The Human Adventure

#187 - A childhood marked by chaos. A career built on service. And a second act shaped by faith, language, and a blank page. Jake sits down with Ken Webb to trace a life that refuses to settle for mere existence—from praying his way through a turbulent home to leading across Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond. Ken opens up about how his grandparents’ steady love and a lived-in faith helped him...

#186 - What if the deepest calm you’ve ever felt could follow you out of the water and into everyday life? That’s the spark of our conversation with Kerry Ferguson, founder of Yoga Tree, whose path from free diving to yoga reveals how breath, mindfulness, and compassion can reshape how we move through the world. We trace Kerry's arc from early wellness choices and Outward Bound grit to anatom...

#185 - Before longboards hit storefronts and GoPros hit helmets, Jack Smith and two friends pointed a 1969 Firebird toward the horizon and skated into history. Jack Smith talks about how a simple leapfrog relay turned a wild idea into the first recorded skateboard crossing of the United States—and how that journey shaped everything that came after. We trace the arc from clay “crumble” wheels to fi...

#184 - What does it take to conquer the American Ninja Warrior course? For Colton Skuster, the journey began as a 10-year-old jumping over exercise balls in his basement, dreaming of someday tackling those iconic obstacles himself. At just 20 years old, Colton has already competed in three seasons of American Ninja Warrior, reaching the National Finals in Las Vegas and proving himself against comp...

#183 - Jamie Edwards returns to Journey with Jake with tales from the top of the world, having ventured to the Arctic with her 21-year-old daughter and 82-year-old stepfather. Their expedition through the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard reveals a landscape where polar bears roam distant shores and massive glaciers calve with thunderous crashes that signal our changing climate. Jamie vividly desc...

#182 - Two simple questions changed everything for Bernard "Chalky" White. Growing up under the shadow of an abusive father who regularly beat both him and his mother, Chalky developed a survival mechanism that unfortunately led him to abandon his education completely by age 13. With zero qualifications at 16, he joined the police cadets and eventually became a London "Bobby,"...

#181 - Christian Ray Flores' life reads like an epic novel - a childhood marked by upheaval across continents, an improbable rise to pop stardom in Russia, and a profound transformation into a purposeful coach helping others discover their untapped potential. Growing up amid political chaos, Christian experienced firsthand what most of us only read about in history books. By age seven, he had...

#180 - Have you ever wondered what happens when a deep love for Ireland, masterful storytelling, and biblical foundations merge? That's exactly what unfolds in this captivating conversation with John Leonard, the creative mind behind the Wayfinder series – a fantasy adventure saga that bridges ancient myths with biblical narratives. Growing up in rural Colorado as the eldest of four siblings,...

#179 - Lesa Burgess never imagined that falling in love with a basketball player would lead her across nine countries over eleven years, building a family of seven while navigating cultural labyrinths few Americans ever experience. Her memoir "Behind the Bench" pulls back the curtain on what looks like a glamorous life to reveal something far more compelling—a story of resilience, adapta...

#178 - The road to redemption isn't always straight, and nobody knows this better than Garr Russell. From sitting in a jail cell in fifth grade to building a nationwide RV rental franchise with 70 locations, Garr's journey proves that our darkest chapters can become the foundation for something beautiful. After his parents' divorce set him on a troubled path, Garr spiraled through e...

#177 - What happens when childhood play transforms into serious sport? In this eye-opening conversation, we saddle up with Kht Shetty, a 20-year-old Polish hobby horse competitor and coach who's redefining what it means to "horse around." Hobby horsing—a sport where participants jump obstacles up to 1.3 meters high while carrying handcrafted stick horses—combines athletic prowess, c...

#176 - What does it take to sail around the world? For Alison Gieschen, it's required facing her worst fears while clinging to a dream she's had since childhood. From the moment she and her husband Dan met at a sailboat race and discovered their shared ambition to circumnavigate the globe, their path was set – though hardly smooth sailing. Alison's journey began far from any ocean,...

