Bonsai Time Podcast

In Episode 56 of BonsaiTime, hosts Kevin, Kelly, and Ryan sit down for an honest and insightful 2025 Year in Review. From the biggest wins and proudest moments to the unexpected challenges and lessons learned, they reflect on everything that shaped the past year — both behind the mic and within the bonsai community. The conversation doesn’t stop there. The trio also looks ahead to 2026, sharing exciting updates about the future of the podcast, new projects in the works, expanded community outreach efforts, and fresh opportunities to grow together. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or just discovered BonsaiTime, this episode offers a transparent look at where we’ve been and an inspiring glimpse at where we’re headed next. Tune in for laughs, reflections, big announcements, and a renewed vision for the year ahead.

The video version is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coming soon.
Show notes, relevant pictures, and links are ⁠⁠⁠coming soon.

See you in the next episode!
Guest Info:
            Austin Heitzman is a standmaker in Portland, OR, USA. Find his website ⁠www.austinheitzmanfurniture.com⁠
Sponsor Info:
This episode is sponsored by our co-host via the Kevin Faris moving sale of bonsai pottery, tools, and trees. View these items at In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio, USA in-person, or online (shipping available) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠invivobonsai.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.InVivoBonsai.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and navigate to the consignment ⁠⁠⁠⁠pottery⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠tree⁠⁠⁠⁠ pages.
Mailbag submissions/Community:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEW BT DISCORD Chat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BT Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support the Pod:
Anytime you listen, subscribe, rate us, or share us with friends, you help keep us motivated to keep making episodes for you all! If you want to take it to the next level, you can also help keep the podcast going by donating to us through Spotify or by sponsoring an episode (contact us directly for that). All donations go back into the podcast such as for our web hosting, recording gear expenses, etc.
Podcast Info:
The Bonsai Time Podcast is hosted, edited, & produced by Kevin Faris, Ryan Huston, & Kelly Lui. We expect to post new interviews and reflections monthly! Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and our email [email protected].
Submit questions or pictures for future Bonsai Brainstorm episodes to our email, social media DMs, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Audio editing of this episode and music are by MIDICANCER. Find more music by them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SoundCloud⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BandCamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Host info:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a former bonsai apprentice of Elandan Gardens and current operator of In Vivo Bonsai nursery and educational operation in Columbus, OH. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kevin ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is a bonsai practitioner/teacher now living in Massachusetts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a newer bonsai artist volunteering and studying especially in the Los Angeles area.
More Bonsai Projects by Ryan:
Read more about bonsai on his blog and learn more about his educational services ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Find Ryan's online-available bonsai products, seeds, tools, etc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Each seed kit sold comes with my full 10-year bonsai-from-seed guide.
Find Ryan on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠as well if you need more bonsai in your feed.
Also, check out some of my video editing work for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Puget Sound Bonsai Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Columbus Bonsai Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s demonstration archives.

Today’s episode is Part Two of Kevin's two-part conversation with iconic stand maker Austin Heitzman. If you haven’t listened to Part One yet, we recommend starting there for the full context of our discussion. In this episode, we dive deeper into the artistry and craftsmanship behind root stands, exploring how experience, experimentation, and perspective shape new ideas. We talk about the relationship between art and livelihood, the importance of maintaining hobbies to fuel creativity, and how Austin’s stand-making classes continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of modern makers. It’s an insightful and engaging continuation of the conversation — packed with thoughtful reflections on craftsmanship, creativity, and pushing your work to the next level.

The video version is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coming soon.
Show notes, relevant pictures, and links are ⁠⁠⁠coming soon.

See you in the next episode!
Guest Info:
            Austin Heitzman is a standmaker in Portland, OR, USA. Find his website ⁠www.austinheitzmanfurniture.com⁠
Sponsor Info:
This episode is sponsored by our co-host via the Kevin Faris moving sale of bonsai pottery, tools, and trees. View these items at In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio, USA in-person, or online (shipping available) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠invivobonsai.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.InVivoBonsai.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and navigate to the consignment ⁠⁠⁠⁠pottery⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠tree⁠⁠⁠⁠ pages.
Mailbag submissions/Community:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEW BT DISCORD Chat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BT Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support the Pod:
Anytime you listen, subscribe, rate us, or share us with friends, you help keep us motivated to keep making episodes for you all! If you want to take it to the next level, you can also help keep the podcast going by donating to us through Spotify or by sponsoring an episode (contact us directly for that). All donations go back into the podcast such as for our web hosting, recording gear expenses, etc.
Podcast Info:
The Bonsai Time Podcast is hosted, edited, & produced by Kevin Faris, Ryan Huston, & Kelly Lui. We expect to post new interviews and reflections monthly! Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and our email [email protected].
Submit questions or pictures for future Bonsai Brainstorm episodes to our email, social media DMs, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Audio editing of this episode and music are by MIDICANCER. Find more music by them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SoundCloud⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BandCamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Host info:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a former bonsai apprentice of Elandan Gardens and current operator of In Vivo Bonsai nursery and educational operation in Columbus, OH. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kevin ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is a bonsai practitioner/teacher now living in Massachusetts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a newer bonsai artist volunteering and studying especially in the Los Angeles area.
More Bonsai Projects by Ryan:
Read more about bonsai on his blog and learn more about his educational services ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Find Ryan's online-available bonsai products, seeds, tools, etc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Each seed kit sold comes with my full 10-year bonsai-from-seed guide.
Find Ryan on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠as well if you need more bonsai in your feed.
Also, check out some of my video editing work for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Puget Sound Bonsai Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Columbus Bonsai Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s demonstration archives.

