To penetrate the emotional Gore-Tex clothing and explore the vast mountain range of who he is and his many peaks and valleys.

The BTM questionnaire is designed to reveal his true mountain character and uncover his beliefs and aspirations regarding the mountains.

Tim is a writer, communicator, and storyteller - who has spent much of his career at the intersection of sport, culture, and brand storytelling.

Instagram  @tesweens

Book: Yank Down Under - available on Amazon

Podcast: Long Distance Lounge podcast

Book you: Twin Thieves Media - www.twinthievesmedia.com/

From journalism in Boston to working with brands like Callaway Golf and the outdoor sports brand - Salomon, he's helped shape how athletes, brands, and communities tell their stories.

He is someone I’ve wanted to get to know for a long time — so it was a real pleasure to finally sit down and have this conversation.

In this interview, we ask the question - how does Sport, Humour, and travel bring people together?

This conversation becomes part travelogue… part storytelling… and part looking inside the world of Sports and outdoor brand communications — from working with athletes and ambassadors  - to the challenge of telling authentic stories in a crowded world.

Because sport and the mountains are powerful theatres for story.

Places where your character shows up. Where adversity shapes the narrative.

And where the line between performance and authenticity becomes very clear.

The easiest way to find your community  . . or to break into a community. Is through sports and with a dash of humour.  

Shared passions. Shared struggles. And the kind of inside jokes that only make sense when you’ve spent time on the same ski lift, on the same trail, or around the same start line.

In many ways, that’s what this episode is about — how we get to know someone, how we come to understand a place, and how sport, humour, and storytelling can reveal something real about the lives we choose to live.

With every interview, I'm trying to make a new friend.

So it’s about sitting down with people and learning what gets them excited about where they live, what they do for work, or how they play.

What gets them stoked.

What keeps them curious? What keeps them moving? I'm excited to learn about their story.

This is Tim Sweeney.

Or as I now get to call him … Sweens.    A plus dans le bus, Tim.

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To penetrate the emotional goretex clothing, and explore the vast mountain range of who he is and his many peaks and valleys.

The BTM questionnaire is designed to reveal his true mountain character and uncover his beliefs and aspirations regarding the mountains.

Jed didn’t follow the traditional script. He chose Alaska, or maybe it called to him. He chose an unconventional path. He built a life around mountains, art, risk, beauty, and shared passions.

He’s lived off-grid. Farmed and hunted for his own food. Studied fine art — and then found those same lines and compositions etched into snow-covered spines. He learned to fly, taking a literal leap into the air — and a deeper leap of faith into a life built on instinct and intention.

The mountains aren’t just where he works. They’re his canvas. His classroom. His proving ground. They are his subjects captured through the lens of his camera.

When we spoke the night before the interview, I could hear him smiling over the phone. That kind of stoke doesn’t come from a job title. It comes from living aligned — art, photography, climbing, flying — and sharing it all with his partner Leighan. It’s an ode to love, to the mountains, and to building something meaningful together.

In many ways, this is Jed’s quintessence of life — stripping it back to what matters most: beauty, risk, creation, connection.

This conversation is about choosing your own line. About believing a different life is possible. About what happens when you stop following the map — and start drawing your own.

This is Jed Workman. OR as I now see him Jed WILDMAN.

My goal with every guest is to connect with them as a friend — to understand the energy and purpose that drives them, and to leave you feeling like you’ve just met someone you’d truly like to call a friend too.

Today’s guest, Leighan Falley, is exactly that kind of person.

Instagram  @leighanfalley

Buy some art: KORAX ART STUDIO.COM

She’s a Kick ass glacier pilot, a Denali mountain guide who summited 6 times, and a talented landscape artist capturing the vast beauty of Alaska. Or as she says, a portrait painter who sees the different personalities of Denali's mountains. 

Her life feels like the landscape she lives in — rugged, honest, and full of unexpected light.

She is featured in a beautiful short film that can be found on YouTube called - Denali's Raven. I encourage you to watch it.

Whilst this conversation is full of inspiring stories about Denali and its raw beauty as described by Leighan as she climbs it, flies around it and now paints its many faces.

There’s also a moment in this episode when we enter some turbulence. 

Leighan chose to share her story of addiction, losing her pilot’s licence, and slowly rebuilding her life. 

And I want to be honest: listen back afterwards, part of me wonders if I could have asked more questions here — if I could have helped her draw out her message more clearly. I wasn’t sure how to approach something so personal with someone I admired, so instead I gave her the space to tell it in her own way.

I believe that we are more than our darkest days. Leighan’s journey reminds us of that. 

And I’m just grateful — and genuinely happy — that she’s in a better place now. She is someone whom I admired and respected. 

Someone whom I would be honoured to call a friend, that means more than having any perfectly framed questions.

She’s also doing something incredibly brave — using her voice and status in the aviation community to remove stigma. By sharing what she went through, she’s giving other pilots permission to ask for help, to speak up, and to realise that being vulnerable doesn’t make you weaker — it makes you human.

It reminded me how important it is to be there for our friends, to check on the people we love, to encourage honesty, and to ask for help when we need it too. None of us should have to navigate the storm alone.

So today, we take flight through her world — her home in Talkeetna, the life she’s created, the mountains that shaped her, and the strength it takes to rise again.

As a bonus episode, Leighan agreed to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal her true mountain character. 

You can find the bonus episode after this inspiring conversation. 

Hello friends, I am your host, Ashley Pettit. Welcome to the Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

How can you help the show and grow the community?

Connect / leave a comment and follow

• Please Rate & Review me on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
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Krister grew up in Tromsø, surrounded by wild terrain, one T-bar, and long winters and long summers — where snowboarding was about filming with friends and finding your own lines. These early days shaped his fearless approach to the mountains. Today, he calls Luster home — a place framed by waterfalls, glaciers, and steep couloirs that have become his playground.

