Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Andreas Heide, Norwegian marine biologist, filmmaker, expedition sailor, and explorer talks about a life shaped by the ocean. From receiving his first small boat at age ten to training as a military combat diver and leading expeditions into Arctic waters, Andreas explains how curiosity, freedom, and extreme environments shaped the person he...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Richard Wiese sits down with Icelandic innovator Björk Brynjarsdóttir, who is reimagining one of humanity’s oldest problems: waste. By transforming food scraps through microbial fermentation, Björk’s work turns household waste into a powerful tool for restoring degraded soils. Her mission is especially urgent in Iceland, where landscapes onc...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Richard Wiese speaks with filmmaker, explorer, and ice diver Andrew Budziak about his project Freeze the Future — a conservation initiative studying the hidden ecosystems beneath frozen lakes. Andrew explains how scientists recently discovered productive algae communities growing underneath lake ice, reshaping assumptions about winter freshw...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Richard Wiese sits down with Serena McCalla — National Geographic Explorer, molecular scientist, educator, and mentor featured in the acclaimed documentary Science Fair . Serena shares her journey from growing up in a hardworking immigrant family to building one of the most successful high school science research programs in the country. She...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Hugues de Kerdrel joins Richard Wiese to share the story behind Mission William - a global initiative aimed at protecting whale sharks and the ecosystems they depend on. What began as a promise to a young boy evolved into a large-scale conservation effort focused on creating safe migration corridors across the Southeast Atlantic. Hugues expl...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Bertrand Piccard joins Richard Wiese for a conversation about exploration, failure, innovation, and the mindset required to build a better future. Piccard reflects on how repeated failures shaped some of his greatest achievements and explains why curiosity, perseverance, and respect matter far beyond expeditions. For him, exploration is not...

In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher, we celebrate the life of Dr. Birute Galdikas. The amazing life lived, and the legacy that continues to this day. Dr. Birute Galdikas dedicated over 50 years of her life to studying and protecting orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo. As one of the legendary “Trimates” chosen by Louis Leakey — alongside Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey — B...

In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Richard Wiese speaks with Dr. Alex More about an extraordinary journey that spans immigration, survival, scholarship, and discovery. Alex recounts leaving Italy as a teenager, navigating New York and Chicago with limited resources, and eventually building an academic career that led to Harvard and beyond. His story is one of persistence...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , host Richard Wiese speaks with Dr. Martin Nweeia, a dental surgeon, Arctic marine mammal scientist, dental anthropologist, educator, and leading researcher of the narwhal — the Arctic whale often called the “real-life unicorn.” Nweeia also shares his unconventional path from childhood dreams of music and heart surgery to a career that blends...

In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Richard Wiese sits down with legendary balloonist and environmental innovator Bertrand Piccard to explore what it truly means to carry the torch of exploration across generations. From completing the first nonstop balloon flight around the world to launching the groundbreaking Solar Impulse project, Piccard explains why success is never...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , environmental filmmaker and producer Tomas Koeck joins Richard Wiese to explore the realities of wildlife storytelling—where patience, ethics, and community matter more than spectacle. From the community-centered premiere of Way of Life to filming wolves in the Arctic and birds along migration corridors, Koeck shares how meaningful environme...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Richard Wiese sits down with filmmaker and explorer Trevor Wallace to explore the experiences that shaped his life—from being raised by a resilient single mother to navigating danger, discovery, and deep cultural immersion across the globe. Trevor recounts a pivotal teenage journey to Tanzania through a Jane Goodall program, including a viol...

In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher , host Richard Wiese sits down with marine archaeologist Brandon Clifford to explore the real history behind pirates and the legendary Whydah Gally. Far from Hollywood myths, Brandon explains how pirates emerged from war, economic hardship, and rebellion—and how the Whydah became the most important pirate shipwreck ever discovered. Brando...

In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher , host Richard Wiese sits down with photographer and filmmaker Karim Iliya to explore a life shaped by constant movement, curiosity, and deep observation. Having grown up across multiple continents, Karim reflects on how living between cultures taught him adaptability, empathy, and an appreciation for the unseen forces that shape human op...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , host Richard Wiese sits down with renowned cultural anthropologist and explorer Wade Davis to explore storytelling, creativity, and the courage required to live a meaningful life. Wade reflects on his unconventional journey—from a chance encounter with anthropology at Harvard to decades spent giving voice to disappearing cultures and languag...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Dr. Kenneth Lacovara joins Richard Wiese to discuss dinosaurs, discovery, and the lessons Earth’s history can teach about the future. From uncovering the largest dinosaurs in Argentina to saving a fossil park behind a Lowe’s in New Jersey, Lacovara shares how chance, teamwork, and curiosity shaped his career. He describes the Edelman Fossil...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , host Richard Wiese speaks with cave explorer, documentarian and author Chris Nicola, whose discovery in a Ukrainian cave unveiled one of the most extraordinary survival stories of World War II. Chris shares how a lifetime of adventure — from law enforcement to cave diving — led him to stumble upon artifacts in a cave that revealed the hidden...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , planetary scientist Dr. Alan Stern shares his journey from childhood awe during Apollo 11 to leading NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond. Alan opens up about early failures — including flunking out of college — and how hard labor and reflection transformed his drive to succeed in science. He revisits the tragedy of the Space Shut...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , Dr. Stig Severinsen reveals the science and spirituality behind mastering your breath. Known for holding his breath for over 20 minutes and diving 202 meters on a single breath, Stig explains how breathing correctly through the nose can transform health, focus, and emotional control. He walks listeners through the power of nasal breathing, t...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , host Richard Wiese welcomes Victor Vescovo—mountaineer, deep-sea explorer, naval intelligence officer, and the first person to reach the deepest points of all five oceans. Victor retraces his early beginnings rooted in a fascination with maps, geography, science fiction, and adventure stories. As he matured and gained resources, he pursued i...

In this heartfelt episode, Peter Hillary joins Richard to explore the enduring legacy of adventure, humility, and service passed down from his father, Sir Edmund Hillary. Peter recounts the awe of standing atop Everest, the emotional radio call that connected two generations, and the values that kept their family grounded amid global fame. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from his father’s knig...

Born in Lima, Peru, during years of terrorism and instability, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado grew up amid fear and uncertainty. Enduring trauma from childhood abuse, she fled to the U.S. as a teen, determined to start anew. That journey led her to the most unlikely place — Amish country — where she learned humility, resilience, and how to find peace in quiet strength. Silvia’s transformation continued thr...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , host Richard Wiese speaks with Portuguese surfer Hugo Vau about his experiences at Nazaré—the site of some of the world’s biggest waves. Hugo shares how surfing began in Portugal only a few decades ago, facing early resistance before becoming a respected sport. He explains the natural forces that create Nazaré’s enormous swells through a dee...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , dive deep with Captain Alfred McLaren, U.S. Navy (Ret.), a Cold War submarine commander, Arctic explorer, and author of Emergency Deep: Cold War Missions of a Submarine Commander . Captain McLaren reflects on his decades of leadership beneath the sea — from navigating Soviet waters during the height of the Cold War to charting the uncharted...

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher , host Richard Wiese talks with mountaineer, investor, and philanthropist Bo Parfet — one of the few to summit the highest peak on all seven continents. From struggling with dyslexia as a child to surviving near-death experiences on Denali, Everest, and K2, Bo’s story is one of grit, growth, and perspective. He shares how he turned failure int...