Back to the People

Nicole Shanahan

"Back to the People," hosted by Nicole Shanahan, is a podcast that dives deep into the heart of the most underexplored and often overlooked topics today. Each episode invites listeners into a thought-provoking journey through discussions that illuminate the voices and stories less heard in mainstream media. Nicole brings together experts, activists, and everyday individuals to unpack complex issues, share untold stories, and explore solutions that get back to the core of humanity. This podcast aims to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and bring critical, unseen perspectives to the forefront, empowering listeners to engage with the world in new and meaningful ways. Join Nicole every week for a compelling blend of empathy, curiosity, and enlightenment. read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Reviving American Farming: Mad Agriculture's Bold Vision, feat. Philip Taylor and Brandon Welch
20-11-2024
Reviving American Farming: Mad Agriculture's Bold Vision, feat. Philip Taylor and Brandon Welch
Mad Agriculture is a credit fund (think bank) that lends to farmers converting farmland to regenerative practices, at a profitable spread. Their mission is to help farmers and ranchers thrive ecologically and economically. They work on-the-ground with producers to create Regenerative Farm Plans, and don’t shy away from dreaming big about the ecological, social and economic potential of regenerative farming. They are healing landscapes that have been mismanaged and need love, care, and stewardship. Philip Taylor, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of Mad Agriculture. He co-founded the organization in 2016 with his life partner, Nicole Brinks, to reimagine and restore our relationship to the land, sea, and each other through good agriculture. Philip’s work has been published in numerous journals, including Nature, Nature Climate Change, and Ecology, and he has diverse international experience in both private and public sectors, having led research and business efforts throughout North America, Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Brandon Welch is on a mission to create a regenerative revolution in agriculture. In late 2017, he helped launch Mad! to help farmers transition their land to regenerative organic agriculture by providing agronomic and business planning support, building new crop markets, and providing access to aligned capital. Brandon led the launch of Perennial Fund I and Mad Capital, which is now working with farmers on over 79,000 acres in 15 states in the US, on track to transition 10,000 acres of land to certified organic. He manages the Mad Capital team and works actively across the company, spanning sales, credit, operations, asset management, fundraising, and strategic planning.
Cell Health: The Risks of 5G Cell Towers
19-09-2024
Cell Health: The Risks of 5G Cell Towers
Kelly Ryerson, popularly known as “The Glyphosate Girl,” is a leading advocate in exposing the public health dangers of glyphosate, the active chemical in common weedkillers. She became fascinated with intestinal permeability, the gut microbiome, and the effect of toxins on human health after mending her chronic illness, hyperemesis gravidarum, through diet change and vitamin replenishment. Pursuing her work at the intersection of health and agriculture, she received her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business with a focus in Healthcare Public Management and a certification in Integrative Health Coaching from Duke University. She is the founder of GlyphosateFacts.com, a platform that raises awareness of glyphosate’s agrochemical damage to both the human body and the environment. In hopes of creating a world in which clean, toxin-free food is the norm, Ryerson collaborates with farmers, scientists, and policymakers to address these concerns. Irena Mavridis is a cardiovascular registered nurse. As a resident of San Mateo, California, she is the leader of the NoCellOuts coalition, a group actively opposing the installation of 5G cell towers in residential areas. Leading over 500 households, alongside Kelly Ryerson, Mavridis advocates for stronger regulations regarding the placement of cell towers due to concerns about potential health risks on the San Mateo community. Putting the safety of her community first, Mavridis works closely with city officials and lawmakers to update the city’s wireless ordinances and reconsider existing permits for these facilities.