Wisdom of the Wilderness

Thanks for listening today, friends! It's almost the summer solstice, and with summer in North America comes the risk of wildfires. Summer recreation is also here: camping, hiking, paddling, biking, running on the trails away from urban noise. This episode is based on my experiences in North America: I'm sure there are comparable resources for listeners in Europe, Australia, South America, Asia that I'm unfamiliar with... but maybe not Antarctica. Today's episode delves into fire awareness tips for outdoor recreation: clothing considerations, checking weather forecasts and fire activity maps, route planning and awareness, and what to do if a fire breaks out during your adventure.I also share a bit about a fire patrol experience two summers ago, and what I learned from putting out a wildfire in the forest that started two days after a lightning strike. Crazy!Below are links to some of the sites I mention:InciwebWildfire MapHiking Guy - wildfire infoThe Trek - wildfire infoCaltopo - fire layer information

Cocodona! It's an adventure, a journey, a transformative experience for not just those who attempt the 250 miles from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona, but for all who are helping crew, pace and put on the event.Today's episode focuses on lessons learned from observing the 2025 Cocodona race. Being behind-the-scenes, watching the livestream cameras, talking to runners at the finish and following the leaders with a camera lent a unique perspective to observe and absorb.The livestream broadcast can be found on the Mountain Outpost YouTube channel. You can always connect with me on Instagram or at cactusmoose [At] protonmail {dot} comEnjoy, and have a wonderful day!

Thank you for listening today, friends! We're back, this time with an episode detailing my running journey.It hasn't been linear, and has involved nearly a dozen uses of the phrase "you'll never run again." The journey has taught me patience, courage, determination and perseverance to reach my goals. I've struggled to finish a one-kilometer run, watched the entire PE class move on to the next activity before I completed the Cooper test (6 lap run of 1.5 miles/2.4km), and DNF'd my first two 100 milers. Focusing on strength, flexibility, nutrition and overall wellness, being open to trying new things such as barefoot shoes, throwing away my orthotics, and incorporating yoga into my routine has kept me healthy to compete in ultras twenty-plus years after the first "you'll never run again." I've had an interesting and non-linear journey as a runner from that first 10km race with WAY too many people, to an injury at a marathon 3 short weeks later to finishing the hottest Javelina Jundred on record. Tune in today to hear about the journey, the decision to become a UESCA ultra running coach, and the training philosophy I offer. I'm here to get you to the finish line with a smile on your face. As always, connect with me on Instagram or through my website.

Recovery from participating in endurance activities is imperative for those who desire longevity in their career, passion and/or hobby. But what is it, and how do we go about it?Recover can be defined as the exercises, modalities and therapies that are used to reduce soreness, promote healing, reduce the risk of injury, and increase range of motion. Put another way: it's what we do to repair, rebuild and strengthen the body to maximize performance and support health. Today's episode details the various methods that I use to recover from sustained physical efforts and why I use them. I'm sharing this information today to help others find what works best for them. My wellness philosophy includes several modalities eschewed by proponents of the allopathic treatment system in place in North America. Some of these may seem unusual, questionable and unreliable, but they have given me results that the allopathic model could not produce. I encourage everyone to listen to the episode with an open mind: what worked for me may or may not be of interest to you, but it did work. My journey through these modalities is a direct result of being told by Western medical doctors and practitioners multiple times that I would never run again, that I would never run without orthotics, and that surgery was necessary if I dared even hope of running again. The good news is that I followed my intuition to avoid surgical interventions and have not just returned to running, but running pain-free, AND completed 8 ultramarathon races and counting. There is magic in the power of belief, courage, perseverance and the ways that holistic modalities work.In no particular order, the modalities that I have used follow in the list below. If you are curious for recommendations, and live in an area that I mentioned during the episode, please contact me on Instagram or through cactus moos[aT] protonmail[DoT] com. Note that I ONLY refer to people who I have paid for their services, and from whom I have had results.-massage gun-nutrition: electrolytes, protein increase-acupuncture-dry needling-chiropractic-massage: deep tissue, trigger point, myofascial release-yoga: heated power, yin, haha, kundalini-meditations-cross-training: cycling, strength training, paddle boarding, canoeing, hiking, stair mill, mobility-prioritize sleep-barefoot grounding-removed alcoholThank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please pass it along to a friend, click the subscribe or follow button, and leave a review on your podcast platform of choice.-gregii

