Hello H.tties! We are re-releasing an episode with Adam Vellturo that we recorded way back in December 2019.

That episode was one of our most popular -  it was the first one to hit triple digit downloads. In it, Adam helps us  explore and understand nature therapy, deep ecology, the nature of the soul, and whether or not we're going to survive and thrive in the 21st century.

You know, fluffy stuff like that.

That’s how we roll on the HTP… inspiring, hopeful conversations with smart guests who can tackle the big topics.

Our pod-a-versery is coming up in a less than a month. We’re finishing our second full year of podcasting! And in recognition of that achievement AND all the support you h.tties have given us, we’re re-releasing this early episode. It’s a meaningful one to us and holds powerful, lovely memories.
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In this episode, listen for Adam's prescription for easy soul work and a recitation of a Walt Whitman poem that are both perfect for the cooler, clearer nights ahead.

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Music Credits: 
“Colorado-Slinkies” by trout recording
“Everyone-Everywhere” by_Jayme_Stone

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SHOW NOTES
Do a Science:

•  Go Look at the Stars: Every night for a week, go outside and look at the night sky. 

More About Adam: 
Adam Vellturo is a licensed clinical social worker in Arizona. Since 1989, he has been trained to help people of various backgrounds cope with a wide range of problems from everday stress to chronic mental health issues. Adam Vellturo has over 30-years of experience providing psychotherapy to individuals, couples and families. His practice focuses on adults and teens.

• Adam J. Vellturo Counseling Services​

Other relevant Episodes: 

• Episode 9 - Diving into the Heart of the Dragon with Molly McGinn 
• Episode 19 - Healing Others so We Can Heal with activist and educator Rowdy Duncan.

Dive Deeper on the Topic: 

• Books & Authors Mentioned
  • Ishmael - Daniel Quinn
  • Bill Plotkin - Important books on soul and ecopsychology
  • Joanna Macy - Environmental activist, author, and deep ecology.
  • Richard Louv - No Child Left in the Woods
• Programs that offer deep eco-therapy
  • Animas Valley Institute
  • School of Lost Borders

Imagine walking more than 800 miles, across dry, spiny deserts, up over a dozen different snowy mountain summits, all the way from Mexico to Utah. Imagine carrying everything you need on your back, eating dehydrated food, and sucking water from cattle tanks. Imagine living under the big skies and big weather on the Arizona Trail for over two months.
Now imagine doing all of that while trying to keep up with your 7th grade science and reading assignments. 

That’s right, our intrepid guest this episode is 13-year-old Georgia Clews who is halfway through her long trail hike adventure with her mom, Charlotte Clews. If Georgia (known by her trail name, Marmot), gets all the way to the Utah border under her own steam, she will likely be the youngest person to hike the Arizona Trail. At the same time, Marmot is taking distance schooling to extremes as she logs into her lessons every time she can get cell service. Wow!

Some of you may be asking, what kind of parent would drag their tween from Maine to Arizona and make her endure cactus spines, big hairy spiders, and snow storms? Well Charlotte (known on the trail as Dread Pirate) is the perfect person to be accompanying her daughter on a thru-hike of epic proportion. 

What’s a thru-hike?

It’s an end-to-end hike of a long, long trail with no significant departures from the trail. 

Dread Pirate has completed thru-hikes on all the major continent-spanning trails in the US: 

• The Appalachian Trail - 2160 Miles
• The Pacific Crest Trail - 2650 Miles
• And the Continental Divide trail where she and her husband (Marmot’s dad) got engaged - 3100 Miles

Charlotte has had more than her fair share of adventures and epics and can handle almost any trail emergency. Charlotte is also a trained and educated naturalist, a wilderness first responder, and a licensed Maine guide. 

The real reason she’s perfect for this adventure, though, is that she believes in the power, autonomy, creativity and character of kids. She doesn’t see her role as a parent as one who hovers over a child, preventing or cleaning up mistakes… She knows they deserve every chance to fail, excel, learn, and experience life. 

