Carpe Diem: Live Your Dream

Three Scottish brothers, restless for adventure, decided almost on a whim to row across the Atlantic Ocean. They hadn't even set down their oars before agreeing to take on the Pacific next. What followed was 9,000 miles of open water and 139 unbroken days at sea -- an experience so raw and transformative they wrote a book about it in their book, "Three Brothers in a Boat." In this episode, they sh...

Life can be interesting when you embark on a series of adventures and challenges - like this Canadian. Cycling across the U.S., Mexico, and Africa, running 200+ mile ultras, doing a non-stop 70+ mile swim.... The list goes on, and each undertaking brings insight and learnings applicable to daily life.

A surfer approaching you at 30 mph while a 3-story wall of water comes down from above... how do you hold the camera steady to get that shot of a life time. Hear from Tim Bonython, the preeminent cinematographer in big wave surfing, on what it's like to be out in the surf filming at places like Nazare in Portugal, Jaws in Hawaii, and Teahupo'o in Tahiti. And be sure to check out his YouTube channe...

Over 75 episodes of this show with fascinating adventurers of all types, sharing their stories, inspiration, and advice... there's just so much good stuff to listen to. Well, here's a sampling of a few of my favorite snippets from across those episodes. If you haven't heard the full version, these might just intrigue you to do so. And if you've already heard them, well, enjoy the distilled refresh...

Did I complete the minimum 220 miles in The Pilgrimage ultra-marathon? Or did I DNF? Tune in to hear the results of my first 200+ mile ultra, as well as words from other participants on the trail that explain why such an endeavor is worth it. 

The outcome of this episode is still unknown as your host soon embarks on a 220 mile running (and lots of walking) race -- double his first 100 miler nearly a year ago. This episode describes the ultra marathon called The Pilgrimage and includes my pre-race thoughts and a discussion with the race director about this inaugural running of the most creative ultra format I have ever heard of. Tune int...

The Otillo swim/run race format is a unique one, better known in Europe than in the U.S.  Here’s a married couple who won the World Championship describing how they train and race together at the highest level of competition, all while maintaining their “normal” lives with work and four young children. It's quite the balancing act.

After 74 weeks without missing the regular Friday podcast publication date, I am skipping an episode tis week as I have current on an adventure. Listen in for that on episode 76.

Do you see a frozen lake with a fresh layer of snow as a palette for art? My guest for this episode does. For 20 years, this guy has been strapping on snowshoes and stomping out amazing geometric designs the size of 2 or 3 soccer fields. To the tune of 50,000+ steps each. And he’s created nearly 700 of these ephemeral works of art – sometimes in sand rather than snow. His description of this uniqu...

A young couple decides to embark on a massive canoe journey 3,000 miles from Minnesota to the Arctic Ocean. Many thought it would end their marriage. Instead, hear how this bonding experience has carried forward into their lives in so many positive ways - in their marriage, child raising, careers, and general outlook on life. Outdoor adventures can bring such positive impact!

My amazing guest from Episode #32 (talking about the Seven Summits and the Greenland Icecap) is back for another impressive adventure recently fulfilled – a solo, unsupported ski journey from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole. That’s 700 miles alone, pulling a 240 pound sled for 55 days. Something that fewer than two dozen people have ever accomplished. It’s a great story. Plus, wait ’til you...

Lots of people boat on the Great Lakes in the summer, and a handful ice fish on them in winter. Here’s a guy who has bicycled on all 5 of these huge lakes in the winter, and he wants to know why more people don’t take advantage of these amazing frozen highways. This might be the birth of a new sport!

Here’s a story about three teens, each taking their own unique 500+ mile, 7 week adventure near the Arctic Circle. Two things their journeys had in common were the personal growth that came out of their experiences, and the amazing organization which arranged things.

So this guy has a spontaneous dream to take a canoe 1,000 miles around the entire island of Ireland. And he manages to find another guy who decides it sounds like a fun challenge. Hear the wonderful story of adventure and chasing a dream in a canoe. And their dreams of adventure don't stop there!

What inspired this 11 year old girl to dream of biking the entire Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR)? That’s more than 2,500 miles of pedaling over 45 days, including almost a quarter million feet of elevation gain.  She not only dreamed of doing it – she did it, and is likely the youngest to ever do so. Hear about her adventure, and her wonderful advice to others, both old and young.

Here’s an 80 year-old woman who dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail for nearly 70 years before one day realizing she’d better get going or she’d never do it. She laughs off her many challenges (including knee replacement surgery) while achieving the record as the oldest female thru-hiker to complete the trail. This one’s got spunk!

Can you imagine traveling 100 mph or more skimming just inches above a frozen lake? Try ice boat racing. Until the early 1900s, ice boats were the fastest human vehicle on the planet. Today you can find them cruising or racing on frozen lakes all over the world. Here’s an 8-time world ice boat racing champion describing the sport.

If we’re lucky, we get about 4,000 Mondays in our life. How many do you have left? And what do you want to do with your remaining ones? Here’s the author of “You Only Die Once” who gives an uplifting take on the seemlingly morbid concept of memento mori to help us live a more fulfilling life.

What's it like to go a mile deep into a cave to take photographs? Here's a fascinating episode with one of the world's top cave photographers describing how he combines the artistic flair for professional photography with the challenging environment of spelunking in the longest and deepest caves in the world. Such adventures from deep underground all around the world.

I appreciate meeting people who achieve way more than I believe I ever could. It gives me inspiration to strive harder to get there myself. This episode profiles a 75 year old who joined me in last week’s Arrowhead 135 Ultra winter trail race and became the oldest finisher in the race’s 22 year history. It was a tough race, but listen to the end and you'll discover he doesn't plan to stop there.

Here’s another episode about your host’s own adventure – this one being about the coldest (and most fatigued) I’ve ever been in my life. It was during the Arrowhead 135 Ultra that I participated in the last week of January in Northern Minnesota. The idea to run this race came from my Episode #23 guest, so I signed up and somehow managed to finish despite the sub-zero temperatures and 55 hours on t...

The author of “Tough Broad” and “Gutsy Girl” knows a thing or two about adventure herself. She talks about the benefits of getting outdoors for adventure, about the power of awe, about leading with bravery in life rather than with fear, and about the 5 dimensions necessary for a long and fulfilling life. She’s inspirational for all, but is especially encouraging for women, old and young.

You've heard of people trying to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, right? It's usually not successful. But here's a guy who seeks new and different adventures. He climbed Niagara Falls. In the winter. Up the ice. Successfully. And legally!  And while the half-day climb was challenging, the two years of seeking permission and arranging logistics was even more so. This guest is not only a world-cla...

When I first met him, this doctor seemed like just a normal guy. It turns out he has climbed the Seven Summits while managing a career, raising a family, and maintaining a fantastic blog. His summiting of the Vinson Massif in Antartica was impressive, but so too were his two seasons on Mt. Everest – especially the first. Hear why, and how he squeezed so much into his life.

An annual Great Norse Run across Iceland. Another across Tajikistan. A bicycle adventure from the UK to India. A charity relay across the U.S.  All with energy posing out at the seams. That's the kind of stuff a Chief Vibe Maker would do, and that's exactly what my guest this episode is - a Chief Vibe Maker. Tune in and hear what that's like.