In this episode, we speak with the new leadership team behind Expedition Africa as they carry forward the legacy of one of the world’s most iconic expedition races. With roots in Heidi and Stephan Muller’s multi-year stewardship, Expedition Africa is turning the page while honoring its past. The new team brings decades of racing experience and a deep love for the sport to their new roles, and they’re already hard at work preparing for the March 2026 race in South Africa’s breathtaking Drakensber...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 147
Adventure reporter Jim Clash of Forbes Magazine joins The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation that explores the intersection of storytelling and high-stakes adventure. With a passport stamped from the South Pole to spaceflight training grounds, Jim has chronicled the lives and pursuits of the world’s boldest adventurers—and taken on quite a few daring feats himself. In this episode, he shares how curiosity, preparation, and a nose for a good story have led him ...
Jul 02, 2025•59 min•Season 3Ep. 146
In this freewheeling and reflective wrap-up to the 2025 Endless Mountains Adventure Race, TDZ hands the mic to Zoe Freedland and Mary Foster for an end-of-race coda soon after the final team crosses the line. As racers catch their breath and stories settle into memory, dedicated volunteers Zoe and Mary capture the emotion, exhaustion, and triumph that define The Endless Mountains Adventure Race. It’s a fitting close to an unforgettable week in Vermont. Thank you for listening. If you like what y...
Jun 28, 2025•44 min•Season 3Ep. 145
Welcome to The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast, and this special Flash Episode from the 2025 Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Abby Perkiss joins us with a timely update from deep inside the race experience. From the pointy end of the field, the surging pack, weather and course challenges, and how all the teams are managing this handful of a race, Abby gives us the lay of the land as the event unfolds in real time. Alongside her is EMAR racer and USARA Executive Director Michael Garrison,...
Jun 25, 2025•39 min•Season 3Ep. 144
Welcome to The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast. In this special Voices of the Racers episode, we bring you directly into Transition Area 1, where we spent an entire day capturing the thoughts, experiences, and enthusiasm of every team during their 5-minute media timeout. What follows is unfiltered, on-the-ground audio: the sounds of rain, barking dogs, cheering children, and the ever-present wind. It’s real, raw, and as close as you’ll get to the race without a map and compass. Audio qual...
Jun 24, 2025•50 min•Season 3Ep. 143
Welcome to The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast . Today’s episode marks a special moment on the AR calendar: the official course reveal for the 2025 Endless Mountains Adventure Race presented by Rootstock Racing. For the first time, Endless Mountains heads north to Vermont, where over seven days, teams will face a demanding and beautifully crafted expedition-length course through the region’s rugged forests, bike trails, and beautiful waterways. Over the next hour, we’ll walk through the f...
Jun 21, 2025•49 min•Season 3Ep. 142
On this episode of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast , we shift gears—literally—with ultra-distance cyclist and adventure writer Meaghan Hackinen. From solo rides across continents to podium finishes at grueling endurance events, Meaghan brings a unique perspective on resilience, mindset, and the beauty of long days in the saddle. She shares stories from her global rides, lessons learned while pushing physical and mental limits, and what it means to find strong efforts in the midst of f...
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 141
TDZ is happy to support The Checkpoint, presented by the United States Adventure Racing Association, through this crosspost of Episode #12. Thank you for listening and for supporting USARA. Episode Details Below: Welcome to Episode 12 of USARA's The Checkpoint Podcast. On this episode of USARA's The Checkpoint Podcas t, host Brent Freedland is joined by Brian Gatens, host of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast , for a deep dive into the world of expedition-length racing. From choosing you...
Jun 17, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 140
On this episode, TDZ steps off the course and into the heart of the Copper Canyons with the Korima Health Initiative. Founded with a mission to bring essential healthcare and education to the Indigenous Rarámuri people of northern Mexico, Korima is powered in part by a unique crew of volunteers—many of whom are also adventure racers. Just as they navigate wild terrain and unpredictable conditions in their athletic pursuits, these racers bring their endurance, teamwork, and grit to the challenges...
Jun 10, 2025•58 min•Season 3Ep. 139
TDZ is happy to support The Checkpoint, presented by the United States Adventure Racing Association, through this crosspost of Episode #11. Thank you for listening and for supporting USARA. Episode Details Below: Welcome to Episode 11 of USARA's The Checkpoint Podcast. On this mailbag episode of USARA’s The Checkpoint Podcast , host Brent Freedland is joined by adventure racing veterans Mari Chandler and Andy Bacon for a lively and wide-ranging conversation. Drawing from listener questions, the ...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 3Ep. 138
Adventure racing thrives on passion, and nowhere is that clearer than in the story of Frank Johnson and The Wild Driftless Adventure Race. A longtime racer turned first-time Race Director, Frank is stepping up to give something back to the sport he loves. On this episode of The Dark Zone, we talk about what it means to start something new, why smaller races matter, and how community fuels everything. Big thanks to Frank for joining us, and don’t forget to check out the race website in the show n...
