What’s your definition of adventure?
For Kinga Philipps, it’s anything that gets you out of your routine and comfort zone. For others, it might be swimming with the sharks or immersing themselves in a new experience or culture.
Whether it’s in her own backyard or halfway across the world, Philipps has been exploring her whole life. She moved from Poland to Oklahoma as a young girl with her family and she inherited her adventurous soul from her parents. Exploring this “exotic” new place together, they would road trip across the U.S. camping, hiking, and stopping at national parks.
“It’s part of the human experience to want to know more about this planet we are all on and I am fascinated by the variety of experiences that are available to us,” Philipps said.
It was only natural for her to gravitate toward projects that involved travel, history, and wildlife in her adult life. She had seven majors in college, including medicine, marine biology, science, and anthropology. What endeared her most was storytelling, so she finally went with journalism. And she’s happy she did.
Philipps has lived in Los Angeles for more than 20 years now. Like many people that move to LA, she pursued acting. While she was encouraged to host red carpet events, she was more interested in hosting shows where she could explore her love of traveling, adventure, and the natural sciences.
“I always wanted to work for networks that told great stories, inspired people to appreciate nature, and encouraged them to have adventures of their own,” Philipps said.
Now, she’s hosting her own travel shows and she’s been working in shark and ocean conservation with Shark Allies for more than 10 years.
Philipps has had so many great adventures throughout her life — from diving with tiger sharks in Tahiti and exploring the historical sunken churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia, to walking among elephants and lions in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe — and she wanted to help others find adventure too. Many people don’t know where to start.
“Something as simple as going for a hike or camping can be life-changing for people and break the seal on them wanting to do more on their own,” she said.
That’s where “Finding Adventure with Kinga Philipps” comes in. You don’t have to go somewhere exotic to find adventure; you can wander in your own backyard or explore this country. There are shark dives off the Florida coast, lush forests, expansive deserts, the Great Lakes, and the Hawaiian islands with active volcanoes.
Speaking of volcanoes, Philipps recently had the chance to explore Hawaii and saw her first active volcano.
“It blew my mind!” she said. “Magma, lava…it’s extraordinary to watch our planet form itself in front of your eyes. I spent the next two weeks watching every volcano video on YouTube.”
“Finding Adventure” isn’t just wildly entertaining, it’s inspiring. Viewers watch participants go from fear to fascination. And it reminds us that we all need a little joy in our lives.
Travel isn’t only about having fun — though surfing, kayaking, and stumbling upon exotic creatures in their natural habitat is certainly fun.
“Adventures big or small also give people a sense of accomplishment and confidence that they can apply to other areas of their life,” Philipps said.
Travel teaches you a lot about yourself. You’re regularly put in situations that are outside your comfort zone to some degree. Travel is both emotional and physical, and it can reveal insights about your personality that you wouldn’t have otherwise seen.
For instance, Philipps dives right in when it comes to adventure. She might fall rock climbing or face plant into rocks while trying to river surf, but she keeps going for it. Is she bloody and bruised in the end? Sometimes. Does she have fun? Always.
It’s not about being great at something on your first try; it’s about getting enjoyment out of life. Social media has bombarded us with images of perfection and the idea that if you aren’t successful the first time, then you should stop because you probably look stupid.
That couldn’t be further from the truth, and that’s what Philipps aims to show you on “Finding Adventure.” In a sea of dramas and reality television shows where someone is always getting voted off, “Finding Adventure” is a joyful, inspiring show that’s all about finding a little adventure — whether that’s starting a business or going somewhere new.
“Adventure is what you choose it to be and what resonates with you and helps you to feel a sense of awe and wonder,” she said. “You certainly don’t need a passport, just a desire to get outside and see something new, have a fun experience, and challenge yourself.”
