BLACKYAK made for missions podcast

Outdoor photographer Daniel Hug shares how his geography background and passion for adventure shaped his career—from dives and Alpine climbs to documenting Jost Kobusch's winter expeditions on Everest. He reveals what it takes to capture real stories in extreme places, balancing risk, creativity, and authenticity in a world increasingly shaped by AI and social media and why he leaves his camera behind in free time.

For Patrick von Känel, flying is more than a passion – it's part of his identity. He took his first flight at 14, long before the law allowed it, and never looked back. Today, he ranks among the world's best speed paragliders.Patrick talks with Matthias about his unique path to the sky, the mental discipline it takes to fly fast, and why staying true to yourself is the real mission.

Daniel Ladurner balances two contrasting worlds: apple and wine farming in South Tyrol and his passion for alpine climbing. In this episode, he shares his journey from the Dolomites to Fitzroy, his training approach for aesthetic climbs, and his experiences with wingsuit flying and BASE jumping.Discover how Daniel navigates risks, builds mental resilience, and draws strength from nature for his adventures.

Embark on an inspiring journey into the world of high-altitude mountaineering and beyond. In this episode Matthias Giraud sits down with the extraordinary climber and guide Dave Watson. Dave shares his near-death experience during an avalanche, his mission to ski K2, and the profound lessons he's learned from nature and life. Together, they reflect on the challenges of balancing family, career, and personal goals.

From extreme mountaineering to training Hollywood's elite, Mark Twight's journey has been anything but straightforward. He has reinvented himself countless times, often more than he acknowledges, delving deep into his core to gradually accept himself. Facing and overcoming challenges can leave lasting marks, sometimes making one hard and unyielding, with little room for inspiration. However, maintaining sensitivity and staying in touch with one's ever-changing environment fosters dynamic growth rather than becoming rigid and static. Tune into this enlightening and inspiring podcast episode where no emotion, no experience nor wisdom falls short.  Thank youMark and Matthias for sharing.

If, like Julian Fink, your mission is to enjoy life to the fullest, sometimes you have to be strong enough to know when it's time to turn back. Fortunately, having experience in mountain rescue and in an intensive care unit, he has always kept a cool head. Listen to our new episode to discover how this helped him and his strong rope team of friends on their ascent of the majestic "mountain tower" Cerro Torre, Patagonia.

Get to know Sepp Inniger: ambitious paraglider, test pilot and mountaineer. He started as a supporter at the X-Alps 2019, only to stand on the podium at the Eiger Challenge just a few weeks later. In this episode, he talks about his remarkable experiences of mastering the sport of hike-and-fly, with all its challenging weather conditions and the mental challenges of a competitor's life.

In the beginning her father took her on her first mountain mission, then she continued to pursue her new found passion for high altitude mountaineering on her own. Hannah Quatember shares her first expedition experience on Peak Lenin, approaching it with her characteristic serenity, a quality that will undoubtedly aid her in future missions like G2.

Celebrate International Women's Day with us as we honor the fearless women who conquer mountains and break boundaries. Tune in to hear firsthand from trailblazers like Uta Ibrahimi and Vibi Vibeke Andrea Sefland as they share their experiences and insights, empowering woman globally and inspire to redefine your own adventures.

From tackling small boulders to conquering Mount Everest, climbing fascinates Felix Berg for its movement, feeling, and the flow experience it provides. High-altitude mountaineering captivates him with its physical and mental challenges, allowing him to experience the profound moments of a major expedition. Living intensely, whether on the thin air of an 8000-meter peak or a small rock face, tune in to gain insights into the adventures and attitudes of Felix Berg.

Mountain peaks, crisis areas, eight years in a tent - Vibeke Sefland, the Norwegian adventurer, takes us through a life full of courageous expeditions and humanitarian missions. Learn how her childhood close to nature taught her how to handle dangerous situations and hear about her work with courageous women in Afghanistan.

An episode like a summit push: meet Danish adventurer, mountain guide and high altitude alpinist Jakob Urth, who first plunged into the fire and ice of his passion on Mont Blanc and went on to become one of the greatest mountain guides in the Himalayas. Hear about the challenges and dreams in the two lives of a mountaineer - one on summits and basecamps, and one as a returnee to his life at home. Hear how the mountain guide leads his clients through the painful rigors of an eight-thousand-meter climb up to, perhaps, the most significant moments of their lives, and what motivates him even beyond that.

Especially on Annapurna you have to be prepared for anything. For example, unexpectedly becoming a hero again: This time Adam Bielecki became part of a rescue team that set out to find a climber who fell into a crevasse in the most dangerous passage of the mountain. In this extraordinary episode you can hear for yourself how resilient we humans are, that there are moments when you should take a rope longer than 50 meters and observe once again that there are much more important things in life than the summit.

Being an "outdoorsy" person teaches you a lot along the way. In the mountains, we see the effects of climate change clearly before our eyes. Matthias' guest this time is the far-sighted entrepreneur, avid athlete, speedflyer and film maker Malcolm Wood. With documentaries like The Last Galciers or A Plastic Planet – which David Attenborough called the most important film of our time – the mountain advocate in the UN world environment programme has made it his mission to share his experiences with the world. Enjoy this heartfelt, inspiring and profound conversation.

Mountaineering is the privilege of introspection. Because Jost Kobusch embarks on his spectacular projects alone, he has plenty of time to reflect. He shares his astonishing experiences of his recent winter solo ascent of Denali, his attempts to do the same on Everest and he and Matthias shed light on what is cliché and what are their true motivations in this profound conversation.

In this episode, Tenji Sherpa sheds some light on what it takes to regularly stand where others aspire to stand just once in their lifetime. In conversation with Matthias, he talks about his path to becoming an internationally certified mountain guide and how climate change is transforming conditions at high altitude. We also hear about his time with Ueli Steck and the significance of Nimsdai Sherpa's success. This episode was recorded on January 25, 2023.

In the world of mountain sports there are many first times. Uta Ibrahimi, however, stands out. She is the first Albanian woman to climb Mount Everest. In this episode she talks to Superfrenchie about her next missions, her past successes and her goals, which are even bigger than the eight-thousanders she has climbed: To raise awareness about nature, the mountains and human rights, especially in Kosovo and Albania.

What is it like to paraglide off K2? Alpinist Max Berger, professional mountain guide and executive in the outdoor industry for Petzl, shares his experience from years of challenging missions. Tune in for Matthias talking shop with this forerunner of mountain sports who made his mark by founding the ice climbing world cup and making several first ascents.

In this episode, Matthias talks with extreme mountaineer and polish superstar Adam Bielecki. How did he get into mountaineering? How does he prepare for his high-altitude expeditions? And how does he deal with the dangers inside the death zone, being a family man? Tune in! This episode was recorded on Dec 22nd, 2020.