295 episodes

The RegenNarration podcast features the stories of a generation that is changing the story, enabling the regeneration of life on this planet. It’s ad-free, freely available and entirely listener-supported. You'll hear from high profile and grass-roots leaders from around Australia and the world, on how they're changing the stories we live by, and the systems we create in their mold. Along with often very personal tales of how they themselves are changing, in the places they call home. With award-winning host, Anthony James. 

The RegenNarration Podcast Anthony James

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 87 Ratings

The RegenNarration podcast features the stories of a generation that is changing the story, enabling the regeneration of life on this planet. It’s ad-free, freely available and entirely listener-supported. You'll hear from high profile and grass-roots leaders from around Australia and the world, on how they're changing the stories we live by, and the systems we create in their mold. Along with often very personal tales of how they themselves are changing, in the places they call home. With award-winning host, Anthony James. 

    Jim Phillipson: From Ownership to Stewardship

    Jim Phillipson: From Ownership to Stewardship

    Late last year, I arrived at a quandary. I’d been hearing about how inaccessible land ownership is for younger folk, and how investment capital is still relatively slow to come on board the incredible broad scale potential of regenerative agriculture (notwithstanding often great intent). And I’d been hearing how even long-term legends in regen ag are still expected to be saddled with enormous debt and rates of return (to say nothing of squeezed prices), while they also regenerate the majority of the national and global estate on our behalf. Clearly all untenable. So I began to wonder out loud, what if there’s something fundamentally misplaced with the current approach to attracting investment in regeneration?

    When thinking this aloud, I got some nodding heads and an introduction to Jim Phillipson, former pro-cycling champ, businessman, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Rendere Trust and Biodiversity Legacy. Join us as at Jim’s place as we delve into the transformative concept of stewardship over traditional land ownership. Jim's been helping people transition land and capital into stewardship models of ownership for a while now, having started with his own. And yep, he was advised this would never work. Here he shares his story and insights on how reshaping land titles to reflect stewardship can align investments with regenerative agriculture, potentially tapping all sorts of potential quickly, and how a related ethos is manifesting across media, politics, and reconciliation with First Nations.

    Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers and a transcript, also available on Apple and some other apps. (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 Jim’s place, on regenerating land in Gippsland, Victoria (as a dust storm blew up from surrounding vegetable farms), 3 March 2024.

    Title slide: Jim & Heather Phillipson with AJ.

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

    Music:
    Green Shoots, by The Nomadics.

    Regeneration, by Amelia Barden, from the film Regenerating Australia.

    The RegenNarration playlist, featuring music chosen by guests (with thanks to podcast member Josie Symons).


    Support the showThe RegenNarration podcast is independent, ad-free & freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them by clicking the link above or heading to our website.

    Become a member to connect with your host, other listeners & other benefits, via our Patreon page.

    Visit The RegenNarration shop to wave the flag. And please keep sharing, rating & reviewing the podcast. It all helps.

    Thanks for your support!

    • 1 hr 14 min
    Zach Bush MD: Back to the Garden

    Zach Bush MD: Back to the Garden

    Zach Bush MD has become an internationally recognised educator on the microbiome, as it relates to human health, soil health, food systems, water systems, and regenerative living as a whole. The touchstone insight of Zach’s initial transformation was that we don’t need to solve each of our many increasingly prevalent diseases – we need to regenerate the source of our health and vitality. And he’s been startled by our regenerative capacity since embarking on a film project called Farmer’s Footprint back in 2018. It became a global phenomenon, prompting the creation of Farmer’s Footprint USA, Australia, UK, South Africa and New Zealand, so far, alongside a broader project called Project Biome.

    Amongst all this, the transformations have continued for Zach. So this time, ahead of the Farmer’s Footprint Festival in NSW, I hoped to get to know more of the person behind the star. The feeling behind the public accolades and judgements. Along with what this doctor does when he tends intrinsic health, why farmers continue to be at the heart of his life calling, Zach’s intentions to run for President, his vision of a regenerative economy, his response to a charge of talking psychobabble, new films and courses, all culminating in the spiritual roots of it all, and a world first - Zach’s first live musical performance on a podcast.

    Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers and transcript, also available on Apple and some other apps. (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 in the northern rivers of NSW on 10 November 2023.

    In case you're noting the bird sounds in my intro and outro, they were recorded on the Mornington Peninsula back in Victoria (visiting my brother's family).

    Title slide: AJ and Zach on stage at the Farmer’s Footprint Australia Festival (pic: Olivia Katz).

    To see more from behind the scenes, become a member via the Patreon page.

    Music:
    Green Shoots, by The Nomadics.

    Regeneration, by Amelia Barden, from the film Regenerating Australia.

    The RegenNarration playlist, featuring music chosen by guests (with thanks to podcast member Josie Symons).

    Find more:
    Nutrisoil’s WormFest on this week, 21-22 March.


    Support the showThe RegenNarration podcast is independent, ad-free & freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them by clicking the link above or heading to our website.

