Joe Stock, an IFMGA-licensed mountain guide from Anchorage, Alaska, authored "The Avalanche Factor," which won the 2024 National Outdoor Book Award. The book is praised for its innovative approach to avalanche education, urging readers to consider terrain over technical details. Stock also discusses risk management and lifelong mountain activity.

In 2013, I met Jim Harris during a biking and packrafting trip to Mexico. A year later, he faced paralysis from a kiting accident. Jim's recovery journey highlights the importance of self-agency and wilderness skills, which aided him in relearning to walk and navigate life after injury.

Experienced paddlers Sarah, Jack, Rod, and Heidi recount their challenging expedition on the Rio La Venta in Mexico, facing high water levels, sieves, rocky passages, venomous snakes, and limited communication. They discuss the importance of group dynamics, communication, and decision-making in outdoor adventures, emphasizing the lessons learned from close calls and the significance of data collection on near-miss incidents for safety training.

Charlie Walbridge, a whitewater safety expert, discusses the importance of safety in paddling, sharing near-miss stories and emphasizing the need for continuous learning and preparation. He explores the evolution of safety practices in whitewater paddling and the significance of accurately reporting incidents. The podcast also highlights the importance of reporting near misses in pack rafting safety and reflects on the joy of river safety preparation and community interactions.

Deb Ajango, a wilderness medicine and risk management educator, discusses the brain's response in emergencies, the importance of realistic training, managing risks with checklists, and the impact of amygdala size on stress responses in this insightful podcast.

World-class mountain athlete Will Gadd discusses risk engagement and decision-making in the outdoors, highlighting efforts to quantify dangers in mountain sports. He shares insights on managing fear, navigating risks, and the importance of reflective debriefing in high-consequence environments.