Why a Fashion Student Moved to the Rainforest Alone and Went Viral on YouTube

This week, Anastasia Vanderbyl, one half of the YouTube channel ‪@MotherTheMountain‬ takes us behind the scenes of her life as a regenerative farmer and artist in Byron Bay. Alongside her sister Julia, Anastasia has built a thriving online community with nearly 250 million views, sharing their journey of creativity and sustainability on their family farm. In this honest conversation, Anastasia opens up about the challenges of taking over the farm after her father’s sudden passing, the emotional toll it’s taken, and the hope that drives her forward. We explore themes of slow living, the realities of farming, and the importance of staying authentic when sharing our lives online. Join the Reroot Community: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rerootpod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@rerootpod Reroot Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1784427378... 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3pvL5fvkZ6u4... 🎧 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rero... 0:00 - Intro 1:35 - A morning on the farm 5:45 - Slowing down 9:45 - City life and love of fashion 13:56 - Farm life 16:49 - Reflecting on Anastasia’s Father passing 20:23 - Why they started posting on YouTube 22:10 - Being a female farming 25:32 - The business of YouTube 28:24 - School in childhood 31:59 - Publishing their book 34:06 - Navigating devastating floods 42:03 - Inspiration behind the name 43:30 - The animals and our connection to our food 48:43 - Defining success 57:15 - Diet 59:18 - Real Talk: body hair, aging, tattoos 1:05:20 - Anastasia’s angry 1:09:51 - Divorce