He’s earned a reputation for tackling some of the steepest descents in the world — slopes tipping past 50 and even 60 degrees — but his story goes far deeper than adrenaline and speed. In this episode, we talk about life in Norway, the thrills and mindfulness of extreme snowboarding, and Krister’s openness about struggles with drugs, family relationships, and how the mountains saved his life.

He shares how vulnerability and honesty can be as powerful as physical strength — and how he’s redefining what it means to be a man in the mountains. We also explore the Norwegian idea of Kos — that sense of calm, connection, and simple contentment — and how it shows up even in the wildest corners of his life.

Of course, Krister takes the Beyond the Mountains Questionnaire in a special bonus episode, and he answers the three big questions I ask every guest — including what the mountains have taught him about life.

So find your kaffekos, settle in, and get ready for a raw, real, and inspiring conversation.

Instagram  @loubna_freih      @alpinequest_2025

Website :  https://loubnafreih.com/             https://alpinequest.org/

Loubna and a team of female athletes recently completed an extraordinary journey: traversing the entire Alps by bike, ski mountaineering, and trail running. 

In just 54 days, they covered 2,000 kilometres, climbed 80,000 meters of elevation, and crossed five countries — a challenge driven not only by endurance and teamwork, but also by a mission to raise awareness of climate change in the mountains they love.

What makes Loubna’s story even more powerful is how she brings curiosity and mental strength into every pursuit. From her work with the Swiss national sailing team and other high-performance athletes and teams to her own endurance adventures, she shows how language, mindset, and inner narratives can transform challenges into resilience and breakthroughs.

This conversation follows the chapters of LIVE. WORK. PLAY. — from her home in Verbier, to her work as a mental coach, to her passion for exploring the mountains. It’s about curiosity, courage, and the belief that the biggest gains in success are not made by strengthening the body, but in strengthening the mind.

As a bonus episode, Loubna agreed to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal his true mountain character. 

You can find the bonus episode after this inspiring conversation. 

So hit play and get on with the show. Allons-y

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Today, I’m joined by a freestyle skier and business entrepreneur —Nolen Oayda.

Instagram profile : @nolenoayda   @theintrepiddream 

Nolen Oayda is a true pioneer of Australian freestyle skiing. 

From freestyle skiing in Europe,  carving lines in Verbier, Switzerland, Nolen helped shape the sport in its early days and became a powerful influence on generations of Australian athletes. 

He lived with a fun and fearless spirit, embracing creativity at every turn. 

The essence of freestyle skiing — risk, resilience, and freedom — flowed through his business, surfing, music, and family life.

Beyond the slopes, Nolen has built a career as an entrepreneur in Jindabyne,   turning the same energy that drove his skiing into a thriving photo journalism and business career. 

His story is one of passion, reinvention, and living by the mantra that life is short — so surround yourself with good people, and simply have a go.

As a bonus episode, Nolen agreed to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal his true mountain character. 

You can find the bonus episode after this inspiring conversation. 

So start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

How can you help the show and grow the community?

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Season 4 of Beyond the Mountains took us higher, deeper, and further than ever before — exploring the edge of adventure, the heart of creativity, and the soul of mountain living.

We kicked off with Giulia Monego, a big mountain skier and one of the few fully certified female mountain guides in Chamonix. From her beginnings in Venice to conquering steep lines and studying osteopathy, Giulia reminded us that growth lives outside the comfort zone.

I have to meet Giula in person. Maybe I'll drive to Chamonix and try climbing with her.

Then came Steph Davis, a legend of vertical adventure. A master of both rock and air, Steph shared how classical piano, literature, and BASE jumping all collide in her pursuit of freedom — and how fear, when faced, becomes fuel. 

I just wish I had better audio for this interview. This was a person I really wanted to impress; she is such an inspiration. I highly recommend her book.  Learning to Fly: An Uncommon Memoir of Human Flight, Unexpected Love, and One Amazing Dog

We shifted gears with Jay Sweet, music visionary and Executive Director of Newport Folk Festival, and one of the creative forces behind Floki Studios in Iceland.  From the blues to the backcountry skiing, Jay showed us how Iceland’s remote peaks and silence unlock creativity, and how being present is the greatest act of rebellion.

I could have listened to more stories from Jay. Maybe one day I'll get to Floki studios in Iceland and see a troll

Finally, we sat down with Chris Price, architect and founder of KLIMA. Based in the mountains of Utah, Chris designs homes that breathe with the land — sustainable, strong, and soulful. His work proves that building in harmony with nature isn't just possible — it’s essential.

One day I hope to have my own eco friendly has inspired by Chris.

Each episode ended with our Beyond the Mountains Questionnaire, giving you a playful glimpse into our guests’ true mountain character. You can find these as bonus episodes

So whether you’re chasing powder, chasing dreams, or chasing quiet moments of clarity — Season 4 was packed with stories to stir your spirit and stretch your perspective.

I've got plenty of great stories to come. This is still a side hustle and passion project, so I have to make time to find inspiring guests who love the mountains and then do some research and prep. So please stick with me.

Now, one thing that will really help and encourage me,  is to hear from you. I'd love to know what you like about the show. I'd love your feedback. And to encourage your support I'll send you one of the limited edition BTM caps. So please DM on instagram or facebook.

Oh yeah, Let me know what you think of the new music for the show. I'm going to change up the intro a little. Keep it fresh

 OK - Let's go. Allons-y.  See you soon.

Today, we’re diving into the world of architecture— I’m joined by Chris Price, founder of KLIMA Architecture, who’s redefining what it means to build and live in mountain environments.

Instagram profile : @chris.price.architect   @klima.architecture    

Website :  https://klimaarchitecture.com/

Chris is an architect, a builder and a mountain lover. His house designs are rooted in being eco-friendly, sustainable, timeless, and with a deep respect for the land.

A core principle in Chris’s work is passive design—creating buildings that work with the environment to naturally regulate temperature, harness solar energy, and minimise the need for artificial heating or cooling. 

