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Published by Cole Wilks & Joel Van Der Loon
IN THE BUSH is where wilderness survival, hunting and ancestral knowledge meet something deeper. Hosts Cole and Joel go beyond the how-to of bushcraft and nature connection, diving into the psychological, spiritual, philosophical, and energetic threads that run through it all. Each episode is a real conversation — unhurried, curious, and willing to get deep — with guests ranging from accomplished experts in their fields to some of the most interesting people you've never heard of. Host: Cole Wilks Cohost: Joel van der Loon
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Send us Fan Mail Joel van der Loon sits down with Ryan Levinson for a wide-ranging conversation about diagnosis, risk, purpose, masculinity, and what it means to keep moving when your body changes. Ryan shares the arc from his mid twenties diagnosis with FSH muscular dystrophy to the decade he spent sailing in French Polynesia, and how those experiences reshaped his sense of self. This episode matters because it goes beyond a success story and gets into the harder question of how to stay oriented when the old sources of identity no longer fit. In this episode, Ryan Levinson shares how his diagnosis in his mid twenties with FSH muscular dystrophy changed the trajectory of his life. Joel and Ryan trace Ryan’s early identity through surfing, skateboarding, and a rebellious streak that pushed against school, family expectations, and conventional career paths. Ryan explains the suicidal moment in college through a mistaken philosophy about living close to death, and how a friend interrupting that night changed everything. The two discuss how surfing, the ocean, and later sailing became spiritual anchors through movement, challenge, and clarity of purpose. Ryan describes how the diagnosis unexpectedly opened doors, shifting how others saw him from lazy or unrealistic to inspirational and capable. They talk through the decision to buy a sailboat and live aboard in French Polynesia for a decade, including the fear, surrender, and transformation that came with leaving the dock. Ryan shares how disease progression has changed his body, his daily capabilities, and his relationship to purpose, protection, and being a partner to Nicole. Joel introduces a spiritual lens around knowing oneself, shadow work, and authenticity as the path to meaning. Ryan reflects on how much of his life has been driven by perseverance, and how he now has to reassess his limits much more frequently. The conversation closes with mutual gratitude, vulnerability, and Ryan sharing where people can find him online. Timestamps 00:00 - Brotherly reunion and the energy of deep trust 03:24 - Surfing, rebellion, and the identity Ryan built before diagnosis 06:14 - The college suicide call and the friend who broke through the moment 09:44 - Why it was not about depression, but about anticipation and future fear 11:45 - Feeling trapped by a future with no obvious vocation 13:05 - Surfing as meditation and a spiritual connection to something larger 15:10 - The diagnosis and the first move toward a new path 16:24 - Pressure from family versus a dream of ecotourism and ocean work 17:23 - A doctor’s blunt advice to choose something practical 20:18 - How the diagnosis changed public perception and opened doors 21:17 - Leveraging disability, media, and adaptive sports opportunities 23:54 - Why Ryan and Nicole bought a sailboat and crossed to French Polynesia 25:52 - Surrender, trust, and leaving the dock without knowing the outcome 28:29 - What long passage sailing changes in a person 31:44 - Simplicity, clarity of purpose, and why risk feels meaningful 35:53 - Ryan’s current conflict around purpose as physical ability declines 38:25 - Losing the ability to protect in the way he once could 40:34 - Why Nicole’s capability changes the burden conversation 44:19 - The emotional and psychological work of surrendering masculinity 48:24 - Joel’s view of spiritual awakening as remembering the soul 52:08 - Why the compass shifted before leaving the boat life 55:36 - The physical toll of years at sea and disease progression 60:23 - Metrics, recovery, and adapting daily to what the body can do 63:01 - Constant reassessment before surfing, diving, or physically demanding work 65:32 - What Ryan is most proud of now: perseverance 68:02 - Joel’s challenge that logic can become a trap 69:35 - Why the relationship with Nicole is central to Ryan’s fear 71:14 - Joel’s teaching on knowing God through knowing self and others 75:21 - Untangling the story of self and doing shadow work 77:20 - Hadza, wilderness time, and the progression of spiritual learning 81:10 - Joel’s divorce, grief, and the liberation of brutal self-honesty 84:19 - Ryan on people inventing new stories instead of accepting change 85:46 - Life as floating with the current instead of fighting it 87:21 - Accepting that decline, loss, and change are guaranteed 90:09 - Final gratitude and where to find Ryan online Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Joel gives an update about the podcast and also talks about the upcoming courses through his school. The holistic fair chase hunting course and the Hadza full immersion adventure are available for booking. spots are limited. please check out www.bushsurvivaltraining.com Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Darren Silver, MA, is a rite of passage guide, Nature-Connected Coach, ceremonialist, and innovative educator. He has nearly two decades of experience working with ritual, wilderness living skills, and guiding transformational experiences residentially and internationally. A gifted storyteller and apprentice to the old myths, Darren weaves the power of the natural world, vision, and community in devotion to the remembrance of regenerative culture. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Cole and Joel talk talk about a variety of subjects including hunting with a traditional bow and things to consider with your setup. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Justin Egliskis is a unique individual with a desire to help people align their energy and feel fulfillment in their lives. His perspective is refreshing and certainly promotes contemplation around how to live life as a better man. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Jessica Carew Kraft, an urban wife and mom of two, was firmly rooted in the modern world, complete with a high-powered career in tech and the sneaking suspicion that her lifestyle was preventing her and her family from truly thriving. Determined to find a better way, Jessica quit her job and set out to learn about "rewilding" from people who reject the comforts and convenience of civilization by using ancient tools and skills to survive. Along the way, she learned how to turn sticks into fire, stones into axes, and bones into tools for harvesting wild food―and found an entire community walking the path back from our technology-focused, anxiety-ridden way of life to a simpler, more human experience. Get a copy of Jessica’s book “Why we need to be Wild”. https://www.jessicacarewkraft.com/ https://jimgreenfootwear.com/ Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Ryder Redfield is a close friend and ranch manager in Central Oregon. Ryder talks about his connection to the land, wildlife and his struggles with finding purpose and understanding in life. Joel and Ryder talk about their friendship and the spiritual growth they have experienced together through community and psychedelics. https://www.ryderredfield.com/ https://jimgreenfootwear.com/ Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Joel and Cole update the listeners with their hunting and fishing adventures over this spring season. Check out http://jimgreenfootwear.com/ for barefoot style boots. Made durable and comfortable. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Aaron Bott is the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wolf Biologist. Joel and Aaron discuss the complexities of managing wolves on a landscape and the controversy that wolves cause. Aaron talks to the history, behavior, and characteristics of wolves and the ungulates they prey on. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Gary is a Naked and Afraid survival legend. He is a larger than life character that has a passion for the planet and reducing consumption. He is renowned for eating almost anything and tells us all about it and why he does it. We laugh hard on this one! Enjoy https://garygolding.com/ Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Ray Livingston was a participant on Alone season 6 and the co-host of the show Mud, Sweat & Beards. Ray is a hunting guide and primitive skills enthusiast with a particular interest in conservation and predator hunting. He was formerly a police officer, an experience he views as very valuable in his spiritual development. Cole & Joel dive into his spirituality and philosophy as well as his hunting endeavors. They talk about hunting bullfrogs, predators, and so much more. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Jeremy Coburn has a PhD in Linguistics with a concentration on African languages and linguistics. He has focused his research on the Hadzabe Hunter gatherers of Tanzania, East Africa. Cole and Joel dive into the unique click like language of the Hadza as well as all the challenges they face with the decline of their historical hunting grounds. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Kielyn and her husband Dave are professional winter travel and wilderness living guides. Together they run a company called Lure of North offering winter expeditions. They live off grid in Espanola, Ontario which is also the base camp for their expeditions. Cole and Joel dive into the off grid lifestyle, being isolated, her marriage, and her experiences on Alone season 7. Visit https://lureofthenorth.com/ to sign up for an incredible winter expedition. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail As an avid adventurer, seasoned photographer, and survival expert, Sunny Mia has dedicated a life to capturing the essence of the great outdoors while equipping others with the skills needed to thrive in nature's embrace. Having completed Discovery Channel’s 21-day survival challenge on *Naked and Afraid*, and serving as a first aid instructor for three years, along with six additional years in the medical field as a patient clinician and medical instructor, Sunny's expertise goes far beyond adventure – it encompasses safety, resilience, and self-reliance. https://www.aceexpeditions.online/book-online Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail David Story is the executive producer for Discovery channels Naked and Afraid show. Cole and Joel talk to him about his role, the camera crew, the editing process, scouting locations and how to find participants. David talks to the challenges of producing a survival show and shares his experiences through some great stories. Think you have what it takes to be a participant on the show? Apply at www.metalflowersmedia.com Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Captain Dean Thomas is a life long saltwater fisherman. He is the co-host of the Bite Me podcast and has been a professional fishing guide for over 20 years. Cole and Dean talk about the beauty of being on the water and fishing from a kayak. https://www.fishingtackleunlimited.com/meet-the-team Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Cole and Joel talk about the importance of having good woodsmanship skills. Bowhunters need to get close to the animals they pursue and to do it they need to study the animal, predict where it may be and then get very close for a shot. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Yana Robertson is a friend and a well accomplished traditional bowhunter. She is the daughter of Master Bowyer Dick Robertson the owner and founder of Robertson Stykbows. We talk about her childhood, hunting whitetails and Elk, and her approach to hunting. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Zach Henry is an outdoor educator and teacher at the forge school in Bend Oregon. Zach has a very unique and refreshing perspective on educating young men in this modern and domesticated world. Cole and Joel explore his perspective and reflect on the experience of having three teenage boys attend the annual hunting course in Texas. Visit Forge school here: https://www.forge.school/ Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
Send us Fan Mail Cole, Joel, and great friend Keith Syers share stories and thoughts at pig hunting camp in Texas. Conversation revolves around the trad bow vs compounds, hunting ethics and stalking wild pigs. Visit Folsompointnutrition.com and use code INTHEBUSH on checkout to receive a 20% discount on 100% grass fed Bison supplements. Please support them to support us. Support the show Huge thank you to everyone who supports In the Bush podcast — if you've been enjoying the show, please consider making a donation to help us keep producing the content you love. Every bit of support helps us keep the mics on and the episodes coming. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time! www.primalskillsacademy.com
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Observed September 21, 2026.
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