Delta Force Meets the Wild: Surviving with the Sgt. Major Mike Vining & Donna Ikenberry
Description
Join us on Dark Outdoors® for an unforgettable conversation with Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Mike R. Vining—explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) pioneer and Delta Force operative—and his wife, acclaimed wildlife photographer and author Donna Ikenberry. Married atop Mauna Kea in 1999 after Mike’s decorated 30‑year military career (including Vietnam, Eagle Claw, Desert Storm, and more)
Donna has since published over a thousand images, guidebooks, and magazine articles from nearly every continent Donna Ikenberry Photography.
In this episode we explore:
Top strategies for staying safe in remote terrains—from avalanche zones to wildlife territory.
How Donna approaches storytelling through photography in unpredictable environments.
Lessons Mike has learned from decades of military and outdoor leadership: situational awareness, risk assessment, and self-reliance.
Tips for adventure couples: teamwork, planning, resilience—and capturing moments worth preserving.
Tune in for a uniquely dynamic pairing: military precision meets nature’s art—illuminated by humor, hard-earned wisdom, and couple‑led courage in the wild.
United States
