Florian Wagner has lived a life that most people only dream about. A helicopter pilot, paragliding instructor, and celebrated adventure photographer, his work has appeared in National Geographic, Playboy, and Leica campaigns. From crossing Australia on a motorcycle to photographing Spirit Bears in Canada and flying through the Okavango Delta, Florian’s journey captures what it means to live close to nature.
In this conversation, we explore how he turned risk into art, why he believes adventure is the truest teacher, and how hunting reshaped his connection with the land. Florian shares his experiences photographing for Leica, collaborating with Hornady and Savage Arms, and how self-hypnosis and mindfulness helped him rebuild after personal and physical setbacks.
This episode is a window into the mind of a man who’s seen the world from above, from horseback, and through the lens of purpose.
Learn more about Florian Wagner:
🌍 wagnerphoto.de
💧 worldwidewaters360.com
🎧 Brought to you by the Silvercore Podcast
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Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: From the Alps to Africa
Meet Florian Wagner, helicopter pilot, paragliding instructor, and adventure photographer for National Geographic, Playboy, and Leica.
01:28 – Escaping the Boarding School Walls
Florian shares how a restrictive childhood sparked his obsession with freedom and flight.
02:40 – Self-Taught Paragliding and the Camera That Started It All
How a forgotten camera and a hunger for the sky began a lifelong creative journey.
04:59 – From Playboy to Pilot: Adventures Behind the Lens
Florian’s unlikely path from photographer to helicopter pilot and adventure storyteller.
06:29 – Wine Tasting by Helicopter — the Playboy Assignment That Changed Everything
How one bold pitch turned into a dream project.
07:56 – Freedom and Risk Management
Florian reflects on what boarding school taught him about independence and why adventure is his true classroom.
08:10 – Riding Through Africa: Healing Through Safari
A moving story of loss, recovery, and rediscovering purpose on horseback in Kenya.
09:56 – The Power of Self-Hypnosis
How Florian used autosuggestion to overcome adversity, rebuild confidence, and enhance creativity.
13:40 – Elk Hunts and Broken Ribs: Stories From the Outback
Florian recalls his Australian motorcycle crash and what it taught him about limits.
16:29 – When the Supermarket Closes
A profound reflection on self-reliance and what it truly means to live close to nature.
19:32 – Learning to Hunt: From Photographer to Provider
How Florian went from capturing wildlife to understanding his place in the natural cycle.
22:01 – Hunting as Connection, Not Competition
Why he never carries both a camera and rifle, and what that choice means.
23:22 – Bridging Old Traditions and Modern Hunting
Florian contrasts European elitism with the hands-on North American model.
24:46 – Using Every Part: The Ethics of Sustainable Hunting
From chamois leather lederhosen to Defender seats — nothing goes to waste.
26:16 – Emotional Storytelling and Authentic Failure
The Norwegian hunt that didn’t go as planned — and why that honesty matters.
31:04 – Showing the Struggle: Why Failure Connects Us
Travis and Florian discuss how real stories can shift perceptions around hunting and the outdoors.
33:36 – Respect for Life: Trophy Hunting and Conservation
A deeper conversation about ethics, balance, and how hunting can protect wildlife.
36:22 – Inside Africa’s Complex Reality
From elephants to poachers — why Florian believes perspective matters more than judgment.
42:54 – Rhino Poaching and the True Cost of Demand
Florian shares what he saw firsthand in Kruger National Park and how misinformation fuels destruction.
46:39 – Tourism, Trophy Hunting, and Balance in Africa
How ethical hunting can support communities and restore ecosystems.
47:05 – Horseback Safaris and Staying Alive Among Lions
Why riding through Africa is as humbling as it is exhilarating.
52:30 – How to Prepare for a Horseback Safari
What kind of training you actually need — and why honesty with your skill level matters.
56:21 – The Waters Project: Capturing the World’s Lifeblood
Florian’s global mission to document water through aerial photography and storytelling.
59:54 – The Hidden Stories of Water
From sinking Venice to vanishing glaciers — how water connects us all.
1:01:47 – Precision, Focus, and the Art of Helicopter Photography
Why preparation and discipline keep him alive and creative in the sky.
1:02:40 – Inside the Explorers Club
The legendary organization behind the first North and South Pole, and first Moon expeditions.
1:04:49 – City Overload: Finding Calm Through Nature
Florian and Travis discuss overstimulation, mindfulness, and why cities can drain the soul.
1:08:58 – Sharp Senses, Wild Minds
Florian’s take on ADHD, awareness, and why he sees sensitivity as a survival advantage.
1:11:53 – Disconnected from Nature
The story of students who couldn’t walk in a forest — and what that says about modern life.
1:13:23 – The Call of the Wild
Why Africa’s rawness keeps pulling Florian back, and how adventure makes us feel alive.
1:13:45 – Evolving Adventures
How his career is shifting toward guiding and storytelling, keeping curiosity alive.
1:16:23 – Stay in Motion
Florian’s philosophy for life and creative longevity — never stop learning, never stop moving.
1:19:23 – Closing Thoughts
Future collaborations, a dream of hunting in Canada, and the adventures yet to come.
