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.comAnimal sanctuary and nonprofit: https://www.friendsofmiyo.com🌎 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride HomeWebsite: https://longridehome.comFacebook: facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning SystemsWebsite: https://ntls.coFacebook: facebook.com/horseboyworldInstagram: instagram.com/horseboyworldYouTube: 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 Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Helen Sharp, an equine journalist, academic, and co-founder of Groundwork EAS—an equine-assisted charity on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. A leading voice in both equine media and trauma-informed equine work, Dr. Sharp brings a unique blend of artistry, horsemanship, and therapeutic insight to everything she does.She writes for The Irish Field and Farmers Journal, and her career spans journalism, community arts, equine bodywork, and academic research. She holds a PhD and has a background in sculpture and performance art, with her creative and research work shown around the world. As co-director of Groundwork, she serves veterans, trauma survivors, and neurodivergent individuals through programs that fuse nature, horses, and compassionate partnership.This powerful conversation traces her extraordinary journey from the Hebrides to heroin recovery, from performance art to equine-assisted leadership, and why horses continue to be the greatest teachers of all.📘 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The Origins of Groundwork EAS (Starts at 03:00)How Helen and co-founder Fiona Butchart launched the charity on a Northern Irish estate.The unique collaboration with Brooke House, a veterans' mental health charity.Why equine-assisted services are critical in a region with some of the UK’s highest mental health rates.Inside the Program: Grounding, Grooming, and Gentle Touch (Starts at 06:44)How Groundwork uses nonclinical space, tea rituals, and horsemanship to support healing.What a 10-week program looks like—from grooming to obstacle courses.The power of soft, tactile interaction and its effect on hypervigilance and aggression.Memorable Story: A Veteran’s Breakthrough with Breathing (Starts at 13:00)A former RUC officer transforms his relationship with anger through breathwork and horse partnership.How working with horses improved his family life.Breaking the Silence: Domestic Violence and Equine Healing (Starts at 19:35)A stroke survivor finds calm and confidence through grooming a yearling.How horse-human connection opens doors that talk therapy alone can’t.Childhood on the Edge: From the Hebrides to Horses (Starts at 23:03)Helen’s wild childhood on a remote Scottish island with no horses.How early life near the sea shaped her sensitivity and resilience.Art, Heroin, and Healing (Starts at 35:00)Helen shares openly about her past heroin addiction, recovery, and a near-death experience.How a vivid overdose changed her life trajectory—and deepened her compassion.Why this history helps her serve people in trauma without judgment.The Role of Routine, Ritual, and Horses in Recovery (Starts at 57:31)Why even intravenous drug use can mimic the grounding people seek in horses.The link between tactile connection and nervous system regulation.From Performance Art to Journalism (Starts at 01:00:00)Helen’s unexpected path from swinging off anchors in Belarus to writing for Horse & Hound and The Irish Field.Why writing was always at the center of her self-expression.Creating Change: Groundwork’s Model and the Power of the Broodmare (Starts at 01:16:00)How Helen uses young stock and broodmares to reflect complex family dynamics.Why one teenage girl found her voice by learning to speak clearly to a horse.The Future of Equine-Assisted Services in Ireland (Starts at 01:29:00)Helen’s vision for integrating equine-assisted work into the national healthcare system.Why collaboration—not competition—is key to the future of the sector.Lessons learned from the global Seen Through Horses campaign: https://horsesformentalhealth.org/seen-through-horses/✨ Memorable Moments from the Episode:“The hands can heal what the mind can’t.” (10:17)A veteran realizing that slowing down with his horse prevents family arguments (18:00)How grooming a yearling helped a stroke survivor regain stability (21:00)Helen’s overdose experience and the voice that saved her life: “You have a great brain” (38:00)“Frivolity is not the opposite of seriousness—it’s a form of joy.” (1:03:14)How observing a colt helped a mother process her teenage son’s behavior (1:26:00)🤝 Connect with Dr. Helen Sharp & Groundwork:Groundwork Equine-Assisted Services: https://groundworkeas.orgThe Irish Field (Helen’s journalism): https://www.theirishfield.ieSee All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:🌐 Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.com🎧 Podcast Archive: https://lfrf.transistor.fm💻 Equine-Assisted Programs: https://newtrailslearning.comFollow Us:Long Ride Home📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems🌐 Website: https://ntls.co📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystemsTune in to this remarkable conversation with Dr. Helen Sharp for a raw and resonant look at horses, healing, and hope on the Irish border.

