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Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

By: Rupert Isaacson
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 Welcome to Live Free Ride Free, where we talk to people who have lived self-actualized lives on their own terms, and find out how they got there, what they do, how we can get there, what we can learn from them. How to live our best lives, find our own definition of success, and most importantly, find joy. Your Host is New York Times bestselling author Rupert Isaacson. Long time human rights activist, Rupert helped a group of Bushmen in the Kalahari fight for their ancestral lands. He's probably best known for his autism advocacy work following the publication of his bestselling book "The Horse Boy" and "The Long Ride Home" where he tells the story of finding healing for his autistic son. Subsequently he founded New Trails Learning Systems an approach for addressing neuro-psychiatric conditions through horses, movement and nature. The methods are now used around the world in therapeutic riding program, therapy offices and schools for special needs and neuro-typical children.  You can find details of all our programs and shows on www.RupertIsaacson.com2023 Helios Harmony, LLC Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • America Within America: Tribal Advocacy, Sovereignty & the Future of Native Nations | Jeff Tomhave | LFRF 48

    America Within America: Tribal Advocacy, Sovereignty & the Future of Native Nations | Jeff Tomhave | LFRF 48
    Mar 5 2026
    ✨ “Once people release the trauma, we can start dreaming about possibility.” – Jeff Tomhave✨ “It’s not rocket science. It’s telling a compelling story to a receptive audience.” – Jeff TomhaveJeff Tomhave is a Native American attorney and tribal advocate who has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of federal policy, infrastructure development, healthcare access, and tribal sovereignty.In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Jeff for a far‑reaching conversation about what it means to live in “America within America.” From federal land trust systems and underfunded reservations to cancer treatment access and tribal disenrollment, Jeff offers a rare inside look at how Native nations navigate – and challenge – the structures imposed upon them.Jeff shares how his own path to law was less about becoming a courtroom attorney and more about gaining the tools to advocate for tribal communities at the highest levels of government. Together, he and Rupert explore invisibility, historic trauma, cultural survival, gaming revenues, sovereignty, and Jeff’s long‑term dream of training the next generation of tribal advocates.This is not just a conversation about law. It is about survival, adaptation, sovereignty, healing, and what the future of Native America could look like.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Jeff’s tribal background (Hidatsa, Mandan, Arikara, Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk) and how boarding school history shaped modern Native identity [00:06:00]Why he chose to earn a law degree without intending to practice traditional law [00:10:00]How the federal trust system prevents many tribes from owning their own land [00:12:49]Why property taxation limitations impact essential services on reservations [00:16:27]How infrastructure advocacy actually works in Washington, DC [00:25:00]The Navajo Mountain road project and how paving 14 miles changed an entire school system [00:25:46]How HIV/AIDS treatment became accessible in Indian Country after years of advocacy [00:30:23]The 10-year effort to secure reimbursement for the first cancer treatment center on Navajo Nation [00:32:32]Why Native America often feels “invisible” inside the United States [00:45:04]The impact of checkerboard land systems and railroad-era policies on modern reservations [00:47:25]The reality behind gaming revenue and why most tribes remain economically fragile [01:04:33]The controversial practice of tribal disenrollment and blood quantum laws [01:24:33]Jeff’s vision for training a new generation of tribal advocates from within Native communities [01:44:00]What a unified Native future could look like 50 years from now [01:46:39]Memorable Moments from the Episode:The powwow rodeo lariat dance as a symbol of cultural evolution [00:58:50]The “divide and conquer” legacy and why tribal unity remains complex [01:10:53]The idea that genocide can continue through policy and paperwork [01:26:26]The story of French adoption into Plains tribes and cultural adaptation [01:32:00]Rupert recounts how Navajo ceremony transformed his son’s autism journey [01:41:00]Jeff’s quiet but powerful dream of building tribal advocacy capacity from the ground up [01:44:00]Projects and Organizations Mentioned:• Tomhave Group• Native American Humane Society• Navajo Nation• Indian Health Service• Bureau of Indian Affairs• First Nations Development InstituteAbout Jeff Tomhave:Jeff Tomhave is a Native American advocate and Juris Doctor who has dedicated his career to helping tribes secure infrastructure, healthcare access, and federal resources. Through the Tomhave Group, he works directly with tribal governments to develop strategy, secure funding, and navigate federal systems.After more than two decades in Washington, DC, Jeff and his wife Brandy are relocating to North Dakota, where they plan to establish a community-based advocacy and training center aimed at building long-term tribal self-advocacy capacity.To learn more: https://tomhavegroup.comSee All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.comFollow Us:Long Ride Home: Website: https://longridehome.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehomeNew Trails Learning Systems: Website: https://ntls.co Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystemsAffiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
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    1 hr and 59 mins
  • Time Travel Through the Classical Canon: Xenophon Press, Emotional Mastery & the Future of Horsemanship with Richard Williams EP 47

