Episodios

  • Dressage Naturally: Happiness, Harmony & the Truth About Training | Karen Rohlf | LFRF 50

    Dressage Naturally: Happiness, Harmony & the Truth About Training | Karen Rohlf | LFRF 50
    Mar 26 2026
    ⭐ “Horses can only perform as well as they understand — and as well as they feel.” – Karen Rohlf⭐ “You have to be either searching or enjoying — nothing in between.” – Karen RohlfKaren Rohlf didn’t start out trying to reinvent dressage — she started as a horse‑crazy kid, fell into traditional training, and then slowly realized something wasn’t adding up.In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Karen about the hidden tension inside modern dressage, the difference between training and performance, and why so many riders get stuck chasing “correctness” instead of connection.Karen shares her journey from competitive dressage into a more horse‑centered approach, including the moment she nearly quit horses altogether — and how rediscovering joy, curiosity, and partnership brought her back.The conversation explores the deep conflict between competition and wellbeing, the limits of traditional systems, and why many so‑called “dressage problems” are actually issues of communication, lifestyle, or emotional state. Karen introduces her “Happy Athlete Training Scale,” a radically simple but powerful framework that starts not with movement — but with happiness, harmony, and understanding.From letting go of ego‑driven goals to developing real feel, this is a conversation about what dressage could be — and what it becomes when we truly listen to the horse.FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpoutAll Books Mentioned: https://longridehome.com/booksWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode: How traditional dressage systems often prioritize appearance over communication [00:11:30] The difference between training for tomorrow vs performing for today [00:12:30] Why competition can quietly distort good training decisions [00:18:00] Why Karen Rohlf almost quit horses — and what brought her back [00:23:00] How Karen blends dressage with natural horsemanship principles [00:27:00] The role of relaxation — and why it’s widely misunderstood [00:34:30] Karen’s “Happy Athlete Training Scale” — happiness, harmony, communication, biomechanics, and sport [00:37:00] Why many dressage problems are actually communication problems [00:39:00] How to develop real feel instead of relying on rigid techniques [01:11:00] A practical method to improve your horse without being told “what’s right” [01:12:00] Why play, curiosity, and experimentation create better precision than control [01:14:00] The importance of voice, reward, and feedback in training [01:20:00]Memorable Moments from the Episode: The concept that many riders are trained to “make it look right” even when it isn’t [00:12:00] The moment she saw her horse trying so hard he broke gait trying to please her [00:20:00] Karen realizing she didn’t actually want the Olympic path — despite being on track for it [00:21:00] Living out of a horse trailer between Florida and Colorado while redefining her approach [00:26:00] The insight that horses don’t need to be controlled — they need to understand [00:39:00] The clinic story where fixing basic communication transformed advanced movements instantly [00:50:00] The simple but powerful rule: “You must be either searching or enjoying” [01:15:00] Karen’s reflection on stepping away from the “horse industry” to stay true to her values [01:27:00]Projects and Organizations Mentioned:• Dressage Naturally• New Trails Learning Systems• Helios HarmonyAbout Karen Rohlf:Karen Rohlf is an internationally recognized clinician, author, and creator of the Dressage Naturally approach.Originally trained in traditional competitive dressage, she has spent decades developing a system that blends classical training with horse‑centered communication, emotional awareness, and partnership.Her work focuses on helping riders develop feel, clarity, and connection — creating horses that are not just trained, but willing, confident, and understood.Website: https://dressagenaturally.netSee All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: https://rupertisaacson.comFollow Us:Long Ride Home Website: https://longridehome.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystemsAffiliate Disclosure:Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
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    1 h y 51 m
  • The Lost Gardens of Heligan: Storytelling, Nature, Horses & the Power of Place | Laura Chesterfield | LFRF 49

