What happens when the person, place, and life that once felt like home no longer exist?

Roger Vaughn, known as Lightning in the Burning Man world, found himself asking that question after losing Lydia, his wife and partner of 18 years.

Roger is a full-time digital nomad living in an RV and traveling with his motorcycle. He is the CEO of SwiftCloud.ai, the founder of Mycelia Monastery, a former professional animator, and a lifelong creative working across media, fine art, music, technology, and community.

Joining Aya from Montreal, Roger opens up about grief, presence, belonging, creative rebirth, and the journey of rebuilding a life after profound loss. Together, they explore how our environments shape us, why feeling safe allows us to play a bigger game, and whether home is a place, a person, a community, or something we learn to carry within ourselves.

Roger also shares how grief led him back to music, resulting in two albums created within 18 months. His song “Carry Me Home” captures the evolution at the heart of this conversation: longing for the home that was lost, then realizing we can build shelter, create warmth, and become home for the people we love.

This is an honest conversation about losing home, searching for belonging, and discovering that a new chapter can grow from the ashes of the life we once knew.

Follow Rise + Rebel and share this episode with someone navigating grief, reinvention, or the search for home.

Content note: This episode includes candid discussions of death, grief, suicidal thoughts, and mental health.