Return to Nature

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Will Harris, the owner of White Oak Pastures, a holistically managed regenerative ranch and farm in Bluffton, Georgia.Will is a fourth-generation cattleman, who tends the same land that his great-grandfather settled in 1866. Born and raised at White Oak Pastures, Will left home to attend the University of Georgia's School of Agriculture, where he was trained in the industrial farming methods that had taken hold after World War II. Will graduated in 1976 and returned to Bluffton, where he and his father continued to raise cattle using pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and antibiotics. They also fed their herd a high-carbohydrate diet of corn and soy.These tools did a fantastic job of taking the cost out of the system, but in the mid-1990s, Will became disenchanted with the excesses of these industrialized methods. In 1995, Will made the audacious decision to return to the farming methods his great-grandfather had used 130 years before. Since Will has successfully implemented these changes, he has been recognized all over the world as a leader in humane animal husbandry and environmental sustainability. Will is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors of Georgia Organics. He is the Beef Director of the American Grassfed Association and was selected 2011 Business Person of the year for Georgia by the Small Business Administration. He is also the author of A Bold Return to Giving A Damn, a memoir-meets-manifesto on betting the farm on a better future for our food, animals, land, local communities and our planet.Will Shares:How his great grandfather and grandfather ran the farm and how his father transitioned to industrial practicesHow he was raised and educated to believe that there was nothing wrong with industrial farming practices His observation of the quality of his farm’s dirt versus the untouched soil in the woods The reason his daughters have chosen to come back to the farm and work at White Oak Pastures The unintended consequences of industrial agriculture and taking cost out of production How transferring from industrial to regenerative is a long term process The importance of allowing animals to express their instinctive behaviors The resiliency of regenerative agriculture versus the efficiency of industrial agriculture How label regulations can affect farmer’s profitabilityThe pandemic’s role in their creation of White Oak Pasture’s new distribution avenue: online ordersThe right amount of growth for a regenerative farming operation to make sure short term profitability is not the main focus, but rather generational profitability White Oak Pasture’s non-profit, which helps educate people on their regenerative practicesHow the government could be instrumental in making a national shift to regenerative agriculture Why the shift to regenerative will most likely happen outside of the existing industrial modelYou can connect with Will through White Oak Pastures:Website: www.whiteoakpastures.comInstagram: @whiteoakpasturesFacebook: @whiteoakpasturesIntro/Outro music by Ken BelcherSound Mixing by Andrew Pals

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Cole Mannix, the president and co-founder of Old Salt Co-op. As fifth generation of the Mannix family, his love for people, ranching, and land stewardship is deep rooted in Montana. Though his schooling and professional life have taken him many places beyond the ranch, his heart remains devoted to the cause of bringing people together around a love for life and all of its beautiful diversity. He founded the Old Salt Festival, a food & music celebration of Montana land stewardship hosted on the Mannix Family Ranch in Helmville, MT, bringing together wood-fired cooking, Americana musicians, Montana ranchers, and Western makers to celebrate in high Montana style.Cole Shares:The deep history the Mannix Family shares with their Ranch in Helmville, MontanaHow his time away from the ranch got him interested in the distribution side of the operationHow the Salt of the Earth Rancher’s Cooperative was started and why it evolvedThe problem with food labels The issues with policy change when it comes to agricultureHow the Old Salt Co-op came to be The necessity of making an entirely new system versus just trying to change production of meatThe importance of broadening our idea of success and wealth Why and how producers should have ownership in distribution avenuesThe fallacy of failure when it comes to regenerative ranching and truly healing the soilHaving an organic mindset even when you have to rely on conventional methods How familiarity with the process can build trust for a productHow labels and certifications can be true but not meaningfulYou can connect with Cole through Old Salt:Website: www.oldsaltco-op.comInstagram: @oldsaltcoopInstagram: @oldsaltfestivalIntro/Outro music by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews eco fashion designer and filmmaker Jeff Garner. He and his sustainable label Prophetik are on a path of transformation, leading the evolution of fashion and changing our perception of luxury by creating sustainable, plant-based fashion.Born in the Civil War town of Franklin, Tennessee, and raised on a horse farm, Garner grew with a connectedness to nature and a peaceful understanding of the world. His ultimate vision is to bring awareness to the toxins found in commercial synthetic fashion and the health implications to the human body to allow everyone the power of choice.His documentary, Let Them Be Naked, exposes the hidden dangers of toxic chemicals found in everyday clothing and reveals the devastating health impacts of these unregulated substances, shedding light on their role in chronic diseases such as cancer. The film advocates for a radical reimagining of garment production, highlighting how the choices we make as consumers affect both our health and the planet.Jeff Shares:How he got his start in fashion dressing his musician friends for their bandsThe importance of practical education through learning on the jobThe dichotomy of growing up wearing handmade clothing with natural materials versus the synthetic materials he had to work with in his early career interning for mainstream fashion brandsHow natural fibers used to be the norm and his mission to convert us back to that so price