The Regenerative Journey with Charlie Arnott – Details, episodes & analysis

In this insightful episode, Charlie interviews Brian Wehlburg, an esteemed holistic management facilitator. Brian shares his extensive experience in holistic management, explaining its principles and the profound impact they can have on both the land and people managing it.

Throughout the interview, Charlie and Brian explore the significance of adopting a holistic approach to farming and land management. They discuss how this approach not only improves the ecological health of the farm but also strengthens family and community bonds, ultimately leading to a more connected and sustainable way of living. The episode concludes with practical advice for farmers interested in implementing holistic management techniques, underscoring the potential for positive change in the agricultural sector.

Show links: 

• Boorowa Holistic Management: A Foundation for Regeneration:  https://insideoutsidemanagement.wufoo.com/forms/boorowa-8day-holistic-management-course-2425/
• Low Stress Stockmanship: 9 & 10 September https://charliearnott.com.au/events/
• BD Workshop: 16 & 17 October - https://events.humanitix.com/discover-how-biodynamics-can-enhance-your-farm-productivity-fertility-and-function-or-maleny-16-and-17-october 
• Holistic Management: A Commonsense Revolution' by Allan Savory and Jody Butterfield: https://savory.shop/en-au/collections/books/products/holistic-management-a-commonsense-revolution-to-restore-our-environment
• Holistic Management course: https://insideoutsidemgt.com.au/holistic-management-course.html 

Episode Credits:

Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our host Charlie Arnott. Our producer is Rhys Jones of Yaga Media. And, of course, we are grateful for our sponsors, subscribers and listeners.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - 00:01:23 | Introduction and Acknowledgment of Traditional Custodians
• 00:01:23 - 00:02:27 | Introducing Brian Wahlberg and His Work
• 00:02:27 - 00:05:17 | Holistic Management Courses and Upcoming Events
• 00:05:17 - 00:09:03 | The Power of Vision in Holistic Management
• 00:09:03 - 00:15:07 | Brian’s Journey from Zimbabwe to Australia
• 00:15:07 - 00:27:25 | Implementing Holistic Management on the Farm
• 00:27:25 - 00:39:05 | Complexities of Farming and Holistic Decision-Making
• 00:39:05 - 01:12:17 | Holistic Management Decision-Making Framework and Practical Applications
• 01:12:17 - 01:23:12 | Holistic Management Training Program Overview and Closing Remarks

In this insightful episode, Dr. Libby Weaver discusses the often-overlooked connection between our emotional state, biochemistry, and dietary choices. Many individuals adopt strict dietary practices under the guise of health when, in reality, these choices are driven by underlying fears and a quest for control or perfection. Dr. Weaver stresses the importance of recognising when health-focused behaviours are actually fueled by deeper emotional issues, which can manifest as food restriction or an unhealthy focus on body image.

She emphasises the need for a holistic approach that considers not just physical nutrition but also emotional well-being, highlighting how psychological factors can significantly influence our eating habits and overall health.

Episode Credits:

Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our host Charlie Arnott. Our producer is Rhys Jones of Yaga Media. And, of course, we are grateful for our sponsors, subscribers and listeners.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - 00:03:43 | Introduction to Healing and Libby Weaver’s Journey
• 00:03:43 - 00:09:03 | Holistic Health in Rural Communities and Nutrition’s Role in Hormonal Balance
• 00:09:03 - 00:13:00 | Personal Journey and Early Life Influences
• 00:13:00 - 00:17:25 | Education and Challenging Traditional Nutrition Teachings
• 00:17:25 - 00:27:19 | Hormones, Nutrition, and Breaking Down Food Myths
• 00:27:19 - 00:33:00 | Zinc’s Importance for Hormonal Health
• 00:33:00 - 00:42:00 | Practical Nutrition Tips and Gut Health
• 00:42:00 - 00:55:06 | Final Thoughts on Intuition and Health Ownership

In this special episode, join Charlie as he sits down with Ueli Hurter, a pivotal figure in the world of biodynamic agriculture. Ueli has shaped the contours of biodynamic farming on a global scale. Celebrating a monumental 100 years since Rudolf Steiner's Agriculture Lectures sparked the biodynamic movement, Ueli is touring Australia to honour this centenary. Born in Switzerland and deeply rooted in the biodynamic community through various roles Ueli brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our conversation. Tune in as we explore the past, present, and future of biodynamics with a true rockstar of the field during his landmark tour Down Under.

