Inside The Outside

In this episode we've got a showdown! Who makes the best Mac & Cheese for the trail? Mountain House, Backpacker's Pantry or Kraft? We bring in our resident experts to settle the score.  Christy shares some tips from her half marathon training to help keep you hydrated & fueled. What's her secret fuel source? It may sound a little fishy, but it works. She also shares some recipes from her latest cookbook obsession, Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow but world class runner Shalane Flanagan. Inside The Outside is proudly brought to you by the following sponsors. Terrapin Outfitters. Terrapin Outfitters is an innovative company that specializes in developing clothing and gear that enhances people’s enjoyment of outdoor activities. Outdoorsman Outfitters. Outdoorsman Outfitters is a cottage gear company designing, high quality backpacking and camping gear to help you enjoy the outdoors.

This week we are talking to Chris McMaster, owner of ULA Equipment. ULA is widely know for their high quality, made in-house ultra light backpacks. Chris shares the story of how he came to own this company & further the vision & values that the company was founded on. We also welcome our newest sponsor to the family. We are happy to have joined forces with Outdoorsman Outfitters. Owner, Avery Flynn, will be working with us in the coming months on a complete Inside The Outside approved camping rig. Christy shares some tips from her half-marathon training routine that she recently started in preparation for her run this fall. Inside The Outside is proudly brought to you by the following sponsors. Terrapin Outfitters. Terrapin Outfitters is an innovative company that specializes in developing clothing and gear that enhances people’s enjoyment of outdoor activities. Outdoorsman Outfitters. Outdoorsman Outfitters is a cottage gear company designing, high quality backpacking and camping gear to help you enjoy the outdoors.

After a short break, we are back on the trail! This week were talking about a recent bike-packing trip that Gary did with his family in the Cranberry Glades Wilderness area of WV. This is a trip has been a family tradition for many years and he shares why he thinks it's important to have these traditions. While on the trip, Gary tested out some new gear. Some of the standout items were the Luci Connect light, the Katadyn Base Camp water filter and his DIY bike trailer.

In this episode, we're talking to everyone's favorite bling dealer, Dutch from Dutchwaregear.com. We also talk about our recent obstacle course race, The Rugged Maniac, in Rockingham, NC and our upcoming Viking Dash Trail Run in Raleigh, NC.  We wrap the episode up with a review of the Dutchware Chameleon hammock and the DD Hammocks 4x4 tarp. You can follow Dutchware on Facebook and Instagram. You can follow DD Hammocks on Facebook and Instagram.

In this episode we are talking to UNC professor Anthony Hackney about proper nutrition and hydration for the trail. Professor Hackney also helps us clear the air around topics like carbo-loading, over-hydration, and how to help your body recover from those long days on the trail. We also do our review of the Cairn outdoor subscription box. Is it Inside the Outside approved?

In this episode we're talking to Paul McWalters, the founder and co-owner of UGQ Outdoors. UGQ Outdoors is a small, family run, outdoor gear company. They made their make on the world with their outdoor quilts. Paul tells us the story of UGQ and offers some insight into what makes a good quilt and how to pick one. You can follow UGQ on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We're also doing our first product review. We're giving our first impressions of the Dream Hammock Raven. Follow Dream Hammock on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

In this special bonus episode, I'm talking to Scott Buff. Scott is the owner of Terrapin Outfitters and was the organizer for my recent paddle trip in SC. Scott had done legs of this trip before but this was his 1st time being the trip organizer and his 1st time doing the entire trip start to finish. Scott did all the leg work securing Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinasas the charity, making sure we had help portaging our boats around the dam & had us a lake house to stay at for the halfway point. I can't thank him enough for letting me join him on this trip. Without Scott's hard work, this trip wouldn't have happened. As a veteran kayaker, Scott had his hands full teaching me how to be a kayaker. In this conversation we talk about all the lessons he gave me on the trip and shares a few lessons he learned on the trip. We are still taking donation for Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. Just text PADDLE4KIDS to 41444. 100% of all money generated goes directly to them! If you are enjoying the podcast, give us a review in iTunes of wherever you get your podcasts!

In this special bonus episode of Inside The Outside I’m talking to Raul Ferreria. Raul was one of the paddlers on my recent kayak camping trip in South Carolina. He's the owner of Siro's Fashion in Design and Each 1 Stitch 1. He has been active in the outdoors since childhood but hadn't paddled in nearly 20 years prior to this trip. In addition to not having been on the water in a couple decades, Raul tackled this trip in a 16' canoe and brought along his dog "Poppa" for his first trip on the water. We talked about the fun we had getting to know each other and some of the challenges he encountered maneuvering his canoe over some challenging water. We also talk about how he approached packing and setting up for a multi-day trip on the water with a dog.  We are still taking donations to help Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. Just text PADDLE4KIDS to 41444 Be sure to check out Raul on Facebook and Instagram and Siro's Fashion in Design on Instagram.  

