No Ordinary Monday

Melanie Marshall spent over 20 years as a BBC foreign news journalist and war correspondent, covering the most volatile conflict zones on the planet. This is part two of her conversation on No Ordinary Monday, and this is where she shares her No Ordinary Monday story. Afghanistan. 2012. Melanie and her team are unembedded, crisscrossing the country in low profile vehicles, operating in 10-minute windows on the streets of Kandahar before the Taliban can mark their position. They have access most journalists never get. A general who writes poetry. A warlord who lets them join his morning workout. But at the end of three weeks, the roads back to Kabul are so dangerous that even the NGOs won't travel them. What Melanie decides that day is something that still gives her a pit in her stomach. After the story, the conversation goes somewhere just as compelling. Melanie talks about what two decades of witnessing war up close actually does to a person, why she still believes humanity is not doomed to its darkest impulses, and what she saw at a car bomb site in Syria that she will never forget. She also shares her practical advice for anyone who wants to break into foreign news today, including why a degree is not what you think it is, why your biggest competition is not who you think it is, and why an ethos matters more than a CV. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, start there. Connect with Melanie: WEBSITE: melaniemarshall.com LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/melanie-marshall-237a641 YOUTUBE: ⁠youtube.com/@MDMarshall⁠ TIKTOK: @melaniemspeaks X/Twitter: @mdmarshall SUBSTACK: substack.com/@imrama CREDITS Guest: Melanie Marshall. Former BBC Foreign News Journalist and Producer, Hostile Environment Specialist, 20+ years covering conflict zones across Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia and beyond. Host, Producer and Editor: Chris Baron Music: Music_Unlimited and Saavane Sound effects: Pixabay and FreeSound Podcast Access: ⁠https://pods.link/noordinarymonday⁠ SUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday⁠. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW US SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at ⁠www.noordinarymonday.com⁠, or email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠. Topics: foreign news journalism, BBC, war zone reporting, hostile environment journalism, conflict reporting, Afghanistan, Taliban, unembedded journalism, Kandahar, Kabul, buskashi, risk assessment, decision making under pressure, storytelling, press freedom, resilience, hope

Melanie Marshall spent over 20 years as a BBC foreign news journalist and war correspondent, covering the most volatile conflict zones on the planet. Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, Honduras. Her job was to get the team in, get the story out, and get everyone home safely. No playbook. Just problem solving under pressure, sometimes under fire. What most people don't see when they turn on the news is everything that happened before those two minutes of footage aired. The permissions that were never granted. The checkpoints that wouldn't budge. The moments where the only way through was to outlast whoever was standing in your way. In this episode Melanie pulls back the curtain on what war zone journalism and foreign news production actually looks like from the inside. She talks about negotiating access to an MS-13-controlled prison in Honduras, staring down the black flag of Islamic State in northern Iraq, and what two decades of conflict reporting taught her about staying present when everything around you is falling apart. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with a BBC war correspondent. Part 2 is where she shares her No Ordinary Monday story. Connect with Melanie: WEBSITE: melanieamarshall.com LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/melanie-marshall-237a641 YOUTUBE: youtube.com/@MDMarshall TIKTOK: @melaniemspeaks X/Twitter: @mdmarshall SUBSTACK: substack.com/@imrama CREDITS Guest: Melanie Marshall. Former BBC Foreign News Journalist and Producer, Hostile Environment Specialist, 20+ years covering conflict zones across Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia and beyond. Host, Producer and Editor: Chris Baron Music: Paulyudin, Music_Unlimited and SaavaneSound effects: Pixabay and FreeSound Podcast Access: https://pods.link/noordinarymondaySUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW US SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected]: foreign news journalism, BBC, war zone reporting, hostile environment journalism, conflict reporting, news production, Iraq, Afghanistan, Honduras, MS-13, Islamic State, media industry, storytelling, press freedom, resilience

What does it take to get a foreign spy to help another country? According to Robin Dreeke, it has nothing to do with pressure, leverage or manipulation. It comes down to one thing, making the other person feel genuinely understood. Robin spent 22 years inside the FBI, eventually leading theBureau's elite Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program. His primary mission was recruiting foreign intelligence officers to work as assets for the United States. Russian military intelligence. Diplomats at the UN. Sources buried so deep inside foreign networks that their existence will likely neverbe publicly acknowledged. Then came September 11th 2001. Robin was blocks away fromthe towers when they were hit. What he witnessed that morning, and what he was asked to do in the weeks and months that followed, changed the trajectory of his entire career. Within 24 hours of the attacks, Robin had pivoted his entire source network away from Cold War targets and toward a crisis no one had a playbook for. What came out of that pivot was a series of operations that Robin believes contributed to preventing conflict between nuclear powers, all builton the same foundation he had been quietly developing his entire career, the ability to make someone trust him with their life. In this episode Robin breaks down the human psychologybehind why people cooperate, what Russian intelligence officers and foreign diplomats actually wanted when they agreed to risk everything, and why the FBI agents who recruited the most valuable sources were almost never the ones you'dexpect.WEBSITE: robindreeke.comBOOKS: It's Not All About Me | The Code of Trust | SizingPeople Up | Unbreakable Alliances SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram | LinkedIn | Youtube | X/Twitter: @rdreeke, Facebook: @PeopleFormulaPODCAST: Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski (co-host)CREDITS:Guest - Robin Dreeke. Retired FBI Special Agent & Chiefof the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, US Marine Corps Veteran, Bestselling Author & Human Behaviour ExpertHost, Producer and Editor - Chris BaronMusic - OpenMindAudio, Music_Unlimited and SaavaneSound effects - Pixabay and FreeSoundPodcast Access - https://pods.link/noordinarymondayTOPICS: FBI counterintelligence, spy recruitment, 9/11eyewitness, building trust without manipulation, behavioral analysis, human motivation, national security, rapport building, active listening, confidential human sources, Cold War intelligenceSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected]. VISIT THE WEBSITE - Noordinarymonday.comSOCIALS - https://linktr.ee/Noordinarymonday

From elite special operations soldier and Iraq War veteran to one of Africa's most respected voices in wildlife conservation, Damien Mander's story is not what you'd expect, and that's exactly what makes it worth hearing.Damien spent a decade in Australia's special operations units, including clearance diver selection, sniper training, and three years on active deployment in Iraq. When he left the military, the mission disappeared and so did his identity. What followed was a spiral, and eventually a rumour in a bar about going to Africa to protect animals.He went looking for a fight. What he found changed everything.In this episode we cover the full arc of Damien's journey, from the mindset forged in military selection through to the realities of anti-poaching operations on the ground in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and across Southern Africa. We get into the true scale of illegal wildlife trafficking, one of the world's largest criminal industries, and how elephant ivory and rhino horn make wild animals walking targets for transnational organised crime networks.We talk about the moment that made it personal. A Cape buffalo trapped in a wire snare, euthanised, giving birth to a stillborn calf, and the decision it triggered. Sell everything, commit fully, figure it out from there.We also dig into Akashinga, the groundbreaking all-female anti-poaching unit Damien founded in Zimbabwe, and the Abundant Village model of community-led conservation, linking biodiversity outcomes to jobs, healthcare, education and trust across nearly 10 million acres in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania.Connect With Damien & Abundant Village:https://abundantvillage.world/https://www.akashinga.org/Instagram: @abundant_village.mm | @damien_manderYouTube: ‪@AbundantVillage | @WeAreAkashinga Donate: abundantvillage.world/donate  Watch:Akashinga: The Brave Ones | National Geographic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUYQS40I9mw  Credits: Guest - Damien Mander. Founder of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF), Creator of Akashinga, Co-founder of Abundant Village, Former Special Operations Soldier & Conservation AdvocateHost, Producer and Editor - Chris BaronMusic - Guilherme Bernardes William, Music_Unlimited and SaavaneSounds effects - Pixabay and FreeSoundPodcast Access - https://pods.link/noordinarymonday  KEYWORDS:Damien Mander, anti-poaching, wildlife conservation, Akashinga, IAPF, International Anti-Poaching Foundation, Abundant Village, Zimbabwe conservation, rhino poaching, elephant poaching, illegal wildlife trafficking, women rangers, community conservation, special forces soldier, Iraq War veteran, Australian military, navy clearance diver, wildlife ranger training, Kruger National Park, Southern Africa conservation, life purpose, military transition, conservation documentary, No Ordinary Monday podcastSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Guest: Briana Evigan. Actress (Step Up 2, Step Up 3D, S. Darko), Founder of Abundant Village, Humanitarian & Conservation AdvocateBriana Evigan spent years doing what most actors only dream of. The Step Up franchise, billboards across LA, film after film. But the pace caught up with her, and behind the success was burnout, loneliness, and the creeping feeling that none of it was enough.A trip to Bali started shifting things. Riding an elephant in Indonesia and learning what happens behind the scenes in tourist camps lit something she couldn't ignore. That led her to the poaching crisis, two months trekking with mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda, and eventually Southern Africa. A baby elephant named Selma, caught in a poacher's snare, became one of the most important teachers of her life. The lesson: if we don't heal humans first, we'll never protect animals or the planet.During the pandemic, a night of powerful reflection in Beverly Hills made the decision for her. She sold her house, sold her car, packed up her dog, and booked a one-way ticket. Five years on, she's living in Zimbabwe and co-leading Abundant Village.We talk about how that model works, what she learned from sitting down with poachers, and why conservation without community is fighting a losing battle.If you've ever thought about doing something completely different with your life, this one is worth your time. Leave a review if you enjoy it and share it with someone who needs to hear it.Connect With Briana & Abundant Village🌍 Website: abundantvillage.world📸 