Learning from Trees

About Learning from Trees

You're allowed not to listen. In fact, if you're arriving here in chase of solutions, you probably shouldn't... Learning from Trees is a podcast hosted by Shani Persson — for anyone who wants to expand, to learn, and to be more of themselves. Or simply to be, more. For the human who wants to stop chasing knowledge and start anchoring into inner knowing and wisdom, beyond the letter. Who wants to feel. To experience. To embrace embodiment as a pathway to expansion. For the soul who wants to co-create and grow through interacting with life — with nature, with themselves, with one another. For the creator who wants to honour their creative process — making things through the friction and doubts and peaks of being human. The artist who wants to dance with change, tap into their creative power, and be of service. This is for anyone who wants to savour their humanity. And maybe also — their divinity.

Publisher

Shani Persson

Category

education · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Jan 2026

Latest episode

19 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Jul 2026

   14 The rhythm of health: on structure, curiosity, discernment and building relationships - a conversation with Veronica Paige

   Veronica Paige on ancient wisdom, seasonal rhythm, decision fatigue, and building rituals that hold you through change.

2. 

   5 Jul 2026

   13 Curious sleep: on habits, behavioural change, presence and the mysteries of the night - a conversation with Frida Rångtell

   Sleep researcher Frida on curiosity, non-judgment, and small experiments — a different way to think about sleep, rest, and listening to your body.

3. 

   21 Jun 2026

   12 Freedom within the frames: on dance, honesty, and the art of being you - a conversation with Rachel McNamee

   This episode is an invitation to consider what it might mean to be fully yourself — not as a fixed identity to protect, but as something alive and curious that shows up differently in every room. I am joined by Rachel McNamee, a dancer with eleven years in a repertory company who spent a year away -  not to leave dance, but to find herself outside the only frame she'd ever known. Together we move through what it actually feels like to return somewhere changed, and the question of how to bring a new shape back into an old space without losing it. We explore what Rachel carries from a life in dance: the discovery that freedom doesn't disappear inside structure - it often lives there. And what it actually takes to translate someone else's vision through your body. The observation, the relationship, the trust that builds between a dancer and a choreographer over time. And how much of that, it turns out, is just what it takes to truly meet someone. By seeking answers together, finding awe and laughter and surprising ourselves with what we find, we land on something neither of us expected: that receiving someone fully might be the most generous thing we can offer. A warm, unhurried conversation about expression, honesty, and what it means to actually meet each other. About Rachel: Rachel describes herself firstly as a human - one who spends a lot of time dancing, performing, creating, writing, talking, listening, loving. She grew up in Vancouver, Canada. In 2014, she moved to Europe to start her career as a professional dancer with Nederlands Dans Theatre. She is currently based in Göteborg, Sweden, dancing with GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, amongst other things. Rachel is interested in the body in all its forms of expression - how it holds and gives. Get in touch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachmacxx/ Substack: https://rachelmcnamee.substack.com/ This episode in headlines Stepping away from comfort and into exploration Entering old spaces in new shapes Growth moves in more directions than we think Finding improvisation and liberty inside every frame Meeting the unknown with curiosity Translating vision into movement Languages - what do we really understand? Feeling fully expressed What the body gives and what the body holds Taking up space when you're wired to adapt Performance is honesty Receiving as giving, giving as receiving

4. 

   7 Jun 2026

   11 Becoming your own guide: on intuition, nature and slowing down enough to trust - a conversation with Amanda Parker

   With Amanda Parker — on trusting intuition, leaving corporate life, and letting nature slow you down enough to hear yourself.

5. 

   24 May 2026

   10 From hustle to creative living: Peace, aligned action and being vessels for the ripples we create - a conversation with Innocent Mugenga

   From hustle to creative living — with Innocent Mugenga on surrender, self-trust, grief, and becoming a vessel for aligned action.

6. 

   10 May 2026

   09 Loving ourselves: On self-touch, curiosity and the permission to play - a conversation with Caroline Oskarsson

   What if the most radical act of self-love is learning to touch yourself with kindness? In this episode, we explore self-massage, nervous system regulation, body awareness, and how curiosity and physical touch — can rebuild your relationship with yourself from the inside out. With holistic wellbeing practitioner Caroline.

7. 

   26 Apr 2026

   08 Creating change by loving our humanity - a conversation with JJ Vega

   What if the most powerful leadership move is turning inward? In this episode, we explore personal healing, psychological safety, the pressure to optimize life, and how taking responsibility for your inner experience transforms the way you lead and live.

8. 

   12 Apr 2026

   07 Courage to connect - a conversation with Carina Modéus

   This episode is an invitation to explore what it truly means to connect — with ourselves, with the people we love, and with something larger than our own lives. I am joined by Carina Modéus, and together we move through the landscapes of presence, service, and the beauty and weight of being human together. We explore what it looks like to show up fully to life and relationships — and why the quality of our presence may be one of the most quietly radical things we can offer in a fragmented world. And perhaps the most necessary. Through our own experiences and reflections, we venture into how the relationship we cultivate — with our senses, with other humans, with our faith(s) — can give us access to both more grace and more grit in the face of life’s challenges. It's an exploration for anyone drawn to the deeper currents of human connection — and for those who find their sense of purpose in being there for and with others, without neglecting themselves. About Carina: Daughter of farmers in the deep forests of Småland, in the south of Sweden. She grew up in a big family - three siblings and 75 cousins. Moved to Lund. Met and fell in love with a tenor and theologist, married him and now had the grace of sharing 35 years together (and counting). Mother of three grown up children. While also taking a winding way through professional life - always mirroring grace and grit: Biologist, physician, both oncologist and psychiatric, the last ten years working mainly in palliative care. Deeply committed to the exploration of existential perspectives and questions, and their impact on our well-being. Get in touch: Carina says: “In person actually. I am striving to be as analog as reasonably possible. Meeting physical human beings in physical rooms is more and more my preferred way of living. I have an account on LinkedIn, but I am not at all good at keeping it updated, so I do not dare to promise anyone to be answered there but it is the best channel I have”. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carinamodeus This episode in headlines: Morning rituals - a foundation for presence What true presence means and how we cultivate it Analog and digital - the push and pull of human connection The Power of Human Connection The courage to reach out and face rejection Caring for others without losing yourself Intention and Small Steps as a guiding light Letting grace and grit guide you Finding Comfort in Imperfection Reflections on Life, Death, and Connectedness Final Thoughts and Invitations

9. 

   29 Mar 2026

   06 Evolving with playful compassion - a conversation with Maria Sundell

   This is an invitation to play with our uniqueness - and the imprints that life has left on our brains. An honest conversation about how we can approach our self-discovery and growth with curiosity instead of judgement.

10. 

    15 Mar 2026

    05 Growing softly - a conversation with Arianna Montanari

    This episode is an invitation to self-compassion. An intimate dialogue on what it means to meet ourselves with softness, what it looks like when we get (too) comfortable in our own suffering and how removing force can actually welcome greater expansion.

11. 

    1 Mar 2026

    04 Meeting ourselves through contrast and creation - a conversation with Michelle Baker

    A quiet exploration of what it means to be in dialogue with ourselves — through creative practices, through breath and introspection. And what it means to honour our processes and our needs in a world that rarely pauses.

12. 

    15 Feb 2026

    03 The Practice of presence - a conversation with Oren Shai

    Join Oren Shai, Organizational Psychologist and Somatic Leadership Coach, in a deep exploration of presence and somatic awareness. Discover how to navigate the noise of daily life, cultivate emotional awareness, and reconnect with your inner landscape. Learn practical insights for integrating somatic practices into your personal and professional life.

13. 

    1 Feb 2026

    02 Curious enough to find inner peace? - a conversation with Joana Castro

    An honest, human conversation on balance, emotions, creativity, and healing. Explore personal development through curiosity, food therapy, mindfulness, and seasonal self-care with TCM educator Joana Castro.

14. 

    18 Jan 2026

    01 For the love of art and effort - a conversation with Sofìa Laria

    Explore an intimate conversation on creativity, effort, and personal growth with concert pianist and creativity-researcher Sofia Laría. Through music, art, and everyday life, we dive into the role of effort, the dance with impermanence, the power of presence, and how creative practice becomes a path for self-worth, clarity, and transformation.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Contact Learning from Trees

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.