points go down How synthetic fibers are made to look and feel like natural fibers The factors playing in to why more people aren’t buying natural, from economic to educationalThe policy change necessary to regulate the fashion industry and make materials more transparent The lack of accountability for fashion conglomerates versus small designers actually creating their clothing How fashion conglomerates can start phasing in non-toxic, natural clothing without sacrificing the rest of their inventoryThe hidden products used on what would otherwise be organic clothingHow the end clothing products need to be tested before reaching consumers A participatory model of fashion where people buy undyed clothing and dye it naturally, throughout the years changing its color to reinvigorate itThe best way to get rid of plastic-based clothing The component of consumer education that is needed to bridge the gap between what is seen as a quality product versus natural The issues with certifications supposedly regulating materials and manufacturing processes You can connect with Jeff through Prophetik and Let Them Be Naked:Website: www.prophetik.comWebsite: www.letthembenaked.comInstagram: @prophetik Instagram: @letthembenakedFacebook: @prophetikSound Mix by Andrew PalsIntro/Outro by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Brian Gorman, a regenerative rancher and co-owner of Blarney Ranch. He and his wife Karla raise grass-finished Dexter beef on a historic ranch in Trego, Montana. The ranch has been in continuous operation since 1894. Brian was born and raised in Monterey Country, California, an area extremely well known for agriculture. The events of September 11th, 2001 led him to join the US Army for 10 years, where he was shocked to discover the poor quality of food provided to soldiers. While in Afghanistan, he visited the dining facility of a German-controlled base to find real, high quality food being served.He and his wife were always conscious of health and what they consumed, which led them to raise and grow a lot of their own food, including meat. In 2015, they decided to move to Montana and start a ranch of heritage breed cattle. An homage to their engagement in Ireland and the Blarney Castle, they chose the name for their ranch, which is derived from the gaelic “an bhlarna,” meaning “small green field.”Brian Shares:His experience in the US Army and the quality of food provided versus what he was used to growing up at homeThe industrial trajectory our food systems have been on since World War IIHow he and his wife chose to settle in Montana and how they began their first regenerative ranch in ArleeThe demand that led them to move to their current operation in Trego, Montana Why cattle breed matters and how he chose the heritage breed Blarney Ranch raisesWhy Angus became the popular choice for beef in America How cross breeding has affected animal instincts and ancestryHow regenerative agriculture is just a new term for an old way of farming and ranching How being in tune with the environment and observing what the land needs can broaden the climates in which agriculture can be practiced How regenerative ranching practices have brought native species of plant life back to Blarney Ranch’s landA look inside Blarney Ranch’s regenerative operationHow regenerative ag affects irrigationHow stockpile foraging works in WinterThe scalability of regenerative agricultureThe “value added” products that are possible when ranching regenerativelyThe ethics of raising meat in a society that is disconnected from the realities of agriculture The greenwashing of the industry that makes it hard for consumers to truly know the quality of food they’re purchasing You can connect with Brian through Blarney Ranch:Website: www.blarneyranch.comInstagram: @blarneyranchFacebook: @blarneyranchmtIntro/Outro Music by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Chuck Duke, a seasoned stop-motion and CGI animator with over 40 years experience. At age 22 Chuck found himself working claymation for Will Vinton Studios sculpting and animating the California Raisins. Between 1985 and 1995 Chuck animated on several Emmy winning Television Productions for Will Vinton. He left Vinton Studio to work on his first feature film, Henry Selick's James and the Giant Peach. In 1997, Chuck began working at George Lucas's ILM,  animating on films such as Small Soldiers and Star Wars Phantom Menace. Since then, he has animated on notable stop-motion films such as Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox and  Isle of Dogs, Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. Chuck Shares:The Ray Harryhausen film that sparked his interest in learning how stop-motion was doneHow he made his early stop-motion films as a teenagerHis dad’s support for his interest in the arts and animationThe lack of schooling available for stop-motion and animation in general during his college experience and how he garnered an informal educationHis first job in stop-motion for Will Vinton Studios and how he got itHow technological progress has changed everything from getting an education to breaking into the industry.An overview of how stop-motion technology and software has changed since he started The capabilities of the industry standard Dragonframe stop-motion softwareHow he got hired on Henry Selick’s James and the Giant PeachWhy the Mars Attacks! animation switched from stop-motion to CGIWhy he and other stop-motion animators transitioned to doing 3D animationThe differences between the various stop-motion directors he’s worked withHis experience animating at The Sisters Bloom

