Unsavory Origins

This was one of the very special ones. I have a particular fondness for chatting with elders. And this bloke somehow seems to have lived multiple lives in one; ultimately, almost accidentally, creating a legacy like few others. Here he takes his chance to paint a picture of how this legacy emerged, in formative - and transformative - company and places.

Allan Savory’s memoir has just been released. It’s called ‘Unsavory: African Stories of Wildlife, War & the Birth of Holistic Management’. Way to celebrate turning 90! It’s billed as ‘the untold story behind Holistic Management’, the extraordinary global movement regenerating the world’s grasslands, and by extension, everything else. And while he has been moved at this milestone to relinquish operational duties at the Savory Institute, he says he’s plenty more to do yet.

I first met Allan on the podcast in late 2020 for what became, unsurprisingly, one of the most popular episodes, and a personal fave (there are some terrific photos on that episode web page too). Partly because we went beyond the stories so many know so well. Which is also why I loved reading Allan’s memoir. It is a fascinating, instructive, and enormously entertaining account of his first 50 years.

Allan’s global influence is hard to overstate. He’s the co-founder, with former journalist wife of over 40 years, Jody Butterfield, of the Savory Institute, and the Africa Centre for Holistic Management back home in Zimbabwe. His TED talk had been viewed over 7 million times when we first spoke 5 years ago, now it’s at 9 million. And it bears reminding that his most valued award was Australia’s esteemed International Banksia Award for the person doing the most for the environment on a global scale.

Since our first chat, we’ve kept in touch and wonderfully for me, met in person alongside Jody and the SI team for a snowy Denver dinner, in late 2024.

At that time, the memoir was nearing completion. And oh, the stories I was hearing, from Allan, Jody and SI’s Director of Development and Communications, Bobby Gill.

Bobby, by the way, used to be a former elite ultra-marathon runner who came to food and health that way, and refers to himself as a ‘reformed biomedical engineer turned systems thinker’, prompted by his time as ‘lead scientific reviewer for the US Food & Drug Administration.’

So, now the book is out in the world, I asked Allan, Jody and Bobby, if they would gather with me to talk about it – Allan and Jody from Dimbangombe in Zimbabwe, and Bobby from his new home in Valencia, Spain.

And I was so glad all three joined me. For the stories behind the story, including the deepest of personal trials, the inexplicable intuitive experiences, the sliding doors moments that nearly had varied governments taking on Holistic Management, the prospect they still will, and of course the love story, the jokes, and ultimately the journey to a way of achieving extraordinary regeneration.

This is one to listen through to the end too, for Jody’s recital of the poem that Allan has carried with him throughout his life. A highlight of this podcaster’s ten years ‘on air’.