The Mindful Isle

How often do domestic tasks feel like a never-ending to do list, a source of frustration and potentially resentment? But what if there was another way to frame it, a different approach that might even feel joyful?  In this episode I speak with Helen Hayward a psychotherapist by trade, writer and yoga teacher, about the art of housekeeping. We discuss how the death of her sister changed her attitud...

Where do you turn to find joy and solace in tough times? If you ask today's guest, the answer lies in the beauty of mundane everyday life. From the depths of grief and social anxiety, she rebuilt her life, prioritising creative living and meaningful connections to place and people. Sophie Appleby is a writer, creative and self described bowerbird. She's the President of Book Council of Tasmania/lu...

There’s lots of us out there conscientiously trying to live more sustainably…taking our produce bags to the supermarket, reusing things, swapping clothes and composting… but there are still corners of our society where waste is almost deemed a given and something that’s out of our hands.  Coming from a background in nursing Brenton Lovering had long considered the large amounts of clinical and hos...

Last episode we went deep on burnout and what it looks like…this week we’re talking with someone who shares their process recovering from burnout and cultivating a life with intention that's kind to the planet and yourself. Nat Mendham is a multi-discipline purpose driven creative and in this ep she shares why she advocates for, radical rest, the joys of visible mending, her very cool Radical Post...

Burnout is a term that gets thrown around a lot but what exactly is it and how do you heal  your nervous system? Today's guest spends her days sharing the healing effects of nature and physical activity for mental health. Daisy Grodzki, also known as the Walking Therapist, is a mental Health social worker based in the North West of Tasmania.  In this conversation, we discuss:  The regulating power...

When you think of the Tasmanian landscape what sounds and smells come to mind?  Today's guest has spent many hours walking through the bush, noticing, listening and learning. In this episode, writer and perfume maker Hilary Burden shares a beautiful insight into her relationship with nature. She's led a celebrated career as a journalist and editor working throughout Australia and the UK.  In Hilar...

Even as a child, today's guest had a entrepreneurial mind… making clothes on an old Singer sewing machine and selling them at the Chudleigh store. As the years have passed, her business mindset and interest in fashion have remained.  Tamika Bannister has channelled her business mindset and interest in fashion into Spotted Quoll, a slow fashion label that has been creating beautiful pieces since 20...

Do you ever look around in pure awe at the small yet incredible parts of nature …dew drops in a spiderweb, the intricate veins on leaves, the bright colours and patterns of flowers. Today’s guest spends lots of time observing these moments of everyday beauty and then celebrating them in her artwork. Emerging artist Audrey Carter has already established a distinct style, using vivid colours in her...

From site visits in a saltmarsh and identifying bat calls, to delivering community talks and cultivating an incredible edible garden, today’s guest lives and breathes nature. In today’s episode you’ll hear from Dr Lisa Cawthen, an environmental scientist and community educator. We discuss her science career and how she ended up specialising in bat science, the call for a dark sky sanctuary in Tasm...

Today’s guest breathes new life into old saucers, plates and coffee pots, turning them into beautiful vintage-inspired art, featuring funky women and pithy catch phrases. Eva Gabriel-Stallwood, the lady behind signature local brand Lily and Gabe shares her soft spot for ‘orphaned’ plates.  In this conversation, we discuss how she began, the urge to celebrate a range of emotions in her work, and he...

Welcome back to the Mindful Isle…our first episode of season four!  I’m so excited to be back in your ears sharing conversations about slow and sustainable living after almost two years. I’ve been in the depths of parenting two little people and trying my best to lean-in to the slowness and simplicity of these days. I’ve been plugging away at this season for the last few months behind the scenes,...

In today's episode we're chatting about opting for a slower pace of life and the benefits of this. My guest today is Tracey Groombridge, aka @mcleod9mentor - she's a mental health worker, a coach and a retreat facilitator. In this episode, she shares her fun approach to gratitude, some of her biggest takeaways from working in mental health and developing Women to the Front retreats, empowering wom...

