The Curiosity Shire

In this episode I talk with a mountaineering adventurer who experienced a life changing event atop Denali. Although he had faced many challenges while climbing in the past, this was a completely different struggle which he would have to endure, lasting long after he left the hospital. During our conversation, Nigel shares the details of that harrowing event and what he learned from it. He shares how experiences on the mountain correlate to choices we make in our everyday lives, and how we can make any situation in life better by shifting our perspective. Check out his website at: www.mrfrostbite.com.

In this episode I get to talk with an Israeli man who immigrated into Germany; specifically to the city of Berlin. He wrote a book about his experiences which not only documents the journey he took from Israel to Germany as an A-Z immigration guide, but also helps to shift the reader’s mindset about immigration, culture, and the freedom to move, which is a human right. During our conversation, we discussed why someone would consider moving from their native country to another country. He shared what made him choose Germany instead of any other country and why he’s enjoyed living there since his immigration. You’ll learn what it’s like to immigrate to another country, the challenges immigrants face, and how you can be a better citizen by intentionally being part of your community. Check out his website at https://www.immigrationsecrets.net/ (www.immigrationsecrets.net).

Terry Tucker worked as a hostage negotiator on a SWAT team for the Cincinnati police department. As a hostage negotiator, Terry’s job was to talk with people in critical situations as they pointed a gun at themselves or somebody else, trying to diffuse the situation and keep everyone safe. During our conversation, Terry shares some unique experiences he had on the police force and how his life experience prior helped in his interactions with citizens. He also shares things he’s learned in regards to interacting with others in stressful situations and how that correlates to everyday life. Through his experiences as a hostage negotiator and then during his battle with cancer, Terry has honed in on 4 core truths which he shares to help you achieve the highest fulfilment in life. Check out his blog at https://www.motivationalcheck.com/ (www.motivationalcheck.com).

In this episode, I get to talk with a South African mountain climber named Sibusiso Vilane. He became the first black person to summit Mt. Everest on May 26, 2003. He went on to summit the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, as well as several others including the Matterhorn. He runs marathons to stay fit in between his mountain climbing adventures and has accomplished several other feats, including trekking to both poles. Sibusiso didn’t get his start as the child of a great mountain climber. In fact, he grew up very poor and never dreamed of the adventures he would embark on during his lifetime. During our conversation Sibusiso shares stories of his humble beginnings, how an act of kindness connected him with a man who would change his life forever, and how he overcame so many obstacles in order to climb Mt. Everest. His story is one of humility, kindness, and persistence in the face of insurmountable odds which he now uses to inspire others to conquer their personal Mt. Everests. Learn more about Sibusiso at his website: https://www.sibusisovilane.co.za/ (www.sibusisovilane.co.za)

In this episode, we finish my conversation with Stefan Rasmussen as he recalls the events which made SAS Flight 751 so infamous. From a distance, it seems like it was a fluke accident and he stepped up to save 129 lives after both his engines shut down. However, digging deeper into the story reveals a much more troubling side to the incident. He doesn’t consider himself a hero; he was simply doing his job. But if he had been informed about all the systems in place on the aircraft at the time, he never would have had to land in the field… If you haven’t already, be sure and listen to part one of our conversation before listening to this episode. Also, I’d highly encourage you to watch the documentary titled Pilot Betrayed, created by National Geographic. It was this documentary, ten years after the incident, which finally revealed to Stefan what actually went wrong on December 27, 1991. Since the incident, Stefan has never gone back to flying as a career. Instead, he became active in politics for a few years, published a couple books and also enjoyed his lifelong passion for music. He has recorded several songs which you can listen to here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5uZE0Y2Yv3NwHQwETVKaVZ?si=SzaRqqTnTXONZ-XSKfdJcA (Spotify.com).

