THE MASON TAYLOR SHOW
Potentially returning soon
The Mason Taylor Show has been resting, and it may well be on its way back. The archive of past episodes lives below in the meantime.
If you'd like to hear the moment it returns, join Scallywags on the Path at the bottom of this page.
Balls Deep in Men's Health with Dr Espo
It’s Movember around the world and that means the focus is once again on men’s prostate health, so this week I dive deep with men’s health specialist Dr Ralph Esposito. While much of the mainstream is focused on treating men’s prostate and hormonal imbalances when its too late, Dr Espo and I explore how we can integrate practices and herbs into our lives so that optimal sexual health (and beyond) can be maintained. We explore the effect that pornography has on men’s health and erectile dysfunction and how we can overcome this with some simple processes. Physiological factors play a huge part in this dysfunction and they are heavily discussed. The physiological harm of stress on men’s health leads to some wonderful insights about why we need to be keeping stress down if we want erectile and hormonal function to be strong. Adaptogenic herbs are at it again in helping maintain optimal health and I loved the herbs Dr Espo is using, I’ll be upping their intake and I’m sure you’ll be doing the same. The depth of insights into how to get a hormonal flow that leads to sexual potency, a long life and potentiated health is inspiring and there are some great surprises for you in regards to how simply raising testosterone isn’t the answer to getting better sexual function.
It’s Movember around the world and that means the focus is once again on men’s prostate health, so this week I dive deep with men’s health specialist Dr Ralph Esposito. While much of the mainstream is focused on treating men’s prostate and hormonal imbalances when its too late, Dr Espo and I explore how we can integrate practices and herbs into our lives so that optimal sexual health (and beyond) can be maintained. We explore the effect that pornography has on men’s health and erectile dysfunction and how we can overcome this with some simple processes. Physiological factors play a huge part in this dysfunction and they are heavily discussed. The physiological harm of stress on men’s health leads to some wonderful insights about why we need to be keeping stress down if we want erectile and hormonal function to be strong. Adaptogenic herbs are at it again in helping maintain optimal health and I loved the herbs Dr Espo is using, I’ll be upping their intake and I’m sure you’ll be doing the same. The depth of insights into how to get a hormonal flow that leads to sexual potency, a long life and potentiated health is inspiring and there are some great surprises for you in regards to how simply raising testosterone isn’t the answer to getting better sexual function.
In this podcast we cover:
- Dr Ralph’s path into holistic medicine and becoming a practitioner
- Anabolics and performance enhancing drugs in the sports world
- Alternatives to testosterone replacement therapy
- Identifying signs & symptoms of androgen deficiency
- Targetting erectile dysfunction in young and older males
- Herbal therapeutics for augmenting androgen production
- The impact of estrogen on male health
- DHEA & Progesterone supplementation
- Sleep – The forgotten hero in augmenting testosterone production
Bio:
(from www.doctorespo.com)
My specialty is in integrative urology and men's health. I have experience writing, educating and reviewing in areas such as male and female urological conditions, prostate disease, hormonal issues, andropause, fertility, exercise, men’s health and sexual health. My journey into healthcare and wellness began at NYU, a Bachelor’s in Nutrition & Dietetics and Pre-medical studies. In 2011 I began my research and work with Dr. Geovanni Espinosa at NYU Smilow Integrative and Functional Urology Center. I continued at NYU during my medical training and I still work closely with Dr. Espinosa.
To stay current but also to be involved with the future of medicine, I hold a position as adjunct professor at NYU where I lecture on integrative nutrition. My passion for medicine continued into medical school, where I obtained my naturopathic medical degree and my master's in Acupuncture. I had the honor of working with top tier physicians including Dr. D'Adamo, where my personalized approach to medicine flourished.
Food as medicine is as much a part of naturopathic medicine as it is of my strong Italian roots. I love to spend my weekends in the kitchen and my October making homemade wine with my family.
