The Wild Lab

By Ned WeidnerSociety & Culture Science Nature

The Wild Lab episodes

October 30 Hunting and What It Means to Love Our Darkness
Ned Weidner explores the complex relationship between desire, the feminine, and our shadow selves, emphasizing the importance of embracing all parts of ourselves to live authentically and fully.
Want to learn more about hunting, fishing, and tracking: https://www.stepintoyourwild.com/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to desire and the metaphor of hunting
02:05 The feminine as a force of life and consumption
04:22 Meeting wildness and challenging societal comfort
07:02 Feeling the force of appetite without being controlled
08:48 Recognizing the full spectrum of human capacity
10:08 Owning and integrating aggression and violence
11:11 The societal shame around predatory instincts
12:31 The gift of tears and emotional honesty
13:11 Loving all parts of oneself and responsibility
14:25 Reflective question: acknowledging the hardest part of yourself

23 min
October 11 You Were Never Separate from Nature: Hal Herring on Hunting, Death, and the Fight for Public Lands
In this episode, Hal Herring and Ned Weidner explore the immersive nature of hunting and its connection to ecosystems, sharing insights on how it influences perception and understanding of nature.
Want to learn more about hunting, fishing, and tracking: https://www.stepintoyourwild.com/
Get in touch with Hal Herring: @hal.herring or https://www.halherring.com/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ecosystem Immersion in Hunting
00:27 How Hunting Creates Ecosystem Connection

1 hr 25 min
September 19 How Flowers Made the World: The Power of Sensory Connection with David Haskell
Join Ned Weidner in a profound conversation with David George Haskell about the deep connections between humans and the natural world, exploring how attention to plants and ecosystems can transform our understanding, ethics, and future. Discover insights on sensory awareness, embodied knowledge, and the future of flowering plants.
Want to learn more about hunting, fishing, and tracking: https://www.stepintoyourwild.com/
Get in touch with David George Haskell
How Flowers Made the World by David George Haskell - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XYZ1234
David George Haskell's website - https://dghaskell.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Ned Weidner’s opening questions
01:04 David Haskell’s childhood landscapes and early memories
02:58 Growing up in Paris and the subconscious influence of sounds
04:31 Finding a sense of home through attention and relationship with nature
09:17 Practicing attention in a small patch of forest and the book 'The Forest Unseen'
11:08 The importance of paying attention to senses and stories behind plants
14:11 The role of sensory experiences in understanding evolution and ecology
16:36 The blurring of boundaries between human and non-human through flowers
19:03 Flowers as symbols in rituals and self-expression
22:07 What we have forgotten about our relationship with plants
24:00 The interconnectedness of flowering plants and ecosystems
26:42 The importance of embodied knowledge in education and conservation
29:39 Reimagining education through outdoor and experiential learning
32:52 Transforming nervous systems through nature experiences
36:03 The future of flowering plants and human influence
48:00 The speculative future of plants and conservation hopes
54:55 Final thoughts: celebrating the creativity and importance of flowering plants

55 min
September 01Why Hunters Say Caring More, Not Less, Makes You Better at Conservation with Mark Hall
Ned Weidner talks with Mark Hall of Wild Origins Canada about how hunting, trapping, and forestry connect to conservation, ecology, and public storytelling. Mark shares how his lifelong relationship with the land shaped his work as a forester, writer, podcaster, and advocate for hunters and rural communities.We discuss why hunting can deepen environmental awareness, how public narratives distort hunters’ motivations, and why Project Grizzly Balance aims to bring marginalized rural voices back into the conservation conversation.
Follow Wild Origins Canada: https://www.instagram.com/wildorigins_canada/
Want to get in touch with nature: https://www.instagram.com/nedweidner/
Key topics
Mark shares his background as a third generation hunting and trapping family member from British Columbia, and how his relationship with nature shaped his identity from childhood.
We discuss the idea that hunting is not about indifference to animals, but about a deeper form of participation, attention, and responsibility on the landscape.
Mark explains how being a hunter changes what he notices in the field, using snowshoe hare tracking as an example of how hunting creates a more intimate read of habitat and animal behavior.
He reflects on how forestry became part of his path after a wildlife biologist told him that habitat decisions can have a larger impact on wildlife than individual animal management.
We discuss the shift from working within resource industries to becoming a public voice for hunters, trappers, anglers, and conservation-minded rural communities.
Mark describes the core problem as a misunderstanding of hunters’ motivations, with critics often assuming hunting is about ego, killing, or domination.
He explains why storytelling is the main tool he uses to reach the moderate middle, reframe assumptions, and present the true heart of hunters in a way that lands with broader audiences.
We discuss the limits of social media, the way algorithms reward outrage, and why Mark wants more face to face conversations and public speaking in the future.
Mark outlines how removing hunting or trapping can have unintended conservation consequences, including reduced research, less accountability, and weaker data collection.
We discuss Project Grizzly Balance, which aims to restore balance between grizzly bears and rural people in Western Canada by elevating ranchers, trappers, outfitters, and local residents whose experiences are often ignored.
Mark argues that conservation is not about iconic species alone, but about relationships within entire ecosystems, from soil mycorrhizae and dominant plant communities to predators and prey.
He closes by inviting listeners to connect with Wild Origins Canada and the broader Origins Foundation to continue the conversation.
Timestamps
00:00 - Recording setup and warm welcome
00:29 - Introducing Mark Hall and the Wild Origins Canada connection
02:13 - Mark’s third generation hunting and trapping upbringing
04:28 - Hunting as responsibility, not indifference
05:27 - How carrying a gun changes how Mark sees the land
06:57 - Snowshoe hare as a lesson in active ecological awareness
08:50 - Why hunters and non hunters often misunderstand each other
10:42 - Reading habitat, predators, and fire history through pursuit
14:21 - No hierarchy between outdoor users, only different relationships
15:20 - Humanizing hunters, trappers, and anglers for conservation
17:21 - Childhood signs of care and the path toward wildlife work
18:18 - Why forestry became the better route for influencing habitat
20:42 - The grizzly bear debate in British Columbia and the need for advocacy
22:10 - Why silencing hunters harms conservation itself
24:14 - The real false narrative about hunters’ motivations
27:56 - Story as the most powerful tool for changing minds
29:49 - Using podcasts, film, and public speaking to reframe debates
33:07 - Adapting language for different audiences
34:29 - Knowing every campfire is listening, even hostile ones
35:57 - Conversations with skeptics and anti hunting advocates
36:55 - Why Mark is shifting toward more in person outreach
38:06 - How algorithms reward outrage over nuance
40:29 - The conservation cost of not telling these stories well
41:27 - What happened to grizzly bears after hunting was banned in BC
42:54 - Why research and accountability decline when hunting disappears
44:17 - Why removing hunting can be detrimental to healthy systems
46:46 - California cougars and the transition into Project Grizzly
47:17 - The premise of Project Grizzly Balance
48:46 - Ranchers, grizzlies, and lived experience on the land
50:07 - Giving marginalized rural voices a place in public conservation debate
53:30 - Why the project is fundamentally storytelling
54:12 - Charismatic megafauna, sacred species, and the hunting debate
55:49 - Digging into animal sign and the intimate knowledge hunting creates
56:44 - Sustainable relationship versus sustainable use
58:39 - Accepting death as part of life and wildlife relationships
60:21 - How social media weaponizes fear, outrage, and emotion
63:11 - Ecology as relationships, not isolated individual species
65:05 - Why ecosystems are not just a sum of parts
66:02 - The role of dominant species and the bigger ecosystem picture
67:00 - Soil mycorrhizae as the true keystone engine of terrestrial life
68:17 - Seeing grizzlies through habitat, plant community, and soil relationships
69:16 - The spider web of ecosystem interactions
70:16 - A paradigm shift toward interconnected thinking
72:49 - Where to find Wild Origins Canada and continue the conversation
1 hr 13 min
July 30 The Inner Lives of Animals: Sentience, Coexistence, and the Case Against Killing
Join Ned Weidner and Marc Bekoff in a profound conversation as they explore animal emotions, morality, deep ecology, and the ethical responsibilities of humans in natural ecosystems. Discover insights from decades of ethology research and how we can rewild our hearts to foster coexistence with wildlife.
Check out Marc's Work: https://marcbekoff.com/
Work with Ned: https://www.instagram.com/nedweidner/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Marc Bekoff's Journey
03:06 The Influence of Childhood on Animal Connection
05:58 The Nonlinear Path to Animal Behavior Research
09:00 Academic Challenges and Ethical Considerations
11:59 The Role of Coincidence in Life's Journey
14:54 Deep Ethology and Slow Watching
17:59 Rewilding Our Hearts and Understanding Animal Emotions
20:58 Paradigm Shifts in Animal Behavior Science
32:34 Understanding Animal Sentience
35:01 The Importance of Compassionate Conservation
39:52 The Role of Death in Nature
52:11 Human-Animal Coexistence
01:00:32 Looking Ahead: Future Projects and Reflections

59 min
July 09 Dungeons, Dragons, and Mules: How the Wilderness Saved My Life
In this engaging interview, Kelly Kate shares her journey from trail work and wilderness adventures to becoming a backcountry cook and wilderness guide. Discover how her work supports conservation, community building, and personal transformation in the wilderness.
Check out Kelly's work: https://www.instagram.com/thebackcountrycook/
If you want to get into the mountains with Ned: https://www.stepintoyourwild.com/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene
02:09 Kelly's Journey into the Wilderness
05:30 Lessons from Mules and Communication
06:57 The Art of Backcountry Cooking
10:14 The Role of Animals in Community Building
12:10 Facilitating Ancestral Relationships with Animals
13:36 Diverse Clientele and Their Needs
16:35 Cooking Philosophy in the Backcountry
21:22 Women in the Packing Industry
26:38 Mental Health Benefits of Wilderness
28:32 Creating Safe Spaces in Nature
29:20 The Beauty of Alpine Meadows and Perspective
30:30 How the Backcountry Saved Lives
31:58 Relationships with Place and Nature
33:17 The Role of Packers in Conservation
37:23 Challenges Facing Public Lands and Packers
40:39 The Importance of Community and Connection to Land
43:31 The Future of Packing and Conservation
51:02 Innovative Approaches to Outdoor Education
56:57 Hope for the Future of Public Lands

56 min
June 19Why Safe Men Need Teeth: Hunting, Shadow, and the Predator Within w/ Ned Weidner
In this episode, Ned Weidner explores the complex relationship between masculinity, predatory energy, and how modern culture handles these innate instincts. Through personal stories about hunting and reflection on societal patterns, he emphasizes the importance of conscious relationship with power to foster integrity and authenticity.
Connect with Ned @stepintoyourwild
Key Topics:
The prevalence of predatory energy in human nature and its manifestation in modern culture
The dangers of repressing versus integrating primal instincts
Stories of hunting as rites of passage that teach responsibility, consciousness, and relationship to death
The distinction between unconscious consumption and conscious power
The concept of shadow in Jungian psychology applied to masculinity
The cultural myths about evil and the importance of internalizing awareness of one's own potential for harm
The necessity of rites of passage and mentorship in maturing masculine energy
Practical insights on how hunting can serve as an act of initiation and self-awareness
The dangers of dualistic views on masculinity: indulgence vs suppression
Timestamps:
00:00 - The shocking prevalence of predatory energy in modern society
02:11 - Why repression isn't the answer to primal instincts
03:35 - The significance of experiencing death through hunting
04:43 - How hunting fosters humility and connection to responsibility 06:14 - The lessons traditional rites of passage teach about power 07:47 - Jung’s shadow and its relevance to masculine energy
08:53 - The dangers of externalizing evil and how it distorts self-awareness
12:43 - Stories of Joe and the deer: conscious relationship with power 14:34 - The importance of making deliberate choices in confronting energy
16:28 - How hunting integrates predatory energy without succumbing to domination
17:29 - The role of intention and curiosity in hunting and masculinity 19:24 - Recognizing the wildness within and choosing how to hold power
21:11 - Moving beyond repression and indulgence toward relationship and mastery
22:47 - Practical ways hunting acts as a rite of passage for masculine maturity
24:25 - The necessity of honesty, curiosity, and openness in embracing power
25:39 - Final reflections: stay curious, connected, and wild
27 min
June 05 Desert Ecology, Fish, and Restoring Species with Nick Buckmaster
In this conversation, I interview Nick Buckmaster, a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. We discuss the ecological significance of desert pupfish and Lahontan cutthroat trout, the challenges of invasive species, and the importance of conservation efforts in the Eastern Sierra. Nick shares insights into his work, the Heritage Trout Program, and the role of fishing in fostering a connection to nature. Our conversation highlights the need for community involvement in conservation and the impact of fishing licenses on funding these efforts.
Get into the wild with Ned: https://www.stepintoyourwild.com/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Nick Buckmaster and His Role
02:44 Understanding Desert Pupfish: Ecology and Importance
06:51 Exploring the Eastern Sierra: Geography and Biodiversity
09:03 Conservation Efforts for Pupfish Recovery
12:05 Challenges in Managing Invasive Species
13:35 Ecological Role of Pupfish in Their Habitat
15:53 Personal Connection to Fishing and Conservation
21:03 Favorite Fishing Spots and Experiences
24:01 Lahontan Cutthroat Trout: History and Characteristics
27:04 The Evolution of Cutthroat Trout
29:12 Life History and Morphology of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
32:36 Restoration Projects for Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
36:27 Challenges in Fish Restoration and Management
40:40 The Role of Recreation in Conservation
47:35 Heritage Trout Program and Its Importance
54:21 Community Involvement in Conservation Efforts

55 min
May 15 From Childhood Curiosity to Ecological Stewardship w/ Linzi Seivwright
In this episode, Scottish ecologist Linzi Seivwright shares her journey from childhood fascination with deer to her current work managing deer populations and habitats in Scotland. She discusses land ownership, deer management strategies, balancing ecological health with cultural values, and engaging communities in conservation efforts. This conversation explores the cultural significance of deer in Scotland, deer management practices, the role of hunting as a responsibility versus a right, and innovative approaches to sustainable land stewardship and community engagement. It highlights the importance of hope, collaboration, and connecting people with nature through responsible deer management and venison production.
Connect with Linzi: https://caorann.com/about-2
Findhorn Venison: https://findhornvenison.co.uk/

Learn to Hunt and fish with Ned: https://www.stepintoyourwild.com/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Lindsay Seivwright and Scottish Conservation
02:54 The Landscape of Murrayshire and Deer Management
05:59 Childhood Influences and Early Passion for Ecology
08:54 Connecting Young People with Nature and Careers
11:41 Cultural Significance of Deer in Scotland
15:08 Challenges in Deer Management and Conservation
17:56 Balancing Ecosystem Health and Deer Populations
21:02 Diverse Landowner Groups and Management Plans
22:10 Creating Deer Management Plans
25:24 Hunting as Responsibility vs. Right
27:10 Cultural Significance of Deer in Scotland
28:38 Balancing Tradition and Technology in Deer Management
29:46 Challenges of Hunting Rights and Responsibilities
32:12 Connecting Communities with Hunting
40:02 The Venison Story and Local Food Security
51:46 Future of Deer Management and Conservation Collaboration

1 hr 3 min
April 28Veganism is Not Harmless with Tovar Cerulli
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
1 hr 2 min

About The Wild Lab

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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…

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