Meet Kenneth Michael

Formerly Known as Ken Karson

From the Trenches of Hell to the Wonders of God's Creation

Hello, friends,

For most of my life, I've walked through what I can only describe as the trenches of hell.

I was born into a cult and lived within its walls until I was 14 years old. Then, suddenly, I was released into the world like a wild wolf turned loose in the forest — with little understanding of the world around me or how to survive in it.

What followed were decades of darkness.

Years in and out of jail. Hundreds of bar fights. Drug addictions of nearly every kind imaginable. I lived hard, fought hard, and spent much of my life battling demons that seemed determined to destroy me.

Through it all, I worked with my hands. Woodworking and carpentry were my trades, but music was always right there beside me.

I spent 30 years behind the drums, 20 years playing guitar, and more than 30 years singing and writing songs.

Many of you may know me by my longtime stage name, Ken Karson.

Under that name, I released two albums and numerous singles, received Artist of the Year recognition from a Cincinnati radio station in 2017, and had write-ups in Rolling Stone and MTV Magazine.

From the outside, you might have thought things were going pretty well.

But inside, I was miserable.

Something was deeply wrong, and no amount of music, recognition, or worldly success could fix it.

Then came the day that changed everything.

I found myself on my knees, reaching out to God.

And the chains hit the ground.

The addictions ended. The fighting stopped. The revolving door of jail and destruction finally closed.

For the first time in my life, I was truly free.

That was 15 years ago.

But freedom was only the beginning. The healing had just begun.

Finding Healing in Creation

One of the greatest parts of my healing journey came from something that had been surrounding me all along — God's creation.

I started hiking. Everywhere.

I walked through the woods nearly every morning, breathing the fresh air, listening to the birds, watching the seasons change, and discovering a world I had spent most of my life overlooking.

I began studying wilderness survival, wild edible plants, herbs, and the incredible wonders of the natural world.

The more I explored, the more I learned. And the more I learned, the more I began to heal.

I truly believe that reconnecting with God's creation played an enormous role in healing both my body and my mind.

And here's something important I've learned along the way.

Healing wasn't just about getting down on my knees and asking God to change my life. It was also about getting back on my feet and walking the path in front of me.

One foot after another.

One morning after another.

One discovery after another.

Prayer was part of my journey, but so was action.

I had spent decades destroying myself. Now, I was finally learning how to live.

From Ken Karson to Kenneth Michael

As I begin this new chapter of my life, I've made another important decision.

After decades of writing, recording, and performing under the name Ken Karson, I've decided to retire my longtime stage name and return to my God-given name — Kenneth Michael.

Why?

Because what I'm doing today carries a different kind of importance.

Music will always be part of who I am. The songs, the memories, the struggles, and the experiences that shaped Ken Karson will never disappear.

But The Wild & The Way is about something much bigger than a stage name, a music career, or personal recognition.

It's about sharing the incredible creation God has placed all around us. It's about discovering the plants, herbs, natural resources, and practical knowledge that so many of us have forgotten or simply never learned.

These subjects deserve my full attention, my sincerity, and my true identity.

Ken Karson was the name I carried through my music career. Kenneth Michael is the name I was given, and it's the name I choose to carry forward on this journey.

I'm not leaving my past behind as though it never happened. Every chapter brought me to where I stand today.

I'm simply turning the page.

Why I Created The Wild & The Way

Today, I want to share that journey with you.

Not because I know everything. Far from it.

There are thousands of plants, herbs, trees, insects, animals, and incredible discoveries waiting to be explored. There are wilderness skills to learn, mysteries of nature to understand, and lessons that can only be discovered by getting outside and experiencing them.

And I'm still learning every single day.

That's what The Wild & The Way is all about.

Creation. Foraging. Herbs. Survival.

Four subjects connected by one incredible world.

I'm not here to pretend to be an expert on everything or to tell you I have all the answers. I'm simply someone who has walked through the darkness, found a new appreciation for life, and wants to share what I've learned while continuing to discover more.

Maybe you'll learn something from me.

And maybe, along the way, I'll learn something from you.

After everything I've lived through, I can tell you this:

There is a beautiful world waiting outside your door. And sometimes, the first step toward a better life is simply stepping outside and taking a walk.

So grab your boots, bring your curiosity, and come along.

We've got a whole lot of creation left to discover.

I'm Kenneth Michael — formerly known as Ken Karson.

And I invite you to join me as we continue this journey together.

Discovering God's Creation Together.

Support the Journey — Our $10,000 Goal

Help bring The Wild & The Way into the real wilderness!

My dream is to travel across America, visiting our beautiful national parks and filming episodes of The Wild & The Way right where the discoveries happen — in the forests, mountains, and wilderness of God's incredible creation.

I already own a Class A motorhome, but it suffered severe storm damage in Oklahoma from a tornado, hail, and straight-line winds reaching 84 mph.

My goal is to raise $10,000 to repair my motorhome and get back on the road.

Every contribution, large or small, brings us one step closer to making this dream a reality.

Your support will help turn The Wild & The Way into an on-location adventure, where we can explore Creation, Foraging, Herbs, and Survival together.

$10,000 Goal • One Motorhome • A Whole Country to Explore!

Thank you for believing in this journey and helping make it possible.

Discovering God's Creation Together.

— Kenneth Michael

$0 of $10,000 Donated — Help Us Reach Our Goal!