Episode Links:

• https://www.anthroposophyau.org.au/australian-society/biodynamics-celebrates-centenary/

Episode Credits:

Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our host Charlie Arnott. Our producer is Rhys Jones of Yaga Media. And, of course, we are grateful for our sponsors, subscribers and listeners.

Nicho articulately draws together the many parallels between meditation and regenerative agriculture in this long awaited interview with Charlie's cousin and co-founder of the worlds most used digital meditation platform Insight Timer (20million users). The connections with ones health, sense of purpose and the place from where one observes the film of our own lives in the ' conscious cinema of our mind' are highlighted, and the benefits of meditation as an antidote to the treadmill of life are explored by Nicho and Charlie. A life affirming conversation for those who are grappling with the speed and intensity of our times.

To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group.  

Episode Takeaways

There are many parallels between the philosophies of meditation and regenerative agriculture | Nicho had a 20 year period of ‘experimentation’ and pushing the boundaries somewhat before finding Vedic meditation 10 years ago | His challenges in that period created learning's that have enabled him to help others | He developed the Insight timer app which today has almost 20m meditators following it,  over 10,000 meditation / yoga teachers and publishers, a 60,000 track library - and counting... more time spent on Insight each day than all other meditation apps, combined | Nicho just didn’t learn to meditate, he learned to teach it and has made it his life’s work to continue to  help others experience a deeper conscious state ‘When people get up in the morning and go straight to fb where is their motivation?’ | Vedic meditation is practiced twice a day for 20 mins‘ | Our physiology is designed to be in a place where it is balanced and engaging purposefully’ | ‘There is no treatment in the world that we might find externally that can actually do a better job | ‘We have gone into the earth to rip up resources to extend life’ | Meditation is about restoring mental and physical and spiritual health through sitting further back in the conscious cinema of our mind, away from the front row of our lives. Meditation builds resilience to life | The soil is an encapsulation of life itself through its complexity, interplay and interdependence | Biodynamics reconnects people to their food, and inspires people to change behaviour | Do as I do, not as I say...setting an example of behaviours for our children is more important than telling them how to be | Treating the symptom is a 'proven failed strategy', were just playing a game of ‘whack a mole’ | ‘Behaviours don’t change until consciousness changes’ | ‘There is creative thinking and solutions out there....... but we’re just sucking up the stuff that’s negative’ | 'You need to go into the dark to appreciate the light’ | Meditation gives you a reminder of who your truly are | The foundation to the human experience is not just all of this individual external validation. The underlying part of where we came from is our universal Experience as it relates to the moment we were created’ 

Episode Links : 

Nicho Plowman - Insight Timer Co Founder and Vedic Meditation Teacher

Insight Timer -  free meditation app

Harvest - restaurant, NSW 

Charlie Arnott - IG 

Tim Brown - meditation coach

The One Wild & Precious Life -  Sarah Wilson 

In this episode Charlie talks to actress & director Rachel Ward. A little under thirty-three years ago Rachel and her husband Bryan Brown bought a small farm in the Nambucca Valley on the NSW coast. Until recently they had been managing the farm conventionally but the 2019 devastating bush fires launched her onto a very different trajectory… In this frank interview Rachel talks about how the bushfires were a catalyst for change and how since then she has jumped boots and all onto the regenerative agricultural train, implementing significant changes to her farming practices & lifestyle on the way. She is currently compiling a documentary focusing on the regenerative agricultural movement.

To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group.  

Episode Takeaways 

 I fell in love with the Nambucca valley, NSW, 30 years ago | I grew up on a farm in the Cotswolds in UK | Our farm was managed conventionally and recently we have moved to a more Regenerative approach . It’s not important to me that our children or grandchildren take over and live on the farm, more that they have had exposure to it and can make informed decisions about it in the future. |  I am much more excited about farming now that we are managing it regeneratively. | It’s given her a whole new perspective, a holistic perspective on managing her farm, and the more she gets involved, the more rewards there are. | Farmers have a responsibility beyond their own property boundary, especially in regard to the use of chemicals, as it tends to move out of the landscape via water and air to other farms and ecosystems | NMS is a method of propagating native fungi to use to aim the breakdown of wood and lignified grass. | The Call of the Reed Warbler by Charlie Massy changed her life…….it was full of opportunity and hope, and she was completely electrified by it...just seems like a no brainer…| It doesn’t cost a cent to change a paradigm| Matching personal and business values with landscape needs can be challenging | To sell or not to sell my cows, that is the question, as ones emotional attachment to livestock can sometimes stand in the way of the best decisions for the landscape | Rachel is a big fan and appreciates the value of mentors |  Rachel’s neighbours have joined forces and put their cattle together to move them around the combined properties to improve grazing management and soil health | Rachels property is in Gumbaynggirr  country | Regenerative farmers are enthusiastic and ‘alive’ and ignited to the world and their properties | Farmers have a very serious role to play in the saving of the planet | Rachel supports 'eaters' to source and purchase regeneratively grown food, and in doing so contribute to the growth of these practices | The fires of 2019 were a major 'tension event' that was a catalyst for my regenerative journey | Rachel is a member of the Land to Market co-op which verifies  the improvement of  landscape through management by annually measuring biological activity and soil composition.

