Terrain Theory

New York City history teacher Stephanie Edmonds never imagined that her dedication to her students would one day cost her the career she loved. But during COVID, as she watched extended school shutdowns devastate her students’ mental health and academic progress, she began speaking publicly about the harms she was witnessing firsthand. When New York City rolled out vaccine mandates for teachers, Stephanie refused — and was ultimately fired for standing by her convictions. What began as a personal crisis became the catalyst for a profound transformation.In this episode, Stephanie shares the inside story of how pandemic politics, teachers’ unions, and bureaucratic pressure kept schools closed far longer than promised — and how those decisions reshaped a generation of children. She also takes us behind the scenes of 15 Days: The Real Story of America’s Pandemic School Closures, the new documentary she helped create that exposes what was really happening behind closed doors. Today, Stephanie is part of the Lavender Village, a homeschool-based, spiritually grounded learning community in Connecticut, where she teaches, supports families, and helps build a parallel model of education outside the systems that failed so many. Through her work and her platform Teaching Liberty, she’s showing what it looks like to reclaim agency, create community, and live in alignment with deeper principles. This is a conversation about courage, intuition, educational freedom, and choosing creation over compliance. Stephanie’s story is a powerful reminder that new systems are already emerging — built by the people willing to take the first step.Learn more about Stephanie at https://www.instagram.com/teachinglibertyWatch the 15 Days documentary at https://www.15daysfilm.com/Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryHelp support Ryan and Briana's road to recovery by donating to our GoFundMe set up in their name. Every penny will go to cover the costs of associated with healing their terrain using alternative, terrain-friendly methods. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ryan-briana-heal-from-pfas-exposureTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netFollow Terrain Theory:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrain_theory/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Terrain-TheoryX: https://twitter.com/terraintheory1YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@terraintheoryMusic by Chris Merenda

What if the diet you believe is healing your body is actually holding it hostage? In this episode, we sit down with Mariah Manazza — once a full-on homesteader living the traditional diet dream — as she reveals how raw milk, pasture-raised meats, and ancestral traditions weren’t enough. In fact, they nearly broke her. Migraines, depression, numbness, leg pain, cysts — all symptoms she was told she’d have for life. Until she asked herself: “What am I really designed to eat?”Through 12 years of self-experimentation, Mariah discovered the under-told story of mucus-forming foods, the power of instinct over conventional nutrition, the radical simplicity of natural hygiene, and the terrain-centric truth that restored her to full symptom-free living.We dive into:Why some “gold-standard” ancestral foods might suppress healing instead of supporting itThe overlooked role of mucus in disrupting the terrain and masking underlying diseaseHow fruit, fasting, and a return to nature’s laws became Mariah’s doorway to healthThe nine pillars of natural hygiene she applies in everyday livingWhy instinct and internal feedback often trump labs, protocols, and popular dogmasWhether you’re committed to the traditional diet movement, curious about natural hygiene, or simply seeking a broader perspective on healing — this conversation will invite you to question, reflect, and evolve.Join us as we explore what “nutrition” means, uncover the common threads across opposing approaches, and discover how going less might actually mean living more.Learn more about Mariah and her work at https://www.applediaries.com/. Follow her on social at https://www.facebook.com/mariahealthyself/, https://www.instagram.com/mariahealthyself7, and https://www.youtube.com/@Mariahealthyself.Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryHelp support Ryan and Briana's road to recovery by donating to our GoFundMe set up in their name. Every penny will go to cover the costs of associated with healing their terrain using alternative, terrain-friendly methods. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ryan-briana-heal-from-pfas-exposureTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netFollow Terrain Theory:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrain_theory/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Terrain-TheoryX: https://twitter.com/terraintheory1YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@terraintheoryMusic by Chris Merenda

