37: How To Pursue Every Passion, with Chris Benchetler

Simon Donato might be best known for creating and starring in the television show Boundless, as well as author of The Boundless Life. But beyond his epic pursuits as an ultra-endurance athlete in the worldwide adventure racing circuit, he's a geologist passionate about combining field-based research with extreme athletics to explore new and culturally important frontiers. His company, Adventure Science, was built to do just that. It is a non-profit organization that pairs super fit adventure athletes with researchers, taking them into some of the most remote and hard to reach places on our planet to conduct scientific, conservation, and humanitarian projects. Simon, along with wife Chanelle Mayer, also hosts the Adventure Science podcast.In addition to Adventure Science, Simon founded Canada's original swim-run series, Amphibious Challenge, and a gluten-free oatmeal company called Stoked Oats. He is also an athlete ambassador for Merrell, Suunto, and Farm to Feet. For the notes from this episode, visit: https://exploreinspired.com/simon-donato/Hosts: Jonathan Ronzio, Emily HollandEditor: Chris PlantePresented by: Explore Inspired

Photographer and Cinematographer, Andy Best, joins The Stokecast for an inspiring an introspective conversation around his career and life story developed. From his early days nurturing the inner artist with pastels and oil paints at his Grandmother's studio to his work as a commercial filmmaker turned landscape and adventure photographer. Andy is a contributor for National Geographic, ROAM, and also has his own production company called Lone Bison Films. For the show notes from this episode, visit: https://exploreinspired.com/andy-best/Hosts: Jonathan Ronzio, Emily HollandEditor: Chris Plante, CP Pro AudioPresented by: Explore Inspired

Emily and Jonathan check in with their professional goals and personal targets from the last 90 days. Q1 2019 is coming to an end and as the second quarter kicks off, your hosts reflect on what worked and what didn't from the New Years goal-setting episode, as well as expand upon how the rest of the year might shape up for them. Along the way, hear candid travel stories and hacks, business lessons, and personal anecdotes around balancing work, life, and adventure.Visit https://exploreinspired.com/stokecast for this and past episodes. Also mentioned in this show, Explore Inspired's new Travel Stack: http://thetravelstack.comHosts: Jonathan Ronzio, Emily HollandEdited by: Chris Plante, CP Pro Audio

Colette McInerney is a climber, photographer, and filmmaker. She is one of four co-founders of the Never Not Collective women's outdoor production company, and an athlete for Black Diamond Equipment and Five Ten. In this episode, Colette takes listeners on her journey from Nashville to New York, eventually to the Western United States, and eventually world-wide travels as she discovered climbing and herself along the way.Learn what Colette is up to down in Waco Tanks, Texas, how to approach the mechanics of rock climbing as a beginner, and why having a successful career as a content creator really comes down to access to the right people, access to the right places, and a consistent creative partnership.For more from this episode, visit: https://exploreinspired.com/colette-mcinerneyHosts: Jonathan Ronzio, Emily HollandEditor: Chris Plante, CP Pro Audio

Hadley Hammer is a professional skier, sure. But she's also a sommelier, gourmet chef, book nerd, showcase Mountain Athlete and climber. Hadley grew up amongst Wyoming's epic Teton mountains and developed a love for outdoor adventures early on, but she also recognized the benefits of a formal career outside of her mountain life. She headed east to earn a B.A in Hospitality and Economics and after a few years working in the urban hotel world, she just knew something was missing. Hadley headed back to her mountain base to achieve a greater balance between career and lifestyle. Balance is the name of her game which now manifests itself in her big mountain skiing pursuits and complimentary lifestyle.For the notes from this episode, visit: https://exploreinspired.com/hadley-hammerHosts: Jonathan Ronzio, Emily HollandEditor: Chris Plante, CP Pro AudioPresented by: Explore Inspired

Spencer Fochtman is a former US Army Infantry Team Leader and was part of Google X's Project Loon and their mission to bring WiFi to third world countries and disaster zones using balloons in the stratosphere. He's also currently on the global business operations team at Tesla and building a commercial adventure and outdoor lifestyle photography business on the side. One can certainly say this guy has a lot going on! And in this episode of The Stokecast we chat with Spencer about how he manages having a hand in it all, why he's on a mission to be a master of more than one craft, and the fact that both and he and Elon Musk are Cocoa Pebbles fans.For more from this episode, visit: https://exploreinspired.com/spencer/fochtmanHosts: Jonathan Ronzio, Emily HollandEditor: Chris Plante, CP Pro Audio

Chris Benchetler is a pro skier. He's also an artist, a product engineer, an entrepreneur, director, climber, surfer, biker, husband, and father. So often, we're told we have to pick a path and learn to focus to find our greatness. Chris is a shining example of why that's not always the case. His varied pursuits are an inspiring case study in learning how to embrace every passion and live the most authentic life you can.For more from this episode, visit: https://exploreinspired.com/chris-benchetler/Hosts: Jonathan Ronzio & Emily HollandEditor: Chris Plante, CP Pro Audio

For more from this episode: https://exploreinspired.com/kikkan-randallHosts: Jonathan Ronzio & Emily HollandEditor: Chris Plante / CP Pro Audio

In this episode of The Stokecast, we have adventure filmmaker/photographer, Max Lowe. Max is an incredible talent in the outdoor industry, responsible for films like Adventure Not War and Sky Migrations. and he has cultivated quite a reputation for having an eye for his ability to depict captivating human stories in the most inspiring of landscapes. Max shares with us his unique and storied upbringing, being the son to a world-renowned mountaineer who was tragically lost in an avalanche in 1999, and subsequently how he gained another formative outdoor explorer as a stepdad. He discusses how this family legacy has influenced him to form his own creative and adventurous identity. Max has his own media company, Max Lowe Media, is a director with Stept Studios, and travels the world crafting meaningful narratives around emotionally compelling stories with friends and family alike. For the show notes, visit: https://exploreinspired.com/max-loweHosts: Jonathan Ronzio, Emily HollandEditor: Chris Plante

Female Outdoor Adventurist, Public Lands Advocate, and Merrell Ambassador, Nicole Brown, chats about the personal and professional struggles and successes she's faced while building Women Who Hike—one of the largest communities both on and offline for outdoorsy women.In this episode, Nicole speaks to how Women Who Hike came to be and how she succeeded building belonging inside a niche membership community with the "We, Not I" mentality.We also discuss building out the ambassador team, her approach to group hikes, Leave No Trace and outdoor access principles, 1% For The Planet, and how equipment empowers equality.Lastly, Nicole gets very candid and vulnerable about a plan to climb Kilimanjaro last year that fell through and why, her daily battle with three autoimmune diseases and imposter syndrome, but why despite all of that, she is determined to live beyond a diagnosis and in fact credits her drive and success to what many would see as limitations.For the show notes, visit: https://exploreinspired.com/nicole-brownHosts: Jonathan Ronzio, Emily HollandEditor: Chris Plante