This solo episode is a comprehensive breakdown of my experiences with barefooting. As a long-time barefooting proponent, I’ve traversed thousands of miles of various terrain with bare feet or minimalist footwear, and I’ve learned quite a bit about the often unknown and under-utilized capabilities of the human foot. I detail my experiences wearing minimalist footwear in challenges like the Tough Mudder and GoRuck, as well as during my recent backcountry hunter course. I break down my favorite minimalist footwear brands, unpack the myth of arch support and share some not often discussed benefits of barefooting that I’ve discovered over the years. Note: This podcast is best enjoyed while walking barefoot on a forest trail.
EPISODE BREAKDOWN:
- Daniel elaborates on his Moon Dance experience, how he learns, mentors and detoxification
- Bear hunting update and thoughts on bio-regional animism
- Beards
- No shoes, no shirt, no service
- Cody Lundin and barefoot extremism
- Connection to our earth mother
- Daniel’s personal barefooting journey and barefooting shoe progression
- Experiences wearing Vibram’s during Tough Mudder & GoRuck challenges
- Recent experience wearing Vivo boots at Magpul Backcountry Hunter Course
- "Are those comfortable?” — other people’s impressions of minimalist footwear
- Homunculus explained
- Treading lightly
- Heels and conventional footwear
- What about arch support?
- Some of the cons of minimalist shoes
- Prehensility
- Breakdown of Daniel’s favorite barefoot shoes + his current shoe collection
- What’s in Daniel’s first aid kit
- Feet that are adaptable to the urban and natural worlds
- Staying in touch with our environment — feet as sensory organs
- Being a fully developed human