Inspire Campfire

This week, we're honored to welcome Jessica DeAngelo, Chief Hiking Officer and founder of Hike to Become, with a background in global sales and strategy. Having worked with Fortune 500 companies like Amazon, Nike, and Uber, Jessica made a dramatic pivot from the corporate boardroom to the hiking trail, where she discovered something profound—that nature holds the key to unlocking our greatest busi...

This week, in the final part of our Everest Base Camp series, we're honored to welcome Karen Darke, Paralympic gold medalist, and adventurer whose extraordinary journey to Everest Base Camp redefines what it means to answer the call to adventure. From her early days as a passionate explorer to overcoming a life-changing accident that left her paralyzed, Karen’s story is a testament to resilience,...

This week, in part 2 of our Everest Base Camp series, we're honored to welcome three extraordinary adventurers from our recent Everest Base Camp trek: Keith Davis, a real estate investor from Eugene, Oregon; Clare Brown, an upland ecologist from Scotland; and Sam Van Keulen, a real estate investor based in Burgundy, France. United by their spirit of adventure, these three individuals joined host S...

This week, we're honored to welcome Olga Bak, friend and advisor to Travel Nepal Himalaya's Treks, the local guide company that helped our group navigate the challenging journey to Mount Everest base camp. Developing an early connection with Nepal during her first trek in 2013, Olga's spontaneous "yes" to adventure evolved into something deeper—a calling to build bridges between travelers and this...

This week, we're honored to welcome Rue McKenrick, professional backpacker, conservationist, and the visionary behind the American Perimeter Trail—a 14,000-mile route that circumnavigates the continental United States. Growing up with a passion for both backpacking and conservation, Rue’s journey began with a simple idea: to be part of something bigger than himself and to create a lasting impact o...

This week, we're honored to welcome Zack Luttrell, an entrepreneur, adventurer, and community builder from Charlotte, North Carolina. Growing up with an event planner mother, Zack developed an early talent for bringing people together that eventually evolved into something deeper—a calling to create authentic experiences that connect people through shared passion. Zack takes us on a journey throug...

This week, we're honored to welcome Louis Alexander, a Guinness World Record-holding adventurer and endurance athlete from London. At just 25 years old, Louis has already achieved feats that most of us can only dream of—running marathons on all seven continents and swimming marathons in all seven seas. His journey has taken him from the frozen landscapes of Antarctica to the sweltering waters of t...

This week, we’re honored to welcome Stephan Kesting, adventurer, firefighter, jiujitsu practitioner, and author of the new book  Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic . Stephan shares the gripping story of his thousand-mile solo canoe expedition through the Canadian Subarctic—a journey he undertook after recovering from a life-threatening illness and a kidney transplant. Stephan recou...

This week, we're honored to welcome Bryan Murphy, creator and host of the popular podcast and social media brand " Hawaii's Best ." Growing up in Southern California, Bryan developed an early fascination with the Hawaiian Islands that eventually evolved into something deeper—a calling to share Hawaii's magic with the world. Bryan takes us on a journey through his transformation from casual tourist...

This week, we’re honored to welcome Niki DiGaetano, a death doula from Salt Lake City, Utah, who has dedicated her life to supporting those at the end of theirs. Niki had long felt called to work with the dying, but it wasn’t until a 2022 section hike of the Appalachian Trail that she found the confidence to fully embrace that path. After her journey on the trail, she told friends, "If I can find...

This week, we’re excited to welcome filmmaker Zach Carver for an in-depth look at a journey fueled by tradition, exploration, and sheer self-reliance. At the heart of our conversation is the Race to Alaska —a grueling, human- and wind-powered challenge through North America’s Inside Passage. With no engines, no support crews, and barely any rules, this race demands unwavering grit and determinatio...

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Oscar Newson-Smith, a visionary changemaker with an extraordinary story of purpose, resilience, and impact. Oscar is the founder of The Racso Project, a social enterprise dedicated to revitalizing Turkey's economy and infrastructure in the wake of three devastating earthquakes in 2023. To amplify awareness and support for this critical mission, Oscar has undert...

This week on the podcast, we're joined by artist and world traveler Chris Matsushige for an unforgettable story from Pamplona, Spain. Every year, the historic Running of the Bulls attracts millions of spectators and daring participants who sprint alongside six bulls and six steers through the cobblestone streets of the city. Hailing from San Diego, California, Chris has not only explored countless...

This week on the podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Craig O’Boyle! Craig, a real estate entrepreneur from Colorado Springs, Colorado, lives by the mantra "work hard, play hard." Each year, he organizes a unique adventure for his close-knit group of friends, the self-dubbed “Outdoorsy Guys” (OGs). The twist? Craig is the only one who knows the destination. The rest of the crew shows up at the airpo...

This week on the podcast, we’re bringing you a powerful episode centered on compassionate leadership, belonging, social awareness, moral courage, and driving social change. These values are at the heart of the Charlotte Unity Project by the North Carolina Outward Bound School—a transformative initiative that begins with a free 7-day wilderness program for 48 high school students from 8 diverse sch...

This week on the podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Jeff Johns, a lifelong adventurer, filmmaker, photographer, and writer who has spent nearly half his life traveling the globe and living abroad. Jeff's journey is an inspiring tale of embracing discomfort and finding joy through world travel. From assisting in recovery efforts in Thailand after the 2004 tsunami to creating hit television shows fo...

This week on the Inspire Campfire podcast, we’re excited to welcome Mary "Newfound" Leavines, a storyteller, writer, photographer, and the owner of a popular hostel for thru-hikers along the Appalachian Trail. Mary’s journey to the AT began with an inciting incident that set her on a path of self-discovery—one that led her to thru-hike the trail in 2022. During her time on the trail, she not only...

This week on the Inspire Campfire podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Richard De Gouveia, a man who has dedicated his life to sharing his profound connection with animals, the environment, and the Earth. As the founder of Arc Earth, Richard leads transformative safari experiences that delve deep into Africa’s ecosystems, wildlife, and conservation efforts. Following a life-changing event, Richard l...

This week on the Inspire Campfire podcast, we're thrilled to welcome Chris Watson, the voice behind Adventure Diaries, a podcast that brings authentic tales of adventure, exploration, and the natural world to life. Chris joins us to explore the transformative power of storytelling and how sharing our journeys can ignite new adventures, inspire others to take action, and create a lasting legacy of...

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Kyle and Heather Ellison from Maui, Hawaii, a couple who built their relationship on a shared love for adventure. As their family grew, they realized that having kids didn’t mean giving up their passion for travel—instead, it became the foundation for an exciting family lifestyle. Together, they’re raising an adventure first family and have made travel a p...

This week on the podcast, we're thrilled to welcome Kristoff Druva, a passionate wildlife photographer from Denver, Colorado, who uses his lens to capture the beauty and fragility of nature. As the founder of Kristoff Druva Photography, Kristoff's work tells compelling stories that raise awareness about wildlife conservation and habitat protection. His photography journeys have taken him across th...

This week on Inspire Campfire, we’re joined by Ty, an adventurer from Long Island, New York, who has made full-time travel his way of life. With extreme intentionality, Ty embraces every moment, living in the now while having a clear vision for each stage of his life. After graduating from business school, Ty found himself at a crossroads—get traditional work experience or take a leap and travel t...

This week, we’re joined by Lauren from @YorAdventures, a wife and mom of four boys from Eugene, Oregon, who discovered firsthand how transformative nature can be for mental health. When the pandemic hit in 2020, she quickly realized that being cooped up indoors was taking a toll on her family, so they made a bold decision: they bought a travel trailer and hit the road in search of adventure and he...

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Anita Phillips, a remarkable individual who embodies the "work hard, play hard" philosophy. For 20 years, Anita thrived as a corporate lawyer in the bustling cities of London, Paris, and Hong Kong. But when she wasn’t navigating high-powered boardrooms, she was exploring the world with just a backpack and a tent. Now an executive coach, Anita calls the foothill...

This week, we bring you the extraordinary tale of Sophie Matterson, a woman who left behind the familiar to embark on a life-changing journey across Australia with five wild camels. Hailing from Flinders Ranges in South Australia, Sophie traded her career in TV and film for an adventure that would reshape her life. What started as a brief break from her job in 2016 turned into an incredible 13-mon...