Think 12-inch thick walls, triple-pane windows, airtight construction, and efficient orientation that makes the most of natural sunlight. 

These homes are high-performance, energy-efficient shelters built for a changing climate.

From the TreeHaus to the CrestHaus to his latest project, the PowdrHaus, Chris is showing us what’s possible when design and the environment  meet in high-altitude environments

We talk about what it means to build with nature instead of against it, and how thoughtful design can dramatically reduce our environmental footprint without sacrificing comfort or style.

Chris also opens up about life beyond the drawing board—raising a family, snowboarding and skinning up the mountain before sunrise, mountain biking and BBQ's with his mates

And of course, we end with the three big questions I ask every guest: What have the mountains taught you? How do they make you feel? And when have you had to go beyond?

So whether you're a design nerd, a climate-conscious homeowner, or someone curious about building a better future—this conversation is for you.

As a bonus episode, Chris agreed to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal HIS true mountain character. 

You can find that after this inspiring conversation. 

Hello friends, I am your host, Ashley Pettit. Welcome to the Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

How can you help the show and grow the community?

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• Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway from the show 

Today, I’m joined by a true music omnivore and proud Deadhead—Jay Sweet.

Instagram profile : @IMAJS    @FLOKISTUDIOS

Website :  https:flokistudios.com/

Jay lives and breathes music. From sneaking into his first festival as a student to now serving as the Executive Director of the legendary Newport Folk Festival, his life has been shaped by sound, rhythm, and a deep love for the stories music can tell.

Growing up, Jay absorbed jazz from his father’s record collection—many of them marked with the phrase 'Live at Newport.' He later fell in love with the raw soul of Motown, the storytelling of Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, the endless jams of the Grateful Dead, and the pulse of the blues.

But Jay's impact goes far beyond stages and crowds. He was part of the visionary team behind Flóki Studios—an extraordinary recording studio carved into the remote, rugged beauty of northern Iceland. Located on the Troll Peninsula, surrounded by towering mountains and the open sea, Flóki is more than a studio—it's a creative sanctuary.

In today’s episode, we explore how solitude, silence, and the natural world can unlock creativity in surprising ways. What is it about the atmosphere of the mountains that stirs something in artists? Can the rawness of nature lead to new musical frontiers?

We also dive into Jay’s passions beyond music—from skiing to surfing—and his guiding mantra: Be present. Be kind. Be open. Be together.

So whether you're a music lover, a creative spirit, or someone just looking to be inspired by the harmony between art and nature—this episode will speak to you.

Turn the volume up. Jay Sweet is in the house—and this conversation is going to eleven."

As a bonus episode, JAY agreed to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal HIS true mountain character. 

You can find the bonus episode after this inspiring conversation. 

Hello friends, I am your host, Ashley Pettit welcome to the Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

How can you help the show and grow the community?

Connect / leave a comment and follow

• Please Rate & Review me on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
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• Join the conversation: Comment on Instagram or send us a message I'd love to hear from you.
• Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway from the show 

Today, I’m joined by a fearless guest—the high-flying Steph Davis.

Instagram profile : @highsteph 

Website :  https://stephdavis.co/

Have you ever wished you could fly? I know I have. The closest I’ve come is a tandem paragliding flight.    Steph knows exactly what real human flight feels like.

Steph Davis isn't just one of the world’s best rock climbers—she’s a force of nature. 

From free soloing some of the most iconic rock faces to soaring through the skies in a wingsuit; she has redefined what’s possible in vertical and aerial adventure.

What makes Steph’s journey so fascinating is that she wasn’t an athletic child. Unlike many kids who dream of professional sports careers, her focus was on music—specifically, playing the piano. 

She aspired to conquer the most challenging piano pieces, like Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 3, rather than the toughest rock faces, like the Dawn Wall on El Capitan. In Yosemite national park

She went on to earn a master’s degree in Literature, but a chance meeting with another student changed everything. A simple question—‘Are you interested in trying rock climbing?’—set her on a path that would redefine her life.

Steph chose to follow her own path, not the one set by society or expected by loved ones. 

The mountains called, and she answered.  . . . But she didn’t stop at just climbing—she wanted to confront fear head-on. And for her, that meant learning to fall, something that goes against every instinct of a climber.

Her hunger to understand fear led her to become a qualified parachute jumper—not to skydive, but as a stepping stone to BASE jumping and eventually flying with a wingsuit.

This conversation goes deep—we talk about the power of a positive mindset, the importance of incremental growth, and why you can’t tackle something major without first conquering something small.

So, whether you’re a music lover, a thrill-seeker, or someone looking to master your fears to achieve your goals, this episode has something for you.

So, buckle up, because this is going to be an stimulating flight.

As a bonus episode, Steph agreed to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal her true mountain character. 

You can find the bonus episode after this inspiring conversation. 

Hello friends, I am your host Ashley Pettit welcome to the Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

How can you help the show and grow the community?

Connect / leave a comment and follow

• Please Rate & Review me on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
• Follow us on social media 
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• Join the conversation: Comment on Instagram or send us a message I'd love to hear from you.
• Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway from the show

Today, I’m joined by an incredible guest—Giulia Monego. 

Instagram profile : @giuliamonego 

She’s a big mountain athlete with a passion for skiing steep terrain, but that’s just the beginning of her story.

Giulia grew up in Venice, Italy—a city surrounded by water and canals, far from the mountains—but thanks to her ski-loving parents, she spent winters in Cortina, where she fell in love with speed, competition, and the thrill of the slopes. 

She started as an alpine ski racer, became a ski instructor, and then pushed herself even further into the world of big mountain free-ride competitions. 

But for Giulia,   growth has always come from stepping outside the box.

Her hunger for new challenges led her to become one of the few fully qualified female mountain guides based in Chamonix France — breaking barriers and deepening her connection to the mountains in the process. 

And in yet another out-of-the-box move, she’s now training as an osteopath, combining her love of movement with a desire to help others stay strong, mobile, and pain-free in the mountains she calls home.

