Shows
Tree SpeechFinding Wonder & Light in the Winter SolsticeThe winter solstice is a threshold — the longest night of the year, holding both stillness and promise. In this special 50th episode of Tree Speech, we linger in that in-between space where darkness is not something to fear, but a place of listening, wonder, and quiet presence.We begin in the solstice hush, where forests shimmer with unseen life and ancient stories gather close. From there, we travel to Iceland through myth, landscape, and lived experience, speaking with author Nancy Marie Brown about her book Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Iceland’s Elves Can Save the Eart...
2025-12-1940 min
Tree SpeechRediscovering Nature's Superfoods: The Transformative Power of Acorns & Woodland Wisdom with Elspeth HayIn this episode, our guest Elspeth Hay, author of Feed Us with Trees, creator of The Local Food Report, and passionate proponent of place-based living, takes us on a fascinating exploration of acorns as a superfood with profound historical roots.Our conversation also delves into the wisdom of wooded ecosystems and the vital concept of viewing these landscapes as food-producing allies. These insights invite us to imagine a future where humans and nature thrive together, fostering a reciprocal relationship with our environment that respects historical realities while embracing the beauty of nature’s bounty.This in...
2025-11-2246 min
Tree SpeechThe Trees Remember: Tales from the Haunted GroveWhat if trees could whisper secrets of the past? Join us as we venture into the eerie realm of haunted trees and ghostly tales in our special episode of spooky trees. As the season of Samhain approaches and the veil between the living and the dead grows thin, we share chilling stories from Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn to the Mabira Forest of Uganda to Salem, Massachusetts.Join our guest storytellers Allison Meier, Emerald Forcier, Cheryl Mullings and Charles Linshaw around the fire as we share these macabre tales and embrace the spirit of the season. Listen now...
2025-10-2334 min
Tree SpeechThe Quiet Wild of the Autumnal Equinox featuring poetry by Alix KlingenbergJoin us as we embrace the magic of the autumnal equinox, celebrating September's unique duality through the power of poetry and rituals. Drawing inspiration from the evocative work of Alix Klingenberg, we explore how this transitional time invites us to balance urgency with ease and preparation with presence. Through traditions and the wonders of the season, we honor change and navigate our paths toward peace.Throughout the episode we highlight Alix Klingenberg's "Quietly Wild," a poetic exploration resonating with nature's cycles and the themes of ecology and social justice. This episode is a heartfelt...
2025-09-2225 min
Tree SpeechEmbracing Tree Time: Stillness, Transformation, and the Nature of Becoming with Sumana RoyWhat if transforming into a tree was not a punishment but a conscious, enriching choice? Join us as we explore this intriguing concept with our guest, Sumana Roy, author of "How I Became a Tree." Sumana shares her personal journey towards identifying with trees, driven by a longing to escape the emotional turbulence of human existence. Through our conversation, we uncover the profound philosophical and emotional connections humans can form with the natural world and challenge the notion of transformation by finding peace and meaning in adopting a tree-like existence.This week’s episode wa...
2025-09-0340 min
Tree SpeechClimbing Beyond Fear: Marguerite Holloway's Journey Through Trees & TransformationJoin us on a captivating journey into the world of trees and the profound connection we share with them, as we welcome Marguerite Holloway, author of "Take to the Trees," to our podcast. Marguerite's journey from a tree-climbing novice to a passionate canopy explorer is an inspiring tale of adventure, resilience, and personal transformation. Listen in as we explore her motivations behind writing a book that blends science, memoir, and adventure, offering a vivid portrayal of the beauty and challenges faced by our forests. Her insights, enriched by personal reflections on loss and resilience, provide a compelling narrative on...
2025-08-1542 min
Tree SpeechTree Stories of "The Big Apple", Featuring Mayank Mardia of MulchIn this episode, we trace the deep roots of New York City’s natural and cultural history—from the legendary 1626 exchange between the Lenape people and Dutch settlers to the enduring presence of iconic trees today. Along the way, we uncover how nature has shaped the city’s identity, from the elegant American elms of Central Park to symbolic landmarks like Harlem’s Tree of Hope and the Survivor Tree at the 9/11 Memorial.We’re also joined by Mayank Mardiya of Mulch, who shares how rewilding efforts and community gardening initiatives are transforming neglected urban spaces into vibrant gr...
