Wild Ideas Worth Living - podcast cover

Wild Ideas Worth Living

REI Co-opwww.rei.com
High-impact interviews for those who love adventure and the outdoors. Host and journalist Shelby Stanger interviews world-class explorers, athletes, authors, scientists, health experts and entrepreneurs about how they’ve taken their own wild ideas and made them a reality, so you can too. Some of the wildest ideas can lead to the most rewarding adventures.

Episodes

Running 100 Marathons in 100 Days with Brooks Bash

Brooks Bash is an entrepreneur and endurance athlete known for pursuing extraordinary challenges. In 2023, he ran a relay from Canada to Mexico to promote his natural energy drink company, Earthy. Later that year, Brooks completed 100 marathons in 100 days, equivalent to running from L.A. to New York. Just three weeks after his 100th marathon, he tackled another feat, running a 320-mile race from Santa Monica to Las Vegas. Connect with Brooks: Instagram Earthy website & Instagram Thank you to ou...

Apr 22, 202529 minEp. 344

Becoming a Professional Adaptive Rock Climber with Mo Beck

Mo Beck is an elite climber who was born with a limb difference. For Mo, rock climbing is a puzzle, requiring her to find unique routes up the wall. Over the course of her career, Mo earned a spot on the national paralympic climbing team and has been a top tier competitor at countless national and international climbing events. Now, she's encouraging other adaptive climbers to rethink the limits of what their bodies can do. Connect with Mo: Website Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: Capital On...

Apr 15, 202528 minEp. 343

Creating a New Kind of Run Club with Knox Robinson

Knox Robinson is a unique running coach and founder of the Black Roses running group in New York City. His coaching methods, inspired by music, culture, and the urban environment, are unconventional and effective. The Black Roses practice like an elite track team, but instead of high-end facilities, they use urban areas like parks, city streets, and local trails as their training grounds. Connect with Knox: Knox's Instagram Black Roses Instagram Listen to the Camp Nowhere Podcast Thank you to ou...

Apr 08, 202528 minEp. 342

Starting a Regenerative Farm with Spencer Scott & Nick Schwanz

Nick Schwanz and Spencer Scott are the visionary couple behind Solar Punk Farms in Guerneville, California. They transformed their lives from careers in brand strategy and bioengineering to create a community-focused, environmentally conscious farm. Solar Punk Farms grows food and flowers, enabling Nick and Spencer to host memorable community gatherings and provide environmental education in hopes of making the sustainable revolution irresistible. Connect with Spencer & Nick: Spencer's Instagram...

Apr 01, 202529 minEp. 341

First Blind Person to Summit Mount Everest with Erik Weihenmayer

Erik Weihenmayer made history in 2001 as the first blind person to summit Mount Everest. By 2008, he had completed the Seven Summits, the tallest mountains on each continent. Since then, Erik has embraced a wide range of adventure sports from paragliding in the Rocky Mountains and ice climbing in Nepal to kayaking the length of the Grand Canyon. Connect with Erik: Website Instagram No Barriers website & Instagram Listen to the Camp Nowhere Podcast Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One and the R...

Mar 25, 202526 minEp. 340

Setting a New FKT on the Appalachian Trail with Tara Dower

Tara Dower has become one of America's top ultra runners, winning numerous 50 and 100-mile races and setting speed records on some of the nation's most challenging trails. In 2024, she achieved a monumental milestone by completing the 2200-mile Appalachian Trail, surpassing the previous fastest known time (FTK) by 13 hours. Connect with Tara: Website Instagram YouTube Listen to the Camp Nowhere Podcast Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® Honey Stinger...

Mar 18, 202527 minEp. 339

Climbing Mountains and Making History with Philip Henderson

Philip Henderson is a legendary outdoor instructor, adventurer, and mentor. With 30 years of experience leading expeditions and teaching sports like whitewater rafting, skiing, climbing, and mountaineering, Philip has made a significant impact in the outdoor community. In 2020, he was honored with the Outdoor Afro Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2022, he made history by leading the first all-Black team up Mount Everest. Connect with Philip: Instagram Full Circle Expeditions website Listen to the ...

Mar 11, 202531 minEp. 338

Rowing Solo From Hawaii to Australia with Tez Steinberg

In 2020, Tez Steinberg rowed roughly 2,700 miles from California to Hawaii. He spent 71 days on the water, facing bad weather and extreme isolation. Surprisingly, when he landed on Oahu, he decided he wanted to do it again. This time, he would row from Hawaii to Australia, more than twice as far as his first expedition. Connect with Tez: Website Instagram United World Challenge website & Instagram Submit your Half Dome story!! Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®...

Feb 25, 202530 minEp. 337

Para Off-Road Cycling with Annijke Wade

A few years ago, Annijke Wade's career as a professional mountain biker changed dramatically after an accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down. Since then, she has become a talented para-cyclist, riding a three-wheeled mountain bike and propelling herself forward by rotating her handlebars. Even though her relationship with cycling has changed over the years, Annijke continues to love the thrill and freedom of whipping down trails and exploring the wilderness. Connect with Annijke: I...

