Trails Less Traveled

In this episode I talk to Jenny Hagemann, Co-Founder, and Co-Owner of Thousand Acre Cider House. Jenny was introduced to the quest for finding and tasting great ciders back in 2015, and as cider continued to resurge in popularity, a lingering idea to open a cider focused tasting room became hard-pressed. Jenny was no stranger to the startup business world, she led a decade long career in startup sales strategy and brand development. Leaving the hustle and bustle of Seattle for the subdued untapped cider scene in Bellingham, she puts her own skills and knowledge to the test to build a business and a brand from the ground up. Now, less than a year into launching their startup, she and her husband and business partner, James, face the impacts of COVID-19 head-on. In this episode we discuss how to adapt in the midst of a crisis and how to handle unexpected turns on the trails less traveled.Plugs:Learn more about Thousand Acre Cider House at thousandacreciderhouse.comFollow @thousandacreciderhouseLearn more about this podcast at thetrailslesstraveled.comFollow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaMusic by Adam Blythe (@adamblythe)Recorded in Bellingham, WA.

In this episode, I get to talk to Jesse Nelson, Co-Founder & Owner of Overflow Taps. Their founding principle was to create a social good business that inspires their vision that everyone deserves access to clean drinking water. Through a variety of partnerships and programs, a portion of every pint you buy at Overflow is donated to charities that provide access to clean drinking water in developing countries. I loved learning more about the people behind this social good business and how this idea came to be. Jesse and his business partner Adam were introduced as strangers, but they would soon realize they shared a dream of starting a business and began crafting the concept of Overflow Taps. In this podcast we learn a little about the trail that got Jesse to this point, serving our country in the U.S. Navy, then working many years as a corrections officer, he began to wonder what it would be like not to work for someone else. His wife encouraged him to explore what was important to him and before long, he runs into Adam, and Overflow Taps is born. Now over 4 years in, and facing the existential threat of the global COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses everywhere are being severely impacted, Jesse and Adam’s included. Jesse talks about what it takes to lead in times of crisis, how to pivot and make efficient executive decisions, and how to adapt to turns on the trails less traveled.Plugs:Learn more about Overflow Taps at overflowtaps.comFollow @overflowtapsLearn more about this podcast at thetrailslesstraveled.comFollow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaMusic by Adam Blythe (@adamblythe)Recorded in Bellingham, WA.

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Basabe, Founder and Executive Director of Vamos Outdoors Project. Vamos is a non-profit organization based here in Bellingham with a mission of "building community through access to environmental education". They work to eliminate barriers to access that make it harder for Latinx and English Language Learner families to participate in outdoor, recreational, and environmental education activities. They provide supervision, transportation, food, and all necessary equipment for the activities provided by partner organizations. All of the programming is free through scholarships provided by partner organizations or by Vamos Outdoors Project covering the fees. The participants discover new passions, make friends, and connect with the greater Whatcom County community and environment. So how does a guy go from a couch-surfing snowboarder living in his truck to launching a non-profit organization for underserved kids? Well, he travels, he learns, he serves, and he finds his purpose, on this trail a little less traveled. Plugs:Learn more about Vamos Outdoors Project at vamousoutdoorsproject.com.Follow @vamosoutdoorsprojectLearn more about this podcast at thetrailslesstraveled.comFollow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaIntro Music by MusicalSmileTransition Music by Phil LarsonRecorded in Bellingham, WA.

