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Ordinary Sherpa: Family Adventure Coaching and Design — Education
Ordinary Sherpa: Family Adventure Coaching and Design

After exploring the world and embracing adventure often in my teens and twenties, I realized the shift to motherhood and a professional career was threatening the amount of adventure that showed up in my life. I responded by reframing the destination to a journey. In designing a life of adventure we nurtured the creation of new experiences, challenged the status quo, and tested our risk tolerance. 10 years and 3 children later, these intentional family adventures were far greater than any destination. These simple and authentic adventure experiences had a noticeable impact on every member in the family. Adventure is an ingredient in our lives that allows everyone to connect deeper and show up as their authentic selves.

The quest for the summit requires support from a tribe of helpers, a noble force of goodness and strength known as Sherpas. They push each person toward their summit and celebrate peaks and pits together. This mighty crew of listeners and the community we are forming online are the ordinary everyday people who support families connecting and experiencing authentic adventures together. We are Ordinary Sherpa, a podcast designed to share learning and create community to inspire families to experience joy and connection together through adventure.

Latest Episodes:

137 | Moving abroad with the Appino Family Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Ordinary Sherpa, the podcast dedicated to helping families embrace adventure, challenge the status quo, and design a life that aligns with their values. I'm your host, Heidi Dusek, and today, we're diving into a topic that's both exhilarating and daunting—moving abroad with your family.

After years of exploring the U.S. and traveling the world, today's guest, Jon, and his family found themselves craving something deeper than just another trip. What if, instead of just visiting a place, you actually lived there? What if you intentionally chose a location based on the people and experiences that matter most to you? Jon shares how a visit to Barcelona turned into a full-fledged sales pitch from a friend, leading to an international move that reshaped their perspectives on home, community, and what it means to live life on your own terms.

In this episode, we'll unpack: ✅ The power of revisiting places with fresh eyes and asking different questions. ✅ The real challenges of the immigration process—financial, logistical, and emotional. ✅ How our assumptions about homeownership, career paths, and the "American Dream" can be rewritten. ✅ The unique perspective of third culture kids and what it means to raise children outside of traditional narratives. ✅ Why adventure isn't about reckless leaps—it's about stepping into discomfort with intention and strategy.

And of course, a little personal update—I'm thrilled to share that I'll be hiking the Camino this May! After hosting several guests who have walked this historic pilgrimage, I've been inspired to take on the challenge myself. More on that to come!

If you've ever thought, I wish I could do what they're doing, this episode is for you. It's not about replicating someone else's journey—it's about finding your own path. So let's dig in and explore how moving abroad could be the adventure your family didn't even realize it was looking for. Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/138Schedule a free lifestyle design discovery session https://calendly.com/heidi-139/connection

136 | International Gap Year with Teens via the_Axplorers Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

I didn't know the concept of a gap year was available to me. As a mom in my 40's with 3 school aged kids I thought I missed out. There weren't many examples of families taking a mid-life break from professional careers and taking kids out of school to travel. The examples I had found were existing entrepreneurs and homeschool families. We were entrenched in daily life with activities, work and school schedules that required us to be placed-based. A family gap year meant a complete disruption from what we had to where we wanted to go. Throughout our adventure experience, I knew the power of community and finding someone ahead of you to glean insights from or having the ability to ask questions. Finding our guest today was mutually nourishing - we departed on our gap year a few months ahead of her family. They were doing this with high school aged teens.

Our guest is a California native, who called Santa Fe, NM home for the last 15 years. Along with her husband and three teens, she left behind the demands of every day to embark on her greatest adventure yet: a year of full time travel around the world. Now 5 months into their family gap year, the Axtell family has found immense success in what they set out to do: reclaiming their time, strengthening their familial bonds, and building a global community while learning from the world around them. Tiphini Axtell is a full time mother, wife, and dreamer, part time employee for the family business, and life long mental health advocate. In her spare time she can be found reading, writing, marveling at sunsets, and creating content for the family's travel account on Instagram, where she hopes to inspire others to create connections and lifelong memories with their teens through travel and adventure.

Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/136Subscribe to the email List: https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Follow the_Axplorers: on Instsgram, website, or emailResources referenced in this episode: Books: Teenage Liberation Handbook (AffiliateLink)

Why Are You Still Sending Your Kids to School (Affiliate Links)

Worldschool: Cicero Learning The Institute for Excellence in Writing Duo Lingo Socratic Seminar World AtoZ News

Design Your Life Framework: Downloadable Freebie

135 | Building a Business that Supports Your Lifestyle with Jacque Hopkins Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

Much like our guest today, my motivation for pursuing gap year life was not that I hated my job. I just had a vision for something bigger and a window of opportunity with my kids that seemed like it might be closing. When we started to get really serious about Gap Year Life it was pretty obvious that our life didn't cost that much. I didn't need to build a business to replace our salaries, we simply needed enough of a runway to support an extended break. Sometimes when pursuing the alternate path, it can feel like all or nothing. Goals may have been crafted from arbitrary benchmarks or comparing your stage 1 to someone else's stage 20. Stepping back and exploring WHY am I doing this from time to time is a good reset. Which is why when my guest shared an article a few weeks ago titled, Build Your Business Based on Lifestyle Not Money I reached out to ask him to be a guest on the podcast. After reading the 4-hour work week and many attempts at side hustles his foray into entrepreneurship sparked while sitting down at the piano one day procrastinating on one of his side hustle projects. He would teach others how to play piano online through a method he learned that was much more joyful than childhood piano lessons.

