The CCERP Podcast: For the Love of Nature

Dr. Shelley Alexander, canid specialist and expert in biogeography, professor at the University of Calgary, joins us to talk about coyotes and the human-coyote interaction.

In this excerpt, Dr. Alexander discusses:
-how she became interested in Coyotes
-Coyote and animal play
-animal intelligence and consciousness
-how animals have been regarded by Western philosophy through history
-Native American beliefs about Coyotes
-the nature of Coyotes
-Coyote diet
-Citizen science

Enjoy!

About Shelley: Shelley M. Alexander is a Full Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Calgary. She has 25 years of experience studying wild canids and is an expert in geospatial analysis and spatial ecology. She founded of the Canid Conservation Science Lab (www.ucalgary.ca/canid-lab), which employs mixed-methods and promotes Compassionate Conservation. She has led international research collaborations on carnivore conservation in Belize, Canada, Mexico, the USA and Zimbabwe.

Contact, and more about (achievements, background, publications, etc.), Dr. Alexander:
1. https://geog.ucalgary.ca/manageprofile/profiles/shelley-alexander
2. https://www.ucalgary.ca/canid-lab/

Project Coyote: http://www.projectcoyote.org


Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Dr. Shelley Alexander, canid specialist and expert in biogeography, professor at the University of Calgary, joins us to talk about coyotes and the human-coyote interaction.

After talking about some of her background and interests, we talk about
-how Shelley became interested in Coyotes
-Coyote and animal play
-animal intelligence and consciousness
-how animals have been regarded by Western philosophy through history
-Native American beliefs about Coyotes
-the nature of Coyotes
-Coyote diet
-Coyote ecology and evolution
-Coyotes, Cats, and Dogs
-truths and fictions people believe about Coyotes
-what people can do to protect themselves and their pets, if the rare need arises
-how we can and should live with Coyotes.

And more. Enjoy!

About Shelley: Shelley M. Alexander is a Full Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Calgary. She has 25 years of experience studying wild canids and is an expert in geospatial analysis and spatial ecology. She founded of the Canid Conservation Science Lab (www.ucalgary.ca/canid-lab), which employs mixed-methods and promotes Compassionate Conservation. She has led international research collaborations on carnivore conservation in Belize, Canada, Mexico, the USA and Zimbabwe.

Contact, and more about (achievements, background, publications, etc.), Dr. Alexander:
1. https://geog.ucalgary.ca/manageprofile/profiles/shelley-alexander
2. https://www.ucalgary.ca/canid-lab/

Project Coyote: http://www.projectcoyote.org


Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/


Show notes:
1. Horses
a. Soul of a Horse by Joe Camp: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Horse-Life-Lessons-Herd/dp/0307406865/
b. Nature in Horsemanship, Considering the Horse, Horses Never Lie, A Good Horse Is Never a Bad Color by Mark Rashid: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mark+rashid+books&crid=1IATMYNM6N9L7&sprefix=mark+rashid+%2Caps%2C186&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_12
c. The Man Who Listens to Horses by Monty Roberts: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Listens-Horses-Real-Life/dp/0345510453/
d. Buck, a documentary about Buck Branahan: https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Brannaman/dp/B005S6VD70/

2. Horses For Heroes: https://www.horsesforheroes.org

3. Stacy Westfall shows how its done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKK7AXLOUNo

4. Honza Blaha shows how its done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ZmDkhqhW8

5. The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy ― and Why They Matter by Marc Bekoff: https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Lives-Animals-Scientist-Explores/dp/1577316290/

6. The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin
a. Free PDF on Internet: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1227/1227-h/1227-h.htm
b. Purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Expression-Emotions-Man-Animals/dp/1470188880

7. Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal: https://www.amazon.com/Are-Smart-Enough-Know-Animals/dp/0393353664/

8. Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Words-What-Animals-Think/dp/1250094593/

9. The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild by Lawrence Anthony and Graham Spence: https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Whisperer-Life-Herd-African-ebook/dp/B0050Q5WYS/

10 Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds by Bernd Heinrich: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Raven-Investigations-Adventures-Wolf-Birds-ebook/dp/B000V507ES/

11. Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History by Dan Flores: https://www.amazon.com/Coyote-America-Natural-Supernatural-History/dp/B01LXW9MP0/

12. First Nation stories about Coyotes (I found these websites, but have not read the stories; I am just offering this as a start on you doing your own research)
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote_(mythology)
b. http://www.native-languages.org/legends-coyote.htm
c. https://www.ubcpress.ca/asset/9270/1/9780774814010.pdf



Other podcasts featuring Dr. Alexander (which episodes you can find on other podcast apps than those linked to here):
1. https://www.biosphereinstitute.org/podcasts-and-other-media

2. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/intermission-coyote/id1132743791?i=1000377364111

3. https://arts.ucalgary.ca/news/artscast-episode-2-human-and-coyote-conflict-urban-vs-rural

4. https://open.spotify.com/episode/0k6Sm2E2xU9JmhGsnanx3m
also here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpdSSJ8cuOs

5. https://thefurbearers.com/blog/episode-128-special-report

6. https://thefurbearers.com/blog/episode-103-the-bear-truth



Picture and bio courtesy Shelley Alexander.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Bob Freitag, expert on hazard mitigation and floodplain management, joins us to take a big-picture, ecological look at water ways and water systems.

We discuss:
-creeks, rivers, beaches, oceans
-how climate affects streams and creeks and rivers
-energy flow through water ways and water systems
-human and nature interactions and consequences
-good ideas and bad ideas in our culture
-attempts to control the Mississippi River
-ways we can change culture to adapt to nature instead of trying to fight it, destroy it, or control it
-listening to people and nature instead of ordering them around
-enjoying life and working with nature.

About: Bob Freitag is Senior Instructor Part-time and Director of the Institute for Hazards Mitigation Planning and Research (IHMP). The University of Washington Institute for Hazards Mitigation is an interdisciplinary academic Institute housed in the Department of Urban Design and Planning within the College of Built Environments at the University of Washington. http://mitigate.be.uw.edu) He is the past Executive Director of the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (http://www.crew.org/) and past member of the Association of State Floodplain Managers’ Board of Directors. (http://www.floods.org/) Bob is also a Certified Floodplain Manager. He has published many articles and written courses for FEMA and others concerning hazards mitigation and floodplain management, and was lead author of “Floodplain Management: a new approach for a new era” (Island Press 2009).

Before coming to the University, he had a 25-year career with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) serving as Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO); Public Assistance, Mitigation and Education Officer. Prior to FEMA he was employed by several private architectural and engineering consultant firms in Hawaii and Australia, and taught science as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. Freitag received his Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Washington.

Contact Bob here: http://urbdp.be.washington.edu/people/robert-freitag/

His book Floodplain Management: A New Approach for a New Era
by Bob Freitag, Susan Bolton, Frank Westerlund, Julie Clark: https://www.amazon.com/Floodplain-Management-New-Approach-Era/dp/1597266353

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/


Show notes:
1. Littoral drift
a. http://sandshed.org/sandshed-science/what-is-littoral-drift/
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longshore_drift
c. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/littoral-drift

2. Of the Mississippi River, "Mark Twain noted in 1883 that 'ten thousand river commissions, with the mines of the world at their back, cannot tame that lawless stream, cannot curb it or confine it, cannot say to it, go here, or go there, and make it obey.' From: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/mississippi-national-waterway-trump-infrastructure-river-enviorment-a8266366.html

3. Before people were watching The Wolves of Yellowstone, hydrologist Bob Beschta was studying the Lamar River and biologists Bill Ripple and Eric Larsen were studying the disappearance of Aspen trees in Yellowstone.
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF4F7yvMlAM
b. https://www.pbs.org/strangedays/episodes/predators/experts/yellowstonewolves.html


See also:
1. Asking questions to dig deeper into people's needs, goals, and drives, and to find root causes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_whys

2. Montessori education
a. https://www.spreaker.com/user/11043023/episode-21-montessori-expert-charlotte-c_1
b. https://www.spreaker.com/user/11043023/episode-27-montessori-expert-charlotte-c

Picture and bio courtesy Bob Freitag.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Fitness Trainer Tim Maddox joins us to discuss his holistic approach to self-defense and living, and the interplay between prepping for self-defense and moving in nature. The best preparation is getting our natural human ecology right.

In this episode, we discuss:
-breathing, mindfulness, self-control, environmental awareness, and staying active-minded and mentally present;
-how injuries show that our muscles and systems are connected and show where they fit in the chain;
-how injuries can bring out errors in our thinking, some that go back a few steps from the injury, some that go back to philosophic basics;
-how practices we learn by moving in nature help us in self-defense situations;
-how cold exposure and other stresses prepare us to deal with emergencies;
-the practice and philosophy of being integrated rational animals -- we are not made of separated mind and body or isolated parts.


