Walk with Ryan Conklin: Grief, Initiation, and Being With What Is

I expected this conversation to be about coaching and vision quests. It became something else entirely. Early on, Ryan said something I couldn't move past: There is grief in the gap between who we say we want to be and who we are becoming. What followed was a grounded, honest exploration of grief—not as something to fix or move past, but as something to be with. Ryan is a transformational coach and wilderness guide who leads vision quest experiences—modern rites of passage that invite people to step away from their daily lives and listen more deeply. In this conversation, we explore: What it means to "be with" your own experience Why modern life leaves so much grief unprocessed The role of nature as a container for reflection and transformation How initiation and rites of passage create space for real change This is not a conversation about escaping your life. It's about learning how to be more fully present within it. Walk with us. 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.