Wild Ideas Worth Living

Growing up in poverty with little access to outdoor adventure sports, Ryan Hudson never imagined he’d be snowboarding in big-time competitions and exploring the mountains of Alaska. Today, he’s taken expeditions with renowned athletes, starred in an adventure film, and he’s sponsored by brands like the North Face and Sierra Nevada. Ryan’s journey from "#streets2peaks" is an inspiring, and unlikely story. Connect with Ryan:Instagram TwitterResources:#streets2peaksWatch Mountain RevelationsLearn more about Outdoor OutreachEpisode sponsors: CotopaxiDanner

Mauricio Artiñano, a former mission planning officer with the United Nations, has worked to bridge the gap between former combatants and civilians with a pretty wild idea - white-water rafting.Connect with Mauricio:Instagram FacebookTwitterResources:Caguan ExpeditionsEpisode sponsors: DannerCheck out REI’s Fall 2022 Editor’s Choice Awards

Evelynn Escobar is a changemaker in the outdoor industry who’s building her movement a little differently. As the founder of Hike Clerb, Evelynn has taken an intentional approach to building a fun, stylish and inclusive community. As a result, Hike Clerb has achieved an incredible amount of success. They’ve worked with several well-known brands and are encouraging Black, Indigenous, and women of color across North America to spend more time in the outdoors together. Connect with Evelynn:InstagramHike Clerb's InstagramHike Clerb's websiteWatch REI Co-op Studio's "To Touch the Earth with Hike Clerb founder Evelynn Escobar" Read more on REI's Uncommon PathEpisode sponsor: Danner

In 2021, yoga instructor Monica Ramos packed up her home and went on a motorcycle adventure with her husband and their eight-year-old daughter. The family of three left their home in Costa Rica and rode for four months: one month to get to Mexico and more than two months exploring every corner of the country. On the trip, Monica learned to incorporate lessons from her yoga practice - like awareness of her body and mindful breathing - into motorcycle riding.Connect with Monica: InstagramFacebookResources:Vist the Harmony Hotel Episode sponsors:Cotopaxi Danner

In 2017, Stacy Bare took fellow veterans back to Iraq, where they had all served during the war. The team skied some of the highest mountains in the country and made an award-winning film called Adventure Not War. Now, since becoming a father to daughter Wilder, and weathering a global pandemic, Stacy’s work looks a little different. Instead of bringing folks out to nature, he’s working to build and improve green space in Grand Rapids, Michigan.Connect with Stacy:InstagramConnect with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks:WebsiteInstagramFacebookResources:Watch Adventure Not WarListen to Stacy on Wild Ideas Worth Living, 2018Episode sponsors:Cotopaxi Danner

Emily Ford loves winter. She does most of her adventuring during the coldest months of the year in the most frigid parts of the U.S. In March of 2021, Emily became the first woman and the first Black person on record to complete the Ice Age Trail, a 1,200 mile trek that winds through the state of Wisconsin. In March of 2022, she completed a 28 day trek where she skied 180 miles with her dog Diggins. Connect with Emily Ford:WebsiteInstagramFacebookResources:Ice Age TrailBoundary WatersEpisode sponsors: Teva Cotopaxi

Halloween approaches, and spending time outside is a little spookier than usual. As it gets dark earlier and leaves start to fall, our minds can run wild with visions of unknown creatures hiding in lakes or slithering across trails. Weston Davis - host of REI's Camp Monster podcast - tells the stories of these “impossible” creatures, and folks of all ages can’t get enough of them. He knows exactly how to build suspense and make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Connect with Weston:WebsiteListen to the Camp Monsters podcast!Episode sponsors: Teva Cotopaxi

Outdoor romance novelist Stacy Gold gave up her day job at a mountain biking nonprofit to write steamy romance novels. Her characters are strong, adventurous women - and the men who can’t resist them. Stacy has released four award-winning books, including her newest novel Wild at Heart, with more on the way. Writing romance novels that take place in the great outdoors gives Stacy a lot of material to work with: interesting plot points, beautiful scenery, and plenty of opportunity to crank up the tension.Connect with Stacy:WebsiteInstagram FacebookTwitterPurchase Stacy's latest bookEpisode sponsors: TevaCheck out REI's Fall 2022 Editor's Choice Awards   

Teresa Martinez knows all about building trails. She’s spent the last 30 years working on some of the longest and most well-known trails across the country. Her latest project is to connect the Continental Divide Trail so that thru-hikers can follow the 1,200 mile path from the Mexico/New Mexico border to Montana and Canada without having to walk on city streets and highways.  Connect with Teresa and The Continental Divide Trail Coalition:WebsiteFacebook Twitter Instagram Resources:Learn more about Benton MackayeEpisode sponsors: Teva Cotopaxi 

Louie Gong is one of the most successful Native American visual artists in the country. At the beginning of his artistic career, he wanted to find a way to sell and license his work without having to go through a gallery or museum. So he founded his own company, Eighth Generation. The brand started in 2008 in Louie’s 200 square foot living room, and now inhabits a 30,000 square foot space in the heart of Seattle. Eighth Generation partners with over 40 Native American artists around the U.S. to design, manufacture and market beautiful wool blankets, art prints, home goods, and more. Louie recently collaborated with Brooks to create the new Brooks Running Sasquatch Collection, designed by Louie, which features his art, inspired by his interpretation of Sasquatch. The limited edition collection includes running apparel and the Cascadia 16 trail running shoe. Learn more about Louie and the Sasquatch collection here. Connect with Louie:WebsiteInstagramResources:Eighth Generation websiteEighth Generation InstagramEighth Generation FacebookEighth Generation TwitterWatch I Ran with Native American Sneaker Artist Louie GongShop Brooks Cascadia 16 Sasquatch Trail-Running Shoe for men and womanEpisode sponsors: Teva Cotopaxi