Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

What if the stars in your birth chart could tell you why you're drawn to horses — and what stands between you and the deeper connection you're seeking? Denise Elizabeth Byron has spent decades working at the intersection of astrology, psychic intuition, and soul guidance. She didn't set out to become the horse community's astrologer. She set out, as a seven-year-old girl in California, simply to understand why her grandmother kept showing up in her bedroom after she died — and never really stopped. Denise's path winds through a childhood steeped in Irish and Celtic intuition, a mother casting charts by hand in the seventies, years of study with psychic mentors, and a slow evolution from teacher to life coach to astrologer. What brought her into the horse world wasn't a horse — it was Robin Schiller, who came to a session and then brought Warwick, and the rest followed. What she found when she arrived was something she'd been searching for her whole life: a community of people who already knew how to listen. This is a wide-ranging, deeply warm conversation between two people who share a fascination with the irrational, the ancestral, and the unseen. Rupert and Denise cover past lives and what they're actually for, why horse people are natural intuitives (and often don't know it), what it means to be a fire horse in a fire horse year, and why Mercury Retrograde is not the time to gallop away. They talk about fields of consciousness and what love actually is, from photons emitted by the heart to the physics of ocean waves. And somewhere in the middle, balloons spontaneously appeared on both their Zoom screens. What emerges most clearly is this: horse women are far further along their intuitive journey than they give themselves credit for. And the thing most likely to block their connection with their horse isn't technique — it's perfectionism, and not extending to themselves the same love they so freely give their animals. Denise's message to every horse woman listening is as simple as it is quietly devastating: treat yourself with as much love as you treat your horse. FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpout ✨ "Trust what you hear, trust what you feel. Most people who contact me are so much further along in their journey than they give themselves credit for." – Denise Elizabeth Byron ✨ "Treat yourself with as much love as you treat your horse." – Denise Elizabeth Byron What You'll Learn in This Episode Memorable Moments from the Episode Projects and Organizations Mentioned HeartMath Institute — heart field research and coherence work Kansas Carradine / Circus Cowgirl — HeartMath combined with horses: https://circuscowgirl.com About Denise Elizabeth Byron Denise Elizabeth Byron is an astrologer, intuitive, and soul guide who has spent over thirty years helping people understand their charts as maps of the soul rather than predictions of fate. Known in the equestrian world through her work with the Journey On podcast community, she works at the intersection of Western astrology, numerology, psychic intuition, and ancestral healing. Her gift lies not in technical chart reading but in using a birth chart as a portal — a set of symbols that opens access to deeper knowing, ancestral connection, and soul evolution. She can be reached through her website: https://deniseelizabethbyron.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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a...

✨ "Men don't need less empathy. They often need empathy delivered differently." – Eric Robertson ✨ "Success is a tricky thing. You can get to the point where you start to believe your own bullshit — and that has some negative impacts on your relationships." – Eric Robertson Eric Robertson spent 33 years inside some of the most painful moments families ever face — divorce. As one of Austin's most respected family law attorneys, he sat across from men and women at their most raw and most desperate. What he noticed about the men changed the direction of his life. They weren't falling apart in the ways the system was built to recognize. They were shutting down, overworking, picking fights, and quietly disappearing inside themselves — and nobody had a name for what was happening to them. That observation sent Eric back to school for a second master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, and launched an entirely new career focused on men's emotional wellbeing. This conversation matters deeply if you love a man — a son, a partner, a brother, a father. So much of what Eric shares illuminates not just what men are going through, but why they behave the way they do when they're struggling, and what the people around them can actually do to help. If you've ever felt the wall go up, or watched someone you care about go quiet when you knew something was wrong, this episode will give you language, compassion, and insight you didn't have before. Rupert and Eric move through the staggering statistics behind male loneliness and suicide, the question of why successful men are often the ones struggling most, and the double standards men quietly carry. Eric walks through how depression actually shows up in men — irritability, emotional numbness, compulsive overworking, chronic pain — so listeners can recognize what they might previously have dismissed or misread. The conversation takes a genuinely practical turn when Eric demonstrates a live bilateral tapping session with Rupert on-air, offering a simple tool for emotional regulation that anyone can begin using today. Rupert brings his own lens throughout — from his years living with San Bushmen hunter-gatherer communities in southern Africa, to raising his autistic son Rowan, to his own honest reflections on therapy, mentorship, and what men actually need to heal. Whether you're listening for yourself, for someone you love, or simply because you sense the men in your world are carrying more than they're letting on — come with an open heart, and you'll leave with new eyes. What You'll Learn in This Episode Memorable Moments Projects and Organizations Mentioned About Eric Robertson Eric Robertson is a licensed professional counselor associate based in Austin, Texas. After 33 years as a family law attorney — including serving on the board of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers — he returned to his original calling and completed a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. He now works with men and individuals navigating divorce, offering both therapy and divorce coaching to help people stay emotionally regulated when it matters most. His website is www.robertsonct.com. 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 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.

⭐ “Horses can only perform as well as they understand — and as well as they feel.” – Karen Rohlf ⭐ “You have to be either searching or enjoying — nothing in between.” – Karen Rohlf Karen Rohlf didn’t start out trying to reinvent dressage — she started as a horse‑crazy kid, fell into traditional training, and then slowly realized something wasn’t adding up. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Karen about the hidden tension inside modern dressage, the difference between training and performance, and why so many riders get stuck chasing “correctness” instead of connection. Karen shares her journey from competitive dressage into a more horse‑centered approach, including the moment she nearly quit horses altogether — and how rediscovering joy, curiosity, and partnership brought her back. The conversation explores the deep conflict between competition and wellbeing, the limits of traditional systems, and why many so‑called “dressage problems” are actually issues of communication, lifestyle, or emotional state. Karen introduces her “Happy Athlete Training Scale,” a radically simple but powerful framework that starts not with movement — but with happiness, harmony, and understanding. From letting go of ego‑driven goals to developing real feel, this is a conversation about what dressage could be — and what it becomes when we truly listen to the horse. FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpout All Books Mentioned: https://longridehome.com/books What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Memorable Moments from the Episode: Projects and Organizations Mentioned: • Dressage Naturally • New Trails Learning Systems • Helios Harmony About Karen Rohlf: Karen Rohlf is an internationally recognized clinician, author, and creator of the Dressage Naturally approach. Originally trained in traditional competitive dressage, she has spent decades developing a system that blends classical training with horse‑centered communication, emotional awareness, and partnership. Her work focuses on helping riders develop feel, clarity, and connection — creating horses that are not just trained, but willing, confident, and understood. Website: https://dressagenaturally.net 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 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.

“ If you lead with heart and joy, you end up with heart and joy.” – Laura Chesterfield “ It’s not about being an expert in everything — it’s about being interested in everything.” – Laura Chesterfield Laura Chesterfield grew up inside one of the most magical landscape restorations in the world: The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. As the daughter of Heligan co‑founder Tim Smit, Laura watched the famous gardens emerge from decades of abandonment after the First World War — a process that revealed not only a remarkable landscape, but powerful stories about people, nature, restoration, and belonging. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Laura about what it means to build a sense of place — and why storytelling, nature, animals, and imagination are essential to human wellbeing. Laura shares the extraordinary story of Heligan’s rediscovery, when the signatures of gardeners who had left for World War I were found written on a wall in the “Thunderbox Room,” marking the moment the gardens fell silent for decades. From tropical jungles and giant tree ferns to regenerative farming, rare breed livestock, poetry hidden in landscapes, and sculptures like the famous Mud Maid, Heligan has become a living example of how landscape, creativity, ecology, and community can intertwine. The conversation explores how landscapes can become healing spaces, why storytelling connects people more deeply than information, the role animals — including horses — play in shaping human identity, regenerative farming and biodiversity restoration, reintroducing beavers as a keystone species, and how curiosity and playfulness drive innovation. Laura also discusses her next chapter: launching Lova Studios, a consultancy helping organizations discover and communicate the deeper stories within their landscapes, businesses, and communities. This is a conversation about place, memory, nature, imagination, and how meaningful stories shape the future. FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpout What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Memorable Moments from the Episode: Projects and Organizations Mentioned: About Laura Chesterfield: Laura Chesterfield grew up surrounded by one of the most remarkable landscape restoration projects in Europe: The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. Over nearly a decade working at Heligan, she helped lead projects that integrated storytelling, livestock farming, ecology, art, and visitor experience — including the Heligan Rare Breed Farm Park, wildlife initiatives, sculpture programs, and biodiversity projects such as beaver reintroduction and regenerative grazing. Laura is now launching Lova Studios, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations uncover and communicate the deeper stories within landscapes, communities, and businesses. Website: https://lovastudios.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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

✨ “Once people release the trauma, we can start dreaming about possibility.” – Jeff Tomhave ✨ “It’s not rocket science. It’s telling a compelling story to a receptive audience.” – Jeff Tomhave Jeff Tomhave is a Native American attorney and tribal advocate who has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of federal policy, infrastructure development, healthcare access, and tribal sovereignty. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Jeff for a far‑reaching conversation about what it means to live in “America within America.” From federal land trust systems and underfunded reservations to cancer treatment access and tribal disenrollment, Jeff offers a rare inside look at how Native nations navigate – and challenge – the structures imposed upon them. Jeff shares how his own path to law was less about becoming a courtroom attorney and more about gaining the tools to advocate for tribal communities at the highest levels of government. Together, he and Rupert explore invisibility, historic trauma, cultural survival, gaming revenues, sovereignty, and Jeff’s long‑term dream of training the next generation of tribal advocates. This is not just a conversation about law. It is about survival, adaptation, sovereignty, healing, and what the future of Native America could look like. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Memorable Moments from the Episode: Projects and Organizations Mentioned: • Tomhave Group • Native American Humane Society • Navajo Nation • Indian Health Service • Bureau of Indian Affairs • First Nations Development Institute About Jeff Tomhave: Jeff Tomhave is a Native American advocate and Juris Doctor who has dedicated his career to helping tribes secure infrastructure, healthcare access, and federal resources. Through the Tomhave Group, he works directly with tribal governments to develop strategy, secure funding, and navigate federal systems. After more than two decades in Washington, DC, Jeff and his wife Brandy are relocating to North Dakota, where they plan to establish a community-based advocacy and training center aimed at building long-term tribal self-advocacy capacity. To learn more: https://tomhavegroup.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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

✨ “The horse lives in the present. If you want to be a good horse person, you need to become more like the horse.” – Richard Williams ✨ “Horsemanship is a physical meditation. The horse is a three-dimensional mirror.” – Richard Williams From preserving rare classical manuscripts to exploring the emotional and civilizing power of horsemanship, Richard Williams — publisher of Xenophon Press — joins Rupert Isaacson for a deep dive into why the old masters still matter. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert and Richard trace the arc of classical equestrian knowledge from Xenophon through the Renaissance academies, La Guérinière, Steinbrecht, Baucher, and Nuno Oliveira — right up to the modern therapeutic and rehabilitative applications of classical riding. Richard shares how he came to acquire Xenophon Press, why publishing these works is an act of stewardship rather than profit, and how editing and translating classical texts became a form of "time travel." The conversation moves from Renaissance schools that trained diplomats through horsemanship, to emotional regulation in the saddle, to the role horses may play in addiction recovery and mental health today. 🎥 FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpout 📚 All Books Mentioned: https://longridehome.com/books 🎟️ Xenophon Press Discount Code: 7greatCUSTOMER (7% off) https://xenophonpress.com This is not simply a conversation about dressage. It is about humility, mastery, emotional regulation, leadership, and the civilizing influence of the horse. 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned: 🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

✨ “I’m upset because life should be so beautiful.” – Rejane D’Espirac ✨ “Healing begins with attention.” – Rupert Isaacson In this expansive and deeply reflective episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson is joined by French writer, journalist, filmmaker, and activist Rejane D’Espirac for a wide‑ranging conversation on healing, presence, storytelling, plants, and what it means to live a life in service. Rejane’s work sits at the crossroads of human rights, environmental activism, health, and inner transformation. From documenting the long‑term aftermath of the Bhopal industrial disaster in India, to exploring Ayurveda, yoga, infertility, and the healing power of attention, her life and career have been shaped by one central question: how do we truly care for one another in a damaged world? Together, Rupert and Rejane explore the idea of being “upset by beauty” — not anger, but the kind of heartbreak that comes from seeing how precious life is, and how easily that magic is overlooked or harmed. They discuss relationship as medicine, presence as a healing force, plants as silent allies, and why service — rather than self‑actualization alone — is often the key to meaning. ❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome This episode weaves personal story, activism, philosophy, and nature into a conversation about attention, awe, responsibility, and hope. 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned: 🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

✨ “Being different is not your weakness — it’s your superpower.” – John Kippen ✨ “Story is the original healing technology.” – Rupert Isaacson In this deeply moving and wide‑ranging episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with resilience coach, magician, and motivational speaker John Kippen about identity, illness, visibility, and what it truly takes to come out of hiding. John shares his extraordinary personal story — from being diagnosed with a life‑threatening brain tumor in his early thirties, to waking from surgery with permanent facial paralysis that led him to withdraw from public life for more than a decade. What followed was not just physical recovery, but a long inner journey through shame, self‑judgment, and loss of identity. Through magic, storytelling, and radical honesty, John ultimately found his way back into the world — discovering that the very thing he tried to hide could become his greatest point of connection. Today, he uses those lessons to help others step out of fear, reclaim their dreams, and see their differences as sources of strength. This conversation explores illness, facial difference, vulnerability, creativity, neuroscience, coaching, dreaming, and the quiet power of presence. It is an episode about being seen — and about learning to see yourself with compassion. ❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned: 🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

In this deeply honest and wide‑ranging episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with family therapist and author Amanda Atkins about what it truly means to parent a high‑needs child — and how parents survive, adapt, and rediscover joy along the way. Amanda shares the personal story behind her book How to Handle More Than You Can Handle, written from lived experience as the mother of Asher, a teenager with Prader‑Willi Syndrome. Together, Rupert and Amanda explore overwhelm, grief, resilience, humor, identity, marriage, community, and the long‑term realities of parenting children with disabilities. The conversation moves fluidly between personal reflection and practical insight — from navigating cortisol burnout and therapy overload, to the importance of nature, play, humor, and following the child’s passions. This episode also looks ahead to adulthood, community living, relationships, and what it means to build sustainable structures for life beyond childhood. ✨ “You’re allowed to be more than just a caretaker.” – Amanda Atkins ✨ “Joy isn’t optional. It’s how we survive.” – Rupert Isaacson ❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned: Amanda Griffith Atkins: https://www.amandagriffithatkins.com/ https://www.instagram.com/amanda.griffith.atkins/ How to Handle More Than You Can Handle – Amanda Atkins: https://amzn.to/3LjgWSH ning Systems Camp Hill Communities (historical model for residential care) Square Peg Foundation (California) https://squarepegfoundation.org 🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

In this deeply moving and long‑awaited reunion episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson is joined by Tulga Otgonbaatar — the Mongolian guide, cultural bridge, and quiet catalyst behind the original Horse Boy journey. Nearly twenty years after Rupert, his autistic son Rowan, and Tulga traveled together across Mongolia to meet shamans, reindeer herders, and the vast living intelligence of the steppe, the two sit down to reflect on what that journey set in motion — not only for Rowan and their families, but for Mongolia itself. This conversation weaves together memory, history, spirituality, ecology, and lived experience. Tulga shares how a “city boy” became devoted to bringing people back into relationship with nature; how Mongolian kindness, patience, and forgiveness are forged through climate, culture, and Buddhism; and how shamanism survived Soviet suppression to remain a living healing practice today. Together, Rupert and Tulga revisit moments never fully told before — ceremonies where electronics failed, spirits tested intentions, vodka multiplied mysteriously, and healing unfolded in its own time. They explore the difference between cure and healing, the role of nature in regulating the human nervous system, and how autism came to be understood and accepted in Mongolia following the Horse Boy book and film. The episode closes with a powerful look forward: a possible 20‑year anniversary return to Mongolia — fathers and sons reunited — guided once again by the land, the spirits, and the people who made it all possible. ✨ “Healing isn’t about removing who someone is. It’s about relieving suffering so their gifts can emerge.” – Rupert Isaacson ✨ “Nature teaches patience. The land itself makes people kinder.” – Tulga Otgonbaatar ❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Books, Projects & Traditions Mentioned: The Horse Boy – book & documentary: https://ntls.co/books Mongolian shamanism & reindeer‑herder healing traditions Movement Method & Horse Boy Method: https://ntls.co Nomadic Trails (Mongolia): https://nomadictrails.com/ Takhin – the revered Mongolian wild horse 🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

✨ "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 Barrett What 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: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: losing📚 Books and Projects Mentioned: 🌍 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 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

✨ “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 Lund What 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: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: could 📚 Books and Projects Mentioned: Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting – Dr. Kate Lund The Relaxation Response – Herbert Benson (background method referenced) The Optimized Mind Podcast – Hosted by Dr. Kate Lund Website: https://katelundspeaks.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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

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: The CryptoNaturalistSomething in the Woods Loves You🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: The CryptoNaturalist📚 Books and Projects Mentioned: 🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

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: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Projects, Programs & People Mentioned: https://greencarefarm.de🌍 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 📚 Books & Resources: The Horse BoyThe Long Ride HomeThe Healing Landhttps://longridehome.com/books📊 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.

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: CureThe Human CosmosIn Search of Now🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: The Human CosmosIn Search of Now📚 Projects, Writings & Ideas Mentioned: Dr. Jo Marchant, PhDCure: 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 NowPodcast:Where the Wild Thoughts AreWebsite:🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us Long Ride Home: https://longridehome.comhttps://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhhttps://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhhttps://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems: https://ntls.cohttps://facebook.com/horseboyworldhttps://instagram.com/horseboyworldhttps://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📚 Books & Resources: The Horse BoyThe Long Ride HomeThe Healing Landhttps://longridehome.com/booksCureThe Human CosmosIn 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.

Once nonverbal, Lina Hjalmarsson now communicates through a letter board and her own writing—sharing profound insights into love, autism, and the human spirit. In this extraordinary episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with long-time friend Helena Hjalmarsson and her daughter Lina to explore the paradox of autism, poetry born from struggle, and what it means to align with our planet and each other. Their conversation moves from the excruciating journey of learning to spell, to navigating health challenges, to Lina’s vision of compassion as the cornerstone of society. ✨ “In learning how to spell, I set high on a cloud.” – Lina Hjalmarsson ✨ “I see autism as the most profound inspiration that has ever existed. It is also the most profound challenge.” – Lina Hjalmarsson 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: A Love Meaning to BurstIncisionsSoaring📚 Projects, Writings, and Ideas Mentioned: 🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: 📲 Follow Us: Long Ride Home: New Trails Learning Systems: 📚 Books & Resources: 📊 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.

From hitchhiking to California with $35 in her pocket, to becoming a Stanford professor, medical doctor, and pioneer in equine-assisted programs, Dr. Beverley Kane’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and transformation. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Kane to trace her journey through medicine, sports science, corporate Silicon Valley, parapsychology, and ultimately to horses—where she bridges science and spirituality. Beverley shares how her early activism during the Vietnam War led her into medicine, what she learned working in preventive health and AI at Apple and WebMD, and why a kitchen accident opened the door to horses, play, and somatic healing. Today she teaches Qigong with horses at Stanford, guiding students and professionals into deeper connection, stress relief, and self-regulation through equanimity. ✨ “Quantum physics is the physics of love and entanglement is about connection.” – Dr. Beverley Kane ✨ “When I found therapeutic riding, for the first time it was just playful to be on horses.” – Dr. Beverley Kane 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned: Dr. Beverley Kane – Equine-imity: Stress Reduction and Emotional Self-Regulation in the Company of Horses https://amzn.to/4nqsAJ9 The Manual of Medicine and Horsemanship - https://amzn.to/4nq2ENK EquanimityThe Self-Aware Universe🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

From the rugby fields of London to the Merchant Navy, Special Forces, skydiving, aviation, and entrepreneurship—Paul Illingworth’s life has been defined by risk, resilience, and relentless drive. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Paul to trace a journey that spans fear, family, and the search for tribe. Paul shares how being bullied as a child forged his fighter’s spirit, how rugby and the Navy honed his leadership, and why fear should never be allowed to rule your life. From building successful businesses—including skydiving operations and escape rooms—to exploring how community can heal a generation lost in gaming, Paul offers raw insights into courage, discipline, and finding purpose. ✨ “Fear is something you build up inside you. Push it aside—and deal with life.” – Paul Illingworth ✨ “It always comes back to tribe. Whatever your tribe is, find it and commit to it.” – Paul Illingworth 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned: The Horse BoyThe Long Ride HomeThe Healing Land https://longridehome.com/books🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

In this rare solo episode of Live Free Ride Free, host Rupert Isaacson shares his own extraordinary story—tracing a path from his multicultural childhood in London to horseback adventures, indigenous rights campaigns, and the creation of groundbreaking autism and equine therapy programs. Rupert weaves together vivid life experiences: from retraining an unruly ex-racehorse as a boy, to helping the Bushmen of the Kalahari win historic land claims, to transforming his son’s autism journey through horses, nature, and movement. This is a deep dive into service, resilience, and the magic of following the call of adventure. 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned: 🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.

What happens when a successful publisher hits rock bottom—and finds his way back through psychedelics, storytelling, and soul work? In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Ralf Daab, a Cologne-based publisher and spiritual entrepreneur, to explore how MDMA journeys, dreams, and intuition reshaped his life. From sex with his soul-self to conversations with ancient Persian sultans, Ralf shares candidly about death, rebirth, and the creative power of expanded consciousness. It’s a story of heartbreak, transformation, and discovering that the spiritual path doesn’t have to begin in the jungle—it can start with a walk past a horse paddock in Germany. ✨ “You don’t change your life in one journey. The transformation is forever.” – Ralf Daab ✨ “What if the Sultan was God, the Universe…and You?” – Ralf Daab 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode: 📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned: Da Bist Ja Wieder: 32 Episodenhttps://longridehome.com/books 🌍 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 tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.