We often hear about people escaping to nature as an antidote to stress. Quiet places can help us find inner peace, we’re told.

But what if it isn’t so simple for everyone? What if some people need busier urban environments — and not just for the career opportunities, or the lifestyle — but in order to feel at peace?

This episode draws us into one woman’s realization that living in a big city — a place that assaults your senses every time you walk outside — a place where the concept of ‘outside’ is about as far removed from nature as it gets — might be just what her soul has been searching for all along.

Alex Eggerking tells her story.

This episode is about control: control of wildfires, and control of your own life.

My guests are Alex Jablonski and Kahlil Hudson, producers the film Wildland.

We talk about the deeply personal forces that draw people to wildland firefighting; about the mental highs that come with the job; and about the surprising bonds that form between people who seem to have nothing in common.

Finally, we discuss how controlling nature can help you gain control over your own life, too.