Bonus Episode - Tim Sweeney accepts the challenge to take the BTM questionnaire so that we can get to know him on a deeper level. To get to the soul and spiritual centre of who he is. @tesweens 

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.

My guest today is Tim Sweeney

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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Jed Workman, the GM at Valdez Heli Ski Guides, accepts the challenge to take the BTM questionnaire so that we can get to know him on a deeper level. To get to the soul and spiritual centre of who he is.

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.

My guest today is Jed Workman — heli ski guide in Valdez, Alaska. But that’s just the headline.

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.

Leighan Falley takes the questionnaire designed to reveal her true mountain character and shares her beliefs and aspirations.

Before we start, I want to set the tone.

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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• 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 

Krister Kopala takes the questionnaire designed to reveal his true mountain character and shares his beliefs and aspirations.

In this episode, we’re heading north — deep into Norway — to meet Krister Kopala, a professional snowboarder, steep skier, and mountain storyteller who lives life on the edge of ice, fjords, and emotion.

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.

Loubna Freih takes the questionnaire designed to reveal her true mountain character and shares her beliefs and aspirations.

Nolen Oayda takes the questionnaire designed to reveal his true mountain character and share his beliefs and aspirations.

In this episode, I sit down with Loubna Freih — Ironman World Champion, mental performance coach, and fearless adventurer  - with an unstoppable curiosity for what the human body and mind can achieve. 

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

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 

Hey everyone, and welcome to another episode of Beyond the Mountains Podcast!

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?

Connect / leave a comment and follow.

• Please Rate & Review me on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
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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 

Hey Guys, Ashley here. I will be back soon with more episodes. I'm going to call it season 5. But I wanted to give you a recap on season 4.

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.

Chris Price takes the questionnaire designed to reveal his true mountain character and share his beliefs and aspirations.

Jay Sweet takes the questionnaire designed to reveal his true mountain character and share his beliefs and aspirations.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Beyond the Mountains Podcast!

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?

Connect / leave a comment and follow

• Please Rate & Review me on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
• Follow us on social media 
• Instagram :   @beyondthemountains.podcast 
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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 

"Hey everyone, and welcome to another episode of Beyond the Mountains Podcast!

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
• Follow us on social media 
• Instagram :   @beyondthemountains.podcast 
• Facebook :    Beyond the mountains podcast
• 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 

Steph Davis takes the questionnaire designed to reveal her true mountain character and share her beliefs and aspirations.

"Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of Beyond the Mountains Podcast!

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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• Facebook : Beyond the mountains podcast
• 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

Giulia Monego takes the questionnaire designed to reveal her true mountain character and share her beliefs and aspirations.