Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

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Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Richard Wiese

47 episodes

21 hours ago

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with renowned cultural anthropologist and explorer Wade Davis to explore storytelling, creativity, and the courage required to live a meaningful life. Wade reflects on his unconventional journey—from a chance encounter with anthropology at Harvard to decades spent giving voice to disappearing cultures and languages around the world. Wade challenges the idea that creativity is something you either have or don...

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Society & Culture,

Natural Sciences,

All content for Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER! is the property of Richard Wiese and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with renowned cultural anthropologist and explorer Wade Davis to explore storytelling, creativity, and the courage required to live a meaningful life. Wade reflects on his unconventional journey—from a chance encounter with anthropology at Harvard to decades spent giving voice to disappearing cultures and languages around the world. Wade challenges the idea that creativity is something you either have or don...

Show more...

Society & Culture,

Natural Sciences,

Episodes (20/47)

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Wade Davis: Storytelling, Culture, and Moral Courage

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with renowned cultural anthropologist and explorer Wade Davis to explore storytelling, creativity, and the courage required to live a meaningful life. Wade reflects on his unconventional journey—from a chance encounter with anthropology at Harvard to decades spent giving voice to disappearing cultures and languages around the world. Wade challenges the idea that creativity is something you either have or don...

22 hours ago

29 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Dr. Kenneth Lacovara: Why Dinosaurs Still Matter

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, Dr. Kenneth Lacovara joins Richard Wiese to discuss dinosaurs, discovery, and the lessons Earth’s history can teach about the future. From uncovering the largest dinosaurs in Argentina to saving a fossil park behind a Lowe’s in New Jersey, Lacovara shares how chance, teamwork, and curiosity shaped his career. He describes the Edelman Fossil Park, where visitors can find their own 65-million-year-old fossils, and explains how the site may...

1 week ago

29 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Chris Nicola: The Hidden Holocaust Story Beneath Ukraine

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese speaks with cave explorer, documentarian and author Chris Nicola, whose discovery in a Ukrainian cave unveiled one of the most extraordinary survival stories of World War II. Chris shares how a lifetime of adventure — from law enforcement to cave diving — led him to stumble upon artifacts in a cave that revealed the hidden lives of 38 Jewish survivors. His investigation uncovered the story of families who evaded Nazi p...

1 week ago

39 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Dr. Alan Stern: From Pluto to the Stars

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, planetary scientist Dr. Alan Stern shares his journey from childhood awe during Apollo 11 to leading NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond. Alan opens up about early failures — including flunking out of college — and how hard labor and reflection transformed his drive to succeed in science. He revisits the tragedy of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion that changed his path from engineer to astrophysicist, setting the stage ...

2 weeks ago

27 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Dr. Stig Severinsen: Breathing Beyond Limits

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, Dr. Stig Severinsen reveals the science and spirituality behind mastering your breath. Known for holding his breath for over 20 minutes and diving 202 meters on a single breath, Stig explains how breathing correctly through the nose can transform health, focus, and emotional control. He walks listeners through the power of nasal breathing, the release of nitric oxide, and how “relaxation on demand” can reset the body’s stress response. F...

4 weeks ago

30 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Victor Vescovo: Redefining the Limits of Exploration

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese welcomes Victor Vescovo—mountaineer, deep-sea explorer, naval intelligence officer, and the first person to reach the deepest points of all five oceans. Victor retraces his early beginnings rooted in a fascination with maps, geography, science fiction, and adventure stories. As he matured and gained resources, he pursued increasingly novel and extreme endeavors: mountaineering, skiing to the poles, and piloting a deep ...

1 month ago

25 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Peter Hillary: Everest, Legacy, and the Heart of Exploration

In this heartfelt episode, Peter Hillary joins Richard to explore the enduring legacy of adventure, humility, and service passed down from his father, Sir Edmund Hillary. Peter recounts the awe of standing atop Everest, the emotional radio call that connected two generations, and the values that kept their family grounded amid global fame. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from his father’s knighthood, their joint North Pole expedition with Neil Armstrong and Steve Fossett, and the lessons ...

1 month ago

18 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

From Trauma to Triumph: Silvia’s Climb Toward Healing

Born in Lima, Peru, during years of terrorism and instability, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado grew up amid fear and uncertainty. Enduring trauma from childhood abuse, she fled to the U.S. as a teen, determined to start anew. That journey led her to the most unlikely place — Amish country — where she learned humility, resilience, and how to find peace in quiet strength. Silvia’s transformation continued through exploration. Her first trip to Everest Base Camp, undertaken in the early stages of recovery...

1 month ago

30 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Hugo Vau: Facing the Giant Wave

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese speaks with Portuguese surfer Hugo Vau about his experiences at Nazaré—the site of some of the world’s biggest waves. Hugo shares how surfing began in Portugal only a few decades ago, facing early resistance before becoming a respected sport. He explains the natural forces that create Nazaré’s enormous swells through a deep underwater canyon and recounts how he and his teammates explored the area starting in 2007. The ...

