Choosing Life: Farming, Disability & Healing Through Nature – Henrich Berkhoff | EP 39

In this deeply moving episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson welcomes Henrich Berkhoff, farmer, father, politician, and founder of child-protection and education initiatives in Germany.From facing a devastating prenatal diagnosis to creating one of Germany’s first Green Care Farms, Henrich shares how his son’s birth with spina bifida transformed his family’s life—igniting a mission to integrate nature, farming, and inclusion into education and policy.A lifelong advocate for children’s rights and special education, Henrich speaks about building community (“the tribe comes to you”), turning crisis into growth, and working with government leaders to make nature-based learning and therapy part of the public system.✨ “We can do more with our human power than we ever think.” – Henrich Berkhoff✨ “If you follow your feeling, you stay outside.” – Henrich Berkhoff🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Henrich’s son’s diagnosis reshaped his life and purpose ([00:08:00])The choice between termination and life—and what love decided ([00:10:00])How crisis builds community: “the tribe comes to you” ([00:24:00])Turning disability into advocacy for inclusive schools ([00:31:00])Why farming taught him political courage ([00:41:00])How ancient instincts meet modern overload ([00:48:00])Rewilding and the role of agriculture in healing ([01:00:00])How Green Care Farms connect nature, therapy, and education ([01:03:00])Why nature is medicine for the mind ([01:11:00])Gratitude to the special-needs children who teach us meaning ([01:37:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:[00:01:00] Henrich appears from the forest, explaining why he always feels at home in nature.[00:08:00] The moment he and his wife learn their unborn son has spina bifida.[00:10:55] Choosing life despite medical advice to terminate.[00:23:50] How community formed around their decision.[00:31:10] Creating the first inclusive local school for children with disabilities.[00:41:00] Why being a farmer trains you to be an advocate.[00:46:00] How hunting sharpened his sense of responsibility and balance with nature.[01:03:00] Founding the Green Care Farm and discovering science behind happiness in nature.[01:20:00] Reframing education: movement = learning.[01:37:20] “Disabled people give us the answers to our questions.”📚 Projects, Programs & People Mentioned:Henrich Berkhoff – Farmer, politician, and founder of the Child Protection Association (Münster region, Germany) https://greencarefarm.deGitti Berkhoff – Nurse, equine-therapist, and co-founder of the Green Care Farm - Podcast on Equine Assisted World with Rupert: https://equineassistedworld.com Julian Berkhoff – Their son, born with spina bifida and hydrocephalusMovement Method and Horse Boy Method – Developed by Rupert Isaacson & NTLSGreen Care Farm – Integrating therapy, inclusion, and sustainable farming https://greencarefarm.deDavid Doyle – Irish autism advocate and movement-in-nature pioneerCDU (Christian Democratic Union) – German political partyTechnical University of Munich (TUM) – Research on learning through movementConcepts: Rewilding | Inclusion | Nature as Medicine | Education Reform | Community Healing🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow UsLong Ride Home:Website: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems:Website: https://ntls.coFacebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworldInstagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworldYouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📚 Books & Resources:Rupert Isaacson – The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land: https://longridehome.com/booksHenrich & Gitti Berkhoff – Green Care Farm GermanyNTLS Programs – Movement Method | Horse Boy Method | Takhin Equine Integration📊 Affiliate Disclosure:Links to books and programs may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us keep sharing these stories.

