Walk With Cory McGowan: Nature as a mirror for leadership and self

What happens when you step out of the environment that shaped you — and into one that reveals you? In this conversation, I sit down with Cory, a leadership coach based in rural Japan, whose work brings individuals and teams into nature not as an escape, but as a catalyst for clarity. After years in Tokyo's corporate world, Cory found himself living and working in the mountains of Minakami — a place of shifting rivers, deep seasonal rhythms, and what he describes as a quiet "homecoming." What emerged wasn't just a lifestyle change, but a different way of working with leaders. We explore how nature acts as a co-facilitator in leadership development, why many of us "armor up" to function in modern environments, and what becomes possible when that armor starts to loosen. This conversation also holds an important tension: not everyone is meant to leave their life behind. The real work may be learning how to live more fully where you already are. If you've ever felt the pull of nature — or wondered what it might reveal about who you are — this episode offers a grounded place to begin. This conversation is part of Rooted: A Podcast About Nature & Wellbeing — an exploration of how connecting with nature helps us feel more whole in the lives we're actually living. For episode transcripts, resources, and additional reflections, visit the ROOTED podcast blog at www.rootedsoulliving.com.