The Adventurepreneur Podcast

Today on the show I have Dory Trimble, Executive Director of the Honnold Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to promoting solar energy for a more equitable world.    What to say about Dory…? Well first of all she’s a total bad ass. Honestly, I find Dory’s perspective so invigorating and I think you’ll see why in this episode, which turned out to be one of the most insightful I’ve done. Her grit, tenacity, and proclivity for problem solving is something we can all learn from - so I’m excited for you all to snag some good takeaways.    One quick note on this episode, it was actually recorded almost a year ago but most everything we talked about is still as relevant today. I also wanted to point you in the direction of a new resource the Honnold Foundation has, which I found to be a very practical and action-focused list of things you can do to be proactive about climate change. It’s called Alex’s Sustainability Tick List, I encourage you to go over to Honnoldfoundation.org and check it out.   Last but far from least, I’m psyched to announce that my company Outwild is holding a retreat for early stage entrepreneurs and freelancers later this month. We’ll be gathering some awesome thought leaders and workshop leaders at an amazing sustainable ranch in the mountains of Northern Utah, for 3 packed days of building businesses and playing outside. We’ll be hanging with the head of marketing at the US Ski Team, to the Founder of Goal Zero, angel investors, a Wim Hoff breathing and cold immersion instructor, and half a dozen other seasoned outdoor and adventure entrepreneurs. Of course we’ll be climbing, biking, paddleboarding and making new friends along the way too. So if you’re either brewing over a startup idea, in the nascent stages of starting a business, or interested in making the transition to freelance work, this event is for you. We’ll be covering topics like: entrepreneurial mindset, drafting lean business models, early-stage marketing, boundary-setting to avoid burnout, and more! The best part of all this, I’m offering $500 off - literally only to the listeners of this show. If you’re interested, head over to outwild.co and use the code “Podcast500”, that’s with a capital P and no space. Again Podcast500 for $500 off Outwild for the Entrepreneur, July 29-Aug 1st.

Today on the show I have Louis Arevalo, a super talented outdoor photographer and journalist and one of the sweetest guys out there. Through Louis’s career, he’s been published in some of the industry’s most coveted publications and worked with many leading brands, but it wasn’t always that way. Louis worked for many years at FedEx, double timing it trying to make a living wage while also building a photography business on the side. After a lot of hard work and grit, Louis eventually was able to go full time into photography and never looked back.  Earlier this year, the Salt Lake City native was backcountry skiing a fire burn out zone in the southern Wasatch, when we took a fall and started to tomahawk high speed down the mountain. While he a was tumbling, his ski edge hit his head and literally scalped him - and he landed squarely on his upper back against an old burned tree trunk.  Louis lost consciousness, but luckily, his friend had been trained as a ski patroller and acted fast to save his life. The incident left Louis fully paralyzed from his chest down. If you want to hear the full story, stay tuned to the end of the episode, you’ll be glued to your speaker I guarantee you that. My heart goes out to Louis and his family, not only because no one should have to go through that (let alone a notoriously sweet guy like Louis), but also because so many of us in this community are constantly in those same positions. Risking ourselves to pursue the things we love. It really makes you take a second to breath it all in. If you’re anything like me, you leave these types of stories feeling a little helpless. Well, if that’s you please consider taking action by donating to Louis GoFundMe page, every little bit helps. I’ll have the link available in the show notes, or you can Google Louis Arevalo GoFundMe and you’ll find it. A quick reminder that as we move closer and closer to election season it’s important to start thinking about your role in the fight against climate change. My go to resource is Protect Our Winters. The y make it easy to get your friends and family registered to vote and have lots of information on how to make informed decisions and get involved. Head over to their website or check them out on the socials for all the deets.   Show resources here.