    The Lost Gardens of Heligan: Storytelling, Nature, Horses & the Power of Place | Laura Chesterfield | LFRF 49
    Mar 12 2026
    “ If you lead with heart and joy, you end up with heart and joy.” – Laura Chesterfield“ It’s not about being an expert in everything — it’s about being interested in everything.” – Laura ChesterfieldLaura Chesterfield grew up inside one of the most magical landscape restorations in the world: The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. As the daughter of Heligan co‑founder Tim Smit, Laura watched the famous gardens emerge from decades of abandonment after the First World War — a process that revealed not only a remarkable landscape, but powerful stories about people, nature, restoration, and belonging.In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with Laura about what it means to build a sense of place — and why storytelling, nature, animals, and imagination are essential to human wellbeing.Laura shares the extraordinary story of Heligan’s rediscovery, when the signatures of gardeners who had left for World War I were found written on a wall in the “Thunderbox Room,” marking the moment the gardens fell silent for decades.From tropical jungles and giant tree ferns to regenerative farming, rare breed livestock, poetry hidden in landscapes, and sculptures like the famous Mud Maid, Heligan has become a living example of how landscape, creativity, ecology, and community can intertwine.The conversation explores how landscapes can become healing spaces, why storytelling connects people more deeply than information, the role animals — including horses — play in shaping human identity, regenerative farming and biodiversity restoration, reintroducing beavers as a keystone species, and how curiosity and playfulness drive innovation.Laura also discusses her next chapter: launching Lova Studios, a consultancy helping organizations discover and communicate the deeper stories within their landscapes, businesses, and communities.This is a conversation about place, memory, nature, imagination, and how meaningful stories shape the future.FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpoutWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode:How the Lost Gardens of Heligan were rediscovered after decades of abandonment following World War I [00:03:00]The powerful moment when the signatures of the wartime gardeners were discovered on the wall of the “Thunderbox Room” [00:04:29]Why Heligan became a living landscape rather than a static historic garden [00:12:10]How landscapes can become places of emotional healing and reflection [00:15:13]The famous Heligan sculptures — including the Mud Maid, the Giant’s Head, and the Grey Lady — and how they inspire storytelling [00:26:10]How poetry and art were integrated into the landscape through Simon Armitage’s Dwell collection [00:33:00]The creation of the six‑meter fox sculpture inspired by Heligan wildlife and poetry [00:39:00]Why the Heligan Bug Hotel became the largest insect hotel in the world [00:46:04]How beavers function as a keystone species and transform ecosystems [00:56:27]The role regenerative grazing plays in restoring soil health and biodiversity [01:11:00]How horses shaped Laura’s personal connection to nature and leadership [01:18:00]Why storytelling is the key to helping people connect emotionally with landscapes and places [01:37:00]Memorable Moments from the Episode:The rediscovery of Heligan’s abandoned tools and buildings exactly as the gardeners left them before the war [00:02:50]The haunting signatures of the gardeners who left for World War I and never returned [00:04:29]Walking through Heligan’s jungle ravine of giant tree ferns and gunnera plants [00:18:00]The Mud Maid sculpture — a sleeping earth figure made of moss and soil [00:26:10]Simon Armitage’s poem inspiring the creation of the massive fox sculpture [00:35:54]The Bug Hotel TripAdvisor poem told from the perspective of insects [00:49:59]The moment a fallen 200‑year‑old tree was transformed into the fox sculpture [00:42:00]Laura describing the day she lost her beloved Welsh Section D pony after 23 years [01:21:00]The idea that storytelling — not signage — is what makes people truly connect to a place [01:46:27]Projects and Organizations Mentioned:The Lost Gardens of HeliganThe Eden ProjectRare Breeds Survival TrustNew Trails Learning SystemsHelios HarmonyAbout Laura Chesterfield:Laura Chesterfield grew up surrounded by one of the most remarkable landscape restoration projects in Europe: The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall.Over nearly a decade working at Heligan, she helped lead projects that integrated storytelling, livestock farming, ecology, art, and visitor experience — including the Heligan Rare Breed Farm Park, wildlife initiatives, sculpture programs, and biodiversity projects such as beaver reintroduction and regenerative grazing.Laura is now launching Lova Studios, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations uncover and communicate the deeper stories within landscapes, communities, and ...
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    1 h y 59 m
  • America Within America: Tribal Advocacy, Sovereignty & the Future of Native Nations | Jeff Tomhave | LFRF 48

