In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with Leela Hazzah, founder of the Lion Guardians program, a groundbreaking initiative in Kenya and Tanzania that transforms Maasai warriors from lion hunters into lion protectors.

Leela recounts her journey from Egyptian-American roots to becoming one of CNN’s Top 10 Heroes of the year, sharing how her childhood love of animals grew into a lifelong mission to save lions. She explains how living with Maasai communities taught her that traditional knowledge and cultural practices are essential to successful conservation. What began as a small experiment with five guardians has now expanded into a thriving program covering thousands of square kilometers and reversing the decline of lions outside protected areas.

The conversation also explores Leela’s leadership work with We Africa, an initiative that supports women leaders in conservation across the continent. She highlights the importance of shifting from ego-driven, competitive models to collaborative, inclusive approaches that amplify community and indigenous voices.

Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher showcases not just the resilience of explorers but also their ability to reshape systems. This episode reminds us that true conservation is about people as much as it is about wildlife.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.