About Tim: Tim is a MovNat Level II certified trainer and continuing learning workshop enthusiast. He enjoys ultra running and mindful movement practices.

He is here: https://wholeisticselfdefense.com/instructors/
Contact: https://wholeisticselfdefense.com/contact/

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/


Show notes:
1. WHOLEistic SELF-Defense: https://wholeisticselfdefense.com

2. Becoming a Supple Leopard: The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury, and Optimizing Athletic Performance by Kelly Starrett and Glen Cordoza: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Supple-Leopard-2nd-Performance/dp/1628600837/

3. Kelly Starrett's The Ready State: https://thereadystate.com

4. Justin Everman's Academy of Combative Warrior Arts: https://www.combativewarriorarts.com

5. Wim Hof
a. https://www.wimhofmethod.com
b. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxHTM1FYxeC4F7xDsBVltGg

6. American marathoner racing African Bushman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1Ej2Qxv0W8

7. Me and Wasps:
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSo_ysQEHDA
b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNUZeZ-sieA
c. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-jUH8mW2ng

8. MovNat
a. The Website of MovNat: https://www.movnat.com
b. MovNat's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat
c. MovNat training at Wildfitness in Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4nmu6mZd4s
d. Some intermediate-level MovNat workouts outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91s9A4XgvuU
e. Erwin LeCorre's article The History of Physics Fitness: https://www.movnat.com/history-of-fitness/
f. The Practice of Natural Movement book by Erwan LeCorre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom/dp/162860283X/
g. MovNat Movement Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0XEBKYNfU&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCRN_VeYcEimsilu7IXiLmP_
h. MovNat videos showing 100+ movements done with good technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVdaMhrNhzQ&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCSKU66Fbp6stQFPLaNQ8rib
i. Find a MovNat Trainer near you: https://www.movnat.com/find-a-trainer/


Related info:
1. The Barefoot Running Book: The Art and Science of Barefoot and Minimalist Shoe Running by Jason Robillard: https://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Running-Book-Science-Minimalist/dp/0452298458

2. Ready to Run: Unlocking Your Potential to Run Naturally by Kelly Starrett and TJ Murphy: https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Run-Unlocking-Potential-Naturally/dp/1628600098/



Bio and picture courtesy Tim Maddox.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Rebecca Lewis joins us to discuss her journey through life from non-athlete to conventional athlete to coach and practitioner of natural human movement.

We discuss:
-her background
-how she went from being a practitioner of yoga to being a teacher of yoga to being disillusioned with yoga
-her experience and expertise with running
-how MovNat and natural movement changed everything
-principles of good movement
-principles of good training
-how some aspects of our modern lifestyle affect us, and what those aspects are
-what we can do to move well and enjoy it

About Rebecca: "Rebecca is an efficient movement and running coach, living and working in the incredible natural setting of the UNESCO World Heritage, Tramuntana Mountains, Mallorca, Spain.

"I love the freedom of running and moving with confidence and ease in nature. And my passion is to introduce others to feel confident and competent within a natural environment. Seeing it as a natural, outdoor playground, to interact with and enjoy, rather than be fearful of.

"By optimising our human movement potential, we can resolve pain, prevent injury and improve performance, in whatever we do. If we can move well, we feel better and enjoy our body’s more.

"One of my main focal points is to help others understand the role of the feet as integral to whole body movement. Through rewilding the sensory organ, that is our feet, we have more opportunity to sense and read the environment we are moving through. Enabling us to move more efficiently and effectively with confidence.

"We sense the world through our senses, so why dumb down your first point of contact with the earth by wearing constrictive, rigid and cushioned footwear. We miss so much by this disconnection.

"I believe, if we take time to understand our biological needs, move in alignment with our physiology, we are on the road to being a happier, healthier and more capable human being."

Contact Rebecca: https://www.barefootmallorca.com/contact

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes:
1. Rebecca's site Barefoot Mallorca: https://www.barefootmallorca.com

2. Lee Saxby
a. https://www.leesaxby.com
b. http://naturalrunningcenter.com/columnists/lee-saxby/
c. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBlKRkbzW3n3wunbtO8xDTA

3. Mark Cucuzzella
a. https://www.drmarksdesk.com
b. https://www.amazon.com/Run-Your-Life-Without-Well-Being/dp/110194630X

4. Christopher McDougall
a. Born to Run: https://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidden-Superathletes-Greatest/dp/0307279189/
b. Natural Born Heroes: https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Born-Heroes-Mastering-Endurance/dp/0307742229/

5. Helen Hall
a. http://www.helen-hall.co.uk
b. https://www.amazon.com/Even-Your-Shoes-efficient-enjoyable-ebook/dp/B07N7SM94C/

6. Patrick McKeown
a. https://buteykoclinic.com
b. https://www.amazon.com/Patrick-McKeown/e/B006X1OD3U

7. Katy Bowman
a. https://www.nutritiousmovement.com
b. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=katy+bowman&i=digital-text&ref=nb_sb_noss

8. "Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution” --Theodosius Dobzhansky,
a. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/2/text_pop/l_102_01.html
b. https://abt.ucpress.edu/content/35/3/125
c. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_in_Biology_Makes_Sense_Except_in_the_Light_of_Evolution

9. UNESCO World Heritage Site: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site

10. Doggerland
a. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/maps/doggerland/
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doggerland

11. MovNat
a. The Website of MovNat: https://www.movnat.com
b. MovNat's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat
c. MovNat training at Wildfitness in Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4nmu6mZd4s
d. Some intermediate-level MovNat workouts outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91s9A4XgvuU
e. Erwin LeCorre's article The History of Physics Fitness: https://www.movnat.com/history-of-fitness/
f. The Practice of Natural Movement book by Erwan LeCorre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom/dp/162860283X/
g. MovNat Movement Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0XEBKYNfU&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCRN_VeYcEimsilu7IXiLmP_
h. MovNat videos showing 100+ movements done with good technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVdaMhrNhzQ&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCSKU66Fbp6stQFPLaNQ8rib
i. Find a MovNat Trainer near you: https://www.movnat.com/find-a-trainer/


Other resources
1. Esther Gokhale Google talk on posture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yYJ4hEYudE

2. The Nature Fix by Florence Williams: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Fix-Happier-Healthier-Creative/dp/0393355578/

3. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Child-Woods-Children-Nature-Deficit/dp/156512605X/

4. Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman: https://www.amazon.com/Move-Your-DNA-Movement-Expanded/dp/1943370109/

5. Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear by Katy Bowman: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Body-Barefoot-Transitioning-Footwear/dp/0989653986/

6. The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease Reprint Edition
by Daniel Lieberman: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Human-Body-Evolution-Disease/dp/030774180X/


Picture and bio courtesy Rebecca Lewis.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Jack Mullaly joins us to discuss how to transition wisely to become an efficient mover in all environments, natural and human-designed. Make the most of your human potential.

Jack discusses:
-principles of good training
-the role of gyms in transitioning from conventional exercise to outdoor fitness: complex movement in a complex environment
-how training in nature differs from training in a gym
-why we need nature
-how many aspects of our modern culture "molds" us for the worse
-the importance of "crashing"
-how to fail forward, and not become broken: know how to fail, how to fall, how to catch yourself
-the importance, in natural environments, of knowing how to fail in order to be successful
-the importance of learning from others: different ages at different stages, less advanced as well as more advanced

About Jack: Jack Mullaly is a man who wears many hats, each with a different print but the same underlying design. Jack is a former internationally competitive athlete is the niche sport of biketrials. He is a qualified environmental engineer and most recently the owner of Ideanthro Movement, a gym delivering fitness rooted in real world, practical human movement. While these may seem like very different pursuits, it is Jack's contention that most aspects of life are far more connected and similar than they might appear at first glance. This is known at thematic interconnectedness. Jack seeks to find these thematic interconnections to learn from what works in one aspect of life and apply them in others.

You can reach him via his website: https://www.ideanthro.com/connect

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes.
1. Jack's website Ideanthro: https://www.ideanthro.com

2. Stage 6 Health & Fitness (Matt and Amelia Rutley): https://www.stage6fitness.com.au

3. The Big Biology Podcast episode "Genes Don't Do Crap:" https://www.bigbiology.org/rss-feed/2018/7/20/ep-7-genes-dont-do-crap

4. "It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs, but not of being unable to defend himself with speech and reason, when the use of rational speech is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs." -- Aristotle, The Rhetoric: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/rhetoric.1.i.html

5. The OODA Loop: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OODA_loop

6. John Boyd: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Boyd_(military_strategist)

7. Ecology
a. https://www.esa.org/about/what-does-ecology-have-to-do-with-me/
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology
c. http://environment-ecology.com/what-is-ecology/205-what-is-ecology.html

8. MovNat
a. The Website of MovNat: https://www.movnat.com
b. MovNat's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat
c. MovNat training at Wildfitness in Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4nmu6mZd4s
d. Some intermediate-level MovNat workouts outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91s9A4XgvuU
e. Erwin LeCorre's article The History of Physics Fitness: https://www.movnat.com/history-of-fitness/
f. The Practice of Natural Movement book by Erwan LeCorre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom/dp/162860283X/
g. MovNat Movement Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0XEBKYNfU&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCRN_VeYcEimsilu7IXiLmP_
h. MovNat videos showing 100+ movements done with good technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVdaMhrNhzQ&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCSKU66Fbp6stQFPLaNQ8rib
i. Find a MovNat Trainer near you: https://www.movnat.com/find-a-trainer/


Other resources
1. Esther Gokhale Google talk on posture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yYJ4hEYudE

2. The Nature Fix by Florence Williams: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Fix-Happier-Healthier-Creative/dp/0393355578/

3. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Child-Woods-Children-Nature-Deficit/dp/156512605X/

4. Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman: https://www.amazon.com/Move-Your-DNA-Movement-Expanded/dp/1943370109/

5. Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear by Katy Bowman: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Body-Barefoot-Transitioning-Footwear/dp/0989653986/

6. The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease Reprint Edition
by Daniel Lieberman: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Human-Body-Evolution-Disease/dp/030774180X/


Picture and bio courtesy of Jack Mullaly.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Jack Mullaly joins us to discuss how to transition wisely to become an efficient mover in all environments, natural and human-designed. Make the most of your human potential.

Jack discusses:
-principles of good training
-the role of gyms in transitioning from conventional exercise to outdoor fitness: complex movement in a complex environment
-how training in nature differs from training in a gym
-why we need nature
-how many aspects of our modern culture "molds" us for the worse
-the importance of "crashing"
-how to fail forward, and not become broken: know how to fail, how to fall, how to catch yourself
-the importance, in natural environments, of knowing how to fail in order to be successful
-the importance of learning from others: different ages at different stages, less advanced as well as more advanced

About Jack: Jack Mullaly is a man who wears many hats, each with a different print but the same underlying design. Jack is a former internationally competitive athlete is the niche sport of biketrials. He is a qualified environmental engineer and most recently the owner of Ideanthro Movement, a gym delivering fitness rooted in real world, practical human movement. While these may seem like very different pursuits, it is Jack's contention that most aspects of life are far more connected and similar than they might appear at first glance. This is known at thematic interconnectedness. Jack seeks to find these thematic interconnections to learn from what works in one aspect of life and apply them in others.

You can reach him via his website: https://www.ideanthro.com/connect

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes.
1. Jack's website Ideanthro: https://www.ideanthro.com

2. Stage 6 Health & Fitness (Matt and Amelia Rutley): https://www.stage6fitness.com.au

3. The Big Biology Podcast episode "Genes Don't Do Crap:" https://www.bigbiology.org/rss-feed/2018/7/20/ep-7-genes-dont-do-crap

4. "It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs, but not of being unable to defend himself with speech and reason, when the use of rational speech is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs." -- Aristotle, The Rhetoric: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/rhetoric.1.i.html

5. The OODA Loop: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OODA_loop

6. John Boyd: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Boyd_(military_strategist)

7. Ecology
a. https://www.esa.org/about/what-does-ecology-have-to-do-with-me/
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology
c. http://environment-ecology.com/what-is-ecology/205-what-is-ecology.html

8. MovNat
a. The Website of MovNat: https://www.movnat.com
b. MovNat's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat
c. MovNat training at Wildfitness in Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4nmu6mZd4s
d. Some intermediate-level MovNat workouts outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91s9A4XgvuU
e. Erwin LeCorre's article The History of Physics Fitness: https://www.movnat.com/history-of-fitness/
f. The Practice of Natural Movement book by Erwan LeCorre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom/dp/162860283X/
g. MovNat Movement Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0XEBKYNfU&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCRN_VeYcEimsilu7IXiLmP_
h. MovNat videos showing 100+ movements done with good technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVdaMhrNhzQ&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCSKU66Fbp6stQFPLaNQ8rib
i. Find a MovNat Trainer near you: https://www.movnat.com/find-a-trainer/



Other resources
1. Esther Gokhale Google talk on posture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yYJ4hEYudE

2. The Nature Fix by Florence Williams: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Fix-Happier-Healthier-Creative/dp/0393355578/

3. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Child-Woods-Children-Nature-Deficit/dp/156512605X/

4. Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman: https://www.amazon.com/Move-Your-DNA-Movement-Expanded/dp/1943370109/

5. Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear by Katy Bowman: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Body-Barefoot-Transitioning-Footwear/dp/0989653986/

6. The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease Reprint Edition
by Daniel Lieberman: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Human-Body-Evolution-Disease/dp/030774180X/


Picture and bio courtesy of Jack Mullaly.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Jim Robertson of the Cypress Creek Greenway Project joins us to discuss smart development of Cypress Creek and the history and achievements of the Greenway Project.

We discuss his background, how he became interested in and involved in the local green space, what he has done, how the CC Greenway Project and the CC Flood Control Coalition started, what they have accomplished, how they function, the benefits of nature to us all, and what you can do to help and get involved.

About Jim: "Jim received a BA in Geology, then went to Columbia University to earn a PhD in Marine Geology. After a career working for Chevron in the oil industry, he initiated efforts on the Cypress Creek Greenway Project (CCGP) in January 2004, of which he became Chairman in July 2004.

"He is also Director of the Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition, Director of the Bayou Preservation Association Director, the Cypress Creek Watershed Representative to the Bayou Preservation Association, a member of the Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) of the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), and serves on the steering committee for the Cypress Creek Watershed Partnership (H-GAC managed program).

"He has won many awards, including the "Grassroots Award" from The Park People (2008), the "Mayor's Volunteer Houston Award" - Environmental and Wildlife Preservation (2012), the "Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award" - Bayou Preservation Association (2014), the "Diamond Award" - Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce (2015), the “Environmental Impact Award” – North Houston Association (2017).

"He is a long-time resident of the Cypress area, where he lives with his wife Ginny. They have two daughters and four grandchildren."

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/


Show notes.
1. Cypress Creek Greenway Project
a. http://ccfcc.org/2007-cypress-creek-greenway-project/
b. https://www.hcp4.net/parks/ccgw/
c. https://communityimpact.com/houston/spring-klein/city-county/2018/11/12/greenway-projects-on-cypress-and-spring-creeks-continue-to-advance/

2. Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition: http://ccfcc.org

3. MUD
a. https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=227010
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District

4. HOA
a. https://www.lawyers.com/legal-info/real-estate/homeowners-association-law/homeowners-associations.html
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeowner_association

5. European "right to roam" or "freedom to roam:" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_to_roam

6. The affect of green spaces on property values; just a starter for you
a. https://www.houselogic.com/remodel/windows-doors-and-floors/9-surprising-things-add-value-your-house/
b. https://depts.washington.edu/hhwb/Thm_Economics.html
c. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265969625_Effect_of_public_green_space_on_residential_property_values_in_Belfast_metropolitan_area
d. https://sites.duke.edu/urbaneconomics/?p=1441
e. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/10/14/living-near-green-spaces-boosts-property-prices-2500-average/

7. The importance of nature to our mental and physical health and well-being
a. https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health
b. https://www.forbes.com/sites/billfrist/2017/06/15/the-science-behind-how-nature-affects-your-health/#5b6e27ee15ae
c. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6104990/
d. The Nature Fix by Florence Williams: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Fix-Happier-Healthier-Creative/dp/0393355578/
e. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Child-Woods-Children-Nature-Deficit/dp/156512605X/

8. Epigenetics (have not read these books except for the first one; just mentioning them for your consideration; just a starter for you).
a. The Epigenetics Revolution: How Modern Biology Is Rewriting Our Understanding of Genetics, Disease, and Inheritance by Nessa Carey: https://www.amazon.com/Epigenetics-Revolution-Rewriting-Understanding-Inheritance-ebook/dp/B0074MTTEK/
b. Epigenetics: The Death of the Genetic Theory of Disease Transmission First Edition
by Joel D. Wallach D.V.M, Ma Lan M.D., Gerhard N. Schrauzer Ph.D.: https://www.amazon.com/Epigenetics-Genetic-Theory-Disease-Transmission/dp/1590791495/
c. Epigenetics: How Environment Shapes Our Genes by Richard C. Francis: https://www.amazon.com/Epigenetics-How-Environment-Shapes-Genes/dp/039334228X/
d. You Are What Your Grandparents Ate: What You Need to Know About Nutrition, Experience, Epigenetics and the Origins of Chronic Disease by Judith Finlayson and Kent Thornburg: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-What-Your-Grandparents/dp/0778806332/

Picture and bio courtesy Jim Robertson.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

If we are to move in nature (or anywhere, for that matter) for any reason, we need to know how to be true to our nature: our biomechanics, our function, our human ecology, etc.

