Ep. 16 Nicholas Panayi ~Healthiest Man On Earth

Wachama Podcast ~Personal Development & Social Innovation

You probably came across the thought provoking videos of the Healthiest Man On Earth! But do you know his story and what led him to start making videos about food? Stop wondering- You found the best source to find out more. Growing up in Cyprus the young Cypriot Nico Panayi often visited New Zealand where his grandfather migrated back in the days. Just stepping into adulthood, the military service was the next duty that Nico had to fulfil. Following the army Nico started his studies with the hope that he would be prepared for a traditionally successful career, so Nico enrolled the University of Manchester as a law student. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in law a year of wondering started because of a misalignment that emerged between his feelings and the very rational world. The wondering started first only in book shops and meetups in London. But being open and aware of signs that resonated with his heart Nico ended up on an agroecological farm somewhere south of Devon (UK). Nico visited and spent some time with 10-12 agroecology/permaculture focused communities in the region. During this time, he gained a real hands-on experience about how life on the farms is. Milking a cow for the first time or experiencing how much does it actually take to grow a tomato gave him a totally different perspective on food and life in general. Moreover he got exposed to the lifestyle of professionals who really walk their talk and live their life while being involved from farm scale to all the way to work on EU level. As Nico was exposed to different side of things both on the practical and theoretical level he has learned about various initiatives and movements such as: La Via Campesina a worldwide peasant movement or Schumacher Collage which is an educational institution that provides cutting-edge learning relating to ecology and sustainability. By the end of his wandering year, Nico miraculously ended up at Wageningen University being enrolled as a student of the Organic Agriculture Programme. In Wageningen his perception and understanding of relations between nature, human and food broadened enormously and made him aware of many important but sometimes hidden connections we have with nature and each other through food. Nico believes that education and communication about food related topics should be engaging, energetic, attractive and thought provoking. That is why he started his project and artistic journey as the Healthiest Man on Earth. His mission on a scientific language is: To increase the public understanding of food system This study will be conducted in collaboration with the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Turin which is also a centre of the worldwide known Slow Food Movement. Let’s tune in and listen/watch the story of Nico Panayi AKA Healthiest Man On Earth and follow him on social media. Useful links: Watch the full episode here: youtu.be/SkUtQCucFxA Wachama's website: www.wachama.org/ Wachama on Facebook: www.facebook.com/wachamatribe/ Slow food movement: www.slowfood.com/ University of Gastronomic Sciences: www.unisg.it/en/ La Via Campesina International Peasant’s Movement viacampesina.org/en/ Schumacher College www.schumachercollege.org.uk/