Richard Bangs: "The Father of Adventure Travel" and Genuine Renaissance Man
01/31/21 • 58 min
Leading Steep: Richard Bangs
In this episode, Barry sits down with author, TV host, and world traveler Richard Bangs. Once referred to as “Indiana Jones with a conscience” by Expedia.com founder Rich Barton, Richard fashioned a multifaceted, adventure-filled career spanning over 50 years promoting travel that positively impacts the world.
Listen in as Richard shares his journey from local river guide to internationally-renowned globe-trotting explorer.
He reflects on his interpretation of guide culture, which to him is a combination of openness and curiosity both to the world around you and toward your guests, and the collaboration between each and every member of the group you are traveling with.
Richard also shares his thoughts on risk, and how one tragic accident early in his career forced him to reevaluate everything he was taught as a guide.
Finally, Richard touches on his many TV projects and business ventures, both past and present.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
● [3:26] Richard’s early days as a river guide
● [6:29] Traveling internationally
● [10:47] The most memorable of Richard’s 35 first raft descents
● [14:20] Comparing outdoor adventures to the business world
● [15:55] What guide ethos means to Richard
● [20:55] The unique bond that every guide forms with their guests
● [25:02] Traits that made certain guides stand out to Richard as great leaders
● [27:37] Richard’s most challenging situations throughout his countless travels
● [35:09] Working with various guides of various disciplines in many different countries
● [36:46] Richard recalls his time rafting the Zambezi
● [41:31] Of the 19 books Richard has written, which one would he recommend first?
● [44:14] Richard’s involvement with MT Sobek and his various TV and business ventures
Key Quotes by Richard:
● “The most apt comparison between [the adventure world and the business world] is being able to embrace the unknown, and actually finding an element of excitement and joy in chaos. [...] If you find meaning, purpose, and clarity in chaos, then you likely can find success.”
● “I think that there are many important elements of ethos when it comes to the guide culture and what makes a successful guide. But there are two that come to mind. One is an innate curiosity. [...] The second one is teamwork.”
● “If you can learn to face adversity in some manner, particularly in the wilderness, it will be something that becomes an ingrained lifelong process for dealing with issues through the rest of your life outside the wilderness.”
Resources Mentioned:
● The Lost River by Richard Bangs
● MT Sobek
● Steller app
#guide #guiding #whitewater #river #rafting #climbing #mountaineering #guidelife #tripleadertuesday #sobek #mountaintravel
Leading Steep: Richard Bangs
In this episode, Barry sits down with author, TV host, and world traveler Richard Bangs. Once referred to as “Indiana Jones with a conscience” by Expedia.com founder Rich Barton, Richard fashioned a multifaceted, adventure-filled career spanning over 50 years promoting travel that positively impacts the world.
Listen in as Richard shares his journey from local river guide to internationally-renowned globe-trotting explorer.
He reflects on his interpretation of guide culture, which to him is a combination of openness and curiosity both to the world around you and toward your guests, and the collaboration between each and every member of the group you are traveling with.
Richard also shares his thoughts on risk, and how one tragic accident early in his career forced him to reevaluate everything he was taught as a guide.
Finally, Richard touches on his many TV projects and business ventures, both past and present.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
● [3:26] Richard’s early days as a river guide
● [6:29] Traveling internationally
● [10:47] The most memorable of Richard’s 35 first raft descents
● [14:20] Comparing outdoor adventures to the business world
● [15:55] What guide ethos means to Richard
● [20:55] The unique bond that every guide forms with their guests
● [25:02] Traits that made certain guides stand out to Richard as great leaders
● [27:37] Richard’s most challenging situations throughout his countless travels
● [35:09] Working with various guides of various disciplines in many different countries
● [36:46] Richard recalls his time rafting the Zambezi
● [41:31] Of the 19 books Richard has written, which one would he recommend first?
● [44:14] Richard’s involvement with MT Sobek and his various TV and business ventures
Key Quotes by Richard:
● “The most apt comparison between [the adventure world and the business world] is being able to embrace the unknown, and actually finding an element of excitement and joy in chaos. [...] If you find meaning, purpose, and clarity in chaos, then you likely can find success.”
● “I think that there are many important elements of ethos when it comes to the guide culture and what makes a successful guide. But there are two that come to mind. One is an innate curiosity. [...] The second one is teamwork.”
● “If you can learn to face adversity in some manner, particularly in the wilderness, it will be something that becomes an ingrained lifelong process for dealing with issues through the rest of your life outside the wilderness.”
Resources Mentioned:
● The Lost River by Richard Bangs
● MT Sobek
● Steller app
#guide #guiding #whitewater #river #rafting #climbing #mountaineering #guidelife #tripleadertuesday #sobek #mountaintravel
Previous Episode
Trailer: What is Leading Steep?
This is the Leading Steep Podcast. I’m Barry Kruse. I’m interviewing adventure guides and leaders from around the world.
Some are famous. Some you’ve never heard of. All have extraordinary stories.
I’m talking to people who lead expeditions in the mountains, on rivers, cycling the great passes, kayaking blue waters, chasing the most elusive fish, and delivering lifetime memories. I’m focused on both their adventure stories and insights on leadership.
I call this “guide ethos.”
It’s the common set of characteristics that great guides garner in crisis situations, peak experiences, and over many miles – as I did as a class V whitewater guide.
And you should know; these lessons translate powerfully in the corporate world, too.
Thanks for listening, subscribing, sharing, and rating the Leading Steep Podcast.
See more at leadingsteep.com
#guide #guiding #whitewater #river #rafting #climbing #mountaineering #fishing #trout #guidelife #safari #safariguide #tripleadertuesday
Next Episode
Solo: Let's Catch Up
In this episode, Barry shares a quick update on Leading Steep and how to reach out and participate, a recap on recent shows, a preview on future shows, thoughts on leadership and kids, and some very important acknowledgements.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
● [0:22] Why a solo episode?
● [2:35] How to contact Barry and join Leading Steep Fireside Facebook
● [3:25] On feedback and leadership
● [3:40] Recapping episodes with Zach Collier, Richard Bangs, and Jim Coffey
● [5:45] Jim Coffey in Ty Smith’s own words
● [7:14] An introduction to Barry’s nonprofit, Junior Guides and youth leadership
● [8:31] Previews of upcoming guests on the show
● [9:54] Acknowledgements
● [10:40] Closing thoughts
Key Quotes by Barry:
● “Great leaders courageously deliver feedback with love in their hearts. Often, the harder the feedback is to deliver, the more impactful it is to hear.”
● “If you’re genuinely interested in people, it goes a long way towards being an effective leader.”
● “Team leaders are multipliers: They put others in front of themselves.”
● “Adventure guides have a great capacity for calm in a storm that any leader can learn from.”
● “Even a small, seemingly insignificant interaction can change your business or change your life. You never know who you’re speaking to or what kind of impact you may have for them or they for you.”
● “As a leader, one of the measures of your success will certainly be the legacy of the leaders you helped build and nurture.”
● “Young people—young leaders—need to use their voice to change the world.”
● “The best guides I know also happen to be the most humble. Aspire to the notion I call ‘humble brilliance’.”
Resources Mentioned:
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/leading-steep-387264/richard-bangs-the-father-of-adventure-travel-and-genuine-renaissance-m-55028908"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to richard bangs: "the father of adventure travel" and genuine renaissance man on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy