For The Wild

ILLUMINATING WORLDVIEWS on The Art That Reclaims Us S1:4In this resounding end to our Illuminating Worldviews series, Ayana speaks with artists Dr. Aubyn O’Grady and Jackie Olson about collective art and creative processes. Aubyn and Jackie share about their work on The Willow Basket Project at the Yukon School of Visual Arts and explore the ways that art can root us in place, support mining reclamation work, and even build bridges with unlikely allies.Through this project, they invite dialogue between artists, miners, and community members, reimagining mined landscapes as spaces of regeneration and cultural reconnection. This episode serves as a homage to how creative work can support healing for the land and open new pathways of relationship and understanding. As we conclude this series, we sit in deep gratitude for the land that made this series possible and for all of the guests, community members, and team members with Illuminating Worldviews who brought it to life. This episode, and the series as whole, stand as a testament to the importance of this vital collective work.  Learn more at https://forthewild.world.CreditsThis series was produced thanks to the generous support of the team at Illuminating Worldviews, held by the RIVER collective and Northern Council for Global Cooperation.♫  The music from this episode is “After the Rain” by Cole Pulice courtesy of Leaving Records, “So Long Favorite” by Chaz Prymek, and “Spinning Sphere” by Lior Holzman.This episode was created by Ayana Young, Erica Ekrem, Julia Jackson, and Victoria Pham.Support the show

Vanessa Andreotti, a renowned academic and Canada Research Chair, engages in a deep conversation about the unraveling of modernity. She introduces the concept of 'hospicing modernity,' urging us to bear witness to this transformative period. The discussion spans the importance of relationality over simple fixes, the 'soft collapse' of institutions like universities, and the potential of AI as a supportive ally in compassionate engagement. They contemplate how we might reconnect with our belonging to Earth and each other amidst these collective challenges.

Continuing our Illuminating Worldviews series, we hear from X̱ʼunei Lance Twitchell in conversation with Guná Jensen exploring the vital work of Tlingít language revitalization. Together, they reflect on the deep emotional resonance of speaking in one’s ancestral language, and how this practice opens an anti-colonial lens in which to see and feel the world. Set within the lands of the Yukon, this episode is a moving tribute to the power and significance of Indigenous language learning that honors the autonomy, expression, and sense of belonging it nurtures within the community. This episode includes an excerpt from the premiere of the powerful short film The River That Untangles One’s Mind by Skaydu.û Jules, Guná Jensen, and X̱’unei Lance Twitchell, produced by Douglas Joe/Creative Crow Media. Learn more at https://forthewild.world.CreditsThis series was produced thanks to the generous support of the team at Illuminating Worldviews, held by the RIVER collective and Northern Council for Global Cooperation.The music from this episode is “After the Rain” by Cole Pulice courtesy of Leaving Records, “Apple with Honey” by Cory Feder, and “Oro” and “ Voces que Ven” by Palo-Mah.This episode was created by Ayana Young, Erica Ekrem, Julia Jackson, and Victoria Pham.Support the show

Dr. Lee Brown, a former director of the Institute of Aboriginal Health, discusses emotional competency and the importance of integrating emotional education in schools. He emphasizes the historical roots of emotional suppression and the need for heart-centered learning. Elder Mark Wedge shares personal stories about language loss and healing through community connection. Together, they explore how emotions shape values and identity, the impact of colonialism, and the role of land-based education in fostering emotional health and resilience.

On July 19th, Joanna Macy, beloved teacher and past guest, passed away peacefully at home in Berkeley, California. In honor of her legacy, we are rebroadcasting her episode “The World as Lover and Self,” originally released in 2015 when the show was titled Unlearn and Rewild.In this deeply resonant conversation, Ayana speaks with Joanna on grief, change, and connection – themes that remain ever-relevant. Joanna offers wisdom on emotional courage, allyship, and gratitude, inviting us to see the world as our larger living body. Her words are a balm for those navigating despair, helping us move through paralysis toward collective transformation and action.A renowned scholar and activist, Joanna Macy created Work That Reconnects, a transformative framework for facing ecological and social crises. Her legacy lives on through decades of writing, teaching, and deep spiritual and ecological insight.We invite you to listen again as we honor her enduring guidance and presence.Learn more at https://forthewild.world/listen/joanna-macy-on-the-world-as-lover-and-self-homageCreditsMusic by Anne Carol Mitchell, Roberta Flack, Pharoah Sanders, and Roy HarperThis episode was created by Ayana Young, Erica Ekrem, Julia Jackson, and Victoria Pham.Cover art: Vintage National GeographicSupport the show

In this heartfelt conversation, celebrated spoken word poet Andrea Gibson reflects on healing, connection, and the beauty of life. They confront societal fears of disconnection and mortality, emphasizing that true healing begins within ourselves and our communities. Andrea shares their transformative journey through illness, inviting listeners to explore identity and the fluidity of gender. They inspire us to embrace presence, appreciate the richness of existence, and view death as a continuation of love in those we cherish. Their words resonate with grace and introspection.

Hey For The Wild community, it’s Ayana. It’s been a minute. Life has been moving—fast, deep, and full. I’ve grown, and with that growth, a clearer sense of what I want to share with you has come into focus.After nearly a decade of digital episodes, I felt a longing—an ache to be in person, on the land, and heart to heart with our guests. That’s why you may have noticed we’ve slowed down on weekly releases. Instead, we’ve been on the road, spending sacred, unhurried time with people we love—tending to conversations that are raw, intimate, funny, beautiful, edgy, and alive.We were hoping to keep it under wraps a little longer, but we’re just too excited: the first season of our new walking series will be released soon, and it features the luminous Sophie Strand. This series is an in-person, land-based conversation that is intimate, weird, raw, beautiful exploration of land, grief, myth, pleasure, and more. These aren’t studio-perfect interviews, they’re alive.But there’s more. We’re also creating an anthology—a wild and tender book featuring Sophie and 20 other contributors like Tyson Yunkaporta, Sylvia Linsteadt, adrienne maree brown, Dori Midnight, and Stephen Jenkinson. It’s an archive, an altar, a trail companion—a distillation of 10 years of For The Wild with essays, art, poetry, rituals, and deep questions. It asks us what it means to live in fragmentary times and still root deeply. We hope to print it later this year.To bring these projects to life, we need your support.We’re looking for funding partners, sponsors, and publishers—and we’re dreaming of a book tour from the West Coast to the East, and across the pond to Europe.If you’re an individual, foundation, or aligned company that wants to support the Sophie Strand series, reach out.If you’re a publisher or lit world comrade, I’d love to connect.If you’d like to host a live gathering for the book tour, let’s talk—we’d love to share good food, real talk, and tender moments with your community.Email us at connect@forthewild.worldThank you for walking with us—whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just arrived. My heart is racing as I share this with you. It feels risky, but right. Vulnerable, but true. And I’m so grateful.In the meantime, you can spend some deep time with us through our Earthly Reads Series and Book Study or Bayo Akomolafe's We Will Dance with Mountains: Vunja! course—both on our website.And of course, we’ve got over 350 episodes waiting for you on your favorite platform.Here’s to what comes next. With love,Ayana♫ The music featured in this update is “Das Nuvens (Live)” by Fabiano do Nascimento, courtesy of Leaving Records.Support the show

Prentis Hemphill, bestselling author and founder of The Embodiment Institute, joins the conversation to unravel the concept of healing in both personal and collective contexts. They discuss the importance of community and shared responsibilities in political dialogue. Hemphill critiques conventional views of healing, urging a holistic approach to trauma. The duo also explores the interplay between healing and social movements, emphasizing that genuine connection and empathetic community organizing can transform conflicts into pathways for justice.

Join Alexis Pauline Gumbs, a renowned author and Black feminist thinker, as she delves into the essence of Audre Lorde's work. Gumbs artfully connects Lorde’s teachings to our geological existence and the intricate relationship between identity and the Earth. Discover how interdependence with nature reshapes our understanding of survival, and explore the profound bond between humanity and the cosmos through the metaphor of iron. With wit and insight, Gumbs invites listeners to embrace collective stories and the transformative power of love.

Céline Semaan, founder of Slow Factory and author of 'A Woman is a School,' shares her inspiring journey from Lebanon to championing climate justice and social equity. She delves into the power of storytelling, particularly the role of female hakawatis, to convey deeply rooted narratives. Céline encourages listeners to reflect on faith during crises and the importance of community in healing through shared experiences. This thought-provoking conversation highlights how embracing softness and solidarity can revolutionize conflict resolution.