Today on the show I have Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, a global movement started by Yvon Chouinard (the founder of Patagonia) and his friend Craig Matthews to inspire businesses and individuals to support environmental nonprofit solutions, through annual membership and everyday actions. I’m also joined by Ben Stuart, Chief Marketing Officer for Bank of the West, a midsize national financial institution who is taking some bold actions to support climate change in meaningful ways. Did you know that only 3% of all philanthropy in the US goes toward environmental giving. Did you know it’s very likely that your banking institution uses your money to invest in and support fracking and fossil fuels. In this episode, you’ll hear how Kate and Ben are looking to change that as we explore what it means to leverage business as a tool to support a healthy planet and society.  If you’re anything like me, this conversation will spark some curiosity to dig deeper, so I encourage you to visit onepercentfortheplanet.org and bankofthewest.com to learn more. One quick reminder before we dive in. As we move closer and closer to election season it’s important to start thinking about your role in the fight against climate change. My go to resource is Protect Our Winters (who is a supported by both 1% for the Planet and Bank of West coincidentally). They make it easy to get your friends and family registered to vote and have lots of information on how to make informed decisions and get involved. Head over to their website at protectourwinters.org or check them out on the socials for all the deets.

Today on the show I have Emily Harrington, a professional rock climber and well-rounded adventure athlete. Emily starting climbing at a very young age in her hometown of Boulder, CO and quickly became one the best young female climbers in the world. She has been the US National Champion for sport climbing five times and has completed numerous first female ascents of 5.14 sport routes. She is also a vocal partner athlete for Protect Our Winters, using her platform to educate and activate outdoor recreationists on important topics related to fighting climate change. In this conversation, Emily offers some great advice for goal setting, training, and navigating the pandemic. This episode was recorded as part of a live Outwild speaker series event with questions from a live audience near the end (and even includes some insights from Emily’s dad who was in the audience). One quick announcement before we get going. For you business owners and employees within the outdoor industry out there, please consider signing or encouraging your leadership to sign the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge, which connects leading outdoor brands with inclusion advocates to advance representation for people of color across the industry. My company Outwild is proud to have signed the pledge, and I encourage to check it out and learn more at insolidarityproject.com. Also for context, this discussion with Emily took place before the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.   Show resources here.

Revised Version Today on the show I have Jedd Rose, founder and president of Topo Designs. Jedd has quickly become one of my favorite people in the outdoor industry, not just because of the great relationship we’ve built between Topo and my company Outwild, but also because Jedd is just such a great guy. He’s super insightful, humble, driven, and he surprises you with little nuggets that let you peer into the depth of his personality - you’ll see what I mean in this episode.  Jedd and his co-founder Mark Hansen created Topo Designs with a unique vision in mind: to build a fashion forward, utilitarian clothing and gear brand that blends an outdoor vibe with an urban cool factor. As Jedd would describe it, Topo is ‘built for anywhere on your map.’ In the relatively few short years they’ve been in business, Topo has risen to one of the most popular brands in the industry.  In this episode, Jedd and I get into the nitty gritty tactical details behind building a stellar brand. Everything from finding a good business partner, to raising money, to dissecting and preparing for the various stages most businesses go through - with a whole lot more sandwiched in between.  Before we dive in, I want to thank all my listeners for your patience while the show was on a short break so that we could all focus on learning about and elevating the voices of the BIPOC community during this historic fight for racial equality. Thank you all for supporting that initiative, it’s important work and your allyship and action is critical beyond measure. Speaking of activism, a quick reminder that as we move closer and closer to election season it’s important to start thinking about your role in the fight against climate change. My go to resource is Protect Our Winters. They make it easy to get your friends and family registered to vote and have lots of information on how to make informed decisions and get involved. Head over to their website or check them out on the socials for all the deets. The original version of this conversation took place in front of a live audience of students studying life design in the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The version you’ll hear took place online in our homes to respect social distancing. Alright, here’s my conversation with Jedd Rose. Enjoy!

Today on the show I have Samuel Crossley, a talented documentary filmmaker and photographer who was introduced to a camera at a young age, when his dad handed him a DSLR in manual mode and insisted he learn how to use it the hard way. Years later, after continuing to pursue his interests in photography, he ended up in film school and after being inspired by Alex Honnold on 60 minutes - quickly found his way to climbing and immediately fell in love with the sport and capturing its intricacies through a lens. Ironically enough, a few short years later Samuel ended up working directly with many of the biggest figures in climbing and was even asked by Jimmy Chin to work on the academy award winning documentary Free Solo.  This conversation is chocked full of some great wisdom nuggets and a lot of real talk, and I have to say - the chat with Samuel proved to be one of my all time favorites I’ve had on the pod, and I think you’ll shortly see why. Namely because Samuel is just so thoughtful and has a unique ability to gracefully articulate what he’s thinking. Oh yeah, and keep the google machine handy - Samuel is going to shed some light on the anatomy of an amazing big wall climbing photograph, and you’ll want to check out the photo below while he walks us through it.  Before we dive in, a quick reminder that as we move closer and closer to election season it’s important to start thinking about your role in the fight against climate change. My go to resource is Protect Our Winters. They make it easy to get your friends and family registered to vote and have lots of information on how to make informed decisions and get involved. Head over to their website or check them out on the socials for all the deets.   Show Resources  

Today I’m talking with climbing legend Lynn Hill, who helped pioneer and define female competitive climbing and is known for feats like the first free ascent of The Nose of El Capitan and being the first woman to redpoint a 5.14 - among many others. In this conversation, Lynn and I dive into some of the history and future of climbing (both of which she has helped shape btw), how she's navigated the still male-dominated outdoor industry, lessons on living an engaged life and raising kids with that same ethos, and tips for designing our lives around our own unique visions for happiness - not that of others. Also, as we move closer and closer to election season it’s important to start thinking about your role in the fight against climate change. My go to resource is Protect Our Winters. They make it easy to get your friends and family registered to vote and have lots of information on how to make informed decisions and get involved. Head over to their website or check them out on the socials for all the deets.   Show resources

I’m happy to say, I’m celebrating my 50th episode today and I couldn’t be happier to be sharing it with friend and mover/shaker Wyn Wiley, aka Pattie Gonia. That’s right, a long form exclusive interview with your very own backcountry drag queen. If you’re not familiar with Pattie, she was born about a year ago from Wyn’s creative mind when he dressed in drag for the first time in his life and discovered that the experience brought him alive like he’d never quite felt before. When he posted about the experience, he received major backlash and people he thought were friends vanished from his life, published public slurs and even egged his house. Oh where to even start with all that we covered in this chat. Well first of all, the conversation was so good it went on for quite a long time and so I split it into two parts. In part 1, you will hear the origin story of Pattie and some incredibly insightful ideas for becoming a better ally and saving Mother Earth - or as Pattie likes to call it, Mother Natch. In part 2, we dive into some of the business aspects behind Pattie and the wild ride it’s been for Wyn - one that has completely changed his life. As I’ve reflected on this conversation, I have to say I have so much respect for Wyn for stepping into this journey and for being so humble  along the way. Think about it. How scary is it to put on makeup and high heels and confront the world in your truth even when you know some people will hate you for it, either because they passionately don’t agree with it or because they don’t think you’re doing a good job at it, just to name a few reasons. But Wyn, you decided to move forward anyway and we want you to know that we love you for it. Not only that, but your humility along the way as a self-proclaimed advocate in-progress, is what leaves us all inspired and reminded that we’re all on an imperfect journey of self-exploration. One of constant learning and hopefully empathy - for ourselves and others. So thank you for living your truth and sharing it with us.   Show resources

