Episode: 171
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Alec is joined by Jess Caldwell, founder of Wildkind Outdoors and lead instructor in Earth-based survival and rewilding skills. Together, they explore the difference between fear-based prepping and empowered self-reliance, the importance of personal rewilding, and how returning to Earth-based wisdom can reframe our relationship to challenge, change, and the unknown.
Jess shares how her early approach to survival was rooted in fear after 9/11 and motherhood, and how a divorce and lifestyle shift pushed her to re-evaluate what resilience truly means.
Moving from anxiety to trust, Jess discusses how wilderness immersion and solo survival experiences taught her to see nature not as something to defend against, but to partner with.
An overview of the basics—what to prioritize in short-term survival, and how it differs from long-term self-sufficiency.
Her time working in a mortuary helped her face the fear of death, which ultimately shifted her orientation from scarcity to spiritual sovereignty.
The mindset differences between traditional prepping and earth-based skills—and why spiritual lessons are embedded in rewilding practices.
Jess’s "Aliveness" training invites people to reconnect with their elemental self, seeing the human body as part of, not separate from, the natural world.
How learning to be in discomfort, solitude, and simplicity can rewire what we value and how we live.
A preview of Wildkind Outdoors’ upcoming nonprofit launching in 2025, focused on training changemakers in nature-inspired resilience.
About Jess Caldwell
Jess Caldwell is a survival instructor, certified Wilderness First Responder, and the founder of Wildkind Outdoors. Through Earth skills and self-reliance training, she helps people reconnect with their innate resilience. Her work bridges survival, spirituality, and leadership for times of change. In 2025, she will launch Wildkind Academy: A Nature-Inspired Rewilding School for Changemakers.
Resources and Links
Wildkind Outdoors Website – Nature-inspired self-reliance & leadership training to build courage, confidence & connection
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Show Minutes
0:00 – Rewilding the Human Spirit: Survival, Wildcrafting & The Return of Earth-Based Wisdom
0:38 – Introduction
2:17 – Jess’ path from a standard American lifestyle to where she is now
4:14 – From a fear-based mindset to prepping to developing conscious skillsets and self-reliance
17:50 – Lessons learned working in the death industry and completing death doula training
30:57 – Facing mortality on a seven-day solo
38:00 – Jess’ path into wilderness survival and food sovereignty
46:24 – Living in relationship with nature and the most important skills
49:00 – Forgotten skills and rewilding
1:05:21 – Diet choices for survival and The Rule of Threes
1:40:10 – Essential gear to carry
1:51:11 – Comparing prepping versus bush-crafting lifestyles
1:59:40 – Jess’ solo experiences
2:20:08 – Where to begin with education
2:23:36 – Misconceptions about women in the outdoor industry
2:32:30 – Jess’ online course options