Carpe Diem: Live Your Dream
by dalesimonson
Are you itching to add a little spice to your life? To get outdoors and do something new, ambitious, and cool that you’ve never done before? Perhaps some sort of new challenge or adventure? This podcast, ”Carpe Diem: Live Your Dream” has the simple mission of helping you, the listener, to dream up an adventure for your life - and more importantly, to inspire you to go fulfill it. Each episode profiles an outdoor activity or adventure of a guest who entertains with their fascinating story. We explore their dream, what motivated them to action, the challenges they encountered, and how they overcame those challenges to see things to conclusion. They inspire, educate, and motivate - all to help you take on your own dream adventure or challenge. A new episode is published each Friday to give you something to noodle on over the weekend. And check out our accompanying website at www.gocarpediemnow.com for even more stories, guidance, and motivation.Be entertained, and learn how you, too,
Episodes
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140 Swim the Length of Lake Powell
A normal guy who takes on an epic swim in an epic location.... Here's someone who dreamed for years about swimming the entire 140 mile length of Lake Powell - a beautiful series of flooded slot canyons behind Glen Canyon Dam. His description of the 10-day self-supported swim towing 200 lbs of…
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Big Wave Surfing (Want Some Truffles?)
Here's a guy with a passion for surfing the biggest, heaviest, narliest waves he can find. It's not for the money or the sponsorship or the fame - just the rush that comes with having 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water dumped over his head while traveling at 60 mph on his surfboard....
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Hey, They're Sailing My Boat (Around the World)!
A non-sailer had an inexplicable desire to sail around the world, so what did he do? He convinced his wife and three young children to join in. Then he purchased my sailboat and launched a 2+ year odyssey to live out his dream. That left my wife and me boatless, but happily living vicariously...
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Mt. Everest Speed Record
This guy is crazy - in an impressive way! Ty Andrews went from Mt. Everest base camp to the summit in <10 hours this year, smashing the previous record that had stood for over two decades. For reference, most climbers require 4-5 days or more for that climb. Hear from Ty about his favorite part…
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Maiden: The Most Inspiring Sailing Story
Tracy Edwards was a high school dropout in her early 20's who set her mind on the seemingly impossible dream to sail in the Whitbread Round the World race. The male-dominated sport at the time provided no opportunity, so she raised the funds and fielded the first all-female team herself. The...
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Under Antartica Expedition
An epic 3 month, 2,500 mile kite-skiing expedition across the Antarctic continent by two scientists. They pulled a ground-penetrating radar on sleds to map the Antarctic ice sheet and study climate change. Here is an extraordinary adventurer / glaciologist who is as good at exploration and…
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MR340 Post-Race Edition
The 2026 Missouri River 340 (MR340) is over and the results are in. This episode includes your host's results, the outcomes of the pre-race predictions, words of wisdom of a rookie participant who took a flying leap into this new, big challenge, and an interview with Scott Miller who led a team...
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Your Host's MR340 Paddle Race: Pre-Race Edition
The MR340 is one of the largest, longest, and toughest paddle races in the country, coursing 340 miles down the Missouri River from west to east across the state by the same name. In this episode, hear from the race director, a 13 year-old MR340 veteran and her dad, and your host (me) along with…
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The Rusch of a Life Fully Lived
Here’s a woman who has accomplished so much in life, including world-class performance in numerous sports, continuous business pivots to keep her love of outdoor adventures as her livelihood, and dedicated service to give back to others. It's an episode filled with perspectives on living life at...
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Three Brothers in a Boat
Three Scottish brothers, restless for adventure, decided almost on a whim to row across the Atlantic Ocean. They hadn't even set down their oars before agreeing to take on the Pacific next. What followed was 9,000 miles of open water and 139 unbroken days at sea -- an experience so raw and...
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The Life of a Serial Adventurer
Life can be interesting when you embark on a series of adventures and challenges - like this Canadian. Cycling across the U.S., Mexico, and Africa, running 200+ mile ultras, doing a non-stop 70+ mile swim.... The list goes on, and each undertaking brings insight and learnings applicable to daily...
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Filming Inside Monster Waves
A surfer approaching you at 30 mph while a 3-story wall of water comes down from above... how do you hold the camera steady to get that shot of a life time. Hear from Tim Bonython, the preeminent cinematographer in big wave surfing, on what it's like to be out in the surf filming at places like...
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"The Best Of" Sampler
Over 75 episodes of this show with fascinating adventurers of all types, sharing their stories, inspiration, and advice... there's just so much good stuff to listen to. Well, here's a sampling of a few of my favorite snippets from across those episodes. If you haven't heard the full version…
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My 220 Mile Pilgrimage Race Results
Did I complete the minimum 220 miles in The Pilgrimage ultra-marathon? Or did I DNF? Tune in to hear the results of my first 200+ mile ultra, as well as words from other participants on the trail that explain why such an endeavor is worth it.
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Your Host Doubles Down on His Hundo
The outcome of this episode is still unknown as your host soon embarks on a 220 mile running (and lots of walking) race -- double his first 100 miler nearly a year ago. This episode describes the ultra marathon called The Pilgrimage and includes my pre-race thoughts and a discussion with the race...
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Otillo World Champion Couple
The Otillo swim/run race format is a unique one, better known in Europe than in the U.S. Here’s a married couple who won the World Championship describing how they train and race together at the highest level of competition, all while maintaining their “normal” lives with work and four young...
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Adventure in Progress
After 74 weeks without missing the regular Friday podcast publication date, I am skipping an episode tis week as I have current on an adventure. Listen in for that on episode 76.
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The Grandmaster of Snow Art
Do you see a frozen lake with a fresh layer of snow as a palette for art? My guest for this episode does. For 20 years, this guy has been strapping on snowshoes and stomping out amazing geometric designs the size of 2 or 3 soccer fields. To the tune of 50,000+ steps each. And he’s created nearly...
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Paddling 3,000 Miles to the Arctic Ocean
A young couple decides to embark on a massive canoe journey 3,000 miles from Minnesota to the Arctic Ocean. Many thought it would end their marriage. Instead, hear how this bonding experience has carried forward into their lives in so many positive ways - in their marriage, child raising…
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Solo to the South Pole in 55 Days
My amazing guest from Episode #32 (talking about the Seven Summits and the Greenland Icecap) is back for another impressive adventure recently fulfilled – a solo, unsupported ski journey from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole. That’s 700 miles alone, pulling a 240 pound sled for 55 days....
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Ice-Biking the 5 Frozen Great Lakes
Lots of people boat on the Great Lakes in the summer, and a handful ice fish on them in winter. Here’s a guy who has bicycled on all 5 of these huge lakes in the winter, and he wants to know why more people don’t take advantage of these amazing frozen highways. This might be the birth of a new...
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Arctic Expeditions for Teens
Here’s a story about three teens, each taking their own unique 500+ mile, 7 week adventure near the Arctic Circle. Two things their journeys had in common were the personal growth that came out of their experiences, and the amazing organization which arranged things.
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Two Guys and a Boat: Canoeing Around Ireland
So this guy has a spontaneous dream to take a canoe 1,000 miles around the entire island of Ireland. And he manages to find another guy who decides it sounds like a fun challenge. Hear the wonderful story of adventure and chasing a dream in a canoe. And their dreams of adventure don't stop there!
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What This 11 Year Old Did is Amazing!
What inspired this 11 year old girl to dream of biking the entire Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR)? That’s more than 2,500 miles of pedaling over 45 days, including almost a quarter million feet of elevation gain. She not only dreamed of doing it – she did it, and is likely the youngest…
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"The Legend" Doing the A.T. at 80
Here’s an 80 year-old woman who dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail for nearly 70 years before one day realizing she’d better get going or she’d never do it. She laughs off her many challenges (including knee replacement surgery) while achieving the record as the oldest female thru-hiker to...
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Ice Boat Racing at 100 mph
Can you imagine traveling 100 mph or more skimming just inches above a frozen lake? Try ice boat racing. Until the early 1900s, ice boats were the fastest human vehicle on the planet. Today you can find them cruising or racing on frozen lakes all over the world. Here’s an 8-time world ice boat...
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You Only Die Once
If we’re lucky, we get about 4,000 Mondays in our life. How many do you have left? And what do you want to do with your remaining ones? Here’s the author of “You Only Die Once” who gives an uplifting take on the seemlingly morbid concept of memento mori to help us live a more fulfilling life.
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The Amazing World of Cave Photography
What's it like to go a mile deep into a cave to take photographs? Here's a fascinating episode with one of the world's top cave photographers describing how he combines the artistic flair for professional photography with the challenging environment of spelunking in the longest and deepest caves…
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Aged to Perfection: The Arrowhead at 75
I appreciate meeting people who achieve way more than I believe I ever could. It gives me inspiration to strive harder to get there myself. This episode profiles a 75 year old who joined me in last week’s Arrowhead 135 Ultra winter trail race and became the oldest finisher in the race’s 22 year...
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The Coldest I've Ever Been
Here’s another episode about your host’s own adventure – this one being about the coldest (and most fatigued) I’ve ever been in my life. It was during the Arrowhead 135 Ultra that I participated in the last week of January in Northern Minnesota. The idea to run this race came from my Episode #23...
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How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives
The author of “Tough Broad” and “Gutsy Girl” knows a thing or two about adventure herself. She talks about the benefits of getting outdoors for adventure, about the power of awe, about leading with bravery in life rather than with fear, and about the 5 dimensions necessary for a long and…
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Ice Climbing Niagara Falls
You've heard of people trying to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, right? It's usually not successful. But here's a guy who seeks new and different adventures. He climbed Niagara Falls. In the winter. Up the ice. Successfully. And legally! And while the half-day climb was challenging, the two...
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The Seven Summits - Squeezed Into a Busy Life
When I first met him, this doctor seemed like just a normal guy. It turns out he has climbed the Seven Summits while managing a career, raising a family, and maintaining a fantastic blog. His summiting of the Vinson Massif in Antartica was impressive, but so too were his two seasons on Mt.…
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Adventures of a Chief Vibe Maker
An annual Great Norse Run across Iceland. Another across Tajikistan. A bicycle adventure from the UK to India. A charity relay across the U.S. All with energy posing out at the seams. That's the kind of stuff a Chief Vibe Maker would do, and that's exactly what my guest this episode is - a Chief...
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Packrafting Arctic Rivers
Four friends decide to try a new way to explore the Brooks Range above the Arctic Circle in Alaska. They stuff small whitewater rafts in their backpacks and spend a month pack-rafting hundreds of miles through seldom-seen wilderness. Listening to all four of them in this episode, it’s clear they...
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500 Days in the Wild
My guest for this episode hiked, paddled, and skied the entire Trans-Canadian Trail connecting three oceans. She created a spectacular documentary film “500 Days in the Wild” from that adventure, naming the film before she realized her journey would actually require 6 years! Listen to this…
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National Geographic Photographer: What Does It Take?
Here’s a dynamic, fascinating individual who picked up photography in his 30’s and has now had three National Geographic magazine cover stories. He’s roamed the Arctic and so many other far-flung places, capturing the essence of wildlife, scenery, and the indigenous cultures. If you think it just...
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Antarctica - The Easy Way
I recently returned from my own Antarctic adventure – not of the “roughing it” type since I was aboard a National Geographic icebreaker ship rather than hauling a sled and pitching my tent in the snow. But the staff were an eclectic mix of polar explorers with a fascinating mix of backgrounds and...
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A Woman of Polar Firsts
Ann Bancroft has a lifetime of amazing firsts in the world of polar exploration: first woman to reach the North Pole, first woman to reach both the North and South Pole, first woman to ski across the Antarctic continent, and many other big adventures. She has also accomplished so many other...
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Dirty Inspirations: Wisdom from an Adventurer
Here is a professional endurance athlete with adventures in 100 countries, including a 500-mile trek across the mountains of Bhutan. She is the author of Dirty Inspirations: Lessons from the Trenches of Extreme Endurance Sports among other books, and the sports psychologist who coached the 4…
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Wanna Be a Smoke Jumper?
Smoke jumping is an adventure disguised as a job. Afterall, who jumps out of airplanes to live a week or two in the wild fighting a forest fire with little more than a pulaski and the clothes on their back? It’s an occupation few of us know much about – until you listen to this episode where my...
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The Badwater 135 at Any Age
The Badwater 135 ultra-marathon is viewed as one of the toughest running races in the world, starting in Death Valley in 120 degree F temps and including 14,000+ feet of elevation gain. This 2-guest episode was so fun to record with both the youngest person and oldest person ever to finish the...
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Rafting the World's Whitewater
Rafting expeditions on white water rivers can be addictive – or so says my guest in this episode. His repertoire of rafting adventures was built over a decades-long habit of an expedition every year or two and includes dozens of rivers around the world, including Zambia, India, Bhutan, Peru…
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Vendee Globe - Here Comes Canada!
This episode is a conversation with Scott Shawyer, the President and Skipper of the Canada Ocean Racing team, shortly after he and his team completed the 5,000+ mile Ocean Race Europe in their IMOCA 60 foiling ocean racer. That race was just a warm-up for Scott’s ultimate ambition of being the...
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Why Do We Explore?
Do you ever have an itch for adventure? To explore? To try something new? My guest for this episode literally wrote the book on why that is (or isn’t, for some people). He also wrote the book on human endurance. What a fascinating combo of topics that helps explain what's behind the…
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Swimming the Oceans Seven
This teenage woman is on-track to be the youngest person to complete the series of marathon ocean swims known as The Oceans Seven. These are 10-25 mile swims across 7 of the world’s major ocean channels, including the English Channel, Gibraltar Straights, Moloka’i Channel in Hawaii, and the Cook...
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Halfway Anywhere: The King of the Trail
Tyler “Mac” Fox has spent over a decade hiking the most epic trails around the world. Hear how he went from a totally non-outdoorsy guy to the king of the trail, about a sampling of his best hiking adventures, and how he has turned his love of hiking into the most comprehensive website for...
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Would You Rather: Row the Atlantic or Swim the UK Coast?
This is Part 2 of my episode with Jasmine Harrison, the young British woman with an amazing trifecta of ocean records. First she became the youngest female to row 3,000 miles solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She then swam 900 miles up the entire coast of the UK from the southern tip of England to...
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Around the World Solo in the Mini Globe Race
What does a young woman do after rowing a boat solo across the Atlantic Ocean? She swims the entire west coast of England, of course. And after that? She sails solo around the world in a very tiny boat. In fact, this episode was recorded via StarLink with my guest sailing across the Coral Sea...
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You Too Can Cycle the Tour de France
You don’t have to be a pro to experience the course and the thrill of the Tour de France stage race. My guest in this episode describes what it’s like to ride the mountain stages a few days before the pros come through. His times aren’t quite as fast, but the challenge is sure real. And he...
About this show
Are you itching to add a little spice to your life? To get outdoors and do something new, ambitious, and cool that you’ve never done before? Perhaps some sort of new challenge or adventure? This podcast, ”Carpe Diem: Live Your Dream” has the simple mission of helping you, the listener, to dream up an adventure for your life - and more importantly, to inspire you to go fulfill it. Each episode profiles an outdoor activity or adventure of a guest who entertains with their fascinating story. We explore their dream, what motivated them to action, the challenges they encountered, and how they overcame those challenges to see things to conclusion. They inspire, educate, and motivate - all to help you take on your own dream adventure or challenge. A new episode is published each Friday to give you something to noodle on over the weekend. And check out our accompanying website at www.gocarpediemnow.com for even more stories, guidance, and motivation.Be entertained, and learn how you, too,
Hosted by
dalesimonson
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