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Katie: Hey and welcome to the Wellness Mama podcast. I’m Katie from wellnessmama.com, and this episode was a extremely enjoyable one for me to report with somebody whose work I’ve adopted for a really very long time. I’m right here with Louie Schwartzberg who you’ve most likely heard of. He’s an award-winning cinematographer, director, and producer whose notable profession spans greater than 4 many years, and he offers breathtaking video utilizing his time lapse and his cinematography strategies that inform inspiring tales that carry nature to life. His theatrical releases, you’ve most likely heard a few of them, embrace Implausible Fungi, which was narrated by Brie Larson, the Mysteries of the Unseen World with Nationwide Geographic, narrated by Forrest Whitaker, and Wings of Life for Disney, narrated by Meryl Streep, America’s Coronary heart and Soul for Walt Disney Studios, and his Hovering Across the World Trip movie which is without doubt one of the hottest in Disney Park’s worldwide.
He has three TED Talks which have over 65 million mixed views, and he’s the one artist to be inducted into the Affiliation for the Development of Science. He additionally obtained the Debra Task Award for management and psychological wellness on the International Wellness Summit. He was featured on Oprah’s Tremendous Soul Sunday, and his Gratitude Revealed packages premiered on the OWN on-line platform as properly. In 2020, he obtained the Grand Visionary Award from the American Visionary Artwork Museum along with many Emmy nominations.
And, as I mentioned, I’ve been an enormous fan of his work for a very long time. He created the sequence out there on Netflix known as Shifting Artwork, which should you haven’t watched it, it’s completely stunning. It’s simply unimaginable cinematography and very calming sounds. It’s one we simply carry on within the background in our home usually, in addition to Implausible Fungi which I watched with my youngsters, and Wings for Life which I consider is on Disney Plus now. And I’m very enthusiastic about his upcoming new movie known as Gratitude. It actually goes into the attractive story of gratitude and why it’s so essential. That’s popping out, relying on if you’re listening to this podcast, very quickly. Yow will discover out extra about that at gratituderevealed.com. I wanna make sure that we maximize our time, so with none additional wait, let’s be a part of Louie. Louie, welcome to the podcast. Thanks a lot for being right here.
Louie: Honored to be right here with you.
Katie: Properly, I’ve been an enormous fan of your work for a very long time, and I’m so excited to get to be taught extra from you right now. For many who aren’t acquainted, I might guess most individuals are, you’ve got a number of actually well-known movies, together with one which I watched with my youngsters known as “Implausible Fungi.” However I’m enthusiastic about your upcoming movie, which is concentrated on the subject of gratitude. So, to begin broad, I might love to only hear what sort of sparked the thought for that one.
Louie: Positive. Properly, gratitude is one thing I believe I type of grew up with, on condition that my mother and father had been Holocaust survivors. They appreciated all of the little issues in life, so, , all the things like meals on the desk or roof over your head, a gentle job, the miracle of having the ability to have kids given what they went via. And so these had been the issues that was like heaven on earth for them. And so dwelling below that, , umbrella of gratitude.
After I went to school, I needed to, , struggle for social justice, however then the anti-war course of had been occurring proper outdoors my classroom. I began to {photograph} the, , police brutality towards protesters and ladies, after which discovered my voice and acquired concerned with images.
And that leads you into taking pictures nature. And if you shoot nature, it’s one other big portal into gratitude, appreciating all of the little issues we take with no consideration, just like the bees that give us the wholesome meals we have to eat, fruits, nuts, greens, seeds. You understand, being an environmentalist is about being grateful. All these issues add up, I believe, to a worldview that’s all about making the world a greater place.
Katie: And such an essential and related message I believe proper now, particularly. I’ve really been a beekeeper since I used to be about 12 years previous and have all the time been simply amazed and fascinated by the bees and positively involved by the statistics we preserve listening to concerning the threats to their inhabitants and what that may do for all life on earth.
And I like that you simply tie within the thought of gratitude and nature as a result of I believe anybody who spends quite a lot of time in nature, that appears very intuitive, however possibly not one thing that’s top-of-mind as we preserve listening to all of those research concerning the well being advantages of gratitude, of which there are numerous proper now. So, I’d love so that you can expound on that just a little bit extra and simply discuss type of the way you wove that into the movie.
Louie: Yeah. Properly, I believe one of many advantages of being in nature is it makes you current, , and that’s what quite a lot of these aware practices are all about when individuals meditate. Simply watching a flower and observing as you simply described at bee touchdown on the flower and understanding the context of what’s actually occurring, this concept that the bee is, like, grabbing that pollen to feed its kids, and on the identical time, the flower is getting the advantage of having its DNA moved from one level to a different as a messenger service.
