Podcasts about outdoor retailer show

Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter!On this episode of DTC pod we cover:1. Finding unique solutions for parents.2. Leveraging industry events for visibility.3. Focusing on selling through their website.4. Overcoming obstacles in shipping and delivery.5. Harnessing the power of customer recommendations.6. Iterating and improving to create exceptional products.7. Exploring the unique characteristics of the baby category.Timestamps3:27 Action sports engineer finds value in baby industry.7:54 Used kiteboarding technology to create portable cribs.10:02 MVP used at trade show to sell.13:42 Unique product gets attention at trade show18:42 Nascent SaaS business launched on third-party marketplace.19:47 Transitioned to Direct, faced shipping challenges, scaled up.24:00 Unique direct-to-consumer baby gear company in stealth.29:06 Lotus expanded into accessories and extensions.29:57 Researching and selling practical, adaptable products profitably.33:51 Compact, durable running stroller with folding design.37:26 Building awareness for newcomer stroller brandShownotes powered by Castmagic

We attended this summer's OR Show and picked out the best gear we could find. On-site interviews, gear reviews and the story about Carl finally connecting with Buff are included in this jam-packed, gear-packed episode. There's something for everyone! Some of the Gear Discussed -Jetboil MiniMo -Thermacell Mosquito Repeller  -Mystery Ranch Bridger 65 Backpacking Pack -Fox River Socks -Cusa Tea/Coffee Drink Mix Packets -Vargo Bot 700 Titanium Mug/Pot GET BONUS EPISODES! There are over 25 BONUS episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content.  Check out XOSKIN Base Layers for premium quality clothing that will help you on the trail! Use coupon code 'backpacking' for 10% off. Check out our other wonderful sponsor Summit Strength's Training for Trekking Podcast. Find gear to 'Live Ultralight' with Outdoor Vitals! Check out the BEST backpacking fishing pole option:              REYR GEAR  To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on our Facebook page, @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcast on Instagram or email: hikercman@netscape.net And please check out our website: backpackingandblisters.com

Episode 332 ~ June 23, 2022 Podcast Info / Topics The Outdoor Retailer Show was held in Denver and there are three items that people should know about The Whisky War between Canada and Denmark is over. It was the friendliest war in history. National Canoe Day is upon us and Sean & Derek share […]

Episode 332 ~ June 23, 2022 Podcast Info / Topics The Outdoor Retailer Show was held in Denver and there are three items that people should know about The Whisky War between Canada and Denmark is over. It was the friendliest war in history. National Canoe Day is upon us and Sean & Derek share […]

Sea 2 Ep 24  “Adopt Digital or Die?” LIVE from the Outdoor Retailer Show 6/16//2022 Live recording in Denver, CO at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Show! The session was about the basics of Ecommerce and all things digital. Audience questions on going from Woo Commerce to Shopify, marketplaces and much more. We explain 1st Party Data and 3rd Party Data in a why that everyone can understand. We play “What's That Keyword?” game with the audience. Summer Jubelier, Hayley Brucker and Scott Ohsman wield their decades of combined ecommerce expertise to get the “juicy nuggets” that can help you win. Ecommerce Simplified! Warning, you will learn and be entertained at the same time.  Big Thanks to Peak Strategic Insights! Go there now and find out more! https://www.peakstrategicinsights.com/   Brought to you by: Athletic Greens. Activate your great deal by going to: https://athleticgreens.com/partner/d35ctoffer-nutrition/en?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=emerging_d35ct__a3878__o27&utm_term=cac__a3878__o27&utm_content=sport__a3878__o27   QUICKFIRE Info:   Website: https://www.quickfirenow.com/ Email the Show: info@quickfirenow.com  Talk to us on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quickfireproductions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quickfire__/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@quickfiremarketing LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/quickfire-productions-llc/about/ HOSTS: Summer Jubelirer has been in digital commerce and marketing for over 15 years. After spending many years working for digital and ecommerce agencies working with multi-million dollar brands and running teams of Account Managers, she is now the Amazon Manager at OLLY PBC.   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/summerjubelirer/   Scott Ohsman has been working with brands for over 25 years in retail, online and has launched over 200 brands on Amazon. Owning his own sales and marketing agency in the Pacific NW, is now VP of Digital Commerce for Quickfire LLC. Scott has been a featured speaker at national trade shows and has developed distribution strategies for many top brands. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ohsman-861196a6/   Hayley Brucker has been working in retail and with Amazon for years. She is currently a Marketing Coordinator at Channel Key LLC. Hayley has extensive experience in digital advertising, both seller and vendor central on Amazon. Hayley is based out of North Carolina and has worked in multiple product categories and has also worked on the brand side and started with Nordstrom on the retail floor.  LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-brucker-1945bb229/   Huge thanks to Cytrus our show theme music “Office Party” available wherever you get your music. Check them out here: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cytrusmusic Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cytrusmusic/ Twitter https://twitter.com/cytrusmusic SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VrNLN6Thj1iUMsiL4Yt5q?si=MeRsjqYfQiafl0f021kHwg APPLE MUSIC https://music.apple.com/us/artist/cytrus/1462321449   “Always Off Brand” is part of the Quickfire Podcast Network and produced by Quickfire LLC.

The Outdoor Retailer Show left Utah over the state's stance against Bears Ears and Grand Escalante national monuments. Salt Lake City is happy but the actual retailers may not be. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Alastair Lee Bitsoi talks about reporting on the Indigenous schools in Utah while being a member of the communities that were impacted by the forced assimilation. And is the NBA All-Star game at risk because of HB11, the bill that would ban transgender girls from playing girls' sports.

The Outdoor Retailer trade show has announced it will return to Salt Lake City next year, even with some high profile companies threatening to boycott it. KSL NewsRadio reporter Paul Nelson was at the announcement and talks with Boyd about the political discussions being had around the event.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox made national headlines when he vetoed a bill that bans transgender athletes from competing in girls high school sports. He joined the show to explain why he vetoed the bill and to discuss the return of the Outdoor Retailer Show to Utah.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will you respond when the 8 events discussed in this episode happen to you or someone you know? Derek and Carl discuss the tough circumstances they've encountered, how they might have been avoided and what do in response. But let's be honest, is the list that Derek came up with really that horrible? And how does Carl respond to Derek's 'Name That Sound' trivia that goes as you can expect. GET MORE EPISODES! There are over 80 episodes of B&B that you can get by supporting us on Patreon. It's safe and secure and it helps us put out more content. Check out our latest vid on our Youtube Channel: The "Best New" Backpacking Gear of 2022 at the Outdoor Retailer Show? Get the BEST device on the market: Zoleo! Check out our other wonderful sponsor Summit Strength's Training for Trekking Podcast and Facebook Page. Live Ultralight with Outdoor Vitals!  To react publicly or privately to any of our episodes post/message on our Facebook page, @BackpackingAndBlistersPodcast on Instagram or email: hikercman@netscape.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Engearment Podcast Pre Outdoor Retailer, COVID, Patagonia, KUIU   In this episode we go over the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Show (hopefully not the last one!) The effects of COVID on the event and what meetings we will have.   Heck, my wife and I both just got over COVID. We are fully vaccinated and boosted, and both picked it up around the beginning of the year. We are doing good now though. So I can appreciate the concern over safety for in person meetings.   There are a lot of reviews to cover as well: Patagonia Stormstride - https://youtu.be/XNsTWLtkPIo Altra Solstice XT 2 - https://youtu.be/uE14aR2Fcyc Competition Kettlebell vs Traditional Kettlebell - Which one is best? - https://youtu.be/_KpELu_nM9Q Gregory Targhee 32 Backpack - https://youtu.be/SCYYcO_lvrY NomadiQ Grill Review - https://youtu.be/t1OSrb2TMdQ Outdoor Research RadiantX Gloves - https://youtu.be/wXudHWz2QQg Triple Fat Goose Henson Puffer Jacket - https://youtu.be/BiC4SiL1EKM Ariat Wexford Waterproof Boot - https://youtu.be/PEsYWegxy7I KUIU Attack Pants - https://youtu.be/A6lDgNBg9uM KUIU Attack vs Tiburon vs Sierra vs KUHL Klash Pant - https://youtu.be/2gEg4JR8rrg Spy Marauder Snow Goggles - https://youtu.be/_WlZ_MhaFwc Princeton Tec Alloy X Flashlight - https://youtu.be/aFl2r1JoAVY Dark Energy Poseidon Pro Power Bank - https://youtu.be/90U68PuXI44 ZEAL Lookout Goggles Review - https://youtu.be/fFgGLs6JypM Peak Design Travel Tripod - https://youtu.be/-y1XEgi1PeQ Mountain Hardwear OP Mitt - https://youtu.be/cCmeSQutHIY Mountain Hardwear Kor Airshell Warm - https://youtu.be/GzCBQa4sXA0 Patagonia Stormstride vs Dual Aspect Jacket - https://youtu.be/6jAsQxn5n5oh Adidas Five Ten NIAD Shoe - https://youtu.be/3_eRDEmy4cc G3 Splitboard LT Glide Skins - https://youtu.be/DwKrnssLdh0  