Thank you for listening, friend! Today I'm talking about my experience training for a 100 miler, Javelina Jundred, while working a physically demanding job. A coach help me achieve my goal of completing the 100 miler, in what was my third attempt at the distance. That supportive coaching catalyzed my decision to also pursue ultramarathon coaching through the UESCA certification process. My challenge was to not overtrain while working a job in which I am on my feet all day and burn over 5,000 calories with physical activity. Recovery was a challenge for me, as was fitting in all the life things.In this episode I share my experiences over the summer of 2024, as well as my new process now that I am self-coached. It's an evolving process in which I am using myself as a guinea pig to see how my theory works. Researching strategies for athletes working physically demanding jobs yielded some tips but not a lot of data or personal experiences of the training process. I found resources from CTS Coaching, UESCA, RunningShoesGuru online and combined that with what I am currently doing.Some takeaways from this episode include tips to avoid overtraining, tips to enhance recovery from training, the importance of realistic goals, the benefits of working with a coach, how to maximize training sessions and what cross-training methods can be more supportive.It's an evolving adventure as a self-coached athlete... and one who trains solo at least 95% of the time. If you're in a physical job and looking for support and coaching, I'm happy to chat with about your life situation, goals and current training. I am accepting athletes, and look forward to helping you achieve personal success in whatever form that takes. Remember, you can always contact me through Instagram or at cactus moose[at]protonmail[dot]com with questions, comments, guest suggestions and ultrarun coaching.Enjoy your day, friends!

Hello! Thanks for listening, and welcome back. Today's episode is one that's a lot more in-depth than the title suggests.I chat about why it's good to learn new skills... which can also be construed as why it is good to suck at something new. The episode is inspired by my acquisition of a 360 camera--the Insta360 X4--and the adventures of trying to document my outdoor adventures.It's been a steep learning curve for me between learning new camera programming, editing software, export settings and filming angles. It has in no way be as easy as I thought it would be, but it has been a fun challenge. Knowledge from a photography course in high school, learning a digital camera a decade ago, and having ideas in my brain have combined so that I'm mediocre at bringing my vision to life... but I'm getting better.I wanted to share my experiences to diminish the stigma around learning new things, particularly as one is over 30. There's a lot of naysayers out there, but it turns out that learning new skills is a wonderful way to work your brain, mitigate against dementia and Alzheimers ,and to increase confidence.The episode also details some benefits of learning new skills, and addresses common fears that can prevent individuals from trying something new. From fear of looking stupid to fear of wasting time and money, the conscious and subconscious programming we received can limit our potential. Overcoming these fears and being okay with being a beginner can lead to greater happiness, build confidence, grow your social circle, expand your comfort zone and improve resilience. Take a listen today to learn how my journey with the camera is going, plus some ways to move through any resistance you have to trying a new things. Our life experience can be enhanced by moving beyond our limits and learning new skills.Resources for this episode include my personal experience and thoughts, a GrowthHackers post, Alicia Clark article entitled "Why it's okay to suck at something new" and a Central Connecticut State University article. Enjoy!As always, connect with me on Instagram or email me cactusmoose[at]protonmail[dot]com

After a brief pause for station identification, we're back! It's been awhile since the last episode due to some life changes. Today's episode details my experience running the Moab Red Hot Ultra, the 55k race, produced by Mad Moose Events. It's a fun course in a gorgeous location--truly, one of my favorite places to explore in North America. I go through my race experience, the terrain, and decision to run the race. This episode also covers how to use an ultra as a supported long run. My training had slacked due to life circumstances and an unfortunate rib injury that limited both running and strength training. I chose this race to have fun, meet new people--and maybe make new friends--and to film it using my 360 camera. It was fun to go out and be part of the community, see the pride, joy, pain and relief on the faces of finishers, and remember that there are multiple reasons people run ultras. If this episode inspired you or you learned something, please consider sharing it with someone who will benefit. We're all here to help each other out when we can. A video compilation of my race is in the works, and will be available soon on my Instagram page and YouTube channel. You can always connect with me on Instagram @cactusmoose with questions, comments and guest suggestions.

Hot Springs is today's topic, friends! I love going to soak in hot springs, preferably when it's just myself and a small group enjoying their ambiance. Today's episode details some of the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of taking a trip to a hot springs. From absorbing trace minerals to reconnecting with a sense of peace and tranquility, hot springs can truly rejuvenate the soul. Listen in for more benefits... and even one of the places I visited in 2024. I decided against sharing a list of my favorite locations to visit hot springs: if you're really curious you can contact me on Instagram or email to inquire.

Courage can be defined as taking any action that involves facing a fear. An example would be asking someone out on a date despite facing the fear of rejection. Today's episode focuses on how to build courage. I share some tips from personal experience as well as from sources such as Kripalu and BetterUp. Thank you for listening! Connect with me on Instagram or via cactusmoose@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest suggestions.