And as we observe that, we’re the beneficiaries of getting the fruits, nuts, greens, and seeds. And so if you perceive the context or the science behind all of that, however on prime of it, the fantastic thing about what you’re observing, how are you going to not be grateful? How are you going to not really feel appreciation and gratitude that this miracle is occurring, that you’re observing it, that you simply’re alive and have the enjoyment and the emotional expertise of being moved by it? It’s a miracle. It’s a miracle that’s occurring billions of occasions every day.
So, it’s simply one other method that I believe individuals can use gratitude as an entry level to get them out of, like, let’s say a detrimental spiral. You understand, right here you might be. I’m positive you’re elevating your youngsters. It’s not a simple factor to do. To take a second and admire one thing small, whether or not it’s, like, , watching that flower or being grateful that, , your fingers are transferring and which you could breathe and that you simply’ve acquired love in your life, these are all of the little issues that assist you get out of ruminating on issues which can be detrimental. And it’s straightforward for us to fall into that entice. It’s straightforward for me as properly. It’s a muscle it’s important to develop. So, I believe practising gratitude is a method to actually change your life.
Katie: Do you’ve got any specific tips about methods to foster that in our personal lives, and particularly with our youngsters? You talked about for you this has been type of a lifelong instance out of your mother and father. And so for all of the mother and father listening, what are some ways in which we may also help our kids develop that behavior early and sometimes?
Louie: Properly, I believe sharing the sense of marvel that kids have and having the ability to share that and be part of that, to be amazed by one thing so simple as what kids educate you is wish to be amazed at, like, , the crunchiness of a watermelon chew or, , taking a look at a flower or a bug, no matter it is likely to be that this trivial to adults is mind-blowing to a youngster. After which that’s the entire pleasure of elevating kids. I’ve acquired two daughters that I’ve raised, and now I’ve acquired three grandchildren that they’re elevating. I like falling again into that world of marvel and curiosity, . And consider it or not, it does engender gratitude.
Katie: I like that you simply mentioned it that method. That’s one thing I’ve been very conscious of since my youngsters had been born is how a lot…. We attempt to change them a lot within the faculty system and we predict we now have to show them into adults. And I’ve all the time seen how youngsters come type of out of the field with all these wonderful qualities in-built. They’ve that sense of marvel you mentioned. They’ve all this creativity and simply fascination with the world. And we type of prepare that out of them generally.
So, I’ve tried very onerous to assist foster that as a substitute of stifle it by by no means simply saying “as a result of I mentioned so” however really making an attempt to reply their questions and encourage their questions, which will be overwhelming as a result of youngsters ask quite a lot of them. However I like that you simply tied that in as a result of I believe youngsters, to your level, are a few of our greatest lecturers they usually arrive with these wonderful qualities, a lot of which you discuss I believe on this movie, to construct on that, issues like creativity and braveness. I believe youngsters are such nice lecturers of that.
Louie: Additionally, persistence as properly. Instructing us to be affected person as they undergo completely different levels and tantrums, and to present them the dignity of permitting them to be who they’re. They’re clearly pushing boundaries as a result of they’re studying how you can separate themselves as people from you. And it’s important to, I believe, be affected person throughout a few of these type of, , tough moments as properly.
However positively, this entire thought of sharing marvel, curiosity, creativity along with your kids, they’re the perfect lecturers as a result of they’re wide-eyed. I imply, for me, marvel is the intersection between artwork and science, . Whether or not you’re a scientist or an artist, you’re principally doing the identical factor. You’re blown away with marvel. It’s a soul-cleansing expertise. It’s really wholesome to have your thoughts blown.
And practices…and also you requested earlier. I imply, it’s fairly recognized that when individuals simply write three to 5 issues down every single day that they’re grateful for, that actually does, , enhance their life. And there’s even research in hospitals the place, , having a gratitude journal may also help individuals heal quicker, helps with coronary heart illness. So, the proof is fairly apparent that practising gratitude, simply being grateful for what you’ve acquired is a step in the suitable course.
Katie: Yeah. I believe gratitude journaling looks as if such a easy tip, and it’s so profound if you really do it, and it’s very a lot compounding. I’m an enormous fan of Naval Ravikant who talks about compounding not simply in funds, however how in your life if you construct habits they compound into larger and greater outcomes, whether or not or not it’s studying, whether or not it’s gratitude journaling.
And if you discuss that sense of child-like marvel or having seen a few of your movies earlier than, I believe you do an incredible job of capturing that and, like, type of bringing us again into that world. And when you make it look so easy as a result of the movies simply circulation so properly, I can solely think about that they arrive with their justifiable share of challenges. So, I’m simply curious should you had any challenges in assembling any of those movies, particularly the newest one.
