Life in Motion

In this episode we interview Shelly Farnan of The Be Well Community. Shelly grew up in a small town and relied on the outdoors as escapism. During her college years she spent her time on a peony farm and eventually participated in a work study program at a behavioral health center. That's when she developed a passion for helping others mental health through meaningful therapy. Now a...

In this episode we interview Deborah Hartwig and Abigail Loyd of Music Therapy of the Ozarks. Abigail is a performer and knows her way around different instruments. Deborah has a knack for communication and inspiring others. While they both have different backgrounds, they share the same love of helping others - making them the perfect fit for Music Therapy of the Ozarks. They now h...

In this episode we interview Hazel Cimino and Mason Brown of Richmond Community Rowing. They each found their love for rowing in the freedom that it gave them to experience the outdoors. While the competitive nature, teamwork and communication of the sport has kept them passionate over the years. Now at Richmond Community Rowing they help share that same excitement with others that may h...

In this episode we interview Caitlin Olszewski, the founder of Camp Full Send. Growing up outside of Philadelphia Caitlin didn't find her true love for the outdoors until she went to college at Penn State University. While there she couldn't get enough of the surrounding adventures, so much so that she used it as a way to clear her mind from the college grind. During that time she also became pass...

In this episode we interview Mathew Sturtevant, the author of The Topography of Fear - a book about how traveling 6000 miles across the USA saved his life. Twice. While living in Austin Texas, Mathew had a love for the outdoors and the music scene. So much so that he became a mountain bike tour guide and wrote the book, The Sound of Austin. As he got older Mathew began to experience fear, anxiety...

In this episode we interview Forrest Lodge of Sportable in Richmond Virginia. Growing up in Chesterfield VA there was no shortage of things to do - from team sports to exploring the outdoors. His love for these activities eventually led him to volunteer at Sportable, but at first he wasn't so sure it was the right fit. Now as the program manager there's no doubt that he's 100% behind their mission...

In this episode we interview Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center's Wilderness Programs Director Jaime Overmyer. After traveling to various winter destinations during college as a competitive skier, her heart landed in Breckenridge. It wasn't long after that she found her dream internship at BOEC - in fact she actually skied right to the interview. 18 years later she's now the Wilderness Programs...

In this episode we interview First Descents director of programs, Mackenzie McGrath. Mackenzie has traveled and rock climbed places like Asia, Africa, North America and The Middle East as an aid, US diplomat and nonprofit consultant. She knows first hand the positive effect the outdoors can have on someone. These experiences make her the perfect fit to support First Descents mission of providing l...

In this episode we interview backpacker, rock climber, trail runner and author - Christine Reed. After stumbling upon backpacking while surfing the web she knew she wanted to be a part of a bigger community. Her first step was to attempt to thru hike the Appalachian Trail. From there one adventure led to another and Christine couldn't get enough of the outdoors. Years later she set off to hike the...

In this episode we interview Shawn Hayden, an avid road cyclist and community health advocate. After searching for 20 years Shawn found his passion in road cycling, as well as community health and wellness. This led him to co-founding MO Switch, a nonprofit in Southwest Missouri which focuses on expanding the culture of health and equity throughout the region. If you've ever wondered why it's neve...

In this episode we've got the second edition of the MIDxMIDWST artist takeover. For those who don't know, MIDxMDWST is a Mural Arts and Culture Festival in Springfield MO. Listen as Christine Riutzel from Branson, Meg Wagler from Springfield, Ian Robertson from Los Angeles, Ally Grimm from Denver, and Alexandria Olivia Hall from Nashville chat about what inspired them over the years and how they'r...

In this episode we're doing a MIDxMIDWST artist takeover. For those who don't know, MIDxMIDWST is a Mural Arts and Culture Festival in Springfield MO. To kick this series off we'll have Evan Wright from Springfield, Natalie Shugailo from Chicago, Steven Teller from Fort Lauderdale and Eric Karbeling from Honolulu. Listen as we chat about what inspired them over the years and how they're using art...

In this episode we interview Heather Zoccali, the manager of the caregiver programs at No Barriers USA. After becoming a caregiver to her son in 2017 she noticed there wasn't a proper support system for caregivers to help them through the emotional and physical challenges. This led her to starting the Arch Foundation, which did just that. Years later, she now helps others through the caregiver pro...

In this episode we interview Justine Nobbe of Adventure Mamas Initiative. After having her first child, Justine wasn't ready to put her outdoor adventures behind her. That's when she decided to build a community around motherhood, allowing women to connect, while sharing their experiences. Now Adventure Mamas Initiative is a nation-wide community that offers not only outdoor expeditions and worksh...

In this episode we interview Derick Lugo, a Brooklyn born New Yorker. After living in Europe for some time, he was ready to head back to the states in search for his next adventure. With no hiking, or camping experience, the most logical option was to thru-hike over 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail. Along the way Derick met people he'll never forget and learned more than he'd ever thought he c...

In this episode we interview Lilo Navales and John Nixon of rvaMORE, a nonprofit in Richmond Virginia whose mission is to build and develop mountain bike trails, while fostering a community around them. Since the beginning they've built over 75 miles of multi-use trails with over 12,000 volunteer hours, and they're just getting started. If you've ever wondered how a local mountain bike club can im...

In this episode we interview Danny Collins. As the founder of 37 North Expeditions, he continues to push his limits, not only for himself but for his clients. After staying in South America, Danny decided it was time to mark off two things from his bucket list - summiting Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. One is an active volcano, the other is the closest place to outer space on earth. Even though the weat...

In this episode we interview Constance Beverley of Share Winter Foundation. As a kid Constance had a love for the outdoors, especially snowboarding. After finding creative ways to get on the slopes, and even scoring some free lessons she knew there had to be a better way. She later graduated from law school, and during her stint on Wall Street became passionate about nonprofits that were helping t...

In this episode we interview Adam Kunes, the founder of the voluntourism company, Have Fun Do Good. During college he spent a semester at sea, which was a 100 day cruise around the world. These experiences opened Adam's eyes, showing him what it means to give back to others. Years later he founded Have Fun Do Good, a travel guide company with a twist. With each trip they volunteer with local nonpr...

In this episode we interview Eric Hadley, the founder of Got Your Six Coffee. During his time as an Engineering Officer for the Military Sealift Command, Eric traveled to 59 different countries. These experiences grew his love for adventure and introduced him to cultures from around the world. They also inspired him to start Got Your Six Coffee with the mission to serve those who serve us. Each cu...

In this episode we interview Matt & Cristen, the ones behind the blog and podcast, Keyword Adventure. After meeting each other at an outdoor store they took their first adventure together and the rest is history. Now they spend their time hiking, biking, camping, RVing, sailing and kayaking around the country with their young son Eric. If you've ever wondered why you shouldn't let kids hold yo...

In this episode we interview Paul Barach, author of Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains: Misadventures on a Buddhist Pilgrimage. After studying abroad in college, Paul fell in love with the spirit of adventure and the experiences that came with it. However, it wasn't until years later that he fully committed after leaving the corporate world behind. Hear how his journey on the 750 mile Shikoku pi...

In this episode we interview Meg Wagler. Hear how art influenced her life at an early age, eventually leading her to an art director gig in the corporate world. After missing her creative spark she decided to take a leap into freelancing. Since then she's left her mark around Springfield, while bringing smiles throughout the community. If you've ever wondered what it means to create something for...

In this episode we interview Uli Gulje who is a firefighter, podcast host, brewer in training, and arguably the best bingo host this side of the Mississippi. Learn how his spontaneous decisions (like moving from sunny Cali to freezing Alaska) has allowed him to live life on his own terms. If you've ever wondered why you should just go for it and not care what anyone thinks then this one's for you!...

In this episode we interview Bobby Raetz of Team Overland. Their nonprofit provides guided outdoor adventures for veterans, their families, and civilian supporters. These adventures not only serve as a good time, but also as a much needed outlet for veterans that are getting reintegrated into society. If you've ever wondered what kind of impact the great outdoors can have on those who have served...