Instagram: @abundantvillage | @brianaevigan▶️ YouTube: Briana Evigan — including the short documentaries The Land Remembers and Circles of Connection💼 LinkedIn: @brianaevigan💛 Donate: abundantvillage Watch / Read🎬 The Land Remembers — Short documentary by Abundant Village (YouTube)🎬 Circles of Connection — Short documentary by Abundant Village (YouTube)🎬 “Coming To South Aftica” — Briana's personal video documenting her move to Southern Africa (YouTube)CreditsHost, Producer and Editor: Chris BaronGuest: Briana EviganMusic: Music_Unlimited and SaavaneSounds effects: Pixabay and FreeSoundTopics & Keywordswildlife conservation, community conservation, Abundant Village Zimbabwe, Briana Evigan, Step Up actress, Hollywood burnout, humanitarian work Africa, anti-poaching, elephant poaching, pangolin, mountain gorillas Uganda, Zimbabwe conservation, Chisarira Zimbabwe, Kruger National Park conservation, plant medicine spiritual awakening, life reinvention, purpose-driven life, leaving fame behind, conservation documentary, actress turned conservationist, illegal wildlife trade, poaching supply chain, Bali spiritual experience, Uluwatu Temple, burnout recovery, podcast about conservation, humanitarian podcast, Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A theme park owner in Stockholm points to a cramped patch of land, boxed in by towers, tracks, and buildings, and asks an almost impossible question: could you build a roller coaster here?Wooden roller coaster designer Korey Kiepert says yes. That single decision sets off a chain of engineering, creativity, and careful risk management, leading to a ride that weaves over, under, and through an already packed park.Chris Baron sits down with Korey to unpack what it really takes to design and build modern roller coasters. From site walks and layout compromises to moments of instinct and the safety culture behind every decision, this is a rare look at how these rides actually come to life. Korey also shares how improv training shaped his mindset, why tight spaces can lead to the most memorable designs, and how new technology is pushing what’s possible.The conversation explores why wooden roller coasters still matter in a world of steel giants and record-breaking attractions. From the raw, physical feel of timber structures to sustainability conversations and “small but mighty” design, Korey explains why these rides continue to resonate with both parks and riders.If you’re interested in engineering, design thinking, creativity under pressure, or the hidden work behind theme park experiences, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at an industry most people never see.Follow the show, share it with someone who’d enjoy it, and leave a rating or review to help more people discover No Ordinary Monday.Links: https://thegravitygroup.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/koreykiepert/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAv7DaGiF-Qhttps://thegravitygroup.com/roller-coaster-projects/Credits: Produced, Hosted and Edited by - Chris BaronImages and Video Clips - Korey Kiepert, Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Dan Prout, Kings Island, and Olov Lundell.Intro Music - Music_Unlimited Outro Music - SaavaneTopics Covered: roller coaster design, wooden roller coasters, theme park engineering, tight build sites, constrained spaces, impossible builds, creative problem solving, improv mindset, yes and thinking, design under pressure, ride layout challenges, safety culture, risk management, engineering decisions, ride testing, g-forces, rider experience, wood vs steel coasters, nostalgia in theme parks, sustainability, compact ride design, innovation in coaster technology, behind the scenes of theme parksSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What happens when a scientific expedition in the Red Sea is suddenly boarded by an unidentified, armed group?In this episode, adventurer, photographer and documentary producer Ulrika Larsson shares her experience working on a marine science expedition near the Yemeni coast. She relives the moment the encounter escalated into a tense, hours-long ordeal, with passports confiscated and crew members taken away for questioning.Ulrika has built a career that spans outdoor guiding, adventure leadership, documentary production, and underwater photography — and more recently, firefighting in Sweden.We explore what drives that kind of career path, what it’s really like working in remote and high-risk environments, and why staying calm under pressure is often the most important skill you can have.We then dive into her Red Sea expedition in 2023, documenting coral reef research near Djibouti and the Seven Brothers Islands.With regional tensions rising, the situation quickly escalated when an unidentified group boarded the vessel.Ulrika shares what happened in real time — the uncertainty, the decisions she had to make under pressure, and what it taught her about risk, responsibility, and working in unpredictable environments.The same trip also led to a breakthrough moment in her photography — with one of her images later selected for a major ocean photography competition and displayed in Piccadilly Circus.If you’re interested in documentary filmmaking, underwater photography, scientific expeditions, or careers in extreme environments, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what the work is really like.Links: https://www.lwimages.com/Socials:https://www.instagram.com/lwimages_studio/https://www.instagram.com/greenulrika/Credits: Produced, Hosted and Edited by - Chris BaronImages and Video Clips - Ulrika Larsson & Lukasz Larsson WarzechaIntro Music - Music_UnlimitedOutro Music - VibeHornTopics covered:Underwater photography, documentary filmmaking, Red Sea expedition, Djibouti, Yemen coast, armed boarding at sea, conflict zones, high-risk environments, interrogation, passports confiscated, firefighting.Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Bomb disposal expert and former British Army engineer Ben Remfrey joins No Ordinary Monday to share what it is really like working in landmine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal in war zones around the world. During the first Gulf War, Ben was deployed to Kuwait to deal with the deadly aftermath of the conflict. Oil fields burned for months, unexploded munitions littered the ground, and anti personnel landmines were scattered across the desert. In one moment he still remembers vividly, Ben looked down and realised an anti personnel mine was sitting directly in his own footprint. Today Ben runs an IMAS compliant explosive ordnance disposal training school in Kosovo, training the next generation of humanitarian deminers. In this conversation he explains how modern mine action and bomb disposal work behind the scenes, from equipment and safety standards to the discipline required to survive around explosives. We also discuss the challenge of clearing landmines while war is still ongoing, and why Ukraine now faces one of the most complex mine clearance operations in modern history. Ben also shares the story of the “Great Eight”, the first group of Ukrainian women he helped train in humanitarian demining. If you are interested in bomb disposal, explosive ordnance disposal, humanitarian demining, and landmine clearance, this episode offers a rare look inside one of the most dangerous professions in the world.Links: https://www.pcm-erw.com/about-mk/https://www.instagram.com/matkosovo_eod_erw_training/https://www.youtube.com/@pcmerw8387Credits: Produced, hosted and edited by Chris Baron Images and Videos: MAT Kosovo, Neil Gibson, U.S Army, National Science Foundation, U.S. Navy, EdJF, Jonas Jordan, NASATopics covered:Bomb disposal, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), landmine clearance, humanitarian demining, war zones, Ukraine mine clearance, Gulf War, unexploded ordnance, mine action.Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What is burlesque really? And what does it take to build a career as a professional performer?In this episode of No Ordinary Monday, Chris sits down with legendary burlesque performer Angie Pontani to explore the craft, history, and discipline behind one of the most misunderstood art forms in entertainment. Angie explains how a burlesque routine comes together, from music and costume design to timing, comedy, and audience energy, and why burlesque is about far more than what people assume.She also shares unforgettable moments from her career, including appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, founding the New York Burlesque Festival, and navigating difficult situations where she had to stand her ground and protect her boundaries as a performer.This episode is a fascinating look behind the curtain of modern burlesque, and the confidence, professionalism, and creative control that define the art form.More Info: https://www.angiepontani.com/https://showingoffpod.com/Follow Angie: https://www.instagram.com/angiepontani/https://www.youtube.com/@ShowingOffPodhttps://web.facebook.com/OfficialAngiePontani/?_rdc=1&_rdr#https://www.tiktok.com/@angie.pontaniSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What does a 4% chance of death really mean?In Part Two of this conversation, volcanologist Nico Fournier takes us inside the risk calculations behind the Whakaari / White Island eruption recovery operation in New Zealand. When scientists estimated a 4-6% probability that someone could die during a three-hour mission on the island, the question shifted from “Is it safe?” to something far harder: Is this risk acceptable?We break down how that number was built using expert elicitation, why uncertainty is inherent in volcanic systems, and how scientists communicate risk to police, emergency services, and government officials in real time. Nico explains the difference between individual risk and societal risk in volcano tourism, how legal inquiries reshaped responsibilities after the 2019 eruption, and why emotional decision-making plays a bigger role than most people realise.The discussion expands globally — from Stromboli and Etna to Lake Taupō and supervolcano risk — exploring how volcanologists forecast eruptions, where prediction succeeds, and where it fails. Nico shares experiences from Montserrat, moments of near real-time forecasting, and a powerful lesson from decades in the field: never judge a decision purely by its outcome.If you’re interested in volcano science, disaster risk management, emergency response, or how high-stakes decisions are made under uncertainty, this episode goes deep.🔎 Topics Covered: • Whakaari White Island eruption recovery • Volcano risk assessment & probability • Volcanology and eruption forecasting • Expert elicitation explained • Volcano tourism safety • Supervolcano risk (Lake Taupō) • Montserrat eruptions • Risk tolerance vs risk calculation • Disaster decision-making under uncertainty🌋 Learn More About Nico:GNS Science Profile:https://www.gns.cri.nz/about-us/staff-search/nico-fournier/International Association of Volcanology (IAVCEI):https://www.iavceivolcano.org/Donate to support global volcano research and collaboration:https://www.iavceivolcano.org/donation-form/⸻📲 Follow:Nico on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicofournierNico on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nico-fournier-0130704/IAVCEI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iavcei/IAVCEI LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iavcei-int-assoc-of-volcanology-chemistry-of-the-earth-s-interior/posts/?feedView=all⸻🎙 Support No Ordinary MondayNOM is 100% independent.