The Tree Men of Wales and Bengal

How have trees shaped who we are? Branched Out unearths the intertwined histories of trees, culture, and LGBTQ+ identity around the world, Recommended by The Guardian as A Best Podcast of The Week, we delve into trees, gender, race, nationhood, war and spirituality. Soma Ghosh hosts this immersive blend of drama, travel, story-telling and expert interviews. For fans of The Rest is History and Trees A Crowd. Follow now to stay rooted.In 'The Tree Men of Wales and Bengal', we meet two men who turned into trees: the legendary Merlin and Ramakrishna, the 19th C cross-dresssing mystic from Bengal. How did Merlin end up trapped in the Oak of Carmarthen? How did Ramakrishna turn into a tree and change our modern world? Created, directed, produced and narrated by Soma Ghosh, audio produced by Caoimhe Lavelle. This episode was made with support from The National Library of Wales and Inclusive Journalims Cymru. Our thanks to The Welsh Merlin Project (whose new online edition of the poems of and about Merlin isforthcoming).Actors Kate Pothecary, Rob Thomas. Cover art by Aiden Saunders. Sister Green and Seclused in Light by Arun Ghosh as featured on the Arun Ghosh LP Seclused in Light appears courtesy of camoci records. The Cauliflower by Nicola Barker appears courtesy of Nicola Barker. Guests: Swami Medhananda, Dr. Sabina Stent, Dr. David Callendar, author Peter Fiennes, author Luke Turner, author Holly Müller, author Jonathan Page. Luke Turner's current book is Men at War; Peter Fiennes' is A Thing of Beauty; Dr. Sabina Stent's current writings on art and cinema are at Subsstack @SabinaStent. Swami Medhananda's books include Swami Vivekananda's Vedāntic Cosmopolitanism and his forthcoming book is Karma and Rebirth in Hinduism, followed in 2027 by a book on Ramakrishna and Sri Aurobindo, main title An All-Embracing Oneness.More tree chat and details about Seedlings, our Spring 2026 mini-series, follow @branchedoutpodcast on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NOW PLAYING

0:00 1:13:41

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

PodQuesting Dwight J Randolph- WolfShield Media PodQuesting: -By WolfShield Media and Dwight J RandolphJoin us on an exciting journey to master the world of fiction podcasting! At PodQuesting, we document our quest to improve and innovate, sharing valuable insights, strategies, and behind-the-scenes tips along the way. Whether you're an experienced podcaster or just starting your first show, our podcast is your go-to resource for everything podcasting.Discover practical advice, creative techniques, and lessons from our own experiences as we explore the ever-evolving podcasting landscape. Ready to level up your skills and embark on this adventure with us? Tune in and join the quest!Have questions or feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] and visit our website:WolfShield.Media LIGHTS, CAMERA, SMILE! Creatives Club Media Lights, Camera, Smile, is a podcast for anyone with a dream to share something with the world, out of the overflow of themselves - be it their mind, their heart, their personalities, and much more. Each of us are alive in this moment in time, with an innate ability to have ideas and create various things to benefit both ourselves and the people around us for a reason, and here, you will find the encouragement, the inspiration, and the motivation to do just that. Hosted by Cicily, founder of Creatives Club, she dives into various topics surrounding creativity and business. Exploring entrepreneurship for creatives in a corporate reality, sharing tips and tricks in a media centered company, answering questions regarding what a creative actually is are just a few of the things discussed on this podcast. Be encouraged to create for yourself as Cicily gets vulnerable by pivoting the camera to herself for the first time.To submit questions for Cicily to answer, or have her address certain t Wounded Warriors of the Cross Gary Pastoral and clergy mental health is a mostly ignored area, especially by those who live their lives as pastors in the clergy. The stigma of mental health within those who serve in the shadow of the cross is something that invokes the stigma of fear. Many of those in the clergy will choose to suffer in their despair rather than reaching out for help. Sometimes those suffering choose to wait until it's too late to get the real help that they need. At Wounded Warriors of the Cross our mission is to lift the stigma and the veil of silence that encompasses clergy mental health and assist those who suffer in silence. Wounded Warriors of the Cross is here to shed the light of Christ's love into those dark places. FEAR NOTHING and Have Lots of Fun with Carlie Lara Wallace carlielara Welcome to The Fear Nothing and Have Lots of Fun Podcast!! We get vulnerable, we have fun, and there’s always a bit of the gospel! These episodes detail all that God is doing in my life right now, and what I’m learning through these experiences. NEW EPISODES come out every Wednesday at 6:05am for those hump day early risers!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Branched Out?

This episode is 1 hour and 13 minutes long.

When was this Branched Out episode published?

This episode was published on April 22, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this Branched Out episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!