The Earth Sea Love Podcast

Hey you, good to see you again.  On this day, our fifth birthday, we are so happy to bring you our final episode of the three we are releasing on 13th July 2025. The final episode before we go off on Summer Hiatus also. Rest is needed. We've been celebrating far too hard! In this episode, Sheree is in conversation with Pauline Mayers, a multidisciplinary artist based in Leeds. In this episode, they talk about: • How Pauline and Sheree first connected  • Creative Methodologies, Cambridge University  • Situating ourselves – living in Leeds, greenest cities in UK • Looking up is a humbling act • Ginnels, is a narrow passageway or alleyway, typically between buildings, often used as a shortcut • In a new season of healing and reclaiming  • A multidisciplinary artist starting from the age of 15 • Ruptures in life • Leeds is not very kind to black artists • The ebb and flow of work • The use and abuse of black artists • The lack of care and respect for black artists, refusing to be a conduit for this • Entire rupture of social network, and dad’s passing • Looking to heal in the NOW • Having autonomy of our lives • Walking journey as healing  • Convincing people of our knowledges, abilities and humanity  • Reclaiming the person you are right now • Touchbase with the self, right now • Acknowledging our scars • 9 times out of 10, it’s righteous anger • Rebuild my relationship with Leeds • The Nikel Boys film • Healing walking journey of 2025 – Leeds Country Way  • Being with nature through all the senses • Come Outside CIC • The Kettlewell Circular  • Transforming anger into reclaiming peace for the self • So much more beauty in the world than the ugliness of people • Taking pictures while out there • The journey of photography to writing  • Seeking homeness a place of safety • Ingrid Pollard, Pastroal Interlude  • Being in community with people who look the same, exist and be and safe • Boundaries teach people how to treat me • Zine creation for healing and reclamation  • Rupture to rapture • Railing against everything as production  • We refuse and nature is there to help the process • Fugitive feminism Akwago Emejulu • Walking with our ancestors • The joy of just being in nature and always be in connection with • Continue to create in community  • The Earth Sea Love Podcast 5th Birthday    Bio: Pauline is a multidisciplinary theatre-maker, movement director and performer based in the North of England. She creates and curates artistic experiences that opens audiences, artists, and communities to have conversations they wouldn’t usually have. Beginning as a Rambert trained dancer, Pauline who has appeared in stage and television since the age of 15, began her career as a dancer in repertory dance companies across the UK in a career spanning years, including Janet Smith and Dancers, Diversions Dance (Wales), The Ensemble Group (Scotland), Phoenix Dance Theatre (England) as well as being acting artistic director for Teeside Dance Initiative, leaving dance for theatre in 2010.  Since then, Pauline has amassed a rich background as director, writer, movement director, performer, and facilitator and has collaborated with theatre and live art companies across the UK. Pauline's work as movement director and performer has seen collaborations with Selina Thompson LTD’s Twine (2024), live performance artist Paula Varjack’s Nine Sixteenths (2024), Improbable Theatre on An Improbable Musical (2022), Tell Tale Hearts Children's Theatre on Yummm! (2013), Burmantofts Stories (2013) which featured in the programme for Transform Festival that same year, working with the community of Burmantofts area in Leeds, and Red Ladder’s Promised Land (2012). In her own work, Pauline explores themes of identity, participation, intimacy, and care. Pauline’s previous work, the critically acclaimed What If I Told You written and performed by Pauline premiered at the Leeds Playhouse (formerly the West Yorkshire Playhouse) in 2016 and toured across the UK. The show was presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2017), where she was a shortlisted nominee for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award. What If I Told You returned for a second successful run at Leeds Playhouse in 2018 and was part of the inaugural programme at Brixton House, London in 2022. Pauline is the artistic director of the Mayers Ensemble, a company formed in 2022 as a vehicle for her work which has been described as ‘shaking up traditional theatre and power structures to put the audience in the picture’ (Lyn Gardner, The Guardian). In 2021, Pauline was a published contributor to the anthology, Weighted Words (Peepal Tree Press) edited by Jacob Ross. Pauline is also a trustee at Improbable Theatre and is an Open Space facilitator. Now in a new season of her life as well as continuing to write, Pauline enjoys walking, photography, zine-making. Links Links: www.paulinemayers.com Social media: @emergentp.bsky.social

Welcome back to our birthday celebrations with our second episode of the three. In this episode your host, Dr. Sheree Mack gets to speak with Maxine Greaves MBE. Their conversation covers: • Location in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, living across from a park • Sheffield losing some trees  • LUSH – word of the year • Work towards it, not harder, work towards your dreams with purpose  • TOC – The Outdoor Citizen • 25 years in Higher Education, creating own role in faculty  • Coaching and mentoring people to get where they want to be into teaching • Serving a purpose in a particular space and place in time • High level teaching role  • Interconnected teaching with equality leading it and how is the environment impact it also • Dr. Maxwell Apaladaga Ayamba BEM -Founder and CEO of Sheffield Environmental Movement -correct dates for award 2021, BEM 2023  • Sheffield Envinrmantal Movement reengage people from global majority back to nature  • Build their knowledge about the impact on the environment on themselves and how they can lobby to improve it  • For us/ by us • Toni Morrison quote racism as distraction echoed by Maxine  "The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says you have no art, so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms, so you dredge that up. None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing.” - Toni Morrison  • Childhood curiosity within an Afro-Caribbean community  • Play and heightened imagination and applying yourself  • Understanding of your purpose and your why for knwing your direction  • The future is extremely wealthy if we contirnue to bank our knowledge to build capacity • Tina Campt quote: "The grammar of black feminist futurity is a performance of a future that hasn’t yet happened but must … It is the power to imagine beyond current fact and to envision that which is not, but must be. It’s a politics of prefiguration that involves living the future now … as a striving for the future you want to see, right now, in the present."   Bio: Maxine Greaves Likes Loves Reasoning & Research #ActsOfSelfLove, #Freedom, #StyleAndFashion, #EthicalAmbition #HoldingSpace #Climate Mary J Blige, Good Morning Gorgeous, My Life, Betty Wright, Keep Love New, NAO Lifetime, Cleo Sol Mother, There Will Be No Crying Ledisi Love You Too Aretha Franklin Day Dreaming Luther Vandross Here And Now Maxwell Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder) Jamaican Breakfast Drinking Iced Ginger Beer, Turkish Grill Sipping Hot Chocolate Ramen thick noodles Fudge Brownie Watching Grand Designs, Chilling On The Sofa, Over The Yardarm Apple Juice And Fridge Fresh H2O, Utopia Theatre Anna Hibiscus’ Song, DATKH Theaster Gates Black Madonna, Afro-Mingei Matt Small Natasha, Kelly, Angela, Justina Claudette Johnson  Standing Figure (2015), Figure In Blue (2018) Blues Dance (2023)  Ta-Nehisi Coates The Message  Ngugi Wa Thiong’O The Language Of Languages Azeezat Johnson Beth Kamunge And Remi Joseph-Salisbury The Fire Now Malcolm Gladwell Blink, Outliers Jesmyn Ward The Let Us Descend Converse Cool Sneakers, Fenty Smell Good Look Good, Lip Gloss London, Camden Town, Brixton, Kingston Upon Thames Durban Waking Along The Golden Mile, Countryside Man Tor, Ben Nevis, And Scarfell Pike, Yvonne Battle-Felton Remembered  DJ Paulette Welcome To The Club Cebo Cambell Sky Full Of Elephants In Conversation Jeffrey Boakye (Blacklisted), Kehinde Andrews (Nobody Can Give You Freedom) MB Games Frustration; Fitbit Pilates, Peace Walk  Cycling Along The Tissington Trail, Roller Blades, Skates; Cat Ramsey My Words Purpose, Focus Lazy Day Greys Anatomy, Rewind And Come Again, all things Marvel Ramping    

Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love website. We are so happy to share the first of three episodes we are dropping today to mark out fifth birthday celebrations.  This episode is a conversation with Yvonne Witter. Chair of Trustees for Peak District Mosaic, Yvonne and Sheree talk about: • Situating the self – the walk home from work • Walking for mental health  • Supporting patients with health and well-being one to one  • Creating a caring space for people to be themselves through the grief journey  • Championing the National Parks Project • Peak District Mosaic and Community Champions • Improve national parks work practice working with diverse communities • Mosaic Champion what it is? – Campaign for National Parks • Childhood in Jamaica • Volunteering time to support people outdoors  • Representatives of the global majority in positions of making decisions • Legacy of the project, a turning point, providing a path way • Loss of identity when leaving the landscape • Grief, writing and walking  Bio:  Pioneering Peak District Community Champion, Yvonne Witter, has been well recognised for her efforts to uplift diverse communities through the Peak District national park and surrounding areas. Her passion and duty to protect the countryside and provide accessibility for everyone are endless as she works tirelessly to introduce new training programmes, group activities and trips for diverse communities to access and explore the countryside. Yvonne has committed her time as Chair for Peak District Mosaic and is keen to see the organisation grow and continue to meet the needs of communities in enhancing the health and wellbeing in the outdoors.   https://peakdistrictmosaic.org  

Hey Welcome. Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. We're so happy that you could join us, and why not join us in celebration of our birthday. The Earth Sea Love Podcast is five years old. 13 July 2020, we pressed the button to release three shiny new conversations into cyberspace as a means of keeping the nature connection going with ourselves and nature, and with each other far and wide. During those troubling times, your host Dr, Sheree Mack, had the honour and privilege to talk with so many wonderful people across the globe. And then share them with you, dear listener.  We are very happy to see this birthday come around after years of precarious survival. And things are not all plain sailing now, but we recognise our achievement.  And why not come celebrate with us? We are super excited to share three new episodes to mark our fifth anniversary. And they do not disappoint. Episode 079 - A daughter of the soil, Yvonne Witter Episode 080 - Creating a wealthy future through banking our knowledge, with Maxine Greaves MBE Episode 081 - Ruptures, healing and reclamation with Pauline Mayers  

