as much as possible = naked sun time -Saunas in winter (short, until I felt too hot, not forced), hot tub -Massage, moxa -Yoga nidra -Home birth prep and planning -really just made sense to me, was only option as far as I was concerned. I did not want to be travelling during labour or after birth -super lucky to have access to the midwives program, through the Byron hospital -two experienced midwives and one student attended birth, Daddy delivered -birth pool hire - Birth Afloat (small heated pool) -spring water - Wild Oasis (filled and added Crystal Energy and sea salt) -placenta encapsulation -other tips - buy lots of old towels from op shop!! -herbs for post-birth - jing herbs (cordyceps, deer antler, eucommia bark), reishi, lion’s mane, placenta, daily tonic tea: schizandra / schisandra, raspberry leaf, nettle, vanilla, rhemmania, chaga. Book Resources:  - Ina May Gaskin: Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding - Aviva Romm: Natural Pregnancy - Sarah Buckley - not so much her book, but her interview with Daniel Vitalis about hormone cascades was awesome, ReWild Yourself podcast - Susun Weed: Wise Women’s Herbal for the Childbearing Year, and her blog - Jeannie Pavarti Baker - all her books - Tami Lynn Kent: Wild Feminine, Mouthing from Your Centre - http://thematrona.com/the-holistic-stages-of-birth/ - Jane Hardwick Collings: Ten Moons - didn’t get to read this, but it looks good, Jenny Blyth: Down to Earth Birth - Penny Simkin: Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn - Roy Dittmann: Brighton Baby   Other Resources: SuperFeast Podcast: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/tagged/podcast  

In today's Women Series episode, Tahnee dives deep into listening to your body's innate wisdom, with Dr Carrie Jones. Dr Carrie is the medical director of the DUTCH, which is a relatively new analytic to test hormones and safe to say it greatly differs from the traditional Western blood-test approach. The ladies discuss the HPA axis and how the thyroid is best tested. Adrenal fatigue is explored and the discussion around slowing down and not being a master of all the things, all the time, is covered. Keto and veganism lifestyles are discussed. This is a beautiful conversation around a woman's wellbeing and how it is a complex and dancing conversation between all the organ systems and hormones. You don't want to miss this one!    The ladies discuss: - Blood tests show that moment in time; blood doesn't present what each constituent piece is doing, where it's going, or how the body is interacting with it - Accurately testing cortisol via blood, is challenging - DUTCH show the metabolites, which present how each hormone was processed - The ideal Western standard range for blood test data is very arbitrary - A slow thyroid slows down everything - hair, nails, metabolism, cortisol - Thyroid testing is best via blood - Cortisol and melatonin and sort of the like the sun and the moon, like Yin and Yang - Circadian rhythm irregularities (e.g. poor sleep) will effect all our rhythms, our female cycle included  - We love routine and structure, honour the body by having positive sleep hygiene practices and routine meal time. Basics are key - Why keto and intermittent fasting might not be for you - How symptoms easily become the normal, but feeling anxious, feeling tired all the time, are not the sign of health - How "adrenal fatigue" is the body's way of saying slow down - Quality truely is key when it comes to supplements  - How veganism has the tendency to deplete a woman's systems - What's leptin resistance?  - The physiology behind polycystic ovarian syndrome - Biologically speaking, survival is the priority, reproduction is not. Hence why stress can play havoc with a women's cycle - Libido is a strong sign of robust health, low libido is an indicator there is imbalance - Why informed decision-making, regarding the Pill is critical - Why menopause symptoms can differ so significantly between women Resources:   For more: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/female-hormones-with-dr-carrie-jones-ep-19?_pos=1&_sid=c9ba8e99c&_ss=r SuperFeast Podcast: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/tagged/podcast

