The Key to Making Deeper, More Authentic Connections with Other Living Beings (inspired by the life of Jane Goodall)
No one is an island. Even though we need to occasionally step away to engage in our solo pursuits, we still need a place that we can come home to. Having roots makes us feel like we are part of a community and are not alone on our quest. That’s why connecting with others is a fundamental need we must fulfill to thrive.
One person who exemplifies the importance of community and being connected to the world around us is ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall.
From her decades of learning and observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat to her more recent years spent educating and building awareness about conservation and solidarity, she’s been guided by a deep spiritual and moral conviction to reveal the common thread that connects us all.
Jane reminds us that we are connected and we are all vital parts of a beautiful whole. When our head and heart work in harmony, we can deeply understand all living creatures, including our fellow humans.
To discuss Jane Goodall’s long and illustrious career and her message of love and hope, I invited Susan B. Katz. Susan is an award-winning, bestselling, Spanish bilingual author/illustrator. She has over a dozen published titles. Her book, The Story of Ruth Bader (baiter) Ginsburg (gins-burg), recently hit #18 on Amazon’s overall Bestseller List and #9 in children’s books. Meditation Station, a picture book about trains and mindfulness, won the 2020 International Book Award for Best Mind/Body/Spirit Children’s Book. She also earned the Moonbeam Gold Award for Best Picture Book in celebration of My Mama Earth.
Learn more about Susan B. Katz and her books at her website.
Interview timestamps:
05:35 ︳Susan explains what inspired her to write a book about Jane Goodall
09:00 ︳What was unique about Jane's approach to connecting with animals and the environment
11:30 ︳How Jane was able to communicate with chimpanzees on an emotional level and gain their trust, and what it can teach us about building connections
14:00 ︳The interconnection between animals and human beings and the commonalities we share
16:00 ︳How Jane's life demonstrates the power of passion and resilience
19:50 ︳The dark side Jane observed in chimps and what she learned from it
22:00 ︳How Jane was able to gain their trust, and what it teach us about building connections
29:05 ︳How Jane's experiences invigorated her efforts to spread her message about the planet's conservation
32:20 ︳Susan shares her experience of seeing Jane Goodall
34:29 ︳Jane's ability to stay politically neutral in her activism to conserve the planet
36:00 ︳The importance of uniting and seeing our commonalities
40:00 ︳The different ways we can connect the natural world, contribute to our fellow humans and support the planet