***Trigger warning, this episode contains swearing and is talking about death and inhumane practices. Be warned.   Adriana Smith did not give birth. Adriana couldn’t give birth. Adriana was unalive. Adriana died in February 2025 because she didn’t receive a life-saving medical procedure. Adriana was pronounced brain dead in February but was kept alive for a further 114 days. 114 days. Why? Because Adriana was pregnant, and the white man wanted to play GOD! Let’s back up a bit. For me, and this isn’t about me, I find this difficult to share. It’s harrowing, horrific, cruel and downright racist. But share it I must even when it pains me, it’s much worst for Adriana’s family who had gone through a whole heap of fucking shit and continue to do so. This ‘experiment’ is triggering and is history repeating itself again and again, blatantly right in front of us. NOW. And what are we going to do about it? I’m writing and sharing it with you now as a start. In February this year, Adriana Smith, a 30 year old nurse based in Atlanta, Georgia, went to hospital where she worked, went to her people, complaining of an intense headache. No tests were run. Adriana was sent home with pain relief. The next morning her boyfriend awoke to Adriana gurgling and struggling to breathe. Emergency services were called and Adriana was rushed to hospital. There they finally carried out a cat scan to establish that Adriana had blood clots on her brain. You have to ask why wasn’t this test carried out the day before, in time to probably save her life? I’ll tell you why, because of racism and sexism within the medical institution that results in black people, black women in particular not being listened to when we express pain. Apparently, black women don’t feel pain. We have a higher pain threshold than anyone else, so if we’re complaining about pain within our own bodies, we’re lying. The pain is that bad so just shut up and put up the practice goes. We are not given the rightful respect of being experts of our own bodies and knowing that we are in pain. Knowing that something is wrong.Read this article for more about this. Let me continue. So the hospital calls Adriana’s mother to say they want to complete a procedure that will ease the pressure on Adriana’s brain and can they have her permission to do so. Of course her mother agrees. This procedure will save her daughter’s life. The hospital, Emory Hospital in the state of Georgia, called back not long afterwards to say they weren’t going to bother with the procedure. They couldn’t do it because Adriana was pregnant. Adriana was 8 weeks pregnant. I’m not sure if she knew she was pregnant or not before she went into hospital complaining of headaches. Adriana was pronounced brain dead soon after this. The doctors didn’t give Adriana’s family any choice, they put Adriana on a life support machine. This was against Adriana’s wishes as she had a do not resuscitate order and was against her family’s wishes also. The hospital did not have Adriana’s or her family’s consent to follow this course of action. But the hospital acted as if they did. They disrespected Adriana in life as well as in death as they kept her alive on a ventilator, pumping her body with a cocktail of drugs all in the name of saving the foetus. The hospital kept Adriana’s body alive while she was brain dead all in the name of the law as they claimed that the law of the state would make it illegal to allow the baby to die within it’s mother. They claimed it would be an illegal termination and they could be prosecuted. Therefore they chose to go against the wishes of Adriana, taking away her personhood, autonomy, bodily rights, reproductive rights and even when she couldn’t speak for herself, her family spoke up for her rights. They were all disallowed, dismissed and Adriana was kept alive solely as a human incubator. The hospital in the state of Georgia cruelly used Adriana in a sick, warped medical experiment to find out what they needed to do in order to keep a baby alive till birth within a brain dead body. This is not a medical breakthrough or revolutionary practice, this is blatant disregard and disrespect for a black woman’s, a black mother’s wishes, as Adriana already had a 7 year old son. The state of Georgia used and abused Adriana for some sick experiment. We must realise that it won’t end here. The media states that Adriana ‘gave birth’, or that Adriana ‘delivered’ a 32 week old baby, weighing 1 pound 13 oozes. A corpse, not being disrespectful here but a dead body, cannot birth anything or anyone. Adriana could not push out her son, her baby boy, because she was dead. To say it was a ‘C’ section it a lie as it was an autopsy. Adriana was given an autopsy and the baby was an extracted from her dead body. This was only done on 13 June because Adriana’s body was decaying. If not, no doubt they would have continued with this ‘experiment’. Adriana’s body was decomposing because she was dead. She’d been dead for 4 months to this point of autopsy. I thought they then turned the life support machine off straight after the extraction. But that was not the case. They kept Adriana on the ventilation machine for a further 4 days, until 17 June, which happened to be her birthday. You’re telling me the hospital didn’t know that this was Adriana’s birthday? Of course they did, and this in my opinion is just another sick twisted fucking indication of their heartlessness, and disregard for Adriana’s family as well as being a performance. A performance of power and control. Sanitise the language you use as much as you want, the hospital, Emory Hospital in the state of Georgia did wrong, a major wrong from allowing Adriana to die unnecessarily and then proceeding to keep her alive without her consent or her family’s so they could try out this experiment which with the extraction of a baby is blatant proof of their concept. This does not end here. This is man, as it usually is man, trying to find a way to create life and bring into the world, with women having little to no participation in the process. Through using and abusing Adriana they have gathered their evidence on what they need to do to keep a baby alive to birth with a woman just as an incubator. She does not need to be alive, or give her consent. The clinician has all the power and the control. An experiment by the state of Georgia on a black woman’s body, which is nothing new. The experimentation on black women’s bodies has been going on for centuries just think of J. Marion Sims the so called ‘father of gynecology’ and his experimentation on enslaved women. This experiment on Adriana was to see how they can replace the woman in the process of creating and carrying life. How little participation from women do they need to bring about life? Be warned as I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of other brain dead women turning up pregnant. Placing Adriana on life support to support a pregnancy from 8 weeks to 32 weeks is inhumane. This is using a black woman’s body as an incubator and not respecting or treating Adriana as a human being with rights and wishes. The hospital used the law as an excuse to perform this monstrosity but the Attorney General of Georgia came out months ago to say there is no such law that the foetus has to be kept alive if the mother is dead. The law states that the foetus dies when the mother dies. This is more proof that the hospital was running roughshod over another black woman, black mother’s life as didn’t her 7 year old son have to see his mother on the ventilation machines, pumped full of drugs not understanding what was going on, maybe thinking at some point his mother would wake up and come on home. What is this fuckery? And I haven’t even said anything about the baby extracted from a dead body. Chance, they named him, Chance, who is now in NICU weights barely 2 pounds. What quality of life will this tortured baby have? His grandmother said, he could be blind, might to be able to walk, or talk or be mentally okay and they will have to raise him. I can’t even imagine what kind of life this child will have as he’s basically unknown territory. But I know he probably won’t have a peaceful life. If he survives you can bet that he will be monitored and poked and prodded for the rest his life, to check if he’s healthy and ‘normal’ after he came about through their experiment. They’re invested in Chance’s life now but not for good reasons. There was never any care for his mother, Adriana, and there’ll never be any care there for Chance. This is disgusting and horrifying and makes me sick to my core as well as angry, hence sharing it here with you now. But it gets worse. Adriana’s family, who fought all this time to stop this experiment that was against their wishes as well as Adriana’s, who have been going through the legal process to get the machines switched off so they could lay Adriana to rest, are now liable to pay all the hospital bills. I repeat Adriana, who was brain dead and kept alive as an incubator against her and her family’s wishes, her family now have to pay all these medical bills for this experiment. They did not ask for this. They did not consent to this. They fought against it. They are now being forced to pay for this. What is this kind of fuckery? This is blatant, in their faces and in public, telling the world that the hospital, the state of Georgia, these non-black professionals, do not care about black women, black people. They are not allowing Adriana to rest, then and now, as it’s all about control and power over the black woman’s body, black people again and again. This is not about humanity and researching ways to keep life going. They stripped Adriana of her humanity a long time ago, right down to the very last breath of her body. On her birthday. It breaks my heart. It breaks my heart. The family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help them pay for the medical bills that they shouldn’t have to pay for. The family should be receiving compensation for what they have lost and gone through. But that still wouldn’t be enough and could never replace Adriana or what she and her family have gone through and continue to suffer. And this shit is not over yet. Adriana Smith, say her name. Remember her name. Share her name. This ‘experiment’ is going to change reproduction, reproductive rights within America, and beyond, and will have percussions for women and bodily autonomy. If they can do this to a pregnant woman, I dare not think what they can do to others and/both do next. This is frightening and maddening and has to be talked about and shouldn’t happen again. I say this but it’s probably happening right now to some other black woman who isn’t seen as human but as a body to be experimented on, used and abused in the name of science. They did this to Adriana because they thought they could get away with it. Nobody cares about black women, right? Black women are disposable. Would they have done this to a white woman, I have to ask? Fuck off I say. Get the fuck off our bodies. This could be the normalisation of necromancy. Are you down with that?

Welcome back to another episode of The Earth Sea Love Podcast. It is with gratitude pleasure that we share this lovely conversation with Soraya Abdel-Hadi. Soraya is the founder and managing director of All the Elements, as well as running her own successful coaching business, soraya earth > In this episode, your host Dr Sheree Mack and Soraya, talk about: situating self,  seeing nature emerging  slowing down to notice nature there are other ways of being in this world  All the Elements developments since 2021, it’s a community learning about self through developments  centring on the people,  buying into capitalism, the grind,  the achievement and the  allyship ‘v’ comradeship Timber Festival, a celebratory event  and finding your people  Rehearsals for Living by Robyn Maynard and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson The Outdoor Citizen (TOC),  what is it? professional skills development to create change  the anti-urgency at All the Element, a way of working nature connection  Grief around mums passing creativity through Substack creative practice and legacy  a reminder it only takes 5 minutes to go outside   Bio: Soraya Abdel-Hadi is a sustainability specialist, life coach, facilitator and the founder and driving force of nature behind All the Elements, a CIC supporting leaders working on access and representation in the UK outdoor sector. She’s an energiser, a maker of change and connection.   Whale Song on Substack - An environmental and social change newsletter from Soraya Abdel-Hadi

Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. We are so pleased to be back with you for another episode release, within a week of the last one. We are trying to keep to our word! This episode, 075, in our 7th season is with our wonderful Sista Dal Kular. We are such a fan of Dal. Talking with your host, Dr Sheree Mack, in this episode you will hear, Dal talking about: * Situating the self in the present moment of recording  * How has this season been treating Dal                                                   * The long recovery from head injury * Walking in winter - practice and confidence and joy * Disrupting this hard season of grief and loss * Changes after a head injury adjustments  -  * Rest and planning time as part of being human * Learning how to be with a head injury and manage health and wellbeing * Challenging ableist constructs, the interview, the exam  * Black Nature In Residence programme with identity on tyne  * Gusset wisdom shared * Creatives learning, freedom to create * Creating a giant journal as part of a residency * Quiet disruptions and dislodging colonial narratives  * Cheap travelling to remote places * Deepen strength and honing in on creative practices  * The future of nature writing  * Embracing the extraordinaryness of the everyday   Bio: Dal Kular (she/her) is a writer, maker, zinester and facilitator of creative and nature-allied arts for healing, liberation and joy. She left school at 16 years old with 3 O-levels having been told she could never be a writer – returning to the power of words in her late forties – as an act of radical care and healing. Her debut poetry book (un)interrupted tongues, published by Fly on The Wall Press, emerged from a zine she created during her masters dissertation about the therapeutic and healing powers of zine-making. She loves making zines and handmade books. Dal’s latest zine is called ‘Dear Nature…’ and created during her writing residency with Peaks of Colour. She lives in Sheffield.  You can read more of her work here.    

