Food Forest Communities with Stephen Brooks

Food Forest Communities with Stephen Brooks

Living In Harmony with Sacred Mother Earth Stephen Brooks is a pioneering permaculture educator, ethnobotanist, and regenerative community builder with over 30 years of experience in Costa Rica. Early Life and Awakening: Raised in North Miami, Florida, Brooks’ life changed in 1995 when he witnessed a playground of indigenous children sprayed by a Chiquita Banana crop duster. This event sparked his dedication to sustainable alternatives to industrial agriculture and environmental destruction. He soon founded an eco-tour company, bringing students from the US and Europe to Costa Rica to experience the beauty of the land, its people, and the realities of rainforest loss and agro-business impacts—while showcasing practical solutions. Key Contributions in Regenerative Agriculture and Food Forests: Brooks is best known as the founder of Punta Mona Center for Regenerative Design and Botanical Studies (established in the late 1990s on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast). This off-grid, beachfront site became a world leader in tropical permaculture, featuring an extensive collection of useful and exotic fruit trees, plants, and food forests. It has hosted the first (and many subsequent) Permaculture Design Courses (PDCs) in Costa Rica, training thousands in regenerative techniques like soil building, biodiversity enhancement, and self-sustaining food systems. He specializes in exotic fruit trees and “life design” through permaculture—creating abundant, resilient ecosystems that produce food while regenerating land. His signature “Church of Fruit” gatherings celebrate the spiritual and communal connection to plants and diverse fruits. Sustainable Communities and Broader Impact Brooks has co-founded or played a key role in several thriving eco-villages and regenerative projects in Costa Rica, including: •La Ecovilla and Tacotal (2006 onward) — Ecological planned communities. •Alegría Village — A regenerative “agrihood” with extensive permaculture food forests in San Mateo. •Eterna and others, emphasizing food forests, community resilience, and harmony with tropical ecosystems. He co-founded the Envision Festival, a major gathering blending sustainability, culture, music, and education. He also co-founded Ecoversity, which offers online and in-person permaculture education, PDCs, and earth skills training. Featured in media like Zac Efron’s Down to Earth (Netflix), Brooks continues to teach, consult, and inspire scalable models for regenerative living—focusing on biodiversity, soil health, community, and deeper reciprocity with nature. His work demonstrates how intentional food forests and ecological communities can heal land while supporting vibrant human cultures. Connect with Stephen IG: @stephenbrooks FaceBook: @stephenbrookscr LinkedIn Stephen Brooks  Ecoversity: Online and In-person Permaculture Education: ecoversity.org Youtube: The Church of Fruit with Stephen Brooks  Permaculture: •  Punta Mona Center: Foundational Tropical Permaculture site, botanical studies (puntamona.org)  •  Algeria Village (Regenerative eco-neighborhood in San Mateo, Costa Rica): communidadalegria.com  •  La Ecovilla (Intentional Regenerative Community) laecovilla.com  •  Eterna (present Costa Rica regenerative agriculture project in San Juanillo Costa Rica. Eterna.earth  •  Envision Festival: envisionfestival.com Thanks for listening and supporting the show. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2428891/fan_mail/new]

Land Whisperer featuring Brook LeVan

Brook LeVan – Confessions of a Reluctant Land Whisperer A poignant and inspirational conversation that invites listeners to reconsider their relationship to land, food, spirit, and the unseen realms that sustain life. In this episode of Connection is the Medicine Podcast, host Eaden Shantay welcomes Brook LeVan—artist, rancher, alchemist, biodynamic specialist, and co-founder of Sustainable Settings, a 240-acre biodynamic ranch at the base of Carbondale, Colorado’s majestic Mt. Sopris (known to the Ute people as Wemagooah). Highly recommended for anyone interested in biodynamics, land stewardship, indigenous wisdom, permaculture, or the spiritual dimensions of regenerative agriculture. Brook speaks about relationship—with self, land, spirit, and the living intelligence of the Earth. The conversation weaves personal stories, spiritual inquiry, and practical regenerative wisdom. Core Themes •⁠  ⁠Evocation and Right Relationship: The power of acknowledging, asking, and thanking the land—foundational practices for building a mutually beneficial dialogue rather than extraction. •⁠  ⁠Biodynamics: Rooted in Rudolf Steiner and Enzo Nastati’s works. Working with subtle forces, alchemical preparations that truly feeds human evolution. •⁠  ⁠Dowsing, Divination & Intention: Tools and practices for listening to the unseen forces of nature. •⁠  ⁠The Ute Curse: The violent removal of the Ute people in the late 1800s and the lingering energetic imprint on the region. •⁠  ⁠Decolonizing the Mind: Brook offers a critique of cultural conditioning and encourages direct, embodied exploration of the world. •⁠  ⁠Western Material Realism: separating into parts versus dynamic wholeness. Memorable Ideas: •⁠  ⁠Life as a co-created dynamic living systems. •⁠  ⁠The disconnection in modern industrial culture is “by design”—the remedy lies in non-linear ways of knowing and agrarian intimacy. •⁠  ⁠The evolution of Biodynamic agriculture: exploring the work of Enzo Nastati. Brook’s most recent offering: Where the Old Woman Cooks and Biodynamic Preparation Making) Writing: Confessions of a Reluctant Land Whisperer – Poetic Wanderings into Other Realms through the Unknown Arts Guest Links: •⁠  ⁠Sustainable Settings: www.SustainableSettings.org •⁠  ⁠Biodynamic Source: www.BiodynamicSource.org •⁠  ⁠Biodynamic Botanicals: www.BiodynamicBotanicals.com •⁠  ⁠Build Soil or Die: www.BuildSoilOrDie.com •⁠  ⁠Only Sprayed Once: www.OnlySprayedOnce.com Additional Links: Rudolf Steiner Archive (rsarchive.org) https://rsarchive.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1VFYlQwTHhMZUhvR2ZnR1Y4V04tMW1tUjhUQXxBQ3Jtc0trUW83VUlxMDRzajQ5cURSYy12OFMyS19GTHJObDdUclNsTkNibUNYaU1rWVJFU0hTYTk5dl8tTDdYOTc5dGFoMFBkTXVRRHlZdmFPcUo4NEJtYUdCbVk2dGk3V25Ra0hFekxWVnV2elpWOU1MTm40TQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Frsarchive.org%2F&v=05CKlDrtcEw] Enzo Nastati (biodynamics 2.0): https://arcadellavita.it/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDJFNHlhX0wzT0VRQlZISmxWM2lGQmFjUWNZZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsZDFlWmVlNmExMFZXOTFpNzZqS1hyUm81cExrU3VXLUZFMUxMVnJVMkNpcVQ5YmgwMXBDa3hsVGlhbFFfOWdtWE5CY0wwWlV2amtCckxpZVFPdjRmT0xweFFwSHp4SkgtN1RZMUxjT2VtejNWVjdqWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Farcadellavita.it%2F&v=05CKlDrtcEw] & https://enzonastati.it [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbk5PWmw2M0kzZmd6M01Ia3RTaTdZdGJYa1BVUXxBQ3Jtc0tsY1pnQmhKczZpUFJIVGkteUlBVVRWSDh6LXBybDl6QmhQUThkSFo5bXNrdFdvV2hxU3lqY2k2LTFsdjkzMGk3X1VQMS0waUdWOTRHZ2cxVUJzdzFWYlVvWDJWS05lTGNGX01Lend2TURKcTgxWEZoVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fenzonastati.it%2F&v=05CKlDrtcEw] Enzo Nastati  on YouTube searxh “ARCA DELLA VITA” Goethe-Institut (English sections) www.goethe.de/en (search for Goethe) Georges Braque (Cubism):  https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/georges-braque-803 [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NZT0w4TDctSXktR1JGcFZ3LVU3TFhldUtpQXxBQ3Jtc0tuY3lDbGowMngwaDJsa3o0emtKdFA5N0lOWG40NWJQUHEyZEhlYThldXU5c1ZhU1J4Wm1SbWhMN0FuVzNSckV5bExMOVhkZHVQakkzaUZBeW1XMElKa3hxQVZ4cmplaWJ2MUVUMWMzTFdycUZsM2lGWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tate.org.uk%2Fart%2Fartists%2Fgeorges-braque-803&v=05CKlDrtcEw] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2428891/fan_mail/new]

The Safe Space Within featuring Kali Basman

Merging Yoga, Buddhism and Internal Family Systems. Exploring the somatic, spiritual and psychological. Dharma teacher Kali Basman beautifully combines Buddhist Psychology, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Yin Yoga to guide deep healing and embodied presence. Her work integrates the outer frameworks of anatomy and Traditional Chinese Medicine with inner practices of mind training and trauma resolution, inviting a compassionate and somatic approach to inner inquiry and transformation.  Kali is a certified Internal Family Systems coach, holds a master’s in Environmental Public Health, and brings over a decade of experience as a Global Health consultant with the United Nations Association Global Health Initiative on the Africa Affairs Committee. She also serves as a Conscious Dying Coach and Sacred Passage Doula, gently supporting individuals through life’s most profound transitions. Learn more about Kali’s work at https://www.kalidurgayoga.com/ [https://www.kalidurgayoga.com/] Kali will be offering a Spring Yintensive: A Retreat of Stillness & Seasonal Renewal at True Nature Healing Arts in Carbondale, Colorado, from April 23–26, 2026. This four-day immersion invites participants to slow down, soften inward, and attune to the wisdom of the season through Yin Yoga, Zen meditation, somatic ritual, and contemplative dialogue, a field for deep restoration and remembrance in nature’s unfolding.  For more information and to register, visit: https://www.truenaturehealingarts.com/spring-yintensive [https://www.truenaturehealingarts.com/spring-yintensive?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Enjoy the show! Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2428891/fan_mail/new]