    Time Travel Through the Classical Canon: Xenophon Press, Emotional Mastery & the Future of Horsemanship with Richard Williams EP 47
    Feb 19 2026

    ✨ “The horse lives in the present. If you want to be a good horse person, you need to become more like the horse.” – Richard Williams

    ✨ “Horsemanship is a physical meditation. The horse is a three-dimensional mirror.” – Richard Williams


    From preserving rare classical manuscripts to exploring the emotional and civilizing power of horsemanship, Richard Williams — publisher of Xenophon Press — joins Rupert Isaacson for a deep dive into why the old masters still matter.

    In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert and Richard trace the arc of classical equestrian knowledge from Xenophon through the Renaissance academies, La Guérinière, Steinbrecht, Baucher, and Nuno Oliveira — right up to the modern therapeutic and rehabilitative applications of classical riding.

    Richard shares how he came to acquire Xenophon Press, why publishing these works is an act of stewardship rather than profit, and how editing and translating classical texts became a form of "time travel." The conversation moves from Renaissance schools that trained diplomats through horsemanship, to emotional regulation in the saddle, to the role horses may play in addiction recovery and mental health today.

    🎥 FREE Helios Harmony Intro Course: https://longridehome.com/onoutpout
    📚 All Books Mentioned: https://longridehome.com/books
    🎟️ Xenophon Press Discount Code: 7greatCUSTOMER (7% off) https://xenophonpress.com

    This is not simply a conversation about dressage. It is about humility, mastery, emotional regulation, leadership, and the civilizing influence of the horse.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • Richard’s journey into purchasing Xenophon Press and preserving classical texts ([00:03:00])
    • How publishing classical works became a form of “time travel” across centuries ([00:06:00])
    • Why Renaissance academies trained diplomats through horsemanship, fencing, and mathematics ([00:32:00])
    • How stallions in the academies helped civilize young aristocrats ([00:35:00])
    • The link between classical riding and emotional regulation ([00:49:00])
    • Why breathing and “feel” anchor the rider in the present moment ([00:54:00])
    • The four conditions of horsemanship: ignoring, opposing, yielding, harmonizing ([01:00:00])
    • Why therapeutic riding is embodied practice — not a gimmick ([01:11:00])
    • How classical training benefits the horse physically and mentally ([01:16:00])
    • A recommended reading pathway through the classical canon ([01:18:00])


    🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

    • Rupert describing Xenophon Press as a modern Library of Alexandria ([00:01:30])
    • Richard’s story of his brother being launched into a manure pile by a pony ([00:37:00])
    • The insight that horses sort for emotional maturity ([00:39:00])
    • Discussion of how leaders historically were judged by how they rode ([00:43:00])
    • The idea that horsemanship teaches recovery from imbalance — not avoidance of it ([01:02:00])
    • Riding as a practice of embodied mindfulness and humility ([00:50:00])
    • Exploring the potential of horses in addiction recovery work ([01:15:00])


    📚 Projects, Thinkers, and Ideas Mentioned:

    • Xenophon
    • Giovanni Battista Tomassini – The Italian Tradition of Equestrian Art
    • François Robichon de La Guérinière – École de Cavalerie
    • Gustav Steinbrecht – Gymnasium of the Horse
    • François Baucher
    • Nuno Oliveira
    • Dom Diogo de Bragança – Dressage in the French Tradition
    • Alois Podhajsky – The Complete Training of Horse and Rider
    • Sally Swift – Centered Riding
    • Renaissance Schools of Horsemanship in Naples

    🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:
    Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

    📲 Follow Us:

    Long Ride Home:
    Website: https://longridehome.com
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

    New Trails Learning Systems:
    Website: https://ntls.co
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

    📊 Affiliate Disclosure: Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • Being Upset by Beauty | Healing, Activism, Ayurveda & the Quiet Power of Presence with Rejane D’Espirac | Ep 46

    Being Upset by Beauty | Healing, Activism, Ayurveda & the Quiet Power of Presence with Rejane D’Espirac | Ep 46
    Feb 5 2026

    ✨ “I’m upset because life should be so beautiful.” – Rejane D’Espirac
    ✨ “Healing begins with attention.” – Rupert Isaacson

    In this expansive and deeply reflective episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson is joined by French writer, journalist, filmmaker, and activist Rejane D’Espirac for a wide‑ranging conversation on healing, presence, storytelling, plants, and what it means to live a life in service.

    Rejane’s work sits at the crossroads of human rights, environmental activism, health, and inner transformation. From documenting the long‑term aftermath of the Bhopal industrial disaster in India, to exploring Ayurveda, yoga, infertility, and the healing power of attention, her life and career have been shaped by one central question: how do we truly care for one another in a damaged world?

    Together, Rupert and Rejane explore the idea of being “upset by beauty” — not anger, but the kind of heartbreak that comes from seeing how precious life is, and how easily that magic is overlooked or harmed. They discuss relationship as medicine, presence as a healing force, plants as silent allies, and why service — rather than self‑actualization alone — is often the key to meaning.

    ❤️ Support the Podcast on Patreon https://patreon.com/longridehome


    This episode weaves personal story, activism, philosophy, and nature into a conversation about attention, awe, responsibility, and hope.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • What Rejane means by being “upset” — not with anger, but with love, beauty, and the pain of seeing life disrespected ([00:02:26]–[00:06:00])
    • The long‑term human and environmental impact of the Bhopal industrial disaster, and why its consequences are still unfolding decades later ([00:08:44]–[00:11:00])
    • How the Sambhavna free clinic in Bhopal uses Ayurveda, yoga, plants, and care to support survivors when Western medicine alone no longer works ([00:13:17]–[00:26:23])
    • Why care, listening, and relationship account for a large part of healing — often more than techniques or medication ([00:31:25]–[00:37:21])
    • Rejane’s personal journey through infertility, Ayurveda, and unexpected pregnancy — and what it revealed about quality versus quantity in healing ([00:47:11]–[00:57:06])
    • How attention, presence, and being truly seen can unlock self‑healing processes in body and mind ([01:02:27]–[01:04:53])
    • Why sadness, isolation, and disconnection are central challenges of modern life — and how service and relationship help counter them ([01:24:53]–[01:27:22])
    • The quiet power of flowers, plants, and awe — and why beauty itself can be a political and healing force ([01:29:42]–[01:33:22])


    🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

    • Rejane explains how witnessing suffering without solutions led her from journalism into activism ([00:07:40]–[00:08:15])
    • A detailed account of how the Sambhavna clinic was founded, and why detoxification, yoga, and plants became central tools ([00:21:02]–[00:25:55])
    • Rupert reflects on care, attention, and yoga nidra as accessible forms of self‑healing ([00:40:31]–[00:42:16])
    • Rejane shares how a simple question — “Why are you so sad?” — opened a profound healing journey ([00:49:49]–[01:03:10])
    • A moving exchange on flowers as symbols of connection, resilience, and life’s quiet intelligence ([01:29:24]–[01:33:30])


    📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned:

    • Sambhavna Clinic (Bhopal) & documentary “Sambhavna” https://sambhavnabhopal.org/
    • At Last, a Baby – Rejane D’Espirac
    • The Discreet Power of Flowers – Rejane D’Espirac https://www.rejanedespirac.com/
    • The Horse Boy, The Long Ride Home & The Healing Land – Rupert Isaacson
    • Movement Method – New Trails Learning Systems

    🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

    Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

    📲 Follow Us:

    Long Ride Home
    Website: https://longridehome.com
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

    New Trails Learning Systems
    Website: https://ntls.co
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/horseboyworld
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

    📊 Affiliate Disclosure:

    Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 4 mins
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