SuperFeast Podcast

Today Mason welcomes Laura Howarth of Happy Herbs Co on the show for an insightful conversation around holistic business, using herbs as allies, staying in alignment with the vision and allowing the intention of the intuitive heart to lead. Having been in each others orbit for the past 7 or so years through Happy High Herbs; the former incarnation of Happy Herbs Co, Laura and Mason share history in the herbal space. Recalling fond memories of times past when SuperFeast was operating out of a small garage in South Golden Beach in the NSW Northern Rivers Region. The pair reminisce on the simpler days while offering the ways in which the spirit of a business will call for change as it grows and expands. Through Happy Herbs Co, Laura champions a humanistic approach, highlighting that community and connection will always be at the core of everything she does as the custodian of one of Australia's leading herbal institutions. In a digital age where ecommerce is increasingly outsourcing the interpersonal relationships forged through bricks and mortar business, Laura's ethos is centred around keeping human to human contact alive in a world driven by artificial intelligence. It is inspiring and beautiful to hear Laura share the Happy Herbs Co story, reminding us that benevolent acts of rebellion have the potential to pioneer long lasting change. With the rise in coverage and appreciation for the medicinal use of psychoactive and non psychoactive herbs within this country and abroad, let us all take a moment in reverence for the collective of humans, who through care and diligent action, have paved the way in the face of governmental bureaucracy and backlash. Whether you're a seasoned supporter or new to the Happy Herbs phenomenon, this chat offers a wonderful window into the history of the holistic medicine community in Australia. Laura & Mason discuss: - The evolution of Happy High Herbs into Happy Herbs Co. - Laura's origin story. - Intention, integration and using herbs as allies in business. - The value of human connection & in person offerings in the digital age. - The Happy Herb Humanity charity. Resource guide Guest Links Happy Herb Co Website Happy Herb Co Instagram Happy Herb Co FacebookHappy Herb Co Youtube Related Podcasts Herbalism; The Peoples Medicine with Erin Lovell Verinder (EP#141) Connect With Us SuperFeast Instagram SuperFeast Facebook SuperFeast TikTok Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/herbal-allies-in-leadership-with-laura-howarth-ep-198

Dylan Smith of Vital Veda joins Mason on the show today for an expansive conversation around the Vedic sciences, and how to use the natural lores on which these were founded to formulate your life from a place of flow rather than friction. Dylan is certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and holistic health educator who uses the vast depth and breadth of his knowledge to help, to heal and to teach. Drawn to the craft through his own initiating experiences of Panchakarma, Dylan's path is one of well trodden embodiment. Dylan unfurls his knowledge and wisdom in a gentle and considered way, sharing how the practical application of this ancient philosophy can assist in the very tangible material decisions one is required to make in their every day life, such as where to live, where to work, how to eat, when to evolve a relationship and more. In Ayurveda it is said that the number one quality for successful healing is to surrender to the hands of the healer; the physician. Dylan shares the concept of hasta vasti; the power of the hand that heals, explaining that it is not so much the herb or the method that elicits the medicine but the that hand it comes from. In a contemporary climate where regulators and governing bodies have the dominion to inhibit and repossess the credentials of a practitioner based solely on their capacity to concede to the law and order of obligation, what is left for the sovereign individual in which these choices don't align? The hands the heal. What Dylan is speaking to through the lens of hasta vasti is the inherent power of the healers touch, the aura, the energy, life force, Prana, Qi or seeming magic that works through the body of the practitioner as a conduit of harmony. When the apparatus is taken away and the herbs held hostage to capitalistic greed, what's left over is the craft, the heightened sensory system, trained meticulously to perceive, to feel, to hear and to know. There is so much potency in this, this is nature based wisdom, universal to all beings. The hands of the healer could be the hands of the practitioner you hold dearly in esteem, these hands could also belong to you, perhaps the most powerful healer of all; the self. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, may it bring inspiration and insight. Dylan & Mason discuss: - How to use the Veda's to manufacture your life in alignment with the universal flow. - Vedic Astrology. - Yin and Yang through the Vedic lens, and how this philosophy can be applied to the practicalities of being and doing. - The inception of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine into Western allopathic medicine. - The future of holistic health practice beyond regulation. - Dhanvantari and initiation of the Ayurvedic healer. - The guru/disciple relationship. - Karma and trust as key elements in healing. - Jyotish herbology. Resource guide: Guest Links: Vital Veda Website Vital Veda Instagram Vital Veda FacebookVital Veda Podcast Mentioned In This Episode: One Eleven Website Related Podcasts: The Ayurvedic Way with Wayne Celeban - Ayurvedic Practitioner (EP#51)Ayurveda and Yoga - The Healing Arts with Myra Lewin from Hale Pule (EP#55) Ayurvedic Healing with Susan Van Daal (EP#41) Connect With UsSuperFeast InstagramSuperFeast FacebookSuperFeast TikTok SuperFeast Online Education Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/vedic-healing-with-dylan-smith-ep-197

We're delighted to welcome Myra Lewin of Hale Pule back on the show today to share her insightful dialogue in the realms of Ayurveda, yoga and business with Mason. Myra was first on the show back in February 2020, a moment in time we all look back on now with a pivotal understanding. Back then Myra spoke with Tahnee about the foundational aspects of yoga and Ayurveda and how these tools can be used to create harmony in one's body and life. Today Myra connects with Mason about the importance of "the why" when engaging with a personal or vocational endeavour and how her offerings through Hale Pule have changed since the pandemic when the world went primarily online. Myra speaks to the Ayurvedic approach, of interacting with the body as a self correcting organism, and using herbs and practices to support the body's natural cyclic functions and the inherent intelligence embodied in each of its cells. Originating from a previous life lived through the lens of the scientific medical model, Myra shares how her experiences with Ayurveda shaped her holistic understanding of the body, mind, spirit, and being as a whole, and how the linear workings of her mind are continually cracked open through the practice of Ayurveda and its governing principals. Myra and Mason explore how many of the premier herbs of the Ayurvedic cannon are used in a casual and one dimensional fashion, especially in the contemporary field of health, and how this approach can often mask the core issue rather than resolve it, as traditionally practised via the ancient roots of this highly revered system. Sharing their resonance for embodied health in an explorative, grounded and charming conversation, the pair provide us with deep insight, wisdom and light hearted sentiment as they explore the many similarities that Ayurveda and Taoism share. Take a moment, take a breath and settle in for the sweet journey this episode takes us on. A truly enjoyable listen. P.s Myra will be hosting an incredible 3 day event focusing on Ayurvedic wisdom for anti ageing and longevity in Sydney later this year, click here to view the entire program. PLUS SuperFeast will be partnering with Hale Pule for a special in person offering in the Northern Rivers on 11th November, mark the date in your calendar and stay tuned for more details. Myra & Mason discuss: - The power of "the why" in keeping focus on any endeavour; business, personal or otherwise. - The Ayurvedic approach to health and healing. - How the practice of Ayurveda challenges the linear based thinking present in many Western models of health. - The importance of laughing at yourself, embracing mistakes and honouring the merits of both the ego and the higher self. - How to begin your journey with Ayurveda and view health through the elements and doshas. - Ayurvedic herbalism. Resource guide and Guest Links: Hale Pule Website Hale Pule Blog Hale Pule Instagram Hale Pule Facebook Hale Pule Pinterest Hale Pule YouTube Hale Pule PodcastsHale Pule Sydney Event Mentioned In This Episode: Hale Pule Agni Therapy Online Course Related Podcasts & Content: Ayurveda and Yoga - The Healing Arts with Myra Lewin from Hale Pule (EP#55) Tonic: Sleepy Ashwagandha Milk Connect With Us: SuperFeast Instagram SuperFeast Facebook SuperFeast TikTok SuperFeast Online Education Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/ayurveda-an-inside-out-approach-to-living-with-myra-lewin-ep-196

The wonderful Dr Mario Alam joins Mason on the show today to share a genuine and open hearted conversation centred on the nature of empathy and connectivity, and how these elements are innately wired into our universal humanity. Mason and Mario traverse the somatic and cerebral landscapes as they explore how unresolved trauma at both the childhood and multigenerational level can interfere with our inherent capacity to confidently feel, rather than think our way through life. Mario highlights what happens at a physiological level when the body and mind experience prolonged stress (emotional and physical) and the many tools and practices one can use to release tension in these areas and the being as a whole. Throughout this conversation we can feel the open tone of receptivity as Mason and Mario share this important dialogue, relaying the personal experiences that have influenced them individually on their journeys toward a life lived from an embodied state. We explore the therapeutic outcomes that are available through the appropriate application of various psychedelic mediums, including MDMA, psilocybin, DMT and iboga, especially in the treatment of addiction and other mental health conditions. Mario and Mason cover an enormous amount of ground within the scope of holistic healthcare, carrying an overarching message that embodiment is key when working to restore harmony within the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual planes. Emphasis is placed on the importance of honouring the intricacies of the mind/body connection and the integrative process that is so integral to healing, but often missing from more unilinear modalities of health. Two kindred spirits, on a mission in their own right, to alleviate unnecessary suffering and degeneration, uniting through a passionate exchange to vision a harmonious and vibrantly well future. Dr Mario & Mason discuss: - Empathy; how to utilise this gift and move it through the body. - How trauma impairs our ability to trust the sensations of the feeling body. - Using acupuncture and kinesiology to help children process their somatic experiences and emotions. - How trauma impacts the body's physiology. - The prolific application of steroidal medicine in the Western medical model. - Using Taoist tonic herbs to regulate the body and nervous system. - Micro dosing psilocybin and neuronal connectivity. - The power of Psychedelic assisted therapies in the treatment of mental health conditions. Resource guide: Guest Dr Mario WebsiteDr Mario Instagram Mentioned In This Episode Little Jewels Acupuncture Go Fund Me PageKhalil Gibran Poem - Children Related Podcasts The Future Of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies with Tania De Jong (EP#189) Love, Sex, and Psychedelics with Dr. Molly Maloof (EP#137) SuperFeast Online Education Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/embodiment-trauma-with-dr-mario-alam-ep-195

In celebration of #30daysofJING; our annual soiree into the depths of Kidney Water and Jing Essence - the primordial lifeblood of our very existence - we're taking a trip down memory lane, showcasing an episode from the archives (EP#166), in which Mason, our favourite larrikin and main herbal man, passionately explores why something as simple as including Jing herbs into your daily diet, consecutively for 30 days, can create life changing results. In our modern landscape of living we're surrounded by the notion of *more, whether that's the desire for more money, more freedom, more rights, more comfort, more knowledge, intellect, a new car! Do we ever stop to think however, that the energy behind this messaging to strive for more, to consume or take, also requires us to give? The currency of that giving is funded by our bodily resources, it's the mental processing required to operate a computer program, app or smart phone, the physical strength it takes to carry the groceries to the car, to weed the garden, the agility to chase the grandkids around the park, to engage in a daily movement practice, the discipline required to keep up with personal admin, chores, the visceral material needed to be able to dream and vision, to create, prioritise, compartmentalise and execute. This giving currency is our Jing, our Kidney Qi, it's the innate stuff we're born with, passed on from our ancestors, from our mum and dad. Jing is the primal Essence of our life. Cultivation practices are essential if we are to adapt to and make the most of this wild and wonderful life, the more available potential we have stored, the more we're able to materialise, and by more I don't mean the physical accumulation of stuff, it's more capacity to face challenges with grace, more courage to fiercely love through our shared humanity, more emotional resilience so we can harvest knowledge from the experiences we encounter and transform it into wisdom that can be used to nurture, teach, influence and inform. The messages in Mason's words may have been transmitted many months ago but the potency still rings true, after all this wisdom is thousands of years old, and it's simple; embrace your cyclic nature, and that of the seasons, take good care of your body, mind and Spirit through appropriate thoughts and actions, and most of all, considerately nourish your Kidneys so you can hold your health in own hands and confidently lead yourself through your lived experience informed by your own personal flavour of sovereignty. A potent chat today; simple actions, powerful outcomes. Mason explores: - What Jing Essence is at its core. - The quintessential Jing herbs of the Taoist tonic system. - The relationship between Jing Essence and the Kidney's. - The Yin/Yang transformation cycle. - How to protect and cultivate Jing essence. - Setting an intention for the 30 days of JING. - Addiction and excess in the western lifestyle - The deep recesses of Kidney Water. - Creating rhythms in our life that create automated flow. - How 30 days of JING can positively influence vitality and longevity. Resource guide Mason's Instagram SuperFeast Instagram 30 Days Jing Starter Kit 30 days of Jing Facebook SuperFeastTonicHerbs - TikTok Jing Tonics JING blend SHEN Blend Deer Antler Cordyceps Eucommia Bark Related Articles: Jing: What Is It? How to Cultivate It? JING Blend: Our Favourite Adrenal Tonic JING Challenge: 30 Days To Restore Core Energy Adrenal and Kidney Health- Breathing and Movement The Three Treasures: Jing, Qi and Shen Related Podcasts Jing Energy with Mason Taylor (EP#02) Adrenal Fatigue and Repair with Sage and Dan (EP#170) How I Formulated the JING Blend with Mason Taylor (EP#171) SuperFeast Online Education Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/jing-the-pilot-light-of-potential-with-mason-taylor-ep-194

Benjamin Berry or Your Mate Benny as he's fondly known, joins Mason on the podcast today to chat about the medicinal value of functional breath work and cold therapy. Benny came into the global spotlight at the time of the infamous flooding that decimated much of the Northern Rivers landscape in 2022. As a civilian on the ground responding to the needs of his community, Benny's presence began permeating the wider populace via a series of Instagram posts calling for stronger government intervention, many of which received thousands if not millions of views. Throughout the flood relief effort, what Benny did was show us that with persistence, heart and authentic care; people power works. People can only be as powerful as they are adaptable, which leads us to the theme of today's episode; how the practices of breath work and cold exposure can create mental, physical and emotional resilience when applied appropriately. Throughout this conversation, we get a sense of just how potent the effects of these practices can be, especially when an individual is faced with a challenging situation. Benny carries a distinctly reassuring calm and grounded energy, one that is reinforced by the daily lifestyle habits he keeps and shares through his powerful work. Like any health-promoting protocol that rises to fame, there is plenty of misunderstanding and misinformation around the useful application of breath work and cold therapy, so it is a great pleasure to have Benny, one of the leading Australian advocates for these crafts, on the show today to graciously guide us through. Enjoy. Benny & Mason discuss: - The role of community at times of big life transition. - Benny's involvement in the Northern Rivers 2022 flood relief effort. - The importance of using integrity when holding space in breath work ceremony, and how this influences positive outcomes. - The experiences that lead Benny to the work he offers today. - The difference between true ice bathing and cold immersion. Resource guide: GuestBenny's Instagram Mentioned In This Episode The Wim Hoff Method Conscious Club Solhouse Studio WebsiteSolhouse Studio Instagram Relevant Podcasts The Yin and Yang of Hot and Cold Therapy with Dr Marc Cohen (EP#179) SuperFeast Online Education Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/cold-therapy-breath-work-with-benjamin-berry-ep-193

