Let's Take This Outside

Melissa Hafting is an ethical, passionate, and respected birder, photographer, and mentor. Her love for birding has helped shape who she is and has helped with her mental health, along with enabling her to cope with the difficult aspects of grief and loss after the death of her mother and father. Showcasing some of Melissa’s most stunning bird images from the continental United States, Hawaii, and Canada, Dare to Bird explores the joy that birding and photography has brought to her life and how both have allowed her to foster meaningful connections with young birders from diverse backgrounds, along with the conservation community, eco-travel advocates, rare bird enthusiasts, and ethical wildlife viewing practitioners in order to preserve bird habitats that are constantly under threat. At the same time, she is determined to expand birding to include more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour), women, and LGBTQIA+ through youth outreach and talking about the barriers (racism and sexism) she herself has faced in her journey to become part of the birding community. The magical imagery of birds is unparalleled in this inspiring collection, and Hafting helps the reader to understand why – as she believes – birds have the power to both save and heal us amid many of life’s challenges. Purchase your copy of Dare to Bird. Read Melissa's blog. Follow Melissa on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marlis Butcher is an environmental conservationist, author, and photographer. She is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and of The Explorers Club, an international organization promoting field exploration. Marlis is the first visitor to have “bagged” (visited) all 48 of the Canadian national parks, a third of which do not have road access. Her photographs and articles have been published in: • Canadian Geographic Magazine, • Explore magazine, • The Explorers Club’s “Far Afield” magazine, • CBC News on-line, • CTV News on-line, • Canadian Encyclopedia, and • the travel brochures of various wilderness outfitters and travel bloggers. Her book “Park Bagger - Adventures in the Canadian National Parks” made Amazon’s “best seller” August 2022. The movie “Park 33,” a short thriller, was inspired by her adventures. Marlis volunteers as a director on the board of the Royal Botanical Gardens, and has served on the board of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, protecting the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Marlis is also an Ambassador for Canadian Geographic Adventures, “Making Canada better know to Canadians and the rest of the world”. Upcoming book: The Ladies’ Guide to Backpacking (Secrets Men Didn’t Tell You, And Don’t Even Know About) Women have been backpacking, carrying heavy overnight supplies through the wilderness, since the beginning of time. Yet somewhere, someone decided that “ladies” should not be partaking in such physical, risky activities. Still, there have always been women who continued to backpack - we found ways of adjusting the equipment to better fit our physique, and methods to accommodate our uniquely female requirements. In her new book, Marlis documents some of the unique adaptations and procedures that allow women to backpack comfortably: What backpack features to look for, how to carry a backpack, what type of boots to select, clothing requirements, and how to manage your menstrual period. With fun anecdotes and examples, Marlis shares what she’s learned through trial and error in the Canadian wilderness, so that “ladies” too, can enjoy backpacking. Available in 2026. Visit Marlis' website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shanda Hill is one of the most accomplished ultra endurance athletes on the planet and a proud Canadian from Vernon, British Columbia. She is the only person in the world to have completed three Double Deca Triathlons. Each one includes a 76 kilometre swim, a 3600 kilometre bike ride, and an 844 kilometre run. That is the same as doing 20 full Iron-distance triathlons back to back. In 2024, Shanda made history by becoming the first woman ever to complete a Triple Deca Triathlon in the continuous format. This extreme event includes a 114 kilometre swim, a 5400 kilometre bike ride, and a 1266 kilometre run. That is equal to 30 full Iron-distance triathlons completed one after the other with no stage breaks. As of today, Shanda has completed 145 full Iron-distance triathlons across just 12 ultra events, all officially sanctioned by the International Ultra Triathlon Association. She holds the women's world record for the most IUTA iron-distance finishes and has been inducted into the IUTA Hall of Fame 100. In 2025, Shanda is taking on her most ambitious goal yet. She is aiming to complete 51 Iron-distance triathlons in a single year with the goal of breaking the current men’s world record. Her races will take her across South Africa, Brazil, France, Poland, Germany, Estonia, and Austria. Known for her unmatched grit, deep connection to nature, and relentless mental toughness, Shanda continues to inspire people around the world. Whether she is racing, training, or speaking to communities, she lives by the belief that you are always capable of more than you think. Learn more about Shanda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The winner of numerous writing honours, including a National Magazine Award, Nicola Ross is the author of 12 books, including the bestselling Loops & Lattes series of hiking guides. Having sold over 50,000 copies of these self-published guidebooks, Nicola is a fulltime writer and professional hiker. Her latest book, published by ECW Press in Toronto in 2024, is entitled 40 Days & 40 Hikes: Loving the Bruce Trail One Loop at a Time. Part illustrated memoir, part hiking guide and part good storytelling, it describes her journey along Ontario’s 900-kilometre Bruce Trail from Queenston Heights on the Niagara Peninsula to Tobermory on the Bruce. 40 Days & 40 Hikes is in its second printing. (See reviews.) Ross’s other adventures include crossing Costa Rica from coast to coast via the Camino de Costa Rica, crossing Spain via the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, crossing Mexico’s Zapateca lands in the Sierra Norte, crossing parts of Austria, Slovenia and Italy along the Alpe Adria Trail and following Newfoundland’s east coast on the East Coast Trail, among others. She has canoed the fabled Mountain and Keele Rivers in the Northwest Territories and kayaked through Haida Gwaii, the Sea of Cortez and Georgian Bay. Moreover, she’s cycled through Cuba, Italy, France, Canada and Mexico, and has ridden a horse across Patagonia. Formerly a climate change consultant, Nicola is a biologist and columnist with In the Hills magazine. Her articles have been published in The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, Explore magazine, Mountain Life, Avenue, Ontario Nature, Alternatives Journal, and more. She was a regular environmental contributor to CBC Radio in Calgary, regularly appears on the CBC Radio program Fresh Air and was the long-.me editor-in-chief of Alternatives Journal, Canada’s national environmental magazine. She is a popular speaker at various events. Nicola’s adventures and the books and articles she writes about them reflect her love for nature and passion to be on the trail, atop a bicycle, paddling a kayak or seated on a horse. Similarly, her talks combine these passions taking them beyond the adventure to the importance of what she learns and sees. More recently, she chronicled her journey along Newfoundland’s East Coast Trail with a series of annotated hand-drawn maps. It will be the first installment of her new e-zine, Hither & Yon, An Illustrated Field Journal of Adventure Travel along Trails, Roads, Rivers and the High Seas. In 2025, she has set her sights on walking the 415-kilometre Andalusian Coast to Coast Trail and, possibly, the 1000-kilometre Via de la Plata, both in Spain. Among an emerging group of female adventure travel writers, Nicola is bringing the 2025 Women’s Adventure Film Tour to Southern Ontario. The event, to be held in her home village, involves a showing of half a dozen films. She hopes to add a series of panel discussions and interviews with female adventurers in future events. Nicola resides with her partner in a small stone mill (circa 1857) in Alton, Ontario and writes a popular blog at nicolaross.ca. More on the Women's Adventure Film Tour Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emma Terrell, also known as The Urban Botanist, is a passionate advocate for sustainable living and eco-conscious design. After completing a Biology degree at Carleton University in Ottawa, she started her business in 2017 that was created with the intention to connect her community with the natural world around them. With a deep rooted love for nature and over a decade of experience in creating vibrant, green spaces, Emma specializes in blending interior design with sustainable practices and crafting landscapes that honor and restore the environment. Her unique approach combines innovation and conservation, showcasing how thoughtful design can transform homes and gardens into harmonious ecosystems. From lush moss walls to DIY terrariums, and even rewilding landscapes, Emma inspires others to embrace sustainability in both style and function, making her a sought-after expert in the green design world. Watch The Urban Botanist on Youtube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Sinopoli is a former CFL Wide Receiver and now the owner of Sinopoli Fishing. Brad played for both the Calgary Stampeders and the Ottawa Redblacks, and was twice named the CFL’s most Outstanding Canadian and has won two Grey Cups. Brad’s passion for the outdoors has seamlessly carried over into his post-football life, as he has become a successful fishing charter operator. Based in Ottawa, Sinopoli combines his love of nature with his entrepreneurial spirit, offering guided fishing experiences through his company, Sinopoli Fishing. Also in this episode is fellow podcaster and broadcaster, Brent Wallace from Comin’ In Hot, who has worked alongside Brad and will handle all the football related questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices