Shambala Speaks

Prepare for your mind to stretch and your soul to fill. Here’s part 2 of our poetry slam episode. Just a heads up and trigger warning - part of this material is raw, sweary and contains descriptions of sexual assault. Thanks to our slammers: Kathy D, Nathan, Woody Rooster, Sennen Una Johnson, Lily, The Blonde Butterfly, Louise Stuart Daisy, Jay Mitra (our 2022 winner)

From lyrical luminaries to rising stars and everything in between, here’s a selection of Sunday's poetry slam with more coming in part 2. Heads up: part of this material is raw, sweary and contains language which some may find offensive.  Thanks to our slammers: Tony, Claire, Rory, One Inky Queer, Jay Mitra, Maisy, Alistair, Ann, Steph, Josh, Tia, Bex Gordon

 In this heartwarming episode, we hear how music has helped to tie together threads of 3 generations…   Produced by eventsinsound.com

Ecocide literally means “killing one’s home”. In this episode, we hear from Jo Jo Mehta the Co Founder and Executive Director of Stop Ecocide International. She updates us on the tremendous progress and profound changes that are taking place in making ecocide an international crime. To support this work and get involved, please head to  https://www.stopecocide.earth/act-now where you'll find a who...

Elkin Robinson is a performer from the island of Old Providence in The Carribean. Elkin performs with his band and tells us about the origins of his music . Call in the spring with these sunshine songs!   Produced by eventsinsound.com

Mark Grist is an award winning poet, teacher and unlikely battle rapper - with millions of views for both his poetry and rap battles online. In this episode, he explores his experience as an artist during the pandemic, and how audiences and artists rely on each other - and how, when we're hungry for hope, we can find it in extraordinary places (plus a cheeky cameo from hip-hop hero Chali 2na, no b...

Gareth Owen is the Humanitarian Director of Save the Children UK.  In this episode, we hear how he manages to match the resilience of those he’s helping on the front lines. His book When the Music's Over is out now. Part memoir, part history and part politics, its also a story about human connection in desperate circumstances. https://repeaterbooks.com/product/when-the-musics-over-intervention-aid...

Joelle Taylor is a poet, author and playwright. In this episode, we get a glimpse of butch counterculture, where we feel the bonds, the bravery and the abuse… Joelle’s most recent book, Cunto and Othered Poems, won the T.S. Eliot Prize in 2021. Produced by eventsinsound.com  

Nick Hayes and Amy-Jane Beer work together on the Right to Roam campaign. This argues for  greater equality and access to green and blue space. Nick and Amy-Jane ask why do we need the right to roam and why is river access in England so restricted? Nick Hayes is author of The Sunday Times bestseller: The Book of Trespass and The Trespasser’s Companion: A Field Guide to Reclaiming What is Already O...

In This episode we learn the true value of play and hear how Ash Perrin, once a clown to the wealthy, found his true purpose in bringing love and smiles to those most in need. You can read more about this work in his book The Real Play Revolution: https://cygnusreview.com/cart Bringing you a selection of the finest of wise words, revolutionary ideas and beautiful stories, spoken under the canopies...

You may recognise Kash’s voice from episode 6 of Shambala Speaks where he told us a beautifully bittersweet story about the death of his Grandmother. In this episode, Kash Raja picks up the story; to muse upon the happiness to be found in unrequited love. This story was recorded live at Natural Born Storytellers, in the Imaginarium at Shambala 2019 - if you liked this story, check out their amazin...

In this episode we hear Dr Gail Bradbrook of XR and Stephen Reid of The psychedelic Society talk about their own mind-expanding experiences, how psychedelics have been useful in their lives and how they could be used as a tool in addressing the climate crisis. For more information see the links: https://www.psychedelicsociety.org.uk/ https://rebellion.earth/ Bringing you a selection of the finest...

In this episode Comic poet Luke Wright pulls us through his homelands and gives us an idea why we need to see beasts in the shadows. This is a little slice of Luke’s hour-long rollercoaster set delivered to a packed crowd in the Imaginarium. His collection of poems ‘After Engine Trouble’ is available from his website: http://www.lukewright.co.uk/ Bringing you a selection of the finest of wise word...

One of the guiding principles of Shambala is the Children's Fire. Mac Macartney tells us about the wisdom imparted to him from Native American elders and how this simple principle could help us repair, protect and better care for the world we have inherited and we’ll leave behind. Mac Macartney’s book is called the Children’s Fire: https://macmacartney.com/portfolio/thechildrensfire/ Bringing you...

In this episode we dip into the Garden o’ Feeden to hear Lauren Lovatt tell us about the tragic events that lead her on a journey of discovery into how food can help our mental health. We also get a couple of her special recipes that combine chocolate with medicinal mushrooms, and Kale with CBD oil. https://laurenlovatt.com/ Bringing you a selection of the finest of wise words, revolutionary ideas...

In this episode we hear some of the wonderfully rich short poems that were voiced in this year’s poetry slam - sit back and enjoy musings on love, life, death and the wonderful bits in between. Thanks to Shaun Hill, Ali P, Vicki MacWinyers aka Pixievic, Kat from Bristol, Jenny (moon Twiglet), Granma Rapster, Georgia L Stride and GPS. Bringing you a selection of the finest of wise words, revolution...

Two counties, two rich traditions, two advocates. In this episode we learn from two cider experts Dan Heath and Gabe Cook about our national liquid gold while they try to convince a Shambala audience to decide which county makes the best cider: Somerset or Herefordshire? https://www.theciderbox.com/ http://www.theciderologist.com/ Bringing you a selection of the finest of wise words, revolutionary...

There are many aspects of our lives that are hard to imagine beyond Brexit. And in this fascinating episode Humphrey Lloyd walks us through the opportunities, threats and options that this change could present for our food system. https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/ Bringing you a selection of the finest of wise words, revolutionary ideas and beautiful stories, spoken under the canopies of the Sha...

As another mass civil disobedience begins this week, Dr Gail Bradbrook, one of the co founders of Extinction Rebellion shares some timely insights to help us rebel. For more information: https://rebellion.earth/ Bringing you a selection of the finest of wise words, revolutionary ideas and beautiful stories, spoken under the canopies of the Shambala festival – an adventure in utopia. Produced by Me...

Putting a free festival on can expose communities that other wise have a limited access to new and exciting music and culture, but putting one on, especially a free one is never easy as Jools Constant tells us in this story about the fight for Newport Festival. Bringing you a selection of the finest of wise words, revolutionary ideas and beautiful stories, spoken under the canopies of the Shambala...

In this second part of our epiphanies stories Kash Raja tells us a story about his beautiful relationship with his grandmother. A split second misjudgement leads to his grandmother having an accident he feels responsible for. His fear of karmic retribution in the aftermath leads him to avoid driving and air travel - until he has an epiphany at her bedside... This story was recorded live at Natural...

In this very special bonus episode of the Shambala Speaks podcast, we take you inside the appeal of Daisy The Cow, on site at Shambala 2018. The initial Trial of Daisy The Cow took place in 2017, in Shambala's Garden O'Feeden venue, where Daisy (representing the global livestock industry) was put on trial for crimes against the earth. Daisy was found guilty, but launched an appeal. Delve into this...

In this first part of our epiphanies stories, Dr. Stephen Fabes tells us about how a tragic event helped him fully understand how to be a doctor… This story was recorded live at Natural Born Storytellers at Shambala - if you liked this story, check out their amazing podcast where you can listen to loads more. Highly recommended listening. https://www.naturalbornstorytellers.com/podcast Bringing yo...

For this episode we duck into the Shambala home of grass roots activism, the Rebel Soul tent to hear from the members of the band Grrrl… Grrrl are a group of women musicians from marginalised communities around the world, brought together by the project ‘In place of War’ to tell their stories of life, conflict, inequality and change with a powerful collective voice. Bringing you a selection of the...

Who knew that the history of Carbon Offsetting was so rock and roll? Dan Morrell, the founder of Carbon Neutral tells his story - from a wild night out with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant to a terrifying car accident, a near death experience and a talking healing tree. Throw in Joe Strummer, the Foo Fighters, Damien Hirst and a little pet shop in Castle Cary and you have one helluva tale. Buckle up!...