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Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
Richard Wiese
40 episodes
1 week ago
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...
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Documentary
Society & Culture,
Science,
Natural Sciences,
Nature
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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.
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...
Show more...
Documentary
Society & Culture,
Science,
Natural Sciences,
Nature
Episodes (20/40)
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...
Show more...
1 week 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 ...
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2 weeks 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...
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3 weeks 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....
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1 month 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...
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1 month 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 ...
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1 month 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...
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1 month 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...
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1 month 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...
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2 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...
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2 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...
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2 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...
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2 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 ...
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3 months ago
16 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
Richard Garriott: Video Gaming Pioneer to Extreme Explorer
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese interviews Richard Garriott, a real-life explorer, entrepreneur, and video game legend. As the son of an astronaut, Garriott always had his eyes on space—but his journey took an unconventional path through fantasy, failure, and relentless curiosity. Garriott recounts how he built one of the first successful computer game empires, funded his own space mission, and became the first second-generation American in space. Fr...
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3 months ago
21 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
NASA, Oceans, and Hubble: Kathy Sullivan’s Legacy
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, we meet Dr. Kathy Sullivan—astronaut, ocean explorer, and author of Handprints on Hubble. Kathy shares her groundbreaking journey from becoming the first American woman to walk in space to later becoming the first woman to dive to the deepest point on Earth. With a blend of humor and humility, Kathy talks about her love for adventure, her rescue dog Murphy, and the mindset that kept her grounded—whether orbiting the planet or diving mile...
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3 months ago
29 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
Tracking Climate Change One Seal at a Time
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, marine ecologist Dr. Roxanne Beltran shares what it’s really like to study elephant seals—and why these unlikely collaborators are crucial for understanding ocean health. From wrangling 2,000-pound mammals on windswept beaches to being featured on the cover of Science, Roxanne brings humor, humility, and heart to every part of her work. Roxanne opens up about her journey into marine biology, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the unexpect...
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3 months ago
26 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
Near-Drowning in Space: Luca Parmitano’s Incredible Survival Story
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese welcomes Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano, the first Italian to walk in space and a globally respected voice in the astronaut community. Luca opens up about his infamous near-drowning during a spacewalk, and how that life-threatening moment ultimately deepened his understanding of risk, resilience, and what it means to lead. Beyond spaceflight, Luca shares profound reflections on mindset, fatherhood, and the quiet ...
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4 months ago
37 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
Crabbing Saved My Life—and Became My Mission
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, we meet Tia, a Charleston native whose journey from bartending to global recognition began with a personal health crisis. After years in the food and beverage industry, Tia’s decision to quit smoking triggered an unexpected and debilitating decline in her health. Conventional medicine offered no solutions, but a chance encounter with two holistic healers changed everything. Through an elimination diet and profound lifestyle changes, Tia ...
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4 months ago
29 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
Susan Baur & her Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage
In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese dives into conversation with Susan Baur, founder of Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage. What began as a personal effort to clean Cape Cod ponds evolved into a joyful movement of women in their 60s to 80s suiting up in wetsuits to restore their local ecosystems. Susan shares how, after a career in psychology and writing, she found healing and renewed purpose through diving. From litter to laughter, these “old ladies”...
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4 months ago
23 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
Brendan Hall: Storytelling and the National Parks
In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese welcomes filmmaker, photographer, and Explorers Club 50 honoree Brendan Hall. Brendan shares how his childhood passion for filming led him to a career as a documentary filmmaker and how his authentic, accessible approach to storytelling shaped his journey. Brendan discusses his selection for the dearMoon mission, a civilian lunar project with SpaceX, and how the experience impacted his life even though the mission was ...
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4 months ago
30 minutes

Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
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...