What if feeling better starts with looking a little closer at the food we eat every day?

In this eye-opening episode of the Beautiful World podcast, Kathryn Nelson sits down with Blair Beattie, Executive Director of Farmers Footprint Australia, for an enlightening conversation about food, health, farming, and our connection to the natural world.

Together, they explore the impact of glyphosate (the world's most widely used pesticide) on our food systems, why so many people are struggling with chronic health issues, and how reconnecting with real food, healthy soil, and local communities may be part of the path forward.

This conversation is honest, empowering, and full of hope. It's not about fear. It's about awareness, making better choices where we can, and remembering that small changes matter.

If you've ever wondered why modern life can feel so disconnected, and what it might look like to come back to health in a more natural, grounded way, this episode is for you.

Awareness precedes change. And it starts here.

In this episode we get into:
-What glyphosate is and why it is everywhere
-How industrial agriculture changed the food system
-The connection between soil health and human health
-Why processed foods dominate modern diets
-Gut health, chronic illness, and environmental toxins
-Monsanto, corporate influence, and public trust
-Why regenerative farming matters now more than ever
-How to reduce toxic exposure in everyday life
-Supporting local farmers and healthier food systems
-Practical hope for families who want change

If you care about healthy living, clean food, regenerative agriculture, organic food, wellness, toxins, family health, farming, sustainability, or conscious living, this episode is for you.

Connect with Blair
Visit The Invisible Ingredient Podcast www.theinvisibleingredient.org to learn more about glyphosate
Download the Glyphosate Resource Guide here https://theinvisibleingredient.org/about/
www.earthdharma.au
www.farmersfootprint.org.au/
www.farmersfootprint.us/en

Subscribe to Beautiful World for more conversations on health, sustainability, parenting, wellness, and meaningful living.

In a world full of noise, we will cut through the confusion and explore the growing divide on climate science. Hosted by Kathryn Nelson (aka Plastic Free Mermaid), a passionate environmental activist with two decades of ocean conservation experience, this podcast dives deep into the issues that matter—examining the rising mistrust in climate science, the role of misinformation, and how political and social divides shape the debate.

Each episode explores the complexities of the climate conversation, engaging both sides in the debate, while unraveling the truths and myths surrounding topics like climate change, geoengineering, and sustainability. Expect interviews with experts, a dive into the science, and plenty of room for questioning, curiosity, and honest dialogue. Whether you're a skeptic or a supporter, we invite you to listen, learn, and challenge the narratives shaping our world.

Please send questions, links, sources, feedback, memes, and suggestions for interviews to instagram.com/plasticfreemermaid THANK YOU

In the 1930s, Australia's Government Shark Control Program planted baited drum lines and shark nets around its beaches to protect swimmers and surfers. But what if the true killer isn't sharks but the very same program that claims to protect us?

In this episode, I'm joined by Andre Borrell, director of Envoy: Shark Cull; a documentary that exposes the ugly truth behind Australia's shark control program. Partnered with experts, it debunks the program's effectiveness and highlights sharks' undeserved reputation of being dangerous killers and their important role in sustaining the marine ecosystem.

This documentary calls us to be the voice for sharks and all other marine life to defend them and their homes. Together, we can facilitate change from our government and help stop the cull.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Shark culling in Australia
• Society's irrational fear of sharks
• Shark fatality statistics
• Why sharks are essential to the ecosystem
• The political climate around shark culling
• How we can put pressure on our politicians
• Scientific findings behind shark control program
• Alternatives to shark nets
• Ways we can contribute to the cause
• How Andre manages to stay inspired

Follow Andre Borrell here:

• Envoy: Shark Cull | Website
• @EnvoyFilm | Twitter
• @envoyfilm | Instagram
• @envoyfilm | TikTok
• Andre Borrell | LinkedIn
• Act Now: 3 ways you can help

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I hope you spend some time in nature today! I'll catch you next time.

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When we begin our move into a more sustainable life, we can be so quickly reeled into the idea that consuming animal products and byproducts are bad; that we should be into much more plant-based food, but what if that isn't the big picture?

In this episode, I have Ryland Engelhart, producer of Netflix's Kiss the Ground, which is a documentary that focuses on our soil health situation. He shares with us what we need to do to keep our soils diverse, and how we can contribute as soil advocates.

