Sophie Matterson

Cheryl Strayed is an American writer and podcast host.

Jean-Philippe Soulé grew up beneath the peaks of the Pyrenees in France and went on to dedicate his life to leading expeditions across the globe. After numerous mountain, jungle, ocean, and cultural expeditions — including living among indigenous people in the Siberut jungle for seven months — he became an award-winning author of true-life adventure books, including Dancing With Death, and founder of VeloTopo custom cycling tours.

Eva zu Beck is an adventure YouTuber, writer, and TV host with over four million followers across social media. Originally from Poland and educated at Oxford University, she now lives a nomadic life. Her debut memoir, *The Wilder Way* (2026), chronicles a seven-year journey following the collapse of her marriage in 2018, taking her from Mongolia's wilderness to Yemen's remote islands to the Arctic Circle.

Mike Nixon is an author, world traveler, and entrepreneur born in Saint Louis, Missouri. Over 14 years, he visited more than 30 countries, studying in the Dominican Republic, serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay, working for an NGO in Nicaragua, and serving as a U.S. Navy Sailor in Japan. His debut memoir, *Life Travel And The People In Between*, chronicles these global journeys.