Woodchucks and bald eagles. Fungal fermentation. Compost heaps. Animism. Deviant animal sex. Disability. Jesus and Dionysus. Fungi, microbes, and the divine feminine critique.It’s never a dull conversation with the brilliant and freewheeling articulate writer, poet and philosopher Sophie Strand.Kick back and enjoy the ride. Episode Website Link: lifeworld.earth/episodes/fungisophiestrand Show Links:Fungi: Lifeworlds Resource PageSophie Strand WebsiteSophie’s Substack Article: The Animate EverythingArticle: Mentorship with the More than Human WorldArticle: Melt Divine Feminine into Divine AnimacyLook out for meditations, poems, readings, and other snippets of inspiration in between episodes.Music: Electric Ethnicity by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock, Ellie Kidd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Giuliana Furci. The woman who has been chosen by the fungi. The mother who is in love with the mould that grows on lemons. The founder and CEO of the Fungi Foundation, a Harvard University Associate, Dame of the Order of the Star of Italy (!), and Co-Chair of the IUCN Fungal Conservation Committee.We travel through the day in the life of a fungi; how moving beyond plant and animal-centric language transforms our perception of the world; what it’s like to be on a bone-chilling fungal expedition in Patagonia; what the fungi can teach us about loneliness and rot; the perils around fungal IP, and why you should always go pee behind trees.#thefutureisfungiEpisode Website Link: lifeworld.earth/episodes/fungigiulianafurci Show Links:Fungi: Lifeworlds Resource PageThe Fungi Foundation Giuliana Furci personal website Video: Let Things Rot Fungi Foundation: What you see matters NYT: Unearthing the Secret Superpowers of FungusLook out for meditations, poems, readings, and other snippets of inspiration in between episodes.Music: Electric Ethnicity by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock, Ellie Kidd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giuliana Furci, Chile’s first female mycologist and founder of the Fungi Foundation, and poet Sophie Strand, known for her work on ecology and mycelium, discuss the vital yet underappreciated role of fungi in ecosystems. They dive into thrilling topics like advocating for fungi's legal recognition, the joys of fungal expeditions, and the interconnectedness of life. Their conversation covers everything from fermentation and deviant animal behavior to ethical engagement with nature and cultivating kinship with non-human beings, highlighting the wisdom fungi offer us.

Following the episodes on rewilding, I wanted to drive the message of wildness home with this spellbinding poem by Tom Hirons. It gives me chills every time I listen to it, remembering all the animals, all the chthonic forces, that we refuse to let in, the wild madness we long and thirst for, the shuddering pact we’ve made with this world before we were born.Read the poem on: https://www.lifeworld.earth/episodes/poemwildgodPhoto credit: Francesco Sambo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristine Tompkins is an American conservationist who is the president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, and former CEO of Patagonia.For nearly thirty years, along with her late husband Doug Tompkins, she has been protecting and restoring wild beauty and biodiversity by creating national parks, restoring wildlife, inspiring activism and economic vitality across 14.7 million acres of parklands in Chile and Argentina.Kris is Chair of National Geographic Society’s Last Wild Places campaign, the first conservationist to be awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy and the United Nations’ Global Patron for Protected Areas.Kris shares with us just what "wild" means to her, how she transitioned from being a high-rolling businesswoman to living in the Chilean bush, the role of beauty in her life and why macaws need to befriend robots. Episode Website Link: lifeworld.earth/episodes/rewildingkristompkins Show Links:Lifeworlds Resource Page: RewildingTompkins ConservationRewilding Argentina1990 - 2010 Twenty Year Retrospective of Kris and Doug’s work - Kristine Tompkins: Let's make the world wild again | TED Talk An Ark For Vanished Wildlife: Derek Gow in the New Yorker Derek’s Books ‘Bringing Back the Beaver’ & ‘Birds, Beasts and Bedlam’ Look out for meditations, poems, readings, and other snippets of inspiration in between episodes.Music: Electric Ethnicity by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock, Ellie Kidd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With his hilariously sharp-witted, no-nonsense approach and radiating descriptions of nature’s landscapes, Derek Gow is a force to contend with.He’s been one of the most vocal actors in the reintroduction of missing keystone species in England such as the beaver, the water vole and the white stork, butting heads with obnoxious lobbyists and government officials. He is currently rewilding his 300-acre farm on the Devon/Cornwall border where the Eurasian lynx, wild boar and harvest mice make home.Our conversation ranges from the obstacles that prevent society in re-introducing critical species, all the way to Elizabethan fat bishops and voles that Gorgonzola river banks for other species to thrive. What is the mindset that sees all of land as "mine"? When were wolves seen as Gods, and what would it have been like to be a medieval traveller coming across one of these creatures “sodden like a Michelin