Listen in as I speak with Stephan Kesting—martial artist, author, and serious outdoor adventurer. In this episode, we’re diving into highlights from his incredible solo 1,000-mile canoe journey from Missinipe, Saskatchewan to Arviat, Nunavut. He paddled and portaged through some of Canada’s most remote wilderness, following the Churchill, Reindeer, Cochrane, and Thlewiaza Rivers, crossing massive lakes like Reindeer and Nueltin, and making his way down through the Barren Lands all the way to the shores of Hudson Bay.

It’s a wild story of grit, solitude, and survival.

If you want the full trip report, check it out at grapplearts.com/solo, and if this kind of adventure speaks to you, Stephan’s book Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic is a must-read. https://www.amazon.ca/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

Today’s guest is Nathalie Baillon, a French ultra-distance cyclist with an inspiring story of passion and perseverance. After spending a few years working as an engineer in Munich, she took a leap—packing up her bike and heading off on a solo cycling trip through New Zealand. That journey sparked something big.

Back in Europe, she bought a new bike, strapped on some panniers, and knocked out her first 1,000-kilometre ride in under 60 hours. That was just the beginning.

Soon after, Nathalie moved to Isère, picked up her engineering work again—but also signed up for her first official ultra race: the Race Across France, a grueling 2,600-kilometre ride. And she crushed it.

From there, things took off. She entered international ultra-distance races, landed multiple women’s wins, and regularly placed in the top 10 overall—competing with the best in the field. Eventually, she left her day job to go all-in, building a life around the sport she loves.

To learn more about Nathalie, chek out her website. https://www.nathaliebaillon.com/home/en

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!

In this episode I bring you a conversation with British Columbia's Mike Martin. There Were a number of riders from British Columbia this year and Mike Martin stood out.

Although Mike hasn't been in the ultra endurance scene for that long he might just be a rider to watch as he continues to push his limits in the sport.

In this episode I get to know Mike a little bit. We talk about Fatherhood, his work life, Tariffs (sorry), his previous adventures, as well as some stories from the trail.

It was great to get to know Mike.

Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podcast

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for keeping me rolling!