2025-07-3034 min
Tree SpeechDiscovering Humor and Heritage Among the Trees with Tobin MitnickActor, naturalist, and tree enthusiast Tobin Mitnick (@jewslovetrees) joins us this week for a delightfully rooted conversation about what it means to really see a tree.Best known for his hilarious and heartfelt social media content blending botany and comedy, Tobin has become an unexpected ambassador for curiosity, joy, and ecological attention. In this episode, we explore how he invites people to get up close and granular with trees — to allow each wild and wonderful tree to help you “chase all your cares away.” We talk about his book Must Lo...
2025-06-1430 min
Tree SpeechSeeds of Change: Exploring the life of Lizzie McDuffie with Shara Moon, author of "Let Us March On"Join us on Tree Speech as we uncover the remarkable legacy of Lizzie McDuffie — a pivotal yet often overlooked figure in American history.In this episode, we're joined by author Shara Moon to discuss her powerful novel Let Us March On, inspired by the life and activism of McDuffie. As a maid in FDR’s White House, Lizzie McDuffie was more than a witness to history — she was a catalyst for it, quietly championing civil rights from within the halls of power.Together, we explore how McDuffie’s quiet courage and tireless advocacy planted the seeds of change...
2025-05-2831 min
Tree SpeechRedwood on Broadway: The Intersection of Theater, Nature, and Storytelling with Scenic Designer Jason Ardizzone-WestJoin us on a captivating journey to Broadway as we explore the enchanting world of "Redwood", a new musical that intertwines theater with the timeless majesty of redwood trees. This episode takes you behind the scenes of this extraordinary production, starring the remarkable Idina Menzel and a redwood tree named Stella. Joining us is Emmy Award-winning scenic designer Jason Ardizzone-West, who shares his journey from architecture to creating breathtaking theatrical environments. Jason’s innovative designs transform Stella into a living symbol of resilience and the nurturing power of nature, making her an essential character in this poignant storytelling experience.D...
2025-05-0837 min
Tree SpeechHealing Through Nature & Heritage with "Get Rooted" Author Robyn MorenoWhat if you could rediscover your roots and connect with the wisdom of your ancestors to find peace amidst the chaos of modern life? Emmy-nominated TV host, author, and storyteller Robyn Moreno joins us to explore this intriguing question. Robyn shares insights from her transformative book, "Get Rooted," which chronicles her personal journey of healing and self-discovery. Her story reveals the power of listening to subtle signals from within and reconnecting with nature and ancestral wisdom to navigate life's challenges more gracefully.Through Robyn's heartfelt sharing, we uncover the importance of patience, self-forgiveness, and gentle care in...
2025-04-1748 min
Tree SpeechLoving Trees: Heartfelt Connections with Nature and SpiritualityIn honor of Valentine's Day, this episode is full of love! We are excited to celebrate the holiday by examining the 5 Love Languages and how they apply to trees. Dori Robinson also leads a meditation around love and the Jewish New Year of Trees, Tu B'Shevat, which also occurs this week.Click here for more information on the Melbourne Urban Forest Visual with information.Click here for examples of letters sent to the trees in Melbourne.Find information about the Park Avenue Armory's Wish Tree Installation hereThis...
2025-02-1323 min
Tree SpeechWinter Trees: Unraveling the Magic of Winter CelebrationsHappy New Year! We are starting the year fresh with a wintry labyrinth walk to commemorate this season of light. Along the way, we will examine the history and traditions of this Yuletide, shedding 2024 behind us and looking ahead to 2025. With every turn within the labyrinth, we discuss various winter traditions – including the 12 days of Christmas and Yule. We end with a meditation focused on light and the birch tree, so that we enter the new year ready for all that awaits!This week’s episode was written and recorded in Massachusetts on the nati...
2024-12-2026 min
Tree SpeechGiving Trees featuring "The Giving Tree Continued" by Jamie RoachIt’s Giving Tree Week! Listen to our highly-anticipated episode focused on the nostalgic and controversial Shel Silverstein book, THE GIVING TREE, which has been questioned by many since its premiere 60 years ago.