    America Within America: Tribal Advocacy, Sovereignty & the Future of Native Nations | Jeff Tomhave | LFRF 48
    Mar 5 2026
    ✨ “Once people release the trauma, we can start dreaming about possibility.” – Jeff Tomhave✨ “It’s not rocket science. It’s telling a compelling story to a receptive audience.” – Jeff TomhaveJeff Tomhave is a Native American attorney and tribal advocate who has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of federal policy, infrastructure development, healthcare access, and tribal sovereignty.In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Jeff for a far‑reaching conversation about what it means to live in “America within America.” From federal land trust systems and underfunded reservations to cancer treatment access and tribal disenrollment, Jeff offers a rare inside look at how Native nations navigate – and challenge – the structures imposed upon them.Jeff shares how his own path to law was less about becoming a courtroom attorney and more about gaining the tools to advocate for tribal communities at the highest levels of government. Together, he and Rupert explore invisibility, historic trauma, cultural survival, gaming revenues, sovereignty, and Jeff’s long‑term dream of training the next generation of tribal advocates.This is not just a conversation about law. It is about survival, adaptation, sovereignty, healing, and what the future of Native America could look like.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Jeff’s tribal background (Hidatsa, Mandan, Arikara, Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk) and how boarding school history shaped modern Native identity [00:06:00]Why he chose to earn a law degree without intending to practice traditional law [00:10:00]How the federal trust system prevents many tribes from owning their own land [00:12:49]Why property taxation limitations impact essential services on reservations [00:16:27]How infrastructure advocacy actually works in Washington, DC [00:25:00]The Navajo Mountain road project and how paving 14 miles changed an entire school system [00:25:46]How HIV/AIDS treatment became accessible in Indian Country after years of advocacy [00:30:23]The 10-year effort to secure reimbursement for the first cancer treatment center on Navajo Nation [00:32:32]Why Native America often feels “invisible” inside the United States [00:45:04]The impact of checkerboard land systems and railroad-era policies on modern reservations [00:47:25]The reality behind gaming revenue and why most tribes remain economically fragile [01:04:33]The controversial practice of tribal disenrollment and blood quantum laws [01:24:33]Jeff’s vision for training a new generation of tribal advocates from within Native communities [01:44:00]What a unified Native future could look like 50 years from now [01:46:39]Memorable Moments from the Episode:The powwow rodeo lariat dance as a symbol of cultural evolution [00:58:50]The “divide and conquer” legacy and why tribal unity remains complex [01:10:53]The idea that genocide can continue through policy and paperwork [01:26:26]The story of French adoption into Plains tribes and cultural adaptation [01:32:00]Rupert recounts how Navajo ceremony transformed his son’s autism journey [01:41:00]Jeff’s quiet but powerful dream of building tribal advocacy capacity from the ground up [01:44:00]Projects and Organizations Mentioned:• Tomhave Group• Native American Humane Society• Navajo Nation• Indian Health Service• Bureau of Indian Affairs• First Nations Development InstituteAbout Jeff Tomhave:Jeff Tomhave is a Native American advocate and Juris Doctor who has dedicated his career to helping tribes secure infrastructure, healthcare access, and federal resources. Through the Tomhave Group, he works directly with tribal governments to develop strategy, secure funding, and navigate federal systems.After more than two decades in Washington, DC, Jeff and his wife Brandy are relocating to North Dakota, where they plan to establish a community-based advocacy and training center aimed at building long-term tribal self-advocacy capacity.To learn more: https://tomhavegroup.comSee All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.comFollow Us:Long Ride Home: Website: https://longridehome.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems: Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystemsAffiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
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    1 h y 59 m
  • Time Travel Through the Classical Canon: Xenophon Press, Emotional Mastery & the Future of Horsemanship with Richard Williams EP 47

    Time Travel Through the Classical Canon: Xenophon Press, Emotional Mastery & the Future of Horsemanship with Richard Williams EP 47
    Feb 19 2026

    ✨ “The horse lives in the present. If you want to be a good horse person, you need to become more like the horse.” – Richard Williams

    ✨ “Horsemanship is a physical meditation. The horse is a three-dimensional mirror.” – Richard Williams


    From preserving rare classical manuscripts to exploring the emotional and civilizing power of horsemanship, Richard Williams — publisher of Xenophon Press — joins Rupert Isaacson for a deep dive into why the old masters still matter.

    In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert and Richard trace the arc of classical equestrian knowledge from Xenophon through the Renaissance academies, La Guérinière, Steinbrecht, Baucher, and Nuno Oliveira — right up to the modern therapeutic and rehabilitative applications of classical riding.

    Richard shares how he came to acquire Xenophon Press, why publishing these works is an act of stewardship rather than profit, and how editing and translating classical texts became a form of "time travel." The conversation moves from Renaissance schools that trained diplomats through horsemanship, to emotional regulation in the saddle, to the role horses may play in addiction recovery and mental health today.

