The Avalanche Hour Podcast

The Why of Adventure and The Adventure of Why: Shiny x Ken Wylie

Dec 1, 2024

Ken Wylie, a Human Hazard Management innovator and author of *Buried*, joins guest host Brooke Shiny Edwards, a fellow guide and student of Wylie's archetypal course. They discuss the profound relationship between personal growth and adventure, using past tragedies to explore disaster archetypes. The duo emphasizes the power of introspection in decision-making and the courage found in embracing one's shadow. As they navigate the complexities of risk in outdoor settings, they encourage listeners to reflect on their motivations for adventure and the community's role in fostering growth.

01:18:07

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Episode guests

Brooke Edwards

Ken Wylie

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Adventure should be seen as a transformative practice that fosters self-awareness and personal growth through confronting real-life risks.

Reflecting on past significant events, such as the La Traviata tragedy, is vital for evolving decision-making processes in high-risk environments.

Utilizing tools like archetypal card decks enhances individual self-awareness and fosters better communication about risk within adventure communities.

Deep dives

The Essence of Adventure as Practice

Adventure should be approached as a practice that fosters personal growth and self-awareness. Engaging with real consequences in nature is vital for human development, as it allows individuals to confront and learn from risks. This perspective encourages a shift from seeking mere thrills to using adventure as a transformative experience. Recognizing the inherent risks of outdoor activities emphasizes the need for reflection and purposeful engagement in such environments.

Intro

5min

Adventures Amidst Adversity

3min

Adventures in Risk and Growth

29min

Fear of Isolation: Courage in Dissent

3min

Navigating Courage and Trauma

5min

From Fear to Empowerment

15min

Navigating the Hero's Journey

15min

Reflections and Community Engagement After Deep Conversations

3min

Ken Wylie is a Human Hazard Management innovator, formerly an IFMGA guide, and author of the book Buried. Ken’s company, Archetypal, provides high-resolution self-awareness tools for people who work in High Potential Consequence (HPC) environments across several industries. In this conversation, Guest host Brooke Shiny Edwards takes a deeper dive into the heart of Ken Wylie and the vision he has for (HPC) Avalanche Workers and the adventure industry. We recommend reminding yourself of Ken’s background by re-visiting last year’s episode 8.1 when Caleb has Ken take the audience through the infamous 2003 tragedy of La Traviata. In this episode, Shiny and Wylie explore more of the insights to be harvested from that tragedy: the archetypes of disaster and safety, avenues of self-growth that can inform our decision making and how to embrace our shadow and light within, which may indeed be the greatest opportunity yet to embody our highest selves and manage the human factor castle.

So grab a cup of tea, a blanket and snuggle up by the fire for a deep and open hearted philosophical journey that hopefully guides you to integral moments of self-reflection that might help you stay safe this season.

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Music: Ketsa

Art: Mike Tea

Resources:

The Evolving Self: A Psychology for the Third Millennium. Milhaly Csikszentmihalyi

Robert Kegan Stages in Adult Development: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhRNMj6UNYY

The Evolving Self: Robert Kegan.

Human Journey Card Decks

Archetypal Open Enrollment Courses

Archetypal Workplace Courses

Support for this episode was provided by:

⁠⁠Wyssen Avalanche Control⁠⁠