Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast
The show helping outdoor enthusiasts land your ideal gig in the outdoor industry so you can grow your outdoor career and find more time for adventures.
Tue, April 29, 2025
Lessons from the Trail: Parenting, National Parks, and Adventure with Jeff Alt 505
“Even if you don’t have the resources or time for a six-month trek, start where you are, with what you have. Every step outside is a step toward a life more fulfilled.” Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com How stuffing food into trash bags and hiking in tennis shoes planted the seed for a life of adventure. What Happened: Growing up, my family loved our little camping trips, and on one of them, my brothers and I convinced our parents to let us hike part of the Appalachian Trail overnight. (Big mistake — at least for our muscles.) We were wildly unprepared: sneakers from Kmart, trash bags over our shoulders instead of proper packs, and enough sore muscles to last a lifetime. I thought I was dying — but deep down, something lit up inside me. Even though every bone in my body hurt (and we ate an entire cooler of food afterward like ravenous raccoons), that night planted a seed. Over the years, I kept going back. Again and again. And that love for adventure grew into a walk across the entire Appalachian Trail… and eventually into fundraising hikes, family treks, bestselling books, and even TEDx talks. Not bad for a kid with a trash bag and a dream, right? Principle: Sometimes, the thing that feels the hardest at the beginning — the thing you think you're the worst at — is actually pointing straight at your biggest passion. Adventure (and success) doesn’t start with the perfect gear, the perfect timing, or even knowing what you’re doing. It starts by taking that messy, imperfect first step. And when you lean into it — not run away because it’s hard — it can completely change your life. Transition: Most people think they have to have it all figured out before they start — the perfect trail shoes, the best plan, the ideal conditions. But waiting until you're "ready" is just another way of letting your dreams collect dust. If you've been feeling stuck, thinking you can't "start unt
Tue, April 22, 2025
Regenerative Travel, Storytelling, and Embracing Adventure at Any Age with Norie Quintos 504
Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Norie brings decades of experience from her roles at National Geographic Traveler and as a contributor to National Geographic. She shares fascinating insights into adventure storytelling, the evolving landscape of tourism, and the powerful shift toward regenerative travel. Subject: What a Red Puffy Jacket, a Black Lab, and the Tetons Taught Me About Adventure I discovered the magic of nature—only after realizing my feet were literally black with dirt . - Norie Quitos What Happened: If you told 12-year-old me that one day I’d be preaching the gospel of nature and conservation on a podcast, she would’ve laughed in your face while clutching her Lisa Frank diary. Back then, I was a hardcore indoors kid. My travel dreams were less “hike the Andes” and more “sip coffee outside a museum in Paris.” Nature? Great in theory. From a safe, clean, bathroom-accessible distance. But life had other plans. Specifically, two kids and a deep desire for them to experience something I hadn’t: the outdoors. Our first trip? My sister’s backyard. Borrowed tent. Questionable gear. But hey—we survived. That spiraled into state park weekends, and eventually, a full-on wagon adventure at the foot of the Tetons. Cue canvas tents, no showers, and yes—leeches. I was not okay. My soles were blacker than a burnt marshmallow, and I seriously questioned my life choices… until someone said, “It’s dirt, but it’s not dirty.” Mind. Blown. That moment changed everything. Principle: Adventure doesn’t require a plane ticket or a trust fund. It’s not always epic views and adrenaline rushes. Sometimes, it’s dirt, discomfort, and doing something that stretches you just enough to see the world—and yourself—a little differently. <p class="" dat
Tue, April 15, 2025
Brewing Adventure: Jess Nepstad on Outdoor Life, Coffee, and Bru Trek's Journey 503
Today on episode 503 Jess Nepstad from Bru Trek joins me on The Show. Jess’s LinkedIn profile leads with 'Positively impact people every day!' He says they have a great little company in Bonner, MT - with a team of wonderful people who all enjoy life, the outdoors, work, and friends. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com What Happened: When I was a kid, the phrase “adventure ready” meant slapping a chili can into a backpack and pedaling 20 miles with your best friend and no helmet. Jess Nesad’s story took me right back. He and his buddy Mark did just that—bikes, backpacks, a plan (sort of), and zero water bottles. They made it to Luckock Park, camped under the stars, hiked to waterfalls, and sipped stream water like champions. It was rugged. It was real. And today? Jess is still chasing that kind of magic—but with a serious upgrade in gear and a lot more hydration. Fast forward a few decades, and he’s the founder of BruTrek, building over-engineered outdoor coffee gear that could survive a bear attack. (Okay, slight exaggeration—but seriously, this stuff is tough.) Principle: The gear you carry reflects how you show up in your adventures—and your business. Cheap tools, whether it’s instant coffee or uninspired branding, leave you flat. But when your tools are built for adventure—when they’re rugged, intentional, and actually designed for how you live —everything changes. Transition: Most outdoor brands talk a big game. But few are built by people who’ve lived it from both sides: the free-range childhood adventures and the boardroom branding meetings. If you’re tired of gear that breaks, branding that feels disconnected, or a business that doesn’t feel like <em data-start
Tue, April 08, 2025
Inspiration and Insights from Triple Crown Hiker Carey Kish Inspiration and Insights from Triple Crown Hiker Carey Kish 502
Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, This week I’m joined by Triple Crown Hiker Carey Kish. A tireless hiker, outdoor and travel writer, Registered Maine Guide, and self-proclaimed certified fun-meister. Carey’s the author of Beer Hiking New England and a longtime columnist whose stories have inspired outdoor lovers across Maine and beyond for over two decades. We dig into trails, tales, and yes . . . a few cold brews along the way. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com What Happened: I’ll be honest—before I ever hiked a long trail, I thought “grizzly country” was just a phrase thrown around to add spice to trail stories. Dramatic? Sure. But let me tell you, when you're deep in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, carrying bear spray for the first time, sleeping in wild country with bear scat nearby, you start to feel what it means to not be top of the food chain. And no, I didn’t see a grizzly. But they saw me . I know they saw me. But even wilder than the bears was the realization that after three long trails—Appalachian Trail, PCT, and CDT—I’d done it. Triple Crown, baby. I didn’t even set out to do it. It just happened . One trail became two, and then I thought, “What the hell, might as well do the third.” It was grueling, wild, hilarious (beer man, reporting for duty), and full of more characters than a Quentin Tarantino film. But that finish at the Canadian border? That was everything. Principle: Here’s the truth: You don’t need to have the perfect plan. You don’t need to start with all the gear dialed. You sure as heck don’t need to wait for the right time . The only thing that really matters? That you go . Just start. One step. Then another. Adventures don’t require perfection. They just need momentum. <p class=""
Tue, April 01, 2025
The Power of Invitation: Earl B. Hunter., Jr. Breaking Barriers in the Outdoors 501
Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. Today, on episode 501, Earl B. Hunter, Jr. from Black Folks Camp To make a second visit to The Show. is the Founder and President of Black Folks Camp Too — a marketing-driven business whose mission is to increase diversity in the outdoor industry by making it easier, more interesting, and more fun for Folks to go camping. He's an experienced business leader across multiple industries. He has been widely recognized for his ebullient personality, hard work ethic, and non-traditional approach to building relationships and closing deals. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com What Happened: It was the summer of 2017. I was clocking miles like a long-haul trucker, repping campers for a living. My 7-year-old son called me out—said I’d promised to take him to Mount Rushmore. He was right. I’d driven past it more times than I could count, but I’d never stopped. So we hit the road. We camped our way across the country, father and son, a Black duo in a tiny pop-up trailer, parking it beside some seriously decked-out RV setups. We saw the sights, roasted marshmallows, and somewhere near Albuquerque, we spotted something we hadn’t seen in thousands of miles: another Black family camping. My son lit up and said, “Hey Daddy! Black people!” That moment stuck. We talked to the family—Kimberly and crew—and she said something that flipped a switch in my brain: “Why don’t you change that then?” That “why not you?” hit hard. By the time we were driving up the California coast, the name Black Folks Camp Too was born. Principle: Too often, we wait for permission—permission to belong, to show up, to start something meaningful. But sometimes, it takes seeing the gap with your own eyes, feeling the silence in certain spaces, to realize: you’re the one who’s supposed t
Tue, March 25, 2025
Big Picture Thinking: How Lindsay Cousley Builds Brands 500
Welcome Episode 500 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast . . . Today I’m joined by Lindsay Cousley — a seasoned executive leader with deep roots in the outdoor, sporting goods, and wellness industries. He’s helped build and scale global brands with heart, empathy, and a whole lot of strategic know-how. Outside the boardroom, Lindsay surfs, cycles, backpacks, hikes, and even plays rugby — living proof that adventure fuels leadership. Show Notes Lindsay Cousley Linkedin What Backpacking the Alps at 14 Taught Me About Building Global Brands What Happened: When I was 14, I wasn’t reading business books or plotting a career. I was deep in the Alps, sweating under a too-heavy pack, trying not to get left behind by a youth leader named Paul who thought “rest day” was code for “hike faster.” We carried everything on our backs, got lost a few times (intentionally or not, I still wonder), and somehow made it from France to Italy and back through Switzerland. It was magic. But here’s the kicker—I didn’t know it then, but that summer was shaping how I’d lead teams, sell products, and build brands. Fast forward a few decades, and I’m sitting in a boardroom, helping turn around an outdoor company. It’s go time. No time for perfect plans, just the instinct to act, adapt, and trust the people around you. Sound familiar? That’s wilderness training 101. Principle: Adventure doesn’t just happen in the mountains. It shows up in every tough decision, every product pitch, and every “what now?” moment in business. The most successful leaders in the outdoor space don’t wait for permission—they act, they adapt, and most importantly, they care . Passion for the outdoors isn't a cute brand trait—it's the fuel that drives resilient leadership. Transition: Too many folks think a successful outdoor career comes from the right resume or the right LinkedIn connections. But what’s really holding them back isn’t lack of experience—it’s a lack of direction . They’re stuck wa
Tue, March 18, 2025
Leadership and Adventure Insights with Executive Coach and Consultant Casey Hanisco 499
Welcome to episode 499 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. Today, I'm talking with Casey Hanisko. Casey is a distinguished leader in adventure travel. She's the former President of the Adventure Travel Trade Association and an executive coach helping tourism leaders navigate change. Recognized among the "50 Most Important Women in Travel," she shares her expertise through media, speaking engagements, and her "Leading Naturally" newsletter. Show Notes Casey Hanisko Linkedin Guest Focus Instagram Adventure Travel Trade Association The Leap That Terrified Me More Than Any Business Decision (And What It Taught Me About Leadership) Ever stood at the edge of something terrifying—knowing the only way forward is to leap, but every cell in your body is screaming, Nope? That was me on a canyon swing in Interlaken. Spoiler: I needed a push. You think making high-stakes decisions in business is tough? Try standing on the edge of a 300-foot drop, debating whether plummeting into the abyss is a good idea. There’s a moment in adventure—and in leadership—where hesitation creeps in. Your palms sweat. Your mind races. And sometimes, you need someone to give you that push. What Happened: I’d like to think I’m pretty fearless. I’ve hiked, biked, and paddled my way through some of the world’s most stunning (and challenging) landscapes. But nothing—not rock climbing, not waterfall jumping, not even running a business—prepared me for the sheer terror of standing on the edge of a canyon swing in Interlaken. Picture this: I’m perched on the platform, strapped in, heart pounding. My entire executive team—yes, the people I work with—are watching. The guy running the swing looks at me and asks, “Need a push?” ABSOLUTELY NOT! I sit there for two full minutes, locked in a battle with my own fear. Every rational thought in my brain says, Just do it. But my body? Oh
Tue, March 11, 2025
Finding Passion and Purpose in Bird Hunting with Edgar Castillo 498
In this episode of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, we dive into upland bird hunting with Edgar Castillo—hunter, writer, and retired law enforcement officer. Edgar shares his unique background, how a neighbor introduced him and his father to hunting, and what led him to dedicate his outdoor life to chasing birds. We explore his favorite upland hunting destinations, the gear he never leaves behind, and his journey into outdoor writing. Plus, we discuss the critical role of public lands and conservation in keeping these adventures alive for future generations. Get ready for an inspiring and adventure-filled conversation with Edgar Castillo! Show Notes Huntsbirdz Kansas Bird Hunting United States Marine Corps What Happened: " When I first moved to the U.S. from Guatemala, hunting wasn’t even a concept in my world. My family didn’t do it. My dad didn’t do it. It just wasn’t a thing. But then our neighbor, Tom, took my dad under his wing and introduced him to the world of hunting—first waterfowl, then upland game. I, of course, tagged along, eager to be part of whatever my dad was doing. Everything was going great until one fateful day when Tom handed my dad some venison. My dad took one bite… and got violently sick. Not once, not twice, but every time he ate deer meat. Turns out, he was allergic to venison. That was it—deer hunting was officially off the table for our family. My dad stuck to birds, and so did I. Looking back, I could’ve ventured into hunting big game on my own. But I know myself—I go all in when I commit to something. If I started deer hunting, I’d be up to my ears in gear, obsessively tracking seasons and probably planning elk hunts across the country. So, I made a choice: stick to what I love, where the adventure is just as thrilling, and where I don’t have to explain to my wife why I need a new deep freezer. " Principle: Sometimes, the best decisions come from knowing your limits. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of doing everything—whether it’s hunting, business, or life in general. But true mastery (and real joy) comes from focusing on what you truly love and getting really, really good at it. Transition: Too many people try to do it all. They think more = better, whether it’s hunting, hobbies, or even running a business. But that’s not always the case. The reality? Spreading yourself too
Tue, March 04, 2025
How it all Started: with the Godfather of Adventure Travel Leo Lebon EP 497
Legendary Leo Lebon, hailed as the grandfather of adventure travel. Leo shares his incredible journey from humble beginnings in Belgium to co-founding the ground-breaking California-based company, MT Sobek, which helped launch the adventure travel industry. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Leo Le Bon Wanderlust Consulting MT Sobek Thomas Cook's Sierra Club Colonel James Roberts, Mountain Travel Nepal Gurkha officer Alan Steck Richard Bangs Mountain Lodges of Peru What Happened: Picture this: You’re young, your life’s in flux, and your mom casually suggests, “Why don’t you go visit my cousin in New York?” —a cousin you didn’t even know existed. That’s exactly how Leo Le Bon’s adventure began. Fast forward a few months, and he’s driving a stranger’s car across America just to get his $50 deposit back. (Gas was 25 cents a gallon back then—can you imagine?) One thing led to another. A chance meeting. A hiking trip. A casual chat with a fellow climber who just happened to have connections in Nepal . And before he knew it, Leo wasn’t just exploring—he was pioneering an entire industry. There were n
Tue, February 25, 2025
Norway's Pilgrim Paths: Viking Roots to Modern Adventure EP 496
Today on Episode 496 I'm talking with Mattias Jansson from the National Pilgrim Center in Trondheim, Norway. I recently had the opportunity to hike the Pilgrim Path along Olav's Way, and if you get the chance, do it. Not only is the walk beautiful, but the history is quite interesting as well. Not only is the walk beautiful, but the history is quite interesting as well. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com What Happened I’ve done my fair share of hiking. From the John Muir Trail to the PCT , I thought I had a pretty solid handle on what makes an adventure worthwhile. But then I found myself in Norway, walking the Pilgrim Path to Nidaros Cathedral , and something shifted. It wasn’t just the landscapes—though, let me tell you, those were next level. One day, we were trekking through misty mountains. The next, we were passing through sleepy villages, exchanging nods with locals who’ve seen hikers like us for centuries. And then there was that one wild day—the rain poured, the wind howled, and instead of hurrying through it, we stopped to make coffee by a quiet pond. No rush, no race, just being in the moment. That’s when it hit me: This wasn’t just a hike. It was something deeper. Something that had been calling to people for over a thousand years. It made me wonder: Why do we chase adventure? What are we really searching for? Principle Here’s the truth: Many people think adventure is about ticking off trails, collecting miles, or conquering nature. But the best adventures? They change you. A pilgrimage isn’t just about getting from point A to B. It’s about stripp
Tue, February 18, 2025
Innovation at Altitude: AltiSnooze solves High Elevation Sleep Challenges EP 495
This week, on episode 495, I'm talking with Will Schafer, founder of Altisnooze. The First-of-its-kind sleep aid for high-altitude. After struggling for years with sleeping during alpine adventures, Schafer came to learn from a sleep doctor that altitude insomnia is a thing. He connected with formulation experts to develop a natural solution, ALTISNOOZE. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com What Happened: For years, I chalked up my awful sleep in the mountains to bad luck. Every time I went to Summit County, Colorado, my nights were a mess—staring at the ceiling, waking up feeling like I’d been run over by a snowcat, and then trying to enjoy the outdoors while running on fumes. I blamed it on travel, excitement, bad pillows—you name it. But then I started noticing something weird. Friends on ski trips and camping adventures were having the same problem. Some of them, tough-as-nails hikers and backcountry warriors, were walking around like zombies after a single night at altitude. That’s when I met Dr. Michael Breus, a legit sleep doctor, who hit me with a truth bomb: altitude insomnia is real. And worse? It affects up to 75% of people. Your body’s struggling with low oxygen, which wrecks your sleep cycle, making it nearly impossible to rest. So, I set out on a mission to fix it. After a deep dive into research, testing a ridiculous amount of natural ingredients, and countless sleepless nights (for science), I created Altisnooze—a sleep aid designed specifically for high-altitude adventures, without the grogginess of melatonin. Principle: Bad sleep = bad adventure. Period. You can have the best gear, the most epic trail planned, and a perfect sunrise waiting for you—but if you don’t sleep well, your trip is going to suck. Most people don’t even realize altitude is the issue. They just assume they’re bad sleepers, or that their body needs to “adjust.
Tue, February 11, 2025
A 90-pound rucksack, forgotten military unit, and your favorite ski resort EP 494
This week on episode 494, I'm talking with Christian Beckwith, podcaster, founder, and executive director of the Teton Climbers Coalition . Christian has spent more than 30 years immersed in the world of alpinism. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes I’ve always thought I was tough—until I heard Christian Beckwith ’s story about soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division lugging 90-pound rucksacks up snowy peaks. Yeah, you read that right. Ninety pounds. I complain when my backpack has an extra water bottle. Christian didn’t just stumble on this story; he’s been living it. Picture this: a guy obsessed with climbing history starts digging into old summit registers (yes, that’s a thing), trying to understand why climbing activity flatlined during WWII. What he found wasn’t just a gap in the record—it was a portal into a hidden chapter of outdoor history. Turns out, the 10th Mountain Division wasn’t just fighting battles overseas; they were rewriting the playbook for outdoor adventure. Their training? Skiing with ancient gear, battling blizzards, and carrying enough weight to break the spirit of any weekend warrior. And when they came home, they didn’t just hang up their skis—they built the ski resorts and outdoor culture we know today. Here’s the kicker: The adventures we take for granted today—ski trips, alpine climbing, even the gear we use—exist because of people who pushed past the limits of what was comfortable, convenient, or even reasonable. Growth doesn’t come from playing it safe; it comes from leaning into discomfort, whether that’s a literal 90-pound pack or the metaphorical weight of trying something new. Most people think adventure is about escaping comfort zones. But here’s the truth: It’s about what you bring back from the edge. If you’ve ever felt stuck—like your outdoor goals (or personal ones) are out of reach—i
Tue, February 04, 2025
Ripples of Change: Kayaker Haley Stuart's Advocacy for Rivers and Indigenous Communities [EP 493]
In episode 493 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, I'm talking with Haley Stuart , filmmaker , environmentalist, and whitewater instructor. Haley joins us to discuss her work protecting rivers, collaborating with communities across the Americas, and raising awareness about mega hydroelectric impacts. Her journey inspires meaningful action for lasting environmental change. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes What if I told you that rivers could teach us more about life than a self-help book ever could? What Happened: When Haley Stewart first dipped her paddle into a river, she wasn’t chasing adrenaline—she was running headfirst into her fears. Growing up in suburban New York, she didn’t even know kayaking was a sport. It wasn’t until she attended a kayaking-focused high school (yes, those exist!) that she realized rivers weren’t just a setting for adventures—they were life itself, rushing and relentless, filled with twists, turns, and lessons. At first, the sport terrified her. But over time, the pull of the water and the tight-knit community of paddlers won her over. What started as a hesitant curiosity turned into an unshakable passion. Traveling the world, Haley discovered the hard truth: many of the rivers she loved were under threat—from dams, mining, and neglect. She couldn’t sit by and watch them disappear. That’s when everything changed. She met indigenous communities who lived alongside these rivers, fighting daily battles to protect what had sustained them for generations. Haley realized something profound: saving rivers wasn’t just about ecology—it was about people, too. And through her work, she’s helping amplify their voices, blending storytelling, conservation, and sheer grit to make an impact. Principle: The heart of Haley’s story? Real change starts when we listen. Listen to the rivers, the people who live near them, and the truth about what’s really happening in the world’s wildest p
Tue, January 28, 2025
Mountains, Guiding, Cameras, and Community: A Bolivian Journey [EP 492]
In today's episode, we have an inspiring conversation with Guides and Podcasters Jose and Sebastian Camarlinghi. We dive into the world of mountaineering and filmmaking, exploring how their shared passion for the outdoors has shaped their lives and careers. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes What Happens When a Mountain Guide and Filmmaker Team Up? What Happened: Do you know those stories your dad tells—the ones you’ve heard a million times but somehow still pull you in? That’s how Voices de Montaña started. Growing up, I (Sebastian) was surrounded by tales of glaciers, daring rescues, and llamas trekking salt across Bolivia’s rugged terrain. My dad, José, a mountain guide with decades of experience, always had a story worth telling. But here’s the thing: these incredible moments were fading into the ether, known only to close friends and family. One day, after kicking around ideas for documentaries that felt too logistically impossible, we realized there had to be another way to share these mountain memories. That’s when we decided: let’s start a podcast. Just two guys, a love for storytelling, and a small but passionate team. And guess what? What started as an experiment to preserve these stories turned into a platform that captured the hearts of listeners across Latin America. From climbers to casual outdoor enthusiasts, people weren’t just listening—they were connecting with these tales of adventure, resilience, and passion. Principle: Here’s the truth: stories aren’t just entertainment—they’re bridges. They connect people to places, to history, and to one another. In a world overwhelmed by noise, the power of authentic storytelling cuts through. Whether it’s the tale of a Bolivian climber turned hero in Pakistan or the rituals of llama caravans, these stories inspire and remind us why nature is worth exploring and protecting. Transition: But here’s the thing: most of these stories might have been lost if we hadn’t taken that first step. It’s not easy carving out space in a niche t
Tue, January 21, 2025
Marching at Dawn to Dissecting Ducks, Here’s How One Camp Transformed My Love for Nature [EP 491]
Today on episode 491 I’m talking with Jennifer Kross and Emilie Hessinger from Ducks Unlimited. Brought to you this week by Ducks Unlimited. Jennifer is an education biologist with Ducks Unlimited in the Great Plains region. Emilie is a Cadet and Peer Leader for the North Dakota Waterfowl Brigade. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Ducks Unlimited. Show Notes From Marching at Dawn to Dissecting Ducks—Here’s How One Camp Transformed My Love for Nature What Happened: Let me tell you about the camp experience I never knew I needed. It started with a lump of charcoal—literally. When I walked into the Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade camp , they handed me a bag with my name on it and a small chunk of coal inside. Then they told us, “Over the next five days, with heat and pressure, we’re going to turn you into diamonds.” I laughed nervously and shot my mom a look that said, “What have you signed me up for?” Little did I know, this would be the week I’d learn how to dissect quail, march in unison, and develop leadership skills that would change the way I approach everything. From the minute my mom left, it was non-stop action. We were learning about habitat conservation, public speaking, and even how to work as a team (spoiler: teamwork while balancing on giant skis is no joke). But the most rewarding part? Seeing how a diverse group of kids with nothing in common except a passion for wildlife came together. One meal at a time, one group challenge at a time, we bonded. By the end of the week, we weren’t just cadets—we were a team. And yes, my group won the marching competition. Not to brag or anything. Principle: What I learned at camp is something everyone should know: real change happens when we step out of our comfort zones. Whether it’s speaking up, connecting with others, or learning to be okay with being a little different, every step forward adds up. Conservation isn’t just about saving ducks or managing land—it’s about building a community of people
Tue, January 14, 2025
Empowering Teams and Leaders: Balancing Ambition and Well-being with Nash Billimoria [EP 490]
Today on episode 490 I'm talking wtih Nash Billimoria. After a decade-long career in investment banking, he founded Re-Map and developed the High Impact Culture method to help the founders and leaders of growing companies to navigate their unique challenges, of scaling from 30 to 300 people. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Empowered, the maker of the incredible Luci Light . Go to ricksaez.com/lucilight2025 Show Notes Burnout in the city or balance in the mountains? The surprising lesson every leader needs to learn. What Happened Picture this: You’ve just had the time of your life skiing through the untouched powder of Jackson Hole . Adrenaline’s still coursing through you. The world feels alive, vibrant, right . Now fast forward to a gray, drizzly Monday morning in London. You’re back at your desk in a high-rise, staring at the photos of your ski trip on your computer, wishing you were anywhere but there. That’s the moment Nash Billamoria realized something profound: climbing the corporate ladder wasn’t his mountain to summit. Years later, Nash is helping founders and teams rediscover what he learned on that fateful day—how to balance ambition, purpose, and joy while building high-performance organizations. He calls it the Tricorn Company model and named it Re-Map . Where companies don’t just grow financially but thrive in well-being and social impact too. Principle Here’s the truth: Success isn’t about grinding yourself or your team into burnout. It’s about balance. Just like in the backcountry, leaders need to know when to push, wh
Tue, January 07, 2025
How a “City Kid” Became a Wilderness Whisperer [EP 488]
In this episode of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, we welcome outdoor writer Dan Oko , who joins us to share his experiences and insights into the world of outdoor adventure and environmental storytelling. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Empowered, the maker of the incredible Luci Light . Go to ricksaez.com/lucilight2025 Show Notes Have you ever wondered how someone born in the concrete jungle of New York City could transform into an outdoor adventurer, chasing salmon in Montana and rafting down the Rio Grande? Let me introduce you to Dan Oko, a guy whose life story sounds like a Hollywood script… if Hollywood scripts were written in hiking boots. Ever driven a beat-up Toyota Corolla through Montana like it’s a 4x4? Dan Oko has—and he’s got the stories to prove it. What Happened: Dan didn’t grow up climbing mountains or rafting whitewater rivers. He was a kid with a fishing pole and a dad who owned a patch of land upstate. That’s where it began—pulling bluegills out of a five-acre pond, exploring the woods, and imprinting on the wild. Fast forward to his twenties, and he’s living in Seattle, backpacking the Olympic Peninsula, and soaking in the clash between environmentalists and loggers during the spotted owl controversy. He didn’t just observe—he wrote. His curiosity drove him deeper into questions about land use, wildlife preservation, and how humans fit into it all. His adventures became the backbone of his storytelling: hitching rides on Montana rivers, hiking until the grid disappeared, and fishing wherever water touched land. Oh, and his car? A Toyota Corolla masquerading as an off-road truck. Let’s just say, his photographer didn’t appreciate the busted back window in winter. Principle: Dan’s story isn’t just about adventure—it’s about perspective. He learned early
Tue, December 31, 2024
2024 Holiday Replay Anneka Williams [EP 489]
Today on this holiday replay of episode 467 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, I'm speaking with climate scientist, writer, and backcountry skier, Anneka Williams. Welcome to episode 466 with climate scientist, writer, and backcountry skier, Anneka Williams.. Brought to you this week by Alabama Beaches and Roam Generation PR . Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Alabama Beaches and Roam Generation PR Show Notes Most of us dream of grand adventures, but everyday responsibilities seem to pull us away. We settle for the occasional weekend hike or a vacation once a year while longing for something more thrilling and purposeful. You want to explore more of the world but feel tied down by routine. You crave adventure and meaningful experiences but aren’t sure how to make them a consistent part of your life. You see others doing incredible things, like skiing the Himalayas or conducting research in the Arctic, and wonder, "Why not me?" We understand. Society has made you believe that real adventures are a rare luxury or only for a chosen few. But it’s not your fault—no one told you it’s possible to live a life full of exploration. That’s why this episode with Anneka Williams, a climate scientist and adventurer, is so inspiring. In this conversation, you’ll learn how she crafted a life full of global adventures, from skiing down icy peaks in Patagonia to studying climate change in the most remote corners of the world. Anneka’s story will take you beyond the typical vacation. Imagine skiing as a child on the single-chair lift at Mad River Glen in Vermont, then fast-forward to skiing in Bhutan or studying gas emissions in the high-altitude Paramo of South America. This episode will show you that the world is a wild, beautiful place waiting to be explored—and you don’t need to wait unt
Tue, December 24, 2024
2024 Holiday Replay Experience Plus Cycling [EP 487]
2024 Holiday replay, Traveling with Experience Plus can launch a rewarding lifetime love for seeing and experiencing the world by bicycle. On a bike tour, you will pedal quiet roads, secluded paths, and carefully curated routes at your own pace. Show Notes Learn More 00:00 Family led bicycle tours in Italy, bilingual upbringing. 08:16 Tours focused on local culture. 13:31 Emphasis on local culture in training and tours. Interaction with cafes, supermarkets, and cultural experiences. 22:42 Started company with friends, expanded to tours in Europe and Costa Rica. 28:43 Monica and Maria have learned from their parents and experience in tour design for over 50 years. 32:04 Tour leaders gain experience, travel, and focus on local experiences for travelers. 41:29 Travel with panniers by bicycle or join a guided tour if you can't plan it yourself. 45:37 Pisa to Furli trip is popular with 5-7 yearly departures due to variety and timing. 48:23 Monica highly recommends bicycling in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Sardinia, and praises the Sardinian people. 57:45 Maria has fond memories of bike touring in Europe, particularly the Camino de Santiago. 58:50 "Missioners Iberia's impact lies in its historical and geographic insight on the Camino de Santiago." Favorite Books Rick: Barbara Savage, Miles from Nowhere , Stevenson's travels with a donkey , On The Road, Jack Kerouac Maria: Michner's Iberia Monica: I love guidebooks, Rough Guides , Lonely Planet , but the Blue Guide especially, and the Cadogan Favorite Piece of Gear Maria: mountain bike clips and pedals that have flats on both sides Monica: a classical jersey with those wonderful pockets that you can just carry everything you need is amazing Rick: you need a multi-tool, a pump, and a patch kit. Follow up: <a href= "https://www.
Thu, December 19, 2024
EP 486 Ricks Riffs Happy Holidays
Thank you. Whether you've been tuning in every week, catching up on past episodes, or just discovered us this year, your support means the world. Because of you, we've shared some incredible stories, introduced you to inspiring guests, and hopefully sparked a little extra wanderlust in you. Show Notes Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com
Tue, December 17, 2024
Something magical happens when a small group of women travel together. [EP 485]
Today I'm talking with Doni Belau. Doni fell in love with Paris when her sister took her there as a high school graduation gift. She knew then Paris and traveling would need to be a part of her life. After a girl's trip to Paris one year with friends, a light bulb went on. Doni realized something magical happens when a small group of women travel together to a place of great beauty and culture. So in 2009, she started Girls’ Guide to the World. So she no longer had to choose between what she did and what she loved. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 🌍 The Secret Sauce Behind Life-Changing Adventures (for Women Only!) Why adventure travel isn’t just for thrill-seekers (and how it can change your life). What Happened: When Donnie Belau first stepped foot in Paris, she had no idea it would alter the course of her life. She was fresh out of high school, standing under the Eiffel Tower with her sister, and feeling a pull she couldn’t explain. Years later, after a girls' trip to Paris with friends, she realized there was magic in traveling with like-minded women. That realization led her to create Girls’ Guide to the World , where small groups of women could bond, explore, and rediscover themselves in the world’s most breathtaking destinations. It wasn’t always smooth sailing—Donnie started without a plan, just a dream. But now, she curates over 70 trips a year, helping women forge friendships and memories that last a lifetime. From trekking with gorillas in Rwanda to meditating at Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest , Donnie’s trips are about more than just checking destinations off a bucket list—they’re about creating connections, fostering joy, and giving women the courage to embrace their adventurous spirit. #Susta
Thu, December 12, 2024
EP 484 Ricks Riffs: Newsletter update, Year end Podcast rankings
Show Notes the year end news is beginning to trickle out already. The 2024 most listened-to podcast rankings from iHeartRadio changed things up a bit, sharing which shows were the most listened to by users based on which generation they fall into. Among Gen Alpha, a show with a school-like vibe ranks first as iHeart says Stuff You Missed in History Class was the most popular with the demographic of people born between 2010 and 2024. Among Gen Z listeners, This Is Important ranks on top. Millennial users of iHeart most streamed the on-demand version of “ The Breakfast Club ” radio show. Gen X listeners had something in common with Gen Alpha — they both went for something in the History genre — but Gen Xers were more interested in the bad guys. The age group’s biggest podcast was Behind the Bastards , the series that focuses on the worst people in history. Baby Boomers were more politically focused, with The Dan Bongino Show their top podcast pick in 2024. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com
Tue, December 10, 2024
Grandpa, a Cane Pole, and a Catfish Bigger Than Me [EP 483]
This week on episode 483 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, I'm talking with Anietra Hamper. Anietra Hamper is a trusted journalist having spent a successful career in television news working as an anchor and investigative reporter. Now, she is an award-winning outdoor and travel writer, book author, keynote speaker, and owner of ThreeWordPress. Show Notes Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Wolfgang Man and Beast Show Notes Ever wonder how a childhood dream leads to catching a fish bigger than your entire body? Spoiler alert: it involves nightcrawlers, pigtails, and a life lesson you’ll never forget. What Happened: Let me take you back to where it all began: a little girl with red bows in her pigtails and a cane pole in her hand, standing on the shore of St. Mary’s Lake. "My grandpa—a master outdoorsman—taught me the essentials of fishing: respect for nature, the thrill of the catch, and the joy of releasing what you don’t plan to eat." “Dig those nightcrawlers, and I’ll take you fishing,” he’d say. So, there I was, unbothered by the dirt or the worms, just focused on earning my spot on the lake. Fishing wasn’t just a pastime; it was a gateway to appreciating the dew on the grass, the calls of morning geese, and the quiet magic of nature. Fast forward a few decades and countless fishing trips later, I found myself in a tiny Spanish village, Mecaninza. My goal? To catch the legendary wells catfish—monsters of the deep that grow to ridiculous sizes. That day, I hooked a fish so enormous I could’ve crawled inside like a sleeping bag. Holding it, I couldn’t help but cry. Not for the sheer size of the catch but because, in that moment, I felt Grandpa’s lessons come full circle. Principle: Here’s the truth: the seeds of our passions are often planted early, and they grow with us in ways we can’t always predict. For me, it was Grandpa’s insistence on finding joy beyond the catch—the sound of frogs, the way sunlight dances on water, the respect for what we take from
Thu, December 05, 2024
EP 482 Ricks Riffs: Road Trips
In our final episode of our multi-part series on planning and preparing for outdoor adventures, Emanuel Rose and I discuss planning the perfect road trip for camping and fishing Let’s hit the road and get ready for adventure—one mile and one cast at a time! Show Notes Nature Bound Podcast with Emanuel Rose Yosemite Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Kern River Mountain RIver Adventures Trinity Alps Sierra Ten Essentials Checklist Tea Candles Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter <span
Tue, December 03, 2024
How Adventure Travel Shapes Eagle Creek's Direction: Insights from CEO Travis Campbell [EP 481]
Today, on episode 481 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, I’m talking Adventure Travel Gear, Trends, and more with Eagle Creek CEO Travis Campbell Show Notes Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Wolfgang Man and Beast Why Eagle Creek’s Comeback Is the Ultimate Adventure Story Hook: “How an Undervalued Icon Made the Adventure Gear Comeback of the Decade” What Happened: I still remember my first Eagle Creek backpack. I’d just scraped together enough money from a summer job and felt like I’d made it. That bag saw every trip, every mishap, and every ‘adventure’ (some more “oops” than wow). So, when I heard Eagle Creek was on the brink of being shut down, my heart sank. Enter Travis Campbell . In a world where big brands often lose touch with their roots, Travis—an outdoor enthusiast turned CEO—made a bold move. He stepped in, took the reins, and brought Eagle Creek back to life. Why? Because, like me, he understood what Eagle Creek means to adventure lovers: gear that doesn’t just last but travels with purpose . Principle: Here’s the thing: in the world of adventure travel, there’s no room for compromises. Whether it’s a zipper that breaks mid-trip or gear that fails when you need it most, adventurers need brands that understand the stakes. And that’s what makes Eagle Creek’s story so inspiring. Travis didn’t just rescue a brand; he reignited its soul—crafting durable, sustainable, adventure-first gear
Thu, November 28, 2024
EP 480 Ricks Riffs Fly Fishing: Techniques and more
In this episode of our multi-part series on planning and preparing for outdoor adventures, Emanuel Rose and I discuss Fly Fishing—things like techniques, hatches, locations, conservation, and more. Let’s hit the road and get ready for adventure—one mile and one cast at a time! Show Notes Dry Fly Fishing Stonefly pattern Caddis pattern Hopper Dropper McLoud River Salmon Fly hatch Drake hatch Sacramento River Leave no trace Visit the local Fly Shop, Forest Service or BLM Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsle
Tue, November 26, 2024
The Adventure Began With a Bush Plane and Ended With Fresh-Baked Cookies in the Wild [EP 479]
Today, on episode 479, I'm talking with Tim and Matt Ozerkov from Oz Lodge. Tim and Matt, along with Matt's wife, Heather, and their son, Jed, purchased property in Seward, Alaska, and have literally developed Oz Lodge from the ground up. Show Notes Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Wolfgang Man and Beast Follow up with Oz Lodge: adventuresofoz@gmail.com What Happened: When I was a kid, I dreamed of flying a bush plane to a little cabin perched on a lake in Alaska. Picture it: a rugged, untouched landscape, floatplanes bobbing on the dock, and a life that felt more adventure than routine. Fast forward to adulthood, and one day, after a series of serendipitous events (starting with a chat over coffee in a ski lodge), I got the chance to visit Alaska for a construction project. It was supposed to be a short gig. Instead, it became the start of an obsession. From the moment we flew in and saw bears with their cubs crossing the road, we were hooked. The wildlife, the raw beauty, the sheer wildness —it felt like stepping into a nature documentary. By the time we left, we couldn’t shake the dream. My brother Matt, his wife Heather, and I decided it wasn’t enough to just visit Alaska. We had to live it. And not just live it—but build something with our own hands. So, we bought 7 acres in Seward. One problem? There wasn’t a lumber store in sight. What started as a plan to buy materials turned into us milling our own wood, snapping saw blades left and right, and learning by trial, error, and a little bit of YouTube. The result? Oz Lodge—a place where we share our passion for Alaska with anyone adventurous enough to visit. Principle: The truth is, the things that mean the most in life are neve
Thu, November 21, 2024
EP 478 Ricks Riffs-Maximize your Outdoor Adventure
In this episode of our multi-part series on planning and preparing for outdoor adventures, Emanuel Rose and I discuss maximizing your Outdoor Adventure—things like setting up the perfect campsite, having a good view, cooking outdoors, and more. Let’s hit the road and get ready for adventure—one mile and one cast at a time! Show Notes Rick Saez Emanuel Rose Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com
Tue, November 19, 2024
Unraveling the Nuances of Writing and Outdoor Adventure Exploration with David Mcllvaney [EP 477]
David Mcllvaney describes himself as a writer, angler, hunter, and sentimentalist who lives in the Catskill Mountains, where he draws water and hews wood while pondering things big and small. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Eagle Creek Pac-It Organization Show Notes Question: What if you could live the outdoor lifestyle you dream about—and actually make it your life? Promise: Discover how one writer-angler-hunter turned his passion for the outdoors into a lifestyle that spans seasons, continents, and meaningful connections. The old way? Believing the outdoors is just a weekend escape. The new way? Letting it shape your story. Ever felt stuck, dreaming about a life of adventure but weighed down by daily responsibilities and not knowing where to start? You’ve probably: Struggled to make time for real outdoor experiences. Felt intimidated by the idea of pursuing adventure professionally. Thought it was too late to reconnect with nature the way you did as a kid. What that costs you: You miss out on moments that connect you to the wilderness—and to yourself. You lose opportunities to inspire others or share stories that matter. Worst of all, the longer you wait, the more disconnected you feel from the adventure you crave. I get it—life pulls us in every direction. Between work, family, and modern distractions, it feels impossible to press pause and find your path back to nature. But it’s not your fault—society makes adventure seem like something we outgrow. The truth? It’s still waiting for you. That’s why this episode is a must-listen. David Mcllvaney shares how he turned his outdoor passions into a life of meaning, adventure, and stories worth telling. Think of this episode as your personal roadmap to embracing the outdoors in ways you never thought possible. David’s story is proof: you don’t need to be a wilderness survival expert to live closer to nature. It’s about connection—whether you’re fly-fishing in Iceland, writing about Patagonia, or sitting by a c
Thu, November 14, 2024
EP 476 Ricks Riffs-Vehicle Prep, Fishing Licenses and Permits
This episode is part of our multi-part series on planning and preparing for outdoor adventures, Emanuel Rose and I are talking about how to prepare your vehicle for long road trips, including necessary maintenance, storage solutions, organization, and what anglers need to know about where to get licenses and permits and up to date fishing information. Today, we’re talking about road trips—specifically planning the perfect road trip for camping and fishing. We’ll cover how to map out the best route, pack for every scenario, and ensure you have all the right gear, so you’re set for anything the road and the river throw your way. Let’s hit the road and get ready for adventure—one mile and one cast at a time! Show Notes Rick Saez Emanuel Rose Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com
Tue, November 12, 2024
Colleen Miniuk on Personal Growth and Women's Outdoor Adventure Photo Workshops [EP 475]
Today on episode 475, I'm talking with Photographer and Writer Colleen Miniuk. Colleen has recently finished her adventure memoir, “So Said the River.” Her first appearance on the show was in Oct 23 on episode 239. Show Notes Beyond Hurricane Helene: Fuel Goods' Journey to Reconnect and Rebuild Together We Rise T-Shirts How to Stand Out as a Photographer by Being YOU Hey . . . 🎣 Hook: Think successful photography is all about mastering the technical side? Think again! The Old Way vs. The Right Way For too long, photographers have been caught up in the technical side of the craft—perfect lighting, flawless settings, the latest gear. But guess what? That’s not what makes photos memorable. So often, photographers chase after “iconic” scenes they’ve seen before, trying to replicate what’s already out there. This approach can leave you frustrated, exhausted, and unfulfilled because… You lose the uniqueness of your voice — it gets buried under what everyone else is doing. Your photos start to feel flat—sure, they’re technically “perfect,” but something’s missing. The creative joy fades as you chase perfection over authentic expression. Colleen and I get it, though. It’s easy to feel like you’re just one in a crowd. You may even feel like your voice doesn’t matter because of all the “rules” out there. Why This Episode Is Just for You In this episode, Colleen opens up about her journey from technical perfectionist to true artist. And her number-one piece of advice? “Be you.” Dive into what it means to find your voice and create work that feels truly personal and fulfilling. Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll learn: How to see the world through your unique lens – Learn why chasing iconic shots actually limits you, and how to break free from the pressure to fit into a “photographer” mold. Creating meaning over meeting expectations – Colleen shares how she discovered her true purpose by following her own values instead of traditional definitions of “success.” Letting go of “perfect” – Tips on shifting from technical perfectionism to creating work that’s truly resonant and meaningful for you. Why Being You Works Better When you create from your own experiences and unique perspective, you: Connect deeply with your audience—People can tell when work is personal and authentic. Feel more fulfilled—Every shot becomes a story, not just a technical exercise. Stand out naturally—Your work is distinct because it’s you . No one else has your story or your way of seeing the world. Last Thought to Take With You The world has plenty of perfectly captured, “ideal” shots. What it needs is your unique visi
Thu, November 07, 2024
EP 474 Ricks Riffs #6 Planning Road Trip Outdoor Aventures
Today, we’re talking about road trips—specifically planning the perfect road trip for camping and fishing. We’ll cover how to map out the best route, pack for every scenario, and ensure you have all the right gear, so you’re set for anything the road and the river throw your way. Let’s hit the road and get ready for adventure—one mile and one cast at a time! Show Notes Rick Saez Emanuel Rose onX Maps Google Maps Outdoor Writers Association of America 4 C's: Comfort, Clothing, Culinary and, Cleanliness Camp Chef, dual burner stove Luggable Loo Buddy Heater Propane Tanks Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: <
Mon, November 04, 2024
Switchback: Innovation, Synergy, and Community Building in the Outdoor Adventure Space EP 473
Today on episode 473 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, I'm talking with Switchback Director Christina Henderson. We talk about the events Innovation, Synergy, and Community Building. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by alabamabeaches.com Show Notes: In this episode, host Rick Says is joined by Christina Henderson , Event Director of Switchback , a unique event that blends business, education, and community-building for the outdoor industry. Christina shares the inspiring story behind Switchback, its rapid growth, and how it’s addressing the changing needs of outdoor professionals. Get ready to learn about the innovative ways Switchback is building community, fostering authentic connections, and leading with sustainability in the outdoor industry. Key Topics: Origins of Switchback and Industry Gaps Christina explains how Switchback emerged from the growing crossover between running and outdoor industries and the community's need for meaningful gathering spaces. Since its launch at the 2022 Running Event ( TRE ), Switchback has become a go-to resource for professionals looking to connect, learn, and grow within the industry. Switchback Spring Event Launch New for 2025, Switchback Spring will be a standalone event held from June 16-18 in Nashville, Tennessee. Christina outlines the event’s focus on education, networking, and mentorship, with plans to create an immersive experience that feels more like a reunion than a trade show. Creating a Lasting, Authentic Community Community-building is at the heart of Switchback’s mission. Christina discusses how smaller booth sizes and a compact venue layout foster deeper connection
Thu, October 31, 2024
EP 472 Ricks Riffs #5: Photographing Sunrise & Sunset Tips
Tips to Capture Stunning Sunrise & Sunset Photos with a DSLR or Smartphone Show Notes Apps PhotoPills Photographers Ephemeris Dan Flores, Satisfi Labs Christina Henderson, Switchback Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com
Tue, October 29, 2024
AI and Outdoor Adventure: Dan Flores/Satisfi Labs Uncovers Innovations in Tourism [EP 471]
This week, on episode 471 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, I'm talking with Dan Flores, Satisfi Labs Head of Tourism. Dan and Satisfi Labs are key players in the industry’s evolution. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Show Notes Curiosity : " If I had known back then that being curious would lead me to a career in AI and tourism innovation, I would’ve asked a lot more questions !" Dan Flores, Satisfi Labs Parable: Think of tourism as a river. If you stop paddling, you might float for a while, but eventually, the current will pull you in directions you don’t want to go. Curiosity is your paddle. It keeps you exploring new waters, finding smoother routes, and avoiding obstacles. Without it, you’re stuck, moving only where the current takes you. Principle: In leisure and tourism, curiosity and an open mind aren’t just beneficial—they’re necessary. With the rise of new technology, especially AI, those who stay curious and continuously explore new tools will not only survive but thrive. It’s about constantly asking: "Is there a better way to do this?" and never getting too comfortable with "good enough." Transition: That’s why now, more than ever, staying open to new ideas is vital. Whether it’s AI, customer engagement strategies, or operational efficiency, those who embrace curiosity will be the ones who stay ahead. The biggest challenge holding back many tourism businesses is the belief that they already know what works, and they’re hesitant to explore new opportunities—like AI—to improve efficiency and customer experience. Call to
Thu, October 24, 2024
EP 470 Ricks Riffs #4: Mini Solo Adventures
Today's episode features my riff on the benefits and fun of a solo mini-adventure in a local park or the local public lands near you. Facebook Twitter Website Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE
Tue, October 22, 2024
The magic of Baja isn't the quick weekend adventure getaway—it's spending weeks off the beaten path [EP 469]
This week on episode 469 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, I'm speaking with visual storyteller and product designer Josiah Roe . Josiah is a visual storyteller and product designer. He believes that how you do what you do is as important as what you do. And that life is short, the world is big, and he wants to explore as much of it as he can before it gets dark. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Show Notes Why exploring deeper is more fulfilling than just hitting tourist spots. Think of Anthony Bourdain. Sure, he could have visited the usual tourist spots and called it a day, but what made him an icon was his curiosity. He found the beauty in meeting locals, eating their food, and experiencing life as they lived it. It wasn’t about the destination; it was about the stories he unearthed along the way. It’s easy to stick to the guidebook and rush through our travels. But here’s the thing—when we do that, we miss out on the heart and soul of the places we visit. We lose the opportunity to see through the eyes of the locals, to witness the life that happens outside the tourist zones. That’s why we created content like the Journal of Lost Time and events like Lost Places , to inspire deeper exploration and meaningful experiences. If you're tired of travel that feels like checking boxes and ready to experience the world with depth and curiosity, check out the Journal of Lost Time ,
Fri, October 18, 2024
EP 468 Ricks Riffs #3: Outdoor Writer and Publisher Kevin Paulson
Today's episode features a conversation I had in Missoula, Montana while attending the annual Outdoor Media Summit with Kevin Paulson from Hunting Life Magazine . We riffed on the Outdoor Media Summit, Kevin's new position at AGLOW, the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers , and a little more. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE
Tue, October 15, 2024
Outdoor Adventure and Climate Action: Insights from Scientist and Writer Anneka Williams [EP 466]
Welcome to episode 466 with climate scientist, writer, and backcountry skier, Anneka Williams.. Brought to you this week by Alabama Beaches and Roam Generation PR . Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Alabama Beaches and Roam Generation PR Show Notes Most of us dream of grand adventures, but everyday responsibilities seem to pull us away. We settle for the occasional weekend hike or a vacation once a year while longing for something more thrilling and purposeful. You want to explore more of the world but feel tied down by routine. You crave adventure and meaningful experiences but aren’t sure how to make them a consistent part of your life. You see others doing incredible things, like skiing the Himalayas or conducting research in the Arctic, and wonder, "Why not me?" We understand. Society has made you believe that real adventures are a rare luxury or only for a chosen few. But it’s not your fault—no one told you it’s possible to live a life full of exploration. That’s why this episode with Anneka Williams, a climate scientist and adventurer, is so inspiring. In this conversation, you’ll learn how she crafted a life full of global adventures, from skiing down icy peaks in Patagonia to studying climate change in the most remote corners of the world. Anneka’s story will take you beyond the typical vacation. Imagine skiing as a child on the single-chair lift at Mad River Glen in Vermont, then fast-forward to skiing in Bhutan or studying gas emissions in the high-altitude Paramo of South America. This episode will show you that the world is a wild, beautiful place waiting to be explored—and you don’
Thu, October 10, 2024
EP 466 Ricks Riffs #2: Finding Your Niche in Outdoor Adventure Podcasting
Tips on Finding your Niche and Starting Your Podcast in Outdoor Adventure Podcasting Don’t Miss EP 467 next week with climate scientist, writer, and backcountry skier, Anneka Williams. Anneka talks about her work as a climate scientist, writer and also has some great tips on how we can imorpove sustainability and conservation in our daily lives. Anneka Williams Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com
Tue, October 08, 2024
Exploring South America: Outdoor Photography, Adventure, and Environmental Advocacy with Sergio Ballivian [EP 465]
Today on episode 465 I’m talking with Sergio Ballivian. For over 40 years, Sergio has pursued his passion for adventure, always with a camera in hand. Sergio Photo Tours was born from those experiences—a desire to share the unique moments he’s witnessed and to guide others in capturing the beauty and essence of those untamed places. Sergio says . . . “this isn’t just about taking photos; it’s about experiencing the world from a different perspective.” Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Alabama Beaches and Roam Generation PR Show Notes Welcom to episode 465 I’m talking with Sergio Ballivian . Brought to you this week by Alabama Beaches and Roam Generation PR. For over 40 years, Sergio has pursued his passion for adventure, always with a camera in hand. Sergio Photo Tours was born from those experiences—a desire to share the unique moments he’s witnessed and to guide others in capturing the beauty and essence of those untamed places. Sergio says . . . “this isn’t just about taking photos; it’s about experiencing the world from a different perspective.” Facebook Twitter Instagram <p s
Fri, October 04, 2024
EP 464 Ricks Riffs #1: Sergio Ballivan and Mike Banker
Don’t Miss EP 465 next week with Sergio Ballivan. Sergio has been capturing the untamed beauty of the world for over 40 years. Sergio's love for capturing landscapes and sharing them with friends became a full-time career. He talked about leading Explore Bolivia and how he eventually focused on photography, turning his tours into official photography workshops by 2000. Sergio Ballivian Photography Fischer Creative Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com
Tue, October 01, 2024
Sustainability and Adventure: Mike Banker’s Journey from Environmental Rhetoric to Documentary Filmmaking [EP 463]
Welcome to episode 463 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast with Mike Banker. Mike Banker is the Chief Growth Officer at Fisher Creative, a media production studio known for capturing epic content from Earth’s most iconic, and adventurous places. Mike is a multi-faceted writer, communicator, and media production jack-of-all-trades. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Grammarly and Roam Generation PR Show Notes Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn your love for storytelling and the outdoors into a career in the creative industry? This episode explores how our guest transitioned from shooting amateur films on VHS tapes to crafting compelling stories in the world’s most remote wildernesses. Whether you’re dreaming of combining your passions or looking for insights into environmental filmmaking, this conversation will speak directly to your journey. By tuning in, you’ll discover: How to combine your passions for the outdoors and creative storytelling into a successful career. Firsthand accounts of filming in Ukraine and capturing adventure documentaries. Practical tips on navigating the business side of outdoor filmmaking while maintaining an environmental ethos. Don’t miss out—hit play now to uncover the secrets to blending your love of the outdoors with filmmaking! Follow up with Mike: mike@fishercreative.com Next Steps If you enjoy interviews devoted to the outdoor and adventure, find us at the
Tue, September 24, 2024
Adventure Writer Clay Abney shares his Outdoor Experiences from Norway, Greenland, and more [EP 462]
Welcome to episode 462 of the outdoor adventure lifestyle podcast with Outdoor Adventure Writer Clay Abney. Clay is a freelance outdoor and adventure travel writer living in the ‘wild and wonderful’ state of West Virginia. He enjoys various outdoor activities and traveling as often as possible. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Grammarly and Roam Generation PR Show Notes Learn More What are your favorite outdoor activities to do in South Carolina? 23:25 I just really do a lot of paddling, I mean, there's like literally Blackwater rivers are just, they call them Blackwater because there's no elevation to them. You don't seem to have any current at all because they almost look like swamps. What advice would you give to aspiring outdoor adventure travel writers? 17:44 I would say read. Write. If you're gonna pitch a, or if you're gonna write, if you wanna write for a certain outlet, make sure that you understand their voice. What they're trying to, what, so, It's great if you want to tell it in your words, but it may not be the voice of the publication that you're going after. Follow up: https://www.clayabney.com/ Next Steps If you enjoy interviews devoted to the outdoor and adventure, find us at the Outdoor Adveneture Lifestyle podcast . We love likes and comments, and if you know someone who is also an outdoor enthusiast, go ahead and share our show with them, too. And be sure to Subscribe to our newsletter<
Tue, September 17, 2024
One of a kind Patagonia Outdoor Expeditions with Dittmar Adventures [EP 461]
Settled in Chilean Patagonia in 2004, David Dittmar is convinced that outdoor life is the best therapy for the body and soul. You’ll hear how David leveraged his climbing skills into his own guiding business, adapted his offerings to meet the market and his advice for you to do the same. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Grammarly and Roam Generation PR Show Notes Learn More Dittmar Adventures Website Favorite Books The Savage Detectives , Roberto Bolano Favorite Gear under $100 Suunto Compass Follow up: Instagram Next Steps If you enjoy interviews devoted to the outdoor industry, find us at the Outdoor Biz Podcast . We love likes and comments, and if you know someone who is also an outdoor enthusiast, go ahead and share our show with them, too. And be sure to Subscribe to our newsletter Keywords #Tourism evolution, #Custom trips, #Tailored experiences, #All-inclusive hotels, #Guide services, #Solitude, #Bouldering, #Indoor climbing, #Hiking guide, #Backpacking trips, #Wilderness permit, #Camping and skiing, #Horseback expeditions, #Adventure business, #Outdoor activities, #Family-oriented environment, #Training local guides, #Government lands, #Outdoor gear, #Adventure
Sun, September 15, 2024
Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast announcement
We are pivoting the podcast to bring you an even more thrilling and immersive outdoor adventure experience. Say hello to the 'Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast!' The show helping outdoor enthusiasts land your ideal outdoor adventure gig, grow your outdoor career and find more time for adventures.’ Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com
Tue, September 10, 2024
From Lima to La Paz: The Evolution of Adventure Travel with INCA's Bill Roberson [EP 460]
INCA (formerly Inca Floats, Inc.) began in the 70s as a family adventure when Bill Roberson, a scientist and professor, and his two daughters, Kim and Marika, traveled to Peru and the Galapagos Islands. They had such an adventurous, entertaining, and educational time that they couldn't wait to share it with their friends. And so a company was born. Bill tells us about an expedition through South America before founding INCA that inspired and motivated him to start a travel company focused on the region. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Smugmug and Roam Generation PR Show Notes Learn More Inca Website Favorite Books Endurance , Alfred Lansing Follow up: Inca Website Next Steps If you enjoy interviews devoted to the outdoor industry, find us at the Outdoor Biz Podcast . We love likes and comments, and if you know someone who is also an outdoor enthusiast, go ahead and share our show with them, too. And be sure to Subscribe to our newsletter Keywords #Galapa
Tue, September 03, 2024
Unveiling The World's Outdoor Wonders: An Adventure with Experience Plus Bicycle Tours [EP 459]
Traveling with Experience Plus can launch a rewarding lifetime love for seeing and experiencing the world by bicycle. On a bike tour, you will pedal quiet roads, secluded paths, and carefully curated routes at your own pace. Travel under the guidance and care of professional tour leaders who joyfully share a love for their homeland, while seamlessly managing daily logistics so you can relax, ride, and make meaningful connections with both people and places along the way. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Smugmug Show Notes Learn More Experienceplus.com Favorite Books Rick: Barbara Savage, Miles from Nowhere , Stevenson's travels with a donkey , On The Road, Jack Kerouac Maria: Michner's Iberia Monica: I love guidebooks, Rough Guid
Tue, August 27, 2024
Experience Adventure in Style: AutoCamp's Luxury Outdoor Camping Destinations [EP 458]
Hey everyone, today’s episode 458 features Auto Camp and CMO Bryan Terzi. AutoCamp continues that long legacy of honoring nature in the 21st century. As the exclusive hospitality partner of Airstream, they started their journey in 2013 with their first location in Santa Barbara, CA. From the outset, they’ve always believed guests should be able to immerse themselves in nature and world-class design. Today Bryan Terzi tells us more about they’ve evolved to so much more than Airstreams. Hey everyone, episode 458 features Auto Camp and CMO Bryan Terzi. AutoCamp continues the long legacy of honoring nature in the 21st century. As Airstream's exclusive hospitality partner, it started its journey in 2013 with its first location in Santa Barbara, CA. From the outset, AutoCamp has always believed guests should be able to immerse themselves in nature and world-class design. Today, Bryan Terzi tells us more about how they’ve evolved to so much more than Airstreams . Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Smugmug Show Notes Learn More 05:39 Bryan moved to New York, worked in hospitality marketing. 07:34 His dad's extensive hospitality career taught respecting all. 12:07 <a href="https://autocamp.com/" target="_
Tue, August 20, 2024
The Family Business of Adventure: Stories from the Galapagos and Beyond [EP 457]
Welcome to episode 457 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast with Marika Roberson and INCA . Brought to you this week by Smugmug . INCA (formerly Inca Floats, Inc.) began in the 70s as a family adventure when Bill Roberson , a scientist and professor, and his two daughters, Kim and Marika, traveled to Peru and the Galapagos Islands . They had such an adventurous, entertaining, and educational time that they couldn't wait to share it with their friends. And so a company was born. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Smugmug Show Notes Learn More 00:00 Family enjoys rafting and learning new skills. 05:49 SalkantayTrail went from 7 to 4 days, now paved. Crosses high Andes and 15,500 ft pass, descends into the jungle. Challenging terrain, reliance on a small horse. 19:50 Used art background for brochures, taught HTML, involved in company, took on management role instead of hiring externally. 27:01 Encouraging tourism growth in South America. 28:1
Tue, August 13, 2024
Culinary Adventures Outdoors: Chef Corso's Elevated Cooking for Outdoor Enthusiasts [EP 456]
Welcome to episode 456 of the Outdoor Biz podcast with your culinary guide to the outdoors Chef Steve Corso! He’s here to put you on the path to amazing meals wherever your adventure takes you. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Alabama Beaches Show Notes 00:00 Chef Corso founded Outdoor Eats for outdoor food. 04:20 Testing recipes, launching website, learning from others. 08:21 Culinary education in US and Italy. 10:48 I worked for Starbucks as a Food scientist and chef to create new products. 21:58 Beef stroganoff cooked outside with trail meals. 25:58 Beef jerky adds flavor and protein options. 28:51 Share the load, cook together, and eat well. 30:00 Importance of carefully selected food for outdoor activities. 35:10 Choose sustainable brands and reusable items for conservation. 38:37 Community testers contribute to Outdoor Eats recipes. Outdoor Eats Recipe Club 42:17 Foldable camp knife with 4-5 inch blade. 44:21 Delicious recipes and flavors for meal planning. 49:48 Expanding recipe bank and trail meals cookbooks . 51:51 Diverse <a href="https://outdooreats
Tue, August 06, 2024
Trekking Beyond Everest: The Unique Adventure Offerings of Hobnail Trekking [EP 455]
Today on episode 455 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast I’m talking with Mark Johnson from Hobnail Trekking . Mark shares how Hobnail Trekking has expanded into several destinations and continues to offer only the highest levels of service and trekking expertise. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Tee Public Show Notes 00:00 Fascination with Nepal leads to Holly creating her bucket list. 04:27 Early days of adventure travel, career transition. 10:00 Unique travel experiences from a non-traditional company. 11:00 Mark and Holly create a travel company for everyday adventurers. 14:49 Interest in Mount Everest and other treks. 20:02 Mark's memorable experience from one of the treks . . . when he napped in the woods, and was found by the trip organizers. 24:21 The World is becoming more judgmental, and there needs to be respect. 28:10 Train for the trek by mimicking conditions. 31:54 Prepare physically before operating at high altitudes. 35:36 Rick's adventure in Georgia meeting happy locals. 38:45 Population growth will lead to overpopulation problems. 40:59 Trekking remains timeless; technology won't change it. 43:33 Hobnail Adventures expanding to new adventure destinations. 46:30 Hobnail opens up new travel possibilities for clients. 49:18 Favorite piece of gear: DJI Pocket 2, OSMOS camera . 54:10 Nepal trip inspires one of Mark's books "<a href= "https://amzn.to/3WqT0OO" target="_blank" rel="no
Tue, July 30, 2024
The Andes, Amazon, and Galapagos: Purposeful Adventure Experiences with Jorge Perez [EP 454]
In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Jorge Perez, a conservationist and tourism entrepreneur from Quito, Ecuador. Join us as Jorge shares his insights on the unique mestizo culture and the influence of Spaniards, the alluring experience of cattle drives, and the concept of time in Andean cosmovision. Listen in as he discusses purposeful travel, disconnecting from technology, and the importance of understanding our relationship with the Earth. Jorge also unveils a fascinating program for deepening family connections through adventure and offers valuable tips on packing for diverse climates and environments in Ecuador. Stay tuned for an inspiring conversation on conservation, tourism with a purpose, and creating memorable experiences in the great outdoors. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Tee Public Show Notes 00:00 Ecuador's beauty, diversity, and unique geography. 05:17 Tourism focused on conservation and local opportunities. 07:33 Building trails, strong relationship with national park. 11:17 Challenges promoting a unique place Ecuador 13:31 Disconnect from home, reconnect with new experiences. 18:47 Tech detox brings freedom, family interaction, learning. 21:38 Preserving Ecuadorian cowboy culture and environmental conservation. 22:57 Mestizo culture, status, and handling fighting bull
Sat, July 27, 2024
Novice to Nomad: John Ensley's Sailing School and Outdoor Digital Nomad Lifestyle [EP 453]
John Ensley chases the sun from the Pacific Northwest in summer to Baja California Mexico in winter, as one part professional sailing instructor and one part running a virtual financial planning business. As founder of Cruise and Learn Sailing International and loves sharing his knowledge, experience and passion for sailing. John feels strongly that it isn’t just about sailing skills and certifications, it’s really about designing an amazing lifestyle and living the life of your dreams. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Tee Public Show Notes 04:27 John went on a trip to Mexico, sailed down the beautiful Pacific coast, and managed to stay connected for work while enjoying the journey. 09:02 Their process: Complete bookwork online and then practice on the boat. Subscription option for affordable monthly payments. 10:41 Variety of courses came from teaching sailing for 8-9 years. 13:14 So that's the second reason that people pursue certifications is so that they can go charter in different places. And then thirdly is insurance 17:28 Select a sailing school that aligns with your specific goals and preferences, ensuring that you have an immersive and educational experience on the water. It's important to have a conversation with the school to understand their philosophy, instructors, boats, and operations. Consider your goals, whether it's day sailing on local lakes, buying a boat, or chartering internationally, and find a school that matches your needs and personality. Remember that the cheapest or most expensive option may not always be the best, so focus on finding the right fit and value for your sailin
Tue, July 23, 2024
From Novice to Nomad: John Ensley's Sailing School and Digital Nomad Lifestyle [EP 453]
John Ensley chases the sun from the Pacific Northwest in summer to Baja California, Mexico, in winter, as one part professional sailing instructor and one part running a virtual financial planning business. As the founder of Cruise n Learn Sailing International , he loves sharing his knowledge, experience, and passion for sailing. John feels strongly that it isn’t just about sailing skills and certifications; it’s really about designing a fantastic lifestyle and living the life of your dreams. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Tee Public Show Notes John Ensley chases the sun from the Pacific Northwest in summer to Baja California Mexico in winter, as one part professional sailing instructor and one part running a virtual financial planning business. As founder of Cruise and Learn Sailing International and loves sharing his knowledge, experience and passion for sailing. John feels strongly that it isn’t just about sailing skills and certifications, it’s really about designing an amazing lifestyle and living the life of your dreams. 04:27 John went on a trip to Mexico, sailed down the beautiful Pacific coast, and managed to stay connected for work while enjoying the journey. 09:02 Their process: Complete bookwork online and then practice on the boat. Subscription option for affordable monthly payments. 10:41 Variety of courses came from teaching sailing for 8-9 years. 13:14 So that's the second reason that people pursue certifications is so that they can go charter in different places. And then thirdly is insurance
Tue, July 16, 2024
Sustainability and Success: Kenji's Insights into the Outdoor Industry's Evolution [EP 452]
Today my long time outdoor compadre Kenji Haroutunian makes his 3rd appearance on the show. As longtime director of two top-fifty trade shows in the country (and many events and services beyond), Kenji’s experience has afforded him a truly independent viewpoint to best understand the ebbs and flows of business trends, successes, failures and the tools that can be applied these days to make a difference. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Alabama Beaches Show Notes 04:27 The pivot from outdoor retail (A16) to trade shows. I don't quite remember how that happened. I had been managing stores, a store manager for Adventure 16 in L. A. and then in the Valley store, and was back in the L. A. store managing there. And then got a call from Larry Harrison, who was. Put on task by the outdoor retailer team to go find their next account exec. There was a long-time account executive who was leaving, and they're looking to fill that spot. And I said, like, well, what's an account executive? It's not something that I was familiar with and sounded pretty fancy, but you know, long story short, I interviewed down in Laguna Beach with the team. And then, back then, it was called Miller Freeman, who was the owner of the outdoor retailer shows. And I got hired there as a salesperson having zero experience selling space or advertising, and starting in, in earnest, my career in the media slash shows business. 08:00 The Big Gear Show Big Gear rose up out of what was the paddle sports retailer show. So that was a show launched by a couple of guys from the paddle sports industry who became sort of unhappy wi
Tue, July 09, 2024
Exploring Nature, Outdoor Marketing, and Mentorship with Author Emanuel Rose [EP 451]
Hello again everyone. Welcome to episode 451 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today, I’m speaking with fellow OWAA member Emanuel Rose. Emanuel is an author, outdoorsman, and marketing expert. He says his love for the natural world has been a constant in his life, and he finds joy in exploring towering forests and the energy of the ocean. His childhood fantasy of discovering special wild places inspired him to write, and his children's book series is growing as a result of that passion. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Show Notes 06:10 Emanuel started writing in childhood, shifted to children's books for grandchildren. 09:41 Emanuel is working on two projects, one about mentoring Gen Z and the other for Gen Z on how to be dynamic individuals. They also wrote about the importance of showing leadership in detoxing from technology and triggering more outdoor time. 12:35 Started a podcast because I was seeking to engage in conversations, provide resources for marketing and AI, and inspire outdoor exploration and wilderness activities. 15:39 re: podcasts, as the host, having the talent and the control allows for selecting guests and topics based on personal interest and connection to outdoor retail wholesale space. 17:21 Authentic Marketing in the Age of AI-AI Marketing : The text is a conversation about the challenges of marketing in the modern world. It focuses on the importance of simplifying marketing efforts and getting back to basics, such as addressing people's concerns in a
Tue, July 02, 2024
Capturing Wild Places, Jonathan Chester's Adventure Photography Journey [EP 450]
Jonathan Chester has photographed on all seven continents, and specializes in documenting the wild, remote, and extreme and is equally at home in urban and rural settings, covering nature, landscapes, and environmental themes. He continues to guide and lecture on adventure cruises in the Arctic and Antarctic. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Show Notes 51:13 Thanks for tuning in to the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Visit our website for show notes and subscribe to never miss an episode. Spread the word and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts . 00:00 Jonathan Grew up in Adelaide , enjoyed nature, joined scouts, and wanted to be a scuba diver. 03:19 The University underwater club led to a scuba diving career. 07:41 you always learn more from getting into hairy situations and trouble than you do when everything goes smoothly. When everything goes smoothly, it's like, it's too easy, right? The aphorism that, you know, good judgment is the product of experience, but experience quite often is a lot of bad judgment and a lot of sort of uncomfortable or difficult circumstances. 10:35 Decided not to be a guide, became a photojournalist and storyteller for 35 years. 14:08 Exciting sailing journey leads to Antarctic expedition. 18:27 Since
Tue, June 25, 2024
Pedaling Through Europe: Lauren Hefferon on the Joys of Biking Adventures and Cultural Immersion [EP 449]
Hello again, everyone. Welcome to episode 449 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. This week, I’m talking with Lauren Hefferon. Lauren has been a devoted cyclist for over 40 years. While in high school in Southern NH, Lauren discovered her passion for pedaling after a serious ski injury prevented her from downhill ski racing and playing many team sports. Upon graduation with a degree in Graphic Design in Mass Art, Laure decided to follow her entrepreneurial cravings and launched Ciclismo Classico. Their mission is to inspire active travelers to embrace cycling as a soulful form of travel that connects us with the world and to the passionate, curious, and creative human spirit. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Show Notes 00:00 Rick Saez shares outdoor industry insights, interviews, and product innovation on the Outdoor Biz Podcast. 03:30 Lauren grew up without a bicycle in the 1960s, until she got her purple Schwinn . 06:34 Art and curiosity drive Lauren's varied interest in anthropology. 11:21 After Cornell , Lauren toured Europe, worked as a tour guide in Italy. 13:30 Created educational bike tours, focused on teaching, not luxury. Started with Pisa to Florence itinerary. 17:21 Some of the early challenges were in bike quality and hotel operations. 20:59 Lauren believe in learning t
Tue, June 18, 2024
Unleashing Boundless Adventure: Scuba Diving, Outdoor Pursuits, and Inspiring Stories with Chris and Kelly Kibbee [EP 448]
This week I’m talking with Chris and Kelly Kibbee, founders of No Limits Scuba in Tempe Arizona. If you’re just discovering scuba or looking to go professional, No Limits Scuba sets you apart on your path, by offering the highest quality and standards for safety and fun. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Show Notes 06:25 Dream of scuba shop ownership fulfilled; now No Limits Scuba has been a full-time career for 11 years. 09:57 Thriving desert diving community offers surprising vibrancy. 11:23 Arizona and Colorado compete for most divers. 16:11 Training leads to becoming a diving instructor. Skills prepare for teaching and responsibility. 19:56 Progress through courses to gain new diving skills and specialties. 22:49 Gradual diving program tailored to individual goals. 24:44 Traveling fosters a sense of community through scuba diving, creating lasting connections with a group of dedicated individuals who become like family. 27:13 Instructor helped mentee become a successful scuba diving instructor. 30:21 Arizona offers diverse outdoor activities, including snowboarding and hiking. The state's geographical diversity allows for cooler, higher elevations just a few hours north of the valley, providing a refreshing escape from the heat. 36:15 Enjoys both biographies and fiction, recently read some of Nick Offerman's books , specifically recommending "<a href="https://amzn.to/3X
Tue, June 11, 2024
B Corp Certification and Beyond: The Inspiring Outdoor Journey of Jetty with Cory Higgins [EP 447]
Hey everyone. Welcome to episode 447 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. This week I’m talking with Cory Higgins, Cory is the Jetty Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer. One of his early memories of Jetty is Putting $200 in a trucker hat at Jerm's apartment by the Port Hole to pay his portion of starting the company and making their first 3 tees. They’ve come a long way since then! Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Show Notes "Outdoor Adventures: So, yeah, I mean, there's so many memories of outdoor adventures."— Cory Higgins 00:03:4100:03:45 Entrepreneurship Journey: "And after college, we were sitting around. We were working on 9 to five. And on the weekends, we'd gather at the one guy's apartment and crack some beers and talk about starting a business and working for ourselves someday."— Cory Higgins 00:04:2000:04:57 <p class
Tue, June 04, 2024
Sustainable Materials in Outdoor Apparel: Kelly Mazanti Shares Her Hard-Earned Lessons [ EP 446]
Today I’m speaking with Buttnski founder Kelly Mazanti . After leaving her corporate life in 2017, Kelly founded a brand design & strategy company, Pier Collective , which she ran for five years between LA and Breckenridge. She is an alumnus of the CU Boulder Leeds School of Business with a degree in Marketing & Management. She recently had the opportunity to participate as a Capstone partner with the CU Boulder Master's of the Environment program . Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Show Notes 04:53 Skiing memories shape who I am now. 09:10 Skiing, eighties shorts, parents in Colorado. 09:43 Woman keeps old fleece shorts for warmth. 15:27 Supplier flexibility allowed working with local and overseas. 17:18 Family and friends supported our business launch. 21:47 Learning new things, like dealing with customs. 25:20 Thrilled to partner with smart master's student. 27:44 Using local eco-friendly company for packaging materials. 29:27 Customs issue with sourcing animal products. 32:
Tue, May 28, 2024
Outdoor Retail and Brand Connections: SKU Candy founder Jon Neff Explains their Platform and Service [EP 445]
Welcome to episode 445 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, today I’m talking with Jon Neff founder of SKU Candy . Jon is a passionate and experienced entrepreneur and the Sku Candy mission is to be the premier buying and selling wholesale marketplace in the Outdoor, Lifestyle, Surf, and Sporting Goods Categories. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 09:25 Promotes positive interactions with shop owners. 11:28 Challenges of trade show marketing. 13:12 Creating a trustworthy brand message and distribution. 16:38 Brands cater to emerging businesses and offer help to grow. 20:27 Growth and challenges led to a successful platform. 24:13 Brands expanding into retail, LISS makes surfboard racks. 26:19 Pale Blue Earth offers rechargeable batteries to reduce pollution from disposable ones. They have a 1,000 charge cycle and a limited lifetime guarantee. Use code OD Biz Blue 15 for 15% off at paleblueearth.com . 31:22 Experienced person continues to get gear questions. 35:28 Encouragement to join the growing surfing industry due to diversification. 37:48 Developing new platform, "we call it V2'. 39:26 Brands and buyers seek new, unique, and innovative offerings for competitive advantage. 41:34 Favorite piece of outdoor gear under a hundred dollars: <a href="https://outdoorelement.com/" target="_bl
Tue, May 21, 2024
The Vision for Texas Outdoor Recreation: Growing Exposure and Engagement [EP 444]
Welcome to episode of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, today I’m talking with Alex Brown from the Texas Outdoor Recreation Alliance. The Alliance was established to assemble an engaged network of outdoor enthusiasts, value aligned businesses, innovators, and workforce leaders; organized and resolved to continuously shape, grow, and elevate the Texas’ outdoor recreation ecosystem and natural resources it depends on. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 04:34 Alex's says his passion for nature has always kind of been there. he was always the little kid now kind of running off into the woods or into the creek. They grew up around, and were in a pretty rural area, but you know, kind of on the outside of the suburbs, but had access to creeks and farm fields that they would climb fences and go over and, he was just always out there spending as much time as I could. 5:00 His Grandparents got him into nature camps as a kid when he was in elementary age and, learned a lot about it and just learned to appreciate it and learn to spend time in it and just valued it and kind of just stuck throughout the rest of his life 05:22 Alex's venture Geared Up was a startup that I saw as a way to maybe transition out of my career, which at that time was working as a project manager or a laboratory program manager with the DOD doing a lot of biomedical research programs 06:56 The inspiration came from a bit of a bit of situational awareness just keeping an eye on what was happening with the outdoor indus
Tue, May 14, 2024
Jake Wallace: Wilderness Medicine, Risk Management, and Outdoor Adventure [EP 443]
Jake Wallace was born and raised in the corn fields of Iowa where he learned how to fix fences, build barns and generally throw hay bales larger than cows with ease. Life has been nothing but an adventure for Jake. In addition to working for NOLS Wilderness Medicine , he works as a professional mountain guide which takes him around the world to beautiful mountains and rivers alongside amazing people. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 Experiencing outdoor adventures sparked lifelong enthusiasm. 03:59 Jake enjoys diverse pursuits and follows people they admire in various fields, such as outdoor education, leadership, and medicine. They believe in imparting wisdom and following the example of respected individuals. 07:04 Trauma where a dear friend was killed spurred career change and led to helping others outdoors. 11:13 Appreciating diverse cultures during travel. 15:52 Swift water rescue training in California, accident injures teammate. 18:13 Took first responder course, met friends, and kept up with instructors. 21:23 <a href= "https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwi
Tue, May 07, 2024
Embracing Sustainability: Mary Swanson's Vision for Outdoor Adventure Brand Lava Linens [EP 442]
Today on Episode 442 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast I’m talking with Lava Linens founder Mary Swanson. With a Master's Degree in Public Health and Environment and 15+ years of experience in the government and nonprofit sectors, Mary Swanson has now found herself leading the next generation outdoor gear company. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 Episode 442 features Lava Linens founder, Mary Swanson, discussing eco-friendly outdoor gear. 03:14 Memories of childhood road trips and first trip to Peru with partner. 09:04 Challenging sourcing for quality linen towel. 10:42 Process of making high quality linen textile involves 12 manual steps, resulting in soft, mid-weight fabric with art and science. 13:20 Received valuable support, led to success, continuing partnership. 19:36 Surprised and grateful for connections, creating custom products. 22:36 Sponsored Granite Gear's groundskeepers , open to partnerships for natural fiber gear. 27:26 Focus on learning, purpose beyond production. 29:53 Favorite items under $100 include a Garmin Watch and Vibram 5 Finger shoes used after foot surgery. Thanks for listening and visiting our website. Don't forget to subscribe and spread the word! Learn More You can follow Mary on her <a href= "https:/
Tue, April 30, 2024
Navigating the World of Travel Writing with Jessica Poitevien [EP 441]
Today on The Outdoor Biz Podcast I’m talking with Travel Writer Jessica Poitevien. Jessica says that storytelling has always been her passion. Whether she’s reviewing a new hotel, diving deep into little-known destinations or helping a travel brand tell their story, she does it all with the hopes of inspiring others to explore this beautiful world. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 04:54 Jessica Started a travel blog in Spain, burned out, and freelance writing led to a travel job. 08:38 Stories have a purpose - entertaining vs. informative. 10:24 Knowing your limitations as a travel writer as a travel writer, and using local expertise. 14:51 I remember I went on a press trip once, and I was on an assignment to write about this resort. It was not my type of vacation; others loved it, considering the target audience. 17:32 Style depends on story, some for issue-solving, a personal experience, expert advice, lists of things, etc. 20:39 Editors are flexible about travel stories. 29:13 Find time to create. It's challenging, but I must sit down and write or walk to gather thoughts. 30:29 Connected with ATTA through colleague Amanda Castleman, co-teaching, travel writing, pitching, recommended for ATTA events. 34:49 Jessica's advic
Thu, April 25, 2024
Adventure Travel Stories, Sustainability, and Opportunities with ATTA's Shannon Stowell [EP 440]
In this episode of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, we wrap up our series on adventure travel with Shannon Stowell. Shannon leads the ATTA as CEO after re-starting the organization in 2004 pursuing the vision that it could be a powerful force for good in the tourism industry. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 ATTA Started small, took over, expanded worldwide later. 06:30 Networking, events, and travel fill our days. 16:13 High level consulting for destination events, lik
Tue, April 23, 2024
Off-Road Adventure with Bob Wohlers, talking Overlanding, Vehicle Diagnostics, and Off-Roading Growth [EP 439]
Welcome to Episode 439 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today, I’m talking with Bob Wohlers of Off-Road Safety Academy ; Bob is, first and foremost, an outdoor adventurer. Simply put, he's a "surf and turf" kind of guy. Regarding the "surf" aspect, for 32 years Bob created curricula and invented training methodologies for PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. For the "turf" aspect, Bob has been an avid off-roader his entire life. He knows the "zen" and "fine art" of safe and environmentally responsible off-road driving." Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 Transitioned from teaching to recreational scuba, then worked on curriculum and elearning for PADI's team. 07:18 Drove on unfinished highway in Baja while taking naps, went diving in Sea of Cortez, got into off roading and bought own off road vehicle. 10:33 Enthusiastic about off-roading courses, found value in learning and eager to improve skills. 17:40 The speaker discusses the importance of managing injuries and illnesses in the field, highlighting the necessity of a wilderness first aid kit and an AED ( automated external defibrillator ) for tours and training courses. They stress the significance of being prepared for medical emergencies to ensure the safety of participants. 24:08 Three rangers died in a tragic accident, one of whom was driving without 4-wheel drive knowledge, le
Thu, April 18, 2024
Adventure Photography and Travel Writing with HI Travel Tales Michael Hodgson and Therese Iknoian [EP 348]
In this episode of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, we dive into the world of adventure travel with Michael Hodgson and Therese Iknoian from HI Travel Tales. Therese and Michael share their many adventures with us and how HI Travel Tales came to life! Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 Podcast series explores thrilling adventure travel journeys and shares captivating stories from guides, outfitters, and destinations. It ignites wanderlust and inspires outdoor adventures. 07:45 Studying in Germany had a profound impact, broadening the individual's perspective on life and travel, as the experience of living in a different culture opened their eyes to the big world and the multitude of wonderful experiences it offers. This influenced their understanding of how cultures and people interact to shape the reality we experience, ultimately leading to a much broader perspective on life and travel. 10:38 Therese's Italy visit, amazed by David statue's impact on her perception of art. 19:06 Michael discusses the transition from writing creatively to incorporating journalism and SEO keywords. They express a realization that personal experiences and deeper connections resonate most with readers. They emphasize the importance of telling stories in a unique, non-traditional way to create reader engagement. 25:17 Michael discusses his interest in AI for research, mentioning their upcoming panel at a travel writers' conference and their use of AI for story ideas. They express both fascination and unease with AI's capabilities, sharing an anecdote about using it to generate a specific request.
