Podcasts about Black Mountain

A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer's Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode Worth Hearing. This is more than a headline. It is a true story of survival, loss, depression, and an unexpected moment of human connection that changed everything. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. Dean Simpson is a retired police officer from the New York City Police Department. Years before this Christmas Eve, he was shot in the line of duty during a violent, life-and-death encounter. He survived the attack, but the shooting left him permanently disabled. What followed was a slow, painful unraveling that many first responders know too well. The inpsiring episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform Purpose disappeared. Pain remained. Alcohol filled the silence. By December of 2001, Dean's life had narrowed to drinking, isolation, and attending one police funeral after another. Just three months earlier, the Twin Towers had fallen. While his fellow officers ran toward the chaos on September 11, Dean woke up late, hungover, and drowning in guilt. He still put on his uniform and reported to Ground Zero, working at “The Pile” for weeks, until he realized he wasn't helping anymore. A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer's Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode Worth Hearing. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . Then came Christmas Eve. That morning, Dean put his father's revolver in one pocket and his father's worn Bible in the other. He boarded a train at Penn Station with a one-way ticket upstate. He had already decided that once he reached his destination, his life would end. He chose a secluded place so no one would have to clean up the mess, a thought that haunted him even then. While the train rolled north through snow-covered landscapes, a stranger sat down next to him. Her name was Erin. She was a chatty grandmother with a red scarf and a warm smile, exactly the kind of person Dean did not want to talk to. She spoke about the beauty of the city, the holidays, life, and love. Dean sat in silence, angry at her optimism, angry at everything. When she finally asked what he loved about New York City, his response was cold and sharp. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms. “I love being left alone.” Instead of snapping back or moving seats, Erin stayed. When Dean apologized, she accepted. Slowly, gently, she drew him into conversation. She shared her own story, her late husband, her children, her grandchildren. And for the first time in a long while, Dean talked about his life. About being shot. About losing his father. About feeling useless and invisible. A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer's Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode When the train reached Albany, Erin handed him a small pink note. “I don't know where you're headed,” she told him, “but when you get there, read this.” They hugged, and she was gone. Dean continued on to Black Mountain, climbing toward Lake George with ice-capped water below. At the summit, he opened his father's Bible. A scrap of paper fell out, marking a verse: Corinthians 10:13. To a cop, that number meant something else entirely, police code for officer needs assistance. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms. Then he read Erin's note: “Dean, life is a gift meant to be shared. Don't ever give up hope. Merry Christmas. Erin.” In that moment, something lifted. The weight inside him eased. Dean emptied the revolver and threw it into the abyss. Then he turned around and walked back down the mountain. A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer's Life on Christmas Eve. That was the day a stranger saved his life. In this special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, Dean Simpson tells his story openly, not for attention, but to reach others who may be standing on the same edge. He speaks about trauma, addiction, purpose, and recovery. He shares how the badge shaped him, how it nearly broke him, and how one unexpected act of kindness redirected his life. His interview can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories. Dean is also the author of two books: The Blue Pawn: A Memoir of an NYPD Foot Soldier, a raw and unfiltered account of life in law enforcement, and Godless v. Trust: The Radical Left's Quest to Destroy Western Civilization, reflecting the worldview forged through experience and service. His story has been shared across Facebook, Instagram, and various news outlets, and is now featured in a special episode of a powerful podcast conversation. Listeners can hear Dean tell this story in his own words on Apple, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms. A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer's Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode Worth Hearing. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. This is not just a story about a retired NYPD officer. It's a reminder that you never know when a simple conversation, a shared moment, or a stranger's kindness might save a life. And sometimes, angels don't have wings, they just won't stop talking. Be sure to check out our website . Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie . The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary “gift” to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com . Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website . Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo. A Stranger Saved a Retired NYPD Officer's Life on Christmas Eve, A Special Episode Worth Hearing. Attributions Amazon NY Post Amazon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.WhoLonie Glieberman, Founder, Owner, & President of Mount Bohemia, MichiganRecorded onNovember 19, 2025About Mount BohemiaClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Lonie GliebermanLocated in: Lac La Belle, MichiganYear founded: 2000, by LoniePass affiliations: NoneReciprocal partners: Boho has developed one of the strongest reciprocal pass programs in the nation, with lift tickets to 34 partner mountains. To protect the mountain's more distant partners from local ticket-hackers, those ski areas typically exclude in-state and border-state residents from the freebies. Here's the map:And here's the Big Dumb Storm Chart detailing each mountain and its Boho access:Closest neighboring ski areas: Mont Ripley (:50)Base elevation: 624 feetSummit elevation: 1,522 feetVertical drop: 898 feetSkiable acres: 585Average annual snowfall: 273 inchesTrail count: It's hard to say exactly, as Boho adds new trails every year, and its map is one of the more confusing ones in American skiing, both as you try analyzing it on this screen, and as you're actually navigating the mountain. My advice is to not try too hard to make the trailmap make sense. Everything is skiable with enough snow, and no matter what, you're going to end up back at one of the two chairlifts or the road, where a shuttlebus will come along within a few minutes.Lift count: 2 (1 triple, 1 double)Why I interviewed himFor those of us who lived through a certain version of America, Mount Bohemia is a fever dream, an impossible thing, a bantered-about-with-friends-in-a-basement-rec-room-idea that could never possibly be. This is because we grew up in a world in which such niche-cool things never happened. Before the internet spilled from the academic-military fringe into the mainstream around 1996, We The Commoners fed our brains with a subsistence diet of information meted out by institutional media gatekeepers. What I mean by “gatekeepers” is the limited number of enterprises who could afford the broadcast licenses, printing presses, editorial staffs, and building and technology infrastructure that for decades tethered news and information to costly distribution mechanisms.In some ways this was a better and more reliable world: vetted, edited, fact-checked. Even ostensibly niche media – the Electronic Gaming Monthly and Nintendo Power magazines that I devoured monthly – emerged from this cubicle-in-an-office-tower Process that guaranteed a sober, reality-based information exchange.But this professionalized, high-cost-of-entry, let's-get-Bob's-sign-off-before-we-run-this, don't-piss-off-the-advertisers world limited options, which in turn limited imaginations – or at least limited the real-world risks anyone with money was willing to take to create something different. We had four national television networks and a couple dozen cable channels and one or two local newspapers and three or four national magazines devoted to niche pursuits like skiing. We had bookstores and libraries and the strange, ephemeral world of radio. We had titanic, impossible-to-imagine-now big-box chain stores ordering the world's music and movies into labelled bins, from which shoppers could hope – by properly interpreting content from box-design flare or maybe just by luck – to pluck some soul-altering novelty.There was little novelty. Or at least, not much that didn't feel like a slightly different version of something you'd already consumed. Everything, no matter how subversive its skin, had to appeal to the masses, whose money was required to support the enterprise of content creation. Pseudo-rebel networks such as ESPN and MTV quickly built global brands by applying the established institutional framework of network television to the mainstream-but-information-poor cultural centerpieces of sports and music.This cultural sameness expressed itself not just in media, but in every part of life: America's brand-name sprawl-ture (sprawl culture) of restaurants and clothing stores and home décor emporia; its stuff-freeways-through-downtown ruining of our great cities; its three car companies stamping out nondescript sedans by the millions.Skiing has long acted as a rebel's escape from staid American culture, but it has also been hemmed in by it. Yes, said Skiing Incorporated circa 1992, we can allow a photo of some fellow jumping off a cliff if it helps convince Nabisco Bob fly his family out to Colorado for New Year's, so long as his family is at no risk of actually locating any cliffs to jump off of upon arrival. After all, 1992 Bob has no meaningful outlet through which to highlight this advertising-experience disconnect. The internet broke this whole system. Everywhere, for everything. If I wanted, say, a Detroit Pistons hoodie in 1995, I had to drive to a dozen stores and choose the least-bad version from the three places that stocked them. Today I have far more choice at far less hassle: I can browse hundreds of designs online without leaving the house. Same for office furniture or shoes or litterboxes or laundry baskets or cars. And especially for media and information. Consumer choice is greater not only because the internet eliminated distance, but also because it largely eliminated the enormous costs required to actualize a tangible thing from the imagination.There were trade-offs, of course. Our current version of reality has too many options, too many poorly made products, too much bad information. But the internet did a really good job of democratizing preferences and uniting dispersed communities around niche interests. Yes, this means that a global community of morons can assemble over their shared belief that the planet is flat, but it also means that legions of Star Wars or Marvel Comics or football obsessives can unite to demand more of these specific things. I don't think it's a coincidence that the dormant Star Wars and Marvel franchises rebooted in spectacular, omnipresent fashion within a decade of the .com era's dawn.The trajectory was slightly different in skiing. The big-name ski areas today are largely the same set of big-name ski areas that we had 30 years ago, at least in America (Canada is a very different story). But what the internet helped bring to skiing was an awareness that the desire for turns outside of groomed runs was not the hyper-specific desire of the most dedicated, living-in-a-campervan-with-their-dog skiers, but a relatively mainstream preference. Established ski areas adapted, adding glades and terrain parks and ungroomed zones. The major ski areas of 2025 are far more interesting versions of the ski areas that existed under the same names in 1995.Dramatic and welcome as these additions were, they were just additions. No ski area completely reversed itself and shut out the mainstream skier. No one stopped grooming or eliminated their ski school or stopped renting gear. But they did act as something of a proof-of-concept for minimalist ski areas that would come online later, including avy-gear-required, no-grooming Silverton, Colorado in 2001, and, at the tip-top of the American Midwest, in a place too remote for anyone other than industrial mining interests to bother with, the ungroomed, snowmaking-free Mount Bohemia.I can't draw a direct line between the advent of the commercial internet and the rise of Mount Bohemia as a successful niche business within a niche industry. But I find it hard to imagine one without the other. The pre-internet world, the one that gave us shopping malls and laugh-track sitcoms and standard manual transmissions, lacked the institutional imagination to actualize skiing's most dynamic elements in the form of a wild and remote pilgrimage site. Once the internet ordered fringe freeskiing sentiments into a mainstream coalition, the notion of an extreme ski area seemed inevitable. And Bohemia, without a basically free global megaphone to spread word of its improbable existence, would struggle to establish itself in a ski industry that dismissed the concept as idiotic and with a national ski media that considered the Midwest irrelevant.Even with the internet, Boho took a while to catch on, as Lonie detailed in his first podcast appearance three years ago. It probably took the mainstreaming of social media, starting around 2008, to really amp up the online echo-sphere and help skiers understand this gladed, lake-effect-bombed kingdom at the end of the world.Whatever drove Boho's success, that success happened. This is a good, stable business that proved that ski areas do not have to cater to all skiers to be viable. But those of us who wanted Bohemia before it existed still have a hard time believing that it does. Like superhero movies or video-calls or energy drinks that aren't coffee, Boho is a thing we could, in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, easily imagine but just as easily dismiss as fantasy.Fortunately, our modern age of invention and experimentation includes plenty of people who dismiss the dismissers, who see things that don't exist yet and bring them into our world. And one of the best contributions to skiing to emerge from this age is Mount Bohemia.What we talked aboutSeason pass price and access changes; lifetime and two-year season passes; a Disney-ski comparison that isn't negative; when your day ticket costs as much as your season pass; Lonie's dog makes a cameo; not selling lift tickets on Saturdays; “too many companies are busy building a brand that no one will hate, versus a brand that someone will love”; why it's OK to have some people be angry with you; UP skiing's existential challenge; skiing's vibe shift from competition to complementary culture; the Midwest's advanced-skier problem; Boho's season pass reciprocal program; why ski areas survive; the Keweenaw snow stake and Boho's snowfall history; recent triple chair improvements and why Boho didn't fully replace the chair – “it's basically a brand-new chairlift”; a novel idea for Boho's next new chairlift; the Nordic spa; proposed rezoning drama; housing at the end of the world; could Mount Bohemia have a Mad River Glen co-op-style future?; why the pass deadline really is the pass deadline; and Mount Bohemia TV.What I got wrong* I said that Boho's one-day lift ticket was “$89 or $92” last time Lonie joined me on the pod, in fall, 2022. The one-day cost for the 2022-23 ski season was $87.* I said that Powder Mountain, Utah, may extend their no-lift-ticket-sales-on-Saturdays-and-Sundays-in-February policy, which the mountain rolled out last year, to other dates, but their sales calendar shows just eight restricted dates (one of which is Sunday, March 1), which is the same number as last winter.Why you should ski Mount BohemiaI can't add anything useful to this bit that I wrote a few months back:Or didn't say three years ago, around my first Boho pod:Podcast NotesOn Boho's season passOn Lonie's LibraryA Boho podcast will always come loaded with some Lonie Library recommendations. In this episode, we get The Power of Cult Branding by Mattew W. Ragas and Bolivar J. Bueno and The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al Ries and Laura Ries.On Raising Cane'sLonie tells us about a restaurant called Raising Cane's that sells nothing but chicken fingers. Because I have this weird way of sometimes not noticing super-obvious things, I'd never heard of the place. But apparently they have 900-ish locations, including several here in NYC. I'm sure you already know this.On Jimmy BuffettThen again I'm sometimes overly attuned to things that I think everyone knows about, like Jimmy Buffett. Probably most people are aware of his Margaritaville-headlined music catalog, but perhaps not the Boomers-Gone-Wild Parrothead energy of his concerts, which were mass demonstrations of a uniquely American weirdness that's impossible to believe in unless you see it:I don't know if I'd classify this spectacle as sports for people who don't like sports or anthropological proof that mass coordinated niche crowd-dancing predates the advent of TikTok, but I hope this video reaches the aliens first and they decide not to bother.On “when we spoke in Milwaukee”This was the second time I've interviewed Lonie recently. The first was in front of an audience at the Snowvana ski show in Milwaukee last month. We did record that session, and it was different enough from this pod to justify releasing – I just don't have a timeline on when I'll do that yet. Here's the preview article that outlined the event:On Lonie operating the Porcupine Mountains ski areaI guess you can make anything look rad. Porcupine Mountains ski area, as presented today under management of the State of Michigan's Department of Natural Resources:The same ski area under Lonie's management, circa 2011:On the owner of Song and Labrador, New York buying and closing nearby Toggenburg ski areaOn Indy's fight with Ski CooperI wrote two stories on this, each of which subtracted five years from my life. The first:The follow-up:On Snow Snake, Apple Mountain, and Mott Mountain ski areasThese three Mid-Michigan ski areas were so similar it was frightening – the only thing I can conclude from the fact that Snow Snake is the only one left is that management trumps pretty much everything when it comes to which ski areas survive:On Crystal Mountain, Michigan versus Sugar Loaf, MichiganI noted that 1995 Stu viewed Sugar Loaf as a “more interesting” ski area than contemporary Crystal. It's important to note that this was pre-expansion Crystal, before the ski area doubled in size with backside terrain. Here are the Crystal versus Sugar Loaf trailmaps of that era:I discussed all of this with Crystal CEO John Melcher last year:On Thunder Mountain and Walloon HillsLonie mentions two additional lost Michigan ski areas: Thunder Mountain and Walloon Hills. The latter, while stripped of its chairlifts, still operates as a nonprofit called Challenge Mountain. Here's what it looked like just before shuttering as a public ski area in 1978:The responsible party here was nearby Boyne, which bought both Walloon and Thunder in 1967. They closed the latter in 1984:The company now known as Boyne Resorts purchased a total of four Michigan ski areas after Everett Kircher founded Boyne Mountain in 1948, starting with The Highlands in 1963. That ski area remains open, but Boyne also owned the 436-vertical foot ski area alternately known as “Barn Mountain” and “Avalanche Peak” from 1972 to '77. I can't find a trailmap of this one, but here's Boyne's consolidation history:On Nub's Nob and The HighlandsWhen I say that Nub's Nob and Boyne's Highlands ski area are right across the street from each other, I mean they really are:Both are excellent ski areas - two of the best in the entire Midwest.On Granite Peak's evolution under Midwest Family Ski ResortsI've written about this a lot, but check out Granite Peak AKA “Rib Mountain” before the company now known as Midwest Family Ski Resorts purchased it in 2000:And today:And it's just like “what you're allowed to do that?”On up-and-over chairliftsBohemia may replace its double chair with a rare up-and-over machine, which would extend along the current line to the summit, and then continue to the bottom of Haunted Valley, effectively functioning as two chairlifts. Lonie explains the logic in the podcast, but if he succeeds here, this would be the first new up-and-over lift built in the United States since Stevens Pass' Double Diamond-Southern Cross machine in 1987. I'm only aware of four other such machines in America, all of them in the Midwest:Little Switzerland recently revealed plans to replace the machine that makes up the 1 and 2 chairlifts with two separate quads next year.On Boho's Nordic SpaI never thought hot tubs and parties and happiness were controversial. Then along came social media. And it turns out that when a ski area that primarily markets itself as a refuge for hardcore skiers also builds a base-area zone for these skiers to sink into another sort of indulgence at day's end and then promotes these features, it make Angry Ski Bro VERY ANGRY.For most of human existence we had incentives to prevent ostentatious attention-seeking whining about peripheral things that had no actual impact on your life, and that incentive was Not Wanting To Get Your Ass Kicked. But some people interpreted the distance and anonymity of the internet as a permission slip to become the worst versions of themselves. And so we have a dedicated corps of morons trolling Boho's socials with chest-thumping proclamations of #RealSkierness that rage against the $18 Nordic Spa fee taped onto each Boho $99 or $112 season pass.But when you go to Boho, what you see is this:And these people do not look angry. Because they are doing something fun and cool. Which is one more reason that I stopped reading social media comments several years ago and decided to base reality on living in it rather than observing it through my Pet Rectangle.On the Mad River Glen Co-Op and Betsy PrattSo far, the only successful U.S. ski area co-op is Mad River Glen, Vermont. Longtime owner Betsy Pratt orchestrated the transformation in 1995. She passed away in 2023 at age 95, giving her lots of years to watch the model endure. Black Mountain, New Hampshire, is in the midst of a similar transformation. On Mount Bohemia TVBoho is a strange, strange universe. Nothing better distills the mountain's essence than Mount Bohemia TV – I mean that in the literal sense, in that each episode immerses you in this peculiar world, but also in an accidental quirk of its execution. Because the video staff keeps, in Lonie's words, “losing the password,” Mount Bohemia has at least four official YouTube channels, each of which hosts different episodes of Mount Bohemia TV.Here's episodes 1, 2, and 3:4 through 15:16 through 20:And 21 and 22:If anyone knows how to sort this out, I'm sure they'd appreciate the assist. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Tonight, in the BRIG, we are thrilled to welcome back an incredible guest from all the way across the pond! Simon Bestwick is an accomplished as well as prolific British contemporary horror author, whose acclaimed work includes the novels Black Mountain, Hell's Ditch, The Devil's Highway and Wolf's Hill as well as numerous short short collections such as 2020's “And Cannot Come Again: Tales of Childhood, Regret, and Innocence Lost”. Chalking up no less than 4 British Fantasy award nominations (so far), Simon's work has been described as ‘Brilliant' by the Guardian and ‘among the most important writers of contemporary British horror' and he's here to chat about his newest book (as Daniel Church)... The Sound of the Dark! Also expect plenty of chatter about Simon's love for Doctor Who and his favorite schlocky paperbacks and obscure 80s horror flicks. Prepare to walk away with some serious recommendations to check out! Pick up the new Daniel Church book THE SOUND OF THE DARK, today! ---------------------------------------------- Retro Ridoctopus is: • Parasite Steve (read) • 8-Bit Alchemy (listen) • Coopster Gold (party) • Nintenjoe (subscribe) ---------------------------------------------- All original heavy metal music by Enchanted Exile

