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Bonsai Mirai: Asymmetry

Bonsai Mirai

Bonsai Mirai is a company, a place, a practice, an ecosystem of creators. This is our outlet for discussion of all things bonsai and beyond.

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21 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 41 min
English

Episodes 21

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#286
August 26 · 2 hr 16 min
The Bonsai Hostel with David Cutchin and Steve Varland
There’s never a dull moment at Mirai. But one of the most beautiful aspects of the hustle and bustle in the garden is getting to spend time with traveling bonsai vagabonds crossing the country to keep the movement of bonsai activity going. This summer has been particularly busy with guests, students, and friends from old and new. One fateful weekend recently the stars aligned for Steve Varland of the Backcountry Boys and David Cutchin of Wyrdwood Bonsai to both be visiting and dropping off trees at the same time. Mirai has a very deep and long-standing connection with both gentlemen, but the magic truly happens when you get kindred spirits together and further connect the roots of our bonsai culture through shared experiences in the wild, over meals, and spending time working trees together at Mirai. Ryan managed to pack up the crew and take them on a yamadori scouting trip into the wilds of Oregon for the day. Just prior to everyone going their separate ways he was also able to pump them full of caffeine and squeeze out a truly memorable podcast. Enjoy!
#285
August 12 · 1 hr 54 min
Summer Soapbox Session with Brock and Brandon
The summer at Mirai has been as lively as any season in the past 16 years of the garden and company. Ryan and his team had an incredible session with students, guests from across the country, and a significant amount of positivity pumped into the facility from the community. Needless to say, Mirai is alive and kicking, living at that frantic pace that Ryan thrives on. In the middle of another hot and demanding day of watering, Ryan, Brock, and Brandon sat down to catch up on the happenings this summer as well as to announce the upcoming events for the fall. From a tree sale over Labor Day, to the Covered Wagon rolling east this fall, and all the fun had in between, this is a regular wrap session with the crew. Sit back and relax as the boys take you through the latest bonsai banter, happenings at Mirai, and everything in between. To find out more about the Tree Sale sign up for our email list here. To reserve a spot on the Covered Wagon contact us for info via email at info@bonsaimirai.com.
#284
August 5 · 1 hr 38 min
Bonsai in the High Desert with Jon White
Every pocket of the country has someone passionate about bonsai adapting their practice to the particulars and extremes of the environment. It’s one of the great marvels within the art form, the human ingenuity to create and cultivate bonsai despite the harshness of the weather and location. Jon White carries forward the lineage of pioneers in the Boise region of Idaho who have been doing just that for decades; defying the ruggedness of the landscape in pursuit of tiny trees. Through their tight knit pack, the Boise Bonsai Society has carved out a beautiful oasis of positivity, community, and organic creativity sourced from a local hub of natural beauty and inspiration. Few people think of Boise as a bonsai destination, but Jon’s ambitions with High Desert Bonsai have picked up the mantle of previous practitioners as a gathering spot for enthusiasts working with what they have to push bonsai forward and in an authentic direction. Ryan and Jon sat down recently to talk about the challenges of growing bonsai in the high desert and building a community. From humble beginnings and fruitful mentorship to yamadori treks, field growing, and leading the next generation, Jon made it clear his goal is to raise the level and represent the beauty of an unsung corner of the West in the process. Without further ado, Jon White y’all. Enjoy! You can learn more about Jon and High Desert Bonsai here. If you’re traveling through and looking for a bonsai fix you can contact the Boise Bonsai Society for their event schedule.
#283
July 29 · 46 min
Ryan Clumpner
You never know where a cup of coffee and a conversation amongst two friends can go. On a recent Saturday morning, following the final class session of the summer, Ryan Neil and longtime friend and Mirai student Ryan Clumpner sat down for a cup of coffee before R.C. returned home to San Diego. As they sat discussing a recent body of ceramic work R.C. brought to Mirai for feedback, the subject of third nature came up as a recent talking point in the modern art world. Unaware of the term and its meaning, but intrigued by a brief look at its definition, Ryan asked R.C. if the two could do an impromptu podcast on the subject and the obvious waterfall of cerebral thoughts it stimulated. What followed was a short, but intense capture of the type of behind the scenes conversation that consistently take place at Mirai amongst the talented people bringing critical thought and dialogue to the narrative of bonsai in this creative incubator. Most conversations go unrecorded, but Ryan jumped on this one and we thought we would share it with the community. Enjoy!
