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

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

Today on the show I have Noah Howell, a maverick ski mountaineer, story teller, and creator of Powderwhore Productions. Noah writes for Ascent Backcountry Magazine and runs a popular skiing blog at his personal website NoahHowell.com, documenting dozens of entertaining and cutting edge ski descents, including his journey to climb and ski the 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America (which has become a cult classic of sorts within the backcountry and ski mountaineering communities). There's a couple of things worth pointing out about Noah. First of all, he's kind of hilarious. His ‘don't take yourself too seriously' vibe is not only refreshing, but also kept us both laughing throughout the conversation. On top of that, the guy truly dances to the beat of his own drum, which you have to have mad respect for, especially because that path doesn't always lead to mainstream commercial success. Instead of focusing on traditional popularity metrics common among many in the industry, Noah tows the line that all you need is a compelling vision that resonates with you, and the work will speak for itself. But don't let the self-deprecating humor and fly under the radar ethos fool you. All you have to do is do a quick google search or ask around the backcountry skiing community, and you'll find out real quick that Noah is one of the most accomplished and well-respected skiers out there. In this episode, Noah and I cover topics like the gratification of building things with your own hands, death and risk in the outdoor community, and how snow science is overemphasized in avalanche awareness and education and how interpersonal communication and group dynamics within the backcountry skiing community deserves much more focus. I genuinely enjoyed this funny and raw conversation with Noah and I hope you will too. Before we jump in to the chat, I have one request for those of you listening. Join me in supporting Noah and the work he does. If you're a skier, and even if you're not I promise you'll be entertained, head over to Noah's website and check out how painstakingly detailed his blog posts are. You can think of it as one of the most comprehensive and useful guidebooks out there, chock full of some of the most iconic lines and ridiculous shenanigans out there. Like me, I think you'll quickly realize that Noah's work, insights, and sarcasm are an asset to our community. Treat yourself to a couple of posts, then do the guy and rest of us a solid by clicking on the Patreon button and consider donating a couple of bucks. In most cases there's some swag in it for you, but more than that it just feels good to support such an authentic adventurer and story teller.     Episode Resources: Noah Howell - Website/Blog, Instagram, and Patreon Page Powderwhore Productions (Noah's ski movie production company) filmography, media coverage of business closing announcement, and a tattoo sesh 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America (here's Noah's Journey and progress) Ascent Magazine Noah's sponsors and gear recommendations (Black Diamond, Julbo, Scarpa, Gnarly Nutrition) Andrew McLean - The Chuting Gallery Andy Dorais and Jason Dorais Jonah Howell (brother) Jeff Taylor Hans Saari Cody Townsend Kyle Dempster Drew Hardesty Bob Athey - The Wizard of the Wasatch Summit Post HAPE Skimo.co  

Today on the show I have Alex Schulze and Andrew Cooper, 2 surfers that met in college and founded 4ocean, a company whose purpose is to end the ocean plastic crisis by cleaning the ocean and coastlines and working to stop of inflow of plastic by changing consumption habits. In 2 short years, 4ocean has gained incredible traction and created massive international impact. Its social audience has grown to over 3 million and the company has removed almost 7 million pounds of plastic worldwide. How have they scaled so quickly you might ask? Well Andrew and Alex work their asses off for one, but what's perhaps more compelling is their unique business model. To fund the massive international cleanup efforts, 4ocean sells recycled bracelets and other reusable products. For every unit sold, they remove a pound of plastic from the ocean. This episode is packed with sage business and life advice, so grab a cup of coffee and your notebook and enjoy!   Show Resources: 4ocean company website 4ocean Instagram Tom's Shoes (company that helped pioneer and popularize the one-for-one business model)

In this episode I have Mario Molina, the Executive Director of Protect Our Winters, which if you're not familiar with POW, is a non-profit created by professional snowboarder and entrepreneur Jeremy Jones. POW's mission is to turn passionate outdoor people into effective climate advocates and having been fortunate enough to interview and work with a number of great people in the Protect Our Winters ecosystem, I have to say they do a hell of a job at that mission - so thank you to the whole team, the board and all the athlete ambassadors for fighting the good fight and leading the way for the rest of us. Speaking of leading, Mario is easily one of the most insightful, well read, and articulate executives I've come across - which you'll quickly realize as we get into the conversation. Prior to POW, Mario served as international director for Vice President Al Gore's organization,  The Climate Reality Project and Deputy Director at the Alliance for Climate Education, which educates young people all over the world on the science of climate change to empower them to take action. I loved this chat. Not only because Mario was so thoughtful, but because one can't help but walk away with something truly valuable. Whether it's a philosophy on how to perceive our own self limits, the shared ethos that brings together the outdoor community regardless of what country your from or language you speak, or some very tangible tips on becoming a better climate advocate - I sincerely hope you'll find some great nuggets like I did.   Resources: Mario Molina Protect Our Winters (POW) Jeremy Jones - Founder POW and Jones Snowboards, and Professional Snowboarder Awesome POW Staff POW Climate Activist's Roadmap POW Climate Science primer page Helen Davis - photo journalist for Denver post and Mario's climbing partner Auden Shendler - Chair of POW board and VP of Sustainability - Aspen Snowmass Naomi Oreskes - POW Board Member, Professor of History of Science - Harvard University Chris Steinkamp - former POW Executive Director Donna Carpenter - POW Board member, CEO Burton Snowboards Civil war in Guatemala in the early 80s “The Revenge of Geography” by Robert Kaplan (geopolitics) Two books that were formative in Mario's childhood: Conticki and 7 Years in Tibet The Age of Empire - Eric Hobsbawm Outward Bound NOLS The American Power Act (cap and trade bill) Nicholas Stern - The New Climate Economy Climate Reality Project Alliance for Climate Education Hot Climate, Cool Athletes (POW flagship program) Duct Tape, Then Beer (outdoor media/production company) Merchants of Doubt - Naomi Oreskes The Core Act The Exxon Mobile Victory Memo NPR - Science Friday Daniel Scott - Studies tourism and climate change (co-guest with Mario on NPR's Science Friday)   Episode themes: How our identify in the outdoor community helps us bond over a love for adventure, irregardless of where we come from or what language we speak. What it's like to group up in Guatemala City where civil war and Cou drills are the reality. Very thoughtful, well spoken, insightful Fascinating conversation, fairly intellectual, Making things like greenhouse gases and fossil fuels socially and legislatively unacceptable, much like drunk driving or cigarettes for minors. We need to be climate citizens We need to have the hard conversations about the things we believe in

