The Seasonals Podcast

In the Seasonal lifestyle, the ultimate goal is to get paid to do what you love in incredible locations. During this episode, I ask Dave to describe the best day possible on the mountain and he crafts this snowy paradise in which he's...working. I knew I had come to the right person. Dave is a backcountry ski guide, instructor, and educator, he holds similar roles in whitewater and swiftwater, he guides climbing, mountain bike, and hiking. As he says, 'everything but fishing'. In this episode, we talk about how to know when exactly you're ski mountaineering, hanging up his stick in lacrosse to pursue the outdoors, and which sport he is deathly afraid of right now(but on course to conquering).

Life is full of lessons. Some are fun, some are not. Some are quick, some take time to fully learn. One of the more complex lessons in life is that you can do exactly what you're ‘supposed' to do and still be miserable. Katelyn Keith took that lesson and responded by building an incredible life for herself working and traveling between Hawaii and Alaska. In this episode, we talk about the similarities between fisherman and farmers, the benefits of dry needling, and how to double your income AND improve your mental health with one big decision.

There are many ways to help yourself and others in the Seasonal lifestyle. Krista Dixon's story shows us that as she goes through Wilderness Therapy, sea kayaking, working at Mount Baker ski area, and now onto becoming a travel nurse. In this episode, we talk about avalanche safety, meteor showers that lead to the biggest tip of your season, and how to get financially creative on overseas overnights.

Shelly Page is a musician, author, illustrator, storyteller, and has spent time as a child wrangler on land and sea. In this episode, we talk about ‘small world' stories, how she found herself skipping a flight in Amsterdam on 4/20, and the worst part about caring for children on cruise ships (their parents). You can find Shelly at shellypagemusic.com and @shellypagemusic on Instagram.

When the guest takes guests out in a helicopter to go surfing in Alaska, there isn't much need for a caption or introduction, and that's exactly what Scott Reierson does. In this episode, we talk about the lurking bulk of stellar sea lions, how tour owners are like Indiana Jones, and how sharing your passions with people can be the best part of a trip.

Occasionally, people find their dream job. Sometimes, they also happen to be great at it. That's what happened to Bethany Stivers when she found the job of Trip Leader, someone who gets paid to take people on amazing trips into the outdoors. In this episode, we talk about the evolution of a backpack with legs into a fearless hype man, a great reason for shaving a beard, and the enviable commute logistics of living and working beside a town ski lift.

Somebody has to do it, why not you? A Seasonal dream job is always within reach, finding it and trying to get it is usually the only thing stopping us. Nikohl Miller is a kiteboard instructor from Virginia who has kiteboarded and instructed in some of the most amazing locales on Earth. In this episode, we talk about where Nikohl has felt culture shock, why you probably crashed your kiteboard, and what beer to drink in OBX to fit in with the locals. If you know someone who could be a great Seasonal guest or just want to tell us how we're doing, message us on Facebook or Instagram.

The Seasonals Podcast is kicking off 2021 with an incredible storyteller with a wide-ranging resume. Josh Goldstein's story takes us from Philadelphia to Israel to New Zealand to Albuquerque to New York City to Alaska and involves one of my favorite experiences I've heard about on the podcast. In this episode we talk about some of the Alaska experience, race in the Seasonal industry, and we hear the tale of the legendary Snake Man.

Sara Kurtz has been an English teacher in Moscow, a bartender in OBX, a deckhand in Australia, and so much more. In this episode, we talk about what you need for a three year working holiday trip to Australia, her trip to Sierra Leone and the non-profit she started from that trip, and what Russians REALLY think about Americans that come to the Motherland. You can catch Sara on Instagram @saramkurtz P.S. - If you are the American woman who told Sara about the podcast while hiking a trail called The Honeyeater near Airlie Beach in Queensland, Australia, we'd love to hear from you.

Matt Moore (along with Kelcy Fowler) is co-Owner of CoolWorks. A job board and source of inspiration for the Seasonal industry. Matt grew up in North Carolina before beginning his own Seasonal adventure by heading out to Wyoming. In this episode, we talk about how Covid is affecting the Seasonal life, how meeting your soulmate is occasionally an unlisted benefit on a job description, and we get a playbook on what steps to take from year one to year five and beyond of a Seasonal career. Website: coolworks.com Instagram: @coolworksjobs

Brendan Lyle took the advice of a best friend and made the journey to Alaska to begin his Seasonal experience. After an illustrious few years as a zipline guide, he transitioned into selling tours to cruise ship passengers. In this episode, the three-time salesman of the year and I discuss the biggest lesson he's learned from sales, his biggest home run sales story, and how the Seasonal LIfestyle (and later the Covid pandemic) has changed his life completely. Also, the PDF and Epub versions of The Seasonals Quarterly Magazine are at theseasonals.com/shop for just $5 a piece. Get some awesome Seasonal content and support this podcast.