New Year. New Season.  Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast, as we celebrate our 5th year of production.  We are so happy to be back with you all after our winter hibernation. Rest is important. Rest is a weapon. And we must use it. Welcome back to our first episode of the season which is with our lovely guest and friend, Nabila Cruz. Nabila Cruz is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield, specialising in critical AI studies with a focus on how generative artificial intelligence impacts trust in digital news media. Within this episode we talk about:  * Situating ourselves in the country and placing ourselves in nature nearby * Situating ourselves through the seasons and having plant children  * Learning to let go of control * What you be/ who you be at this time?  * Brazilian, Italian and Arabic mixness, and growing up in the UK, therefore British * Mess in nature, mess in life, complicated realities * PhD a source of joy and headache - generative AI affects trust in the news * Expressing ourselves with whatever tools are at our disposal * AI developments - critical study of the pros and cons * Being curious and creative * Zine making as research method * Over Here Zine Festival   * Peaks of Colour walkshop - Dal Kular facilitating  * Access to nature, reclaiming it for belonging  * Zine: a letter to nature from my inner child  * The danger isn’t AI it’s the people behind AI * Zines in the making  * Future plans/ learning  * AI with a more caring face, a human touch * Self-care on the journey of the PhD * Therapy as a thru line throughout life for free  * Important for more people of colour to become therapists * Mutual appreciation club   Bio: Nabila Cruz is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield, specialising in critical AI studies with a focus on how generative artificial intelligence impacts trust in digital news media. With a background in information science, she has worked in various roles in libraries and universities in the UK. She has taught university students, run training sessions, and organised events. She also leads creative workshops whenever possible. Born in Brazil with African and European heritage, Nabila moved to the UK as a teenager and found a sense of belonging in its diverse cultures. She writes short stories and poetry in her spare time and discovered zine-making recently. Her stories, poems and zines reflect her personal journey and act as a form of self-care. But she feels the most sense of healing in nature, when she goes for hikes or visits the sea.   Here are some of Nabila's zines  online: Living with PCOS https://heyzine.com/flip-book/c84b65bda3.html A Letter To Nature From My Inner Child https://heyzine.com/flip-book/f4276f2f18.html Herbie is my favourite person https://heyzine.com/flip-book/3a20638e30.html Nabila's website: www.nabilacruz.com.   Also mentioned in the introduction of this episode is the Over Here Zine Festival mini pop up festival in collaboration with Dal Kular and Migration Matters.   You can find out more information about this event happening on Saturday 28 June here. * Sheree would like to express her apologises as she incorrectly states in the introduction of this episode’s that Nabila was born on the UK. As it says on the above bio, Nabila was born in Brazil. Please accept our apologies for the mistake. 

We are so exited to bring you a special mini series of podcast episodes created in collaboration with identity on tyne and their Black Nature in Residence Programme.  Created and project coordinated by your host Dr Sheree Mack, the Black Nature in Residence Programmed (BNIR) aims to offer creative opportunities within nature for the global majority.  Started in 2019, the Black Nature in Residence Programme not only offers time and space in nature for creatives, focusing on the creative process and practices rather than putting the pressure on to produce produce and produce. The process is the focus rather than the outputs and outcomes. identity on tyne believes that when you give creatives the time and space to {BE},  something magical happens in the way they see themselves and their practice. The creatives have permission to play, experiment and create on their own terms. And nature is the guide in this process. In this episode Sheree talks to Jola Olafimihan about her residency in the Northumberland National Park. They talk about: * Where Jola is situated * Who she be? * What progression has there been from BNIR to BNIA 2:0? * Nigerian indigo dying technique Adire * Having two homes and combining them within this residency * Walking groups both white and global majority  * Disconnection from nature and the consequencs * Healing with nature  * Black-led creative projects * Solastalgia * Racism and harm and self-care practices    Bio: Jola Olafimihan writes as a way of understanding all that is around her. She writes as a form of mindful practise and a way to focus her mind. She’s an industrious individual with a conscientious and positive attitude towards her work, creating, and exploration of new themes. She’s a resilient and a forward-thinking creative, who likes developing her skill set. She’s an independent thinker who takes the initiative, self-driven to achieve success on independent projects such as being writer in residence for Durham Wildlife Trust (2020- 22), where she developed original pieces of writings and artworks.

We are so exited to bring you a special mini series of podcast episodes created in collaboration with identity on tyne and their Black Nature in Residence Programme.  Created and project coordinated by your host Dr Sheree Mack, the Black Nature in Residence Programmed (BNIR) aims to offer creative opportunities within nature for the global majority.  Started in 2019, the Black Nature in Residence Programme not only offers time and space in nature for creatives, focusing on the creative process and practices rather than putting the pressure on to produce produce and produce. The process is the focus rather than the outputs and outcomes. identity on tyne believes that when you give creatives the time and space to {BE},  something magical happens in the way they see themselves and their practice. The creatives have permission to play, experiment and create on their own terms. And nature is the guide in this process. In this episode Sheree talks to Testament about his residency in the Yorkshire Dales. They talk about: * Where Testament is situated * What he does and how he came to doing this? * How Testament 's residency has been going? * Testament's research and critical tabulations around the runaway slave Thomas Anson ( Apologies for using Hansen in the podcast introduction) * Fugitive and fugitivity * Being artists and the mycelium network * Patterson Joseph and his 2022 debut novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho  * Self-care practices    Bio: Testament is an acclaimed writer, spoken word artist, playwright and rapper. He is currently based in West Yorkshire. Testament’s work has received praise from a wide range of voices including Lemn Sissay, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, writer and graphic novelist Alan Moore (Watchmen/ V for Vendetta), actor and writer Patterson Joseph, BBC presenter Lauren Laverne and the originator of Hip- Hop DJ Koolherc. Testament is passionate about using words to connect communities and ideas, and in so doing challenge assumptions and start conversations. Testament has worked as a freelance artist since 2007, teaching, writing and performing nationally and internationally. As well as writing and performing, Testament has done extensive work as an educator and workshop facilitator. Before becoming a writer, as a musician in 2009 Testament released an acclaimed album No Freedom Without Sacrifice under his “Homecut” moniker featuring Grammy Winner Corinne Bailey Rae, MOBO winner Soweto Kinch and US rap legend J-Live among others. He also features on the MOBO jazz nominated album Faces by David Lyttle.

We are so exited to bring you a special mini series of podcast episodes created in collaboration with identity on tyne and their Black Nature in Residence Programme.  Created and project coordinated by your host Dr Sheree Mack, the Black Nature in Residence Programmed (BNIR) aims to offer creative opportunities within nature for the global majority.  Started in 2019, the Black Nature in Residence Programme not only offers time and space in nature for creatives, focusing on the creative process and practices rather than putting the pressure on to produce produce and produce. The process is the focus rather than the outputs and outcomes. identity on tyne believes that when you give creatives the time and space to {BE},  something magical happens in the way they see themselves and their practice. The creatives have permission to play, experiment and create on their own terms. And nature is the guide in this process. In this episode Sheree talks to Nadia Emam about her residency in the North York Moors. They talk about: * Where Nadia is situated * Who she be? * How Nadia's residency has been going? * How has her practice been changing during this time? * Taking time out in nature to be * Journey back home to Egypt and Scarborough * Working with predominately white organisations  * Anti-racism training  * Black-led creative projects *Healing in nature * Next steps within the residence    Bio: Nadia Emam is a a freelance director for theatre and film, working as an actor, poet and dramaturg. She has over 10 years experience as a facilitator in drama & poetry with young people, adults and communities working with Sheffield People’s Theatre, Aesthetica Film Festival + BFI NETWORK and The Crucible. Nadia’s practice is fuelled by kindness, silliness, inspiring creativity to nourish and build confidence.  

We are so exited to bring you a special mini series of podcast episodes created in collaboration with identity on tyne and their Black Nature in Residence Programme.  Created and project coordinated by your host Dr Sheree Mack, the Black Nature in Residence Programmed (BNIR) aims to offer creative opportunities within nature for the global majority.  Started in 2019, the Black Nature in Residence Programme not only offers time and space in nature for creatives, focusing on the creative process and practices rather than putting the pressure on to produce produce and produce. The process is the focus rather than the outputs and outcomes. identity on tyne believes that when you give creatives the time and space to {BE},  something magical happens in the way they see themselves and their practice. The creatives have permission to play, experiment and create on their own terms. And nature is the guide in this process. In this episode Sheree talks to Wajid Hussain about his residency in the Lake District. They talk about: * Where Wajid is situated * Who he be? * How he has developed from BNIR to BNIR 2:0 * How he has been rehabilitating after covid * What he's focusing on within his residency * Being present in nature and observing * Demystifying the creative  * Self-care as a creative practitioner   Bio: Wajid Hussain’s deepest passion is the ability of words, both spoken and visual, to connect with people from all walks of life. What makes his creative journey unique is how he’s blended his engineering background and cultural heritage into art. It's a blend of the sensory and the intellectual, where stories come to life through multiple senses. Wajid often combines poetry, word streams, and abstract illustrations to stir emotions and thoughts. Live poetry performances, commissioned projects, and visual creations are all part of his artistic toolkit. His fervour for artistic expression propels his mission: to inspire and empower others to embrace their creativity while providing safe spaces that amplify their voices. Dear Deddy-ji (Waterloo Press, 2012), Wajid’s first published collection of prose poems is dedicated to his late Father, covers themes fatherhood, legacy and identity. 