Motivation! Motivation:the internal state that drives persons to engage in goal-directed behavior. What are some tips and strategies for accessing the internal force that guides behaviors? How can we stay motivated? Listen to today's episode to find out more. Connect with me by email at cactusmoose@protonmail.com or on Instagram

Thanks for listening to this solo episode today! Grief can be a complicated experience: even finding a definition can be challenging. Grief is the sense of loss that develops from a loved one or something close to our heart being gone from our life. Today's episode discusses grief, and strategies to be aware of if you're experiencing grief, or someone you care about comes to you for support. I go through some of the physical symptoms, emotions, situations in which grief can experienced, the Kubler-Ross framework for grieving process, and strategies to navigate grief using nature. Family or friends can be an invaluable resource when navigating the grief process, as can support groups, nature, and professionals such as counselors and therapists. If you are experiencing grief and struggling with it, please contact someone or connect with me and I can help you get started. Connect with me via cactusmoose@protonmail.com or on Instagram with questions, comments and guest suggestions.

Thank you for joining another episode of The Evolving Adventure(r) podcast!  Today's guest is Sophie Rouge, recording with me from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sophie is an ultrarunner, musician and vegan who has completed several 100 mile races in the past 4 years. Her first ultra was completing Rim to Rim to Rim (R3) of the Grand Canyon after a friend invited her along.  Sophie shares some of her adventures with us, and talks about how time spent in nature has helped with her mental health. Shifting into gratitude for being able to run has been key to her growth. Balancing risk in nature is a challenge, and Sophie offers some tips for how to navigate situations from solo running in the bosque to being on exposed ridgelines during hailstorms.  Our original recording was lost to technology: this is a second take at covering the topics we first discussed. Luckily on this episode, we chatted more about Sophie's music and her experience volunteering to play music at a hospice. Sophie can be found on Instagram or in her band Catcalling Canines. Sophie has a great lineup of races for 2025 including Jackpot Ultras 48 hour, a 100 miler near Albuquerque and more. We met in Cuba, New Mexico during the Deadman Peaks trail race in 2022.  Some of the topics we discuss include: Sandia Mountains  Albuquerque New Mexico Great Divide Ultra Crested Butte Ultra Jackpot Ultras Ute 100 Revenant Running Ultra Cheei Relay & Solo (Albuquerque, NM) Catcalling Canines is playing at Launchpad Albuquerque on Wednesday, January 29

It's a treat today to chat with ultra runner and acupuncturist Talia Chevassus! Talia talks about her adventures as a run coach, how her interest in running developed over the past few years, and about future goals. She's rearranged her schedule and life to fit her outdoor passion, while balancing acupuncture clients, yoga and making the majority of her food from scratch. Our discussion also covers Quebec trails (hello, technical!), nutrition for endurance sports and for recovery, using yoga to cross-train and stay injury-free, hiring a coach, and Talia's love of travel to explore on her own two feet. It's an inspiring and empowering episode: as she says, the easiest way to keep progressing is to just do what you need to regardless of the weather. That advice holds true no matter which avenue of life we're considering. Talia is active on Instagram, sharing her run, yoga and food journey as she pushes herself physically while traveling frequently. Talia and I met during the first loop of Javelina Jundred in Fountain Hills, Arizona this fall. Thank you for doing the podcast to share your story, Talia! You can contact me at cactusmoose [at] protonmail.com or through Instagram with questions, comments and guest suggestions. I can also be found at www.gregveregin.com. enjoy! xxxxxxxxxxxx Topics mentioned in this recording include Brix maple syrup endurance fuel Xact nutrition bars Bromont Ultra Black Men Run offered space in their crew tent Javelina Jundred UESCA Endurance Sports Coaching certifications UTMB Nice will be Talia's first 100 miler Bromont, Quebec Desert Rats by UTMB is the 100k Talia is running Masboquera, Spain is where Talia is doing a month-long training camp

Resilience... what is it, and, more importantly, how can we build it? Resilience is often thought of as the ability to bounce back, or return to a previous "normal" point after a challenging, stressful situation. Generally, the stressor takes the form of an external stressor related to work, relationships, family, health or finances. Resilience can also be how one adapts to life's stressors... and include a component of personal growth to thereby change from who they were before the stressor into a new person. I share some strategies on how to build resilience and what you can do to move through a major life stressor in today's episode. These strategies and tips are from a variety of sources including personal experience, Department of State⁠, American Psychological Association, and Positive Psychology. The focus is more on growth than on returning to where one was pre-stressor, as I think we are always presented with chances to learn and grow. Thank you for listening! Please pass the episode along to someone who could benefit if you vibe with the information and strategies that are shared. You can contact me at cactusmoose@protonmail.com or through Instagram with questions, comments and guest suggestions.