Brian Bailey is an Exploration Cruise Director and an accomplished singer and performer. When I sat down with him for this episode, he had been at sea for 44 days. In this episode, we talk about adversity and his brush with Latin fame performing musical theater in Central America, the beauty (and smell) of seeing 200,000 penguins, and about how Covid-19 has affected modern piracy on the open sea.

No matter what plans you lay out for life, inevitably, they change or get scrapped altogether. In the face of that truth, Olivia Gambelin has chosen to embrace uncertainty and give up on a comfort zone. She's currently living in Brussels, Belgium where she is the founder and managing director at Ethical Intelligence Associates. In this episode, we talk about what problems an ethicist in AI solves, the worst part about maps that quarantine-shame people, and what it looks like to get paid in Euros under the table by a Tuscan Capo. You can follow Olivia on Instagram @oliveyou316

Meghan Young is training to be a commercial pilot while working seasonally in Alaska. In this episode, I ask what I think is the most ridiculous question I've never asked before, Megan tells me about a bar bathroom job interview (both interviewer and interviewee were unknowingly in different bar bathrooms), and we talk about what it's really like going heli-skiiing. You can find Meghan on Instagram @crazyncurls

Vicky Taylor is a dual citizen of Sweden and England who lives in Japan for most of the year. She writes and translates for various projects and companies online. One of her articles about Seasonal work in Japan was featured in Issue 03 of The Seasonals Quarterly Magazine. In this episode of the podcast, Vicky and I talk about her year-long trip around Europe, the ins and outs of working online and remotely, and the reasons no one actually works on a beach.

Maddie Cobb has worked on a trail crew in the Adirondacks of New York, as an au pair in France, as a Wild Land and Hotshot Firefighter, and now as a French teacher in Vermont. In this episode, we talk about a class she created and teaches called She Persists, the excitement and struggle of working in a fire, and Maddie gives us a detailed view of a full Seasonal career. If you're interested in receiving the zine students create in She Persists, you can email shepersistsLI@gmail.com

For many travelers and adventurers, Antarctica is on the list of future destinations. For most, it usually stays on the list, unexplored and always in the distance. But for some, further than the tourists who stop once in awhile, there are those who live and work in Antarctica, and who find that the continent makes and leaves a lasting impression on their lives. Keri Nelson has been a contractor in Antarctica for twelve years. In this episode, we talk about what draws her back season after season, where life took her before Antarctica, and what life is like on the ice. If you're interested in working in Antarctica, you can find job opportunities and information about the U.S. Antarctic Program at www.USAP.gov. You can follow Keri on Instagram @simplyantarctica

What happens when a Seasonal falls in love with a location that has Seasonal jobs all year? A Dual-Seasonal is someone who stays in one of these places and works ‘Seasonally'. Tyler Babcock has found that situation for himself in gorgeous Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In this episode, we talk about taking guests down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, which job to get if you want to fly all over the world for free, and encouraging people to question what is expected of them.

Floating with whales to staring at the same fruit for ten hours a day for months. Meeting new friends from all over the world to dangerous home-stays in Puerto Rico. Seasonal work can have some of the highest highs but also some very low lows. Isaac Nemetz has endured and enjoyed quite a bit in his seasonal career so far. In this episode, we talk about how a Brooklyn city boy dealt with outdoor toilets, what seasonal fatigue is, and what it's like to work a season in a location during a natural disaster.

Looking to the power of nature can be a way to free our life and mind of the negative forces that can drag us all down. Whether it's learning from the natural processes of the world around us or actually getting into nature and enjoying everything it has to offer, finding healing and a better state of mind is almost always the outcome. Lindsey Little has been exploring these ideas and the Earth through countless trips and many different jobs. In this episode, Lindsey and I talk about guiding trips in Iceland and Hawaii, her battles with Lyme disease and dengue fever, and the majesty and beauty of the banana slug. You can find Lindsey on Instagram @littlelins You can find her video of a banana slug eating salmonberries here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ritOc2NgRCk

Most people have an image in their mind when they think about National Parks, whether it's Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Arches, Yosemite, or a park closer to their home. But National Parks are so much more, they each have their own reason for being a National Park, they have wild and sometimes surprising wildlife, and they all have dedicated Park Rangers that facilitate visitors and help the park function year-round. My guest, Riley Hays, is currently an Interpretive Park Ranger at Denali National Park in Alaska. In this episode, Riley tells me about a horned lizard scavenger hunt, how she got started on the track to becoming a Park Ranger, and all the amazing things about National Parks we could fit in. You can find Riley's blog at rileysroves.com. It's got her writing, a resource library full of park guides and road trip itineraries, and it's a great website to wander around in and learn all about National Parks.

