Harvesting Wisdom Podcast with Mike McMahon

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Mike McMahon visits a hillside farm overlooking Florence, Italy, run by a farmer practicing what he calls "ultra bioattivo" — an intensely biological, small-scale approach to growing over 40 varieties of vegetables and olives without any fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides for more than 12 years. The co...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of this conversation from France, Mike McMahon and his guest expand the discussion beyond wine to examine the broader relationship between food, agriculture, public health, and environmental stewardship. They explore the impact of processed foods on human health, the cultural importance of slowing down to enjoy meals, and how healthy soils ultimately lead to healthier pe...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could grow fresh basil, tomatoes, and edible flowers right in a bottle — without soil, pumps, or electricity? In this episode of the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast, Mike McMahon sits down with Christopher Brooks, founder and creator of Basil Bottle, to explore the power of passive hydroponics, food accessibility, and the healing connection between people and plants. Christo...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when kindergarten students get to grow, observe, harvest, and taste their own food? In this episode of the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast, Mike McMahon sits down with Deb Martinez, an educator and clinical assistant professor at Arizona State University, to talk about the power of garden-based learning in early childhood education. Deb shares how her lifelong connection to...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Mike McMahon sits down for a thoughtful conversation in France to explore the deeper story behind wine — not just as a drink, but as a reflection of place, soil, culture, and memory. Together, they discuss the importance of terroir, the character of Semillon grapes, the role of limestone soils, and how biodynamic and regenerative practices can...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon sits down with Kaitlin Noyes from the ASU Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences to explore what Bermuda’s ocean research can teach us about climate change, coral reefs, microplastics, microbes, and the future of our planet. From the deep sea to coral reef ecosystems, this conversation connects the hidden life of the ocean with...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when someone sees possibility in a forgotten piece of land? In this episode of the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast, Dr. Joe Roselle speaks with Novella Carpenter, urban farming pioneer and author of Farm City, about transforming an abandoned Oakland lot into a working urban farm and gathering place for the surrounding community. Novella shares how growing food can create co...

Send us Fan Mail What does regenerative agriculture really mean—and can farmers afford to make the transition? In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Dr. Joe Roselle sits down with Dr. Sara Rosenberg, a regenerative agriculture advisor with the University of California, to discuss the realities behind one of the fastest-growing movements in agriculture. From soil health and biodiversity to cover cr...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when communities lose access to trusted local news? In this episode of the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast, Dr. Joe Roselle sits down with Tregg White, President & CEO of the Arizona Media Association and Arizona Local News Foundation, to discuss the critical role local journalism plays in strengthening communities, informing public decisions, and elevating solutions ac...

Send us Fan Mail Can art change how we think about sustainability? In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Dr. Joe Roselle sits down with environmental artist Karen Boone to explore how creativity, nature, and conscious living intersect. Karen shares how she creates stunning sculptures from recycled materials, natural pigments, and low-toxin processes while inspiring others to reconnect with the nat...

Send us Fan Mail Ukraine has long been known as one of the world's most important agricultural producers, supplying food to millions across the globe. But what does the future look like for Ukraine's agricultural sector as it continues to recover, modernize, and strengthen its relationship with Europe? In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, guest host Diana Kruzman sits down with Oleksand...

Send us Fan Mail The landscaping industry is undergoing a major transformation. In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Mike McMahon sits down with representatives from Greenworks to discuss the shift from gas-powered equipment to battery-powered technology, the rise of robotic lawn mowers, and how automation could reshape landscaping over the next decade. They also discuss infrastructure challenges...

Send us Fan Mail What if great cooking starts long before food reaches the kitchen? In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Mike McMahon visits the Basque Culinary Center in Spain and sits down with Joxe Mari Aizega, General Director of one of the world's leading gastronomy institutions. Together, they explore how farming, sustainability, culinary education, food culture, and innovation all con...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a fourth-generation California farmer decides to completely rethink the way farming is done? In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Mike McMahon sits down with regenerative farmer Richard Filipe from Hanford, California, to discuss the future of agriculture, soil health, food quality, and why so many family farms are disappearing across America. Richard shares his...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to grow food successfully in the Arizona desert? In this episode of the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast, Dr. Joe Roselle sits down with Arizona gardening educator, author, speaker, and founder of Growing in the Garden, Angela Judd. Angela has spent years helping thousands of gardeners learn how to successfully grow food in hot desert climates through practical,...

Send us Fan Mail Earlier this year, before the inaugural Arizona Skyfire Film Festival took place in March, the Harvesting Wisdom team traveled to Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, to explore what makes world-class film festivals so impactful. In this episode, Mike McMahon reflects on the experience of attending Sundance and shares how film, storytelling, environmental awareness, civic pr...

Send us Fan Mail Earlier this year, before the inaugural Arizona Skyfire Film Festival took place in March, the Harvesting Wisdom team traveled to Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, to explore what makes world-class film festivals so impactful. In this episode, Mike McMahon reflects on the experience of attending Sundance and shares how film, storytelling, environmental awareness, civic pr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon sits down with Drew Enigk, Associate Director of Development for Natural Sciences at Arizona State University, to explore his incredible journey from Ohio to the forests of Uganda studying wild chimpanzees. With a Ph. D. in evolutionary anthropology and primatology, Drew shares what it was like spending over a year conducting...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon sits down with Alexandra Schuessler from the Desert Botanical Garden to explore the fascinating world of the Sonoran Desert. From growing up barefoot in the forests of Northern California to studying plant and fungal interactions at Northern Arizona University, Alexandra shares the journey that led her to desert science and c...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon takes us to Lahaina—a once-thriving coastal community now navigating the long road to recovery after devastating wildfires. Through firsthand footage and on-the-ground storytelling, we explore the lasting impact of the disaster and what rebuilding truly looks like—physically, economically, and emotionally. Mike sits...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of Harvesting Wisdom, guest host Diana Kruzman sits down with Lydia Shimon, Project Manager at Neo Eco Ukraine, to explore how sustainability is being redefined in the face of crisis. Broadcasting from Kyiv, Lydia shares how her team is transforming war debris into reusable materials through circular economy strategies—turning destruction into opportunity....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast, host Mike McMahon sits down with environmental filmmaker Alan Lacy and producer Kelly Sallaway to explore how storytelling is shaping the future of environmental awareness and action. Alan shares his journey launching Real Earth Films, a nonprofit focused on giving back to the communities and ecosystems featured in environmental fi...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of this conversation, guest host Diana Kruzman continues speaking with Irina Sokhodov and Olena Rybak about practical strategies for energy resilience and high-performance reconstruction . They explain how well-insulated buildings can stay livable longer during energy disruptions, and what it takes to upgrade older multi-family buildings—financially and socially—through...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom , guest host Diana Kruzman sits down with Irina Sokhodov (Ukrainian Green Building Council) and Olena Rybak (Managing Director, IC Ukraine) for a practical conversation on green reconstruction and energy-resilient rebuilding . They break down what sustainable recovery looks like on the ground: rehabilitating schools and hospitals, repurposing e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, guest host Diana Kruzman speaks with Kolko Trefers, CEO of Roskvit Urban Coalition for Ukraine, about sustainable urban planning during times of crisis. They explore how cities can rebuild thoughtfully, balancing urgent short-term needs with long-term resilience. Drawing lessons from post-disaster recovery efforts around the world, Kolko share...