The Occupation Wild Podcast

Claire and Filipe, founders of Madre Roca, met guiding in Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia. Transfixed by Patagonia’s beauty, but overwhelmed at the mass tourism certain parts of the park received they decided to find a solution and thus founded Madre Roca, a tour and expedition company that has its roots in sustainable and environmentally friendly travel. Claire and Filipe could not fathom flying halfway across the world to wait in a line to take a selfie, their trips are highly personal and remote giving guests a chance to experience the raw and rarely seen side of the park.

In this episode of The Occupation Wild Podcast, Courtney and Nick sit down with Claire and Filipe to talk about the incredible and diverse flora and fauna of the vast Patagonia region, what it’s like starting your own guiding company, the best practices of sustainable travel, and the joy of tailoring custom trips to each guests interests all while protecting this unique place for generations to come!

Claire & Felipe

www.madreroca.com

https://www.instagram.com/madrerocapatagonia/

Erik Cooper signed up for the 2012 Mongol Derby, considered the longest and toughest horse race in the world spanning 600 miles through Mongolia, not knowing that it would change the trajectory of his entire life! It opened his eyes to a new form of travel that was exciting, raw, and at times a little scary. Now an event director for The Adventurists and operating his own adventure company leading trips throughout Mongolia, his multi-day horse or motorcycle expeditions to see the famous Eagle Hunters or Nomadic Reindeer Herders are not for the faint of heart!

In this episode of The Occupation Wild Podcast Courtney and Nick sit down with Erik to talk about the price of true freedom, what you do when shit really hits the fan, tales from the Mongol Derby, Erik’s love for the people and culture of Mongolia and taking big risks! #lifebeyond9to5

Erik Cooper: https://www.instagram.com/erikcooperadventurist/

The Mongol Derby: https://www.theadventurists.com/guides/mongol-derby/

Josh Holland got back from his first summer as a camper in Idaho at Boy Scout Camp Grizzly and he knew camps and camp life would be part of his life forever. From that summer on he spent multiple seasons as a camper, then a counselor, to graduating college and then getting his Ph.D. in experimental education. Now the Camp Director of Camp Cobbossee, an all-boys sports camp in Maine. He’s taken his passion for the outdoors, camp, and alternative education and made it a lifelong career. He found joy and purpose in the ability of camps to enhance the lives and minds of the young adults that attend.

In this episode of The Occupation Wild Podcast Courtney and Nick sit down with Josh to talk about all things camp and why working a summer or multiple summers at a summer camp will change your life! From what to expect when working as a counselor, what a typical day at camp looks like, vector changes in one life, and why the people and connections you make at camp last a lifetime!

If Josh’s story inspired you, check out Camp Cobbosse on OccupationWild.com and apply to work for them this summer!

Ben Yue knew the second he jumped out of the plane on his first tandem skydive that he had found "it". From then on he began creating a life that would allow him to jump as much as possible! From getting his AFF license, to building a van so he could live right by the drop zone, getting into BASE jumping, he not only found his life passion he fell into an amazing and supportive community.

In this episode of The Occupation Wild Podcast Courtney and Nick sit down with Ben to talk about all things skydiving and BASE jumping, the differences between the two, finding your life purpose, van life, and how finding skydiving and base jumping has made him a more compassionate and spiritual individual!

Ben Yue:

https://www.instagram.com/downbytheairport/

Occupation Wild:

www.occupationwild.com

Wilderness Therapy changed Brea Holland’s life. Overwhelmed by the struggles of youth Brea dropped out of high school and found her self in a wilderness program in the Pacific North West in Oregon.  She was inspired by the Field Instructors she met who were passionate about the outdoors, rock climbing, backcountry camping, and even going to bluegrass concerts. Brea was hooked, she would be a field instructor one day.  Now climbing the ranks to Assistant Field Director and Recruiter of Evoke Entrada, as well as a new mom, she could not imagine any other life!

In this episode of The Occupation Wild Podcast Courtney and Nick sit down with Brea to talk about what makes Wilderness Therapy such a unique path in the outdoor industry, the healing power of nature, the day to day of working as a Field Instructor, the joy of working in the desert, and life in the outdoor industry as a new mom.  #lifebeyond9to5

Check out Evoke on OccupationWild.com - https://www.occupationwild.com/evoke

Courtney and Nick sat down in their last few days in Bali to recap their time on the island, moving back to California, getting back into van life, Occupation Wild updates, and most importantly to answer your questions about landing your dream job and working in the outdoor industry.

