The Earth Sea Love Podcast

Episode 076- How Life is Fragile and Emerging with Soraya Abdel-Hadi

Welcome back to another episode of The Earth Sea Love Podcast. It is with gratitude pleasure that we share this lovely conversation with Soraya Abdel-Hadi.
Soraya is the founder and managing director of All the Elements, as well as running her own successful coaching business, soraya earth >
In this episode, your host Dr Sheree Mack and Soraya, talk about:
situating self,  seeing nature emerging 
slowing down to notice nature
there are other ways of being in this world 
All the Elements developments since 2021, it’s a community learning about self through developments 
centring on the people, 
buying into capitalism, the grind,  the achievement and the 
allyship ‘v’ comradeship
Timber Festival, a celebratory event  and finding your people 
Rehearsals for Living by Robyn Maynard and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
The Outdoor Citizen (TOC),  what is it?
professional skills development to create change 
the anti-urgency at All the Element, a way of working
nature connection 
Grief around mums passing
creativity through Substack
creative practice and legacy 
a reminder it only takes 5 minutes to go outside 
 Bio: Soraya Abdel-Hadi is a sustainability specialist, life coach, facilitator and the founder and driving force of nature behind All the Elements, a CIC supporting leaders working on access and representation in the UK outdoor sector. She’s an energiser, a maker of change and connection.
 
Whale Song on Substack - An environmental and social change newsletter from Soraya Abdel-Hadi

Episode 075 - Quiet Disruptions with Dal Kular

Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. We are so pleased to be back with you for another episode release, within a week of the last one. We are trying to keep to our word!
This episode, 075, in our 7th season is with our wonderful Sista Dal Kular. We are such a fan of Dal.
Talking with your host, Dr Sheree Mack, in this episode you will hear, Dal talking about:
* Situating the self in the present moment of recording * How has this season been treating Dal                                                  
* The long recovery from head injury* Walking in winter - practice and confidence and joy
* Disrupting this hard season of grief and loss* Changes after a head injury adjustments  - * Rest and planning time as part of being human* Learning how to be with a head injury and manage health and wellbeing
* Challenging ableist constructs, the interview, the exam * Black Nature In Residence programme with identity on tyne * Gusset wisdom shared* Creatives learning, freedom to create* Creating a giant journal as part of a residency* Quiet disruptions and dislodging colonial narratives * Cheap travelling to remote places* Deepen strength and honing in on creative practices * The future of nature writing 
* Embracing the extraordinaryness of the everyday
 
Bio: Dal Kular (she/her) is a writer, maker, zinester and facilitator of creative and nature-allied arts for healing, liberation and joy. She left school at 16 years old with 3 O-levels having been told she could never be a writer – returning to the power of words in her late forties – as an act of radical care and healing. Her debut poetry book (un)interrupted tongues, published by Fly on The Wall Press, emerged from a zine she created during her masters dissertation about the therapeutic and healing powers of zine-making. She loves making zines and handmade books. Dal’s latest zine is called ‘Dear Nature…’ and created during her writing residency with Peaks of Colour. She lives in Sheffield.  You can read more of her work here.
 
 

Episode 074 - Zines, AI and Nature with Nabila Cruz

New Year. New Season. 
Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast, as we celebrate our 5th year of production. 
We are so happy to be back with you all after our winter hibernation. Rest is important. Rest is a weapon. And we must use it.
Welcome back to our first episode of the season which is with our lovely guest and friend, Nabila Cruz.
Nabila Cruz is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield, specialising in critical AI studies with a focus on how generative artificial intelligence impacts trust in digital news media.
Within this episode we talk about: 
* Situating ourselves in the country and placing ourselves in nature nearby* Situating ourselves through the seasons and having plant children * Learning to let go of control* What you be/ who you be at this time? * Brazilian, Italian and Arabic mixness, and growing up in the UK, therefore British* Mess in nature, mess in life, complicated realities* PhD a source of joy and headache - generative AI affects trust in the news* Expressing ourselves with whatever tools are at our disposal* AI developments - critical study of the pros and cons* Being curious and creative* Zine making as research method* Over Here Zine Festival  * Peaks of Colour walkshop - Dal Kular facilitating * Access to nature, reclaiming it for belonging * Zine: a letter to nature from my inner child * The danger isn’t AI it’s the people behind AI* Zines in the making * Future plans/ learning * AI with a more caring face, a human touch* Self-care on the journey of the PhD* Therapy as a thru line throughout life for free * Important for more people of colour to become therapists* Mutual appreciation club
 
Bio: Nabila Cruz is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield, specialising in critical AI studies with a focus on how generative artificial intelligence impacts trust in digital news media. With a background in information science, she has worked in various roles in libraries and universities in the UK. She has taught university students, run training sessions, and organised events. She also leads creative workshops whenever possible. Born in Brazil with African and European heritage, Nabila moved to the UK as a teenager and found a sense of belonging in its diverse cultures. She writes short stories and poetry in her spare time and discovered zine-making recently. Her stories, poems and zines reflect her personal journey and act as a form of self-care. But she feels the most sense of healing in nature, when she goes for hikes or visits the sea.
 