Singer / Song Writer / Musician Alt Bloom joins us for episode 126. Back in August at the Outdoor Retailer Show we caught Ethan Thompson aka Alt Bloom's performance at the closing festivities. From Montana to LA, Ethan gives us the low down on he journey with music, his love for outdoors and how the two keep him grounded, balanced and in harmony. Stay Connected!!! https://open.spotify.com/artist/6JxQbC46LapcvanSk4J3OP https://www.instagram.com/altbloom/?hl=en https://twitter.com/AltBloom?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrLC5reB9KZWxYsP5_PZntw https://presave.umusic.com/alt-bloom-high-school https://www.tiktok.com/@altbloom?lang=en The Airey Bros. IG @aireybros / https://www.instagram.com/aireybros/ https://www.blacksheependurance.com/podcast Premium Content : AB/DC Programming / B-Role & Mix Tapes / Accountability Coaching https://www.patreon.com/AireyBros Value for Value https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=BHCAKFGH6TNF2 The Black Oxygen Organics products have been formulated to help reduce the effects of inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, our effective products also help: Most Powerful Electrolyte in Existence Delivers Usable Oxygen into the Cell 70+ Trace Minerals Reduces Oxidative Stress Improves Immune Function Supports Healthy Circulation Boosts Metabolism Improves Brain Function, Memory, Mood Improves Heart Health Increases Nutrient Absorption Removes Toxins, Heavy Metals, Pesticides Cell Regenerating Enhances, Repopulates Gut Flora Helps Balance Hormones https://blackoxygenorganics.com/aireybros1

Singer / Song Writer / Musician Alt Bloom joins us for episode 126. Back in August at the Outdoor Retailer Show we caught Ethan Thompson aka Alt Bloom's performance at the closing festivities. From Montana to LA, Ethan gives us the low down on he journey with music, his love for outdoors and how the two keep him grounded, balanced and in harmony. Stay Connected!!! https://open.spotify.com/artist/6JxQbC46LapcvanSk4J3OP https://www.instagram.com/altbloom/?hl=en https://twitter.com/AltBloom?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrLC5reB9KZWxYsP5_PZntw https://presave.umusic.com/alt-bloom-high-school https://www.tiktok.com/@altbloom?lang=en The Airey Bros. IG @aireybros / https://www.instagram.com/aireybros/ https://www.blacksheependurance.com/podcast Premium Content : AB/DC Programming / B-Role & Mix Tapes / Accountability Coaching https://www.patreon.com/AireyBros Value for Value https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=BHCAKFGH6TNF2 The Black Oxygen Organics products have been formulated to help reduce the effects of inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, our effective products also help: Most Powerful Electrolyte in Existence Delivers Usable Oxygen into the Cell 70+ Trace Minerals Reduces Oxidative Stress Improves Immune Function Supports Healthy Circulation Boosts Metabolism Improves Brain Function, Memory, Mood Improves Heart Health Increases Nutrient Absorption Removes Toxins, Heavy Metals, Pesticides Cell Regenerating Enhances, Repopulates Gut Flora Helps Balance Hormones https://blackoxygenorganics.com/aireybros1

Always Off Brand  Season 1 Ep 24 “Trade Show Trip Report Time & Pu Pu Platters” with Kate Nishimura 9/7/2021  Co-Hosts Summer Jubelirer & Scott Ohsman welcome back Kate Nishimura, Features Editor at Sourcing Journal. We talk through MAGIC and Outdoor Retailer Show trips. Hayley and the News, plus a little restock Amazon rant.  Warning, you will learn and be entertained at the same time.  QUICKFIRE Info:   Website: https://www.quickfirenow.com/ Email the Show: info@quickfirenow.com  Talk to us on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quickfireproductions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quickfire__/ LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/quickfire-productions-llc/about/   More Stuff Mentioned:    Guest Kate Nishimura  https://sourcingjournal.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katenishimura/   More Stuff Mentioned:  https://us.got-bag.com/ https://www.sperry.com/en/home   HOSTS: Summer Jubelirer has been in digital commerce and marketing for over 15 years. After spending many years working for digital and ecommerce agencies working with multi-million dollar brands and running teams of Account Managers, she is now the Director of Ecommerce at a leading hydration brand, Hydralyte.  LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/summerjubelirer/   Scott Ohsman has been working with brands for over 25 years in retail, online and has launched over 200 brands on Amazon. Owning his own sales and marketing agency in the Pacific NW, is now VP of Digital Commerce for Quickfire LLC. Scott has been a featured speaker at national trade shows and has developed distribution strategies for many top brands. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ohsman-861196a6/ Huge thanks to Cytrus our show theme music “Office Party” available wherever you get your music. Check them out here: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cytrusmusic Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cytrusmusic/ Twitter https://twitter.com/cytrusmusic SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VrNLN6Thj1iUMsiL4Yt5q?si=MeRsjqYfQiafl0f021kHwg APPLE MUSIC https://music.apple.com/us/artist/cytrus/1462321449   “Always Off Brand” is part of the Quickfire Podcast Network and produced by Quickfire LLC.

Phil Case, now Chief Client Officer, joined Max Connect Marketing after running an agency for nine years – one that consistently lost clients to this highly performance-based digital agency. One key to Max Connect's success is that 90 percent of its 47 employees are compensated based on the performance of the campaigns it runs. At Phil's previous agency, the sales team would work 6 months to close a new client and then hand the client over to the digital team. The digital team would complain about the extra time they had to spend running the campaign without that effort generating any more financial compensation. Aligning compensation with performance boosts the Max Connect team's motivation to go “above and beyond” to produce outstanding results. Max Connect's clients are typically national or international  B2B companies or companies that sell big-ticket consumer goods . . . especially purchases that involve a complex, nuanced customer journey that requires education, brand-building, and a focus on the customer relationship, and involve “a lot of datapoints.” Phil refers to these datapoints as the up to 100 to 140 “digital breadcrumbs” that people leave as they navigate a “considered” several-hundred- or several-thousand-dollar purchase decision.  The agency targets audiences based on “real-time in-market data, demographics, psychographics, and online intent,” runs that data through its proprietary algorithm, and then places frequent, hyper-targeted ads in front of that audience on multiple digital channels. The goal is to provide a customer journey with a high level of detail and a “personalized touch.” Phil notes that privacy concerns are creating an international trend toward a “cookieless world.” The immense amount of data Max Connect collects is stripped of personal information to prevent potential privacy law violations. The sheer volume of information provides an opportunity to gain the insights needed to build more specific, nuanced customer journeys and increase sales, but also to drive a company's ability to innovate – to create the types of products and technologies consumers will demand in the future. Phil believes most digital marketers make the mistake of assuming they know their audiences and how to reach them without any real-time analysis. Max Connect starts with identifying a client's audience through empirical data . . . analyzing on- and off-line conversion data, hypertargeting the audience, reaching out to them through up to six different channels, and then assessing which channels are most effectively converting audiences. Phil describes this customer journey approach as both “more personalized” and “ubiquitous.” Phil, who grew up in the deserts of Arizona, is enamored with the diverse outdoor opportunities in Utah. When the Bear's Ears monument controversy damaged the businesses of a large number of Utah-based outdoor brands, Phil worked with the brands' CEOs to found a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association to promote thought leadership, knowledge sharing, events, and roundtables . . . all to strengthen Utah's natural resource interests and outdoor brands. Phil's goals for 2020 were to “be more deliberate in decision-making” and to put himself out of his comfort zone – which would give him the opportunity to “grow and stretch.” 2020s' challenges provided that for him without his even trying. Growing and stretching remain goals for the coming year. Phil can be reached on his LinkedIn profile: Phil Case, https://www.linkedin.com/in/philcase/ or on his agency's website at maxconnect.com Transcript Follows: ROB: Welcome to the Marketing Agency Leadership Podcast. I'm your host, Rob Kischuk, and I am joined today by Phil Case, Chief Client Officer at Max Connect Marketing based in the Salt Lake City area right in the heart of the Silicon Slopes. Welcome to the podcast, Phil. PHIL: Great to be with you. ROB: Excellent to have you here. Why don't you give us the rundown on Max Connect Marketing and what capabilities are really driving growth there?  PHIL: It's interesting; at my last agency, I came across these guys more than a few times, and I consistently lost clients to them – a few over the last couple of years. As I was able to begin to get to know them and ultimately join the team over a year ago, I began to find out that not only did they have a uniquely digital-only focus, but it was very much data-driven with an audience-specific approach that I hadn't really seen anywhere else. In terms of their capabilities and being able to see that customer journey, the level of detail and personalization that they provided blew me away. ROB: What's a typical client that you're working with over there? PHIL: The more complex the customer journey is – and what I mean by that is, if there's more datapoints, if there's more digital footprints – we think of Hansel and Gretel and breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs that we leave as we make decisions in our own lives throughout the internet are immense. Most of us probably don't realize that. Going into a typical several-hundred- or several-thousand-dollar decision that a consumer might make, for instance, there's anywhere from 100 to 140 touchpoints or data digital breadcrumbs that you've left. What we do as an agency is harness that on behalf of the brands we work with. It could be an automotive client selling cars to a homebuilder selling homes to a SaaS tech company selling B2B software to consumer products and other brands in ecommerce. Really what unifies all of these clients across industries and sectors is when there's a nuanced customer journey, when there's education, when there's brand-building, but particularly when they're wanting to build a relationship with a consumer or a professional. That's when we tend to really thrive in terms of what we provide on their behalf. ROB: Got it. So, you're in both consumer and B2B, but the common theme is this is a larger ticket, considered purchase. It's not a “swipe your credit card right now and buy this piece of SaaS software you just saw for $10 bucks a month.” PHIL: That's right. It's when you're weighing options, you're doing your research, and potentially when there's a human being that you often will speak with, whether that's via chat – you're probably familiar with Backcountry and the guides and the experts or really gearheads that they provide at Backcountry.com. Comparing that with a car salesman or a homebuilder and a real estate individual involved, there's typically a human touch either verbally by phone or in person or via chat. That's when we tend to do extremely well working alongside that ecosystem. ROB: Got it. You've got web traffic maybe connected to email opens, maybe connected to digital chat, maybe with some logging of calls from a representative who's in on the sale? Is that a lot of the footprint, or what else is in that? PHIL: No, that's exactly right. I can get a little bit more into that, but to put it this way, when somebody in today's world goes and purchases a car – let's say you wanted to go get that new Mustang you've had your eye on. There's about 25 points that have been somewhat standardized across an auto buying journey, and 25 steps that need to be made. Up until this year of 2020, there's 19 of those that Google has now said “this is a digital first touchpoint.” Before, we used to think about car buying as “I want to buy a car,” so you just show up to a dealer and say, “I have no idea. Tell me what I ought to buy,” and they get those dollar signs in their eyes and they say, “Here's somebody that I can probably pull the wool over their eyes or sell them and guide them to what I'm going to either make the most money on or what my manager tells me we'll get kickback on incentives.” What's changed now is any time somebody steps foot onto a lot, they typically have down to the VIN number what they want to purchase. They know exactly what the dealership has, and they know what they're willing to pay because they've seen the invoice price. It's a little different. So as a dealer, those 19 digital touchpoints – with 2021, it's pushed us closer to 21 to 22. So, you literally show up to the dealership and it's, “I'd like to buy this car and I'm willing to spend X,” and it's a matter of will they do that for me or not? So, it's interesting. That's the challenge that businesses face now. Most of that research and backstory is done with research online. Consumers come more prepared than ever, and we need to make sure that whether it's across social channels, whether it's across video, whether it's just throughout the internet or on Google, you're being seen and found and providing relevant education and really driving that individual to purchase, that you're the right organization to buy that from. ROB: I laugh a little bit; I shared with you beforehand that I spent some time in Salt Lake City this past summer. What I didn't share is we were on a road trip and our van basically broke down, and we ended up purchasing a vehicle in Salt Lake City on the middle of a road trip from Atlanta. So, I've been on that journey in about five days. PHIL: There you go. And I'll tell you a little bit more on that note. Most digital marketers get it wrong, and they make assumptions about their audience that they'll behave a certain way or that they're a certain age or demographic. They feel like “Facebook can help me reach that audience,” so they have almost a single or maybe a dual channel approach by which they invest money in, and they say, “Is this channel giving me a return?” We think that's entirely the wrong way to think about marketing. We think you first identify your audience utilizing empirical data. Let the data speak for itself and let your audience be able to be uncovered as you're measuring and counting and looking at those conversions that come across your website or on- and offline transactions. As you understand then who that audience is, we feel like you first hyper-target your audience and then you reach them through four to five to six different channels. It's not about “Is this channel performing or not?” It's “Is this audience that we've defined converting at as high a level as this other audience?” It's really about being ubiquitous across that customer journey and providing a more personalized approach for that individual. For instance, if you've ever seen Minority Report where Tom Cruise walks into the store and he's got the new set of eyes, the Asian that he purchased from, you'll notice that it says “Welcome, Mr. Yakamoto. Last time you were here, you bought these jeans. Can we show you this size now?” That's really where we're headed. We've gotten to that level that in marketing, we should be able to provide a unique, curated, personalized customer journey for those audiences and individuals looking to interact with you as a brand. There's no reason that we're limiting ourselves by any one channel or medium. You should use any and all channels and mediums and digital marketing mix to allow you to reach that individual and develop a relationship with him or her. And that could be across anywhere on the internet. We all have different consumption behaviors and patterns. ROB: A lot of people do look at that Minority Report scene still as being a little bit intrusive and creepy, but we see that project into the world we're in as well. You'll hear people certainly say, “I was just talking about this thing the other day and then I started seeing this advertisement from something else. I know my Alexa was listening in on me.” I think sometimes we underestimate how much we've been influenced by some prior touchpoint or how much marketers just know our demographic in the first place. PHIL: I think it's a mixture of both. I think there's enough Big Data out there that we have an idea of the type of buyer profiles we're looking at, but I think you're exactly right; there is a lot of data collection that's happening on any of the big tech companies you can imagine. And just to address that point, we've been hearing as marketers there's going to be a cookieless world, that there's more stringent requirements in Europe and California, throughout the United States, with privacy. Which I think is a good thing. Any data that we collect is anonymized. We're in no way wanting to violate any PII type laws. But because we can integrate with Facebook and Google and these other major platforms and their SDKs and APIs, we can still get very granular data among audience with anonymized users in a way that not only allows us to have incredible attribution, but it allows us to get greater insight into the traits and attributes and digital breadcrumbs that really drive conversion. So even though we might live in a cookieless world, there's still a lot of anonymized data, and there's other ways to work through these big tech companies to almost replicate, if not even improve, the amount of data and personalization we're able to do. ROB: Right. It's almost like we've shifted the point of contact. If you think about a company the size of Verizon, all the different datapoints that they control, all of the different touchpoints, they may only do first party cookies on each site instead of third-party cookies, but if they can tie them together – and they certainly can – it seems like it's really going to move the boundary to some of these media companies selling the audience through to the people who want to buy it. PHIL: And particularly the consolidation we're seeing in media assets. I think you're right on. We see that – I'm forgetting the movie theater chain that's chosen – anyway, as you've noticed, some of the bigger movie producers are now simply coming straight out to HBO Max. It's interesting to see not only consolidation, but across networks and entities and as buyouts are happening, the amount of data being shared. To your point, it might all be first party data, but if it's packaged in such a way and they can have a holistic vantage point of a particular consumer across multiple properties, that data alone is very valuable. ROB: Right, because HBO Max is AT&T, it's TBS, it's TNT, it's Cartoon Network, it's Bleacher Report. It's a myriad of touchpoints. They're like a Fortune 5 company or something. They're going to figure something out. PHIL: And that really becomes the currency of the future. It's data. It's being able to not necessarily control data but have data in a way that you can draw insights that you know how to target your consumer, that you can provide more personalized marketing or touchpoints. Because we're collecting an immense amount of data, the companies that can harness that will have not only a more specific and nuanced type customer journey and approach and they'll sell at a lot higher rate, but it's that data that ultimately allows them to drive innovation, allows them to drive the type of products and technology that users and consumers are demanding in the future. So, I think we'll continue to see data be a major currency of business in the future. ROB: Very, very interesting. Phil, you mentioned seeing your own business that you built coming up alongside Max Connect. While you weren't necessarily at Max Connect on Day 1, what can you tell us about the origin story, and maybe the parallel journey you saw them on versus what you were doing that you learned from along that way? PHIL: I'll give a little bit of my background to give context. In college I studied international business and relations, and I actually for a semester did Arabic. I was working on a national political campaign for president, studying Arabic, really wanting to get into the government work. Then I met a girl who would become my wife, and when I described to her this vision of living in the Middle East and speaking Arabic and having our children in these international schools and I'd be a diplomat, she looked at me and said, “Well, that sounds incredible, and I'm really excited for you, but I probably won't be on that journey with you. I hope you can find a girl that will.” It caused me to pause, and as I began to reevaluate those opportunities of business, I began to gravitate into investment banking and finance. As I graduated with a minor in business, I had taken all but one marketing class and I kind of thought it was a joke. I thought, “This comes somewhat natural and it's easy. Who would ever read the textbook?” And I don't say that in a boastful way; I just didn't think very much of it. But when I looked to begin an internship and began in marketing, I was fascinated by it. For the first couple of years, I kept trying to leave to have my full-time employment be in finance and banking, but there was a moment in my career where I was speaking to a client and they said, “Boy, you must have the best job.” I said, “What do you mean?” They said, “I look forward to every week when we meet, and it's the highlight of my week because it's so fun. It's exciting, it's creative. It's what I look forward to. You get to do this every day.” I began to look at the solemn, stern faces and this lack of personality of those that work in the finance industry and I thought, why would I ever want to work in finance? [laughs] This is far too much fun. So, I've been in the agency world my entire career. My last agency, Fluid Advertising, I ran for about 9 years. I exited that at the end of last summer. But in that timeframe, one of my passions is the outdoors. I live in Utah; we were abundantly blessed with natural assets and resources, more so we feel like than other states. We have everything year round that you can imagine. So, I'm an avid hiker, mountain biker, I love to camp, I love to get in the backcountry and long distances in. But in the winter, one of my favorite pastimes and hobbies is hiking up a 2,000- or 3,000-foot mountain at 5 or 6 a.m. and then skiing down it in untouched powder. It's one you've got to be careful with because there's backcountry danger and avalanches. I'll tell you this: Salt Lake suffered a major earthquake in March of this year. It was right at the beginning of COVID. Everybody's a little nervous, and I decided one morning with a buddy that we were going to go scale a mountain and ski down it. So, we're in the middle of the canyons and the mountains, and you would think avalanches and earthquakes don't mix well together. I guess at 7:20 a.m. that morning, Salt Lake Valley suffered a major earthquake, more so than it ever had. There was damage and destruction. Not major as much as others, but fairly significant. My wife was just beside herself because all she knew was I'm in the middle of the avalanche terrain, hiking, and an earthquake happens and I must be dead. I didn't answer the first three times she called me because I didn't really have my phone on. Finally, when I answered – she thought I was dead. So, we finished the run, skied down, I got home, and it was one of those conversations of, “We'd better go get our food storage and how's your life insurance policy?” It was interesting; that day there was a major earthquake in the valley, we didn't even feel a tremor where we were. But with that context of my love of the outdoors, I helped launch the Utah Outdoor Association, bringing brands together like Black Diamond and Petzl and Specialized and Goal Zero and brands like Amer Sports – you have Solomon and Atomic and many other iconic brands. Most of them are located, at least their U.S. headquarters, in Utah. It's incredible. I found working with these brands that the Outdoor Retailer Show had left because there was a little bit of politics there a few years back. It got very political with President Obama and President Trump with Bears Ears and land grants of what's national versus what's state-owned land. It was interesting; in the midst of all that, Utah got left with a black eye and the brands themselves suffered because there wasn't leadership. So, working across these brands with their CEOs and executives, we formed a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association to help these brands band together to have a voice, to speak for themselves, to be able to further develop and grow what Utah's been, again, abundantly blessed with – not just in natural resources, but particularly with having an inordinate amount of outdoor brands here. We've begun to build over the last few years this nonprofit that I continue to be passionate about, and where we'll do thought leadership and knowledge sharing and events and roundtables. We'll tackle industry issues, we'll do joint marketing campaigns. It's been a lot of fun. ROB: There's certainly so much to direct people towards. If people get started and have a good experience, they're going to buy more of this gear. It makes a lot of sense. You just need to show people. I mentioned we were out in Utah and we did the Salt Lake City area and we did South Utah. I talk to people and I almost can't believe it when they haven't heard of some of the places around Utah because it is truly remarkable. PHIL: Again, there's wonderful places all over the country, but I grew up in Arizona, and in the back of my mind I always thought, “There has to be better places to live than a desert. Living in the foothills of beautiful mountains and all sorts of recreation, I certainly enjoy. To answer your other question on Max Connect, this agency began 8 years ago. Not necessarily a parallel story, although we were competitors. But they began in an attic. Couple of people left another ad agency, weren't being treated fairly. They recruited one of the top digital marketing minds that had done major work for Netflix and for Chevron and others. The four of them founded Max Connect, and over the process of time they grew out of the attic fairly quickly and another office building. We now have a massive space that houses about 47 professionals, most of which are doing the digital marketing efforts. It's all in-house. We work coast to coast. We work with international clients. They've built a remarkable team. The one thing I'll say that I think is somewhat unique is that most of the team – call it 90% of all employees – are compensated based on the performance of the campaigns we run. So if you as a client are selling more stuff – more cars, more homes, more software – we as an agency compensate our team accordingly so they have skin in the game. They're willing to go above and beyond because they know it means more in their paycheck. My last agency, we'd bring in a great client, give it to the digital team thinking “This took me 6 months to close. This is an incredible opportunity,” and they'd moan and complain and think “Now I have to stay an hour later to run this campaign and I'm not necessarily making any more money.” Just to have that alignment, even from a financial and performance perspective, it's been night and day. The team and the commitment and the willingness to really be strategic and insightful has been so fun to work alongside. ROB: Is that something that you then also put out in front of clients and roll out as part of the agreement? Or is it more subtle than that? PHIL: Some clients it's too much for. We actually have a homebuilder that every home they sell, there's a portion of that that goes into a digital marketing bank account by which it then funds the next month's marketing campaigns. So, we've gotten down to a transaction level. But a lot of clients will say, “I have a budget of $40,000, $50,000, $60,000 a month. We're going to deploy this with you. These are the results that I need,” and on the backend we then compensate our team with a portion of their compensation coming in terms of that performance. So rather than make it overly complicated, we just do that anyway. But with some clients that really want to dig deep, we're willing to structure a performance model. ROB: That would seem to me like that would create much more interest from your team and much quicker feedback on campaign data. Some people just know what they're supposed to spend in a month, and they spend it and then they ask questions later. Do you see a pressure towards tighter feedback loops? And how do you help equip your team with that information? PHIL: Great point. We have a lot of clients that are on a weekly cadence. We certainly will do a full month review where we're trying to draw a lot of insights and bigger pivots. But on a daily and weekly basis, whether that's a dashboard we're exposing to them that's starting to produce those insights and data or our team – I mean, our team's in every campaign almost daily because to get the level of results and performance, we have to. But on a weekly basis being able to report, “This is where we've been able to lower your cost per acquisition and this is where we've begun to pivot and adjust marketing dollars and how the response has been” – it is a tighter feedback loop, but it's one that for the client – I think we're more used to instantaneous type, “Hey, I put money in the market. Am I getting results?” So, we've really structured our agency around that. ROB: Right. You're talking about these longer buyer journeys. I guess there's an extent to which one week is probably rarely enough to fully measure something, unless it's me rapidly buying a car. PHIL: Some of the shorter cadences, we have several ecommerce and subscription. It's been interesting. COVID has driven that industry forward in unparalleled ways. It's experiencing as an industry phenomenal growth, and for most retail-like or brands that traditionally were selling in the, for the most part, wholesale consumer space, where there were distributors and people were buying it retail – because of COVID, what we've heard from big brands across the country and really the world has been, “Our traditional brick-and-mortar is down. Our ecommerce, we can't even begin to keep up with projections. We're 400% to 500% above forecasts.” They're saying, “How can we pour more money into both human assets, but particularly the digital ecosystem? Because that is our major focus moving forward.” We've actually pivoted as an agency and invested and put an entire team on just ecommerce alone. To put that in perspective, sometimes there's conversions that will take – it might be a multi-week period. But we're continually reporting on progress on touchpoints and conversions where the conversions for this week might have begun a customer journey that was the week prior. But what's important is there's week over week value creation and continuing to help sell on their behalf. ROB: It seems like once the Christmas push has passed, January could be a big opportunity. How are you looking at that with clients? PHIL: Again, there's a little bit of some cyclical nature of the businesses we work with, and some that really take advantage of the holiday season. But the cost of inventory is even more. We've had some clients that have actually, because they're not so much a Christmas gift-giving type sector, pulled back slightly in terms of their budgets because the cost per impression, the cost per click, the cost of inventory is high right now. We saw between the election – well, the election it feels like isn't over. But between that Black Friday and Cyber Monday week, the cost of all advertising spiked so dramatically because you still were getting political ads. You had the biggest month potentially ever of ecommerce that we've ever had in the history of ecommerce. So we see January as really level-setting with a lot of advertisers where it's really just blue sky. They're really excited because they can come out swinging. They've recalibrated; they've gotten past the Q4 push. They know that the cost of inventory, for the most part, is down. So we've done a lot of planning around Q1 of continuing – again, whether that's retail – but there continues to be major consumer type opportunities as we're building to tax-free day, as we're building to Martin Luther King and Presidents' Day weekend. Again, it depends on the industry, but that certainly has been a highly talked about timeframe for our agency. ROB: For sure. Phil, between joining Max Connect and building your own agency before that, what would you look at doing differently if you were starting over based on what you've learned on this journey? PHIL: It's interesting; first in my career it was very much about how I closed that next client and making sure I was involved in most if not all interactions and really trying to provide strategic insight. I realized it was all about me. I was a leadership athlete, I'd call it. It was “How can I singlehandedly push this agency forward?” It's interesting because we grew, but I don't think we grew nearly as quickly as we could've if I would've not only extended trust but continued to surround myself with individuals that can do the heavy lifting alongside myself, that were likeminded. I heard this terminology a few years ago, that it's not so much about being a leadership athlete, but a leadership coach. How do you help develop that next generation of leaders? How do you value the team and how do you work through others? It's about developing future leaders and helping them be totally comfortable in situations that may have been uncomfortable a year before, and really helping them in their own journey. And that's really where a lot of the satisfaction and retention comes about. Somebody is getting that fulfillment, there's autonomy at work, but there's also challenge, and they're continuing to be challenged mentally in the tasks they're taking on, and you're pushing them forward. So not only do they become more valuable to you running the agency, but they're becoming more valuable to themselves. Their earning potential continues to skyrocket, and they build that confidence. I think that's important. Another learning that I'd probably take away as I've reflected on this is focusing on the important few versus the eclectic many. So often, particularly in an agency that you're trying to grow, it's almost like “Hey, you want to pay us money? Great, we'll sign you up tomorrow. Let's go.” As you mature and as you take on bigger accounts, you begin to become more picky-and-choosy. But I will say that even with internal initiatives, just having a focus of just a few, just a handful, the simpler the better. I've found that the end of the row, the frontline employee, it's hard to focus on more than just two or three things at any given moment. So really simplifying business plans, simplifying go-to-market strategies –it's about the right clients. It's the bigger elephants, the mammoths that you're hunting. It's not about a race to more clients; it's a race to the right clients and providing real, lasting value on their behalf. I'll give you an example. I used to be the kind of guy that goes to a networking event, and it was kind of like, how many people can I talk to before this day is over? And how many business cards can I collect and then follow up with? Which I now know was the wrong mindset. Now the mindset is, is there a person or two in this room that I should get to know? And that's it. There might be hundreds, but what are the one or two relationships that I can walk out of here that might benefit her or him or might benefit myself? I think slowing down, taking a moment, and just being strategic with the decisions, the relationships, and the initiatives within an agency or a business in general – those are a handful of things that I've seen time and time again have proven themselves out, and a level of setting for the next agency and doing it right. I'd hopefully take that with me. The last thing I'll say with that – my two words for the year of 2020, which was well before COVID was a thing, were “deliberate” and “uncomfortable.” Those were the two words I wanted to take into the year. I wanted to be more deliberate in the decisions I made, in the turns that I took skiing. I wanted to be uncomfortable. I wanted to do those things that would put myself not only out of my comfort zone, but cause me to grow and stretch. 2020 just kind of took care of itself. I feel like in the future, that's where the growth happens, individually and with a team. So those are some words that continue to fuel me. ROB: That's all fascinating. It's very interesting to think about how the tone of those first interactions or the ongoing interactions with someone in a social setting sets it up. You can have a transactional interaction with them, seeking a transactional sale, or you can go deep and it sets the table for whatever you do eventually to be deep. It seems like there's symmetry there. PHIL: And the best clients that tend to stick around never begin from a transactional sense. Here as an agency, the two things we do well – one of those is digital, but the other that we do just as well is relationships. If you don't have both, you don't have a long tenured client. You tend to have a lot more churn. You tend to not be an integral partner of their business, and that's, I think, what clients value long term. ROB: Perfect. Phil, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. When people want to reach you and connect with you and Max Connect Marketing, where should they go to find you? PHIL: The only social channel I'm regularly on is LinkedIn. Profile Phil Case, linkedin.com/in/philcase/. Our website is maxconnect.com. ROB: Excellent. Thanks for sharing your journey, Phil. Congrats on everything, and onwards and upwards for Max Connect. PHIL: Hey, thank you so much. Great to be with you today. ROB: All right. Thanks. Be well. Thank you for listening. The Marketing Agency Leadership Podcast is presented by Converge. Converge helps digital marketing agencies and brands automate their reporting so they can be more profitable, accurate, and responsive. To learn more about how Converge can automate your marketing reporting, email info@convergehq.com, or visit us on the web at convergehq.com.

Eric Hanson from Epic Trails TV tells us how he stumbled into quite possibly one of the best jobs in the Outdoor Biz. Facebook Twitter Instagram   The Outdoor Biz Podcast   Please give us a rating and review HERE   Show Notes Sponsors Eastern Mountain Sports Heliconia Tee Public Things we talked about Heliconia Epic Trails TV Wilderness Therapy Backpacker Magazine Ken Whiting Advice I think the general advice is to go do the things that you love. If you want to find a career in this, certainly actually becoming a really competent outdoors person is important. So going and doing adventures, whether it's climbing or going backpacking or things like that are great. I think that people should take a job somehow that gives them some level of credibility or expertise. A lot of that can look like guiding, that's probably the number one way to get some credibility. There's a lot of people who, maybe reached out to me on Instagram or something and say I love hiking can I get a job somehow? I say well, there's a lot of people that love hiking and they need to do something that I think differentiates themselves as more from different than an enthusiast. There's nothing wrong with being an enthusiast of course. But if you want to work in it, you probably need to get some guiding certifications or some mountaineering skills or something like that or becoming a river guide or a mountain guide or a mountaineering guide. Then I would also say, find your way in the room with the people who are decision-maker type people. So what I did was I got basically a grunt job with backpacker magazine and that allowed me to go be a part of the Outdoor Retailer Show, which is something we haven't talked about, but it's an event that typically happens twice a year where everybody in the outdoor industry gathers to conduct business. So then when you're in that room, you're talking and interacting with the marketing directors and the publications. And that's the room where all of the people who are really running the outdoor businesses are, and by being in that room and being able to socialize, drink a beer with those people, or, you know, just meet them has opened up a lot of doors for me. That has been really powerful. So find some way to give yourself some credentials, maybe producing a film, even if it's entirely self-funded or getting a guiding job, and then find a company that might be in your area or your state, and see if you can do something for them on their social media or, some way to get into the circle and that can then open doors. The other thing is that it takes a long time. Show Banner "Protect our wild places" Favorite Gear Grayl Water Purifier Connect with Eric Instagram   Website: Eric Hanson TV   Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts   Snippets 1:38 - 2:20 Introduction to the Outdoors 10:40 - 12:29 Introduction to the Outdoor Biz 39:43 - 41:00 Favorite gear 35:02 - 36:56 Advice  

