Selfless Snake Handler

Shaan tells a story about encountering a rattlesnake in his backyard and meeting a remarkable snake handler who helped him.

"I was in my backyard with my daughter, walking on this little path near our pool. She was walking ahead of me, reaching down to pick up things like flowers and rocks. Suddenly, I heard this hiss and a rattle. I grabbed her and pulled her back - there was an enormous 4-foot rattlesnake just 6 inches in front of her, staring and hissing.

After getting my daughter to safety, I called around trying to find help. Animal control didn't handle snakes anymore, and pest control was booked up. Finally, through a museum, I got connected to this guy Jim who said he'd do it for free because he loved doing this.

This guy shows up looking like Dumbledore with a long beard. He just walks right up to the snake with this tiny stick with a claw, no fear at all. He caught the snake, though he almost lost it twice. We put it in a box, and he took it to release it in the mountains. His sister was waiting in the car the whole time.

What really struck me was this guy's authenticity. He mentioned he'd been a vegan since 1956, before it was even a term. Here we are on a podcast that's all about opportunities and money, and this guy was the polar opposite - doing what he loved, not for money or recognition, but purely out of passion. He lived his beliefs in such a genuine way. It was just incredible to see someone so selfless and congruent in their beliefs and actions."