

Wild Ideas Worth Living
REI Co-op
High-impact interviews for those who love adventure and the outdoors. Host and journalist Shelby Stanger interviews world-class explorers, athletes, authors, scientists, health experts and entrepreneurs about how they’ve taken their own wild ideas and made them a reality, so you can too. Some of the wildest ideas can lead to the most rewarding adventures.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 29, 2021 • 36min
A Triumphant Return to Triathlon with Sika Henry
Sika set this goal 6 years ago and was aiming to achieve it in 2019. But nothing could have prepared her for the bike accident she experienced in that year during a race in Texas. Sika isn’t one to let any obstacle stand in her way and she trained hard to come back stronger than ever. Now, she uses the experience of her accident and the success of getting her pro card to talk to youth, particularly Black Americans, about getting involved in triathlon.Connect with Sika:WebsiteFacebookInstagramResources:Iron ManBlack MarathonersSeason Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:SonosHOKA One One

Jun 15, 2021 • 35min
Mental health, music and the wild with Joseph Mulherin
Joseph Mulherin is known by his stage name nothing,nowhere. He’s a musician who has worked with celebrities like Travis Barker from Blink 182 and Pete Wentz from Fallout Boy. Joe has an incredible fan base, but things haven’t always been easy for him. Since he was a kid, Joe has struggled with an anxiety and panic disorder. But he’s found that being out in nature and practicing bushcraft skills can be a real salve for his mental health. On this show, Joe talks about how music, meditation, and getting outside have made a powerful impact on his life. Connect with Joseph Mulherin (nothing, nowhere.):Website YouTubeTwitterInstagramResources:Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu Into the Trauma Factory YouTube SeriesSeason Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:Teva Sonos

Jun 1, 2021 • 30min
The Trees Remember with Angela Tucker
Angela Tucker is a writer, director and Emmy-nominated producer who makes narrative and documentary films. For her new series, The Trees Remember, Angela teamed up with REI to make three short films. Each short features a Black woman experiencing a moment of connection and reflection in the outdoors, showing that nature is a backdrop to our daily lives, providing space to learn and inspire. In this episode, Angela talks about how she became a filmmaker, making period pieces, and the creative process behind The Trees Remember.Connect with guests:Website Facebook TwitterInstagramResources:REI: The Trees Remember film seriesSeason Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:SonosTeva

May 18, 2021 • 40min
Running Slow with Susan Lacke
Writer and professor Susan Lacke never anticipated becoming an endurance athlete. But when her boss Carlos Nunez offered her an opportunity to improve her unhealthy lifestyle, she went for it. What started as small changes became bigger and bigger until she signed up for an Ironman triathlon. Now, she’s breaking the mold of who we think of as an athlete - Susan is deaf, and she writes about other athletes that don’t fit the runner stereotype. She believes anyone can be a runner, no matter their size, race, gender, or ability.Connect with Susan:WebsiteFacebookTwitter InstagramSusan's books:Life’s Too Short To Go So F*cking SlowRunning Outside the Comfort ZoneSeason Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:HokaSonos

May 4, 2021 • 33min
Grow Cycling with Eliot Jackson
Professional mountain biker, Eliot Jackson, is no stranger to reaching big goals. He started riding motorcycles before he was in kindergarten, and ended up becoming a child motocross athlete. He won five national motocross national championships during his youth. When Eliot was 15 years old, he decided to retire from motocross. A few years later, Eliot took up mountain biking and had the wild idea to become a professional downhill mountain bike athlete. In his seven year career, Eliot became one of the top three downhill mountain bikers in the US. Now, he is conquering a new dream. Eliot recently started a non-profit called Grow Cycling Foundation, which is an organization that is making mountain biking more accessible to youth in Los Angeles.Connect with Eliot and Grow Cycling Foundation:WebsiteFacebookInstagram (Eliot)Instagram (Grow Cycling Foundation)Season Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:Teva Sonos

Apr 27, 2021 • 38min
Climbing Mountains with Tyrhee Moore
Tyrhee Moore is a mountaineer, outdoor guide and founder of the non-profit, Soul Trak. Growing up in Washington D.C, Tyrhee first fell in love with the outdoors on a 7th grade trip to the Grand Tetons with City Kids Wilderness Project. He was blown away by the beautiful views, but he was also impressed by his own power and ability to climb mountains. He was hooked on outdoor adventures. Several years later, Tyrhee was asked to be on the first all-Black American team to climb Denali and was featured in a documentary called An American Ascent about the group’s climb. After becoming a trained mountain and river guide, Tyrhee started the non-profit Soul Trak Outdoors, an organization that connects urban communities of color with green spaces in the D.C. area. Connect with Tyhree and Soul Trak:WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagram - (Soul Trak)Instagram - (Tyrhee)Resources:An American Ascent DocumentaryCity Kids Wilderness ProjectExpedition DenaliSeason Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:SonosTeva

Apr 20, 2021 • 28min
Preserving Our Parks with Keith Eshelman and Sevag Kazanci
Using their backgrounds in apparel and marketing, Keith and Sevag launched Parks Project, a brand that donates its proceeds to conservation projects within our National Parks. But their clothes aren’t your typical park paraphernalia. Parks Project teams up with artists to create outdoorsy graphics with vintage vibes. With a unique model and huge success, Parks Project is making an impact and inspiring the next generation to take care of our public lands.Connect with Parks Project:WebsiteInstagramFacebookResources:National Park ServiceSeason Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:Parks Project

Apr 6, 2021 • 27min
A Good Day with Brett Eldredge
Country singer Brett Eldredge was at the top of his game. He had released four chart-topping records and performed with stars like Taylor Swift and Blake Shelton. But life as a touring musician took a toll on him. Brett felt like he was spending all of his time worrying about the next performance. He decided to take a vacation from stress and social media to reconnect with the outdoors. In this episode, find out how unplugging and getting out in nature helped Brett soothe his anxiety and spark creativity for his latest record, Sunday Drive.Connect with Brett:WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramResources:Mental Health AmericaSeason Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:Teva

Mar 24, 2021 • 56min
Healing in the Outdoors with Adam Campbell
Adam Campbell is an accomplished mountain runner with some of the fastest known times on many Canadian mountains and trails. But being an athlete comes with risks. In 2016, Adam endured a life-threatening fall down a 200 foot ravine while running Roger’s Pass in British Columbia. But Adam came back, started running again and got married. In January 2020, Adam’s wife Laura passed away after being buried in an avalanche while the two were out skiing. Despite all the hardships Adam has endured in the mountains, he has also found that spending time outside is helping him heal mentally and physically.Connect with Adam:WebsiteInstagramFacebookResources:In Constant Motion FilmAdam’s incident report on FacebookSeason Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:Arc’teryx

Mar 9, 2021 • 39min
Freeskiing with Michelle Parker
Michelle Parker is a professional freeskier. She takes helicopters, snowmobiles, or hikes up to steep snowy peaks and skis down them, launching off cliffs and gliding down nearly vertical slopes. She has been featured in dozens of ski films and when Michelle goes out and films on the peaks, she is often the only woman on these outings. The other athletes, the camera people, even the helicopter pilot are usually men. Regardless, Michelle has always been motivated by women in sports. In fact, it was her mom who put her on skis before she was two years old. On this show, Michelle talks about how she’s embraced her superwoman abilities to excel as an athlete and show women around the world that they can ski some of the craziest lines.Connect with Michelle:FacebookTwitterInstagramResources:RedbullRedbull Originate seriesProtect Our WintersSeason Sponsor:FordEpisode Sponsor:Arc’teryx