Today on the show I have Brendan Leonard, who you may also know as Semi-Rad from his popular and hilarious long-running blog by the same name. Brendan is one of those outdoor and adventure creatives who kinda does it all. He's a columnist and contributing editor for Outside Magazine and Adventure Journal respectively, he crafts stories and even produces and shoots his own films, and creates humorous cartoons depicting relatable everyday shit we all go through as human beings and outdoor enthusiasts. What I like most about Brendan and his work, is his ethos (which perhaps not surprisingly as a writer Brendan articulates best). He says: "I created my blog Semi-Rad.com as a channel for those of us who aren't elite climbers, skiers, ultra runners, and alpinists - the folks who love to get out there, but maybe don't take it or themselves too seriously. Semi-Rad is enthusiasm for things regular people can do, adventures for the everyman and woman. It's a website for those of us crushing it, kind of.” That is to say that Brendan believes in the democratization of adventure. You don't need to be climbing 5.14 or kayaking class V whitewater or medaling at your next mountain ultra. Instead as Brendan says, we simply 'need to spend more time doing things we love, going to places that make us feel small, remembering to laugh at ourselves, and getting a little cold, tired, and scared every once in a while.” I couldn't agree more Brendan.   Show resources: Semi-Rad (Brendan's) blog New book coming out! “Bears Don't Care About Your Problems” The Art of Getting Lost and other books by Brendan Guide to Peak Bagging Films by Brendan Leonard Blog post about releasing a book Mountaineer's books Between the Covers - bookstore in in Telluride, CO Mountain Film (film festival) 5Point Adventure Film Festival Banff Mountain Film Platforms for creating books: Lightning Source, Ingrim Spark, Create Space The Dirtbag Diaries (great podcast by Fitz Cahall of Duct Tape Then Beer) Adventure Journal - Steve Casmiro (editor) Patreon Outdoor Research (brand partner) Forest Woodward - Film Maker Seth Godin - Marketing thought leader Canon 5D (recommended camera)   Show topics/themes: Self publishing— the pros and cons of doing it yourself, marketing yourself, and finding the balance when making deals with publishers The path to sobriety from addiction Keeping up a blog— making a commitment, being patient, and practicing determination The writing process: anyone can be a writer, just not everyone sticks with it. the difference is actually sitting down and doing the work. With writing, filming, or creating anything, you have to REALLY believe that you have something to say. Making the outdoors accessible to everyone, not just the big famous athletes— finding the small things we can bond over and find humor in.

Alright I'm amped guys - on today's show I have Cody Townsend, who is truly one of the outdoor and adventure world's most ambitious and accomplished personalities. The quintessential adventurepreneur, Cody not only resides atop the list of pro skier royalty for his mind-bending descents and unprecedented ski mountaineering projects, but also owns an outdoor company and thinks like a true innovator. And before I go into Cody's long list of achievements, I want to remind you that there has never been an easier time to follow in similar footsteps, or better yet carve your own path to success. Cody too started from scratch (we all do), with nothing but a burning desire to make something of himself. Don't forget that comrades. I think it's sometimes easy for us to sit and listen to stories like Cody's and say “Oh he's a special case, or I could never do that because of xyz reason.” If that narrative is bouncing around in your head, I urge you to pay special attention to how hard Cody works and listen to the 'Where there's a will there's a way' theme that runs through this episode and has gotten him to where he is. Alright with that important public service announcement out of the way, Cody is perhaps most famous for his 2014 award winning ski line in the Tordrillo Mountains of Alaska, where he shoots down a nearly impossibly narrow couloir and pops out the other side carrying speeds in the 70mph range. Video of the line got recognition from headline media such as The Today Show and countless other publications and was aptly named “The Crack,” Cody took home three wins at the Powder Awards in 2014. Shortly before his descent went viral, Cody cofounded a company called Arcade Belts, which has since gone on to become a ubiquitous brand across the outdoor industry. His most recent endeavor, aptly named the “The Fifty Project” is perhaps his most crowning achievement to date. It's a YouTube web series documenting his journey to ski mountaineer the “50 Classic Ski Descents of North America”. You may remember my conversation with Penn Newhard from a couple of episodes back, who is one of the authors of that book, which is starting to build a cult classic following, in no small part due to Cody's web series. On top of his various pursuits, Cody's just a really cool and thoughtful guy - and easily one the most motivated and dedicated athletes out there. He invited me into his home where we had a long chat about a cornucopia of topics, all of which I think you'll find compelling - I know I sure did. NOTE: This episode is part one of a two part series. Honestly, Cody's stories and insights were so interesting and useful that I think we both lost track of time, and the conversation went almost 2 and half hours. So be sure to check out Part 2 if you like what you hear here. In Part 1 we chat about a good old fashioned digital detox, surfing, the story behind the Crack, and both the glory days and future of free skiing, and in Part 2 we not only get into tons of practical and detailed advice on building your passion project, but also dive into Cody's dark period and how he reinvented himself, the genesis of the 50 project, the lessons he learned building Arcade Belts into a killer brand, and much more.   Show Themes: Part 1 - Value of a good digital detox, Dealing with Fear, the culture of surfing, the glory days and future of free skiing Part 2 - Tons of practical, detailed advice on building the project you've always wanted, Death in the industry, Reinventing yourself after a big success, the transition from ski porn to backcountry ski mountaineering, genesis of the 50 project, the business of skiing (treating it like a job) , why it's easier than ever to build a successful project, how to work with and create a value proposition for sponsors and brands, becoming an entrepreneur - the story of Arcade Belts, key to building a successful project or business: talk to people figure it out, the counterintuitive philosophy on seed money for your business.   Show Resources: Cody Townsend website and social media The Fifty Project YouTube Series Video of “The Crack” (winner of 3 awards at 2014 Powder Awards) Elyse (wife) social media Rich Roll - fellow podcaster Cal Newport (Digital detox) Shane McConkey (skier, innovator) Trent Dilfer— Cody's dad was his coach in high school, top 5 draft pick in NFL Scot Schmidt (OG extreme skier) CR Johnson — Cody and CR were on a race team together when they were younger Scott Gaffney JT Holmes Tim Durtschi Tommy Caldwell Alex Honnold Eric Jackson Travis Rice (“The Crack Controversy) Noah Howell Pen, Art and Chris (authors of 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America book) Jeremy Jones Bjarne Salen Tristan Queen (CEO of Arcade Belts) Online Q&A with Travis Rice about the Crack “controversy”

Alright I'm amped guys - on today's show I have Cody Townsend, who is truly one of the outdoor and adventure world's most ambitious and accomplished personalities. The quintessential adventurepreneur, Cody not only resides atop the list of pro skier royalty for his mind-bending descents and unprecedented ski mountaineering projects, but also owns an outdoor company and thinks like a true innovator. And before I go into Cody's long list of achievements, I want to remind you that there has never been an easier time to follow in similar footsteps, or better yet carve your own path to success. Cody too started from scratch (we all do), with nothing but a burning desire to make something of himself. Don't forget that comrades. I think it's sometimes easy for us to sit and listen to stories like Cody's and say “Oh he's a special case, or I could never do that because of xyz reason.” If that narrative is bouncing around in your head, I urge you to pay special attention to how hard Cody works and listen to the 'Where there's a will there's a way' theme that runs through this episode and has gotten him to where he is. Alright with that important public service announcement out of the way, Cody is perhaps most famous for his 2014 award winning ski line in the Tordrillo Mountains of Alaska, where he shoots down a nearly impossibly narrow couloir and pops out the other side carrying speeds in the 70mph range. Video of the line got recognition from headline media such as The Today Show and countless other publications and was aptly named “The Crack,” Cody took home three wins at the Powder Awards in 2014. Shortly before his descent went viral, Cody cofounded a company called Arcade Belts, which has since gone on to become a ubiquitous brand across the outdoor industry. His most recent endeavor, aptly named the “The Fifty Project” is perhaps his most crowning achievement to date. It's a YouTube web series documenting his journey to ski mountaineer the “50 Classic Ski Descents of North America”. You may remember my conversation with Penn Newhard from a couple of episodes back, who is one of the authors of that book, which is starting to build a cult classic following, in no small part due to Cody's web series. On top of his various pursuits, Cody's just a really cool and thoughtful guy - and easily one the most motivated and dedicated athletes out there. He invited me into his home where we had a long chat about a cornucopia of topics, all of which I think you'll find compelling - I know I sure did. NOTE: This episode is part one of a two part series. Honestly, Cody's stories and insights were so interesting and useful that I think we both lost track of time, and the conversation went almost 2 and half hours. So be sure to check out Part 2 if you like what you hear here. In Part 1 we chat about a good old fashioned digital detox, surfing, the story behind the Crack, and both the glory days and future of free skiing, and in Part 2 we not only get into tons of practical and detailed advice on building your passion project, but also dive into Cody's dark period and how he reinvented himself, the genesis of the 50 project, the lessons he learned building Arcade Belts into a killer brand, and much more.   Show Themes: Part 1 - Value of a good digital detox, Dealing with Fear, the culture of surfing, the glory days and future of free skiing Part 2 - Tons of practical, detailed advice on building the project you've always wanted, Death in the industry, Reinventing yourself after a big success, the transition from ski porn to backcountry ski mountaineering, genesis of the 50 project, the business of skiing (treating it like a job) , why it's easier than ever to build a successful project, how to work with and create a value proposition for sponsors and brands, becoming an entrepreneur - the story of Arcade Belts, key to building a successful project or business: talk to people figure it out, the counterintuitive philosophy on seed money for your business.   Show Resources: Cody Townsend website and social media The Fifty Project YouTube Series Video of “The Crack” (winner of 3 awards at 2014 Powder Awards) Elyse (wife) social media Rich Roll - fellow podcaster Cal Newport (Digital detox) Shane McConkey (skier, innovator) Trent Dilfer— Cody's dad was his coach in high school, top 5 draft pick in NFL Scot Schmidt (OG extreme skier) CR Johnson — Cody and CR were on a race team together when they were younger Scott Gaffney JT Holmes Tim Durtschi Tommy Caldwell Alex Honnold Eric Jackson Travis Rice (“The Crack Controversy) Noah Howell Pen, Art and Chris (authors of 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America book) Jeremy Jones Bjarne Salen Tristan Queen (CEO of Arcade Belts) Online Q&A with Travis Rice about the Crack “controversy”

  A few weeks ago I got a chance to sit down with Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller during the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Denver, CO. Jen and Anne are the owners of a not to be missed pizzeria called the Hot Tomato in the mountain bike mecca town of Fruita, Colorado. They are also the subjects of a recent film by Patagonia and Felt Soul Media called the Life of Pie, which does a beautiful job of telling Jen and Anne's story of being business owners, bad ass mountain bikers, and an openly gay couple in a small and rural conservative community. This conversation has it all for me. Food, love, adversity, acceptance, laughs, being outside - all that with even some super solid business and life advice sprinkled on top. And don't forget friends, the best business out there don't just serve up hot slices of dough and cheese, they foster community and literally make the world a better place. One quick tip before you listen in. Go type ‘Life of Pie Patagonia' into your closest google machine and watch the movie on Vimeo before the conversation. It's only 12 minutes, and trust me well worth your time. You'll laugh and get a good case of the feels all at once. Plus, it's going to make the podcast experience way cooler and it will be like your own little Q&A after the movie. Special thanks to Outdoor Retailer and 5point Adventure Film Festival for helping make this episode possible. And last but not least, if you like what you're hearing here, please help me spread the word about the show. The power of word of mouth is legit and if you remember to tell your buddies about what you heard here over a few adult libations, well… I'd be down right smitten. If you can also rate the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share the love on Instagram or Facebook, that would be swell as well. You can find everything you need at @jeremyrjensen or at jeremyrjensen.com or by searching ‘adventurepreneur' on the old inter webs. Cool that's it thanks a ton guys. Stay tuned next time for a conversation with Cody Townsend and without further ado, here's my chat with Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller. Enjoy!   Show Resources: Jen Zeuner Anne Keller Hot Tomato Pizza Life of Pie movie Produced by Felt Soul Media Ben Knight and Travis Rummel Patagonia article on the Life of Pie Telluride Mountain Film Red Gold (movie) Damn Nation (movie) Fruita Fat Tire Festival Over the Edge Sports (local bike shop in Fruita) Zingerman's business consulting and training Servent Leadership Open book finance Norba MTB Race Nationals 5point Adventure Film Festival   A few show themes: How much time do you spend on your business, in your business, and for yourself? The best businesses foster community Once an entrepreneur, never being able to go back to working for someone else Relationships are more important than business The inflection point - Reaching the point where you are on the edge of giving up, and sticking it out just a little longer turns into a success Building an inclusive and diverse work culture Developing empathy for the ‘other' Creating a community resources open to everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation etc.

Alright, I have to say I am so amped for today's episode. If you have listened to this show for even a nano second, you know I'm enthralled with the topic of flow and peak human performance. Well today, we are taking a deep dive my friends. My guest is literally one of the world's most prominent thought leaders in the world of flow and decoding the science of optimal performance, he's a tour de force in this space and I'm thrilled and honored to share my conversation with him.    Steven Kotler is a 4x New York Times bestselling author and journalist, whose books and speaking explore the intersection between radical innovation, peak performance, and disruptive technology. His 2nd latest book, Stealing Fire(which I highly recommend), was co-authored with Jamie Whealand was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He is also is the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, whose mission to understand the science behind ultimate human performance and use it to level up individuals, organizations, and society at large.    My conversation with Steven is jam packed, and we start off talking about his very latest book, The Last Tango In Cyberspace, which explores topics like cutting edge technology, neuroscience, psychology and psychopharmacology, and empathy which emerges as one of the big themes of the book and what Steven deems as the answer to our environmental crisis. That's just the beginning. If you hang in there, we hear about the details behind Steven's classic book The Rise of Superman, where he dissects how household name action sports athletes like Shane McConkey, Dean Potter, Laird Hamilton, and Travis Rice have all risen to the peak of human potential.    Let's put it this way, if you don't learn something new and fascinating in this conversation, a) you either don't have a pulse or b) I'll give you a full refund

My guest today is a legend, and if you've been in the outdoor space long enough you either know him or have heard his name floating around. Penn Newhard is the founder of Backbone Media, a public relations, media, social and content agency headquartered in Carbondale CO that has over the years built a client base of some of the most admired outdoor and lifestyle brands out there. Penn is also a co-author of the awe-inducing 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America, an enthralling coffee table book highlighting some of the most iconic backcountry ski descents in the world. Penn is also an active climate change and community activist and has served on the board of both Protect Our Winters and the 5point Adventure Film Festival, to name only a few. My conversation with Penn is a deep dive into his story and his perspective on the world, and explores topics like having a healthy perspective on death within the outdoor community, choosing location over vocation, the importance of patience and commitment, why you need to be bold and sometimes even naive, and Parenting while also leading a life of risk and adventure. By the time this one is over, my guess is you'll be joining me in calling Penn a favorite within our community. Okay, without further ado - here's my conversation with Penn Newhard. Enjoy comrades.   Show resources: Backbone Media Ian Anderson, Nate Simmons, Greg Williams, Charlie Lozner (Partners at Backbone Media) 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America Chris Davenport Art Burrows Protect Our Winters 5point Adventure Film Festival Sam Coffey Mount Analogue by Rene Daumal Robert Frost - “As my two eyes make one sight” Peter Metcalf Michael and Julie Kennedy Lisa Raleigh Cody Townsend John Beuchard Jeremy Jones Steve Roper - 50 Classic Climbs of North America Andrew McLean Noah Howell Bjarne Salen Kir Neward Big City Mountaineers

