#178 - The road to redemption isn't always straight, and nobody knows this better than Garr Russell. From sitting in a jail cell in fifth grade to building a nationwide RV rental franchise with 70 locations, Garr's journey proves that our darkest chapters can become the foundation for something beautiful. After his parents' divorce set him on a troubled path, Garr spiraled through expulsion, dropping out, and eventually dealing drugs. Rock bottom came with multiple arrests, but transformatio...
#177 - What happens when childhood play transforms into serious sport? In this eye-opening conversation, we saddle up with Kht Shetty, a 20-year-old Polish hobby horse competitor and coach who's redefining what it means to "horse around." Hobby horsing—a sport where participants jump obstacles up to 1.3 meters high while carrying handcrafted stick horses—combines athletic prowess, creative craftsmanship, and equestrian rules into something truly unique. Shetty walks us through this fascinati...
#176 - What does it take to sail around the world? For Alison Gieschen, it's required facing her worst fears while clinging to a dream she's had since childhood. From the moment she and her husband Dan met at a sailboat race and discovered their shared ambition to circumnavigate the globe, their path was set – though hardly smooth sailing. Alison's journey began far from any ocean, on a 100-acre farm in upstate New York where she developed her first great passion: horses. Rising to elite com...
Bonus 11 - Sexual assault fundamentally changes lives, but it doesn't have to define them. In this powerful bonus episode, Amanda Villarini talks about the night that altered her path forever, when what began as a casual gathering with friends ended in betrayal and trauma. Amanda's story exposes the painful reality that sometimes our most devastating wounds come from those we trust. With remarkable courage, she walks us through not only the assault itself, but the complicated aftermath – fro...
#175 - When Rodney Carpentier first laced up his police patrol boots to tackle a Catskill mountain, he had no idea he was beginning a transformative six-year odyssey that would shape not only his physical resilience but his creative future. Sharing his remarkable journey from unprepared novice to accomplished hiker who conquered all 35 peaks of the challenging Catskills 3500, Rodney reveals how the mountains became his sanctuary during life's most difficult moments. The trail wasn't just phy...
#174 - What does redemption look like at 72 years old? For Rand Timmerman, it meant lacing up his hiking boots and tackling the Appalachian Trail's 2,190 miles alongside his grieving brother—a journey that would test his newfound sobriety, physical limits, and spiritual foundation. Rand's path to that trailhead was anything but straight. Growing up in poverty after his father contracted polio, he discovered alcohol at 13 and was immediately transformed in his own mind from a skinny teenager ...
#173 - The most powerful journeys often begin in life's darkest moments. When Thom Barrett received his stage four cancer diagnosis, he made a decision that would transform his experience – he would embrace each day fully, intentionally, and with an adventurous spirit that defies conventional expectations. Our conversation with Thom reveals a man who redefined what it means to truly live. A former corporate accountant who retired at 55 to pursue adventure, Thom approaches his terminal diagno...
#172 - Ever wonder what it's like to break a school record in your final race? Or how someone finds their calling at just 21 years old? Meet McKella Leeper, whose enthusiasm for life bubbles up like the wake behind a powerful swimmer. McKella's journey began when her family moved closer to her father's workplace, with the promise that he would coach his daughters in swimming. This decision transformed not just her athletic path but her relationship with her father. "Swimming is the one thing...
Have you ever wondered what Africa was like before satellite phones, GPS navigation, and carefully curated safari experiences? Barry Maughan's remarkable journey from Alexandria to South Africa during the tumultuous late 1960s offers a window into a continent few modern travelers will ever experience. Barry's adventure began with a chance encounter that would set the tone for his entire expedition. After meeting an Egyptian general, what could have been a casual exchange blossomed into extra...
#170 - Ever wondered what it would be like to turn your healthcare career into an adventure? Aaron Bowe transforms this dream into reality as a traveling physical therapist who has crafted a nomadic lifestyle that combines professional growth with unforgettable experiences across America's most breathtaking landscapes. Aaron reveals the unexpected financial benefits of travel therapy that most healthcare professionals never discover. With 60-70% of his income coming from untaxed housing and ...
What happens when you choose freedom over fear? Michelle Coulson's story reveals the extraordinary path that unfolds when you dare to break free from conventional expectations. Michelle always knew she wasn't destined for the traditional path. Even as a child growing up in a small town outside Manchester, she dreamed of life "abroad" – though she couldn't yet define where that would be. After a year in Spain with her family at age 12, the seed of adventure took root, setting her on a traject...
#168 - "Collect moments, not things." It's a philosophy that sounds simple but runs counter to our consumer-driven culture. Cody Sudmeier, founder of Spur Experiences, joins the show to explore why shared adventures create more meaningful connections and lasting happiness than material possessions. After leaving a successful consulting career that felt increasingly unfulfilling, Cody found himself at a wedding shopping for last-minute registry gifts. The only item left? A $120 set of salt an...
Bonus 10 - What happens when a former Army Ranger and Special Forces veteran finally reveals classified missions conducted during some of history's most volatile conflicts? Chris Brewer's military journey spans 24 remarkable years, from the reactivation of the 1st Ranger Battalion in 1974 to covert operations in Colombia during the Pablo Escobar era. In this gripping conversation, Chris takes us behind enemy lines into a world few civilians ever glimpse. Operating in civilian clothes with mi...
# 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...
#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 - laun...
#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-m...
#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 w...
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 f...
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 remind...
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 ch...