The Wild Lab
Podcast Description
The Wild Lab, explores how wildness still lives in our bodies, our relationships, and the natural world. Through story, conversation, and practice, we investigate how to reawaken what the modern world made us forget. We talk with trackers, horsemen, monks, plant shamans, hunters, coaches, and wild-hearted thinkers. And the host Ned Weidner goes solo too—digging into what it means to live closer to instinct, to let the wilderness shape us, and to walk the long road back to ourselves.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of wildness, instinctual living, and nature connection. Episodes feature discussions on topics such as gratitude in hunting, the importance of interconnectivity in nature, and the nuances of capitalism. Specific episode examples include conversations with Paul Rezendes about humanity's relationship with nature and Evan Meyer on feral wisdom and creativity.
The Wild Lab, explores how wildness still lives in our bodies, our relationships, and the natural world. Through story, conversation, and practice, we investigate how to reawaken what the modern world made us forget. We talk with trackers, horsemen, monks, plant shamans, hunters, coaches, and wild-hearted thinkers. And the host Ned Weidner goes solo too—digging into what it means to live closer to instinct, to let the wilderness shape us, and to walk the long road back to ourselves.
In this episode, Tovar Cerulli and I engage in a profound conversation about hunting, its cultural roots, ethical considerations, and its role in shaping our relationship with death. We explore how hunting is more than a way to procure food — it’s a practice deeply intertwined with identity, spirituality, and ecological awareness.
To connect with Tovar: https://tovarcerulli.com/
If you want to hunt, fish, or learn wilderness skills from Ned: @stepintoyourwild
Key Topics:
- Tovar Cerulli’s personal journey from veganism to hunting as a means of reconnecting with nature
- Cultural history of hunting in North America, including its associations with nobility, class, and identity
- The ecological concept of coexistence, and how it involves accepting death as part of life
- The psychological and spiritual significance of hunting moments of connection and sacredness
- The critique of hunter education and the importance of social, emotional, and ritual infrastructure to initiate new hunters
- Evolving notions of coexistence, shifting from no harm to accepting death as a natural process
- The role of hunting as a pathway to accepting mortality and enhancing compassion and understanding in society
- The importance of making outdoor and hunting spaces more inclusive and accessible
Timestamps:
- (00:00) – Introduction: The cultural complexity of hunting and its significance
- (03:16) – The history and archetypes of the hunter: nobility, rednecks, and societal perceptions
- (08:52) – Ethical ambiguity and perceptions of hunters in American culture
- (13:00) – Moments of sacredness and connection during hunting experiences
- (16:10) – The meaning of coexistence: from no harm to accepting mortality
- (21:11) – How hunting shapes the relationship with death and mortality
- (27:25) – Integrating death into the psyche: emotional and spiritual impacts
- (34:30) – Initiation into hunting: education, ceremony, and cultural infrastructure
- (40:18) – Modern efforts to provide social and emotional support for new hunters
- (45:00) – Closing thoughts: inclusion, access, and the future of hunting culture
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