Feb 18, 202526 minEp. 336

Kayaking the Northwest Passage with West Hansen

In the summer of 2023, West Hansen led a team of kayakers, known as The Arctic Cowboys, through the Northwest Passage, making history as the first people to cross it by human power. The journey took them 103 days to complete, during which they encountered polar bears, icebergs, and some of the most intense weather of their lives. Connect with West: Website Instagram The Arctic Cowboys website & Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® Terns — used code "WIL...

Feb 11, 202533 minEp. 335

Cold Weather Camping Tips with Emily Ford & Justin Borak

Emily Ford, the queen of winter adventuring and frigid thru-hikes, shares her recent wild ideas and offers listeners tips and tricks for thriving in cold weather camping. Denver Green Vest, Justin Borak, weighs in on staying warm and optimizing battery life on winter trails. Connect with Emily: Instagram Gear & apparel mentioned in this episode: Z-Lite Sleeping Pad Therm-a-Rest Puffy Camp Blanket Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags Nalgene MSR WhisperLite Stove Fjallraven Puffy Shorts Waste Bag...

Feb 04, 202527 minEp. 334

Navigating Life's Biggest Mountains with Kimmy Fasani

Kimmy Fasani is a groundbreaking figure in women’s snowboarding, known for her fearless innovation and inspiring journey. She began competing nationally at just 15 and made history as the first woman to land a double backflip in a terrain park. Since becoming a mom six years ago, Kimmy has continued to break barriers for women in sports while navigating profound challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis. Through it all, Kimmy has shared her story with remarkable courage, empowering others ...

Jan 28, 202525 minEp. 333

Getting Everest Ready with Dr Jon Kedrowski

Dr Jon Kedrowski is an adventure coach and seasoned mountaineer who helps athletes prepare for their biggest expeditions. John holds a PhD in Environmental, Geography, Weather, and Climate, and he's summited Mount Everest four times. Connect with Dr Jon: Website Instagram If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Becoming Someone You're Proud Of with Mike Posner This episode is presented by Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® ....

Jan 21, 202527 minEp. 332

Skiing Solo Across Antarctica with Felicity Aston

On January 23, 2012, Felicity Aston made history as the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica. Her remarkable journey and extensive career as a Polar Explorer and Climate Researcher have taken her to some of the most remote and challenging environments on Earth. Connect with Felicity: Website If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Exploring the North and South Pole with Ann Bancroft This episode is presented by Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® ....

Jan 14, 202537 minEp. 331

Running for 2,800 Days Straight with Hellah Sidibe

In May of 2017, Hellah Sidibe set a goal for himself: to run for 10 minutes a day for two weeks. Little did he know that once he started, he wouldn't want to stop. Hellah has run every single day for the last seven and a half years. Connect with Hellah: Instagram YouTube If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Becoming Someone You're Proud Of with Mike Posner This episode is presented by Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® ....

Jan 07, 202527 minEp. 330

Skiing the 50 Classic Descents in North America with Cody Townsend

Cody Townsend is one of America's most well-known and beloved professional skiers. In his 20s, Cody made a name for himself as a competitive alpine ski racer before starring in dozens of blockbuster ski movies. His fame skyrocketed in 2014 when he skied The Crack, a steep and narrow gully in Alaska. Following this feat, Cody embarked on an ambitious journey to ski the 50 classic lines in North America— a project that isn't quite finished and maybe never will be. Connect with Cody: Website Instag...

Dec 17, 202439 minEp. 329

Completing 52 Hikes in A Year with Karla Amador

About a decade ago, entrepreneur Karla Amador set her sights on completing 52 hikes in a year. She didn't consider herself outdoorsy, so it helped to break down her goal into small, actionable steps, like hiking at least one mile each weekend. She called this project "The 52 Hike Challenge." 10 years later, she's turned it into a national company that encourages thousands of participants to get outside. Connect with Karla: Instagram 52 Hike Challenge website & Instagram Listen to Karla's new pod...

Dec 10, 202425 minEp. 328

Ice Climbing Niagara Falls with Will Gadd

Will Gadd has spent his thirty-year career mastering the balance between risk management and innovation in extreme sports. He has set two paragliding distance records, won numerous ice climbing competitions, and achieved multiple first ascents. In 2015, Will became the first person to ice climb Niagara Falls. Connect with Will: Website Instagram If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to The Wisdom of Expeditions with Conrad Anker Thank you to our sponsor: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Master...

Dec 03, 202427 minEp. 327

How-to Survive in the Wilderness with Jessie Krebs

Jessie Krebs is a wilderness survival expert and Air Force veteran who prepares people for worst-case scenarios. Since her time in the Air Force, Jessie has used her experience to open her own wilderness survival school with a mission to share her knowledge with everyone, especially women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ folks, so they can more confidently, and safely explore the outdoors. Connect with Jessie: Instagram O.W.L.S. Skills website Thank you to our sponsor: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mast...

