The Modern Explorer

Episode 35 - @wanderingpat

Excited to be sharing this conversation with Pat Abraham, a well-traveled photographer, who shares some stories from some of the more remote areas of the world in Iceland, Socotra, and Namibia. He has seemingly explored every part of Iceland on three trips already with one in the works as he describes the rugged terrain and the natural beauty throughout the country. Listen in for stories from there, the journeys to get to the remote island of Socotra, and the least populated country and oldest desert in the world in Namibia. Pat also has great insight about avoiding falling into the comparison game many creatives often find themselves victim to. Be sure to check out his incredible images and footage on instagram @wanderingpat.

Episode 34 - @brooksupham

Brooks has undoubtedly had some of the most culturally enriching travels of anyone I've had on the show. He shares about a trip to Ghana and South Africa that changed his perspective on the world we live in and the possessions many of us take for granted. Experiencing the poverty in these areas opened his eyes to the power of storytelling through his lens. You also might be surprised to hear what gave him the initial spark to pick up a camera and get outside to explore his own backyard. Along with these experiences, he shares some valuable lessons he has learned from climbing in the mountains of Colorado and through his travels abroad. Be sure to follow him along for more experiences and news on some upcoming films @brooksupham.

Episode 33 - @ljoneswilkins

Excited to be sharing this episode with my cousin, Logan Jones-Wilkins, and somewhat of a new perspective from the stories past guests have been sharing so far. Logan has been able to travel to some beautiful places over the years, with a big thanks to his bike. Recently he got back from a trip to Mexico where he rode his bike with my other cousin, Tully, and some friends through 500 miles of the country from Mexico City to Oaxaca. He also shares about an 11,000-mile road trip he took in 2020 during the pandemic where he saw 25 national parks and took time to appreciate the natural beauty the states have to offer. One valuable mindset he shares is searching for more questions instead of answers which is worth listening to alone. We also get into each of our top 6 favorite national parks which might have a few surprises on both sides. Go give hime a follow on instagram @ljoneswilkins for constant entertainment and be sure to check out his work at the Rodeo Adventure Labs journal. 

Episode 32 - @jeltown

Listen in to this episode with Jesse Leak as he shares how the spark to travel and explore started on a trip to Costa Rica in his early 20's and not until his early 30's when he went on his first backpacking trip where he discovered his love for exploring more remote areas. A few stories we dive into are a trip to Thailand where he had to deal with bike accident to discover a different experience to his trip than he was expecting, as well as trekking Peru's Cordillera Huayhuash, and spending 4 weeks in El Chalten, the trekking capitol of Argentina and home to Mt. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. Jesse discusses some valuable mindsets about finding what makes you happy and building a life around that. Along with all these captivating stories, Jesse has some incredible photos share and is well worth a look on instagram @jeltown.

Episode 31- @zoezyvith

Zoe shares how a ski trip with some coworkers to Breck led her to taking a job in Colorado 3 months later and diving into all that Colorado has to offer. She also shares some fun stories from backpacking in Sand Dunes National Park, to her first solo backpack on her 3rd ever backpack trip, and a spontaneous last minute trip change to San Diego. With these stories she emphasizes a few lessons including the importance of pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones, being open to changes, and not being afraid to move on from people who are not adding value or reciprocating the effort you are putting into the friendship or relationship. Be sure to listen in for more and give her a follow for outdoorsy inspiration @zoezyvith.

Episode 30 - @alpinemily

From a spark at a young age, exploring many of the country's national parks, to urban exploration as a young adult, to what has now captured her full attention in the mountaineering and bike-packing scenes, Emily does not lack adventurous stories. It was a pleasure hearing about her experiences in the Eastern Sierras, where she found the belief in herself and passion for climbing big mountains, to summiting Ama Dublam in Nepal, and blazing her own bike-packing trails in Iceland. She shares her passion for making others feel that these experiences are within their reach as well along with some great lessons she's learned in her travels over the years. Be sure to check out the breathtaking captures from these trips and more on her instagram @alpinemily

Episode 29 - @zwiegs

This was a super fun episode with Zach, talking about how early sunrise hikes before class in high school turned into 3 months abroad exploring Iceland, the Italian Dolomites, and the Faroe Islands. Since then he has spent time in Peru on three separate trips, with one story that you are sure to want to listen into, exploring remote homesteads, hiking through torrential downpours, and building connections with the friendly people of Peru. Zach has some inspiring lessons and mindsets that he has taken away from his experiences that are sure to make an impact on how you approach your next trip, hike, and even daily life. Make sure you stay up to date with his writing, photos, and videos @zwiegs.

Episode 28 - @solidayinn

In this episode, Natalie shares her journey from starting off her career in California spending time at the beach and hiking in the surrounding area to becoming obsessed with the mountains once she moved to Seattle and experienced the grandeur of Mt Rainier. After a tough experience in her next role in Phoenix, she soon found herself back in Washington finding the healing powers of the mountains and summiting Mt. Rainier to find some confidence and belief in herself. Past that spark, she has since done a solo trip to Switzerland, a return to Switzerland with her cousin where she summited the tallest peak, and trekked in Peru below the massive peaks of the Andes. On top of these incredible trips, she also shares some important mindsets around self-exploration and being present. Be sure to follow her on Instagram for some incredible imagery and exciting new projects in the works @solidayinn

Episode 27 - @besomethingwilder

If you're looking to get deep, this is your episode. Ian and I dive into some great life lessons and he shares some incredible journeys and trips he has been on over the years. He first picked up a camera as a therapeutic device to get him outdoors and embrace the healing powers of nature as he recovered from several head injuries, and little did he know, this would be the spark for future travels to New Zealand, the coast of Oregon, and cliff jumping in the canyons of Utah. If you are looking for some motivation to get out of a rut or change your current thinking about life, look no further than the beautiful insight Ian provides in this episode. And be sure to check out the incredible work he is up to on Instagram @besomethingwilder

Episode 26 - @verticalrealm

This episode is loaded with fun stories, life advice, and inspiration for your next adventure. Chris shares how he broke away from the 9-5 and the spark that through hiking the CDT created for him in his new life. Listen in to hear a wild hitch-hiking story early in his CDT trek and some vivid descriptions from his experiences with monsoons while in Nepal. On top of these stories, he shares some sage advice for those of us trying to live a fulfilling life free of stuff and loaded with experiences and memories. Be sure to follow along with his journeys on instagram @verticalrealm and on his website - https://vertical-realm.com/.