Podcasts about conifer

Conifer co-founder Ankit Somani left Google to build something with more heart — and fewer rare-earth magnets. Backed by a $20M seed round, Conifer is making electric motors that are clean, compact, and don't rely on China-controlled materials. In this conversation, Ankit talks about the problem they're solving, what it's like building real hardware in ... Read more The post Ankit Somani | From Google to Conifer: Rare-Earth-Free Motors, $20M Seed, and Rethinking College | EP187 appeared first on KazSource.

Mason makes his debut on the pod to discuss his innovation beer, Far Far Away and the gang raves over the brand new Classic Pale Ale, Evergreen. -- Have a question for us? If we read your question on an episode, you get a free Land-Grant shirt. Submit your question now over on our website! --  Want to try the beers we cover on the pod? head over to our handy Beer Finder or join us at the taproom. 

In this episode of Maximize Your Hunt, host Jon Teater and Thomas Mlsna (Untamed Ambition) discuss various aspects of managing hunting properties, focusing on soil analysis, planting strategies, and the importance of conifer planting. He emphasizes the need for proper soil preparation and the use of specific tools for effective tree planting. The conversation also covers the significance of tree spacing and long-term planning for successful habitat management. In this conversation, the speakers delve into various aspects of tree planting, focusing on techniques, strategies for orchard planting, innovative mulching methods, and the importance of fencing and protection for young trees. They also discuss the significance of selecting quality seed stock to ensure successful growth and production in the future.   Takeaways: Soil analysis is critical for successful planting. Understanding soil pH is essential for plant health. Conifer planting requires careful consideration of species and size. Equipment plays a vital role in efficient tree planting. Subsoiling can improve water infiltration and root growth. Tree spacing impacts long-term growth and maintenance. Staggered planting can enhance visual appeal and management. Conifers provide excellent screening but require time to mature. Regular maintenance is necessary to manage invasive species. Planning for the future is crucial in habitat management. Consider spacing and tree size when planting. Plan for potential loss in tree survival. Wood mulch enhances soil health and moisture retention. Fencing strategies can protect young trees from deer and rodents. Planting in blocks can streamline maintenance and resource use. Quality seed stock is essential for successful tree growth. Orchard planting requires careful planning and protection. Innovative mulching techniques can improve planting success rates. Understanding deer preferences can inform planting choices. Layering plants in an ecosystem can maximize biodiversity.   Social Social Links https://whitetaillandscapes.com/ https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/ https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en https://www.theuntamedambition.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Maximize Your Hunt, host Jon Teater and Thomas Mlsna (Untamed Ambition) discuss various aspects of managing hunting properties, focusing on soil analysis, planting strategies, and the importance of conifer planting. He emphasizes the need for proper soil preparation and the use of specific tools for effective tree planting. The conversation also covers the significance of tree spacing and long-term planning for successful habitat management. In this conversation, the speakers delve into various aspects of tree planting, focusing on techniques, strategies for orchard planting, innovative mulching methods, and the importance of fencing and protection for young trees. They also discuss the significance of selecting quality seed stock to ensure successful growth and production in the future. Takeaways:Soil analysis is critical for successful planting.Understanding soil pH is essential for plant health.Conifer planting requires careful consideration of species and size.Equipment plays a vital role in efficient tree planting.Subsoiling can improve water infiltration and root growth.Tree spacing impacts long-term growth and maintenance.Staggered planting can enhance visual appeal and management.Conifers provide excellent screening but require time to mature.Regular maintenance is necessary to manage invasive species.Planning for the future is crucial in habitat management. Consider spacing and tree size when planting.Plan for potential loss in tree survival.Wood mulch enhances soil health and moisture retention.Fencing strategies can protect young trees from deer and rodents.Planting in blocks can streamline maintenance and resource use.Quality seed stock is essential for successful tree growth.Orchard planting requires careful planning and protection.Innovative mulching techniques can improve planting success rates.Understanding deer preferences can inform planting choices.Layering plants in an ecosystem can maximize biodiversity. SocialSocial Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=enhttps://www.theuntamedambition.com/

About the Show:"We're a reflection of those who came before us and those yet to be. So honor everyone, and we all learn, evolve, and grow together. We can't do it without each other." – Chef Matt CooperIn this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Chef Matt Cooper—owner of Conifer in Downtown Bentonville—and his partner Paul Esterer to share the exciting story behind their newest project, RYN Bentonville. This new farm-to-table concept isn't just a restaurant—it's a vision years in the making that blends history, community, and sustainability in the Ozarks.Together, Matt and Paul share how their partnership and shared values helped create RYN Bentonville, a boutique 10-course tasting menu restaurant nestled on Sun Painted Farm, just minutes from downtown Bentonville but worlds away in atmosphere. They talk about honoring history through restoration, supporting local food producers, and fostering a true sense of place where guests can feel connected to the land, the food, and the people behind every dish. With a commitment to sustainability, community education, and innovative dining, this is an episode for food lovers, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in what makes Northwest Arkansas special.Key Takeaways:Farm-to-Table Dream Realized: RYN Bentonville is a small, reservation-only restaurant focused on multi-course tasting menus driven by ultra-local, seasonal ingredients grown right on Sun Painted Farm.Place Matters: Thoughtful restoration of a historic farm property creates an immersive environment, allowing guests to truly experience their food's origin and Arkansas's natural beauty.Community-Focused: The project serves as a hub for collaboration in the local food scene, supports local farms, and offers educational events.Team Culture: Matt Cooper's approach places a high value on taking care of his team with benefits, fair pay, and fostering a work environment based on respect and growth.More Than a Meal: RYN Bentonville will host farm stands, community gatherings, and educational opportunities and provide a way for more people to connect with farming, food, and the NWA community.Future Vision: This restaurant is just the beginning, with plans for more experiences and partnerships on the farm to benefit the wider region.All this and more on this episode of the I Am Northwest Arkansas podcast.Important Links and Mentions on the Show* RYN Bentonville Instagram: @rynbentonvilleConifer Bentonville Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coniferbentonville/Indiegogo Campaign for the RYN Documentary: Support the Journey (search "Wren" on Indiegogo for the current campaign)Brightwater: Center for the Study of FoodLocal farm partners: Tuckaway Farms, Turnbuckle Farms, Honest Dirt FarmsOzark Natural FoodsAppleseeds NWAFeatured Chefs/Restaurants: Jason Paul, Atlas, Pizzeria Ruby, Michael Robertshaw, Elliot Hunt, Luke MitchellTune in to KUAF 91.3 FM to listen to the I Am Northwest Arkansas® podcast on Ozarks at Large every Tuesday at 12 Noon and 7 PM CST. And, check us out on...

In this weeks episode, Michael travels to Boston, in the UK, not the US, to find out about the last commercial conifer nursery in the UK, Golden Grove. He talks to Zoe and Karolina about their love of conifers, and why it's time to look at them through a different lens. We think you're gonna love this episode and we dare you to go and buy a conifer ASAP.    The ideal place to pick up your conifer is one of British Garden Centres locations, and they are the sponsor of the season of the podcast!   Plants mentioned in today's show include: Hedging: Thuja plicata Gelderland, Thuja plicata Goldy, Thuja plicata Little Boy, Taxus baccata Thuja plicata Whipcord, Chanaecyparis pilifera Filifera Nana, Thuja accidentalis Teddy, Thuja accidentalis Anniek, Cryptomeria japonica Tenzan Our favourites: Thuja accidentalis Anniek, Cryptomeria japonica Serama, Pinus mugo Carsten   Series 18 is sponsored by British Garden Centres. British Garden Centres are the largest family owned, and family run garden centre group in the UK, with over 70 garden centres. “We aim to provide you with great plants and gardening products at affordable prices, with a first-class service delivered by a passionate team.” – The Stubbs Family.  With garden centres offering plants, food  and gift areas, outdoor living, Christmas departments, restaurants, homeware and so much more. All garden centres are pet friendly, and many welcome coach parties. The business also boasts a variety of retail partners across the group inside each garden centre. www.britishgardencentres.com

A handful of engineers who worked at Lucid Motors and on Apple's electric car project have launched a new startup that puts a fresh spin on electric hub motors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than half a million acres in southwest Montana have been impacted by conifer expansion. It used to be that fires would come through these landscapes and burn back the trees, but that natural cycle isn't happening anymore. Now, more trees are encroaching into traditional sagebrush habitat, and that has impacts on our water supply.

More than half a million acres in southwest Montana have been impacted by conifer expansion. It used to be that fires would come through these landscapes and burn back the trees, but that natural cycle isn't happening anymore. Now, more trees are encroaching into traditional sagebrush habitat, and that has impacts on our water supply.

In this episode, host Ryan Maguire is joined by Nate Smith to break down the vision behind Last Mountain Man Standing, the ultimate test of endurance and grit coming to Conifer, Colorado, on June 21, 2025. They dive into what makes this event unique—a brutal 4.1-mile loop packed with rugged terrain and tough obstacles, where racers must complete a lap every hour until only one remains. Ryan and Nate discuss the inspiration behind the race, the challenge of balancing strength and endurance, and what competitors can expect on race day.Whether you're racing, spectating, or just love pushing limits, this episode gives you an inside look at what's shaping up to be one of the toughest events in the mountains. Sign up now and learn more hereThis episode is brought to you by Kula Sports Performance—helping athletes train smarter, recover faster, and perform at their peak.

Jax Jordening is a country & western artist based out of Conifer, Colorado. Jax has been focused on creating an authentic, classic country sound that takes listeners aback and encapsulates them in the storytelling. This has been his goal since he began his musical journey. Many influences ranging from the classic country of Johnny Cash to outlaw country from Cody Jinks or Colter Wall can be picked out in the music he creates.

