Wild Ideas Worth Living | Interviews On Adventure, Outdoors, Travel, Health, Fitness, Running, Business, Surfing, Exploring

Alexi Pappas is a wildly talented, multi-faceted athlete. She’s a professional runner, an author, a champion for mental health, a guide runner for blind athletes, a filmmaker, and an entrepreneur. When she runs, Alexi is often wearing a huge smile on her face and a healthy dusting of glitter across her cheeks. Alexi’s running journey has taken her to through peaks and valleys and she’s using her story to mentor the next generation.Connect with Alexi: Website Instagram New podcast, Mentor Buffet Alexi's book, BraveyThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesAllbirds  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sasha DiGiulian is one of the best female rock climbers in the world. She's spent over a decade competing internationally, she’s a three-time US National Champion, a World Champion, and she’s had over 30 first female ascents. Sasha is also the founder and CEO of the superfood protein bar company, Send Bars. Connect with Sasha:  Website InstagramSend Bars websiteSend Bars InstagramThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesNUUN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thruhikers, Tim Beissinger and Renee Miller started dating in college and have always been active people. Tim grew up hiking and camping with his family, and Renee was a runner. The two dragged each other along on their respective outdoor outings. Eventually they worked their way up to thru-hiking, a sport that they've fallen in love with and built a life around.Connect with Renee & Tim: Website Instagram TikTokCheck out: REI's mission to get everyone Outside in 5 If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Wild Ideas Worth Living with Cheryl StrayedThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesNUUN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sarah Swallow is a professional adventure cyclist who develops bike packing routes around the country. When she creates a route, she takes the history, geography, and the biodiversity of an area into account. Her routes are often hundreds of miles long and lead riders past historical sites, landmarks, and diverse landscapes. In 2019, Sarah took her route crafting to the next level when she created a cycling and conservation event called Ruta del Jefe.Connect with Sarah: Website & InstagramRuta Del Jefe website & InstagramCheck out: The North Face x Hike Clerb CollaborationThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesNUUN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Isabel Cautivo has become one of the most prominent solo women backpackers on the internet. She has gone viral for making vulnerable and educational videos about her day trip and her most popular TikTok is about how she got into solo backpacking. Connect with Isabel: Instagram TikTokCheck out:Sign up for Hipcamp and REI’s “Summer of Magic Campout Series” Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesNUUN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Five years ago, Jeff Jenkins decided he wanted to become a professional traveler. His goal was to make a living traveling around the world and helping people. Today he's doing exactly that. After years of hard work building an online platform called Chubby Diaries, Jeff is now the host of National Geographic's TV show, Never Say Never.Connect with Jeff: Chubby Diaries website Instagram TikTokWatch Never Say Never Check out:Sign up for Hipcamp and REI’s “Summer of Magic Campout Series” Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesNUUN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oriana Poindexter is a professional artist whose work weaves together photography, science, and marine life. Her art is very unique. Oriana uses seaweed and light-sensitive chemicals to make stunning, almost haunting prints. She lives in San Diego where she free dives in kelp forests for inspiration, and to harvest materials for her art.Connect with Oriana: Website Instagam If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Submerging Into the Deep Ocean with Susan Casey and Freediving for Inner Peace with BJ GriffinCheck out:Take the Wild Ideas Listener Survey!!REI Re/SupplySign up for Hipcamp and REI’s “Summer of Magic Campout Series” Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesTEVA    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 2013, Thor Pedersen left his home in Denmark for the trip of a lifetime. His goal was to travel to every country in the world. He had three rules for his journey. He had to spend at least 24 hours in each country. He couldn't return to Denmark until he had crossed off every nation on the list. And last but not least, no air travel.Connect with Thor:Website InstagramCheck out:Take the Wild Ideas Listener Survey!!REI Re/SupplySign up for Hipcamp and REI’s “Summer of Magic Campout Series” Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesTEVA Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lael Wilcox is known as one of the world's best ultra-endurance cyclists. She's ridden over 150,000 miles in more than 50 countries. Now, Lael is going after her wildest idea yet: to break the record for cycling around the world. Her goal is to ride more than 18,000 miles in 110 days.Connect with Lael:Website InstagramCheck out:Take the Wild Ideas Listener Survey!! Sign up for Hipcamp and REI’s “Summer of Magic Campout Series” Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesTEVA Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Glen Van Peski is known as the king of ultralight backpacking. While backpackers will hit the trails with a pack that weighs upwards of 20 pounds, sometimes even up to 50 or more, Glen's pack usually only weighs around 12 pounds. Glen is also the founder of the functional lightweight backpacking and hiking gear company, Gossamer Gear, and the author of Take Less. Do More.: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker. Connect with Glen:WebsiteInstagram Gossamer Gear InstagramGlen's new book, Take Less. Do More.: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight BackpackerCheck out:Take the Wild Ideas Listener Survey!! Sign up for Hipcamp and REI's "Summer of Magic Campout Series" Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesTEVA Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data fo