Alcohol is the world’s most socially accepted toxin — a substance woven into our rituals, relationships, and celebrations, yet responsible for immeasurable physical, emotional, and societal harm. What happens when we finally confront that truth?In this episode, we sit down with Professor David Nutt, neuropsychopharmacologist, author, and founder of GABA Labs, to explore alcohol’s hidden toll on the human terrain — from cellular toxicity and neuroinflammation to cultural indoctrination and addiction.David explains how alcohol damages nearly every system in the body, why our governments and industries continue to protect it, and how his groundbreaking work is offering a path forward. Through Sentia, a functional, non-alcoholic alternative designed to replicate alcohol’s social and relaxing effects without the poison, David and his team are reimagining what it means to connect, unwind, and celebrate — consciously.We discuss:Why alcohol remains the most harmful drug in Western societyThe biological and social mechanisms behind addictionHow alcohol reshapes the terrain at every level — from the liver to the mindThe emerging movement toward functional, toxin-free social drinkingSentia, GABA Labs, and the future of conscious convivialityListen in as we uncover the paradox of the terrain toxin we celebrate — and the promise of a future beyond it.Learn more about Dave and his work at: https://gabalabs.com.Learn more about Sentia at http://www.sentiaspirits.com/ and follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sentiaspirits/.Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryHelp support Ryan and Briana's road to recovery by donating to our GoFundMe set up in their name. Every penny will go to cover the costs of associated with healing their terrain using alternative, terrain-friendly methods. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ryan-briana-heal-from-pfas-exposureTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netFollow Terrain Theory:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrain_theory/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Terrain-TheoryX: https://twitter.com/terraintheory1YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@terraintheoryMusic by Chris Merenda

What if your body isn’t just a collection of organs, but a living, self-organizing field of light, water, and energy? In this episode of the Terrain Theory Podcast, Ben and Mike sit down with Nikko Kennedy, Director of Research at the Institute of Applied Quantum Biology, to explore the frontier where circadian health meets quantum biology.Nikko explains how quantum physics underlies the biological processes of life, from the way mitochondria generate energy to how our cells structure water. She reveals why the body doesn’t actually produce “waste,” how light and darkness regulate healing, and why technology must evolve to harmonize with our natural frequencies. The conversation travels from circadian disruption and mitochondrial optimization to birth physiology, environmental design, and consciousness, all viewed through the lens of applied quantum biology.Listeners will learn:Why circadian rhythm and light exposure shape everything from sleep to hormones to moodHow quantum effects like electron tunneling occur inside our mitochondriaWhat a “minimum effective dose” of darkness really means for mental and physical healthThe surprising connection between mitochondrial density and personalityWhy red light, grounding, and structured water matter more than you thinkFrom dark retreats to sunlight therapy, maternal health to quantum coherence, this wide-ranging discussion invites you to reimagine what it means to tend to your terrain at the most fundamental level of reality.Learn more about Nikko and her work at https://www.iaqb.foundation/ and https://nikkokennedy.com/ and follow her on SubStack at https://www.brighterdaysdarkernights.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/brighterdays.darkernights/Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryHelp support Ryan and Briana's road to recovery by donating to our GoFundMe set up in their name. Every penny will go to cover the costs of associated with healing their terrain using alternative, terrain-friendly methods. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ryan-briana-heal-from-pfas-exposureTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netFollow Terrain Theory:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrain_theory/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Terrain-TheoryX: https://twitter.com/terraintheory1YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@terraintheoryMusic by Chris Merenda

Elizabeth Vernon is a beekeeper-activist, herbalist, and founder of Queen Bees Farmacy, dedicated to bringing together the world of wild-crafted remedies, advocacy, and deep terrain insight.In this episode, we dive into the hidden dimensions of health and resistance — from how screen time is reshaping our bodies and nervous systems to the untested and unknown dangers of biologics. Elizabeth pulls no punches as we unpack how certain systems of “controlled opposition” (yes, we talk about RKF Jr., Elizabeth's experiences with him and his team, and what it means) muddy the waters of health freedom, and how reconnecting with nature’s rhythms — bees, herbs, terrain, community — is the original rebellious medicine.Look beyond the surface and discover what really supports your body, mind, and environment in a world of distraction and distraction’s design. This conversation with Elizabeth will challenge you — and empower you — to take back your terrainLearn more about Elizabeth at https://www.queenbeesfarmacy.comSupport Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryHelp support Ryan and Briana's road to recovery by donating to our GoFundMe set up in their name. Every penny will go to cover the costs of associated with healing their terrain using alternative, terrain-friendly methods. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ryan-briana-heal-from-pfas-exposureTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netFollow Terrain Theory:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrain_theory/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Terrain-TheoryX: https://twitter.com/terraintheory1YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@terraintheoryMusic by Chris Merenda

Dr. Anna Sitkoff is a naturopathic physician and herbalist whose clinical and personal journey has been guided by a deep relationship with medicinal mushrooms. In this episode, she shares how her early exposure to natural medicine—and a life-changing experience with her father’s cancer treatment—sparked a decade-long exploration into the world of fungi.Dr. Sitkoff unpacks the science and spirit of mushrooms: their role in restoring the body’s terrain through mitochondrial repair, gut balance, and nervous system regulation, how ergothioneine functions as a cellular protector, and why not all mushroom supplements are created equal. We also explore the intersection of psychedelics and healing, motherhood and mycology, and what it means to truly “become one with the mushroom.”If you’ve ever wondered how these ancient organisms support everything from detoxification to emotional resilience, this conversation offers a grounded, eye-opening look at the power of mushrooms to support the healing of both body and mind.Learn more about Dr. Anna at https://www.drannasitkoff.com/ and explore her line of medicinal mushrooms at https://lucidummedicinals.com/.Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryHelp support Ryan and Briana's road to recovery by donating to our GoFundMe set up in their name. Every penny will go to cover the costs of associated with healing their terrain using alternative, terrain-friendly methods. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ryan-briana-heal-from-pfas-exposureTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netMusic by Chris Merenda

Dr. Shivani Gupta is an Ayurvedic practitioner, author, and founder of Fusionary Formulas. In this episode, she helps us rediscover Ayurveda as the original terrain-based health system — one that recognizes the body’s innate intelligence and its connection to mind, spirit, and environment (Nature). We discuss how to identify your mind-body type (dosha), personalize your health rituals, and use ancient wisdom to navigate modern stressors, toxins, and chronic imbalance.Dr. Gupta also shares her insights on the science of inflammation, the role of turmeric in cellular repair, and how daily habits rooted in Ayurveda can restore resilience and harmony in the terrain of the body.If you’ve ever wondered how to bridge traditional healing with modern living, this conversation is a roadmap to a more aligned, conscious, and empowered approach to health.Learn more about Dr. Shivani at https://shivanigupta.com/.Take 15% OFF your order using code TERRAIN15 at https://fusionaryformulas.com/.Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryHelp support Ryan and Briana's road to recovery by donating to our GoFundMe set up in their name. Every penny will go to cover the costs of associated with healing their terrain using alternative, terrain-friendly methods. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ryan-briana-heal-from-pfas-exposureTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netMusic by Chris Merenda

Can the darkness heal you? Are you willing to find out?Scott Berman is the founder of Sky Cave Retreats, a dark retreat sanctuary in Southern Oregon that puts guests in complete and total darkness for a set period of time. In this safe space, with somatic support and all needs met, a guest may relax into the rhythms of the dark, soften, and simply exist.In this conversation with Scott we discuss:How his early experiences with wilderness solitude primed him for dark retreatsHis first dark retreat – mistakes & learningsHow Sky Cave Retreat came to beWhy each dark retreat is uniqueThe critical ways they have evolved the dark retreat experienceWho can – and should – do a dark retreatWhat one can expect in a dark retreat...and more!Learn more about Scott and his work at https://www.skycaveretreats.com/ and at https://www.instagram.com/skycaveretreats/Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netMusic by Chris MerendaHelp support Ryan and Briana's road to recovery by donating to our GoFundMe set up in their name. Every penny will go to cover the costs of associated with healing their terrain using alternative, terrain-friendly methods. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ryan-briana-heal-from-pfas-exposure

This is the hill we die on.Leah Wilson is Executive Director and Co-Founder of Stand for Health Freedom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to informing and activating grassroots movements to protect our health and our families. Since their inception in 2019 they have helped empower the masses to take over 6 million actions to preserve and promote informed consent, parental rights, religious freedom, freedom of speech, and privacy.In this conversation with Leah we discuss:What prompted her to take up this fightAn assessment of the victories, defeats, and biggest challengesThe ways in which parental rights are under attackThe danger of School Based Health CentersHow Digital ID could be used against usWhat true informed consent would look like...and more!Learn more about Leah and her work at https://standforhealthfreedom.com/Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netMusic by Chris Merenda

Salima Adelstein is a Master Healer, a Sufi Spiritual Guide, and the co-founder of The University of Sufism, a non-profit, religious organization whose vision is to open the heart of humanity to the Reality of Divine Love, Gnostic understanding and complete healing.In this conversation we discuss:Understanding SufismThe central practices of the SufiThe power of remembrancePurification of the heartHow asking "what do I love?" is a step towards the SourceCo-founding the University of SufismBecoming a spiritual healerSufism teaching AI...and more!Learn more about Salima and her work at https://sufiuniversity.org/ and https://sufi.net/5c/.Support Terrain Theory on Patreon! Our recently-launched member platform gives you access to a ton of free & exclusive content. Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/TerrainTheoryTerrain Theory episodes are not to be taken as medical advice. You are your own primary healthcare provider.If you have a Terrain Transformation story you would like to share, email us at ben@terraintheory.net.Learn more at www.terraintheory.netMusic by Chris Merenda