Waking up in a different Caribbean locale everyday, working in Alaska, Europe, Asia, and New Zealand, getting 10 weeks off to travel between work contracts. What if I told you that within the next year, this could be your life? For Miranda Grant, this is the life she's created for herself and she's living it to the fullest. In this episode, we talk about how to do what she does, what lies on the other side of fear, and how she chooses to share her experiences on social media. You can find Miranda on IG @itsthe_mjg

Travel and Seasonal work can take a fascination from childhood and turn it into a lifelong quest. Novelty and new things seem to be at the fingertips of anyone willing to go that extra mile just to find it. Between a childhood in Maine and experiences later in life in California and Alaska, Karl Koehler has not only searched for, but found, incredible creatures and unbelievable adventures. In this episode, we talk about all sorts of nudibranchs, how easy and cheap the hobby of scuba diving can be, and we wade through a discussion of truth and Truth. Karl's photography and writing is featured in Issue 05 of The Seasonals Quarterly Magazine, out now. Find it at theseasonals.com/shop

Filling positions, hiring, finding applicants, calling references, for some people these are terms with severe negative associations. Hiring is a crucial part of every company and for those who have had trouble in the past, it's a painful subject. My guest on this episode has been through those problems and came out on the other side with a strategy to fix them, he's created a communication tool that makes the application process as easy and streamlined as possible for both applicant and employer. This communication tool is JobApplix. In this episode, Ian McIver and I talk about the problems that come with hiring, the best strategies to succeed at filling open positions, and we talk about his history in the Seasonal lifestyle as a tour guide. You can find more about JobApplix at jobapplix.com If you'd like to try a 30-Day free trial of JobApplix, just sign up on their webpage and when you get to the payment page, put the code JHFree30 into the promo code box. If you'd like more information, you can sign up for their free hiring guide on the homepage. You'll receive their free hiring guide and they invite you to message them with any questions. If you'd like to contact Ian you can reach him at ian.mciver@jobapplix.com

One of the misconceptions about people in the Seasonal lifestyle is that they don't put enough thought into finances or their own futures. Seasonal work can be a respite from society at large, it can be a summer job, it can be a chance to recharge before taking on a new step in life. But for those who choose the Seasonal lifestyle full time, it is not only a pathway to financial freedom, but also a rewarding way to prepare for retirement. David Dentinger is trying to push these ideas of finance and future to every Seasonal willing to listen. In this episode, we talk about fish who have lived through two world wars, how and why to have the tough conversations with kids, and David uses the word ‘artifice' in a conversation about index funds. If you'd like to check out David's writing about the Seasonal lifestyle, you can find his articles here: https://www.theseasonals.com/buying-happiness https://www.theseasonals.com/chasingbuffalo https://www.theseasonals.com/seasonalfinance If you'd like to purchase an issue or subscription (and have us send a free copy to someone else) of The Seasonals Quarterly Magazine you can do that here: https://www.theseasonals.com/shop

Living at home after a short bout with college, working odd jobs, feeling unfulfilled. The last years of being a teenager and the beginning of the twenties is a strange time for many people. Telling someone going through that, that in just a decade, with a few wild choices, they would be an established ski patroller, a professional firefighter, a husband and a soon to be dad, all on the other side of the country, might sound crazy but it might also give them the hope and window of opportunity they're looking for. That's the chain of events that describe Tom Schofield's seasonal journey. In this episode, we talk about life in the firehouse, how to turn an embarrassing fall during a ski patrol tryout into a positive, and how meeting people during a temporary winter gig can create friendships that last a lifetime. If you enjoy what you hear on The Seasonals Podcast and would like to support us, check out theseasonals.com/shop and pick up a copy of the newest issue of The Seasonals Quarterly Magazine. Issue 04 includes amazing resources and stories about the Seasonal lifestyle for future, current, and past Seasonals, as well as anyone interested in just being entertained by people living this type of life.

When you know what it feels like to be truly home, you can never shake that feeling, no matter how far away you find yourself. But what if home isn't just a place, but also a way of life? In this episode, Cooper Hadaway and I discuss his early back and forth with an alternative lifestyle, what a morning drive through the Grand Tetons with Third Eye Blind is like, and how a shared love of the Dead saved his ass during a job interview and helped him secure the life that now brings him so much happiness.

The path from Chicago to the rainforest of Alaska to the island of Catalina is a long one, but Melissa Fudge is no stranger to a hike worthwhile in search of all the greatness nature has to offer. In this episode, we talk about how terrible 8th graders are, using all five senses in the Tongass National Forest, and where Melissa goes for all her nature facts.

Sometimes promotions and raises take awhile to receive. Sometimes they happen on your first day at work. Between his work ethic, brains, and personality, its easy to see why Jose Rodriguez has advanced quickly in his Seasonal career. In this episode, we talk about how a cannery runs, how enjoyable it is to work for the postal service, and what made a Los Angeles native fall in love with an island town in Alaska.

At the beginning of the summer, I interviewed Justin before his first season as a Seasonal. Now that his first foray into this world is coming to a close with the season ending, I had to sit him down again and force him to answer some questions. In this episode, we talk about how his summer went, how his winter will go, and the things he would have said to his past self to make the transition faster and easier.

#VanLife is a big part of the Seasonal culture and VanDOit is the coolest company in the business. I got to see one of their modular multi-purpose vans in person back in June. That connection became a series of emails and phone calls that turned into a conversation with the owner about how VanDOit is changing people's lives. In this episode, I talk to Brent Kline about how VanDOit came into existence, what systems he uses to have a good work/play balance, and why millennial and boomers alike are flocking to VanDOit. Their website is: vandoit.com You can find them @vandoitco on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & YouTube.

Detroit is fertile ground for a young musician just starting to sow their seed in the world of music. When the musician uproots himself and replants in an Alaskan performance art nexus, the only thing left to do is watch him blossom into Joe Williams. In this episode, Joe and I talk about traveling across the country while making quick (and lucrative!) money, what lessons from Detroit he still carries with him, and how his prolific rise in Alaska began.

Every tour guide imagines what it would be like if they were in charge. Some go on to start their own tour companies and fulfill that dream. Tim Hemme (along with Mary Maley from Episode 01!) is one of those people. In this episode, Tim and I talk about how a broken jukebox prompted his move from Nashville to Alaska, why making fear-based decisions is dumb, and what it's like to own your own kayak tour company. You can find Tim and Mary's company on Instagram @alaskakayakcompany And check out their awesome website www.alaskakayakcompany.com where you can find their awesome tour and tons of pictures of Tim, Mary, kayaks, wildlife, and amazing Alaskan views.

Opportunity can come calling or you can be staring up at the clouds and decide to wring it out of a normal day. Either way, you have to be prepared to get the most out of it. Joe Hochman has proven over and over that he's capable of turning opportunity into success. In this episode, we talk about how a 19 year old can finance a canoe trip on the Amazon (Hint: Snoop Dogg is involved), important rules of getting hired in the Seasonal world, and the idea that the Seasonal lifestyle can be a gateway to a higher calling.

Traveling to awesome places, working awesome jobs, passions we grow up with, and some we find by accident, that's what this lifestyle is all about. Steph Ouellette knows a thing or two about all of that. In this episode, we talk about how to create a pyramid while water skiing, the next step after taking a month-long yoga instructor course in India, and the occasional perils of feeling blasé toward traveling. You can find Steph on Instagram @gypsygirlyoga And her website www.steph.yoga And her yoga retreat www.nextlevelom.com

In the Seasonal lifestyle, sometimes things just work out. People say, “Everything happens for a reason.” From growing up in Illinois to college in Michigan to white water in both hemispheres, Bryant Knoll has put himself in position to get everything out of the opportunities that come his way. In this episode, we talk about building a food truck armada in Montana, how not getting a job in Alaska might have been the best case scenario, and the process of taking a dream and making it a reality. You can find Bryant on: Instagram - @bryantknoll Facebook - facebook.com/bryantknoll You can find his food trucks at coveredwagonhotdogs.com And Bryant's newest project at forwardmomentumstrategies.com where he's helping others achieve their goals through his own step-by-step program.

Jake Beurig, Zach Bernabe, and Kelly Tweidt work on the tender Savage. A tender is a vessel that picks up fish from fishing vessels and transports it back to town to be sold. They invited me onto their good ship and I talked to them about their work, their travels, and how they go to where they are. Jake and Zach are from Florida, they worked catering and restaurants before falling into a life on the seas of Alaska. Kelly met them in Southeast Asia after deciding a life in nursing may not be her path forward.

