Creative Ecology Podcast: Recent Episodes

Katharina Meister

This podcast wants to be a platform for people to share their stories. Stories that tell us how people from different backgrounds and professions found a way to work with environmental concerns in times of climate change in order to make a difference for our planet and all life on it. These can be artists trying to touch our emotions, scientists delivering data and new insights, authors giving us the words to talk about these topics, athletes raising awareness for the beauty of nature, or anyone else with their "climate story" to tell. My name is Katharina Meister. I am an independent visual artist, educator and environmental science student. I have always wanted to be an artist. Straight after school I studied fine arts at the State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe, Germany, but not long into my studies, I discovered my love for nature and my passion for science and started to combine these fields with my art. As the concern about climate change grew louder in society my vision became clearer: I wanted to use my art to present this topic from a more creative and emotional point of view. I wanted to convert scientific facts into visual form to thus offer an additional way to look into this subject. Today it is clear, that climate change is such an overarching issue, that it can only be solved and needs to be addressed interdisciplinary. I regard this podcast as a piece of art, however it is an artwork that has more than one creator. It is an art work that is created by all the interview guests I had and will have on the show.

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“Balanced mind balanced world” is the short version of a piece of wisdom, that has been gifted to me this week. As the title says it is about the thought that the state of our world, how unbalanced and degraded it is, is a mirror image of the stage of our minds. In turn this would mean, that if more if us would do internal work and establish a more balanced mind and way of living we would create collaboratively a more balanced and sustainable world.

Thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

And if you want to support the podcast it would be great if you:

· leave a 5-start rating on your favourite podcast platform

· buy me a coffee on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creativeecolgy

· become a petrean support using the following link: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast

Any support would mean so much for me and I am deeply grateful 😊

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In this episode I am talking with Shannon Sullivan the author of the novel Soul Stoke. Her book can be read just as the beautiful story it is, or be used as a guide to some deeper wisdoms including the need to protect our natural environment such as the Ningaloo reef. In my conversation with her, we speak about:

· How she came to write Sole Stoke

· The meaning of writing in her life

· The Ningaloo reef and it’s importance for our marine and terrestrial ecosystems

· The environmental threats the reef faces

· How the listener can help to protect the reed

· and many other things.

The sale proceeds of her book Sole Stoke will be donated to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. If you want to purchase the book, you can do so on her website: www.soulstokenovel.com.au

And at the following bookstores:

  • Margaret River Bookshop

  • Busselton Dymocks

  • Ningaloo Ebb and Flow (Exmouth)

And to help support the Ningaloo reef you can sign the petition from the Australian Marine Conservation Society:

https://www.marineconservation.org.au/actions/national-heritage-ningaloo-nyinggulu/

or get involved with the protect Ningaloo initiative: protectningaloo.org.au

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

And if you want to support the podcast it would be great if you:

· leave a 5-start rating on your favourite podcast platform

· buy me a coffee on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creativeecolgy

· become a petrean support using the following link: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast

Any support would mean so much for me and I am deeply grateful 😊

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In this episode I am talking with Harri Davies a marine scientist and founder of Sea Country Solutions. In my conversation with her, we speak about:

· Her organisation Sea Country Solutions and how it was founded

· Indigenous knowledge as scientific data

· Fishery management for island communities

· Values in environmental management

· Citizen science

· Cultural mapping

· and many other things.

If you want to find more about Harri Davies visit her website: http://www.seacountrysolutions.org

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

And if you want to support the podcast it would be great if you:

· leave a 5-start rating on your favourite podcast platform

· buy me a coffee on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creativeecolgy

· become a petrean support using the following link: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast

Any support would mean so much for me and I am deeply grateful 😊

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In this episode I am talking with Angela Rossen an artist and biodiversity educator. In my conversation with her, we speak about:

  • Climate change and the state of our planet
  • Angela’s biodiversity education workshops
  • Engagement with nature through art
  • Difference between information communicated through science and public media
  • Possible ways to protect the planet
  • and many other things.

If you want to find more about Angela Rossen visit her website: http://www.angelarossen.com

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

And if you want to support the podcast it would be great if you:

  • leave a 5-start rating on your favourite podcast platform
  • buy me a coffee on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/creativeecolgy
  • become a petrean support using the following link: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast

Any support would mean so much for me and I am deeply grateful 😊

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In this episode I am talking with Majell Backhasuen am endurance athlete and sports activist. In my conversation with him, we speak about:

  • his life as a runner
  • the art of running
  • vipassana meditation
  • different forms of environmental activism
  • his podcast Stokely and the importance to have conversations
  • and many other things.

If you want to find more about Majell Backhausen visit his website: http://www.majellbackhausen.com

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

And if you want to support the podcast it would be great if you leave a 5-start rating on apple podcast or become a petrean support using the following link: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast

Any support would mean so much for me and I am deeply grateful 😊

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In this episode I am talking with Ian Hackett a mindfulness and dharma teacher. In my conversation with him, we speak about:

  • How Ian’s connection to nature developed
  • How Ian got in contact with mindfulness and meditation
  • Meaning of the word eco-dharma
  • How to learn from and handle suffering
  • Foundation of Tig-Le House and his journey to become a mindfulness and dharma teacher
  • How to connect with and understand nature
  • The practice of meditation
  • How to bring mindfulness to daily living
  • and many other things.

If you want to find out more about Ian Hackett you can find him https://tiglehouse.org/.

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

And if you want to support the podcast it would be great if you leave a 5-start rating on apple podcast or become a petrean support using the following link: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast

Any support would mean so much for me and I am deeply grateful 😊

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In my conversation with him, we speak about:

  • his work as a professor and researcher in the field of forest pathology
  • the importance of biosecurity
  • the fungal pathogen Quambalaria pitereka
  • the fungal pathogen Quambalaria coyrecup (Marri Canker)
  • anthropogenic disturbance and climate change and their impacts on forest health
  • effects of tree health on insects, birds and mammals
  • provenance trials to test for susceptibility and resistance towards these pathogens
  • restoration trials
  • forest logging
  • the complexity, cost and importance of research
  • the complexity of natural ecosystems
  • benefits of trees on human health
  • the importance of ecosystem engineers like the Bandicoots
  • and many other things.

If you want to find out more about Giles Hardy you can read one of his countless publications on tree pathology, find him on linked-in (https://au.linkedin.com/in/giles-hardy-971b506) or at the Murdoch University (https://www.murdoch.edu.au/research/hbi/our-researchers)

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

And if you want to support the podcast it would be great if you leave a 5-start rating on apple podcast or become a petrean support using the following link: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast

Any support would mean so much for me and I am deeply grateful 😊

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In this episode I am talking with Miranda Aitken a poet and musician from Western Australia.

In my conversation with her, we speak about:

  • the inspiration and source of her art
  • the power of music in activism
  • her work with the Nanna’s for Native Forests and the Donnelly River campaign
  • connection to land
  • the importance of connection
  • She sings and reads her poems to us
  • and we talk about many other things.

If you want to find out more about Miranda Aitken have a look at her Instagram site: https://www.instagram.com/writingtheriver/. You can also watch her perform the Nannas for Native Forest anthem on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsrMdqM0D9s and her song for the Donnelly River https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhOH6kf5Ojk.

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

You now also have the possibility to support the podcast on patreon. I don’t take this for granted and would feel extremely honoured and grateful if you decide to do so. So a big thank you in advance😊 And here is the link to my patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast.

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In this episode I am talking with Jess Beckerling the Convenor and Campaign Director of the Western Australian Forest Alliance short WAFA.

In my conversation with her, we speak about:

  • History and current situation of the logging industry in Western Australia
  • the effects of forest logging
  • why we need healthy forests
  • job security for employees in the industry
  • background of WAFA
  • the public opinion survey on forest logging released by the State Government
  • the importance to take that survery
  • how you can best get involved in nature conservation even with little time
  • and many other things.

If you want to find out more about Jess Beckerling and WAFA have a look at their website: https://wafa.org.au/. And if you want to make a donation to WAFA and their incredible work here is a direct link: https://wafa.org.au/donate/.

