What a week at the regenerative agriculture conference in Margaret River. Fair to say we’re still buzzing, and recovering. More on that later. Normal podcasting will resume next week, but this week has actually been lined up for a while – in anticipation of that recovery, and the release of a very special book.

Carol Sanford’s new – and sadly last – book is out this week. It’s called No More Gold Stars: Regenerating Capacity to Think for Ourselves. You might remember her talking about it back at the start of the year in a profound 150th episode, that drew such a wave of response from so many of you.

This is an excerpt of that episode featuring the last 20 minutes or so of our conversation. We pick it up at a particularly poignant and funny moment, where Carol is talking about one of her many great success stories in engaging with business globally in education and leadership. This led to my voicing a hint of doubt about the capacity of big business to change adequately, given the way the systems and structures are oriented. I was summarily admonished, in a way I enjoyed then, and recount still.

Here’s part of the blurb from the full episode:

Starting the year with Carol Sanford feels incredibly special. She’s been at the heart of what we might call the ‘regenerative paradigm’ for decades. Friends and colleagues have spoken about her with me for years, right up until the end of last year. And last month, a previous guest and author of Sand Talk, Tyson Yunkaporta, featured Carol on his podcast. That’s when I learned the sad news that she has only a few months to live. When I wrote to her expressing my care and respect, and to see if she’d possibly be up for a chat with another Aussie podcaster, she said sure, but ‘I am declining and so can’t wait long.’ Days later, we shared this conversation.

To hear the conversation in full tune into episode 150, A Regenerative Life: Carol Sanford on living, dying & changing paradigms, where you'll also find a few links.

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers, and a transcript of this conversation (note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully provides greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).

This conversation was recorded on 2 February 2023.

Title slide: Carol Sanford (source:

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We’ve landed in Margaret River, ahead of its major regenerative agriculture conference, with a live Q&A screening of Rachel’s Farm raising the curtain tonight. Anthony will be hosting director Rachel Ward, in conversation with another previous guest on the podcast, Jade Miles. In the film, Rachel raises the rest of the picture of regeneration – regenerating supply chains. And this is where her daughter Matilda (featuring profoundly in the film also), and her partner Scott Gooding, have taken up the mantle. Though that came after some uninterested mocking of mother, and sharing some traumatic health troubles and startling nutrition-led recoveries.

This is an excerpt of episode 169 featuring the last 25 minutes or so of our conversation, recorded at dusk on the family farm earlier this year – having recorded with Rachel for episode 168 earlier that day. We pick it up with Scott's healing journey. And follow that into the creation - and re-creation - of The Good Farm Shop.

Here’s part of the blurb from the full episode:

Join us in this heart-warming conversation with Matilda Brown, daughter of renowned actors Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward, and Scott Gooding, ‘celebrity chef’ and author of The Sustainable Diet. Together, they share their unexpected journey into the world of regenerative farming, their thoughts on food sovereignty, and how their combined passion for cooking, creativity, and healthy, sustainable living, led to the creation of the Good Farm Shop.

To hear the conversation in full, head to episode 169 (see the link below).

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers, and a transcript of this conversation (note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully provides greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).

This conversation was recorded on 10 April 2023.

Title slide: Matilda, Scott & Anthony (pic: Matilda Brown).

For behind the scenes footage and other benefits, including helping to keep the podcast going, please consider becoming a subscriber via the Patreon page.

Find more:

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We’re now heading south from the Kimberley towards Margaret River for the regenerative agriculture conference next week. One brilliant couple who’ll be there, and who appear in the film Rachel’s Farm being shown on the eve of the conference, is Kaycee Simuong and Tom Macindoe. This is an excerpt of episode 167 featuring the last 25 minutes or so of our conversation, recorded after visiting Rachel, up the Valley at their 400 acre farm of forest and grassland regeneration, with extraordinary market garden.

Here’s part of the blurb from the full episode:

Tom and Kaycee are descendents of Scottish highlanders and Lao rice farmers (& somewhat accidental refugees) respectively. And as it happens, Kaycee spent some formative time in the Kimberley (at Mornington) when she was 19. Now she’s with Tom running Mandarin Bend Farm, in the beautiful Nambucca Valley, Gumbaynggirr Country, on the mid-north coast of NSW. But not only that. With a bunch of neighbouring producers, they’ve gone on to start the North Arm Farms coop – a unique food to market set up, with deep community roots, stewardship ethos, and enterprise model that sends 100% of what we spend on our food directly to the farmers. This is where we pick up the conversation.

To hear the conversation in full, head to episode 167 (see the link below).

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers, and a transcript of this conversation (note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully provides greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).

This conversation was recorded on 11 April 2023.

Title slide: Kaycee & Tom (pic: Anthony James).

For behind the scenes footage and other benefits, including helping to keep the podcast going, please consider becoming a subscriber via the Patreon page.

Find more:
Tune into the full episode 167, where you'll also find some photos and a few links.

Join us at the Regenerative Agriculture Conference in Margaret River next week, September 2023 – you can get tix for the Rachel’s Farm screening on the Tuesday evening, 5 September, on the program web page. Rachel will be in conversation with Anthony James and

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We’re back at Kachana Station this week, the site of the second most listened to episode on this podcast. And we've just recorded an update from here that will be out soon. But as recent guest Rachel Ward makes her way around the country, screening her new film and speaking with communities, news has arrived she’ll be doing likewise ahead of the major regenerative agriculture conference in Margaret River WA in a couple of weeks now. Episode 168 featured two chapters in effect – the first was with Rachel alone, and in the second we were joined by regenerative farming co-conspirator, and co-star in the film, Mick Green. This excerpt is that second chapter, recorded at Rachel’s farm earlier this year.

Here’s the opening blurb from episode 168:

Imagine transforming a cattle farm and family retreat into a carbon-sequestering biodiversity haven. What would it take? And how and why would you do it if you're a famed actress and filmmaker? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Rachel Ward, who embarked on this journey alongside former industrialised farmer and coal miner Mick Green. Their story is now the first Australian feature film on regenerative agriculture, and Rachel's first documentary. 'Rachel's Farm' has just premiered to acclaim in Sydney and Santa Barbara, and Rachel is about to tour the film around the country.

To hear the conversation in full, including ‘chapter one’ with Rachel and host Anthony, head to episode 168 (see the link below).

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers, and a transcript of this conversation (note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully provides greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).

This conversation was recorded on 10 April 2023.

Title slide: Rachel’s farm (pic: Anthony James).

For behind the scenes footage and other benefits, including helping to keep the podcast going, please consider becoming a subscriber via the Patreon page.

Music:
Regeneration, by Amelia Barden.

Find more:
Tune into the full episode 168, where you'll also find some photos and a few links, including the film trailer and tour dates.

Join us at the

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We’ve been recording in Fitzroy Crossing this week, and reflecting on the blessing of hearing from a number of elders here in the Kimberley. This includes one of the recordings from Fitzroy which will be out soon. And today, as we prepare to leave this permaculture paradise of recent guest, Wendy Albert, and head back to Kachana Station, it brought to mind another permaculture legend who cut her teeth here in the Kimberley – as a 15 year old jillaroo back in the ‘50s.

This is an excerpt of episode 154 with Rowe, featuring the last 20 minutes or so of our conversation. It was recorded near Fremantle WA late last year, when she was touring her new, fully revised, classic tome of the ‘90s - the Earth Restorer’s Guide to Permaculture. It even closes with Rowe reciting some old station songs from her time in the Kimberley, before a few of her favourite people, in the Formidable Vegetable band, lend us a song to go out with (celebrating their new album launch at the time).

We pick up the conversation from where Rowe talks of permaculture needing to take next steps now – to go from being an ‘alternative’ to becoming part of the way things are generally done. She lays down the gauntlet for those who are ready to embrace a journey that explores the transformative power of permaculture and its potential to instigate systemic change. And explores how coming together with the wisdom of traditional cultures can help lead to planetary restoration.

Rowe goes on to talk about the courage of various women that have inspired her. There are tales of bravery and endurance from the Quaker women during the Vietnam War, Las Abuelas of Argentina, and the Black Sash women in Africa. We also hear about the crucial role she sees in engaging with local governments. And as we wrap up, we chat about who's taking up the mantle of Rosemary's enormous legacy, and the unique part music plays in connecting us across cultures and traditions.

To hear the conversation in full, head to episode 154 (see the link below).

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers, and a transcript of this conversation (note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully provides greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).

Recorded on 24 November 2022.