Here are some of Nabila's zines  online:
Living with PCOS https://heyzine.com/flip-book/c84b65bda3.html
A Letter To Nature From My Inner Child https://heyzine.com/flip-book/f4276f2f18.html
Herbie is my favourite person https://heyzine.com/flip-book/3a20638e30.html
Nabila's website: www.nabilacruz.com.
 
Also mentioned in the introduction of this episode is the Over Here Zine Festival mini pop up festival in collaboration with Dal Kular and Migration Matters.  
You can find out more information about this event happening on Saturday 28 June here.
* Sheree would like to express her apologises as she incorrectly states in the introduction of this episode’s that Nabila was born on the UK. As it says on the above bio, Nabila was born in Brazil. Please accept our apologies for the mistake. 

Episode 073 - Jola Olafimihan, Creative in Northumberland National Park

We are so exited to bring you a special mini series of podcast episodes created in collaboration with identity on tyne and their Black Nature in Residence Programme. 
Created and project coordinated by your host Dr Sheree Mack, the Black Nature in Residence Programmed (BNIR) aims to offer creative opportunities within nature for the global majority.  Started in 2019, the Black Nature in Residence Programme not only offers time and space in nature for creatives, focusing on the creative process and practices rather than putting the pressure on to produce produce and produce. The process is the focus rather than the outputs and outcomes. identity on tyne believes that when you give creatives the time and space to {BE},  something magical happens in the way they see themselves and their practice. The creatives have permission to play, experiment and create on their own terms. And nature is the guide in this process.
In this episode Sheree talks to Jola Olafimihan about her residency in the Northumberland National Park. They talk about:
* Where Jola is situated
* Who she be?
* What progression has there been from BNIR to BNIA 2:0?
* Nigerian indigo dying technique Adire
* Having two homes and combining them within this residency
* Walking groups both white and global majority 
* Disconnection from nature and the consequencs
* Healing with nature 
* Black-led creative projects
* Solastalgia
* Racism and harm and self-care practices 
 
Bio: Jola Olafimihan writes as a way of understanding all that is around her. She writes as a form of mindful practise and a way to focus her mind. She’s an industrious individual with a conscientious and positive attitude towards her work, creating, and exploration of newthemes. She’s a resilient and a forward-thinking creative, who likes developing her skill set. She’s an independent thinker who takes the initiative, self-driven to achieve successon independent projects such as being writer in residence for Durham Wildlife Trust (2020- 22), where she developed original pieces of writings and artworks.

Episode 072 – Testament, Creative in The Yorkshire Dales National Park

We are so exited to bring you a special mini series of podcast episodes created in collaboration with identity on tyne and their Black Nature in Residence Programme. 
Created and project coordinated by your host Dr Sheree Mack, the Black Nature in Residence Programmed (BNIR) aims to offer creative opportunities within nature for the global majority.  Started in 2019, the Black Nature in Residence Programme not only offers time and space in nature for creatives, focusing on the creative process and practices rather than putting the pressure on to produce produce and produce. The process is the focus rather than the outputs and outcomes. identity on tyne believes that when you give creatives the time and space to {BE},  something magical happens in the way they see themselves and their practice. The creatives have permission to play, experiment and create on their own terms. And nature is the guide in this process.
In this episode Sheree talks to Testament about his residency in the Yorkshire Dales. They talk about:
* Where Testament is situated
* What he does and how he came to doing this?
* How Testament 's residency has been going?
* Testament's research and critical tabulations around the runaway slave Thomas Anson ( Apologies for using Hansen in the podcast introduction)
* Fugitive and fugitivity
* Being artists and the mycelium network
* Patterson Joseph and his 2022 debut novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho 
* Self-care practices 
 
Bio: Testament is an acclaimed writer, spoken word artist, playwright and rapper. He is currently based in West Yorkshire.Testament’s work has received praise from a wide range of voices including Lemn Sissay, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, writer and graphic novelist Alan Moore (Watchmen/ V for Vendetta), actor and writer Patterson Joseph, BBC presenter Lauren Laverne and theoriginator of Hip- Hop DJ Koolherc.Testament is passionate about using words to connect communities and ideas, and in so doing challenge assumptions and start conversations. Testament has worked as a freelance artist since 2007, teaching, writing and performing nationally and internationally. As well as writing and performing, Testament has done extensive work as an educator and workshop facilitator.Before becoming a writer, as a musician in 2009 Testament released an acclaimed album No Freedom Without Sacrifice under his “Homecut” moniker featuring Grammy Winner Corinne Bailey Rae, MOBO winner Soweto Kinch and US rap legend J-Live among others.He also features on the MOBO jazz nominated album Faces by David Lyttle.