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Mariah Gannessa, the founder of Four Visions, a global leader, educator, and advocate for the study, benefits, and uses of plant medicine. Born and raised in Northern California, Mariah now lives in Colombia, working directly with the Indigenous tribes. She’s spent the last decade immersed in the healing cultures of the Amazon and has dedicated her life’s work to the plants and the peoples of the Amazon Rainforest. Four Visions supports these communities through direct commerce partnerships, donations, and sponsoring charitable initiatives.Mariah also founded the nonprofit organization, MAGIC Fund, where she spearheads projects to preserve the Amazonian people, their culture, and their lands.Mariah Shares: Her early life as an academic over-achiever and how her first plant medicine ceremony was a catalyst for her healing Her travels that led her to Columbia to embark on a 10-year apprenticeship learning about the art of healing, guided by her teacher, Tiata Juanito How her desire to find a way to support the ancestral practices and the indigenous tribes who guard them led to the creation of Four Visions Choosing her own path despite cultural and familial conditioning Keeping a connection to Nature whether immersed in the forest or in the city Insight into the Yahe culture of the Columbian Amazon rainforest and all the ways they utilize plant medicine Western attachment to the idea of credentials as necessary to being successful or experienced  The various ways to experience plant medicine in our modern society A detailed look into an ayahuasca ceremony, as practiced by the Inga culture, and the experiences one can have  Four Vision’s offerings and what those four visions of the future areYou can connect with Mariah through Four Visions:Website: www.fourvisions.comInstagram: @fourvisionstribeIntro/outro music by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Cory Hillis, a certified EMF specialist and the president of EMF Solutions Inc., a company creating products that are proven to normalize the effects of EMFs on human cells. EMFs, or electromagnetic frequencies, include both ionic radiation such as X-rays and non-ionic radiation such as cell phones, wi-fi, and even power lines. In many human cells, EMFs cause depolarization, free radical damage, nitric oxide issues, and DNA damage. This can lead to a variety of symptoms and health issues. After healing his own devastating physical condition through dedicated, holistic-related work, Cory became a holistic practitioner to help others. Understanding the harmful effects that EMFs have on human health and unable to find any solutions that addressed them, Cory set out to discover the root cause of the problem. His studies and work produced the first real and complete solutions to help him, his family, and his clients. In addition to being a Certified EMF Specialist & Trainer, Cory has a number of holistic practitioner-related trainings and certifications including Quantum Reflex Analysis (QRA), Clinical Nutrition & Weight Management Consultant, and being an Advanced Trainer for QRA to doctors, chiropractors, & others.  Cory Shares: Discovering that EMFs were a factor in healing his patients and his journey to finding out how to resolve it A detailed look at what is happening at a cellular level when EMFs are present, based on Dr. Martin Paul’s research How EMFs affect individuals and common symptoms  An explanation of the different kinds of EMF remediation and what they are actually doing How EMF Solutions’ products address the subatomic chaos created from EMFs rather than the EMFs themselves How 5G’s short wave affects the human body, despite barely penetrating the surface of the skin Grounding vs. EMF remediation Why some people are more sensitive to EMFs than others and how your location can have something to do with it How 5G satellites send signals to Earth and how that’s affecting us How our scientific understanding of EMFs need to become holistic rather than focused on a specific discipline  The issues with EMF meters Mold and EMFs Insight into the detox process once you have remediated for EMFs You can connect with Cory through EMF Solutions: Website: www.emfsol.com Instagram: @emfsol Facebook: @emfsol Email: info@emfsol.com Intro/Outro Music by Ken Belcher Sound Mixing by Andrew Pals

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Todd Ulizio, a farmer who co-owns both Two Bear Farm and The Farmers’ Stand in Whitefish, Montana. Todd grew up on a small vegetable farm in Connecticut and, since a young age, loved to be outdoors in nature. After feeling pressured to get a business degree and working for two years as an accountant, he found the courage to follow his own path and moved to Montana, where he went back to school to study Wildlife Biology at University of Montana. Todd worked for 10 years as a wildlife biologist, studying forest carnivores, before meeting his wife, Rebecca, and starting an organic vegetable farm called Two Bear Farm.  With 17 years of farming experience, Todd strives to promote the importance of local economies, community food systems, and nutritious food. In 2020 he and Rebecca partnered with Wicked Good Produce to open a local food market in Whitefish called The Farmers' Stand. Todd Shares His introduction to farming as a child and his grandfather’s legacy His father’s dual life as a farmer and banker The evolution of organic farming and how it used to be the way everyone farmed How Aldo Leopold’s Teachings influenced him The book he read in college that helped him realize he did not want to walk the mainstream path he was on, Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawken His breaking point working as an accountant that prompted him to changed his career trajectory to wildlife biology. The observation that how humans live on the landscape affects the ability of certain wildlife species to thrive Learning the nuances of farming in Montana and starting his first farm with his wife, Rebecca in Eureka, MT The benefits of having a business background as a farmer The truth behind conventional farming’s story of “feeding the world” How human disconnection from Nature is at the core of the environmental and agricultural issues we face today The difference between organic and regenerative farming  How corporate influence affects our agricultural system How our values and priorities can play a role in restoring our systems to support both human and planetary health The fallacy of choice when it comes to the food available for purchase at the grocery store The need for more people to return to the land and farm for their local communities  Insight into The Farmers’ Stand’s origins and operation How we can make choices that align with the kind of future we want for ourselves and our children You can connect with Todd through Two Bear Farm: website: www.twobearfarm.com instagram: @twobearfarm instagram @farmersstand Intro/Outro Music by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Brooke-Lynn Seemann, the owner of Vibrant Roots, a mushroom focused company based in the mountains of Whitefish, Montana that specialize in mushroom tea, elixirs, jun tea (the sister elixir to kombucha), mushroom chocolates, & more. As a health and conscious living enthusiast, Brooke is also a beekeeper, mycologist, mixologist, herbalist, and certified Birthing Doula. Through her own healing journey she discovered and created all of the products that Vibrant Roots offers today. Vibrant Roots’ mission is to connect people back to their roots, beginning with the ancestral wisdom within us all and still held by many cultures around the world whose health and wellness traditions revolve around bees, mushrooms, and herbs. Every product is touched with love, music, and medicine by a beautiful team of humans, bees, and a kingdom all its own: Mushrooms! Through these natural healing powers, their products provide convenient and refreshing products to nourish & energize our bodies, starting with the gut. Brooke Shares: Where she got her vision for Vibrant Roots and how she began to take tangible steps to starting it once she moved to Whitefish, Montana How she was able to save money to slowly build the company little by little by working up to seven jobs at a time The cancer diagnosis that motivated her to find ways to heal herself naturally and switch from Kombucha to Jun, which has a honey base instead of sugar Starting up her first commercial kitchen and milkman-style delivery service How “bad” things can guide us to the path we’re meant to be on The pros and cons of having a distributor versus direct-to-consumer sales The environmentally conscious decision to take their glass bottles back for reuse despite the fact that it costs more than just getting new bottles Her experience working for Kauai Juice Co and how that influenced Vibrant Roots’ practices The importance of nurturing the growth of everyone working for the company  The dietary changes she made in order to heal and how those principles led to the products Vibrant Roots now carries All about mushrooms The story and significance behind the Vibrant Roots logo Her local honey supplier, Great Northern Honey Why most honey will never be certified organic The difference between kombucha and jun Insight into the brewing process How getting back to our roots can help us live more consciously  You can connect with Brooke through Vibrant Roots: Website: www.vibrantroots.com Email: info@vibrantroots.com Instagram @vibrantrootsorganic Facebook: @vibrantrootsorganic Intro/outro music by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Alissa LaChance, the owner and operator of Dirt Rich. Born and raised in Whitefish, Montana, she is passionate about spreading knowledge about the concepts and science of regenerative agriculture and providing a local product that helps gardeners and farmers maintain a holistic agricultural system to grow more nutrient dense food. Alissa holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in sustainable agriculture. Her goal is to connect humans back to the cycles of nature through food scrap composting and education in the regenerative agriculture sphere. Dirt Rich is a tool for her to do just that. She has continued her education with well known soil ecologists such as Elaine Ingham and Nicole Masters and is part of of the Integrity Soils Fellowship, coaching farmers and ranchers on agroecological systems management and composting systems for their businesses. Alissa Shares How a walk in the woods gave her clarity on her career trajectory  Her outlook on formal education and what she ultimately studied  How her venture into composting started when her friend’s hobby composting service was approached by Glacier National Parks’ concessioner The Dr. Elaine Ingham talk she attended on soil ecology that elevated her mission from just waste diversion to including soil remediation The interplay between our intuitive connection to Nature and the science behind soil health The Nicole Master’s Create course through the Integrity Soils Fellowship Why she likes vermicomposting (worm composting) and the basics  The importance of being “carnivore responsible” when composting outside in a region like the Flathead Valley What is happening during the Bokashi composting process and why it’s not her recommended method Making composting affordable and accessible to as many people as possible  The ideal ratios of carbon to nitrogen for composting  How to compost pet poop How to source compostable bags that are safe for the soil Dirt Rich’s recommended third party certifiers are TUV, compost manufacturing alliance, and BPI certified The difference between electric composters and the natural composting process An inside look into Dirt Rich’s operation The implications and possibilities of implementing compost within the agricultural sphere You can connect with Alissa through Dirt Rich: Website: www.dirtrichcompost.com Instagram: @dirtrichcompost Facebook: @dirtrichcompost Email: dirtrichcompost@gmail.com

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews singer songwriter Monica Aben about how her healing journey impacted her creative journey. Hailing from California, Monica's musical journey began at a young age, mastering the piano and guitar while growing up in a music-loving and rhythm-filled home. Her music exudes passion, authenticity, and a profound love for life's adventures. Monica defines success as being wholly authentic and creating music and art that resonates with her audience, regardless of societal expectations. She has performed at notable events like the Future Echoes Festival in Sweden and Camden Club in London. Her latest EP reflects her passion for regenerative farming and holistic health. Inspired by the brand of the same name after attending their “What Good Shall I Do?” conference, her single, Force of Nature, shares a message of honoring and reconnecting to nature.  