Last Call for the Budokon Event this Summer
The Becoming Uncivilized Retreat returns June 27 - July 2
Five years ago, during our 2021 Vanthropology trip, Anya and I accepted an invitation from Cameron and Melayne Shayne to drop by Budokon, their movement arts school and home in Whitefish, MT.
We didn’t know what to expect when we rolled up in Scarlett Jovannson, but we were greeted by a happy tribe of martial arts students from around the world, who warmly greeted us before stripping down and inviting us into the sauna. As it turns out, Cameron and Melayne’s required reading for their Budokon Teacher Trainings included Sex at Dawn, so all of the students had read at least one of my books.
Anya and I had planned to hang out at Budokon only for lunch, but we ended up staying several days, engaged in deep conversation, eating delicious food, learning to move like a primate — reluctantly leaving only because we had friends waiting for us to join them on a river trip. We’d been struck by how closely Cameron and Melayne’s values aligned with ours: be generous but genuine, walk your talk — or, as expressed in Budokon philosophy: The way you move is the way you think.
Cameron and Melayne use martial arts, movement and yoga to demonstrate how giving our bodies the skills to move with strength, confidence and flexibility can influence our psychology in similar ways. While Budokon is primarily a movement arts school, the Budokon approach is holistic, dedicated to an overarching goal of helping their students become their most authentic and honest selves.
During one of our conversations that summer, Cameron had the idea to co-host a retreat based on our shared interests and unconventional world view. In 2022, we hosted our first retreat together. Four years later, we’re still at it.
From June 27 to July 2, 2025, we will lead our fourth Becoming Uncivilized retreat at Budokon. Each year, the retreat’s mission and strategy has become clearer, and all of our experiences have deepened.
Through honest conversation, community building and movement, we explore what it means to become uncivilized — living life on our own terms, developing healthy skepticism toward cultural norms and expectations, facing our hopes and fears, and having the courage to grow and be awkward alongside each other.
Since 2023, our close friend Nadia has joined us, and she and Anya work together to facilitate unique somatic practices tailored to each year’s attendees and their particular curiosities and insights.
If you’re interested in learning more about the retreat overall and what they offer, check out my podcast episode with them.
651 - Becoming Uncivilized (with Anya and Nadia)
Anya and Nadia have helped lead our retreats in Montana for the past few years. In this conversation, we talk about the different kinds of movement they’ve studied and teach and how — along with Cameron and Melayne — we try to create a place and time where people can get very real with themselves and each other.
This year, our friend Erin will also be joining us. Erin is currently working toward her PhD in clinical depth psychology. We are looking forward to Erin bringing her expertise, humor, and wisdom to this year’s retreat.
646 - Erin Ginder-Shaw (Depth Psychology)
Erin is closing in on her PhD in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. We’ve been very close since 1/1/16 and she’s one of my all-time favorite people. If I get arrested and have one call, her phone might be ringing. She’ll be joining us at the
Our retreat is almost full, with just a handful of spots still available.
If you’re interested in exploring themes including relationships, authentic communication, self-expression, sexuality, tribal living and more, we invite you to join us this summer.
The event is limited to 20 participants to ensure an intimate setting for self- reflection, growth and connection. It is ideal for anyone looking to learn more about themselves, take full advantage of a major life transition, or interested in meeting like-minded people.
If you have any questions, just reply to this email.
I can't make it this summer, but please continue to host these! I want to re-learn my primate movements.