Finding Peace Through Plants – A Conversation with Horticultural Therapist Erik Keller

Since 2021, Tenijah has hosted and produced Bring Birds Back, a podcast about conservation, formal/ citizen science, and of course—birds, told through the lenses of intersectionality and environmental justice.What’s inspiring to me about Tenijah (among many things) is that she didn’t grow up with a familiarity and love of being outdoors. In fact, she described her relationship as mostly centered around an avoidance. But, over time, she’s begun to rewrite her nature-relationship and has uncovered so much richness in the process.In this conversation, Tenijah and I discuss everything from her personal journey of embracing discomfort and following her curiosity, to what it’s been like for her as a Black woman to reclaim parts of herself and her community. We also talk stepping into your personal power, and we obviously talk about birds! Tenijah shares the number one misconception about birding, tips and techniques for bird observation, why humans are so obsessed with birds, and some weird bird behavior that I loved knowing.Resources:Homecoming ApplicationBring Bird’s Back PodcastBring Bird’s Back: The Zero Sum of it All with Corina NewsomeBring Bird’s Back: The Feminist Bird ClubBring Bird’s Back: Bird Love Language For the full show notes, please visit www.ournaturepodcast.com/tenijah-hamilton----->> HOMECOMING, my once-a-year retreat and course is back !! Apply here!Homecoming is designed for those in the midst of a big life transition. Whether you’re looking to shift your career, call in more abundance, attract a meaningful relationship, build a deeper connection to your body, or discover your purpose, Homecoming will support your unfolding.This is truly my absolute favorite experience I offer all year. It’s the course where I share all of the learnings, tools, techniques, rituals and perspectives that have completely transformed my life–that have helped me pivot my career, triple my income, call in a fulfilling romantic relationship, embrace my authenticity, work through my fear of being seen, strengthen my intuition, and create an inner stability that supports me during challenging times.If you're interested in joining this year's cohort, fill out an application As of 6/6/23, there are 2 spots left, so don't hesitate if you're feeling called to join us

For this week's episode, I’m speaking with Michael Washington. Michael is the founder of Usal Project, an LA-based community offering experiences and goods for the modern nature enthusiast. Usal hosts over 20 monthly experiences that (in addition to forest therapy) include: foraging and herb walks, falconry, oceanic species dives, incense-making workshops, flower arranging classes, community hikes, and more. In this conversation, Michael and I talk about the importance of cultivating community in a world where people are struggling with loneliness. We also discuss his relationship with nature growing up in Texas, how the music industry shaped his path, the origin story of Usal, why diverse perspectives and voices are essential in the outdoor space, and Michael’s perspective on failure, self-doubt and building a rapidly growing business. Resources:Usal ProjectArticle: How Loneliness is Damaging Our Health Subscribe to the Our Nature Monthly Newsletter  -  full of special announcements, resources, recommendations and tools and practices for your expansionShow Notes:Michael’s relationship to nature growing up as a child in San Antonio “the biggest little city”How being in the music industry planted the seed for Michael’s current pathMichael shares the insight and opportunity that inspired him to create Usal ProjectMichael’s invitation to listeners that will fundamentally improve your lifeThe common barriers that prevent people from exploring the outdoorsMichael’s intention when it comes to the curation of nature-based classes for UsalLife lessons that come from trying new activitiesThe unconventional way Michael structures his business and what it means to be “Usal”Michael Washington gets real about perfectionism, self-doubt, creative output, growing a businessFailure as the greatest gift - “I’m more happy failing with something I really liked than failing with something I really tried to make other people like…because then you’re just lost.”What people may be surprised to learn about Michael 