May 29, 2025•58 min•Season 3Ep. 137
This episode of The Dark Zone explores a creative partnership between a college classroom and the course. Students from Washington and Lee University’s Leading Public Relations Campaigns class teamed up with Adventure Addicts Racing to support the Adrenaline Rush Adventure Race. As part of their coursework, students developed and implemented real-world media strategies to promote the event, offering a fresh perspective on how adventure racing is experienced, marketed, and understood. Throughout ...
May 22, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 136
A big thank-you to teacher and adventure racer Jeremy Johnson for connecting The Dark Zone with the student racers of Full Steam Ahead Adventure Racing. Based at Brunswick High School in Maryland, FSA is a thriving, student-led club that's bringing the next generation into the world of AR. In this episode, three young racers share how they found the sport, what it’s taught them, and how the lessons of adventure racing are shaping their lives beyond the course. If you're looking for a shot of opt...
May 15, 2025•49 min•Season 3Ep. 135
Team Bones joins TDZ fresh off their 115-hour epic at Raid Bimbache in Morocco. From battling illness and chasing down runaway maps to staying strong and supportive as a team, they trekked (and biked... and paddled...) through it all together. Sleep-deprived and still processing their experience, they still made time to bring us their story. Thank you to Roy, Jen, James, and Jesse for sharing their story with us. As with all Flash Episodes, what you hear is what you get as we record and release ...
May 04, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 3Ep. 134
Oh Canada! The Dark Zone recently sat down with the leadership team behind the upcoming Adventure Racing World Championships to be held in Penticton, British Columbia to dig into the necessary training, team planning, travel logistics, and what racers can expect. They held their ground under our not-so-subtle questioning about the course, but we still managed to get our hands on some beta (Nav! Nav! Nav!). This is your sneak peek into the minds shaping the biggest race of the year. Thank you to ...
May 01, 2025•55 min•Season 3Ep. 133
In this episode, we go international—literally—with Cormac and Lisa of the International Adventure Racing Association (IARA). As a worldwide organization, IARA is on a mission to unify, support, and elevate adventure racing on every continent. We talk about what it means to define standards of fairplay, safety, and sustainability in a sport that thrives on pushing limits and embracing the unknown. With a deep respect for racers, race directors, volunteers, and the land itself, IARA is working to...
Apr 24, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 131
Rootstock Racing has never been one to shy away from a challenge. This time, their racing takes them deep into the arid beauty of southern Africa. In this episode of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast, Abby Perkiss, Brent Freedland, Matt Cymanski and Michael Garrison share their experience racing in Expedition Africa Namibia, a once-in-a-lifetime event set against the stark landscapes and sweeping deserts of Race Director Heidi Muller's homeland. We talk sand dunes, strategy, carrying wa...
Apr 15, 2025•2 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 130
What do caves and adventure racing have in common? More than you might think. Dave Jackson, founder of CaveSim and a highly experienced caver, joins us to share lessons learned in the dark, cramped passages of the underground—and how those lessons apply to racing, teamwork, and managing fear. His traveling cave simulator teaches thousands each year, and his wisdom offers practical tools for when you find yourself deep in the unknown, pushing forward as a team. Thank you for listening. If you lik...
Apr 04, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 129
TDZ is happy to support The Checkpoint, presented by the United States Adventure Racing Association, through this crosspost of Episode #10. Thank you for listening and for supporting USARA. Episode Details Below: Welcome to Episode 10 of USARA's The Checkpoint Podcast. In this episode, Brent sits down with Cliff White of Strong Machine Adventure Racing to explore the personal and team growth that has shaped their success over the past decade. Strong Machine has earned impressive results at both ...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 3Ep. 128
TDZ is thrilled to welcome race director Robert Le Brun to the show to talk about The Ratel — South Africa's newest and most exciting adventure race! This epic 450 km challenge will unfold in the breathtaking Richtersveld, known as Africa’s “holy grail” of adventure. At TDZ, we love shining a spotlight on new races, and The Ratel promises to deliver big on challenge, strategy, and adventure. Robert is not only leading the charge as an RD — he’s a fierce racer himself — and we can't wait to dive ...