Zambian visual artist, STARY MWABA, who grew up in the country's Copperbelt, discusses the enduring environmental and human cost of resource extraction in his home region. He details the history and current reality of the infamous Black Mountain in Kitwe - a century-old toxic slag heap - that is now a site of dangerous, informal mining and re-extraction. Stary explains his unique artistic technique, which literally perforates newspaper headlines to make space for the 'little narratives' of the exploited people and children whose suffering fuels the world's 'green' revolution.His signature method is creating a surface by collecting newspaper stories, stacking them on transparent baking paper' and then perforating the newsprint with minute holes. The idea came from an earlier installation in which he used vegetables and colour to demonstrate how plants absorb water and minerals - a critique of Chinese engagement.The physical act of 'removing words' and perforating the paper is to symbolically 'create space for the little stories' - the marginalised, human narratives. The work is 'painstaking' requiring intense concentration, which Stary describes as a form of 'therapy'.Stary paints from the reverse side of the perforated paper. He imposes the image so the paint literally 'seeps through the holes' and onto the front side, making the portrait a physical breakthrough of the headline.He displays the paintings by suspending them so that the viewer can 'see both sides of the story.'Follow Stary on instagram: starymwabaYou can see some of his works at the 37d Gallery, Lusaka#starymwaba#Zambianartist#copperbelt#coppermining#coblatmining#greenenergy#greeneconomy#evironmentaljustice#acidrain#pollution#zambia#kitwe#blackmountain#africanart#socialcommentary#artivism#untoldstories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WhoDeb Hatley, Owner of Hatley Pointe, North CarolinaRecorded onJuly 30, 2025About Hatley PointeClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Deb and David Hatley since 2023 - purchased from Orville English, who had owned and operated the resort since 1992Located in: Mars Hill, North CarolinaYear founded: 1969 (as Wolf Laurel or Wolf Ridge; both names used over the decades)Pass affiliations: Indy Pass, Indy+ Pass – 2 days, no blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Cataloochee (1:25), Sugar Mountain (1:26)Base elevation: 4,000 feetSummit elevation: 4,700 feetVertical drop: 700 feetSkiable acres: 54Average annual snowfall: 65 inchesTrail count: 21 (4 beginner, 11 intermediate, 6 advanced)Lift count: 4 active (1 fixed-grip quad, 1 ropetow, 2 carpets); 2 inactive, both on the upper mountain (1 fixed-grip quad, 1 double)Why I interviewed herOur world has not one map, but many. Nature drew its own with waterways and mountain ranges and ecosystems and tectonic plates. We drew our maps on top of these, to track our roads and borders and political districts and pipelines and railroad tracks.Our maps are functional, simplistic. They insist on fictions. Like the 1,260-mile-long imaginary straight line that supposedly splices the United States from Canada between Washington State and Minnesota. This frontier is real so long as we say so, but if humanity disappeared tomorrow, so would that line.Nature's maps are more resilient. This is where water flows because this is where water flows. If we all go away, the water keeps flowing. This flow, in turn, impacts the shape and function of the entire world.One of nature's most interesting maps is its mountain map. For most of human existence, mountains mattered much more to us than they do now. Meaning: we had to respect these giant rocks because they stood convincingly in our way. It took European settlers centuries to navigate en masse over the Appalachians, which is not even a severe mountain range, by global mountain-range standards. But paved roads and tunnels and gas stations every five miles have muted these mountains' drama. You can now drive from the Atlantic Ocean to the Midwest in half a day.So spoiled by infrastructure, we easily forget how dramatically mountains command huge parts of our world. In America, we know this about our country: the North is cold and the South is warm. And we define these regions using battle maps from a 19th Century war that neatly bisected the nation. Another imaginary line. We travel south for beaches and north to ski and it is like this everywhere, a gentle progression, a continent-length slide that warms as you descend from Alaska to Panama.But mountains disrupt this logic. Because where the land goes up, the air grows cooler. And there are mountains all over. And so we have skiing not just in expected places such as Vermont and Maine and Michigan and Washington, but in completely irrational ones like Arizona and New Mexico and Southern California. And North Carolina.North Carolina. That's the one that surprised me. When I started skiing, I mean. Riding hokey-poke chairlifts up 1990s Midwest hills that wouldn't qualify as rideable surf breaks, I peered out at the world to figure out where else people skied and what that skiing was like. And I was astonished by how many places had organized skiing with cut trails and chairlifts and lift tickets, and by how many of them were way down the Michigan-to-Florida slide-line in places where I thought that winter never came: West Virginia and Virginia and Maryland. And North Carolina.Yes there are ski areas in more improbable states. But Cloudmont, situated in, of all places, Alabama, spins its ropetow for a few days every other year or so. North Carolina, home to six ski areas spinning a combined 35 chairlifts, allows for no such ambiguity: this is a ski state. And these half-dozen ski centers are not marginal operations: Sugar Mountain and Cataloochee opened for the season last week, and they sometimes open in October. Sugar spins a six-pack and two detach quads on a 1,200-foot vertical drop.This geographic quirk is a product of our wonderful Appalachian Mountain chain, which reaches its highest points not in New England but in North Carolina, where Mount Mitchell peaks at 6,684 feet, 396 feet higher than the summit of New Hampshire's Mount Washington. This is not an anomaly: North Carolina is home to six summits taller than Mount Washington, and 12 of the 20-highest in the Appalachians, a range that stretches from Alabama to Newfoundland. And it's not just the summits that are taller in North Carolina. The highest ski area base elevation in New England is Saddleback, which measures 2,147 feet at the bottom of the South Branch quad (the mountain more typically uses the 2,460-foot measurement at the bottom of the Rangeley quad). Either way, it's more than 1,000 feet below the lowest base-area elevation in North Carolina:Unfortunately, mountains and elevation don't automatically equal snow. And the Southern Appalachians are not exactly the Kootenays. It snows some, sometimes, but not so much, so often, that skiing can get by on nature's contributions alone - at least not in any commercially reliable form. It's no coincidence that North Carolina didn't develop any organized ski centers until the 1960s, when snowmaking machines became efficient and common enough for mass deployment. But it's plenty cold up at 4,000 feet, and there's no shortage of water. Snowguns proved to be skiing's last essential ingredient.Well, there was one final ingredient to the recipe of southern skiing: roads. Back to man's maps. Specifically, America's interstate system, which steamrolled the countryside throughout the 1960s and passes just a few miles to Hatley Pointe's west. Without these superhighways, western North Carolina would still be a high-peaked wilderness unknown and inaccessible to most of us.It's kind of amazing when you consider all the maps together: a severe mountain region drawn into the borders of a stable and prosperous nation that builds physical infrastructure easing the movement of people with disposable income to otherwise inaccessible places that have been modified for novel uses by tapping a large and innovative industrial plant that has reduced the miraculous – flight, electricity, the internet - to the commonplace. And it's within the context of all these maps that a couple who knows nothing about skiing can purchase an established but declining ski resort and remake it as an upscale modern family ski center in the space of 18 months.What we talked aboutHurricane Helene fallout; “it took every second until we opened up to make it there,” even with a year idle; the “really tough” decision not to open for the 2023-24 ski season; “we did not realize what we were getting ourselves into”; buying a ski area when you've never worked at a ski area and have only skied a few times; who almost bought Wolf Ridge and why Orville picked the Hatleys instead; the importance of service; fixing up a broken-down ski resort that “felt very old”; updating without losing the approachable family essence; why it was “absolutely necessary” to change the ski area's name; “when you pulled in, the first thing that you were introduced to … were broken-down machines and school buses”; Bible verses and bare trails and busted-up everything; “we could have spent two years just doing cleanup of junk and old things everywhere”; Hatley Pointe then and now; why Hatley removed the double chair; a detachable six-pack at Hatley?; chairlifts as marketing and branding tools; why the Breakaway terrain closed and when it could return and in what form; what a rebuilt summit lodge could look like; Hatley Pointe's new trails; potential expansion; a day-ski area, a resort, or both?; lift-served mountain bike park incoming; night-skiing expansion; “I was shocked” at the level of après that Hatley drew, and expanding that for the years ahead; North Carolina skiing is all about the altitude; re-opening The Bowl trail; going to online-only sales; and lessons learned from 2024-25 that will build a better Hatley for 2025-26.What I got wrongWhen we recorded this conversation, the ski area hadn't yet finalized the name of the new green trail coming off of Eagle – it is Pat's Way (see trailmap above).I asked if Hatley intended to install night-skiing, not realizing that they had run night-ski operations all last winter.Why now was a good time for this interviewPardon my optimism, but I'm feeling good about American lift-served skiing right now. Each of the past five winters has been among the top 10 best seasons for skier visits, U.S. ski areas have already built nearly as many lifts in the 2020s (246) as they did through all of the 2010s (288), and multimountain passes have streamlined the flow of the most frequent and passionate skiers between mountains, providing far more flexibility at far less cost than would have been imaginable even a decade ago.All great. But here's the best stat: after declining throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, the number of active U.S. ski areas stabilized around the turn of the century, and has actually increased for five consecutive winters:Those are National Ski Areas Association numbers, which differ slightly from mine. I count 492 active ski hills for 2023-24 and 500 for last winter, and I project 510 potentially active ski areas for the 2025-26 campaign. But no matter: the number of active ski operations appears to be increasing.But the raw numbers matter less than the manner in which this uptick is happening. In short: a new generation of owners is resuscitating lost or dying ski areas. Many have little to no ski industry experience. Driven by nostalgia, a sense of community duty, plain business opportunity, or some combination of those things, they are orchestrating massive ski area modernization projects, funded via their own wealth – typically earned via other enterprises – or by rallying a donor base.Examples abound. When I launched The Storm in 2019, Saddleback, Maine; Norway Mountain, Michigan; Woodward Park City; Thrill Hills, North Dakota; Deer Mountain, South Dakota; Paul Bunyan, Wisconsin; Quarry Road, Maine; Steeplechase, Minnesota; and Snowland, Utah were all lost ski areas. All are now open again, and only one – Woodward – was the project of an established ski area operator (Powdr). Cuchara, Colorado and Nutt Hill, Wisconsin are on the verge of re-opening following decades-long lift closures. Bousquet, Massachusetts; Holiday Mountain, New York; Kissing Bridge, New York; and Black Mountain, New Hampshire were disintegrating in slow-motion before energetic new owners showed up with wrecking balls and Home Depot frequent-shopper accounts. New owners also re-energized the temporarily dormant Sandia Peak, New Mexico and Tenney, New Hampshire.One of my favorite revitalization stories has been in North Carolina, where tired, fire-ravaged, investment-starved, homey-but-rickety Wolf Ridge was falling down and falling apart. The ski area's season ended in February four times between 2018 and 2023. Snowmaking lagged. After an inferno ate the summit lodge in 2014, no one bothered rebuilding it. Marooned between the rapidly modernizing North Carolina ski trio of Sugar Mountain, Cataloochee, and Beech, Wolf Ridge appeared to be rapidly fading into irrelevance.Then the Hatleys came along. Covid-curious first-time skiers who knew little about skiing or ski culture, they saw opportunity where the rest of us saw a reason to keep driving. Fixing up a ski area turned out to be harder than they'd anticipated, and they whiffed on opening for the 2023-24 winter. Such misses sometimes signal that the new owners are pulling their ripcords as they launch out of the back of the plane, but the Hatleys kept working. They gut-renovated the lodge, modernized the snowmaking plant, tore down an SLI double chair that had witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And last winter, they re-opened the best version of the ski area now known as Hatley Pointe that locals had seen in decades.A great winter – one of the best in recent North Carolina history – helped. But what I admire about the Hatleys – and this new generation of owners in general – is their optimism in a cultural moment that has deemed optimism corny and naïve. Everything is supposed to be terrible all the time, don't you know that? They didn't know, and that orientation toward the good, tempered by humility and patience, reversed the long decline of a ski area that had in many ways ceased to resonate with the world it existed in.The Hatleys have lots left to do: restore the Breakaway terrain, build a new summit lodge, knot a super-lift to the frontside. And their Appalachian salvage job, while impressive, is not a very repeatable blueprint – you need considerable wealth to take a season off while deploying massive amounts of capital to rebuild the ski area. The Hatley model is one among many for a generation charged with modernizing increasingly antiquated ski areas before they fall over dead. Sometimes, as in the examples itemized above, they succeed. But sometimes they don't. Comebacks at Cockaigne and Hickory, both in New York, fizzled. Sleeping Giant, Wyoming and Ski Blandford, Massachusetts both shuttered after valiant rescue attempts. All four of these remain salvageable, but last week, Four Seasons, New York closed permanently after 63 years.That will happen. We won't be able to save every distressed ski area, and the potential supply of new or revivable ski centers, barring massive cultural and regulatory shifts, will remain limited. But the protectionist tendencies limiting new ski area development are, in a trick of human psychology, the same ones that will drive the revitalization of others – the only thing Americans resist more than building something new is taking away something old. Which in our country means anything that was already here when we showed up. A closed or closing ski area riles the collective angst, throws a snowy bat signal toward the night sky, a beacon and a dare, a cry and a plea: who wants to be a hero?Podcast NotesOn Hurricane HeleneHelene smashed inland North Carolina last fall, just as Hatley was attempting to re-open after its idle year. Here's what made the storm so bad:On Hatley's socialsFollow:On what I look for at a ski resortOn the Ski Big Bear podcastIn the spirit of the article above, one of the top 10 Storm Skiing Podcast guest quotes ever came from Ski Big Bear, Pennsylvania General Manager Lori Phillips: “You treat everyone like they paid a million dollars to be there doing what they're doing”On ski area name changesI wrote a piece on Hatley's name change back in 2023:Ski area name changes are more common than I'd thought. I've been slowly documenting past name changes as I encounter them, so this is just a partial list, but here are 93 active U.S. ski areas that once went under a different name. If you know of others, please email me.On Hatley at the point of purchase and nowGigantic collections of garbage have always fascinated me. That's essentially what Wolf Ridge was at the point of sale:It's a different place now:On the distribution of six-packs across the nationSix-pack chairlifts are rare and expensive enough that they're still special, but common enough that we're no longer amazed by them. Mostly - it depends on where we find such a machine. Just 112 of America's 3,202 ski lifts (3.5 percent) are six-packs, and most of these (75) are in the West (60 – more than half the nation's total, are in Colorado, Utah, or California). The Midwest is home to a half-dozen six-packs, all at Boyne or Midwest Family Ski Resorts operations, and the East has 31 sixers, 17 of which are in New England, and 12 of which are in Vermont. If Hatley installed a sixer, it would be just the second such chairlift in North Carolina, and the fifth in the Southeast, joining the two at Wintergreen, Virginia and the one at Timberline, West Virginia.On the Breakaway fireWolf Ridge's upper-mountain lodge burned down in March 2014. Yowza:On proposed expansions Wolf Ridge's circa 2007 trailmap teases a potential expansion below the now-closed Breakaway terrain:Taking our time machine back to the late ‘80s, Wolf Ridge had envisioned an even more ambitious expansion:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcome back Charlie Stanley from Oak and Grist Distilling Company in Black Mountain, North Carolina. We dive deep into the journey of a small craft distillery navigating the challenges of being in a control state, the growth of Oak and Grist's product line, and the evolution of their spirits since Charlie's last visit. We geek out on the technical and creative aspects of distillation, address the headaches of marketing and distribution in North Carolina's ABC system, and celebrate unique spirits — like their incredible Genever and the Peachwood-Smoked Single Malt. Along the way, we share a sensory deep-dive with a glass of Armagnac and touch on the resilience it takes to keep a craft beverage business alive, especially in the wake of devastating storms. Charlie Stanley is an alum of AB Tech's Craft Beverage Institute and serves as lead distiller at Oak and Grist. With almost six years under his belt at the distillery, Charlie brings a wealth of knowledge in production, blending, and creative problem solving. Whether it's crafting rare spirits like American Genever from scratch or adapting to unpredictable market forces, his experience and dedication are evident in every bottle. Beyond the production floor, Charlie has been an invaluable educator for both staff and the broader beverage community, returning often to AB Tech to share his expertise. "Genever is the whiskey drinker's gin... there's so much more grain flavor, a balance of malt sweetness and botanicals." ~Charlie Stanley Today on Consuming the Craft:·     Oak and Grist has expanded their offerings and matured their products significantly in the past six years, focusing on quality and evolution.·     The ABC system in North Carolina requires distilleries to adapt to a unique, fragmented, and sometimes frustrating structure for spirits sales and distribution.·     Education is essential—both for distillers and retail staff—to help consumers understand and appreciate local spirits.·     Oak and Grist produces a rare, authentic American Genever that's 100% single malt and distilled entirely in-house without sourcing.·     The distillery uses only full-size 53-gallon barrels for aging, favoring balance and complexity over rapid wood extraction from small barrels.·     Their Smoke Series features whiskeys made from North Carolina craft malt smoked with fruit woods like peach, resulting in nuanced and balanced spirits.·     Surviving Hurricane Helene was a challenge, but it ultimately broadened Oak and Grist's statewide presence and reaffirmed their resilience.·     Continuing education, community connections, and creative blending are all core to Oak and Grist's ongoing success. Contact for Charlie Stanley and Oak and Grist: Oak and Grist Distilling Company – https://oakandgrist.com/ Visit them in Black Mountain, NC More on Charlie and the team: https://oakandgrist.com/about-us Resources Mentioned: AB Tech Craft Beverage Institute: https://abtech.edu/academic-programs/craft-beverage-institute Riverbend Malt House – Suppliers of local craft malt: https://riverbendmalt.com/ This episode is brought to you by… McConnell Farms - Taste the Way You Remember. Enjoy homemade ciders and ice cream made from only the best produce on the market. Visit the McConnell Farms website to learn more about our seasonal inventory and the delicious creations you can make with our homegrown produce. Consuming the Craft Thanks for tuning into this week's Consuming the Craft Podcast episode, brought to you by AB Tech's Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon Podcasts | TuneIn | Pandora | Deezer  Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more craft beverage enthusiasts. To learn more about AB Tech and the Craft Beer Institute of the Southeast, visit our website.   

Film Review: Frankenstein (2025)Visit our WEBSITE Subscribe to our PATREON Subscribe to our YOUTUBE CHANNELVisit our MERCH STOREResources:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-21/mysterious-black-mountain/10067072https://www.downthunder.com.au/forum/camping-outdoor/trip-tips/The-Mystery-of-Black-Mountain---Cooktownhttps://mysteriousuniverse.org/2025/08/Cursed-and-Evil-Places-of-Australia/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you mix humor, authenticity, and a love for peanut butter hacks? You get Nikki Boes — a vibrant voice in the vegan community (@vegan_af_) who's showing the world that you don't have to be a “perfect vegan” to make an impact.In this lively and laugh-filled conversation, Nikki opens up about: Her personal transformation through a plant-based dietHow she handles the trolls who attack her postsThe way humor has become her secret weapon in advocating for animal welfare and health The real-life challenges of raising daughters in a social media worldBalancing family dynamics when not everyone in the household is veganNot taking herself too seriouslyWhy the world needs more imperfect vegansFrom her favorite snack combo (seaweed, pickles, and hot mustard!) to creative kitchen tips like refrigerating peanut butter upside down, Nikki proves that veganism is as fun as it is fulfilling. Whether she's volunteering at a dog shelter, ordering veggie-loaded pizza with no cheese, or breaking down health myths, Nikki shows us how one person can ripple out change across an entire community.If you've ever thought veganism was too rigid, serious, or unattainable, this episode is for you.Episode Webpage: https://www.plantstrongpodcast.com/blog/nikki-boesWatch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/N-HnMxCsaWgUpcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

We all know the saying, “the body keeps the score,” and this week's guest, Dr. Tila Kansagra, has lived it — and now helps others heal from it.A UK-based general practitioner and lifestyle medicine physician, Dr. Kansagra brings compassion, lived experience, and evidence-based practice together to help her patients move beyond symptoms and toward true wellness.In this conversation, we dive into her personal journey with familial trauma, her passion for plant-based nutrition, and how the six pillars of lifestyle medicine — nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, connection, and avoidance of risky substances — can transform lives.Whether you're struggling with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, burnout, or just want to live stronger and more intentionally, Dr. Kansagra's story will remind you that healing starts when you care for the whole person — body, mind, and spirit.Key Takeaways:How trauma and lived experience shaped Dr. Kansagra's approach to medicineWhy empathy and connection are essential tools for healingThe definitions and diagnosis of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgiaThe role of plant-based nutrition in helping to reverse chronic fatigue and restore energyHow lifestyle medicine empowers patients to take control of their healthPractical steps to build resilience and vitalityWatch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3FLJ1BwO5mA Episode Webpage: https://www.plantstrongpodcast.com/blog/dr-tila-kansagraUpcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Just a year ago, fall festivals were disappearing right and left from event calendars in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hurricane Helene may have thrown a wrench in Western North Carolina's 2024 festival season, but 2025 is back and better than ever. This weekend marks the triumphant return of the LEAF Global Arts Festival for its 30th anniversary at Lake Eden in Black Mountain. Join host Elise Wilson and LEAF Marketing and Engagement Coordinator Natascha Van Aalst Leitner as they uncover how stories, songs, and dance connect Western North Carolina with the rest of the world—and why this year's theme, “Live Life Like a Festival,” is more relevant than ever. Together, Elise and Natascha unpack: Why cultural preservation remains an integral part of LEAF's mission after thirty yearsHow LEAF's Artist ReLEAF Fund supports local artists affected by natural disastersHow to Live Life Like a Festival: Pick up a copy of founder Jennifer Pickering's new book, which celebrates 30 years of LEAF Global Arts.How You Can Get InvolvedPurchase tickets for the 2025 LEAF Global Arts Festival, Oct. 16 - 19.Donate to LEAF's Artist ReLEAF Fund.Shop Live Life Like a Festival.Learn about global arts through LEAF's Schools & Streets program. Become a member of LEAF. About LEAF Global ArtsLEAF Global Arts is a non-profit organization that fosters community and cultural connections through world music, arts education, and global experiences. For nearly 30 years, it has worked to build relationships with communities, preserve cultural heritage, and provide arts education to thousands of youth, primarily through its festivals, the LEAF Retreat, and the Easel Rider Mobile Art Lab. Its mission is to connect cultures and create community through shared experiences with art, music, and dance. WebsiteInstagramYouTubeTwitterFollow ArtsvilleUSAWebsite

Jessica Trotman is the Assistant Town Manager of Black Mountain, North Carolina, where she leads recovery and resilience efforts following Hurricane Helene. She also serves as a Senior Consultant with the American Flood Coalition. To her work in resilience, Jessica brings 15 years of experience in sustainability, planning, stormwater, public health and public administration. She serves in multiple advisory roles, including the North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint advisory committee and Resilience subcommittee of the Governorʼs Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery. Skip ahead to the following section(s): (0:00) Intro & Monthly Highlights (6:10) Conversation with Jessica Trotman (27:12) Q&A Discussion (33:33) CCL's October Actions Review Join CCL: https://cclusa.org/join  October Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet  October Meeting Slides: https://cclusa.org/october-meeting-slides  Pre-Call Video: https://vimeo.com/1126279438  Register for the Fall Conference (Nov. 14-15): https://cclusa.org/fallconference 

In this episode, Rip sits down with Chef Tara Punzone, founder of Pura Vita—the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant in the U.S.—and writer Gene Stone, co-author of Vegana Italiana. Together, they dive into the passion and purpose behind their brand-new cookbook, which transforms beloved Italian classics into bold, satisfying vegan dishes.Tara shares her journey from growing up in a big Italian family in New York, where food and tradition were always at the center, to making the choice to go vegan at just twelve years old. Listeners will hear how she managed to honor her heritage without giving up the flavors she loved—proving that mozzarella, ricotta, ravioli, and meatballs can all be made deliciously plant-based.The conversation also explores the collaboration with Gene Stone, the celebrated author behind many bestselling plant-based books, and how they brought together Tara's culinary artistry with Gene's storytelling to create a book that's equal parts recipe collection, cultural history, and love letter to Italian food.With tips for stocking your pantry, techniques for mastering vegan versions of Italian staples, and stories that connect food to family and community, this episode celebrates the joy of eating in a way that's both compassionate and authentic.Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mf5zAU2BbDM Episode Webpage: https://www.plantstrongpodcast.com/blog/tara-punzoneUpcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

WhoStephanie Cox, CEO of the National Ski PatrolRecorded onJune 3, 2025About National Ski PatrolFrom the organization's website:The National Ski Patrol is a federally-chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association. As the leading authority of on-mountain safety, the NSP is dedicated to serving the outdoor recreation industry by providing education and accreditation to emergency care and safety service providers.With a primary focus on education and training, the organization includes more than 30,000 members [Cox says 32,000 on the pod] serving 650 patrols in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia. Our members work on behalf of local ski/snowboard areas and bike parks to improve the overall experience for outdoor recreationalists. Members include ski and bike patrollers, mountain and bike hosts, alumni, associates, and physician partners.The National Ski Patrol operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, deriving its primary financial support from membership dues, donations, user fees, and corporate sponsorships. …The national office is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and is staffed with full-time employees that handle administrative duties.Why I interviewed herThe Storm focuses unapologetically on the lift-served variety of skiing. I'll often reinforce that point by teasing Uphill Bro for skiing in the wrong direction or making fun of myself for being a lazy U.S. American happy to ride a machine up the mountain. That, mostly, is a shtick to express my preference for an ordered ski experience over the wild variety. Acres of glades twisting down the mountainside – yes, please. But I'll also take that groomed run-out back to the six-pack. This all-you-can-eat variety of skiing feeds the adrenaline monster, stows energy for the bristling explosive down. The fun part. But my hyperbolic preference for the down is also a sort-of cover-up. Because what really glues me to the trail-labeled and lift-laced bumps is that gigantic and ever-present panic button floating alongside me: ski patrol.Oh I just ran into a tree? Well that's inconvenient because now I can't remember how to speak English or why I have eight empty Miller Lite cans in my backpack. But no need to fret. Within five minutes a corps of uniformed professionals specifically trained in the idiosyncratic art of piloting an injured moron down an ungroomed hillside on an eight-foot-long sled will materialize with crackling radios and stabilize me. It's kind of amazing. Like who thought of this? I guess the same person who came up with lifeguards at the beach. When a squirrel misses its branch and falls 75 feet to the forest floor there is no Squirrel 911. Just a variety of bobcats and coyotes who are about to find an easy dinner. Humans are quite amazing animals in this way, setting up systems both highly effective and borderline invisible that grant us wide margins of error to in most cases survive even catastrophic misjudgments.Depending on your view of human nature, the existence of ski patrol is either the most or least predictable miracle layer of organized commercial ski centers. The cynical may interpret this network of makeshift shacks and their occupants as liability shields, a legal hey-we-tried taskforce vaguely taming the chaos inherent in an impossible and awkward activity. But a more generous interpretation might view ski patrol as the most benevolent component of a ski area, the only piece not intended to generate income, an acknowledgement that any one of us, on even the gentlest slope, could in an instant need someone who knows exactly what to do.I prefer that latter interpretation, but the truth is of course a complex blend of the cynical and the generous viewpoints, interlaced with a million other factors. We are all vaguely aware of this, which doesn't mean we can explain it. I mean, why is ski patrol at every ski area? The question is both simplistic and baffling. Well of course there's ski patrol because there always is. OK. But shouldn't there be some live-free-or-die exception in the rowdy ski world of backwoods trails axe-cut by misanthropic good ole' boys putting two middle fingers to society's nine-to-five, collared-shirt expectations? Like “hey man, look at the waiver, if you break your leg it's not my goddamned problem.” But there they are, anyplace there's a ski lift, wearing that same plus-symbol uniform, enforcing that same yellow-signed skier code, blanketed with that same aura of stoic unsurprise and readiness: ski patrol. Is this omnipresence simply custom and tradition? State or federal law? Insurance requirement? Do patrollers work for the ski area or for some agency or entity? An imposition like restaurant food inspectors? Enforcers like a city's police department? Attendants like stadium ushers? It's hard to say without asking, so I asked.What we talked aboutTouring ski patrols across America; #SkiVirginia; Ski Patrol's philosophical evolution over time; patrol saving my butt in Maine; how NSP ensures that patrollers are prepared to deal with the worst injuries at even the smallest ski areas; evolving and adapting over time; “this organization is by and large run by volunteers”; Avy dogs; why ski patrol is everywhere; organizational history; the relationship between NSP and individual ski areas; who funds NSP; paid versus volunteer patrollers; “one of my big goals for the organization is to make sure that all patrols fall under the NSP shield”; a couple of major ski area patrols that are not part of NSP; the general public “is not going to notice the difference” between a paid and volunteer patroller; where most of the paid patrollers work, and why; the amazing number of years the average volunteer patroller commits to the work; the rising cost of living in mountain towns; why NSP does not involve itself in pay or benefits conversations between patrollers and resorts; staying neutral on unionization drives; what it means to modernize NSP; and applying tech to help police on-mountain collisions.What I got wrong* I referenced a recent snowless winter at Wintergreen, Virginia, and said it was “in 21/22 or 22/23.” It was the winter of 2022-23, which, according to Snow Brains, was the ski area's third snowless winter in a decade, after the 2016-17 and 2018-19 campaigns.* At one point in our conversation, I mentioned “voluntary volunteers.” Which I don't know Man talking is hard I guess.Why now was a good time for this interviewI'd initially reached out to Cox as a follow-up to my podcast conversation with United Mountain Workers union President Max Magill, conducted in the wake of the December-to-January Park City patrol strike that leveled the ski area and sent owner Vail Resorts spiraling:National Ski Patrol, it turns out, has no involvement in or position on unionization. That was a bit of a record scratch but also clarifying: patrol union drives, at least for now, lack a national sponsor that could propel the movement to critical mass. Still, it seemed odd that a national organization's most visible umbrella would stand neutral on the trajectory of a tectonic movement flexing against consolidating, ever-more-distant management and escalating mountain-town affordability crises. So we talked about it a bit anyway.What I've learned, 212 episodes into The Storm, is that organizations and entities are rarely – maybe never – what you expect them or want them to be. In episode 11, recorded in January 2020, just a few months after The Storm's launch, I asked Win Smith, then National Ski Areas Association board chair and onetime owner of Sugarbush, the now very-innocent-seeming question of what the organization was doing to subsidize small or independent ski areas. Smith patiently explained that the NSAA was a trade organization, not a charity (I'm paraphrasing), and that their mission was education, lobbying, and helping to establish uniform operating standards and best practices, not a U.N.-style stabilizing force money-cannoning resources where necessary. I get that now, and have developed, through extensive interaction with the group, a deep appreciation for what the NSAA is and does, even if it is not the thing 2020 Stu thought it was or should be.I guess that's the point of The Storm Skiing Podcast: a dumb guy asking dumb questions like “so when are you going to build a gondola over Interstate 90 to connect Alpental to the rest of Summit at Snoqualmie?” and letting the nice smart people say “well wouldn't that be nice but we have other priorities,” when they mean, “sure let me pull $100 million out of my back pocket to build a more-or-less useless lift that would also spark two decades of environmental litigation and has as much chance of clearing airspace over a federal road as a Russian stealth bomber.” Luckily I don't mind asking dumb questions. They emerge from an impulse to sort reality from fiction, to tell the story of modern lift-served skiing by tapping the brains who understand some little corner of it. Podcast NotesOn recent Ski Patrol leadershipThis could maybe go under the sometimes-included “questions I wish I'd asked” section, but really I don't wish I'd asked about it, as I have inherently little interest in organizational human drama, or the appearance of such. In this case, that maybe-drama is the rapid recent turnover in NSP leadership, aptly described by Jason Blevins last year in The Colorado Sun:The former executive director of the nonprofit World Child Cancer heath organization arrived at the National Ski Patrol two years ago, becoming the fourth director of the organization in only five years. The former bosses reported conflicts with the group's member-elected board of directors. An online petition was calling for an overhaul of the venerable organization that formed in 1938. Staff were bailing after years of turmoil that included board members twice suing their own organization. The group was losing its relevance in a quickly shifting ski resort industry.Cox landed with a plan. She started visiting ski patrols across the country. She shepherded an overhaul of the organization's training programs. She enlisted staff and kept them onboard. She mended fences with her board.Whatever happened before, Cox just hit her third anniversary with the organization, and I was mostly interested in her efforts to modernize the 87-year-old NSP.On skier visit numbers nationally and in ColoradoColorado annually accounts for nearly one in four U.S. skier visits. Here's the breakdown from last winter, according to the Kotke end-of-year survey, the definitive statistical ski industry report published annually by the NSAA:On breaking my leg at Black Mountain of MaineMost of you are tired of hearing about this, but if you're new here, this is my big ski-patrol-saves-my-ass story:On federal chartersAn important piece of the NSP why-does-it-exist puzzle is its status, since 1980, as a federally chartered nonprofit organization. Congress charters such organizations “to carry out some regional or national public purpose,” according to a 2022 report on congress.gov. As with just about anything, a comprehensive list is frustratingly difficult to find (that's why I moonlight as ski area spreadsheet mad scientist), but federally chartered organizations include such vaunted entities as the American Red Cross, the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, and Disabled American Veterans. Here's a probably-not-entirely-accurate list on Wikipedia, and a government list from 1994.On “14 patrols unionizing across the west”Here's a list I compiled of unionized ski area groups back in January. I haven't updated it, so there may be a few additions since:On Snow AngelsThis is a pretty good gut-check conversation for the Speed Gods among us:On Wachusett's anti-theft systemSki theft sucks, and some ski areas are better at fighting it than others. One of the best I'm aware of is Wachusett, Massachusetts, which has installed a comprehensive system of ski-rack-to-parking-lot cameras that has reduced thieves' success rate to near zero. “A lot of times, the police will be waiting for them when they get home with the stolen board,” longtime Wachusett President Jeff Crowley told me on a 2022 visit to the ski area.The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing all year long. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Sons of the Pioneers 47-xx-xx (109) First Song - Old Black Mountain Trail

I was on the phone with my eldest son yesterday, and we were talking about a passion of his—frisbee golf. I called him to invite him to come to Black Mountain, North Carolina, where I will be at a Church Planting Conference. One of the things I do when I go to this conference is cook and set a lavish table in the evenings, an immersive experience in hospitality and a place for church planters to just be. I used frisbee golf to sweeten the deal, as many of these church planters are devotees of the game. His comment was what interested me, as I had just put the wraps on a sermon on discipleship. He said, “Yeah, I need to play with some guys better than me. I am sort of plateaued. YouTube videos are just not the same. I need to actually see someone do it right and who can point out what I am doing wrong." I said, “Yeah, you just described my sermon on discipleship.”Abide. That is what Jesus said to his disciples. The word is rich in meaning and captures the heart of discipleship. To abide is much more than getting a little more knowledge, whether in a classroom or on a screen. To abide is much richer; it suggests dwelling with, being with, making yourself at home. It means a disciple spends time with, and is deeply attached in a loving relationship with both God and his people. It is a necessary corrective to the rationalism that endlessly chases more Bible information yet neglects the more difficult task of abiding. Interested? We will talk about it on Sunday.  

I was on the phone with my eldest son yesterday, and we were talking about a passion of his—frisbee golf. I called him to invite him to come to Black Mountain, North Carolina, where I will be at a Church Planting Conference. One of the things I do when I go to this conference is cook and set a lavish table in the evenings, an immersive experience in hospitality and a place for church planters to just be. I used frisbee golf to sweeten the deal, as many of these church planters are devotees of the game. His comment was what interested me, as I had just put the wraps on a sermon on discipleship. He said, “Yeah, I need to play with some guys better than me. I am sort of plateaued. YouTube videos are just not the same. I need to actually see someone do it right and who can point out what I am doing wrong." I said, “Yeah, you just described my sermon on discipleship.”Abide. That is what Jesus said to his disciples. The word is rich in meaning and captures the heart of discipleship. To abide is much more than getting a little more knowledge, whether in a classroom or on a screen. To abide is much richer; it suggests dwelling with, being with, making yourself at home. It means a disciple spends time with, and is deeply attached in a loving relationship with both God and his people. It is a necessary corrective to the rationalism that endlessly chases more Bible information yet neglects the more difficult task of abiding. Interested? We will talk about it on Sunday.  

Sons of the Pioneers 47-xx-xx (109) First Song - Old Black Mountain Trail

Think plant-based cooking takes too much time? Rip Esselstyn and producer Carrie Barrett are here to prove otherwise. In this energizing mini-episode, the duo dismantles one of the biggest myths around a whole food, plant-based lifestyle—that it's complicated and time-consuming.With a mix of personal stories and practical strategies, Rip and Carrie show how to make plant-based meals fast, fun, and family-friendly. From the “bowl build” method to frozen food shortcuts, they reveal how simple tweaks can transform cooking into an easy, joyful part of your day.What You'll Learn:Why plant-based cooking can actually be faster than traditional cooking once you get over the initial hump.How frozen fruits, veggies, and grains can slash prep time without sacrificing taste or nutrition.The “build a bowl” approach—customizable, colorful, and stress-free.Simple ways to batch cook with tools like the Instant Pot for easy weekday meals.How to reimagine familiar favorites like pizza and tacos into plant-strong staples.Discover how to spend less time in the kitchen—and more time enjoying vibrant, plant-strong meals.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeUpcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeastern United States, bringing deadly storm surge, destructive winds, tornadoes, and record-breaking rainfall. Combined with a rare Predecessor Rainfall Event (PRE), the storm caused catastrophic flooding across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, leaving behind nearly $80 billion in damage.One year later, the Carolina Weather Group brings you this anniversary special report, filmed on location across the Carolinas, documenting the lasting damage, recovery efforts, and ongoing rebuilding.In this program, we visit:Asheville, NC, where the River Arts District became the epicenter of national flood coverage after the French Broad River engulfed buildings and crippled the city's infrastructure.Black Mountain and East Asheville, where residents endured devastating flash flooding with little access to outside help.Fletcher, NC, where the French Broad River crested 10 feet higher than the infamous 1916 flood.South Carolina Upstate communities, where hurricane-force winds up to 106 mph brought down trees and power lines.NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) in Asheville, where scientists managed without power or water to preserve vital U.S. climate archives.The National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg office, where forecasters issued life-saving warnings while enduring the storm themselves.This anniversary documentary blends firsthand accounts, scientific analysis, and official data to provide one of the most complete records yet of Hurricane Helene's impact on the Carolinas and Appalachia.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Hurricane Helene's Landfall and Damage Overview02:00 – On Location in Asheville: One Year After the Storm04:30 – The River Arts District: Epicenter of Flooding and Destruction07:15 – French Broad River Flooding: Buildings, Cars, and Infrastructure Lost10:00 – Landslides and Debris Flows Across Appalachia12:30 – Evan Fisher Joins: Walking Through Asheville's Recovery16:00 – Comparing Helene to the 1916 Flood in Western North Carolina19:45 – Black Mountain: Floodwaters Overwhelm Neighborhoods23:00 – Community Meetings and Radio: How Residents Stayed Informed26:00 – Search, Rescue, and Reunification: Stories of Survival30:00 – Inside NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (Asheville)34:00 – Protecting America's Weather Archives During the Storm38:00 – Rainfall Data and “1-in-1,000-Year” Event Analysis41:00 – National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg: Messaging a Catastrophic Storm44:00 – Closing Reflections: Damage, Recovery, and Rebuilding the Carolinas

