Ep 120 - Living Outside the Box with Matt Smith (Because Some People Actually Know How to Do Everything)

Matt Smith is a fellow yogi from rural Minnesota who makes the rest of us feel like we've been living in bubble wrap our whole lives. He grew up seasonal farm style: spring morel and Chicken of the Woods mushroom foraging, summer Boundary Waters canoeing, winter camping at 38-below (because apparently that's a thing people do for fun), and winter beaver trapping and fur handling. You know, typical Tuesday activities.But wait, there's more. Matt worked wildland firefighting, became a paramedic, and then decided to build his own log house over eight years without taking out any loans. Just learned as he went, recounting close calls with falling trees and a horse accident that probably should've ended differently.Oh, and in his spare time? He built a glamping retreat from scratch. Road, platforms, bathhouse, septic—the whole operation. It's earned over 100 five-star reviews because of course it has.Matt also talks about yoga, self-work, faith, community service, and how he's encouraging his kids to overcome fear and learn actual skills. You know, the kind of skills that matter when the power goes out or you need to, I don't know, survive in the actual world.This conversation is for anyone who's ever wondered what it looks like to live completely outside society's safety nets and create something entirely from your own hands and knowledge. Because some people really do know how to build a life from the ground up. Literally.LINKS:Join our patreon to support this podcast and to join Created Creative Conversations in April! patreon.com/u1107241700:00 Backcountry Beginnings00:17 Welcome and Boxes01:27 Meet Matt the Builder02:45 Farm Life Seasons03:18 Mushroom Foraging 10105:15 Chicken of the Woods07:43 Farming and Work Ethic08:45 Boundary Waters Adventures10:04 Wildland Fire to Paramedic10:40 Building a Log Home12:09 Close Calls and Mustangs13:37 Trapping and Fur Craft16:46 Glamping Retreat Origins18:22 Zillow Hobby Hunting18:37 Buying Land For Family19:08 Building The Glamping Retreat20:41 Community Know A Guy22:01 Reviews And Retreat Ideas22:48 Yoga And Self Work25:02 Kids Farm Freedom26:33 Fixing A Calf Leg29:00 You Are The Project31:45 Mindset And Failure33:28 Campfire Cooking Stories34:50 Documentary And Farewell