Mar 20, 2025•56 min•Season 3Ep. 127
TDZ is pleased to welcome back Kim Beckinsale to discuss her experience as a racer, referee, and race director for the Amazons Australia Stage Race. Kim’s long history in multisport, combined with her perspective as both a champion racer and a race official, gives TDZ listeners a valuable look into the world of adventure racing. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice...
Mar 10, 2025•55 min•Season 3Ep. 126
Thanks to a listener recommendation, TDZ is excited to welcome Adventure Racer, Ultrarunner, and Former Navy Seal Harald Zundel. With nearly 30 years of ultrarunning and adventure racing under his belt, Harald brings tons of stories, wisdom, and that signature adventure racer attitude. Oh, and if you're into jungle leg parasites, you’ve come to the right podcast! Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 125
TDZ is happy to spotlight the upcoming SOAR Women + Adventure Racing Retreat coming this March 2025. Karyn DuLaney, Britt Mason, and Jen Tillman join the show to discuss SOAR ( S tretching O urselves in A dventures and R acing), the Women of AR Team, and the immersive retreat filled with workshops, clinics, and community, plus an orienteering meet to finish off the weekend. We also sneak in some discussion about the Women of AR's commanding performance at this year's USARA National Championship ...
Feb 26, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 124
The calendar may say February, but on today's episode, it's September 2025, and the USARA National Championships is right around the corner. Thank you to USARA Executive Director Michael Garrison, Nationals Coordinator Stephanie Ross, and Ozark Foundation Director of Operations Brannon Pack for joining TDZ to offer an early peek into the 2025 USARA National Championships. Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. T...
Feb 17, 2025•58 min•Season 3Ep. 122
We don’t track humor-based metrics at The Dark Zone , but if we did, this episode would be tough to beat. Barb Campbell is a fixture in the Canadian adventure racing community, and we’re delighted to finally have her on the show. She’s been a longtime reach guest on our episode planning whiteboard, and it was well worth the wait. Enjoy the conversation! Programming Note - The 2010 UTNE video referenced by Barb is linked below and, yeah, they were awfully tired. Thank you for listening. If you li...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 3Ep. 121
We’re thrilled to welcome Paul McGreal of Durty Adventures to TDZ! As the Race Director behind the legendary ITERA race, Paul dives into the exciting return of this epic 5-day adventure, the timeless allure of AR, and the life lessons we pick up while navigating through the wild. Paul’s been a longtime friend of TDZ, and having him on the show felt like sharing a warm, virtual cup of tea with a longtime mate. This mid-winter episode is the perfect boost to keep your training spirits high and get...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 120
TDZ is happy to support The Checkpoint, presented by the United States Adventure Racing Association, through this crosspost of Episode #9. Thank you for listening and for supporting USARA. Episode Details Below: Welcome to Episode 9 of USARA's The Checkpoint Podcast. In this episode, Brent discusses doping, supplements, sleep, caffeine, and all the things that the adventure racer should consider around these topics. As a successful endurance athlete and coach, Alyssa offers perspective and consi...
Feb 01, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 119
Abby Perkiss and Brent Freedland of Rootstock Racing join TDZ to discuss the 3rd edition of The Endless Mountains Adventure Race: Les Verd Monts. Shifting from Pennsylvania to Vermont for this edition, Abby and Brent discuss the course, race travel logistics, training, teamwork, and just enough beta to whet a racer's appetite. Great training fuel for the Northern Hemisphere winter, listeners will be treated to a strong introduction to Expedition-distance races and how teams can succeed. Thank yo...
Jan 13, 2025•56 min•Season 3Ep. 118
Kim and Joel Ford recount their 40+ days and 700+ miles on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail in the Northeast United States. Preparation, gear, teamwork, and battling the bugs were all part of the adventure, and they brought it to us in vivid detail. We'll let them tell you the story about their new/borrowed tent, but suffice it to say that people are kind and wonderful. This episode is adventure fuel if there ever was one. Enjoy! Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, cl...
Jan 02, 2025•53 min•Season 3Ep. 117
Australian adventure racer Scott Balhatchet recounts his first race experience at Chris Dixon's Mountain Designs GeoQuest 48-hour Adventure Race. Scott was on his couch minding his own business when a friend's phone call came in, and it was time to give AR a go. Thank you to Scott as he walks us through his (lack of) formal preparation, communication with his teammates, overcoming in-race adversity, and what he learned from the race. Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please lik...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 116