“I think one of the best thing’s we’ve done to ensure the likelihood of our long term success is to really see this relationship as something that’s unfolding in the present moment, and being very open and flexible about what that will look like in a month, a year, in a decade.” - David SleiningerIn this episode, we discuss: what we mean when we use the term “conscious relationship”; the cultural messaging that warps our perspective on romantic relationships; what to do if you’re invested in personal growth and your partner is not; how a trigger can be our greatest teacher; the practice that will exponentially grow your self-awareness; navigating conflict in a healthy and productive way and why it can be the greatest gift of a relationship. Resources: EP 62 - The Relationship Series Part 1: Planting the Seeds of a Conscious Partnership Featuring Alyssa Benjamin and David SleiningerMind Body Green article about conscious relationshipsSign up to be the first to know about Homecoming, my once-a-year retreat and course Show Notes:What we mean when we use the term “conscious relationship”The cultural messaging that warps our perspective of romantic relationshipsThe most important element in a conscious relationshipWhat to do if you’re invested in personal growth and your partner is notHow a trigger can be our greatest teacherWays to cultivate greater self awarenessThe practice that will exponentially grow your self-awarenessNavigating conflict in a healthy and productive wayThe reminder that has helped us get to a resolution of a conflict a lot quickerA few key elements of conflict in our relationshipThe pleasure of a heartfelt apologyWhy conflict can be the greatest gift of a relationshipRadical honesty and brave communication are necessary - here’s whyHow to show up for your partner when they’re going through a tough timeHow to build a lasting, long-term connection, especially after marriage and kidsA few of our relationship policies that keep the mystery alive ;)The best thing we’ve done to ensure the likelihood of our relationship’s longterm success

This week, my partner David and I are chatting about….drumroll, relationships! Specifically romantic relationships. This episode is very different from the type of content I usually have on this podcast, but when I started this show in 2019, my intention was to uncover how each of us could live in harmony with the natural world and thus be able to care for ourselves, our communities and ultimately, the earth. The dynamics that surface in romantic relationships are often a mirror, and therefore, a catalyst for our personal growth and evolving consciousness. So in the spirit of believing that we can transform the world by first transforming ourselves, I thought it would be interesting to explore this topic.Resources:Tickets for Project Utopia at The Line Hotel in LADavid’s episode about healing for Our NatureDavid’s somatic healing episodeTara Brach podcastChances With WolvesSubscribe to the Our Nature newsletter!Show Notes:David reveals the patterns that shaped his past romantic relationshipsAlyssa shares some of her [many] romantic relationship patterns that caused her to fear commitmentHow chronic illness and relationships can co-create and perpetuate a cycle of stress and challengeDavid’s period of celibacy - his intentions for this period of time and what he learned as resultAlyssa’s biggest heartbreak that became a breakthroughThe surprising relationship that transformed and healed Alyssa’s experience of romantic partnershipsThe story of how David and I met, and how a loaf of bread brought us togetherWhat we were able to recognize in each other when we met that helped us turn towards one anotherIn praise of the slow burn and how to recognize it for yourselfWhy it’s ok to feel unsure at the beginning of a relationshipHow I manifested David ;)For additional resources, quotes and information about this episode, head to www.ournaturepodcast.com/episodes

“I love the matrix and quilt of different things all over the place. Monoculture is boring. So for me, diversity is the spice of life in the garden.” - Erik Keller, ep 60Helpful links:Erik's WebsiteErik’s InstagramHighlights from our conversation:Erik’s relationship to nature as a childThe definition of horticultural therapy and Erik’s journey from master gardener to horticultural therapistThe various types of horticultural therapy sessionsThe elements of surprise and delight in the natural worldWild saladsHow we might re-imagine what we plant in our gardensAdvice for the beginner gardener or urban gardenerLessons from the garden that we can bring into our livesThe last five questionsFor more of Alyssa and Our NatureSubscribe to the Our Nature newsletterSign up for the FREE mini course: Build Your Magnetic Nature AlterFollow Alyssa on Instagram

 “I think if I can inspire people not to be perfect, but just a little more conscious–that would be a win. And hopefully, the recipes become part of people’s repertoire that they make on a weekly or monthly basis.” - Alexis deBoschnekRESOURCES:To The Last Bite BookAlexis’ websiteAlexis' InstagramGarlic and Sapphires bookMagpies on Pink StreetBovina FermentorySHOW NOTES:What it was like to grow up in upstate NYAlexis’ journey from fashion school to the world of foodHow to be more intentional with the food we purchase in order to reduce food wasteAn invitation to grow a victory garden and how that can transform your relationship with foodAn example of two vegetables that you can easily regrowWhy food waste is an issue we all should be thinking more aboutWhat/how each of us can begin to reduce food wasteThe two ways to use Alexis’ cookbook and the how the structure supports a systematic approach to cooking and eatingWhat it’s like to put something out into the world that’s so personal to youThe experience of returning to the land that shaped her and what it’s like to live in a rural communityWhat community looks like for AlexisTips for the beginner cookThe last fives questions

