# 167 - What drives someone to abandon their shoes and run barefoot through mountains, forests, and even snow? In this captivating conversation, Ken Posner reveals the unexpected journey that turned him from a corporate professional with chronic running injuries into a barefoot endurance athlete who's completed thousands of miles without shoes. Ken's transformation began pragmatically – seeking relief from injury and following the principles in Christopher McDougall's "Born to Run." But what sta...
Jul 03, 2025•53 min•Ep. 167
#166 - What happens when your adventurous spirit collides with a life-changing diagnosis? Meet Brooke King, a fearless 29-year-old who refuses to let thyroid cancer dim her extraordinary approach to life. Brooke's story begins in Chicago, where she lived a successful but predictable life as a young homeowner. When COVID hit, something shifted - that innate desire for adventure could no longer be contained. She sold her house and embraced alternative living - from boats to school buses - launchin...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 166
#165 - The Missouri River winds through America's heartland like a massive, muddy snake—but what's it like to follow it from source to mouth? Larry Campbell, a retired math professor, did exactly that in a life-changing seven-week adventure that transformed his understanding of this iconic waterway. Larry's journey began at Three Forks, Montana, where he made the startling discovery that the Missouri begins by flowing north, not south as many assume. From there, he traced the river's 2,300-mile ...
Jun 19, 2025•56 min•Ep. 165
#164 - What healing power can be found in visiting sites of tragedy and suffering? For Dr. Chad Scott, dark tourism became an unexpected lifeline during his darkest days. When severe health issues led to a liver transplant, Dr. Scott discovered profound meaning and purpose by exploring places marked by historical tragedy. From standing in gas chambers at Auschwitz to witnessing the aftermath of atomic destruction in Hiroshima, these powerful experiences helped him process his own struggles with ...
Jun 12, 2025•55 min•Ep. 164
Episode 163 - What would it take for you to completely reimagine your family's life? For Brandon and Amber Morse, it happened around a campfire in the mountains of Idaho when they asked themselves a simple yet profound question: what if we could break free from the daily grind and truly connect as a family? That conversation led them to sell nearly everything they owned, pull their four children from traditional school, and embark on an adventure that began in an RV and evolved into living full-...
Jun 05, 2025•59 min•Ep. 163
What happens when you hit all the milestones society tells you to chase, yet still feel empty inside? For Jeremy George, that existential crisis led to a year-long battle with suicidal thoughts despite having a beautiful New York apartment, career success, and financial stability. Everything changed when three consecutive wake-up calls shattered Jeremy's perception of what makes a meaningful life. His mother's near-death experience during a routine surgery, the global pandemic's stark reminder o...
May 29, 2025•52 min•Ep. 162
Bonus 9 - What happens when a podcast host puts his own son in the guest seat? Pure magic. In this heartwarming Memorial Day bonus episode, Jake welcomes his eldest son Josh for a conversation that bridges generations, creative pursuits, and shared family memories. Josh, who made Jake a father 25 years ago after being born prematurely at just three pounds, has grown into a creative force who now manages his own growing YouTube channel, Tri Nintendo. Their conversation weaves through cherished fa...
May 26, 2025•40 min
What does it really mean to travel authentically in a world dominated by filtered Instagram perfection? Buster Upton, a 26-year-old Australian adventurer, has the honest answer—and it's not what you might expect. From his spontaneous childhood road trips with his adventure-loving mother to finding himself enrolled in a Finnish school at 16 (instead of dropping out), Buster's approach to travel has always been refreshingly genuine. At just 18, he quit his first construction job, used his dual Iri...
May 22, 2025•51 min•Ep. 161
"Our heartbeats are the greatest currency we have." This profound insight comes from Tzara Attwater, who turned personal heartbreak into an epic adventure across Australia's vast wilderness. After walking in on her partner of ten years with another woman, Tzara spent years rebuilding herself before making a bold decision during COVID – converting a Toyota Hiace van with just a jigsaw and YouTube tutorials, then circumnavigating the entire Australian continent solo. The journey tested her in ways...
May 15, 2025•54 min•Ep. 160
What does freedom look like when you navigate the world on wheels? For Jenna Udenberg, it arrived in the form of a Firefly - an electric attachment that transformed her manual wheelchair into an adventure vehicle capable of tackling trails she'd only viewed longingly from afar. Diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age seven and using a wheelchair by eight, Jenna refused to let her mobility challenges define her life's boundaries. From becoming a left-handed trumpet player (despite bei...