Resources:
www.doctorespo.com
@doctor.espo
Adaptive Parenting with Tahnee McCrossin Part 1
Tahnee and I are back at it again discussing our experience in becoming new parents. After the huge success of our last 2 part series, we have been inundated with requests for a follow-up, and so here we are with an 8&1/2 month old bubba sharing all we've learn and felt since last time. There are many gems in this chat around physical health, however, the bulk of the conversation lies in the juicy psychology of making the mental and emotional shift to being parents. This has been by far the greatest aspect of our journey as new parents and we're just grateful to have an opportunity to reflect upon it.
Tahnee and I are back at it again discussing our experience in becoming new parents. After the huge success of our last 2 part series, we have been inundated with requests for a follow-up, and so here we are with an 8&1/2 month old bubba sharing all we've learn and felt since last time. There are many gems in this chat around physical health, however, the bulk of the conversation lies in the juicy psychology of making the mental and emotional shift to being parents. This has been by far the greatest aspect of our journey as new parents and we're just grateful to have an opportunity to reflect upon it.
In this chat you will learn:
- The new world of post-partum parenting and nourishing jing
- Breast massage and post-partum ovarian breathing
- Placenta encapsulations practices and varying methods
- The long term significance of exposing new babies to natural elements
- The wild brain of the new Mother verse the executive brain
- Acceptance and reflecting on your new role as a parent
- Challenging the cultural dynamic of the fathers and mothers roles in parenting
- Nurturing and cultivating Yin around your babies infancy
- Post-partum work/life balance
- Sewing the seeds early to mould a long term relationship with your children as babies
- Crying as a sign of expression and communication rather than danger
- Finding fusion in rhythm between you and baby
Tahnee McCrossin is a student of the body, weaving the ancient healing traditions of Yoga and Taoism with somatic exploration and modern scientific understanding into an integrated system that supports longevity and self-healing of the body-mind-spirit. Through her work as a yoga and meditation teacher, chi ne tsang practitioner and health researcher, she is striving to reunite the modern body-mind with the spiritual and psychological wisdom of the ancients. She is grateful to be a current student of Mantak Chia, Paul Grilley and Michael Tierra.
Websites:
Mama’s medicine (placenta encapsulation)
http://mamasmedicine.com.au/
Books:
Mutant Message Down Under – Marlo Morgan
Respectful Parenting – Janet Lansbury
Enjoy!
Medicinal Cannabis Culture with Justin Sinclair
Join me in a deep exploration of one of human kinds more wonderful companion plants; cannabis. As a herbal medicine this plant, its many strains and it’s phytochemistry are an obvious inclusion for medicine going forward in creating a holistic and integrated approach to healing the body. Shrouded with controversy and authoritarian suppression, cannabis has been dragged through an intense slander campaign for the past 100 years and has been denied to millions as a medicine we may incorporate into our lives and systems; but that is changing. Justin Sinclair is a patient advocate, herbalist and researcher who is on the front line here in Australia and internationally in bringing forth both the shift in cultural narrative around cannabis as well as the data and lore that blatantly tells us how deeply this plant can contribute to our wellness. We have the sovereign right to access medicine, especially when it offers no threat or harm. In this interview Justin and I explore this subject in depth.
Join me in a deep exploration of one of human kinds more wonderful companion plants; cannabis. As a herbal medicine this plant, its many strains and it’s phytochemistry are an obvious inclusion for medicine going forward in creating a holistic and integrated approach to healing the body. Shrouded with controversy and authoritarian suppression, cannabis has been dragged through an intense slander campaign for the past 100 years and has been denied to millions as a medicine we may incorporate into our lives and systems; but that is changing. Justin Sinclair is a patient advocate, herbalist and researcher who is on the front line here in Australia and internationally in bringing forth both the shift in cultural narrative around cannabis as well as the data and lore that blatantly tells us how deeply this plant can contribute to our wellness. We have the sovereign right to access medicine, especially when it offers no threat or harm. In this interview Justin and I explore this subject in depth.
In this podcast you will learn about:
- Current efforts in changing the understanding of cannabis in mainstream media
- Cannabis prohibition and early propaganda campaigns in the 1930s
- Cannabis as an adjunctive medicine to chronic disease
- The discovery of the endo-cannabanoid system throughout the last 60 years
- The potent neuro-modulatory action of cannabis
- Is cannabis an adaptogen?