This conversation goes deep—we talk about the psychology of pushing limits, decision-making in high-risk environments, the impact of mentors, climate change and even the role of mountains as therapy in an increasingly chaotic world. 

We also dive into the power of stepping outside our comfort zones—because, as Giulia sees it, true growth happens when we challenge ourselves.

So, whether you’re a skier, an adventurer, or just someone looking for inspiration, this episode has something for you. 

As a bonus episode, Giulia agreed to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal her true mountain character. 

So you can find the bonus episode after this inspiring conversation. This is where we play around and have a bit of fun.

Hello friends, I am your host Ashley Pettit welcome to season 4, episode 1 of the Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

No, hang on a minute, Giulia is Italian, so instead of saying Allons-y which is French for let's go, I need to say Andiamo.

So let's start the intro music, and get on with the show. Andiamo !

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And he is a coffee roaster from the French Alps

On today's show, we sit down and have a cup of coffee together. In fact, we sit down in his little coffee roasting shed in the French Alps and as Gareth says, we have a good old chat.

I miss coffee culture and catching up with friends over a cup of coffee. It is one of the things I am looking forward to doing when I go back to Australia in November to see old friends and hang out with my family.

On this episode as we get to know Gareth through the chapters of where he lives, what he does for work and how he plays. 

We talk about the coffee scene in Dunedin NZ where he is from, the differences between French and English cultures, the struggles of being an immigrant, and the simple pleasure of sharing a coffee with a friend.

Gareth dives into the roast coffee process and explains the special relationship between coffee and music.

This was a good old chat and if you enjoy this conversation, you will enjoy his coffee. 

As a special off for the listeners of this podcast, Gareth is offering you a 20% discount when you order online. 

You can use the promo code "BEYONDTHEMOUNTAINS"  all in one word and in UPPER CASE when you buy some tasty coffee. 

He can ship to most of Europe so go to the website. You'll find some Ethiopian coffee and some coffee from Peru and Guatemala.

Website is  : WWW.MRBLANCHOTCOFFEE.COM 

As a bonus episode, Gareth also agreed to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal his true mountain character. So you can listen to that as a bonus episode later on over a coffee.

Hello friends, I am your host Ashley Pettit welcome to another episode of beyond the mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

So, Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

Buy direct from your website

Instagram  @MR.BLANCHOTBRULERIEALPINE

Website : WWW.MRBLANCHOTCOFFEE.COM

On today's show, we talk about the C-word. Yes, folks the C-word - CYCLING. And a whole lot of other words that start with the letter C.

Sebastien is a good friend and a good friend of the podcast. He's always been very supportive of this passion project.

I've always wanted to have Sebastien on the show because I know how much he loves cycling in the mountains. He could be riding in the shadows of the legends who raced up Col du Galibier and Col Glandon during the Tour de France or he could be exploring the gravel roads over a remote mountain pass into another valley.

But I also wanted him on the show to talk about his role as Head of content creation for Assos cycling apparel. A global brand and pioneer is cycling apparel innovation.

A sports brand and outdoor brand that helps us to enjoy and express ourselves in the mountains. I hope I can talk to more brands in the future.

So when I started to think about what questions I was to ask Sebastien and the themes I wanted to talk about. I started to write down words like curiosity, curated, communication, channels, and creativity. His role is very much about this endeavour.

But then other C words kept coming up, like Comebacks, Challenges, Climbing, Coffee and Characters. The C word became a theme for this conversation.

So I hope you enjoy this interview with Sebastien,  he is a real genuine character and someone who I admire for the way he has created a life around his passion for cycling.

As a bonus episode, Sebastien agrees to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal his true mountain character. So you can listen to that after this intriguing conversation.

Hello friends, I am your host Ashley Pettit welcome to another episode of Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

At the young age of only 28, it feels like Lucy is a veteran of Ultrarunning. She did her first 100km run with her dad's supervision at just 15 years old. Since then she has been a regular protagonist in the ultra-running scene. She is competing in the races all over the world.

In 2023 she was 10th in the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc) the biggest trail running event in the world. This year she is trying to go faster and improve on her time of 27 hours. Shortly after she competed at the Ironman World Championships in Kona. So you can see she loves a challenge.

In the same year, she won the Tarawera Ultramarathon and was 2nd in the Ultra-Trail Australia.

Her ever-positive attitude and constant smiling face make her a fan favorite and I'm one of those fans. 

We talk about the power of a smile and how it can change the world, turning a bad day into a great day and her strategy of nibble nibble sip sip to get through an ultra marathon. 

Her wanderlust for curiosity and new experiences and the power of connection and community.

On today's show, we talk about all this and more, so I think you are going to enjoy listening to Lucy's.

So when I saw her training and running around the mountains in my village in the remote French Alps I had to try and get her on the show.

As a bonus episode, Lucy stuck around to take the Beyond the Mountains Questionaire to reveal her true mountain character.

Hello friends, I am your host Ashley Pettit welcome to another episode of Beyond The Mountains Podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

You only have 30 seconds to answer each question.

Are you ready to play, are you ready to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire?

Svein Tuft - let's go.

He is the  character straight out of the Jack London book "The Call of the Wild"

He was professional cyclings unconventional cyclist, but his unconventional approach is what made him so successful. He knew what worked for him, he knew how to extract the best of himself for his success and his team's success. 

He famously dragged the peloton for 190km in the Italian stage race Tirreno-Adriatico.

He won thirteen Canadian National Championships, represented Canada at the Olympic Games, was part of the Orica-GreenEdge team for 8 years, he was the driving force in time trial victory on stage 1 of the 2014 Giro d’Italia, where he spent time in the maglia rosa leaders jersey. He raced in the Tour de France, Giro D'Italia, the Vuelta a Espana, the one-day classics and week-long stage races, and he secured the silver medal in the time trial at the 2008 UCI Road World Championships.

When he wasn't clocking up thousands of kilometres on the paved roads as a professional cyclist,  he was escaping to the wilds of Andorra and British Colombia on epic adventures into the unknown. His true calling is to discover and explore trails and single tracks into the mountains and wilderness. He is happiest when he is out on a ski touring adventure into the backcountry or humping his gravel bike over some monstrous mountain pass into the unknown.

On today's show,  We talk about all this and more, so I think you are going to enjoy listening to Svein's adventures.

Hello friends, I am your host ASHLEY PETTIT welcome to another episode of Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

She is a multi-talented mountain sports storyteller. She is a producer, director, photographer, camerawoman, writer and editor.  She has worked on the Freeride World Tour, the Summer and Winter Olympic games, and is an independent storyteller for many mountain brands, athletes and magazines.

In a world of high drama, high stakes and fast action sports, Aurelie thrives on the pressure to capture the athletes doing what they do best, defying gravity and creating winning lines in the snow.

She enjoys showing the human element behind the athletes. Stripping away the race numbers and sponsor logos to reveal the real people behind the mountain sports we love. 

She is not afraid to get uncomfortable in harsh and dangerous conditions to get the shot, and she is also not afraid to deviate from the plan if a different and more interesting story is unfolding.

This was a fun interview and I want to thank Aurelie for making the time to sit down with me before she went out skiing in the mountains of Chamonix before she made her way back to her second home in Crested Butte California or travelling to another event hotel room, or mountain huts.

Hello friends, I am your host Ashley Pettit welcome to another episode of the Beyond the Mountains Podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

My first guest for 2024 is Michael Blann a professional photographer based in London. 

He is also a keen cyclist and he believes in the power of Passion projects. 

We talk about all this, plus we talk about is love for taking photos of epic mountain landscapes.

So if you love any of those subjects you are going to enjoy this conversation with Michael Blann. 

Michael has published a timeless and beautiful coffee table book called Mountains - Epic Cycling Climbs. It was a 3-year passion project in the making that saw Michael photograph some of the most iconic mountains and cycling climbs of the Tour de France and the Giro. Mountains of the Alpes, the Pyrenees, the Dolomites and many more mythical mountains around Europe and North America

Michael is a professional photographer and has a long career working with many brands and clients. He has also been published in many cycling magazines around the world. 

Hello friends, I am your host ASHLEY PETTIT welcome to another season and a new episode of the Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

He is a high mountain guide, ski touring guide, gravel biking explorer, beer maker and full-time dad, who spends his time between the French Alps and the Scandinavian mountains of Sweden and Norway.

Before this interview, I didn't really know Fred that well, I'd only seen him around the village, out skiing or at a local mountain bike event he was organizing. 

But he was someone I instantly liked and connected with and I wanted to know him better.

So this was a great way for me to get to Fred and I hope you learn about him too.

I try to do research about the people I'm going to have on the show, so who they are and the jobs they do. So I did a lot of reading about what a mountain guide does and what makes a good mountain guide.

I read somewhere that when you are in the mountains you have to move with deliberate intent, to move with purpose and be fluid with your movement, observe your surroundings and to look ahead to where you are going..

This is how I feel Fred speaks and acts. He is very intentional and thoughtful when he speaks. And I think this came through in the interview. So I hope you enjoy this interview with Fred because I know I did

Hello friends, I am your host ASHLEY PETTIT welcome to another episode of the beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

He is one of the pioneers of steep skiing, Powder magazine named him as one of the 48 most influential skiers.

He may be retired but he's still getting out into the mountains. Just after we recorded this interview he was heading off to Nepal and the Himalayas.

His name is associated with many first ski descents in Chamonix, Antarctica, the Himalayas and Bolivia.

He was the pioneer of steep skiing or extreme skiing and a high mountain guide.

In the 70s and 80's he was skiing down steep couloirs and mountain faces that were unimaginable at the time and that inspired today's modern-day skiers. 

To give you some perspective. He was skiing in leather ski boots, riding skis that were 210 cm long but he only stands at around 165 cm tall. 

The steepness was between 40 and 55% on ice.

He didn't like to ski the fresh snow like today's modern skiers. Less risk of avalanche he says.

It could take him most of the night and all the day to climb up these mountains and then ski down the lines he had imagined in his mind.

These lines he skied were in "no fall zone". You fall you die,  and has become into the stuff of legends. 

Hello friends, I am your host ASHLEY PETTIT welcome to another episode of the Beyond the mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

She is a fellow Aussie and was a self-confessed ski bum in her youth, she chased the fresh pow across the northern and southern hemispheres as a ski instructor, before she finally decided to go to the Hollywood of big mountain sports - Chamonix.

And like so many people before her, the allure and attraction of the Cham was strong,

She soon realised if this was to become a permanent place to live she needed to make a living. 

So she enrolled in a Rolfing school and became a qualified Rolfer which is a unique and specialized type of body therapy. A perfect way to earn a living in a place where people are obsessed with being outdoors and pursuing active lifestyles.

She has built a reputation and successful business, helping people to live pain-free and restore movement and mobility so that mountain athletes to regular workers like you and I can pursue our passion for sports and being outdoors in the mountains.

This was a very interesting meeting, and now with hindsight, I wish I'd prepared better for it. Kristy has a wealth of knowledge and passion for mobility and movement. I only scratched the surface. So I think I will have to have her on the show again in the future. So let's call this part 1.

Hello friends, I am your host ASHLEY PETTIT welcome to another episode of the Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

She is just an awesome human, plus she is a glaciologist and is on the front line of climate change. So we had a lot to talk about during this episode

BUT BEFORE I hit the intro music I want to say a few things.

After I finished recording the interview with Heidi, we were just chatting as I was packing up my equipment and she said something that really stuck with me. 

Then when I returned home and was reflecting on the interview and looking forward to sharing it with you when something else sparked a thought.

So please let me indulge for a minute before I hit the intro music and start the interview with Heidi.

Firstly, we need to change CHANGE is hard. Changing long-practised behaviours is going to be hard

Change is Really hard and it means sacrifice. But we need to suck it up.  We need to get uncomfortable, we need to be inconvenient and hear the uncomfortable truth

Because doing nothing is going to be worse. 

I am sure most of you listening will agree and believe that we need to change, but that belief for change needs to turn into action.

Take one step in the direction of hope and then take another in the DIRECTION of action AND then another intentional step towards action and keep taking steps and then together we can make a change

We need to stop fighting against climate change because the reality is that that is already here. 

We need to start fighting for climate action. When we fight for something, it’s easier than fighting against something. Fight for our future

Secondly, Listen to Heidi and listen to the Scientist. In researching for this interview I saw speeches and newspaper articles from Scientists as far back as the 70s 80s 90s and 2000’s all warning us of the changes happening to our planet.

Global summits, global agreements, and documentaries  have all predicted today’s current climate crisis

I said she is the voice of the voiceless, the glaciers, but she is also a voice for all the scientists before her and all the scientists that stand with her.

Listen, really listen. There is no agenda here.  

And also imagine if someone you were talking to was not listening to you. 

Imagine you were making an important presentation, talking to a loved one, talking to a doctor or a good friend. How would that make you feel if that person was not listening to you, especially when your intentions and message were genuine and true.

And also imagine if your life’s work was slowly disappearing. 

Something you have made sacrifices for was vanishing and there was nothing you could do about it because no one was listening to you

So please listen to this episode, Heidi’s passion is infectious and inspiring.

All right, THAT’S enough from me, let’s get on with the show, let’s listen to the expert.

Here is the intro

My guest today is Dr Heidi Sevestre.

She is a glaciologist, and explorer, the voice for the voiceless. 

She is on the front line of climate change. She is a passionate advocate for climate ACTION and 

FOR making the science more understandable so we can all make informed decisions about our futures. 

She has studied and explored the glaciers of the Alps, the Arctic, Greenland, AND Antarctica and is ONE of the guardians of the last tropic glaciers in South America.

She is like a real-life Indiana Jones. Rather than exploring and searching for the hidden treasures of the past. She is EXPLORING THE FROZEN ICY LANDSCAPES OF OUR WORLD AND desperately trying to protect the planet’s natural treasures for the future.

So let’s HIT THE INTRO music and get on with the show. Allons-y

At the age of 25 with no training or experience, he reached the summit of Mt Everest the highest mountain in the world.  He has reached the summit of Everest 7 times and climbed many other 8,000-meter summits in Nepal.

With no education, no English or training but a strong belief in taking positive action and karma he has managed to transform his life. 

He has led international treks across Nepal and Tibet with clients from all over the world. 

His family and children are now living the lives many people from Nepal can only dream of. 

Lakpa now splits his time between working in France and Nepal. 

During the cold winter months of Nepal when there are no tourists and little work, he lives and works in the French Alpes. 

During the trekking season in Nepal, he now has his own successful trekking and tour agency employing a team of local Sherpa Guides.

His children have all received an education, his daughter is now living and studying in the US his oldest son is in the Philippines and his 2 youngest sons work in the family trekking business.

Knowing how fortunate his life is now, he is also giving back to the local sherpa community through a charity and foundation he has established with his good friend Zebulon Roche.  

This foundation aims to help families and children who have lost their fathers through death in the mountains. 

It is called Solida Sherpa. If you would like more information about the foundation you can send an email to solidasherpa@gmail.com or telephone +33 6 75 57 69 01. And the foundation will gratefully accept any donations.

I simply know him as Lakpa, an incredibly friendly guy that always greets me with a warm “Namaste” whenever I see him at an altitude restaurant in the French Alpes.

Hello friends, I am your host Ashley Pettit welcome to another episode of the Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

In her youth she was a climbing superstar, winning world championships, and world cups, and competing all over the world.

Then through a climbing accident, she refocused and set about conquering all the 82, 4000-meter summits in the Alpes. She is a true mountain athlete, Alpiniste, base-jumper, paraglider, climber, big mountain skier, and sponsored athlete.

Now she is taking those skills and years of playing in the mountains and passing on her knowledge as a qualified mountain guide. Leading clients to conquer their own personal challenges. A goal she did not think possible at one stage.

Seeing firsthand the impact that global warming was having on the mountains where she - lived worked and played. she has become a leading voice in their protection and wants us to change our behaviors to protect the mountains for future generations. We talk about her role as a spokesperson and ambassador for Protect Our Winter and Une Bouteille À La Mer - a bottle in the ocean.

In this episode Liv and I share a rope together and climb through the different chapters of her life and her philosophy for living life to the fullest.

Liv’s official Instagram account is @livsansoz 

Balance and flow on two skis, on a snowboard, surfboard or skateboard.

Balancing the seasons cold and snow of winter, warmth and ocean swells of summer.

Balancing life between the mountains and the ocean.

My guest today is Victorien Irissou and he has a life many people will envy.

You can follow him at @victorien_irissou on Instagram.

A professional ski instructor in the winter and a seasonal worker in the summer following the surf and finding work as he needs.

He shares with us the steps to become a qualified french ski instructor with the ESF, one of the most difficult ski instructor courses in the world.

This was a great conversation with Victorien, he shares some great insights about finding freedom and personal expression with being at one on a board.

Make sure you stick around to the end and listen to Victorien talk about a potentially life-changing moment that could have ended in tragedy and changed his relationship with the mountains and life.

Yes, Season 2, EPISODE 1  it’s taken a while to get back here.

So let's get on with the show, hit the intro music 

Allons-y

It's taken me a while to get unstuck. Last year was a challenging year for me. But I'm determined to relaunch or restart this podcast.

If you are interested to hear about my year and why I haven't been making any new podcasts. Stick around.

Maybe you've experienced some of the same feelings I've had last year. Maybe this will can help you. Let me know.

But I'm determined to start making more episodes. I've got some great guests I want to meet and interview.

thank

Ashley

This is my manifesto for the show.

Please grab a coffee and have a 5 min break. I hope you enjoy this little teaser. I'll have more episodes soon.

Thanks for your time.

Ashley Pettit. The Australian lost in the French Alpes.

It’s a tradition that has been dominated by males. But my guest today is Pauline Collogne and she is breaking down those barriers as she is one of only 2 female cheesemakers in the Savoie region of France.

 She may follow the traditions of cheese making, but she is anything but traditional. She makes some of the finest cheese in France, but she is also a badass motorcycle rider and formidable skier in the winter.

But before we start the episode, it would be great for me to get your feedback. I’d love to hear from you and for you to tell me if you like the format of the show, my guests, the questions I’m asking, anything. 

You can do this via my facebook page or Instagram page. And please like, share, comment and subscribe to the show.

But , Let's just start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y.

You can connect and go :

https://www.coophautemaurienne.fr/

https://www.facebook.com/BEAUFORTHAUTEMAURIENNE

My guest today is JB Buttard. He doesn’t fit into just one thing, like many people in the mountains he wears many hats. His day job for want of a better word is he works in aviation. He splits his time between the mountains of Canada and France.

In Canada, he is a helicopter pilot working as a gun for hire wherever the best work is. From gas and oil to forestry and commercial. In France, he is part of the ground crew for a helicopter business that transports all sorts of equipment deep into the hard to access mountains.

But he is also a ski guide, ultra-light pilot,   flying clients over the mountains and a budding micro beer maker with his brother just to name a few.

This was a fun interview filled with lots of great stories about his life in the mountains.

If you want to go flying with JB over the French alps you can connect with him on his Facebook page Maurienne ULM winter

But enough of the intro, I know you are going to enjoy this just as much as I did. 

So Let's just start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y.

You can connect and go flying with JB on his Facebook page here :

https://www.facebook.com/ulmmaurienne

Maurienne ULM winter

My guest is Batiste Thomas, he is a mountain trail runner, who specialises in the ultra style events. And he has recently competed in his first  UT M B - Ultra Trail Mont Blanc. One the biggest trail running events in the world.

Crossing 3 nations, France, Italy and Switzerland. This is a 170km RACE with 10,000 meters in climbing. The spectacular scenery and gruelling course around Chamonix.

I’ve known Batiste for a few years now, and I knew he loved to run. I'd followed him on Instagram and seen him running up the mountains of the Haute Maurienne. He was always standing on the top of some huge mountain peak overlooking the valleys below.

But when I saw a post on IG a few months ago that he was going to compete in the UTMB, I knew I had to speak to him on the show.

Now Batiste is a fairly reserved type of guy, and he was a little nervous to come on, he was worried about his English. But I knew, just like RUNNING, once he was warmed up he would be fine. And he sure does start to open up. 

So please stick around to the end. Batiste really gives some great advice about trail running and shares his emotional experience of running 170km around the mountains of Chamonix, France.

You can follow Baptiste here :

https://www.instagram.com/instabat/

https://www.instagram.com/valfrejus/

https://www.strava.com/athletes/8667545

Ok So Let's just start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y.

Founded in 2007 by Jeremy Jones a world-famous snowboarding athlete who was witnessing first-hand the mountains and glaciers he was surfing on changing.

The non-profit organisation has now expanded around the world. With offices throughout the US, Asia and Europe.

I sat down with the Director of its French operation. Antoine and I talk about the effects of global warming on the French Alpes.

We talk about how his love of the outdoors and nature lead him to study this field at University.

 And how he is now trying to change the future of the plant for everyone.

Before we start the interview, I know all of you who are listening to love your mountain sports, so please go and check out the POW website and social media pages. Let’s all try to make a difference to protect the places we like to Live work and play in. Let's protect our winters for years to come.

Ok So Let's just start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y.

During the winter she is Ski patroller, rescuing fallen and injured skiers off the mountain, she is making the resort safe for skiing by throwing avalanche bombs and reading the snow and weather conditions.

During the summer she is a firefighter, first on the scene at motorcycle and bicycle accidents when riders fail to make the turns when descending the dangerous mountain roads.

We talk about all this and more.

Ok time is critical. Let’s not waste any more time,  Let's just start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y.

He is a product of the local ski club in Val Cenis. His racing career was a result of his hard work rather than his natural ski talent, he became a professional ski racer in Slalom and Giant slalom racing. He raced on the European and World cup circuit competing around the world. He represented France at the World Championships and Winter Olympics.

With a head for business and always looking to the future and new goals. Yves transitioned into the corporate world of sports, with Dynastar skis, where he worked with the brand athletes helping them progress with the best equipment. Pushing the boundaries with ski and boot technology.

Then he had a stint with the National Ski Federation of France. Whose charter was to develop future ski champions for France.

Then there was the opportunity to go to the Winter Olympics for a second time. Not as an athlete, but This time on the organising team for the Sochi games in 2014.

Then he came back to Val Cenis as the resort Director. Now he is in charge of the ski resort where he grew up. Leading the resort out of the covid 19 closures and planning the future for the resort and the local economy.

We talk about his racing career and the future of his local ski resort.

Now before we start the show and hit the intro music, please make sure you subscribe and follow the show wherever you listen to your podcast, it would also be a great help if you could rate and review the show on Apple iTUNES.

Ok So welcome to another episode of Beyond the mountains podcast where I talk to people who LIVE WORK AND PLAY in the mountains. I'm your host Ashley Pettit

 Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

Buy your ski pass

https://www.valcenis.ski/

Website

https://www.haute-maurienne-vanoise.com/hiver/val-cenis/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/valcenis_officiel/

Make sure you stick around to the end, after Cedric warms up, he gives us some great tips on how to improve your skiing or biking, but also some great advice you can apply to our lives in general.

We talk about his life as a professional ski and mountain bike instructor and how he is living his best life in the mountains.

You can find Cedric at Up & Down Ski and Bike. I’ll leave you the links in the show notes to his Instagram and Facebook pages. If you come skiing in Val Cenis, you can also request a lesson with Cedric through the ESF ski school.

https://www.up-down.co/

https://www.facebook.com/Updownskibike

https://www.instagram.com/up_d0wn/

Now before we start the show and hit the intro music, please make sure you subscribe and follow the show, it would also be a great help if you could rate and review the show on Apple iTunes.

Ok So welcome to another episode of Beyond the mountains podcast where I talk to people who LIVE WORK AND PLAY in the mountains. I'm your host Ashley Pettit

 Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

I could have spoken to Zeb for hours, normally I like to ask each guest about some local knowledge, favourite places to fly or ski, local restaurants, places to visit etc

But time was getting away. I had only scratched the surface of some of the questions I had prepared. So I hope Zeb will let me interview him again to learn more about what he likes about his home.

Zeb talks passionately about being in the moment and being present when he is in the mountains. I am trying to do the same when I interview my guest. I am trying to become a better listener and go off script when we are talking rather than simply tick off my questions.

So you’ll hear when Zeb's mum enters the kitchen, I’ve left this in. As Zeb talks about, you can not control the mountains, you have to be flexible and to read the signs, the conditions and for him, he has to read and feel the wind.

Zeb is always doing something, always moving, always trying to make time to fly. It could be flying his paraglide, ultralight helicopter or ultralight plane. But it could also be flying over the snow on his skis, kitesurfing or his new toy a hydrofoil. He is forever chasing that feeling, the rush of flying.

With the support, influence and guidance of his father. Zeb has started climbing and flying from a young age. At 11 he climbed Mont Blanc and started flying. At 17 he climbed Mount Everest with his father. Then with his ex-wife set to target to climb and fly off the highest peaks on the 7 continents of the world.

Now he is enjoying the same things with his own sons, who are both top-level mountain athletes in paragliding and freestyle skiing. He is also still looking to take on new challenges and adventure in Pakistan or returning to Nepal to climb and fly.

The mountains teach you to make decisions, to live with your decision, and make you take responsibility for yourself, to choose the direction your life goes, this is a great lesson that Zeb shares with us and something we can all follow.

Hello friends, I am your host ASHLEY PETTIT welcome to another episode of Beyond the mountains podcast where I talk to people who LIVE WORK AND PLAY in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

His desire to spend more time skiing and to be really out in the mountains led him to hang up his Ski instructor's uniform and pursue a career and love affair with the mountains as a mountain guide.

I think the mountains are like his mistress, he has pursued her all over the world, from the French Alpes to the Italian Dolomites, Alaska, Peru, Sweden, and Norway.

I didn’t really know Sylvain that well, I followed him on Instagram and we met a few times at a local mountain bike Enduro event. So it was a real pleasure to sit down and chat to Sylvain and get to know him more.

Hello friends, I am your host ASHLEY PETTIT welcome to another episode of the Beyond the mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live work and play in the mountains.

Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

He was my first ski instructor and took me for my very first ski lesson. 

While I was falling all over the beginner slope, hands on my knees and trying to snow plough, Max was skiing backwards and making jokes with with me.  

The next lesson I had with Max during the same season, I had progressed a lot, but I didn’t know what to do with my ski poles. During my first lesson, Max threw my poles away, and told me I didn’t need them yet. So after I got better and could ski on the blue and red runs some friends who are also ski instructors told me it was time to start using poles. That it would help me turn better

So I booked Max for a lesson, and asked him how I use the poles. I was also keen to show him my progress, so we went to a really nice Red run, he showed me how to plant my poles to help initiate the turns. I thought I was skiing fast, but the entire lesson Max was skiing backwards faster than I was skiing forwards and the entire time he was cracking jokes at my expense.

I knew from friends that Max was a pro skier and competed on the Freestyle tour,  I wanted to learn more about this, and the local Freestyle ski show he and his friends used to put on in the resort. and 

I also had the feeling from a few conversations we had over the years that Max had lost some of his enjoyment for Skiing. This was something I wanted to ask him about, as his job was to be a ski instructor. He skis everyday in the winter.

I have also been pretty impressed by Max’s entrepreneurial spirit to start a new business, something not ski related. His competitive spirit and self determination has helped him to expand and grow.

My guest today is Philippe Hamichi and he gets as close to flying like a bird as you can get.

He is a professional paragliding pilot. He takes clients on tandem flights in mountains and his passion for flying has led him to fly in many different mountains and countries around the world.

On the show, we discuss how a trip to Canada led to him to meeting and falling in love with the girl of his dreams, and then falling in love with the mountains and falling in love with flying.

We’ll talk about the importance of reading the winds, Flying over the French Italian border to buy cheese, and why the period just before winter is the worst part of the year.

I want to ease my way into this show. So I am talking to a very good friend of mine, I know him as Raphy, but as you’ll hear in the show his name is Raphael Carvalho.

This first series of episodes I am calling the Locals Project. I’ll be talking to my friends and other locals from the Maurienne Valley. I want to share with you some local knowledge.

The perfect person to talk to about Locals in the local barman and Raphy knows everyone in Val Cenis.

Raphy and his wife Dorata have been a huge help to me in relocation to France. So I want to thank them both publicly now. Thank you Raphy and Dorota

But Raphy is the owner of a terrific bar and burger restaurant in Val Cenis. Val Cenis is a ski resort in the Haute Maurienne part of the French Alpes.

We talk about Tour, the town he was born in, located in central France. It’s a famous wine-producing region. We talk about his time working in the UK and learning English. I can totally relate to this.

But  Raphy makes the best burgers in Val Cenis and he shares with us his 3 most popular burgers.

And we talk about his passion for snowboarding and learning to play the Ukulele and the guitar.

So let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y

They all share the same passion and love for the mountains. These are their stories about being in the mountains. I hope it inspires you to come an visit us in the mountains.