Explore Magazine's Live The Adventure Podcast

Let's talk about dogs. We love them! Walks, cuddles, playing fetch... But what about travel and adventure with your dog? Have you boarded a plane with your pup? Embarked on a multi-day backpacking adventure? An epic road trip? If you're like most people, you likely look for a dog-sitter when you're travelling. But what if you changed your mindset and looked at ways you can bring your do with you. It's possible. Krista and John can show us how—and this is why they founded DogPacking.com, a website devoted to information and inspiration for better adventures with your dog.   Krista is a veterinary surgeon and John is currently on a round-the-world bike-packing trip with his dog in tow. So they know their stuff. So let's sit back and talk dogs with Krista Halling and John Freeman.

We’ve all heard the term “superfood” before. Often in relationship to things like acai, a berry native to south and central America, or coconut oil—maybe avocado. All of these foods, for Canadians anyway, would need to be imported. Such is the way… So, when I heard about a superfood that was being wild and sustainably harvested right here in British Columbia—one that can bring you increases in energy, stamina, recovery and more—I was very interested. Have you heard of pine pollen? A powdery dust harvested from the small male cones of the lodgepole and ponderosa pine? Maybe you’re familiar with it as part of the tree’s propagation—but as a superfood? This is where things get really interesting. Today, my guests are Dr. Saeid Mushtagh and Burgess Andre. They are the co-founders of a company called Canadian Pine Pollen, harvesters and retailers of, among other things, pine pollen products. And they’ve been on a journey of discovery to unlock the potential of this superfood for our benefit. You’re gonna want to stay tuned for this one—we balance science, nature and sustainability—and if that’s not enough, I even have a special gift for you at the end of the episode. So let’s talk pine pollen with Dr. Saeid Mushtagh and Burgess Andre.

It’s December. It’s cold. Do you want to warm up? Or do you want to get even colder? Colder than you’ve ever been? We’re talking up to your chin in ice cold. Fozen. And you’re doing it all for your mental and physical health. Welcome to the world of cold plunges. You may have seen it online lately. Folks submersing themselves in frigid H2O and claiming mental acuity, physical activation, fat loss and more. Is this for real? Are regular folks like you and I actually doing it? And are the benefits actually measurable? Today, my guests are Michael Spivak and Daniel Mazour. They’re the co-founders of Coldture, a Canadian company that manufacturers cold plunge equipment for home and commercial use.  And they believe in the power of the cold as much as you’ve ever believed in anything in your life.  So let’s hear their story—and dive into the wild and wonderful world of the cold plunge.

Welcome to episode 32 of Explore Magazine's Live the Adventure Podcast. What drives you? What gets you out of bed in the morning? And how do you stay focussed on this passion so that it enhances all other aspects of your life? Well, today we’re talking to an expert in mindset, focus, desire, discipline—and trail running. Anne Bouchard is a The North Face athelete, professional trail runner, mother of two and works ful-time in the world of corporate taxes! So she has a lot going on. But still she balances all while training and competing at a high level—running races and events in excess of 50, 60, 100, 200 and even 600 kilometres! How does she do it? What can we learn? Stay tuned for Anne Bouchard, The North Face sponsored trail runner.

When you think of a mountain biking destination in Canada, where comes to mind? Vancouver? Golden? Canmore? How about Neepawa, Dauphin and Minnedosa—all in Manitoba? Yes, it's true. Manitoba has a burgeoning mountain bike scene, with parks and trails popping up all over the province. Today, my guests are Alex Man and Melissa Stefaniw. Based near Dauphin, they raise funds, build trails, organize events and get the word out about Manitoba's mountain bike scene. But what exactly is Manitoba's mountain bike scene? How does it differ? And can it compete?  Let's find out!

Welcome to episode 30 of Explore Magazine's "Live the Adventure" Podcast. Let's talk about bears. Those majestic, beautiful creatures that roam the wild lands of just about every region in Canada... Those apex predators who can be misunderstood and feared by humans... And who, due to habituation and encroachment, are every so often the subject of a dicey (or worse) human-wildlife encounter. Today, my guest is Curtis Matwishyn. Curtis is a wildland firefighter and wildlife photographer living in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan. As you can imagine, he's see a few bears. But one in particular resulted in a viral video and an impactful learning experience about how we as humans can better interact with bears... ...And what we NEED to carry with us when we travel in bear country. Do you like bears? Let's get into it.