    Become a member to connect with your host, other listeners & other benefits, via our Patreon page.

    Visit The RegenNarration shop to wave the flag. And please keep sharing, rating & reviewing the podcast. It all helps.

    Thanks for your support!

    • 2 hrs 19 min
    From Quarry to Oasis: Dominique Hes on the incredible story of Newport Lakes, circular economies & beyond

    From Quarry to Oasis: Dominique Hes on the incredible story of Newport Lakes, circular economies & beyond

    Dr Dominique Hes is deeply embedded in the regenerative movement. A renowned educator, author of Designing for Hope, advisor on the Federal Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group, Chair of Greenfleet, and featured presence in some of Damon Gameau’s wonderful films, Dominique started working in regenerative development 20 years ago, and ‘sustainability’ for ten years before that. Her focus is on real projects, on the ground, in place. And today, we visit one of them. In her place. Newport Lakes. What was a quarry, is now an extraordinary landscape right in the inner-west of Melbourne. And all on the back of the community here. This is now the subject of Dominique’s next book. Which is just as well, as nobody I’ve spoken with in Melbourne even knows it exists.

    So join us for a walk through Newport Lakes, as Dominique shares this incredible story with us, along with the story of her life - its transformations, hopes, struggles, breakthroughs, and regeneration reflected in this place.

    Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on Apple and some other apps, and the embedded player on the episode web page), and a transcript of this conversation (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 on 26 February 2024.

    Title slide: Dominique at Newport Lakes as we pressed record (pic: Anthony James).

    See a selection of 'before and after' photos on the episode web page, and to see more from behind the scenes, become a member via the Patreon page.

    Music:
    Green Shoots, by The Nomadics.

    Sacrosanct, by Duel Native aka Stephen Choi.

    The RegenNarration playlist, featuring music chosen by guests (with thanks to podcast member Josie Symons).


    Support the showThe RegenNarration podcast is independent, ad-free & freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them by clicking the link above or heading to our website.

    Become a member to connect with your host, other listeners & other benefits, via our Patreon page.

    Visit The RegenNarration shop to wave the flag. And please keep sharing, rating & reviewing the podcast. It all helps.

    Thanks for your support!

    • 1 hr 5 min
    The Vital Transitions in Energy Beyond Electrifying Everything: Tim Fisher on sun, surf & sympathy

    The Vital Transitions in Energy Beyond Electrifying Everything: Tim Fisher on sun, surf & sympathy

    Tim Fisher is the eldest son of the late Professor Frank Fisher. You’ve heard Frank’s name a bit on this podcast, legendary systems thinking educator in Australia – and good mate over the last dozen or so years of his life. Twice my good fortune was meeting Tim, and keeping in touch over the years. Tim is a wealth of experience, grace and salience in his own right. So, returning to Melbourne to see family for the first time in years, it seemed a good time to visit this extended family of sorts, and press record on a long-awaited chat about his fascinating life, dice with death, and vital work.

    Tim has run publications across media platforms, government agencies and non-profits. He’s edited and written for the ABC, SBS, The Age, Broadsheet, Smith Journal, Surfing World, Surfer, Triple J, White Horses, Patagonia and more. As a board member of Psychology for a Safe Climate and a member of Surfers for Climate, he devotes much of his time to storytelling and communication around climate change. Especially on the bigger and often unseen picture of energy transition – including the opportunities and needs beyond electrifying everything. To that end, he’s currently Head of Communications at the Energy Efficiency Council, with the ear of the federal government, and a major conference in May featuring international keynote Amory Lovins.

    We talk about all this – life, death, growing up with Frank, surf, media and energy transitions – and emerge with some consistent threads of success, and possibilities to go on with. You’ll hear some listener mail at the end too.

    Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on Apple and some other apps, and the embedded player on the episode web page), and a transcript of this conversation (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 on 24 February 2024.

    Title slide: Anthony & Tim.

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

    Music:
    Green Shoots, by The Nomadics.

    Regeneration, by Amelia Barden, from the film Regenerating Australia.

    The RegenNarration playlist, featuring music chosen by guests (with thanks to podcast member Josie Symons).


    Support the showThe RegenNarration podcast is independent, ad-free & freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them by clicking the link above or heading to our website.

    Become a member to connect with your host, other listeners & other benefits, via our Patreon page.

    Visit The RegenNarration shop to wave the flag. And please keep sharing, rating & reviewing the podcast. It all helps.

    Thanks for your support!

    • 1 hr 3 min
    Regenerating Life, the Movie: How to cool the planet, feed the world & live happily ever after, with John Feldman

    Regenerating Life, the Movie: How to cool the planet, feed the world & live happily ever after, with John Feldman

    Regenerating Life is a new feature-length documentary that takes a fresh look at solving the climate crisis - and everything else. Internationally acclaimed New York filmmaker John Feldman recently premiered it in the US (where recent podcast guest Judith Schwartz featured on the panel). He’s now about to accompany its premiere in Europe.

