In this episode of The Peripatetics, we return to the theme of wildness with Thoreau as our guide. Reflecting on instinct, the raw power of wild nature, and the human struggle to reassert our own "native rights," we explore the deeper tensions between civilization and the untamed spirit within.
Through personal stories of transformation and a re-wilding experience in the heart of Kenya, we delve into the sharp contrast between the forces that seek to control and those that preserve the wild. From domesticated animals breaking free to the untamable intellect, we ask: What happens when we lose touch with our wildness, and how do we reclaim it?
Join us as we unravel the rhythms of nature, creativity, and the self, weaving together reflections on art, vocation, and the harmony found only in the wild.
Transcripts of all episodes are available here. Find Trey on Instagram.
Episode Themes Include:
Reclaiming Our Native Rights: This episode explores the concept of wildness within, drawing from Thoreau's vision of domesticated animals reasserting their native rights. We examine how humans can reclaim their instinctual power, breaking free from societal constraints and rediscovering their true nature.
The Contrast Between Wildness and Civilization: Through personal stories and philosophical reflection, this theme contrasts the raw, untamed forces of nature with the rigid systems of industry, religion, and academia that seek to tame the human spirit. The episode asks how these forces shape, and sometimes suppress, our creativity and freedom.
Wildness as a Creative Force: From the savannahs of Kenya to the inner landscape of the human soul, this theme explores wildness as a source of artistic and intellectual power. The episode reflects on how reconnecting with the wild leads to a more authentic expression of self and art.
About The Show
Inspired by the ancient tradition of walking philosophers — from Aristotle and his followers to Thoreau and Nietzsche — who walked as a way to engage deeply with their thoughts and ideas, The Peripatetics wanders through th e thoughts of great thinkers in nature, art, literature, and philosophy as they intersect with the simple, transformative act of walking.
In season 1, we are discussing Henry David Thoreau's definitive essay on the subject of walking, connecting it with wisdom from a wide swath of philosophic tradtions which share his devotion to achieving clarity and peace through movement.
Whether you're a fellow walker, someone looking for a bit of tranquility, or just curious about how a good walk can change your perspective, you're in the right place.
May your path be smooth and your pace steady.
About The Host
Trey Hill is a filmmaker who cut his teeth as a photographer and one-man-band storyteller for non-profits and NGOs, work which carried him around the world as he sought to expose the inner light present in some of the planet's most overlooked people. He also spent 10 seasons in the NHL as team photographer for the Dallas Stars and has, for the better part of the last decade, directed TV commercials for global brands, working with household names, musicians, sports heroes, and politicians. In 2019, his feature-length debut, the documentary LOUD KRAZY LOVE about Korn's Brian "Head" Welch, premiered on Showtime.
