Well, pals. Elizabeth and Paddy are moving on from the show, so Safety Third is closing up shop. But, before we go we’d like to say thank you and goodbye. And remember, Safety Third. Always and forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our third and final episode of The Love Traverse mini-series we explore how couples have fostered their love through the decades. Marriage counselor Hannah Eaton returns to illuminate the issues couples face and the positive characteristics of long-term partnerships. Mountain guides Adam and Caroline George describe how outdoor pursuits have shaped their 13 year marriage and parenting. After 20 years together, heli ski guides Adrienne and John Schaefer use communication and balancing...

In romantic comedies, the story always begins with a 'meet cute' — a charming first encounter that leads to a wonderfully cheesy romance. But do those really happen in our outdoor community? And after that initial meeting, what’s the reality of building off that first connection? In episode two of our Love Traverse mini series, Real Life Rom Com, climbers Annalissa Purdum and Kris Hampton revisit the beginning of their relationship. Professional matchmaker Annie Mayo and marriage counselor...

We are diving deep into dating, love and relationships in our mini-series, The Love Traverse. Our outdoor community faces a unique set of hurdles when finding and keeping love. The mountain town dating pool can often seem like a murky puddle. Dating is difficult. Apps abound, but do they work? In episode one, Dirtbag Romance, we investigate how outdoor folks are dating. Writer and stand-up comedian Sidni West deploys humor on her hunt for love. After seven years of living in a van,...

When Ann Yoshida began physical therapy following an accident that paralyzed her, she was told that the goal of rehabilitation was to 'regain normal function'. But that just didn’t resonate with her. Ann was motivated by goals that went beyond the norm. She became an Paralympian paddler, a World Champion, and the first-ever adapted athlete inductee in Hawai'i’s renowned Waterman Hall of Fame. And she did all of this while earning a Bachelor's degree in speech pathology, a Masters in...

The United States' Mountain West region contains eight of the top ten states with the highest suicide rates in our country. The suicide rate in the Rocky Mountains is nearly three times the national per capita average, earning the Rockies the nickname, “The Suicide Belt.” But the mountain community doesn't talk about this. Why? Because mental health struggles don’t fit into the carefully curated "best outdoor life” aesthetic. Longtime Telluride, Colorado resident Ben Marshall knows this all...

Lincoln Dews is a fourth generation waterman from Queensland, Australia. A champion sailor, surfer and paddler from a young age, it’s a wonder he didn’t actually grow gills. At 14, Lincoln won the state Ironman title in his hometown. At 15, he placed third in the Molakai to Oahu race, a 32-mile marathon paddle considered to be the world’s hardest open ocean contest. In 2015, Lincoln joined the SUP World Tour. In his first year, he was among the world’s twenty best paddlers. And after...

Journalist and author Heather Hansman’s passion for whitewater rafting was first born when she was a greenhorn raft guide in Maine. Her love for the beauty and the importance of rivers deepened when she moved West and began guiding on the 730 mile Green River, which runs through ranches, cities, national parks, endangered fish habitats, natural gas fields, and provides water for 33 million people. With so many competing water demands on rivers, Heather wanted a fresh perspective on water in...

Professional adventurer Alastair Humphreys has biked 46,000 miles and rowed across the Atlantic. Upon returning from the trips, he noticed an interesting response--your trips are amazing, but I could never do that. While his outdoor exploits were personally fulfilling and inspiring to others, Alastair realized they weren’t necessarily attainable to everyone. So, in 2011, Alastair dedicated a year to Microadventures, bite-sized outdoor fun close to home, like swimming in a river near his house...

When conservation comes to mind, thoughts often go to natural resource preservation and land and animal protections. But what other positivity lies within the act of conservation? Scientist, author, and CEO of Conservation X Labs, Alex Dehgan, worked in Kabul from 2006 to 2007 as the head of the Wildlife Conservation Society Afghanistan Program. The work he did helped establish Afghanistan's first national park, Band-E Amir. But the outcome was more than the sheltering of spectacular wildlife...

When the voice in your head barks, ‘You can’t do it,’ how do you respond? Pro-skier and climate activist Brody Leven has always chosen to look forward. He created a business when he was 9 years old, paid for his tuition at a Vermont ski academy, transitioned from a competition park skier to a ski mountaineer, and combined his skiing skills with the power of social media to carve out a successful career. Despite his success, Brody continued to feel that he wasn’t quite part of the cool kids...

When we start to think about battling climate change, fighting for conversation and saving Mother Earth, it can make our heads spin it’s so complicated. For ecologist, filmmaker, and conservationist Chris Morgan, the solution is simple: bears. Chris is a self proclaimed bear nut. When he was 18-years-old, Chris assisted a black bear biologist with nighttime field work at a garbage dump; it was enough to change Chris’ entire life. He changed his college major to ecology, took research jobs all...