At the age of 50, Ruby Gates left her career and home to get on a sailboat for seven months. At the time, she knew nothing about sailing, but the trip changed her life. Now, nine years later, Ruby has decided to go after the wildest idea she's ever had. She's circumnavigating the world by sailboat.Connect with Ruby: Sail with RubyInstagram Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesTEVACheck out:REI Re/SupplyOutside in 5REI Co-op Adventure Travel Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your wild idea no longer brings you joy?Retired pro skier, Grace Miller, is intimately familiar with a change of course. Grace grew up in Alaska and started skiing at a young age. Before she was out of high school, she was recruited to compete at the highest level, but at age 23 after competing on the world stage, Grace decided to leave skiing behind to pursue some new wild ideas.Connect with Grace: InstagramThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesTEVACheck out:REI Re/SupplyOutside in 5REI Co-op Adventure Travel Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alastair Humphreys is an author and adventurer who has walked 600 miles across Southern India, ran an ultra marathon through the Sahara Desert, and hiked and rafted across Iceland. Alastair's newest wild idea is to embrace the concept of "microadventures," an adventure that is short, easily accessible, and affordable while still being fun, challenging, refreshing, and rewarding. Connect with Alastair: WebsiteInstagramOrder Alastair's new book, Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and WildnessThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesBirkenstockCheck out:REI Re/SupplyOutside in 5REI Co-op Adventure Travel Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if you had an opportunity to travel around the moon? Christina Koch has worked at NASA for the last 10 years, and has been a part of groundbreaking missions in outer space. In 2019, Christina embarked on a 328-day stay on the International Space Station, setting a record for the longest single space flight by a woman. Now Christina has a new assignment on the horizon. She was selected to join a crew that will travel around the moon.Connect with Christina: InstagramChristina's NASA bio NASA Artemis InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Studying the Cosmos with Sarafina El-Badry Nance and How To Become An Astronaut And Get A New Perspective On Earth From Space with Shannon WalkerThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesBirkenstockCheck out:REI Re/SupplyOutside in 5REI Co-op Adventure Travel  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for

Travis Rice has been pushing the envelope of what's possible in snowboarding for over 20 years. He has won prestigious awards for his riding, and completely recreated what it means to host a winter sports competition. Travis has also built new businesses like Sendy and changed the way action sports films are made.Connect with Travis: InstagramSENDYNatural Selection TourThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesBirkenstockCheck out:REI Co-op Adventure Travel      Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dudley Edmondson is a legendary outdoorsman and birder, nature photographer, cinematographer, speaker and an author. In 2006, he published a book called Black and Brown Faces in America's Wild Places. He hopes that his books, photos and film work will inspire the next generation of Black, Indigenous and other people of color to get outside.Connect with Dudley: Website Instagram Dudley's book, The Black & Brown Faces in America's Wild Places If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to For the Love of Birding with Corina NewsomeThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesBirkenstock Check out:REI Co-op Adventure Travel  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if swiping on a dating app led you to your partner and an epic bike ride the length of Latin America? This was the case for Erin Azouz and her now-husband Mehedi. The bike trip profoundly shifted Erin's relationship with her work, her husband, and most importantly with herself.Connect with Erin: Website InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Adventure and Business with David Sacher and Walking Around the World with Tom TurcichThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesBirkenstockCheck out:REI Co-op Adventure Travel     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kanoa Greene was born into a family of surfers in Hawaii, but for a long time she didn't feel like she belonged in the ocean. She'd never seen a plus size person out in the water and she struggled to find gear to fit her body. Eventually when she was in her 30s, she stood up on a wave for the first time and it opened up a new world for her. Now Kanoa's goal is to help other people, no matter their size, discover their own sense of adventure.Connect with Kanoa: WebsiteInstagram & TikTokNAKOA Adventure website & Instagram If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Cycling is for Every Body with Kailey Kornhauser and Business in a Bikini: Sharing the Stoke of Surfing with Izzy TihanyiThank you to our sponsor: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesCheck out:REI Re/SupplyOutside in 5 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the past few years, Moondog Roop has done three major thru-skates. First in 2021, he spent 45 days on the 1,100 mile Florida Trail. In 2022, he thru-skated across the entire state of New Mexico, and in 2023 he skateboarded 444 miles on the historic Natchez Trace, a trail which passes through parts of Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.Connect with Moondog: InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Cindy Whitehead - Stories From a Female Skateboarding Pioneer Thank you to our sponsor: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesCheck out:REI Re/Supply Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your life revolved around leading groundbreaking polar expeditions? In 1986, polar explorer Ann Bancroft became the first woman to ski to the North Pole after a chance encounter with Will Steger. Connect with Ann: Website Ann Bancroft Foundation InstagramAnn Reed website & featured songIf you liked this episode: Listen to Chris Fagan: South Pole QuestThank you to our title sponsor, Capital One:  Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.