Life Off the Map

Chad Missildine
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Life Off the Map is a podcast about choosing a different path—when the default route stops working. Hosted by Chad Missildine, the show explores how people find rhythm, meaning, and forward motion when life moves off the paved road. Some episodes are recorded on unpaved trails or in the middle of real life. Others are conversations with people who've taken risks, changed direction, and learned to live with both intention and mystery. This isn't about hacks or formulas. It's about paying attention, finding your rhythm, and making the next honest move—especially when the path isn't clear. If you've done what you were "supposed" to do and still feel the pull toward something more, you'll feel at home here.

  1. 5 days ago

    A Cherry-Red Bronco, an 89-Year-Old Marathoner, and Walter Mitty: Are You Watching Your Own Life Happen?

    A cherry-red 1988 Bronco that looked great but needed a little elbow grease just to keep moving. Walter Mitty spacing out in an elevator, rescuing a dog from a burning building in his own head. And an 89-year-old widower who discovers a very unlikely new hobby while trying to find his way through grief. On the surface, these stories have almost nothing in common. But they all point toward a question that may hit closer to home than you expect: Are you actually inside the life you're living—or have you slowly started watching it happen from the sidelines? In this episode, Chad takes an early-morning walk through distraction, exhaustion, disappointment, friendship, ambition, and the strange experience of finally getting some of the things you worked for... only to realize being there and actually being there are two very different things. In this episode, you'll discover: Why capable, responsible people can keep showing up while quietly checking out The surprising Harvard research on how often our minds wander away from the moment we're actually in What a misfiring cherry-red Bronco can teach you about energy, attention, and who gets the leftovers Why disappointment can affect your ability to enjoy a life that is still genuinely good What an 89-year-old man reveals about having something worth getting up for A simple way to notice where you've been absent—and begin coming back without blowing up your life Get Sunday Trail Notes. For behind-the-scenes thoughts, new episodes, book updates, and ideas Chad is still working through, sign up for the Sunday Trail Notes: LifeOffTheMapShow.com Related Episodes Why Does Something Still Feel Missing? When a Good Quietly Feels Fully Alive Move First: How to Stop Overthinking, Shift Your State, and Get Clear Start Again. Drop the Story — Life Audit Series Part 2

    A Cherry-Red Bronco, an 89-Year-Old Marathoner, and Walter Mitty: Are You Watching Your Own Life Happen?

  2. 4 Aug

    Walking Back Through Your Life: Hoarder Houses, Angry Neighbors & the School Across the Street

    Sometimes a walk through an old neighborhood becomes a walk back through your life. Unable to sleep, Chad heads outside at 4:30 a.m. and begins walking past the neighborhoods, houses, and elementary school that quietly held fourteen years of his family's life. Along the way, he walks by a hoarder house, an angry neighbor determined to stop a construction project, the home where his daughters grew up, and the unexpected lessons hidden inside ordinary places. This raw, story-driven episode explores what old places can help us notice about risk, resistance, creativity, family, and the seasons that quietly end while we're busy living them. Chad also reflects on an unexpected viral Instagram reel, the strange discomfort of allowing yourself to be seen, and why walking has helped writers, thinkers, and everyday people work through their lives for centuries. In this episode: What hoarder houses and angry neighbors taught Chad about risk and resistance Why difficulty doesn't always mean you chose the wrong road The difference between a real barrier and a hurdle you're simply afraid to cross What you can learn about walking from walkers in history What an unexpected viral reel revealed about visibility, insecurity, and putting your work into the world How to look back at an earlier season without needing to return to it If you'd like more reflections like this each week, along with behind-the-scenes stories, book recommendations, and practical encouragement, sign up for Sunday Trail Notes at: LifeOffTheMapShow.com Books mentioned in this episode: Wanderers: A History of Women Walking by Kerri Andrews A Ramble Through the History of Walking by Bill Laws Related episodes: Move First — How to Stop Overthinking, Shift Your State & Get Clear When Your Life Gets Rearranged: Fishing Boats, an Art Studio, and King Kong  Why Your Best Adventures Leave Room for Surprise — Beef Jerky, Fly Rods & a Colorado Road Trip

    Walking Back Through Your Life: Hoarder Houses, Angry Neighbors & the School Across the Street

  3. 28 July

    Why Does Something Still Feel Missing? When a Good Life Quietly Stops Feeling Fully Alive

    Have you ever looked around at a life you genuinely love and still wondered why something feels... missing? Not because your life is falling apart. Not because you're ungrateful. But because somewhere beneath the responsibilities, routines, and successes, there's a quieter question you can't quite put into words. If you've ever felt guilty for asking that question, this episode is for you. After 32 episodes, Chad realized there has been one conversation quietly hiding underneath every mountain, every adventure, every guest, and every story. In this personal episode, he steps back to explore why so many successful, high-capacity people experience a quiet restlessness—and why that feeling may not be something to ignore or fear, but something worth paying attention to. In this episode: Why good seasons can sometimes create unexpected questions The subtle difference between building a life and maintaining one A personal story that changed the way Chad thinks about growth The hidden cost of living by someone else's definition of success What quiet restlessness may actually be trying to tell you Why paying attention might be more important than making a five-year plan One question that could reshape the next season of your life Related Episodes • Episode 31: Have You Outgrown What You're Chasing? — Jeeps, Mountain Pickles, and 500 Feet from the Top • Episode 30: What If You're Not Done Yet? — Hope Pass, the Leadville 100 Trail, and a Few Questionable Decisions • Episode 25: The Summer Edit: Less Busy. More Alive. More You. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating or review? It helps more people discover the show and means more than you know. For more episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and the free Sunday Trail Notes email, visit LifeOffTheMapShow.com. We'd love to stay connected and keep exploring what it means to build a life that feels fully alive.

