A conversation with Michael Levy, editor and publisher of Summit Journal, America’s original climbing magazine, founded in 1955!Michael is a journalist and lifelong climber who has spent time on everything from the big walls of Yosemite and the limestone cliffs of Southeast Asia to peaks in the Alaska Range and Cordillera Blanca.In this episode, we talk about Michael’s winding path into climbing journalism, from studying English and Middle Eastern studies to guiding in Asia, pulling espresso shots, working construction, and eventually joining Rock and Ice and Climbing Magazine.We get into the history of Summit, which was founded by Jean Crenshaw and Helen Kilness, two women who helped shape climbing journalism beginning in the 1950s, and what it took for Michael to bring the magazine back nearly 30 years after it disappeared.We also talk about finding stories that go beyond who climbed what, why long-form storytelling still belongs in print, and how Michael works with writers and photographers to bring each issue to life. He shares a few of his favorite stories from the magazine, why some of the best inspiration comes from outside climbing, and how each issue finds its shape without starting with a set theme.We also get into the less glamorous side of independent publishing, from international shipping and paper availability to websites, events, and building a community around a magazine! Hope you enjoy this episode! Follow Wander for more :)!
A conversation with Kade!Kade is the founding editor of Ori Magazine, a print only travel publication that is rethinking how stories about place, people, and culture are told. What began as a life centered around skiing and storytelling has grown into something much broader, rooted in curiosity, connection, and a desire to shift the way we experience the world.In this episode, we talk about Kade’s path from college soccer to ski journalism, and how years of travel and reporting led to the creation of Ori. We get into what it means to tell stories with people rather than about them, why print still matters in a digital world, and how slowing down can deepen the way we engage with both media and travel.We also explore the creative ecosystem around Ori, from working with local journalists across the globe to building initiatives like the Ori Creative Grant, which supports storytellers in a tangible way. Along the way, Kade shares thoughts on identity beyond sport, the balance between passion and burnout, and how to stay grounded while building something meaningful.ORI Explore more at Wander StudiosSubscribe to the Wander Substack for long form essays and interviewsFollow along on InstagramWander is an independent platform centered on movement, creativity, and connection in the outdoor space. We share conversations with athletes, creatives, and culture shapers building thoughtful lives around sport and the landscapes that shape them.If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or leave a quick Spotify review — it helps independent projects like this grow <3
A conversation with Stephen Shelesky on photography, cycling, skiing, and the kinds of projects that shift the way you see your work.We talk about how Stephen found his way into photography, from shooting landscapes in college to building a career in the ski world, and how that path was shaped by time spent in Jackson, Wyoming. What started as a pretty solitary practice eventually became something deeply collaborative, working alongside athletes and learning how relationships shape the images being made.The conversation moves into cycling, Iceland, and the Mountain Races, and how stepping into something new cracked open a different creative direction. Stephen shares about signing up for the White Rim Road with almost no experience, spending months riding through the Westfjords, and later returning not as a racer but as a photographer documenting events like Silk Road and Atlas Mountain Race.We get into the shift from controlled, production based work to something more reactive and observational. What it looks like to document people moving through discomfort, how his work has become grittier and more emotional, and why he is more interested in capturing what something feels like rather than just what it looks like.We also talk about burnout, identity, place, and the tension between making a living and making work that actually feels meaningful. Stephen shares about leaving Jackson, time spent in LA, and the ongoing process of figuring out where to land and what kind of work to build a life around.We also touch on authorship, long term creative direction, and his interest in telling more stories within the endurance space that feel personal and underrepresented.Follow StephenExplore more at Wander StudiosSubscribe to the Wander Substack for long form essays and interviewsFollow along on InstagramWander is an independent platform centered on movement, creativity, and connection in the outdoor space. We share conversations with athletes, creatives, and culture shapers building thoughtful lives around sport and the landscapes that shape them.If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or leave a quick Spotify review — it helps independent projects like this grow <3
Blair is the founder of FSP Outdoors and co creator of Amateurs Magazine, and in this episode we talk about building slow, intentional creative projects in a fast, hyper digital outdoor culture.We start with the question I ask everyone who are you and what do you spend your time doing which takes us from surfing Rockaway and running in Forest Park to ice climbing, sewing custom packs, freelancing in the photo industry, and hosting events during Paris Fashion Week. Blair shares how living in New York City shapes his relationship to the outdoors, and how public transit access to trails has quietly influenced his perspective on nature and community.We dive deep into Amateurs, how it evolved from handmade mailers tucked into FSP orders into a fully realized print publication exploring the art, philosophy, and deeper why behind outdoor pursuits. We talk about trail running as a tool rather than an end goal, the tension between performance culture and soul driven movement, and why the magazine intentionally weaves together mysticism, history, art, and endurance sport.Blair also walks through the origin of FSP Outdoors, a decade long sewing practice that grew organically from making one bag for a trip into a small batch, intentionally anti scale brand. We talk about working with athletes like Tyler Andrews on a custom Everest FKT pack, the reality of choosing craft over mass production, and what it means to step back from building a brand in favor of building something sustainable and personal.We touch on Paris Fashion Week, the crossover between fashion and outdoor culture, hosting events with brands like Keen, and the importance of creating in person spaces that extend print into real life. Throughout the conversation, we return to the idea that magazines and creative projects in general should offer something the internet cannot, permanence, depth, and a reason to sit with a story.Stay tuned for more conversations about print in the outdoor space. This episode is part of a multi week series exploring independent magazines, the resurgence of slow media, and the people shaping a new creative wave in outdoor culture.Explore more at Wander StudiosSubscribe to the Wander Substack for long-form essays and interviews.Follow along on Instagram Wander is an independent platform centered on movement, creativity, and connection in the outdoor space. We share conversations with athletes, creatives, and culture-shapers building thoughtful lives around sport and the landscapes that shape them.This episode is part of our ongoing print-focused series exploring slow media in the outdoor world.If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or leave a quick Spotify review — it helps independent projects like this grow <3!!
A conversation with Joshua Strong and Sydney Lewis, recorded in person! This is also available to watch on our youtube!We talk about how they both found their way into creative work, what it looks like to build something together through Labyrinth Studios, and the reality of freelancing in the endurance world.The conversation moves through creative burnout, stepping away from performance, parenting, and learning how to not tie your entire identity to your work. Joshua shares about being hit by a car last year and how that shifted their perspective on everything, and Sydney talks about finding her way back into sport through photography.We also get into their upcoming project with No Binary No Problem at The Speed Project and the kind of community centered work they care about most.Follow SYDNEY & JOSHUA & LABYRINTHExplore more at Wander StudiosSubscribe to the Wander Substack for long-form essays and interviews.Follow along on InstagramWander is an independent platform centered on movement, creativity, and connection in the outdoor space. We share conversations with athletes, creatives, and culture-shapers building thoughtful lives around sport and the landscapes that shape them.If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or leave a quick Spotify review — it helps independent projects like this grow <3!!