Autoimmunity (AI). You've heard it, but what is it? Today Mason is joined by SuperFeast fave naturopath, Dan Sipple to explore the beast that is autoimmunity and what factors play a role in autoimmune conditions. Perhaps the Western definition of AI is too cut and dry; the guys discuss the Eastern approaches and how the gut environment plays a key role (we've got two gut health podcasts Part One and Part Two, if you want to brush up on your gut health). This episode dives deeply into the ancient Daoism behind AI patterns and which tonic herbs and medicinal mushrooms can help support the body during these times. If you're afflicted with an AI condition, this episode is for you.   "Autoimmunity is when the body is seemingly attacking itself" - Mason Taylor The guys discuss: - Suppression of autoimmune issues leads to significant illness later on - Treatment of autoimmunity from the Taoist perspective - Leaky gut (intestinal permeability) causes a barrage against your immune system - a significant initiating factor of AI - Pleghm, edema, heat toxicity, dampness, all AI symptoms; the TCM patterns  - According to TCM, upright Qi is vital for immunity (astragalus for the win) - SuperFeast Chaga, Reishi and Astragalus, are top immunity herbs - The tightening / tenseness within the body is exacerbating AI symptoms; must release the tension - There are hard coded AI genes, BUT environment / diet / movement / community / purpose / stress all affect their expression - Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) in the morning, helps determine the degree of autoimmune cells tagged in the thymus gland for destruction by your immune system. So if your CAR is flat lined (from smashing coffees, burning the candle at both ends, constant fight or flight / Yang state), cortisol production is low and you're more prone to unchecked destructive inflammation - The traditional Western belief that high Th1 causes AI, is no longer relevant - Those with AI - do not put chemicals on the skin, get in the sun, skin brush   Resources: Blog and Transcript Link: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/tagged/podcast For more: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/autoimmunity SuperFeast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/superfeast-podcast/id1437097644?ls=1&mt=2

Today Tahnee chats with Dr. Jolene Brighten, who is the author of Beyond the Pill. As the name suggests, this book explores the effects of the Pill and how to transition healthily off it. Coming off the Pill can often lead to a whole host of symptoms, but these symptoms can be seen as opportunities for greater health. The ladies share their experiences as new mum's and the challenges that must be navigated. So often, women can lose trust in their body and ability to heal and part of this can be associated with how often women's needs are dismissed in the general practitioner forum. Informed consent around the Pill is required and often missing in the Western setting. The ladies remind us that our bodies never betray us, they want us to thrive!   The ladies discuss: - Postpartum challenges. - How magnesium is a godsend for cramps. - A Pill bleed is not a true cycle, it is simply a withdrawal bleed from the medication. - The natural approach will always take time, so be patient. - During third trimester, the female brain shrinks! To allow for hyper focus on the newborn. Baby brain is real!! - Liquorice is very beneficial for new mums and PCOS sufferers, it's anti-inflammatory, supports cortisol and helps manage androgens. - The ins and outs of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). - Using the Pill increases your chances of several health issues (cardiovascular disease, clots, diabetes). - The key to balanced hormones are a supported liver and gut system - Regardless of your want to have a baby or not, during the reproductive years, being fertile is integral to overall health. - DIM and broccoli sprouts are a girls best friend when dealing wth estrogen issues. - Ever feel dizzy upon standing up? Add some good quality salt to your water. - Birth control-anxiety-depression; there's a connection to explore. - Don't be scared of eating a bit of dirt every now and again :)!   Resources: Dr. Brighten's website Dr. Brighten's Instagram Dr. Brighten's new book - Beyond the Pill Dr. Brighten's book - Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth Dr. Brighten's Favourite Lion's Mane Chi Nei Tsang Terry Wahls - Minding your mitochondria Imperfect Produce Environmental Working Group Butcher Box Girl who had all waste in a jar in from 4 years   SuperFeast Podcast: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/tagged/podcast

