Carrie and Zach talk about what has been coming up in their lives. They recap recent retreats, building a tiny house, guiding volunteer projects in the woods, and finding joy in manual labor.

Our upcoming Yucatan, Mexico tour:

https://www.biggerlifeadventures.com/11-day-pyramid-mexico-tour-yucatan-palenque-tren-maya/

Subscribe to Our Patreon for Perks & Behind the Scenes updates:

patreon.com/biggerlifeadventures

Summary

In this episode, Carrie and Zach explore the importance of community building, the impact of physical proximity versus social media, and how authentic communities can counteract societal manipulation and disconnection. They share personal experiences from Burning Man, yoga communities, and their ongoing efforts to foster meaningful connections.

Key Topics

• The importance of physical proximity for co-regulation and community health
• The decline of real-world community and the rise of social media illusions
• The role of leadership and vulnerability in healthy communities
• Signs of unhealthy communities and how to recognize manipulation
• The value of small, authentic, and purpose-driven communities
• The impact of capitalism and societal systems on community cohesion
• Personal stories from Burning Man, yoga, and wilderness volunteer communities
• Strategies for countering societal disconnection and fostering resilience

Our upcoming Yucatan, Mexico tour:

https://www.biggerlifeadventures.com/11-day-pyramid-mexico-tour-yucatan-palenque-tren-maya/

Subscribe to Our Patreon for Perks & Behind the Scenes updates:

patreon.com/biggerlifeadventures

What is Burning Man really like?? Why do people go back every year?

In this episode of the Bigger Life Adventures Podcast, Zach and Carrie share their personal history with Burning Man, from their first trip to Black Rock City in 2011, camping under a blanket and having no idea what they were getting into, to eventually creating their own alcohol-free theme camp, Camp Not A Cult.

They talk about what Burning Man has taught them about sobriety, recovery, resilience, self-expression, yoga, community, presence, ritual, and letting go of expectations. They also explore what it means to experience Burning Man sober, why sober and alcohol-free spaces matter, and how Camp Not A Cult grew out of their own changing relationship with recovery and the Burning Man community.

You'll hear stories about:

• Their first chaotic years at Burning Man
• Drinking at Burning Man versus experiencing the playa sober
• Finding community in Anonymous Village
• Why they eventually started Camp Not A Cult

• Creating an alcohol-free, harm-reduction-focused space
• The connection between Burning Man and yoga philosophy
• Radical self-expression, gifting, participation, and immediacy
• Surviving an 80-mph dust storm
• Why hardship and chaos can build resilience
• The strange, hilarious, beautiful, and unpredictable experiences that can only happen at Burning Man
• Preparing for Burning Man 2026 and the future of Camp Not A Cult

If you're interested in Burning Man, sober Burning Man, alcohol-free Burning Man, recovery, yoga, personal growth, adventure, or the story behind a Burning Man theme camp, this episode is a great place to start.

Burning Man isn't just a festival. For us, it's become an annual experiment in resilience, presence, connection, and discovering who we are when we step outside our normal lives.

@campnotacult @biggerlifeadventures

Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/BiggerLifeAdventures

Carrie and Zach get personal about plant medicine in recovery, specifically their own ayahuasca journeys and why it's not one size fits all.

Recording from their property in Arizona mid build on the tiny house, they trace Carrie's path from AA to her first ceremony in 2020, and Zach's path through a ketamine experience during emergency ankle surgery to his first ceremony in Guatemala. They talk through what a ceremony actually looks like, common categories of experience, the research behind ayahuasca for addiction and depression, and the risks and prep involved.

This isn't a sales pitch. It's two people in long term recovery talking honestly about a practice and tradition that changed their lives for the better.

Plant Medicine for Recovery Retreat, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, January 2027. Spots are limited and early bird pricing ends July 1: https://www.biggerlifeadventures.com/product/plant-medicine-recovery-ayahuasca-retreat-lake-atitlan-guatemala/

In this episode, Carrie explores trauma-informed yoga, its importance, and how it can be integrated into teaching practices to create safe, empowering spaces for all students. She shares personal experiences, practical tips, and upcoming training opportunities.

Key Topics:

Trauma-informed yoga principles and practices

The importance of safety and choice in yoga classes

Building resilience through yoga and interoception

The role of co-regulation and group dynamics

Upcoming trauma-informed yoga teacher training in Guatemala

Our upcoming 200-Hour YTT in Guatemala:

https://www.biggerlifeadventures.com/product/guatemala-yoga-teacher-training/

For access to JUST the online Trauma-Informed Yoga continuing education training, please comment or message us!

Subscribe to Our Patreon for Perks & Behind the Scenes updates:

patreon.com/biggerlifeadventures

The question comes up a lot: How do you two travel so much without being rich? Carrie and Zach tell some stories of their extensive travels. They focus on explaining how to travel longer and further through volunteering, budgeting, and making friends in the local community.

Traveling resources:

wwoof.net

yogatrade.com

couchsurfing.com

workaway.info

In this episode of the Bigger Life Adventures Podcast, we get real about the nitty-gritty reality of the yoga industry in the United States. From the outside, teaching yoga can look like a dream job — flowing through classes, building community, and living a peaceful lifestyle. But behind the scenes, the path to making a sustainable living as a yoga teacher is far more complicated.

We dive into the challenges many teachers face: inconsistent income, having to "sell" yourself, burnout, certification expectations, and the hustle required to actually make it work. This honest conversation pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build a career in the yoga world in the U.S., and how the industry is evolving.

🎉 Big announcement: Our Patreon is officially LIVE!

If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and want to support the show, you can now join us on Patreon. By joining, you’re becoming an investor in our long-term dream of creating a retreat center where sober community, adventure, and personal growth can come together in real life. You can also access perks like our online yoga library, surprise stickers mailed to your mailbox, and discounted retreats!!!!

Join the community here:
👉 https://patreon.com/BiggerLifeAdventures?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Your support helps us continue creating the podcast and building toward that bigger vision together.

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might benefit from hearing the real story behind the yoga industry — and thanks for being part of the Bigger Life Adventures community. 🌍

*There are a few little audio blips and glitches; thank you for letting us be imperfect! 🙏🏻

Carrie and Zach talk about the last month of life at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. Is it ok to feel happiness during a time when many are suffering? What does yoga say about how we should act in trying times? We talk politics, the yamas and niyamas, and explain how we feel about some of the current events in the USA.

www.BiggerLifeAdventures.com