The Passing Through Podcast

This week Kris De Decker is passing through! Kris is creator and author of Low-tech Magazine. Low-tech Magazine (founded in 2007) runs on solar power and sheer force of will. From the website, "Low-tech Magazine underscores the potential of past and often forgotten technologies and how they can inform sustainable energy practices." Kris doesn't have a smartphone, doesn't drive a car, doesn't travel by plane and tries to live in a way that's in line with his values around sustainability. Not only is he a wonderful guest, but he's an inspiration as well! Join us for a chat on how modern technological conveniences atrophy basic skills such as navigation, or reading, and wither our collective attention-spans. We talk about communal baths, consumer capitalism, the importance of darkness, and a bunch more.

This week I'm passing through Terény, Hungary. This is a quick one. You can listen to the sound of some lovely deer! I had to scrap most of the episode because I ate too much deer jerky and my mouth became a sticky sound making machine. This episode is brought to you by Stink-Be-Gone!

This week Rachel Donald is passing through! Rachel is the host of the Planet: Critical podcast. She's a climate corruption journalist exploring why the world is in crisis, and she's an all around amazing human. I was totally thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with her. Join us for a chat about violence, the genocide in Gaza, ecodelics, death, love, poetry, and our deep, embodied connection with the earth and one another. I absolutely loved speaking to Rachel and hope you'll enjoy our conversation too. Check out her podcast and give her a like and subscribe!

This week I'm unexpectedly passing through Wrocław, Poland. Be warned, this is a kind of current events episode where I raise awareness about the genocide in Palestine. References Humanitarian Situation Update #214 | Gaza Strip Abuses at Sde Teiman Lemkin Institute Statement on Gaza The Lancet - Palestinian Deathcount Environmental Impact of Conflict in Gaza ICJ Israel Responsible for Apartheid

This week I'm passing through Austria. Join me and the wild sounds of a storm as I share a spooky story that makes me question the practicality of some of the spiritual beliefs I hold. How can you metabolize trauma and summon compassion and love for the shadow when sometimes the shadow seeks to engulf you; to extinguish, or obliterate you? How do we approach the murderous, deranged, irrational and potentially homicidal aspect of the shadow while not allowing it to destroy us? How do we put our intellectual learnings and leanings into embodied practice when push comes to shove? Talk is cheap but action isn't.

This week I'm passing through Gore, Slovenia! In this episode I share my experiences from the north of Slovenia, where my partner Asia and I are staying at a new farm. We’ve moved on from the permaculture farm in Topolovec, and I reminisce about the unforgettable aroma of the goats which now forever accompanies the taste of goat cheese. Our current focus is on helping to build a meditation retreat center using hempcrete, a sustainable and natural building material with a fascinating history and lots of potential. I emphasize the importance of water in our ecosystems and present an eco tip encouraging listeners to appreciate and conserve water. Towards the end, I read a piece I wrote titled "Imagine All the People," which delves into the concept of the polycrisis and the interconnected crises we face globally. I ponder on capitalism, the myth of separation from nature, and the erosion of our imaginative capacities. The piece serves as a call to recognize our intrinsic connection to the earth and each other, and to reimagine our collective future. Through this podcast episode I aim to connect my personal journey with broader ecological and societal reflections, inviting listeners to contemplate their relationship with nature and the small but significant actions they can take to live more harmoniously with the planet.

This week Maja Flajsig is passing through! Maja is a dry stone wall builder, permaculturist, anthropologist, and lover of both mythology and ritual. She currently works as communications manager for GEN Europe and was an absolute delight to speak with. Bring your red thread with you into our conversational labyrinth and join us as she shares her journey from Croatia to village life on the island of Crete. Learn more about GEN Europe (Global Ecovillage Network) The European Eco Village Gathering Blue Heart Documentary

This week, I'm still passing through Topolovec, Slovenia! The host shares his ongoing experiences in Slovenia while working on a farm, focusing on the challenges and insights gained from milking goats and shepherding them. He narrates a harrowing incident where his partner, Asia, is surrounded by excited goats while herding them, which nearly leads to serious injury. This experience prompts reflections on the difficulties of controlling goats and the necessity of vigilance and careful planning. The episode also delves into the metaphorical and mythological significance of brambles and flies, tying these elements back to ancient Greek mythology. The host discusses how brambles can symbolize life's problems that grow if not properly managed, drawing parallels with the myth of the Hydra. He explores the story of Bellerophon, a Greek hero whose ambition leads to his downfall, explaining how Zeus uses a gadfly to thwart Bellerophon's ascent to Mount Olympus, eventually causing him to fall into a bush of brambles. The episode wraps up with reflections on the connections between daily tasks, mythology, and personal growth, encouraging listeners to consider what impacts their own lives in the same way that farm work and nature imprints on the host.

This week I'm passing throgh Topolovec, Slovenia. The episode provides an update on the host's van life journey with Asia, emphasizing their adventures touring eco-villages and permaculture farms. The host highlights the importance of reconnecting with nature by discussing various aspects of life on a permaculture farm, such as composting toilets, goat milking, and communal living. Listeners are treated to the ambient sounds of a Slovenian chicken coop and insightful reflections on sustainability and the value of grassroots movements. The host also shares humorous anecdotes, including a perilous hike leading to a nude beach experience and some unexpected cultural insights about Slovenian gelato and the tallest chimney in Europe. Spiritual reflections round out the episode as the host delves into animism, the importance of belief in shaping reality, and an eco-friendly tip encouraging listeners to volunteer at permaculture farms to deepen their connection to the earth.

This week Lacey White is passing through! Join us for a chat where we discuss her journey toward holistic health and wellness and the importance of slowing down. I asked an AI to summarize the episode and I was pretty pleased with how it turned out: Lacey shares her early experiences with therapy, her fascination with mental health, and her aspirations to become a holistic health practitioner. She emphasizes the importance of combining mental, physical, and spiritual well-being without relying solely on medications. The conversation covers her personal revelations through psychedelics, yoga, and slowing down. Lacey also discusses her involvement with the Entheonation Plant Spirit Summit, highlighting the need to balance the mind and heart. The episode concludes with her encouraging listeners to embrace simplicity, seek support, and slow down to reconnect with their holistic selves. You can find Lacey on Instagram at Holisticfitguide or on her website holisticfit.life.