Exploration isn’t just about venturing into new landscapes—it’s also about uncovering the deeper stories behind cultures, traditions, and creativity. In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, host Richard Wiese sits down with Rebecca Hui, an anthropologist, conservationist, and founder of Roots Studio (now Rurban Studio), whose work bridges indigenous art with global markets in a way that fosters equity and preservation.

Rebecca’s journey has taken her from rural villages in India to high-fashion runways, where she’s worked to transform cultural misappropriation into collaboration. By connecting indigenous artisans with the modern creative industry, she ensures that centuries-old traditions remain alive and respected. Along the way, she’s witnessed firsthand the tension between tradition and modernization, discovering how exploration can be a tool for both storytelling and protection.

Through her work, Rebecca challenges what it means to be an explorer today—not just discovering, but amplifying and safeguarding the voices of those who have long been overlooked.

🚀 Tune in for a fascinating conversation on cultural exploration, art as a language, and why tradition is the foundation for future creativity.

Follow Rebecca:

@babybackrebs

RootsStudio.co

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.