What if the only thing standing between you and your true potential… is you?Rip welcomes Kori McClurg, author of the new book Get Out of Your Own Way. Kori's journey from self-loathing to self-love is one of courage, vulnerability, and the transformative power of plants.Like so many, Kori spent years battling the weight of diet culture, mental health struggles, and a body that reflected her inner turmoil. But through honesty, self-compassion, and a shift to a whole food plant-based diet, she discovered a new path — one that nourished both her body and her spirit.Here's what you'll take away from her story:Vulnerability is power — When we open up about our struggles, we create space for healing.Food is medicine — Shifting to a whole food plant-based lifestyle can dramatically improve health and vitality.It's not about willpower — Real change happens when we address the emotions behind our habits.Self-compassion changes everything — Treating ourselves with curiosity and kindness opens the door to growth.Start small, move with grace — Sustainable transformation comes from compassionate, incremental steps.Kori's story is a reminder that transformation doesn't start with a strict diet or sheer determination — it starts with love. When we get out of our own way, we create the freedom to thrive.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeUpcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

What happens when you grow up in a Mexican steakhouse, but later discover the healing power of plants?For Dora Ramírez, the journey from sizzling meats to vibrant, plant-based cuisine was nothing short of transformative. Raised in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, Dora feared giving up animal products would mean giving up her culture. Instead, she found that beans, grains, veggies, and spices didn't just replace her favorite dishes—they enhanced them.Now, as the author of Comida Casera, Dora is sharing her fresh, plant-strong take on everything from tamales and mole to street food and comforting family classics. Her story is a celebration of food, culture, and the powerful connection between tradition and wellness.In this episode, you'll learn:How Dora transformed her steakhouse upbringing into a plant-based journeyThe inspiration behind her cookbook, Comida CaseraWhy dishes like tamales and mole carry deep cultural meaningPractical tips for making authentic Mexican food at home—100% plant-strongHow food can honor heritage, heal the body, and bring people togetherWhether you're new to plant-based eating or just looking to spice up your kitchen with authentic Mexican flavors, Dora's story proves you don't have to sacrifice tradition to cook with plants.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeUpcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

If you've ever been told that 'carbs are the enemy,' or if you think type 2 diabetes is a life sentence, Adam Sud is about to blow the lid off those myths. He's a certified insulin resistance and food addiction coach, and returns for his fourth appearance on the podcast to clear up the misconceptions and set the record straight about what really causes diabetes.He shares the real root causes of insulin resistance, the role of fat vs. carbs, how movement and muscle can be your secret weapons, and the simple, sustainable changes you can start making today.You'll learn how:Insulin resistance is reversible with the right dietSaturated fat and excess calories—not carbs—fuel the problemHigh-fiber, plant-based foods boost insulin sensitivityWalking after meals and building muscle improve metabolismThe PILAF method to help track key health markers This episode just might change everything you've heard about insulin resistance and put your back in the driver's seat of your health. Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeUpcoming Events:https://plantstrong.com/pages/plantstock?_gl=1%2Ac7gpf3%2A_gcl_au%2AMTExMzI3NzU1OC4xNzQ4OTY1MDE2 Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Welcome to the Grizzly Den on the SDH Network! In this episode, Madison Crews caught up with Head Coach Steve DeCou and Mike Giuliano to preview the upcoming season for the Grizzlies. Georgia Gwinnett Men's Soccer program opened the 2025 season with a 2-0 victory against Campbellsville University (Kentucky) in the Dalton State Classic in Dalton, Georgia yesterday. Maddie talked to Steve DeCou about that match and preparing for their last match in the Dalton State Classic against Brescia University (Kentucky) on Saturday at 11 a.m. GGC's Women's Soccer team start the 2025 season tomorrow as they get ready to face Montreat College in Black Mountain, North Carolina, starting at 5:30 p.m. Maddie also talked to Head Coach Mike Giuliano to talk about preseason and getting his team ready for the 2025 season! 

This is a deep dive on what is currently one of the fastest growing addictions in the world. Phone addiction. We now have access to all the information in the world. All the music in the world. All the movies in the world. But is anyone actually any happier? We discuss both the benefits and the pitfalls of the now, worldwide, prevalence of smart phones & AI and how to navigate them properly. We discuss the original breakdown of the community through the move from the town square to suburban sprawl and eight lane traffic. We also discuss the solutions. Conscious, intentional strategies to share phone free spaces in community together for the sake of one's health, relationships, spiritual connection, and overall well-being. We also discuss the value of our digital detox & breathwork retreat in Black Mountain, NC coming up Sept. 5-7th http://bigglowdigitaldetox.eventbrite.com ———- Support the Circle by Becoming a Member Here: http://patreon.thebigglow Or donate here to support: Venmo @thebigglow Cashapp: @brianpiergrossi Zelle: @thebigglow PayPal: @thebigglow ----------------------------------- More info on me: https://brianpiergrossi.com/ All previous episodes available on YouTube: http://youtube.com/thebigglow Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cfcpsY6holfobAo0dWiSx ——————— #digitaldetox #socialsdetox #socialmediadetox #digitaldetoxchallenge #digitaldetoxchallenge #offlinetime #unplugged #mentalwellbeing #digidetox #phonefree #phonedetox #offline #theofflineclub #techfree #offlineactivites #slowliving #breathwork #brianpiergrossi #mindfulness

At 38, Tyler Dodge was battling anxiety, erectile dysfunction, and extra weight—but instead of turning to medication, he turned to plants. By embracing a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, Tyler shed 50 pounds, lowered his blood pressure and cholesterol, and reclaimed both his physical and mental health. His powerful story proves that real men eat plants—and thrive.This is a must-listen—especially for the men in your life—especially because Tyler talks openly about the things most guys never say out loud.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeUpcoming Events:https://plantstrong.com/pages/plantstock?_gl=1%2Ac7gpf3%2A_gcl_au%2AMTExMzI3NzU1OC4xNzQ4OTY1MDE2 Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

In this week's episode, Rip talks with Dr. Luella Jonk, a seasoned relationship coach and psychotherapist, about how to keep your relationship strong when you're on different pages.Drawing from 25 years of experience, Dr. Jonk shares the core pillars of lasting partnerships, including trust, unity in parenting, financial alignment, and the quiet power of “silent connection.” She explains why marriage is a covenant, not a contract, and how to lean into partnership over individualism to build deeper connection.Whether you're navigating lifestyle divides, parenting challenges, or the everyday distractions of modern life, this conversation offers real tools to help your relationship thrive.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeUpcoming Events:https://plantstrong.com/pages/plantstock?_gl=1%2Ac7gpf3%2A_gcl_au%2AMTExMzI3NzU1OC4xNzQ4OTY1MDE2 Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Send us a textThe Bucks interview Dr. Craig Benjamin, historian, jazz musician, cruise lecturer and much more. Stay with us for the entire hour to hear about a life well-lived.Books recommended by Dr. Benjamin:Traditions and Encounters; A Global Perspective on the Past Comprehensive, 8th. Edtn, by J. Bentley, H. Zeigler, H. Streets Salter, C. Benjamin, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2025. This is the top selling world history college-level textbook in the US.  It literally covers the history of human societies from the stone age to the present.Empires of Ancient Eurasia. The First Silk Roads Era 100 BCE – 250 CE, C. Benjamin, Cambridge University Press New Approaches to Asian History Series, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018. This book discusses the history of ancient Eurasia during the first great era of Silk Roads land and maritime exchanges.  It focuses on the four great empires that made the Silk Roads possible – the Han Chinese, Kushan, Parthian and Roman empires. Big History: Between Nothing and Everything, D. Christian, C. Stokes Brown, and C. Benjamin, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014. The only college-level textbook available on big history; this literally tells the story of the cosmos, our planet, life on earth and humanity from the big bang to the present. Craig recommends KE Adventures if you are interested in adventure travel.In other news, Dave reflects on his time at Black Mountain, including his first bear encounter while Del dodges the 93F Florida heat.We'll leave you with a couple history-related songs. Which one gets your vote?Who started the fire?Who saw it all?Give us your thoughts: BUCKSTWOOLD@GMAIL.COM Find Two Old Bucks on Facebook and YouTubeLeave a Voice message - click HEREWHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

What happens when a seasoned cardiologist realizes that prescriptions and procedures aren't enough?You get Dr. Jami Dulaney—a board-certified cardiologist who transformed her practice (and personal life) by embracing plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine.Motivated by her own family history of heart disease and a desire to do more than simply manage symptoms, Dr. Dulaney shares her transformative journey from practicing traditional cardiology to building a lifestyle medicine practice that focuses on the healing power of whole food, plant-based nutrition and movement.You'll hear how she made this bold shift in her practice after seeing firsthand how food can reverse chronic conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. She also opens up about her personal evolution from golfer to runner, including her love of endurance running and how she stays motivated to live plantstrong.Dr. Dulaney's memberships include an annual comprehensive physical exam that incorporates screening and diagnostic tests, and focuses on nutrition, fitness and exercise, lifestyle management, mental wellness, stress management, and chronic disease management. The result is a customized wellness plan to guide you in achieving and maintaining optimum health and disease prevention.Together, Rip and Dr. Dulaney explore:Why she left the “pill for every ill” model behindHow lifestyle medicine is reversing chronic disease in her patientsWhy oils—even so-called “healthy” ones—have no place in a heart-healthy dietThe power of community and education in sustaining health changesHer training mindset as a runner and the connection between physical and mental healthHow doctors can (and should) create space for deeper, more meaningful patient careDr. Dulaney proves that it's never too late to rewrite the script—whether in your medical practice or your own life. This episode is a powerful reminder that food is medicine, and the future of healthcare starts with prevention, not prescriptions.Upcoming Events:https://plantstrong.com/pages/plantstock?_gl=1%2Ac7gpf3%2A_gcl_au%2AMTExMzI3NzU1OC4xNzQ4OTY1MDE2 Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

In this unforgettable episode, Rip Esselstyn sits down with Nancy Wells, whose near-death experience at the Glass City Marathon turned into a life-saving wake-up call—and a triumphant return to running and living with purpose.While racing last April, Nancy collapsed from a massive heart attack—a"Widowmaker." Thanks to the quick actions of a retired nurse and fast-acting paramedics, Nancy survived. But surviving was just the beginning.Now, joined by Rip and cardiologist Dr. Brian Asbill, Nancy shares her gripping story: from waking up in the hospital scared and confused… to discovering a powerful new path forward through a whole food, plant-based lifestyle.In this three part episode, they explore:What actually happens during a "Widowmaker" heart attack—and how fast action saved Nancy's lifeHow nutrition played a key role in her recovery and transformationThe emotional toll of surviving a near-death experience—and the mindset needed to rise againThe life-changing effects of the PLANTSTRONG Meal Plan Bundle, from better sleep to lower blood pressure and a renewed zest for life and sustainable weight lossWhy she laced up her shoes again—one year later—for a return to the race that nearly took her lifeThis conversation is raw, real, and incredibly uplifting. Nancy's journey is living proof that hearts can heal, lives can restart, and food can empower transformation.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeUpcoming Events:https://plantstrong.com/pages/plantstock?_gl=1%2Ac7gpf3%2A_gcl_au%2AMTExMzI3NzU1OC4xNzQ4OTY1MDE2 Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

It's hard to believe that one of the safest places to be when we're sick can also be one of the deadliest. That's right - a hospital stay. Despite massive amounts of training and new technologies, preventable harm in healthcare is one of the leading causes of death here in the U.S.This week on the podcast, we're joined by Dr. Julie Siemers, a patient safety consultant and critical care nurse who has spent over 45 years on the frontlines of healthcare. She brings a message that everyone needs to hear: preventable harm in hospitals is far more common than most people realize.Despite decades of focus, medical errors and breakdowns in communication continue to be a leading cause of death in the U.S. And the worst part? Many of these tragedies are avoidable.What can you do? A lot, actually.Dr. Siemers shares the signs to watch for when a loved one is hospitalized, how to speak up when something seems off, and why being an active participant in your care could save a life.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Hey there food fans, Episode 117 is here and it's all about the culinary history of Appalachia! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. First, Melissa gives a recap of her weekend in Black Mountain, North Carolina and tells Steve about all of the most amazing things she ate and then Steve and Melissa journey together through the awesome culinary history of Appalachia, courtesy of the museum education Melissa received on her recent weekend getaway. Find us where you find your other favorite food podcasts. No opossums were harmed in the recording of this week's podcast. Stay hungry out there and don't forget to watch us on YouTube.

In this immersive episode of Mythlok, we journey deep into the mist-covered forests of ancient Gaul and Germania to uncover the legend of Abnoba, the elusive goddess of the wild. Revered by the Celts and later embraced by the Romans, Abnoba ruled over nature, rivers, and the vast Black Forest that still bears traces of her sacred legacy.Host Nitten Nair explores her physical traits, divine powers, mysterious family lineage, and other names tied to her worship. Discover how Abnoba's influence lives on today in modern environmentalism, folklore, and even tourism across Europe. This episode isn't just a tale from the past—it's a reflection of how ancient wisdom continues to shape our present. Tap into the heart of the wilderness and learn how myth, nature, and humanity are forever intertwined.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share to keep the myths alive!Listen now to hear why Abnoba remains one of the most mysterious and revered goddesses of ancient European mythology. "Stay curious. Stay mythical."

