Outside Podcast

David Litt, a former senior speechwriter for Obama and bestselling author, shares his amusing journey of learning to surf during the pandemic. He recounts his chaotic lessons alongside his contrasting brother-in-law, sparking unexpected camaraderie despite their differences. The conversation explores how surfing serves as a lens for understanding cultural divides, emphasizes the importance of embracing fear for personal growth, and highlights the power of dialogue in bridging divides through joy and shared experiences.

Craig Mod, a writer and digital media designer known for his immersive long walks, shares insights from his 300-mile trek along Japan's Kumano Kodo. He discusses how walking fosters creativity and self-discovery, acting as a balm against digital distractions. Listeners hear about the balance between optimism and realism through personal anecdotes and the transformative power of nature. The conversation also highlights the importance of storytelling in walking experiences and offers lighthearted banter on outdoor essentials.

Three comedians walk into a festival…no, this isn’t a joke set up. This is exactly what happened in Denver, Colorado, at the second Outside Festival. Professional giggle-makers Matt Lyons, Katie Burrell, and Eeland Stribling joined host PaddyO on stage to discuss how the outdoors are really just one big punchline. After all, we spend our hard-earned dough on gear to help us sleep in the dirt, run unreasonable distances, hike in brutal weather, and fall booty over tea kettle into snow. Comedy not only abounds, it also thrives in the outdoors. Whether it’s Matt Lyons’ gear jargon satire, Eland Stribling's fly-fishing observations, or Katie Burrell’s roasting of outdoorsy relationships, these folks are here to remind us: if you can’t laugh at yourself in the outdoors, you’re probably dehydrated.

Mike O'Connell, known as Paddy O’Connell's dad, shares his colorful tales from a youthful life of adventure in the 70s. Listeners are treated to stories of college escapades, risky moments in Europe, and insightful reflections on fatherhood. The blend of humor and nostalgia reveals how these experiences shaped both Mike’s character and his son’s perspective on parenting. The heartfelt tribute also explores the importance of creating lasting connections with family, making it a nostalgic journey worth tuning in for.

Griff Wasburn, better known to the world as musical act Goth Babe, had a drive to create since he was a child. He grew up in Tennessee running wild in the woods, skateboarding, and riding bikes on self-built tracks in his backyard. He filmed and scored short films of his adventures, and transformed old cardboard boxes into whatever he dreamt up. At 16 years old, he picked up a guitar and so began Goth Babe. In adulthood, Griff DIY’d truck bed campers, tiny homes, and trailers, drove them all over the country seeking out adventure and space to create. But a brutal surfing accident and its lasting effects on Griff’s brain threatened to derail the expansion and evolution of his music career and creativity. Lucky for Griff, life and creativity cannot stay constrained and contained.

Melissa Arnot Reid, a pioneering mountaineer and author, shares her incredible journey as the first American woman to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen. She dives deep into the emotional challenges intertwined with her athletic pursuits, revealing how childhood abuse shaped her drive and relationships. The conversation navigates the dark side of elite athletics, sexism in mountaineering, and the empowerment of women in the sport. Melissa's personal insights on parenting and self-worth highlight the healing nature of the mountains, making her story a powerful testament to resilience.

In and around his home of Bozeman, Montana, Ranga Perera is highly sought after as a fly fishing pal and even more highly sought after as a personal chef. There’s nothing unusual about that combination, until you learn that his family came to the States in 1991 from Sri Lanka after a happy childhood was disrupted by a violent civil war. Less than a year after emigrating, Ranga’s father passed away and the event haunted him until his own brush with death years later. And yet Ranga lives life without a trace of cynicism or resentment, but rather with childlike wonder and excitement. How does he do it? Through fishing and cooking.

Mirna Valerio, known as The Mirnavator, is an athlete, writer, and educator who encourages others to embrace the outdoors. In this conversation, she discusses her journey into outdoor sports like skiing and ultramarathons, highlighting the concept of 'adult beginnerism.' Mirna shares humorous stories of her early skiing mishaps and the emotional growth that accompanies stepping outside one's comfort zone. She emphasizes mindfulness in learning, overcoming self-doubt, and the joy of taking risks, all while inspiring others to embark on their own adventures.

You probably know Katie Burrell from Instagram, where she’s built a sizeable following by skewering outdoor stereotypes and having World Cup race ski-sharp takes on how relationships live and die on trails of all sorts. But she’s also a seasoned standup comedian who wrote and starred in 2023’s homage to 80s ski comedies, “Weak Layers,” all of which is why you’ll find her at the Outside Festival’s Ideas stage, talking all things funny outdoors. So you’d think talking with her would be a nonstop train of giggles, but Katie takes her craft pretty seriously, as evidenced by her latest leap: starring in the dramatic short film “Bardo”. This kind of range requires a lot of emotional intelligence, and it turns out there’s no better place to develop that than on skis and mountain bikes.

Minnesota is not always top of mind when it comes to outdoor adventure, but it should be. Just ask lifelong “Land of 10,000 Lakes” local Dave Simonett, lead singer of Trampled By Turtles. Dave grew up in Mankato and spent his youth exploring its rolling woods. And when he formed Trampled in Duluth in 2003, something surprising happened. His love of fishing, hiking, skiing, and hunting combined with his musical influences to create a songwriting career based on a deep connection to the outdoors. And today, when Dave isn’t headlining hootenannys like The Outside Festival, he works diligently to protect beloved Minnesotan locales, like the Boundary Waters. Turns out, Minnesota’s woods and water are as integral to Dave’s life and music as a guitar pick.