The link for the public opinion survey on forest logging is https://wabsi.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/wa-forests. And you can find the WAFA’s guide to fill out the survey here: https://wafa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/WAFA-guide-for-survey.pdf.

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

You now also have the possibility to support the podcast on patreon. I don’t take this for granted and would feel extremely honoured and grateful if you decide to do so. So a big thank you in advance😊 And here is the link to my patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast.

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In this episode I am talking with Trudy Paap one of the leading researchers regarding the Marri Canker, who currently works as a postdoctoral research fellow for the University of Pretoria as a Coordinator Tree Protection Cooperative Programme extension and diagnostics services. At the end of the interview you will hear Sky Rivers voice, who reads a short science fiction story called “the Marri tree girl”. She wrote the story herself, which functions as a starting point for Sky’s, Denny’s and my artistic film/theatre project on this topic, for which we reveived a grant from WA Regional Arts.

In my conversation with her, we speak about:

  • Her as a scientist
  • Forest pathology
  • Forest health worldwide
  • Climatic and environmental stressors on trees
  • Impact of the Marri canker and the future of the Marri tree
  • Funding for research
  • Actions that everyone can take to protect the forest
  • the artist in the scientist
  • and many other things.

If you want to find out more about Trudy Paap and her work, he she has over 50 pulished articles, that you can find on the internet, when you google her name.

And here is the link to Sky Rivers webpage on which can get more information about the “Marri Tree Girl – Project”: http://www.skyriverart.com.au/

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

You now also have the possibility to support the podcast on patreon. I don’t take this for granted and would feel extremely honoured and grateful, if you decide to do so. So a big thank you in advance. And here is the link to my patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast.

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In this episode I am talking with artist Chris Booth. In my conversation with him, we speak about:

  • nature as inspiration for art
  • collaboration with community
  • collaboration with fungi
  • the importance of fungi for life on earth
  • holistic artworks vs finger-pointing art
  • the connection between art and science
  • the Subterranean Living Sculpture
  • the Breath of the World - Sculpture
  • and many other things.

If you want to find out more about Chris Booth and have a look at his beautiful art work visit his webpage www.chrisbooth.co.nz.

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

You now have the possibility to support the podcast on patreon. I don’t take this for granted and would feel extremely honoured and grateful, if you decide to do so. 10% of you donation will go towards an environmental project, whichever one I am collecting money for at a certain time, I will announce at the end of each episode. And here is the link to my patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/creativeecologypodcast.

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In this episode I am talking with artist Larry Mitchell. In my conversation with him, we speak about:

  • his path to painting and art
  • detecting change in landscapes over time through art
  • the 1 Degree C Project
  • climate art as mainstream movement
  • collaboration with the Nevada Museum of Art
  • climate art, galleries and audience
  • the importance of art in education
  • relationship between art and science
  • effectiveness of art as a communication tool
  • collaboration with the Coral Sea Foundation
  • and many other things.

If you want to find out more about Larry Mitchell and have a look at his beautiful art work visit website: www.jahroc.com.au or www.yallingupgalleries.com.au.

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

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In this episode I am talking with ephemeral artist Elaine Clocherty. In my conversation with her, we speak about:

  • her path to ephemeral art
  • art as a sign post to point out nature
  • how to learn to listen to a place/nature
  • the benefits of connecting art and science
  • ephemeral art with children
  • art as a social force
  • connecting to Aboriginal elders
  • future of the children of today and the planet
  • practice of gratitude
  • and many other things.

If you want to find out more about Elaine Clocherty and have a look at her beautiful art work visit her website: www.elaineclocherty.com

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

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In this episode I am talking with environmental advocate, Buddhist and author Heather Lyn Mann. In my conversation with her, we speak about:

  • the different lesson to learn from society and nature
  • the value of “slowing down”
  • corruption & exploitation at the cost of our planet
  • Joanna Macy & the term “active hope”
  • meditation & mindfulness
  • the Plum Village & Thich Nhat Hanh Buddhist tradition
  • definitions of happiness
  • her book “Ocean of Insight”
  • understanding of inter-being
  • and many other things.