Welcome back to a very special episode of The Earth Sea Love Podcast. After four years of recording the podcast, with this nearly being our seventieth episode, we bring you our first LIVE face to face recorded conversation. We are really excited to share a live face to face recording that took place during the wonderful Tremula Festival on Saturday 21 September 2024. The Tremula Festival, the first of its kind, was a selections of talks,  production skills and workshops focusing on the connection between audio, the outdoors and the activism happening in those spaces. Your podcast host, Dr. Sheree Mack, was invited along to take part by the lovely Francesca Turauskis,Founder and Lead Producer of the Tremula Network. And it was Fran who introduced Sheree to Alinah Azadeh, the guest of this special podcast. We are so pleased to share this episode with you as it was such a powerful conversation between the two creatives.  The conversation covers: * where the podcast is taking place in terms of situating themselves * responding to the question, who you be? * being radical/ creating radical situations within culture and the arts * nature connection explored through art projects within community * writing stories set in the future * being the Seven Sisters' writer in residence and creating a writing community of the global majority * creating a major audio walk in collaboration along the South Downs coastline - WE HEAR YOU NOW * Alinah reading a section from her speculative fiction story based in 2053, WE HEAR YOU NOW * You can read this story yourself at Alinah's substack, The Colour of Chalk  * the two kinds of legacies which have been created through WE HEAR YOU NOW * the criminal damage that has happened to this public artwork * responses to the South Downs National Park Press Statement about the racialised attack against this walking trail   * the trauma experienced of having our stories erased for centuries * the power of the collective voice in pushing back against racism * the difficulty of putting into practice black-led projects for everyone involved * what does 'Landscape for All' translate into, in practice, or should mean * progress in the use of language used to describe us by others, taking the lead from us * Alinah's childhood and being brought up within nature * more opportunities are welcomed to meander and wander and wonder with people within the landscape * how the power of audio can be used to cross boundaries and borders * followed by questions from the audience.    Bio: Alinah Azadeh is a writer, artist, performer and cultural activist of British Iranian heritage. She uses writing, audio, and live practices to create poetic narratives that activate spaces, amplifying untold or overlooked stories and future imaginings. Alongside a 30-year visual arts career, Azadeh has been published, most recently in Best British Short Stories 2023 (Salt) with The Beard, a feminist tale of power, hair and revolution. As first ever writer-in-residence at Seven Sisters Country Park and Sussex Heritage Coast 2020-23, for South Downs National Park, she led We See You Now, a decolonial landscape and literature programme exploring the coast through the lens of climate change & justice, loss, migration and belonging. This led to her podcast The Colour of Chalk and the co-writing and curation of We Hear You Now, an audio and performance series of poetry, speculative fiction and myth by women and non-binary writers of Black and global majority heritage, now installed on 14 Listening Posts across the coast and online, co-funded by Arts Council England. Alinah is working on numerous writing projects and commissions, including her artist memoir and is also Writing Our Legacy/ Changing Chalk Associate Artist for The National Trust.    

Hello and welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. This is the last episode of the summer before we return in September with the special episodes created in collaboration identity on tyne and the Black Nature in Residence programme.  In this episode, your host, Dr. Sheree Mack is talking to the lovely and knowledgeable Nadia Shaikh. Calling in from the Isle of Bute, they talk about: * Situating themselves * The Isle of Bute and Scotland * Land Justice Activism * What is the Right to Roam? * Land ownership  * Scotland's Right to Roam * Colonialism upon British soil * The Raven Network * The Earth Sea Love Episodes exploring Racial Equity Network of the National Trust * You don't have to know the names to have a relationship with nature * Wild Service the book.   Bio is: Nadia Shaikh is a naturalist and ornithologist who has worked in nature conservation for over 14 years. She left the sector to focus on the links between our legacy of land ownership, limited access to nature and the link to biodiversity loss. She is co-director of the Right to Roam Campaign and is one of the authors of Wild Service. She founded The Raven Network, a group for people of colour who work in the nature conservation and environment sector, the network seeks to understand how to decolonizing the way we think about nature conservation.  

Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. So glad that you’ve come back to us. This episode, as we hurtle towards Summer, was recorded close to the Spring Equinox with Christian Totty. Christian has a Healing Arts Practice and a juicy Substack newsletter called Wholly Earth. In this episode, talking with your host Dr. Sheree Mack, Christian explores: * Being thankful * Situating ourselves in the landscape * The Spring Equinox quickening of season’s change * Hold both at the same time - grief and the quickening * Ruth Gilmore -‘ life is precious, life is precious ‘ * Astrological eclipses and change * Finding those ways of being present * What is a healing arts practice? * The reluctance around embracing herbal medicine  * The slowdown and being present * Tapping into the unknown and our ancestors * Childhood experiences with grandmother * Theatre and community arts can save you * Taping into astrology later in life as a thru-line * Multidisciplinary practices are necessary * Embracing liminal spaces  * What is embodiment?  * Abbey Lincoln and Wholly Earth  * The Nature Writing Collection on Christian's Substack * Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Clearing    Bio: Bio Christian Totty (she/her) is an Afro-Indigenous mother, gardener, and interdisciplinary healing artist based in northwest Ohio in the traditional homelands of the Kickapoo, Shawnee, and Miami peoples. Through her work, Christian explores rituals, embodiment, intersectionality, and interdependence.  Wholly Earth Wholly Earth About Inner Ecology: Writing with Nature Series

Hello and Welcome Back, to the Earth Sea Love Podcast, with your host Dr Sheree Mack and special guest Sile Sibanda. Recorded back in February 2024, Dr Mack muses on how everything happens in good time. Editing this episode in June, Dr Mack realises she needed to listen to this episode again. To revisit and re-engage once more with what flowed throughout this conversation as the wisdom and insight were on point then as is now. In this episode you will listen to Dr Mack and Sile, radio presenter,  talking about: * The concept of time * Circular living with the seasons * The Rasheedah Phillips' reading mentioned * The Joy of Sharing Knowledge * Situating ourselves with artificial plants * Fitting in creativity around different jobs * Colouring in and play as a practice * BNIR programme with identity on tyne  * Connecting with nature as a child in Zimbabwe * Connecting with nature in the UK * Femininity and Nature * Belonging in Nature * Is the British countryside racist? * Not Black and White, either/ or but and/both * The BNIR Zine is here for free if you want it * Writing in Nature     Bio: Sile Sibanda is a Spoken Word Performer, BBC Radio Presenter, Events Host Creative Producer/facilitator and amateur dj. She has been involved in creative and community projects for over 12 years starting with a glee club at the age of 12 and speaking at the House of Lords. Recently, she hosted a conversation with former Sheffield Lord Mayor Magid Magid for the off the shelf Festival and Munroe Bergdorf for Shefest. Created a short film about belonging as part of the Migration Matters Festival. Sile became a creative producer for Storytrails, creating an immersive storytelling experience about untold stories of people living in Sheffield. Had a debut dj set at tramlines fringe and facilitates creative writing workshop for primary school and community groups.     Let’s connect   @silesibanda –  on all social media platforms   W silesibanda.com   For BBC content [email protected] Listen to my shows on BBC Sounds   Nominate the person in your community making a difference [bbc.co.uk/makeadifference]  

Welcome back. As promised, we're trying to keep The Earth Sea Love Podcast regular, every two weeks. So here we {BE}. Your host Dr Sheree Mack is super excited to be talking with Charlotte Holmes, who pregnant at the time, met Sheree through their work with the Race Equity Network within the National Trust and Black History Month 2023. Within this episode, Sheree and Charlotte enjoys a conversation around: * Sharing their happy news around pregnancy and motherhood * Situating themselves in places and home * Sharing who they {Be} and what they do * Connecting with nature and the land on their own terms * Education and career taking them away from their true selves * Exhaling within the kinship of Race Equity Network for the National Trust * Is the British countryside racist or not? * Witnessing People of the Global Majority taking up space in the countryside * Being visible enjoying nature *Accessing nature on our own terms with our ancestors * Museums and objects and changes   Bio: Charlotte Holmes, Curator and Assistant Director Engagement. Working part-time as Associate Director of Engagement for Birmingham Museums Trust and part-time Cultural  Heritage Curator at the National Trust. Charlotte's passion and professional goals centre on connecting people with their histories and equipping people with the skills they need to fulfil their potential. She has excellent communication and research skills, which have allowed her to lead practice in a range of heritage settings. Charlotte frequently speaks at professional conferences, and facilitate workshops and public events. She loves what she does, and brings both emotion and intellect to her work, which includes exhibition interpretation, public events, and workshop and meeting facilitation. LinkedIn Birmingham Museums

Hello and Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. It's been a hot minute since we've shared one of our awesome conversations. But we're back now with your host Dr. Sheree Mack, getting over the mental and emotional and psychological blocks she created herself around the podcast and YouTube to bring you the podcast in its original form. The voices of inspiring women, feminine and non-binary people who are Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour and their connection with Mother Nature.   In this episode, Sheree has a conversation with Juanita Valture, is a South African born, Bristol based Creative Studio Manager, amateur potter and volunteer hike leader. In this episode they all about: * Stepping away from employment to rest * Retreating from 'life' in order to find space and rest * Recognising that things need to change instead of staying in the same loop * Taking the leap and trusting that the universe will provide * Trusting and Intuition *Leaning into the belief in abundance rather than scarcity *Creativity and Sustainability and Regenerative  * Making small changes in our day to day lives * Creating a Race Equity Network within the National Trust  * Research into racism in rural settings could be retraumatising for volunteers * Rhiane Fatinikun MBE, Creator of Black Girls Hike UK * Diversifying Mountain Leadership within the UK * Rest is active * Mindful Pottery and moments within nature to {BE}   Bio: Juanita Valture is a South African born, Bristol based Creative Studio Manager, amateur potter and volunteer hike leader. Her love of the outdoors began from an early age, but her time working at the National Trust was where she discovered a profound connection with nature; and taking on the role as co-chair of the Race Equity Network allowed her to delve into the intersection of sustainability and creativity, advocating for inclusivity and representation in outdoor spaces. Recognising the disparities in access, safety and representation, particularly within Black spaces, Juanita has dedicated herself to fostering change by volunteering as a hike leader with Black Girls Hike, striving to create a safe space for Black women to connect and explore the beauty of nature. Juanita aims to become a qualified mountain leader to address the lack of representation in outdoor leadership, as currently there are only two Black female mountain leaders in the UK. Her hope is that this will pave the way for others and champion diversity in outdoor leadership.    LinkedIn  Black Girls Hike UK

Hello again and welcome to the Earth Sea Love Podcast. Episode 063 is a special episode being released in connection to the walkshops we completed in 2023 with a number of groups of the global majority with the help of funding from the Northumberland National Park Communities Fund.  Northumberland National Park Communities Fund was a grant scheme set up for communities within the North-East of England to create projects that supported and contributed to the National Parks remit of being designated for everyone. This grant helped us in supporting the Northumberland National Park's purpose of  becoming more welcoming to more and different people.   Within this episode, your host, Dr. Sheree Mack talks about: * her love affair with the concept of Palimpsest * the different definitions and meanings of the term Palimpsest * how the practice of Palimpsest turns up in her creative practice * how Palimpsest was used within walkshops in Northumberland National Park * what the participants of the walkshops have to say about their connection to nature.     Music within this episode is Melatonin Dub by Jangwa from Free Music Archive

Episode 062, ending season 5. This is a recent episode recorded by your host, Dr Sheree Mack while walking the North-East coast and taking you along with her. While filling her creative pot, Sheree shares the road ahead for the podcast with season 6 in 2024. As the Earth Sea Love Podcast diversifies its guests, while  partnering with identity on tyne with their Black Nature in Residence Programme 2:0, they also thought it might be a good idea to broaden the audience through a Youtube channel.  Here at Earth Sea Love CIC , they are just trying to tie everything in with the podcast, the zine, the website and the YouTube channel. Let's see how it goes but they're excited. In this episode, Sheree walks and talks about eating out there and giving herself the gift of time and space. Not working to any agenda and changing up perspectives so she can work within a system which is beneficial for her wholeness. 

Hello and Welcome back to a special episode of The Earth Sea Love Podcast. Your host, Dr. Sheree Mack, is recoding this episode out on location while walking The West Highland Way. A 96 mile hike from the lowlands to the highlands of Scotland, running through some of the most breathtaking, iconic and remote parts of Scotland, this is a life-changing long distance hike, which is Sheree's third attempt at completing.  During this episode, you'll hear Sheree talking through the wind and rain about: * the walk and the stages she's walking * what is happening with the podcast for the rest of the year * what is happening with the podcast in 2024 * what her dreams are concerning walking * what it's like to walk the way and what it means to Sheree * looking for diversity on the trails * collaborating with identity on tyne with their new project * the Black Nature in Residence programme   The call out details for the Black Nature in Residence programme which will see 5 creatives of the global majority in 5 Northern National Parks can be found here. The closing date for applications is 31st October 2023.  For images of the Way, please check out the Earth Sea Love website for this episode. 

Hello and Welcome Back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. Dr Sheree Mack, your host here.  I'll not lie. The promise I made at the beginning of 2023 of dropping at least one episode each month of the podcast was in the balance this month. July. A time I love to tie up loose end, retreat and rest. Call it the teacher in me, as I'm someone from time who loves to take the summer holidays off the clock. This year is no exception, except that I've just moved house and needed a rest more than ever. So this episode has been on the back burner. Knowing it's something I wanted to do, and promised to do, didn't help the process of getting it done. But finally it is here. I needed to get out of my head and just get into my body to produce it. I needed to get out of my way and just talk from the heart about my current learning. Permaculture Design. So I started a Permaculture Design Certificate course with Liz Postlethwaite this spring. It will take me a year to complete and along the way, I'm learning a lot of new things about regenerative systems and how to apply this to my practice and creative projects. I am just about getting into it now, after a slow, tentative, reluctant start as I discuss within this episode. I've been experiencing a fair about of conflict and tension about Permaculture and Permaculture Design basically because of its roots and their acknowledgment.  So within this beginning episode of a mini series around Permaculture Design, I discuss: * the difference between Permaculture and Permaculture Design * the purpose of Permaculture Design * the ethics and principles of Permaculture Design * the creation of the terms and concepts of Permaculture Design * the indigenous roots of Permaculture Design * the roots of my conflict and tensions with Permaculture Design * what to expect in the forthcoming episodes of the mini-series.    Keep an eye out on The Earth Sea Love Zine over on substack for more thinking and discussions around the issues raised and practices learnt throughout this mini series as well as the Permaculture Design Certificate course as a whole.   

Happy June Soon the Summer Solstice will be amongst us, here in the Northern Hemisphere, so let us take this moment from The Earth Sea Love Podcast to wish you LIGHT! And thank you for coming back for a listen to our next episode.  We are so proud that we are continuing to bring you, our listeners, beautiful and thought-provoking episodes which we hope inspire and support your healing and creative journeys.  This episode your host, Dr Sheree Mack is talking with Mindy Tsonas, a maker and creator of spaces where healing and radical change are welcome.  In this episode the conversation explores: * place in nature * {BEING} is a changing thing * the magic of seeds * how we must put ourselves in the way of belonging * how we all already belong * dismantling the stories that we don't belong * taking inspiration and wisdom from nature * our interconnectedness * self care is community care * radicale and radical - the root of it all * generative practices and systems * creativity and nature * co-creation and community * giving indigenous practices and wisdom their proper respect and recognition.    Bio: Mindy Tsonas is a maker, manyeo and cultural organizer who facilitates circles of creativity, collective belonging and care. She believes in using art and alchemy as mediums for generative connection, somatic healing and radical change. As a transracial, transnational adopted person from the South Korean diaspora, this deeply informs her embodied perspective on land and lineage throughout all of her work and organizing. Links: Mindy's Website: witchcraftivism.com Instagram: @mindytsonaschoi Patreon: Community, Art and practices https://www.patreon.com/mindytsonaschoi Substack: Writing & Stories https://mindytsonaschoi.substack.com/ (should be up by the time this airs) Collective Belonging: @collectivebelonging  collectivebelonging.com  

Hey there! Hope you are well and welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. We’re so happy that you’ve decided to spend some time with us again. We’re so happy to welcome back to the podcast, Catherine Lucktaylor. Catherine was a guest back in December 2020 in episode 20, when she talked about her ceramics practice, Raku ceramics and being inspired by the wild Cornish coast. In this episode Catherine is talking with your host, Dr Sheree Mack about: * Being inspired by the sea within our art practice * Appreciating nature and the wild Cornish landscape * The project that came out of the Developing Your Creative Practice grant * A new body of work - Mothers of the Moon* A local exhibition with grief ritual ceremony, Newlands Art Gallery * Ancestral Healing of the Self * Claiming Space within the Landscape * Adinkra symbols wisdom and energies * Becoming an Ancestral Practitioner * Listening to the ancestors and what that can mean and look like * Working within the community with the youth * Future Offerings from Catherine   Bio: Catherine Lucktaylor is an artist and healer based in west Cornwall, UK. She has over 30 years’ experience in art and spiritual practices. She specialises in Raku fired ceramics and creates sacred spaces for ritual and healing. Catherine incorporates her Ghanaian/West African and British/Celtic heritage within her work, combined with her love of nature and connection with nature spirits. Catherine is currently training as an Ancestral Healing Practitioner with Daniel Foor and Ancestral Medicine and will be offering Ancestral Healing sessions soon. You can sign up to the waitlist here: https://mailchi.mp/71177b699ffd/sankofaprintable and receive a beautiful Adinkra Symbol colouring page as a welcome gift.  Find out more about Catherine’s Raku ceramics on her website www.lucktaylorceramics.co.uk   Here's a link to Ancestral Medicine website: https://ancestralmedicine.org Here’s a link to Kesoberi CIC: https://www.kesobericic.org www.lucktaylorceramics.co.uk Facebook: @lucktaylorceramics Instagram: @lucktaylorceramics

May is here and full of the joys of Spring. Here at The Earth Sea Love Podcast, we're full of joy to bring you this conversation with the wonderful Lateisha Davine Lovelace-Hanson.  Lateisha is a Black queer feminist interdisciplinary artist and social-justice practitioner/community-healing organiser of Jamaican heritage based in London.  Within this episode with your host Dr. Sheree Mack, Lateisha talks about: * focusing on how we feel instead of what we want * water connections and healings * community land trusts  * listening and asking questions * who do you be instead of what do you do? * creating healing spaces for community * having the purpose of staying alive * trauma living in the body  * being in right relationship with ourselves and nature * revolution and liberation = community * rest and safety * grieving and nature * our ancestors' relationships to water and the land and recognising  * making spaces for joy and play in nature * how we repair and heal what colonialism has done and been doing * bringing our words into the word takes time and creative fugitivity * doing the work to unshame self * burn out can teach us many things * "we're gonna be alright!" x   Bio: Lateisha Davine Lovelace-Hanson is a Black queer feminist interdisciplinary artist and social-justice practitioner/community-healing organiser of Jamaican heritage based in London. Their writing, art-making, facilitation, consultancy and nature-work practices are tools to creatively embody knowledges that interrupt ongoing systems of colonial-imperial oppression(s), in order to activate spaces for deep healing. In their practice they meditate + dream upon what it means to be well? To connect, belong and love freely.  Their transformative lived experiences of gender, race, class, survivorship, neurodivergence and illness inform their offerings and approaches - being drawn to the revolutionary possibilities of sci-fi / eco-futurism, magic + ritual + ceremony and communal gathering-archiving as ancestral pathways and political strategies to reimagine resistance and remember revolutionary possibilities for the new world in creation.  Lateisha is currently working on their debut poetry pamphlet, ~the heart is a holding~  supported by Rotterdam residences: International Collaborative Urban art projects  / Foundation B.a.d and published by Burning Eye Books Autumn 2023. They are also developing their interdisciplinary performance - installation work s/he breathe/s,  supported by Raze Collective, Stanley Arts and Arts Council England showing in Summer 2023. You can also visit their current work Meeting At The Altar Of Us, a collaborative text and sound work offering as part of Bloom Collective's contributions to Meera Shakti Osborne's department of Unruly histories archive and exhibition at Cubitt in spring 2023.  Previous work includes An Offering // an installation of a world-building, to come- back to home…  weaving poetry-film, sound, documentary, text, and plant medicine portals. Commissioned residency and exhibition by Bethlem Gallery: An Ecology Of Mind (2022). Lateisha has written extensively through residencies and commissions, including  Camden Art Centre: The Botanical Mind, Wretched Of The Earth (BIPOC climate justice collective), [Performance space]: PSX 10, Live Art Development Agency, Artsadmin: Apocalypse Reading Room curated by Ama Josephine Budge, Chelsea Physic Garden: Queer Botany, Apples & Snakes, She Grrrowls, Dada Fest / Yewande 103 and is a Roundhouse and Hammer & Tongue Poetry Slam Finalist.  Lateisha facilitates community-healing workshops and activity-based immersive installations across art, education and community spaces. Including, Queer Youth Art Collective, Healing Justice Ldn and Colours LGBTIQIA+ youth arts as well as institutions incl. Migration museum, Barbican and Autograph. They founded TO THE RITUAL KNOWLEDGE OF REMEMBERING - that took shape as an immersive 3 day coastal retreat supported by LADA, and online public-programme as part of 12o collective’s curator residency (2020-2021). You can connect with Lateisha here @lateisha_davine or pop down to Hackney City Farm where they are training as a Beekeeper 🐝 ---    

Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. We're very happy to share with you our first conversation episode of 2023. Your host, Dr. Sheree Mack is talking to Anatalia Vallez. Anatalia is  a writer, actor, and creative alchemist from California, United States with roots in Guerrero, Mexico. Addressing everything from migration, machismo and our relationship to nature, she seeks to find intimate truths and plant seeds through art.   In this episode they talk about: * Gratitude * When Sheree and Anatalia first met * Where Anatalia is calling in from * What is Anatalia's relationship with nature * What does Anatalia do? Who do she be? * The art making process * The Most Spectacular Mistake, Anatalia's writing * What it was like to release a collection of poetry during a pandemic *The benefits of listening * Remembering our ancestors * Belonging to nature * Homies who submit - writing and publishing   Bio: Anatalia Vallez is a writer, actor, and creative alchemist from California, United States with roots in Guerrero, Mexico. Addressing everything from migration, machismo and our relationship to nature, she seeks to find intimate truths and plant seeds through art.   She is the author of the poetry collection: The Most Spectacular Mistake (FlowerSong Press, 2020) which has been featured in the LA Times, LibroMobile and KPFK Radio’s Nuestra Voz. Currently completing her MFA in Television, Film and Theatre at Cal State Los Angeles this Spring, she's also working on a second collection of poetry and curating a virtual BIPOC-centered community called Homies Who Submit. Subscribe to Anatalia's newsletter:  Substack newsletter Purchase a signed copy of The Most Spectacular Mistake Follow Homies Who Submit on Instagram and Twitter  Support Anatalia on Patreon or Ko-Fi 

March and another solo episode from your host of The Earth Sea Love Podcast, Dr. Sheree Mack. Sheree continues to share her healing journey with you as she reflects on the time past already in 2023, and what to expect in the coming months with guest conversations on the podcast. In this solo episode, Sheree talks about: * Holding herself accountable and showing up * One foot in Winter/ one foot in Spring * Procrastination - and healing or not! * Taking the time for consolidation of new learning * Listening * Recent outside gigs and commitments * Unburying the MIxmoir * Accepting was is her task and what is not her task * The episodes to come for Spring    

You have just joined another solo episode with the host of The Earth Sea Love Podcast, Dr. Sheree Mack as she takes the time and energy to share with you her healing journey of 2023, so far!   This episode starts with another quote from Alex Elle, which states,   "We heal to make space, to redefine ourselves and our narratives. To expand and become better. To forgive, create new possibilities, and move forward. To build community and create bonds. We heal to release shame, manifest self-love, create autonomy, and begin again. We heal to redefine ourselves, face our fears, and develop self-trust. We heal to mend relationships and deepen connections with those around is. We heal to get free. " Alex Elle, How We Heal: Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free ( 2022, p.12)   Following this quote, Sheree shares about her issue around considering herself 'enough' and then continues to share her 10 reasons for wanting to heal, taken from Elle's book. Here are the sentence starters as mentioned in this episode which also appear in Alex Elle's book and can be used by you to think about what you need to heal also. Ten Reasons Why I Heal ( p.18 of How We Heal)   I am healing because I want ... I am healing because I need ... I am healing because I deserve ... I am healing because I feel ... I am healing because I see ... I am healing because I love ... I am healing because I my ... I am healing because I am ... I am healing because I can ... I am healing because I choose ...

You have just joined another solo episode with the host of The Earth Sea Love Podcast, Dr. Sheree Mack as she takes the time and energy to share with you her healing journey of 2023, so far!   This episode starts with a quote from Alex Elle, which states,     " give yourself permission to mend slowly, and sweetly, and in due time. there's no need to rush your healing, there's no need to "get over it" today - or even tomorrow. let your process lead you. make space for your grief to teach you something."   Sheree follows up this quote from Alex Ella with a discussion around: * We all need to heal * Getting her fur fix on through dog sitting * Sharing another practice of her healing process - oracle cards * The Earthcraft Oracle by Juliet Diaz and Lorriane Anderson and illustrated by Danielle Boodoo-Fortune * Pulling number 13 - Inner Healer card * Choosing to take trauma and transforming it into medicine * Shining light and confronting pain

Welcome back to another episode from your host Dr. Sheree Mack, where she is sharing her healing journey for 2023. In this episode, Sheree starts with a poem. 'When George Met Anita, Bradford 1968.' Taken from Sheree's first full collection of poetry titled, Family Album, 2011, Flambard Press, Sheree shares this poem to shed light on the love she witnessed between her mum and dad while growing up. Also in this episode, Sheree talks about: * The love between soulmates * The love of a good woman can save a life * The story of her marriage breakdown * The grieving to healing journey * The expectations of marriage * Committing to spending time alone to heal * The power of love as a healing resource * As a Blackwoman in white supremacy culture * Listening to the podcast,  Soft Where? by Ayana Zaire Cotton * To be in relationship with love and care * Testing the healing process.   " We are all worthy go love, we are all worthy of care, we are all worthy of possibilities." Ayana Zaire Cotton

It’s all about healing Welcome back to another episode from the mini series with your host of The Earth Sea Love Podcast, Dr. Sheree Mack. In this episode she explores the practice of healing and how difficult it can be.   Talking about: * We are all connected so our healing is connected. * To heal, where do you start? * Paralysed with fear therefore doing nothing * Healing isn’t linear, it’s a life-long practice * Centring joy in the healing journey * Retraumatising self on this healing journey * More supportive practices for the healing journey. * What happens in times of uncertainty? * Anchors used through these times of uncertainty * Leaning into my breath in the moments of rest * Insight Timer - Building Healthy Habits Challenge 2023

Season 5 - Episode 050 - Welcome to The Earth Sea Love Podcast of 2023. Thank you for being here. Thank you for sticking with us.  In this solo episode, part of a mini series around healing, your host, Dr. Sheree Mack talks openly and honestly about: * The projections for 2023 for the podcast after a moment of hiatus * Our perceptions of time * Energy cycles that ebb and flow * A commitment to release an episode for the the podcast each month * Marking my healing journey of 2023 and what looks like * The Matriarch of Healing in my Lineage, taken from Alex Elle * Ancestral healing backwards and forwards * Practices that are supporting this healing journey * The Earth Sea Love Zine on Substack. 

Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. It brings us great joy to share with you our next episode with the wise and wonderful Jackee Holder.  Jackee was a guest on the podcast back in Season 2, with a two parts series of conversations with her around trees, journaling and claiming space outside.  We had to ask her back this year because there has been so many changes in her life since. In this episode with your host Dr. Sheree Mack, Jackee talks about: * Moving to a new home * Rooting into place * Having to let go * Going through changes like nature * Learning to land where you land * The Willow Tree * Co-writing spaces * The power of women creating together in community * Rewinding with trees, writing maps * A reciprocal relationship with nature    Bio from website: Jackee is an executive leadership coach and coach trainer working across a range of sectors (further education, NHS, higher education, media, public sectors and cultural and creative industries). Her creative and intuitive approach brings learning and training alive whilst offering skilful facilitation and embodiment of coaching and personal development in real and practical ways. Jackee loves writing and is the author of ‘Soul Purpose’, ‘Be Your Best Life Coach’ and ‘49 Ways To Write Yourself Well’ (2013) and has been a contributing writer to several books and articles. Her work has been featured in Psychologies and Red Magazines and she was part of the successful Twinings Tea Take Ten campaign (2011) in partnership with Red and Psychologies magazines. Jackee writes almost everyday and is a prolific journal writer. When Jackee is not delivering coaching in businesses or organisations she’s busy running courses and retreats and writing e-books for writers and creative entrepreneurs. She supports writers of all levels in one to one coaching and mentoring. Jackee’s skill as a conference host and workshop facilitator has taken her across the globe. She’s delivered workshops and retreats in several US locations and the Caribbean. She recently co-chaired the Spirit Of Coaching conference featuring Sir John Whitmore at the Brahma Kumaris in London and can be booked as a facilitative host or keynote speaker for your events, conferences and seminars. On Jackee's website you'll be able to find a lot of free resources to support your journaling practice.  Jackee can also be found on Instagram, where you'll able to get in touch with her to find out more about her new deck of Inner and Outer Self-discovery cards.  

To mark the 2nd anniversary of The Earth Sea Love Podcast, we are bringing you two special episodes.    The second episode is with the lovely and wise, Dr. Geeta Ludhra. Geeta, a  Lecturer in Education at Brunel University, talks about the walking group she set up after recently moving to The Chilterns, Dadima. In this episode we also talk about: *  the privilege of living in a certain place * the meaning of the name 'Dadima' * the grandmother figure and wisdom within diverse cultures * an embodied connection with nature * being a seeker of knowledge, culture and connection * the diversity of nature connections and amplifying these stories * walking, self-care and nature * nature and creativity * the trauma baton and choosing joy * the privilege of serving community * future plans and dreams.   Bio: DR GEETA LUDHRA (A British-born South Asian woman, of Hindu religious background. She/her) Dr Geeta Ludhra lives in the Chilterns, after living in Slough, Hounslow and Nottinghamshire. She was raised within humble circumstances, as the daughter of first-generation South Asian parents who settled from India in the early 60s. Geeta’s heritage, education journey and research interests bring a unique lens as a Board Member of the Chilterns Area of Natural Beauty. Geeta is passionately committed to diversity and representation in relation to natural landscapes as inclusive green spaces for all. Geeta works as a Lecturer in Education at Brunel University, where she teaches across Postgraduate programmes and engages in academic research. She is currently researching her book on ‘successful’ South Asian women. Her background is rooted in primary school teaching and leadership, where she has worked across diverse London schools, specialising in English. Her working interests touch on women’s studies, social inclusion in education, anti-racism, and respectful ways of working with more ‘hard-to-reach’ communities. As part of her community interests, Geeta runs a registered community enterprise, where she promotes intergenerational heritage cooking and storytelling, monthly nature walks and leads a women’s writing group.   Instagram: @_dadimas  Twitter: @educatinggeeta  

To mark the 2nd anniversary of The Earth Sea Love Podcast, we are bringing you two special episodes.    The first episode, 047: 'Nothing On Your Back': Freedom, Spirituality and Creativity with Marcia Ley, is such a juicy, fulfilling listen. Marcia Ley, an Artist, Cyclist, lover of nature, based in the North-East of England, shares how she is inspired by nature in her attempt to bring this awesomeness into her practice. A painter and printmaker, and a sticker, Marcia uses her artwork to say thank you to Mother Nature. In this episode, we talk about her practice, her Christianity, a Christian green movement, getting outdoors alone as well as with a group of women cycling. Outdoors can be Marcia's sanctuary, inspiration, wonder and joy. Take a listen to this episode and be inspired yourself as nature get's her own back in so many wonderful and awesome ways. Thanks for listening and enjoy.    Bio: Marcia Ley is an Artist , Cyclist , lover of nature , van lady, person of faith , collector  and walker. My work responds to all of these elements. I feel deeply connected to the natural world and I’m passionate about improving our care for it. I work in the medium of printmaking, painting and collage. My  home workshop Garden Press is a space for my personal practice ,small group and one to one tuition . Website: Marcia Ley   Instagram: @marcia.ley and @garden_press 

Season 4 is here. Episode 046 Welcome to The Earth Sea Love Podcast at our new home here @Podbean. We're bringing a mini series of solo episodes from your host, Dr. Sheree Mack as she attempts to bring you up to speed with what's been happening behind the scenes during the hiatus/ winter break.  We hope you enjoy listening. 

