Becoming Nature Podcast

In this episode we explore the power of poetry and the thing about hope. This episode is a conversation with poet Tom Hirons. I first discovered Tom's poetry on Instagram and it has a certain way of grabbing me.

We discuss hope, Whiskey, fires, love and activism. Tune in to the beauty of Tom Hirons' inspiring words and ways in a World, with hope not fueled by optimism but love.

Known for ‘In the Meantime’ and ‘Once a wild God’ Tom writes in ways that brings you to far a way land and the earthly muddy ‘here’.

In this episode we touch on:

• The impact of poetry

• The reputation of poetry

• Poetry as expression of soul

• Poetry as activism

• The power of poetry

• The importance of love

• Unexpected occurrences and hope

• Whiskey and storytelling traditions

From nettle donuts to rose syrup, Tara's cookbook is a colorful journey into the world of plant-based cuisine. We talk about the magic of connecting with nature through food.Tara as she shares her insights on the ancient wisdom of plants.

In this Episode we talk about:

• Connecting with nature through art.
• Plants as elders and allies.
• Connecting with Elderberries.
• Deep connection to plants.
• Chamomile tea's lasting power.
• The power of plants.
• Building connections through humility.
• Discovering nature in your backyard.

Tara Lanich-LaBrie is a culinary herbalist, finding a love of cooking and plants at an early age, and after a series of health issues began farming, foraging and baking professionally. She created her business, The Medicine Circle, to share colorful, seasonal recipes, and to build a bridge between people and the natural world.

Foraged & Grown: Healing, Magical Recipes for Every Season, is her first book.

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We explore his work of collecting songs and time with traveller communities, and the honoring of elders. It became a deep look at bridging what was known once into the current. I had to go for a long walk after this conversation to just be in some of the magic of his words… and humor. He is an artist that can’t help but pull you in, to listen, learn and be.

About singing in the dark times and places.

IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT

• Singing with Nightingales.

• The importance of old traditions.

• Last of the Scottish Travellers.

• The urgency of preserving culture.

• Discovering elders from different communities.

• Unusual encounters and creativity.

Sam Lee is a highly inventive and original singer, folk song interpreter, passionate conservationist, song collector and successful creator of live events. Alongside his organisation, The Nest Collective, Sam has shaken up the music scene breaking boundaries between folk and contemporary music and the assumed places and ways folksong is appreciated.

Visit carinalyall.com for notes, bio and ways to deepen nature connection.

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In this episode, the I speak to Richard Skrein. He shares about his work with a charity called The Garden Classroom, which brings nature experiences to inner city communities. We also discuss storytelling, being a facilitator and parent. Rich's work focusses on training adults to use the outdoors as a space for growth, learning, and healing. Tune in to learn more about their work and the transformative experiences they aim to create.

We dive into the impact of consuming a constant stream of fear-based stories. From the overwhelming amount of news and information focused on fear and trauma that bombards us in today's world. But also the stories that are ancient. The ancient fear stories that we told, and heard, for many reasons.

Erica is a writer and teacher based in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. Her essays appear in publications such as theGuardian,TheNew York Times,Yale Review,The Atlantic,andOrion, and her first book,Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell about Fear

In this episode, I speak with Woniya Thibeault who appeared on the show "Alone" and was the first woman to win a season.

Woniya joined two seasons of the show. First lasting 73 days alone in the wild on the brink of starvation. And won the second season ‘Frozen’, as the first woman in ‘Alone’ show history. It felt even more special to speak to her, as she won the show on my birth land of Labrador.

We talk about shares her experience in Labrador and the similarities and differences between that location and the Northwest Territories. Woniya reflects on the importance of self-care and the societal pressures around winning and money.

Sophie Strand is a writer based in the Hudson Valley who focuses on the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. But it would probably be more authentic to call her a neo-troubadour animist with a propensity to spin yarns that inevitably turn into love stories.

Her first book of essays The Flowering Wand: Lunar Kings, Lichenized Lovers, Transpecies Magicians, and Rhizomatic Harpists Heal the Masculine is forthcoming in 2022 from Inner Traditions. Her eco-feminist historical fiction reimagining of the gospels The Madonna Secret will also be published by Inner Traditions.  

She is currently researching her next epic, a mythopoetic exploration of ecology and queerness in the medieval legend of Tristan and Isolde.

Sarah has been a death doula and ritual healing practitioner since 2012.  Her work helps dying people and their families connect with each other, and with the innate wisdom of the dying process. 

Sarah’s approach draws on nature-­based spirituality, sacred sciences, and the richness of the human soul. She designs and facilitates ceremonies that help her clients to integrate experiences of death, loss, and transformation. These rituals honour the spiritual significance of what’s happening, and bring healing to the living, the dying, and the dead.

As one of the leading storytellers, Jan Blake has been performing worldwide for over twenty-five years. Specialising in stories from Africa, the Caribbean, and Arabia, she has a well-earned reputation for dynamic and generous storytelling. Recent highlights include Hay Festival, where she was storyteller in-residence, the Viljandi Harvest Festival in Estonia and TEDx Warsaw.

As well as performing at all the major storytelling festivals both nationally and internationally, she works regularly with the British Council, leads storytelling workshops for emerging storytellers, and gives masterclasses for teachers, brands, and businesses. She also regularly captivates school children with mesmerising stories.

Executive Editor at the Center for Humans and Nature Gavin Van Horn, joins on for a conversation about kinship. How it is beyond genetics and more about the relational.