Like a Bigfoot Chris Ward

The fact that I got the opportunity to sit down with three INCREDIBLE human beings a few weeks off of completing the 1,000 mile Iditarod is something I will never take for granted.

These three guys are some of the most interesting people I’ve ever had the chance to meet

Ryan Wanless has traversed from Anchorage to Nome THREE times at this point, one on foot and two on bike. He’s sweet, he’s funny, he’s incredible humble in spite of being one of the toughest people on the planet.

Gavan Hennigan is the most interesting man in the world. I was lucky enough to interview him in 2020 for what I’ve always stated as my favorite episode of this pod (194- check it out). In my eyes you get to be the most interesting man in the world through a mix of life experiences, big challenges/adventures married with introspection. The wisdom he’s gained from life and adventure is completely captivating and his ability to communicate that is top notch.

Asbjorn Bruun, the man, the myth, the legend. Gavan told me “this is the most interesting guy on the planet.” Game recognizing game. The first person to ever ski the Iditarod. A man who has previously spent years patrolling north eastern Greenland on dogsled, securing expeditions from polar bears. Known as The Terminator for relentlessly forging ahead through the Alaskan wilderness.

And through the Iditarod, the biker, the skiier, and the runner found each other and made their way through the expansiveness of Alaska, down frozen rivers, across mountain ranges and open ice. They felt both insignificant in their size but significant in their humanity.

I truly mean it when I say these three are amongst the people I look up to; my heroes!

MORE FROM JOSIAH:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiahfilm/

This is the story of Sunny Stroeer's Iditarod. What she experienced in the wilds of Alaska as she became the first woman ever to ski the 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome!!

Chelsea Jackson is an avid hiker and trail runner who works for the New Hampshire State Parks on the summit of Mt. Washington!

Mt. Washington is notorious for having the "world's worst weather" and consistently has days where windspeed is over 100 mph. The summers can have major temperature swings when storms blow in (or as Chelsea calls the storms..."Impending Doom") and the winters can be absolutely brutal with extremely low temperatures on top of crazy powerful winds.

Chelsea has a very unique experience of living and working on the summit through the busy summer season but also the isolated winter. In this episode we hear all about how she made a major life transition and took a major leap to pursue this job, what the day to day life of living in extreme weather is like, and how trail running led her to this adventure!

I hope you enjoy!!

MORE FROM CHELSEA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseap.jackson/

#374: Tyler Lyson -- Discovery, Adventure, Science and the Joys of Paleontology by Chris Ward

This week we are chatting with photographer and filmmaker Francesco Valentinuzzi!!

Francesco is in the midst of a production called "Ephemeral", an adventure film about world renown Ice Climber Jeff Mercier.

In this episode we chat all about the genesis of this idea, what he is envisioning for "Ephemeral", and what excites Francesco about filmmaking! We also dive into his passion as a photographer and the various ways he has pursued big adventures in his life!

Hope you all enjoy!!

MORE FROM FRANCESCO AND "EPHEMERAL":

Website: https://www.francescovalentinuzzi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francesco_valentinuzzi/

Jeff Mercier's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeff_mercier_/