Today’s episode is part one of a two-part conversation. Join Kevin as he sits down with iconic stand maker Austin Heitzman for a deep dive into all things woodworking and stand building, the cultural connections between America and Japan, and how tables and stands function as an artistic medium in their own right. We also explore Austin’s philosophies on art, life, and much more.

The video version is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coming soon.
Show notes, relevant pictures, and links are ⁠⁠⁠coming soon.

See you in the next episode!
Guest Info:
            Austin Heitzman is a standmaker in Portland, OR, USA. Find his website www.austinheitzmanfurniture.com
Sponsor Info:
This episode is sponsored by our co-host via the Kevin Faris moving sale of bonsai pottery, tools, and trees. View these items at In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio, USA in-person, or online (shipping available) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠invivobonsai.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.InVivoBonsai.com⁠⁠⁠ and navigate to the consignment ⁠⁠⁠pottery⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠tree⁠⁠⁠ pages.
Mailbag submissions/Community:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEW BT DISCORD Chat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BT Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support the Pod:
Anytime you listen, subscribe, rate us, or share us with friends, you help keep us motivated to keep making episodes for you all! If you want to take it to the next level, you can also help keep the podcast going by donating to us through Spotify or by sponsoring an episode (contact us directly for that). All donations go back into the podcast such as for our web hosting, recording gear expenses, etc.
Podcast Info:
The Bonsai Time Podcast is hosted, edited, & produced by Kevin Faris, Ryan Huston, & Kelly Lui. We expect to post new interviews and reflections monthly! Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and our email [email protected].
Submit questions or pictures for future Bonsai Brainstorm episodes to our email, social media DMs, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Audio editing of this episode and music are by MIDICANCER. Find more music by them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SoundCloud⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BandCamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Host info:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a former bonsai apprentice of Elandan Gardens and current operator of In Vivo Bonsai nursery and educational operation in Columbus, OH. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kevin ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is a bonsai practitioner/teacher now living in Massachusetts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a newer bonsai artist volunteering and studying especially in the Los Angeles area.
More Bonsai Projects by Ryan:
Read more about bonsai on his blog and learn more about his educational services ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Find Ryan's online-available bonsai products, seeds, tools, etc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Each seed kit sold comes with my full 10-year bonsai-from-seed guide.
Find Ryan on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠as well if you need more bonsai in your feed.
Also, check out some of my video editing work for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Puget Sound Bonsai Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Columbus Bonsai Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s demonstration archives.

Today’s episode is a special one! Your hosts Ryan Huston and Kevin Faris sat down with Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai, just outside Portland, Oregon. We dive into bonsai, life, apprenticeships, family, purpose through the art — and so much more. Enjoy and Bonsai on!

The video version is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠.
Show notes, relevant pictures, and links are ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

