Nomad Ramblings: Conversations from the Road

We had a really great time recording this episode and I think it shows in the conversation. Both of us are becoming much more comfortable with podcasting and we look forward to pumping out more episodes on the reg going forward. In this episode, Craig interviews Brian on his video strategy for YouTube. Brian’s channel, Off-Grid Backcountry Adventures, hit the 100K subscriber milestone over the weekend so Craig dives into what strategies Brian has been using to make his channel appeal to the masses. Thanks to everyone for tuning in! Brian’s YouTube Channel

Today’s episode was really enjoyable to record as Craig went into great detail bringing us up to speed with his Big Rig training. Seems all is going well despite a few mechanical setbacks and Craig looks forward to completing training so he can have his own rig with Roux by his side. I have to give Craig major kudos for tackling a subject in this episode which many consider off limits. Give it a listen and let us know what you think, we would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! As always, thanks for tuning in.

Hey Everyone, we’re back and have got some great stuff to talk about! In the first half of this episode we dive into Craig’s lifestyle changes and his new path while still being a nomad. He’s going to have some INSANELY AWESOME stories in the near future so I can’t wait to feature some of those on the podcast! Me (Brian speaking), I’ve been fishing my brains out in the Colorado high country. It’s been a GREAT season for big cutthroats and I’ve enjoyed the solitude with Sierra. The second half of the podcast shifts to discuss why society is having such a hard time communicating. It seems if two people have opposing viewpoints, they consider one another to be a mortal enemy. This mindset is dangerous and only leads to more siloing. We don’t know what the answer is but we both feel having the ability to listen goes a long way these days!

Welcome to episode number 60 of Nomad Ramblings: Conversations from the Road. We recorded this episode inside Brian’s topper in an undisclosed location in Rim Country, Arizona. I (Craig) left Gunnison just under a week ago to take my nomad game to another level by throwing myself into my YouTube channel - The Coleman Road Journal - and other nomad revenue generating strategies. To that end, I’d greatly appreciate it if you seek out and subscribe to my channel. There’s some decent stuff up there now, including some video of this conversation, and more content will be coming on a regular basis. Today, Brian and I talked about how we’ve found the nomad lifestyle bolsters our mental resilience. In the last episode, we talked about our nomad strategies to fortify our economic resilience to situations like the coronavirus, and to day we turn our attention to our mental resilience. We both revisit our past experiences with substance abuse and mental health challenges (see episodes 12 and 18), and talk about how the COVID19 situation is ripe for stress and substance abuse for those in lock-down situations. We encourage everybody to be mindful of their stress and pursue healthy outlets for relief. Naturally, the backcountry nomad approach is working for us.

There’s no doubt these are challenging times and many are facing despair over finances, loss of income, and life threatening illnesses. Living through such an experience can help us to identify any weaknesses in our resiliency. How can you become better prepared to ensure stable income when the next crisis unfolds? In this episode we discuss content creation as a full-time job and how it’s essentially recession-proof. Brian explains his method of growing his YouTube Channel to 70K subscribers and Craig decides to jump in feet first producing videos about living on the road with his blind dog, Roux. This was a really fun episode to record from our camp outside of Sedona. Hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as we did! Thanks for tuning in.__________________Do you have any questions for us? If so, please email us via the contact form on Brian’s website (link below) . We’d be happy to address any areas of interest you may have. Thanks for tuning in!Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman- Website | YouTubeBrian Galyon- Website | YouTube

Hey Everyone, Brian here. We are currently truck camping and social distancing outside of Sedona, AZ at an incredible location with amazing views. Craig left Gunnison a few days ago and we’ve met up with fellow nomads Christo, Jason, and Beau to create what we’ve nicknames the Covid Cul de Sac. In this episode, Craig talks about his experience on the front lines dealing with the general public with his bus driving responsibilities and I dive into the extreme isolation I’ve endured for the past three months. We both agree spending time with fellow nomads during this crisis has definitely been chicken soup for the soul.Do you have any questions for us? If so, please email us via the contract form . We’d be happy to address any areas of interest you may have. Thanks for tuning in!Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman- Website | YouTubeBrian Galyon- Website | YouTube

Hey Everyone! We hope you all are staying healthy and happy during the current corona virus crisis. Today’s episode starts out with a brief update from both Brian and Craig with what they’ve been experiencing since the health crisis took hold. After that, we dive into the possible benefits of a society experiencing major disruption to daily life which may cause one to make positive changes to their set of values. We both feel minimalism holds many answers to the problems most people are facing today. Thanks for tuning in! Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman- Website | YouTubeBrian Galyon- Website | YouTube

Hey Everyone! Hope you all are having a great start to 2020! This episode turned out being really good…I (Brian here) went into this with a slight cold but Craig really stepped up to deliver a solid conversation. We start out talking about my winter camping endeavors which started up on Dec 27th and then we switch gears to Craig who explains how living a nomadic existence has shaped his new value set. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did. Thanks for tuning in!Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman- Website | YouTubeBrian Galyon- Website | YouTube

