The Human Adventure

Jake Bushman
  • 1.0 (1)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

 The Human Adventure is a podcast about people who choose to live fully—through travel, challenge, creativity, and the courage to step into the unknown. Hosted by Jake Bushman, each episode features honest conversations with adventurers, travelers, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and everyday humans doing extraordinary things. We explore not just what they’ve done, but why—the failures, fears, faith, and resilience that shape a meaningful life. From remote corners of the world to inner journeys of growth and reinvention, The Human Adventure reminds us that life isn’t about reaching a destination—it’s about who we become along the way. If you’re drawn to authentic stories, bold ideas, and the shared experience of being human, this podcast is for you. 🎧 New episodes weekly 🌍 Travel • Adventure • Personal Growth • Human Stories

  1. 1 hr ago

    Episode 244 - Buried Italy with Joseph Walker

    #244 - One impulsive decision changed Joseph Walker’s entire life: at 19, he joined the U.S. Navy to “see the world” and got sent to Italy. Within a day, he felt something click, not because he knew the language or the history, but because the people, the food, and the everyday energy made him want to ask better questions and stay longer. We trace the moment that sealed it, when Joseph hired a fisherman near Naples to investigate rumors of something submerged offshore. He dove into cold, murky water and uncovered a Roman mosaic, a doorway into the underwater ruins tied to Portus Julius and the strange geology of bradyseism that can raise and lower the coastline over time. That discovery leads to decades of research, guiding, and building off the beaten path Italy experiences that turn archaeology and local storytelling into something you can feel, not just photograph. From amphitheaters and grape harvests to Sicily’s Norman legacy and the chance to meet a living descendant of Frederick II in Palermo, Joseph explains what most travelers miss when they only do the famous route. We also talk about why hidden gems stay hidden, how real connection still beats screen time, and why he’s choosing to move back to Italy, basing his next chapter in Perugia, Umbria’s “green heart.” If you love Italy travel, Italian history, cultural tours, and stories where curiosity becomes a compass, hit play. Then subscribe, share this with a friend who daydreams about Italy, and leave a rating or review so more people can find The Human Adventure. To learn more about Joseph and his book, Buried Italy, check out his website www.italianhistorywithjoseph.com. You can also check out his Instagram account @italian_history_with_joseph for weekly fun history lessons about Italy. To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod. Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.

  2. Aug 27

    Episode 243 - Blue-Collar Dad Turns Small Trips Into Big Memories with Dustin Tichenor

    #243 - Waiting for the “right” time to travel can quietly turn into years of missed memories. I sat down with Dustin Tichenor, an Indianapolis dad who works a physically demanding warehouse job, to talk about what actually makes a family adventure meaningful when budgets are tight and life is busy. We get honest about the pressure many parents carry, especially when you didn’t have the family example you wanted growing up. Dustin shares how that pressure can make you feel like a trip only counts if it’s a big-name destination, and how he learned that kids often want something simpler: a surprise, a change of scenery, a hotel pool, and parents who are fully present. Along the way, we talk practical, real-world affordable family travel: driving instead of flying, building weekend getaways within a few hours, using coolers and microwaves to cut food costs, and looking for free attractions like zoos or underrated roadside stops. Dustin also opens up about starting his travel resource “Can We Go There” and theCWGT.com, learning the ropes with late nights, trial and error, and a lot of persistence. If you’re craving budget road trips, mini vacations, and a mindset shift toward memories over destinations, this one will hit home. Subscribe for more stories like this, share the episode with a parent who needs a push, and leave a rating or review so more people can find the show. What small trip could you plan in the next 30 days? To learn more about Dustin and his family's adventures check out www.theCWGT.com and check out his YouTube channel @Can_We_Go_There. You can also follow along on Instagram @can_we_go_there. To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod. Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.

  3. Aug 20

    Episode 242 - Meaningful Travel That Sticks with Eleanor from Elevate Your Escapes

    #242 - A “perfect” itinerary can still produce a forgettable trip. What actually makes travel stick is the human stuff: the meal you can’t stop describing, the guide who made you laugh, the neighborhood you wandered without a plan, the courage it took to go even though you felt nervous. I spoke with Eleanor from Elevate Your Escapes, an award-winning travel advisor and blogger who’s been to 70 countries and helps hundreds of clients each year plan vacations, honeymoons, cruises, and once-in-a-lifetime adventures. She is also at Top 30 First Mate (Travel Agent) with Virgin Voyages. Eleanor shares how she went from a late start with travel to taking a first big leap with a group trip plus solo time in Costa Rica, and how that blend can be a powerful entry point for anyone curious about solo travel. We get honest about loneliness versus being alone, the small choices that create connection on the road, and why Europe keeps pulling her back, especially Greece and Spain for culture, history, and food. If you love cultural travel and foodie travel, her perspective is packed with practical ideas. We also go behind the scenes on building a travel business. Eleanor explains why Elevate Your Escapes began as a blog idea, how the agency side unexpectedly snowballed, and what changed when she finally went full-time after a layoff gave her the runway to try. She breaks down what travelers don’t expect, like cruise port changes, tendering, and European train strikes, plus why travel insurance matters more than most people think. If you’re planning your next trip and want it to feel meaningful, not rushed, you’ll leave with a clearer definition of “unforgettable” and a better way to design travel around who you are. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share this with a friend who needs a trip on the calendar, and leave a quick rating or review so more people can find the show. To learn more about Eleanor please check out her website www.elevateyourescapes.com and give her a follow on Instagram @elevateyourescapes. To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod. Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.

  4. Aug 13

    Episode 241 - Go Be James Bond With Derrik Dyka

    #241 - Your life can change in less than two months, and then you’re left staring at the silence. Derrik Dyka knows that shock firsthand. After his wife of 24 years is diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, everything moves fast and then stops. Derikk describes freezing, losing his footing, and realizing that without a normal routine to return to, grief can turn into a kind of paralysis. Then his twin sons give him an unexpected assignment: “Go be James Bond.” That challenge kicks off a solo travel reset across Asia, starting with Tokyo, where the crowds somehow feel isolating, and then shifting to the Philippines, where simple warmth from strangers and daily open water swimming bring him back to himself. We talk about why connection matters more than the destination, why traveling alone changes how you relate to the world, and how small risks can open big doors. Derikk also shares the deeper thread he only recognized while writing his memoir, Good Grief Travel: the real journey is curiosity, community, and resilience. From a spontaneous friendship with a swim guide to a surreal night at a rural China birthday party where no one shares a language but everyone shares laughter, his stories make a strong case that healing can be built from tiny human moments. We close with practical ways to participate in life again, from walking daily and calling your people to learning your neighbors’ names and setting the table to see who shows up. If this conversation helps, subscribe to the show, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a rating or review so more people can find these stories. To learn more about Derrik and get a copy of his memoir check out goodgrieftravel.com. You can also give him a follow on Instagram @good.grief.travel. To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod. Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.

  5. Aug 6

    Episode 240 - Stumbling Upon Serendipity with Dani Campbell

    #240 - What if the life you carefully planned suddenly feels too small? That question sits at the heart of my conversation with Dani Campbell, a former teacher who used the pandemic as a wake-up call. She walked away from the school routine, built a camper van, and spent years learning what solo van life really looks like when it’s not just a highlight reel. We get into the courage it takes to choose freedom, especially when your family is surprised, your future isn’t mapped, and you’re figuring it out in real time. Dani also explains the story behind her brand name, “Stumbling Upon Serendipity,” and why she’s still a planner even while chasing spontaneity. We talk about solo travel as a woman, how her dog Trip helped with the quiet moments, and the practical ways she handles loneliness in cities versus deep solitude in nature with no service. She shares what it takes to fund life on the road through freelance writing, brand collaborations, and social media management, plus the tricky balance between creating content and staying present enough to actually enjoy the adventure. Then we dive into her 30 before 30 challenge: paragliding, cowboy camping, fitness goals like a marathon and Hyrox, and even the oddly relatable goal of being the “mysterious person” reading in a coffee shop. Dani gets honest about mental health, creative ruts, and the pressure creators feel to be “enough” online, while still choosing a life built around community, stability, and the mountains of Colorado. Subscribe to The Human Adventure, share this with a friend who’s craving a change, and leave a review if Dani’s story helps you rethink what you’re capable of. To learn more about Dani and her adventures check out www.stumblinguponserendipity.com and follow her on Instagram @stumblinguponserendipity. To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod. Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.

  6. Jul 30

    Episode 239 - From Broken To Unbreakable with Joshua Church

    #239 - Joshua Church’s life starts with a shock: his lung collapses right after birth. What follows is years of injuries, surgeries, chronic pain, and a quiet belief that takes root early, “Maybe I’m broken.” When that story hardens, it doesn’t just shape how he moves through sports and school. It shapes what he thinks his future can be. We talk through the rock bottom moment that forces a change, and the surprisingly simple first step that cracks the door open: an invitation to yoga. From there, Joshua walks us into the deeper work that transforms his health and mindset, including breath work, nervous system regulation, and cold water immersion. He explains how breath can shift us from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest, why cold exposure is really a practice for stress tolerance, and how the mantra “I am strong, I’m healthy, I’m capable” becomes a tool for rewiring identity in real time. We also go beyond the body. Joshua shares what faith looks like when life falls apart, including the rise and fall of his ice bath company, and why he believes surrender can be a form of strength. If you’re curious about breathwork benefits, cold plunge benefits, mindset shifts, or healing from chronic pain and self-doubt, this conversation is both practical and deeply human. Subscribe for more stories like this, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a rating or review if the message lands. What’s one belief you’re ready to let go of? To learn more about Joshua Church and his book, Cosmic Breadcrumbs, you can check out his website www.joshuadeanchurch.com or check him out on Instagram @joshuadeanchurch. To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod. Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.

  7. Jul 23

    Episode 238 - Coddiwompling Into Freedom With Kristy Halvorsen

    What if the life that scares you is exactly what will set you free? I sit down with Kristy Halvorsen, a former firefighter who traded the predictable path for a solo, off-grid Airstream life driven by intuition, curiosity, and a willingness to not know what’s next. She calls it “coddiwompling,” traveling purposely to unknown destinations while staying open to every possibility, and it turns out to be a philosophy for living, not just a way to roam.  Kristy shares the turning points that made this leap real: a childhood rupture that quietly shaped her ability to love, the pride and intensity of the fire service, and the body-waking-up moment of injury that made “waiting for retirement” feel like a bad deal. We talk about the mental side of fear, the practical reality of being alone when things break, and the kind of freedom that only shows up when you stop outsourcing your courage. If you’re into solo travel stories, off-grid living, and mindset shifts that actually feel usable, you’ll find plenty to steal for your own life.  The conversation gets tender and powerful as Kristy opens up about grief and her mom’s death right before her book launched, the small signs that keep love close, and how gratitude can coexist with pain. She also tells the wild story of injury and illness in remote Newfoundland, plus the surprising joy of writing with radical vulnerability and discovering how truth gives other people permission to live.  If this hits something in you, grab Kristy’s book “Perfect Unfolding,” share this episode with a friend who needs a nudge, and please subscribe, rate, and review so more people can find The Human Adventure. To learn more about Kristy and her book check out www.perfectunfolding.com and give her a follow on Instagram @kristy.halvorsen. To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod. Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.

  8. Jul 16

    Episode 237 - Accidental Outdoor Therapy with Melody Harman

    #237 - Melody Harman didn’t come to Utah for a postcard life, she came because staying put felt like drowning in reminders. After losing her dad following 70 days in the hospital, and carrying earlier grief from losing her brother as a teen, she hits that brutal stretch where your world looks “normal” on the outside but everything inside is rearranged. So we talk honestly about what it’s like when grief becomes a daily environment, not a single moment, and why a big change can be the first real breath you take. We start with Melody’s roots in Jacksonville, Florida, then follow the path through school, career pressure, and the “success equals title” mindset that so many of us inherit. From there, we get into the heart of it: the decision to let go, the depression that followed, and the way nature can act like nervous system support when life feels too loud. Melody explains why hiking without headphones, listening to water and birds, and simply moving forward on a trail can create calm when your brain won’t. Then we go full adventure mode with practical stories from Utah hiking and beyond. You’ll hear what Angel’s Landing is really like (permits, switchbacks, chains, crowds, heat, and real risk), plus her first backpacking trip to Havasu Falls and the lessons you only learn when you carry your life on your back. We also talk solo travel, self-trust, and what happens when you lose a corporate job and have to rebuild your identity, one “A to B” step at a time. If you’ve been searching for stories about grief healing, outdoor therapy, Utah trails, Zion hikes, Angel’s Landing tips, backpacking lessons, or solo travel confidence, this conversation meets you where you are and gives you a clear next step. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a rating or review so more people can find the show. To learn more about Melody and follow her adventures be sure and give her a follow on Intagram @melody.onthemove. To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod. Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.

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About

 The Human Adventure is a podcast about people who choose to live fully—through travel, challenge, creativity, and the courage to step into the unknown. Hosted by Jake Bushman, each episode features honest conversations with adventurers, travelers, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and everyday humans doing extraordinary things. We explore not just what they’ve done, but why—the failures, fears, faith, and resilience that shape a meaningful life. From remote corners of the world to inner journeys of growth and reinvention, The Human Adventure reminds us that life isn’t about reaching a destination—it’s about who we become along the way. If you’re drawn to authentic stories, bold ideas, and the shared experience of being human, this podcast is for you. 🎧 New episodes weekly 🌍 Travel • Adventure • Personal Growth • Human Stories

Information

  • Creator
    Jake Bushman
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    256
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Human Adventure
  • Show Website
    The Human Adventure

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