Nov 26, 202432 minEp. 326

Running a Marathon at Any Speed with Martinus Evans

12 years ago Martinus Evans went on his first run. Despite the initial struggle, he went on to complete his first marathon just 18 months later. Today, Martinus is a marathon runner, author, speaker, and the founder of the Slow AF Run Club, a community of over 40,000 members that motivates runners of all speeds to go after their big goals. Connect with Martinus: Website Instagram Slow AF website & Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and le...

Nov 19, 202426 minEp. 325

Open Ocean Swimming at 73 with Pat Gallant-Charette

Pat Gallant-Charette is a 73-year-old record-breaking marathon swimmer with nine Guinness World Records under her belt. From swimming across the English Channel to navigating Lake Ontario and Lake Zurich, Pat has proven that age is no barrier to big dreams. When she’s not taking on epic swims, you’ll find her tending to her garden, beekeeping, or tapping her own maple trees. Connect with Pat: Website Instagram If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Ice Swimming with Melissa Kegler Thank you to o...

Nov 12, 202430 minEp. 324

Climbing 58 14ers in 14 Days with Dan Hobbs

In 2022, Dan Hobbs achieved the record as the fastest self-supported person to climb all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers— a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet in elevation— in just 14 days. Connect with Dan: Instagram If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to 100 Peaks in 50 Days with Jason Hardrath Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees Danner Listen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast !...

Nov 05, 202431 minEp. 323

Walking the Length of Africa with Mario Rigby

Mario Rigby is a serial adventurer who pushes himself to his limit out in nature. He's kayaked across Lake Ontario, biked across the entire country of Canada and walked the length of Africa. No matter what kind of expedition he's on, the motivation remains the same, to witness the good in humanity and challenge others to see it as well. Connect with Mario: Website Instagram YouTube Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund g...

Oct 29, 202433 minEp. 322

Wild Ice Skating with Angelina Huang

Angelina Huang is a former Team USA figure skater who made the bold decision to retire from the sport at just 18 years old. After taking a step back to reconnect with herself, Angelina found a new passion—wild ice skating, where her love for the ice was reignited by the beauty of natural landscapes around the world. Connect with Angelina: Website Instagram & TikTok Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees Danner Li...

Oct 22, 202429 minEp. 321

Telling Jokes on the Trail with Matt Lyons

Comedian Matt Lyons— trail name Schmutz— is a thru-hiker who makes a living poking fun at outdoor enthusiasts. With a sharp wit and countless trail miles under his belt, Matt brings humor to everything from gear obsessions to the unpredictable mishaps of wilderness life. Connect with Matt: Instagram & TikTok Website Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees Merrell Listen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast !...

Oct 15, 202425 minEp. 320

Becoming a Wildlife Pilot with Denise Joi

Denise Joi is a wildlife pilot and conservationist who’s taken her passion for the outdoors to the skies. Denise works alongside biologists to research, survey, and transport species in an effort to protect biodiversity. Her job is incredibly challenging and takes a lot of planning. But for Denise, it is beyond worth it. Connect with Denise: Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees Merrell Listen to REI’s...

Oct 08, 202422 minEp. 319

Learning to Surf Pipeline with Jade Darmawangsa

At 19, Jade Darmawangsa took on the wild challenge of surfing Pipeline—the most iconic and dangerous wave on the planet. There were two major obstacles: she didn't know how to surf, and she couldn’t swim. Connect with Jade: Website Instagram TikTok YouTube Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees Merrell Listen to REI's Camp Monsters Podcast !...

Oct 01, 202431 minEp. 318

Ski Mountaineering Through the Backcountry with Eric Carter

Eric Carter is an alpine athlete and endurance coach who discovered the niche sport of ski mountaineering, or "skimo," and never looked back. Skimo involves skiing uphill in the backcountry and riding the slope back down. Eric also founded Ridgeline Athletics, where he helps mountain athletes chase their own wild outdoor adventures. Connect with Eric: Website Instagram Ridgeline Athletics website Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about l...

Sep 24, 202424 minEp. 317

Inspiring Climate Action with Lauren Bash

Lauren Bash is an environmentalist and storyteller who breaks down the complexities of climate change in an inspiring, accessible way. She empowers people with simple, actionable steps to create a healthier environment—and ultimately, a healthier world. Connect with Lauren: Website Instagram TikTok If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Uncovering Climate Mysteries with Lonnie Thompson Listen to Wildfires and Imperfect Activism with Graham Zimmerman Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check ...

Sep 17, 202429 minEp. 316

Exploring Blue Zones with Dan Buettner

For the last 20 years, researcher and journalist, Dan Buettner has been studying the happiest, healthiest people on earth. In 2003, Dan started exploring Blue Zones— regions where people live longer than average, many living to be over 100. His work has revealed that by living in places that encourage healthy habits, living a long fruitful life is more possible than people realize. Connect with Dan: Website Instagram Blue Zones website & Instagram Blue Zones Minestrone recipe If you enjoyed this...

Sep 10, 202435 minEp. 315