Hey Everyone! We took a short break from recording episodes due to very busy personal schedules but now we’re back and we’ve got a wide range of topics to cover. This episode hits on censorship and how corporate influence is limiting free speech. Brian shares his experience with YouTube censorship while Craig explains his life plan to avoid these controlling scenarios. Thanks for tuning in!Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman- Website | YouTubeBrian Galyon- Website | YouTube

An October 31, 2019, Colorado Sun article sparked a forceful backlash by the outdoor community toward the online retailer, Backcountry.com (BCDC). Their sin? The company filed for trademarks to own the word “backcountry” for a broad swath of uses and the Goliath retailer deployed its army of lawyers to slay any and all small businesses daring to use the word in their products or company name. The first lawsuit was filed on July 27, 2016 and 50 companies have fallen victim to this predatory practice. (Link to the United States Patent and Trademark Office website itemizing BCDC’s patent and trademark activities). Since the publication of Colorado Sun’s article, the uprise by the outdoor community has been swift and fierce.This episode captures Brian and Craig’s discussion about BCDC’s actions and the recent backlash. Given Brian’s company’s name is Colorado Backcountry Adventures, his reaction and judgment are justifiably passionate. This is quite personal for him.There’s been a flurry of discussion across the internet. Here’s a list of relevant links to the subject and our conversation:BCDC’s (fake) apologyFacebook group Boycott BackcountryDOTcomKyle Frost’s article, “The Backcountry.com debacle isn't really about trademarks,” on the Outbound CollectiveBoth Brian and Craig agree that the crux of BCDC’s sin is their attempt to own what is a spiritual term for outdoor enthusiasts, but the pathway to their redemption is murky. Craig still hopes that the company can find its way out of purgatory; Brian prefers they burn in hell. Regardless, the two discuss what the possible avenues are to make amends.Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

What’s up everybody, welcome to episode 53 of Nomad Ramblings. This is Craig coming to you from Newport News, Virginia. Brian’s out camping Chaco Canyon in the Southwest. Today’s episode covers a variety of topics. We start the discussion ranting a bit - Brian about troubles he experienced at the start of his recent travels, and me about the outdoor retailer, Cabela’s. After venting a bit, we turn our attention to my travels in New England and New York. In particular, we digest my approach to urban stealth camping in New York City. Then the conversation shifts to discussing Brian’s new strategy and service plan for unlimited data. It’s called Netbuddy. For those in need, the service seems worth pursuing. Finally, we round out our chat laying out our plans for the next month or two. So sit back for another rambling conversation and, as always, drop a line with whatever feedback y’all have.Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Joshua Killeen, a US Veteran War Photographer, lives off-grid on a beautiful property in Northern Arizona and is the Media Coordinator for the Arizona Rural Landowners Association. This Association was recently formed in order to combat the corruption, harassment, and extortion from Yavapai County code enforcement officers on rural landowners which has been happening for years. From landowners being charged astronomical permitting fees to being kicked off their land, the corruption is widespread in Northern Arizona. In this episode of Nomad Ramblings, Joshua tells their story and what they are doing to fight back.Contact the Arizona Rural Landowners Association via their Facebook Page ARLA Mission Statement: Our mission is to support the preservation of our beautiful rural communities, the landowners rights within said communities, and to bring the rural landowners together in a group to help support positive action.Yavapai County Corruption In the News:The Sedona Eye - Yavapai County Corruption Alleged - June 8th, 2015Arizona Daily Independent - Arizona’s Corrupt Government Only Provides Justice For Some - Mar 7th, 2017Verde News - Good Luck Getting a Building Permit in Yavapai County - Jan 25th, 2018__________________________YouTube - Our Tiny Homestead - Dave Williams Horror Story - Ex-Homeless U.S. Veteran Under Attack by Yavapai County Code Enforcement - Yavapai County’s Abuse of it’s Citizens (Continued) - Yavapai County Town Hall Meeting Results (Video #1)

When Brian and I first discussed what this podcast would be, Christo Johnson was on my mind. The vision was to interview different adventure nomads we knew and share tricks of the trade. I hadn’t seen Christo for more than 20 years but had caught wind of his paragliding life through Facebook. So here we are a year later and I finally got the interview done. My instincts to get him on the podcast were right.Christo’s nomad resume is off-the-hook. He’s spent the last 21 years as a river guide, launching from Honduras, Alaska, Grand Canyon, Salmon, Idaho. California, Colorado, and West Virginia. His love affair for the past eight years is paragliding, an activity which rises far above sport for him, but he does compete internationally. Some of the highlights include: In the Rat Race, in Applegate Valley, OR, he was the Sprint class winner in 2016, the Sport class winner in 2017, and the overall Sport 2017 US National Champion. In 2017 in Pemberton, British Columbia, he placed 6th in the Canadian Nationals. He’s paraglided in Nepal two different years, Thailand, Columbia, Canada, and Mexico. His 2019 Fall plans take him to India, where he intends to Vol Biv Fly his way over the mountain range where the Dalai Lama lives. Vol Biv is the current frontier of paragliding, where pilots work their way cross-country, flying from peak to peak, camping along the way.I hooked up with Christo in Glenwood Springs, CO, where he’s working as a raft guide and commercial paragliding tandem pilot. We kicked it for a few days, VanLife Style, in the Roaring Fork Valley - he in his built out Ram Promaster 3500, me in my Tacoma. He took me flying one morning and rafting that afternoon - he had me at hello. In return, I cooked him my famous Italian beef in a pressure cooker.We sat down for the interview in Christo’s van at Sopris Park in Carbondale, CO. I’m not gonna lie, I’m jealous of his home. We talked about his nomad journey over the past 20+ years, touching on his time at Avon Old Farms Prep School, Western Colorado State University, and recounting his memories of Russell Kelly - a Darien, CT native, and Telluride adventure legend. The latter half of the conversation focuses on his religion - paragliding.Despite not being close buds growing up, the camaraderie between us was instant. There was no facade to our conversation, no mock-up to describing how life’s been going. But I think that’s what nomads are - if nothing else, authentic.Follow and connect with Christo Johnson: Facebook | Instagram (@whitewaterchristo) | YouTubeChristo welcomes sponsorship and partnership inquiries. Paragliding wings have quite the real estate for brand recognition.Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

What’s up, Nomad Ramblers! Craig here with the honor of introducing a big milestone for Nomad Ramblings. Welcome to episode 50. We’re in just over a year on this extended conversation and Brian and I want to thank all our listeners for tuning over the past year. Having this venue is a big driver for growth for us. Thanks for being part of it.Fitting for this milestone, in this episode Brian and I talk about how we define a nomad, as well as VanLife trends and impacts we see and experience. It dawned on me while editing this episode that we may come across as a bit negative in our VanLife discussion. We talk a lot about how mountain towns with surrounding public lands and their respective National Forest/BLM offices are acting to limit dispersed camping in response to increased public lands abuse. Towns are even outlawing sleeping in one’s vehicle. These trends are disappointing, but understandable. Keeping our eye toward solutions, though, we call on the responsible vast majority to step up and educate and guide any unknowing bad actors giving we nomads a bad name.Our conversation ends pondering what it means to be a nomad. Brian sees nomads as free minds; I view nomads as artists. What do you think? Let us know.Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Hey Everyone! We’re back after a short 6 week break and had a chance to record a podcast from camp just north of Crested Butte a few days ago. This is a free-flowing podcast with no real outline so we touch on a number of topics including the Omega Man concept, why being an “influencer” can be a distraction, Craig’s travel plans to the East Coast, and Brian’s summer in Crested Butte working for the town as a part-time gardener. Thanks for tuning in!Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Too much Dr. Phil and the comforts of home gravely threaten Brian’s sanity. His mind seeks escape through the utopia of social media, but he finds only the chaos of morons with moronic opinions.Without the life and death excitement of snowmobiling daily in and out of the Off-Grid Monastery, Craig seeks inspiration. He needs some healthy goals. Now is not the time to indulge in the false comforts of social media.If you relate to any of the above, it’s time to make a plan to hit the road!After a discussion of the negativity of too much social media, Craig and Brian turn their attention to Brian’s plans for the summer. Ever the optimistic schemer, Brian shares his summer blueprint for good nomad times. First, he’s wrapping up his documentary Eyes Wide: Life on Simpler Terms - a project over three years in the making. Then, it’s on to the Outdoor Retailer Demo Conference in Denver. And lastly, he heads northwest to Idaho, to explore new territory and friendships.This episode can be summed up in the idea of how unwritten stories and storytelling are fundamental to a nomad lifestyle.What’s your story?Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Why is there such conflict these days? Why do people feel the need to control everyone else’s thoughts, speech, and beliefs? Have we lost the ability to be tolerant of other viewpoints? Is social media to blame for the “group speak” causing brain atrophy? We talk about a few different real life examples of why it’s dangerous to engage in identity politics and how being open-minded to opposing viewpoints can foster positive changes personally and professionally. If you’d like to join our Nomad Ramblers Facebook Group then please do so at the link below. Thanks for tuning in!Nomad Ramblers Facebook GroupOutside Podcast: Why Steven Rinella wants Hunters and Hikers to hold handsGet to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Being completely honest with this statement…Craig is lucky to be alive today. Immediately upon his return from Bears Ears, a massive lightning strike decimated the off-grid ranch in Gunnison. Craig was in the house when it happened and witnessed lightning bolts of energy pulsing through the air in the living room area. He explains what happened, how the strike completely destroyed the entire electrical system, and what it’s going to take to get everything back up and running again. Thanks for tuning in!Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Roughly 10 days ago, Brian was driving to a camping meet up with a bunch of people from all over the country. Arriving early in the day, Brian anticipated a weekend full of good times and memories hiking around with others and enjoying the wonderful scenery. However, one irresponsible dog owner changed all that as his aggressive German Shepherds attacked Sierra leaving her with a 6 inch gash on her neck. They would have killed her had Brian not been right there to defend Sierra. Get to know your podcast hosts:Craig Coleman - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInBrian Galyon - Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn