The Human Adventure

The Human Adventure is a podcast about people who choose to live fully—through travel, challenge, creativity, and the courage to step into the unknown. Hosted by Jake Bushman , each episode features honest conversations with adventurers, travelers, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and everyday humans doing extraordinary things. We explore not just what they’ve done, but why —the failures, fears, faith, and resilience that shape a meaningful life. From remote corners of the world to inner journeys of growth and reinvention, The Human Adventure reminds us that life isn’t about reaching a destination—it’s about who we become along the way. If you’re drawn to authentic stories, bold ideas, and the shared experience of being human, this podcast is for you. 🎧 New episodes weekly 🌍 Travel • Adventure • Personal Growth • Human Stories

The Human Adventure is a society podcast hosted by Jake Bushman, with 259 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jake Bushman hosts The Human Adventure, a society show with 259 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #249

  Episode 249 - Embracing Vitiligo In Fashion And Art With Wildy Martinez

  Oct 1, 202651 min

  #249 - What happens when the thing you’re most tempted to hide becomes the reason other people feel brave? Fashion designer and artist Wildy Martinez joins me for a conversation that moves from New York City childhood memories in Washington Heights and the Bronx to a hard-earned kind of confidence that only comes from being seen. Wildy shares what it was like growing up first-gen Dominican, learning independence early, and using imagination as a way to build a world bigger than her block. We talk about her path into fashion, from sketching as a kid to studying at FIT and working in the industry, plus the pressure that can come with trying to be “cool” when you’re a young teen who actually loves school. Then the story pivots into the pandemic reset that sparked Wildflower Fields, her creative umbrella for fashion, art, and storytelling, and how the NFT wave introduced her to new ways of thinking about digital art, proof of ownership, and legacy. At the center is vitiligo. Wildy breaks down what vitiligo is as an autoimmune condition, what it felt like to spend more than a decade covering her skin, and why representation matters for kids and adults who are living with visible differences. We also get into AI in creativity, the ethics of who gets represented in datasets, and how tools can be used to expand human imagination rather than erase it. If you’ve ever felt different, underestimated, or stuck hiding a part of yourself, this one will land. Subscribe to The Human Adventure, share this episode with a friend, and leave a rating or review so more people can find these stories. To learn more about Wildy check out her website www.wildflowerfields.art and check her out on Instagram @thewildflowerfields . To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod . Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure .

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  Episode #248

  Episode 248 - Turning Suicide Loss Into Advocacy And Hope with Nicole Jones-Vogel

  Sep 28, 202648 min

  #248 - What do you do with a loss that never fully leaves you? I sat down with Nicole Jones Vogel, who lost her father to suicide at 25 and has spent the years since turning grief into advocacy, education, and real-world support for others. We go deep on what suicide loss actually feels like over time, why it can carry extra stigma and guilt, and how healing often happens in layers rather than milestones. Nicole also teaches me something simple that changed the way I speak: many people in suicide prevention avoid “committed suicide” and say “died by suicide” instead, because words can either add shame or make space for compassion. From there we talk about family dynamics, substance use disorder, mental health, and the exhausting uncertainty of attempts or rehearsals. We also dig into a crucial skill for suicide prevention: asking directly. “Are you having suicidal thoughts?” and “Do you have a plan?” can be the difference between guessing and actually helping, and Nicole explains why talking about suicide doesn’t put the idea in someone’s head. We also explore what support can look like years later, including AFSP community events, the Out of the Darkness walks, and how a single hug in a hallway can crack open a path toward healing. Nicole shares how she channels her “amplify” year into fundraising and polymer clay semicolon jewelry, a symbol that the story can continue instead of ending. If you care about mental health, men’s mental health, suicide prevention, grief support, and practical ways to show up for someone, this conversation will stay with you. If this meant something to you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find these stories. To learn more about Nicole and her work please visit www.finchandfernstudio.com and check her out on Instagram @njonesvogel . To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod . Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure .

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  Episode #247

  Episode 247 - Rebuilding Life Through Adventure with Taylor Hutcheson

  Sep 24, 202645 min

  #247 - Running away doesn’t heal you, but choosing a new direction might. Taylor Hutcheson ( @taywanders ) shares the real story behind her full-time travel life, from growing up in North Georgia to becoming a mom at 20 and leaving an abusive, controlling relationship with safety and fear both on the line. We talk candidly about what it takes to rebuild trust in yourself when you’ve been worn down, and why “freedom” is often something you learn by doing. From there, adventure becomes more than scenery. Taylor explains how off-roading groups gave her an outlet for trauma, a way to gain confidence, and a community that actually protected and encouraged her. We dig into how she turned content creation into a career, including the moment she discovered UGC (user generated content) and realized you can work with brands without chasing a massive following. Then comes the plot twist: an Instagram giveaway that lands her on a trip to Alaska, a place she says “spoke to her soul” and changed what she believed was possible. We also get practical about group travel and safety, including how she vets trip sign-ups today and why she prefers systems that let her keep awareness high. Taylor shares Iceland travel tips she’d give any first-timer (including why she says to avoid the Blue Lagoon), plus the hidden side of camper life: homeschooling on the road, building boundaries, and carrying the full mental load as a solo parent and business owner. If you’re into van life, solo travel, adventure therapy, Alaska, Iceland, or building a creator business, you’ll find plenty to take with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push toward their next brave choice, and leave a review with your favorite takeaway. What’s one adventure you’ve been saying “not yet” to? To learn more about Taylor check out her website www.taywanders.com and give her a follow on Instagram @taywanders . To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod . Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure .

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  Episode #246

  Episode 246 - How Thru-Skating Turned Into Freedom With Moondog Roop

  Sep 17, 202652 min

  #247 - He didn’t hop on a skateboard until he was 33 and he still calls himself “awful” at it, which somehow makes what happens next even wilder. Moondog Roop (David, if you ask his mom) joins us to talk about thru-skating: combining long-distance skateboarding with the realities of hiking, carrying the board for hundreds of miles, and committing to the kind of day-after-day grit most people only daydream about. We get into the real origin story, too. Moondog shares what led to sobriety at 27, the rock-bottom moment that forced him to quit making excuses, and how recovery became less about “not drinking” and more about building a life he actually respects. That foundation shows up everywhere in his adventures, from pushing into fear, to staying present on the road, to choosing the next right move even when his body and brain are begging him to stop. From the Florida Trail to New Mexico, Texas, and the perimeter of Puerto Rico, we unpack what long distance skateboarding looks like when it’s not a highlight reel: headwinds, heat, water carries, rashes, food poisoning, and the constant risk of traffic. Moondog also shares the moments that keep him coming back, like “roadside love,” trail magic from strangers, and the unexpected stop in Madrid, New Mexico that changed the trajectory of his entire life. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to start something hard, this conversation is your proof that the clock is not the boss. Subscribe for more human stories like this, share the episode with a friend who needs a push, and leave a rating or review so more people can find the show. To learn more about Moondog check out his Instagram account @gomoondog . To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod . Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure .

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  Episode #245

  Episode 245 - Small Acts, Big Impact In Guyana with Forrest Mcsweeney

  Sep 10, 202655 min

  $200 for cement. $500 for a business upgrade. A few receipts and a real relationship. That’s the kind of giving that actually lands, and it’s what we dig into with Forrest Mcsweeney, founder of the Uplift Project, a grassroots nonprofit focused on direct microgrants and practical support in rural Guyana. We talk about Forrest’s unconventional upbringing traveling through Central and South America, the outdoor work that funds his seasons, and the six-month solo road trip that sharpened his sense of what matters. Then we get into the story that crystallized his philosophy: a family in Senegal that had everything needed to expand their home except the last $200 for cement. That “last hurdle” becomes the lens for understanding poverty, dignity, and why bottom-up solutions often outperform top-down charity. From there, Forrest breaks down how the Uplift Project operates with transparency and accountability: interviewing local entrepreneurs, prioritizing women with children, documenting exactly what a $500 grant will buy, and following up with photos and receipts. You’ll hear what that looks like on the ground in remote communities reachable only by boat, plus the ripple effects of funding a seamstress’s solar-powered setup, a baker’s larger oven, and emerging needs like rainwater tanks for clean drinking water, school supplies, and uniforms. If you care about sustainable development, nonprofit transparency, and real-world impact per dollar, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a rating or review so more people can find these stories. To learn more about Forrest and The Uplift Project check out www.upliftproject.org . You can also follow along on Instagram @upliftprojectgy and on YouTube @upliftprojectgy . To learn more about me and see clips from past, present, and future shows give me a follow on Instagram @humanadventurepod . Want to be a guest on The Human Adventure? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar. Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure .

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