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

Molly Cupka is a climber and founder of the organization Up Ending Parkinson's, a nonprofit that teaches people with Parkinson's disease to rock climb. Parkinson's is the second most common neurological disease behind Alzheimer's and rock climbing provides a ton of health benefits including balance, grip strength, and mental acuity. For the climbers who Molly trains, there's another benefit that is harder to quantify, community and connection.Connect with Molly:Check out Up Ending ParkinsonsThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesGU Energy

Kait Boyle is an elite adventure cyclist who bikes over mountains, across deserts, and through canyons. Early on in her cycling career, Kait found her niche, falling in love with races in the 24 hour 300 mile range. In 2018, a serious accident turned Kait's life upside down and changed her perspective on the path she's carved.Connect with Kait: Instagram Website Bikepacking Roots website & Instagram If you enjoyed this episode, listen to: 100 Peaks in 50 Days with Jason HardrathCycling Around the World with Lael WilcoxEstablishing Bikepacking Routes with Sarah SwallowWild Ideas Worth Living with Rebecca Rusch & Biking the 1,200 Mile Ho Chi Minh Trail in Search of Her Father and Finding Magic with Rebecca RuschThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesGU Energy

Kristine Tompkins is one of the world's most successful conservationists. She's the president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, which is a non-profit that purchases land in South America, largely in Patagonia to create national parks, boost regenerative economies, and bring back missing species through rewilding. Before dedicating her life to land preservation, Kris spent 25 years working for Patagonia, the company. She was one of the first employees and eventually served as CEO.Connect with Kristine: Instagram Tompkins Conservation website & Instagram Check out: Patagonia National Park: Chile If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Uncovering Climate Mysteries with Lonnie Thompson Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesGU Energy

Zach Friedley is a professional athlete who is changing the sport of trail running. Zach was born without most of his right leg, and is often the only adaptive athlete at the starting line of some of the world’s hardest races. There aren’t a lot of running events with categories specifically for adaptive athletes, but Zach is on a mission to change that.Connect with Zach: Instagram Born to Adapt website & InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Running for Change with Nicole Ver KuilenThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesGU Energy

Lestarya Molloy is the founder of Fridie Outdoors, an app that has easy, digestible camping tips that you can access from anywhere. In this episode, Lestarya is joined by REI's Green Vests and Experience Guides to share the best tips for your upcoming camping adventure. Connect with Lestarya: Fridie Outdoors website & Instagram Download the Fridie Outdoors appResources and products mentioned in this episode: REI 's Path Ahead Ventures Program REI's Embark ProgramREI's InstagramREI's YouTube ChannelItacate FoodsPescavoreNEMO Roamer Sleeping PadNEMO pillowBedrock SandalsYETINalgeneHipCampAnnie's favorite Teriyaki Chicken Burgers recipe Annie's go-to Miso Mushroom Foil Yaki recipe Thank you to REI's Green Vests & Experience Guides: Carlos Rodriguez, Jentry Schirmbeck, Mackenzie Anderson-Bell, and Elizabeth Nguyen. Thank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesAllbirds

Chev Dixon is a skilled outdoor athlete whose life changed when he learned to kayak. He is the director of an organization called the Hudson River Riders and the founder of the Hudson Valley Challenge, a 685-mile paddling, hiking, running, and cycling event that crosses the state of New York. Connect with Chev: Instagram Hudson River Riders website & InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to, Thru-Paddling the Mississippi River with Cory Maria DackThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesAllbirds   

Galen Kirkpatrick is a world class paraglider - in 2022 she was the FAI Women’s Pan-American Paragliding Champion, and in 2023 she became the overall US National Champion. Paragliding has become a vehicle for Galen to get in touch with herself and see the world from a new perspective.Connect with Galen: InstagramThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesAllbirds   

Mario Ordoñez-Caldéron is a Mayan-American storyteller, surfer, and adventurer committed to pursuing a deeper connection with his Indigenous roots, the natural world, and helping San Diego local youth foster their own relationships with the outdoors through his nonprofit, Un Mar de Colores. Connect with Mario: WebsiteInstagramUn Mar de Colores website & InstagramWATCH Cycle of AncestryIf you enjoyed this episode: Listen to Biking Across Latin America with Erin AzouzThank you to our sponsors: Capital One: Check out the REI Co-op Mastercard program and learn about local REI Fund granteesAllbirds

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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   

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

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

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

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

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