This episode is for parents, health enthusiasts, practitioners, health coaches, herbalists and for those just wanting to dive deeper into answering the call as a tonic herbalist. Today, Sage Dammers (tonic herbalist and master chocolatier) and Mason cover all bases on how to develop yourself and your offering; Sage has dedicated himself to the herbs. What exactly does it take to become a tonic herbalist? Tune in to find out. The guys cover the ground knowledge and a good run down on what you are going to experience as you navigate this herbalist world. Oh and there's also a bit of speak about chocolate ;P so tune in today and lay down those foundations to becoming a tonic herbalist.       In today's episode, you will hear about: - How chocolate is a beautiful vehicle for herbs - Tonic herbs and adaptogens are not symptom-based, but support the body to balance it's own systems - Identifying with your symptom can be terribly damaging - find a new mantra - Creating space (sitting down, taking time and setting an intention) to drink your herbal tonic can be transformational - Sage likes to begin his relationship with a new herb with 1/2ts in hot water in its pure and isolated form - get to know the herb - SuperFeast tonic herbs, in powder-form, forces you to connect with and forge a relationship with the adaptogen (versus a capsule / tablet) - Supplements can provide challenges in the later years - what exactly are the long term effects which have not been researched? - SuperFeast JING really provides that foundational energy - Sitting infront of a computer daily, means your eyes are focused on a static distance, this can be detrimental long term - Neural Nectar and Lion's Mane are specially effective for upgrading brain faculty - Eye issues (strain, poor sight) is connected with liver, so get onto Schizandra / Schisandra to support your liver - Tonic herbs are here with us, not for us - The Three Treasures, in particular Shen - Consistently having coffee does leak your Jing - Medicinal mushrooms are for long-term immunity, prevention people! - Write to us - what would you like Mason and Sage to talk about next! Email us team@superfeast.com.au   Resources: Blog and Transcript Link: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/tagged/podcast For more: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/sage SuperFeast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/superfeast-podcast/id1437097644?ls=1&mt=2

In today's eco-minded episode, Mason is joined by designer and inventor Andrew Hayim de Vries. Are you interested in the environment? Are you an eco-warrior? Or maybe you've cottoned on that we only have one earth and she is in a spot of bother ;P - well today's episode is for you. Andrew shares his absolute passion for the environment and in particular, his passion for all things composting. Want to help create a synergy of life force, by redirecting a significant waste stream? Then get involved in composting. Andrew has been developing the below-ground composting solution - the Subpod™. The guys talk about composting and how you can make sure your home or business system is good for the environment. And do you know how much food waste we have globally? Andrew will shock you!    **SuperFeast HQ's works with Andrew weekly for our community composting system     You will hear about: - What makes an effective composting system - Above ground systems (in warm climates) are NOT a good solution - Food wastage is real - How can we view the food waste situation and improve the current landscape? - Soil degradation and monocultures provide considerable challenges for soil integrity - The village / community mentality creates engagement and accessibility - Businesses have an ethical responsibility to educate and lead the way in environmental practices - How the current status of landfill faces several key issues - Imagine buying food based on nutritional value, NOT on weight   Resources:   Blog and Transcript Link: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/tagged/podcast For more: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/andrew SuperFeast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/superfeast-podcast/id1437097644?ls=1&mt=2

SuperFeast founder Mason and his work and life partner Tahnee gave birth to their first babe on December 4, 2016. For those of you who are pregnant or approaching pregnancy, they recorded this very special episode discussing their childbearing year. At week 39 of pregnancy, Mason and Tahnee sat down to reflect on their pregnancy experience. This episode continues to grow from strength to strength, as individuals are continuing to seek out conscious experiences as they navigate life. We simply had to reshare this episode. Part 2 to follow.   What you’ll learn: - The role the liver plays in pregnancy and why cleansing it is critical - How to embody detox and nourishing practices into your lifestyle so your body is always prepared for pregnancy (or just to have a rocking hormonal system) - Simple techniques for removing heavy metals from your system so your baby doesn’t get overloaded - Why men must prepare for pregnancy just as much as the woman for the sake of the child - Simple yet powerful techniques for cleansing and healing the gut so you can bring your microbiome back into balance - How the gut bacteria a woman has is passed on to her child’s immune system - Why you must look back into your past for clues into what you need to cleanse and nourish in your body - Our top herbs for cleansing the parasites out of your system - The best and most effective methods for deep organ cleansing - A breakdown on the best tonic herbs to restore strength to your system so it is ready for the childbearing year - How learning to release tension assists conception and creates ease in pregnancy   Resources Blog and Transcript Link: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/tagged/podcast For more: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/the-childbearing-years-part-1-with-tahnee-podcast-xx SuperFeast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/superfeast-podcast/id1437097644?ls=1&mt=2 Mason's Mushrooms Reishi Clearlight Infrared Saunas

