Mentoring In Relationship with the More-Than-Human World with Jon Young

In this conversation, Victoria Loorz speaks with Jon Young, award-winning wildlife tracker, storyteller, mentor, and author of influential books including What the Robin Knows. Since 1979, Jon has researched a single theme: why do some social groupings of people consistently facilitate deep nature connection, while others do not? Drawing from Indigenous wisdom traditions, mentoring lineages, and his own lifelong relationship with the living world, Jon has spent decades exploring how humans cultivate deep connection with nature, self, and community.Together, they explore the lost art of mentoring and the ancient discipline of bird language as a doorway back to the connected mind. Jon reflects on the grandmothers and elders who shaped him, his decades of work with Indigenous communities including the Naro people of the Kalahari, and a vision from his annual self-reflection practice — one that carries an urgent message from future generations about what this moment is asking of us.Connect with Jon:Website: jonyoung.orgBook: What The Robin KnowsMentioned in the episode:Book: Last Child in the Woods by Richard LouvBook: The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis WellerBook: Guiding Lights by Eric LiuConnect with the Center:Website: wildspirituality.earthVictoria's Website: victorialoorz.comEmail: [email protected]: linktr.ee/ctrforwildspiritualityInstagram: @center_for_wild_spiritualityTimestamps:00:00 — Introduction03:59 — Interview Begins05:07 — The Land Who Raised Jon08:08 — An Enclaved Family12:06 — Grandmotherly “Tricks”14:10 — 10 Year Old Jon Meets Tom Brown18:46 — The Naro People22:34 — The Lifetime of Mentoring26:37 — The 5 Needs For Mentorship28:04 — The 10 Stones of Connection36:24 — Needed Reflection37:56 — Deep Bird Language45:58 — Restoring Our Connective Capacity49:05 — The Message from Future Generations53:41 — Wandering Invitation55:49 — Credits