#282
July 8 · 1 hr 7 min
Living the Garden Life with Goodland
Life is what you make it. For Craig and Kendra Pearce moving into the wilds of Bone Island off the coast of British Columbia was a gesture of intention to change the way they interact with the natural world and to slow down from the frantic pace of urban living. The daily reminders of the world around them and the necessity to interface with nature enhanced the way Craig and Kendra lived. Over time, their desire to create slower, analogue rituals that offered moments of pause and reflection gave way to Goodland, a company focused on building beautiful, lasting accoutrements that shared their quality of life with others. Mirai has been a fan of Goodland and what Craig and Kendra have been doing for several years. In this episode of Asymmetry, Ryan sits down with Craig to discuss the origins of Goodland, how the company started and has grown, and where they are headed in their journey towards a sustainable future while preserving their slower lifestyle. What followed was a beautiful discussion of merging modern life with the natural world and the good life that dance can create. Take a look at how Mirai and Goodland have combined forces to offer a slice of the good life to Mirai’s community here. Enjoy ‘yall!
#281
June 17 · 2 hr 3 min
Garden Build Finale with Brock and Brandon
The garden team’s time playing with rocks has officially come to an end. Brandon, Brock, and Ryan sit down in the studio to discuss the finale of the garden build extravaganza that, like many other projects at Mirai, became something much bigger than a simple landscaping project. From boulders and trees to the discovery of cutting-edge bonsai stock, and a lot of meandering discussions about life and the implications of living vicariously through bonsai, this episode is sure to keep you on your toes. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a peak behind the scenes of one of the most actively evolving gardens in bonsai.
#280
June 3 · 1 hr 8 min
Garden Build Update with Brock Arvesen
Ryan recently sat down with apprentice Brock Arvesen to reflect on the unanticipated chaos that has followed Mirai's post-repotting garden build. There’s a therapy and acceptance of reality that comes with ambitious undertakings at Mirai and no better place to work through the frustrations of operating a bonsai nursery while chasing artistic ambitions, than with the people who are in the trenches together. Equal parts honesty and humor, the two share a laugh about the expectations we set for ourselves, the imperfection that comes with best laid plans, and the art of accepting what we can't control. Tune in for some lighthearted banter and a reminder that even the best intentions have a way of keeping us humble.
#279
May 27 · 1 hr 40 min
Spirit of Collaboration with Thomas Nevar
Thomas Nevar is one of the most brilliant and powerful creatives Mirai has had the pleasure of working with. Through his graphic design, sculpture, and painting, Thomas has not only inspired projects at Mirai, Thomas’s work has had a direct impact on Mirai as a brand, compositions within the garden, and the spaces people at Mirai interact with. During one of his visits, Thomas and Ryan discussed an informal collaboration to see how creating in the same space at the same time might inform both artist’s work. Before beginning the project, Thomas and Ryan sat down to discuss the scope of work, their thoughts about art and creativity, and to have a soulful discussion of how art and life dovetail together to form a symbiotic manner of moving through the world. The result was a really nice meeting of creative minds and a soulful conversation between two artists
#278
April 29 · 2 hr 9 min
The Life of an Artist with Austin Heitzman
Austin Heitzman has made an indelible mark on bonsai, and put his stamp on the art form in North America. Beyond the technique and engineering that have allowed him to make some of the most gravity defying and cutting-edge designs in the bonsai realm, Austin’s passion for the unseen, never-before done, and the assumed impossible make his work something that stands alone. Ryan and Austin sat down on a cool spring evening to catch up and discuss recent happenings and upcoming ambitions. As usual, the conversation meandered through many topics including fossil hunting, unicorns of the wood world, and the rarely discussed marvels of hernia surgery. Perhaps the most intriguing discussion though, was Austin’s perspective of the life of an artist and the balance creative living has to strike with the compromising necessity to make a living doing what we love. The discussion was enlightening and thought provoking as Austin and Ryan go deep on the directions they’ve chosen in life and what it takes to make it all work in this wild world of bonsai. Enjoy!
#277
April 22 · 59 min
Brock and Brandon Garden Ambitions
In the world of being a bonsai professional at Mirai the end of repotting season makes the beginning of another very exciting and dramatically different scope of work. Think of the season for garden building and landscape work as a palette cleanser for the long season of watering and bonsai madness that awaits once trees enter the post-flush phase. Every year, Ryan takes time to celebrate a job well done repotting and indulges in his second love of building Mirai. This year, Brock and Brandon are here to help and pick up a few tips and tricks of the garden and landscape design realm they can incorporate into their own future bonsai facilities. Listen in for a light conversation about the team’s garden ambitions, hopes for the next month, and random tangents of inspiration and fascination that will inform the shape Mirai takes in 2026.
#276
April 15 · 1 hr 23 min
Raising the BAR with Tim Arsenault
The longstanding question of how to get more people involved in bonsai has been asked and pontificated about since the beginning of bonsai clubs in North America. This obscure art form has so many barriers to entry and at times seems impossible to expand due to its intricacies and nuances. However, Tim Arsenault and his team at Bonsai BAR found a common past time to pull beginners into the art and have started building a broader and better community, not by breaking new ground, but by applying the proven method of social engagement, mixed with a little liquid bravery, and an encouraging guide to a newbie’s first encounter with the tiny trees. Tim took the sip and paint method that swept the country by storm in the beer and wine boom of the past decade and applied it to the art of bonsai. Since its inception, Bonsai BAR has been a happening across North America. Riding on the shoulders of passionate instructors who want to share their love of bonsai, combined with some brilliant ingenuity of formalizing beginner education, Bonsai BAR is forging relationships that allow Tim and his team to address the growing demand for their offerings. Bonsai BAR might be the biggest thing to hit bonsai since its inception in modern western culture, and the sky is the limit for how this evolved touch point of beginning bonsai education could be applied to involve more people in the bonsai endeavor. Ryan and Tim sit down to discuss Tim’s beginnings, how Bonsai BAR got off the ground and came to be, and to discuss the seemingly limitless future of Tim’s concept and how it truly can create a bigger and better bonsai community that fosters the expansion of the art for years to come. Take a look at Bonsai BAR’s offerings here. To become a Bonsai BAR teacher or ambassador check this out to start your journey.
#275
April 8 · 1 hr 5 min
Repotting Recap with Brock and Brandon
Repotting season is always a journey filled with highs and lows. Each year, when all is said and done there is much to reflect on. At Mirai, repotting is the technique Ryan and his team practice the most. With that, a single season of repotting feels like a lifetime. These recaps are more of a documentation of progress than anything else. Join Ryan, Brock, and Brandon as they relax for a moment between repots to recap the highs and lows of repotting 2026 and all it had to offer.
#274
March 18 · 1 hr 53 min
Lineage of Passion with Harold Sasaki
Kindness. Humility. Generosity. These are words anyone discussing Harold Sasaki would use to describe this gentle giant of a man. But those of us who have been personally impacted by Harold know there is a tenacity to our teacher, a hunger for knowledge, a curiosity for what’s possible, and a glean of motivation in his eye that propelled him to be one of the greatest trailblazers and pioneers of bonsai culture in North American bonsai over the past fifty years. Through his facility, Colorado Bonsai Limited, Harold Sasaki, or Hal as friends call him, has been teaching bonsai to curious and passionate practitioners and inspiring the next generation of bonsai artists and professionals for over four decades. Harold was one of a handful of instructors in the Rocky Mountain region who introduced yamadori into American bonsai culture and was the leading authority on ethical yamadori collection. When the rest of our budding bonsai culture was looking for material in nurseries, Harold was embracing the wild forms of rugged trees from the Rockies and taking people on safari to share the passion and technique of sustainable collecting practices. Harold’s contributions go beyond pioneering the yamadori movement. He also sparked the flame of bonsai passion in known personalities including Mirai’s own Ryan Neil, Golden Arrow’s Andy Smith, First Branch Bonsai’s Todd Schlafer, Will Kerns, Adam Johnson, Tim Arsenault, and so many others who have gone on to do big things and contribute to the art of bonsai and culture in our country. In fact, when you look at the landscape of bonsai in North America today, it’s impossible to imagine our bonsai culture without appreciating the fingerprint of Harold’s impact, including the heartfelt generosity and spirit of sharing Harold imbued to his students that continues to expand and make our community so rich and robust. It was a pleasure and an honor for Ryan to sit down with his mentor and go back to the beginning of where Harold’s journey started, and to walk through the journey of one of American bonsai’s GOATs. Thank you Harold, it was a pleasure my friend. Enjoy!
#273
March 11 · 1 hr 20 min
Stephen Voss
Speaking with creative people about their medium and process is one of the greatest aspects of Asymmetry. To know how other artists view the world and express themselves through their work inspires and informs the tools we all summon to bring beauty through art into the world. Stephen Voss is a D.C. based photographer whose work we have admired at Mirai for over a decade. We initially were exposed to Stephen’s work through his book In Training, an intimate portrayal of the breaths between the words, and the spaces between the trees of the National Bonsai Collection. It was such a thoughtful publication of art and beauty that showed the depth Stephen interpreted the art form of bonsai with and the perspective he felt was valuable to share. Upon deeper dive we realized we were far more aware of Stephen’s photography than we realized. His images have graced the cover of magazines, captured some of the most influential people in the country in their element, and documented some of the most monumental moments in modern history. Ryan and Stephen dive deep into their respective creative processes. From early beginnings and the growth of their creative selves to the actualization of projects based on their compiled experience in their fields, the conversation weaves in and out of personal and professional tidbits and insights. It was truly an honor to get to sit down with such a talented and influential photographer and we are excited to share the conversation. Enjoy!
#272
March 4 · 2 hr 28 min
Joshua Stewart - Educational Psychologist, Evidence in the Wild Podcast
From youth education in bonsai to elite alpine instruction where people’s lives are on the line, Joshua Stewart is an educational psychologist who is applying his expertise to a multitude of projects and disciplines. Even though we’ve been working with Josh for several years now it took sitting down with him on the podcast to fully understand what exactly he does. Ryan and Josh discuss the process of applying psychology, how he processes information, and how Josh takes his knowledge and observations to create strategies that dramatically impact the individuals and organizations he works with. The tangible outcome of Mirai’s collaboration with Josh is undeniable, and has created a template for youth education which continues to guide the way The One Tree Project approaches youth programs and participants. Beyond the immediate and obvious, this conversation helped us also recognize the breadth of educational psychology and its limitless application across less considered arenas of thought. Could this field potentially contribute to the “subjective” nature of bonsai appreciation? Could educational psychology assist in improving objective judging? Even without a concrete answer, it’s pretty clear applying educational psychology to the great conundrums of bonsai couldn’t hurt, and might just be able to help explain some of the greater questions we wrestle with. Who knows, maybe we would even gain a better understanding of ourselves in the process. If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to check out Josh’s podcast Evidence in the Wild here to hear from other experts and colleagues in his world of educational psychology.
#271
February 25 · 1 hr 8 min
Andrew Robson
On a recent cold rainy morning prior to the start of the 100th Kokufu exhibition fellow bonsai professional Andrew Robson joined us to discuss the potential for expansion of display opportunities at the next Pacific Bonsai Expo. This show has rapidly risen as the premier exhibition of bonsai in North America, and the efforts of Eric Shrader, Jonas Dupuich, and Andrew Robson to create a destination to display bonsai at the highest level, opening the door to ideas that might allow people to think outside the box and do something special. Without any context for the discussion, Andrew and Ryan sat down to discuss the possibilities of what an artistic display could look like, how spaces could be created for contextual display, and ideas both professionals might have to transform a space into something that could conjure creativity. It was exciting to say the least. Beyond bonsai, Andrew and Ryan discovered their shared love of the art of suiseki and discussed Andrew’s stones that were presented in the recent Kokufu exhibition. It was a nice way to celebrate such a milestone of bonsai on a global level and to open the door for future discussions around stones and an art form that is under-appreciated, yet so powerful in its ability to transport practitioners. We invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy! You can find Andrew’s work here. Explore the Pacific Bonsai Expo for upcoming dates as well!
#270
February 18 · 2 hr 16 min
Cultural Revelations with Aarin Packard
It might be an American thing to try and define how culture impacts bonsai, or it might just be a reality of this very deep artform we all love. Aarin Packard, curator of the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way, Washington, joins Ryan to discuss the subject and interviews Ryan about his thoughts for an exhibition the Pacific Bonsai Museum is working on in conjunction with this year’s World Cup. Aarin selected seasoned and respected bonsai personalities from around the globe to see just how present culture is in bonsai. His insights and shared tidbits are a tasty appetizer for what he’s got brewing later this year. We are excited to see what Aarin and his team discover, and honored to be involved. Take a look at some of the Pacific Bonsai Museum’s past exhibitions. Find out how you can contribute and take part.
#269
February 11 · 1 hr 32 min
Exotic Plants, Art, and the Hustle with The Plant Daddies
From slangin’ exotic plants out of the back of a Lexus to architecting a budding plant-centered design movement taking southern California by storm, the Plant Daddies are a breath of fresh air and inspiration. Leaning on their long-standing friendship and dedication to bringing people happiness through the compositions they create, the trio has rapidly risen in the design world of Southern California and beyond. Dane, Macy, and Kenny bring intense passion for both the plants they cultivate and the projects they serve as they pursue their dreams with impeccable taste and fearless commitment. Their boundary pushing aesthetic and defiance of the dogmatic norm have created a vision and aesthetic in the world of arborescent succulents and interiorscapes garnering the attention of leading designers and architects in the sphere of the modern aesthetic. It was a pleasure getting to sit down with the master minds of a growing empire and discuss the nuts and bolts of their endeavor. From getting Plant Daddies off the ground to expanding the walls of what’s possible in their field, we enjoyed the conversation and are excited to see what the future has to offer this trio of creatives. See their work at theplantdaddies.com or follow them on Instagram to be a part of their journey. Enjoy!
#268
February 4 · 1 hr 39 min
Nitrogen and Trees with Meghan Midgley
What happens when trees are confronted with rapidly changing conditions in their environment? Do some trees suffer? Do others thrive? What causes this to occur, and can we use this information to create a more sustainable future for our forests and the trees we love? These, and other questions, are at the root of Meghan Midgley’s research her and a select group of colleagues are doing at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois. Meghan walks Ryan through her recent research on Nitrogen adaptability and some of the longer standing issues with salinization, and tree tolerances under urban pressures. It’s a fascinating conversation that gave us hope and optimism that solutions do exist, and trees can and will survive. But they made need our help. If you want to learn more about the Morton Arboretum and the work Meghan is doing, take a look here. To make a donation and help be a part of the solution here’s a link to get started. Enjoy the listen yall!
#267
January 28 · 2 hr 6 min
A tint of Vermilion with Irene Taylor
Irene Taylor is an award-winning documentary film director known for her intense pursuit of human stories that often push her films and their viewers to the edge of beauty and emotion. Irene’s film Leave No Trace broke open the landmark Oregon court ruling which availed the Boy Scouts’ Perversion Files to victims of abuse creating accountability for decades of misconduct. The film earned the Dupont Award, journalisms’ highest level of achievement. Last year Vermilion Films, Irene’s production company received wide acclaim for I am Celine, which followed global icon Celine Dion’s battle with Stiff Persons Syndrome. I am Celine is the most viewed global documentary in streaming history. Irene’s prolific body of work has garnered Emmy Awards, Academy Nominations, a Peabody Award, and countless others. Irene’s artistry and uncompromising commitment to intimacy and authenticity have stunned audiences since her first film Hear and Now, where she follows her deaf parents through their journey without hearing and their desire to understand the world of sound through cochlear implants. This film won the Sundance Audience Award and set the tone for Irene’s prolific body of work that followed. Throughout the conversation Irene sheds light on her creative process and the stories that have led to the compelling films she has made. With the hope of gleaning some insight and inspiration from one of the most prolific and powerful film directors in the documentary sphere Ryan was all ears. We are really proud to invite you to sit back and enjoy a journey into the mind of a genius as we present Irene Taylor. Enjoy! Irene Taylor filmography: 2007: Here and Now 2009: The Final Inch 2011: Saving Pelican 895 2014: One Last Hug: Three Days at Grief Camp 2015: Open Your Eyes 2016: Beware the Slenderman 2017: The Life Story 2018: Between Sound and Silence 2018: The Listening Project 2018: Homeless: The Soundtrack 2019: Moonlight Sonata 2022: Leave no Trace 2023: Trees and Other Entanglements 2024: I am: Celine Dion

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