Show Notes
Key Takeaways: 

• Young people can (and should) do a lot more than we give them credit for. 
• Parents can help their children grow and mature by getting out of their way and encouraging authentic personality formation. 
• Families that want their children to spend more time outside will probably have to go out with them. 
• The best thing for an emotionally healthy child is a set of parents who are working on being emotionally healthy (i.e. put yourself in therapy before you put your kid in therapy).

Do a This Week's Science:

• Charlotte’s challenge for Adults - go for a walk every day for 10 minutes and leave your phone behind 
• Georgia’s challenge for Kids - Put down your device for an hour. Go do something active. 

​More About the Guests:

• Instagram feed with photos and videos from the AZTrail:   @marmotandpiratesadventures
• Charlotte Clews Yoga, Pilates & adventure site: http://wildopenheart.com/

Other relevant Episodes: 

• Episode 61 How to Cook a Moose with Author Kate Christensen
• Episode 38 How To Talk To Teens with Adam Young
• Prescott Woman Podcast ​Episode 8: Teens Who are Making Prescott Better Together

Dive Deeper on the Topic: 

• What is the Arizona Trail? 
• What Happens To Your Body When You Thru Hike? 
• Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder - Richard Louv
• 10 Ways To Raise A Wild Child 
• The Geography of Childhood - Gary Nabhan
• The Princess Bride - William Goldman

​Rate, Review, Connect
www.podchaser.com/heretogether
Email us at contact@rocketfeather.com
Leave a voicemail at anchor.fm/heretogether
Sign up to receive the weekly Connection Newsletter www.here-together.us/join

Music Credits: A Hawaiian in Paris feat.-Pierre-Grill

Bonus Audio: Podcat Conflict Consult with Deb

SHOW DESCRIPTION
Have you ever felt out of place?  Have you been surrounded by people you don’t get and who don’t get you?  Do you like spending time in nature or with animals, more than with other humans?  Or, do you love humans and the natural world, but feel concerned about how that relationship is going?
We understand and we are so pleased to bring you this conversation with a person who has dedicated her life to helping bridge the gaps between humans, animals, and the larger natural world.  She helps remind us that while sometimes we feel separate, we are always a meaningful part of this remarkable life on planet Earth.
Our guest this episode is Deb Matlock. Deb is an environmental educator and naturalist, a shamanic practitioner, and an animal communicator.  She helps people and animals through spiritual coaching and shamanic-style journey work.  Deb is also dedicated to exploring her own spiritual connection to life and the more-than-human world.
Deb’s has a Master’s degree in environmental education and is working on her Ph.D.  She is a certified Life Coach and a Wilderness First Responder.
Deb’s personal mission is to help others explore the wildness within themselves as well as their love and connection to the amazing world around us.  She is dedicated to working in service to the wild spirit that lives within all.
This is just the short version of Deb’s Bio.  Find the link to her website in the show notes for all the details on Deb’s varied and impressive career.
Listen to the whole episode to find out how we can feel more at home in our own skins and in this more-than-human world.

SHOW NOTES
Key Takeaways: 

• Be open to connection and to mystery
• Don’t take for granted what it takes to be alive
• Give back in whatever way you can
• The scale of the give-back doesn’t matter

Do a Deb's Science:

• Open your door every morning and ask yourself, “Who is here right now?”

Episode References:

• Deb Matlock's Website - Wild Rhythms
• Deb’s full bio
• Social Media Links
  • ​Instagram @wildrhythms
  • Twitter @WildRhythms
  • Facebook @WildRhythms

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Other relevant Episodes: 

• Episode 55 How to Not Know - Balancing Contemplation and Action with Pete Pierson 
• Episode 11 Facilitator Of The Inevitable - With Ecotherapist Adam Vellturo

​Dive Deeper on the Topic: 

• Books with animist themes or just deep reverence for the wild/human relationship:
  • David Abrams The Spell of the Sensuous 
  • Barbara Kingsolver Prodigal Summer
  • Bill Plotkin Wild Mind - A Field Guide to the Human Psyche
  • Craig Childs The Animal Dialogs - Uncommon Encounters in the Wild

Rate &  Review
www.podchaser.com/heretogether

Music Credits: A Hawaiian in Paris feat.-Pierre-Grill