If you want to find out more about Heather Lyn Mann visit her website: www.HeatherLynMann.com

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

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In this episode I am talking with puppet- and theater maker Sky River. In my conversation with her, we speak about:

  • herself as a puppet- & theater maker
  • telling environmental stories through puppet shows
  • mythos and logos as two opposing ways to perceive our environment
  • eco-psychology from an artistic perspective
  • non-indigenous belonging to country
  • and many other things.

If you want to find more about Sky River visit her website: www.skyriverart.com.au

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

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In this episode I am talking with textile and installation artist Britta Sorensen. In my conversation with her, we speak about:

  • her life as an artist
  • up-cycling as an art practice
  • interactive art
  • consumerism & fast fashion
  • visual consumption
  • creativity as a tool for change
  • and many other things.

If you want to find more about Britta Sorensen visit her website: www.brittasorensen.com.

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

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In this episode I am talking with marine biologist Jessica Meeuwig. Mrs Meeuwig is a professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Western Australia and inaugural director of the Center for Marine Futures. In my conversation with her, we speak about:

  • the importance of marine parks for ocean health
  • research around the benefits of marine parks
  • the role of no-take zones
  • Ngari Capes Marine Park
  • fishery’s management
  • shark culling
  • the importance of sharks for ocean health
  • the difficulty of activism in science
  • the power of community, democracy and participation
  • the Center of Marine Futures
  • the connection between science and art
  • climate change
  • and many other things.

If you want to find more about Jessica Meeuwig visit her website: https://meeuwig.org.

If you want to have a look at the map of the Ngari Capes Marine Park we talked about go to:

https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/parks/management-plans/decarchive/20120471-ngari-capes-marine-park-mp-74-2013-2023-v10.pdf

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

And as always, if you want to find out more about the podcast go to www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

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In this episode I am talking with the author of the book The Art of Frugal Hedonims Annie Raser-Rowland. The book, as the subtitle says, is a guide to spending less while enjoying everything more. Inspired by the topic of the book we talk about:

  • the frugal hedonistic lifestyle and the benefits this form of living brings to our environment
  • consumerism and what it does to us
  • the power of advertisement
  • being more sociable through consuming less
  • relationships and happiness
  • technology and how we are not working less through the use of it
  • and many other things.

If you want to find out more about Annie or the book The Art of Frugal Hedonism visit her website: https://www.frugalhedonism.com

The textile artist I mentioned in the conversation is Elisa Markes-Young, if you want to have a look at her beautiful art work go to : http://www.zebra-factory.com/emy/

And for now, thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

If you want to find outr more about the podcast go to: www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

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In this interview with visual artist Shona Wilson we talk about:

  • how she became an artist
  • her art practice
  • art as ceremony
  • the connection between art and science
  • plastic in nature
  • art as a possibility to have a positive impact in regards to environmental concerns
  • And much more.

Shona Wilson lives in New South Wales and can be classically described as a sculptor. To create her artwork she uses objects and material she finds in nature, such as sticks, leaves, parts of insects and many other things and reassembles those to very small, but sometimes also very large 3D objects. But not only does she use tangible material to create her art work, but she says she also uses scientific data about the environment as material to create her work.

If you want to know about Shona Wilson you can visit her webpage: www.shonawilson.com.

Thank you for listening, and I hope you are as inspired by Shona’s message as I am!

Your Kathi

If you want to find out more about the podcast you can visit the website: www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.

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My name is Katharina Meister. I am a visual artist, high-school teacher and environmental science student. In this quick intro episode, I want to explain what this podcast is about. I regard this podcast as an audio-art-work, in which I am interviewing people from quite different realms of life, such as artist, scientists, authors, athletes and many more all about the topic climate change. Hence with this podcast I want to explore, how all these different people use their inspiration, intuition and creativity to addresses environmental topics and hope that the stories they share are not only informative, but also inspire the listener to use their own talents and gifts on behalf of our precious planet.

Thank you for listening!

Your Kathi

If you want to find out more about the podcast you can visit the website: www.creative-ecology-podcast.com, where you can leave a comment or suggest a guest you would like to see on the show. And if you want to have a look at my art, you can go to: www.katharina-meister.com.