Deep Ecology Reconnection with Nature: With Aussies John Seed & Tema Milstein

Deep Ecology Reconnection with Nature: With Aussies John Seed & Tema Milstein

Author: cpfreeman August 27, 2025 Duration: 56:32
If you like eco-therapy and/or Australian accents, you'll get both in this episode, as Carrie interviews John Seed, Deep Ecology father, founder/activist of the Rainforest Information Centre and co-author of the open-access book "Thinking Like a Mountain: Toward a Council of All Beings," and Dr. Tema Milstein (American turned Australian), Fulbright Scholar, and environmental communication Professor at Univ of New South Wales in Sydney. Both are co-facilitators of Deep Ecology workshops, that help reconnect us with each other and nature and heal our separation, like the compelling workshop I attended with them in Hobart Tasmania this June (you'll hear brief audio clips from that workshop of a kookaburra bird, Tema ringing bells, and my reflections after an emotional exercise). In this 56 minute interview, we describe some of my favorite workshop exercises like the council of all beings, breathing with trees, a solar system planetary walk, and the truth mandala (honouring our pain for the world). John also recites two poems by Robinson Jeffers. You can find out more about this eco-philosophy and everyday practice of Deep Ecology at John's websites below, and in the U.S. through "The Work That Reconnects" https://workthatreconnects.org/  https://www.facebook.com/johnseed.deepecology        https://www.instagram.com/johnseed_deepecology/    https://substack.com/@johnseed   Occasional blog posts at htpps://johnseed.net   Podcasts, essays, films etc https://rainforestinfo.org.au/johnseed.htm    Plus follow Tema at https://www.instagram.com/temamilstein/  "In Tune to Nature" is a weekly hour-long radio show airing Wednesdays at 6pm Eastern Time on 89.3FM-Atlanta radio and streaming worldwide on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia, a nonprofit indie station) hosted by me, Carrie Freeman, or Melody Paris. The show's website and my contact info can be found at https://wrfg.org/intunetonature/  While there, consider donating to Radio Free Georgia, a 50+ year old progressive, non-commercial, indie radio station, run largely by volunteers like me. Take care of yourself and others, including other species because we are all connected. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on In Tune to Nature do not necessarily reflect those of WRFG, its board, staff or volunteers. Photo of Tema Milstein and John Seed was taken by Carrie Freeman at the Tasmania Deep Ecology Workshop. June 2025.

Each week, In Tune to Nature Podcast offers a focused conversation dedicated to the practical and ethical questions of coexisting with the more-than-human world. Hosted by Carrie Freeman, a media studies professor who brings a thoughtful perspective to environmental and animal advocacy, this podcast is an extension of her long-running Atlanta radio show. Rather than overwhelming with data, each 25-minute episode sits down with one person-be it a scientist on the front lines of habitat conservation, an author rethinking our ethical obligations, or an activist organizing for change. The discussions are intimate and detailed, exploring tangible ways we can alter our daily lives and societal structures to become more responsible inhabitants of a shared planet. Listening feels like being part of a necessary and grounded dialogue, one that connects education, culture, and self-improvement to the urgent cause of protecting living beings. It’s for anyone seeking a deeper, actionable understanding of ecology that moves beyond headlines, fostering a sense of connection and agency. This weekly series provides a consistent space to reflect on our role within nature’s intricate web, all through the accessible, personal format of an interview-based podcast.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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