Every culture has core stories - mythologies that have everything to do with group identity. Sometimes those stories are connected to national holidays, as in the case of the American holiday called Thanksgiving. But who gets to determine what those core stories should be? In this episode we welcome two wise women who have made it their life’s work to serve as truth-tellers, and advocates for the stories of Native peoples that are seldom heard. Lenore Three Stars of the Oglala Sioux Band of...

For many of us who are really committed to earthcare causes, it is easy to put all our focus on changemaking, on action, and on working for a more hopeful climate future. Sometimes though, we focus on taking action without really taking time to embrace the reality of what has already been lost due to climate change. Our guest today makes the case that we need to allow ourselves to grieve what we have lost—and that this grieving will ultimately help us to become better, more honest...

In the Earthkeepers podcast, we often talk about learning how to listen well—to the land, to the family of creation, and to Spirit. How though can we listen to our relatives who live under water? Our guest in this episode is Joe Olson, who has designed and built hydrophones – underwater microphones that he tailors specifically for hearing the voices of dolphins and whales. In fact, Joe recorded the voices of the whales at the opening of this episode. Today though, we’re going to turn the...

What are the earthkeeping challenges in a place where human beings have been impacting the environment since the Paleolithic era? How does one think about restoring nature in a place known as the cradle of civilization? In this episode, we’ll gain some practical wisdom from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. For that perspective, we welcome Mohammad Asfour, founding chair of WADI—an organization that advances water conservation and land stewardship practices in Jordan. He is also an...

On the Earthkeepers podcast, we talk a lot about transforming damaged or neglected spaces into thriving ecologies that benefit both the human and more-than-human members of the community of creation. Way back in episode 2, for example, we talked to Tahmina Martelly about how neighbors turned an unused parking lot into a thriving community garden for refugees. In episode 40, we spoke with Casa Adobe in Costa Rica about how folks worked together to restore a neglected region of jungle and to...

As you might know, the Earthkeepers podcast is part of a larger organization called Circlewood—and Circlewood has a dream to establish an inspirational, educational eco-village in a place called Camano Island in Washington State. In the podcast conversation today, Circlewood’s director James Amadon and Forrest are joined by David Vandervort, the architect who has held the vision and designed the built spaces that will make up Circlewood Village. Among other things, we talk about green...

Changing the climate future of our planet can only happen when we all work together and learn from each other--and that’s why this podcast includes diverse perspectives from around the world. To that end, our guest host in this episode will be Abigail Fehrsen in South Africa. You might remember Abby from episode 57, when she and her friend Liesl told the story of the community food cooperative they founded. In THIS episode Abby will be talking to Kehinde Micheal Osatuyi about the Muizenberg...

As we all know, sometimes it isn’t easy being green. Especially when it comes to sustainable, affordable, earth-friendly architecture. Remember the story of the three little pigs? It didn’t work out so well for the two pigs who built cheap houses out of straw and sticks. But what if it were feasible to build durable, eco-friendly buildings out of straw or sticks—or even corn cobs or woodchips? Our friends at Nomadic Earth Architecture say it’s possible, and they want to tell you how. As our...

In this episode James Amadon and Forrest Inslee reprise a webinar discussion with Debra Rienstra, author of a new book called Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth. In her writing, Dr. Rienstra asks deep and sometimes difficult questions, such as: What might Creator say to us about our role in caring for creation--if we could quiet ourselves long enough to listen? Also, How can we look for the possibilities of new life and restoration of the...

What does an Indian guru--who teaches through meditative art, performance and extreme sport--have to tell us about how we might better love our planet? In this episode Forrest talks with Pragati Pascale about the writings of Indian spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy. Pragati has worked for the United Nations for many years as a senior communications strategist and consultant on sustainability issues. She is also the editor of a new book, Listen to Nature: Living in Harmony with the Earth, which...

In this special episode, we depart from the usual interview format and offer you some moments of guided meditation instead. While Forrest is in Ireland interviewing people for future episodes of the podcast, Wes Willison is stepping in to walk you through something called “The Onion Session." Drawn from the book The Supper of the Lamb, by Robert Farrar Capon, this is a guided meditation that is meant to focus our attention on one small and humble object. This soul-and-mind opening exercise...

In this episode, Forrest talks with Tori Goebel, National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. YECA works to mobilize youth to act against climate change, to advocate for creation care, and to promote the hope among young people that a better climate future is possible. Guest: Tori Goebel, National organizer and spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action  LinkedIn Twitter Mentions  Atlantic Coast Pipeline Mountain Valley Pipeline Evangelical...

In this episode, Forrest talks with Kelly Deutsch, founder of Spiritual Wanderlust, an organization that supports people on their path to wholeness and intimacy with the divine. This includes encouraging people to engage spirit in nature—a connection that Earthkeepers care very much about. In our conversation, we discuss how Celtic spiritual practices in particular can inspire us to sense God in all of creation. Guest: Kelly Deutsch  Founder of Spiritual Wanderlust Podcast host Growth...

