Wild Ideas Worth Living

Chris’s Wild Idea: To interview people who have had successful side hustles, and to publish a book and podcast about it.  Chris Guillebeau is the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup, The Art of Non-Conformity, Born For This, and The Happiness of Pursuit. His latest book, Side Hustle, which debuts September 19th, shows how to take your side hustle from an idea to a profitable business.  In addition to being an incredible writer, Chris visited all 193 countries by age 35. He is all about living the life you want, and not the life others expect you to have. He shares why he doesn’t believe you have to quit your job unless you want to, plus his favorite productivity tools. Listen to this episode if:  You want to quit your job. You have or have thought about starting a side hustle. You want to travel the world. You’ve read The $100 Startup or any of Chris’s other books. You want to monetize your hobby. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/40

Caroline’s Wild Idea: To climb up huge mountains, ski down them, go on amazing adventures, and become an advocate for the environment and more. Caroline Gleich is a professional ski mountaineer, adventurer, trail runner and activist. Based in Salt Lake City, Caroline recently became the first woman and fourth person to ski all 90 lines featured in “The Chuting Gallery,” a steep skiing guidebook to the Wasatch Range. A nature lover since birth, Caroline has used her voice as an athlete and an ambassador for brands like KEEN, Clif Bar and Patagonia to speak up about social and environmental issues like climate change, clean air, and cyber harassment. She’s graced the covers of magazines like Powder and Backcountry, appeared in multiple Warren Miller Films, and I even recently wrote about her in Outside Magazine. On this episode, Caroline shares challenges and advice on being a woman in a burly man’s sport, training tips to climbing mountains and getting ready for an ultramarathon, how she handles fear and how she’s advocating for change. Listen to this episode if:  You want to climb mountains. You love skiing. You’re passionate about environmental and justice issues. You like confronting your fears.  You use social media to connect and be inspired by others. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/39

Todd’s Wild Idea: To take amazing pictures of waves and the athletes who ride them. Todd Glaser is one of the most sought-after surf photographers in the world. As a staff photographer for Surfer Magazine since 2008, he’s earned more than a dozen covers. Today he takes photos on land and in the water with surfs stars like Kelly Slater, Jack Johnson, Rob Machado, and more. Todd grew up in Solana Beach, California, competed as a body boarder, went to school for photography, and then immediately took his love of shooting his friends in the water, and turned it into a thriving career. His work has appeared not only in sports publications like Surfer and Outside Magazine, but also in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Most recently, Todd took photos for the latest Taylor Steele Movie, Proximity, and just came out with a photography book around it that he self-published, and is currently shipping from his mom’s garage. Listen to this episode if:  You love surfing. You read surf and sport magazines. You’re interested in photography and want to know how to take better photos. You love being in the water. You consider yourself a shy person. You want to know how Todd can tread water for eight hours at a time. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/XX

Zeppelin’s Wild Idea: To share different perspectives of the public land debate through his latest documentary film, and inspire others to get outside. Aside from having one of the most badass names ever, Zeppelin Zeerip is a pro snowboarder and activist, the author of Don’t Call Me a Gypsy, a producer and partner of WZRD Media, and co-founder of a grassroots snowboard competition called Occupy Pando.  For his latest project, Zeppelin is traveling around the U.S. to film for his upcoming documentary about the public land debate. He is passionate about preserving this land that everyone has access to, but he also knows the importance of hearing perspectives from all sides. We also go deep and talk about some of the loss he endured in his youth, and how that has affected his drive and motivation today. Listen to this episode if:  You want to be a pro snowboarder. You are passionate about the public land debate. You’ve ever suffered loss. You try to get outside every day. You want to surround yourself with inspiring people. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/37

Gale’s Wild Idea: To share stories of women from all walks of life who are passionate about the outdoors, and encourage them to explore. Gale Straub is the voice and creator of the popular podcast and community, She-Explores. The podcast focuses on women in the great outdoors, and tells the stories of entrepreneurs, athletes, and “ordinary” women who are “curious, inquisitive and beyond.” It’s well-edited and inspires people to spend more time outside, which I am a huge advocate of. Gale left behind the life of a CPA for a long stint on the road in the van with the boyfriend before starting the show. It was a big risk, she talks about, as well as sharing about living with your significant other in a confined space, and why she loves connecting with women in the outdoors. Listen to this episode if:  You love the outdoors, or are feeling the call to adventure. You are a She-Explores listener and want to get to know the voice behind the podcast. You’ve thought about quitting your job to pursue your passion and want to know how to do it. You want to explore in a van or take a long road trip with your partner. You want to start a podcast or just hit the road. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/36

