In The Rising Tide

Raviraj Shetty: Rewriting the Stories We Live By

SHOW NOTES In this episode, we travel to India to speak with narrative practitioner, occupational therapist, and educator Raviraj Shetty. He is the co-founder of Narrative Practices India Collective and works with children, families, and communities to explore how stories shape our sense of self, belonging, and possibility—especially in contexts shaped by inequality, ecological change, and social fragmentation. Raviraj’s path is guided by a deep commitment to people and place. We hear about his work using narrative practice as a community-centered approach to mental health and healing, and what it means to understand story not just as something we tell, but as something we live. Raviraj shares his perspective on care, imagination, and what he calls “relentless hope,” offering a powerful example of how reimagining our stories can help communities reclaim dignity, rebuild connection, and create new pathways forward. You can hear more from Alex at Human Nature Odyssey [https://www.resilience.org/human-nature-odyssey-podcast/]. Please subscribe wherever you enjoy your podcasts, leave us a review, and visit resilience.org [http://resilience.org]. SOURCES & LINKS Narrative Practices India Collective [https://www.narrativepracticesindia.com/raviraj-shetty] CREDITS In The Rising Tide is hosted and edited by Alex Leff, in collaboration with Resilience.org [http://resilience.org]. This series was made with support from a grant from Omega Resilience Awards, a project of the nonprofit Commonweal. Find out more at ORAwards.org [http://orawards.org].

Millaray Huichalaf: Defending Indigenous Land and Water

SHOW NOTES In this episode, we travel to Chile to speak with Mapuche leader, water defender, and spiritual activist, Millaray Huichalaf. Rooted in the traditions and worldview of the Mapuche people, Millaray has been at the forefront of efforts to protect rivers and ancestral lands from extractive development, advocating for the rights of both her community and the ecosystems they depend on. Millaray’s path is shaped by a deep connection to place and a commitment to future generations. We hear what it means to defend land and water not just as resources, but as living beings—and how Indigenous knowledge and spiritual practice guide her work. Millaray shares her perspective on resistance, resilience, and renewal, offering a powerful vision of how honoring ancestral wisdom can lead toward a more balanced and life-sustaining future. Thank you so much to our expert translator, Diana Rosenfeld. You can hear more from Alex at Human Nature Odyssey. Please subscribe wherever you enjoy your podcasts, leave us a review, and visit resilience.org. LEARN MORE ABOUT MILLARAY: * Latin American Bureau article [https://lab.org.uk/millaray-huichalaf-mapuche-sacred-river/] * Orato article [https://orato.world/2024/08/25/photographer-wins-2024-world-press-photo-contest-for-years-long-project-capturing-the-mapuche-indigenous-community/] * Goethe article [https://www.goethe.de/ins/id/en/kul/kue/mmo/bsr/22339400.html] * Vice article [https://www.vice.com/es/article/millaray-huichalaf-la-voz-de-un-rio-sagrado/] * Graphic Novel [https://drawnandquarterly.com/news/making-millaray-huichalaf-in-movements-moments/] CREDITS In The Rising Tide is hosted and edited by Alex Leff, in collaboration with Resilience.org [http://resilience.org]. This series was made with support from a grant from Omega Resilience Awards, a project of the nonprofit Commonweal. Find out more at ORAwards.org [http://orawards.org].

Gerald Barekye: Climate Justice from the Ground Up

In this episode, we travel to Uganda to speak with human rights defender, environmental activist, and community organizer, Gerald Barekye. He is the Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Agricultural Innovation (CERAI), and works with communities in the oil-affected region of Albertine Graben. His work supports those most impacted by environmental degradation and fighting for both ecological and human rights. Gerald’s path is driven by a deep commitment to place and people. We hear about his work mobilizing young people to build climate justice movements in Uganda and what it means to stand up for communities facing environmental and economic pressures. Gerald shares his perspective on creating meaningful change from the ground up and offers a powerful example of how local action, courage, and collective organizing can shape a more just and resilient future. You can hear more from Alex at Human Nature Odyssey [https://www.resilience.org/human-nature-odyssey-podcast/]. Please subscribe wherever you enjoy your podcasts, leave us a review, and visit resilience.org [http://resilience.org]. SOURCES & LINKS Centre for Environmental Research and Agriculture Innovations [https://ceraiug.org/] In The Rising Tide is hosted and edited by Alex Leff, in collaboration with Resilience.org [http://resilience.org]. This series was made with support from a grant from Omega Resilience Awards, a project of the nonprofit Commonweal. Find out more at ORAwards.org [http://orawards.org].

Hajar Tazi: Weaving Our Way Back Home

In this episode, we travel to Morocco to speak with storyteller and ecosystem weaver Hajar Tazi. Working across a wide network of organizations—from Shareable and Gaia Education to the Wellbeing Economy Alliance and the Post Carbon Institute—Hajar helps connect people, ideas, and communities in service of a more resilient future. Like Louise in the previous episode, Hajar’s path hasn’t been linear. We explore what it means to follow curiosity across disciplines and cultures, and how unexpected turns can lead to deeper purpose. Influenced by the work of Joanna Macy, Hajar reflects on living in a time of both unraveling and transformation—and shares her visions for what a more hopeful future could look like. This series was made with support from a grant from Omega Resilience Awards, a project of the nonprofit Commonweal. Find out more at ORAwards.org [http://orawards.org] You can learn more from Hajar at her substack Remembering the Future [https://hajargaia.substack.com/]. You can hear more from Alex at Human Nature Odyssey [https://www.resilience.org/human-nature-odyssey-podcast/]. Please subscribe wherever you enjoy your podcasts, leave us a review, and visit resilience.org.

Louise Mabulo: The Chef Who Grew a Forest

Our journey begins in the Philippines with farmer, chef, entrepreneur, and environmentalist Louise Mabulo. From her early start on MasterChef Junior to founding The Culinary Lounge and The Cacao Project, building regenerative food systems and supporting over 200 Filipino farmers in the wake of devastating typhoons. Louise works to reconnect people with the land—and the food they grow and eat. Named a Young Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme and one of the BBC’s 100 Most Inspiring Women of 2023, Louise embodies a powerful blend of tradition and innovation. In this conversation, we explore how she’s forging her own path—honoring her roots while creating new possibilities for her community and the future. This series was made with support from a grant from Omega Resilience Awards, a project of the nonprofit Commonweal. Find out more at ORAwards.org [http://orawards.org] You can learn more from Louise here [https://www.louisemabulo.com/]. You can hear more from Alex at Human Nature Odyssey [https://www.resilience.org/human-nature-odyssey-podcast/]. Please subscribe wherever you enjoy your podcasts, leave us a review, and visit resilience.org.