Explore Magazine's Live the Adventure Podcast

Ticks. Lyme disease. Viral pathogens. Are you scared yet? Well, you don't need to me. Even active outdoor enthusiasts like us only need to be educated and aware—then we can stay tick safe! Today's conversation is with Sarah Cormode, from the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation. Sarah is a podcaster and has had the opportunity to speak with dozens of experts in the field of medicine and outdoor safety and education. So let's talk ticks with Sarah Cormode!

Today, my guest is Caroline Cote. And as I hit publish, she is (ideally) in the final week or so of a self-supported ski expedition across Antarctica to the South Pole. This is quite a leap from a self-described "shy little girl" who only got introduced to outdoor recreation in her 20s. But Caroline is nothing if not bold—this Quebec-based adventurer has already been to the Cold Continent twice before, as well as a plethora of other impressive expeditions. Today, we're finding out what it takes to tackle such a trip. And why. And what it feels like to be faced with a month of solitude in the lonely place on Earth. Yup—it's a good one. Enjoy!

Let's talk about expeditions. Journeys. Adventures. Why do we do them? What is the purpose? And what do we hope to accomplish? Mariele Guerrero has some thoughts on all of this—and they may surprise you. Because the true nature of an expedition may come from within. Enjoy episode 27 with my guest, Mariele Guerrero!

We love dogs! As outdoor enthusiasts, dogs make the perfect partners. But how can we be the perfect partners right back? How can we ensure our pups live long and healthy lives? Today, my guest is Olivia Saray—she's a dog and cat nutrition specialist at Rolf C. Hagen.  We're going to talk do's and don'ts, pet health, pet food and so much more. It's a dog day afternoon—tune in!

Travel is back. After an unprecedented hiatus, we are once again becoming a nation of tourists. But what has changed? Have we grown to better appreciate the act of tourism, the act of connection with a new land or a new culture and the act of escaping one's everyday life? Are we looking for travel that offers a rich experience and facilitates a deep connection between guest and host? Today, I'm stoked to welcome Mike Willie, owner of Sea Wolf Adventures on Vancouver Island, and Brenda Baptiste, chair of Indigenous Tourism BC, to the podcast. Let's hear what they have to say on the matter.

Think about the clothes you're wearing. Where were they made? Who made them? For how long do you intend on owning them? Big questions that aren't always asked by many. Rene Gauthier is asking these questions. He is the CEO of a clothing company called "ecologyst." Based in Victoria, BC, ecologyst makes clothes onsite using only natural fibres with the intent to disrupt the concepts of fast-fashion, disposable, petroleum-product clothing. How is he doing it? Why is he doing it? What should the future of the clothing industry look like? Find out with today's episode!

Let's travel—far. Farther than any journey you could physically take. Let's travel into the stars. I love the night sky. Stargazing is such an important part of the outdoor experience. Some of my best memories from camping trips past have been of a night sky lit up with stars and streaked with the milk way. Or northern lights. Comets. A planet seen through a telescope. Today my guest is Alan Dyer. Alan is, among many other things, the co-author of the new edition of "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide," written with astronomer and author Terrance Dickinson. We're going to chat about how you can become familiar with the stars above, what threats the night sky faces and what went into creating this incredible astronomer's resource.

So—the winter Olympics are coming up in February. Yeah, I know we just had one this summer. But this is the Winter games. Canada's games! Ever wonder what it's like to progress as an athlete toward the Olympics? To repeat and gain success with every games? Then to retire, and attempt to use those skills to forge a new path? Today, my guest is Kelsey Serwa. Kelsey is a ski-cross athlete who has represented Canada at three Olympic games, winning both silver and gold medals. Today, she's on a new path. But her journey to the games has a lot of lessons to offer—from what it takes to succeed at youth sport, to what matters most in pro-competition and more. So chill out and dream of gold as we chat with Kelsey Serwa.

Imagine moving between three oceans, all under your own power. For six years. Visiting hundreds of communities, seeing the wildest parts of a country. Connecting. Growing. Learning. This is what Dianne Whelan did for six years as she traversed the Trans-Canada Trail. Dianne just finished in August of 2021. What did she uncover about Canada, about its people and about herself? Tune in to find out.

