WELCOME TO ANTHEM OF THE ADVENTURER
with your host Dan Zehner
We must stop using the excuse of having kids and a mortgage to hold us back from a life filled with adventure. I want to share their stories (and more) with you, along with weekly challenges with your friends and family! I want to encourage all of you to live adventurously every day through a mix of casual, crucial, and epic adventures.
Dan ZehnerInitiative Exercises 7 and 8: Visual Diagram, Details and Financials
Latest adventures Ok, so it's been a minute... Thanks for sticking with me! One of my favorite adventures lately was earlier this month out in San Francisco. As challenged by Cadre Igor in Episode 1 of Season 2, I did a 12-mile ruck with a 30# pack in less than 3...
Adventures in the Blue Ridge Mountains with Jane!
The story This past month has been an amazing time filled with adventures of all flavors. A whole other post is definitely in order about the Wild at Heart Boot Camp out in Colorado. So many lessons learned about my heart and our Savior from that trip, I could write a...
Exercise 6: 10 People Closer to My Field
The Exercise Wow, this exercise took a LONG time... it was hard to get advice from some people, but in the end I have a much better...
Initiative Exercise 5: 5 People Who Feel the Problem
This exercise went quick! I actually finished it in one morning... those who know me know that I love to talk to people, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised! I set myself up at Matchbox Coworking Studio for the workday, and just chatted with a couple friends as...
Initiative Exercise 4: 10 Friends and Family
Ok, so that took a weeeee bit longer than I thought it would! Thanks for your patience! I'm back from some epic adventures with good friends and family and ready to share my experience from this exercise (if you want to hear about the adventures of my 50-mile GORUCK...
Initiative book exercise 2 deliverables
The advice So, this was an AWESOME exercise! The challenge was to talk to five people (at least) about the five problem/solution pairs and get advice to improve them. Each person had their own unique perspective on the problem, its actual root cause, or a better way...
Initiative book exercise 2: the five problems
Five problems and solutions In this second exercise, Josh has challenged me to come up with five problems that affect my area of interest. Not just the problem, but a person it affects and how it makes them feel. This is very similar to the Desired End State language...
Initiative book – personal essay
I'm working my way through the book Initiative by our great podcast guest and friend, Josh Spodek (check it out here), and the first challenge he gives is to keep an account of all the exercises as you go through them with some friends, family, or colleagues. I...
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Our Latest Podcasts
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S3E1: Becoming a King with Morgan Snyder
In this episode, I get to share some excellent time on the excavation of a man's soul with Morgan Snyder. We talk about devoting ourselves to the hard, deep work of recovering our hearts and becoming the kind of men that God is happy to entrust with his kingdom. This was one of my favorite… -
Season 3 Teaser - Podcast update
Welcome to Season 3 of the podcast, which will be a bit.... unconventional, as you'll come to hear in this episode. But hey, that's what living an adventurous life is all about! Being a bit unconventional, following where God leads, and taking the path less traveled. Let's journey together!
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COVID-19 Special: Perspective on hard times from my Grandma!
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S2 E8: Season Two Wrap up and After Action Review w/ Dan
Dan gives his after action review of how Season Two went from his perspective, and what's coming next. Share your takeaways in the comments, on Facebook, or Instagram! -
S2 E7: A life full of adventure w/ Alastair Humphreys
Today, we talk about how to live a life full of adventure, especially as a husband and father of young kids. Our guest today is living this out, and we talk about the ups, downs, and messiness of living this kind of life everyday. You'll learn some practical approaches to incorporate into your daily practice… -
S2 E6: Big dreams and adventures w/ Mitch Matthews
Mitch Matthews is a keynote speaker, a success coach and a best-selling author. His podcast called “DREAM. THINK. DO.” is in the top 5% on Apple Podcasts.Mitch has worked with leaders and teams from organizations like NASA, Disney, Booking.com and the Principal Financial Group. Plus, Mitch speaks on college campuses around the country.Most importantly, Mitch lives… -
S2 E5: Tourism for Peace and Stewardship w/ Shannon Stowell
Today we have Shannon Stowell, who is the CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), talking to us about the amazing impact that adventure can have on our lives, as well as those we adventure with. Want to learn about amazing experiences that are available, no matter your budget? Or get motivated for travelling… -
S2 E4: An adventurous mom's life w/ Emily McCarthy
Today we get to talk with the wonderful Emily McCarthy, head of all things women at GORUCK! She's got some amazing stories of her adventures in the foreign service, at GORUCK, and of course as a wife and mother. You're going to love her perspective!Check out one of my favorite stories about Emily's adventures here:https://blog.goruck.com/news/027-the-goruck-show-rucking-colombia/ -
S2 E3: Serving veterans through adventure - with Brad McLeod
Today we talk with Brad McLeod, a retired Navy SEAL from SEAL Team 4, who runs SEAL Grinder PT! The big theme of Brad's life is how perseverance has developed his character, and brought hope to his life for a better future. You'll love hearing his stories and get inspired to go do some hard… -
S2 E2: Brotherhood, Fatherhood, and Adventure - with Blayne Smith
Today we get to talk to Blayne Smith, retired Green Beret and former President of GORUCK. He shares about his focus of adventure with his family, and how he uses adventure to connect with his wife, children, and friends. You'll love this one, especially how to go on low cost adventures with your wife, or… -
S2 E1: The Battle of Mogadishu and Beyond - the Ballad of Cadre Igor
Cadre Igor is a veteran of the US Special Forces, and shares his story from the Battle of Mogadishu, and his adventures since then. Buckle up for a wild ride!Sign up for your next GORUCK event here: https://www.goruck.com/find-an-event/Here's one I'll be doing with Cadre Igor next year: https://www.goruck.com/event-16398/Follow Cadre Igor's adventures on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cadre.igor -
Season 2 Teaser Episode
Get ready for Season 2! We have NAVY SEALs, Army Special Forces, former CIA operatives, entrepreneurs, and adventurers ready to show you how to practice PERSEVERANCE!Make sure you do the challenge every week, and prove you completed it on Instagram! You can get started right now! Make a post, and tag @anthemoftheadventurer with the hashtag… -
Living the life of the wild heart w/ Sam and Blaine Eldredge
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How not to start a furniture company, and find adventure in building beautiful things w/ Marc Spagnuolo
Topics: Adventure challenge (4:23) Background, how did he get into woodworking anyway? (7:04) The Wood Whisperer Genesis and evolution (17:00) Favorite moments from the Wood Whisperer (21:00) Woodworkers Fighting Cancer (22:55) Marc’s new book! Essential Joinery (27:00) Kids and woodworking (32:55) Inspirations as a dad (38:15) Next for Marc (42:00) Links: Wood Whisperer: https://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/ Wood… -
34: Adventures that don't cost anything w/ Josh Spodek
I really enjoyed talking with Josh, and his personal statement on his blog just shows him best: "I do what I love in life and do my best to cut out what I don’t. Loving what you do means you will do more than if you don’t, so I’ve accomplished a few things to high… -
Season 1 Wrap Up and Summer Adventures
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33: Saving the planet through adventure w/ Christina Zerfas
Today on the show we have Christina Zerfas, founder of the Cans for Kili project! We talk about her upcoming expedition and how she's raising money for that by recycling over 1 million cans! Here's where to follow along and support Christina's mission: https://christinazerfas.wixsite.com/cansforkili -
32: Planting the Seeds of Adventure in Your Kids w/ Vic Tesolin
Today on the show… we have a who shares my love for making big pieces of wood into smaller ones and takes some Canadian sense of humor into his teaching and work at Lee Valley Tools, Vic Tesolin. He's a veteran of the Canadian Army where he served with pride for 14 yrs in the… -
31: Adventuring with a Growth Mindset w/ Andy Storch
On today’s episode of the Anthem of the Adventurer, we have my good friend and Dad Edge Alliance brother, Andy Storch! Andy is an expert in business development and coaching, and hosts two podcasts, the Andy Storch Show and the Talent Development Hotseat. Today we’re talking about some ways to adventure with your family, the… -
30: Adventuring as the Everyday Fighter w/ Philipp Lomboy
Today's guest, Philipp Lomboy challenges us to discover the part within us that FIGHTS. Everyone has it, and when we embrace that we find something within ourselves that is willing to embrace pain, hardship, and resilience to get better and defend what matters to us. To find out what Philipp is up to and listen… -
29: A Life of Success and Significance w/ Aaron Walker
Today on the show we have Aaron Walker, or Big A as his friends call him! Big A has been a great influence on my life and the lives of thousands of other men who are looking to live a life of success and significance. Aaron has been doing just that for over 38 years… -
28: Coaching for Life w/ Darren Jacklin
This week we have Darren Jacklin, who has an amazing story of overcoming adversity to embrace his own personal growth journey to inspire others to live the life they were meant to. There are so many great nuggets of wisdom in this episode, I think you're really going to love it! Get ready for a… -
Life of the Adventurer Episode 2
