#202 - What if one hard rule could change the way you face everything from headwinds to heartbreak? I sat down with author and adventurer Teri Brown to unpack how a 3,102-mile tandem bike ride across America helped her leave an abusive past, reclaim her voice, and build a set of life rules sturdy enough to carry her through grief.

Starting in Astoria and crossing Lolo Pass into Big Sky country, Teri and her husband Bruce pedaled through pandemic uncertainty, logistics stress, and days so hot the road rippled. Riding tandem forced a new kind of honesty: shared cadence, three-count stand breaks, and zero room for simmering resentment. A Dollar General parking lot became a place to name a hurt and move on. Montana gifted them wonder—horses racing uphill beside them, the Milky Way hanging close, and Comet NEOWISE blazing a tail across the night sky. Those moments of awe refueled their grit when flats stacked up and the wind turned cruel.

Out of the ride came Ten Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure. “Never quit on a bad day” stopped a mid-ride collapse after three flats; “Do hard things” later became a mantra as Bruce faced glioblastoma. Terry read from the book at his bedside; he passed as she spoke those words, a final gift that still gets her up when grief says stay down. The finish line in Washington, D.C. unlocked a deeper shift: the question changed from “Can I?” to “What do I want?” She chose authorship, publishing novels that explore identity, war, resilience, and healing.

If you’re navigating burnout, rebuilding after loss, or wrestling with self-doubt, this conversation offers practical resilience, relationship tools, and a fresh definition of adventure: bigger than your plans, kinder than your fear, and honest about the work. Listen, share it with someone who needs a push, and tell us: which rule will you carry into your next hill?

To learn more about Teri and her books visit www.terimbrown.com and check her out on Instagram @terimbrown_author.

Subscribe to the Human Adventure for more human stories of grit and growth, leave a review to help others find the show, and connect with us to keep the conversation going. You can find me on Instagram @humanadventurepod or check out the video episodes on YouTube @humanadventurepod.

Visit geneticinsights.co and use the code "DISCOVER25" to enjoy a sweet 25% off your first purchase.

#201 - Some stories hit like a wave and then teach you how to breathe underwater. Our conversation with Zander Sprague does exactly that, moving from the shock of losing his sister to murder to the hard-won wisdom that comes from advocacy, travel, and choosing the next brave step.

Zander opens a window into the often-ignored world of sibling grief. He explains why brothers and sisters become invisible mourners, how that silence delays healing, and what simple acknowledgment can do for a family. We trace his path from writing Making Lemonade to serving on the board of The Compassionate Friends, and we unpack practical ways to support “sibling survivors” with empathy, language, and presence.

Adventure threads through everything. Zander defines it as seeking new places and doing what scares you, then proves it with stories: a misread note in Tasmania that turned into a farm lunch and a nine-hole pasture course, and a first safari sighting of lion cubs who later became the famed Mapogo coalition. Those moments illustrate how travel builds courage, how kindness creates opportunity, and how serendipity rewards people who show up. We also dig into his “epic” framework: structure lowers stress, courage embraces detours, and progress starts with one step forward. From dealing with flight delays to releasing a book after years of doubt, Zander shows how to turn friction into momentum.

If you’re navigating loss, craving purpose, or waiting for a sign to begin, consider this your nudge. Hear the tools, borrow the mindset, and start your own pilgrimage today. Subscribe, leave a review to support the show, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that the next step counts more than perfect certainty.

To learn more about Zander and his work visit zandersprague.com and give him a follow on Instagram @epic_begins.

Want to be a guest on the show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake

#200 - A new name, a sharper mission, and a story that hits like a drumbeat. Journey with Jake evolves into The Human Adventure, and we mark the moment with Joleen Hyde, a South African guide whose life moved from the weight of apartheid to the work of building bridges through travel, education, and Ubuntu. This is not a safari highlight reel. It’s a tour of how courage, forgiveness, and community can transform how we move through the world.

We start with the why behind our new title: a focus on people, resilience, and purpose. Joleen brings that focus to life. She explains what it meant to be legally classified under apartheid, how her father’s quiet generosity shaped her, and what she learned while working with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Mandela’s model of forgiveness looms large here, not as a slogan but as a discipline that keeps hope practical. From there, Joleen traces a path to the United States and the creation of Into Africa Tours, an impact-driven approach to travel that pairs wildlife and coastline with classrooms, townships, and feeding programs.

You’ll hear how guests step beyond surface-level tourism to meet teachers and students, support community projects, and experience the spirit of Ubuntu: I am because we are. We talk about the hard parts too—limits, heartbreak, and the humility to choose one project and follow through. There’s laughter in the mix, from language lessons to bold bites of local food, and plenty of adventure that still honors safety and respect. Listeners walk away with a richer view of South Africa, tangible ways to get involved, and a challenge to keep serving back home, long after the passport is stamped.

Ready to rethink why you travel and what your presence can do? Press play, share this with someone who needs a dose of human connection, and subscribe to stay with us on The Human Adventure. Your review helps more people find stories that turn empathy into action.

To learn more about Joleen and Into Africa Tours visit her website www.intoafricatours.com and give her a follow on Instagram @intoafrica_tours.

Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake