On the 99th episode of What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Darcia Narvaez. Darcia is Professor Emerita of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame, and Fellow of the American Psychological Association, American Educational Research Association, Association for Psychological Science, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She uses an interdisciplinary approach to studying evolved morality, child development and human flourishing. Her most recent books include Restoring the Kinship Worldview, and The Evolved Nest: Nature’s Way of Raising Children and Creating Connected Communities. Her book, Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: Evolution, Culture and Wisdom won the 2015 William James Book Award from the American Psychological Association and the 2017 Expanded Reason Award. Her recent short films are Breaking the Cycle, The Evolved Nest, and Reimagining Humanity. She hosts the webpage EvolvedNest.org and serves as president of KindredWorld.org.

In this enlightening conversation, Darcia shares her journey to creating The Evolved Nest, a concept that integrates insights from child development, parenting, and adult behaviour. We discuss reconnecting with our natural rhythms, engaging with the world around us, fostering welcoming social environments, embracing play, and allowing the spirit of both children and adults to flow freely.

This conversation is a wonderful invitation to reconnect with our primal wisdom, reflect on how we disconnect from it, and learn how to create the nurturing environments we need to thrive.

For further content and information check out the following:
- Darcia's Newsletter: https://darcianarvaez.substack.com/
- The Evolved Nest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolvedNest
- The Evolved Nest website: https://evolvednest.org/

- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos
- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/
- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/

Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.

00:00 Introduction

03:11 What is wrong with the world?

07:51 The path to The Evolved Nest

10:26 Soothing Perinatal Experiences 

12:41 Disconnecting from our natural rhythms

16:41 The wonder of nature and breastfeeding

21:51 A welcoming social climate

26:10 Embracing joy and wise teachers 

30:11 Play and experimenting 

33:11 Wisdom and wildness

37:13 Punishment and connection to spirit

40:11 Minimising babies’ needs and work

46:31 The need for multiple nurturers and mentors

48:51 Nature and immersion with landscape

55:13 Restorative healing practices

1:01:49 What is a good life for Darcia?