See you in the next episode!
Guest Info:
            Ryan Neil is already known by many in the bonsai world for his accomplishments, including serving a 6-year apprenticeship in Japan under the world-famous artist Kimura. He then went on to found his garden and educational operation Bonsai Mirai which for years has done both in-person and live-streamed advanced bonsai education. He is one of the first and biggest players in the bonsai educational subscription content/community scene which has now evolved into an app most recently.
Bonsai Mirai Website
Bonsai Mirai YouTube
Mirai Mobile App on Android and Apple
Sponsor Info:
This episode is sponsored by Chris Meade of the Columbus Bonsai Society and by our co-host via the Kevin Faris moving sale of bonsai pottery, tools, and trees. View these items at In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio, USA in-person, or online (shipping available) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠invivobonsai.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.InVivoBonsai.com⁠⁠ and navigate to the consignment ⁠⁠pottery⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠tree⁠⁠ pages.
Mailbag submissions/Community:
⁠⁠⁠⁠NEW BT DISCORD Chat⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠BT Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support the Pod:
Anytime you listen, subscribe, rate us, or share us with friends, you help keep us motivated to keep making episodes for you all! If you want to take it to the next level, you can also help keep the podcast going by donating to us through Spotify or by sponsoring an episode (contact us directly for that). All donations go back into the podcast such as for our web hosting, recording gear expenses, etc.
Podcast Info:
The Bonsai Time Podcast is hosted, edited, & produced by Kevin Faris, Ryan Huston, & Kelly Lui. We expect to post new interviews and reflections monthly! Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and our email [email protected].
Submit questions or pictures for future Bonsai Brainstorm episodes to our email, social media DMs, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Audio editing of this episode and music are by MIDICANCER. Find more music by them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SoundCloud⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BandCamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Host info:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a former bonsai apprentice of Elandan Gardens and current operator of In Vivo Bonsai nursery and educational operation in Columbus, OH. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kevin ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is a bonsai practitioner/teacher now living in Massachusetts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a newer bonsai artist volunteering and studying especially in the Los Angeles area.
More Bonsai Projects by Ryan:
Read more about bonsai on his blog and learn more about his educational services ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Find Ryan's online-available bonsai products, seeds, tools, etc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Each seed kit sold comes with my full 10-year bonsai-from-seed guide.
Find Ryan on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠as well if you need more bonsai in your feed.
Also, check out some of my video editing work for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Puget Sound Bonsai Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Columbus Bonsai Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s demonstration archives.

In today's episode, you’ll find Ryan and Kevin catching up on life and then jumping into the interview with a multi-talented former school teacher, master of rock slabs, forest plantings, and South Carolina yamadori collector - John Geanangel. John shared with us his bonsai origin story, how it led to becoming a headliner artist for the Bonsai in the Blue Ridge convention in 2026, and what you can expect when attending his 3(!) Bald cypress workshops there. We also discussed his methods for bald cypress yamadori collecting and growing from seed.
The video version is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.
Show notes, relevant pictures, and links are ⁠here⁠.

See you in the next episode!
Guest Info:
            John Geanangel is a bonsai enthusiast passionate about his local scenery and the natives in the South Carolina area. Find more of his work on his Facebook page and YouTube channel, which have lots of great content from previous years of educational efforts and recent tree projects.
John Geanangel's Facebook
John's YouTube
John's Bald Cypress Workshops for Bonsai in the Blue Ridge 2026
Storm-damaged flat top bald cypress
Bald cypress care and refinement
American Bonsai Society's Bonsai in the Blue Ridge 2026 Convention Info
Sponsor Info:
This episode is sponsored by our co-host via the Kevin Faris moving sale of bonsai pottery, tools, and trees. View these items at In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio, USA in-person, or online (shipping available) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠invivobonsai.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.InVivoBonsai.com⁠ and navigate to the consignment ⁠pottery⁠ and ⁠tree⁠ pages.
Mailbag submissions/Community:
⁠⁠⁠NEW BT DISCORD Chat⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠BT Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠
Support the Pod:
Anytime you listen, subscribe, rate us, or share us with friends, you help keep us motivated to keep making episodes for you all! If you want to take it to the next level, you can also help keep the podcast going by donating to us through Spotify or by sponsoring an episode (contact us directly for that). All donations go back into the podcast such as for our web hosting, recording gear expenses, etc.
Podcast Info:
The Bonsai Time Podcast is hosted, edited, & produced by Kevin Faris, Ryan Huston, & Kelly Lui. We expect to post new interviews and reflections monthly! Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠, and our email [email protected].
Submit questions or pictures for future Bonsai Brainstorm episodes to our email, social media DMs, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Music by MIDICANCER. Find more music by them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠SoundCloud⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠BandCamp⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Host info:
⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a former bonsai apprentice of Elandan Gardens and current operator of In Vivo Bonsai nursery and educational operation in Columbus, OH. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Kevin ⁠⁠⁠⁠is a bonsai practitioner/teacher now living in Massachusetts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelly⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a newer bonsai artist volunteering and studying especially in the Los Angeles area.
More Bonsai Projects by Ryan:
Read more about bonsai on his blog and learn more about his educational services ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Find Ryan's online-available bonsai products, seeds, tools, etc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Each seed kit sold comes with my full 10-year bonsai-from-seed guide.
Find Ryan on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠as well if you need more bonsai in your feed.
Also, check out some of my video editing work for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Puget Sound Bonsai Association⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Columbus Bonsai Society⁠⁠⁠⁠'s demonstration archives.