"Do It Scared: How Skiing Big Mountains Builds a Meaningful Life | Wynter McBride, Ascent Life Ep. 33

"Do It Scared: How Skiing Big Mountains Builds a Meaningful Life | Wynter McBride, Ascent Life Ep. 33

In this big mountain episode, I sit down with Wynter McBride — Freeride World Tour rookie standout and one of America’s top female freeride skiers — to explore how adventure sports like skiing help us live more meaningful, purposeful lives. Fresh off her breakout rookie season, Wynter shares raw insights on identity beyond skiing, facing fear in the start gate, traveling the world, and finding joy. We dive deep into: * What it’s really like competing on the Freeride World Tour (Alaska spines, Verbier, Georgia, France, Austria + canceled comps) * Balancing passion for skiing with mountain biking, art, yoga, family & summer adventures * Defining success, purpose, and who you are when you’re not skiing * Moving through fear, building confidence, and skiing with a smile at the gate * Lessons from big mountains on humility, discomfort, and breathing through challenge * How yoga, journaling, and reflection fuel performance and personal growth I also share key wisdom from two powerful books on living a meaningful life: Arthur C. Brooks’ The Meaning of Your Life(my top recommendation) and How to Live a Meaningful Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans. Whether you’re a skier, adventurer, or someone searching for more purpose and joy in daily life, this conversation will inspire you to chase experiences, do it scared, and design a life you love. 🔑 Topics: Freeride World Tour, big mountain skiing, finding purpose, meaningful life, adventure sports, Wynter McBride, rookie season, skiing mindset, overcoming fear, identity work, Arthur Brooks, yoga for athletes ⏰ Timestamps: * 00:00 Intro & books on meaning * 04:17 Interview with Wynter McBride begins * 05:08 Purpose & identity outside of skiing * 09:03 Breaking down her podium run in France * 14:15 Rookie season results & making the cut * 16:07 Travel chaos, trains, food allergies & cultural surprises in Georgia * 23:10 Favorite European stops & why European mountains feel massive * 26:00 Alaska heli-skiing & spine technique * 33:20 Defining success as an athlete & as a person * 48:18 Yoga, art & cross-training for skiing * 51:43 How Wynter wants to be remembered * 55:26 Summer plans & goals for next season * 01:03:01 Final advice: Do it scared If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Ascent Life for weekly conversations on living healthy, wealthy, and wise. Share this with someone who needs inspiration to chase their passion! 📧 Get the weekly newsletter with full show notes + more at AscentLifeNow.com [https://AscentLifeNow.com] 📸 Follow Wynter McBride on Instagram & Substack (search Wynter McBride) 🎥 Watch her Freeride World Tour runs Thanks for tuning in— now go do something that makes you feel most like yourself. Cheers, and Godspeed.

Finding Purpose Through Music, Friendship & Family | Cory Mon & Clark, Ascent Life Ep. 32

Can Music Help You Live Your Best Life? Join us on this episode of the Ascent Life Podcast as we dive deep with musicians Cory Mon and bassist Clark Cannon. Discover how music, live performance, creativity, and authentic connection help us find purpose, meaning, happiness, and fulfillment—even while navigating fatherhood, sacrifices, and chasing dreams. From Arthur C. Brooks’ The Meaning of Your Life (happiness = enjoyment + satisfaction + meaning) to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s self-reliance, free hugs, Hormel Chili, and a brand-new album, this episode is packed with laughs, real talk, and actionable wisdom for living healthy, wealthy, and wise. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Living your best life through music & live performance 01:03 - Wisdom from the Pages: Arthur C. Brooks on happiness, meaning, purpose & coherence 02:12 - Emerson, self-reliance, and rebelling against modern burnout 05:29 - Meet Cory Mon & Clark Cannon (bass player) 07:17 - What is your definite major purpose in life? 07:57 - Cory on fatherhood, being a safe space & best friend to his daughter 09:18 - Clark on doing what you love with people you love 13:13 - Sacrifices for music, family & authenticity 16:36 - Missing plays vs. gigs – real dad-musician balance 21:44 - The origin of #FreeHugs & deluxe hugs on stage 25:20 - Why pursue music when it's hard to make a living? 28:00 - The magic of audience sing-alongs & live connection 34:07 - How do you define success as a musician & human? 48:44 - How do you want to be remembered? 54:30 - Biggest fears 01:01:42 - Final advice: Know your values, chase what you love, sprint & pivot 01:04:40 - Album promo, tour vibes & closing wisdom Subscribe to Ascent Life Now on YouTube for weekly episodes on living your best life. Get deeper weekly insights in the Ascent Life newsletter: ascentlifenow.com [https://ascentlifenow.com] Follow Cory Mon & Clark Cannon – stream, catch them live, and experience the free hugs energy! If this episode inspired you, share it with someone chasing their purpose. Let’s help 1 million people become the best version of themselves—healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Ep. 27 - Running Life with Mountain Runner, Mom & Race Director, Tara Warren