Chiropractor Dr Aisha Ahmed joins Mason on today's show. Aisha is an incredibly well-studied and accomplished individual with 20 years of experience working across many healing modalities. Aisha has always been drawn to caring for others and began her journey in the industry at the age of 15 working alongside her father in his medical clinic. With a deep reverence for the power of hands-on adjustment and a passion for the holistic approach, along with a myriad of tools in her practitioner belt; including a Masters in Chiropractics, certifications in Jungian Psychology, Dry Needling, NeuroEmotional Technique and 10 years apprenticing with a highly regarded traditional Chinese herbalist, Aisha uses the knowledge she's gained to restore her clients capacity to feel vibrant, energised and pain-free. In this jovial conversation, Aisha and Mason emphasise the importance of viewing the body as one unified organism comprised of many systems and explore the role of integrative care in achieving positive client outcomes. The pair passionately speak to the power of the Five Element Theory and Chinese medicine framework, highlighting the simple yet effective lifestyle approaches, that when practised with consistency, can be the difference between an individual's recovery and a life laced with pain. An inspiring and informative listen for all, especially those who want to support the longevity of their body, mind and Spirit; an endeavour which could be as simple as wearing a scarf when it's windy, and socks when it's cold... Enjoy. Dr. Aisha & Mason discuss: - The integration of holistic modalities within the medical system and the power they hold for positive treatment outcomes. - The marriage between chiropractics and Chinese medicine. - The potency of physical touch and body manipulation in health and healing. - The inadequacy of standard medical training in understanding the body as unified organism. - The simple lifestyle hacks Chinese medicine uses to help people live well for longer. - Treating injury with heat instead of ice. - Cancer through the lens of Chinese medicine. Resource List Guest Aisha's Facebook Mentioned In This Episode Dr Simon Morgan Chiropractor Related Podcasts Why Chinese Medicine Is Failing Us with Rhonda Chang (EP#80)YinYang Wuxing For Inner Harmony with Rhonda Chang (EP#89) SuperFeast Online Education Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/chiropractic-care-the-power-of-the-5-elements-with-dr-aisha-ahmed-ep-192

Today we welcome back the poetic and exquisitely wonderful Dr. Jimi Wollumbin, one of our beloved local medicine men and regular SuperFeast podcast guests. From the first few minutes of this conversation Jimi does what Jimi does best and dissolves the armouring around our collective heart as he eloquently speaks to the harrowing yet beautifully humbling path of the healer. The wounded one within all of us, that through necessity, is given no other choice but to be a student of its lived experience. Jimi and Mason speak of the alchemical process, of Taoist fog walking, of the medicine contained in the shadows of life, the places pregnant with transformative possibility, the tunnels we fear to enter despite knowing there is light at the end. Through this conversation we're taken on a journey that calls us to embrace the entire spectrum of our human experience, to know strife as a teacher equal in esteem to love. We're reminded of the deficit of life that light-washing leaves us in, to honour the gradient of emotion in between what is "good" and what is "bad" because after all our misery is universal, and so is our joy. We all breathe, bleed, love, despair, succeed and fail. Just as the revolution of natures seasonal wheel inevitably turns, rising and falling, growing and decaying, so too do we; rise, fall, grow and decay, and it is these very innate, very human, very necessary processes that allow us to evolve, to adapt, to renew and to regenerate. To be alive in our living. This was a very special conversation, it is my sincere wish that you draw as much solace from it as I did. Mason & Jimi discuss: - Initiation and walking the medicine path. - Love and Strife as the Western translation of Yin and Yang. - Ego death, surrender and soul growth. - The absence of cultural lore and rights of passage in our modern systems of living, and the impact that has on our psychology at both an individual and collective level. - Using seasonal imagery to guide you through the transitional phases of life. - Adaptation as a necessary and very innate aspect of life. - Jing Essence, the reserve that fuels our capacity to transmute challenging circumstances. - Resilience, hormetic stress and the power of integration. - Befriending your grief. Resource guide: Dr. Jimi Wollumbin Website Dr. Jimi Wollumbin Patreon Jimi Wollumbin Instagram Dr. Jimi Wollumbin Facebook Related Podcasts: Trauma, Resilience and Natural Disaster with Dr. Jimi Wollumbin (EP#155) Microbes and Viruses - The Hidden Wonders of The Invisible World with Jimi Wollumbin (EP#58) SuperFeast Online Education Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/the-path-of-the-wounded-healer-with-jimi-wollumbin-ep-191

