DeepSummary
Harry Turner, a former British Army soldier, joined the military at age 18 and was deployed to Afghanistan, where he witnessed traumatic events that led to severe PTSD. In a suicidal state, he went to the Peruvian Amazon jungle, where spending time in nature and caring for an orphaned ocelot named Khan helped him find a purpose and heal mentally. Turner later reintroduced another ocelot named Keanu to the wild, an experience documented in the Emmy-winning film Wildcat.
Turner shares insights into the illegal wildlife trade, deforestation driven by corporations and poor communities alike, and his encounters with uncontacted tribes in the Amazon. He discusses the challenges of conservation efforts, indigenous communities' struggles, and the need for education to protect the rainforest. Turner also talks about his adventures with wildlife personalities like Andrew Ucles and his future plans with the non-profit Emerald Arch to help veterans heal through nature experiences.
The conversation also covers Turner's explorations in the Florida Everglades, his camera trapping work with the endangered Florida panther, and his passion for reptile photography and snake encounters. Throughout the episode, Turner emphasizes the transformative power of nature, the importance of conservation, and the unique perspectives gained from immersing oneself in wild environments.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Spending time immersed in nature can have a profound healing effect on mental health issues like PTSD.
- The Amazon rainforest is under severe threat from deforestation driven by corporations, poor communities, and lack of education.
- Rescuing and reintroducing animals like ocelots to the wild can be a transformative experience that deepens one's connection with nature.
- Uncontacted tribes in the Amazon face threats from outside influences like disease and environmental destruction.
- Wildlife photography and exploration can foster a deeper appreciation for conservation efforts and the natural world.
- Engaging indigenous communities and providing education is crucial for protecting the rainforest and its ecosystems.
- Veterans and others struggling with mental health issues can benefit from experiences reconnecting with nature.
- The non-profit Emerald Arch aims to help veterans heal while promoting conservation efforts in the Amazon region.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I wanted my. My death to be a mystery, or I wanted my death to look like an accident. And I went to the jungle after being medically discharged from the. From the military. And for every single day, I woke up and I said, today's the day you're gonna kill yourself.“ by Harry Turner
- “With animals. You can read animals? If so, on one night walk with Khan, I. It had been raining for days, and this one night, it just kind of, like. It just stopped. And it was just this really silent, but, like, quiet, hot night. And I was like, right, this is the night where everything's gonna be coming out.“ by Harry Turner
- “If you don't know what your effects are, what the effects are that you're gonna be doing, you know, like, it's right.“ by Harry Turner
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Episode Information
Danny Jones Podcast
Danny Jones
4/26/24
Harry Turner moved to the Peruvian Amazon following a life altering military tour of the American-led invasion of Afghanistan. When Harry Turner was filming his life in the Amazon Jungle, the last thing he expected was for his footage to turn into an award winning nature documentary. SPONSORS https://buy.ver.so/danny - Use code DANNY to save 15% on your first order. https://pxg.com/danny - Get FREE shipping on all equipment. EPISODE LINKS https://www.emeraldarch.org
https://www.instagram.com/harry__turner Wildcat Doc: https://amzn.to/49X72MZ FOLLOW DANNY JONES https://www.instagram.com/dannyjones
https://twitter.com/jonesdanny
OUTLINE
00:00 - Producing WILDCAT 08:17 - Joining the military 17:36 - Military combat in Afghanistan 35:42 - Why Harry went to the Amazon Jungle 49:43 - Logging industry in Peru 53:04 - Rescuing a baby ocelot 01:02:26 - Most frightening animals in the Amazon rainforest 01:18:29 - Humans don't belong in the Amazon jungle 01:19:49 - Uncontacted tribes 01:32:08 - Ecuador 01:39:29 - Reintroducing animals to the jungle 01:47:28 - Amazon burn & destruction funded by China 01:54:14 - Will Harry ever see Keanu again? 01:59:37 - Exotic animal trade 02:03:34 - Insane adventures of Andrew Ucles & Cane toads 02:12:58 - Ancient sites in Australia 02:18:03 - Florida everglades & Florida panther 02:29:10 - Mysterious effects of snake venom