Episode 071 - Nadia Emam, Creative in The North York Moors National Park

We are so exited to bring you a special mini series of podcast episodes created in collaboration with identity on tyne and their Black Nature in Residence Programme. 
Created and project coordinated by your host Dr Sheree Mack, the Black Nature in Residence Programmed (BNIR) aims to offer creative opportunities within nature for the global majority.  Started in 2019, the Black Nature in Residence Programme not only offers time and space in nature for creatives, focusing on the creative process and practices rather than putting the pressure on to produce produce and produce. The process is the focus rather than the outputs and outcomes. identity on tyne believes that when you give creatives the time and space to {BE},  something magical happens in the way they see themselves and their practice. The creatives have permission to play, experiment and create on their own terms. And nature is the guide in this process.
In this episode Sheree talks to Nadia Emam about her residency in the North York Moors. They talk about:
* Where Nadia is situated
* Who she be?
* How Nadia's residency has been going?
* How has her practice been changing during this time?
* Taking time out in nature to be
* Journey back home to Egypt and Scarborough
* Working with predominately white organisations 
* Anti-racism training 
* Black-led creative projects
*Healing in nature
* Next steps within the residence 
 
Bio: Nadia Emam is a a freelance director for theatre and film, working as an actor, poet and dramaturg.She has over 10 years experience as a facilitator in drama & poetry with young people, adults and communities working with Sheffield People’s Theatre, Aesthetica Film Festival + BFI NETWORK and The Crucible. Nadia’s practice is fuelled by kindness, silliness, inspiring creativity to nourish and build confidence.
 

Episode 070 - Wajid Hussain, Creative in The Lake District National Park

We are so exited to bring you a special mini series of podcast episodes created in collaboration with identity on tyne and their Black Nature in Residence Programme. 
Created and project coordinated by your host Dr Sheree Mack, the Black Nature in Residence Programmed (BNIR) aims to offer creative opportunities within nature for the global majority.  Started in 2019, the Black Nature in Residence Programme not only offers time and space in nature for creatives, focusing on the creative process and practices rather than putting the pressure on to produce produce and produce. The process is the focus rather than the outputs and outcomes. identity on tyne believes that when you give creatives the time and space to {BE},  something magical happens in the way they see themselves and their practice. The creatives have permission to play, experiment and create on their own terms. And nature is the guide in this process.
In this episode Sheree talks to Wajid Hussain about his residency in the Lake District. They talk about:
* Where Wajid is situated
* Who he be?
* How he has developed from BNIR to BNIR 2:0
* How he has been rehabilitating after covid
* What he's focusing on within his residency
* Being present in nature and observing
* Demystifying the creative 
* Self-care as a creative practitioner
 
Bio:
Wajid Hussain’s deepest passion is the ability of words, both spoken and visual, to connect with people from all walks of life. What makes his creative journey unique is how he’s blended his engineering background and cultural heritage into art. It's a blend of the sensory and the intellectual, where stories come to life through multiple senses. Wajid often combines poetry, word streams, and abstract illustrations to stir emotions and thoughts. Live poetry performances,commissioned projects, and visual creations are all part of his artistic toolkit. His fervour for artistic expression propels his mission: to inspire and empower others to embrace their creativity while providing safe spaces that amplify their voices. Dear Deddy-ji (Waterloo Press, 2012), Wajid’s first published collection of prose poems is dedicated to his late Father, covers themes fatherhood, legacy and identity. 