Season 4 is here.  Episode 045. Welcome to The Earth Sea Love Podcast at our new home here @Podbean. We're bringing a mini series of solo episodes from your host, Dr. Sheree Mack as she attempts to bring you up to speed with what's been happening behind the scenes during the hiatus/ winter break.  We hope you enjoy listening. 

The Earth Sea Love Podcast is proud to bring you the final episode in the mini series of specially commissioned episodes in conversation with people who are at the forefront of climate justice, decolonising education and writing for healing when we as black and brown bodies carry trauma and grief as well as joy. This episode, with your host Sheree Mack, is with the delightful Jordan Mullard a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Anthropology at Durham University. In this episode they talk about: Getting out into nature Living and working in the Durham bubble Seasonally diverse spaces and places Creating a sense of belonging Connecting with other women of colour Decolonising anthropology Collective decolonisation  Making known 'the other' Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) research Getting lost in the archives Childhood experience in nature Wild swimming Stereotypes around Black people and water Being in a mixed race body in society The love of horses Charity work while doing what you love   Bio:   Dr Jordan Mullard (she/her) is a social anthropologist specialising in the anthropology of race, caste, health inequality, and identity. The current lead for decolonising anthropology in her department, she has written on the subject, offered consultancy on decolonising and anti-racism to a range of stakeholders, and has developed a new module on decolonising anthropology in her department. Her PhD awarded by the London School of Economics explored social mobility and identity-making among Dalits in rural India during a period of economic crisis. In addition to her academic research and teaching experience, Jordan has had an applied consultancy career in anti-racism, race equality, and Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) learning, development and policy where she co-designed and led large scale race equality, cross-cultural knowledge, and EDI consultancy projects across private, public and not-for-profit sectors both nationally and internationally. She has also worked as a consultant for Black-Led community development initiatives and health and social care research at the local level. Teaching Fellow in Anthropology of Health   Twitter: @JordanMullard Linked In: Jordan-m-2hb8ab85   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome back to another wonderful episode from The Earth Sea Love Podcast. With Dalbinder Kular, an imagineer and ancestral transcriber, this is another specially commissioned episode in collaboration with Northumberland National Park's Future Landscapes Festival. In this episode we‘ll be talking about how Dal is decolonising writing for healing. How Dal has created spaces where transformation is possible through language and creativity. Through exploring identity, race, memories, trauma and nature, with creative and life-based writing arts ~ poetry therapy, journaling, writing,  zine-making, Dal  is a powerful and creative. force in supporting herself and other women of colour to use their voice to take up space here, there and everywhere. Speaking with our podcast host, Sheree Mack, Dal talks about: Holding space for others Living in Sheffield Our True Nature and Field Notes  Wild Ink, the MSc. Dissertation Who Dal be? What Dal does? Grief after the loss of a mother Zine making Creative identity and wildness Changing Forms of writing inspired by Glue by Louise Wallwein The creative process Telling multilayered, complex stories The Partition of 1947 creating India and Pakistan In residence on Bardsey, the island of 20000 souls Map making to locate the Self COP26 Coalition Speaking up for Nature Childhood and Nature The forthcoming Intrinsic anthology of writing  Bio:  Dalbinder Kular Writer & Facilitator | Creative Writing for Healing. Dal is a writer, educator and mentor specialising in creative and life-based writing arts and on a mission to ignite imaginations and decolonise the writing-for-healing arts. From leaving school at 16 years old with 3 O-levels, to severe burnout, grief and loss Dal has used the power of words to write herself back home and transform her life. She loves to share everything she has learned with others. Dal is British Punjabi/Sikh heritage, born and based in Sheffield, UK – on the edge of the glorious Peak District where she’s often found walking, having a cuppa and writing in her tiny camper, Muddy.     Website : Dal Kular  - where you can sign up for the really useful  ‘Field Notes’ community newsletter. Instagram: dalkular Twitter: dalkular1 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today we're really excited to bring you an episode with Claire Ratinon, commissioned in conjunction with Northumberland National Park Authority's Future Landscapes Festival.  Your host, Dr. Sheree Mack, really enjoyed finally getting to talk with Claire after following her work around organic gardening and decolonising horticulture for a while now. In this episode, they talk about: Situating ourselves in the country Chickens and ruffled feathers! Change of career direction Getting closer to nature Black and brown people growing food and plants Finding our way back to the earth Decolonizing horticulture Thinking about the term 'decolonisation' and it's uses Colonisation is still happening  The history of plants have to be addressed Working with institutions to being about change Power Childhood and upbringing  The food system is broken but can be fixed The writing process Exclusive information about Claire's future endeavours! Writing our stories is necessary Checking our privileges  Bio:   Claire Ratinon is an organic food grower and writer based in East Sussex. She has worked in a range of roles from growing produce for the Ottolenghi restaurant, Rovi to delivering growing workshops and talks to audiences including East London primary schools, community centres and educational institutions - both in person and online. Claire is passionate about the act of growing plants - especially edible ones - and the potential for it to be nourishing, connecting and healing. Her work seeks to engage in dialogues that interrogate the colonial legacy that is embedded in the practices of horticulture and agriculture. The stories we’ve been told and language that is used around these practices influences who feels able to do the work of growing plants which is why reclaiming a relationship to land is a radical and revolutionary act for many people of colour.   Bio Claire Ratinon is an organic food grower and writer based in East Sussex. Claire has grown edible plants in a variety of roles from growing organic vegetables for the Ottolenghi restaurant, Rovi to delivering growing workshops throughout London to audiences including primary schools, community centres and corporate clients. She has been invited to share her growing journey and experiences in talks and workshops for organisations including The Garden Museum, the Royal College of Art and West Dean College as well as having presented features for Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time. Her writing has been featured in The New Statesman, Bloom Magazine and Waitrose Magazine. She co-wrote a pamphlet entitled ‘Horticultural Appropriation’ for Rough Trade with artist, Sam Ayre and her first book, ‘How To Grow Your Dinner Without Leaving The House’ is out now.   Website: https://www.claireratinon.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claireratinon/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome back to another episode of The Earth Sea Love Podcast. During Season 3, we are producing a number of mini series focusing on specific issues. In this episode with the lovely Kwesia Smith-Gul, known usually as City Girl in Nature, and your host Sheree Mack will be talking about:  Catching up and checking in Name change for the future The recent trip to Kenya The return and a changed outlook on nature Swimcaps for Black people Going back to our roots, Africa Just picking one thing to focus on in this climate crisis The Quest of City Girl in Nature The Outdoor Online Series of Films Helping people through being an example to follow Volunteering to up skill Black Girls Hike UK COP26 happenings.   Bio: Kwesia X Kwesia grew up in Deptford, an inner city area of South-East London. Along with many of her friends, neighbours and peers, who all experienced a great deal of the challenges that come with living in an area, and with people, who have often been neglected, excluded and marginalised. She struggled a great deal with making sense of senseless violence and trauma, she had faced, she found herself homeless, moving from sofa to sofa, and struggling with her mental health and well-being. Her life was chaotic, often harsh, without meaning or any sense of direction or purpose. At her lowest, she received what could be regarded as a gift and a blessing. An opportunity to be part of a British Exploring Society’s expedition to the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. She spent 3 weeks in a remote part of the jungle, with no phone or contact with the outside world, & with a group of people that she barely knew. This, in many ways, was a life-changing experience for her. She experienced the beauty of nature, where there was no judgement, just life teaming with energy and opportunity. And bonds of friendship and loyalty with strangers who had to discover ways to live and work together in order to be successful. On her return she started to think about connecting with other people, particularly with young people like herself, some of whom have never had the opportunity to experience anything other than poverty and hardship. She wanted to explore if a connection with nature, could touch them in a similar way that it had with herself. This led to the start of City Girl in Nature, as a way to give back to her community. To share her love and passion for the outdoors, and belief that everybody should have the chance to be healed, to be nourished, and to life with abundance. Please do join her on my journey and keep up-to date with progress. Twitter: City Girl in Nature IG: City Girl in Nature New Outdoors Online Series   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. We are excited to bring you another mini series of specially commissioned episodes which explore climate justice and decolonisation of the environmental and conservation movement. Created and specially commissioned in collaboration with Northumberland National Park Authority's Future Landscapes Festival, which focuses on ‘Nature, People, Climate, Place’, explores how England’s precious landscapes serve people, nature, industry, and climate. It will include an exhibition, and a series of thought-provoking discussions and experiences designed to prompt people to think about the role landscape plays in their lives, and what they want the landscape in Northumberland National Park to look like in the future. With our podcast episodes, we aim to bring diverse and critical voices to the table of discussions an decision making. In this episode, hosted by Dr Sheree Mack in conversation with Shaira Begum, they discuss: Going at a slower pace Job hunting and finding the dream job Rest and recovery Looking to serve the community on our doorsteps Local renters' unions Community work/ community organising  Power dynamic/ distribution mapping Reconnecting with the older generation Sharing knowledge and power Social Justice COP26/ COP26 Coalition Taking positive action for change Telling the stories of Indigenous People Global Day of Action, Saturday 6 November 2021 Centring the voices of the Global South Climate Reframe COP26 Reparations      Share Begum Bio: Shaira is an environmental justice organizer, working on health and climate projects with over 10 years experience as an environmental educator, trainer and facilitator. Keen to live somewhere in the countryside one day with her own chickens, market garden , a fat poly tunnel and goats... Dreaming big! Shaira was born in Brick Lane and still lives there , grateful for her educators and  elders around who have always shown her the benefits of growing her own produce from her own motherlands, the food that they grew up on. Shaira has a background in training and facilitation with community groups, runs food growing and nature connection workshops, naturally runs inclusive participatory ways of working within community care context and bringing lived experience to the forefront. Connect  with Shairavia twitter -   @Shairaecostuff See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is the third and final episode of three where your host Dr. Sheree Mack is in conversation with Velda Thomas about her recent publication Blended - Perspectives on Belonging: A Participatory Notebook.  In these special commissioned episodes Sheree and Velda talk books, writing and the creative process, while Velda reads extracts from Blended which they go on to explore with close readings for meaning and healing. In this episode while exploring the piece called 'Mammy part 3 and 4' they talk about: Manny Part 3 and 4 Writing the difficult parts Where is Mammy in Velda today? Ellibert - connection to Great Grandmother Contrast between wild and domesticated selves Healing through nature Earthbound - a comfort and connectedness with the Earth Communion with Earth Gender fluidity -The Mammy within everybody Freedom is possible We’re all connected to each other as humans Witness hatred- Unseen wounds Healing too here belongs We need to do the work with self-love Black culture flourished Celebration Ritual as a concept and a practice Bio:  Velda Thomas  Born and educated in England, UK with biracial family ancestry sourced from Africa, the Caribbean and the America's.   