    Why Does Something Still Feel Missing? When a Good Life Quietly Stops Feeling Fully Alive

  4. 21 July

    When Hope Doesn't Go According to Plan: Disappointment, Detours, and an Unexpected Stranger

    Most of us like the idea of adventure—we just don't like the parts we didn't plan. Whether it's a diagnosis, a closed door, a relationship that changed, a business that isn't going the way you expected, or simply realizing life looks different than the picture you had in your head, disappointment has a way of making us wonder if the story is over. Recorded from Copper Mountain, Colorado, this episode is an invitation to slow down and explore one of the most compelling outdoor stories in Scripture: the Road to Emmaus. Through one ancient hike—and a few stories from the mountains—you'll discover why unexpected seasons may hold more hope than we realize, and why the thing you're searching for may be closer than you think. In this episode: Why some of our greatest memories begin with a surprise we never wanted Three words from scripture that still capture what so many of us feel today The tension between adventure… and our need to stay in control What two discouraged travelers almost missed on a seven-mile walk One simple question that could change the way you experience this week Why the story may not be over—even if it feels like it is Whether you're navigating disappointment, asking deeper questions about faith, or simply trying to make sense of an unexpected season, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and keep walking. Sometimes the greatest breakthrough isn't finding a new direction—it's recognizing what has been with you all along. If this episode encourages you, consider sharing it with someone who could use a little hope this week. And if you're enjoying Life Off the Map, following the show and leaving a review helps more people discover these conversations about faith, adventure, leadership, and building a life that's fully alive. Grab the Sunday Trail Notes at lifeoffthemapshow.com. Related Episodes: Episode 31: Have You Outgrown What You're Chasing? Jeeps, Mountain Pickles, and 500 Feet From the Top Episode 29: Why Your Best Adventures Leave Room for Surprise: Beef Jerky, Fly Rods, and a Colorado Road Trip Crew Convo: Stuck in the In-Between – Kevin Penry

    When Hope Doesn't Go According to Plan: Disappointment, Detours, and an Unexpected Stranger

  5. 14 July

    Have You Outgrown What You're Chasing? Jeeps, Mountain Pickles, and 500 Feet From the Top

    Come join us for the final chapter of a three-part Colorado series that started along the river in Eleven Mile Canyon, moved into Leadville and over Hope Pass, and now ends with an attempt to climb Mount Elbert—the highest mountain in Colorado. The plan was simple: wake up early, drive to the trailhead, climb the mountain, and head home. It did not go according to plan. What followed involved a Jeep, salmon jerky, mountain pickles, a questionable 5 a.m. decision, rapidly changing weather, and a day that slowly turned into something much bigger than a story about climbing a mountain. In this episode, you will discover: Why we attach so much meaning to finishing what we start The difference between perseverance and being unable to let an old goal die Why so many people are still chasing a version of success they wanted at 25 or 35 What salmon jerky, mountain pickles, and a gas-station breakfast have to do with climbing a 14er Why Chad may have accidentally renamed Colorado's highest mountain somewhere above 13,000 feet The Colorado trip began with a simple idea: leave room for surprise. Three episodes later, it ends somewhere unexpected- with a story about ambition, identity, unfinished things, and what happens when the mountain forces you to ask questions you weren't planning to answer. Enjoying Life Off the Map? One of the simplest ways to help the show reach more listeners is to leave a rating and written review. We genuinely love hearing from you, and we'd love to know: Which episode has stayed with you the longest—and why? What do you love about the show? Explore the show, stories, and more at LifeOffTheMapShow.com. For speaking, coaching, and other work with Chad: ChadMissildine.com. Related episodes: Episode 28: When Your Life Gets Rearranged: Fishing Boats, Art Studios, and King Kong Episode 29: Why Your Best Adventures Leave Room for Surprise: Beef Jerky, Fly Rods, and a Colorado Road Trip Episode 30: Are You Done or Just Comfortable? Hope Pass and the Leadville 100 Trail

    Have You Outgrown What You're Chasing? Jeeps, Mountain Pickles, and 500 Feet From the Top

  6. 7 July

    What if You're Not Done Yet? Hope Pass, the Leadville 100 Trail & A Few Questionable Decisions

