Six Inches of Soil - The Podcast

A Regenerative future starts with HOPE not fear.

Untold: Behind the Scenes at Groundswell

The Films Changing Agriculture: What story has the power to transform the way we think about food, farming, and the environment? In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant filmmaker, author, and activist Rebecca Harrell Tickell. As a premier climate communicator, Rebecca is driving vital global discussions around our current food and farming systems through the lens of impact cinema. We thoroughly enjoyed talking with her about the power of storytelling to heal our planet so please listen to the end where things get a bit emotional in the best way! We recorded the conversation live at Goundswell the Festival in July 2026.

GROUNDSWELL is the powerful third chapter in the soil trilogy, taking viewers on a breathtaking journey across the globe. As climate change, species loss, and soil degradation threaten our future, this film uncovers the groundbreaking solutions already restoring our planet, proving that regeneration is not just possible, it's happening now and it's all linked to FOOD.

Host, producer: Richard Tufton
Co-host, producer: Claire Mackenzie
Editor: Meg Chatham
Score: Matt Griffin (poet & farmer) Instagram: @neidpath_farms

Guest: Rebecca Harrell Tickell: Big Picture Ranch (Kiss the Ground, Common Ground, Groundswell)

Featuring Tilly & Oscar Tufton!

Six Inches of Soil:

Website: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/
Book: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/book
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sixinchesofsoil/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/six-inches-of-soil-b75059234/

About Rebecca Harrell Tickell:
Rebecca Harrell Tickell is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and environmental activist. Rebecca is the co-director and producer at Big Picture Ranch, the production company behind the revolutionary documentary trilogy Kiss the Ground, Common Ground, and Groundswell, which have brought the regenerative farming movement into the global mainstream. Her work bridges the gap between complex soil science and mainstream cultural awareness, mobilizing a global audience to support planetary restoration.

Based in California, Rebecca splits her time between directing high-impact environmental films, authoring books on climate solutions, and driving global advocacy campaigns to transition agricultural land into certified regenerative practices. She is also Mom to two awesome kids!
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Unite: Bringing Together Podcasters & Ideas in the Field

The Stories Changing Food: What story changed the way you think about food, farming, or the environment? Maybe it was from listening to one of our brilliant guests—all communicators creating vital discussions around our current food and farming system. Plus, we have a very special guest for the outro, so please listen to the end!

Host, producer: Richard Tufton
Co-host, producer: Claire Mackenzie
Editor: Meg Chatham
Score: Matt Griffin (poet & farmer) Instagram: @neidpath_farms

Six Inches of Soil

Website: sixinchesofsoil.org
Book: sixinchesofsoil.org/book
Instagram: @sixinchesofsoil
LinkedIn: Six Inches of Soil

Featured Guests

Abby Rose | Farmerama

Abby is a soil health advocate, part-time farmer, and co-founder of Vidacycle, creators of Sectormentor and Soilmentor—practical tools that help vineyards and farms track and build soil health (including the Regen Platform developed with Nicole Masters). She is also the co-creator of Farmerama Radio, an award-winning podcast sharing the voices behind regenerative farming. Splitting her time between her family farm in Chile and international farm visits, Abby was named one of the ‘50 Next’ young people shaping the future of gastronomy by The World’s 50 Best.

Ben Eagle | Meet the Farmers

Based in the east of England, Ben is a writer, podcaster, and rural communications specialist. As the founder of RuralPod Media, his passion is telling rural stories and building an extensive network of agricultural contacts across the UK. His podcast portfolio includes the Meet the Farmers Podcast and Rural Business Focus.

Clay Conry | Working Cow Podcast

A Western South Dakota native raised on a cow-calf operation, Clay recently relocated to West Central South Dakota. Alongside managing a small ranch with his family, Clay pastors Prairie Home Church—an independent congregation that has met on the prairies for 110 years. Over the last three years, Clay has used his platform to learn and implement paradigm-challenging agricultural practices.

Ffinlo Costain | Farmgate

Ffinlo is the Editor-in-Chief of 8point9.com and has worked in farming, land, and food policy for over 20 years. As Chief Executive of Farmwel (2016-2022), he provided evidence to UK parliamentary committees and advised ministers on agricultural climate gases. He founded the Food & Global Security Network, published Soil Health: A security threat profile ahead of COP26, and delivered the highly popular TEDx Talk, "We can't solve the climate crisis without cows."

Sheila Dillon | The Food Programme (Special Guest)

A food journalist for over four decades, Sheila moved from editing Food Monitor magazine in New York to BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme, where she now serves as presenter. Throughout her career, she has produced groundbreaking, early coverage on BSE (mad cow disease), the rise of GM foods, the organic movement, and the globalization of the food supply via the WTO—shining a light on these critical subjects long before they entered the mainstream media.

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Unwinding curious minds: Fourth graders dig into soil facts
Richard heads to the classroom for this special episode, joined by a lively group of students, some vocal chicks, a regenerative farmer, and a soil scientist! Enjoy the background chirps and the deeply inquisitive minds of the fourth-grade class at The International School of Texas, led by their teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Passi, as they dlve into the world of soil and food. As part of the faculty at IST, Jennifer contributes to a curriculum rooted in global citizenship and core values like integrity and intellect. Her work in the STEM lab helps students develop the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate and protect the planet's future.

Host, producer: Richard Tufton
Co-host, producer: Claire Mackenzie
Editor: Meg Chatham
Score: Matt Griffin (poet & farmer) Instagram: @neidpath_farms

Six Inches of Soil:
To watch the film and ‘dig deeper’:
https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/
Book: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/book
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sixinchesofsoil/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/six-inches-of-soil-b75059234/

ANDIE MARSH is a soil health specialist, science communicator, and founder of Rhizos LLC - a Soil Food Web certified lab. More than that, she is a human building relationship with land in a suburban context.
Website:
https://www.rhizos.science/
Soil is Sexy instagram
Soil is Sexy is the newsletter

Daniel Coindreau is the owner of Río Salado, a ranch in northern Nuevo León, Mexico. A first-generation cattle rancher since 2012, he has built his operation with a focus on productivity, resilience, and long-term sustainability. Since 2020, he has led the transition toward regenerative practices, including the development of adapted cattle genetics that enhance operational performance while improving soil health and restoring native ecosystems. He is also a partner in Tierra de Todos, a Mexican brand that brings poultry, eggs, and meat from regenerative producers to market.

Daniel Coindreau LinkedIn
https://tierradetodos.com/

Amy Arnold (outro), Head Teacher who has embedded food, farming and sustainability across the curriculum at Barnham school.
Amy Arnold insta
Barnham CEVC primary school , Suffolk, UK

Euston Hall where Barnham do their farm visits
Shimpling Park Farm mentioned and featured in Six Inches of Soil Documentary

UK organisations mentioned by Amy
Worm City
LEAF Countryside Classroom
Farmer Time
Harmony
Earthworm foundation
BSSS

USA - agriculture for kids:
National Agriculture in the Classroom:
USDA
Kiss the Ground
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Episode 14: Under the Weather: How the Water Cycle Starts with Soil
Join us as we explore the critical relationship between soil, water, and weather with experts in climate science, regenerative ranching, and meteorology. Discover how land management practices influence water cycles, climate change, and resilience against extreme weather events.

Host, producer: Richard Tufton
Co-host, producer: Claire Mackenzie
Editor: Meg Chatham
Score: Matt Griffin (poet & farmer) Instagram: @neidpath_farms

Six Inches of Soil:
Website: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/
Book: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/book
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sixinchesofsoil/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/six-inches-of-soil-b75059234/

GUESTS
Alpha Lowe
Alpha Lo is a scientist specializing in water research. He leads the Climate Water Project, where he writes the project’s newsletter ( climatewaterproject.substack.com) and hosts its podcast of the same name. He has taught water-focused content in Permaculture Design Courses, including how designing landscapes to infiltrate rainwater can enhance precipitation recycling (aka the small water cycle). He has studied physics and geography at the graduate level, where his research explored how water in the landscape influences rainfall.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alpha-lo-284900a8/
https://climatewaterproject.substack.com/podcast
https://climatewaterproject.substack.com/

Alejandro Carillo
Alejandro Carrillo is a fourth-generation rancher in the Chihuahuan desert. Rarely his
precipitation goes beyond 9” per year (< 225mm). He is not willing to waste any water in such a
brittle environment if he wants to graze year-round without inputs.
Alejandro’s ranch, Las Damas, has been part of multiple documentaries and studies focused on regenerative ranching and “greening the desert” using livestock such as Common Ground, Sacred Cow, To Which We Belong, and Water in Plain Sight.
Alejandro’s Grasslands Regeneration Project company assists ranchers and organizations on regenerative grazing projects in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia, China and the Middle- East. He also participates as a delegate to the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification.

Las Damas Cattle Ranch
Common ground - doco
Sacred Cow documentary

Mary Wasson:

Mary has worked as a meteorologist for more than 20 years, a career inspired by a childhood experience sheltering from a tornado with her family that sparked her fascination with storm development. A native of Winchester, Kentucky, she earned her undergraduate degree in communications from Morehead State University and later completed a Master of Science in Geoscience at Mississippi State University.
Throughout her career, Mary has worked in television markets. She now serves as a digital meteorologist, producing daily forecasts along with engaging and informative weather content for the Austin American-Statesman, Houston Chronicle, and San Antonio Express-News.

Facebook: @Metrologist Mary Wassonn
Instagram: @wassonweather
Twitter: @Mary_Wasson

Bella Lowes (featured in the outro)
Bella is the resident grazing specialist at Mill Barton, where she stewards the land alongside a beloved herd of Red Devon cattle. With deep-rooted knowledge in pasture-based systems and bovine behaviour, Bella brings both integral understanding and instinctive care to her work. Her approach to grazing prioritises soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare, ensuring that the landscape thrives as much as the herd. Whether she’s planning a rotational grazing cycle or spotting subtle shifts in herd dynamics, Bella’s insight into all things cow is unmatched.

Website: https://www.diggandco.com/meet-the-team

Further Research:

https://agendagotsch.com/en/
Abigail Swan, Washington Uni
Water Stories platform - YouTube - and a course where you can learn
FarmGate podcast - episode: how regenerative grazing can wash methane out of the atmosphere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCjvCQHX7mQ Beavers in Scotland


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SHOW NOTES
Episode 13: Unruly: soil secrets for gardeners and green keepers
On this episode our guests question all we think about weeds, bugs, soil life and the commonly used garden chemicals. You may start to look at your garden or public spaces in a very different way. They offer top tips on how to nurture our soils and plants, the show notes are full of vital links.

Host, producer: Richard Tufton
Co-host, producer: Claire Mackenzie
Editor: Meg Chatham
Score: Matt Griffin Instagram: @neidpath_farms

Six Inches of Soil

Website: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/
Book: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/book
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sixinchesofsoil/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/six-inches-of-soil-b75059234/

Vicki Hird

Vicki Hird MSc FRES is Strategic Lead for Agriculture at The Wildlife Trusts and former Head of Sustainable Farming at Sustain Alliance. With 35+ years of experience in environmental, food, and farming policy, she is an award-winning campaigner, author, and advisor working with organisations and governments to transform food systems.

Links

Website: www.rebuggingtheplanet.org
Book: Rebugging the Planet
Latest blogs: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/blogs/vicki-hird

Socials:
Instagram, X, LinkedIn: @vickihird
Bluesky: @vickihird.bsky.social
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/vickihird

Wildlife gardening resources:
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening

Nicole Masters

Nicole Masters is an agroecologist, coach, and author specialising in regenerative soil and land management. Since 1999 she has worked with farmers, organisations, and land stewards worldwide, helping implement regenerative practices across more than 30 million acres through ecological systems thinking and practical coaching.

Links
Website: https://www.integritysoils.com/ for online course, coaches
Book "For the love of Soil"
Their CREATE school applications open on the 1st of May
https://www.integritysoils.com/pages/create-2026-mexico

Socials: Facebook
Insta: @masters.nicole & @integrity_soils
YouTube

Excellent tutorial YouTube videos with Nicole by LA Sanitation

Nick Mole

Nick Mole joined PAN UK (Pesticide Action Network UK) in 2007 after working with the Environmental Investigation Agency. He leads PAN’s national policy work, conducting research and gathering evidence to support reduced pesticide use and safer alternatives. PAN UK is the only UK charity focused solely on addressing pesticide harms and promoting sustainable alternatives in agriculture, urban areas, homes, and gardens.

Links

PAN UK: https://www.pan-uk.org
Pesticide-Free Towns: https://www.pan-uk.org/pesticide-free/
Pavement Plant Guide: https://www.pan-uk.org/pavement-plants/
Gardening Without Pesticides: https://www.pan-uk.org/gardening-without-pesticides/

Marni Thompson

Marni Thompson grew up on a family ranch in Montana and holds a BSc in Range Science from Montana State University. She has worked with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for 26 years and helps farmers and ranchers implement soil health principles across the state. She also supports the annual Soil Health Symposium in Billings, Montana.

Socials

Facebook and Instagram: @marnikittothompson
Understanding Ag: @Understandingag

Further References

Medieval Way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDS6dGi6oZY

Ghent parks (Netherlands) – managed without pesticides.
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