This week is Thanksgiving in the US, and I'm super grateful for all the amazing people in my life! I'm sharing some insights and shoutouts from just a few of them this week including: Scott Colby: www.amazon.com/Grateful-Entrepreneur-Gratitude-Strategies-Relationships-ebook/dp/B07HKK43YJ Larry and Anne Yatch: www.plan-sight.com Eric Davis: www.ericdavis215.com Jason McCarthy: www.goruck.com Armando Cruz: www.armandocruz.com Dan McPherson: www.leadersmustlead.com Ricky… -
27: Adventure to Change the World w/ Jeff Bonaldi
Today on the show… we have Jeff Bonaldi, the founder of The Explorer’s Passage. Today we’re going to talk about some incredible moments of transformation in Jeff’s life that were made possible by him embracing adventure in his life. If you want to learn more about the awesome things Jeff is up to, or connect… -
Life of the Adventurer Episode 1
This episode is all about updates on my life of adventure and a new direction for the podcast! With all the new changes coming, send me any feedback you have on Facebook Messenger or via email @ dan@anthemoftheadventurer.com. I want to hear what you like about the show, what you don't like, and especially what… -
26: Following Where the Road Takes You w/ Dan Grec
Today on the show we have a guy who decided that his job as a software engineer wasn’t fulfilling his need for adventure in his life, packed up his car and drove to Alaska from his home in Canada. Once there, he discovered an untapped desired to keep exploring from the seat of an overlanding… -
25 Clarify Your Filter With Tools and Tactics from the Navy SEALs w/ Larry Yatch
Today on the show… We have my friend, Larry Yatch. Now Larry is a special breed of guy: he was bound and determined to be a Navy fighter pilot since he saw the movie Top Gun in 3rd grade, but that changed when a friend gave him a Navy SEAL sweatshirt which would redirect the… -
24 Overlanding and Re-Discovering the Divine Music with Scott Leuthold
Today we have an awesome guest with a passion for the wild places of the earth, their protection, and exploring them (especially in kitted out offroad vehicles!). Scott Leuthold is a writer, speaker, and advocate for getting outdoors and re-discovering what Thoreau called “the divine music.” Scott challenges us to push the envelope of our… -
Bonus Call to Action - Team Rubicon
Today on the show I’m giving you a more direct call to action. This week, tens of thousands of people are preparing to endure the wrath of Hurricane Florence, and a group of tens of thousands more are ready to deploy their skills to be the best part of their worst day and Get (Stuff)… -
23 How to Grow as a Creative Adventurer in Business with Dan McPherson
Dan McPherson works with people who have a creative spirit, either one they fully embrace or one they’ve repressed for years in a cubicle. He helps people find clarity, adventure, and prosperity in their creative pursuits. He’s a guy that believes in getting a little better every day, and helping those he serves do that… -
22 Adventures in Wild Ideas w/ Shelby Stanger
“Starting lines are almost more important than finish lines.” Shelby Stanger is a journalist, surfer, podcaster, and adventurer who enjoys travel and big adventures. She has a great outlook on life and some amazing stories to share from her own life and her podcast, Wild Ideas Worth Living where she interviews world-class explorers, athletes, authors,… -
21 Building a Life of Gratitude and Adventure w/ Scott Colby
Today on the show, we have Scott Colby who is creating some amazing things out in Colorado around the space of gratitude and adventure with his company, Say it With Gratitude. He found inspiration for this through an amazing trip to Guatemala that changed his life. He volunteered to help build a school for a… -
20 Adventures That Create Deeper Connections in Families with Chris Saturnio
On this week’s show, we have my good friend Chris Saturnio who’s a fellow team lead in the Dad Edge Alliance and a product designer for the athletic wear company, Hylete! I know I’m inspired to work out just a little harder when I’m wearing something he’s designed, and Chris is always one of those… -
19 Adventures in Becoming a Significant Man with Warren Peterson
Today on the show we have my good friend, Warren Peterson, the author of “Becoming a Significant Man.” His book is a really great read for any man out there who is looking for more out of life, and is ready to take some action on that. It’s a very readable, actionable book with some… -
18 Adventures in Getting Lost with Robert Szmiegel
Don’t just play tourist, take time to mingle with the locals! Learn the language! Find out about their culture. To Robert Szmiegel, getting lost is a benefit! It’s part of the journey! He does some of his best work outside the office! Taking a ride on a bike and when he came back to the… -
17 Adventures in Travel with Kevin Huhn
Kevin Huhn has a passion for travel and talks about how as a human there’s things we can only learn in nature, when we’re surrounded by nature. Signs and logos, that’s all man made, but nature is what brings us together. Through walks in the woods, what we think is important fades into insignificance next… -
16 Adventures in Scheming and Entrepreneurship with Douglas Costello
Today on the show we welcome another fellow woodworker and gamer that I met last year at GenCon and I’ve been looking forward to reconnecting with him for a while. We’ve got Douglas Costello, the co-founder and CEO of Wyrmwood! He’s been creating expertly crafted wooden gaming accessories for Wyrmwood for four years after founding… -
15 Adventures in Outdoor Leadership with Shawn Stratton
Today on the show we welcome Shawn Stratton, who’s an adventurer from Newfoundland who worked for many years at the National Outdoor Leadership school. We talk about his time at Outward Bound, the National Outdoor Leadership school and how his career in adventure changed once he started a family. It was really cool to hear… -
14 Adventures in Fitness, Family, Finances, and Faith with Dai Manuel
Dai Manuel is an award-winning digital thought leader and author, executive performance coach and certified lifestyle mentor who empowers people to lead a FUN-ctionally fit life through education, encouragement, and community. Dai models his work based on 5 F’s: Fitness, Family, Finances, Faith with an overarching roof of FUN, built on a rock-solid foundation of… -
13 Adventures in Gaming and the Outdoors with David Rehagen
What do you get when you combine a passion for board gaming, the outdoors, and adventure with great skills at starting up successful businesses? You get my friend, David Rehagen! He’s started an AMAZING new business called the Gamer’s Ranch which I found out about on one of my favorite blogs, the Dice Tower. He… -
12 Adventures of the Wild Heart with John Eldredge
Today on the show we have the man who inspired this whole thing through one conversation about taking on a mission that has been deep within me, talking to God about it, and following what He says. From that one short conversation, the trajectory of my life and the lives of many other men have… -
11 Adventures in Deep Conversations with Jan Keck
Today on the show we have an awesome guy who has found a passion for adventure, growth, and fostering deep connections with people through vulnerable conversations. He is a man of many talents from video production to outdoor skills and has overcome a lot of adversity from moving to Canada from Germany and starting his… -
10 Adventures in Woodworking with Mike Konas of Dog Might Games
Today on the show we have a man who’s got a love for music, the outdoors, board gaming, plaid, and of course… woodworking! Mike Konas was a blast to talk to about how the process of creating functional pieces from natural materials is an adventure, from that first pass on the milling machines where you… -
09 Adventures in Freelancing and Financial Freedom with Vincent Pugliese
Today on the show we have a very good friend of mine that I highly value in my life for his mentorship, challenge, and council. He’s a husband, father, an award winning photographer, best selling author of the book Freelance to Freedom and just an epic human being. Today we have Vincent Pugliese! Vincent is… -
08 Adventures in Personal Growth with Drew Tupper
Today on the show, we have my good friend from the Dad Edge Alliance, Drew Tupper. Drew is a facilitator for growth, an educator, a committed father and husband and is on an adventure with his family in Grenada. He’s helping men and their families grow into an empowered life of adventure and growth, and… -
07 Adventures in Personal Fitness with Alex Vanhouten
Today on the show, we have the host of the Defining Dad Bod podcast and a good friend of mine from the Dad Edge Alliance, Alex Vanhouten! He’s working to help us dads create a legacy of health and fitness for our kids, and he has some great stories about solo adventures as well as… -
06 Adventures in Leaving a Legacy with Armando Cruz
Today on the show, we have the bestselling author of The Legacy Code: Modern Man's Guide To Escape Obscurity & Live A Life Unleashed, Armando Cruz. Armando is one of those guys that lives life to the fullest and designs his life to be full of adventurous experiences for himself and his family. I’ve really… -
05 Adventures in World Travel from Costa Rica with Ricky Shetty
Do you tend to think “my kids are so young, there’s no way we can travel with them! We’ll go insane!” Today on the show we’ll hear about how one man takes his young family with him around the world and shares his adventures on a blog, podcast, and social media. Joining us all the… -
04 Adventuring in Financial Freedom with Brad Barrett
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got obligations all over the place, from a family, to the mortgage and other bills to pay, and sometimes you feel like especially those financial obligations can keep you from living a life full of adventure. Today we’re going to talk about how with some discipline, creativity, and going… -
Bonus Episode: Hunting Hurricanes with Commander Justin Kibbey
Do you ever wonder how meteorologists get their hurricane data? On today’s show, host Dan Zehner gets the answers from Commander Justin Kibbey, one of NOAA’s “hurricane hunter” pilots. Kibbey flies NOAA’s P-3 Orion aircraft missions straight into hurricanes, multiple times, while a crew of weather experts and technicians gather data to predict the path…
