Delivering Adventure

About Delivering Adventure

This is the podcast for people who want to share adventure like a pro – with their friends, family, or as a profession. Each episode explores a different aspect of adventure delivery with top experts to get their best stories, insights, and trade secrets. Learn what it takes to deliver epic experiences to yourself and others, from the mountains to the office, and beyond. Go farther, become better and achieve more. Chris Kaipio and Jordy Shepherd explore the essential skills and techniques that adventure industry experts use to delivery personal growth. Listen as adventure guides, managers, and promoters share their best advice on leadership, managing risk, coaching, and how to achieve experiences worth remembering. Topics include risk assessment, decision making, leadership, emergency response, crisis management, trip planning, memory building, marketing, capturing experiences, teaching new skills, improving performance, overcoming challenge, resiliency, communicating risk, and experience delivery. Whether you are leading people up the corporate ladder or to the tops of the world’s highest peaks, Delivering Adventure can help you to take yourself and others farther.Visit www.deliveringadventure.com to learn more.

Publisher

Chris Kaipio & Jordy Shepherd

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Jul 2022

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

82 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Managing Risk on Snow with Chris Kaipio & Jordy Shepherd

   As an occupation, working in the snow sports industry as a guide, instructor, coach and patroller has one of the highest non-fatal workplace injury rates in North America. Recreationally, skiing and snowboarding are often thought of as extreme sports, although I think we can all agree there is a range to that. Still, both resort and backcountry skiing and riding come with a much higher level of risk than most sports. In this episode, Jordy and Chris discuss what it takes to manage risk in snow more effectively. Chris leads the discussion leaning into the extensive work he has done on the Managing Risk on Snow program with Whistler Blackcomb and the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada (PSIC). Chris is currently developing the Managing Risk on Snow Certification for Instructors and Patrollers. When complete, this will be a four-level online certification stream with each level taking approximately three hours to complete. The first two levels are now complete. Jordy shares his extensive experience as an ACMG Mountain guide working in the Heli-ski and backcountry ski industry as well as his ski racing background. Both Chris and Jordy share what it takes to manage risk in snow more effectively so that you can reduce the risk of injury to yourself and others. Key Takeaways Challenges of the Ski Environment: People are making decisions on the move. The environment is very changeable and fast moving. Conditions are inconsistent and the people themselves are unpredictable. All of this creates a high level of uncertainty. Smart Risk: Smart Risks are risks that are designed to maximize opportunities for growth and rewards, while reducing the chance of experiencing negative outcomes - to acceptable levels. Smart Risk Criteria: Smart risks are Calculated, Acceptable, Necessary and Prepared for. Key Components of Managing Risk: Managing hazard, exposure and vulnerability. Hazard is the thing that can cause us harm. Exposure is our proximity to the hazard, often measured in time, frequency and distance. Vulnersbility, is our susceptibility or fragility to the hazard. These are the three components that we are working to manage the most when it comes to managing risk. Three Top Risk Strategies: Reducing vulnersbility, limiting exposure by avoiding unnecessary risks and making sure we are prepared and ready. Guest Bios Chris Kaipio is the produce and co-host of Delivering Adventure. He has worked in the adventure industry as an instructor, guide, trainer and manager since 2001. Chris is currently developing the Managing Risk on Snow eLearning Certification for the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada. When complete, this will be a robust four level online risk management and decision-making certification for guides and Instructors. Chris has written the book Power to Influence: How to get the best out of ourselves and others. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. This is where he met Jordy Shepherd. Jordy Shepherd is the co-host of Delivering Adventure. Jordy is an internationally certified ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide, guide trainer, an avalanche educator, rescue specialist, and a former park warden. His work experience includes Canadian Avalanche Association Course Leader for Avalanche Search and Rescue Advanced Skills, Provincial Park Ranger, National Park Warden, Wildlife Conflict Specialist, Wildland and Structural Firefighter, Mountain and Industrial Rescue Specialist, Heli-skiing Operations Manager and Lead Guide, and Licensed Real Estate Agent. In addition to all of his work in the adventure guiding industry, Jordy runs a successful real estate company in Canmore Alberta where he currently lives with is family. Guest Resources PSIC Managing Risk on Snow Certification: https://www.psic.pro/managing-risk-certification Follow or Subscribe Don’t forget to follow the show! Share & Social Links https://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure (https://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure)

2. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Common Mistakes Behind Accidents with Colin Zacharius

   Why do backcountry accidents happen? What can we reduce the chance of them happening to us? In this episode, Chris and Jordy are joined again by Colin Zacharius to hear his take on some of the common mistakes that peoplåe can make that lead to accidents. Colin is a well-known ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide and Canadian Avalanche Association Avalanche Professional. Colin has worked in the adventure industry since 1980 as a guide, guide trainer, avalanche educator, accident investigator, risk management specialist and speaker. Colin leans into his extensive experience to share some of the common mistakes that people can make that lead to accidents. Key Takeaways Things we need to know about accidents: Near Miss Learning Opportunities: In a near miss (which is a no accident or low consequence event) we can experience the same emotions and learning, without the actual harm or loss. We can then change how we do things, incorporate increased risk management procedures and improve our pre-activity analysis. This can be a net positive outcome. Post Accident Planning: You need to have a plan for dealing with what is required post-incident. Don’t wait until you have an incident to try and make it up as you go. This includes having proper insurance coverage. Common Avalanche Accident Factors: A high percentage of avalanche accidents occur on a deeply buried layer (deeper than 40cm). Not recognizing low probability, high consequence avalanches (could be a smaller avalanche, but in terrain that has trees, cliffs, crevasses, or terrain traps). Basing decisions too heavily on tests on adjacent slopes, and spatial variability results in triggering an avalanche where we do travel. How we can reduce the risk of an accident: Change Perception: Instead of looking at terrain as a ski/snowboard run, try looking at it as what is an avalanche path vs what is not. Use the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale and the Avaluator, which ask specific questions and the result puts you on a heat map. You can then dial back your terrain choices to be more toward the green. Reduce Vulnerability: Reduce your vulnerability by wearing helmets, consider wearing an avalanche airbag backpack, and make sure your equipment is in good condition. Clear snow and ice out of your bindings so they don’t release prematurely. Wear eyewear when you are descending in treed areas. You can’t actively reduce the hazard to you and your group, so choose terrain that is within your risk tolerance, while thinking ahead to what the consequences could be. Reduce Exposure: Reduce your exposure (both time and number of people). Ease into the terrain, use good group management by not exposing more than one person to the danger, and don’t keep stepping it up until you trigger something. If you find terrain and conditions that are working well for you, consider staying there rather than keep pushing into higher risk, higher consequence areas. Increase Resiliency: Train, keep physically and mentally fit, and really try to avoid getting injured. Guest Bio Colin Zacharius is well renowned ACMG /IFMGA Mountain Guide who has worked in the adventure industry since 1980. Colin has worked as a guide, guide trainer, avalanche educator, accident investigator, risk management specialist and speaker. He has worked extensively in the cat skiing and Heli-skiing industry in Canada and the US. He has trained and examined guides across multiple disciplines for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides where he previously served as the technical director. Colin has contracted as an instructor, course leader, and recently as a curriculum developer for Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) Industry Training Programs (Level 1-3). He has also provided consulting services for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. His guiding work has included ski touring, trekking, and climbing adventures with individuals and small groups to domestic and exotic locations (New Zealand, Morocco, Costa Blanca Spain, the Alps, the Dolomites, the Canadian Arctic, Iceland, and the Antarctic Peninsula). Guest Links Contact Colin: colinzach@mac.com (mailto:colinzach@mac.com) Follow or Subscribe Don’t forget to follow the show! Share & Social Links https://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure (https://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure) Mentioned in this episode: ISSW 2026 2026 International Snow Science Workshop: www.issw2026.com

3. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Decision-Making Priorities & Risk with André-Jean Maheu

   Improving Decision Making – How We Think - with André-Jean Maheu One of the human factors that is common in adventure decision making is motivation. Motivation can cause us to prioritize choices that offer rewards ahead of safety. It can influence us to prioritize meeting our needs ahead of the needs of others. And it can also cause us to prioritize the safety of others ahead of our own personal safety. One way that we can reduce the chance of our motivation causing errors in our judgement is to ensure that we are prioritizing safety and service in the right order. In this episode, we are going to discuss the decision-making prioritization model which is commonly used in parts of the snow sports world including at Vail Resorts. In this episode, André-Jean Maheu joins Chris and Jordy to discuss how our priorities should be influencing our judgement. AJ is an avalanche professional and member of the Canadian Ski Guide Association. He has also worked as a professional ski patroller for the past 20 years. He is active in many spheres of the avalanche industry including forecasting for industrial operations, search and rescue, and ski resorts as well as instructing and guiding. AJ leans into his career as a rescuer, avalanche forecaster, ski patroller, first aid instructor and guide to help us to discuss how we can ensure we are prioritizing the right motivations when we are making decisions. We are also going to see if there are some conflicts with how we prioritize safety and service and see if we can reduce the chance of these conflicts impacting our judgement. Key Takeaways How the Prioritization Model Works: This works like a checklist that can help us to demonstrate a reasoned thought process that we can explain afterwards. Prioritization Order: Safety of Self, Safety of Others, Service to Others, then Service to Self. Rationale: Your safety comes first because you can’t help others if you get hurt. Their safety comes next, because everyone wants to finish the day safe, regardless of their objectives. Then we help other to succeed which helps us to succeed. Safety of Self: Your safety comes first so you can help to protect others. you should also be making decisions with the idea that you are not just choosing what your current self wants to do. It should also involve how your future self may view the situation and potential consequences. Safety of Others: Regardless of the objectives people may say they want to achieve, ultimately no one really wants to get hurt. People may think they can accept serious consequences, but when people say or think this, they often don’t really believe bad outcomes will actually happen to them. Service to Others: It is important to remember that people won’t enjoy their achievements if they get hurt in the process. They also won’t appreciate them if you get hurt either. It can be tempting to prioritize service ahead of safety, especially when expectations have been set. However, we need to remember that safety always needs to be prioritized ahead of service such as experience delivery and achievement. Service to Self: This can sometimes be safety of self of the action needed to be taken relates to self-care. Recognizing when service to yourself is really safety of yourself is important. Avoiding Conflicts: The best way to avoid conflicts between priorities is to avoid putting yourself in situations where you might be forced to choose between priorities. An example is not putting yourself in a situation where you have to put your safety at risk to rescue someone else. Meeting all Priorities: One of the key principles of influence is; the best way to get what you want, is to help others get what they want. This is why the last priority is service to self. Guest Bio AJ Maheu began his career in the outdoor industry over 30 years ago. After spending a decade instructing, guiding river trips in Québec, and hikes from Alaska to the Andes he shifted his focus to emergency response in remote settings. He worked as a paramedic on worksites on Baffin Island and began a 20-year-career teaching wilderness first aid. He has taught emergency preparedness and first aid in multiple adventure travel guide programs in 6 different colleges and universities across the country. AJ Maheu is an avalanche professional and member of the Canadian Ski Guides Association. He has also worked as a professional ski patroller for the past 20 years. He is active in many spheres of the avalanche industry including forecasting for industrial operations, search and rescue, and ski resorts as well as instructing and guiding. AJ has been producing the North Shore Snowpack YouTube channel, providing weekly snowpack information to backcountry users and is a brand ambassador for Nano Traino, manufacturer of high quality, packable emergency evacuation toboggans. When not working, he is busy delivering adventures for his 2 boys, taking them on family adventures. Guest Links North Shore Snowpack YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@northshoresnowpack?si=eZClzV6KePi3hYwb Nano Traino: https://nanotraino.com/en/ (https://nanotraino.com/en/) André-Jean Maheu Contact: amaheu@alpinesolutions.com Follow or Subscribe Don’t forget to follow the show! Share & Social Links https://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure (https://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure) Mentioned in this episode: ISSW 2026 ISSW Whistler: https://www.issw2026.com/

Who has been a guest on Delivering Adventure

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Patrick Barrow
• Colin Zacharius
• Geoff Powter
• Nadio Hachey
• Barry Blanchard

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

29 ratings

Contact Delivering Adventure

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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