In this episode, I had a chat with a long-time friend, Santiago Moringa, from Molinos Verdes de Moringa. Santi is a leader in social permaculture and has over a decade of experience building community gardens and other socially regenerative projects across Costa Rica and internationally. In our conversation, Santi shares his journey from discovering permaculture through the lens of agriculture to embracing the broader social aspects that foster community and connection. We delve into his passion...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 29
In this interview, I visited Itai Hauben at his lovely home and permaculture education center called Adama. Adama is nestled in the mountains of the Chirripo River Valley, where Itai and his wife Melina teach permaculture design courses to lucky students every year. It’s also the headquarters of Symbiosis Eco Design, their permaculture design and implementation business, serving land projects nationwide. Symbiosis is a powerful change agent in this country ecologically, socially, and educational...
Mar 28, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Welcome to an enlightening conversation with Marcus Merlin, steward of MoZen Temple in the Diamante Valley. We delve deep into personal growth, environmental sustainability, and the much-needed impact of regenerative entrepreneurship. Merlin shares his insights into the power of forgiveness as a personal practice and a foundation for creating meaningful connections and building communities. Forgiveness has the power to transform not just individual lives but entire communities. The transformativ...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 27
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of dementia care with our guest, Katya Deluisa, of The Infinite Mind. Katya shares her journey and how she became involved in working with individuals with dementia after observing the loneliness and lack of connection experienced by individuals with dementia, even when surrounded by family. Katya’s grown a passion for educating families on how to better understand and communicate with their loved ones. The conversation delves into the nature o...
Nov 09, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 26
In this episode, we speak with Ian-Michael Hébert, one of the founders of Holos, a private retreat center and community specializing in holistic living and transformational experiences. In our conversation, he discusses the genesis of Holos, their vision for a sustainable and resilient community, and the importance of focusing on reciprocity and honoring the indigenous people of the land. Ian-Michael also emphasizes the importance of preserving the natural beauty of the Diamante Valley and their...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 25
In today’s episode, we hear from Sarah Wu, a highly respected permaculturist & herbalist living and teaching in Costa Rica. I sat down with Sarah at the Envision Festival earlier this year to learn about some of the regenerative initiatives the festival has implemented as part of its mission. Envision is a multi-day music festival with several stages and thousands of participants. By day, the focus is characterized by consciousness-raising workshops and presentations on permaculture, communi...
Jul 25, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 24
In this episode, we meet with Scott Gallant, a permaculture consultant at Porvenir Design. I took advantage of the pragmatism he’s developed through his many years here to explore some of the pitfalls he’s seen with foreigners building large-scale developments. We also explore ways he guides his clients toward transmuting those potential problems into solutions. Through his design and consultation work, Scott often finds himself inviting his clients to slow down and simplify their visions. Scott...
May 19, 2023•49 min•Season 2Ep. 23
This episode is with a dedicated community organizer living in the Osa Peninsula, Tricia Stapleton. Tricia shares her embodied wisdom with each question she answers. Relistening to this episode to prepare it for publication was a treat! I had a hard time selecting which portions of this interview to use for the 3-4 highlight reels I produce with every episode because there was SO MUCH amazing content. You’re lucky to be listening to this episode right now. One of the many things that Tricia and ...
Apr 29, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 22
Rodo is a master natural building teacher from Costa Rica who’s been studying & teaching bamboo construction around the world for over 40 years. I’ve released Rodo’s full-length interview on YouTube , complete with a visual tour of his handmade tools and a demonstration of a few bamboo building techniques he shows us. Still, I decided to release this shortened version of it for my podcast listeners, cutting out the parts that were primarily visual. We start this interview in front of one of ...
Feb 22, 2023•33 min•Ep. 21
In today’s episode, we get the privilege of visiting with not one but two leaders in the regenerative space, Jean Pullen & Alan Cacao. Through their project Regenerate Your Reality , Jean & Alan have been tirelessly promoting permaculture education, seed propagation, food sovereignty, & community-building projects throughout the country. Regenerate Your Reality is a permaculture, agroforestry, and education project working to bring sovereignty and happiness to our communities. It’s ...
Feb 14, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 20
In today’s episode, I meet with Jonathon Conant, a seasoned performer, and coach of the aerial arts. He teaches trapeze and aerial silk skills in one of the most enriching environments a student could hope to learn them in. We talk at length about Jonathan's practice of guiding students to explore flow state as a tool for unlocking unrealized potentials and enriched self-awareness. We also talk about a number of the small touches that Jonathon places along his guests’ experience, from his first ...