Episode Links 

Rachel Ward

Rachel Ward a- IG  

Allan Savory Ted talk was totally inspiring to Rachel 

Allan Savory Institute 

Kym Kruse Regen Ag  consultant

Call of the Reed Warbler - Charles Massy

KLR Marketing 

Land to Market

Dr Ron Ehrlich is far from a conventional dentist. After a 'normal' initial training in dentistry, Dr Ron started to connect the dots between oral hygiene, the influence that diet had on the development of the body,  over all human health and the health of the soil in which that food was  grown. Charlie explores with Ron his journey into his holistic approach to dental care and how regenerative agriculture plays a critical role in providing the quality of food necessary to promote good health. Dr Ron also dives into the  topic of 'environmental medicine' and how we can mitigate against various detrimental impacts of chemicals, toxins and electro magnetic frequency radiation. Dr Rons breadth of knowledge provides a compelling perspective on the importance of the connection between dental, human and environmental health.

To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. 

Episode Takeaways

The combination of biology, technology, psychology and freedom drew Ron to dentistry | There’s a huge amount of psychology and intimacy in dentistry | It’s a potentially very stressful environment for both dentist and patient with dentistry related vocations ranking 1,2 and 3 for the worst jobs in the world! | The mouth is connected to multiple organs and areas of the body not generally understood nor considered by the conventional dentistry fraternity | There are many parallels between holistic dentistry and regen agriculture in that it treats the causes not the symptoms, and focus on what one is in control of | Ron’s considered and non- confrontational approach to pushing the boundaries of dentistry has been very effective, reflected of one of his mantra’s ‘Get your house in order before being critical of others’ | Ruminant urine is a beautiful thing as it contains plant growth hormones and stimulates the production of plant based  Pseudomonas syringae  bacterium that floats up into the atmosphere and helps to seed rain! |Regen farming practices and outcomes are a no brainer for Ron who sits outside the agricultural world however is very connected to it via his patients mouths | 5 human stressors are environmental, emotional, nutritional, postural and dental | Gut, oral and soil biome are similar in that the more diverse these environments are the more healthy and resilient they will be | The resource isn’t the problem it’s the management of that resource that matters, there needs to be a holistic context for its management | Change will not come from government or professional organisations, they are slow to accept new ideas, they are protective of their own egos and reputations and they lack common sense | Environmental medicine is one of Dr Ron’s areas of study and advocacy - Only, approx. 5 % of environmental chemicals are formally tested | We are exposed to multiple chemicals over our lifetimes, 140,000 chemicals currently in the world increasing by 2-3,000 every year. We are also exposed to moulds, dust, and out gassing of chemicals |...and Electro Magnetic Frequency (EMF) radiation could be to the 21 st century what lead in petrol and tobacco was to 20th century | Sleep is our built-in, non negotiable life support system, 7-9 hours a night. Tips for listeners regarding environmental toxicities

• Check for mould dust mites bedding 
• No technology before or near bed
• No electrical currents near bed

Computers emit blue light which is in the ultra violet spectrum and impacts our melatonin levels | Building Biologists can help advise on the impacts of EMF in buildings. 

Links

Dr. Ron Ehrlich –  holistic health advocate, dentist, educator, podcaster and an internationally published author.

Sydney Holistic Dental Centre – run in partnership with his brother Dr. Joshua Ehrlich

Nourishing Australia  Dr Ron helped found Nourishing Australia with Vicki Poulter, a NFP dedicated to healthy plants, healthy animals, healthy people and a healthy planet

The Meter Man - A huge range of innovative farm, agricultural, horticultural meters, probes, instruments, tools and resources from David Von Pein

The Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine ( ACNEM)  in Victoria is a good place for health care professionals

Low Tox Life Podcast – Alexx Stuart . For families and individuals looking for invaluable info.

This episode with Murray Prior discusses his unfolding from the corporate sector to becoming a custodian of the land. He is gentle spoken and modest about his farming experience yet his thoughtful and deft practices supports his every word. He opens up about the importance of having good mentors and sharing knowledge with peers, that indigenous cultures teach us to care for the land and not own the land, and that the powers of observation are key to understanding country.

To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. 

Episode Takeaways: 

There was a search for some sort of higher purpose. Something that we could get involved in that frankly, even went past our own lifetimes | The big moment for me was when Charlie (Massy) was with me out in the paddocks. We had this nice moment where we were sitting and he was pointing out different things. He said to me “You know you don’t really own this place” | I’m not a religious person in a traditional sense but tapping into a sense of spirituality for the landscape of the indigenous people who had it before us and get into the feel of the place | I’m 48 years old now and I’m thinking, when this tree is a big tree it will be nearing the end of my time on the planet | I wanted my girls to understand that food doesn’t come in a polystyrene tray with glad wrap on it | One of the things that he does when he comes out is he’ll often go and grab some fresh green Eucalypt and he’ll pull that off as a branch. He’ll teach our girls that if you rub that on your armpit and then rub it on the ground, that’s his way of communicating with his ancestors | One of my big fears is if the girls found out we knew about climate change and knew we did nothing about it | There’s also a part of getting out of nature’s way. I’ve planted thousands of trees but there’s natural regen going on all the time | I think that being relatively new to the industry you don’t have the memory bank of seasons. While you might have some landscape literacy, you don’t have season literacy

Episode Links: 
Call of the Reed Warbler - Charles Massy
Charles Massy - TED talk Regenerative Agriculture
Paul House - Ngambri Country Elder
Welcome to Country - Paul House 
Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony
Bruce Pascoe - Author, Ted Talk on Dark Emu
Dark Emu - Bruce Pascoe 
Dark Emu for Kids - Bruce Pascoe 
Aboriginal Land Council - Explanation and Index of Councils by State 
The Barn Accommodation, Nguuurruu - Murray Prior’s Farm 
Dr Zach Bush - Author, Health Consultant and Environmentalist 
Hannamino Farm - Charlie Arnott 
Biodynamics - A Definition 
Biodynamics - Cow Manure Preparations
Mickey Robertson - Glenmore House 

Charlie interviewed chef Darren Robertson of the Three Blue Ducks fame at The Farm at Byron Bay where he moved to 5 years ago after, amongst other things, being the head chef at the world famous Tetsuya restaurant in Sydney. Darren also speaks frankly about the pressures and strains of the hospitality industry, his initial interest in cooking, what he looks for in staff, and his gratitude for his life's journey thus far. This is a conversation that will interest food lovers, farmers, the hospitality industry and everyone in between. 

To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. 

Episode Takeaways :

Establishing the Three Blue Ducks restaurant at The Farm at Byron Bay was a massive step up and into the world of farming and sourcing fresh produce directly from producers | Creative 'root to flower' cooking with food straight from the paddock | Australian salads are the best in the world! | Marco Pierre White was Darren's first culinary inspiration | Moved to Australia to work at the world famous Tetsuya in Sydney and fell in love with the food scene | Surfing was a game changer for keeping Darren focused and not falling down the rabbit hole of the late night hospitality industry | Advice for chefs in the time of Covid 19 | Hospitality industry mental health as a global crisis | Chefs evolving appreciation for food and its origins | Advice to a young Darren Robertson - put away 10% of income for Future opportunities and a rainy day, and be grateful today for what you have | Creating a community of passionate staff is a big part of their success | There’s no where to hide in a kitchen!  |The Biodynamic practice of peppering to rid rabbits of an area | Darren's parting advice- be kind, and give it a crack! 

Links:

Darren Robertson - IG 

Three Blue Ducks 

The Farm - Byron Bay 

Tetsuyas - Restaurant 

Marco Pierre White - chef  / restranteur

This episode sees Charlie sit down with the impressively bearded and deep thinking Peter Windrim. Peter is a biodynamic winemaker and farmer, creative director, graphic designer and photographer. His contribution to agriculture has evolved by opening a wine bar in Byron Bay to encourage community and create conversation around natural wine. Having lived and worked on his family’s biodynamic vineyard in the Hunter Valley, he has philosophised his own definition of the practice which he explains with absolute conviction. He is a heart felt voice that places importance on knowing yourself and your vocation.

