Life’s Tough, Explorers Are TOUGHER!
“Exploring is an innate part of being human.” Richard Wiese, spends 30 minutes every week with some of the world’s most compelling adventurers, explorers, and socio-environmental advocates, listening to their distinct adventures, unique discoveries, projects & goals, while discovering their multitude of challenges, surprises, triumphs and set-backs they encounter along the way. Join Richard as he pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to travel around the world and beyond; explore some of the most exotic and often dangerous places; and uncover what makes people, places and our planet so special.
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 not only reclaimed her health—she rediscovered her roots.
Tia's reconnection came through the act of...
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” are flipping perceptions of age and service—proving that community, curiosity, and co...
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 eventually canceled. He also dives into the making of his film Out There: A National Parks Story, which took seven years to...
Way Out There: J.R. Harris's Solo Trekker Journey
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 sh...
Forager to Chef: Chrissy Tracey's Plant-Based Story
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 cook...
Life with Orangutans: Dr. Birute Galdikas
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 sacr...
Brad Lidge: From World Series to Ancient World Ruins
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 th...
Brandi DeCarli: The Revolutionary Farmer
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 Tanz...
Sea Serpents to Science: Adrian Shine’s Loch Ness Journey
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...
Held Hostage in Iran: Morad Tahbaz's Journey
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...
Christian Rutz: From Tool-Making Crows to Conservation
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 ecosys...
The Wasp Whisperer
Entomologist and UCL professor Dr. Seirian Sumner joins host Richard Wiese to challenge everything you think you know about wasps. While most people see them as pests, Seirian makes the compelling case that wasps are unsung heroes of our ecosystems—natural pest controllers, accidental pollinators, and potential allies in sustainable agriculture. She shares humorous and insightful stories from her career, from dressing in wasp-themed costumes to giving “wasp evangelism” talks, while also reflecting on gender, mentorship, and inclusion in the scientific community. Plus, she offers practical tips on how to coexist peacefully with wasps at picnics and explores her dream...
Yosemite Ranger Revives Legacy of Buffalo Soldiers
In this moving episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with Shelton Johnson, a longtime Yosemite park ranger and passionate storyteller who has spent decades inspiring visitors to reconnect with the splendors of our natural world.
Shelton shares his journey from growing up in Detroit to becoming one of the National Park Service’s most powerful voices. At the heart of the conversation is his mission to revive the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, Black cavalrymen who served as some of America’s first park rangers and protec...
How Studying Venus Might Help Save Earth
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with planetary scientist Dr. Paul Byrne to explore one of the most misunderstood worlds in our solar system: Venus.
Often overshadowed by Mars, Venus was once Earth-like—until it became the hottest, most hostile planet in the solar system. Paul explains why this hellish world might hold the answers to some of the biggest questions about Earth’s future, planetary evolution, and climate change.
They dive into why Venus matters now more t...
Wildlife DJ Highlights Nature’s Majestic Sounds
Exploration isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how you listen.
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, Ben Mirin, an explorer, wildlife DJ, artist, and naturalist, shares how he’s merging science, sound, and storytelling to uncover the hidden voices of the wild. Through innovative technology, Ben captures and interprets animal sounds and environmental patterns, revealing the untold stories of nature.
He reflects on the balance between creativity and scientific rigor, the importance of slowing down and paying attention, and how ex...
Secretary of the Interior & the Badlands
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum—former Governor of North Dakota, entrepreneur, and advocate for resilience in exploration and leadership.
Doug shares how the rugged landscapes of North Dakota shaped his values and why Teddy Roosevelt’s time in the Badlands serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership is forged in adversity. Much like Roosevelt, who sought refuge and renewal in the untamed wilderness, Doug has embraced the pioneer mindset—whether in busin...
The Holistic Conservationist
Saving the planet isn’t just about science—it’s about storytelling, indigenous knowledge, and even art.
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, Dr. Natalie Schmitt shares why conservation needs more than just data and research. A geneticist, documentarian, and field explorer, Natalie has studied snow leopards in the Himalayas, worked with First Nations trackers to monitor caribou, and even helped advocate for scientists wrongly imprisoned in Iran.
She discusses how DNA tracking is revolutionizing conservation, why indigenous knowledge is crucial to protecti...
Endangered Fashion
Exploration isn’t just about venturing into new landscapes—it’s also about uncovering the deeper stories behind cultures, traditions, and creativity. In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with Rebecca Hui, an anthropologist, conservationist, and founder of Roots Studio (now Rurban Studio), whose work bridges indigenous art with global markets in a way that fosters equity and preservation.
Rebecca’s journey has taken her from rural villages in India to high-fashion runways, where she’s worked to transform cultural misappropriation into collaboratio...
Mission to Mars with Nina Lanza
Exploration doesn’t stop at Earth’s borders—it reaches into the stars. In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, Dr. Nina Lanza, a planetary scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, takes us on a journey to Mars.
As part of the Curiosity Rover’s ChemCam team, Nina has spent years studying the Martian surface, searching for signs that the Red Planet may have once hosted life. She discusses some of the biggest discoveries from Mars exploration, including evidence of a long-standing lake in Gale Crater—an environment...
My Big Amazonian Family
What happens when an explorer’s greatest discovery is himself?
In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese speaks with David Good, an explorer, anthropologist, and founder of The Yanomami Foundation, about his extraordinary journey to reconnect with his Yanomami heritage.
Born to a Yanomami mother and an American anthropologist father, David grew up in the U.S., far removed from his Indigenous roots. But something was missing. Driven by an innate need to understand where he came from, David embarked on a...
Into the Wilderness with RFK Jr.
Exploration comes in many forms—sometimes it’s venturing into the unknown, and sometimes it’s unearthing the past to understand our future. In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discuss his passion for paleontology, science, and discovery.
From dinosaur digs with his children to the larger mysteries of evolution and extinction, Bobby reflects on how exploration fuels curiosity across generations. He shares why hands-on science is more important than ever, how storytelling connects us to history...
Space to Inspire: Dr. Sian Proctor’s Path to the Stars
In this inspiring episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with Dr. Sian Proctor, an astronaut, artist, scientist, and the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft.
Dr. Proctor shares her incredible journey to space, from growing up in Guam, where her father worked at a NASA tracking station during the Apollo missions, to becoming a finalist for NASA’s astronaut program and ultimately flying aboard Inspiration4, the first all-civilian spaceflight. She discusses her passion for "JEDI space"—Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion—and how she...
Trailer - Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher
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.
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 abo...
