179: George J. Grinnell, author of "A Death on the Barrens: A True Story of Courage and Tragedy in the Canadian Arctic." episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 12, 2022 · 1H 21M

179: George J. Grinnell, author of "A Death on the Barrens: A True Story of Courage and Tragedy in the Canadian Arctic."

from Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors · host Will White

George Grinnell is the author of "A Death on the Barrens: A True Story of Courage and Tragedy in the Canadian Arctic" and a retired history professor. George shares the harrowing tale of how, in 1955, at the age of 22, he took part in an epic canoe expedition in the arctic that resulted in a tragedy, redemption and personal transformation. George reveals how the intensity of this rite of passage journey became a spiritual odyssey that changed how he viewed himself and the world. George shares that late in his life when his eldest son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, they went on a 40-day canoe expedition that seemed to have cured his son's mental illness. He dives into how psychology is a relatively new science and time in the wilderness as a healing tool and rite of passage has been used since ancient times. George dives into the theories behind the changes he and his son experienced and the tragic canoe expedition that resulted in the passing of two sons, a cousin, and a friend in 1984.  We thank the underwriters of Season 14, Brightstone Transitions, Point School, and Wisdom Ranch. Season 14 focuses on young adult programs and young adults sharing their stories.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Dec 12, 2022

Embed this episode

Ready to play

179: George J. Grinnell, author of "A Death on the Barrens: A True Story of Courage and Tragedy in the Canadian Arctic."

0:00 1:21:07

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors?

This episode is 1 hour and 21 minutes long.

When was this Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors episode published?

This episode was published on December 12, 2022.

Can I download this Stories from the Field: Mental Health and the Outdoors episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!