Jessica Leila grew up with parents who wanted her to have every opportunity they had not. Her childhood was filled with love, world travel, and every extracurricular activity imaginable. Despite this, she still struggled with anxiety and an underlying anger. Joining a caving grotto in adulthood would introduce her to a new set of challenging outdoor pursuits, strong friendships, and a serenity she had never found before. Jason and Jess spoke one night about her eventful childhood, growing up Muslim in the US, her amazing parents, her bout with Rhabdo, her experiences outdoors, and 11 diverse f ..read more

In addition to his responsibilities as a father, grandfather, professor, and respected economist; Jerry Nickelsburg has traveled the world pursuing backpacking, mountaineering, SCUBA diving, caving, and more. A California kid raised in Virginia, Jerry was a troubled child with a worrisome future. A camping trip at 11 shifted his perspective, enamored him with nature, and ultimately changed his life. Jason spoke with Jerry one morning at his home in Malibu about childhood epiphanies, the worlds beneath the ocean and the Earth, climbing mountains and rocks, the challenges of the Grand Canyon, an ..read more

Born in Mexico, but raised in Texas, Liz Del Sol always felt an intense draw towards adventure and performing. Naturally, as soon as she graduated from college, she headed for Hollywood to pursue both. A fateful night at a production party would introduce her to the Magic Castle and reveal her inner passion for magic. Liz and Jason spoke one night in Los Feliz about the magnificence of diving with sharks, the thrill of skydiving above the Alps, the realities of being a performer, the joy of guiding bike tours, and the mystical realm of magic.   LINKS: https://lizdelsol.com https://www.ins ..read more

Lincoln Stoller was introduced to climbing at the age of thirteen which quickly evolved into mountaineering. Throughout the 70s and 80s he climbed with storied greats such as Fred Beckey. His curious mind lead him to pursuits such as soar plane piloting, diving, exploring foreign cultures, and the studies of physics and psychology. He is the author of several books, a therapist, and a grief counselor for the AAC Climber’s Grief Fund. He and Jason spoke across the internet one morning about his quest to understand humanity and the world, the psychology of climbers, and what he has learned from ..read more

Jane Fontana and Mark Fitzsimmons share a unique lifestyle by modern standards. They live within the Angeles National Forest where practicing self-sufficiency amidst nature is a rewarding pursuit. Foraging, wood-working, wine-making, and bee-keeping are only some of the tasks that keep them occupied. Jason sat with them beneath the boughs of an acorn tossing tree one evening discussing the realities of forest life, the wonders of mushrooms, their style of backpacking, and stories of rescue and recovery. LINKS: https://janefontana.com http://www.treecycler.org https://mazercup.org Mushroom Bo ..read more

Justin Pugh’s childhood outdoor experiences were minimal. This began to change while attending university in Florida where he discovered the secret realm of urban exploration. Urbex was his initial gateway to the outdoors—a doorway that exploded open after moving to California and joining a camping trip in the Mojave desert. Justin is now an outdoor generalist versed in many outdoor pursuits and an adventure filmmaker. He and Jason spoke one night in Altadena’s dark woods about his path to exploration, his current career as a rope access tech, the intricacies involved in filming a documentary ..read more

John Gray grew up as a prototypical Southern California surfer boy. After a divorce in adulthood, he sought to recapture the health and fitness of his youth. He threw himself into hiking, backpacking, climbing, and canyoneering. He and Jason sat at a dark park bench in Redlands one evening reminiscing about climbing trips, waterskiing outings, and building home gyms during Covid lockdown before shifting focus to his upcoming expatriation to the Philippines. LINKS: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/high-sierra-trail-crescent-meadow-to-whitney-portal https://www.mountainproject.com ..read more

The return of Kat & Craig! Last time we spoke with our favorite photographer and Olympian couple, they were moving into a Suburban to travel for a year. Now—seven years later—they are married parents living in Rhode Island preparing for a future road trip. Jason spoke with them at their home one rainy evening while they recounted the experiences of that nomadic year, reveled in their love of surfing, and shared the realities of raising a child while keeping active. LINKS: https://www.gogetoutside.com/g-o-034-kat-carney-craig-kinsley/ https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/photographer ..read more

Scott Jensen spent his youth surrounded by nature and multiple siblings under the tutelage of the Boy Scouts and his accomplished father. As an adult, Scott sought to share the outdoors with his own children, ultimately realizing that his knowledge could benefit others as well. He started affordable and ultralight gear company, Near Zero, in hopes of helping everyone get outside. He and Jason sat at a beloved childhood trailhead in Arizona discussing family, nature, living abroad, the ins and outs of Near Zero, and the delicious flavor of eggs cooked in orange peels. LINKS: https://nearzero.co ..read more

Ezgi Kunttas grew up climbing Mulberry trees in Turkey unaware of the adventures available in the mountains around her. Pursuing a path as a biologist brought her to the United States. Yet, it would ultimately be her divorce at 35 that would motivate her to seek a richer, more active lifestyle exploring the mountains. She and Jason sat on a hilltop above the city one evening discussing climbing, facing middle age, discovering oneself in Los Angeles, the beauty of insect ovaries, and how reinvention began with a 3 item list. LINKS: https://wildernesstravelcourse.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wik ..read more