Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

• Running Toward Purpose: Circus, Special Needs & Radical Possibility | Jason Barrett | Ep 42

  ✨ "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.

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• Stepping Into Strength: Resilient Parenting, Movement, and Healing the Overwhelmed Mind | Dr. Kate Lund | Ep 41

  ✨ “Sometimes we just need to be—without the pressure of doing more.” – Dr. Kate Lund✨ “Movement and nature help us return to ourselves when the world feels too loud.” – Dr. Kate LundWhat does resilience really look like when life pulls the rug out from under you—again and again? Clinical psychologist, author, and resilience expert Dr. Kate Lund joins Rupert Isaacson for an intimate and powerful conversation about childhood illness, brain surgery, parenting, pressure, movement, nature, and how we find our way back to possibility.Diagnosed with hydrocephalus at age four, Kate spent much of her childhood in and out of hospitals—big surgeries, big fears, and big recoveries. Yet she grew into someone who not only rebuilt her life, but teaches others how to reclaim theirs. Today, she specializes in resilient parenting, stress regulation, and helping families thrive inside their own unique context.In this episode, Rupert and Kate explore how movement (from walking to tennis to long‑distance cycling), intentional rest, nature, visualization, and even animal‑assisted therapy shape our emotional survival. They break down why slowing down is often the hardest thing for parents, why we forget what joy feels like, and why resilience is less about bouncing back and more about building forward—one small step at a time.🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How childhood illness shaped Kate’s lifelong understanding of resilience ([00:04:00])What hydrocephalus is—and how shunts, surgeries, and uncertainty affect a child’s identity ([00:06:00])The role of movement (tennis, walking, cycling) in recovering brain function and emotional balance ([00:23:00])Why parents must learn to regulate their own stress before they can help their children ([00:31:00])How the “Relaxation Response” technique works (and why it’s simpler than mindfulness) ([00:34:00])Using visualization and nature—real or imagined—to calm the nervous system ([00:50:00])The surprising power of animal‑assisted therapy (and Wally the therapy dog) ([00:53:00])Why slowing down is the #1 barrier to resilience—and how to begin ([01:14:00])How parents with different approaches can communicate and find middle ground ([01:16:00])Small daily practices to build a resilient life (movement, joy, reflection) ([01:26:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:“I wasn’t the carefree child—I was always calculating risk. But I could still find what I could do.” ([00:11:00])Kate walking the circular driveway over and over while recovering from brain surgery—movement as survival. ([00:29:00])Rupert trying the Relaxation Response in real time—with the word “horses.” ([00:36:00])“Animals always show up. They teach us how to show up too.” ([00:59:00])The child in the hospital hallway who walked for the first time in weeks—just to reach Wally the therapy dog. ([00:55:00])When crisis hits: why sometimes the bravest act is simply allowing yourself to stop.” ([01:06:00])“We can get so used to living in suboptimal states that we forget there’s more available.” ([01:15:00])📚 Books and Projects Mentioned:Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting – Dr. Kate LundThe Relaxation Response – Herbert Benson (background method referenced)The Optimized Mind Podcast – Hosted by Dr. Kate LundWebsite: https://katelundspeaks.com🌍 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.

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• When Nature Heals: Depression, Imagination & the Stories That Save Us with Jarod Anderson | Ep 40

  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.

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• 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.

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• The Science of Wonder: Jo Marchant on Mind, Body & the Present Moment | EP 38

  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.

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