Jaqui O'Donohoe on adventure, mental health first aid, and Walks in the Wild

Mario speaks with Jaqui O'Donohoe about how grief shaped her love of adventure, why nature helps her manage stress, and how her side project, Walks in the Wild, is helping women build confidence in the outdoors. They also talk about mental health first aid, the power of small-group hiking, and her book, *Reflections Through the Periscope: A My Love Letter to Dad*.In this episode: - Jaqui shares how her father, a submariner in the Royal Australian Navy, inspired her to live with urgency, curiosity, and a bias toward adventure. - She explains how running her first marathon in 2012 became a way to connect with her dad before he died three months later. - Mario and Jaqui discuss mental health first aid and how it helps people have difficult conversations and connect others to professional support. - Jaqui describes how nature helps her manage stress, from beach time and tree watching to multi-day hikes without phone reception. - She shares how meditation, silence, and “the power of the pause” help her reset. - Walks in the Wild grew from her love of ultras and the realization that many women want adventure but lack confidence or don’t know where to start. - Her hikes are intentionally small, with no more than three women at a time. Jaqui handles the planning, gear, food, and route so participants can simply show up. - She talks about the emotional connection that develops on trail, from laughter and campfire stories to conversations about family, grief, menopause, and burnout. - They discuss the safety concerns women carry, even on ordinary walks, and how experience can help build confidence. - Jaqui explains why simplicity, perspective, gratitude, and problem-solving are among the gifts of spending time in the bush. <!--THE END--> - “I’ve got to fill my life with as much adventure as I can.” - “What’s on the trail stays on the trail.” - “That was my little home for ten days and that was it.” Notable Quotes: - “I’ve got to fill my life with as much adventure as I can.” - “What’s on the trail stays on the trail.” - “That was my little home for ten days and that was it.” Jaqui's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walksinthewild\with\jaqui/website: www.walksinthewild.com.au Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaquiodonohoe