Enter The Unknown

#14 Weekends at Morningside Live with Christian Eaton - the first in a series of casual conversations with pilots in the hangar

What drives a marketing professional for one of the world's leading ski brands to jump off mountains in his spare time? In this episode, Hayden Thomas chats with Christian Eaton about the evolution of a paragliding pilot and the maturity required to fly "conservatively." Christian shares how his background in multi-pitch rock climbing and backcountry skiing shaped his approach to free flight, emphasizing the magical simplicity of a 9:00 a.m. "boat sledder" off Cannon Mountain. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the psychology of risk, the "Dunning-Krueger" effect in adventure sports, and the importance of checking your ego before you clip into your wing. Main Topics Covered * The Inspiration of Birds: How watching vultures soar while stuck on a climbing crux at Cannon Mountain sparked Christian's desire to fly. * Hike-and-Fly Magic: The unique appeal of earning your flight through hiking and the tranquility of early morning launches. * The Conservative Pilot: Why Christian is intentionally choosing to progress slower to develop a reputation for safety rather than boldness. * Adventure Sport Cross-Training: Comparing the variable management of rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and paragliding. * Heuristic Traps: Navigating the "comparison trap" and why following the crowd can lead to dangerous aeronautical decisions. * The Dunning-Kruger Curve: Assessing where pilots land on the curve of competence versus confidence and the dangers of the "Intermediate Syndrome." * Personal Risk Assessment: Balancing a passion for flight with family responsibilities and the upcoming birth of a niece or nephew. Key Takeaways * Stay Scared, Stay Alive: Embracing a healthy level of fear prevents the complacency that often leads to accidents in adventure sports. * Fly Your Own Flight: External motivations—like trying to keep up with more aggressive peers—are a leading cause of unnecessary risk-taking. * Optional Launch, Mandatory Landing: Every time you choose to fly, you are accepting a set of risks; the power lies in knowing when to keep the wing in the bag. * The "Easy" Trap: Paragliding is deceptively easy to learn at a basic level, which often leads high-aptitude students into "air" they aren't mentally prepared for yet. * Harmony over Balance: Success in flight and life requires constant self-monitoring of stressors, sleep, and mental headspace before engaging in high-stakes activities. Connect with Hayden * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/ [https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1] * X: https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT [https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT] * YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT [http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT] * Spotify: Enter the Unknown with Hayden Thomas [https://open.spotify.com/show/6Bjw9Hp4ouw3w6Hqqfbyoz?si=933570ccd73f41cb] * Get Stokes Picks! Premium flavored nicotine toothpicks: https://stokespicks.com/ [https://stokespicks.com/] * Use promo code: Entertheunknown for a 20% discount! If this episode helped you re-evaluate your own risk-reward ratio, please follow, like, and share Enter The Unknown on your favorite platform!

#13 - Arash Farhang - Juggling Life's Balance, XC Paragliding Records, Fatherhood and Flying in The Karakorum

What do world-record juggling and high-altitude paragliding have in common? In this episode, Hayden Thomas sits down with Arash Farhang, a doctorate holder in optics and a world-record-holding juggler, to explore the discipline of mastery. Arash shares how he transitioned from the structured world of site-swap notation and competitive juggling to pioneering new "hike-and-fly" routes in the Wasatch Mountains and the towering Karakoram range of Pakistan. Whether you’re curious about the "poor man’s helicopter," the mechanics of thermalling to 24,000 feet without oxygen, or the delicate harmony of balancing high-risk adventures with family life, this conversation is a fascinating look into the mind of a modern polymath. Main Topics Covered * The Physics of Juggling: Understanding "site-swap notation," world records in 180-degree spins, and the discipline required to practice four hours a day. * Paragliding as a "Poor Man’s Helicopter": Using a wing to summit peaks for backcountry skiing and speed riding. * Cross-Country (XC) Exploits: Breaking records for "fully closed" flat triangles in Utah and the mental game of nine-hour flights. * The Karakoram Experience: Flying in Pakistan, camping at 14,000 feet, and soaring past 7,000-meter giants like Rakaposhi. * Risk Assessment & Family: How becoming a father shifted Arash's risk tolerance and his strategy for maintaining "harmony" with his wife. * The Iranian Connection: A personal look at Arash's heritage, the current political climate in Iran, and the underground paragliding community there. * Survival in the Sky: A harrowing account of throwing a reserve parachute over the Utah wilderness and steering to safety. Key Takeaways * Structured Mastery: Whether it's juggling or flying, high-level skill is achieved through rigorous, drill-based practice rather than just "playing around." * The 5% Rule: In competitive paragliding, a flight is only "closed" if you return to within 5% of your starting distance—a feat of both skill and meteorological luck. * Altitude Adaptation: "Vol-biv" (fly-and-camp) allows pilots to acclimate to extreme heights, enabling flights at 24,000 feet without the immediate need for oxygen. * Honesty vs. Peace: In adventure sports, being "too honest" about potential risks can sometimes cause more stress at home; finding the right level of transparency is key to family harmony. * Redemption Flights: Even after a "bomb-out" or a scary incident, getting back in the air the next day is often the best cure for the psychological weight of a mistake. Connect with the Guest Arash Farhang on X-Contest: Track Arash's Flights [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/pilots/detail:arashf] World Juggling Federation (WJF): Juggling Competitions & Tutorials [http://www.worldjugglingfederation.com]Connect with Hayden * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/ [https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1] * X: https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT [https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT] * YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT [http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT] * Spotify: Enter the Unknown with Hayden Thomas [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://open.spotify.com/show/4N9v2u1p5I8J26S8N8Z8J8] Get Stokes Picks!  Premium flavored nicotine toothpicks: https://stokespicks.com/ [https://stokespicks.com/] Use promo code: Entertheunknown for a 20% discount! If this episode helped you find the rhythm in your own "juggling act," please follow, like, and share Enter The Unknown on your favorite platform!

#12 - Chip Hopper - The BookJEDI: AI Futurism, Ghostwriting, and Rewriting Your Story

What does it mean to be a "ghost" in a world that is increasingly loud? In this episode, Hayden Thomas pulls back the "wizard curtain" with Chip Hopper, known as the BookJEDI, to reveal the fascinating world of celebrity ghostwriting. Chip is the founder of Disrupt Normal LLC, a personal evolution company focused on improving the way we live and love by helping people write their "JEDI Stories." From the ethics of AI in literature to the philosophy of "harmony over balance," this conversation explores how storytelling defines our reality. Whether you’re an aspiring author, a tech futurist, or someone looking to step into the "uncomfortable" to find your next breakthrough, Chip’s insights on "quantum surprises" will challenge you to write a better chapter for your own life. Main Topics Covered * The Life of a Ghostwriter: Transitioning from a corporate executive to writing memoirs for celebrities and athletes under strict NDAs. * The AI Frontier: How LLMs are changing the value of knowledge and why "human-connected" writing still wins over algorithms. * Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Using AI as a research tool versus a creative engine, and the danger of the "summary of summaries" echo chamber. * The Intelligence of Nature: Why plants are more "aware" than we realize, and how to find a true flow state through forest bathing. * The Comfort of Discomfort: Why we must make the unfamiliar familiar and intentionally seek out "quantum surprises" to trigger growth. * Harmony vs. Balance: A paradigm shift on life management—why taking a step always puts you out of balance but keeps you in harmony with your goals. * Rewriting the Past: How our present lens determines our history, and the power of shifting your narrative to become the hero. Key Takeaways * You Are Only One Away: One relationship, one moment, or one story can completely pivot your trajectory toward your best life. * Knowledge Trends Toward Zero: In an AI-driven world, pure information is cheap; original human experience and intellectual property are the new high-value currencies. * Suck to Soar: No one starts as an expert. Action must precede the feeling of being "ready" to avoid the trap of analysis paralysis. * Witnessed by Nature: Spending time in the forest is a spiritual experience of being "seen" by a complex, living system. * Additive Bias: Humans often try to solve problems by adding more. Frequently, the breakthrough lies in subtraction and simplification. Connect with the GuestWebsite: chiphopper.com Social Media: @chiphopper on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok Connect with HaydenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/ [https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1] X: https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT [https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT] YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT [http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT] Spotify: Enter the Unknown with Hayden Thomas Get Stokes Picks!Premium flavored nicotine toothpicks: https://stokespicks.com/ [https://stokespicks.com/] Use promo code ENTERTHEUNKNOWN for a 20% discount! If this episode inspired you to rewrite your story, please follow, like, and share Enter the Unknown on your favorite platform!

#11 - Jacob Dodd & Dallan Jacobson - Handcrafting Heirloom Blades with Jagged Mountain Knives

What started as an 11-year-old’s experiment with a shoelace and a Harbor Freight machete has evolved into a premier American knife company. In this episode, Hayden Thomas sits down with Jacob Dodd, the Founder of Jagged Mountain Knives, and artisan Dallan Jacobson to discuss the grit and artistry behind their handcrafted blades. Jacob shares how he turned a backyard hobby into a world-class operation after studying entrepreneurship at BYU, while Dallan, a former river guide with a background in product design, explains how they bridge the gap between rugged utility and refined aesthetics. Discover why staying true to the "one maker, one knife" philosophy is the key to building a 100-year legacy brand, the secrets of heat-treating high-carbon steel, and why every Jagged Mountain Knives blade carries the unique mark of the specific person who built it. Main Topics Covered * The Garage Origin Story: Turning a childhood hobby into a thriving business through local mentorship. * Jagged Mountain Knives Production Standards: The anatomy of the Nomad and Scout blades and sourcing 1095 carbon steel. * The Insignia of the Maker: Why every knife includes a maker’s mark and a bio of the specific artisan. * Scaling Artistry: Growing a high-revenue business without resorting to assembly-line manufacturing. * Sheath Innovation: Combining traditional leatherwork with modern, thermomolded Kydex designs. * Field Testing: How these knives are pushed to their limits in the Alaska and Utah wilderness. * The Heirloom Philosophy: Creating tools meant to be passed down through generations. Key Takeaways * One Maker, One Blade: Quality is maintained by ensuring one person handles the entire process from start to finish. * The Value of American-Made: Keeping production domestic in Springville, Utah, preserves the soul of the tool. * Material Matters: Using materials like moose antler and cedar burl creates a connection to the environment. * Patina over Rust: Essential professional tips on caring for high-carbon steel blades to ensure longevity. Connect with the Guests Website: www.jaggedmountainknives.com [www.jaggedmountainknives.com] YouTube: @jaggedmountainknives [https://www.youtube.com/@jaggedmountainknives] Instagram: @jaggedmountainknives [https://www.instagram.com/jaggedmountainknives/] Facebook: facebook.com/customknivesJMK [https://www.facebook.com/customknivesJMK/?ref=profile_intro_card] Personal Handles: @jacob_pdodd [https://www.instagram.com/jacob_pdodd/] | @dallan_jacobson [https://www.instagram.com/dallan_jacobson/] Connect with Hayden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/ [https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1] X: https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT [https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT] YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT [http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT] Spotify: Enter the Unknown with Hayden Thomas [https://open.spotify.com/show/6Bjw9Hp4ouw3w6Hqqfbyoz] Get Stokes Picks! Premium flavored nicotine toothpicks: https://stokespicks.com/ [https://stokespicks.com/] Use promo code: Entertheunknown for a 20% discount! If this episode sharpened your perspective on American craftsmanship, please follow, like, and share Enter The Unknown on your favorite platform!

#10 - Michelle Hahn - Fireside Chat: Rolfing, Movement, and the Silence of Vipassana

What happens when a decade of holistic bodywork meets the absolute stillness of a 10-day silent retreat? In this episode, Hayden Thomas sits down with Michelle Hahn, a certified Rolfer, massage therapist, and movement educator, to explore the deep connection between structural alignment and mental clarity. Michelle shares her journey from the surf of Santa Cruz to the rigorous movement methods of Ido Portal, eventually leading her to the "brain surgery" of Vipassana meditation. Whether you are struggling with chronic pain, "monkey mind," or the feeling of being disembodied in a digital world, this conversation offers a roadmap for coming home to your physical self. Main Topics Covered * The Geography of the Body: How living on the East Coast vs. West Coast changes our posture, gait, and even the "aperture" of our vision. * What is Rolfing? Demystifying the "10-Series" and how manipulating the fascial web creates structural integration and myofascial release. * Ido Portal & Natural Movement: Lessons from the Ape Co Movement School on coordination, joint strength, and finding rhythm in unconventional ways. * Vipassana Meditation: A raw account of a 10-day silent retreat at the Dhamma Center—from the agony of day two to the profound emotional release of day four. * The Science of "Exercise Snacks": Why three-minute bouts of vigorous movement can lower all-cause mortality by 40%. * The Power of Walking Backwards: How simple changes in physical patterns can rewire the brain and enhance mental presence. * You Are Your Own Savior: A deep dive into personal accountability and why externalizing responsibility hinders spiritual and physical growth. Key Takeaways * Fascia is a Perceptual Organ: It doesn’t just hold muscles together; it is a web of communication that responds to stress, trauma, and alignment. * Non-Attachment to Sensation: Through Vipassana, we learn to observe pain and pleasure objectively, realizing that neither is permanent. * Embodiment Through Movement: For those in "heady" professions, slowing down and getting curious about physical sensation is the quickest path to mental relief. * Accountability is Freedom: Taking responsibility for your own "misery" or "alignment" allows you to become the champion of your own story. Connect with Michelle HahnWebsite: Full Embodiment Rolfing [https://www.fullembodimentrolfing.com/] Instagram: Instagram.com/full_embodiment_rolfing_ [Instagram.com/full_embodiment_rolfing_] Meditation Resources: Vipassana Meditation (Dhamma.org) [https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/index] Connect with HaydenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/ [https://www.instagram.com/entertheunknown.hayden/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1 [https://www.tiktok.com/@entertheunknown1] X: https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT [https://x.com/ETUwithHaydenT] YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT [http://www.youtube.com/@EnterTheUnknownwithHT] Spotify: Enter the Unknown with Hayden Thomas [https://open.spotify.com/show/6Bjw9Hp4ouw3w6Hqqfbyoz] Get Stokes Picks! Premium flavored nicotine toothpicks: https://stokespicks.com/ [https://stokespicks.com/] Use promo code: Entertheunknown for a 20% discount! If this episode helped you feel a little more at home in your body, please follow, like, and share Enter The Unknown on your favorite platform!