For behind the scenes footage and other benefits, including helping to keep the podcast go

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There was some big news last week. The Farmer’s Footprint Australia team announced they’ll be staging a major festival in November. It will feature the return to these shores of Zach Bush, with Charles Eisenstein beaming in online, alongside a host of brilliant Australian speakers and artists. To get us in the mood, keep the connections alive from last year’s tour, and just in case you missed it, here’s an excerpt of the last 25 minutes or so of the panel conversation that brought the house down in Byron Bay in December last year. This is Zach Bush, Ella Noah Bancroft and Tanya Massy, hosted in conversation by Anthony James.

To hear the conversation in full, head to episode 152 (see the link below).

Ella Noah Bancroft is a Bundjalung woman and founder of The Returning. Tanya Massy is a regenerative farmer and award-winning writer. You can more about Ella and Tanya at the start of the full episode 152.

And for those less familiar with Zach, he’s the highly decorated physician who’s become globally renowned for his work on the microbiome as the basis of all human and planetary health. He’s since become a co-founder of Farmer’s Footprint, a not-for-profit in the US supporting farmers who are regenerating their landscapes to produce healthy, nutrient-dense food for a healthy planet. And last year, Zach supported Blair Beattie and the growing team here, to launch Farmer’s Footprint Australia.

This part of the conversation takes an exciting turn as we explore the shift in the current paradigm. We examine what it means for companies like Nestle to be calling on Zach to help spearhead change, and how municipalities like Byron Bay could become the keystones of change in Australia. We also chat about the benefits of reconnecting with First Nations and local farmers, including via a proposed new model of farmland investment, one centered on creating diverse stewards of the land rather than corporate ownership or extraction. Finally, we bask in the healing power of nature and music. We shed light on how nature can help us understand our belief systems, express ourselves, and restore our nervous systems. 

Head here for chapter markers (or to the embedded player on the episode web page), and an imperfect AI-generated transcript of this conversation.

Recorded in the Byron Bay Community Centre theatre, on 6 December 2022.

Title slide: Anthony introducing proceedings (pic: Elle Jeffrey).

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Ten years ago now, award-winning writer and journalist, Judith Schwartz wrote the book ‘Cows Save the Planet: and Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth'. Then came 'Water In Plain Sight: Hope for a Thirsty World'. And then, a few years ago, in an extraordinary global tour of earth repair, came 'The Reindeer Chronicles: and Other Inspiring Stories of Working With Nature to Heal the Earth'. That award-winning book featured stories from Norway, Spain, Hawai’i, New Mexico, the Middle East, and Australia – Kachana Station, in fact, the 200,000 acre station in the East Kimberley that’s the subject of the 2nd most listened to episode on this podcast – and a critical flashpoint right now.

Among Judy’s stories, there’s something in particular about the one from New Mexico that stands to assist all the others, and what’s to come. It’s a story that’s shaped the next phase of Judith’s life in some ways, and is arguably the leading edge of what we need most right now. Given the stories of regeneration in every sphere are everywhere now, we can say we do broadly know what to do, and who can help the rest of us join in. So what’s stopping us? And how can we get beyond the entrenched beliefs and patterns that are holding us back?

Some of what Judy’s written up, and has gone on with personally since, is almost too amazing to be true. Indeed, as we’ve heard on this podcast recently from people like Tim Hollo, Amanda Cahill, and Katherine Trebeck, we do know of processes too, that answer those crucial questions. And one consistent thread in these processes, is how contemplating the apparently impossible can change everything. Interestingly, it’s also consistent with processes that elite athletes are increasingly engaging in. Judy calls it the approach of thinking ‘wouldn’t it be cool if …?’ And hearing how Judy’s own path of deep healing has converged with these bigger stories of regeneration, even how she’s become a black belt in her 60s, that does sound cool.

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on the embedded player on the episode web page), and a transcript of this conversation (please note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully serves to provide greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).

Recorded at the Derby Media Aboriginal Corporation on 28 July 2023 Australian time.

Title slide: Judith Schwartz (pic: Tony Epr

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Join us on an insightful journey with Kimberley legend Wendy Albert, a woman who's lived an extraordinary life, challenging the status quo and advocating for sustainable living. From her early years growing up on a farm, to joining Mother Teresa's sisterhood, Wendy's experiences have shaped her into a fierce advocate for food security and sustainable agriculture in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and beyond.

Wendy is the owner/manager of Kimberley Cottages, and Windjana Wellness and Sustainability Services. And this is where we are blessed to be based when we’re up this way - rained upon daily by tropical fruit, veg and herbs. And inspired by this septuagenarian great grandmother enabling it all. In some ways, she’s still just gearing up, and continuing to invite others in to make more of the running on the foundations laid. But how all this came to be, is another story. Well, many!

Wendy’s ultimate migration to the Kimberley came after a chance meeting in Central Australia with the late great musician and actor Stephen ‘Baamba’ Albert. Eulogised as the ‘Patron Saint of Broome’, Stephen was a co-creator of iconic theatre and film productions like Bran Nue Dae.

All the while, Wendy herself was continuing to blaze other trails in Broome, and later here - from the phenomenal Kimberley Bookshop and Magabala Books, to a pivotal Royal Commission, and on to the transformation of a landscape and health-centered food systems over profit-driven ones. And on that, we hear how the former can have enormous effects on youth crime epidemics too, and a cautionary tone on new slogans like 'green ammonia'.

Join us at Wendy's place, on a beautiful sunny morning amidst this season’s tropical bounty.

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on the embedded player on the episode web page), and a transcript of this conversation (please note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully serves to provide greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).

Recorded at Wendy’s place on 20 July 2023.

Title slide: Wendy Albert.

See more photos on the episode web page, and to see more from behind the scenes, become a subscriber via the Patreon page.

Music:
Regeneration, by Amelia Barden, off the soundtrack for the film

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The RegenNarration podcast is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them.

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• Patreon (NB: if you're using an iPhone, you can avoid Apple's new 30% app store charge for new subscribers by subscribing on your laptop or PC).
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Welcome to a new series of episodes from the Kimberley, in far north Western Australia.

First up, prepare for a transformative journey as we're joined by Manchán Magan, the acclaimed Irish travel writer, documentary maker, radio producer, theatre performer, builder of the first straw-bale house in Ireland, regenerator of the 10 acre block it stands on, and best-selling author. Manchán’s books include ‘32 Words for Field: Lost words of the Irish landscape’, which is said to have begun as a cult hit in Ireland, but has become one of its most talked-about books in recent times. And his latest book is ‘Listen to the Land Speak: A journey into the wisdom of what lies beneath us’.

Manchán masterfully delves into the wealth of knowledge encoded in ancient languages, mythology, and stories of the land. His belief in the power of this wisdom everywhere, and the urgency to understand and protect the cultures of the land – and above all, stemming from a recent visit to Australia, Aboriginal cultures - is compelling.

Remarkably for the life he’s led, Manchán says that this visit to Australia has had a greater impact on him than any other. ‘It has changed everything’, he says. And this encounter might just be changing everything for Anthony too, tapping his Irish roots, and the ancient mycelium network of language and land connecting us all. 

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on the embedded player on the episode web page), and a transcript of this conversation (please note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully serves to provide greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).

Recorded at 6DBY of the Derby Media Aboriginal Corporation (featured in one of the most popular episodes, no. 95) on 14 July 2023.

Title slide: Manchán Magan.

Click on the photos below to zoom in, and hover over them to see captions where added.

See more photos on the episode web page, and to see more from behind the scenes, become a subscriber via the Patreon page.

Music:
Regeneration, by Amelia Barden, off the soundtrack for the film Regenerating Australia.

Find more:
Manchán Magan inc. t

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After we finished this week's conversation with our distinguished guest, Indigenous artist and community leader, Patrick Churnside, some off-the-record yarning was also recorded. We decided to release it as a bonus 10 minute extra, given its rich and candid exchanges, which also culminated in an invitation to Roebourne. As it happens, it comes at a time  when there is a wonderful position going at the Digital Lab (see the PDF file below if you're interested).

Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on the embedded player on the episode web page), and a transcript of this conversation (please note the transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully serves to provide greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).

This conversation was recorded at the Big hART Digital Lab on 6 June 2023.

Title slide: Roebourne / Ieramugadu, from the lookout Patrick talks about in the main episode (pic: Anthony James).

See more photos on that main episode web page (link below), and to see more from behind the scenes, become a subscriber via the Patreon page.

Music at the end:
Patrick tinkering on guitar before we started our conversation.

Find more:
Tune into our full conversation for episode 172, Songlines for Freedom. You'll see photos there too, and the PDF of the position description for a Digital Arts Producer (for immediate action if you're interested).

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The RegenNarration podcast is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them.

BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER to connect with your host, other listeners and exclusive benefits, on:

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