Wild Ideas Worth Living

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 

Shyla Sheppard and Missy Begay are the founders of the first and only Native-women owned brewery in the U.S. They use Indigenous and local ingredients to make unique brews at Bow & Arrow Brewing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The beer they make at Bow & Arrow Brewing is more than just a drink: it celebrates Missy and Shyla’s heritage and shares their stories with their community.Connect with Missy & Shyla: Bow & Arrow Brewing websiteBow & Arrow Brewing Instagram Bow & Arrow Brewing TwitterBow & Arrow Brewing FacebookListen to: Episode 185 with Chef Maria HinesEpisode 175 with Christian GeringEpisode sponsors: Teva Cotopaxi Sonos 

Leah Thomas, the blogger behind Green Girl Leah, is an outdoorswoman and activist who loves learning about science and society. In 2020, Leah posted an infographic on Instagram about “intersectional environmentalism” that went viral. The theory is an inclusive version of environmentalism that calls for climate justice through the lens of social justice–  gender, class and racial equity. Connect with Leah:Green Girl LeahInstagramIntersectional Environmentalist: WebsiteInstagramFacebook YouTubeTwitterResources:Get a copy of Leah’s book, ​​The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet REI Cooperative Action NetworkCatchafireEpisode sponsors:TevaCotopaxiSonos

Rue Mapp spent her youth swimming in creeks and playing on her family’s ranch in California. As she got older, Rue explored new ways to get outside and enjoy nature, but she didn’t see many other Black people in the outdoor spaces she loved. In 2009, she started a social enterprise called Outdoor Afro. In 2015, Outdoor Afro became a national not-for-profit that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. Now, Outdoor Afro, Inc. is releasing a clothing line in collaboration with REI Co-op that honors the history of Black people in the outdoors and celebrates Black joy.Shop – Outdoor Afro Inc. + REI Co-op Hike CollectionConnect with Rue:WebsiteInstagramFacebookTwitter Resources:Outdoor Afro WebsiteOutdoor Afro InstagramListen and Watch:"Made Together" VideoRue Mapp’s 2018 episodeEpisode sponsors:TevaSonos

A few years ago, Marley Blonsky bought a bike as a way to get to work. Soon after, she started bike camping and fell in love with the freedom of cycling. Fast forward to 2020, and Marley started All Bodies on Bikes with past guest and fellow body inclusive cyclist Kailey Kornhauser. The pair were featured in a beautiful short film, and they’ve been written about in some of the industry’s most prominent cycling publications. Now, Marley is traveling around the country working with riders and brands to advocate for size inclusivity.Connect with Marley:Marley’s websiteAll Bodies on Bikes websiteFacebookTwitterMarley’s InstagramAll Bodies on Bike InstagramResources:Check out the Wild Ideas episode with Kailey Kornhauser, co-founder of All Bodies on Bikes.Episode sponsor:Teva

The day before his 26th birthday, Tom Turcich walked out the door of his home in Haddon Township, NJ. He was setting off to walk around the world. Seven years and over 25,000 miles later, Tom returned home. Four months into his trek, he adopted a dog, Savannah, to keep him company. The pair’s adventure was filled with highs and lows - kindly interactions with strangers, health scares, beautiful scenery, and lots of lessons learned. Connect with Tom:WebsiteInstagram More on walking around the world:Becoming Someone You're Proud Of with Mike PosnerSponsor: Sonos 

Over the past few years, alpinist, filmmaker, and climate activist Graham Zimmerman has watched his home in Bend, Oregon get consumed by smoke over and over again. As someone who loves spending time outside, Graham wondered what exactly he could do to help. He created the podcast Wildfire to dig deep and investigate the raging infernos that threaten our homes on planet Earth. Connect with Graham:Website Instagram Resources:Check out REI Co-op Studios Wildfire PodcastLearn more about Protect Our WintersSponsor: Sonos 

The Boogie Board Wave Chasers is a club of women between the ages of 55 and 95. Five days a week, on the beaches of San Diego, these women charge waves, and have the time of their lives. Boogie boarding keeps these women young. It is a workout to swim against the current, hop up on their boards, and get up off the sand. Most of all, together, these women have built a community that cheers them on, in and out of the water.Learn more about the Boogie Board Wave Chasers: Drew Barrymore ShowABC 10Sponsor: Sonos 

In 2018, writer and journalist Katie Arnold took the ultrarunning community by surprise when she won one of the toughest ultramarathons in the country, the Leadville 100. When an opportunity arose to compete in this famous 100 mile race, Katie committed to training for Leadville her way. Her training was “unconventional”, but it totally worked. At 46 years old, Katie completed the course with one of the fastest women’s times in race history.Connect with Katie:Website InstagramPurchase Katie's book, Running HomeTwitterFacebookSponsor: Sonos

Chalk artist David Zinn is known for leaving anonymous work on sidewalks, under rocks, and in other unexpected places. He walks around Ann Arbor, Michigan with a little wooden box of brightly colored chalk. As David strolls the neighborhood, he looks for features of the streetscape– oddly shaped cracks in the pavement or chunks of brick missing from retaining walls– to use in his drawings of whimsical, mischievous little creatures. The lines of the sidewalk become a tightrope for a rabbit to balance on, a sprinkler head becomes the eye of a frog, a pine cone becomes the tail of a cat. Connect with David:Website InstagramTikTokFacebookSponsor: Sonos