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Roman Krznaric – Bridge to the Future

Roman Krznaric – Bridge to the Future

It may surprise nobody, but humans are internally conflicted, parts of our nature pulling in opposite directions: immediate gratification vs. longer term security. Or as Roman Krznaric and others have termed it, “marshmallow brain” vs. “acorn brain”. He describes how our “marshmallow brain” can’t resist eating the marshmallow in front of us even when forbearance would win us a second marshmallow, while our “acorn brain”…

Judith D. Schwartz – Reindeer Chronicles

Judith D. Schwartz – Reindeer Chronicles

The story gelled on a trip to Norway says author Judith Schwartz. She went there to talk about indigenous knowledge and, in return, learned about reindeer. She explains to Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep these stories guided the themes of earth repair and…

Jorne Langelaan – Salt Water on Your Lips

Jorne Langelaan – Salt Water on Your Lips

Born into a seafaring family in The Netherlands, Jorne Langelaan was working at sea by the time he was 12. In this conversation with Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep, Jorne explains how his love of ships become a love of sailing ships which led him to become…

Amber Smith – I Am Enough

Amber Smith – I Am Enough

Amber Smith made her way from a blue collar town in Central Illinois to a 53,000 acre ranch in Montana. She explains that the image of the lonely cowboy is not today’s reality where, instead, women are not only managing ranches, but leading civic…

Award Winning “Designers of Paradise”

Designers of Paradise, hosted by Erik van Lennep and produced by Mind & Media, won the 2020 Award of Excellence for Podcasts from Communicator Awards. Communicator Awards is sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts. Launched in 2018,...

Josh Whiton – Compost Together

Josh Whiton – Compost Together

The experience of composting with friends helped Josh Whiton realize that being kind to the planet could lead to a change in consciousness. Josh described to Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep how this realization led him to launch MakeSoil.org, a global…

Sara Wolcott – The Listening Heart

Sara Wolcott – The Listening Heart

Sara Wolcott is a healer, minister, artist, and storyteller. She (and a turkey) joined Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep for a conversation that touched on giving and receiving, Reiki, the process of regeneration, healing, and the search for the divine. They…

Bruce Kania – Nature’s Wetland Effect

Bruce Kania – Nature’s Wetland Effect

"It is sticky and attracts particulates" is how Bruce Kania of Floating Island International explains the biofilm that serves as the glue for the floating islands his company produces. Bruce, during his conversation with Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep,...

Nicole Masters – Soil is More Exciting than Great White Sharks

Nicole Masters – Soil is More Exciting than Great White Sharks

"Imagine how different our planet would look if we were teaching children whole systems". This is how Kiwi, soil siren, author, and Regenerative Agriculture Coach, Nicole Masters explains transformative thinking in a far-ranging interview with Designers of Paradise...

Melissa Ruckmick – Be There for Somebody

Melissa Ruckmick – Be There for Somebody

It has been about a year since Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep spoke with communication specialist and self-described herbal plant provocateur, Melissa Ruckmick. In this episode they discuss the connection between healing ourselves, healing civilization,...