Being earth-conscious is more than just consuming plant-based choices, it's contributing and supporting industries and farmers that work in the most sustainable and natural ways to keep our soil healthy and rich.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Process of Photosynthesis
• The Soil Sphere and the Carbon Cycle
• Why our Soil is Sick
• Soil versus Dirt
• Veganism, and true sustainability
• Become a Soil Advocate

Follow Ryland Engelhart here:

• Kiss the Ground | Website
• Kiss the Ground Documentary | Netflix
• Ryland Engelhart | Instagram
• Ryland Engelhart | Linktree

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I hope you spend some time in nature today! I'll catch you next time.

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As a mixed fair-skinned Bundjalung native born in Australia, Ella Noah Bancroft always felt like she was challenged about just how pure she was as an indigenous person. With growing up to words and notions like that, Ella knew she needed to pay homage to her lineage and respect to the stolen generation by continuing their culture and bringing it to the modern era.

Ella is now the founder and pioneer of The Decolonisation Movement, and had dedicated her life to the rise of female energy as the way for us to reconnect and release ourselves from the bounds of personal, social, and ecological constraints.

In this episode we talk about the impact of colonisation and how we can respect the fine line between cultural appropriation and appreciation. I definitely recommend that you hear her out on the impact we have on our earth and shared future!

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Claiming your aboriginality
• Ella's mission to pay homage to her lineage
• The stigma around being mixed-race and the Stolen Generation
• Colonisation and its impact on natives
• The fine line between cultural appropriation and appreciation
• Navigating sustainability these days
• How we can contribute to change these days
• The connection between indigenous cultures and environmentalism
• Ella's work with young women and storytelling
• Ella's last words for us to reconnect with the earth

Follow Ella Noah Bancroft here:

• Ella Noah Bancroft | Website
• @ellanoahbancroft_ | Instagram
• @ellanoahbancroft_ | Linktree

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Did you enjoy today's episode?

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I hope you spend some time in nature today! I'll catch you next time.

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Plastic pollution is a problem that affects so many animals, habitats, and people. Turtles have come into the spotlight in recent years though, thanks to the rise in social media awareness for their protection and preservation; with a big factor to that being the viral video of the straw stuck up in a poor turtle's nose.

This video hit the world hard, but we cannot stop at feeling bad for what is happening when we can make conscious efforts now to save more than just the turtles.

Today I'm joined by Lauren Engledow, a turtle ranger dedicated to protecting what is left of the species and rebuilding its future here on the beaches of Mon Repos. You'll hear us talk about this modern-day threat called light pollution and how its strayed hatchlings from where they rightfully belong.

Be informed, be aware, and make conscious efforts against plastic waste for our shared future.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Types of turtles left in the world
• How plastic pollution affects turtles and surrounding marine life
• Light pollution and how it stray turtles almost as soon as they're born
• Other threats to turtles
• The imbalance in male and female turtles
• What we can do to help

Follow Lauren and the Mon Repos Turtles here:

• Southern Great Barrier Reef (bundabergregion.org)

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Periods, something so natural for our bodies as females are oftentimes considered taboo to talk about.

In this episode, we have Michele Wilson, co-founder of a sustainable and carbon-offset brand of period-proof underwear named Awwa. She's here with us to talk about her Maori roots and how she's taken inspiration from their innovation and made it widely available to the world.

Periods don't have to and shouldn't contribute to pollution and plastic waste, especially not when it's an integral part of ourselves. Instead of using throw-aways and plastic inside you, please make the switch and contribute to our shared future now.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Michele's inspiration for creating Awwa

• Using old technology in modern times

• Carbon offsetting and sustainable sourcing for Awwa

• Awwa's impact on indigenous communities in New Zealand

• How their panties work against our periods

• The choices available for zero-waste periods

• New inclusive lines coming up for the trans community and more

Follow Michele and Awwa:

• Michele Wilson | LinkedIn

• Awwa Period Underwear | Website

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To conclude my five-part series with the amazing Helena Norberg Hodge, we discuss reclaiming our power of choice by making the switch to using local products and reducing our emissions. We bring to light the faults of industries, proposing a new way to tackle our overall impact on the planet.

For the youth listening in-- Helena has a special message for you, addressing the quality of life corporations have placed on you and how we want to support you all through your journeys.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• An epidemic of anxiety and depression amongst the youth
• Join the local food movement
• Taking a step back and asking ourselves how we can ultimately help
• It's not one solution for the planet-- it's many solutions
• Staying connected with our local community
• We have the power of choice

Follow Helena Hodge:

• Instagram @helenanorberghodge
• Twitter @helenanhodge
• Facebook @HelenaNorbergHodge

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Did you enjoy today's episode?

Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified immediately when a new episode comes out! If you enjoyed the Mercast, please click here to leave a review and share this episode with a friend!

I hope you spend some time in nature today! I'll catch you next time.

Subscribe to The Mercast

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