New Normal Project: Serving love to manage depression and life with Natalie & Stuart McIntosh (NNP #52)

Serving love to manage depression and life with Natalie & Stuart McIntosh (NNP #52)

May 3, 2019

This episode’s guests are Natalie and Stuart McIntosh.

Stuart and Natalie (also known as Jai Ma), created the documentary “Serving Love”, an excellent movie sharing the stories of people who have experienced the profound health benefits of following a high raw plant based lifestyle, including overcoming cancer, illness and depression, whilst also developing new loving and healthy relationships with people, nature and life itself. The movie also features interviews with Dr Michael Klaper, Dr Malcolm Mackay, philanthropist Philip Wollen, ultramarathoners Janette Murray-Wakelin and Alan Murray, and Yoko from Shoko Iku, as well as Natalie and Stuart.

After watching the documentary, I simply had to interview them for the podcast. I was warmly welcomed to their beautiful farm in Beaconsfield, Victoria, where apart from our conversation I was able to see the diverse array of organic fruit and vegetables they grow there.

Given the movie is mostly about raw wholefood plant-based eating, you will likely expect that to be the predominant topic. Yet early in this podcast Natalie courageously tells us the story of her depression and how she suffered with it, her attempted suicide, her feeling that this was actually a call to God for help and her subsequent journey from depression to wellness.

Natalie and Stuart then go on to speak about:

The empowering shift Natalie noticed after seeking help and spiritual guidance
How her depression recurred despite this
What Stuart noticed about how the antidepressants were affecting Natalie
The efforts they took to help Natalie discontinue her antidepressants once her mental health came under control
Natalie’s subsequent call to nature and to eating fresh real food
How this progressed to both Stuart and Natalie deciding not to eat animal foods
Some of the people who have guided them both spiritually
Their realization many of us live unconsciously through our psychological minds
The difficulties with believing we are in control of what is happening
The benefits of letting go and simply being aware to become more fulfilled
The benefits of seeing life as a Guru itself
How the right spiritual teacher is someone you resonate with
How they came to make their documentary Serving Love
Some advice about eating more raw food as part of a wholefood plant-based diet

Listening to the podcast may be confronting for you. If you feel you need help, please contact your national 24-hour crisis counseling service. Australian listeners can go to www.lifeline.org.au or www.beyondblue.org.au.

After the interview, I tell you how I have been going with some of the recent challenges I've mentioned on the show, and I also discuss a couple of scientific papers you might value hearing about or even reading yourself, particularly if you have or know someone with depression.

Please enjoy listening to Natalie and Stuart; two of the most kind, caring and loving beings I’ve ever met.

Live well, feel well, do well.

Andrew Davies

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About the New Normal Project podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to live your most plant-based, body-moving and mind-focused lifestyle, by hearing about healthy lifestyle pillars such as nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, sleep, connection and purpose. I hope you’ll glean insights to help you make choices about your habits so you become more healthy, fulfilled and conscious.

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Links to people, organisations & other resources mentioned:

Raw Food For Life website

“Serving Love” documentary

“Serving Love” documentary trailer

Raw Food For Life on Facebook

Raw Food For Life on Instagram

Dr Michael Klaper

Dr Malcolm Mackay

Philip Wollen

Janette Murray-Wakelin and Alan Murray

Blog post about Natalie’s journey from depression to wellness