In this episode of The Lonely Chapter, I’m joined by Chris Barton to explore what happens when societies lose meaningful rites of passage - and why growing up without initiation leaves so many people feeling unprepared for adulthood.

Chris is part of a movement working to restore structured rites of passage for young people, rooted in nature, responsibility, and challenge. He explains how the disappearance of these initiatory experiences in modern Western culture has contributed to confusion around identity, responsibility, and belonging.

We talk about what rites of passage actually are, why they once mattered, and what fills the gap when they disappear. Chris also shares how carefully designed experiences in nature can help young people develop resilience, reflection, and self-trust through responsibility rather than motivation.

This is a thoughtful conversation about growing up, identity, and the quiet cost of removing initiation from modern life.

Expect to learn:

→ What rites of passage are - and what they are not

→ Why the absence of initiation often leads to risky substitutes

→ How nature and challenge build resilience and self-trust

→ The role of mentors and responsibility in development

To learn more about Chris’s work:

→ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildnaturerop

→ Email: [email protected]