In this episode of Unearthing, we talk to Julia Watson, the author of Lo—TEK, Design by Radical Indigenism. Julia speaks to the importance of nature-based technologies, the benefits of controlled burning, and what we can learn from indigenous communities.

A dialogue with Bonnie Wright, actress, filmmaker, and environmental activist. Bonnie sheds light on the relationship of water to land, how we can have impact on a local level, and the importance of nature-based play. Here's our conversation. 

A dialogue with Natalie Yon-Eriksson, the founder of Earth + Flax. What started as a return to Natalie's Swedish heritage, turned into her passion for educating people about the health and environmental benefits of traditional finishes for both historic preservation and new construction. We learn about linseed oil, which is derived from flax, and why ‘maintenance free’ just means its future is the land fill. We hope you enjoy our conversation.

A dialogue with Sonoko Sakai, a cook, teacher, and writer based in California. Sonoko was born in New York to Japanese parents, and she grew up in San Francisco, Kamakura, Mexico City, and Tokyo, which contributed to her rich cultural upbringing that comes through in her cooking. We speak to Sonoko about her garden, why she believes you should cook every day, and her latest cookbook, Wafu Cooking. We hope you enjoy our conversation. 

In our first episode of Unearthing, we speak with Mitch Iburg (b. 1989), an American ceramic artist about his work with local clay and mineral resources foraged throughout his home state of Minnesota.   

At ORCA, we believe the most enduring spaces speak in a language older than words written in wood, stone, and the architecture of nature. Unearthing is our exploration of this vocabulary through conversations that bridge the elemental and the intentional. 

Each episode is a dialogue between design and the natural world, digging into different methodologies of construction and materiality. We’ll share our best practices and philosophies while learning from experts who approach their craft as a collaboration with nature itself. Join us as we uncover how these raw elements can become both teachers and tools, creating environments that heal, inspire, and reconnect us to our natural rhythms.