Oct 31, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 19
The episode you’re about to hear is with Norman Brooks, Norman Brooks is a veteran pioneer in community development here in Costa Rica. Norman found his way to the jungle in a different manner than most of our guests. He followed and supported his children's passions. He’s commonly known by many around these parts as the father of Stephen Brooks, a well-known permaculturist and community leader in the country. While his backstory gives an impression that Norman has been following in the footstep...
Sep 16, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 18
The episode you’re about to hear is with Edward Zaydelman , founder of Live the Possibilities, providing guidance for those looking to take the leap into regenerative communities, sustainable neighborhoods, and revolutionary towns that are shaping the way we now live in the world. While Edward’s story of developing his first land project, Vida, is one that was riddled with challenges and an ending that was very different than what was hoped for, upon inception, the interview is speckled with sil...
Sep 08, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 17
Hello, and welcome to the first official episode of Regeneration Nation Costa Rica: Regenerative Agriculture, Business, and Community for Change. We’re exploring the A, B, C’s of co-creating a regenerative culture. The A's, B's, & C’s of Agriculture, Business, & Community are three of the pillars that we build our societies around. In these fields, some of the most potent innovators are working to create new living paradigms - in harmony with the planet, its inhabitants, and the well-bei...
Aug 21, 2022•6 min•Ep. 16
Cultivating an Impactful Belief System Welcome Hello, and welcome to the 6th and final episode of the Season 1 Recap of the Sharing Insights Podcast! I think it’s fair to say that it’s been a value-rich experiment for me. All the same, I hope you, my friends, have gotten some value out of it as well. As it is, this is also going to be the final episode of the Sharing Insights Podcast. Yes, this is the grand finale of the podcast as we’ve known it. Since I began producing this podcast and learned...
Aug 10, 2022•33 min•Ep. 15
This episode is part 2 of my interview with Brandy Montague from her podcast, For Animals For Earth. In this half of the interview, I shared a bit of advice for travelers looking to visit impact centers as guests, volunteers, digital nomads, or students. In the end, we’re all really students! Brandy asked me to share a description of what it might be like to visit a place like mine. I freely shared some of the comforts along with several of the discomforts that one might expect as part of the pa...
Jul 27, 2021•30 min•Ep. 14
Listen in on this conversation that was recorded by Brandy Heyde Montague interviewing me for her podcast “For Animals For Earth”. She was intrigued by the term Ecological Impact Center and asked if I’d be a guest on her show https://foranimalsforearth.com/ . I met Brandy thanks to her offer to read through and give feedback on what’s become my first eBook, exploring permaculture and how we can apply it to our lifestyles. You can download the book for free at https://sharinginsights.net/permacul...
Jul 15, 2021•41 min•Ep. 13
Lynx Guimond of Sailcargo Inc. is an adventurous carpenter and shipwright with an inspiring mission. He's created a homestead in Costa Rica, uniting a team of over 20 shipbuilders from around the globe to embark on the quest to create a zero-emissions cargo eco-ship called Ceiba, to cross the Atlantic ocean between Central America and Europe. He shares the story of how went from bee-keeping in the mountains to creating a sustainability-focused shipyard from scratch. Assembling a team of naval ca...
Jun 22, 2021•46 min•Ep. 12
Nico Botefur of Essence Arenal shares how he’s turned a couple of rooms on a denatured piece of property into a thriving business, food forest, and employment opportunity for entrepreneurs in his region. Located at the base of the beautiful Arenal Volcano, his hotel/restaurant/spa is an excellent example of what magic can come with patient and persistent application of the permaculture principles to one’s business. Nico and I discuss his use of bamboo for a wide variety of projects from glamping...
Jun 08, 2021•30 min•Ep. 11
This interview, with Meghan Casey of the Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat , is the kind of conversation that can change the fabric of a project’s relationship with its region and neighbors. We discuss community outreach projects that anyone can do: including teaching English, promoting cooking classes and homestay/farm stay experiences for guests to have authentic cultural experiences with the locals, organizing cacao and coffee tours, raising children in such a work-life situation, and more! If...