Louie: Yeah. Properly, I’m glad you admire that. You understand, individuals say that, , my movies are stunning. And it’s not a superficial factor to make a movie stunning. Magnificence is a part of the story. It’s a part of the messaging. I imply, ask your self, Katie, like, what’s the definition of magnificence? You understand, it’s definitely not the style cultural Kim Kardashian factor that you simply discover on social media. Magnificence, I’ve all the time mentioned, is nature’s instrument for survival as a result of we shield what we love. That’s why your infants are cute. That’s why kittens are cute. That’s why puppies are cute. We’re hard-wired to like and to need life to go ahead. And so, , we’re all the time gonna shield younger individuals, , as a result of that’s what we’re presupposed to do. We’re only a hyperlink within the chain of evolution that goes on, , technology after technology.
So, getting again to the challenges within the film, yeah, I attempt to make issues stunning, and they’re, and I see the sweetness. I’m conscious of the lighting, the composition, the body price, all of that stuff as a result of I need individuals to fall in love with the expertise. And it’s an emotional connection that actually educates individuals, . You possibly can’t give them educational info, like, about local weather change, for instance, like, “Oh, guess what? You understand, the ice cap is melting.” It doesn’t actually shift conduct. However should you fall in love with bushes, for instance, you possibly can’t throw away a bunch of paper. Not since you had been advised to do it, , like a to-do listing, however extra prefer it hurts. You understand, I actually care about this.
So, I’m making an attempt to achieve individuals on a really emotional stage and to speak the marvel and awe that I really feel in the meanwhile of filming one thing. I wanna be capable to translate that and transmit that. And yeah, it’s a battle, however, like, once I see individuals reply to it and whether or not they snigger or cry by watching the movie, that’s once I really feel actually good about it.
Katie: I like that concept of getting individuals fall in love with it. And it is smart that that may drive essentially the most change. Possibly it was Einstein who mentioned, when requested what’s the distinction between like and love, “If you like a flower, you narrow it, and if you like it, you water it.” And that’s all the time type of caught with me, however that appears very a lot what you do. And you probably did I consider in “Implausible Fungi” as properly very a lot so. I realized a lot about mushrooms in that movie, but additionally got here to understand them much more. And in some methods, would you say this one builds on the work you probably did in “Implausible Fungi?”
Louie: It does. You understand, I by no means actually fairly understood the connection. I imply, a part of the rationale for making “Gratitude” was, like, when the pandemic began, , one thing I’ve all the time been, like, wanting. I’ve been taking pictures little sequences. I can’t exit on location simply. So, I figured, , now’s the time to edit this film and put it on the market. However that was a sensible motive.
However the different motive is the knowledge that we realized from “Implausible Fungi” of this, like, mycelial community below the bottom, the shared economic system, not primarily based on greed the place ecosystems flourish, the place a mom tree takes care of its infants, . We gotta take that knowledge from beneath the bottom and convey it above the bottom.
So, after watching “Implausible Fungi,” how do you combine nature’s intelligence into your private life, into your relationships, into the way you increase your youngsters, into your neighborhood, your corporation, your work, your worldview? You possibly can’t simply have this aha second and go, “Oh, my God. So, that’s how a forest works. It’s not a bunch of bushes, it’s really a neighborhood,” . How do you incorporate that knowledge into what you’re doing? That’s actually the problem. So, that’s how I believe the 2 movies are actually complementary. You understand, you see the blueprint of nature’s working directions and we’re part of nature. Why wouldn’t you’re taking that very same sample which has been advanced with, , R&D for about a few billion years, why wouldn’t you’re taking that information and that knowledge of how you can survive, how you can make life flourish, why wouldn’t you wanna apply that to your life?
Katie: And I can solely think about if you’re engaged on a venture of this scale you need to most likely begin with so many interviews and a lot footage. How do you parse out and determine what’s really gonna make the movie? As a result of I really feel like I encounter that on a small scale simply with podcasting. I get to have all these wonderful conversations and be taught all of those wonderful details, and to combine each single factor into my life can be greater than I’ve time for in a day. So, how do you parse via that and determine what makes the reduce?
Louie: Properly, once more, working with, , editors collectively. It’s actually like sculpture. It’s about shaving away something that’s extraneous, and you then carry on shaving it away and shaving it away till you get all the way down to the very core essence of what you’re making an attempt to speak. And my job is to make individuals look good. And hopefully, that’s your job, too, if you do that podcast is that you simply’re gonna get all the way down to the core essence of what we’re making an attempt to share.
And it’s an extended course of. It’s a tedious course of. Quite a lot of occasions I’ll take, , sentence A and reduce it up with sentence B and we shift it round so that folks can actually clearly perceive the purpose that that particular person was making an attempt to make. It’s like enhancing a tough draft if you write a letter, . It’s an analogous factor. And there’s type of a pleasure in simply, like, all the time getting rid of what’s pointless.
So, for me, it’s type of attention-grabbing. It’s like once I do an interview like with you proper now, I’ve to watch out that I don’t edit myself in order that I find yourself with, like, a really streamlined response that’s very quick as a result of that’s what I’m all the time in search of, proper? I need a one-sentence reply at any time when I’m interviewing someone. And once I’m being interviewed by you, I’ve to watch out that I’m not enhancing myself right into a one-sentence reply. However there’s a pleasure in sculpting. It truly is like sculpture.
Katie: And with a venture this massive, I can solely think about that’s additionally just a little bit like most likely bringing a baby into the world and also you most likely have all these type of hopes and desires for it. What can be the important thing takeaways you hope individuals take from this movie, and/or what change do you hope this begins and create ripples for?
Louie: I believe that…properly, particularly, , popping out of this pandemic, one of many hardest issues for most individuals, on the whole, has been this sense of disconnection, of not having the ability to get along with household and associates. And the movie is admittedly about connection in a really broad method of seeing how we really are all related. And I need individuals to come back to theaters if they’ll, clearly. We’re gonna be releasing on September sixteenth in theaters, however then we’ll be doing it nearly and it’ll be out there on-line as properly.
I’m hoping that folks can really feel that sense of connection and having the ability to observe completely different individuals, ethnicities, genders, areas of the nation, areas of the world, and understand we’re similar to one other model of ourselves, . We could have a distinct accent. We could look completely different. We could costume completely different. We could have completely different music and completely different cultural kinds, however we’re all doing the identical factor. We’re caring for our kids. We wanna make the world a greater place. We’re making an attempt to outlive.
And so the movie doesn’t inform anybody, like, what to do or how you can do something, like, with their lives. You’re simply gonna see an instance of somebody who actually has braveness like Erik Weihenmayer, the blind ice climber who climbed Mount Everest, or Patty Wagstaff, , feminine aerobatic champion, a rug weaver in Appalachia. All these completely different, like, outstanding however peculiar individuals are keen about what they’re doing and supplying you with a glimpse into a facet or a price that I believe provides as much as gratitude, generosity, compassion, love, creativity. All this stuff add as much as the general feeling of being grateful.
And in a method, if all of us develop into just a little bit extra current and just a little bit extra loving and just a little bit extra compassionate, I believe it may well change the world. I believe it’s additionally not directly a political assertion in that you simply’re solely gonna vote for those that share your values of defending kids, of eager to make the world a greater place, of getting wholesome meals, wholesome local weather. These are all of the issues we would like. And if you may get individuals to know that, then I believe politically, it’s a robust message.
Katie: Yeah. And also you touched on two issues that I’ve come to seek out in my very own life and likewise seen the analysis to again are so essential broadly for well being, however I believe additionally only for existence as a human. The primary being you touched on that connection and neighborhood side. And this actually struck me once I began delving into the analysis on blue zones as a result of all people likes to pinpoint what it’s about blue zones and whether or not it’s the pink wine or the Mediterranean food regimen or no matter it might be.
And it seems if you really run the information, the one factor that all of them share in widespread is that they have very robust communities. And whether or not they’re ingesting their pink wine or they’re not, or whether or not they’re consuming seafood or they’re not, they’re usually strolling to dinner or to a gaggle the place they’re spending time with family members each single day. And that’s one thing we’ve largely minimized within the trendy world. And so I believe that alone is a big treatment for lots of this stuff that we’re dealing with, and particularly popping out of those previous couple of years type of to undo that anxiousness that so many individuals felt.
After which the second being presence. And I believe as a mum or dad, it is a powerful one, however I might say one of the essential ones as a result of that entire thought of the times are lengthy and the years are quick, that’s so cliche but it surely’s so true, and it’s so onerous to be current generally in these each day moments. That may be so chaotic and so loud and so overwhelming. However I believe the ability of being current in no matter second we’re in is of treatment to so many issues that we encounter in life, and particularly a present to our youngsters who we solely get for a brief proportion of time of their life.
Louie: I completely consider what you mentioned is totally true. And it’s nice that you simply’ve come onto that realization simply from your individual expertise, not having to learn it in books, no matter, however that’s so, so true.
Katie: And I do know that “Gratitude” is the top-of-mind movie proper now, however I’d like to additionally simply…should you might type of overview just a little bit from “Implausible Fungi,” as a result of I do know this one’s out there as properly and other people can watch it. And it was such an enchanting one to observe with my youngsters. And like I mentioned, I realized a lot, and I believe it’s one thing we don’t perceive most of us very a lot about and is so fascinating and such an enormous a part of our world. So, possibly simply share just a little little bit of your inspiration for that one and possibly issues that stunned you.
Louie: Yeah. Properly, as I mentioned earlier, the movie earlier than I made “Implausible Fungi” is “Wings of Life,” which is on Disney+, and that’s the connection between pollinators, bees, bats, hummingbirds, butterflies, and flowers. Narrated by Meryl Streep who’s seducing, once more, with magnificence, these little pollinators to come back get her so she will be able to transfer her DNA round. I name it a love story that feeds the earth. So, then this intersection between the animal world and a plant world I believed was the muse of life.
Properly, then it’s important to ask your self, what do vegetation want? They want soil. And similar to a child with wide-eyed marvel, youngsters will all the time say, “Properly, the place does soil come from? What’s air? What’s water?” And the reply to what’s soil and the place does it come from? Most individuals don’t know that reply. People who go to college don’t know that reply.
So, soil comes from the decomposition of natural matter, which is completed by fungi. And with out them, there can be no soil. No soil, no vegetation. No vegetation, no life. And so I’m all the time type of asking, like, why? Like, just a little child, why this? Why? Why/ Why? And I wanna get deeper and deeper. So, that put me on the journey to make “Implausible Fungi.” And there have been so many issues that I realized that I didn’t know. I didn’t know the truth that it could possibly be the best pure resolution for local weather change as a result of the carbon dioxide goes to the vegetation, the oxygen’s launched, however 70% of the carbon goes down into the roots, transferred to the mycelial community, and is saved there for hundreds of years.
Carbon is the constructing block of life. You’re fabricated from carbon. Crops are fabricated from carbon. So, I realized that it was the best pure resolution for local weather change. I realized that it may well additionally heal us. Lion’s mane is admittedly essential for individuals affected by reminiscence loss, Alzheimer’s. Turkey tail, crucial for increase your immune system. Research have came upon that at the side of another medication, it’s actually essential for most cancers, breast most cancers, specifically. And, in fact, , Psilocybin or magic mushrooms is being now, , utilized in over 60 completely different universities in scientific trials to deal with individuals with trauma and PTSD. We simply completed a trial in Santa Monica combining my imagery with psilocybin to deal with alcohol dependancy, and the outcomes, I believe, are gonna be tremendous optimistic.
So, it’s fairly outstanding what these little guys can do. It’s method larger than the plant kingdom. And the plant kingdom is method larger than us, the animal. And I shouldn’t even use the phrase kingdom. I needs to be respectful and name it kindom in order that we’re, like, gender-neutral. And so they don’t educate it at college. Give it some thought. Simply natural world. They don’t educate fungi, . Most individuals suppose mushrooms are a plant. Hey. That’s like me saying {that a} giraffe is a plant. It’s actually not very clever to try this. And why aren’t we instructing kids? So, we created a curriculum round “Implausible Fungi.” We’re gonna be releasing that in faculties Okay-12 free of charge, educate younger individuals the enjoyment of this miracle of life that’s occurring below the bottom. Simply because we don’t see it doesn’t imply it’s actual. And that’s why I made “Implausible Fungi.”
Katie: Properly, I might like to be included and get updates on the curriculum being launched. We’ve got quite a lot of homeschool mother and father listening, in addition to mother and father who ship their youngsters to different types of faculty, however that sounds fascinating.
And likewise, it makes me so joyful to listen to the way you clarify that since you are very a lot a first-principle thinker, like again and again asking why, which youngsters are so sensible at naturally, and attending to the true constructing blocks within the first rules is so uncommon. And I like encountering individuals who suppose that method as a result of that’s the place you get that stunning magic like your movies.
And I’m additionally glad you talked about the scientific trials which can be occurring with a few of these magic mushrooms as a result of I lately simply interviewed somebody from MAPS and the outcomes they’re getting are completely gorgeous. I imply, we’re not speaking about people who find themselves simply, like, entry-level, possibly I’ve trauma. These are extreme treatment-resistant PTSD who’ve tried all the opposite medical choices. And in a scientific setting, they had been seeing upwards of 60% fully not assembly the diagnostic standards for PTSD after. So, we’re speaking about one thing very, very profound that comes from nature. And I’m actually excited to see that the medical neighborhood is now actually beginning to delve into that, most likely largely because of work like yours and others who’re serving to carry it to the forefront.