Zen Monasteries, River Boats, Real Estate Copy Writing, these are just some of the things Sahra Ali has been involved with during her time in the Seasonal lifestyle. In this episode, we talk about her journey from Somalia to Ohio to Alaska, we hear the bell that would wake her up every morning at the monastery, and she talks about how her Muslim upbringing helps her navigate following her goals and dreams. You can find Sahra's writing on Medium as well as her poetry on Instagram @sahra_omar_ali

Every Seasonal has a story. Every story has its twists and turns. Its lows and its high points. Mark Phillips is a Ketchikan cornerstone originally from Vacaville, California. His path into this lifestyle is a journey and he opens up to take us through it. In this episode, we talk about accepting a shitty winter job to snowboard six days a week, how to survive with zero income in Key West, and why Mark wakes up every day of bear season in Alaska stoked to take his own private plane to the office. Find pictures of bears, planes, bikes, dogs, and memes from Mark @marky_markandthefunkybunch

From life in rural Ohio to the great Alaskan outdoors. I know quite a few people whose stories started like that. Today's guest is Justin Deininger and he's about to begin his first season in the Seasonal lifestyle. In this episode, Justin and I discuss the why and how of the big decision, his electronic music, and why he's not making any plans past September. You can find Justin's music by searching Apologize to the Destroyers on Spotify. He can also be found on Instagram @attdestroyers

When you answer the question, 'What do you do?, with 'We're Circus Arts Performers', there are a lot of follow up questions. I tried to ask as many as I could think of. In this episode of the podcast, Kelsey and Jeremy Philo explain what it is they do, how a giant hula hoop and a unicycle garage find started the whole thing, and they tell me all about their amazing new van that helps them travel from gig to gig. You can find Kelsey and Jeremy at: inspyralentertainment.com and on Instagram at: @inspyralcircus @thephilocast

It was at the age of 27 that Penick followed some timely advice from a friend and headed to Alaska to begin his Seasonal life. In this episode, we talk about how quickly tourists get into a mob mentality, the dream back-and-forth between Alaska and Hawaii, and Penick's determined and successful journey out of debt. You can find Penick's writing on Seasonal subjects at: https://poorandrestless.wordpress.com/tag/wanderlust/

From Colorado to Arizona to Los Angeles to Alaska and then back to Colorado, Drew O'Kane has always had a destination ahead of him. Life, of course, gets to choose the route we take on these journeys and this story is no different. In this episode, Drew talks about Hollywood, an explosive Millennium Falcon, and the spiritual side of Alaskan wildlife.

My brother Sam started his Seasonal career a few years ago. Through most of it he's bounced between Alaska in the summer and Chicago in the winter. In this episode, we talk about the time I cut part of his article without telling him, how to come up with a strategy to work on your own dreams even though you're a working stiff, and which Knight of the Round Table is his favorite.

I met Lewis while working in New Zealand a few years ago and we became fast friends. We later got together to celebrate New Years' with some friends in Vienna, Austria. Now, Lewis works in Zug and Flims, Switzerland as a male nannie. In this episode, we talk about the ecstasy of traveling through a new country by motorbike, what life on the ski fields is like when it snows nine feet, and about the day to day of working 12,000 miles away from home as a 20 year old.

Jensen Willingham's first Seasonal job took him from his home in North Carolina to Southeastern Alaska. In this episode, we talk about his weapon of choice while guiding bear tours, the best Seasonal jobs out there, and why you should always accept business cards at CPR training classes.

After his time in the Navy, Stefan Simkovics had a plan. That charted course brought him to San Diego as a lifeguard and it became a life changing experience. In this episode, Stefan talks about the steps and challenges to becoming a San Diego lifeguard, one of his favorite rescues, and how his time in the seasonal lifestyle affects the way he looks to the future. theseasonals.com

Before graduating with a degree in Management Information Systems from Texas Tech, Sam Forbes tried a summer working seasonally in Ketchikan, Alaska. In this episode, Sam tells us the story of his summer zip lining, how the seasonal life changed him, and what happens when you get a tourist from New Jersey on your tour. theseasonals.com

A Seasonal can do so many different jobs. Tim Lindsey is another guest that has had a wide range of occupations and some crazy stories to take away from them. In this episode, we talk about his time up and down the Mississippi, what can go right and wrong when you ride a bull, and how particular horses can teach you lifelong lessons.

Kellie Mogg has worked in Hawaii, Alaska, and all over the continental United States. In this episode, we talk about student protests in Chile, spending a winter in Alaska, and what a vendor bracelet really gets you at a festival.

Jason Dallas Hensler-Baldwin has committed mutiny on a weed farm. He has been deported from the United Kingdom. He has been handed a message directly from Pachamama. In this episode, I sit down with him to discuss his seasonal storyline, where exactly he found rock bottom, and how he's blasted off ever since.