Fay Manners: I Quit My Job to Conquer Mountains

Selema Masekela straps in for a wild ride with Italian-Spanish off-road racer Christine GZ, a self-made driver who built her first rally car from scrap metal at 17 and hustled her way from small island life to the Dakar Rally. Christine reveals how jumping in front of a stranger’s rally car set her life on a completely different course, the grind of building a race car with no money and no team, what it’s like to race 1,000 miles through Baja’s narco territory, and the career-threatening Extreme E crash that forced her to rebuild from the inside out. Check out Team Ignition on Social for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, highlights, and more: Website: https://www.teamignition.net TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teamignitionofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamignitionofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamIgnitionOfficial X/Twitter: https://x.com/TeamIGNOfficial 00:00 Intro 01:23 Meet Christine GZ 03:12 Rally vs Off-Road Racing 04:40 Falling in Love With a 1989 Corolla 12:31 Building a Race Car From Scratch 15:25 First Sponsors 17:50 Faking It as a Tow Truck Driver 21:13 Going to University 29:56 Creating the First All-Female Rally Team 34:52 40 Cold Emails a Day 38:57 Surviving the Baja 1000 43:10 Extreme E Crash & Losing Her Team 52:11 Mayhem at Dakar 59:09 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Selema Masekela ventures deep into the world of alpinism with British climber Fay Manners, a former data scientist who walked away from corporate life to chase some of the world’s most dangerous mountains. Fay shares how a chance visit to a climbing gym sparked a complete life transformation, her unlikely journey from office worker in London and New York to discovering new climbing and ski routes in the Alps and beyond, the mindset needed to conquer vertical terrain, and the Himalayan ascent that went dangerously wrong at 20,000 feet. Check out Team Ignition on Social for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, highlights, and more: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.teamignition.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/TeamIGNOfficial⁠⁠ 00:00 Intro 02:16 Meet Fay Manners 03:07 Why Climb Mountains? 06:47 From Data Scientist to Alpinist 10:14 Discovering Climbing & Community 13:59 Moving to Chamonix 18:19 Training During the COVID Lockdown 22:36 Becoming a Professional Athlete 25:43 Opening New Routes 38:24 Disaster in India: Stranded at 20,000 Feet 47:14 Coping with Tragedy in the Mountains 50:28 Women in Alpinism 52:20 Fay’s Ultimate Legacy 54:46 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Selema Masekela enters the frontline with Australian lifeguard and firefighter Trent ‘Maxi’ Maxwell - star of Bondi Rescue and formerly Australia’s youngest lifeguard at 16 years old. Maxi breaks down what it actually means to run toward danger, from pulling people out of rip currents and responding to fatal house fires, to seeing people on their worst days. He shares the mindset behind facing trauma daily, how he stays calm when surrounded by chaos, and why he pursued firefighting over fame. Check out Team Ignition on Social for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, highlights, and more: Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.teamignition.net⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/TeamIGNOfficial⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Selema Masekela drops into the world of elite parkour with Australian twins Brodie and Dylan Pawson, two of the most viewed and respected athletes in the scene, to explore a discipline often misunderstood as pure risk. The Parkour Twins break down how they see cities through “parkour eyes”, how thousands of hours of training lead to moments that look impossible, and the mental calculations behind every viral clip. Check out Team Ignition on Social for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, highlights, and more: Website: ⁠⁠https://www.teamignition.net⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/TeamIGNOfficial⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Selema Masekela propels into the dizzying world of high-speed air racing with Air Race X pilot and aerobatic phenomenon, Emma McDonald. Emma breaks down her incredible career pivot from pole fitness champion to elite world-class pilot, the legacy of her flying family, and the terrifying moment she hit an eagle while flying upside down at 200mph. Check out Team Ignition on Social for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, highlights, and more: Website: ⁠https://www.teamignition.net⁠ TikTok: ⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠ Instagram: ⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠ Facebook: ⁠  / teamignitionofficial  ⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/TeamIGNOfficial⁠ 00:00 - Introduction 03:16 Capabilities of a Race Plane 05:10 The 8G Experience 09:34 Gymnastics & Pole Fitness Origins 14:25 Breaking Barriers as a Diesel Mechanic 21:45 Old Station Air Show 23:50 Family Legacy & The Reality of Tragedy 33:50 Selling It All for a Dream 40:17 A Father’s Perspective 42:43 Pre-Flight Rituals & Visualization 44:20 The Bird Strike Incident 50:07 The Meaning of "Beyond Gravity" 51:52 Empowering Women in Aviation 52:41 Legacy 53:40 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Selema Masekela steps inside the world of Freestyle Motocross (FMX) with Australian Nitro Circus star and X Games medallist, Jarryd McNeil. Jarryd breaks down why riding FMX is insane, the injuries that come with it, and how his signature Whip turned going sideways into one of the most crowd-pleasing tricks in action sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 10 of The Team Ignition Show, Leticia Bufoni and graffiti legend RISK dive deep into his incredible journey during an intimate podcast session. From dodging life-threatening situations—including being shot at—to getting arrested for his art, RISK opens up about the real-life stakes of pursuing his passion in the gritty world of graffiti. He also shares one of his most surreal moments: being contacted by Aerosmith to create art for their tour announcement. Through these stories, RISK offers an unfiltered look at the challenges, triumphs, and sheer determination it takes to carveout a legacy in street art. Don’t miss this raw and captivating conversation as RISK reveals the risks behind the art and what it takes to turn rebellion into recognition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 9 of The Team Ignition Show, poker legend Dan "Jungleman"Cates sits down with Leticia Bufoni for an unfiltered conversation about the highs and lows of life as a professional poker player. Dan shares jaw-dropping stories,including the time he lost a staggering one million dollars in a single day, offering a raw glimpse into the risks and rewards of high-stakes poker. From his early days discovering poker as a teenager to becoming one of the most feared players in the world, Dan opens up about the challenges, discipline, and resilience required to succeed in such a volatile field. He also dives into the mental and emotional toll of playing at the highest levels, revealing how he’s managed to thrive during the extreme ups and downs. Don’t miss this candid discussion where Dan shares valuable lessons about risk-taking, perseverance, and finding balance in a world defined by uncertainty.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Episode 8 of The Team Ignition Show, Leticia Bufoni takes a closer look at the exhilarating world of motorsport alongside Amanda Sorensen, a professional race car driver known for her expertise in drifting.Amanda opens up about her journey, highlighting what makes drifting unique among racing disciplines. She delves into the adaptability required on the track and the valuable life lessons she’s gained through her career in motorsport.Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about the fearless mindset needed to thrive in high-adrenaline racing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Episode 7 of The Team Ignition Show podcast, Leticia Bufoni joins world record-holding adventurer Ryan Robinson high in the mountains above San Bernardino. Ryan dives into the basics of slacklining and highlining, explaining how the two differ, while sharing his incredible journey - from watching daredevils on TV to breaking world records himself. Leticia is amazed by Ryan’s fearless feats, especially when he reveals that, like her, he battles a fear of heights. Ryan opens up about how he conquers that fear, using highlining as a form of meditation. He also takes Leticia through some of his most extreme highlining stunts, from mountain passes to river crossings, and explains how mastering his mindset is key to achieving these jaw-dropping challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices