Welcome to the very first Rewild You Fireside Session – a live conversation with a sold-out audience, held right here in the heart of Fiordland. In this special episode, Hannah sits down with adventurer, mother, and community builder Dulkara Martig for an evening of real talk, laughter, and reflection.

Note: The audience Q&A kicks off just after the 60-minute mark. The audio is clear and very listenable, though not quite the same as our usual sound quality.

Together we explore:

* Early life + the meaning behind her name – from chasing paradise ducks as a toddler in Aoraki to growing up in Roa’s rugged bush.

* Adventures near and far – adventures in Fiordland, traversing the Dark Cloud Range, navigating Alaska’s wild landscapes, long trips in the Himalaya and discovering the joys and challenges of long missions.

* Confidence, resilience & body image – how outdoor adventures shifted her relationship with herself, from teenage struggles to pregnancy and motherhood.

* Motherhood & ‘The Double Life’ – balancing wanderlust with a home in Te Anau, an evolving career with DOC, and raising her son.

* Women’s stories & empowerment – why representation matters in the outdoors, and her hopes for more flexible, inclusive workplaces.

This fireside session is a raw, generous conversation about adventure, belonging, identity, and choosing courage in both the wilderness and everyday life. Follow Dulkara’s next adventures on Instagram here @dulkara.martig.

Massive thanks to Fiordland Frontier Supplies for hosting, and to everyone who joined us in person for this first-ever live Rewild You event.

Keywords

Outdoor adventure, motherhood, body image, women empowerment, personal growth, adventure racing, community engagement, self-discovery, balance in life

In this soul-stirring episode, memoirist and book coach Tanja Pajevic joins Hannah for a rich and tender conversation about grief, healing, intergenerational trauma, and the power of writing (and dancing!) through life’s hardest moments.

Tanja shares the profound impact of losing both her parents—her father in her twenties and her mother decades later—and how each loss shaped her identity, values, and creative voice. From estrangement and depression to parenting young children while grieving, Tanja shares about her own healing path and how she’s now helping others tell their stories too.

Whether you're navigating grief yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode is an invitation to let your experience be messy, non-linear, and deeply human—and to find your own creative language for moving through it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

* How grief in her twenties “blew up” Tanja’s life—and eventually became a gift

* Why she approached her mother’s death with more intention and compassion

* How writing and dance became essential tools in her grief journey

* The role of intergenerational trauma in shaping our identities and emotions

* Why safe, creative containers like writing groups, movement, and ritual matter so much in grief

* How to begin writing your story (even if you don’t call yourself a writer)

Key Quotes:

“I wanted to learn how to grieve consciously. And I just don’t think we’re taught that.”

“There are very few places in life where you can scream, cry, laugh—and be fully accepted.”

“It’s okay to hold grief and joy at the same time. That’s part of being human.”

About Tanja Pajevic:Tanja is the author of The Secret Life of Grief, a powerful memoir about navigating the loss of her mother. She’s also a memoir book coach who supports others—especially those working with vulnerable material—to find their voice and share their stories with courage and care. Her work draws on her Serbian heritage, lived experience, and a deep belief in the healing power of writing.

Connect with Tanja: 🌐 Website and work with Tanja: https://www.tanjapajevic.com 📚 The Secret Life of Grief – available wherever books are sold. Audiobook released very soon! 📩 Download Tanja’s free Story Starter Kit at her website

What happens when the race is over - but life keeps going?

In this powerful and vulnerable conversation, elite endurance athlete Dougal Allan shares the truth behind his decade-long pursuit of Coast to Coast Longest Day victory, what it really took to become a two-time champion, and how his identity has been reshaped by setbacks, injury, and stepping back from professional sport.

From navigating concussions that ended his rugby dreams, to pushing his physical and mental limits in Ironman, multisport and adventure racing, to finding himself in a surreal new chapter as part of Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup - Dougal brings raw honesty, wisdom, and humour to his story.

But this episode isn’t just about sport. It’s about identity, uncertainty, growth, and what it means to pause after years of performance-driven living. Dougal opens up about working with a counsellor for the first time, leaning into vulnerability, and choosing integrity, loyalty, and humility as his compass for whatever comes next.

Whether you're facing a transition, questioning who you are without the thing you've always done, or wondering how to begin again - you’ll find insight and inspiration in what Dougal shares in this episode.

What We Talk About:

* The long road to Coast to Coast victory - and what came after

* Why process > outcome when it comes to motivation

* His trial for Emirates Team New Zealand & becoming a cyclor in the America’s Cup

* Working with a counsellor for the first time at 39 years old

* Discovering more beyond the “athlete” identity

* How to find your core values during times of uncertainty

* The power of showing up vulnerably with your mates

* Building a life beyond performance

Connect with Dougal:

📸 Instagram: @dougalallan🌐 Website: dougalallan.com

Like what you heard?

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For more tools, updates, and free resources to support your own journey through change, visit hannahrae.nz or follow on Instagram @hannahraeoutdoors.