In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese talks with J.R. Harris, veteran solo trekker and author of Way Out There. J.R. shares how a kid from Queens, New York, became a lifelong wilderness explorer, shaped by early Boy Scout experiences and a desire to live life on his own terms.

They discuss the allure of solo travel, the emotional impact of nature, and how J.R.’s solo hiking began long before diversity in outdoor spaces was common. He reflects on how wilderness shaped his identity, gave him confidence, and taught him timeless lessons about people, respect, and empathy. With humor and honesty, J.R. unpacks why nature is not just a destination—but a mindset and a way of life.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher!, host Richard Wiese welcomes Chrissy Tracey—vegan chef, forager, sustainability advocate, and author of Forage & Feast. Chrissy shares her journey from exploring wild plants as a child in Connecticut to developing a deep connection with food through her Jamaican heritage and plant-based lifestyle.

Listeners will hear how a life-changing visit to her grandmother in Jamaica opened her eyes to living off the land, and how that experience eventually led to her career in foraging and sustainable cooking. Chrissy offers practical insights on flavor, technique, and the cultural significance of food. She also reflects on her recent recognition as part of The Explorers Club 50 and her mission to inspire underrepresented voices in the world of exploration.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

Dr. Birute Galdikas has dedicated over 50 years of her life to studying and protecting orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo. As one of the legendary “Trimates” chosen by Louis Leakey — alongside Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey — Birute helped pioneer the field of primatology and conservation.

In this episode of Life's Tough, Explorers are Tougher, she reflects on her journey from graduate student to global conservationist. She shares deeply personal stories about bonding with wild orangutans, the challenges of navigating foreign cultures, and the evolution of orangutan behavior under environmental stress. Birute also opens up about the sacrifices she's made, her unique role in Indonesian society, and her enduring hope for change.

Hosted by Richard Wiese, this conversation is a tribute to endurance, compassion, and what it truly means to dedicate your life to a cause greater than yourself.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

Brad Lidge is known for his dominance on the mound during the 2008 MLB postseason—but what most people don’t know is what came next. In this game-changing episode of Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese interviews Brad about his surprising journey from baseball hero to archaeologist.

Brad reveals how his love for ancient history began during his baseball career and culminated in a master’s degree and multiple archaeological expeditions across Italy. He shares the moment he uncovered a Roman coin, the traits from sports that helped him thrive in academia, and his latest research into mysterious Etruscan symbols. He also reflects on his fascination with potential Viking settlements in North America—and how he hopes to contribute to rewriting history.

Whether you’re an explorer, a sports fan, or someone thinking about reinventing their career, Brad’s story proves that the adventure doesn’t stop after the game ends.

Follow your passion—there’s still more to discover.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, Brandi DeCarli, co-founder of Farm from a Box, shares her radical approach to fighting food production inefficiencies using clean, climate-smart technology and community-first design. Inspired by her work with the UN in Kenya, Brandi helped create a scalable, solar-powered agricultural system that fits inside a shipping container—capable of supporting from 2 to 30 acres of land.

She dives deep into how Farm from a Box combines renewable energy, localized infrastructure, and regenerative practices to create thriving farms in food-insecure regions like Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Liberia. Brandi discusses the technical design, local training, economic models, and cultural humility it takes to make a system like this succeed across continents.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

In this episode of Life’s Tough: Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese journeys across Scotland’s legendary Loch Ness with renowned naturalist and monster hunter turned scientist, Adrian Shine.

Adrian’s name is synonymous with the Loch Ness investigation. Over the last five decades, he’s gone from wide-eyed believer to skeptical researcher, leading sonar sweeps, underwater camera dives, and ecosystem studies to uncover the truth. He tells the story of his early encounter with what appeared to be a massive creature—only to discover it was a rock—and how that moment changed his approach to science and storytelling.

Together on the water, Richard and Adrian explore why humans want to believe in monsters, how Scottish folklore adds fuel to the myth, and why perception often shapes reality more than fact. Adrian explains his shift from monster hunting to studying mud, plankton, and human psychology—and and why Loch Ness remains a mystery not because of what it hides, but because of what we hope to find.

Whether you believe in Nessie or not, this episode is a masterclass in observation, humility, and the true meaning of exploration.

“If I can’t believe my own eyes, I shouldn’t believe anyone else’s.” — Adrian Shine

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

Wildlife biologist and conservationist Morad Tahbaz joins host Richard Wiese to share his harrowing story of being wrongfully imprisoned in Iran. Accused of espionage while on a conservation mission, Morad endured solitary confinement, torture, and psychological warfare for nearly six years. He reflects on the brutal conditions he survived, the coping mechanisms he developed through art and creativity, and how he kept hope alive.

Now back home, Morad is using his experience to advocate for hostage deterrence policies, reconnect with conservation efforts, and inspire others facing their own struggles. His story is a powerful reminder that even amid unimaginable darkness, the human spirit can prevail.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

In this enlightening episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese speaks with Christian Rutz, an animal-tracking pioneer who has spent decades studying the tool-using behavior of birds—especially the brilliant New Caledonian crow. Rutz shares how these birds craft tools from twigs and leaves, challenging long-held beliefs about human cognitive uniqueness.

Through riveting stories from fieldwork, Rutz explains how these birds innovate, problem-solve, and pass down knowledge—a sign of culture, not just instinct. The discussion moves from evolutionary biology to conservation, shedding light on how animal intelligence is deeply embedded in their ecosystems. From miniature bird-worn cameras to crow-crafted hooks, Rutz reveals how science is catching up to the remarkable complexity of non-human minds.

Listeners are left with a powerful message: animal intelligence is more diverse and widespread than we thought, and we’re racing against time to study and protect it.

Explore the minds behind the feathers—before they vanish.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.