Doug Evans is back on the PLANTSTRONG Podcast—and he's sprouting with wisdom! It's been over four years since Doug's first appearance, and his passion for sprouts has only intensified.Rip and Doug dig deep into the nutritional superpowers of sprouts, the simplicity of growing them at home, and the transformational impact they can have on your health, your plate, and your life.Doug shares his deeply personal journey, the origins of his obsession with sprouts, and why they are one of the most sustainable, accessible, and under-appreciated foods in the plant-based world. Whether you're a sprouting newbie or a seasoned plant-strong pro, this conversation will inspire you to see sprouts in a whole new light.You'll learn:Sprouts as Superfoods: Discover how sprouting seeds dramatically increases their nutrient density, making them living, functional foods. Home Sprouting Made Simple: Doug explains how anyone—even in a tiny kitchen—can grow nutrient-rich sprouts with minimal effort and space. Health Benefits Galore: Learn how sprouts are packed with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and compounds that support detoxification, immunity, and overall vitality. Sprouting as a Lifestyle: Doug shares how this practice transformed his physical, emotional, and spiritual health—and how it can do the same for you.A Sustainable Solution: Growing sprouts at home is not only cost-effective, but also environmentally friendly and empowering.Exciting Research Ahead: Get a preview of Doug's upcoming collaboration with Dr. Alan Goldhamer at True North to clinically study the healing power of sprouts.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

WhoRon Schmalzle, President, Co-Owner, and General Manager of Ski Big Bear operator Recreation Management Corp; and Lori Phillips, General Manager of Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain, PennsylvaniaRecorded onApril 22, 2025About Ski Big BearClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Property owners of Masthope Mountain Community; operated by Recreation Management CorporationLocated in: Lackawaxen, PennsylvaniaYear founded: 1976 as “Masthope Mountain”; changed name to “Ski Big Bear” in 1993Pass affiliations:* Indy Pass – 2 days, select blackouts* Indy+ Pass – 2 days, no blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Villa Roma (:44), Holiday Mountain (:52), Shawnee Mountain (1:04)Base elevation: 550 feetSummit elevation: 1,200 feetVertical drop: 650 feetSkiable acres: 26Average annual snowfall: 50 inchesTrail count: 18 (1 expert, 5 advanced, 6 intermediate, 6 beginner)Lift count: 7 (4 doubles, 3 carpets – view Lift Blog's inventory of Ski Big Bear's lift fleet)Why I interviewed themThis isn't really why I interviewed them, but have you ever noticed how the internet ruined everything? Sure, it made our lives easier, but it made our world worse. Yes I can now pay my credit card bill four seconds before it's due and reconnect with my best friend Bill who moved away after fourth grade. But it also turns out that Bill believes seahorses are a hoax and that Jesus spoke English because the internet socializes bad ideas in a way that the 45 people who Bill knew in 1986 would have shut down by saying “Bill you're an idiot.”Bill, fortunately, is not real. Nor, as far as I'm aware, is a seahorse hoax narrative (though I'd like to start one). But here's something that is real: When Schmalzle renamed Masthope Mountain to “Ski Big Bear” in 1993, in honor of the region's endemic black bears, he had little reason to believe anyone, anywhere, would ever confuse his 550-vertical-foot Pennsylvania ski area with Big Bear Mountain, California, a 39-hour, 2,697-mile drive west.Well, no one used the internet in 1993 except weird proto-gamers and genius movie programmers like the fat evil dude in Jurassic Park. Honestly I didn't even think the “Information Superhighway” was real until I figured email out sometime in 1996. Like time travel or a human changing into a cat, I thought the internet was some Hollywood gimmick, imagined because wouldn't it be cool if we could?Well, we can. The internet is real, and it follows us around like oxygen, the invisible scaffolding of existence. And it tricks us into being dumb by making us feel smart. So much information, so immediately and insistently, that we lack a motive to fact check. Thus, a skier in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania (let's call him “Bill 2”), can Google “Big Bear season pass” and end up with an Ikon Pass, believing this is his season pass not just to the bump five miles up the road, but a mid-winter vacation passport to Sugarbush, Copper Mountain, and Snowbird.Well Bill 2 I'm sorry but you are as dumb as my imaginary friend Bill 1 from elementary school. Because your Ikon Pass will not work at Ski Big Bear, Pennsylvania. And I'm sorry Bill 3 who lives in Riverside, California, but your Ski Big Bear, Pennsylvania season pass will not work at Big Bear Mountain Resort in California.At this point, you're probably wondering if I have nothing better to do but sit around inventing problems to grumble about. But Phillips tells me that product mix-ups with Big Bear, California happen all the time. I had a similar conversation a few months ago with the owners of Magic Mountain, Idaho, who frequently sell tubing tickets to folks headed to Magic Mountain, Vermont, which has no tubing. Upon discovering this, typically at the hour assigned on their vouchers, these would-be customers call Idaho for a refund, which the owners grant. But since Magic Mountain, Idaho can only sell a limited number of tickets for each tubing timeslot, this internet misfire, impossible in 1993, means the mountain may have forfeited revenue from a different customer who understands how ZIP codes work.Sixty-seven years after the Giants baseball franchise moved from Manhattan to San Francisco, NFL commentators still frequently refer to the “New York football Giants,” a semantic relic of what must have been a confusing three-decade cohabitation of two sports teams using the same name in the same city. Because no one could possibly confuse a West Coast baseball team with an East Coast football team, right?But the internet put everything with a similar name right next to each other. I frequently field media requests for a fellow names Stuart Winchester, who, like me, lives in New York City and, unlike me, is some sort of founder tech genius. When I reached out to Mr. Winchester to ask where I could forward such requests, he informed me that he had recently disappointed someone asking for ski recommendations at a party. So the internet made us all dumb? Is that my point? No. Though it's kind of hilarious that advanced technology has enabled new kinds of human error like mixing up ski areas that are thousands of miles apart, this forced contrast of two entities that have nothing in common other than their name and their reason for existence asks us to consider how such timeline cohabitation is possible. Isn't the existence of Alterra-owned, Ikon Pass staple Big Bear, with its hundreds of thousands of annual skier visits and high-speed lifts, at odds with the notion of hokey, low-speed, independent, Boondocks-situated Ski Big Bear simultaneously offering a simpler version of the same thing on the opposite side of the continent? Isn't this like a brontosaurus and a wooly mammoth appearing on the same timeline? Doesn't technology move ever upward, pinching out the obsolete as it goes? Isn't Ski Big Bear the skiing equivalent of a tube TV or a rotary phone or skin-tight hip-high basketball shorts or, hell, beartrap ski bindings? Things no one uses anymore because we invented better versions of them?Well, it's not so simple. Let's jump out of normal podcast-article sequence here and move the “why now” section up, so we can expand upon the “why” of our Ski Big Bear interview.Why now was a good time for this interviewEvery ski region offers some version of Ski Big Bear, of a Little Engine That Keeps Coulding, unapologetically existent even as it's out-gunned, out-lifted, out-marketed, out-mega-passed, and out-locationed: Plattekill in the Catskills, Black Mountain in New Hampshire's White Mountains, Middlebury Snowbowl in Vermont's Greens, Ski Cooper in Colorado's I-70 paper shredder, Nordic Valley in the Wasatch, Tahoe Donner on the North Shore, Grand Geneva in Milwaukee's skiing asteroid belt.When interviewing small ski area operators who thrive in the midst of such conditions, I'll often ask some version of this question: why, and how, do you still exist? Because frankly, from the point of view of evolutionary biologist studying your ecosystem, you should have been eaten by a tiger sometime around 1985.And that is almost what happened to Ski Big Bear AKA Masthope Mountain, and what happened to most of the dozens of ski areas that once dotted northeast Pennsylvania. You can spend days doomsday touring lost ski area shipwrecks across the Poconos and adjacent ranges. A very partial list: Alpine Mountain, Split Rock, Tanglwood, Kahkout, Mount Tone, Mount Airy, Fernwood - all time-capsuled in various states of decay. Alpine, slopes mowed, side-by-side quad chairs climbing 550 vertical feet, base lodge sealed, shrink-wrapped like a winter-stowed boat, looks like a buy-and-revive would-be ski area savior's dream (the entrance off PA 147 is fence-sealed, but you can enter through the housing development at the summit). Kahkout's paint-flecked double chair, dormant since 2008, still rollercoasters through forest and field on a surprisingly long line. Nothing remains at Tanglwood but concrete tower pads.Why did they all die? Why didn't Ski Big Bear? Seven other public, chairlift-served ski areas survive in the region: Big Boulder, Blue Mountain, Camelback, Elk, Jack Frost, Montage, and Shawnee. Of these eight, Ski Big Bear has the smallest skiable footprint, the lowest-capacity lift fleet, and the third-shortest vertical drop. It is the only northeast Pennsylvania ski area that still relies entirely on double chairs, off kilter in a region spinning six high-speed lifts and 10 fixed quads. Ski Big Bear sits the farthest of these eight from an interstate, lodged at the top of a steep and confusing access road nearly two dozen backwoods miles off I-84. Unlike Jack Frost and Big Boulder, Ski Big Bear has not leaned into terrain parks or been handed an Epic Pass assist to vacuum in the youth and the masses.So that's the somewhat rude premise of this interview: um, why are you still here? Yes, the gigantic attached housing development helps, but Phillips distills Ski Big Bear's resilience into what is probably one of the 10 best operator quotes in the 209 episodes of this podcast. “Treat everyone as if they just paid a million dollars to do what you're going to share with them,” she says.Skiing, like nature, can accommodate considerable complexity. If the tigers kill everything, eventually they'll run out of food and die. Nature also needs large numbers of less interesting and less charismatic animals, lots of buffalo and wapiti and wild boar and porcupines, most of which the tiger will never eat. Vail Mountain and Big Sky also need lots of Ski Big Bears and Mt. Peters and Perfect Norths and Lee Canyons. We all understand this. But saying “we need buffalo so don't die” is harder than being the buffalo that doesn't get eaten. “Just be nice” probably won't work in the jungle, but so far, it seems to be working on the eastern edge of PA.What we talked aboutUtah!; creating a West-ready skier assembly line in northeast PA; how – and why – Ski Big Bear has added “two or three weeks” to its ski season over the decades; missing Christmas; why the snowmaking window is creeping earlier into the calendar; “there has never been a year … where we haven't improved our snowmaking”; why the owners still groom all season long; will the computerized machine era compromise the DIY spirit of independent ski areas buying used equipment; why it's unlikely Ski Big Bear would ever install a high-speed lift; why Ski Big Bear's snowmaking fleet mixes so many makes and models of machines; “treat everyone as if they just paid a million dollars to do what you're going to share with them”; why RFID; why skiers who know and could move to Utah don't; the founding of Ski Big Bear; how the ski area is able to offer free skiing to all homeowners and extended family members; why Ski Big Bear is the only housing development-specific ski area in Pennsylvania that's open to the public; surviving in a tough and crowded ski area neighborhood; the impact of short-term rentals; the future of Ski Big Bear management, what could be changing, and when; changing the name from Masthope Mountain and how the advent of the internet complicated that decision; why Ski Big Bear built maybe the last double-double chairlift in America, rather than a fixed-grip quad; thoughts on the Grizzly and Little Bear lifts; Indy Pass; and an affordable season pass.What I got wrongOn U.S. migration into cities: For decades, America's youth have flowed from rural areas into cities, and I assumed, when I asked Schmalzle why he'd stayed in rural PA, that this was still the case. Turns out that migration has flipped since Covid, with the majority of growth in the 25-to-44 age bracket changing from 90 percent large metros in the 2010s to two-thirds smaller cities and rural areas in this decade, according to a Cooper Center report.Why you should ski Ski Big BearOK, I spent several paragraphs above outlining what Ski Big Bear doesn't have, which makes it sound as though the bump succeeds in spite of itself. But here's what the hill does have: a skis-bigger-than-it-is network of narrow, gentle, wood-canyoned trails; one of the best snowmaking systems anywhere; lots of conveyors right at the top; a cheapo season pass; and an extremely nice and modern lodge (a bit of an accident, after a 2005 fire torched the original).A ski area's FAQ page can tell you a lot about the sort of clientele they're built to attract. The first two questions on Ski Big Bear's are “Do I need to purchase a lift ticket?” and “Do I need rental equipment?” These are not questions you will find on the website for, say, Snowbird.So mostly I'm going to tell you to ski here if you have kids to ski with, or a friend who wants to learn. Ski Big Bear will also be fine if you have an Indy Pass and can ski midweek and don't care about glades or steeps, or you're like me and you just enjoy novelty and exploration. On the weekends, well, this is still PA, and PA skiing is demented. The state is skiing's version of Hanoi, Vietnam, which has declined to add traffic-management devices of any kind even as cheap motorbikes have nearly broken the formerly sleepy pedestrian city's spine:Hanoi, Vietnam, January 2016. Video by Stuart Winchester. There are no stop signs or traffic signals, for vehicles or pedestrians, at this (or most), four-way intersections in old-town Hanoi.Compare that to Camelback:Camelback, Pennsylvania, January 2024. Video by Stuart Winchester.Same thing, right? So it may seem weird for me to say you should consider taking your kids to Ski Big Bear. But just about every ski area within a two-hour drive of New York City resembles some version of this during peak hours. Ski Big Bear, however, is a gentler beast than its competitors. Fewer steeps, fewer weird intersections, fewer places to meet your fellow skiers via high-speed collision. No reason to release the little chipmunks into the Pamplona chutes of Hunter or Blue, steep and peopled and wild. Just take them to this nice little ski area where families can #FamOut. Podcast NotesOn smaller Utah ski areasStep off the Utah mainline, and you'll find most of the pow with fewer of the peak Wasatch crowds:I've featured both Sundance and Beaver Mountain on the podcast:On Plattekill and Berkshire EastBoth Plattekill, New York and Berkshire East, Massachusetts punched their way into the modern era by repurposing other ski areas' junkyard discards. The owners of both have each been on the pod a couple of times to tell their stories:On small Michigan ski areas closingI didn't ski for the first time until I was 14, but I grew up within an hour of three different ski areas, each of which had one chairlift and several surface lifts. Two of these ski areas are now permanently closed. My first day ever was at Mott Mountain in Farwell, Michigan, which closed around 2000:Day two was later that winter at what was then called “Bintz Apple Mountain” in Freeland, which hasn't spun lifts in about a decade:Snow Snake, in Harrison, managed to survive:The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast is a sustainable small business directly because of my paid subscribers. To upgrade, please click through below. Thank you for your support of independent ski journalism. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

We are turning up the heat and diving fork-first into a true celebration of the tropics—a culinary carnival of color, culture, and compassion!Rip welcomes Ellen Kanner—a Miami native, award-winning writer, and the powerhouse behind the new cookbook, Miami Vegan. This book is more than just a collection of recipes—it's a flavorful journey through the heart of Miami, infused with bold Latin and Caribbean influences, and reimagined through the vibrant lens of plant-based living.Ellen shows us that we don't have to give up the flavors we love to eat food that loves us back. With over 80 sun-soaked, sizzling recipes, this is the kind of book that makes you want to crank up some salsa music and dance in the kitchen! Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Axalotls, Paludariums, Fallout, Starfield, Black Mountain, and lot's of iguana bits. Iguana Bob says, "Eat Iguana's not Axolotls!"Join our Discord:https://discord.gg/cVSN65jJoin in the Roundtable Fun with our Character Generators!Fallout 76: https://tinyurl.com/F76GeneratorFallout 4: https://tinyurl.com/Fallout4GeneratorFallout New Vegas: https://tinyurl.com/NewVegasGeneratorFallout 3: https://tinyurl.com/F3GeneratorDONATE:  https://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR/?fr_id=7889&pg=team&team_id=90760Shop:  optimistic.threadless.com/Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/asapodcastingEmail: thefalloutfeed@gmail.comWeb: http://www.asapodcasting.com/#/the-fallout-feed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheFalloutFeedFB: facebook.com/groups/askyrimaddictpodcastSupport the show

