Root Cause EP 03 | Mona Patrao | Neil & Momo

On this episode of Root Cause, we sit down with Mona Patrao - a farmer, educator, and lifelong seeker of a simpler life. Raised amidst the quiet hills of Panchgani, Mona grew up with the freedom to explore, observe, and be in rhythm with the land around her. That early connection with nature shaped everything; from her choice to live in harmony with nature to building Redstone Farm and starting a one-of-a-kind homeschool rooted in curiosity, sustainability, and self-reliance. We talk about letting go of conventional paths, what it means to grow your own food, raise children close to the earth, and create a home that’s more than just a house, it’s a philosophy. 🌿 Root Cause – A Podcast by Neil & Momo Productions! 🌍💚 Root Cause dives deep into the environmental challenges we face and the inspiring solutions that can help heal our world. From regenerative farming to climate activism, join us as we explore the real root causes of the climate crisis and how we can collectively create a greener future together. __________________________________________________________________________ CREDITS : Director - Mrunmayee Deshpande Host - Swapnil Rao DOP - Prathamesh Rangole Drone Operator - Aditya Kamble Gimbal Operator - Prasanna Rangole Camera Team - Rahul Narvekar Hitesh Gosavi Tushar Udeg Aumkar Pawaskar Mahesh Mane Audiography - Nikhil Lanjekar Production Sound - Kshitij Sutar Logo Music - Mayur Raut Art Director - Neha Kanekar Editor - Manoj Kale DI Colorist - Abhijeet Abde Social Media & Graphics - Anagha Mhaiskar Research & Development - Tanishka Panse Promotional Video Editor - Nehal Jambhulkar [Root Cause, Podcast, Mona Patrao, YouTube, Neil & Momo, Sustainability, Farm Life, Permaculture] #neilandmomo #rootcause #monapatrao #nature #swapnilrao #environment #sustaianble #ecological #economicempowerment #organicfarming #resources #ecology #motherearth 00:00 - Highlights 02:03 - Intro 04:16 - Choosing a Life Rooted in Nature 09:38 - Mona and Peter’s Pivotal Choice 13:47 - How Nature shaped Mona's Early Years 18:56 - A Simple Start in Panchgani 25:11 - An Instinctive Shift to a Natural Life 28:45 - How Free Play builds Real Understanding 31:04 - The Upside and Downside of the Strawberry Trade 40:04 - Mona’s thoughts on Alternative Energy 42:48 - A Western Lens vs. a Natural Way 44:32 - Finding Herself Again through Yoga 48:11 - How Karma Yoga helped Mona reunite with her family 50:04 - Yoga as a Way of Life 51:37 - Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda 53:12 - What drives Mona 57:22 - The story behind Redstone Farm Home School 1:01:47 - What Mona would advise her 15-year-old self 1:03:36 - What books lay by Mona’s bedside? 1:04:07 - Gandhiji’s proposed Education System - Nai Talim 1:06:03 - Turning Point by Fritjof Capra 1:06:19 - Journey to the East by Hermann Hesse 1:07:18 - The Idiot Fyodor Dostoevsky 1:07:59 - Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer 1:08:41 - One thing Mona would write on a Billboard visible to the world 1:11:19 - Conclusion