Wilderness Within Podcast

An exploration our inner worlds through stories and experiences.

A new project by Jonathan “Kai” H. T. Lee, inspired by friends, motivated by stories, and funded by patreon supporters.

 

Meet your host, Jonathan “Kai” Hiu Tun Lee

Community-supported curator of goodness, camera-lugging vagabond and content creator. Currently dwelling in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Wilderness Within (WW) is an exploration of our inner worlds through shared stories and experiences. It is inspired by the stories of good friends and the immense interest to dive beyond the superficial and into the depths of one's devotions and motivations in life. Each episode is intended to be an open share and celebration of the triumphs, failures, learnings, and/or vulnerabilities of the guest(s) and your host, Jonathan "Kai" Hiu Tun Lee. This is also a space where he will share personal stories and lessons from years living as a purpose-driven, camera-lugging vagabond and content creator.

In episode 3, I speak with Beth Huggins amongst the hills of coastal Ecuador on land being stewarded and restored by Regeneration Field Institute.

Beth believes in development work that intimately considers unique community and individual needs with a systemic and holistic approach. I recall her soaking up the book (amongst countless other books) 'How Can I Help?' while living and working together in Nepal. She says "The concept of service in my mind is that you just show up, day after day. You have no expectations. You have no agenda. You are there to support life."

When I asked about the cultural barrier of working in Nepal, "I never imagined I'd spend 7 years in a place. But 7 years (is what) it's taken me to understand the background of those cultural challenges. To understand that, 'oh, even if I don't like this power dynamic that exists' when we work with communities, I don't really get to choose this - it's their power dynamic. It's their culture... All I get to have a say in is how I get to spend my life minutes to support other people to have a say in that - whose space it is."

We also speak into sacrifices, challenges, patience, and of inspiring people in Beth's life who have guided and positively impacted her. Connect w/ Beth @bugggins, follow her work @consciousimpact & @regenerationfieldinstitute

In our 2nd full episode, I have another connective walk and talk with Orion Haas, a long-time friend and brother amongst the jungle on the outskirts of Tulum, Mexico. Orion speaks into the early months of our friendship, then diving into our time and work in Nepal which brought us into a post-disaster, service-oriented community and the contrast to the living situation then in Tulum as a newly married man to Mariana, who was the guest in the previous episode. He offers insight into their lifestyle decision to live life with as little plastics and inorganic waste as possible while maintaining a connection and sense of responsibility to the natural environment and the elements. In essence, Orion shares why a conscious impact is not only important but vital to living an aligned, value-driven life.

We converse about community living and the difference he has experienced when the community has a collective sense of purpose. The conversation then shifts towards the ubiquitous and profound quesiton of "What does it mean to be human?" and his purpose of late of deepening his learnings and practice of Ayurveda, an ancient form of medical sciences from India dating back thousands of years. There is a bonus something at the end of the episode :) Connect with Orion via Instagam @orionhaas & Facebook.

In our first full episode with a guest, I have a connective walk and talk with Mariana Jimenez Moreno, a dear friend, natural building teacher, and community living advocate in the tranquil forested art walk at Holistika in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Mariana speaks into her unique dual-world upbringing in Mexico & the United States, snippets of travel and living experiences in Mexico, France, India, Dominica, and Nepal that have shaped her perspectives and ways of being. We dive into her early curiosities in school on ecologically-sound building methods, and being disappointed by professors and classes' lack of coverage beyond the conventional.

Mariana and I also had a round of shares on some of the dilemmas of isolated modern day living and the contrast to the community living we experienced together through Conscious Impact in Nepal since 2015. She paints a picture as to what the near future could look like for her and her husband Orion, on land and in community, connected with the natural cycles, the elements, and leaning into the skillsets and interests of those around them. This episode was recorded in Feburary 2022 during my memorable visit to the region. Follow Mariana's natural building journeys via Instagam, @superadobe.delanait.

In this pilot episode-trailer, I share the "ah-ha" moment of this podcast in the Spring of 2021 during a camping trip with an old friend outside of Los Angeles in southern California, and the months and years that followed of its shaping and materialization.

WW is possible due to the ongoing financial support of patreon supporters. We are big fans of the value-driven, pay-it-forward model, and the reason why you won't hear razor subscriptions or NordVPN discounts being offered is thanks to the few dollars that my supporters pitch in each month or year. Besides becoming a patron, some of the best ways to support this podcast is to share this episode or show, and to rate it on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite listening platform. Whatever you are able to do, thank you!

Follow & engage with this journey @wildernesswithinpod and/or #wildernesswithinpod

Special thanks to Scott Hanson and Carlos Militante for the WW soundtrack. Scott is also a guest on 1 of the upcoming episodes, and Carlos pourted his artistic talent for the WW logo. A shoutout to Melissa Kaitlyn Carter for her editing & production magic, and the following humans - Paul Jones, Antoine Maes, Aiyana Bailin, Deborah Carson, Rene Dyke, Luke Fernandez, Kelly Pi, Carina Fourmyle, Kelsea Lynn, Khen Russell, Kelsey Yates, Michael Chung, Evan Stickles, Reiki Cordon, Kristine Schiman, Lindsay Claverie, Anne Goodman, Yu Shan Chuang, Otis Skiper, Steven Tracy, Delvin Solkinson, Steven Moe, Steph Bird Parker, Anna Writz, Camila Nieuwlands, Dana Wilson, Naira de Gracia, Dora Lee, Orion Haas, Michelle Kizner, Steven Wong, Gautier Bugat, Jackie Chow Solinsky, Romar Smith, Peter Wells, Jacky Cheung, Tsetop Sokpo, Frankie Lee, Jim Barngrover, Lisa Colligan, Marek Bowers, Ryan Lue, Mikey Leung, and more past & present patrons - in making dreams come true.

The Backstory

Ever since launching my patreon in 2018, I've kept my mind open to what original creations I'd set my energy and attention towards. My interest to dive beyond the superficial and explore the depths of one's devotions has often led to discomfort and/or vulnerability, followed almost always by learning and expansion. I have always found short blurbs and quick responses on social media and a majority of online (and at times in-person too) interactions to be inadequate and unsatisfying. When I released the newsletter in early 2021, it felt like an organic progression in my quest to continue sharing interesting and at times provoking information, snippets from sometimes an unconventional perspective, and thoughts not bound by a certain maximum number of characters and ever-evolving algorithms. The response from every month has been stellar - the feedback, comments, and conversations that have been rekindled or sprouted couldn't have been possible in my opinion if I only relied on social media.

Within several months of starting the newsletter, I thought to myself ‘How can I get to even greater depths within myself and with others?’ It was around a campfire on a camping trip with a friend when the idea struck - the profound and powerful realization that everyone I need to lean into, to get advice from, to collaborate with, etc., are already in my own network. People I call friends can already form the “Avengers” team I may need to overcome a difficulty or challenge. I sat with this incredible thought for hours as I kept feeding the fire with fresh logs. By dawn it was all too clear - deep dives with some of my most inspirational friends would be shaped into a podcast as a snippet of our state of minds and beings of that time. We’d be able to hear back on that conversation like looking through old photographs. The bonus possibility? It’s relatable and provides value for others tuning in. Because at the very bottom of it all is our shared humanity.

A sample of the incredible humans I call friends who I’ve traveled to have in-person conversations with for WW.

The Becoming

Through inspiring conversations with my friends Andy Vantrease, Scott Rist, and Carlos Militante in late 2021, the name of Wilderness Within (WW) took form. Just as the name “subtledream” came to be decades ago and I still find it to be beautiful and fitting, I think Wilderness Within has stuck and will continue to. I will post updates on WW's Instagram account @WildernessWithinPod and use the hashtag #WildernessWithinPod in future posts.

In the very last hours of 2021, I sent out the initial email-invitation to my guests-to-be, and the very first 3 conversations were recorded between Feb-Mar 2022 in southern Mexico and coastal Ecuador. This feels very fitting for the global network of humans I have gotten the utmost pleasure, privilege, and honor to call friends and share life with.

What I believe sets this podcast apart from other podcasts or projects I've embarked on is the simple yet incredible fact that I am going to start by interviewing people I have formed a direct connection with. Through the past decade of globetrotting, living nomadically, and spending time in communities of various interests and intersectionalities have brought me in contact with a plethora of quality humans with depth and stories to share.

The task to choose the initial guests was not easy or simple, but it has been done and the responses thus far have been buzzing with excitement. I also intend to leverage this platform to share some of my own experiences and stories, whether during conversations with the guests or during solo episodes.

The Unfolding

We’re currently deep in production mode! 14 episodes with 15 unique humans have been recorded. The introduction episode was released in October 2023, and the first full guest episode was revealed in November 2023. Check your favorite listening platforms to tune in - we’re on: Spotify, Apple, RSS, iHeartRadio, Pandora, TuneIn, Listen Notes, Amazon Music, Deezer.

My newsletter will continue to be created and released with reflections + good news + curated gems, while future podcasts will also be announced there as they are released.

This new project is fueled by my own curiosity, desire to connect with my friends deeper, and no doubt also by my supportive patreon community, who pitch in a few bucks monthly or on an annual basis. This helps to keep the podcast ad-free (a rarity these days!) and simply makes my life better in all the ways. I am very grateful.