Tue, April 16, 2024
Innovation and Collaboration in Outdoor Media with Chez Chesak, Outdoor Writers Assoc. of America [EP 437]
Hey everyone, Welcome to Episode 437 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I’m talking with Chez Chesak. Chez is an award-winning adventure travel writer and 20+ year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. He is also Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Show Notes 06:13 Frequent travel for work, including long trips to Australia and South Africa, led to amazing opportunities but strained family life. Looking forward to finally bringing family to these places. 08:33 Chez highlights the irony of spending excessive time indoors managing communication, social media, and engaging with the board and members. They also mention creating job opportunities for members through posting positions and communicating about awards. 11:35 Chez talks about Looking forward to the upcoming July event in Johnson City, Tennesse e, with vetted outdoor media, regional tourism boards, and brands networking. The event will feature a marketplace for networking, city tours, and professional development, offering abundant networking opportunities in the beautiful Tennessee location. 13:17 Navigating the evolving media landscape involves supporting various content creators to boost their careers. 18:18 Podcasting growth potential in outdoor space and its ability to reach people 24/7. 20:28 Chez explains maintaining the importance of OWAA 's welcoming environment for new members while embracing the tight-knit community is a great challenge. It's important to ensure new members feel included and connected when joining events like Fieldfast or the conference. 24:51 Encouraging young people with a passion for the outdoors and storytelling to join OWAA for resources and career support, including opportunities for those just starting out or making a career change. 26:18 OWAA offers fellowships to support the development of outdoor storytellers, and also provides a $30 student membership, available to undergraduate and graduate students from any school. 31:13 Discovering healing stories through yoga for veterans while facing challenges with traditional media outlets. An article about yoga for vets led to learning about the healing effects of yoga on veterans, including personal experiences with a medic. 33:58 Emphasizes the importance of consistent effort and perseverance in building one's skills and career. Stressing the value of c
Thu, April 11, 2024
The Story of Eagle Creek. From Outdoor Adventures to Adventure Travel with Steve and Nona Barker [EP 436]
In this episode of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, we dive into the world of adventure travel with industry pioneers, Steve and Nona Barker. Join us as we explore the origins of their iconic travel gear brand, Eagle Creek , and their journey in shaping the adventure travel market. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 03:28 They agreed, and through an outdoor skills course, I got to know Nona for the first time. 08:53 The conversation covers early challenges in finance and distribution, specifically the tough nature of distribution. There is also a mention of whether the distribution was regional or national, with reference to Oshman's being in a few malls back in the day. 13:02 Struggles in the beginning, but success followed. Feedback from customers through retail stores was instrumental in achieving success. 16:09 Adventure travel caters to active, diverse customers by offering outdoor activities such as trekking, backpacking, skiing, and surfing in different locations worldwide, appealing to a wide range of interests and preferences. 17:53 In the 90s, Eagle Creek was involved in teaching retailers about adventure travel gear, while also selling the travel gear dealer program. It took some time for the retailers to catch on to the concept. 21:07 Passionate involvement in conservation, frustration over limited global funding for non-North American regions. Started The <a href="https://adventuretravelconservationfund
Tue, April 09, 2024
The Future of the Outdoor Biz: Barry McGeough on Growth, Sustainability, and Circular Innovation [EP 435]
Today I'm talking with Barry McGeough. Barry is an applied innovation Fortune 500 leader, delivering high-impact solutions to global multi-brand verticals that drive exponential growth to some of the world's most iconic brands. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 Friend's 60th birthday boat trip to Channel Islands , cooking as camp cook after returning from China. 06:31 Discusses innovating for brands through athlete-driven ideas. 11:32 AI relies on large language models to learn and improve, needing constant updates and access to vast amounts of data. 20:58 Proposing garment recycling for polyester energy. 23:07 Companies face sustainability legislation and extended producer responsibility acts globally e.g. EU, New York, California, and France. 29:37 Used shoe recycling process lowers costs, reduces landfill waste. 36:25 Volunteered for education-focused NGO in Vietnam, aiming to uplift rural children through STEM education to attend university. 38:02 Organization supports Vietnamese education and leadership in Vietnam and the US. 46:05 Emphasis on applied innovation, connection to core business, and leveraging influence without P&L ownership. 52:16 Collaborating to ensure footwear quality and suitability for purpose during commercialization. 53:42 Barry supports startups and advises them to be honest and straightforward. 58:28 Data is collected from ambient sources, like location and environment, and used to create a detailed picture of activities and trends. 01:06:55 Recommend resources: <a href= "https://info.a16z.com/Subscription-Center
Thu, April 04, 2024
Pioneering Adventure Travel with Richard Bangs: Stories of Exploration and Transformation [EP 434]
Welcome to the Outdoor Biz Podcast Adventure Travel Series, where we embark on thrilling journeys and share captivating stories exploring the world of adventure travel. Join me as I share the stories of guides, outfitters, and destinations that will ignite your wanderlust and inspire your next great adventure. Whether it's scaling majestic peaks, diving into turquoise waters, We're traversing vast wilderness. We unveil the hidden gems that every outdoor enthusiast dreams of exploring. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 Entrepreneur recounts excitement of starting river company. 06:19 Excited guides seek new adventure on Omo River . 11:47 Hidden creatures ambush and devour prey underwater. 16:43 Encountered naked tribes, photographed and shared images. 23:43 Started small, wrote, and grew into success. 26:42 Pioneering adventure travel company explores new frontiers. 41:04 Sustainable travel, small groups, local engagement emphasized. 43:37 Enjoying meeting locals and sharing meals worldwide. 49:15 Global adventure travel company survives through challenges. 58:32 First trip to Uganda, fascinated by exploration. 01:01:06 Couple explores Africa together, she becomes hero. 50:21 Books: I'm currently reading a novel called The Romantic by William Boyd ; some memorable books are River of the Gods by Candace M
Tue, April 02, 2024
Nomadic living and Environmental Advocacy with Outdoor Minimalist Meg Carney [EP 433]
Hey everyone, Welcome to Episode 433 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast with outdoor writer and podcaster Meg Carney. Meg is an outdoor and environmental writer with a passion for environmental advocacy. She primarily covers topics within the outdoor industry ranging from the best new products and greenwashing to the scientific coverups of hazardous chemicals. And if you’re not listening to her series on Forever Chemicals released on March 4th . . . get on that . . . it’s a MUST listen. Meg is dropping New episodes every Monday through April. Welcome to Episode 433 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast with outdoor writer and podcaster Meg Carney. Meg is an outdoor and environmental writer with a passion for environmental advocacy. She primarily covers topics within the outdoor industry ranging from the best new products and greenwashing to the scientific coverups of hazardous chemicals. And if you’re not listening to her series on Forever Chemicals released on March 4th . . . get on that . . . it’s a MUST listen. Meg is dropping New episodes every Monday through April. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 Grandfather's conservationist influence sparked environmental passion. 05:01 First article published led to freelance writing career. 08:16 The text discusses speciesism, the unequal treatment of different animal species. It uses the example of how dogs are often treated as human children, while pigs are seen as livestock, despite having similar intelligence. The discussion is presented in a fictional narrative. 10:10 Book focuses on consumer sustainability, lacks industry perspective. 14:21 Passionate about surprising complexity of tex
Tue, March 26, 2024
The Evolution of Outdoor Hydration Solutions with MXXY's Drew Dawson [EP 432]
Today I’m talking with MXXY co-founder Drew Dawson. MXXY was born on the trails of Marin County, California. Growing up there Drew and co-founder Nicloa Beglum spent their days hiking, biking and running. Electrolytes played a big role in helping them feel and perform their best but fumbling with extra bottles was a distraction, and reservoirs left a gunky mess to clean when they got home. The technology didn’t exist to solve that so they created it. Today, Drew and I talk about that and plenty more. If you write as much as I do, it’s nice to have a little backup with spelling and grammar, and I use Grammarly . Grammarly is a cloud-based typing assistant. It reviews spelling, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery mistakes, detects plagiarism, and suggests replacements for the identified errors. It also allows users to customize their style, tone, and context-specific language. Their instant grammar checker corrects all grammar errors and enhances your writing. To try it out, go to ricksaez dot com slash grammarcheck and get signed up today. You can thank me later. That's Ricksaez dot com slash grammar check. Show Notes 04:14 Founding company, bonding with biking community. 08:09 Discovering electrolytes; the neon fluid phenomenon. 11:12 Innovative water system with effective cleaning solutions. 15:17 Learning from selling minimum viable product critical. 16:57 Passion for building physical products drove success. 22:21 Life is a constant ebb and flow. 31:23 Modular system with detachable and replaceable parts. 33:17 Embracing challenges leads to personal growth. 37:17 Fan of YETI's founders and brand. 39:47 Validate your business idea with data first. 43:52 Building anything is valuable in business. Learn More To learn more about Drew and MXXY, visit their website at: https://gomxxy.com/ You can also visit MXXY on these social sites: Facebook Linkedin Instagram Next Steps If you enjoy interviews devoted to the outdoor industry, find us online at <a hre
Tue, March 19, 2024
Rachel Gross Unpacks the Evolution of Outdoor Gear and the American Outdoor Identity [EP 431]
This week I'm talking with Rachel Gross , an environmental and cultural historian of the modern U. S. and an assistant professor of history at the University of Colorado Denver . Among many accolades and experiences, Rachel was a Carson Fellow at the Rachel Carson Center in Munich and, for her doctoral research, wrote about the history of outdoor clothing and gear in the U.S. from the Civil War to the present. Her book is: Shopping All the Way to the Woods: How the Outdoor Industry Sold Nature to America Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com If you write as much as I do, it’s nice to have a little backup with spelling and grammar, and I use Grammarly . Grammarly is a cloud-based typing assistant. It reviews spelling, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery mistakes, detects plagiarism, and suggests replacements for the identified errors. It also allows users to customize their style, tone, and context-specific language. Their instant grammar checker corrects all grammar errors and enhances your writing. To try it out, go to ricksaez dot com slash grammarcheck and get signed up today. You can thank me later. That's Ricksaez dot com slash grammar check. Show Notes <p data-pm-slice="1 1 []
Tue, March 12, 2024
The Art of Endurance: Nadia Ruiz's Stories of Running, Coaching, and Outdoor Pursuits [EP 430]
Today, I’m talking with endurance athlete Nadia Ruiz. I met Nadia at The Running Event in Austin last year. Nadia is a personal coach, the youngest female to finish 100 marathons, and has completed over 650 races around the globe. We talk about her love for running, the various events she has run, her coaching activities, and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com 00:00 Inspired by Ironman race, dreamed of participating someday. 03:34 Expensive, equipment-heavy triathlon; initially aimed for marathon. Discovered LA Marathon . 09:17 During the COVID pandemic, to pass the time, I created lists of my top 10 favorite trail marathons, international races, and US marathons. I have participated in over 650 races across the globe in the past 26 years, finding great joy in the people I met, the sights I saw, and the food I enjoyed. The experience of racing frequently has allowed me to connect with others who share the same passion. The first race I ever did holds a special place in my heart, as it made me feel invincible. 13:08 Ecuadorian heritage fuels passion for trail running. 17:05 I fit running into my schedule whenever possible, whether it's during lunch or in the morning or evening. It's not a chore for me, and I've been running for 26 years. 22:19 Success begins with small, consistent steps taken daily. It's important to remember that even the best athletes had to start with that first challenging step. 23:23 Favorite Piece of Running gear: <a href= "https://amzn.to/4390OYq" target="_blank" rel="noopene
Tue, March 05, 2024
Mark Holyoak from RMEF: Unveiling the outdoor Work of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation [EP 429]
Welcome to Episode 429 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I’m talking with Mark Holyoak, Director of Communication at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation . Mark has been in the communications business for 35 years. He spent the first 24 years as a television broadcast journalist in Kansas, Washington and Montana. In 2012, he accepted the position of director of communication at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, where he oversees Bugle magazine , produces written and digital content, creates video scripts, and is responsible for all internal and external communications. He likes to hunt, fly fish, hike, play softball, basketball, and hockey, and ride his mountain unicycle with his kids. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 As a child in the 70s and 80s, I spent most of my time outside, exploring the creek bottoms, catching crawdads, fishing, and playing with friends. It was a carefree time when we would leave the house in the morning and only return when it was dark. I have fond memories of hiking, skipping rocks, and playing with critters - typical kid stuff, really. 04:41 Fond memories of hunting with parents in Utah. 07:04 Bonding through outdoor activities, father and son. 11:11 Transitioned from news anchor to public relations director. 15:21 Father, a petroleum geologist, inspired deep love for profession. 17:12 Gaining factory work experience, learning from veterans. 19:31 Elk organization's effo
Tue, February 27, 2024
Adventure Trailblazing with Mari Bodensteiner and The Space Trailers Story [EP 428]
Welcome to Episode 428 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast with Mari Bodensteiner and Space Trailers . Mari grew up on the backwaters of the upper Mississippi. She is an avid hiker and amateur angler. Before her career in marketing, she taught English and Rhetoric at several universities across the country. Additionally, she contracted with the State Department to develop international educational programs in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. She currently works to grow the SPACE Trailers brand and is most inspired by the passionate consumers that she gets to interact with each day. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 The individual discusses their transition from teaching to a marketing role, emphasizing the influence of lifelong learning from education on shaping their career path. They note a connection between teaching rhetoric at the university level and their current role as a marketing director, highlighting how the communication principles they taught, such as ethos, pathos, and logos, directly translates to marketing messaging. 04:15 Chris and Rich have collaborated for over 30 years in manufacturing and entrepreneurship. They have a strong background in manufacturing and have successfully built numerous companies together. They recently acquired a company called space trailers from two eccentric brothers in Minnesota, and are now working with their family in this dynamic. 07:37 Families are enjoying the convenience and excitement of cross country road trips with compact trailers, freeing up extra space in their jam-packed vehicles for bikes and kayaks. There has been a surge in the shipping of t
Tue, February 20, 2024
Joe DiGirolamo Shares Thermore's Pursuit of Sustainability and Outdoor Environmental Awareness [427]
In this episode, Rick Saez welcomes Joe DiGirolamo , Director of Sales at insulation company Thermore . After sharing their early experiences with outdoor activities and their current hobbies, they delve into the concept of plastic recycling for insulation production. They discuss the importance of adopting sustainability both in the manufacturing processes and everyday operations. Thermore's Ocean Down initiative, and the impact of our buying decisions on the environment. Joe illustrates these with his work in Thermore, particularly with the development of sustainable materials. He further urges listeners to make conscious, wise choices concerning consumption, especially when dealing with single-use plastics. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Questions we Discussed Share your first outdoor experience with us? Camping, hiking, biking, what was it? How often do you get out to camp, hike, bike, etc, these days? Tell us a bit about Thermore, it's a family business founded in Italy? You've been with Thermore a long time. What were you doing before joining Theremore? Thermore has been driving sustainability since day one, where does that ethos come from? How has the process of developing
Tue, February 13, 2024
Tom Dempsey, Outdoor Industry Leadership, and SylvanSport's Innovative Approach [EP 426]
Hey everyone, welcome to Episode 426 with Tom Dempsey, founder and CEO of SylvanSport and a highly regarded national leader in the outdoor industry for several decades. SylvanSport designs and manufactures innovative recreation vehicles and outdoor gear. In addition to SylvanSport, Dempsey has founded and led several other companies in the outdoor recreation industry and is the founding chairperson of the North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition, a non-profit group that directs and supports the state's Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Questions we Discussed Tell us about your first outdoor experience? How many times do you get out to camp, hike, etc, these days? Where does your love for industrial design come from? And what was your job at Coleman? It was your first outdoor job, right? You got into the kayak space when it was still relatively new. Are you a kayaker? What was it about adventure sports that inspired SlyvanSport? Tell us about the early days of Sylvan, is your first product still in the line? How do you find time to run the company and maintain the role of chief product designer? Sylvan also has a great company culture, can you share some of the things you do to maintain that? What is the Sylvan distribution network like, how many RV dealers are you in? Mountain Bridge Wilderness Are all your products sold in the US or are there any international distributors? Do you have a favorite place camp? How about a spot to get away for an hour or so and get some outdoor time during
Tue, February 06, 2024
Reeling in Change: How Outdoor Brand Rising to the Fly is Empowering Women in Fly Fishing [EP 425]
Julia Mitchell had a kernel of this idea she had been noodling on for a few years. She had had some "lightly used" fly fishing clothes that didn't fit her anymore and thought they would be perfect for another angler. Julia was working in a leadership role with United Women on the Fly , and also started a leadership role with a local fly fishing group where she met Temma Roby. After sharing her idea of breaking down barriers for women to enjoy fly fishing and providing used or donated gear and clothing Temma was on board with the mission. On August 5th, 2022 Rising to the Fly was born! Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Rising to the Fly 00:00 Decided to expand fly fishing group nationwide, changed name to " Rising to the Fly ." 04:15 Learned fly fishing in 1999, started with intro clinic, now passionate about it. 09:39 Idea stemmed from unused fishing shirts, expanded to include gear for exchange among women. 13:23 Partners with organizations, holds clinics & training for women. 15:02 Received campground donation for weekend, stocked pond, women caught fish, divided into smaller groups for activities. 18:48 Shop manager offered support, received products, plans to engage other Orvis shops. 21:02 Transformed garage into warehouse, repurposed hangers for inventory. 27:19 Tema and I reached out to other nonprofits for advice on donations and applications, providing helpful insights and support
Tue, January 30, 2024
Campfire Outdoor Innovation: Inside the Creation of PacAPit with John Chadwell [EP 424]
Welcome to Episode 424 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I’m speaking with PacAPit creator and Founder John Chadwell. The inspiration for PacAPit came from the idea of building a fire they could use while sitting in the water, a fire that people could gather around. They started in June of 2020, and after John developed the product and got a patent, they begin selling in October of 2021. They are in all 50 states and about 14 countries! Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Overview PacAPit 00:00 Invented COVID baby fire concept on river. 03:23 Texas grocery chain H E B founders started camp foundation in Hill Country; aims to preserve camping experience. 07:56 Considering outsourcing production to scale business, possibly outsourcing grill production to a stamping facility. 11:30 Looking for retailers in San Antonio and Spring Branch for outdoor gear and fire pits. 15:30 The PacAPit allows building fires on any surface, including snow and ice, for outdoor activities. 16:44 People crave campfire experience to gather and connect, improving social interaction. 20:41 Advice on iterating a product, seeking feedback, and protecting ideas. 23:31 Versatile tool, furniture development, long-term app goal for campfire storytelling. 24:45 What is your favorite outdoor gear purchase under $100? <a href="https://amzn.to/3SAyqLk" target= "_blank" rel="noopen
Tue, January 23, 2024
Peter Arlein Shares his mountainFLOW ‘No petroleum’ EcoWax Outdoor Success [EP 423]
Welcome to Episode 423 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I’m speaking with Peter Arlein, Founder and CEO of mountainFLOW eco-wax. Peter has been in the Outdoor Industry for over 20 years working as a ski patroller and raft guide. In 2016 he started MountainFLOW eco-wax with a straightforward mission: provide a simple and eco-friendly way to improve the skiing experience. Their first product was a water-based anti-stick spray that reduced snow and ice buildup on top of skis. Located in Carbondale CO they’ve since added more ski bike products to the line. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Questions we Discussed What was your first outdoor experience? tell us about the path from Biology and Neuroscience at Colby College to an MBA at the Business Intelligence and Data Analytics at the University of Alaska . before we get into ski wax what was the Seafood business like? and when did you first have the idea for eco-friendly ski wax? and it's made entirely from plants? what was the iteration process from raw paraffin to eco-friendly ski wax? how many non-stick pans and stove burners did you ruin? how big was the business when you went on Shark Tank ? <
Tue, January 16, 2024
Sustainable Adventure Travel and Community Empowerment: Samira Holma's Journey [EP 422]
Today, I’m speaking with entrepreneur, marketer, writer, and full-time traveler Samira Holma . Samira helps brands and places lead the way in hospitality and the future of work improving and growing their impact with marketing that supports local communities. In 2016, she turned her passions for marketing and travel into her lifestyle and became a full-time traveling marketing consultant & writer. She's been traveling non-stop, without a fixed base, ever since. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Questions we Discussed Let's begin with how were you inspired to travel the world? where was your first trip to a new country how about your first new continent? what inspired you to get into marketing? you have a Bachelor's in International Marketing from BI Norwegian School of Management how did you decide to go there? your bio says you are an entrepreneur, marketer, writer, and full-time traveler, tell us about your work what do you do, and how do you keep up with everything while you're traveling? how do you help destinations and brands upgrade and attract the right audience with strategies that boost local communities which part of the business you are most passionate about? tell us about your audience, what are a couple of their key demographics? do you have an "our craziest adventure" story from all your travels? Is there someplace you haven't been to yet that is high on your list? what are a couple of your fav
Tue, January 09, 2024
Navigating Agency Success, Personal Growth, and Outdoor Pursuits with Kyle Duford [EP 421]
We’re kicking off the year with a great conversation! Today, I’m speaking with The Brand Leader's Kyle Duford. Kyle is an author, brander, speaker, and former writer for Outside, Men’s Health, and Men’s Journal. He’s got a quiver full of accomplishments, so we’re going to get into it. . . Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Questions we Discussed Let's begin with Husband and dad first. Was your dad your role model? You have a bachelor of Life, Graphic Design, and Creative Writing . . . I didn't see those options at my College. What was your first job out of college? Your work experience looks like it involved a lot of creativity and fun. Is there an experience that rises to the top of that list? Which do you feel had the most influence in honing your advertising and branding chops? How did you get involved with The Brand Leader ? Over your four years with The Brand Leader, are there a couple of accomplishments you are most proud of? As an advertising and branding pro, do you know how tradeshows can return that excitement and energy from their earlier days? Tell us about your book Twice Found . What inspired you to write a book? Are there any new projects in the pipeline you can talk about? What outdoor activities do you participate in? Do you have any suggestions and/or advice for folks wanting to get into the outdoor advertising and branding biz? What is your favorite outdoor gear purchase under $100 Peak Design iPhone case Is
Tue, January 02, 2024
Outdoor Adventure Series replay: Scott Kovarovics, Executive Director at the Izaak Walton League [EP 420]
Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to episode 420 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. I am taking a two-week break to get some adventure and relaxation in and I’m excited to present a podcast collab for your listening enjoyment. I am featuring two episodes from my good friend Howard Fox’s Outdoor Adventure Series podcast and he is featuring two of my show’s on his podcast. Today we’ll hear Howards' conversation with Scott Kovarovics, executive director at the Izaak Walton League of America. Enjoy! Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes The League is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022 and is one of America’s oldest and most successful conservation organizations. The League has carved out a unique role, promoting hands-on conservation and citizen science while advocating for strong state and national policies to protect our air, water, and wildlife. The League promotes outdoor recreation, especially fishing, hunting, and recreational shooting sports such as trap, skeet, and archery. Insight2Go The threats to our environment today may be less
Thu, December 28, 2023
Suweeka's Kirk Ohly interviews Rick about his Outdoor Career [EP 419]
I'm here with a good friend of mine, Kirk Ohly . Kirk is one of the founding partners of the new eBike rack brand Suweeka . We're in Ballard, Stoop Brewery in Ballard. This is going to be something different, Kirk is interviewing me. Let’s go! Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, December 26, 2023
Outdoor Adv Series Replay- Protecting Coastlines with the Surfrider Foundation [EP 418]
Happy Holidays, everyone! Welcome to episode 418 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. I am taking a two-week break to get some adventure and relaxation in, and I’m excited to present a podcast collab for your listening enjoyment. I am featuring two episodes from my good friend Howard Fox 's Outdoor Adventure Series podcast , and he is featuring two of my shows on his podcast. Today, we’ll hear Howard's conversation with Surfrider Foundation's Chad Nelsen on their mission to protect coastlines and waterways . . . enjoy! Chad is an environmentalist and the driving force behind the Surfrider Foundation. With a strong belief in the power of grassroots movements, Dr. Nelsen and the Surfrider Foundation aim to protect and conserve coastal and ocean environments. Bringing together individuals who share a love for the coasts and oceans, the foundation has successfully channeled their passion into actionable steps toward stewardship. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com TOPICS WE DISCUSSED 1. What is the Surfrider Foundation's primary focus? 2. How does the organization work to address plastic pollution? 3. How has the organization evolved? 4. How does outdoor recreation relate to environmental stewardship? 5. How does the Surfrider Foundation engage younger generations? 6. Where does the Foundation have chapters and international affiliates? 7. How does the Foundation establish credibility and effectiveness? INSIGHT2GO The Power of Grassroots Organizing: "Never doubt that a small group of people can't make a difference because that's the only group that ever has." ― Quote by Margaret Mead LEARN MORE To learn more about Chad and the Surfrider Foundation, visit their website at <a h
Thu, December 21, 2023
2023 TRE Show Floor Switchback Outdoor #2 [EP 417]
Welcome to Episode 417, An un-Cut episode of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. The second of two episodes featuring a few quick conversations I captured on the show floor at The Running Event in Austin Texas. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Links The Running Event Camelbak Farm to Feet Flip Mitts K Swiss Pickle Ball<
Tue, December 19, 2023
Reimagining Workplaces: Tiffany Smith's Insights on Diversity and Inclusion in the Outdoors [EP 416]
Welcome to episode 416 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Thrive Market . See why over 1 million members love Thrive – shop 6,000+ products curated by our experts. Organic? Non-GMO? Vegan, paleo, keto? Gluten-free? You name it, Thrive Market caters to it. Today, I’m talking with Tiffany Smith, CEO of Camber Outdoors . Tiffany and Camber Outdoors are dedicated to empowering the Outdoor Recreation Economy industry to build workplaces where people from all communities, backgrounds, identities, faiths, and world views can thrive. Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes - You have years of experience in the non-profit world, how were you inspired to pursue that path? One of my mentors, Dr. Bob Long, used to work for the Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek . There was this opportunity [00:02:40] that came up with the Urban League , and he thought I should go for it. And, a few other leaders at the Urban League also thought I should go for it, so I did. I [00:02:50] put together, a unique proposal. They were looking for someo
Tue, December 12, 2023
Matt Addington's Bird Hunting Film Kaiya, Reconnecting a Father and Son Outdoor [EP 415]
Welcome to episode 415 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Toyota . From the RAV 4 to the mighty Tacoma, Toyota has a model built for everyone’s Outdoor adventures. Today I’m talking with Photographer Matt Addington about his career and recent film A Bird Dog Named Kaiya . How the love for a bird dog inspired a young man to fully embrace bird hunting, an important part of his Laotian culture. Brought to you this week by Toyota Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes Show Notes First Overnight Adventure: Matt doesn't recall the exact first experience but he grew up in Northern Minnesota, where outdoor life was part of his lifestyle. He spent a lot of time in places like the Boundary Waters and Voyager's National Park . When Did You Pick Up a Camera? Matt was enamored with cameras from a young age. He remembers having a Kodak disc camera when it came out and taking numerous pictures, even as a child. However, his more serious introduction to photography started in seventh grade when their art teacher gave him a Pentax K 1000 and taught him darkroom techniques. Start in Video: Although Matt didn't start shooting video when he first picked up a camera, he began experimenting with tape-to-tape edits in junior high a
Thu, December 07, 2023
2023 TRE Show Floor Switchback Outdoor #1 [EP 414]
Welcome to Episode 414, The Outdoor Biz Podcast UnCut. I’m dropping a couple of bonuses on you over the next two weeks or so, featuring a few quick conversations I captured on the show floor at The Running Event in Austin, Texas. <img src= "data:image/png;base64,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
Tue, December 05, 2023
Exploring the Great Outdoors: Insights from Toyota's Curt McAllister on Conservation, Fishing, and More [EP 413]
Welcome to episode 413 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Toyota . From the RAV 4 to the mighty Tacoma, Toyota has a model built for everyone’s Outdoor adventures. I’m excited to talk with Toyota North America Midwest PR and Outdoor Communications Manager and fellow OWAA member Curt McAllister. Brought to you this week by Toyota Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes [04:59.1] How did you get involved with Toyota? Curtis got involved with Toyota through the Great Lakes Outdoor Writers Association . The association approached him about starting the Toyota Let's Go Places scholarship program aimed at supporting young individuals interested in outdoor media. [11:26:1] What drives Toyota's commitment to promoting hunting, fishing, and conservation? Toyota's commitment to promoting hunting, fishing, and conservation is showcased through its sponsorship of outdoor communicator scholarships. These scholarships aim to support young individuals in these fields and help replenish memberships in outdoor media groups. [14:03:3] What is your role in Toyota's sponsorship of outdoor communicator scholarships? Curtis's role involves collaborating with organizations like the Great Lakes Outdoor Writers Association to initiate the Toyota Let's Go Places scholarship program. They help target and support young people interested in journalism or forestry by funding their attendance at conferences and events. [14:55:03] How about the process of choosing a
Tue, November 28, 2023
Texas to North Dakota: The Waterfowl Brigade Camp Inspiring Young Outdoor Conservationists [EP 412]
Welcome to Episode 412 of the outdoor biz podcast and my conversation with Jennifer Kross and Josh Arnold. Jennifer is an Education Biologist with Ducks Unlimited Great Plains region and Josh is an avid hunter helping other young folks learn about hunting and fishing. Brought to you this week by Ducks Unlimited Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:02:27 - 00:02:58 How did you get into duck hunting? Josh got into duck hunting through his interest in the Texas Waterfowl Brigade . 00:03:44 - 00:04:06 Do you do any other kinds of hunting? "I'm actually more of a pheasant hunter than a duck hunter" 00:04:27 - 00:04:55 How did you meet Jennifer? "I actually was doing an event down in a little place in North Dakota call
Tue, November 21, 2023
Exploring Endurance: Uncovering the Outdoor Trails and Adventures of Rebecca Rush [EP 411]
Welcome to episode 411 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by toughcutie , Premium quality merino wool hiking socks made by women for women in the USA. This week American endurance professional athlete, seven-time World Champion, author, entrepreneur, Emmy Award winner, and motivational speaker Rebecca Rusch joins me. We learn about her very first bike, how she finds all her adventures, where her drive and determination come from, and plenty more. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:39 Rebecca Rush discusses her adventures and inspirations. 04:37 Enjoyed outdoors from a young age, shaping career around sport with no master plan. 09:25 A personal adventure on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. 10:05 Evolution of career and industry, with creativity and changes. 14:56 Long-distance activities engage the mind and promote reflection and improvement. 17:38 I was surprised by positive feedback, as it inspired others from my book. 20:19 Unaware of the devastation in Vietnam, Dad's words led to realization, and career pivot for more impact. 23:26 Rebecca wants to explore famous routes like the Ho Chi Minh Trail and Silk Roads but is also interested in untouched areas in Idaho for bike-packing expeditions. 27:12 Rebecca’s advice: Start small, use resources, and consider your skill level. Find guided trails for safety and convenience. Links R
Tue, November 14, 2023
Driving Outdoor Gear Carry: Suweeka's Cutting-Edge Bike Carry Solutions [EP 410]
Welcome to Episode 410 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Brought to you this week by Four Wheel Campers. Today I’m talking with Kirk Ohly and Spencer T Houser about their new project Suweeka, a modular, vehicle rack system – engineered to support the lifestyle of active and passionate people in original and innovative ways. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes First Bikes Spencer Takara BMX Bike First 10 speed Kirk Moxie - Monoshock First 10-speed Favorite Books Build by Tony Fadell He headed up the iPod & iPhone team and also started the NEST brand. A Trip to the Beach, By Melinda Blanchard and Robert Blanchard a husband and wife team that moved from Vermont to Anquila and followed up on their crazy idea to open a beachside restaurant. It's a great read, and it didn't dawn on me until we started Suweeka that it's a great take on starting a business. Favorite outdoor gear purchase under $100 This hasn't changed from my last appearance, A hammock from <a href= "https://eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/collections/hammocks?gclid=Cj0KCQi
Tue, November 07, 2023
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation: How They Build Outdoor Awareness and Excitement [EP 409]
Hey everyone, welcome to Episode 409 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I’m talking with Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation Director of Marketing Rachel Piacenza . As a passionate team leader and basketball coach, Rachel is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders. She believes in creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to grow and succeed. Brought to you this week by The Running Event . Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I’d love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes [00:00:40] Episode 409 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast with Rachel Piacenza, director of marketing for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation , discusses leadership and empowerment. [00:05:56] Rachel grew up near a fishing resort, and developed a passion for the outdoors and water. [00:09:16] After college, Rachel joined Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources , which connected me to RBFF's annual marketing workshops for representatives
Tue, October 31, 2023
The Power of Purposeful Projects: Elisabeth Brentano on Conservation, Outdoor and Adventure Travel [EP 408]
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Outdoor Biz Podcast and Episode 408 with Elisabeth Brentano , brought to you this week by Four Wheel Campers . Elisabeth is a writer, photographer, and producer based in Southern California. Her wanderlust has taken her worldwide to capture travel and environmental stories. And as much as she loves shooting natural wonders in far-flung places, these days, she prefers road-tripping through the last remaining patches of the Wild West. Her love for travel and nature shines through in her work for tourism bureaus, environmental nonprofits, and publishers, and she’s also worked with global brands like Adobe, Marriott, and Samsung. Her goal is to push her clients to invest in more purposeful projects, and she is always looking for ways to incorporate sustainability and conservation practices into her commercial work. Brought to you this week by Four Wheel Campers You're also invited to the Four Wheel Campers Open House! November 4th! Climb into over 15 different camper models, get all of your camper questions answered, and see why FWC is such a favorite for so many outdoor enthusiasts! Here's a link register: FWC Factory Fall Open House Event — (Rain or Shine) - Four Wheel Campers Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com <p data-slate-node="element"
Tue, October 24, 2023
Bruno McGowan's Shift from Outdoor Snow Sports to Overlanding [EP 407]
After a long career in the snow sports space developing the world’s first digital avalanche rescue transceiver and promoting avalanche safety for all snow sports enthusiasts, Bruno McGowan has joined the Overlanding world as part of the founder group at Tune Outdoor . Tune Outdoor was specifically designed to let you spend more time in your natural state, out there, doing cool things . . . again and again. Brought to you this week by Creative LIVE Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! <p data-slate-node="element" data-slate-fragment= "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
Tue, October 17, 2023
Embracing the Zero Drop: Brian Beckstead Shares the Outdoor Journey of Altra Footwear [EP 406]
Hey everyone, welcome back to The Outdoor Biz podcast and Episode 406. Today, I’m talking with Brian Beckstead, Co-founder of Altra Footwear . After 11 years in the run and outdoor specialty retail space, Brian worked to create Altra Footwear with Golden Harper . He built a sales team as VP of Sales, pioneering the early years of Altra before becoming President. He then worked to finalize and transition of Altra from ICON Health and Fitness to the VF Corporation . Brian currently focuses on Strategic Projects and PR. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys problem-solving and strategizing, usually in the mountains trail running or fly fishing where he says . . . ideas thrive! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you this week by The Running Event Show Notes [00:02:15] Initially reluctant, Brian joined the track team in junior high and ended up enjoying it. [00:06:20] Brian started working at The Running Store at 16, now in the industry for 25 years. [00:08:26] Two shoe nerds exper
Tue, October 10, 2023
Escape to Sonoma County: Frank Filice's Guide to Epic Outdoor Adventures and Hidden Gems [EP 405]
Welcome to episode 405 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by CreativeLive . This week, I caught up with a former colleague from Lowepro , Frank Felice. Frank is an award-winning marketing executive and board member with over 20 years of experience in storytelling and building brands in the travel, tech, and consumer goods industries. He's now the director of brand marketing at Sonoma County Tourism . Brought to you this week by CreavitveLive Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes [00:01:30] Frank was raised by outdoorsy parents, I developed a love for outdoor activities. After college, I discovered hiking in Sonoma County . [00:05:54] "I was feeling stuck coding in the basement, so I switched majors to business and marketing." [00:08:06] Santa Rosa in Sonoma County offers a variety of activities, including coastal visits, redwood forests, hiking mountains, and Annadale. It also boasts a vibrant food and wine scene, including Russian River Brewery. [00:11:26] Understanding consumer behaviors helps us drive more visitors to Sonoma County , which generated $2.29 billion in tourism revenue. [00:13:40] <a href= "https://www.sonomacounty.com/" target
Tue, October 03, 2023
LOGE: A Unique Concept in Outdoor Accommodation with Cale Genenbacher [EP 404]
Welcome to episode 404 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Fresh Books. This week Cale Genenbacher, founder of LOGE , joins me to tell us how Loge is more than just a place to stay. Think of them as a home base for your next adventure. Close enough to get here but far enough to get away. And, with everything, you could want to get outside and explore. Cale’s background as a leader combined with his love of the outdoors and all things active, led him to founding LOGE in 2016. A West Point grad, Cale served as an infantry officer in the Army for over five years. After earning his MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management Cale worked at Microsoft in Seattle, WA, before starting LOGE. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes Welcome to episode 404 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by FreshBooks. This week, Cale Gennenbacher, founder of LOGE , joins me to tell us how [00:00:50] Lodge is more than just a place to stay. Think of them as a home base for your next adventure. Close enough to get here, but far enough to get away. And with everything you could want to get outside and [00:01:00] explore. Cale's background as a leader, combined with his love of the outdoors and all things active, led him to founding LOGE in 2016. A West Point grad, Cale served as an infantry [00:01:10] officer in their army for over five years. After earning his MBA from Vanderbilt University 's Owen Graduate School of Management , Cale worked at Micr
Tue, September 26, 2023
Championing Adventure, Diversity and Empowering Women: Brittany Coleman on Building ToughCutie [EP 403]
Welcome to episode 403 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Fresh Books . This week Brittany Coleman, founder of a new women’s outdoor and lifestyle brand called Tough Cutie joins me. ToughCutie makes premium women’s hiking socks and has a larger mission of supporting women from the ground up and increasing diversity in the outdoors. Founded in 2019, Tough Cutie has become the first and only outdoor sock brand with a majority women-owned value chain, and joins an estimated 1% of founders in the outdoor industry who identify as a person of color. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes Where did the idea for ToughCutie come from? The idea for ToughCutie came from the experiences of being a woman in business and the outdoor industry. It's about challenging the idea that women can't be both tough and feminine. When did you launch? ToughCutie launched just over a year ago, but the founder worked on the business for several years before the official launch. Are you a member of the REI Path Ahead Ventures program? Yes, ToughCutie is a member of the REI Path Ahead Ventures program . How did you get involved with REI? Brittany got connected to REI through an Instagram live interview with a prominent figure in the outdoor industry. Several people at REI saw the interview and reached out to initiate a conversation. What stage of business development would you say you're at, still in the launch phase? ToughCutie has launched its first product and is now working on the next one. The business is continually evolving and launching new products. Who does all the design, product management, etc. - is it you? Initially, Brittany was heavily involved in design and product management. As the brand has grow
Tue, September 19, 2023
Adventure Racing: Where Physical Puzzles and Outdoor Thrills Collide [EP 402]
Welcome to episode 402 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Lowa . This week Lowa Ambassador Max Seigal and his race partner Russell Henry share their 1st Adventure Race experience with us as they took 1st place in the recent Expedition Colorado Race put on by Warrior Adventure Racing . The race involved kayaking, mountain biking and running at elevations between 13,000 and 10,000 feet . . . Max and Russell were wearing Lowa’s recently released Trail Running models from their All Terrain Running Collection . The ATR collection represents another milestone in Lowa’s nearly 100 years of product development. Now . . . it’s time to run. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes 00:02:2000:02:27 The Wandering Biologist: "So after college, I actually sorted all the jobs that I was looking for based on location first..."— Max Seigal 00:03:1000:03:14 Outdoor Adventures: "I grew up on the West Coast of British Columbia with Aaron...and my dad owned an outdoor store, Ocean River Sports and started a Kayak company, "— Russell Henry 00:05:2600:05:35 The Power of Nature: "Once you put me in the mountains or and these really beautiful and remote places. It's you just you can't describe that feeling you get. It's amazing."— Max Seigal 00:06:4500:07:07 The Thrill of Paddling White Water: "I find spending time on rivers and paddling white water to be such a full-bodied experience. It's just with, like, you're fully
Tue, September 12, 2023
Tracey Brown on Tackling Malaria, Lyme Disease, and Outdoor bugs with Para'kito [EP 401]
Welcome to episode 401 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by The Running Event. The world is a wonderful place full of exciting adventures. And I don’t let much stop me from getting out and enjoying those adventures. but sometimes . . . the bugs, particularly mosquitos here in the Eastern Sierra . . . can be relentless. So I use natural repellants from PARA’KITO®. PARA’KITO® wants you to embrace this world, to travel, to explore, to enjoy its beauty, all naturally free from the nuisance of insects. PARA’KITO® is your caring, natural, effective protection. And Tracey Brown is with me today to explain how they protect us from the harmful bites from mosquitos ticks and other nasty buggers. Brought to you by Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes [00:01:38] Malaria kills thousands worldwide each year, now a concern in the US. [00:06:13] Our 1-inch polymer product slowly diffuses essential oil fragrance for 2 weeks. Waterproof and effective within a 4-foot radius. Amazing. [00:09:59] Different countries have unique regulations for FDA equivalents, resulting in variations in product formulations, including essential oils used. [00:13:26] The US military still issues DEET despite its dangers. [00:18:42] Exciting, natural insect repellant by Evergr
Tue, September 05, 2023
Exploring the Outdoor Journey and Entrepreneurship with Andrew Jay from Dakota Lithium [EP 400]
Welcome to episode 400 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. Dakota Lithium CEO Andrew Jay joins us to share how we each have the opportunity to change how our communities use energy. Brought to you by: Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes Things we talked about: [00:01:56] Outdoor upbringing on San Juan Island, seeking role models in nature. [00:04:38] Interesting life chapter: backpacking, Canada, climbing, Africa, stability. [00:07:17] 7 years working, kids, childhood education, Scandinavian forest schools . 00:7:23 created Tiny Trees Preschool [00:10:17] Innovative electric bike creator, Hill Topper bikes rapidly succeeds. [00:14:45] Developed kayak fan generating electricity with solar panel. [00:18:07] Dakota Lithium really stands out as the longest lasting batteries with 11-year warranty. [00:21:16] Sales grew during the pandemic, surprising expectations.</p
Tue, August 29, 2023
From Pen to Print: Chad Adams' Journey from Articles and Newsletters to Outdoor Novelist [EP 399]
Welcome to episode 399 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Thrive Market. Is that novel of yours “still” rolling around in your brain? Outdoor Author Chad Adams describes the path that took him from writing articles about duck hunting, hundreds of weekly newsletter editorials, and ghostwriting for executives to his recently published first novel, How To Walk In the Marsh . Shoot Chad a message over on Instagram , "the first two people that send me a message, I'll send them a code to have access to a free copy of the audio book." Brought to you this week by Thrive Market Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes Things we talked about: [00:01:29] Chad describes a personal connection to fishing and a family legacy. [00:04:45] Chad talks about his experiences fishing and hunting, particularly duck hunting, and how these activities were passed down from father to son. [00:08:08] How Chad got connected through his Dad connecting him to a writing opportunity through his social skills, and he started earning as a writer. [00:10:59] Chad tells us how he worked for the same company for 20 years, starting with writing a corporate newsletter and eventually gaining the confidence to write messages for executives. [00:15:13] He is open to writing anything, enjoys the process, and appreciates the therapeutic aspect. [00:19:56] Chad discusses the significance of quiet moments outdoors, passing down traditions, facing adversity, and reconnecting with one's roots. He also hints at a personal story involving his relationship with his father and raising their own children. <a href="https://amzn.to/3YRbbOC" target="_
Tue, August 22, 2023
Outdoor Focus on the Quadruple Bottom Line People, Planet, Profit, and Purpose with Clare Hefferren [EP 398]
Welcome to episode 398 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Thrive Market. This week we’re going to talk about the challenges around critical strategic thinking, disruptive brand story creation, or brand marketing to drive measurable cultivated relationships with Clare Hefferren , founder of Callosum . Clare shares with us how their work can help you solve those challenges and more. Clare tells us how their north star is anchored in collaboration and how they like to work with early and growth stage outdoor brands who are looking to build awareness and revenue focused on the quadruple bottom line: people, planet, profit, and purpose. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by Thrive Market Show Notes Things we talked about: [00:03:03] Where Clare's love for the outdoors comes from, tomboy turned explorer, passionate people's champion. [00:04:56] Neurological term connecting brain hemispheres and branding. [00:07:20] Branding work exposes the disconnect between staff and company. [00:11:01] Purposeful work for growth and impact. [00:15:27] Profit, people, planet, purpose - Quadruple Bottom Line Workshop [00:20:20] Expansive research, target Hispanic market, and sustainability. [00:21:21] <a href= "https://themirnavator.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
Tue, August 15, 2023
Boutique Single Track Trail Construction and Outdoor Recreation Development with Greg Mazu [EP 397]
Episode 397 with Greg Mazu , Chief Encouragement Officer of Singletrack Trails. Singletrack Trails was born in 2004 and has evolved into six different ventures. Over that time, Greg has shifted Singletrack from a boutique trail construction company to a multi-faceted outdoor recreation development firm. And Greg has shifted his focus with the company as an owner-operator to their Chief Encouragement Officer. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by Thrive Market Show Notes Things we talked about: The Ventures of an Opportunistic Entrepreneur 00:02:32 Mountain Biking and the Evolution of Trails 00:07:05 The benefits of working through a nonprofit 00:09:50 Building Trails with Impact 00:12:27 Scaling Beyond Competitors 00:13:42 Finding Mentorship in Unconventional Places 00:15:35 The Importance of Networking in the Outdoor Recreation Industry 00:19:19 Staying Active and Focused 00:22:09 The Accessibility Challenge of Outdoor Recreation 00:25:09 Blinkist 00:24:15 Favorite Books Traction by Gino Wickman E myth by Michael Gerber Powerful by Patty McCord Favorite
Tue, August 08, 2023
Around the Crown Outdoor 10K with Founder Brian Mister [EP 396]
Welcome to Episode 396 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast and my conversation with Around the Crown 10K Founder Brian Mister . Have you ever been stuck in traffic on the highway and thought to yourself, “I could run faster than this”? This idea is exactly how Around the Crown 10K got its start. Brian is here to tell us all about it. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by The Running Event Things we talked about Around the Crown 10K Pretty Bird Hot Chicken, Salt Lake City First role in The Outdoor Industry , sort of Aravaipa Running Black Canyon Run Charlotte, NC Cooper River Bridge around Charleston <a href= "https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjczJvBhsmAAxVdGa0GHfe_BnIYABAAGgJwdg&ohost=www.google
Tue, August 01, 2023
Tech Sales, Cancer, and Life Outfoor with 'Fly Fishing Insider' Podcast Host Christian Bacasa [EP 395]
Episode 395 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast and my conversation with Christian Bacasa . Christian is a father of two, an entrepreneur, technology sales executive, and a dedicated sportsman. Following his recovery from Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, he discovered fly fishing, which he credits with his physical and emotional recovery. He is co-founder of Dupe a Fish , a subscription-based travel booking platform for service providers and anglers, and hosts the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by Thrive Market Show Notes Tell us about the first fish you caught on a fly. So first fish I caught on a fly. It was the Henry's Fork . I was with a friend of mine, TJ. He had taken me up to go fly fishing. In actuality, we went up to look at a drift boat. So he's talking to this guy about a drift boat to buy, and it's a 95 Hyde . And the guy says, it's got a little bit of glass damage to it, but I'll make you a deal. We get up there, and it's got a hole, you know, probably about this big in the bottom. And you can see the foam. Yeah, you can see the foam. The phone was starting to rot. And I said, Hey man, that's no big deal. And so he works the guy over and hems and haws them and, you know, classic, this guy, TJ, you know, he's a character, hippie kid from Pennsylvania, but he's a savvy sales guy. So he talks him down, and we get the boat for a good price. We look at each other, and h
Tue, July 25, 2023
Innovation and Creativity in the Outdoor Action Sports Business with Scott Sorensen [EP 394]
Welcome to Episode 394 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Scott Sorensen, Scott is an artist and loves to create. He creates images, illustrations, logos and more. Scott and I talk about his career and innovative mindset and aptitude for tackling complex business challenges from a fresh perspective and Creative brand stelekon. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by Show Notes Welcome to Episode 394 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Scott Sorensen; Scott is an artist and loves to create. He creates images, illustrations, logos, and more. Scott and I talk about his career and innovative mindset, aptitude for tackling complex business challenges from a fresh perspective, and Creative brand stelekon . Show Notes Were you an "action sports" kid? I was, I grew up in Huntington Beach. One would say sort of the epicenter. But growing up there, you had no idea it was the epicenter. But you know, we skateboarded everywhere. We did BMX, we surfed. Which wasn't only an action sport; it was just sort of that way of life. That was what we did as kids. You must have been creative from a young age. Is that a family trait? I have a Great Uncle who is, but other than that, it sort of skipped most of the generations prior to me. I have a first cousin who's very creative. He's also an action sports guy, Taylor Steele, who made, made surf movies and sort of that created that momentum generation. He's also very creative as far as illustrating and video creation production. So yeah, I don't know where I got it from, but it hit me hard and fast, and as a kid, I was always with a pencil. What was your first commercial creation? I would personally draw things, and then all through school, elementary, middle, and high school, I was the guy drawing the covers of the yearbooks. An
Tue, July 18, 2023
Stories and Adventures that will inspire and move you with Mountain Life Media founder Todd Lawson [EP 393]
Welcome to the Outdoor Biz Episode 393 with Todd Lawson. Todd Lawson believes in passion, diversity, and the search for freedom outside. He’s an avid world traveler, husband, brother, father, son, writer, photographer, creator, storyteller, mountain athlete, humanitarian, adventure-seeker, and lover of life and all its wonderful ways. Todd is the publisher, producer, and photo editor at Mountain Life Media, Founder and CEO of RISE Outdoor Innovation Inc., and Co-Founder of the Rise and Sean Foundation. His first book, Inside the Belly of an Elephant, launches October 03, 2023. He lives in Whistler, British Columbia. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by Show Notes What was the adventure or outdoor experience that sparked you to work in the Outdoor Biz? Wow, that's a good banger to start with. I guess for me, it was probably when I did my first travel, and I got my first taste of a real culture shock. I flew from Darwin, Australia to East Timor, and that was back when it wasn't its own country as part of Indonesia. And then that just kind of hit me hard, and it was just like so awesome and so amazingly invigorating all at the same time and a bit scary. And it was just like, I was like, you know, 21 years old and, but that planted the seed of travel, which has been with me for the rest of, you know, for the rest of my life so far. And photography and storytelling, how did those come into your life? Yeah, so I was kind of at a crux in my life where I wanted to change what I was doing. I used to be a golf professional. Actually, I was a member of the Canadian Professional Golf Association. It was great because it was kind of one of those sports that you don't really, or careers that you don't really associate with the outdoors necessarily, but it kind of totally is. You're out there outside all the time. It kind of wasn't doing enough for my soul. Always when I traveled, I
Tue, July 11, 2023
Stephen Baird and TrackFly are making the dynamic outdoor supply chain accessible to ALL businesses. [EP 392]
Episode 392 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast and my conversation with Stephen Baird, Founder and CEO of TrackFly. The evolution of the supply chain has been exclusive to the largest corporations. At TrackFly, they are making the dynamic supply chain accessible to ALL businesses. We live in an age where high technology goes with us everywhere, in our pockets. Yet, for small to medium retailers, the tools to access the digital supply chain are still far out of reach. Forcing them to jump from system to system just to access basic information needed to make their business successful. There is a better way. TrackFly is building the tools to break down those walls and introduce a fully integrated trade network and empowering brands to SEE their products like never before and retailers to SELL like never before. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by Show Notes Is there a relatively close place in your county or state where you can get your Fish on, so to speak? There absolutely is. And is any good fly? Fisher Fisherman knows. I won't tell you all the special ones I know about. One of the things I've really gotten into recently is just getting into the high alpine lakes and streams. Kind of chasing more of the bit harder-to-find species, from grayling to brook trout to cutthroat. And that has just been something I've absolutely gotten hooked on because you can't get away to a quick fishery like the Pearla River here in Utah. Who took you fly fishing for the first time? It was the old man himself, my dad. It's something he always did growing up. Um, you know, it was something that he just always was passionate about. And I remember being, and I think, I was probably seven or eight years old. And just begging to go with him to the river. How ha
Tue, July 04, 2023
Replay: Kiteboarder Sensi Graves is helping women do badass adventure activities [EP 391]
Imagine a world in which women no longer doubted themselves. A world in which you believed anything was possible and that there were no fears or glass ceilings holding you back? Sensi Graves loves helping women do badass things. Brought to you by Show Notes How were you introduced to the Outdoors? I grew up actually 20 minutes down a dirt road in northern California. So in a really rural town in Mendocino County in Northern California. There are 320 people in my town and 50 kids in my high school. I grew up on 80 acres and my mom was an avid skier. After she graduated high school, she lived in Utah for a number of years. My Mon and my Dad were ski bums out there, and I've always lived an outdoor life. We weren't allowed to watch TV growing up. I have three brothers and we were always playing outside, always playing games, and thankfully we were taken on ski trips and wakeboarding trips and a lot of outdoor time growing up, and so it's been a part of my blood forever. How'd you get into kiteboarding? Kind of a roundabout story. Actually, my mom died when I was 16, and after that, my dad was looking for things to fill that void, and he, one summer when I was 18 years old, said, we're going to learn to Kiteboard. And I was like, what? I've never even heard of this before. And he was having us watch some videos, and I was like, what? What are we doing? I don't even know what you're talking about, but he took my three brothers and me out to North Carolina to a place called Rio Water Sports, which at that time and still is the premier kit board school in the US. And we took a week's worth of lessons. I fell in love with it and actually ended up going back there to coach a few years later as a kiteboard instructor when I was a junior in college. Tell our listeners about professional kiteboarding competitions and how they work. To give listeners a picture, you are essentially wakeboarding but driving your own boat. So you have a harness on your waist, you have 20 meters of lines, and then you have a kite, basically like a big piece of fabric, essentially with an inflatable leading edge. That is pulling you across the water, and you're using that kite to generate power with the wind, utilizing the wind to pull you across the water, essentially. So it's like the combination of sailing and wakeboarding. You're doing sailing tacks back and forth. You're utilizing the wind just like sails do. And so there are a variety of disciplines within kiteboarding. You have racing just like sailboat racing. You have big jump disciplines, kind of the thing kiteboarding is known for the most, and the awe factor is when people go really high in the sky. But it actually takes a lot of skill to jump really high, and so that's another discipline. Then there's freestyle, which is doing tricks in the air, k
Tue, June 27, 2023
Experience the Off-Grid Adventure Lifestyle with XGRiD Campers, find the right rig for your journey. [EP 390]
Welcome to Episode 390 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast featuring XGRiD Campers , founded by Loren Walker , an avid camper, RV’er, and outdoor enthusiast. Shredding a traditional trailer on one of Loren’s adventures sparked the inspiration for XGRiD campers. After a bit of research and connecting with makers of the world’s toughest off-road campers, Loren left his corporate job and XGRiD Campers came to life. With stores in Las Vegas and Knoxville XGRiD Campers is dedicated to helping backcountry adventurers find the Right Rig for their Journey. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes You had a 23-year career in corporate strategy, branding, and partnership, developing software and platform technologies. Give us the Twitter version of what you did there. Yeah, definitely not too sexy, but it was a good career, really in software, technology channel, sales partnerships, and strategic planning for some big companies. And it was a good opportunity for me, but fast forward to Covid, and things changed. So we decided to go a different direction and kick off with XGRiD Campers. This is much more fun, How'd you get into the software thing? Were you just a software guy? One thing left, another more on the, on the sales side, corporate sales side. And then kinda evolved from there, so that was really it. Did a lot of partnership development and ran some sales teams and things like that. And so, how'd you get into the outdoors? I guess for years, your job kept you basically a weekend outdoor enthusiast. Yeah, that's what it was. I grew up actually near Yosemite , up in the mountains there. And, so, always backpacked and hiked and did a lot of
Thu, June 22, 2023
Day 3-4 from The Big Gear Outdoor Show with Alpine Parrot, Adaptive Adventures and Quicker Bike Rack [EP 389]
Welcome to Episode 389 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, another uncut episode recorded from the floor of The Big Gear Show . Today I’m talking with Raquel Velez from Alpine Parrot , Rob Bingham from Adaptive Adventures , and Bryan Wachs from Quiker Stuff ! Hey, be sure and fill out our 5-minute survey about The Outdoor Biz Podcast. I’d love your feedback. You’ll find it at ricksaez.com/2023survey. Thank you, and now let's get to it. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! <h3 style="text-ali
Tue, June 20, 2023
Outdoor Alliance brings new sensibilities to conservation work with Adam Cramer [EP 388]
Hello again everyone, I’m excited to bring you Episode 388 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast and my conversation with Adam Cramer , founding Executive Director and current CEO of Outdoor Alliance , a national coalition of outdoor recreation advocacy groups breathing new life into the conservation movement by harnessing the outdoor community’s passion. Adam has brought new sensibilities to conservation work that have resulted in hundreds of thousands more acres of protected landscapes and so much more . . . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes Was there an adventure or maybe a person that inspired you to work in the outdoor biz? I've had a lot of adventures that have met a lot of wonderful people. but no, to precisely answer your question, there wasn't an adventure or a person that got me oriented in this space professionally, but, had a lot of inspiration from a lot of folks along the way. How did you get into it professionally? For me it was through kayaking and living in Washington DC. So I moved to DC 25 years ago right outta law school and, had a ton of law school debt, like a lot of people, and DC's an awesome place to learn how to be a lawyer. And it also is probably one of the best whitewater cities in the world. I've heard that. I've heard a lot of people say that. Yeah, it's interesting. Yeah. Wouldn't think so, but yeah, it, [00:02:50] so moved here and got into it and have these two kind of pleasantly parallel lives, being a corporate environmental lawyer during the day. And, got pretty deep into the whitewater scene here. And how'd you get into kayaking? Yeah, that's a good [00:05:10] question. I was really deep into climbing. That was my jam for years. And I didn't really have any connection to DC
Tue, June 13, 2023
Overlanding Gear and Adventure with Expedition Superstore Founder Justin Dowey [EP 387]
Episode 387 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast features Expedition Superstore founder Justin Dowey . Justin has built on his early family outdoor experiences in creating the Expedition Superstore. The blend of an Off-road shop and a Camping store, it brings together all of the essentials you would need to use your vehicle as the base of your adventures ... Overlanding! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes Intro to the Overlanding One of my first forays into the outdoor world was a four-wheel drive store in Newcastle. We would build rigs that were local and Australian touring rigs. At that point, I had a, 1989 Nissan Patrol, we had a sticker on the thing that says ‘ size does matter’ and you’ll just laugh at the next comment. It had a three-inch lift on 33-inch tires. Back then that was huge. We did a lot of four by four touring set up for customers and vehicle maintenance and all that sort of stuff. So that kind of was the start to how I got to, where I am now. Was there a trip or an event that just got you connected to the outdoors? It was really that Australian Safari rally. That thing ran over seven days. It went from Alice Springs and drove through to Darwin . It was all off-road. Back then, they didn't have GPSs. They used at what's called a terror trip. So someone had already been out and mapped the course down to the meter, and your terror trip said Drive 30 meters, turn left. But you didn't turn left at 30 meters. You were lost that fast. Your business is Grasshopper Trading. That's a distribution company for other brands, correct? Yeah. So <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/
Sat, June 10, 2023
Day 1 from The Big Gear Show with Yamaha and Liv E-Bikes and Outdoor Element [EP 386]
Welcome to Episode 386 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, an uncut episode recorded from the floor of The Big Gear Show . So far, I’ve talked about e-Bikes in the eBike e-revolution space at the show with Spinks from Yamaha , Aidan Kiely from LIV , and Outdoor Element Founder Mike Mojica. Hey, be sure and give your feedback about The Outdoor Biz Podcast at ricksaez.com/2023survey Let's get into it! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented by Show Notes coming soon Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seekin
Thu, June 08, 2023
Outdoor Trade Shows, Inventory Management, and Retailer Challenges with BrandKeep and The Mountaineer [EP 385]
Welcome to episode 385 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Pete Ashley from BrandKeep and Charlie Wise from The Mountaineer talking trade shows, what's working, how they facilitate buying, the current state of inventory management, retailer challenges, and some other goodies. Before we get into today's episode, I’ve got a quick question for you . . . What do you want to hear more and less of in future episodes? Go to ricksaez.com/2023survey and tell me the topic you want me to cover or the guest you want to hear on the show or hit the link in the show notes I’d love your input, Thank you, now let's get to the episode. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes Welcome to episode 385 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Pete Ashley from BrandKeep and Charlie Wise from The Mountaineer trade shows, what's working, how they facilitate buying, the current state of inventory management, retailer challenges, and some other goodies. Brought to you by The Big Gear Show ! Trade Shows Are things back to “normal? Charlie I really think it is, we're going to have the same attendance as we normally would at our primary sort of national show. in the G O A Connect event. We will have two buyers and myself attending the principal's meetings and then, obviously, the buying sessions. And I think travel has settled down, prices notwithstanding. Everything's more expected. But we'll be there for a full slate of vendor meetings, business meetings, and line showings. It's going to look and feel a lot like it did pre-pandemic. And Pete, you're representing BrandKeep, obviously, give everybody a little backgr
Tue, June 06, 2023
Building an Outdoor brand from the ground up with NW Alpine Gear founder Bill Amos, sewn in the USA [EP 384]
Welcome to Episode 384 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, before we get into today's episode I’ve got a quick question for you . . . What is the topic or guest you want to hear about on a future episode? Hit the 2023 survey link in the show notes or go to ricksaez.com/2023survey , no caps, and tell me the topic you want me to cover or the guest you want me to have on the show. That's rick saez dot com slash two zero two three survey . . . . no caps, or hit the link in the show notes I’d love your input, Thank you, and now let's get to the episode . . . In the early 2000s NW Alpine founder Bill Amos found himself dissatisfied with technical clothing options for alpine climbing. At the tail end of the 2008 recession, Bill was inspired to realize his vision. He believed that the only way we would have a real economic recovery in the U.S. is if we started making things here again and Northwest Alpine was born. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes How did you get into skiing in the outdoors? I actually grew up in the southwest Chicago suburbs. So not the best place to be for mountain sports. But my dad actually grew up in East Tennessee and he was a big hunter and fisherman and outdoor guy down there. So he got me into Boy Scouts when I was pretty young and we had a really active group. So we did a lot of hiking and camping and all that sort of stuff. So that kind of started to foster my love for the outdoors. What jobs did you do before starting their business? After college, I did some teaching jobs, including teaching in the outdoor program at a community college in Gresham, just outside of Portland. I also worked as a ski patroller at <a href= "https://www.timberlinelodge.com/" tar
Tue, May 30, 2023
Out of Collective, Four Unique Podcasts about the World of Outdoor with Adam Jaber [EP 383]
Hey, I'd love your feedback about the show and which topics and guests you'd like to hear in future episodes. Click here: 2023 Listener Survey THANKS! Last Fall I had the pleasure of meeting Adam Jaber founder of Out of Collective and host of the Out of Bound Podcast . Originally created by Adam, the network is a collective of ski and outdoor industry veterans with a strong passion and knowledge for all things happening in our industry. Yes, we geek out a bit on podcasting but we also talk about gear, trade shows, and plenty more . . . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes What is a fish lift operator and how did you get that job? I was an environmental major in college. And one of the jobs that they had as a paid internship was working at a fish lift. Basically, it's essentially just like a water mitigation situation where they have this waterfall and they gotta get the fish back up so that they can go back and spawn. But they also have invasive species that they don't want in the river, that they gotta move somewhere else. And that's kind of how it goes. So they have this little thing set up. You basically just watch 'em through a little fish tank essentially as they go up the lift. And if there's something that's not supposed to be there, we pull it, test it, go out, and put it somewhere else. You were going to Westfield State. What did you study there? At Westfield , I actually studied Business Management and then, I was at Holyoke Community College when I went and did the f
Tue, May 23, 2023
Stephen Sullivan and Stio- Inspiring Connection with the Outdoors [EP 382]
I began looking forward to this conversation as soon as it dropped on my calendar. Stephen Sullivan and Stio Inspire Connection with the Outdoors through their values and beautifully made outdoor products. We talk about the inspiration for Stio, his outdoor pursuits, and how their Pine Cone logo came to life. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes What was your first exposure to the outdoors? We packed our stuff up and moved to Colorado and I had been a big hockey and soccer player when I was a kid. There was no hockey in Grand Junction, which I never let my mom live down. Now both my boys are hockey players and I ended up coaching them later in life, but I got into skiing and so, you know, I think skiing was probably my first real kind of entry into the outdoor community and the outdoor world. How about your beginnings in the outdoor business or the outdoor industry side of things? That's actually a little tied to my Uncle Joe as well. So his girlfriend at the time, whose name was Betsy Clark. She opened what has gotta be one of the first true outdoor specialty stores in the country. I mean, there might have been 50 or a hundred of 'em at the time, but she opened a store called Lewis and Clark in Grand Junction. When I was 12, I got a job in the back room. I've always been a pretty handy kid and kind of knew how to put stuff together. And so I got a job actually mounting cross-country skis for her, which led to me going out on the sales floor. What was the inspiration for Cloudveil? The real inspiration behind that was I had a friend who is still a guide, was an I F M G A guide who had gone over to live in Chamonix for a winter in the early nineties. And he came back and brought me a pair of pants that were made of a <a href= "https://www.schoeller-textiles.com/en/textiles/outdoor" target=
Tue, May 16, 2023
Race Director Ian Burnett and the 2023 Outdoor Iron Horse Bicycle Classic [EP 381]
Hey everyone welcome to Episode 381 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic is hosting the 51st edition of this annual event Memorial Day weekend May 26, 27 and 28 2023! Today I’m talking with Event Director Ian Burnett. Brought to you by The Big Gear Show ! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes How'd you get into the outdoor life and more specifically, mountain biking? I was lucky enough to be born and raised here in Durango . so yeah, I was able to surround myself with bike racing and outdoors and getting to enjoy that. And that's kind of just what this community's all about is bike riding, but also just outdoor activities and really getting to be outside. So, I grew up doing that and, race mountain bikes all growing up and then ended up racing professionally on the road for a couple of years and then have, kind of slowly. gotten into coaching and, race support stuff. And, this will be my second year doing the directing for the Iron Horse . So, yeah, it's a pretty special race and then it's a pretty special thing that I get to do, for a living. You're the second generation to, to be affiliated with The Iron Horse . Do I have that right? It’s kind of had a couple directors throughout the years. the longest-running being, Ed Zink and Gaige Sippy. Ed was the founder and had run it, for many, many years. And then Ga
Tue, May 09, 2023
Vasque Outdoor Footwear Wants You To Log Outside, Joe Peters [EP 380]
Welcome to Episode 380 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast and my conversation with Joe Peters, Marketing Director, Strategic Advisor, and Creative Ideator with Vasque Footwear. Vasque is asking people log outside. And if you're not careful they just might take your phone and make that a formal request! Brought to you by The Big Gear Show! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes How did you get connected to Vasque? It was 11 years ago. I've been with Vasque in one way, shape, or form for 11 years now. Vasque is the outdoor brand within the Red Wing Shoe Company . So Red Wing Boots has been around for more than 115 years. I was looking for boots online. I was on jcrew.com shopping for Boots. For Red Wing Heritage Boots . Then for whatever reason, I moved to click on the careers tab and found a job in of all things demand planning. I threw my name into the hat for that and that started my career at Red Wing Shoe Company. How did you get into the Outdoor Industry? I would say the outdoor industry kind of found me more than I was out to find a job in the outdoor industry. I didn't know it existed before I found Red Wing and by proxy Vasque. Now you're, after all these experiences, you are the marketing director for Vasque, right? So what's a day in the lif
Tue, May 02, 2023
30 years Engineering Outdoor Performance to Keep You Warm and Dry with Hot Chillys Steve Lee [EP 379]
Welcome to Episode 379 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast and my conversation with Steve Lee, Hot Chillys Senior VP of Sales. Steve has been with Hot Chillys in one form or another since 1988. From outdoor and snow sports to running and cycling, their high-quality, durable base layer and winter accessories are ideal for staying warm and dry during your favorite cold weather activities. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes Show Notes How'd you get into the outdoors? Steve got into the outdoors with some friends in high school. They went on a backpacking trip up to Desolation Wilderness and fell in love with it. They then took a 21-day backpacking and climbing course, which culminated in their love for the outdoors. Where, where'd you learn how to ski? What was your first snow experience? Steve learned to ski at a Tyrolia Ski School in Minnesota and then moved to Northern California before high school, where they used to go skiing at North Star . Steve’s first experience with Hot Chilly’s He wa
Tue, April 25, 2023
Adventure-ready, Premium, Odor-Eliminating Outdoor Apparel, Baselayers & Accessories with Alpine Fit founder Jen Loofbourrow [EP 378]
Today I’m speaking with Alpine Fit founder Jen Loofbourrow. Jen launched Alpine Fit to be an outdoor activewear brand in line with her customer's values offering fit options for body proportions, odor-resistant fabrics for spending more time outdoors, and making products in Alaska. Raised in Ontario, Canada in a hard-working, outdoor-loving family. She went on to live in Vancouver followed by Galway, Ireland before settling down in Anchorage with her husband, and two children, and they all love the outdoors including hiking, running, skiing, kayaking, and camping. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes In your early twenties, you fell in love with expeditions kayaking the outer islands of Alaska's Southeast coastline. How were you introduced to the outdoors? Was it kayaking? Well, that definitely wasn't my first time getting into the outdoors. I'd say I got introduced to the outdoors as a child going to my grandparents' little cabin up north in Ontario, Canada. we called it a cottage, but it was what you would more identify as an off-grid cabin in the woods. You know, outhouse. Pump for house getting the water up from the lake to closer to the cabin for washing dishes. Endless trails to hike through the woods. So pretty remote. And you have a BS in chemistry and an MBA? Were those degrees intentional? I felt like I should probably go into the sciences because I was highly more likely to get a job that I'd be able to do after university. And somehow that science career led me to chemistry, which did bizarrely lead me to fabric development and did indeed, create a building block over my career. But, I don't know if I do chemistry over again. If I had the choice. How'd you get into science? Where'd that come from? <p style="text-align: lef
Tue, April 18, 2023
How a Life Altering Skiing Accident Becomes a Resource for Hope and Re-Juvenation with Roy Tuscany [EP 377]
Hey everyone, welcome back to the outdoor biz podcast. I have an inspiring conversation for you today with an incredible human being, leader, and visionary. High Fives Foundation Founder Roy Tuscany . We talk about his go-all-in attitude, talent for big air, his skiing accident, and the High Fives Foundation Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes: So when did you first put on a pair of skis? In third grade, my mom gave me a choice that I had to do something in the winter. And at the time I was probably about 46 pounds soaking wet. I was barely four feet tall. I was the littlest kid in my grade, and I grew up in this kind of rural area of Vermont where the two choices were either hockey or learn to ski at the Bolton Night Ski Program . And the folks that played hockey at that time were the kids that were on the opposite side of the spectrum, the ones that like could buy beer in third grade, they had like a full beard, you know? And I just knew that like the game of “Let's see how hard we can hit little Roy into the boards” wouldn't be that much fun to me. Little did I know, unfortunately, skiing would have some pretty devastating injuries throughout my life. They're probably more devastating than getting crushed into the boards. Where did you get your talent for Big Air? Back in the day, I was on a freestyle team and they had this jump that was set up behind a bar. And, we used to get literally paid by the patrons at the bar to keep jumping from like three until the sun went down. We basically would just put on our own little big air sho
Tue, April 11, 2023
Noble Biomaterials Allon Cohne- Innovative Outdoor Products to Improve Your Quality of Life [EP 376]
Hey everyone, welcome back to Episode 375 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. I have a fun conversation for you today with Allon Cohne from Noble Biomaterials . Allon and I wander all over Outdoor history from his early days at Kirkwood Ski Resort in California to his current role with Noble Biomaterials. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes How did you get into the outdoors? It was pretty easy. I grew up in Utah, so, in the eighties and nineties in Utah, the access there was pretty easy. I remember taking, the public transportation bus to Alta and, you could get there pretty easily right after high school, even before you had driver's licenses. After high school, you can head up to the hills and, and get some runs in. Then on the weekends you can head down to the desert, get some rides in. So it was just kind of, a natural kind of background, I think, cultural environment growing up in Salt Lake. How did you get into the Outdoor Industry? I was fortunate actually to get into the outdoor industry after college. It was just kind of a natural fit for me. Something I could speak to, something I had passionate about. So when I had the opportunity to jump in I did. When I graduated college I thought it would be a really cool thing to be a National Geographic journalist or photojournalist and I was writing for the school paper. I was on the sports beat. Just kind of crafting the writing skills and then you graduate college and you're like, okay, well National Geographic's not calling me. What do I do? I gotta pay the bills. So I moved back to Utah, took a job with <a href="https://www.d
Tue, April 04, 2023
Conservation Alliance- Working to create a planet where wild places, wildlife, and outdoor people thrive together, with Nicole Rom [EP 375]
Today on episode 375 I’m talking with Conservation Alliance Executive Director Nicole Rom . Nicole came into the world with Conservation in her DNA. She is leading a tireless staff of conservationists working to harness the collective power of business and outdoor communities to fund and advocate for the protection of North America’s wild places. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes First I want to start with how'd you end up attending Bates College ? That's a great question to start off with, I was attracted to a small liberal arts college in Maine. You might not know that Bates has the second oldest outing club. They maintained several miles of the Appalachian Trail and they’re a division one Ski team. I was a competitive downhill racer in high school and, was excited with the opportunity to continue that. Then most of all, I was able to be the first class that could study environmental studies as a major. So those were the reasons that drew me to Maine and to Bates in particular. So what was it like to be a Coxswain when on the crew team? I did that my freshman year for something new. I had never had the experience when I was in high school. I primarily skied and I'll just start by saying it's a perfect position for somebody who is short, loud, and enthusiastic, and I fit all of those criteria. You're essentially the captain of the boat that you're on. I was often a coxswain for the women's eight or the men's four and you're responsible for steering, setting the pace for the row. Counting for power motions, when you need to step up the pace when you're in a competition. And ob
Tue, March 28, 2023
Outdoor Media Summit, The New Gathering Place where The Outdoor Industry Comes Together, with Yoon Kim and Lucie Hanes. [EP 374]
