The Mindful Isle

How often do domestic tasks feel like a never-ending to do list, a source of frustration and potentially resentment? But what if there was another way to frame it, a different approach that might even feel joyful? 

In this episode I speak with Helen Hayward a psychotherapist by trade, writer and yoga teacher, about the art of housekeeping.

We discuss how the death of her sister changed her attitude to housekeeping, the tussle between creativity and being conscientious, slow parenting and how to protect your wellness and creativity, especially in the early years of parenting. 

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I recorded this episode a few months ago, and it’s one that I’m particularly excited to share – so much of what Helen shares resonates with me personally and hope that you find this as helpful and invigorating as I have.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d urge you to check out Helen’s books Home Work and A Slow Childhood, as well as her Substack also titled homework. Find them here: https://www.helenhayward.net/

I am pressing pause on the Mindful Isle for now but I will be channeling my passion for slow living and sustainability into a new Substack column which I will be sharing soon. 

I find so much joy in having these conversations and hope that they are in turn inspiring and helpful for you. This is not goodbye forever, but a pause. Thank you so much to all of the guests who have shared their insight and passion so far and for every listener tuning in and supporting the Mindful Isle. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and be sure to follow me on Instagram @themindfulisle to stay up to date on all things slow living and sustainability. 

Where do you turn to find joy and solace in tough times?

If you ask today's guest, the answer lies in the beauty of mundane everyday life.

From the depths of grief and social anxiety, she rebuilt her life, prioritising creative living and meaningful connections to place and people. Sophie Appleby is a writer, creative and self described bowerbird. She's the President of Book Council of Tasmania/lutruwita and works with the family history library in Launceston.

In this conversation we discuss her fascination with ancestry and our important role as custodians of knowledge and stories 

A trigger warning, this episode discusses the loss of her son Cohen who was stillborn. On the whole it's an uplifting conversation but it may be a difficult listen for some people so please take care and feel free to skip this episode if it's not right for you today. Another note on today's episode, on listening back I've realised there is some audio interference in the background but I hope you still enjoy Sophie's beautiful tale of healing and finding herself again in the midst of grief, an interstate move and a global pandemic.

Thank you so much for listening in to this episode of the Mindful Isle. I'm so grateful to Sophie for her willingness to share her personal experiences with grief and whether it’s a journey you personally identify with or not, I hope you’ve found value in her insights about seeking joy and solace.

Check out Sophie’s work via Instagram @sophieisobelasher

I’m taking a break for a few weeks and I’ll be back in January with fresh episode about conscious living in Tasmania. 

Stay up to date @themindfulisle on Instagram and don’t forget to follow The Mindful Isle on whatever platform you’re listening on right now. 

There’s lots of us out there conscientiously trying to live more sustainably…taking our produce bags to the supermarket, reusing things, swapping clothes and composting… but there are still corners of our society where waste is almost deemed a given and something that’s out of our hands. 

Coming from a background in nursing Brenton Lovering had long considered the large amounts of clinical and hospital waste as an unfortunate byproduct of quality health care. It wasn't until he joined forces with longtime friend Mat Usher that he saw an opportunity for change. Together the Tasmanian pair formed GreenMed, which takes hospital waste like sterilisation wrap and repurposes it into new products for use in the medical sector.

In this episode we discuss how the business came to be, the process of creating a closed loop system and the many challenges they’ve had along the way. 

Thanks so much for listening in to this episode of the Mindful Isle.

You’ll find more info about GreenMed here: https://www.greenmedical.com.au/

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Stay up to date on Instagram @themindfulisle

Last episode we went deep on burnout and what it looks like…this week we’re talking with someone who shares their process recovering from burnout and cultivating a life with intention that's kind to the planet and yourself.

Nat Mendham is a multi-discipline purpose driven creative and in this ep she shares why she advocates for, radical rest, the joys of visible mending, her very cool Radical Postcard Club and art as a form of mobilisation. 

Check out Nat’s work via Instagram @nat_mendham, Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@nat_mendham  or her website https://www.nataliemendham.com.au/ 

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Thanks so much for tuning in to this episode with Nat, she’s doing some wonderful work and it’s so heartening to see someone using their skills for the benefit of the community and environment. 

If you’re feeling generous, please share this episode with a friend and be sure to hit follow so you never miss an episode. You can stay up to date with podcast news on Instagram @themindfulisle.

Burnout is a term that gets thrown around a lot but what exactly is it and how do you heal  your nervous system? Today's guest spends her days sharing the healing effects of nature and physical activity for mental health. Daisy Grodzki, also known as the Walking Therapist, is a mental Health social worker based in the North West of Tasmania. 

In this conversation, we discuss: 

The regulating power of nature 

Her lived experience of ADHD 

As well as how to heal from burnout 

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Thank you so much for listening in to this episode of the Mindful Isle with Daisy. I found this topic fascinating and hopefully you're leaving with some useful takeaways. If you feel like you could use some professional support, reach out to your GP and if you're interested in contacting Daisy, check out her website: https://thewalkingtherapist.au/

If you enjoyed this episode please share it with a friend and don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.

I'll be back in your ears next Wednesday with another episode about conscious living in Tasmania. 

Do you ever look around in pure awe at the small yet incredible parts of nature …dew drops in a spiderweb, the intricate veins on leaves, the bright colours and patterns of flowers. Today’s guest spends lots of time observing these moments of everyday beauty and then celebrating them in her artwork. Emerging artist Audrey Carter has already established a distinct style, using vivid colours in her depictions of the natural environment and people, exploring our interconnectedness and themes of childhood and nostalgia.

In today’s episode we discuss her beginnings in art, the things that inspire her, her experience growing up in a zero waste family and the importance of third spaces.

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Thanks so much for listening in to this episode of the Mindful Isle. I loved this chat with Audrey and if you haven’t already go and check out her art, she does amazing work and I think she’s got a wonderful future in the industry. Check out her work on Instagram @earthtoauds

From site visits in a saltmarsh and identifying bat calls, to delivering community talks and cultivating an incredible edible garden, today’s guest lives and breathes nature.

In today’s episode you’ll hear from Dr Lisa Cawthen, an environmental scientist and community educator. We discuss her science career and how she ended up specialising in bat science, the call for a dark sky sanctuary in Tasmania, her passion for mobilising citizen scientists and her amazing edible garden. She is a board member for Dark Sky Tasmania, part of the Youth Climate Leaders Program and she appeared on Gardening Australia earlier this year showcasing her property.

I hope you leave this episode feeling hopeful about the future of Tasmania and the role you can play in implementing positive change on a daily level.

Lisa has a wonderful ability to translate her science know-how into actionable information for everyday folk.

And you can check out her edible garden which doubles as an Eden for local wildlife via her Instagram lisa_cawthen

Get the iNaturalist app https://www.inaturalist.org/

Today’s guest breathes new life into old saucers, plates and coffee pots, turning them into beautiful vintage-inspired art, featuring funky women and pithy catch phrases. Eva Gabriel-Stallwood, the lady behind signature local brand Lily and Gabe shares her soft spot for ‘orphaned’ plates. 

In this conversation, we discuss how she began, the urge to celebrate a range of emotions in her work, and her philosophy on upcycling vintage crockery.

Thank you so much for listening in to this episode! I loved learning about Eva's creative process and her mission to preserve the stories of vintage plates. 

If you haven't already, you can check out her fabulous creations on Instagram @lily_and_gabe_plates

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.

I'll be back in your ears next week with another episode about conscious living in Tasmania. 

Stay up to date on Instagram @themindfulisle