I’m happy to say, I’m celebrating my 50th episode today and I couldn’t be happier to be sharing it with friend and mover/shaker Wyn Wiley, aka Pattie Gonia. That’s right, a long form exclusive interview with your very own backcountry drag queen. If you’re not familiar with Pattie, she was born about a year ago from Wyn’s creative mind when he dressed in drag for the first time in his life and discovered that the experience brought him alive like he’d never quite felt before. When he posted about the experience, he received major backlash and people he thought were friends vanished from his life, published public slurs and even egged his house. Oh where to even start with all that we covered in this chat. Well first of all, the conversation was so good it went on for quite a long time and so I split it into two parts. In part 1, you will hear the origin story of Pattie and some incredibly insightful ideas for becoming a better ally and saving Mother Earth - or as Pattie likes to call it, Mother Natch. In part 2, we dive into some of the business aspects behind Pattie and the wild ride it’s been for Wyn - one that has completely changed his life. As I’ve reflected on this conversation, I have to say I have so much respect for Wyn for stepping into this journey and for being so humble  along the way. Think about it. How scary is it to put on makeup and high heels and confront the world in your truth even when you know some people will hate you for it, either because they passionately don’t agree with it or because they don’t think you’re doing a good job at it, just to name a few reasons. But Wyn, you decided to move forward anyway and we want you to know that we love you for it. Not only that, but your humility along the way as a self-proclaimed advocate in-progress, is what leaves us all inspired and reminded that we’re all on an imperfect journey of self-exploration. One of constant learning and hopefully empathy - for ourselves and others. So thank you for living your truth and sharing it with us. Show resources

On today’s show I'm talking with Josh Cogan, a dear friend and wise soul who I think has some really helpful insights about the experience we are all going through right now as a global community. Josh is an Emmy-award winning photographer, story teller, and anthropologist. His work is currently on display at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, where he also lives and shoots for National Geographic and the United Nations, among many others. Josh has spent the last decade intimately involved with various infectious diseases all over the world covering stories for the World Health Organization, so his perspectives on the current global pandemic are especially interesting. Josh is also a mindfulness Jedi, studying under the likes of heavy weights like Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. He focuses on helping men who struggle with the intense pressure to succeed, feelings of isolation and loneliness, and/or lack of time and direction to focus on what really matters. This topic has resonated with me on many levels, so much that I’ve joined as a core contributor to a project called Journeymen, which helps create community, dialogue, and adventure for men in the modern world.  I hope you find this conversation to be as insightful and replenishing as I did.   Show resources and links: Joshua’s website and instagram page Photography for National Geographic Joshua’s contribution to Pulitzer Center Co-founder of Journeymen

On today’s show I have Susie Moore, a best-selling author, coach and what I would call a mindset ninja. Susie and I met when she showed up to an Outwild event like a fish out of water. I was immediately impressed by her ability to dig into the discomfort of doing something completely out of her normal wheelhouse and fearlessly trying new things like climbing and whitewater rafting. You only have to talk with Susie for about 5 seconds to notice her infectious optimism and sage worldview. Needless to say, the decision to have her on the podcast was not one I regretted. This conversation is so rich with truth bombs and wisdom nuggets that I barely know where to start when describing it. On that note, I think I’ll just leave you to meander through the Susie forest on your own without too many preconceived notions. I really hope you enjoy this one.   Resources Susie Moore’s website Susie’s newest book Stop Checking Your Likes What If It Does Work Out?: How A Side Hustle Can Change Your Life by Susie Moore Susie’s Instagram Susie’s Twitter The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

Today I’m sharing my conversation with Chris Burkard, a prolific photographer, explorer, and author. Chris has spent the last 15 years turning himself into a go-to content creator for the likes of National Geographic, Apple, Patagonia and dozens of other Fortune 500 companies and notable publications. Needless to say, he’s racked up a few insights over the years when it comes to deconstructing what it takes to become successful creative. Chris and I explore the empathy, what it means to create a guiding vision, the importance of diversity of thought, and how to recession proof your business. Grab your notebook, you may want to jot a thing or two down. Before we dive in, I want to let you know about a new organization that’s creating massive impact in the current pandemic crisis we’re facing. As you probably know, healthcare workers are currently facing a dire shortage of masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment. In short, they are fighting for our lives, so we need to protect theirs. If you have, make, or want to request PPE, go to GetUsPPE.org and find out how you can get involved. Thanks guys, appreciate your help.  Lastly, if you like what you’re hearing here - please share it with a friend or someone who might find it valuable. You can find all the information you need, including all the show links and resources at jeremyrjensen.com.   Okay, without further ado here’s my conversation with Chris Burkard. Enjoy!