- Anandamide & Endorphin release
- How Genetic polymorphyisms in the endocannabanoid system may affect an individuals response to cannabis
- Lack of awareness in our current medical institution on the medicinal value of cannabis
- The standardisation of CBD and THC isolates
- Ethnobotany and cannabis use in traditional cultures
Justin has spent decades exploring the diverse field of herbal medicine, both from a scientific and traditional perspective. He journeyed back to Australia to commence his 'formal' studies in 1997 with the University of New England (BHSc Naturopathy) and then completed the Master of Herbal Medicines degree with the University of Sydney's Faculty of Pharmacy in 2004. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia, and In 2015, he was appointed to the Scientific Advisory Board of United in Compassion (UIC) which supports the use of medicinal Cannabis in Australia and acts as a hub to support, disseminate and promote safe, equitable and compassionate access to medicinal Cannabis at every stage from cultivation through to finished product. In January 2017, he was appointed as the Head Scientist for the Scientific Advisory Board for UIC.
Websites links:
The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence & Recommendations for Research (FREE PDF)
Scientific Advisory Board on Medicinal Cannabis:
www.unitedincompassion.com.au
National Institute of Complementary Medicine:
www.westernsydney.edu.au/nicm
Justin Sinclair Website:
www.tmconsultancy.com.au
Recommended reading:
Johann Hari - Chasing The Scream, The First and Last Days On The War On Drugs
Enjoy!
The Spirit Of Booze: Old World To New World with Charles Casben
One of the more epic episodes for you today gang. Recorded in an old world gin bar in Redfern, Sydney, Charlie Casben, a wonderful bartender and sommelier who owns Moya’s Juniper Lounge and drinks good booze well…
I worked for years with Charlie back in the day when I was tender bar and I knew that in that time I only scratched the surface of his knowledge around the wonderful world of herbalism, botanicals and alcohol. As I got more into the health game I became more and more bored with the flatland commentary that health “leaders" had about alcohol simply being bad and wanted to go deeper into the nature of this substance and continue to do the work to bring an integration between the world of health and booze; I got considerable closer in this interview. If you’re ready to take your health to another level then grab some good booze and strap in for a ride into the old world as we explore the journey herbs and botanicals have taken till we see the current culture emerge around bars and booze, and where we’re going to be able to take it so that a true progression is possible in the way we move forward as an integrated culture.
One of the more epic episodes for you today gang. Recorded in an old world gin bar in Redfern, Sydney, Charlie Casben, a wonderful bartender and sommelier who owns Moya’s Juniper Lounge and drinks good booze well…
I worked for years with Charlie back in the day when I was tender bar and I knew that in that time I only scratched the surface of his knowledge around the wonderful world of herbalism, botanicals and alcohol. As I got more into the health game I became more and more bored with the flatland commentary that health “leaders" had about alcohol simply being bad and wanted to go deeper into the nature of this substance and continue to do the work to bring an integration between the world of health and booze; I got considerably closer in this interview. If you’re ready to take your health to another level then grab some good booze and strap in for a ride into the old world as we explore the journey herbs and botanicals have taken till we see the current culture emerge around bars and booze, and where we’re going to be able to take it so that a true progression is possible in the way we move forward as an integrated culture.
In this interview we dive deep into:
- The place of alcohol within a modern health context
- Challenging the dichotomy of alcohol restriction within a health fortifying regime
- History of alcohol and its early uses
- Using bitter aperitifs for functional stimulation of digestion
- The wonderful benefits of beer in old and new world culture
- Alcohol as a preservation system
- Fermentation & distillation explained in depth
- Alcohol as a delivery vessel for healthy plant constituents
- The dynamics between the old and new world’s uses of alcohol
- The medicinal properties & historical use of gin, tonic and lime
- Production of fortified wine and its botanical benefits
Taught the basics of cocktail bar tending at fifteen with his sister by a father who's aim was to teach the value of understanding and appreciating good liquor. Cocktails remained a hobby until at eighteen while studying a physics degree he embarked on what was to become a fifteen year career in hospitality. Serving over the bar at several venues in Sydney and abroad wine became the next challenge and certification with the Court of Master Sommeliers the next goal. While studying wine the decision was made to pursue the goal of opening a small bar in Sydney and after several years searching for a suitable site, Moya's Juniper Lounge opened its doors in March 2016.
Consciousness in the Kitchen with Simon Favorito
Creating a potent, personalised culture of health around food and the kitchen is one of my main focuses on this health journey and that’s why I’ve invited Simon Favorito to join us on this episode. I’ve had the honour of sharing a house with Simon years ago and have had an up close look at how effective he is a bringing the romance back to way we interact with food, how to use food addictions as an access for transformation and ensuring that all senses are engaged in the cooking process so that we can get the best possible health and happiness from our food.
Creating a potent, personalised culture of health around food and the kitchen is one of my main focuses on this health journey and that’s why I’ve invited Simon Favorito to join us on this episode. I’ve had the honour of sharing a house with Simon years ago and have had an up close look at how effective he is a bringing the romance back to way we interact with food, how to use food addictions as an access for transformation and ensuring that all senses are engaged in the cooking process so that we can get the best possible health and happiness from our food.
If you’re wanting to go deep into food culture and the emotions involved with cooking, and understand how pivotal it is for long term longevity, then this one is for you. Simon is a wealth of knowledge and leads with his heart as he walks the walk and talks the talk of creating a healthy culture surrounding food.
In this episode you will learn about:
- Creating awareness & enhancing traditional connections to food in a modern society dominated by stimulated superficial senses
- Recalibrating ourselves with the intrinsic language that wild foods communicate to us
- The influence of different food flavours on the innate emotions of humans
- The contrast of food practices in the west to that of traditional societies
- Honouring the lost culture of food gathering, preparation & consumption
- Addictions & the art of healing the deep-layered connections to poor food choice
- Returning the romance & poetry to the way we eat
- Breaking down the ‘calcified dogmas’ that binds the identify of people’s culture
- The differences between simply choosing healthy food vs deep intentional nourishment & awareness
- The dynamic dance of food aromatics and alchemy
- How our physical environment can influence food choice
- The interplay of tonic & culinary herbalism within traditional food systems
Simon Favorito has been working as a natural foods chef and holistic natural therapist for over 15 years with a drive to share how foods can change and shape our lives for the better. As a classically trained chef, kinesiologist and NLP trained practitioner Simon endeavours to share these life-enhancing benefits of natural food and healthy food culture through personalised coaching, event catering, cooking & fermenting workshops and more.
Resources:
Simon’s website
https://www.facebook.com/consciousfoodculture/
Dream Wild, Yogic Style with Mark Breadner
Mark Breadner is the longest serving teacher and yoga educator in Australia, having trained over 1000 Yoga teachers globally. He has a distinct capacity to facilitate rapid growth, developed over 45 years of Yoga practise, teaching and training. This interview delves into his discoveries about what the true essence of yoga is and how this applies to the modern world beyond the current state of modern yoga.
Mark Breadner is the longest serving teacher and yoga educator in Australia, having trained over 1000 Yoga teachers globally. He has a distinct capacity to facilitate rapid growth, developed over 45 years of Yoga practise, teaching and training. This interview delves into his discoveries about what the true essence of yoga is and how this applies to the modern world beyond the current state of modern yoga.
His message of connecting to the heart through yoga is profound and practical. Dreaming wild is one of the core aspects of Mark's practice and his take on our dreams being trapped inside of us being a source of dis-ease is inspiring and transformational. Mark draws upon the essence of Yoga, and contemporises its teachings so the everyday person can re-birth the dreams they have always had, but may have forgotten.
The deep poverty consciousness surrounding the yogic community is discussed, as well as the projects he's got going right now that aid as an example of how to balance creating a sustainable income doing what you love and ensuring that you are contributing back to the global and local community through dreaming wild.
Enjoy!
