"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/@TheEsotericaChannel
Website: https://www.justinsledge.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannel
Rare 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_XhvUo
Emelie Cajsdotter – Talking to Forest Spirits: https://youtu.be/YOUR-LINK-HERE
Warwick 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.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

🎧 Browse Our Playlists: Live Free Ride Free: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUcRPFFblvSlyVsZX682F63uQ5WpiZNfu
Equine 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.

Artist, regenerative grazier, and rewilding facilitator Nick Viney joins Rupert Isaacson for an expansive conversation from the wilds of Dartmoor to the edges of imagination. With boots-on-the-ground wisdom from 20 years of land restoration, livestock management, and community-building, Nick makes a compelling case for restoring ecosystems through play, art, and radical listening. This episode is a masterclass in how to bring trees back, slow the water, and let the wild shape us.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The forgotten role of imagination in restoring landscapes (Starts at [00:03:00])
• How regenerative grazing works and why it's not “just moving cows” (Starts at [00:12:36])
• A real-world experiment: 40 years of non-grazed land on Dartmoor (Starts at [00:31:16])
• The critical role of beavers and why they’re returning to the UK (Starts at [00:47:00])
• Why reintroducing wolves might be inevitable — and good for everyone (Starts at [01:13:00])
• How art can spark environmental change and communicate complexity (Starts at [01:27:00])

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• How she revived her artistic self after years of working for others ([00:02:00])
• Nick describes the joy of animals grazing fresh pasture every day — "It's pristine every single day" ([00:12:36])
• Rupert and Nick debate whether Britain is still a forest landscape or not ([00:19:25])
• What a bramble patch teaches us about songbirds and tree nurseries ([00:32:00])
• The haunting power of glow worms and how they reflect land recovery ([01:45:00])

📚 Books, Films, Causes & Contact:

Websites:

• Nick Viney Art & Projects: https://nickviney.co.uk
• Glamping & Land Connection: https://rewildingfutures.co.uk
• Beaver Watching & Rewilding Coombeshead: https://rewildingcoombeshead.co.uk

Other Rewilders Mentioned:

• Róisín Campbell-Palmer
• Gerhard Schwab (Bavaria)
• Derek Gow (UK)

Books:

• Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm by Isabella Tree – https://amzn.to/43j3Dbj

Conferences:

• "If Not Now, When: See Beyond" (July 25–27, 2025) – Rewilding Coombeshead
• Rewilding Coombeshead Conference by Derek Gow (July 26–27) – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/keep-it-wild/t-kraexje

🌍 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.

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.

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.

George Bumann—sculptor, wildlife researcher, educator, and author—joins Rupert Isaacson for a profound conversation exploring how animals communicate, what it means to truly listen to the natural world, and how this understanding can transform our inner and outer lives. George, who lives just outside Yellowstone National Park, offers insights drawn from decades of tracking wolves, grizzlies, elk, and bison, as well as from his unique perspective as both an artist and scientist. Remarkably, George can mimic the calls of animals like crows and wolves so precisely that he is able to call them in—and, even more importantly, he understands what those calls mean. This episode invites you to experience nature not just as an observer, but as a participant in its language.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The Art of Listening to Animals (Starts at [00:02:20]) – Discover how tuning into wildlife vocalizations deepens your connection with nature.
• Understanding Wolf Language (Starts at [00:27:30]) – Learn what wolf howls, barks, and yips reveal about their family dynamics and emotional states.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence in Wildlife (Starts at [00:36:00]) – Consider the emotional and social intelligence of animals like bears and wolves.
• Learning to Track with the Ears (Starts at [00:44:20]) – Gain insights into acoustic tracking and listening as a primary sensory tool.
• How Artistic Practice Deepens Animal Understanding (Starts at [00:52:00]) – Discover how sculpting animals refines observation and empathy.
• Teaching Children the Language of the Wild (Starts at [01:06:00]) – See how nature-based listening empowers and grounds young learners.
• The Inner Wilderness (Starts at [01:13:00]) – Explore how connecting with wildness helps heal internal disconnection.
• Calling the Animals: A Deeper Dive into Mimicry (Starts at [01:42:00]) – Hear how George uses mimicry to communicate directly with wild animals.
• Field Encounters That Shift Worldviews (Starts at [01:51:00]) – Reflect on how real-time animal experiences can transform human understanding.
• Conservation Through Emotional Connection (Starts at [02:06:00]) – Discover how empathy drives deeper conservation efforts.

🎧 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• George describes how a single bark from a wolf can carry multiple meanings depending on pitch, pacing, and context ([00:27:50])
• A moving story of a bison mother and her calf that teaches a powerful lesson in patience and presence ([00:38:00])
• George and Rupert reflect on how grief shows up in animal communities, and how recognizing this can shift our own relationship to mourning ([01:11:00])
• A captivating example of acoustic mimicry and the moment George successfully called in a raven during a forest walk ([01:42:15])
• A transformative encounter between a young student and a wolf pup that sparks a conversation on education and presence ([01:53:00])
• George shares how a single elk bugle at dusk can carry emotional nuance, context, and ecological awareness across a valley ([02:06:45])

📚 Books, Films, Causes & Contact:

Websites:

Eavesdropping on Animals: What We Can Learn From Wildlife Conversations https://amzn.to/4iSJU7D

George Bumann: https://georgebumann.com
A Yellowstone Life: https://ayellowstonelife.com
Yellowstone Summit: https://yellowstonesummit.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/@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.

In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson dives deep into the intersection of holistic health, biohacking, and consciousness with Dr. Har Hari Khalsa, a Los Angeles-based chiropractor, yogi, and pioneer in integrative medicine. Together, they explore the power of vibration and frequency in healing—from chiropractic care to scalar waves—and how our relationship with nature, technology, and ancient wisdom holds the key to true well-being.

📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• From Pain to Purpose (Starts at [00:01:40]) – Dr. Har Hari recounts his personal story of debilitating chronic pain in his 20s, and how chiropractic care changed his life trajectory.
• The Evolution and Suppression of Chiropractic (Starts at [00:03:00]) – Why chiropractic medicine has remained controversial despite over a century of success and how it differs from osteopathy.
• Biohacking the Body: Vibration, Light, and Magnetism (Starts at [00:12:00]) – A breakdown of technologies like PEMF, red light therapy, hyperbarics, and their effects on mitochondria, stem cells, and aging.
• Living in a Toxic World (Starts at [00:11:00]) – A discussion on the 80,000+ environmental toxins we face today and how healing practices must adapt to modern stressors.
• The Spiritual Science of Sikhism (Starts at [00:22:00]) – Har Hari shares his personal spiritual journey from Jewish upbringing to becoming a Sikh, including prophetic dreams and his time in a Boulder ashram.
• Scalar Waves and Quantum Healing (Starts at [01:39:00]) – What scalar energy is, how it differs from EMFs, and how devices like the CyberScan use these principles for extraordinary diagnostics and healing.

✨ Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• Rupert and Har Hari trade stories about poo and microbiome health (Starts at [00:16:00]).
• Rupert plays devil’s advocate, questioning whether our time is really more toxic than previous centuries (Starts at [00:12:00]).
• The connection between militarism and mysticism in Sikh history—and how Har Hari’s past life visions led him there (Starts at [00:26:00]).
• The role of play in healing: from yoga to laughter therapy, the conversation closes on joy as the ultimate medicine (Starts at [01:57:00]).

🚀 Action Steps from Dr. Har Hari:

• Explore Holistic Therapies – Look into chiropractic care, PEMF, red light, and hyperbarics as tools for vitality and healing.
• Reconnect with Nature – Kick off your shoes, lie under a tree, breathe in the biome—free, accessible medicine.
• Practice Short Daily Yoga – Even 3 to 11 minutes of breath and movement can rewire your system.
• Question the Matrix – Stay awake to media groupthink and cultivate mental sovereignty.

📚 Books, Programs & Contact:

🌐 Clinic & Contact:
Transformational Healing Universe (THU): https://thuheal.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thuheal

📲 Devices & Tools Mentioned: CyberScan | StemWave | Sigma Instrument | PEMF Tables | Red Light Panels | Hyperbaric Chambers

📡 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: 🌎 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 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.