THE SPACESHIP EARTH PODCAST Episode 105: Matt Smith | Facing Waves,Planting Forests and Finding Our Way Back to Life
Aug 11, 2025
In this enlightening conversation, Matt Smith, co-founder and CEO of Hometree charity, shares his journey as a surfer turned land-restorer. He discusses the vital connection between communities and nature, the challenge of encouraging farmers to embrace tree planting, and the emotional struggles between economic incentives and ecological health. Matt also emphasizes the cultural aspects of regeneration and the role of storytellers in reconnecting people with the land, exploring how love can drive reforestation efforts amidst modern challenges.
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Collective Rituals Cultivate Connection
- Matt Smith describes week-long communal dances and Vipassana retreats as fast routes to deep connection and transformation.
- He says ritualized group practices can replace noisy stimulants and cultivate genuine empathy and presence.
Retreats Leave You Tender And Grieving
- After a week-long dance and retreat Matt Smith felt tender and overloaded with grief about ecological decline.
- He uses those experiences to process emotion and then return to restoration work with clearer purpose.
From Sailor To Forest Founder
- Matt Smith left a decade at sea then helped build a 70-acre regenerative farm before founding Home Tree in 2020.
- He scaled the charity from nothing to stewarding ~3,000 acres with dozens of staff in four years.