In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with scientist, journalist, and bestselling author Dr. Jo Marchant (PhD in Genetics and Medical Microbiology) to explore the intersections between science, spirituality, and the human experience. From the placebo effect to consciousness, awe, and the nature of time itself, Jo unpacks her groundbreaking books Cure, The Human Cosmos, and her forthcoming In Search of Now. Together they examine what it means to live curiously, think freely, and rediscover wonder in a rational age.✨ “Science is asking questions of nature and listening to the answers.” – Jo Marchant✨ “If you are not curious, you are shrinking and dying.” – Jo Marchant🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Jo’s background in microbiology led to science writing ([00:02:45])What the placebo effect teaches about mind-body connection ([00:10:40])How empathy and belief influence healing ([00:16:22])Insights from Cure and the science of care ([00:21:05])Why humanity lost its connection to the sky (The Human Cosmos) ([00:37:10])How awe functions as a biological and healing state ([00:47:18])Exploring time and consciousness in In Search of Now ([01:03:09])How presence and attention shape perception ([01:09:55])Reflections on AI, creativity, and what defines being human ([01:42:50])Closing thoughts on curiosity, humility, and wonder ([02:18:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:[00:00:00] Rupert introduces Jo and sets the tone for exploring science and wonder.[00:02:45] Jo shares how her PhD path evolved into science writing.[00:10:40] The placebo effect and its implications for healing.[00:21:05] How storytelling reveals science’s human dimension.[00:37:10] Rediscovering ancient wisdom through The Human Cosmos.[00:47:18] Awe and wonder as measurable biological phenomena.[01:03:09] Searching for presence and time in In Search of Now.[01:17:31] Where science meets spirituality and meaning.[01:42:50] Jo reflects on AI, creativity, and human identity.[02:18:00] Final reflections on curiosity, love, and the science of wonder.📚 Projects, Writings & Ideas Mentioned:Dr. Jo Marchant, PhD – Science journalist and authorCure: A Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body https://amzn.to/3WrtVUmThe Human Cosmos: Civilization and the Stars  https://amzn.to/4nBeXHfIn Search of Now (2025 release)Decoding the Heavens: A 2,000-Year-Old Computer -- and the Century-Long Search to Discover Its Secret https://amzn.to/437Y3YBPodcast: Where the Wild Thoughts AreWebsite: https://jomarchant.comResearchers mentioned: Dr. Ted Kaptchuk (Harvard), Manfred Schedlowski, Dan MoermanConcepts discussed: The placebo effect, awe, consciousness, free will, time perception, quantum perspectives🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow UsLong Ride Home:Website: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems:Website: https://ntls.coFacebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworldInstagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworldYouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📚 Books & Resources:Rupert Isaacson – The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land: https://longridehome.com/booksJo Marchant – Cure, The Human Cosmos, In Search of Now📊 Affiliate Disclosure:Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

Once nonverbal, Lina Hjalmarsson-Lyons now communicates through a letter board and her own writing—sharing profound insights into love, autism, and the human spirit. In this extraordinary episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with long-time friend Helena Hjalmarsson and her daughter Lina to explore the paradox of autism, poetry born from struggle, and what it means to align with our planet and each other. Their conversation moves from the excruciating journey of learning to spell, to navigating health challenges, to Lina’s vision of compassion as the cornerstone of society.✨ “In learning how to spell, I set high on a cloud.” – Lina Hjalmarsson-Lyons✨ “I see autism as the most profound inspiration that has ever existed. It is also the most profound challenge.” – Lina Hjalmarsson🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Lina moved from nonverbal to verbal communication through a letter board ([00:05:00])Why autism can be both profound inspiration and profound challenge ([00:29:30])Insights from Lina’s original poetry on love, suffering, and joy ([00:20:00])How Helena and Lina navigate mycoplasma, OCD, and anxiety ([00:46:00])Why expressing raw emotions can bring healing and resilience ([00:40:00])What autistic voices can teach neurotypical people about universal love ([00:35:00])Lina’s vision for compassionate leadership in her presidential essay ([00:58:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Rupert introduces the episode and its unprecedented nature ([00:00:00])Lina shares her purpose: to spread love on this planet ([00:13:00])Helena reads Lina’s poem A Love Meaning to Burst ([00:20:00])Lina’s untitled poem about holding herself out of a hole ([00:22:00])Lina’s poems Incisions and Soaring on suffering and transformation ([00:27:00])Helena discusses mycoplasma, Lyme, and OCD in autism ([00:46:00])Lina’s presidential essay: why compassion should guide America ([00:58:00])Closing reflections – the need for autistic mentorship ([01:00:00])📚 Projects, Writings, and Ideas Mentioned:Lina Hjalmarsson-Lyons – Poet, student, and autism advocateHelena Hjalmarsson – Autism parent and advocateDr. Temple Grandin – Autism pioneer and mentorMary Coyle – HomeotoxicologistDr. Engles – Naturopath specializing in autism and Lyme disease🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home:Website: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems:Website: https://ntls.coFacebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworldInstagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworldYouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📚 Books & Resources:Rupert Isaacson – The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land: https://longridehome.com/books📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

From hitchhiking to California with $35 in her pocket, to becoming a Stanford professor, medical doctor, and pioneer in equine-assisted programs, Dr. Beverley Kane’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and transformation. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Kane to trace her journey through medicine, sports science, corporate Silicon Valley, parapsychology, and ultimately to horses—where she bridges science and spirituality.Beverley shares how her early activism during the Vietnam War led her into medicine, what she learned working in preventive health and AI at Apple and WebMD, and why a kitchen accident opened the door to horses, play, and somatic healing. Today she teaches Qigong with horses at Stanford, guiding students and professionals into deeper connection, stress relief, and self-regulation through equanimity.✨ “Quantum physics is the physics of love and entanglement is about connection.” – Dr. Beverley Kane✨ “When I found therapeutic riding, for the first time it was just playful to be on horses.” – Dr. Beverley Kane🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Hitchhiking to California with $35 and starting anew ([00:01:00])Dropping out of Columbia, activism, and rediscovering medicine ([00:03:00])Medical training at UCSF and mentorship from Nobel Prize winner Michael Bishop ([00:05:00])Practicing medicine in Alaska and discovering sports medicine ([00:07:00])Stanford preventive medicine research and corporate health at Apple ([00:12:00])Stories from Apple’s Great American Smokeout and early AI projects ([00:16:00])Moving into WebMD and the rise (and bust) of Silicon Valley dot-com culture ([00:21:00])Discovering horses at age 52 after an accident and entering therapeutic riding ([00:27:00])Finding joy and play with horses through therapeutic riding ([00:34:00])Bringing Medicine & Horsemanship programs to Stanford ([00:43:00])Teaching Qigong with horses and the Equanimity program ([00:50:00])Quantum physics, parapsychology, and the science of consciousness ([01:10:00])Why entanglement points toward love, connection, and healing ([01:42:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Getting sick upon arriving in Berkeley and repaying kindness at the Free Clinic ([00:02:00])Lessons from Nobel Prize winner Michael Bishop on scientific breakthroughs ([00:09:00])Transitioning from sports medicine to preventive health research at Stanford ([00:12:00])A story of helping an Apple employee quit smoking to transition safely ([00:16:00])The kitchen accident that shifted her horsemanship to play and healing ([00:31:00])Dreaming of red mustangs in the desert and discovering equine-assisted learning ([00:40:00])Establishing equine-assisted electives for Stanford medical students ([00:47:00])Teaching Qigong forms with horses for stress reduction and emotional release ([00:56:00])Exploring quantum entanglement, ESP, and the philosophy of science ([01:26:00])Calling quantum physics “the physics of love” ([01:42:00])📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:Dr. Beverley Kane – Equine-imity: Stress Reduction and Emotional Self-Regulation in the Company of Horses https://amzn.to/4nqsAJ9The Manual of Medicine and Horsemanship - https://amzn.to/4nq2ENKDr. Beverley Kane – Adjunct Clinical Professor at Stanford, author of Equanimity and manuals on Medicine & HorsemanshipMichael Bishop – Nobel Prize-winning biochemistBarbara Rector – Equine-assisted learning pioneerAlan Hamilton – Neurosurgeon and founder of Medicine & HorsemanshipQuantum physicist Amit Goswami – The Self-Aware UniverseRupert Sheldrake – Theories of morphic resonanceRussell Targ & Hal Puthoff – Parapsychology and remote viewing research🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home:Website: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems:Website: https://ntls.coFacebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworldInstagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworldYouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📊 Affiliate Disclosure:Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

 From the rugby fields of London to the Merchant Navy, Special Forces, skydiving, aviation, and entrepreneurship—Paul Illingworth’s life has been defined by risk, resilience, and relentless drive. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Paul to trace a journey that spans fear, family, and the search for tribe.Paul shares how being bullied as a child forged his fighter’s spirit, how rugby and the Navy honed his leadership, and why fear should never be allowed to rule your life. From building successful businesses—including skydiving operations and escape rooms—to exploring how community can heal a generation lost in gaming, Paul offers raw insights into courage, discipline, and finding purpose.✨ “Fear is something you build up inside you. Push it aside—and deal with life.” – Paul Illingworth✨ “It always comes back to tribe. Whatever your tribe is, find it and commit to it.” – Paul Illingworth🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How a childhood accident and bullying sparked resilience ([00:07:00])The lessons rugby taught about teamwork, leadership, and belonging ([00:19:00])Joining the Merchant Navy and confronting storms at sea ([00:29:00])Why fear must be faced head-on rather than avoided ([00:47:00])The leap from oil rigs to aviation and skydiving ([00:58:00])Lessons from flight school and pushing limits in the air ([01:00:00])Navigating life-and-death moments and mastering discipline ([01:06:00])The importance of camaraderie in high-risk environments ([01:10:00])Building a successful skydiving business from scratch ([01:20:00])Creating escape rooms as a new form of entrepreneurship ([01:41:00])Why gaming culture points to a deeper hunger for tribe ([01:45:00])Fatherhood, resilience, and passing strength to the next generation ([01:50:00])Why tribe and community remain central to a fulfilling life ([01:53:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Paul describes being bullied and deciding to fight back ([00:07:00])Discovering rugby as a space for belonging and leadership ([00:19:00])Facing storms during Merchant Navy service ([00:29:00])Learning to control fear through discipline ([00:47:00])Stories of flying and skydiving adventures ([00:58:00])Building and selling businesses, from skydiving to escape rooms ([01:20:00])Reflections on tribe, community, and resilience ([01:50:00])📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:Paul Illingworth – Entrepreneur, Navy veteran, business innovator (skydiving, escape rooms, aviation)Rupert Isaacson – The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land https://longridehome.com/books🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home: Website: https://longridehome.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems: Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

In this rare solo episode of Live Free Ride Free, host Rupert Isaacson shares his own extraordinary story—tracing a path from his multicultural childhood in London to horseback adventures, indigenous rights campaigns, and the creation of groundbreaking autism and equine therapy programs. Rupert weaves together vivid life experiences: from retraining an unruly ex-racehorse as a boy, to helping the Bushmen of the Kalahari win historic land claims, to transforming his son’s autism journey through horses, nature, and movement. This is a deep dive into service, resilience, and the magic of following the call of adventure.🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How a childhood nervous breakdown led Rupert to horses and nature ([00:11:00])Lessons from growing up between multiple cultures and identities ([00:05:00])The entrepreneurial path to buying his first horse at age 14 ([00:13:00])Adventures and dangers as a young journalist in Africa and North America ([00:34:00])The role of indigenous wisdom in Rupert’s life and work ([00:56:00])Behind-the-scenes of the Bushman land claims in South Africa and Botswana ([01:00:00])How his son’s autism diagnosis reshaped his mission and methods ([01:36:00])The creation of Horse Boy Method, Movement Method, and Takhin Equine Integration ([01:39:00])Why service is the key to sustaining your dreams ([01:46:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Meeting legendary wolf expert Rick McIntyre in Yellowstone and conceiving the Live Free Ride Free podcast ([00:02:00])Training an unmanageable ex-racehorse and discovering his calling ([00:14:00])Hitchhiking into the Kalahari and first encounters with Bushman healers ([00:57:00])Witnessing the unexpected twist that won Botswana’s largest land claim ([01:30:00])The life-changing advice from Dr. Temple Grandin on helping his autistic son ([01:34:00])The reindeer healer in Siberia who transformed Rowan’s progress ([01:42:00])📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:Rupert Isaacson – The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land https://longridehome.com/booksHorse Boy Method, Movement Method, Takhin Equine Integration https://ntls.coLong Ride Home - Horse Training: https://longridehome.com🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us: Long Ride Home: Website: https://longridehome.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems: Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

What happens when a successful publisher hits rock bottom—and finds his way back through psychedelics, storytelling, and soul work? In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Ralf Daab, a Cologne-based publisher and spiritual entrepreneur, to explore how dreams, and intuition reshaped his life. From sex with his soul-self to conversations with ancient Persian sultans, Ralf shares candidly about death, rebirth, and the creative power of expanded consciousness. It’s a story of heartbreak, transformation, and discovering that the spiritual path doesn’t have to begin in the jungle—it can start with a walk past a horse paddock in Germany.✨ “You don’t change your life in one journey. The transformation is forever.” – Ralf Daab✨ “What if the Sultan was God, the Universe…and You?” – Ralf Daab🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why Ralf left the fast-paced world of international publishing for inner healing and mindfulness ([00:13:00])The unexpected impact of channeling, spiritual entrepreneurship, and synchronicity ([00:27:00], [01:04:00])Why ancient Persia and a mystical Sultan guided Ralf toward his creative mission ([00:36:00])How a recurring dream of a plane crash resolved through psychedelic insight ([00:55:00])What dying at age 96 on a beach in France taught him about living fully now ([00:59:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Ralf and Rupert meet during a chance encounter while picking up horse poo in Germany ([00:03:00])Ralf’s first journey: flying with birds and experiencing Earth from space ([00:30:00])The Sultan appears again and says, “I am God, the Universe… and You.” ([00:39:00])Channeling guidance in early morning states, leading to unexpected new business ventures ([01:04:00])Ralf dancing on a beach in France after accepting death and realizing he was 16 again ([01:01:00])📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:Ralf Daab – High on Living publishing house and his book: Da Bist Ja Wieder: 32 Episoden (Self-published) https://amzn.to/3IM031zRupert Isaacson – The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land https://longridehome.com/books🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home: Website: https://longridehome.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems: Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

Filmmaker Craig Foster (My Octopus Teacher) and wildlife sculptor-naturalist George Bumann return to Live Free Ride Free for a sweeping, soul-deep conversation on rewilding the human spirit. With Rupert Isaacson, they dive into the healing force of biodiversity, the true meaning of conflict resolution, and why tracking—not just animals, but ourselves—is essential for becoming fully alive. From snails in beer bottles to raven politics at the dump, they explore how the smallest natural encounters offer the biggest epiphanies. This episode is an invitation to reclaim our 3-million-year-old blueprint for joy, freedom, and kinship with all beings.