Some 16 years ago, my mom gave me the book "Prisoners of the North," by Pierre Berton. I loved it. I became fascinated by Canada's north, and knew I'd go there soon. In 2008, I crossed the Arctic Circle for the first time. Then again in 2010. Back in the Arctic in 2014, 2016 and 2017. (And I even squeezed another trip to Yukon in there too.) I'm a prisoner of the north. And maybe, so is my guest, Joel Hibbard. Joel comes from a family of northern guides—he currently operates Canadian River Expeditions and Nahanni River Adventures, running raft trips down some of the most storied waterways of Yukon and Northwest Territories. Here's the thing—I'm a tourist in the North. Joel lives and works there. So he joined me on a call to chat about the North, river travel, the future of guiding and what it means to run an ethical, sustainable and community minded business in the 21st century. It has me yearning for my next trip north—and I'm double-vaxxed and ready to go! Stay tuned for Joel Hibbard.

Ever wanted to walk on water? Well, the closest you’re likely to come is by stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). I love stand-up paddleboarding. I first tried it almost 10 years ago. I was hooked—although, to be honest, I’ve kept it fairly casual. I love the perspective it offers over the water. I love the relaxing, comfortable nature of the sport. And I love that you’re very much in the water—sometimes right in the water—rather than detached from it.  Today, I’m chatting with two people who are far, far more experienced in stand-up paddleboarding than I am: Bruce Kirkby and Norm Hann. Both are experienced explorers and avid paddleboarders—Norm is a instructor and guide based in Squamish, British Columbia; and Bruce plies the dynamic waters around his mountain home of Kimberley, BC. They’re also both Mustang Survival ambassadors—and they’re multi-day stand-up paddleboard expeditioners. That’s right—this isn’t pushing around a pond on vacation. These guys do open-water crossings and weeklong self-supported missions on a SUP. How do they do it? And why? And how can you follow in their paddle-strokes? Stay tuned for Bruce Kirkby and Norm Hann.

My guest today is Benjamin Jordan. Ben’s an adventure paraglider and filmmaker based in southeastern BC… Among many trips, he recently completed a flight expedition from the Mexican border, across the continental US, right up to Canada… Following the migration path of the monarch butterfly. He filmed this adventure for an upcoming documentary… Hoping to learn about monarchs—and flying—along the way. At nearly 2,850 km—which included some 600 km of hiking—through regions he’d never flown or even been in… As a pandemic broke out around him… ...It was a challenge. But he learned a lot… So stay tuned as we chat about how he started in the world of paragliding… About long-distance expedition travel… And the plights and flights of the monarch butterfly.

What load do you carry? Is it, at times, too heavy to lift? How do you balance a yearning for adventure with what can seem like an ever-building load of responsibilities: parenthood, career, mental health… Do you ever look back to simpler times and wish you were there? And what role does outdoor adventure play in your personal growth, and perhaps the development of your family? Heady topics right? Well don’t worry—my guests are good at making this stuff fun. Today, I’m talking to Izzy Lynch and Tessa Treadway. They are British Columbia-based pro skiers, and mothers. Izzy, along with her sister Zoya Lynch, recently made a documentary called "Motherload." It follows Izzy and Tessa as they wrangle with topics like grief, personal growth and a yearning for adventure—all framed around family life, and the “load” they must carry, as mothers, to guide their families through the life they are striving for. The documentary is available for free on YouTube, and it’s a 14-minute film that’s at times comical, at times gut-wrenching, at times inspiring as it looks at subjects of loss—Tessa lost her husband, famed skier Dave Treadway, to a backcountry accident three years ago, and Izzy’s marriage dissolved, a loss of a different kind—as well as the absurd reality that any parent who’s tried to get young kids outdoors can relate to. So let’s jump into conversation with Tessa treadway and Izzy Lynch!