In this episode, we share a brand new audio narrative written by playwright, actor, and advocate Jamie Roach, who felt compelled to examine, explore, and celebrate the classic book by continuing the story where the original leaves off. Join us to listen to this beautiful, thought-provoking, and new story!
The actors include Laurine Towler and Richard Brundage with Jamie Roach as Narrator. Mu...
2024-11-2720 min
Tree SpeechReimagining Sacred Connections: Nature, Spirituality, and Human Consciousness with John Philip NewellToday’s guest, John Philip Newell, is an internationally acclaimed teacher, speaker, and author of several books, including Sacred Earth Sacred Soul, and his latest book entitled The Great Search, which examines the lives of several prophetic figures whose work and lives showed that to live in relation to what is deepest in us is to live in relation to the ground from which we and all things have come.John Philip Newell is a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of Earth and ev...
2024-11-1547 min
Tree SpeechSpooky Trees: The Haunting ContinuesGather round the campfire for a very special, supernatural episode. We have spooky, mysterious tree tales from around the world to get you into the halloween spirit! Listen now, if you dare!
Special thanks to Cheryl Mullings, Charles Linshaw, Corey Roberts, and Emerald Forcier for joining our episode today. Learn more about Cheryl at https://cherylmullings.workbooklive.com/, Charles at: https://www.charleslinshaw.com, Corey at https://coreymroberts.weebly.com, and Emerald at https://www.penobscotbayestate.com.
This week’s episode was recorded and produced in Massachusetts on the native lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy, Pe...
2024-10-3029 min
Tree SpeechWalking with Pride: Exploring Queer Ecology and Environmental Connection with Jonathon StallsThis June, to celebrate Pride, we are excited to discuss the queerness of trees and nature, and how queer ecology contains the solutions to reversing climate change and living in harmony with our natural environments. We have an inspiring interview with walking artist and pedestrian dignity advocate, artist and author Jonathon Stalls, and we’ll examine the history of the first gay liberationist environmentalist group and how trees were the reason the group was formed.This week’s episode was written and recorded in Massachusetts on the native lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy, Pennacook, Massa-adchu-es-et (Massachusett), and Pawt...
2024-06-2649 min
Tree SpeechRacist Trees: Unveiling Hidden Histories and Environmental Racism with filmmakers Sara Newens and Mina T. SonWelcome back, Tree Speechers! We’re thrilled to begin Season 5 with a new conversation in a clearing, as we continue to find new understandings to the tangled relationships we have with the natural world in which we inhabit. Could a row of trees really symbolize racial segregation and environmental racism? Join us as we unravel the contentious story of the Tamarisk trees in Palm Springs, California, with documentary directors Mina T Sun and Sarah Newins. This episode takes a critical look at the intersection of race, class, and urban development in the historically Black neig...
2024-03-2436 min
Tree SpeechREPLAY-Winter Solstice: Let the Light InIn honor of the recent Winter Solstice and this holiday season, we are re-releasing our episode Let the Light In. Celebrate this moment of transition with a walk in the woods as we share stories of solstice celebration’s from around the world. From old legends to new traditions, join us as we explore how, even during these darker months, we can find ways to let light into our lives.
New episodes forthcoming in 2024!
In this episode, we share several folk tales about the season, rituals old and new, and an interview with Jonathan Mearns of...
2023-12-2433 min
Tree SpeechREPLAY-The Return of Spooky TreesHappy Halloween! We are busy working on future episodes to be released soon, but couldn't let this magical time of year pass without a frightful celebration! As the full moon rises, we gather around the campfire for a replay of our special Spooky Trees episode! Join us for supernatural, mysterious, and unexpected tree tales from around the world to get you into the Samhain spirit.
Special thanks to actor, educator, actor Peril - I mean, Cheryl Mullings, and dialect coach Charles Linshaw for joining our episode today. Learn more about Cheryl at https://cherylmullings.workbooklive.com/ and Ch...
