It was the most fascinating 50-min conversation I've ever had and it is now up online. Mike Spencer Bown and I gave a talk at the Word on the Street Festival last week and it was a candid and quirky discussion of Mike's experiences through every country in the world and some of the most dangerous places on the planet. If you have ever been backpacking - or wondered what it's like to travel through places like war-torn Iraq, the jungles of Congo or alongside the pirates of Somalia...you'll want to listen to this fascinating talk.

The highlight for me was listening to Bown discuss his experiences of being in isolation, living off the land in remote forests and jungles (starting at the 27 minute mark). Going months on end without any human interaction, Bown reveals the effects on his psyche, the loss of ego and the reconnection with nature's unspoken language - something we've continued to evolve away from. 

Click below to listen to the full audio podcast on youtube or message my Author Facebook Page for a free MP3 Download.

"When you're living in complete solitude in the wilderness...the real effects on your psyche start taking place after 24 days. You start losing a habit you don't even know that you have, which is compressing your thoughts enough that you can't possibly put a word to them. After another 40 days your sense of self disolves entirely. It turns out it isn't necessary unless there's an 'other'. So it can get shut down to purely connect with nature." 

-Mike Spencer Bown

In other news, I'm jumping heart out, face first into the world of yoga teacher training next week in Mexico thanks to the amazing people at Kula Collective! I've received a Dharma Grant scholarship for my YTT 200hrs through the upcoming projects I have with Momentom Collective to bring yoga and circus arts into Nicaraguan communities this upcoming season with our Artist Residencies.

It won't be the same as half-a-year living off the land in jungles, but here's hoping I can connect - through breathe and movement - into some of the unspoken languages from the space around us and share a few laughs along the way!

Keep living a life worth journaling everyone!

Tu amigo, 

-John 

A random meetup last April with the co-founders of Kula Collective, Ananda and Randi, in San Marcos, Guatemala. My roomate had said two girls were asking about the book she was reading and told me to bring a couple copies...your vibe attracts your tribe :)