The Evolving Adventure

greggi v
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Spirituality
  • Updated Biweekly

The Evolving Adventure is a podcast about people who decided the life they were living wasn't the one they wanted anymore. Host Greg Veregin talks with trail and adventure athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday reinventors about changing careers, moving somewhere new, and pushing personal limits — honest, unpolished conversations about courage, failure, and starting over. New episodes week. If you've ever thought 'there has to be more than this,' subscribe and come find out. Connect via theevolvingadventurerpodcast@gmail.com

  1. 1d ago

    E198: I never said I'd run... Now I'm training for 250 miles at Cocodona with Silverback Runner, Nick Vaifanua-Fulgham

    Nick never said he would become a runner. Now he's training for Cocodona 250, a 250-mile ultramarathon through Arizona. He played football. He fought MMA. Running was basically punishment. And then his wife kept casually being an absolute lunatic and running 200-milers for fun. So Nick figured… sure. Why not? Fast-forward and this 40-year-old dad got into the Cocodona lottery without fully understanding how lotteries work. He figured if his name got called, he'd just hand the spot to his wife. And somehow… he got picked. (So did she.) But this isn't really a story about running. It's about what happens when you realize you've spent years being a dad, husband, provider, athlete, employee, whatever everyone else needs you to be, and suddenly ask: "Wait… who the hell am I?" For Nick, the answer is starting to show up on the trails: He's learning patience. He's learning that he doesn't have to run like his wife. He's learning what his own version of success looks like. He's learning how to fail without quitting. Case in point: the legendary scorpion faceplant. One bad ankle, one rock, one very fast trip down a desert trail hill. He got back up and kept moving. His son's review? Hilarious. Nick is discovering that sometimes getting lost in the woods is EXACTLY how you start finding yourself again. Also… somewhere along the way, a guy looked at him and said he looked like a Silverback on the trails. And honestly? The man now goes by @Silverback_Trail_Runner This conversation goes way deeper than ultrarunning. If you're a dad who's been putting everyone else first… if you've ever wondered where you went… or if you've ever looked at a completely ridiculous challenge and thought, "...well, I guess we're doing this." You probably want to hear this one. New episode of The Evolving Adventure Podcast is live. Link in bio. And let us all know: what's something you swore you'd never do that you now kind of love? #Cocodona250 #Ultrarunning #TrailRunning #RunningPodcast #DadLife We also discuss the SAVAVALI.E. Run Club, Cocodona 250,

  2. Sep 28

    E197: Preparing for a 219 mile adventure with Christian Peranzi & Lauren Beihoffer

    What happens when a 5th-generation Tucson local pitches his ultrarunning coach a self-supported, no-rules, 219-mile FKT across five Arizona mountain ranges and 33,600 feet of elevation. Her answer: "Say less. I'm in." On this episode of The Evolving Adventure, we sit down with Christian (@cprunsfar) and his coach Lauren (@lauren_runswild) ahead of their self-designed FKT attempt around Tucson — five mountain summits, desert-to-alpine terrain, cactus bushwhacking (maybe with Lauren's machete), and a route that passes within 300 yards of Christian's front door... quite handy for a mile-175 pit stop for A/C and ice.  Maybe even a quick nap? No race directors. No mandatory gear. No start line with 298 other runners—just two people, a largely unmapped route, and roughly 100 hours of self-supported effort... on Lauren's first trip to Arizona! We talk about planning an unsupported ultra from scratch, trusting a coach you've never met in person, and what it takes to attempt something nobody's mapped out for you. Christian and Lauren begin the attempt November 17 in Tucson and will be documenting it live. Follow along on their Instagram accounts: @cprunsfar and @lauren_runswild They would like to thank NeverSecond for their support of this adventure. We also reference The Mammoth, a 200 mile adventure in California that Christian completed in 2025.