2023-10-2827 min
Tree SpeechREPLAY-The 9/11 Survivor Tree with Ron VegaTo commemorate the anniversary of Sept. 11, we share this replay of our episode that featured the 9/11 Survivor Tree, a Callery Pear tree found during the excavation of Ground Zero in NYC. Our guest, Ron Vega, shares his insightful and touching story of how he championed and helped nurture the tree from a wounded, burned stump to the powerful sign of hope and survival that it represents today.
Learn more about the podcast at: www.treespeechpodcast.com, and IG: treespeechpodcast
Additional resources: 9/11 Memorial Survivor Tree: https://www.911memorial.org/visit/memorial/survivor-tree
Oklahoma City National Memorial...
2023-09-1138 minTree SpeechREPLAY- Tree of Life and Mother's DayWe at Tree Speech are incredibly grateful to Stephanie Kaza and our mothers, Miriam Robinson, Anne-Marie Roach and Jackie Vandenberg for joining us today.
Dr. Stephanie Kaza is Professor Emerita of Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont and former Director of the UVM Environmental Program. She co-founded the Environmental Council at UVM and served as faculty director for the Sustainability Faculty Fellows program. In 2011 Dr. Kaza received the UVM George V. Kidder Outstanding Faculty Award for excellence in teaching. Kaza received a prestigious Religion and Science course award from the Templeton Foundation for her course on B...
2023-05-1338 min
Tree SpeechTu B’Shevat and Season Wrap-UpIn the final episode of our fourth season, producer and co-writer Jonathan Zautner interviews podcast host Dori Robinson about the Jewish “New Year of the Trees” - Tu B’Shevat. We continue to commemorate the close of the season by discussing our thoughts on the guests and topics we have covered.
Did you have a favorite episode, a thought about family trees, or a suggestion about what we should discuss next? Please message us on www.treespeechpodcast.com, or leave us a voice memo on Anchor. We look forward to hearing from you!
This week’s episod...
2023-02-1035 minTree SpeechTREES, INC.: Transgender Resource, Education & Enrichment Services with Meghan BuellIn this episode, we speak with Meghan Buell, the founder of TREES, Inc., the Transgender Resource, Education, and Enrichment Services organization that she created and leads to provide transgender education to small towns and rural America. TREES, Inc. is driven by the need to stem the rash of transgender discrimination by using education to create a more inclusive environment for trangender identifying individuals to live an enriched, safe, and successful life free of violence and strife.
Meghan Buell (she/her/hers) is a life-long resident of Indiana. She has been a leader in the transgender community locally...
2023-01-2034 minTree SpeechOpen-Air Life with Linda Åkeson McGurkHappy New Year, Tree Speechers! We celebrate 2023 and our 30th episode by speaking with Swedish-American author Linda Åkeson McGurk, whose book "The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day” shows us how to embody a Frilufsliv life by getting outside and embracing the outdoors no matter the time of year or temperature. Our conversations explore the many ways being outside strengthens our mental and physical health, builds community, and nurtures a necessary relationship with nature. Even more, it might all be more simple than you think!
This episode was written and rec...
2023-01-0630 minTree SpeechWinter Solstice: Let the Light InIn this episode, we celebrate the Winter Solstice through a midwinter walk in the woods while sharing several folk tales about the season, rituals old and new, and an interview with Jonathan Mearns of London Christmas Tree Rental, who offers an environmentally sustainable tree option to celebrate the lights of Yule.
Throughout, we explore how we, during these darker months, can find ways to let light in and become a part of our lives.
This week’s episode was written and recorded in Massachusetts on the native lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy, Pennacook, Massa-adchu-es-et (Massachusett), an...
2022-12-2133 minTree SpeechFamily Trees with Neshama CarlebachIn today’s episode we will examine the origins of the concept of family trees and speak with the award-winning singer, songwriter and educator, Neshama Carlebach, about her artistry, inspirations, and the journey of understanding that she has taken as a direct result of her own family tree as the daughter of the renowned and musical Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach.
Neshama Carlebach is an award-winning singer, songwriter and educator who has performed and taught in cities around the world. She is a winner and four-time nominee in the Independent Music Awards for her most current release, Believe, and wi...
