Wild Ideas Worth Living

A few years ago, Annijke Wade's career as a professional mountain biker changed dramatically after an accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down. Since then, she has become a talented para-cyclist, riding a three-wheeled mountain bike and propelling herself forward by rotating her handlebars. Even though her relationship with cycling has changed over the years, Annijke continues to love the thrill and freedom of whipping down trails and exploring the wilderness. Connect with Annijke: Instagram Dritbound website & InstagramThank you to our sponsors: Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® Terns — used code “WILD” at checkout to receive 25% off your first order.

In the summer of 2023, West Hansen led a team of kayakers, known as The Arctic Cowboys, through the Northwest Passage, making history as the first people to cross it by human power. The journey took them 103 days to complete, during which they encountered polar bears, icebergs, and some of the most intense weather of their lives.Connect with West: Website Instagram The Arctic Cowboys website & Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® Terns — used code "WILD" at checkout to receive 25% off your first order.  

Emily Ford, the queen of winter adventuring and frigid thru-hikes, shares her recent wild ideas and offers listeners tips and tricks for thriving in cold weather camping. Denver Green Vest, Justin Borak, weighs in on staying warm and optimizing battery life on winter trails. Connect with Emily: Instagram Gear & apparel mentioned in this episode: Z-Lite Sleeping Pad Therm-a-Rest Puffy Camp BlanketWestern Mountaineering Sleeping BagsNalgeneMSR WhisperLite StoveFjallraven Puffy ShortsWaste BagsThis episode is presented by Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®. 

Kimmy Fasani is a groundbreaking figure in women’s snowboarding, known for her fearless innovation and inspiring journey. She began competing nationally at just 15 and made history as the first woman to land a double backflip in a terrain park. Since becoming a mom six years ago, Kimmy has continued to break barriers for women in sports while navigating profound challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis. Through it all, Kimmy has shared her story with remarkable courage, empowering others along the way.Connect with Kimmy: WebsiteInstagramThis episode is presented by Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®. 

Dr. Jon Kedrowski, an adventure coach and expert mountaineer with a PhD in Environmental Geography, shares thrilling tales from his four Everest summits. He discusses the life-altering experiences of confronting nature's fury, including a near-miss with lightning and the chaos of the 2015 earthquake. Jon also dives into financing outdoor adventures creatively and emphasizes the importance of mental and physical training to succeed on climbs like Everest. His insights showcase resilience and preparation as essentials for adventurers.

On January 23, 2012, Felicity Aston made history as the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica. Her remarkable journey and extensive career as a Polar Explorer and Climate Researcher have taken her to some of the most remote and challenging environments on Earth.Connect with Felicity: Website If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Exploring the North and South Pole with Ann BancroftThis episode is presented by Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®. 

In May of 2017, Hellah Sidibe set a goal for himself: to run for 10 minutes a day for two weeks. Little did he know that once he started, he wouldn't want to stop. Hellah has run every single day for the last seven and a half years.Connect with Hellah: Instagram YouTube If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Becoming Someone You're Proud Of with Mike Posner This episode is presented by Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®. 

Cody Townsend is one of America's most well-known and beloved professional skiers. In his 20s, Cody made a name for himself as a competitive alpine ski racer before starring in dozens of blockbuster ski movies. His fame skyrocketed in 2014 when he skied The Crack, a steep and narrow gully in Alaska. Following this feat, Cody embarked on an ambitious journey to ski the 50 classic lines in North America— a project that isn't quite finished and maybe never will be. Connect with Cody: Website Instagram YouTube If you enjoyed this episode: Snowboarding as a Creative Expression with Travis RiceSpirit of the Peaks with Connor RyanThank you to our sponsor: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees

About a decade ago, entrepreneur Karla Amador set her sights on completing 52 hikes in a year. She didn't consider herself outdoorsy, so it helped to break down her goal into small, actionable steps, like hiking at least one mile each weekend. She called this project "The 52 Hike Challenge." 10 years later, she's turned it into a national company that encourages thousands of participants to get outside.Connect with Karla: Instagram 52 Hike Challenge website & Instagram Listen to Karla's new podcast, Rise & Wander Thank you to our sponsor: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees

Will Gadd has spent his thirty-year career mastering the balance between risk management and innovation in extreme sports. He has set two paragliding distance records, won numerous ice climbing competitions, and achieved multiple first ascents. In 2015, Will became the first person to ice climb Niagara Falls.Connect with Will: Website Instagram If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to The Wisdom of Expeditions with Conrad AnkerThank you to our sponsor: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund grantees