Humans are hard-wired to connect with other species, says Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform Our Lives -- and Save Theirs and Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder.

The loneliness that so many of us (& our boys) are feeling right due is certainly due to pandemic-related restrictions and lockdowns, but also due to our increasing disconnection from the natural world. "The farther we get from the natural world, the lonelier we get," Louv says.

The solution: engage with nature. "There's this great conversation going on around us all the time -- of birds, of the coyote that walks through your backyard, the animals that we run into on our hikes, and also our pets," Louv says. "We can hear or sense or be in that conversation if we pay attention. When we do, we are less lonely."

Animal encounters also inspire "a sense of wonder and awe," Louv says, that directly benefits our physical and mental health. "Safety in nature is over-rated," he says. "One of the reasons we need nature is because we're often not the top dog in nature. Nature excites all our senses, including the sense of humility."

(Jen and her husband got a puppy soon after this episode was recorded. This is not a coincidence.)

In this episode, Jen, Janet & Richard discuss:

Animals' impact on human lives

Species loneliness

Why humans search for Bigfoot

Why people are tuning into animals during the pandemic

How nature and animals help humans heal

Nature, risk, safety and humility

How pets help develop boys' empathy and responsibility

The link between animals and human mental health

Human-animal relationships

The importance of animal encounters - & why you should tell your animal stories

Links we mentioned (or should have) in this episode:

richardlouv.com -- Richard's website

Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform Our Lives -- and Save Theirs -- Richard's latest book

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder -- Richard's classic book

Why We Hunger for a Connection to the Wild During Quarantine -- LA Times op-ed mentioned at 15:06

Children Nature Network -- the nonprofit mentioned by Richard at 17:38

Viral Video Shows Cougar Stalking Utah Hiker - video mentioned at 21:07

Fly-Fishing for Sharks: An Angler's Journey Across America -- another book my Richard, mentioned at 24:33

conwaybowman.com -- the guy who fly-fishes for sharks, as mentioned at 25:25

My Octopus Teacher -- Netflix documentary mentioned at 38:06

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