Soon to be launching to a podcasting service near you.
In this episode Charlie chats to the Environmental Cowboy Khory Hancock. Khory talks candidly about his regenerative journey thus far & how the environmental cowboy persona came to be including who & what inspires him. We delve into the psychology of change, the importance of learning more about Australia's indigenous roots as we look to safeguard our environment for generations to come & the role regenerative agriculture has to play in this Episode Takeaways Regen ag is really a journey of self discovery. Our beliefs and values have come from Traditional Australian cultures which has been Primarily about dominating nature. Regen ag is less about ego, less about domination and more about being aligned with nature | We have gone from culture to culture to generation to generation with the same beliefs and values and people don’t like change. But change is happening whether we like it or not | We are at a point in history where we need to come together rather than divide | One person on their own cannot make significant difference but 7 billion acting together as one can make a big difference | When we talk about country. We talked about country as a thing. The indigenous when they talk about country, it’s so much deeper | It’s quite fearful for me to put myself out there like that. It’s nerve wracking! | Before I started the Environmental Cowboy I was definitely not free. I was afraid of people's judgement. I was afraid of failing. I was scared of rejection, but I faced those fears...but now I feel free. Links Khory Hancock / The Environmental Cowboy - website The Environmental Cowboy - IG & FB The Environmental Cowboy - You Tube National Regenerative Agriculture day - 14th Feb annually David Ward - agronomist Charles Massy - author of ‘The Call of the Reed Warbler’ Shane Fitzsimmons - Former NSW RFS Commissioner Celeste Barber - comedian David Marsh - regenerative agriculture farmer Tony Robbins - life & business strategist Al Gore - US politician & environmentalist Bruce Lee - Chinese american actor, martial artist & philosopher Ben Brooksby - the Naked Farmer Derek & Kirilly Blomfield - The Conscious Farmer Building Bridges to Boorowa - Landcare NSW project Holly Richmond - writer Byron Bay Grass Fed - beef producer Matthew Hussey - relationships coach
In the first episode Charlie delves into his very own regenerative journey and provides listeners with an insight into his early farming years, the defining moments that finally propelled him to a new way of thinking and some of the key milestones that Charlie has reached on the way. Episode Takeaways We were not running the farm with an entire view of the business or the impact we were having on the environment. The farm was a basket of resources that we could use…there was water, there was grass, there was soil, air, there was sunshine...and we essentially mined it…We were farming as we always had, we were doing as our neighbours did and we were farming in a way that we thought was appropriate | I had a cheque book in one hand and my 'how to' agronomic hand book in the other. We went pretty hard, burnt a lot diesel...Really every morning I was waking up and I was killing stuff. That was what one did. If one was farming one was unwittingly battling nature | I needed to bust paradigms.. I needed to change the paddock between my ears so that I could actually do things differently on the ground…I needed to change my attitude and to do that I was needing to ask myself better questions | Starting to use Biodynamics...That alone gave me some structure. It really resonated with me. It helped me understand my new relationship with nature and the context of that in farming, in business and in our lives | In farming, the practices and principals of farming are so entwined with oneself, ones personality ones purpose. If we are doing things in a way that is effective and productive and purposeful then we are also building ourselves and defining and refining who we are in this world, not just in the agricultural space, and in the world of being a person, our role in mankind in humanity. Links Profiting from drought - 1 day Course run by RCS ( Resource Consulting Services) RCS – Grazing for Profit Holistic Management - Land to Market Australia is a program run by the Australian Holistic Management Cooperative Limited. Uniquely, this project is being driven by producers and farmers themselves. Biodynamics – what is Biodynamics Biodynamics workshops - new website w/ info on workshops launching soon!
In this episode Charlie interviews American farmer and leading regenerative agriculture advocate Joel Salatin. Joel recounts his Regenerative Journey from his formative years as the son of a chicken farming accountant in Venezuela through the rehabilitation of his family farm in Swoope, Virginia, to the prolific supplier of fresh food to his customers and legendary public speaker. He talks about the importance of communication, authenticity and also about how highly he regards Australia within the regenerative agriculture space. Episode Takeaways We moved forward in faith not in fear | If you stop fighting nature, and you see nature as a partner. Hand in hand going in the same direction, it costs a lot less financially and ecologically | Communication is typically not taught in 'Farming 101' | Farmers have to be experts in lots of things. There is a lot of talent within the farming community but a lot of time this isn’t leveraged. There are many number of things that farmers can do. It is a tragedy, a societal indictment, that we have created this mystic of the peasant farmer | My sense is that Australia is a very fragile landscape but it's also a very wealthy country. As such the world's eyes are on Australia to wear the responsibility seriously and continue to lead the world in regenerative practices. Links Polyface Farm - Joel’s farm Joel Salatin Nutrisoil ‘Sustainable abundance’ conference – 21/22nd May 2019, Victoria, AUS ‘Polyfaces’ documentary (2015) – filmed over 4 years by Darren Docherty and Lisa Heenan. The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing – Bronrie Ware Sex begins in the kitchen – Kevin Leman Albert Einstein - Einstein said definition of insanity ‘doing the same thing and hoping for a different result'. Steven Covey – Circles of influence BEEP (Boorowa Education Excursion Program) - Boorowa Community Landcare Group See you at the top – Zig Ziglar Alan Savoury – Zim ecologist (Alan Savory Institute) The lean farm – Ben Hartman
In this episode Charlie chats to award winning film director & change maker Damon Gameau. He delves into his own Regenerative Journey, from his early career as an actor, and the pivotal moments that were the catalyst for his change in direction. They talk Covid-19 and the opportunities the pandemic is providing to reshape redundant mindsets, including the role of regenenerative agriculture has to play in a new paradigm. No chat with Damon is complete without of course, delving into his 2040 film as we learn more about Damon's inspirational fact based dreaming approach. Episode Takeaways | It felt like a noble job to be playing another human being.. but then, you have to juxtapose that with paying the bills | At the time I had really spent a lot of effort cultivating this persona of myself, of this rollie smoking, velvet jacket wearing actor.. who just loved the first 3 months of relationship, who just then ran for the hills | People who are genuinely doing amazing things.. like trying to help the planet, we just don’t have any accolades or awards ceremonies for those people.. this has always been baffling to me | We are so controlled by the story that we tell ourselves | With Covid-19 all those illusionary forms and structures have suddenly dissolved and we have seen how fragile our system is | Off the back of 2040, there has been so much travel with that…I just burnt myself out, traveling every week. It’s been quite a revelation to stop…to be at home | This is a moment - a rare moment, that the door is slightly a jar…This is the moment that we have been waiting for. Suddenly we have pressed stop on the system. In this pause moment, it's the chrysalis, it's the caterpillar going into the cocoon | All these key different elements of our biodiversity, they are so under the pump right now. Going back to normal (post Covid), is a suicide mission | We cant be outsourcing everything overseas anymore, the current system is not robust. It's a 20th century model that's trying to deal with 21st century problems. We have to adapt | Regenerative agriculture is absolutely the most exciting 'bio tech' that is emerging this century | All the magic is under our feet - it's just waiting patiently, calmly | Be kind - don’t over think this, as a race we do actually get on. We do care about each other. Links Whats your 2040 ? - website for Damon's 2040 film (released 2019) Kate Raworth - Uk economist Charles Massy - author of 'Call of the Reed Warbler' Regen Ag course - Southern Cross University Martin Royds - Jillamatong, Braidwood Impossible foods - plant based food co. Sustainable Dish - Diane Rogers. Polyface farms - Joel Salatin Raymond Williams - quote The Intrepid Foundation - improving livelihoods through sustainable travel experiences Tim Flannery - Australian palaeontologist The Living Mountain - book by Nan Shepherd The Future we Choose - book by Christiana Figueres Fantastic Fungi - film The Tim Ferriss show - podcast Landmark Worldwide- transformation course / personal development
Charlie chats with Sara Schmude, who's 15 year relationship with the Landcare movement played a pivital role in inspiring her interest in regenerative farming & the educating of children and adults alike. She launched the 'Regenerative Agriculture Group' facebook page in late 2018 and now boasts a global membership. Sara talks natural capital, and the definition of regenerative agriculture before delving deeper into the catalysts and kick starts that made up her regenerative journey. Episode Takeaways Growing up on the land in the 70’s & 80’s being a female. Not recognised as someone who would be a land manager. Took it for granted that she wasn't going to be on the land. Continued to ask questions - mustering became my second name | The calibre of people who are in this space is exceptional. Have got to a point in their life that they want to change. Their approach is really refreshing | A tribute to the boom in my garden is the Biodynamic compost. I feel connected with my garden. It feeds me every day, nurtures my soul. It’s integral | Good general advice-Manage for what you want. Not for what you don't want | I just think it's a boom time for agriculture | Working with nature. You start to find these rhythms , things start to function, mineral and water cycles. Really