Let's Take This Outside

Stephan Kesting is an adventurer, jiu-jitsu practitioner, and firefighter. These activities all require making critical decisions under pressure, which is one of the central themes of his writing.

Stephan has criss-crossed the North for 40 years. He has done many solo trips into the Arctic and has also worked as a canoe and raft guide, safely leading large groups in the remote wilderness.

He completed an honours BSc in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies from McGill University and an MSc in Arctic Botany with a specialisation in climate change from the University of British Columbia.

Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@essentialwilderness

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Nordica] Feel the precision, discover Promachine: https://bit.ly/nordica-letstakethisoutside

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Tom Peiffer’s skiing has undoubtedly been shaped by the coastal mountains in his backyard surrounding Whistler, BC. Tom has undeniably proven his tenacity in the competition world. Consistently ranked among the best North American athletes, he spent four seasons on the Freeride World Tour, where his aggressive and fall-line skiing stood out. Tom is also no stranger to chasing backcountry objectives at home or remote lines in the corners of the world, from the Himalayas to Argentina. No matter the terrain, Tom will find his way up…and down. In his free time, he stays busy pursuing a career in paramedicine and staying outdoors, preferably surfing waves.

Tom was part of the development team for the Canvas skis from the very beginning. He tested all the prototypes and worked closely with the Blizzard engineers, playing a big role in the creation of the current Canvas collection.

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Blizzard]Explore the Canvas collection: https://bit.ly/blizzard-letstakethisoutside

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About Town of Petawawa:

The Town of Petawawa is a vibrant community in the heart of the Ottawa Valley, known for its strong connection to the outdoors and active lifestyle. Surrounded by forests, rivers, and trails, Petawawa offers year-round opportunities for recreation and adventure. Through its recreation amenities, events, and community programs, the Town encourages people of all ages to get outside, stay active, and connect with nature and each other.

Guest #1: Shallan Dament - Town of Petawawa

Shallan Dament is a Recreation Program Coordinator with the Town of Petawawa who creates programs, camps, and community experiences that inspire people of all ages to get active, connect with nature, and build community through recreation. Passionate about outdoor play and lifelong learning, she believes some of life's most valuable lessons happen outside. Away from work, Shallan loves being outdoors and can often be found cycling, canoe tripping, skiing, or taking on just about any adventure that connects her with nature.

Guest #2: Richard McNish - Doghouse Brewing Company

Richard isn’t here to play small. With 32 years in the military under his belt, he knows how to lead teams, manage multimillion-dollar budgets, and get things done when it counts. Now, he brings that same energy to the Ottawa Valley—supporting local businesses, powering tourism initiatives, and building communities that don’t just survive, but thrive.

As Chair of the Petawawa Business Advisory Network, Richard works directly with entrepreneurs who are serious about business and growth. He’s backed gritty, ground-level events like Water and Dirt, continues to promote Ride the Highlands, and is proud to stand behind the kind of local festivals and breweries that put this region on the map—not in a brochure, but in the hearts of the people who live and breathe it.

He’s worn a lot of titles: Area Coordinator for the Children’s Wish Foundation, VP of Hockey Ops, coach, strategist, advisor, and builder. But at the end of the day, Richard is someone who shows up, steps in, and makes things move.

He doesn’t just believe in the potential of this region—he works for it, every day.

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Hey it’s Mary Anne, as paddling season starts to wind down, it felt like the perfect time to revisit this conversation with one of Canada's most beloved canoeists. Here's my chat with Kevin Callan.

Kevin Callan is the author of 18 books, including the best-selling ⁠The Happy Camper ⁠and his incredibly popular series of paddling guides. He’s a notable public speaker and frequent guest on radio and television. Kevin is also a regular contributor, blogger and columnist for explore Magazine and Paddling Magazine, and has won several National Magazine Awards. He was made Patron Paddler for Paddle Canada and has recently won several filmmaking awards. Kevin was listed one of the top 100 modern day explorers by the Canadian Geographical Society.

⁠https://kevincallan.com

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ABOUT DAVID:

David Webb⁠ is the President & Publisher at Explore Outdoor Media Inc., and host of Explore's "Live the Adventure Podcast." He is an engaging writer with hundreds of bylines to his name, in multiple medias, and on topics ranging from outdoor adventure, to international travel, to local culture, to current events and more. He has been recognized at the National Magazine Awards (7x), Explore Canada Awards of Excellence (3x), Western Magazine Awards, IRMA Awards (6x) and the Canadian Newsstand Marketing Awards (3x).

EXPLORE:

Founded over 45 years ago, Explore™  has grown from a grassroots provincial periodical to Canada’s most-read and most-awarded outdoor adventure magazine. We bring you the best in Canada’s outdoor adventure every day on our website and publish our high-quality magazine four times a year.

Today, Explore™ is an independent publisher with offices in Vancouver, BC and Winnipeg, MB. We cover the entire country, offering the adventure knowledge you need to get outside safely, comfortably and confidently. Hiking, camping, paddling, snowsports—we are Canada’s source for outdoor adventure.

Explore™ is proud to have the mandate of inspiring outdoor experiences. Everyone belongs in the outdoors, and we want to make it easier for you to access, enjoy and relish in nature’s wonder.

Through our award-winning print magazine, popular website, engaging social media, wide-reaching newsletter and informative podcast, we’re proud to be the voice of Canada’s outdoor community. Every season, we curate the best-selling magazine in the outdoors category on Canadian newsstands. We’re proud to be the one-and-only Explore™.

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Hey, it’s Mary Anne.

With the Log Driver's Waltz Grand Départ coming up on August 29, it felt like the perfect time to bring this conversation back. Whether you're riding this year or just curious about bikepacking, here's my chat with Jen and Eric. Enjoy.

“Just get out and explore on a bike.”

In 2022 Jen and Eric bikepacked over 7000 km which included Grand Departs on the 4400 km Tour Divide and the 800 km ⁠ Log Driver’s Waltz⁠ (LDW), and a time trial on the North of Seven 770.  

In 2019 they were amongst the first few riders to complete the BT 700. They had such a positive experience following a well curated route that they decided to develop one of their own. Over the years they had completed many multi-day bike trips in the Lanark Highlands of Ontario and the Outaouais Region of Quebec. They knew they had the “knowledge of place” necessary to create a quality bikepacking route; one that would showcase the region, contribute to the growing bikepacking community, inject tourist dollars and foster connections between locals and riders. Importantly this would also be a challenging route that riders from Ontario, Quebec and New England could access without extensive travel. The result was the 800 km⁠ Log Driver’s Waltz⁠ which they released in 2020. 

In response to the requests of less experienced bikepackers they soon added ten shorter, more accessible routes. This has grown into a social project they call “bikepacking for all”. Through inclusive panel discussions, mechanics workshops,and rallies this project has continued to grow as more riders join the bikepacking community.

Jen and Eric believe there are hidden gems to be discovered in all localities and it is by creating well curated routes that bikepacking route developers can share this knowledge with riders from near and far.They can be reached via their⁠ website⁠.

*Artwork photo credit: Louise Philopovich, Panorama Cycles ⁠https://www.panoramacycles.com/en/⁠*

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Lisa Franks’ world changed at the age of 14 when she became paralyzed from the neck down. She slowly regained the use of her arms and began adapting to life as a wheelchair user. She discovered wheelchair sports and quickly rose through the ranks, competing at three Paralympic Games and bringing home six gold and one silver medal. While balancing competition and training, Lisa graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She worked as a Mechanical Engineer designing commercial buildings.

After a severe shoulder injury ended her competitive sports career, Lisa turned to the outdoors to help her manage chronic pain.  She has become an avid outdoor adventurer and now spends much of her time mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, surfing, and travelling in her self-designed wheelchair-accessible campervan. Through her advocacy and storytelling on her YouTube channel, she highlights the importance of inclusive design and champions a future where everyone can experience the benefits of being outdoors.
KeepinitWheel306 Youtube Channel

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Hey it’s Mary Anne. With wildfires affecting communities across Canada this summer, this conversation feels more relevant than ever. I wanted to bring this episode back because understanding how climate change is shaping our landscapes, (and the way we experience the outdoors) has never been more important.

Dr. Daniel Scott is a Professor and Research Chair in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo (Canada). He has worked extensively on sustainable tourism for 25 years, with a focus on the transition to a low carbon tourism economy and adaptation to the complex impacts of a changing climate.

In 2021, he was ranked in the world top 300 climate change scientists by Reuters. In 2023, he was recognized as one of Canada’s top scholars when he was inducted as a Fellow the Royal Society of Canada.

He has advised a wide range of governments and tourism organizations around the world, including the United Nations World Tourism Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, European Tourism Commission, World Travel and Tourism Council, International Olympic Committee, OECD, the Caribbean Tourism Organization. He has also been a contributor to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Third, Fourth, Fifth Assessments and their 1.5°C special report.

His tourism research publications have been downloaded over a half million times and have been featured in many leading media outlets, including The Economist, New York Times, Guardian, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, BBC, Time, Scientific American, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic and many other others.

Article: ⁠Ski resorts’ era of plentiful snow may be over due to climate crisis, study finds

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Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson is Métis and grew up in Treaty 8 territory (northern Alberta, Canada). Her family was nîhithawîwin (Woodland Cree/ “N”) speaking. Her Métis relations are the Cardinal (Peeaysis Band) and Laboucane (Laboucane Settlement) families. She currently lives near Rocky Mountain House in Treaty 6 (central Alberta). 

Christianson was formerly a Research Scientist with the Canadian Forest Service (Natural Resources Canada) and an Indigenous Fire Specialist in the National Fire Management Division of Parks Canada.

Christianson works with Indigenous Nations across Canada on fire stewardship practices like cultural burning and collaborates with Indigenous peoples from around the world on decolonising land management. She also studies wildfire evacuations and advocates for Indigenous wildland firefighters.

She is the co-author of the books, First Nations Wildfire Evacuations: A guide for communities and external agencies, Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire Stewardship, and Creating a Cultural Burn Pathway.

Christianson also cohosts the Good Fire podcast, which looks at Indigenous fire use around the world. 

She helped create the Thunderbird Collective and serves on the board of the International Association of Wildland Fire and the international research advisory panel with Natural Hazards Research Australia.

Photo credit: Jordan Melograna/Indigenous Leadership Initiative

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Mark Herbst is an endurance athlete, cycling coach, and world-class ultra-racer who has spent decades pushing the limits of what’s possible on two wheels. A multiple national champion in cycling and triathlon, he’s raced the legendary Race Across America four times (including a record-breaking win in the two-man category) and competed twice at the Hawaii Ironman.

He recently took on his biggest challenge yet: a 30,000-kilometre ride around the globe, attempting to become the oldest person ever to circumnavigate the world by bicycle, all while raising awareness and funds for cancer research in honour of his late wife Jackie.

Mark's Instagram

CBC Article

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