To help and offer advice, Damien Norris, fitness trainer, fitness expert, joins us to discuss his journey from broken gymnast -- injuries, dysfunctions, mobility issues -- to student and expert in natural human movement in all its richness and variety. Damien shares what he learned in his movement career so that we can do things better, with more insight and wisdom. He lets us know why we should do MovNat/natural movement, how to do it, what to do, and what we can do mentally and physically to be more safe.

We discuss:
-his background
-his time in gymnastics
-how we was affected negatively by gymnastics
-his time between gymnastics and returning to fitness
-his journey to Parkour and the practice of George Hebert
-what MovNat is
-his accomplishments in MovNat
-how MovNat helps you
-what you can do to slowly, smartly, and wisely become a movement expert in the outdoors

Note: as Damien says in the interview, we should be able to take action in most any circumstance -- but not when we are injured! Neither Damien nor I are advocating exercise or movement training inappropriate to an injury. Damien was segueing off my discussion to make a point, not saying I should have done anything different with my knee injury! Be wise.

In the story I was telling in this episode, I was doing a balance test on some 2x4s: walk forward along the entire length of two 2x4s, walk backward, walk forward, walk backward, turn 4 times (2 left and 2 right), do 2 tripods extensions, then walk off the boards -- all without coming off even once and all with good technique. I did not do my turns on the balls of my feet, but did them with more of my foot (as I had been practicing), so I did not pass the test. I had to submit a video when I had a chance to a week later. It was during this that I was so tired, because I was so out of shape from my knee injury, that I felt like I could not go on and like I had to step off the boards, like i had nothing mentally or physically in the tank. But, because of years of wise practice, I powered through -- not like some "triumph of the will" Nazi thing, but rather in a mindful, alert, experienced way. I had done such things before, and I was constantly monitoring (the whole Level I weekend) my physical abilities to make sure I was staying within my zone/envelope of competence, and not going beyond that into the zone of injury and self-destruction.

About Damien: "Damien is a natural movement specialist who has lead an unconventional life. At 16 he left school to pursue a career in gymnastics, but in his early 20s that dream was cut short through injury.

"With no secondary qualifications, Damien coached gymnastics for a while, travelled and later returned to school as a mature-age student. That choice dramatically changed the course of his life.

"Since completing a range of degrees he has worked as a human rights campaigner and aid worker in East Timor, a philosopher, university lecturer, civil and criminal lawyer and public guardian.

"In 2016 Damien unexpectedly, and reluctantly, found himself involved with gymnastics again. However this time around, with a whole new perspective on life, wellness and movement, he founded his own movement company called The Wilding Project.

"Right now he is travelling the world with his wife and 3 yo son spending time in diverse natural environments and exploring different movement modalities. Right now, he is in Costa Rica learning about waves and learning to surfing in a small beach community."

Contact Damien at The Wilding Project: https://olympicfunfitness.com.au
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildingproject/
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCshFoUee_BCeqXyZDRB5EAg

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/


Show notes:
1. Georges Hebert
a. bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Hébert
b. a link to one of his books: https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Method-Practical-Physical-Education/dp/1512334367/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?keywords=george+herbert+natural+movement&qid=1578783702&sr=8-1-fkmr1

2. Erwan LeCorre

3. MovNat Level 1 movement techniques: https://www.movnat.com/level-1-certification/

4. MovNat Level 2 movement techniques: https://www.movnat.com/level-two-certification/

5. MovNat Level 3 movement techniques: https://www.movnat.com/get-certified-level-3/

6. Videos of MovNat movements
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVdaMhrNhzQ&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCSKU66Fbp6stQFPLaNQ8rib
b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0XEBKYNfU&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCRN_VeYcEimsilu7IXiLmP_

7. Erwan LeCorre
a. https://www.movnat.com/erwan-le-corre/
b. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwan_Le_Corre
c. The Workout The World Forgot, the video Dani mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKGF-ErsJiI
d. The Practice of Natural Movement: Reclaim Power, Health, and Freedom by Erwan Le Corre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom-ebook/dp/B07M75GF7W/

8. MovNat
a. The Website of MovNat: https://www.movnat.com
b. MovNat's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat
c. MovNat training at Wildfitness in Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4nmu6mZd4s
d. Some intermediate-level MovNat workouts outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91s9A4XgvuU
e. Erwin LeCorre's article The History of Physics Fitness: https://www.movnat.com/history-of-fitness/
f. The Practice of Natural Movement book by Erwan LeCorre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom/dp/162860283X/
g. MovNat Movement Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0XEBKYNfU&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCRN_VeYcEimsilu7IXiLmP_
h. MovNat videos showing 100+ movements done with good technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVdaMhrNhzQ&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCSKU66Fbp6stQFPLaNQ8rib
i. Find a MovNat Trainer near you: https://www.movnat.com/find-a-trainer/

Picture and Bio courtesy Damien Norris.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].

