271: From Shame to Safety: Steve Smith on Building Safer Wilderness Therapy and Outdoor Ed Program

In this episode Will welcomes Steve Smith, founder of Experiential Consulting and a 30-year veteran in the outdoor education and risk management field. Steve shares his journey from classroom teacher to mountaineering instructor and eventually leading national conversations on risk through roles with Outward Bound, the Student Conservation Association, and the Wilderness Risk Management Conference. Throughout the episode, Steve explains how his thinking has evolved from linear, blame-based models of incident response to a systems-based, learning-focused philosophy that emphasizes psychological safety, continuous improvement, and shared responsibility in outdoor programs.

Steve also shares a powerful and personal story of a near-death mountaineering accident that profoundly impacted his mental health—and eventually became a catalyst for change in how he views vulnerability, risk, and leadership. His transparency about the emotional aftermath and his later work to warn others about the recurring hazard at Asgard Pass highlight the importance of learning from both success and failure. This episode is essential listening for anyone in outdoor education, wilderness therapy, or a parent concerned about the safety of outdoor programs. It offers both philosophical depth and practical insights into how programs can navigate risk without sacrificing meaningful adventure.

Check out Steve’s website for Experiential Consulting:  https://www.outdoorrisk.com/