#39 Experience Hunting vs Trophy Bagging Adam Darrow

In this candid episode of Curious AF Podcast, Luke sits down with Adam Darrow to explore the tension between experience and external validation. They unpack the difference between experience hunting and trophy bagging, and why so many people chase approval instead of genuine fulfilment.

Adam shares insights from extreme adventure sports and a decade-long non-monogamous marriage that forced him to confront fear, jealousy, masculinity, ego, and identity. Together, they examine how discomfort, when faced intentionally, can become a powerful teacher.

This conversation isn’t about lifestyle choices. It’s about masculinity beyond performance, seeking risk over reward, and discovering who you are when validation falls away.

Key Takeaways: 

• The difference between experience hunting and chasing trophies or validation
• Why fear and discomfort can deepen experience rather than block it
• How masculinity often becomes externally defined, and how to reclaim it
• What jealousy can teach us about identity, insecurity, and self-belief
• Why growth often lives just beyond comfort, not in chaos

Guest Bio: Adam Darrow grew up in a turbulent New York City, where a love of exploration and pushing boundaries shaped his path early on. After spending his twenties competing in extreme sports, he shifted into a business-focused career, applying his “experience hunting” philosophy across an unconventional life that has included Wall Street, high school teaching, sports photography, and even periods of scraping by through sheer resourcefulness. His latest book, Seek the Risk, chronicles his deeply personal journey into non-monogamy at age 40, a profound test of his commitment to living beyond comfort and validation, exploring love, sex, masculinity, and identity with brutal honesty, and inviting readers to question norms, face discomfort, and seek deeper meaning through lived experience.

ABOUT CURIOUS AF PODCAST

Curious AF is a podcast for people who want more out of life than just ticking boxes. Hosted by Luke Biermann, entrepreneur, father of three, and relentless explorer of human potential, the show dives deep into the conversations that matter.

From endurance sports and entrepreneurship to psychedelics, parenting, spirituality, and self-discovery, Curious AF explores how we can live with greater purpose, connection, and fulfilment.

Expect raw, unfiltered stories and thoughtful insights from people who are redefining success, breaking cycles, and choosing to live with intention.

For further information, contact:
General Inquiries: hello@curiousaf.com.au
Instagram: @curiousaf.podcast