On today's show I have Justin Lozier. Justin is the Cofounder and Lead Guide for Patagonia Heli Ski, which is the only Heli Ski operation in the Patagonia region of Argentina. Along with his partner Gabriel Rapoport, Patagonia Heli Ski offers something truly unique, skiing first descents and unnamed peaks are not uncommon and the opportunity to explore a new frontier of powder skiing is just a little too enticing to resist. Justin has built his entire adult life around skiing, and when he ventured into the backcountry for the first time 20 years ago, he knew he found his life's work. In this episode, we'll dig into the nitty gritty of what it takes to become a guide, what it's chasing winter into the Southern Hemisphere year around, and the behind the scenes grind of building your own heli ski company. Enjoy comrades! Show resources: Colorado Mountain College Chicago Ridge Snowcats Paragon Guides: Hut-to-hut skiing American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Canadian Ski Guide Association (CSGA) Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (UIAGM/IFMGA) Bariloche Dean Cummings at H20 Global Adventure Network (Justin's other business) Patagonia Ski Tours Gabriel Rappaport Paul Cottescu Asociacion Argentina de Guias de Montana (AAGM)

A couple of weeks ago I emceed a panel at the 5point Adventure Film Festival, a 4 day event in Carbondale, Colorado chocked full of inspiring films, creative art, insightful panels, and a whole lot of playing, eating and drinking outside. As I reflect on the overall experience of the festival, I have to say it was pretty incredible. Between the amazing 5point staff, the magic of the Carbondale community, and the world class outdoor recreation, it's hard to beat. Needless to say, I highly recommend checking it out.  Today on the show, I'll be sharing a live recording of the panel that I lead, which was a discussion about the 5points (or core values) that the film festival was built on - purpose, respect, commitment, humility, and balance. The aim was to explore how these values align with the panelists personal, professional, and spiritual life and growth. The panel included an eclectic mix of community leaders, film makers, adventurers and entrepreneurs.  I'd like to give a proper introduction and bio to each of the 5 panels because they are each doing such exciting work.  Regna Jones is the Executive Director of the 5point film festival and is no stranger to arts-based community non-profits, having led operations at Aspen Film and owned Paradise Theatre in Paonia Colorado. Although she is new to 5point, she is already a beloved member of the staff and community. Cameron Ford and Charlie Turnbull are Australian cinematographers and directors. In 2018, the debuted one of the most popular films at 5point called The Bikes of Wrath, which documents the story of 5 friends as they attempt to cycle from Oklahoma to California in honor of the famous John Steinbeck novel, the Grapes of Wrath. Cameron and Charlie just completed a sequel journey floating the entirety of the Mississippi River in their newest project, Floatin' with Huck, which is due to come out some time next year.  Ian Glover is the founder of Big Dog Surf Camp in Marin, California and is the subject of a film directed by Perry Gershkow called Glory Ride. The film depicts Ian (also known as Big Dog), as he empowers kids by teaching them to surf, but also explores a gut wrenching personal story of homelessness, death, and gratitude.  Sarah Herron is the founder of She Lift, which empowers girls with physical differences to discover confidence through outdoor adventure and body-positive mentorship. She recently produced a film being showcased at 5point called Dead Last, which shares the story of Kaitlin Heatherly on a quest to compete at the Paraclimbing World Championships.  Just as a heads up, this conversation really pulled at my heart strings (and so did the entire 5point experience), so if you're a movie buff or a sucker for the feels - this episode is for you.  If you're interested in learning more about the films and the people behind them, head on over to 5pointfilm.org and as always, I'll have all the details in the show notes at jeremyrjensen.com. A before we dive in, a huge thanks to the whole staff at 5point, especially Regna Jones, Meredith McKee and Sarah Jane Johnson. Also, a big hug to Deva and Eaden Shantay at True Nature Healing Arts for hosting us in such a beautiful venue, and Frank Scotti of Nomad, Inc for the killer photography work.  Cool without further ado, my conversation with Regna Jones, Cameron Ford, Charlie Turnbull, Ian Glover, and Sarah Herron - live from the 5point Adventure Film Festival.  Enjoy!

Today on the pod I have Len Necefer. Len is the founder and CEO of the apparel, story telling, and advocacy company Natives Outdoors, a professor at the University of Arizona, and board member with the Honnold Foundation and American Alpine Club. His work lies at the intersection of conservation, energy, outdoor recreation, and indigenous peoples - how's that for a fascinating and impactful mix.   Our chat weaves through topics like advocacy, storytelling, aligning yourself to what you believe in, building a business, and diversity equity and inclusion. I want to leave plenty of time for the discussion, so without further ado, here's my conversation with Len Necefer. Hope you enjoy.   Show Resources: Natives Outdoors Len's Bio at University of Arizona Gwichyaa Zhee Movie Honnold Foundation American Alpine Club Len's Piece in Alpinist Dispossessing the Wilderness by Mark David Spence An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

A couple of weeks ago I participated in a ski retreat in Jackson Wyoming called SummitX, which brought together professionals at the convergence of tech, leadership, entrepreneurship, and adventure. The event focused on a whole lot of skiing powder (priorities straight right) and leadership development, and through intense workshops and in-depth conversations, I think it's safe to say everyone involved walked away a stronger leader and human being.  As part of the event, I got the opportunity to host a live recording of this podcast where I interviewed Dirk Collins and Caroline Gleich.    When I was conceptualizing this conversation and the event as a whole, I knew we would have something special with these two guests and thoughtful live audience, but I have to say - what we ended up with exceeded my expectations.    A couple of quick notes to listeners and then a little more about my guests.    So obviously doing an interview in front of a live audience is a little different then doing a 1 on 1 conversation in my living room. The first cool thing about a live show is the participation from the audience, so be sure to stay tuned in for the Q&A towards the end of the conversation. You'll also probably pick up on the fact that I showed some video clips of cool projects that Caroline and Dirk have done, and needless to say that doesn't translate too well into an audio only podcast, but I at least tried to keep in some of the sound bites so you could get a taste of the experience. If you want to check out the video clips, all the links are in the show resources section for this episode in your podcast platform or at my website. Lastly, I apologize in advance for a little bit of feedback noise from the microphones being passed around - nature of the beast guys.   Okay so, a little bit about Caroline and Dirk.    Caroline Gleich is a professional ski mountaineer and environmental advocate based in Salt Lake City, UT. If you ski in the Wasatch, you've either seen her on the skin track or in the magazines. She is passionate about a wide-range of climate and social issues, and is often working with advocacy non-profits like Protect Our Winters, Heal Utah, Winter Wildlands Alliance, and Tree Utah. She is also the founder of Big Mountain Dreams Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting big mountain environments, while also advocating for the people who live and play there. The film clip we saw from Caroline is called Follow Through, and it documents her journey to ski all 90 ski lines in Andrew McLeans book on steep skiing called the Chuting Gallery.    Dirk Collins is a mountain athlete, producer, director, filmmaker and brand strategist based in Jackson, Wyoming. He is the founder and president of One Eyed Bird, a boutique creative marketing and entertainment house with a passion for meaningful storytelling. Dirk also co-founded Teton Gravity Research, which is arguably one of the most well-known outdoor film and media production companies out there. Dirk is renowned for taking on complex and technically challenging projects, where his ability to create compelling stories for his clients defies traditional boundaries, no matter the athletic challenge, remote location, or harsh environment. The live audience saw a few different film clips from Dirk, the first was a segment from a series of shorts he did with author and flow expert Steven Kotler for his book Rise of Superman. The second was an insane action sports commercial he did for Pirelli Tires, and the third documented a ski mountaineering trip he took with Jimmy Chin and Kit DesLauriers in Greenland.   I want to give special thanks to my friends Eric Shutt (who founded SummitX) and Joseph Abrahams for bringing me onto the staff, and also to the rest of the crew Josh Cogan, Matt Adkins, and Todd Hanna.    And the last thing before we get into the live interview… Some of you know about Outwild, which is a company I started with my friends Courtney Sanford and Sanni McCandless. Outwild is an event series and resource hub for people who want to create more outdoor and value-driven lifestyles, and I wanted to let you all know we have a few events coming up. This June, we are hosting a women's only retreat in the mountains of New Hampshire focused on following and creating more of what makes you feel alive into your daily life. I'll be doing a workshop of harnessing flow states on top of a lot of other cool workshops and outdoor activities. As of this morning, March 21st there is actually only one ticket left to that event. However, we do have our larger annual festival coming up in September in Lotus California as well. Tickets will be going on sale soon, so stay tuned or go to Outwild.co to find out more. Also want to give a quick shout out to all the Outwild 2018 alumni who threw a pretty banging ski trip reunion in Salt Lake City a few weeks ago - had an awesome time with you guys!   Show Resources: Dirk Collins: Founder - One-Eyed Bird Cofounder - Teton Gravity Research Instagram Film clips from live recording - Flow (Rise of Superman), Pirelli Tires Commercial, Ski Expedition to Greenland (Avani Nuna) Caroline Gleich: Founder - Big Mountain Dreams Foundation Personal website Instagram Film clip from live recording - Follow Through Other show resources and mentions: SummitX Leadership and Tech Retreat Photos by Joshua Cogan Space by Silicon Couloir and Spark Coworking The Chuting Gallery - by Andrew McLean Jimmy Chin Kit DesLauriers Steven Kotler

Today I've got a mini episode for you. For some of you newer listeners, that means we'll be hearing from a member of this podcast community about their life design journey and I'll also be sharing a useful wisdom nugget that will hopefully help you guys along your path. Community Story: For our community story I'm talking with Sydney Smith.  Sydney is a regular listener to this show and after growing disenfranchised busting her ass for someone else at a start up in Denver, she decided to give things a try on her own. She started an online photography gallery called Axe and Hammer, and supported herself financially by baby sitting until she could grow her business to something more sustainable. After she built some confidence as an entrepreneur, Sydney went full out after discovering she wanted to do more with her experience in design, so she started a web design business taking on free lancing clients and she hasn't looked back since. That's not to say she hasn't faced some challenges along the way. We'll hear about her philosophy for confronting those challenges and some tips on how you can confront some challenges.  Nugget: Now for the wisdom nugget - here's the deal. If you're listening to this podcast, I'm going to go out on a limb and make the assumption that being a next level human is your jam. Am I right? Fuck yeah I'm right.  Well the thing about being next level is that it doesn't just happen. You don't just set some ambitious goal and then sit around and wait for it to happen. As an old zen saying goes, "if you want to cross a lake, you don't get there by simply staring at the other side.” It takes work right. It's a process. You have to build a boat, or a bridge, or learn to swim a hell of a long way. Either way, You have to put a system in place and chip away at it every day to achieve that goal, or else let's face it - it just won't happen.  If you want to hear more about how building habits, systems, and processes is way better than setting goals and how making that distinction can change your life immediately, stay tuned and I'll dig in to the details after the community chat. Resources: Axe and Hammer Sydney Smith Creative Atomic Habits by James Clear The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard

On the pod today I have Dutch academic, author, and fear expert Roanne Van Voorst. In late 2017, Roanne published a book called Fear: Extreme athletes on how to reach your highest goals and overcome stress and self-doubt.   Roanne's book dissects all things fear from how pervasive it is in our daily lives to practical tips to overcome it. Through the lens of names like Lynn Hill, Steph Davis, Cedric Dumont, Alain Robert and Alex Honnold among many others, Roanne's mission is to get to the bottom of what makes these seemingly fearless athletes and coaches tick. Spoiler alert, it's not what you might think.    And as a gentle reminder, getting a handle on fear is so important guys. It truly is where the gates to the kingdom either remain locked or are pried open with a whole lot of practice.    Before I get into my convo with Roanne, I wanted to mention an upcoming event.    A few episodes ago, I introduced you to Tyler Tringas, if you remember he is a successful serial entrepreneur who's latest project is the venture fund Earnest Capital, which helps bootstrappers like you and me raise early stage funding for their businesses.   Well, the person who introduced me to Tyler is a mutual friend of ours and part of this podcast community — Eric Shutt, Founder of the brand marketing consultancy, SummitX. This March, I'm partnering with Eric on a 4 day ski retreat for leaders in business and tech in Jackson Hole, WY.    I'll be doing a live podcast recording, we'll be skiing a bunch of days at Jackson, and hearing from some of the brightest thought leaders in leadership development - all scheduled around a little Aprés of course.    If you or anyone you know is interested, feel free to use the referral code APP for $500 off the registration. If you have any questions hit me up, or head over to summitx.co/trips for more info.   Cool, enjoy the show!

(Part 2 of 2) Hey guys - this episode is the second piece of a 2 part chat with Andrew Muse, so if you haven't listened to part 1 - you probably want to check that out first for some context ahead of listening to part 2 here. Cool, with that said I'm going to jump right into to the rest of my conversation with Andrew - enjoy.

Today on the show I have Andrew Muse, a multi-sport athlete, photographer/cinematographer, producer and story teller. He has been in the action sports industry for the last 10 years and routinely works with some of the biggest brands in the biz.   He's perhaps best known for his online adventure series called Tiny Home Adventure, where he travels the world in a custom bad ass van while exploring and playing hard with his dog Kicker.   A couple of years ago, Andrew was in a horrible accident coming back from his sisters wedding, when he fell asleep at the wheel and rammed into an 18 wheel tractor trailer. As his camper burst into flames and was crushed into little more than a big pile of shredded metal, he came to and realized he had lost not only everything he owned, but also the one thing that mattered to him most.   I'll let Andrew tell you the story in his own words, so without further ado, here's my conversation with Andrew Muse.    Also, I've split this episode into two parts, so check out part 2 for the rest of Andrew's story and some helpful tips on content creation, working with brands, social media, and breaking out of the 9-5.    Enjoy!   Show resources: Andrew Muse Website Instagram Tiny Home Adventure Picture of Andrew's totaled truck Rob Aseltine Mark LeBlanc

