

Second Nature
Dylan Bowman & Aaron Lutze
The business of outdoor hosted by Aaron Lutze & Dylan Bowman
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 5, 2025 • 1h 5min
Authenticity Versus Algorithms: Backbone Media
Greg WIlliams joins the podcast this week to share his experience and perspective after working more than twenty years in the outdoor industry. Now President of Backbone Media, he's been able to see the growth of the industry, as well as support the careers of many of the people in it - both current employees as well as those who got their start at Backbone. With the long view of the highs and lows of the industry, Greg has plenty to share in this discussion, both where we've been - and what the future may hold. Show Notes: Greg Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-williams-3ab5958/ Backbone Media: https://www.backbone.media/ Philadelphia Rock Gym: https://philarockgym.com/ Climbing Magazine: https://www.climbing.com/ Enormocast (Climbing Podcast): https://enormocast.com/ YETI - Camino Bag: https://www.yeti.com/bags/tote-bags/camino-35.html Penn Newhard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penn-newhard-b363755/ Nate Simmons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-simmons-21a5846/ Range (Book): https://amzn.to/4g7bddD Andy Ralston Article on Backbone's Blog: https://www.backbone.media/insights/why-leading-brands-come-to-backbone-for-marketing BPC - Brand, Product, Content: Rucking - 5.11: https://www.511tactical.com/ Hyperwear Weighted Vest: https://amzn.to/4mPaD74 Hard MTB League: https://www.hardmtbleague.com/ The Knowledge Podcast - Ryan Petersen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ryan-petersen-how-to-build-a-global-logistics-engine/id990149481?i=1000720673515 Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Aug 29, 2025 • 1h 18min
You Can Just Do Things
Jeremy Dunn has forged his own path through the industry, working for storied brands like Rapha, Specialized and Smith Optics - but he's also created magazines and launched and built brands as an entrepreneur in the industry. In our conversation, we cover the lessons learned from both sides of his experience over the course of his career. Show Notes: Jeremy Dunn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyddunn/ Rapha: https://www.rapha.cc/ Rouleur Magazine: https://www.rouleur.cc/ Slate Olson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slate-olson-bb21171/ Chris Froome: https://www.instagram.com/chrisfroome/ Smith Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/ The Athletic: https://www.theathleticcommunity.com/ Julie Krasniak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekrasniak/ Tracksmith: https://www.tracksmith.com/ Bandit: https://banditrunning.com/ Pas Normal: https://pasnormalstudios.com/ BPC - Brand, Product, Content: Vollebak: https://vollebak.com/ Pelotan: https://pelotan.cc/ Rapha Films "Gravity": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXjQZcc_D8E Outdoor Brand Camp: https://www.outdoorbrandcamp.com John John Florence x Rich Roll: https://www.richroll.com/podcast/john-john-florence-921/ How Long Gone Podcast: https://howlonggone.com/ Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Aug 22, 2025 • 1h 3min
What's On DBo's Docket?
It's been a hectic summer to say the least, but Dylan and Aaron have found time to catch up and run through the latest and greatest hits in the outdoor industry. In this episode, Dylan takes the reins with a full docket of topics that he's been wanting to cover on the pod. Show Notes: Eat My Words (Agency): https://eatmywords.com/ Hello My Name Is Awesome (Book): https://amzn.to/45vKp1O YaBoyScottJurek: https://www.instagram.com/yaboyscottjurek/ Tracksmith: https://www.tracksmith.com/ Tracksmith Instagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNOHwmwtFaM/ Matt Trappe Article: https://substack.com/home/post/p-170404996 Bandit: https://banditrunning.com/ Kate - Leadville: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNLyQWsxvsI/ Golden Trail World Series: https://goldentrailseries.com/ Pablo Torre Finds Out: https://www.youtube.com/@PabloTorreFindsOut Meadowlark Media: https://www.meadowlark-media.com/ BPC - Brand, Product, Content: Path Projects: https://pathprojects.com/ The Extramilest Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-extramilest-podcast/id1272025702 Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Aug 15, 2025 • 1h 12min
Building The Brand: Kitworks
Greg Mills created Kitworks to solve the problem of gear organization, and in less than a year, he's established the product and brand within the outdoor community. In our conversation, we learn about the founding insights, the elements of Greg's background that contributed in a meaningful way to the brand's launch, and how people can utilize their current roles to subsidize their growth and development into opportunities like launching their own brands. Show Notes: Kitworks: https://mykitworks.com/ Greg Mills: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsgregmills/ PNW Components: https://pnwcomponents.com/ Kitworks Gear Tote: https://mykitworks.com/products/gear-tote Outdoor Voices: https://www.inc.com/ali-donaldson/5-years-after-being-pushed-out-of-outdoor-voices-ty-haney-is-doing-things-again/91219095 Nate Helming: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-helming/ Kitworks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mykitworks/ BPC - Brand, Product, Content: The Changing World Order - Ray Dalio (Book): https://amzn.to/46PiVqq Invest Like The Best (Ramtin Naimi episode): https://joincolossus.com/episode/building-abstract/ Minted NY: https://mintednewyork.com/ Insta350 X5: https://store.insta360.com/consumer?utm_term=INRV8SK Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Aug 8, 2025 • 1h 2min
Building The Brand: Tantrums
Adam Copeland launched Tantrums less than a year ago, and we've been having a great time watching him build the brand, brick by brick. In this conversation, we dig into the earliest days of the idea - all the way through the inflection points that have brought him to this point (and beyond). Show Notes: Tantrums: https://tantrums.run/ Run With Us - Pasadena Shop: https://www.clubrunwithus.com/ SAFE (Definition): https://www.angellist.com/learn/safe-note Carta: https://carta.com/ Anna Louden: https://www.annalouden.com/ Monte's Tomato Sauce: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9SySioRvaw/ WTRC - Trippers Japan: https://trippers-wtrc.com/ BPC - Brand, Product, Content: Nike at Western States (ACG): https://www.instagram.com/p/DLd7gU4x_1w/ Acquired Podcast: https://www.acquired.fm/ Win The Inside Game - Steve Magnus (Book): https://amzn.to/4lOOg1d Invest LIke The Best - Jens Grede, Skims: https://joincolossus.com/episode/building-skims/ Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Aug 5, 2025 • 1h 3min
Moving The Goalposts
Dylan and Aaron catch up in the middle of the summer to reflect on where things are at - and how far we've come. Resetting our expectations - or "moving the goalposts" - based on how things have evolved over time. During this conversation, they put it into context for other media properties - and ask the real questions about where to go next. Show Notes: Freetrail: https://www.freetrail.com Peak Life Experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku4dYpW6MG0 Billy Oppenheimer Newsletter: https://billyoppenheimer.com/ Quarter HP: https://www.youtube.com/@quarterhp Joe Budden Network: https://www.patreon.com/cw/joebudden Joe Budden NY Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/business/media/joe-budden-podcast-finances.html Long Run Labs Podcast Collective: https://longrunlabs.substack.com/p/introducing-the-long-run-labs-podcast Vox Media: https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/ Channels - Peter Kafka: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/channels-with-peter-kafka/id1080467174 Insta360: https://store.insta360.com/consumer?utm_term=INRV8SK Substack Raises $100M: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/17/substack-raises-100m-from-chernin-group-andreessen-horowitz-skims-ceo-and-more/ Red Bull Hardline: https://www.redbull.com/us-en/event-series/red-bull-hardline BPC - Brand, Product, Content: Kitworks: https://www.mykitworks.com Kilian Jornet - 15 Years Stronger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faDan5z16qc Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Aug 1, 2025 • 1h 4min
Buying Back Revel Bikes
Adam Miller founded Revel Bikes, sold it to private equity, then bought it back when the brand went bankrupt. We've seen this same program play out so many times in the past few years - but what makes this story different is that Adam bought his original company back and relaunched it. In this conversation, Adam takes us through the entire journey, with a bunch of behind-the-scenes insights. Show Notes: Revel Bikes: https://revelbikes.com/ Borealis Bikes: https://fatbike.com/ Why Cycles: https://www.instagram.com/whycycles/ Canfield: https://canfieldbikes.com/ Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Jul 25, 2025 • 1h 1min
Behind The Scenes Of Adventure Travel
Imagine running a travel agency in the year 2020 - and not only surviving, but finding new ways to continue growing the business. Travel is something that connects everyone in the outdoor industry (and beyond), and in this conversation, Leigh gives us a behind-the-scenes look at one of the largest adventure travel agencies in the world. Show Notes: Leigh Barnes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lcbarnes/ Intrepid Travel: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us Timeshifter: https://www.timeshifter.com/ DJI on Everest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csDriucITDE Uncharted Trips: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/uncharted Antarctica Trip: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/antarctica Intrepid - Protecting National Parks: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/protect-us-national-parks/ BPC: Brand, Product, Content: Citymapper (App): https://citymapper.com/ Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Jul 22, 2025 • 1h 6min
The Outdoor Industry's Biggest Emerging Market
Dylan and Aaron get back together for a catch-up after Aaron's latest trip to China. Outdoor sports are booming over there and brands are taking notice. In this conversation, Aaron shares all of his notes from everything he saw over there - and a glimpse into the future. Show Notes: Super Rider: https://www.youtube.com/@SuperRiderTV Microsoft - Acquired Episode: https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/microsoft Mario's Book Recommendation: https://amzn.to/4kTbXEW Video Night In Kathmandu (Book): https://amzn.to/3TLHz3z David Autor: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/opinion/china-shock-economy-manufacturing.html Nick Denton: https://www.semafor.com/article/03/28/2025/nick-denton-gawker-surprising-return Western States Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehpqF2J91rg BPC - Brand, Product, Content: Ben Gibbard x Speedland GSTMT: https://www.runspeedland.com/products/gs-tmt-copy Road Fools BMX Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr89kMr_V-k Bus Run Bus - Rickey Gates: https://www.busrunbus.com/ Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Jul 18, 2025 • 1h 4min
Unlocking YES With Chelsea Sodaro
Chelsea Sodaro broke into the mainstream when she won the Ironman World Championship in 2022, but it's fair to say her accomplishments outside of that race have been just as impressive. She has created space for conversations around mental health in sports, parenting, and so much more. Her approach is best summed up by the mantra she has written on her bike: "YES YES YES". Chelsea continues to inspire by creating a new event called Unlocking Yes, and in this podcast, we dive deep into the details of her inaugural event. Show Notes: Chelsea Sodaro: https://www.instagram.com/chelseasodaro/ Chelsea's NYT Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/sports/ironwoman-kona-chelsa-sodaro.html Kate Courtney: https://www.instagram.com/kateplusfate/ RXR Sports: https://www.rxrsports.com/ Unlocking Yes Event: https://chelseasodaro.com/unlockingyes/ For All Mothers: https://www.forallmothers.org/ For All Mothers - Grants: https://www.forallmothers.org/grants Pro Triathlete Organization: https://protriathletes.org/ BPC - Brand, Product, Content: On Running: https://www.on.com/ Marin Gestalt XR (Bike): https://www.marinbikes.com/bikes/2025-gestalt-xr Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia