Show Us What You Know

What if the future of human health, stronger communities and a healthier planet starts in the soil beneath our feet?

In this episode, I’m joined by Ben, founder and CEO of Earthling Plants, an Irish regenerative plant nursery specialising in edible, medicinal and unusual plants.

Ben shares how his journey began with a desire to take greater control of his own health and eventually led him from professional kitchens into growing food, building a food forest and creating a rapidly growing regenerative business.

We explore permaculture, food forests, soil health, local food systems and community resilience, but the conversation quickly moves beyond gardening. Ben explains why he sees permaculture as a philosophy for life — one built around observation, cooperation, biodiversity, fair share and working with natural systems rather than constantly fighting against them.

We also talk about medicinal plants, the surprising intelligence of ecosystems, slowing down in a culture obsessed with productivity, supporting local producers, and the possibility of combining modern innovation with knowledge inherited from generations before us.

At the heart of this conversation is a simple idea: changing the world does not necessarily begin with changing everything. It can begin with changing the small world immediately around you.

A conversation about soil, health, purpose, community and what our future could look like if we learned to work with nature again.

Find Ben & Earthling Plants:
Instagram: @earthlinghouse
YouTube: Earthling House — @EarthlingHouse
Website: earthlingplants.com — explore and purchase regenerative, edible, medicinal and permaculture plants, and find growing advice and resources.

What if our disconnection from ourselves is inseparable from our disconnection from the natural world?

In this transformative conversation, Bella speaks with somatic ecologist Dr. Brittany Jane about ecosomatics—the meeting point between deep ecology, embodied awareness and our innate relationship with the living Earth.

Dr. Brittany explores how the human body evolved within nature, community and ecological kinship, and why modern life can leave us feeling numb, isolated and disconnected from our sense of belonging. She explains how simple practices involving movement, wide-angle vision, natural light, darkness, stillness and time on the land can help regulate the nervous system and awaken forms of connection that many people have not felt since childhood.

Together, they discuss:

• Why connecting with nature may also contribute to the vitality of the land
• Dance, song and ceremony as forms of ecological custodianship
• The mental-health consequences of losing community and connection to place
• How modern environments encourage numbness and disembodiment
• Why natural light profoundly influences the body and mind
• The difference between thinking an emotion and genuinely feeling it
• Grief as a gateway to connection, creativity and transformation
• Why people fear slowing down and listening to the body
• How nature can restore a sense of safety, purpose and belonging

This conversation genuinely changed the way Bella thinks about the body, grief, consciousness and humanity’s place within the natural world. It is an invitation to soften, become more sensitive and remember that nature is not somewhere we visit—it is something we belong to.

What does it really mean to live a meaningful life?

In this episode, I sit down with Paddy Saunders, founder and host of the North Star podcast, for a conversation about purpose, courage, responsibility, and the kind of future we’re creating together. Paddy’s work centres on helping people become more self-aware, live intentionally, and close the gap between who they are today and who they’re capable of becoming through psychology, philosophy, health, spirituality, and honest conversation.  

Together we explore why so many people are chasing money, status, and material success while feeling more disconnected than ever, and why the real work begins by developing character, taking responsibility, and learning to care for the people around us.

We also dive into:

• Why courage is admired by everyone—even those who are afraid.
• The surprising fear of success and why winning can feel more uncomfortable than failing.
• What Marcus Aurelius can teach us about responsibility and leadership.
• Why loving kindness creates ripple effects that extend far beyond our own lives.
• Men’s mental health, emotional growth, and the importance of community.
• How individual transformation shapes families, communities, and future generations.

This conversation is a reminder that a meaningful life isn’t built through comfort or possessions—it’s built through service, integrity, and becoming someone others can rely on.

If this episode resonates with you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with someone who would benefit from hearing it. Every conversation has the potential to inspire another.

Connect with Paddy Saunders

• North Star Podcast
• LinkedIn: Paddy Saunders  

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

Why do we overthink everything we say? Why do we hold ourselves back from expressing ourselves, making new friends, dancing, speaking up, or simply being who we are?

In this episode of the South to North Walk Podcast, Isabella sits down with Megan, founder of The Felt Space, to explore the psychology behind overthinking, self-consciousness, nervous system regulation, and the transformative role that community can play in helping us reconnect with ourselves.

Together, they discuss why overthinking is often a form of self-protection, how fear of judgment keeps us small, and why authentic connection isn’t something we find—it’s something we create.

If you’ve ever felt socially anxious, struggled to express yourself, or wished your relationships felt deeper and more meaningful, this conversation offers practical insights and a refreshing perspective on what it means to truly belong.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why overthinking is a protective response—not the real problem.
• The fear of being judged and how to move beyond it.
• Why people are often paying far less attention to us than we imagine.
• Building confidence through action instead of waiting to feel ready.
• The importance of safe spaces for genuine self-expression.
• How community supports healing, growth, and lasting transformation.
• Creating deeper, more authentic relationships.

About Megan:
Megan is the founder of The Felt Space, a community dedicated to helping women reconnect with themselves through embodiment, movement, and authentic connection. Her work focuses on creating environments where people feel safe to express themselves, build confidence, and experience genuine belonging.

If this conversation resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who needs to hear it. Every conversation has the potential to inspire another community to begin.

One story can inspire a thousand communities.

What does it take to turn a wild dream into reality?

In this episode, Bella sits down with filmmaker, creator, adventurer, and storyteller Riley Coyote to explore the journey behind The Riley Coyote Show—an ambitious independent film and television project built from the ground up through passion, persistence, and an unwavering belief in the vision.

From creating content online and building a loyal community through the Coyote Clubhouse and YouTube, to organizing a sold-out cinema premiere for his work, Riley shares the highs, lows, challenges, and lessons that come with pursuing a creative path that most people would never dare attempt.

Together, they discuss creativity, storytelling, self-belief, overcoming obstacles, taking risks, building a life around what excites you, and what happens when you stop waiting for permission and start creating the future you want to live in.

Whether you're an artist, filmmaker, entrepreneur, dreamer, or someone searching for the courage to pursue your own vision, this conversation is packed with inspiration and practical wisdom from someone actively walking that path.

Topics include:

• The story behind The Riley Coyote Show

• Independent filmmaking and content creation

• Building a creative community

• Selling out a cinema premiere

• Taking risks and chasing big dreams

• Overcoming setbacks and self-doubt

• Adventure, storytelling, and personal growth

• Creating opportunities instead of waiting for them

One story can inspire a thousand communities.

Connect with Riley Coyote:

YouTube: @iamrileycoyote

Instagram: @rileycoyote

Subscribe for weekly conversations exploring community, creativity, belonging, purpose, and the people building a better world—one story at a time.

New episodes every Thursday at 12 PM AEST.

What happens when you combine free food, meaningful conversations, community service, and a vision for bringing people together?

In this episode, Isabella sits down with Alistair Hutton, founder of Free Feed Fridays, a grassroots community initiative held every Friday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Snapper Rocks, New South Wales, Australia.

What started as a simple desire to feed people and create connection has grown into a thriving community gathering where locals, travellers, families, surfers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and everyday people come together to share food, stories, ideas, and friendship.

Raised in country Queensland, Alistair shares stories from his upbringing, lessons passed down through generations, the importance of accountability, brotherhood, freedom, and what he believes modern society has lost through increasing disconnection.

Throughout the conversation, we explore:

• ​ The story behind Free Feed Fridays
• ​ Why sharing a meal can transform a community
• ​ Building belonging in a disconnected world
• ​ The role of food in bringing people together
• ​ Community leadership and grassroots action
• ​ Australian culture, country values, and storytelling
• ​ Personal responsibility and accountability
• ​ Faith, purpose, and living from the heart
• ​ The importance of mentorship and intergenerational wisdom
• ​ Healing loneliness through genuine human connection
• ​ Creating spaces where people feel seen, welcomed, and valued
• ​ Why community may be one of the most important solutions to modern challenges

Free Feed Fridays operates on a simple idea: everyone is welcome.

Each week, people gather at Snapper Rocks to share a meal, meet new friends, support one another, exchange ideas, and strengthen the social fabric of their local community. Through food, conversation, volunteering, and connection, Alistair and the Free Feed Fridays community are creating a space where strangers become friends and where people can experience a genuine sense of belonging.

Whether you're interested in community building, social connection, personal growth, grassroots leadership, volunteering, spirituality, Australian culture, or simply hearing an inspiring story about people helping people, this episode offers a unique perspective on what becomes possible when we choose to come together.

📍 Free Feed Fridays

Every Friday

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Snapper Rocks, NSW, Australia

If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who believes in the power of community.

One story can inspire a thousand communities.

In this episode of South to North Walk, Isabella sits down with Opal Goldring, co-founder of Roots of Play, to explore nature connection, community, tree climbing, basket weaving, and the importance of bringing play back into everyday life.

Opal shares how her childhood in South Africa, her love of climbing trees, her background in outdoor leadership, and her creative work with natural fibres all shaped the way she sees the world. Through Roots of Play, Opal and Charlie create events across the UK and Europe that invite people outdoors to reconnect with their local environment in playful, meaningful, and community-building ways.

This conversation explores why adults lose touch with play, how nature helps people feel less alone, why risk is essential for learning and aliveness, and how small acts — like standing on one leg while brushing your teeth, climbing over a gate, weaving a basket, or noticing plants on a walk — can bring more joy, presence, and connection into daily life.

If you’ve been craving more community, more nature, more creativity, or more permission to live playfully, this episode is for you.

Follow Opal and Roots of Play:
@rootsofplay

@ops.goldring

Hosted by Isabella Plutino
South to North Walk — one story can inspire thousands of communities.

In Season 2, Episode 2 of South to North Walk, Isabella sits down with Shaman Ryan to explore funmaxing, spirituality, inner child healing, shame, authenticity, and the power of play.

Ryan shares how his background in shamanism, Reiki, philosophy, spirituality, and personal transformation led him to create a framework around funmaxing — a way of living that helps people reconnect with their inner child, trust their intuition, release shame, and move through life with more openness, courage, and joy.

This conversation explores why so many people are afraid to be playful, how shame disconnects us from self-expression, how belief systems shape our reality, and why fun is not about bypassing pain — but about finding the wisdom, clarity, and light inside every experience.

If you’ve been craving more authenticity, emotional freedom, self-trust, spiritual clarity, or permission to stop taking life so seriously, this episode is for you.

Follow Shaman Ryan:

Instagram/TikTok/YouTube: @ShamanRyan

Website: shamanryan.com

Hosted by Isabella Plutino

South to North Walk — one story can inspire thousands of communities.

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of South to North Walk.

This season begins with a renewed mission: building a reconnection archive - a collection of stories, ideas, communities, and perspectives designed to help people reconnect to themselves, each other, and the world around them. Because one story can inspire thousands of communities.

In this episode, Isabella sits down with Charlie Holt, co-founder of Roots of Play, to explore the psychology of play, creativity, imagination, roughhousing, ancestral knowledge, emotional development, and the importance of meaningful community experiences in modern life.

Charlie shares insights into why play is essential for human growth, how movement and creativity shape identity, and what society loses when curiosity and connection are replaced with overstimulation and disconnection.

This conversation is thoughtful, grounding, inspiring, and deeply aligned with the vision for Season 2.

Topics include:

- The importance of play in childhood development

- Roughhousing and emotional regulation

- Creativity, imagination, and identity

- Community and human connection

- Honouring ancestral knowledge and traditions

- Building meaningful spaces for growth

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone in your community.

One story can inspire thousands of communities

Welcome to Season 2 of South to North Walk.

This season marks a new direction and a deeper mission.

South to North Walk is becoming a living archive of human stories, ideas, creativity, healing, play, self-discovery, and community. A place where people from all walks of life can share what helped them reconnect to themselves, to others, and to the world around them.

From artists, adventurers, teachers, and creators to people building communities, hobbies, businesses, wellness spaces, and meaningful lives — this podcast exists to document the courage it takes to become more fully yourself.

The goal is simple:

to inspire people to step back into community, curiosity, creativity, movement, conversation, and authentic living.

Because one story can inspire thousands of communities.

Season 2 is about creating a catalogue of perspectives, passions, and pathways that remind people they are not alone in wanting more depth, meaning, connection, and purpose in life.

Thank you for being here from the beginning.

New episodes every Thursday at 12PM Gold Coast / Brisbane time.