    The film shifts away from the narrative that burning fossil fuels is the primary cause of the climate crisis – seeing that as just one symptom, significant as it is, of humankind’s relentless destruction of nature as a whole. This is because it’s the vast biodiversity on this planet that regulates and balances the climate. And the key take home? We can and are reversing this destructive process by Regenerating Life.

    The film is also a kind of tribute to a much-loved Aussie scientist, Walter Jehne. And John talks here about his own transformation with varied projects and other legends in systemic thinking over the decades. Some feature in this film, like Vandana Shiva, Wes Jackson, Didi Pershouse, Satish Kumar and Naima Penniman. At the close, a special feature, with music made for the film by John’s wife, renowned composer Sheila Silver.

    Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on Apple and some other apps, and the embedded player on the episode web page), and a transcript of this conversation (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 16 February 2024.

    Title slide: John Feldman (supplied).

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

    Music:
    Green Shoots, by The Nomadics.

    Music from the film by Sheila Silver, with piano by Sheila and violin by Emmanuel Vukovich.

    The RegenNarration playlist, featuring music chosen by guests (with thanks to podcast member Josie Symons).

    Find more:
    Regenerating Life website with trailer, more on John, and how you can see and screen the film.

    The composition Shooting Ruminants (partly inspired by the Kachana Station story), part of Resilient Earth by Sheila Silver.

    My conversation with Tony Rinaudo for episode 64.


    Support the showThe RegenNarration podcast is independent, ad-free & freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them by clicking the link above or heading to our website.

    Become a member to connect with your host, other listeners & other benefits, via our Patreon page.

    Visit The RegenNarration shop to wave the flag. And please keep sharing, rating & reviewing the podcast. It all helps.

    Thanks for your support!

    • 1 hr
    The River Is Our Blood: Kate McBride, Zach Bush MD & Dr Pran Yoganathan at the Reconnection Festival

    The River Is Our Blood: Kate McBride, Zach Bush MD & Dr Pran Yoganathan at the Reconnection Festival

    We’re back at the Reconnection Festival for the last of three inter-related panel conversations, each building on the other. This one's on health, and features explosive revelations about a ‘Motor Neuron Disease alley’ linked to pollution and river degeneration in Australia’s Riverina agricultural district. Akin to the ‘cancer alley’ of the Mississippi River that transformed the life of our international guest, Zach Bush MD. Zach went on to found US not-for-profit Farmer’s Footprint, and has now shepherded it to five countries so far, including Farmer’s Footprint Australia.

    Australia’s MND alley is just part of what Kate McBride is reporting on, and living, as a researcher with The Australia Institute and 5th generation farmer, born and bred on the half-million-acre Tolarno Station on the Darling Barka River. She came to national prominence unintentionally as the river ran dry and ongoing fish kills have followed.

    Dr Pran Yoganathan, a Gastroenterologist and renowned voice of the 'regenerative medical movement', and also now a farmer, shares his experiences within the medical system in this context.

    Our guests bring to light the urgency of revisiting our approach to medicine and agriculture, and everything else, and how we can do it. We hear profound stories of embracing our cultural roots, generating greater community advocacy, and collaborating across diverse viewpoints, right into the halls of power.

    Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers (also available on Apple and some other apps, and the embedded player on the episode web page), and a transcript of this conversation (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 in the northern rivers of NSW on 11 November 2023.

    Title slide: AJ, Zach, Pran & Kate (pic: Olivia Katz).

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

    Music:
    Green Shoots, by The Nomadics.

    Regeneration, by Amelia Barden, from the film Regenerating Australia.

    The RegenNarration playlist, featuring music chosen by guests (with thanks to podcast member Josie Symons).

    Find more:
    You can hear more of Zach in conversation with Tanya Massy, Ella Noah Bancroft and myself the year prior for episode 152.


    Support the showThe RegenNarration podcast is independent, ad-free & freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them by clicking the link above or heading to our website.

    Become a member to connect with your host, other listeners & other benefits, via our Patreon page.

    Visit The RegenNarration shop to wave the flag. And please keep sharing, rating & reviewing the podcast. It all helps.

    Thanks for your support!

    • 59 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
87 Ratings

87 Ratings

Miguel Dundee ,

Genuine, authentic and incredibly important!

Such a relaxing, insightful and profound conversation within a huge global community of land stewards, holistic health advocacy and one that every policy maker, shareholder and politician needs to engage with!

Battery less ,

ad free and human interested!

what a find! a podcast that doesn’t neuter itself to pander to a big-business sponsor….and with topics that inspire hope, and hopefulness in a world beset by dire daily predictions…being human … the creation of human beings!

Deethie ,

Hands down best podcast on climate related topics

An absolute must listen for anyone looking for solutions to the climate crisis. Better than any other I’ve listened to. Stunning guests and stories. Diverse voices. Caring and generous host. Highly recommended.

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