Episode 136 – Expedition Africa: A New Era Begins
In this episode, we speak with the new leadership team behind Expedition Africa as they carry forward the legacy of one of the world’s most iconic expedition races.With roots in Heidi and Stephan Muller’s multi-year stewardship, Expedition Africa is turning the page while honoring its past. The new team brings decades of racing experience and a deep love for the sport to their new roles, and they’re already hard at work preparing for the March 2026 race in South Africa’s breathtaking Drakensberg Mountains.Expect 500 kilometers of true expedition racing—technical trekking, rugged biking, paddle sections, ropework, and soul-stirring scenery. In this conversation, the new team shares their vision, the updates racers can expect, and how they plan to keep the spirit of Expedition Africa burning bright.Pack your bags and cue the intro music—this is The Dark Zone.Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport. Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking! Shownotes: Expedition Africa - https://expafrica.net/Video - https://youtu.be/YYK_6OmtKYw?si=7gDULTZPJYSMFhO-Sponsor Links:American Himalayan Foundation - https://www.himalayan-foundation.org/
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Episode 135 – Writer Jim Clash: Reporting from the Edge of Adventure
Adventure reporter Jim Clash of Forbes Magazine joins The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation that explores the intersection of storytelling and high-stakes adventure. With a passport stamped from the South Pole to spaceflight training grounds, Jim has chronicled the lives and pursuits of the world’s boldest adventurers—and taken on quite a few daring feats himself. In this episode, he shares how curiosity, preparation, and a nose for a good story have led him to interview legends like Buzz Aldrin, Chuck Yeager, and Sir Edmund Hillary, and what it means to carry their stories forward.We dig into Jim’s adventures, his take on the psychology of risk, and how adventure reporting has evolved in the age of social media and instant access. Whether you're a racer, a reader, or just someone hungry for great stories, Jim’s reflections will inspire you to chase your dreams, and maybe even pick up a pen along the way.Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport. Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking! Shownotes: Jim Clash - https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/Risky Business Podcast - https://www.clashandtoro.com/The Explorer's Club - https://www.explorers.org/Sponsor Links:American Himalayan Foundation - https://www.himalayan-foundation.org/
In this freewheeling and reflective wrap-up to the 2025 Endless Mountains Adventure Race, TDZ hands the mic to Zoe Freedland and Mary Foster for an end-of-race coda soon after the final team crosses the line. As racers catch their breath and stories settle into memory, dedicated volunteers Zoe and Mary capture the emotion, exhaustion, and triumph that define The Endless Mountains Adventure Race. It’s a fitting close to an unforgettable week in Vermont. Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport. Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking! Shownotes: What the Heck is Adventure Racing W/Alyssa Godesky - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-heck-is-adventure-racing-with-alyssa-godesky/id1265466545?i=1000713772295Endless Mountains Adventure Race - www.endlessmountainsar.comEMAR Live Tracking Link - https://live.enabledtracking.com/endlessmountains2025/Rootstock Racing Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/rootstockracingRootstock Racing Instagram Page - http://www.instagram.com/rootstockracingRootstock Racing - www.rootstockracing.com
Welcome to The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast, and this special Flash Episode from the 2025 Endless Mountains Adventure Race.Abby Perkiss joins us with a timely update from deep inside the race experience. From the pointy end of the field, the surging pack, weather and course challenges, and how all the teams are managing this handful of a race, Abby gives us the lay of the land as the event unfolds in real time.Alongside her is EMAR racer and USARA Executive Director Michael Garrison, fresh off the course and full of hard-earned insight. He shares what it’s like out there—navigation challenges, team dynamics, and the mental game required to push through a tough course. It’s a quick check-in, but one packed with perspective and experience. Let’s get into it.Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport. Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking! Shownotes: What the Heck is Adventure Racing W/Alyssa Godesky - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-heck-is-adventure-racing-with-alyssa-godesky/id1265466545?i=1000713772295Endless Mountains Adventure Race - www.endlessmountainsar.comEMAR Live Tracking Link - https://live.enabledtracking.com/endlessmountains2025/Rootstock Racing Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/rootstockracingRootstock Racing Instagram Page - http://www.instagram.com/rootstockracingRootstock Racing - www.rootstockracing.com
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Episode 132 – The Voices of the Racers from the 2025 Endless Mountains Adventure Race
Welcome to The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast. In this special Voices of the Racers episode, we bring you directly into Transition Area 1, where we spent an entire day capturing the thoughts, experiences, and enthusiasm of every team during their 5-minute media timeout. What follows is unfiltered, on-the-ground audio: the sounds of rain, barking dogs, cheering children, and the ever-present wind. It’s real, raw, and as close as you’ll get to the race without a map and compass. Audio quality may vary, and if your voice, or someone you love, didn’t make the final cut, please accept our apologies. This is podcast recording at its most challenging.Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport. Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking! Shownotes: Endless Mountains Adventure Race - www.endlessmountainsar.comEMAR Live Tracking Link - https://live.enabledtracking.com/endlessmountains2025/Rootstock Racing Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/rootstockracingRootstock Racing Instagram Page - http://www.instagram.com/rootstockracingRootstock Racing - www.rootstockracing.com
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