Mountain Whispers

Here I sit down with existential psychologist Dr. Alex Sielaff to explore how our awareness of death subtly shapes everything, from our beliefs and identities to our relationships and search for meaning. We dive into Terror Management Theory, peak states of consciousness, and the ways adventure, discomfort, and integration can help us live more fully in the face of mortality. It’s a conversation about fear, freedom, and the quiet power of choosing presence over certainty. You can contact Alex via email at sielaff@arizona.edu [sielaff@arizona.edu] Some of the references discussed in this conversation are: * The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker [https://www.amazon.ca/Denial-Death-Ernest-Becker/dp/0684832402] * Rude Awakening: Perils, Pitfalls, and Hard Truths of the Spiritual Path by P.T. Mistlberger [https://www.amazon.ca/Rude-Awakening-Perils-Pitfalls-Spiritual/dp/1846946093/ref=sr_1_4?crid=XPYVLTDKH54A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Hi-jH-c-cHXtIGOExNqLn6YQBwEWJ-dkFmbk6bxaHYJhf76-HyhJRl4Zv-chhmlRhG_CTM0cdz4xKedKl1MU0w.BiC70feyfeZMKbPc8h09IMy_X05TfDm6qhiy-tmFPmI&dib_tag=se&keywords=p+t+mistlberger&qid=1744491856&s=books&sprefix=p+t+mistlberger%2Cstripbooks%2C203&sr=1-4] * Robert Anton Wilson's idea of Maybe Logic [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSqQ1YgRN5E] for holding multiple worldviews at the same time You can support this podcast by leaving a review on the podcast platform you use, or connect with Tim on Instagram @timstewnz [https://www.instagram.com/timstewnz].

Rob Ó Cobhthaigh is a former elite whitewater kayaker turned psychotherapist and psychedelic facilitator. He's run some of the most intense waters in the world and completed exploratory first descents in rivers of Iran and Norway. After retired from whitewater, Rob shifted to the exploration of inner realms, training as a psychotherapist as well as in the Celtic shamanic tradition. He now leads psychedelic retreats in Amsterdam and Costa Rica with his organization inwardbound.nl [https://inwardbound.nl/]. Links mentioned in this episode: * Rob's article on Risk in Whitewater Kayaking: In the Eye of the Storm [https://cassandravoices.com/society/sport/in-the-eye-of-the-storm/] * The Irish Centre for Celtic Shamanic Studies [https://www.shamanismireland.com/] You can learn more about Rob's work at inwardbound.nl [https://inwardbound.nl/] or robocobhthaigh.com [https://robocobhthaigh.com/] You can support this podcast by leaving a review on the podcast platform you use, or connect with Tim on Instagram @timstewnz [https://www.instagram.com/timstewnz].

Peter Chrzanowski is an extreme skiing pioneer and Sea to Sky legend. He has atleast 18 ski-mountaineering first descents to his name, including Wedge, Mount Currie, Atwell, Serratus, and Mount Waddington and has also directed or produced 19 ski, paragliding, or action sport movies since the 80's many of which are credited with bringing big mountain, extreme skiing to the level of popularity it is at today. We chat about his life of adventure, how he deals with fear, what he's learned from having more brushes with death than one could imagine, and much more. You can purchase Peter's book I Survived Myself on Amazon here [https://www.amazon.ca/I-Survived-Myself-Peter-Chrzanowski/dp/1736492780/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NY89ZQ77MFFC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZCXqyR4neQvw63NcsnZbGmnltCSWvKy__e7j1q8gc37yjMESjn8esCDAtwkd3aSl5wc_9HaiCpBG6ji8Rk_gKuoTeUbM9ibbXW0GEg0H8Vfr0DtRhRzgJ_wzmMixspz-prJ-Z2iecTjus4d-9R6B1ZU13z6YV9Q-0TXTqruqs23mSvGfomeMmUXc_i6498qiLtBgi5KPDB94K_dnt7UJWOdDykzzcxbTA1CbzbHnjck.0AJCqzhxhACQWbBGgcqUKTdZURGwV6cbCoWykM94FcU&dib_tag=se&keywords=I+SURVIVED+MYSELF&qid=1722891948&s=books&sprefix=i+survived+myself%2Cstripbooks%2C143&sr=1-1]. Links mentioned: * A clip from Peter's movie: The North Face: Seven Years on Mount Robson [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51xNIcL7tAM] * Recommended film: K2 The Impossible Descent [https://www.redbull.com/int-en/films/k2-the-impossible-descent] You can support this podcast by leaving a review on the podcast platform you use, or connect with Tim on Instagram @timstewnz [https://www.instagram.com/timstewnz].

Dom Francks is a modern day renaissance man, having honed his craft at everything from elite golf, to climate tech, to outdoor leadership. The current expression of this craft is Vivify [https://www.vivify.life/], a transformative journey for adventurous professionals and leaders. It blends 4 months of online leadership coaching with a unique 8-day off-trail backpacking expedition in the High Sierra. In our conversation we go deep on how one can create transformative spaces in the time they spend outdoors, and more importantly, how one can use these peak states to ultimately be of greater service to those around us. You can find links to go deeper on some of the topics here: * Dom's piece on Ritual vs Discipline [https://domfrancks.substack.com/p/ritual-vs-discipline] * Josh Schrei's The Emerald Podcast: Animism is Normative Consciousness [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/animism-is-normative-consciousness/id1465445746?i=1000501041858] * Josh Schrei's The Emerald Podcast on Ecological Grief: I Wish It Could Have Been Another Way [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/i-wish-it-could-have-been-another-way-a-lament-w-peia-luzzi/id1465445746?i=1000568130608] * The Great Simplification | Film on Energy, Environment, and Our Future | FULL MOVIE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xr9rIQxwj4] * Dom's piece on The “Spiritual Infrastructure” of Climate [https://The“SpiritualInfrastructure”ofClimate] Dom is offering $500 off this May's Vivify program for listeners of Mountain Whispers. To inquire, follow this link. [https://domfrancks.typeform.com/to/qVI7Yf0H?typeform-source=www.vivify.life] You can support this podcast by leaving a review on the podcast platform you use, or connect with Tim on Instagram @timstewnz [https://www.instagram.com/timstewnz].

Lauren Bond is a wilderness guide and founder of The River's Path, offering canoe journeys for deep connection and personal transformation. We explore what is actually means to foster deeper connection to the more than human world and how one can access these subtle states of consciousness. We dive deep into how Lauren facilitates this experience in a group setting, as well as how confronting fear and opening yourself to synchronicity are key parts of moving in these spaces. Links mentioned in the conversation: * Neuroscientist David Eagleman explaining "The Umwelt" [https://eagleman.com/latest/umwelt/] * Lauren's upcoming trips at The River's Path [https://www.theriverspath.org/overnight-canoe-trips-on-the-green-river-utah/] You can find more of Lauren at The River's Path link above. You can support this podcast by leaving a review on the podcast platform you use, or connect with Tim on Instagram @timstewnz [https://www.instagram.com/timstewnz].