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Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

By: Rupert Isaacson
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 Welcome to Live Free Ride Free, where we talk to people who have lived self-actualized lives on their own terms, and find out how they got there, what they do, how we can get there, what we can learn from them. How to live our best lives, find our own definition of success, and most importantly, find joy. Your Host is New York Times bestselling author Rupert Isaacson. Long time human rights activist, Rupert helped a group of Bushmen in the Kalahari fight for their ancestral lands. He's probably best known for his autism advocacy work following the publication of his bestselling book "The Horse Boy" and "The Long Ride Home" where he tells the story of finding healing for his autistic son. Subsequently he founded New Trails Learning Systems an approach for addressing neuro-psychiatric conditions through horses, movement and nature. The methods are now used around the world in therapeutic riding program, therapy offices and schools for special needs and neuro-typical children.  You can find details of all our programs and shows on www.RupertIsaacson.com2023 Helios Harmony, LLC Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Ultra Distances & Deeper Connections – Inside the Mongol and Gaucho Derby with Stevie Delahunt | Ep 28 Live Free Ride Free

    Ultra Distances & Deeper Connections – Inside the Mongol and Gaucho Derby with Stevie Delahunt | Ep 28 Live Free Ride Free
    May 22 2025

    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.com
    • Instagram: https://instagram.com/adventuristbarbie

    🌎 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/@longridehome

    New 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 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.
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    2 hrs and 15 mins
  • Reclaiming Britain’s Wild Heart | The Celtic Rainforest with Robin & Merlin Hanbury-Tenison | Ep 27

    Reclaiming Britain’s Wild Heart | The Celtic Rainforest with Robin & Merlin Hanbury-Tenison | Ep 27
    May 5 2025
    🚨 Support the Cornwall Rainforest Research Station: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-cornwall-rainforest-commRobin and Merlin Hanbury-Tenison are currently raising funds to build the UK's first Atlantic rainforest research station through their Thousand Year Trust. This station will serve as a hub for groundbreaking studies into biodiversity, climate resilience, and the mental health benefits of temperate forests. The crowdfunder is live until May 21st, 2025, and donations will be matched by Aviva—with additional matched funding unlocked if the target is reached.Legendary explorer and indigenous rights activist Robin Hanbury-Tenison OBE, DL, DSc, DHc, MA, FLS, FRGS, and his son Merlin Hanbury-Tenison—veteran, conservationist, and author—join Rupert Isaacson for a deeply hopeful, multigenerational conversation about the revival of Britain’s ancient rainforests. From leading Britain’s largest-ever scientific expedition into the Borneo rainforest, to launching the UK’s first Atlantic temperate rainforest research station, the Hanbury-Tenisons are weaving together indigenous wisdom, military resilience, climate science, and future-forward ecology. This wide-ranging episode explores rewilding, cultural change, land access, trauma recovery, and how to heal both people and the land—together.🌿 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Cracking the Rainforest Code (Starts at [00:03:03]) Robin reveals how his Borneo expedition uncovered the self-contained nutrient cycle of tropical rainforests and why this discovery matters more than ever.Britain Was a Rainforest (Starts at [00:08:00]) Merlin explains how 20% of the UK was once covered by rainforest, and why reclaiming that heritage is vital to the nation’s identity and ecology.Healing in the Forest (Starts at [00:06:00]) Hear how Merlin, his wife Lizzie, and Robin himself all found profound healing from trauma and illness within their patch of Atlantic rainforest in Cornwall.The Sheep Problem (Starts at [00:16:00]) The surprising story of how non-native sheep transformed Britain's landscapes—and how that continues to affect biodiversity today.The Rewilded Farm: Cabilla Cornwall (Starts at [00:21:21]) Merlin describes transforming a 250-acre family farm into a working model of rainforest restoration and regenerative agroforestry.A Blueprint for Upland Farming’s Future (Starts at [00:22:00]) Can a small-scale reforestation project create scalable, profitable farming solutions for the next generation? Merlin thinks so.The Economic Case for Rewilding (Starts at [00:24:00]) Carbon markets, ecotourism, and a post-Brexit subsidy system: How today’s farmers can make more money from forest than from sheep.Access and Culture (Starts at [00:27:00]) Robin and Merlin reflect on how to balance ecological restoration with public access, cultural heritage, and resistance to change.From Survival International to the Thousand Year Trust (Starts at [00:52:00]) Robin and Merlin connect the dots between indigenous wisdom and rewilding Britain—from the Kalahari to Cornwall.An Optimist’s Vision of 3025 (Starts at [01:00:00]) Merlin lays out two possible futures for humanity: a Mad Max apocalypse or a thriving rewilded world. He believes we can choose the latter.🌲 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Merlin reveals how beavers and temperate rainforest help prevent flooding, drought, and mental health decline ([00:08:00])Robin recalls telling Margaret Thatcher the truth about tropical deforestation—and nearly getting handbagged for it ([00:13:05])Rupert imagines a British rainforest safari system, with wolves, lynx, and eco-lodges connecting restored farms ([00:48:00])Robin advocates for riding horses through a rewilded Britain as the most profound way to experience the land ([00:57:00])Merlin explains how spending 30 minutes in a temperate rainforest can drop your cortisol levels for two weeks ([01:13:00])Learn more about Robin Hanbury-Tenison:Website: https://www.robinsbooks.co.uk Learn more about Merlin Hanbury-Tenison:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merlin-hanbury-tenison-a069b636Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merlinhanburytenison Follow the Thousand Year Trust:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thousandyeartrustWebsite: https://www.thousandyeartrust.org Visit Cabilla Cornwall:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cabillacornwallWebsite: https://www.cabillacornwall.com Read Merlin’s new book:Our Oaken Bones: Reviving a Family, a Farm and Britain’s Ancient Rainforests: https://amzn.to/3GvStaj 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/...
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Talking to Stones, Ponies, and the Sacred: Empathic Interbeing with Emelie Cajsdotter | Ep 26 Live Free Ride Free