The new year is starting. So let’s talk about goals. Let’s talk about fitness. Let’s talk about what it takes to achieve at a high level for many years. Let’s talk about aging. And shoes, too. Today, my guest is Malindi Elmore. Malindi is a Canadian endurance athlete. She’s an Olympian, a teacher, a mom. She has reinvented herself numerous times, athletically and personally. Perhaps most notably, she competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 1500 metre and is planning a return to the 2021 Summer Olympics in Marathon. Malindi joined me on a call to talk about this journey, the nature of reinvention, how we can support people on their path to achieving goals and so much more.

You're lost in the wilderness. You're scared. Maybe hurt? Who do you call? Well, if you're on the North Shore of Vancouver, BC, you call North Shore Rescue—the busiest search-and-rescue team in Canada. Today, I'm chatting with the team leader of NSR, Mike Danks. We discuss NSR's new docu-series on Knowledge Network (Search & Rescue: North Shore), how search-and-rescue functions, how you can join and how you can avoid being the next call.

Let's talk about adventure. About first descents of rivers like the Amazon and the Yenisey. About a human-powered circumnavigation of the globe. About resilience and determination. And let's talk about what you can learn from such adventures. Where they can lead you—after you return home. Today, I'm on conversation with Colin Angus. Colin is an Explore Magazine contributor and a renowned global adventurer—as well as the CTO of a fascinating new tech startup. How does one transition from barefoot sailor to corporate leader? Stay tuned to find out.

What is "active transportation?" What does it mean to you? Why are bikes more popular in 2020 than ever before? How can we make our cities and highways safer for all users—while contributing to a healthier populace and lowering our overall carbon footprint? Let's talk about bicycling with Colin Stein—Executive Director of the BC Cycling Coalition for the answers to these questions and so much more.

Let's talk about context. Travelling deeper. Finding meaning within new experiences, and experiences you thought you knew. Today, I'm chatting with Brenda Baptise, chair of the board of directors for Indigenous Tourism BC. ITBC is the organization that empowers Indigenous tourism operators around the province to achieve their potential.  But what is Indigenous tourism? What can you expect? And what does it look like in the time of COVID-19? Let's find out.

Have you ever dreamed of homesteading? Living off the land? Letting the rhythms of nature guide you? Chasing the seasons? That's exactly what my latest guest did. Kristeva Dowling is the author of "Chicken Poop for the Soul" and the subject of a new YouTube mini-documentary called "With the Land." Today, we talk about living as a creature of the forest, and everything that entails: the good, the bad and the ugly. Because it's not all sunshine and rainbows...

Have you ever dreamed of merging your passions with your career? What about living a mindful, purposeful life that follows your natural flow and rhythm? What about moving to Mexico from Quebec to start an eco-lodge?  Today, we're chatting with Tamara Jacobi. She is the CEO of Tailwind Jungle Lodge and author of a new book called "Wildpreneurs." And we're going to uncover how to fully realize your passions in life and in work.

Let's talk about Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Jenn Smith Nelson has co-authored a book called "110 Nature Hot Spots in Manitoba and Saskatchewan." These two provinces are sometimes viewed as flyovers—especially next to tourism heavy-hitters like Alberta, BC, Ontario and Quebec. So what do they have to offer? What does it mean to be a Saskatchewanite? And why should you touch down in Canada's heartland? Plus, we'll discuss her new book and why the guidebook format still has a place in the 21st century.

What if I told you there are treasures all around us? That you've walked by them without even knowing? What if I told you these treasures were constantly being hidden and found by a group of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts? Interested? Well, today our guest is Jay Kennedy—Director of Public Affairs and Communications for Geowoodstock XVIII. And we're talking all things geocache.

Let's talk about the Sasquatch. Bigfoot. Whatever you want to call it. And in doing so, let's talk about wilderness. My guest today is John Zada. In this upcoming book, In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond, he searches for the Sasquatch in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia. What did he find? A lot, as it would turn out. Listen to learn more.