2022-12-1238 minTree SpeechA Conversation in a Clearing the ExhibitionIn this episode, we discuss our first-ever immersive installation: A Conversation in a Clearing, which brings the Tree Speech podcast to life, allowing audiences to engage with trees and reflect on their relationship with nature and the environment.
Combining audio narrative storytelling with a physical representation of a peaceful, winter clearing in the woods, the installation allows visitors to actively relax and settle into a peaceful place where their minds and hearts may feel at ease. This enchanted space allows the imagination to be free.
The Western Avenue Studios and Lofts have an event on...
2022-11-2526 minTree SpeechRevisiting the Liberty TreeOn this Veteran's Day we revisit Boston’s Liberty Tree, including its origin story and how that story evolved over time depending on who was telling it. We have wonderfully spirited conversations with distinguished actor, singer, dancer, and educator, Mark Linehan and historian Maddie Webster, a Boston University PhD student in the American & New England Studies Program. Then, we seek to uncover what liberty and liberation means in the present day with activist and Applied theatre practitioner Catherine Hanna Schrock, the Co-founder and Director of Imagine Brave Spaces, a San Diego-based theater company who shares a spoken word piece sh...
2022-11-1158 min
Tree SpeechThe Return of Spooky TreesGather round the campfire for a very special, supernatural episode. We have spooky, mysterious tree tales from around the world to get you into the Halloween spirit! Listen now, if you dare!
Special thanks to actor, educator, actor Peril - I mean, Cheryl Mullings, and dialect coach Charles Linshaw for joining our episode today. Learn more about Cheryl at https://cherylmullings.workbooklive.com/ and Charles at: https://www.charleslinshaw.com.
Tree Speech’s host, Dori Robinson, is a director, playwright, dramaturg, and educator who seeks and develops projects that explore social consciousness, personal heritage, and th...
2022-10-2827 minTree SpeechWhat Lies Beneath with Kesiah BascomWhile we often speak of trees that tower over our heads, in this episode, we will examine what lies beneath to understand soil and how human interaction can affect the way we live on and with our land. We will also speak with Kesiah Bascom, who founded a mission-driven food scrap collection and composting program in the Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts.
Kesiah was the founder/owner of OffBeet Compost and has spent the past 7 years working in the sustainable agriculture and food justice realm. Raised in a household with a large garden, she has grown up...
2022-10-1428 minTree SpeechJustice is an Ecosystem with Kristen P. Patterson & Christina D. EskridgeIn this episode, we will examine the intersections of reproductive rights with climate solutions, and will be speaking with Kristen P. Patterson, the inaugural Director of Drawdown Lift, launched in early 2021 as a part of the nonprofit Project Drawdown.
We’ll also be speaking with Christina D. Eskridge, the Founder and Executive Director of Elevate Theatre Company, who worked to combine her expertise in performing arts with her public health background to facilitate and amplify healthcare topics through theater and storytelling.
Both our guests today - Kristen and Christina, are two inspiring leaders, who will te...
2022-09-3040 minTree SpeechEmbracing AutumnWe are so excited to be entering into our fourth season with an exploration of this magical time of year, the Autumnal Equinox!
Much gratitude to our guest, Heather Porter of Animisma podcast for her moving thoughts and insights regarding this time of year, and the benefits of sacred rot. To find out more about her, please visit her website, thepathofintegrity.com.
Heather is a writer, storyteller, and advisor. She's been called an empath, a sensitive compass of compassion, and a 'Rosetta Stone' for the soul and was led to her work through a lifetime o...
2022-09-2135 min
Tree SpeechMidsummer Night's DreamGive us your hands, dear friends, as we lead you along the path of our own Midsummer Night’s Dream! We conclude this season with a celebration of Midsummer and the summer solstice. Listen as our host hikes her way through the day, all while sharing stories about summer rituals and traditions from around the world.
We have a newly-launched Patreon! We at Tree Speech strive to bring you insightful stories and information about trees and those who engage with them, including interviews with a wide range of people who care about them. As we keep growing, we...
2022-06-2425 minTree SpeechSacred Earth with John Philip NewellWe at Tree Speech and Alight Theater Guild are incredibly grateful to John Philip Newell for joining us today. Newell is a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of Earth and every human being.
