Can We Track Meaning?

This episode took me by surprise. Tim Ferriss is an incredible podcaster with an amazing personal story, and here Tim interviews Boyd Varty, lion tracker, safari operator, and trauma survivor.

Their conversation is thrilling from both an entertainment as well as from a meaning perspective. Boyd tells his life stories about surviving a plane crash, as well as near-death attacks by a crocodile, humans, and a swarm of African bees, which traumatized him and ultimately led toward a journey of healing himself through connection with nature, wild animals, and the Ubuntu spirit.

Learn how to stare into the eyes of a wild lion and communicate inner strength in a way that keeps you safe on safari without a weapon, and how looking into the eyes of a wild animal can heal trauma. Boyd talks about restoring badly damaged land and shows how wonderful it can be if we open our senses to the language, rhythms, beauty, and power of nature.

Boyd’s story is a true hero’s journey: a unique path that is surprisingly relevant to all of us, providing a roadmap toward a more meaningful relationship with nature and with each other. Boyd’s life story is full of meaningful relationships with people from ancient tracking cultures, as well as a deep relationship with the natural world. He has a gift for storytelling and tells of converting intense suffering into healing himself, other people, and the natural world.

Imagine listening to the thunderous rumble of an African prairie fire, watching elephants, snakes, and large cats careen by, and then sharing a moment of eye-contact healing connection with a wild jaguar. I think you’ll like this episode. It’s still rumbling around in my mind.