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Welcome to the 10th year of the podcast! And thank you. As an entirely listener supported show, it only happens thanks to listeners like you.  To start off the year, another form of thanks, and tribute, to a guest from 2023 who was so wonderful, as much for his brilliance as his grace. I’m talking of the late Manchán Magan, acclaimed Irish travel writer, documentary maker, radio producer, theatre performer, builder of the first straw-bale house in Ireland, regenerator of the 10 acre block it stands on, and best-selling author. Manchán died in October last year at an age not too senior to mine, just a couple of months after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.  Beautifully, I’ve learned he and long-term partner Aisling married a few weeks before he died. Aisling described how they fell in love too, as she later posthumously accepted the Best Irish-Published Book of the Year award for Manchán's latest work ‘Ninety-Nine Words for Rain (and One for Sun)’. You can find that story here.  Manchán and I signed off our podcast chat looking forward to meeting, given the various threads emerging at the time, including tracing more of my roots back to Ireland, and the connections between those roots and Aboriginal cultures and Country here - so a little slice of me cut away with the news too. But what a blessing to have had that yarn. Thanks Manchán for your fleeting but unforgettable presence in my life. And of course, for being so much more for so many more people all over the place. That, no doubt, will continue on. Right now, in fact.  For here are the last 25 minutes or so of my conversation with Manchán from a couple of years ago. So much to love in just this small window. To listen to the full episode with Manchán, and find further links, head to episode 173. Recorded with thanks to the Derby Aboriginal Media Corporation, at 6DBY deadly Derby radio in the West Kimberley, on the heels of the Aboriginal Irish festival in Fremantle WA. Title image source. Chapters and transcripts. Music: The Blackbird (Irish Song Dance), by Ennis, Morrison and Muller (from Artlist). Thanks again for listening, and for supporting The RegenNarration. Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Just one final highlight from last year, before we kick off the new series. Well, it was actually from 2024, but an excerpt of it was played last year, when the latest book from 5x New York Times best-selling author and friend, Paul Hawken, was released - Carbon: The Book of Life.  That 2024 episode and 2025 excerpt featured Paul doing a world premiere reading of the final passage of the book, in his sun-drenched garden in northern California. Today, the last minute of that reading, for your pure listening pleasure. If you’re inspired to listen to more, or to revisit the rest of our conversation, you’ll find it at episode 204.  Title image: Paul in the garden (pic: Olivia Cheng) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Next up, the new series for 2026 ...  Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Ok, just a couple more bite size highlights from last year. Well, this one was actually from a few years ago, but an excerpt of it was played last year - titled A Laugh, a Cry and a Touchstone Moment, featuring Tyson Yunkaporta. And indeed, this passage in particular might still be the most moving and funny of the entire podcast. Certainly, the opening gambit has continued to come up in conversation ever since. Tyson belongs to the Apalech Clan from Western Cape York in far north Queensland, with community/cultural ties all over Australia. He is the author multiple books, including Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World. He’s also a poet and artist carving traditional tools and weapons, processes that were central to writing the book. If you’d like to hear or revisit our conversation in full, head to episode 70 – ‘Sand Talk: Indigenous thinking, saving the world & living creation’ (there are a bunch of links in those show notes too, and a very special photo from this conversation on that episode website). Title image: Tyson Yunkaporta (supplied) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode concludes with this incredibly special and personal group of episodes, from the heart of Mayan culture, Guatemala, Central America. This was actually the first series recorded in 2025, but took a lot more time to produce given the episodes released in both Spanish and English. And it was so worth it. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing: 0m - Salta Montes, by Migra (from Artlist) (eps 285-8) 0.21 - Patrik Mucía (ep 285 and in Spanish), at IMAP, by Lago de Atitlán 0.59 - Don Ceferino de Paz González (ep 286 and in Spanish), Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, Alta Verapaz 1.24 - Cándido Reyes (ep 287 and in Spanish), La Nueva Libertad 1.40 - Aníbal de Paz (ep 288 and in Spanish), Lago Petén Itzá 2.06 - Regeneration, by Amelia Barden (theme music) 3.25 - Out-take with my translator in Baltimore, Dana Scott Title image: view of the nearby volcano from the tour at IMAP (pic: Olivia Cheng) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode continues, with some pinnacle moments from the huge week in Western Australia on our return home. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing: 0m - Oral McGuire (ep 279), Noongar leader, with possibly the quote of the Regenerative Food Systems conference, Perth Stadium WA 0.28 - My day's summary at that conference (ep 280), with Barefoot, by Mark Grundhoefer (from Artlist) 1.40 - Heidi Mippy (ep 281), Bridgetown WA (at the 2nd running of the Grounded Festival, and the 1st in WA, bringing home a huge week of events) 2.10 - Ian Haggerty (ep 282), also at Grounded Festival 2.33 - Rowdy, by The Lonely Ramblers (from Artlist) (ep 282) 2.42 - Matthew Evans (ep 283), heralding the final session of Grounded Title image: AJ, Heidi, Di & Ian Haggerty at Grounded (pic: Alan Benson) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode continues, with the final series recorded in the US, perhaps our most moving visit of all, at Amskapi Piikani Blackfeet Nation, with Long Time Charging Woman, Kim Paul, and colleague Andrew Berger. With an additional episode featuring a couple of filmmakers behind the documentary filmed on Blackfeet Nation, Bring Them Home. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing: 0m - Kim Paul (ep 276), Blackfeet Nation, Montana, with Flight of the Inner Bird, by Yehezkel Raz feat. Sivan Talmor (from Artlist) 0.51 - Andrew Berger (ep 277) 1.36 - Daniel Glick (ep 278), recorded in Denver, Colorado, alongside ... 1.59 - Melissa Grumhaus (ep 278) Title image: Andrew, Kim & AJ at Chief Mountain (pic: Olivia Cheng) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode continues, with a couple of West Australians spread across the state, one very famous, one should be. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing: 0m - Stuart McAlpine (ep 272), award-winning farmer from the WA wheatbelt, with his own track Country Cousin (ahead of a major regenerative food systems conference) 1.28 - Tim Winton (ep 275), regarded as the preeminent Australian writer of his time, in Fremantle for the launch of his new book Ningaloo: Australia's Wild Wonder Title image: Stuart on the farm (supplied) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode continues, with two of the most extraordinary ancient places and cultures we visited. And last stop with a legend and friend in California. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing: 0m - Dana Scott (ep 264 and 265), Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, with Chauen, by Angel Salazar (from Artlist). 1.38 - Xavier Michael Young (ep 268), Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, Wyoming 2.23 - Jason Baldes (ep 269), Initiative Director 2.59 - Paul Hawken (ep 270), California Title image: Buffalo kin at the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (pic: Anthony James) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode continues, with the trinity of episodes (and bonus extra) from the Osage Nation in current day Oklahoma.  It was an exceptional opportunity to speak with the Chief, featuring a powerful exchange capped by some funny anecdotes (one of each is in this clip). And Jann's breathtaking music accompanies the lot here, played on the Grand Piano of her ancestors relating back to the time depicted in the blockbuster movie Killers of the Flower Moon. All thanks to local filmmaker and friend, Nicol Ragland. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing: 0m - Nicol Ragland (ep 261), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (introducing the series) 0.46 - Piano piece played by Dr Jann Hayman (from ep 263) 1.32 - Chief Standing Bear (ep 262)  2.26 - Dr Jann Hayman (ep 263), Secretary of Natural Resources for the Osage Nation 3.50 - Dawn Wormington (ep 263 bonus) (with a funny tale from the filming of Killers of the Flower Moon) Title image: Chief Standing Bear (supplied) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode continues, with two of the guests with the greatest soundscapes of the year.  I just love the sound and spirit of African American elder, Lorenzo Washington, captured in this clip. And the clip from Christopher, with one of the great urban restoration stories, became somewhat of a catch phrase for our American journey - like stepping through a portal. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing: 0m - Lorenzo Washington (ep 259), Nashville, Tennessee, with Jefferson St tribute by Nashville’s Queen of the Blues, Marion James. 1.15 - Christopher Brown (ep 260), East Austin, Texas Title image: Lorenzo outside the Jefferson Street Sound Museum (aka his house!) (pic: Olivia Cheng) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Welcome back to our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode. These were a few of the best community-generated stories of the year, strongly among the listener favourites. I love this particular mini-highlight reel - the way the music plays off what these folk have to say, culminating in Jenny treating us to an impromptu rendition of an old Irish hymn. Unforgettable. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing: 0m - Cathy McGowan (ep 254), with Sal Kimber doing a famous cover 0.33 - Dr Blake Scott (ep 256), for The MARSH (Marsh Appreciation and Restoration Society for Happiness) Project, Charleston, South Carolina 1.07 - Galaxy Groove, by Yarin Primak (from Artlist) (ep 256) 1.16 - Joel Caldwell, alongside Blake Scott (ep 256) 1.48 - Jenny Finn (ep 257), Floyd, Virginia 2.13 - Jenny sings an old Irish hymn Title image: Joel Caldwell and Dr Blake Scott on the clean up beat (pic: Anthony James) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode continues, with these snippets from ep 252, the most popular episode of the year. 0m - Patrick MacManaway, in Burlington, Vermont 0.41 - Hours, by Patrick Sebag (from Artlist). 1.19 - Patrick MacManaway plays the penny whistle Title image: Patrick on-location in his home town of Burlington, Vermont, USA. To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Welcome back to our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode. Today you're hearing Dan Kittredge, in excited revelation, then song, from Michigan. And a little from me celebrating episode 250, down the road in Maryland. Love it when guests take off with the closing tune. Dan Kittredge, exhibit A in 2025. (Should have got him to sing at the end of the year too, on the Grounded Festival episodes.) Title image: Dan Kittredge (supplied) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Welcome back to our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing today: 0m - AJ on the legendary Mongabay Newscast podcast with Mike DiGirolamo (ep 248) 0.35 - Damon Gameau (ep 249), leading into We are the Kids, by Bunny Racket, drawn from a great moment in the film Future Council (also one of my personal favourite curatorial moments in the year's highlights package) Title image: The Future Council with Damon Gameau To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!

Welcome back to our curtain-raiser series of bite size highlights drawn from the 2025 wrap up episode. Here are the voices, places and tunes you're hearing, from ep 247: 0m - Introducing the new year of episodes, from Antigua, Guatemala 0.18 - Matthew Evans, leading into the spectacular 'My Mother, The Mountain', by Claire Anne Taylor 2.31 - Sadie Chrestman. Title image: Matthew and Sadie (supplied) To access all episodes, including the full 2025 highlights package in ep 289, head to the website (where there’ll often be photos with each episode), or wherever you get your podcasts.  With thanks to our wonderful guests and the musicians who generously granted permission for their music to be heard here. And thanks for listening and supporting the podcast! Chapter markers Send us a text Support the show The RegenNarration is independent, ad-free and freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep the show on the road - and gain access to a great community and some exclusive benefits - on Patreon or Substack (where you'll find my writing). You can also donate directly via the website (avoiding fees) or PayPal. I hope to see you at an event, and even The RegenNarration shop. And thanks for sharing with friends!