Welcome to episode 6 of Explore Magazine’s Live the Adventure Podcast. Kevin Callan is one of Canada’s best-known outdoor personalities. You might know him better by his persona—The Happy Camper. He’s authored 18 books, has almost 17K subscribers on YouTube, is a blogger for Explore and a columnist for our print issue… among many other things. He has a new book out—his 18th. It’s called “Once Around Algonquin: An Epic Canoe Journey.” This one is a departure for him, both in content and execution. It’s a personal story, centred around a meaningful canoe trip he embarked on, with his friend Andy Baxter. Let's chat all about it—as well as the healing power of nature, why wilderness matters and how you too can become a published author. 

How do we stay safe in the outdoors? What precautions can we take to ensure we return as expected? And how can we help search and rescue teams track us down as efficiently as possible, if an incident does occur? Whether we want to talk about it or not, safety in the outdoors is a major priority. So today, we're talking to Sandra Riches, the executive director and BC coordinator of BC AdventureSmart. AdventureSmart is an organization aimed at getting you informed to go outdoors—their goal is to reduce the number and severity of SAR calls every year. It's a monumental task. So let's find out what you can do to help.

“When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.” Welcome to episode 4 of Explore Magazine’s Live the Adventure Podcast. As outdoor enthusiasts, fitness equals fun. The fitter you are, the farther you can hike, the longer you can ski, the higher you can climb. But then there is the ever-present march of time. We all age, slow down and, eventually stop. Call it entropy. Today, though, I’m speaking with two fitness experts who look at age as a state of mind. Their names are Josie Boulding and Ryan Stuart. If you read Explore Magazine, you’ll know Ryan’s name—he’s in every issue. Josie writes for us on occasion, and you may know her face—she’s been a fitness model for us a few times. They’re married. And they’ve recently started a video project called 5for5. The goal is to delve into tips and topics relating to health and longevity, and the mind-body connection. Josie and Ryan joined me on a call to discuss how we can stay active and healthy as we age—and not be “put out to pasture.” We also chatted about dubious trends and fads, and how they hope to effectively dissect and examine the barrage of health and wellness info we’re exposed to daily.

I love the Canadian Arctic. It’s not just the rugged, open landscapes. Or the fascinating wildlife. Or just the feeling of being in one of the last untouched places on Earth. It's that, but it's so much more. It’s the human story of the land that has captivated me. I’ve been north of 66 five times. By land, sea and air. I’ll return again. But I’m a tourist. My guest today is joining me from Inuvik, Northwest Territories—a small town located at the end of the Dempster Highway. His name is Kylik Kisoun Taylor, and he operates Tundra North Tours—an outfitter that merges outdoor adventure with rich indigenous cultural experiences.   His story is also rich. It’s a tale of cultural rediscovery and meaningful economic enterprise. And Pink Floyd comes into the mix too. Stay tuned for Kylik Kisoun Taylor.

Welcome to part two of Explore Magazine’s Live the Adventure Podcast’s chat with adventurer Frank Wolf. I’m David Webb, editor of Explore Magazine. I hope you’ve had a chance to listen to part one—Frank and I covered a great deal of topics, including his early days of adventuring, to his latest trip—which he writes about in the Spring 2019 print issue of Explore. In between, we talked about addiction to technology, toilet paper and what we can learn from an Arctic wolf. If you’ve gleaned anything from that interview, it’s probably tempered with a fascination of how a normal person can just take the leap into a monthlong—or longer—self-supported expedition across the barrens. (And live to tell about it.) So stay tuned as we continue our chat, and Frank tells us about what he’s learned—and how you too can step into the world of expedition travel.

What adventures are you planning this year? Maybe a weeklong canoe trip? A weekend of camping? If you’re my first guest, Frank Wolf, you tend to think a little bigger. Frank is one of Canada’s most experienced adventurers. He’s a regular contributor to Explore Magazine, as well as a blogger on our website, plus he’s a public speaker and he even has a new book out called “Lines on a Map.” The book is a chronicle of his grand expeditions over the past two decades or so. Frank’s latest story appears in the Spring 2019 issue of Explore Magazine. It details an incredible, month-long canoe trip he embarked on last summer. I caught up with Frank in Vancouver recently to chat about this article, his book and what he has learned from his epic travels. We also talked about toilet paper. Let’s get going with part one of this special two-part podcast.