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/122 I connected with Rick Saez to talk about the Outdoor Biz Podcast and some tips to help you find out more about building a business in the outdoor space.  Rick is helping outdoor adventure businesses get into podcasting through his online courses. We hear about how Rick started at the bottom and worked his way up through the business via multiple companies along the way.  Tons of shoutouts to companies and people in the outdoor and fly fishing industries.  It was a fun chat to BS about the outdoors with Rick.   Fly Fishing Trip Giveaway: https://wetflyswing.com/giveaway   Show Notes with Rick Saez (Updated links here: https://wetflyswing.com/122) Eagle Creek, Dana Design, Umpqua Feather Merchants and Low Pro were all companies that Rick worked with before starting the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Tim Ferris is one of Rick's favorite podcast and one of the reasons that Rick jumped into podcasting. Fishpond, Far Bank, Tom Sadler, and Korkers have all been on the podcast with Rick.  I had Tom Sadler on the podcast here in episdoe 98. You can check out some of the resources that Rick offers to help you start your own podcast. The Outdoor Retailer Show is a great event to attend if you want to network. Snews and the Voice Magazine was noted here in relation to new companies in the outdoor industry. I missed Rick who was at IFTD this year.  Rick describes what the Outdoor Retailer Show is like after 20 years. We talk about the hosted trips that I'm doing with guides and lodges from guests I've had on the podcast. Gregg Bleakney is a good example of someone who quit the day job for the outdoor biz. Elliott Adler was on the podcast in episode 54 and talked about starting your podcast. The Wild Ideas Podcast got picked up by REI. Kelly Galloup was on the podcast in episode 52 to talk about streamers. I noted the upcoming hosted steelhead trip to the OP.  You can check out the trip here and get more information here. I interviewed Frank Moore here about the North Umpqua. The Colorado Tear Drop episode was the most popular episode for Rick to this point. I noted Rent This Rod who was on the the podcast. We talk about overlanding and what it's all about.  Maybe we need an overlanding guest like the AdventurePortal.com who covers all of this stuff and can explain the benefits. Roof Nest Tents were noted here and part of the overlanding groups out there. MontBell pillow or the Thermarest chair kit are our luxury hiking items. Tim Ferris and Entrepreneurs on Fire along with Channel Mastery Podcasts are all goto's for Rick. The Croatia podcast workshop is a new resource.   Resources Noted in the Show The Wild Ideas Podcast Here's the Thermarest Chair I Love   Videos Noted in the Show Frank Moore was on the podcast    Conclusion with Rick Saez I had a fun chat with Rick Saez who is the host of the Outdoor Biz Podcast.  We hear what a life in the outdoor industry feels like including what it's like to lose your job and find the next big thing in the outdoor industry. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/122

Engearment Podcast with Sean Sewell - What to Look Forward to in 2020 - Outdoor Retailer, StrongFirst, HANAH and more!This episode is an experiment in audion and video as well as a recap of 2019 and what to expect from Engearment in 2020.2019 was an amazing year for us.  I was very stoked to take the staff from 3 of us to 25 awesome and dynamic writers! The angles the team sees the world is absolutely amazing.  No longer is it just me and splitboarding gear! LOL.  We have a stacked crew of amazing people that I very proud of.  Stay tuned for more amazing content from them this year!The YouTube channel grew like crazy and we served 1.5 million people.  I am looking forward to doubling that in 2020.The podcast was a success too.  Starting with episode 1 with Rafael Peace, and capping off with Scott Yorko, Ryan Irvin, Kyle Miller, Eric Larsen, Pat Flynn, and Aleks Salkin.Upcoming guests include Joel Einhorn of HANAH, Doc Hartle of StrongFirst, Russel Cuningham of Karakoram and at least 60 meetings at Outdoor Retailer!That's right, over 60 meetings at next week's Outdoor Retailer Show, here in Denver. 

Early in November Columbia Sportswear matriarch and outdoor industry icon Gert Boyle passed away. She was 95. Having fled Nazi Germany with her family in advance of World War II Gert's father started the Portland, Oregon-based company that today is worth billions. Throughout her long career Gert cultivated an image as a fierce business woman, but that tough persona was belied by a delightful personality and a generous spirit. Way back in 2006 I had the great pleasure chatting Gert at the Outdoor Retailer Show in an interview for the podcast SNEWS Live. In this flash back edition we remember "One Tough Mother". Gert Boyle was one of the truly great original leaders of the Outdoor Industry and her enduring legacy of tenacity and courage will inspire us all for decades yet to come.   Our music in this episode comes courtesy of Artlist featuring original tracks by Polaris Rose and Ziv Moran. The Joy Trip Project is made possible thanks to our partners American Rivers, The National Forest Foundation and Patagonia. Thanks for listening, but you know I want to hear from you. So please drop me a note with your questions comments and criticisms to info@joytripproject.com. For now go be joyful and until next time, take care!