RESOURCES:EP 58: Flipping the Script: (Hard Won Lessons from the Past Year) with Alyssa BenjaminReturn to Nature BookEmma’s WebsiteSHOW NOTES:Emma’s relationship to nature as a childWhat inspired Emma to write her book “Return to Nature”The reasons she organized “Return to Nature” by a series of eight distinct landscapesThe intention around using the word “return” in the titleCrafting a new definition of “wellness”An overview and practice for each of the 8 landscapes (parks and gardens, oceans, mountains, forests and trees, ice and snow, desert, rivers, cities and built environments)Why accessibility matters when it comes nature relationshipAll about aweHow we can all find our “desert eyes”How people living in cities can still have powerful experiences in natureMicro-dosing on nature: How small is too small when it comes to building deeper nature-relationshipA passage from “Return to Nature” that represents kinship and belongingHow writing the book changed Emma’s relationship with the more-than-human-worldThe last five questions>>> For the full show notes, head to: www.ournaturepodcast.com/episodes

RESOURCES:Alyssa’s InstagramSubscribe to my newsletterANFT Forest Therapy TrainingUsal Forest Therapy Walk: MarchUsal ProjectHolisticismSHOW NOTES:The reason why Alyssa paused this podcast and many aspects of her business for almost a yearThe new opportunity that came into Alyssa’s life that led to an unexpected career shiftHow to work within the system to change the systemThe framework that has been really supportive for Alyssa’s creative effortsDemystifying forest therapyHow the magic of forest therapy is made!How being diagnosed with ADHD became a catalyst for personal transformationMy ADHD symptomsWhat’s to come this year!

This week, I’m speaking with Farmer Rishi, a farmer, educator and consultant based in Los Angeles working in the field of regeneration. Everything Rishi does is with the intention to help people understand the basic principles behind healing of our bodies: both our physical bodies and our Earthen body.Resources:Sardovaya FarmsHealing GardensRishi’s WebsiteHomecoming courseConnect with Alyssa> Homecoming is a four-day retreat in Ojai, California and 6-week course. If you're feeling burnt out, stuck and/or going through a major transition in your life, Homecoming is an experience that will supercharge your intuition, help you build an inner stability and clarify your path forward. You'll walk away from Homecoming feeling more joy, ease and spaciousness in your life. I have two spots left, claim yours by applying below:APPLY to Homecoming (application will take you less than five min.!)Learn more about HomecomingFor the full show notes, head to: www.ournaturepodcast.com/episodes

This week I’m speaking with Regina Rocke, a breathwork teacher, and healer who uses many modalities including yoga, tarot, Ayurveda, and movement practices to help people in their spiritual journeys.Regina knows firsthand what the healing path requires. They say: “It was through great discomfort, emotional upheaval, and a lot of self-loathing that I came to this life of offering up ways for people to heal through connection to their bodies.” Their work is an invitation and they truly believes that you can (and should) decide what is right for you in any given moment. In this conversation, we discuss: Regina’s relationship with nature as a child, the experience that reconnected Regina to the natural world, what brought Regina to Ayurveda, Regina’s healing journey: what it’s been and what it is now, why healing is layered and more complex for some people than others, what breathwork has brought to Regina’s life, and advice for people looking to cultivate more awareness when it comes to breathing deeply and more fully.What I really appreciate about Regina is how real they are about what healing has looked like and continues to look like for them. I really trust a guide who is continuously growing and evolving, who doesn’t pretend like they have it all figured out, and that is Regina.So, let’s dive into my conversation with Regina Rocke.ResourcesJacob Riis BeachAbsolute Beauty book by Dr. Pratima RaichurKripalu’s ayurveda programHomecoming courseConnect with Alyssa> A four-day retreat in Ojai, California and 6-week course.APPLY to Homecoming (application will take you less than five min.!)Learn more about HomecomingFor the full show notes, head to: www.ournaturepodcast.com/episodes