Wild Ideas Worth Living

Comedian Matt Lyons— trail name Schmutz— is a thru-hiker who makes a living poking fun at outdoor enthusiasts. With a sharp wit and countless trail miles under his belt, Matt brings humor to everything from gear obsessions to the unpredictable mishaps of wilderness life.Connect with Matt: Instagram & TikTokWebsiteThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrellListen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast! 

Denise Joi is a wildlife pilot and conservationist who’s taken her passion for the outdoors to the skies. Denise works alongside biologists to research, survey, and transport species in an effort to protect biodiversity. Her job is incredibly challenging and takes a lot of planning. But for Denise, it is beyond worth it.Connect with Denise: Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrellListen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast! 

At 19, Jade Darmawangsa took on the wild challenge of surfing Pipeline—the most iconic and dangerous wave on the planet. There were two major obstacles: she didn't know how to surf, and she couldn’t swim.Connect with Jade: Website Instagram TikTokYouTubeThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrellListen to REI's Camp Monsters Podcast! 

Eric Carter is an alpine athlete and endurance coach who discovered the niche sport of ski mountaineering, or "skimo," and never looked back. Skimo involves skiing uphill in the backcountry and riding the slope back down. Eric also founded Ridgeline Athletics, where he helps mountain athletes chase their own wild outdoor adventures.Connect with Eric: WebsiteInstagram Ridgeline Athletics website Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrell

Lauren Bash is an environmentalist and storyteller who breaks down the complexities of climate change in an inspiring, accessible way. She empowers people with simple, actionable steps to create a healthier environment—and ultimately, a healthier world.Connect with Lauren: WebsiteInstagram TikTok If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Uncovering Climate Mysteries with Lonnie ThompsonListen to Wildfires and Imperfect Activism with Graham ZimmermanThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrell

For the last 20 years, researcher and journalist, Dan Buettner has been studying the happiest, healthiest people on earth. In 2003, Dan started exploring Blue Zones— regions where people live longer than average, many living to be over 100. His work has revealed that by living in places that encourage healthy habits, living a long fruitful life is more possible than people realize. Connect with Dan: Website Instagram Blue Zones website & Instagram Blue Zones Minestrone recipeIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Riding Waves with the Boogie Board Wave Chasers Listen to REI's Camp Monsters podcast!! Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesHoney Stinger

Dani Reyes-Acosta is a runner, a snowboarder, a climber, and a filmmaker who is intentional about the why behind her adventures. She’s currently in the middle of making her first independent film series, called OUTLIER. The series tells the stories of boundary breaking Latina athletes as they explore their own identities and the great outdoors. Dani’s path to adventure film started in corporate America, but eventually she decided to quit her job and pursue a life of storytelling.Connect with Dani: WebsiteOUTLIER websiteInstagramThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesHoney Stinger

Joe and Ann Evermore live in Colorado and they take wild parenting to a whole new level. Their kids are five, eight and 10, and each of them is a skilled hiker and rock climber. In 2022, their oldest son Sam became the youngest person to climb El Capitan via rope ascent. Connect with Sam & Joe: Website Instagram If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Raising Kids Wildly Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesHoney Stinger

Taku Kondo makes delicious meals outside with ingredients that he forages or catches in the wild. He documents his cooking creations on his YouTube channel, Outdoor Chef Life, which features videos of Taku harvesting the ingredients and preparing meals back at camp.Connect with Taku: Outdoor Chef Life YouTube channelWebsiteInstagramJocelyn & Taku's YouTube, Instagram & website Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesHoney Stinger 

Cheyenne Smith is a multifaceted, adventurer and outdoor guide. She skis, rock climbs, highlines, and leads climbing trips for women of color with a nonprofit called Women's Wilderness. Her guiding style focuses on building community and teaching others to be present and intentional when they're in the wild.Connect with Cheyenne: Website InstagramWomen's Wilderness If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Life on a Highline with Faith DickeyThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesHoney Stinger Check out: REI Co-op Experiences   

Rose McAdoo is trained baker and culinary artist who makes “science desserts” — four tiered cakes or sparkling lollipops that she uses to explain complex environmental concepts. The best part, Rose creates these culinary masterpieces in the wild. She has whipped up desserts at the edges of glaciers, on volcanoes, and in caves and deserts. Each sweet is an educational work of art that tells a story and celebrates science and adventure.Connect with Rose: Website InstagramThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesGU Energy

Molly Cupka is a climber and founder of the organization Up Ending Parkinson's, a nonprofit that teaches people with Parkinson's disease to rock climb. Parkinson's is the second most common neurological disease behind Alzheimer's and rock climbing provides a ton of health benefits including balance, grip strength, and mental acuity. For the climbers who Molly trains, there's another benefit that is harder to quantify, community and connection.Connect with Molly:Check out Up Ending ParkinsonsThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesGU Energy

Kait Boyle is an elite adventure cyclist who bikes over mountains, across deserts, and through canyons. Early on in her cycling career, Kait found her niche, falling in love with races in the 24 hour 300 mile range. In 2018, a serious accident turned Kait's life upside down and changed her perspective on the path she's carved.Connect with Kait: Instagram Website Bikepacking Roots website & Instagram If you enjoyed this episode, listen to: 100 Peaks in 50 Days with Jason HardrathCycling Around the World with Lael WilcoxEstablishing Bikepacking Routes with Sarah SwallowWild Ideas Worth Living with Rebecca Rusch & Biking the 1,200 Mile Ho Chi Minh Trail in Search of Her Father and Finding Magic with Rebecca RuschThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesGU Energy

Kristine Tompkins is one of the world's most successful conservationists. She's the president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, which is a non-profit that purchases land in South America, largely in Patagonia to create national parks, boost regenerative economies, and bring back missing species through rewilding. Before dedicating her life to land preservation, Kris spent 25 years working for Patagonia, the company. She was one of the first employees and eventually served as CEO.Connect with Kristine: Instagram Tompkins Conservation website & Instagram Check out: Patagonia National Park: Chile If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Uncovering Climate Mysteries with Lonnie Thompson Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesGU Energy

Zach Friedley is a professional athlete who is changing the sport of trail running. Zach was born without most of his right leg, and is often the only adaptive athlete at the starting line of some of the world’s hardest races. There aren’t a lot of running events with categories specifically for adaptive athletes, but Zach is on a mission to change that.Connect with Zach: Instagram Born to Adapt website & InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Running for Change with Nicole Ver KuilenThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesGU Energy