1 month ago

34 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Captain Alfred McLaren: The Real Hunt for Red October

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, dive deep with Captain Alfred McLaren, U.S. Navy (Ret.), a Cold War submarine commander, Arctic explorer, and author of Emergency Deep: Cold War Missions of a Submarine Commander. Captain McLaren reflects on his decades of leadership beneath the sea — from navigating Soviet waters during the height of the Cold War to charting the uncharted Siberian shelf beneath the Arctic ice. He shares extraordinary stories of stealth missions, survivi...

2 months ago

32 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Bo Parfet: The Hardest Mountain to Climb — is Yourself

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese talks with mountaineer, investor, and philanthropist Bo Parfet — one of the few to summit the highest peak on all seven continents. From struggling with dyslexia as a child to surviving near-death experiences on Denali, Everest, and K2, Bo’s story is one of grit, growth, and perspective. He shares how he turned failure into strength, found his own learning style, and used adversity to fuel both exploration and purpose....

2 months ago

23 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Saving the Cheetah: Laurie Marker's Global Mission

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese meets with Dr. Laurie Marker, world-renowned cheetah conservationist and founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Dr. Marker shares her remarkable journey—from her early work in Oregon to establishing a pioneering conservation program in Namibia, where she has spent decades building trust with farmers and saving the world’s fastest land animal. She discusses the innovative use of livestock guardian dogs, her efforts t...

2 months ago

26 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Geoff Green: Protecting the Poles, Inspiring the Planet

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, our host Richard Wiese speaks with polar explorer and educator Geoff Green, founder of the internationally acclaimed "Students on Ice" program. Geoff has led more than 120 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, bringing together students, scientists, artists, and world leaders to foster a deeper understanding of the planet. Geoff reflects on the early days of Students on Ice, when mentors encouraged him to take teenagers to the polar ...

2 months ago

26 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

From NY to the Rainforest: Elodie Freymann’s Journey

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese speaks with Elodie Freymann, a primatologist, botanist, and naturalist whose work blends science, storytelling, and exploration. From her New York roots to her time studying chimpanzees in the forests of Uganda, Elodie’s journey is anything but conventional. She shares how a chance discovery of javelin in high school led her to Brown University, where she pursued anthropology and ethnobotany. After a stint in documenta...

3 months ago

30 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Rachel Graham: Swimming with Sharks, Leading with Heart

In this episode of Life’s Tough: Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with marine biologist and shark conservationist Dr. Rachel Graham. A true global citizen, Rachel’s upbringing in Tunisia and North Africa shaped her fearless approach to science, community engagement, and wildlife protection. Today, she leads MarAlliance, a nonprofit focused on marine conservation, especially sharks and rays. Rachel reflects on the profound influence of her mother’s development work, how earl...

3 months ago

30 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Mikael Strandberg: Planet's Most Extreme Explorer

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese speaks with legendary explorer Mikael Strandberg, whose journeys span deserts, ice, jungles, and cities—but who calls parenting his toughest and most rewarding expedition. Strandberg recounts cycling 1,600 kilometers with his two daughters, teaching them independence through trial and error, and embracing the chaos of raising kids in outdoor settings. He contrasts his Siberian journeys, where -50°C tested survival, wit...

3 months ago

23 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Andrés Ruzo-Callejas: The Amazon's "Boiling River"

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese speaks with geoscientist Andrés Ruzo, the first to scientifically study the Boiling River in the Peruvian Amazon. Ruzo recounts how childhood legends of a river that boiled—passed down by his grandfather—evolved into a scientific quest. Initially dismissed by colleagues, he persisted, guided by family stories and indigenous knowledge, until he found himself face-to-face with one of the Amazon’s most extraordinary natur...

3 months ago

34 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Leela Hazzah & the Maasai: Lion Guardians

In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with Leela Hazzah, founder of the Lion Guardians program, a groundbreaking initiative in Kenya and Tanzania that transforms Maasai warriors from lion hunters into lion protectors. Leela recounts her journey from Egyptian-American roots to becoming one of CNN’s Top 10 Heroes of the year, sharing how her childhood love of animals grew into a lifelong mission to save lions. She explains how living with Maasai co...

4 months ago

23 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

Rodrigo Medellín: The Batman of Mexico

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with Dr. Rodrigo Medellín, known for his mission to save bats and, in turn, protect tequila production. Rodrigo dismantles long-standing myths about bats, addressing misconceptions rooted in literature, pop culture, and recent pandemic fears. He explains how vampire bats—just three of over 1,400 bat species—were unfairly demonized and highlights their minimal impact on livestock and human health. Rodrigo shar...

4 months ago

26 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!

From Cancer Survivor to Astronaut: Hayley Arceneaux’s Journey

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese welcomes Hayley Arceneaux, childhood cancer survivor and astronaut. Hayley shares her deeply personal and inspiring journey—from undergoing treatment at St. Jude as a child to becoming a physician assistant at the very hospital that saved her life. Now, she’s on the verge of becoming the youngest American in space as part of the Inspiration4 mission. Hayley reflects on her training, the surprise invitation to join the ...

4 months ago

16 minutes