    🎥 FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpout
    📚 All Books Mentioned: https://longridehome.com/books
    🎟️ Xenophon Press Discount Code: 7greatCUSTOMER (7% off) https://xenophonpress.com

    This is not simply a conversation about dressage. It is about humility, mastery, emotional regulation, leadership, and the civilizing influence of the horse.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • Richard’s journey into purchasing Xenophon Press and preserving classical texts ([00:03:00])
    • How publishing classical works became a form of “time travel” across centuries ([00:06:00])
    • Why Renaissance academies trained diplomats through horsemanship, fencing, and mathematics ([00:32:00])
    • How stallions in the academies helped civilize young aristocrats ([00:35:00])
    • The link between classical riding and emotional regulation ([00:49:00])
    • Why breathing and “feel” anchor the rider in the present moment ([00:54:00])
    • The four conditions of horsemanship: ignoring, opposing, yielding, harmonizing ([01:00:00])
    • Why therapeutic riding is embodied practice — not a gimmick ([01:11:00])
    • How classical training benefits the horse physically and mentally ([01:16:00])
    • A recommended reading pathway through the classical canon ([01:18:00])


    🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

    • Rupert describing Xenophon Press as a modern Library of Alexandria ([00:01:30])
    • Richard’s story of his brother being launched into a manure pile by a pony ([00:37:00])
    • The insight that horses sort for emotional maturity ([00:39:00])
    • Discussion of how leaders historically were judged by how they rode ([00:43:00])
    • The idea that horsemanship teaches recovery from imbalance — not avoidance of it ([01:02:00])
    • Riding as a practice of embodied mindfulness and humility ([00:50:00])
    • Exploring the potential of horses in addiction recovery work ([01:15:00])


    📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:

    • Xenophon
    • Giovanni Battista Tomassini – The Italian Tradition of Equestrian Art
    • François Robichon de La Guérinière – École de Cavalerie
    • Gustav Steinbrecht – Gymnasium of the Horse
    • François Baucher
    • Nuno Oliveira
    • Dom Diogo de Bragança – Dressage in the French Tradition
    • Alois Podhajsky – The Complete Training of Horse and Rider
    • Sally Swift – Centered Riding
    • Renaissance Schools of Horsemanship in Naples

    🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:
    Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

    📲 Follow Us:

    Long Ride Home:
    Website: https://longridehome.com
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

    New Trails Learning Systems:
    Website: https://ntls.co
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

    📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
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    1 h y 41 m
  • Being Upset by Beauty | Healing, Activism, Ayurveda & the Quiet Power of Presence with Rejane D’Espirac | Ep 46

    Being Upset by Beauty | Healing, Activism, Ayurveda & the Quiet Power of Presence with Rejane D’Espirac | Ep 46
    Feb 5 2026

    ✨ “I’m upset because life should be so beautiful.” – Rejane D’Espirac
    ✨ “Healing begins with attention.” – Rupert Isaacson

    In this expansive and deeply reflective episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson is joined by French writer, journalist, filmmaker, and activist Rejane D’Espirac for a wide‑ranging conversation on healing, presence, storytelling, plants, and what it means to live a life in service.

    Rejane’s work sits at the crossroads of human rights, environmental activism, health, and inner transformation. From documenting the long‑term aftermath of the Bhopal industrial disaster in India, to exploring Ayurveda, yoga, infertility, and the healing power of attention, her life and career have been shaped by one central question: how do we truly care for one another in a damaged world?

    Together, Rupert and Rejane explore the idea of being “upset by beauty” — not anger, but the kind of heartbreak that comes from seeing how precious life is, and how easily that magic is overlooked or harmed. They discuss relationship as medicine, presence as a healing force, plants as silent allies, and why service — rather than self‑actualization alone — is often the key to meaning.

    ❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome


    This episode weaves personal story, activism, philosophy, and nature into a conversation about attention, awe, responsibility, and hope.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • What Rejane means by being “upset” — not with anger, but with love, beauty, and the pain of seeing life disrespected ([00:02:26]–[00:06:00])
    • The long‑term human and environmental impact of the Bhopal industrial disaster, and why its consequences are still unfolding decades later ([00:08:44]–[00:11:00])
    • How the Sambhavna free clinic in Bhopal uses Ayurveda, yoga, plants, and care to support survivors when Western medicine alone no longer works ([00:13:17]–[00:26:23])
    • Why care, listening, and relationship account for a large part of healing — often more than techniques or medication ([00:31:25]–[00:37:21])
    • Rejane’s personal journey through infertility, Ayurveda, and unexpected pregnancy — and what it revealed about quality versus quantity in healing ([00:47:11]–[00:57:06])
    • How attention, presence, and being truly seen can unlock self‑healing processes in body and mind ([01:02:27]–[01:04:53])
    • Why sadness, isolation, and disconnection are central challenges of modern life — and how service and relationship help counter them ([01:24:53]–[01:27:22])
    • The quiet power of flowers, plants, and awe — and why beauty itself can be a political and healing force ([01:29:42]–[01:33:22])


    🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

    • Rejane explains how witnessing suffering without solutions led her from journalism into activism ([00:07:40]–[00:08:15])
    • A detailed account of how the Sambhavna clinic was founded, and why detoxification, yoga, and plants became central tools ([00:21:02]–[00:25:55])
    • Rupert reflects on care, attention, and yoga nidra as accessible forms of self‑healing ([00:40:31]–[00:42:16])
    • Rejane shares how a simple question — “Why are you so sad?” — opened a profound healing journey ([00:49:49]–[01:03:10])
    • A moving exchange on flowers as symbols of connection, resilience, and life’s quiet intelligence ([01:29:24]–[01:33:30])


    📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned:

    • Sambhavna Clinic (Bhopal) & documentary “Sambhavna” https://sambhavnabhopal.org/
    • At Last, a Baby – Rejane D’Espirac
    • The Discreet Power of Flowers – Rejane D’Espirac https://www.rejanedespirac.com/
    • The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home & The Healing Land – Rupert Isaacson
    • Movement Method – New Trails Learning Systems

    🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

    Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

    📲 Follow Us:

    Long Ride Home
    Website: https://longridehome.com
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

    New Trails Learning Systems
    Website: https://ntls.co
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

    📊 Affiliate Disclosure:

    Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
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    2 h y 4 m
  • Coming Out of Hiding | Illness, Identity, Magic & the Courage to Be Seen with John Kippen | Ep 45

    Coming Out of Hiding | Illness, Identity, Magic & the Courage to Be Seen with John Kippen | Ep 45
    Jan 22 2026

    ✨ “Being different is not your weakness — it’s your superpower.” – John Kippen
    ✨ “Story is the original healing technology.” – Rupert Isaacson


    In this deeply moving and wide‑ranging episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with resilience coach, magician, and motivational speaker John Kippen about identity, illness, visibility, and what it truly takes to come out of hiding.


    John shares his extraordinary personal story — from being diagnosed with a life‑threatening brain tumor in his early thirties, to waking from surgery with permanent facial paralysis that led him to withdraw from public life for more than a decade. What followed was not just physical recovery, but a long inner journey through shame, self‑judgment, and loss of identity.


    Through magic, storytelling, and radical honesty, John ultimately found his way back into the world — discovering that the very thing he tried to hide could become his greatest point of connection. Today, he uses those lessons to help others step out of fear, reclaim their dreams, and see their differences as sources of strength.


    This conversation explores illness, facial difference, vulnerability, creativity, neuroscience, coaching, dreaming, and the quiet power of presence. It is an episode about being seen — and about learning to see yourself with compassion.

    ❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome

    🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • How a sudden medical crisis can fracture identity — and why facial difference uniquely impacts how we see ourselves and how others respond ([00:03:22]–[00:07:46])
    • What it means to “go into hiding” emotionally and socially — and how shame keeps people invisible for years ([00:07:14]–[00:08:10])
    • How magic became a tool for healing, presence, and connection rather than performance ([00:10:00]–[00:14:00])
    • Why naming the story behind visible difference allows others to relax, connect, and truly see you ([00:12:22]–[00:13:40])
    • How creativity and wonder help bypass fear and open new neurological pathways ([00:50:32]–[01:00:14])
    • John’s “Tripod Method” for getting unstuck when fear and overwhelm take over ([00:40:32]–[00:43:19])
    • Why many adults are living someone else’s dream — and how to reconnect with your own ([00:51:42]–[00:54:08])
    • How coaching can help uncover limiting beliefs rooted in childhood experiences ([01:03:23]–[01:08:03])
    • The role of joy, service, nature, and presence in sustaining a meaningful life ([01:16:32]–[01:19:34])


    🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

    • John describes waking from brain surgery and realizing how deeply facial paralysis affected his sense of worth ([00:06:15]–[00:07:14])
    • A powerful story from the Magic Castle where a single evening of magic helped a woman stop hiding after a mastectomy ([00:16:00]–[00:25:00])
    • Rupert reflects on facial identity, vulnerability, and storytelling as a form of healing ([00:19:00]–[00:23:00])
    • John explains how COVID mask mandates challenged — but did not undo — his healing around visibility ([00:29:50]–[00:31:26])
    • A moving discussion on dreams, creativity, and why it’s never too late to begin again ([00:51:00]–[01:25:00])


    📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned:

    • Playing the Hand You Were Dealt – John Kippen https://amzn.to/3YM8K0E
    • John Kippen: https://johnkippen.com
    • The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home & The Healing Land – Rupert Isaacson
    • Movement Method – New Trails Learning Systems


    🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

    Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

    📲 Follow Us:

    Long Ride Home
    Website: https://longridehome.com
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome


    New Trails Learning Systems
    Website: https://ntls.co
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

    📊 Affiliate Disclosure:

    Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
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    1 h y 43 m
  • How to Handle More Than You Can Handle | Parenting, Grief, Joy & Special Needs with Amanda Atkins | Ep 44

    How to Handle More Than You Can Handle | Parenting, Grief, Joy & Special Needs with Amanda Atkins | Ep 44
    Jan 7 2026

    In this deeply honest and wide‑ranging episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with family therapist and author Amanda Atkins about what it truly means to parent a high‑needs child — and how parents survive, adapt, and rediscover joy along the way.

    Amanda shares the personal story behind her book How to Handle More Than You Can Handle, written from lived experience as the mother of Asher, a teenager with Prader‑Willi Syndrome. Together, Rupert and Amanda explore overwhelm, grief, resilience, humor, identity, marriage, community, and the long‑term realities of parenting children with disabilities.

    The conversation moves fluidly between personal reflection and practical insight — from navigating cortisol burnout and therapy overload, to the importance of nature, play, humor, and following the child’s passions. This episode also looks ahead to adulthood, community living, relationships, and what it means to build sustainable structures for life beyond childhood.

    ✨ “You’re allowed to be more than just a caretaker.” – Amanda Atkins
    ✨ “Joy isn’t optional. It’s how we survive.” – Rupert Isaacson

    ❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome

    🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • Why overwhelm and isolation are so common for parents of special‑needs children — and why talking honestly about it matters ([00:01:06])
    • How grief, identity loss, and resilience intersect in parenting high‑needs children ([00:05:13])
    • Amanda’s path from therapist‑in‑training to caregiver advocate — and why she focuses on parents, not prescriptions ([00:06:02])
    • What Prader‑Willi Syndrome looks like in daily life, including food obsession, routine, and nervous‑system regulation ([00:03:11], [00:20:36])
    • Why humor — especially toilet humor — can restore dignity, bonding, and regulation ([00:16:36])
    • The neuroscience of cortisol overload, burnout, and why “doing less” can sometimes heal more ([01:07:45]–[01:11:21])
    • How following a child’s passionate interests supports development, confidence, and joy ([01:13:29])
    • Why community and informal support networks matter more than formal services alone ([00:55:06], [01:22:22])
    • Navigating adolescence, friendships, dating, and independence for neurodivergent teens ([01:18:53]–[01:24:36])
    • How parents can reclaim joy, meaning, and a sense of self beyond caregiving ([00:51:01], [01:33:48])

    🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

    • Amanda describes the emotional impact of being handed a diagnosis at 26 — and the pressure to be a “special‑needs warrior” ([00:04:00])
    • A candid conversation about marriage, cortisol poisoning, and why most special‑needs couples burn out ([01:05:38]–[01:10:05])
    • Asher’s first homecoming date — and how community quietly held the moment ([01:22:22])
    • Rupert explains theory of mind through teasing — and why joking is a developmental milestone ([00:27:26])
    • Amanda reads a powerful passage from her book on identity, meaning, and self‑compassion ([01:33:48])

    📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned:
    Amanda Griffith Atkins:
    https://www.amandagriffithatkins.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/amanda.griffith.atkins/

