
Wild Ideas Worth Living
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.
Latest episodes

Feb 3, 2020 • 39min
Latoya Shauntay Snell: Running Fat Chef
When a heckler disrespected plus-size runner Latoya Shauntay Snell during the 2017 New York Marathon, she couldn’t help returning fire. After her personal essay about the incident went viral, Latoya became an inspiration to people who were tired of being told they can’t be proud of who they are or can’t achieve the goals they want. The experience spurred her on to become an advocate for inclusivity of all kinds in health and fitness. Today, we’ll talk about Latoya’s journey to balance fitness with self-compassion, her involvement with the Black Girls RUN! Movement and what a running chef eats before a big race.Connect with Latoya Honor Your Voice seriesWebsiteInstagramFacebookTwitterResourcesLatoya’s piece on The RootThe Long RunBlack Girls RUN!New York MarathonEpisode advertiserHoka One One

Jan 22, 2020 • 39min
Jeremy Jones: Protect Our Winters
If you’re an adventurer who likes to get out into the mountains, you’ve probably noticed first hand that our winters are being impacted by climate change. In 2007, professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones decided to take action by founding Protect Our Winters, an organization that works to solve the global climate crisis through educational, activist and community based projects. Jeremy and other athletes, plus scientists, creatives and business leaders travel to Washington D.C. to persuade politicians to vote on legislation that will help protect our climate and preserve the most vulnerable places on the planet. On today’s episode, Shelby and Jeremy talk shop on snowboarding and outdoor adventures, as well as how he started working on the climate crisis and how you can get involved and make an impact.Connect with Jeremy:WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramResources:Protect Our Winters CORE ACTRules For a Knight by Ethan HawkeStillness is the Key by Ryan HolidayEpisode midroll: Opt to Act Plan by REI

Jan 6, 2020 • 52min
Chris Fagan: South Pole Quest
The total isolation you encounter in Antarctica can be monotonous, but the profound beauty Chris Fagan discovered there made her realize silence isn’t to be filled, it’s to be felt. With climate change threatening the possibility to explore some of the wildest places on earth, Chris Fagan and her husband Marty made a decision to leave their 12-year old son at home and break a dangerous world record by skiing across the South Pole. Her new book, “The Expedition,” chronicles how she and her husband became the first married Americans to ski 570 miles unguided, unsupported, and unassisted to the South Pole in 2014. On today’s show, Chris and Shelby discuss why she took the journey, the many challenges she overcame, including as a middle aged woman, and she offers advice on how you can reach your own South Pole.Connect with Chris Fagan: WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramResources:The ExpeditionDiva CupBreakfast Skillet Mountain HouseBrené BrownDaring Greatly by Brené BrownOpt to Act

Dec 16, 2019 • 21min
2019 Recap
In the 2019 season of Wild Ideas Worth Living we dove a little deeper. Instead of just focusing on individuals, we talked about themes—mindfulness, facing fear, how to unplug, how to win an Academy Award (okay that happened after one of our guests came on the show) and so much more. Today's show is a recap of some of our best moments, advice, quotes from fan favorites, and a few outtakes.I am also sharing some big news about the show and where Wild Ideas Worth Living is headed next (listen to the episode to find out). If you are new to this show or a seasoned fan, I think you are going to like this recap and it's a perfect taste of what we covered in 2019 and a preview of what's to come.Thank you to all the guests for sharing your wild ideas, and thanks especially to you—the listeners—for your reviews and sharing with me in the wild ideas journey. We will be returning with new episodes and adventures in January, so be sure to hit subscribe or follow wherever you're listening so you get notified as soon as we start releasing episodes in 2020. Happy holidays and remember, the best adventures often happen when you follow your wildest ideas.Key takeaways:2:45 - Mindfulness expert John Allcock on what happens when you pay attention to your breath.4:00 - Danny Kim on how digital addiction shapes your behavior.5:35 - Author Bonnie Tsui shares how "fallow time" resists hustle culture.6:50 - Musician Garrett Dutton aka G. Love plays a sweet riff.7:40 - Author Karen Rinaldi on why sometimes we should be okay with mediocrity.8:45 - Swimmer/Record Breaker Kim Chambers on facing fear.10:00 - Jerry Holl's advice on getting outside your comfort zone.11:40 - Outdoor advocate/influencer Pattie Gonia on how to be radically yourself in the outdoors.14:00 - Holocaust Survivor Edith Eger's advice on the power of choice.18:05 - Tate MacDowell on setting goals and starting.

Dec 2, 2019 • 40min
Whole Health with Melissa Hartwig Urban
Melissa Hartwig Urban is the powerhouse founder of the Whole30 program which, in the last decade, has amassed a huge following and helped thousands of people reset their own health, habits, and relationship with food. The mom, author, and health and wellness advocate has also recently started spending more time in the great outdoors. Melissa is also the author the new book Whole30 Friends & Family, which helps Whole30 followers stick to the program in social settings and during the holidays.

Nov 18, 2019 • 47min
Not Impossible with Mick Ebeling
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Mick Ebeling believes that nothing is impossible, forever. In 2009 Mick met Tempt One, a graffiti artist who had been paralyzed by ALS. Without any experience in ocular technology, Mick launched himself into a project called the EyeWriter to help Tempt communicate and draw again using his eyes. That project helped launched Not Impossible Labs, an award-winning incubator and content studio that develops creative, technology-driven solutions to real-world problems.

Nov 4, 2019 • 35min
Recycling with Helen Lowman
When it comes to recycling, it can be difficult to know what you can toss in that blue bin. Luckily, there are plenty of resources and organizations that can help you recycle properly. Helen Lowman, President & CEO of Keep America Beautiful, is here to help. Helen has had an impressive career (including working for President Obama) and is an expert on the background of the recycling industry, common recycling myths, and some tips and tricks.

Oct 21, 2019 • 43min
Running with Donkeys with Chris McDougall
Chris McDougall is the author of the bestselling books “Born to Run” and “Natural Born Heroes.” His new book, “Running with Sherman,” documents the adventure of his family's adoption of a donkey named Sherman who had been neglected by an animal hoarder. Their solution to getting Sherman happy and healthy was to give him a purpose and teach him how to burro race. It's a must-read if you like animals or just want to hear an amazing story about running with donkeys, human performance, and so much m

Oct 7, 2019 • 32min
Finding Your True North with Emily Miller
Have you ever felt lost — literally or metaphorically? There’s an event that happens every year, created by former rally and off-road racer Emily Miller, designed to help women have a better sense of direction on the road and in life. The Rebelle Rally is the first women’s off-road navigational rally in the United States. Emily Miller created this unique event as a platform to build skills and confidence for women and they come away wiht much more than driving and navigation skills.

Sep 26, 2019 • 2min
Introducing: Camp Monsters
REI's new podcast, Camp Monsters, tells the stories of impossible encounters with impossible creatures in the wildest corners of North America. A wolf man with bat wings thirty feet across. An enormous eel in America’s most popular lake. A frog half the size of a man. Travel the country, sit around campfires and talk about that thing that ran across the trail in the middle of the night, just beyond the beam of your flashlight. Coming to your ears October 1st.