I'm so delighted to have a lovely long-time listener and supporter of the show on today, Renee Allan. You might know her as @cherrymumma from Instagram. She's a mum of four, a teacher, lover of all things vintage and a passionate sewer. In this episode we discuss where her love of sewing began and what inspired her to kick things up a notch and begin sewing all her clothes. She's also part of Laun...

Art has an incredible power to challenge widely held perspectives and start important conversations. In today's episode you'll hear from artist and proud Wiradjuri woman Brandi Salmon. She is flipping traditional portrayals of Indigenous people in art on their head. Through her collection 'The Aunties' she has reimagined famous paintings such as The Mona Lisa, Girl with the Pearl Earring and the B...

In today's episode you'll meet Bonnie Tuttle, a personal and business coach consulting with individuals, leaders, not for profits and small businesses. As you'll hear in this episode, she has worked across many industries and uses these skills to offer a mixed bag of services but on the whole, she's working to help people live more authentic, fulfilling lives. In this conversation, Bonnie shares t...

In today's episode you'll meet Jayne Case, a mother of two and the creator behind the small business, Three Harveys. She makes beautiful toys from Tasmanian driftwood which encourage imaginative play. In this conversation Jayne shares where her passion for woodwork began, sustainably sourcing driftwood, tips for slow parenting and encouraging creative play, and some reflections on raising a Deaf c...

A barista made coffee is a non-negotiable part of many people's day but have you ever stepped back to think about how much waste is generated from coffee grounds? Today's guest Kimberley Eaton has seen this first hand through her work in the hospitality industry and together with her partner Elliot Gee, they founded Golden Brown, a community composting initiative, diverting coffee grounds from lan...

How much do you know about our edible native plants? Today's guest has made it her mission to learn more about Tassie's edible natives and make them more accessible to people around the state. Corinne spent her childhood foraging in the highlands of Inverness, Scotland and years later she's channelling her passion and skills into her daily work. Together with Chris Chapman, she founded Willd Peppe...

Maria Ortiz is a beacon of light in the sustainability space. Rather than dwelling on the devastation of the climate crisis, she has harnessed this as motivation to make a positive difference to the planet. In this conversation, she shares her personal journey to live a more sustainable life and how her business Earth Coterie has evolved from this. Check out Maria’s sustainable shop here: https://...

In today's episode you'll meet Coralee Williams, the creator of Inspired by Nature Tasmania, who makes beautiful handcrafted items including bushdyed fabrics and native cherry burl earrings. In this conversation, she shares her adoration for the Tasmanian landscape, her creative process using natural materials and food waste and more. Check out Coralee's creations here: https://www.inspiredbynatur...

You've probably heard the phrase 'it takes a village' in relation to parenting but with modern fast paced lifestyles and families spread out across different states and a pandemic thrown in the mix, this has fallen by the wayside. Today's guest is helping to reignite the village, nourishing and nurturing women postpartum in Tasmania and Melbourne. Dr Renee White comes from a background in biochemi...

In this episode you’ll meet Jay Chipman, the founder of Tasmanian charity Homely Retreats which gives a complimentary weekend away to families who have one parent undergoing cancer treatment. Jay shares how her experience with cancer fuelled her to create a service to provide other families with the invaluable chance to rest and reconnect when they need it most. In this conversation, you’ll hear a...

Welcome to season three of the Mindful Isle! Thanks so much for joining me! I’m so excited to be back and I’m really looking forward to introducing you to guests from all different backgrounds over the course of the season, who are all reflecting on conscious living in Tasmania. How much do we really need? This is something that today’s guest has spent a lot of time reflecting on, particularly in...

Season two may be over but here's a look back at some of the wonderful doers, makers and thinkers we've met over the past 10 episodes. I'll be back with more conversations about conscious living in Tasmania in 2022. In the meantime, let's continue the conversation on Instagram @themindfulisle

Have you ever considered quitting your job and making a sea change? Or, maybe you landed here in Tassie doing just that. Today's guest Kim Kerton threw in her fast-paced media sales job in Sydney with a vision of relocating to Bruny Island with her partner and opening a yoga studio. Then Covid struck. In this episode, Kim shares how she wound up on the East Coast of Tassie, what the tipping point...