  3. Sep 21

    E196: Navigating summer injuries with Taryn Shaffer

    Injuries. Injuries. Injuries.No one likes them. They're a forced reset, a time when you may be unable to pursue those hobbies you love... and may find yourself pondering "Who am I?"In today's episode of The Evolving Adventure podcast we catch up with Taryn from episode 173, who had an unfortunate ankle injury that derailed her summer plans. We chat about what it's like to be injured, where to have fun with a knee scooter, maintaining mental sanity when your identity comes into question, and strategies for getting back to what you love.While this episode focuses on trail running, the lessons apply to any injury or change that disrupts your ability to do what you love. Listen to the first episode with Taryn here:

  4. Sep 14

    E195: Getting REALLY serious about REALLY dumb things... but with good people... like Randi Strauss

    Thanks for listening friends, and boy... do we have a fun storytime for y'all today. My new friend Randi had been trying to get into Cocodona for years. Then, one January morning, a friend sent her a screenshot of something called Burrito League. Fifteen minutes later she had her shoes on. Several months, a pile of new friendships (like me!) and a ridiculously questionable number of repeated Strava segments later…Randi found herself standing at the start of the Bigfoot 200 wondering what, exactly, she had gotten herself into. Spoiler: she finished. 😂 Like shortly before we recorded this episode. She'd just driven back to Arizona from the Bigfoot finish line! Today's episode is a wonderfully unpolished tour through 200-mile running, community, finding your own limits, Burrito League absurdity, Ménière’s disease, free grassroots races like the PhoeftyK, accidental entrepreneurship, tie-dye chemistry, Ritz crackers for fuel, and the surprisingly motivational properties of an aid-station beer. PBR, naturally. Randi shares with us why she finally stopped waiting to get into Cocodona and chose a different 200-miler, what kept her moving when her brain repeatedly suggested that she could simply stop, and how adapting to the body she actually has changed what she believes is possible. We also talk about the community that grew out of Burrito League, her first experiences with Destination Trail races (Arizona Monster 300, Bigfoot 200), the free Phoenix “Fifty K,” and the tie-dye side hustle that recetly started showing up all over the trail-running world. Oh—and roughly a mile and half before completing her first 200-miler? Randi stopped at a bar for a beer and a tequila shot. Bought for her by someone who recognized her from Day 1 of the adventure race. Then Randi sprinted to the finish. As one does. Because after 198.x miles... there's still a LITTLE gas left in the tank. Underneath all the ridiculousness of this episode is one pretty wonderful idea: There’s something special about getting really serious about really dumb things with good people. Find her tie-dye creations on Instagram at @r.an.di.art

  5. Sep 7

    E194: Danny Brigman: The Power of Caring... and Just Showing Up

    Thanks for listening today, friends! So... what do Burrito League, ultrarunning, Indigenous land knowledge, app development and wildfire response have in common? Apparently quite a lot! Today we are joined by Danny Brigman from the Spokane Reservation for a conversation about what happens when you stop waiting for somebody else to build the thing you think should exist — and just start doing it yourself. Danny shares how starting a Burrito League chapter on his reservation sparked a broader community movement, why seeing other Native ultrarunners changed what he believed was possible for himself, and how his connection to the land has shaped everything from racing to directing the Spokane Homelands 27K. We also dig into Homelands, the app Danny has spent years building to help people understand whose lands they're traveling across and move beyond land acknowledgements toward actual knowledge, relationship and respect. And, this has been a crazy zummer... after devastating wildfires affected communities across the region (Danny and I have both been evacuated from different locations for fire activity) our conversation turns toward something more profound: what community looks like when people genuinely need one another. This episode is about land, belonging, imperfect action, authenticity and the powerful act of just showing up. Follow @homelands.app on Instagram or Facebook, and visit homelandsapp.com to follow Danny's project.

  6. Aug 31

    E193: Jessica McBride: Which Parts Of You Belong To Someone Else?

    Thanks for listening today, friends! Today we've got an inspirational episode with Jessica McBride on Motherhood, Belief & Becoming a Team Canada Ultrarunner. The core question we explore-what happens when you stop letting other people decide who you’re allowed to become? Jessica was once the kid whose gym teacher made fun of the way she ran. Years later, after three kids, a huge identity shift, and one very important question later, she started running anyway. That question? Which things I believe about myself are actually someone else’s property?  We all know that moderation is overrated, so naturally, her first race was a marathon. Then came a 50-miler. Which landed her on the podium. Then a DNF that actually helped her understand what kind of runner she was. Then baby #4, the very real fear that her best athletic years might already be behind her… …and eventually, Team Canada. 🇨🇦 And in 2026, a Canadian record. Jessica’s story is about running, but it’s really about identity, motherhood, ambition, self-belief, and the stories we inherit about what we’re supposedly capable of. We talk about the price of chasing big goals, why success doesn’t magically erase self-doubt, the strange grief that can come after achieving the dream, and one question she asked that stopped me: “What gym teacher am I becoming in my kids’ heads?” For the woman who thinks she’s too old, too late, too busy, too much of a mom, or simply not built for the thing she wants? Jessica has something to say to you. ❤️ 🎧 Jessica McBride is episode 193 on The Evolving Adventure Podcast. Find us anywhere you find podcasts, and on YouTube. Find Jessica at @thingsthatgoruninthenight and follow @dm.running.team. And for real… if your first ever race is a marathon, I feel like we’re allowed to question your decision-making from the beginning... says the guy whose first trail race was DNFing a 100 miler. #WomenWhoRun #WomensRunning #UltraRunning #RunningCommunity #WomenInSport

  7. Aug 25

    E192: My Dream Life is currently in Beta

    Thanks for listening today, friends! So... I sat down to record a 20–30 minute episode about creating a dream life. Fifty-two minutes later… apparently I had thoughts. 😂 This isn't a polished “five steps to manifest everything you want” episode. I am recording this while the housing feature is still being developed, income is being intermittent, and the American Southwest has yet to send me a move-in date. But the dream is getting clearer. In today's solo episode, I talk about: ✨ Why money and opportunities started showing up when I stopped trying to impress people and started being honest🌵 The bright, spacious Southwest home—and very specific dream Tuesday—I am building toward🏃 Why finishing 100 miles taught me to run my race instead of chasing someone else’s pace🚙 What truck living taught me about the difference between freedom and constant mental load🧠 The rituals, visualization, energy work, networking, and asking for help that keep me moving😬 And the fears underneath it all: running out of money, getting stuck, losing the podcast, and never quite arriving There are also dream-home amenities, impromptu tangents, and considerably more vulnerability than originally scheduled. You're welcome. My dream life is not finished. But it is becoming more specific—and I am learning that we do not have to arrive before we begin building it. What does an ordinary Tuesday look like in your dream life?

  8. Aug 18

    E191: I asked for a sign... and got an 8 hour drive.

    So it's been an adventure lately, friends, and one that's ever evolving. Phew, has it been a ride. I asked the universe for a sign. It gave me a cancelled course, an eight-hour drive, sideways sleet, and a five-day logistics contract at the Divide 200. 😂 So… not exactly the glittering manifestation portal I had pictured. In today’s solo episode, I’m sharing what really happened: lots of driving, long gaps between runners, filming in the rain, helping at aid stations, protecting snacks from bears, making one very weird 360 video, making a better one, and losing a lens cover somewhere in the mountains. I had hoped the race might lead to exciting collaborations or an obvious next opportunity. It hasn't... yet. But it did give me experience, information, a few good lessons, and proof that the first attempt can be weird without being the final attempt. This one is about the Magic Dark—that uncomfortable middle where you believe things are moving, even though nothing has arrived with a tracking number yet. The race didn’t solve my life. It wasn’t pointless either. Sometimes the experience is the next step.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Evolving Adventure is a podcast about people who decided the life they were living wasn't the one they wanted anymore. Host Greg Veregin talks with trail and adventure athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday reinventors about changing careers, moving somewhere new, and pushing personal limits — honest, unpolished conversations about courage, failure, and starting over. New episodes week. If you've ever thought 'there has to be more than this,' subscribe and come find out. Connect via theevolvingadventurerpodcast@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    greggi v
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    217
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © greggi v
  • Show Website
    The Evolving Adventure

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