Welcome back to the outdoor biz podcast. You are in for a treat today. Episode 374 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast features my conversation with Yoon Kim and Lucie Hanes from Outdoor Media Summit. If you’re not familiar with the Outdoor Media Summit we’re going to fix that. An annual event where the folks on the media side of the outdoor biz get together to network, connect with brands, participate in educational workshops and more helping move the industry forward. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by Wolfgang : Show Notes Let's begin with a little bit about you. Lucy, How did you get into the outdoor lifestyle? I was lucky enough to have a very outdoorsy dad who took me on my first hike when I was less than a year old. I mean, obviously, I was not hiking, but I was nice and toasty on his back. So I grew up hiking, and backpacking and then got into whitewater kayaking through passengers adventure camp in Richmond, Virginia. I think I started kayaking then. So that was kind of my first introduction to adventure outdoor sports. Yoon, how about you? I think when I was in college. I had a roommate who was really into the outdoors. I wasn't really into it, but he kind of made it a point to bring me into his sports, which were climbing and mountain biking at the time. And I never really, it's like, for me at first it was just kind of, something that people like me didn't really do. But he, he was pretty insistent about climbing with him on Wednesdays. Marty Combs was the roommate. So you guys are both now involved with the Outdoor Media Summit. For listeners who might not be familiar, tell us about the Outdoor Media Summit. How did it start? Who attends? What kind of thing
Tue, March 21, 2023
Travel Creel-The World's First Premier Adventure Pop-Up Fishing Lodge with Joshua Schwartz [EP 373]
Today on episode 373 of the outdoor biz podcast I’m talking with Travel Creel founder and chef Joshua Schwartz. Joshua and his team love to fish! Their goal is to combine world-class fishing destinations with comfortable accommodations and outstanding dining experiences. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes How'd you get into cooking? So, my grandfather owned a French bistro, so I kind of grew up in a restaurant as a kid, and he passed away when I was pretty young, and didn't really know how to deal with his passing. Didn't really understand grief and everyone was really upset. My family, my mom, my dad, my sister were all upset and I didn't really know what to do cuz I wasn't feeling upset, but I didn't know how to deal with it. And my mom's like, you, everyone deals with grief differently, so you just need to choose what you wanna do and how you wanna deal with it. And I said, well, I'm just gonna be a chef like grandpa was. Oh, cool. And that was really kind of like, I set my sights on it and I never looked back. So tell us about your cooking career. You cooked at the French Laundry , Bouchon , and Per Se Yeah, so I started cooking at 14 professionally and worked my way through some of local restaurants and met a chef when I was in high school, who was an instructor at the New England Culinary Institute, and he worked for Thomas Keller at his original restaurant in New York called <a href= "https://ny.eater.com/2013/7/2/6412367/the-story-of-rakel-thomas-kellers-1980s
Tue, March 14, 2023
Explore the World of Adventure, The Outdoors and Cooking in the Wild with Josh Rosen and Huckberry [EP 372]
Are you hungry for adventure and connection? Episode 372 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast features former pro snowboarder and Saturday's co-founder Josh Rosen . As host of Huckberry’s recently launched series DIRT , Josh shares how the show reconnects and inspires viewers to explore the world of adventure, the outdoors, and cooking in the wild, their backyards, and homes. It is currently streaming on Huckberry and YouTube . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Presented to by: Show Notes: How'd you get connected with Huckberry? Yeah, it's been a really lovely, Experience with Huckberry . Initially, we worked on a project where, Kate West, who's the content director over at Huckberry, reached out to me cuz she had been in New York when I was there and worked for a nonprofit, bringing kids out. To the beach to surf and up into the mountains to snowboard from the inner city, which was really cool. And we helped out with that and, in any capacity we could, at Saturdays . And she had moved on and started working in Huckberry and asked if I was interested in doing, it's, they sell a really amazing, product called the, 72-hour shirt . Oh yeah. Which is this, it's. All the bells and whistles, antimicrobials, sweat, wicking, all that great stuff
Tue, March 07, 2023
Actual Outdoors Founder John Holdmeier Drops Advice about Photography, Brand Management and more [EP 371]
On this episode of the Outdoor Biz Podcast, I sit down with Actual Outdoors Founder, Pro Photographer, and Podcaster John Holdmeier . John is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and a fantastic photographer. He loves getting outside, more often than not on a river and you can hear him on the Nature Untold Podcast . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by: Wolfgang Man and Beast Show Notes So let's start off with how you fell in love with the outdoors. How'd that come about? Yeah. So, it was really early on for me. I, consider myself super lucky in that my family was into the outdoors. And so my dad and my mom, to enough of an extent that she would come do stuff with us but it wasn't her first choice always. Older sister, and then I have a younger brother as well, but all of us were getting outside since my first memory. That looked like the normal travel vacation, hiking kind of stuff, early on, but also a lot of float trips going down to Southern Missouri. What inspired you to commit to an outdoor lifestyle, or did you learn that through becoming a river guide? It was definitely those experiences as a kid. My dad was into fly fishing pretty early on, and so I was fly fishing when I was really little as well. And that was the thing. I was so lucky to have all that, all the gear, and all the access to be able to do that. But yeah, it was those early experiences and really what made me feel like there was nothing else in life where I like couldn't wait to go do it. You weren't burning to be an engineer or an architect? <p style="text-ali
Tue, February 28, 2023
Outdoor Vitals Founder, Tayson Whittaker is Driven to Make Better Gear for Getting Outside [EP 370]
Hey everyone, welcome back, today on episode 370 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast I’m talking with Outdoor Vitals founder, Tayson Whittaker. Growing up Tayson wanted to be outdoors every day of his life. It called him to explore, regardless of the time of year or the weather. But he didn’t have the right gear to prepare for the elements. By the time he graduated College, he had figured out how to make better gear and was selling no-name sleeping bags to his friends. We’re going to talk about all that and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by: Thrive Market Show Notes How were you introduced to the outdoors? I feel like I always was introduced to the outdoors but there's just different aspects that I learned over time. I grew up in this small town of, six or seven thousand people and was always able to get outdoors. Whether it was on my own or with friends. Every weekend it seemed like, by the time I was about 10 years old, on my parents would drag this old 1970s trailer up the mountain and we'd go camp for two days. Half the time we're sleeping outside the trailer. cause it's not like it was a big trailer. I just spent a lot of time out there with my brothers and family. Your profile mentions you were a college student, where did you go to school? I moved down here to Cedar City, Utah. for those who are familiar with Utah, it's the southern part of the state down here by Zion and Cedar Breaks . I came down here for college, went to college at S U combined a lot of my passions. I really enjoyed business and so I graduated in finance, but more than that, I started the entrepreneurship club here at the school. And every weekend and weekdays
Tue, February 21, 2023
Alpacka Raft Founder Sheri Tingey Reaches Her Goal & Launches the Valkyrie, Built for Class V Whitewater [EP 369]
Today I’m talking with Colorado businesswoman Sheri Tingey. Sheri pioneered an entire adventure sport, while many her age were mulling retirement. Recently, on her 77th birthday, Sheri Tingey finally saw her dream come true. Two decades and dozens of prototypes later, Alpacka Raft launched the Valkyrie. Suited for Class V whitewater, this Packraft is the closest resemblance of a hard shell kayak ever made. It’s the culmination of Sheri’s ambitions since she designed the modern-day Packraft and built the brand 22 years ago. Her idea blossomed into a 50-employee company, making the brand a leader in the outdoor industry and one of the largest employers in the small mountain town of Mancos, CO. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to get your feedback! Contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by: Thrive Market Show Notes Let's start with how you got into the outdoors. You know, honestly, I've been in the outdoors from the time I can remember I was born and raised in Phoenix. I, from the time I was a very small child, I hated the heat, didn't, you know, didn't want anything to do with that. But there was a camp out of Prescott and my dad would build cabins for them. I only have a tiny memory of that, but by the next year, that and that camp was everything about being in the outdoors. And how did you learn how to sew and make things? I come from the generation that women still, you know, sewed. My grandmother lived with us and she made all of our clothes, in those days. You know, today it, it is kind of interesting, sewing has become one of these lost arts that's sort of, redefining itself again. But when I was young, clothing was very expensive and so most people sewed. My grandmother lived in a little tiny cabin out and back and she had a little singer. And you know, she didn't so much teach us as my sister and I would just watch her and she let us use the sewing machi
Tue, February 14, 2023
Van Life, Professional Poker and Used Outdoor Gear with Rerouted founder Chap Grubb [EP 368]
Today I’m joined by Chap Grubb, founder of Rerouted. From living in a 1981 Volkswagen Van for 18 months after college to an unexpected transition into the world of professional poker, Chap is now busy revolutionizing the used gear industry helping anyone who dreams of creating their own wilderness adventures do it with used gear from rerouted. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by: Thrive Market Show Notes Welcome to episode 368 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Thrive Market. Buying healthy food from top-selling, organic brands at wholesale prices make healthy living easy. Head on over to rick saez dot com slash thrive market and make your living your healthy life easy. Today I’m joined by Chap Grubb, founder of Rerouted. From living in a 1981 Volkswagen Van for 18 months after college to an unexpected transition into the world of professional poker, Chap is now busy revolutionizing the used gear industry helping anyone who dreams of creating their own wilderness adventures do it with used gear from rerouted. Oh . . . and they promise to defend and improve the wilderness - as Ed Abbey wished Brought to you by Show Notes How were you introduced to the Outdoors? Yeah, so, as a kid, my parents were not outdoor adventurers. They were more outdoor enthusiasts. The most distinct defining memory of my outdoor adventure [00:02:20] history was when we were 13 years old. We sat down a
Tue, February 07, 2023
Darrel Larson, International Director of Sawyer Outdoor Products is committed to bringing clean water to the world. [EP 367]
Welcome to episode 367 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by Thrive Market. Today I’m joined by Darrel Larson, International Director of Sawyer Products. Darrell is also the founder of Give Clean Water, a non-profit dedicated to providing clean drinking water around the world. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by: Thrive Market Show Notes What was your first exposure to the outdoors? [00:00:40] When I was growing up as a kid, my dad loved fishing. And it turns out my dad when he got outta high school, he actually graduated from Oceanside High as well. So my dad gets outta high school and he takes a job as a Forest Service ranger up in Lassen Park. Oh, wow. And so my very first recollections when I was growing up as a kid were sitting around, my dad, would take pictures and turn 'em into slides and we had like a slide projector kinda a deal. And it's all these pictures of my dad up there fishing for like big brown trout and all the stuff that they were doing their off time. So, so from very early on I kind of got exposed to the outdoors and, beautiful places like Lassen National Park . How were you inspired to focus on clean water? [00:04:15] Before I was introduced to Sawyer filters, I got training in bio-sand filters , and that was just like, I don't know, it just resonated with me cuz I began to see what a big, giant problem it was around the world. And so that just kind of caught my attention. I was like, man, this is something we can
Tue, January 31, 2023
Bass Fishing, Podcasting, and Building an Outdoor Community with Pro Angler Angie Scott [EP 366]
Today I’m talking with Pro Angler and Podcaster Angie Scott. Angie is the creator of The Woman Angler & Adventurer podcast. And it's become more than just a podcast. It's a growing community of like-minded women supporting each other through Angie’s Facebook group. It's turning into a movement and the industry IS taking notice! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by: Tee Public Show Notes How were you introduced to Fishing? I started fishing before I can even remember honestly. Minnesota is where I grew up and it's just a culture, it seems like, of outdoors people up there. And so, my dad had a little aluminum fishing boat and a 40-horsepower motor. He still has that same exact boat and motor to this day, which is pretty unheard of. But, he's mechanical and is able to fix most things when something goes wrong with that motor. But, yeah, so, just grew up doing that. When did you begin fishing competitively? So I started that back in 2018. I moved to Nashville back in 1999 and had kind of gotten away from it. I moved down to Nashville and I went to college and then got a job in the music business and that really ended up taking up a lot of my time and kind of pulled me away from, getting out there and fishing. What were you doing in the music business? So I went to a school in Tennessee that has a really good music business program called Middle Tennessee State University. And I was on the business side. They have a production side. If you're wanting to get into like producing records and things like that, then they also have a business side, and that was really where my interests were. I really had no agenda as far as what
Tue, January 24, 2023
Kiteboarder Sensi Graves is helping women do badass adventure activities [EP 365]
Imagine a world in which women no longer doubted themselves. a world in which you believed anything was possible and that there were no fears or glass ceilings holding you back? Sensi Graves loves helping women do badass things. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you by: Tee Public Show Notes How were you introduced to the Outdoors I grew up actually 20 minutes down a dirt road in northern California. So in a really rural town in Mendocino County in Northern California. There are 320 people in my town and 50 kids in my high school. I grew up on 80 acres and my mom was an avid skier. After she graduated high school, she lived in Utah for a number of years. My Mon and my Dad were ski bums out there, and I've always lived an outdoor life. We weren't allowed to watch TV growing up. I have three brothers and we were always playing outside, always playing games, and thankfully we were taken on ski trips and wakeboarding trips and a lot of outdoor time growing up, and so it's been a part of my blood forever. How'd you get into kiteboarding? Kind of a roundabout story. Actually, my mom died when I was 16 and after that my dad, was looking for things to fill that void and he, one summer when I was 18 years old, said, we're going to learn to Kiteboard. And I was like, what? I've never even heard of this before. And he was having us watch some videos and I was like, what? What are we doing? I don't even what you're talking about, but he took my three brothers and me out to North Carolina to a place called Rio Water Sports, which at that time and still is the premier kit board school in the US. And we took a week's worth of lessons. I fell in love with it and actuall
Tue, January 17, 2023
The Running Event Follow up with Show Director Christina Henderson [EP 364]
Welcome to episode 364 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, brought to you this week by The Running Event . Today I’m joined by Christina Henderson, Event Director for The Running Event. The premier conference and trade show for run specialty retailers. Christina and I talk about the recent TRE show in Austin and the debut of their new Switchback space featuring Outdoor brands. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes So let's talk about 2022 overall. Obviously, it was good. Does the whole team feel that way? Everyone truly walked away feeling very good. So, very positive energy and accomplishment. And of course, there are always things that we can work on and do better, but you know, the team walked away. feeling very proud of what we did and as they should. What were your top three wins from the Switchback space? Switchback at the running event was space on the trade show floor, but it was also networking opportunities. We did a breakfast with the Conservation Alliance and we did a trail cleanup. It truly was an experience and, we walked away feeling very happy with what we accomplished in year one. What was the feedback from the brands? Our number one objective is can we create a space for business to happen. And, that is what happened in the Switchback space and the TRE space. We have received, very positive feedback from brands in the switchback space and. Saying again, " Hey, we're behind you. This concept is going to work and we will support you moving forward. We found value this year and we believe that there will be even more next year. " Was there anything you were a lit
Tue, January 10, 2023
Exploring the intersection of outdoor recreation, conservation, and the economy with Matador’s Tim Wenger [EP 363]
Today I’m joined by travel journalist, author, and snowboarder Tim Wenger. After finishing a BA in Communications from Fort Lewis College, Tim jumped into the back of a Ford Econoline and spent a few years playing guitar in dark bars while falling in love with adventure travel. He's been unable to rest his pen (or his feet) ever since. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes I gotta hear about those years in a Ford Ecoline playing guitar in the dark bars while falling in love with adventure travel. Where, first of all, where'd that idea come from? So basically I played guitar in a punk band for about a decade. A couple of them over that time, but primarily one that was more serious and, we toured around the Southwest, playing bars and now and then when we’d open for a bigger band and we'd get to play in a theater. But usually, it was bar-level gigs and sleeping on people's couches and, trying to imitate our heroes. We never quite became the next Blink 182 , but, we certainly tried. I always tell people, playing in a rock band is a great thing to do when you're in your twenties, right? Because you're staying out till 2:00 AM all the time, which you'd probably be doing anyway. You're hanging out at rock clubs, you're getting in a van, driving around. It's fun, but it's not something I'd wanna do now. So is there a particular story or event from that experience that was maybe uniquely fun or maybe not fun? I would say that my favorite thing about it, traveling as a musician, was the camaraderie among the other bands. You know, when you are a working band showing up at a rock club in some random place, you have an instant connection with the other people that are there with the other bands that are going through the same things that you're doing. You know, everybody's got
Tue, January 03, 2023
Replay- Rob Holmes and GLP Films- empowering tourism brands towards positivity and sustainability through award winning adventure storytelling [EP 362]
I’m thrilled to catch up with Rob Holmes today. Rob is the founder of GLP Films, and their mission is to help brands reach sustainability goals, protect nature, communities, culture, and heritage through the lens of storytelling and content marketing. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes How Rob was introduced to the Outdoors My real connection with the outdoors started with my dad and going out on these crazy adventures with him and my two older brothers. The funny thing is my dad was a Southern boy. He's from Tennessee. He knew absolutely nothing about the outdoors. I mean, I, I don't know if he knew anything but someone helped him get the equipment and things that we needed, external backpacks and all that stuff from back then. Honestly, that really, if I had to celebrate my real connection to it. He had two weeks of vacation every year and those would be dedicated to taking his three crazy sons out. When he picked up his first camera I had a Pentax K 2000 , so if that doesn't date me, I don't know what does. But my getting into photography, was really just my passion thing. It hit me really, I think in college, when, you're exposed to a lot of courses. I went to a small liberal arts college in upstate New York, Hobart College . And I majored in environmental studies, and wildlife management. So sort of this odd combination I had to petition the school cause they had nothing around wildlife. I took one photography class and you take that black-and-white photography class everybody takes to get your entry-level photo class. I got, I think a B, but I remember that I didn't like any of the history stuff. I just wanted to shoot the camera. That's all I wanted to do. The start of G
Tue, December 27, 2022
Replay-The value of Wilderness, Outdoors, and Saving the Yellowstone Grizzly with Doug Peacock [EP 361]
Enjoy this replay of my conversation with one of my environmental heroes Doug Peacock . I was fortunate to meet Doug at an Earth First! Rendezvous in Idaho in 1988. I'm just finishing his newest book " Was it Worth It", from Patagonia Books . Doug and I talk about his many adventures, his love for wildness, and his current work to save the Yellowstone Grizzly. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Show Notes Intro to Outdoors My dad was a boy scout organizer. So he would go up to the woods and lead them and organize boy scout troops operated in the woods. And I would be too little to be a boy scout. So I got cut loose to just run wild in the woods and catch turtles and hunt squirrels, whatever, everything. And that's how I grew up. Books Was It Worth It?: A Wilderness Warrior's Long Trail Home In the Shadow of the Sabertooth: <a href=
Tue, December 20, 2022
Piscari-Fly, a growing Fly-Fishing business featuring World Class Trout fishing On the River Nore, Ireland [EP 360]
"Welcome to episode 360 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, today I’m speaking with Peter Driver from Piscari Fly. Peter tells us how he's been fishing since he was a kid, The Piscari Fly Business on the River Nore in Ireland and, the World Class Ireland Trout fishing." Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Brought to you this month by Tourism Ireland Also with support from Failte Ireland , Steller , and the Outdoor Writers Association of America Show Notes Piscari Fly River Nore How Peter got into Fly Fishing I grew up in the mountains in County Wicklow in a small village called Rathdrum and, in the village, we had a river running through called the Avonmore River . It's probably one of the most spectacular rivers we have in Ireland for scenery and beauty. It's absolutely stunning, but the whole community was kind of based around the river, and fly fishing was huge in that community. But my dad and all his brothers would've been a big fly fishermen and big competition anglers back in the day when I was only a wee boy. Tell us about the shop We sell a whole shebang. Whatever you need for fly fishing or fly tying we got it. If we haven't got it we'll, we get it. But we do have one motto. I've always kind of built the business on a personal thing that if I'm not gonna u
Thu, December 15, 2022
Outdoor Biz Uncut- Osmo is the best tasting sports nutrition for pro level athletes as well as active recreational outdoor lovers. [EP 004]
I recently met Allie Nichols from Osmo Nutrition at the Running Event in Austin, Texas and today Allie shares why Osmo is the best-tasting sports nutrition to ensure the best performance for pro-level athletes as well as us active recreational outdoor lovers. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . Show Notes Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, December 13, 2022
Forloh Founder Andy Techmanski shares his inspiration for the brand and talks about their new Outdoor products and technologies. [EP 359]
Welcome to episode 359 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast, tonight I’m speaking with Forloh's Andy Techmanski. Forloh is a relatively new brand in the technical apparel space and Andy is here to share his inspiration and talk about the unique new products and technologies they have brought to market. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . Show Notes FORLOH 01:42 How Andy got into hunting. We were always hunting with three or four generations, of hunters and started as early as I can remember, three, four years old going out with a stick beating bushes and everything, right? Playing bird dog and you know, everything else from my dad and grandfather. 03:03 What was the inspiration behind Forough? You know, spending a lot of money on gear that just wouldn't work all year. So I started to brainstorm the idea and it was something that evolved over five years before I actually started Forough. 04:07 Where's the name come from? FORLOH is an acronym for " For Love of Hunting ". 31:30 Do you have any suggestions or advice for folks wanting to get into the outdoor apparel business? I will tell you this, you know, when we got into this, we absolutely got into it to not hurt any of the other brands out there you know, we were starting something completely different. Made in the USA, using different technologies, so on and so forth. There's a lot of room in the industry for others. Follow up with Andy Website: https://forloh.com/ <a href="htt
Thu, December 08, 2022
Outdoor Biz Uncut- Retail Strategy Group and their Retail Playbook [003]
Today I’m joined by Liza Amlani and Raj Dhiman from the Retail Strategy Group. Liza is the Principal of Retail Strategy Group and Raj is the Chief Rainmaker and Co-Founder at Retail Strategy Group. We got together at The Running Event in Austin Texas to review their Retail Playbook. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Show Notes Retail Strategy Group The Merchant Life About Us Liza Amlani Liza Amlani is the go-to expert in retail merchandising, product creation, and accelerating speed to market. She is the Principal of Retail Strategy Group: a consulting practice helping brands and retailers dramatically improve profitability and increase organizational effectiveness. Raj Dhiman Raj Dhiman Ph.D. is the Chief Rainmaker and Co-Founder at Retail Strategy Group. He is an expert in tech sales having sold software for over seven years. He is a respected sales coach and has elevated the performance of hundreds of sales professionals. <a href="https://www.retailstrategy
Tue, December 06, 2022
Iain Miller, founder of Unique Ascent in Donegal, Ireland. Providing unique and extensive Adventure guiding services [EP 358]
Welcome to episode 358 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast and my conversation with Iain Miller. Iain is the founder of Unique Ascent in Donegal, Ireland. Iain says they provide fundamentally two services, the first is a unique and extensive guiding service, and the second is a mountain training service in which they provide Mountain Training courses and assessments. Brought to you by Tourism Ireland , Failte Ireland , and Steller I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com or leave me a message on Speakpipe ! Sign up for my Newsletter HERE . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Show Notes Unique Ascent 01:45 How Iain got into the outdoors. Oh, well, I'm 52 now, and I've been, I've been playing outside mainly trekking and hill walking or hiking since I was about 12, and then as soon as I got my first car I was just off hiking on my own around Scotland. 03:05 How Iain became a guide? All the things in life are not planned. It just happens that the more you do something, the more people hear or see that you're doing something. I was rock climbing. I moved to Donegal and I was rock climbing the sea stacks and stuff there. And the more I did, the more people contacted me. Before long I was taking people out. 04:15 Which of your activities are the most popular? The most popular is sea stack climbing. People just want to do something that's different. 18:17 If you could share one tip for anyone coming to Ireland to climb, what would that be? In coming to Ireland, the chances are that they're coming from a place where there's going to be a lot of bolts in the rock that they've climbed. I don't wanna say there's no place, but there are very few p
Tue, November 29, 2022
Gear Junkie’s Adam Ruggiero talks about coffee, playing fetch, and you’ll love his favorite outdoor product under $100! [EP 357]
Welcome to episode 357 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast and my conversation with Adam Ruggiero from Gear Junkie . We wander all over the place . . . from how he got connected with Gear Junkie to the piece of gear he feels we haven’t quite gotten dialed in yet. Brought to you this month by The Running Event . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, November 22, 2022
Replay EP 333 Colin True ALL IN ON Outdoor Podcasts [EP 356]
Colin True has held a variety of roles in the Outdoor Biz. and is the founder of Rock Fight LLC and writer and producer of the Layers Podcast by Polartec. He is ALL IN ON Podcasts. We talk about the value of podcasting for brands and retailers, Colin walks us through the Layers Podcast, and plenty more! Brought to you this month by The Running Event Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, November 15, 2022
Postcard Travel, Building Empathy and Educating Adventure Travelers Through Storytelling [EP 355]
Amit Jaipuria joins me from Postcard Travel. Amit and his team are Inspiring a New Generation of Mindful Travelers Through Storytelling. At Postcard, they believe responsible travel starts with building empathy and educating travelers about the people and places they visit. They invite travel writers, hotels, travel designers, industry groups, and tourism boards to come together and showcase local stories of their people, history, culture, food, nature, and wildlife. They share these stories with a global community of travelers and invite them to book with their partners. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, November 08, 2022
Sustainable Adventure Tourism with Rachel Dodds [EP 354]
Today on Episode 354 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast I'm joined by Rachel Dodds the Director of Sustainable Tourism – a boutique consulting firm. A dynamic, self-starter with over 25 years of international experience across a wide spectrum of the tourism industry. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Thu, November 03, 2022
Outdoor Biz Uncut- Paul O'Reilly from Inland Fisheries Ireland [002]
Paul O'Reilly from Inland Fisheries Ireland gets us Fishing for Brown Trout at a small lake called Derry Lee in Connemara Ireland with Adam Conroy from Clifden Anglers . Connect with Paul: paul.oreilly@fisheriesireland. ie Website: http://www.fishinginireland. info/ Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, November 01, 2022
Dana 3 Gleason takes on the Director of Product Role at Outdoor Brand Mystery Ranch [EP 353]
Welcome to Episode 353 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I'm joined by Dana 3 Gleason from Mystery Ranch. He recently got the "Keys to the Kingdom" as he takes on the role of Director of Product at Mystery Ranch. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, October 25, 2022
TRE Launches Switchback for Outdoor with Christina Henderson [EP 352]
Welcome to episode 352 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I’m joined by Christina Henderson, TRE Event Director talking about the launch of Switchback for Outdoor at The Running Event. Join us in Austin Register for The Running Event (TRE) and Switchback at TRE and receive exclusive discounted rates with code OUTDOORBIZTRE. Use this link to register: https://xpressreg.net/register/trec1222/landing.php?sc=OUTDOORBIZTRE Get in Touch Have questions? Contact TRE Event Director Christina Henderson at chenderson@divcom.com . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, October 18, 2022
Wolters World- Honest Adventure Travel Advice [EP 351]
From Japan to Jacksonville Mark and his family want to show fellow travelers the world. As a family of four who has spent decades living, traveling, and working abroad they appreciate honesty in travel and aim to give that to others to help make the most of their precious travel time and Mark is here to tell us all about it. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, October 11, 2022
Amy Kapp Rails Trails Conservancy Building Outdoor Connection [EP 350]
Today I’m joined by Amy Kapp from Rails to Trails Conservancy. Amy has more than 18 years of experience in print and digital content creation, editorial management, and outdoor journalism. Having joined the RTC team in 2014 as editor of Rails to Trails magazine and the TrailBlog, she focuses on telling the story of the impact of trails on America. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Thu, October 06, 2022
Outdoor Biz Uncut: Rory Martin [001]
Rory Martin from Strangford Lough Activity Centre joins Rick after a paddle around Strangford Lough, Ireland. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, October 04, 2022
Duck’s Unlimited Communications Specialist Jennifer Kross tells us how and why they do all their great outdoor conservation work. [EP 349]
Duck’s Unlimited Great Plains Communications Specialist Jennifer Kross shares her waterfowl and wetland ecology background and how she communicates what Ducks Unlimited does and how and why they do it. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, September 27, 2022
100% of Houdini’s outdoor fabrics used this season are recycled, recyclable, renewable, biodegradable or Bluesign certified!
Today on episode 348 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast Houdini Sportswear Head of Brand Engagement & DTC Sales Niclas Bornling tells us how an odd band of scientists, artists, designers, and adventurers, are pushing the boundaries of how outdoor clothing is made. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, September 20, 2022
Erem Boots founder Noah Swartz is making outdoor products using only materials with proven paths back to nature [EP 347]
Noah and the passionate Erem team of gear junkies, activists, and desert rats are motivated every day to produce the best, most environmentally sustainable desert footwear possible. They are also committed to planting one million cactus pear cacti , which have huge potential in the fight against climate change. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, September 13, 2022
How to get into Outdoor Tourism and Recreation with Casper College Instructor Ginny Garner [EP 346]
This week on episode 346 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast I’m joined by Ginny Garner from Casper College in Wyoming. Ginny and I talk about her work-life history, why she loves living in Casper, and all the great things going on in the Tourism and Recreation curriculum at Casper College. If you want to work in tourism and or recreation this is a must-listen! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, September 06, 2022
Climbing, Podcasting, and Adventure Inspiration with Steven Dimmitt from The Nugget Climbing Podcast [EP 345]
Originally from the PNW Steven left his career as an engineer in early 2020 to move into a van full-time, and pursue personal goals in rock climbing and traveling around the country interviewing world-class climbers to tease out the habits and routines that got them where they are today. Steven and I talk about some of that inspiration, how he got into climbing, and of course podcasts. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, August 30, 2022
Sustainability and Fair Labor in the Outdoor Industry [EP 344]
This week on The Outdoor Biz Podcast we have a repeat guest, we first heard from Ammi Borenstein from Snaplinc Consulting back in 2019 talking about sustainability activities in outdoor product production. Ammi and I spoke a few weeks ago and there have been quite a few changes in those 3 years so . . . he’s back! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, August 23, 2022
Marine Biologist Chris Paparo shares his passion for coastal ecology, photography and his outdoor explorations around Long Island, NY [EP 343]
This week I’m thrilled to be speaking with Chris Paparo. Born and raised on Long Island Chris has been exploring the wilds of the Island for over 30 years. As the owner of Fish Guy Photos, he’s a wildlife photographer, writer, lecturer, member of @OWAA and New York State Outdoor Writers, and currently manages the Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton campus of Stony Brook University. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, August 16, 2022
Outdoor Journalist Rob Annis tells us what it’s like to write for a living and offers up some great stories and tips. [EP 342]
Welcome to episode 342 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I’m talking with Outdoor Journalist and OWAA member Rob Annis . I met Rob in Casper, WY at the OWAA conference. In this episode, Rob tells us what it’s like to write for a living. We talk about the travel, the clients, deadlines, and he shares a great tip about getting ideas sitting at a bar with a guidebook open! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, August 09, 2022
Over 20 Years of Merchandising, Buying, Product Development and Sourcing Experience with Retail Strategy Group Founder Liza Amlani [EP 341]
Liza Amlani has over 20 years of Industry knowledge and Experience in Merchandising, Buying, Product Development, and Sourcing with Luxury and Mass Merchant Retailers in both Regional and Global markets and has some progressive thoughts on traditional retail business. We get into a little of that and plenty more in this wide-ranging conversation. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, August 02, 2022
Creating Eastern Sierra Overlanding Content with Andy Palmer from The Adventure Portal [EP 340]
Andy Palmer from The Adventure Portal made a visit to the Eastern Sierra recently and we wandered around the Upper Owens and East Walker Rivers for four days or so creating content for NIMBL Vehicles and Slumberjack . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, July 26, 2022
Podcasting ideas that inspire followers and grow revenue, for any outdoor business! With Podcaster and Coach Howard Fox. [EP 339]
Welcome to episode 339 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. Fellow Podcaster, Business Coach, and OWAA compadre Howard Fox drops by to talk about his two podcasts. We also drop plenty of ideas small and large businesses can implement through podcasting to inspire followers and grow revenue. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, July 19, 2022
Fund your Adventure Lifestyle with Wanderer Financial Founder Patrick Schulte, Earn Money from Anywhere. [EP 338]
Have you wanted to sing the Russian National Anthem . . . with an army general in a brothel bar in Yemen? Or get chased by pirates off the coast of Africa? This week on Episode 338 Patrick Schulte of Wanderer Financial shares those stories and how he and his family live the wanderer life traveling the world! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Follow, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, July 12, 2022
OrthoLites’ New Footwear Technology Cirql, a more Sustainable Future, with Kristin Burrows [EP 337]
This week on episode 337 OrthoLites' newest footwear technology, Cirql, has been making waves in the industry. Cirql technology is aimed at helping usher the footwear industry towards a more sustainable and environmentally sound future and newly enlisted Chief Brand Officer Kristin Burrows is here to tell us all about it! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, July 05, 2022
Rob Holmes and GLP Films- empowering adventure tourism brands towards positivity and sustainability through award winning storytelling [EP 336]
I’m thrilled to catch up with Rob Holmes today. Rob is the founder of GLP Films , and their mission is to help brands reach sustainability goals, and protect nature, communities, culture, and heritage through the lens of storytelling and content marketing. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, June 28, 2022
Tim Geisler and Nautilus Sailing can teach you to sail in a week and you’ll have a great adventure doing it!. [EP 335]
If learning to sail is on your bucket list you’ll love this episode with Nautilus Sailing founder Tim Geisler. Tim tells us how Nautilus Sailing came to life, what learning to sail is like with Nautilus, and shares a success story of someone who began with no skills and is now a proficient sailor. Call Nautilus at 800-680-7902 to take them up on their offer of $500 off on any of their week-long live-a-board courses for Outdoor Biz listeners. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, June 21, 2022
Gary Lenett from Duer Jeans shares how the idea for Jeans and Shorts made for movement came to life outdoors. [EP 334]
Gary Lenett from Duer Jeans drops by and talks about how the idea for jeans made to move came to life, making jeans out of Eucalyptus trees, and much more in our wide-ranging conversation. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, June 14, 2022
Rock Fight LLC founder and Podcast host Colin True is ALL IN ON Podcasts. [EP 333]
Colin True has held a variety of roles in the Outdoor Biz and is the founder of Rock Fight LLC and the writer and producer of the Layers podcast by Polartec. He is ALL IN ON Podcasts. We talk about the value of podcasting for brands and retailers, Colin walks us through the Layers Podcast, and plenty more! Brought to you this month by Thrive Market . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, June 07, 2022
The Big Gear Show: Inaugural Outdoor Success and What to Expect Next [EP 332]
Episode 332 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Kenji Haroutunian and Lance Camisasca from The Big Gear Show . We talk about the success of the inaugural Big Gear Show and what we can expect this time out! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, May 31, 2022
Aaron Provine, Geartrade Founder: helping you keep your outdoor gear out of landfills, and giving it a longer life. [EP 331]
Welcome to Episode 331 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Geartrade Founder Aaron Provine. Aaron tells us how you can buy and sell the gear you love for your outdoor adventures. Keep your gear out of landfills and give it a longer life . . . it’s the UnNew outdoor! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, May 24, 2022
The Outdoor Rec Coop with Stephen Barnes [EP 330]
Welcome to episode 330 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast with Stephen Barnes. Stephen recently partnered up with Bryan Wachs and together they’ve recently launched The Outdoor Rec co-op . Stephen and I dive deeper into the central idea behind their co-op which is to put the power in the hands of the employees and engage and incentivize them to grow companies for their own futures as well as the future of the company! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, May 17, 2022
National Wildlife Federation’s Aaron Kindle, protecting America’s outdoor experience with cherished landscapes and wildlife that has helped define and shape our national character and identity for generations. [EP 329]
Welcome to Episode 329 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Aaron Kindle , Director of Sporting Advocacy with the National Wildlife Federation . Aaron is a lifelong Westerner, originally from Wyoming, who possesses a deep appreciation for the West, its people, and its wild country. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, May 10, 2022
Sara Ellis: Global Product Specialist within Gore Fabric's Outdoor Consumer Garments Business [EP 328]
Sara Ellis is a Global Product Specialist within Gore Fabric's Consumer Garments business unit, leading a cross-functional development team to bring new product innovations to market. Gore is a global manufacturer of diverse products, most well-known for its ingredient GORE-TEX product brand. Currently, Sara is supporting development efforts behind a new material platform for its GORE-TEX brand in an effort to continuously deliver high-performing products, while lowering the environmental footprint. Links: Sara Twitter Instagram Linkedin Gore Twitter Instagram Facebook Website: https://www.gore-tex.com/ Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, May 03, 2022
3 Top Challenges from The 2022 Outdoor Retailer’s Challenge Report with Envoy B2B [EP 327]
Episode 327 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast features Envoy B2B’s Matt Dobrowolski and Gabe Maier from BrandKeep sharing their insights and surprises from the Envoy B2B 2022 Retailer Challenge report, Brought to you by Envoy B2B . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, April 26, 2022
The value of Wilderness and Saving the Yellowstone Grizzly with Doug Peacock [EP 326]
I get to speak with one of my environmental heroes Doug Peacock. I was fortunate to meet Doug at an Earth First! Rendezvous in Idaho in 1988. I'm just finishing his newest book "Was it Worth It", from Patagonia Books. Doug and I talk about his many adventures, love for wildness, and his current work to save the Yellowstone Grizzly. Facebook Twitter Instagram https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! The Outdoor Biz Podcast Links Doug Peacock Was It Worth It? Save the Yellowstone Grizzly Patagonia Books Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, April 19, 2022
Town Hall Outdoor Co. founder Robin Hall on Planet, Kids, Community, and Outdoors [EP 325]
Welcome to Episode 325 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. Robin Hall says that her passions are Planet + Kids + Community + Outdoors and she is putting her heart and soul into her startup Town Hall Outdoor Co . She tells us about their kids' outdoor gear and how they are having so much fun! Townhallco.com Townhall Instagram Townhall Facebook Robin Hall The Outdoor Biz Podcast Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, April 12, 2022
Antibacterial Barrier Protection with BlocAid Gloves outdoor founder Gary Schloss [EP 324]
30-year glove manufacturing veteran Gary Schloss felt obliged and inspired to bring a protective glove to market and help offer a solution to contain the spread of COVID-19. Gary and his team delivered that solution in the Spring of 2020 and he’s here to tell us all about it. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, April 05, 2022
Beth Cochran, 25 years in the Outdoor Biz, the PR space, OR Show and more [EP 323]
Welcome to Episode 323 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. Whatsup PR founder Beth Cochran is here with me today sharing stories about her 25-year Outdoor Career, the PR space, we talk about the OR Show, and plenty more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, March 29, 2022
All things Outdoor Podcasting, Launching, Producing, Publishing and Why with Podcast Coach Emily Holland [322]
I’m thrilled to talk with fellow podcaster Emily Holland on the show today. Emily has been producing, hosting, and editing shows for over 3 years, including The Stokecast and the Nature Untold Podcast . After recently stepping back from hosting for a bit now she helps other podcasters get started or supercharge what they’ve already built. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, March 22, 2022
Quality and Outdoor Innovation in down production for over 100 years with DOWNLITE’s Josh Werthaiser [EP 321]
Downlite began in down and feather more than 100 years ago and continues to lead in quality and innovation today and today I’m excited to speak with Downlite President of the Feather and Down Division Josh Werthaiser. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, March 15, 2022
Growth in Fishing and Outdoor with Costa Sunglasses VP of Marketing John Acosta [EP 320]
This week I'm talking with Costa Sunglasses new VP of Marketing John Acosta. With more than 20 years of experience in the outdoor and fishing industries, John will now oversee Costa’s global marketing efforts. We talk about the exciting opportunity in the fishing industry. 2021 marked the best year ever in Costa's history - in terms of sales and performance and the fishing industry is also experiencing the highest growth in fishing participation in more than a decade. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, March 08, 2022
Prepare, Unite, and Amplify Voices of Future Outdoor Industry Leaders. [EP 319]
I'm here today with Stasia Walker, Sablle Scheppmann, Kelsey McGrew, and Carrie Watson from The Futurist Project. They're here to tell us about the project, their leadership training, and I'm sure we'll wander a bit off-trail to some other topics. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, March 01, 2022
Podcasting, Videography, Outdoor Marketing & more with Backcountry Marketing Podcast Host Cole Heilborn [EP 318]
I’m excited to have videographer, photographer, and fellow podcaster Cole Heilborn on the podcast today. Cole hosts the Backcountry Marketing Podcast, you can hear me on episode 79. He loves creating films and says the challenge of making something creative is a challenge he never tires of. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, February 22, 2022
Moving up the career ladder from Outdoor Shop floor associate to eVent Brand President with Chad Kelly [EP 317]
My long-time friend and colleague Chad Kelly joins me on the show today. Brought to you this month by SmugMug . Chad began his outdoor career in retail then joined Mike and Sue Sullivan and the Sullivan agency as a rep with brands like Eagle Creek and Ex Officio, and now is the President at eVent Fabrics. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, February 15, 2022
Revolutionizing the Outdoor Merino Wool Industry with Andy Wynne from Nuyarn Merino [EP 316]
This week Andy Wynne, TMC CEO and developer of Nuyarn joins us on the podcast. Nuyarn Merino has revolutionized the merino wool industry with its manufacturing technology and has vastly improved the benefits of Merino wool in terms of comfort, performance, and sustainability. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, February 08, 2022
WANDRD Co-Founder Ryan Cope on growing up all over the world and launching an adventure brand with Kickstarter [EP 315]
This week’s inspiring conversation features WANDRD Co-Founder Ryan Cope. Ryan talks about growing up all over the world, how the idea for WANDRD formed around their kitchen table, and launching with Kickstarter. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, February 01, 2022
Dkota’s Rob Rosenblum tells us about their unwavering outdoor retailer support and commitment to premium and durable apparel. [EP 314]
I’m thrilled to speak with Dkota Partner and Chief Brand Officer Rob Rosenblum today. The independent explorer spirit is what sparked Dkota Grizzly’s passion to produce the heartland’s most premium and durable apparel. Rob and I talk about their products, commitment to retailers, and more in this wide-ranging conversation. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, January 25, 2022
HR Outfitter, A team of HR professionals with the same values and outdoor mindset as you [EP 313]
Welcome to episode 313 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with John McKinney founder of HR Outfitter. John has built an HR resource and team of professionals with experience in the outdoor industry and a love for adventure! He walks us through how they provide outdoor recreation companies with innovative HR Consulting and Staffing solutions so you can focus on running your business, whichever segment of the outdoor recreation industry you’re in. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, January 18, 2022
Hikers Brew founder Zach Pecha talks outdoor coffee with us and their mission to promote sustainability [EP 312]
You know what a fan of good coffee I am . . . today I’m excited to speak with Zach Pecha from Hikers Brew. Zach and I talk about Hikers Brew and how it came to life and he shares his and Addy’s mission to promote sustainability within the outdoor and food packaging industries. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, January 11, 2022
Gathr Outdoors CEO Keith Bornholtz tells us about the company's re-branding, new look and focus on outdoor [EP 311]
I’m excited to speak with Keith Bornholtz today about his new role as CEO of Gathr Outdoors, Parent to GCI Outdoor, ORCA Coolers, Klymit, and Rightline Gear. Keith and I talk about the recent announcement of their rebrand as Gathr Outdoors, his Outdoor career, and their rebranding process with a new look and trajectory that is very much focused on outdoor. The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, January 04, 2022
Libsyn’s Rob Walch on small business podcasting success stories and the value podcasts offers small businesses. [EP 310]
Libsyn’s Rob Walch and I obviously geek out a bit on podcasting and he shares tips, small business podcasting success stories and the value publishing a podcast offers small businesses. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, December 28, 2021
Replay: Outdoor Prolink, Where Authentic Outdoor Pros Get Their Gear With Founder Gareth Richards [EP 309]
Gareth Richards began his outdoor career as a guide and educator then got into the online biz with planet outdoors dot com before online was a thing. He spent time as VP of sales with Lowe Alpine and Mountainsmith and started Prolink in September of 2004. Facebook Twitter Instagram Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Show Notes: planetoutdoors.com Lowe Alpine Mountain Smith The Teifi River Prescott College Cornell University NOLS What outdoor activities do you guys participate in, you and your family? "I still rock climb with a bunch of buddies, paddle a little bit, not as much as I used to, and mountain bike and ski." Gareth's advice to get into the outdoor industry: " Do your homework and align yourself with brands, with companies who have the same values as you. " Gareth's favorite piece of outdoor gear under a hundred dollars: Grayl water purifier <
Tue, December 21, 2021
Replay: What it takes to be a Pro with Adventure Photographer and Filmmaker Lucas Gilman [EP 308]
Lucas Gilman is one of the leading adventure photographers and filmmakers in the industry for the last 20 years. His powerful and incisive images run in top publications & advertisements worldwide and his love of adventure and addiction to color creates his distinct style of photography and filmmaking. I’ve had the good fortune to work and learn from him on a couple of different occasions. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Show Notes Lucas Gilman Nikon Rich Clarkson Nomad Charcoal Grill Advice I would say you only have one chance to make a first impression. I would say if you're wanting to work figure out who your client is first. If that's National Geographic figure out what kind of portfolio you'd need to build, to impress National Geographic. And I'd say that you need to crawl before you walk and walk before you run. And until you're ready to show them your portfolio. Don't do it. You only have that first chance once. Show Banner " chance favors the prepared mind<
Tue, December 14, 2021
Curious about Jobs in the Outdoor Industry? Laurel King from outdoorindustryjobs.com gives up the deets. [EP 307]
Laurel King is here with me today and we have a wide-ranging conversation about her Outdoor Industry Jobs dot com. A job posting service for companies that manufacture and distribute products or provide services that support the outdoor product industry. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, December 07, 2021
Krimson Klover's Rhonda Swenson and her love affair with outdoor sweaters [EP 306]
Krimson Klover founder Rhonda Swenson is on the other side of the mic today telling us how her grandmother taught her to knit at age 9 starting her lifelong love affair with sweaters. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Snippets Rhonda's first item she knitted 02:23 - 02:46 Rhonda's favorite gear 17:30 - 17:46 Rhonda's Advice 16:21 - 16:58 Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, November 30, 2021
Jordan Hirro On How His Outdoor Passion For Climbing Became A Career [EP 305]
They say that if you love your job, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. That seems to be the case for Jordan Hirro , who turned his passion for climbing into a career. Jordan is the Advertising & Sales Executive at Outside Interactive . In this episode, he joins host Rick Saez to share his journey and how his love for the outdoors paved the way to his successful career. He also gives some insight and shares tips for anyone aspiring for a career in media and advertising, especially in the climbing industry. Stay tuned! Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Snippets Jordan’s Intro to the Outdoors 02:09 - 02:24 Jordan’s Favorite Gear 37:37 - 38:00 Jordan’s Advice to get into media 32:14 - 32:45
Tue, November 23, 2021
Upholding The Grit And Ruggedness Of The Old West With Seager Outdoor Clothing Founders Elliott Shaw, Case Anderson, And Mattson Smith. [EP 304]
Seager Clothing wants to be synonymous with grit and ruggedness. Seager’s founders, Elliott Shaw , Case Anderson , and Mattson Smith , created a brand based on their love for the outdoors and toughened by the challenges they faced in building their business. In this episode, Rick Saez talks to Seager’s founders about the great outdoors. We learn how they got into outdoor activities, how their friendship gave birth to Seager, and their experiences growing their business. Tune in for more outdoor adventures and business ideas with Rick and his guests. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. 9:56 - 10:07 How did Seager get started? [EP 304] 12:27 - 12:32 Why start with clothing? [EP 304] 17:19 - 17:27 You made up the name? [EP 304]
Tue, November 16, 2021
Outdoor Living: A Modern-Day Nomad With Professional Rock Climber, Jonathan Siegrist
Living in Boulder, Colorado, a place that almost seemed to be one with nature, it would be difficult not to be interested in the outdoors. In this episode, Rick Saez is joined by Professional Rock Climber Jonathan Siegrist . Jonathan shares how his family influenced him to love the outdoors. He takes us to his journey of making a living out of his passion for outdoor activities, especially mountain biking and rock climbing, and why he decided to live by himself outdoors through a camper van. Join in this conversation as Jonathan tells us his incredible journey of turning passion into living. Tune in to discover how you could make your life brighter too with the outdoors! Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Snippets 4:07 - 4:22 being a kid, I kind of wanted to like go fast and jump off things. [EP 303] 14:39 - 14:54 I bet I've spent like no joke, six or seven months in it of the last year. So. I've put a lot of wear and tear on it. [EP 303] 15:48 - 16:05 it doesn't matter if you're a climber or a fisherman or a mountain biker, or you're just like a guy or a girl who wants to go hiking or sightseeing or whatever. [EP 303]
Thu, November 11, 2021
Hosting Outdoor Events From The Comfort Of Your 4-Wheel Camper With Chris Hollingsworth [EP 302]
There is a reason behind every event. No one hosts an event just for money. An outdoor event is supposed to be a place where you can connect with nature, with the people you love. If you want to host an athletic event, raise awareness for a cause, or build corporate kinship, partner with Chris Hollingsworth , the owner of Seven Seas Industries . Join your host Rick Saez as he talks to Chris on how they deliver on that while traveling and living in their 4 Wheel Camper Rig. Get started in the event industry by volunteering today and being part of something special. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Snippets 05:46-06:03 We put on events 18:10-18:25 4 Wheel Camper Custom Designs 19:31-19:43 They began in 1972 19:31-19:43
Tue, November 02, 2021
Max Rekowski: How Vansmith Translates Customers Love For the Outdoors into Beautiful Camper Van Conversions [Ep 301]
Every additional feature to a custom camper van elevates your trip to make it more comfortable and memorable. Max Rekowski , General Manager at Vansmith , talks about how he brings his natural love for the outdoors and ecological knowledge to custom camper van conversions. Max tells us how they have continually changed and transformed into what it is today. Grown from a team of one to nine in three short years, they take ultimate pride in our Vansmith builds. They use premium materials with an intuitive design that allows for easy-to-use elegance in “Mad-Maxing” your van. Max also opens up how they compromise with their client’s most ridiculous requests and deal with the public’s increased interest in the outdoors because of the pandemic. Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Thu, October 28, 2021
Jack Ballard’s Vision For Lowering Health Care Costs And Supporting Rural Outdoor Schools [EP 300]
Jack Ballard might be the only person to run for Congress with his bird dog as an integral part of his campaign. Of course, there are many other important elements to his platform, such as education, healthcare, jobs and wages, the impact of drought on ag lands, wildfire mitigation, and more. Jack is the consummate outdoorsman, a nationally renowned outdoor writer and photographer who literally wrote the book (two actually) on elk hunting and now he's planning to use his background as a communicator, former farmer/rancher, outdoorsman, and educator to find workable solutions in Congress for all of us. On today’s podcast, he joins Rick Saez as he dives deep into his platform and the changes he wishes to see in the world. Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/
Tue, October 26, 2021
How To Future-Proof Your Outdoor Business In The Digital Age With SIA President Nick Sargent [EP 299]
The unexpected pandemic impacted a large number of businesses, most especially in the outdoor industry. So the question everyone now asks is, how can you future-proof your business with such seemingly fickle circumstances? Today’s guest is Nick Sargent , President of SnowSports Industries America(SIA) . SIA is an organization on a mission to help the winter outdoor community thrive by delivering invaluable education, data, and research. Nick joins host Rick Saez to offer advice on how businesses can adapt as the world moves toward a more digital and consumer-centric approach. He also speaks on why it’s important to value diversity, inclusion, and sustainable action as we dive into the future. Tune in to learn more! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/
Tue, October 19, 2021
Beautiful And Functional Gloves For Every Outdoor Activity: Drew Eakins And His Journey With Hestra Gloves [EP 298]
If you’re going to hit the great outdoors, you may need a good pair of gloves, and we have just the thing for you. Hestra Gloves produces some of the best outdoors use gloves on the market today. In this episode, Rick Saez interviews Hestra’s Marketing Manager, Drew Eakins . They talk about Hestra’s family lineage, their design, development, and production attention to detail, quality, and they geek out a bit on Seth Godin. Learn more about Hestra and their amazing gloves by tuning in. Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/ Snippets 01:36 - 02:04 How were you introduced to the Outdoors? [EP 298] 04:44 - 05:15 Tell us about Seth Godin [EP 298] 34:00 - 34:25 Advice for folks wanting to get into the Outdoor Industry [EP 298]
Tue, October 12, 2021
Save Money And Save The World: Lithium Ion Batteries And Their Outdoor Benefits With Pale Blue Earth Founder Tom Bishop [EP 297]
Contributing to a sustainable new world doesn’t have to be a drastic lifestyle change. It can be in the form of even changing something as minor as switching from alkaline batteries to rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Today’s guest is here to share just how impactful that small step can be. Tom Bishop is the Founder of Pale Blue Earth , the battery company that wants you to buy fewer batteries through their USB rechargeable smart batteries. He joins host Rick Saez to share how he got his start in sustainable product development and what factors led to this innovation, such as his outdoor career. Tom expounds on the benefit of using this product and things to consider before making that change. He further discusses how you can reduce waste and contribute to a greener, more sustainable world in our own little ways. Tune in to learn more! Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/
Tue, October 05, 2021
Respect Outside: The Importance Of Sexual Harassment Prevention In The Outdoor Industry With Gina McClard, J.D. and Jim Miller [EP 295]
Gender-based violence is, unfortunately, a common issue in any business, and the outdoor industry is no exception. That is why sexual harassment prevention training should become part and parcel of each organization. That’s what Gina McClard, J.D. and Jim Miller are doing. Gina and Jim founded the Respect Outside in 2019 to help provide solutions and increase gender equity through a culture shift approach. They discuss the benefits and the long-term value of this training in helping employees thrive in the workplace and help companies attract diverse and high-quality talent. Gina and Jim also detail the different steps they take to guide companies on this path. Join your host Rick Saez in this insightful conversation on diversity, inclusion, sexual misconduct prevention, and equitable workplace culture in the outdoor industry business. Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://ricksaez.com/listen/
Tue, September 28, 2021
Outdoor Sports Insurance with Tori Hoeschler and Rob Martin from the Horizon Agency. [EP 295]
Today I have a unique show covering a topic many of us don’t give enough attention to, insurance. Rob Martin and Tori Hoeschler from the Horizon Agency are well versed on most things happening with Outdoor Sports Insurance and have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the outdoor industry, risk management, and challenges facing outdoor brands and shops across the country. Brought to you this month by Grammarly. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes How you were introduced to the outdoors Rob? I grew up in Boulder, Colorado for the most part, and was skiing at a very early age and camping every weekend. And continued on at the University of Colorado. Then left in the Vail Valley for five years after that. So I'm born and raised in the outdoor industry. Tori, how about you? Yeah, I too would have to give all of the credit to my parents. My Dad, who's actually the founder of our outdoor sports insurance program and a former Olympic skier himself, and a major outdoor enthusiast. He would put me in a Jansport backpack as an infant go skiing with me down the hill. So I would say essentially from the point that I started to show signs of walking, I was in a pair of ski boots. It's kind of one of those things where it's hard to be in my family as well and not be an avid out outdoor enthusiast. Did you have an outdoor job, Tori? Not in the retail space. I would say the closest thing I had to an outdoor job was when I was younger, like high school, I was a nanny for a lot of summers. And then one of the summers, I was nannying in a neighborhood where there were a ton of kids and a ton of other nannies. And we basically joined forces and started what was kind of like a summer camp to entertain all of the kids all at once. We would just do all kinds of things, like go on hikes and go out to the lakes and do events like that. So that I think would probably be the closest thing to my first outdoor type job. Rob, how about you? I guess my first outdoor job real
Tue, September 21, 2021
A unique entrance into the Outdoor Industry with Diana Seung, Jack Wolfskin USA GM [EP 294]
Episode 294 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Jack Wolfskin US General Manager Diana Seung. We talk about how Diana got into the Outdoor Biz, how a sociocultural anthropology major gets into retail, merchandising, and eCommerce, and plenty more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Diana Seung Jack Wolfskin Callaway Show Notes How were you introduced to the outdoors? A very unexpected call from a recruiter. So I had a recruiter call me and say, I have this amazing opportunity with backcountry.com. And I misheard her as like bat country like a bat. I was like, what's Backcountry ? I've never even heard of this company. She's oh, they're in Utah. I'm like, oh, no way in hell. I was living in New York City at the time. And I'm like, there's no way I'm going to Utah of all places, I'm a city girl, lived in New York City, San Francisco, like through and through. She's why don't you just talk to them? Just have a conversation more informal. Yeah, just learn about them. I'm like, I'll be, open-minded, I'll speak to them. So I have a call with them. And at that point, we realized it's backcountry. Not bat country, backcountry was a new term for me too. That's how foreign the outdoor world was. So finally put two and two together and had a conversation. Crazy enough, I actually had a personal trip planned to go out to park city. A girlfriend of mine had just moved out here and I was coming out to visit her. So I'd mentioned to them, it's so funny that I'm getting this call and I'm speaking to you all cause park, city's never been on my radar. And my girlfriend just moved out there. I'm headed out there in three weeks to visit her. And they're like when you're in town, why don't you just swing in, check out the offices, get to know us. We'll tell you a little bit more about the opportunity. I said sure, why not that quickly transpired into being an all-day long
Tue, September 14, 2021
Outdoor Trade Shows, plenty of good things happening and opportunities to improve [EP 293]
We talk about Trade Shows, what’s working, how they facilitate buying and selling, and what we can improve on with Matt Dobrowolski from Envoy B2B, Rumpl’s Patrick O’Neill, buyer Jill Jacobson from Bill & Paul's Sporthaus, and Michael Stevens from sales agency True North. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Welcome to episode 293 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Matt Dobrowolski from Envoy B2B , Rumpl ’s Patrick O’Neill, buyer Jill Jacobson from Bill & Paul's Sporthaus , and Michael Stevens from sales agency True North. We talk about Trade Shows, what’s working, how they facilitate buying and selling, and what we can improve on. Brought to you by envoyB2B Show Notes Jill Jacobson from Bill and Paul's Sporthaus Patrick O'Neill from Rumpl Mike Stevens from True North Matt Dobrowolski from Envoy B2B Outdoor Retailer The Big Gear Show WWSRA What are the most impactful shows for
Tue, September 07, 2021
US Adventure Destinations with Funki Adventures [EP 292]
Frank Cassidy from Funki Adventures tells us how he got into the Outdoor Adventure Biz, the early days of Funki Adventures, some of the trip destinations they offer. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE brought to you this month by Show Notes Funki Adventures Eastern Sierra REI Rhino Adventure Gear The Adventure Portal Hastings Overland JetBoil Titus Adventure Company hidden San Diego Wild West Tour- use code OD BIZ Wild West Frank's Favorite Piece of Outdoor Gear Telescope Frank's Advice Take your trip, it doesn't matter whether it's with us or somebody else. I don't care if you want to go diving in the ocean or up in a hot air balloon, or there's a trip that you were thinking about. I think what we've all learned from COVID is stuff changes an
Tue, August 31, 2021
Outdoor Trade Shows, Sobriety, Sustainability and more with Matt Bennett and ECHOS Brand Communications [EP 291]
Welcome to episode 291 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Matt Bennett and ECHOS Brand Communications. In our wide-ranging conversation, we talk about how Matt got into the Outdoor Biz, the REVEAL Global Media Conference, Sobriety, Sustainability, and plenty more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes ECHOS Brand Communications Matt Bennett How were you introduced to the Outdoors Yeah, it's funny, I think there's this idea that if you grow up in Boulder, Colorado, you're just by nature, an outdoor kid. And that's not really the case, there's a lot of people here that just that's not their thing. And it's just a place to live and it was. As a little kid, you think everybody's staring up at the flat irons like you are. And you just take it for granted, but yeah, I grew up pretty close in south Boulder just to the mountains. We would just walk out and that was the entertainment. You'd walk out and you'd hike up and goof around and you build a Fort or whatever it was. And so that was part of being a Colorado kid. And my folks were into camping and I started skiing at a young age, doing Nordic and then downhill. And obviously downhill, really the speed and the fun of it really caught me. And then I started like gen one mountain biking when that took off. I was going to mountain bike camps as a little kid, pre-suspension, right? And as a kid going up to Crested Butte for mountain bike camps in the eighties or whatever it was, I had a lot of different experiences. And I love it. It's changed over time. Now the focus is on my kids and getting them out there, but I still have to get my fun in as well. You have a lot of experience in communications in PR how'd you get on that path? It's interesting, cause I went to school for international affairs, Undergrad. And then I did a master's degree at the Monterey Institute of International Studies , which is a really small school in California. And so I was on this track for, diplomacy. A lot of the
Tue, August 24, 2021
Black Folks Camp Outdoor Too with founder Earl B. Hunter Jr. [EP 290]
Welcome to episode 290 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Black Folks Camp Too founder Earl B. Hunter Jr. Earl and I talk about his career with Sylvan, how he got into the Outdoor Biz, and their mission to increase diversity in the outdoor industry by making it easier, more interesting, more familiar and more fun for black folks to go camping. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Black Folks Camp Too International Procurement & Distribution, Inc Sylvansport Outdoor Economy Conference Unity Blaze Digital Education Initiative Leave No Trace South Carolina State Parks North Carolina State Parks Oboz RVIA : RV Industry Association RVDA : The National RV Dealers Association Connect with Earl <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/earl-b-hunter-jr-25925918/" target= "_blank" rel="no
Tue, August 17, 2021
Atlantic British Vice President David Newey tells us about his roles with a broad sector of well-known outdoor consumer brands [EP 289]
Welcome to episode 289 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Atlantic British Vice President of Business Development and Growth David Newey. We talk about how a guy from Sony Pictures and Krispy Kreme moves on to Valspar, Primaloft, and now Atlantic British. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes David's introduction to the Outdoors I grew up in the Adirondacks basically. It's sort of the foothills of the Adirondacks in Saratoga Springs, New York. And as far as an introduction to the outdoors in general, that's how we grew up, camping, we grew up, dirt biking and off-roading and all kinds of sports in the summer. And then lots of winter sports skiing, ski racing, that kind of thing. Sony Pictures Krispy Kream Valspar PrimaLoft Atlantic British Land Rover The Land Rover Offroad Driving School David's advice for folks wanting to get into the Overlanding business These are lifestyle businesses, you have to want to eat, sleep and play in this world. I think it benefits those who are authentic. I would look for what makes you want to get out of bed in the morning? What are you passionate about? Because you're going to be dealing with those people and they're going to see right through you. So, I would say follow your passions and look for those companies and segments that cater to that and dive right in. I mean, there's really no better way. David's favorite books Business Books Favorite piece of outdoor gear under a hundred dollars any knife from Columbia River Knife and Tool Company Black Di
Tue, August 10, 2021
Ibex GM Bonie Shupe tells us about the great new things happening with outdoor brand Ibex [EP 288]
Ibex GM Bonie Shupe tells about her Independent design work, traveling with the family bluegrass band, the great new things happening with ibex, and running to fish. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes How were you introduced to the outdoors? I grew up traveling around in a family bluegrass band, and so we spent a lot of our time traveling all over the United States and camping at different bluegrass festivals. And my first experience in the outdoors that I remember is trying to catch fireflies because it was so foreign to me. I grew up in Utah and we were traveling back in the south. And so the fireflies were really, probably the first outdoor experience that I remember. But the one thing that we did do every year, that's probably my first outdoor adventure was backpacking in the wind river and camping. Do you play an instrument? Yeah, I grew up playing the fiddle, playing the fiddle, and clog dancing is what my parents had in store for me. And I also play the bass and the drums. How did you get into design? I've always been a visual designer and I've always been really interested in apparel. I think I just followed my passion to get here. The idea of combining fashion and function has always been something that's really helped me become where I become an outdoor apparel designer. And you've had your own studio for a long time, too. What inspired you to go that route? I started independently right out of the gate. I had done graphic design in the outdoor space for a long time before basically following my passion for fashion. And because I was doing graphic design before, I decided that I really needed to follow my passion too. Design outdoor, and activewear for the outdoor industry. Then I went back to school and once I finished school, I just followed my connections and ended up getting to design apparel in the outdoor space. I've always really enjoyed working for myself and having my own creative schedule. How did you get involved with Ibex? I was a huge fan of Ibex for a lot of years. So as an apparel designer, one of my biggest ambitions is to combine fashion and function, to reduce consumption. And when you create apparel that can easily slide from the outdoor space into cities and travel, you're really able to create
Tue, August 03, 2021
LOWA Boots, delivering Outdoor Tradition and Innovation since 1923 with US General Manager Peter Sachs [EP 287]
Welcome to episode 287 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with LOWA General Manager Peter Sachs, brought to you this month by Wolfgang Man & Beast, Collars, Harnesses, Leashes, and More. Peter began his Lowa tenure after Werner Riethmann lured him away from Raichle and has been with LOWA for over 25 years now. We talk about their many years of success, distribution efficiency and more . . . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Peter's Introduction to the Outdoors I probably was introduced to like most kids. I was in Scouts and that taught me how to go camping. I rode a bike to get places when I was a kid and bombed around that way. And they learned how to ski by joining the middle school ski club, riding the bus one day after school, each week in the winter. And all of the normal ways that kids get exposed to the outdoors, or most kids anyway. Connection to LOWA Boots The gentleman in Germany, who is the CEO, Werner Riethmann had been the president of Raichle in Switzerland. And he left Raichle in 1993 and moved over to LOWA shortly thereafter. I used to run into Werner at trade shows, the early outdoor retailer shows in Reno and the SIA shows in Vegas. And he kept saying, hey, come work for me at LOWA. And he and I went back and forth for a couple of seasons and finally, in early 96, we found a path to make that happen. Early retailers: Climb High, Adventure 16, Hudson Trail Outfitters Blue Ridge Moutnainsports What do you attribute their long-term or longevity? Product is number one, two, and three. And I think they've just always stayed focused as a mountain group company. They've never tried to branch into backpacks or trekking poles or clothing or any other products that all of our customers sell. And we've had lots of opportunities, in the time that I've been with the company to either license the brand or, or distribute other products and so on. But LOWA has always just stayed focused on boots for mountaineering and trekking and being outdoors. And I think that's really the key to why the brand has succeeded. That focus. The other thing I think that's always been really important is the brand is privately held. And so we look 2, 3, 4 years out all the time. We're not always concerned with this month or this quarter's sales performanc
Tue, July 27, 2021
Outdoor Retailer is coming back to Denver with Outdoor Retailer Senior Vice President and Show Director Marisa Nicholson [EP 286]
Welcome to episode 286 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Outdoor Retailer Senior Vice President and Show Director Marisa Nicholson, brought to you this month by Thrive Market . Marisa tells us about her experience as Show Director and how they’ve navigated the pandemic and are excited for the Outdoor Community to get back together in Denver. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Marisa Nicholson Outdoor Retailer How Marisa got introduced to the outdoors When I was five I was first introduced to skiing and grew up my whole life snow skiing, and moved to Northern California at a very early age of seven and spent many summers up in Tahoe, camping, fishing obviously skiing throughout Utah. We also grew up in Folsom and near the American River and we'd go rafting, boating on Folsom lake. So pretty much as many outdoor activities that we could possibly do, we would do throughout the year. You've seen some pretty significant growth in the industry. How has that shaped the Show? I started in 2003 and the show was in salt lake city at the time and it was actually really male-dominated and lacking a lot of diversity. I remember there were sayings like shrink it and pink it and everything seemed very traditional. Over the years we continue to grow and ultimately we outgrew the salt palace as more brands and retailers were emerging. There's been a lot of blurring the lines between what was considered traditional outdoor. We introduced Venture Out, which really helped to bring in that modern, outdoor element. And I think, for me, what's exciting is that next year we're going to be celebrating our 40th anniversary and this is going to help, bring everybody back together, celebrating why we enjoy the outdoors so much and really helping to embrace the value of the human interactions again. What is it about the show that makes it so special and valuable for the outdoor committee? First, I love that you started the question by mentioning how many years y
Tue, July 20, 2021
TAXA Outdoors, Mobile Human Habitats built for adventuring with President Divya Brown [EP 285]
Welcome to episode 285 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast with Divya Brown, President of TAXA Outdoors, brought to you this month by Thrive Market. Divya tells us how she went from the corporate world to the outdoors and how TAXA strives for innovation at every step of the design and manufacturing process, to be a sustainable corporate citizen and lead by example in our industry. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show notes TAXA Outdoors About TAXA Divya Brown Garrett Finney NASA Public Lands Divya's suggestions or advice for folks wanting to get into an RV We have a real user group and you can go there and you can learn about the product, understand it, Divya's favorite book Start with Why by Simon Sinek Divya's favorite piece of outdoor gear under $100 Camping Chopsticks from Snow Peak One more thing from Divya We really enjoy sharing outdoor experiences, really understanding why people get outside and how it's important to them. And what meaningful experiences they are having out there, And how do we facilitate that and make it better? I think that's really why we're here and enjoying each other's journey is really the fun part” Connect with Divya and TAXA <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TaxaOutdoors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener
Tue, July 13, 2021
Sustainable, Convenient and Ethical Outdoor Coolers insulated from Coconut Husks with Nutshell Cooler Founder David Cutler [EP 284]
David contacted me a few months ago with a story I knew I had to share with Outdoor Biz listeners. He tells us about The Nutshell Teams' mission to replace plastic with natural, up-cycled materials and how Nutshell Coolers are Designed to last years, not millennia. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Nutshell Coolers David Cutler Intro to the Outdoors I grew up in Seattle, so I really didn't have much choice in the matter, just kind of in my blood. My parents love cross country skiing, for example. And as kind of a punk kid, I, therefore, hated cross country skiing, but to go cross country skiing from Seattle, you have to drive right by the downhill ski area. And the first time my mom let us out early to go downhill skiing instead of cross country skiing and going fast and going off jumps and stuff, and I was pretty much hooked. Stanford Design School Conservation NGO Rare The Sulu Sea Lubang Island What is a Nutshell Cooler It's this Easy breezy cooler. You can throw it over your shoulder and get out there for your picnic, but it also works for a weekend of camping and it just looks great and has this very obvious, tangible material story attached to it. It's really the 30 coconut husks that go into every single cooler. Suggestions or advice for folks wanting to launch their own ideas First of all, I'd say just do it. It's a great time to launch something new. It's the outdoor industry that feels like it's a super exciting growing segment. People are getting into it. And I have to say on a personal basis, it's been a very welcoming and collaborative space to enter. It's not true for every industry, but we've gotten such a warm and helpful welcome from the broader industry. Favorite piece of outd
Tue, July 06, 2021
Outdoor Prolink, Where Authentic Outdoor Pros Get Their Gear with founder Gareth Richards [EP 283]
Outdoor Prolink connects outdoor professionals with the best outdoor brands. Those people are guides, instructors, search and rescue, people who work in retail, work for the outdoor brands, etc. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes planetoutdoors.com Lowe Alpine Mountain Smith The Teifi River Prescott College Cornell University NOLS What outdoor activities do you guys participate in you and your family? "I still rock climb with a bunch of buddies, paddle a little bit, not as much as I used to and mountain bike and ski." Gareth's Advice to get into the Outdoor Industry " Do your homework, and align yourself with brands, with companies who have the same values as you. " Gareth's favorite piece of outdoor gear under a hundred dollars. Grayl water purifier Follow up with Gareth gareth@outdoorprolink.com Linkedin Outdoor Prolink <a href="https://www.facebook.com/outdoorprolink/?ref=hl" target="_blank" rel="
Tue, June 29, 2021
Jason Garcia, New Oceans Digital founder tells us how Customer research and A/B testing builds better outdoor products and customer experiences [EP 282]
Jason is a trail runner & founder of New Oceans Digital an outdoor industry marketing agency. He’s going to tell us about their work and what inspired him to start a marketing agency. Brought to you by Coalatree. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes New Oceans Digital Jason's Introduction to the Outdoors So as a kid, my family would take road trips across America, visiting some of the national parks. And, these, weren't your typical road trips where you're going maybe a day or so away, or maybe even staying in state. If you're in a big state like Texas many of our trips logged five, 6,007,000 miles. Jason's Favorite National Park Denali National Park About New Oceans Digital I help outdoor brands radically improve their website performance so that they can make more money online by converting, existing website visitors into customers. 1% For The Planet National Parks Foundation Jason's Outdoor Activities Trail Running, Mtn Biking, Snowboarding Jason's Favorite Books Turning The Flywheel and Good to Great by Jim Collins The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Advice Help people in public as much as possible. And you do this by just providing value in whatever field of expertise you have. So just help people, if you're, if you're a marketer, if you're a designer, whatever, just help people in public as much as possible. If you're feeling a bit shy or nervous, just rip the bandaid off and dive in. I'm not naturally an extrovert, at least I don't see myself that way, but, I would say that if you're passionate about the outdoors and you want to work in this industry, there are people out there who want to definitely help you along the way. Jason's favorite piece of
Tue, June 22, 2021
Campouts or Dinner Outdoor and On the Patio, Brooks Hansen from Camp Chef tells us how we can Cook It All [EP 281]
Brooks Hansen from Camp Chef tells us about his first outdoor experiences, some of the great technology Camp Chef is bringing to grilling and smoking meat, and a few tips to improve your grilling game. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Camp Chef Camp Chef YouTube Boy Scouts Smoke Control Wood Pellets Cast Iron Top 3 Tips There's a lot of different things. I would say one of my number one tips is don't overcomplicate it. It's as easy as you want it to be, especially with a pellet grill and you're talking, smoking tips, and grilling techniques. There's no reason to over-complicate and overthink it. It's as simple as a set and forget it, follow some of the recipes, there are some really simple ones you don't need to over season, but seasoned liberally, if that makes any sense. It's kind of an Oxymoron. So if I'm doing like a reverse seared steak or something, I'm doing salt and pepper, I'm going to that meat's going to soak up and draw a lot of that salt. So I'm going to season it pretty liberally. But I don't need to add like 15 other seasonings. Sometimes people get all caught up on a little, add a little bit. Sometimes it ends up being more work than it's worth. And then time and temperature are probably two of my major tips when you're smoking. know your time and know your temperature. Things get done, I've had briskets get done in 20 hours and I've had brisket get done in 10 hours. So you just gotta know where you're at in your cook and know what the temperature's doing and just keep a close eye on it. And the cool thing is you can do that from your couch, wherever with a wifi controller. Favorite piece of gear under a hundred dollars <a href= "ht
Tue, June 15, 2021
The Big Gear Show with Outdoor Pros Sutton Bacon and Kenji Haroutunian EP 280
Sutton and Kenji tell us how the idea for the show came to life and some of the coolness we’ll see in Park City this summer. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes The Big Gear Show Darren Bush Kenji Consults Nantahala Outdoor Center Outdoor Industry Association Lance Camisasca Outdoor Retailer The Outdoor Press Camp Paddlesports Retailer Rutabaga Paddlesports A16 John Mead Park City Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Connect with Kenji and Sutton kenji@thebiggearshow.com <a href="mailto:sutton@thebiggearshow.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopen
Tue, June 08, 2021
Allied Feather President Daniel Uretsky bringing us sustainable, comfy, warm feathers for our outdoor jackets & sleeping bags [EP 279]
Daniel and I talk about how Allied got started, how he got involved, and the great work they do to bring us all those sustainable, comfy, warm feathers for our jackets, sleeping bags, pillows, and comforters. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Allied Down and Feather Daniel Uretsky What was the motivation to get a law degree? Great question growing up. It's just something that always interested me. I never really necessarily planned on going into the Down business. I liked the idea of being a lawyer growing up as a kid, I was very inquisitive. One of those kids that asked a lot of questions and my teachers were always telling me it'd make a good lawyer. I guess I had a habit of cross-examining. So it was just something that always appealed to me. I know it kind of sounds funny, but I grew up reading John Grisham books and I love those stories, so yeah, it's just always really appealed to me in the family. Animal welfare standards Supply chain animal welfare standards, ensuring that all the down being bought was coming from sources where there was no harm to the animals. RDS- Responsible Down Standard TDS- Traceable Down Standard Track my Down The hangtag and sewn label will have a lot number, and also a QR code. So either you can scan the QR code with their phone or they can go to the website, ww.trackmydown.com, enter that lot number with the unique code. You can really learn a lot about the down, traceability is a huge component, but also education around the quality of the down and other things like how to wash your down product. Suggestions and advice for folks wanting to get into
Tue, June 01, 2021
Wild Tribute began as a small spark of outdoor wonder and ignited into a burning passion to honor National Parks and Public Lands [EP 278]
A small spark of wonder ignited into a burning passion to do something meaningful, something that matters for Parks and Public Lands thus Wild Tribute was born. We talk about that inspiration, the people behind Wild Tribute, how they get their cool artwork, and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Wild Tribute Ben Kieffner Brian Stowers Sean Stowers How Ben Got into the Outdoors I grew up in the state of Kentucky. It was always in the woods playing and in the creeks behind my home and playing with friends outside. And I think that just naturally spiraled into an affinity for being outside and then have the opportunity to move west and live in Denver for some time. That's what really, I think, opened my eyes to the mountain life and more or less just all the adventures that can be had. 4% to National Parks and Public Lands 4% of our top-line revenues, go back to organizations that support our national parks and public lands. And that's really why we do what we do. And so that's always been at the forefront of all of our decision-making and anything and everything we do, specific to a business strategy. Printed and Fulfilled in the US The product is primarily manufactured in central America and then it is finished in the United States. Predominantly it should be understood that we get the product, we source it, and then we manufacture it. But then everything is more or less printed fulfilled in the right here in the states, whether that's in Utah, where we're based or some of our partners are in California as well. Ben's thoughts on how we can educate new outdoor participants about the basics of camping and hiking? So we gotta do our part. Of course. So I think to answer your question, part of its repetitions, I think hopefully more people go out and it's not just this one experience. I think more often than not one experience takes you to an
Tue, May 25, 2021
TAC Rentals let's you live the adventure van life for a week or weekend then hand the keys back! [EP 277]
Travis and I talk about his inspiration to help more of you have great outdoor adventures. He tells us about his complete packages that allow you to live the van life for a week or weekend then hand the keys and gear back to him to be cleaned and prepped for the next adventurous folks. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Intro to the Outdoors I grew up here in Colorado. I was born and raised in Colorado Springs. And so kind of did everything you might expect a young Colorado kid to do growing up. I was out camping with my family and biking and fishing and hunting and just kind of were what we did. Fountain Valley School Crestone Needle Have Fun, Do Good Our program sets aside $5 for each day a customer rents a vehicle and puts it in our donation bucket. That means every day you are out camping in the woods or skiing you are contributing back to the outdoors you are enjoying. That is Adventure with Impact. We select projects and partners that align with our mission and fund them one at a time. Carbon Offset Fleet We have partnered with Colorado Carbon Fund to offset the carbon from our vehicles using regenerative farming practices locally to reduce our air pollution here. Electric Vehicle Discount Got an EV already? Great, send a photo of you with your vehicle and we will email you with the 20% promo code to be used when booking a trip. Outdoor Biz Listener Discount Get 15% off rental using code OUTDOORBIZ15 which will be good for any trips
Tue, May 18, 2021
Career Advice from Writers, Photographers, and Podcasters on getting into Outdoor Media [EP 276]
Do you want to get into the outdoor media business? Listen to the insights and advice from Outdoor Writers Association of America members Chez Chesak, Colleen Miniuk, and Kate Morgan. Start your Outdoor Media career today! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE SHOW NOTES OWAA OWAA Website Facebook Twitter YouTube Contact OWAA Kate Morgan bykatemorgan Kate's Podcast: Roaring Earth Apple Spotify Connect with Kate Twitter Instagram Linkedin Colleen Miniuk Colleen Photography and Writing Dear Bubbles Workshops and Speaking Engagements Colleen on The Outdoor Biz Podcast EP 239 Connect with Colleen Facebook Instagram Linked
Tue, May 11, 2021
Outdoor Retail Success Stories with Bill and Paul's Sporthaus, Medved Running, and EnvoyB2B EP 275
Finding Retail Success in 2021 with John Holmes from Bill & Paul's Sporthaus, Mort Nace, General Manager with Medved Running & Walking Outfitters, and Matt Dobrowolski, Sales Executive from EnvoyB2B. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Finding Retail Success in 2021 with John Holmes from Bill & Paul's Sporthaus, Mort Nace, General Manager with Medved Running & Walking Outfitters, and Matt Dobrowolski, Sales Executive from EnvoyB2B. Brought to you by Show Notes Bill and Paul's Sporthaus Jon Holmes Meved Running and Walking Mort Nace EnvoyB2B Matt Dobrowolski Retain your existing customer base Brand Awareness Campaigns Curbside Pickup Virtual fitting Get your business online or tighten up your online business More email campaigns Interactive brand presentations Maintain Community Engagement Appointment based selling Engaging with new local partners Still need reps to be hands-on, the buyers still need that touchpoint Bill & Paul's Location and Hours Located at 1200 East Paris, just south of Cascade Rd. Get Directions Here Phone: 616-458-1684 Fax: 616-454-4151 Email: customerservice@billandpauls.com Hours: Appointment Required for Equipment and Apparel Fittings <a href= "http
Tue, May 04, 2021
The Inspiration and Launch of Bike Hike Adventures with Founder Trish Sare [EP 274]
Trish tells us how In rural Thailand the seeds for BikeHike were planted, though she wouldn’t realize it until years later. Now, 25 years after BikeHike Adventures’ first official trip (in Costa Rica), BikeHike runs tours in more than 30 destinations worldwide…from their office in Vancouver Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes How Trish Got introduced to the Outdoors Sadly, my mother passed away at the age of 46. And she always wanted to travel the world. She always wanted to get out and do things, but she was raising a young family. And before she died, she said to me, Don't make the same mistake I made, go out and see the world now, because you never know what tomorrow holds. So when I turned 20, I decided I'd never been on a plane in my life. I was really shy and just didn't have exposure to anything, but I decided to move on a five-year trip, traveling around the world and my first stop was going to be Vancouver to work EXPO 86 . I left for a five-year trip to travel around the world and that wasn't an active trip, but after my five years Traveling all over the world I came back to Toronto and immediately I got a job working for a tour operator who said, Hey, what do you think of going to Costa Rica on guide training? We'll train you on how to be a guide in Costa Rica. And then you can live in Costa Rica for the next two years as a guide. That was the first time I'd ever camped in my entire life. I started getting into rafting and biking and hiking, I thought, Oh my God, this is what I want to do with my life. I love it. Launching Bike Hike Adventures When I came back I said, I want to start my own company. How do I do it? And he put me in touch with somebody who allowed me to work under his umbrella and learn from the ropes of another tour company who took me under his wing. But there was. Yeah, there was a lot to learn and they're still are. Some of the things Trish learned It wasn't marketing, the marketing was something that I had to learn on my own. It was pretty much the operations of the trip. Pretty much I knew how to design, cause I learned that when I was on the ropes. Put it this way, when I was in the field, I
Tue, April 27, 2021
The Tinkle Belle- where any woman can get outdoor and GO! [EP 273]
The Tinkle Belle was designed by a group of professional, adventurous women from Northwestern Montana. Their mission was to create a product where any woman could #getoutandGO! And only the perfect product would be good enough to release on the market. With the Tinkle Belle, women have the freedom to GO anywhere the men go. Let Peedom ring! Show Notes The Tinkle Belle If you have to go, you have to go. Guys just out, find a quiet spot, and pee, it's different for women. The main inspiration behind the product was just having to find somewhere to squat, to pee when you were having fun outside. Any woman can use The tinkle Belle while hiking, camping, road trips, on airlines, winter activities, boating, mobility issues, and in dirty restrooms. Take your Tinkle Belle with you everywhere to make life a little cleaner and easier when you have to go! Adyn's Introduction to the Outdoors I grew up in Montana, so the outdoors is something that's just inherently part of my life. Hiking, camping, boating, all of those sorts of things are something that we just do, maybe not on a daily basis, but on the weekends. That's something that we always try to take a part of when we can, it's right there for you. The Tinkle Belle Construction It's an injection-molded medical grade, plastic, silicone, and latex-free. It has two types of material in it, so that it's foldable, but it still has the back edge that's sturdy to use within clothing. It has anti-microbial and hydrophobic built into the plastics so that it sheds excess liquids. And then also it doesn't collapse when you put it into clothing. The Tinkle Belle Testing That process actually took just about two years. Which kind of surprised even me, because it looks like a simple thing to create, but to get those curves just right you have to get the dimensions, correct. And to get the materials chosen correctly so that they did what we wanted. It took quite a while. And at the time, just to get the engineering and communicate the engineering, not that it's just hard. There are curves involved. The engineers were men, to be honest, they couldn't relate. One of our Goals We knew we wanted a product that would help women. If there are other products that we can create that helps women, that we can add on down the line, that'd be awesome. So the Tinkle Belle has definitely become a brand and I hope that we can create other cool things that help women in the outdoors. How to Clean your Tinkle Belle If you have water, I just rinse a little bit of water through it. Or take something like a little disposable wipe and wipe it, or you can just wash it when you get home. It does have the anti-microbial built into the plastic. So it resists building, growing germs, and odor. So if you can't wash it I just fold it and then wash it when I get home. God Forgives Foundation Our foundation the <a href= "https://www.godforgivesfoundation.com/" target="_blank
Tue, April 20, 2021
Overlanding, Outdoor Gear, Mapping and more with Steven of Rugged Routes [EP 272]
Rugged Rocks & Rugged Routes provides off-road parts, maps communication equipment, and GPS accessories and high resolution maps compatible with Lowrance GPS units for Overlanders and Off-Road enthusiasts everywhere. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Rugged Rocks & Rugged Routes provides off-road parts, maps communication equipment, and GPS accessories and high resolution maps compatible with Lowrance GPS units for Overlanders and Off-Road enthusiasts everywhere. Rugged Routes Rugged Rocks Eagle Scout Lowrance Units Ocotillo Wells California State Parks Bureau of Land Management San Bernardino National Forest Arrowhead Johnson Valley Glamis California City Red Rock Canyon Spangler Hills
Tue, April 13, 2021
Must have outdoor vacation planning with Mark Koep and CampgroundViews.com [EP 271]
CampgroundViews.com uses video, data, and photographs to provide Tent and RV travelers with vital information to help them plan their vacations. And with over 40M Americans going camping every year, this is a must-use in trip planning. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Intro to Outdoors My outdoor experience has been long and varied. I originally started outdoors back when I was 13. I started mountain bike racing at a very high level all the way up to racing the world championships in 24-hour races. So I was always outdoorsy, but our introduction into the Camping and RV space happened about 12 years ago when my wife and I decided to sell everything we own, buy a fifth wheel and start traveling the country. And we weren't rich. We had student loan debt, the typical stuff, and just felt let's go adventure while we're young. And so we sold everything and bought this RV and headed out on this Epic adventure, traveling the country. How campground views came to life When we started traveling, we recognize that the biggest problem for other people that would want to travel like us was actually finding a campground. It's a real pain in the butt. So we ended up coming up with this crazy idea to launch a business called campground views.com and focus on photos and videos of campgrounds and allow people to see it. And as we built that business up, we recognized that the next big problem in this industry, this being the outdoor hospitality industry is that a lot of the owners and operators of those businesses are not the most sophisticated business owners. They love the outdoors, they want to run a campground, but they don't necessarily know how to do all of that and really provide a good customer experience. And so we believe our mission is to help people get outdoors and experience camping and that if we could help these owners better operate their parks, that would create a better experience for the campers. So through that, we've focused all of our attention on that experience. And over the last year in COVID times we really ramped that up and we run a few organizations that basically have more members than any other association out there of RV park
Tue, April 06, 2021
OOFOS President Steve Gallo on Pivoting and Adapting for Outdoor Success [EP 270]
You may remember Steve from Episode 206. Our first conversation was about OOFOS and their terrific product, this time we talk about how the pandemic impacted their business, the cool activations they did to aid their community, and how they pivoted to deliver a successful year. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Steve's Introduction to the Outdoors Growing up North of Boston, my dad was really into the outdoors. We spent a lot of time in New Hampshire and he actually climbed all the 4,000 footers in the Appalachian trail in New Hampshire. Yeah, it's funny, you know, you and I talked about this earlier, he kept one of those journals on all of his hikes up to the different 4,000 footers and who we went with, and what, what transpired. I actually haven't done all of them. I want to finish them all. But he did all of them, some even twice. The other family member that did all of them was our golden retriever who is in the book too. My dad actually got the 4,000 footer patch. So it's a lot of great memories. Things we talked about OOFOS re-inc : In 2019 USWNT champions Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg, and Christen Press founded re—inc with the mission of inspiring more people to boldly reimagine the status quo. What started as a collection of reinvented streetwear quickly grew into a constellation of products and experiences that offer a new normal. We're in the midst of building a redefined world for conscious living and a new path forward for changemakers. Our gender-fluid fashion, creative goods, and membership experiences invite you to reimagine with us. We believe in relentless and continuous reinvention. It fuels us. We hope that you join us on the journey. Recovery Footwear Nichols College Steve's OR Banner "Do yourself a favor and try a pair of OOFOS. Get a carabiner and hang them on your backpack." Steve's Other Outdoor Activities Hiking, Mtn Biking, Working Out, lifting weights, Cross Country skiing Steve's Advice If you're passionate about it, go for it. I mean, and if you can combine, I tell my kids this all the time, if you can combi
Tue, March 30, 2021
Try new activities and connect to other outdoor adventurers with the new Outdoor Pals App part 2 [EP 269]
Outdoorpals is for anyone over the age of 18 looking for new adventure buddies! It doesn’t matter your outdoor skills or experience, Outdoorpals is a place for you to find a community, try new activities, or simply connect with other like-minded outdoor people. Let's adventure together!! Show Notes outdoorpals.com Josh Tunick Bobby Meinhold Spencer Tunick Kevin Wallace Grand Targhee Ski Resort Instagram Facebook Contact OutdoorPals Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Snippets 01:38 - 2:05 Connectivity 03:18 - 03:55 Why an App 13:17 - 13:53 How to use the app
Tue, March 23, 2021
Dave Garces adventure on a motorcycle from Quito to Aconcagua, climbed it and rode back [EP 268]
Climber and Motorcycle Adventurer Dave Garces rode his bike from Quito to Aconcagua, climbed it, and rode back. He tells us about that adventure, his quest to do the 7 summits in this style, and his business Ecuador Bike Rentals. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Climber and Motorcycle Adventurer Dave Garces rode his bike from Quito to Aconcagua, climbed it, and rode back. He tells us about that adventure, his quest to do the 7 summits in this style, and his business Ecuador Bike Rentals . Show Notes Introduction to the outdoors Well, my outdoor hobby would be motorcycling. Adventure motorcycling and climbing itself started with my dad. When I was two years old, he basically took me to the highest mountains here in Ecuador, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, over 18,000 feet high. So that's how I started it. Then basically I learned how to ride my first motorcycle when I was 14 and I haven't stopped since. The Seven Summits I used to work in the oil business since 2006, which basically allowed me to travel around the world. I've been in 83 countries so far. Basically, by me working in one of these countries, I just decided to start these seven summits when I first heard of it. So I've climbed Kilimanjaro for Africa. I've climbed the Elbrus for Europe and recently in 2019, I did Aconcagua for South America. I'm missing basically four more summits, Denali for North America. Everest for Asia and the Carstensz Pyramid for Oceania and the Vinson Massif for Antarctica.<
Tue, March 16, 2021
Streamline your entire outdoor wholesale channel with EnvoyB2B part 2 [EP 267]
Envoy B2B is a wholesale content and eCommerce platform for your entire team. Their tools and services are designed to help you create dynamic content, increase your speed of sale, and bring you closer to your retailers. The technology you need to empower your sales reps and support your retail channel. Locally helps thousands of stores present their selection to nearby shoppers using eCommerce tactics and we provide users with novel last-mile fulfillment options like in-store pickup and same-day delivery. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show notes Contact Envoy Contact locally Jon on Linkedin Mike on Linkedin Episode 264 part 1 of our conversation So let's go back to January 2020. What was going on in your world back then? I'm sure we were all ready for a kick-ass year and had big plans, right? Jon: Yeah, let's see I think in terms of Envoy and myself, we had a team including myself, at OR. I think it was right in January. And I remember that being quite a good show for us, actually. I think we came back with a ton of opportunities in terms of new brands we were talking to. One of the things that's kind of interesting is I think there was a prevalence around this conversation of what is this show good at anymore? What should this show be? What is its purpose? Is this a marketing event? Is it replaceable? Is anybody writing business here? Those kinds of things. I remember being in a lot of those kinds of conversations and I think there was even a bunch of op-eds like almost immediately after it, that was one of the big industry conversations going on. And along with that, I think there were a lot of climate action initiatives at that OR as well. We were in a very positive place for 2020 for sure. Mike: Same thing. We had just come back from the ISPO. We had a ton of meetings. Like Jon, we walked out of the show optimistic that we
Tue, March 09, 2021
Try new activities and connect to other outdoor adventurers with the new Outdoor Pals App [EP 266]
Outdoorpals is for anyone over the age of 18 looking for new adventure buddies! It doesn’t matter your outdoor skills or experience, Outdoorpals is a place for you to find a community, try new activities, or simply connect with other like-minded outdoor people. Let's adventure together!! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes outdoorpals.com Josh Tunick Bobby Meinhold Spencer Tunick Kevin Wallace Grand Targhee Ski Resort Instagram Facebook Contact OutdoorPals Snippets 00:30 - 00:50 Josh Intro to Outdoors 02:05 - 02:31 Bobby Intro to Outdoors 05:06 - 05:31 How the App works
Tue, March 02, 2021
Adventure Sports and Outdoor Storytelling with Photographer/Filmmaker Corey Rich [EP 265]
Corey Rich says that Long ago he learned the technical part of any job is 10 percent. Creativity, problem-solving, optimism, and surrounding yourself with intelligent, hardworking people is the remaining 90 percent. When you know how to be creative and assemble the right team, that's when all great things come. We talk about how he grew his photo career into prolific creative photo and video offerings that grace much of the media we’ve been drooling over for the past 20 plus years. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes How were you introduced to the Outdoors and Adventure Sports Storytelling and Photography? I was a gymnast as a kid, grew up in the Mojave desert. I was ironically about my daughter's age, seven years old in second grade, My second-grade teacher had an elite gymnast as a daughter and she thought it might be good for me to try gymnastics. I don't know if I was ever hooked on gymnastics, to be honest. I think I just liked the challenge of it even early on, it was hard. And then it became a huge part of my life, gosh, probably for close to 10 years, maybe a little less than 10 years. I became a pretty competitive gymnast who competed at the state level. So one day we had a pull-up contest in junior high school and I did 35 pull-ups and one of the school teachers took notice of me and invited me to go rock climbing. And that weekend, my brother and I went climbing. We went to the Needles of California, a little spot called Dome Rock. And that was it. I was hooked. I just loved every aspect of climbing, the mental, the physical, the cultural components, the drive up to the needles with two of my school teachers, Bob Porter and George Egbert and I was hooked. Then the next weekend I'd borrowed my dad's camera. Because I wanted to make better pictures, tell better stories of these weekend adventures. And I realized right away that my dad had a pretty nice camera, but my photos still suck. And I realized that it's not about the camera, it's about how you use it and how you think. So within a week, two passions were born. A passion for adventure, for climbing, and the passion for storytelling. Where did the storytelling part come from? Do you have any storytellers in your family? I think my dad was always this oral storyteller. He loved
Tue, February 23, 2021
Streamline your entire wholesale channel with EnvoyB2B [EP 264]
Envoy B2B is a wholesale content and eCommerce platform for your entire team. Their tools and services are designed to help you create dynamic content, increase your speed of sale, and bring you closer to your retailers. The technology you need to empower your sales reps and support your retail channel. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Tell us about your background Jon? I'm going to go a little further back than normal. It started off as a paper, boy, I have that fun part of my history. And from there to music. So there's a lot of variety in my past that I think that has been pretty helpful in what I'm doing now. I did some advertising for a stint there for a few years then software development. This brings me to Envoy, which is what I've been really doing for about a decade now. I think in all of those roles, it's been like, I'm this team guy, when I think back and look at why and how that happened? As a paperboy I was rolling papers with my family, getting them all involved, getting my mom eventually to drive me around. And I was that team person, in music, the same thing. I was the recorder. The tour planner, the marketer on my space back in that day advertising, the same kind of thing. I got hired at a TV station, so this was back when there was a lot of, there still are, accounts selling TV ads, and they wanted to augment their TV experience with selling digital media. So I helped them do that but had to bridge the gap between the old school and the new school together there. So the team thing going on. That's good for development. And CEO right now I really just consider myself our team's champion, I help us get done what we want to get done. Mike tell us about your background. Probably something very similar. I got started by working for my family. My dad was a professional baseball player, came back to New Orleans after his career ended, and started a small local sporting goods store. And rather than daycare, he put his kids to work and so I spent a lot of time choosing sizes on ordering, things like that when I was a little kid. And I went away to college, got a job, and then realized I felt passionate about specialty retail and my family had pivoted from generalized sporting goods to outdoor sporting goods, for
Sun, February 14, 2021
His Photography Saves Wild Places with Acclaimed Photographer Robert Glenn Ketchum [EP 263]
Robert Glenn Ketchum is a pioneering conservation photographer, recognized by Audubon magazine as one of 100 people "who shaped the environmental movement in the 20th century." He tells us the stories of his photos and influential work from Mexico to Alaska and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors When I was very young, my dad was a hunter and a fisherman and spent, a portion of his life, leaving his office and going with his friends to shoot pheasants in Nebraska or something. He didn't take me hunting, but he did take me fishing. And we did some stream fishing and I grew to love that process and started to really like being out of doors with my dad. First Camera Half of my dad's business was based in Honolulu because he helped rebuild the fleet after he was in industrial auto parts manufacturing, and he distributed for all of the Eastern manufacturers. He distributed their parts on the West coast. And so when Pearl Harbor occurred and the Navy got bombed out and they had to rebuild the fleet, my father opened an office in Honolulu and help the Navy rebuild their fleet. And so he was in Hawaii oh, I dunno, six months a year doing all of that. And he when I was five, I think, maybe seven. He flew my mom and me over and said, why don't you spend the summer with me. And they didn't know what to do with me. So they brought me a brownie box camera and let me wander around in the Kahala Hotel garden and take pictures of random leaves. I had no idea what I was doing. The Daily Bruin The Whisky Limekiln Creek Two questions I asked myself: " What are you doing? And my response was, I don't really know and what am I supposed to do? And the comeback was, what do you want to do? And I said if I could be Elliot quarter, but be out in front of these incidents rather than after the fact when they've already occurred, I would do that in a heartbeat." "This was really interesting because the next question was. Would you do it
Tue, February 09, 2021
Jeremy Puglisi talking RV Business, the RV Atlas Podcast and more [EP 262]
Jeremy Puglisi and his wife Stephanie are publishers and hosts of the RV Atlas podcast and website. Jeremy tells us how they literally stumbled into the RV world, their RV journey’s and the terrific resources they deliver on the show, through the website and books they’ve published. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes The RV Atlas The Idiot's Guide to RV Vacations Roadtrippers the popular travel app Florida RV super show Podcasters Workshop Books- Outdoor Adventure Guides ; See You at the Campground ; Where Should We Camp Next The Overground Railroad by Candacy Taylor Tradeshow Banner - Is it built to last? Favorite Piece of Gear - North Face Recon Advice - it's a really amazing time to get in the Outdoor Biz. I think that the next four, eight, twelve, twenty years. Are going to be a fascinating time to work in the outdoor space, whether that's the camping industry, the RV industry gear, et cetera, et cetera. Follow up with Jeremy: Instagram <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rvfamilytravelatlas/" target= "_blan
Tue, February 02, 2021
Ben Bohline tells us about his startup Dry Dog Kennel Mats [EP 261]
Ben Bohline consistently noticed that after a day in the field, putting a wet, dirty dog into a kennel that had blankets for padding caused problems. The blankets ended up stinky and filthy. And more importantly, it made traveling unsafe for his dog Punch. Thus Dry Dog Kennel Mats was born and in this episode, Ben tells us about the process from idea to launch. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Dry Dog Kennel Mats Bass Pro Shops Cabela's Ruff Land Kennels Gunner Kennels Instagram Facebook Contact Page Snippets 01:48 - 02:29 Favorite Gear 19:40 - 21:22 Favorite Books 16:51 - 17:33 Advice
Tue, January 26, 2021
What it takes to be a Pro with Adventure Photographer and Filmmaker Lucas Gilman [EP 260]
Lucas Gilman is one of the leading adventure photographers and filmmakers in the industry for the last 20 years. His powerful and incisive images run in top publications & advertisements worldwide and his love of adventure and addiction to color creates his distinct style of photography and filmmaking. I’ve had the good fortune to work and learn from him on a couple of different occasions. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Lucas Gilman Nikon Rich Clarkson Nomad Charcoal Grill Advice I would say you only have one chance to make a first impression. I would say if you're wanting to work figure out who your client is first. If that's National Geographic figure out what kind of portfolio you'd need to build, to impress National Geographic. And I'd say that you need to crawl before you walk and walk before you run. And until you're ready to show them your portfolio. Don't do it. You only have that first chance once. Show Banner " chance favors the prepared mind " the old Louis Pasteur quote Favorite Books Tim Flach Dog Books Chris Rainier: Ancient Marks: The Sacred Origins of Tattoos and Body Marking Ansel Adam's In The National Parks Annie Liebowitz Tom Mangelson</a
Thu, January 21, 2021
Barney Scout Mann tells us about his thru hiking adventures and new Book Journeys North [EP 259]
Barney Scout Mann tells us about his thru-hiking adventures and his new Book "Journeys North", a compelling tale of six hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2007. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors You would not have predicted it if you'd looked at a little Barney back growing up in West Los Angeles, Culver City, and looked at his parents who were not campers. My parents slept in the outdoors, I think camped out five times their lifetimes. They are now both in their nineties. But what they did do, is starting at age 11, they took me to boy scout meetings and I'm sure I'm not the only one that that's where they got their introduction. I was lucky to have some wonderful men, I'll say their names again, cause I just loved doing it. Mr. Massey, Mr. Quinn, and Mr. Metcalf. And they lead me in the outdoors when my first backpack groups in Culver City at the age of 13. Not even weighing 80 pounds and more than 35 pounds on my back. Connected with writing in the outdoors I always had a deep connection to the outdoors. If you plop me down in the middle of anywhere, whether it's desert or high mountains, I feel more, more home in the outdoors. And out there you get the kinds of you don't get in the city. And in fact, the first one I wrote that got published a couple of years for the backpacker remains unique. It's the only April fools hiking story I've ever seen, it was great. It lit up the internet. And people asked Oh, is this true? Is this really true? Tell us about, yeah, it was fun. I also, in addition to these contemporary stories, I've a real strong interest in trail history. Your book Journeys North is about hiking the PCT end to end in 2007. That was a much different adventure 13 years ago. What do you think the most significant changes are today? Well, the answers people expect are usually is that there are way more people and that is true. Maybe 300 folks set out with the intention to through-hike the trail. Last year, 2019 we had real numbers more than 10 times that, over 3,500 people. But the answer that I give. And the biggest difference I would say is electronics. That's across the whole spectrum in 2007, and this will sound funny today. It was still, it was the tail end of the year when you were e
Tue, January 19, 2021
Chase Anderson on Utah State’s Outdoor Product Design Program & the Outdoor Recreation Archive [EP 258]
Chase is helping future outdoor leaders navigate their paths into outdoor careers and building a comprehensive collection of catalogs and other documents from the early days of the outdoor industry and more. Show Notes Intro to the Outdoors I'm from Utah, born and raised. It's hard to not get into this industry. I have parents who took us out. Camping is what we did. I have a mom who was perfectly fine with taking us out of school to go skiing. And that family time and the outdoors is always the most important thing. So when you have parents like that, who are willing to get you out of school to go play that's a good thing. Utah State University Outdoor Product Design and Development Utah State University started this Outdoor Product Design and Development program in 2015. And a year after it had started, they advertised a role for someone to do industry outreach for the program. And I thought, okay, I could work for one brand or I could go work for a program where I get the chance to talk to brands across the industry. So that seemed like the dream and to be able to go back to my Alma Mater and work with students and be a part of that, and being a part of the campus atmosphere was really interesting. So I made that jump. And that's what I do full-time is our industry outreach and marketing for the program. Outdoor Archives The archives grew out of that program. The program has a history of gear class and the faculty member that runs that, and our special collections team are at the university and do all the archival work. We got together and just thought, wouldn't it be cool if we had primary documents and print materials that the students could actually study instead of just talking about the outdoor, the history of the industry. Actually, see it and study it in the archive. And so we started reaching out to some of the industry contacts that we had built and just started asking if they had old stuff that they wanted to be preserved. Connect with Chase Facebook Linkedin instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive @usuoutdoorproduct Chase.Anderson@usu.edu Snippets 01:51 - 02:15 Intro to Outdoors 35:00 - 36:00 Favorite Gear
Thu, January 14, 2021
Adventure Travel Outfitters offer perspectives on 2021 [EP 257]
In November and December of 2020, I got some input from a few business leaders in the Adventure Travel space on when and how adventure travel will come back. I asked them their thoughts on travel as the world slows the spread of the Coronavirus, will it bounce back immediately, improve slowly in 2021 or continue to struggle until 2022, and why. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Stephanie Jones of Blacks in Travel and Tourism Andy Levine , founder of DuVine Cycling and Adventure Company Praveen Moman from Volcano Safaris Shannon Stowell from The Adventure Travel Trade Association Speakpipe Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Transcript [00:00:47] Welcome back, everyone. At the end of 2020, many of us were curious as to when and how adventure travel would fair in 2021. So in November and December of 2020, I got some input from a few business leaders in the adventure travel space on when and how adventure travel will come back. I asked them to give us their thoughts on travel as the world slows the spread of the Corona virus, will it bounce back, im
Tue, January 12, 2021
Author and Adventure Filmmaker Kris Millgate on her life in the Outdoors and advice for creating yours [EP 256]
Kris spent a decade in TV news before starting Tight Line Media in 2006. Her first book, My Place Among Men, is available now and her most recent film Ocean to Idaho capturing the migration of thousands of salmon on their return from the Oregon coast to the Idaho wilderness premieres this Summer and you can see the trailer at tightlinemedia.com. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Tightline Media Ocean to Idaho My Place Among Men OWAA Intro to Outdoors I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Wasatch mountains were my playground and I always felt comfortable outside. I didn't grow up hunting with my dad. I didn't grow up fishing with my dad. I grew up hiking with my dad. And my dad is forever lost. He doesn't have an internal compass. My mom says I don't have a danger gene, which is probably true, but my dad doesn't have an internal compass. And so we would wander endlessly and he would never admit he was lost. But, I found that by following his dusty frame down a little trail forever and ever, that I learned patience, persistence, resilience, and all those things helped me do my job today. I would just follow him when I was little. I didn't question if we were lost, but I knew darn well we were, and as I got older, I figured that out, but I still knew lost or not that I was comfortable outside. That's where I feel at home. Advice All right. So when it comes to the outdoor business, I have a pretty interesting take on it. And it comes from two and a half decades of watching our industry shift. And I'm just so impressed by what I see within our industry as things shift and what matters now, and the way to come at this business. If I were coming at it now would be to look at it from the user's perspective in every way. And that is because the way we value our natural resources has made a dramatic shift in the last century. And you can see it in the way that outdoor users lay out their expectations and those users are your customers. So a cent
Thu, January 07, 2021
Want to be a Outdoor gear tester? Journalist, Author and Gear Tester Dan Nelson tell us all about it. [EP 255]
Dan Nelson has a job many of us would love. He is a gear tester and editor with Gear Institute.com, a veteran outdoor journalist, and author of numerous guidebooks. We talk about gear testing, some of the products he's worked with, and more. Dan Nelson has a job many of us would love. He is a gear tester and editor with Gear Institute.com, a veteran outdoor journalist, and author of numerous guidebooks. We talk about gear testing, some of the products he's worked with, and more. Show Notes Gear Institute OWAA Hells Canyon WSU Edward R Murrow College of Communication Washington Trails Association Washington Trails Magazine Adventures Northwest Mountaineers Books Intro to the Outdoors I grew up in Eastern Washington and my family is all Minnesota natives, but we moved to Eastern Washington when I was a tot and grew up in a little farm community in Southeast Washington, right in the corner of the state, by Idaho and Oregon. Down in the blue mountains, which most of your listeners aren't going to know. If you know where Hell's Canyon is, we're not too far from there. The Blue Mountains form the Western edge of that. So anyway I grew up in the mountains and the foothills and out along the snake river breaks riding dirt bikes and hiking and that is where I started fishing. When did you become a gear junkie? In the small farm community I grew up in we had one of those old school mercantile type stores where it was a hardware store, but they also sold clothing and kitchenware and household knickknacks and basically anything you would need on the farm. And they had a corner of their hardware section dedicated to hunting and fishing gear. And when I wasn't outside playing or inside reading, I was in that store pouring through the fishing lures. Which product category are you seeing the most innovation these days? The easy answer is tech things like personal locator beacons and avalanche beacons performance tracking tools. I think in terms of core gear. I think for the most innovation I'll go back to sleeping pads or sleep systems may be evolved a lot in the last several years from that one and a half pound self-inflating pad to three or four-ounce air pad
Tue, January 05, 2021
Adventure Photographer Scott Markewitz on his career and how to get in the Outdoor Biz [EP 254]
One of the most influential outdoor photographers in the industry Scott Markowitz talks about his career, some unique shooting experiences, and tips on how to become an Outdoor Photographer. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Intro to Outdoors and Photography My stepping stone in, was, as a skier and becoming a professional skier and then moving onto the other side, from one side of the lens to the other, basically. I was a freestyle skier for oh three or four years competing on the pro mogul tour and then skiing in various ski movies and skiing for various photographers in the day. Intro to Photography I always had an interest in it growing up. I remember when I was really young, I had one of those box cameras and always enjoyed just shooting. But I guess my first, SLR cameras probably, I got just out of high school, and I would take photos of friends and just carry a camera with me just as a hobby and, make prints and things like that. That was my first camera. And then my first First real pro camera, I think one summer I decided, I was going to move into this profession a little bit after spending a lot of time in front of the camera, I figured I had a pretty good eye for it. And I thought it would be some fun to try and keep me skiing. So I bought a camera and started shooting and then, spent that a winter kind of half being a pro skier and half being, trying to start to shoot. And, that was kinda how I got into this business. First outdoor commercial shoot Actually, my first outdoor commercial shoot was for one of my ski sponsors for Elan Skis . So at the time, I was skiing competitively for Elan. And I had a small portfolio of images. So I basically went to them and said, Hey, here's some of my photos that I'm shooting myself and they're like, Oh, great. Do you want to shoot something for us? So it was a natural progression because I already had my foot in the door and had good connections in the industry. It was a pretty easy move for me, fortunately, so that was, having like I said, having the connections in the outdoor industry and in the ski industry definitely helped me move up pretty quickly. Advice I think If you're going to get into it, you really have
Fri, December 25, 2020
Happy Holidays [EP 253]
Hey hey everyone, dropping a Holiday episode on you and wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Tue, December 22, 2020
The early days and adventures of the skateboard biz with Arbor Collective founder Bob Carlson [EP 252]
Arbor Collective just crossed the 25-year anniversary mark and I had the good fortune to sit down with founder Bob Carlson and talk about their history, the early days of skateboarding, and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Arbor Collective just crossed the 25-year anniversary mark and I had the good fortune to sit down with founder Bob Carlson and talk about their history, the early days of skateboarding, and more. And we’re going to give away an Arbor Skateboard on the show this week. Listen to my convo with Arbor Collective Founder Bob Carlson! In celebration of Arbor's 25th Anniversary, they are giving away an Arbor Skateboard to one lucky Outdoor Biz listener! The deadline to enter is January 22nd at noon Pacific time. The winner will be announced Monday, January 25th. Show Notes Introduction to skateboarding and snowboarding. When surfing sort of started growing in Southern California, one of the big scenes in LA was State Beach, Will Rogers State Beach, and in the seventies, a great single fin shaping tradition began there around a shop called Natural Progression. And a lot of great surfers came out of that era and that zone through the sixties and seventies from Mickey Munoz right on through shapers like Robbie Dick. And I kind of grew up in the middle of that, loving it, loving sort of just the whole outdoor life around the beach and surfing, and the culture and the people aspects of shape and art and color really captivated me. And probably I don't know, it's gotta be around the middle of elementary school I started skateboarding. How did you meet Chris Jensen? I knew Chris in junior high. We became good friends in high school. And Chris was an amazing individual, you know, he woke up in the morning and the adventure started, he was always in the pursuit of fun. So he was that guy you wanted to be around because whatever he was doing was going to lead to good times. And he had a magnetic personality. He was a total charmer and he was just, he was a great friend. And we spent a lo
Tue, December 15, 2020
Travel Blogger Gary Arndt talks about the Adventure Biz, Photography, Podcasting and more [EP 251]
Travel Blogger Gary Arndt talks about the Travel Biz, Photography, Podcasting, his career and offers great advice on getting into the Travel Business through any one of these mediums. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes CreativeLive Jack Black Dragon Ice Everything-Everywhere National Geographic Suck Less Motto- the motto I always have is from when I would coach debate. I would always tell my kids. All you have to do is suck less. You don't have to be good. You just need to suck less than whoever you're debating, you know, competing against. So the goal was always just incrementally suck less than you did before and to just get better. Advice The best time to get into this was probably 10 years ago. And the second-best time to do it is today. Right? So you just need to start doing it. And you really do kind of need to, you know, get an obsession for it. The first year that you're doing it, If you look at most podcasts, for example, they never reach episode seven, right? They just give up and most blogs are abandoned. So people have these dreams, they don't see success right away and they quit. And if you look at an exponential growth curve, there's this period where it's flat for a very long time. And then it turns up and it becomes almost vertical. And that flat part really sucks because you don't know how long you're going to be in the flat part. I was just reading an article yesterday about, this guy with a tech newsletter, stratechery I think is the name of it. And it's become really successful in the last few years, he's making a lot of money from it. And I didn't realize he had been doing it for. Basically a decade. And you know, there were years where he's been doing this and it didn't get a lot of attention. And then all of a sudden it just kind of became a big thing. And there's a lot of things th
Tue, December 08, 2020
Julian Carnall tells us about Tuk Tuk Adventures in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Italy
During the days, you’ll have set checkpoints to reach and challenges to complete, and it’s up to you and your teammates to come up with the best way to get stuff done. During the evenings, you’ll be toasting your success and swapping the day’s stories with your fellow adventurers from all over the globe." And boy, will there be stories. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Show Notes Large Minority exists to provide you with the best gosh-darned adventure holidays in the world! From driving tuk-tuks across Sri Lanka and Cambodia to sailing in the Philippines and exploring the Amazon Rainforest, we make the surreal, real. We’ve put in the hard work and organized most things for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy the adventure. Checking a map every now and then is encouraged, but ultimately optional. Large Minority Tuk Tuk Cambodia Sri Lanka Thailand Italy Piaggio Ape Advice I guess a couple of things, for me, it's gotta be passion over cash, if you can It sounds very idealistic, but I think that really if you're going to make something work, the passion has got to be there. And you've gotta be not put off by not immediately making a bunch of cash because then you've just got to be realistic early on. And then the second one is really kind of researching. And I say this because I do it. Really researching what you want to do and, and making sure a hundred percent that you've almost got something or you're going to do something that's a little bit different because there's a lot of really great people out there in the space and they do amazing stuff. They might've already done something and you can maybe collaborate without having to do it yourself. Favorite piece of gear under $100 It's a cool little question. I think mine, i
Tue, December 01, 2020
Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, outdoor brand founder and CEO of LIVSN Designs talking sustainability [EP 249]
LIVSN creates versatile and sustainable apparel designed to last longer. Andrew is dedicated to values of sustainability and conscious capitalism. He truly believes business success and social progress go hand in hand and he has built LIVSN on these ideals from day one. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Sponsors CreativeLive Jack Black Things we talked about How Andrew got into the Outdoors I grew up here in Fayetteville and the Arkansas mountains. Fayetteville itself is a really hilly and woodsy area. My dad always told me when I was a kid, well, you know, we're living in a forest. That was after I was complaining about spiders being in my bedroom. I never got rid of that, we're living in a forest. As a kid, I was in Scouts and we'd go out with my dad. At the time he was a loan officer for chicken farms, which took us out into the backwoods a lot and out to these farms. He'd take me with him and I'd go explore, everywhere has its own natural beauty. The thing I really love about the Ozarks is there's these really just enchanting little hollows and micro scenery areas where you just get into this little Valley, these little hollows, rock outcroppings and caves, and creeks. And as a kid, I would just wander down into those. It was pretty much ingrained into me. I had a bike when I was five or six and basically, Fayetteville became my playground. Arkansas master naturalist That was something that I got into with my wife and then also my dad. It was a radio ad on NPR that said become an Arkansas master naturalist learned about the flora and fauna of your state and get involved in conservation and education. And that spoke to me. So I looked it up and showed it to my wife and my dad and said, Hey, you do want to do this? And they said, yeah. So we were really into that as a decently intensive education program where you learn about the geography, the flora, the plants, and the fauna, the animals of the state and the region
Tue, November 24, 2020
Greenbelly founder Christopher Cage creating a stoveless outdoor meals brand [EP 248]
Greenbelly makes stoveless backpacking meals for those of you that don’t carry stoves on your outdoor adventures. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Sponsors Eastern Mountain Sports Tee Public Things we talked about How Chris got into the Outdoors I grew up in Georgia and my dad got me camping when I was really young. On family trips and we'd go car camping. We'd pull up the car to a state park and make dinner right by the car and set up the tent right by the car and all that stuff. And to get fishing on the lake nearby. When I was a kid and I always liked being outdoors, but the real kind of hiking and backpacking exposure was in Boy Scouts, which is kind of a common tale I guess. I came to boy scouts much later than most people, I was 14. And I had the idea to be an Eagle Scout. I really wanted to get my Eagle Scout. It seemed like a positive thing to do. So I got my Eagle Scout and I think in pretty record time. I got in, I think, about three years. Wow. So that was big deal. And one of the merit budgets, I think at the time was you needed to sleep outside 2o nights. So part of that was doing lots of hiking and backpacking. I think that was really the exposure to backpacking was boy Scouts. Why start a food company Well, as I mentioned about the process of elimination, not really wanting to go back to accounting. It wasn't that I hated it. I just thought, what else could I do? So I've been traveling for nearly two years, mostly adventure travel and doing the Appalachian trail, as well as bicycle touring, New Zealand. I was doing long durations of high-intensity travel, hiking, 20 miles a day, or cycling a hundred miles a day. I was really burning a lot of calories. And I was typically pretty far away from any sort of resupply point for food. So as you know, just like with hiking, you've got to be very mindful about maintaining high levels of consumption caloric and making sure that you can keep your pathway to a minimum because you have a long way to go unti
Tue, November 17, 2020
Outdoor enthusiast Caitlin Landesberg, Sufferfest Beer tells us about making beer and launching a brand [EP 247]
Sufferfest is a beer company that grew from a desire to enjoy a more refreshing post-race . . . or post sufferfest . . . . depending on your endurance activity of choice . . . beer. Caitlin Landesberg tells us all about it. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Brought to yo this month by Eastern Mountain Sports and Tee Public Show Notes Sufferfest Beer Sierra Nevada FKT Fly By Pilsner Mozilla Firefox Strava Jeff White, CEO of Sierra Nevada Mule Days David Foster Wallace, Commencement Address This is Water Thoughts on how those of us in the industry outdoor industry can help mitigate the impact we're seeing in the outdoor space? "I think it's like, what skill are you good at and lean into that. If you aren't going to be skilled at actually helping to repair and maintain part of a trail that you use yourself, you could give back to then get your network of friends and put together a small fundraiser. If I'm not really good
Thu, November 12, 2020
Eric Hanson from Epic Trails TV and one of the best jobs in the Outdoor Adventure space [EP-246]
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
Tue, November 10, 2020
Kirk Ohly- His super power is connecting outdoor people. [EP 245]
Kirk is a master at connecting people, connecting brands, people with brands, and so on. We talk about his experience attending numerous outdoor shows, what he’s up to these days, and plenty more . . . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Sponsors Eastern Mountain Sports Tee Public Things we talked about Straub Collaborative Outdoor Retailer Junto Super Pacific USA Speedy Moto Weekly Outdoor Group: Outdoor F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Camber Outdoors Trew Gear Paiute Palace Advice I've mentioned that I came to the outdoor business later in my career. Most of your guests will talk about either being a rep or working in a local outdoor gear shop. I think that's a really good first step. I think you're gonna learn about the industry. You're going to meet people. If you pay attention, the reps are gonna talk to you, and then conversations happen. And then that gets parlayed into the next step. That to me is a really good way. Something else when talking about the OR shows as a first-timer or something, someon
Thu, November 05, 2020
Heliconia- helping adventure brands and destinations share their story in unique and impactful ways. [EP 244]
Malvin Young from Heliconia talks about how they help brands and destinations share their story on the top TV and streaming networks in the U.S. Show Notes Things we talked about Heliconia Ken Whiting Brendan Mark Epic Trails TV Cotopaxi Reveal Advice I would say for anybody looking to get into any industry out there, I would always say, align yourself with the culture first, make sure that you get to be you, and that you are respected within that business or industry. I just think the outdoor space is one of those spaces, and one of those industries where you see it a heck of a lot more. I love doing these zoom calls because I'm in people's offices from my video camera. And I haven't met one that was dressed up in a suit yet. Show Banner "opening the door to the great outdoors" Favorite Gear Socks Connect with Malvin Email: malvin@helipress.com Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Snippets 1:24 - 2:39 Intro to the outdoors 8:43 - 10:43 About Helliconia 43:22 - 44:16 Gear 41:05 - 41:46 Advice
Tue, November 03, 2020
Outdoor Writer Christine Peterson- looking for peace in wild things and wild places. [EP 243]
Christine Peterson Christine has been covering outdoors for the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune and other publications for almost a decade. She makes her home in Wyoming with her husband and young daughter where they spend every available moment looking for the peace of wild things and wild places. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Sponsors Eastern Mountain Sports Tee Public Things we talked about Casper Wyoming Casper Wyoming Star-Tribune Mentors Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) Colleen Miniuk - Photographer and Author Matt Miller - editor of the Cool Green Science blog Kris Millgate Michael Furman Mark Freeman Christine's clients Cool Green Science blog Bugle , Rocky mountain foundations magazine Trout Unlimited Backcountry Journal Advice It's a tough one and, and you'll read about it a
Tue, October 27, 2020
10Adventures founder Richard Campbell, starting an Adventure Booking Agency [EP 242]
10Adventures founder Richard Campbell explains how they share the best human-powered adventures on earth. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes 10Adventures Chamonix French Alps Austrian Alps Swiss Alps Himalayas Lake Louise The Canadian Rockies Richard's favorite trip is the GR Five in the French Alps Advice Yeah, so I think it's more general advice, you know, I'm new to the adventure biz. Um, but working with people who do what they say they're going to do. And so no matter, you know, what your role is, whether or not you're in marketing or in business operations are a guide. If you're really reliable and to meet your commitments, that's always somebody people love having around. Connect with 10Adventures 10Adventures.com Instagram Facebook Twitter Linkedin Welcome to a podcast dedicat
Thu, October 22, 2020
CU Boulder's new area of study the Outdoor Recreation Economy Specialization [EP 241]
Joel Hartter Director of the Masters of the Environment graduate program at CU Boulder talks about leading the new Outdoor Recreation Economy Program. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Outdoor Recreation Economy: www.colorado.edu/menv 3 Faculty positions (full-time, 10 month) in Outdoor Industry Business & Leadership, Public Lands Policy, and Economic Development: https://www.colorado.edu/menv/2020/09/24/menv-hiring-new-instructors . Close November 1, 2020 Introduction to the Outdoors I have been in the outdoors pretty much since I can remember. We always heard about what my parents did for their honeymoon and they did the atypical honeymoon. They went backpacking and camping on Isle Royal in Northern Michigan. You don't often hear about that as a honeymoon destination. I have three brothers and because we're a family of six, we didn't fit nicely into one motel room and my parents were didn't want to buy another motel room. So we went camping. We grew up outside of Detroit and my parents always believed tha
Tue, October 20, 2020
How OMBRAZ Launched from a broken pair of Aviators [EP 240]
OMBRAZ launched a new sunglass line after a pair of outdoor aviators snapped on a camel safari in the Thar Desert. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Sponsors Coalatree Wolfgang Man & Beast Things we talked about OMBRAZ Indiegogo campaign (gotta watch the video) Thar Desert University of Redlands Pono Ranch Juki Industrial Sewing Machines Advice Jensen- read Shoe Dog , and read Let my People go Surfing . Shoe Dog is Nike's account of how Phil Knight started Nike and Let my People Go Surfing has kinda been our North star and it's how we operate. It's Patagonia's philosophy on business. I would also say build up a strong mentor base of people who have been successful and done similar things or create had success in their life. Because you don't have to steer the ship yourself. You just find smart people who you respect and that you know and want to help you and you can pick and choose their advice to help navigate those uncharted waters. That's been extremely, extremely beneficial for us. And we're super thankful to our mentors who have helped us pave the way for success and put out fires and deal with that adversity. That's inevitable in owning and starting your own business. Nikolai- don't be afraid to do everything yourself at first. I think it's rea
Tue, October 13, 2020
Outdoor Writing & Photography with Colleen Miniuk [EP239]
Today we’re talking with Colleen Miniuk. Colleen has a new women’s photography workshop called Sheography . We talk about her writing and photography, how she got into photography and she offers some great advice if you want to become a writer or photographer. She is also if offering ODBP listeners 10% off Colleen's Guide Books with CODE OBP2020 through the end of the year, go to http://analemmapress.com/ . Brought to you by Coalatree . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please subscribe on your favorite podcast app or Apple Podcasts HERE Show Notes Sponsors Coalatree Wolfgang Man & Beast Things we talked about Intel Chandler Gilbert Community College Stanford University of Michigan Colleen Miniuk Photography & Writing by Colleen Miniuk Sheography Dear Bubbles Outdoor Writers Association of America Acadia National Park The Colorado River Grand Canyon Advice If you don't want to be a starving artist, you have to treat it as an entrepreneurial endeavor, you have to treat it like a full-time business. And so, understanding, sales, understanding, marketing, understanding how to come up with a business plan, how to do accounting, all of those things, unless you're making enough money to outsource the. You're a one-person show, you run the circus.</
Tue, October 06, 2020
Life Coach and Outdoor Guide Kai Roche [EP 238]
Life Coach and Outdoor Guide Kai Roche talks about Guiding, Outdoor Degrees, Wilderness Therapy, and more from Puerto Rico. Show notes Things we talked about Sojourn Consulting Second Nature Evoke Villa San Carlos Aguadilla, Puerto Rico Favorite Gear under $100 Leatherman Surge Connect with Kai Sojourn Consulting Facebook Instagram Linkedin Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, September 29, 2020
Winter Wildlands Alliance ED Todd Walton on Winter 2020's Outdoor Crystal Ball [EP 237]
Todd shares his thoughts and solutions. about the increase we've seen in Backcountry use and how it might affect Winter 2020-21. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Todd shares his thoughts and solutions. about the increase we've seen in Backcountry use and how it might affect Winter 2020-21. Sponsors Mountain Hardwear Fiverr About the Winter Wildlands Alliance Winter Wildlands Alliance was founded 20 years ago. We're celebrating our 20th year this year. We were founded to represent backcountry skiers and human-powered recreation on America's public lands. And that means cross country skiers snowshoers, these days fat bikers, trail runners, you name it. We're an Alliance of grassroots groups and organizers, environmental advocates, backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and people who are devoted to protecting and preserving and sharing the quiet places in the mountains. And when you talk about the backcountry, the backcountry is available all four seasons, but we are truly focused on winter. And that goes down to forest service planning and over-snow vehicle use and places people can get out for that true solace and enjoy winter for what it is in and on the lands, you know, moving under their own power. There's just that reverence that we all have for that. That's why we head into the backcountry. Things we talked about Winter Wildlands Alliance Winter Wild Lands Blog Winter Wildlands Alliance Insta Todd Insta Backcountry Film Festival Insta As a former DJ for KBUT in Crested Butte and KRBX in Boise, I try to get an updated playlist going weekly...here's a good one to chew on
Tue, September 22, 2020
Award Winning Outdoor Photographer and Writer Lisa Ballard drops great advice for those looking to break into Outdoor Media [236]
Today's guest is Emmy Winning Television Producer and Host Lisa Ballard. She is an award-winning Outdoor writer, photographer, and champion skier… She also paddles, casts a fly rod and shoots straight. We talk about her career, how she became a writer and she has great advice for anyone looking to begin a career writing and photographing in the Outdoor space. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Today's guest is Emmy Winning Television Producer and Host Lisa Ballard. She is an award-winning Outdoor writer, photographer, and champion skier… She also paddles, casts a fly rod and shoots straight. We talk about her career, how she became a writer and she has great advice for anyone looking to begin a career writing and photographing in the Outdoor space. Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors I was born into it I think. I grew up in Lake Placid, New York, and the Adirondacks Saranac Lake. My dad was really into doing stuff outdoors, like skiing in particular, but you know, we hiked and we went fishing now and again, and we were just doing what all other families are doing? We'd go out on the lakes paddling or we'd water ski. I went to summer camp and, it was just our lifestyle and it's a lifestyle I've embraced my whole life. Things we talked about Dartmouth College Outings Club US Ski Team ESPN The Travel Channel Ski New England Wildlife Journal -PBS Outdoor Writers Association of America OWAA Conferences OWAA Scholarships & Fellowships Birds and Blooms Wyoming Wildlife Colorado Ou
Tue, September 15, 2020
Chez Chesak talks about the great work from the Outdoor Writers Association of America [EP235]
Today's guest is Chez Chesak Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Chez has an impressive outdoor and travel career with previous stops at the Family Travel Association, the Intrepid Group, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Today's guest is Chez Chesak Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Chez has an impressive outdoor and travel career with previous stops at the Family Travel Association, the Intrepid Group, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Show Notes Sponsors Mountain Hardwear Fiverr Introduction to the Outdoors It came from a single ski trip. I grew up in New England and always loved being in the outdoors. I grew up in a rural part of Massachusetts and was always skiing when I could and things like that. But, it took a ski trip out to Aspen. I had a girlfriend at the time and her high school buddy had become a chef out there and we went. It was my first time really getting out West and I was just blown away. On our flight home, she and I were just talking about, how do we make the outdoors our life? And the first stop was REI. We got part-time jobs at the Bailey's Crossroads area outside of DC. And just started getting into the gear side of things and retail. I just absorbed all the training I could. And while in Washington, DC a friend of mine said something about his wife working at the American Hiking Society. And I'm thinking, well, wait, she has a full-time job working for a hiking group. And he said, yeah. And they're hiring a fundraiser. I said I can do that. And so that was my first gig in the outdoor industry, which then led to a stint at the American Alpine Club, which then led to winter Wildlands Alliance. I took a little trip to Iraq with my national guard unit, came back, and started working for the Adventure Travel Trade Association and got into the adventure travel side of the industry from there. Things we talked about <a href="https://owaa.org/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noref
Tue, September 08, 2020
Mark Tsigounis launches the Hibear Outdoor Adventure Flask [EP 234]
Mark Tsigounis and I talk about where he got the idea for an Adventure Flask, it's functionality, and how the Hibear Adventure Flask came to life. The Swiss Army Knife of Insulated Bottles: Unmatched versatility to pack less & do more. Back their Kickstarter Project HERE It’s been a couple of years since we caught up at Outdoor Retailer right? Yeah, it was Summer OR 2019. That was my first outdoor retailer show, and completely eyeopening. If anybody's in the industry and you haven't gone yet, you need to go it's amazing. It's pretty phenomenal. And you were just kind of walking around, you had a sample, just getting feedback and stuff. How did that go? Obviously you got a lot of positive feedback, so here you are. Yeah, I mean, I felt like I was almost like pirating the show. I didn't have a booth. I kinda like went rogue. I plopped down next to the cafe downstairs and was just trying to show what we had created to as many people as possible. How did you get introduced to the outdoors? You did a lot of stuff in the Navy I'm sure. But what was your first outdoor experience like? Well, I grew up in New Jersey and I don't think most people think of New Jersey as being an outdoor hub. Most people think of, you know, exit 10 Elizabeth and all the refineries out there, or the second city to New York. But North Jersey is actually a pretty beautiful place and we have 80 miles of the Appalachian Trail that run through there. So my dad used to bring me out there and when you're a young kid, it's hard to wrap your head around the fact that this trail actually goes from Georgia to Maine. And I said . . . wait, so you're telling me if I keep going North, I'm going to go all the way up almost to Canada? So I think that always resonated with me. What made you want to hike the trail? I think that too much time in a desk job when you're a free-spirited individual, you have these ideas that were planted in your mind start to grow roots. And I think that's just, just something I couldn't get out of my head. I think it was in 2014 that my desk job just started wearing on me and it was just time for a change. And that was kind of like a rebirth. So I wanted to leave my desk job. I had worked in finance for 12 years at that point That'll do it. You have an impressive adventure background. Was that the inspiration was to hang up the desk job and go play, or did you grow up doing some of those thing
Tue, September 01, 2020
Kristin Carpenter and Verde Communication's Multi Channel Marketing Academy [EP 233]
Kristin Carpenter is back with us talking about the recent launch of Verde Brand Communications Multi-Channel Marketing Academy. We review the benefits, how the idea came to life, and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Things we talked about: Verde Brand Communications Channel Mastery Podcast Multi-Channel Marketing Academy Podcasters Workshop Online Marketing James Wedmore Amy Porterfield Stu McClaren Tim Ferriss Pat Flynn Chase Jarvis Camber Outdoors Camber Pitchfest Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, August 25, 2020
Scott Kaier of Formidable Media talks about his Outdoor experience and has solid advice to get in the industry. [EP 232]
Scott talks about his first Op-Ed piece for SNEWS, his thoughts on how we, the industry can help mitigate some of the issues related to the increase in outdoor visitation and plenty more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Sponsors Smugmug Grammarly Introduction to the Outdoors I didn't have particularly outdoorsy parents but grew up in a time and place where, you know, kids were kind of sent out the back door in the morning and you came home when you were hungry. Uh, so I kinda, you know, developed this love of the outdoors. And then during college, I had a buddy who got into mountain biking and I borrowed his mountain bike for an afternoon and just kind of fell in love with it. So mountain biking was really how I sort of got into the outdoors in a more professional way. We did a little bit of camping, some fishing, ran around on our BMX bikes, all that kind of stuff. But, really when I discovered mountain bikes and I thought this feels like my thing. And from there I got a job in a bike shop for a year to have that experience and learn as much as I could about it. Things we talked about formidable-media.com Onion River Outdoors Pale Morning Media Ski Magazine American Rec Allied Feather and Down OR Banner Be conscientious of the things that you're doing while you're here. Advice Make a bunch of money before you do, but seriously it's a great industry. I can't
Tue, August 18, 2020
Derrick Nehrenberg talks about his adventure app Terraquest, Digital Trail Mapping, Mtn. Bike Racing and more [EP 231]
Welcome back to the Outdoor Biz Podcast, Today’s guest is Derrick Nehrenberg from TerraQuest. Terraquest is a mobile app you can use to create trail routes with audible-turn-by-turn directions and fun virtual races of all kinds. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Sponsors Smugmug Grammarly Introduction to the Outdoors My mom, she didn't like me being inside a lot of time and we always lived out in the sticks. So I spent a lot of time outside by myself. I loved being outdoors as a kid. There was no place I'd rather be. And then, I was in the military and I was in a jungle warfare unit. We spent almost all of our time outside. And then I became a mountain biker and I've been a mountain biker ever since. Things we talked about Crested Butte Mountain Biking Gunnison Crested Butte Tourism Association Fly Fishing Parachute Adams OR Banner " Go further. You're stronger than you think you are. " Advice " I think connecting is the reason I'm in this game. I finally realized that we would never have a pill or a genetic therapy that would be more beneficial to human health and just getting outside a little bit, connecting with nature. And you know, there's solid research out there that just getting outside has positive benefits for people above and beyond just exercise in a lot of ways. We're animals, we evolved to move in nature and be in nature. I'm probably preaching to the choir with your audience. But I would just encourage people to get outside, connect with nature, and take care of it. " Favorite Outdoor Gear under $100 <a href= "https://charliesflyboxinc.com/portfolio-items/parachute-adams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"
Tue, August 11, 2020
SuperPacific: #5 Spencer Houser and Peter Williams, From Outdoor Product Idea to Launch EP 230
This is episode number five of the special series I’m doing with Spencer Houser and Peter Williams. We have been following what it's like to develop a new product from scratch and launch a new brand. We talk about how they came up with their idea, what the initial steps were, and all the wins and challenges along the way. Be sure and go back to the previous 4 episodes if you haven’t heard them. These are “must listen” to anyone thinking about launching a product or brand. Today we talk about the initial prototypes they received, user feedback, and plenty more in this step of their journey. Be sure to subscribe to The Outdoor Biz Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss any future episodes. You can always ask Alexa to “play the latest Outdoor Biz Podcast episode and she’ll queue it up! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors Spencer- I grew up in rural upstate New York, in an old farmhouse with 60 acres of land. So outdoors was just part of life. I just spent all my time outside, you know, making forts in the woods with my buddies and BMX tracks and, and camping out all summer long. Then in high school got into mountain biking and rock climbing. I was always into skiing. Peter- I grew up in North Carolina, outside of Raleigh. We lived on some land, the back doors were like a pasture, with a couple of Ponds and a bunch of woods. Outdoors was kind of like the default setting, and after school go outside and when it was time to come in my mom blew a whistle. We would also go down to the beach in North Carolina. We spend a lot of time poking around the outer banks. Things we talked about Hard Shell Roof Top Tents | SuperPacific Roof Top Tents Entrepreneurs "provide jobs for quality jobs for people" Favorite Books and Podcasts Channel Mastery <a href= "https://podc
Tue, August 04, 2020
Photographer Jim Herrington talks about his iconic portraits from Benny Goodman to Climber Fred Beckey [EP 229]
Today I’m speaking with Photographer Jim Herrington. Jim’s celebrity portraits include Willie Nelson, Morgan Freeman, Dolly Parton, and his images have appeared in magazines like Rolling Stone and Esquire. He has a fabulous portrait series of many of the climbing legends such as Ricardo Cassin, Royal Robbins, Fred Beckey, and many more in his acclaimed book The Climbers which was awarded the grand prize at the 2017 Banff Book Awards. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Jim Herrington.com The Climbers Book When did you pick up your first camera? How old were you? Well, there was an old Argus, twin lens reflex that was rattling around and family. Probably a 1950s model with a leather case. I remember getting my hands on that, playing around some, but then, I got a Kodak Instamatic around 1972 or something when I was a nine. The first significant camera was a Pentax K 1000. And I got that when I was about 12 or 13. And actually that's kind of the way I measure it back to when things really started. I ended up photographing Benny Goodman on that camera. When I was a young teen and I always call that ground zero of where it all began. You’re pretty much self-taught then I guess? Well, yeah, I mean, people say self-taught, but that just usually means they've gone and sought out really good teachers. I did go to school briefly. It wasn't for me, but I had intentionally picked out really exceptional mentors, people I wanted to learn from and, certainly tons of books and movies and going to museums and just really looking. So I guess in a way I taught myself, but you know, you're learning from somebody somehow. I guess you're more picking how you're taught if you do it that way. You're kind of looking at how they get that and how they do that and figuring it out on your own. What kind of things did you shoot as a kid, did you just shoot everything or did you have a specific photo or image in mind? You know, of course, I shot the dog and stuff like that. There were these old life magazines around the house and I think my father was kind of casually collecting from the thirties and
Tue, July 28, 2020
Adapt and Evolve, The changing landscape of Outdoor PR with Alycia Cavadi [EP 228]
Alycia Cavadi from Momentum Media PR talks about how digital changed the landscape of PR in the Outdoor space. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Adapt and Evolve, The changing landscape of Outdoor Media and PR with Alycia Cavadi How were you introduced to the outdoors? I was really introduced to the outdoors by my dad, which is pretty unlikely. He grew up in New Jersey and not fancy New Jersey. So any exposure he really had to being outside was probably limited to playing in the streets. They're very close to Manhattan. And then when he started his business in Boston, so the White Mountains of New Hampshire really became his respite. He raised me from a very young age skiing up there, spending weekends skiing up there, occasionally hiking in the summer. So anytime I'm outside, I'm just really especially grateful and aware that, my dad really stumbled into the outdoors. He was a commercial real estate developer in Austin for decades. I think he really hammered down during the week and loved to escape to the mountains. I feel I was really lucky because I don't think he understood the passion that he was sparking in me at the time, it really shaped my life. Tell us how Momentum Media PR came to life. Momentum's inception was complete serendipity with a bit of a twist. So my first outdoor industry job was as a shop kid on the retail floor at Eastern mountain sports up in North Conway, New Hampshire in the white mountains. I also went from that kind of corporate retail setting to working for an independent specialty retailer, Bugaboo Mountain Sports. At the time it was owned by Kai Shane, who I have to mention she was my most benevolent employer and friend. Just a really amazing role model women business owner. So I had some retail experience under my belt, both, in bigger corporate retail and this mom and pop shop. We were all college kids spending time in Yosemite and the Sierra on the weekends. Eventually, California ran its course because I'm an East coast kid. And I decided I was going to go back to Boston. Moving back to Boston I was thinking, I really want to stay in this outdoor industry, but wondering what else was out there beyond retail. I hav
Tue, July 21, 2020
Virtual Trade Shows, Podcasting, and more with Outdoor Influencer Jenna Celmer [EP 227]
Jenna Celmer from the Outdoor Dream Jobs Podcast and I talked about her role at Gearmunk, the Facebook Basecamp Group, the future of tradeshows, and much much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors It was an accident, but it happened really fast and hard actually. My husband said, let's get into backpacking, let's get into camping. And this was at a time in my life when I was thinking, absolutely not. If there is no chandelier, I will not be attending. So I was really a different person. Then, I started powerlifting, which gave me so much confidence. And I think the reason I didn't want to go into the outdoors with him at first was that I just didn't see myself out there as I've heard many people say similar things. I just saw so many, you know, athletic, white men climbing and stuff. And I was like, I can't do that. And that seems so unattainable. I don't want, what if I have to pee outside? What does that even mean? And it just didn't, I didn't know what was going to happen. And then all of a sudden I did the powerlifting thing and I'm, okay, well wait, if I can haul all that heavy shit over there, I can do stuff. So we went for a couple of hikes. We went RV camping at first and I was just so immediately hooked. And I think what happened was I thought, wow, I'm actually really present out here, which is not the norm for me. I'm usually doing 25 things at once. And I'm looking at a little screen or a medium screen behind it or a big screen behind that. And all of a sudden I was looking at things that calmed me down and I thought, all right, this is, this is my gig, I'm into it. And I was all of a sudden, fast and hard all about the outdoors. Things we talked about Facebook Basecamp: Outdoor Job & More Gearmunk Thin Air Show United States Olym
Tue, July 14, 2020
The man that walked like a pack, Outdoor Icon Norman Clyde stories with Andy Selters [EP 226]
Andy Selters and I got together at the Mountain Rambler Brewery here in Bishop awhile back and Andy entertained us with Stories about Norman Clyde and his Eastern Sierra backcountry hiking and exploring adventures. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Andy Selters and I got together at the Mountain Rambler Brewery here in Bishop awhile back and Andy entertained me with Stories about Norman Clyde and his Eastern Sierra backcountry hiking and exploring adventures. Introduction to the Outdoors I went to college and, and like three days into college at Humboldt state, I went to a meeting of the outdoor club and they were going to do a winter ascent of Mount Shasta. I'd seen snow once in my life before, and I had done a lot of hiking in Southern California that year so they helped me go. I'd never experienced cold or snow or anything like that. And I came real close to the summit. I turned around right near the top, but basically I went back next year and did another winter ascent, this time it was successful and I was like, yeah, I was ready to do it. Things we talked about Norman Clyde Eastern California Museum Spotted Dog Press Wikipedia OwensValleyHistory.com Eastern California Museum Exhibit Adventure Journal Historical Badass <p class="a-
Tue, July 07, 2020
Adam Donahue Business Director with Dometic talks about the growth of Outdoor & Overlanding [EP 225]
In July of last year, 2019 Adam Donahue Business Director over at Dometic and I had a great conversation about Dometic's business and how Overlanding or Vehicle Supported Adventure is growing. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up sailing and was fortunate enough to get a job working in the marketing department of a small roof rack and truck rack company called Track Rack. That company was acquired by Thule, which led me into a path of the core outdoors. I quickly found my way into cycling, surfing, and mountain biking. I really dove sort of head first into the outdoor industry in a more significant way. There wasn't a sport that I wouldn't try at least once and I sort of became obsessed and filled my garage up with gear. Things we talked about Dometic Dometic Ambassadors Thule The Adventure Portal Other Outdoor Activities Surfing and Cycling Advice, tips The key in the Outdoor Industry is it is an incredibly friendly community. I think being a little bit bold and reaching out to people and asking for connections and advice to me is really the easiest, quickest, and most resourceful way of establishing some of that tribal connection. It's a little insular too in that people shift from one company straight to the other. If you're in the Tent category, there are a dozen Tent companies that you can go to. People also tend to spend their careers in the outdoor industry. One, I think they're passionate about it, but two, there's just lots of opportunities for growth. So I would say for people that are interested in it, certainly taking advantage of internship opportunities. Internships are something that we're actually working on at the Dometic, developing something that allows college students to get more involved in our business and provide opportuniti
Tue, June 30, 2020
Replay Episode 191, Steve Casimiro of Adventure Journal- Ethical Publishing and Delivering Premium Journalism and Imagery [EP 224]
Steve Casimiro, publisher of the Adventure Journal tells us how they produce fine journalism delivered daily through AJ. I particularly enjoyed his comments about how they stay true to their values and goals of ethical publishing and delivering inspiring stories and high-quality imagery. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors As a suburban kid, I grew up outside of Washington, DC. And in those years kids just spend more time outside. It was just, that was the lifestyle. I had a bike and I had a skateboard and there were parks and we did whatever. And I was in Boy Scouts and then when I was like 11, my parents bought this rundown cabin. And so I spent a lot of time outside there. So you know, we'd be car camping, my parents weren't super outdoorsy but we did car camping. For me everything kind of came into registration when I was, I think about 14 or 15 and I did like a mini Outward Bound course for a week or 10 days in West Virginia. We did a canoe trip on the New River and backpacking and climbing, technical rock climbing and all that. And so I was able to actually have some guided education and exposure to it and I loved it. And then I got my driver's license and you know, had a bit of money in my pocket from working and was able to get out and do things. That's where all my energy went, I was kind of self-empowered at that point. Things We Talked About Adventure Journal Outward Bound Powder Magazine Bike Magazine National Geographic Adventure Snowboarder George Mason University <a href= "https://www.adventure-jou
Tue, June 23, 2020
Podcasting, Recruiting, Career advice and more with Outdoor Industry Executive Recruiter Roy Notowitz [EP 223]
Today I'm speaking with Roy Notowitz, President of Noto Group Executive Search. Roy has spent nearly his entire career in the Pacific Northwest. His work includes founding the Generator Group, he spent time in recruiting at Nike, he’s is a recipient of the SGB 40 Under 40 award and has his own podcast How I Hire. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Show Notes How'd you get introduced to the outdoors? What was your first outdoor experience like? I feel really lucky. I grew up in upstate New York in a small town called Manlius, the Manilius Fayetteville area, which is just outside of Syracuse. And, you know, it was at a time when kids would roam free in the woods, and around the neighborhood. It was a pretty standard neighborhood, but we had woods nearby. We built sledding tracks and we played baseball in the street and in our backyards, we rode bikes. Basically it was a time when parents would just kick their kids out of the house all day and say come home at night for dinner. We were a big ski family, so my parents were, they weren't hippies, but they acted like it. We had a garden and they went jogging before everyone else was jogging. We had a very active and healthy family lifestyle, and we would ski every weekend. Sometimes twice on the weekends or sometimes once during a weeknight. In Syracuse, there are a few different mountains within 20, 30-minute drive. We went to this place called Labrador mountain, “Ski more at Labrador”, was their slogan. And it was like 800 vert, they had a T-bar and chairlift that was super slow. That was a big part of my early outdoor experience. And, and then in my teens, my parents had bought this little fishing cabin in the thousand islands, which is about two and a half hours north of Syracuse, just outside of Brockville, Ontario. We kept our boat on the US side and we'd cross the river and check-in at customs then go to this little Island. And there's a 30 mile stretch of the Saint Lawrence River that flows out of Lake Ontario, bordering New York and Ontario. And there are about 1800 small to medium-sized islands with little cabins and stuff on them. A lot of them aren’t winterized, ours wasn't. I saved up all this lawn mowing money that I earned to buy a small aluminum fishing boat and with a 15 horse Evinrude motor. It was my obsession. I became obsessed with fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass and Northern pike. And there's a 10 mile stretch of that river that I kno
Tue, June 16, 2020
America Outdoors with Aaron Bannon- leading the industry in Outdoor public policy, innovation, and promoting outdoor recreational activities. [EP 222]
America Outdoors Executive Director Aaron Bannon is a Casper Wyoming native, spent two years in the Peace Corps and ten years in conservation advocacy before settling in Lander Wyoming to work with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes America Outdoors Executive Director Aaron Bannon is a Casper Wyoming native, spent two years in the Peace Corps and ten years in conservation advocacy before settling in Lander Wyoming to work with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) My guest today is a Casper, Wyoming native. He spent two years in the Peace Corps and 10 years in conservation advocacy before settling in Lander, Wyoming to work with the National Outdoor Leadership School , America Outdoors executive Aaron Bannon . Yeah, I've been in Lander for about 13 years. So a good chunk of life. Yeah. Yeah. Nice. It's a beautiful spot. A lot of people will hit it, like on their way to Grand Tetons or Yellowstone or something like that. But for those who hang out, uh, yeah, there's, it's kind of a climbing Mecca. So you'd find a lot of climbers who make their home here. There's a, you know, a lot of unique formations up in sinks Canyon and the wind river age that are a consistent draw. A lot of history there too. How'd you get introduced to the outdoors must have been as a kid, right, growing up? My dad would take us camping every year up in the Big Horn Mountains , which are just a couple of hours North of Casper. There was this annual camping trip. We'd always go to the same spot. I wanted to do a little bit more and I can re
Thu, June 11, 2020
Super Pacific Episode 4- From Outdoor Product Idea to Product Launch with Spencer Houser and Peter Williams [Ep 221]
Our 3rd conversation on Episode 210, we talked about the product line up, styles, price points, etc? How many versions of these are you planning to build, and the types of customization tent fabric/material and potential accessory items? On this episode, our 4th conversation, Peter, Spencer, and I talk about progress and are the guys having fun. As they move into building prototypes what surprises have come up, which step of the build has gone smoother than anticipated, and if they've discovered any significant changes that need to be made to the design or materials? Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors Spencer- I grew up in rural upstate New York, in an old farmhouse with 60 acres of land. So outdoors was just part of life. I just spent all my time outside, you know, making forts in the woods with my buddies and BMX tracks and, and camping out all summer long. Then in high school got into mountain biking and rock climbing. I was always into skiing. Peter- I grew up in North Carolina, outside of Raleigh. We lived on some land, the back doors were like a pasture, with a couple of Ponds and a bunch of woods. Outdoors was kind of like the default setting, and after school go outside and when it was time to come in my mom blew a whistle. We would also go down to the beach in North Carolina. We spend a lot of time poking around the outer banks. Things we talked about Super Pacific Inc. Roof Top Tents Entrepreneurs "provide jobs for quality jobs for people" Favorite Books and Podcasts Channel Mastery 99% Invisible American Icon by Bryce G. Hoffman A Finer Future by L. Hunter Lovins Favorite Outdoor Gear under $100 Houdini J
Tue, June 09, 2020
Building a Career with Skateboard Industry Maven and Connector Tommy Barker [EP 220]
Today I’m speaking with Tommy Barker. I’ve known Tommy since he was a kid running around Eagle Creek and Clive. Following in his Mom and Dad’s footsteps, Steve and Nona Barker, he has made quite a name for himself as an advocate and connector in the Skateboard Industry. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes So this is an outdoor biz podcast. Let's start out with how you got introduced to the outdoors. I mean, I was really kind of born into the outdoors, I grew up in a town called Elfin Forest, where at that time there was maybe six kids. I was 30 minutes from the nearest Seven-Eleven. I felt like I was out in the outdoors. We had llamas and that kind of segues into how I was introduced to the outdoors. At that time, my parents would take me and my sisters and seven or eight Lamas and go up into this Sierra for a few weeks at a time. “For those of you that don't know Elfin Forest is East of Carlsbad and completely developed now, back then there was nothing. So you were living in a new development then weren't you?” Oh yeah. I grew up on a dirt road. I had to go to school in Rancho Santa Fe, so every day I would drive on a dirt road and have to go through a river on the way to school. You know, so really rural living. But at the same time, we're only 30 minutes away from real city living. How old were you when you picked up a skateboard? We had a little cement-like basketball court in our front yard. And then, you know actually I've tracked this. This is an interesting story, cause I've kind of figured out the origin. We always had skateboards in our garage and I'm pretty sure that it was Jim Alesi . One of the old shippers at Eagle Creek was a Del Mar Skate Ranch Local. So him and Bill Billing, I think they left a skateboard at the house and that's what I picked up. So my skateboard industry origin story goes all the way back to Del Mar Skate Ranch. It is really interesting now that I'm learning more about the skateboard industry history and how instrumental Del Mar was to keep this torch of skateboarding alive in the dead years. Yeah. I mean, it's really funny now knowing the history. I went to La Costa Canyon, which, I thought La Costa was the corniest p
Tue, June 02, 2020
Doc Forgey is a Fellow in the New York Explorers Club and wrote the book on Outdoor Wilderness Medicine [EP 219]
Doc Forgey is an accomplished Doctor, Author of over 30 books, and an adventure traveler. On this episode, he tells how he was introduced to the outdoors, his writing career and thoughts on first aid, wilderness medicine, and prepping for disasters. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Doc Forgey is an accomplished Doctor, Author of over 30 books, and an adventure traveler. On this episode, he tells how he was introduced to the outdoors, how he got into medicine, his writing career and thoughts on first aid, wilderness medicine, and prepping for disasters. How were introduced to the outdoors? Well, actually my family. My dad was a big fisherman and he worked in an industrial area in Northern Indiana for an oil company. He would take vacations and drag us out to Tennessee Valley Authority lakes throughout the South. They'd have fishing camps and little cabins. It was really fishing introduction and that went on throughout my childhood. One of the things I found I like to do, in Tennessee particularly was go off on my own with the boat. And of course, you know, I'm young, I'm in grade school, but dad trusts me to take the boat out. I would just tramp the woods and I looked for caves and crawling in caves. So I became an avid cave Explorer. How did you get into wilderness medicine? I spent a long time in the army, so I guess I graduated from the army, was out of money and wanting more adventure. I had no money and no training for that. So I said, well there's one way to get it. I joined the army in 1964 and you know, cause the army slug was FTA, Fun Travel, and Adventure. I spent 30 months in Vietnam and went to training with the army and it was during that time I graduated in chemistry. It had been years since I was in school, but I definitely want to become a doctor. I am not going to remain an infantry officer, I definitely want to be a doctor I got into grad school and while I was in grad school applied for med school, but I made sure my graduate advisor was in microbiology and knew that I'm not here to get a Master's or a Doctorate. I don't want any of your money. You know, the graduate program wants to give, wants people to be teaching a
Tue, May 26, 2020
Operating a Climbing Guide Service in a small Outdoor town with Kurt Wedberg [EP 218]
Kurt has summited Mt. Everest 3 times and operates Sierra Mountaineering International Climbing Guide Service in Bishop, CA. Kurt and I talk about how he got started and what it's like running an International Climbing Guide Service in a small town. Show notes Let's start out with your Facebook profile. It says Christian Husband, Father, Foodie, Mountain Guide, Climber, Skier, Travel Junkie, Foodie, and Goofy. Tell us about the Foodie Goofy Christian part. It goes into everything else that I do, whether that's how I am as a father, how I conduct myself as a husband or a mountain guide, or everything else. In life and my climbing guide service I try to follow those principles. So it all starts there. I'm a foodie, I just happened to love food. Your wife sounds like a great cook . She's an amazing cook. Cool. Yes, it does help. I'm married well that way. You know, they say behind every good man is a great woman. She certainly does that wonderfully in many other ways besides just cooking. Tell us about the goofy stuff. I feel like it's important to remember the humor and everything and see the humor in everything that's out there. I think it's a healthy trait to have. I'm one that sets a lot of people at ease and it just helps you see the world. There's definitely a time to be serious, but there's so much out there in the world that is fun and loving and, that goofy part comes out a lot of times when I'm guiding trips and if I'm out having fun with my friends. Whether we're ski touring or climbing or whatever else we're doing. Whether I'm with my family and my son. He's three years old and talks up a storm and some of the things he says at three years old is just precious and, and unforgettable. I'll bet it helps you from a guiding perspective. When someone is having a tough day or they're struggling for whatever reason, they're tired or whatever, you can bring a little entertainment, silliness to the situation, and probably help them get up that trail or pass. You're right. When you bring somebody out in the mountains on a trip, they are many times coming out of their comfort zone. And that takes a certain type of personality just to do in and of itself, to put yourself out there, out of your normal realm of life. You know, and many of the people that we take on trips are wherever they come from. They are experts in their field and they're used to being the ones that are being approached by others and they're the ones that, you know, answer the questions and such. And now they're going into our world in the mountains and they're looking at this mountain guide for those same questions and answers that they normally give. So, yeah, being able to inject a little bit of humor and just to put everybody at ease and let them know that, Hey, it's okay. Everybody has a hard time with this particular move too. Tell us how you got into the outdoors. Your dad was an outdoor person, right? He sure
Tue, May 19, 2020
Outdoor Fun Every Day with JanSport's Paul Delorey [EP 217]
Fun conversation on episode 217 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast with long time JanSport president and master of fun every day Paul Delorey Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Let's start off with how you got introduced to the outdoors. Growing up in a big family, my mom and dad had eight kids and it was an unusually small house. So being outside was a big deal and family vacations were camping. If you wanted your own room, you had to get a small tent. So as a kid my dad got me a pup tent. When we'd go, I'd find a spot off by myself and pitch my tent and have my own space. What kind of activities did you do? You know, kid camp stuff, fishing, and making pancakes on the Coleman stove. That kind of thing, just exploring state parks. Growing up in Wisconsin, there were some beautiful state parks that there to this day. How did you connect with Skip Yowell and JanSport? In 1977, I had gone back to school to finish a master's degree. When I went back one of the things open at the time was the bookstore. They were looking for a bookstore manager. So I took the job and one of the benefits was free tuition. So in 1977, I'm going to a college bookstore trade show in New York City. And I was really familiar with the JanSport brand from my local outdoor store. I saw they were on the list of vendors. So one of the first places I went to was the JanSport booth. I told them who I was and they said, well, we'll have somebody with you in a minute. And this guy comes out and he's wearing a fringed buckskin jacket with a Bolo tie and pressed white shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. He's got long hair and a foo man choo mustache. He kind of stood out you know? And it was Skip Yowell . I was immediately impressed and, I looked at Skip and I really had a feeling this is one of the reasons this brand is so cool. So we started talking and they were basically there just to take a look at the market and see if they wanted to start selling in it yet. At the time there were other brands selling backpacks in the college bookstore market. I told Skip, I said, man, I'll give you an order right now. And he said, well, we're j
Tue, May 12, 2020
Outdoor life in the Backcountry with Doug Robinson [EP 216]
Doug talks about his many backcountry adventures, product design, the outdoor industry, and tells a couple of stories too. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes This episode with a very good friend of mine. We've been buddies for over 30 years. He's been a backcountry mountain guide, rock climbing guide, ski guide, been in the industry for many, many years doing all kinds of cool things. He's a great author. Welcome to the show, Doug Robinson. How were you introduced to the backcountry and the outdoors? I am an unbelievably lucky kid. At five years old, my parents moved me from Washington, DC where I was born to California and we went almost immediately that summer to the backcountry and Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park and camped out. Back then you drove across Tenaya Creek and pulled your car up next to the Lake and we could camp right on the Lakeshore. And we did. And so at five years old, I'm building rafts and paddling out to the islands on the Lake, I could not believe the Sierra. The road was one and a half lanes, 15 miles an hour. It was a dirt road except where it went over granted slabs. So it was like, two hours from Crane Flat to Tenaya Lake, which is 40 minutes now. There were a few other people who camped by the Lake and you could tell they came back every year. We all felt like this was the luckiest thing that could possibly ever happen to us. And as time went on, we started hiking and then backpacking and you know, little by little getting into the Sierra backcountry. When I was 13, I got rescued off of Pywiack dome, which was across the Lake from our campsite. I had a pair of lug sole boots and I knew that made me a mountain climber. So I went up on the side of this dome and 400 feet up I realized that maybe I wasn't as secure. I couldn't go ahead and I couldn't back down. Some tourists stopped on the road and said, are you okay? I shouted NO, but here's where you find the Rangers and tell them to come and get me. And they did. They repelled down from the top of the dome and tied me on. So that was the first time I was ever on a rope in the backcountry. Your folks ended up buying one of those forest service lease backcountry properties
Tue, May 05, 2020
Joe Vernachio of Mountain Hardwear on his Outdoor career, Climbing Mt. Everest and more [EP 215]
When Joe Vernachio joined Patagonia as a product line manager in the late eighties, it didn't dawn on him that 30 years later that he would be at the helm of a yet-to-be conceived brand named Mountain Hardwear. His time at Patagonia led him to Nike, where he expanded his product and business expertise and he eventually returned to the outdoor industry in executive roles for Roots Canada, Spyder, and The North Face. A resident of Marin County, when he's not cheering on his son at football games or daughter at volleyball games, he's doing casual stuff any executive does . . . like train to summit Everest. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Tell us about your attempt to climb Mt Everest, did you top out? No, we didn't. We went in the fall, last October. The mountain hadn't really been climbed in about six years in the autumn. The conditions are tougher, it's getting colder, it's getting windier, and the Icefall was in really rough shape. It took us almost a month just to get through the icefall. And then when we did, there was a huge Serac overhead, right in the same spot that took out many of the Sherpas a few years prior. It was just way too risky. So we backed off, but it was awesome to be back in the mountains and on that mountain specifically. The Mountain moves around a little bit more, I think than it does in May. We're just looking at the jet stream and just seeing when it's not on the top of the mountain. So we could time our summit attempt for when we had a good window when it wouldn't be so windy. We'd never really even saw that window. So it just made the most sense to not put anybody at risk more than we needed to. What was amazing was that there was nobody on the mountain. It was just three of us. There were maybe 20 people in base camp versus a thousand people. How were you introduced to the Outdoors? The classic story. My dad was a woodsman, a hunter, and a fisherman and we'd go canoeing as a family. So I was introduced to the outdoors that way. When I was about 13, this guy named George Willig climbed the twin towers in New York City. And I lived just outside of New York City. There were lots of articles in the newspaper about this guy and this thing called rock climbing. And this place that he climbed c
Tue, April 28, 2020
How to avoid being the last Outdoor Retail Brand out of a reps bag with Lauren Webb [EP 213]
After 12 years in the Outdoor Retail Industry as a jack of all trades at retail, these days Lauren Webb of Bullish Endurance develops Creative Solutions for brands that are often last out of the bag. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes “The current sales model is broken. It really hasn't adapted. And small outdoor retail brands are always last out of the bag if even mentioned at all. So many traditional sales reps are based on schedule and ROI and that's why a lot of these brands just really never get a chance” - Lauren Web, Bullish Endurance Bullish Endurance describes their solution for last out of the bag Outdoor Retail Brands. We work with small outdoor retail brands on their marketing and sales solutions. There are so many great companies, that really don't have the bandwidth or the budget to be able to have an in-house sales team or a big marketing campaign budget. We're here to share their story and fill that role. We work with the Outdoor Retail brands to come with campaigns and activities to execute. We attend outdoor retail events, consumer events, it just really depends. Every company is different and everywhere they see their customer is different, whether it's a consumer or retailers. So we just really get to know the customer and how best to give them their best return on investment. How do you create and execute a solution for a last out of the bag Outdoor Retail Brand? We communicate. They know what we do best and they know what they do best. And by collaborating and getting to know what and where their best return on investment is we build a solution for the customer that fits their needs. Maybe they need exposure in a certain area. For example a lot of the West Coast outdoor retail brands that maybe you and I have relationships with because we were based on the West coast but in the Southeast, nobody's ever heard of them. What kind of Outdoor Retail Brand Solutions do you create? Is it different per brand, different per shop? Is it all Bespoke stuff? Things like going to outdoor retail events for some lead generation at a trade show that they may be interested in, but don't have the support staff to be able to do that. Or attend
Mon, April 27, 2020
Small Business Resources, Solutions and Tactics with Outdoor Business Consultant Jim Thomsen [EP 214]
He began his outdoor career in the '60s working for Dick Kelty, he started a couple of outdoor businesses with his brother, was an executive with VF for quite a few years, has taken numerous adventures near and far with his wife Katie and is now helping small businesses navigate these challenging times. Jim Thomsen discusses the current business environment and offers advice and strategies for taking action. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show notes "the most critical thing that you should be doing right now is conserving cash and make sure you save that cash." You're helping a lot of small business owners sort through the SBA programs, how did you get involved with the SBA? The Small Business Development Center has locations all over the country funded by the SBA. What they offer is in normal times is really excellent business consulting. They'll help you do business plans and cash flow statements and they have experts in all the offices to help you. If you wanted to work out a social media program or marketing plan, finances, they have people who specialize in that. Not just SBA loans but all kinds of different financing. And the work that the small business development centers do is totally free to businesses. I had known about it but never really worked with it. It's a super great group of people and every business should sign up with them because you don't have to listen to anybody. You could ask them anything. They have all kinds of resources and it's 100% free. The group in central California also includes the Eastern Sierra. Since the main offices are in Bakersfield, Inyo and Mono county are not a convenient place for them to come over. But Once a year they do a big economic conference here explaining different offerings that they have. At this last one, they asked me to be a speaker there because they wanted a section on crowdfunding. I had just done the Kickstarter program for Wilderness Experience, and since I had done it all myself, I learned all the little parts of it. So I was one of the speakers and I got to know the director and a few other people. He kept saying, you know, you would be perfect, you gotta help us over here in Eastern Sierra because we have plent
Tue, April 21, 2020
A life of ranching, adventure, outdoor retail and paella with Wes Allen [EP 212]
Wes Allen and I talk about this current pandemic and its effects on the adventure and outdoor retail business, his life growing up on a ranch outside Cody, Wyoming, Sunlight Sports, the Argo Agency and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes A life of Ranching, Adventure, and Outdoor Retail with Wes Allen of Sunlight Sports [EP 212] <div id="story-edit-container" data-story= "{"id":131856,"account_id":21158,"campaigns":[],"title":"Fly Fishing and Stewardship on the Truckee River [EP 209] (copy)","content":"{\"blocks\":[{\"key\":\"aqg1h\",\"text\":\"Welcome to episode 209 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I'm talking about Fly Fishing, Podcasting, Stewardship and more with Nico Sunseri and Ben King of the BearFish Alliance. Nico and Ben believe that by enabling multilevel stewardship via unified communication channels, it is possible to preserve the integrity, legacy, and future of the Truckee River as a wild rainbow and Brown trout fishery for the community to enjoy and generations to come.\",\"type\":\"unstyled\",\"depth\":0,\"inlineStyleRanges\":[],\"entityRanges\":[],\"data\":[]},{\"key\":\"7v3gu\",\"text\":\"\\\"So here's a little thing about the Truckee River. We've given it a nickname, The Big Two Faced River\\\"\",\"type\":\"blockquote\",\"depth\":0,\"inlineStyleRanges\":[],\"entityRanges\":[],\"data\":[]},{\"key\":\"1up4p\",\"text\":\"Find out more about the Bear Fish Alliance here: \\nhttps:\\\/\\\/bearfishalliance.com\\\/\",\"type\":\"unstyled\",\"depth\":0,\"inlineStyleRanges\":[],\"entityRanges\":[{\"offset\":50,\"length\":29,\"key\":0}],\"data\":[]},{\"key\":\"dhra7\",\"text\":\"\",\"type\":\"atomic\",\"depth\":0,\"inlineStyleRanges\":[],\"entityRanges\":[],\"data\":{\"type\":\"divider\"}},{\"key\":\"5loes\",\"text\":\"What are some of the stewardship activities that you guys are working on right now?\",\"type
Tue, April 14, 2020
The man behind Outdoor brand Mystery Ranch packs, Dana Gleason [EP 211]
I'm excited to talk with Dana Gleason today. Dana's been making packs for over 40 years in the outdoor industry. Some of the best packs I've ever carried. It's always fun to catch up with him at trade shows and now on the podcast. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes The man behind Mystery Ranch packs, Dana Gleason, has seen many pack trends and brands come and go during his forty years of designing and sewing packs. Several of the brands were his own, including Kletterwerks , which he started as a young ski and climbing bum in 1975, later revived by Dana’s son in 2012. In the late 70s and early 80s, Dana and business partner, Renee Sippel-Baker , threw their creative energy into Mojo Systems and Quest camera bags. Dana’s namesake brand, Dana Design was established in 1985 quickly becoming the pack to trust for uncompromising durability and a comfortable carry among mountaineers and backpackers. As is often the case with entrepreneurial brands, cash for growth was needed and Dana and Renee ended up selling off their interest in each of those brands. In 2000, after some time off, Dana and Renee once again crafted a small selection of durable packs for a new endeavor, Mystery Ranch. “The fact that we’ve succeeded in this is more than luck. ‘Luck’ consists of holding on to the good stuff and letting go of the bad,” explains Dana as he recounts his history building packs. After 40 years, Dana has observed dozens of load-carrying systems come and go. He’s seen trends like the superlight movement catch the interest of consumers and he’s seen the pendulum swing in the opposite direction for professionals whose highest priority is a comfortable carry. As the majority of US factories were shut down, and production moved overseas, Dana has observed quality become inconsistent. He’s seen fabrics and materials evolve from the original thick
Thu, April 09, 2020
SuperPacific Episode 3- From Outdoor Product Idea to Product Launch with Spencer Houser and Peter Williams
This is episode three of a special series I’m doing with Spencer Houser and Peter Williams. They are in the early phase of their startup Super Pacific and we thought it would be fun to chronicle what it's like to develop a new product from scratch and launch a new brand. We’ll drop a new episode every couple weeks as we talk about how they came up with their idea, what the initial steps were and all the wins and challenges along the way. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors Spencer- I grew up in rural upstate New York, in an old farmhouse with 60 acres of land. So outdoors was just part of life. I just spent all my time outside, you know, making forts in the woods with my buddies and BMX tracks and, and camping out all summer long. Then in high school got into mountain biking and rock climbing. I was always into skiing. Peter- I grew up in North Carolina, outside of Raleigh. We lived on some land, the back doors were like a pasture, with a couple of Ponds and a bunch of woods. Outdoors was kind of like the default setting, and after school go outside and when it was time to come in my mom blew a whistle. We would also go down to the beach in North Carolina. We spend a lot of time poking around the outer banks. Things we talked about Super Pacific Inc. Roof Top Tents Entrepreneurs "provide jobs for quality jobs for people" Favorite Books and Podcasts Channel Mastery 99% Invisible American Icon by Bryce G. Hoffman A Finer Future by L. H
Tue, April 07, 2020
Bear Fish Alliance talking Truckee River Stewardship, Fly Fishing, Burritos and Podcasting [EP 209]
I talk about Truckee River Stewardship, Fly Fishing and Burritos with the guys from Bear Fish Alliance this week on Episode 209. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Welcome to episode 209 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. Today I'm talking Fly Fishing, Podcasting, Stewardship and more with Nico Sunseri and Ben King of the BearFish Alliance. Fellow Fly Fishing aficionados, BearFish believes that by enabling multilevel stewardship via unified communication channels, it is possible to preserve the integrity, legacy, and future of Fly Fishing on the Truckee River as a wild rainbow and Brown trout fishery for the community to enjoy and generations to come. " So here's a little thing about the Truckee River. We've given it a nickname, The Big Two Faced River " Find out more about the Bear Fish Alliance here: https://bearfishalliance.com/ What are some of the stewardship activities that you guys are working on right now? Nico- " In early June, and we're having a River Clean-Up in cooperation with Trout Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy ". How did you get introduced to Fly Fishing and the outdoors? Ben-"I surfed my whole life. That includes many trips down to Mexico. My grandpa's the real true outdoors and my dad has same passion. Growing up camping and in the boy Scouts we did a lot of backpacking, hiking, and I just most connected to the Outdoors in so many different ways." Nico- "I was more of an inland kid growing up in San Dimas, California and started fishing probably about five years old. From the time I could ride a bike after school or before school or in summers I went fishing. A trip to Lake Powell really got me hooked into fishing and it just kinda carried on. The transition to fly fishing didn't really happen, Oh my gosh, I mean maybe about seven years ago." When Was the first time you went Fly Fishing together? I introduced Ben to Fly Fishing and to his credit he pays attention. He picked up on some things. I would say within a month of us going out constantly, one day he just geared up and hopped in his car. After a bit, he gives me a call and says "I'm Fly Fishi
Tue, March 31, 2020
Kurt Gauss- Leading Design and Innovation at GSI Outdoors
Kurt Gauss of GSI Outdoors is one of our outdoor design wizards making the core product we just can't live without. He has degrees in design from Notre Dame and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He's taught product design and led undergraduate and postgraduate programs of electrical and electronic robotics and product design at the University of the West of England and he's led the design efforts for over 13 years at GSI outdoors. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors My father grew up on a farm and his idea of summer vacation property was to buy a farm. And so much to my mother's chagrin, he bought a farm. My mom kind of wanted the Lake House North of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But he got the farm and so from Memorial day through labor day we were basically dropped off and the older siblings and I, we had 70 plus acres just to Rome and build forts and camps and teepees and sweat lodges and ponds and fishing and all that. That was pretty fun. And also learning the trade of farming when I was a teenager. That was good hard work mucking out barns and stuff like that. You get over some of your phobias quickly when you work on a farm. Things we talked about GSI Outdoors Use code OUTDOORBIZ and receive 10% off your entire order and free shipping over $25. Good until April 30th. Pinnacle Technology Illinois Institute of Technology University of Notre Dame University of Wisconsin Dawson College Knee Braces The University of West of England Bristol Spokane Dieter Rams <a href="https://www.spokaneno
Thu, March 26, 2020
SuperPacific: #2 Spencer Houser and Peter Williams, From Outdoor Product Idea to Launch
This is episode two of a special series I’m doing with Spencer Houser and Peter Williams. They are in the early phase of their startup Super Pacific and we thought it would be fun to chronicle what it's like to develop a new product from scratch and launch a new brand. We’ll drop a new episode every couple weeks as we talk about how they came up with their idea, what the initial steps were and all the wins and challenges along the way. And if you have questions please send them to rick@ricksaez.com and I’ll be sure and ask the guys in future episodes. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors Spencer- I grew up in rural upstate New York, in an old farmhouse with 60 acres of land. So outdoors was just part of life. I just spent all my time outside, you know, making forts in the woods with my buddies and BMX tracks and, and camping out all summer long. Then in high school got into mountain biking and rock climbing. I was always into skiing. Peter- I grew up in North Carolina, outside of Raleigh. We lived on some land, the back doors were like a pasture, with a couple of Ponds and a bunch of woods. Outdoors was kind of like the default setting, and after school go outside and when it was time to come in my mom blew a whistle. We would also go down to the beach in North Carolina. We spend a lot of time poking around the outer banks. Things we talked about Super Pacific Inc. Roof Top Tents Entrepreneurs "provide jobs for quality jobs for people" <span
Tue, March 24, 2020
206: Steve Gallo- Learn more about OOFOS and their awesome recovery footwear
Steve Gallo joined OOFOS, the global leader in recovery footwear, as President in February 2018. A professional with more than 25 years of experience in branded footwear, apparel and accessories, Gallo leverages his industry expertise to continue fueling the explosive growth OOFOS has experienced during the past six years. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Steve Gallo joined OOFOS, the global leader in recovery footwear, as President in February 2018. A professional with more than 25 years of experience in branded footwear, apparel and accessories, Gallo leverages his industry expertise to continue fueling the explosive growth OOFOS has experienced during the past six years. Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors Growing up North of Boston, my dad was really into the outdoors. We spent a lot of time in New Hampshire and he actually climbed all the 4,000 footers in the Appalachian trail in New Hampshire. Yeah, it's funny, you know, you and I talked about this earlier, he kept one of those journals on all of his hikes up to the different 4,000 footers and who we went with, and what, what transpired. I actually haven't done all of them. I want to finish them all. But he did all of them, some even twice. The other family member that did all of them was our golden retriever who is in the book too. My dad actually got the 4,000 footer patch. So it's a lot of great memories. Things we talked about OOFOS Recovery Footwear Nichols College Assumption College Reebok Adidas Northwestern MIT Duke Harvard WWE Consulting Linda Jaros OR Banner "Do yourself a favor and try a pair of OOFOS. Get a carabiner and hang them on your backpack." Other Outdoor Activities Hiking, Mtn Biking, Working Out, lifting weights, Cross Country skiing Advice If you're passionate about it, go for it. I mean, and if you can combine, I tell my kids this all the time, if you can combine something you truly love to do, and you're good at it as we
Tue, March 17, 2020
Barry and Cathy Beck- Fly Fishing, Adventure and Photography
Barry and Cathy Beck have hosted some of the best fly fishing and photo adventures you’ll find. They have traveled and fished all over the world and produce stunning images of it all. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors Barry- My parents had a tackle shop. From the very beginning, it was spending time in the shop with my parents and also our vacations were always fishing oriented. It's just been part of my life. I can't remember not fishing. Cathy- I grew up in the country on a farm, in a big family. I have seven brothers and sisters. And so we grew up in the country and fishing the farm ponds and you know, lots of woods around and farm fields and it's just, you know, this was the lifestyle. Things we talked about Barry and Cathy Beck Bob Marriott's Fly Shop Lefty Kreh Ron Taniwaki DXO Frontiers International Farbank Industries Sage Rio Redington Tibor Reels Other Outdoor Activities Walking Working on old Land Rovers Advice Don't quit your day job. And Kathy always frowns when I say that. We do hear that question a lot, especially at our industry show. We've got a young photographer who comes in and says, you know, how do you do this? How do you make a living at this? And, or a guide who w
Thu, March 12, 2020
SuperPacific- From Outdoor Product Idea to Launch
This is episode one of a special series I’m doing with Spencer Houser and Peter Williams. They are in the early phase of their startup Super Pacific and we thought it would be fun to chronicle what it's like to develop a new product from scratch and launch a new brand. We’ll drop a new episode every couple weeks as we talk about how they came up with their idea, what the initial steps were and all the wins and challenges along the way. Ans if you have questions please send them to rick@ricksaez.com and I’ll be sure and ask the guys in future episodes. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors Spencer- I grew up in rural upstate New York, in an old farmhouse with 60 acres of land. So outdoors was just part of life. I just spent all my time outside, you know, making forts in the woods with my buddies and BMX tracks and, and camping out all summer long. Then in high school got into mountain biking and rock climbing. I was always into skiing. Peter- I grew up in North Carolina, outside of Raleigh. We lived on some land, the back doors were like a pasture, with a couple of Ponds and a bunch of woods. Outdoors was kind of like the default setting, and after school go outside and when it was time to come in my mom blew a whistle. We would also go down to the beach in North Carolina. We spend a lot of time poking around the outer banks. Things we talked about Super Pacific Inc. Roof Top Tents Entrepreneurs "provide jobs for quality jobs for people" Favorite Books and Podcasts Channel Mastery 99% Invisible <a hr
Tue, March 10, 2020
203: Margaret Newhard- Wigwam Outdoor Socks, My Favorite Pair
I'm excited to share this episode with sock aficionado, 40 under 40 SGB recipient, family dance party planner and Wigwams director of product management, Margaret Newhard. Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors My Mom always had us working, digging, raking, doing something outside and she always found a way to make it fun. Just to talk about as we were doing all these things, you know, what are the unique aspects of plants and animals in nature and discovery. She is the adventurous soul in the family and my brother and I did a lot of hiking and cross country skiing and just generally were outside for much of our childhood. Summers basically was kind of one of those deals where you left the house in the morning and played outside the entire day and just found things to do outside of technology and some of the things we see today. Then we'd show up for dinner, and that would be the day. Things we talked about Wigwam Synchroknit Gander Outdoors Other Outdoor Activities Snow Shoeing Skiing Sled Dogging Hiking Stand Up Paddling Canoeing Advice Recognize in many cases that you usually have to start from the bottom up. Even if you're starting small, I think getting your foot in the door really does it. It's amazing how interconnected our industry is. And you know, once you get into that web, it's amazing the opportunities that really open up. Favorite Books and Podcasts Brown Bear Brown Bear What You See I love you Stinky Face Favorite Outdoor Gear under $100 Wigwam Socks of course Hydroflask Stasher Connect with Margaret and Wigwam Instagram @wigwamsocks Instagram <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/synchr
Tue, March 03, 2020
Brian Helfrich, Summit Coffee Co.- making a name for themselves in the outdoor space
Brian Helfrich, is the CEO and owner of Summit Coffee Co., a national coffee and lifestyle brand that's quickly making a name for themselves in the outdoor space. In addition to operating its own cafés, Summit runs a coffee importing and roasting business, is selling franchise units, and just released instant coffee to its portfolio. Brian is a graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina, with a degree in creative writing and a background in journalism. He and his wife, Tyler, have two kids, and when not working Brian can be found running in the very early mornings. Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors I grew up in sports and so as the youngest of four boys, I spent all my time outside, whether it was playing soccer or playing in the woods or going on camping trips, and it just became our family thing. Things we talked about Summit Coffee Co. Asheville, NC Davidson College Sports Business Daily OR sign Find Your Summit Other Outdoor Activities Running and Cycling Advice Ask questions and put yourself out there. Go to events and if there's an adventurer that's speaking at your local outdoor retail store, go talk to them and just really soak up and learn as much as you can. I think that, um, you know, asking questions and again, going back to this idea of curiosity, I think that " curiosity is the engine of achievements" . And so if you want to do something, the best way to approach it is like, okay, let me ask a million questions and that'll probably get you somewhere good. Favorite Books and Podcasts Great Mondays by Josh Levine Peace is Every Step by Tich Nhat Hanh Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard The Ringer Podcasts The Bill Simmons Podcast Favorite Outdoor Gear under $100 Jet Boil Connect with Brian</st
Tue, February 25, 2020
201: Mike Ferrell- Outdoor Producer, Show Host, Writer
Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors I was in high school, a buddy of mine and his family, they had a bunch of land up in West Virginia. And, we'd go up there and go squirrel hunting. And I had never been hunting. I'm not a Hunter now. But we'd just spend time in this cabin that didn't have electricity and it was just awesome man. And that really stoked my appreciation of the outdoors. And me and my buddies, we go hiking a couple of times a year and on the Appalachian trail and I just love it, man. Things we talked about Feral Media Group Rally for Rangers The Feral Show Podcast Field Day Studio Lillie's Q BBQ Sauces Other Outdoor Activities Hiking Camping Trail Running Advice In regards to the outdoor adventure space, I'm fairly new to it. Over the past couple of years, I've really gotten into it with Rally for Rangers. And now I'm working with some filmmakers out of Utah and Wyoming on some projects. I think you just kind of put it out there. If you want something just kind of take one step towards that direction. You might not know what the final product is going to be or what the final end goal is going to be, but if you have a general idea of this space you want to be in, just start reaching out to folks, introducing yourself, go to conferences, build relationships. I think just doing it that way. And I think ultimately, whatever it is you want to do in the outdoor space will happen. Favorite Books and Podcasts WTF Podcast with Marc Maron Wild Ideas Worth Living Favorite Outdoor Gear under $100 Black Diamond Headlamp Connect with Mike mike@feralmediagroup.com Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel,
Tue, February 18, 2020
Richard Bangs- Keeping the Quest for Adventure Alive
I’m excited and honored to have Richard Bangs on episode 200 today. Not only is this a milestone for the podcast but I had a great time catching up with Richard. One of the founders of the Adventure Travel Industry Richard has racked up first descents and numerous other adventures around the world. He is an author, television personality and we talk about those early days on the Omo River, the founding of Sobek and some innovative new projects he’s working on. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors I grew up on the East coast outside of Washington DC and it's not that far from a number of really profound wilderness experiences. Practically in my backyard was the Potomac River and that's really where I got started on rivers. I used to, to raft down the great falls section of the Potomac, which is a wild section in a canoe there. And then not much further, you get to add the Shenandoah's and the Appalachians and the Blue Ridge mountains. So we used to go climbing, hiking, caving. We did a lot of spelunking. So almost every weekend when I was in high school, we would take off with a group of friends we would explore the remote offerings of the region and had a blast every time. Things we talked about Richard Bangs- Keep The Quest Alive Adventures With A Purpose Richard Bangs Books Mountain Travel Sobek The Canoe Cruisers Association Ted Hatch <a href= "https://www.friendsoftheriver.org/about/for-board/john-yost-treasurer/" target="_bl
Tue, February 11, 2020
199 Dawson Westenskow: Outdoor Product Management and Sustainability Consultant
Dawson has had the opportunity to work on products including footwear, bags, device cases and more for some of the top outdoor brands and retailers in the world. Living in Bozeman provides plenty of outdoor fun and we talk about his career, education current projects and more Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors You know, it's interesting. So my family's from Oregon. Originally I was born in Washington State. But I grew up most of my life in Buffalo, New York, which is not exactly an outdoor Mecca. But there were a few things I think that I enjoyed. The first was getting involved in scouting. I was also sort of the kid who wasn't really into merit badges. Right. I just did it cause it was fun. And I was sort of the one, you know, down exploring the creek and kinda like spearfishing and doing that sort of thing. That was something that was really, I think, important for me growing up. And then the other was fly fishing. I had a friend growing up who, you know, for whatever reason, he just got into the sport. And he was fascinated with it. And so I can remember in fourth or fifth grade, convincing my parents to buy me a fly rod. And this is Buffalo, New York in the winter and going out and learning to fly cast, right? Like in the snow. But you know, that gave me a lot of opportunities later to just get out and fish and hike and backpack and do all those sorts of things. Things we talked about Utah State Outdoor Product Design Thunderbird School of Global Management Hilti Epic Pass Thule Oboz REI Other Outdoor Activities Hiking, biking, climbing, fly fishing Advice You need to have a personal story. You need
Tue, February 04, 2020
198: Brian Chaney from Korkers- Change your outdoor footwear traction on the fly
Brian Chaney from Korkers talks about his college days at St Marys, his Semester at Sea and how he wound up leading the family business. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors I was lucky enough to have parents that enjoy the outdoors, my dad especially, he's a big hunter and fisherman. So I was exposed to the outdoors very early. My mom was a pretty big skier in high school and I started to learn skiing when I was three. I think I was one of the younger ones out on the Hill at that point in time. So yeah, I was exposed to a lot of stuff at an early age and was lucky enough to have parents that would take me out fishing, hunting, and skiing and camping and all sorts of good stuff. Things we talked about Korkers St Marys College Semester at Sea Deschutes River Other Outdoor Activities Hunting, hiking, camping, skiing Advice My advice, a lot of what I've told people is that it's hard to kind of get into the industry when you don't have any experience. And a lot of brands are looking to hire people that have been in the business for several years. So I think, I guess my biggest piece of advice would be to knock on the doors of some of the smaller companies like the Korkers, where rather than just do one singular job task or role, you might be able to wear several hats and learn more about the business. Favorite Books/Podcasts</stro
Tue, January 28, 2020
197: Chris Goddard-over 40 years in Outdoor Public Relations
Chris and I talk about her career in Public Relations, how PR has changed, and the strategic role they play in their client's businesses today. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors It's a two-part story. The first part was really through skiing. I grew up in New York City and my dad took me skiing to a place close to the city. I got hooked from there and then phase two was my passion for sailing and racing sailboats. But it was really when I was young, it was probably when I was eight and I wish I could remember the name of the mountain outside of New York City. It's changed several times, but that was what really got me hooked, getting a kid out of the city into skiing. That was it and I never looked back. I still do a lot of sailing, racing big boats, here in Marblehead as well as in Newport Beach. I just find that it's a great way to lose yourself into the race and you can't think about anything else. And the other thing is no one can reach you. So it's also very physical. That combination gives me a piece of sanity when I really need it. Things we talked about SIA Friends of the Earth 1975 Clean Air Act OIA Capitol Summit Rockport Killington Resort Merrell Adidas Terrex W.L. Gore PrimaLoft <a href="https://www.niteize.com/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nore
Tue, January 21, 2020
Tom Sadler- Marine Fish Conservation Network
In this episode, Tom Sadler tells us about his tireless fisheries conservation work, fly fish guiding, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing and drops some great books on us. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE First Exposure to the Outdoors I was very fortunate to have grandparents and parents who were very outdoor-oriented. My paternal grandparents had a place on Moosehead Lake in Maine. I actually spent my first night out under canvas, as they say, in a tent on Moosehead Lake and Little Duck Cove when I was six and a half weeks old. That's a pretty good start. And you know, for the next 15, 16 years my sister and I spent half our summer up there with my paternal grandparents. Things we talked about Marine Fish Conservation Network Mossy Creek Fly Fishing Middle River Group Why I Guide Jim Range Conservation Leadership Award Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Dr. Mamie Parker The Magnuson Stevens Act IFTD Show Advice If you have a marketable skill and you love the outdoors, I think it can be very rewarding. And I would encourage people to go down the path. Small business in this country is one of the great success stories of this nation. The main street, small businesses have made a tremendous contribution both economically and socially to this country. So I would encourage small business, I think that there is tremendous va
Tue, January 14, 2020
195: Marc Bale- Farbank, Built Around an Outdoor Passion for Fly Fishing
In this episode, Marc Bale and I talk about the fall IFTD Fly Fishing Show, his experience with Sage and now Farbank Enterprises and the great brands in their quiver, and Marc shares a bit about wine pairing at a sales meeting dinner. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in a small town in Northern Michigan, and I should probably point out for any Michiganders who might be listening, the lower peninsula and the upper peninsula, that's a big differentiation there. And I grew up in a little town called Big Rapids, not grand Rapids, just 50 miles North of Grand Rapids. And frankly, the outdoors was out the front door, out the back door, out the side windows of the house and everywhere. The Muskegon River flowed right through town. We lived about maybe three blocks from the Muskegon and as a kid, that was one of my great classrooms. In fact, I think about it often still today, at 68. I think about growing up there and I think about, what really truly a classroom, the Muskegon river was for me. I spent a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot of time there doing various and sundry things. So that was really my introduction to the outdoors. Things we talked about Farbank Enterprises Sage Rio Products Redington Fly Water Travel Bruce Kirschner Don Green Patrick's Fly Shop K2 Ski Company <p sty
Tue, January 07, 2020
John LeCoq- We talk about Fishpond, Conservation, The Fly Fishing Business and more
John and I talk about how Fish Pond came to life over 20 years ago, the great product and conservation work they do, fly fishing retail and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors The outdoors for me, you know, we were just talking about our fathers and my dad who's 93, has been one of the big pieces of inspiration for me from an outdoor perspective my entire life. And I think the outdoors is something for all of us, a little bit different. Living here in Colorado and growing up in Colorado, the outside world was very vast and broad from being outdoors and fishing and skiing and biking, all the things we did as a kid. The outdoors for some people are parks and I think in the urban parks I think outdoors is a perspective and a frame of mind. Hopefully, people can enjoy being outside. And no matter what it is, it doesn't have to be an extreme sport or fly fishing or whatever. But just being outside and appreciating nature puts everybody in a good space, physically and mentally, which is really important. Things we talked about Fish Pond IFTD American Fly Fishing Trade Association Case Logic B Corps e-Commerce John LeCoq Photography A
Tue, December 31, 2019
REPLAY: Arrive- Gear rental may change the way you recreate outdoors . . . maybe it already has.
Your gear is waiting. Rachelle Snyder and Ross Richmond from Arrive Outdoors are flipping the script on outdoor gear ownership and renting. Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Ross- I think for me it was summertime. Most of my family is up in New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee. My mother's the oldest of eight in a big Catholic family and we would spend the summers together and go on to a little island on Lake Winnipesaukee and do a lot of hiking and camping. That was the culture that I was born into. Rachelle- I grew up in northern Indiana and ever since I was a baby, my mom would take us camping in Michigan. We'd go on Lake Michigan to Waco Beach and go camping just up from the beach. We'd spend our days at the beach hiking, finding creeks and playing in the water. It's really fun cause now it's come full circle. In a couple of weeks I'm going camping again with my mom, my sister and my sister's three little girls. We get to take them all camping up at Waco Beach as well. Things we talked about Arrive Outdoors Reserve America Kevin Kelly Tim Ferriss Podcast Science Inc. Mike Jones Dollar Shave Club Headspace Other Outdoor Activities Surfing, running, backpacking, camping Favorite Books/Podcasts How I Built This Up First Pod Save America This American Life Give and Take by Adam Grant The Originals by Adam Grant River of Doubt by Candace Millard</p
Tue, December 24, 2019
192: REPLAY 177 Colorado Teardrops Adventure Trailers
In this episode, Dean Wiltshire of Colorado Teardrops tells us how he transformed his boat building chops into beautiful teardrop trailers and built a nice business in Colorado. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I live in Colorado. So, it makes it easy. California. Growing up in California, we'd take these great vacations in northern California, things like that. We'd go to various, reservoirs, renting cabins and along the Russian River, that and catching fish. Then we moved out here to Colorado in the late eighties. Our sky is so blue here in the summertime, our mountains are so vibrant, the sunset, you know, that Bronco sunset, we see it almost every night. You know the deep blues, the bright oranges, it's a fabulous place to exist. Things we talked about Colorado Tear Drops Dinosaur National Monument Yellowstone Lake Glacier National Park Overland Expo GoPro Mountain Games Myers-Briggs Advice Test, test test. Look up things like lean product management, it is all about throwing something out there, see if it gets some traction. If it doesn't get some traction, understand why, how can you modify it to get traction? So when we started our business, for example, we started with a rental business. Why? So that we could get a lot of opinions on our product before we started making them for sale. So test, test, test, optimize, test, optimize, test, test, which is what we've been doing for years. Start smaller, it doesn't cost a lot to pop up a website and s
Tue, December 17, 2019
Steve Casimiro of the Adventure Journal talks about consistently delivering premium Journalism and Imagery
We’re wrapping up the year with Steve Casimiro, publisher of the Adventure Journal. Steve tells us how they produce fine journalism delivered daily through AJ. I particularly enjoyed his comments about how they stay true to their values and goals of ethical publishing and delivering inspiring stories and high-quality imagery. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors As a suburban kid, I grew up outside of Washington, DC. And in those years kids just spend more time outside. It was just, that was the lifestyle. I had a bike and I had a skateboard and there were parks and we did whatever. And I was in Boy Scouts and then when I was like 11, my parents bought this rundown cabin. And so I spent a lot of time outside there. So you know, we'd be car camping, my parents weren't super outdoorsy but we did car camping. For me everything kind of came into registration when I was, I think about 14 or 15 and I did like a mini Outward Bound course for a week or 10 days in West Virginia. We did a canoe trip on the New River and backpacking and climbing, technical rock climbing and all that. And so I was able to actually have some guided education and exposure to it and I loved it. And then I got my driver's license and you know, had a bit of money in my pocket from working and was able to get out and do things. That's where all my energy went, I was kind of self-empowered at that point. Things We Talked About Adventure Journal Outward Bound Powder Magazine Bike Magazine National Geographic Adventure Snowboarder George Mason University <a href= "https://
Tue, December 10, 2019
Sam Kabert- learn how to 10X your productivity with Virtual Assistants
Sam Kabert from the Clone Yourself podcast talks about how he triples and quadruples his productivity by cloning himself. Yes, you heard that right. his Podcast Clone Yourself is all about working with Virtual Assistants to get more done. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Clone Yourself Podcast Soul Seeker Podcast The Sam and Serge Show Mojo Mondays SwagSam Silicon Valley Business Journal 40 under 40 Introduction to the Outdoors I did and Outward Bound Course when I was in high school and it was seven days on the Deschutes River. I think it was like a hundred miles or something ridiculous, and 14 days in the Three Sisters wilderness. My parents thought it would be a good idea because I was having those teenage years where I need some structure. So, you know, it's funny on that trip. Something happened with my thumb on the rafting where I thought I jammed it. Then when we went rock climbing after, I was like, yeah, there's something wrong with my thumb but I was still rock climbing. I was just keeping my thumb out of the way and it wasn't anything too intense. But when I came back home, I went to the doctor and he's like, Oh yeah, you broke your thumb. Other Outdoor
Tue, December 03, 2019
189: Kristin Carpenter- Verde Communications, Outdoor Life, River Guiding, Podcasting and more
I’m excited to share my fun conversation with Kristin Carpenter from Verde Brand Communications. Kristin and I talk about how she built Verde into a talented team and collection of brands, her Channel Mastery Podcast, a favorite of mine and more Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Verde PR Channel Mastery Introduction to the Outdoors I had a really good friend and we were working in the art supply part of the UC Davis bookstore together. One day she came in with a flyer and said, "I'm going to go try out to be a raft guide". So I joined her and we went to guide training. It was freezing and snowing on the South fork of the American River. It was a freezing cold weekend and, but I was super excited. I knew the very second I walked into the room that night that I had found my people. I was like, okay, where have you been all my life? And so I just dove into that headlong. Other Outdoor Activities Cycling, Skiing, Running, Climbing Advice I have a nephew who is an engineer. He just got out of school and he's working in Houston in the oil and gas industry because he went to school in Houston and grew up in Houston. He is such an outdoor nut. I feel like this is the era of the side hustle, Right? So I feel like in his case if he wanted to become a ski designer, for example, he could go work at an outdoor store outside of his work hours, learn how to boot fit. I don't think it has to last forever. But then you start to meet these amazing people. You start to meet the reps. maybe you can come to a show. There's also a lot of fast track opportunities where he could start publishing content on a topic that he loves. Whatever you're into study what else is out there, study what you love that feeds you and then see what you can bring to that conversation. And don't be afraid to try because it's all about testing and learning today. There's never been more opportunity for people in the industry. And I'd like to especially call out females who are working their way up and want to take on more leadership. I think that there are a numb
Tue, November 26, 2019
Kent Millecam- Turn your Backyard and Campsite into an Outdoor Kitchen
Kent Millecam and I talk about how he got into the Outdoor Business, his career at Camp Chef and some of the new technology they are bringing to the table. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Introduction to the Outdoors My dad was great at getting me outside and he loved to snow ski and our closest ski resort, which was Steamboat Springs in Colorado. It was still two and a half hours away and my dad would get me up at five in the morning and we'd plow through the roads over to Steamboat and back the same day. In those days you could get on the gondola before the resort opened and eat breakfast at the top. The Ski Patrol would be standing there with the ropes and we'd be the first ones through when they dropped the ropes and the last ones on the last lift. So we'd ski all day long. Then we boated all summer, you know, at least two, three times a week. Water-skiing and boating and being outside. So I learned a lot of that from my dad. Things we talked about Camp Chef The Trailhead Utah State University The Mountaineer Pellet Grill Other Outdoor Activities Ski Mountain and Road Cycling Advice Ya just gotta get on the phone and you've got to talk to people. So many people are afraid to get on a call and try to call and try to reach out, you know, and I suggest you take an opportunity every chance you get to network, even sitting on an airplane. I travel quite a bit and, you know, you sit there next to somebody for two, three hours and people get on a plane and they put their headphones on and they're just in their zone or watching movies. There are definitely times you got to do that for your sanity but take an opportunity to reach out and get to know people and don't be afraid to create relationships. Favorite Books/Podcasts Albe
Tue, November 19, 2019
187: Gregg Bleakney- Outdoor Consultants WhereNext?
Gregg Bleakney and I talk about how a photo submitted to The Seattle Times launched his photo career and more on Episode 187 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Growing up I did not come from a family that was participating much, or at all in outdoor activities. Mostly we were sports family. So my weekends were spent running track and playing soccer or basketball. I think in eighth grade I got cut from the basketball team so I started exploring the outdoors just on my own with a friend who didn't play basketball. In high school when I got my first car, I actually went out and started hiking for the first time around the Olympic Penninsula. I grew up on Bainbridge Island, so there were a ton of places to go. Things we talked about Gregg Bleakney WhereNext Cycling University of Oregon track US Olympic Trials Seattle Times National Geographic Summit Workshops Rich Clarkson Bogota, Columbia The Birders: A Columbian Nature Documentary Series eBird Diego Calderon Other Outdoor Activities Cycling Hiking Advice One thing I love about this industry is that most people who are involved are involved for a reason. It's not like, this was my major in college, so I just did it, you know? You love what you do and that's just awesome because there's
Tue, November 12, 2019
Addison Edmonds and Gunner Kennels 5 Star Tested Quality Dog Crates
Addison Edmonds and I talk about how Gunner Kennels came to life, how he learned to design and build them and the safety features their kennels deliver to protect your pets. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I think just being obsessed with John Wayne movies and wanting to be a cowboy. I probably picked up my first BB gun when I was five or six and just became obsessed with fishing and hunting. It was always an obsession that I could never get enough. So it has shaped my entire direction in life. I grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee, which is just south of Nashville. It's basically Nashville. A lot of hunting fishing back there. And then went to college in Mississippi. Things we talked about Gunner Kennels Chocolate Labs Rotational Molding Center for Pet Safety Subaru of America Other Outdoor Activities Hunting, Fishing, Canoeing, and Camping Advice I'd say dream big and you just got to figure it out. You, can't quit. I think a lot of people have these great ideas for products or our company or whatever, and it dies after step one of trying to figure out what to do after that. So you just can't quit. I guess you gotta be ignorant of all the risks and just be prepared for the hard work. Favorite Books/Podcasts British Trainin
Tue, November 05, 2019
185: Revenue River- How Outdoor digital marketing and sales innovation can help you reach more consumers.
Michael and I talk about how online digital marketing and sales innovation are tactics that help businesses reach more consumers and grow sales & engagement. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I mean growing up my family was not terribly outdoorsy. I'm from as Burbsy of a community, as you can imagine in Texas. So, outside of a mall and a bowling alley, there wasn't a lot of exposure or anything like that. There was a Creek we would play in as kids, but that's it. What set the hook for the outdoors, the business and just my general passion for it was through my Mom. My mom got this wild idea. She's a triathlete, iron man level, all that kind of crazy stuff. She just called me up one day when I was in college and said, " Hey, we're going to go climb Pikes Peak ". And I'm like, all right, that sounds like fun. And 13 miles later and some altitude sickness, I was hooked on it. So it started pretty quickly there and I haven't been able to slow down since. Things we talked about Revenue River Schedule a call with Michael " we say is we make our clients money " " we're a full-service shop. And I know that's kind of a cliche thing to say, but really everything from systems integration, sales systems, eCommerce stores, website design, advertising, multimedia, paid media, SEO, digital marketing with content and all the strategy that ties it all together " CRM architecture (customer relationship management) Marketing Automation E-Commerce Other Outdoor Activities Backpacking, Hunting, Skiing Advice You really need to get with the times' folks. It's time to get your technology in order. And if you're not paying
Tue, October 29, 2019
184: Happy Camper Radio- how the Podcast came to life, outdoor stories and more!
Skip, Daniel and I talk about how they got into podcasting, the great advice they provide on their show, camp stories and more Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Skip- My first experience with the outdoors was in the backyard with my dad. It was a really nice spring or summer evening, a very clear sky, lots of stars in the sky. And we just laid there, not on sleeping bags, but we had blankets and our pillows and we just laid there. And it was a great father-son experience. We just enjoyed the outdoors. We talked, we fell asleep and I think I was about 12 years old at that time. But that was my very first exposure to the outdoors and ever since that day, I've loved every minute of it. Daniel- I like to say that I was camping before I was born. My parents used to take this big old tent down to this state park in Georgia called FDR state park. And they would set up their tent and camp. There are a few pictures of my mom when she was pregnant with me. But once I came around you'll see pictures of me and my little crib and stuff over by the Lake. And we w we would go there every spring, I think I learned to ride my bike there. I would always be running off into the back trails into the woods. I would just like going into the woods. I always felt like, Oh, I could go down this path and maybe there's something, I don't know, like, a pot of gold. Things we talked about Happy Camper Radio Happy Camper YouTube FM Radio Podcasting- anybody can do it right? But you've got to have something to talk about and it's got to be something that is very close to your heart. GeoCaching Happy Camper Episode #10 Other Outdoor Activities Mow the lawn Swimming Outdoor Games Advice For folks that want to get into podcasting, start out small, have something to talk about first before you even spend a dime on a microphone cable. Think about what you're going to talk about and it's g
Tue, October 22, 2019
Outdoor and Adventure, Podcasting and more with Kraig Becker and Dave Adlard
Kraig, Dave and I talked about the outdoor and adventure travel industries, podcasting, their numerous adventures and much, much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Kraig - it was totally by accident. About a 12 and a half years ago, I started a little blog called the adventure blog, just to write about the things that I was interested in. From this idea that everything in the world had been done. Everest had been climbed, people had been to the North pole and I was telling my friends, no, it's not true. There's lots of cool stuff going on. So I started this little blog and over the span of about a year, year and a half, it started to pick up some traction. I'd write about my own adventures and travels, but also things that other people were doing. And here we are, a more than a decade later, the blog is still going. Dave - I went about it completely the other way. I was always a doer. I did my first iron man when I was 50, I taught mountaineering and did all kinds of crazy stuff. I got into adventure racing kind of by accident. Basically we saw this show on Eco-Challenge Borneo, gosh, 10 years or so ago. A buddy and I were running at Farragut state park here and I said, you know, I saw this eco Borneo thing. I'm going to do an adventure race. I said, I mean, how hard could it be? And he said, great, I'm in. So we started attending these races and of course made the fatal mistake. We actually won our first race through a weird set of circumstances. And of course, then you're hooked. Things we talked about The Adventure Podcast The Adventure Podcast Episode 71: An Interview with Rick Saez of the Outdoor Biz Podcast Kraig's book: Reaching Beyond Boundaries , Overcomi
Tue, October 15, 2019
182: Camping and blogging with Tenting Life Outdoor Author & Blogger Darren Kirby
Darren tells us how he was introduced into the outdoors, how he got into blogging and his unique recipe books. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I was exposed to the outdoors, thankfully by my parents at a very young age. My brothers and I were introduced to the outdoors camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, all sorts of outdoor activities. So I got introduced to that at a very young age. We're talking like elementary school, single-digit years old. It's been with me pretty much since I was born. Things we talked about The Tenting Life Happy Camper Radio Wisconsin State Parks Pie Iron Recipes Dutch Oven Recipes Tin Foil Recipes The Best Tent Camping Guide Coordinates for Murder Other Outdoor Activities Cycling Paddling Hiking Advice I think the main thing is to have a passion for it. I've seen a lot of people who want to start a blog about X, whatever that might be. Maybe it's the outdoors, maybe it's auto repair. But really they need to have a big passion for it. Where when you're not doing your day job, you're thinking about how can I do this thing that I love to do, whether that's doing it with friends or going out by yourself or exploring a
Tue, October 08, 2019
Mason Gravely talks about his passion for cycling and the Adventure Sports Podcast
Mason talks about his many outdoor adventures, the Camp Crate project, how he got involved in podcasting and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Mason talks about his many outdoor adventures, the Camp Crate project, how he got involved in podcasting and more. Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors In college. I was born and raised in Florida and what people may not know a lot about Florida is it there's a huge hunting culture. Deer hunting, Wild hogs called Razorbacks, turkeys, lots of turkeys, just all kinds of hunting. I'm telling you man, tons of people do it, at least where I'm from. So I grew up doing that and fishing as well. Then in college, I just started getting into the more of the sporting side. I decided to do a big bike trip between sophomore and junior year. A big bike tour across the country and just fell in love from there and kept doing it every summer. And just like the roads across the country, your career takes a lot of strange winding, exciting turns. Things we talked about The Adventure Sports Podcast Camp Crate Ep. 439: From Alcoholic to an Alaska Adventure Revisited - Robert Shearon Other Outdoor Activities Backpacking, Bike Packing, Kayaking Advice You gotta be flexible and this is not everyone's story. Some people are going to have a great opportunity quickly, just happened to have a knack for it. But in my experience, I've had to be flexible, very flexible and extremely patient. And work very hard. Favorite Books/Podcasts John Brent by Theodore Winthrop <stron
Tue, October 01, 2019
180: Seungah and John from MPOWERD on provide lighting after natural disasters.
Seungah Jeong and John Salzinger tell us about working together, how they help provide lighting after natural disasters, unique partnerships they have and a lot more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Seungah: My first introduction to the Outdoor Biz was the OR Show. I remember the first show I attended, we just had one small table and, were in some back section of OR. But it was still so much fun because everyone who came by was really engaged with what we're doing. Now we're thrilled to be in a much bigger space behind Yeti, which is a nice place. Things we talked about MPOWERD Luci Light Kickboxing Katadyn Osprey The North Face No Evil Foods Hello Kitty Cliff Amazon Advice We just have to look for challenges that people face and come up with honest solutions. The cool thing about the outdoor industry is that people are always looking for the next newest, coolest, latest solution that is also environmentally correct, which is nice. So I do think there's a lot out there that still can be improved upon. Go camping, go rafting, go skiing, et Cetera, and see what bumps you come across and see if you can figure out a way for people to avoid those.
Tue, September 24, 2019
179: Shawn Hostetter- Katadyn provides clean drinking water and innovative adventure products.
I was able to catch up with Shawn Hostetter from Katadyn awhile back and we talked about the great work they are doing providing clean drinking water around the world and some of their cool outdoor products. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in Colorado and spent a lot of time in the woods growing up, biking and skiing and hiking. I spent a lot of time and love being outdoors ever since I was a kid. My Dad was a cowboy. Cowboys you know, he had a cattle ranch, with cattle and horses. So I grew up like that. When I was going to BYU I applied to an outdoor store when I first got there, called Out and Back. Chris Speak and I worked there together at outback and were selling water filters and a lot of other things. We were the number one store in the nation selling water filters and water purifiers. Things we talked about Katadyn BYU Out N Back Pur Alpine Aire Optimus Steripen Spectra Watermakers Solar Desalination NASA World Health Organization Mpowerd Advice I love to help people that are looking
Tue, September 17, 2019
178: Shelby Stanger- We talk Journalism, Podcasting, Adventure and more . . .
Shelby Stanger tells us how she got into journalism, her outdoor biz experience with brands like Vans and plenty more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in San Diego and I grew up surfing. So my first experience with the outdoors was really through the water. And every summer my mom sent me to this amazing summer camp called Mission Bay Aquatic Center. My father had passed away suddenly when I was 11 and so after that my mom was, you know, a single mom. She taught at San Diego state and this camp was discounted if you were an employee of San Diego state. It's an incredible camp. In the morning you sail, you Waterski Kayak or you surf and then in the afternoon you do all those activities. So I was really lucky. I grew up around the water. I think in the water it was a place where I figured out a lot of answers I could never figure out on land. Things we talked about Shelby Stanger Wild Ideas Worth Living Mission Bay Aquatic Center La Jolla Village News Surf Diva Vans Warped Tour Outside Magazine shopeatsurf.com Outdoor Outreach Box Union Creative Mornings Advice I just gave a talk at this place called creative mornings about how to turn yo
Tue, September 10, 2019
177: Colorado Teardrops- Dean Wiltshire tells how they build beautiful outdoor trailers
On this episode Dean Wiltshire of Colorado Teardrops tells how he transformed his boat building chops into beautiful teardrop trailers and built nice business in Colorado. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I live in Colorado. So, it makes it easy. California. Growing up in California, we'd take these great vacations in northern California, things like that. We'd go to various, reservoirs, renting cabins and along the Russian River, that and catching fish. Then we moved out here to Colorado in the late eighties. Our sky is so blue here in the summertime, our mountains are so vibrant, the sunset, you know, that Bronco sunset, we see it almost every night. You know the deep blues, the bright oranges, it's a fabulous place to exist. Things we talked about Colorado Tear Drops Dinosaur National Monument Yellowstone Lake Glacier National Park Overland Expo GoPro Mountain Games Myers-Briggs Advice Test, test test. Look up things like lean product management, it is all about throw something out there, see if it gets some traction. If it doesn't get some traction, understand why, how can you modify it to get traction? So when we started our business, for example, we started with a rental business. Why? So that we could get a lot of opinions on our product before we started making them for sale. So test, test, test, optimize, test, optimize, test, test, which is what we've been doing for years. Start smaller, it doesn't cost a lot to pop up a website and say, Hey, I'm selling this and just measure your traffic. But test, see what kind of hits you get and keep tweaking, tweaking it until you start to get hits. And of co
Tue, September 03, 2019
176: Roofnest- A tent installed on a adventure van rooftop started the rooftop tent biz
Tim Nickles and I talk about how he was initially inspired to put a tent on top of his van and how that concept has evolved into a business and category of tents in the outdoor and camping space. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in Alaska, so it wasn't far away. I grew up in a typical neighborhood with grid rectangular streets and walk to school and stuff. But I mean the woods were a few blocks away from my house. So pretty much grew up playing in the woods. And my folks were not super outdoorsy, but just being Alaskans, they were actually, I'd say compared to lower 48, they were super outdoorsy. It's more of a lifestyle up there. You have to be into it cause it's in your face. That's what you do. Everybody is talking about the outdoors, you know, fishing, hunting, etc. My Dad wasn't a hunter but we did plenty of fishing and lots of camping around that and some hiking. I mean there's so much to explore in Alaska. Things we talked about Roofnest The Adventure Portal Facebook Group- Roofnest Flock Red Rocks Rendezvous Dometic Advice The advice I would give is to be on the lookout for ways to be of service, for ways to improve things. There are lots of ways to get involved and I think a lot of it is getting involved, volunteering. If you work at a company try to learn more about other aspects of the company so you can see where you can insert yourself. That's not always welcome of course but show that initiative to get into other aspects of the company you work in or use your connections to find out other opportunities. A certain percentage of life is just showing up, and it's true. If you have a lot of initiative people will see that and, and it will open doors. Other Outdoor Activities Mtn Biking Paddle Bo
Tue, August 27, 2019
175: Granite Gear- Outdoor Bags, Boundary Waters and more with Rob Coughlin from Granite Gear
I jumped on a call with Rob Coughlin from Granite Gear the other day. We talked about his transition from Luggage and bags to the Outdoor Biz and tremendous success Granite Gear has had recently. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors My career is little different from a lot of people out there. I actually didn't even go to college. I started working at a luggage company at a very early age. I started working in the repair center, so I got to know the ins and outs of putting together luggage, which is maybe, a bit more intense in some cases than outdoor packs because there's a lot more hardware involved. But I really just learned the nitty gritty of operations. So as far as bags not only hard sided but soft sided bags too. So I worked in operations most of my youth. Things we talked about Granite Gear Crown2 60 TravelPro High Sierra Samsonite Biscayne National Park Everglades National Park Bass Pro Shops Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness REI 40 under 40 Warrior Expeditions Episode Sponsor <a href="https://tribealpha
Tue, August 20, 2019
174: Julie and Henry Mosier are making fresh, healthy food for your next backcountry adventure
I recently spoke with Julie and Henry Mosier from Food for the Sole. They tell us about their journey starting, operating and making fresh, healthy backpacking food. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Julie - I actually grew up camping and backpacking with my parents. I grew up in southwestern Washington and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest was basically our backyard. I didn't actually enjoy backpacking but I remember camping as early as six or seven. I think my dad did a lot of Solo backpacking. I have fond memories of camping and fishing and so forth. Henry - I grew up in Bend, which is now pretty widely known as a major outdoor Mecca. We have the benefit of all kinds of biking, climbing, fishing, kayaking, literally like every kind of outdoor activity within five to 20 minutes. I didn't do any of it until about the age of 19. I played a lot of video games and spent very, very little time outside. Upon returning to Bend from a trip to Australia I had a friend I had previously worked with who introduced me to rock climbing and it was kind of just game over from there. Everything changed, a couple of years later I learned how to ski and how to mountain bike the next year. I don't know, it just changed my mind, political circles and everything, Things we talked about Food for the Sole John Muir Trail Pacific Crest Trail Cold Soaking Simon Sinek Ted Talk Start with Why Why by Simon Sinek Episode Sponsor Tribe Alpha Advice J
Tue, August 13, 2019
173: Sarah Smith tells us how easy it is to find your next outdoor campsite with The Dyrt
I caught up with Sarah Smith from The Dyrt recently and on this episode we talk about how she and her husband got the inspiration to create The Dyrt, their tremendous growth and some of the interesting gamification techniques they use to engage consumers. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in northern Minnesota and if I say that enough, you'll hear the accent come out. But I grew up with fishing. My dad hunted and we did lots of camping as a kid. My dad was actually a teacher, so in the summer is we would spend time driving around lake superior smelting. They're little tiny fish that almost look like minnows and I just have vague memories of it. I think we did this at night and we'd be standing on a little stream and the smelt would go up river and you'd hold out a little net and catch the smelt. Then we'd go cook them up, just fry them up. And I remember thinking, Oh, I want to go to Disney World or do something more exciting than this. And now looking back at it, you know, it was pretty special way to grow up. Things we talked about The Dyrt Primus Stoves Gregory Packs Episode Sponsor Tribe Alpha Advice I would say people ask me often, what was the hardest part of doing The Dyrt, especially someone was not necessarily your typical tech startup entrepreneur right? I think my advice is just to do something. tThat was the hardest part to go from nothing to actually taking some action to start doing something, was really hard. But if you believe that you can make a difference and you have an idea, that's good. And it's a problem that needs to be solved, just follow that. Entrepreneurs, we come in all shapes and sizes and different sorts and there's no one size fits all. So, you know, I don't look like any other tech startup founder in Portland for sure. So just go with your gut and give it a try. Other Outdoor Activities Hiking Snowshoeing Yoga
Tue, August 06, 2019
Trail Fork Creates Real Food for your Backcountry Adventures
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
Tue, July 30, 2019
171: Michael Dalzell- SAXX has hit the ground running in the Men's performance adventure underwear
Fun conversation with Michael Dalzell from SAXX today. We talk about his outdoor exploits, how SAXX has hit the ground running in the Men's performance underwear category and his daughter drops in to say hi . . . Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I'm a skier and sort of came into it through the skiing angle. I grew up in Eastern Canada. I live close to a ski hill and used to ride my bike there after school every day and then came up through the competitive skiing world. That flourished into me becoming a passionate outdoor enthusiast. You know, mountain biking, skiing, hiking, climbing, wind surfing. Outdoors has been a huge part of my life since I was 10 years old. I purposely turned it into a career. I made intentional choices in terms of my job to pursue that. Things we talked about SAXX Trent Kitsch Ballpark Pouch Hap Klopp Episode Sponsor Tribe Alpha Advice A big piece of advice that I give people is follow your passions and do what you love to do. When you do that, others successes will come. Do what you're passionate about and don't chase the money, chase what's making you happy and other things will come. Other Outdoor Activities Ski, mountain bike, trail run Favorite Books/Podcasts The first 90 by Michael Watkins How I built this Favorite Piece of Gear under $100 Bottle opener C
S4 E170 · Tue, July 23, 2019
Arrive- Gear rental may change the way you recreate outdoors . . . maybe it already has.
Your gear is waiting. Rachelle Snyder and Ross Richmond from Arrive Outdoors are flipping the script on outdoor gear ownership and renting. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Ross- I think for me it was a summertime. Most of my family is up in New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee. My mother's the oldest of eight in a big Catholic family and we would spend the summers together and go on to a little island on Lake Winnipesaukee and do a lot of hiking and camping. That was the culture that I was born into. Rachelle- I grew up in northern Indiana and ever since I was a baby, my mom would take us camping in Michigan. We'd go on Lake Michigan to Waco Beach and go camping just up from the beach. We'd spend our days at the beach hiking, finding creeks and playing in the water. It's really fun cause now it's come full circle. In a couple of weeks I'm going camping again with my mom, my sister and my sister's three little girls. We get to take them all camping up at Waco Beach as well. Things we talked about Arrive Outdoors Reserve America Kevin Kelly Tim Ferriss Podcast Science Inc. Mike Jones Dollar Shave Club Headspace Other Outdoor Activities Surfing, running, backpacking, camping Favorite Books/Podcasts How I Built This Up First <a href="https://c
S4 E169 · Tue, July 16, 2019
Adam Donahue from Dometic talks about Vehicle Supported Adventure
Adam Donahue Business Director over at Dometic and I had a great conversation about Dometic's business and how Overlanding or Vehicle Supported Adventure is growing and providing unique retail opportunities for Outdoor retailers. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up sailing and was fortunate enough to get a job working in the marketing department of a small roof rack and truck rack company called Track Rack. That company was acquired by Thule, which led me into a path of the core outdoors. I quickly found my way into cycling, surfing and mountain biking. I really dove sort of head first into the outdoor industry in a more significant way. There wasn't a sport that I wouldn't try at least once and I sort of became obsessed and filled my garage up with gear. Things we talked about Dometic Dometic Ambassadors Thule The Adventure Portal Other Outdoor Activities Surfing and Cycling Advice, tips The key in the Outdoor Industry is it is an incredibly friendly community. I think being a little bit bold and reaching out to people and asking for connections and advice to me is really the easiest, quickest and most resourceful way of establishing some of that tribal connection. It's a little insular too in that people shift from one company straight the other. If you're in the Tent category, there's a dozen Tent companies that you can go to. People also tend to spend their careers in the outdoor industry. One, I think they're passionate about it, but two, there's just lots of opportunities for growth. So I would say for people that are interested in it, certainly taking advantage of internship opportunities. Internships is something that we're actually working on at the Dometic, developing something that allows college students to get more involved in our business and provide opportunities for awareness. I would
S4 E168 · Tue, July 09, 2019
168: Mel Mogil from California Innovations, outdoor coolers and some great technology
Mel showed me some of the great new products in their Arctic Zone line and in this episode we talk about how they’ve grown over the years and the role Dogs play in their culture . . . yes dogs, I love it. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I went to summer camp at a pretty early age, like seven. I grew up in Montreal, and north of Montreal is the mountain range called the Lawrentians, which is really quite beautiful. And I remember thinking at the time, and you know, here you have a bunch of seven and eight year olds canoeing down some beautiful river surrounded by mountains, I remember kids don't typically don't notice or comment and really appreciate nature at that age, but we did because it was just so spectacular. Things we talked about California Innovations Arctic Zone Microban Antimicrobial Protection Ice Walls Colorectal Cancer Canada Mont Tremblant Other Outdoor Activities Roller blade, Paddleboard, Hiking Advice, tips Love what you do, if you don't love what you do it's hard to be successful at it. I'm sure if you think about people who are successful most often, not always, but most often they love what they do. I think it's hard to succeed if you don't. So if you love the outdoors that's a great start. I would say my other piece of advice, I'm sure it's come through here is appreciate and honor the people that you work. Because that's the only way that they're going to be aligned. And the only way that you can be successful is always about the people. We have to remember that and respect that. So if you put it together and you get good people and you do the things that you love and you go attack the mark
S4 E167 · Tue, June 25, 2019
167: Barbless.co- Chad, Nick and I talk about how Barbless came to life, fly fishing, adventure and plenty more.
If you’re into fly fishing or want to get into it you’ll love this episode with Chad Alderson and Nick Hanna, the guys over at Barbless.co. We talk about the great content they’re creating thru their podcast and web resources. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Nick-I feel like I've been living and breathing the outdoors since I could walk. My Dad was just super into it. I have pretty good memory and I can remember just being out on little creeks and stuff. One incident I was fishing for trout on this stream and hooking into some fish and he's always been kind of letting me, on my own. Since I was a little kid, man, we've been fishing, hiking, camping, you know, going to Eagle Lake and camping out and fishing for rainbows. Outdoors have definitely been a big part of my life and always will be. I just had a son. He's six months old and I got a backpack for carrying him. I'm just waiting for his head to stop bobbing when I carry him so I can get him out. Chad- I lived in the middle of a rice field for a long time. And so kind of by default I'd walk out my back door and there's nothing but rice patties. So the outdoors were kind of used as a form of punishment for me and I got in trouble a lot as a kid, so I had to do a lot of manual labor. After living in the Bay Area for about 10 years I got back up here and I was like, well what the heck am I going to do? Cause I didn't really have any hobbies or anything. So I started getting into fly fishing cause my dad took me when I was a little kid. We'd camp once in awhile and that was my exposure to it at first. But I didn't have a ton. It definitely wasn't part of my life. And up until shoot three years ago, three and a half years ago, I didn't really hadn't touched a fly rod in 20 plus years. Things we talked about Barbless.co Alaska Seth Blackamore Powertrip Kleen Kanteen AFFTA IFTD Trade Show <a href="https://flyfish
S4 E166 · Tue, June 18, 2019
166: Jason Waicunas- How PCT Days became a multi-day outdoor gathering of hikers celebrating the Pacific Crest Trail
In this episode Jason Waicunas tells us how PCT Days grew from a small group of hikers hanging out swapping stories into an annual multi day event with hundreds of PCT hikers. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I was fortunate to grow up in the woods of Connecticut where we had pretty good acreage on our property. We had a three and a half acre lot that segued into a state park called Penwood State Park. There were a number of hiking trails to go explore and at a pretty young age I was allowed to go free range. This was before tracking devices and cell phones and leashes and all that stuff you see now. But I was about 10 years old when I went on my first outing with best friend. We trudged through like a foot of snow and hiked like three to four miles, which was a lot for a 10 year. It was a lot of fun and I was fortunate to have that. Things we talked about PCT Days Penwood State Park Pacific Crest Trail Pacific Crest Trail Association ALDHA-WEST The Appalachian Trail Cascade Locks Friends of the Gorge Washington Trails Association Pacific Northwest Trail Association Oregon Desert Trail Association Chinook Trail Association Other Outdoor Activities Photography Favorite Books <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Dharma-Bums-Jack-Kerouac/
S4 E165 · Tue, June 11, 2019
165: Oru Kayak, Ardy Sobhani- designing folding kayaks and building a outdoor business through crowdfunding
In this episode Ardy Sobhani talks about his first camping adventures as a kid in Iran, the inspiration and lunch of Oru Kayak. We also discuss how he and the Oru Team built the business, using Crowdfunding to launch products and he drops two great books on us! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoor I'm originally from Iran, so we used to go to the northern area of Iran where it is very forested and mountainous and the Caspian Sea is up there. So we used to go there and camp. It is beautiful and as a kid I just kind of got into it. We used to go hiking a lot and climbing and things like that. Since then I've always been into outdoor activities, camping . . . just being outdoors. Things we talked about Oru Kayak USE CODE "OUTDOORBIZ15" for 15% OFF your new Oru Kayak and send us a picture of you paddling. Origami Robert Lang Kickstarter Indiegogo One Percent for The Planet Other Outdoor Activities Climbing Skiing Advice, tips One thing is that don't think it's all glamour, it's hard work. Especially in the outdoor business, the industry very small. But I think there's a lot of opportunity for you to innovate and come up with something interesting and different. Something more impactful. I also think it is really fulfilling to get people out side and connect people to the outdoors. Once we understand where that connection comes from I think people will be more likely to conserve nature. Favorite Books Principles by Ray Dalio <a href= "https:/
S4 E164 · Tue, June 04, 2019
Len Necefer-Len talks about connecting to the land, Colorado-based outdoor apparel company Natives Outdoors 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 Mom's side of the family is from the Navajo nation. So my Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles had what we call the summer and a winter camp. But basically they were places that they would move the sheep between during different seasons. So the summer during the summer camp was up in the mountains where it was I would say about 9,000 feet, a lot cooler and with a lot more grass. Then they moved down into the valleys in the winter time in the fall. We would often go between those two places. So that was in Northeastern Arizona and the Chisca Mountains. I also grew up a good chunk of my life in Lawrence, Kansas. There's not much public land there, but I remember going out to Clinton Lake. Which is a big man made reservoir and there's a few trails and stuff around there. Things we talked about Natives Outdoors Certified B Corporation Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Welcome to Gwichyaa Zhee Other Outdoor Activities Climbing Skiing Advice, tips I'm working in academia right now, but I often see the value in which education can provide and providing the skills ets and necessary tools for folks that want to engage in outdoor stuff. But what I've seen in my experience of education is that that has not been the case in that its not been presented as an option. The sort of pathways in which folks can engage in the outdoor space is not created on the academic side. And that's something I want to engage in. But you know, the prevailing notion within academia that I've been blowing up is, oh, it's just people playing outside. And of course that's an element of it, but then there's the component of the public health connection to land, larger environmental stewardship. The people that spend time outdoors is where environmental stewards come from. So I think looking at what training you can get in repurposing tools that you might get in higher education to serve that, to serve those roles of playing outside. Tryin
S4 E163 · Tue, May 28, 2019
163: Paul Fish-We talk about how he grew Mountain Gear into an iconic Outdoor Shop
Paul Fish of Mountain Gear tells us some great stories about the early days of the Outdoor Biz when people would send you a few packs and let you pay when you sold them, times have changed eh? Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors As a young kid, my family did a little bit of hiking and fishing staying at the resorts in the Sierras, but I don't really consider that my start. My start was the high school I went to in Danville, California. We had an outdoor program that required a three week outward bound like experience and a lot of activities leading up to it. I started rock climbing there on Mount Diablo and that's really where I fell in love with climbing and the outdoors. Things we talked about Mountain Gear Sunrise Mountaineering Dealing Down Target Surplus Class Five Blue Puma Snow Lion Columbia A16 Red Rock Rendezvous Access Fund Veterans Community Response Other Outdoor Activities Mountain Biking, Road Biking, Sea Kayaking, Skiing, Climbing, Pack Rafting, Scuba Diving Advice, tips I tell folks to be careful how they follow their passion. There's two ways to get into the outdoors. You can get a job in a field that you're passionate about, and you might be surprised if the consequences. In terms of the time you spend outside. Or you can get the job that, not that you hate, but the job do you enjoy that allows you to do the things you're passionate about. Like the out doors. Teachers for example get a decent amount of time off and can spend it outdoors. So be careful what you choose. Favorite Books Small Time Operator by Kamoroff C.P.A. Bernard B. <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Growing-
S4 E162 · Tue, May 21, 2019
162: Joan & Bill Keller- The beginnings of Adventure Travel retail, surviving the early days of Amazon and more
Are you in the Adventure Retail biz? Joan and Bill Keller offer tips and advice on surviving thru the early days of online competition and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I think for both of us it was family. In my case, my parents moved from Minnesota to San Diego when I was two years old and my sister was seven. For as long as I can remember, every summer we drove to Minnesota. I have many, many cousins in Minnesota and we would drive to Minnesota. My parents would call it driving straight. No stopping, 2000 miles straight thru. Like Joan, it started with family camping. We'd go to Anza Borrego and down to La Mission and San Quintin in Mexico and it was hard to get down there back then. But we also did a lot of longer trips to Yellowstone, Vancouver island. I can still see my Mom standing over the Coleman stove. Things we talked about Le Travel Store "Get off your seats and see the world club" Student Services West German American Society Michelin Travel Guides Eagle Creek Dolt American Tourister Delsey Let's Go Europe Horton Plaza Adventure 16 (Wild Horizons) Changes in Latitude Other Outdoor Activities Hiking Advice, tips Know your customer because you can't be everything to everyone. You've got to choose exactly. Really know what that customer needs. And you have to be a brand because brands are ubiquitous these days and you can't rely on them like you could 20 years ago to know, to be exclusive. It's not happening. So you've got to build your own brand. Favorite Books/Podcasts Midnight Series In Our Time Podcast <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Uttermost-Part-Earth-Lucas-Bridges/dp/1585679569/ref=sr_1_1?ke
S4 E161 · Tue, May 14, 2019
161: Shanti Hodges of Hike it Baby talks about starting and operating an outdoor non-profit.
Shanti Hodges drops plenty of insight into starting and operating a non profit on this episode. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I think really, just from the very beginning, my parents were always outside. I grew up in rural Canada as a little kid and so we were outside a lot. And then as I got older I moved to Eugene, Oregon, and that's a very outdoorsy town. So, you know, I was around at the beginning of mountain biking and I had a mountain bike club that I started in my high school when I was 15. I always loved being outside and it was always something I felt like I could do and I didn't feel pressure like I felt with other sports. Things we talked about Hike It Baby Transworld Snowboarding Men's Journal Newsweek Outdoor Retailer SIA ASR Health Watch Snowboarding Online Jose Gonzalez, Latino Outdoors Mirna Valerio American Hiking Society National Park Trust Leave No Trace Adventure Mamas Other Outdoor Activities Mtn Biking, Paddling, Surfing Advice, tips Look for people that you admire. I would say actually join the organization and just start. Go in and learn about it, take our training program and learn all about us and how we run our whole program and doing it. Do the work and learn about it. Don't just ask someone to feed you the information show you. We have a training program and if you were starting a nonprofit or you're starting an organization like ours, join our organization and shadow it for six months and let us know you're doing it. I would love people to start the organizations in ways we do. Favorite Books <a href= "https://www
S4 E160 · Tue, May 07, 2019
160: Kay Henry-Tells us about starting an outdoor business from scratch, leverage key lucky moments and more
Kay Henry is an entrepreneur with a focus on outdoor recreation in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She was a co- founder of Mad River Canoe. Kay delivered a lifetime of outdoor biz knowledge in this episode. She talks about starting and growing your business from scratch, the importance of luck and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Kay Henry delivered a lifetime of outdoor biz knowledge in this episode. First Exposure to the Outdoors Growing up, my family had a summer home on Cape Cod, so I grew up swimming, sailing, waterskiing. I was kind of a total water rat. I didn't get much camping experience as they didn't like sleeping outdoors, but I did do girl scouts, summer camp and then in college got credit to camping. I went to camp when I was younger and my first outdoor job actually was a camp counselor when I was in college. I taught in a French kids summer camp. That's where I learned to be fluent in French. Things we talked about Mad River Canoe Walt Blackadar Confluence Watersports Northern Forest Canoe Trail National Park Service RTCA program Mountaineers Books International Women's Forum Maggie Hogan Advice, tips I would encourage people to think about networking as a key component of any personal development strategy. Another one might be authenticity. So again, that's a strength to develop, which is going to require some personal experience, time spent in the outdoors. And I think it's really important if you're goi
S4 E159 · Tue, April 30, 2019
Greg Thomsen-Blending Business, Adventure and the Outdoors
Super fun conversation with Greg Thomsen of Agron, we talk about his outdoor experience, winding down the Adidas Outdoor US business 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 father was a bit of an outdoorsman who really liked the high sierra towns. So my brother and I spent most of our summers growing up just doing that. We would generally spend weeks at a time up in Mammoth camping and hiking and fishing around the mammoth lakes area. And then I think when I was 13, I did my first free solo climb of a little Crag called Crystal Craig, which is above mammoth lakes. With my brother. It was not very difficult, probably low fifth class or even fourth class, but it was really exposed and I got kind of excited about it over the next few years. By the time I was 15 I was doing multi pitch climbs in Yosemite and really interested in the outdoor world and also an outdoor equipment. Things we talked about Agron ( Adidas US ) The Mountain Store in Tarzana (A16) Wilderness Experience Nike The North Face Patagonia Girl Disrupted by Claire Thomsen Doug Tompkins Bill Simon Yvonn Chouinard American Alpine Club John Long Dream Meditation Advice, tips My best advice is that if yo
S4 E157 · Tue, April 23, 2019
157: JD Platt- Owner, Trainer, Pro Snowboarder, Adventure seeker and so much more
Entertaining conversation with JD Platt, the man is prolific. We talk about his Pro Snowboard career, his numerous ventures including the K9 Kings Flying Dog Show, JD SUP, AppWEAR, Adriatic Adventure Academy and more. Inspiration and nuggets here for everyone. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Well, I definitely have a lot from my parents growing up. I started skiing when I was three years old. I grew up in a military family, third generation military brat. I was born in Camp Lejeune North Carolina on a military base and we got shipped out to Hawaii and Boise. Dad was a captain in the Marine Corps. Eventually we got over to Yakima. But when we lived over in Boise, my parents were very active and athletic growing up and mom was really involved with horses and sports and dad was the super jock of just anything and everything. Things we talked about K9 Kings Flying Dog Show Owner / Founder / Trainer Insta: @jdsk9kings FB: @k9kings www.k9kings.com jd@k9kings.com JD SUP Owner / Founder Insta: @jdsup FB: @jdpaddleboards www.jdsup.com jd@jdsup.com AppWEAR Chief of Comfort Insta: @appwearinc FB: @appwear www.appwear.us jdplatt@appwear.us Adriatic Adventure Academy Investor / Guide of Fun Insta: @adriatic.academy FB: @adriaticadventureacademy www.adriaticacademy.com D•Curve Optics Team MultiTasker / Social Media IG: @d_curve FB: @dcurve www.dcurve.com Professional Old School Snowboarder Insta: @jdplattssnowlife Mount Bachelor Ski Education Foundation Advice, tips You betcha. You know, a big thing for me is your dreams can come true. It takes a lot of hard work and passion. I guess I'm a living example of pursuing some careers that just, a
S4 E158 · Tue, April 16, 2019
158: Replay with Mary Iannotti Outdoor Digital Marketing Deva
In this episode Mary Iannotti aka the digital marketing deva drops some terrific learnings on us from her project with the Colorado Sierra Club. There is something in here for everyone. Be sure to check the show notes for links to some of her great resources too. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I've been a recreation junkie all my life. I started out by playing in the woods in the hood. I'd go out and we'd ride our bikes in the woods, hike around and we'd go and explore the forts that my brother and his friends put up and climb the trees and do all that kind of fun stuff. And then I got into team sports. I played field hockey and I played ultimate Frisbee for a really long time and when I was in college I took my first backpacking trip. I hung out with friends that really love to hike and they turned me on to this place called Letchworth State Park in New York. We'd escaped to Letchworth on the weekends and explore. It's a beautiful park. It's got waterfalls and a really cool gorge like a mini grand canyon. I think it was like those days that I hung out in Letchworth that really solidified the fact that I wanted to be in the outdoors as much as possible. I sort of got this wanderlust where, you know, I thought about it back in college, like I really want to bust out, go to the West because the outdoors there is incredible and it's just so beautiful and that really changed kind of my life. Things we talked about https://digitalmarketingdeva.com/cro-strategies/ Letchworth State Park Sierra Club Colorado Bears Ears Insight Timer Kristin Carpenter Ogden- Channel Mastery Podcast Copywriter Club podcast Rob Marsh and Kira Hug Advice, tips I would say create relationships with people, go to events, reach out, get to know people. I think a big thing is just b
S4 E156 · Tue, April 09, 2019
Ryan Lilly from Johnson Outdoors Living the outdoor life
Ryan Lilly of Johnson Outdoors talks about being raised in the outdoors, how he got into the Outdoor Industry, the fun he has developing water sports product for Johnson and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I think by default being raised in Maine, you are pretty much raised outdoors. You have to survive some pretty intense weather. Hunting, fishing, skiing, snow and water is all a part of your existence . . . from the get go. So you really learn to appreciate, recreation and latch on to activities that are outdoors. My first exposure I'd say is just being a kid in Maine and exploring. Things we talked about Johnson Outdoors Old Town Canoe Sugarloaf Mountain Resort University of Maine at Farmington K2 Sports Delorme Garmin ICAST Old Town Topwater Predator Discovery Solo Sportsmen Girl Scouts Living Waters Camp Outdoor Activities Hunt Fish/Fish Ski/Snowboard Paddle Snowmobile Advice, tips Anybody out there that's listening that's high school age or early college, I would think about making sure that you set yourself up to have real life experiences. Before you finished college. I think I had the leg up from some of my friends around me at the time cause I had set up my schedule such that I worked full time all through college. So I had business experience and some real applicable experiences to talk about when
S4 E155 · Tue, April 02, 2019
155: Willow Belden-NPR host turned Outdoor Podcaster
Willow produces the Out There Podcast and tells us all about the show, how she got into podcasting and her experience as an NPR host on Wyoming Public radio. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Growing up I lived in New York City, which is not exactly outdoors-y right. But my family had this little cabin up in Maine. My grandfather had bought land on a lake up there were way back when it was dirt cheap and then they built this cabin. So I often spent most of the summer up there and we would kayak and swim and just kind of spend all day outside. I remember entire summers where I never wore shoes, except maybe if my mom made me. If we had to go to the grocery store or something. But that was always sort of my happy place Things we talked about Out There Podcast Northwoods Outfitters NPR Wyoming Public Radio The Colorado Trail Common Outdoor Ground Outdoor Activities Hiking Backpacking Mtn Biking Climbing Skiing Advice, tips I think a lot of us are hesitant to take a leap and try new things if we don't feel like we already have the skills to do them. I certainly was that way where it's like, wow, I don't already know how to do this so I obviously I can't do it. I think honestly hiking the Colorado trail was something where I didn't know how to do it, but I did a bunch of research and I figured it out and it worked. And because that worked, then I think that gave me the courage to launch Out There cause I was like, well, all right, I don't know how to do this either, but we're going to give it a try and figure it out and see. So I think it's important to just remember that it's okay to be a beginner at things and that if you want something enough, you can do the research you need and you can talk to the people who know how to do it and make it happen. I don't want to make it seem like anything you want to do as
S4 E154 · Tue, March 26, 2019
Kristin Hostetter- From Backpacker to SNEWS, creating great outdoor content
Kristin tells us how she got her first media job with Backpacker and all the fun stuff she got to work on, her transition to SNEWS, and we talk about their beautiful new publication The Voice. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I kind of found my way into the outdoors myself. I grew up on Cape Cod and my family was never into hiking or camping or anything like that. We were a big ski family. So we would travel up to Vermont. We had a place in Stowe, Vermont and we'd ski almost every weekend from the time I was about three. And the very first time that I did I camp was on a sixth grade field trip to Mount Washington. One of my friends unearthed a photograph a few years ago and posted it on Instagram and it was hysterical. I had forgotten all about that trip. But then, as these things happen, you start to remember oh my God, I do remember climbing Mount Washington and summiting and thinking how amazing it was. I just loved the feeling of being up there in the mountains. It wasn't until after I graduated from college that I had my next camping experience. Things we talked about SNEWS The Voice Backpacker Active Interest Media Whisper Light Stove Clip FlashLight Tent Erewhon Outfitters Plastic Impact Promise Salary Survey Conservation Alliance Camber Outdoors <a hre
S4 E153 · Tue, March 19, 2019
153: Todd Finney-from Skateboarder to Outdoor Product Designer and Founder
Great conversation with with Todd Finney today, Todd tells us how he got into skateboarding and surfing his first experience on a cutting room floor, we spend a bit of time talking what it was like to start the brand Clive and much much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors When I was a kid I lived in a shitty part of Orange County and back then it was still orange groves. So we were outside all the time. And after my first school football game, when I got basically left out of the game, I decided I wasn't into the team sports thing. So I started skateboarding, building skateboard ramps and skating pools that were near my house. That was the golden era of skateboarding, it was really fun. And then I moved to San Diego when I was 13. Up to that point we had done campground camping and we had a camper, we'd go to Mexico. Had a lot of fun with the family and motorcycles and hiking and all that stuff. And then I started surfing and I lived right by del Mar Skate ranch. It's maybe not traditional outdoors but I was outdoors a lot. Things we talked about Wolfgang Man & Beast Eagle Creek Skateboarding magazine Powder magazine Airwalk Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell ISPO Clive Tim Swart Rob Machado Todd Richards Quicksilver Nixon Skullcandy Steve Barker Beaver Theodosakis Jeremy Andrus Joe Markham Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Dogs Canines With A Cause
S4 E152 · Tue, March 12, 2019
152: Sablle Scheppmann- Outdoor Sales Pro's advice on Talk to your neighbor on the airplane
Great Conversation with Sablle Scheppmann from Mountain Hardwear. Sablle tells us about how she got into the outdoors camping as a kid, her Collegiate Running career and offers a great piece of advice for all of that spend a lot of time on airplanes. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I am born and raised in San Diego and growing up we didn't have a lot of money. We moved apartment to apartment, so vacations were a little out of the question. I was fortunate enough to learn about the outdoors for my dad and my grandparents. My Dad was an eagle scout and my grandma was always really involved with Eagle Scouts. And we would always take camping trips cause it was the easiest vacation we could take. We'd always go up, actually through bishop, and over the years we've camped at Green Lake and up towards Mammoth. And being from San Diego, my grandparents also took us out to Idlewild and Joshua tree. So a lot of camping. Things we talked about Mountain Hardwear Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Transrockies Run Kyle Robidoux Blind Beer Runner Kyle Robidoux: @blindbeerrunner & here is an article on his run this summer https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a26007630/visually-impaired-runner-western-states-100/ They are always in need of guides! Anyone can reach out to Sablle or go to http://www.unitedinstride.com Sighted Guide Outdoor Activities Running, Backpacking, Snowboarding, Camping Advice, tips I feel like I kinda got to where I am in the position I am today because of leaning on people. I'm a total people person. Just never be afraid to put yourself out there. If anybody's interested in getting into the business and you know, reach out to. Never hesitate to look compaines up on li
S4 E151 · Tue, March 05, 2019
151: Coral Darby- A life lived Outdoor
Fun chat with Coral Darby today, Coral tells us how she got into PR, the great agency she and her team have built and offers up some great advice for anyone wanting to get into the Outdoor Biz. Coral has spent nearly her entire life embracing the Outdoor Lifestyle. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I would say it was somewhat traditional. The summer between my sophomore and junior year in college, I signed up to work at a summer camp outside of Vail. It was a really cool camp in fact, they gave us a lot of guide training. So I got certified in rafting. I was a white water guide in Utah and Colorado. I got enough hours and fell in love with river life at that point. We also did backpacking and horse packing. Some of my favorite memories that summer are being up at like 10, 11,000 feet elevation and camping, working with the horses and the kids. It was just all around a phenomenal summer. And I knew living life, this is what I need to be doing. Things we talked about Darby Communications Patagonia Tibetan Traders "as a PR practitioner, we went from being news tellers to newsmakers" Stand Up Outdoor Activities All of them Advice, tips The biggest thing is network, get out and talk to people. You can send emails all day long, but I'm still a big believer in the old fashioned way of face to face contact, and to go to as many networking events as you can. Just talk to as many people as you can and connect the dots. And also be patient, this doesn't happen overnight. "Perceive as this success is inevitable" Favorite Books Becoming by Michelle Obama The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nore
S4 E150 · Tue, February 26, 2019
150: Austin Coop-Taking you on a Route 66 Adventure
The Outdoor Biz Podcast Episode 150 is live with Austin Coop, Founder and lead tour guide at Guided Route 6 Tours. Austin has personally traversed the 2,400+ miles of Route 66 dozens and dozens of times. His love for the Mother Road led to lifelong friendships and partnerships with the small businesses and funky roadside attractions along the way. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors and Adventure Travel Like a lot of us in this industry, I've probably taken the long and winding road to get here. I had no idea this world existed in the way it does. I went to a great college and had a great experience, but it was a very traditional in terms of what was offered. You know, you picked a major and you just went and did it and then afterwards you went to a job fair and you got a job. So that's what I did. I had a management job that I hated but with that management background I ended up at a travel startup that just needed help around the office. That transitioned into travel writing which transitioned into being on the road. Then when the startup started to have some trouble I went out on my own and was trying to figure out "how do I stay in this travel space that I like, and enjoy being on the road. And that's when I thought I'd go back to college. My favorite job was when I was an orientation leader. I thought, what's the travel adult version of that? Then I sent some very generic emails to a couple of the big tour operators and a guy took a chance on me. really. If you would have told me six months prior, I didn't even know the industry existed in a way that it does. So next thing you know I'm working as a tour director and getting to go out west and getting to go through the national parks and being on the road about 200 days a year. It just ended up being an incredible fit. Things we talked about Guided Route 66 Tours Two Lane America Roadtrippers Cars Advice, tips There are just so many ways to do this. Look at what you love, but then also look at what you're good at, what you're gifted at. What, what are the things tha
S4 E149 · Tue, February 19, 2019
149: Trevor Graves- from Pro Snowboard Photographer to Design, his Adventure career on the snow
Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I made my first snowboard and shop class, in 1980 maybe. Cool. And I think I bought wooden skis and kind of put them on my skateboard trucks and went down the hill. I mean, you're building an industry at that point. It just wasn't what we have today, it wasn't crowds at the ski lifts. And then I really think my first outdoor job, I was the first snowboard instructor at Toggenburg Ski area in Syracuse, New York. It's a tiny little hill, 400 vertical. So they embrace snowboarding early. Things we talked about Nemo Design International Snowboard Magazine Snowboarder Magazine Smith's sport optic Nike 6.0 Ikon Pass Mammoth Ski Resort Alterra Mountain Co. Epic Pass Chill Foundation Boarding for Breast Cancer Advice, tips Congratulations on your choice to participate and be a professional in the outdoor space. I think that the one thing I find helps is finding a leader, somebody to mentor you. Nowadays you can follow them on social feeds, and you'd be surprised if you genuinely and authentically kind of asked them for help. If they've got time, they will pay it back and they will pay it forward by giving you the insights that you desire. So I've had over the years, different strategies that have gotten through for me. One is job shadowing. So you're not asking a whole ton of my time but come in for an afternoon and job shadow. I take those opportunities at our shop. Hey, here's what design does and here's copywriting. And you kind of see what an agencies like and you may not like this kind of culture or you may. So I always try to open up opportunities there. And then another strategy I thought was pretty effective is, it's kind of similar to this podcast formula, a young student will ask questions that are pretty direct and then I can
S4 E148 · Tue, February 12, 2019
148: Philip Curry- A lifetime of challenging the status quo in adventure watersports designs
Philip curry has been challenging the status quo in watersports his entire career. Turning his love for paddling into not one but two watersports brands. Lotus Designs which he sold to Patagonia and Astral which has now expanded into footwear. We talk about his experience building these two unique brands and much, much more in this wide ranging conversation. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in the mountains outside of Chattanooga, so my backyard was the outdoor. There was a creek back there, a beautiful little mountain creek. Probably from the age of five I discovered that creek and it really opened the world of nature to me. So I'd say that was it. It's always kinda been since then a place to play, feel free and put my mind at ease. Things we talked about Astral Designs Allanbys Lotus Designs Sutton Bacon Steve Meineke Bruce Furrer Joe Pulliam North Carolina Zen Center Advice, tips The critical thing about business is understanding your target customer and understanding who is going to buy your product or your service that you're offering. So that means I think being a member of some community of climbers or paddlers or backpackers or whatever it is, you really have to be a part of it. If you're not, it's really hard to fake it. It seems like the industry sees right through that pretty quickly. Right, right. That's number one, understand the community you're building products or services for. Beyond that, I think it's just a hell of a lot of work. I don't want anybody to thin
S4 E147 · Tue, February 05, 2019
147: Sally McCoy- from growing up outside Charlotte North Carolina to a career in the outdoor industry
Sally and I talk about how she grew up outside Charlotte North Carolina and went on her first backpacking trip at 5 years old on the Appalachian Trail. We talk about her career in the Outdoor Biz and plenty more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina back when it was not nearly the city it is now and all my great aunts and great uncles and grandfather had a farm and so we would spend part of every weekend at one of these farms and the weekends in the mountains actually near Asheville. So I almost grew up outside. I went to my first backpacking trip when I was five, it was a 10 mile overnight trip. So I was sort of hooked from then on. Things we talked about The Nature Conservancy Student Conservation Association UPS Orvis The North Face Mt Everest Sierra Designs REI Camelbak Jack Gilbert Ingrid Harshberger The Outdoor Foundation Conservation Alliance The President's Commission on Americans Outdoors, 1986 Advice, tips I've always believed in targeting the companies that interest you. Figuring out what they want and how you can help fit what they want. I think that's the most important thing. How could you bring it to a company? What's the best way in? What's your real interest? How flexible are you on where you want to live and all that? I think any aspect of it, just like I had exposure at UPS and retail and everything else, I think it's good to learn about the business, but I'm always a big proponent of picking the companies that you think have something you're particularly interested in and targeting several of them. Other Outdoor Activities Ski Snowboard Mtn Bike Favorite Books <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Choices-Practical-Making-Decisions/dp/1633691047/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549336726&sr=8-1&keywords=Smart+C
S4 E146 · Tue, January 29, 2019
146: Ammi Borenstein: Ammi and I talk about K2, and his work on the Higg Index Outdoor Brand & Retail Module
Ammi tells us about his experience working with K2 and Outdoor Research and the work he’s doing to help brands navigate the Higg Index Brand & Retail Module. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in New England in a family that really wasn't much of an outdoor family, but the little bit of exposure I had to the outdoors told me that I just absolutely loved it. So right after college I bought a one way ticket to Seattle and I have yet to buy the other half back. Yeah I moved out here and quickly evolved to spending as much time as I could up in the mountains. I did a bunch of hiking, backpacking, mountaineering rock climbing and a fair amount of paddling. And back then a weekday ticket at a place like crystal mountain was about $12 and instead of the hundred dollars said it is now. There was a huge amount of opportunity to get out and have some fun. And my version of slopeside accommodations was camping out in the crystal mountain parking lot. Things we talked about K2 Sports Outdoor Research Dana Design REI YKK Seattle Central College School of Apparel Design and Development Higg Index Linkedin article Outdoor Industry Association REI Product Sustainability Standards <a href= "https://newsroom.rei.com/news/corporate/rei-co-op-introduces-new-standards-to-raise-bar-on-sustain
S4 E145 · Tue, January 22, 2019
145: Nate Hansen- Off the couch marathoning and running the Arizona Trail
Nate and I talk about the unique way he got into running marathons and his upcoming adventure thru running the Arizona Trail. Thanks to Jason Lawrence from Vssl for connecting us. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors (edited for publication) I think that when we talk about the outdoors now we have a sense of what that means to us, like camping and hiking and whatnot. My exposure to the outdoors was through my childhood playing outside. I didn't have video games. I think in college I got like a Sega Genesis and played it for about a month, played hockey until I got calluses on my thumbs and then was done. But I grew up outside playing, kick the can German spotlight. My mother was a Phys Ed teacher so she got a lot of exercise. My father got into running and biking and then doing triathlons. At the age of 14 I remember going on this thing called the RagBrai. I don't know if anyone's heard of this. It's this bike ride across Iowa and it takes about a week. The Des Moines Register Register's annual great bike ride across Iowa. The whole idea is you dip your tire in the Missouri River on a Saturday and then the next week you dip your tire in the Mississippi. So you've traversed the entire state. Things we talked about Running River School Running for Running River RAGBRAI Hike House Arizona Trail Arizona Trail Association Merrell Solomon Jumper Threads Vssl Grayl Altra <
S4 E144 · Tue, January 15, 2019
144: Ted Eynon- Outdoor Living, Christmas Trees, Apple Orchards and Boutique Skis
Fun conversation with Ted Eynon from Meier Skis. We talk about his youth working on the family Christmas Tree Farm and Apple Orchards and how he came to own Meier Skis. He drops a great book on us too! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors That really started early. I just grew up in a family that was a skiing family. I grew up outside of Boston and New England and my folks had a place up in Franconia, New Hampshire up in northern New Hampshire. Where Cannon Mountain was at the time and a small mountain next to Cannon called Midtarsal. Dad was a ski instructor and we were one of those skiing families that were up every weekend, every holiday and a good many snow days where I played hooky from school. In the summer we were a backpacking family, so we'd go up in the White Mountains typically four or five days. We climbed most of the fourteeners in New Hampshire. So I'd say I just kinda grew up into it. And those activities became lifelong activities. My first outdoor job was probably working on my family's Christmas tree plantation which was a hobby of my Dad's. He had apple orchards and a Christmas tree plantation. So he had me out there working during my formative years. Things we talked about Meier Skis Matt Cudmore University of New Hampshire Colorado State Forest Service Beetle Kill Pine Paul Wilson Wish of a Lifetime Swim Across America American Alpine Club Advice, tips There is a tremendous amount of opportunity, right? And especially here in Colorado, I mean Colorado has certainly become the epi center for active outdoor lifestyle businesses. I mean there's larger organizations that are now moving here to denver. And of course with OR moving out of Salt Lake here to Denver, I mean OR and the convention center is a mile and a half from, from Meier Skis. So we've got great proximity to the show and we do tours during the day and so forth. So there's a lot of opportunity. I wouldn't say there's a lot of high pay opportunity right out of the gat
S4 E143 · Tue, January 08, 2019
143: Todd Branham is growing outdoor communities thru trail building and mountain biking
Happy new year everyone, I hope you had a fantastic holiday season. I’m excited to kick off season 4 of the Outdoor Biz Podcast with Todd Branham of Blue Ridge Adventures. Todd is doing great work in the Blue Ridge Mountains building trails and Mtn Bike communities through his businesses. We talk about his early days on a bike, the inspirations, challenges as well as some of the intricate details of building trails. Thanks for all you do Todd and coming on show! And thanks to the crew at Darby Communications and Julie Bacon for connecting us. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I guess it started really young. As a kid my parents, all they had to do was put me in a room in the house for a punishment. I really liked the outdoors. I'd stand at the door and cry until I could go outside, so I started pretty young. I just enjoyed being outside. I grew up in the country, I enjoy playing in the forest. I mean, right off the bat, man I was an outdoor person. Things we talked about Blue Ridge Adventures Long Cane Trails Pisgah National Forest Biltmore Forest School Transylvania County Pisco stage race Bill Victor International Mountain Bike Association Advice, tips I think starting early, you know, I mean if you, if you feel the passion that you want to be in it, I mean get your hands dirty and get in the industry however you can. if you, if you stay focused on what you're doing, it'll all fall in place for you. Other Outdoor Activities Trail Run Show Shoe Rollerblade Favorite Books <a href= "h
S3 E142 · Tue, December 04, 2018
142: Mary Iannotti- How her inspiration to save Bears Ears led to an outdoor project with Colorado Sierra Club
I caught up with Mary Iannotti from digital marketing deva the other day. She drops some terrific learnings on us from her project that was geared towards saving public lands. There is something in here for everyone. Be sure to check the show notes for links to some of her great resources. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I've been a recreation junkie all my life. I started out by playing in the woods in the hood. I'd go out and we'd ride our bikes in the woods, hike around and we'd go and explore the forts that my brother and his friends put up and climb the trees and do all that kind of fun stuff. And then I got into team sports. I played field hockey and I played ultimate Frisbee for a really long time and when I was in college I took my first backpacking trip. I hung out with friends that really love to hike and they turned me on to this place called Letchworth State Park in New York. We'd escaped to Letchworth on the weekends and explore. It's a beautiful park. It's got waterfalls and a really cool gorge like a mini grand canyon. I think it was like those days that I hung out in Letchworth that really solidified the fact that I wanted to be in the outdoors as much as possible. I sort of got this wanderlust where, you know, I thought about it back in college, like I really want to bust out, go to the West because the outdoors there is incredible and it's just so beautiful and that really changed kind of my life. Things we talked about digitalmarketingdeva.com Letchworth State Park Sierra Club Colorado Bears Ears Insight Timer Kristin Carpenter Ogden- Channel Mastery Podcast Copywriter Club podcast Rob Marsh and Kira Hug <p class="p1
S3 E141 · Thu, November 29, 2018
Shawn Frederick- From Photography to Adventure Travel Shawn talks about his photo career and new Adventure Business
Shawn and his wife have recently launched their new Adventure and Photo retreat business and we talk about their inspiration, challenges as well as Shawn's photo career shooting some of the best Action Sport athletes in the world. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I think as a kid we would bike ride and skateboard or try and find empty swimming pools around to skateboard in. So that was at an early age. Early on I played a lot of baseball that was my primary sport of choice as a youngster and played that all the way through high school. Growing up in southern California, it's hard not to, you know, have a skateboard or a surfboard or even back then a bmx bike. Things we talked about Adriatic Adventure Academy Chaffey College Brooks Jim Hogan Herbie Fletcher Steamers Lane Bonzai Pipeline Surfrider Foundation 5 Gyres Institute Schooner Yacht America / Next Level Sailing Advice, tips Yes. I would say anybody that's going to have a long career, like if they're doing it for a career, right? I would say first and foremost, if you know what you want to do, if you are a photographer and that is hugely your passion, then go for it. I had some very, very sound advice when I was going pro . . . educate yourself and not just to be a photographer. But educate yourself in the business because if you're going to follow the footsteps of being a photographer, you can't forget that you're a business and your really are no different than a plumber or a contractor or any other small business. The lectures that I've given at universities or workshops that I taught at the end of the day, I give this advice. I still tell everybody, you're a business and you have to run your business accordingly. It's probably 20 percent taking pictures and a 80 percent we're running a business. Now, if you don't know what you want to do, for those people out there that say they don't really know what they want to do yet, but they're definitely outdoor enthusiasts. Go see if you can get a job at one of the local outdoor adventure outfi
S3 E140 · Thu, November 08, 2018
Derek Smith- HeadSpin Outdoors, what it's like to launch a new brand in the Outdoor Biz
Derek and his team have launched their new lighting brand HeadSpin Outdoors and we talk about the excitement and challenges they’ve run into along the way. These guys are pumped and have a pretty unique take on this category. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Well we've always been sort of outdoor guys. This is our first foray into the outdoor industry as an occupation. Growing up we both really loved the outdoors and my business partner and I were raised in completely different outdoor environments. But we both had a common respect and appreciation for everything outdoors. So as we started our company and started thinking about applications for our product, the outdoors was just the natural direction that we wanted to go. Things we talked about HeadSpin Outdoors Big City Mountaineers Advice, tips Yeah, keep your head down and just keep on going. A lot of people give up really quickly and I would say that one thing that we have is his tenacity, and that's really helped us. It's just not giving up. I mean not to the point where it's foolish to just keeping keeping ongoing, right? But just staying the course. You get a lot of nos and there's a lot of hiccups, but just working through it and taking the time to take a step back and evaluate and reassess and then logically move forward has been so impactful for us. It's helped us get to the point where we are today. Other Outdoor Activities Walking Running Whitewater Kayaking Favorite Books How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Z
S3 E139 · Tue, October 30, 2018
139: Ali Carr Troxell- Outside Magazine, Gear Patrol and starting an Outdoor Jobs group on Facebook
Ali has created a terrific employment resource for the outdoor biz- Basecamp on Facebook. We talk about her career, how she is handling her Dads sudden passing, and a whole lot more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up camping and sailing and skiing. I grew up in Los Angeles right in the heart of it, in the Hollywood hills. My dad was always very adventurous. My mom came along for the ride, we did a lot of camping up in the Sierras and we would take family ski trips to big bear and Tahoe. My Dad was a big sailor, so we would sail across to Catalina island. I actually went to summer camp out there, a sleepaway camp on Catalina island. Didn't learn to scuba dive but we would do backpacking trips and rock climbing and all that sort of stuff. So as much as I was a city kid, I really was that pretty involved in the active lifestyle from an early age. Things we talked about Val Surf Travel and Leisure Outside Online Basecamp on Facebook Gear Patrol Hike it Baby Advice, tips I think that in the end, even though the jobs are within the outdoor industry, they are still jobs. And so if you're trying to transfer into the industry and are already at your mid level career you have to think about the skills you've picked up and how are those relatable to a job that you're applying for. So being able to really speak to the job responsibilities in your cover letter and your past experiences and how they relate is huge. If you're just trying to get your foot in the door for the first time, you know, try going to outdoor retailer, try to meet with brands that are interest you, be open to rolling up your sleeves and starting from the ground up. I know a lot of people who have go
S3 E138 · Tue, October 16, 2018
Kristan Clarke Burba- How an outdoor kid starts a Boutique Event Management Firm
Kristan tells us how a Backpacking Adventure in 4th grade set her path for a life and career in the outdoors. She drops a great Book and Facebook resource on us too. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and there's not much going on there except to be outside really. So as a kid we spent a lot of time in the woods, in the backyard and at the beach a lot. My first kind of big outdoor adventure was when I was in the fourth grade my uncle who was really into the outdoors took my best friend and myself on a backpacking and camping trip in the white mountains of New Hampshire. I probably shouldn't say this, but at the top of our first mountain peak he pulled out a beer for each of us. So it was my first summit and my first beer. Things we talked about Rendezvous Event Management Overland Summers Backroads Outdoor Outreach Send It Foundation Basecamp Advice, tips If you're just looking to get into the outdoor business and it's kind of Cliche, but just follow your heart. I followed my heart to college in Vermont because I want it to be in the outdoors. Then I ended up in Jackson despite the fact that everybody I knew after college was going to law school or med school or Wall Street. Then I really just made it a point once I was in Jackson to not be a ski bum or climbing bomb or whatever. I wanted to do all of those activities, but I really also wanted to pick jobs that might lead me to a future career and that look good on my resume. I will never forget, I accepted the position of a reporter at the Jackson Hole News maybe a year out of college. I knew that would look good on my resume and I was learning a good skil
S3 E137 · Tue, October 09, 2018
137: Pete Ripmaster-battling depression and winning the Iditarod Adventure Race
Pete shows up with so much inspiration and energy, I love it and thank you! We talk about his experience with depression, how he discovered running, his iditarod success and a whole lot more. This is another must listen episode! Thanks Pete! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I've been an athlete my whole life. I kinda grew up in that generation where I was outside all the time you know, mom would have to ring the bell and get us inside. The opposite of kids today. I was outside all the time. That's around the woods and mostly it was sports. I was big into ball sports growing up, but I always had a heart for the outdoors. I felt more comfortable there than inside, so it's just been a lifelong love affair really with the outdoors. I don't like to be boxed in by you're ultra runner or you're a hiker. I get out there. The titles don't mean much to me, I'm just the outdoorsman. Things we talked about Darby Communications Depression Breast Cancer Iditarod Trail Invitational 50 State Marathon Club The Seaveys Susan G. Komen Advice, tips I love helping people and say get your ass outside. Being outside and being in running and sweating has just been my biggest antidepressant. I would definitely say also to open up to people you know. Open up to the people you love and if there's someone in your life that you feel could help or at least be an ear and not judge you, go there. Because there are people that love you and want to help you and might not even understand the extent of your darkness. So just open up and that will probably bring some accountability. And so I hope people can kind of get through that because I know how tough it's been for me and I'm not saying that I'm through it. I mean, I still deal with it and
S3 E136 · Tue, October 02, 2018
136: Lila Leatherman- helping create a connecting force for women and underrepresented genders in the outdoor community
Lila tells us how Alpenglow Collective is a connecting force for women and underrepresented genders in the climbing community. They offer an inclusive platform where women (cis and trans), trans people of all genders, and gender non-conforming folks can connect, find climbing partners, and create lasting mentorships. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show on Patreon Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I had always kind of done nature stuff with my family, you know, but I was the kid who resented being dragged along to the national parks. I grew up in Kentucky, so every park within driving distance I think we've probably hit, but I wasn't super into it then. It wasn't until I moved to Salt Lake City and got a job at the bureau of land management that it hit me. I hadn't been steeped in outdoor culture like this before. I didn't even have a tent. So when I moved to Salt Lake I got this access to the Outdoors. I got a pro deal through my job and I got the gear and I had friends who were just like super outdoorsy. So that was when I first started really getting outside. I learned how to rock climb, which is super important to me now. So yeah that feels really full circle. Things we talked about Alpenglow Collective Alpenglow Facebook posting forum Brown Girls Climb The Venture Out Project Out There Adventures Flash Foxy If you want some resources to learn a little more about what Lila means when they talk about gender, they have some vocab on their website , and on their instagram (@ alpenglowcollective.co ) story highlights, under "Gender Beta" . (not sure if that link will translate to mobile!) They are a non-profit partner with the Portland Boulder Rally at The Circuit climbing gym, on October 6 ! Advice, tips</p
S3 E135 · Tue, September 18, 2018
135: Darren Bush- Studying Italian to Paddling, you'll love this convo about life and the Outdoor Biz
Darren is an inspiration on so many levels. I enjoyed our conversation that wandered all over the map from his academic chops to his purchase of Rutabaga and other side trails along the way. My apologies for some of the sound issues but you won't miss anything, enjoy. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I was a boy scout, which got me outside and with a lot of people don't realize is there's a lot of really nice outdoor space, not necessarily wilderness space, outdoor space in and around LA. I actually didn't paddle till I moved to Wisconsin just because the closest lake to me was the artificial lake in the development next to us. I mean, there really wasn't any flat water. I came here and got roped into a boy scout trip to the boundary waters at that kind of started it. Things we talked about Rutabaga Paddle Sports Stony Point The Los Padres National Forest REI Patagonia Camping World OIA Rendezvous Heroes on the Water Door County Land Trust Advice, tips I'm a big fan of Mike Rowe, right? cause he's an ops guy. The idea of following your bliss and you know all that. Then you know, if you do what you love, the money will come and it's just not true. It's just not true. It does happen. Um, and people have followed their dreams and they do succeed, but for every person who says I want to be an actor, there's 500 layers, right? Right. So you have to be a realist about it. So often the idea of owning an outdoor store or owning your own business or whatever, the idea of it is way better than the actual thing itself for a lot of people. I mean, it's true for a lot of things, like the idea of owning a sports car is a really good idea until you have a sports car and you realize that it owns you don't own it. So rent, rent a porsche once day every six months or two years or whatever and get your porsche fix. As far as growing your career, I don't like the word career because that has the connotation of a trajectory where you go in as a customer service person and then you get promoted to head of customer service, then you might move into the sales and then sales manager and then you just kind of climbed corporate ladder. But I think that analogy
S3 E134 · Thu, September 13, 2018
Scott Ammons- learn all about REI Adventure and more
Great conversation with Scott Ammons from REI. Scott tells all about REI Outreach and Adventures. We also talk about his outdoor experience, the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I got started because my grandparents, my grandpa in particular was a little bit of an outdoorsman. He was a farmer in Yuma, Arizona. When I was a kid they were still living in Yuma, on the edge of the desert and his idea of fun was to spend the day just driving out into the desert with his truck and a whole bunch of ATVs. Those three wheeled death machines. So we spent a lot of time adventuring around in the Arizona desert. They also had a second house up by Lake Powell. At other times of the year when it was 120 degrees in Yuma we would go hang out up there. So we spent a lot of time adventuring around slick rock canyons and out in the desert. That's where I think it originally came from, just spending a whole lot of time messing about in the desert. Things we talked about Chadwick High School NOLS REI REI Adventures Kern River Tours Boojum Friends of the LA River Friends of the Angeles Forest The Santa Monica Mountains Fund The Sierra Club Sierra Mountain Center California Outdoor Recreation Partnership Outdoor Industry Association The Access Fund <a href="http
S3 E133 · Tue, September 11, 2018
Dave Polivy- Building E-commerce and serving the Outdoor Community
Dave Polivy from Tahoe Mountain Sports is one busy guy. in addition to leading the team at Tahoe Mtn Sports he’s also involved at the Federal, State and local level of politics. Dave tells us about his work with The OIA, the Corp group getting an office of recreation established in California, running for Town Council in Truckee CA and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors It started with my family, especially my dad. My Dad was a sailor and a skier and so I kinda grew up on sailboats in the summertime and hanging out by the ocean. And then winter time we'd had up to Vermont and go skiing and do all of that and sort of, that kind of started me out in the outdoors. I started backcountry skiing in high school because I had been skiing my whole life. But I kinda got bored Alpine skiing. I tried ski racing and growing up in Connecticut, ski racing basically means that you go to school all day. Then you go to your little ski hills, about a half an hour away from the house at about 8:00 at night and like negative 20 degree temperatures. So I ended up telemarking, which then led me into the backcountry and started heading into the backcountry in the adirondacks, which was where we started going. So that's kind of where I started. And then I got to take a NOLS course when I was 18 and that sort of sealed the deal. Things we talked about Tahoe Mountain Sports Polivy for Council Truckee Town Council OIA Recreation Advisory Council Alpine Meadows Liberty Mountain CORP Wanderlust Festival Advice, tips I would really tell people to just do their homework. These days I think there's so much out there and one of the best ways, and I've done this with a few folks here locally, is just go and talk to people. don't believe everything
S3 E132 · Thu, September 06, 2018
132: Justin Seale-designing outdoor products that are sustainable and functional
Justin has been leading product teams for brands like Chrome, and is now building product for his own brand ArchiTecsf. We talk about sustainability, his experience, how he stumbled into design and much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I'm originally from Western New Jersey, the rural portion of New Jersey. I grew up on 10 acres and growing up I just had the range go outside and explore on my own and whatnot. Build forts and damn creeks and do all the things kids love to do and had just a generally outdoor adventurous family from my grandfather to my father and was fortunate to spend a lot of my childhood outdoors. In early teens I moved to to Vail, Colorado with my family and was ski racing there and just kind of generally exploring the high country of Colorado. In Colorado you can just sort of trip and fall into the outdoors. My life was fortunate to be surrounded with all kinds of nature. Things we talked about ArchitecSF Fall Winter 18/New Zealand collection launching on Sept 25th and will be available for 30 days as a part of "Work-Bench" Pre-Book experience with a corresponding 25 percent discount. After 30 days, prices will move to MSRP. Chrome Industries Mission Workshop Advice, tips I mean, again, it's like for me the outdoor industry was never an intentional career. I entered it through a series events whether it be coincidence or fate. I enjoyed the process enough where, I stuck with it. And this is certainly an industry that can be tremendously rewarding and it can also be very difficult. Kind of finding your niche within it and also kind of justifying the financial arm because as you know, It's certainly not as financially lucrative as working in software the bay area. So it's really, I mean, I just think you have to be passionate about it and have to believe that if your somebody that wants to do it then go out and find your spot. Other Outdoor Activities Mtn Biking Trail Running Hiking Skiing Favorite Books/Apps A
S3 E131 · Tue, September 04, 2018
Jen Taylor- talks about her outdoor life and career of Going Big!
Jen Taylor brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the table, love it and thank you! We talk about her outdoor life, career, the great path to success she and the Mtn Khaki's team have achieved and a whole lot more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in Indiana, so I'm a Corn Fed Indiana Hoosier. I was just a free range kid. We were cut loose until the dinner bell rang. We had woods and creeks and we just roamed as kids. I don't even remember actually the first time I went camping. It might've been when I was in college. We just were outside all the time. There wasn't anything formal or structured about it. It's just the way we were. Things we talked about Mountain Khakis Jorgensen Eddie Bauer Denver Zoo Mountain Sprouts MOG Fest Rick Taggart Thea Chase Camber Outdoors (Outdoor Industry Women's Coalition) Advice, tips You're going to have a lot of long nights. But don't listen to the critics because everybody's got a story and everybody's got a reason not to do something. There is a lot of valuable insight and information to glean off of people. But the first person that tells you you're an idiot or you're high, whatever they tell you, look him in the face and say, you bet I am and I'm on the right path. Then watch me run. Because there's something about that fuel that can really throw gas to the flame and it works. You've also got a couple paths to go down. You've got choices when you start a business and as you think about how you're going to finance that business and finance your growth, you know, there's the startup phase, there's the teenager growth phase, high growth and, and then there's the long range sustainability plan. How do you set up your plan? Do you take on investors, do you maintain majority ownership? How are you going to honor your mission? Consider how you set it up so that fundamentally your mission is their fight and is honored. I always believed that you run a business like a nonprofit and run a nonprofit like a business. And I had to learn the hard way. I've got kind of a bleedin
S3 E130 · Thu, August 30, 2018
Breanne Kiefner- Root Adventures offers Custom Adventure Travel Trips
Great info and motivation in this conversation with Breanne Kiefner from Root Adventures. Breanne tells us how Root Adventures came to life some of the challenges she faced and the custom adventures Root delivers. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I've always loved exercise and fitness and being outside, but it was not necessarily a big part of my family life. Then when I was about 24, my then boyfriend now husband and I decided to sell everything we own and backpack through Latin America. I don't know what gave us the strength to do it, but we did it and are so much better for it. Things we talked about Root Adventures "A traveler sees what he sees, a Tourist sees what he came to see" Wayfinder Grand Lake Lodge Rocky Mountain National Park Google Ad Words Women and Balance- Facebook , website , trip with Breanne Advice, tips Do It. One of the biggest things that you hear people talk about is mindset. It's all about the mindset. And I actually disagree. I think it's all about doing it, motivation. You're never going to be motivated, you just don't want to send that email, send that email and move onto the next thing. I'm just gonna do it, just put one foot in front of the other. It's just like hiking a mountain. You're never going to see the top until you're there. So take that next step and don't wait until your motivation is there because it will never work. It comes and goes. Other Outdoor Activities Skiing Hiking Favorite Books/Apps <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Female-Nomad-Livi
S3 E129 · Tue, August 28, 2018
Debbie Motz- how 360 Adventure Collective came to life out of the EORA
Debbie Motz from 360 Adventure Collective. Debbie tells how 360 Adventure Collective came to life out of the EORA, all the great services they offer and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Growing up in the high country of Colorado it was just an early lifestyle. It really was. We were always outside. I can remember it at very, very young age skiing, ice skating. We had horses, we did Little Britches Rodeos in the summer time, so we were just always outside. Things we talked about 360 Adventure Collective EORA Camp 7 Banana Equipment Early Winters Lowe Alpine Advice, tips I think it's building relationships, being able to adapt and adjust to change. I think that's really it. And I would encourage anyone who wants to get in this industry to really pursue it and try to try to get into it because I think it's a healthy environment, a healthy work environment. For me, it's been a very healthy work environment. It's nice to be surrounded with people that have the same values and the same goals. Other Outdoor Activities Swimming Hiking Favorite Books/Apps Great Quotes from Great Leaders by Peggy Anderson Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado The President is Missing by James Patterson a
S3 E128 · Thu, August 23, 2018
128: Angela Hook- Angela packs this episode full of great tips about launching a new Outdoor brand
So much goodness in this wide ranging conversation with Angela Hook from Stunt Puppy. If you're new to the Outdoor Biz or have a great idea you want to turn into a brand this a must listen episode. Angela brings it big time! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Growing up in New Zealand, you really only have two choices. You have to embrace it or you have to just kind of become a recluse because you literally cannot avoid the outdoors within New Zealand, which is where I come from. But it's a different kind of doors, it's right on your doorstep. Like literally, even our big cities are kind of in the wilderness. There's just nobody there. We all grew up, being out and about and climbing trees. Well that was how I grew up in New Zealand and I think maybe romantically it's still like that. So it was pretty unavoidable that we would have an affinity with simply being outside. Things we talked about Stunt Puppy Aspiring Avalanche Dogs Tai Poutini Alan McConnon, Mainland Cheese Advice, tips I think adaptable is probably the ket, but that goes across absolutely anything. You need to be kind of open to the things that will go wrong, that will teach you how to do it right. And I'm not very good at not being in control, like I'm very type A kind of personality. I think that stands you in a really good stage for developing a career anywhere because it will give you drive and it will give you the determination. But to develop your type B, which has that openness, adaptability, collaborate, you know, you don't have to do it all yourself. Ask for help because there are so many people who will help you. And the outdoor industry is a very, well my experience of it, has been a very generous industry with its advice. So be open, be collaborative, ask for help. Other Outdoor Activities Hike Ski Stand Up Paddle Favorite Books/Apps Every Bastard Says No by <a href= "https://www
S3 E127 · Tue, August 21, 2018
127: Neal Caplowe- Neal drops some nuggets for anyone thinking of launching their own Outdoor Biz gig
I’m excited to have Neal Caplowe on the show today. Neal has been in the biz for many years and talks about how he went from retail to starting a graphic T-shirt business in the early days of the Outdoor biz. Plenty of stories and nuggets in here for anyone in the industry or thinking of launching their own gig. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes I think I was always drawn to doing something myself. I just wanted to do something on my own that I could go hang up on the bulletin board and say I did that. I dabbled with a few thoughts with some friends about opening up a bike shop or an outdoor shop because I was definitely into kayaking, especially around here in northern Virginia. It's a big kayaking area, I did that for years and years and got into climbing because again, a lot of that around here as well. Not like California, but pretty and there's a lot of it. I made several trips to Seneca rocks and things like that. Then I wound up getting a job at, which I don't even know how many people remember it, at a place called Herman's Sporting Goods. Well, not literally my first job, you know, I had some stuff in college and whatever, but yes, it was my first real job. Things we talked about Sport Science USA Coming Attractions Center for Health, Environment & Justice Camp 7 Vasque Boots Svea Stoves EMS Patagonia Under Armour American Eagle outfitters Advice, tips I've learned a lot over the years. I think it's the age old story. I feel like I learn stuff every day, you know, and I think when you stop learning it really starts to get old. I think focus is really important. Whether again, if you want to get into the outdoor business or you're in it and you want to move forward and grow your career, I think you've got to pick a focus. To the extent you can pick a focus and put your energy and efforts behind it. I think that will produce positive results. I just recently had a conversation with somebody, speaking of learning, we were talking about some sales and product and marketing things. He made the comment that it's product, program, and process. And that was like, damn, that's good. It says one of those simple things, that if you think about it, reflect about, you can talk about it for an hour and you know, whether you would have chosen those words or not that would have bee
S3 E126 · Thu, August 16, 2018
126: Kelly Kraus- great outdoor stories as Kelly paddles into retirement
I caught up with Kelly Kraus two weeks into her retirement and we talked about some of the great brands she’s worked with over her career, her plans to stay active and connected to the Outdoor Biz and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I just remember as a kid, as a young girl being involved in campfire girls and sometimes it was day camp, you know, it's just super cool. And then we did some camping when I was young with my family and one of our family activities was to go out to the Washington coast. If you're familiar with that, it's big flat sandy beaches and we would go clamming for razor clams and we would camp out. It was just one of those things when your wet, miserable and having the best time of your life. I mean it's awesome. Things we talked about Whitewater Sports MSR Cascade Designs REI Stanley Marco Tubic Lee Fromson Matt Hyde Mike Ross Advice, tips Networking is huge, right? It's really building your community and people and learning from others. And along with that finding mentors and really pursuing that relationship and utilizing it. It's up to the mentee to do that. Right. And I think people are shy about that. I mean all leaders want to give back and they're proud and they're honored to mentor someone. So I think people just need to be bold about asking for that and then they need to create that agenda and keep it going. Right. Whether it's a monthly, quarterly conversation or whatever it is, I think that's huge. And I just so believe in professional development, like any class, seminar online, anything you can do to fine tune and work on your leadership skills and learn as much as you can learn at once. Other Outdoor Activities all Paddle Sports Hike Ski Snowshoe Biking Favorite Books/Apps <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Mile-Fastest-History-Through/dp/1439159866/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534385064&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Em
S3 E125 · Tue, August 14, 2018
Bryan Martin- Bryan tells us how he got into the outdoor lifestyle growing up in Pennsylvania
Bryan Martin tells us how he got into the outdoor lifestyle his first job with The Nature Conservancy and all the great work done by Big City Mountaineers. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I have to kind of go back to when I was a little kid. My dad was born and raised in New York City in the flushing area. He met my mom and my mom was from the country. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania. That's where I grew up, in the Lehigh valley area. My maternal grandparents were really connected to the outdoors, not so much in a kind of high octane adventure kind of way, but just exposed to nature and kind of being around it. They owned some land, 10 acres, in the Appalachian Hill country in Pennsylvania. That abutted to 10 more acres that my great aunt and my brother and I just kind of stumbled around on summer after summer. Things we talked about Big City Mountaineers Outdoor Rec and Park Management degree, Penn State University The Nature Conservancy Continental Divide Trail Coalition Colorado Mountain Club American Mountaineering Center Three Saints Outdoor 8000 Meter Challenge Advice, tips The number one thing that I always tell the younger professionals that I sit down with and have these informational interviews with his perseverance, you've got to stick with it. You're not going to find the perfect job right away. You might even have to supplement your income a little bit. I worked a part time job the first couple of years when I was working at the nature conservancy. But I, I knew that was the track I needed to be on and until I was able to grow my resume a little bit more I wouldn't be able to get that next opportunity. So I did what I had to do to, stick with it. There's folks that have gotten that job and then the nonprofit falls on hard times. It lets a bunch of people go and they get discouraged and now they're no longer in the nonprofit sector.
S3 E124 · Thu, August 09, 2018
Dan Austin from Austin Adventures tells us how he got started in Adventure Travel
Dan tells us how he got into Adventure Travel and some of the key requirements to building a successful top of the line Adventure Biz Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I mean ironically, I literally grew up in the city. I grew up in San Jose, California. Within a week or two of graduating high school, me and a buddy knew we had to get out of San Jose. We spent every waking hour, weekends after school getting out as far as we could get with a tank of gas. So we knew we were just kind of misplaced there. We headed for Alaska actually and when we made it as far as Oregon and set up shop there for a few years, work construction and really just started fine tuning our outdoor skills and love of the outdoors. I ended up probably not too long after that, starting a small rafting company in the northwest. That was my first foray into adventure travel and that was in the mid seventies. Things we talked about Austin Adventures Back Country Tours Doug and Carmen McSpadden Yellowstone Richard Weiss Wheels of Change Advice, tips I see a lot of small companies that get into it for the lifestyle and that's okay, but you should make that decision early on. Is this a lifestyle or is it a business? Who do I want to run it, do I want to, you know, do I want to travel the world and I want some way to pay for traveling the world? Or do I literally want to make a career and a business out of this and because it'll be a slightly different path for me. Either and both are good, but I'm not saying you have to choose one or the other for anyone reason other than just make sure that you make a conscious decision that to go in that direction, that's really going to fulfill what you're looking for. Other Outdoor Activities Fishing Boating Cycling<
S3 E123 · Tue, August 07, 2018
Louis Arevalo- how to build a life of adventure, from writing to photography
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
S3 E122 · Thu, August 02, 2018
122: Angel Castellanos- The Travel Ambassador telling adventure stories and more
Angel Castellanos, The Travel Ambassador on the show today. You’ve seen him on the New York Times Travel show, the Travel & Adventure Show, ABC, and more. We talk about how he got inspired to travel, all the places he’s been and how he became The Travel Ambassador. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Travel It really came from my parents. They were avid travelers. I come from a family of travelers and I had my very first passport before I could even speak, read or write. And they always stoked that wanderlust in me when I was a kid. We'd get these postcards from foreign destinations and I always loved history, art and culture. So when I eventually did take my first memorable international journey, I realized that there was much more in the world than just my little league team. Things we talked about Angel's Travel Lounge Distant Lands Le Travel Store Rick Steves Arthur Frommer Patricia Schultz- The Thousand Places to See Before You Die Alex Cook Tim Richards Jeff Sheets Steve and Nona Barker Skip Yowell The Tournament of Roses Foundation The Kind Traveler Advice, tips I think people have to have a really solid business plan to figure out what their benchmarks and milestones are, what value they're going to offer to their clients. Whether they're the end consumer or brands. But I think patience, being humble and listening goes a way. I've been surrounded by a lot of industry greats my whole life and I've been able to really learn from them and a lot of it has been on the job learning. I think relationships are super, super key. If you're not valuing and cultivating those relationships in a very active way, then you know, that can certainly work for you in many ways. And lastly, I just think being yourself. I love travel and I love the outdoors and I love what travel does for people and what it has done for me. So to me that has been my main business model. I think if you're a gear head, then make a business model around being a gear head. If you like booking travel, you know, if you get joy out of that, do that. I think people really need to find whatever it is that they get joy out of and go after that. Favorite Books/Apps Samsara Meditation App <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/David-McCullough/e/B000AP9I5I/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=15330
S3 E121 · Thu, July 19, 2018
121: Mario Stanley- Mario tells us how he got into the outdoors, the climbing programs offered at HighPoint.
Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Well, my first experience honestly was a boy scout trips years ago and I barely remember it. But my real major introduction to the outdoors is probably climbing with a buddy of mine a few years ago in the Wichita wildlife refuge, which is an area about three hours I want to say northwest of here in Lawton, Oklahoma. It's like a world renowned spot or at least it should be a world renowned spot as far as I'm concerned. but I hiked out to this area called Elk slabs and Sharon's garden and that was my real experience as far as introduction into rock climbing, camping, like the whole experience of the thing. It quite a few years ago, over 10 years ago. But it was awesome. I did my first route out there called great expectations. It was a long route, about 100 feet tall. It was 5.5 and at the time it was like completely wicked. I was blown away. I was losing my mind. I was like, this is what rock climbing is about. I'm in. Things we talked about HighPoint Expeditions REI Black Velvet Canyon, Las Vegas Heuco Tanks Escalante Fronteras Adventure Therapy BAWS Festival AAC Advice, tips The biggest thing is first and foremost get a low level job like working in REI or being an assistant guide. I'm a rare bird, the harder I work at my guiding company the more I am inspired to rock climb and for most people it's like working at a restaurant and the more you work at a restaurant and the more you don't like the food. You just don't want to do it. So I find that some people really get burned out and I've watched really great climbers, enthusiastic people get into the business and get burned out because they just went hard right in the beginning. So my best advice is try it out. Whatever you're deciding, try it all out. Even the things that you like. I would never be interested in working as a Rep but if you are, just try it, try it for a little bit. If it doesn't work out for you, move on, but that's how you'll find what you love. And then you will start finding people and things that will set you in motion to pursue your dream or pursue whatever avenue you're going for. So that would be my best advice, take your time it's not a race. Other O
S3 E120 · Tue, July 17, 2018
Darren Josey- Darren tells us about his role at Polartec and all the outdoor fun he has on the east coast
Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors It was my mom who got me into the outdoors. You know, neither one of my parents are outdoors people by any stretch of the imagination. But my first experience in the outdoors was actually going fishing. I was probably six or seven years old and saw a fishing show over the summer and I was just sitting in front of the TV and looked at my mom and said, I want to do that. I should give you a little background. My mom never had a childhood. Really some of the worst possible things that can happen to a kid happened to my mother. She had to raise her two younger brothers and so her first childhood was raising my sister and I. My dad, you know, worked a regular nine to five thing. But Mom's a Boston public school teacher, so she had summers with my sister and I. I saw that fishing show on TV and said, you know, mom, I want to do that. And you know, her being a teacher and never having fished in her life. She said okay, let's figure this out. And I kid you not, we took some branches from the back yard, dug up some worms, took a safety pin and tied them to it. It was so much fun and I'm really fortunate within walking distance of my childhood home was the mystic river. We walked down there, through a shoelace, you know, tied to a tree in the water. You know what we did not catch any fish, but just to see fish in the water and see them actually eat the worm, was cool. I definitely didn't put the worm on the safety pin. I think she did. Later she took me to a real bait and tackle shop in the town next door and bought me my first rod and reel and I've been fishing ever since. Things we talked about Vibram City Sports Topo Athletic Polartec Yvon Chouinard Patagonia Cannabis Advice, tips I think for those looking to get in, pick the brands you're most passionate about that you use and follow them meticulously online, and just stay on their career pages. And I'd say really for, for hiring managers, be comfortable to bring people in who don't have a professional background in the sport that they're selling to. What I look for when I hire folks are their personal interest just as much as their professional skills because you know, especially at a brand like polar tech we serve so many di
S3 E119 · Thu, July 12, 2018
119: Teresa Baker from the African American Nature and Parks Outdoor Experience
Teresa works tirelessly to encourage communities of color across the country to get out into our national, state, regional and local parks. We talk about some of the great work she does and much more Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Just growing up in Richmond, California. I'm the only girl in a family of eight brothers, so being outdoors just came natural for us because back then our parents said go outdoors and don't come in until the street lights come on. Things we talked about African African American Nature and Parks Experience East Bay Regional Parks Yosemite Marin Headlands Tilden Park Public Lands Latino Outdoors Outdoor Afro Greening Youth Foundation Advice, tips What I tell people is to be creative. There are so many opportunities out here, but very few people create these opportunities for themselves. We're so accustomed to just accepting what's there and trying to fit into that space. I wouldn't wait for a brand or an organization to create a position around the work that I do that's not already there that would encompass the love of the outdoors. Social justice, environmental protection, these are positions that can be created because there's main brands and organizations out there with the ability to do it. We just need to step out beyond what's always been to create something new. That's what I'm hoping starts to take place. People start creating these little roles for themselves. Other Outdoor Activities Hiking Outdoor Photography Favorite Books <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Hour-Land-Personal-Topography-Am
S3 E118 · Tue, July 10, 2018
118: Brad Werntz- We talk about Outdoor, the New Normal and Boulders Climbing Gym in Madison, WI
Brad tells us about some changes at New Normal, his climbing and writing background and Boulders Climbing Gym in Madison, WI Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Man, you know, my parents took me down the river when I was an infant, less than six months old. My Dad took an old Coleman cooler when they were still made out of metal, and inflated and inner tube around it and towing it next to the canoe on a canoe trip and, you know, it's just part of growing up. And then when I was in kindergarten I had a PE teacher give a, a slideshow on, of all things recreational rapelling and I thought that looks cool. I want to get into vertical ground as soon as I can. And um, you know, I had a passion for the ocean, had a passion for mountains, had a passion for being outdoors. And I just followed that passion my whole life and I've been lucky to be here ever since. Things we talked about Skinner Brothers Wilderness Camp Erehwon Outfitter 5.10 PMI Outdoor Retailer Moonstone Gregory New Normal Consulting Boulders Climbing Gym Land Water Conservation Fund Conservation Alliance Advice, tips You know, I get that question a lot, we got it a lot during the recession and it was just kind of like, you get a call from somebody who might've been in a completely different career insurance or advertising and they're like, you know, it's kind of a struggle in my career. If I have to restart here, I might as well. We'd start with where my passion is and my advice was always . . . Yeah, follow that passion. You know it's challenging to do it mid life, I've known people who've done that and done it successfully. But you kind of have to start at the basics and then network up really quickly, which means get a job at retail, even if it's a part time job and just a wedge in because it's going to be difficult. Even if you sold $10,000,000 worth of insurance every year, it's going to be really difficult to translate that into a rep career. I think also connections are really
S3 E115 · Thu, June 28, 2018
Outdoor and Adventure Photographer Adam Barker
You’ve seen Adams work in various brand ads and catalogs including YETI, Mtn Khakis and more. Adam tells us how he became photographer and what its like to “get the shot” no matter the conditions. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors No, one of the first outdoor experiences I can recall would have been ski Mountain Dell Golf Course with my, with my dad in Parleys Canyon. There's no chair lift it. It literally is the golf course. So you know, you're strapping on your skis and I remember him pushing me, pushing me down. It was a total disaster, but it stuck with me and I loved it. And to this day, you know, if you knew me in high school or college or whatever, my entire life was structured around skiing and I think that had a large part of, of getting into outdoor photography was figuring out how I could call scheme my job. Right. So yeah, that was kind of my first one of my first outdoor experiences for sure. Things we talked about Westwater Cataract Canyon Middle Fork of the Salmon YETI Mountain Khakis Lifestraw Follow the litres Advice, tips I've got maybe three bits of advice. The first one, which I think is kind of forgotten in this day and age is simply to do the work. You know, like you gotta put your head down and grind. There's this expectation of being able to just jump in and see massive success and it's the, it's a endeavor that requires time, you know, 10,000 hours to master a craft. And so that would be the first thing is do the work. And don't forget that there's just no way around it. There's no shortcut, right? You gotta get up early, you got to stay away, you got to send the email and you got to do the Promo, you need to brand yourself, you need to have a good website and you stay updated. The second would be to remember the value of relationships because ultimately no matter how skilled you are or their reputation that proceeds you, in my opinion, this business, like many businesses out there is based on relationships. People that hire us, right? It's people that sign our checks. It's people that rehire us or choose not to and you know, so it's so vital and so key to establish and maintain relationships. And then lastly, I would say to stay the course because it's a roller coaster of ups and downs and
S3 E114 · Tue, June 26, 2018
Elton Caushi of Albanian Trip- Adventure Travel in Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro
Elton Caushi of Albanian Trip specializing in small group adventures in the beautiful surrounding regions of Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Elton tells us how he became and adventurer and about Life in Albania, the great trips they offer and one of his favorites called bunkers and beaches. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Certainly my holidays at my Grandma’s as a kid. Climbing on trees, roofs and terraces, swimming in rivers and lakes, crawling in sandy dunes and wandering around pine forests, visiting bazaars and countryside families, staring at old ways of working the wool or cooking traditional delicious dishes. It’s been amazing and full of fantasy. A wonderland for a curios kid. Things we talked about Albanian Trip UNHCR Advice, tips Stay curious! Always look and learn new things. Love people. Love nature. Enjoy your work. It’s a privilege to work in this business. Other Outdoor Activities I snorkel, jog, tennis, hike, swim, raft, jeep drive, ski, snowshoe, cycle (a lot), sea kayak, windsurf, stand up paddle etc etc. Favorite Books I really have a lot of favorite books and it’s not easy for me to put two aside: anyway I believe I could read “ Robinson Crusoe ” by Daniel Defoe another 50 times and I would recommend or offer “ A 100 years of solitude ” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez without hesitation. Best Gear Purchase under $100 Motorola waterproof walkie talkies Connect with Elton <
S2 E113 · Thu, June 21, 2018
113 Replay Hilary Harris- Hilary, Founder/Owner of Evo Rock & Fitness on how she built EVO from the ground up
We talk about the challenges she faced along the way, her childhood in Hawaii, taking a NOLS course during college and her career as a professional climber in the early days of professional climbing. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I kind of grew up in a in two contrasting worlds, when I was a kid my family lived in Houston Texas of all places. Which is, I don't know if you've ever been there but as a city there's lots of buildings. My experience in the outdoors there was going to the swimming pool and the zoo. Basically I spent a lot of my time at shopping malls and going roller skating and bowling and things like that . . . not climbing. But my mother's side of the family was from Hawaii. So we were really lucky because we got to go to Hawaii every summer and that was just a magical place for me growing up. My grandparents lived on Maui and the climate there is perfect, it's paradise of course. People who just are outside all of the time even if you're inside the indoors and the outdoors kind of mesh together. I played in the dirt with bare feet all the time. We went to the beach all the time so that was really where I became passionate about the environment and the outdoors. Then I ended up coming to Colorado to go to college and was studying environmental science and took a semester off and went on NOLS Course. We went to the Wind River Range and we had a desert section and a caving section some winter sessions in the Wyoming range. We also had a climbing section. I did learn actually how to climb before I went on NOLS with some skier friends of mine but when I went to that was when it really hit home and I thought gosh I this is something that I want to do for the rest of my life, so yeah I came back kind of a changed person. Things we talked about EVO Rock and Fitness Metro Rock- Boston Kristen Ogden Carpenter The Access Fund Advice, tips First you have to be crazy. No, I get so many resumes that cross my desk and and people sending me e-mails and telling me how passionate they are about climbing and about EVO. And it's it's great to hear that, you know that's a very important ingredient in looking for staff is y
S2 E112 · Tue, June 19, 2018
Replay- Travis Campbell-Smartwool, The OIA and how the Outdoor Industry leads the public lands battle.
Travis Campbell tells about his first year at Smartwool, what the OIA is working on and how the Outdoor Industry leads the public lands battle. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors My first six years my family lived down in Miami of all places. It's funny I think of myself as the northwestern kid but we lived in Miami till I was six. It seemed like we spent every weekend down in the Florida Keys. We would just go down there and we'd camp and we'd fish and my mom always tells the story of how I caught my first fish at two years old and I never stopped. I don't think I really figured out fly-fishing until I was 12 or 13. Things we talked about Steamboat Smartwool Smartwool Facebook The Outdoor Industry Association Sage Farbank Reddington Rio The Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Conservation Alliance Advice, tips Folks that are already in, you mentioned it a little earlier with Stacia, I think there's some really cool opportunities in the space right now. Like the Future Leaders Academy the Stasia helps run that OIA puts on. I think that's an awesome program entering our third cycle. We've had just a really good response to that. I think there's things like the sustainability working group that OIA helped facilitate that can be a great networking opportunity and fundamentally helps move the industry forward on sustainability. We've got lots of great conservation organizations that you can get involved with. It's somewhat of an insular industry right so you'll meet industry people at all these conservation organizations and you know at the end of the day it's all about the network. I think the same is somewhat true for folks trying to get into the space. When I talk to people that are trying to get in I always caution them that I think we're an overly insular industry. We always want to hire folks who have outdoor industry experience and that can be really hard for people who are trying to get into the space. That's where things like volunteering with conservation or
S2 E111 · Thu, June 14, 2018
111 Replay- Derwyn Harris- Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of Talkoot tells us how he got into product strategy and gives us his thoughts on how outdoor branding might evolve in the next few years.
Derwyn has an extensive background in software development and was co-founder of Jama Software. Currently he manages product strategy, development and market position to help Talkoot grow and share their numerous strengths as a product. He tells us how he got into product strategy, his experience as events manager at Outside magazine and his thoughts on how branding might evolve in the next few years. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I feel very connected to the outdoors. I grew up in Santa Fe New Mexico. My dad was a huge advocate for backpacking and we went backpacking all the time. I mean we had a VW Bus and we rode out into the wilds of Santa Fe or up into Colorado. Then I was on the search and rescue team when I was in college going to St. John's College. I have skied my entire life hitchhiking up every single weekend to go skiing. Things we talked about Outside Magazine Mtn Hardwear Butron Doc Martens adidas Advice, tips What I'm seeing is that the outdoor industry or brands and retailers are looking to technology in order to stay current and move faster. And there's not only an understanding of technology that you can bring to the table but there's practices and workflows that software has figured out. I'm a big proponent of the Agile software development methodology that that exists. I did this in my talk a little bit, I talked about how those concepts can really be applied to organizations dealing you know brand and or retail. And I would say anyone looking to get into the outdoor industry, if someone is passionate about the outdoors now is a great time. If you're in the technology sector working on some you know, some software company that sells to other you know server brands, now is a great time because your expertise in the technology world is really needed greatly in the outdoor industry as well. So I think it's a great opportunity for people to move around. Other Outdoor Activities Surfing Sailing Swimming Cyclocross Mtn Biking Favorite Books Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon McKenzie Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull Hitchhiker's Guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams Best Gear Purchase under $100 <p class
S2 E110 · Tue, June 12, 2018
110 Replay- Brian Hennessy-Brian tells us about storytelling, framing and how they help brands tell more cohesive outdoor stories
Thread is a writing studio that helps great brands like adidas, Burton, Simms fishing an others tell their story and Talkoot is a cloud based platform that brings the dark ninja skills of content creators together in one bright, sunny, crazily useful place. Brian and I talk about how framing impacts brand stories and how a guy with and economics degree got into storytelling. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE First exposure to the Outdoors I was from the Midwest and me and my friends would jump in a car on Friday in Chicago and drive up to upper Michigan and in the middle of January and camp on the shores of Lake Superior. We'd go build an igloo in negative three degree weather just because we so wanted to be outdoors and we just felt so out of place in Chicago. So then me and those two friends moved out to Seattle and spent our 20s and 30s climbing, backcountry skiing and Mountaineering. Things we talked about Thread Creative Talkoot adidas Framing Nike NFL Films Patagonia Afrika Bambaataa Tofurkey Simms Fishing The Immigrant Story Advice, tips When I left the adidas I started freelancing. And when you work for a big company oftentimes there's a lot to grumble about and it's easy to grumble because you have a boss and have a boss's boss. And there's so many things impacting what you do that it's easy to grumble but then when it's freelance you can't grumble anymore because you don't have a boss it's you. You got yourself into this and you have to get yourself out of it. At first that was a weird thing but then I was like oh my gosh I can do anything I want, I can work for anyone I want. And as long as I was able to be financially independent, and that doesn't mean being rich by any by any means, my expenses are underneath my revenue. I can do anything I want. It gave me an insane amount of freedom. And so I would just volunteer work I would you know I'd just go ask people to do stuff. Sometimes clients would pay me for one thing and then I would go and do this whole other thing along with what they paid me for. And I'd come in and I present. You know this headline is better and I read a story telling and here's you know here's why you want this headline versus that. And so just start doing work for
S2 E109 · Thu, June 07, 2018
109: Danica Carey- Fun conversation about the outdoors with Danica Carey from Seirus
Danica grew up with a passion for the Outdoors hiking, camping, skiing and playing sports like soccer. She tells how she and her sister basically started at Seirus when they were toddlers. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors My parents really got us into the outdoors pretty early growing up in Southern California. We were total water babies, at the beach all the time and by the time I was about two, they had taken us up to the mountains and put us on skis right away. So that was pretty cool, I just took to the skis so quickly. I loved it. They'd put me on the mountain and drop me off at the top and all I wanted to do is go straight. I think it started turning when I was about 15. Things we talked about NFL Jay Peak Big Sky SOS outreach Vail Veterans Program Advice, tips I would say follow what your passion. You have to find what your passion is and then find something that you contribute to it. There's so many things that you do. We can't all be professional athletes, we can't all be the best biker or snowboarder, but we can all contribute to making it as accessible and available to everyone. And I think that passion for the activity will help you do whatever you want to do. I think people always have multiple talents, passions. And there's plenty brands, vendors and retailers that could use programming for example. So if you have a talent that is something not necessarily outdoors, there's plenty of places to use your talent. Other Outdoor Activities Ski Camp Hike Surf Bike Hockey Favorite Books Health is Your Birthright by Ellen Tart-Jensen Best Gear Purchase under $100 <a href="https://www.seir
S2 E108 · Tue, June 05, 2018
108: Richard Edwards- How Ecotourism and Slow Travel can provide a more engaged adventure experience
Richard has done a lot of great work promoting ecotourism and tells us how that work really got moving at A Conde Nast Travel event. He talks about G Adventures, Planeterra, The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund and a whole lot more Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Adventure Travel I was born and raised in the Pacific northwest and you're pretty much outside all the time. That's why people move here. That's why my parents moved here. We were fishing and camping from day one. So I grew up doing that and the interest I would say in those activities did ebb and flow over the years until maybe 16 when a friend of my dad's convinced me that he needed to help me build a raft to go rafting the rivers with him. So we used fiberglass tape on PVC and made a frame for that raft and took it down the class fours. So we made it through alive but maybe not probably not the smartest. We continued to take it out. It was solid. It wasn't pretty but solid. Yeah. That was, that was fun stuff. So I guess I guess when you're talking about adventure travel, like what I'm involved in now where you pay for a package and have it guided and things like that, that would have been pretty early on. I went to Costa Rica the first time when I was only 18 or 19. Not too long after that. I bought the first real gift I ever bought for my mom, aside from flowers and things like that. And that was a few days in Tortuguero out on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica to see the sea turtles hatch. And we were lucky enough to have that moment happen. It was amazing. And that'll get the fever go on. Things we talked about Organization of American States and Costa Rica Conde Nast Traveller Bruce Poon Tip Planeterra Adventure Travel Conservation Fund Advice, tips Figure out what they can offer the industry and figure out who might need that kind of help and contact them. The employment ads for adventure travel are always pretty robust. There are always several opportunities on the adventure travel trade association website for young people that are looking. Without
S2 E107 · Thu, May 31, 2018
107- replay 004 Jeff Sermak- An Outdoor Sales Managers Fish Tales
Jeff Sermak is the National Sales Manager at Eagle Creek and on the Outreach Committee at the Conservation Alliance. He is doing great work at Eagle Creek and has a funny fish story for you. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Bio Grew up in So CA and spent time in the Eastern Sierra. College in Boulder, CO transferred to USC to finish degree Lloyd wright Entrepreneurship program- Skateboard Co plastic skateboards “penny skateboards” Fraternity ATO alpha tau omega first exposure to the outdoors fishing with his Dad with a “snoopy rod”, caught his first rainbow trout Things we talked about catalyst for getting into outdoor biz: started out in Action Sports with street league skateboarding spent some time at Fuel TV finished degree and was hired in Marketing at Eagle Creek Currently National Sales Manager at Eagle Creek Outreach committee member and ambassador with The Conservation Alliance Daily Routine read for 30 min or so uses Outlook as calendar mgmt system runs daily Jeff’s Reading List (in no particular order) Start with Why by Simon Sinek Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard Wooden on Leadership by John Wooden Mentor Leader by Tony Dungy The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Getting to Yes by William Ury, and Bruce Patton The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Good to Great by Jim Collins
S2 E106 · Tue, May 29, 2018
106: Katie Hawkins- The Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy, Sierra Nevada College and outdoor tales
Katie tells us about her experience with the Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy, iconic brands like Gregory, Black Diamond and Marmot and one of her favorite books, I love this one . . . I’ll give you a hint . . . its a Dr Seuss book! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in the Pacific northwest and the suburb of Seattle. One thing about growing up in the northwest is it's absolutely amazing and being able to walk outside and see towering pine trees, views of Mount Rainier and so on, it's unbelievable. It's amazing and worth the hype. My family was very much into camping and traveling around the state of Washington. We would go fishing every summer for three weeks in a little coastal community called Sekiu, Washington in the Straight of Juan de Fuca near Canada. Those are my earliest memories, like three years old, up until 15 every August going king salmon fishing. That's really what inspired me, you know, curiosity of being out on the trail but also early mornings and going out with my dad and my brother fishing. Things we talked about Marmot Gregory Black Diamond Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Sierra Nevada College Ice Axe Expeditions Pacific Crest Trail Association Advice, tips I think the thing is you just got to kind of lean into some opportunities. One thing that I've done in the past is, you know, approach brands and said, you know, can I do some work for you, some freelance work and just to kind of get my foot in the door, and if they have opportunities to volunteer and come help. If they're having a sample sale or whatever. You just need to get some sort of network or connection and build on that. That's something that I think can be, it can be daunting to kind of put yourself out there. But I think that's where some of this happens is just making those connections and then giving your time and showing what you can do. I also think we need to be open to people that come from different industries. Because right now retail is shifting and we need people that have different skillsets. That digital skill set to be able to really propel people's
S2 E105 · Thu, May 24, 2018
105: Chris Pew- how different languages can impact the outdoor design process
Chris tells us how they’ve built a great brand up in Portland, OR. We talk about the inspiration for TREW, launching a brand with one item and some of the challenges and successes along the way. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I think like a lot of people I just grew up doing this stuff and the happiest memories I have are being outdoors. I was lucky to have parents that love to go outdoors. My Dad particularly loves to ski and so we just skied a lot. I think I skied when I was two and a half with one of those leashes or whatever. There's pictures of us just kind of harnessed in. And I remember the first memories of skiing or just following Dad around. He's got like a backpack full of candy and that's like, all it took. And since then we've done a lot of backpacking. I think anyone in outdoor industry it's why we do this. It's just the place where you can really relax, so yeah, that's the first connection. It's the place where we're all at peace. Things we talked about TREW gear Bonfire Burton Arcteryx Vietnam Factories Bangladesh Factories The Northwest Avalanche Center Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center Advice, tips I think about the best employees we've ever had, which are everyone that we have now and these people are just so hungry to learn. They're humble and I think that attitude, you know, when you start working, especially at a small company. I think it's got to translate to a big company too. If you approach your job as I'm just always wanting to do more and learn new things. I never have the conversation with our employees, no one ever comes to me and says, Hey uh, this doesn't fit my job description so I don't, I'm not gonna do this. Everyone just wants to bring more onto their plate because they can learn more. I think that's the most valuable thing for employees. And I would hire anybody even if they didn't have any experience, if I could tell that they had that real drive to improve themselves and learn more. Other Outdoor Activities Backpacking Cycling Favorite Books <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=peter+drucker+books&sprefix=peter+drucker%2Cstripbook
S2 E104 · Tue, May 22, 2018
Bill Dawson- A life and career dedicated to The Outdoor Biz
Bill has made a great career for himself in both the Outdoor and Fly Fishing Spaces. He tells us about his work with REI getting their Adventure Travel Program off the ground, his transition into fly fishing with Sage, how he parlayed his entrepreneurial spirit into a successful repping business on the East Coast. Bill has made a great career for himself in both the Outdoor and Fly Fishing Spaces. He tells us about his work with REI getting their Adventure Travel Program off the ground, his transition into fly fishing with Sage, how he parlayed his entrepreneurial spirit into a successful repping business on the East Coast. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors My Dad started us off early and so I grew up hunting and fishing and camping with him and actually went to the Orvis fly fishing school in 1969. And that's when you stayed in the motor coach in across the street from the bamboo factory and went out in the pond factory and learned how to cast and whatnot. So we did that, got a little fishing in and interestingly enough I did that with a cast on my leg so I didn't get to wade in any of the streams and do that portion of the school. But then I got into skiing. That was back in the early days in Pennsylvania and I can still remember to this day my dad coming back from a European business trip and handing me a brand new pair of leather buckle boots. And up to that point you had tie boots and you had a little tool that you could pull tight on the laces and get them tight enough. Things we talked about W Dawsons Inc Orvis REI Mountain Travel Sage Rio Reddington Patagonia Umpqua Kamchatka Highland High School Lacrosse Project Healing Waters Fishermans Conservation Association National Wild Turkey Federation Trout Unlimited Advice, tips I've certainly heard it on your podcast numerous times and, and I'm a product of that, but you know, following that passion. Like I mentioned, you know, trying to join your application with your vocation. I do believe that
S2 E103 · Thu, May 17, 2018
103: Katie Wade- Katie tells us about a new outdoor project about to launch.
Katie talks about how she got into the outdoors, some of her experiences with guiding at A16 and Trail Mavens and about a couple new gear rental/borrow programs that you need to know about. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Katie talks about how she got into the outdoors, some of her experiences with guiding at A16 and Trail Mavens and about a couple new gear rental/borrow programs that you need to know about. First Exposure to the Outdoors I was lucky enough to have parents that took me hiking in the local mountains where I grew up. I grew up at the base of the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles. My parents are not like big huge outdoor people, but they love nature and they loved taking us on hikes up in the national forest and then we'd do road trips to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon and we'd always stay at hotels. They weren't big campers but the exposure to camping happens with much later. I definitely had a love for the outdoors from young age because of where I grew up. Then my parents began prioritizing taking us to the national parks. I got into camping because I went to a summer camp, a sleep away camp on Catalina through the YMCA and got to spend time on the island and it was glorified camping. We had kind of shelters that we would stay in that were open air shelters so you could feel the breeze of the ocean. That was kind of my first exposure to sleeping outside and I just thought I just loved it. I thought it was so much fun and a kind of kept on finding opportunities over the next several years throughout middle school and high school to go on camping trips. Things we talked about UC San Diego Outback Adventures REI Adventure 16 Outdoor Retailer Jeff Sheets, Dan Hill, Dan Miller, Tim Richards 8000 Meter Challenge Clif Bar Trail Mavens , Sasha Cox Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Last Minute Gear Bay Area Wilderness Training Camber <a href="https://outdoorindustry.org/" target="_blank" rel= "noope
S2 E102 · Tue, May 15, 2018
102: Adam Buchanan- Adam talks about outdoor influencer marketing, the importance of trust and much more.
Adam talks about his 67 camper re-build project, his passion for the outdoors, some of his experiences with Backcountry.com, Cabelas, Wasatch Touring, and tells us about his business and how you can work with him. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Adam talks about his 67 camper re-build project, his passion for the outdoors, some of his experiences with Backcountry.com, Cabelas, Wasatch Touring, and tells us about his business and how you can work with him. First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in New Mexico. We were pretty active outdoor family, I did a lot of skiing, hiking. I actually used to compete in competitive skiing. Leading up to the 2000 Olympics there were a lot of scouts, a lot of competitions and there was some kind of discussion around that, but I was like, you know, I just kinda want to get back into it for fun and not compete. And my big thing was always wanting to get into mountain climbing and climbing Mount Everest one day. That was like my senior year. So my senior trip, I drove myself to Mount Rainier with 11 other strangers and did Mount Rainier and it was a lot of fun and learned a lot and then got married and just start having kids and things and I thought, I don't know if the crazy high altitude peaks or for me. Things we talked about Adam Buchanan Wasatch Touring Backcountry.com The Marketing Trust Podcast Mark Schaefer- Known camofire.com Leave No Trace Conservation Alliance Advice, tips I talk to a lot of college students and a lot of people come and they're like, how do I get started? What do I do? And the advice that I always come back to is, get your hands dirty as quick as possible. This isn't fancy, this isn't glamorous. You know, a lot of people think like, Oh, you going to go into public speaking and you get to work with influencers and how fun is your life and what they don't see is how at 1:00 AM I'm in a live chat with customers on a facebook page or out at 4:00 AM or you know at Fox and friends in New York
S2 E101 · Thu, May 10, 2018
101: Replay episode 10- Andy Palmer, How can I get paid to live outdoor?
I hope you enjoy this replay of episode 10 and my conversation with Andy Palmer. Andy and his wife Lori are the founders of The Adventure Portal, a terrific resource for everything related to Vehicle-Assisted Adventure information and news in the U.S.A. Andy made a mindless comment to a buddy one time about getting paid to camp and he has just about pulled it off. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Bio came to US in 1995 set up Animal USA VP Sales Dragon Optical GM Clive launched Fortress Ocean Minded CEO Crank Brothers first exposure to the outdoors primitive camping as a kid sailing and windsurfing as a kid Things we talked about The Adventure Portal Broad product range of European Outdoor businesses many outdoor activities are all based around camping Jim and Katie Thomsen Overlanding vs Vehicle Supported Adventure How Adventure Camping is different from Overlanding Vehicle Supported Adventure crosses over into many industries like traditional Outdoor, Adventure Travel, Camping, Off Roading The Adventure Portal provides Gear Reviews, Trail Reports, First person story of an Adventure, Training Great piece of gear all outdoor adventurers need- Max Trax or some kind of sand ladder Would like to push the focus of The Adventure Portal out to a wider more mainstream audience The Industry is becoming more mainstream REI published a catalog in November with no backpacking images The Adventure Portal promotes and adheres to "Tread Lightly" principles SEMA - Auto Show in Las Vegas Gear trends TurtleBack Trailers Yakima Tepui Overland Expo Off Road Trailer Buyers Guide A well curated space
S2 E100 · Tue, May 08, 2018
100: I answer the outdoor questions as Tim McGuire interviews me
WOW, so here we are at episode 100. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you! I am forever grateful to the great guests who have generously give their time and to all you listeners out there! What began as “I’m just gonna try 5 of these and see how it goes” is now a twice weekly conversation listened to by over 30,000 of you. For episode 100 I’m turning over the mic to my great friend and colleague Tim McGuire. Many of you asked when I was going to answer my questions so here it is. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors My parents and grandparents inspired my love for the outdoors. My grandfather was an avid outdoorsman, you know, back in the days of the American sportsman on TV and Curt Gowdy, announcing all the various things that he did from hunting and fishing to archery and the Olympics, all the sports. He took us out and taught us how to fish, how to hunt and how to camp. My parents were into camping sometimes it was tent camping, but then we got a trailer, we had a 1959 airstream and took that all over the west. The greatest trip was up to Yellowstone. Things we talked about California Park and Recreation Society Kern River Tours Mountain River Adventures Rick Saez Photography AquaTech Fishing Trails 2 Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy California Wilderness Coalition Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association Tim Ferriss Show Thrive Global Podcast - Arianna Huffington podcast Advice, tips I think the thing is like a lot of my guests have said, it's figuring out what your passion is
Thu, May 03, 2018
099: Mike Harvey- Fostering a love for Whitewater Adventure in Salida, CO
This turned out to be one of my favorite episodes. A great conversation with Mike Harvey from Badfish SUP. You can feel his love and enthusiasm for Whitewater as Mike tells us how he got hooked on paddling, began building whitewater parks and started Badfish SUP. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I live in saliva, Colorado in the Upper Arkansas River valley. I've lived here actually since I was 18 years old. So a good 25 years or so. And I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. I grew up in a family that was really passionate about fly fishing, my dad and my grandparents. So most of my first experiences in outdoors where via Fishing. Particularly on my grandparents side, they had a farm type property in southwestern Pennsylvania. So we'd crawl around there and fish and crawl around in the woods. My grandfather would go fishing in the trout stream you know, and leave the kids at home. My grandmother actually taught me to cast a fly rod in the back in the yard and then my grandmother and I would go fish for bluegill in the farm ponds and stuff. So actually my grandmother really got me out there. She was awesome. She you know, she'd get right down in the dirt with me. Things we talked about Badfish SUP Prescott College FIBArk — America's Oldest & Boldest Whitewater Festival The Arkansas River Trust Great Outdoors Colorado Recreation Engineering and Planning Advice, tips I would say that most people in this industry, once you've decided to work in this industry you probably decided because you're passionate about the outdoors. The only choice you need to make, which is like, you know what, I'm going to do this because this is what I love and we'll figure the rest of it out. Other Outdoor Activities Paddling Surfing Mtn Biking Skiing Favorite Books Big Bang by Simon Singh <p
S2 E98 · Tue, May 01, 2018
Chris Speak- built a career out of his love for the outdoors
Chris tells us where is passion for the outdoors comes from, some of his experiences with JanSport, Vasque, Eagle Creek, and some great advice he’s received from mentors along the way. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I think my first outdoor memories are going to bog sled races in Alaska. My dad's passion for the outdoors just kind of crept right on down with anything from hiking to paddling the climbing, whatever's nearby. My Dad was stationed there in the military and when he wasn't on base, he was a hunting guide and loved camping. We were out all the time. It was quite a playground as a little guy. And then we moved back to Minnesota. I think one of my teachers was showing a picture of a Moose and I said, oh, that's my backyard. The teacher had to have a talk with my mom and dad saying well, your son has this fantasy. And my Mom and Dad had to inform her that we had just moved back from Alaska. And Yes, there indeed was a bull moose in our backyard. Things we talked about OutnBack , Orem Utah JanSport LL Bean Eagle Creek BYU Vasque/Redwing PUR Big City Mountaineers Conservation Alliance Philmont Scout Ranch Advice, tips I went to school at BYU, originally started in business and then I was thinking about it and I decided to go into advertising because that would get me into sports because I love sports and outdoor activities. And then I figured out that I really didn't want to be creative in advertising and the pay wasn't that great... and I thought well, what's my passion? And I just started working at this store called Out and Back. And as I did that, I realized that's where my passion was. And I remember going to my counselor and saying, Hey, I love recreation I'm going to recreate. And the counselor looked at me, the professor, he goes, there's no way you can do that. I said watch me. And I've had this great experience. People weren't thinking about it from a business standpoint. And so I took it in a little different direction and it was great. But now what I'm really excited about is schools like University of Oregon, Utah State have star
S2 E97 · Thu, April 26, 2018
097: Larry Harrison- Sage advice for each of us in the Outdoor Biz
Larry tells us how he got started in the biz, his experiences with JanSport, Wilderness Experience, Outdoor Retailer, has some sage advice for each of us, and much much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I figured the best Answer to that is . . . I was a twin and we were born wild dogs in a little Illinois town. On one side of our house was a big park and then behind it was forest. And then after the forest there was a canal. Did we ever have a playground. Then on the other side of the canal was all farmland. And this was for my first nine years. Up the street was the largest hill in rock falls and sterling, we called it death hill. My twin brother and our friends, we just terrorized that area climbing trees, diving into water, probably going down the steep embankments was just part of the way we grew up. It so long ago that I probably shouldn't even tell you the date, but it was 1959. Now we should all be proud of our age. Never shirk the duty of representing your age because there's always somebody younger than you that wonders what it's like to be that age because they need something to model themselves after. I always copied the people who were older than me. Then we moved to California and I thought, did I ever score when we moved to San Diego. I told my mother after seeing some kids surfing that I want to surf and she said, no way, you hardly know how to swim. And so I had to swim back and forth, three times at De Anza Cove. It's a long way back and forth, back and forth, back. And by the end of the summer I'd done that and I was able to take up surfing and like most of my great endeavors in a sport I never really became great. But I really had a great time. I really enjoyed myself. Things we talked about The Mountain People (Eagle Creek)- Steve and Nona Barker, Ricky Schlesinger Coming Attractions (Sport Science)- Neal Caplowe, Ricky Schlesinger Wilderness Experience- Jim and Greg Thomsen JanSport- Skip Yowell, Todd Spaletto, Chris Speak, Paul DeLorey Uncle Dan's- Colin Moynihan Advice, tips Well, I think it was Mark Twain that said "you need two things, ignorance and confidence" you know? I think that a belief in yourself. We went out in the outdoors as youth and I guess that it instilled some confidence that the outdoors was my playground and then I went into the outdoor business. Well, I had the Outdoor part of it done, you know? I had to learn business, but I found words fun so
S2 E96 · Tue, April 24, 2018
096: Nate Simmons-strange outdoor bedfellows to come together to get good things done for public lands.
Nate and I talk about where his outdoor passion comes from, Backbone Media and how we have an opportunity to unite all outdoor recreation enthusiasts towards better public lands stewardship and recreation experiences for all. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Great conversation with Nate Simmons from Backbone Media on the show today. Nate and I talk about where his outdoor passion comes from, Backbone Media and how we have an opportunity to unite all outdoor recreation enthusiasts towards better public lands stewardship and recreation experiences for all. First Exposure to the Outdoors As a kid my Grandfather and my dad hunting and fishing was something that we did together and that was something that pulled me outside, so I think a lot of it really started there. My grandfather was a big game hunter and talking about his trips to Canada and out West I would hear about those adventures and that always really drew me in to the outdoors. Then, you know, school and boy scouts and camping and that sort of thing starts to come into it a little bit. that was a big driver too. Things we talked about Backbone Media Big City Mountaineers Protect our Winters Conservation Alliance The Nature Conservancy The Wilderness Society Advice, tips I would say start anywhere you can and start where your passion lies. And so if it's a job at retail or if it's a job guiding, any way that you can possibly break into that activity or, or the niche that you're most passionate about, that forms the basis, I think for the rest of your career. And of course definitely start at the ground up. Any way you can leverage your way in and those experiences will pay benefits later as you move up through the organizations or through the industry. I mean, being able to look back at your experience as a guide or as a retail person is important. I've seen so many people build their career because they're passionate about it and they make great connections
S2 E95 · Thu, April 19, 2018
Marc Sherman- Visionary at the Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington Vermont
Mark has had one job in the Outdoor Biz with Outdoor Gear Exchange. We talk about how he got started, the unique evolution of the shop, and some of the great features and services they offer. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Mark has had one job in the Outdoor Biz with Outdoor Gear Exchange and tells us how he got started, the unique evolution of the shop, and some of the great features and services they offer. First Exposure to the Outdoors I've been enjoying the outdoors since I was a kid. We used to do to a lot of camping with my parents and skiing. I was actually coming up to stowe ski regularly from my home state of New Jersey as a kid. I remember the drives very distinctly and all the things that you do with kids to keep them busy on a six hour drive. Also remember being dragged out for the first first chair every day by my dad who was indefatigable on terms of the need to ski regardless of what the weather was like. And I married someone who's just like that. I tend to be more of a fair-weather skier at this point in my life, and that's OK, I've got the skills. We also used to do an annual camping trip with my father. We do a canoe camping trip every summer for a week and it was just all part of my tradition. Things we talked about Outdoor Gear Exchange Vermont Teddy Bear Outdoor Retailer Panel- How to Thrive in the age of Amazon Nickel Bag Program Conservation Alliance Vermont Hut System Advice, tips I think getting into the outdoor business is similar to getting into any business. My advice is for people to find a business itself that you value, that you value their values, that you like the way the business runs and just get a job there, doesn't matter what it is. If you are engaged and involved in your business and you're working in an organization that has a good culture, you'll get recognized and you'll move up the ladder. Because you know, a certain portion of everybody working in the outdoor industry, busines
S2 E94 · Tue, April 17, 2018
094: Seth Blackamore- Fly Fisherman, Author & Outdoor Photographer
Seth is a fly fisherman, author, photographer based here in Bishop, Ca. He has been fly fishing his entire life. In 2016 he co-authored Fishing Trails 2 with Jared Smith. This is preeminent guide to backcountry fishing in the Eastern Sierra. We talk about fishing, his love for the outdoors and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Seth is a fly fisherman, author, photographer based here in Bishop, Ca. He has been fly fishing his entire life. In 2016 he co-authored Fishing Trails 2 with Jared Smith. This is preeminent guide to backcountry fishing in the Eastern Sierra. We talk about fishing, his love for the outdoors and more. First Exposure to the Outdoors I was into the Outdoors before sports, it's always been the outdoors. Growing up both my parents just loved the outdoors and had a passion for it. We'd camp, fish, hike and had campfires and smores. In the Desert, Mountains, you name it, man. And so I have many, many fond memories at an early age of being in the outdoors. Things we talked about Flyfishing Photography Sports (football) Electric Fishing: Seth Blackamore Fishin Trails 2 Orange Lutheran High Hchool Advice, tips one of my favorite quotes is this "don't ask yourself what this world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that because that's what this world needs". If there are people out there that are interested in pursuing the outdoor business, I'd say follow your passions and pursue your passions and money will follow. I got into fishing because I love fishing. I started writing articles and doing photos just for myself about fishing. And then all sudden one day some people started saying, hey, why don't you write me an article about this? So next thing I know it was in a magazine and why don't you write me an article about this? And the next thing I know I'm doing a collab with Jared Smith about our book fishing trails and next thing you know, I was in this industry and started making some money. Without even really trying to pursue this industry. So find your passion and pursue it. And maybe some money will follow. Other Outdoor Activities dirt bike riding spearfishing Favorite Books Bi
S2 E93 · Thu, April 12, 2018
093: Sara Ray Lewis from Outdoor Retailer Rock Creek Outfitters
Sara tells us about her Science background, how she got into the outdoors and how a vegetarian became the best organic grocery meat buyer in Knoxville. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors We weren't the wealthiest family so when we went on vacation we'd go for a week to the state park and I loved it. I've got an older brother so we were just partners in crime for a week, riding our bikes, swimming in the lake and going hiking it. It was how our family recreated. My mom super adventurous, I'm thankful for that and I definitely attribute my outdoor love to my parents. I'm super thankful for that. Things we talked about Rock Creek Outfitters Three Rivers Market Blackdome Breast Cancer Support Services Southeastern Climbers Coalition Access Fund StumpJump 50K Trail Race Triple Crown Bouldering Series Advice, tips Yeah, start small. Start start on the sales floor. You've got to have that baseline of knowledge before I think you can really rise up. You learn how to sell the things that you love and learn how sell things you don't really like too. In a small businesses especially, like us, we hire from within. So if we see somebody on our salesforce doing great, they're going to be a manager and they'll eventually get into merchandising or buying. That's the organic process. I think it's cool to see how some universities around the country are now even offering outdoor business degrees, industry related degrees related to recreation. Or even design for outdoor which half the sourcing is based on its ecologic friendliness. It's funny you know, I'm an elbow greaser though whatever you want to do, just get your hands dirty, work hard and it all pays off. Just put in the effort. Other Outdoor Activities Stand Up Paddle Boarding Running Snowb
Bonus · Wed, April 11, 2018
Waypoint Adventure Travel- April 2018
A funny beginning to this episode so I left it in the edit. This episode of Waypoint from the Outdoor Biz Podcast is our monthly update on trends and analysis in the The Adventure Travel space. Today I’m speaking with Therese Iknoian and Michael Hogdson from HI Travel Tales. We talk about how the year is progressing, some the trends they are seeing, the recent ATTA Summit event and much much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show notes A funny beginning to this episode so I left it in the edit. This episode of Waypoint from the Outdoor Biz Podcast is our monthly update on trends and analysis in the The Adventure Travel space. Today I’m speaking with Therese Iknoian and Michael Hogdson from HI Travel Tales. We talk about how the year is progressing, some the trends they are seeing, the recent ATTA Summit event and much much more. HI Travel Tales ATTA Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel, and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S2 E92 · Tue, April 10, 2018
092: Jan Greenspan, Outdoor Brand Nite Ize
Jan tells us how he got into the outdoors through scouting his time with Sequel, Retail Concepts, and how Nite Ize comes with all their great accessories. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes I think you will enjoy my conversation with one of my long time outdoor buds Jan Greenspan on the show today. Jan tells us how he got into the outdoors through scouting his time with Sequel, Retail Concepts, and how Nite Ize comes with all their great accessories. First Exposure to the Outdoors I would say perhaps a traditional track, it was through scouting. I lived near school grounds that had a troop, troop to 22 in Beaumont, Texas. We had a really together scouting group, a great scout master Mr Howell. I will tell you that is what set me on course. My father was a great influence on me but was not an outdoors man. So through the scouting groups, it really gave me a chance to get outdoors and experience you know, building my first a campsite, tents and fires and things like that. Things we talked about Nite Ize Sequel Retail Concepts Rick Case Conservation Alliance Advice, tips This industry is made up of a bunch of passionate people, passionate about what they enjoy doing on a personal level or whatever that sport or activity is from climbing to cycling or backpacking or boating. I think be true to what it is that you really enjoyed doing and it will come through you, right? In the end it becomes you. Honestly, I think it's through friendships, It's through putting yourself out there when you get a chance. I think it's a pretty forgiving and inviting industry. It's got a great mix of old and young folks. Part of it is, being open and willing to learn. You know, with our inner click and buy society. It's not going to happen as fast as you'd like it. If you're listening to this and want to get in the game, you got to do something. <st
S2 E91 · Thu, April 05, 2018
091: Kenny Ballard, Outdoor Sales Pro
Kenny tells about his outdoor shenanigans as a kid, our experience launching Montbell in the US, his time with Kelty, Wenger, Osprey, the cool things going on at The Mountain and much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in a small town in Connecticut and we had huge fields and the Connecticut River was in the backyard there were trees we, had a huge side yard and backyard so we used to camp out in the summertime and we go down to the fields and ride dirt bikes and bmx bikes, back then they were called BMX before they were called mtn bikes, and go carp fishing and it was kind of the Tom Sawyer lifestyle. I was always outside, I was never indoors my mom was always "get outside, go have fun!" you know it's one of those classic tonso of kids in the neighborhood so we built tree forts and raise hell and have a great time outdoors. That was really about it. So growing up I had two older brothers one is 11 years older, he was was the hippie of the family and one who was eight years older and we have fond memories of when I was a little baby and we'd go on family camping trips. So we go get army surplus Boy Scout wax canvas tents go out to the Cape or down in the North Carolina shore from Connecticut. So it was an interesting experience, the first first Glamping experience for the Ballards was on a crappy old cot that busted and a wax canvas tent getting bit by mosquitoes on the Cape. Things we talked about His first outdoor job in a small sailboat sport shop that I started with three friends Repping with Wendall Tremblay and Harold Mullins at Atlantic Associates Eagle Creek Yakima Montbell Mad River Canoe Kelty Wenger Osprey The Mountain Operation Hat Trick Cooper's Crossroad Advice, tips First and foremost you have to follow your passion. The great thing about the outdoor space, as corporate and commercial and you know, big boy or big girl league it is and although it's become a big business. It's still made up of a group of really passionate individuals. So follow your passion to figure out what you're really good at, what you are great at and go for it. And I think you've got to be curious. You hav
Bonus · Wed, April 04, 2018
Waypoint Outdoor- April 2018
I’m speaking with Colin Moynihan from Uncle Dans. Colin was a guest on episode 48 back in November. We talk about how the year is progressing, some the omni channel tactics we presented at the Winter OR show, and more. Waypoint Outdoor- April 2018 Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE HOW TO THRIVE IN THE AGE OF AMAZON 1. Paradigm Shift a. Consumer now control where, when and how much. i. On Demand ii. Brands as Retailers and Retailers as Brands iii. The D2C Playbook. 2. Path To Purchase a. Gotta be where they are. 3. 50/50 Rule a. If you are not 50% digital in some aspect of your business, you will be. b. Think Sales Channels In-Store, Online, Mobile, Social, Marketplaces 4. Frictionless Experience a. Make it super easy. i. Inventory, Order and Fulfillment Management ii. Experience & Services b. Easy to find, Easy to buy, Easy to Return 5. Everybody’s A VIP a. Starbucks App Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor caree
S2 E90 · Tue, April 03, 2018
090: Outdoor and Adventure Travel Exec Ricky Schlesinger
Ricky and I talk about how he got into the outdoor and luggage biz, his experience growing Eagle Creek, his current project with a Chinese Bag retailer and much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors like most of the things that I got into it was sort of backwards. I grew up in the New York suburbs. Wasn't particularly an outdoor guy at all. I was more team sports guy. I was one of these guys who played everything pretty well and nothing great. I plated in a varsity in a couple of things but not that much. I hung out with a bunch of athletes and really enjoyed playing to all kinds of ball sports. I went to American University in Washington DC and started hanging out with people that you have an affinity with. Next thing you know these folks that are my better friends, some of which are still my best friends today, started doing some camping and backpacking in the Shenandoah mountains. Which is, you know, an hour and a half drive. And so I kind of got introduced to that activity really through through the college folks that I hung out with Things we talked about Coming Attractions Sports Science Neal Caplowe Hermans Sporting Goods Eagle Creek JanSport Bloomingdales Macys Hudson Trail Outfitters Kelty Vasque TGA Clive Vista Buddhist temple Outdoor Outreach Advice, tips Well, I would start with, there are no easy answers. And the business really isn't the same business. I mean the products are the same. The outdoor pursuits and the consumer is doing the same thing. How you get to that consumer is so different now. You know, I'm glad I got out when I did because my skills will become obsolete I think in most industries. Outdoor specialty retail is in significant danger of being extinct, online is the place to be. I would say what Barker and I learned with Eagle Creek is, if you're going to start a business, you've got to understand what your core competency is and what your leverage point is. In order to be competitive in the marketplace you've gotta be better than most other people at something. Whether it is . . . most people think it's cost right away, but it doesn't have to be cost. You know, you could be more innovative and it can be cheaper. You could be more convenie
S2 E89 · Thu, March 29, 2018
Lee Fromson- a funny story about his first job in the outdoor biz and how he got into the outdoors
Lee tells us a funny story about his first job in the outdoor biz, how he got into the outdoors, we talk fishing, books and how the National Forest Foundation intends to plant over one million trees in US National Forests. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors You know most people on your show tell you the stories of my grandfather or my father taught me how to hunt, fish etc. I grew up in Cleveland Ohio and played a lot of ball sports as a kid. The only thing my dad and I ever did together was play golf. And so really my intro to the outdoors happened starting as a freshman in college. I just fell into a bunch of folks who were really into the outdoors and we were living in southern Ohio, kind of near the Ohio Kentucky border. So we did a lot of whitewater rafting down down in West Virginia, a lot of hiking all over the place. And they're the guys who kind of gave me the bug. Then the crazy part was the first real job I ever got was with Cascade Designs. And from there I just had an unbelievable opportunity to do all kinds of fun things in the outdoors. Things we talked about Cascade Designs REI Goal Zero Simms Fishing Outdoor Retailer Icast National Forest Foundation Advice, tips I think it's a really interesting time for young folks because I have this belief that the outdoor industry the outdoor customer has kind of this barbell thing going on right now. There's this cool part about the baby boomers moving towards retirement and there's nothing better than having people who fuel your industry retiring with money and time to go play. But you know that's going to tail off over time. And it's really the next generation coming up that's so critical for the future of companies in this space and companies need to attract these folks. I'm a great believer that one of the best ways to be successful is to make sure that your company reflects either what your customer base is or what you'd like it to be. There's no better way to drive business, so I think it's really important for companies to find these folks who've got the passion about the outdoors and bring them in and find those spots to bring them in. I think another part of it is to think creatively about the side doors and the back doors to get in the outdoor industry. It's really hard coming in the front door. You know if I graduated from college and I
S2 E88 · Tue, March 27, 2018
088: Gordon Seabury- Outdoor Brand Toad and Co, dawn patrol surf sessions and more
Gordon tells us how he landed at Toad & Co, his experience there, his time at the OIA, his love for surfing and much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Gordon tells us about how he landed at Toad & Co, his experience there, his time at the OIA, his love for surfing and much more. First Exposure to the Outdoors My parents are really big into camping, first tent camping and then we got travel trailer when they got older and didn't like the tent set up. So did a ton of camping around around the East Coast. When I was young I was in the scouts and actually was an Eagle Scout before the age of 14. It wasn't a particularly popular thing to be but we had a great scoutmaster that just loved adventure travel and just getting out. So we would do the 50 mile afoot floats in the Adirondacks just did some really cool whitewater rafting and fun adventures. So I think those probably solidified my love for it. And then when I went to college I got in the outdoor club in college and just became a lifelong participant and enthusiasm of those activities. Things we talked about Toad and Co Outdoor Retailer Students for Social Responsibility Ben and Jerry's Stonyfield Farms Patagonia Planet Access Advice, tips I think in terms of getting in I think it's a great time. I think 10 years ago there was not a lot of young innovation or there was no obvious next generation of brands coming in and now the whole venture out section has so many new business models, new products it truly makes me feel old. And I realize OK now that full generations are adults I need to figure out exactly how they operate because they have different views maybe than I do, and in a lot of ways involved in the right way. You've got this young energy and I see it in companies too. I mean we are I would say at least, I'd bet you almost 50 percent but certainly 40 percent are under the age of 30.
S2 E87 · Thu, March 22, 2018
Alli Noland- An experienced PR leader Alli tells us what its like to manage a PR agency in the Outdoor Biz
We talk about her agency Terra Public Relations, her time with Stanwood and Partners PR and her career as a DJ in Jackson. She also tells about her Luge course. Hit the link in the show notes to see the video. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes With over seventeen years of experience in PR Alli tells us about her agency Terra Public Relations, her time with Stanwood and Partners and her career as a DJ in Jackson. She also tells about her Luge course. Hit the link in the show notes to see the video. First Exposure to the Outdoors My family were big fans of camping when I was little and I actually have a picture of my sister and I in front of the Tetons when I was like 7 or something like that. No I got a job at the ski shop out at Jackson Hole Mountain resort. And that was the beginning of my true appreciation of the people and the mountain and the other things that Jackson has to offer. Yeah a retail experience, a little retail experience rental monkey experience, I got to be excellent with a screwdriver. Things we talked about Alli's Luge run Smartwool Goodhew Socks Jackson Teton County Animal Shelter Advice, tips I feel like you know if you treat people by the golden rule and you really work hard in the outdoor industry opportunities do kind of present themselves. Other Outdoor Activities Snowboarding Mountain Biking Hiking Luge Favorite Books anything by David Sedaris You'll never eat lunch in this town again by Julia Phillips Popular Science Popular Mechanics US weekly Best Gear Purchase under $100 Seirus Days Mitt Apps, Tools, Podcasts
Bonus · Wed, March 21, 2018
Waypoint-Outdoor Product March 2018
This episode of Waypoint is all about product. The new Spring products are arriving in stores now. This episode is my conversation with Rock Creek buyer Sara Ray Lewis. Sara tells us what she is most excited about and we talk about some of the new apparel, footwear and water sports gear arriving soon. Get your shopping list ready! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes This episode of Waypoint is all about product. The new Spring products are arriving in stores now. This episode is my conversation with Rock Creek buyer Sara Ray Lewis. Sara tells us what she is most excited about and we talk about some of the new apparel, footwear and water sports gear arriving soon. Get your shopping list ready! Things we talked about Gear Grayl water filters Backpacker's Pantry Nemo The North Face Fanorak Homestead Collection Teva Alps Teva Classic Chaco Speaqua Barnacle Osprey Aeropress Stanley Connect with Sara <a href= "mailto:sara@rockc
S2 E86 · Tue, March 20, 2018
086: Jordan Mead- Jordan operates a sales agency in Southern California focused on Outdoor Action Sports
They represent brands like Volcom, Electric, Stance, HUF and others. We talk about he grew up around retail at Adventure 16, his experience at Montana State and how he got his start in the repping world. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Jordan operates a sales agency in Southern California focused mainly on the Action Sports Industry representing brands like Volcom, Electric, Stance, HUF and others Jordan and I talk about he grew up around retail at Adventure 16, his experience at Montana State and how he got his start in the repping world. First Exposure to the Outdoors as young as I can remember and just going back and looking at photos from when I was little kid one and a half years old we were out camping. And yeah I mean I was pretty much born and raised in A16 and hanging out there with my uncle Mick from as long as I can remember. Things we talked about JM Sales & Service Adventure 16 Montana State Philmont Scout Ranch Volcom Electric Huf Mizu Stance Advice, tips Get out there and do it. The more you know about it and the more you involve yourself in it the more people you meet doing those types of activities the more likely you are to get a foot in the door. I mean I look back to how I got into it and that's exactly how I how I got into it. I was just around all the time and serving skating, snowboarding and doing everything I would have been doing anyway. It turned into a job for me. And ask a ton of questions. That's one thing looking back that I don't think I did enough was ask questions, and we never do when we're young we think we know it all you know. And so yes. Surround yourself with it and ask tons of questions about it. I've spent the last five years really investi
S2 E85 · Thu, March 15, 2018
085: Dave Mathias- Dave tells us about Centerstone Technologies B2B outdoor wholesale platform
Dave tells us how Centerstone Technology grew out of The Buyers page and how brands, reps and retailers are using Centerstone’s B2B wholesale platform to manage and process orders. We also talk about how he got excited about the outdoors growing up in Michigan and he tells us a funny ski story involving marshmallows as a kid. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Yeah I'm from the Midwest originally and my family did a lot of camping when I was younger. I was also involved in the scouting program in my community, actually I went to college. We did quite a lot of outdoor activities so I've always always enjoyed the outdoors and I started skiing when I was 5 in Michigan. Actually a funny story there. The last day we were skiing I went into the lodge and filled my pockets with little marshmallows from from the hot chocolate stand. Of they of course melted in the car on the way back to Chicago and my dad was not pleased to say the least. I was not happy and we were on the side of the road, I was in there in my tighty whiteys and my dad was angry. My mom and brother were laughing their heads off. Things we talked about Centerstone Technologies Advice, tips We all know the outdoor industry is a relationship focused industry and I certainly have made some of my best business relationships and friendships going back as far as the outdoor show being hosted in Reno Nevada. But I think if you're passionate about the outdoors my suggestion is just get involved in any way that you can. Whether it's working for a brand or for a nonprofit, working at a retailer just get going in some capacity. And I think you'll find that you'll make great contacts and friendships in the industry. Other Outdoor Activities Yoga Favorite Books Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink Best Gear Purchase under $100 <a href="http://amzn.to/2FCmy7M" target="_bla
Bonus · Wed, March 14, 2018
Waypoint- Adventure Travel Mar 2018
Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE This episode of Waypoint from the Outdoor Biz Podcast is our monthly update on trends and analysis in the The Adventure Travel space. Today I’m speaking with Gabe Artalejo Director of Sales- Key Accounts at Eagle Creek. Gabe tells us how retailers are embracing Adventure Travel at retail and we talk about other ways they are getting involved in this hot category. Connect with Gabe on Linkedin Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered
S2 E84 · Tue, March 13, 2018
084: Ruben Martin- Ruben Martin, CEO and Co-Founder of Outdoor Brand Quivers
Ruben tells us how his parents shared their passion for hiking, fishing, camping and skiing and got him excited about the outdoors. We talk about how Quivers got started, how brands are taking Quivers and creating unique online experiences for a wide range of audiences and much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors It was really when in the late 80s when I moved to Colorado that I got introduced to the outdoors. My parents were into hiking and fishing, camping, skiing you name it. They were taking us on the weekends into the outdoors in western Colorado. So my earliest childhood memories were camping in the mountains of Colorado, everything from hiking during the day to sitting around the campfire at night and then evenings trying to fight off hypothermia. After that I moved to northwest Montana in the mid 90s. My parents bought property kind of parallel to Glacier Park, it was unbelievable. We still have property up there and it's a place that I just absolutely love to go back to and again. That allowed me not just to go on weekends but even in the evenings, afternoons after school I could go do a hike or go wakeboarding. So for me outdoors has always been a huge part of my life. Things we talked about Quivers Advice, tips I think the first part that advice is really not to be so focused on products that are directly in the outdoor industry right. When I was coming out of university I really wanted to do something with outdoors but you know I love software, it's what I'm good at and is what I'm interested in. I thought that those were polar opposites right. But in reality they became very complimentary to each other which was interesting. So I think it's one of those situations where you don't necessarily ignore what you're good at, or what you're interested in just because you want to stay in the outdoor industry for example. But look for opportunities where the two can actually work together. And that was that was really where Quivers came about, yeah we do work with a lot of other industries. We work in consumer electronics and Twelve Volt automotive and a variety of others but sporting goods is certainly our biggest industry at this point and it's where we started. And it allows me anyway to engage with a lot of brands in that industry which is a huge part of what I enjoy and like. Yeah absolutely. And actually the company I wo
S2 E83 · Thu, March 08, 2018
083: Hilary Harris- Hilary Harris Founder/Owner of EVO Rock & Fitness talks about how she built EVO from the ground up
We talk about the challenges she faced along the way, her childhood in Hawaii, taking a NOLS course during college and her career as a professional climber in the early days of professional climbing. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes We talk about the challenges she faced along the way, her childhood in Hawaii, taking a NOLS course during college and her career as a professional climber in the early days of professional climbing. First Exposure to the Outdoors I kind of grew up in a in two contrasting worlds, when I was a kid my family lived in Houston Texas of all places. Which is, I don't know if you've ever been there but as a city there's lots of buildings. My experience in the outdoors there was going to the swimming pool and the zoo. Basically I spent a lot of my time at shopping malls and going roller skating and bowling and things like that . . . not climbing. But my mother's side of the family was from Hawaii. So we were really lucky because we got to go to Hawaii every summer and that was just a magical place for me growing up. My grandparents lived on Maui and the climate there is perfect, it's paradise of course. People who just are outside all of the time even if you're inside the indoors and the outdoors kind of mesh together. I played in the dirt with bare feet all the time. We went to the beach all the time so that was really where I became passionate about the environment and the outdoors. Then I ended up coming to Colorado to go to college and was studying environmental science and took a semester off and went on NOLS Course. We went to the Wind River Range and we had a desert section and a caving section some winter sessions in the Wyoming range. We also had a climbing section. I did learn actually how to climb before I went on NOLS with some skier friends of mine but when I went to that was when it really hit home and I thought gosh I this is something that I want to do for the rest of my life, so yeah I came back kind of a changed person. Things we talked about EVO Rock and Fitness Metro Rock- Boston Kristen Ogden Carpenter The Access Fund Advice, tips First you have to be crazy. No, I get so many
Bonus · Wed, March 07, 2018
Waypoint- Outdoor March 2018
This episode of Waypoint from the Outdoor Biz Podcast is our monthly update on trends and analysis in the The Outdoor space. Today I’m speaking with Scott Ohsman of the Cairn Company. Scott was one of the guests on our panel at Outdoor Retailer and operates a sales and consulting agency in the Pacific Northwest. We talk about how the year is progressing, the health of retail, Amazon and more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Connect with Scott: sohsman@thecairnco.com Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered
S2 E82 · Tue, March 06, 2018
082: Dan Funk- Eagle Creek Dan Funk tells us about his funky adventure bus and his new Retail Merchandising role
Dan and I talk about his lifelong experience in the outdoors, what its like to manage brand ambassadors and he also tells us about his cool VW Bus. Follow him on Instagram at funky bus and check it out. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in a family that really loved the outdoors. My dad was in the Navy and we basically explored every area that we lived from Florida, California, Hawaii, to Washington D.C. My parents would take us out exploring these different cities and the surrounding areas like national parks, nearby cities, you name it.There’s photos of me in Yosemite Valley from before I could even walk. We mostly did car camping since we are a family of four kids. It was definitely a little bit of a mess. More fun though. And then as a kid I joined the Boy Scouts and continued that outdoor obsession through my childhood and into my adult life. Things we talked about Shaper Studios Boardworks La Jolla Kayak Eagle Creek South by Southwest Advice, tips If you’re just trying to get into the outdoor biz, I’d say the first thing is to hone in on what you’re passionate about in the outdoors, whether that’s surfing, or hiking, or camping, etc. Then also try to hone in on something that you’re passionate about on the business side of things, like product design, marketing or sales. If you can combine those two passions, then I’d say you’re golden. Additionally, if you don’t have the business experience yet, try pursuing some in person volunteering opportunities to help build that experience. Volunteering can not only help you gain experience, but can also set you apart from other candidates and gives you an idea of what a job in the industry is like. And don’t forget to Boogie! Other Outdoor Activities Surfing Backpacking Rock Climbing Scuba Diving Playing with our little girl Favorite Books On the Road by by Jack Kerouac <a href="http://amzn.to/2CXW5LF" target="_blank" rel= "noop
S2 E81 · Thu, March 01, 2018
081: Derwyn Harris- Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of Talkoot tells us how he got into product strategy and gives us his thoughts on how outdoor branding might evolve in the next few years.
Derwyn has an extensive background in software development and was co-founder of Jama Software. Currently he manages product strategy, development and market position to help Talkoot grow and share their numerous strengths as a product. Derwyn tells us how he got into product strategy, his experience as events manger at Outside magazine and his thoughts on how branding might evolve in the next few years. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Derwyn has an extensive background in software development and was co-founder of Jama Software. Currently he manages product strategy, development and market position to help Talkoot grow and share their numerous strengths as a product. He tells us how he got into product strategy, his experience as events manager at Outside magazine and his thoughts on how branding might evolve in the next few years. First Exposure to the Outdoors I feel very connected to the outdoors. I grew up in Santa Fe New Mexico. My dad was a huge advocate for backpacking and we went backpacking all the time. I mean we had a VW Bus and we rode out into the wilds of Santa Fe or up into Colorado. Then I was on the search and rescue team when I was in college going to St. John's College. I have skied my entire life hitchhiking up every single weekend to go skiing. Things we talked about Outside Magazine Mtn Hardwear Butron Doc Martens adidas Advice, tips What I'm seeing is that the outdoor industry or brands and retailers are looking to technology in order to stay current and move faster. And there's not only an understanding of technology that you can bring to the table but there's practices and workflows that software has figured out. I'm a big proponent of the Agile software development methodology that that exists. I did this in my talk a little bit, I talked about how those concepts can really be applied to organizations dealing you know brand and or retail. And I would say anyone looking to get into the outdoor industry, if someone is passionate about the outdoors now is a great time. If you're in the technology sector working on some you know, some software company that sells to other you know server brands, now is a great time because your expertise in the technology world is really needed greatly in the outdoor industry as well. So I think it's a great opportunity for people to move around. Other Outdoor Activities Surfing Sailing Swimming
S2 E80 · Tue, February 27, 2018
080: Brian Hennessy tells us about story telling and framing and how his companies Thread and Talkoot help brands tell more cohesive outdoor stories.
Thread is a writing studio that helps great brands like adidas, Burton, Simms fishing and others tell their story and Talkoot is a cloud based platform that brings the dark ninja skills of content creators together in one bright, sunny, crazily useful place. Brian and I talk about how framing impacts brand stories and how a guy with and economics degree got into storytelling. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Thread is a writing studio that helps great brands like adidas, Burton, Simms fishing an others tell their story and Talkoot is a cloud based platform that brings the dark ninja skills of content creators together in one bright, sunny, crazily useful place. Brian and I talk about how framing impacts brand stories and how a guy with and economics degree got into storytelling. First exposure to the Outdoors I was from the Midwest and me and my friends would jump in a car on Friday in Chicago and drive up to upper Michigan and in the middle of January and camp on the shores of Lake Superior. We'd go build an igloo in negative three degree weather just because we so wanted to be outdoors and we just felt so out of place in Chicago. So then me and those two friends moved out to Seattle and spent our 20s and 30s climbing, backcountry skiing and Mountaineering. Things we talked about Thread Creative Talkoot adidas Framing Nike NFL Films Patagonia Afrika Bambaataa Tofurkey Simms Fishing The Immigrant Story Advice, tips When I left the adidas I started freelancing. And when you work for a big company oftentimes there's a lot to grumble about and it's easy to grumble because you have a boss and have a boss's boss. And there's so many things impacting what you do that it's easy to grumble but then when it's freelance you can't grumble anymore because you don't have a boss it's you. You got yourself into this and you have to get yourself out of it. At first that was a weird thing but then I was like oh my gosh I can do anything I want, I can work for anyone I want. And as long as I was able to be financially independent, and that doesn't mean being rich by any by any means, my expenses are underneath my revenue. I can do anything I want
S2 E79 · Thu, February 22, 2018
079: Paul Easto- Wilderness Scotland Co-founder and Managing Director
Paul tells about the great walking, hiking, biking and kayaking adventures available in Scotland, how Wilderness Scotland has grown and has some great advice for anyone wanting to start an Adventure Travel Business or get in the industry. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors Well I guess like most most kids we spend a bit of time out camping and hiking. I grew up a teenager in the southeast of England. So I really developed a love for the hills and the places that we have. I probably was one of the early adopters of mountain bike biking but we really didn't have any bikes that were designed for mountain biking. We'd go ride on really heavy bikes that were clearly not designed for the trails, they weren't designed for the road either but we'd have a blast anyway and it's just a great way to get out into the countryside and explore and follow it. Things we talked about International watch Wilderness Scotland Wilderness Ireland Advice, tips The thing that I would emphasize is within a travel there's a whole range of careers. So most people usually associate with being a guide. Well I would say we've got people working in ship operations, and folks that really put everything together, and people working on the sales side and finance roles. Whatever your education might be or your background or experience you probably will find a role within adventure travel. It's an amazing industry to work in. I've never met such a fantastic or more inspiring group of individuals. You know, whether that's within our own company or people that we may work with. It's just a very uplifting industry. Other Outdoor Activities Running Hiking Biking Swimming Favorite Books Colin Prior Photography Let My People Go Surf
Bonus · Wed, February 21, 2018
Waypoint-Christo Kuzmich from A16 tells us about some of the cool outdoor gear available this Spring
Show Notes This episode of Waypoint is all about product. Last month the Outdoor Biz converged on Denver for the Winter Outdoor Retailer Show and I saw plenty of great new products. Those products will hit store shelves later this year so this episode is my conversation with A16 buyer Christo Kuzmich. Christo and I talk about some of the great new gear you will see on Outdoor Retailer shelves this Spring, maybe even now in some of them. Get your shopping list ready! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Things we talked about Technica Forge Customizable Hiking Boots Wigwam Peak to Pub socks Osprey Aether Pro Mens Osprey Aether Pro Womens Osprey Lumina 45 Mystery Ranch Terraframe-3 zip-50-pack Eureka Mountain Pass 3 Person Tent Western Mountaineering Quilt MSR Stoves Sea to Summit Alpha Cookware Big Agnes Sleeping Pads Refillable Propane Canisters Nemo Stargaze Recliner Connect with Christo christo@adventure16.com <span lang="EN-GB" style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Open Sans',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; m
S2 E78 · Tue, February 20, 2018
078: Laura Johnston- Pacific Crest and Appalachian Trail through hiker and Outdoor Trail Steward
Laura tells us about her thru hiking experience on the PCT and Appalachian trails and her work as a Trail Steward for The Pacific Crest Trail Association. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in a family that was into traveling and into the outdoors but wasn't exactly a backpacking or camping family. So I got more into all of that as a young adult in college and then afterwards my parents had traveled with us all around. They liked to be active outside but we just weren't exactly like the camping family. So when I was in college I went to Virginia Tech University in southwest Virginia, the Blue Ridge mountains in Appalachia area. I used to get out and go with friends for day hikes down there. Parts of the mountains down there are a part of the Appalachian Trail so that's really where I got my first exposure. I also started to really enjoy hiking and then after college I just got a little bit more into it and transitioned from a day hiker to small weekend backpacks. I really wasn't doing big trips yet. The biggest trip I did before I started the Appalachian Trail was a five day supported trip in Glacier National Park with a large group. Otherwise I would just kind of go out on my own or with small groups here in Virginia Maryland D.C. area for a weekend trip. It's kind of like a little seed got planted and started growing my hunger to do bigger hikes. Things we talked about Salazon Chocolate Pacific Crest Trail Association Leave No Trace Friends of the Inyo The Pacific Crest Trail Appalachian Trail Conservancy Advice, tips Yeah I would say just start hiking on the weekends and see if you actually like hiking. You know sometimes people they think they want to hike because it sounds exciting it sounds like a big adventure. But the main thing you have to do is figure out do I like hiking. You can't figure out if you like you're right except by striking out and go hiking. And the other thing is if you have one bad experience when
S2 E77 · Thu, February 15, 2018
077: John Salzinger from MPOWERD talks about LUCI lights and bringing outdoor lighting to the world
LUCI lights have been mentioned as the favorite outdoor gear purchase under $100 by a number of guests on the show. John tells us how the idea came about for the lights and some great work they do helping provide lights to disaster stricken areas after earthquakes and hurricanes. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes LUCI lights have been mentioned as the favorite outdoor gear purchase under $100 by a number of guests on the show. John tells us how the idea came about for the lights and some great work they do helping provide lights to disaster stricken areas after earthquakes and hurricanes. MOWERD’s First Exposure to the Outdoors Yeah it happened right away. You know NGO’s and Amazon were the first two. So the business model was sort of initially established in my mind right away that it wouldn't be able to just sell into one or the other. You know you have to build a diverse portfolio and especially if you're going to compete globally. The outdoor industry it just lends itself to Lantern's. It's a natural so it's very easy. Emergency preparedness was also easy, lifestyle has become pretty interesting because a lot of people see the wow factor of it and find sort of elegant design. We started our first International distribution in any meaningful way in Japan. And Japan has a proclivity to High design in their retail markets. And so we've sort of tested the product in Japan that did well there. So the U.S. was relatively easy in terms of acceptance. Now we've moved into sort of a health and wellness. You know like a Luci candle you know whether it's waterproof can go a bath or a tent and it's totally safe and colored lights that go in pool. Paul McCartney I know has our lights in his pool. That's always fun when when it Beatle has your lights, then you know you're doing OK. You made it. Right? Things we talked about Save the Children International Medical Corps. The Humane Society Advice, tips I think it's important to know your market. I mean the outdoor business is an interesting one. There's a show called outdoor retailer we were just at. And actually we won the editor's pick for the best product at the entire show. Yeah it's kind of w
S2 E76 · Tue, February 13, 2018
Bruce Ward- Bruce he tells about Choose Outdoors, National Trails Day, The Capitol Christmas Tree and more
Bruce is involved in a number of great organizations and tells about this work with the recreation industry, the timber industry, National Trails Day and a unique program involving Rotary Clubs. We also talk about how the Capitol Christmas Tree gets chosen and transported to DC. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Bruce is involved in a number of great organizations and tells about this work with the recreation industry, the timber industry, National Trails Day and a unique program involving Rotary Clubs. We also talk about how the Capitol Christmas Tree gets chosen and transported to DC. First Exposure to the Outdoors I think I'm like a lot of like a lot of folks in that for me it was with the boy scouts, that was my introduction. I lived in suburban Boston and didn't have access to a lot of real wilderness especially at that age. I did find a real affinity to some of the local open spaces and parks that were part of our local surroundings. Then where it really kicked in for me was after college. I got a job for a company called Trek International doing camping trips in North America, Europe and North Africa and I did that for seven years and was hooked. Things we talked about American Hiking Society Choose Outdoors National Trails Day Capitol Christmas Tree Nature Conservancy The Conservation Fund Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation National Turkey Federation America's Forests with Chuck Leavell Continental Divide Trail Advice, tips I would say that from all of my perceptions of what the industry or alliance does I think they are very successful in many ways. Way more successful than we ever were and have come
S2 E75 · Thu, February 08, 2018
Rachid Dahnoun- Great stories and tips about building an Outdoor Photo career
Rachid tells us about how he turned a love for painting into a prolific outdoor photo career and some of the cool places he gets to shoot. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I actually went to finish high school up by in Mount Shasta area at a boarding school. I was really big into painting and drawing in high school so I got accepted with that portfolio into this new College of Art and then from there is where I actually had my first experience in the darkroom. In a lot of ways it was a blessing in disguise I'd say because that was where I first came out to California. Tt was my first time living in the mountains and then ultimately led to my first backpacking trip. So there there was a silver lining there for sure. I've always been outdoors, I grew up skateboarding my whole life in South Carolina and being outside. On Hilton Head Island on the beach at the ocean . . . I've always loved being outdoors. But once I was in Northern California that was when I really had my first experience hiking in the mountains. Things we talked about Trinity Alps Mt. Shasta Lake Tahoe Kirkwood Aurora Photos Advice, tips Find a niche that you're you're really excited about, especially within the outdoor industry. If you want to work on the high level of any of those different disciplines you really need to have focused in, you may get less jobs initially but it will translate into larger paying more high volume work in the long term. The thing is that is really tough right now, the landscape it's just changing and that's across all disciplines, not just the outdoor business but all businesses. The kind of Content we're making, how much we're making where it's going, how it's being ingested is evolving. Media, internet campaigns, marketing campaigns have changed drastically and editorial is a completely different landscape than what it used to be. It takes a much smaller role so I think it's really important to be aware of what's going on. Other Outdoor Activities Hike, Snowboard, Mtn Biking Favorite Books The Peregrine by J. A. Baker Best Gear Purchase under $100 Black Diamond Headlamp Apps, Tools, Podcasts Sunseeker <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/u
Bonus · Wed, February 07, 2018
Waypoint- How Outdoor Retailers can thrive not just survive in the age of Amazon
This episode is a recording of the panel conversation at Outdoor Retailer. I moderated a discussion outlining 5 tactics Outdoor Retailers can use to thrive not just survive in the age of Amazon. On the panel were: Scott Ohsman- The Cairn Co. Colin Moynihan- Uncle Dan's Outfitters Marc Sherman- Visionary, The Gear Exchange Jay Getzel- President, Mountainsmith download the tactics pdf in the show notes here Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered
S2 E74 · Tue, February 06, 2018
Gordon Wiltsie- An incredible life of epic adventures around the world
Gordon tells us about some of his more epic assignments and how he learned to “endure” as a youngster on family adventures. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I actually got exposed to the outdoors at a very young age. My father moved to Bishop because he was helping to build the Barcroft Station for University of California and the Navy in the White Mountains. I have a picture of myself at six weeks old up at the Patriarch Grove at the Bristlecones. We were very outdoorsy and did a lot of camping, sometimes I say that I learned to suffer at very young age, we endured some epic trips as a kid. Things we talked about Barcroft Station Bristlecones Patriarch Grove Union Carbide Mine Mountain Gazette Outside Magazine National Geographic Explorers Mountain Travel Sobek American Prairie Reserve American Himalayan Foundation Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation Advice, tips My advice is persevere because it's not an easy thing to do, and be passionate about it. Keep your options open. I remember the best advice I ever got was keep doing what you love but have a fallback. Have another career that you can pursue. It was funny because he said now Gordon here he's got the perfect name and he's got guiding. I laughed at the time but you know that was true. I had artists who were cousins who were very successful artists eventually in the Bay Area, and they said have a way to make money that does
S2 E73 · Thu, February 01, 2018
Jeannette Stawski-Learn about the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education
Jeannette tells us about the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, her career in Outdoor Rec and Education, her experience with A O R E and the great work they do. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Jeannette talks about her career in Outdoor Rec and Education, her experience with A O R E and the great work they do. First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in Grand Rapids Michigan. I'm the only girl, I have three brothers and a father who were very active outdoors. So really my introduction to the outdoors started with YMCA camps. And then it just kind of took off from there. My father was a camp counselor and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. That led me to Whitewater rafting and conservation work to the Outdoor Rec at the University of Michigan. Things we talked about University Rec Programs University of Michigan Cal Poly Pomona Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Student Conservation Association Advice, tips I would say getting outdoors is all about investing in yourself and I mean you can teach anyone to climb and teach people to paddle. You can go on courses and learn the skill sets but you really need to think about how you want to give back. Whether it's in communications or as a photographer, if it's designing equipment that is better and more sustainable for the environment, one key is to not limit yourself to what maybe we historically have and isn't our profession. It might be providing legal services and learning how to ethically pass legislation and being active in government. So my advice would be to just find your passion and how you may want to apply that in that outdoor space. I strongly believe in lifelong education. I think there's nothing that could go wrong with teaching yourself. If it's learning a trade, if it's going back to school, I think you need to spend some time on yourself and then you can give back to others. Other Outdoor Activities </p
Bonus · Wed, January 31, 2018
004: Waypoint Product- Winter Outdoor Retailer 2018
At the recent Winter Outdoor Retailer Snow Show we talk product with Cordura's Cindy McNaull, Eagle Creeks Jaime Marchbank and Jan Greenspan from Niteize. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show notes Cordura Eagle Creek Niteize Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered
S2 E72 · Tue, January 30, 2018
072: Stasia Raines Walker-Stasia leads The Skip Yowell future outdoor leadership academy.
She tells about her travels, how she got into the outdoor indsutry and how the leadership academy came to life. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Support the show Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Stasia tells about her career, her experience at The Outdoor Industry Association and how The Skip Yowell future leadership academy came to life. First Exposure to the Outdoors I led by tours of Paris and I lived in Australia for a bit. I just did a lot of travelling. I just went to many places as I possibly could. Eagle Creek was really my first job in the outdoor industry. My relevancy to that industry was on the travel side. I was a pretty adventurous traveler throughout my 20s and got into the industry from Frank Whiting, he recruited me into the industry. He told me they were looking for some real travelers to be part of Eagle Creek and do some PR so that was my first official job. Things we talked about Outdoor Industry Association The Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Deanna Lloyd Big City Moutaineers Advice, tips For me one of the things that I found most valuable is pulling from the resources that we have. We are in such a cool place in our industry where many of the founders are still part of what we're doing even if they've left their companies there's still participating in other ways. Reach out to them and talk to them about their careers, talk to them about how to get into that industry, they're super accessible. The other thing is just to continue the hustle. If you work hard and continue to put forth consistent work that gets recognized in our industry. That will set you apart from others. Other Outdoor Activities Jogging, Cycling, Snowboarding Favorite Books Dove by Robin L. Graham
Bonus · Fri, January 26, 2018
Waypoint- Wayfinder Coop Great new co-working space in Denver focused on the outdoor community
The founders of The new Wayfinder Co-working space tell us how the space came to life and about the unique coop model they have. https://wayfinder-coop.com/ Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE https://www.patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered
S2 E71 · Thu, January 25, 2018
Travis Campbell-Smartwool, The OIA and how the Outdoor Industry leads the public lands battle
Travis Campbell tells us about his first year at Smartwool, what the OIA is working on and how the Outdoor Industry leads the public lands battle. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Travis Campbell tells about his first year at Smartwool, what the OIA is working on and how the Outdoor Industry leads the public lands battle. First Exposure to the Outdoors My first six years my family lived down in Miami of all places. It's funny I think of myself as the northwestern kid but we lived in Miami till I was six. It seemed like we spent every weekend down in the Florida Keys. We would just go down there and we'd camp and we'd fish and my mom always tells the story of how I caught my first fish at two years old and I never stopped. I don't think I really figured out fly-fishing until I was 12 or 13. Things we talked about Steamboat Smartwool Smartwool Facebook The Outdoor Industry Association Sage Farbank Reddington Rio The Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Conservation Alliance Advice, tips Folks that are already in, you mentioned it a little earlier with Stacia, I think there's some really cool opportunities in the space right now. Like the Future Leaders Academy the Stasia helps run that OIA puts on. I think that's an awesome program entering our third cycle. We've had just a really good response to that. I think there's things like the sustainability working group that OIA helped facilitate that can be a great networking opportunity and fundamentally helps move the industry forward on sustainability. We've got lots of great conservation organizations that you can get involved with. It's somewhat of an insular industry right so you'll meet industry people at all these conservation organizations and you know at the end of the day it's all about the network. I think the same is somewhat true for folks trying to get into the space. When I talk to people that are trying to get in I always caution them that I think we're an overly insular
S2 E70 · Tue, January 23, 2018
Krista Dill- Outdoor Retailer Sales Director talks about Denver and the changes she’s seen in the industry over the years
Krista tells us about her experience as a division 1 volleyball player at Duke University, how she got involved with Outdoor Retailer, and the changes she’s seen in the industry over the years. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Krista tells us about her experience as a division 1 volleyball player at Duke University, how she got involved with Outdoor Retailer, and the changes she’s seen in the industry over the years. First Exposure to the Outdoors I actually ended up just knowing somebody that was already working here in the office. At that time the company was owned by Nielsen and I had an interview with Kenji Hartunian. I was able to come on board as a junior sales rep and took over the West Coast territory which, I like to think is one of the best territories with a lot of solid outdoor brands. Fast forward ten years later I'm now the Sales Director heading up the sales team for Outdoor Retailer. Things we talked about Nielsen Emerald Growth and Changes in the Industry 2008-2209 recesson The Tornado Larry Harrison Kenji Haroutunian Venture Out Merging of Outdoor Retailer and The Snow Show Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Marisa Nicholson Advice, tips I would say be passionate. I think what's great about this industry is that it is really inclusive and you have an opportunity to find a mentor. Many of the individuals are founders of many of the brands that are iconic brands in the industry. They still work in the industry so I think being passionate and have a willingness to be a part of a team are important. Obviously finding your niche and an outdoor activity is always great but also look to make those connections with a mentor. I really think there's been some great steps forward to take advantage of some some really great knowledge from individuals we have and in the industry. You also have the outdoor industry association and the outdoor foundation that launched the Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy, that I think is now in the third year and I think that's a great step forward. I think there's also advice for our industry to be open and to see talent outside. I think we have a lot of great people who are in the industry and retention of talent is really important for us as we continue to remain competitive with other industries. Whatever we can do internally to advance get people, to train them, to let them have support and mentorship is
S2 E69 · Thu, January 18, 2018
069: Dan Blanchard- A log raft escapade at 5 years old inspired a lifetime of adventure.