Today I have a very special episode for you. My guest Andrew Patterson has to be one of the most thoughtful, dedicated, and altruistic guys I've ever met. About a year and half ago, Andrew left his comfortable corporate job to pursue a gloriously whacky idea, an idea that hit him like a lightning bolt one day and that he couldn't stop thinking about.  Andrew decided that he wanted to climb Table mountain in his native South Africa - which is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, every single day for a whole year. He experienced what I would call a purpose epiphany. The aim is to raise money for a group of non-profits supporting things like anti-apartheid initiatives, education equity, poverty and starvation alleviation, and leukemia treatment and prevention - all which are big issues in South Africa. This conversation left me humbled and introspective to say the least. We explored topics like focusing on the present, working on something bigger than ourselves, making decisions from love not fear, and the meaningful connections that follow when you pursue something you believe in. This episode really hit home for me, and I hope it will for you too. And especially in this time of year, I hope you'll consider supporting Andrew in his effort to impact his beautiful country in such a positive way. I donated this morning, and it feels great. If you can't donate, then help us get the word out by telling your friends and family about Andrews story over the holiday break.  Also, if you want to learn more about Table mountain, it's geology etc., and see pictures from Andrew's climbs, I'll put a link in the show notes or you can check him out at 365ubunutclimbs on IG and Facebook. Ubuntu is spelled UBUNTU and and literally means humanity, and has actually turned into a philosophy which advocates for a universal bond of sharing that connects all of humanity.  How's that for a cause to rally around? One quick note: this episode has kinda of a special format. Not only was the recording done over Skype from the US to South Africa (so please bear with a couple of sections that are spotty), but I thought it would be cool to get Andrew's perspective near the beginning of his journey and also at the end. The first part of this conversation takes place in March 2018, and the second half in early December 2018. Show Resources: Andrew's Fundraising page Andrew's Instagram Coverage on ESPN Non-profit beneficiaries: Habitat for Humanity, One Heart for Kids, and The Sunflower Fund Ubuntu and its etymology and meaning Table Mountain Geology and Significance in South Africa

(Part 2 of 2) On today's show I have Tyler Tringas. Hmmm… what to say about Tyler. Well - He's got to be one of the most well-rounded and intellectually curious dudes I've ever met. Tyler has done a bunch of different work in his relatively short career. After undergrad, Tyler worked as a consultant for a clean energy startup and pretty quickly realized he had an entrepreneurial itch. Shortly thereafter he started a solar energy company called SolarList, and after fighting the good fight for a few years - had to walk away from that startup after racking up $50,000 in credit card debt.  On the side, he was doing some freelance coding work, and uncovered a popular need amongst his clients, which led to his second business - Storemapper. This time, Tyler grew his small business into a fairly sizable company, all while traveling the world as a digital nomad, and 5 years later ended up selling the company with a nice little exit to live off of.  Now Some people would take the money and go fuck around for a few years or forever for that matter, but instead Tyler asked himself - what work would really matter to me if money wasn't an object? That question landed him at a company called Maptia, who's mission is to foster empathy through storytelling - and do yourself a favor and go get lost in the Maptia website for a while. That position actually led him to work with some of the biggest National Geographic photographers in the world, where he became the Chief Operating Officer at an ocean conservation content creation company called Sea Legacy.  As if that wasn't quite enough, this summer Tyler left Sea Legacy to pursue perhaps his most ambitious and exciting project yet. Tyler's always been obsessed with the problem early stage entrepreneurs have securing financing. To address this problem, A couple months ago, Tyler launched a platform for early stage bootstrappers called Earnest Capital, and the buzz it's already created in entrepreneur and lifestyle hacking circles is pretty awesome.  Anyway, enough of me blabbing - let's get to the interview. Oh and by the way, this conversation got a little long because it was so damn interesting, so I'm splitting it into two episodes, part 1 and part 2.  Part 1 will cover how he taught himself to code… advice on learning to code, Solar List, Storemapper, building a lifestyle business, the digital nomad lifestyle, rock climbing, and clean tech and in part 2 we dive into knowledge sharing and Transparency, Maptia, Sea Legacy, changing hats and stretching your limits in the name or learning and growth, doing stuff you don't know how to do, risk tolerance (or lack thereof), and Earnest Capital.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Tyler's website Earnest Capital Maptia Sea Legacy Paul Nicklen Cristina Mittermeier New Energy Finance (clean energy startup acquired by Bloomberg) Ruby on Rails (Coding language) Upwork (Freelancer marketplace) David Heinemeier Hansson or DHH (Creator of Ruby on Rails and CoFounder of BaseCamp) It doesn't have to be crazy at work by DHH and Jason Fried Rework by DHH and Jason Fried

On today's show I have Tyler Tringas. Hmmm… what to say about Tyler. Well - He's got to be one of the most well-rounded and intellectually curious dudes I've ever met. Tyler has done a bunch of different work in his relatively short career. After undergrad, Tyler worked as a consultant for a clean energy startup and pretty quickly realized he had an entrepreneurial itch. Shortly thereafter he started a solar energy company called SolarList, and after fighting the good fight for a few years - had to walk away from that startup after racking up $50,000 in credit card debt.  On the side, he was doing some freelance coding work, and uncovered a popular need amongst his clients, which led to his second business - Storemapper. This time, Tyler grew his small business into a fairly sizable company, all while traveling the world as a digital nomad, and 5 years later ended up selling the company with a nice little exit to live off of.  Now Some people would take the money and go fuck around for a few years or forever for that matter, but instead Tyler asked himself - what work would really matter to me if money wasn't an object? That question landed him at a company called Maptia, who's mission is to foster empathy through storytelling - and do yourself a favor and go get lost in the Maptia website for a while. That position actually led him to work with some of the biggest National Geographic photographers in the world, where he became the Chief Operating Officer at an ocean conservation content creation company called Sea Legacy.  As if that wasn't quite enough, this summer Tyler left Sea Legacy to pursue perhaps his most ambitious and exciting project yet. Tyler's always been obsessed with the problem early stage entrepreneurs have securing financing. To address this problem, A couple months ago, Tyler launched a platform for early stage bootstrappers called Earnest Capital, and the buzz it's already created in entrepreneur and lifestyle hacking circles is pretty awesome.  Anyway, enough of me blabbing - let's get to the interview. Oh and by the way, this conversation got a little long because it was so damn interesting, so I'm splitting it into two episodes, part 1 and part 2.  Part 1 will cover how he taught himself to code… advice on learning to code, Solar List, Storemapper, building a lifestyle business, the digital nomad lifestyle, rock climbing, and clean tech and in part 2 we dive into knowledge sharing and Transparency, Maptia, Sea Legacy, changing hats and stretching your limits in the name or learning and growth, doing stuff you don't know how to do, risk tolerance (or lack thereof), and Earnest Capital.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Tyler's website Earnest Capital Maptia Sea Legacy Paul Nicklen Cristina Mittermeier New Energy Finance (clean energy startup acquired by Bloomberg) Ruby on Rails (Coding language) Upwork (Freelancer marketplace) David Heinemeier Hansson or DHH (Creator of Ruby on Rails and CoFounder of BaseCamp) It doesn't have to be crazy at work by DHH and Jason Fried Rework by DHH and Jason Fried

Today on the show I have Travis Bluemling, Chris Parks, and Ross Jennings - collectively they make up the content creation company Three Wheels Co. You may remember Ross from episode #9 when we talked about his journey to travel to every single country in the world playing bag pipes.  I really enjoyed this episode, and here's why. A) because Ross, Chris and Travis are hilarious and we shared a lot of laughs and B) There are a lot of great nuggets - really tangible lessons that are useful for when you're just starting out building an alternative income stream, or when you've been around the block a few times and maybe have a business already.  One of the lessons I thought was important is that you never know who you might end up working with. If you run across someone that captivates you, either online or in real life, think about how you might be able to add value to what they are doing and reach out to them. That's exactly what Travis, Chris and Ross did. Ross decided it was smarter to pool resources as a collective group of travelers and content creators than to do it on his own.  Another interesting aspect, and one that at first glance might seem like a failure or a major set back - is that sometimes shit doesn't work out. The four of us actually recorded this episode a few months ago, and since then Chris, Travis and Ross actually decided Three Wheels Co wasn't working out. They were brave and realistic enough to say - okay there's a few things not working here, I think we should re-stragize and do what's best for each of us. This is really important, and something I can speak to from personal experience. Business relationships are like romantic relationships - sometimes it can be hard to break up. But be honest with yourself and listen to your gut, and usually that's the best course to follow. I have no doubt whatever these guys do, they'll be successful because they have the right perspective. Enjoy! Chris Parkes Website and Instagram Travis Bluemling Website and Instagram Ross Jennings Website and Instagram