Bonus 11 - Sexual assault fundamentally changes lives, but it doesn't have to define them. In this powerful bonus episode, Amanda Villarini talks about the night that altered her path forever, when what began as a casual gathering with friends ended in betrayal and trauma. Amanda's story exposes the painful reality that sometimes our most devastating wounds come from those we trust. With...

#175 - When Rodney Carpentier first laced up his police patrol boots to tackle a Catskill mountain, he had no idea he was beginning a transformative six-year odyssey that would shape not only his physical resilience but his creative future. Sharing his remarkable journey from unprepared novice to accomplished hiker who conquered all 35 peaks of the challenging Catskills 3500, Rodney reveals how th...

#174 - What does redemption look like at 72 years old? For Rand Timmerman, it meant lacing up his hiking boots and tackling the Appalachian Trail's 2,190 miles alongside his grieving brother—a journey that would test his newfound sobriety, physical limits, and spiritual foundation. Rand's path to that trailhead was anything but straight. Growing up in poverty after his father contracted...

#173 - The most powerful journeys often begin in life's darkest moments. When Thom Barrett received his stage four cancer diagnosis, he made a decision that would transform his experience – he would embrace each day fully, intentionally, and with an adventurous spirit that defies conventional expectations. Our conversation with Thom reveals a man who redefined what it means to truly live. A f...

#172 - Ever wonder what it's like to break a school record in your final race? Or how someone finds their calling at just 21 years old? Meet McKella Leeper, whose enthusiasm for life bubbles up like the wake behind a powerful swimmer. McKella's journey began when her family moved closer to her father's workplace, with the promise that he would coach his daughters in swimming. This d...

Have you ever wondered what Africa was like before satellite phones, GPS navigation, and carefully curated safari experiences? Barry Maughan's remarkable journey from Alexandria to South Africa during the tumultuous late 1960s offers a window into a continent few modern travelers will ever experience. Barry's adventure began with a chance encounter that would set the tone for his entire...

#170 - Ever wondered what it would be like to turn your healthcare career into an adventure? Aaron Bowe transforms this dream into reality as a traveling physical therapist who has crafted a nomadic lifestyle that combines professional growth with unforgettable experiences across America's most breathtaking landscapes. Aaron reveals the unexpected financial benefits of travel therapy that mos...

What happens when you choose freedom over fear? Michelle Coulson's story reveals the extraordinary path that unfolds when you dare to break free from conventional expectations. Michelle always knew she wasn't destined for the traditional path. Even as a child growing up in a small town outside Manchester, she dreamed of life "abroad" – though she couldn't yet define where...

#168 - "Collect moments, not things." It's a philosophy that sounds simple but runs counter to our consumer-driven culture. Cody Sudmeier, founder of Spur Experiences, joins the show to explore why shared adventures create more meaningful connections and lasting happiness than material possessions. After leaving a successful consulting career that felt increasingly unfulfilling, Cod...

Bonus 10 - What happens when a former Army Ranger and Special Forces veteran finally reveals classified missions conducted during some of history's most volatile conflicts? Chris Brewer's military journey spans 24 remarkable years, from the reactivation of the 1st Ranger Battalion in 1974 to covert operations in Colombia during the Pablo Escobar era. In this gripping conversation, Chris...

# 167 - What drives someone to abandon their shoes and run barefoot through mountains, forests, and even snow? In this captivating conversation, Ken Posner reveals the unexpected journey that turned him from a corporate professional with chronic running injuries into a barefoot endurance athlete who's completed thousands of miles without shoes. Ken's transformation began pragmatically –...

#166 - What happens when your adventurous spirit collides with a life-changing diagnosis? Meet Brooke King, a fearless 29-year-old who refuses to let thyroid cancer dim her extraordinary approach to life. Brooke's story begins in Chicago, where she lived a successful but predictable life as a young homeowner. When COVID hit, something shifted - that innate desire for adventure could no longer...

#165 - The Missouri River winds through America's heartland like a massive, muddy snake—but what's it like to follow it from source to mouth? Larry Campbell, a retired math professor, did exactly that in a life-changing seven-week adventure that transformed his understanding of this iconic waterway. Larry's journey began at Three Forks, Montana, where he made the startling discovery...