Ashley is an ultrarunner with an incredible track record of outdoor adventures in the Sierras. Moving from marathon training to lose weight for college credit to winning ultramarathons after starting on dirt to better exercise her dog off-leash, Ashley is a badass on trails.  We talk about some of the opportunities she has living in the Great Basin with access to the Sierra in less than an hour, exploring the mountains with her dog, then her dogs, camping trips to hot springs, and point-to-point adventures she has her sights on. Ashley has completed a number of epic races, and just as many big adventure days in the Lake Tahoe area. Mindset is a key theme of our discussion, including how to press on in an adventure despite pain and mental challenges, and what it was like exploring, solo, with paper maps. This episode covers Ashley's experience at Javelina Jundred 2024, which featured an entirely runnable course with 105 degree temperatures in the open desert, how to troubleshoot long adventures and ultramarathons when nutrition, weather or injuries take things sideways, and some future experiences on her "one day" list. Ashley frequently explores trails in Tahoe, and shares some of the learnings from her Tahoe Rim Trail Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt, big future goals, and volunteering at races to give back to the run community. Some of the invaluable wisdom she shares: take baby steps toward your goal then add on. She first started running ten minutes, then added time the next run. Now, she's going after sub-20 hour 100 mile races and pondering some of the most challenging events in North America. If there's a will, there's a way!  Ashley can be found out on the trails with one or both of her dogs, or on Instagram at @ashleyyayoutside You can always connect with me on Instagram @cactusmoose or through my website.

Hello friends, and thank you for listening today! We've got a fun episode with Coach Sarah as we discuss our experiences at the Dead Horse Ultra 50 mile race in Moab, Utah on November 16. It was a fun to chat about our learnings, challenges and successes at the race, and to provide information and advice to anyone considering a fall race in the beautiful slickrock around Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and Dead Horse State Park. We recorded the episode from a hotel room just before taking our own recovery advice and heading for the jacuzzi. Some of the topics covered include our different clothing choices for the weather, the surfaces encountered, cutoff times, navigating challenges and troubleshooting when things go sideways, and how to come back from adversity. Gaining experience, and using that experience to build resilience for the future is a theme that comes out from our discussion. Coach Sarah can be found on Instagram or her website. You can find me on Instagram or through my website.

Emily Keddie is the first guest on the Evolving Adventurer initiative! Emily is a mountain athlete based in Bend, Oregon with a bold goal of 2 million vertical feet covered, by foot, in 2024. Our conversation is wide-ranging, as always, starting with how to adjust and find balance between the many facets of life other than the pursuit of that goal. We discuss Emily's body adjustments, preparation for big days, weeks and events, last minute changes in plans, biggest lessons learned in life and the mountains as her mindset and motivation shifts through the year as the goal moves closer.  Emily has been a friend for several years now and it is always a pleasure to have a deep conversation. She was one of the first guests on the podcast in 2020 sharing how she kept motivated when the world shut down. You can keep up with Emily's adventures and musings on Instagram. If you liked this episode, please pass it along to someone who could benefit from Emily's wise words. You can connect with me @cactusmoose, gregveregin.com or cactusmoose@protonmail.com

Thank you for listening! Today's episode is a neat twist where my coach, Sarah, interviews me about my experience running the 100 miler at Javelina Jundred on October 26-27, 2024, in Fountain Hills, Arizona. We cover a variety of topics including the format of the race, how I felt leading up to it, what clothing and gear I wore, what worked and didn't, and some key takeaways. It was the hottest Javelina on record, with temperatures in the triple digits out on the course. Nearly half of the entrants to the 100 mile and 100 kilometer races did not finish, mostly due to issues resulting from the heat. It was a fun day to be out on trails to test myself: much was learned. I'm profoundly grateful to all the staff and volunteers at Aravaipa Running, the crews and supporters who came out, Maricopa County parks, and to my pacers and crew. A big thanks goes out to Sarah, Tony, Nicole, Jen, Lindsay, Heidi, Elly, Kearstin, Mike, Lee, Jubilee, Tristan, Matt, Joe, Julian and Adam. Some of the highlights of the race are being surprised by my friend Tony, who flew in to see Nicole and pace me; a delicious burger at Jackass Junction from Julian; sharing miles with Jon and Elly; loop 4 with Tony and loop 5 with Sarah; Nicole popping my blisters before loop 4 by headlamp. It was a huge adventure! The burning question... will I run Javelina again? Well, tune in today to find out the answer to that question! Connect with me on Instagram or cactusmoose@protonmail.com for questions, comments and guest suggestions. I'm excited to have some interviews in the queue for the next few months!

Thank you for listening today, friends! It's been hot out here in the desert as I acclimatize for Javelina Jundred in just a couple more weeks. The inspiration for this episode came from an experience last week: bats were raiding the hummingbird feeder! I've rarely seen bats, or a bat, in my life: definitely less times than I can count on one hand. It was a neat experience, and I explored the deeper meaning behind a bat encounter to satisfy my curiosity. Bats are about death and rebirth, a prescient omen with the change of seasons underway, daylight savings approaching, autumn harvests in full swing, and Hallowe'en on the horizon. Listen in for the message bat shares with us and for some musings on how that can be translated into reflection for your current experience. As always you can contact me at cactusmoose@protonmail with questions, comments and guest suggestions. We're looking forward to some more interviews and discussions in the remainder of 2024.

Thank you for listening today, friends! I've had some setbacks the past couple of weeks, and I thought it would be worthwhile to share what I've done to process and move past their occurrence. It can be a challenge when things don't go how you anticipated, but there can be magic on the other side of what's been blocked.

Thank you for listening today friends! There are a few updates to share as it's been awhile since I recorded. I had a profound shamanic journey involving a cougar and a red-tailed hawk, both of which had wisdom to share with me. The wisdom is deep, and I feel compelled to share a new interpretation, how it relates to my life, and some questions to ponder for yourself as we move through of journey. As always, you can connect with me a through cactusmoose@protonmail.com or on Instagram at @cactusmoose

Today we're talking about gratitude... what is it, how does it work, and how can your life change once you start being grateful for what you're co-creating?