Dan tells us about the cool adventures offered by UnCruise Adventures and some great locations to add to your adventure bucket list. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Dan tells us about the cool adventures offered by UnCruise and some great locations to add to your adventure bucket list. First Exposure to the Outdoors Mine starts in a different way, when I was four years old my family bought a tugboat here in Puget Sound which we lived on summers and I was granted a log raft on the Snohomish River. So my first personal adventure experience was when I was five my dad let me and a buddy go on a about a 1,000 foot leash up the river where we broke the leash and went down the river. Fortunately this was the tidal part of the river so there were no rapids. But you know at that the Gilligan's Island show was a big thing and we had on this wood raft we had an antenna, a steering wheel that did nothing and of course we were scared to death but we were singing the Gilligan's Island going down this river. Things we talked about UnCruise Adventures Pacific Northwest The Amazon Costa Rica Panama The Gulf Coast Alaska Sea of Cortez Columbia The Arctic Advice, tips The first thing of course is have the desire. I always like the folks that come up through the guide ranks. They understand the guiding side and the importance of what we do. Then there's a whole other level of understanding business which most of us that are passionate about what we do have no idea about. This takes a while, generally adventure people aren't necessarily business folks first, they're adventure people first. So I would suggest to anybody that has started their world in adventuring and guiding and this kind of thing to start a small business first. Most of these adventure jobs are seasonal so maybe you start doing yoga retreats in Alaska on your own during the
Bonus · Wed, January 17, 2018
Waypoint- Your January 2018 Adventure Travel Business update
Shannon Stowell of The Adventure Travel Trade Association , Chez Chesak of Tracks and Trails and Tim McGuire of Eagle Creek talk about: some of the best things that happened in 2017 how 2017 ended up, will it go down as a good or bad year what they are excited about for 2018 Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Notes from Shannon: Analysis on 2017 Adventure Business Adventure travel businesses continued to thrive in 2017. 73% of operators responding to our Industry Snapshot were forecasting higher profits for 2017 over 2016. About 40% of them said the reason for the growth in business was ‘new customers’ This also points to one of the most pressing topics for our industry going forward, which is destination management and traveler education. ‘Overtourism’ and sustainability are a concern our companies and destination members are thinking a lot about. Even if ‘too many’ tourists seems like a far off problem for some places, it is now coming to the forefront for countries emphasizing adventure travel development in their economic growth plans. Best Things that Happened in 2017 We got more refined in our understanding of adventure traveler motivations and by comparing survey research from 2007 with new work conducted in 2016, and discovered that a driving motivation for travelers is personal growth, learning, and ultimately often ‘transformation’. This yearning, seeking, is really what continues to drive our industry forward. We have something magical to offer that people need. Adventure businesses around the world continued to innovate for the benefit of the environment and communities. ATTA and a group of other adventure companies established the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund in 2016 and in 2017 the first set of global projects received funding. We got serious about quantifying our industry’s benefits. It was discovered by researchers working in Jordan, that for every dollar generated in the mainstream tourism sector, adventure travel will drive five times more revenue towards local communities than mainstream tourism. The recently formalized Jordan Trail, as an example of adv
S2 E68 · Tue, January 16, 2018
Soraya Shattuck- The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund doing good work around the world
Soraya tells us about the recently formed Adventure Travel Conservation Fund and the great work they’re doing and her introduction to Adventure Travel thru her families Safari business. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Soraya tells us about the recently formed Adventure Travel Conservation Fund and the great work they’re doing and her introduction to Adventure Travel thru her families Safari business. First Exposure to the Adventure Travel I grew up in Kenya and my parents actually ran a safari operation out of Nairobi so we would spend a lot of our weekends out on safari. I guess it depends on how you define adventure travel, you know doing extreme sports or traveling to Patagonia to climb or going to India backpacking. Your budgets like four dollars a day so I got to help people have their adventures. It was fun because in addition to being able to travel and having a lot of those experiences I got to see the other side of it which was the planning and what's involved and how you really craft that experience that's once-in-a-lifetime for a lot of people. Things we talked about The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund The Adventure Travel Trade Association REI Adventures Ex Officio Eagle Creek Back Roads Shannon Stowell Steve Barker Advice, tips I think this is maybe a more general answer to the question, I think what's been really cool to see over maybe the last decade or so is people are really sort of creating jobs for themselves based on what they want to do. It may not have been something that was necessarily stated or that your parents thought was an actual career or something like that, but if you find your passions, align them and say what "what do I want to do, how could this look, how can I get there and who can I meet that can help me craft this and turn it into something". I think is really powerful and I feel like there has been a trend in sort of this generation coming up. Looking for jobs to really find more than just the money and everything like that but more about what do I really want to do, what jobs that line up with their passions. I think then finding finding mentors and people who can sort of guide you and help you answer some of those challenging questions
S2 E67 · Thu, January 11, 2018
John Mead, the Trail Boss at Adventure 16
John has been guiding the troops at A16 for over 20 years. We talk about the history of A16, his perspective on 2017, the great events A16 has planned for 2018 and what is in the water that spawned the many outdoor industry leaders and execs that have come out of A16. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes John has been guiding the troops at A16 for over 20 years. We talk about the history of A16, his perspective on 2017, the great events A16 has planned for 2018 and what is in the water that spawned the many outdoor industry leaders and execs that have come out of A16. First Exposure to the Outdoors The cabin in Idaho really was my first exposure to the outdoors. I was really young, a little toddler. As a little kid I would listen to my dad tell stories about him coming back from his trips. He was an avid backpacker, then peak bagger and environmental activist. He was also a Navy captain, kind of a sturdy guy and he he loved the outdoors. So I would hear stories and he took me on my first trip. I was about I guess maybe six six years old. I grew up in Southern Idaho which is in the middle of farm country. However where we were about an hour and a half on our ten-speeds from some mountains south of us. World class Keene and Sun Valley and up over the Lina summit under the Sawtooths, which are as you know some of the most magnificent valleys and the head waters of the Salmon River right there. Things we talked about Furst Outdoor Job- my first outdoor job was was actually believe it or not making t-shirts. I had a little company I started back when I was a freshman in high school. Radical Reels Donate a Pack Foundation Banff Mountain Film Festival 8000 Meter Challenge Pacific Crest Trail Advice, tips I do and these things aren't going to be a big surprise because it's things we know and we've been and trying to teach new people as they come through A16. The first one is pretty easy. I would advise anybody that wants to get in the outdoor business, and
Bonus · Wed, January 10, 2018
Waypoint Outdoor Jan 2018
Mike Wallenfels, Deanne Buck and Travis Campbell tell us about a couple of the best things that happened in 2017, how did 2017 end up, will it go down as a good or bad year, what they are excited about for 2018, and what they're most excited about Outdoor Retailer moving to Denver Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Things we talked about what are a couple of the best things that happened in 2017 how did 2017 end up, will it go down as a good or bad year what are you excited about for 2018 what are you most excited about the OR move to Denver Connect with Mike Deanne Travis Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered
S2 E66 · Tue, January 09, 2018
066: Don Bushey- How The Wilderness Exchange Unlimited in Denver came to life
In this episode Don Bushey tells us about this early days in outdoor retail at The Wilderness Exchange in Berkeley California and how it gave him the inspiration to launch a similar store in Denver, Colorado. We also talk about some of the changes to the outdoor business over the years and what it takes to compete in the current online environment. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes In this episode Don Bushey tells us about this early days in outdoor retail at The Wilderness Exchange in Berkeley California and how it gave him the inspiration to launch a similar store in Denver, Colorado. We also talk about some of the changes to the outdoor business over the years and what it takes to compete in the current online environment. First Exposure to the Outdoors It was as a kid growing up. I grew up in Michigan and we had a choice of several 200-300 foot tall hills which were augmented with trash. Actually a lot of the municipality would dump their trash on top. We actually had one hill called Mount Trashmore, so you know we did a lot of turns and we only had 300 feet to ski so we turned a lot. Things we talked about The Eastern Sierra REI Berkeley Mountain Hardwear Sierra Designs The North Face Bob Swanson Royal Robbins Wilderness Exchange Jerry Jordan Montbell Neptunes Bent Gate Planet Outdoors Friends of Berthoud Pass Other Outdoor Activities Climbing Skiing Surfing Favorite Books Hawaii by James Michener Best Gear Purchase under $100 Black Diamond Moji Power Station Connect with Don email Website <a href="ht
S1 E64 · Tue, January 02, 2018
Deanne Buck replay-Camber Outdoors is doing great work in the Outdoor community
Deanne tells us how she got her start in the outdoors and the great work Camber is doing in the outdoor community including their terrific mentoring program. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast patreon.com/theoutdoorbizpodcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Deanne tells us how she got her start in the outdoors and the great work Camber is doing in the outdoor community including their terrific mentoring program. First Exposure to the Outdoors There was about not much difference between my life outdoors my life indoors. We were playing outside all the time. I remember in the summer our screen door would slam and my mom would make it back by dinnertime. When I reflect on growing up I often say I didn't know the difference between public land and private land it just was in there, it was just all outdoors. We lived on a lake and went swimming, I rode my bike everywhere. We had snowmobiles, jet skis and I feel like I grew up in the outdoors. That said I am also very much a team sport sort of person. When I got to college I graduated from University of Nebraska Omaha and met someone who had grown up in Davis California. He was a climber and raft guide and he started saying you know there's this thing called rock climbing, so I would say that it was different the first time I went into the mountains. It was it was intimidating, I didn't know how to find a trail but I really did find that I started to very quickly really focus my life around my love for being outdoors and for the mountains and trail running. The outdoors is very much been a part of my life my entire life it's just becoming many different iterations. Things we talked about Adventure 16 Kern River Tours Camber Outdoors Camber Job Board Camber Events (exchanges) Advice, tips I think there's a lot of ways that people can get in to be out there, especially young people. One is making sure that they stay active and pursue their passion, another great way to get involved in the industry and learn a lot about it is retail. I had a couple retail jobs at Mountain Sports in Boulder and Adventure 16 and I still have friends from t
S1 E63 · Thu, December 28, 2017
063 Mike Wallenfels replay-How his outdoor career transitioned from A16 Buyer to Small Biz Incubator
Hydro Flask VP of Sales Mike Wallenfels tells us about his first jobs in the outdoor biz, how Mountain Hardwear got started and some of the other interesting startup projects he is involved with. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I tried Boy Scouts it didn't really work I got the Cub Scouts and they didn't do enough stuff as quick as I wanted it to happen so my dad did a great job exposing my brother and I to backpacking early on so backpacking the Adirondacks. Hs first Outdoor job was at Stanley Andrews Sports in San Diego Things we talked about Hydro Flask Adventure 16 Patagonia Eagle Creek Sierra Designs The North Face Marmot Outdoor Retailer Mountain Hardwear Columbia Sportswear Timbuk2 OIA Outdoor Pursuits Consulting Big City Mountaineers Grass Roots Alliance <a href="https://www.getcairn.com/"
S1 E62 · Tue, December 26, 2017
Tim McGuire replay-How an adventure story led to a career in the Outdoor and Adventure Travel Biz
Tim tells us how he got hooked on the Outdoors and Adventure Travel and has some good career advice for those wanting to start and Outdoor or Adventure Travel career. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Tim tells us how he got hooked on the Outdoors and Adventure Travel and has some good career advice for those wanting to start and Outdoor or Adventure Travel career. First Exposure to the Outdoors I think you know I took a much different path than most. I literally had never backpacked, camped or spent a night outdoors in my life until I was 21 years old. I happened to be a senior at San Diego State and most of my time had been working on a business degree. I was, I think they called us yuppies back then, working towards a successful career and you know probably selling copiers or fax machines. I also happened to be on the soccer team and played soccer for SDSU for a few years. In order to to get my degree I need to take a couple of college electives. I remember trying to find an elective that was you know easy and fun and help my grade point average a bit. So I came across a class that kind of puzzled me, it was called wilderness and the outdoor experience. So I had no idea what that meant but it sounded easy and fun so I signed up for it. I remember going the first day and it was held in a large auditorium type room of about about 400 seats. I made sure to sit well towards the back so if if I wanted to get out of there I could. As I sat and watched our professor walked into the room, walked down the aisle and a small little dog followed him. It was happened to be a guy I think a lot of your listeners might know, professor Jeff Salz. He proceeded to tell a story about a trip that he and a friend and I think one other person had taken down to Patagonia to attempt an unclimbed route on Mt. Fitzroy. Again this is all brand new to me. He's showing slides of their snow cave they lived in for weeks. Now I hadn't been to a national park or anything I mean nothing. My dad was military US Air Force lived in England for a long time. I understood the family goes to a national park that's not even I don't know what we did, not digging my parents at all but just sort of the circumstance of the time and our family. So I'm now in this class watching Jeff tell this amazing story of just horrible conditions and this attempted climb and on the descent his best friend actually dies! I'm watching this going I want to do that, not die bit it was just so fascinating to me. So I was immediately absorbed and part of the class in order
S1 E61 · Thu, December 21, 2017
061: Adam Kolton of the Alaska Wilderness League- Adam tells how the fight for the Arctic has just begun and how we can do more.
Adam has a strong track record protecting the Arctic and it is good to know we are in good hands with people like Adam and his team. Adam talks about the headwinds we are up against in Arctic Alaska and how you can get involved at a local level as well as nationally. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Adam Kolton, the new Executive Director for the Alaska Wilderness League has a strong track record working to protect Arctic Alaska. It is good to know we are in good hands with people like Adam and his team. Adam talks about the headwinds we are up against in Arctic Alaska and how you can get involved at a local level as well as nationally. First Exposure to the Outdoors Getting to spend time in the wilderness on days off from working at the restaurants and hotels in Yellowstone Things we talked about Alaska Wilderness League Conservation Alliance Outdoor Alliance National Wildlife Federation Other Outdoor Activities Hiking Bakpacking Favorite Books Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Best Gear Purchase under $100 YETI coffee mug Connect with Adam adam@alaskawild.org <a
S1 E60 · Tue, December 19, 2017
060: Jake Anderson- Jake of Forsake tells us how two buddies turned a business plan into a solid outdoor footwear brand.
This episode is with Forsake Founder Jake Anderson. Forsake is one of the newer footwear brands in the Outdoor World. Launching in 2013 Jake and his team have put together a great collection of Mens and Women’s active footwear. Jake tells us how two guys with zero footwear experience saw a market opportunity, wrote a business plan and turned into a growing brand. His story about their first sales presentation is pretty funny, many of us have been there. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in upstate New York not too far from the Adirondacks and I think my first exposure to the outdoors wasn't a particularly positive one. It was one of those drag the kids along the families going camping for a weekend. It rained the whole time and us kids complained, that was when I was pretty young. When I was probably in like 7th or 8th grade I got really hooked on skiing and that has continued ever since. That was the first really inspiring part of the outdoors for me. We also started a tradition among some high school buddies in high school where we would do a backpacking trip in the Adirondacks just about every summer. The trips always revolved around some sort of a certain goal, whether it was finding a mountain or doing a certain route. That type of goal-oriented activity in the outdoors was always more appealing to me than just more general let's go camping for the weekend. Things we talked about Forsake Union College Jim Mann Kickstarter Eastern Mountain Sports Advice, tips So in the Outdoor industry there's no really clear path, you really have to find your way in and I think if you're willing the easiest way is to just start with customer service. Start at the bottom, learn the customer, learn the operations, figure out how these organizations work and chart your path from there. If that's not appealing to you or is not a place you want to start. There are some degree programs focused on product design and engineering. There are a number of programs around the country at schools that offer one year Master's degrees in product development. Places like The University of Utah and the University of Oregon. I think those are are the closest you'll find to a more formal p
S1 E59 · Thu, December 14, 2017
Don Lauria- Don founded one of the first outdoor stores in Southern California, West Ridge Sports
This episode is with my good friend, Bishop legend and renowned climber Don Lauria. Don is a retired engineer, lives in Bishop, and is the editor and CFO for the Bardini Foundation. He made the third ascent of the Dihedral Wall (1967), the second ascent of the North America Wall (1968), and the second ascent of the Wall of the Early Morning Light (1971), frequently climbing with Dennis Hennek. In this episode we talk about his store West Ridge Sports and much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes This episode is with my good friend, Bishop legend and renowned climber Don Lauria. Don is a retired engineer, lives in Bishop, and is the editor and CFO for the Bardini Foundation. He made the third ascent of the Dihedral Wall (1967), the second ascent of the North America Wall (1968), and the second ascent of the Wall of the Early Morning Light (1971), frequently climbing with Dennis Hennek. In this episode we talk about his store West Ridge Sports and much more. First Exposure to the Outdoors I was an engineer at North American Aviation back in the early 60s and a friend of mine asked me if I'd like to go backpacking. I'd never been backpacking, I didn't even know what the word really meant. I'd never been in the Sierra and that's where he wanted to go so I went. I didn't own any equipment, didn't have a pack and there weren't any packs back then, this is 1957. So there wasn't much available, Kelty certainly wasn't available so I made my first pack frame out of wood. The guy that asked me to go was an engineer and he had already designed a wooden pack frame. He gave me the plans and I just went home and cut it out and put it together. I went to an army surplus store and found some kind of a canvas bag that sort of fit the frame and sort of nailed it on. We went up to Big Pine Creek to The Third Lake and spent the weekend. I enjoyed myself so much so that I went again the next summer. Things we talked about Stony Point The Sierra Club West Ridge Sports (Mountaineering) Yvonn Chouinard Doug Tompkins George Marx Bob Swanson Jim Thomsen Greg Thomsen Royal Robbi
S1 Enull · Wed, December 13, 2017
2017 Reading List- Want to know which Outdoor books Industry Insiders love . . . here they are!
Hey guys, Rick here to let you know about another Special Bonusode dropping today. Following up on our gear list from last Wednesday today we are giving you our 2017 Reading List. I have interviewed over 50 members of the Outdoor Industry tribe and peppered them with questions like what was your first outdoor job and what are your favorite books. The answers to the favorite books question has produced quite a diverse reading list. Many of these books are now on my list to add to my library. If you’re looking for a great list of reading material or curated shopping list for the book lover in your family or friends circle this is it. Go to The Outdoor Biz Podcast.com/readinglist17 to see the favorite books from all my guests this year. And while you’re at it don’t forget to subscribe to the Outdoor Biz Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E58 · Tue, December 12, 2017
058: Jay Getzel- Jay Getzel, President of Outdoor brand Mountainsmith networked his way to the top.
Jay has been with Mountainsmith for over 8 years with stints at CAMP USA, Timberland and Kelty prior to that. He has an impressive career and we talk about how the Mountainsmith team has delivered consistent success as one of the smaller outdoor gear brands, the current state of outdoor retail and plenty more. Enjoy! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Jay has been with Mountainsmith for over 8 years with stints at CAMP USA, Timberland and Kelty prior to that. He has an impressive career and we talk about how the Mountainsmith team has delivered consistent success as one of the smaller outdoor gear brands, the current state of outdoor retail and plenty more. Enjoy! First Exposure to the Outdoors My first exposure in the outdoors dates back to growing up on the East Coast. I'm from New Jersey and my dad was always a huge proponent of taking my brother and I out for adventures dating back to being little kids. Heading into scouts and stuff like that I'd say my earliest memories of outdoor trips were a split between camping up in the Poconos which was an annual excursion for my dad my brother and I, then also with the scouts they turned us on to an area down in South Jersey a lot of folks refer to as the Pine Barrens. If you're familiar with Jersey at all it's a place where the Jersey Devil lives. The Jersey Devil is a mythical creature that the hockey team is named after. He lives down in the Pine Barrens. The Pine Barrens is this really cool interconnected network of cedar creeks and there's a lot of Outfitters down in the area down there that will put you in with a canoe and pick you up a day later. It's a place where families and scouts and and folks that just want to go out and spend a little bit of River time camping and paddling. Things we talked about Mountainsmith Eastern Mountain Sports Kelty Timberland Camp USA American Alpine Club Big City Mountaineers Continental Divide Trail Coalition Advice, tips I mentioned it earlier the fact that none of the jobs that I've found and grown into over the course of my career were ones that were not necessarily posted on the Outdoor Industry Association website or on snooze or SGP or what have you. They all came via wor
S1 E57 · Thu, December 07, 2017
057: Aryn Schlichting- Aryn from Mountain Careers believes you can have it all, a life and an Outdoor career in the Mountains
Aryn has been in HR and Recruiting for over 10 years in Vail, Colorado. She recently launched Mountain Careers and believes you can have it all; an amazing career balanced with a mountain lifestyle. With positions from accounting to nursing Mountain Careers is the website to visit for careers in the best ski towns. If you’ve always dreamed of living in a mountain town you won’t want to miss this episode. Show Notes Aryn has been in HR and Recruiting for over 10 years in Vail, Colorado. She recently launched Mountain Careers and believes you can have it all; an amazing career balanced with a mountain lifestyle. With positions from accounting to nursing Mountain Careers is the website to visit for careers in the best ski towns. If you’ve always dreamed of living in a mountain town you won’t want to miss this episode. First Exposure to the Outdoors My first exposure to the outdoors was probably skiing. I grew up in the Midwest in Chicago and every weekend there were programs we could sign up for to go skiing. We would take buses and go skiing about two hours outside of Chicago for the weekends. Things we talked about Mountain Careers Vail workforce Center Vail Valley Vail Chamber of Commerce Advice, tips Yes the thing I talk about is for people to really think about what they want to do. Figuring out what you want to do is not easy and I think a lot of people actually move to the mountains because they don't know what to do. They love the mountains, they want to be there and the career comes second. That's okay but you know I find that at a certain point people want more meaning in their work so answering that question, what do I want to do and finding those answers is important. I always suggest people start volunteering because that might give you different experiences and get you outside of your comfort zone. Visit Co-working spaces and show up to some of their events to learn different skills. Start networking, asking to have coffee with people who might be in a career field that you are looking to be in are some of the things that I'm recommending to people. I'll talk through their problems and I often think to myself your problem is you don't really know what you want to do. A lot of people say you know what, I don't really care what I do I just want to live in the mountains. That a common phrase phrase. A lot of times if they live in the mountains and they're looking for a career change but they don't know what what they want to do it's because there are limited opportunities. I want I say that they're limited but the more you seek them out and take those connections an
Bonus · Wed, December 06, 2017
2017 Gear List- Want to know what gear Outdoor Industry Insiders love . . . here it is!
Special Bonusode dropping today. Just in time for your Holiday shopping I’m excited to give you the first Outdoor Biz Holiday Gear Guide. I have interviewed over 50 members of the Outdoor Industry tribe and peppered them with questions like what was your first outdoor job to what are your favorite books. One question that has struck a cord, and even stumped some of your peers has been what is your favorite piece of Outdoor Gear under $100. If you’re looking for a curated shopping list for the outdoor lover in your family or friends circle this is it. Go to Outdoor Biz.com/gearlist17 to see the gear my guests in the biz can’t live without. Then either march out to your nearest outdoor specialty store and buy, buy, buy of for convenience you can also hit the links to some of our favorite shops and buy online too. Unfortunately on some interviews I forgot to ask the gear question! So to those guests I apologize. And while you’re at it don’t forget to subscribe to the Outdoor Biz Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE
S1 E56 · Tue, December 05, 2017
056: Alison Teal- you're going to like this fun, adventure conversation with Alison Teal. Time magazine has dubbed her the female version of “Indiana Jones"
Her parents are quite the adventurers and Alison has followed their path straight from the cradle. Her journeys have taken her on wild bikini clad adventures into ancient cultures with her camera and pink eco surfboard to share global secrets of survival, sustainability, health and happiness through her comedic and inspirational film and blog series: Alison’s Adventures. Alison goal with Alison Adventures is to inspire and educate the kid in each of us through humorous entertainment that leads to action. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Her parents are quite the adventurers and Alison has followed their path straight from the cradle. Her journeys have taken her on wild bikini clad adventures into ancient cultures with her camera and pink eco surfboard to share global secrets of survival, sustainability, health and happiness through her comedic and inspirational film and blog series: Alison’s Adventures. Alison goal with Alison Adventures is to inspire and educate the kid in each of us through humorous entertainment that leads to action. First Exposure to the Outdoors The great outdoors oh wow where to even begin, I was sort of that Tarzan child. I was born in a log cabin actually in the Colorado Rockies. Almost born in a car bumping down the road during a blizzard. Then at two months old my adventure photographer parents whisked me away up the highest peak in southern Peru and since then life has just been this kind of crazy moment of adventure. They were adventure travel guides and photographers for companies like Patagonia, National Geographic and Eagle Creek which I know is one of your alma maters. So yeah pretty much just adventure survival travel 101 since birth. Things we talked about Alison's Adventures Naked and Afraid USC film school Sustainable Surf Surfrider Yoga Adventure Ohana Advice, tips I just think it's interesting now it is because our world is so saturated with Instagram and Twitter and Facebook where people can look at lives like mine and be like whoa she has it made. All she gets to do is like travel and post on Ins
S1 E55 · Thu, November 30, 2017
Luis Vargas- this episode is with adventure travel entrepreneur and advisor Luis Vargas
Luis tells about his background and how adventure travel continues to evolve towards discovery and experiential adventures. We also talk a bit about his newest venture Modern Adventure. You can check that out at modernadventure.com Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Luis tells about his background and how adventure travel continues to evolve towards discovery and experiential adventures. We also talk a bit about his newest venture Modern Adventure. You can check that out at modernadventure.com First Exposure to the Adventure Travel My first exposure was right out of out of college. I grew up in San Diego and I saw an advertisement in the San Diego Reader, it said something like get paid to travel and show young people around the United States. Long story short I called that number and had a phone interview and they gave me a job. I spent a summer driving a big white van around the United States full of international tourists. They were trips at mostly national parks and it was just an incredible incredible ride. I'd found my calling and just absolutely loved to share the world with people and to be outside. Things we talked about Backroads Adventures by Disney REI Adventures Adventure Travel Trade Association The Clymb Modern Adventure Adventure Travel Conservation Fund Adventure Cycling Association Sustainable Travel International Advice, tips I get that question a fair bit and I think that guiding is still a great way to to enter the industry. Then depending on what people are interested you can essentially find a job that will allow you to do that. Whether they want to be a raft guide, mountain guide, hiking guide or just more of a trip leader working for for companies where you're essentially lead group trave
S1 E54 · Tue, November 28, 2017
Gary Bard- Gary has a unique career in the Outdoor and Adventure Travel Biz. You will love his story telling in this episode
This episode is with my good friend and long time adventure compadre Gary Bard. Gary is the older brother of Allan and Dale Bard. Allan was a great climber and even better on skis pioneering the red line route in the eastern sierra. Dale was one of the finest boulders and climbers in the Camp 4 hey days in Yosemite. Gary has a unique career in the Outdoor Biz. His “day job” was in the Berkeley Fire department ultimately retiring as deputy Chief. He spent time in retail with REI and Marmot in Berkeley, was a tech rep for Ortovox for many years and has many expeditions in adventure travel including safaris, skiing in Norway and a circumnavigation of ellesmere Island. Many of you know the Bard Boys as great story tellers and Gary does not disappoint in this chat, enjoy! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE First Exposure to the Outdoors Trout fishing with my dad. Every year soon as school was out we took off for two weeks on a family vacation kind of thing. The three three boys and mom and dad. The day school got out we loaded the station wagon put our one wheel trailer behind and off we went. We went everywhere, some of the most memorable ones are Lake Almanor, we went to a couple lakes up in Washington and Oregon and a lot of times to Trinity Lake. It was straight spin fishing. Things we talked about Yosemite Glacier Point Hotel Army Ranger School REI Berkeley Marmot Berkeley "The Insta-Mount" Mountain Traders Berkeley Fire Dept Mountain Travel/ Sobek Palisade School of Mountaineering Ibex Expeditions American Himalayan Foundation <a href= "https://new
S1 E53 · Thu, November 23, 2017
Luis Benitez- Luis Benitez's outdoor and government experience began at a young age, he tells us all about it on this episode
Listen as Luis tells us about his background which set the path for this career in the Outdoors and government. He also talks about all the fantastic things the Colorado office of Outdoor Recreation is doing. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors You know I tell people all the time that I was lucky enough to grow up in the outdoor industry and it's really true. My American grandfather, dad's from Ecuador mom's from the United States, my American grandfather owned a sporting goods store. A small specialty fly fishing bird hunting shop that was literally right down the road from my grade school. You know those pictures that you see from the olden days, I would walk a quarter mile down the road my grandfather's shop every day on ice before school and my parents he liked to pick me up after they got off of work. What I really learned at a very young age other than just specialty family-owned retail was that these places in these spaces were really convening spots for folks to talk about things that they loved the most. My grandfather had the normal core customers but those core customers loved spending time in the shop to talk about fishing, hunting, hiking, and boating. He was one of the original Orvis dealerships so if you know anything about fly-fishing that was a fairly significant brand back in those days. So to hang out with some of his old cronies at a really early age and realized that all these folks love talking about policy and access and conservation and stewardship, that was my start. Things we talked about Outward Bound Warriors to Summits Trekking for kids Colorado Outdoor Office of Recreation : Economic Development, Conservation and Stewardship, Education and Workforce Training, Public Health and Wellness Outdoor Research - Dan Nordstrom Camber Outdoor Job Board Advice, tips I think it's on all of us as leaders within the industry to make sure people know what's out there. Number one a lot of people younger folks that I talk to think a lot of these jobs it's kind of a wizard behind
S1 E52 · Tue, November 21, 2017
Chez tells us about his background in the Adventure Travel business his new role with Tracks and Trails
Chez tells us about his background in the Adventure Travel business, his thoughts on the future of Adventure Travel his new role with Tracks and Trails and offers some great tips for getting into the travel business. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Chez tells us about his background in the Adventure Travel business his new role with Tracks and Trails and offers some great tips for getting into the travel business. First Exposure to the Outdoors It started with the outdoor industry actually. I found out that you could work for places like the American hiking Society or the American Alpine Club and got into working with those organizations allowed me to fall in love with the Outdoor Industry. From there a friend of mine had taken over an Adventure Travel Association and I worked for him to get that spun up over nine years and then from there the Family Travel Association and now Tracks and Trails. Things we talked about Adventure Travel Trade Association Family Travel Trade Association Tracks and Trails United States Supreme Court Winter Wildlands Alliance Advice, tips You know the secret of the travel industry, but it isn't gonna be secret anymore is that with the internet a lot of people thought all sorts of travel jobs were gonna go away. An example is travel agents , but the opposite has happened. We can each book all the trips now which is great. But now we're also overwhelmed with information. So now a lot of them are getting away from the name travel agent because they really feel more like a travel advisor. They get to know your family or your friends or whatever, they get to know what you're looking for in travel and they can plan it for you. Generally it's either entirely or almost entirely free, some of them have a planning fee just in case. They don't want you poaching their itineraries, if they work with you and give you a whole itinerary then you go book it yourself that's bad for everybody. The reason why I bring all this up is because these guys, with Millennials starting to travel more have millennial travel agents. Travel agencies are psyched about that, they love young travel agents and you know travel agents they get a bad r
S1 E51 · Thu, November 16, 2017
Alden Mills, speaker, entrepreneur, former navy SEAL and author of "Be Unstoppable"
Alden tells us about how he became a SEAL and how SEAL teams develop such strong teamwork . . . hint be selfless! He also offers some great inspiration for life and growing your career Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Alden tells us about how he became a SEAL and how SEAL teams develop such strong teamwork . . . hint . . . be selfless! He also offers some great inspiration for life and growing your career First Exposure to the Outdoors I discovered rowing because I pretty much discovered every other sport that I wasn't good at. You know everything that involved a ball and hand-eye coordination just didn't seem to get this kid to score any points for his team. Running was not a real fit for me. I'm a big guy, I was big kid then and the idea of sitting down and going backwards for long periods of time kind of worked. As for how I discovered it I still to this day remember it. My parents were driving me around I ended up going to boarding school and we were driving up the Housatonic River and I came around a corner and saw these two long sleek boats in the water. I'd grown up by the water and I was like that's it, that's cool. It literally was like an aha Wow and that I think I can do. I rowed through high school and rowing ended up getting me an invitation to the Naval Academy. I rowed through all four years at the Naval Academy. Things we talked about Navy SEALS from a "self ish" mindset to a "self less" mindset Perfect PushUp Perfect Pull Up Pentagon Alarm Presidio Natural Climbing Mt Rainier The Guardsmen Advice, tips The idea about being always on is the mindset of "all in all the time" and how do you pick yourself up when you've failed again and again or all your head wind seemed against you. The hack that I've always used and it came about at a young age when I got diagnosed with asthma was, and this is coming from my mom. She would just pull me aside and just read me the riot act about my limits are up to me. The hack that I started coming up with was what I call making an outcome movie. The outcome movies I ended up relying on, in particular going through different elements of SEAL tr
S1 E50 · Tue, November 14, 2017
050: Steve Barker- We talk about Eagle Creek, Conservation and to how grow your outdoor career and get involved
Welcome to episode 50. WOW five oh. Feels like I launched The Outdoor Biz Podcast just the other day. This episode is with Steve Barker founder of Eagle Creek, recent leader of the Outdoor Industry Association and serial conservationist. Steve and I have been friends for a long time and we cover a lot in this wide ranging conversation from Eagle Creek, his non-profit work and much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes This episode is with Steve Barker founder of Eagle Creek, recent leader of the Outdoor Industry Association and serial conservationist. Steve and I have been friends for a long time and we cover a lot in this wide ranging conversation from Eagle Creek, his non-profit work and much more. First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up in Oyster Bay New York as a kid of the generation where my parents every morning told me not to come back until dinner. I grew up in a little town and started exploring things in my backyard. My mom was real sick when I young so spent a lot of time in the hospital so I had a lot of time on my own and found the outdoors as place that I could go and just spend endless hours turning over rocks, going fishing, hiking different paths. You know it's interesting I talk about being from New York area people think you're from the city but Oyster Bay was actually pretty rural. We had lots of trails and hiking and eventually I scored a job when I was 11 or 12 mowing the lawn at Sagamore Hill which was Teddy Roosevelt's family home. Boy that was certainly inspiring, I got to go in the house and it was like a museum of exploration, certainly was very inspiring. Things we talked about Fredericks Skiing and Hiking Outward Bound Oregon State University Idyllwild Mountain People Nona Barker 2/10 net 30 Larry Harrison John Fagan Solana Beach Ricky Schlesinger Elfin Forest Escondido Creek Conservancy Conservation Alliance Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career
S1 E48 · Thu, November 09, 2017
048: Colin Moynihan- Colin Moynihan President and Team captain with Outdoor Shop Uncle Dan’s Outfitters
This episode is with Colin Moynihan President with Uncle Dan’s Outfitters. Colin tells about the recent change in ownership at Uncle Dan's, thoughts on the state of outdoor retail today and his experience at the Skip Yowell Future Leaders Academy. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes This episode is with Colin Moynihan President with Uncle Dan’s Outfitters. Colin tells about the recent change in ownership at Uncle Dan's, thoughts on the state of outdoor retail today and his experience at the Skip Yowell Future Leaders Academy. First Exposure to the Outdoors I was born and raised in New Hampshire just south of the White Mountains so I was fortunate to have the outdoors all around. Early memories are of small amazing hikes that are accessible over some of the lakes there and there's one mountain called rattlesnake mountain that is a pretty good hike for little kids. When you get to the top you feel like you're at the top of a mountain that's about four times the size nice. The lakes they're just amazing and it's always been engrained in my mind as one of my first outdoor memories. The other I think that burns in my mind is just a little snapshot of the local mountain we used to ski, it's called gunstock about 15 minutes from home. I just remember the first time, I was probably about five and sitting on the back of a hayride type vehicle with my skis getting pulled up to the mountain. I don't remember actually skiing but I remember the atmosphere and the feeling and that's another that's always sort of stuck with me. Things we talked about Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Sports and Marine Paraphernalia Camping World Uncle Dan's Outfitters Marcus Lemonis The Profit-CNBC Chase Jarvis Creative Live Big City Mountaineers Flying Scarfs
S1 E49 · Tue, November 07, 2017
049: Malcom Daly- Malcom recently joined the management team at iconic Outdoor Shop Neptune Mountaineering.
In this conversation Malcom tells us about the recent change in ownership and the cool new things going at Neptune Mountaineering. They are making some exciting updates to this iconic Mountain Shop while keeping the original vibe and commitment to service alive. Malcom's message to you . . . Shop Local! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes In this conversation Malcom tells us about the recent change in ownership and the cool new things going at Neptune Mountaineering. They are making some exciting updates to this iconic Mountain Shop while keeping the original vibe and commitment to service alive. Malcom's message to you . . . Shop Local! First Exposure to the Outdoors My Dad worked for the State Department which at the time meant he was a CIA spy. They were running money over to the Chinese nationalists but whatever, he got tired of that and settled down. He landed in Central Connecticut where there are these awesome trees hemlock trees that grow up and they're the perfect climbing trees, they couldn't invent a better tree for climbing. So I lived in the trees when I was a kid. We didn't have TV or if we did we were allowed to watch like McHale's Navy every Tuesday or something. We got into lots of trouble and we were the original free range kids. One of our favorite things to do was climb into the trees or in the apple apple orchards and steal apples and that's what we lived on, apples. Hemlocks get huge and we'd climb up and hang on pretend we're in the crow's nest. I used to climb around on those and there was this cliff in the neighborhood. We would rake the leaves and my dad is an environmentalist always hated burning leaves. So we would throw them off the cliff you know just to let them decompose, that became our crash pad. It was big springy and bouncy. We'd we'd climb around on those cliffs until we fell and hit the leaves, and then we'd bounce off and do it again. We had a lot of fun. My dad was also a sailor in the summer and so we spent a lot of time on the sailboat. So I got really familiar with knots and ropes and rigging. When they packed me into a traveling summer camp in 1969 I went to the Tetons. My climbing lesson it turns out was with Pete Lev . He was my first climbing instructor. I've actually been hanging out with him a little bit and we've reconnected. I was probably climbing five eight, you know here's this 14 year old and I knew all the knots and stuff and was climbing 5.8. People ask me you know how long have I been
S1 E47 · Thu, November 02, 2017
047: Greg Madrigal- Owner and chief net maker at Sierra Nets. He makes some of the best fly fishing nets you'll find.
In this conversation Greg tells how he got into fishing woodworking and the great fishing on the LA River. Yes, you can fish for Carp and Tilapia in the LA River. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes In this conversation Greg tells how he got into fishing woodworking and the great fishing on the LA River. Yes, you can fish for Carp and Tilapia in the LA River. First Exposure to the Outdoors I grew up on an Apple ranch and my childhood was spent climbing trees and being in the outdoors. Video games weren't around then so we played outside, dug holes and got dirty. Then we moved from there to Idaho and I spent a lot of time fishing lakes and some streams up there with my my friends. Gosh I remember fishing for carp in the canals and trout in the mountains and fishing the Snake River. One of my favorite things to do was crawdad fish. My Mom would take me to this little canal, really a little irrigation ditch next to some railroad tracks few miles from the house. I would go with my Doberman and my Doberman would run off chasing muskrats and whatever else. I would just have a ball with of a piece bacon on the end of a string catching all the crawdad I could catch. Things we talked about Whitewater Rafting Kern River Zambezi River Fishing the LA River Birding Woodworking NuCast Parchers Resort Bob Marriotts Fly Shop Trout Unlimited Other Outdoor Activities Hiking, Birding, Rafting Favorite Books Fly Fishing, A Trailside Guide by John Merwin Fishin Trails 2 , by Jared Smith and Seth Blackamore Best Gear Purchase under $100 Sierra Nets Magnetic Rod Holder</a
S1 E46 · Tue, October 31, 2017
046: Michael Lanza- Award winning Outdoor author and publisher of The Big Outside
Michael Lanza is the author of the National Outdoor Book Award-winning book, Before They’re Gone and his blog The Big Outside. In this wide ranging conversation we talk about outdoor gear innovation, climate change, public lands and a whole lor more. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Michael Lanza is the author of the National Outdoor Book Award-winning book, Before They’re Gone and his blog The Big Outside. In this wide ranging conversation we talk about outdoor gear innovation, climate change, public lands and a whole lor more. First Exposure to the Outdoors Interestingly unlike a lot of folks you and I probably know and unlike my kids like who are lucky to grow up the in outdoors, my family didn't really do that stuff. I grew up in central Massachusetts with four siblings. My family would take fun vacations too, we'd go to Cape Cod and hang out at the beach and I loved it. Then it was in college when some friends said hey let's go for a hike. We were in New England in summertime and I don't remember what little mountain we hiked but some little rocky topped peak somewhere in Hampshire. I was just kind of blown away, I mean it wasn't a big mountain or anything but I just remember the winds blowing you could see so far and it just struck me that the this is what I'm doing from now on and I was you know it was like hook line and sinker. Things we talked about Backpacker Magazine The Big Outside Before They're Gone , by Michael Lanza Glacier National Park Conservation Voters for Idaho Advice, tips Yeah you know I guess what I did when I decided to make that shift was just do it. I mean that sounds easier than it is of course. In reality when I did it I was unmarried and younger and childless and I could just live real cheaply for a while. Pare down your life if that's what it's going to take, or if you're in a different place in life save up some money to make the transition. Look at your skills and the companies that are out there and how you might be able to apply those. Research what companies are looking for, certainly not all those companies design gear right they do a lot of other things too. Other Outdoor Activities Running, Mtn and Road Biking, kayaking, rafting, climbing Favorite Books <a href="http://amzn.to/2yeBNQB" t
S1 E45 · Thu, October 26, 2017
045: Crazy Jack- Outdoor enthusiast Jack Northam has summited Mt Whitney over 150 times
Crazy Jack has been climbing Mt. Whitney for over 20 years. He tells us how he got into the outdoors and some great stories from his summits of Mt Whitney, sometimes summiting twice in one day! Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Jack tells us how he got into the outdoors and some great stories from his summits of Mt Whitney, sometimes summiting twice in one day! First Exposure to the Outdoors I was in the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970 and my wife and I got married in 68. I married into her family and she had two brothers and two more sisters so five kids. She was a preacher's kid so father Sadler who was his name, he would take church groups up into the Sierras and I mean it was quite an undertaking. I was invited obviously to go along and it's my first real experience in the Sierras and the backcountry. I remember hiking in my heavy heavy-duty boots, I had a 10 pound mummy bag, what an experience. I guess that opened the door. Things we talked about Whitney Portal Store , Doug Tompson Crazy Jack Adventure 16 , John Mead Sierra Mountaineering , Kurt Wedberg Point Loma Nazarene University baseball Mark Fulton 8,000 Meter Challenge Advice, tips You could just start today by just putting on your walking shoes and walk around the block yes nothing else I mean people ask me all the time well how do you get in shape get off you know yeah you just have to go out and start you start so slow and then you know you progress and you feel good and then you might even need to check in with your doctor to make sure you know what you're trying to do but but still it's a matter of
S1 E44 · Tue, October 24, 2017
044: Outdoor Enthusiast Scott Ohsman gives us some great insight regarding Amazon
Scott’s agency operates in the Pacific Northwest, he talks with us about Amazon and offers some strategies and actionable tactics independent retailers can employ and improve their game. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Scott’s agency operates in the Pacific Northwest, he talks with us about Amazon and offers some strategies and actionable tactics independent retailers can employ compete with and against them. First Exposure to the Outdoors My first real exposure, again having a father grew up in the city in New York and my mother grew up in Denver I didn't have a lot of outdoor exposure other than parents friends who took me out fishing in Minnesota. Growing up in Cedar Rapids Iowa I also did the Boy Scout and got as far as Weblos. My father was at the Hyatt in Chicago so that's the kind of father-son stuff we did. Honestly I had different experiences depending on what you call outdoor. My mom took us on trips and we got to go horseback riding and that kind of thing. So I was exposed in different ways but not the traditional backpacking type activities. Things we talked about JanSport Sportscasting TSPN Amazon Consumer driving “path to purchase”; consumer is setting the price/value, Amazon has set up consumer expectation of a “friction less” transaction. in 2016 over 55% of US consumers started their “path to purchase” on Amazon Kelty Acorn Zappos Razorfish (Jason Goldberg) Channel Advisor (Scott Wingo) Advice, tips “ everything goes through that phone, so figure out some way somehow to be on that phone ” -Scott Ohsman make sure you’re near the top of the “path to purchase” set up your business up so your margins allow you to take all forms of payment set up your business to meet consumer expectation of a “friction less” transaction use reviews as POP info add technology, for example consider iPads and other screen options as POP displays (used/refurbished iPads available on e-bay for $100-160) implement a loyalty program for your customers (Amazon has approximately 85 million prime members. That is about 35 percent more than last year) More households subscribe to Amazon Prime than have a cable subscrip
S1 E43 · Thu, October 19, 2017
043: Kristie Focht- former Eagle Creeker Kristie is an avid sky diver and recently launched Oregon Youth Outdoor Outreach
Kristie tells us about growing up as an outdoor kid in Oregon and the work she's done to launch Oregon Youth Outreach and help more kids outside. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Kristie is an avid sky diver and recently launched Oregon Youth Outreach. She tells us about growing up as an outdoor kid in Oregon and the work she's done to launch Oregon Youth Outreach and help more kids outside. First Exposure to the Outdoors I was I was born and raised in Portland Oregon and I probably had a pair of skis on my feet when I was two years old. I grew up on a lake sailing and canoeing and lots of acvities. We never went backpacking or camping. My parents weren't that adventurous. There's also no shortage of things to do up here which is why I'm back. Things we talked about www.oregonyouthoutreach.org urban-nature-partners.org https://www.vivenw.org/ www.soulriverinc.org/ www.eaglecreek.com www.outdooroutreach.org www.bigcitymountaineers.org/ Other Outdoor Activities skydiving, cross country skiing, hiking and snowshoeing Favorite Books Unbound by Steph Jagger <a href= "http://%3Ca%20target="_blank"%20href="https//www.amazon.com/gp/produc
S1 E42 · Tue, October 17, 2017
Caroline Pemberton- Australian Television Presenter & Producer, Adventure Addict and once upon a time Miss Australia tells us a wild story about climbing Mt. Everest in 2005
Australian Television Presenter & Producer, Adventure Addict and once upon a time Miss Australia tells us a wild story about how she helped her brother become the youngest Australian to climb Mt. Everest in 2005. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Australian Television Presenter & Producer, Adventure Addict and once upon a time Miss Australia tells us a wild story about how she helped her brother become the youngest Australian to climb Mt. Everest in 2005. First Exposure to the Outdoors Oh I grew up in a very outdoorsy family and I have two older brothers too. You know the boys and I were always outside. I think in the 70s so it was definitely something that my parents put in the milk and we were always outside doing things growing up in Sydney in Australia. Its beautiful down here, incredible climate, so it's just a natural thing today. And then my first real adventure was actually when my brother came to my parents over dinner one night and said "I'm going to be the youngest trying to climb Mt. Everest." He had no mountaineering experience. I mean we live in a flat country. My parents to their credit said "well if you believe in that dream then how are you going to make it happen?" And as a young man he made it happen and I said to him age 19, well I'm going to help you. I've just finished school was between school and college. I put myself on a plane and at 19 spent three months living in Nepal and six weeks at base camp. That was my first real experience of adventure travel. Everything stems back to that trip. Things we talked about UnPlugged Project Advice, tips I think that authenticity of an experience, we really want to go out and hang out with people and to be part of their lives. So I think authenticity and experiential travel will be where it's at. I'm an ethical sustainable traveler as well. I think world is becoming far more conscious of our impact. So how can you know if you're going to get on a plane and travel how can you give back in a different way? How can you be sustainable? How can you leave footprints and nothing else and take away your memories but nothing else? I think people are becoming more and more educated. I think providing that service of sustainability will be rewarded for ethical environmentally sustainable travel. I definitely will pay extra for that. Other Outdoor Activities Surfing, Bungee Jumping Favorite Books Yeah I like books so it's really hard to me to pick a favorite book because I spend hours in
S1 E41 · Thu, October 12, 2017
Stacy Bare- Stacy tells us about his project Adventure Not War
This episode is with Stacy Bare from Sierra Club Outdoors. Stacy tells us about climbing an ant hill in Botswana and a project of his called Adventure Not War where he goes back to ski and adventure in all the places where he fought, cleaned up after war, or was supposed to go to war. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes This episode is with Stacy Bare from Sierra Club Outdoors. Stacy tells us about climbing an ant hill in Botswana and a project of his called Adventure Not War where he goes back to ski and adventure in all the places where he fought, cleaned up after war, or was supposed to go to war. First Exposure to the Outdoors So right before two years old and my brother was probably six my parents moved the family to Botswana. My dad was an agricultural professor at the university just outside of Gaborone which is the capital of Botswana. I have this memory, I don't know if it's actually my memory or if it's just stories that have been told to me and I've seen the slideshow photos but I distinctly remember trying to climb up on top of a termite mound. These termite mounds are absolutely huge and I have memories of that. I got to know the Okavango and just doing some really cool stuff like that. Then my family moved us back to eastern South Dakota which is where I grew up. From about age four or five on I was in Brookings, South Dakota. Home of the South Dakota State University fighting Jackrabbits! The highest point in my hometown with a covered landfill and I was running up and down that little hill and then around the bluffs of eastern South Dakota on the big Sioux River. South Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska was where I grew up and I spent a lot of time camping, running around and just being a kid and doing a lot of stupid stuff. Things we talked about The Sierra Club Sierra Club Outdoors Adventure Not War Veterans Expeditions Outward Bound Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy Other Outdoor Activities Favorite Books Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Dougl
S1 E40 · Tue, October 10, 2017
040: Paul Petersen- Paul tells about his early days with PSIA and Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company
This episode is with Paul Petersen. Paul was one of the early members of PSIA, the Professional Ski Instructors of America and currently operates the Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company with his wife Dianne. If you ever find yourself on highway 4 near ebbetts pass be sure and stop in. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes This episode is with Paul Petersen. Paul was one of the early members of PSIA, the Professional Ski Instructors of America and currently operates the Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company with his wife Dianne. If you ever find yourself on highway 4 near ebbetts pass be sure and stop in. First Exposure to the Outdoors My folks were from Scandinavia, my dad was from the North mother was from Denmark. They were both skiers so we would go ski when I was about three years old. That's probably my first exposure to getting outdoors and playing in the mountains. As time marched on they had me in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Our Boy Scout troop was very active, we did 80 mile canoe trips and 60 mile backpack trips. That led to interest in rock climbing and things of that nature and and then I also sort of fell into cycling and as I became young man my parents supported me in that so I was well rounded. Things we talked about PSIA Fisher Rossingnol Bear Valley XC Ski and Adventure Company Columbia College Climate Change Advice, tips The outdoor industry has all sorts of different career pathways. I've had my ski school director here who went on to run Ski Areas and he took on Rossignol and was the CEO and president then he went back to k2. Wherever you start whether it's working in a ski shop or repping for a company there are definitely opportunities that come up. Another buddy of mine Casey Sheehan, we did all sorts of cross-country skiing together and he's run a couple of small companies like Kelty and Patagonia. Now he's run a small brand up there called Keen. He also launched all conditions gear and he's just regular guy with door interests like us. But you stay smart about it and play your opportunities and don't be afraid to move around a little bit. There's some pretty good careers that come out of this industry and a lot of different ways to play it. You've got cycling and bike shops, you've got ski shops at resorts, you've got city shops. My brother worked for REI. All these well managed companies will bring you up and train
S1 E39 · Thu, October 05, 2017
Sam Roberts- Climber, Skier, Photographer and Outdoor Advocate share his love for all things outdoors
Sam Roberts talks about some of his adventures and the great he and the Friends of the Inyo do in the Eastern Sierra. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Sam Roberts talks about some of his adventures and the great he and the Friends of the Inyo do in the Eastern Sierra. First Exposure to the Outdoors Well I was lucky enough to have parents that just loved the outdoors and love to camp. So much so that when I was 3 or 4 my dad took a job working at a processing plant, the skeleton of which still remains near Owens Lake. We lived in a little tiny little hamlet called Cartego. It is a tiny little hamlet and if you blink on 395 you're gonna miss it. But actually my first memory is of sweeping snow off our driveway. We used to take walks through the desert there at the foot of the Sierra. So those first few years there were I think what set my path. I was four and five and then we moved back to Southern California to go to the schools there. I have vivid memories of being there and that was a tiny little place. Then that led of course to camping trips. I'll always come up to the Owens Valley and the Eastern Sierra. That led to backpacking hiking and I had an uncle who liked to backpack and scramble up Peaks so he introduced me to that. Things we talked about Norman Clyde Glacier Lodge Smoke Blanchard Palisade School of Mountaineering John Fisher Sierra Club American Alpine Club Ibex Expeditions Allan Bard Adventure 16 Friends of the Inyo Winter Wildlands Alliance <a href="https://www.outdoorretailer.com/" target="_bla
S1 E38 · Tue, October 03, 2017
038: Sevag Kazanci- The Parks Project is providing outdoor resources to parks and you can help.
Sevag tells us how he and his team started The Parks Project to provide much needed resources to parks. It all began with a work day in a local park. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Sevag tells us how he and his team started The Parks Project to provide much needed resources to parks. It all began with a work day in a local park. First Exposure to the Outdoors I was born in Turkey but moved here when I was like three and grew up in the Southern California area surfing, skating, snowboarding doing all that stuff. So that's where that background is from. My first job out of college was at O'Neil clothing. I got a job doing sales support and customer service. I didn't expect to be in apparel or outdoor clothing or anything like that. I just took it as a random job after I graduated I ended up loving it. We were having surf breaks at lunch and had a mini-ramp out front, it was great. Things we talked about Parks Project Toms Tim Ferriss Santa Monica Trail Council National Parks Foundation Joshua Tree Conservancy California Conservation Corps Sierra Club Grassroots Alliance California Wilderness Coalition Outdoor Industry Association Other Outdoor Activities Skateboarding Camping Favorite Books SGB Let my People Go Surfing - Yvon Chouinard ( audio book )</
S1 E37 · Thu, September 28, 2017
Katie Boue- outdoor advocate, climber, former van-dweller, and avid road tripper
Katie likes to create – content, communities, and campaigns. Her preferred space for creation is within the outdoor industry and she has some great tips for all of us content creators. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors My parents have always really been adventurous, not necessarily outdoors all the time but they're super adventurous people. The only cruise I've ever been on was to Alaska when I was a kid. My dad used to drag me to Yosemite when I was like oh man I want to hang out with the neighborhood kids and ride our razor scooters. I'm from Miami so it was a very different exposure to the outdoors. There's so many people in the outdoor industry that I feel have these great stories of how they grew up you know with the mountains in their backyards. I still don't even know how to ski properly so I'm definitely very grateful for having come into this space kind of later in life. I was in college and started climbing at this gym Tallahassee Rock Gym in flat Florida but we went on a trip to go climbing and I mean that changed everything. Things we talked about Morning Fresh Outdoor Advocate Network OIA Conservation Alliance Advice, tips I think that there's this overarching theme and and these actions that anyone can take. The first one you have to be part of this digital community it really is such a strong active community yet it's so important to be a part of it. Add your voice, it's amazing how many people I talk to you that are my generation or even older and they just won't do it, they just don't embrace it. Tt's like man come on you got to get with the program. I mean I get it whenever a new platform pops up or there's an update, I don't want to go change everything. SO what do is find what you enjoy. I also think that everyone can start checking out their analytics. It's super easy to just jump in and learn so much. You can learn when your audience is online most and cater your posting to that. You can learn who your audience is like where these people come from what cities they are from with a gender breakdown and age breakdown. It's so informative and I think it'll really shape the way that you produce content. Whether you're selling a product,
S1 E36 · Tue, September 26, 2017
Jennifer Pringle- How a graduate from Texas wth no outdoor experience became a multi sport outdoor enthusiast
Jennifer tells us a great story about how she discovered the outdoors, moved to California and has become a multi sport outdoor enthusiast. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes First Exposure to the Outdoors You know I'm from Texas and to be really honest I didn't do much in the outdoors. Our vacations consisted of going to see grandma and going to see my dad. It's a little bit embarrassing to say but I moved to San Francisco after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin. You know it's hot in Texas, it's it's pretty sweltering but when I moved to San Francisco the day after I graduated college. I got there and just fell into a group of friends honestly if I back up I had like a personal awakening in San Francisco. I wasn't this this kid whose dad or mom took us outdoors. We went to the state fair that's about as far outside as we went. I just fell into a group of friends and both recreationally and politically I was awakened when I moved to San Francisco. From an outdoor perspective I found my religion I guess. That experience of 22 to 26 you know 27 being out there just really shifted how I defined myself. I met a group and they camped and they skied we mountain biked, rollerblade oh wow we just did everything outside. Getting my heart rate up it just made me feel good about me and good about my friends. Things we talked about Levi Strauss Outward Bound OIA The Higg Index Advice, tips Two things I'm gonna say is stay connected to business objectives. Marketing is a part of the business you need to make sure that marketing is clearly linked to your business objectives. Then understanding your audience and making sure you're pinpoint specific on who you're trying to reach and listen to them and do research on them. Really understand your audience. Then when you do your marketing plan make it integrated. Make sure you're hitting your audience at many different angles. It's all about how many times you reach them and how often. You've got to get them in different ways. Get engaged and get involved. If you care about something be it the outdoors or about child advocacy, whatever it is it will make your life more full by getting engaged and making a difference. There is no better time than now and we would
S1 E35 · Thu, September 21, 2017
Tim McGuire- How an adventure story led to a career in the Outdoor and Adventure Travel Biz
Tim tells us how he got hooked on the Outdoors and Adventure Travel and has some good career advice for those wanting to start and Outdoor or Adventure Travel career. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Tim tells us how he got hooked on the Outdoors and Adventure Travel and has some good career advice for those wanting to start and Outdoor or Adventure Travel career. First Exposure to the Outdoors I think you know I took a much different path than most. I literally had never backpacked, camped or spent a night outdoors in my life until I was 21 years old. I happened to be a senior at San Diego State and most of my time had been working on a business degree. I was, I think they called us yuppies back then, working towards a successful career and you know probably selling copiers or fax machines. I also happened to be on the soccer team and played soccer for SDSU for a few years. In order to to get my degree I need to take a couple of college electives. I remember trying to find an elective that was you know easy and fun and help my grade point average a bit. So I came across a class that kind of puzzled me, it was called wilderness and the outdoor experience. So I had no idea what that meant but it sounded easy and fun so I signed up for it. I remember going the first day and it was held in a large auditorium type room of about about 400 seats. I made sure to sit well towards the back so if if I wanted to get out of there I could. As I sat and watched our professor walked into the room, walked down the aisle and a small little dog followed him. It was happened to be a guy I think a lot of your listeners might know, professor Jeff Salz. He proceeded to tell a story about a trip that he and a friend and I think one other person had taken down to Patagonia to attempt an unclimbed route on Mt. Fitzroy. Again this is all brand new to me. He's showing slides of their snow cave they lived in for weeks. Now I hadn't been to a national park or anything I mean nothing. My dad was military US Air Force lived in England for a long time. I understood the family goes to a national park that's not even I don't know what we did, not digging my parents at all but just sort of the circumstance of the time and our family. So I'm now in this class watching Jeff tell this amazing story of just horrible conditions and this attempted climb and on the descent his best friend actually dies! I'm watching this going I want to do that, not die bit it was just so fascinating to me. So I was immediately absorbed and part of the class in order to get your grade you had to go on outing and write a journal about it. So ag
S1 E34 · Tue, September 19, 2017
Shannon Stowell- Learn about the Adventure Travel Trade Association
Shannon tells us how he became interested in Adventure Travel and has some good tips for anyone wanting to get into Adventure Travel. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Shannon tells us how he became interested in Adventure Travel and has some good tips for anyone wanting to get into Adventure Travel. First Exposure to Adventure Travel I would say my first exposure was actually through reading. I grew up as a suburban city kid in the Denver area and I was an avid reader of adventure stories. Authors like Jack London and John Steinbeck so I think that's really where my mind first kind of lit up around adventure travel. When I was 17 I was part of a group that went to Fiji to build a dormitory for a kid's camp so I got to live in a pup tent in outside of a small village in Fiji for three months. We had no bathrooms and no running water so we bathed in the river and used an outhouse and really got to hang out with a lot of the locals. It was an absolutely incredible experience. Things we talked about ATTA ATTA World Summit Adventure Travel Conservation Fund Advice, tips Two common entry points that we see are one: young people who get in by becoming a guide or working for an adventure travel company, which i think is a fantastic way to get started because you really get to see firsthand what it means to work in this industry. Either it's a guide or you know somebody who's helping create itinerary and you get that consumer experience. The other and this is sort of fun and funny, is that people who are disaffected with the careers they've just gone on an adventure travel trip are thinking "I want to do this". We have numerous people who have come in and acquired companies or have done mid mid-career shifts. I know several CEOs who are former bankers, for example I know of a Wall Street banker right now who by night is building his adventure travel company and his goal is to to quit the bank. He said my bank work and my day-to-day life is black and white and the adventure travel work even though it's on nights and weekends is like living life in color. I love that. There are also professionals in our space, lawyers and financial people who have figured out how to find their niche in the adventure travel industry where they've combined their professional s
S1 E33 · Thu, September 14, 2017
Deanne Buck- Camber Outdoors is doing great work in the Outdoor community
Deanne tells us how she got her start in the outdoors and the great work Camber is doing in the outdoor community including their terrific mentoring program. Facebook Twitter Instagram The Outdoor Biz Podcast Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Deanne tells us how she got her start in the outdoors and the great work Camber is doing in the outdoor community including their terrific mentoring program. First Exposure to the Outdoors There was about not much difference between my life outdoors my life indoors. We were playing outside all the time. I remember in the summer our screen door would slam and my mom would make it back by dinnertime. When I reflect on growing up I often say I didn't know the difference between public land and private land it just was in there, it was just all outdoors. We lived on a lake and went swimming, I rode my bike everywhere. We had snowmobiles, jet skis and I feel like I grew up in the outdoors. That said I am also very much a team sport sort of person. When I got to college I graduated from University of Nebraska Omaha and met someone who had grown up in Davis California. He was a climber and raft guide and he started saying you know there's this thing called rock climbing, so I would say that it was different the first time I went into the mountains. It was it was intimidating, I didn't know how to find a trail but I really did find that I started to very quickly really focus my life around my love for being outdoors and for the mountains and trail running. The outdoors is very much been a part of my life my entire life it's just becoming many different iterations. Things we talked about Adventure 16 Kern River Tours Camber Outdoors Camber Job Board Camber Events (exchanges) Advice, tips I think there's a lot of ways that people can get in to be out there, especially young people. One is making sure that they stay active and pursue their passion, another great way to get involved in the industry and learn a lot about it is retail. I had a couple retail jobs at Mountain Sports in Boulder and Adventure 16 and I still have friends from that period. It doesn't matter which retailer you're at it is still a good way to get started. It is a great way to get to k
S1 E32 · Tue, September 12, 2017
032: Peter Downing- How Suffer Better is giving back to the Outdoor Endurance community
Peter tells about a nice family tradition that was his first experience in the outdoors and the cool things he is doing with Suffer Better. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes Peter tells us about a nice family tradition that was his first experience in the outdoors and the cool things he is doing with Suffer Better. First Exposure to the Outdoors we've continued this tradition where my dad took me and my brothers on a fly-fishing trip . We were able to go when we reached that ripe old age of 12. We went off into the wilderness for a week with him and some of his buddies. My brothers and I still do that with our sons only we go to go to the same place where we've gone for 50 years. We actually just got back and saw more bears than people which was a good thing. Things we talked about Gravity Sports Film Festival Peace Corps Spark Suffer Better Race Across America Advice, tips What I love this about this industry now is I think there's so many ways to get involved. First to me is you got to know somebody. I still think it's true that if you know somebody you should utilize that. I think those things make a huge difference. I also think people are more open to just showing up, going to somebody and saying look I'm interested in this and I want to do this. I think on the other side companies and people are more receptive to that and just sort of grab the bull by the horns and jump in. There are places like my daughter for example. She's 25, she's a trail runner and she's gotten into web development. She went to a good school and came out with a neuroscience degree but wasn't excited about those jobs so she's gone back and gotten into web coding school. Every industry needs that and a lot of them. I think if the industry is interesting to you there's a lot of ways to get involved and it doesn't mean you have to be this crazy outdoor focused person. There's a lot of ways to work in the industry in sort of those non-traditional ways too.They're more traditional to business but non-traditional to outdoor. I think those opportunities exist and I also think you put yourself out there. I think people are more able to do that now
S1 E31 · Thu, September 07, 2017
Marty Hiester- A little historical tale and enthusiasm for the future of the Outdoor Industry
This episode is with Marty Hiester. Marty tells us about his background with Adventure 16, GSI, starting peak 62 and now in Sales, Marketing and Product Development with Omega Pacific. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please give us a rating and review HERE Show Notes This episode is with Marty Hiester. Marty tells us about his background with Adventure 16, GSI, starting peak 62 and now in Sales, Marketing and Product Development with Omega Pacific. First Exposure to the Outdoors My first exposure to the outdoors was with scouting, I'm proud to be an Eagle Scout. At 11 years old I was in great troop were backpacking was a focal point. I had a shelter, a canteen, a mess kit and a pack back and really learned the basics of outdoor skills. I wouldn't be here today without that. Things we talked about Granite Stairway Mountaineering Adventure 16 Sierra Designs Marmot Snow Lion The North Face Black Ice Liberty Mountain Sports OMC Katadyn GSI Outdoors Peak 62 Omega Pacific Red Rock Rendezvous Advice, tips the most important thing I think is that with a lot of these companies you get a chance to get exposure. As I look over my resume I've been so lucky to work with such a diversity of companies and get so much exposure to so many great things. One of the advantages of the outdoor industry is that people are friendly. I feel
S1 E30 · Tue, September 05, 2017
030: Brian Bennett- Cycling, Outdoor Sales and some Moldy Chum
Brian and I talk a little fly fishing biz and what its like to work with National Accounts such as REI. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E29 · Thu, August 31, 2017
029: Stephen Barnes- Getting back to outdoor basics at Sierra Deisgns
Sierra Designs exec Stephen Barnes tells us how he got exposed to the outdoor industry and his experience as a product leader and independent sales rep. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E28 · Tue, August 29, 2017
028: John Sterling- A lifetime of working to protect our wild outdoor places and spaces
Conservation Alliance Executive Director John Sterling tells about how he got his start in the outdoors, the great work done at the Conservation Alliance and how you can help support our public lands. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E26 · Thu, August 24, 2017
Veronica Cox- Outdoor Adventures and brand building through connecting consumers
We talk about how she got started in the outdoor biz, her outdoor career and her thoughts on building brands and connecting consumers to brands via passion. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E27 · Tue, August 22, 2017
027: Jeff Weidman- Transforming lives of underserved youth through outdoor mentoring expeditions.
Jeff and I talk about first exposure to the outdoors, his retail and repping career and the great activities provided by Big City Mountaineers. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E25 · Thu, August 17, 2017
025: Beau Johnston- Publisher of Living Overland, dedicated to gourmet outdoor cooking and overland travel.
I recently caught up up with Beau Johnston of Living Overland Journal and Toyota Cruisers and Trucks at Outdoor Retailer. We talked about a different element of the outdoor business as Beau tells us about this works with Toyota and the great content his team creates for the Living Overland blog. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E23 · Tue, August 15, 2017
023: Mike Wallenfels- How his career transitioned from A16 Outdoor Buyer to Small Biz Incubator
Hydro Flask VP of Sales Mike Wallenfels tells us about his first jobs in the outdoor biz, how Mountain Hardwear got started and some of the other interesting startup projects he is involved with. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E22 · Thu, August 10, 2017
022: Amy Roberts- OIA Executive Director Amy Roberts talks outdoor trade shows and public lands
This episode is with OIA Executive Director Amy Roberts. Amy gives her perspective on Outdoor Retailers last show in Salt Lake and the move to Denver. We talk about the public lands issues facing us today. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E24 · Wed, August 09, 2017
024: Wylie Robinson- From outdoor Startup to growth, Wylie tells how RUMPL came to life.
This episode is with Rumpl Founder and CEO Wylie Robinson. Wylie tells us how he got into backpacking and camping as a kid and the great story about Rumpl got started. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E21 · Tue, August 08, 2017
021: Outdoor Enthusiast David Deioma- Financial Analyst to Ski Instructor to Mudroom Backpacks
Hey guys, this episode is with David Deioma. David recently launched mudroom backpacks. We talk about how he got the inspiration for mudroom and the challenges starting and operation a new brand. His outdoor career and how he’s has bounced between the outdoor biz and a career in finance. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E19 · Thu, August 03, 2017
019: Kenji Haroutunian- A climber and outdoor show executive becomes an advocate for public lands
This episode is with Kenji Haroutunian. Kenji has a distinguished career in the Outdoor Biz. He currently runs his firm Kenji consults and is President of Friends of Joshua Tree and on the Access Fund board. We talk about his career and the battle for public lands. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E20 · Tue, August 01, 2017
020: Jim Moss- how tax law drove him to Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Law
This episode is with Jim Moss. Jim has been helping outdoor recreation, adventure travel, race and event companies and manufacturers navigate legal issues for years. Jim tells us how he got into outdoor recreation law, we talk about his recent book, his involvement with Boy Scouts, risk management in recreation and much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E18 · Thu, July 27, 2017
018: Bob Woodward- Nordic skier turned Outdoor Freelancer
This episode is with Bob Woodward. Bob has had a first row seat witnessing the growth and development of the Ski and Outdoor Industries. In this episode he tells how he got interested in the Outdoors and we talk about his nordic career, the Poly Party Days at SIA and a much more. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E17 · Tue, July 25, 2017
Jim Thomsen- A life connected to Adventure
This episode is with Jim Thomsen. Jim and his brother Greg are two of the pioneers of the outdoor industry. We talk about how he and Greg wound up owning The Mountain Shop, one of the first outdoor retail stores in So CA, how Wilderness Experience began and Jim’s experience with JanSport. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E16 · Thu, July 20, 2017
016: Ted Ganio- from traipsing around Asia to traipsing around the US visiting outdoor factories and suppliers.
This episode is with Ted Ganio. Ted has recently taken on a new role with Vista Outdoors and has gone from traipsing around China visiting factories and suppliers to traipsing around the US visiting factories and suppliers. We talked about the difference between US and Asian manufacturing and some of the cool new products and processes he’s learning about. It was interesting to his take on the differences between Asia and US manufacturing. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E15 · Tue, July 18, 2017
Dave Best- Interesting conversation about coaching, Life and The Outdoor Biz
Today I’m speaking with Dave Best. We had a fascinating conversation about a wide variety of topics related to the outdoor biz, his athletic career, how his love for sports set the stage for his recruiting and coaching business and much more. Dave operates The Best Group out of Missoula Montana. In 11 years of recruiting he has witnessed first hand a variety of employment cycles. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Give us a rating and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E13 · Thu, July 13, 2017
Todd Walton- Tells us how he's come from Outdoor Retail to the Ski Industries of America
This episode is my conversation with Todd Walton, Todd is the Director of communications & Marketing at Snow Sports Industries of America. In this conversation, we talk about his brief but fun Radio career, how his retail experience and outdoor adventures set the stage for his Outdoor Biz career and much more. Be sure to check out his best gear purchase under a $100 too, I bought one! Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E12 · Tue, July 11, 2017
Jeff Sheets- over 20 years as an Independent Rep in the Outdoor Biz
This episode is my conversation with Jeff Sheets. Jeff and his team make up Trailhead Sales and Associates, an Independent Rep agency in California, Arizona and Nevada. Some of the brands they represent are Eagle Creek, Adventure Medical Kits, Hydrapak, McNett, and Farm to Feet. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E7 · Thu, July 06, 2017
Geoff O’keefe- Stumbling up to a venerable outdoor career
The episode that you are about to listen to is with my good friend Geoff O’Keefe, he and I worked together years ago at A16. Geoff has held roles with American Recreation Products, Mountainsmith, Lowe Alpine Systems, and Patagonia. He was one of the original members at Planet Outdoors, one of the first online retailers in the first coming of the .com era. Geoff is now a partner at New Normal Consulting and operates his personal project O’Keefe Woodworks. In this conversation, we talk about his career experience, how he “stumbled up” the career ladder and had a ton of fun along the way. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E11 · Tue, July 04, 2017
Maura Kistler- Paddling and Climbing with Water Stone Outdoors
This episode is my conversation with Maura Kistler. Maura is the buyer and one of the owners at Water Stone Outdoors in West Virginia. In this conversation we talk about how she got into the outdoor biz, her love of paddling and all the cool things going on at Water Stone Outdoors. There is a 2-3 second dead spot where we lost connection for a bit but you don't miss anything. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E10 · Thu, June 29, 2017
010: Andy Palmer- How can I get paid to live outdoors?
This episode is my conversation with Andy Palmer. Andy and his wife Lori are the founders of The Adventure Portal, a terrific resource for everything related to Vehicle-Assisted Adventure information and news in the U.S.A. Andy made a mindless comment to a buddy one time about getting paid to camp and he has just about pulled it off. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E9 · Tue, June 27, 2017
009: Fynn Glover- How RootsRated went from Media to Software
This episode is my conversation with Fynn Glover. Fynn is the founder and CEO of RootsRated Media. In this conversation, we talk about his Division 1 Soccer career, how he brought RootsRated to life and how it has grown from a media company to a software company. His story of how he went from “what to build” to building RootsRated into content delivery and then evolving towards software is fascinating. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E8 · Thu, June 22, 2017
008: Serena Bishop Gordon- From finance to protecting our outdoor places
This episode is my conversation with Serena Bishop Gordon. Serena is a Professional Cyclist and Program Director for The Conservation Alliance. We talk about her finance education, her brief time working with Enron and how she got involved with Adidas and The Conservation Alliance. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E14 · Tue, June 20, 2017
014: Mike Glavin- Zenbivy, sleeps better than your outdoor mummy bag
This episode is my conversation with Mike Glavin. Mike tells us about his background in the outdoor biz and his learnings about launching his new project zenbivy bed on kickstarter. He had the design and development experience from his years in the outdoor industry and as we find out, kickstarter was an entirely new learning process for him. His learnings about how we sleep and why mummy bags are not for everyone is very interesting. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E6 · Thu, June 15, 2017
006: Mary Maliff- River Guide turned outdoor recruiter
This next episode is my conversation with Mary Maliff. Mary has been a recruiter in the outdoor biz for a few years and also has tons of outdoor experience including river guiding. In this conversation we talk about her recreation background, how she became a river guide and how she got her first job in the outdoor biz. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E5 · Tue, June 13, 2017
005: Amy Magyar- An Outdoor Coach for life
Amy has a diverse Industry background, her experience includes roles as a buyer for Any Mountain and Peter Glenn, Director of Soft goods sales with Burton and now operates her Coaching business Take Aim From Within. In this conversation, we talk about she got into the outdoor biz, her buying career and how she transitioned into Coaching. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E4 · Thu, June 08, 2017
004: Jeff Sermak- An Outdoor Sales Manager's fish stories
Jeff Sermak is the National Sales Manager at Eagle Creek and on the Outreach Committee at the Conservation Alliance. He is doing great work at Eagle Creek and has a funny fish story for you. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E3 · Thu, June 08, 2017
003: Shannon Walton- From Outdoor PR Exec to Yoga instructor
Shannon has had a terrific outdoor career on the PR side of things. In this conversation, we talk about how she got interested in the outdoors her first outdoor job, river rafting and guiding and I think we’ll learn about a new career direction for her. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
Tue, June 06, 2017
About the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast [EP 000]
Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE
S1 E2 · Mon, June 05, 2017
Stephen Matera- an Outdoor Photographers Life
Stephen has built a solid career as an Outdoor Lifestyle and Landscape Photographer. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him when I was a Product Manager. His clients include National Geographic, Cascade Designs, Backpacker Magazine, Kelty and a slew of others. We had to deal with a Skype crash in the middle of this but don’t worry, you didn’t miss any of the good stuff. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
S1 E1 · Mon, June 05, 2017
001: Allan Pietrasanta- from UCLA to Outdoor Life in the Eastern Sierra
The episode you’re about to listed to is my first podcast interview. Good thing I recorded it with my good friend Allan Pietrasanta. Allan has been an eastside resident here in Bishop since he walked out the door on graduation day from UCLA. We talk about his path to the outdoors, some of the politics related to the outdoor biz and plenty of other good stuff. Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Please rate and review HERE Welcome to a podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate their outdoor careers while embracing the freedom and joy of outdoor adventure. We dive deep into outdoor recreation, adventure travel and outdoor activities, helping you find the best outdoor jobs that fit your ideal outdoor life. Whether you're seeking career growth or just more time to get outdoors, we've got you covered.
loading...