Could you surrender every decision for the next year to a flip of a coin? Mourning the loss of his 20-year relationship, burnt out from his job, and virtually homeless, minus the camper van he was currently sitting in, Bruce Molloy decided to do just that when he spotted a 20 cent Australian coin in his dashboard. Heads yes, tails no, with no plan he flipped a coin and headed north.

Flipping a coin leads him on an extraordinary journey throughout Australia from beautiful sunrises, camping under the stars, and taking an ultralight flight over Ningaloo Reef. Eventually “flipping” as he coined it lead him to move to Bali where he became a divemaster, wrote a book in one week, and now is a published author and launching his life coaching business!

In this episode of The Occupation Wild Podcast Courtney and Nick sit with Bruce in Canggu, Bali to talk about what one does when they’ve seemingly lost everything, embracing freedom, the healing power of nature, the paradox of choice, how the outward journey is always more about the journey inward, and how we can overcome all of our darkest moments! Listen on Apple, Spotify, Sticher, and under the Nomad Corner on OccupationWild.com

Bruce:

http://www.flipyourjourney.com/

https://www.instagram.com/flipyourjourney/

Find out where to buy his book on his site!

Check out who’s hiring!

www.occupationwild.com

Who doesn’t dream of getting paid to go on adventures and travel the world? With a passion for storytelling, adventure, and travel, Kyle Mulinder aka the Bare Kiwi, didn’t set out to become an influencer and work with some of the biggest brands in the industry like GoPro, Ford, and Macpac. He started making fun, high energy videos showcasing the beauty of New Zealand as a way to combat and reduce the amount of waste tour companies produced with traditional marketing methods like flyers and broachers. Kyle is a self-taught photographer and videographer, but his almost 20 years of experience working as a white water rafting and sea kayak guide as prepared him well for creating inspiring adventure/ travel content.

In this episode of The Occupation Wild Podcast Courtney and Nick talk about how the three of them met after a sunset surf, how failure can be a beautiful thing, the transient nature of full-time travel and guiding, advice on how to work with big brands like GroPro, and why guiding is one of the best jobs in the world! Listen on Apple, Spotify, or under the Nomad Corner on the site!

Bare Kiwi aka Kyle:

https://www.instagram.com/barekiwi

https://barekiwi.com/

Check out who’s hiring

https://www.occupationwild.com/

For many people sitting on the beach with a margarita is their dream vacation, Matt West is not one of those people. With a passion to see the world and a strong aversion to “touristy” destinations he’s been to 72 countries, many on the US State Department’s Do Not Travel List, with no desire to stop anytime soon. His blog Conflict Zone Travel documents his exciting and unusual travel over the years, from being asked by a warlord to play Buzkashi in Afghanistan to almost being arrested when traveling through South Sudan, Matt shares his stories in hopes of inspiring others to step out of their travel comfort zone and broaden their horizons.

In this episode of The Occupation Wild Podcast Courtney and Nick sit down with Matt to talk about the Every Passport Stamp Community, how he decides and plans what country to travel to, taking risks, travel advice and share some crazy travel stories! Listen on Apple, Spotify, or under the Nomad Corner on www.OccupationWild.com #lifebeyond9to5

Matt West

https://conflictzonetravel.com/

Occupation Wild 

https://www.occupationwild.com/

Black Girls Surf, they always have, but black women and girls have been excluded from the modern-day surfing visual. Rhonda Harper, Olympic Surf Coach and Founder of Black Girls Surf is changing the narrative in a sport that is seen as predominantly white and shattering the image of the typical “surfer girl.” By helping black women in surfing bridge the gap between amateur and pro in hopes that they can claim their space both on the tour and in professional competitions. Rhonda and Black Girls Surf have been working and training with two 2020 Olympic hopefuls, Khajdou Sambe (of Senegal) and Kadiatu Kamara (of Sierra Leone). 2020 will be the first time surfing will be in the Summer Games.

In this episode of The Occupation Wild Podcast Courtney and Nick sit down with Rhonda and talk about how Rhonda went from a young girl living to Kansas City to a surfer in Hawaii, why it’s important to see black women in the water, how equal pay in professional surfing is only scratching the surface, becoming an Olympic surf coach, working with the WSL, and how to start all you need to do is “put your feet in the water.” Listen on Apple, Spotify, or under the Nomad Corner on www.OccupationWild.com #lifebeyond9to5

Rhonda and Black Girls Surf

https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlssurf/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/BlackGirlsSurf/

https://blackgirlssurf.com/