Hi, and welcome back to The Long Road Home Podcast. In this episode, I sit down with psychotherapist and rewilding advocate Bahar G. (name changed for privacy) to speak about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, leaving her homeland in her twenties, and returning decades later during one of the country’s most politically tense periods while caring for her aging mother. About This Conversation What began as a conversation about Iran became something much larger: a meditation on identity, migration, family, language, grief, healing, indigenous wisdom, ecology, and the search for belonging in a fractured world. Bahar speaks candidly about witnessing political repression as a child, the emotional cost of exile, and the feeling of becoming a stranger in one’s own homeland. We also explore her work in psychotherapy, rewilding projects in Scotland, indigenous teachings from the Amazon rainforest, and the creation of inner stability amidst constant movement between countries and caregiving roles. At the heart of this episode is the question: What does it mean to build an inner home when the outer home has been lost, transformed, or left behind? About Bahar G. Bahar G. is an Iranian-born psychotherapist and rewilding advocate whose work explores healing, belonging, relationships, and the preservation of what makes us human. Born in Tehran during a time of immense political upheaval, Bahar grew up witnessing the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution before immigrating to Canada in her twenties. Her personal experiences of exile, migration, loss, and rebuilding shaped her path toward psychotherapy and deep inner work. Over the years, her journey has expanded beyond the therapy room into environmental and community-based initiatives focused on reconnection — to self, to land, to ancestry, and to one another. Bahar has been involved in rewilding and ecological projects connected to the Amazon rainforest, Scotland’s Atlantic rainforest, and the wider Fertile Crescent region. Her work draws inspiration from indigenous wisdom traditions, mythology, ritual, and the understanding that healing is both personal and collective. She is also the co-founder of Altar State, a project exploring altar-making and intentional living as practices for cultivating presence, reflection, and inner grounding in modern life. Today, Bahar moves between countries and cultures while caring for family across generations, continuing her work as a psychotherapist and guide for those navigating relationships, identity, grief, and transformation. What we talk about In this conversation, we explore: * Growing up during the Iranian Revolution * Women, Life, Freedom and the realities of modern Iran * Immigration, exile, and cultural identity * Caring for aging parents across borders * Indigenous wisdom and the Amazon rainforest * Rewilding projects in Scotland and the Fertile Crescent * Creating an “inner home” through life’s instability Key Takeaways * Home is not only a place — it can also be a language, a memory, or a relationship to the self. * Political upheaval reshapes not just nations, but family systems, identities, and emotional lives across generations. * Healing often begins with reconnecting to nature, ritual, ancestry, and community. * Indigenous cultures hold profound wisdom about belonging, reciprocity, and remembering who we are. * In an era of fragmentation and distraction, preserving kindness, attention, and courage may be a radical act. Chapters 00:00 Introducing Bahar and her story03:00 Childhood during the Iranian Revolution10:00 Mandatory hijab, repression, and life under the regime17:00 Immigration, exile, and leaving home22:00 War, identity, and belonging34:00 Psychotherapy, healing, and the Amazon rainforest38:00 Rewilding projects in Scotland and environmental activism44:00 Indigenous teachings, language, and preserving culture49:00 Caregiving, motherhood, and building an inner home53:00 Altars, intention, and preserving human qualities58:00 Hope for Iran and the future of humanity Original theme music composed by Diego Tenorio If you listen, I’d love to hear what resonates or what it brings up for you. In gratitude, Yamuna x The Long Road Home is a listener-supported podcast exploring identity, belonging, memory, migration, healing, and what it means to remain human in a rapidly changing world. If conversations like this one resonate with you, consider subscribing to support the continuation of these stories and the creation of future episodes. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yamunaflaherty.substack.com/subscribe
