This week we are talking with Matthew Hengst about him and his girlfriend Jen's summer adventure paddling down the entire Mississippi River from it's Source in Minnesota to the sea down in Louisiana!!

This one is EPIC!! Through their adventure they battled giant oil ships, river alligators, lightning storms, flooding campsites, and much much more!!

As someone who grew up in a town on the banks of the Mississippi I was completely fascinated by Matthew's tales. This is pure adventure at it's core and it is such a unique experience that traveling down the river captures the imagination. 

It also shows how adventure let's you experience a place at a deep level. Matthew taught me things about the Mississippi that only one who has traversed it over months could know. It seemed like truly a beautiful if not often brutal experience!

Enjoy!!

MORE FROM MATTHEW HENGST:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/firstchurchofthemasochisthikes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattonamtn/

Website: http://www.firstchurchofthemasochist.com/

#353: Matthew Hengst -- Paddling the Mighty Mississippi From Source to Sea

Interviews with incredible people about Adventure, Motivation, Mindset, Positivity, Endurance, Health, Perseverance, and Possibility

Sports

Jeff Mercier is a world renown Ice Climber and works for the high mountain search and rescue.

In this episode we chat all about his journey into ice climbing, reflect on what he's learned about adventure through the years and Jeff shares thoughts on fatherhood and wilderness safety.

This is an awesome episode!!! Thank you Jeff for coming on!

#380: Jeff Mercier -- Reflections on a Life of Ice Climbing

This week we are sitting down and chatting with Stan Gaskell (Cameraman Stan!!) about his experience adventuring and filming Russ Cook’s historic “Project Africa” run across the continent!!

A few weeks ago Project Africa wrapped up in Tunisia, the northernmost point on the continent after nearly a year long journey. 

Stan was a linchpin of this project. From the logistic planning months before Russ set out to the final dip in the ocean, he was responsible for filmmaking, problem solving, and crewing. From “Harry Potter who hit rock bottom” to one of the biggest badasses in the history of badasses, Stan’s excursion across Africa is LEGENDARY!

Stan, Nelly (their trusted ‘Ship of Theseus’esque van), Russ, and the rest of their amazing team consistently battled problems both small and seemingly insurmountable- including food poisoning, visa issues, border crossings, getting the van on a rickety wooden boat to cross the sea (you truly have to see this to believe it), getting stranded in the middle of the Sahara, and so many more.

Project Africa was a Grand Adventure in every sense of the word and I am so honored to be able to sit down and hear all about it from Stan’s perspective. 

Hope you all enjoy!!

MORE FROM STAN AND PROJECT AFRICA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameramanstan_?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Support their fundraising: https://givestar.io/gs/PROJECTAFRICA

#379: Stan Gaskell -- Tales from Cameraman Stan's Adventure on "Project Africa"

The fact that I got the opportunity to sit down with three INCREDIBLE human beings a few weeks off of completing the 1,000 mile Iditarod is something I will never take for granted.

These three guys are some of the most interesting people I’ve ever had the chance to meet

Ryan Wanless has traversed from Anchorage to Nome THREE times at this point, one on foot and two on bike. He’s sweet, he’s funny, he’s incredible humble in spite of being one of the toughest people on the planet.

Gavan Hennigan is the most interesting man in the world. I was lucky enough to interview him in 2020 for what I’ve always stated as my favorite episode of this pod (194- check it out). In my eyes you get to be the most interesting man in the world through a mix of life experiences, big challenges/adventures married with introspection. The wisdom he’s gained from life and adventure is completely captivating and his ability to communicate that is top notch.

Asbjorn Bruun, the man, the myth, the legend. Gavan told me “this is the most interesting guy on the planet.” Game recognizing game. The first person to ever ski the Iditarod. A man who has previously spent years patrolling north eastern Greenland on dogsled, securing expeditions from polar bears. Known as The Terminator for relentlessly forging ahead through the Alaskan wilderness. 

And through the Iditarod, the biker, the skiier, and the runner found each other and made their way through the expansiveness of Alaska, down frozen rivers, across mountain ranges and open ice. They felt both insignificant in their size but significant in their humanity.

I truly mean it when I say these three are amongst the people I look up to; my heroes!

#378: Running, Skiing and Biking the Iditarod with Gavan Hennigan, Ryan Wanless & Asbjorn Bruun

MORE FROM JOSIAH:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiahfilm/

#377: Josiah Jones -- Taking on Mountains, Filmmaking, and Life's Challenges

This is the story of Sunny Stroeer's Iditarod. What she experienced in the wilds of Alaska as she became the first woman ever to ski the 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome!!

#353: Matthew Hengst -- Paddling the Mighty Mississippi From Source to Sea

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