The Gift of Mentorship with Ron Speaker

Ron Speaker is a seasoned investment specialist, financial mentor, and dedicated husband and father. He began his career in the mid-1980s as a summer intern in the mail room at Janus Capital Group in Denver, Colorado. There, he came under the mentorship of finance legends Tom Bailey and Michael McGoldrick, who would become lifelong influences.  Speaker rose through the ranks over 21 years at Janus, starting as a securities analyst—traveling internationally to research investments, eventually becoming a senior portfolio manager overseeing multi-billion-dollar mutual funds. In 2007, Speaker left Janus to found Equus Private Wealth Management in Carbondale, Colorado. He ran Equus for 15 years serving high-net-worth clients, until concluding operations in 2022. When mentee Michael McGoldrick passed away in 2021, Speaker was appointed CEO (and Founder) of the Michael E. McGoldrick Charitable Foundation, a private family foundation based in Colorado. The foundation supports nonprofits in arts and culture, education, environmental conservation, human rights, peace, justice, and the rule of law. Today, Speaker dedicates himself to financial education and mentorship. He founded The Finance Camp for teens, an intensive program teaching investing principles through real-world experience, community service, and market simulations. He also supports initiatives like the Youth Entrepreneurial Zone and programs empowering women and young investors. With over 38 years in the financial markets, Ron Speaker embodies a career of disciplined bond investing, entrepreneurial success, and a commitment to passing on financial wisdom—rooted in Colorado and inspired by his early mentors. Ron’s two mentors are:  Tom Bailey who founded Janus Funds, and Michael McGoldricK from the https://memcf.org Ron has created a financial youth camp: https://thefinancecamp.com Empowering Women: www.aspenwomenswealth.com  Ron also received coaching from Jeff Patterson: @officaljeffpatterson Heroic Program w/ Brian Johnson: IG: @heroicbrian Thank you for joining us on Connection Is The Medicine podcast. Support the show by liking, sharing, subscribing, commenting and rating. Every action helps. Enjoy the show! Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2428891/fan_mail/new]

Exploring Trauma with Tyler Stableford

In this episode, Eaden Shantay sits down with Tyler Stableford, a licensed psychotherapist based in Carbondale, Colorado, where he maintains a private practice at Stableford Counseling (stablefordcounseling.com) while also working in community mental health settings.  Specializing in trauma resolution and treatment-resistant conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, he integrates cutting-edge modalities including: •⁠  ⁠Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) •⁠  ⁠EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) •⁠  ⁠Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy •⁠  ⁠Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) •⁠  ⁠Coherence therapy His approach emphasizes healing, transformation, and accessibility, welcoming clients of all backgrounds through in-person sessions in Carbondale and tele-health options. Stableford’s educational path reflects both his creative roots and commitment to mental health. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College, where he served as president of the Dartmouth Mountaineering Club. After a distinguished first career, he returned to academia and graduated summa cum laude with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Midwestern State University at Texas Tech, complemented by advanced certifications in psychedelic medicine and trauma-focused therapies. Before transitioning to psychotherapy in 2023, Stableford built an acclaimed career as an Emmy Award-winning director, cinematographer, and adventure photographer. Owner of Tyler Stableford Productions, he created immersive campaigns for brands like Canon (as a longtime Explorer of Light), Patagonia, The North Face, Adidas, and Wrangler. His wide-angle style captured extreme sports, western lifestyles, and human resilience in award-winning short films and still series, earning recognition from Men’s Journal as one of the “World’s Seven Greatest Adventure Photographers” and screenings at festivals including Sundance and Banff. Deeply committed to social justice and service, Stableford has volunteered extensively, including four years as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children in Colorado’s 9th Judicial District and pro bono filmmaking for nonprofits supporting paralympic athletes, foster care, and immigrant integration. This ethos of advocacy and empathy now informs his therapeutic work, where he draws on life experience to help clients access care regardless of barriers. Today, Tyler Stableford lives in Carbondale with his wife and two children, balancing his counseling practice with family adventures in climbing and the outdoors that originally drew him to Colorado in 1996. His dual legacy—as a visual storyteller of boldness and a healer of inner landscapes—continues to inspire at the intersection of creativity, science, and human connection. Thank you for joining us on Connection Is The Medicine podcast. Support the show by liking, sharing, subscribing, commenting and rating. Every action helps. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2428891/fan_mail/new]