15. Finding the Wild - Craig Foster

"We feel pulled to reuniting the wild family again. We want to reconnect with all our wild kin, but we want to connect with our wild human relations as well and be able to speak that old language."

In this episode, we are joined by award winning documentary filmmaker and author Craig Foster. We discuss Craig's connection to Jon through tracking, including the impact that watching the Great Dance had on Jon and the impact that hearing Jon's Tracking CDs had on Craig. We explore how tracking and deep connection to the wild seem to lead to mysterious capabilities, and some of the ways in which the natural world seems to reach out to connect to us in turn. We also explore some of the benefits of connecting to the wild world, from our nervous system and health, to it's impact on learning, and even on our relationships.

“There’s a lot of good stuff in the tame world but it’s unbalanced. The wild person is being smothered by the tame, and what I’m saying is let’s find a balance and let that incredible, wild, intelligent person come back and nourish us.”

About Craig Foster

Craig Foster is an Oscar and BAFTA winning filmmaker, naturalist, author and ocean explorer. His films have won over 150 international awards. He co-founded the Sea Change Project in 2012.

Craig’s work has contributed to the marine sciences through the discovery of new species and new animal behaviours. He is the first person to create a method of underwater tracking in the kelp forest. His film “My Octopus Teacher” has led to making the Great African Seaforest a global icon.

Craig also has consulted for 8 years to the centre for early sapiens behaviour, SapienCE, and created an award winning exhibition about middle Stone Age human origins. Drawing on 30 years of his work with the San and other indigenous African people, the exhibit promotes Africa as the origin of science and art.

Craig believes that the greatest threat we face is the cooling of the human heart towards nature. All his work is about inspiring a change of heart, inspiring people to care for and regenerate nature around them. He has founded the Sea Change Project to share his love of nature with others, and has kept his pact to dive 365 times a year for over a decade.

Check out Craig Foster's book - Amphibious Soul

Watch the trailer for My Octopus Teacher

Learn more about the Sea Change Project and support Craig's work here

Watch: Jon Young & Craig Foster discuss Amphibious Soul

At the Commonwealth Club - May 2024

Visit https://www.livingconnection1st.net/ for more information about our work