May 08, 2025•54 min•Ep. 159
#158 - What if your moments of greatest confusion were actually doorways to your most authentic self? Giovanna Silvestre's remarkable journey proves exactly that. From the high-pressure halls of Hollywood to the difficult decision of walking away from her family's beloved Italian restaurant, Giovanna's path shows how embracing uncertainty becomes your greatest strength. With refreshing candor, Giovanna shares her descent into depression after attaching her self-worth to external validation—her H...
May 01, 2025•56 min•Ep. 158
When David Schafran felt his life spiraling into depression and emptiness, he discovered an unexpected lifeline – salsa dancing. That first night on the dance floor sparked something profound: "It makes me feel so happy because it's so joyous and flavorful and juicy." This moment of clarity eventually led David from his high-stress tech startup in Boston to the vibrant streets of Medellín, Colombia, where he immersed himself in dance for five transformative months. David's story challenges conve...
Apr 24, 2025•54 min•Ep. 157
Bonus 8 - Dr. Douglas Brouwer's journey from Western Michigan to the world and back again offers profound insights into how travel shapes our spiritual lives and understanding of home. After spending 40 years serving as a Presbyterian pastor around the globe, Doug's adventures took him from maximum security prisons in Philadelphia to a church in Zurich, Switzerland, where he learned German at age 60. His travels weren't merely about seeing new places but about finding deeper meaning and connecti...
Apr 18, 2025•39 min
#156 - Chris Nance's life reads like an adventure novel where dropping out of school at 13 somehow leads to piloting massive ships down the Mississippi River and co-founding a successful coffee company. Growing up just south of New Orleans in a family of riverboat pilots and commercial fishermen, Chris's education took an unexpected turn after Hurricane Katrina when his mother discontinued homeschooling. Shortly after, his father was imprisoned for tax evasion, pushing Chris into the challenging...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 156
Most of us dream of adventures in far-off places, but between demanding jobs, packed schedules, and the sheer overwhelm of planning, those dreams often remain just that—dreams. Enter Ross Alcorn, the mastermind behind Itinerary Boss, who's made it his mission to turn travel aspirations into reality for busy professionals. Ross's journey didn't begin with a goal to start a travel company. It started with a simple need—someone had to plan the group ski trips. As the designated planner among his fr...
Apr 10, 2025•53 min•Ep. 155
#154 - Imagine plunging down a 35-foot waterfall strapped inside a kayak, or trying to compose a stunning piano piece that captures the serenity of nature. These are just fragments of Jon Cheney's extraordinary journey as a creator, adventurer, entrepreneur, and man of faith. From his early years in a musical household where his parents prioritized owning a grand piano before even having proper furniture, to his teenage years in Paraguay learning Spanish, Jon's life has been defined by embracing...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 154
#153 - Meet Ryan Mellon, a man who completely transformed his life by breaking free from the grind of 80-hour workweeks to embrace a life of global adventure. For over a decade, Ryan worked grueling 14-hour days, splitting time between fixing deep fryers and sorting packages at UPS, until a transformative two-week trip to Costa Rica ignited a vision for something different. This captivating conversation tracks Ryan's methodical journey from overworked employee to successful digital nomad coach. ...
Mar 27, 2025•53 min•Ep. 153
The untold story of how a young Peruvian boy's fascination with National Geographic magazines transformed into a life dedicated to global exploration unfolds in my conversation with Jorge Salas Guevara. As founder of New Paths Expeditions, Jorge has crafted extraordinary journeys to 58 destinations across our planet's most remote corners while personally visiting over 102 unique locations. Jorge's adventure began in the Peruvian Andes, traveling treacherous mountain roads with his family to conn...
Mar 20, 2025•56 min•Ep. 152
Bonus 7 - Unlock your motivation in our latest episode featuring Devan Gonzalez, a dynamic entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast whose journey inspires countless individuals. From a young age, Devan was pushed to explore different sports, leading him to become a martial arts instructor at just 13. This early exposure laid the groundwork for his lifelong passion for fitness and entrepreneurship. In this engaging conversation, Devan reveals how he transitioned from personal training into founding St...
Mar 17, 2025•45 min
#151 - What could inspire someone to leave a stable engineering career and venture into the unknown on a bicycle? Meet Jacob Lemanski, whose incredible journey of 999 days biking across the globe defies expectations and challenges societal norms. In this episode, Jacob shares his odyssey from rural Pennsylvania to the world stage, driven by a passion ignited during a cross-country bike tour at the tender age of 20. His story is not just about the miles traveled but the transformation of his life...
Mar 13, 2025•41 min•Ep. 151
Ever wondered how an introverted boy from Oklahoma City ended up as a star of the all-new Mickey Mouse Club? Join me as I sit down with Chase Hampton—a cherished figure from the '90s entertainment scene—to explore his remarkable journey to the stage. Through candid personal stories, Chase shares the serendipitous moments that shaped his path, from an unexpected meeting with Disney casting directors in a Dallas hotel to joining the iconic Mickey Mouse Club alongside future stars like Justin Timbe...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 150
What happens when a former Royal Air Force member swaps his parachute for a mountain bike and embarks on a breathtaking quest across Iceland? Meet Steven James Ferris, a man who has redefined his life with adventure, weaving tales from his military past into a riveting 72-hour bikepacking expedition to support a cause close to his heart. Steven transports us from the lush landscapes of his childhood in South Wales to the formidable terrains of Iceland, sharing how the transition from military li...
Feb 27, 2025•59 min•Ep. 149
Glen Van Peski shares his philosophy of ultralight backpacking, revealing how taking less can lead to a more fulfilling life. Through personal stories of adventure, gratitude, and survival, he encourages listeners to embrace minimalism and focus on meaningful experiences. • Overview of Glen Van Peski's philosophy on ultralight backpacking • Discussion of his iconic 4,200-mile bike journey at 17 • The impact of adventure on personal growth and resilience • Importance of gratitude amidst life’s ch...
Feb 24, 2025•46 min•Ep. 148
#147 - What drives someone to embark on an extraordinary journey with zero experience? Meet Charlie Reynolds, the audacious soul who swapped the comforts of a four-wheeled drive for the thrill of a motorcycle, blazing a trail from Canada to the ends of Argentina. Charlie’s story inspires with its tales of confronting the infamous Darien Gap and his improvisational canoe adventure across the Caribbean Sea. Reliving the moments when outdoor passions were ignited in Whistler, BC, Charlie reminds us...
Feb 20, 2025•56 min•Ep. 147
Welcome back to an exciting new episode where I have the pleasure of reconnecting with Colleen Avis, the visionary behind the "Sacred Spaces" series. Discover how a simple introduction through mutual acquaintances blossomed into a profound collaboration for "Sacred Spaces: Subtle Shifts for Mind, Body, and Home Transformation, Volume 3." Join us as we explore the nuances of creating sacred spaces and how small, intentional changes can spark significant personal growth. Expect to be moved by the ...
Feb 17, 2025•33 min
Kelton Shelley shares his extraordinary journey from childhood leukemia to becoming a dedicated endurance athlete, highlighting the power of resilience and the importance of investing in oneself. His story inspires listeners to face challenges head-on and embrace their unique paths to success. • Definition of 'deposit' in the context of personal growth • Kelton's childhood in Utah and initial passion for sports • Overcoming leukemia and the pivotal role of family support • Transition to enduranc...
Feb 13, 2025•50 min•Ep. 146
This episode showcases Fiorella Iriberi's journey through the world of overlanding, emphasizing the lessons learned through failure and resilience. Fiorella shares insights on building a life on the road, the freedom it brings, and the importance of community, adventure, and self-discovery. • Fiorella discusses her background and her early love for travel • The couple transitioned from traditional living to a full-time overlanding lifestyle • Building their shuttle bus was an act of creativity a...
Feb 10, 2025•51 min•Ep. 145
#144 - Autumn Carolynn shares her captivating travel adventures and lessons learned from her book "Traveling in Wonder." The episode explores her journey to visit 30 countries before 30, insightful experiences as a flight attendant, and the emotional connections that make travel truly unforgettable. • Autumn’s journey from the suburbs of Chicago to becoming a flight attendant • Experience studying abroad in England and traveling throughout Europe • The goal of visiting 30 countries before turnin...
Feb 06, 2025•56 min•Ep. 144
#143 - Gary Arndt shares his transformative 13-year journey across more than 200 countries, providing insights into the essence of travel, the challenges of long-term exploration, and the impact of social media on the travel experience. The discussion emphasizes the importance of adventure, personal growth, and the dynamic nature of travel in an ever-evolving world. • Gary’s early life and limited travel experiences • Transition from a successful business career to full-time traveler • Embracing...
Feb 03, 2025•45 min•Ep. 143
Bert Terhart's incredible solo circumnavigation of the globe during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic reveals the power of adventure against all odds. His journey showcases resilience, the beauty of solitude, and the deep connections that emerge from embracing the unknown. • Introduction to Bert Terhart and his remarkable journey • Bert's eclectic background and passion for sailing • The emotional complexities of adventure and relationships • Overview of the circumnavigation route and challeng...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 142