In this episode, I get to talk with a retired captain from Scandinavian Airlines. On December 27, 1991, Stefan Rasmussen was piloting an MD-81 out of Stockholm when both engines failed. Having just taken off seconds before and with thick clouds surrounding him, he had no option but to prepare for a crash landing. As they broke out of the low cloud base, he saw an opening in the forest and flew the plane towards the field. His piloting skills saved the lives of all 129 people on board the flight. As a student pilot, I’m very interested in learning about aviation incidents and how they can be avoided. After hearing Stefan’s story, I reached out and he graciously agreed to talk with me about the experience. However, I knew that a heroic few seconds of skillful actions don’t happen by luck, so I wanted to hear more of his story. Come to find out, saving the lives of 129 people on that cold winter’s day was only the tip of the iceberg for Stefan. In today’s episode, he shares the story of how he became a pilot, some of the adventurous flying he’s been able to do, and how his parents’ values became the foundation for how he lives his life. This is part 1 of a 2 part series. In our next episode, he’ll share the SAS flight 751 incident from his own perspective and discuss how aviation safety has and still can be improved. Listen to Stefan's music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5uZE0Y2Yv3NwHQwETVKaVZ?si=SzaRqqTnTXONZ-XSKfdJcA (Spotify.com).

In this episode I get to chat with a safari guide named Lee Fuller. The thing I love most about Lee is how absolutely humble he is. This guy leads tours for the rich and famous but he isn’t starstruck by the lifestyles of his guests. Instead, his passion is introducing these people to a world where they can take off the pressures of society, of fame and fortune, and just connect with Africa. During our conversation we discuss why it’s so important to reconnect with nature, especially for those of us who live busy lives in manmade environments. As a nurse working in the capital of Iceland, I resonate with the need for nature and time away from the hecticness of modern life. Lee shares why being a safari guide is such an important occupation and how he ended up stumbling into the job as a career. I also asked him about his tours to Madagascar and he shared some sobering facts about the animals who live there which just might surprise you. If you'd like to connect with Lee online, you can visit his website: https://leefullersafaris.com/ (leefullersafaris.com).

In today’s episode I get to talk with a photographer who pursued a dream of taking pictures of dogs full time. After a picture she took went viral, she lived through an overwhelming experience of being thrust into the spotlight on social media. However, navigating through the complex social dynamics prepared her for another event which would again thrust her into the spotlight; the tragic death of her husband. During our conversation, Hannah shares how she has remained so positive through all the tragedies she has experienced. She also shares how social media can be a positive thing even though it’s so often misused, and how she has used it to build a support community which spreads hope and comfort. You can connect with Hannah by visiting her website: https://hshcommunications.com/ (hshcommunications.com). Although Schoep has passed away now, the photograph Hannah took helped prolong his life and give him comfort during the last several months: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WLx_MIa90c (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WLx_MIa90c)

In today’s episode I get to talk with an animal conservationist from South Africa. Grant Fowlds has been actively involved in conservation for most of his life and is currently helping local communities set up game reserves to rewild the land and provide a safe habitat for endangered animals. In his book, Saving the Last Rhinos, Grant shares so many stories he’s experienced, from growing up in the bush to working in the DRC. We simply did not have time to share all his stories here so I highly recommend grabbing a copy of his book and reading it, or as I did, listen to it on audible so you hear the proper pronunciations. To order a copy of his book or to find out more about the foundations he is a part of, feel free to visit his website at https://grantfowlds.com/ (grantfowlds.com).

In today’s episode I get to talk with Cristiana, a rally driver from Romania. She first got hooked on rally in 2015 and has been building her career ever since. In 2019 she became the first woman driver from Romania to compete in the prestigious European Rally Championship. She is constantly pushing herself and her team to achieve success. Being a rally driver hasn’t come easy, however. She has been faced with numerous setbacks and challenges while building her career. During our conversation we discuss what drives her passion for motorsports and how she is giving back to the community by inspiring female rally drivers to join the sport. Connect with Cristiana on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/crissoprea/ (@crissoprea). Visit her online at https://cristianaoprea.ro/ (cristianaoprea.ro).