Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 5 i WellBeing Wild

When do you feel wild? What makes you feel alive? Katie Hennah: A double-shot coffee makes me feel a bit crazy and inline skating (especially night-time skating escapades) makes me feel alive. Kerry Wood: I’m more obvious. I just have to go with the cliché answer of getting out into nature! Nothing beats it for me. When and what inspired you to create your brand, NueBar? KW and KH: A death in the family made us reassess what we were doing. One of the biggest questions we asked ourselves was how could the path that we were on contribute to positive changes in the world. KH: I had always resisted working together as a couple, but this just seemed to be the right venture at the right time to combine…

Life is a perfumed path where each essence encountered evokes mental and physical changes. Scents shift us. As Helen Keller said, “Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived.” Do you remember your mother’s milky odour, your childhood garden bouquet or your favourite food’s fragrance? How did they make you feel? These all moved your mind and body in unique ways. When you smell them again, they unlock the same sensations instantly. Smell is the only sense to immediately impact on the brain and is 10,000 times stronger than other senses. An inhaled essence travels via olfactory nerves directly to the brain’s limbic system, which governs memories, emotions, libido, hunger, pleasure, instincts, immunity and hormones. It’s a very impressive…

Move over the paleo, keto or lemon-detox diets. With civilisation in jeopardy due to human consumption, and the world’s population predicted to climb to 10 billion souls by 2050, scientists are urging us to eat not only for our own health, but for that of the planet. In the EAT-Lancet Commission report published in January 2019, 37 scientists from varied disciplines and across 16 countries worked together to devise a healthy, global diet sustainable for the planet. Calling for a transformation in the way we produce and consume food in order to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, they warned, “Food systems have the potential to nurture human health and support environmental sustainability; however, they are currently threatening both.” What’s wrong with our diet? In the…

When do you feel wild? What makes you feel alive? Anything that lets my spirit come alive, releasing all the weight that can weigh me down. Getting outdoors into nature. Taking a swim in the ocean. Hearing my kids laugh. It’s the little things. When and what inspired you to create IME natural perfumes? I had a highly demanding job in the TV industry and I had just finished working on a production. I felt deflated and uninspired. My husband and I had a three-month European holiday of a lifetime planned, and it was. The idea for IME was born when we were walking through the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. I realised that all the beautiful paintings on the walls were of women that had itty-bitty titties, potbellies and curvy…

The first time I visited Australia from England, I headed to the beach at dusk with a friend. Sitting at the edge of the surf, I looked out into infinity and felt something click. All the anxiety, doubt and confusion I’d been grappling with over a looming life decision seemed to melt away. The sound of the water and the coolness of the deep blue lapping my toes wrapped me in stillness. I took a few deep breaths and let myself believe everything was going to work out the way it should. That decision — whether I should move to Australia and after four years of living here — is one decision I’ve never regretted. I like to think back and thank my time by the ocean on that first…

Great Wrap Have you ever thought about how much cling wrap the hospitality industry uses on any given day? How much wrap do you think wineries use to encase their pallets of wine? What about non-hospitality businesses, which ship billions of pallets around the world each year? The answer is a lot. A single winery, in fact, can use up to 3.5 million metres of plastic wrap in a single year. So while using reusable alternatives at home is great, industrial waste is still a huge problem and we need bigger and more scalable solutions if we’re really going to make an impact. Bank Australia customer Jordy Kay has one of those solutions. Jordy is the founder and CEO of Great Wrap, an Australian company that’s behind the world’s first…

Across 1. Patchouli or lavender, sometimes (9,3) 10. Dried grape high in antioxidants (7) 11. Illinois’ windy city (7) 12. Truth Hurts singer (5) 13. Most velvety (8) 15. On a roll (2,4,4) 16. Vietnam’s continent (4) 18. “I do my --- toss, check my nails” song lyrics (4) 20. Nourishment (10) 22. Like a 1 (8) 24. Freight (5) 26. Respectful homage (7) 27. Flaky pastry treats that rose to fame in the mid-2010s (7) 28. Once in a while (5,2,5) Down 2. Fizzy water (7) 3. Makes beloved (8) 4. Gertrude or Devonshire St transport option (4) 5. Go faster (10) 6. Martini garnish (5) 7. Pioneers, trailblazers (7) 8. Ipswich native who became World #1 in tennis in 2019 (8,5) 9. Geelong native who starred in Arrested Development…

Do you a recall the moment you were first interested in natural health? I always loved cooking and baking when I was younger and I read a lot of nutritional science books, which, back then, I could barely understand. But they fascinated me and led me to study at Endeavour to learn more about how the food we eat can impact our health. What did you study at Endeavour College of Natural Health? I studied the Bachelor of Health Science, Nutritional Medicine in Melbourne, fulltime over three years. Why did you choose to study at Endeavour? The Australian Dietary Guidelines are grossly outdated when you consider the current nutritional science. I wanted to learn at a private university that had practising lecturers with real-life, practical experience. I wanted to learn…

At 18 years old, only a couple of months into my first serious relationship, penetrative sex became painful for me. What began as an uncomfortable pinch over time turned into an unbearable burning, tearing-like sensation, which left me in tears. Sex became a monumental chore that I had to psych myself up for and allow days to recover from. Despite my obvious agony, I was constantly pressured to perform and riddled with guilt any time I couldn’t fulfil my partner’s sexual needs. After a year of pushing through the pain for his benefit, I consulted a gynaecologist who handed me not one, but two diagnoses: vaginismus (the involuntary contraction of muscles around the opening of the vagina) and vulvodynia (pain of the vulva which has no specific cause). I remember…

When do you feel wild? I feel most alive and wild when I am with my family. Whether it’s enjoying the sun, sand and invigorating waters of the ocean or exploring the stunning south-west of our gorgeous state, being with loved ones and helping improve the health of others fills my cup. What inspired you to create Edible Earth? Following the heartbreaking terminal brain cancer disgnoses of my fiancé and father of my two children, I set out on a mission to find a cure and save his life, however the result was going deeper into the world of holsitic health and overburdened cancer clinics, a broken family, three years of turmoil and a tragic loss. I needed to somehow make sense of the senseless and ultimately prevent other people…

When do you feel wild? What makes you feel alive? I love being somewhere totally remote in nature, camping and unplugged. There’s something about being away from emails, phone calls and schedules. And just surrounded by the wilderness. It’s so rare and precious to be able to do that. Talk to us about Power Super Foods. What does the brand mean to you, what are its values and what do you love the most about the products? Power Super Foods is founded on the concept of empowerment. We seek to empower consumers to make good decisions, both healthy and ethical, when they go to the store. Our values of integrity and transparency as well as innovation and creativity mean we’re always striving for the best outcomes for both consumers and…

There are three industries that have boomed since COVID-19 arrived and shifted the paradigms of our lives, plunging the world into ongoing uncertainty. Those industries? Ice-cream, dating apps and streaming services. In April 2020, Match reported a 30 per cent increase in traffic to its sites. Between May and July, there was a 36 per cent increase in ice-cream sales, and streaming platforms saw a worldwide increase of a whopping 51 per cent. In what is a delightfully human reaction to a global catastrophe, it seems many of us have turned to the familiar comfort blankets of food, mindless TV and virtual flings. We’ve reacted to the pandemic like Bridget Jones on a rebound, swaddling ourselves in tangible comforts from life pre-pandemic, reminding ourselves of the days before “unprecedented times”…

When do you feel wild? Bushwalking! I’m part of a hiking group and every week I look forward to trekking through our beautiful national parks and along our coastlines. Soaking up the views, the smells and the sounds of nature makes me feel totally alive and recharges my soul. What inspired you to create Wotnot? My business partner, Sioned Guard, and I never had any intention of creating a skincare range. Our plan was to introduce the world’s first environmentally friendly disposable nappy, Moltex Nature, to Australia. Our customers were the driving force behind Wotnot. Once they grew to love the nappies, they asked for complementary products but what they asked for just wasn’t available anywhere. So we took a leap of faith, wrote down exactly what they wanted and…

Home is … Between Sydney and Port Macquarie. I volunteer as a rescuer at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. How I start my day … By smashing two really strong coffees and checking my newsfeed. My workspace looks like … The canopy of a tree. Working as an arborist and arboreal wildlife rescuer, I’m usually up at a height of 10-20 metres. It’s nearly always green, I’m usually surrounded by some kind of eucalypt foliage and how I’m feeling really depends on the weather. When the weather is cool and calm, I’m cool and calm. Climbing in strong winds can get pretty nerve-wracking, but heat is my worst enemy. On work/life balance … My passion for climbing led to me working as an arborist, so what used to be a…

“Research vessels are docked outside the windows of waterfront laboratories and some of the best international conferences roll through town. I would often find myself sharing an afterwork ale with some of the leading thinkers in global ocean science,” says Curtis Champion, a marine scientist, PhD, as he reflects on his temporary home of Hobart, Tasmania. When Curtis set up home in Hobart, I was thrilled. I could visit my good mate and we’d chase waves around remote beaches together. But for Curtis, his home in Hobart was an area that provided much more than waves. “Tasmania is like a utopia for marine research. It’s a highly inspiring place for people like myself who are passionate about understanding the inner workings of the marine environment,” he shares. Curtis, a true…

Amid the life-changing shake-up of 2020, have you found yourself contemplating how to be more financially self-sufficient and less dependent on the structures and systems that no longer serve you? Did this get you wondering how dependent Australia is on other countries and curious about whose money we have been borrowing to pay for our emergency response to COVID-19? Is this leaving us exposed and vulnerable to the whims of countries that may not even share our values and vision for our planet and people? Finding answers to these questions is not always straightforward, it’s also emotionally risky. Economic updates often spew out statistics and figures that confuse, create fear and stifle any hope for progress towards a sustainable and equitable social, ecological and economic system. We are told that…

Melissa Allen Mood Essentials Melissa Allen Mood Essentials is a range of unisex products designed with purpose. They’re blended with natural essential oils to offer delightful scents, as well as provide a mood boost to help reconnect with your true self in moments of need. mamessentials.com Edible Earth Edible Earth’s Eco-luxe Elixirs are curated by nature and backed by science, formulated to heal the body, mind and spirit. Edible Earth’s revolutionary series offers five bespoke formulas containing a potent blend of bio-active ingredients that harness the regenerative powers of nature, allowing the body to detox, reduce inflammation, repair and slow down ageing, boost immunity, promote calm and prevent disease. edibleearth.com.au Modibodi Modibodi provides all bodies around the world with sustainable period-proof underwear, active-wear, swimwear and maternity wear, completely replacing the…

Sometimes, after a big night, not even a double shot of coffee can fix your brain and merry-go-round stomach. After a couple of pain killers, a glass of Hydralyte, two litres of water and Vegemite toast, you’re starting to feel a little better … just. The leaching effects of your hangover will be felt by your liver and gut all week. I’m sure you’ve been here and felt this way. You might have even sworn to never drink this much alcohol again … until your brain somehow forgets your history of hangovers and convinces you to “get lit” once more. And the cycle starts again. Let’s talk alcohol, caffeine, Nurofen (NSAIDs) and other drugs. It’s well known these drugs target your nervous system, but have you considered their effects on…

Every time I visit the Byron Yoga Centre, I discover something new. This time, during my five-day stay in Byron’s stunning hinterland, it was Ayurveda. Ayurveda isn’t “new” by any means; in fact, it’s said to be one of the oldest healing systems in the world. Nor is it new to me; over the years, I’ve read a few books on Ayurveda, experienced an Ayurvedic oil treatment and even had a consultation. But my experience of Ayurveda at Byron Yoga Centre was very different; it was as though the practice, despite its complexity, finally landed solid in my mind. Mariana, one of the retreat hosts, held a workshop on Ayurveda in the Garden Shala, a bright and breezy space overlooking the beautiful organic gardens of Byron Yoga Centre. Her clear…

There are many things I didn’t expect going into pregnancy. Namely, that I would spend the first few months with an undisguisable metallic taste in my mouth or that my ribcage would swell to seemingly double its size. But, perhaps most of all, I didn’t expect to feel such angst towards my body. Plenty of women revel in their morphing, pregnant bodies, and kudos to those who are able to embrace the change. Pregnancy is a wonder of a thing, miraculous even. To grow life inside these bodies of ours is quite something. But I am not one of those women. I do not, as I expected, want to document every growth spurt or gawk in wonder every time I pass a mirror. Quite the opposite. Mirrors have become sites…

At the time of writing, Rob Brewster, director of Rewilding Australia, was unreachable. He was deep in Booderee National Park on the NSW south coast, monitoring a small population of eastern quolls that were first released in 2018. There, Rob and his team were happy to find long-term survivors, as well as a new litter of young pups. It’s great news for the programme. The spotted, medium-sized marsupials were once found all over south-eastern Australia but now survive only in Tasmania. Rewilding Australia is looking to change that by spearheading the first initiative to reintroduce the eastern quoll to Australia’s mainland. It’s not the only programme Rob and his team are leading. The organisation is also working with a national network of partners on a proposal to reintroduce another of…

When do you feel wild? What makes you feel alive? For me, I’m a lover of the outdoors and every time I’m out somewhere off the beaten track, I feel alive. Breathing in the fresh air, listening to all the animal sounds — you can really detach from reality and get back to living. When and what inspired you to create your brand, Cheeki? Back in 2009, I had just returned home from living overseas as an outdoor guide. Every time I took a little urban adventure, I would see so much useless plastic on the ground such as water bottles, cups, containers. I hated seeing it and with such limited reusable options on the market, it seemed like single-use plastic was the only choice for consumers. I wanted to…

Home is … A slowly evolving collection of found and handmade objects. I really value knowing where things are from or how they were made, so the things I gather for my home are always guided by those principles. My cupboards are filled with an eclectic mix of handmade ceramics by artists I know or admire, the furniture sourced from Gumtree, op shops and the like, even the plants are propagations of cuttings from friends! Of course, it’s an inherently slow process, but I like it. It means everything I bring into the home is considered and cherished. As much as possible, things are ethically sourced and tread as lightly on new resources as possible. At the moment, my favourite part of the house is the dining room. Classic bentwoods…

What makes you feel the most wild and alive? Either getting up to some kind of mischief, managing to catch a good wave in a wild surf when you didn’t expect to and anytime you pull off something where the odds are stacked against you. How, where and when did your love for painting and art first begin? In the very beginning (think pre-school/kindergarten times), I remember it being the only subject I liked. When you start recognising that you’re finishing tasks faster than the other children, you quickly realise you are stronger in that particular area than others. For an inherently competitive person, that felt great. In kindergarten, I would write and illustrate “books” and sell them to my classmates for $3. It was quite a lucrative business and…