So on today's show, I'm going to try something new. Today, I have a mini episode for you.    You may remember from last time in my conversation with Brody Leven that I highlighted a member of the APP community (btw guys, the name of my show is mouthful, so you'll start to hear me refer to the Adventurepreneur Playbook Podcast in shorthand as APP) - anyway I talked about the story of Take Me Out There, a new adventure business launched in part using some of the resources from this show.    I'm going to take that concept a step further and now make mini episodes out of these community stories, and the plan is to rotate them bi-weekly between the more long-form full length interview episodes I do. In these new mini episodes, I'm also going to throw in a little nugget - a quick commentary on either a concept from the chat with the community member or something useful and important I'm been thinking about that week. Obviously, I hope this is of value to you guys - but it is a prototype, so if you hate it - let me know and we'll iterate - if you love it, sweet we'll keep it going but I need to hear from you. Don't forget you all, I'm big on co-creation - meaning using you the community to create a show for you the community.    Okay, so today's community story is about Zach Kenney. I'll let Zach tell his own story, but basically he found a creative way to take things into his own hands and build a life he is totally amped about - one centered around adventure and spending time doing the things he enjoys, instead of the things he dreads. Listen in to hear his story.   For the nugget of the week, I'm talking about one of the concepts I've been really obsessed with and digging into: Flow. Listen in to hear more.   Show Resources: Community Story Spotlight: Zach Kenney Stealing Fire - Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal Flow Genome Project Frank Scotti - Nomad Inc.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Brody Leven - a professional adventurer, activist, and skier. Brody is a unique breed of professional athlete, namely because you won't necessarily find him hucking backflips off of gnarly cornices in Alaska in the latest TGR ski movie. Instead you'll find him undertaking a journey to Uganda to ski the last remaining glacier on the African continent, or creating a documentary about an intense first ascent of a remote couloir in Georgia's (the country that is) Caucusus mountains. Brody is also an avid outdoor advocate, dedicating about half of his time volunteering for ogranizations like Protect Our Winters, Heal Utah, Winter Wildlands Alliance - among others. We talked at length about the latest challenges facing activism how people can get involved and make a meaningful difference with very little effort. One of the most interesting parts of this episode for me, was a discussion around ego, which is something Brody is very thoughtful about. For him, it's not about the look at me, look what I just did factor. It's much more about taking on challenges and building a life around things that makes him feel alive. I think this is a really important distinction to make, one that in my opinion is the difference between short-term vain and glamour and more long-term fulfillment and happiness. Show resources: Brody's website Brody's Instagram Semi Rad (Brandon Leonard) The Adventure Journal

In the last half a dozen years or so, Alex Honnold has gone from one of the biggest names in rock climbing to a bonafide household name, and for good reason. On top of an already incredibly impressive climbing resume, including historic free solo ascents of big walls like the Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park and Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, on June 3, 2017 Alex completed perhaps his crowning achievement, a mind-bending free solo climb of the infamous El Capitan, a 3,200 foot granite monolith in Yosemite.  For any listeners out there that aren't familiar with climbing, free solo means climbing without a rope, a partner, or any protective gear at all. In short, the stakes couldn't be higher: if you fall you die. While I was preparing for this episode I stumbled across a YouTube video of Alex on the Jimmy Kimmel show, and as I scrolled down through the comments a bit I saw one comment from a fellow climber I thought put things in perspective and summed up this climb pretty nicely. The climber says, "A message to the un-initiated who may stumble upon this video:Free soloing El Cap is perhaps the single most incredible feat of skill, strength, mental toughness and endurance ever accomplished by a human being... in the history of human beings.” It turns out, many agree with this sentiment, including the New York Times who says the climb “should be celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind, ever.” How's that for some gravitas. Alex's climbing has garnered a lot of other international media attention, landing him on the cover of National Geographic and on a feature story on the CBS news show “60 minutes.” - just to name a few. The cherry atop that list of ubiquity in pop culture also happens to be the latest development. Alex and his historic El Cap climb are the subject of a new documentary called FREE SOLO. The film is directed by National Geographic photographer and fellow North Face athlete Jimmy Chin and his wife Chai Vasarhelyi (like gas). The world premiere of FREE SOLO took place earlier this month at the Telluride Film Festival, where they had to add more screenings because the film was so popular, and as recent as earlier this week, the film won the audience choice award at the coveted Toronto Film Festival, which is a pretty big deal. FREE SOLO will be released to mainstream theaters all over the United States and Canada on September 28 - oh my god get psyched! I caught up with Alex in Boulder, Colorado in late July just as he was getting ready to go on tour for the film. In a lot of ways it was really good timing. He was on the back end of some much needed down time, which I think gave us the opportunity for a blank slate of sorts to explore a broad range of conversation topics, which will become apparent in our chat. On top of that, the film madness hadn't started yet and talking about the film was still ultra fresh. I really enjoyed hearing about the behind the scenes of the movie and all that went into it's production. More than that though, my favorite part of the interview was just having a really engaging discussion and hearing Alex's view on a smorgasbord of issues. I found Alex to be very intelligent, well-spoken, and insightful. We talked about AI, the latest solar energy harnessing technologies, food tech, ultimate human performance, and his foundation. Oh yeah, and a little climbing too. As a little bonus to this conversation with Alex, I also talked with Sanni McCandless - Alex's longtime girlfriend. Sanni is awesome, and over the last year I've had the pleasure of getting to know her pretty well, but I had never heard her side of the story around El Cap. I was curious, as I'm sure many of you are, about what she felt and what her perspective was on the whole thing. Sanni also plays a major part in the movie, so we discussed what it's like to be on tour and having her relationship on display for the whole world to see. Anyway, be sure to stay tuned in to hear that as well. Alex's Website Alex's Instagram The Honnold Foundation FREE SOLO the movie trailer Picture of Jimmy Chin and Alex on top of El Cap that I mentioned in the episode Alex on TED Alex's Book, Alone on the Wall Grid Alternatives Beyond Meat Sanni McCandless Ron Kauk Jimmy Kimmel clip featuring Alex I mentioned on the episode

Today I have a different kind of episode for you. Before I officially kick off Season 2 with a totally unique conversation with Alex Honnold, I'm taking a look back. I had so many great interviews last season, full of insights, tips, and takeaways - that I wanted to summarize them for you into sort of a greatest hits or cliffs notes.   So, as I started thinking back on the things that impacted me in Season 1, and re-listened to many of the episodes - and noticed a lot of common threads. Similar themes, habits, and mindsets, that all played an integral role for my guests in building their own reality. As it turns out, there's actually a formula for being a bad ass. In other words, there's a few key components that make up our ability to design our lives just the way we want.   So in this episode, I'm going to dissect the bas ass formula. I'm also going to give you some tips on how to take immediate action, based on real examples from the guests. Lastly, I'm going to tell you a bit of my story and how once I started implementing the formula - my life completely changed.   Here's the formula: Adopt a growth mindset + Crush limiting beliefs + Take massive action = The life you want   If you start to do these 3 things, I promise you'll be on the path to where you want to be in no time!   Until next time and enjoy!

