522 Globe Trotting and Storytelling from the Rainforest of Bolivia to the peaks of the Himalaya
Today I'm joined by Jonathan Derksen, a globe-trotting storyteller whose life has spanned the rainforest of Bolivia, the peaks of the Himalaya, and the classroom of Canada. Jonathan brings a powerful mix of adventure, education, and heart to every story he tells.
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Show Notes"So there I was, deep in Arunachal Pradesh, India, in a remote tribal village where headhunting wasn’t just folklore—it was very recent history.
We were there to film for Discovery Channel—me, a $100,000 camera, and a crew who knew how to sweat (and panic). We’d prepped for weeks, months even. Everything was perfect until a whisper came through the jungle vines: “Insurgents are coming. They know you have money.”
Awesome. Just what I needed—guerilla drama on top of documentary stress.
I told the team we had to bail. But first, I had to make up a lie that our camera broke—because telling a warrior tribe mid-costume that the government might be after us just didn’t feel like the right move.
What followed? Screaming. Spears. A blunderbuss aimed at my head. And me pleading forgiveness like a Catholic schoolboy who just broke the principal’s window.
I grabbed the tribal leader’s hand, bowed my head, and whispered, “Are you Christian?” “Yes,” he said, confused. “Then… forgiveness?” And just like that, I got my own Disney ending. They let us go—with only mild humiliation, a few fake wooden heads, and one hell of a story." - Jonathan Derksen
Principle: Here’s what that jungle taught me: Real stories—the ones that shake you, stir you, and stick with you—don’t come from comfort. They come from courage. From risking something to show something worth seeing.
And sometimes, telling the truth isn’t the bravest thing. It’s telling the story anyway, no matter how messy the behind-the-scenes gets.
Transition: Most people think storytelling is about having the right camera, the right lighting, the right moment. But the truth is, what holds us back isn’t gear—it’s fear. Fear of getting it wrong. Fear of offending. Fear of not being enough to tell the tale.
And yet, the world needs more honest stories, not perfect ones.
That’s why: That’s why this podcast episode with Jonathan Derksen exists. It’s not polished. It’s powerful. It’s not filtered—it’s fearless. From war-zone photojournalism to jungles laced with mercury and memories, we uncover what it really means to document a world in crisis—and do it with heart.
Call to Action: If you’ve ever felt like your story doesn’t matter, or that your voice isn’t “qualified” enough—this episode is your proof that it does and it is. Stop letting self-doubt keep your story buried. Hit play, get inspired, and tell it anyway.