    Talking to Stones, Ponies, and the Sacred: Empathic Interbeing with Emelie Cajsdotter | Ep 26 Live Free Ride Free
    Apr 24 2025

    Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide, childhood trauma, and emotional abuse. If these topics may be triggering, we suggest skipping this episode or proceeding with care. If you or someone you know is affected by such experiences or is contemplating suicide, please seek support from qualified professionals and local mental health resources.


    Emelie Cajsdotter—author, healer, and founder of a unique animal sanctuary in western Sweden—joins Rupert Isaacson for a sweeping, emotional, and revelatory conversation that bridges grief, neurodivergence, trauma, ancestral healing, and the reality of interspecies communication. With gentle intensity, Emelie recounts a childhood shaped by loss and isolation, and the moment a defiant pony broke through her emotional shutdown—igniting a lifelong journey of empathic interbeing with animals, ancestors, and nature spirits. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to listen to another being—not interpret, not impose, but truly inhabit their experience—this conversation will change you.


    🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • The Origins of Empathic Interbeing (Starts at [00:03:24])
      • Discover how Emelie conceptualizes her experience of merging consciousness with other beings, and how this connection reshaped her life.
    • The Tragic and Transformational Early Years (Starts at [00:04:20])
      • A powerful account of Emelie's father's death and her upbringing by a psychic grandmother in urban Gothenburg.
    • The Healing Begins: A Pony Who Refused to Break (Starts at [00:45:00])
      • Learn how a combative chestnut mare became the mirror that helped Emelie reclaim her will to live.
    • When the Horse Says No: Redefining Respect (Starts at [00:54:00])
      • Explore how the long process of trust-building with this pony revealed a new framework for healing and training.
    • Finding the Right Medicine (Starts at [01:04:00])
      • Hear how a chance newspaper clipping led Emelie to a New Zealand vet who changed the trajectory of her work and life.
    • Nature Spirits and the Real World of Forest Beings (Starts at [01:14:00])
      • Emelie shares the moment forest spirits began to appear in her life, how they taught her about plants, and what they expect from us.
    • Relationship Without Domination (Starts at [02:13:00])
      • Rupert and Emelie reflect on how to partner with animals beyond hierarchy and how this philosophy plays out in both their lives.

    🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

    • Rupert and Emelie dissect why conventional animal communication often fails to reflect the animal’s true perspective ([00:02:00])
    • The unforgettable first moment of full empathic merger between Emelie and a seemingly hostile pony ([00:48:00])
    • The figure in the dark: a terrifying turning point during Emelie’s adolescent identity crisis ([01:11:00])
    • How samba drumming and a fellow student helped Emelie find her own rhythm and life path ([01:16:00])
    • Why the forest is not symbolic, but literally alive and relational—a reality that reveals itself when we listen ([01:22:00])
    • The water spirits of Greenland, and what they teach about memory, time, and healing ([02:08:00])

    📚 Books, Films, Causes & Contact:

    Websites:

    • Emelie Cajsdotter’s courses & school: https://www.miothewayofcompassion.com
    • Animal sanctuary and nonprofit: https://www.friendsofmiyo.com

    🌎 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

    • Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

    📲 Follow Us:

    Long Ride Home

    • Website: https://longridehome.com
    • Facebook: facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
    • Instagram: instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
    • YouTube: youtube.com/@longridehome

    New Trails Learning Systems

    • Website: https://ntls.co
    • Facebook: facebook.com/horseboyworld
    • Instagram: instagram.com/horseboyworld
    • YouTube: 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.
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 32 mins

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