Happy New Year!!! Welcome to 2025, and thanks for listening to our first podcast of the year, we appreciate you being here! I know that there are folks out there that are kicking off the year with a dry January, and we wish you all the success... However, here at the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas, we toast to the New Year with Sassafras Springs Vineyard and Winery... we'll talk with them in a minute. But first- Food News! Wanted to start with the Yankabilly Smokehouse- the former food truck at the Boardwalk in Springdale is now open inside Mothership on Emma. They've been up and going for 3 weeks and co-owner Aaron Kemper told me that they have some big plans for the spring, and it might involve their outdoor stage. 2025 will also be bringing some new restaurants and concepts to our area, and there are plenty that we're excited about: We kick it off with the Handshake coming to South College in Fayetteville. It's one of the 2 concepts coming from the Conifer team this year.. Former Conifer GM Hope Ray is a Fayetteville native and will be at the helm for this one. Just like Conifer, the menu will be gluten-free and have a heavy emphasis on being locally sourced. It will also have a market with locally sourced meat, veggies and more. The building is taking on a significant remodel, so it will take some time. The other concept from Conifer was announced a month ago, RYN. It'll be in Bentonville, and will be a farm-to-table tasting menu restaurant in a renovated farmhouse right next to their farm. They also plan to have events on their surrounding land. Yeyo's Executive Chef and Owner Rafael Rios got busier in 2024 as he became part-owner in downtown Springdale's Bauhaus Biergarten... He'll get even busier this year, as he'll be opening Casa Magnolia directly across Allen Street from Bauhaus. According to their website, outside of the café, they'll have a Two Friends Community Book kiosk, art, coffee, clubs, ice cream and more... We'll let you know when we hear about a grand opening date. Bentonville Chinese Restaurant Wu Zhao is projected to open later this month. It'll be owned by Blu Fresh Fish Marketplace's Barry Furuseth, Vincent Yao Lim, who's executive chef and known as the Wolf of WOK Street in Australia with millions of social media followers, and former champion of Netflix's Zumbo's Just Desserts, Catherine Zhang. We talked with them on November 13th, if you want to hear that episode. They'll be opening next door to Mezzaluna in downtown Bentonville. Sadly, yesterday was the final day of service for Mermaids in their current location in Fayetteville. I did receive confirmation yesterday that they're still targeting April for their opening date at their new location... still no confirmation yet on the location but will let you know once it's set. Sassafras Springs Vineyard and Winery is many things... a winery, a wedding venue, a retail space, a restaurant, a place to stay and more, but it certainly didn't start out that way. Co-owner Cheryl Long and GM Drew Gorton detail for us the journey to what it is today. They're mother and son of a family-run business, and that cast continues to grow. They have some wines that have won impressive awards in some of the biggest competitions in the US. How did they learn to make wine? You'll hear that story. Equally as important, how do they bottle it? They started off bottling by hand. It's been an evolution for sure, and they recently made a huge investment in it. Finally, we ask all of our guests what their last 24 hours was like- they had a great, albeit frazzling story! Listen wherever you listen to podcasts!

On this week's edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, we're in Springdale where we interviewed the 3 owners of Rein Sushi & Hibachi. We'll talk to Raynor, Bari and Avery shortly, but first... Food News!! Some big food news came down yesterday. James Beard nominated Chef Matthew Cooper and the folks at Conifer announced a new endeavor on Monday night- It's called RYN! It will be a farm-to-table tasting menu restaurant, and like Conifer, it'll be gluten-free. Also like Conifer, they'll support local farmers and purveyors, providing fresh, and sustainable ingredients. If you listened to Conifer's podcast with us in March, you heard Chef Cooper break the news that they'd have their own farm soon. Well, that farm will be right outside the back door, and they'll be growing much of their own food right on the farm. They also hope to provide community events and much more. It's set to open next year. We'll have more info as it becomes available and catch up with Chef Cooper next year. The Ozark Beer Company's release of its heralded Bourbon Double Cream Stout, or BDCS, went live Monday, and as of last night, they were still selling it on their website. It's a smaller run this year, so it won't last long. You can pick up your orders in their taproom starting December 28th. There are few things I like more than fun food & Bev promotions, and one smacked me RIGHT across the face the other day on Instagram. Black Apple Hard Cider is having a Short Girl Appreciation night, where they'll short your tab 10% if you're a female under 5-foot-2... it runs from 5-10pm on Tuesday December 21st... don't forget, they have a full cocktail program now to go along with some of the country's best cider. Speaking of cocktails, if you're in the Siloam area, Park House Kitchen & Bar has come out with their holiday cocktail menu! That Peppermint Mocha White Russian and Smores Old Fashioned have my attention. Check it out on their social media... Now to Rein Sushi & Hibachi... to be so young, what a past these folks have. There are 3 owners, Reiner Wibowo, Averie Mattix and Bari Abe, and they're super-tight. Reiner and Bari are both originally from Indonesia but met in Harrison, Arkansas, where they both met Averie and started a popular business there that they'll talk about. Later, they got the itch to open in an area where they liked to go on their off days, Northwest Arkansas. This is their 2nd business here, but the first one was purposefully short-lived, while they were looking for a place to set up their dream business... By the way, there are some unique menu items that we get to the bottom of! Check out Reiner, Averie and Bari on this edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

This holiday season, we're dreaming of a green Christmas tree.

Episode #460 Grit2Greatness Sunday, May 24, 2020 6:59 AM Welcome Welcome to Episode #460 of the 303 Endurance Podcast. We're your hosts Coach Rich Soares and 303 Chief Editor, Bill Plock. Thanks for joining us for another week of endurance news, coaching tips and discussion.   Shoutouts to: @genucan @ironmantri @coloradosride @adaptiveadventures @303triathlon @t100 @teamagar @velofloprojekt @daretotri @tridottraining @tridottrainingsystem #ironmantri #cycling #triathlon #swimbikerun  #Iamtridot #tridotambassador #tridotcoach #askacoach   Show Sponsor: UCAN UCAN created LIVSTEADY as an alternative to sugar based nutrition products. LIVSTEADY was purposefully designed to work with your body, delivering long-lasting energy you can feel. Whether UCAN Energy Powders, Bars or Gels, LIVSTEADY's unique time-release profile allows your body to access energy consistently throughout the day, unlocking your natural ability to finish stronger and recover more quickly!    In Today's Show Feature Interview with April Spilde Cycling News/Updates - Shadow Mountain Bike Park in Conifer - no go on chairlift Triathlon News/Updates - World Triathlon and PTO 12-Year Deal; T-100 Vegas Ask A Coach - How long for the marathon long run?   Feature Interview: April Spilde   Our guest this week is Coach April Spilde of the Grit2Greatness Podcast. As a trailblazer in the world of personal development, April has dedicated her life to helping individuals unlock their true potential and harness the power of resilience. In this episode, she'll share her journey, insights, and actionable strategies to turn challenges into steppingstones toward greatness. Get ready to be inspired!   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grit2greatness-endurance-podcast/id1705703837   April Spilde (@april_spilde) • Instagram photos and videos       303Cycling News and Updates: Jeffco planning commission casts unanimous vote against proposed 250-acre Conifer bike park     303Triathlon News and Updates:   World Triathlon and PTO announce 12-year strategic partnership to grow the sport   World Triathlon, T100 Tie-Up Brings Us Full Circle   Ask A Coach:   Paul -Just completed 70.3 NY and is now training for a marathon in December. Can I train up to 20 miles? I tend to start feeling foot pain in the last 6 miles. If you are straining for a straight marathon and running is 50% or more of your total training, 20 miles is a typical longest run in the build for a marathon If you have a substantial of swim and bike volume you can maybe get away with 16 The foot pain at the end of a marathon is not uncommon, but it is a signal that you need foot strength development Foundation work with Erin Carson Pulling the yoga mat with your toes   Train With Coach Rich: TriDot Signup - https://app.tridot.com/onboard/sign-up/richsoares RunDot Signup - https://app.rundot.com/onboard/sign-up/richsoares

This bonus episode is a re-release of our July 2023 episode highlighting the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center in Mora, New Mexico, which aims to advance the understanding of restoration activities on forested areas in New Mexico. The Center also provides science-based solutions for private, tribal, state, and federal forest managers, who face the threat of catastrophic fires and the inability of forest ecosystems to naturally regenerate after fires. Related Links:John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center at MoraIf you're enjoying this podcast, please consider rating us and/or leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or Podchaser Thanks!Follow us on Twitter @RainShinePodNever miss an episode! Sign up to get an email alert whenever a new episode publishes!Have a suggestion for a future episode? Please tell us!Come Rain or Shine affiliate links:DOI Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/   USDA Southwest Climate Hub: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwestSustainable Southwest Beef Project (NIFA Grant #2019-69012-29853): https://southwestbeef.org/ 

Welcome to the MrMaple Show! Join Matt and Tim Nichols, co-owners of MrMaple.com, on their journey through the wonderful world of maples. With fresh content dropping daily, we explore Japanese maple cultivars, offer captivating garden tours, share plant travel adventures, and provide expert tips. Don't miss out - hit subscribe and join our community of plant enthusiasts. Share our channel with friends! For all your plant needs and to support us, visit www.MrMaple.com. Let's celebrate nature together, one leaf at a time. Over 1000 Cultivars of Japanese Maples and Tons of Conifers www.MrMaple.com Merch https://mrmaple.com/collections/apparel Social Instagram: https: //www.instagram.com/mrmapleshow/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/japanesemaplefans/ MrMaple Show Page: https://www.facebook.com/MrMapleShow/ Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1X2kY6DrvTwUhME4alpeKr?si=98dab90a833e4673 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mrmaple-show/id1649008505

Mike comes right out and takes call and makes giveaways. Talking food and travel from Conifer to Kebler Psss. Find out where the best "crownuts" are!!! Reach out with comments and reviews!  www.Mikeboyle.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's easier than you think, but it takes a little legwork   In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca tackle the issue of theatre ticket prices. While many Colorado theatres have quite reasonable regular prices, many also offer discounts through subscriptions, discounts for special groups like seniors and students and packages that can significantly lower the cost of going to theatre. We also get into this week's Colorado Headliners — our Top 10 list of shows and other events you might want to think about checking out. This week's Headliners include:  POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive - Curious Theatre Company, Denver, previews Sept. 5-6, opens Sept. 7 and runs through Oct. 13 Jersey Boys - Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton, preview Sept. 5, opens Sept. 6, and runs through Oct. 6  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Performance Now at Lakewood Cultural Center, Sept. 6 through Sept. 22 Motus Music to Restore the Heart with violinist Anthony Salvo, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Sept. 7 FernGully Burlesque Parody - Junkyard Social Club, Boulder, Sept. 8 The Cat in the Hat - Vintage Theatre, Aurora - Sept. 7 and 14 Run for Your Wife - Sharkbox Theatre at Conifer's StageDoor Theatre Sept. 6-21 All My Sons - Magic Circle Players, Montrose - Sept. 6-21 I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett - Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Grand Lake - thru Sept. 28 Saturday Night Naughty Show - Denver Comedy Lounge, Saturdays at 10 p.m.

Dr. Joshua Sloan and Rachael Foe discuss the process of conifer seed selection and harvest for reforestation efforts in the Southwest, from selecting the parent trees and scouting for good cone crops to climbing the trees and collecting cones. Did you know some forest stands only produce a viable seed crop once every decade? Learn how you could help scout for cones through a new app from the New Mexico Reforestation Center.Relevant links:Related podcast episode: After-Fire Reforestation: The John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center Cone Collector and Observations App and other resourcesSeedlot Selection ToolInfo about the New Mexico Reforestation CenterIf you're enjoying this podcast, please consider rating us and/or leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or Podchaser Thanks!Follow us on X @RainShinePodNever miss an episode! Sign up to get an email alert whenever a new episode publishes!Have a suggestion for a future episode? Please tell us!Come Rain or Shine affiliate links:DOI Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/  USDA Southwest Climate Hub: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwest  Sustainable Southwest Beef Project (NIFA Grant #2019-69012-29853): https://southwestbeef.org/ 

The Bruneau Owyhee Sage Grouse Habitat (BOSH) project is a collaborative partnership of state and federal agencies, wildlife advocacy groups, and private landowners to restore native upland landscapes in Southwest Idaho to a more natural condition benefitting sage grouse, songbirds, antelope, spotted frogs and other wildlife. Conifer encroachment is now recognized as the second most significant threat to sage grouse populations in the Western U.S., second only to invasive grasses like cheatgrass. The partnership has mobilized money and people to control juniper on more acres than have ever been treated in contiguous pieces. In this first episode based on the Idaho Life on the Range series, project partners discuss the genesis of the project, science behind sage grouse habitat enhancement, and possible future activities. Guests in the this episode are: Steve Stuebner, writer and producer of Life on the Range, a public education project sponsored by the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission. Connor White, project manager for Pheasants Forever, based in Boise. Jeremy Maestas, National Sagebrush Ecosystem Specialist, USDA-NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife, out of Bend, Oregon. Visit the BOSH Project episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/aor-138-bosh-project-restores-sagebrush-sea-grand-scale-maestas-white-stuebner to watch the documentary video and read other reports of this effort.

A look back on all the winners, plus our Top 10 Colorado Headliners and a visit with the Band of Toughs   In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, Toni Tresca and Alex Miller take a deep, deep dive into this year's Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards. The ceremony announcing all the winners was Monday night at Lone Tree Arts Center, and it was a true celebration of the Colorado theatre community and a well-organized event that clocked in at a little over two hours. Check out the whole list of winners and nominees here.   Also in this episode, I caught up with Colleen and Janet Mylott with Band of Toughs. This is an immersive theatre company that's done a number of interesting productions in the past, and they return this week after a three-year hiatus with Gin & Gothic: A Brontë Rock Tale taking place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Center.   We also go over the Colorado Headliners – our Top 10 list of upcoming shows and events around the state to keep an eye out for. In no particular order, here are this week's Headliners:  Grease, StageDoor Theatre in Conifer - through Aug. 3 Beautiful – the Carol King Musical and Escape to Margaritaville - Thingamajig summer rep at Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts through Aug. 31 Much Ado About Nothing, at Littleton's Clement park from Foothills Theatre company. Free - Aug. 2 &3  Opera in the Park at the Boulder Band shell - Boulder Opera - Aug. 3 Gin & Gothic: a Brontë Rocktale - Band of Toughs at Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Aug. 2-24 The Democracy Cycle: We the People (World Premiere). Aug. 1 in Gunnison, Curious Theatre Company, Denver, Aug. 3 Last Train to Nibroc - Funky Little Theatre Company in Palmer Lake August 2-17 After the End (World Premiere) – The Catamounts at Anythink Huron Street Library, Thornton, Aug. 5-Sept. 14 Alice by Heart - At The Spark, Boulder, August 9-11. Also, Arts Hub in Lafayette will be doing this production Aug. 17-25.  Pretty in Punk: THE FINAL SHOW - Junkyard Social Club, Boulder, August 10

Join Erika Spicer Mason as she chats with Kyle McElroy, VP of Clinical Operations at Conifer Health Solutions, about strategies to tackle healthcare claim denials. Kyle shares insights on preventing denials, leveraging technology, and building strong payer relationships to enhance revenue cycle performance. Don't miss this informative episode packed with practical advice for reducing denial rates and financial losses.This episode is sponsored by Conifer Health Solutions.

Recorded July 8th, 2024. On this episode Coach V talks about Conifer, Evergreen, Green Mountain, Littleton, Lutheran, Standley Lake, Holy Family, Northridge, Greeley Central, Mead, Niwot, Glenwood Springs, Summit, Rifle, Wheat Ridge, and Palisade. He talks about last year, departures, key players, and predicts this upcoming 2024 fall football season for them.  Intro 0:00- 2:05 Conifer 2:06- 12:54 Evergreen 12:55- 19:40 Green Mountain 19:41- 32:28 Littleton 32:29- 37:21 Lutheran 37:22- 53:14 Standley Lake 53:15- 58:35 Holy Family 58:36- 1:07:41 Northridge 1:07:42- 1:15:13 Greeley Central 1:15:14- 1:22:21 Mead 1:22:22- 1:31:23 Niwot 1:31:24- 1:33:53 Glenwood Springs 1:33:54- 1:43:54 Summit 1:43:55- 1:49:58 Rifle 1:50:00- 1:58:57 Wheat Ridge 1:58:58- 2:08:04 Palisade 2:08:05- 2:14:29 Outro 2:14:30- 2:16:07 https://linktr.ee/PlaymakersCorner Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlaymakerCorner Tik Tok: Playmakers Corner Instagram: https:https://www.instagram.com/playmakerscorner/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaymakerCorner Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUEcv0BIfXT78kNEtk1pbxQ/featured  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/playmakerscorner  Website: https://playmakerscorner.com/  Listen to us on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4rkM8hKtf8eqDPy2xqOPqr  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cycle-365/id1484493484?uo=4  Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/the-cycle-365 Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mODg4MWYwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

Today's crossword, a debut in the NYTimes by Mike Ellison, was a relatively gentle Sunday crossword with a host of curious clues, such as 94A, Hats worn by Napoleon, BICORNES; 86A, Golf gimme, TAPIN (not to be confused with last Thursday's golf phrase, HOLESOUT); 80A, Settings for timers, OVENS (nice!!); and the fine 53A, Needles holder, CONIFER (awesome!!). An auspicious debut indeed, and we look forward to many more contributions from Mr. Ellison.Show note imagery: The Three Musketeers - Aramis, ATHOS, and PorthosContact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

There's concerns in South Auckland, as unsupervised dogs roam neighbourhoods and kill scores of cats. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, there's been an uptick in dogs in Auckland and residents are concerned. Conifer Grove Residents' Association chair Kelvin Hieatt says a community group went out most nights between 10pm and 5am, tracking down four identified dogs. "Once the black female dog was caught, the cats stopped being killed- full stop." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kris Onda, a fourth-step apprentice for CORE Electric Cooperative in Conifer, Colorado, is an International Lineman's Rodeo competitor and the first lineworker in his family. During this episode, he talks about focusing on wildfire mitigation and wildlife protection and servicing his cooperative's members living on cliffs up in the mountains. He also shares his experiences with the International Lineman's Rodeo, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024. Learn more at linemansrodeokc.com. Also check out the Spotlight on the Line Trade featuring Kris and Part 1 of our recent Lineman's Rodeo-themed episode, which highlights Kris and other competitors and supporters. 

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are chatting all things Colorado Trail. Rachel, who filled in for Zach, and Chaunce are joined by David Fanning, who has seven complete hikes of the Colorado Trail, which is tied for the record we think. Topics covered today include the pros and cons of hiking the CT both east and westbound, the best weather windows, transportation to the trail, recommended gear, information about the campsites, water availability, the best towns, resupply strategy, preparation strategies, how to navigate the trail, wildlife, comparing the Collegiate East and West, and more. We wrap the show with the official details of our upcoming LIVE podcast in Denver, how to cook corn, and the triple crown of bread. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  Danner: Use code “TREK15” for 15% off Mountain 600 boots at danner.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK20” for $20 off polarized sunglasses at shadyrays.com. [divider] Panel with David Fanning David's Website Time stamps & Questions 00:06:14 - Reminders: Come attend BPR live in Denver on April 23! Apply to be a Trek blogger or Ambassador and suggest a potential Trail Days guest for BPR! 00:07:37 - Introducing the Colorado Trail panel 00:08:54 - Introducing David Fanning 00:12:04 - How did you go from the PCT to CT? 00:14:20 - When was the first year you hiked the Colorado Trail? 00:15:52 - Do you think having that conversation with the doctor turned out to be a blessing? 00:20:25 - Colorado Trail basics 00:22:40 - Hiking season and weather 00:30:10 - What crazy weather have you seen across 7 hikes? 00:31:45 - Discussion about keeping gear dry and rain gear 00:36:42 - What experience have you had with snow on the trail? 00:39:14 - Have you had any sketchy experiences with lightning? (NOLS lightning resources) 00:41:56 - Discussion about dead tree fall 00:43:15 - Hiking NOBO or SOBO 00:49:08 - Trail termini 00:51:00 - Discussion about taking the train from Grand Junction to Denver 00:52:12 - Resupplies and towns 00:53:18 - Discussion about hitching 00:59:50 - Trail towns: Bailey, Conifer, Jefferson, and Fairplay (See The Colorado Trail Guide: Resupply and Towns on the Colorado Trail) 01:04:04 - Trail towns: Breckenridge, Frisco, and Copper 01:05:45 - Sending resupply boxes 01:06:53 - Trail towns: Leadville 01:09:54 - Trail towns: Twin Lakes 01:10:35 - Collegiate East vs West 01:17:05 - Trail towns: Buena Vista and Salida 01:19:05 - The Cochetopa section 01:24:10 - Trail towns: Gunnison, Lake City 01:31:56 - Discussion about sheepdogs 01:34:06 - Trail towns: Silverton and the scenic train 01:38:40 - Discussion about the section between Lake City and Silverton 01:40:20 - Discussion about wildlife encounters 01:48:00 - Food storage on the CT 01:50:04 - Shelter considerations on the CT 01:54:15 - Discussion about campsites and Chaunce's scary story 01:58:45 - Navigation on the CT 02:00:48 - Dogs and bikes on the CT (Backpacker Radio #214 | Tisha McCombs, Executive Director at the Colorado Trail Foundation) 02:03:30 - What has changed the most over your many hikes? 02:07:00 - Section hiking versus thru-hiking 02:14:02 - What's your elevator pitch for the Colorado Trail? 02:17:04 - Physical preparation on the CT 02:21:25 - Discussion about food and appetite 02:21:55 - Tell us about Voices of the Colorado Trail Segments Trek Propaganda Tisha McCombs is Leaving the Colorado Trail Foundation Best Trekking Poles for Backpacking in 2024 by Katie Kommer QOTD: How do you cook corn? Triple Crown of bread Plug Me: Old Man Murph's Coffee Roasters Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Jason “Snail” Snailer barely know her, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.

On this episode, we have the talented and fun Pearce Butcher with us. Pearce is the owner of Pearce B Designs where she is a landscape designer who specializes in designing beautiful spaces for functional outdoor living. We had a great time with her being amazed at spring and nature while also getting her input into some of the South's iconic trees. We hope you enjoy Spoonies!

Welcome to this week's Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Podcast, where we sit down with James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef of the South, Matt Cooper of Conifer. The son of a Methodist Minister and a food technologist, he lived in 30 different places in Arkansas before heading off to culinary school in the Pacific Northwest. After working there for a while, he moved back to Little Rock to help open a restaurant before coming to NWA to help ramp up the hospitality arm of the Ropeswing Group, before opening his own place. In this episode, he talks about what he learned coming up through the profession and what he learned not to do after tough experiences. He also details Conifer's sustainability model and speaking of that, he has BREAKING NEWS about what's next for them. Also, we're debuting a new segment to help you frustrated home cooks, like my Dad.

We get the boys in the studio for this one! All active fighters right now and they all living up here in next me in Conifer.  They All have big fights coming up Devin in the UFC with 17 fight in there true vet in the game!  Logan and Jon fighting in Alaska, hear all about it we talk fighting, climbing 14ers , wrestling and just life great time with these guy! cheers!

Ben Anderson is a husband and a dad of two beautiful daughters. He lives in Evergreen, Colorado and teaches geography at Conifer High School. He enjoys distance running, skiing, and camping with family with his black Toyota Tacoma. Ben used to be my rock climbing and cross-country coach (along with Ben Hershelman) when I was growing up. Ben introduced me to the outdoor climbing world by taking me to spots like Moab, Vedauwoo, and Canyon City, some of my favorite memories from middle and early high school! In this conversation, Ben reflects on his journey from being a professional skier to becoming a teacher and father. He discusses the challenges and joys of fatherhood and the importance of being present in his daughters' lives. Ben also explores the different stages of life and the struggle to define his identity beyond his past accomplishments. He shares his experiences teaching at JA and the impact of relationships on his teaching career. Ben concludes by discussing his transition to Conifer High School and his decision to step back from coaching to prioritize his role as a father and husband. We explore various themes related to retirement, identity, meaningful relationships, family, uncertainty about the future, marriage, the American Dream, the pressure of the rat race, affordable housing and homeownership, and the power of positive words. Follow me @joshkorac on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for video clips, podcast previews, and more mental health content! If you are in a mental health crisis, please call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are from Colorado and are interested in scheduling a session, please reach out at sojourncounselingco.com/josh or josh@sojourncounselingco.com. New episodes every Wednesday while the show is in season. Takeaways Fatherhood is a rewarding and fulfilling role that requires being present and cherishing the time spent with children. Identity can evolve and change over time, and it is important to embrace new roles and experiences. Building strong relationships with students and colleagues is a crucial aspect of teaching and can have a lasting impact. Finding a balance between work and personal life is important for overall well-being and happiness. Reflecting on past accomplishments and embracing new challenges can help in navigating different stages of life. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 02:09 Reflecting on the Past and Changing Relationships 05:06 The Challenges and Joys of Fatherhood 08:23 The Different Stages of Life and Identity 13:30 Moving to Conifer and Embracing the Outdoors 21:08 Meeting Amy and the Certainty of Love 30:11 Teaching at JA and the Impact of Relationships 38:08 Transitioning to Conifer High School and Coaching 43:01 Exploring Identity and the Midlife Crisis 44:43 The Importance of Family and Retirement Thoughts 45:13 Retirement and Identity 46:13 Meaningful Relationships 47:20 Struggling with Identity 48:13 Importance of Family 49:04 Uncertainty about the Future 50:18 Marriage as a Journey 51:29 The American Dream and Winning the Lottery 52:48 The Work of Relationships 53:48 The Illusion of 'Making It' 54:19 The Pressure of the Rat Race 55:13 The Struggle for Affordable Housing 56:48 The Privilege of Homeownership 57:38 The Importance of Positive Words 01:15:26 Words of Wisdom: Be Positive and Take Action

On this episode of the Impact Real Estate Podcast presented by Jackson Lucas Executive Search, we chat with the President of Conifer Realty, Sam Leone. Sam takes up all the way back to his family farm and talks about how he gradually worked his way to the top of his company. Our chat is also an in-depth look at company leadership with someone who the best perspective on the topic. Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9Spotify: https://spoti.fi/35ZJGLTWeb: https://www.jacksonlucas.com/podcast/sam-leone02:30 - What is Conifer? 04:26 - The 30-second version09:02 - Maturity 13:27 - Not a linear path 16:59 - Levels of tenacity 18:58 - CEO mornings 22:45 - Better delegator than most 25:13 - Working with a coach 30:16 - The future 36:21 - Potential pitfalls 39:13 - Solutions-related relationships 41:45 - Self-awareness 44:10 - Not living the culture 46:15 - The Hot Seat presented by KK Reset

Archbishop celebrated Mass on the first Sunday of Advent at Our Lady of the Pines in Conifer. In his homily Archbishop proclaimed the twofold meaning of Jesus's impending arrival which is the real meaning of the Advent season. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120323.cfm

We're joined today on the MGMA Business Solutions podcast by Mike McMann, Vice President, Client Management Physician Services at Conifer. Mike's here today to talk about denial prevention in a medical practice. Resources: Conifer: https://www.coniferhealth.com/ Mike McMann: https://www.coniferhealth.com/about-us/about-us-leadership/leadership-bios/mike-mcmann/ Denial Prevention: https://www.coniferhealth.com/knowledge-center/leveraging-a-rules-based-engine-for-touchless-denial-management/ MGMA Resources: MGMA Stat: mgma.com/stat Ask an Advisor: www.mgma.com/ask-an-advisor MGMA Membership: www.mgma.com/membership MGMA Advocacy: www.mgma.com/advocacy MGMA Consulting: www.mgma.com/consulting/overview WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview. Email us at podcasts@mgma.com. If you have opportunities and resources you'd like to share with MGMA members, go to Marketing with MGMA to find out how you can connect with the MGMA audience.

SynopsisIn his autobiographical sketch, A Mingled Chime, British conductor Thomas Beecham offered this assessment of British composer Ethel Smyth: “Ethel Smyth is without question the most remarkable of her sex that I have been privileged to know,” and added that he admired her “fiery energy and unrelenting fixity of purpose.”Born in 1858, Smyth became a composer against her family's wishes, and it took dogged determination to get her large-scale choral and operatic works performed in an era when most in the music business did not take female composers seriously. That was before they met Smyth, who convinced legendary conductors like Arthur Nikisch, Bruno Walter and Beecham, who realized her music had merit.Smyth's opera The Wreckers had its premiere performance in Leipzig on today's date in 1906 and was championed in England by Beecham, who thought it her masterpiece. It remains, wrote Beecham in 1944, the year of Smyth's death, “one of the three or four English operas of real musical merit and vitality written in the past 40 years.”Music Played in Today's ProgramEthyl Smyth (1858 - 1944) The Wreckers; Soloists and BBC Philharmonic; Odaline de la Martinez, cond. Conifer 51250

Categorised items, Peter's van, anti-woke Lawro, test drives, Geordie Heat, telly pitches, and more. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/athleticomince. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content warning: This episode contains mentions of sexual violence. Earlier this week on our episode about self care, we recommended a solo hike via the Brothers Lookout Loop in the Alderfer Three Sisters Park in Evergreen. Not long after, we learned about a sexual predator at-large who has been targeting women hiking alone in the Evergreen and Conifer areas, including the park we mentioned. Host Bree Davies is joined by producer Olivia Jewell Love to discuss what we know so far and how to best protect yourself if you are hiking alone. If you have any information on the situation, contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department: 303-271-0211. Resources for survivors can be found at the Blue Bench.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this 15 minute interview we talk with Heather Smith, Vice President Eligibility & Enrollment Services at Conifer Health Solutions, about Medicaid enrollment. Tune in for insights on supporting Medicaid enrollment, being proactive around patient's eligibility, and more.This episode is sponsored by Conifer Health Solutions

Hour 1 - PSA: Watch out if you're going hiking in the Evergreen/Conifer area. There is a sexual predator roaming the trails who has been getting more aggressive with each report. Kylie Jenner says she regrets getting her boob job. 

This is a unique episode where Max Vandenberg and I share the behind-the-scenes story of bringing Race Service and Ornamental Conifer all the way across the world to Germany for the Porsche Brand Store. We had the chance to sit down in person while we were there and talk about exactly how this insane project came to be, and how we pulled it off against all odds! Moments like this don't normally get the chance to have their story told after all the dust settles, so I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite moments and stories about how it all came together. Chapters: 1:35 - Intro 3:21 - The Idea 6:20 - The Technical Obstacles 8:16 - Artist and Clients needs 11:05 - The RS Garage Video 13:24 - The Community That Created This 15:41 - Executing the Vision 25:33 - Our Favorite Moments Andrew Cramb: Instagram: @andrew_ftw Everything Else: https://linktr.ee/whereareallmyfriends Max Vandenberg: Instagram: @max_vandenberg Website: https://www.maxvandenberg.com/ Race Service: Instagram: @race.service Website: https://raceservice.komi.io/ Ornamental Conifer: Instagram: @ornamentalconifer Porsche Brand Store: Instagram: @porsche_brandstore Website: https://www.porsche-brandstore.de/ Produced & Edited by - Deanna Elise: Instagram: @deannaelxse Website: https://www.deannaelxse.com Where Are All My Friends Podcast: Website: https://www.whereareallmyfriends.com Subscribe: HERE Patreon: HERE

Conifer and Debbie visit their corporate benefactors.Jenn, Mike, and Shannon play Offworlders, a rules-light TTRPG created by Chris P. Wolf and Olivia Gulin.Fun City: Precious Cargo is a mini-series produced by Fun City and Fortunate Horse.Support the Fun City team and get a bunch of bonus content on the Fun City Patreon:https://patreon.com/funcityventuresLearn more about Offworlders and download it on Drive Thru RPG:https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/257632/Offworlders—@funcityventures is the show on twitter@funcityventures is the show on instagram@funcity.ventures is the show on tiktokAll episodes are on https://funcity.venturesShannon Odell (@shodell) is DebbieMike Rugnetta (@mikerugnetta) is MAVISJenn de la Vega (@randwiches) is Conifer PineBijan Stephen (@bijanstephen) is the GM, and everyone and everything else.—This episode was recorded at various locations around Brooklyn, New York and Los Angeles, CA.Produced by Bijan StephenEdited and sound designed by Sam Grant.Mixed and mastered by Mike Rugnetta.Music by Zaid Maxwell and TJ Tambellini.Pixlriffs is a homing beacon in a sea of sorrow.Our Discord mods are Olivia Gulin, Kit Pulliam, and Kelly McKew.

In this episode we are joined by Ronnie Simpson, VP Revenue Integrity, HIM and Centralized Edit Team and Starla Stavely, Senior Director, Coding Quality, Conifer Health Solutions to discuss the crucial link between the mid-cycle and quality/compliance, artificial intelligence, and much more.This episode is sponsored by Conifer.

Conifer, MAVIS, and Debbie visit the unnamed planet.Jenn, Mike, and Shannon play Offworlders, a rules-light TTRPG created by Chris P. Wolf and Olivia Gulin.Fun City: Precious Cargo is a mini-series produced by Fun City and Fortunate Horse.Support the Fun City team and get a bunch of bonus content on the Fun City Patreon:https://patreon.com/funcityventuresLearn more about Offworlders and download it on Drive Thru RPG:https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/257632/Offworlders—@funcityventures is the show on twitter@funcityventures is the show on instagram@funcity.ventures is the show on tiktokAll episodes are on https://funcity.venturesShannon Odell (@shodell) is DebbieMike Rugnetta (@mikerugnetta) is MAVISJenn de la Vega (@randwiches) is Conifer PineBijan Stephen (@bijanstephen) is the GM, and everyone and everything else.—This episode was recorded at various locations around Brooklyn, New York and Los Angeles, CA.Produced by Bijan StephenEdited and sound designed by Sam Grant.Mixed and mastered by Mike Rugnetta.Music by Zaid Maxwell and TJ Tambellini.Pixlriffs is a homing beacon in a sea of sorrow.Our Discord mods are Olivia Gulin, Kit Pulliam, and Kelly McKew.

Insurance adjusters Conifer, MAVIS, and Debbie find something dangerous in an abandoned solar system. They're not detectives or fencing aficionados, but they're pretty sure they have something valuable.Jenn, Mike, and Shannon play Offworlders, a rules-light TTRPG created by Chris P. Wolf and Olivia Gulin.Fun City: Precious Cargo is a mini-series produced by Fun City and Fortunate Horse.Support the Fun City team and get a bunch of bonus content on the Fun City Patreon:https://patreon.com/funcityventuresLearn more about Offworlders and download it on Drive Thru RPG:https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/257632/Offworlders—@funcityventures is the show on twitter@funcityventures is the show on instagram@funcity.ventures is the show on tiktokAll episodes are on https://funcity.venturesShannon Odell (@shodell) is DebbieMike Rugnetta (@mikerugnetta) is MAVISJenn de la Vega (@randwiches) is Conifer PineBijan Stephen (@bijanstephen) is the GM, and everyone and everything else.—This episode was recorded at various locations around Brooklyn, New York and Los Angeles, CA.Produced by Bijan StephenEdited and sound designed by Sam Grant.Mixed and mastered by Mike Rugnetta.Music by Zaid Maxwell and TJ Tambellini.Pixlriffs is a homing beacon in a sea of sorrow.Our Discord mods are Olivia Gulin, Kit Pulliam, and Kelly McKew.

Kyla is a genealogy researcher who travels to the charming town of Conifer, hoping to piece together her ancestry. The search leads Kyla to a Christmas tree farm, its stubborn but handsome owner - and, possibly, love.Watch on Philo! - Philo.tv/DTH

What does it mean to be endemic. This. Tree. KNOWS. As does its homeland, the Klamath Mountains, a hotbed of endemic species. We chat with author and coniferman Michael Kauffman about the Brewer spruce's unique place in this world. Completely Arbortrary is produced by Alex Crowson and Casey Clapp Artwork - Jillian Barthold Music - Aves & The Mini Vandals Join the Cone of the Month Club patreon.com/arbortrarypod Follow our Instagram @arbortrarypod --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/completely-arbortrary/support

This week we sit down with Amy Davison from Trek Travel to discuss the explosion of gravel travel trips in the 2023 line up. With three North American trips (Bentonville, Vermont and Virginia) and three European trips (Girona, Tuscany and Swiss Alps), Trek Travel has some amazing gravel trips planned using the local knowledge of their experienced guides. Trek Travel Website  Episode Sponsor: Athletic Greens Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: [00:00:00] Craig Dalton: Hello, and welcome to the gravel ride podcast, where we go deep on the sport of gravel cycling through in-depth interviews with product designers, event organizers and athletes. Who are pioneering the sport I'm your host, Craig Dalton, a lifelong cyclist who discovered gravel cycling back in 2016 and made all the mistakes you don't need to make. I approach each episode as a beginner down, unlock all the knowledge you need to become a great gravel cyclist. This week on the broadcast. We welcome Amy Davison from track travel. Trek travel is literally having an explosion of gravel trips for 2023. They've been in the gravel game for a few years with their gerona gravel trip, which I took at the end of 22, but they're back for 23 with an expanded roster of six trips, three in north America and three in Europe. I'm excited to sit down with Amy and go over all the details. Before we jump in i need to thank this week sponsor athletic. athletic greens I feel like everybody's been talking about athletic greens recently. I was just listening to Ted King's podcast and he was talking about his daily athletic greens routine. Like me, he takes athletic greens every day. My personal routine is mix it with a cup of ice. I love it. Cold. guess the big question is why, why do I take athletic greens? As you may recall, I've been taking athletic greens for going on five years. I was looking for something that would replace my desire to have a multivitamin in my life. I knew I wasn't getting all the nutrients I needed in any given day in a simple powdered format. Athletic greens contains 75 vitamins minerals and whole food sourced ingredients, including a multivitamin. Multi-mineral probiotic green superfood blend and more, it all works together to fill those nutritional gaps in my diet, it helps increase energy and focus aids with digestion and supports a healthy immune system. All without the need for a counter full of pills. Let's start your 2023 with a simple, sustainable nutritional habit. So, whether you're looking for peak performance, better health, we're just covering your bases. Athletic green makes it easy to invest in your energy immunity and gut health. Every day in a simple fashion, simply visit athletic greens.com/the gravel ride and join health experts, athletes, and health conscious go getters around the world who make a daily commitment to their health. Athletic green to the special offer for podcast listeners, simply visit athletic greens.com/the gravel ride. And you'll get a free year supply of vitamin D and five free travel packs today. Again, that's athletic greens.com/the gravel ride. Without business behind us let's jump right in to my interview with Amy Davison from Trek travel Amy, welcome to the show. [00:02:52] Amy Davison: Thank you for having me. [00:02:55] Craig Dalton: I'm excited. I just learned about the massive expansion of gravel travel trips the Trek is gonna be offering in 2023. After my wonderful experience in Gerona, I had to get you on the line and talk about everything that's going on before we dig into some of those trips. Let's just start by, uh, let the listener know where you're from, who you work for, how long you've been working at Track Travel. [00:03:20] Amy Davison: Sure. I live in Spearfish, South Dakota at the North Edge of the, the Black Hills, the great place to ride. I work for Trek Travel and I I'm a trip designer for trip travel, but I started back in 2005 as a. So, had a couple different roles here. I absolutely love working in the cycling industry, so it's, uh, led to [00:03:44] Craig Dalton: a long career. Yeah. I imagine all that time guiding yourself has left you with a pretty good sense of what it takes to design a trip. As a trip designer, what does that really mean? [00:03:58] Amy Davison: Hmm. Well, trip designers are the ones who build the structure. We book the hotels, we design the routes and build the routes in the software and book all the restaurants and basically just put the shell together. And then we convey it. We're sort of the, the hub of the wheel. We convey it to every team within trick travel. Explain it to sales. And then we hand it over to the guides when it's time to run. And when they're running the trip, it's really their baby. And then we work very closely with them to sort of tweak it and modify it. But we then sort of take it back at the end of the season and massage out anything we wanna change and then get it ready for the next year. So we're actually planning, we're working in about three years. at once. So it's very different than being a guide when you're, when you're out there guiding, you are laser focused on each day of each trip and really the hospitality end of taking care of the guests. So it's, uh, it was incredibly beneficial for me to be a guide and then turn into a trip designer. And that's how most of our trip design teams won. They were. and they then sort of wore both hats. And then some of us just moved into the trip design world and some of us continue to [00:05:18] Craig Dalton: wear both hats. That makes sense. How long has truck travel been in business? [00:05:24] Amy Davison: This our 21st year. [00:05:27] Craig Dalton: Wow. And, yeah. Has historically, have the trips always been on the road or were there off-road c. [00:05:33] Amy Davison: Mostly on the road. We did have mountain bike trips for a while, but this is our first foray into gravel, aside from Giana gravel that's been around for a couple of years. But, uh, yeah, primarily [00:05:46] Craig Dalton: road far. Interesting. So, you know, obviously I've got personal experience on that Jer Gravel tour. What was it that was sort of suggesting that an expansion would be, uh, you know, greeted with enthusiasm from your, from your. Well, just the growth [00:06:03] Amy Davison: of gravel in general. I mean, it's just exploded over the last several years. And all of our well met a big contingent of our guides and our team loves to ride gravel, and that's what they're doing in their free time, whether they're bike packing, they're just out riding the gravel. And so we've been talking about it for, for a few years because it's just, become such a big industry and the, the pandemic probably delayed this launch by, by a bit, but because of the scarcity of bikes and the uncertainty of everything basically. But [00:06:40] Craig Dalton: When you, as you introduced J, the Gerona gravel trip originally, were there, what kind of things were going through your mind in terms of bringing some of these, a newer athletes to gravel offroad? Like how do you think about trip design to make sure that everybody joining the trip is comfortable with the progression of technicality or amount of climbing or what have you? Mm-hmm. . [00:07:04] Amy Davison: We have what we call rider levels and we rate every trip and we, so we are going for a variety of trips. And then we rate each trip going to the rider level and we spell out on our, on our website how difficult it is. And that includes distance, terrain so how hilly is it? And also surface type because, you know, gravel. Very broad, and we do our best to sort of, put them into a matrix so people can see the range of trips that we offer, and then select what might be the best for them. And then we, I spend a lot of time with our trip consultants sort of explaining all this in detail so they can help steer people in the right direction. So we do try to offer a a, a breadth. Of options for people who may have more experience or less experience. And then we also, when we're designing the trip on each day of the trip, we have multiple ride options. So we try to allow, uh, for different rider levels, like on any given day, the guides will help steer people toward what option might be best for them any day of the week. Because as you experience sun, Each day's ride is quite different as well. And Jerome, I know they, the rides kind of build in technicality throughout the week and other trips like Shenandoah Valley, they build to a big climb at the end of the week. Uh, but the, the climb is an epic ride in their area, but it's actually paved the climb and the sun paved. It's just part of a, a larger loop and much of the loop is gravel. So each trip is different. And really the goal is you identify an area that is desirable, would be a, would be a great place for the trip, and has of course wonderful gravel riding. And then I like to say, you see what the area offers you and then you take advantage of it. So I don't go in with a preconceived notion of, I'm gonna design this trip in this way and it's gonna be for these people. I go in with a, let me learn about this region. Let's see what the best, you know, what it has to offer, and then we'll design accordingly. And then we'll describe accordingly. Because, you know, we, our, our, even our regular trips there's a, there's a wide variety of types of trips. So we don't try to force anything, we just try to call it what it is and, [00:09:38] Craig Dalton: uh, make it shine. . Yeah, it was, it was definitely interesting, and I noted it in those, the first day of the J travel, the, the gravel tour was just that assessing of the rider's abilities. Mm-hmm. , and it was pretty easy, you know, it was casual. It wasn't like anybody was testing mm-hmm. , you know, can you break, can you skid, can you go over a log or what have you. Yeah. But you could tell that the guides were being conscious of like, okay, what's the, what's the dynamic of this group? What are people's eagerness? Do people wanna ride? All day long, do they wanna not ride some days? And it became surprisingly easy to strike that balance in our group. Mm-hmm. , you know, the few, few guys from California that I went over with, we were eager, eager to ride as much as humanly possible, so mm-hmm. , you know, on occasion we'd come home and say, we, Hey Mickey, we wanna ride some more. And he would give us a GPS route and we would just go out there. Pedal to our heart's content while others were electing to take days off. And to your point, like there definitely was a progression in, in skills, in elevation and everything along the way. I don't think anything would've you know, been out of reach of, you know, most gravel cyclists, but there definitely would've been days that if you were a beginner, and one of the guys in my crew was a little bit more of a beginner that mm-hmm. a couple of the. made him think a little bit more. You don't really get that. Yeah. On a road bike, you put on the brakes, and even if you're descending aldus, you just keep the bike in control and it's, you know, it's no harder than your local mountain. But with the gravel, I think with everything, you know, all the natural terrain in front of you, it's often a little bit challenging and your eyes get wide and you think, can these bikes really withstand this treatment? Yeah. [00:11:22] Amy Davison: Yeah. It's. , it's definitely some, like you said, you have to, you have to think more and gravel and really watch your speed on this descent. And the guides are incredible. They, their wheels are turning before you meet them. They, they get a little intel on everybody and, uh, their wheels are turning immediately cuz they always wanna make it the best trip and. For every single person on the trip. And that first day is critical in sort of getting to know people a little bit during the bike event, and then sort of, you know, as assessing how everyone's doing during the ride because they're, they're already planning the next day, the next day and the next day. So yeah, it's. It's, it's quite a feat, but they're, they're really good at it. And when they know the terrain like Nikki, you know, it's local and j it's uh, it's pretty special what they can do, even with a larger group of people. Like, like you said, they, they're more than happy to give you some extra routes or, you know, go on another ride with you after everyone else is done and having close ride beers. . So it's, yeah, it's really, it's [00:12:39] Craig Dalton: really a fun time. You mentioned the bike fit element of it, and this was my first trip where I've ever ridden a bike provided by the organization. Mm-hmm. , obviously I was excited them being truck bicycles. In Jer in 2022, it was the, the Dnet, but I believe for, for 2023, you're moving over to the checkpoint. Mm-hmm. . [00:13:00] Amy Davison: We are, yeah. Very exciting. Checkpoint SR seven. Top of the line, electronic shifting. It's, uh, shaman, it's, and it's a two by, so a two by 11 speed. Uh, we'll set it up to bliss and we're gonna bump the wheels to 40 fives instead of the stock forties that come on them. And, uh, yeah, it's gonna be a great ride. And I think that the rationale is we really want these trips to be accessible. Everyone and we thought this is the bike that provides the most comfort and the most stability and can handle the widest variety of terrain, cuz we also have to select a single bike for all of these trips. [00:13:44] Craig Dalton: That we all thought would work. I, I think you're spot on there. I think, you know, it's, it actually to me it has two benefits. One, for newer riders, having the fatter tire is gonna make 'em more comfortable. It's gonna make it roll over stuff easier. A little sp smoother ride. But for more experienced riders, those 40 fives are gonna allow you to really tear it up and get after things and have a lot of fun. Mm-hmm. ? [00:14:06] Amy Davison: Mm-hmm. . Yeah. I have a, have the same bike here at home, so I've been really enjoying. Trying it out and it's just, and it actually rolls great on pavement too, so, it's, they're just so, there's such versatile bites [00:14:21] Craig Dalton: there. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I have to say I was a little bit jealous cuz Mickey was already on a checkpoint and I was eyeing his big tires that from time to time as we got in the roof for terrain, cuz that's what I typically ride at home. Yeah. [00:14:34] Amy Davison: Yeah. The. All, I would say, all the guides who could get their hands on a checkpoint in the last couple years, uh, who ride gravel have, have absolutely [00:14:42] Craig Dalton: taken advantage of that. Yeah. So we, we we're moving from one gravel trip in 2022, all the way to six gravel trips, both in North America and in Europe. I'd love to just kind of talk to you about a, let's first get on the table, where are we going in 2023, and then B, let's just talk a little bit about each. [00:15:04] Amy Davison: Sure. Yeah. Yeah, it's very exciting. This has been the, the better part of the second half of 2022, and my world has been spent putting these together in collaboration with, uh, a lot of our guides and other tDCS. So we have three North America and three in Europe. In the North American trips in, in order are Batonville and Vermont and Shenandoah Valley, and. , the European trips are post J with that, the spring trip. And then we'll do Tuscany and then we'll do Swiss Alps and then we'll come back to Jer. [00:15:41] Craig Dalton: Amazing. And when you say an order, is that a chronological order throughout the year when the trips are offered? Alright. [00:15:48] Amy Davison: Spring. Yeah, by season. [00:15:51] Craig Dalton: Gotcha. Well sort of taking 'em one by one. And let's start in North America to begin. Bentonville, Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and then Vermont. Mm-hmm. What attracted you to those areas? And maybe as we go through one by one, just kind of give a highlight of what, what people might expect on that trip. Sure. [00:16:09] Amy Davison: Boy, we, we, we debated many, many, many destinations and at the end of the day, we were. Kind of zeroed in on destinations where we have guides who live there. That was a big factor because planning gravel, uh, having local knowledge is indispensable in, in planning the best routes. And, and so that was one big factor. And then all kinds of things sort of come into play. But we were. Pretty quickly narrowed it down to three that were relatively close to each other. And and then of course you have to cherry pick the best times to ride in these places. So, you can't pick all spring destinations, for example, so you're playing with all kinds of things and put, putting the puzzle together. But Batonville we, we actually had a, a good shell of a. Put together for Bentonville that we offered as the self-guided trip a couple years ago. And we have a guy who lives there. And, uh, so we, that one was, that one was a no-brainer because Bentonville has got the, all the infrastructures, everyone knows it's the mountain biking capital of the world. It's, it is incredible for mountain biking, but it is also incredible for gravel. You talk to any of the locals there, they're like, yeah, it's pretty, it's pretty special. And the beauty of this trip is it's five days and so you can always tack on a few days on either end, grab a rental mountain bike and go hit the trails either before or after. But the gravel there is outstanding without being too difficult. It really is. We're riding mostly in Rolling Farm. And the, the highlight of the trip is of course modeled after the big sugar race. So the gravel on the, uh, sort of northern side of town is absolutely epic. It's fast. Yeah. And it's, it's fun And it's beautiful. So you've got that, but you also have a great hotel in town. The 21 C Museum Hotel, which is an art museum, turned into a hotel on the square and the food is incredible. So we're going to eat at the preacher's son and Conifer and the hive at the hotel for dinners. So this trip is absolutely packed, and I didn't even mention the art. We're gonna also visit Crystal Bridge's art museum in addition to riding through it, but, , we're gonna visit the campus for like an introductory tour so that that trip is just absolutely [00:18:39] Craig Dalton: packed. Great stuff. Yeah. It's such a great community and it's mm-hmm. dark when you arrive there, just how infused cycling culture is. There's bike paths everywhere you need to go and yeah. You know, as you said, the gravel is great. It's very accessible, but it's a hell of a lot of fun as an experienced athlete too, as you, you know, as you ramp up the speed going down those hills. Oh yeah. Rocks on those. You know, it, it's exciting and exhilarating. Yeah. But again, like if you're, if you're going a little bit slower, it's totally accessible to a lot of riders and then all those great things to do in Bentonville, like it definitely, I can see why that made it high up on your list of places to put a trip. [00:19:19] Amy Davison: Yeah. I mean the, it's really special when you arrive in a town. You just feel like, oh, this is home for cyclists. Like they love bikes, they love bike people, they're everywhere. Yeah. How about [00:19:34] Craig Dalton: that was really special. Yeah. Yeah. And to your point about like geographically locating the trips, you know, within a reasonable distance, it's probably lost on many listeners that you've got a lot of logistics. You've got vans you need to bring to bear. You have the actual bicycle. You need spare bicycles, spare parts. So there's a lot of moving pieces to this trip that make it logistically complicated for you at Trek Travel. But honestly, logistically simple for the guest because we just arrived with our shammy and our helmet and our shoes. And you'll take care of the rest. [00:20:10] Amy Davison: Yeah, and we don't even have to bring a helmet cause we have those too. But that is one, I think one thing. always has set travel apart is our partnership of Trek and the bikes that we provide. And if you look at gravel whether the gravel tourism industry most, uh, well, I can't name that's not true. Most do not include a bike and I will just say no and include the bike like a checkpoint SLR seven. Electronic shifting. I mean, it's all the bells and whistles just like our damani is for our regular trip. And, and so that that is one really exciting sort of piece of the puzzle that, that sets us apart. And it, it absolutely, yeah, our business is complicated. It always will be, but we all tend to thrive in the chaos and do our best to present a, a seamless experience for the guests. That's the. . [00:21:10] Craig Dalton: Yeah. And then I guess if we're going chronologically, next step would be domestically would be the Vermont Gravel Bike tour. Mm-hmm. , do you wanna jump into that experience? [00:21:18] Amy Davison: Yeah, absolutely. So Vermont has been in the tri travel portfolio since the company began. Uh, we've always run trips outta Sto Vermont in the Green Mountains, so that, that's where this trip begins. We'll start at the Green Mountain in Insto, uh, and do a couple of rides around there. We'll do a sugar tasting there, or a sugar tour. Learning about maple syrup and how it's made, and of course, do a taste of it. So you get a little Vermont flavor in there. And then from there we're gonna ride from hotel to hotel, and we're gonna go to the northeast kingdom and stay in a, in, out in the country. Just outside of Eastbrook. So a lot of people know that area for great mountain biking as well, but there are endless gravel roads. I'm think of Vermont as the home of gravel really. They've been riding gravel there before. Gravel was cool because they have more gravel than pavement. It's just everywhere. So, the rides there are about 70% gravel. And, and they're hilly. Can you go from the Green Mountains up to. It's equally hilly in the Northeast Kingdom, but, uh, very rural. I would say the highlight is the ride from hotel to hotel. You pass through prospering, which is a small town very accustomed to cyclists and outdoor enthusiast of all sorts. And we'll have lunch at the general store called Jenny. As we pass through. I think that's gonna be a, a great experience just to. I feel like experienced small town life in, in Vermont. And then we will end with at, at the, we're staying at a small in, in, at Brooklyn to end the trip and they are cycling enthusiasts there and they also put on fabulous meals. So I'm, and I think it'll be, it'll be This spectacular trip. Incredible food throughout high-end accommodations and phenomenal dirt road [00:23:20] Craig Dalton: riding. That's so fun. It's such a pretty state. I've only ever ridden on the road there, but, but definitely aspire to ride gravel once I get back there. [00:23:29] Amy Davison: Yeah. Yeah. It's, uh, it, it's gonna be good one for sure. [00:23:34] Craig Dalton: And then next up on your, your summer tour of gravel in the United States is the Shenandoah. In Virginia, that was probably the one on your list that I was most surprised about. So can you talk a little bit about that trip? [00:23:47] Amy Davison: Yeah, absolutely. I was actually looking at another region and it just sort of wasn't panning out and I I just kept driving and went, uh, to Harrisonburg. One of our trip consultants lives there and we've kind of had it on the radar for a while. We also have a contingent that lives in North Carolina and. Loves to come up to Virginia to ride. So it is a well kept secret and that's is another place where as soon as I got into town unannounced I started knocking on doors and immediately I was like, yes, this is a bike funded town. These people love to ride. They're excited about bringing more cycling, tourism to the area. And it's , it's unique in that it, it's a valley, obviously Shindo Valley, but it's got the mountains on both sides. The Allegheny Mountains and the Smoky Mountains. So you've really got everything at your disposal. So we've got riding in rolling Farm country, and then you've got Epic climbs on either side of the, so we're gonna feature. I climb to what's called reddish knob, which is one of the high points of the state. It's on the West Virginia border and that, that's actually a paved climb through National Forest and a paved descent, but the rest of that loop is gravel. So it's gonna be an epic day at the end of that trip. Panoramic views at the top and a nice change up from the rest of, of the writing, but, It's a destination where I think it'll surprise and, and delight people because maybe you haven't heard of it, but if you dig just a little bit, you'll, you'll see that there's a, there's quite a cycling culture there, great mountain biking as well, and almost anywhere there's gonna be great mountain biking. Gravel is gonna go hand in hand, [00:25:41] Craig Dalton: so, . Yeah. Yeah. I think there's a lot of people in Virginia right now listening who are saying, hallelujah, . Yeah. Don't let the secret out, but, but we are proud of where we ride. I told Yeah, , [00:25:53] Amy Davison: I feel a little bad about that. But [00:25:56] Craig Dalton: yeah. You know, gravel riders we're, we're sort of, we can blend in. Right. I, I yeah, I have a little bit of experience in that area on the mountain bike, as you, you were mentioning. It's a great mountain bike area, and when I was cutting my teeth as a young mountain biker out of Washington DC we would get into that region on our mountain bikes to go race some of that kind of classic East Coast races down [00:26:16] Amy Davison: there. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. It's and I also, I recall having guests on a trip in California, uh, years ago who were like, you've gotta come to Virginia. They were live, they live near DC and they were like, it's absolutely epic. You would love it. It's the riding is endless. Like you have to come to Virginia. So, Hopefully they're listening and they're probably like, it's about time It's been so long. [00:26:46] Craig Dalton: Nice. So now let's hop over to the, uh, to the European trips. I forget the chronological order. Are we starting in Gerona over there? We're starting [00:26:54] Amy Davison: in Gerona, yeah. Yeah, because Okay. It's just. got great weather spring and and fall. So we're starting in j that is our, uh, only level four trip, which means it's a little more advanced. So the, some of the gravel riding is more technical. We, it's the only trip where we incorporate some single track and some connectors that say are unmaintained roads, so they get a little more gnarly. What we've been seeking out elsewhere. So that that is one thing that sets Jonah apart. And the other thing is, we've had it running for a couple years now, so it's a well-oiled machine. We have a handful of local guides there who love it. And it's, it's really their trip. I mean, they, they've made it what it. So a lot of a lot of culture, uh, infused there, a lot of local knowledge infused there and great little hotel in the center of this charming little town. So, yeah, [00:27:58] Craig Dalton: absolutely, and I'll, I'll refer the listener back to a couple episodes where I've interviewed both our guides while I was over there and gave a little bit of my day to. Of that trip as well as an original episode going back, gosh, I think mid pandemic when I was hoping to go very early on, maybe in Oh wow. 2020 that, uh, that you Yuen came on and talked about that trip as well, so, oh, we've covered that territory. I'm a big fan of Jer. I feel like anybody who's. Into cycling knows that that's just a hub and a, a great place to be. [00:28:28] Amy Davison: Absolutely. Yeah. But what I guess I didn't realize is how epic the, the gravel is there in addition to the road driving. [00:28:36] Craig Dalton: So Yeah, a hundred percent. Like the, just so much of the Mickey was saying, you know, they had all these old rail lines that then got, uh, you know, repurposed into gravel roads and they just, they litter the town from every direct. Yeah. [00:28:50] Amy Davison: Yeah, it's, I'm heading there in uh, February, so I can't wait to do a couple of the rides that you got to go [00:28:58] Craig Dalton: on. Awesome. Yeah. Awesome. And then what's up O next Over in Europe. [00:29:03] Amy Davison: Tuscany. Yeah. Okay. [00:29:05] Craig Dalton: So Tus is [00:29:07] Amy Davison: another Tuscany. Oh yeah, the Bianchi. It's gonna be amazing. It's another region that Tel has, you know, been, uh, running trips in forever. And we all love it. Uh, it just never gets old. I got to guide there in 2015 and got to ride some of this gravel. So anyone who is a gravel enthusiast probably knows about the race throughout Bianchi and also the aka uh, vintage cycling race. And our trip really blends those two together. So we spend some time around Oli and, and near Sienna first hotels near Sie. Uh, riding some of the bki and AKA roots. But you get to experience wine country and you get to have lunch, I think it is in Oli, and visit the AKA store. And you also get to have coffee and a little tour of Sienna where you're watching the end of any race. So it's like from clop cross races, Toki, they end. In the Piazza in Sienna, and it's just like an incredible experience. So we're, we're going to, uh, do that on the trip and then we're gonna finish near Ticino a little bit further south. And the riding just goes on and on. And it was some of my favorite writing when I was there in Southern Tuscany where it's a little less touristy and you're sort of getting off the beaten path. And we have a couple of guides who, you know, one in particular who really rides gravel a lot there and knows all the ins and outs of the gravel roads. So he got to put this together and, uh, he's, uh, I think really made it shine. The other fun piece of it is that the second hotel is actually in equator, which we don't typically stay in. So it's like a working farm that also is a hotel. You know, it's the definition of farm to table dining, basically. This, uh, a agrima is very high end. It's absolutely beautiful. And our final night will be a, a meal that is paired with wines from their cellar. Some of their, some of their older favorite ones. So it's going to be an absolutely epic trip with great riding. And of course, I mean, you're in Tuscan, so outstanding food and. , [00:31:36] Craig Dalton: uh, to pair with it. Yeah. Super cool. I imagine, and, and I've never ridden there myself, but just seeing strata Bianca, that the dirt roads are, I mean, relative in the spectrum of these gravel trips in Ima, it seems like these are sort of smoother dirt roads than elsewhere. [00:31:52] Amy Davison: I would say, yeah. Honestly, for all of our trips, the goal was to find. Smoothest gravel roads that we possibly could. So we're not trying to search out the most difficult, gnarly technical riding. We're trying to make these accessible to, to everyone who has even a bit of gravel experience. So they're just comfortable riding on loose surfaces. Cuz you can't avoid hills and cornering and so you need a little bit of experience. But these, I, I would say Vermont. . The dirt, the dirt roads are super hard packed and like sometimes they're just dirt. You, you don't even have, you have very little gravel and Tuscany probably have more gravel consistently. But the roads are, are fairly smooth. They're just healing. [00:32:42] Craig Dalton: Yeah. And are they sort of the punchy style climb? [00:32:46] Amy Davison: Yeah, I would say Vermont and Tuscany are known for short, steep hills. That's just the nature of the riding there. Uh, you really can't get away from it. So, similar to our, our regular Vermont trip and our regular Tuscany trip. These are, these are hilly trips. Batonville is a little flatter. It's more like rolling farmland, Ando Valley, more rolling farmland with the big. . So they all are, you know, slightly different, but in general you can never escape hills and, uh, we're looking for mostly smooth dirt roads with a, not a crazy amount of gravel, so relatively non-technical [00:33:28] Craig Dalton: ready. Got it. Got it. And then that final trip of the year heading over to the Swiss Alps. [00:33:34] Amy Davison: Mm-hmm. . Yeah. This one is super exciting. Again, one of our guides lives there at the, this trip is on the eastern side of Switzerland in the Anine Valley, and it starts in a town called school. And one of our long standing, amazing guides lives there. And she's been dreaming about getting this trip on the, on our docket for years. So she put this together in addition with one of our troop designers who is a ski instructor in St. So that's where the trip ends on the other side of the valley, uh, near St. Maritz. And you're basically riding in the valley surrounded by the Alps and glaciers the entire time. So that means that the terrain is hilly. Inevitably when you leave the valley, you're going, you're going up. So it's more long, gradual climbs. But the, uh, what's unique about this one is it's mostly, uh, most of the gravel is on bike pads, and then most of the other riding that's not gravel is still a designated bike route. So it's very little traffic there. I mean, that's to be expected when you're riding gravel to begin with, but here it'll be. Very, very little traffic and a combination of gravel bike pond and really narrow paved lanes going from town to town up and down this valley. Then of course there will be a fondu dinner. So people get to experience that and just incredible views of the, of the valley and the, it's pristine. I just look at the pictures for that trip. . I, I, I have to [00:35:19] Craig Dalton: go. It's, yeah, I was gonna say that's the only one I haven't seen The pictures on the website are just ridiculous how scenic it is. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's beautiful. I love it. Well, that's super exciting just to one, get the overview of all these great trips that you have planned for 2023, and I'm super excited for you guys to continue to get feedback from riders as to what they like and don't like about 'em and mm-hmm. . You knows what an exciting journey to, to sort of have six new trips on the calendar. [00:35:51] Amy Davison: Yeah, it's, uh, I've been doing this for a while and this is like unprecedented for me in terms of, you know, what I get to do on, on the day to day. So I'm really excited to get this out there. I know that our guides are too, I mean, everyone who helped design these trips is gonna be working them next year, and I know that they'll evolve. It's absolutely the way. All of our trips work. We take feedback from the guides, from the guests, and the more we sink into a region, the more we learn about it, the better the trips become. So this will definitely evolve, and as we learn, I sure hope that the entire category just continues to grow. . [00:36:31] Craig Dalton: Yeah. You know, as I've said many times on the podcast before, I'm just, I'm a big fan of this idea of gravel travel and as much as I like going to do events and races, for me it's more about being in that region and sampling a bit more. And sometimes I get drawn into, whether it's the length of the event or just, you know, wanting to perform. I'd limit my riding because I just wanna be able to complete that one day ride. And sometimes I leave those regions thinking, gosh, like I wish I was just riding every single day a little bit less. Yeah. Than putting all my eggs into this one one day. [00:37:08] Amy Davison: Yeah. Yeah. I mean that's the beauty of, of these vacations is you really can, you really get to sink into a region and see and ride day after day after day. It's kind of [00:37:20] Craig Dalton: hard to go. . Yeah, yeah, totally. After that. Totally. Yeah. There's something to be said for having nothing to do, but ride all day and pretty much have the logistics all taken care of for you. Mm-hmm. . [00:37:34] Amy Davison: Yeah, I mean, I hear that from, from my friends. It's, it's truly what I love to do and my free time as well. So now that I live in a place that is full of gravel, I. We have people visiting and we go out for, for four days, and it's, for me, it's the best vacation I've ever had. And for them, they feel like they're on a TR trail trip, so. [00:37:58] Craig Dalton: It's, uh, I bet that's really fun. You bet. You better watch out. You may have some listeners knocking at your door wanting a person to turn Hey, [00:38:06] Amy Davison: bring it on. I, I already have a planned . [00:38:11] Craig Dalton: Thanks again, Amy. I really appreciate the time and I'm excited to revisit this conversation at the end of the year and see how everything goes. Yeah, [00:38:19] Amy Davison: me too. Awesome. Thank you for having us and for bringing attention. Gravel travel. Hopefully it's just gonna keep growing and I look forward to doing more myself discovering more destinations. [00:38:33] Craig Dalton: Big, thanks to Amy for joining the show today. I'm super excited to hear that Trek travel is doubling down on gravel travel for 2023. I don't know about you, but they're more than a handful of those destinations. I'd love to ride in myself. I've covered a few, but absolutely. I encourage you to go to the truck, travel.com website and check out those pictures, particularly for the Swiss trip. It just looks absolutely spectacular. A huge, thanks to athletic greens for being a long time supporter of the show. Remember head on over to athletic greens.com/the gravel ride. To get your free one-year supply of vitamin D and five free travel packs. Added to your order. If you're interested in connecting with me, please. Join the ridership that's www.theridership.com. That's a free online cycling community where you can connect with me and other gravel athletes for around the world. If you have the ability to support the show. Please visit, buy me a coffee.com/the gravel ride. Until next time. Here's to finding some dirt under your wheels