Pianoin21days: https://pianoin21days.com/

Podcast:

https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theonlinecourseguy/

https://www.youtube.com/@TheOnlineCourseGuy

Resources Referenced in this Episode: Article: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/blog/build-your-business-based-on-lifestyle-not-money

Book: $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi

Joy Audit: https://ordinarysherpa.podia.com/joy-audit-tracking-form

134 | Lessons from 466 days of Travel Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we explore our family's transformative journey of 466 days of travel and the lessons we learned along the way. Discover how our gap year experience reshaped our outlook on life and home. Tune in to hear about cultivating a home filled with adventure, self-directed learning, and the joys of living with less while gaining more.

Website for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/134

Subscribe to the email list to follow updates on their travel memoir style book: https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/

Email Heidi for questions you have about gap year or to inquire about 1:1 coaching: Heidi@ordinarysherpa.com

133 | International Teaching Lifestyle Decisions with Kids (Christine & David) Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

Our guests today are parents we met at a playground in Alaska. Our lives intersect through many similar interests and after a 2+ hour parking lot conversation, some time together geocaching, a beach day with swimmers itch and swapping favorite RV stories I decided it would be great to continue the conversation on the podcast. Christine and David vistit their Alaska roots each summer but align with International Teaching community. With previous placements in Jamaica, China and Guatemala and the unique decisions and lessons that accompanied each stage. Join us as we talk through how they navigate us through their adventurous lifestyle at various stages of life with kids.

Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/133 Downloadable Joy Audit: https://ordinarysherpa.podia.com/joy-audit-tracking-form Subscribe to the email List: https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/

132 | Finding Home through RVing with Joshua Sheehan of RV Gear and Far Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

In true RV fashion, this loop has not been unscathed from RV fixes. As we field more and more inquiries about RV life, one area that comes up are in the technical aspects of RV ownership. In our transition to RV life, my husband went from being a high school tech ed teacher (IE shop classes) to becoming a certified RV technician. If you or someone you know is interested in RVing or looking for resources when it comes to owning an RV and the maintenance required, Brent (my husband) is a handy resource to have. His Downloadable RV Inspection Form is a helpful starting point to buying and maintaining an RV for your family adventures. Another fantastic resource is our guest today. We met through the RV Entrepreneur podcast and later met in person at the RV Entrepreneur Roundtable. He is a full-time RVer, a proud father and husband, and a total RV junkie. He is the master of practical tips and unique perspectives while RVing, from awesome gear reviews to exciting DIY projects and lots of tips in between on his channel. We'll talk through his own RV journey, the process for making RV decisions and approaches establishing an RV lifestyle with a family, even if just for weekend adventures. He is a skilled storyteller, a gear guru, and a master in creating community and organizing in-person events evidenced by his recent RV Content Creators Meet up at the Tampa RV Show.

Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/132

For those interested in RV adventures, use this downloadable inspection form to save time, catch potential issues early, and enjoy peace of mind on your travels. If you are looking to learn more about RV gear, tips and hacks check out Joshua's channel or follow him at any of the links below.

To Follow Josh Sheehan and his RV Gear and adventures

Website: https://rvgearandfar.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rvgearandfar

Email Newsletter: https://rvgearandfar.com/newsletter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rvgearandfar/

TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@rvgearandfar Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/rvgearandfar

Mastermind Group: RV Content Creators

131 | Grace Periods and Embracing the Power of Pause Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

In the fast-paced world, where every moment seems to be driven by deadlines, notifications, and the relentless pursuit of productivity, there's a quiet revolution taking place—one that involves the deliberate act of hitting pause. II have hit pause several times on the podcast this year. In spite of a underlying sense of guilt, I dug deeper into the transformative power of intentionally taking breaks, as experienced by someone who decided to embrace the "Power of Pause" in a year like no other during our family gap year.

I recognize I am publishing this episode while steeped in the emerging fresh slate of a New Year and the declaration of new goals and intentions. It was on purpose, hopefully it will remind you to stop, take a deep breath and notice - even if for a few minutes. Give yourself a grace period to regroup after the holiday season. If you'd like to consider how you might be intention and explore collective pause with your partner or family members, the joy audit downloadable form (downloadable form) can be a helpful tool to consider the spikes of joy you have experienced this year to set you on a path to support designing your life to include intentional pauses. If you need a Sherpa, schedule a coaching discovery session (email me to schedule) and we can talk it out.

