What kind of conviction does it take to begin a nearly 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail hike at 72 years old?

For Rand Timmerman, the answer is layered in grief, sobriety, brotherhood, faith, and unfinished business.

A Vietnam veteran, longtime attorney, and recovery advocate, Rand set out on the Appalachian Trail with his brother shortly after overcoming alcoholism and while processing decades of emotional weight—including war trauma, addiction, and the lingering pain of loss. What began as an ambitious physical challenge quickly became something deeper: a spiritual reckoning in the wilderness.

In this conversation, Rand shares what pushed him to attempt one of the world’s most grueling hikes in his seventies, the near-death moments that tested him on the trail, and the spiritual encounters that changed the way he sees life, God, and suffering. He also opens up about his battle with alcoholism, the role faith played in his recovery, and why he believes it is never too late to pursue something bold.

His book, Spiritual Passage, documents the entire journey—and serves as a reminder that some of life’s most meaningful adventures begin when most people think their best years are behind them.

[00:00] Starting the Appalachian Trail at 72 years old [02:30] The sheer scale of hiking 2,200 miles and 465,000 feet of elevation [05:00] Sobriety, addiction, and the emotional reasons behind the hike [06:30] How grief and Vietnam trauma shaped the journey [07:00] Two brothers, two very different hiking mindsets [08:30] The hilarious origin of Rand’s trail name: “Rambo” [10:20] How many shoes it takes to hike the Appalachian Trail [12:00] Their leapfrog hiking strategy with two vehicles [17:00] “I thought we’d last two weeks max” [19:00] His brother nearly quits after a traumatic nightmare [22:00] The spiritual experience that changed his brother forever [25:00] Maintaining sobriety on the trail through mental meetings [27:00] Coyotes, bears, and wilderness encounters [28:00] Surviving a terrifying storm on the mountain [31:00] Falling down a rockslide and severe injury [35:00] The heartbreaking moment Rand had to stop hiking [37:00] Why he wrote Spiritual Passage [40:00] How the book began helping people struggling with addiction [42:00] His philosophy on faith, higher power, and surrender [47:00] Why it’s never too late to start something epic [50:00] Advice for anyone considering the Appalachian Trail

• Book: Spiritual Passage by Rand Timmerman

• Website: https://www.randtimmerman.com/

• Recovery Program: 12-Step Alcohol Recovery Program (Referenced throughout episode)

Burnout doesn’t show up when it’s convenient. It shows up when you can least afford to slow down.

In this episode, Garrett Wood breaks down what burnout actually looks like—not the Instagram version, but the real, physiological, day-to-day experience of it. From sleep disruption and irritability to chronic pain and identity collapse, Garrett walks us through the five stages of burnout and why high achievers are especially vulnerable to repeating the cycle.

We dig into the difference between managing symptoms and addressing root causes, and why your nervous system—not your willpower—is often the missing piece. Garrett also shares how beliefs like “I have to prove I’m enough” quietly drive burnout, and how success built on sacrifice can backfire over time.

This conversation flips the script: what if sustainable success isn’t built at the expense of your wellbeing—but because of it?

If you’ve ever told yourself to “just push through,” this one might stop you in your tracks.

[00:00] The myth of sacrifice and success [01:00] What burnout really looks like (and why it repeats) [03:00] Symptoms vs. root causes of burnout [05:30] The dangerous “runway” game high achievers play [06:50] Garrett’s first burnout: promotion, isolation, and chronic pain [08:30] ER visit and the wake-up call [09:30] The moment that changed everything: a colleague’s suicide [11:30] Identity, work, and the slippery slope [13:00] The 5 stages of burnout explained [16:00] When burnout becomes your identity [18:30] Why burnout spreads in workplaces and relationships [20:00] Loving your work—and burning out anyway [22:30] The role of boredom, ADHD, and misalignment [25:00] Cynicism as a major burnout signal [27:00] When burnout isn’t work—it’s life outside of it [30:00] Managing stress vs. changing stressors [33:00] Nervous system regulation and the relaxation response [36:00] Why quick fixes don’t work—and what actually does [40:00] Serial burnout and starting over (again and again) [43:00] Hypnotherapy explained (without the hype) [48:00] When to get help (hint: earlier than you think) [50:00] Rethinking success: wellbeing vs. sacrifice [52:00] Social media, hustle culture, and the burnout trap

• Website: Gnosis Therapy | Transform Your Burnout into a Breakthrough

• Approach: A3 Framework (Assess → Accommodate → Align)

• Modality: Hypnotherapy + nervous system regulation

A joyful rebellion isn’t reckless—it’s intentional.

In this conversation, novelist Cinda Gault breaks down a truth most people avoid: the hardest part of living on your own terms isn’t courage—it’s clarity. Because if you don’t know what you actually want, every decision becomes harder.

Cinda’s path wasn’t linear. She helped start a women’s crisis center in the 1970s, worked in a men’s prison, earned advanced degrees, raised two kids, and only then fully committed to writing. Along the way, she learned that meaningful work isn’t about prestige—it’s about alignment.

We talk about writing bold female characters who refuse to stay small, why historical fiction is really about bringing interior lives back to the surface, and how every generation wrestles with autonomy in its own way. She also shares a powerful distinction: there’s a difference between wanting to write a book and wanting to be a writer—and knowing which one you want can save years of frustration.

This episode is a challenge: stop waiting for permission, get brutally honest about what you want, and start building a life that actually fits.

• [00:00] “A rebellion still needs a plan” — clarity vs chaos

• [01:00] From feminism to fiction: early career and crisis center work

• [04:00] Prison guard experience and studying power dynamics

• [06:00] The “joyful rebellion” moment: realizing she hated her dream job

• [08:00] Writing romance to pay the bills

• [10:00] Going back to school and building craft intentionally

• [13:00] Historical fiction: facts vs the invisible inner life

• [17:00] Discovering real women in history and rewriting their stories

• [22:00] Building fictional worlds from real historical figures

• [25:00] Why she writes women who refuse to stay small

• [28:00] “You don’t need to quit your job to rebel”

• [30:00] The importance of knowing what you actually want

• [32:00] Writing about the 70s: memory, emotion, and selection

• [36:00] How different generations respond to her work

• [41:00] Wanting to write vs wanting to be a writer

• [45:00] What’s next: contemporary fiction + children’s book

• Website: Cinda Gault

• Free genre-history webinar series (via her website)

• Historical fiction novels + upcoming children’s book (Beak the Clown)