Today, Mason is joined at the podcast mic by Sam Gibb, founder of Cloud Hidden Tea. Tea is not only one of the most sacred plants on earth, it is the second most consumed herb on the globe. This beautiful plant can be taken for granted sometimes; the lineage behind its magic and the deep ceremony ensconced in this epic leaf is next level. In today's catch up, Sam sheds light on tea and mindfulness and reminds us how every part of the day is an opportunity to practice mindfulness. The guys discuss the miracles of life and all dip in and out of esoteric matters - it was always going to happen when discussing all things tea. Grab a cuppa and enjoy.   “Tea is such a soft beautiful god and she really just wants to help you and meet you where you are.” Sam Gibb     The guys discuss: - How to judge the quality of tea by the way it smells - There are sourcing similarities between SuperFeast tonic herbs and good quality tea - the notion of Di Dao (Di Tao) - Fermented clay tea pots brew a superior tea - What makes an ideal tea? - Caffeine is never isolated in nature - Reactions to tea is always the pesticides or the processing - Four virtues of tea (harmony, purity, reverence and tranquility) - Tea purifies on the physiological level, as well as the spiritual level   RESOURCES: Blog and Transcript Link: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/tagged/podcast For more: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/sam-gibb SuperFeast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/superfeast-podcast/id1437097644?ls=1&mt=2

Gut Health Part 2 is here! If you haven't already listened to last week's Part 1 episode, we suggest you drop in now and have a listen. The guys pick up where they left off, diving deep into the energetics of the digestive system and referencing the ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy. Probiotics and prebiotics are discussed in great detail and the role they play with chronic disease manifestations, like leaky gut. Dan (The Functional Naturopath) brings his clinical observations to the table with real-life client experiences.   The guys discuss: - 100% alkaline everything is NOT health promoting, sometimes acidity is beneficial  - The Spleen is connected to the whole digestive system, think of it as the digestive fire - Spleen deficiencies generally call for dietary adjustments and stress management  - Dampness can arise from depleting kidney essence (excessive amounts of cold, raw foods and fasting) - What diet is sustainable for decades, what flows naturally for you? - Extreme dietary regimes generally result in exhaustion and depletion  - High fat diets require more bile; some inflammatory gut species eat bile, this paired with leaky gut leads to a surge in systemic inflammation (endotoxemia) - Prebiotic fibre feed the beneficial native bacteria, don't forget PREbiotics! - Prebiotics: garlic, onion, asparagus, cooled rice and potato - Kidney essence relies heavily on healthy microbiome - Poor spleen function has emotional connections to: excessive worry, inability to tend for yourself, complaining a lot, needing gratification  - How medicinal mushies contain gut-boosting constituents  - What is Phase III of liver detoxification and how we can support it - How candida is opportunistic and how to lower excess levels - Medicinal mushies (unlike culinary mushrooms) help with fungal issues - We are built for walking, walk more for healthy waste excretion - Physical manipulation can really benefit a sluggish / toxic digestion   RESOURCES: Blog and Transcript Link: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/tagged/podcast SuperFeast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/superfeast-podcast/id1437097644?ls=1&mt=2 Jing Herb: superfeast.com.au/products/jing-herbs Long Live the Reishi Queen: superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/reishi-mushroom-immortality Read about the amazing benefits of SuperFeast Reishi here: superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/reishi-medicinal-mushroom?_pos=4&_sid=98ded00d0&_ss=r   TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SHARE ONLINE! Instagram: instagram.com/superfeast Facebook: facebook.com/SuperFeast