Links:
Mark's site:
Global Yoga Teacher Challenge:
http://markbreadner.com/global-yoga-teacher-challenge/
Mark's Yoga Teacher Training
A Romance Of The Land with Jake Cassar
I've titled this episode as a romance purely because it was the only word I could find to describe the relationship that Jake Cassar has with the land. Jake is an environmentalist, bushcraft teacher, singer and musician who teaches people the art of connecting to the land using indigenous skills and bushcraft. Emerging beyond the simple health advice of "spend more time in nature," we talk deeply about how to deepen that time spent on the land you walk, in nature, by learning the song, dance, tracks, sounds and slopes of your terrain. Beyond this, the skills needed for ensuring your capacity to thrive when going bush are discussed in some detail. We talk tracking, foraging, finding water & shelter, hunting are more in a way that shows how these skills aren't simply great for helping you survive, but are an access for entering a deeper, more profound relationship with the environment you walk upon, one that connects you deeply and opens a new realm of health to emerge no matter what kind of lifestyle you are currently living.
I've titled this episode as a romance purely because it was the only word I could find to describe the relationship that Jake Cassar has with the land. Jake is an environmentalist, bushcraft teacher, singer and musician who teaches people the art of connecting to the land using indigenous skills and bushcraft. Emerging beyond the simple health advice of "spend more time in nature," we talk deeply about how to deepen that time spent on the land you walk, in nature, by learning the song, dance, tracks, sounds and slopes of your terrain. Beyond this, the skills needed for ensuring your capacity to thrive when going bush are discussed in some detail. We talk tracking, foraging, finding water & shelter, hunting are more in a way that shows how these skills aren't simply great for helping you survive, but are an access for entering a deeper, more profound relationship with the environment you walk upon, one that connects you deeply and opens a new realm of health to emerge no matter what kind of lifestyle you are currently living.
Stories are shared of the incredible experiences Jake has had on his survival missions, discussing health benefits that are truly astounding from simply being immersed on the land for days at a time. These include weight loss, body strength, sight, hearing and agility. This points to the vast healing that may occur simply through this intentional immersion in nature (with someone who knows what they're doing) that brings nutrient dense bush foods, wild water and dynamic movement through natural landscapes while having ALL the senses engage with the environment; something that does not happen in the Western world.
Enjoy the interview, please leave a rating and review as always so I know how you liked it.
Stay Enchanted,
Mason
Dancing The Patterns Of Permaculture with Tania Leilani
Tania Lailani has been rocking the permaculture path, a deep and special expression of gardening, for 25 years. She’s taught all over the world and is currently a custodian (and is living at) a 200 acre property in the Byron Bay Hinterland which is seriously one of the most incredible places I’ve ever been! It’s an amazing food forest and living system that has emerged and thrived from previously being a cow paddock 15 years ago based on her insights, wisdom and experience of working with the natural living systems of nature; with the Earth. This interview will inspire you like crazy to reconnect with the natural patterns of life and nature and generally live an incredible healthy, yet balanced life, no matter where you live.
Tania Lailani has been rocking the permaculture path, a deep and special expression of gardening, for 25 years. She’s taught all over the world and is currently a custodian (and is living at) a 200 acre property in the Byron Bay Hinterland which is seriously one of the most incredible places I’ve ever been! It’s an amazing food forest and living system that has emerged and thrived from previously being a cow paddock 15 years ago based on her insights, wisdom and experience of working with the natural living systems of nature; with the Earth. This interview will inspire you like crazy to reconnect with the natural patterns of life and nature and generally live an incredible healthy, yet balanced life, no matter where you live.
We talk about core permaculture and living principles, developing immunity, embodying energy efficiency for the most incredible life possible, immunity, vaccines, community, wild food and heaps more! Tania’s land is where I run my retreat from also, and you get an insight into why it’s so important to have a well tended to land to work with in these instances that support the work that we are doing as humans to heal, flourish and live the best life ever.
Strap yourselves in for this one, it’s truly enchanting and I know you will absolutely love it.
Tania doesn’t have a website, but if you sign up for my newsletter over at my website we’ll be doing some videos together to give you some further insights. If you’re up for coming and experiencing it for yourself come along to one of my retreat to immerse yourself in the elements and deeply feel what we are discussing in this interview.
Enjoy!
Links:
Sign up for my newsletter to get more info and content about Tania’s work and land.