In this episode Forrest talks with Dr. Annah Amani, the Africa Programs Director for Plant with Purpose. From past episodes you might know that Plant with Purpose is a global environmental nonprofit organization working to address the interconnected challenges of global poverty and environmental damage. Their aim is to restore the regenerativerelationship between people and the natural environment so that all beings in the community of creation, human and nonhuman, might thrive...

In this episode, Forrest is joined by his occasional cohost, Christine Sine. They talk to Jo Swinney, Director of Communications for A Rocha International, a global family of conservation organizations working together to care for creation, ​and equip others to do likewise. Specifically, they talk about a new book that Jo co-authored with her mother, Miranda Harris. The book is called A Place at the Table: Faith, Hope, and Hospitality. In that book Jo draws from lessons learned from being...

In this episode Forrest talks with John Wayne Seitzler and Nick Rubesh, leaders of the Wilderness Ministry at Bethany Community Church in Seattle. The Wilderness Ministry fosters experiences in nature that transform hearts and minds--and that help people to grow in their understanding of God and of the whole community of creation. Recently, in partnership with Circlewood, they’ve embarked on a new adventure: The ecological restoration of church property—and the establishment of a wild space...

In this episode Forrest talks with Jerry Cappel and Collin Cornell from the Center for Deep Green Faith. Their work is grounded in the belief that the global problems of environmental degradation, climate change, violence, and injustice, are rooted in a crisis of spirit and of faith. The Center for Deep Green Faith then aims to help individuals and communities to  cultivate a more environmentally aware, ecologically grounded spirituality and faith praxis.  Guest: Jerry Cappel and Collin...

In this episode Forrest talks with David Pott and Daniel Rutland, two friends from Durham in the UK. Both share wisdom  from experiences of pilgrimage—which we define as the practice of purposeful walking guided by a particular goal or sacred destination. They explain how pilgrimage can help us to more deeply understand and love the earth— to open ourselves to a sense of God’s presence in and through creation—and ultimately to become better earthkeepers. Guests: David Pott, contributions to...

In keeping with a focus on the environmental, political, and economic struggles of the Haitian people, Forrest talks with Ryan Robinson and David Sanon of Konbit Haiti. Konbit Haiti was founded jointly by a group of Americans and Haitians; they continue to work together to support family health, local business development, and environmentally sustainable practices to meet needs such as clean water, sanitation, and productive farming. Guests: David Sanon and Ryan Robinson  Konbit Haiti David...

At the time of recording, the country of Haiti is in the midst of a socioeconomic and political crisis.  In this episode, Forrest talks with Ron and Carla Bluntschli, Americans who have lived and served in Haiti for nearly four decades. They share their views on the roots of the unfolding humanitarian crisis, and also offer insights about environmental issues that are only becoming worse in the midst of increasing conflict and growing poverty. Importantly, their foundation—called N a...

In this episode, Forrest talks with Wesley Willison about his experiences at the Farminary—which, according to Princeton Seminary, is “a place where theological education is integrated with small-scale regenerative agriculture to train faith leaders”—leaders who care about ecology, sustainability, and food justice. Wesley is that kind of leader, and we’ll be discussing how his Farminary education has impacted every part of his life, his faith, and his leadership. Guest: Wesley Willison  The...

In this episode, Forrest talks with Scott Sabin, Executive Director of the organization Plant with Purpose — an international faith-based organization that empowers the poor in rural areas around the world where poverty is connected to deforestation. Importantly, their approach to community development includes not just the planting of food-producing trees on farms, but also the work of the reforestation and species diversification of publicly shared land. Among other things, Scott explains...

In this episode Forrest talks with Dr. Edward Olara, a farmer and educator in Uganda. Edward was once Forrest’s student in the community development program at Northwest University. As friends, they’ve worked together in Uganda to encourage and empower development professionals. Among other things, Edward spends his days teaching about sustainable agriculture, community development, and leadership—and modeling earthkeeping practices on his farm in northern Uganda. He is currently working on a...

In this episode, we launch season four of the Earthkeepers podcast. The last three years have been an amazing time of growth for us, both in terms of expansion of the Earthkeepers community around the world, and also in terms of establishing the ethos and vision of the podcast as a whole. Forrest and James  share a bit about lessons learned in season three, and we look ahead to new challenges in season four! Reach out to Forrest with podcast ideas at...

In this episode Forrest talks with Dr. Randy Woodley who, with his wife Edith, leads Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice. They’ll be talking about that work, and about Randy’s recent book, Indigenous Theology and the Western World View: A Decolonized Approach to Christian Doctrine.  Randy challenges mainstream Western churches to embrace and be changed by diverse perspectives; indigenous theology in particular challenges people to redefine the role of humankind as co-sustainers—not...