May 18, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 10
Today’s episode is with Estéban Acosta of Sembrando Flores & Viogaz , Costa Rica’s leading manufacturer and installer of bio-digesters for home-scale, as well as commercial, uses. We discuss the spiritual side of agriculture through the application of biodynamic principles, growing “green manure” (mucuna beans), and the benefits of using a biodigester to process grey water and black water. Esteban is a consultant and international spokesperson for the biodynamic movement. This episode is sur...
Apr 27, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 9
In today’s episode with Terry Newton of Kindred Spirits, we explore horse care, equine therapy , using connection with horses to enhance yoga and meditation practices. Permaculture, & natural medicine . It’s a conversation filled with intriguing stories, practical advice, and inspiration to follow one’s dreams. Terry shares her top tips for horse care in the tropics, as well as things that aspiring owners would do well to consider before solidifying their commitment. We've created a PDF with...
Apr 06, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 8
Building community is a central focus for many back-to-the-land projects. Most commonly, that community is comprised of internal share-holding members, long-term guests, or the extended community of the surrounding village. For some projects, that would also include short-term guests and off-site investors. No matter what community means to you, many agree that a shifted focus toward a healthy sense of community is vital for a sustainable future. Today’s episode dives deep with Aly Khan & Al...
Mar 17, 2021•59 min•Ep. 7
Welcome to the world of Ancel Mitchel, herbalist, storyteller, chocolatier, and overall quality human being. In today’s episode, we dive into the value of connecting with & supporting local indigenous communities, various ways that one might prepare a cacao bean, and the value of embracing the mythological roots or our plant medicines. Ancel is one of the key players of Finca La Isla, along with her partner Peter Kring from last week’s episode. Both of these pioneers have had a lot to share....
Jan 17, 2021•49 min•Ep. 6
Meet Peter Kring, a nurseryman & farmer who has more than 30 years of experience in tropical agriculture . Peter has introduced many valuable species into cultivation in Costa Rica and maintains a collection of over 200 species of fruit trees . His farm, Finca la Isla, on the Caribbean coast, offers a plethora of workshops in horticulture, medicinal plants, chocolate making , fermentation, and farm to table practices. In today’s episode, Peter shares with us his insights into sustainability ...
Jan 06, 2021•48 min•Ep. 5
The conversation continues from last week’s episode with Justin Dolan of St Michael’s Permaculture Country Club, in Central Pacific Costa Rica. Justin mentions a number of the innovations that he’s been experimenting with, including natural building with bamboo , bioremediation , soil health, natural cooling with living rooftops and vines, waste management, and more. We've also created an awesome PDF that contains all the best tips we learned from Justin Dolan about designing for resilience. You...
Dec 17, 2020•53 min•Ep. 4
In today’s episode, we join Justin Dolan at the St Michael's Permaculture Country Club in Central Pacific Costa Rica. Justin shares his passion for seed propagation , medicinal plants , and using bio-ferments for healthy soil as well as animal care. We explore topics such as healthy competition , the value of studying with a mentor , and using plants for natural home cooling . Justin is a wealth of knowledge and the conversation ended up continuing into a second episode. If you enjoy listening t...
Dec 10, 2020•52 min•Ep. 3
In today’s episode, we visit with Ed Bernhardt at the New Dawn Center/Finca Alba Nueva, in Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica . Ed is a deep ecologist , and author for several newspaper & magazine articles in Costa Rica, including the Tico times. Ed shares with us tips for soil building & supporting your plant’s immune system with a recipe that he calls “ kombucha for the plants ,” He also shares stories about what it was like to homestead in the 80’s, in Costa Rica, while teaching organic garden...
Dec 02, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 2
In today’s episode, we visit with Suzanna Leff , one of the cofounders of Finca Amrta, a permaculture farm in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica. Suzanna has been running her volunteer program for over 30 years and has been able to keep it full, almost exclusively by word of mouth. We discuss topics like, how to find volunteer managers and administrative support, helping guests find their passions, and how to keep people engaged and happy. We've created a downloadable PDF to offer you a list...
Dec 02, 2020•51 min•Ep. 1
This brief episode is a thorough introduction to Sharing Insights Podcast, what I seek to bring to the world through this medium, and exactly how I intend to do it. You will also get to hear my story and journey from traveling to communities around the world to owning my own land-based project here in Costa Rica. The takeaway from this episode is that this is a journey we must take together because, without the collective sharing of insights, we will not grow. I hope you take the time to listen ...
Dec 01, 2020•8 min