Healing modalities have always been of interest. Love of plants, herbal remedies, somatic and ritual experiences weave passion with grounded human experience for creativity and freedom of expression. Velda has worked as a kindergarten teacher, adult educator and birth doula. Currently a practicing massage therapist, sound practitioner and soul writer. Velda is a horsewoman, nature lover,  mover of the body and world traveler. Currently living in Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula, USA.   A note from Velda. I feel that I am truly an incredibly blessed person to have been born at a time where it is possible for me to uncover more of who I truly am and manifest it as I feel it coming through me. I am birthing myself again and again, then putting parts to rest, peeling the fine layers away, letting go again and again. I continue to find more stillness, strength and clarity as I continue to walk my soul’s path and purpose. I am blessed with courage and the consciousness to face myself. If I am fortunate, I am left with something to share be it art, sound, support, presence, performance or simply the primal essence of my own human nature. I am honored to share what is here, right now, with you in this moment.   Patreon   FB Velda Thomas IG @veldathomas11 www.veldathomas.com   Blended - Perspectives on Belonging: A Participatory Notebook.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is the second of three episodes where your host Dr. Sheree Mack is in conversation with Velda Thomas about her recent publication Blended - Perspectives on Belonging: A Participatory Notebook.  In these special commissioned episodes Sheree and Velda talk books, writing and the creative process, while Velda reads extracts from Blended which they go on to explore with close readings for meaning and healing. In this episode while exploring the piece called 'Mammy 1 and 2' they talk about: A reading of Mammy Part 1 and Part 2 The stereotypical exploration of the term Mammy How naming is power The Body and Unresolved Trauma How we stuff our emotions down Enslavement and trauma The Process of Writing Multifaceted lives of the enslaved The Master and the Mistress of the Plantation How do we become more human? Reflective questions of the text Black Writing Joy Our Healing Journey   Bio:  Velda Thomas  Born and educated in England, UK with biracial family ancestry sourced from Africa, the Caribbean and the America's.   Healing modalities have always been of interest. Love of plants, herbal remedies, somatic and ritual experiences weave passion with grounded human experience for creativity and freedom of expression. Velda has worked as a kindergarten teacher, adult educator and birth doula. Currently a practicing massage therapist, sound practitioner and soul writer. Velda is a horsewoman, nature lover,  mover of the body and world traveler. Currently living in Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula, USA.   A note from Velda. I feel that I am truly an incredibly blessed person to have been born at a time where it is possible for me to uncover more of who I truly am and manifest it as I feel it coming through me. I am birthing myself again and again, then putting parts to rest, peeling the fine layers away, letting go again and again. I continue to find more stillness, strength and clarity as I continue to walk my soul’s path and purpose. I am blessed with courage and the consciousness to face myself. If I am fortunate, I am left with something to share be it art, sound, support, presence, performance or simply the primal essence of my own human nature. I am honored to share what is here, right now, with you in this moment.   Patreon   FB Velda Thomas IG @veldathomas11 www.veldathomas.com   Blended - Perspectives on Belonging: A Participatory Notebook.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is the first of three episodes where your host Dr. Sheree Mack is in conversation with Velda Thomas about her recent publication Blended - Perspectives on Belonging: A Participatory Notebook.  In these special commissioned episodes Sheree and Velda talk books, writing and the creative process, while Velda reads extracts from Blended which they go on to explore with close readings for meaning and healing. In this episode while exploring the piece called 'In Service' they talk about:  The Launch of the pre-sales of the book Blended The sense of achievement  Writing as a Black women and becoming visible Writing = Vulnerability Falling in love with the muse Attention to detail in the writing and editing process The Creative Process Mixing genres for expression Working through trauma with writing for the Self Velda reading the piece, 'In Service' Centre self and not the other The Nap Ministry  Asking for help/ therapy Nature as a healer EMDR Eye Movement Therapy   Bio:  Velda Thomas  Born and educated in England, UK with biracial family ancestry sourced from Africa, the Caribbean and the America's.   Healing modalities have always been of interest. Love of plants, herbal remedies, somatic and ritual experiences weave passion with grounded human experience for creativity and freedom of expression. Velda has worked as a kindergarten teacher, adult educator and birth doula. Currently a practicing massage therapist, sound practitioner and soul writer. Velda is a horsewoman, nature lover,  mover of the body and world traveler. Currently living in Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula, USA.   A note from Velda. I feel that I am truly an incredibly blessed person to have been born at a time where it is possible for me to uncover more of who I truly am and manifest it as I feel it coming through me. I am birthing myself again and again, then putting parts to rest, peeling the fine layers away, letting go again and again. I continue to find more stillness, strength and clarity as I continue to walk my soul’s path and purpose. I am blessed with courage and the consciousness to face myself. If I am fortunate, I am left with something to share be it art, sound, support, presence, performance or simply the primal essence of my own human nature. I am honored to share what is here, right now, with you in this moment.   Patreon   FB Velda Thomas IG @veldathomas11 www.veldathomas.com   Blended - Perspectives on Belonging: A Participatory Notebook.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Season 3, begins with a trailer, highlighting what's in store for the rest of 2021.Mini Creative Series with Velda Thomas where we discuss her forthcoming publication; Blended - Perspectives On Belonging- A Participatory Notebook Mini Conservation Series with a selection of individuals who are working to change the face of the environmental movement in the U.K. Dr. Sheree Mack's Northumberland Coastal Path adventures The Earth Sea Love Zine See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Sheree Mack keeps her promise to deliver all of the recorded conversations so far for 2021 before the end of July, so she can go off for a well deserved rest. To see the season out she talks to Pammy Johal, an active outdoor practitioner about:   Situating ourselves in the landscape Family history and the sense of home Having those important conversations outside Body connection Ageing gracefully The Fannichs ( Mountains) and Loch Luichate Connecting with the mountains Backbone CIC People of the Global Majority and terminology Great days out in the Highlands of Scotland Relationship based connections Backbone Symposium Less Conversations More Action Repetitive Research Syndrome   Bio:  Pammy Johal, born in the 60’s in inner city Coventry to a Sikh immigrant family, at  16, a school trip introduced her to the mountains where she experienced the 'WOW' moment that changed her life. A force much bigger than her took her to explore wild landscapes of the world! Not something her parents or community were keen on. “It’s not what our girls do!.. what will everyone say??!!” Her drive was so strong she did it anyway at the risk of totally losing her world. She encountered many complex and painful challenges with people of all backgrounds including her own family/community. Through these emotional and physical challenges, she discovered her own core values. This was a journey of self-discovery, understanding and respecting differences and a passion for environmental protection. She has been an outdoor/environmental practioner since 1979 and in 1995 it struck her hard as she noticed the lack of Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic role models in the sector, at every level, from service users to Board level and felt very strongly this had to change. In 1995 she laid the foundation for what is now Backbone. Website: Backbone CIC Twitter: Backbone CIC Instagram: Backbone CIC Facebook: Backbone CIC   Information about the June Symposium, Changing Landscapes - Actioning Change, can be found here.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Grace Hull, from Green Soul Grace, is a wise and wonderful young woman who is working to bring an intersectional understanding to sustainability. Within this episode, with your host Sheree Mack, they discuss: Social Media pressure and hiatus Imposter syndrome Re-engaging with blogging rather than social media posting Within the process of moving Coming out of lockdown The beauty of Slow What is sustainability? What is holistic sustainability? Individual responsibility within climate crisis Joining the dots to lean into climate justice Joy and pleasure and spreading them around The narrative of struggle and pain Being a keynote speaker Green Soul Grace   Bio: Grace Hull is an environmental educator who created Green Soul Grace, a personal blog, shop and podcast to explore what conscious living really means, in the most holistic, inclusive and accessible way. She takes pleasure in encouraging and facilitating folks to begin or further their journey of holistic sustainability, and in celebrating how our cultural heritage shapes our sustainable practices.'       Website: https://greensoulgrace.org/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greensoulgrace/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zakiya McKenzie, one of the first writers in the forest for the Forestry Commission, talks with Sheree Mack, The Earth Sea Love Podcast's host about: Embracing sweet moments in each day The value of sleep Becoming a writer of the forest The barriers for Black and People of Colour within white establishments  An arboretum, a collection of trees  Unravelling plant history Colonialism Comparisons between Jamaican and British landscapes Forest ecologies Childhood experiences with nature Black and Green Bristol Experiences in nature for Black people Working in partnership with other organisations to provide opportunities PhD in Journalists from the Caribbean during the Windrush generation Racism within the PhD system The balance between creative and academic writing Future publications and events Bio: Zakiya McKenzie is a PhD candidate with the Leverhulme Trust-supported Caribbean Literary Heritage project at the University of Exeter researching Black British journalism in the post-war period. Zakiya is a writer and storyteller and was the 2019 writer-in-residence for Forestry England during its centenary year. In Bristol, she was 2017 Black and Green Ambassador and is a volunteer at Ujima Community Radio station. She regularly leads nature, art and writing workshops, including one on Caribbean storytelling for primary schools. Her work has featured at the Cabot Institute for the Environment at the University of Bristol, the Institute for Modern Languages Research at the University of London, the Hepworth Wakefield Gallery, the Free Word Centre, at Cheltenham Literature Festival, on BBC’s Woman’s Hour, Farming Today and Inside Out West. She has written for Smallwoods Magazine, the Willowherb Review and BBC Wildlife Magazine.   Website - Zakiya M Twitter - Zah - KEY- yah TESTIMONIES ON THE HISTORY OF JAMAICA VOL 1 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sheree Mack chats with Tammy Shakur in this episode about: The promise of Spring and shifting energy Taking things slow A year on from Covid-19 lockdown in the UK Going out to go in Reconnecting with ourselves through nature What does an Outdoor Experience Guide do? Barriers to connecting with nature Nature as a teacher Childhood experiences of connecting with nature Nature as a healer The value of affinity spaces   Bio:   Tammy Shakur,  an Outdoor Experience Guide and Certified Life Mindfulness Coach. Runner, Hiker, Passionate outdoor enthusiast. Tammy's passion and mission in life is helping women to connect and engage with nature to support their own personal healing and wellness journey.  She does this through guided outdoor experiences centering nature, community and healing conversations.   Tammy's goal in every interaction is that the beauty, the lessons and the seasons glimpsed OUT in nature inspire and support the journey IN for every woman she is blessed to connect with. Instagram: goingout_2_goin Meet-Up: Wander Women of GA       See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.