Wild Ideas Worth Living

Pat Gallant-Charette is a 73-year-old record-breaking marathon swimmer with nine Guinness World Records under her belt. From swimming across the English Channel to navigating Lake Ontario and Lake Zurich, Pat has proven that age is no barrier to big dreams. When she’s not taking on epic swims, you’ll find her tending to her garden, beekeeping, or tapping her own maple trees.Connect with Pat: WebsiteInstagramIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Ice Swimming with Melissa KeglerThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesDannerListen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast! 

In 2022, Dan Hobbs achieved the record as the fastest self-supported person to climb all 58 of Colorado’s 14ers— a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet in elevation— in just 14 days. Connect with Dan: Instagram If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to 100 Peaks in 50 Days with Jason HardrathThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesDannerListen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast! 

Mario Rigby is a serial adventurer who pushes himself to his limit out in nature. He's kayaked across Lake Ontario, biked across the entire country of Canada and walked the length of Africa. No matter what kind of expedition he's on, the motivation remains the same, to witness the good in humanity and challenge others to see it as well. Connect with Mario: WebsiteInstagram YouTubeThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesDannerListen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast! 

Angelina Huang is a former Team USA figure skater who made the bold decision to retire from the sport at just 18 years old. After taking a step back to reconnect with herself, Angelina found a new passion—wild ice skating, where her love for the ice was reignited by the beauty of natural landscapes around the world.Connect with Angelina: WebsiteInstagram & TikTok Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesDannerListen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast! 

Comedian Matt Lyons— trail name Schmutz— is a thru-hiker who makes a living poking fun at outdoor enthusiasts. With a sharp wit and countless trail miles under his belt, Matt brings humor to everything from gear obsessions to the unpredictable mishaps of wilderness life.Connect with Matt: Instagram & TikTokWebsiteThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrellListen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast! 

Denise Joi is a wildlife pilot and conservationist who’s taken her passion for the outdoors to the skies. Denise works alongside biologists to research, survey, and transport species in an effort to protect biodiversity. Her job is incredibly challenging and takes a lot of planning. But for Denise, it is beyond worth it.Connect with Denise: Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrellListen to REI’s Camp Monsters Podcast! 

At 19, Jade Darmawangsa took on the wild challenge of surfing Pipeline—the most iconic and dangerous wave on the planet. There were two major obstacles: she didn't know how to surf, and she couldn’t swim.Connect with Jade: Website Instagram TikTokYouTubeThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrellListen to REI's Camp Monsters Podcast! 

Eric Carter is an alpine athlete and endurance coach who discovered the niche sport of ski mountaineering, or "skimo," and never looked back. Skimo involves skiing uphill in the backcountry and riding the slope back down. Eric also founded Ridgeline Athletics, where he helps mountain athletes chase their own wild outdoor adventures.Connect with Eric: WebsiteInstagram Ridgeline Athletics website Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrell

Lauren Bash is an environmentalist and storyteller who breaks down the complexities of climate change in an inspiring, accessible way. She empowers people with simple, actionable steps to create a healthier environment—and ultimately, a healthier world.Connect with Lauren: WebsiteInstagram TikTok If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Uncovering Climate Mysteries with Lonnie ThompsonListen to Wildfires and Imperfect Activism with Graham ZimmermanThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesMerrell

For the last 20 years, researcher and journalist, Dan Buettner has been studying the happiest, healthiest people on earth. In 2003, Dan started exploring Blue Zones— regions where people live longer than average, many living to be over 100. His work has revealed that by living in places that encourage healthy habits, living a long fruitful life is more possible than people realize. Connect with Dan: Website Instagram Blue Zones website & Instagram Blue Zones Minestrone recipeIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Riding Waves with the Boogie Board Wave Chasers Listen to REI's Camp Monsters podcast!! Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesHoney Stinger