You’ll hear about the the complex nature of moral injury, and how service, faith, and a sense of purpose healed him—and helped him pay it forward in extraordinary ways. Whether you’re a veteran, someone facing an invisible challenge, or just looking for inspiration, you’re in the right place.

Connect with Eric Donoho

Canyon of Hope book: https://www.amazon.com/Canyon-Hope-Darkness-Embracing-Within/dp/1962956253

Eric's website: https://ericdonoho.com/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebdonoho/

An unprecedented unit of World War Two climbers and skiers, the 10th was dispatched to fight axis powers in extreme cold and mountainous terrain. Not only were their efforts critical to Germany’s surrender, these veterans returned home to develop ski areas across the country, and start companies like Nike and National Outdoor Leadership School.

Erik and Christian are about to blast open some history, challenge your assumptions, and remind us all what it means to build something extraordinary when the world needs it most. 

This episode dives into the raw, messy, and ultimately transformative terrain between suffering and awakening—a journey that’s anything but straightforward. Traver Boehm. His story is wild—think: MMA fighter by day, acupuncturist by night, and years later, a man who spent a month alone in complete darkness to confront the deepest parts of himself. In between he navigated professional heartbreak, devastating personal loss, and a year devoted to living as if it were his last. If you’re ready to challenge your own assumptions about pain, healing, and the human spirit—or searching for a map to navigate your own tough terrain—this episode promises insight, inspiration, and true no-barriers wisdom.

Let's go to the Appalachian Trail. The AT as it’s called. Here’s some stats. At just under 2200 miles It’s longest hiking-only footpath in the world. Each year roughly 3 million people visit a segment of it. Of that, about 3000 people attempt to hike the whole thing… with only fraction finishing.  Last year 1 of those finishers did it faster than anyone else. Thru-hiking the AT typically takes about 4-7 months, Tara Dower did in just 40 days.

Tara shares the highs and lows of her journey. She opens up about what drives her to keep moving forward, the importance of curiosity and confidence, and the value of learning to suffer with purpose.

This is part 2 of No Barriers Live featuring  Kara Star of the World, with Kara Brouhard. Part 1 of No Barriers Live is the previous episode and features From My Window, with Melissa Simpson. Afterwards, Erik talks with the stars of these films and their family caregivers. He explores the challenges and rewards of adopting a “No Barriers Mindset,” and how this mindset and these experiences have affected the lives of not only Kara and Melissa, but everyone around them as well.

We couldn’t do this by ourselves. Brewability is an inclusive brewery and pizzeria that employs people living with disabilities in Englewood, Colorado. The venue and vibe were perfect for this live event. Check it if you’re in the area. PASCO joined us as well. They are Colorado based company dedicated to families with special needs, providing care, support, guidance and resources. 

This is part 1 of No Barriers Live featuring  From My Window, with Melissa Simpson. Part 2 of No Barriers Live is the next episode and features and Kara Star of the World, with Kara Brouhard. Afterwards, Erik talks with the stars of these films and their family caregivers. He explores the challenges and rewards of adopting a “No Barriers Mindset,” and how this mindset and these experiences have affected the lives of not only Kara and Melissa, but everyone around them as well.

We couldn’t do this by ourselves. Brewability is an inclusive brewery and pizzeria that employs people living with disabilities in Englewood, Colorado. The venue and vibe were perfect for this live event. Check it if you’re in the area. PASCO joined us as well. They are Colorado based company dedicated to families with special needs, providing care, support, guidance and resources. 

A self-promoting egomaniac known mostly for his catastrophic failures. No, not our guest today. But there’s definitely something for us to learn from this individual who leads the cast of characters in The Realm of Ice & Sky. It’s the latest historical work of author Buddy Levy, where he takes on a gripping journey through the attempts to conquer the North Pole, which — spoiler alert — was not achieved not by dogsled or airplane, but by airship.

Why do we care? Well, this accidental historian, as Buddy describes himself says… "That these historical models provide a sort of connective tissue for today’s innovators and thought leaders who will show us the way to do the things we need to do in the future to survive on this big rock.”

You can’t hear. You can’t speak. How do you function in this world? Oh you want to climb mountains? The biggest ones in the planet?  You rely on sign language, how ya gonna sign with oversized mittens or in a white out with snow coming at ya sideways? Oh you’re not sure? Ah… too risky for you. Better find something else to do…. 

Our guests heard these questions and concerns over and over again… and you know, they didn’t have the answers. What Scott & Shayna did have was a curiosity and drive to figure it out along the way. And indeed they did, right to the top of the highest mountain in the world, Everest.

In this interview you’ll hear their story, from being born profoundly deaf, meeting each other in school, the romance that followed, becoming educators, then mountaineers, and now advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing. They’re especially passionate about making the outdoors more accessible.

Get ready for tales of courage, adaptability, and the collaborative spirit that defines the No Barriers mindset. 

Connect with Scott & Shayna

• Scott & Shayna on Instagram
• Scott & Shayna website

Erik’s goal with these interviews is to shine light into that obscure terrain between the struggle and the success. It’s dark there with plenty of barriers; metaphorically speaking certainly, but also many times literally….  as is the case with Sarah; she stared into the darkness of  English Channel waters crossing it back and forth twice. Oh yeah, she was swimming. And she was battling breast cancer too.

Sarah’s journey is both surreal and inspiring. Her feats of sheer endurance go beyond the English Channel, across the world. 104 miles across on Lake Champlain, 80 miles across Lake Powell.. a short 22 miles across the Loch Ness (no monster sightings) and many, many more.

She’s on a mission to complete the Ocean's Seven marathon swims.Erik digs into it all, from her motivations, breathtaking encounters with marine life and how she’s thriving post-breast cancer.

Sarah's website: https://sarahthomasswims.com/

Sarah on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sarahswims04