Engaged with Ecology: Recent Episodes
Joe Culhane
Engaged With Ecology: A podcast, process and journey of inquiry into Phenomenology and Herbalism and their potential as accessible pathways to better relationships with the more than human world. Hosted by Joe Culhane, this is his major project for the culmination of the MA in Engaged Ecology at Schumacher College (via the University of Plymouth) in Devon, England. It will focus on phenomenology, herbalism (specifically intuitive and sensory), our relationships with the more-than-human world, and whether philosophy like phenomenology should be more accessible. Also whether it is or could be a good tool/resource for building these better relationships with the world of nature we are intrinsically connected to and a part of, why this is so important to me, and what I believe is at stake.This is a scholarly personal narrative with elements of scholarly activism and (post) qualitative research methodology. The key questions explored are: How does (or can) the practice or process of phenomenology facilitate and deepen a relationship with the more-than-human world for those in Western Civilization? A secondary question: Is intuitive and sensory herbalism a form of phenomenology? And if so, are these perhaps more accessible pathways for folks to connect with the more-than-human world and develop better relationships? A third question that has come out of these inquiries, and will be explored throughout is ethical: what role do the more-than-humans have in these relationships and what responsibility do I have in acknowledging their contributions? And a fourth question that will be woven through this project is: Could this inquiry potentially help shift our settler-colonial and capitalist - perpetual growth on a finite planet - mindset, which drives the Western Civilization story that is at the heart of our current dominant global narrative?
The final episode.
Here is where this process and project gets wrapped up. It is a conclusion of sorts, where I examine and review this particular phenomenology and herbalism inquiry. I reflect on my relationships with the more than human world and wonder about if this might just be accessible for others.
But this is by no means the end of this overall trajectory, heavens no.
Though it is the completion of this particular podcast and project. For now...
Thank you for listening in. And if you've found anything particularly intriguing and would like to learn more or perhaps collaborate down the road, please do reach out and let us see what we can make happen.
My email is: joseph.m.culhane@gmail.com
I'd love to hear from you.
And check out Schumacher College if you are not familiar with this amazing place. It is incredible what they are doing. And there is a global network of Schumacher alumni and offshoots of this primary institution and I am aiming to bring one to Los Angeles one day soon. So stay tuned for that, too 😉
Episode one lays the groundwork for this three-part podcast.
This process and journey with Phenomenology and Herbalism is connected to my ongoing relationship with the more-than-human world.
In a way, these words are an effort to share the unfolding process of me becoming a relational being. Or attempting to be more aware of how I am continually becoming a relational being, which is to say I'm trying to appreciate my position in our human systems (with unearned privileges and power for example) and then the continual becoming of living in relation to the ecology of wherever I am.
This entire first episode will be my humble attempt to lay the groundwork for this project. It will focus on Phenomenology, herbalism (specifically intuitive and sensory) our relationships with the more-than-human world, and whether philosophy like phenomenology should be more accessible, whether it is a good tool/resource for building these better relationships with the world of nature we are intrinsically connected to and a part of, and why this is so important to me, and what I believe is at stake.
Part two of this three-part podcast gets a bit further into what the heck phenomenology is all about. And lays out many of the key concepts and terms that have been integral to this project and process.
These concepts and terms are :
More than Human, Scholarly Personal Narrative, (post) qualitative research, Scholarly Activism, Political Ecology, Eco-femenism, Critical Race Theory, Queer Theory, Participatory Action Research, Complexity World View, Systems View of Life, Ontology, Epistemology, Settler Colonialism, Herbalism, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Anthropocentrism, Appropriation, Anthropocene, Chthulucene, Capitalocene, Plantationocene, IPCC Report, Sixth Mass Extinction, Animism, and Ontopoetics,