Journey with Jake

Episode 163 - What would it take for you to completely reimagine your family's life? For Brandon and Amber Morse, it happened around a campfire in the mountains of Idaho when they asked themselves a simple yet profound question: what if we could break free from the daily grind and truly connect as a family?

That conversation led them to sell nearly everything they owned, pull their four children from traditional schoo...

What happens when you hit all the milestones society tells you to chase, yet still feel empty inside? For Jeremy George, that existential crisis led to a year-long battle with suicidal thoughts despite having a beautiful New York apartment, career success, and financial stability.

Everything changed when three consecutive wake-up calls shattered Jeremy's perception of what makes a meaningful life. His mother's ne...

Bonus 9 - What happens when a podcast host puts his own son in the guest seat? Pure magic. In this heartwarming Memorial Day bonus episode, Jake  welcomes his eldest son Josh for a conversation that bridges generations, creative pursuits, and shared family memories.

Josh, who made Jake a father 25 years ago after being born prematurely at just three pounds, has grown into a creative force who now manages his own growing Yo...

What does it really mean to travel authentically in a world dominated by filtered Instagram perfection? Buster Upton, a 26-year-old Australian adventurer, has the honest answer—and it's not what you might expect.

From his spontaneous childhood road trips with his adventure-loving mother to finding himself enrolled in a Finnish school at 16 (instead of dropping out), Buster's approach to travel has always been ref...

"Our heartbeats are the greatest currency we have." This profound insight comes from Tzara Attwater, who turned personal heartbreak into an epic adventure across Australia's vast wilderness. After walking in on her partner of ten years with another woman, Tzara spent years rebuilding herself before making a bold decision during COVID – converting a Toyota Hiace van with just a jigsaw and YouTube tutorials, then circu...

What does freedom look like when you navigate the world on wheels? For Jenna Udenberg, it arrived in the form of a Firefly - an electric attachment that transformed her manual wheelchair into an adventure vehicle capable of tackling trails she'd only viewed longingly from afar.

Diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age seven and using a wheelchair by eight, Jenna refused to let her mobility challenges define...

#158 - What if your moments of greatest confusion were actually doorways to your most authentic self? Giovanna Silvestre's remarkable journey proves exactly that. From the high-pressure halls of Hollywood to the difficult decision of walking away from her family's beloved Italian restaurant, Giovanna's path shows how embracing uncertainty becomes your greatest strength.

With refreshing candor, Giovanna share...

When David Schafran felt his life spiraling into depression and emptiness, he discovered an unexpected lifeline – salsa dancing. That first night on the dance floor sparked something profound: "It makes me feel so happy because it's so joyous and flavorful and juicy." This moment of clarity eventually led David from his high-stress tech startup in Boston to the vibrant streets of Medellín, Colombia, where he immersed...

Bonus 8 - Dr. Douglas Brouwer's journey from Western Michigan to the world and back again offers profound insights into how travel shapes our spiritual lives and understanding of home.

After spending 40 years serving as a Presbyterian pastor around the globe, Doug's adventures took him from maximum security prisons in Philadelphia to a church in Zurich, Switzerland, where he learned German at age 60. His travels ...

#156 - Chris Nance's life reads like an adventure novel where dropping out of school at 13 somehow leads to piloting massive ships down the Mississippi River and co-founding a successful coffee company. Growing up just south of New Orleans in a family of riverboat pilots and commercial fishermen, Chris's education took an unexpected turn after Hurricane Katrina when his mother discontinued homeschooling. Shortly after, hi...

Most of us dream of adventures in far-off places, but between demanding jobs, packed schedules, and the sheer overwhelm of planning, those dreams often remain just that—dreams. Enter Ross Alcorn, the mastermind behind Itinerary Boss, who's made it his mission to turn travel aspirations into reality for busy professionals.

Ross's journey didn't begin with a goal to start a travel company. It started with a si...

#154 - Imagine plunging down a 35-foot waterfall strapped inside a kayak, or trying to compose a stunning piano piece that captures the serenity of nature. These are just fragments of Jon Cheney's extraordinary journey as a creator, adventurer, entrepreneur, and man of faith.

From his early years in a musical household where his parents prioritized owning a grand piano before even having proper furniture, to his teena...

#153 - Meet Ryan Mellon, a man who completely transformed his life by breaking free from the grind of 80-hour workweeks to embrace a life of global adventure. For over a decade, Ryan worked grueling 14-hour days, splitting time between fixing deep fryers and sorting packages at UPS, until a transformative two-week trip to Costa Rica ignited a vision for something different.

This captivating conversation tracks Ryan's ...

The untold story of how a young Peruvian boy's fascination with National Geographic magazines transformed into a life dedicated to global exploration unfolds in my conversation with Jorge Salas Guevara. As founder of New Paths Expeditions, Jorge has crafted extraordinary journeys to 58 destinations across our planet's most remote corners while personally visiting over 102 unique locations.

Jorge's adventure ...

Bonus 7 - Unlock your motivation in our latest episode featuring Devan Gonzalez, a dynamic entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast whose journey inspires countless individuals. From a young age, Devan was pushed to explore different sports, leading him to become a martial arts instructor at just 13. This early exposure laid the groundwork for his lifelong passion for fitness and entrepreneurship.

In this engaging conversation...

#151 - What could inspire someone to leave a stable engineering career and venture into the unknown on a bicycle? Meet Jacob Lemanski, whose incredible journey of 999 days biking across the globe defies expectations and challenges societal norms. In this episode, Jacob shares his odyssey from rural Pennsylvania to the world stage, driven by a passion ignited during a cross-country bike tour at the tender age of 20. His story is not...

Ever wondered how an introverted boy from Oklahoma City ended up as a star of the all-new Mickey Mouse Club? Join me as I sit down with Chase Hampton—a cherished figure from the '90s entertainment scene—to explore his remarkable journey to the stage. Through candid personal stories, Chase shares the serendipitous moments that shaped his path, from an unexpected meeting with Disney casting directors in a Dallas hotel to joining...

What happens when a former Royal Air Force member swaps his parachute for a mountain bike and embarks on a breathtaking quest across Iceland? Meet Steven James Ferris, a man who has redefined his life with adventure, weaving tales from his military past into a riveting 72-hour bikepacking expedition to support a cause close to his heart. Steven transports us from the lush landscapes of his childhood in South Wales to the formidable...

Glen Van Peski shares his philosophy of ultralight backpacking, revealing how taking less can lead to a more fulfilling life. Through personal stories of adventure, gratitude, and survival, he encourages listeners to embrace minimalism and focus on meaningful experiences. 
• Overview of Glen Van Peski's philosophy on ultralight backpacking 
• Discussion of his iconic 4,200-mile bike journey at 17 
• The impact of a...