man on a country path”? What barbarities have we committed against other species, and why should you think twice when buying herds of prehistoric Heck cattle?Yep, this is a fun and brilliant one. (Listener tip: Derek packs more into a sentence that I could hope to do in a lifetime. Play at 1.5x at your own peril!) Episode Website Link: lifeworld.earth/episodes/rewildingderekgow Show Links:Lifeworlds Resource Page: RewildingAn Ark For Vanished Wildlife: Derek Gow in the New Yorker Derek’s Books ‘Bringing Back the Beaver’ & ‘Birds, Beasts and Bedlam’ Derek’s TwitterBeavers Given Legal Protection in EnglandBeaver just doesn’t quit (must watch!) Look out for meditations, poems, readings, and other snippets of inspiration in between episodes.Music: Electric Ethnicity by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock, Ellie Kidd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Derek Gow & Kris Tompkins.The rewilding movement is currently sweeping across the world’s landscapes, restoring ecologies and species, re-naturalising rivers and forests.Our two guests are trailblazers in this space – first we hear from Kristine Tompkins, ex-CEO of Patagonia who, together with her late husband Doug Tompkins, have protected over 14 million acres of wildlands and national parks across Latin America, along with over 30 million acres of marine areas. Kristine is Chair of the National Geographic Society’s Last Wild Places campaign and was the first conservationist to be awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.Then we speak with Derek Gow, who is infamous amongst insider rewilding circles for his leadership in the re-introduction of the beaver back into European landscapes. Through Derek, and his delightfully funny and informative book 'Bringing back the Beaver', I’ve become somewhat obsessed with beavers. He’s been one of the most vocal actors in the reintroduction of missing keystone species in England such as the beaver, the water vole and the white stork, butting heads with obnoxious lobbyists and government officials. He is currently rewilding his 300-acre farm on the Devon/Cornwall border where the Eurasian lynx, wild boar and harvest mice make home.This episode covers the basics of rewilding and goes into different models of restoring ecosystems into their rightful states, all the while discussing the mental impediments and frustrations that can occur in the attempt to rewild the most stubborn species of all — the human being.Episode Website Link: lifeworld.earth/episodes/rewilding Show Links:Lifeworlds Resource Page: RewildingTompkins ConservationKristine Tompkins: Let's make the world wild again | TED Talk An Ark For Vanished Wildlife: Derek Gow in the New Yorker Derek’s Books ‘Bringing Back the Beaver’ & ‘Birds, Beasts and Bedlam’ Look out for meditations, poems, readings, and other snippets of inspiration in between episodes.Music: Electric Ethnicity by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock, Ellie Kidd & The Rising by Tryad CCPLPhoto of flower: Maewenn Bourcelot @maochan.talamoni Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive deep into the practice of grounding yourself in your environment. Discover techniques to enhance your connection with the world around you through mindfulness and art. Engage in fascinating exercises like mapping ecosystems and following natural water trails. Learn to tune into the subtle rhythms of nature and reflect on your personal and shared histories with the land. This journey encourages a richer relationship with your local ecosystem and the living world.

Michael Ableman is a farmer, author, photographer and urban food systems activist. Michael has been farming organically since the early 1970s and is considered one of the pioneers of the organic farming and urban agriculture movements.He founded North America’s largest urban farm in downtown Vancouver, that employs people who are experiencing long term addiction and mental illness. Michael lives on his farm on Salt Spring Island, which I can only describe as the most glorious farm I have ever visited.His story will inspire you to get dirt under your nails, to communicate and walk with the land in a whole new way, and to gain a greater understanding of how the act of farming can heal a divided society. Michael is exceptionally rare in his ability to blend the most pragmatic and captivating elements of farming with profound reflections on philosophy and life.Enjoy this soulful and illuminating interview.Episode Website Link: lifeworld.earth/episodes/unexpectedagriculturesmichael Show Links:Lifeworlds Resource Page: Agriculture Michael AblemanSole Food Street FarmsFoxglove FarmLook out for meditations, poems, readings, and other snippets of inspiration in between episodes.Music: Electric Ethnicity by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock, Ellie Kidd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lyla June Johnston is an Indigenous public speaker, artist, and scholar focused on food systems revitalization. In this enlightening chat, she delves into the rich history of Indigenous food systems and their cultural significance. Johnston discusses the ecological roles of various species and the necessity of viewing humans as stewards of the Earth. She highlights the importance of reclaiming food sovereignty and the interconnections within ecosystems. With a blend of personal narratives and historical examples, she advocates for sustainable practices that restore our relationship to food and land.