    Sometimes the most dangerous place to stop is a place that feels pretty good. This episode was recorded in Leadville, Colorado, during race week for the Leadville Trail 100 Run, one of the most iconic 100-mile trail races in the world. Out on the trail to Hope Pass, surrounded by runners, mountains, thin air, and the history of a race that asks people to keep moving long after comfort is gone, one question kept surfacing: Are you actually done, or have you just reached a comfortable place to stop? What began as a hike to 12,600-foot Hope Pass turned into an unplanned climb toward Mount Hope and a bigger conversation about uncertainty, challenge, aging, risk, and the quiet ways we start negotiating with our own lives. In this episode: • Why "I've done enough" can become one of the most convincing lies we tell ourselves • The subtle difference between being truly finished and simply reaching a comfortable stopping point • What a 100-mile trail race can teach us about moving forward when you can't see the finish • Why uncertainty often feels like a warning when it may actually be an invitation • How to tell when turning around is wisdom and when it's fear wearing a very reasonable disguise • The question worth asking before another year, season, dream, or adventure quietly passes Maybe the question isn't whether you've done enough. Maybe it's whether you're truly finished, or whether you've simply found a comfortable place to stop. This episode is an invitation to look again at the trail ahead and decide what still might be worth moving toward. For weekly reflections, behind-the-scenes notes, and Sunday Trail Notes, visit lifeoffthemapshow.com. Related Episodes: • Episode 29: Why Your Best Adventures Leave Room for Surprise: Beef Jerky, Fly Rods & A Colorado Road Trip • Episode 28: When Your Life Gets Rearranged: Fishing Boats, Art Studios, and King Kong: When Your Life Gets Rearranged • Episode 24: Joy Isn't Accidental: How to Feel More Present, Grounded and Alive

    What if You're Not Done Yet? Hope Pass, the Leadville 100 Trail & A Few Questionable Decisions

  7. 30 June

    Why Your Best Adventures Leave Room for Surprise: Beef Jerky, Fly Rods, and a Colorado Road Trip

    Most of us spend our lives trying to optimize everything. We map the route, fill every hour, and work hard to make sure nothing goes wrong. But somewhere along the way, we may have stopped leaving room for surprise. In this episode, Chad loads up a Jeep with homemade beef jerky, fly rods, camping gear, and a loose plan, then heads west toward Colorado. Along the way he retraces a 30-year-old memory, fishes a legendary canyon, reflects on a summer that quietly shaped his life, and discovers that the best adventures—and often the best parts of life—rarely follow the itinerary. In this episode, you'll discover: Why leaving margin in your schedule can create room for some of life's best moments. The forgotten story hiding behind one of Colorado's most beautiful rivers. How places from your past can quietly shape the person you're becoming. A simple question that may help you rediscover wonder instead of trying to control every outcome. Why your next adventure doesn't have to be a Colorado road trip—it may simply be the decision to leave room for surprise this week. If you enjoy these kinds of stories, join the Sunday Trail Notes for weekly reflections, behind-the-scenes stories, photos from the trip, and practical next steps inspired by each episode. You can sign up at lifeoffthemapshow.com. Related episodes: Ep 28 - When Your Life Gets Rearranged: Fishing Boats, Art Studios, and King Kong  Ep 27 - What Most Men Are Missing - A Story from the Blue River Ep 25 - The Summer Edit: Less Busy, More Alive, More You

    Why Your Best Adventures Leave Room for Surprise: Beef Jerky, Fly Rods, and a Colorado Road Trip

  8. 23 June

    When Your Life Gets Rearranged: Fishing Boats, an Art Studio, and King Kong

    What does a canoe in Chicago, an art studio in Oklahoma, and a giant movie monster have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, Chad reflects on a season of unexpected change and the people who taught him a different way to move through it. Along the way, you'll meet a grandmother who opened her home to artists and friends, a father who created adventures out of ordinary moments, an actor who found purpose outdoors, and a few surprising lessons from Adam Sandler, Nick Offerman, and King Kong. When life gets rearranged, some people retreat. Others seem to come alive. This episode explores the environments, relationships, and creative practices that help us stay open to wonder, connection, and growth—even when the map no longer looks like we expected. In this episode: Why creativity often grows during seasons of disruption The hidden power of creating experiences for other people What fishing boats, campfires, and art studios can teach us about joy Lessons from Nick Offerman on the outdoors and a meaningful life Why relationships and creativity are more connected than we realize How to stay open when your life gets rearranged Related Episodes: Episode 26: When the Map Stops Making Sense - A Crew Convo with Ernest Shackleton  Episode 25: The Summer Edit: Less Busy. More Alive. More You. Episode 27: What Most Men are Missing - A Story from the Blue River & Feeling Like Yourself Again

    When Your Life Gets Rearranged: Fishing Boats, an Art Studio, and King Kong
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About

Life Off the Map is a podcast about choosing a different path—when the default route stops working. Hosted by Chad Missildine, the show explores how people find rhythm, meaning, and forward motion when life moves off the paved road. Some episodes are recorded on unpaved trails or in the middle of real life. Others are conversations with people who've taken risks, changed direction, and learned to live with both intention and mystery. This isn't about hacks or formulas. It's about paying attention, finding your rhythm, and making the next honest move—especially when the path isn't clear. If you've done what you were "supposed" to do and still feel the pull toward something more, you'll feel at home here.

Information

  • Creator
    Chad Missildine
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Life Off the Map