The Adventurepreneur Podcast

Today on the show I have Dory Trimble, Executive Director of the Honnold Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to promoting solar energy for a more equitable world. What to say about Dory…? Well first of all she's a total bad ass. Honestly, I find Dory's perspective so invigorating and I think you'll see why in this episode, which turned out to be one of the most insightful I've done. Her grit, tenacity, and proclivity for problem solving is something we can all learn from - so I'm excited for you all to snag some good takeaways. One quick note on this episode, it was actually recorded almost a year ago but most everything we talked about is still as relevant today. I also wanted to point you in the direction of a new resource the Honnold Foundation has, which I found to be a very practical and action-focused list of things you can do to be proactive about climate change. It's called Alex's Sustainability Tick List, I encourage you to go over to Honnoldfoundation.org and check it out. Last but far from least, I'm psyched to announce that my company Outwild is holding a retreat for early stage entrepreneurs and freelancers later this month. We'll be gathering some awesome thought leaders and workshop leaders at an amazing sustainable ranch in the mountains of Northern Utah, for 3 packed days of building businesses and playing outside. We'll be hanging with the head of marketing at the US Ski Team, to the Founder of Goal Zero, angel investors, a Wim Hoff breathing and cold immersion instructor, and half a dozen other seasoned outdoor and adventure entrepreneurs. Of course we'll be climbing, biking, paddleboarding and making new friends along the way too. So if you're either brewing over a startup idea, in the nascent stages of starting a business, or interested in making the transition to freelance work, this event is for you. We'll be covering topics like: entrepreneurial mindset, drafting lean business models, early-stage marketing, boundary-setting to avoid burnout, and more! The best part of all this, I'm offering $500 off - literally only to the listeners of this show. If you're interested, head over to outwild.co and use the code "Podcast500", that's with a capital P and no space. Again Podcast500 for $500 off Outwild for the Entrepreneur, July 29-Aug 1st.

Today on the show I have Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, a global movement started by Yvon Chouinard (the founder of Patagonia) and his friend Craig Matthews to inspire businesses and individuals to support environmental nonprofit solutions, through annual membership and everyday actions. I'm also joined by Ben Stuart, Chief Marketing Officer for Bank of the West, a midsize national financial institution who is taking some bold actions to support climate change in meaningful ways. Did you know that only 3% of all philanthropy in the US goes toward environmental giving. Did you know it's very likely that your banking institution uses your money to invest in and support fracking and fossil fuels. In this episode, you'll hear how Kate and Ben are looking to change that as we explore what it means to leverage business as a tool to support a healthy planet and society. If you're anything like me, this conversation will spark some curiosity to dig deeper, so I encourage you to visit onepercentfortheplanet.org and bankofthewest.com to learn more. One quick reminder before we dive in. As we move closer and closer to election season it's important to start thinking about your role in the fight against climate change. My go to resource is Protect Our Winters (who is a supported by both 1% for the Planet and Bank of West coincidentally). They make it easy to get your friends and family registered to vote and have lots of information on how to make informed decisions and get involved. Head over to their website at protectourwinters.org or check them out on the socials for all the deets.

Revised Version Today on the show I have Jedd Rose, founder and president of Topo Designs. Jedd has quickly become one of my favorite people in the outdoor industry, not just because of the great relationship we've built between Topo and my company Outwild, but also because Jedd is just such a great guy. He's super insightful, humble, driven, and he surprises you with little nuggets that let you peer into the depth of his personality - you'll see what I mean in this episode. Jedd and his co-founder Mark Hansen created Topo Designs with a unique vision in mind: to build a fashion forward, utilitarian clothing and gear brand that blends an outdoor vibe with an urban cool factor. As Jedd would describe it, Topo is 'built for anywhere on your map.' In the relatively few short years they've been in business, Topo has risen to one of the most popular brands in the industry. In this episode, Jedd and I get into the nitty gritty tactical details behind building a stellar brand. Everything from finding a good business partner, to raising money, to dissecting and preparing for the various stages most businesses go through - with a whole lot more sandwiched in between. Before we dive in, I want to thank all my listeners for your patience while the show was on a short break so that we could all focus on learning about and elevating the voices of the BIPOC community during this historic fight for racial equality. Thank you all for supporting that initiative, it's important work and your allyship and action is critical beyond measure. Speaking of activism, a quick reminder that as we move closer and closer to election season it's important to start thinking about your role in the fight against climate change. My go to resource is Protect Our Winters. They make it easy to get your friends and family registered to vote and have lots of information on how to make informed decisions and get involved. Head over to their website or check them out on the socials for all the deets. The original version of this conversation took place in front of a live audience of students studying life design in the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The version you'll hear took place online in our homes to respect social distancing. Alright, here's my conversation with Jedd Rose. Enjoy!

Today I'm talking with climbing legend Lynn Hill, who helped pioneer and define female competitive climbing and is known for feats like the first free ascent of The Nose of El Capitan and being the first woman to redpoint a 5.14 - among many others. In this conversation, Lynn and I dive into some of the history and future of climbing (both of which she has helped shape btw), how she's navigated the still male-dominated outdoor industry, lessons on living an engaged life and raising kids with that same ethos, and tips for designing our lives around our own unique visions for happiness - not that of others. Also, as we move closer and closer to election season it's important to start thinking about your role in the fight against climate change. My go to resource is Protect Our Winters. They make it easy to get your friends and family registered to vote and have lots of information on how to make informed decisions and get involved. Head over to their website or check them out on the socials for all the deets. Show resources

I'm happy to say, I'm celebrating my 50th episode today and I couldn't be happier to be sharing it with friend and mover/shaker Wyn Wiley, aka Pattie Gonia. That's right, a long form exclusive interview with your very own backcountry drag queen. If you're not familiar with Pattie, she was born about a year ago from Wyn's creative mind when he dressed in drag for the first time in his life and discovered that the experience brought him alive like he'd never quite felt before. When he posted about the experience, he received major backlash and people he thought were friends vanished from his life, published public slurs and even egged his house. Oh where to even start with all that we covered in this chat. Well first of all, the conversation was so good it went on for quite a long time and so I split it into two parts. In part 1, you will hear the origin story of Pattie and some incredibly insightful ideas for becoming a better ally and saving Mother Earth - or as Pattie likes to call it, Mother Natch. In part 2, we dive into some of the business aspects behind Pattie and the wild ride it's been for Wyn - one that has completely changed his life. As I've reflected on this conversation, I have to say I have so much respect for Wyn for stepping into this journey and for being so humble along the way. Think about it. How scary is it to put on makeup and high heels and confront the world in your truth even when you know some people will hate you for it, either because they passionately don't agree with it or because they don't think you're doing a good job at it, just to name a few reasons. But Wyn, you decided to move forward anyway and we want you to know that we love you for it. Not only that, but your humility along the way as a self-proclaimed advocate in-progress, is what leaves us all inspired and reminded that we're all on an imperfect journey of self-exploration. One of constant learning and hopefully empathy - for ourselves and others. So thank you for living your truth and sharing it with us. Show resources

On today's show I have Susie Moore, a best-selling author, coach and what I would call a mindset ninja. Susie and I met when she showed up to an Outwild event like a fish out of water. I was immediately impressed by her ability to dig into the discomfort of doing something completely out of her normal wheelhouse and fearlessly trying new things like climbing and whitewater rafting. You only have to talk with Susie for about 5 seconds to notice her infectious optimism and sage worldview. Needless to say, the decision to have her on the podcast was not one I regretted. This conversation is so rich with truth bombs and wisdom nuggets that I barely know where to start when describing it. On that note, I think I'll just leave you to meander through the Susie forest on your own without too many preconceived notions. I really hope you enjoy this one. Resources Susie Moore's website Susie's newest book Stop Checking Your Likes What If It Does Work Out?: How A Side Hustle Can Change Your Life by Susie Moore Susie's Instagram Susie's Twitter The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

On the show today I have Stephanie Howe, an athlete and academic who has some great insights on how to train, eat, and live. Stephanie got her PhD in Nutrition & Exercise Science and helps athletes of all levels and types get the most of food and take their performance to the next level. If you're anything like me, consistently maintaining a convenient and healthy diet is a constant challenge and so talking with Stephanie helped debunk some of the endless misinformation about food out there. On top of that, she has a thing or two to say about what it takes to build a career and lifestyle that aligns with what you really care about. I hope you get as much out of it as I did. Alright, without further ado here is my conversation with Stephanie Howe. Enjoy! Episode Resources: Stephanie's website, Instagram and Twitter Recipes Clif Athlete

Dave Mossop is the cofounder of Sherpas Cinema, one of the most - if not the most cutting edge, innovative outdoor film production studios out there. In fact Sherpas has been cited as redefining what is possible in outdoor film. Dave and his team have created some of the most stunning imagery I've ever seen, and likely a lot of what you've seen but may not know it. With big productions like All I Can, Into the Mind, Imagination, and their latest film - Loved By All - Sherpas has received countless top awards from most of the well-known Outdoor Film Festivals globally. They also work with some of the biggest house hold names out there: Google, Audi, The North Face, Asics, the list goes on and on. What I loved about this conversation is that Dave has such an authentic and palpable appreciation for the things he cares about. Whether its the places he visits, or the new filming techniques he's learning, or the people he's met and lost along the way, whatever it is - there's this deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity, which I just find really cool. With this episode, you get a little bit of everything - just the way I like it. We zig in and out of self-actualization, living life to the fullest, the role of art in outdoor film, virtual reality, and of course some good old dirt bag stories too. Hope you enjoy it! Show Resources: Sherpas Cinema Website Dave Mossop's Instagram Sherpas Cinema Instagram Apa Sherpa Dave Shuman Conrad Anker Thule Eric Rosland and Malcolm Sangster (CoFounders Sherpa Cinema) Brian Hendricks (Film Professor) Sherpas Cinema Portfolio JP Auclair Flyover Canada Tom Wallisch Landon Bassett

Today on the show I have Hillary Allen, a professional trail ultarunner, speaker, and author. Hillary grew up always thinking she would be an academic, following in her father's footsteps by pursuing a PhD in a scientific discipline and settling in to life as a college professor. That all changed when in graduate school, Hillary discovered trail running as a way to relieve stress and in turn found the thing that brings her most alive and would shape the rest of her life. Shortly thereafter, a friend talked her into doing her first race where she not only won, but set a course record. Since then, she has gone on to become a world champion and one of the most accomplished high altitude trial runners of all time. As a collegiate tennis player and clearly a natural athlete it might seem at first glance that Hillary is simply athletically gifted, and while that may be true, we uncovered a much more tangible and accessible lesson behind her success: A lot of grit, determination, and really hard work. There's no better testament to Hillary's character than her attitude towards a major setback to her career, a set back that almost cost her her life. If you're a sucker for the feels or simply enjoy a healthy dose of bad ass inspiration, look no further than this conversation my friends. Show Resources: Hillary's Website Hillary's Instagram Hillary's TED talk Trail de Mount Blanc races US Skyrunning Series Skyrunning world circuit Adam St. Pierre - Hillary's running coach Ragna Dabats (champion sky runner) Why We Run - book by Ern Heinrich Deep Survival - book by Lawrence Gonzalez Hard Rock - big mountain trail running race in Colorado Sierra High Route Lavaredo - Race in Italian Dolomites Dirty Kanza - gravel bike race in Kansas

Today on the show I'm joined by Fitz Cahall, creator of the pioneering outdoor podcast the Dirtbag Diaries and co-founder of creative agency Duct Tape Then Beer. I have to say, I really enjoyed talking with Fitz because for me his work has long been a beacon in a sea of noise. This conversation was everything I hoped it would be: insightful, unpredictable, and authentic. As we talked through things like the origin story of the Dirtbag Diaries, Fitz's early influences and creativity philosophy, and some of his most memorable experiences and stories over the years - what became clear to me is that Fitz has built his life around an unwavering commitment to what he deeply believes in, which needless to say is pretty damn admirable. Perhaps the most salient example of that is the so called magic rule at Duct Tape Then Beer, which guides all the work at the company. The rule is simple, all work must strengthen and nurture connections to the natural world. Period. If that isn't a noble and compelling mission statement then I don't know what is. Anyway, I know I learned a thing or two in this one, and I hope you do too. Show Resources: The Dirtbag Diaries Duct Tape Then Beer (DTTB) DTTB's Magic Rule Becca Cahall (CEO and Co-founder DTTB) Anya Miller (Director, Brand and Creative Strategy DTTB) This American Life - Created by Ira Glass

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

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

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