✨ “You feel the beating heart of the intertidal in your own beating heart.” – Craig Foster✨ “Noticing is the beginning of healing.” – George Bumann🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why extreme biodiversity supercharges physical vitality and mental clarity ([00:04:00])How conflict dissolves when we're in kinship with more-than-human communities ([00:19:00])Why tracking—animals, people, and ourselves—is the original language of connection ([00:33:00])What George learned about group dynamics and animal behavior from Yellowstone’s wolves and ravens ([00:45:00])How sculpting, storytelling, and species documentation help heal our cultural broken-heartedness ([00:58:00])What happens to human consciousness when we spend uninterrupted time in nature ([01:06:00])Why snails, magpies, ravens, and city foxes may be more important than elephants and whales ([01:17:00])The myth of separation: how the illusion of “self vs. nature” feeds personal suffering ([01:30:00])How ego functions in wild systems vs. modern society—and how culture can recalibrate it ([01:39:00])How George and Craig help people rewild through art, archives, biodiversity, and beauty ([01:53:00])The final invitation: how noticing becomes a daily ritual of reconnection and joy ([02:03:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Craig’s experience of pure vitality on a pristine research island—surrounded by mantas, sharks, and rays ([00:02:00])George’s intimate vocal impressions of coyotes, wolves, and elk—including one he heard that morning ([00:07:00], [01:13:00])What snails in beer bottles near Miami taught Craig about resilience and belonging ([02:06:00])The concept of Mother Nature as the ultimate shareholder of all human endeavors ([00:29:00])What happens when children in urban schools are given cameras—and how their perception shifts over days ([00:18:00])George’s ravens at the dump: what “vermin” reveal about the power of noticing ([02:09:00])Craig’s octopus friend who walks bipedally and eats sharks—and lets Craig film her doing it ([02:22:00])📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:Craig Foster – My Octopus Teacher, Sea Change Project (https://seachangeproject.com)1001 Sea Forest Species ProjectGeorge Bumann – Wildlife sculptor, educator, and naturalist (https://georgebumann.com)David Graeber – The Dawn of Everything https://amzn.to/464fE6eBates Method – Natural eyesight restoration https://amzn.to/4kFMqhFDr. Chantel Prat – The Neuroscience of You https://amzn.to/3TFhPWsRupert Isaacson – The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home, The Healing Land https://longridehome.com/books-ru/ 🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home: Website: https://longridehome.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems: Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

Dr. Ben Conner, professor of practical theology and founder of the Center for Disability and Ministry, joins Rupert Isaacson for a radical rethinking of Christianity and environmentalism. From reinterpreting "dominion" in Genesis to empowering neurodivergent voices in ministry, Ben challenges assumptions about American evangelicalism, conservation, and the role of theology in planetary healing. Together, they explore how to reconnect children, horses, and communities to a sense of sacred kinship with nature—through wonder, embodiment, and relational theology.✨ “Maybe the vocation of a mountain is just to be a mountain.” – Ben Conner✨ "Jesus in the wilderness was being re-nurtured by creation itself." – Ben Conner🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why many American evangelicals misunderstand the concept of "dominion" in Genesis ([00:07:00])The roots of Christianity’s alienation from nature: Enlightenment rationalism, individualism, and soul-saving escapism ([00:14:00])How children (especially neurodivergent ones) teach us to see God through curiosity and wonder ([00:48:00])Practical steps to re-integrate theology, land, and disability in ministry and daily life ([00:52:00])The theology of kinship: how mountains, rivers, horses, and people are all called into vocation ([01:07:00])The idea that Christianity is often more about identity and power than faith in Christ himself ([01:15:00])Rupert's comparison of CS Lewis and Tolkien as hidden eco-theologians ([01:26:00])Creating church outside: the rise of Wild Church and Refugia communities ([01:30:00])Ben's story of his son recovering from brain trauma and becoming his teacher in theology ([01:36:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Why many American evangelicals misunderstand dominion and where that theology came from ([00:07:00])The Enlightenment-era origins of individualistic Christianity in the U.S. ([00:14:00])"You aren't seeing the rabbit anymore. You're seeing yourself and the schemes and appetites you bring to the world." – Matthew Scully, quoted by Ben ([00:35:00])Why start theology with children and people with disabilities ([00:48:00])Horses have vocations too: understanding agency, refusal, and partnership ([01:06:00])How Ben's son, initially disabled, became a theological teacher ([01:36:00])📚 Books, Thinkers, and Movements Mentioned:Thomas Berry – *The Sacred