    How to Handle More Than You Can Handle – Amanda Atkins: https://amzn.to/3LjgWSH
    ning Systems

    Camp Hill Communities (historical model for residential care)

    Square Peg Foundation (California) https://squarepegfoundation.org

    🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

    Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

    📲 Follow Us:

    Long Ride Home
    Website: https://longridehome.com
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

    New Trails Learning Systems
    Website: https://ntls.co
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

    📊 Affiliate Disclosure:

    Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
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    1 h y 46 m
  • The Journey That Forged The Horse Boy | Mongolia, Shamanism & Healing with Tulga Otgonbaatar | Ep 43

    The Journey That Forged The Horse Boy | Mongolia, Shamanism & Healing with Tulga Otgonbaatar | Ep 43
    Dec 25 2025
    In this deeply moving and long‑awaited reunion episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson is joined by Tulga Otgonbaatar — the Mongolian guide, cultural bridge, and quiet catalyst behind the original Horse Boy journey.Nearly twenty years after Rupert, his autistic son Rowan, and Tulga traveled together across Mongolia to meet shamans, reindeer herders, and the vast living intelligence of the steppe, the two sit down to reflect on what that journey set in motion — not only for Rowan and their families, but for Mongolia itself.This conversation weaves together memory, history, spirituality, ecology, and lived experience. Tulga shares how a “city boy” became devoted to bringing people back into relationship with nature; how Mongolian kindness, patience, and forgiveness are forged through climate, culture, and Buddhism; and how shamanism survived Soviet suppression to remain a living healing practice today.Together, Rupert and Tulga revisit moments never fully told before — ceremonies where electronics failed, spirits tested intentions, vodka multiplied mysteriously, and healing unfolded in its own time. They explore the difference between cure and healing, the role of nature in regulating the human nervous system, and how autism came to be understood and accepted in Mongolia following the Horse Boy book and film.The episode closes with a powerful look forward: a possible 20‑year anniversary return to Mongolia — fathers and sons reunited — guided once again by the land, the spirits, and the people who made it all possible.✨ “Healing isn’t about removing who someone is. It’s about relieving suffering so their gifts can emerge.” – Rupert Isaacson ✨ “Nature teaches patience. The land itself makes people kinder.” – Tulga Otgonbaatar❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Tulga’s path from English student to nomadic guide led him to found a life around nature and cultural preservation ([00:04:57])Why Mongolian culture carries deep kindness, patience, and forgiveness — and how climate and nomadic life shape the nervous system ([00:11:32])How Mongolia transformed from a warrior empire to a Buddhist, peace‑centered society in just a few generations ([00:15:54])How Mongolia’s ecosystem — people included — represents a living model of human‑nature balance ([00:33:00])The survival of shamanism through Soviet suppression — and why it remains effective today ([00:49:54])How autism became widely understood and accepted in Mongolia after the Horse Boy film aired nationally ([00:53:57])The difference between healing and cure in autism and trauma work ([01:04:03])Why patience, rhythm, and long journeys are essential parts of healing ([01:48:59])What Rowan’s life looks like today — independence, work, travel, and purpose ([01:52:00])Behind‑the‑scenes stories from the original Horse Boy journey never shared publicly before ([02:03:00])🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:Tulga recalls the moment Rowan made his very first friend — his son Tomo — during a shamanic ceremony ([00:56:00])Tulga explains the spirits of mountains, rivers, and land — and what happens when humans forget respect ([01:12:00])A non‑verbal autistic child speaks his first words — “Mom, I love you” — after a Mongolian journey ([01:33:15])Rupert reflects on why people with autism often carry profound emotional intelligence and healing presence ([01:59:00])The ceremony where filming equipment mysteriously shut down — exactly as foretold ([02:03:31])A Mongolian shaman tests Tulga with a bottle of vodka that refuses to run out ([02:12:00])📚 Books, Projects & Traditions Mentioned:The Horse Boy – book & documentary: https://ntls.co/booksMongolian shamanism & reindeer‑herder healing traditionsMovement Method & Horse Boy Method: https://ntls.coNomadic Trails (Mongolia): https://nomadictrails.com/Takhin – the revered Mongolian wild horse🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:Website: https://rupertisaacson.com📲 Follow Us:Long Ride Home Website: https://longridehome.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems📊 Affiliate Disclosure:Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
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    2 h y 31 m