Canadian by birth, and a citizen also of Scotland, he resides with his family in Edinburgh and works on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2016 he began the School of Earth and Soul (originally called the School of Celtic Consciousness) and teaches regularly in the United States and Canada as well as leading i...
2022-06-1138 minTree SpeechPagan Re-enchantment with Rhyd WildermuthWe have a newly-launched Patreon! We at Tree Speech strive to bring you insightful stories and information about trees and those who engage with them. As we keep growing, we would appreciate your support! We now have a Patreon, and every dollar helps us continue to produce this podcast. Every contribution supports our production, and we’ll be giving gifts of gratitude including an invitation to Tree House, our new virtual community for patrons of all levels.
We at Tree Speech and Alight Theater Guild are incredibly grateful to Rhyd Wildermuth for joining us today. Rhyd is a...
2022-05-2034 minTree SpeechTree of Life with Dr. Stephanie KazaWe at Tree Speech and Alight Theater Guild are incredibly grateful to Stephanie Kaza for joining us today.
Dr. Stephanie Kaza is Professor Emerita of Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont and former Director of the UVM Environmental Program. She co-founded the Environmental Council at UVM and served as faculty director for the Sustainability Faculty Fellows program. In 2011 Dr. Kaza received the UVM George V. Kidder Outstanding Faculty Award for excellence in teaching. Kaza received a prestigious Religion and Science course award from the Templeton Foundation for her course on Buddhism and Ecology. She lectures widely o...
2022-05-0638 minTree SpeechConsidering John Muir Part 2 with Aaron MairWe at Tree Speech and Alight Theater Guild are incredibly grateful to Aaron Mair for joining us today.
Aaron Mair is an environmental justice pioneer who has worked over the last 40 years in the spaces of health, environment, climate change disparities, and wilderness protection. He is an urban environmental activist and a regional and national environmental justice organizer and strategist who has advised two presidents and Congress, served on the national board of directors of the Sierra Club as its 57th president, and as the New York State Atlantic Chapter Chair.
Link to the article t...
2022-04-1535 minTree SpeechConsidering John Muir with Lee StetsonWe at Tree Speech and Alight Theater Guild are incredibly grateful to Lee Stetson for joining us today. To learn more information about Lee’s performances or to have him perform for your company or event, find him at www.johnmuirlive.com.
Lee's performances have brought the inspiration, humor, and conservation message of John Muir to many thousands of people. Since 1983, Lee has presented dramatic live enactments of John Muir in Yosemite National Park. He is often asked to provide Muir "voice overs" for films on Yosemite, national parks, or John Muir, including in Ken Burns' acclaimed PBS...
2022-04-0130 minTree SpeechA Vernal Equinox Return to the WoodsTo mark the beginning of our third season, we start right where we left off, with a vernal equinox walk in the woods. As we make our way on the trail, we’ll discuss the meanings and histories of this threshold into spring, and feature a variety of ways that the equinox is celebrated around the world.
Special thanks to David Brandon Ross for composing and performing the meditation featured at the end of the episode.
David Brandon Ross (he/him) holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music Boston, MA as well...
2022-03-1824 minTree SpeechA Winter Solstice Walk in the WoodsHappy Winter Solstice to all in the northern hemisphere!
For this episode, we’ll be exploring all the many ways that trees and nature play a role in winter holidays - specifically, the solstice. This is the last episode of this season. We wish everyone a Merry Yuletide and holiday season filled with light, and look forward to connecting in the new year!
Wassail Recipe:
This traditional warming drink is perfect for sipping during a solstice celebration (and it makes the house smell incredible). Simply combine 2 quarts apple cider, 1 1/2 cups orange juice, 3/4 cup pi...
2021-12-2126 minTree SpeechSapling StoriesIn our next episode we feature a collection of Sapling Stories, short tree-related tales that are sent in or collected from our listeners.
Special thank you to Diana Zipeto @dzipeto, Slava Tchoul, Virginia Montalvo, Mountaine Jonas, Lisa Schmidt, Sophy Tuttle @sophytuttle, Tess George, Michelle Dyment @tribeofgoats and Jess @Je_ss_dy, Rick Hall @rickhallcreative, Karl Frey, @westernavearts, and Courtney Bottomley @canarycourt.
For more information:
THE MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE – A LIVING MEMORIAL TO THE HOLOCAUST AND BPCA DEDICATE “THE CHILDREN’S TREE,” A MAPLE DESCENDED FROM A TREE PLANTED BY CHILDREN AT THERESIENSTADT CONCENTR...
2021-12-1324 minTree SpeechThe Liberty Tree with Mark Linehan, Maddie Webster, and Catherine Hanna SchrockIn our next episode we examine the history of Boston’s Liberty Tree, including its origin story and how that story evolved over time depending on who was telling it. We have wonderfully spirited conversations with distinguished actor, singer, dancer, and educator, Mark Linehan and historian Maddie Webster, a Boston University PhD student in the American & New England Studies Program. Then, we seek to uncover what liberty and liberation means in the present day with activist and Applied theatre practitioner Catherine Hanna Schrock, the Co-founder and Director of Imagine Brave Spaces, a San Diego-based theater company who shares a sp...
2021-11-2752 minTree SpeechSpeak For The Trees with David MeshoulamOur next episode features a conversation with David Meshoulam, PhD, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Boston nonprofit, SPEAK FOR THE TREES, an organization whose mission is to improve the size and health of the urban tree canopy in Boston, with a focus on under-resourced and under-canopied neighborhoods.
David (pronounced Dah-veed) co-founded Speak for the Trees in 2018. Trained as a science educator, his work has focused on ways to increase understanding of the connections between science, culture, and history and to empower people to be change agents. He holds a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction from the University...
2021-11-1237 min
Tree SpeechSpooky TreesGather round the campfire for a very special, supernatural episode. We have spooky, mysterious tree tales from around the world to get you into the Halloween spirit! Listen now, if you dare!
Special thanks to actor, educator, and dialect coach Charles Linshaw for joining our episode today. Learn more about Charles at: https://www.charleslinshaw.com.
Tree Speech’s host, Dori Robinson, is a director, playwright, dramaturg, and educator who seeks and develops projects that explore social consciousness, personal heritage, and the difference one individual can have on their own community. Some of her great lo...
2021-10-2922 min
Tree SpeechWitches & Witchcraft with Serefina Mesa and Joshua GrayThis third episode of our second season features our look into Witches & Witchcraft. Our guests include Serefina Mesa, owner of Rue and Vervain, an etsy shop that sells "hand-made spell crafting supplies for the persnickety witch." Serefina is a self-described Bodhisattva, Green Witch, and empath who believes that there's primordial energy and magic in nature, and through her gifts that power can be harnessed and shared. We also spoke with Joshua Gray, a self-described practitioner of the wild earth who walks in the space where the trees meet the open fields.
Special thanks to Serefina and Joshua...
2021-10-2243 minTree SpeechThe 9/11 Survivor Tree, Part 2 with Cheryl Somers Aubin & George MiddletonThis second episode of our second season features the second part of our focus on the 9/11 Survivor Tree, a Callery Pear tree found during the excavation of Ground Zero in New York City. Our guests include Cheryl Somers Aubin, a writer, instructor and speaker who was inspired to write the book, The Survivor Tree: Inspired by a True Story in 2011. Also, we hear from George Middleton, a visual artist and retired Call Firefighter and EMT.
Additional resources and for more information:
Cheryl Somers Aubin: https://cherylaubin.com
The Survivor Tree: Inspired by a...
2021-10-0826 minTree SpeechThe 9/11 Survivor Tree, Part 1 with Ronaldo VegaThis first episode of our second season features the 9/11 Survivor Tree, a Callery Pear tree found during the excavation of Ground Zero in New York City. Our guest, Ronaldo Vega, shares his insightful and touching story of how he championed and helped nurture the tree from a wounded, burned stump to the powerful sign of hope and survival that it represents today.
