Cast your mind back to your favourite childhood toy...chances are it was a bear, a bunny or maybe a dog. Today's guest wanted to inject some more diversity into the plush toy market, introducing kids to some less common creatures. Soft and Salty creator Catherine Gibson creates the most beautiful range of plush marine animals who are all filled with personality. She hopes in turn children will be inspired to look after our oceans.  

In this episode we chat about her creative process, her love of the ocean, sourcing sustainable materials and the future of her range.

Check out the Soft and Salty range and learn more about the brand here: https://www.softandsalty.com.au/ 

More than one billion plastic milk bottles are used each year, 500 million of which are used for commercial purposes. Owner of Launceston Flick the Bean coffee stops, Edward Crick decided something needed to change. He's developed 18-litre reusable milk kegs and through his new venture, The Udder Way, he hopes to roll them out across the country.

In this episode we chat about his design process and his mission to remove 100 million milk cartons from circulation in Australia each year.

If you'd like to learn more about The Udder Way or start using milk kegs in your business visit https://www.theudderway.com.au/ 

Our island home is full of makers producing beautiful items while striving to leave the planet a better place. Tasmania is known for its clean and green status, but it can be hard to know exactly what goes on behind a brand's closed doors.

With this in mind, today's guest wanted to help connect sustainability-conscious makers and consumers. Kelsey Rosevear has used her background in marketing and fast fashion to create Have and Hold, a directory promoting quality and sustainably crafted items and clothing in Tasmania.

Discover local makers and more about Have and Hold here: https://www.haveandholdtasmania.com.au/

Welcome to season two of the Mindful Isle! I'm so excited to be back with some fresh interviews after a bit of a break.

In today's episode you'll meet Laura Tilley, a meditation teacher and the creator of The Half Between, through which she shares her love of meditation with others in person and online. Laura is sunshine in human form and I really enjoyed interviewing her. Laura is a big advocate of slowing down, appreciating the present moment and reconnecting with yourself and others. In this conversation, we delve into how meditation has become a key tool in maintaining her mental wellbeing, the style of meditation she teaches and the importance of connection.

You can learn more about The Half Between and Laura's course offerings here: https://www.thehalfbetween.com/

If you'd like to check out the guided meditations Laura has created for Zorali that we mentioned, you can find them here via their IGTV: https://www.instagram.com/zorali/channel/?hl=en

In today's episode you'll meet Love Your Guts founder Caleb Robertson, who has developed a range of fermented food products since 2017.

While working as a natural therapist, Caleb began recommending fermented foods to clients in place of probiotics. At first he starting making a few jars of sauerkraut to sell at the clinic, and running community workshops and over time the demand ramped up until he left the clinic to pursue it as a business full time.

In this episode, we discuss the process of turning his fermenting side hustle into a fully fledged business and the benefits of fermented foods for gut health.

In today's episode you'll meet Hobart-based director of Good Life Permaculture, Hannah Moloney. 

As a permaculture landscape designer and educator, a large part of her days are spent in the garden, working with clients and sharing knowledge in the community.

From her garden office Hannah discusses her lifestyle, the basics of permaculture and her vision for Tasmania's future.

Learn more about Good Life Permaculture here https://goodlifepermaculture.com.au/ 

Back in 2018 Jodi Wilson and her family packed up their city life, sold the majority of their possessions and bought a caravan. In the years since she's been travelling Australia with her partner Daniel and their four children in tow.

In this episode we discuss the lessons of yoga that inform her lifestyle, simplicity and the concept of slow travel.

You can read more about Jodi's travels and lifestyle on her successful blog  https://www.practisingsimplicity.com/ or see her stunning photos on Instagram @practisingsimplicity

When was the last time you took a long, hard look around your house, at all the products that are part of your daily routine and reflected on the waste you generate?

In this conversation we discuss her progress so far and she shares some practical tips for minimising waste.

Resources Taylor recommended:

Have you ever eaten an insect? If not, would you consider it? It's something that's been part of many cultures for thousands of years and is becoming increasingly popular in the western world.

In today's episode you will meet Simon McInerney, a freelance butler based in Northern Tasmania. He's been in the service industry for most of his life, working in high-class hotels in Australia and abroad. During an eight-year working stint in the UK, he served as house manager for none other than Highclere Castle which some listeners might recognise from Downton Abbey. In this conversation Simon reflects on how he became a butler, his time in the UK and the choice to return to Tasmania.