Our Nature
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The Our Nature Podcast explores the methods, systems and practices that bring us into greater alignment with the natural world. The opportunity to live a more joyful and harmonious existence is available to each of us right in this very moment. Join me, Alyssa Benjamin, and let's rediscover what comes naturally.
Our Nature
11M ago
Since 2021, Tenijah has hosted and produced Bring Birds Back, a podcast about conservation, formal/ citizen science, and of course—birds, told through the lenses of intersectionality and environmental justice.
What’s inspiring to me about Tenijah (among many things) is that she didn’t grow up with a familiarity and love of being outdoors. In fact, she described her relationship as mostly centered around an avoidance. But, over time, she’s begun to rewrite her nature-relationship and has uncovered so much richness in the process.
In this conversation, Tenijah and I discuss everything ..read more
Our Nature
1y ago
For this week's episode, I’m speaking with Michael Washington. Michael is the founder of Usal Project, an LA-based community offering experiences and goods for the modern nature enthusiast. Usal hosts over 20 monthly experiences that (in addition to forest therapy) include: foraging and herb walks, falconry, oceanic species dives, incense-making workshops, flower arranging classes, community hikes, and more. In this conversation, Michael and I talk about the importance of cultivating community in a world where people are struggling with loneliness. We also discuss his relationship with nature ..read more
Our Nature
1y ago
“I think one of the best thing’s we’ve done to ensure the likelihood of our long term success is to really see this relationship as something that’s unfolding in the present moment, and being very open and flexible about what that will look like in a month, a year, in a decade.” - David Sleininger
In this episode, we discuss: what we mean when we use the term “conscious relationship”; the cultural messaging that warps our perspective on romantic relationships; what to do if you’re invested in personal growth and your partner is not; how a trigger can be our greatest teacher; the practice that ..read more
Our Nature
1y ago
“I love the matrix and quilt of different things all over the place. Monoculture is boring. So for me, diversity is the spice of life in the garden.” - Erik Keller, ep 60
Helpful links:
Erik's Website
Erik’s Instagram
Highlights from our conversation:
Erik’s relationship to nature as a child
The definition of horticultural therapy and Erik’s journey from master gardener to horticultural therapist
The various types of horticultural therapy sessions
The elements of surprise and delight in the natural world
Wild salads
How we might re-imagine what we plant in our gardens
Advice for the beginne ..read more
Our Nature
1y ago
“I think if I can inspire people not to be perfect, but just a little more conscious–that would be a win. And hopefully, the recipes become part of people’s repertoire that they make on a weekly or monthly basis.” - Alexis deBoschnek
RESOURCES:
To The Last Bite Book
Alexis’ website
Alexis' Instagram
Garlic and Sapphires book
Magpies on Pink Street
Bovina Fermentory
SHOW NOTES:
What it was like to grow up in upstate NY
Alexis’ journey from fashion school to the world of food
How to be more intentional with the food we purchase in order to reduce food waste
An invitation to grow a vict ..read more
Our Nature
1y ago
RESOURCES:
EP 58: Flipping the Script: (Hard Won Lessons from the Past Year) with Alyssa Benjamin
Return to Nature Book
Emma’s Website
SHOW NOTES:
Emma’s relationship to nature as a child
What inspired Emma to write her book “Return to Nature”
The reasons she organized “Return to Nature” by a series of eight distinct landscapes
The intention around using the word “return” in the title
Crafting a new definition of “wellness”
An overview and practice for each of the 8 landscapes (parks and gardens, oceans, mountains, forests and trees, ice and snow, desert, rivers, cities and built environmen ..read more
Our Nature
1y ago
RESOURCES:
Alyssa’s Instagram
Subscribe to my newsletter
ANFT Forest Therapy Training
Usal Forest Therapy Walk: March
Usal Project
Holisticism
SHOW NOTES:
The reason why Alyssa paused this podcast and many aspects of her business for almost a year
The new opportunity that came into Alyssa’s life that led to an unexpected career shift
How to work within the system to change the system
The framework that has been really supportive for Alyssa’s creative efforts
Demystifying forest therapy
How the magic of forest therapy is made!
How being diagnosed with ADHD became a catalyst for personal tran ..read more
Our Nature
2y ago
This week, I’m speaking with Farmer Rishi, a farmer, educator and consultant based in Los Angeles working in the field of regeneration. Everything Rishi does is with the intention to help people understand the basic principles behind healing of our bodies: both our physical bodies and our Earthen body.
Resources:
Sardovaya Farms
Healing Gardens
Rishi’s Website
Homecoming course
Connect with Alyssa
> Homecoming is a four-day retreat in Ojai, California and 6-week course. If you're feeling burnt out, stuck and/or going through a major transition in your life, Homecoming is an experience tha ..read more
Our Nature
2y ago
This week I’m speaking with Regina Rocke, a breathwork teacher, and healer who uses many modalities including yoga, tarot, Ayurveda, and movement practices to help people in their spiritual journeys.
Regina knows firsthand what the healing path requires. They say: “It was through great discomfort, emotional upheaval, and a lot of self-loathing that I came to this life of offering up ways for people to heal through connection to their bodies.” Their work is an invitation and they truly believes that you can (and should) decide what is right for you in any given moment. In this conversation, we ..read more
Our Nature
2y ago
If you’ve ever wondered what happens to your life when you cultivate a deep and intentional connection with the natural world, this episode is for you. Today, I’m in conversation with teacher, philosopher and former Homecoming participant Peter August. Peter also has a nature TikTok (which I’ll link to in the show notes) where he shares his practices, perspectives and experiences of being in nature with his over 72K followers.
In this episode, we talk about: what nature invites in us that we so desperately need; the nature-based practice practice that fuels creativity; why we resist the natura ..read more