It's almost spring! I thought it appropriate and relevant to talk about transitions and share some wisdom for navigating them as we shift into the season of new growth and possibilities. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Courage Determination Bravery --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Did Not Finish (DNF) a race doesn't define who you are. Today I'm reading an article I wrote about my DNF experience at the Coldwater Rumble by Aravaipa Running in Estrella Regional Park on January 20. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Today I delve into some of the questions and meanings we can consider when more desert animals cross our path. I'd forgotten about javelina and coyote as I recorded the previous episode, so decided to add them in here. Javelina showed up for me last week in southern Arizona while I was driving at night: a family of four curiously investigating part of the desert. In a curious twist of fate, the day I recorded the episode, coyotes showed up multiple times both before and after. One place was in the book I finished that morning, about a tree in Haida Gwaii entitled The Golden Spruce by John Vaillant (highly recommend). One telling of that tree can be found here on the Haida Tourism site. Thank you for listening! You can connect with me at cactusmoose@protonmail.com or @cactusmoose on Instagram with questions, comments and guest suggestions. Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the time you spend in nature. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thank you for listening, friends! Today's run surprised me with three different lizard or gecko sightings. I thought that since they were spaced throughout my 7.5 mile run that there was likely a message for me in the guise of their wisdom. To my trusty Medicine Cards deck I went, and discovered lizard/gecko medicine is about dreaming. We discuss dreaming the future into your perceived reality, and some steps to take to bring those far-off goals into your lived experience. As always, you can contact me on Instagram or at cactusmoose@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest suggestions. Until next week, enjoy the weather and opt outside whenever you can. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening today, friends! It's a solo episode discussing the wisdom of some of my favorite desert beings: the saguaro cactus, roadrunner, owl and desert tortoise. Inspiration for the episode comes from Symbols of the Southwest National Parks Service Jamie Sams & David Carson --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Today's solo episode shares a bit of my experience focusing on gratitude, and some ways we can flip a perspective to seeing something to be grateful for in any situation we might find ourselves in. Connect with me on Instagram @cactusmoose or cactusmoose@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest suggestions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Happy 2024, friends! We're starting the year off with Realist Idealist for another discussion... this time about the importance of rest. Realist Idealist has made a point over the past 8 months to incorporate scheduled rest into her schedule... turns out, it ain't so easy. We chat about her motivation to schedule rest, what's out of balance, the history of a sabbath day or full day of rest, the importance of recharging both psychologically and spiritually, and how her rest days change as her life ebbs and flows. Other topics that pop up are challenging the 9-5/8-4 Monday to Friday concept of work, questioning the control-based work schedules, and asking yourself if your life is full and is the schedule of your job working for you. It is important to note that rest looks different for everyone. It's a challenge to separate oneself from the constant dings and addictive nature of technology, but ultimately it helps us reset and rejuvenate. Additionally, taking a day of inactivity can be a huge challenge for many. Rest allows for a reset to happen, and can be incorporated into weekly, fortnightly or monthly schedules. It's something I'm actively focusing on, as it's a challenge for me to stop moving and just sit or lie still. Realist Idealist read the book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer before beginning her journey to rest more. Thank you for listening, friends! I would greatly appreciate it if you shared this episode and gave it a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. You can contact me at cactusmoose@protonmail.com on Instagram or on my website gregveregin.com with questions, comments and guest suggestions. I hope you get a chance to be outside and take some deep breaths in a beautiful spot in nature. Until next week... --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thank you for listening today, friends! We've got a great episode with Heidi Jorgenson, an inspiring ultrarunner, obstacle course racer (OCR), and sponsored Speedland athlete in Arizona. Connect with her on Instagram or TikTok. We cover a number of topics including mindset, bringing dreams to reality, the challenges of ultramarathons, how she became an OCR athlete, how she became a contestant on 3 seasons of American Ninja Warrior, and some of her bucket list items and long term goals. It was fun to record out at Tempe Town Lake on a gorgeous sunny winter day. We originally met at at mile 76 of Mak Regan's Javelina Jundred experience in October 2022. The story of our roles in Mak's race can be heard on this Gremlin Talk podcast. Heidi's positive energy and inner light shine through during our conversation, and there are nuggets of wisdom hidden throughout. It'll be fun following her progress toward goals this year, and watching Ninja Warrior to see how she fares. Below are links for some of the references from our wide-ranging chat: Matt Fitzgerald - How Bad Do You Want It and The Champion's Mind American Ninja Warrior Spartan Race Savage Race As always, I hope you enjoy this episode, and that you get a chance to day to appreciate something beautiful in nature. You can connect with me on Instagram or by email cactusmoose@protonmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Flow state... the feeling of being so connected and having such energized focus in an activity as to lose track of time. It's what athletes and performers speak of... and it can also relate to our lives. Specifically, how well we are flowing with life, taking the path of least resistance. Or not. In today's episode I share different ways I've found to connect to flow state, and how being in flow state has led me to new connections, opportunities and directions when I am open and receptive. As always, connect with me on Instagram or at cactusmoose@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest suggestions. Until next week, here's to enjoying some quiet moments outside today! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thank you for listening, friends! Today's episode was so much fun to record. ⁠Amanda⁠ and I share a ⁠mutual friend⁠ that introduced us at the recent ⁠Javelina Jundred Endurance Run⁠ in ⁠Arizona⁠. Amanda is a badass outdoor adventurer, having completed the ⁠Adirondack 46ers⁠ and currently working on the Adirondack Grid of ⁠552 peaks⁠. Amanda performed well at the race, and completed the 100 miles to get her finisher's buckle. We talk about what happened in her race a couple weeks ago including why she decided to run 100 miles far from her mountainous New York home, what it's like to be in the desert overnight, what she ate, how her pacers made the last 2 20-mile loops fun, what she's up to next. A great life tip was shared in the episode: to simply follow an idea. Just do it, and learn from it. Amanda crushed Javelina, and next up is completing the full ⁠Adirondack Grid⁠. It was a blast to record with Amanda: our laughter and Amanda's stoke fill the episode. As always, connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or through cactusmoose@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest suggestions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thank you for listening today, friends! Today's guest is ⁠Melissa Crawford⁠, a Medical Intuitive based in ⁠Nelson⁠, ⁠British Columbia⁠.  Melissa shares her journey from Medical Doctor in the allopathic system to Medical Intuitive, and how that journey was shaped by her own personal healing. Simple nature connection has strongly affected her, and she is enthusiastic about bringing nature time into personal time and homeschooling her son. Melissa uses a variety of modalities including Light Therapy, Holistic Detox, Reiki, Vibrational Water Medicine, Medical intuition and ⁠ThetaHealing⁠. We address a range of topics including her favorite nature connections, the potency of frequency medicine (Homeopathy and Vibrational Water Medicine), truth versus social programming, her experience healing on a deeper level through complementary, integrative modalities often eschewed by mainstream voices, teaching and modeling emotional intelligence, and how healing is simple... but not always easy. This was a fun conversation full of great tidbits and resources. Melissa can be found on ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, her ⁠website⁠, Telegram and ⁠Instagram⁠. She offers both in-person and remote healing for individuals, and group healings through her Wild Hearts Collective Membership as well as other workshops online and in-person. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Hello friends, and thank you for listening. Today's episode details my experience being part of the biggest Hallowe'en ultramarathon dance party in the desert... the Aravaipa Running's Javelina Jundred presented by Hoka. I did a lot, met a lot of cool people, and have so many more fun memories of driving trucks, pounding T-posts, setting up tents and passing out belt buckles. It's the first time I've been at a race and NOT been at an aid station. Want to join us next year? Check out the Javelina Jundred website, Facebook page, Ultrasignup and the other events put on by Aravaipa. Signup starts January 1, 2024! Remember... Arizona is AWESOME! Haha, just like all of us Aquarii are. As always, you can connect with me with questions, comments and guest suggestions through my Instagram or cactusmoose@protonmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening today, friends! The elk have unexpectedly dropped out of the high country, and I've seen some every day this past week. I thought I'd check in on elk medicine, and share a couple of tidbits about how I've applied that wisdom to my life. As always, connect with me at wisdomofthewilderness@protonmail.com or @cactusmoose on Instagram with questions, comments and guest suggestions. There might be a slight shift in the podcast as momentum builds on another project I've been pondering. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Hi there friends, thank you for listening today. I've been seeing chipmunks everywhere for the past week, and decided to record an episode today about their wisdom. Feel free to contact me with questions, comments and guest suggestions at wisdomofthewilderness@protonmail.com or on Instagram @cactusmoose --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening today, friends! Last Saturday, July 22, I ran a 50k ultramarathon in the town of Fernie: the Elk Valley Ultra by Stag Leap Running. Today I'm sharing my race-day experience: having stomach issues 5 miles in, seeing a bear cub, and doing a lot of climbing while it was 95 degrees. The course is gorgeous, and I highly recommend it for the views; it's also tough, and will test you on the climbs and technical sections. It was a blast to go out and see how I fare against others, and we were blessed with a beautiful bluebird, smoke-free day in the valley. As always, connect with me at wisdomofthewilderness@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest ideas. I'm also on instagram @cactusmoose --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening today, friends! I had a chance encounter with a badger on my run today, and thought I'd share badger medicine from the Sams & Carson deck I frequently use. Lo and behold, it's a meaning that's spot on for what I am experiencing in some aspects of my life. As always, connect with me at wisdomofthewilderness@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest suggestions. Until next week, here's to spending time outdoors and unplugged! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening today, friends! We had a stressful situation out here a couple weeks ago now, and I wanted to collect my thoughts and share my experience dealing with a forest fire. We got really lucky in that it was nearby, reported to us quickly, and we were prepared. A small crew of four of us got it put out. It could have easily become out-of-control due to conditions that day. Living with fire is a reality of life throughout North America, and not just in recent memory. Our ponderosa forest depends upon fire for its health. I offer today my experience as a source of what went right, what could have gone wrong, and what I didn't do or even consider when fighting the fire. I learned a lot, about not just fire behavior but about resourcefulness and the need to be self-reliant. I'm grateful for the chance to practice earlier in the spring. Fire safety is great to review periodically, especially when heading out to camp, run or hike in fire-prone areas. Just like I could have easily been in a bad place when the winds shifted, you could find yourself stuck in an unfortunate situation. The tips were modified from a Department of Interior website, and common sense hopefully prevails when people are recreating in the bush. Please do not do something stupid like setting off fireworks to reveal whether your baby will be a boy or girl. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening, friends! Today's episode details a few of the... adventures I've had in airports when traveling in western North America. Learn from my experiences traveling after performing landscape beautification and trying out a new dietary addition... things didn't go exactly as planned. This episode will help you know what NOT to do when traveling. As always, connect with me on Instagram or through wisdomofthewilderness@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest suggestions. Until the next episode, I hope you have a wonderful day and get a chance to decompress in the fresh air. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Values. What are they? How do they shape our lives? How do they change over time as we grow and evolve? Today's episode is a perspective on values, how to approach them, and some questions to use to determine what your values are, and whether you're living in alignment with them. My favorite way of picturing the difference between goals and values is “Values are directions we keep moving in, whereas goals are what we want to achieve along the way,” Dr. Russ Harris writes in the book The Happiness Trap, “A value is like heading North; a goal is like the river or mountain or valley we aim to cross whilst traveling in that direction.” Material for the episode is from a conglomeration of websites including this one. As always, contact me with questions, comments and guest suggestions via Instagram Cheers, friends, and be sure to get out into nature today! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thank you for listening, friends! Today's topic is frequency/vibration from a spiritual or metaphysical perspective... and some ways that you can raise yours. What can happen when you raise your vibes, let go of old, non-serving behaviors and toxic people/places/situations? Listen along for some suggestions and reflections from my life experience. I also pulled a card, When A Witch Must Drink Their Brew, from Colette Baron-Reid's free oracle cards app available here: https://www.colettebaronreid.com/use-colettes-free-online-oracle-cards-app/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening today, friends! I've been asked a lot about the details of my recent 5 month road trip, and about what are things I considered when planning out my trip. Today's episode goes through some of my thought processes and tips for creating an epic adventure. Topics covered include -planning -prioritizing -what's important and NOT important to you -saving & budgeting -fear of the unknown... it's just unknown -researching the trip through blogs, social media, videos, books, asking friends to share their stories Next steps for my Fall '23 trip -redesigning the platform -waterproofing the canopy -improving gas mileage -researching places & races -clearing clutter and minimizing the stuff I bring --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Today's episode is another with my good friend Realist Idealist. Unfortunately, the first 45 minutes of our discussion of language is lost to the ethers, but what's left is a neat discussion. It's a philosophical discussion the likes of which I enjoy for the different perspectives that we can access. Language is a powerful tool. Realist Idealist ponders what we can become aware of as we notice how the use of certain words make us feel. We chat about lifestyle design, affirmations, how to stay positive while your focus isn't manifesting, and what you're speaking into existence. There's a discussion about how if an affirmation is not going to change you, it's not going to work. A big part of this episode is our chat about values - what is important to you, and are you making that a priority in your life? It's been neat for me to reflect upon that concept as I've redesigned my life to fit my values rather than those of external organizations. When you think things are falling apart, what if they are actually falling together? Could a shift in perspective or language help you through a situation you're experiencing? Realist Idealist organizes her life around living the question, and then living her way into the answer. The full context of the snippet can be found in the poem below or at this link: “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke As always, thanks for listening! Feel free to contact me at cactusmoose@protonmail.com or on Instagram with questions, comments and guest requests. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

