Episode 67: How to find God in Solitude, Silence and Wilderness with Bishop Mark Beckman


In this final installment of our series on spirituality and adventure, I sit down with Bishop Mark Beckman, the 4th Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, to explore what happens when faith is formed not just in quiet rooms, but in wild places. From hiking solo through old-growth forests to walking hundreds of miles on pilgrimage, Bishop Beckman shares how discomfort, silence, and physical effort can open us to something deeper than words.

We talk about the moments that push us to the edge of our capacity—storms in the backcountry, long days of walking, fear at high elevations—and how those experiences can shape trust, humility, and presence. This conversation is a reminder that adventure doesn’t only take us outward into the world, but inward toward meaning, mystery, and a deeper awareness of God.

Episode Timeline

  • [2:22] – Bishop Mark Beckman’s calling to ministry and how the outdoors shaped his faith from an early age

  • [6:45] – Discovering God’s presence through solitude, silence, and hiking alone in the woods

  • [10:48] – Forming a men’s backpacking group and finding unexpected community on the trail

  • [16:05] – Walking the Camino de Santiago and learning trust one step at a time

  • [22:40] – Pushing through fear and physical limits on a 14,000-foot peak in Colorado

  • [30:12] – Retreat, silence, and wilderness as pathways to deeper spiritual awareness

  • [38:05] – Suffering, endurance, and how hardship can deepen us instead of hardening us

Links & Resources

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Episode 65: Why Suffering Becomes a Spiritual Awakening with Scott Sauls


David Brooks describes life as a journey up two mountains. The first mountain is about achievement—building a career, proving yourself, chasing success. The second mountain begins when the first no longer satisfies, and you’re called into a deeper life of meaning, surrender, and service. This episode lives squarely on that second mountain.

This conversation is the second installment in our series exploring where spirituality and adventure overlap, and it’s an honest look at what happens when ambition gives way to awakening. I sat down with Scott Sauls to talk about burnout, identity, and the courage it takes to walk away from what once defined you. We explore why suffering often becomes the doorway to spiritual depth, how achievement can quietly turn into addiction, and why community—not independence—is the missing ingredient in most meaningful adventures.

If you’ve ever felt successful on paper but empty underneath—or sensed a pull toward something more without knowing how to answer it—this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Timeline Highlights

  • [2:45] – Why this conversation fits into the spirituality-and-adventure series

  • [7:30] – Scott’s leadership journey and the hidden cost of achievement

  • [14:10] – When productivity becomes identity—and why it eventually breaks us

  • [22:40] – Why suffering often precedes clarity, healing, and spiritual growth

  • [31:55] – Redefining adventure beyond the outdoors

  • [41:20] – The role of community in recovery and transformation

  • [52:10] – Curiosity, humility, and letting go of control

Key Themes & Topics

  • Midlife transition

  • Spirituality and adventure

  • Burnout, recovery, and identity

  • Faith, suffering, and meaning

  • Leadership and emotional health

  • Community vs isolation

  • Risk, uncertainty, and growth

Links & Resources

Closing

If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who might need this conversation. These stories grow through community—and I’m grateful you’re part of it.

Thanks for listening. I’ll see you on the adventure.

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Episode 64: Adventure, Spirituality, and the Search for Something Bigger with Reed Dunn


In today’s episode—the first in a brand-new series exploring the deeper meaning behind our outdoor experiences—I sit down with my longtime friend, pastor, everyday explorer, and deep thinker, Reed Dunn, for one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had on this podcast. This first installment leans less on adrenaline and more on the why—why we’re drawn to the outdoors, why hardship shapes us, and why so many of us pursue experiences that push us into awe, wonder, and transcendence.

Reed and I dig into the spiritual side of adventure—what it means to connect with something beyond ourselves, whether you call that God or a higher power. We unpack the way wilderness confronts our limits, how beauty can shake us awake, and why disciplines of “no” might be more important today than ever. And of course, we talk about Reed’s years of backpacking, his favorite place in the world, and the moments that have stayed with him long after the trip ended.

⏱️ Timeline Summary

Here are the top moments from the episode:

[00:16:00] – Kicking off the conversation: why I wanted Reed on the show and how his story fits into “the meaning side” of adventure.
[00:26:00] – Reed’s early backpacking years—Colorado, Arkansas, the Buffalo River Trail, and how those experiences shaped him.
[00:35:00] – The memory of his favorite place on earth: a glacial lake, seven waterfalls, and the power of remembering without a camera.
[00:36:00] – A deep dive into spirituality: what it means to connect with transcendence, how nature becomes a pathway, and why anyone—regardless of belief—can access it.
[00:46:00] – Religion vs. spirituality: Reed breaks down the difference between learning about God and meeting God—and why both matter.
[01:13:00] – Exploring hardship, asceticism, and the spiritual importance of limitation. Why “telling yourself no” opens doors to meaning.
[01:22:00] – The connection between ancient spiritual practices, desert monks, and modern adventurers who push themselves to the edge in search of something more.

🔗 Links & Resources

🙌 Closing Remark

If this conversation stirred something in you, inspired you, or made you think differently about why we chase adventure in the first place, I’d love for you to rate, follow, share, and review the podcast. It helps more everyday explorers find these stories—and it keeps great conversations like this one coming.

Thanks for listening, and keep living your adventure on purpose.

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