To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. 

Episode Takeaways:
I think there’s so much confusion there and I’ve been guilty myself of lip service and using other peoples words. So many people care about it and get lost in the beautifully, philosophical, touchy-feely nature of what biodynamics is | Rudolf Steiner, the father of biodynamics “Sulphur is what the spirit moistens its fingers with into the physical” | Thankfully now there are a lot of people who have caught the wave of the climate change movement & who have cottoned on to the importance of soil | I think there are certain products, the luxury consumables like wine, that people care a bit less about because they’re in it for a good time | Biodynamics is sympathetic agriculture but I felt lonely on the farm. Community is the backbone of what I do. I’m going to build a bar and build a community around natural wine | Wine was hijacked by the aristocrats and scientist 60-70 years ago. They gave it all this new language and judging shows based on clarity and purity and all of this stuff that wine wasn’t, and that farming isn’t, nor should it be | Biodynamics is like  the global pandemic, the more you learn to work with it, the more power it has | It sounds simple but if the farm looks good, aesthetically pleasingly good, you’ve done it right. And if you have pride in what you do, you’ll make it right | Everything that we do, informs the next thing that we do. We get so boxed in with where we should be….“No I can’t change career”….”no I’d have to study that first”…it’s such a shame that we feel like we can’t evolve with the fabric of our old selves | You’ve got to know what you know. People need to ask more questions 

Episode Links
Krinklewood Vineyard - Hunter Valley
Supernatural - Wine Bar Byron Bay 
Rudolf Steiner - Father of Biodynamics/Philosopher 
Terroir in Wine - A Definition 
Organic & Biodynamic Wine - Wine Australia Education 
Radionics in Agriculture
Nicolas Joly - Godfather of biodynamic wine/author 
Matthew Evans - farmer, author, The Gourmet Farmer, Fat Pig Farm 

In this insightful interview with Martin Royds, he and Charlie discuss personal experiences relating to the polarising differences of conventional and holistic farming. As a fifth generation farmer, Martin evolved the family cattle property in Braidwood, NSW to biodynamic practices with a goal to reconnect city and country.  Together, they highlight the importance of economic influence in regenerative agriculture and solve the monetary concern that naïve consumers often have when purchasing nutrient rich food. There is an underlying subject that generational farmers have shifted their inherited knowledge over time to be in harmony with the environment and part of that comes from acknowledging the oversights of the past. Yet, the humility is in the fact that we are constantly learning.

To start a dialogue and converse more about topics raised in this podcast, please visit The Regenerative Journey Podcast Facebook Group. 

Episode Takeaways:
The epiphany was watching your land blowing away and thinking you need to do something different. Tried something different, the chemical experiment, and that was even worse |  Australian farmers have been extremely good at surviving in decreasing income and increasing costs. The difference now is setting a goal of where I want to be environmentally and socially and making every decision to reflect that  |  There is one kilo of glyphosate being used per every human on the planet. Our ancestors will look back at us and say “how on earth did you think that pouring that stuff onto the country was a good idea”  |  None of us looked at what was happening environmentally, we were asking how long it would take to get our money back  |  Most of our soils had 3% carbon and we mined it back to 1%  |  You can use double entry bookkeeping to fix the problem as soon as you add in environmental capital  |  Most farmers who are generational farmers find it hard to get out of “this is what my father or grandfather did” | Sadly, humans are one of the few species who leave the land behind them in a worse state  |  When people understand nutrient density in organic vegetables they will realise they can’t afford the cheap option because its poisoning me  |   My goal is that supermarkets will have to label their products with the amount of nutrients in those products. Ultimately that could lead to listing the amount of chemicals used to make it also |

Episode Links:
Nutri Soil – Biological Spray Solution
Carbon in Soil – An explanation
Double-Entry Bookkeeping – An explanation
Charlie Massy – Author/Farmer
Pennie Scott – The Bush Goddess
Nutrient Dense crops – An explanation
Carotene in Food – Definition
Land to Market Australia - Organisation
Joel Salatin – Farmer, lecturer, author
Peter Andrews – Regenerative Agriculturalist
Christine Jones – Amazing Carbon
Dr Maarten Staper – BioLogic AgFood
Alison Pouliot – Fungi Workshop, photographer