Let's face it—choosing a plant-strong lifestyle can sometimes feel like swimming upstream. Whether it's side-eyes at the dinner table, skeptical coworkers, or relentless comments from “nutrition experts” on TikTok, the pressure is real.In this episode, Rip and his producer, Carrie Barrett, share that it's not just doable—it's empowering. Drawing on decades of personal experience and thousands of conversations in the PLANTSTRONG community, they offer real-world strategies, mindset shifts, and a big dose of confidence to help you stay strong, no matter what's coming at you.They share: Why social pressure is one of the biggest obstacles to a plant-based lifestyleHow to handle criticism from friends, family, and strangersThe power of treating your lifestyle shift as a personal experimentWhy ridicule often says more about them than youTips for finding (and building) plant-based support communitiesThe importance of having a strong “why”How to set boundaries and stand up for yourself with confidenceLearning to give yourself grace on the journeyConviction and confidence are your greatest allies. Stand tall, stay true, and remember—every time you say “yes” to plants, you're saying yes to your health, your values, and the world.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Rip is joined by Brandi Doming, the creative force behind The Vegan 8 and the brand-new cookbook, Vegan Wholesome. Brandi's plant-based journey began as a deeply personal mission—to support her husband's health. What followed was a total transformation in their kitchen and a powerful ripple effect that's now helping thousands of people embrace simple, nourishing, and oil-free plant-based meals.Brandi shares how her fitness and dance background shaped her approach to health, why she's obsessed with keeping recipes as simple as possible, and how plant-based eating became a path to healing—not just for her husband, but for her whole family.She and Rip also dig into some standout recipes from the new book that you won't believe are oil-free and dairy-free.Whether you're new to plant-based eating or just looking for a little kitchen inspiration, this conversation will remind you that food can be both simple and spectacular.Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

What happens when a doctor realizes that pills weren't healing her patients—but plants were? You have the makings of a wonderful interview with triple board-certified physician Dr. Regina Ragasa.As a specialist in obesity and lifestyle medicine, Regina opens up about her transformation from a conventional doctor (aka - “drug dealer”) to a fierce advocate for whole food, plant-based nutrition.You'll hear how a single conversation with a colleague sparked her interest in reversing chronic illness through diet—ultimately leading to a life-changing shift in how she practices medicine.Dr. Ragasa breaks down her three core rules for sustainable weight loss and optimal health:Remove all animal productsEliminate ultra-processed foodsCook without oilEach rule is backed by science and real-life success stories—including the inspiring case of her “patient zero” who reversed diabetes without medication.Rip and Dr. Regasa dive deep into the challenges and misconceptions surrounding obesity, GLP-1 medications, and food culture and, with honesty and hope, she urges us all to embrace food as medicine and rethink the way we define health and healing.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast is a reader-supported publication. Whether you sign up for the free or paid tier, I appreciate your support for independent ski journalism.WhoErik Lambert, Co-Founder of Bluebird Backcountry, Colorado and founder of Bonfire CollectiveRecorded onApril 8, 2025About Bluebird BackcountryLocated in: Just east of the junction of US 40 and Colorado 14, 20-ish miles southwest of Steamboat Springs, ColoradoYears active: 2020 to 2023Closest neighboring U.S. ski areas: Steamboat (:39), Howelsen Hill (:45), Base elevation: 8,600 feetSummit elevation: 9,845 feetVertical drop: 1,245 feetSkiable acres: 4,200-plus acres (3,000 acres guided; 1,200-plus acres avalanche-managed and ski-patrolled)Average annual snowfall: 196 inchesLift fleet: None!Why I interviewed himFirst question: why is the ski newsletter that constantly reminds readers that it's concerned always and only with lift-served skiing devoting an entire podcast episode to a closed ski area that had no lifts at all? Didn't I write this when Indy Pass added Bluebird back in 2022?:Wait a minute, what the f**k exactly is going on here? I have to walk to the f*****g top? Like a person from the past? Before they invented this thing like a hundred years ago called a chairlift? No? You actually ski up? Like some kind of weird humanoid platypus Howard the Duck thing? Bro I so did not sign up for this s**t. I am way too lazy and broken.Yup, that was me. But if you've been here long enough, you know that making fun of things that are hard is my way of making fun of myself for being Basic Ski Bro. Really I respected the hell out of Bluebird, its founders, and its skiers, and earnestly believed for a moment that the ski area could offer a new model for ski area development in a nation that had mostly stopped building them:Bluebird has a lot of the trappings of a lift-served ski area, with 28 marked runs and 11 marked skin tracks, making it a really solid place to dial your uphill kit and technique before throwing yourself out into the wilderness.I haven't really talked about this yet, but I think Bluebird may be the blueprint for re-igniting ski-area development in the vast American wilderness. The big Colorado resorts – other than Crested Butte and Telluride – have been at capacity for years. They keep building more and bigger lifts, but skiing needs a relief valve. One exists in the smaller ski areas that populate Colorado and are posting record business results, but in a growing state in a finally-growing sport, Bluebird shows us another way to do skiing.More specifically, I wrote in a post the following year:Bluebird fused the controlled environment and relative safety of a ski area with the grit and exhilaration of the uphill ski experience. The operating model, stripped of expensive chairlifts and resource-intensive snowmaking and grooming equipment, appeared to suit the current moment of reflexive opposition to mechanized development in the wilderness. For a moment, this patrolled, avalanche-controlled, low-infrastructure startup appeared to be a model for future ski area development in the United States. …If Bluebird could establish a beachhead in Colorado, home to a dozen of America's most-developed ski resorts and nearly one in every four of the nation's skier visits, then it could act as proof-of-concept for a new sort of American ski area. One that provided a novel experience in relative safety, sure, but, more important, one that could actually proceed as a concept in a nation allergic to new ski area development: no chairlifts, no snowmaking, no grooming, no permanent buildings.Dozens of American ski markets appeared to have the right ingredients for such a business: ample snow, empty wilderness, and too many skiers jamming too few ski areas that grow incrementally in size but never in number. If indoor ski areas are poised to become the nation's next-generation incubators, then liftless wilderness centers could create capacity on the opposite end of the skill spectrum, redoubts for experts burned out on liftlines but less enthusiastic about the dangers of touring the unmanaged backcountry. Bluebird could also act as a transition area for confident skiers who wanted to enter the wilderness but needed to hone their uphill and avalanche-analysis skills first. …Bluebird was affordable and approachable. Day tickets started at $39. A season pass cost $289. The ski area rented uphill gear and set skin tracks. The vibe was concert-tailgate-meets-#VanLife-minimalism-and-chill, with free bacon famously served at the mid-mountain yurt.That second bit of analysis, unfortunately, was latched to an article announcing Bluebird's permanent closure in 2023. Co-founder Jeff Woodward told me at the time that Bluebird's relative remoteness – past most of mainline Colorado skiing – and a drying-up of investors drove the shutdown decision.Why now was a good time for this interviewBluebird's 2023 closure shocked the ski community. Over already? A ski area offering affordable, uncrowded, safe uphill skiing seemed too wedded to skiing's post-Covid outdoors-hurray moment to crumble so quickly. Weren't Backcountry Bros multiplying as the suburban Abercrombie and Applebee's masses discovered the outside and flooded lift-served ski areas? I offered a possible explanation for Bluebird's untimely shutdown:There is another, less optimistic reading here. Bluebird may have failed because it's remote and small for its neighborhood. Or we are witnessing perception bump up against reality. The popular narrative is that we are in the midst of a backcountry resurgence, quantified by soaring gear sales and perpetually parked-out trailheads. Hundreds of skiers regularly skin up many western ski areas before the lifts open. But the number of skiers willing to haul themselves up a mountain under their own power is miniscule compared to those who prefer the ease and convenience of a chairlift, which, thanks to the megapass, is more affordable than at any point in modern ski history.Ski media glorifies uphilling. Social media amplifies it. But maybe the average skier just isn't that interested. You can, after all, make your own ice cream or soda or bread, often at considerable initial expense and multiples of the effort and time that it would take to simply purchase these items. A small number of people will engage in these activities out of curiosity or because they possess a craftsman's zeal for assembly. But most will not. And that's the challenge for whoever takes the next run at building a liftless ski area.Still, I couldn't stop thinking about my podcast conversation the year prior with Lonie Glieberman, founder of the improbable and remote Mount Bohemia. When he opened the experts-only, no-snowmaking, no-grooming freefall zone in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in 2000, the ski industry collectively scoffed. It will never work, they promised, and for years it didn't. Boho lost money for a long time. But Glieberman persisted and, through a $99-season-pass strategy and an aggressively curated fist-bump image, Boho now sits at the aspirational pinnacle of Midwest skiing, a pilgrimage spot that is so successful it no longer sells Saturday day-time lift tickets.Could Bluebird have ascended to similar cult destination given more time? I don't know. We might never know.But shortly after Bluebird's shuttering, Erik Lambert, who co-founded Bluebird with Woodward, reached out to me. He's since helped with The Storm's digital-marketing efforts and knows the product well. With two years to process the rapid and permanent unraveling of an enterprise that had for a time consumed his life and passion, he felt ready to tell his version of the Bluebird story. And he asked if we could use The Storm to do it.What we talked aboutHow an East Coast kid developed a backcountry obsession; White Grass, West Virginia; the very long starter-kit list for backcountry skiing; Bluebird as backcountry primer; Jackson Hole as backcountry firestarter; why a nation as expansive and wild as the United States has little suitable land for ready ski area development; a 100-page form to secure a four-day Forest Service permit; early Bluebird pilots at Mosquito Pass and Winter Park; a surprising number of beginners, not just to backcountry, but to skiing; why the founders envisioned a network of Bluebirds; why Bluebird moved locations after season one; creating social scaffolding out of what is “inherently an anti-social experience”; free bacon!; 20 inches to begin operating; “we didn't know if people would actually pay to go backcountry skiing in this kind of environment”; “backcountry skiing was wild and out there, and very few people were doing it”; who Bluebird thought would show up and who actually did – “we were absolutely flummoxed by what transpired”; the good and bad of Bluebird's location; why none of the obvious abandoned Colorado ski areas worked for Bluebird; “we did everything the right way … and the right way is expensive”; “it felt like it was working”; why financing finally ran out; comparisons to Bohemia; “what we really needed was that second location”; moving on from failure – “it's been really hard to talk about for a long time”; Bluebird's legacy – “we were able to get thousands of people their best winter day”; “I think about it every day in one way or another”; the alternate universe of our own pasts; “somebody's going to make something like this work because it can and should exist”; and why I don't think this story is necessarily over just yet.What I got wrong* We mentioned a forthcoming trip to Colorado – that trip is now in the past, and I included GoPro footage of Lambert skiing with me in Loveland on a soft May day.* I heard “New Hampshire” and assigned Lambert's first backcountry outing to Mount Washington and Tuckerman Ravine, but the trek took place in Gulf of Slides.Podcast NotesOn White GrassThe Existing facility that most resembles Bluebird Backcountry is White Grass, West Virginia, ostensibly a cross-country ski area that sits on a 1,200-foot vertical drop and attracts plenty of skinners. I hosted founder Chip Chase on the pod last year:On Forest Service permit boundariesThe developed portion of a ski area is often smaller than what's designated as the “permit area” on their Forest Service masterplan. Copper Mountain's 2024 masterplan, for example, shows large parcels included in the permit that currently sit outside of lift service:On Bluebird's shifting locationsBluebird's first season was set on Whiteley Peak:The following winter, Bluebird shifted operations to Bear Mountain, which is depicted in the trailmap at the top of this article. Lambert breaks down the reasons for this move in our conversation.On breaking my leg in-boundsYeah I know, the regulars have heard me tell this story more times than a bear s***s under the bridge water, but for anyone new here, one of the reasons I am Skis Inbounds Bro is that I did my best Civil War re-enactment at Black Mountain of Maine three years ago. It's kind of a miracle that not only did patrol not have to stuff a rag in my mouth while they sawed my leg off, but that I've skied 156 days since the accident. This is a testament both to being alive in the future and skiing within 300 yards of a Patrol hut equipped with evac sleds and radios to make sure a fentanyl drip is waiting in the base area recovery room. Here's the story: On abandoned Colorado ski areasBerthoud Pass feels like the lost Colorado ski area most likely to have have endured and found a niche had it lasted into our indie-is-cool, alt-megapass world of 2025. Dropping off US 40 11 miles south of Winter Park, the ski area delivered around 1,000 feet of vert and a pair of modern fixed-grip chairlifts. The bump ran from 1937 to 2001 - Colorado Ski History houses the full story.Geneva Basin suffered from a more remote location than Berthoud, and struggled through several owners from its 1963 opening to failed early ‘90s attempts at revitalization (the ski area last operated in 1984, according to Colorado Ski History). The mountain ran a couple of double chairs and surface lifts on 1,250 vertical feet:I also mentioned Hidden Valley, more commonly known as Ski Estes Park. This was another long-runner, hanging around from 1955 to 1991. Estes rocked an impressive 2,000-foot vertical drop, but spun just one chairlift and a bunch of surface lifts, likely making it impossible to compete as the Colorado megas modernized in the 1980s (Colorado Ski History doesn't go too deeply into the mountain's shutdown).On U.S. Forest Service permitsAn oft-cited stat is that roughly half of U.S. ski areas operate on Forest Service land. This number isn't quite right: 116 of America's 501 active ski areas are under Forest Service permits. While this is fewer than a quarter of active ski areas, those 116 collectively house 63 percentage of American ski terrain.I broke this down extensively a couple months back:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing (and sometimes adjacent things such as Bluebird) all year long. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Captivating audiences since his teenage years, Eric Travers has solidified his status as a seasoned musician in the vibrant Asheville music scene. Hailing from the mountains of Black Mountain, NC, Travers first made his mark as the heartbeat behind an acclaimed Rock n Roll, Jam Band, Travers Brothership, which he co-founded with his brother Kyle at just 13 years old. Over the past 15+ years, the group has amassed an impressive catalog of 35+ published tracks and extensive touring experience. Now 31, Travers has reached new heights in 2024 with the release of his latest single, "Dead End Street," and his new role as Owner and CEO of the All Aboard Records label. Drawing from his diverse musical background in rock, Americana, and blues, Travers' emotive performances and melodic sensibilities have earned him a dedicated following across Western North Carolina and beyond, cementing his role in the local music scene. With the launch of his latest project, the Eric Travers Band, this versatile multi-instrumentalist is primed to take his artistry to thrilling new levels.1. Background and Music CareerHow did you get started in music? What inspired you to pursue it as a career?My father was a career musician who always had instruments and fellow musicians around. My first "real" drumset was gifted to me when I was 8-9 years old. It became a dream of mine when I received praise and applause from my cousins playing air guitar at the age of 3 and 4. I was inspired to start a career in music because I made enough money to barely get by as a musician and this was my end goal. All or none. I sought out a living and a labor of love.When did you first start performing and touring?My first performance was for my school, performing an Elvis Christmas song with my twin brother and father. Performing regularly started when I was 15, with my brother, playing shows from Brevard, NC all the way to Marion, NC as "Travers Brothers Band / Caution Tape", a four piece Rock n' Roll outfit with a 2010, 10 track LP. Our bandmate's father helped us with transportation for 3 years. Touring started after my time freed up, at the age of 17. (When we could drive). I made the choice to leave college for the career in music. Now the band was performing for only $200 every Thursday in Greensboro, NC. A 2 1/2 hour drive from our hometown, Black Mountain, NC.How would you describe your musical style, and how has it evolved over time?My music style is American roots music. When I was 11-13 my band "The Predatorz" played strictly Rock n' Roll like Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top. I started playing piano and acoustic guitar at this time which was strictly music by The Beatles. "Caution Tape--> Travers Brothers Band" then came along at 14-17. And the Rock n Roll became more jam band oriented with extended guitar solos influenced by The Allman Brothers Band. Then, groove oriented funk music became a thing.My brother and I founded a very successful touring band at the age of 18 called Travers Brothership. In 2012 our debut release was very progressive, soulful, funk and rock group. For the next 4 years we toured with 7 members performing what we called "funkadelic" music. Our 3 piece horn (brass) section helped color this genre.In 2016 the lineup changed back to the original 4 members of the band including my twin brother. We had no choice but to return to a jammy, Rock n' Roll vibe to keep audiences on their toes. We had to stick to our guns and give the audience a powerful sound to make up for 3 lost players in the band.2. The Traveling ExperienceWhat is the most exciting part about traveling for your music?The most exciting part is seeing landmarks, going to new places, seeing national parks and observing the different arts and cultures.How do you typically prepare for a tour? Does your preparation change depending on where you're performing?When preparing for tour I have to make sure my drumset is ready for performance. All items must be accounted for in our vehicle and/or trailer. In the beginning I required everyone to have foodstamps. We got by with very little. When we were traveling for longer lengths of time we brought more clothes and made sure our vehicle was in proper condition. Eating nutriously required extra packing which was always tough because everyone's priorities are different. Our preparation will change if we are traveling further, flying or if we need our clothes to be nicer. Dressing accordingly is just one step "above" the audience - say, if the audience has T-shirts, we wear button downs.How do you stay grounded and connected to home while you're on the road?Staying connected to home always came with forfeiting home for the road. My dog traveled with me everywhere. The road and music were my home and a way of life.Have you ever had a surprising or unexpected cultural experience while performing in a different country or city?New Orleans, LA was a culture shock. The large but small music community was humbling. The experience of spending time in Hamburg, Germany was unexpected because some tour dates were canceled. I spent 1 week here. This atmosphere was very interesting and intimidating. 3. Life on the RoadCan you walk us through a typical day on the road for you? What's the routine like?Our road life followed a minimalist lifestyle. The band had to be weekend warriors. Days on the road started by waking up in someone else's house either on the floor or a random bed. We would normally sleep in as late as possible. We would take turns showering and get on the road asap. Play time was hard because a 4 person vote to do something is really annoying. In the van we mainly slept. There are a lot of road rules. We'd show up at a show, perform and hopefully rely on night life to prepare us for a place to crash. Hotels were hardly an option until we became established enough for a living wage. The routine followed Day of Show instructions but life on the road followed lifestyle. We all had our own lifestyle. I am epileptic so staying healthy was my main goal.What are some of the most challenging aspects of life as a touring musician?Musicians don't get paid much. This is a challenge and hard to keep a band together because of this. When keeping track of your tour dates you can see that you've played 300 shows but only once in a certain market, so they're not paying you. The hardest part is the time spent between the stage and the bus. The culture, nightlife and fun is the biggest challenge. You would believe that not getting paid is worth it, for site seeing and a good time; however, all time must be spent with comradery and focus.How do you manage the physical and mental toll of constant travel, late nights, and performing?Our band couldn't manage the physical and mental toll. We broke up after 10 years due to a mental health crisis. Alcohol was introduced to us whenever we were 14 and 15. Everyone wants to party with the artist. If you don't become part of the culture you're not doing your job. Or are you? My job was to network and find our next opportunity until and we were more established. I wrecked two vans on tour having a seizure, due to poor health. Our backs started to hurt. We didn't take care of ourselves or know how to. It can be a really hard life and managing everything is very challenging.4. Performing to Different AudiencesWhat's it like performing in new cities or countries where the audience may not know your music?The band and I stick to our guns. When you're playing original music confidently with passion and love, everyone reacts the same way. We would change our set for different audiences, though. Europe liked blues and rock. Frat parties liked dance music. Local bars liked cover songs.How do you adapt your performance for different audiences and cultures?I personally liked changing outfits and/or suggesting different songs. Say, in the south we would cover an Allman Brothers Song or play my country influenced original. Or, in a Latin culture like Spain we would cover Santana.Do you notice any commonalities in the energy or reaction of audiences around the world, or does it vary a lot?There are a few different types of shows and audiences: one is the crowd that is there for the culture, and not the music, while another is strictly listening, and then a fully supported original crowd that is mainly family/friends. A festival and jam band community always followed us. Our crowds can always mingle. Our "family". Music is a universal language. All in all our band found it's way in to a "jam band" grateful dead scene.5. Connection with FansHow do you build a connection with your fans when you're on the road?Building connection comes with personal experience or online presence. Do you have any memorable stories about a fan encounter or a meaningful moment with someone in the crowd?I remember performing on stage in front of the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of and locking eyes with my dad, who was in "awe". Also, moments in which I've inspired other musicians to pursue a career. I remember a time setting up a fans drumset for his son.What role do social media and online engagement play in connecting with your audience while traveling?These play the largest roles. Keeping fans interested can be challenging. There's only so much you can do. If you're not a strong personality then you will struggle in this business.6. Challenges of TouringWhat has been one of your biggest challenges while touring, and how did you overcome it?Getting along and my seizures. Mental health is the biggest challenge for every musician. Saying no to drugs and alcohol.Have you ever had a tour or performance go completely wrong? How did you handle it?Things have gone completely wrong before. Sometimes, admitting defeat is the best option if things are failing. But at the end of the day, if the show must go on, then it must go on. You can follow Eric on instagram @allaboardrecords and Facebook, and find his music on Apple Music, Spotify, or anywhere you like to stream!!

