lisa austin & gary wertz on Life, Lessons & Legacy

lisa austin & gary wertz shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi lisa & gary, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
our buisness is not just pushing lifestyle and branding it pairs with passion and purpose .. Sacred dog ranch became a dedication thru stewardship and creation .. protecting sacred lands thru alternative practices that heal the environment and the sonic medicine is GRW .. whilst lisa paints plants and guides the template of the land , she has a unique way of creating space with sacred treasures and healing gardens .., protects habitats for pollinators and the voiceless.. Grw writes and produces the soundtracks to their lives and translates the events of the world in real time .. empatheticly ..he receives divine downloads and transcribes these words and melodies in to sweet harmonies and hooks ..we have a 5d world going on over here and nature constantly communicates .. we are building branding and marketing all at once and we are learning a lot about where attention goes energy flows .. we are ready for expansion and growth.. the trick is how to best present the whole package.. i feel like we have a scattered marketing approach but we have been steadily growing and focusing the message …

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
The sacred dog ranch is the brainchild of lisa Austin and Gary Wertz .. we have been building our brand over the last 22 years .. thru stewardship of land and holistic lifestyle practices , we began our journey in mendocino county ca .. and we uprooted and moved to Nashville , Tennessee back in 2018 .. we bought this beautiful historic property with a cabin built 1797 and we got to work immediately, planting and plotting and creating .. GRW music plays a huge role in our lives .. he is a DIY self taught musician and producer and gary and lisa have over the years collaborated with reggae artist that are pillars of the music world..so this is where the global community is involved and they have also been world travelers .lisa over the years has cultivated relationships with artisans all over the world Bali , peru , mexico ..italy .. she chooses artist and merchandise that offers a complimentary experience to the sacred dog ranch lifestyle .. we are roots deep folks .. the goal is to keep producing music art and medicine and to teach folks about the New earth lifestyle .. we are collectively going thru a shift right now on the planet and humans are being called to awaken and be mindful of where we share energy and resources.. we honor the earth and we see endless possibilities and potential for our brand .. farm, garden , lifestyle , music we have a complete package of elements that pair with our brand .. and we have great merch and medicine !! I should also mention we are really showcasing our creation thru others art aswell ..we have quite the resume of artist that have come thru here and we help with lifting their message thru our visual lifestyle here ! we have collaborated with billy strings , sierra ferrall , britney howard , alison russell , bubba sparxx, jamwayne to drop a few ..

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
well i would say when we started to witness our precious california burning … it woke something up in me that i could never turn off .. i have to save the forest , the jungle .. the rivers the oceans .. we are passionate earth stewards and when we witness our land and communities being destroyed because of the corporate neglect , like the utilities and fossil fuel companies.. they are fully aware … imagine if we never again had another oil spill or massive fire ..i remember when i went to borneo , i wanted to see the orangutans..so i went by myself ..what i saw driving up to sepilock sanctuary in sabah , borneo was a country that was being deforestated and they planted palm oil everywhere.. it was so sad to see …we humans need to do better and this is the moment..GRW has songs that reflect and tell stories of current events .. this new body of work that we are promoting is called “stereo city” this collection has songs that reminds us to be the change we seek ..Teach yourself … great message first track on the album.. i have a couple favs .. the light ..incredible song this will bring in the hope !! i think being present and witnessing all of this and doing the daily practice of listening to the creator is when the real majic aligns

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
there isn’t a day that goes by …that we almost give up .. but we persevere… we’ve had a lot of people tell us we don’t hold value and cruelly reject us .. it’s devastating and it’s hard to believe in yourself when you feel like no one is understanding your purpose.. with our brand it’s a tangible product and when folks experience our place and our vibes we hear the positive things.. but when we try to interact with the world surrounding us we are not being accepted or allowed to present, play .. its not easy being a underdog ….we have a a substantial story and soundtracks to back our journey..the music tells the stories .. but i believe in us and i believe that we will find our audience….but it’s worth noting that rejection is redirection and what is meant for you will find you ..i truly believe this ..,

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
i think Ageism is a big one .. where you can only be a product if you have your youth .. i think it’s time to embrace our Refined and aligned artist .. gary has been at his craft his whole life .. he has cultivated his sound thru life experiences and witnessing environmental changes ..
.. stepping into the new earth stewardship there is no age best .. start anytime .. just don’t delay .. keeping your hands in the dirt will keep you youthful and healthy !! i recently started a modeling career .. at 51 years old .. it’s never too late !! i’m here for it !! everyone says you don’t look your age .. one of my products i make is a tallow whip for your face i love it .. its super hydrating and i see the positive effects.. but i. think ageism and also this whole idea of how many people follow you and numbers … data .. I think if somebody has the catalogue and the style in the message and the music quality speaks t for itself they shouldn’t be overlooked. In fact, they should be looked at as an incredible asset.
out with the old and in with the older !!!

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Lisa always says “mind your ripple” and it’s very true. The things that we do in this lifetime go on through the waves of time infinitely and I would hope the music that I make and the things that we’ve created will continue beyond the existence of our bodies on this planet. The music has a message of Hope healing and harmony, and that the creative act in and of itself is a precious and valuable thing. The energy we create in this lifetime never ends.

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jana schuessler

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