For the Wild is a podcast exploring intersectional themes of environmental and social justice, deep ecology and land-based restoration through storytelling and critical dialogue. After 10 years of conversations and hundreds of guests, the back catalogue is a rich treasure trove of wisdom from some of the wisest and most revered voices of our time, including Vandana Shiva, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Bayo Akomolafe, Stephen Jenkinson, adrienne maree brown and Sophie Strand, to name but a few.
In conversation with the guests is Ayana Young, a brilliant host with a gentle yet compelling presence and deep interrogative skills. It is clear she wholeheartedly engages with and reflects on the work of each guest before meeting them. This, combined with her quality of presence and her ability to ask piercing questions, responding to the answers so contemplatively, creates beautiful, nuanced conversations. I’ve been listening to these for many years and always come away feeling inspired to change something in my life or perspective. I’m also often given a sense of hopefulness for the future – not a false optimism that there are simple solutions to the complexities of our times, but a faith that we have the people, wisdom and ideas to somehow deal with the complexity together.
For the Wild is more than simply a podcast The female-led collective also publishes elegant monthly zines, courses and films. The zines are full of reflection prompts, prayers, poems, art, rituals and meditations, to allow listeners to engage more fully with the topics. Themes include abundance, slow being, surrender and resistance. There is also a slow study course, We Will Dance with Mountains: Into the Cracks!, with professor of psychology and philosopher-writer Bayo Akomolafe. The team has also produced two short films: When Old Growth Ends and Can I Get a Witness? Both of these bear poetic witness to the destruction of landscapes and the separation of Black and Indigenous relations.
There’s a deeply rooted integrity that runs through the project, from how the podcast conversations are curated and held to the actions and initiatives outside of the podcast. This may be what is driving the podcast’s current reimagining, moving away from weekly episodes to what is described as “slow media”, “embracing content that is deeply rooted, resourced rather than reactionary”, and “focusing on moving at the Earth’s pace”. This will take the form of print, film, long-form media, a deeply focused podcast series, and in-person events centring community and connection.
While it’s an exciting and inspiring aspiration, I will miss the weekly episodes and do wonder if this new approach might be harder to engage with. Perhaps that’s the point though – it’s not only a challenge to a culture of hyper-productivism and consumerism, but also a challenge to the audience to slow down enough to dive deeper and engage more fully. In this sense, for those of us up for the challenge, the project may bring some of what it strives for – to be a balm for these times.
For the Wild: An Anthology of the Anthropocene hosted by Ayana Young.