Monica Shares Her musical upbringing learning piano by ear rather than by learning to read sheet music  The health obstacle that changed the course of her life as a teenager The teachers who helped to nurture her creativity rather than forcing her to fit high school’s mold  How she rejected the stereotype that artists must suffer to be good or successful and chose to create wholesome music How her music career started immediately after high school in Nashville Her first songwriting collaboration experience with Adam Shoenfeld, Tim McGraw’s guitarist, and how that led to finishing her first record album  How establishing deeper relationships with collaborative partners can lend to the songwriting experience  How to keep your own voice in tact when collaborating with others Following your intuitive creative process to avoid overproducing Thew functional medicine doctor who catalyzed her healing when her symptoms came back and how that led her to realize how our environment contributes to human health How she found Force of Nature meats when her healing required eating a carnivore diet Why she attended the “What Good Shall I Do?” conference and how that inspired her recent album Being receptive to inspiration and ideas from unexpected places How human design has helped her understand herself and her creative process How true healing in our toxic world can be expensive and inaccessible to most, but also how we can use our gifts and creativity to empower and educate people on health You Can Connect with Monica through her music: Website: www.monicaaben.com Instagram: @monicaaben Spotify: Monica Aben Intro/Outro Music by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Amanda Shine, a shepherd, teacher, and researcher passionate about soil health and regenerative agriculture. She and her husband Seth established Roving Ram Ranch in 2019 and provide affordable meat, wool products, and adaptive grazing services for local landowners who need their land regenerated.  Amanda started her livestock career working on Wisconsin dairies and attending the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy Farmers, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has degrees in Biology (B.A.), Agriculture (B.S.), and Agronomy (M.S.), with coursework for the latter degrees focused on rangeland ecology and management. She also raised Savannah and Boer meat goats for many years, using them for grazing projects in both Oklahoma and Nebraska.  After six years operating Roving Ram Ranch in Montana’s Flathead Valley, Amanda and Seth are moving operation to Texas, where they will continue Roving Ram Ranch while Amanda has an assistantship at Texas A&M involving grazing research. Amanda Shares: How she began pursuing sustainable agriculture in her early life How she integrated her academic career with her practical hands-on experience Why she and her husband Seth chose to raise sheep when they moved to Montana  The revenue streams possible from raising sheep How regenerative contract grazing works Sheep’s ability to detoxifying  toxic plants and how they discern what to eat and leave Fred Provenza’s research on how animals forage and mix plants for maximum benefits All about livestock guardian dogs   The logistics of rotational grazing  The lambing process and giving back to the community by providing affordable clean meat to those who otherwise could not afford it Her experience teaching soil and water health management  The importance of educating and empowering farmers to steward the land and use regenerative practices to heal the Earth What sheep are really like The sheep breeds they raise and why The process of shearing  How rotational grazing aids the health of the sheep as well as the land The experiential research process of rotational grazing to meet specific goals for a landowner The regenerative strategy of feeding on pasture during winter to load the soil with organic matter Understanding Ag as an educational resource for regenerative farming  Her assistantship at Texas A&M involving grazing research You can connect with Amanda through Roving Ram Ranch: Website: www.rovingramranch.com Instagram: @rovingramranch Email: rovingramranch@gmail.com Intro/outro music by Ken Belcher

In the first episode recorded in the studio’s new sound room, join Melissa for her second solocast where she talks about the Earthing project and all that went into it. Animated during the studio’s renovation, there is much more to this video than meets the eye. Get the behind the scenes scoop on the start of the new studio space and the growth that has been happening in the background of the renovation. Melissa is the founder of The Sisters Bloom, an eco-conscious stop-motion animation studio. Melissa Shares How strange it is that the New Year is in the middle of Winter  How a downshooter works and all about the studio’s new downshooter The Intellytech lights she used for the original downshooter, which are still being utilized on the new one differently Working with the downshooter’s designer and builder, Lee Peffer, of Nodal Engineering Why she uses Museum glass as opposed to other types of glass The intricacies of lighting a downshooter  The unique nature of the stop-motion industry that means talent goes where the jobs are and work for many studios rather than only one The importance of having a breadth of skill sets and knowledge of all roles rather than specializing in just one Melissa’s experience with internships and her decision to start an apprenticeship program at the studio in order to nurture local talent and foster long-term working relationships How her interview with Clint Ober led to the creation of the Earthing video The conceptual possibilities of aligning projects with the studio’s mission The process of foraging for leaves and rocks How to preserve leaves  Her method of foraging to honor the life of the trees and Earth Working with paper leather to make mini moccasins and sneakers Organic Cotton Plus as a resource for paper leather and natural fabrics Natural Earth Paint’s plant-based acrylik medium as a heat activated glue The talent that helped to create the Earthing video You can connect with Melissa through The Sisters Bloom: Website: www.thesistersbloom.com Instagram: @sistersbloomstudios Pinterest: @thesistersbloom Email: growwithus@thesistersbloom.com Intro/Outro music by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews author and singer-songwriter Alex Woodard about his latest book, Ordinary Soil. After meeting triple board certified MD, Zach Bush, on an island in Fiji right as the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping the world, Alex was inspired by Zach’s mission of finding root cause solutions for human and ecological health and the importance of the soil microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Once he got home, Alex set out to fictionalize the history and science behind our modern day agricultural systems and bring to life the plight of the farmer from the 1800’s up to modern day. As a singer-songwriter, Alex has toured nationally behind several critically acclaimed albums, earning a few prestigious industry nods while sharing the stage with some of his heroes. His For the Sender book, album, and concert series has garnered praise from Huffington Post (“important, enlightening, and ultimately inspiring”), Deepak Chopra (“a beautiful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit”), Dr. Wayne Dyer (“an inspiring, thought-provoking, and life-changing work”), and Billboard magazine (“one of the year’s most touching, unique releases”), among others. Alex lives with four horses, two dogs, two chickens, and two beautiful humans on a small ranch near the California coast. He is donating a percentage of the proceeds of Ordinary Soil to Farmer’s Footprint. Alex Shares: - His musical upbringing recreating popular songs -The coworker at a start-up internet company that opened the world of Seattle music to him -The fan letter that changes the trajectory of his career  -How he got his first publishing deal as his work became in service of others - Why he chose to self publish his memoirs after experiencing traditional publishing - How he met triple board certified MD, Zach Bush, on an island in Fiji on the cusp of the pandemic -The Rich Roll podcast interview where Zach shares the history of chemical and mechanical farming that planted the initial seed for Ordinary Soil - How his creative process for song writing informs his process for novel writing  - Why he made up his own songs for the book -Creating an interactive experience with reading and music for the book’s release  - How he researched to write Ordinary Soil and how doctor Zach Bush and farmer Gail Fuller helped -  The reality of farmer suicide rates and how he explored the topic in the book - The necessity for storytelling to connect people to the issues we’re facing rather than relying solely on statistical facts - The importance of stream-of-consciousness writing and letting your ideas flow without censoring or editing yourself - The speech technique that Wayne Dyer used to make sure he said everything he wanted to while still being in the moment - The sequel to Ordinary Soil that he is working on now - His experience with hybrid publishing versus self and traditional  - The factor of luck in success no matter how much talent someone has - How creating in service of others changed the trajectory of his career and success - How his friendship with Zach Bush motivated him to get Zach’s message out in a creative way through Ordinary Soil  -The Forbes article he mentions You can connect with Alex through his creative works Website: www.alexwoodard.com Website: www.ordinarysoil.com Instagram: @ordinarysoil Intro/Outro Music by Ken Belcher Sound Mix by Andrew Pals

Melissa sits down again with her sister, Ale, of Ale Life and Design to discuss their collaboration in renovating and restoring The Sisters Bloom’s new studio space in downtown Kalispell. A 1949 cinderblock warehouse last renovated in 1992, the building was in need of some love. The sisters reflect on the process of bringing Melissa’s overall vision for the space to life and how Ale’s unique design expertise supported the studio’s values throughout the renovation. Melissa + Ale Share: -Appreciating the historical aspects of the building and the necessity of restoration projects in a city with a high percentage of new developments -The similarities between general contracting and directing animation productions -Flathead Valley local Dave Fischlowitz’s referral to Preserve Montana for restoring the steel casement windows -How re-insulating the building with mineral wool will help increase its energy efficiency  -Snowsound acoustic panels Melissa currently uses as a sound treatment to record the podcast -The acoustic cork treating the studio’s sound room from Jelinek Cork Group -How choosing eco-conscious materials for the renovation differed from choosing for the studio’s projects -The lighting choices they made to make the space bright, natural, and healthy for crew, including non-flicker LEDs from Cree Lighting -The conscious decision to keep smart devices and wifi to a minimum and the importance of remediating the studio of non-native frequencies (nnEMFs) -EMF Solutions, the company whose products the sisters trust for remediating the studio -Earthing’s grounding mats as an alternative and supplement to remediation -Working with Legendary Finishes to source wooden doors through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) with an Italian zero-VOC coating by Renner and Karcher hardware -Handmade ceramic tiles from eco-friendly brand FireClay for the bathrooms - The concrete sinks for the bathrooms from Concretti -Choosing a high pile natural wool carpet for the sound room to dampen sound -Flooring by Välinge engineered hardwood -How they worked with Northwest Cabinet Works to choose sustainable cabinets from Egger for the kitchen and the mudroom cubbies, designed to keep the studio clean through the Winter months - The ozone laundry system that kills bacteria and germs so that the studio’s reusable towels stay clean -Why they chose Live Pristine, the remineralizing under sink RO system, for the studio’s drinking water -Uncovering the conservationist building practices of the early 1900’s Follow along to learn more about the renovation: Ale Life and Design www.alelifeanddesign.com @alelanaebloom The Sisters Bloom www.thesistersbloom.com @sistersbloomstudios Into/Outro music by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Sasha Duerr about natural color and how we can participate in transforming our food and fashion systems. Sasha is an artist, designer and educator who works with plant-based color and natural palettes. She centers her practice and research on the collaborative color potential of weeds, food and floral waste, and local and seasonal ingredients.  Sasha has taught for over a decade at California College of Arts with a joint appointment in Textiles and Fine Arts. She lectures, consults and widely designs curriculum and courses in the intersection of natural color, slow food, slow fashion and social practice. In 2007, Sasha founded Permacouture Institute to encourage the exploration of regenerative design practices for fashion and textiles. Her extensive work with plant-based palettes has been featured in many publications and she is also the author of  The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes (Timber Press/Workman 2011) NATURAL COLOR (Watson-Guptill/Ten Speed Press 2016) and NATURAL PALETTES (Princeton Architectural Press 2020). Sasha Shares: Her upbringing and its influence on her passion for natural dyes How she merged her passions for art and the environment for her education and career path How she began her own process of learning around making natural pigments after the standard painting materials made her sick The history and significance of textiles, especially in relation to women and indigenous people The grant she received in collaboration with her sister and Amanda Rieux, the edible schoolyard garden teacher at UC Berkeley in the early 2000’s, to use compost as art material Using the principles of sensory experiences to empowering people to begin creating with Nature when they otherwise wouldn’t think of it or want to. The disconnect between consumers and the origins of food and fast fashion The similarities between cooking and making natural dyes  Bringing regenerative concepts back into textiles and clothing  Her non-profit, the Permacouture Institute Events like “Weeding Your Wardrobe” to promote upcycling clothing and weeds The art and science of natural dyeing, from plant identification to pH and mordants Her slow food partnership in Sicily, Italy and seasonal place-based color Her work with Mae-ling Lokko and the Yale School of Architecture on a multi-year grant called "Soil Sisters" Fibershed.org as a resource for regenerative textiles The Or Foundation The concept of “Craft of Use” from Kate Fletcher, who also coined “Slow Fashion” You can connect with Sasha through personal channels: Wesbite: www.sashaduerr.com   Instagram @sashaduerr Email: info@sashaduerr.com  Intro/Outro Music by Ken Belcher

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Clint Ober about Earthing. Clint is the CEO of Earth FX Inc. and an instrumental pioneer of the Earthing movement. He spent decades working in the cable television industry, specializing in proper grounding of cable installations for safety and TV signal stability. Following a health challenge in 1995, he retired and embarked on a personal journey looking for a higher purpose in life. It was during this time that he was led to the epiphany that humans also need to be grounded. He found that the body can utilize the Earth’s electrical potential and free electrons to maintain its internal electrical stability for the normal functioning of all self-regulating and self-healing systems. Over the past twenty years, Clint has supported a host of research studies via the Earthing Institute that collectively demonstrate that grounding alone reduces inflammation and promotes normal functioning of all body systems. He is the co-author of the book Earthing, was featured in a documentary called The Earthing Movie, and has developed an array of Earthing products to help humans ground in the modern world. Clint Shares: - What Earthing is at its basis - His background in the Cable Television industry and the technological innovations he was a part of - How and why anything electrical has to be grounded to reduce static and prevent fire - The health challenge that led him to retire from Cable Television and that radically changed his outlook on life - How growing up in Montana around Native Americans informed his life and values - How seeing ourselves as separate from Nature has affected the body’s natural ability to heal itself  - The “pill for every ill” campaign of the 70’s that radically changed society’s relationship with the body and healing - Chronic inflammation as the root of many modern health issues  - His time in Sedona and how it led him to the epiphany that most humans are disconnected from the Earth - His first prototype for a grounding pad that showed the electromagnetic interference disappeared when the body touches it and the benefits he and his friends noticed - His determination to understand why grounding made pain go away  - How he implemented his first study to prove the benefits of Earthing - The two subjects who showed that Earthing alleviates pain whether or not EMFs are present in the home -  The electrical nature of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that responds to pathogens - How grounding neutralizes free radicals, positively charged molecules that are short an electron, and prevents the oxidation of healthy tissues responsible for chronic inflammation - The correlation between the onset of auto immune issues and the rise in rubber soled shoes in the 1960’s  - The health of wild animals vs. domestic animals - Conductive vs non-conductive surfaces  - The environmental toxins to be conscious of when grounding, such as glyphosate - How EMFs can only affect an ungrounded body - How grounding normalizes cortisol, which means better sleep You can connect with Clint through Earthing: Website: www.earthing.com Instagram: @clintober Instagram: @earthing Intro/Outro music by Ken Belcher Sound Mixing by Andrew Pals

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Emily Blythe Jones about eco mold-making materials and methods. An interdisciplinary artist specializing in sustainable sculpting methods and materials, Emily has researched and experimented with natural materials like glycerin, gelatin, and agar to successfully create molds for casting sculptures that are not only reusable, but also recyclable. She and her husband founded Meatspace Communion in 2020, a marriage of their love of technology and sculpture, with a mission to create unique and bespoke trophies, awards, and memorials through environmentally sustainable methods while educating artists on practices for the elimination or minimization of waste by creating with what is usually destroyed. Emily Shares: - Her formal training as a painter that opened her mind to more eco-conscious practices - How eco-friendly materials can actually be more affordable in addition to less toxic - Her curiosity to know the formulations behind sculpting products that led her to discover more eco methods - How Jonni Good’s Ultimate Paper Maché videos and Ken’s Observations Blog influenced her.  - The standard methods of sculpting, molding, and casting, their pros and cons, and their relatively brief history of use - A wax-based clay called Relix - Drawing inspiration from techniques of Moulage (french for casting or moulding), a 16th century art form of applying mock injuries   -  All about glycerin-gelatin molds and what you can cast in them - The use of methyl cellulose as a casting additive, available from Natural Earth Paint - Her love for teaching and how her healing journey has meant changing what teaching looks like for her - How her discoveries of eco-conscious materials and techniques was motivated by finding more affordable options - The backlash from more seasoned professionals about trying these eco-friendly methods, even though they have a longer and richer history - Meatspace Communion’s plans to create edutainment using these materials to teach others how to use them - How slowing down because of chronic health issues has impacted her practice - Jaklin Romine, an artist who has advocated for disability aid within gallery spaces - How these eco materials and their sourcing has changes throughout time - What Agar is and how it can be used in eco mold-making - Jack Rich’s book, The Materials and Methods of Sculpture - Cory Morrison, who makes paper with natural materials like okra and grass - Andy Wahl, a ceramicist from Arizona who sources earth pigments for clay You can connect with Emily personally + through Meatspace Communion: Website: www.meatspacecommunion.com or emilybjones.com instagram: @meatspacecommunion or @emilyblythejones Intro/Outro music by Ken Belcher Sound Mixing by Andrew Pals

In this special episode of Return to Nature, Melissa shares an intimate conversation with her sister, Ale, about her own journey of healing and how it led her to create a business to help others thrive. Ale is an artist and designer passionate about curating conscious lifestyles and living spaces. After becoming chronically ill in her twenties with no answers from allopathic medicine, she began a healing journey that forced her to drastically change her lifestyle and home in order to truly live again. As she found holistic practitioners and modalities that supported her healing process, she simultaneously began creating a new way of life and designing a healthier living space. Through one-on-one lifestyle consultations as well as in depth life design services, Ale combines years of experience and research in clean living with her eco-conscious design expertise and innate intuition to help people in creating balanced spaces that reflect and enhance their overall wellness. Ale Shares: - How her health declined inexplicably and the symptoms she experienced - Seeking out what she though was help, but that actually worsened her symptoms -The catalyst that caused her to take her health into her own hands -Meeting people where they are in their journey -How “healthy” means different things depending on what you know -How we are not really given a choice to opt out of the toxins permeating our world -The holistic modalities that helped her to begin to heal -How our society opts for ‘magic pills’ when healing is about peeling back the layers of the onion -The ‘one size fits all’ mentality of our society and how Ale helps people transition to a lifestyle conducive to their personal healing journey -The Environmental Working Group (EWG) as an easy way to start understanding what is in your products -Why it’s important to know how your clothing is made and what it’s made of -The mental aspect of health many people ignore -Find out what’s in your water -Dr Perry Nickelston of Stop Chasing Pain - Learn more about Brandy Augustine -The distrust of simple modalities that don’t require an expert -Reflecting on our priorities when it comes to our wellness and healing -Elizabeth of Honest Rituals -Prioritizing your own wellness before others so you can then help others from a good place -How to incorporate rituals that support yourself so you can give to others. You can connect with Ale through Ale Life & Design: Website: www.alelifeanddesign.com Instagram: @alelanaebloom Email: balance@alelifeanddesign.com Intro/Outro music by Ken Belcher Sound Mixing by Andrew Pals

In this episode of Return to Nature, Melissa interviews Leah Fanning about her journey to detoxify fine art and children’s paint supplies. Leah is the founder of Natural Earth Paint, an eco-friendly paint company based in Ashland, Oregon. She is a formally trained artist who decided to find non-toxic alternatives to her paint supplies so she could paint safely throughout her pregnancy. Natural Earth Paint uses natural earth and mineral pigments and organic ingredients to make safe, sustainable, and beautiful art supplies for children and fine artists. By leaving out the preservatives, heavy metal toxins, solvents, synthetics, additives and fillers, their products are of the highest quality - pure, radiant and supremely archival. Leah Shares: -Her formal art education and how she had assumed the standard art supplies filled with toxins were the only ones that would produce professional quality archival work -The reactions she experienced from using conventional painting supplies like turpentine and gesso -Her exploration of natural pigments, foraging, and researching the methods of the Renaissance masters -Colors From the Earth (still out of print) -Her heavy metal detox from conventional paints and why additives and fillers are added -Scott Sutton -Misleading labeling that isn’t truly non-toxic and the hurdles to finding out what’s actually in paint -Working with chemists to create plant-based alternatives to the petroleum-based standards -The modern advent that allowed for the creation of NEP’s eco solve. -Pigments Revealed International -Insight into Natural Earth Paint’s sourcing process and how chemistry can help create a more ethical pigment -The evolution of Natural Earth Paint’s packaging  -Creating sustainable paint brushes  -The uses of gum arabic and methyl cellulose powders -Gesso then vs. now You can connect with Leah through Natural Earth Paint: Website: www.naturalearthpaint.com Instagram: @naturalearthpaint Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarthPaints/ Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@naturalearthpaint Youtube: www.youtube.com/@naturalearthpaints Intro/Outro music by Ken Belcher Sound Mixing by Andrew Pals