In this final installment of our series on spirituality and adventure, I sit down with Bishop Mark Beckman, the 4th Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, to explore what happens when faith is formed not just in quiet rooms, but in wild places. From hiking solo through old-growth forests to walking hundreds of miles on pilgrimage, Bishop Beckman shares how discomfort, silence, and physical effort can open us to something deeper than words.

We talk about the moments that push us to the edge of our capacity—storms in the backcountry, long days of walking, fear at high elevations—and how those experiences can shape trust, humility, and presence. This conversation is a reminder that adventure doesn't only take us outward into the world, but inward toward meaning, mystery, and a deeper awareness of God.

• [2:22] – Bishop Mark Beckman's calling to ministry and how the outdoors shaped his faith from an early age

• [6:45] – Discovering God's presence through solitude, silence, and hiking alone in the woods

• [10:48] – Forming a men's backpacking group and finding unexpected community on the trail

• [16:05] – Walking the Camino de Santiago and learning trust one step at a time

• [22:40] – Pushing through fear and physical limits on a 14,000-foot peak in Colorado

• [30:12] – Retreat, silence, and wilderness as pathways to deeper spiritual awareness

• [38:05] – Suffering, endurance, and how hardship can deepen us instead of hardening us

• Appalachian Trail

• Denali National Park

• Camino de Santiago

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you'd rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for full episodes and additional content — it's one of the best ways to support the show and stay connected. Until next time, stay safe and stay on adventure.

In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Hilal Kanaan - neurosurgeon, son of Palestinian immigrants, and someone whose daily work places him in the quiet but profound landscapes of human suffering, endurance, and compassion. While he isn't chasing adventure in the traditional sense, Hilal spends his days navigating a different kind of wilderness: the emotional and spiritual terrain of walking with people through their hardest moments.

We explore the kind of toughness that's forged not on trails or mountaintops, but in operating rooms, hospital corridors, and the inner worlds shaped by personal history, faith, and humility. Hilal shares what it was like growing up between cultures, how his parents' story of resilience shaped him, and what strength has come to mean inside a profession where asking for help can be the bravest move of all. This conversation broadened my understanding of what "adventure" can truly mean - and I think it'll do the same for you.

[00:00] Opening the conversation with Dr. Kanaan and framing a different kind of adventure.
[02:00] Growing up in Kalamazoo as the son of Palestinian immigrants.
[04:00] The mix of chaos, tragedy, resilience, and optimism woven into Palestinian identity.
[07:00] Balancing two cultures and the intentional ways his parents raised their family in America.
[11:00] The parental tension between comfort and necessary challenge.
[15:00] Identifying "the ghosts in the nursery" - what we inherit, keep, and let go of.
[17:00] The book Hilal created for his kids to help them understand God, compassion, and curiosity.
[24:00] Faith as a language for gratitude rather than certainty.
[29:00] What it feels like to accompany patients through their darkest moments - and how their faith shapes him.
[35:00] The humbling lesson of asking for help when a case goes sideways.
[44:00] Hilal's message to anyone facing hardship: your feelings are valid…and this is not the rest of your life.

• Why Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner (book referenced)

• Interview referenced between Stephen Colbert & Ricky Gervais

If this episode resonated with you, it would mean so much if you'd rate, follow, and review the podcast — it truly helps others discover these conversations.

And don't forget: we're building more content on YouTube, including full episodes, clips, and behind-the-scenes insights.
👉 Find and subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay connected.

Until next time — stay safe, and stay On Adventure.

David Brooks describes life as a journey up two mountains. The first mountain is about achievement—building a career, proving yourself, chasing success. The second mountain begins when the first no longer satisfies, and you're called into a deeper life of meaning, surrender, and service. This episode lives squarely on that second mountain.

This conversation is the second installment in our series exploring where spirituality and adventure overlap, and it's an honest look at what happens when ambition gives way to awakening. I sat down with Scott Sauls to talk about burnout, identity, and the courage it takes to walk away from what once defined you. We explore why suffering often becomes the doorway to spiritual depth, how achievement can quietly turn into addiction, and why community—not independence—is the missing ingredient in most meaningful adventures.

If you've ever felt successful on paper but empty underneath—or sensed a pull toward something more without knowing how to answer it—this conversation will meet you right where you are.

• [2:45] – Why this conversation fits into the spirituality-and-adventure series

• [7:30] – Scott's leadership journey and the hidden cost of achievement

• [14:10] – When productivity becomes identity—and why it eventually breaks us

• [22:40] – Why suffering often precedes clarity, healing, and spiritual growth

• [31:55] – Redefining adventure beyond the outdoors

• [41:20] – The role of community in recovery and transformation

• [52:10] – Curiosity, humility, and letting go of control

• Midlife transition

• Spirituality and adventure

• Burnout, recovery, and identity

• Faith, suffering, and meaning

• Leadership and emotional health

• Community vs isolation

• Risk, uncertainty, and growth

• Scott Sauls – leadership coaching and writing

• The Second Mountain by David Brooks

• From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks

If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who might need this conversation. These stories grow through community—and I'm grateful you're part of it.

Thanks for listening. I'll see you on the adventure.