Who the WYLD Things Are with Ryan Maguire

Uninterested in the American dream, Kris Reed dropped out of high school to pursue a life of nature connection and outdoor adventure. Over the last 20 years he’s taught ancestral earthcrafts and survival skills, backpacked over 15,000 miles, and accumulated more dirt time by bicycle and canoe. By sticking to the philosophy of “limited wants, unlimited means” Kris has cultivated a life free of many of the trappings of modern society, allowing him to live on a near permanent sabbatical. If you head into the wild you’re bound to cross his tracks at some point.

Lauren and Ryan sit down to discuss Ryan's attempt at breaking the 24-hour fan-bike World Record. All 24 hours of the event will be ⁠⁠⁠live streamed on this link ⁠⁠⁠starting April 29th @9am MT All Proceeds from the event will go directly to ⁠⁠⁠Porter-Billups Leadership Academy⁠⁠⁠

Don Reichelt is a trail and ultra runner living in Fairplay, Colorado with his Wife, Amy, and two dogs: Bean and Sprout. Don currently holds a 100-mile trail best of 13:16 which he set in November 2020 at the Tunnel Hill 100 and was the third-fastest trail 100-mile run in North America during 2020. Don set three manual treadmill world records in November 2022 wearing a Speedland road prototype: furthest distance in 12 hours, fastest 100 mile, and furthest distance run in 24 hours. He has finished on the podium at the Badwater 135, aka “The Worlds Toughest Footrace” and also has had the honor of representing the United States as a member of the 2017 U.S. Spartathlon team, racing 153 miles from Athens to Sparta. Don also was invited to compete at the 2019 Backyard World Championship. Additional top finishes include: 1st place 2023 Coldwater Rumble 52 Mile 1st place 2022 Coldwater Rumble 52 Mile 1st place 2021 Salt Flats Endurance Run 50K 1st place 2020 Coldwater Rumble 20 Mile 1st place 2019 Lean Horse 100 mile 2nd Place 2017 Keys 100 mile Leadville Leadman Finisher

For episode five, we welcome our third contestant from Season 7 of Alone, Correy Hawk. Correy is well-known for being one of the best traditional bowyers alive. His passion for bow-making, archery, and the outdoors are part of what made him an excellent guest on this week's podcast.

In Episode 4, Ryan sits down with Alone Season 7 Runner-up, Callie Russell "Callie is a scavenger-gatherer who lives nomadically following the seasons and wild food. She is always striving to understand the role humans play in the intricate web of life. While working as a guide in wilderness therapy, Callie realized that she was the most joyous and peaceful when immersed in nature. She decided to walk away from modern comforts and commited her life to learning skills that would allow her to stay in the wilderness for longer and longer periods of time. Since 2010, Callie has been living outside under trees, tarps, canvas and caves. Several of those years were spent living nomadically with a herd of pack goats that she raised, which allowed her to be sustained directly from the land. Living outside has allowed her to become proficient in many ancestral skills. Callie’s focus has been in backcountry animal processing, hide tanning, felting, basket weaving and gathering plants for medicine, food and art. Her most specialized skills, however, are being able to drink copious amounts of goat milk and gaze into the fire for hours on end. In the fall, Callie skins deer and elk at a wild game processor in order to harvest hides which she then tans and sells through her business, Montannery. When she is not wandering in the mountains, her time is filled with her many other jobs. Callie tracks mountain lions every winter for a conservation project and works with a hunting guide packing goats in and out of the backcountry. She enjoys empowering others to develop their connection to the wild world and shares her skills with kids at several nature connection schools. She also leads backcountry trips and teaches a variety of workshops. Callie views this epic journey as a rite of passage. She sees herself as a student and the land as her mentor."

Roland Welker is a seasoned outdoorsman and big game hunter. Based on his plethora of experiences in the Alaskan wilderness, Roland was selected for Season 7 History Channel's Alone. The season required participants to live alone in the arctic wilderness for 100 days. Contestants are only allowed to bring 10 items. Roland was the only contestant to complete the Million Dollar Challenge. In this episode Ryan and Roland discuss living in the outdoors, Roland's life growing up, and his perspective on Season 7 of Alone.

Matt Graham is a specialist in "primitive skills" and a television personality who co-hosted the Discovery Channel reality show Dual Survival. Ryan and Matt talk about topics like ultra running, primitive hunting, and all things survival.

Donny Dust is a world wide expert in remote primitive survival, emergency preparedness, ancestral skills and primitive technologies. Donny is an expert flintknapper and primitive hunter pushing the limits of the human body to thrive in some of the most remote regions of the world. Donny has walked countless miles, living a minimalistic approach to survival while employing the basic of primitive technologies to thrive in any environment. Donny has authored books, worked on feature films as a technical survival consultant, participated in different network television programs, conducted numerous podcasts and radio appearances, as well has spoken in-front of crowds who traveled far and near to hear him speak of his adventures and skills. Known as the "Professional Caveman" Donny is nothing but professional, adventurous and creative. Donny's expertise draws clients from as far as Canada, The United Kingdom, Australia and South America. All want to walk wild with Donny and experience the adventures of the "Professional Caveman."

Eli Hemming: From Olympic Triathlon to Trail Ultras, UTMB Goals, and the Joshua Tree TraverseRyan Maguire sits down with Eli Hemming, former elite professional triathlete turned trail runner, for a wide-ranging conversation about reinvention, endurance, and what drives an athlete when the Olympic dream doesn't pan out the way you planned.Eli grew up in triathlon literally from birth. His mom was a triathlete and swim coach, and he was racing by age seven. What started as something social and skill-based eventually evolved into elite draft-legal Olympic-distance racing on the international circuit. He came within reach of the Tokyo Olympics before a broken foot derailed his qualification, and when he looked ahead at another four-year grind toward Paris, with all the travel and time away from family it would require, he decided it wasn't worth it.What came next surprised even him. A race in Buena Vista, Colorado cracked open a new world, and trail running took hold fast. He found a coach in David Roche, started stacking results, and eventually ended up toeing the line against Roche himself at the Broken Arrow Skyrace, a moment that captures just how quickly his trajectory shifted.Ryan and Eli also get into his relationship with his wife Tabor, their shared Adidas sponsorship, and a Joshua Tree traverse FKT attempt the two are chasing together. They dig into what makes Joshua Tree such a singular and strange place to run, and why the project matters to both of them personally.On the racing front, Eli's 2026 calendar includes Black Canyon 100K and a return to Desert Rats 100K, where Ryan first spotted him, to earn his way into UTMB week races. UTMB itself is the long-term goal, even though he's only raced up to 100K so far. His best trail performance to date? OCC during UTMB week in Chamonix, and he lights up talking about the atmosphere there.The conversation also gets honest about the harder parts of moving up in distance, overheating issues, a fried hypothalamus affecting heat regulation, fueling and hydration mistakes, and how his training philosophy is evolving around high volume without necessarily high mileage, muscular endurance work, and staying adaptable.

In this episode, host Ryan Maguire welcomes back Matthew Bickel, who shares his remarkable journey from weighing over 500 pounds to training for the Leadville 100 Mile Trail Run in August 2026. The conversation dives into Bickel’s physical and mental transformation, his current training regimen, and the support he’s received from the community and his friends. Bickel also discusses the challenges and milestones in his path, such as overcoming injuries and setting ambitious goals. The episode further explores World Fitness Project, a new initiative aiming to professionalize functional fitness and expand its community reach. It concludes with Bickel’s optimistic outlook on his journey and the importance of staying motivated and committed to one’s goals.

This podcast is in loving memory of Rylan Schadegg.The podcast 'Who The WYLD Things Are' features guest Jason Hardrath, an accomplished endurance athlete known for setting 100 fastest known times (FKTs). Jason discusses his transition from being a top mountain athlete to facing serious health challenges, including a debilitating car accident and long COVID, which significantly impacted his ability to train and compete. During his recovery, Jason discovered paragliding, which became a new passion and a means of experiencing growth and adventure without relying solely on physical endurance. He delves into the intricacies of paragliding, his learning process, and how it helped him reclaim a sense of purpose. Despite the setbacks, Jason remains optimistic about finding new ways to explore and inspire others. He also reflects on the balance between pursuing high-risk activities and living a fulfilling life, sharing valuable insights for those dealing with chronic conditions.

The episode features an in-depth conversation with Rhys Fontaine, who recounts his transformative journey from battling severe Lyme disease to undertaking wilderness adventures. Rhys shares his experiences of debilitating symptoms, the frustration of ineffective treatments, and his eventual recovery spurred by a combination of extreme diet changes and a spiritual experience with psilocybin mushrooms. Rhys details his miraculous recovery, the role of his mental and spiritual resilience, and how he has since returned to his passion for wilderness survival. The episode emphasizes hope, holistic healing methods, and the importance of community support for those enduring chronic illness.Last Mountain Man Standing Race: July 18thClick HerePrimitive Skills Run Course: July 1st-5th Click HereField to Feast Course: August 26th-30th Click Here

Meghan Buchanan (@ggrit on IG) is not interested in playing the victim. She’s an aerospace engineer, a mountaineer on a mission to climb the Seven Summits, a dyslexia advocate, and someone who’s been tested again and again by life. You may have seen her on Outlast Season 2 on Netflix, where survival gets messy fast. But this episode isn’t about the show. It’s about the real-life survival stories that came before and after.We talk about what it actually feels like to face trauma while keeping a goal in sight. What it takes to rebuild after being brought to your knees. And how to keep showing up when nobody’s clapping for you.Meghan doesn’t sugarcoat anything. She opens up about grief, betrayal, mountaineering disasters, and the invisible weight of always having to prove yourself. She also shares what she’s learned from the mountains, from her body, and from walking through some dark seasons with her head up.This one is for anyone who’s been through something and kept going.

Matthew Lefthand is a record-breaking ultra-endurance cyclist who’s redefining what’s possible on two wheels. In this episode, we dive into his journey from a 270-pound marathon runner to one of the fastest ultra bikers in the world. He recently shattered the Race Across the West course record, completing the brutal 860-mile route from Oceanside to Durango in just 1 day, 21 hours, and 39 minutes, averaging nearly 19 mph through desert heat and mountain climbs. Earlier this year, he also set the highest 24-hour mileage ever recorded by an American—576 miles at the Sebring 24. But beyond the numbers, this conversation is about the mental, physical, and spiritual transformation that fuels those rides. Matthew talks about what it means to suffer with purpose, how his Navajo heritage and family drive him forward, and what it takes to truly give everything you have. If you’re chasing big goals or need a reminder of what the human body and spirit are capable of, this one’s for you.

In this episode, hosts Ryan, Luis, and Mitchell break down the upcoming Western States 100-mile race. They explore how Jim Walmsley’s absence opens the door for new contenders and dive into key strategies around heat training and nutrition. The trio analyzes top runners like David Roche and Kilian Jornet, then draft their fantasy teams with hot takes and bold predictions. The episode wraps with final thoughts and sleeper picks for the most iconic ultra of the year.

Dean Karnazes is one of the most iconic endurance athletes of all time—and for good reason. He’s run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, raced across deserts, mountains, and frozen tundras, and helped bring ultrarunning into the public consciousness. But Dean’s story runs far deeper than race stats.In this episode, we explore the history of ultrarunning—from its roots in ancient messengers to its modern resurgence. Dean shares how he got started, what pulled him back into running on his 30th birthday, and why he’s stayed in the sport for decades while many burn out.We cover the mindset that’s allowed him to go the distance, the toll (and gift) of solitude, how he’s kept his body healthy through relentless effort, and what’s still pulling him forward. We also dive into his upbringing, his Greek heritage, and how culture, family, and purpose all play into his enduring passion for movement.Whether you're an ultra veteran, a weekend runner, or just someone seeking inspiration—this episode will light a fire in you.

Brittany Konsella is a skier, mountain biker, author, and one of the few people to ski all of Colorado’s 14ers. But behind those summits is a story of resilience few ever hear. After a traumatic spinal injury left her partially paralyzed, Brittany fought her way back into the wild. In this episode, Ryan and Brittany dive into recovery, risk, identity, and the raw process of rebuilding a life in the mountains after everything changes.

Roland Welker isn’t just the winner of Alone Season 7—he’s a storyteller, a mountain man, and a true student of the wild. In this REWYLD episode, Ryan sits down with the only person to ever complete 100 days fully alone in the Arctic. But this conversation goes far beyond reality TV.Roland opens up about the emotional weight of isolation, the mental shifts that happen when modern life is stripped away, and the deep ancestral knowledge that guided him through one of the most extreme survival challenges ever broadcast. They talk about building shelter in brutal cold, harvesting wild game, and what it really means to live in relationship with the land.This episode is about resilience, yes—but also about humility, connection, and finding meaning in the stillness of the wilderness. Whether you're a survivalist, a nature lover, or just someone curious about the edges of human experience, this one’s worth the listen.Join us in the wild this Summer

Dr. Teimojin Tan is a wilderness medicine doctor, military veteran, and survival expert known for his role on the show Alone. In this episode, he and Ryan go deep on how to cultivate resilience in extreme conditions—both physical and mental. From treating injuries in remote environments to maintaining clarity under pressure, Dr. Tan brings a unique blend of medical knowledge, lived experience, and warrior philosophy. Whether you're chasing challenge or preparing for chaos, this conversation is packed with insight.Join us in the Bush:Field to Feast - https://thesurvivaluniversity.com/product/from-field-to-feast-5-day-primitive-survival/Primitive skills Run -https://thesurvivaluniversity.com/product/primitive-skills-run/

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Cait Crowell to explore personal sovereignty in a world that's pushing convenience over consciousness. They unpack how modern Western health has drifted from true wellness, the importance of making empowered choices, and how real food and intentional living are the foundation for lasting health. This conversation is a reminder that ownership of your body, mind, and life is the ultimate freedom.