After spending the first part of his life starting colts and training wild and "problem" horses for various ranches in Ohio, Georgia, and California, Ned Weidner transitioned into academia where he earned a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies from Claremont Graduate University. There he researched the history and culture of wildlife management in California.  Even as an academic, he never strayed too far from all things wild. Currently he is a professor of English at Mt. San Antonio College in Southern California and  founder of Walker School of the Wild, a wilderness leadership program for boys and men of all ages designed to connect them to their purpose through wilderness rites of passage.  He is also the author of multiple academic and creative nonfiction works.  His memoir, which describes his journey through addiction and depression with the help of wilderness and horses entitled, The Gods of Wild Things is currently under review.