important. When we talk about adapting to our climate, we have to adapt these systems, we have to adapt our minds | If you raise your soil carbon content by 1% you are drawing down 122 tonne per Ha of CO2 into your soils. So that has the potential to generate 122 ACCU per hectare | The government would be very wise to get as many people on board the carbon sequestration train, through education and empowering them to leverage their natural capital by drawing down the carbon in the soil | Regen ag is just open. It’s inclusive and easy to access. Links Regenerative Agriculture - facebook page Impact Ag - Sara’s natural capital interest Introduction to Biodynamics Workshop - Biodynamics2024 & Charlie Thalgarrah education centre, Armidale NSW Frog Dreaming Inside Out Management - Brian Whelberg Hand For the Land - Graeme Hand Soil C Quest - Guy Webb KLR Marketing - Graham Rees Regenerative Agriculture book - Richard Perkins A Sand County Almanac - Aldo Leopold The Rodale Book of Composting - Rodale Institute Amazing Carbon - Dr. Christine Jones Maia Grazing Day and Grazing Systems Biocast - Vermicast bio stimulant product Regen Ag definition Call of the Reed Warbler - Charles Massy Rachel Ward documentary ( being filmed) Grazing for Profit - RCS Regenerative Agriculture Podcast - John Kempf 99% invisible podcast - Roman Mars
In this episode Charlie chats to the Environmental Cowboy Khory Hancock. Khory talks candidly about his regenerative journey thus far & how the environmental cowboy persona came to be, including who & what inspires him. We delve into the psychology of change, the importance of learning more about Australia's indigenous roots as we look to safeguard our environment for generations to come & the role regenerative agriculture has to play in this. Episode Takeaways Regenerative agriculture is really a journey of self discovery. Our beliefs and values have come from Traditional Australian practices which has been Primarily about dominating nature. Regenerative farming is less about ego, less about domination and more about being aligned with nature | We have gone from culture to culture to generation to generation with the same beliefs and values and people don’t like change. But change is happening whether we like it or not | We are at a point in history where we need to come together rather than divide | One person on their own cannot make significant difference but 7 billion acting together as one can make a big difference | When we talk about country. We talked about country as a thing. The indigenous when they talk about country, it’s so much deeper | It’s quite fearful for me to put myself out there like that. It’s nerve wracking! | Before I started the Environmental Cowboy I was definitely not free. I was afraid of people's judgement. I was afraid of failing. I was scared of rejection, but I faced those fears...but now I feel free. Links Khory Hancock / The Environmental Cowboy - website The Environmental Cowboy - IG & FB The Environmental Cowboy - You Tube National Regenerative Agriculture day - 14th Feb annually David Ward - agronomist Charles Massy - author of ‘The Call of the Reed Warbler’ Shane Fitzsimmons - Former NSW RFS Commissioner Celeste Barber - comedian David Marsh - regenerative agriculture farmer Tony Robbins - life & business strategist Al Gore - US politician & environmentalist Bruce Lee - Chinese american actor, martial artist & philosopher Ben Brooksby - the Naked Farmer Derek & Kirilly Blomfield - The Conscious Farmer Building Bridges to Boorowa - Boorowa Comunity Landcare Group project Holly Richmond - writer Byron Bay Grass Fed - beef producer Matthew Hussey - relationships coach
In this episode Charlie chats to the American grazier & educator Jim Gerrish. Jim takes us on his regenerative journey and recalls the moment, when he realised that the aroma of freshly turned/ ploughed ground he had always liked growing up was in fact the smell of the earth dying...this proved to be the turning point in his life. Jim's journey is a captivating one which touches on human health & diet, food definitions, changing farm practices and a whole lot more. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey podcast facebook group. Episode Takeaways We don’t need feedlots. We just need people who have grazing management skills to take a pasture and turn it into delightful beef | In research we don’t call it a cow pie/cow pat, it’s a SEE...a Single Excretory Event! | We don’t need new knowledge, we need to be applying what we already know | The whole idea that beef cattle are destroying the environment is only tied to feedlot phase of it | The methane thing is a real red herring with grazing cattle, feedlots it’s a problem. It's the production model not the ruminant animals that are the problem | Grass feeds the grass, grass feeds the soil, then grass can feed the livestock| Human health is instrincically linked to soil health. Links Jim Gerrish - American Grazing Lands LLC Maia Grazing - Grazing management tool Dr. James Anderson - Scottish agriculturist in 1700’s Diana Rodgers - Sustainable Dish Sacred Cow - Film project led by Diana Rodgers
In this episode Charlie chats to Lorraine Gordon. Lorraine takes us back to her early twenty's when she first stepped onto the land, and her formidable journey from this point on. We cover off on some of her most important career milestones including her recent project the launch of the world's first Regenerative Agricultural degree course at SCU. We talk Australia's positioning on the world stage and also the regen. ag definition debate. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: The power of collaborating and working together. Farmers are always going to be stronger when they pull resources and work together | RCS and Terry McCosker have done more for farming and grazing in this country than anyone else that I know | Regenerative Ag. is a whole way of thinking, it’s holistic thinking, it's questioning and it's a different journey for everybody who takes it. It’s not a prescriptive journey | Nobody owns the term regenerative, regenerate or regen. It’s not something you can own | There is no point giving money to farmers for a hay shed, if there’s no hay to put in the shed! | We’ve had drought, horrendously hot fires, now floods… and now we’re just waiting for the locust plague! |Our soils are the oldest soils in the world...we shouldn't farm the way Europe farms. We need to farm the Australian way | The world is watching us. The world watched Australia burn | As a consumer, don't sit there and say that I will become a vegan / vegetarian because livestock production is bad...that is coming from a point of ignorance because not all livestock production is bad | Farmers are the ultimate in action research! Links : Lorraine Gordon - 2020 NSW Australian of the Year nominee Ebor Beef Inc - Lorraine is the co-founder Regenerative Agriculture Alliance - Lorraine is the founder Yaraando Eco Lodge - Lorraine is the director Moffart Falls Pty Ltd - Lorraine is the director Regenerative Agriculture Course - Southern Cross University / Lorraine is the Strategic director of projects at SCU Wayne Upton - cattle stalwart RCS - Resource Consultancy Services / Founder Terry McCosker Farming Together - pilot program for farming resources run by Southern Cross University 2016 - 2018 National Marine Science Centre - SCU Maia Grazing - Online grazing management software
This is the first of a two part interview with David Marsh, a stalwart of the Australian regenerative movement and good friend of Charlie's. In what is an enlightening and philosophical dialogue David takes us on his regenerative journey and steps us through the course of events that triggered David's change in approach. In Part 1 we learn about how Landcare Australia came to be and David provides a valuable insight into Australian agriculture over the last 50 years. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways : What was growing in the paddocks early 1970? I didn't know...compared to now, when I am absolutely obsessed with it | It was the time of showing that we had mastery over nature...a lot to do with subsidies given after the war...there was a Super Phosphate bounty...you were paid to put Super out | The mantra out West was sell and repent but sell | In Boorowa the mantra was hang on and hope you get lucky | We noticed trees dying. Mary and I went out and did some counts in a few paddocks where there were quite a few trees. We calculated that at the rate they were dying that in 70 years there wouldn't be many alive. That was the embryo and the awakening of an ecological conscience | We had no idea what we were doing to be honest and thought we were forming a group because there were a lot of trees dying in Boorowa…but the trees were actually an indication of a whole lot of other things that were going on...we were ecologically blind | Corona 19 has made people reconsider how they have been living and how dependent they are on so many things that are high energy products | I used to see myself as an agent responsible for healing the land...there is nothing wrong with this but now I see myself as someone who is observing the landscape that is healing itself. Episode #8 Links The Cattle Crash - 1974 Ian Armstrong - Rural Action Movement 1982 drought NSW Joan Kirner - Conservation Minister ( 1985 - 88 ) instrumental in formation of first Landcare Groups. Andrew Campbell - Formerly manager of the Potter Farm Plan initiative, first Landcare Coordinator and now CEO of the ACIAR ( Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) ACF - Australian Conservation Foundation NFF - National Farmers Federation Bob Hawke - Landcare involvement Boorowa Community Landcare Group - History Bertigan ( QLD) Catchment Landcare Group / Gympie Landcare - History An Agricultural Testament - Author Arthur Howard A Silent Spring - Author Rachel Carsons
This is the second of a two part interview with David Marsh, a stalwart of the Australian regenerative movement and good friend of Charlie's. In what is an enlightening and philosophical dialogue David takes us on his regenerative journey and steps us through the course of events that triggered David's change in approach. In Part 2 David delves deeper into the psychology of change and offers advice to those looking to start the transition. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways : What was growing in the paddocks early 1970? I didn't know...compared to now, when I am absolutely obsessed with it | It was the time of showing that we had mastery over nature...a lot to do with subsidies given after the war...there was a Super Phosphate bounty...you were paid to put Super out | The mantra out West was sell and repent but sell | In Boorowa the mantra was hang on and hope you get lucky | We noticed trees dying. Mary and I went out and did some counts in a few paddocks where there were quite a few trees. We calculated that at the rate they were dying that in 70 years there wouldn't be many alive. That was the embryo and the awakening of an ecological conscience | We had no idea what we were doing to be honest and thought we were forming a group because there were a lot of trees dying in Boorowa…but the trees were actually an indication of a whole lot of other things that were going on...we were ecologically blind | Corona 19 has made people reconsider how they have been living and how dependent they are on so many things that are high energy products | I used to see myself as an agent responsible for healing the land...there is nothing wrong with this but now I see myself as someone who is observing the landscape that is healing itself. Episode #8 Links The Cattle Crash - 1974 Ian Armstrong - Rural Action Movement 1982 drought NSW Joan Kirner - Conservation Minister (1985 - 88) instrumental in formation of first Landcare Groups. Andrew Campbell - Formerly manager of the Potter Farm Plan initiative, first Landcare Coordinator and now CEO of the ACIAR ( Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) ACF - Australian Conservation Foundation NFF - National Farmers Federation Bob Hawke - Landcare involvement Boorowa Community Landcare Group - History Bertigan ( QLD) Catchment Landcare Group / Gympie Landcare - History An Agricultural Testament - Author Arthur Howard A Silent Spring - Author Rachel Carsons