Universe *https://amzn.to/4ltj1rJDavid Clough – *Creaturely Theology *https://amzn.to/4kbRslFVictoria Loorz – Church of the Wild (and the Wild Church Network) https://amzn.to/4lx1GydMatthew Scully – *Dominion *https://amzn.to/4erqXr2Randy Woodley – Harmony Way & Indigenous Christianity https://amzn.to/4lv6UucPatty Krawec – *Becoming Kin *https://amzn.to/3TPCjvyFour Arrows – *Restoring the Kinship Worldview *https://amzn.to/4kazIXTDeb Rienstra – *Refugia Faith https://amzn.to/4khixUO *A Rocha USA (https://arocha.org)🛍️ Contact Ben Conner:Center for Disability and Ministry: https://westernsem.edu/center-for-disability-and-ministryFaculty Page: https://www.westernsem.edu/faculty/conner/Podcast: Disabling the Church🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us: Long Ride Home: Website: https://longridehome.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems: Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

"The foundation of Western rationalism? A series of mystical dreams."Artist, philosopher, and occult scholar Dr. Justin Sledge joins Rupert Isaacson to illuminate a forgotten dimension of Western thought. With over 870,000 YouTube followers on his channel Esoterica, Dr. Sledge has built a global audience passionate about the academic study of magic, mysticism, and esotericism. In this fast-moving and rigorously researched conversation, Justin pulls back the curtain on the mystical roots of rationalism, the dream logic behind Descartes, and how occult traditions shaped the very sciences that claim to have left them behind.Why should we care? Because the stories we’re told about history shape the world we live in now—and as it turns out, much of what we consider to be modern, empirical, or secular is deeply rooted in visions, divine languages, and hermetic transmissions.🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why Descartes founded modern philosophy after a mystical dream ([00:14:58])How John Dee “downloaded” an angelic language and changed history ([00:11:15])What Judaism really says about the afterlife—and how it’s changed over time ([01:44:00])Why ancient aliens and Atlantis myths persist despite zero evidence ([01:02:29])The origins of Western esotericism and how they shaped Newton, Leibniz, and Spinoza ([00:13:00])Why witch trials targeted women, but occultist men survived with status ([00:50:00])How occult philosophies were hidden in plain sight in Enlightenment thinking ([01:10:00])What Gobekli Tepe, Egyptian afterlife myths, and Enochian grammar have in common ([01:22:00])The mystical tension between religious tradition and rational skepticism ([01:33:00])How Justin grew a massive global audience for deep esoteric study on YouTube ([02:00:10])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:"If you wake up in heaven, you should be angry. That’s hell." ([01:36:01])Justin describes reading 16th-century Latin texts as a teenager ([00:11:15])Rupert confronts academia’s discomfort with magic’s role in rationalism ([00:20:00])Justin explains why he believes religion creates meaning—not literal truths ([00:27:00])A conversation about Yahweh’s evolution from tribal god to sole deity ([00:40:00])Justin's take on Gobekli Tepe and why its burial is stranger than its building ([01:22:00])How Judaism splits the afterlife timeline: Sheol, Heaven, Reincarnation ([01:44:00])"The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past." – William Faulkner quoted ([02:14:00])📚 Books, Films, Causes & Contact:Dr. Justin Sledge: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEsotericaChannelWebsite: https://www.justinsledge.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannelRare Bookstore: https://www.esotericaoccultbooks.com/Study Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1caKNlW7sogEF7lAeYNbOQF9pt5O5b70yAXa-icUJO3o/Related Episodes: Craig Foster – My Octopus Teacher & Amphibious Soul: https://youtu.be/X1-tZ_XhvUoEmelie Cajsdotter – Talking to Forest Spirits: https://youtu.be/YOUR-LINK-HEREWarwick Schiller – Journey On Podcast: https://youtu.be/sTeXpmGc8Ls🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home: Website: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems: Website: https://ntls.coFacebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworldInstagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworldYouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems🎧 Browse Our Playlists: Live Free Ride Free: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUcRPFFblvSlyVsZX682F63uQ5WpiZNfuEquine Assisted World: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8f9kQxaWe5Fv25usp3pXM9rLZR2VyUYz💡 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. This does not affect the price you pay and helps support the podcast.