Welcome to episode 45 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm joined in conversation by Amy from the Humans Outside podcast.

In this beautiful conversation Amy shares her unorthodox journey of embracing nature, & how even when you don’t particularly consider yourself outdoorsy, it’s still possible to head outside. We talk about how she has taught herself to cultivate a relationship with the outdoors, even when it felt uncomfortable & challenging. Whilst we are now more regularly told of the benefits to our health & mental wellbeing that being outside in nature can offer, Amy shares the benefits she has experienced personally from an increase in creativity to feeling more resilient emotionally, & having better relationships as a result, to some surprising ones like being more organised in daily life & even feeling more productive.

From committing to her own daily outdoor practice, she has gone on to inspire many more people to make their own leaps into embracing a more outdoorsy lifestyle through her Humans Outside 365 challenge & her Humans Outside Podcast.

This is a truly inspiring episode, as Amy offers up so much wisdom but with a full on dose of humour & humility, sharing the highs & lows of spending 20 mins outside everyday for the last 2,400 days! From finding yourself a regular sit spot, to simply being reminded that we sometimes wouldn’t see things unless we are actually looking for them, like the Aurora Borealis / Northern lights, to just a gentle reminder that we need to make choices in our lives as to what we want to prioritise so that we make time for it, rather than hoping to find time for it.

We both hope that our chat leaves you inspired to commit to being outside more & we would both love to hear from you, so make sure to follow us both on social media & share & tag us as you develop your own daily outdoor routines.

Learn more about Amy
Amy Bushatz is the host and producer of the Humans Outside podcast. Based in Palmer, Alaska, Amy has built a lifestyle around spending time in nature every day, no matter the weather, and encourages listeners to do the same. Amy works full time in local journalism, enjoys ultra running across her local mountains in the summer, cross-country skiing in the winter and plotting new outdoor adventures.

Listen to Humans Outside Podcast: https://humansoutside.com/podcasts/
Join The Humans Outside Challenge: https://humansoutside.com/challenge/
Website: https://humansoutside.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humansoutside
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humansoutside

Shared Books:
Local: A search for nearby nature and wilderness - Alastair Humphreys

Support the Show.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world.

More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography Website

Connect with us & join the conversation on social media:
Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotography
Facebook @FionaMacKayPhotography
Twitter @FiMacKay

Today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Cynthia Jurs, author of Summoned By The Earth: Becoming a Holy Vessel For Healing Our World.

Like many of us, Cynthia found herself witnessing the suffering of the earth & felt the deep longing to help & the urgent question, “What can I do, how can I bring healing to the Earth?” Her incredible book, documents the unfolding of her journey.

In this beautiful conversation we explore the wisdom that she has gathered from her pilgrimage, that began with a Tibetan Lama in the Himalayas and has traversed the earth, embracing & being welcomed by diverse cultures & in co-creation with many treasured Indigenous Elders, who have generously shared their own wisdom traditions. She shares the stories of some of the Earth Treasure Vases from being joined by the Whales in Mexico whilst offering healing after a Hurricane, to Mali & Liberia where people were finding their way to healing their collective trauma after a difficult civil war & the incredible experience connecting to the Nilotic Meridian in South Africa & Egypt.

We dive into the often underestimated power of Intention & our need to act from a place of love. How we must learn to step outside the paradigm that created the world we currently witness & find courage to lean into the radical act to stop, set down the fear & urgency & drop into our true nature of deep caring, love & connection, allowing the space for the powerful co-creation of what will be, to rise, free of our expectation & attachment.

Sacred Activism is the radical act that may just be the key to open the door within us, that we have all been searching for. The Earth is calling us all and we all have our roles to play. Make sure you stay to the end of the episode so you can join us in meditation & pour your loving intention for healing into the Gaia Mandala to become a healing force for good in our world.

Learn more about Cynthia
Cynthia Jurs became a dharma teacher (Dharmacharya) in the Order of Interbeing of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and in 2018, was made an honorary lama in the Vajrayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in recognition of her dedication in carrying out the Earth Treasure Vase practice. Inspired by thirty years of pilgrimage into diverse communities and ecosystems, today Cynthia is forging a new path of dharma in service to Gaia—a path deeply rooted in the feminine, honoring indigenous cultures, and devoted to collective awakening. Cynthia leads meditations, retreats, courses, and pilgrimages to support the emergence of a global community of engaged and embodied sacred activists.

Website: www.GaiaMandala.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthtreasurevase.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthiajurs/

Summoned By The Earth: https://www.summonedbytheearth.org/

Support the Show.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world.

More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography Website

Connect with us & join the conversation on social media:
Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotography
Facebook @FionaMacKayPhotography
Twitter @FiMacKay

Welcome to episode 43 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I'm delighted to be joined in conversation by Mara Mennicken, founder of The Good Chocolatier based in Vancouver, Canada.

As a not so secret chocolate lover I was really excited to speak with Mara about her amazing craft chocolate business.

Whilst there’s plenty of chocolate chat, this fascinating conversation delivered so much more. Mara is an absolute inspiration & doesn’t just talk the talk but is walking the walk to show that a different vision for business can & should be a reality.

She is incredibly passionate about the power of social enterprises & the importance of social sustainability in business & how this is sadly often not as frequently considered as it should be. Despite being a small company she has embraced working with marginalised groups, including adapting roles & work environments to allow neurodivergent staff to thrive in her business.

We talk about supply chains, human rights, changing the world closer to home, connecting to our food supply, fair prices for farmers & even some of the tools that can help us as consumers to make ethical choices for both people & the environment, including FairTrade & B-Corp.

My conversation with Mara filled me with so much hope & inspiration around how business can truly be a significant force for good in our world & how as consumers we can help to shape this impact too.

Learn more about Mara

Hi, my name is Mara. I started the GOOD Chocolatier out of a need for a true feel-good chocolate and a desire for a world where a quality product doesn't come at the cost of other people or the environment. That's why our chocolate contributes to a healthier YOU, a healthier planet, and more equity in the labour market. I hope that you feel the GOOD in every bite! :)

Website: https://thegoodchocolatier.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodchocolatier

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-mennicken-24609469/

Mara’s TEDex Talk: https://youtu.be/PsZ50MlXCMc?si=rpYRz8pEjxgOwe1y

The Cacao Crisis: https://thegoodchocolatier.com/news/navigating-the-cacao-crisis/

New Summer Flavours:
https://thegoodchocolatier.com/product/60-cardamom-latte/
https://thegoodchocolatier.com/product/80-thyme-basil-lime/

Other Useful Links:

B-corp: https://www.bcorporation.net/

Fair Trade: https://www.fairtrade.net/

Support the Show.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me, please Subscribe so you don't miss our future episodes, leave a review & share with friends to help these messages ripple out across the world.

More information about the Podcast & our host Fiona MacKay: Fiona Mackay Photography Website

Connect with us & join the conversation on social media:
Instagram @FionaMacKayPhotography
Facebook @FionaMacKayPhotography
Twitter @FiMacKay