Ticks. Lyme disease. Pathogens. Are you scared yet? Well, you don't need to be. Even active outdoor enthusiasts like us only need to be educated and aware—then we can stay tick safe! Today's conversation is with Sarah Cormode, from the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation. Sarah is a podcaster and has had the opportunity to speak with dozens of experts in the field of medicine and outdoor safety and education. So let's talk ticks with Sarah Cormode!

Today, my guest is Caroline Cote. And as I hit publish, she is (ideally) in the final week or so of a self-supported ski expedition across Antarctica to the South Pole. This is quite a leap from a self-described "shy little girl" who only got introduced to outdoor recreation in her 20s. But Caroline is nothing if not bold—this Quebec-based adventurer has already been to the Cold Continent twice before, as well as a plethora of other impressive expeditions. Today, we're finding out what it takes to tackle such a trip. And why. And what it feels like to be faced with a month of solitude in the loneliest place on Earth. Yup—it's a good one. Enjoy!

Let's talk about expeditions. Journeys. Adventures. Why do we do them? What is the purpose? And what do we hope to accomplish? Mariele Guerrero has some thoughts on all of this—and they may surprise you. Because the true nature of an expedition may come from within. Enjoy episode 27 with my guest, Mariele Guerrero!

We love dogs! As outdoor enthusiasts, dogs make the perfect partners. But how can we be the perfect partners right back? How can we ensure our pups live long and healthy lives? Today, my guest is Olivia Saray—she's a dog and cat nutrition specialist at Rolf C. Hagen.  We're going to talk do's and don'ts, pet health, pet food and so much more. It's a dog day afternoon—tune in!

Travel is back. After an unprecedented hiatus, we are once again becoming a nation of tourists. But what has changed? Have we grown to better appreciate the act of tourism, the act of connection with a new land or a new culture and the act of escaping one’s everyday life? Are we looking for travel that offers a rich experience and facilitates a deep connection between guest and host? Today, I’m stoked to welcome Mike Willie, owner of Sea Wolf Adventures on Vancouver Island, and Brenda Baptiste, chair of Indigenous Tourism BC, to the podcast. Let's hear what they have to say on the matter.

Think about the clothes you're wearing. Where were they made? Who made them? For how long do you intend on owning them? Big questions that aren't always asked by many. Rene Gauthier is asking these questions. He is the CEO of a clothing company called "ecologyst." Based in Victoria, BC, ecologyst makes clothes onsite using only natural fibres with the intent to disrupt the concepts of fast-fashion, disposable, petroleum-product clothing. How is he doing it? Why is he doing it? What should the future of the clothing industry look like? Find out with today's episode!

Let’s travel—far. Farther than any journey you could physically take. Let’s travel into the stars. I love the night sky. Stargazing is such an important part of the outdoor experience. Some of my best memories from camping trips past have been of a night sky lit up with stars and streaked with the milk way. Or northern lights. Comets. A planet seen through a telescope. Today my guest is Alan Dyer. Alan is, among many other things, the co-author of the new edition of "The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide," written with astronomer and author Terrance Dickinson. We’re going to chat about how you can become familiar with the stars above, what threats the night sky faces and what went into creating this incredible astronomer’s resource.

So—the winter Olympics are coming up in February. Yeah, I know we just had one this summer. But this is the Winter games. Canada’s games! Ever wonder what it’s like to progress as an athlete toward the Olympics? To repeat and gain success with every games? Then to retire, and attempt to use those skills to forge a new path? Today, my guest is Kelsey Serwa. Kelsey is a ski-cross athlete who has represented Canada at three Olympic games, winning both silver and gold medals. Today, she’s on a new path. But her journey to the games has a lot of lessons to offer—from what it takes to succeed at youth sport, to what matters most in pro-competition and more. So chill out and dream of gold as we chat with Kelsey Serwa.

Imagine moving between three oceans, all under your own power. For six years. Visiting hundreds of communities, seeing the wildest parts of a country. Connecting. Growing. Learning. This is what Dianne Whelan did for six years as she traversed the Trans-Canada Trail. Dianne just finished in August of 2021. What did she uncover about Canada, about its people and about herself? Tune in to find out.

Some 16 years ago, my mom gave me the book "Prisoners of the North," by Pierre Berton. I loved it. I became fascinated by Canada’s north, and knew I’d go there soon. In 2008, I crossed the Arctic Circle for the first time. Then again in 2010. Back in the Arctic in 2014, 2016 and 2017. (And I even squeezed another trip to Yukon in there too.) I’m a prisoner of the north. And maybe, so is my guest, Joel Hibbard. Joel comes from a family of northern guides—he currently operates Canadian River Expeditions and Nahanni River Adventures, running raft trips down some of the most storied waterways of Yukon and Northwest Territories. Here’s the thing—I’m a tourist in the North. Joel lives and works there. So he joined me on a call to chat about the North, river travel, the future of guiding and what it means to run an ethical, sustainable and community minded business in the 21st century. It has me yearning for my next trip north—and I’m double-vaxxed and ready to go! Stay tuned for Joel Hibbard.

Ever wanted to walk on water? Well, the closest you’re likely to come is by stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). I love stand-up paddleboarding. I first tried it almost 10 years ago. I was hooked—although, to be honest, I’ve kept it fairly casual. I love the perspective it offers over the water. I love the relaxing, comfortable nature of the sport. And I love that you’re very much in the water—sometimes right in the water—rather than detached from it.  Today, I’m chatting with two people who are far, far more experienced in stand-up paddleboarding than I am: Bruce Kirkby and Norm Hann. Both are experienced explorers and avid paddleboarders—Norm is a instructor and guide based in Squamish, British Columbia; and Bruce plies the dynamic waters around his mountain home of Kimberley, BC. They’re also both Mustang Survival ambassadors—and they’re multi-day stand-up paddleboard expeditioners. That’s right—this isn’t pushing around a pond on vacation. These guys do open-water crossings and weeklong self-supported missions on a SUP. How do they do it? And why? And how can you follow in their paddle-strokes? Stay tuned for Bruce Kirkby and Norm Hann.

My guest today is Benjamin Jordan. Ben’s an adventure paraglider and filmmaker based in southeastern BC… Among many trips, he recently completed a flight expedition from the Mexican border, across the continental US, right up to Canada… Following the migration path of the monarch butterfly. He filmed this adventure for an upcoming documentary… Hoping to learn about monarchs—and flying—along the way. At nearly 2,850 km—which included some 600 km of hiking—through regions he’d never flown or even been in… As a pandemic broke out around him… ...It was a challenge. But he learned a lot… So stay tuned as we chat about how he started in the world of paragliding… About long-distance expedition travel… And the plights and flights of the monarch butterfly.

What load do you carry? Is it, at times, too heavy to lift? How do you balance a yearning for adventure with what can seem like an ever-building load of responsibilities: parenthood, career, mental health… Do you ever look back to simpler times and wish you were there? And what role does outdoor adventure play in your personal growth, and perhaps the development of your family? Heady topics right? Well don’t worry—my guests are good at making this stuff fun. Today, I’m talking to Izzy Lynch and Tessa Treadway. They are British Columbia-based pro skiers, and mothers. Izzy, along with her sister Zoya Lynch, recently made a documentary called "Motherload." It follows Izzy and Tessa as they wrangle with topics like grief, personal growth and a yearning for adventure—all framed around family life, and the “load” they must carry, as mothers, to guide their families through the life they are striving for. The documentary is available for free on YouTube, and it’s a 14-minute film that’s at times comical, at times gut-wrenching, at times inspiring as it looks at subjects of loss—Tessa lost her husband, famed skier Dave Treadway, to a backcountry accident three years ago, and Izzy’s marriage dissolved, a loss of a different kind—as well as the absurd reality that any parent who’s tried to get young kids outdoors can relate to. So let’s jump into conversation with Tessa treadway and Izzy Lynch!

The new year is starting. So let’s talk about goals. Let’s talk about fitness. Let’s talk about what it takes to achieve at a high level for many years. Let’s talk about aging. And shoes, too. Today, my guest is Malindi Elmore. Malindi is a Canadian endurance athlete. She’s an Olympian, a teacher, a mom. She has reinvented herself numerous times, athletically and personally. Perhaps most notably, she competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 1500 metre and is planning a return to the 2021 Summer Olympics in Marathon. Malindi joined me on a call to talk about this journey, the nature of reinvention, how we can support people on their path to achieving goals and so much more.