Early in November Columbia Sportswear matriarch and outdoor industry icon Gert Boyle passed away. She was 95. Having fled Nazi Germany with her family in advance of World War II Gert's father started the Portland, Oregon-based company that today is worth billions. Throughout her long career Gert cultivated an image as a fierce business woman, but that tough persona was belied by a delightful personality and a generous spirit. Way back in 2006 I had the great pleasure chatting Gert at the Outdoor Retailer Show in an interview for the podcast SNEWS Live. In this flash back edition we remember "One Tough Mother". Gert Boyle was one of the truly great original leaders of the Outdoor Industry and her enduring legacy of tenacity and courage will inspire us all for decades yet to come.   Our music in this episode comes courtesy of Artlist featuring original tracks by Polaris Rose and Ziv Moran. The Joy Trip Project is made possible thanks to our partners American Rivers, The National Forest Foundation and Patagonia. Thanks for listening, but you know I want to hear from you. So please drop me a note with your questions comments and criticisms to info@joytripproject.com. For now go be joyful and until next time, take care!

I met Lillian Hoodes from Trail Fork recently at the Outdoor Retailer Show and in this episode we talk about how she built Trail Fork, her focus on cooking real food, how REI became one of her first customers and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram   The Outdoor Biz Podcast   Please give us a rating and review HERE   Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors My parents were just into it. I grew up in a big family and our family vacations, weekends, trips and things were always camping. My grandparents lived in Wyoming, so we would go up there and fish, hike, canoe and all this stuff. So it was just kind of part of who I was growing up. Things we talked about TrailFork Announces First Round of Fundraising with SeedInvest Trail Fork Outdoor Retailer The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan Pearl Street Mall Neptune Mountaineering REI Episode Sponsor Tribe Alpha Advice If somebody just wants to get into the industry period, just reach out to people and start having conversations. I think the reason that we were able to get where we did as quickly as we did, was that I was, for lack of a better word, networking like crazy. Like just going and having conversations with people and getting in front of people. So whether you're interested in the marketing side or the finance side, reach out to people and ask if you can buy them coffee. More often than not, people are willing to kind of point you in the right direction. In terms of being interested in starting a business, I would just say really do your homework. Research the industry that you're trying to get into, research the product that you're trying to launch. There's so many things that you don't know, you don't know. A certain amount of that is unavoidable, but the more information you can gather, the better. Other Outdoor Activities Mountain Biking Backpacking Favorite Books/Podcasts Insight Timer You are a Badass by Jen Sincero A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki Favorite Piece of Gear under $100 Headlamp Connect with Lillian LinkedIn

On Friday the Trump administration signed legislation to reopen the federal government. For many of us, an end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history couldn't have come soon enough. The announcement arrived just in time for the 2019 Outdoor Retailer Snow Show that's starting this week in Denver Colorado. Tens of thousands of federal employees in service of environmental protection can now get back to doing their very important work. And those of us in the business of outdoor recreation can continue our efforts to make our public lands more accessible to a broader cross section of the American public. That kind of reminded me of a story I produced over the summer that explores an ongoing initiative to bring more people of color into the outdoor industry. So with OR coming up this week I thought we might take a look back at “the Pledge”.   The Pledge creator Teresa Baker (right) with active lifestyle ambassador Mirna Velario For people in business of adventure sports the Outdoor Retailer Show is a really big deal. There you'll find aisle after aisle of high-tech backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, hiking boots, GPS devices, tasty trail snacks and headlamps. To the outdoor professional it's pretty much kids…meet candy store! But if you take a look around you'll also see a lot rugged men with Nordic features, full beards and plaid shirts. These guys kind of embody what you imagine when you think “outdoorsman”.Through most of it existence, the outdoor industry has been…well…pretty white. Not many companies at OR that deal in outdoor gear have many employees who are Black, Latino, Asian or Native American. Only a few can claim a senior executive, owner or board member who is a person of color. But at the 2018 Summer Market Mario Stanley, a rock climbing instructor from Dallas, Texas said this year he noticed something different. Rock Climbing instructor Mario Stanley (left) Stanley>>Ah…the beautiful wave of brown walking around. I think that's probably the one thing I notice the most. And then I've also noticed that more people are engaging. JEM>>Not only were there more people of color at OR this year, Stanley, who's Black, said there is more conversation around issues of race and what the industry can do to improve its diversity. Stanley>>The dialect has changed and they are allowing us to talk or asking us what are we doing for the greater POC community as a whole. And I think the biggest thing that I noticed this year was people are actually asking, “What are we doing?” JEM>>Research conducted by the Outdoor Industry Association, a trade group, indicates that people of color or POCs participate in outdoor recreation at rates lower than their white counterparts. In order to grow the market as well as the number of people overall who will help to protect the natural environment there is a concerted effort to bring more black and brown folks into the outdoor industry. Teresa Baker, an advocate for environmental justice, was at OR to promote an initiative she calls The Pledge Baker>>The pledge is a commitment that we are asking the owners of outdoor brands and retailers to commit to the work of diversity, racial diversity in the outdoors. JEM>>Through the Pledge, kind of a contract, Baker wants company executives to not only hire more people of color, but to create marketing and outreach strategies that appeal to a broader cross section of the American public. She's not just interested in helping companies sell more products, but rather she hopes to encourage more people to care about the outdoors. Baker>>For me it really is about the environment and we need more people of color right now fighting for the environment. There are so many attacks on the land right now and the people that are missing from the conversation and the work are people of color. JEM>>As the current administration continues to roll back several of the environmental protections enacted over the last century,

On Friday the Trump administration signed legislation to reopen the federal government. For many of us, an end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history couldn't have come soon enough. The announcement arrived just in time for the 2019 Outdoor Retailer Snow Show that's starting this week in Denver Colorado. Tens of thousands of federal employees in service of environmental protection can now get back to doing their very important work. And those of us in the business of outdoor recreation can continue our efforts to make our public lands more accessible to a broader cross section of the American public. That kind of reminded me of a story I produced over the summer that explores an ongoing initiative to bring more people of color into the outdoor industry. So with OR coming up this week I thought we might take a look back at “the Pledge”.   The Pledge creator Teresa Baker (right) with active lifestyle ambassador Mirna Velario For people in business of adventure sports the Outdoor Retailer Show is a really big deal. There you'll find aisle after aisle of high-tech backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, hiking boots, GPS devices, tasty trail snacks and headlamps. To the outdoor professional it's pretty much kids…meet candy store! But if you take a look around you'll also see a lot rugged men with Nordic features, full beards and plaid shirts. These guys kind of embody what you imagine when you think “outdoorsman”.Through most of it existence, the outdoor industry has been…well…pretty white. Not many companies at OR that deal in outdoor gear have many employees who are Black, Latino, Asian or Native American. Only a few can claim a senior executive, owner or board member who is a person of color. But at the 2018 Summer Market Mario Stanley, a rock climbing instructor from Dallas, Texas said this year he noticed something different. Rock Climbing instructor Mario Stanley (left) Stanley>>Ah…the beautiful wave of brown walking around. I think that's probably the one thing I notice the most. And then I've also noticed that more people are engaging. JEM>>Not only were there more people of color at OR this year, Stanley, who's Black, said there is more conversation around issues of race and what the industry can do to improve its diversity. Stanley>>The dialect has changed and they are allowing us to talk or asking us what are we doing for the greater POC community as a whole. And I think the biggest thing that I noticed this year was people are actually asking, “What are we doing?” JEM>>Research conducted by the Outdoor Industry Association, a trade group, indicates that people of color or POCs participate in outdoor recreation at rates lower than their white counterparts. In order to grow the market as well as the number of people overall who will help to protect the natural environment there is a concerted effort to bring more black and brown folks into the outdoor industry. Teresa Baker, an advocate for environmental justice, was at OR to promote an initiative she calls The Pledge Baker>>The pledge is a commitment that we are asking the owners of outdoor brands and retailers to commit to the work of diversity, racial diversity in the outdoors. JEM>>Through the Pledge, kind of a contract, Baker wants company executives to not only hire more people of color, but to create marketing and outreach strategies that appeal to a broader cross section of the American public. She's not just interested in helping companies sell more products, but rather she hopes to encourage more people to care about the outdoors. Baker>>For me it really is about the environment and we need more people of color right now fighting for the environment. There are so many attacks on the land right now and the people that are missing from the conversation and the work are people of color. JEM>>As the current administration continues to roll back several of the environmental protections enacted over the last century,

Jennifer Pharr Davis is a woman on a mission. She wants to get people into the outdoors and, not only does she want to do it, she actually gets it done. Her Blue Ridge Hiking Company provides guided trips into the woods and over mountains, bringing many people who would never have considered going onto a trail before they came to her. She has hiked over 14,000 miles of long-distance trails all over the world, including what was then the Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail of 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes. She has been the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and written five books. Between this frenzy of activity, she also finds time to be a wife and a mother. As you'd imagine, Jennifer is everywhere, so connect with her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jenpharrdavis/?hl=en, or learn about her guided hikes at http://www.blueridgehikingco.com/. She tweets at https://twitter.com/jenpharrdavis?lang=en and https://twitter.com/blueridgehiking, while you can find her on Facebook at both https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.p.davis.3/ and https://www.facebook.com/blueridgehikingco/?ref=hl. If you'd like to see a short YouTube video about her new book, The Pursuit of Endurance, click here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-g9kyzWP6o From the Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver, this week's guests were Douglas Ruchevsky of Case Knives. Douglas showed me several camping knives, including the Kickstart Knife and the Southern Grind. You can find these at https://caseknives.com/  Matt Fitzgerald of Cauldryn showed me his "Swiss Army Knife of Travel Mugs," an impressive device that controls the temperature of your coffee through your Bluetooth-enabled phone, as well as performing a bunch of other tasks. See what Matt was talking about at https://cauldryn.com/ Claire Kooperman very kindly gave me a pair of Injinji toe socks. These turned out to be exceptionally comfortable. You can find more about these at https://www.injinji.com/

Vendors at the yearly Outdoor Retailer Show do an impressive job of attracting customers. But none of the companies had a better presentation than Helinox. It used a 1976 restored VW van. Helinox, which makes efficient compact lawnchairs, cots, umbrellas and other outdoor equipment used a VW restored by John Buschmann in his business called Urabus. The name is Subaru spelled in reverse, and Buschman is adapt using Subaru engines in vintage VWs. A 1976 Volkswagen Bus was used as part of the display for Helinox during Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver. Image © James Raia/2018 Buschmann is our guest on Episode 51 of the Weekly Driver Podcast. Buschmann joins us from his shop Englewood, Colorado. He discusses his long interest in Volkswagen and why Subaru engines are an ideal fit for vintage vans. And he tells us about the process of converting and restoring vintage vehicles. Beyond Volkswagen, Buschmann is busy with a variety restorations: A 1969 Dodge A100, 1973 VW Beetle, 1970 Red VW camper, 1976 VW Green Bubble Top and a 1962 Tan VW Vanagon. Urabus currently has for sale: a 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel, 1977 Green Volkswagen Bus, 1969 Karmann Ghia, 1982 Burnt Orange Vanagon and a PGSG Adventure Bus As described in the company's website, www.urabus.net. The company's motto: “Go Forth. Your Adventure Awaits." In addition to its availability on this website, the Weekly Driver Podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher and Podtail All episodes of our podcasts are also archived on this website, TheWeeklyDriver.com. We welcome your comments and episode suggestions. Please also consider forwarding episode links to family, friends and colleagues. The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com. The Weekly Driver Podcast gets support from automotive/pop cuture podcast Off Track

Great conversation with Writer and Photographer Louis Arevalo. You've seen him running around the Outdoor Retailer Show shooting for the Outdoor Industry Association and his work in Backpacker, Alpinist, Nat Geo Adventure and more Louis tells us how he became photographer and great stories about learning the biz of outdoor photography. Facebook Twitter Instagram   The Outdoor Biz Podcast   Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors My first outdoor recreation experience I think would come through scouts. First with cub scouts and boy scouts. I think like the more lasting impression happened when I was in elementary school. I think I was around 11 years old and a few things kind of happened during that year that really left an impression. First thing that happened is I went alpine skiing or downhill skiing for the first time. I borrowed my mom's leather boots, put on like six pairs of socks and spent the day with my friends just basically rolling down the beginner hills up at Brighton, Utah. That experience, you know, after that day I knew, I was like, oh yeah, I'll be doing this as much as I can. Things we talked about Louis Arevalo Photography Outdoor Retailer Black Diamond Advice, tips You just need to keep shooting. Like just shoot, shoot in all conditions. Shoot, you know, different things. Shoot what you love because that's the easiest thing. So I think shoot the kind of stuff that you care about or interested in, that's definitely evolved for me. Like there's no way you could've gotten me to wander downtown Denver. I would've been out running or climbing if I was in the front range. I would have done something like that. But yeah, just keep shooting, shooting all different situations. I think just knowing, getting competency in what's possible with the camera and what you know and kind of having an idea of what's going to happen that day. If you're thrown into a situation that's often ideal, you feel comfortable enough. I know how I can work through this situation. So you're focused on one product, not like, oh no, I don't know what to do here. So I think just shooting nonstop and just building your network. If you're a student shoot nonstop and make sure you're fair, like letting people know, maybe you're not ready to take on work, but just letting people see your stuff so that they know what's going on. It's really the people around you that will keep you going and encourage you. Other Outdoor Activities Runing Mtn Biking Climbing Favorite Books/Apps Headspace Kurt Vonnegut Cormac McCarthy Ernest Hemingway Edward Abbey- Fools Progress Best Gear Purchase under $100 Headlamp Houdini Jacket from Patagonia Connect with Louis louis@scenicbylines.com www.louisarevalophotography.com Instagram  

This Monday Minute features a full-length bonus interview with Tony from Dark Timber Coffee Co. Whether at home or in the backcountry, Mark and Steve both appreciate a good cup of coffee, and we certainly learned a lot from this conversation with Tony. Before the interview, Mark and Steve catch up on new gear that was released at the Outdoor Retailer Show, talk about realistic shooting practice and drills, and more.

The stoke is high for Ben and Bill's upcoming trips to Man Camp (People Camp) in West Virginia and to Colorado for the Outdoor Retailer Show. In this episode, their Zugunruhe has them all over the place topicwise, including fledglings at feeders, higher hummer numbers, famous Birding Expo keynote speakers, the new Duck Stamp, and the demise of the Porro prism binocular (according to the LeBron James of Birding Optics). Bill's music recommendation is TroubleFunk, out of Washington DC.

On 17-19 June 2018 the Outdoor Retailer Australia Show was held at the Moore Park Exhibition Centre in Sydney. This annual show is a chance for Australia's outdoor wholesalers and manufacturers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia's outdoor retailers and allied media.  This podcast is the second recorded at this show and contains a further 6 interviews. If you want to hear the first series of interviews go to episode 069.

The 2018 Outdoor Retailer Australia Show was held on 17-19 June 2018 at the Moore Park Exhibition Centre in Sydney. This annual show is a chance for Australia's outdoor wholesalers and manufacturers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia's outdoor retailers and allied media. This is the first of two episodes.

The gents talk via Skype about their personal fitness regimens, post-spring bird action, appreciating nesting birds, a booby in Maine, jinx birds for 2018, the upcoming Colorado Reader Rendezvous, legalized marijuana and the implications for bird feeding, birds you cannot find by seeking them, their first-ever trip to the Outdoor Retailer Show, and whether or not high-end optics are worth it. Oh, and Ben finally saw a peregrine falcon, but Bill still needs a great horned owl for the OTWTB Global Big Year Challenge™.

We caught up with pro runner Clare Gallagher at the annual Outdoor Retailer show in Denver in January to discuss her favorite podcasts, what the "Clare Gallagher Show" would sound like and what a pro runner does at an OR show. Daniel Bedell with The Just Curious Show out of Golden, Colo., joins for the discussion, 

Donna’s Wild Idea: To be a positive leader, celebrate counterculture, and create more opportunities for people to enjoy the mountains. A few weeks ago at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver, I sat down with Donna Carpenter, the CEO and Co-Founder of Burton Snowboards. Donna is a true force of nature. She’s always pushing the envelope with her mission and products, and she radiates positivity and go-for-it, attitude.  Donna really opened up in our conversation. She shared about how she became the CEO of one of the biggest snowboard companies ever, some funny stories like how she met her husband, Jake Burton, and what it was like in the early days of snowboarding. We also talked about how they’ve created such a strong culture, overcome adversity, and how they are not afraid to do things like send female staff to the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., and throw huge parties. It’s a great episode about lessons learned from failure and her keys to success. Listen to this episode if:  You want to start and run your own business. You want to work at a company with an awesome culture. You love snowboarding. You want to listen to a great female leader. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/61

Luis Benitez talks with hosts Russ Rizzo and Daniel Bedell - and intern Jake! - from the 2018 Outdoor Retailer Show and Snow Show during its return to Denver. Benitez is a veteran of OR shows, having attended many as a mountain guide before his current role as Gov. John Hickenlooper's point man for the outdoor industry. He gives us the crash-course on OR, from dress strategy to time management, and discusses how the OR show is changing with its new Denver home. For more, visit DispatchRadio.com.     

Today on the First 40 Miles, what's new in the world of backpacking gear?  We're back from the Outdoor Retailer Show to share gear that's relevant to backpackers.  Then, we'll share a listener story that may inspire you to rethink your freeze dried chicken a la “whatever”.  And we'll share a backpack hack that will turn your hand held flashlight into a hands-free flashlight.

This week, the American Sheep Industry Association heads to the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City to see the latest trends and discuss the benefits of wool in performance textiles.

The 2017 Outdoor Retailer Australia Show was held on 18-20 June at the Moore Park Exhibition Centre in Sydney. This annual show is a chance for Australia's outdoor wholesalers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia's outdoor retailers and allied media. Australian Hiker was lucky enough to attend this show and to interview some gear manufactures and distributors so that we can showcase some new and upcoming gear as well as equipment and trends that you may not have been aware of.

The Outdoor Industry Association has announced that after next year, Salt Lake City will no longer host the Outdoor Retailer show, which has called Utah home for 20 years. Some companies, like Patagonia, had said they would not participate in the shows because of the Utah Legislature's opposition to the new Bear's Ears National Monument and desire to shrink the size of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

Today on the First 40 Miles, Heather is back from the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City with tales of what she saw!  Next,  today's SUMMIT Gear Review features a buttery soft, ultrastrong + ultralight hammock.  For today's Backpack Hack of the Week, you knew that a hammock had to do more than just rock you to sleep—and we'll confirm your suspicion with today's hack.  And we'll wrap up the show with a little trail wisdom from a guy who has some wise insight about backpacking.

