In today’s episode, I am joined by Julia Plevan Olianksy. Julia is the author of The Healing Magic of Forest Bathing and founder of The Forest Bathing Club. She guides nature-based healing experiences and runs Organism Thinking, a consultancy bringing ecological intelligence to brands. She recently launched placebased.org to support bioregional initiatives. Our paths first crossed in a women’s circle in 2019 and recently intertwined again through the algorithm of Substack. Julia writes the Substack The Earth Has a Mother about mothering through climate change and her essay on bioregioning nudged me to invite her on the podcast for this wonderful conversation.

We talk about the practice of reorienting one’s life personally, culturally, economically, and politically around the natural characteristics of a specific bioregion, meaning rooting deeply in place and aligning with the rhythms, ecosystems and stories of the land you inhabit.

Tune in to hear more from us on:

• Finding belonging to a place through understanding its bioregion and ecosystem
• Living more locally and regeneratively
• The cultural significance of soil in shaping community and identity
• Observing, witness and partaking in the natural cycles around you
• The homogenisation of culture because of the internet
• The impact of technology on personal connections
• Transitioning from a tech career to a more localised, nature-connected lifestyle
• Embracing the healing power of nature and community engagement in a tech-driven world
• Writing as a creative process and outsourcing it to AI

Resources + Links

• Julia’s Substack The Earth Has A Mother and her essay Becoming Bioregional
• Julia’s Book The Healing Magic of Forest Bathing
• Find Julia online through The Forest Bathing Club and her bioregioning initiative Place Based Projects
• My book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the Self
• Connect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelli

Timestamps

• [0:00] Introduction to Julia Plevin Oliansky
• [10:19] The Meaning of Bioregioning
• [15:57] How to Become More Bioregional
• [20:20] Finding Identity in a Tech Driven World
• [29:21] The Cultural Significance of Soil
• [38:22] Human Connection and the Role of AI
• [51:57] Signs of Spring and Witnessing Natural Cycles

In today’s solo episode, I answer listener questions. We dive into themes of joy and challenges in seasonal living, the intricacies of rural homesteading and navigating community dynamics. I share my personal experiences of farming, motherhood, navigating eco-anxiety, land stewardship and the impact of climate change.

Tune in to hear more from me on:

• Making a joy list and how this can help during tough seasons
• What’s been challenging on the farm this Winter
• How community dynamics play a crucial role in homesteading
• What to consider and ask yourself before buying a farm or move to a rural area
• Navigating eco-anxiety and the current political climate as a parent and as a human being
• How to stay connected to oneself and the land in these times of ego-collapse

Resources + Links

• Julia Plevin Oliansky’s Substack ‘Can we make bioregioning work?’
• Pro Publica climate change maps
• My Substack, Root Shock: Micro Farmoir Tales
• My book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the Self
• Connect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelli

Timestamps

[0:00] Introduction

[2:46] What is currently bringing you great joy?

[15:56] What is currently bringing you challenge?

[21:20] What are the hardest parts about rural/homestead living? Are you happy with the decision?

[28:26] What’s been the most surprising thing about your transition to farm life?

[29:50] What questions to ask myself about buying land?

[37:28] How are you managing eco-anxiety as a parent these days?

In today’s episode, I am joined by Carmen Spagnola - a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef turned trauma recovery practitioner, clinical hypnotherapist, and kitchen witch. She first appeared on the Belonging podcast two years ago for the release of her first book. Now, she’s back to celebrate her second book coming out: ‘Spells for the Apocalypse: Practical Magic for Turbulent Times’, which offers practical tools for navigating turbulent times and emphasizes the importance of community and resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges. As a chef, author, and facilitator, Carmen holds space for renewal amidst turmoil. Her work is an invitation to re-enchantment, soul nourishment, and a deeper and more animistic relationship to the natural world.

In our conversation, we reflect on the significant life changes we both have experienced in this past two years. We re-explore the concept of collapse and its emotional and psychological impacts on individuals and communities. We discuss the importance of surrendering to change, cultivating satisfaction in the present and the art of navigating grief and beauty in life’s challenges.

Tune in to hear more from us on:

• How dealing with collapse and trauma recovery is both an individual and a communal journey
• Practical tools for navigating collapse, change and crises
• The challenges of communal living and regenerative farming
• How poignance blends pain and beauty together, and enriches our lives
• Dystopian narratives and media and what they can teach us about our current societal structures
• Reimagining our relationship with plastics and sustainability
• Gardening as a reflection of empire and reciprocity
• Viewing aging as a beautiful process instead of a loss

Resources + Links

• Carmen Spagnola’s new book ‘ Spells for the Apocalypse: Practical Magic for Turbulent Times’
• Episode #107 of the Belonging podcast with Carmen, ‘Feeding & Healing Ourselves Amidst Collapse’
• Carmen’s first book ‘The Spirited Kitchen: Recipes & Rituals for the Wheel of the Year’
• Carmen’s podcast The Numinous Podcast, and her platform The Numinous Network
• My book, Root and Ritual: Timeless Ways to Connect to Land, Lineage, Community, and the Self
• Connect with me on Instagram @beccapiastrelli

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction: Life Changes and New Beginnings
[20:29] Understanding Collapse and Its Impacts
[24:36] Navigating the Apocalypse: Tools and Practices
[37:48] Surrendering to Change: Cultivating Resilience
[40:25] Acknowledging Poignance: Between Pain and Beauty
[42:44] Dystopian Narratives: Reflections on Society and Collapse
[48:22] Reimagining the Future: Plastics and Sustainability
[50:06] Regenerative Farming in the Eye of Collapse and Gardening as a Reflection of Empire