Jack Mullaly joins us to discuss how walking, running, and moving in nature differs from walking, running, and moving in a human-made and human-designed environment (e.g., cities, suburbs, and homes).

We discuss his background, his work, what MovNat is, how moving in natural environments differs from moving in gyms and human-made environments, how to transition wisely into moving in nature, how fitness programs should be designed and how clients should be trained, and how to get into barefoot running and stay with it.

About Jack: Jack Mullaly is a man who wears many hats, each with a different print but the same underlying design. Jack is a former internationally competitive athlete is the niche sport of biketrials. He is a qualified environmental engineer and most recently the owner of Ideanthro Movement, a gym delivering fitness rooted in real world, practical human movement. While these may seem like very different pursuits, it is Jack's contention that most aspects of life are far more connected and similar than they might appear at first glance. This is known at thematic interconnectedness. Jack seeks to find these thematic interconnections to learn from what works in one aspect of life and apply them in others.

You can reach him via his website: https://www.ideanthro.com/connect

Contact Michael:
1. [email protected]
2. http://www.goldams.com
3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gold-2883921/
4. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Join us at CCERP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152144714995033/

Show notes.
1. Jack's website Ideanthro: https://www.ideanthro.com

2. Fighting Monkey: https://fightingmonkey.net

3. UFC Fighter Carlos Condit talking fighting and MovNat
a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3I8wIvC65Q
b. (cussing inside; Joe Rogan talking about Condit): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6tHQytjg7A
c. (cussing inside): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMyZjQlK7wM

4. Harvard Barefoot Lab
a. website: http://barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu
b. videos: http://barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/4BiomechanicsofFootStrike.html

5. Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear by Katy Bowman: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Body-Barefoot-Transitioning-Footwear/dp/0989653986

6. The Barefoot Book by L. Daniel Howell: https://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Book-Great-Reasons-Shoes/dp/0897935543/

7. Sweetgum
a. Sweetgum ball: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37435483
b. Sweetgum tree in winter, with balls on it, and several leaves: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37441022

8. Walkabout
a. "In Australian Aboriginal society, Walkabout is a rite of passage during which males undergo a journey during adolescence, typically ages 10 to 16, and live in the wilderness for a period as long as six months to make the spiritual and traditional transition into manhood" from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkabout
b. https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/walkabout-not-crazy/
c. https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/walkabout-coming-age-0012191

9. MovNat
a. The Website of MovNat: https://www.movnat.com
b. MovNat's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat
c. MovNat training at Wildfitness in Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4nmu6mZd4s
d. Some intermediate-level MovNat workouts outdoors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91s9A4XgvuU
e. Erwin LeCorre's article The History of Physics Fitness: https://www.movnat.com/history-of-fitness/
f. The Practice of Natural Movement book by Erwan LeCorre: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Natural-Movement-Reclaim-Freedom/dp/162860283X/
g. MovNat Movement Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0XEBKYNfU&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCRN_VeYcEimsilu7IXiLmP_
h. MovNat videos showing 100+ movements done with good technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVdaMhrNhzQ&list=PLC5sbdn5ESCSKU66Fbp6stQFPLaNQ8rib
i. Find a MovNat Trainer near you: https://www.movnat.com/find-a-trainer/



Other resources
1. Esther Gokhale Google talk on posture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yYJ4hEYudE

2. The Nature Fix by Florence Williams: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Fix-Happier-Healthier-Creative/dp/0393355578/

3. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Child-Woods-Children-Nature-Deficit/dp/156512605X/

4. Federico Bitti's TED talk "Dystonia. Rewiring the brain through movement and dance” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwkHK3rfKO0

5. Anders Hansen TED talk "Why the Brain is Built for Movement:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9p3Z7L0f0U



Picture and bio courtesy of Jack Mullaly.

Contact Michael at [email protected] or [email protected].