Gut health - what a minefield! Well, after today's Part 1 episode, we hope you'll be feeling more empowered understanding your gut health. Dan Sipple (The Functional Naturopath) joins Mason today as the boys dive deep into the depths of your gastro-intestinal tract! This subject is so vast, we have Part 1 and Part 2 to follow - stay tuned for next week. This episode covers the basics, what is digestion, what is good gut health and how we can build a robust gut microbiome - all the topics to get you in the driver's seat of your health. Dan shares his personal gut health journey (inclusive of viral load and Epstein-Barr) and once again, Dan brings his clinical observations to the table with real-life client experiences.   The guys discuss: - Why testing and data for gut health can help with specific diagnoses - How beneficial colostrum and aloe vera are for the gut lining - Mouth to anus - the digestive system is a hollow tube! - Bloating, distension, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, nausea are all signs of an unhealthy digestive system - 80% of the immune system resides in the gut - The more robust your gut health, the stronger your immunity - The pilot light for good digestion is the kidneys - How stress greatly impacts the Yin digestive system - stress less peeps - Rock-hard, stressed, tense abs are out; movement, flow and softness are in! - Remember all the happy neurotransmitters are made in the gut - Why Lion's Mane is so effective for gut health via nerve regeneration and prebiotic actions - Bitter tastes fuel and heal your gut (apple cider vinegar works a charm) - Antacids set you up for bacterial overgrowth, malabsorption and lowers your stomach acid, which is NOT the way to heal heartburn   RESOURCES: Blog and Transcript Link: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/tagged/podcast SuperFeast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/superfeast-podcast/id1437097644?ls=1&mt=2 Reishi Mushroom: superfeast.com.au/products/wild-reishi-powdered-extract Long Live the Reishi Queen: superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/reishi-mushroom-immortality Read about the amazing benefits of SuperFeast Reishi here: superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/reishi-medicinal-mushroom?_pos=4&_sid=98ded00d0&_ss=r   TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SHARE ONLINE! Instagram: instagram.com/superfeast Facebook: facebook.com/SuperFeast

Keeping the brain nourished, free from toxicity and active is one of the keys to epic health and longevity. In this awesome interview Mason dives deep into the neural world with brain health expert Jo Grabyn.  Neurodegenration is a current epidemic in the West and it is getting worse. Modern medicine has yet to get to the root cause of the premature ageing of the brain. One of the amazing distinctions to come out of this interview is how there are SIX general types of Alzheimer's, not just one. Mason and Jo explore how lifestyle and environmental factors play major roles in creating these diseases/symptoms; this means the power is in your hands to make changes.    You will learn: - The top causes of neurodegernation, including Alzheimer's and dementia - Lifestyle choices you can make now to prevent the onset of premature ageing of the brain - Treatment protocols for degeneration of the brain - Signs to watch out for and act upon early for brain health - How the gut and brain are connected through the vagus nerve  - Ways to become a detective and discover the root cause of your brain symptoms - And heaps, HEAPS more   RESOURCES: Blog and Transcript Link: www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/brain-optimisation-and-neurodegeneration-with-jo-grabyn-podcast-9 SuperFeast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/superfeast-podcast/id1437097644?ls=1&mt=2 Welcome to your Brain article: www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/neural-nectar-blend-brain-optimisation The Daoist Brains: www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/the-taoist-brains Lion's Mane: www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/the-amazing-benefits-of-lions-mane Neural Nectar: www.superfeast.com.au/products/neural-nectar  The Amazing Benefits of Lion's Mane Nootropic Mushroom: www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/the-amazing-benefits-of-lions-mane   TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SHARE ONLINE! Instagram: instagram.com/superfeast Facebook: facebook.com/SuperFeast

Today's episode is dedicated to talking all about our favourite mushroom; the queen, reishi. Known as the "Mushroom of Immortality" and the mushroom of spiritual potential, this herb truly is a wonder and a gift to our health. Mason is joined by naturopath and friend Dan Sipple (clinical naturopath @the.functional.naturopath) to discuss the lore, history, clinical use and wide range of benefits of this ancient herb. Mason shares his experience with this famous herb and why he is so passionate about dropping reishi-bombs on everyone he meets. Dan shares his clinical and personal experiences with a range of different patients and how reishi has helped their healing journeys.   WE WILL DISCUSS: - How to use reishi for candida - Reishi and pregnancy - Whether children can take reishi - How to ensure your reishi is quality - Autoimmunity and reishi - How to take this magical mushie - Reishi for sleep - The compounds that make reishi adaptogenic - How reishi calms the Shen (spirit) - Reishi for balancing emotions and calming the mind - Reishi and the nervous system   RESOURCES: Blog and Transcript Link: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/reishi-mushroom-of-immortality-podcast-8 SuperFeast Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/id1437097644?ls=1&mt=2 Reishi Mushroom: superfeast.com.au/products/wild-reishi-powdered-extract Long Live the Reishi Queen: superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/reishi-mushroom-immortality Read about the amazing benefits of SuperFeast Reishi here: superfeast.com.au/blogs/superblog/reishi-medicinal-mushroom?_pos=4&_sid=98ded00d0&_ss=r   TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SHARE ONLINE! Instagram: instagram.com/superfeast Facebook: facebook.com/SuperFeast