☕ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday⭐ Leave a five-star rating📝 Write a short review📤 Share this episode with someone interested in volcanoes, science, or decision-makingSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A phone call at 2:11 p.m. shattered a quiet Monday: Whakaari had erupted with tourists on the crater floor. From that moment, we step into a week where science, instinct, and grief collided—and where a volcanologist had to help decide whether recovery teams could return to an active volcano while families waited for news.We sit down with Nico Fournier, the volcanologist who became the connective tissue between seismology, gas readings, deformation data, drones, and the authorities tasked with acting fast. Nico explains why small, explosive eruptions can be catastrophic at close range, how New Zealand’s volcanic alert levels guide decisions, and why the team opted to communicate conservatively when webcams went blind under ash. He also shares the most human part of the job: meeting families, opening his laptop, and translating rising underground activity into clear reasons to pause, even as the urge to bring loved ones home grew stronger.Across two recovery operations, we follow the logistics and the stakes: Navy ships, inflatables, police specialists on breathing apparatus, fire‑service drones mapping the ground, and helicopter lifts coordinated minute by minute. Nico watched the crater from offshore with optics and infrared while a senior seismologist monitored real‑time signals—told to call the instant his gut flipped. It’s a rare window into how expert intuition, built on decades of pattern recognition, becomes a safety threshold when models can’t give hard lines.We also reckon with what followed: reconstructing the fate of the missing through seismic signatures of overnight mudflows, and the vital role of local iwi who led blessings and supported survivors and families. The result is a candid look at decision‑making under uncertainty, risk mitigation on active volcanoes, and the ethics of when to go and when to stand down.Stay tuned for Part Two of Nico's story. Links: https://www.gns.cri.nz/about-us/staff-search/nico-fournier/https://www.iavceivolcano.org/DONATE TO IAVCEI: https://www.iavceivolcano.org/donation-form/Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/nicofournierhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nico-fournier-0130704/https://www.instagram.com/iavcei/https://www.linkedin.com/company/iavcei-int-assoc-of-volcanology-chemistry-of-the-earth-s-interior/posts/?feedView=allSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

This is a bonus clip from this week’s episode with magician Sean Borland.During our conversation, I asked Sean whether he’d be willing to demonstrate one of his mind-reading illusions live on the show. What followed was a classic “book test” — eight books to choose from, hundreds of pages, complete freedom of choice… and a single word.I chose a book.Then a page.Then a word.Sean tried to guess it.What makes this moment fascinating isn’t just the reveal — it’s the psychology behind it. Along the way, Sean explains how people tend to choose numbers like 67 or 167 when asked to “freely” pick one, why certain words feel more natural than others, and how subtle framing can shape decisions without us realising it. You’ll hear how association, memory, and suggestion narrow the field — without ever feeling forced.How he got there is something you’ll have to hear (or watch) for yourself.If you haven’t listened to the full episode yet, I’d highly recommend starting there. In it, Sean shares the story of performing for billionaires and royalty, the discipline behind mastering sleight of hand, and the seance in South Africa that he describes as “the beginning of the end.”This bonus clip gives you a glimpse of the craft in action.Enjoy — and let me know if you know how he does it! Links: WEBSITE - https://www.seanborland.com/SOCIALS: https://www.youtube.com/c/SeanBorlandInternationalMagicianhttps://www.facebook.com/seanborlandmagician/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-borland-49a1aaa6/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Candlelight. A creaking old house on a South African nature reserve. Wind outside, silence within. We sit down with world-touring magician Sean Borland to unpack the seance that electrified a room, the billionaire who dared him to go bigger, and the exact moment he chose to walk away from a career most performers only dream of.Sean’s path wasn’t luck alone. He left a safe job, trained ten hours a day in rural China, became ambidextrous to sharpen sleight of hand, and learned to thrive on Sydney’s streets where hecklers and chaos forged bulletproof audience control. That grind paid off at an Indonesian resort where a self-made billionaire—who’d once hired David Blaine—pushed Sean to his limits. A single, audacious card call hit perfectly and opened doors to the Hamptons, New York, and elite private events around the world.The heart of our conversation is belief: how suggestion, selection, and silence allow spectators to build the magic inside their own minds. Sean explains why choosing the right participant matters more than any prop, how cultural and venue context change outcomes, and where performers cross the line from theatre into exploitation. In a gripping breakdown of a Victorian-style Oracle Act, he shares how a guest’s question—“Should I leave my husband?”—forced a delicate, ethical response and revealed why the thrill of wonder can’t outrun responsibility.We also explore what comes after: translating performance psychology into ethical sales, resisting the temptation to pose as a “psychic,” and a brutally honest take on mastery. If you’re chasing a career in magic, you’ll hear both the blueprint—commitment beyond motivation, practice that embraces boredom, and real-world reps—and the caution: perfectionism isolates, and success can still feel complete before the spotlight fades.Subscribe for more story-driven conversations, share this with a friend who loves mind games and craft, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your support keeps No Ordinary Monday independent and ad-free.Links: WEBSITE - https://www.seanborland.com/SOCIALS: https://www.youtube.com/c/SeanBorlandInternationalMagicianhttps://www.facebook.com/seanborlandmagician/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-borland-49a1aaa6/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A backpack full of rushes, a late‑night detour, and a cab ride that felt like forever. That near‑disaster on a dog‑trick commercial wasn’t just a wild production tale for Ben Stein; it became a mirror for the life he was building and the future he actually wanted. We bring you inside the highs and hazards of production and advertising, from public‑access beginnings and the award‑winning Paperclips documentary to brand rules so strict they required a last‑minute Yorkie swap.From there, Ben opens up about the deeper engine driving his choices: creativity as escape, growing up with a distant parent and a mum battling depression, and the numbing patterns that followed. He walks us through trying psychiatry and therapy, then finding coaching as a forward‑facing tool that changed behaviour, not just insight. You’ll hear how a three‑week sobriety experiment became a turning point, why he launched Purpose Up as a side project, and what pushed him to choose entrepreneurship after being laid off days after paternity leave.We also get practical. Ben breaks down the real differences between coaching and therapy, shares honest guidance on psychedelics and safer trauma work like RIM, and lays out a clear plan for career change in a tough market: get fluent with AI, build a portable brand through a side hustle, and network like a human so you rise above the algorithmic noise. For aspiring coaches, he’s blunt about training, picking a niche, learning ethical sales, and giving yourself more runway than you think.If you’re sitting in a “safe” job that no longer fits, this conversation offers both cautionary tales and a map. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help more curious listeners find No Ordinary Monday. Links: WEBSITE - https://www.purposeup.com/BOOK - https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Up-Break-Free-Matters/dp/B0FTW9PGNFSocials:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstein/https://www.instagram.com/purpose_up/https://www.youtube.com/purposeuphttps://www.facebook.com/coachbenstein/https://x.com/iambensteinSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A brother’s warning over the radio. An 80‑metre abseil into darkness. A cone splits, lava surges, and the exact spot rigged with rope is swallowed in seconds. That’s the moment Aldo Kane, former Royal Marines sniper, expedition leader, and on-screen explorer, decided not to commit to the drop inside Nyiragongo's crater, a call that almost certainly saved his life. We unpack that decision and everything wrapped around it: risk, responsibility, and the identity you carry long after the expedition ends.We trace Aldo’s path from elite military training to leading film crews into hostile environments and appearing on camera for Apple TV, Nat Geo, the BBC and more. He explains what a safety lead really does when cameras narrow attention and the world around you turns volatile: build systems, translate danger into choices, and create productive friction so the best idea wins. We dig into decision‑making under pressure, how to act on intuition while you wait for facts, why a bias to action restores control, and when to abandon the first plan without ego.From lava lakes and hurricane‑like thermal winds to CO2 sinks and crumbling calderas, the volcano story anchors wider lessons. The jungle breaks more crews than the cold, deadfall kills more than snakes, and the most dangerous missions may involve people, not landscapes: narcos, illegal wildlife trade, money and ego. We talk about the crash after the shoot, coming home as a parent, and building circuit breakers to protect your life off camera. As the TV industry shifts, Aldo shares how he’s pivoted his expedition mindset into coaching CEOs and leadership teams, proving that courage, discipline, unselfishness and cheerfulness in adversity are performance tools far beyond the field.If this story moved you, tap follow or subscribe, rate the show, and share it with someone who thrives under pressure. Leave a short review with your biggest takeaway. Links: WEBSITE: https://www.aldokane.com/BOOK: Lessons from the Edge - https://www.aldokane.com/booksTV SHOWS: https://www.aldokane.com/mediaSocials: https://www.instagram.com/aldokane/https://www.facebook.com/aldo.kanehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aldo-kane-32526a136/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A fear of death can quietly shape an entire life. For Danni Petkovic, that fear was physical and relentless — years of death anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and a nervous system locked into survival mode at the mere idea of mortality. Everything changed when her brother was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. What followed was an intimate education in dying: navigating prognosis, care, logistics, legacy, and love in real time. That experience didn’t just ease Danni’s fear — it led her to her calling as a death doula and death literacy educator, supporting individuals and families through end-of-life care with clarity, calm, and humanity.In this episode of No Ordinary Monday, we go behind the euphemisms that surround death and dying. Danni explains how clear language can reduce fear, why death was once handled at home within communities, and what’s been lost by medicalising and outsourcing our end-of-life rituals. We talk openly about voluntary assisted dying in Australia, the practical realities most people avoid — advance care directives, wills, passwords, pets, photos, and personal belongings — and how thoughtful planning can make grief gentler. Danni also shares what it means to sit with someone as they die, to care for the body afterwards, and to help families create rituals that reflect culture, belief, and truth rather than shame. It’s a confronting conversation, but also a hopeful one: planning while well is an act of love, children often cope better with honesty than adults, and talking about death won’t kill you — avoiding it won’t make you immortal.If this resonated, follow and share the show, leave a quick review, and tell someone you love one wish you’ve decided today.Links: https://liminalbeing.com.au/http://dyingtoknow.au/Socials: https://www.instagram.com/dannipetkovic/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/liminalbeinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dannipetkovic/?originalSubdomain=auSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Bush Flying in Indonesia: From IT Desk to Remote Mountain AirstripsA tidy flat, a good salary, a steady routine — and a growing knot of anxiety. That was Matt Dearden’s life before he walked away from IT and flew halfway across the world to become a bush pilot in Indonesia.In this episode of No Ordinary Monday, Matt takes us inside the reality of remote aviation, flying for Susi Air across one of the most challenging aviation environments on Earth. What followed was a crash course in flying beyond the textbook: single-engine turbine aircraft, dirt airstrips carved into mountain slopes, jungle valleys that shift from clear skies to dense cloud in minutes, and communities where aviation is the difference between isolation and survival.Flying the Pilatus Porter on the FrontierWe explore the aircraft that makes this work possible — the Pilatus PC-6 Porter — a rugged STOL plane designed for short, steep, and unpredictable runways. Matt explains how “pioneering routes” connect remote villages across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands, why cargo can range from medical supplies to fuel drums to live pigs, and how pilots manage risk when terrain, weather, and human decision-making collide.He’s candid about aviation accidents — how they rarely have a single cause, but form chains of small decisions — and the mindset required to keep flying with humility, discipline, and focus in high-risk environments.Alone in Cloud, Low on OptionsThen the story tightens.Mid-afternoon, alone in cloud, flying on oxygen with fuel drums banging behind him, Matt is hit with sudden nausea. The horizon spins. There’s no autopilot. No outside visual reference. Just instruments, terrain warnings, and willpower.Enjoyed this episode?Follow No Ordinary Monday, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick five-star rating or short review. Your support helps keep the show independent, ad-free, and focused on extraordinary real-world stories — every Monday.Episode Links: Matt's Website - https://mattdearden.co.uk/Matt's Book - https://www.amazon.com/Flying-Shangri-really-Worst-Place-ebook/dp/B0DHWCHSNKSocials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattdeardenhttps://www.instagram.com/indopilot/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/IndoPilot/For More Info Visit: https://www.noordinarymonday.com/ep023-matt-dearden-bush-pilotSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A backpack floats in brown water. The ward is a tent. The air is forty degrees. And still, patients keep coming. We open the year with Dr Lakshmi Jain of Médecins Sans Frontières, who takes us from NHS corridors to a flooded field hospital in South Sudan, where logistics, infection control and compassion collide in the harshest conditions. With planes grounded and supplies tight, she shows how medicine adapts when the plan dissolves, and how a team holds the line when a hospital turns into a lake.We trace Lakshmi’s journey into humanitarian medicine: the early pull of travel and justice, the discipline of mastering HIV and TB in the UK, and a humbling first mission in Kenya amid strikes and neglected TB wards. She shares the nuts and bolts of fieldwork—running out of supplies, living in tents, waking at dawn, mentoring local clinicians—and the mindset shift from textbook certainty to on-the-ground pragmatism. The story of a child with a snakebite, waiting seven days for a runway to dry, becomes a lesson in making the most of a hard ceiling of care without losing heart.Lakshmi also brings us to Bihar, India, where advanced HIV intersects with visceral leishmaniasis and devastating stigma. Here, science meets dignity: undetectable equals untransmissible becomes a lifeline, carried by mental health teams and quiet conversations at the bedside. We talk about hope, family, and what people everywhere want—safety, health and a future—along with clear advice for aspiring humanitarians across roles: doctors, nurses, logisticians, epidemiologists and communicators.If this story moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick five-star rating or review. Your support keeps the feed ad-free and helps us bring more voices from the front lines of healthcare to your ears.Links:https://www.msf.org/https://www.instagram.com/reels/DHlZjZCCAQk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakshmi-jain-3a5b32366/https://scienceportal.msf.org/api/assets/7846/download/14086For more information visit Lakshmi's episode page here - https://www.noordinarymonday.com/ep021-lakshmi-jain-msf-doctorSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What are the 3 most dangerous countries to visit for a backpacking trip? And how can you get in? Former CIA Counter-Terrorism Analyst Brent Giannotta joins the show to share his expertise. Carl and Ben also pepper him with every CIA movie reference and conspiracy theory they can muster.Please follow Brent and subscribe to his Substack!Some of the Topics Covered:-Most Dangerous Places to Backpack-Life or Death Backpacking Situations-CIA Conspiracy TheoriesEnlightened Equipment: Check out the best Ultralight Quilts on the market!GET BONUS SEGMENTS & EPISODES ON PATREON: There are over 50 BONUS episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content.To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on…FacebookInstagram: @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcastEmail: [email protected] check out our website: backpackingandblisters.comOur Favorite GearEnlightened Equipment Revelation QuiltOutdoor Vitals Summit Down Sleeping BagGregory Paragon/Maven Backpack (Full Comfort)Nemo Tensor Sleeping PadTherm-a-Rest Neo Loft (for ultra comfort)Jetboil Flash (for larger groups)MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (for solo or smaller groups)Katadyn BeFreeBlack Diamond SpotGarmin InReach Mini 2Garmin Instinct 3 Solar WatchBig Agnes Copper SpurNemo Hornet  Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A storm hits ten hours after the helicopter drop, tents bow under the wind, and the generators choke on spindrift—yet the drill keeps turning. That’s the edge-of-the-map reality behind a rare ship‑to‑helicopter ice core mission to West Antarctica, where we joined glaciologist Dr Peter Neff to chase air bubbles that hold the clearest record of our past atmosphere.We dig into why tiny pockets of ancient air are such powerful climate evidence, how methane and CO2 stayed largely steady for thousands of years before spiking with industrialisation, and why that rate of change matters for heat, oceans, and sea level. Peter breaks down Antarctica’s “three buckets” of science, the stakes at Thwaites Glacier, and what coastal cores can reveal about storms, snowfall, and tipping‑point dynamics that satellites alone can’t capture. From improvising a hand‑controlled generator throttle to coordinating 15 sling loads back to a Korean icebreaker, this is science as endurance, logistics and teamwork.Beyond the tent walls, we talk about trust: why posting raw field clips on TikTok and Instagram connects new audiences to public‑funded research, and how open communication strengthens policy conversations. We explore what new high‑resolution methane records add to climate models, why the biggest uncertainty is human choice, and how leadership across government and business can turn risk into opportunity. For students and career‑changers, Peter offers practical advice on joining the polar workforce and building skills that matter in the field and the lab.Subscribe for more unfiltered stories from extreme jobs, share this episode with someone who loves science and adventure, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What part of the mission surprised you most?Research: https://swac.umn.edu/people/peter-neffhttps://peterneff.weebly.com/https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=f--szIYAAAAJ&hl=enSocials: https://www.tiktok.com/@icy_petehttps://www.instagram.com/icy_petehttps://www.youtube.com/@icy_petelinkedin.com/in/dr-peter-neff-6a4b7429Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What happens when a seasoned therapist loses his footing and chooses to walk straight into the world’s darkest rooms? We sit down with Dr Chad Scott, a psychologist, prison therapist, and author, to trace a journey from illness and anxiety to a practice he calls reflective dark tourism—visiting sites of profound suffering with reverence to learn how to live.Chad takes us through the steps into an Auschwitz gas chamber, the mirror-stillness of Hiroshima’s museum, and the bone-lined halls of the Paris Catacombs. He explains why these places aren’t morbid attractions but moral classrooms, where memento mori becomes a practical guide: remember you must die to remember to live. Along the way, he connects the dots between exposure in therapy and walking through history’s hardest truths, showing how facing what we fear can expand emotional intelligence, cultivate resilience, and shrink the grip of anxiety.We also explore the ethics of dark tourism, the criminalisation of mental illness he witnessed as a prison therapist, and the stories told at sites like Whitney Plantation and Little Bighorn. Chad shares honest advice for aspiring counsellors, the craft of leaving work at work, and how these journeys helped him through end-stage liver disease and the uncertainty of a transplant call. His message is simple and challenging: avoidance narrows your world; reckoning restores it.If this conversation resonates, tap follow, share it with someone who needs courage today, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Then tell us: which place changed the way you see life?Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/chadscottauthor/Chad’s books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Chad-Scott/author/B0DDDGVCPBSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A phone call, a private jet, and a destination so secret no one would say it out loud—then a palatial compound, an accidental insult to a billionaire, forced vodka shots, a stage sinking into a swimming pool, and Andrea Bocelli arriving by helicopter. That’s only one chapter in conductor Robert Emery’s wildly unconventional career, and somehow it’s not even the most meaningful part.We start by demystifying what a conductor really does. Robert frames the role like a film director: shaping pace, colour, tension, and emotion so a hundred musicians move as one story. From Beethoven to Star Wars, he shows how interpretation turns notes on a page into something you feel in your bones. Then we trace his audacious origin story—from playing Top of the Pops by ear at seven to phoning a major orchestra as a teenager and producing a week of concerts to fund his degree. The takeaway is equal parts craft and courage: talent matters, but so do relationships, logistics, and the will to ask for the gig.The tone shifts from comic to cathartic when Robert recounts conducting in Japan after Fukushima. As a tribute began, the entire audience stood and wept—sobs echoing through the hall. Holding the music steady while hundreds grieved clarified what he believes: music isn’t just entertainment; it is medicine for the nervous system and a language for collective emotion. That belief now fuels his orchestral meditation work, blending lush strings and gentle harmonies with carefully chosen frequencies to support calm, focus, and release. Whether you love classical music or think it isn’t “for you,” Robert’s mission is to make the door wider—sometimes with a tux, sometimes with a lightsaber.Listen for a rare mix of backstage chaos, practical career advice, and a fresh case for why orchestral music still matters. If the story moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your support helps us bring more extraordinary guests to your queue.Official Website: https://robertemery.com/ https://orchestralmeditations.com/ The Emery Foundation https://teds-list.com/ Robert’s Socials: https://www.instagram.com/robertemeryofficial/ https://web.facebook.com/robertemeryofficial/?_rdc=1&_rdr#https://www.youtube.com/robertemeryofficialhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/robertemeryofficialMore Info: https://noordinarymonday.com/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What happens when a Secret Service interrogator plays Two Truths and a Lie with us on mic? We invited special agent and polygraph examiner Brad Beeler to stress‑test our storytelling and, more importantly, to reveal how professionals separate sharp detail from slick delivery. Three claims hit the table—a shoot in Antarctica, a cheetah lick in Namibia, and a bumblebee suit on a neuroscience series—and the questions get precise fast.Brad walks us through his approach: pin the year, anchor the place, force a mental replay of movement, texture, and logistics, then loop back later to see if anything bends. You’ll hear how he listens for sensory anchors, how he treats confidence with suspicion, and why a crisp narrative can be either rock‑solid truth or a well‑worn cover story. Even with decades in interrogation and polygraph work, he’s candid about the ceiling of accuracy when there’s no external evidence. That honesty sets the tone for a playful but revealing experiment in credibility.We also explore a bigger idea: everyday culture trains us to accept small lies for the sake of harmony, making binary truth harder to spot in casual talk. The game becomes a live lesson in the limits of gut reads, the power of specific follow‑ups, and the value of humility when calling a bluff. If you care about interviewing, negotiation, journalism, or simply becoming a better listener, this bonus is a compact field guide to critical questioning and the psychology of belief.If you enjoyed this, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves lie‑spotting, and leave a quick review to help others find the podcast. Subscribe for more bonus sessions and behind‑the‑scenes stories from No Ordinary Monday.🎧 Listen to Brad’s full episode here on the channel for the complete story behind his career and his wild No Ordinary Monday experience.https://www.noordinarymonday.com/ep018-brad-beeler-secret-service-agenthttps://bradleybeeler.com/Check out Brad's book - "Tell Me Everything":https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637748426/?bestFormat=true&k=tell%20me%20everything%20brad%20beeler&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ww_k1_1_11_de&crid=248VD6GPOI385&sprefix=brad%20beelerSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What does it really take to open a locked human safe? Not pressure. Not tricks. Presence. Retired US Secret Service special agent Brad Beeler joins me to unpack the art and science of getting to the truth when everything rides on a single expression or a mistimed pause. From presidential protection to high-stakes interviews, Brad shows how tactical empathy, careful prep, and an unwavering poker face can turn silence into clarity.We start with the foundations: reading people without judgment, building a confessional environment, and crafting first impressions that calm the nervous system. Brad shares how a deaf best friend taught him to rely on eye contact, congruent body language, and vocal tone—and why letting someone “bathe in their own dopamine” builds trust faster than any script. He then takes us inside the “King of Counterfeit” case, revealing how a meticulous forger exploited human shortcuts and how aligning with ego, curiosity, and respect led to confession, twice.Not every interview is winnable, and Brad is candid about the difference between situational offenders and the rare truly predatory mind. He explains the coping rituals that keep the job from following you home and the moments he values most: when a careful conversation vindicates an innocent person. We also cover career advice, the whole-person hiring approach, and a grounded look at polygraph—imperfect yet useful when paired with honesty and solid process.If you’re a leader, parent, teacher, or anyone who negotiates under pressure, you’ll leave with practical tools: ask better follow-ups, avoid stealing the spotlight, prepare like it matters, and speak to the why beneath the what. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves real-world psychology, and leave a review—what insight will you try first?Links:https://bradleybeeler.com/https://www.secretservice.gov/Socials:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradbeeler1865/https://www.instagram.com/bradbeeler1865/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Headlights in the distance. Two elderly evacuees in the cab. A van bogged down a kilometre from the Russian border. That single night becomes the turning point for Tenby Powell, a former soldier and business leader who now runs one of the few foreign‑flagged humanitarian teams still operating on Ukraine’s front line.We sit down with Tenby to unpack what aid work looks like when drones own the sky and mines haunt the verges. He explains how KiwiKare moved from broad donations to precision medical impact: Road of Life ambulance transfers, targeted hospital resupply sourced locally, and Heat for Health, a clever programme that turns old water cylinders into stoves and boilers so families can cook and keep warm when power and water are cut. Along the way, he shares candid lessons from the field: why pull logistics beats push shipments, how to plan routes that respect shifting minefields, and when to abort missions because a sector is too hot.The hardest dilemma sits at the centre of the story: in a war where humanitarian markings attract strikes, how much of every donated dollar should fund electronic warfare equipment, hardened glass, and underbody plates instead of antibiotics, dressings, and fuel. Tenby talks through the numbers, the ethics, and the brutal arithmetic of survival after losing ambulances to drone attacks. He also highlights the partnerships that make the difference—Ukrainian NGOs, hospital directors, and head nurses who set priorities with precision and hold teams to account.If you care about effective altruism when it counts, modern warfare’s impact on civilians, or what it truly takes to evacuate patients under fire, you’ll find hard truths and real hope here. Subscribe, leave a five‑star review, and share this episode with someone who wants their support to matter. Visit KiwiKareUkraine.co.nz to learn more about Tenby's work and help fuel the next lifesaving mission.Donate Here:https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/kiwi-kare-ukraine-kiwi-aid-and-refugee-evacuationSocialshttps://www.instagram.com/tenbypowellnz/https://www.youtube.com/@kiwik.a.r.eukraine1488https://web.facebook.com/TenbyPowellKiwiK.A.R.E/?_rdc=1&_rdr#Reach out to us at - [email protected] us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A tiny part failed, a race unravelled, and a dominant team learned a lesson that reshaped its season. We sit down with engineer and technical leader Ruaraidh McDonald-Walker to trace the arc from childhood curiosity to Mercedes’ hybrid breakthrough, then step into the heat of the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix where creeping temperatures and unseen constraints forced brutal clarity. What failed wasn’t the obvious component; it was an overlooked piece in the electronics. The fix demanded humility, predictive tools, and a culture strong enough to ignore blame and choose action.We unpack how Ruaraidh pivoted early to electrification, why nobody knew what a racing-grade electric motor should look like, and how Mercedes fused chassis and power unit thinking to create a single, coherent system. Ruaraidh takes us trackside to describe the reality behind the garage screens, the cadence of remote factory operations running on Australia time, and the difference between dyno confidence and race-day chaos. The Canada story becomes a leadership case study: avoid decision stasis, derate early when the data hints at a slow-burn failure, and keep an open mind when physics contradicts assumptions. From there, we zoom out to thermodynamics, energy efficiency, and why electrification isn’t fashion but physics.For future engineers, Ruaraidh shares practical advice: build things, question sources, volunteer at circuits, and treat creativity as a core engineering skill. Music, Lego, and pinball machines become tools for recovery in a high-pressure world; recovery, in turn, sustains performance. Along the way, you’ll hear how a blame-free culture enabled bold ideas like unconventional turbo layouts and how predictive models turned panic into process after Montreal.If you enjoyed the story, follow or subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick five-star review to help more listeners find the show. Your support helps us bring you more candid conversations with people who build at the limit.Ruaraidh’s Socials:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruaraidh-mcdonald-walker-1608a64/https://www.instagram.com/f1ruaraidh/?hl=enFormula Student Website - https://www.imeche.org/events/formula-studentFormula One 2014 Canadian Grand Prix Highlightsx - https://youtu.be/839YKsTnMns?si=IlB3pLBFWuUzvKZWDollar Academy Pipe Band  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc1gVYzFKB0Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A cheetah on a Hollywood set with Angelina Jolie. A Jack Russell with terrible timing. And a moment in a rural hospital that rerouted two lives toward a mission bigger than fame or adrenaline. We sit down with Namibian conservationist Marlice Van Vuren to unpack how a preventable loss led to N/a’an ku sê, a holistic model that protects wildlife while strengthening the communities who live alongside it.Marlice grew up on a sanctuary with the San, speaking their language before Afrikaans or English. That early bond shaped how she reads animal behaviour and why indigenous knowledge sits at the centre of her work. She takes us into the quiet heroics of raising cheetahs and leopards from days old, the reality of anti‑poaching in vast open landscapes, and the tools her team deploys—canines, horses, drones, and gyros—to deter and disrupt. The stories are visceral: 2 a.m. feeds, near‑misses in the field, the heartbreak of arriving too late, and the stubborn hope that gets you back out before dawn.We also trace the long road from weekend medicine boxes to a free clinic that now sees thousands of San patients each year. Marlice doesn’t gloss over the hardest parts: addiction, landlessness, and the grind of generational change. She shares how donors took a chance, how transparency built trust, and how a lodge created jobs that reinforced conservation goals. Her message is disarmingly simple—start small, act locally, and let action compound. Purpose isn’t found in slogans; it’s built in the bush, in clinics, and in everyday choices that make room for others.If you care about cheetah conservation, anti‑poaching strategy, indigenous language preservation, or sustainable travel in Namibia, this conversation offers a clear, working blueprint. Listen, share with a friend who loves wildlife, and if you can, visit or support N/a’an ku sê. Subscribe for more stories that turn purpose into practice, and leave a review so we can bring more voices like Marlice’s to your feed.LINKS: https://www.naankuse.com/https://web.facebook.com/naankuse/?_rdc=1&_rdr#https://www.instagram.com/naankuse_foundation/DONATE: https://www.naankuse.com/donateSUPPORT THE RANGERS: https://naankusefoundation.salsalabs.org/wildliferangerchallenge/index.html?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnL0BTBEs0ZVAoUYwwLgIFmI21P54C3yCikpRK3NyNYgvx-_L3SE4wLCJPBbc_aem_tp2fHeyNBrtge7bB9yrfwASend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A ghost hitching a ride in the backseat shouldn’t make sense—until you hear how a veteran parapsychologist pulled the story apart and tried to verify it. We sit down with Loyd Auerbach, one of the most respected names in parapsychology, to explore why some experiences defy easy dismissal and how a single case nudged him toward the idea that consciousness may persist after death.We start by setting the record straight on what parapsychology actually studies: controlled ESP experiments, mind-matter effects, and careful field investigations of hauntings. Loyd explains the standards behind double-blind and even triple-blind designs, where sceptical scientists have praised the methodology even when they doubt the conclusions. Then we dive into the Livermore case: a Victorian house, a family who kept quiet, and an 11-year-old who could speak with a woman named Lois. From deathbed memories to impossible personal details overheard during a car ride she allegedly “joined,” the account gets stranger—and more testable—when an elderly cousin confirms intimate family stories.Along the way, we unpack working models that challenge the reality TV shows. Apparitions aren’t optical; people perceive them through non-sensory channels, which explains why cameras usually fail. Residual hauntings may be “recorded history” we pick up with ESP, while poltergeist effects often track to living people. We also touch the bigger questions: what is consciousness made of, can it remain coherent without a brain, and why fear and folklore still shape public perception more than evidence does. Loyd offers clear, calm advice for anyone experiencing activity, plus practical routes to study the field through the Rhine Center and the Forever Family Foundation.If this conversation sparks your curiosity—or your courage—follow the links in our show notes, join our new Facebook community, and share your thoughts. Subscribe, rate five stars, and leave a short review to help us bring more rigorous, open-minded conversations to your feed. What do you think consciousness really is?Loyd's Official Website - https://loydauerbach.com/Rhine Research Centre - https://www.rhineonline.org/Forever Family Foundation - https://foreverfamilyfoundation.org/Loyd's Socials: https://www.youtube.com/loydauerbach https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtLPjIZOnE1DrPEPPYkendQhttps://web.facebook.com/loyd.auerbach.author/?_rdc=1&_rdr#https://x.com/profparanormalhttps://www.instagram.com/profparanormal/?hl=enSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A single whistle in the dark ocean shouldn’t decide a life, yet that’s exactly how Heidi found her way home. After ditching her aircraft in the Pacific and riding 12‑foot swells under a full moon, she watched search flares sketch the sky while a ship hovered just out of reach—until a launch zeroed in on the smallest, most human signal she had left. The twist? Her rescuers were Soviet sailors who couldn’t speak to the American aircraft overhead, turning a high‑stakes night into a quiet act of Cold War compassion.We walk through the rescue minute by minute—why timing a single rocket flare mattered, how radios failed across political lines, and how a Russian refrigeration crew treated a stranger with brisk kindness while coordinating a handover to a US vessel. From there, Heidi opens the hangar doors on a life in the airlines: the calculated calm of a 747 bird strike at JFK, fuel dumping and single‑engine procedures, and the redundancies that keep modern aviation remarkably safe. She explains what passengers actually feel versus what the cockpit manages, and why a firm crosswind landing can be the right kind of rough.For aspiring pilots, Heidi’s core lesson is blunt and lifesaving: know your limitations and honour them. Weather, get‑home pressure, and small compromises can snowball; asking for help early is strength, not failure. For anxious flyers, she offers simple comforts—sit forward, talk to the crew, and remember these aircraft are built to fly safely even when something goes wrong. We close with her new book, Ditching the Sky, her speaking work, and the film project taking shape, all anchored by a story that blends survival, skill, and grace across borders.If this story moved you, follow and subscribe, leave a quick five‑star review, and share it with someone who loves true survival, aviation, or both. Your support helps us bring more extraordinary voices to your ears.Heidi’s Book "Ditching the Sky" - https://www.amazon.com/Ditching-Sky-memoir-triumph-against/dp/B0DM73M8CL"Ditching the Sky" on Audible (narrated by Heidi) - https://www.audible.com/pd/Ditching-the-Sky-Audiobook/B0DPXXKZRB?srsltid=AfmBOopT7XrmdYwbr5HzOxP-7f_DYeW2nANyDaiafPUS_KD89X8mTD9sLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-porch-09783a89Speaker Profile - https://www.aviationspeakers.com/heidi-porchSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A single engine, an endless Pacific, and a decision no pilot wants to make. That’s where Heidi Porch found herself eleven hours into a ferry flight to Hawaii when the oil pressure began to fall and the nearest runway was more than a thousand miles away. Heidi has flown everything from gliders to 747s and Gulfstream jets, but nothing demanded more focus than the moment she chose to prepare for a ditching, built a plan that fit her cockpit constraints, and committed to it.We talk through the building blocks that made her calm under pressure: learning to fly in gliders where you cannot go around, methodically breaking in brand‑new engines on high‑power ferry legs, and practising failures mid‑ocean to cut panic down to size. When the Navy P‑3 and the Coast Guard joined the picture, precise position fixes, smart use of HF radio, and prearranged signals with her wingman created a lifeline of information for family and rescuers. Then the engine quit. What follows is a survival masterclass: escaping inverted with eyes closed against the burn, flipping a raft mid‑inflation, cutting a lanyard that threatened to shred her only shelter, and refusing to swim for a larger raft drifting the wrong way. She calculates ship speeds, accepts a night alone, and rides swells that build from gentle to threatening. Along the way, we explore the psychology of acceptance, the physics that govern low‑speed water impacts, and the small choices that keep you alive when gear fails and fatigue whispers bad ideas. It’s raw, practical, and unforgettable.This is part one of Heidi’s story; next week we pick up as darkness falls, weather turns, and an unexpected rescuer appears. If this moved you, follow the show, share it with someone who loves aviation or true survival stories, and leave a quick five‑star review—your support helps us bring more extraordinary voices to your queue.Episode Links: Heidi’s Book "Ditching the Sky" - https://www.amazon.com/Ditching-Sky-memoir-triumph-against/dp/B0DM73M8CL "Ditching the Sky" on Audible (narrated by Heidi) - https://www.audible.com/pd/Ditching-the-Sky-Audiobook/B0DPXXKZRB?srsltid=AfmBOopT7XrmdYwbr5HzOxP-7f_DYeW2nANyDaiafPUS_KD89X8mTD9sLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-porch-09783a89 Speaker Profile - https://www.aviationspeakers.com/heidi-porch Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

A $16 million lottery ticket sits unclaimed. Hours before the deadline, an anonymous figure tries to cash in through a Belize shell company. That’s where we start—with a gamble that reveals one of the boldest insider frauds in US lottery history—and with the leader who decided to fight it in daylight rather than bury it in silence.I sit down with Terry Rich—entrepreneur, former cable TV pioneer, zoo director, and CEO of the Iowa Lottery—to unpack the case that defined his later career. Terry explains how an insider at a vendor wrote code to narrow random outcomes once a year, why the fraud triad (need, opportunity, rationale) is the real risk model leaders should use, and how a string of small clues—including surveillance audio and a bizarre “two hot dogs” alibi—helped investigators connect jackpots across multiple states. We talk bluntly about industry pressure to keep quiet, why he refused, and how transparency actually increased public trust and sales.Terry’s story stretches beyond the case. From helping launch MTV and HBO to reinventing a struggling zoo with irreverent ideas like “Scoop on Poop” and adult-only “Zoo Brew” nights, his career is a masterclass in creative problem-solving and operational integrity. He shares practical leadership habits—separating duties, documenting exceptions, inviting diverse voices—and the mindset that turns PR crises into credibility. We also explore the modern content landscape: why a YouTube documentary can outpace traditional channels, and how creators can leverage honest storytelling to build durable audiences.If you’re curious about how insider fraud really works, how to structure teams to prevent it, and how courage in communication can strengthen a brand, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, leave a quick review, and share this episode with someone who geeks out on true crime, leadership, or the strange places where ethics and entrepreneurship collide. What would you have done at that last-minute claim?Terry's website - https://terryspeaks.com/Full Documentary: "Jackpot: America's Biggest Lotto Scam" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGsPAfQzakMLinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/terichFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpeaksKeynote/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tlrrhi/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

DISCLAIMER: This episode contains content that may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening. The siren is silent, the room is calm, and the heart is racing anyway. That’s where our conversation with former firefighter–paramedic Christy Warren begins—inside the strange quiet before chaos and the laser focus that follows once the job lands in your lap.Across twenty-five years in busy California systems, Christy moved from ambulance to engine to captain, making ten-second front-yard assessments and leading crews through flashover flats, freeway pile-ups, and the awkward, exhausting reality of lifts that manual-handling posters never imagined. She explains why first responders frame calls as tasks, not heroics—cut the roof, force the door, find water—because it’s the only way to think clearly when seconds matter. We go inside station life too: the dry humour that keeps people human, the constant cortisol even during a film at 9pm, and the everyday rituals that get interrupted by someone else’s worst day.Then the story turns. Christy revisits a children’s house fire where triage collided with scarcity and, years later, the penthouse search that “broke the box” she’d been stuffing full of hard calls. She speaks bluntly about nightmares, intrusive images, rage, and the morning she planned to drive into a tree. What changed the trajectory? Admitting the truth, going off on workers’ comp, and finding a peer community at a six-day retreat where firefighters, medics, cops, and dispatchers speak the same language. EMDR began to work. Shame loosened. The nervous system found a way back to baseline.We also dig into culture change: how “suck it up” is slowly being replaced by debriefs, peer teams, and early intervention that treats psychological injuries like line-of-duty injuries. Christy shares why she’d choose the career again without hesitation, even as she lives with a body mapped by surgeries, and how the work reshaped her view of fragility, poverty, and resilience.Christy's Website - https://www.christyewarren.com/Her Book, "Flashpoint" - https://www.amazon.com/Flash-Point-Firefighters-Journey-Through/dp/1647424488/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UGYTTSWXHTGE&keywords=flash+point+christy+warren&qid=1675272624&sprefix=flash+point+chri%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1Her podcast -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-firefighter-deconstructed/id1500483348Other links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-warren-17a978186/https://www.instagram.com/ffdeconstructed/?hl=enIf you were affected by the content of this episode, please click the link below, or similar links in your country. https://988lifeline.org/ Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What happens when the wind is so powerful it literally rips the air from your lungs? Sue Stockdale knows this terrifying reality all too well. Trapped for 36 hours in a small tent during a violent storm on the Greenland ice cap, her survival wasn't just a physical battle but a profound mental one. "I discovered depths of resilience that I didn't know I had," she recalls, in a moment that would shape the rest of her extraordinary life.From becoming the first British woman to reach the magnetic North Pole to skiing across Greenland's vast frozen expanse, Sue has pushed herself into some of the world's most unforgiving environments. But these adventures weren't just about conquering extreme conditions—they revealed fundamental truths about human potential that Sue now brings to boardrooms and leadership teams worldwide.Her journey began with curiosity and defiance. When she spotted an advert seeking "novice Arctic explorers" with the tagline "Are you man enough for the ultimate challenge?", something sparked inside her. Despite having neither the experience nor the £15,000 required, Sue trusted her gut feeling—a pattern established early in life after losing her mother suddenly at age fourteen, which taught her that "life could be short" and we must maximize our potential.What makes Sue's story particularly compelling is how she translates the lessons from polar expeditions into practical wisdom for everyday life and business leadership. Whether facing a literal storm in the Arctic or a metaphorical one in the corporate world, success often depends on managing your mind rather than external circumstances. "We're finding what it means to be alive," she explains about pushing beyond comfort zones, highlighting how modern life has emphasized exploitation over exploration—both externally and within ourselves.Ready to discover what you're truly capable of? Connect with Sue at SueStockdale.com and explore her book "Explore: A Life of Adventure" for inspiration to step into your own unknown territories, whatever form they might take.Sue's Website - https://suestockdale.com/Books - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sue-Stockdale/author/B001HO5FB2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueFacebook - https://web.facebook.com/SueStockdalespeaker/?_rdc=1&_rdr#LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/suestockdale/Access to Inspiration Podcast - https://accesstoinspiration.org/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Have you ever wondered how those incredible physical special effects in movies actually work? Not the CGI, but the real explosions, practical weather, and dangerous stunts that make your jaw drop? David Rigley-Williamson pulls back the curtain on the fascinating, challenging, and sometimes absurd world of special effects artistry.From humble beginnings as an art student with no clear career path, David found himself building elaborate special effects for major productions including the Emmy Award-Winning Star Wars Andor, where he created many effects, like the massive memorial fountain on Ghorman in season 2 – a feat that took months of precision engineering. He even scored an acting credit as an X-Wing mechanic, allowing him to appear in the Star Wars universe he helped create.The heart of our conversation centers on David's most incredible challenge: constructing an elaborate quicksand effect for a celebrity prank show in the desert. Picture a 20-meter square, 6-meter deep tank filled with water and cork granules, a custom hydraulic platform, and safety divers waiting in pitch-black water – all operating in 50°C heat. When celebrities drove their 4x4 vehicle onto what looked like innocent sand, they'd watch in horror as it began to sink and their driver disappeared beneath the surface. The engineering challenges, dangerous conditions, and logistical nightmares David faced during this 31-day shoot without a single day off will leave you astounded at what goes into creating these seemingly simple effects.For anyone fascinated by filmmaking, interested in unconventional career paths, or simply curious about how movie magic happens, this episode offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes with one of the wizards who makes the impossible look real. Subscribe now.Behind the Scenes from the Artem Quicksand shoot - https://www.artem.com/projects/ramez-goes-undergroundSome of the reactions of celebrities to the pranks - https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/shah-rukh-khan-almost-punched-a-prank-show-host-for-scaring-him-in-komodo-dragon-costume/story-vaFr9eZj5kY7eSF1uMMK3L.htmlDavid's IMDB profile - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4894917/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Meet Dr. Hazel Barton, a remarkable scientist who descends into Earth's darkest corners in search of microscopic life that could transform our future. Nicknamed the "Lara Croft of microbiology," Hazel combines cutting-edge science with death-defying exploration in some of the most remote cave systems on our planet.The heart of this episode recounts Hazel's terrifying near-death experience in a cave in China. Miles underground in what they believed was a dry passage, Hazel and her team suddenly heard the roar of approaching water as an underground river changed course. What followed was a desperate fight for survival against a raging torrent, requiring split-second decisions and extraordinary human cooperation to escape. Her vivid description of climbing across slippery ledges with certain death below will leave you breathless.Beyond the adventure, Hazel reveals how her research carries profound implications for our everyday lives. Her team has discovered cave microbes capable of breaking down nylon—potentially revolutionizing how we handle this problematic plastic that often ends up as ocean pollution. Other microorganisms they've studied can extract rare earth elements from rock, offering potential solutions for securing these crucial components used in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles.Hazel's journey from a working-class British family to becoming a geology professor who's explored caves across 37 countries and all seven continents is equally fascinating. She shares how an early experience watching pus shoot from a cat's abscess at a veterinary clinic sparked her interest in microbiology, while a childhood caving trip revealed her unusual comfort in underground spaces. Her career advice is refreshingly straightforward: focus on what makes you jump out of bed in the morning, not titles or salaries.Whether you're fascinated by extreme exploration, cutting-edge science, or simply curious about extraordinary career paths, Hazel's story offers a perfect blend of adventure and inspiration. Listen now to discover the hidden worlds beneath our feet and the microscopic treasures they contain.BOOK: Lechuguilla Cave: Discoveries in a Hidden Splendor - https://www.amazon.com/Lechuguilla-Cave-Discoveries-Hidden-Splendor/dp/3982171423Hazel Barton wins the "Oscar" of Caving Award in 2025 - https://geo.ua.edu/2025/09/10/dr-hazel-barton-wins-prominent-caving-award/Hazel's Lab Website - http://www.cavescience.com/Follow Hazel on X - https://x.com/cavescienceFollow Hazel on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazel-barton-4124148/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What drives someone to pick up a camera and head straight into the world's most dangerous conflicts? Michael Downey has made a career of documenting history's pivotal moments from the front lines, filming for major news outlets in war zones across the Middle East, Ukraine, and beyond.In this gripping conversation, Michael takes us through his remarkable journey from an Arabic-studying university student to accidentally breaking a major story with the Muslim Brotherhood just before Egypt's Arab Spring. That lucky break launched him into a 14-year career that's placed him at the center of global conflicts, from the fall of Mubarak to the early terrifying days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Michael's account of being in Kyiv when the first bombs fell at 3am on February 24th, 2022 offers a raw, unfiltered window into modern warfare. He describes the surreal experience of navigating an emptying city, feeling buildings shake from nearby strikes, and narrowly avoiding a rocket that missed his rental car "by about six inches." His matter-of-fact descriptions of assessing danger—"you don't have to worry until you can feel the buildings shake"—reveal the psychological adaptations necessary to function in such environments.Beyond the adrenaline-fueled moments, Michael thoughtfully explores the deeper aspects of his work: how he compartmentalizes trauma, the guilt of being able to leave when locals cannot, and witnessing how history gets written and sometimes rewritten by those in power. His perspective on finding meaning in dangerous work while maintaining mental health offers insights that extend far beyond journalism.Whether you're fascinated by global events, documentary filmmaking, or extraordinary career paths, Michael's story demonstrates what it means to have "a front seat to history" and the profound responsibility that comes with it. Subscribe now to hear more remarkable career journeys on No Ordinary Monday.Michael's website - https://michael-downey.com/Follow Michael on his Instagram Page - https://www.instagram.com/michaeldowneyphotoSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Tony Bonner takes us deep into his extraordinary experiences as a first responder at the Lockerbie bombing in this gripping conclusion to his two-part interview. His vivid account of discovering the wreckage of Pan Am Flight 103 – the cockpit embedded in a Scottish field, bodies scattered across the countryside – offers a rare glimpse into one of Britain's darkest moments through the eyes of someone who lived it.The psychological impact of such trauma shapes much of Tony's narrative. He describes how his mind protected him from certain memories while preserving others in stark detail, and shares the profound moment when hearing radio reports about grieving families in New York brought the human dimension of the tragedy into sharp focus. Despite the horror, Tony speaks with remarkable clarity and respect, carefully balancing clinical observations with deep compassion for the victims.But this episode isn't just about disaster – it's about reinvention and finding purpose. At 36, Tony made the courageous decision to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. Studying full-time while working night shifts to support his family, he eventually became a prosecutor specializing in homicide cases. His matter-of-fact descriptions of Glasgow's violent crime scene and his work on notorious cases including the World's End Murders reveal the gritty reality of criminal prosecution.Throughout our conversation, Tony's wisdom about career satisfaction shines through. "Nobody ever had a satisfying career being half-hearted," he observes, emphasizing that meaningful work requires full commitment regardless of the field. Whether describing his time as a trauma nurse or criminal prosecutor, his story demonstrates how even the most challenging circumstances can become stepping stones to personal growth and professional fulfillment.Ready to be inspired by an extraordinary journey through two demanding careers? Listen now, and discover why finding work you love means "you'll never do a day's work in your life."Story of the World's End Pub Murders - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/nov/14/angus-sinclair-guilty-worlds-end-murdersCriminal Law Edinburgh University - https://www.law.ed.ac.uk/study/masters-degrees/llm-criminal-law-and-criminal-justiceSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

The red emergency phone had never rung before. When it finally did on December 21st, 1988, trauma nurse Tony Bonner and the Medic One rapid response team knew they were facing something unprecedented. A jumbo jet had crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland, and they were racing toward one of the worst aviation disasters in history.  Tony's journey to that pivotal night was anything but straightforward. From seminary school at age 11 where he was preparing for priesthood (despite becoming what he calls an "evangelical atheist" by 15), to psychiatric nursing where he handled volatile patients including two men both convinced they were Jesus Christ, Tony's career path defied convention. Eventually drawn to emergency medicine for its adrenaline and the opportunity to make life-or-death differences, he found himself on Scotland's elite trauma response team, Medic One.  Nothing could have prepared them for Lockerbie. Racing through stormy winter weather at breakneck speeds in a police Range Rover, Tony and his colleagues tried reassuring each other they could handle what awaited. The scene that greeted them was apocalyptic – houses obliterated, fires burning everywhere, jet fuel running down gutters, and wreckage scattered across miles. Following a local GP's lead up Tundergarth Hill, they made a surreal discovery that encapsulates the jarring nature of the disaster – the cockpit of Pan Am Flight 103 lying in a field among grazing sheep.  This vivid, first-hand account offers rare insight into the human experience behind disaster response. Beyond the technical aspects of emergency medicine, we witness the fear, doubt, and determination of those who step forward when tragedy strikes. Join us for this two-part episode as Tony recounts his extraordinary experience at Lockerbie and shares how it eventually led him toward an entirely new career as a criminal prosecutor.Medic One website. There is a "Donate" link as well on the page, its a great cause to support - https://www.edinburghemergencymedicine.com/medic1-about"Lockerbie: A Search For Truth (Sky Atlantic) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31029686/PanAm 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation - https://www.pa103ll.org/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to control a laser on another planet? Dr. Nina Lanza does exactly that as a planetary scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she leads the ChemCam instrument on NASA's Curiosity rover.With infectious enthusiasm, Nina takes us through her remarkable journey from a space-obsessed child who dreamed of "working on a spaceship with lasers" to a scientist who commands rovers on Mars. Her story reminds us that passion and persistence can transform seemingly impossible dreams into reality.The conversation explores what planetary scientists actually do day-to-day and why studying Martian rocks matters. Nina explains the difference between Curiosity's mission to assess Mars' habitability and Perseverance's hunt for signs of ancient life, offering fascinating insights into how these rovers gather data using sophisticated laser technology that can analyze rocks from a distance.Perhaps most captivating is Nina's firsthand account of the Curiosity rover's launch and landing. She vividly describes the anxiety of watching years of work blast off into space and the heart-stopping "seven minutes of terror" as the rover attempted its unprecedented landing using a sky crane system that had never been fully tested. These moments of scientific triumph come alive through her personal narrative.Nina also dismantles stereotypes about scientists, confessing she "wasn't particularly good at school" and secured her first Mars job through relentless enthusiasm rather than perfect credentials. Her message is clear and encouraging: follow what you love learning about, and you'll find your path regardless of your starting point or age.As we stand at the threshold of potentially discovering evidence of life beyond Earth, Nina makes a compelling case for continued investment in Mars exploration, particularly the Mars Sample Return mission. Her story exemplifies how human curiosity, persistence, and collaboration can extend our reach beyond our home planet and potentially answer one of humanity's most profound questions: are we alone in the universe?Nina's Website - https://www.ninalanza.com/Follow Nina on Instagram @vermillionplanet - https://www.instagram.com/vermillionplanet/?hl=enNina leads the Curiosity Rover's ChemCam instrument - https://www.msl-chemcam.com/Mars Sample Return (NASA) - https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-sample-return/Mars Sample Return (ESA) - https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Mars_sample_returnCareers at NASA - https://www.nasa.gov/careers/kJL7CM5TaESLGOSGuZqMSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

What happens when an anthropologist volunteers as a "demonstration corpse" at a Japanese funeral industry convention? Dr. Hannah Gould's extraordinary career studying death and dying takes her to places few of us will ever experience—from crematoriums crushing infant remains with teaspoons to coffin fashion shows complete with commentators and pumping music.In this deeply fascinating conversation, we explore the strange contradiction of our society's relationship with death: our obsession with true crime and fictional mortality versus our reluctance to discuss real, everyday death. Hannah explains how even medical professionals receive minimal training on handling death conversations, leading young doctors to feel they've "failed" when patients die. Her work teaching "Death and Dying 101" aims to change this mindset, helping future healthcare workers understand that their job isn't preventing death but helping people "die later or die better."The discussion takes unexpected turns as Hannah shares insights from death care conventions around the world. From robotic Buddhist priests reciting sutras for the dead to coffee ground with recycled gravestones, the death industry reveals itself as simultaneously innovative, practical, and occasionally absurd. We also explore the approaching phenomenon of "peak death"—where aging baby boomer populations will create unprecedented demand for death care services—and why young people seeking stable careers might consider this growing field.Throughout our conversation, Hannah maintains that working with death requires strong convictions (either religious or atheistic), grounding in everyday joys, and crucially, a good sense of humor. She keeps her own cardboard coffin in her office, decorated by students who add their reflections on mortality each year—a perfect embodiment of her approach to making death approachable rather than fearsome.Ready to rethink your relationship with mortality? Hannah's parting wisdom offers a liberating perspective: don't hold too tightly to plans, but do share your preferences with loved ones. After all, we're all going to die—why not find ways to talk about it that bring us closer together rather than push us apart?Hannah's website - https://www.hannahgould.com/Hannah's 2023 book "When Death Falls Apart" - https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/W/bo207948066.htmlABC Documentary "Matt Okine is Going to Die" - https://www.abc.net.au/contentsales/programsandgenres/matt-okine-is-going-to-die/102898066Follow Hannah on Instagram @hrhgould - https://www.instagram.com/hrhgould/Hannah's academic work - https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/279539-hannah-harewood-gouldUniversity Of Melbourne's Death Tech team - https://deathtech.research.unimelb.edu.au/Careers in the Death Care industry - Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Emmy award-winning cinematographer Keith Partridge takes us behind the scenes of adventure filmmaking, revealing the extraordinary skills and mindset required to capture footage where few dare to venture.From dangling 3,000 feet off Angel Falls in Venezuela to filming on the summit of Everest, Keith has made a career of putting cameras in places that seem impossibly dangerous. What's remarkable is how his journey began – not scaling mountains from childhood, but working in a factory making pressure switches for electric showers after failing his A-levels. His path changed forever when he spotted a BBC job advertisement at 18, beginning a journey that would eventually lead him to resign without another job lined up, simply because he felt called to adventure.The heart of our conversation explores a particularly harrowing moment during the filming of the BAFTA award-winning documentary "Touching the Void." Keith recounts finding himself on a hanging sheet of ice just an inch thick in the Peruvian Andes, where his guide could only mouth the words "don't fall." This story perfectly illustrates Keith's approach to extreme filming – it's not about recklessness or being "gung-ho," but rather about preparation, situational awareness, and team trust.What comes through clearly is how Keith views fear as a positive force – a natural pause button that makes you assess situations carefully. For anyone fascinated by adventure, filmmaking, or how people perform under pressure, this conversation offers rare insights into a truly extraordinary career. Keith's journey proves that sometimes the most remarkable lives begin with simply being open to opportunity and saying "yes" when adventure calls.Keith's website - https://adventurecamera.co.uk/Follow Keith on Instagram @partridge_keith - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_keith/?hl=enCheck out Keith's book "The Adventure Game" - https://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Game-Keith-Partridge/dp/1910124311Keith's work on "Touching the Void" - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379557/Check out the "Adventure Film Makers Workshop" at Banff - https://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/adventure-filmmakers-workshop-2024More of Keith's work - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1524531/Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

Welcome to No Ordinary Monday — the podcast that takes you inside the world’s most thrilling, bizarre, and extraordinary careers. Each week, host Chris Baron sits down with someone whose job will make your jaw drop. From war photographers, to Mars scientists, bomb disposal experts to dominatrixes...our guests share the highs and lows of their working lives, and reveal that one unforgettable experience that tops everything else in their career.First episodes will drop Monday 18th August 2025. If you’re into behind-the-scenes stories, weird jobs, or just need a good reason to love Mondays again – check it out.Subscribe now and catch a new episode every week.#NoOrdinaryMonday #Podcast #ExtraordinaryJobs #TrueStoriesSend us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].