Learn how to overcome distraction, overwhelm, and disempowerment to become more present, creative, courageous and wild. Dom Francks joins Matt from a van in the Western U.S. for a virtual wine night and begins talking about the role of sports in his life growing up. He reflects on achieving excellence in golf, nearly going professional, and the lessons on peak performance he has taken from that into other areas of his life. Dom also talks about the origin of his passion for climate activism, his professional career in the climate-tech space, and his choice to pivot into becoming a wilderness guide so he could connect more deeply with nature. He shares some of his top experiences in nature, from competing in The Grand Traverse, to riding dog-sleds across the Boundary Waters, to his most epic downhill ski experience. Dom also talks about wilderness guiding in Chilean Patagonia, Alaska, and explains why the High Sierra in California is his favorite place in the world. He then talks about his experience studying with the Animus Institute and the Conscious Leadership Group, and eventually developing his own program: The VIVIFY Regenerative Leadership Program. He explains how Maverick Show listeners can participate in VIVIFY and get a special discount. And, finally, he explains “the nature pyramid” and gives tips on how busy people in urban areas can better connect with nature.
Episode #281: How to Enhance Your Aliveness and Presence by Creating a Deeper Relationship with Nature with Dom Francks
Episode Summary
Get The Maverick Show's
Monday Minute Newsletter
Kick off each week with 3 personal recommendations from me that you can read in 60 seconds.
About the Guest
Dom Francks
Dom Francks is a wilderness guide, leadership coach and the founder of the VIVIFY—a Regenerative Leadership Program for adventurous professionals that blends leadership coaching with an off-trail wilderness backpacking expedition. Dom has held leadership roles at multiple climate-focused tech companies and has also led wilderness immersions in remote locations around the world, ranging from Patagonia to Alaska. He is on a mission to blend personal vitality with ecological harmony and empower people to enhance their own aliveness and presence while creating a deep and lasting relationship with nature.
What You'll Learn
- How busy people in urban areas can create a deeper connection with nature
- How to overcome distraction, overwhelm and disempowerment in our modern world
- How to enhance your aliveness and become more courageous, present, creative and wild
Links From the Episode
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you click through any links and make a purchase, you should assume that Maverick will receive financial compensation (at no additional cost to you). We greatly appreciate you using our affiliate links because it helps to support the show and cover production costs of the podcast.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR GALACTIC FED
(Get Your Free Marketing Plan and Mention “MAVERICK” for 10% off your first month of services)
WATCH MATT’S VIDEO TRAINING ON MINIMALIST PACKING
SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAVERICK SHOW’S MONDAY MINUTE EMAIL NEWSLETTER
CHECK OUT DOM’S VIVIFY COACHING PROGRAM
(Use code “MAVERICK” and Get $500 Off)
#1 BOOK THAT DOM RECOMMENDS
#1 PERSON WITH WHOM DOM WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP BUCKETLIST DESTINATIONS
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
WINES CONSUMED DURING THIS INTERVIEW
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Alaska
- Bhutan
- Valparaiso, Chile
- Denali State Park
- Elk Mountain
- High Sierra
- India
- Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
- Minnesota
- Kilimanjaro
- Patagonia
- San Francisco, California
- Torres del Paine National Park
COMPANY MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
INSTITUTIONS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- E.O. Wilson
- Bill Plotkin
- Douglas Tompkins
- Grateful Dead (Band)
- Kobe Bryant
- Kris Tompkins
- Nadine Lehner
- Taylor Swift
OTHER SHOWS/PODCASTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- The Journey of Soul Initiation by Bill Plotkin
- The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer
CONTACT AND FOLLOW DOM
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[2:17] Introducing Dom Francks
[4:23] Van Life in the Western U.S.
[5:13] The Role of Sports in Dom’s Life Growing Up
[7:16] Peak Performance Lessons from Achieving Excellence in Golf
[9:41] Gravitating to Sports that Connect Him With Nature
[11:30] The Origin of Dom’s Passion for Climate Activism
[13:13] Working Professionally in the Climate-Tech Space
[14:27] Becoming a Professional Wilderness Guide
[17:15] The Grand Traverse
[19:45] Matt’s Experience Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro
[20:34] Matt’s Best Ski Experience
[21:34] Dom’s Best Ski Experience
[24:30] Riding Dog Sleds Across the Boundary Waters
[26:57] Wilderness Guiding in Chilean Patagonia
[29:15] Wilderness Guiding in Alaska
[30:59] Why The High Sierra is Dom’s Favorite Place in the World
[33:09] Participating in The Animus Institute’s Yearlong “Soulcraft Immersion” Program
[35:48] Training with The Conscious Leadership Group
[37:47] The Eremocene and the Age of Loneliness
[40:14] Struggles with being Distracted, Overwhelmed, Disempowered, and Domesticated
[43:28] The Goals of Becoming More Present, Creative, Courageous and Wild
[47:19] Explaining Regenerative Leadership
[48:24] The VIVIFY Regenerative Leadership Program
[50:24] The Structure and Timing of the VIVIFY Program
[52:38] Who the VIVIFY Program is Best Suited For
[54:10] How to Get a Special Discount on The VIVIFY Program
[55:28] The Relationship Between Climate Activism and Our Individual Connection to Nature
[56:15] The Evolution and Impact of Dom’s Relationship with Nature
[57:23] Understanding The Nature Pyramid
[59:48] How Busy People in Urban Areas Can Better Connect with Nature
[1:02:07] The Lightning Round
[1:05:41] How to Follow and Connect with Dom and Learn More About VIVIFY
