Outside Podcast

Ben Ayers, a seasoned journalist and non-profit founder in Nepal, shares his unique perspective on Mount Everest and the surrounding Himalayas. He discusses the cultural significance of Everest to the Nepali people, contrasting it with its commercial image. Ben reflects on the ethics of climbing, highlighting the responsibility that comes with such ambition. Through his experiences, he emphasizes resilience, community, and the transformative power of adventure while preparing for an eventful Everest climbing season.

We all do it, zip as fast as we can around our favorite trails and rides. Maybe it’s because we feel a pull to get to the next thing, want to rush through the hard part to get to the fun part, or only have a brief window in our overbooked day. Whatever the reason, moving fast often results in missing out on the moment. But what would our time outside feel like if we adopted a slow, measured movement? Skier and scientist Ellen Bradly loves answering this question. Inspired by research in the Hoh Rain Forest on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Ellen adopted a mentality for her adventures that prioritizes a deep attention to the details of her surroundings. And what started as a way to appreciate the beauty around her evolved into an ability to learn and hear things that her Indigenous ancestors were trying to teach her. Sometimes, the best way home isn’t necessarily the fastest one.

Selema Masekela, a renowned television host and sports commentator, shares his lifelong journey at the intersection of sports and culture. He recounts a spiritual awakening through surfing that transformed his perspective on life. The conversation dives into the complex relationships with parents and the pursuit of passion over conventional paths, revealing deep emotional truths. Selema reflects on personal legacy, emphasizing the importance of connections over material wealth, and offers a light-hearted take on outdoor gear and snacks in sports culture.

Mikah Meyer, an endurance athlete and LGBTQ+ advocate, shares his captivating journey of visiting all 419 National Parks. He opens up about the heavy burden of shame he carried and how a transformative river trip helped him confront that pain. Through personal stories, he discusses navigating his identity as a gay man within outdoor spaces. Mikah emphasizes the power of mentorship, community support, and self-acceptance, blending humor and heartwarming anecdotes to inspire listeners to embrace their authentic selves.

In this engaging conversation, professional snowboarder Kimmy Fasani shares her powerful journey through motherhood, loss, and surviving cancer. She draws fascinating parallels between her snowboarding adventures and life's challenges, highlighting resilience and emotional honesty. Kimmy emphasizes the importance of fostering independence in children while processing grief. Her advocacy for inclusive maternity policies showcases how personal challenges can shape systemic change in sports. With humor and heart, she illustrates how passion can serve as a source of strength during difficult times.

An interesting thing happened when Scott Losse started poking fun at snowboarders and mountain bikers in his Instagram posts: He went from being sort of known around Seattle as a stand up comedian to blowing up across social media as the guy saying all the things a lot of us think when we’re at the mountain, on the trails, or in the bike park. Losse’s observational humor about the outdoors has transformed his trajectory as a comic; more importantly, it helps ensure our often painfully self-serious social feeds, filled with inspiring-but-totally-unrelatable accomplishments, get a little more silly.The Outside Podcast is made possible by our Outside Plus members. Learn more about all the benefits of membership at outsideonline.com/podplus.

We have some fun, exciting news! Longtime Outside Podcast contributor, Paddy “PaddyO” O’Connell is taking over as host of the show. In every episode, PaddyO will chat with people about how their experiences in the outdoors have shaped the way they navigate life. From the mountain climb that inspired a business to the bike wreck that healed a relationship to the morning meditation session in the garden that became a gallery show, PaddyO gets people with fascinating stories of life outside to open up and give us all something to think about the next time we leave the trailhead, hit the road, or head downhill. Take a listen to the new show trailer and tune in every Wednesday for the surprising impact of a life outside.

The first written accounts of surfing in Africa predate accounts of surfing in Hawaii by 100 years. In his new movie Wade in the Water, documentarian David Mesfin asks: what else have we glossed over in the history of black surfing? The result is a stunning look at black suffering and black joy, and how a group of people who have been stereotyped as avoiding water actually have a deep and meaningful history with the ocean.

What happens to your body when you get lost and confused on a mountain in the bitter cold of a winter night? In 2016 The Outside Podcast launched with this harrowing story of a lost motorist fighting for his life. Based on Peter Stark's classic feature, Frozen Alive, it is still considered a high-water mark for experiential audio storytelling.The Outside Podcast is made possible by our Outside Plus members. Learn more about all the benefits of membership at outsideonline.com/podplus.

Matthew Bryce went surfing alone. Would he die alone, too? As he was riding waves, Bryce got blown out to sea. He had a wetsuit and a surfboard, and nothing else. No way to call for help, or signal to the rescuers that he could see searching for him in a helicopter. Alone and freezing in the ocean, how do you keep from giving up?The Outside Podcast is made possible by our Outside Plus members. Learn more about all the benefits of membership at outsideonline.com/podplus.