On the show today I have Stephanie Howe, an athlete and academic who has some great insights on how to train, eat, and live. Stephanie got her PhD in Nutrition & Exercise Science and helps athletes of all levels and types get the most of food and take their performance to the next level.   If you’re anything like me, consistently maintaining a convenient and healthy diet is a constant challenge and so talking with Stephanie helped debunk some of the endless misinformation about food out there. On top of that, she has a thing or two to say about what it takes to build a career and lifestyle that aligns with what you really care about. I hope you get as much out of it as I did.    Alright, without further ado here is my conversation with Stephanie Howe. Enjoy!   Episode Resources: Stephanie’s website, Instagram and Twitter Recipes Clif Athlete

Today on the show I have Vasu Sojitra, a skier on the North Face Athlete Team and bad ass skater and trail runner. But before you start imagining what this conversation will be like, get this. When Vasu was only nine months old, he was diagnosed with septicemia (a rare blood disease), resulting in the amputation of one of his legs. Vasu experienced rampant discrimination and witnessed extreme poverty growing up in India - all of which he views as a blessing because it has allowed him to truly hone his ability to empathize with others. On top of being an accomplished athlete, Vasu has used his experiences to challenge the biases that go with being a person of color with a disability through his current work as the Adaptive Sports Program Director at Eagle Mount Bozeman, an organization that empowers children and adults with challenges to enrich their lives through adventure activities. He also serves as a coordinator for Earthtone Outside Montana, which works to elevate the visibility of diverse outdoor enthusiasts and build an inclusive community for people of color.  There are so many valuable nuggets, truth bombs, and lessons learned in this one. These types of conversations always leave me feeling highly motivated to step into spaces I don’t know enough about and learn as much as I can, not only to be a better ally and support these communities, but also because it makes me a better person. As you listen today, I wish the same for you.  Alright, without further ado - here’s my conversation with Vasu Sojitra. Enjoy! Episode Resources: Vasu’s website and Instagram Behind the scenes of Out on a Limb interview Eagle Mount Bozeman Earthtone Outside Montana The North Face Athlete Team Rocket Power Adaptive skiing Association  Conrad Anker Montana Racial Equity Project Disability Language Style Guide  

Dave Mossop is the cofounder of Sherpas Cinema, one of the most - if not the most cutting edge, innovative outdoor film production studios out there. In fact Sherpas has been cited as redefining what is possible in outdoor film. Dave and his team have created some of the most stunning imagery I’ve ever seen, and likely a lot of what you’ve seen but may not know it. With big productions like All I Can, Into the Mind, Imagination, and their latest film - Loved By All - Sherpas has received countless top awards from most of the well-known Outdoor Film Festivals globally. They also work with some of the biggest house hold names out there: Google, Audi, The North Face, Asics, the list goes on and on. What I loved about this conversation is that Dave has such an authentic and palpable appreciation for the things he cares about. Whether its the places he visits, or the new filming techniques he’s learning, or the people he’s met and lost along the way, whatever it is - there’s this deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity, which I just find really cool. With this episode, you get a little bit of everything - just the way I like it. We zig in and out of self-actualization, living life to the fullest, the role of art in outdoor film, virtual reality, and of course some good old dirt bag stories too.  Hope you enjoy it! Show Resources: Sherpas Cinema Website Dave Mossop's Instagram Sherpas Cinema Instagram Apa Sherpa Dave Shuman Conrad Anker Thule Eric Rosland and Malcolm Sangster (CoFounders Sherpa Cinema) Brian Hendricks (Film Professor) Sherpas Cinema Portfolio JP Auclair Flyover Canada Tom Wallisch Landon Bassett