I spent a lot of the past 5 months dry camping in my truck as I explored the desert and participated in the trail and ultrarunning communities. Today's episode is a synopsis of the motivation for the trip, as well as what I learned. The main reasons for the trip were to see friends, explore the desert, try out the snowbird lifestyle and connect with the community I enjoy in different places. There are a few things I'd change about my camping setup, the routes I took, places I still have yet to experience, and taking much less stuff... that's not at all to say it was a bad trip, only that there's ways it could be improved. I also chat about what I learned and some of the key takeaways from the whole experience making new friends, seeing new places, reconnecting to old ones, and attempting to date along the way. The passenger seat is still open, and there will be more space and a greater degree of comfort this coming fall. Thank you for listening! As always, you can connect with me on Instagram or through cactusmoose@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest requests. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening, friends! Today's episode is my perspective of the events from the Aravaipa Running Black Canyon 100k that I ran on February 18, 2023 in Arizona. It was a great experience: meeting new and old friends, being part of the race community and supporting others. A lot of things happened that day, and even in the recording and as I write the description I realize I've missed a few things. Here are a few links to topics or people I mention during the episode: Heidi Garner Studio made the awesome Black Canyon 100k buff racers received Race results are here Black Canyon Trail My friend My friend Lindsay My friend Emily My friend Jen Phoenix PT and dry needling As always, contact me with questions, comments and guest suggestions at cactusmoose@protonmail.com or through Instagram --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

