Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

✨ "You’re not stuck. You just haven’t talked to the right mentor yet." – Jason Barrett✨ "If you find a purpose—and the courage to follow it—you’ll surprise yourself every time." – Jason BarrettWhat happens when a 12‑year‑old kid walks into a summer camp for people with profound disabilities—and never really leaves? Performer, father, and nonprofit co‑founder Jason Barrett joins Rupert Isaacson for a funny, vulnerable, and deeply inspiring conversation about service, special needs, faith, horses, circus arts, and what it really takes to build a life around purpose.From his first summer at Camp Smile at age 12—changing diapers, pushing wheelchairs, and learning forgiveness from the people he was supposed to be "helping"—to running Ali’s School of Equestrian Arts and the touring troupe Equestrian Chaos, Jason has spent his life saying yes to hard things. Along the way he walked through Southern Baptist culture, Jehovah’s Witness ministry, corporate retail, massage therapy school, and a Dolly Parton equestrian dinner show… before hitching his future to a pregnant trick rider, two horses, and $1300 in a Honda Element.In this episode, Jason and Rupert explore how mentorship, community, and rhythm (both equine and human) can change a life; why therapeutic riding often gets the economics and excitement wrong; and how a tiny backyard fundraiser became one of the most badass horse shows in the U.S.—all while centering neurodivergent and disabled riders.❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What Jason learned about gratitude, privilege, and perspective from disabled adults in diapers and wheelchairs ([00:03:00])Jason’s journey through Southern Baptist culture and Jehovah’s Witness ministry—and why he ultimately walked away from organized religion ([00:04:00])How Camp Smile and a brave youth pastor pulled 12‑year‑old Jason into the world of special needs ([00:04:18])Why teen volunteers are a “sweet spot” for mentorship—and how the right community can change a kid’s entire trajectory ([00:06:33])How neurodivergent campers taught him forgiveness, intention, and how to really see the person behind the behavior ([00:08:46])How leaving the corporate retail world led him toward hands‑on work, massage therapy, and back into direct service ([00:32:04])The love story: meeting Sise at Dolly Parton’s equestrian dinner show, an unexpected pregnancy, and starting over in Alabama with two horses and $1300 ([00:36:15])How Ali’s School of Equestrian Arts began at Camp Smile—and what Jason and Sise had to learn the hard way about the economics of therapeutic riding ([00:40:00])Jason’s 3‑part formula for getting unstuck: find purpose, seek mentors, and stop rehearsing your problems on loop ([00:43:30])Why Equestrian Chaos was born as a backyard fundraiser—and how COVID nearly killed the program before the show saved everything ([00:53:22])Why boredom is dangerous for both horses and riders—and how performance goals keep everyone mentally alive ([00:59:35])How they safely integrate autistic and brain‑injured riders into high‑level circus acts (including standing on galloping horses) through tiny steps, rhythm, and obsession‑based motivation ([01:05:37])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Rupert’s provocative question about the Southern Baptist Church and slavery—and Jason’s honest answer about separating individuals from institutions. ([00:04:00])Jason’s first day at Camp Smile: a 12‑year‑old kid, a 49‑year‑old nonverbal camper, a restless lunch line—and the realization that “most of us don’t really have problems.” ([00:05:37])The autistic boy who ended up standing in full Hippodrome position on a running horse after months of micro‑steps (and hot Cheetos). ([00:05:37])Learning forgiveness from the special needs community: “You get a second chance without a slap in the face—because the relationship matters more than the mistake.” ([00:08:46])Jason knocking on doors as a young Jehovah’s Witness, learning public speaking and resilience from the world’s hardest audience. ([00:27:27])Selling everything, loading two horses into a $900 trailer, and driving home with Sise and $1300 to start a new life in Mobile. ([00:36:15])Realizing they were losing money running camp programs with 15–20 horses and 100 riders a week for $3000—"our budgeting was make‑believe in the real world." ([00:40:00])Jason’s closing counsel on spirituality and purpose: find a purpose, talk to people who’ve found theirs, and stop replaying the same painful story in your head. ([00:43:30])COVID hits: programs shut down, savings run out, and Equestrian Chaos (the show) becomes the only way to keep the herd—and the mission—alive. ([00:53:22])A 70‑year‑old woman in tears at the rail: “You just put my 70‑year dream on display. I was the first woman to compete in mounted archery when they didn’t want us to ride.” ([01:06:39])📚 Books and Projects Mentioned:Equestrian Chaos – touring equestrian circus & mounted archery show Celisse’s School of Equestrian Arts – therapeutic riding & performance‑based horsemanship Camp Smile – the special needs summer camp where it all began New Trails Learning Systems – Movement Method & Horse Boy Method Helios Harmony – classical dressage training in the style of the old masters Website: https://equestrianchaos.com🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride HomeWebsite: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails LearningWebsite: 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 cryptids to hickory trees, raccoons, and the hidden balance of the natural world, writer and poet Jarod Anderson invites us into his world of imagination, healing, and belonging. In this deep and reflective conversation, Rupert Isaacson explores Jarod’s journey through depression, his rediscovery of nature, and how storytelling can transform pain into wonder. Together they uncover how imagination acts as a bridge back to the wild world—even when we’re confined by screens or cities—and how the stories we tell can become medicine for our own minds. Known for his podcast The CryptoNaturalist and his books Something in the Woods Loves You and Strange Animals (Ballantine Books, 2025), Jarod shares how his creative process, humor, and reverence for the strange help turn despair into curiosity and isolation into connection. This episode is a meditation on what happens when poetry meets survival, when darkness meets awe, and when we finally remember that nature has never stopped loving us.✨ “We are more weather pattern than stone monument.” – Jarod Anderson✨ “If you reach for wonder and come at it as a student, you’ll find it reaching back.” – Jarod Anderson🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How imagination and storytelling can help heal depression ([00:02:00])Reconnecting with nature after burnout and shame ([00:10:00])The origin story of The CryptoNaturalist podcast ([00:13:00])How cryptids mirror the human psyche and our need for balance ([00:16:00])The mythic guardians of Earth: from the Orbital Kingfisher to the Horned Wolf ([00:17:00])Finding healing through writing and mental health openness ([00:28:00])What inspired Something in the Woods Loves You ([00:29:00])Touching the Hickory Tree: how presence dissolves shame ([00:35:00])Lessons from the raccoon and the power of unpretty survival ([01:06:00])Shame, nature, and the cyclical nature of healing ([01:10:00])The role of stories, context, and compassion in healing ([01:27:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:A teacher reading Mary Oliver poetry to 10-year-old Jarod in the woods ([00:02:00])The kitchen accident that led to rediscovering creativity through nature ([00:10:30])Creating The CryptoNaturalist: “a love letter to nature where everything is invented” ([00:14:00])The metaphor of depression as brain weather—no shame, just different skies ([00:45:00])The raccoon as a teacher of stubbornness and survival ([01:06:00])“Who says survival has to be pretty?” ([01:07:00])A squirrel revived by touch and returned to the grass—context as healing ([01:25:00])“If you reach for wonder and come at it as a student, you’ll find it reaching back.” ([01:51:00])📚 Books and Projects Mentioned: Jarod Anderson Something in the Woods Loves You (Timber Press) https://amzn.to/443Uao1 –Strange Animals (Ballantine Books, Feb 2025) https://amzn.to/47znvsL –Haunted Forest Trilogy (3 books) https://amzn.to/3Lwah7C The CryptoNaturalist Podcast – https://www.cryptonaturalist.com/ https://www.jarodkanderson.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Cryptonaturalist/ https://www.instagram.com/cryptonaturalist/ 🌍 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

Farrier, ultra-runner, and Derby training guide Stevie Delahunt joins Rupert Isaacson for a surprising, funny, and soulful conversation that gallops through Patagonia, Mongolia, Oregon, and the inner landscapes of fear, boredom, and awe. They unpack the difference between trauma and triumph, how endurance sports can help rewire the brain, and what it means to truly listen to animals, land, and spirit. Whether you’re derby-curious, nature-hungry, or wondering how to make a more meaningful life with your horses, this one’s a ride.🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Type 2 Fun, Trauma, and Triumph (Starts at [00:02:00])Stevie explains the now-legendary classification of fun and how it relates to challenge, fear, and resilience.How Endurance Racing Became a Spiritual Path (Starts at [00:06:00])From half-marathons to the Mongol Derby, Stevie shares how testing her body helped her discover her spirit.The Mongol Derby and the Ego Question (Starts at [00:24:00])Rupert and Stevie unpack why winning might not be the point, and what spiritual seekers are really after.Why Boredom Might Be the Enemy of Mental Health (Starts at [00:35:00])A deep dive into boredom, awe, loneliness, and the human need for challenge and connection.Psilocybin and the Herd: Inter-Species Conversations (Starts at [01:06:00])Stevie describes what happens when she microdoses with horses present and what they've taught her.Spiritual Mentors, Trees, and Land Consciousness (Starts at [01:40:00])From reindeer in Mongolia to juniper groves in Oregon, Stevie discusses what it means to hear land and trees speak.Nomadism and the Restoration of Wonder (Starts at [01:55:00])Why mobility may be the cure for modern malaise, and how Stevie is redesigning her life and business accordingly.🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Rupert and Stevie explore how trauma and triumph often share a border zone of spiritual insight ([00:05:00])What Stevie learned about love from a mare named Sparta under the influence of psilocybin ([01:08:00])A snowstorm in Patagonia turns life-threatening, and fire becomes salvation ([01:33:00])Rupert and Stevie debate whether the spiritual path should involve competition at all ([00:26:00])The surprising intelligence and opinion of a horse named Sonic who wants to roam free ([01:11:00])Why we may need risk and awe as much as we need oxygen ([01:13:00])📚 Books, Films, Causes & Contact:Websites:Stevie Delahunt’s equine training & coaching: https://intergalacticequine.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/adventuristbarbie🌎 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride HomeWebsite: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning SystemsWebsite: 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 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.