In this episode, I get the chance to sit down with one of the founders and owners of Mela water and Traveler Imports, Spenser Bednarik. Spenser’s story is an adventurous one, which you’ll soon find out inspires the statement on their Mela Water cans, that “The search for the best watermelons on the planet was far, wide, and adventurous.” Spenser, a Bellingham native, finished high school and joined the workforce as a commercial fisherman. The work was extraneous and tough, but the money was good and it allowed him to travel in the offseason. He eventually takes a trip to Australia where he lived and worked for almost a year and it’s here where an idea began to circulate in his mind. It all started with a sip of coconut water. Coconut water he thought was so good, that someone needed to bring it to the United States… and that’s exactly what he did. He returned to Bellingham with a few cans of the coconut water, and out of thin air, emailed the company from his bedroom that he wanted to distribute the product in the U.S. Spenser had no prior business expertise, no license, no large amount of money, and no idea how to get a shipping container into the U.S. But step by step, Spenser researched, learned, teamed up with a few business partners, and built a distribution company called Northwest Imports. But the story doesn’t stop there, in fact, that’s kinda where it all starts. After growing the distribution channel for the imported coconut water, Spenser and his business partners set out to launch their own product, watermelon water. He discusses the ups and downs of the adventurous search for the best watermelons on the planet, and because I am drinking one today, you can bet… he found them... on this trail, a little less traveled.Plugs:Learn more about Mela Watermelon Water at melawatermelon.comFollow @melawatermelonLearn more about this podcast at thetrailslesstraveled.comFollow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaIntro Music by MusicalSmileTransition Music by Phil LarsonRecorded in Bellingham, WA.

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Coleman. Kevin is an artist, the host of Bellingham Tonight, and he’s the Director of Community Outreach with Veritas Media Group. Amongst all the other hats he wears he is a parent, a husband, and involved in our community in many other ways. I was inspired by Kevin the moment I met him. He’s full of energy, positivity and just a hunger to live an authentic life. But it hasn't always been this way for Kevin and I wanted to find out more about the experiences that developed this electrifying energy in front of me. Kevin grew up in a religious, conservative community in Florida where he often felt isolated and ostracized for being gay. But that didn’t stop him from working hard and building a life for himself. Nonetheless, some things were out of his control. Like being diagnosed with a severe colon disease known as Diverticulosis in which he later underwent major surgery. In his early twenties, things seemed to be an okay place for Kevin as he worked on his career, bought a house, and settled into a long term relationship. But that trail came to an abrupt end and Kevin was forced to find himself through a dark period and rebuild from the ground up. With that, he found a new trail in life, one filled with purpose, love, empathy, and service. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies, because, well, life never is. But he teaches me that your mindset and perspective is everything, and he chooses to keep an optimistic one on this trail, a little less traveled.Plugs:Learn more and see Kevin's art at kevinfcoleman.com.Follow @kevincolemanLearn more and find tickets for Bellingham Tonight at bellinghamtonightshow.comFollow @bellinghamtonight | @veritasmediaproSpecial thanks to Thousand Acre Cider HouseFollow @thousandacreciderhouseLearn more about this podcast at thetrailslesstraveled.comFollow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaIntro Music by MusicalSmileTransition Music by Phil LarsonRecorded in Bellingham, WA.

In this episode, I sit down with Karl Shilhanek, Founder and Owner of Kebab Casual - a Bellingham food truck serving middle-eastern inspired kebabs. Specialties include house-made flatbread sandwiches, loaded Kebab Bowls, and a wide array of pickles and sauces. Karl was born and raised in Bellingham. He left for college to Arizona where he began his first entrepreneurial venture with a food cart. They served food on nights and weekends and Karl quickly realized they were on to something. However, after college, he parted ways with his business partner and moved back to the northwest, where he settled into a comfortable 9-5 job. Though his work was still connected to the food industry, and the more he cooked and experimented, the more he loved it, and the more restless he grew to get back to the entrepreneurship hustle. It wasn’t too much longer until Karl dropped his 9-5, the security and comfort, to invest in his idea and build Kebab Casual. Since then, Karl has learned a lot about what it takes to be a good leader, to run a successful business, and the delicate cultural space his menu occupies. Karl opens up about what kind of challenges he’s faced along this trail, a little less traveled. Plugs:Learn more about Kebab Casual and order some delicious food at https://www.kebabcasual.com/Follow @kebabcasual Special thanks to our episode sponsor Menace Brewing!Follow @menacebrewingLearn more about this podcast at www.thetrailslesstraveled.com/Follow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaIntro Music by MusicalSmileTransition Music by Phil LarsonRecorded in Bellingham, WA.

In this episode, I sit down with Brad Wilske, one of the founders and owners of Lost Giants Cider Company. Brad and his two business partners Chris Noskoff and Abe Ebert established Lost Giants Cider in 2017 and opened their taproom in Bellingham, WA in 2018. Among the many hats that Brad wears in the company, his focus is on the taproom and brand management. Brad has always loved and admired art which landed him in a graphic arts program in college. Finishing college on the cusp of the digital boom, he jumped into his career working in graphic design and marketing and leveraging technology in the new era of design. Finally settling into a comfortable long term role at a great company, Brad was introduced to the emerging craft beer industry in Bellingham. He picked up a bartending job on the weekends, and all of the sudden, something started to change. Over time, his connections grew in the craft beer community and so did his passion. So, he left his stable job, his comfortable paycheck, and jumped on an opportunity to join a rapidly growing brewery in its early years - Kulshan brewery. It’s here that Brad’s love for the craft beer community really took hold. It’s where he met his future business partners, Chris and Abe, and an idea began to brew at the brewery. Eventually, they joined forces to create Lost Giants Cider Company. They built their idea from the ground up, followed their passion, and went into business for themselves, taking a trail a little less traveled. Plugs:Learn more about Lost Giants Cider Company at https://lostgiantscider.com/Follow @lostgiantscidercoLearn more about this podcast at www.thetrailslesstraveled.com/Follow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaIntro Music by MusicalSmileTransition Music by Phil LarsonRecorded in Bellingham, WA.

In this episode, I have a conversation with Leo Cohen, Owner of Cohen Group Northwest real estate team and founder & host of the Building Bellingham Podcast. I’ve been looking forward to bringing Leo onto the podcast since I met him a few months back. He’s full of positive energy, humble insights, and a contagious entrepreneurial spirit. Leo spent the early part of his real estate career learning the ropes, grinding out long days of cold calling and door knocking before he finally made an investment in himself and started his own real estate team. But it didn’t happen overnight... Leo reflects on the uncertainty and insecurity he felt as he began working for himself from a small spare room, newly married, and surviving on his savings. The stakes are raised when he on-boards his first team-member, a business partner who truly believes in him, which ignites belief in himself. Two years later and now a team of 10, his business is not only thriving, but he is changing the way companies approach real estate. Leo is a team player by nature. He watched his parents struggle through a divorce early in his childhood and navigate co-parenting. He learned first hand the importance of building relationships on honesty, authenticity, and what it takes to push beyond hardship for the greater good of the team. Above all else, on this trail he’s creating, he stays focused on serving others, creating platforms not spotlights.Plugs:Learn more about Cohen Group NW at www.livebellinghamnow.com/Follow @cohengroupnw & @building.bellinghamSpecial thanks to Lost Giants Cider Co. Follow @lostgiantscidercoLearn more about this podcast at www.thetrailslesstraveled.com/ Follow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaIntro Music by MusicalSmileTransition Music by Phil LarsonRecorded in Bellingham, WA.

Lisa Aamot is a business owner and professional photographer, an author, a mother, and a wife. As a professional photographer, Lisa has awesome style and unique taste and she knows how to make people feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. She is the owner of Meraki Photography and does photography and videography for weddings, engagement and anniversaries, families, newborns and lifestyle photos. When she’s not running her photography business, she is co-authoring the new book You've Got This, Mama, Too: A Mother's Guide To Embracing Change And Living An Authentic Life which came out this fall and is available now on Amazon. When Lisa’s not writing, she’s raising her two rambunctious kiddos with her husband and documenting life as a mother, sharing stories, advice, encouragement, and discussing the realness of motherhood. You can check that content out on her Instagram called Motherhood Before Noon @lisaaamot. In this conversation, Lisa opens up about life as a busy mom and business owner and how she has learned to balance her crazy schedule. She discusses what it takes to build a brand from the ground up. But it’s not all business, she also reflects on finding out when her daughter was born with congenital CMV and the roller coaster of emotions and experiences that followed. And so, when Lisa isn’t doing all of that, she's joining me on this episode of Trails Less Traveled to talk about how life on her trail is sometimes... just beautiful chaos.Plugs:Learn more about Meraki Photography at https://www.merakiphotographynw.com/Follow @lisaaamot & @merakiphotographynwSpecial thanks to Kulshan Brewery. Follow @kulshanbreweryLearn more about this podcast at www.thetrailslesstraveled.com/ Follow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaIntro Music by MusicalSmileTransition Music by Phil LarsonRecorded in Bellingham, WA.