Today on the show I have Randall Jacobs and Alice Liu, founders of Thesis Bike, who are doing something truly innovative in the biking industry, and are creating "The one bike for every road - no compromises." Randall probably knows more about bikes than anyone I've ever met, and he's been in about every role you can think of within the industry.   Randall has been a pro mtb bike racer, bike mechanic, designer at specialized, a consultant and advisor to many large name-brand bike companies, and serial entrepreneur (he previously founded a bike tech company called Open Bike).  Alice has worked for National Geographic TV on a series called Bridge the Gap, as a marketing director for a homelessness non profit, as Chief of Staff for a social innovation startup, and founded a 3,000 member meet up group in San Francisco called Green Drinks.  Together, they have built Thesis into a critically acclaimed, exciting new startup - on a mission to change the way we buy and how much we pay for high-end bikes. Their flagship model, the OB1 is now available for presale via waitlist at thesis.bike.  One quick disclaimer, this conversation gets a little nuanced. If you consider yourself a bike nerd, you'll be in hog heaven, if not - hopefully you'll at least find it interesting like I did. Whatever your bike nerd quotient, you will definitely walk away with some solid advice and legit inspiration from from innovative adventurepreneurs. Enjoy! Show Resources:  Thesis Website Thesis Instagram Specialized Diverge Open Bike 

I don't know about the rest of you, but the idea of having an adventure travel company has always enticed me. I mean, what's not to like about building amazing trips and taking paying clients to do cool shit all over the world?!  Today on the show, I've got Frank Scotti, Founder and owner of Nomad Inc., an adventure travel company, specializing in skiing/snowboarding, surfing, and mountain biking itineraries. They also do a lot of customization for their clients globally, so basically, if you can dream it, Nomad can plan it.  Frank's journey is a great example how sticking with your goals and learning how to look fear in the face and say fuck you, I'm doing it anyway, can really pay off.  His company has grown steadily over the last few years and his story is truly one that is envy worthy. It's probably best to hear it straight from the horses mouth, so without further ado, my conversation with Frank Scotti. Show resources: Jamie Wheal - Stealing Fire Jeremy Jones Jimmy Chin Points North Heli

Emi Koch, surfer and humanitarian, is the founder of Beyond the Surface International, a non-profit working around the globe in disadvantaged coastal communities to build social and ecological resilience through surfing, storytelling, and mindfulness workshops. Emi was named National Geographic Adventurerer of the Year for 2018, and she has recently been featured in Surfer magazine as one of the top women innovators in the industry who are “Creating a Line of their Own.” At the age of 19, Emi gave up a career as a professional surfer to instead focus on social and environmental impact, specifically empowering underprivileged youth to improve their futures and be the author of their own life story.  Emi is such a good example of blending her passions into a cohesive entrepreneurial concept. In her case, she figured out a compelling way to combine the things she loves: surfing and social justice, into not only a fulfilling career, but also something that truly makes the world a better place.  I got a lot out of this episode, and I'm sure within the first few minutes you'll realize, like I did, how truly infectious Emi's positive energy is. Emi thank you for the amazing work you do and for sharing your story with us. Without further ado, here's my conversation with Emi Koch. Episode resources: Emi's Non-profit: Beyond the Surface International Emi's Instagram National Geographic Video and Article A Liquid Future Skateistan Coast2Coast Movement Surfer Magazine Free Surf Magazine Billabong Team Member Profile

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

My guest today, Ross Jennings, did all the "right" things growing up. He went to school, took music lessons, studied hard, got a job, made pretty good money, and then he was like: wait a minute, is this it? He was convinced that there had to be more to life than cubicles, boring work, and shitty bosses. After some time asking himself "what the hell am I going to do, this sucks", on a whim he stumbled across an event in London called the Adventure Travel show. There he was exposed to some cool ideas and even cooler people. Ross met this guy, Dave Cornthwaite - who is this whacky entrepreneur who calls himself a "self-propelled record-breaking adventurer", which basically means he breaks world records by embarking on these crazy long un-motorized journeys, you know things like skateboarding across Australia and water-biking 1000 miles around Norway. Ross was intrigued, understandably so. That night, he went home and decided he was going to be the first person to play the bagpipes in every single country on the planet. And that's exactly what he's done. Along the way, Ross has become a successful entrepreneur and public speaking, founding a content creation company called Three Wheels and sharing stories of his journeys and success psychology to audiences all over the world. .... and oh does he have stories to tell.  What I think I loved most about this episode was not just how Ross has designed a compelling and sustainable way to bake adventure and new experiences into his day to day life, but also how effectively music can bring people together. I love the bagpipes, I'm a nut. Maybe it's my heritage or something, but with the drone and everything, it just makes me happy. What I find so fascinating, is that all Ross has to do is pull out his pipes, play a couple of notes, and all the sudden all of our cultural differences, religious point of views, politicial idealogies, fade away - and we're just able to connect over music.  Show Resources: Ross's Website The First Piper Instagram Page Three Wheels Co Instagram Page Three Wheels Co website   Dave Cornthwaite The Adventure Travel Show (London) Carol Dweck - Author of Mindset

Today on the show we'll be talking a lot about mindset, techniques for optimizing your life, and marketing, marketing, marketing. My guest, Scott Martin has been a professional strategic marketer for as long as he can remember. He's worked for big agencies, startups, and founded multiple growth marketing and content-related businesses. He has a passion for the the outdoor and adventure space,  especially if it involves being in the backcountry with his snowboard or near a big swell with a surfboard, and he's largely built his businesses with those types of clients in mind. He is the founder of Groundswell Marketing, and co-founder of Laundromat Studios - a content creation company, and Swellness which is a surf inspired fitness and wellness company.    Scott has spent the last year on a pilgrimage of sorts. Through a couple of eye-opening and life changing experiences, he decided to double down and invest in himself. He's been to countless conferences, seminars, and summits - met and learned from huge household names, and read and travelled constantly - all in the name of optimizing his mindset, perspective, and skill set.    In this episode in particular, Scott and I talk a lot about Tony Robbins, because at the time of recording we had literally just finished a 4 day event with Tony. Scott had been talking to me about this event for months, and I finally decided what the hell, I'll give it a try. Let's just say, I was pleasantly surprised. Regardless of whether you have either a good or bad connotation of Tony, all I ask is that you keep an open mind to what we talk about, and more broadly to Tony's approach if you decide to research him.  No matter how whacky or out there it may seem my bet is that you might just get something profound from it.    Last thing before we get started, I want to give a shout to one of my listeners Zach LaPerierre, who's an adventurepreneur that makes these beautiful wooden bowls from salvaged old growth trees, in the Tongass Rainforest in Sitka, AK. Zach has this really cool lifestyle and an amazing adventure story around his business, and when he reached out to me, I just loved his story. We got talking and he mentioned he thinks a lot about marketing, and how to improve his efforts. Well Zach, hopefully you get something out of this episode on marketing, and if I can help with anything else, happy to do it man.   Show Resources: Scott's Website Scott's Instagram Swellness Tony Robbins  Gary Vaynerchuk