Monarch Butterflies and the Meaning of Life with Leopoldo Gout and Eva Aridjis

The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly is a fascinating phenomenon. It might appear that the caterpillar just sprouted wings and became a butterfly, but the process is more complex than it seems. The butterfly emerges after cycling through different stages. The butterfly’s life cycle teaches us that progress requires the undoing of the past.

In this episode, Leopoldo Gout and Eva Aridjis talk about their book Monarca. It is a novel about a young Mexican-American girl who turns into a monarch butterfly. They explain the four stages of a monarch butterfly's life cycle and their similarities to our lives. They also share their thoughts on environmental activism and why we should take part. Finally, Leopoldo and Eva share insights on life from their interactions with monarch butterflies.

If you’re interested in books by Latinx authors and learning lessons from nature, don’t miss out on this episode! 

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: 

  1. Discover the four stages of a monarch butterfly’s life cycle and how they relate to ours

  2. Uncover lessons we can learn from nature 

  3. Get a sneak peek at Leopoldo and Eva’s book, Monarca

Resources

    Episode Highlights

    [02:09] The Story Behind Monarca

    • Leopoldo shares that he became interested in monarch butterflies after seeing them land on his daughter's head.

    • Monarch butterflies face a severe crisis from environmental threats.

    • Leopoldo and Eva narrate the story of a young Mexican-American girl who turns into a monarch butterfly in their book.

    • Monarca is dedicated to Leopoldo’s and Eva’s daughters.  

    [09:36] Eva: “The four stages of a monarch's life are the egg, the caterpillar, the pupa or chrysalis, and, finally, the butterfly. What we've done in the book is we've drawn parallels between these four stages.” — Click Here to Tweet This

    [06:26] Eva’s Father: The Environmentalist

    • In the 1980s, Eva's father was a member of an environmental organization that sought to transform forests into butterfly sanctuaries. 

    • When her father became the Mexican ambassador to UNESCO, he was in charge of the butterfly sanctuaries.

    [17:55] Eva: “I think animals and insects…only take what they need from nature, and everything they need is found in nature. I think we, as humans, would really benefit to learn more about that.”— Click Here to Tweet This

    • Leopoldo collaborated with Eva by chance, unaware of her father's history.

    [09:35] Four Stages of a Monarch Butterfly’s Life Cycle

    • The monarch butterfly’s life cycle has four stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly.

    [20:52] Leopoldo: “We are so lucky that we still have a glimpse of that planet. We should defend that at all costs.”— Click Here to Tweet This

    • Leopoldo and Eva draw comparisons between Monarca’s protagonist, Inés, and the monarch butterfly.

    • The four stages of a butterfly’s life cycle serve as a roadmap for change. To learn what each step represents, listen to the entire podcast!

    [12:19] Life Compared to a Butterfly's Metamorphosis

    • The stages of a butterfly’s life cycle, when compared to our life, are about learning and growth.

    • Eva considers herself to be in the chrysalis and butterfly stages. While she has accomplished a lot in her life, she still has more in store for the future. 

    [21:12] Leopoldo: “There's so much beauty in nature…just be more active in your connection with nature.”— Click Here to Tweet This

    • Leopoldo believes he is still in the chrysalis or pupa stage, searching for his inner adult.

    [16:59] Lessons from the Monarch Butterfly

    • Animal behavior serves as a model example because they only take what they need from nature.

    • We are fortunate to live on a planet filled with natural wonders and miracles.

    • We must protect and defend our environment at all costs.

    • Learn to connect with nature to see its beauty.

    [21:49] Leopoldo: “There's so much magic in this tiny creature in any feats, they can do that, move the world, and pollinate all of these paths where they go. Imagine what we could do because any human is bigger in weight than thousands of butterflies, but they still can affect the planet.”— Click Here to Tweet This

    About Leopoldo

    Leopoldo Gout is a Mexican filmmaker, writer, and visual artist. His sculptures and paintings have been displayed in galleries and museums worldwide. He has also produced several films screened at the Cannes Film Festival 2011 and on NBC. 

    Leopold has recently collaborated with Eva Aridjis for the novel Monarca which tells the tale of a Mexican-American girl who transformed into a monarch butterfly.

    You can connect with Leopold through his official website or social media accounts: Instagram and Facebook.

    About Eva

    Eva Aridjis is a Mexican-American filmmaker and writer. She’s written and directed features and documentaries such as Children of the Street, La Santa Muerte, Chuy, The Wolf Man, and Goodbye Horses. 

    She also wrote for the television series, Narcos: Mexico. She recently collaborated with Leopoldo Gout on the novel Monarca. 

    You can reach out to Eva through her official website or social media accounts: Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

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    Hello, World!

    Rosie AcostaLatinx, Teacher, Latin, Latin Meditation Teacher, BIPOC Meditation Teacher, First Gen Mexican American