I am introducing a new segment of this podcast called TLT Takeaways. The last Friday of every month, you’ll hear me reflect and recap some of the key takeaways from the amazing conversations I have had during the month. Every guest I have had on this podcast has been full of insight, and though you get to hear me ask questions each week, I want you to know what some of my thoughts are on the episodes and what I’ve been inspired by. Enjoy this recap of the conversations I had In September - October 2019.Learn more about this podcast at www.thetrailslesstraveled.com/ Follow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaIntro Music by MusicalSmileTransition Music by Phil LarsonRecorded in Bellingham, WA.

Jenn Mason is the founder and owner of WinkWink In Bellingham, WA. A woman-owned, identity-inclusive sex shop who celebrate sexual expression and exploration, banish shame, and help people to better love themselves and others. They have created a progressive platform that advocates for inclusion and acceptance, proposing the radical idea that we can approach sex with comprehensive education, express ourselves without stigma, and explore pleasure without shame. Jenn isn't just a successful entrepreneur and business owner, she is also an active member of the community in many ways like serving on the Bellingham School Board. She’s also a mother and a partner. Jenn and I discuss some of the sociopolitical layers surrounding the perception of sex in our society, while also getting a grasp for who she is, how she founded this company and got onto this trail in life. We talk about the intersections between the multiple roles she juggles, how life changed after their daughter was born with cerebral palsy, and how important it is to let go of expectations in order to explore your limitless potential. Plugs:Special thanks to Coach House Cellars. Learn more at http://www.coachhousecellars.com/Learn more about this podcast at www.thetrailslesstraveled.com/ Follow @tltpodcastCredits:Hosted by Jacob BassettRecorded, Mixed, and Produced by Jacob BassettLogo by Jessica MuchaIntro Music by MusicalSmileTransition Music by Phil LarsonRecorded in Bellingham, WA.

In this episode, I sit down with a long-time friend of mine, Alex Williams. For about as long as I have known Alex, he has been behind a camera and I love that all these years later, that passion hasn't gone anywhere. Alex is a filmmaker and he independently writes, films and produces original short films. Each time he turns one out, I find his work incredibly well done, captivating and thought-provoking. He’s talented, humble, and a skilled craftsman of the trade. When Alex first got behind a camera, he was hooked. In his childhood, he struggled with a speech impediment that impacted his ability to confidently communicate, but when he found the camera he found his confidence and figured out he could express himself with videos and photography. Now, he is forging his own path in film, exploring his creative boundaries and finding himself along the way... behind the scenes.

JC Canfield Is the Founder and CEO of High Above, a Bellingham based company that designs and handcrafts packs for mountain bikers. Known for impeccable design, simplicity, and durability, High Above packs are built for those who demand versatility and unrivaled quality - built by mountain bikers, for mountain bikers. JC’s introduction to handcrafting quality durable bags quickly turned into an obsession, but it would take a few years of low wage sewing jobs and being fired from his last job before High Above was conceived in a spare room from his Seattle apartment. In the early stages, JC was able to move some products locally but somehow gained popularity in Japan and sustained the bulk of his business shipping bags overseas. As his brand and products continued to develop and gain notoriety, JC has since moved his growing business to the Mountain Biking Hub of Bellingham, WA expanding both his operations and brand recognition in the community. JC’s story is the tale of building something from nothing, stitching together a vision and seeing it through with pure grit, determination, and unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

Shane Young is a professional photojournalist and portrait photographer whose work has made appearances in national publications such as The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and TIME Magazine. Falling in love with photography at a young age, Shane’s story is the definition of passion and is a classic example of building a career from the ground up with nothing but relentless determination and an unwavering commitment to his craft. As his story takes shape, Shane finds himself as a business partner with legendary art director Carol Gardner, together, they co-founded Zelda Wisdom - a unique company promoting humor and healing through greeting cards, calendars, books, phone cases and more featuring Carol’s English Bulldog, Zelda. What started as 12 greeting cards in Gardner’s living room blossomed into more than 1 million cards sold within six months, landing Zelda Wisdom on Oprah and Good Morning America with licenses all over the globe. As Shane, his wife and 4 kids are navigating their busy and hectic lives, things take an unexpected turn when his wife is diagnosed with MS. As a family, they decide to simplify their lives, load up a travel trailer and live life on the road. Now working as a contracted photographer for Google, Shane and his family travel the country living more simply, adventurously, and working from wherever they park.

In this episode, I have the honor and the privilege to sit down with a woman that inspires me, and many others every day, Natalie Bassett. Natalie has been involved in education for many years and she currently works as a Kindergarten Teacher on the English side of a Two-Way Immersion Dual Language Elementary School. She also worked for many years during college as a lead mentor functioning as a liaison between Western Washington University and the Burlington Edison School District. She oversaw the college mentors placed in the school district and mentored students in elementary, middle, and high school. She was also an assistant coach for the program Girls On The Run which aims to empower young girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident through running. In addition, she founded a small business called FairhavenTeach which is a private tutoring program offered during the summer months for children in Kindergarten - 8th grade. Meanwhile, this superwoman has also knocked out 4 half marathons and is currently training for her 5th. It goes without saying that Natalie is passionate about the field of education and her craft. I love her tenacious spirit and unwavering commitment to accomplish whatever it is she sets out for. I hope her story inspires you to chase what you're passionate about, stand resilient in the face of challenges, and go outside of your comfort zone to explore trails less traveled and tap into your limitless potential.

In this episode, I sit down with Jake Gobeille, Brand Manager for Menace Brewing and member of the IO Brewing Collective that recently took over ownership of Menace, as well as The Local Public House in downtown Bellingham. He also has a home brewing project under the name Beach Cat Brewery. Jake is a young entrepreneur with a passion for the craft beer industry, but the trail he’s walked to get here hasn’t been an easy one. In this conversation he opens up about dropping out of high school, losing his father to cancer, then facing his own battle with cancer at the age of 25. Stuck at a dead-end job, Jake dropped everything and began chasing his newfound passion, brewing beer, as he immersed himself into Bellingham’s renowned craft beer scene. Adversity forged Jake’s path to becoming a college graduate, a rising figure in the Bellingham business community, and a caring friend and loving husband to his wife, Kaitlin. I hope Jake’s story inspires you, as it does me, to follow your passions into the unknown. To overcome adversity and tap into the resilience, determination, and courage to take the trails less traveled in life. If there is one thing I have learned from stories like Jake’s, it’s that sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you’ve ever been to stand up taller than you ever were.

Max is a real estate agent from Rockwood Reality in Ferndale, WA. Beyond being a successful young realtor, Max is always involved in the community - volunteering at non-profits, an active member of the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce, Whatcom Young Professionals, and so much more. He even organized a weekly community run every Wednesday, from the Rockwood office in Ferndale as a way to bring people together. He is so shamelessly himself and I find it inspiring how this makes him stick out amongst all those who blend together in the real estate industry. I want to find out how he got on the trail he is on in life with Real Estate, how he stays motivated and positive, and what it’s like to be a young, wise, professional realtor on the move.

Nate Wolch obtained his Master’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology and is currently in the process of becoming a Certified Mental Performance Consultant. He’s recently begun working for the U.S. Army full-time with the title of Master Resilience Trainer. He’s launching his own consulting business in October 2019 called Inner Champion. Nate is also a lifelong athlete and now boxer who even has a few amateur fights to add to his resume. I have always been inspired by Nate’s intrinsic motivation. In this conversation, we talked a little about where that comes from and how he ended up on the trail to the field of Sports Psychology and how being an athlete himself influences his understanding of Mental Performance.