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/4iSJU7DGeorge Bumann: https://georgebumann.comA Yellowstone Life: https://ayellowstonelife.comYellowstone 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/@longridehomeNew 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 Equine Assisted World, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Dr. Megan McGavern, a board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Megan shares the powerful story behind the founding of C.H.A.T.S.—Creative, Holistic, Adaptive, Therapeutic Solutions—and how it was born out of both professional insight and personal necessity.When her son Cole faced significant challenges, and medical professionals told her to accept that he might never regain functionality, Megan refused to give up. Drawing on her medical training, clinical experience, and deep intuition as a mother, she created C.H.A.T.S. as a space where children like Cole could thrive. C.H.A.T.S. is not about traditional therapy or horseback riding—it is about building relationship, regulation, and readiness to learn through purposeful, adaptive, equine-based engagement.What sets Megan apart is her ability to take science-based, evidence-backed practices—like Movement Method—and integrate them meaningfully into both therapeutic and clinical settings. After traveling to New Trails to learn Movement Method and Horse Boy Method firsthand from Rupert Isaacson, Megan returned home and applied what she had learned with her son Cole. The profound changes she witnessed led her to establish C.H.A.T.S. as a nonprofit organization. From there, she worked to bring Movement Method into the medical establishment, eventually helping to launch a neuroscience conference focused on the approach and its clinical applications.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:From Despair to Innovation: A Mother’s Mission (Starts at 01:45)The moment Megan was told to “accept the loss” regarding her son Cole’s future.Why she decided to go beyond traditional care models.The founding of C.H.A.T.S. and how it gave Cole a new chance at life.Movement Method and Medical Practice (Starts at 20:10)How Megan found the Movement Method and incorporated it into her work.Practical ways she’s brought it into institutional and clinical settings.The role of science—not mysticism—in shaping her therapeutic philosophy.C.H.A.T.S. in Action (Starts at 32:40)What makes C.H.A.T.S. distinct from other equine-assisted programs.Why it's focused on adaptability, safety, and authentic connection.How Megan uses observation, relationship, and responsiveness to meet each child’s needs.The Dual Role: Mother and Medical Professional (Starts at 48:15)How personal experience reshaped her understanding of care.Advice for professionals who want to do more—but don’t know how.Why being present often matters more than having all the answers.Memorable Moments from the Episode:Megan recounts hearing that her son might never regain function (04:02).The turning point where C.H.A.T.S. took form in response to Cole’s needs (11:50).Integrating Movement Method into medical care (24:35).A reflection on letting go of "being the expert" to simply be present (53:20).Connect with Dr. Megan McGavern: 🌐 C.H.A.T.S. Website: https://chats757.com  📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coleshorsetherapySee All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: 🌐 Rupert Isaacson: https://rupertisaacson.comFollow Us: Long Ride Home 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh 🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems 🌐 Website: https://ntls.co 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld 🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystemsTune in to this grounded and powerful conversation with Dr. Megan McGavern to learn how clinical science, determined parenting, and adaptive equine approaches are reshaping what's possible for children and families facing big challenges.

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.comInstagram: 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 HomeWebsite: https://longridehome.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrhInstagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrhYouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome🐎 New Trails Learning SystemsWebsite: https://ntls.coFacebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworldInstagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworldYouTube: 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.