In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, marine ecologist Dr. Roxanne Beltran shares what it’s really like to study elephant seals—and why these unlikely collaborators are crucial for understanding ocean health. From wrangling 2,000-pound mammals on windswept beaches to being featured on the cover of Science, Roxanne brings humor, humility, and heart to every part of her work.

Roxanne opens up about her journey into marine biology, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the unexpected joys of mentorship. She dives into the scientific methods behind tracking elephant seals and the role they play in climate monitoring. As a passionate advocate for accessible science, Roxanne reminds us that being an explorer isn’t about perfection—it’s about curiosity, resilience, and staying grounded in community.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese welcomes Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano, the first Italian to walk in space and a globally respected voice in the astronaut community. Luca opens up about his infamous near-drowning during a spacewalk, and how that life-threatening moment ultimately deepened his understanding of risk, resilience, and what it means to lead.

Beyond spaceflight, Luca shares profound reflections on mindset, fatherhood, and the quiet discipline that drives extraordinary achievements. He offers insight into the many roles astronauts must play—technician, philosopher, teammate, and mentor—and reveals the emotional complexity behind space missions. This conversation is a masterclass in mental strength, ego regulation, and purposeful exploration.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, we meet Tia, a Charleston native whose journey from bartending to global recognition began with a personal health crisis. After years in the food and beverage industry, Tia’s decision to quit smoking triggered an unexpected and debilitating decline in her health. Conventional medicine offered no solutions, but a chance encounter with two holistic healers changed everything. Through an elimination diet and profound lifestyle changes, Tia not only reclaimed her health—she rediscovered her roots.

Tia's reconnection came through the act of crabbing, a practice tied to her Gullah Geechee heritage. What began as a way to stay active turned into a viral Airbnb experience—“Casual Crabbing with Tia”—and a new mission to educate, preserve, and heal. Her story captures how the water became both a source of joy and transformation. She now champions oyster shell recycling and envisions a nonprofit dedicated to marine restoration. Tia's passion, vulnerability, and vision remind us that explorers come from everywhere—and often, they return home to find themselves.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.