Additional resources: 9/11 Memorial Survivor Tree: https://www.911memorial.org/visit/memorial/survivor-tree
Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum Survivor Tree: https://memorialmuseum.com/experience/the-survivor-tree/
Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial: https://www.wisconsin911memorial.com
2021-09-2437 minTree SpeechWhite Pine with Dori RobinsonWe are grateful to have spoken with Rabbi Harold Robinson during today’s episode, as well as to hear the sapling stories of Seiki Imagica, Janelle Mills, and Johnny Nichols, Jr.
Feel free to leave a voice message with your own Sapling Stories at: https://anchor.fm/treespeech or contact us at www.treespeechpodcast.com.
Tree Speech’s host, Dori Robinson, is a director, playwright, dramaturg, and educator who seeks and develops projects that explore social consciousness, personal heritage, and the difference one individual can have on their own community. Some of her great loves include teaching, the Oxford comma, inter...
2021-05-1419 minTree SpeechCherry Blossom with Michelle BrowderWe are grateful to have spoken with Michelle Browder during today’s episode.
Michelle is a nationally recognized artist and activist. Her work has been exhibited in four galleries, including the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. She uses her artistic talents to create restorative justice programs in juvenile detention centers, failing schools systems and after school programs for under-served youth. Michelle has mentored thousands of disadvantaged kids and created safe places for children suffering from all forms of trauma, abuse and neglect. She uses art, history and "real talk" conversation and community events to change negative nar...
2021-05-0826 minTree SpeechBanyan with Guleraana MirWe are grateful to have spoken with Guleraana Mir during today’s episode.
Guleraana is a British award-winning writer, applied-theatre practitioner, and one half of The Thelmas, a female-led theatre company devoted to empowering women to redress the equality imbalance in the arts. She is passionate about telling authentic stories that celebrate, not stereotype. Guleraana regularly facilitates playwriting masterclasses in schools, community groups, and for emerging writers. She is leader of the National Theatre’s Writing for Theatre programme for 16-21 year olds, and VAULT Festival’s New Writers Programme. She mentors on the MFA Writing for Stage a...
2021-04-3030 minTree SpeechOak with Navee CohenWe are grateful to have spoken with Navee Cohen during today’s episode.
Here is a link to RIKMAH ENOSHIT ACHAT (A SINGLE HUMAN TISSUE): https://jewishmom.com/2016/05/10/the-song-i-will-be-singing-this-israeli-memorial-day/
Navee Cohen was born and raised on Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan in northern Israel. His early adulthood was spent as an elite Triathlete representing Israel in championship races around the world, including Croatia, Singapore, Turkey, France, and the United States. He retired from his athletic career and studied acting at the prestigious Beit Tzvi, The School of the Performing Arts. He has acted on stage and in se...
2021-04-2331 minTree SpeechCedar with Nancy SmithnerWe are grateful to have spoken with Nancy Smithner during today’s episode.
Nancy Smithner, PhD, is a director, performer, devisor and Clinical Associate Professor in the Program in Educational Theatre at New York University, where she teaches Physical Theatre, Acting, Directing, Devising, Theatre History, Play Theory, Pedagogy and Community Engaged Theatre. A theatre director, she specializes in the devising of original performance works and plays, and has worked with populations of all ages, engaging participants in philosophical and creative play. As an applied theatre practitioner, Smithner teaches and directs in medium and maximum security prisons and wa...
2021-04-1628 minTree SpeechBlack Walnut with Karen HamptonLearn more about the podcast at: www.treespeechpodcast.com, and IG: treespeechpodcast
We are grateful to have spoken with Karen Hampton during our premiere episode. Hampton is an internationally recognized conceptual fiber artist, addressing issues of colorism and kinship. Hampton’s art practice is the synthesis of memory, history, time and cloth. A student of cultural relationships, seeks to break through stereotypes and address issues related to being a Black woman. Using her training in the fiber arts and anthropology, she brings together the roles of the weaver, the dyer, the painter, the embroiderer, and the storyteller.
Karen Hampton’s artw...
2021-04-0932 minTree SpeechTree Speech with Dori Robinson trailerAlight Theater Guild presents Tree Speech with Dori Robinson, a new podcast that gets curious about trees while building connections, raising awareness, and promoting understanding through hearing the unique stories and ideas of people whose lives have been impacted by them. Join us as we get to know one another and our world, one tree at a time.
2021-03-2700 min