Louie: There are simply so some ways I believe nature can converse to us. I imply, nature can…, visually with the movies that I do. However when you concentrate on it, I imply, the best way natural life on the planet communicates is primarily by chemistry, . So, ingesting vegetation which can be drugs, and I’m not speaking about psychedelics now, I’m simply saying, on the whole, all of the vegetation which can be wholesome, which can be good for you, , that heal your coronary heart, your liver, no matter it is likely to be. All drugs primarily comes from vegetation.
So, it’s important to type of scratch your head and go, “Why would a plant create a molecule that’s helpful to your well being? And why would, , a plant or a mushroom create a molecule that may, , assist you open your thoughts and increase your consciousness?” It’s fairly outstanding. It fills me with marvel and awe. I don’t suppose science has a solution for that aside from possibly the mushrooms are wanting us to develop into extra in contact with nature, with the universe in order that we don’t destroy the planet. Possibly it’s a method that they converse to us to be extra current, to be extra acutely aware. However I believe it’s definitely a miracle that they impart to us in so many alternative methods, by both consuming them, by observing them, by touching them. It’s only a miracle we now have this relationship with the plant world and the fungi world.
Katie: Yeah. And possibly additionally it’s really, like, a present to us as people as a result of a number of podcast friends have talked about earlier than in the case of the environmental aspect. They’re like, , “We’ve got to reframe this as a result of it’s not about saving the planet per se. The planet is a self-sustaining organism that’s going to proceed. It’s actually about whether or not we get to maintain dwelling on it or not or we destroy our potential to try this.” And maybe our evolution, in that matter, will assist us to have the ability to proceed current on the planet with the planet’s permission. You’ve had so many…
Louie: And I believe…
Katie: Oh, go forward.
Louie: ….however that’s why gratitude is essential as a result of to have the ability to admire the pollinators, the flowers, the bees, the vegetation, I imply, you then understand we’re only a spec on this big ecosystem. We’ve solely been right here a fraction of a second. If you have a look at the timeline, you say, , people arrived, like, not even a second earlier than the stroke of midnight. All these different life varieties have been right here for billions and billions of years. So, we simply should reside in concord. And I believe gratitude helps you are feeling that emotional connection to reside in concord along with your surroundings.
Katie: Yeah. It’s an exquisite method to put it. And also you’ve had so many wonderful tasks already. I’m curious, what’s coming subsequent for you? I can solely think about you most likely don’t sit nonetheless fairly often. So, what’s subsequent on line for you?
Louie: Properly, presently, , we’re actually engaged on getting the movie out, which we’re doing independently in order that we will management the messaging. However after this, I’m growing a movie about marvel and awe, which is, like, the candy spot of each child, and scientist, and artist. And I need “Implausible Fungi” to be additionally an immersive expertise the place individuals go like this Van Gogh Museum displays and other people can expertise, like, what it feels wish to be below the bottom within the mycelial community and be capable to, , be a mushroom for just a little bit. These are the upcoming tasks in the meanwhile.
Katie: And on that word, earlier than we transfer on from this, how can individuals watch your previous movies and likewise particularly “Gratitude,” which is about to be launched I believe proper in time for World Gratitude Day, proper?
Louie: Yeah. So, gratituderevealed.com has a list of the theatrical screenings which can be arising in a few weeks. After which we’re gonna have a bunch of digital screenings. By November, it’ll most likely be out there on-line. So, should you go to gratituderevealed.com, you’ll be capable to watch “Gratitude.” “Implausible Fungi,” we ultimately licensed it to Netflix. So, it’s out there nearly in every single place. After which I discussed “Wings of Life” on Disney+ is one other nice story.
So, give it some thought. I acquired Meryl Streep being the voice of the flower. I acquired a badass Brie Larson being the voice of the mushroom. I’m all the time utilizing the female to actually be the voice of Gaia, . And I believe that too many nature documentaries deal with the macho, they deal with the kill or be killed, survival of the fittest. And there is part of nature that’s like that, but it surely’s not the true story of nature. It’s not the grand story.
The grand story of nature is the female. It’s about relationships. It’s about nurturing. It’s about cooperation. It’s about giving beginning. It’s about making life go ahead. And people tales don’t have quite a lot of battle. And possibly as a result of they don’t have battle, , the Nat Geos and the BBCs of the world don’t like to inform these tales. It’s fairly straightforward to point out predator versus prey to get an adrenaline rush. However I’d somewhat inform these tales which can be extra on the female aspect as a result of I really feel prefer it warms your coronary heart and it provides you a deeper understanding of what life is all about.
Katie: Yeah. And to circle again to the start and it provides you that appreciation and hopefully love of nature and wanting to guard it and shield our place in it.
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I’m additionally curious, this have to be such an enchanting factor that you simply get to do as your life, however possibly some enjoyable tales out of your time filming, possibly some loopy locations that you simply’ve filmed or conditions that occurred.
Louie: Yeah. Oh, gosh. Properly, I might say like filming monarch butterflies in Mexico was an enormous spotlight in my life, having the ability to be surrounded by hundreds of thousands of butterflies, which, sadly, individuals simply realized that they’re gonna put them on the endangered species listing as a result of as they journey from Mexico all the best way to Canada, the pesticides that we in America placed on the soil are killing pollinators.
However take into consideration this stunning story how these monarchs, , they winter within the highlands of Mexico, 11,000 ft, after which they reproduce alongside the best way as they’re flying to Canada and that their kids, and their grandchildren, and generally their great-grandchildren make the return journey from Canada all the best way again to the highlands of Mexico after which go to the very same 4 or 5 acres the place their grandparents began. How do they know the way to try this? How are they capable of navigate with storms, wind, and all types of variables? It isn’t like you possibly can simply go do south with a compass and get there as a result of the wind would blow you round in all places.
So, to be surrounded by butterflies, by hundreds of thousands of butterflies, to have the ability to hear the sound of their wings fluttering as a result of there’s one million butterflies round you, that I believe was one of many highlights of my life.
Katie: Have there ever been any, like, harmful or wild terrains the place issues acquired just a little dicey for some time?
Louie: Yeah. Each time I shoot aerials, I all the time push it to the sting by getting as shut as I can to a rock, mountain, or happening the face of a waterfall. I imply, by no means to the purpose the place I might ever threat anybody’s life and being in peril, however until you get actually shut to things like that, it’s not dramatic. Gosh, I don’t know.
Properly, like in Gratitude Revealed, I filmed these, like, avenue leisures. These are those that go on, like, lengthy skateboards they usually’re hauling butt down a steep hill nearly at, like, 70 to 80 miles an hour. And I’m in just a little aspect cart, , and there’s no brakes on this stuff. And I’m hanging with a jib arm, which is sort of a piece of metallic and weights, they usually’re low to the bottom they usually acquired these leathered fits on. So, in the event that they fall, they’ll simply skid they usually received’t actually harm themselves. They’re, like, three or 4 inches off the bottom. I’m surrounded by all this metallic, sharp metallic. And if we ever flipped, it might be type of sport over. So, that’s simply an instance of issues I do which can be harmful. However after some time, I imply, I really feel like I’m on a mission to inform the story and to show individuals on. I’m not gonna get harm.
Katie: Wow. That’s an incredible story. Wherever that’s nonetheless a bucket listing merchandise for you, a spot that you simply actually would like to movie?
Louie: I haven’t gone to the Arctic or Antarctica. I’ve been shut. I believe really with Greenland, we had been contained in the Arctic Circle, however I’d like to go actually to the North or South Pole.
Katie: The closest I’ve gotten was in Lapland, Finland, which was barely within the Arctic Circle. And we visited the Sámi tribe and did the sauna and chilly plunge. And it was I believe 20-degree Fahrenheit chilly plunge in transferring water. And that’s by far one of many hardest issues I’ve ever performed in my life, however that was an unimaginable expertise.
Louie: How lengthy had been you within the water?
Katie: Properly, we had been in a 200-degree sauna for so long as we might deal with, which ended up being about half an hour. After which my objective was to remain within the water for one minute, and I did it, and my entire physique was scorching pink from that temperature change.
Louie: I heard it’s actually good for you. I imply, look, that’s simply one other good instance of…and the rationale why it’s helpful is it builds your resilience, . It’s good to push… It’s nearly like a fireplace alarm, . It’s good to have that have of testing, , the resilience of your physique. In the event you’re all the time within the consolation zone, not good, . Don’t all the time be in 72-degree temperature, , as a result of your physique must discover ways to regulate. It’s a very good factor.
And vegetation which can be pressured just a little bit survive longer, proper? And those that eat rather less reside longer. So, having the ability to push the boundaries of your resilience is mostly a wholesome factor.
Katie: Yeah. And I believe ties in with gratitude and psychological well being as properly. I’m an enormous fan of sauna and chilly and likewise fasting at occasions. I believe all of these assist us have gratitude for when issues are so great and straightforward. And the plant factor jogs my memory, I realized the secondhand, so hopefully, it’s correct, however that they had constructed type of a biosphere they usually had all these bushes. And in some unspecified time in the future, the bushes simply began falling over they usually realized it was as a result of they weren’t getting wind and they also weren’t growing resilience of their roots as a result of they weren’t having to, like, have that fortitude to face as much as the wind. And I believed, ‘what an exquisite metaphor for all times? If we by no means encounter the wind, we by no means get to develop our roots.”
Louie: That’s an exquisite story. It’s an exquisite metaphor, but it surely’s so true, . And those that backyard know don’t overwater your tomatoes and don’t try this stuff since you’re giving them an excessive amount of. And possibly the identical factor along with your youngsters. Don’t coddle them an excessive amount of.
Katie: Yeah. From early ages, I’ve had a non-negotiable rule the place I received’t do something for my youngsters that they’re able to doing themselves, however the objective is to lift them to be autonomous. And never that I received’t braid their hair for enjoyable as a bonding expertise or, like, learn tales to them as soon as they’ll learn, however I’m not gonna do their laundry after they can do their laundry as a result of they’re able to doing it, and many others. Like, I don’t wanna take that away from them.
Louie: No, I imply, they’ll additionally get themselves a glass of water, , and all of the little issues. And I discovered once I traveled with my daughters and with my grandkids, it’s like they develop up quicker if you take them out of their surroundings and out of their consolation zone. They should adapt. They should be taught. And that’s how they mature quicker.
Katie: Such an excellent level. And our time, as anticipated, has flown by. I do know you’ve got a tough cease. You’ve been a lot enjoyable to speak to. However a number of final questions I like to ask. The primary one, if there’s a ebook or quite a lot of books which have profoundly impacted your life, and if that’s the case, what they’re and why.
Louie: Oh, wow. Nice query. I believe in faculty, I actually liked Hermann Hesse, , “Demian and Goldmund and Narcissus.” He actually impressed me so much. “Siddhartha” was one other good one. I don’t learn so much as a result of I are inclined to spend all my time filming, enhancing, . It’s onerous to have the time to learn, however these are those that formed me once I was youthful.
Katie: Superior. I’ll embrace hyperlinks to these within the present notes, in addition to, in fact, hyperlinks to your movies. And lastly, any parting recommendation for the listeners right now that could possibly be associated to one thing we’ve talked about or completely unrelated?
Louie: Nice query. I believe I’d wish to circle again to that entire thought of shield what you’re keen on, whether or not it’s your kids, the planet. Be open to that feeling of affection. And love comes from being impressed by magnificence, and to develop that as a ability. In the event you’re on a stroll, discover the sunshine hitting the bushes to concentrate on magnificence. Simply concentrate on magnificence. Nurture it. It’ll change your life.
Katie: That’s an exquisite place to place a pin in it for right now and to summarize a lot of what we talked about. Like I mentioned at the start, I’ve admired your work for a very long time. I liked watching your movies with my youngsters. And I’m so grateful for you taking the time and being right here with us right now, and so excited to observe “Gratitude.”
Louie: You understand, really, there may be one different factor I needed to share. I’ve a sequence on Netflix known as “Shifting Artwork.” It’s stunning nature with music. And I’ve gotten feedback from mother and father who’ve mentioned they’ve had main breakthroughs with kids with autism, or they use it to place their youngsters to sleep at night time. I’ve by no means claimed it’s a therapeutic modality, however apart from kids, I imply, youngsters which can be suicidal, individuals with PTSD, individuals with most cancers, individuals on the finish of life, however I’ve been actually impressed by getting these tales of how mother and father with kids with autism have main breakthroughs by watching these movies.
Katie: I like that you simply talked about that. I want we had even delved into it just a little extra. We don’t do a lot TV in our home, however as a result of there was already an enormous TV in the home after we moved in and I didn’t wanna simply flip it into a type of static footage, I fairly often have “Shifting Artwork” on on the TV as a result of it’s so stunning. And I’ll discover the children as I stroll via generally they’ll simply type of be enthralled by it and it’ll catch their consideration for a short time. It’s additionally simply so deeply enjoyable and nearly meditative.
So, should you guys haven’t checked out “Shifting Artwork,” extremely, extremely suggest that one, in addition to your whole different movies. And I’ll positively be there for a screening of “Gratitude.” And with that, I’ve a lot gratitude for you and your work and to your time right now. Thanks for being right here.
Louie: Thanks, Katie. Love what you do.
Katie: Thanks. And thanks, as all the time, to all of you for listening and sharing your most useful sources, your time, your power, and your consideration with us right now. We’re each so grateful that you simply did, and I hope that you’ll be a part of me once more on the following episode of the “Wellness Mama Podcast.”
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