What if your next meal could change a life—starting with your own?Rip sits down with Chef Kevin McGee, a 25-year veteran of plant-based living and the visionary behind the Urban Oak Initiative. From his Missouri roots and a former career in investment banking, to leading a nonprofit centered on food justice, Kevin shares a moving personal and professional journey grounded in compassion, health, and cultural heritage.Listeners will hear how Kevin's childhood influences—especially his mother and grandmother—shaped his culinary philosophy. And you'll hear a very personal story—how his daughter's battle with cancer became a turning point in his life, igniting a new level of purpose that fuels everything he does today.This episode is a masterclass in how food can nourish not just our bodies, but our spirits and communities as well. So grab a seat at the table—Chef Kevin is serving up something truly special.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

What if stress isn't the enemy—but a secret ingredient for a longer, healthier life? Rip is joined by Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist, physician, scientist, and author of The Stress Paradox, to explore how certain types of stress can actually help us thrive.In this conversation, we'll explore what she calls "good stress" and her five key stressors that can enhance our longevity and healthspan:Plant-based phytochemicalsIntermittent intense exerciseThermal stress (heat and cold exposure)Circadian fastingMental and emotional challengesThese kinds of stressors can actually activate the body's repair systems and boost our physical and mental health.You'll also learn why modern comfort might be making us sicker, how to safely introduce beneficial stress into our lives, and practical, actionable strategies for building resilience and boosting vitality.If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the idea that stress is something to avoid at all costs, this episode will offer you a liberating and science-backed shift in perspective.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Rip sits down with Dr. Jules Cormier, a dynamic family physician from Shediac, New Brunswick, who has transformed his medical practice—and personal life—through the principles of lifestyle medicine. A former sufferer of asthma, eczema, and chronic hives, Jules shares how a whole food, plant-based diet not only healed his ailments but also revitalized his family's health and well-being.Dr. Cormier integrates nutrition, exercise, and education into his clinical practice, empowering patients to take charge of their own health. He opens up about the challenges of shifting mindsets in a community rooted in traditional diets, and how he bridges that gap with empathy, evidence, and resources from his blog.But Jules isn't just prescribing leafy greens—he's living the example. A passionate athlete and Ninja Warrior competitor, he speaks about the biochemical and emotional power of movement, and how his family trains together to stay active and connected.Whether you're a physician, parent, or simply plant-curious, this episode will leave you inspired to take the next step toward better health—one plant and one pull-up at a time.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

When a health scare and personal loss collided, Michelle Joy Kramer found a new path—one rooted in healing, purpose, and plants. A PLANTSTRONG retreat alum and concierge health coach, Michelle shares how she shifted from vegetarianism to a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, dramatically improving her health and inspiring others to do the same.In this episode, Michelle reveals how she:Lowered her cholesterol and improved her health in monthsNavigates social settings and restaurants with intentionUses tech tools like Garmin for accountabilityIntegrates mindfulness and meditation into client careCoaches high-powered professionals with compassion and clarityMichelle's journey is a powerful reminder that with the right mindset and support, transformation is always possible.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Traveling while sticking to a whole food, plant-based lifestyle can be tricky—but it's absolutely doable with the right mindset and tools. In this episode, hosts Rip Esselstyn and his producer, Carrie Barrett, dive into the real-life challenges plant-based eaters face when away from home.Their advice for restaurants? Don't be afraid to be FAB.Figure out what you can eatAsk for what you wantBring your own foodThey break down each part of the FAB method with humor, empathy, and personal stories—proving that with a little planning and flexibility, you can thrive anywhere, even in the most unfamiliar food settings.Whether you're navigating airport terminals, hotel buffets, or international menus, this episode equips you with the tools to stay grounded in your health goals and enjoy the journey. Because being PLANTSTRONG isn't just a way of eating—it's a way of living.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Rip Esselstyn sits down with John Joseph—author, musician, and former frontman of the iconic hardcore punk band Cro-Mags—to explore a story of survival that defies belief.John's journey takes us far below rock bottom: addiction to crack cocaine, pills, and alcohol; a life of crime on the streets of New York; time spent in foster care and juvenile detention; and the devastating loss of loved ones to violence and substance abuse. But somehow, against all odds, John fought his way back—and now lives a life centered on service, discipline, and purpose.Today, he's a sober, plant-based IRONMAN triathlete, motivational speaker, and the author of the powerful new book Destroying Monsters. John shares how the straight edge punk rock scene and the Hare Krishna movement helped transform his life, and how Destroying Monsters offers real tools for those battling their own demons.He discusses:His descent into addiction and the dark underworld of crimeHow punk, spirituality, and service saved his lifeThe power of discipline and Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)How his plant-based lifestyle fuels his endurance trainingWhy Destroying Monsters is more than a memoir—it's a guide to transformationWhether you're facing your own struggles or simply need a dose of no-holds-barred inspiration, this conversation will light a fire under you.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

From a childhood steeped in toxic diet culture and years of yo-yo dieting, to finding peace and purpose through a plant-based lifestyle—today's guest, Jan Brown, shares her powerful story of transformation.It all started with a post in the PLANTSTRONG Community Facebook group. Jan wrote:“I grew up with a mom who was always dieting. I ate everything diet and low calorie, and yet I was the biggest kid in my class. My weight kept climbing once I was out of school, and anxiety and depression took over. I was on a vicious cycle of binge eating and starvation. My last known weight was 320 pounds.”That was more than 23 years ago.Today, Jan is a thriving wife and mother who continues to embrace a plant-abundant lifestyle. In this episode, she opens up about the pivotal moments that changed everything—including a simple book and a heartfelt letter to Dr. McDougall—and how those signs led her to a life of strength, health, and freedom.We dive into:Growing up in diet culture and breaking free from itThe emotional toll of weight gain and disordered eatingFinding freedom through whole food, plant-based eatingDealing with criticism and doubt from othersAcceptance of her new body and celebrating accomplishments and finish linesWhat truly fuels Jan's plant-strong life today - hint: it's tattooed on her hand!This is a story of healing, resilience, and what happens when you finally stop dieting—and start nourishing.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

What if your plate could tell the story of your past—and shape your future? Author and plant-based advocate, Dominick Thompson, returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, Eat What Elephants Eat and explore his deeply personal journey of change. Growing up on Chicago's West Side, Thompson became involved in the drug trade, leading to his imprisonment in his early 20s. It was in prison that he resolved to adopt a lifestyle that caused no harm to other beings. His mantra? “If it requires harm, then nahhh.” His book, Eat What Elephants Eat, intertwines his personal story with practical guidance on how you can also adopt a plant-based lifestyle, featuring eighty simple vegan recipes and meal plans. He also discusses the deeper meaning of food as a bridge to identity and community.Why elephants, you may ask? Well as you get to know Dom, you'll understand why the elephant is his “spirit animal,” of sorts. It's big, powerful, and yet gentle and mysterious. It's also the largest land animal that eats plants. (And no one will ever accuse an elephant of being weak.)This isn't just a recipe book, but a manifesto of sorts on how to live a life that is truly connected to your values.Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Sedona - April 6-11, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/sedona-retreat Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Thinking about going plant-based but not sure where to start? Or maybe you've been at it for a while but could use a little extra guidance and motivation to stay the course? Rip welcomes back plant-based physician Dr. Laurie Marbas and chef Brittany Jaroudi, the authors of Plant-Based 101: The Ultimate Guide for Mastering the Plant-Based Diet. Their new book is packed with practical tips on everything from getting started and cooking delicious meals to handling social situations with confidence. They cover: Finding Your "Why" – Dr. Marbas highlights the importance of identifying your personal motivation for going plant-based.Practical Tips – They discuss meal planning, grocery shopping strategies to save time and money, favorite food swaps, and handling family dynamics and cravings.Nutritional Concerns – What about protein, vitamin B12, and other nutrients? The Science and the Stories Behind Their Journey – They blend research, humor, and personal stories to make plant-based eating enjoyable.Plant-Based 101 is packed with recipes, motivation, and tools to support a sustainable plant-based lifestyle so whether you're a total beginner or a longtime plant-based eater, this conversation is all about making your journey easier, more enjoyable, and totally doable. Episode WebpageWatch the Episode on YouTubeSPECIAL Food Promo for Podcast Listeners Only!Use code: podcast10 to receive 10% off food orders at plantstrong.com Upcoming Events:Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Sedona - April 6-11, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/sedona-retreat Join us for our 2025 Plantstrong Retreat in Black Mountain, NC - Nov 9-14, 2025: https://plantstrong.com/pages/black-mountain-retreat Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyUse Code: KALE20 for $20 off Annual Subscription at https://home.mealplanner.plantstrong.com/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Leave Us a Voicemail QuestionLeave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/plantstrong Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify