What if the wildest adventure isn’t in a faraway forest or on a mountaintop, but right outside your door?

In this episode, I talk with Susie Spikol, an award-winning naturalist, author, and environmental educator who has spent over thirty-five years helping people rediscover their sense of wonder. From exploring the sidewalks of Brooklyn to teaching families in rural New Hampshire, Susie reminds us that connection begins with curiosity.

Her book The Animal Adventurer’s Guide invites families to explore the world of “everyday animals” like ladybugs, crickets, worms, and frogs. She believes that holding a creature in your hand is a kind of “skin-to-skin connection” that deepens our bond with the natural world. In Forest Magic for Kids, she inspires children and adults to create fairy homes, secret forts, and tiny worlds using natural materials. Her upcoming Book of Fairies blends science and imagination, showing that nature can be both magical and real.

We talk about how unstructured play is disappearing from childhood and what happens when we reclaim it as adults, the beauty of imaginative play, and how domestic animals like backyard chickens can bring us closer to the wild. Susie also shares her passion for place-based education and how truly knowing where we live helps us feel rooted and alive.

Takeaways:

• Everyday nature can rekindle your curiosity
• Play matters for both kids and adults
• Domestic animals connect us to the wild
• Imagination deepens our bond with the Earth

Connect with Susie Spikol:

• Website: susiespikol.com
• Instagram: @susiespikol

Books:

• The Animal Adventurer’s Guide
• Forest Magic for Kids
• The Book of Fairies

Susie’s work reminds us that we don’t have to go far to find magic. The wild is already here, inviting us to look closer, play more, and remember that we are part of it all.

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Stop scrolling. Step outside. What if the adventure you’ve been seeking has been right beneath your feet all along?

In this mini episode, I share a playful and heartfelt conversation with Susie Spikol, a naturalist, author, and lifelong environmental educator who reminds us that wonder is waiting for us in the ordinary. From searching for spiders with schoolchildren to rescuing an owl from her chicken coop, Susie’s stories remind us that magic exists everywhere if we simply slow down enough to notice.

Sometimes, we forget how to play. We fill our days with structure, productivity, and screens, leaving little space for imagination. But play is not just for children, it is how we reconnect with curiosity, creativity, and joy. Susie invites us to rediscover that part of ourselves that still believes in fairy homes, tiny worlds, and the beauty of small things.

This is a reminder that the adventure is already here, unfolding in the simple moments we often overlook. Whether it’s the red flash of a cardinal, the hum of a chickadee, or the quiet joy of building something just for fun, nature is always calling us back home.

In this episode, I share:
• How play and imagination help us reconnect with nature and ourselves
• Why small, simple moments hold the greatest magic
• What children can teach us about curiosity and wonder
• A gentle reminder to slow down and find the wild where you are

The full episode with Susie will be released this Friday, where we go even deeper into the art of wonder, wildness, and remembering what’s real.

Resources and Links:

• Explore Susie’s books Forest Magic for Kids and The Animal Adventurer’s Guide at susiespikol.com
• Follow her on Instagram @susiespikol for daily inspiration to stay curious and connected.

Support the show

✨ Join My TEDx Spokane Journey!
Get early updates, BTS moments, and reflections as I prep for TEDx Spokane.
👉 Subscribe here to follow the journey

🔥 September Special: Healing Conversations
Limited-time offer:
✔️ 4 x 60-min Zoom sessions
✔️ 4 Voxer Days
All for $750 USD — save $250!

Seeking clarity, healing, or guidance? This sacred space is for you.
✨ Spots are limited!
👉 Reserve Your Spot Now

🌟 Stay Connected & Support the Show
🌐 Website: theadventureparadox.com

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Email: theadventureparadox@gmail.com

...

What if your current reality is just yesterday’s burrito, a reflection of the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs you digested long before today?

The good news: you get to choose what you’re cooking up next.

In this episode, I sat down with Iena SpiritWalker, a psychic healer, author, and spiritual business mentor who helps women turn their gifts into freedom and flow.

Iena’s story is both surprising and deeply human. From a moment of skepticism in a naming ceremony to legally becoming SpiritWalker, she shares how learning to trust her intuition changed her path and purpose.

Together, we explore:

• The sacred power of a name and what it means to truly claim who you are
• Why “manifestation” might not be the whole picture, and how to shift into intentional creation
• The energetic impact of authentic pricing and how the sphincter effect helps clients take themselves seriously
• How to find your soul mission using life’s highs and lows
• Why authenticity vibrates higher than love and how it draws in the people meant to find you

This conversation is raw, funny, and deeply encouraging. Iena reminds us that every challenge is an invitation to grow and that spiritual wealth begins with honesty, self-awareness, and courage.

If you have ever felt caught between what your soul knows and what the world expects, this episode will help you reconnect with your inner truth and walk it forward.

RESOURCES AND LINKS

• Free Quiz: What’s Blocking Your Sacred Success?
• Book: Badass Goal Planner: Make New Habits Your B!tch & Get Sh!t Done Available on Amazon.
• Connect with Iena SpiritWalker:
  Visit IenaSpiritWalker.com
  or follow her Instagram

You are not your thoughts. You are the creator of your own adventure, and the universe is already saying yes.

Support the show

✨ Join My TEDx Spokane Journey!
Get early updates, BTS moments, and reflections as I prep for TEDx Spokane.
👉 Subscribe here to follow the journey

🔥 September Special: Healing Conversations
Limited-time offer:
✔️ 4 x 60-min Zoom sessions
✔️ 4 Voxer Days
All for $750 USD — save $250!

Seeking clarity, healing, or guidance? This sacred space is for you.
✨ Spots are limited!
👉 Reserve Your Spot Now

🌟 Stay Connected & Support the Show
🌐 Website: theadventureparadox.com

Facebook: The Adventure Paradox
Instagram: @theadventureparadox
Email: theadventureparadox@gmail.com

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