Bonsai Time Podcast

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.

In this episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast, Kevin and Ryan sit down with Robert Baran, one of the world’s most respected bonsai historians and researchers. Robert shares the stories behind decades of archived bonsai knowledge and how he built MagiMiniland into a global resource for miniature tree history. The conversation explores how bonsai traveled across cultures, how early masters shaped the art, and why preserving bonsai history is more important than ever. You’ll hear Robert reflect on his personal journey, his passion for research, and the untold stories that shaped the bonsai world. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who loves bonsai, history, and the deeper meaning behind miniature trees.
The video version is ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.
Show notes, relevant pictures, and links are here.

See you in the next episode!
Guest Info:
Robert Baran is the bonsai historian and researcher behind the most comprehensive publicly available bonsai archive linked below, which he is continually adding to. See the links below for his various projects.
MagiMiniland.org
Robert also has a YouTube channel with a few interviews.
Robert's various books and book contributions can be found here.
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.
For Etsy sales, there is currently a 10% off Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal with the code CYBER25.
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.

In this episode, Kevin, Kelly, and Ryan share their recent experiences attending the 2025 US National Bonsai Exhibition and share their tips that will help you navigate and get the most out of attending this or other similar bonsai conventions.

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

See you in the next episode!
Sponsor Info:This episode is sponsored by (me!) In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio, USA. Find me in person, online offerings at ⁠⁠⁠invivobonsai.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠, or go to ⁠⁠⁠www.InVivoBonsai.com⁠ ⁠⁠to see upcoming events, educational materials, and more.
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 student and local leader of many years now moving to Maryland. ⁠⁠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 this episode, catch up on what's new with Ryan, Kevin, and Kelly with our new intro segments "What's Growing On" and "Bonsai Bulletin."

Then ~4:01, dive into a talk on how and why to grow or display moss with your bonsai, including its beneficial effects on horticulture and aesthetics. Kevin Faris was the presenting artist for this recorded Columbus Bonsai Society meeting. We hope you learn something new and can share this with those you know who are planning to display their first show tree sometime.

The video version (with powerpoint images and example trees) is ⁠⁠⁠here.
Show notes, relevant pictures, and links are coming soon.

See you in the next episode!
Guest Info:Kevin Faris is a born-and-raised Oregon boy turned bonsai artist. He was one of the founding members of the Bonsai Time Podcast in addition to his work at Faris Landscape and Design and his occasional bonsai teaching gigs. He is now based in Western MA, USA.
Kevin NHK Japanese Television segment
Kevin's Bonsai Pots for Sale through In Vivo BonsaiSponsor Info:This episode is sponsored by (me!) In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio, USA. Find me in person, online offerings at ⁠⁠invivobonsai.etsy.com⁠⁠, or go to ⁠⁠www.InVivoBonsai.com⁠ ⁠to see upcoming events, educational materials, and more.
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 student and local leader of many years now moving to Maryland. ⁠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.