“Going fast is amazing,” says professional windsurfer Zara Davis. “When you’re going over 50 miles an hour, at that point your eyeballs are properly rolling back in your head. It is like being a cork out of a bottle.” In 2012, Zara broke the 500-meter world speed record. She blasted down the course in Luderitz, Namibia at over 50 miles an hour, a feat that took years of physical and mental training, preparation, and logistics. In 2015, Zara’s record was broken and she immediately wanted to...

In April, we recorded a live show at the 5Point Adventure Film Festival in Carbondale, Colorado. Joining us on stage first were Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller: pizza shop owners, mountain bikers, and stars of the Felt Soul film “Life of Pie.” Jen and Anne first opened their pizzaria, The Hot Tomato, simply to offer Fruita, Colorado, a tasty slice. But quickly, they learned that their restaurant did more than just satisfy taste buds — it fostered community. Next, we spoke with Rob Prechtl:...

How do you make a decision? Think it out slowly. Methodically weigh all the options. Don’t make a snap judgement. Use a magic 8-ball. None of these decision making methods work for Anne Gaylean, Ph.D scientist and mountain biker. In her field of study and at a literal forks in the road, Anne is fast, always. She quickly processes the data in front of her and makes a choice. Seems easy, right? Easy until she was presented with a difficult life decision: continue her professional mountain...

When a pro athlete makes their living jumping out of an airplane, it’s easy to think they’re super human with an immunity to fear and the mental minefields of emotion. That’s not the case for professional skydiver and Red Bull Air Force member Amy Chmelecki. Throughout her life, self doubt and emotional turmoil was as consistent as Amy’s need to pursue skydiving; from low self esteem and dyslexia in childhood to a constant desire to control outcomes in adulthood. But with the help of therapy,...

In her early twenties, ultra marathon runner Melissa Ossanna began to get dizzy spells and experienced what she describes as temporary brain skips. She dealt with these symptoms for more than four years before, at the age of 28, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. While it was a relief to finally know what was happening, the MS diagnosis made Melissa feel trapped, as did her abusive marriage. With help, Melissa found the strength to leave her marriage and to fight her disease. And her...

Teresa Baker has long considered herself an environmental steward. On a 2012 trip to Yosemite National Park, Teresa noticed something stark: she was the only person of color. And she wanted to change that fact. Teresa started by creating the African American National Parks Event, an annual event with thousands of participants that encourages communities of color to enjoy our National Parks, local parks and open spaces. Teresa continued to organize events with a focus on diversity. In 2018,...

The scientific evidence of climate change is undeniable. As is the feeling in our stomach when we recognize the battle we face. Auden Schendler, VP of Sustainability at Aspen Ski Company, has had his shoulders against the sandbags of climate activism since the 1980s. His sustainability resume is impressive: aided in the clean-up of the Valdez oil spill, worked as a corporate sustainability researcher at Rocky Mountain Institute, pioneered green initiatives at Aspen Ski Co., and helped set the...

Over the last year, we’ve talked with incredible folks about the origins of their beliefs and how these ideas have shaped their experiences and their lives. And, Paddy and Elizabeth noticed a common theme that connects these stories: after loss came an opportunity for change. It’s true for our hosts, too. Following the devastating loss of her father, Elizabeth found the courage to take a leap of faith in her career. And after hitting an alcoholic near-death bottom, Paddy had a true chance at...

There is no clear way to cope with death and grief. Moving forward is often heartbreaking, baffling, and uncertain. So, how do we best honor those we’ve lost? When he was 12-years-old, Navy Seal and backcountry snowboarder Josh Jespersen tragically lost his father. Confused and angry, Josh drifted in school and got into legal trouble. He joined the Navy Seals, where death was a constant. Josh would drink to celebrate the life of his fallen friends, but this led to more legal trouble, more...

From birth we are often told to be good. But what does that mean exactly? Kate Williams, CEO at 1% For The Planet, created her own “be good” guidelines when she was a child: achieve in the classroom, achieve on the lacrosse field, do what you’re told. Kate stayed within those boundaries until she attended Princeton University, where she realized that being good meant she was stifling her growth. Kate was living in accordance to the expectations and wishes of everyone except herself. In order...

Authenticity is a marketing buzzword that has trickled into our everyday. But what is authentic? And what happens to a person when their persona becomes a commodity? Today, our two guests discuss the intersection of individuals and brands in the age of social media. First up, Luisa Jeffrey. On a Grand Canyon trip, Luisa watched her friends snapping staged camp photos. When she returned home, she realized manicured, curated outdoor photos peppered her Instagram feed. Fed up with the lack of...

Skiing with her family in Sun Valley, Idaho, and fishing in Alaska under the tutelage of her father shaped how McKenna Peterson navigates life. She learned dedication, resilience, hard work, and how to adjust plans while on the move. McKenna has an uncanny ability to try new things, seemingly without fear. At the University of Colorado, McKenna balanced studies and ski racing before she committed to competing in the Freeride World Tour. Then she eyed a pro ski career. In 2017, following the...