Episode 069 - Live From the Tremula Festival with Alinah Azadeh

Welcome back to a very special episode of The Earth Sea Love Podcast. After four years of recording the podcast, with this nearly being our seventieth episode, we bring you our first LIVE face to face recorded conversation.
We are really excited to share a live face to face recording that took place during the wonderful Tremula Festival on Saturday 21 September 2024.
The Tremula Festival, the first of its kind, was a selections of talks,  production skills and workshops focusing on the connection between audio, the outdoors and the activism happening in those spaces. Your podcast host, Dr. Sheree Mack, was invited along to take part by the lovely Francesca Turauskis,Founder and Lead Producer of the Tremula Network.
And it was Fran who introduced Sheree to Alinah Azadeh, the guest of this special podcast. We are so pleased to share this episode with you as it was such a powerful conversation between the two creatives. 
The conversation covers:
* where the podcast is taking place in terms of situating themselves
* responding to the question, who you be?
* being radical/ creating radical situations within culture and the arts
* nature connection explored through art projects within community
* writing stories set in the future
* being the Seven Sisters' writer in residence and creating a writing community of the global majority
* creating a major audio walk in collaboration along the South Downs coastline - WE HEAR YOU NOW
* Alinah reading a section from her speculative fiction story based in 2053, WE HEAR YOU NOW
* You can read this story yourself at Alinah's substack, The Colour of Chalk 
* the two kinds of legacies which have been created through WE HEAR YOU NOW
* the criminal damage that has happened to this public artwork
* responses to the South Downs National Park Press Statement about the racialised attack against this walking trail  
* the trauma experienced of having our stories erased for centuries
* the power of the collective voice in pushing back against racism
* the difficulty of putting into practice black-led projects for everyone involved
* what does 'Landscape for All' translate into, in practice, or should mean
* progress in the use of language used to describe us by others, taking the lead from us
* Alinah's childhood and being brought up within nature
* more opportunities are welcomed to meander and wander and wonder with people within the landscape
* how the power of audio can be used to cross boundaries and borders
* followed by questions from the audience. 
 
Bio:
Alinah Azadeh is a writer, artist, performer and cultural activist of British Iranian heritage. She uses writing, audio, and live practices to create poetic narratives that activate spaces, amplifying untold or overlooked stories and future imaginings. Alongside a 30-year visual arts career, Azadeh has been published, most recently in Best British Short Stories 2023 (Salt) with The Beard, a feminist tale of power, hair and revolution. As first ever writer-in-residence at Seven Sisters Country Park and Sussex Heritage Coast 2020-23, for South Downs National Park, she led We See You Now, a decolonial landscape and literature programme exploring the coast through the lens of climate change & justice, loss, migration and belonging. This led to her podcast The Colour of Chalk and the co-writing and curation of We Hear You Now, an audio and performance series of poetry, speculative fiction and myth by women and non-binary writers of Black and global majority heritage, now installed on 14 Listening Posts across the coast and online, co-funded by Arts Council England. Alinah is working on numerous writing projects and commissions, including her artist memoir and is also Writing Our Legacy/ Changing Chalk Associate Artist for The National Trust.
 
 

Episode 068 - Right to Roam with Nadia Shaikh

Hello and welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. This is the last episode of the summer before we return in September with the special episodes created in collaboration identity on tyne and the Black Nature in Residence programme. 
In this episode, your host, Dr. Sheree Mack is talking to the lovely and knowledgeable Nadia Shaikh. Calling in from the Isle of Bute, they talk about:
* Situating themselves
* The Isle of Bute and Scotland
* Land Justice Activism
* What is the Right to Roam?
* Land ownership 
* Scotland's Right to Roam
* Colonialism upon British soil
* The Raven Network
* The Earth Sea Love Episodes exploring Racial Equity Network of the National Trust
* You don't have to know the names to have a relationship with nature
* Wild Service the book.
 
Bio is: Nadia Shaikh is a naturalist and ornithologist who has worked in nature conservation for over 14 years. She left the sector to focus on the links between our legacy of land ownership, limited access to nature and the link to biodiversity loss. She is co-director of the Right to Roam Campaign and is one of the authors of Wild Service. She founded The Raven Network, a group for people of colour who work in the nature conservation and environment sector, the network seeks to understand how to decolonizing the way we think about nature conservation.
 

Episode 067 - The Beingness of Embodiment with Christian Totty

Welcome back to The Earth Sea Love Podcast. So glad that you’ve come back to us. This episode, as we hurtle towards Summer, was recorded close to the Spring Equinox with Christian Totty. Christian has a Healing Arts Practice and a juicy Substack newsletter called Wholly Earth.
In this episode, talking with your host Dr. Sheree Mack, Christian explores:
* Being thankful
* Situating ourselves in the landscape
* The Spring Equinox quickening of season’s change
* Hold both at the same time - grief and the quickening
* Ruth Gilmore -‘ life is precious, life is precious ‘
* Astrological eclipses and change
* Finding those ways of being present
* What is a healing arts practice?
* The reluctance around embracing herbal medicine 
* The slowdown and being present
* Tapping into the unknown and our ancestors
* Childhood experiences with grandmother
* Theatre and community arts can save you
* Taping into astrology later in life as a thru-line
* Multidisciplinary practices are necessary
* Embracing liminal spaces 
* What is embodiment? 
* Abbey Lincoln and Wholly Earth 
* The Nature Writing Collection on Christian's Substack
* Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Clearing 
 
Bio: BioChristian Totty (she/her) is an Afro-Indigenous mother, gardener, and interdisciplinary healing artist based in northwest Ohio in the traditional homelands of the Kickapoo, Shawnee, and Miami peoples. Through her work, Christian explores rituals, embodiment, intersectionality, and interdependence. 
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Inner Ecology: Writing with Nature Series