This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited.

The episode features segments from episode #573 "Margaret Atwood — A Living Legend on Creative Process, The Handmaid’s Tale, Being a Mercenary Child, Resisting Labels, the Poet Rug Exchange, Liminal Beings, Burning Questions, Practical Utopias, and More" and #571 "Boyd Varty — The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life."

Please enjoy!

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Start

[05:11] Notes about this supercombo format.

[06:14] Enter Margaret Atwood.

[06:48] What drives Margaret's ability to craft engaging speculative fiction?

[10:52] The downsides of raising a family isolated in the woods.

[15:44] Factors that nudged young Margaret toward poetry.

[21:54] How limited options led Margaret to her current vocation.

[24:07] How long it took for writing to pay off, and its benefits in the meantime.

[30:34] Life lessons learned by teaching.

[34:18] Enter Boyd Varty.

[34:42] Setting the scene.

[37:00] Origins of Londolozi Game Reserve and Boyd's childhood influences.

[39:17] Why Boyd's family kept the seemingly useless property.

[41:23] Boyd's experiences with The White Knuckle Charter Company.

[50:00] Transforming scrubland into a safari business with help from Ken Tinley and Shangaan trackers.

[56:04] Shangaan trackers' lineage and wildlife trust in Londolozi's caretakers.

[59:46] Renias Mhlongo's supreme tracking skills and work ethic.

[1:05:18] Hardest animals to track at Londolozi.

[1:08:30] Safety measures in Londolozi's unpredictable environment.

[1:10:21] "I don't know where we're going, but I know exactly how to get there." —Renias Mhlongo

[1:12:26] Boyd's tracking evolution: from childhood to trauma recovery.

[1:30:30] Definition of Ubuntu.

[1:32:40] Boyd's 40-day tree-dwelling experience.

[1:45:47] Bees, birds, and hive algorithms.

[1:57:07] Interacting with lions in the wild.

[2:01:41] Death conversations, ancient myths, and inexplicable animal movements.

[2:07:30] Comparing trauma recovery paths within Boyd's family.

[2:11:08] Ceremony work for trauma healing.

[2:14:06] An authentic life as activism.

[2:19:27] The impact of Byron Katie's Work on Boyd and me.

[2:23:55] Boyd's first sweat lodge experience in Arizona.

[2:29:18] Feelings. Nothing more than feelings.

[2:31:48] What a close encounter with a beautiful predator taught Boyd about Ubuntu.

[2:40:53] The therapeutic value of spending time with animals.

[2:45:22] Contrasting lion roar descriptions: van der Post vs. Boyd.

[2:49:40] Invitation to Londolozi and parting thoughts.

*

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#763: Margaret Atwood and Boyd Varty

The Tim Ferriss Show

00:058sleep Pod 4 Ultra: Sleep, Cool Down, and Elevate

8sleep Pod 4 Ultra: Sleep, Cool Down, and Elevate

01:44AG1: Nutritional Insurance for a Busy Life

AG1: Nutritional Insurance for a Busy Life

04:55The Tim Ferriss Show: 10th Anniversary Super Combo Episodes

The Tim Ferriss Show: 10th Anniversary Super Combo Episodes

06:14Margaret Atwood: Exploring the Boundaries of Speculative Fiction

Margaret Atwood: Exploring the Boundaries of Speculative Fiction

10:52Raising Children in the Woods: Benefits and Downsides

Raising Children in the Woods: Benefits and Downsides

14:52The Genesis of a Writer: A Pink Dress and a Poem

The Genesis of a Writer: A Pink Dress and a Poem

21:56Finding Your Path: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Following Your Curiosity

Finding Your Path: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Following Your Curiosity

27:22Teaching and Learning: The Power of Engagement and Shared Experiences

Teaching and Learning: The Power of Engagement and Shared Experiences

33:10Wealthfront: Earn More on Your Savings with a High-Yield Cash Account

Wealthfront: Earn More on Your Savings with a High-Yield Cash Account

34:18Boyd Varty: The Legacy of Londolozi and the Art of Tracking

Boyd Varty: The Legacy of Londolozi and the Art of Tracking

37:20Get On With It: The Pioneering Spirit of Londolozi

Get On With It: The Pioneering Spirit of Londolozi

44:47A Bird Strike and a Mother's Slap: A Wild Family's Resilience

A Bird Strike and a Mother's Slap: A Wild Family's Resilience

50:15Learning the Language of the Wilderness: The Shangaan Trackers

Learning the Language of the Wilderness: The Shangaan Trackers

56:01The Birth of Londolozi: Restoring the Land and Building Relationships

The Birth of Londolozi: Restoring the Land and Building Relationships

59:57Rennius: A Master Tracker and the Power of Following Your Curiosity

Rennius: A Master Tracker and the Power of Following Your Curiosity

1:01:58The Art of Tracking: A Metaphor for Life and Transformation

The Art of Tracking: A Metaphor for Life and Transformation

1:05:18The Most Difficult Animals to Track: Leopards and Their Mysterious Ways

The Most Difficult Animals to Track: Leopards and Their Mysterious Ways

1:08:31The Unspoken Language of Presence: Safety and Respect in the Wild

The Unspoken Language of Presence: Safety and Respect in the Wild

1:10:44I Don't Know Where We're Going, But I Know How to Get There: Trusting the Process

I Don't Know Where We're Going, But I Know How to Get There: Trusting the Process

1:12:33The Tracker's Journey: From Trauma to Healing and Restoration

The Tracker's Journey: From Trauma to Healing and Restoration

1:15:00The Healing Power of Attunement: The Tracker's Mind and Transformation

The Healing Power of Attunement: The Tracker's Mind and Transformation

1:20:46Trauma and Healing: A Journey of Shared Experiences and Individual Processes

Trauma and Healing: A Journey of Shared Experiences and Individual Processes

1:29:02Ubuntu: A Collective Consciousness and the Interconnectedness of Life

Ubuntu: A Collective Consciousness and the Interconnectedness of Life

1:32:50Forty Days and Forty Nights: Finding Solitude and Attunement in Nature

Forty Days and Forty Nights: Finding Solitude and Attunement in Nature

1:38:06A Storm in the Tree: Facing Fear and Embracing Fragility

A Storm in the Tree: Facing Fear and Embracing Fragility

1:40:06The Power of Solitude: Reconnecting with Yourself and Finding Presence

The Power of Solitude: Reconnecting with Yourself and Finding Presence

1:44:05Feeling Known by Nature: A Deeper Connection and Sense of Purpose

Feeling Known by Nature: A Deeper Connection and Sense of Purpose

1:45:47The Honey Guide and the Bees: A Story of Intensity and Collective Transformation

The Honey Guide and the Bees: A Story of Intensity and Collective Transformation

1:57:18The Language of Energy and Presence: Communicating with Lions

The Language of Energy and Presence: Communicating with Lions

2:02:03The Conversation of Death: A Deeper Understanding of Predator-Prey Relationships

The Conversation of Death: A Deeper Understanding of Predator-Prey Relationships

2:05:36Beyond Our Understanding: The Mysteries of Animal Navigation and Communication

Beyond Our Understanding: The Mysteries of Animal Navigation and Communication

2:07:37Healing from Trauma: Finding Meaning and Purpose in Service

Healing from Trauma: Finding Meaning and Purpose in Service

2:16:54Embodied Activism: The Transformation of Healing and Service

Embodied Activism: The Transformation of Healing and Service

2:19:28The Work of Byron Katie: Questioning Your Thoughts and Finding Peace

The Work of Byron Katie: Questioning Your Thoughts and Finding Peace

2:24:03A Sweat Lodge Experience: A Spiritual Encounter and a Rebirth

A Sweat Lodge Experience: A Spiritual Encounter and a Rebirth

2:31:00The Afterglow of Healing: A Newborn Sense of Presence and Connection

The Afterglow of Healing: A Newborn Sense of Presence and Connection

2:38:02The Leopard in the Fire: A Moment of Stillness and Surrender

The Leopard in the Fire: A Moment of Stillness and Surrender

2:44:40The Power of Nonverbal Communication: Equine Therapy, Wolf Sanctuaries, and the Gift of Being Seen

The Power of Nonverbal Communication: Equine Therapy, Wolf Sanctuaries, and the Gift of Being Seen

2:50:01A Roar of Silence: A Story of Public Speaking Gone Wrong and the Power of Commitment

A Roar of Silence: A Story of Public Speaking Gone Wrong and the Power of Commitment