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

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

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 

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     

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 

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 granteesBirkenstock  REI Co-op Adventure Travel    

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

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

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

In September of 2022, at 39 years old, Chad Vanags was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal lung cancer. Chad is a surfer, runner, and all-around athlete. In the year and a half since his diagnosis, Chad has been living his wildest most authentic life as he faces his own mortality. Cancer isn't the message, but it's been the vehicle that's pushed him to become what he calls physically and mentally elite. Connect with Chad: WebsiteInstagram Teaquilafarm InstagramCheck out: Book your next REI Co-op AdventureREI Re/Supply

Professional climber Nina Williams is known for her highball bouldering career. Highballing is somewhere between bouldering and free soloing. Climbers scale rocks 20 to 50 feet tall, sometimes even taller, without a rope. Nina was the first woman to climb a number of extremely challenging routes around the world, from Bishop, California to Rocklands, South Africa. In her sport, Nina deals with fear and failure regularly. She's had to learn to manage both in a way that allows her to be safe, but still push herself to her limits.Connect with Nina: InstagramCheck out: Book your next REI Co-op AdventureREI Re/Supply

That's a wrap on lucky season seven! Join host Shelby Stanger to celebrate the 50 phenomenal guests who shared their adventures with us this year as well as listeners who let us in on the wild ideas they have planned for 2024! Projects & episodes mentioned in this episode: Watch Melissa Kegler's documentary, Ice Mermaid: Cold Resolve The Wisdom of Expeditions with Conrad AnchorThe Will to Wild with Shelby Stanger Climbing K2 with Lisa ThompsonSubmerging Into the Deep Ocean with Susan CaseyStudying the Cosmos with Sarafina El-Badry Nance150 Marathons in 150 Days with Erchana Murray-Bartlett Running Across the U.S for Trans Rights with Cal DobbsRunning Across America with Greg NanceWinning the Triple Crown of Ultra Running with Courtney Dauwalter Mastering the Mindset of a Wild Idea with Michael GerviasThru-Paddling the Mississippi River with Cory Maria DackLife on a Highline with Faith DickeyUncovering Climate Mysteries with Lonnie Thompson Greening Our Cities with Cecil KonijnendijkExploring Tree Canopies

Ultra runner, Courtney Dauwalter is known as one of the greatest athletes of our time She's also know for running in long basketball shorts, scarfing down pizza and nachos between races, and her mindset when it comes to mastering the "pain cave." This summer, Courtney ran three of the most prestigious ultramarathons in the world and ended up winning every single one. The most impressive part is that she ran them all within 10 weeks. Connect with Courtney: Instagram WebsiteEpisode sponsor: Shop Salomon

Eavan O'Neill started running at 21 years old when she was diagnosed with Stargardt Disease, a rare degenerative disorder that leads to visual impairment and blindness. Although there is currently no cure and she can't slow the progression of her symptoms, Eavan leans into running as an incredible source of joy, and a powerful way to connect with the running community. Connect with Eavan: Instagram Episode sponsor:Shop Teva

Erick Cedeño is known for bikepacking around the U.S. He rides through some of the most beautiful parts of the country, but his trips aren’t just about taking in the scenery. Erick has a passion for history and has biked along historical routes including the Underground Railroad and most recently, he traced the footsteps and tire treads of a group of U.S. soldiers known as the Iron Riders.Connect with Erick: Website Instagram Episode sponsor:Shop TevaIf you enjoyed this episode: Check out REI’s Fall/Winter 2023 Editor’s Choice Awards

When Alvarez Silberstein was 18 years old, he was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Before his accident, Alvaro had a dream to go Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia. Once he started using a wheelchair, he assumed it would be impossible for him to fulfill this dream. But in 2017, Alvaro and his incredible friends organized a trip to make his wild idea a reality.Connect with Alvaro: Instagram Wheel the World website & Instagram Episode sponsor:Shop TevaIf you enjoyed this episode: Check out REI’s Fall/Winter 2023 Editor’s Choice Awards

In 2019, outdoor guide Kielyn Marrone was put to the test when she competed on the TV show Alone. On the show, contestants are dropped into remote places with only 10 pieces of equipment and challenged to survive in the wild. Kielyn finished third in her season, lasting a total of 80 days in a hand built shelter, cooking over a fire, and hunting and forging for food.Connect with Kielyn:Instagram Lure of the North websiteEpisode sponsor:Shop TevaIf you enjoyed this episode: Check out REI’s Fall/Winter 2023 Editor’s Choice Awards

Dr. Michael Gervais is one of the world's top high-performance psychologists. He's the co-creator of the Performance Institute at USC, and he's the host and creator of the podcast Finding Mastery. In this episode, Michael shares how we can use psychology to help pursue our wildest ideas.Connect with Michael: WebsiteInstagramFinding Mastery podcastFinding Mastery YouTubeOrder Michael's new book, The First Rule of Mastery , Stop Worry What People Think of YouEpisode sponsor: Shop TevaIf you enjoyed this episode: Check out REI's Fall/Winter 2023 Editor's Choice Awards

Jedidiah Jenkins is a bestselling author who embraces outdoor adventurer as inspiration for his beautiful and deeply personal work. When he turned 30, Jedidiah quit his job, and set out on a bike ride that took him from the Oregon coast all the way down to Patagonia. When he returned, he wrote his a memoir about his journey called, To Shake the Sleeping Self. In 2021, Jedidiah's wild idea involved a cross-country road trip with his mother, where they examined their mother-son dynamic, their religious and political differences, and their lasting affection for each other despite some of their opposing views. The result, his brand new book, Mother, Nature. Connect with Jedidiah: Website Instagram Order Jedidiah's new book: Mother, Nature Episode sponsors: Shop AllbirdsCheck out REI’s Re/Supply program – members get 10% more on their trade-ins thru 10/31If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to the Camp Monsters podcastShare YOUR wild idea in a 1-minute vote note – submissions due 10/31   

Rachel Heaton, member of the Muckleshoot Indian tribe, with Duwamish Ancestors, led an All Native Tahoma (Mount Rainier) Climb this September with the goal to see her people represented on the mountain while inspiring the other Native climbers to enjoy the connection to their land. Due to weather constraints, the group was not able to summit, but in the end, they realized the climb was about so much more.Read more about Rachel and the climb: We've Always Been HereEpisode sponsors: Book your next camp adventure with HipcampCheck out REI’s Re/Supply program – members get 10% more on their trade-ins thru 10/31If you enjoyed this episode: Listen to the Camp Monsters podcastShare YOUR wild idea in a 1-minute vote note – submissions due 10/31

Sarafina El Badry-Nance is a scientist, an author and a speaker, she's dedicated the last several years to studying the stars and is currently working on her PhD in Astronomy at UC, Berkeley. Sarafina's research focuses on supernovae or exploding stars.Connect with Sarafina: WebsiteInstagram Purchase Sarafina's new book, StarstruckEpisode sponsors: Shop AllbirdsBook your next camp adventure with HipcampCheck out REI’s Re/Supply program – members get 10% more on their trade-ins thru 10/31Listen to the Camp Monsters podcastShare YOUR wild idea in a 1-minute vote note - submissions due 10/31