Mikaela and Bryan of Alchemystic Fungi join Mason today for an explorative conversation around the multidimensional nature of the mycelial world. Connected through their shared passion and reverence for mother nature and her plant queendom, Mason, Mikaela and Bryan dive deep into the unifying and medicinal role fungi play on the planet, placing a spotlight on the plethora of functional applications it can have, especially as a remedy to the industrial impacts of our time. Whether it's churning through plastic, alchemising industrial waste, feeding the forests or supplying sustainable swaps for common synthetic materials, throughout this conversation we can begin to glean hope that despite the looming doom of the climate crisis, we have a future; and that future is fungi. Mikaela and Bryan spend their days on beautiful Bundjalung Country, visioning, researching, fossicking, educating and creating in the realms of fungi. Profoundly devoted to their craft and quest, this dynamic duo are deeply rooted in nature based ethics, unified by a circular economy where nothing goes to waste and everything is fed back into the death, birth, growth cycle of the earth. Alchemystic Fungi have big dreams and I personally cannot wait to see Mikaela and Bryan bring their visionary magic into continuous creative form. A rich and inspiring listen. Bryan, Mikaela & Mason discuss: - Heart math and the work of Stephen Harrod Buhner. - The Alchemysitic Fungi origin story. - The mushroom market; competition verse connection and infinite unity. - Mycelium, water filtration and environmental toxins. - Mycorrhizal associations; the symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a root system. - Fungi and atmospheric carbon. - Mycelial based materials as the future of sustainable industry. Resource guide Guest Alchemystic Fungi Website Mentioned in this episode Paul Staments Christopher Hobbs Stephen Harrod Buhner Relevant Podcasts Entering The Imaginal Realms with Stephen Harrod Buhner (E#88) Psilocybin Journeywork & Fungi Academy with Jasper Degenaars (EP#120) The Wild World Of Medicinal Mushrooms with Jeff Chilton (EP#37) SuperFeast Online Education Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/alchemystic-fungi-with-bryan-mikaela-ep-190

Tania De Jong from Mind Medicine Australia joins Mason for another inspiring and informative conversation on the topic of psychedelic assisted therapies. In the time since Tania was last on the show, the TGA, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration, made the monumental decision to reduce the scheduling of MDMA and psilocybin, two key allies in the successful treatment of drug resistant mental health conditions. The ruling to reschedule these compounds from Schedule 9 Prohibited Substances to Schedule 8 Controlled Drugs is incredibly important for the future of psychedelic assisted therapies, and although their immediate legal application is only indicated for a narrow index of specialised cases; MDMA for drug resistant PTSD and psilocybin for drug resistant depression, it's a huge win for Australia as the front runners in the legalisation of this movement. Tania relays what these scheduling changes mean for the future of psychedelic assisted therapies, and introduces us to The Healthy Person's Trial, an exciting new research experiment for therapists operating out of The Australian National University in Canberra. Tania shares her personal story with psychedelic assisted therapies, and the experiential journey that lead to the creation of Mind Medicine, the not for profit company she founded with her husband and business partner Peter. Tania speaks with grace and humility, eloquently educating on what's happening on the ground with this movement. A penetrating and illuminating listen for all. Tania & Mason Discuss: - Why the TGA's decision to schedule the therapeutic application of Psilocybin and MDMA is a big deal. - The future of psychedelic assisted therapy in Australia. - CPAT, Mind Medicine's Certificate in Psychedelic Assisted Therapies course. - The Australian National University's Healthy Person's Trial. - Connection as a key factor in healing from mental health conditions. - Tania's personal experience with psychedelic assisted therapies. - The Mind Medicine's origin story. Resource guide Tania's WebsiteTania's TED TalkTania's MusicMind Medicine WebsiteMind Medicine Instagram Mind Medicine Facebook Mind Medicine YoutubeCreativity Australia Mentioned in this episode Driftwood The Musical Mind Medicine CPAT CourseTania's Heaven On Earth Album Relevant Podcasts: Psychedelic Assisted Therapies & Mental Health with Tania de Jong (EP#124) SuperFeast Online Education Check Out The Transcript Below: https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/the-future-of-psychedelic-assisted-therapies-with-tania-de-jong-ep-189