PODCAST: From Forest Floor to Yoga Mat; A Forager's Path to Inner Peace

In this month's episode, I sit down with Michelle Dowd, author of "Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult," for a fascinating discussion about foraging, food culture, and finding connection with nature. Michelle shares how her childhood experiences in a religious cult, where she learned to identify and gather wild foods for survival, shaped her unique relationship with food and the natural world.Michelle sees foraging as both a way to reconnect with the earth, and an act of resistance to modern food systems. She shares her practical advice for aspiring foragers, and challenges common misconceptions about wild food safety, arguing that foraged foods can often be healthier than conventionally grown produce. When you’re done listening, be sure to check out more of Michelle’s thoughts on her weekly newsletter and learn how you might even get to stay in her newly constructed tiny house.The genesis of this month’s podcast came about after my recent wild food adventuring with foraging expert Pascal Baudar. For LA locals who haven't experienced one of his classes - you're missing out. A four-time author on native plant gathering, Pascal is the real deal. After three hours of roadside botanical exploration, Pascal treated us to one of his wild food feasts, complete with an unforgettable mugwort beer.My foraging on the brain then led me to Glendale for the monthly meeting of the LA Mycology Club. I caught an illuminating talk by mushroom guru and social media sensation William Padilla Brown. His mile-a-minute presentation on truffle cultivation left me questioning whether we're cultivating truffles, or are these fascinating fungi actually cultivating us!October finally feels like fall. A month of foraging adventures has left me pondering my place in the natural world, in a good way. The simple act of gathering wild foods reconnects me to an ancient wisdom that feels more relevant than ever. Join me in this week's podcast with Michelle as we explore how foraging might offer unexpected solutions to our most pressing environmental and spiritual challenges. Who knows? The path to our future might just be growing wild along the roadside, waiting to be rediscovered. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit enlightenedomnivore.substack.com/subscribe