It's been a hot minute friends! This week's episode catches you up on January busy-ness, and what I've been pondering as this adventure comes to an end. My long run in January was a whopping mile(!!) while I stayed with friends for lambing season to learn, experience and help out. That prompted the idea for today's episode, and with the nonstop nature of lambing/calving on the ranch, explains the absence of episodes lately. One thing we can all do is lend a hand to another person, cause or endeavor that we support. Maybe it's listening to a friend struggling with a relationship; maybe it's digging ditches for your favorite trails or maybe it's bottle-feeding bum lambs at 2 in the morning 7 days a week. As always, connect with me @cactusmoose with questions, comments and guest suggestions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Happy 2023! Today I'm discussing how I spent New Year's being inspired by participants in a 6 day race called Across The Years, and ways that we can all be inspiring to others. Connect with me on Instagram @cactusmoose or wisdomofthewilderness@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest requests. As always, here's to a magical day outdoors full of laughter and love! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening today, friends, and hello to all the different cities and countries y'all are tuning in from! Today I'm answering listener questions about my truck camping setup for road trips, how I get water, where I get clean, and how I choose sites for the evening. I also discuss the many decisions anyone on a road trip faces every day, and some ways to prevent those processes from becoming overwhelming. Breathwork (Wim Hof method; Kim Anami style), taking things one step at a time, gathering information and trusting the process are strategies I use to keep from being overwhelmed. I recorded today's episode from a trailhead in an undisclosed location as I watched the colors start dancing on the incredible geologic formations. As always, connect with me on Instagram @cactusmoose or at wisdomofthewilderness@protonmail.com with questions, comments, and guest suggestions. Enjoy your day, and here's to a magical experience in nature. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message

Thanks for listening, friends! Today I talk about the energy of place, and how it can affect how we feel in different locations around the globe. I'm drawn to deserts, despite growing up on the wet coast... perhaps there's something for us in the locations we're attracted to, and perhaps our life can change if we visit (or move to) places that call us. I'm mentioned on Gremlin Talk as for my role in Mak's race experience at Javelina Jundred. As always, connect with me on Instagram @cactusmoose or at wisdomofthewilderness@protonmail.com with questions, comments and guest suggestions. Have a wonderful day, and remember how great you feel after getting into nature for some fresh air! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wisdomofthewilderness/message