In this special bonus episode of Inside the Outside I’m talking to Avery Flynn about our recent paddle trip in SC. Avery is the owner of Outdoorsman Outfitters and, like me, was a newbie to distance kayaking. We both made some of the same mistakes in preparing or not preparing for this trip. We talk about what we learned, what we’d do different the next time & our favorite parts of the trip. We hope this will not only entertain you, but help you when you’re preparing for your next trip on the water. We are still taking donations to help Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. Just text PADDLE4KIDS to 41444 Be sure to check out Outdoorsman Outfitters on Facebook & Instagram.  

This week we're talking about the hard learned lessons from Gary's 153 mile kayaking trip. He joined Scott Buff from Terrapin Outfitters, Avery Flynn from Outdoorsman Outfitters, Raul Ferreira on a paddle trip from Columbia, SC to Charleston, SC. Gary shares some of the highlights, both good and bad, from this trip. He shares how approaching this trip was so different from how he would normally prepare for a backpacking trip. He also talks about how, in-spite of being a seasoned canoe paddler, paddling a kayak half the state of South Carolina was all he expected and more. We also give a sneak peek of our gear review segment and we try to address Christy's subscription box addiction by facing it full on. We are still taking donations to help Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. Just text PADDLE4KIDS to 41444

This week were doing a quick check-in on our 365 mile challenge and Gary shares some tips for catching white bass during the spring spawning run. We close the show out talking about the upcoming kayak trip Gary is doing with Terrapin Outfitters to raise money for children and families battling cancer. Inside The Outside is teaming up with Scott Buff at Terrapin Outfitters to raise money for Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. Gary and Scott, along with three other paddlers will be paddling over 150 miles from Columbia, SC to Charleston, SC over the course of one week. They will be posting live updates on social media using the hashtag #PADDLE4KIDS. If you would like to donate, you can do so on the website or text PADDLE4KIDS to 41444. 100% of all donations will go to Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas.

This week we are interviewing world class adventurer and competitive endurance athlete Andrew Skurka. Andrew is the author of The Ultimate Hikers Gear Guide, possibly the most useful book for anyone thinking about hiking or backpacking. Andrew talks about his early days and the mistakes he made and how those early days helped make him what National Geographic calls "a superman among trekkers" and "one of the best traveled and fastest hikers on the planet". We discuss some of his philosophy for how beginners should approach the sport and how he's helping others maximize their enjoyment of the outdoors by helping identify the pitfalls that most people make when they start.

This week we're talking to Derek Hansen, author of The Ultimate Hang. Derek share some of the wisdom he's gained from his years spent searching for the perfect hammock-ing experience. His unique, scientific approach & great sense of humor make for a great conversation. Would you like to win a signed copy of The Ultimate Hang? Head over to our Facebook page for a chance to win. The winner will be selected on March 11. We also recap Christy's Disney Princess 5k race & talk about our upcoming 5k race at Sunset Beach, NC. Gary shares some highlights from a recent concert he attended at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC. The opening act was ZOOCRÜ. They’re a 4-piece act from Durham, NC that plays modern jazz. The headlining act was Too Many Zooz from New York City. They are a 3-piece band that got their start busking the subways playing what they call brass house music. If you're enjoying the podcast, leave us a review wherever you listen to the podcast. Got a show idea? Send us a message. We'd love to hear from you!

This week we're talking to Mark Orton, better known as Spiguyver on YouTube. Spiguyver shares some of the trail knowledge his gained over his career at a professional hiker, backpacker & hammock camper. We also talk about all the running around we've been doing. We raced in two of the 5k races in the Coastal Race Series. One was at Holden Beach in January & the other was at Oak Island beach. The next race is at Sunset beach in March. We love these races because, 1-They are at the beach, 2-They are flat, 3-They have awesome T-shirts & medals. Come join us for the next race! #365miles Gary spent a week in Amsterdam hosting another podcast for Rave Publications at the Integrated Systems Europe trade show. ISE is the largest audio visual trade show in the world. With over 80,000 people in attendance & every AV manufacture in the world on display, it's heaven on earth for an AV nerd like Gary. Over the 4-days of the show, Gary hosted 55 podcast with leaders in the AV industry. Christy is prepping for the Disney Princess Half Marathon next week & Gary has his sights set on his next hammock hang event. Last month he was hanging in Marrow Mountain State Park at the Frosty Butt Hang with Gunner76 & his wife Terminator. This weekend he's headed over to Falls lake with the Tar Heel State Hangers for their annual Heartthrob Hang. It's not to late to sign up & come join us! Check out the facebook page. Inside the outside is proudly sponsored by Terrapin Outfitters. Terrapin Outfitters is an innovative company that specializes in developing clothing and gear that enhance people’s enjoyment of outdoor activities. Check them it out TerrapinOutfitters.com

This week we're talking with Mark and Jonathan, hosts of Hang Your Own Hang podcast, the must-listen podcast for anyone interested in hammock camping. It’s time for the interviewers to be interviewed. With 40 episodes under their belt, The HYOH guys are going to share some of the insights that they’ve picked up along the way. In this episode we talk about how to keep warm, innovations in the industry and what the future of hammock camping looks like. Some of the pioneers and innovators we talk about are Terrapin Outfitters, Dutchware & Hennessy Hammocks. Inside The Outside is proudly brought to you by Terrapin Outfitters. Terrapin Outfitters is an innovative company that specializes in developing clothing and gear that enhance people’s enjoyment of outdoor activities. Check them it out TerrapinOutfitters.com If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share the show & leave us a positive review wherever you listen. And follow us on Facebook & Instagram. For a deeper dive into the show, check out our website. InsideTheOutsideshow.com

This week we’re going to be talking to Warren Ashworth the owner of Cedar Ridge Outdoors. Warren has an awesome story about how he went from a DIY quilt guy to a small business owner. He’s also going to share some tips on how to stay warm in your hammock. Cedar Ridge Outdoors has been delivering quality, handmade camping hammocks and gear since they opened in 2015. Their goal is to provide both a superior customer experience and tremendous value for their customers. It's also been a big week for the show. We have our 1st sponsor! We've partnered with Terrapin Outfitters. Terrapin Outfitters is an innovative company that specializes in developing clothing and gear that enhance people’s enjoyment of outdoor activities.Terrapin Outfitters strives to show the world by example that everyone can be happy if more people put spent less time on mobile devices, turned off their computers more often, and simply lived by the mantra -“VIBE WITH NATURE”. 

This week is all about New Year's resolutions and how to keep them. Estimates suggest that roughly 40% of American’s make New Year’s resolutions but according to a University of Scranton study only 8% actually keep them. Experts say it’s because resolutions tend to be too broad or vague and are often extreme. One way to increase your success rate is to have someone who can help hold you accountable. This “person” can be an online social community. Making a public declaration of your plan can motivate you. Even better than this is having a support group that has a similar goal. This is often a better choice because you are in it together. You can help motivate each other when you are feeling down or about to derail. Christy and I were not as active as we would like to have been in 2018. We didn’t do a single long-distance backpacking trip! So, we have challenged ourselves to do better this year and we’d like you to join us. We want you all to be part of our support group.   We’ve challenged ourselves to log at least 365 miles on the trail in 2019. This could be from hiking, running, mountain biking, canoeing or kayaking. Walking the dog doesn’t count! Neither does walking to the office! The goal is to get out and move more and vibe with nature.   We’re going to provide monthly progress updates on our podcast. We’ll also be posting to Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #365miles. We’d love for you to join us in the challenge. Let’s see how many miles we can log together! Post your progress and pics on Facebook and Instagram, tag us @insidetheoutsideshow and use the hashtag #365miles.   In addition to the mileage challenge, we are going to challenge ourselves to visit more locations for these activities. We’d love to hear from you to help us with our 2019 bucket list. Tell us some of your “go-to” places to hike or backpack. Are there any group outings or events that we should attend?

This week we're talking about how to stay warm on the trail. For such a seemingly simple question, it's not so straightforward. We've all heard people cry layers, layers, layers but what does that really mean and what kind of layers and how many layers. Let's break it down! It comes down to three activities: Heavy ActivityThis is something that involves a lot of moving around. A lot of physical exertion like hiking. Light ActivityIf you aren’t moving around much it can be challenging to stay warm. SleepingStaying warm while you're sleeping can be a big challenge if you don't know what you're doing. You really need to understand how your insulation works and how thermal conduction and convection work.

Chris Gerken from Gear-Report.com helped us create a top ten gift list. Read the full blogpost here. In no particular order.  Zippo Hand Warmers Tactical Shemagh GSI Insulated Mug Mora Knife Wool Socks Ditty Bags MSR Pocket Rocket II Stove USB Charger We also listed a few not so obvious gifts that any outdoors person would enjoy. LOKSAK zip lock bags Clif Bars Justin's Nut Butter Packets Trash Compactor Bags

This episode we break down our approach to the four cooking scenarios you are most likely to encounter when heading outdoors. Lightweight backpacking (Mostly freeze dried or dehydrated) Packable but perishable (Day one meals like nachos or steaks) Outback camping with conveyances (When you have a bicycle, a horse or an ATV’s that allows you to take car camping style convenience further into the wilderness) Car camping (Where you can take anything you want) Just because you're heading outside doesn't mean you have to suffer when the dinner bell rings!