What drives someone to leave behind comfort and pursue something deeply meaningful? In this episode of On Adventure, I sit down with Tanner Critz - a martial artist, Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, and founder of Unity Martial Arts in Little Rock. This conversation isn’t just about hiking 2,200 miles or building a successful dojo. It’s about identity, purpose, and the courage it takes to follow your own path - especially when it’s steep and uncertain.

Tanner opens up about his pivotal adventures: hiking the AT alone with a hidden bleeding ulcer, turning a quiet martial arts passion into a thriving community, and facing a near-death COVID experience that shook his world. We explore what it means to live with intention, take risks that matter, and find a sense of home in both place and people. Arthur Brooks says that to live a happy, meaningful life, we all have to answer two questions...Why am I here, and What am I willing to die for? If you’ve ever asked yourself either of these questions - this episode is for you.

[3:42] - How a year of reflection led Tanner to hike the Appalachian Trail
[8:15] - Experiencing deep physical pain—and choosing not to quit
[14:29] - The unexpected transition from graphic design to martial arts
[20:51] - Starting Unity Martial Arts and building community through connection
[31:03] - The philosophy of self-defense and teaching through empathy
[39:30] - Surviving COVID: A near-death experience and its lasting impact
[46:10] - Finding peace, purpose, and the value of rest
[52:58] - Advice for anyone standing at the edge of a big life decision

• Unity Martial Arts, Little Rock

• The Appalachian Trail Conservancy

• Books Mentioned:

  • End to Ending: An Appalachian Thru Hiker's Story by Tanner Critz

  • Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chögyam Trungpa

If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow, rate, and review the podcast. Also check out our new YouTube page and be sure to subcribe there. And don’t forget to share it with someone who might be standing at the edge of their own next big step. See you next time, adventurers.

In this special episode of the On Adventure Podcast, I sit down with the unstoppable Holly Budge—an adventurer, conservationist, and the first woman to skydive over Mount Everest. With World Female Ranger Week in full swing, this conversation couldn’t be more timely. You can find out more about what these incredibly brave female rangers do here and why they are being celebrated this week. Holly opens up about transforming fear into fuel, climbing the world’s highest peak solo, and how her bold expeditions became a platform for championing female wildlife rangers.

We explore her work with How Many Elephants and the founding of World Female Ranger Week, diving into the challenges and triumphs of the women on the front lines of conservation. Whether you’re an adventure junkie, a purpose-driven leader, or someone looking for that next spark of inspiration, this episode delivers the goods.

Timeline Summary:

[2:15] - How a single conversation launched Holly’s journey to skydive Everest
[6:47] - What it’s like to freefall at 29,500 feet over the Himalayas
[12:22] - Training your mindset for mental toughness and high-altitude endurance
[17:31] - The origin story of How Many Elephants and connecting passion with purpose
[21:18] - Launching World Female Ranger Week and elevating unheard voices
[27:05] - Grit, resilience, and the power of women protecting the wild
[35:40] - What Holly’s adventures have taught her about life and leadership

Links & Resources:

• Holly Budge: hollybudge.com

• World Female Ranger Week: worldfemalerangerweek.org

• How Many Elephants: howmanyelephants.org

• Follow Holly on Instagram: @hollybudge

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In this episode of On Adventure, I sit down with Jess Hanson—a certified mental performance consultant, ultra runner, and coach—to explore what it takes to build a resilient mindset for both high-performance athletes and everyday adventurers. Jess shares her journey from playing lacrosse in college to coaching athletes across sports like skiing, mountain biking, and ultra running. We dive deep into how the mental game shapes athletic success, and how pushing your physical and emotional limits can unlock deeper purpose, confidence, and grit.

If you’ve ever faced the “dark moments” in endurance sports or wondered how to mentally prepare for big goals, this conversation is for you. We talk about identity, risk, motivation, and what it really takes to show up when things get hard. Plus, Jess gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her own ultra journey - yes, even the gritty details of 100K races, helicopter skiing, and rim-to-rim-to-rim Grand Canyon adventures.

• [1:20] - From lacrosse to ultra running: Jess shares her athletic evolution

• [4:45] - Why mental performance matters—and how it’s different from traditional coaching

• [11:40] - Facing fear in the backcountry and building confidence in uncertain moments

• [16:50] - Running her first 50-miler with just two months of training (!)

• [21:55] - Mental spirals and self-talk strategies during her 100K trail race

• [33:10] - Why she loves working with high school athletes and how she helps them reshape their relationship with sport

• [45:10] - What drives Jess to keep pushing her limits in running, skiing, and life

• Jess Hanson’s Coaching: https://cognelite.net

• Association for Applied Sport Psychology: https://appliedsportpsych.org

  • Find a CMPC-certified consultant: AASP Directory

• Instagram: @cognelite

If this episode gave you fuel to keep chasing your goals - or gave you tools for when the trail gets tough - please rate, follow, and share On Adventure. Also find us on our new YouTube page and click to subscribe! And if you haven’t yet, go back and check out Episode 36 with Jess’s dad, Scott Hanson, for more inspiring stories from the trail.