Today on the show I have Breanne Kiefner, founder of Root Adventures and her husband Dave Kiefner who heads up operations for the business. Sure, Root Adventures is a great travel company, but as you’ll soon find out in this episode, it’s also much much more than that.  Breanne and Dave are some of the most thoughtful and sincere entrepreneurs I’ve come across. After a couple of life-altering events and even a traumatic existential crisis, Breanne decided to do exactly the opposite of what most of us would do when the going gets tough. She decided to dig deep, embrace discomfort, and commit to the hardest thing she’s ever done - build the business and lifestyle she’s also wanted. The result, is a company that truly stands out not only for its admirable conviction, but also for the impact it has on peoples lives.  Breanne and Dave’s impact goes beyond just their business too. The way they show up in the world on a personal level is also special, and I know I’m certainly proud to call them friends.  All that said, I’m excited to share their story with you all!   Resources: Root Adventures (Breanne and Dave’s business) Adventure Travel Trade Association Forest bathing Article Breanne wrote for Scary Mommy Frank Scotti (Owner of Nomad Inc.) Type 1, 2, 3 Fun - from the Dirtbag Diaries Diversify Outdoors Lean Canvas (business model template)   Show themes: **the advantages of being vulnerable and sharing with people who you really are **entrepreneurship as a form of healing  **no such thing as competition, only collaboration  **learning how to not be a victim of your circumstance **entrepreneurship forces you to step outside your comfort zone - it forces growth.  **no better antidote to depression than connection  **running a business as a couple and with a family  **type 1,2,3 fun — not just living a comfortable, stable life  **being comfortable being uncomfortable **giving is one of the most regenerative forms of self-care you can have **working on diversity and support in the outdoor and adventure travel industry

Today on the show I have Hillary Allen, a professional trail ultarunner, speaker, and author. Hillary grew up always thinking she would be an academic, following in her father's footsteps by pursuing a PhD in a scientific discipline and settling in to life as a college professor. That all changed when in graduate school, Hillary discovered trail running as a way to relieve stress and in turn found the thing that brings her most alive and would shape the rest of her life. Shortly thereafter, a friend talked her into doing her first race where she not only won, but set a course record. Since then, she has gone on to become a world champion and one of the most accomplished high altitude trial runners of all time.  As a collegiate tennis player and clearly a natural athlete it might seem at first glance that Hillary is simply athletically gifted, and while that may be true, we uncovered a much more tangible and accessible lesson behind her success: A lot of grit, determination, and really hard work. There’s no better testament to Hillary’s character than her attitude towards a major setback to her career,  a set back that almost cost her her life. If you’re a sucker for the feels or simply enjoy a healthy dose of bad ass inspiration, look no further than this conversation my friends.  Show Resources: Hillary’s Website Hillary's Instagram Hillary’s TED talk Trail de Mount Blanc races  US Skyrunning Series Skyrunning world circuit Adam St. Pierre - Hillary’s running coach Ragna Dabats (champion sky runner) Why We Run - book by Ern Heinrich Deep Survival - book by Lawrence Gonzalez Hard Rock - big mountain trail running race in Colorado Sierra High Route Lavaredo - Race in Italian Dolomites Dirty Kanza - gravel bike race in Kansas     

Today on the pod I’m joined by Rian Doris, co-founder and COO of the Flow Research Collective, which is a peak performance research and training organization headed by Steven Kotler. You may remember Steven from episode 31 of the show where we chatted about adventure athletes who are pushing the boundaries of human potential. If you haven’t checked it out, carve out some time to do so - that show is one of my most popular episodes by far and I think you’ll see why. In this episode, we’re going to do something a little different. We’re going to focus mainly on one topic - that is, getting shit done. You know, since you haven’t heard enough about that in this new decade already. Seriously though, even with all the hype of the new year it’s still a great time to reevaluate your processes and build a plan for yourself to achieve the life you want. We’ll be walking you through what I would call the ULTIMATE evening and morning routine. It’s worth putting out a fair warning, Rian and I nerd out pretty hard core on productivity, flow, and life hacking - so if you’re anything like me you’ll be in heaven and if not, don’t say I didn’t warn you. This episode not only dissects Rian’s strategy that led him to cofound one the world’s leading organizations in peak performance and flow science, but also is chocked full of fantastic resources - so be sure to check out the resources section below for all your geeking and linking needs.  Speaking of resources, Rian and Steven have generously offered to give a free one-on-one coaching session plus 10% off their most popular flow training program, Zero to Dangerous, for all listeners of this show. Simply use the link below to apply. On your application interview call with the team, be sure to mention my name and you’re good to go.  Oh and I apologize in advance for the audio quality on this one. I don’t even remember where I was during the recording, but clearly it was an airport bathroom or something 😉   Resources/links: Custom link here for 1 free one-on-one coaching session plus 10% off the Zero to Dangerous flow training program (be sure to use link above and mention my name during the application interview to receive discount and free coaching) Flow Research Collective Steven Kotler Mentioned books by Steven Kotler: Bold, Abundance, Rise of Superman Richard Saul Wurman - Founder of TED Joe Mechlinski - Founder Shift the Work Carol Dweck - Author of Mindset Dan Siegel - Interpersonal neurobiology Keith Ferazzi - Author of Never Eat Alone Dave Osprey - Bulletproof Radio Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Cal Newport - Deep Work Paul Graham - Maker/Manager schedule  3 suggested tools: Apple Calendar, Asana, Notion  John Sweller - Cognitive Load Theory  Jocko Wilnick - “Discipline equals freedom” Ryan Holiday - Author of Stillness Is the Key Greg McKeown - Author of Essentialism Herb Benson - Developed the precursor to Flow Cycle (aka Relaxation Response)

Today on the show I’m joined by Fitz Cahall, creator of the pioneering outdoor podcast the Dirtbag Diaries and co-founder of creative agency Duct Tape Then Beer. I have to say, I really enjoyed talking with Fitz because for me his work has long been a beacon in a sea of noise. This conversation was everything I hoped it would be: insightful, unpredictable, and authentic. As we talked through things like the origin story of the Dirtbag Diaries, Fitz’s early influences and creativity philosophy, and some of his most memorable experiences and stories over the years -  what became clear to me is that Fitz has built his life around an unwavering commitment to what he deeply believes in, which needless to say is pretty damn admirable. Perhaps the most salient example of that is the so called magic rule at Duct Tape Then Beer, which guides all the work at the company. The rule is simple, all work must strengthen and nurture connections to the natural world. Period. If that isn’t a noble and compelling mission statement then I don’t know what is.   Anyway, I know I learned a thing or two in this one, and I hope you do too.    Show Resources: The Dirtbag Diaries Duct Tape Then Beer (DTTB) DTTB’s Magic Rule Becca Cahall (CEO and Co-founder DTTB) Anya Miller (Director, Brand and Creative Strategy DTTB) This American Life - Created by Ira Glass

  Today on the show I have Sheri Tingey, founder and lead designer of Alpacka Packrafts. Sheri is a true outdoor industry pioneer. In 1968, as a ski bum in Jackson, WY and Alta, UT - Sheri started a company designing custom ski clothing. She revolutionized the industry by innovating new more functional designs and spiced things up by adding some colorful style to the otherwise drab ski clothes of the time.     After nearly 15 years hustling and designing ski clothing for some of the top ski resorts and shops in the country, Sheri suddenly developed a serious case of chronic fatigue syndrome. The disease took her to her knees and after 17 years of struggling in its grips, Sheri finally found a Dr that saved her life. She learned how to manage her innate drive. She had to learn how to go from being a passionate, workaholic entrepreneur to a zen, calm and balanced designer.    Shortly after she found that doctor and started to feel better, Sheri’s son Thor (who is now the CEO at Alpacka) had just completed a 600-mile packrafting traverse of Alaska’s Brooks Range. Thor was frustrated with the performance of the boat he had been using on his trips, which didn’t hold air and required hours of patch working after each day on the river. He brought the boat to his mom and asked if she could make it better. Sheri’s eyes lit up, she accepted the challenge, and the rest is history.    Sheri’s story is one of grit and determination. A tale of a true female innovator in a heavily male dominated industry. The outdoor industry history buffs out there will appreciate this one too, that’s a guarantee. Per usual, lots of great nuggets to pull out of this one… so grab a cup of coffee, tea, or kombucha and enjoy.   Show resources: Thor and Sarah Tingey Jackson Hole Alta - the rustler lodge Designed by Sheri (1968-1981) Tom Froth Yvon Chouinard Doug Tompkins John Simms Alaska Wilderness Classic Roman Dial