Ultra-running, giving, & living your best life with this episode’s guest, Tara Warren. What does it mean to live your best life? From running mountains, to race directing, to supporting her athletic kids, Tara is driven to make a difference in the world.   We talk purpose, success, legacy, Running Up For Air, UTMB, life balance, and the power of just putting something scary on your calendar to push yourself to live the Ascent Life! Welcome to the Ascent Life podcast, I’m your host, R. Brandon Long, here with the mission to inspire 1 million people a day to live their best lives, and be the best version of themselves: Healthy, Wealthy & Wise—That is living an Ascent Life  * Subscribe to Ascent Life on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ascentlifenow [https://www.youtube.com/@ascentlifenow] * Subscribe to my weekly Ascent Life Newsletter where I share what I learn each week on how to live your best life: https://ascent-life.beehiiv.com/subscribe [https://ascent-life.beehiiv.com/subscribe] * For your daily dose of visual inspiration, follow Ascent Life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentlife/ [https://www.instagram.com/ascentlife/]    Thank you for joining me on this journey as we all push towards self actualization through resilience, and adaptability, creating a positive impact on the world —using our “unique ability” to fulfill our purpose, and become the best version of ourselves: healthy, wealthy & wise! We’ll continue our paths together on the next Ascent Life!  Cheers, and Godspeed

Ep. 26 - On Finding Purpose & Living Your Best Life with Musician & Community Builder, David Owen

Our guest today is former rockstar, current music teacher, real estate broker, entrepreneur and avid mountain biker David Owen. We begin with Wisdom From The Pages - reading from 10x is Easier Than 2X in the Chapter “Take 150+ “Free Days” Per Year, the author Dan Sullivan suggests that as an entrepreneur, to find big ideas, you need lots of free time. But also higher quality time.  “Tightly scheduled entrepreneurs cannot transform themselves.” He says it’s counterintuitive, but in order to go 10x, you need to work less, not more. Welcome to the Ascent Life podcast, I’m your host, R. Brandon Long, here with the mission to inspire 1 million people a day to live their best lives, and be the best version of themselves. That is living an Ascent Life Subscribe to live your best life - Ascent Life Newsletter: https://ascent-life.beehiiv.com/subscribe [https://ascent-life.beehiiv.com/subscribe] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ascentlifenow [https://www.youtube.com/@ascentlifenow] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7t25ibFaEVPw2rui7OEbhg?si=edce41a45a0c446a [https://open.spotify.com/show/7t25ibFaEVPw2rui7OEbhg?si=edce41a45a0c446a] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ascent-life-podcast/id1800541658 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ascent-life-podcast/id1800541658] CONTENT SUGGESTION: YouTube: “6 Daily Habits to Live Your Best Life” YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ascentlifenow [https://www.youtube.com/@ascentlifenow] Alysa Liu just won Olympic god: https://x.com/stevemagness/status/2024827190072803592?s=20 [https://x.com/stevemagness/status/2024827190072803592?s=20]   INTERVIEW David Owen, Welcome to Ascent Life…    Preview the Big 3 Questions: Purpose, Success, Remembered,  * Let’s begin with your love of music and playing guitar how/when that began (legendary Rock God status) * When did you open Imagine Music? * When did you move into Real Estate & become a broker? * Talk to me about the Montessori School & what inspired you to take ownership of that project * What is your Definite Major Purpose * How would you define success or living your best life? * How do you want to be remembered? * What is your biggest fear? * Fave MTB trail and if you could ride any trail in the world which trail would that be? * The goal is to help as many people as possible live their best life (a life by design), what advice would you give to yourself to help remind you to live your best life that others may also learn from? Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Ascent Life podcast If you made it this far in the program, please subscribe on YouTube @ ascentlifenow. For your daily dose of visual inspiration, follow Ascent Life on Instagram.    And, please subscribe to my weekly Ascent Life Newsletter where I share what I learn each week on how to live your best life. Link to subscribe is in the Show Notes.   Thank you for joining me on this journey as we all push towards self actualization through resilience, and adaptability, creating a positive impact on the world —using our “unique ability” to fulfill our purpose, and become the best version of ourselves: healthy, wealthy & wise!

Ep. 25 - Fearless Creativity with Photographer Fernando Nevarez

Subscribe to live your best life - Ascent Life Newsletter: https://ascent-life.beehiiv.com/subscribe [https://ascent-life.beehiiv.com/subscribe]   Ascent Life Podcast   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ascentlifenow [https://www.youtube.com/@ascentlifenow] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7t25ibFaEVPw2rui7OEbhg?si=edce41a45a0c446a [https://open.spotify.com/show/7t25ibFaEVPw2rui7OEbhg?si=edce41a45a0c446a] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ascent-life-podcast/id1800541658 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ascent-life-podcast/id1800541658]   From Flatline to Shine - The story of how a near-death experience lead to Fernando Nevarez choosing an intentional life of creativity and purpose.   Intro:  Welcome to the Ascent Life podcast, I’m your host, R. Brandon Long, here with the mission to inspire 1 million people a day to live their best lives, and be the best version of themselves. That is living an Ascent Life  Please subscribe to the show on YouTube @ascentlifenow    WISDOM FROM THE PAGES:   We begin today’s episode with Wisdom From The Pages - reading from The 50th Law, by Robert Greene & 50 Cent. The book teaches fearlessness, and leaning into your unique ability which is a theme throughout many of the recent self-improvement books I’ve read lately…   - Make Everything Your Own - Self Reliance: When you work for others, you are at their mercy. They own your work: They own you. Your creative spirit is squashed. What keeps you in such positions is a fear of having to sink or swim on your own… Your goal in every maneuver in life must be ownership… The ultimate power in life is to be completely self reliant, completely yourself. Your life must be a progression towards ownership—first mentally of your independence, and then physically of your work, owning what you produce.  CONTENT SUGGESTION:   YouTube: “It took me 50+ years to realize what I’ll tell you in 69 minutes [https://youtu.be/xz-ymFOhBAE?si=DCeMXxlv7NjSU6Jd]” -Tony Robbins (Alex Hormozi interviews Tony Robbins, but it turns into a therapy “come to Jesus” session for Hormozi)   INTERVIEW   Our guest today is automotive & action sports photographer, Fernando Nevarez   Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/_fernandonevarez/ [https://www.instagram.com/_fernandonevarez/] https://www.instagram.com/nevarezstudios/ [https://www.instagram.com/nevarezstudios/] Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Ascent Life podcast   If you made it this far in the program, please subscribe on YouTube @ ascentlifenow. For your daily dose of visual inspiration, follow Ascent Life on Instagram.    And, please subscribe to my weekly Ascent Life Newsletter where I share what I learn each week on how to live your best life. Link to subscribe is in the Show Notes.   Thank you for joining me on this journey as we all push towards self actualization through resilience, and adaptability, creating a positive impact on the world —using our “unique ability” to fulfill our purpose, and become the best version of ourselves: healthy, wealthy & wise!   We’ll continue our paths together on the next Ascent Life!    Cheers, and Godspeed