Chris’s Wild Idea: To make a living by writing and talking about surfing and skateboarding. To use humor and positivity to land his dream job, and remain relevant though the ages. Chris Cote is a professional action sports personality. He got his start as a competitive surfer and skateboarder, became editor of Transworld Surf Magazine, and is now a commentator on the World Surf League, the commentator and host of the Vans Park Series, the editor Encinitas Magazine and the host of his own podcast, the Monday M.A.S.S. He’s also a hilarious and positive guy who can still skateboard and surf with some of the best pros in the business. He not only shares great stories including getting branded by Blink182 and Green Day, hanging out with Andy Irons, his encounter with a sea anenome and the crazy stuff he’s seen at surf and skate competitions; but he also shares about failure, getting sober, how to stay relevant no matter how old you are, and what it really takes to create your own dream job, and how you can do that now. Listen to this episode if:  You surf, skate, snowboard, or love action sports. You want to hear a hilarious storyteller.  You are a Chris Cote fan. You want to create your own dream job, or work in action sports. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/35

Steve’s Wild Idea: To share deeper stories about travel and adventure by creating an online and print media company, Adventure Journal. Steve Casimiro is the founder of Adventure Journal, an online magazine with a beautiful quarterly book that covers the deeper side of adventure. Steve has worked in journalism for years. He got his start in newspapers, then worked at Powder Magazine, helped start Snowboarder Magazine, was the founding editor of Bike Magazine, and then the west coast editor of National Geographic, before he jumped into the world as a media entrepreneur.  Becoming an entrepreneur, and starting a media company, especially at the height of the recession wasn’t easy, but Steve had the experience and the willingness to do every single job necessary, even packing and delivering magazines, to make it happen. He shares tips about starting your own business, why failure is important, and how art and adventure go hand in hand.  Listen to this episode if:  You love adventure. You love old school journalism, great stories and beautiful magazines. You are a photographer.  You want to start a business. You want to know what it really takes to start a thriving adventure magazine. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/34

Shanti’s Wild Idea: To improve people’s lives, health, and communities by getting families outside through Hike it Baby. Shanti Hodges is a journalist, writer, and mom who started a community called Hike it Baby. The non-profit organization’s mission is to connect families and get them outside, especially when their children are young. Hike it Baby is now responsible for bringing families and babies on over 3,000 hikes a month in over 330 cities. Shanti is an inspiring woman who had a wild idea and made it a reality. She shares insights on how Hike it Baby grew so rapidly, what it takes to start a movement, why nature is so good for babies and adults, and why Facebook called up Shanti and personally invited her to their headquarters. Listen to this episode if:  You love hiking, nature and being outside. You’re a parent or love kids, and want to spend more time with family outdoors. You are a city slicker and intimidated by the outdoors. You want to start a community. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/33

Damien’s Wild Idea: To chase his dreams of being a professional athlete while spreading positivity everywhere he goes. Damien LeRoy is a professional and world renowned kiteboarder, paraglider, stuntman, and athlete. Last year he had a terrifying crash where he fell over 150 feet from the air into a forest of mangrove trees and broke his leg, ribs, punctured his lung, and more. He could have easily died, but ten months later he is almost completely recovered and already back on his board.  Damien shares his story with me and talks about what was going through his head while his lines were tangled and he began to spin out of control in the air. He also talks about his unique upbringing (dad was in James Bond movies and he was a pro skier and lived in the mountains for many years). He also shares about working on the new Baywatch movie with the Rock and Zach Efron, how his approach to kiteboarding has changed since his accident, what it is like to be a professional athlete, what he always takes on the road, and why he strives to be positive 100% of the time. Listen to this episode if:  You love adventure. You want to hear a crazy story. You kiteboard, ski, paraglide, or use a GoPro camera. You want to know why Damien took off his clothes at the OutFound Series. You saw the movie Baywatch. You strive to live a life of purpose and positivity. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/32

Cyrus’s Wild Idea: To continue to learn about our planet, people, and our passions by making films about these topics and sharing them with the world. To be interested instead of just interesting. Cyrus Sutton is an incredibly thoughtful and introspective person. A director, filmmaker, surfer, adventurer, and sought-after brand ambassador, Cyrus has produced Emmy Award-winning films, including Stoked and Broke, and is the founder of Korduroy TV, a website that explores creativity and sustainability in the outdoors. His latest film, Island Earth, documents how we grow our food, and explores the challenges between using conventional agricultural practices (including the use of science and chemical solutions) versus using ancient techniques to feed our population and our planet. Cyrus has travelled all over the globe, lived in California and even spent some time living and working out of a van. He now resides in the Pacific Northwest where he is working on growing his own food and enjoying documenting others who also live off the land and are interested in permaculture and sustainable ways of living. I’ve always been interested in Cyrus’s ideas and films, and enjoyed this conversation a lot. There are some true gems about following your dreams, the unique world of social media, the power of storytelling and the reality of what it takes to make a career around your passion. Listen to this episode if:  You are interested in pursuing your passion full-time. You care about organic, non-GMO food. You love adventure sports.  You like watching surf films or you are a surfer. You are a curious person who loves learning. You love Hawaiian culture. You want to know the pros and cons of living, working or traveling in a van. You grow your own food or want to learn how. You want to be a filmmaker. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/31