Charlie's guest for the final episode of Series 1 of the Regenerative Journey is Maree Lowes. In a fascinating and thought provoking interview Maree delves into her Regenerative Journey post 'Dirt Girl'. Maree chats about her current studies and passion for disaster resilience & sustainable development and what she believes can be done to help safe guard the planet & mankind for future generations...Maree and Charlie wrap up their conversation with an exciting announcement about a new collaboration that they are hard at work on! To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways : You can have all the facts in the world but if people haven't connected with their hearts, with what it is we are trying to protect then it is really hard to sustain any behavioural change and to keep it going | We are as big and as small as the largest thing and the smallest things in the universe | A big principle of regenerative agriculture is learning to listen to the land and respecting the power of biodiversity and systems and the power that nature has | So early on in life, we are having the wrong conversations about what food offers us | (Talking about the Masters Maree is currently studying towards)...My heart is a little calmer as I feel that I am going to the crux of some of the work that needs to be done. Looking at the systems that are in place and why they're not serving and why they're not creating a resilient regenerative future for us | The fires on the back of the long drought…has brought it home to Aussies that idea of a drying and warming climate and the outcomes of that…isn't a solely academic thing any more. It's real | When the system is still going in the opposite direction it makes people question why they should make changes | Going forward, we need to learn to listen to ourselves again. This is going to be really important | The importance of staying connected to purpose and community are incredibly valuable | (On Charlie) I had a fan-girl moment when I found you that you were a Landcare Ambassador ! Episode Links : Maree Lowes - Website Jillamatong - Martin Royds property , Braidwood, NSW Beyond the Brink - Peter Andrews, Farmer/ educator/ author Tarwyn Park Training - Natural Sequence Farming / Stuart Andrews Dark Emu - Bruce Pascoe Climate Refugees - Definition Master of Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development Program - Information Radical Hope - Richard Lear author Psychological flexibility - Overview BYO Bottle Campaign - Jack Johnson/ Maree Lowes Time banking - Definition Landcare Australia Organisation Bob Hawke Landcare Award National Bushfire & Climate Summit - June 2020 Building Bridges to Boorowa - Landcare Gateway Project Mulloon Creek Institute The Farm - Tom & Emma Lane / Byron Bay Three Blue Ducks - Restaurant / The Farm Pocket City Farms - Food Education & Community Clayton Donovan - Chef Joost Bakker - Activist and founder of Melbourne’s first zero waste restaurant Zach Bush - Physician & educator Carbon8 - Helen McCosker NRAD - 14th Feb annually NRAD & Kelly Jones The Castle - Film Rachel Ward - Film director / beef farmer
The introduction to Season 2 is a long overdue interview with Charles Massy, devotee for regenerative farming and patriarch for land care advocates in Australia. He is a farmer, author and storyteller who has brought life to the ideals of many scholars and forward thinkers that are fundamental to our human interaction on the ecosystem. He has deep empathy for nature that is in sync with land management. In part one of a two part interview, Charles is sat in his Severn Park home, unravelling his journey into farming. A profound love of nature from a young age helped his transition to inherit the family farm that he converted to regenerative agriculture, all while studying a degree in Ecology and a PhD in Human Ecology. He describes his “head cracking” moments into understanding the need to develop better practices to nurture the health of the ancient Australian landscape. His holistic, pragmatic words are like a wise father who the world over should come to hear. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: Europeans came here under huge misunderstandings of how this land would behave | There were probably 15000 to 25000 years of indigenous landscape management before we came | If we are going to talk about humans on earth we have to understand how they impact our natural environment | The concept of we, humans and sustaining our environment is inseparable | Our cognitive function tends to lock in that world view and it takes a lot of disturbing to crack it open | There are excellent indigenous thinkers writing in this space. It takes a lot to get your head around but wow, we’re in kindergarten | Episode Links: Aldo Leopold - Ecologist, philosopher (website) Call of the Reed Warbler - Charles Massy Breaking The Sheep's Back - Charles Massy The Australian Merino - Charles Massy RCS - Course Holistic Management - Course Project Drawdown - Paul Kawken Dark Emu - Bruce Pascoe Fire Country - Victor Steffensen Sand Talk - Tyson Yunkaporta
In part 2 of this interview, Charlie and Charles detail the difference between Complex Adaptive Systems and the Industrial Method of farming. Charles’ resonates his free flowing insight into the direct relationship between farming, food systems, human health and its effect on the mental health of ourselves and our children. They summarise the consequences of our increasing divorcement from nature and the job description of a regenerative farmer. Charles Massy is a devotee for regenerative farming and patriarch for land care advocates in Australia. He is a farmer, author and storyteller who has brought life to the ideals of so many scholars and forward thinkers that are fundamental to our human interaction on the ecosystem. He has deep empathy for nature that is in sync with land management. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: Emergent Properties are the name they’ve given to elements within the system that will emerge when it needs to adapt. The solution lies within | If you have a healthy environment and you degrade it too far it will go to a stage that it’s almost impossible to get it back | In industrial farms you have drug addicted plants waiting for their fertiliser dose | Modern industrial food is causing all of these diseases causing havoc on human health | Most indigenous women in hunter-gatherer societies can identify at least 500 food or medicinal plant in their landscape | We now find devastating evidence that the world’s most widely used herbicide is in almost all modern foods | For every child in Australia under aged under six, only 1 in 4 has ever climbed a tree or a rock | The solutions are simple: grow and eat healthy food and get out into nature as much as you can | Episode Links: Holistic Management – Alan Savoury Nourishment - Fred Provenza Last Child In The Woods – Richard Louv Di Haggerty – Cropping Farmers A Thousand Days Program Zach Bush - Holistic Health and Wellbeing Patagonia Provisions – Yvonne Chouinard
Charlie’s guest for this episode is Sarah Wilson. Sarah Wilson, the New York Times best selling author, former journo and retired intrepid traveler shares her regenerative journey in a frank, open and honest chat with Charlie. The setting for the interview is Sarah’s Bondi apartment, her sanctuary and place she now calls home. Sarah recounts her fascinating story and explains what it is to finally put down roots. Charlie and Sarah share an open dialogue which touches on what regenerative agriculture means to Sarah, as she talks about the fragile state of mankind today in terms of diet, mental illness /disease, and the urgent need for realignment - a subject matter close to Sarah’s heart and aptly the focus of her new book: ‘This One Wild and Precious Life: A hopeful path forward in a fractured world’, which has just hit the shelves. Put aside some time and delve in and listen to this life-changing episode now! To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: Every community needs an esoteric spinster wandering around the street | I interpret odd as not being necessarily bad. I I rebelled against some of the thinking around my upbringing however I maintained many of the sustainable minimalist principles. | I probably did a bunch of things that scared the living daylights of my parents. | It generally takes a slap down for those of us who have done a very big pivot in life, to do that pivot. | I believe when you have a longing in your soul.. Life will join you. Life will corporate with you to steer you in direction. | (Talking about her auto-immune disease) - Gets your ego and scrapes you through the mud. | I had made a commitment, in the absence of any framework, into how to live life on this planet… If I hear a mention of something three times in a row, I must act. | Meditation was a big part of my shift. It was being stripped bare, and being left with nothing. | Reduced down to the two suitcases.. And then the rest of my life started| I was aware of how off kilter we were with our food system.. How much really basic logic we have managed to disrupt. We have created hyper normal problems. | There is a lot of sensible common sense stuff that really we only have to look at the way our great grandparents to get an indication of what a really good sustainable life on this planet looks like. | I have been able to heal from multiple stress related / autoimmune disease I believe and reverse a lot of the markers because of the way I live - in nature, in dirt, in trees. | I describe a serious anxiety order as like carrying a shallow bowl of water around for the rest of my life. | I am feeling very overwhelmed very scared about what is going on in the world. | (talking about her book) I am reframing my anxiety through a new lens. Links : www.sarahwilson.com - Sarah’s website Sarah Wilson website I Quit Sugar Series - author Sarah Wilson First, We make the Beast Beautiful - author Sarah Wilson This One Wild and Precious Life: A hopeful path forward in a Fractured World - author Sarah Wilson Nicho Plowman - Vedic meditation teacher The Conscious Club - Transformational Learning and Lifestyle centre Tim Brown - meditator Hashimoto's disease - information Dr James Hollis - jungian psychoanalysis. Food Inc - Joel Salatin movie Dr. Chris Kresser - renowned expert, leading clinician, and top educator in the fields of Functional Medicine and ancestral health. Active Farmers - country farmers/ riding bikes. Chris Eggert - Norco / dairy farmer Nietzsche thinking - german philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche Sils Maria - Town in Switzerland. Heidi - book and later film William Wordsworth - English poet David Whyte - Irish poet Victor Frankel - Austrian neurologist & psychologist Man’s Search for Meaning - Victor Frankel author Fostering in Australia - resources Sir Ken Robinson - Ted Talk Steiner Education - resources
In this insightful interview with Martin Royds, he and Charlie discuss personal experiences relating to the polarising differences of conventional and holistic farming. As a fifth generation farmer, Martin evolved the family cattle property in Braidwood, NSW to biodynamic practices with a goal to reconnect city and country. Together, they highlight the importance of economic influence in regenerative agriculture and solve the monetary concern that naïve consumers often have when purchasing nutrient rich food. There is an underlying subject that generational farmers have shifted their inherited knowledge over time to be in harmony with the environment and part of that comes from acknowledging the oversights of the past. Yet, the humility is in the fact that we are constantly learning. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways:The epiphany was watching your land blowing away and thinking you need to do something different. Tried something different, the chemical experiment, and that was even worse | Australian farmers have been extremely good at surviving in decreasing income and increasing costs. The difference now is setting a goal of where I want to be environmentally and socially and making every decision to reflect that | There is one kilo of glyphosate being used per every human on the planet. Our ancestors will look back at us and say “how on earth did you think that pouring that stuff onto the country was a good idea” | None of us looked at what was happening environmentally, we were asking how long it would take to get our money back | Most of our soils had 3% carbon and we mined it back to 1% | You can use double entry bookkeeping to fix the problem as soon as you add in environmental capital | Most farmers who are generational farmers find it hard to get out of “this is what my father or grandfather did” | Sadly, humans are one of the few species who leave the land behind them in a worse state | When people understand nutrient density in organic vegetables they will realise they can’t afford the cheap option because its poisoning me | My goal is that supermarkets will have to label their products with the amount of nutrients in those products. Ultimately that could lead to listing the amount of chemicals used to make it also | Episode Links:Nutri Soil – Biological Spray Solution Carbon in Soil – An explanation Double-Entry Bookkeeping – An explanation Charlie Massy – Author/Farmer Pennie Scott – The Bush Goddess Nutrient Dense crops – An explanation Carotene in Food – Definition Land to Market Australia - Organisation Joel Salatin – Farmer, lecturer, author Peter Andrews – Regenerative Agriculturalist Christine Jones – Amazing CarbonDr Maarten Staper – BioLogic AgFoodAlison Pouliot – Fungi Workshop, photographer
This episode sees Charlie sit down with the impressively bearded and deep thinking Peter Windrim. Peter is a biodynamic winemaker and farmer, creative director, graphic designer and photographer. His contribution to agriculture has evolved by opening a wine bar in Byron Bay to encourage community and create conversation around natural wine. Having lived and worked on his family’s biodynamic vineyard in the Hunter Valley, he has philosophised his own definition of the practice which he explains with absolute conviction. He is a heart felt voice that places importance on knowing yourself and your vocation. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: I think there’s so much confusion there and I’ve been guilty myself of lip service and using other peoples words. So many people care about it and get lost in the beautifully, philosophical, touchy-feely nature of what biodynamics is | Rudolf Steiner, the father of biodynamics “Sulphur is what the spirit moistens its fingers with into the physical” | Thankfully now there are a lot of people who have caught the wave of the climate change movement & who have cottoned on to the importance of soil | I think there are certain products, the luxury consumables like wine, that people care a bit less about because they’re in it for a good time | Biodynamics is sympathetic agriculture but I felt lonely on the farm. Community is the backbone of what I do. I’m going to build a bar and build a community around natural wine | Wine was hijacked by the aristocrats and scientist 60-70 years ago. They gave it all this new language and judging shows based on clarity and purity and all of this stuff that wine wasn’t, and that farming isn’t, nor should it be | Biodynamics is like the global pandemic, the more you learn to work with it, the more power it has | It sounds simple but if the farm looks good, aesthetically pleasingly good, you’ve done it right. And if you have pride in what you do, you’ll make it right | Everything that we do, informs the next thing that we do. We get so boxed in with where we should be….“No I can’t change career”….”no I’d have to study that first”…it’s such a shame that we feel like we can’t evolve with the fabric of our old selves | You’ve got to know what you know. People need to ask more questions Episode LinksKrinklewood Vineyard - Hunter ValleySupernatural - Wine Bar Byron Bay Rudolf Steiner - Father of Biodynamics/Philosopher Terroir in Wine - A Definition Organic & Biodynamic Wine - Wine Australia Education Radionics in Agriculture Nicolas Joly - Godfather of biodynamic wine/author Matthew Evans - farmer, author, The Gourmet Farmer, Fat Pig Farm
Charlie interviewed chef Darren Robertson of the Three Blue Ducks fame at The Farm at Byron Bay where he moved to 5 years ago after, amongst other things, being the head chef at the world famous Tetsuya restaurant in Sydney. Darren also speaks frankly about the pressures and strains of the hospitality industry, his initial interest in cooking, what he looks for in staff, and his gratitude for his life's journey thus far. This is a conversation that will interest food lovers, farmers, the hospitality industry and everyone in between. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways : Establishing the Three Blue Ducks restaurant at The Farm at Byron Bay was a massive step up and into the world of farming and sourcing fresh produce directly from producers | Creative 'root to flower' cooking with food straight from the paddock | Australian salads are the best in the world! | Marco Pierre White was Darren's first culinary inspiration | Moved to Australia to work at the world famous Tetsuya in Sydney and fell in love with the food scene | Surfing was a game changer for keeping Darren focused and not falling down the rabbit hole of the late night hospitality industry | Advice for chefs in the time of Covid 19 | Hospitality industry mental health as a global crisis | Chefs evolving appreciation for food and its origins | Advice to a young Darren Robertson - put away 10% of income for Future opportunities and a rainy day, and be grateful today for what you have | Creating a community of passionate staff is a big part of their success | There’s no where to hide in a kitchen! |The Biodynamic practice of peppering to rid rabbits of an area | Darren's parting advice- be kind, and give it a crack! Links: Darren Robertson - IG Three Blue Ducks The Farm - Byron Bay Tetsuyas - Restaurant Marco Pierre White - chef / restranteur
This episode with Murray Prior discusses his unfolding from the corporate sector to becoming a custodian of the land. He is gentle spoken and modest about his farming experience yet his thoughtful and deft practices supports his every word. He opens up about the importance of having good mentors and sharing knowledge with peers, that indigenous cultures teach us to care for the land and not own the land, and that the powers of observation are key to understanding country. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways: There was a search for some sort of higher purpose. Something that we could get involved in that frankly, even went past our own lifetimes | The big moment for me was when Charlie (Massy) was with me out in the paddocks. We had this nice moment where we were sitting and he was pointing out different things. He said to me “You know you don’t really own this place” | I’m not a religious person in a traditional sense but tapping into a sense of spirituality for the landscape of the indigenous people who had it before us and get into the feel of the place | I’m 48 years old now and I’m thinking, when this tree is a big tree it will be nearing the end of my time on the planet | I wanted my girls to understand that food doesn’t come in a polystyrene tray with glad wrap on it | One of the things that he does when he comes out is he’ll often go and grab some fresh green Eucalypt and he’ll pull that off as a branch. He’ll teach our girls that if you rub that on your armpit and then rub it on the ground, that’s his way of communicating with his ancestors | One of my big fears is if the girls found out we knew about climate change and knew we did nothing about it | There’s also a part of getting out of nature’s way. I’ve planted thousands of trees but there’s natural regen going on all the time | I think that being relatively new to the industry you don’t have the memory bank of seasons. While you might have some landscape literacy, you don’t have season literacy Episode Links: Call of the Reed Warbler - Charles Massy Charles Massy - TED talk Regenerative Agriculture Paul House - Ngambri Country Elder Welcome to Country - Paul House Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony Bruce Pascoe - Author, Ted Talk on Dark Emu Dark Emu - Bruce Pascoe Dark Emu for Kids - Bruce Pascoe Aboriginal Land Council - Explanation and Index of Councils by State The Barn Accommodation, Nguuurruu - Murray Prior’s Farm Dr Zach Bush - Author, Health Consultant and Environmentalist Hannamino Farm - Charlie Arnott Biodynamics - A Definition Biodynamics - Cow Manure PreparationsMickey Robertson - Glenmore House
Dr Ron Ehrlich is far from a conventional dentist. After a 'normal' initial training in dentistry, Dr Ron started to connect the dots between oral hygiene, the influence that diet had on the development of the body, over all human health and the health of the soil in which that food was grown. Charlie explores with Ron his journey into his holistic approach to dental care and how regenerative agriculture plays a critical role in providing the quality of food necessary to promote good health. Dr Ron also dives into the topic of 'environmental medicine' and how we can mitigate against various detrimental impacts of chemicals, toxins and electro magnetic frequency radiation. Dr Rons breadth of knowledge provides a compelling perspective on the importance of the connection between dental, human and environmental health. To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. Episode Takeaways The combination of biology, technology, psychology and freedom drew Ron to dentistry | There’s a huge amount of psychology and intimacy in dentistry | It’s a potentially very stressful environment for both dentist and patient with dentistry related vocations ranking 1,2 and 3 for the worst jobs in the world! | The mouth is connected to multiple organs and areas of the body not generally understood nor considered by the conventional dentistry fraternity | There are many parallels between holistic dentistry and regen agriculture in that it treats the causes not the symptoms, and focus on what one is in control of | Ron’s considered and non- confrontational approach to pushing the boundaries of dentistry has been very effective, reflected of one of his mantra’s ‘Get your house in order before being critical of others’ | Ruminant urine is a beautiful thing as it contains plant growth hormones and stimulates the production of plant based Pseudomonas syringae bacterium that floats up into the atmosphere and helps to seed rain! |Regen farming practices and outcomes are a no brainer for Ron who sits outside the agricultural world however is very connected to it via his patients mouths | 5 human stressors are environmental, emotional, nutritional, postural and dental | Gut, oral and soil biome are similar in that the more diverse these environments are the more healthy and resilient they will be | The resource isn’t the problem it’s the management of that resource that matters, there needs to be a holistic context for its management | Change will not come from government or professional organisations, they are slow to accept new ideas, they are protective of their own egos and reputations and they lack common sense | Environmental medicine is one of Dr Ron’s areas of study and advocacy - Only, approx. 5 % of environmental chemicals are formally tested | We are exposed to multiple chemicals over our lifetimes, 140,000 chemicals currently in the world increasing by 2-3,000 every year. We are also exposed to moulds, dust, and out gassing of chemicals |...and Electro Magnetic Frequency (EMF) radiation could be to the 21 st century what lead in petrol and tobacco was to 20th century | Sleep is our built-in, non negotiable life support system, 7-9 hours a night. Tips for listeners regarding environmental toxicities Check for mould dust mites bedding No technology before or near bed No electrical currents near bed Computers emit blue light which is in the ultra violet spectrum and impacts our melatonin levels | Building Biologists can help advise on the impacts of EMF in buildings. Links Dr. Ron Ehrlich – holistic health advocate, dentist, educator, podcaster and an internationally published author. Sydney Holistic Dental Centre – run in partnership with his brother Dr. Joshua Ehrlich Nourishing Australia Dr Ron helped found Nourishing Australia with Vicki Poulter, a NFP dedicated to healthy plants, healthy animals, healthy people and a healthy planet The Meter Man - A huge range of innovative farm, agricultural, horticultural meters, probes, instruments, tools and resources from David Von Pein The Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine ( ACNEM) in Victoria is a good place for health care professionals Low Tox Life Podcast – Alexx Stuart . For families and individuals looking for invaluable info.
Stirling Keayes
In fairness and balance, now Charlie you need to interview Peter O'Brien the author of Bitter Harvest.
David Olof
Very inspiring pod cast, Charlie is a great host!🙏
Dean Boulding
great podcast, looking forward to more episode's.