We talk to Bridgestone Winter Driving instructor Mark Cox, about Anti lock brakes, what to do if you're in a skid, and the difference between all those tires you see at the tire store. The we take a look at the best in from this years Outdoor Retailer Show. 

Jeannette Stawski has a long history in the outdoors. Her experiences run the gamut from athlete to guide to instructor and she has collected every pertinent certification one can imagine. Sharing the outdoors is as important to her as experiencing them, a passion that has led her to the position of Executive Director of AORE (Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education). She and Jason met at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City to discuss the joys of open water swimming, the rewards of introducing people to nature, and how a rappelling accident changed her for the better.   LINKS: Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE): aore.org Mighty Mac Swim: mightymacswim.com Swim to the Moon: runsignup.com/Race/MI/Gregory/SwimTotheMoon Rough Water Swim:waikikiroughwaterswim.com Diana Nyad TED Talk: ted.com/speakers/diana_nyad Astronaut Nicole Stott: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Stott Saturation Diving: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturation_diving Call us and leave a message (up to 3 minutes): 1-818-925-0106

If you are a climber, it is likely you have heard of the Enormocast, the preeminent climbing podcast. For four years, Chris Kalous has interviewed climbers from around the world and shared them with the internet. Chris is not merely a podcaster, he is also an accomplished climber and journalist capable of inciting intense rage from over-serious aid climbers. Chris allowed Jason into his hotel room at the Outdoor Retailer Show where they discussed how climbing has shaped his life and why he became a podcaster. They may have even unintentionally insulted golfers and football players along the way.     Links: enormocast.com Enormo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Enormocast-303916919618441/timeline/ Enormo iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-enormocast/id490027390 Enormo Merch: http://www.adayak.com/the-enormocast/ Totally Deep Podcast (Produced by Chris: http://totallydeep.libsyn.com Article: Day I Sent Learning to Fly http://eveningsends.com/climbing/day-sent-learning-fly/     Call us and leave a message (up to 3 minutes): 1-818-925-0106

A professional ski mountaineer for more than 13 years climber Hilaree O'Neill started out her career at a very young age. Skiing since the age of three she spent most of her early days on the many 14,000-foot peaks near where she went to school in Colorado. "When I finished college I moved to Chamonix in France for about 5 years," she said in an interview. "And that brought in sort of the more big mountain high altitude stuff with glaciers and ice climbing and all that kind of stuff. That kind of brought all the pieces together" In 1999 she came to the attention of the North Face pro mountaineering team. Looking for elite female athlete to round out their roster TNF connected with O'Neill at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, UT. With solid climbing skills and a resume packed with ascents both North America and Europe she was just who they were they looking for. "And three weeks later I was on a plane to the India Himalaya," she said So that was my first big expedition and from then on I was hooked!" For more than a decade O'Neill has put in two to three trips to the Himalaya each year. And in the middle of very busy career she managed to find time to get married and give birth to two sons. As a wife and mother she's still at the top of her game as world class mountaineer. Most recently in 2012, during one of the most challenging climbing seasons ever, O'Neill made a successful ascent of Mount Everest and then climbed to the top near by Lotse another 8,000 meter peak both on the same day. On tour with the North Face speakers series O'Neill visited Madison, WI to sit down and share her story a a presentation she calls the Road Not Taken. O'Neill: It was a huge learning curve going from the states the Chamonix was the first big learning curve of getting into skiing with ropes and harnesses and all that kind of stuff and then going from the Alps to Himalayas was a massive learning curve going from both culturally and myself personally in the sport because all of the sudden now it was becoming more about the climbing and less about the skiing and so really had to focus on those climbing skills more than the skiing for the first time in my life. It was also about sustaining mental toughness over three four five six week periods and being out and exposed for long periods of time. You know a lot of winter camping, a lot of storms. So it was a very steep learning curve. You know I think right after India I went to Russia and spent...got stuck in a storm and spent six days in a snow cave with a bunch of Russians. You know like where am I? So yes it was a steep learning curve. JM: So now what motivates you to do that kind of thing. You obviously had this great opportunity, but what made you stick with it? O'Neill: I just love the satisfaction I get from the adventure of it. Expeditions really are different in that you can plan to the best of your abilities and it never turns out the way you planned it. There's always something new that you never expected, the climbing's harder or easier or just different. And that's the part of it I love. And I really like challenging myself. High altitude obviously is something that's always been a major draw for me and I like the simplicity of it. JM: So now through the course of all that you also had an opportunity to fall in love and get married and started to raise a family. You've got a husband and a family and two small boys at home. I've heard you say in previous interviews that being a parent is infinitely more difficult or more challenging a mountaineer. Well I've got to know, what is it about parenting that making is so much difficult than being a climber? O'Neill: Well parenting I think you are not always operating within your own decisions, your choices. A lot of what you're doing is at the need or the call of your children and it's just very different. To leave and go on a mountaineering trip you're choosing things. You have actually have some silence. You can sleep at night,

A professional ski mountaineer for more than 13 years climber Hilaree O'Neill started out her career at a very young age. Skiing since the age of three she spent most of her early days on the many 14,000-foot peaks near where she went to school in Colorado. "When I finished college I moved to Chamonix in France for about 5 years," she said in an interview. "And that brought in sort of the more big mountain high altitude stuff with glaciers and ice climbing and all that kind of stuff. That kind of brought all the pieces together" In 1999 she came to the attention of the North Face pro mountaineering team. Looking for elite female athlete to round out their roster TNF connected with O'Neill at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, UT. With solid climbing skills and a resume packed with ascents both North America and Europe she was just who they were they looking for. "And three weeks later I was on a plane to the India Himalaya," she said So that was my first big expedition and from then on I was hooked!" For more than a decade O'Neill has put in two to three trips to the Himalaya each year. And in the middle of very busy career she managed to find time to get married and give birth to two sons. As a wife and mother she's still at the top of her game as world class mountaineer. Most recently in 2012, during one of the most challenging climbing seasons ever, O'Neill made a successful ascent of Mount Everest and then climbed to the top near by Lotse another 8,000 meter peak both on the same day. On tour with the North Face speakers series O'Neill visited Madison, WI to sit down and share her story a a presentation she calls the Road Not Taken. O'Neill: It was a huge learning curve going from the states the Chamonix was the first big learning curve of getting into skiing with ropes and harnesses and all that kind of stuff and then going from the Alps to Himalayas was a massive learning curve going from both culturally and myself personally in the sport because all of the sudden now it was becoming more about the climbing and less about the skiing and so really had to focus on those climbing skills more than the skiing for the first time in my life. It was also about sustaining mental toughness over three four five six week periods and being out and exposed for long periods of time. You know a lot of winter camping, a lot of storms. So it was a very steep learning curve. You know I think right after India I went to Russia and spent...got stuck in a storm and spent six days in a snow cave with a bunch of Russians. You know like where am I? So yes it was a steep learning curve. JM: So now what motivates you to do that kind of thing. You obviously had this great opportunity, but what made you stick with it? O'Neill: I just love the satisfaction I get from the adventure of it. Expeditions really are different in that you can plan to the best of your abilities and it never turns out the way you planned it. There's always something new that you never expected, the climbing's harder or easier or just different. And that's the part of it I love. And I really like challenging myself. High altitude obviously is something that's always been a major draw for me and I like the simplicity of it. JM: So now through the course of all that you also had an opportunity to fall in love and get married and started to raise a family. You've got a husband and a family and two small boys at home. I've heard you say in previous interviews that being a parent is infinitely more difficult or more challenging a mountaineer. Well I've got to know, what is it about parenting that making is so much difficult than being a climber? O'Neill: Well parenting I think you are not always operating within your own decisions, your choices. A lot of what you're doing is at the need or the call of your children and it's just very different. To leave and go on a mountaineering trip you're choosing things. You have actually have some silence. You can sleep at night,

Mike and Tim have recently returned from the Outdoor Retailer Show and have all kinds of fun new products and technologies to talk about. They start the show off with a little outdoor industry news and then jump right into the fun stuff from OR. Topics discussed: the passing of ski legend Sarah Burke, Montana Snowbowl is still not cool, K2 announces a clothing line, Cricket trailers, Petzl Nao headlamp, Dakine Altitude packs, Dakine clothing, Burton's family tree of snowboards, Columbia has more tech than you can shake a cold hand at, and other little gems here and there. Enjoy!

On this episode, the guys speak with Greg Thomsen the head of adidas Outdoor at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver. JP hangs out at the new Nike shop on Melrose in Los Angeles. Neil gets on his soap box about golf the week before Tiger nearly won his first major in 10 years. Gügs gets lost in Jimmy Buffet country, lower Alabama.   Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sport-lifestyle-podcast/donations

The guys take the show on the road to the Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver, Co. where they sit down with Birkenstock CEO David Kahan.  David Kahan, CEO for Birkenstock North America Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sport-lifestyle-podcast/donations

On this episode, the guys speak with outdoor industry legend Larry Harrison.  Larry is the Director of Brand Development at the Outdoor Retailer Show which starts Monday July 23rd in Denver. JP suggest Gügs could benefit from a smart mirror.  The Poobah reminds us that he's banned from Instagram.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sport-lifestyle-podcast/donations