Complete show notes: Ordinarysherpa.com/131

130 | Better than Average Podcasting with Jonathan Mendonsa from Choose FI Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

Podcasting is a medium that has allowed me to 10x my network, have meaningful conversations with people I wouldn't otherwise have access to, elevate the stories rarely shared in the industry, and establish my voice and share my story. It wasn't until working with a few podcast coaching clients that I realized that while there is more happening behind the scenes, it doesn't mean everything has to be official there for me to share this episode.

Show Notes: If you do have a podcast or are interested in starting one the link to schedule a podcast coaching call or podcasting resources to help you take advance your podcast are available at my podcasting resource page

Prior to discovering the financial independence/ early retirement movement, Jonathan Mendonsa followed the "normal path," which ultimately led him to graduate pharmacy school at the age of 28 with $168,000 in student loans. He has since clawed his way out of debt and is aggressively pursuing financial independence. He is passionate about the pursuit of financial independence and its power to change lives. He was the co-founder of Choose FI podcast, and the Founder of Talent Stacker, a dad of two young kids, techie, podcast guru, and inspiration behind Ordinary Sherpa taking action and bringing this podcast to life.

Resources Mention in this episode

Choose FI podcast

Podcast Coaching Call How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big (Affiliate Link)

129 | 10 Simple Ways to Infuse Adventure into your Life Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

The basis of our gap year is the foundation of simple and inexpensive adventures we do as a family. Within this episode, you'll discover 10 curated simple adventures that can be embarked upon with ease. From hidden trails to local landmarks, from unique flavors to thrilling challenges, each adventure is designed to ignite your family's imagination and create lasting memories. I know this because over the past 10 months (and quite honestly past 5 years) our bustling family of five has tested these simple adventures. Why simple adventures, you may wonder? Well, they are the perfect remedy for our busy modern lives. These bite-sized escapades offer a wonderful opportunity to escape the ordinary, to bond as a family, and to uncover the magic that lies within the seemingly mundane. They allow us to see the world through fresh eyes, appreciating the beauty in every detail and cherishing the moments shared with loved ones. Simple Adventures, I've learned, are the key to unlocking the magic of everyday life. Simple Adventure brainstorming led to joy audits, which eventually led to a career break and family gap year traveling North America in an RV. From exploring nearby trails to visiting local museums, trying new activities and uncovering hidden gems in our own region. Simple Adventures infuse joy and wonder in our everyday lives.

Call To Action: Simple Adventure Subscription If this episode is helping you think differently or infuse a simple adventure into your lifestyle you might enjoy the Simple Adventure Subscription. You can register at any time using the link: https://ordinarysherpa.com/simpleadv The first 25 can use the code YES to get $2 off per month.

Each week you will receive adventure tips, ideas, or support via email to help your family take small steps toward big memories.

Show Notes: Ordinarysherpa.com/129 Subscribe to the Simple Adventure Subscription: https://ordinarysherpa.com/simpleadv The first 25 subscribers get 1 month free with code: YES Read my Book: https://ordinarysherpa.com/book/

Follow us on Instagram: @ordinarysherpa

128 | Experimenting with Indulgence Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

Periodically during our family gap year life in the RV, we have moments when we start to feel like we are missing the comforts of home. When people ask what we miss from home the kids often - having a bedroom door (instead of a privacy black out curtain), a dishwasher, hot showers that don't require us to turn on the hot water heater nor having to listen to the groan of the water pump. Much like the novelty of travel, simple indulgences take us out of our daily routine and can offer a refresh. In this episode I want to lean into how we might experimenting with indulgences without feeling the slip of lifestyle creep or justifying expenses that don't align with your values.

Before we get into this episode, I want to thank one of our sponsors, Elakai Outdoors is a company to help people live their best life outdoors with high quality and beautifully designed yard games. One of our favorite outdoor yard games is Kubb, a simple Scandinavian and family friendly game which I like to describe as a cross between chess and bean bag toss. If you haven't played, no worries each game includes a QR code to download the instructions for off-grid play. The outdoor games from Elakai Outdoor are built to last a lifetime, not just a single season. My husband awed at their custom crafted from premium wood and accompanied with a compact travel bag, you can see a short clip of us playing if you head to the show notes. It was an indulgent accessory that was perfect for campgrounds or a friends backyard, it's a timeless addition to your outdoor adventures, bringing joy wherever it travels. You can check out Kubb and other stunning outdoor games by clicking on the link in the show notes. Use code ORDINARYSHERPA10 for 10% off. Add a little indulgence to your outdoor play with Elakai Outdoor.

Show Notes for this episode: https://ordinarysherpa.com/125Subscribe to the email List: https://ordinarysherpa.com/subscribe/ Elakai Outdoors: https://glnk.io/r549q/ordinarysherpa Use code: ORDINARYSHERPA10 for 10% off your purchase

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